Obesity rates are reaching epidemic proportions in the United States and other industrialized nations. In the United States, 34.1% of the population is overweight (defined as a BMI of 25-29.9 kg/m), while 31.1% are obese (BMI> 30 kg/m). Obesity affects 34.0% of women and 28.1% of men. Non-Hispanic black women have the highest rates of obesity: nearly half are obese. (Table 1) Obesity is six times more prevalent among women of low as compared with high socioeconomic status. Obesity causes, exacerbates, and predisposes to many diseases affecting women, including heart disease, breast and endometrial cancers, diabetes, urinary incontinence, and arthritis. Weight gain in women during adult life is associated with increased risk of heart diseaseand death. 2 Even modest weight gains after age 18 dramatically increase the risk for the development of diabetes. 3 Fortunately, modest weight losses of 5%-10% of body weight are sufficient to control, or at least improve,mostcomplicationsofobesity. Improvements inbloodpressure, serum triglycerides, high-density lipoproteincholesterol, low-density lipoproteincholesterol, blood glucose levels, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and gout are observed. In a recent large-scale study, increased physical activity and loss of 7 kg prevented or delayed the onset of type 2 diabetes in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance. Participants who were assigned to lifestyle intervention reduced their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58%. Participants receiving standard care plus pharmacotherapy (metformin) reduced their risk of type 2 diabetes by 31%: lifestyle intervention was twice as effective as medication.


This project considers the use of modern audiovisual resources for the presentation of the biblical prophecy of Daniel chapter 2. After the investigation of the existing resources that explain the prophetic themes, it is possible to conclude the informative value provided by the use of motion. graphics the presentation of these topics.


The new Cα‐tetrasubstituted α‐amino acid residue 2‐[2′‐(methylthio) ethyl]methionine (Dmt) has been introduced into the reference chemotactic tripeptide HCO‐Met‐Leu‐Phe‐OMe (fMLP‐OMe) in place of the leucine or methionine, respectively. The biological activity of the new analogues [Dmt2] fMLP‐OMe (2) and [Dmt1] fMLP‐OMe (3) has been determined; whereas 2 is active toward human neutrophils, stimulating directed migration, superoxide anion generation, and lysozyme release, 3 results practically inactive in all tested assays. A conformational analysis on 2 and 3 has been performed in solution by using ir absorption and 1H‐nmr. The conformation of 2 was also examined in the crystal by x‐ray diffraction methods. Both 2 and 3 adopt fully extended conformation in correspondence with the Dmt residue. Biological and conformational results are discussed and compared with related previously studied models. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 42: 415–426, 1997


Exfoliated inorganic oxide nanosheets have recently attracted attention as a new nanomaterial. One of the advantages of such nanosheets is that negatively charged nanosheets are obtained in the form of a colloid stabilized with tetrabutylammonium (TBA) counter cations allowing various wet processes to be applicable for film fabrication. For example, electrophoretic deposition (EPD) can be applied to obtain uniform electrodes with varying thickness based on the electrophoresis of the negative charged colloidal nanosheets under the influence of an electric field. Common advantages of the EPD technique include good adhesion properties with the substrate, room-temperature fabrication and binder-free fabrication. An advantage of the EPD process of nanosheets colloids is that uniform TBA-free nanosheet electrodes can be obtained [1, 2] which cannot be accomplished by other thin film technology. However, the nanosheets need to be dispersed in organic solvents as the decomposition of water leads to poor film quality and low adhesion. Here we report on an attempt to fabricate uniform EPD films from an aqueous ruthenium oxide nanosheet (RuO2ns) colloid. In order to understand the EPD mechanism in aqueous colloids, the effect of properties such as conductivity and surface potential was investigated by changing the bath pH and addition of I2.


This paper is aimed to investigate the total sand filler replacement by two types of cellulosic fibers (bleached wood pulp - WP and recycled fibers from waste paper - RF) in cement-based mortars. Two different types of cement mortar, one with addition of finely ground limestone and other with powdered granulated slag, were mixed with fibers. The changes in consistency of fresh fiber cement mortars and development of compressive and flexural strength of mortars in dependence on hardening time up to 90 days was studied. The development of compressive and flexural strength with increasing hardening time of cellulose fiber mortars and two binders with different properties confirmed that binder mixtures containing finely ground slag and recycled cellulose fibers achieved higher values of these strength parameters. Also adhesion testing of fiber cement mortars on two substrates (ceramic fitting and aerated concrete block) after 28 days of their application showed better adhesion of cement mortars with finely ground granulated slag on the ceramic fitting surface compared to the mortars containing finely ground limestone. However, any cracks have occurred on both substrates during the maturing of mortars with slag. Based on the above facts, it can be concluded that suitable plaster mixtures for their use in the interior appear the cement recipes with both cellulose fibers (wood pulp and fibers from recycled waste paper) and with finely ground limestone.


This is a study of the the worship practices and social ethics of the African-American family of Holiness, Pentecostal and Apostolic churches known collectively as the Sanctified Church. It explores several major themes in African-American religious and intellectual life, from the "exilic" perspective of the Sanctified Church tradition, including the impact of gospel music upon popular culture, the relationship between black religion and black power, and the ecumenical, egalitarian witness of the Christian faith.


Daily exposure of skin to environmental stressors leads to molecular and morphological changes ascribed as premature aging. These stressors include solar radiation, industrial pollution, fossil fuel and carbon emissions, which cause cellular damage that induces an inflammatory response in skin. Several inflammatory components are known to be involved in triggering the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) which is known to accelerate aging. It is hypothesized that preventing induction of inflammation by environmental stressors can prevent premature aging. Since it is known that nicotinamide (Nam) has anti-inflammatory properties, we tested whether Nam can inhibit environmental stressor-induced inflammation. Exposure of keratinocytes to UVB, urban dust, diesel exhaust, and cigarette smoke extract stimulated production of the inflammatory mediators PGE2, IL-6, and IL-8 and induced gene expression patterns associated with apoptosis, DNA repair, and cell cycle control. In all cases, Nam treatment significantly inhibited these stress-induced responses. Nam also reduced IL-8 levels stimulated by the combination of topically applied particulate matter (PM2.5) and UV exposure in 3D skin equivalents. Under 5% 02 conditions that more closely mimic physiological 02 levels, Nam had a heightened inhibitory effect on UVB-induced PGE2 levels in keratinocytes. In a UV-challenge study, treatment with Nam reduced skin surface IL-1RA/IL-1 inflammatory biomarkers and erythema that were induced by solar simulated radiation. These findings provide a body of evidence that Nam can mitigate in part the skin's inflammatory response elicited by exposure to environmental stressors. This supports the potential that Nam can inhibit premature aging and help maintain skin's functionality and appearance.


In a former paper Zavadovsky and Mine. C. M. Perelmuter (1) described a method of detecting the presence of thyroxin in the blood and tissues of hyperthyroidized chickens. Data were also given therein with regard to the distribution of the thyroxin fed to the fowls among the various organs. During the course of the work the facts discovered by us have raised the question of what elements of the blood are responsible for the carrying of the thyroxin. We have adopted the same method of procedure as described in the previous paper. Chickens were fed 30 grams each of thyroid gland on the eve of the experiment. The chicken was killed the following day and blood was collected from the vessels of the neck.


The research objectives are to identify the need of entrepreneurship characteristic training of Educational Administration Department students, Universitas Negeri Malang, prepare entrepreneurship training model of Educational Administration Department students and plan entrepreneurship training package of Educational Administration Department students, Universitas Negeri Malang. In the first and second year, this research used Borg Gall approach of development model. In the first year research, for the first step, research team conducted introductory study to portrait student's training model, then followed by the second year research to prepare entrepreneurship training package. The research team developed 2 versions of training model which is consulted first to experts, and then it is revised. Small and big scale trial was performed by research team to get a final training model. This final product is used as a basic for preparing entrepreneurship training package. At last, this entrepreneurship training model can be applied after the finalization of entrepreneurship training package (including theme, objective, module/content, schedule, place, instructor, participants, regulation, etc) as a completion for holding student's entrepreneurship training.


In this paper, examination thermodynamic about the geometric form of the surface under gravitational attraction was performed. First, the conventional method based on a Laplace equation was reconsidered, and the point in question accepted from a viewpoint of continuum mechanics was clarified to how to catch the pressure of a liquid and gas. Such a problem did not arise in the thermodynamic approach, but the result containing the conventional result according to a Laplace equation was obtained.


Provided is a manufacturing method for a high molecular weight aromatic polycarbonate resin that has superior fluidity and for which a good color and a sufficiently high molecular weight can be achieved. A manufacturing method for a high molecular weight aromatic polycarbonate resin, said manufacturing method including: a step in which a dialcohol compound expressed by general formula (1) and a catalyst are mixed to obtain a catalyst composition; a step in which the obtained catalyst composition is kept in a molten state, and is mixed with an aromatic polycarbonate prepolymer within ten minutes after obtaining the catalyst composition, to obtain a prepolymer mixture; and a high molecular weight achievement step in which the obtained prepolymer mixture is heat-treated under reduced pressure conditions to obtain a high molecular weight aromatic polycarbonate resin. In formula (1), R 1 -R 4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a C1-5 straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl group. Q represents a single bond or a divalent radical that may contain a substituent group and is formed from at least one component selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, an aromatic hydrocarbon group, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a sulfone group, a sulfoxide group, a carbonyl group, a dialkylsilyl group, and a diarylsilyl group.


The high strain-rate compressive stress-strain loops for bulk specimens of an epoxy structural adhesive are determined on the standard split Hopkinson pressure bar. The compressive stress-strain data including unloading curves are obtained over a wide range of strain rates from 10-3 to 103/s. The effects of strain rate on the initial (secant) modulus, flow stress, dissipation energy and hysteresis loss ratio are discussed. The experimental results show that the bulk structural adhesive exhibits dynamic viscoelastic behavior like polymers.


This paper introduces a new type of energy harvester for converting multi-axial and low-frequency motion from humans and the environment into the electrical domain. An innovative array of electrostatic transducer cells is used to convert the mechanical energy captured from the environment by a freely rolling spherical magnetic proof mass. The magnet never comes in contact with the transducer cells but rather transfers energy via magnetic coupling. The inertial mass attracts a magnetic fluid/ferrofluid and causes it to actuate a variable-gap capacitor. A micromachined prototype is fabricated and used to demonstrate that repeatable capacitance changes are possible from magnet velocities in the range of 2-18 mm/s. A cubic NdFeB magnet of grade N42 with a 5 mm edge length can generate 16 pF capacitance transitions at a distance of 0.5 mm from the surface of the transducer array. An energy density of 9 mJ/mm can be expected with a 100 V pre-bias.


We show that if $K$ is a monogenic, primitive, totally real number field, that contains units of every signature, then there exists a lower bound for the rank of integer universal quadratic forms defined over $K$. In particular, we extend the work of Blomer and Kala, to show that there exist infinitely many totally real cubic number fields that do not have a universal quadratic form of a given rank defined over them. For the real quadratic number fields with a unit of negative norm, we show that the minimal rank of a universal quadratic form goes to infinity as the discriminant of the number field grows. These results follow from the study of interlacing polynomials. Specifically, we show that there are only finitely many irreducible monic polynomials related to primitive number fields of a given degree, that have a bounded number of interlacing polynomials.


The continuing saga of university folk or, the future of Earth Science collections in British universities. 1 reported last time (Editorial, Geol. Curator, vol.5, no.3), that a Steering Group made up of representatives of the five newly designated 'Collections Centres' (Oxford, Cambridge, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow) had been set up to advise the Universities Funding Council on a 'rationalisation' of Earth Science museums and collections, in the wake of the UFC's Earth Sciences Review. Although this group, like its forerunner - the Williams Committee (ibid.) - had been expected by outside observers to deal primarily with the problem of what to do with material put at risk through the impending closure or downgrading of some Earth...


OBJECTIVE: To determine the factors in patients suffering from chronic HCV, refractory to conventional interferon therapy. MATERIAL & METHODS: This descriptive case series study was conducted at Out Patient's Department of Hepatitis Control Program at Medical Unit IV, LUMHS Hospital Jamshoro from June2013 to December 2013. Based on Inclusion and Exclusion criteria, a total of Eighty (80) patients with the established diagnosis of chronic Hepatitis 'C' were recruited by Non-probability consecutive sampling technique after obtaining a well informed and written consent. Socio-demographic data and history of alcohol addiction (>50gm/day), examination of weight and height to calculate BMI and Investigations including: HCV RNA by PCR and Liver Biopsy were recorded on a semi-structured proforma specifically designed for the study. RESULTS: A total of eighty (80) patients were included in the study who are refractory to conventional interferon therapy from which 49(61.20%)


Research leading to creation of a numerical data base of material properties is described. Previously, an agreement was reached between Lawrence Livermore Laboratory and the National Bureau of Standards whereby NBS would coordinate and monitor data evaluation by recognized data centers. During the present period the following material properties data requests were sent to NBS for assignment to data evaluation centers: 16 properties of 16 fiber materials considered for composite flywheel rotors; 27 properties of 13 epoxy resin systems and 6 polyester resins considered as matrix materials for fiber composite flywheels; and 13 properties of 18 metals and metal alloys that can store hydrogen in the form of metallic hydrides. A prototype structure for the material properties data bases was completed and used to organize data on the properties of salts used in thermal storage systems. The bibliographic data base for flywheel energy storage, containing 385 citations from the world literature, is being readied for publication. Some funds were received for a computerized communications network which will eventually enable ERDA/STOR scientists throughout the country to exchange information within their research specialties. 7 figures, 11 tables.


An ultra-thin membrane containing sulfonic ester group was prepared by plasma polymerization of methyl benzenesulfonate and 1,3-butadiene. The sulfonic ester group of the plasma polymer was transformed to lithium sulfonate group by treatment with lithium iodide. The resultant ultra-thin cation exchange membrane was about 0.2 μm thick and pinhole-free, and showed high K+ ion transference number of 0.92 in the aqueous KCl system and resistance of 1.3 Ωcm2.


Recently, International Association Classification Societies (IACS) has adopted the Common Structural Rules (CSR) for Bulk Carriers and Tankers, which specifies the requirement associated with the ultimate strength of hull girder structure. The theoretical background and the results of verification study are neither well summarized nor released. Furthermore, the requirement is not a form of deterministic formula but a form of program in which source code is not disclosed. The reliability of the non-linear structural analysis program is verified through the comparison with the results of the analysis and the model test. Then, the reliability of the ultimate strength requirement in CSR is checked by comparing with the results of rigorous non-linear analysis.


Abstract The vibration analysis of shear deformable plates formulated on the basis of first order Mindlin theory is presented. The displacement and rotational functions of the plates are approximated by sets of boundary characteristic orthogonal polynomials. The ease of generation and manipulation of these polynomial functions greatly enhances the computational efficiency of the numerical method. The energy functional of the shear deformable plates derived from the Mindlin plate theory is minimized in the Ritz procedure to arrive at the governing eigenvalue equation. Corresponding natural frequencies and mode shapes can be obtained by solving the eigenvalue equation. Computed frequency results for various boundary conditions, aspect ratios a/b and thickness ratios t/b are presented to demonstrate the effects of each factor on the vibration frequencies of moderately thick plates. Vibration mode shapes in the form of contour plots are presented for a thickness ratio of t/b = 0.1. These plots are believed to be the first known in the open literature.


We present a theory for increased damping of Trivelpiece-Gouid plasma modes on a nonneutral plasma column, due to application of a Debye shielded cylindrically symmetric squeeze potential φ1. We present two models of the effect this has on the plasma modes: a 1D model with only axial dependence, and a 2D model that also keeps radial dependence in the squeezed equilibrium and the mode. We study the models using both analytical and numerical methods. For our analytical studies, we assume that φ1/T≪1, and we treat the Debye shielded squeeze potential as a perturbation in the equilibrium Hamiltonian. Our numerical simulations solve the 1D Vlasov-Poisson system and obtain the frequency and damping rate for a self-consistent plasma mode, making no assumptions as to the size of the squeeze. In both the 1D and 2D models, damping of the mode is caused by Landau resonances at energies En for which the particle bounce frequency ωb(En) and the wave frequency ω satisfy ω=nωb(En). Particles experience a non-sinusoidal ...


The present study to develop a process for extracting nitric acid and gold from aqua regia leach solution using TBP(tributyl phosphate) was conducted. The pure aqua regia was used to investigate the extractive behavior of nitric acid depending on the concentration of extractant, concentration ratio of nitric and hydrochloric acid. The extraction rate of nitric acid and gold from the gold bearing aqua regia was also examined. The theoretical extraction number was verified by counter current using the number of operations and the phase ratio obtained from McCabe-Thiele diagram. Stripping experiments were carried out for continuous recovery of nitric acid and gold in loaded organic. Considering the effect of extraction acid and gold, the simulation showed that greater than 99.9% extraction of 103.0 mg·L gold and 98.0% of 151.2 g·L nitric acid could be attained in a two · Received : December 13, 2016 · Revised : January 20, 2017 · Accepted : January 31, 2017 § Corresponding Author : Sookyung Kim (E-mail : email@example.com) Mineral Resources Research Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Resources, 124, Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34132, Korea cThe Korean Institute of Resources Recycling. All rights reserved. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 52 배무기 · Rajiv R. Srivastava ·김수경 ·이재천 J. of Korean Inst. Resources Recycling Vol. 26, No. 1, 2017 and three-stage counter-current extraction at an O/A phase ratio of 1:0.85. Distilled water and sodium thiosulfate were used as the nitric acid and gold stripping solution. The stripping rates were 99.5% and 92.0%, respectively. The study revealed that the recovery of nitric acid and gold from gold bearing aqua regia was a plausible approach through simultaneous extraction and continuous stripping of nitric acid and gold.


Background/Aims: In 1993, the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) began to recruit postmenopausal women to be part of the answer by participating in a study assessing benefits and risks of hormone therapy (HT). From these trials, a complicated picture emerged. Some of this information has made it to the media and it is important to understand how this has shaped women's perceptions of HT. The purpose of this study was to use cognitive interviews to gain a detailed understanding of how a group of women's opinions of HT are shaped, what their opinions are, and to test their knowledge of the risks and benefits of HT. Method: Ten subjects who were menopausal were recruited by letter prior to a visit at a rural women's health clinic. A survey was administered to gauge women's opinions, attitudes, and the source of their knowledge. Then, retrospective probing was used to explore the answers given by the women. A qualitative analysis of the interviews was conducted and surveys were evaluated. To verify the accuracy of the women's self report, their responses relating to past medical history, HT exposure, menopause status, hysterectomy status, and demographics were compared to their electronic health records. Results: Ten subjects between the ages of 54 and 65, with a mean age of 58, completed interviews. The survey contained 27 questions and took an average of eight minutes to complete while the interviews lasted approximately 45 minutes. All participants preferred response options not asking for specific numbers, indicating it was not something they generally paid attention to. Although 8 out of 10 women answered that taking HT increased a women's chances of developing breast cancer, more than half still thought that it positively affected a women's quality of life and overall health. A recurring theme was the idea that hormone therapy was a personal choice and its benefits or harm depended on the individual's circumstances taking it and her physician's advice. Conclusions: In general, the women seemed to value their physician's advice and their personal experiences over other information they had encountered. Their knowledge of HT's actual risks according to the research from the WHI studies was limited. Understanding what shapes a woman's perception of HT, and what they know may make patient education concerning the risks and benefits associated with HT more effective, helping women make the most appropriate decisions for their own health.


The article is devoted to the populations' socio-psychological health as one of the important and relevant issues in the Siberian Federal District of Russia. This problem is discussed both at the state and regional levels, with a particular focus on the Altai Republic. Indicators reflecting the population's sociopsychological health are considered as the socio-psychological consequences of the socio-economic differentiation of the population in the Altai Republic (indigenous peoples particularly). The authors indicate that the socio-psychological health of indigenous peoples, their life, and development are closely related to the adaptation and integration processes in society. The study clearly demonstrates that in order to strengthen the socio-psychological health of the subjects of the educational process, psychologists in all areas should strengthen their work not only with students but also with the teaching staff in key areas. Among such areas, the authors propose to consider the formation of a positive worldview, personal activity, a careful selection of effective ways to achieve goals, as well as personal strategies of behavior.


During the seventeenth century historians in France developed new conceptions about history and applied new methodologies of historical writing. Not yet content to leave behind the Renaissance view that history was an art, and not yet comfortable with the Enlightenment claim that history was a science, these seventeenth-century writers created a transitional genre of historical writing. Called by contemporaries the histoire raisonnee,e it was a fluid genre which absorbed some elements of the Renaissance style, transformed others to accord with seventeenth-century values and tastes, and cast away those unnecessary "embellishments" which detracted from its goals. As a result of its new orientation, the histoire raisonnee also laid the foundations for the broader based, more "critical" history of the Enlightenment in France. Thus the histoire raisonnee was a unique style of historical writing which modulated between Renaissance and Enlightenment historiography. This article will use the works of Franc;ois Eudes de Mezeray (1610-1683) both to illustrate the genre of the histoire raisonnee and to show how the histoire raisonnee evolved from the histoire d'humanisme. The works of Mezeray have been selected for this study for several reasons. Mezeray was a royal historiographer, pensioned during the


Subtitle: Since its debut two years ago, the Airbus A380 has more than matched customer expectations of redefining air travel, but reliability has run into a little turbulence.


This study explored the process of exiting and recovery from commercial sexual exploitation beginning in childhood, utilizing semistructured interviews with 11 adult female survivors who had been out of the commercial sex industry for at least six months. The narratives were analyzed using consensual qualitative research. Participants described a complex interface of internal motivation and external resources in the exiting process. They identified a need for comprehensive, nonjudgmental services across all stages of change, in order to support a profound reconstruction of identity and community. Subgroup comparisons revealed that women who were exploited at younger ages were more vulnerable to coercive and dehumanizing exploitation and required especially intensive services. These results support the methods of many survivor-led programs for sexually exploited youth. Implications of survivors' perspectives for counseling, research, and advocacy are discussed.


Objectives: To study the effects of training the elderly with the modified Boonmee's long stick exercise on balance function, flexibility, strength and quality of life. Study design: Cohort, pre and post study. Setting: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Siriraj Hospital. Subjects: Forty community dwelling elderly who were healthy and had not practiced regular exercise for 3 months. Methods: Participants were taught how to exercise with the modified Boonmee long stick by a master for 3 days, the continued exercise at home 3 times/week for 3 months. The following were measured or tested before and after the training: resting pulse rate and arterial blood pressure, body flexibility, balance function, grip strength and knee extensor strength, and quality of life (QOL). Results: Ten males and 30 females with mean age of 66±5.4 years old were participated. Thirty-two participants (80%) had continued exercise for 3 months but 29 participants in 32 participants (91%) performed regular exercise at least 3 days per week. The participants had improved significantly on resting heart rate (p=0.044), the balance function (the Timed Up & Go test: p=.00, the function reach test: p=0.01), the quadriceps muscle strength (p=0.00) and the QOL scores in physical functioning (p=0.042), bodily pain (p=0.001) and general health perception aspects (p=0.003). However, there were no changes in the body flexibility, the hand grip strength and the mean arterial pressure. Conclusion: Three-month exercise with the modified Boonmee long stick could improve balance, quadriceps muscle strength and quality of life but could not improve flexibility in the elderly.


Carbon dioxide removal is deemed necessary to limit the temperature rise well below 2 °C in addition to emissions reduction efforts . The broad portfolio of technologies that can deliver negative emissions calls for integrated analyses to explore the synergies among the available options and the power sector. These analyses should be carried out on a regional level to understand the potential local benefits and implications of carbon removal. In this work, we perform a life cycle optimization of the European Union energy system where bioenergy and direct air CO 2 capture with storage (BECCS and DACCS, respectively) are deployed to provide negative emissions. We analyze three scenarios within the planetary boundaries framework and explore how the portfolio of negative emissions and the power mix change. We find that BECCS can be deployed on a larger scale to maximize the removal or to minimize costs, although it impacts particulate matter significantly. A larger share of removal from DACCS is found in the minimum impact scenario. Additionally, a shift from nuclear power to wind or solar reduces the pressure on the resource use category.


We examine the ground state and excitations of the one dimensional extended Hubbard model with long range interaction. The ground state wavefunctions and low lying excitations are given explicitly in the form of a Jastrow product of two body terms. This results motivates an asymptotic Bethe-ansatz for the model. We present evidence that this solution is in fact exact and spans the complete spectrum of states.


Abstract : on polygonized structures, the effects of cold-reduction temperature, and multi-stage aging. Combinations of strength and ductility can be manipulated within a wide range by varying the amount of cold work and the aging treatment. Mechanical properties are strongly dependent upon the mode of deformation during cold working and slight variations in alloy chemistry. Stress corrosion tests indicate superior performance of TS6 compared with similarly treated beta-120VCA. A scale-up of ingot melting and processing techniques has been accomplished. Ingots of TS6 weighing twenty-eight pounds have been prepared using a master-alloy technique. Hot extrusion at 1800F has yielded two-inch diameter rod which has been successfully cold press-swaged 20% and cold rolled 90%. Compared with previous one-pound heats of TS6, this material overages earlier, at somewhat lower hardness levels, and with more rapid kinetics.


Renewable nacre-like heparin (HEP)/layered double hydroxide (LDH) ultrathin films were first fabricated via a bottom-up layer by layer (LBL) deposition technique, which simultaneously showed largely enhanced mechanical properties and good blood compatibility. The results of UV-vis, FTIR, XRD and SEM analysis indicate that the HEP/LDH ultrathin films stacked densely together to form a well-defined brick-and-mortar structure. A strong electrostatic and hydrogen bond network at the organic–inorganic interface allowed the modulus of the film reach ca. 23 GPa, which was remarkably enhanced compared to previously reported polymer–LDH hybrid films. Due to the interlamellar heparin, the (HEP/LDH)n film may prove to be beneficial for new medical applications or as a replacement for conventional petroleum based plastics.


The effects of exposure to low pH on platelets isolated from plasma by saline-EDTA washing or by gel filtration were compared. Platelets isolated by the two methods responded similarly with respect to nucleotide metabolism, secretion and leakage. Both showed decrease in adenylate energy charge and metabolic ATP level after exposure to pH 5.3 and reversal to almost normal levels after return to pH 7.6, while the pH 5.3-induced secretion (about 50% of preabsorbed serotonin) was continued after the return to higher pH and reached about 80%. The response of the cytoskeleton of EDTA-washed and gel-filtered platelets to low pH differed quantitatively. Analysis of transmission electron micrographs (TEM):TEM of Triton-insoluble residue showed similar structures and SDS-PAGE showed primarily actin (42,000d) and likely myosin (200,000d). Conclusion: The method of isolation did not affect the response of platelets to low pH when studied by platelet nucleotide metabolism, secretion or leakage but did affect the response when studied by the organization of the cytoskeleton (actin filaments).


Summary A simple ruler-graph device has been described for use with single determinations of the vital capacity on a recording drum apparatus. This permits the rapid determination of the volume of air ejected during each second of the vital capacity tracing on a graphic record. The same record also affords an opportunity for analyzing the contour of the graph for evidence of trapping or change in mid-position. These time relationships enhance the value of the simple vital capacity determination. The relative efficacies of bronchodilator preparations in relieving the bronchospasm of the patient with bronchial asthma or pulmonary emphysema can be determined readily with this technique. This method was compared with the vitalometer. Both methods yield comparable values. The ruler-graph method, however, affords additional significant data, easily obtained by employing the apparatus which is generally in use in laboratories studying pulmonary function.


This paper aims to analyze the discursive peculiarities specific to the oral discourse of a tourguide. Our objective is to highlight the specificity and originality of oral discourse used by the tourguide, and for this, we use a pragmatic analysis, because this type of discourse is stronglyinfluenced by a speech communication situation. The essay is based on an oral corpus consisting ofrecordings made in authentic conditions during a guided tour to Meteora monasteries.


Background: The A11 diencephalospinal pathway is crucial for sensorimotor integration and pain control at the spinal cord level. When disrupted, it is thought to be involved in numerous painful conditions such as restless legs syndrome and migraine. Its anatomical organization, however, remains largely unknown in the non-human primate (NHP). We therefore characterized the anatomy of this pathway in the NHP. Methods and Findings: In situ hybridization of spinal dopamine receptors showed that D1 receptor mRNA is absent while D2 and D5 receptor mRNAs are mainly expressed in the dorsal horn and D3 receptor mRNA in both the dorsal and ventral horns. Unilateral injections of the retrograde tracer Fluoro-Gold (FG) into the cervical spinal enlargement labeled A11 hypothalamic neurons quasi-exclusively among dopamine areas. Detailed immunohistochemical analysis suggested that these FG-labeled A11 neurons are tyrosine hydroxylase-positive but dopa-decarboxylase and dopamine transporternegative, suggestive of a L-DOPAergic nucleus. Stereological cell count of A11 neurons revealed that this group is composed by 40026501 neurons per side. A 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) intoxication with subsequent development of a parkinsonian syndrome produced a 50% neuronal cell loss in the A11 group. Conclusion: The diencephalic A11 area could be the major source of L-DOPA in the NHP spinal cord, where it may play a role in the modulation of sensorimotor integration through D2 and D3 receptors either directly or indirectly via dopamine formation in spinal dopa-decarboxylase-positives cells. Citation: Barraud Q, Obeid I, Aubert I, Barrière G, Contamin H, et al. (2010) Neuroanatomical Study of the A11 Diencephalospinal Pathway in the Non-Human Primate. PLoS ONE 5(10): e13306. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0013306 Editor: Shawn Hochman, Emory University, United States of America Received June 23, 2010; Accepted September 21, 2010; Published October 13, 2010 Copyright: 2010 Barraud et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Funding: IG and QB received research donations from the French Association of Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome and from GlaxoSmithKline Laboratory. This study was also supported by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche, ANR-08-MNP-018, (MCHPRIMAPARK). HC is salaried of Cynbiose. SMC and PR are salaried employees of Motac Neuroscience Ltd. Cynbiose and Motac Neuroscience Ltd had a role in data collection. The funders had no role in study design, analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competing Interests: HC is salaried of Cynbiose. SMC and PR are salaried employees of Motac Neuroscience Ltd. IG received research donation from GlaxoSmithKline laboratory. This does not alter the authors' adherence to all the PLoS ONE policies on sharing data and materials. * E-mail: email@example.com


We have studied a catalytic decomposition of methanol on low Miller index platinum surfaces, Pt(111), Pt(110), and Pt(100) in perchloric, sulfuric, and phosphoric acids at room temperature. The instantaneous methanol oxidation current is unaffected by the methanolic CO formation (surface poisoning) and depends on platinum surface structure and composition of supporting electrolyte with respect to the anions. The highest oxidation current, 156 mA-cm[sup [minus]2], is observed with the Pt(110) electrode in perchloric acid solution at 0.200 V vs Ag/AgCl reference. In terms of turnover, this current translates to 163 molecules-(Pt site)[sup [minus]1][center dot]s[sup [minus]1], a high rate exceeding previous expectations in methanol electrode kinetics. Overall, the oxidation current changes by 3 orders of magnitude between the extreme cases examined in this study. Breaking up the total effect into individual components shows that the surface geometry and anionic effects are roughly comparable. Therefore, we have an evidence that anion-platinum interactions are as important in determining the methanol oxidation rate as is the surface geometry of the Pt catalyst. 52 refs., 13 figs., 4 tabs.


The invention discloses a light source module comprising a light pipe and at least one light source, wherein, the light pipe comprises a columnar light guide body and a reflecting layer; the light guide body comprises two end surfaces and a plurality of side surfaces connected between two end surfaces, wherein, at least one end surface is a light-in surface, and one of the side surfaces is a light-out surface; the light-in surface comprises a light entering zone, and the light-out surface is provided with a plurality of light-out zones; the reflecting layer is arranged in the parts of the light-in surface, except the light-in zone and in the parts of the light-out surface, except the light-out zone, and the light source is arranged near the light-in zone. The light source module of the invention can generate a plurality of point light sources by one or two independent light sources, so that cost is effectively lowered. The invention also provides a game device using the light source module.


Due to large torque and quick response of electric motor, the traction wheels of battery electric vehicle (BEV) are easy to slip during the initial phase of starting. In this paper, an acceleration slip regulation approach based on sliding mode control algorithm is proposed to prevent the wheel slip of BEV. The traction wheel slip ratio is used as the control parameter, and a sliding mode controller is deduced from it. A fuzzy algorithm is employed to revise the switch function of sliding mode controller. After stability and robustness analysis, the sliding mode controller is validated by dynamic simulation of BEV. The sliding mode control law is transferred into vehicle control unit and is veried by road tests, the results of which show that the sliding mode controller is a good candidate to prevent the wheel slip.


Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to establish a model that identifies the causal relationship among relationship marketing types, service quality and relationship quality on customer loyalty.Design/methodology/approach – Data for this study were collected using in‐depth interviews and surveys from the clients of policyholder service centres of life insurers in Taiwan. A structural equation modelling approach is employed to examine the relationship posited in this study.Findings – The findings are generally consistent with the literature. This study supports all hypotheses. Finally, the article concludes with theoretical and managerial implications of the research findings.Originality/value – This study attempts to focus on policyholder service centres in the life insurance industry, which have been increasingly emphasized in Taiwan, to examine the impacts that different relationship marketing methods have on service quality, relationship quality and customer loyalty. Based on the results of in‐depth...


The cultivation of high-quality applied talents is obligatory responsibility of independent colleges in Chinese medicine.In order to arrive the aim of training applied talents in independent colleges,we explores the pattern and way of the research study mode in organic chemistry course,since the organic chemistry course is one of specially important basic course of traditional Chinese medicine opened in a low grade.


We present a passively CEP-stabilized OPA setup delivering pulses with up to 12 μJ pulse energy in the IR. The setup is designed to sustain high-repetition-rate pump pulse energies and is therefore feasible for an upgrade to 50 kHz with negligible heat deposition in the OPA. The amplified pulses are spectrally broad enough to be compressed down to the few-cycle regime using chirped mirrors.


Subtitle: Is India the "next big thing" for your business? If you are looking to cash in on India's growth, here are some opportunities and obstacles you can expect to see when your supply chain expands in that direction.


Constructing new socialist countryside is an important strategic decision of the Party Central Committee to implement the scientific development view.The key of constructing new socialist countryside lies in improving farmers' quality.To adapt to the development of the era,the agricultural universities should make full use of their advantages in information technology,talent resources and network information technology and so on to service the new socialist countryside construction and improve the new-type farmers' quality.The status of farmers' quality in China is analyzed,the advantages of agricultural universities are definited,and the ways to train the new-type farmers are studied.


New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art recently circulated "New Perspectives: Art Museums and the Vision Impaired,' ' an exhibition that explored the potential for visually handicapped visitors to benefit from the art museum experience. The author analyzes the inadequacies of past approaches, makes specific suggestions concerning design and materials, and calls for mutual understanding and compromise.


Domestic load profiles in the residential sectors are being modified with the adoption of smart home management systems and solar generation. In addition, houses with rooftop PV behave like local generators, contributing to the growth of the penetration of PV energy. Hence, the demand for power is declining day by day. However, the increasing PV penetration causes technical challenges for the power system, such as the "duck curve". This can be addressed through home energy management (HEM) techniques including peak shaving, load shifting with smart home devices. In this regard, electric water heaters (EWH), with high thermal mass and being ubiquitous, are attractive and low-cost energy storage systems. In this article, a case study for one of the largest rural field smart energy technology demonstrators involving business, industries, and more than 5,000 residences, located in Glasgow, KY, US, is presented. Furthermore, a HEM system, which aims to minimize the total energy usage and peak demand by regulating the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, water heaters, and batteries, thereby benefiting both the utility and the consumer is proposed. This work also demonstrates the ability of EWH to provide ancillary services while maintaining customer comfort. The minimum participation rates for EWH and batteries are calculated and compared with respect to different peak reduction targets. Long term load prediction by considering different fractions of smart homes for the utility is also provided.


A convection-diffusion mathematical model is adopted to describe the chemical contamination dispersion problem in the joint of artificial lake. We consider the problem into 2-dimensional discussion limited to the surface of the joint. Under this assumption, the mathematical formulation of the pollution model comprises the mass conservation, which describes convection, turbulent diffusion and emission of the pollutant, illustrated by a convection-diffusion equation. We construct and analysе (discrete) boundary conditions for an implicit difference scheme. The finite element method is used to get the numerical solution of the convection-diffusion equation to insight into the variation of temperature and concentration fields. Especially, different with other similar research, a stochastic model of Lévy flights is employed to calculate the dispersion tensor coefficients, which heavily relies on the soil orography, stability class, distance of pollutant source and surface roughness. Consider the degradation of chemicals, we can also get form the concentration of time and space distribution by the instantaneous source of pollution. The experimental result of simulation shows that the progress of chemical pollutant dispersion in the joint of artificial lake is not only related to the velocity of water fluid, degradation rate, dispersion coefficient, and initial concentration, but also to the geometrical shape of the a horn mouth to the main body of the artificial lake. It also can be concluded that the Finite Element Method of Convection-Diffusion model is suitable, accurate and efficient for this kind of pollution problem.


GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas, LLC (GEH), submitted Licensing Topical Report (LTR) NEDO–33914, Revision 0, "BWRX 300 Advanced Civil Construction and Design Approach," dated January 20, 2021 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML21020A137), as supplemented by Revision 1 (ADAMS Accession No. ML21322A214) dated November 18, 2021. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff reviewed the LTR with respect to the provisions proposed by GEH for the advanced civil construction of the BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR).


This paper provides accounts on the impact that COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown(s) had on the Church and its leaders in the South African context. The study explores challenges that the leaders faced and how they dealt with them to remain standing despite their fears. The context is COVID-19 pandemic, which brought mass deaths, fear, confusion and frustration to congregations globally. Church leaders faced a challenge to show resilience amid fear because they too were directly affected. Governments introduced regulations that imposed lockdowns to control the spread of the virus. Limiting contact by restricting distance amongst citizens. The church was one sector that could not operate. Although some sectors were never declared essential services like churches, this left vulnerable communities without support in the face of fear. Spiritual leaders had to demonstrate resilience to support the congregants. The key question the researchers seek to understand is to what extent did the
church remain resilient during COVID-19 pandemic? And how did the church leaders deal with fear despite anointing and expectations from the congregants and communities? A qualitative approach was used in this study. COVID-19 has shown that Church leaders are humans and they are also fearful, however their faith in God has assisted them to show resilience even at this difficult time. The study also asserts that governments should consult different groupings of faith-based organisations, not only those that are under organised bodies before embarking on restrictions for pandemic control. Communities encompass many churches and leaders require support to assist them from church members.


Erythroderma,also known as dermatitis exfoliative,is one of clinical severe dermatogic diseases.in the course of treatment,meticulously correct care for the patient is very important,which will have an effect on prognosis.In this article,nurse experiences of 15 patients with Erythroderma was reported.


This research studied the identification and inoculation methods of pathogenic differentiation of gray leaf spot(GLS) pathogen,and the effect of environmental conditions have also been considered.The results showed that the resistant identification of GLS pathogen in maize could be identified during the seedling and adult plant stage.the adult plant identification was better considering the easer inoculation.Identifying resistant identification using maize inbred was better than that of maize cultivar.The method of that,inoculate sorghum seed with inocula into leaf whorl was the preferred method for resistant,GLS was prone to occur under high-temperature and high-humidity condition.The disease couldn't infect when temperature and humidity wasn't fitting.The concentration and spatial heterogeneity of soil nutrition,especially,the content of nitrogen and phosphorus,all affect the infection ability of this disease.The high-nitrogen and high-phosphorus could improve the resistance of maize to GLS.To some extent,light intensity didn't have significant influence on the infection of GLS.


This paper examines some consequences of the (quasi-) epiphenomenalism implied by a property dualistic view of phenomenal consciousness. The focus is upon the variation of phenomenal content over time. A thought-experiment is constructed to support two claims. The weaker claim exhibits an incompatibility which arises in certain logically possible situations between a conscious subject's epistemic norms and the requirement that one be aware of one's conscious experience. This could be interpreted as providing some epistemic grounds for the postulation of bridging laws between the physical/functional and phenomenal domains. The stronger claim has it that the ontology of property dualism is not properly able to account for the certainty I have of being phenomenally conscious. The problem is viewed as resulting from the neglect of the intensional context involved in a proper representation of the argument for property dualism. It is argued that only a transcendental move can do justice to this certainty I have.


Iris segmentation is a critical stage in the whole iris recognition process. In this paper, a procedure of iris segmentation is presented which was designed on the basis of the natural properties of the iris. In the suggested work,Using Hough Transform and Daugman and purpose of the technique is to identify imperfect instances of objects through a voting procedure within a certain class of shapes. The proposal of image processing using Daugman algorithm detects the iris boundaries with high accuracy in high-quality images. Additional preprocessing of images has improved the performance of the algorithm on the lower-quality images.


Objective To explore the relationship between blood lipids and the severity of coronary artery disease. Methods A total of 4 751patients with chest pain were divided into two groups according to the results of coronary angiography:coronary artery disease group(n=3 402stenosis in one main branch stenosis≥50%)and control group(stenosis50%,n=1 349).According to the number of coronary artery stenosis,the coronary artery disease group was divided into three subgroups(group 1:1branch stenosis;group 2:2branch stenosis;and group 3:3or more than 3branch stenosis).The serum total cholesterol(TC),triglycefides(TG),high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)were determined and LDL-C/HDL-C was calculated.The relationship between lipids and the severity of coronary artery stenosis was analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis,and the risk factors of coronary artery disease were analyzed by multiple-stepwise logistic regression analysis.Results The levels of TG,TC,LDL-C and the ratio of LDL-C/HDL-C in the coronary artery disease group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P0.01).LDLC/HDL-C ratio increased with the increase of diseased branches in the disease group(P0.001),and the number of diseased branches was positively correlated with the ratio of LDL-C/HDL-C(R=0.25,P0.01).Logistic multiple regression analysis showed that high LDL-C/HDL-C level was an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease.Conclusion LDL-C/HDL-C ratio is an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease and it is positively correlated with the severity of coronary artery lesions.


AIM
To determine ocular, sudomotor, and vasomotor components of Horner's syndrome resulting from complete unilateral intraoperative damage to the parasellar sympathetic fibers during cavernous sinus surgery.

METHODS
Complete damage to the parasellar sympathetic fibers was found in four patients operated for central skull base lesions. Pupilometry, eyelid fissure measurement, Hertel's exophthalmometry, starch iodine sweat test, and laser-Doppler perfusion assessment of bilaterally symmetrical forehead and cheek areas were performed.

RESULTS
Pupil diameter was smaller and the eyelid fissure was >2 mm narrower on the affected side in all four patients. Exophthalmometry after the operation never revealed >1 mm difference. Anhydrosis was localized to the medial forehead in three and to the entire forehead in one patient. Average perfusion did not significantly differ between the affected and opposite side of the forehead or cheek.

CONCLUSIONS
The parasellar sympathetic fibers exclusively innervate the orbit and variably innervate the forehead sweat glands. No conclusion regarding their contribution to the facial vasomotor control could be established.


A case of a tumor of the vagus nerve, showing typical features of a neurofibroma, is presented. The natural history is reviewed, and several technical investigations, with particular reference to the contributions of magnetic resonance imaging and immuno‐histochemical techniques in the differential diagnosis, are discussed.


Hospital provides health service for 24 hours that can not be separated from shift work system. Shift work cause the nurses work out from normal time. It will make the disturbance of human physiology, so that will influence of human blood pressure. The aim of this research is to show the blood pressure difference of nurses who work in the morning, afternoon and night shift at the RSUD Bayudono. This research method is analytic observational with cross sectional approach. The population of the research consist of 38 nurses who work in inpatient room at the RSUD Banyudono. Total sampling method was used to take sample. The data are taken from the respondent by measuring blood pressure in 3 times for every shift. Statistical testwith significant level (α=0,05) using Kruskal Wallis test, the result showed that there were significant differences of blood pressure in the morning, afternoon and night shift (p value = 0,026. Suggested to the nurses to keep the blood pressure in normal categories by doing exercise regularly.


Dynamic time-linkage optimization problems (DTPs) are special dynamic optimization problems (DOPs) with the time-linkage property. The environment of DTPs changes not only over time but also depends on the previous applied solutions. DTPs are hardly solved by existing dynamic evolutionary algorithms because they ignore the time-linkage property. In fact, they can be viewed as multiple decision-making problems and solved by reinforcement learning (RL). However, only some discrete DTPs are solved by RL-based evolutionary optimization algorithms with the assumption of observable objective functions. In this work, we propose a dynamic evolutionary optimization algorithm using surrogate-assisted $Q$ -learning for continuous black-box DTPs. To observe the states of black-box DTPs, the state extraction and prediction methods are applied after the search process at each time step. Based on the learned information, a surrogate-assisted $Q$ -learning is introduced to evaluate and select candidate solutions in the continuous decision space in a long-term consideration. We evaluate the components of our proposed algorithm on various benchmark problems to study their behaviors. Results of comparative experiments indicate that the proposed algorithm outperforms other compared algorithms and performs robustly on DTPs with up to 30 decision variables and different dynamic changes.


When considering the areas in which a periodontist is needed, the degree of collaboration with the general practitioner appears. The various types as well as the level of cooperation are discussed. Moreover, the possibilities and limits of treatment of periodontal disease in the corresponding departments of Swiss Universities are mentioned. Cooperations between practitioner and periodontist or University departments should develop further, provided that the rules of professional ethics are observed.


The aim of this research was to study the problems related to farmers' lives to the check dam construction towards economy, social and environment. This research was a qualitative research. The instrument used was semi-structured interview which was run by the interview, observation, and group conversation. The researcher analyzed the data by Interpreting Data Conclusion and presented by Descriptive Analysis.
 The research results were found that as follows:
 1. Economy: water in deficient area affected to the farming. In raining season, there was no problem if the rain went on seasonably but if too much, it caused the trouble as well. Consequently, farmers had to spend a lot of money to cure their fields so that the economy in the community would be damaged.
 2. Social: according to water deficiency, the repeated drought still caused the lives much struggled which could affect to the family sector that members needed to work at other places and left their children with the grandparents and children wouldbe under-privileged, technology addiction, and bad friends.
 3. Environment: before constructing the check dam, the area located over the check dam encountered water deficiency in the lake, therefore, aquatic animals had got the disequilibrium in nature, local lives were lost, and wet-season rice field would be in trouble as well.


The impact of Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) is a very serious problem for spaceborne microwave radiometry. Many Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity (SMOS) images show serious contamination by the RFI. SMOS is even more impacted by the RFI than real aperture case because the grating lobes are usually higher in Synthetic Aperture Interferometric Radiometer (SAIR) compared to real aperture one. RFI effects should properly be mitigated or filtered out to retrieve the geophysical parameters from SMOS measurements. This work presents a feasibility study of RFI mitigation/filtering for SAIRs. Instead of dealing with brightness temperature image directly, RFI filtering of the subspace of covariance matrix is introduced.


During the nineteenth century Germany contributed many items to children's literature that are still well-known and continue to be much read. Grimms' fairytales, 1 Heinrich Hoffmann's Struwwelpeter and the comic stories of Till Eulenspiegel2 immediately spring to mind, while from German-speaking Switzerland we have J.D. Wyss's Swiss Family Robinson and Johanna Spyri's Heidi. Not all books of German origin that were adapted into English have fared as well. Few people today in Britain are familiar with the name of Christoph von Schmid, yet a considerable number of his religious tales, both long and short, were translated into English and enjoyed an amazing popularity. The best known of his tales in the English-speaking world was The basket of flowers (Das Blumenkorbchen). Because of the enormous sales of this book, amounting by 1854 to more than a million copies, the publishers T Allman & Son stated in their advertisement to The orphan child (Das holzerne Kreuz) that they had been led to bring out a uniform series of Schmid's tales. 3 The Halifax firm of Milner and Sowerby also published a 'Basket of Flowers' series, which ran to at least fourteen titles. 4 They were not the only publishers to take advantage of Schmid's attractiveness to the Sunday school market. Despite his popularity, which lasted unabated until the end of the century, very little has been written in English about Schmid. He is not mentioned by either Harvey Darton5 or Percy Muir. 6 M.F. Thwaite refers to him briefly in her chapter on 'Children's Books


Review of a book titled "Signs: A New Approach to Coincidence, Synchronicity, Guidance, Life Purpose, and God's Plan" written by Robert Perry.


Fire frequency is expected to increase in the tropics over the next few decades as the climate changes and human land use grows. Despite the potential of fire to drastically modify tropical forests, tropical fire ecology has received relatively little attention, especially on islands. In order to learn more about the ecological effects of fire on tropical islands, a paired comparison of three burn sites and adjacent control sites was conducted on the island of Moorea, French Polynesia. In particular, plant community composition, species richness, and the abundance of introduced species were compared between burned and unburned control sites. Results showed significant differences in the plant communities between burn and control sites even at the 22-year-old burn, suggesting that vegetation recovery is a very slow process on Moorea. Species richness was found to be significantly lower at all burn sites, indicating that reduced species richness is also a long-lasting effect of fire. Furthermore, the abundance of modern introduced species was shown to be greater at the youngest burn site compared to its control site, while no significant difference was found at the two older sites. This could suggest that any increase in introduced species after a fire is only temporary. While this study yielded interesting conclusions about fire on Moorea, further research is greatly needed because fire effects are complex and can vary widely depending on different biotic and abiotic factors.


A 24-year-old man was noted to have a right pleural based mass on his chest radiographs. A Tc-99m HDP bone scan was ordered to evaluate the extent of the disease and to select appropriate sites of biopsy. Delayed planar and SPECT images demonstrated an area of Increased uptake involving the right seventh rib lateral area. The differential diagnosis included sarcoma, lymphoma, enchondroma, fibrous dysplasia, bone cyst, or an infectious process. The patient had a biopsy-proven fibrous dysplastic lesion. Fibrous dysplasia is a benign bony neoplasm In which the osteoblasts fail to differentiate normally. Although any bone may be involved, it frequently occurs in only one bone (monostotic). Typical sites of involvement Include the skull, femur, tibia, and humerus.


Objective To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of interstitial lung disease(ILD) in patients with systemic sclerosis(SSc-ILD).Methods Twenty initial treatment patients of SSc-ILD were enrolled.They were divided into A group(early metaphase process,n=12),and B group(advanced stage process,n=8) based on high-resolution computed tomography(HRCT) of chest.The following parameters of two groups were noted at baseline and 24 weeks after treatment with prednisone and Cyclophosphamide(CTX): clinical features,pulmonary function tests,HRCT,quality of life.Results Pulmonary infection happened in 10 patients and the incidence rate was 50%.Hemoglobin,erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR) in A group and platelet,ESR,C-reactive protein in B group were significantly improved.HRCT showed that 7(58.3%) patients improved,and 2 had deteriorated disease in A group and 2(25%) patients improved,and 6 had deteriorated disease in B group.HRCT score of A group was decreased,but did not show significant change in B group.Pulmonary function in A group was improved compared with B group(all P0.05).Activity scores,impact scores and total scores of SGRQ were decreased,especially activity scores in B group.SF-36 showed improvement in role-physical(RP),bodily pain(BP),role-emotional(RE),mental health of A group and in physical functioning,RP,BP,RE of B group.Conclusions After treatment with prednisone and CTX,patients of SSc-ILD is inclined to pulmonary infection,and their systemic inflammation,quality of life and exercise capacity can be improved.Pulmonary affection and pulmonary function in most of early metaphase patients can be improved,but has no amendment in advanced stage patients.


The injured party's own conduct contributing to the damage suffered has been a bar to the recovery of damages in delictual liability for centuries, both in the traditions of civil as well as common law. This article describes and compares the historical development, from (classical) Roman law up to French, German and Dutch law in the beginning of the 20th century, of the method with which cases involving the behaviour of the injured party contributed to the occurrence of damage — nowadays called 'contributory negligence', with the English common law tradition from the medieval period until the Law Reform (Contributory Negligence) Act of 1945. In both the civil and the common law traditions, the result of 'contributory negligence' was the same — all or nothing. Solutions found in civil and common law to deal with the contributory conduct of the injured party are not very different. There might have been remarkable similarities in the way one solved this issue before a concept of contributory negligence exi...


Morphological analysis as applied to English has generally involved the study of rules for inflections and derivations. Recent work has attempted to derive such rules from automatic analysis of corpora. Here we study similar issues, but in the context of the biological literature. We introduce a new approach which allows us to assign probabilities of the semantic relatedness of pairs of tokens that occur in text in consequence of their relatedness as character strings. Our analysis is based on over 84 million sentences that compose the MEDLINE database and over 2.3 million token types that occur in MEDLINE and enables us to identify over 36 million token type pairs which have assigned probabilities of semantic relatedness of at least 0.7 based on their similarity as strings.


On basis of spot investigation and test on the lightning disaster of Leigongtan village of Zhouxian town in Wanli district of Nanchang, the author analyzed its formative reasons and corresponding measures and suggestions for lightning prevention.


800x600 ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the impact of vaccination against Pertussis on the number of pertussis cases. Method: cross-sectional, documentary, quantitative approach. Results: There were 656 pertussis cases, 154 (23%) cases in 2013; 264 (40%) cases, in 2014, and 37 cases (6%) in the Information System for Notifiable Diseases from 2005 to 2015. Results: in 2015. In 2005 and 2007, there was vaccine coverage above 95%; 2012 presented the lowest coverage against whooping cough (58%). The most affected age group was less than one year with 55% of the cases. In 2014 there was the highest incidence of the disease (7.95 / 100 thousand inhabitants). In the period, there were five deaths, 60% (03) in the year 2014. Conclusion: reemergence of whooping cough was noticed. The introduction of dTpa in the National Vaccination Calendar of pregnant women had a significant impact on the reduction of cases. Descriptors: Whooping Cough; Immunization; Epidemiology. RESUMO Objetivo: analisar o impacto da vacinacao contra Pertussis sobre o numero de casos de coqueluche. Metodo: estudo transversal, documental, de abordagem quantitativa. Os dados foram coletados no Sistema de Informacao de Agravos de Notificacao, no periodo de 2005 a 2015. Resultados: ocorreram 656 casos de coqueluche: 154 (23%) casos em 2013; 264 (40%), em 2014 e 37 (6%) casos em 2015. Em 2005 e 2007, houve cobertura vacinal acima de 95%; 2012 apresentou a menor cobertura contra coqueluche (58%). A faixa etaria mais acometida foi menor de um ano, com 55% dos casos. Em 2014, houve a maior incidencia da doenca (7,95/100 mil habitantes). No periodo, ocorreram cinco obitos, 60% (03) no ano de 2014. Conclusao: percebeu-se a reemergencia da coqueluche. A introducao da dTpa no Calendario Nacional de Vacinacao da gestante teve impacto significativo na reducao de casos. Descritores: Coqueluche ; Imunizacao; Epidemiologia. RESUMEN Objetivo: analizar el impacto de la vacunacion contra Pertussis sobre el numero de casos de coqueluche. Metodo: estudio transversal, documental, de abordaje cuantitativo. Los datos fueron recolectados en el Sistema de Informacion de Agravios de Notificacion en el periodo de 2005 a 2015. Resultados: ocurrieron 656 casos de coqueluche, 154 (23%) casos en 2013, 264 (40%) en 2014 y 37 (6%) casos en 2015. En 2005 y 2007 hubo cobertura de vacunacion por encima de 95%; 2012 presento la menor cobertura contra la tos ferina (58%). El grupo de edad mas afectado fue menor de un ano con el 55% de los casos. En 2014 hubo la mayor incidencia de la enfermedad (7,95 / 100.000 habitantes). En el periodo, ocurrieron 05 muertes, 60% (03) en el ano 2014. Conclusion: se percibio la reemergencia de la tos ferina. La introduccion de la dTpa en el Calendario Nacional de Vacunacion de la gestante tuvo un impacto significativo en la reduccion de casos. Descriptores: Tos Ferina; Inmunizacion; Epidemiologia. Normal 0 21 false false false PT-BR X-NONE X-NONE
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This paper presents a design theory, fabrication procedure and experimental results for heterojunction millimeter wave transit time devices operating in the IMPATT, MITATT or TUNNETT mode. The results show that significant improvements in the efficiency can be achieved by heterojunction structures. The diodes were operated as oscillators between 65 and 93 GHz. A pulsed power output of 50mw and RF conversion efficiency of 2.4 percent was achieved at 72 GHz.


Rice is life for Asians as it provides 43 per cent calorie requirement for more than 70 per cent of the population. The production is often limited by salinity. Understanding of physiological and genetic mechanisms is necessary for a breeding programme to improve crop performance under environmental stresses. Thirty rice genotypes pre-germinated in salinealkaline water (pH-9.60; EC-10.0; SAR-54.32; RSC- 11.51) were placed in plastic cups filled with sterile soil and the stress was imposed upto 21 days. Genetic diversity was estimated based on the observations recorded on germination per centage, vigor index, shoot length, root length, seedling length, root/shoot ratio, seeding dry weight, Na+/K+ ratio. The genotypes were grouped in to five clusters based on the Euclidean coefficient which ranged between 2.09(CSR10 X CSR 13) and 76.29 (IWP X Chettiviruppu). Cluster II was largest (22 genotypes) followed by cluster I (4 genotypes). Genotypes grouped under cluster I showed low Na+/K+ ratio which is an important physiological trait for salinity tolerance. Cluster V (MI 48 & IWP) grouped the susceptible genotypes which had high Na+/K+ ratio. The hybrids thus developed from the genotypes of cluster I & V may express high magnitude of transgressive segregants.


Significant changes in the society of the XXI century determine the changes in the education system. Nowadays the challenge of promoting child development is important. Teaching subjects does not give a generalised idea about nature, society and people in general. Teachers need new competences to move to logic of human development in education. The article analyses teacher's communicative, self-cognition and cognitive management, methodological and organisational function that are united and contribute to the balanced development of pupils, therefore, in accordance with these functions, it is necessary to acquire the corresponding competences. By analysing theoretical literature, the article reveals the structure and content of these competencies.


AbstractThe problems of devising university courses in topographic science subjects, culminating in the institution of a full B.Sc. degree, are examined in relation to parallel developments elsewhere. Details of course content and structure are given, in the expectation that specific examples will provide discussion points for those concerned with the development of education in cartography.


Radical addition to enamines using Bu3SnH as reducing agent are reported (Schemes 2 and 4). The diastereoselectivity of these reactions was examined in different systems (Tables 1 and 2). Enamines derived from cyclic ketones such as cyclohexanone were alkylated with high diastereoselectivity with preferential formation of the cis-disubstituted cycloalkanes. In acyclic systems such as enamines derived from propiophenone and diethyl ketone, moderate to high stereoselectivities were observed in the H-abstraction step. A model based principally on minimization of allylic 1,3-strain (A1,3 strain) was deduced from the experimental results and semi-empirical (AM1) calculations


Instagram is an application found on social media whose content contains various videos, photos, news, articles, advertisements etc. that allow users to use editing filters and share them to social media networks or on Instagram themselves. Many features available on Instagram make teenagers and young people more interested in using Instagram social media than other social media. The purpose of this study is to find out the use of Instagram in introducing to tourism and culture in Kutai Kartanegara district by the Community of Katak Trail.

In this study, researcher uses a type of qualitative-descriptive research. While the data source comes from primary data, and secondary data. Researcher uses data collection techniques with in-depth interviewing, observation, and documentation techniques.

From the results of the research, it is explained that the Katak Trail Community is active every week by visiting tours in Kutai Kartanegara and after that introduce them through Instagram. In introducing tourism and culture in Kutai Kartanegara district, the majority of members of the Katak Trail Community use hastag, there are also interesting captions that are informative.


The articulations of the global and local have long exercised geographers, anthropologists, and others concerned with the spatial structure of society. This globallocal dialectic has recently been rendered acutely problematic by the burgeoning postmodern "hyperspace," the coordinates of which are, according to Jameson (1984), so far only "dimly perceived." Thus it is of some consequence that two prominent Marxist geographers have recently published books on postmodern urbanism. The appearance of Edward Soja's Postmodern Geographies: The Reassertion of Space in Critical Social Theory (1989) and David Harvey's The Condition of Postmodernity: An Enquiry into the Origins of Cultural Change (1989) provide an opportune template for examining the prospect of a postmodern urban theory. Marxists have, by and large, been highly critical of the postmodern turn (see, for example, Callinicos 1990). In keeping with this heritage, Harvey mounts a sustained, hostile attack on postmodernism and postmodernists; by contrast, Soja celebrates the cross-fertilization between the two realms. Both authors ultimately devise a thoroughly modernist reconstruction of urban theory. What interests me in this article are the ramifications of their responses. How were these modernist reconstructions achieved? What emasculations of postmodern thought were necessary to enable the authors to rescue the modernist project? And what are the principal consequences of Soja's and Harvey's encounters with a postmodern urbanism? I shall attempt to answer these questions by examining the authors' respective readings of postmodernity; their representations of contemporary urban process; and, finally, their reconstructions of a modernist urbanism via Marxian social theory. In concluding, I shall argue that Soja and Harvey have obtained their coherent visions of urban theory by adopting Enlightenment strategies that effectively foreclose on the promise of postmodern urbanism.'


Purpose: The purpose of this study is to critically examine the marketing strategy and marketing communication within a luxury fashion SME, the case of Mary Katrantzou. Methodology: This report has ...


(57) Abstract: The present invention comprises a dicarboxylic or polycarboxylic acids or their derivatives, reaction products of epoxidized product of a carboxylic acid ester, and at least one filler, poly reaction product including materials, manufacturing method of the material, and the material, to the use for the manufacture of planar structure to the base material of renewable raw materials.


The present invention relates to an automotive power transmission device comprising a driving shaft (20) is suspended via a pendulum suspension (30), the pendulum suspension (30) locking structure that is fixedly connected to the vehicle (32, 34) and the connected to the driving shaft (20) and including a drive shaft locking portion 106 which is journaled rotatably by a bearing relative to the locking structure (32, 34) the transmission structure (50) comprises a drive input shaft, and electric motor ( 60) an electric motor including a stator 66 of the driving shaft (is arranged to drive 20), the rotor of the electric motor 60 is coupled to the input shaft 52, the electric motor 60, a non-rotating part is fixedly connected to the drive shaft locking portion (106). The invention also relates to a car.


A new way to view a certain type of taxonomic character is presented and several fundamental results are rederived using this approach.


Globally, food consumption patterns are changed and trends shift to poor dietary habits leading to poor health and food insecurity. Visual health is normally down after a certain age period or with the progression of individual age but now the trends are observed increased visual disorders in early age periods too. The prevalence of age related macular degenerative disorders are increasing mainly due to diets that are deficient in carotenoids like lutein or other essential nutrients that are necessary to improve visual health. Lutein has the potential to directly absorb and deposit in eye macula that even can restore macular pigment density and recover visual strength. Numerous research has proved that diet naturally rich with carotenoids or supplemented has a substantial beneficial impact against age related macular degenerative disorders in all age groups.


In this paper, novel multirate sampling controllers are proposed for digital control systems, in which the sampling period is restricted to be longer than the control period. The proposed feedback controller assures perfect disturbance rejection (PDR) at M intersample points in the steady state. Moreover, the intersample observer is developed in order to reduce the phase delay caused by zero-order hold and to increase the stability margin by estimation and compensation of the intersample response. Next, the novel scheme of repetitive control is proposed based on the open-loop estimation and switching function, which enables the rejection of periodical disturbance without any sacrifice of the closed-loop characteristics. Finally, the proposed controllers are applied to visual servo system by introducing the workspace controller and nonlinear perspective transformation. The advantages of these approaches are demonstrated by simulations and experiments using a robot manipulator.


Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the neurological adverse drug reactions of anticancer drugs that were reported to adverse drug reaction monitoring centre. Methods:The entire neurological adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reported with anticancer drugs, received through spontaneous reporting system and active surveillance method from January 2012 to September 2013 were analyzed for demographic profile, ADR pattern, severity and causality assessment. Results: During the study period, a total of 1418 anticancer drug related ADRs were obtained from 1076 patients; among them 84 (5.9%) reactions were neurological. Totally 77 patients developed 84 neurological ADRs. Among them 42 were males (54.5%) and 35 were females (45.5%). CAPOX (Capecitabine and oxaliplatin) was the leading drug regimen among agents causing neurological ADRs accounting for 15.5%. The most frequently reported ADR was neuropathy (72.6%). According to WHO causality assessment of ADRs, majority of the reports come under possible (89.6%) category. Hartwig severity scale showed that 57.1% of the reactions were moderately severe. Conclusion: The frequency of neurological adverse drug reactions of anticancer drugs obtained was found to be 5.9%. Capecitabine and oxaliplatin regimen is the major causative agent among the anticancer drugs for neurological ADRs. Our study provided the analysis of neurological ADRs occurring due to anticancer agents.


A stress profile is a result of psychophysiological activity measurements of the patient during the mental strain situations, which are mostly induced by various test situations. From the physiological variables heart rate, skin conductance, blood volume pulse, respiration rate, temperature and EMG are usually measured. This gives us an objective view of how the patient responds to stress situations. The stress profile then serves to educate the patient: we can clearly explain how his/her body responds to stress and at the same time it provides us with an objective measure of how the patient's therapy progresses. The main advantage of the stress profile is that in this way it is possible to describe to the patient the functioning of the body properly and accurately and shed light on the relationship between the mental and physiological responses of his/her body.


ghost who died during childbirth, frightened and annoyed the villagers, but was finally appeased by a celebrated monk from Bangkok. While this can ostensibly be interpreted as a story of control over a spirit cult by Buddhism, or the Buddhacization of rural spirit cults at a time when Thailand was modernizing, we can also see this ghost story as a case of "inspiriting Buddhism." Nowadays the female ghost is enshrined within the temple of the village and attracts many worshippers praying for an easy delivery or simply for a good luck. Though the ghost had been suppressed by Buddhism, Nang Nak seems to survive and conversely to support and strengthen Buddhism by occupying a corner of the temple. Despite the differences of historical process between Laos and Thailand, "inspiriting Buddhism" can be used not only for the case of Laos but also for other situations. One flaw of this volume is that it does not give accounts of religious reality in rural Lao that are based on the author's own research. Except for chapter 4, which elaborates on novices' views on religious life and two annual rituals, other chapters lack descriptions of the situation in rural villages, where the author stresses the importance of the substratum of the religion. Moreover, the spirit veneration mentioned in this book is too exclusively limited to types of guardian deities. A consideration of other kinds of spirits, such as phi pop or phi phrai, which are usually classified as evil spirits, would have enriched the analysis of the village situation. Notwithstanding these shortcomings, Holt's approach to spirit veneration has the potential to shed light on the underexplored and overlooked aspects of religious life in Southeast Asia.


Solid phase methodology was developed for the synthesis of carba-analogues of oxytocin. Two known compounds (deaminc-l-carba-oxytocin (I) and deamino-fi-carba-oxytocin (II) and two new analogues ((4-threonine]deamino-l-carba-oxytocin (III) and [4-threoninc}deamino-6-carba-oxytocin (IV» were synthesized using different approaches. The latter two compounds were found to possess high biological activity in the rat uterotonic (ill vitro and ill vivo) and galactogogic (ill vivo) assays.


The study of the ambient noises effect on the vocal frequency of Chinese Bulbuls,Pycnonotus sinensis,was carried out in two cities (Lin an and Fuyang) in China.Based on the noise level (55 db),the samples of each city were divided into two groups of high noise level and low noise level (HN and LN).The records of songs were inputted into the computer,and then the data of principal frequency (PF) of each syllable were gotten through fast Fourier transform (FFT) using a computerized analysis system.The statistical analyses of each syllables PF of the songs were carried out with Mann-Whitney U test to determine differences between HN and LN of each city.The results showed that the minimum PF,maximum PF,the first syllable (SⅠ) and the second syllable (SⅡ) of every song had significant differences between HN and LN in two cities.In Fuyang,the third syllable (SⅢ) had significant difference because of geographic diversity.In contrast HN with LN,the minimum PF,maximum PF and the PF of S1 and SⅡ increased significantly in the high noise level environment.This means that Chinese Bulbuls may avoid the interference of ambient noise with a higher pitch to communicate effectively,and the difference of ambient noises effects on each syllable principal frequency shows that each syllable has different status in communication in noisy environment.


The net for catching falling leaves comprises a triangular sheet of netting 2 having pegs 10 and handles 4, 8 at each apex. The net can be secured to the ground under a tree using the pegs and lifted from the ground with the leaves thereon using the handles. The sheet is preferably in the shape of a right angled triangle and is truncated at its ninety degree apex. This allows the nets to be positioned around trees (20) in a modular fashion with the truncated apex butting up to the trunk and their adjacent sides positioned together (fig 2c).


Original article can be found via: http://cdsads.u-strasbg.fr/ Copyright Royal Astronautical Society [Full text of this article is not available in the UHRA]


Thirty years of very good economic growth among nearly all of the ASEAN countries has had profound consequences. Not only are these countries now much wealthier, they are also generally less gripped by fundamental problems of political stability and nationbuilding. To be sure, there are still many serious domestic challenges most notably the need for further progress with poverty reduction and the improvement of income distribution. But it is also clearly the case that the transformations of the domestic political economies of these countries that are underway have permitted governments to lift their sights from the purely domestic and to give greater attention to international policy issues. In addition, changes in global economic and security conditions have given Southeast Asian governments powerful incentives to devote more resources to international challenges.


We prove small data modified scattering for the Vlasov-Poisson system in dimension $d=3$ using a method inspired from dispersive analysis. In particular, we identify a simple asymptotic dynamic related to the scattering mass.


In this paper, a digital plug-in odd harmonic repetitive control scheme is proposed for a constant-voltage-constant-frequency (CVCF) single-phase PWM inverter. The approach occupies only half the data memory that a conventional repetitive controller required. Besides the advantage of simple implementation, it offers faster convergence of the tracking error. The proposed odd harmonic repetitive controller is a zero tracking error control scheme. Results are presented to validate the proposed approach.


Sports sponsor is one of the most useful marketing tools in the 21st century. It helps the enterprise to enhance the image and famousness of the brand, which is beneficial to the enterprise's business goal. Based on the enterprise, this article analyzes the necessity to implement sport sponsor firstly. Then it discusses the existing problem of sports sponsor for domestic enterprise and puts forward some measures on how to make sports sponsor better.


The area of car use for business travel is most insensitive to any petrol price rises imposed on it. It is therefore necessary to look for other measures that will stimulate a more conscious car use. This paper is concerned with the methods used by employers for budgeting and reimbursing business kilometres. A proposal describing an alternative to the present method of allocation should offer the prospect of a more conscious car use. (A) For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 887581.


There is a source relation between the theory of art vitality and vigour in Chinese classical aesthetics and Taoist school and Chan sect philosophy.That's to say,the theory of vivid air and lasting appeal would not exist at all if it had not been nourished by Taoist school and Chan sect philosophy,lat along the flourishing and prosperous being now.The reason why classical artists approve and commend the theory is that it roots from Taoist school and Chan sect philosophy which Chinese scholars yearn for and accept.The theory's profound and meaningful cultural implications and aesthetic significance wholly attribute greatly to the deeply foundation of Taoist school and Chan sect philosophy.


This paper reviews unobscured multiple-mirror imaging designs ranging from two to many mirrors, the ranges of operating conditions of each configuration, their strengths and limitations, and areas of application.


Electronic load circuit for displaying current/voltage characteristic curves of power sources uses low-cost low-power CMOS operational amplifiers to control load current flowing through power MOSFET Q2 and main load transistor Q3. Thermal cutoff device turns off transistor Q3 in case of overload. To maximize battery life, battery is connected via "push-to-read" momentary-contact pushbutton switch.


The first theorem is the main result that allows us to analyze dual curriculum games. The high-level result says that the NE of a dual curriculum game are approximate NE of the base game from the perspective of any of the individual players, or from the perspective of the joint strategy. Theorem 1. Let B be the maximum difference between U t and U t , and let (π, θ, θ) be a NE for G. Then (π, pθ + (1− p)θ) is an approximate NE for the base game with either teacher or for a teacher optimizing their joint objective. More precisely, it is a 2Bp(1− p)-approximate NE when Ut = pU 1 t + (1− p)U t , a 2B(1− p)-approximate NE when Ut = U t , and a 2Bp-approximate NE when Ut = U t .


The long chain has been an important concept in the design of flexible processes. This design concept, as well as other sparse designs, have been applied by the automotive and other industries as a way to increase flexibility in order to better match available capacities with variable demands. Numerous empirical studies have validated the effectiveness of these designs. However, there is little theory that explains the effectiveness of the long chain, except when the system size is large, i.e., by applying an asymptotic analysis.

Our attempt in this paper is to develop a theory that explains the effectiveness of long chain designs for finite size systems. First, we uncover a fundamental property of long chains, supermodularity, that serves as an important building block in our analysis. This property is used to show that the marginal benefit, i.e., the increase in expected sales, increases as the long chain is constructed, and the largest benefit is always achieved when the chain is closed by adding the last arc to the system. Then, supermodularity is used to show that the performance of the long chain is characterized by the difference between the performances of two open chains. This characterization immediately leads to the optimality of the long chain among 2-flexibility designs. Finally, under independent and identically distributed i.i.d. demand, this characterization gives rise to three developments: i an effective algorithm to compute the performances of long chains using only matrix multiplications; ii a result that the gap between the fill rate of full flexibility and that of the long chain increases with system size, thus implying that the effectiveness of the long chain relative to full flexibility increases as the number of products decreases; iii a risk-pooling result implying that the fill rate of a long chain increases with the number of products, but this increase converges to zero exponentially fast.


International Conference on Information Systems, in Helsinki, Finland, December 13 ± 16, 1998. The theme of the conference is `Crossing Boundaries: Managing Virtual Enterprises'. The conference features research and case research tracks, as well as panels. New this year are a crossing boundaries theme track and a teaching case track. For general questions about the conference, please contact one of the Program Co-Chairs Rudy Hirschheim (email@example.com), or Mike Newman (firstname.lastname@example.com). The Journal has a planned theme issue on Interpretive Research in Information Systems. This is guest edited by Michael Myers, University of Auckland, and Geoff Walsham, University of Cambridge, and will be published in December 1998. Pleasingly, we have received over twenty submissions for this theme issue, indicating the great interest in this topic and the healthy amount of research being carried out in the interpretivist tradition. The Journal of Information Technology has always welcomed submissions from different research traditions, and hopefully this theme issue will be a small part of the bigger process of obtaining wider publication for diverse approaches to studying information systems. The Journal will also be publishing a theme issue based on selected papers developed from the Sixth European Conference on Information Systems held at Aix-en-Provence, France, June 4th ± 6th, 1998. The objective is to give a fast track to a limited number of ECIS98 papers into a refereed international Journal such as JIT. Theme issues developed from selected papers from ECIS99 and ECIS2000 are also scheduled for other leading Journals.


Utilizing survey research methods, an investigation was carried out to clarify the public's conceptions of occupation and belief as criteria of the several social classes. The data were analyzed with a view to determining the constancies and discrepancies in conception between the various classes and the extent to which the individual's own subjective affiliation influences his ideas. The study confirms the importance of belief as a criterion of class ascription.