In July of I914 and August of I916, Mr. W. W. Jones, botanist in the department of agricultural investigations, American Smelting & Refining Company, made collections of Polygonum persicaria L. showing an apparently new leaf-spot. An examination of the literature indicates that this leaf-spot disease has not been previously noted and that the organism is an undescribed species of Septoria quite different from the species of Septoria described as occurring upon Polygonum or related genera. From field observations it would seem that this type of leaf-spot is rather rare, only two small collections having been made as noted above. The description of the species is as follows:


Uranium content in bauxite is generally several times higher than its average occurrence in the Earth's crust. Bauxite deposits in Montenegro are widespread in the Niksich region. Some settlements are built above these deposits, and some detached family houses have basements directly in bauxite ground. Indoor radon measurements in this region were performed in such places, and in places where there is no presence of bauxite. Radon was measured on the ground floor, using cellulose nitrate detectors exposed 3 months during the winter season. The results show that bauxite ground produces a high indoor radon level. However, all measured concentrations are below the tolerance of 400 Bq/m3 adopted in Yugoslavia, except in two houses built directly on bauxite ground, where indoor radon concentration reached 540 Bq/m3 and 676 Bq/m3.


In this exploratory study, university faculty instructor perceptions of the extent to which eight unique features of Web technology are useful for various instructional tasks are identified. Task-technology fit propositions are developed and tested using data collected from a survey of instructors in business, pharmacy, and arts/humanities. It is proposed that the Web technology features can be classified into three groups. Ubiquity and universal standards are primary features that are useful for supporting all of the teaching tasks. Richness, interactivity, information density, and personalization are contextual features which are each useful for specific tasks. Global reach is of secondary importance for supporting traditional classroom instructional tasks. Support is found for each proposition except universal standards and social technology is not perceived to be as important as anticipated. Implications and conclusions are discussed for learning management system designers, instructors, and educational technology researchers.


One of us (WCL) has previously proposed a mathematical model, Co-Recessive Inheritance, for inherited diseases associated with DNA repair deficiencies (Lambert WC, Lambert MW: Mutat. Res., 1985;145:227–234; Lambert WC: Keynote Address, 21st Anniversary Celebration, MRC Cell Mutation Unit, University of Sussex, UK. Mutat. Res., 1992;273:179–102). The model is also applicable to diseases associated with defective cell cycle modulation following specific types of DNA damage, such as Fanconi Anemia, with or without additional defects in DNA repair. The model proposes that in some complementation groups of these diseases defective alleles at more than one locus are required for the disease phenotype to be expressed. It follows from the model (A readily understandable derivation will be presented.) that the carrier frequencies of the genes involved are very much higher than would be predicted based on classical population genetics. This may impact on recent observations of higher than expected co-inheritance of defective alleles of Fanconi Anemia and Bloom Syndrome genes along with BRCA genes in certain populations (e.g., Koren-Michowitz, M, et al.: Am. J. Hematol., 2005;78:203–206), and provides an explanation for the lower than expected incidence of cancer in these individuals. It also provides an explanation for finding biallelic defects in the same DNA repair genes in more than one complementation group of Fanconi Anemia (Howlett NG, et al.: Science, 2002;297:606–609). The Co-Recessive Model predicts that other findings of this nature are to be expected, and provides some guidelines that may be helpful in the process of gene discovery in Fanconi Anemia. Among the more important of these are 1) that the search for defective genes in each complementation group should not cease when one such gene is found, even if one or more patients in the group is homozygous or compound heterozygous for defective alleles of that gene, and 2) that carrier frequencies for some Fanconi Anemia genes may be much higher than would otherwise be anticipated, with a significant proportion of the normal population being carriers. If the latter hypothesis is correct, it follows that the relevance of these rare diseases and their associated genes to disease, including bone marrow failure, in the general population is dramatically greater than has been generally believed.


The Synthetic Aperture Interferometric Radiometer Performance Simulator (SAIRPS) has been a three-year project sponsored by the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop a completely generic end-to-end performance simulator of arbitrary synthetic aperture interferometric radiometers. In a companion manuscript (Part I), the Radiative Transfer Module used to generate synthetic fully polarimetric brightness temperatures from 1 to 100 GHz, including land and ocean covers, as well as the atmosphere, is described in detail. In this manuscript (Part II), the instrument model, the calibration procedure, and the imaging algorithms are described. The instrument model includes the simulation of the array topology in terms of the number of antenna elements, the time-dependent position and orientation, and the arbitrary receivers' topology which can be modified from a very generic one by connecting and disconnecting subsystems. All the parameters can be, one by one, defined either by mathematical functions or by input data files, including the frequency and temperature dependence. Generic calibration algorithms including an external point source, the flat target transformation, and the two-level correlated noise injection are described. Finally, different image reconstruction algorithms suitable for arbitrary array topologies have also been implemented and tested. Simulation results have been validated and selected results are presented.


How can the compound eye of insects capture the prey so accurately and quickly? This interesting issue is explored from the perspective of computer vision instead of from the viewpoint of biology. The focus is on performance evaluation of noise immunity for motion recovery using the single-row superposition-type planar compound-like eye (SPCE). The noise simulates possible ambiguity of image patterns caused by either environmental uncertainty or low resolution of the CCD device. Results of extensive simulations indicate that this special visual configuration provides excellent motion estimation performance regardless of the magnitude of the noise. It should be noted that any type of filters is not implemented in this study. The increase of the number of the CCD camera significantly reduces errors of motion recovery of the ego-translation. This discovery lays the basic foundation in terms of engineering approaches for the secret of the compound eye of insects.


Uterine leiomyoma is a benign neoplasm that arises from uterine smooth muscles and the most common tumour of the reproductive tract. Very rare leiomyomas present with unusual behavior. Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis presents as multiple small nodules on the peritoneum. We present a case of Mrs. K who was a 60 years old grand multipara, ten years postmenopausal. She had total abdominal hysterectomy for multiple uterine fibroids a year earlier. Abdomino-pelvic scan and CT scan revealed a large multi lobulated heterogeneous lesion in the pelvis. The lesion measured approximately 13.5x11.5cm in size. The tumour was resected. On immunohistochemistry tumour cells were positive for alpha-smooth muscle actin, which is characteristic for smooth muscle tumour. A nuclear staining for progesterone receptor was positive, but negative for oestrogen receptors. Due to rarity of condition different modalities in the management are proposed. In view of possible recurrence and malignant transformation patients need clinical and radiological follow up? Leiomyomatosis peritonei disseminate is a rare condition. Hormonal treatment may be effective in recurrent cases especially in hormone receptor positive tumor or when temporary relief of symptoms is necessary. somatic mutations in myometrial cells, resulting in progressive loss of growth regulation. The key regulators of fibroid growth are ovarian steroids (oestrogen, progestogen) and growth factors [3]. The environment within the leiomyomas is hyperestrogenic. Estrogen may induce the proliferation of leiomyoma cells in part by activating Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) channel. Progesterone upregulate the level of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2, which influences cell proliferation The effects of oestrogens and progestins on leiomyomas are mediated by growth factors. Epidermal growth factor, Insuline like growth factor I and II are over expressed in myomas Fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor are also over expressed in myomas, leading to an abnormal vasculature, characterized by a dilated venous plexuses Oncogene and tumour suppressor genes may also have a role in fibroid development (p-53, p-16) The most frequent cytogenetic changes are translocation and deletion of chromosome 7, which are found in up to 58% of fibroid specimen [2]. Heredity, nulliparity, obesity, polycystic ovary syndrome, diabetes and hypertension are associated with increased risk of fibroid [3].


A lot of scholarly attention has focused on why groups choose to pursue their policy goals in one venue over another. This manuscript adds to the literature by testing a new theory of venue shopping, the Adaptive Venue Shopping Framework. This manuscript finds empirical support that groups choose venues by strategically assessing the institutional context which involves three primary elements: the group's mix of resources, their opponent's resource strengths, and the degree of venue accessibility, which is a combination of opponents degree of control over a venue and a venue's image amiability or receptivity. In addition to confirming these findings, this case study links the literature on venue shopping with recent scholarship about "vested interests" by demonstrating how a powerful agricultural group came to dominate in a legislative venue, how it protected its policy victories from reversal, and how it kept policymaking from shifting into alternative venues, thus leading to long-term policy stability. Furthermore, it demonstrates how newly emerged groups can achieve policy success against stronger opponents by threatening to seek their policy goals in alternative institutions.


After qualifying, Patricia Jean Money ("Pat") completed her house jobs at St Alfege's Hospital, Greenwich, and then worked as a general practitioner in Kingston before moving to Wiltshire in 1972. She was involved …


besity is one of the most important health problems in the 21st century. Overweight and obesity is expected to affect about 3.3 billion people (about 58% of the world's adult population) by 2030 (1). Obesity risk factors are including genetic, O 1. Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran. 2. Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Yadegar-e-imam Khomeini (RAH) Shahr-e Ray Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.


Rate constants and branching ratio for the reaction channels CH/sub 3/ + O/sub 2/ ..-->.. CH/sub 3/O + O (1a) and CH/sub 3/ + O/sub 2/ ..-->.. CH/sub 2/O + OH (1b) have been derived from RRKM theory by assuming a common CH/sub 3/O/sub 2/ intermediate. The computation is based on a 160 kJ/mol isomerization barrier between CH/sub 3/O/sub 2/ and CH/sub 2/OOH as derived recently in direct studies of the reverse CH/sub 3/O + O reaction at low temperatures. In contrast to most previous conclusions, channel 1b is predicted to dominate over channel 1a at all temperatures below 2800 K, with the individual rate coefficients being k/sub 1a/ = 1.1 x 10/sup 13/ exp(-13990/T) and k/sub 1b/ = 3.4 x 10/sup 11/ exp(-4500/T) cm/sup 3//(mol x s).


China has had to deal with the huge architectural and urban development challenges created over the past fifty years. China's economic growth model has been based on accelerated consumption and manufacturing, with inevitable and significant environmental and social consequences. The model discussed in this paper seeks to employ the principles of sustainability in a specific urban development context: the massive Beijing-Hangzhou Canal, the longest artificial waterway in the world. The model simulates a macro strategy for the redevelopment of this ancient water system utilizing and adapting highly successful traditional Chinese planning methods for urban, wetland and rural areas. Elements of this model could serve as the basis for effective future Chinese urban development in similar contexts. China has already begun actualizing policies and strategies to address major concerns about environmental and social issues. The proposed model is intended to contribute to this endeavour and to promote sustainable growth in the most populated country in the world. The project outlined in this paper shows that the planning elements that inspired Marco Polo's admiration for Chinese cities are still highly relevant in a country increasingly damaged by inappropriate and standardized international urban development approaches.


We report on the experimental realization of a quasi-one-dimensional photonic graphene ribbon supporting four flat-bands (FBs). We study the dynamics of fundamental and dipolar modes, which are analogous to the s and p orbitals, respectively. In the experiment, both modes (orbitals) are effectively decoupled from each other, implying two sets of six bands, where two of them are completely flat (dispersionless). Using an image generator setup, we excite the s and p FB modes and demonstrate their non-diffracting propagation for the first time. Our results open an exciting route towards photonic emulation of higher orbital dynamics.


ABSTRACT This research was carried out to examine the ultrasonic properties of Phyllostachys bambusoidsSieb et Zucc depending on three directions for providing the fundamental properties of the Koreatraditional flute, Daekeum. The ultrasonic properties of Phyllostachys bambusoides Sieb. et Zuccwere found to be different from those of wood, because of the distinctive anatomical structure of bamboo tissue. The ultrasonic velocity of peripheral zone showed higher values of all three directions. The ratio of longitudinal velocities to perpendicular velocities showed 1.16 at peripheralzone, 1.70 at central zone, 1.38 at inner zone respectively. The ratio of radial velocities to tangentialvelocities were measured as 1.286 at peripheral zone, 1.325 at central zone, 0.829 at inner zone respectively. Keywords : Ultrasonic property, Phyllostachys bambusoids Sieb et Zucc, three direction - 28 - 1) * 1 접수 2010년 8월 13일, 채택 2010년 10월 12일* 2 충남대학교 환경소재공학과. Department of Bio-based Materials, Chungnam National Universi ty, Daejeon 305-764, Korea*


Abstract During the summers of 1926–1939, the State of New York Conservation Department conducted a statewide watershed survey. This survey produced, among other things, a series of fish portraits of especially fine quality. The illustrations, largely the work of two artists, Ellen Edmonson and Hugh P. Chrisp, were recently rediscovered after having been misplaced for many years. The history of this archive mirrors that of archives in general. This material is a legacy and resource important to fisheries biologists, other natural historians, and natural history illustrators. Long-term protection of this material is now assured; protection and cataloguing of similar historically important material are among the greatest problems currently facing fisheries managers and researchers.


Abstract The effect of sulfonylurea (SU) acetolactate synthases (ALS) inhibitors (chlorsulfuron and triasulfuron) and their 13 guanidine and 7 azole derivatives was studied on 17 fungal and 21 plant species. The efficacy of chlorsulfuron and triasulfuron against Fusarium oxysporum and Thielaviopsis basicola was higher than carbendazim. Two azole derivatives were highly selective for maize. The antifungal activity spectrum of both guanidine and azole derivatives differed from that of chlorsulfuron and triasulfuron, and did not exert notable antifungal activity in vitro. However, they had significant anti‐Fusarium efficacy on rye that surpassed that of carbendazim.


The present invention provides a method and apparatus for reducing scanning times by eliminating from consideration channels where the measured power is substantially comprised of adjacent channel power. The method and apparatus include measuring the received channel power (302) from neighboring cells, and attempting to acquire or otherwise identifying signals from the channels of the neighboringcells (306) in descending order of a sorted list of received channel power. When a signal from the channel of a neighboring cell is successfully acquired or otherwise identified, an amount of adjacentchannel power is determined (310), based upon an expected power profile of the acquired or otherwise identified signal. The determined adjacent channel power is then compared against the power measured for the corresponding channel (312). Where the measured power is substantially comprised of adjacent channel power, the channel is removed from the list of channels to acquire (316).


Aspects of ecology and reproduction of small mammals in a heathland community near Anglesea were investigated in the field by means of mark-recapture trapping. Population size, animal movements and reproductive state were estimated. The floristic and structural habitat preferences were also determined. The most common species were Antechinus stuartii, A. minimus maritimus, Sminthopsis leucopus, Rattus fuscipes assimilis and R. lutreolus. For Antechinus the populations were maximal throughout February-June (A. stuartii) and December-June (A. minimus) inclusive. A marked decline in numbers of Antechinus during late winter and early spring was associated with the total loss of males from the population. The maximal numbers of animals (per hectare) were 21 (A. stuartii), 14 (A. m. maritimus), 14 (R. f. assimilis) 7 (R. lutreolus), and 8 (S. leucopus). Young were born to A. m. maritimus during August, and 1 month later to A. stuartii. R. f. assimilis bred during late winter and spring, and S. leucopus from September to November. None of the species showed an overall preference for any floristic or structural vegetation type. This study confirms male 'die-off' in A. m. maritimus. The data also indicate that the difference in breeding times of A. m. maritimus between Anglesea and Dartmoor, Vic., is due to climatic or habitat differences rather than to sympatry with A. stuartii.


How to evaluate the groundwater resources of the incomplete groundwater system on the west bank of the Yellow River in the Northern Shaanxi Energy and Chemical Industry Base is a difficult problem. In this study a regional model (1 km×1 km) was constructed, which provided specified head boundaries for the imbedded model (100 m×100 m). By using the results of simulation of six different exploitation plans, the influence of water mining on the adjacent well fields and the regional groundwater system was analyzed, and the interrelation between various sub-spring domains of the Tianqiao karst system and influence of the construction of the Wanjiazhai Reservoir on groundwater circulation was identified. At last the exploitable water resources in the water source area on the west bank of the Yellow River is estimated at 60×104 m3/d.


A retrospective record review was made of virologic, immunologic and clinical data obtained over the first year (1996) during which testing for plasma HIV RNA levels was a routine procedure at the University of Texas Hermann Hospital for the purpose of identification of characteristics associated with progressing or regressing infection. At one year after the introduction of HIV RNA testing, patients were classified based on changes in plasma HIV RNA as having increased (progression, P), waning (regression, R) or unchanged (stable, S) levels of infection. Classification as P or R was based on a change of >0.5 log10 HIV RNA copies/ml between first and year-end determinations. Notable findings (Table) included that patients with low levels of entry HIV RNA comprised the majority of progressors, that increased HIV RNA associated with a decline in CD4 and that progressors were less likely to receive treatment with combined antiretrovial drugs or have had their antiretroviral therapy regimen changed during the year.


X-ray digital image intensifier is an important part of X-ray imaging system.However,defective pixels and low signal to noise ratio(SNR) exist in the X-ray digital image intensifiers.Firstly,a dynamic noise reduction algorithm to improve the quality of noise reduction in the moving environment is proposed.Secondly,a detection and correction algorithm for defective pixels is presented.Finally,two algorithms are applied successfully in the self-designed X-ray digital image intensifier prototype.


Stable thin films made from polyionic complex didodecyldimethylammonium polystyrenesulfonate (2C12N+PSS−) with incorporated myoglobin (Mb) on pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrodes were characterized by voltammetry and other techniques. The Mb-2C12N+PSS− films showed a pair of near reversible CV peaks for MbFe(III)/Fe(II) couple at about −0.19 V vs. SCE in pH 5.5 buffers. The electron transfer between Mb and PG electrodes was greatly enhanced in 2C12N+PSS− films. MbFe(I) was also produced in these films at about −1.08 V, and could be used to catalytically reduce some organohalide pollutants. The potential applications of the film electrode as a sensor for detecting the organohalides are discussed.


Airborne 3D imager, which integrates global positioning system (GPS), attitude measurement unit (AMU), scanning laser range finder(SLR) and spectrum imager, is a new airborne remote sensing technology system. It can generate geo\|referenced image (orthographic image) without ground control points and it uses the laser points distributed in the image to rectify raw image. SLR and spectrum imager use the same optical system which ensure the image and laser point to be matched closely. The calculation of 3D position of laser point is the key to the 3D imager. According to geometry principle, the position of laser point can be determined if the space position of airplane is surveyed by GPS, the attitude of the airplane is surveyed by AMU and the range from air to ground is measured by SLR. In this paper the principle and data structure of 3D imager is introduced first, then the procedure of calculating the position of laser point is presented in detail based on the design principle of the imager. A processing example that is a part of flight test in South China is given in the end to verify the feasibility of the algorithm.


The paper deals with detection and location of faults in underground cable network. For precision a three step process is followed in this paper, with creation of transmission system model using a Matlab/Simulink and followed by creation of faults in the system. In second step the Fourier analyzed fault voltages and currents obtained from the SIMULINK model are fed to the training set of artificial neural network (ANN) in order to detect the type of fault. In the last step, an independent software OrCad is used to locate the fault distance from the either ends using the principle of time domain reflectometry in a simulated practical underground distribution system.


Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in premature newborns (gestational age < 37 weeks) and / or birth weight £ 1,500g and those with risk factors, born at the Dr. Homero de Miranda Gomes Regional Hospital in Sao Jose (HRSJ) between January 2007 and January 2011. Methods: Cross-sectional, retrospective, observational and analytical study. Data were obtained from medical records at the HRSJ. Results: The presence of 37.81% of retinopathy in newborns was observed, with stage 1 being the most prevalent. No statistical difference was found between the sexes (p = 0.993). The presence of ROP was higher in the group with PN < 1,000 grams (83.33%), evaluated over 6sixweeks of age and with gestational ages less than 32 weeks (49.48%). Risk factors with statistical significance were: oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, patent ductus arteriosus, perinatal asphyxia, respiratory distress syndrome, blood transfusions, intraventricular hemorrhage, sepsis, neonatal infection and hyaline membrane disease. Conclusion: It is concluded that: the gender factor and multiple pregnancy were not statistically significant. The newborns with lower birth weight and gestational age have an increased risk for developing ROP. Regarding oxygentherapy, the prevalence is higher in the exposed and proportional to the period of oxygen.


considering a) that it is sometimes desirable to be able to interconnect radio-relay systems on international circuits in the 6 GHz band at radio frequencies; b) that, in a frequency band 500 MHz wide, it may be desirable to interconnect up to eight go and eight return channels; c) that economy may be achieved if at least four go and four return channels can be interconnected between systems, each of which uses common transmit-receive antennas; d) that many interfering effects can be substantially reduced by a carefully planned arrangement of the radio frequencies in radio-relay systems employing several radio-frequency (RF) channels; e) that the use of certain types of modulation permits the use of the RF channel arrangements defined for 1 800 telephone channel systems for the transmission of digital channels with a bit rate of the order of 140 Mbit/s or synchronous digital hierarchy bit rates; f) that for these digital radio systems, further economies are possible by accommodating up to eight go and eight return channels on a single antenna; g) that it may sometimes be desirable to interleave additional RF channels between those of the main pattern; h) that there may be a desire to interconnect more than eight go and eight return RF channels, each with a capacity significantly lower than 1 800 telephone channels; j) that it is also highly desirable to be able to operate systems using a mix of analogue and digital radio channels on the same route,


Heart rhythm disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent with population aging. Atrial fibrillation ablation (AFA) is a procedure used to treat an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that starts in the heart's upper chambers. The AFA works by scarring or destroying heart tissue to disrupt aberrant conduction pathways causing the arrhythmia. In hospital cardiac units, a flexible catheter with integrated metal electrode is currently used for the AFA procedure. Despite advances, existing cardiac catheter tips are driven by cable mechanisms which are associated with high nonlinear hysteresis and force loss. In addition, they are also limited to rigid components which require multiple actuators to control the bending tip to reach the complex anatomical corners of the heart. This paper introduces a new soft hydraulic catheter that can achieve bidirectional bending motion via a single soft artificial muscle. The new catheter is also equipped with a portable handle as an ergonomic control interface. To validate the design concept, various prototypes are fabricated and tested including bending angles and generated force capability. Mathematical models for the bending arm are also developed and experimentally validated. The new soft catheter will enable rapid and precise manipulation to reach any target within the cardiac chambers, offering more rapid and focused ablation therapy to improve patient outcomes.


A method comprising: (a) selecting a first plant and a second plant, wherein the first floor and the second floor can be crossed to a plant fertile progeny present a heterosis related phenotype compared to the parental plants; (B) detecting structural variations between a genome DNA of the first plant and a second plant genome; and, (c) linking the structural variations with the heterosis-related phenotype using an evolutionary computational strategy iterated, thereby identifying structural variations that predict the expected degree of heterosis-related phenotype in the progeny plant; wherein, in step (b), (i) the structural variations are detected using a method of comparative genomic hybridization; or (ii) the structural variations are variations copy number.


The objectives of this community service activity are a) a) to increase the insight/knowledge of the youth about embroidery techniques and b) to improve the skills of the youth in making embroidery products. The implementation of this community service activity uses the workshop method. The workshop method is carried out with 2 (two) aspects, namely a) delivery of material on embroidery techniques and b) training in making embroidery products. This community service activity was carried out covering 3 (three) activities, including a) coordination with partners, namely youth organizations in Kedungotok Village, Tembelang Jombang District, b) preparation of workshop tools and materials, and c) implementation of workshop activities. This activity was attended by 20 young women in Kedungotok Village, Tembelang District, which was held at the Kedungotok Village Hall, Tembelang District, Jombang. The workshop activity was carried out on October 25-31 2021. The data for this community service activity was carried out through an assessment of participants' understanding of embroidery techniques and an assessment of participants' skills in making embroidery products. The results of the implementation of community service activities were obtained: a) the understanding of the young women increased by 24.56% where the percentage of understanding of the participants before the activity was 60.09% and the percentage of understanding of the participants after participating in the activity was 84.65%, b) the skills of the youth of Dusun Kedungboto Kedungotok Village, Tembelang Jombang Sub-district, belongs to the "High" category where 80% of participants in the high category and 20% of participants in the moderate category, and c) the average skill score of the youth of Kedungboto Hamlet, Kedungotok Village, Tembelang Jombang District is at a high average score. of 3.4. These products made by young women become a superior product of Kedungotok Village in entrepreneurship and awaken local MSME business actors to be able to compete with other business actors.


The process of diamond-turning makes possible the manufacture of large-aperture, long effective-focal-length collimators that are compact and lightweight. These properties make such collimators an excellent choice for automated testing of military electrooptical sensor systems. A series of experiments which were performed to analyze the use of diamond-tuned collimators in laser beam divergence measurements are discussed. The experiments show that beam divergence can be measured to high accuracy using diamond-turned collimators.<<ETX>>


We tested the independent prognostic impact of two commonly used biomarkers, C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), on allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) outcomes. Consecutive patients who underwent a uniform reduced intensity regimen of fludarabine, melphalan and alemtuzumab were evaluated. Cryopreserved sera drawn before conditioning was available to measure CRP and IL-6 levels from 81 and 79 patients, respectively. Patients having CRP values above the median of 18.5 mg/L had significantly more grade 3 to 4 hepatic toxicity ( P = 0.08), longer HCT hospital stay ( P = 0.005), more aGVHD ( P = 0.003), greater non-relapse mortality (NRM) ( P =0.01) and inferior overall survival ( P =0.02). Higher baseline CRP also correlated with more grade 3 to 4 infectious toxicity ( P = 0.09). In contrast, pre-HCT IL-6 levels above the median of 78.3 pg/ mL, did not confer a statistically significant increased risk of toxicities or mortality. Elevated hematopoietic cell transplantation-comorbidity index (HCT-CI) did not predict for any measure of transplantation


In the article are discussed problems of multilevel higher education system of professional preparation in Russia and caused by them necessity of clear definition of conceptual thoughtful and methodical fundamentals, forming basic and core competences of professional managers. And also requirements for managers, who are able to rule modern organizations, are marked.


In the present study, the thermo‐mechanical controlled processing (TMCP) technology was applied to produce Ti–Nb–Mo microalloyed hot‐rolled steels. The strength at the tail of a strip coil is often found to be non‐uniform. The microstructural and the mechanical properties of the specimens in the outermost circle as well as in the third circle and the fifth circle from the outermost circle were analyzed in detail. The optical microscopy (OM) and the electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) techniques are employed for the characterization of ferrite grains and grain boundaries. The precipitates were revealed by high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR‐TEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). It is found that the precipitation strengthening induced by nano‐scale (Ti, Nb, Mo)C particles was the dominant factor for the disparity in properties in different positions of the coil tail. The volume fraction of nano‐scale (Ti, Nb, Mo)C particles increases from 0.220% in the outermost circle to 0.343% in the fifth circle. In addition, the lattice planes of (110)α and (100)(Ti, Nb, Mo)C followed a Baker‐Nutting orientation relationship. Nano‐scale (Ti, Nb, Mo)C particles mainly precipitated in ferrite grains during coiling and subsequent cooling. Furthermore, different cooling rates along the strip had inconspicuous influences on the grain size and lengths of ferrite grain boundaries.


EDITOR—Delamothe mentions several initiatives to provide free access to biomedical literature.1 Medline is a medical database that may be enough for a general search and is accessible free via PubMed (pubmed.gov/). For a comprehensive search, however, it can be important to search other databases too. The choice depends on the subject area, how much time you have, and whether you can access databases that charge (the American and United Kingdom governments provide free access to some databases).

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews is a key source for …


In this paper we analyse the equilibrium degree of commitment in monetary policy to an independent central banker whose preferences are imperfectly observed by private agents. We characterize the incentive compatible strategies by a central bank in office for two periods with no restrictions on its type space. The equilibrium level of commitment is also characterized. We show that when incentive compatibility constraints are binding for a non trivial subset of types of central banks the equilibrium level of commitment involves bunching: different types of rational governments commit monetary policy to similar institutions.


Correct posture refers to a posture that an individ -ual erects spine straight maintaining human's natu -ral lines of spine. It refers to a posture that burdenshuman body the least at a balanced posture withoutbeing biased back and forth or left and right(1). Sucha balanced body type collapses by bad habits, exer-cise, labor, accident or shock in everyday lives. Inparticular, as incorrect living habits caused by stu -dents' excessive use of computer, lack of educationon health care, lack of exercise, inappropriate learn -ing attitude are likely to cause students' abnormaldevelopment in various shapes because it may influ -ence their muscular form and changes in skeletalstructure, maintaining a correct posture in everydaylives is very important(2). With the popularization ofcomputer, frequent computer users such as studentsand office workers are complaining of abnormalitiesin muscles and bones around neck and shouldermore frequently(3, 4, 5). In particular, if they keepmaintaining a static posture such as watching amonitor for long time, it may cause a bad posture,which is influenced by gravity(6). The most repre -sentative postural deformity is forward head pos -ture(FHP). In FHP, head comes forward, whichincreases the moment of neck bending and causescompensative bending of upper neck joint andatlantooccipital articulation to fixate eyes toward thefront, which leads to reduced muscles in head andrear part of neck and upper cevical is protruded rel-atively forward(7). Continuous incorrect posturecauses Upper Crossed Syndrome, which weakensdeep flexors such as rhomboids, srratus anterior, andlower trapezius, shortens pectoralis major, pectoralisminor, upper trapezius, and levator scapular(5, 8, 9),and causes pains in head, temporomandibular joint,cervical, thoracic, shoulder, and arm(10, 11). Manyresearchers reported that they need to take a thera -peutic approach to stretch shortened muscles andstrengthen weakened muscles in arranging a posturein order to improve FHP(10, 12, 13). Evjenth-Hamberg Stretching(EHS), one of the stretchingmethods, is a method to combine isometric contrac -tion and static stretching in agonistic muscles andantagonistic muscles(14). Continuous antagoniststrengthening(CAS) is a method to maximize thestretching effect of agonistic muscles by applying theantagonist strengthening exercise applied in EHScontinuously.


This article outlines the architecture of a cloud data center with low energy consumption for the HVAC system of a large gymnasium, and deeply analyzes the system form, equipment selection and configuration, energy-saving technical measures, etc.; evaluates the energy efficiency level through system research and design data calculations. In the operation management stage, theoretical analysis combined with operation experience to optimize the design framework and operation mode. The main air-conditioning energy-saving technologies should be able to provide corresponding technical support for the construction of HVAC projects. In addition, in the construction of HVAC projects, it is necessary to fully consider the actual construction and construction factors affecting HVAC projects. The analysis results show that energy consumption is reduced by 6.7%


The purpose of this research is to select the attributes that best influence student retention and build a model that can predict student retention. A longitudinal dataset for 2353 college students from a private higher education institute in Taiwan for the 2003 to 2005 academic years was used for the study. Cross-tabulation and Pearson tests were used for attribute selection. Two prediction models using the same attributes were built: one using logistic regression and another one using SVM. Logistic regression found five attributes to significantly affect to dropout: major, residence, GPA, loan and absenteeism. The SVM prediction model was found to have better prediction accuracy than logistic regression.


Working (operating) capital available for use is an important factor in the success of the business firm and the whole supply chain. Effective working capital management helps in balancing usage of capital, not only for the firm, but for the suppliers and the consumers too, that is in the best interests of all parties in the supply chain. The effects of such working capital management are particularly important for trading businesses. In this paper we discuss issues of the cash conversion cycle analysis (cash gap analysis) and the control of working capital in the case of trading companies in the Republic of Croatia, with special emphasis on the effects in the supply chain management of the trading company.


The development of liver diseases has very close associations with medical imaging,which provided more examination methods for liver diseases. Medical imaging can effectively improve the teaching quality of the liver diseases teaching and study. It is important to collect the medical imaging through various means and set up medical imaging resources library for liver diseases teaching.


Films of PVC containing LiCF3SO3 and SiO2 as filler were prepared by the solution cast technique. The effect of filler concentration on various frequency‐dependent immittance responses of PVC‐LiCF3SO3‐SiO2 complexes were investigated by impedance spectroscopy for temperatures in the range of 173 to 373 K. The immittance responses revealed the films to be ionic conductors while ac conductivity spectra revealed the films to obey the power law feature of σ(ω)∝ωn. This feature became more predominant as temperature increases.


The literary review focuses on the studies of the posterior segment of the eye in patients with keratoconus. Anomalies in the development of the optic disk and changes in the macular area in keratoconus as well as in keratoconus combined with optic neuritis were detected using OCT, laser tomography and visual evoked potentials. The issue has not received complete solution yet. The publications are few due to the fact that it is difficult to visualize the fundus in patients with keratoconus because of high refraction errors and astigmatism of the cornea, which hampers the assessment of changes in the eye fundus. For citation: Ioyleva E.E., Safonenko A.Y. Changes in the posterior segment of the eye in patients with keratoconus. Russian ophthalmological journal. 2018; 11 (1): 99-102. doi: 10.21516/2072-0076-2018-11-1-99-102 (In Russian).


any techniques have been used for tracheal intubation of patients with known or sus- pected cervical spine disease (1). Some au- thors recommend a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB) for initial intubation of these patients (2), and report a success rate near 100% (3). Others emphasize limitations of the FOB, noting that it is technically difficult to use and that it breaks easily (4). In one study, FOB intubation in an emergency room was successful only 72% of the time (5). The Bullard laryngoscope (BL) also has been used for endotracheal intubation in cases of cervical spine instability. We recently treated a 13-yr-old child with Klippel-Feil syndrome (a segmentation-fusion anom- aly of Ci-J, congenital odontoid subluxation, and marked stenosis of the cervicomedullary junction, un- dergoing odontoid resection and halo application. This child's trachea was easily and rapidly intubated with the BL after failed attempts by experienced op- erators using the FOB, and one failed attempt at direct laryngoscopy with cervical immobilization (6). We, therefore, designed a study to directly compare the FOB and the BL with respect to rapidity of glottic visualization and intubation, and anatomic features predicting difficult intubation in patients requiring cervical immobility during endotracheal intubation.


Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland Background and Goal of Study: Besides morbidity and mortality quality of recovery has benn recommended as an important outcome after anaesthesia [1]. The SF-36 – a validated quality of life score – was used to show advantages of epidural anesthesia [2]. The quality of recovery score (QoR) was validated in English and German [3]. Quality of recovery after hepatic resection is unknown. We assessed the feasibility of the SF-36 and QoR (German versions) to determine the time course of postoperative quality of life and recovery. Methods: In 13 patients scheduled for hepatic resection a thoracic epidural was used for pain management and general anaesthesia was standardized. The SF-36 (7-day recall) was recorded preoperatively and at postoperative day 7 (pod7). The QoR was performed preoperatively and at pod1, pod3, pod5 and pod7. In addition the duration of interviews was recorded. Results and Discussions: Physical and mental health decreased at pod7. QoR-duration of interview was shorter than SF-36 preop (by 8min) and at pod 7 (by 5.6 min) (p 0.001).


Among the species of Phytophthora reported in Brazil, Pnicotianae is the most frequent with a wide host range including citrus. Several studies show that the host range and aggressiveness levels vary among isolates of this pathogen. The objective of this study was to determine the pathogenicity of three isolates of P nicotianae obtained from soil collected from orange orchards infested with this species on tomato fruits (hybrid Kombat), custard apple, papaya cv. Formosa, guava cv. Paluma, okra cv. Santa Cruz and swollen roots of cassava cv. Isabel de Souza and carrot cv. Nova Brasilia under laboratory conditions. The inoculation of the isolates was performed through wound by using a disk removed from colonies grown in carrot-agar modified medium. The evaluation was made four and six days after inoculation for the fruits and roots, respectively. The isolates were pathogenic to all tested hosts.


The relationships between decadal (>5‐year period) observed winter precipitation (PP) variability over Europe and atmospheric circulation and sea surface temperature (SST) during the period 1950–1995 are investigated. More than 48% of the decadal precipitation variability is described by two modes: a meridional dipolar pattern (high PP over northern Europe and low over southern Europe, the Mediterranean and most of central Europe) explaining about 32% of the variance, and an alternating pattern in latitude over Europe (high in central Europe and low in far north‐western Europe and the Mediterranean) explaining about 16% of the variance. The first mode is strongly related to the North Atlantic Oscillation.


The channelized receiver, which is optimal for the detection of unknown noncoherent frequency-hopped waveforms, bases its decisions on a fixed-length block of input data. A sequential method of interception is presented according to which whenever a new data element is collected, a decision is made as to the presence or nonpresence of a frequency-hopped waveform. If that decision is indeterminate, another data element is collected. An optimal sequential test is derived, under the assumption that the waveform signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is known. It is shown that this sequential test requires less data, on average, than the fixed-length method to make a decision with the same reliability. A truncated sequential test is also derived where a decision is forced, if still indeterminate, after some fixed amount of data is collected. The truncated test is shown to improve the number of samples needed for a decision when the input SNR differs greatly from that assumed in the derivation of the test. Furthermore, it is shown that the truncated test yields a limited degree of robustness when the input SNR differs from that assumed. >


The changeable cartoon man's form is a very important novel in contemporary The Trend of The Reflxitivity Literary Thoughts.The theme of this novel is that showing the embarrassment of the educated man in the cultural confliction between Chinese culture and the Western's.Through the characters' speech,the writer Mr.Wang Meng expressed his thought of the Chinese traditional culture and his effort to find our own spirit paradise.The confliction between the individual and the collective is the fundamental contradiction of this novel and the writer's deeply heart.When the writer confront this inevitable contradiction,he chooses to come back to the traditional philosophy.And then,take this novel in the globalization context in order to reflexitive the reflexivity in the novel,making effort in establish one point——we should re-build a cultural context for the full development of man in 21century.


The Departamento Nacional da Producao Mineral (DNPM - Brazilian Authority of Mineral Production), through stateowned exploration company CPRM, executed from 1975 to 1981 an exhaustive coal exploration programme in the southern most State of Rio Grande do Sul, determining an almost continuous coaldbelt of some hundreds of kilometers E-W extension and a width of some tenth kilometers N-S. This coaldbelts extends from the Atlantic Coast in the East, through Porto Alegre up to Cachoeira do Sul in the West. The Coal Measures are restricted to the Lower Gondwana Sequence Rio Bonito Formation, of Permian Age. They were formed in epirogenic intraplatform-basins, in straight relationship to the ancient relief.  One of the greater individual basins is the Morungava-South, where 83 drill-holes explorated a 90 km 2  area. Some tenth of meters above the cristaline basement, the Coal Measures here consist of up to nine seams, three of economic interest (mean thicknesses are 1,07, 1,21, and 2,10 m), in a sequence of only 18 m of grey, pelitic sediments. The coal lies in depth between 100 m in the South and 350 m in the North, with a regional dip of 1o to 2°.  While disturbed by basaltic dikes and sills, major fault systems are not known within this basin. Coal is of the dul-layered type, rich in mineral content disseminated within the coal and also as well defined layers. Rank is High Volatile Bituminous B/C, with low coking properties (FSI = 1,5). Mean contents are ash: 53% and sulfur: 1,6%. Reserve base in situ - 600 x 10 6  t. Reserve base ROM - 360 X 10 6  t. Sellable production varies with grade required, between 117 x 10 6  t and 192 x 10 6  t of steam coal.  Mining method proposed is longwall-caving system.


BAFF plays a central role in B-lineage cell biology; however, the regulation of BAFF-binding receptor (BBR) expression during B cell activation and differentiation is not completely understood. In this study, we provide a comprehensive ex vivo analysis of BBRs in human B-lineage cells at various stages of maturation, as well as describe the events that drive and regulate receptor expression. Our data reveal that B-lineage cells ranging from naive to plasma cells (PCs), excluding bone marrow PCs, express BAFF-R uniformly. In contrast, only tonsillar memory B cells (MB) and PCs, from both tonsil and bone marrow tissues, express BCMA. Furthermore, we show that TACI is expressed by MB cells and PCs, as well as a subpopulation of activated CD27 neg B cells. In this regard, we demonstrate that TACI is inducible early upon B cell activation and this is independent of B cell turnover. In addition, we found that TACI expression requires activation of the ERK1/2 pathway, since its expression was blocked by ERK1/2-specific inhibitors. Expression of BAFF-R and B cell maturation Ag (BCMA) is also highly regulated and we demonstrate that BCMA expression is only acquired in MB cells and in a manner accompanied by loss of BAFF-R expression. This inverse expression coincides with MB cell differentiation into Ig-secreting cells (ISC), since blocking differentiation inhibited both induction of BCMA expression and loss of BAFF-R. Collectively, our data suggest that the BBR profile may serve as a footprint of the activation history and stage of differentiation of normal human B cells. The Journal of Immunology, 2007, 179: 7276–7286. TNF 3 development homeostasis first BAFF-deficient mice, a block in B cell maturation a of transitional 2 and human B-lineage cells. Our results demonstrating the coordinated regulation of all three receptors begin to suggest unique functions for each receptor. Specifically, our results suggest for the first time that TACI immediately upon B cell activation and through pathway. we prove and suggesting that the down-regulation of BAFF-R may in cell differentiation into and More broadly, our results suggest the possibility that the BBR of identifying activation of cell and, such, may also have utility in identifying transformation B cell malignancies.


The invention discloses a low-height prefabricated box girder internal mold and a construction method thereof. The internal mold comprises an external mold and the internal mold arranged inside the external mold; the internal mold comprises a bottom template and a top template arranged above the bottom template, wherein, the two side edges of the top template are respectively connected with a first upper side template in a welding way, the side edge of the bottom template of the internal mold is connected with the lower side edge of a lower side template in a pin joint way, the lower side edge of a second upper side template is connected with the upper side edge of the lower side template in a welding way; a plurality of steel ear plates provided with holes are arranged on the bottom template, a through long connecting rod connected with a threaded sleeve is arranged in each hole, the two ends of a plurality of mandrils are respectively connected with the top template and the through long connecting rod by articulating equipment; two rows of sliding rods are respectively arranged on the bottom template, a sliding sleeve which is matched with the sliding rod in a sliding way is inserted on each sliding rod, and each sliding sleeve is respectively connected with the lower side template by a side connecting rod in a pin joint way. The adoption of the internal mold leads to large rigidity and small deformation, and the adoption of the method leads to fast installation and convenient withdrawing.


This article describes a library renovation project in a community college that involved using existing space and reorganizing it to support the way students learn both individually and collaboratively. The article also looks at the importance of the academic library as place.


The main problems existing in current textbooks of school physical education theory and the assumption of setting up the system and contents in a new textbook of school physical education theory were discussed. The reform of school physical education theory textbooks should be based on the characteristics and laws of school physical education. Attention should be paid to absorbing the forward looking theoretical research achievements.


In order to gain further insight into the role of substitution of Ru by Nb on superconductivity, polycrystalline samples of Ru1−xNbxSr2Eu1.4Ce0.6Cu2O10−δ  (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) have been synthesized by solid-state reaction method. Substitution of Nb at the Ru site in the system takes place isostructurally in the tetragonal structure (space group I4/mmm) with full solubility (x = 1.0). Superconductivity exists for all compositions. Resistivity measurements in function of temperature from 0 to 300 K were done using the four-probe technique. It is found that the substitution of Ru5


6021 Background: Camrelizumab is a fully humanized, monoclonal antibody against PD-1. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of camrelizumab plus apatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting VEGFR2, in patients with advanced cervical cancer. Methods: In this open-label, single-arm, phase 2 study done at four centres in China, eligible patients were aged 18–70 years, had an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1, progressed after at least one line of systemic chemotherapy for metastatic, recurrent or persistent cervical cancer, and had measurable disease. Patients received camrelizumab 200 mg every 2 weeks and apatinib 250 mg once daily. Treatment continued until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, and withdrawal of consent. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR) assessed by RECIST version 1.1. An optimal Simon two-stage design was employed to test the null hypothesis of a 17% ORR versus 35% alternative (1-sided alpha 0.10, 80% power), if > 3 responses out of the first 16 patients were observed, then the study would continue to enroll a total of 44 patients. Results: Between Jan 21st, 2019, and Aug 1st, 2019, 45 patients were enrolled and received study treatment (safety population). The median age was 51 (range, 33–67) years. Median previous treatment lines were 2 (range, 1–4). As of Jan 22, 2020, median follow-up was 9.2 months (range, 2.4–12.2). 25 (59.5%; 95%: CI 44.7–74.4) of 42 patients who had at least one post-baseline tumor assessment (efficacy evaluable population) achieved an objective response, including two (4.8%) complete response, and 23 (54.8%) partial response. Median duration of response was not reached. The disease control rate was 88.1% (37/42). Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 7.6 months (95% CI: 5.8–not reached). 31 (68.9%) patients had grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs). Grade ≥ 3 TRAEs occurring in ≥ 5% of patients were hypertension (24.4%), anemia (20.0%), fatigue (15.6%), γ-glutamyltransferase increased (13.3%), neutropenia (6.7%), and thrombocytopenia (6.7%). In post-hoc analyses, objective response was noted in 20 (69%) of 29 patients with PD-L1-positive tumors, and in 5 (50.0%) of 10 patients with PD-L1-negative tumors (Chi-square test, P = 0.281). PFS was longer in patients with PD-L1-positive tumors than patients with PD-L1-negative tumors (median PFS: 9.6 versus 5.3 months; log-rank test, P = 0.017). Conclusions: Camrelizumab plus apatinib showed promising antitumor activity and tolerable toxicities in patients with advanced cervical cancer. Clinical trial information: NCT03816553.


Focusing on the modern urban life,"new urban novels" are faced with the cultural and desirous experience in the process of urbanization and establish the narrative law of the tendency of desire so as to make the experience in the daily life the new basis of urban novel creation.It aims at researching the poetic and valuable daily life,the value and significance of which lie in the daily life on the basis of philosophical existence.The new urban novels display the profound human sensitivity through the aesthetic comprehension and creation.


Objective To investigate the safety and clinical value of treadmill exercise testing for the patients with acute myocardial infarction in the early recovery.Methods 36 patients with acute myocardial infarction performed treadmill exercise testing with Bruce protocol 15~57 d after infarction.Results The outcome of 19 cases was positive,and the outcome of other 16 cases was negative.1 case couldn't finish the testing,whose outcome could not be analyzed because his exercise time was too short.The average cardic fuction was (5.42±3.12) METs.Conclusion It is safe that the patients with acute myocardial infarction performed treadmill exercise testing early.


The invention relates to a modular Gelenkspacer system for screwing together a Gelenkspacers, which is provided for temporary replacement of an artificial joint, said Gelenkspacer system at least two via a screw (5, 6, 12) connectable modules (1, 2), wherein a first module (1) of the Gelenkspacer system has a surface for forming a sliding surface of the joint of the Gelenkspacers and a second module (2) of the Gelenkspacer system has a shaft for connection to a bone, in which via the screw (5, 6, 12) connectable modules (1, 2) for each screw (5, 6, 12) at least one screw lock (8, 18), wherein the at least one screw lock (8, 18) with one of the modules (1, 2) is connected or in one piece with a module (1, 2) is executed. The invention also relates to a method for constructing a joint spacer with such a joint spacer system, in which the joint spacer is screwed together from at least two modules (1, 2) which, depending on the anatomy and / or the treatment situation, are made up of a plurality of different modules (1, 2) are selected, wherein the modules (1, 2) are screwed together such that the screw locks (8, 18) prevents loosening or unscrewing the modules (1, 2). Finally, the invention relates to the use of a joint spacer made from such a joint spacer system as a temporary placeholder for an artificial joint.


&NA; The psychotherapy of a man with ulcerative colitis is reported in which a psychological crisis preceded remission of bowel dysfunction. This turning point featured hypnagogic hallucinations and dreams, including phenomena reported by Isakower, Lewin, Rycroft, and others. The deeper psychological meaning of the illness and the crisis is seen as the patient's attempt to incorporate a constant, consistently gratifying maternal image.


To maximize the use of available resources provided onboard the International Space Station, the development of an efficient lighting 1 system is critical to the overall performance of the CPBF. Not only is it important to efficiently generate photon energy, but thermal loads on the CPBF Temperature and Humidity Control System must be minimized. By utilizing optical coatings designed to produce highly diffuse reflectance in the visible wavelengths while minimizing reflectance in the infrared region, the design of the fluorescent light module for the CPBF is optimized for maximum photon flux, spatial uniformity and energy efficiency. Since the Fluorescent Light Module must be fully enclosed to meet (ISS) requirements for containment of particulates and toxic materials, heat removal from the lights presented some unique design challenges. By using the Express Rack moderate C, temperature-cooling loop, heat is rejected by means of a liquid/air coolant manifold. Heat transfer to the manifold is performed by conduction using copper fins, by forced air convection using miniature fans, and by radiation using optically selective coatings that absorb in the infrared wavelengths. Using this combination of heat transfer mechanisms builds in redundancy to prevent thermal build up and premature bulb failure.


Harbin International Trade Meeting is one of the most great foreign exchange meeting authorized by China's Foreign Trade and Economic cooperation Department. It is the ligament to connect Northeast Asian trade and also the window and bridge for China to develop Russia as well as world market.


This observational study was planned to identify the major etiological factors associated with ARDS. A total of 40 patients admitted in Intensive care unit of Sri Aurobindo Medical College and PG institute, Indore and developed ARDS were recruited for the study. A detailed pre structure proforma was filled for each patient at the time of discharge. Infection was the main cause of ARDS in present study in the form on Sepsis(17), Pulmonary Infection(9) and H1N1 infection(8). 17 patients were died during the hospital stay. There was no significant association of etiology of ARDS and mortality. Candida and gram negative bacilli bacteria was the commonest organism identified in culture. No significant association of mortality was observed with Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and PaO2/FiO2. ARDS is mainly caused due to the infection.


A rapidly growing number of distance learning programs in science, engineering, and technology demands interactive online activities that are at least partially capable of replacing traditional hands-on practice and experimentation. To address these needs a series of multistage virtual laboratories on fiber optics and wireless communications have been developed. These labs are designed to enhance the understanding of technical concepts and fundamental principles by facilitating virtual but realistic experimentation. The virtual labs can be linked with related hands-on labs to form hybrid laboratories. Virtual labs contain expandable sets of virtual experiments, learning resources, and assessment activities. An easy-to-use tool that enables instructors with no programming experience to produce appealing and pedagogically sound interactive virtual activities is available as well. This paper presents a set of interactive simulations and virtual experiments and discusses their applications for Fiber Optics, Photonics, and Telecom education courses, for onsite, online, and hybrid (blended onsite and online) delivery modes.


The invention discloses a furniture connection screw nut anti-loosening structure, which comprises a screw nut body with a threaded hole, wherein the upper end surface of the threaded hole adjacent to the screw nut body is provided with a circle of groove, a notch for communicating the outer side wall of the screw nut body and the threaded hole is formed in the upper end surface of the screw nut body, the bottom surface of the notch is aligned with the bottom surface of the groove, and an anti-loosening gasket with an opening is arranged in the groove. The furniture connection screw nut anti-loosening structure has the advantages that the loosening of the screw nut after the fastening can be prevented, the structure is simple, and the anti-loosening performance is good.


The Tamtsag Basin is located in the extreme eastern portion of the Mongolia. The Basin and its counterpart in China (the Hailar Basin) are united a whole basin on the structural setting. In recent years, the Tamtsag Basin attracts more and more attention with the important exploration discovered in the 19th block by SOCO and in Hailar Basin of China. This paper discusses the exploration potential of Tamtsag Basin from the viewpoint of petroleum geology.


We begin 2011 with a question for debate, namely, the link between diet and mood and whether the latter is predicated on the former alone. Soh and Walter (1) provide an erudite exposition of this issue that is then promptly juxtaposed by an original article by Feng and colleagues (2) that examines a gene polymorphism association across mood disorders by way of meta-analysis. The affective theme continues with Li and colleagues (3) who report on the dose-related effects of an antidepressant in the hippocampus in the context of chronic stress. Brain Bytes also examines mood, more specifically bipolar disorder, and succinctly ties together the findings from psychiatric and genetic studies of bipolar binocular rivalry (4). Intertwined amongst these 'emotional' papers are a suite of articles that focus on aspects of schizophrenia. Schuster and colleagues provide a wonderful insight into Benedict Augustin Morel (5) the "pre-emptor" of schizophrenia with his coinage of dementia praecox. Yamada et al. (6) report on multifocal visual-evoked potentials in schizophrenia and the effects of treatment whilst Chang et al. (7), describe an augmentation strategy to treat treatmentresistant schizophrenia. In addition to all this wonderfulness this issue's Intervention Insights section introduces the concept of 'mind-emptiness' as part of meditation and its relation to mindfulness (8). However, if all of this proves too much to swallow then you will be reassured by our final Comment and Critique (9) that provides a practical solution for dysphagia, albeit in the context of neuropsychiatry.


A cruise chip having a plurality of decks, certain of the decks having a plurality of staterooms therealong, the plurality of spaced staterooms extending along one of the decks and a second plurality of spaced staterooms extending along another of the decks directly above the other of said decks, and a single central double height corridor extending inboard of the ship, each of the plurality of spaced staterooms and shared entryways coming from the single central corridor and leading into a pair of side by side staterooms, the corridor terminating in a transparent glass window spanning one the decks to the other of decks.


This is a book about social movements. Unlike most such books, it seeks to understand the phenomenon of social movements with a view to assist them (us) in discerning a way forward in the current political context of neoliberalism. The authors, who are both movement activists and academics, argue that neoliberalism is mortally wounded and seemingly unable to reinvent capitalism. This presents an opportunity for social movements. What they provide is not a blueprint or road map but rather a tool kit - a set of analytical resources which movement activists can use collectively to consider how to act, and which strategies might help to deliver another world.


Extended Abstract In this paper, we attempt to improve our understanding of the individual earnings dynamics and economic forces that affect it. There is a vast and very active literature estimating stochastic processes for individual earnings. The keen interest in determining the nature of these processes stems from the fact that the earnings process is a crucial ingredient of most models with incomplete insurance markets; it is typically estimated on the data and then fed into the model. Consider, for example, the following income process: where individual i 's log-income at time t , y it , is composed of the permanent component p it , and the transitory component, τ it (see, e.g., Meghir and Pistaferri 2004). If α p is close to one, the shocks ξ it are highly persistent (permanent if α p is one), and if θ ( L ) ≡ 1 (where θ ( L ) is a moving average polynomial in the lag operator L ), the shocks (cid:15) it are completely transitory. In the context of a simple savings model under incomplete insurance markets, household savings decisions, apart from other things such as unemployment insurance and pension provisions, will depend on the size and persistence of the shocks ξ it and (cid:15) it . It is reasonable to expect that the fit of an incomplete markets model (what wealth (the model) households should have at the retirement) to the data (what wealth households in fact accumulate for the retirement) will depend on the estimates of the variances and persistence of ξ it and (cid:15) it . However, in the literature on estimation of individual and household income processes there is no consensus on the extent of persistence of the shocks ξ it , as well as on the size of the shocks (cid:15) it and ξ it . Some papers in the 2010 issue of the Review of Economic Dynamics on the cross-sectional facts for macroeconomists


The effects of additive noise on coupled stochastic oscillators are investigated in a one-dimensional array of excitable elements in which the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction is localized. At the appropriate separation between adjacent elements, we find that the resonance effect becomes larger for the element being more apart from the first element when only the first element is subjected to the external noise. Furthermore, we find that phase locking between largely separated elements occurs via irregular oscillations of elements interposed between them. Experimental observations are approximately reproduced in a numerical simulation with a forced Oregonator reaction-diffusion model.


In 2010 an abnormally large number of German Longhaired Pointers (GLP) was offered for treatment of thyroid cancer. Pedigree analysis revealed a potential monogenic background. Histo-pathological examination revealed a variety of sub-types of thyroid cancer. In total 20 cases, ranging from 4.5 to 13 years old, and 28 controls were genotyped with the >170K CanineHD BeadChip. A GWAS resulted in a number of, and not in a single, genome wide suggestive peaks. This lead to the hypothesis that there are two types of thyroid cancer in the GLP of which only one is highly heritable. When only affected dogs younger than 7 years were included in the GWAS, a single region with 5 SNP in complete LD between cases and controls was detected. This result suggests the presence of a major gene that explains the onset of thyroid cancer in the German Longhaired Pointer.


The Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) operates thirteen treatment plants in the eastern Virginia area with a combined capacity of 231 million gallons per day (mgd). The Nansemond Treatment Plant (NTP) is one of the larger facilities, and is designed to treat 30 mgd using a 3-stage Virginia Initiative Process (VIP) biological nutrient removal (BNR) process. The majority of the influent is domestic, but there is also a large industrial contribution, particularly from a hog processing facility, landfill leachate, and significant loads from septage and grease deliveries (Bilyk et al, 2008). NTP is currently being upgraded to a 5-stage Bardenpho process to achieve improved total nitrogen (TN) removal. For several years starting in about 2001, NTP has experienced continuous and sporadic nitrification upsets that cannot be explained by plant operations events. Sporadic nitrification upsets are characterized by sharp increases in effluent ammonia and nitrite with decreases in nitrate concentrations due to reduced growth rates in bacteria. The result is reduced overall total nitrogen (TN) removal. Continuous inhibition is evidenced by a previous engineering report by Hazen and Sawyer, P.C. (2007), whereby it was suggested that the ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) maximum specific growth rate (μmax) be reduced from 0.9 to 0.57 days -1 . This has significant implications in terms of the required aeration volume for consistent nitrification at cold temperatures. The objective of this project was to determine whether the NTP influent wastewater does in fact exhibit inhibition to ammonia (AOB) and nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB), evaluated independently, and to determine the impact on polyphosphate accumulating organism activity


Introduction: The relative associations of eating patterns and BMI, particularly at different life stages in various ethnic group are poorly understood
Aims and Objectives: -To assess the influence of eating habits and physical activity on BMI, among medical students
-To find the association of variables such as age, gender, race, and other lifestyles on BMI among these students.
Methodology: Medical Students of both genders, aged 18 to 24 years ( 124 males and 198 females), from 3 main races- Malays (52.2%),Chinese(24.8%),Indians (20.4%) and others
(2.6%) of 3 consecutive batches (N= 324) of Melaka-Manipal Medical College (Manipal Campus) were included in the study. A survey questionnaire covering the areas related to demographic details, eating habits, types of food, exercise and lifestyle was used.The BMI was calculated from the weight (kg) & square of the height (m). Statistical Analysis: Descriptive Chi-squared analyses were used to examine group differences in prevalence of overweight and obesity between various subgroups of students.
Results: Though the mean BMI was within the normal range, significant gender variation was observed. Those who consumed dairy products, meat, egg and aerated drinks more than 5 times per day showed significant difference in BMI .When compared with age, the higher age group shows a tendency to be overweight and obese compared to the lower age group.
Conclusion: The Chinese were more underweight and the Indians were more towards overweight and obese when compared with Malays who in general had normal BMI.


Adhesives are of important materials in medicine applications. These materials are used in many applications such as disposal medical devices, structural bonds, bone cement, prostheses, etc.. In order to use these materials in medicine applications, the thermal properties of these materials should be evaluated. We measured the thermal properties of the adhesive which has been modified with Hycar rubber. It is found that increasing in Hycar leads to decrease in thermal properties of adhesive. This means that we can not increase the Hycar content beyond the critical value. Because this might result in diminishing adhesive efficiency especially in human bodies where the operation temperature reaches 37 centigrade degrees. Kharaji M Gh, Alimoradi F, Yekrangi A, Mohammadian E, Langari A. Study of Thermal Properties of Improved Adhesives for Medical Applications. Life Sci J 2012;9(2):1308-1310] (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 194


We have prepared cross-linked, bispecific mAb complexes (heteropolymers) that facilitate rapid and quantitative binding of a prototype pathogen, Escherichia coli , to the complement receptor (CR1) on primate erythrocytes. Incubation of the erythrocyte-heteropolymer- E. coli complexes with freshly isolated human mononuclear cells leads to rapid removal of the E. coli from the erythrocytes, and phagocytosis and killing of the bacteria. The erythrocytes are not lysed or phagocytosed during this transfer reaction, but both heteropolymer and CR1 are removed from the erythrocytes along with the E. coli . These findings parallel observations made in previous in vivo experiments in which heteropolymers were used to facilitate clearance of innocuous prototype pathogens in a monkey model. It should now be possible to extend the heteropolymer paradigm to a live pathogen in a primate model. The Journal of Immunology, 1998, 160: 5088–5097.


Objective
To improve the clinical understanding of glucagonoma.

Methods
A total of 14 cases of glucagonoma were admitted to our hospital, and the clinical features of these cases were retrospectively analyzed.

Results
(1) The female/male case ratio was 1∶1. (2) The median age of onset was 47 years (range 33-61), while the median age at diagnosis was 50 years (range 33-64). (3) The most common initial presentation was necrolytic migratory erythema (7/14, 50%). (4) Hyperglycemia was the most common presentation at the time of diagnosis (14/14, 100%), followed by necrolytic migratory erythema (13/14, 92.9%). (5) The misdiagnosis rate before admission to our hospital was as high as 85.7% (12/14), and the most common misdiagnosis was eczema (7/12, 58.3%). (6) The median time from onset of probable symptoms to diagnosis was 4 years. (7) The median plasma glucagon level at diagnosis was 798 pg/ml (range 200-2 853). (8) The median length of the longest tumor diameter of the pancreatic tumors at diagnosis was 4.0cm (range 2.2-8.0). (9) 57.1% of primary pancreatic glucagonomas localized in the tail of the pancreas. (10) 57.1% of patients (8/14) had metastases at the time of diagnosis.

Conclusions
(1)Necrolytic migratory erythema is a relatively sensitive and specific symptom for diagnosis of glucagonoma. (2)The diagnosis for glucagonoma was often delayed, and misdiagnosis was common. (3)Most glucagonoma patients had metastases at the time of diagnosis. (Chin J Endocrinol Metab, 2018, 34: 909-914)

Key words:
Glucagonoma; Necrolytic migratory erythema; Diabetes mellitus; Neuroendocrine tumor.


Congenital leptin deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, characterized by hyperphagia and early onset obesity. Worldwide data on this disorder includes only 25 cases out of this only six pathogenic mutations have been reported in the leptin gene. Most of these cases have been reported in Central Punjab region of Pakistan, harboring a (p.Gly133fsX145) mutation in homozygous state. This mutation has founder effect in Arain caste from Central Punjab region of Pakistan. In this study, carrier frequency of (p.Gly133fsX145) mutation was determined in 50 individuals belonging to Arain caste. Analysis of amplicons contains p.Gly133fsX145 mutation were analyzed by different techniques such as SSCP, Heteroduplex analysis and sequencing. Mutation was not found in any individual studied. This finding suggests that frequency of (p.Gly133fsX145) mutation in Arain caste is not as higher as its predicted founder effect in congenitally obese children of this caste was anticipated.


expect them to appreciate the historical development of their divergent theoretical paths as well as to be competent to analyze our economic reality in a way that could shed light on our life and provide concrete suggestions for the improvement of the human condition. But if they are to remain economists, then econometrics should remain a tool used on the margins of theoretical breakthroughs, and not the exclusive means by which innovations may be discovered. —Raphael Sassower University of Colorado, Colorado Springs


A state-feedback controller was designed to simulate the Starling response of the heart in a mock circulatory system (MCS). The controller drives a voice coil actuator (VCA) to follow a reference volume, and thus generate the desired chamber pressure, by using position and speed feedbacks. The reference volume was adjusted according to the maximum ventricular elastance (Emax), end-systolic ventricular pressure, and left atrial pressure to respond to load variation in the MCS. The controller was tested in computer simulation by changing the load conditions and Emax of the MCS. The MCS along with the controller was able to reproduce human heart function from healthy to sick conditions. A rotary ventricular assist device (VAD) was then introduced in the simulation to test the MCS. The MCS was able to produce a consistent cardiac function even with the presence of the VAD. These results suggest that the new MCS control system is able to simulate the cardiac function for VAD test.


The paper tries to understand origin of the "smart city", and nature and trend of the city development. It also analyzes the focus of construction of the "smart city". For the objectives and tasks of construction of the "smart city" in Shanghai, the paper proposes seven guiding principles its planning and construction.


Emotional expressiveness is relevant for healthy functioning, and in the early years, both maturational and cultural aspects are configuring it. This study analyzed the change in emotional expressiveness in 99 children between 12, 18, 24 and 30 months of age, considering the ability to express pleasure and frustration and its intensity. The children's emotional expressiveness was assessed against tasks that elicited pleasure and frustration, and the IBQ-R-VSF was applied to evaluate temperament. It was observed that over time the number of children who expressed frustration decreased significantly. Furthermore, the intensity with which the children expressed pleasure and frustration also showed a significant reduction. Profiles were obtained that combined children's gender and temperament, and that showed different patterns of change in the emotional expressiveness of the children. These results are discussed from the perspective of the socialization of positive and negative emotions in Chilean culture.


There is interest in quantifying the accuracy of different material models being used in LS-DYNA today for the modeling of plastics. In our study, we characterize two ductile, yet different materials, ABS and polypropylene for rate dependent tensile properties and use the data to develop material parameters for the material models commonly used for plastics: MAT_024 and its variants. We then perform a falling dart impact test which produces a complex multi-axial stress state and simulate this experiment using LS-DYNA. We compare simulation to actual experiment thereby obtaining a measure of fidelity of the simulation to reality. In this way, we can assess the benefits of using a particular material model for plastics simulation.


The invention discloses a method for screening and identifying epitopes of hepatitis b virus specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which comprises the following steps: 1) preparing an artificial antigen presenting cell (aAPC) which loads any polypeptide; 2) loading the aAPC with epitope peptides; 3) allowing the aAPC loaded with the antigenic peptides to induce HBV antigen-specific CTL in vitro; 4) studying the anti-HBV function of the HBV antigen-specific CTL obtained in step 3) with a cell expressing HBV antigen as a target cell, wherein a cell expressing HBV antigen is used as a target cell which is a HepG2.2.15 cell; performing CTL killing experiment, HBV surface antigen determination, and HBV related gene DNA determination, respectively. The method is applicable to large-scale screening and identification of CTL epitopes.


In this paper, a six-cylinder-port hohlraum is proposed to provide high symmetry flux on capsule. It is designed to ignite a capsule with 1.2-mm radius in indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion (ICF). Flux symmetry and laser energy are calculated by using three-dimensional view factor method and laser energy balance in hohlraum. Plasma conditions are analyzed based on the two-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamic simulations. There is no Ylm (l ⩽ 4) asymmetry in the six-cylinder-port hohlraum when the influences of laser entrance holes (LEHs) and laser spots cancel each other out with suitable target parameters. A radiation drive with 300 eV and good flux symmetry can be achieved by using a laser energy of 2.3 MJ and peak power of 500 TW. According to the simulations, the electron temperature and the electron density on the wall of laser cone are high and low, respectively, which are similar to those of outer cones in the hohlraums on National Ignition Facility (NIF). And the laser intensity is also as low as those of NIF outer cones. So the backscattering due to laser plasma interaction (LPI) is considered to be negligible. The six-cyliner-port hohlraum could be superior to the traditional cylindrical hohlraum and the octahedral hohlraum in both higher symmetry and lower backscattering without supplementary technology at an acceptable laser energy level. It is undoubted that the hohlraum will add to the diversity of ICF approaches.


The retrospective time integration scheme presented on the principle of the self-memory of the atmosphere is applied to the mesoscale grid model MM5, constructing a mesoscale self-memorial model SMM5 and then the short-range prediction experiments of torrential rain are performed in this paper. Results show that in comparison with MM5 the prediction accuracy of SMM5 is obviously improved due to its utilization of multiple time level past observations and the precipitation area and intensity predicted by SMM5 are closer to observational fields than those by MM5.


An exactly solvable model suitable for the description of single- and double-beta decay processes of the Fermi type is introduced. The model is equivalent to the exact shell-model treatment of protons and neutrons in a single-j shell. Exact eigenvalues and eigenvectors are compared to those corresponding to the Hamiltonian in the quasiparticle basis ~qp! and with the results of both the standard quasiparticle random phase approximation ~QRPA! and the renormalized one ~RQRPA!. The role of the scattering term of the quasiparticle Hamiltonian is analyzed. The presence of an exact eigenstate with zero energy is shown to be related to the collapse of the QRPA. The RQRPA and the qp solutions do not include this zero-energy eigenvalue in their spectra, probably due to spurious correlations. The meaning of this result in terms of symmetries is presented. @S0556-2813~97!03507-3# PACS number~s!: 21.60.Fw, 21.60.Jz, 23.40.Hc


The questions, which are related to the possibility of the recovery of radio images, are considered in the paper. 320


Music in Dublin in the eighteenth century has been a rather well
researched topic and the subject of a number of books and articles.
However, it is only when one tries to discover what life was like for the
musicians who chose to live in the country that one realises how little
research has been compiled and written on the subject.
Therefore, the intention of this thesis was to examine the musical
activity in Cork from 1750-1800, in order to establish a relatively
accurate description of what life was really like for the musicians and
members of the nobility living in Cork during that time.
The primary source of information in the thesis is from the various
Cork and Dublin newspapers. These include the earliest existing Cork
newspaper, the Corke Journal, which dates from December 1753, The
Cork Evening Post from 1758 and The New Cork Evening Post from
1791. The information gathered from these newspapers varies from
advertisements placed by music teachers, music sellers and instrument
makers. Also included are the theatre and concert notices which give
further details such as the venues, the performers, the variety of acts
and the ticket prices.


This experimental study investigates the impact of project-based learning (PjBL) on students' capacities for critical thinking, communication, creativity, and collaboration (i.e., the 4Cs). This study adopted a two-group experimental design comprising an experimental group, which received PjBL pedagogy, and a control group, which received traditional pedagogy. Of the 113 tenth graders from an agricultural and industrial vocational high school in central Taiwan, 55 were assigned to the experimental group, and 58 were assigned to the control group. The data were collected over one semester using scales to measure critical thinking, communication, creativity, and collaboration. Data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics, including distribution frequencies, percentages, mean values, standard deviations, and inferential statistics, including ANCOVA. The results revealed that the experimental group acquired significantly higher scores on the 4C scales than the control group, indicating that PjBL pedagogy is more effective than traditional pedagogy at improving students' 4C abilities. The experimental group students' post-test scores of 4C capacities were significantly higher than their pre-test scores, showing a significant enhancement in their 4C capabilities after receiving PjBL pedagogy. The study confirmed that PjBL pedagogy had a highly positive effect on students' 4C capacities.


In this article, we study von Neumann regularity of AP-injective rings and AGP-injective rings. By using some properties of GW-ideals and some results of P-injective rings and Y J-injective rings, we obtain some conditions for AP-injective rings and AGP-injective rings to be (strongly) regular rings. These extend some corresponding results in [7,12,14]


Introduction: It is established that the current cost effectiveness health technology assessment (HTA) paradigm does not appropriately value rare disease technologies. Social willingness-to-pay (SWTP) has been suggested to be higher for rare disease technologies, it's inclusion into existing HTA framework could better reflect social preferences (SP) and enable a more equitable evaluation of rare disease technologies. Our study aims to estimate SP and SWTP for a rare disorder, CLN2 disease. Methods: Relevant attributes for CLN2 disease were developed and validated by literature review and focus groups with patient's primary caregivers. An elicitation survey (discrete choice experiment (DCE) WTP and relative social willingness to pay (RS-WTP)) was developed using the selected attributes and levels of each attribute. The survey instruments and attributes/levels were tested and validated in a pre-pilot survey (n = 103) and a subsequent pilot survey (n = 286) of the United Kingdom (UK) general population. Information about CLN2 disease was provided to respondents and their understanding of the disease was tested including assessment of framing effects. The main survey with the general UK population (n = 4,009) is now complete. Results: Eight hundred and twenty-six people were contacted, of which 286 completed the DCE, 113 abandoned the survey before the DCE and 92 abandoned after the DCE. There were no significant differences in characteristics of respondents completing the DCE and those starting but not completing the DCE. Median survey completion time was 20 minutes with 90 percent of participants completing in a single sitting. Median score for the understanding test was 3 (Min = 0 and Max = 4). Incoherencies in WTP estimates were analyzed enabling us introduce relevant modifications and select the most appropriate attribute levels. Conclusions: DCE and RS-WTP potentially are appropriate methods for assessment of social preferences. The selected attributes/levels for the experiment in CLN2 disease have been validated in this pilot.


At the opening of the Congress, 24/VII, after the solemn ceremony of handing over the gold chain with the medal by the former chairman of the First International Congress to the present chairman, reports were heard on the question of teaching and specializing in radiology in 23 countries. Prof. Nemenov (Leningrad) spoke on behalf of the Soviet roentgenologists. All of these reports suggested the necessity of compulsory teaching of radiology in higher medical schools. All in all 192 reports were presented at the Congress. 72 of them were divided in sections and subsections as follows: 72 reports on Roentgen Diagnostics, 51 on Roentgen and Radiotherapy, 30 on Biology and 39 on Physics and Electrology.


There are learning and emotional difficulties for the children with communication disorders which involve a wide variety of problems in speech, language, and hearing. This paper aims at developing a Chinese PCS Editing Processor with Picture Communication Symbols (PCS), Chinese Text-to-Speech Engine and recording engine to improve the social interactivity and learning environment for the children with communication disorders. This assistive technology design may have a range of convenient and efficient functions to support the children throughout learning process and life.


Energy services are crucial to human wellbeing and development, and without reliable energy, it is difficult to escape subsistence lifestyles and poverty. Here, we report on four identical capacity rural minigrid interventions undertaken in Kenya and Uganda with differing socioeconomic characteristics and demographics. The research outcomes presented briefly discuss the preparation stages of the interventions including community surveys that informed the technical design, deployment phases, and setup of the community cooperatives to manage the minigrid projects. The main focus here is on lessons learned, including system design and minigrid performance under various load profiles. The results show a clear and increasing uptake of power by the communities with intensities varying depending on the electricity tariff used. Across the four minigrids, daily electricity growth rates are seen to vary by a factor of 8. The Ugandan minigrids operated at close to utility grid tariff and reached the 28-kWh/day design limit within two years. By contrast, the Kenyan minigrids charged a higher cost recovery tariff, which capped the demand and systems operate below the design limit. These findings have implications not only to system design but also to system stability and longevity. The approach taken here, of community centered cooperatives running the delivered minigrids, is now embedded within the rural electrification authorities/agencies in both countries, with additional similar projects being planned in 2019/2020. The application, ramifications, and replication of such a minigrid concept as compared to other approaches are also discussed in this paper.


A convenient analysis for the thickness variation of coextruded film has been developed using an infrared absorption with compensator. The following equation was found to be applicable for the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA)/low density polyethylene (LDPE) two-layer film;(D1740/D1465)(l-lr)(/(d-dr)=Kwhere D1740 and D1465 are the absorbances of the absorption bands at 1740cm-1 and 1465cm-1, l and lr. are the thicknesses of the sample and compensator, d and dr are the EVA layer thicknesses of the sample and compensator, respectively, and K is a constant.The equation was found to be valid in both cases of the measurements with and without compensator by FTIR.The thickness variation of EVA/LDPE coextruded films obtained by the above equation shows good agreement with results obtained by the DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) and density measurement method.


SUMMARY The paper examines an inscribed and decorated fragment of a Dark Age stone monument (perhaps a cross-slab) found at Tarbat in Ross-shire and now in the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (no IB 286). A revised reading of the damaged inscription is given. The inscription is funerary and commemorates an individual whose name is partly illegible. No reconstructio n of the name is offered, but, as it does not appear to be Celtic, Latin or Anglo-Saxon, it is probably Pictish. The formulae used in the inscription are analysed and close comparisons are found in Wales and on the Isle of Man. The lettering is derived from the display script of Insular manuscripts and appears to be descended from that used in the Lindisfarne Gospels of c 700. The decorative treatment of the lettering is closer to manuscripts of about the second half of the 8th century. The unusual use of raised lettering in an inscription in stone is discussed and attention is drawn to the occurrence of the technique in Rome at the begining of the 8th century and in the 6th century in Constantinople. The surviving area of spiral ornament is compared to Pictish sculpture belonging to Anderson's Class II in Easter Ross and also to carved spirals in southern Ireland and Midland England. In conclusion a date towards the end of the 8th century is suggested for the Tarbat fragment and the lettering of the inscription is seen as an example of the Northumbrian influences detectable in 8th-century Pictland.


Abstract Re-examination of the holotype of Ibacus cottreaui Roger, 1946, originally considered to be a scyllarid decapod, confirms that it is an isopod referable to the genus Cirolana Leach, 1818.


Geosynthetic Clay Liners (GCL) are an established sealing product in the geoenvironmental industry. They are used in landfill caps and base liner applications under roads and railways as well as within various other containment structures such as dams, canals, ponds, rivers and lakes, even for waterproofing of buildings and other similar structures. Most published tests on the hydraulic conductivity of GCLs were carried out under laboratory conditions and do not cover complex effects as they occur under field conditions. For this reason several lysimeters with a diameter of two meters were built in Lemförde, Germany. One aim of this study is to document the performance of various systems with a GCL as single sealing element under changing climate conditions. Effects of changing water content of the bentonite on the GCL water permeability will be specially regarded. Furthermore it is intended to use the data for improving permeation modelling based on a modified HELP (Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance) programme. In this paper the test set-up, some data of the first year of investigation and some preliminary conclusions are presented.