Provided with this book, on CD-ROM, is a very simple method to find titles and authors of 3905 papers in what has been termed "the intennittent grey literature", as \veU as over 100 papers related to HSPF (the Hydrological Simulation Program in Fortran). (Please note that use of the librarians' term grey literature refers merely to the shadowy nature ofits availability in printtoday, and is not meant to imply anything even slightly pejorative). For engineers, researchers and students working in stormwater management modelling, the method provides an easy way to fmd titles of papers in this relatively large set of papers that might otherwise not have been indexed.


Detection and tracking are two important aspects of visual surveillance applications which is gaining importance rapidly. Certain conditions like cluttered background, camera noise, target appearance variation, and occlusion are barriers to robust detection and tracking, especially in case of multiple moving objects. Object detection under complex backgrounds is an area of active research. Contrary to recent approaches, this paper focus on developing a framework which can effectively detect multiple moving objects and track them despite of background clutter and prior knowledge of targets in the scene with two major contributions. First, a segmentation method which is robust in dynamic background conditions such as swaying leaves, fountains, and other complex backgrounds. Second, a multiple object tracking algorithm using Kalman filter which perform efficient tracking of occluded objects. By modelling the background and foreground, the system can accurately detect the real moving objects. The video object tracking method assigns each object a unique track and maintains it over time. Experimental results convey that the framework perform well for several challenging sequences, and our proposed framework is effective for the aforementioned challenges. Keywords—computer vision; complex backgrounds; occlusion handling; background clutter; multiple object tracking.


The mechanisms of the formation of composite materials by the technology of high-energy sputtering of a mechanical mixture of components are investigated. This technology makes it possible to form single-layer or multi-layer composite materials with various combinations of polymer, metal, mineral components, including multilayer coatings on machine parts and mechanisms. This will make it possible to develop modern high-tech compositions of composite materials based on using local raw materials and resource-saving technologies for their production and processing into products.


The paper gives a new monotone class and ω-class.What's more a new class theorem relating to ω-class is established.Finally some useful and important conclusions are provided.


Operating deep neural networks on devices with limited resources requires the reduction of their memory footprints and computational requirements. In this paper we introduce a training method, called look-up table quantization, LUT-Q, which learns a dictionary and assigns each weight to one of the dictionary's values. We show that this method is very flexible and that many other techniques can be seen as special cases of LUT-Q. For example, we can constrain the dictionary trained with LUT-Q to generate networks with pruned weight matrices or restrict the dictionary to powers-of-two to avoid the need for multiplications. In order to obtain fully multiplier-less networks, we also introduce a multiplier-less version of batch normalization. Extensive experiments on image recognition and object detection tasks show that LUT-Q consistently achieves better performance than other methods with the same quantization bitwidth.


The ongoing Corona Virus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has influenced the lives of everyone, regardless of the fact that whether they are part of the general community or a vulnerable population groups and are living in campsites or in conflict areas or even in long-term care facilities (LTCF). In general, LTCFs are usually overcrowded and thus the possibility of rapid transmission of infection cannot be ruled out. Infection prevention and control has been acknowledged as the key strategy to prevent the causative virus from entering or spreading within the facilities and also to prevent its transmission outside these facilities. In conclusion, in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, it is extremely important to safeguard the health of vulnerable population groups in long-term care facilities through strengthening of the infection prevention and control strategies.


In this paper, we examine the link between innovative activity on the part of firms, the competitive pressure to introduce innovations and optimal damages awards. While innovative activity brings forth valuable new products for consumers, competitive pressure in the ensuing innovation race induces firms to launch innovations too early, thereby raising the likelihood of severe product risks above the optimal failure rate. Introducing innovations too early may call for the application of punitive damages instead of mere compensation of harm caused, in order to decelerate such welfare-reducing innovation races. The optimal tort system is accordingly highly dependent not only on the expected profits and the effectiveness of time delays with respect to reducing expected harm, but also on the competitive environment in which firms operate.


Adopting the methods of questionnaire, interview and documentation, the paper analyzesthe existing problems and cause in bringing up reserve talent of competitive sports in Shanghai with theaim of turning Shanghai into a first-rate sports centre in Asia. Some suggestions are put forward.


This report identifies relevent issues related to human performance in conjunction with the use of cathode ray tube-generated displays. Twelve primary source documents were identified for human engineering content review. From these documents a set of 22 variables were selected and analyzed. Each variable is discussed in terms of its impact, relevance, and validity with regard to various standards that have evolved over the past 20 years. Studies related to each standard were also identified and cited that either support or weaken a particular standard. The conclusions drawn in this report indicate that there are areas needing further investigation before valid standards can be generated. However, there are many current standards that have ample research support to justify them as candidate standards for use by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Suitability of these various standards is discussed.


Counting and Interpret currency coins with accuracy and high speed is a challenging problem for banks and stores, and even consumers. The systems of the machine that are available in the market are not well enough because sometimes it makes mistake when detect the value of coin and cause the error calculation in the result. In this proposed work, a coin operated machine which can differentiate between coins accurately and automatically is implemented. An automatic coin counting and sorting machine prototype is developed by using ARDUINO-UNO as the main controller. This work included design the display panel to show total quantity of each coin and total amount. The coin acceptor has been used as it acts as coin selector to determine the denomination of coins in sorting system is designed by using DC motor to hold and distributes coin to the corresponding slot.


In a patient who had been anaesthetised twice with penthiobarbitone, who had contracted a localised then a generalised eczema, collapse appeared during a third anaesthetic induction, 30 minutes after the injection of penthiobarbitone which was revealed by Shelley's test to be the most positive product.


[Purpose] To survey the characteristics and differences of discharge support that heart failure patients and physical therapists consider necessary. [Participants and Methods] The subjects were 16 patients with heart failure who were 65 years of age or older and 7 physical therapists (PT). The Q-sort method was used to survey the values relating to discharge support needed by heart failure patients. [Results] The discharge support item considered highly necessary by both groups was "response at times of recurrence." Differences between the two groups were found in "purpose of exercise" and "explanation of exercise risk", with the patient group expressing lower need than the PT group. [Conclusion] Both groups were conscious of the need for effective management of salt and water intake, and body weight for prevention of recurrence. The need for "exercise" was lower in the patient group than in the PT group. This suggests that there is a problem with guidance related to exercise.


During the past decade governments across Europe have set in place a series of programmes to expand investment on grid-connected solar power technology, most especially Photovoltaics (PV). Recently most of these programmes have been rolled back, in face of rapidly declining costs. Using a simple model this article shows that basic PV electricity costs are presently below 0.10 €/kWh in large swaths of the continent, entering levels where previously only nuclear and fossil fired electricity where found. Due to the scalable nature of PV, many households in Europe are now able to produce their own electricity at a cost considerably lower that the rates demanded by grid utilities. If governments proceed with the complete roll back of fixed electricity rates to PV suppliers the most likely result is a shift to off-the-grid systems. Long term this trend presents serious challenges to utilities and traditional electricity suppliers, putting at stake the traditional electricity market framework.


SIRM (Single Input Rule Module), a Fuzzy Controlling algorithm, has been implemented with FPGA of Xilinx, and it is used to control a real inverted pendulum The SIRM controller is an 8bit digital controller that can balance the inverted pendulum well, as was verified by experiment The inverted pendulum can be balanced within 3 degrees around the upright position with the cart being appointed to any position on the rail within 3 cm by the controller 


The total honey produced in Nigeria is usually inadequate, not documented and the country augments thedomestic consumption and industrial needs partly from the public based farms,array of diverse honey beeindigenous farmers and mostly import from other countries. This paper assesses adoption of improvedtechnologies and management practices nexus efficiency gaps among bee farmers in Nigeria that optimize theuse of available inputs to maximize honey output. A field survey through stratified random sampling, withquestionnaire administration, farm visits and experiments were conducted in 148 honey bee farms comprising102 traditional and 46 modern honey bee farms inKwara and Kebbi States Nigeria. The tools of analysis were netmargin, double difference estimators and dichotomous regression models. Modern bee farmers were younger,had more formal education, but less adjusted household size which manifested inenhanced decisions and level ofadoption results, increased output per hive and invariably increased net margin. The constraints to indigenousapicultural development were not limited only to technologies adoptions and improved management practicesin nature, but also related to socio-economic and rural development. Empirical result indicates that the decisionto adopt and level of adoption of improved techniques and practices had slight variations and where it does, noteither by the same coefficients, direction, magnitude orstructure. Honey bee farmers' and relevant governmentagencies should collaborate to ensure gradual adoption of improvedmanagement practices and environmentallyadaptable techniques capable of increasing the output and make efficient use of the abundant apiculturalresources. This could be an impetus to achieving sustainable honey production, and possible transition of thissector from subsistence to commercial and export production to support globally, the new SustainableDevelopment Goals (SDGs).


Two groups of Ss compared a target word with a memory set consisting of from one to four words (Group W) or from one to four semantic categories (Group C). The Ss made a positive or a negative response to indicate whether or not a target word matched one of the words in the memory set for Group W, or whether or not the target word was an exemplar of one of the categories in the memory set for Group C. Reaction times for negative responses were linear functions of the memory set size for both groups, but the slope of the function for Group C was about four times the slope for Group W. The results were discussed in terms of alternatwe memory search mechanisms and the possible serial and parallel scanning models that were consistent with the data.


A interprets the commands and / or movement and / or body gestures of the hand of oral, head mount including wireless front-end to start the subsystem components selectively only when required to execute a particular command display (HMD) to provide a system. In A first state is activated only the first processor and a user input device detects user input, using the processor, interprets the user input as a command or gesture commands verbally, the It enters the second state, in response to a command or gesture commands verbally, selected peripheral device of the two or more other peripheral devices are actuated, peripherals that are not selected to not be actuated. .FIELD 6


Objective To observe the effects and safety of ezetimibe combining simvastatin in different doses on inflammatory indexes and uric acid(UA) in patients with acute coronary syndrome(ACS).Methods ACS patients(n=81) were randomly divided into group of low-dose ezetimibe combining simvastatin(group A),group of routine-dose ezetimibe combining simvastatin(group B) and simvastatin group(group C),and all groups were treated for one week.The changes of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP),white blood cell count(WBC),percentage of neutrophils(N),UA,blood fat and adverse reactions were compared in three groups before and after the treatment.Results The levels of hs-CRP,WBC,N and UA showed a decreasing trend in three groups after the treatment,and in group A and group B the difference in hs-CRP was statistically significant before and after the treatment(P0.01).The differences were statistically significant in low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C) and total cholesterol(TC) in three groups before and after the treatment(P0.01).There were no patients withdrawn due to adverse reactions.Conclusion Ezetimibe combining simvastatin in low dose is as the same as that in routine dose in inhibition of ACS inflammatory reactions and has a higher safety.


First passage times for PH/PH/l/K and PH/PH/l queues have been studied. The Laplace transform for the busy period probability density function (p.d.f.), inter-overflow time p.d.f. and transition probability for system states between two arbitrary time points are represented by some recurrence formulas. Dimensions of the inverse matrices included in each recurrence formula do not exceed the number either of arrival phases or of service phases. Hence, if either the number of arrival phases or nlJmber of service phases is small, the Laplace transforms of the above-mentioned p.d.f.s and transition probability can easily be computed. The moment characteristics of busy period and inter-overflow time are presented using some numerical examples.


The invention relates to an image pickup apparatus and a method of controlling image pickup apparatus. The image pickup apparatus, including: an observation unit configured to observe an object; a detector configured to detect whether or not a user observes the object through use of the observation unit; and a controller configured to control an actuator, the actuator being configured to drive at least a part of an photography optical system and being capable of performing a first operation and a second operation different from the first operation, the second operation being an operation for maintenance of the actuator, wherein, when the detector detects that the user does not observe the object through use of the observation unit, the controller causes the actuator to perform the second operation.


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The decycling number $\phi(G)$ of a graph $G$ is the smallest number of vertices which can be removed from $G$ so that the resulting graph has no cycles. Bau, Wormald and Zhou conjectured that with probability tending to one the decycling number of the random $4$-regular graph $G_4(n)$ on $n$ vertices is equal to $\lceil (n+1)/3\rceil$. In this paper we show that this conjecture holds asymptotically, i.e. asymptotically almost surely $\lim_{n \to \infty}\phi(G_4(n))/n = 1/3$.


To the Editor:

Egan, in his editorial of the re-analysis of the DASH-sodium data, appears to endorse universal salt reduction in the entire population, which has, according to him, a substantial foundation.1 However, in the last paragraph, he seems to pour cold water on this conclusion and one is left uncertain as to what he is saying.

The results of the re-analysis of the DASH-sodium study2 support the large body of other evidence3 that salt reduction should be directed at the entire population rather than "susceptible individuals." Much of this evidence Egan does not mention. A recent expert committee in the United Kingdom re-examined all of the evidence on salt and concluded that, since the early 1990s, the evidence has increased and recommended a reduction in all adults to 6 g/d or less and much larger reductions in children dependent on age.4

Egan, in previous publications, has studied the acute effects of large salt reductions. It is bizarre, therefore, that he quotes Graudal's meta-analysis as the only evidence against population salt reduction. Graudal's meta-analysis included very short-term (eg, 5 days) and large changes in salt intake (eg, from 20 to <1 g/d). The average duration was only 8 days in normotensives. To draw any conclusions about the long-term effects of modest salt reductions from Graudal's …


This research aimed to determine students' critical thinking skills by applying the guided inquiry learning model to the reaction rate material. This type of research is a pre-experimental design, with a One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design. This research was conducted on 36 students in class XI MIPA 6 SMA Negeri 1 Menganti Gresik who had not received material about reaction rates. The outcome of this study indicate that: (1) The application of the guided inquiry learning model at the first meeting got a percentage of 95%, at the second meeting 96% with a very good category; (2) Percentage of relevant activities is higher than irrelevant activities; (3) Students' critical thinking skills were successfully trained with an increase in the test as seen through the average N-gain value on the interpretation indicator of 0.86 (high), the inference indicator of 0.83 (high), the analysis indicator of 0.77 (high), and an explanation indicator of 0.80 (high); (4) Cognitive learning outcomes obtained by students showed an increase between pretest and posttest, with an average n-gain value of 0.84 in the high category and from the results of the paired sample t-test, Sig. (2-tailed) 0.000 < 0.005, so there is a significant difference; (5) Student responses to the applied learning model, namely guided inquiry, were very good with a percentage of 95%. This result indicates that the guided inquiry learning model can train the critical thinking skills of class XI students on the reaction rate material.


In 2009, Residente, the lead singer of a well-known Latinx music group and newly appointed international ambassador for the Latino Commission on AIDS, likened Latinxs in the US to HIV/AIDS. Taking this fertile equivalence as a conceptual point of departure, this article tracks the pitfalls and possibilities of aligning these two positions, touching on the performativity of disgust, the transmission of brown affect, and economies of racialization and deracination via the exchange of viral matter. Building upon the reparative labour of critical mestizaje, which came to the fore of Latinx studies in the 1980s, I reimagine the potentiality of a "viral mestizaje," a form of relatedness that allows for networks of intimacy, multiplicity, and reproduction that extend beyond heternormative coupling. What is at stake in the positioning of Latinxs as "just like AIDS"? What are the possibilities and problems of analogy?


Several studies suggest that infection by Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) might be one of the environmental factors which facilitates the development of autoimmune disorders in genetically susceptible individuals. Recent data indicate that high anti‐Epstein–Barr nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA)‐1 immunoglobulin (Ig)G titre is a strong risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS) in patients both with and without the main genetic predisposing trait, human leucocyte antigen (HLA)‐DRB1*15:01. Because no similar studies have been published in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, we determined the HLA‐DRB1*15:01 carrier state and the serum titres against the whole EBNA‐1 and its small fragments aa35–58 and aa398–404 in 301 SLE patients, 135 MS patients and in 345 healthy controls. The carrier state of the HLA‐DRB1*15:01 allele was deduced from genotyping of a tagSNP (rs3135388) by applying a Taqman‐based assay. The serum concentrations of antibodies to EBNA‐1 and its aa35–58 or aa398–404 fragments were determined using a commercial assay (ETI‐EBNA‐G) and home‐made enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. The serum concentration of anti‐EBNA‐1 antibodies was significantly (P < 0·001) higher both in MS and SLE patients than in controls. Similar significant differences were found both in HLA‐DRB1*15:01 carriers and non‐carriers. Furthermore, titres of antibodies against the aa35–58 EBNA‐1 fragment were elevated both in MS and SLE patients. By contrast, the levels of aa398–404 EBNA‐1 antibodies were elevated significantly only in the SLE patients. These findings indicate that high anti‐EBNA‐1 IgG titres are HLA‐DRB1*15:01‐independent risk factors not only for MS, but also for SLE, while high antibody titres against the aa398–404 fragment are characteristic for SLE.


Using a cross-sectional data set of 837 male adolescents (346 local Germans, 375 ethnic German immigrants from the countries of the Former Soviet Union (average length of residence = 7.6 years), 52 first-generation (= foreign born, average length of residence = 9.2 years) and 64 second-generation immigrants (= born in Germany) from other origins such as Turkey, Former Yugoslavia or Afghanistan) aged 15.4 years, this article brings together acculturation research with research on behavior problems in non-immigrant youth. Male immigrants reported higher numbers of delinquent acts pursued in the last 12 months than local boys. First-generation immigrants from mostly Muslim backgrounds show the highest amount of problem behavior. In spite of these differences, comparisons of structural equation models show that the prediction of delinquency is about the same (delinquent beliefs and friends, clique membership, parental monitoring, and language problems) for all four groups. Applying stepwise regression analyses, most of the culture-related variance in boys' delinquency is explained by the same set of predictors with delinquent beliefs and parental violence being the most powerful markers for the differences between the groups. The discussion sheds light on the living situation of immigrant youth in Germany and why delinquent beliefs may be of central importance to understanding the differences between local and immigrant youth.


A theory for a bound system of charges interacting with electromagnetic fields is developed, with special emphasis on the radiation-pressure effects imposed by the fields on the gross motion of the charges. The theory is particularly simple and transparent for the case of two opposite charges of finite mass M in the electric-dipole approximation. This enables a rigorous description to be given for the quantum electrodynamics of the problem with the various interaction terms affecting the gross motion being easily identified. Here, too, it becomes clear that, even in the dipole approximation, the conventional interaction term should be supplemented by the so-called Rontgen term


The International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) 7070 is a high-speed solid-state data processing system designed for both commercial and scientific applications. Its versatility and range enables easy expansion from a basic card system to a tape or tape RAMAC system which incorporates the speed and capacity of many large-scale data processing systems.


Intelligent electricity management systems can be widely used for monitoring the regional power consumption of enterprises, factories, campuses, properties, etc. To meet the current demand of electricity consumers for monitoring the power data of each node, a node design method based on Modbus and MQTT protocols for monitoring power consumption has been proposed. It can monitor the power, current, voltage, electricity, and other related parameters of the power nodes so that the electricity consumers can control the electric energy data of each power node in real time. The test results show that the node scheme can effectively monitor the data of each power node and realize the real-time monitoring of power consumption data, which shows that the design scheme is effective and feasible.


A conformal, wearable and wireless system for continuously monitoring the local body sweat loss during exercise is demonstrated in this work. The sensor system includes a sweat absorber, an inter-digitated capacitance sensor, and a communication hub for data processing and transmission. Experimental results show that the sensor has excellent sensitivity and consistent response to sweat rate and level. A 150% variation in the sensor capacitance is observed with 50μL/cm2 of sweat collected in the absorber. During wear tests, the sensor system is placed on the subject's right anterior thigh for measuring the local sweat response during exercise (eg. running), and the measured sweat loss (147μL) was verified by the weight change within the absorbent material (144mg). With a conformal and wireless design, this system is ideal for applications in sport performance, dehydration monitoring, and health assessment.


Background Hepatitis C viral infection is one of the most burdensome diseases affecting 2–3% of the world population. At least 50% of patients infected with HCV suffer from one psychiatric illness. Aim The aim was to evaluate some psychiatric aspects and life quality in cirrhotic and noncirrhotic hepatitis-C virus (HCV) cases. Patients and methods A case–control study in the Neuropsychiatry Department and Internal Medicine Department in Tanta University Hospital. Patients were divided into 50 cirrhotic HCV patients (group I), 50 noncirrhotic HCV patients, both were nonmedicated (group II), and 30 healthy controls (group III). We used Child–Turcotte–Pugh, Beck Depression Inventory, Taylor's Manifest Anxiety Scale, Mini-Mental State Examination, and Liver Disease Symptom Index 2. Results Beck Depression Inventory showed a statistically significant higher percentage of mild and moderate depressed patients in patient groups (groups I and II) than the control group (group III), unlike between patient groups. Educational level was found to be significant in comparison between depressed and nondepressed groups. Taylor's Manifest Anxiety Scale showed mild and moderate anxiety high percentage in patient groups (groups I and II) than the control group (group III) and this difference was of statistical significance, unlike between patient groups. Mini-Mental State Examination revealed mild cognitive impairment of high percentage in patient groups (groups I and II) than the control group (group III) and this difference of statistical significance, unlike between patient groups. Liver Disease Symptom Index 2 showed strong affection of health-related quality of life in patient groups. Conclusion Psychiatric disorders can occur frequently in HCV patients, with a higher incidence of depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment. All these psychiatric disorders were found in both cirrhotic and noncirrhotic patients. Also, health-related quality of life was affected in such patients markedly independent of the stage of liver disease.


Objectives: To examine changes in psychological distress and psychosocial functioning in young people presenting to headspace centres across Australia for mental health problems.


Over a last decade, great strides have been in improving the performance of conventional cooling towers. Heat is dissipated from the surface of a body of water by convection, evaporation and radiation. The heat is largely due to evaporating cooling. The driving force is difference in enthalpy rather than in temperature. The water temperature tends to approach the wet bulb temperature rather than the dry bulb temperature of air. This offers an inherent advantage in making it possible to cool the water to a temperature lower than the dry bulb temperature. This cooling is accomplished by a combination of the sensible heat transfer and evaporation of a small proportion of water. High contact efficiencies are reported for the three phase counter current, fluidized bed in the other applications make it attractive to apply the fluidized bed technology in the field of cooling water. Fluidization is the phenomenon by which the solid particles are made to behave like a fluid through contact gas or liquid or both. This principle in the development of three phase fluidized bed cooling tower. The turbulent and random motion of solids which shows vigorous result in high heat and mass transfer coefficients as they are complex in nature, it is difficult form of mathematical simulation programs. Therefore an experimental investigation has been conducted towards these directions. The present work deals with the methods to improvement in the performance of the wet cooling tower with fluidized bed for various configurations with that of the cooling tower without fluidized bed. The prototype model of forced draft fluidized bed cooling tower and forced and induced draft fluidized bed cooling tower is designed, fabricated, assembled and finally carry out the tests for the performance. The results shows the improvement in cooling capacity, range with the use of fluidized bed with forced draft and forced & induced draft system compare to non-fluidized cooling tower. INTRODUCTION In thermal power plant the prime mover is steam driven. The energy released by combustion of fuel is used to generate steam at high pressure in boiler, which is used to spin a steam turbine which in turn drives an electrical generator. Steam coming from the turbine is condensed in a condenser and recycled to where it was heated. The thermal power plants works as per the Rankine cycle. The greatest variation in the design of thermal power stations is due to the different fossil fuel resources generally used to heat the water. Some prefer to use the term energy center because such facilities convert forms of heat energy into electrical energy. Certain thermal power plants also are designed to produce heat energy for industrial purposes of district heating, or desalination of water, in addition to generating electrical power. Globally, fossil fuelled thermal power plants produce a large part of man-made CO2 emissions to the atmosphere, and efforts to reduce these are many, varied and widespread. Almost all coal, nuclear, geothermal, solar thermal electric and waste incineration plants, as well as many natural gas power plants are thermal. Natural gas is frequently combusted in gas turbines as well as boilers. The waste heat from a gas turbine can be used to raise steam, in a combined cycle plant that improves overall efficiency. Power plants burning coal, fuel oil, or natural gas are often called fossil-fuel power plants. Some biomass-fueled thermal power plants have appeared also. Non-Nuclear thermal power plants particularly fossil fueled plant, sometimes referred to as Conventional power plant. International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)


In order to solve the problems which exist in teaching of general technology and realize the teaching objectives better,the instructional design of this subject should pursue the following four values.Firstly,the curriculum standards should be grasped accurately,including the principles and objectives of the subject,the curriculum content standards and advices for teaching and assessing.Secondly,the knowledge points should be acquired fully which include the related designs,key concepts,and methodology and thoughts of the designs.Thirdly,the course feature should be highlighted,that is to say,the teaching content should be organically related to skill drills,realistic life and other subjects.Lastly,the overall concept of teaching in each lesson should be clear,namely,teachers should always have a scientific instructional designing idea,a well-organized teaching procedure and a scientific thought for guiding the instruction.


We present a comprehensive study of electron collisions with calcium atoms by using the convergent $B$-spline $R$-matrix method. Elastic, excitation, and ionization cross sections were obtained for all transitions between the lowest 39 physical states of calcium (except for $3{p}^{6}4s5g\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}^{3,1}G$) up to the $3{p}^{6}4s8s\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}^{1}S$ state, for incident electron energies ranging from threshold to 100 eV. A multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock method with nonorthogonal term-dependent orbitals was employed to generate accurate wave functions for the pseudo target states. Close-coupling expansions including the 39 physical states plus 444 pseudo target states of calcium were used to check the sensitivity of the results to coupling to the target continuum. The cross-section dataset obtained from the large-scale calculations is expected to be sufficiently accurate and comprehensive for most current modeling applications involving neutral calcium.


The entertainment industry in its present state, as occasioned by the new wave of technology, is a 'cash cow'. However, most African countries, Nigeria inclusive, are not fully tapping into its great potential to generate the required revenue for their economic growth and development. Anchored on the premise of cultural history, the paper adopts the historical research method to interrogate the concept of entertainment from the pre-colonial era to its current state and find the nexus between entertainment and the economic growth of nations. It finds that the entertainment industry is a gold mine that is not fully explored and concludes that Nigeria needs to capitalise on the new forms of technological advancement that could enhance and boost her economy. It recommends that young people need to be trained and repositioned in the process of driving modern entertainment and creative industries. Future researches need to explore ways Nigerians and Africans will learn to harness and absorb the positive changes in technological advancement and the digital revolution that is fast changing the face and pace of entertainment and the creative industries. This paper was limited by the shortage of schorly documentation on the emerging Nigerian creative industries.


Aroma inhalation therapy is a way to treat,mitigate or prevent various kinds of illness and infection by inhalation of volatile aromatic substances into the brain and the lung.It works psychologically after the inhalation,and mobilizes the body's positive factors to resist a number of disease,in purpose of curing,mitigating or preventing the diseases.Aroma-Psychology,derived from Aromatherapy,is the science that researching on the internal relationship between the mental state and the inhalation of volatile aromatic substances,the effect of aromatherapy can be confirmed by experiments and the measurements of various instruments,it can be demonstrated quantitatively,so that aroma inhalation therapy is based on evidence.


Recent months have seen cyberspace inundated with links to a phenomenon known as 'Kony 2012' or the 'Stop Kony' movement. The thirty-minute video, and the social media advocacy campaign it represents, is an attempt by activists to raise global awareness of the atrocities commmitted in the long-running conflict in East-Central Africa involving the rebel group known as the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), and its charismatic leader, Joseph Kony. Along with a flurry of support for this cause has been a significant backlash against the group who produced the video, as well as the larger objectives of the movement -- namely, the call for US troops to assist Ugandan and other regional African military forces to eradicate the LRA threat to local civilians. This article is a brief discussion of the LRA phenomenon and the social media campaign against it, as well as the role the US government plays in addressing these regional concerns largely through its security partnership with the Republic of Uganda. To best understand this effort against the LRA, it must be viewed within the broader framework of the US-Uganda relationship and their implications vis-a-vis regional counterterrorism activities.


This article investigates the dynamics of the relations between religiosity categories as they play out in Israeli society. It begins with an overview of the considerations that frame our approach, and turns to an analysis of macro sociocultural and political aspects pertaining to the basic problématiques illustrated by the ultra-Orthodox, religious, and traditional categories vis-à-vis the non-religious who represent the upholders of the dominant culture. The micro-level of these problématiques are examined with reference to survey data to consider basic divergences and convergences that appear in the present-day attitudes of individuals, who see themselves in those different categories, toward Israeli Jewishness and related aspects. Both kinds of analysis reveal the relevance of different approaches to religion and kinds of religiosity. They also allow us to elaborate on the extent to which one may speak here of "pluralism", "multiculturalism", or even "conflictual multiculturalism".


The present work describes the continuation of the validation process of a computational code which is able to simulate three-dimensional compressible flows with turbulent transport effects over realistic configurations of CTA/IAE's rockets. Systematic mesh refinement studies are performed in order to determine the optimal conditions for each case. New mesh topologies are created in an attempt to provide better grids for supersonic flow situations. Simulations are performed with the objective of contributing to the validation effort of the numerical simulation tool under development.


Catholicism began to spread rapidly in Macau and China in the late sixteenth century, and this progress continued in the century that followed.1 While the fortunes of Macau city itself ebbed and flowed in the hundred years from its opening in the mid-sixteenth to the late seventeenth century, Catholicism enjoyed what has come to be known as something of a "golden age" in Macau. During this period, Macau served as the principal and most important base for the spread of Catholicism into mainland China; indeed, it can even be said that Catholicism would not exist in China if there was no Macau. However, while the history of Chinese Catholicism has now become a popular subject, the development of Catholicism in Macau has received little attention. This essay, which is based on extensive research of Chinese and Western historical documents, seeks to offer a new, in-depth investigation of the origins and development of Catholicism in Macau during the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties.


In this paper, we estimate the effects of the implementation of a regional transit system that substantially streamlined administrative processing of trade flows. In so doing, we use a unique dataset that consists of the entire universe of El Salvador's export transactions over the period 2007-2013 and includes information on the transactions channeled under the new transit regime established with neighboring countries over the same period. Results suggest that this new transit system has been associated with decreased order servicing costs and variable trade costs in general and accordingly with increased firms' exports, particularly of timesensitive goods. Keyword: Transit Trade, Exports, El Salvador JEL-Code: F10, F13, F14  We would like to thank Victoria Valente for her excellent research assistance and Sandra Corcuera, Rodolfo Espina, Manuel Márquez, and Álvaro Sarmiento for helping us build the dataset used in this paper. We are also grateful to Maria Bas, Jo van Biesebroeck, Johannes Boehm, Matthieu Crozet, Joze Damijan, Swati Dhingra, Anne-Celia Disdier, Catherine Fuss, Andrea Linarello, Alessia Lo Turco, Bruno Merlevede, Michael Pfaffermayr, Sandra Poncet, Ferdinand Rauch, Vanessa Strauss-Kahn and participants at the Ljubljana Empirical Trade Conference (Izola), the European Trade Study Group (Munich), and the Trade Seminar of the Paris School of Economics (Paris) for helpful comments and suggestions. The views and interpretations in this paper are strictly those of the authors and should not be attributed to the InterAmerican Development Bank, its executive directors, its member countries, or El Salvador's Dirección General de Aduanas. Other usual disclaimers also apply. *Correspondence Address: Inter-American Development Bank, Stop W0610, 1300 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20577, United States of America. E-mail: email@example.com. Tel.: +1 202 623 3199. Fax: +1 202 623 2995.


There are nearly two billion acres of land in the United States, and about 60% of this is used in some way for grazing animals. Some land in each of the states is in improved pastures. In the West, native meadows and desert rangeland provide extensive land for grazing, and in other states cleared woodlands are important. Forage crop productivity provides a measure of animal productivity in many areas, but in others animal productivity may be limited by deficient or toxic levels of trace elements in plants fed the animals. These problems often occur under conditions of sufficient feed, and reflect an impact of plants grown on soils with exceedingly low or high inherited levels of trace elements, low or high trace element availability, or both. Co deficiency,l Mo toxicities,2 and Se deficiencies and toxicities 3 have been shown to be soil-related nutritional problems of animals. It is the purpose of this paper to present some pertinent factors of soil sampling and to show how soil sampling is applied to the identification and distribution of these areas.


Abstract Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is problematic because multiple treatment options such as hip joint preservation procedures have been suggested, yet the best treatment for various stages of the disease remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to characterize the trends for hip joint preservation surgical procedures performed for ONFH in the United States between 2008 and 2014 to (1) assess the frequency and rates of surgical procedures for the treatment of femoral head osteonecrosis; (2) determine the frequency and rate of joint preservation procedures; and (3) determine the frequency and rate of hemiarthroplasty/femoral head resurfacing of this cohort. Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, all patients who had a diagnosis of ONFH and underwent hip joint preservation surgery or hemiarthroplasty/femoral head resurfacing between the years 2008 and 2014 were identified. The hip joint preservation surgical procedures included bone grafting, core decompression, osteotomy, and arthroscopy. The annual frequency and rate of the various surgical procedures were collected. From 2008 to 2014, the annual number of all surgical procedures for ONFH increased from 88 to 1,161. While the number of core decompression procedures increased, the frequency of other joint preserving procedures stayed relatively the same. As a percentage of all surgical procedures, the percentage of all hip joint preservation procedures decreased from 17 to 3.3% (p < 0.001). This corresponded to decreases in the percentage of bone grafting from 2.2 to 0.4%, core decompression from 12.5 to 2.8%, hip arthroscopy from 1.1 to 0.1%, and osteotomy from 1.1 to 0%. Over the same time period, the percentage of hemiarthroplasty/femoral head resurfacing decreased from 2.3 to 1.3%. The frequency and rate of surgical procedures for ONFH have increased over the years. However, the percentage of hip joint preservation procedures and hemiarthroplasty/femoral head resurfacing has decreased and makes up a smaller percentage of the total surgeries performed for treating ONFH.


Trade breaks down in the market for lemons because high-type sellers have a reservation value greater than expected market value. Unraveling occurs and only the lowest types trade. Two related questions arise: What happens the next day? And, from where does the reservation value come? We model these considerations in a dynamic setting with gradual arrival of noisy information. We characterize the unique equilibrium in a continuous-time framework. The equilibrium involves a region of no trade or market failure. The no-trade region ends in one of two ways: either enough good news arrives restoring condence and markets re-open or bad news arrives making buyers more pessimistic forcing market capitulation i.e., a sell-o of low value assets. Reservation values arise endogenously from the option to sell in the future. Our model also encompasses dynamic signaling environments. In a dynamic setting with suciently informative news, Spence's Job Market Signaling and Akerlof's Market for Lemons have the same unique equilibrium. The predictions help explain \irrational" trading patterns in nancial markets.


INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: The presence of donor-specific antibodies (DSA) increase the risk of antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) and graft failure in kidney transplant recipients (KTR). We aimed to analyze the evolution of preformed DSA after KT and their impact on graft survival. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in 370 KT recipients. DSA were assessed at baseline, 1-3-5 years after KT by LuminexVR platform, considering a MFI>1000 as positive. RESULTS: The 39 KTR (10.6%) who had preformed DSA (17 class-I/I&II and 22 class-II) presented with lower acute-ABMR-free survival [HR 10.6 (95% CI 5.520.4);p<0.001] and lower graft loss-free survival [HR 2.5 (1.3-4.7);p=0.003] than patients without antibodies. Early acute ABMR was more frequent among patients with preformed DSA class-I or I&II than class II alone (29.4% vs 4.5%, p=0.02). All patients with DSA class-I/I&II and acute ABMR lost their grafts but none of DSA classII alone. At 1 year post-KT, 20 (58.8%) patients had persistent DSA. Preformed DSA class-II alone persisted more frequently than class-I/I&II [66.7% vs 33.3%; p=0.031]. The only risk factor associated with the persistence of DSA was pre-KT MFI [OR 1.01(1,001-1,010); p=0.023]. ROC Curve for MFI=5100 showed AUC 0.803(p=0.002).Although in our overall population the highest risk of graft loss was found in patients with de novo DSA, graft loss was also very significant in KT recipients with either persistent preformed DSA or those who cleared preformed DSA during follow-up (Fig). CONCLUSIONS: Preformed low-MFI DSA usually disappear after KT. They are deleterious to graft survival, and the risk does not decrease significantly after post-KT DSA clearing.


We perform time-resolved spectral analysis on 26 multi-pulse BATSE GRBs. By fixing two parameters of a 3-parameter fit to the time-integrated values, we achieve a robust spectral hardness measure and physical fluxes. 28 pulse decay phases in 15 GRBs show significant correlation between peak power energy and instantaneous energy flux (characterized by FE∝Ep1.7). We compare peak energy fluxes, peak hardnesses, and pulse durations and separations for pulse pairs in our sample. There may be some indication of a "recovery timescale" for the bursters' energy source or environment.


reached the Highest platform of honour and success attainable by an English Surgeon. Sir Spencer Wells was enabled to meet a large and representative gathering of the medical men, who have been taught and trained in the leading medical school of India, and the assembled graduates and licentiates of the Calcutta University enjoyed the privilege of listening to an old man eloquent?to words of wisdom and worth, the outcome of the work and thought of many years, uttered by a man who has loved and lived for


The ligand exchange reaction of (E)-TbtP═PFc (Tbt = 2,4,6-tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl, Fc = ferrocenyl) and ethylenebis(triphenylphosphine)platinum(0) resulted in the formation of the corresponding η2-diphosphene−platinum complex in 82% yield. The molecular structure of the platinum complex was confirmed by spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic analyses.


A pretest counselling session is recommended by the General Medical Council before carrying out an HIV test and it is generally accepted that adolescents deemed competent enough to understand the counselling process can have an HIV test without parental consent. A recent survey in the United Kingdom showed that 79% of clinics were prepared to test for HIV infection in children under the age of 16.1 We reviewed the characteristics of adolescents between the ages of 13 and 16 seen in the Coventry genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic for an HIV test between 1990 and 2000 (table 1). This was part of …


Cross country skiing is an interplay between the active motion of the body of the skier and the physical interaction between the surface of the skis and the snow. Friction and glide between the ski base and the snow depend on the snow temperature, ski surface chemistry and roughness, dry friction with the snow crystals and liquid meltwater film flow properties. Although a great amount of resources are being spent on understanding glide and friction, a basic physical understanding of the phenomena at play is still at large and the methodology used for assessing the gliding quality of different full scale configurations is still coarse in real world applications, which limits novel development of robust methods to control and optimize glide. Such understanding and full scale testing is particularly important for designing new ski gliders. In the present work, we develop a novel experimental setup and use it to investigate through field experiments the basic mechanical phenomena that influence glide and friction of full scale skis on snow. The field setup features a mobile, novel linear tribometer allowing investigation with whole skis in realistic cross-country conditions (speed and load). The coefficient of friction between the skis and snow is obtained from a load cell, which reports the force necessary to pull a ski sled along a flat track. Simultaneously, thermistors measure the temperature at the ski-snow interface. In addition, a GPS measures displacement and velocity. The results obtained are in good agreement with several measurements reported from similar experiments, and provide a real-world validation of results obtained in the laboratory. In addition, we release the general tribometer setup as open source material in order to provide a foundation on which other research teams as well as cross-country teams can further iterate when designing later experiments.


A light source array used in illumination portions for optical encoders comprising an illumination portion, a scale grating extending along a measuring direction and receiving light from the illumination portion, and a detector configuration. The light source array comprises individual sources arranged in a grid pattern and coinciding with two transverse sets of parallel grid pattern lines that have two different grid line pitches between their parallel lines. Different instances of the light source array may be mounted with different rotational orientations about an axis normal to the grid pattern, for use in different illumination portions adapted for use with respective scale gratings having different grating pitches along the measuring axis direction. By using the different respective rotational orientations, the individual sources are aligned along respective illumination source lines that are spaced apart by different respective illumination source line pitches along the measuring axis direction.


Cervical cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cancer-related cause of death among women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). An estimated 70,700 annual new cases occur each year in SSA, representing onequarter of all female cancers. The magnitude of the problem has been under-recognised and underprioritised compared to competing health priorities such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Most cases of women with cervical cancer in SSA present at advanced stages of the disease, when treatment is ineffective or not available.


The mathematical method developed in paper I is applied to obtain the partition function and thermodynamical properties of the monomer–dimer problem for a square lattice in terms of the absolute activity x. We also obtain by extrapolation an approximate expression of the partition function which is accurate to better than 0.1% in the range 0≤x≤10. The expectation of the statistics 〈θ(x)〉 is calculated in two different ways and numerical results agree to better than 3%, thus showing the consistency of the underlying mathematical method. Consistent with earlier studies, there is no phase transition. Approximation methods used in earlier work are also found to be in good agreement with our analytic study.


Background/Objective: There are 1.7 million adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) globally, the majority of whom live in Eastern and Southern Africa. Despite increasing access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), ALHIV experience poorer HIV-related outcomes at each stage of the care cascade relative to other age groups. We sought to investigate barriers and facilitators experienced at each stage of the HIV "care cascade" – testing, linkage to care, retention in care, and adherence to and viral suppression on ART – among a cohort of hospitalized adolescents.


The ultimate goal of economic activity is to create wealth, and to guarantee subsistence of human society. In essence, the market economy is a pattern of economic operation, featured with its optimum arrangement of resources mainly by means of market exchanges, and aimed at realization of the ultimate goal of economic activity. Henceforth, the legal system for the market economy should take the Property Law as its core and basis, covering Subject Law, Conduct Law, Social Security Law and Law of Management over Market Order, etc..


Objective To evaluate the relationship between the diameter ratio of the main pulmonary trunk and descending aorta (rPDA) detected by ultrasound and classification of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) severity.Methods Eighty-two patients with COPD and 20 healthy people were measured by echocardiogram,the diameter of main pulmonary artery,descending aorta were measured,then the relationship between the rPDA and the classification of COPD severity were evaluated.Results rPDA was positively correlated with the classification of COPD severity,there was significantly difference between the groups (P < 0.05).Conclusions The change of rPDA is realated with COPD severity,rPDA is a sensitive monitoring indicators to evaluate the severity classification of COPD.

Key words:
Main pulmonary artery diameter;  Descending aorta diameter;  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease


Ninety-five percent of the surface geology of The Netherlands consists of various Pleistocene sedimentary sequences. Of the other five percent, the principal area of 'solid' geology is in the south around Maastricht, in the province of Limburg, justifiably famous for its highly fossiliferous Upper Cretaceous succession, including the type section of the Maastrichtian Stage. Paleozoic exposures are very rare and, most relevant to the discussion herein, there is no exposed Permian succession. Yet the colonial history of The Netherlands makes it a haven for Permian researchers. The purpose of this brief communication is to alert interested researchers to the amalgamation of the Dutch Timor collections by the recent acquisition by the Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum - Naturalis, Leiden (NNM), of more than 10,000 specimens of Permian fossils, mainly marine invertebrates, from West Timor, Indonesia. Together with the collections already present at Naturalis, this easily forms the largest concentration of fossils from Timor in any museum.


No data processing system can be considered good in and of itself. The true test of the value of a system is whether or not its users are satisfied with it.
 It's quite possible to design and install a most comprehensive on-line data base system, and yet end up with a user who "can't live" with the terminal noise. Then, after costly replacement of the offending hardward, we may discover that the complaint about the noise made by the terminals was merely the easiest way to express a less clearly focused dissatisfaction with the system. Indeed, by the time the terminals are replaced, the user may have become accustomed to their comforting sound.
 It isn't easy for people who work with the "hard" facts of computer hardware and software to deal with such a subjective phenomenon as user satisfaction. Rather than confront the nebulous area of attitude and opinion, computer professionals may retreat to the consideration of more objective, technical matters-matters which, in and of themselves, fail to satisfy users.
 Some brave souls will occasionally ask their users "Is everything O.K.?", but it is considered polite for the users to gloss over subjective problem areas. What both parties need is a reasonable means to quantify the measurement of user satisfaction.
 Fortunately, substantial work has been done to create measurement instrument that will allow us to evaluate how people really feel about a system, a design, or a report. It's up to the data processing professionals to get together with their users and draw upon this resource of prior work to create better systems of measurement of user satisfaction.


Abstract: Fe60Pt40 nanoparticles have been successfully prepared by sonochemistry method from the solution of Fe(C2H3O2)2 and H2PtCl6. The as-prepared sample then has been annealed at temperatures from 450oC to 650oC. Annealed samples have ordered L1o phase with face-centered tetragonal (fct) structure and show hard magnetic properties. The nanoparticles annealed at 550oC show highest coervicity of 4.36 kOe measured at room temperature. The annealed-temperature dependence of the coercivity is consistent with the appearance of the order phase L1o in the samples.Keywords: FePt nanoparticles, coercivity, squareness, annealing temperature, sonochemistry.


Summery Recently the retrieval of civic republicanism has attracted much attention. By liberal theorists, who occupy a position of public philosophy in liberal democracies, it has often been classified into two versions so that one can be approved and the other refused. The aim of this paper is to clarify the viewpoint and intent behind this liberal classification of republicanism, by reviewing John Rawls' theory and tracking it back to Isaiah Berlin's. I will conclude that the liberal viewpoint is set so as to test whether republicanism is compatible with a condition of value-pluralism and that their intent is one that would accommodate it within the liberal framework. Finally I make some comments on this classification from the republican viewpoint and explain how far the republican division of republicanism goes beyond the liberal framework.


In recent times, lots of emphasis is given towards the utilization of renewable sources of energy to generate electrical power in the grid. The increasing capacity of generation from the renewable sources of energy has complicated the operational challenges related to stability, economic operation etc., of an interconnected power system. Thus, there is an urgent need of on-line stability monitoring tools that can capture the system dynamics and help the operators with a better decision support system and control. In recent times, with the advancement of phasor measurement unit (PMU) based wide area monitoring systems (WAMSs) which provides time-stamped phasors with high accuracy, it is now possible to develop a system for on-line monitoring of the small signal rotor angle stability of the power system. The present thesis mainly aims at developing robust algorithms to estimate low frequency critical modes corresponding to the oscillations in the power system. Most of the methods reported in the literature to estimate the low frequency modes are mainly based on minimizing the l2-norm of the error. It is observed that the estimated modes from these methods are severely affected in the presence of an outlier or bad measurements which can occur in wide area monitoring systems due to various environmental effects like lightning or temporary faults in the network or measuring instruments. Hence, there is a need to develop robust methods which can provide a good estimate of the modes even in the presence of outliers in the measurements. In order to mitigate the effect of such bad data or outliers, the first part of the thesis proposes a robust modified Prony estimator for estimating the low frequency modes of power system using the ringdown data obtained from PMU. The proposed method is based on minimum covariance determinant (MCD) technique to find the robust covariance matrix followed by improved Prony to estimate the modes. To further improve the performance, a total least squares TH-1796_11610239 estimation of signal parameter via rotational invariance techniques (TLS-ESPRIT) along with the use of robust covariance based on MM estimator is proposed in the second part of the thesis. The events associated with major disturbances such as fault, adding/removing of a large load or generation provides the data associated with the free response that can be easily observed in the presence of ambient noise. As these major disturbance are less frequent, hence, the methods utilizing the ringdown data provides a very accurate estimation of the modes, but are updated typically after a long duration. Hence, there is a need to develop estimating algorithms which can continuously monitor the stability of the power system. These algorithms are mainly based on the use of ambient data corresponding to the flow of active power. The ambient data corresponding to the active power flow in the line is observed to have the presence of nonlinear trends along with noise of high variance, thus the proposed NwT-RD-TLS-ESPRIT method has used a combination of nonlinear filter, wavelet, random decrement (RD) and modified TLS-ESPRIT for mode identification. Finally, a more accurate method which uses a sparse based signal recovery technique in conjunction with random decrement (RD) and modified TLS-ESPRIT for identification of inter-area oscillatory modes for the ambient data has been proposed. The proposed method is compared with NwT-RD-TLS-ESPRIT method for the sample test signal resembling ambient data. Thus the present thesis tries to address some of the problems associated with the low frequency mode estimation using both ambient and ringdown data to have a better observability of the dynamics of the power system.


Compressive sensing methods have been effectively used for sparse system identification. Many methods have been proposed to exploit this sparsity to reduce the amount of data required for identification. Most though, have high computational complexity. Recently, an iterative method based on the proportionate affine projection algorithm with row action projections (iPAPA-RAP) has been shown to have good convergence properties with relatively low complexity. Here, we present extensions of that algorithm that significantly speed convergence and as a result lower overall computational complexity. The main improvement is the addition of a zero attractor step with a variable scale factor. Significantly, this scale factor is made to be a function of the sparsity of the estimated system parameters. This greatly improves the convergence behavior of the resulting algorithm. It is compared with iteratively reweighted least-squares (IRLS) and l0 - zero attracting projections (l0-ZAP). Results show that the proposed algorithm converges faster with lower overall complexity.


In this chapter we challenge the view of perceiving information systems as systems for storing, retrieving, and organizing large amounts of data. We claim that the main purpose of information syste ...


OBJECTIVE: This subset analysis assessed the efficacy and tolerability of extended-release memantine (MemER; 28 mg/day) in patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease (AD) receiving donepezil, the most commonly used cholinesterase inhibitor (ChEI).
 BACKGROUND: In a 24-week randomized trial (N=677) of patients with moderate to severe AD receiving stable ChEI therapy (donepezil, galantamine, or rivastigmine), MemER-treated group significantly outperformed the placebo-treated group on measures of cognition (SIB), global clinical status (CIBIC-Plus), behavior (NPI), and semantic processing ability (VFT), but not on the measure of daily functioning (ADCS-ADL19).
 DESIGN/METHODS: Prospectively defined assessments in the donepezil subset (MemER/Don, 232; Placebo/Don, 224) utilized the last observation carried forward (LOCF) approach and an ANCOVA model (SIB, NPI, VFT, ADCS-ADL19: baseline-to-endpoint changes) or Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test (CIBIC-Plus; endpoint scores). Post hoc sensitivity analyses, based on the observed cases (OC), assessed (a) changes from baseline across all visits (mixed-effects model with repeated measures [MMRM]), and (b) areas under the curve (AUC, Week0-Week24; ANCOVA). Tolerability was assessed by examining treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) in the safety population (MemER/Don, 236; Placebo/Don, 227).
 RESULTS: The prospectively defined analyses revealed a significant endpoint advantage of MemER/Don over Placebo/Don on SIB (P=0.001), NPI (P=0.009), and VFT (P<0.001), but not on CIBIC Plus (P=0.165) or ADCS-ADL19 (P=0.894). The MMRM analysis demonstrated a significant advantage of MemER/Don over Placebo/Don across all visits for SIB (P<0.001), CIBIC-Plus (P=0.008), NPI (P=0.013), and VFT (P<0.001), but not for ADCS-ADL19 (P=0.606), which was corroborated by the AUC analysis (SIB, P=0.028; CIBIC-Plus, P=0.019; NPI, P=0.012; VFT, P=0.008; ADCS-ADL19, P=0.758). Overall TEAE rates were 61.9[percnt] (MemER/Don) and 59.9[percnt] (Placebo/Don).
 CONCLUSIONS: These analyses suggest that addition of memantine extended release to donepezil in patients with moderate to severe AD is associated with benefits across several clinical domains, with good tolerability.
 Study Supported by: Forest Laboratories, LLC, a subsidiary of Actavis, Inc. Disclosure: Dr. Grossberg has received personal compensation for activities with Forest, Lundbeck, Novartis, Otsuka, and Takeda. Dr. Grossberg has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for Current Psychiatry. Dr. Grossberg9s institution has received Dr. Alva has received personal compensation for activities with Novartis, Forest Laboratories, Janssen Pharmaceutica, Wyeth/Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., and Jazz Pharmaceuticals as a speaker. Dr. Hendrix has received personal compensation for activities with Pentara Corporation as an owner/employee. Dr. Hofbauer has received personal compensation for activities with Forest Laboratories as an employee. Dr. Pejovic has received personal compensation for activities with Prescott Medical Communications Group as an employee. Dr. Graham has received personal compensation for activities with Forest Laboratories Inc., as an employee.


Because the question what a poem is or why and how it is made is prior to the question whether this poem at hand is a good one, the practice of poetic criticism rests ultimately on some opinion as to the nature and purpose of poetry. The philosophy of poetry, then, assumes the position of a foundation for criticism and a standard for literary judgment. As one's philosophy goes, so will follow criticism. This is indicated clearly by contemporary confusion in literary matters. The same poetry is variously evaluated by the Marxists, the liberals, the sociologists, the classicists, the purists and the modernists. Only a divergence in philosophy can explain this variety of opinion. Catholic criticism, though it clings to several general principles, is perplexed and at odds with itself. The diversity of Catholic opinions of the work of Waugh, Eliot, Joyce, Farrell, Kilmer, indeed the whole literary field, serves only to point up the necessity for some examination into the foundations of literary expression, its purpose, its nature, and its creation. This task is the one undertaken by Father Duffy in this book. There has been little done to help him. Aristotle, in the Poetics, has stood as the master in the tradition for twenty-two centuries. When St. Thomas wrote he conceded the question of poetics settled by Aristotle, at least in its principles. Because there was little poetry in that time that needed analysis the problem scarcely vexed him or his contemporaries. \Vith the Renaissance, however, the humanities and the literary arts flourished. But at that time theologians were too busy defending the faith against the errors of the humanists to write philosophical tracts on the nature of the humanist art. Cardinal Cajctan's debate with Pico della Mirandola is an indication of the opposition that existed between the two schools. Contemporary Thomism has produced little on the philosophy of literature. The foundations of philosophy, the problem of knowledge, the relations between reason and faith, and lately between science and philosophy, have successively taken the attention of philosophers. Poetry, literature, and music have only recently been examined and studied. Further Duffy's dissertation on poetry is the largest and most complete treatment on the subject to be presented from a Thomistic viewpoint. The book, then, is welcome. As a contribution of real speculative effort, in an attempt to apply Thomistic principles to a painfully pressing modern


The invention discloses battery system monitoring method and device based on OBD-II, which relate to the technical field of monitoring of batteries for vehicles. The method is characterized in that a data acquiring module, an OBD-II failure diagnosing module, a safety monitoring module, a heat monitoring module, a communication module, an SOC estimating module and an interactive display module are provided, wherein the OBD-II failure diagnosing module comprises a signal acquiring unit, a failure recognizing unit and a failure processing unit. The device comprises a data acquiring interface, a signal adjusting circuit, a microprocessor, a data memory and a program memory. Tests prove that the battery system monitoring method and device can construct and monitor all parameters of a battery system and carry out failure diagnosis, improves the safety of the system, is convenient for daily maintenance and failure repair and has an important function on the development of the current finished vehicle distributed control network.


Frailty is a well-known syndrome found in elderly, community dwelling people over the age of 65 years and is associated with morbidity. Frailty is also described in HIV-infected people, a patient group whose mean age is rising due to effective treatment and longer survival. Researchers are questioning whether frailty in the elderly is the same as frailty in HIV-infected people. We address this question in light of our recent findings in HIV-infected patients attending an ambulatory clinic. We found that frail HIV patients were exhausted and expended little energy; 100% were also depressed. On the other hand symptoms of sarcopenia, a hallmark of frailty in the elderly, were much less frequent.


In 1994, the Government of Orissa initiated power sector reforms and restructuring. The reform programme resulted in vertical unbundling of the state-owned integrated electric utility, corporatization of the resultant entities, and constitution of an autonomous regulatory commission for power sector regulation in the state. One of the key features of the reform programme was the privatization of distribution activity. To make the process successful and obtain more revenues, there was a need for the distribution entities to change the existing culture and approach to management. The Government of Orissa undertook a process of organizational strengthening to develop appropriate organizational structure, systems, and business processes suitable to the new environment. This study describes the various strengthening measures implemented by Grid Corporation of Orissa to make it commercially viable and function effectively in the new environment following power sector reform.


Introduction Problem Description: The guideline development process is often time consuming, lacks structure, and leaves dissemination, implementation, and ongoing evaluation to already overburdened clinical teams. Available Knowledge: Guidelines are evidence-based recommendations intended to optimize care and decrease variation in practice. Standardized approaches to developing evidence based guidelines and measures exist, but concerns remain that they are difficult to use and time consuming to produce …


Objective To compare the effect of misoprostol administered at different intervals and mifepristone for termination of second trimester pregnancy,so as to know the optimal administration of the 2 agents.Methods A total of 100 healthy women at 12—16 w of pregnancy,who were seeking to terminate pregnancy with medical abortion,were randomized into group A(n=50) and B(n=50).Initially,both group had mifepristone 200 mg orally.Women in group A also received misoprostol 600 μg vaginally after 36-48 h,then miso-prostol(400 μg in each dose,4 doses as maximal) were vaginally given every 3 h after previous administration.Women in group B received misoprostol 600 μg vaginally together with mifepristone,then misoprostol(400 μg in each dose,4 doses as maximal) were vaginally given every 3 h after previous administration.Results Women in group A expelled gestational sac within(314.04±139.52) min on average,which was significantly shorter than that in group B([513.8±220.04] min,P0.01).The mean dosage of misoprostol was(1 008.0±285.6) μg for women in group A and(1 512.0±302.8) μg in group B(P0.01).Mean body peak temperature for group A was(37.35±0.58) ℃,significantly lower than that in group B([38.27±0.90]℃,P0.01).Conclusion When combined with mifepristone,misoprostol is more effectively in second trimester pregnancy termination if applied 36-48 h after mifepristone administration,and the total doses of misprostol in women is reduced and the expel of gestational sac is quicker,with the peak body temperature of patients decreased.


This particular study has been restricted to certain mammals in western Kansas, including some on which there is little information, and others which observers would be most likely to notice in everyday life. For several years the writer has been vitally interested in the animal life in Kansas. Therefore, when the need for a study of western Kansas mammals was presented to him in the summer of 1936, the problem of this study was selected. It is hoped that this report will suggest to ecologists, historians, and others, further studies, including reasons for the changes here-in shown. What have been the changes in population of certain mammals in western Kansas? Observers have been aware for some time that there have been changes in mammal population in western Kansas. Some animals have increased, while others have decreased, even to extinction in a few cases. There have been many changes over small areas for short periods. However, only the larger and more lasting changes were sought for in this study.


We propose an MPEG-1 Layer III conforming audio codec for multiple generations (cascaded) compression without loss of perceptual quality. Previous research addressing this topic mainly focused on less complex coding schemes like MPEG-1 Layer II. In our paper, the techniques proposed in those approaches are extended to comply with Layer III's advanced features such as hybrid ltering, block switching, and bit reservoir based processing. A prototypic implementation including extensive listening tests shows the feasibility of perceptually stable cascaded Layer III compression. INTRODUCTION Todays state-of-the-art audio codecs, e.g., the MPEG1/MPEG-2 family, achieve high compression ratios of up to 1:12 with almost no loss in perceptual sound quality as compared to the original signal. To achieve such high compression ratios a psychoacoustic model computes a certain masking threshold in the frequency domain. Afterwards, the data reduction is performed by quantizing the original signal (or a transformed version thereof) such that the quantization noise lies below the masking threshold and is therefore not perceivable. When using low rate high quality audio encoders in a cascade, the quality of the audio signal degenerates after a few encodingand decoding steps. Assuming a coder operation C and a corresponding decoder operation D, the signal obtained from DCx is called the rst generation of the audio signal x. For a given integer n, (DC)nx is called the n-th generation of x, in short xn. One aproach to avoid signal degeneration in cascaded coding is to preserve the encoding parameters of the rst generations encoding. This way, the initial encoding parameters can be made available to all subsequent encoder units in the cascade. In case of the encoding schemes of modern audio codecs, e.g., codecs based on the MPEG-1 standard, this allows a nearly perfect reconstruction of the encoded data stream after decoding an re-encoding. However, the question how to make the initial encoding parameters available to subsequent encodRIBBROCK AND KURTH AN EMBEDDING CODEC FOR MULTIPLE GENERATIONS COMPRESSION ing modules in a cascade has to be adressed. Since secondary data streams or additional data le formats are not a ordable or realizeable in many frameworks, it is desirable to transport both the PCM audio data and the encoding parameters in one data le. This approach is used in [1] by embedding the parameters as a secondary data stream into the least signi cant bits of each decoded PCM audio sample (time domain). However, this strategy may introduce perceptible changes to the signal. To overcome those problems, we recently introduced a technique for embedding a secondary data stream into the (MPEG-) subbands of an audio signal [2]. This technique exploits psychoacoustic criteria which are exploited using the decoding parameters of the MPEG bitstream. This way we are able to embed the coding parameters into the audio signal without a ecting its perceptual quality. Since a signal's local psychoacoustic embedding capacity varies with the local characteristics of the signal, an extension of the above technique uses a bit reservoir technique conceptually similar to the MPEG-1 Layer III bit reservoir for distributing available embedding capacities more equally over the whole signal. This leads to a dynamic embedding technique introduced in [3]. All of the above methods to avoid signal degeneration in cascaded coding mainly focus on the MPEG-1 Layer II coding scheme. However, when distributing low rate high quality audio over the internet, nowadays the \mp3"-format (MPEG-1 Layer III) is used most frequently. Hence, in this paper we extend our prevoius methods for multiple generations compression to MPEG-1 Layer III coding. The paper is organized as follows. In the next section we summarize the main ideas of multiple generations compression as proposed in [4]. In section three we discuss some problems they occur when extending those methods to Layer III coding. In the fourth section, a more detailed description of our codec implementation is given. Section ve presents some results of an informal listening test and of some objective quality measurements. MULTIPLE GENERATIONS COMPRESSION One major idea of preventing audio signals from degeneration in case of cascaded lossy coding (e.g. MPEG-1/MPEG-2 family) is to reuse the original encoding parameters p0. The simplest way of storing these parameters is to use an additional le. The disadvantages of this technique are obvious. First, the two les have to be stored or transmitted together. However, most digital media for audio like CD or DAT are not suitable for storing additional data. Second, the required storage capacity is signi cantly increased. In order to avoid these problems we store the coding parameters p0 as a secondary data stream within the PCM le, this way making them available to all subsequent encoders. All of the information is stored in one le. This avoids an increase of storage requirements. Also, the PCM samples can be transmitted via CD or DAT. For embedding the secondary data stream into the PCM samples we use the psychoacustic information derived from the coding parameters contained in the encoded (MPEG-) bitstream. The encoder devides the input PCM-signal x0 into frames of a xed number of PCM samples. In a rst approach the encoding parameters for one frame are embedded into the PCM samples of exactly that frame. This avoids the need of frame bu ering and reduces the complexity of the embedding process. In the following we discuss the embedding process for one frame. The embedding process The embedding of the secondary datastream into the PCM samples of one frame takes place in the decoder. The decoder reads the information of one frame from the bitstream and decodes them. The information needed for decoding and reconstructing the PCM samples of that frame contains the psychoacustic information we use to embed the encoding parameters in a perceptually transparent way. All encoding parameters which enable a subsequent encoder to rebuild the encoded bitstream are copied into a bitbu er to make them available to the embedding algorithm. Now the decoder has to determine the number of bits which can be embedded perceptually transparent into the samples of that frame. The basis for this calculation are the encoding parameters obtained from the encoded bitstream. The resolution of the quantization used in the encoder is the most important parameter when calculating the embedding capacity. If the calculated capacity of the frame exceeds the number of bits in the bit bu er plus the number of bits needed for forward error correction (FEC) and the bits needed for marking the embedding, the contents of the bit bu er can be embedded into the subband samples of that frame. The embedding is performed on a sample-by-sample basis for each subband. The last step performed by the decoder is the lterbank synthesis of the subband blocks containing the embedded information. The detection process Because the whole processing is performed on a frame-byframe basis, synchronisation is essentially for detecting the embedded information. This means that exactly the same frame boundaries must be used in all subsequent encoders. The rst step of the encoder is to transform the PCM samples of that frame into subband samples. The detection of the embedded information is performed in the subband domain. If the subband samples contain one of the markings indicating embedded information, the encoding parameters can be extracted from the subband samples and reused in the current encoding process. As a result, the encoded representation of the audio information of that frame is quite similiar to the representation one generation before. As a result there is no degeneration of the audio signal. If no marking can be found in the subband samples, the current frame has to be encoded in the traditional way resulting in a degeneration of the audio signal for this particular frame. Intrestingly, we found out, [4], that in spite of this frames with too low embedding capacity are quantized with a very high resolution. This prevents such frames from extensive degeneration. Improvements In [5] an extension of this technique is proposed. The main improvement is the use of a bitreservoir when embedding information. This technique breaks up with the constraint that the encoding parameters for one frame have to be stored in the PCM samples of exactly that frame. The reservoir allows to exploit the embedding capacity of the whole signal more eÆciently by distributing unused capacities over several frames. ADAPTATION TO MPEG-1 LAYER III The previously proposed techniques work well for audio codecs like MPEG-1 Layer II. Such codecs split the input AES 110 CONVENTION, AMSTERDAM, NETHERLAND, 2001 MAY 12{15 2 RIBBROCK AND KURTH AN EMBEDDING CODEC FOR MULTIPLE GENERATIONS COMPRESSION PCM signal into 32 frequency bands using a multirate lterbank. The subband samples of each band are quantized perceptually transparent according to the output of a psychoacustic model. The quantized subband samples and the parameters necessary for decoding and dequantization are multiplexed into a bitstream. In order to achieve higher compression ratios (up to 1:12 preserving near CD quality), a more complex encoder, e.g., MPEG-1 Layer III, is needed. In the following we will shortly describe the major di erences between Layer IIand Layer III-codecs. Then we will discuss problems occuring in adapting the prevoiusly presented techniques to a Layer III-codec. Major di erences between Layer II and Layer III Higher compression rates with Layer III-codecs are achieved by a more complex and therefore more signal-adaptive encoding algorithm. One frame is divided into two granules. After the lterbank-analysis a further frequency-analysis is performed by calculating a modi ed discrete cosine transform (MDCT) on the subband samples of that granule obtaining an


Problem formulation and analysis of well-known research and publications. In large historical cities, such as Lviv, overload on the road by traffic is a major problem facing our widespread life. These problems are due to the growing number of private and commercial vehicles. Therefore, forecasting of the traffic intervals between vehicles on the main street will improve the quality of the transport system. Drivers should have increased attention and good concentration during driving a vehicle in a dense traffic flow [1]. Driving in such flow a lot depends on the driver of the vehicle that is moving in front ("driver-leader"). Under such conditions, the visibility of the lane in front of the "car-leader" is limited. Therefore, the driver who moves behind is much more difficult to predict in advance the reasons for a possible decrease in speed or even an emergency stop of the car. The greatest danger in these conditions is the movement along the main streets, especially at the moment of acceleration at a distance of 50–100 meters behind the regulated intersection [1, 2]. Various authors have developed a variety of forecasting models to predict the traffic intervals between vehicles. Widely used models of travel forecasting based on time series and regression model. Regression methods evaluate the value of dependent variables from the values of independent variables. The regression model can work in unstable driving conditions. Complex models such as regression of vector support, regression of k-nearest neighbor, regression of the project and artificial neural network are the most popular approaches to this problem. Since they are able to find complex nonlinear relationships between the target variable and the independent ones [3]. They can work even traffic


e22003 Background: The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in India is approximately 3-5 per 1,00,000 men and is on the rise. The median age at presentation is 50 years but an increasing number of young patients (< 40 years) are being diagnosed with CRC. Patients with CRC < 40 years of age were likely to have a worse outcome. However the reasons for this are unknown and may be due to an aggressive biology of these tumors. Angiogenesis plays a major role in local invasion and tumor metastasis. Microvessel density in the cancer tissue is one of the surrogate markers of angiogenesis. The present study aims to assess the median microvessel density in tissue specimens of young and old patients with CRC. Methods: Formalin fixed paraffin-embedded pretreatment specimens of tumors from patients young and old patients with CRC were studied. Microvessel density (MVD) assessment, a technique used to quantify intratumoral angiogenesis in carcinomas was studied using pan-endothelial immunohistochemical staining of blo...


High density lipoproteins (HDL) were isolated from the plasma of adult male African green monkeys fed control or atherogenic diets and were then subfractionated in a density gradient by centrifugation at 50,000 rpm, 20° C for 18 hours in the Beckman VTi50 vertical rotor. Material from the gradient was pooled into six subfractions for further analysis. With increasing density across the gradient, the subfractions had progressively decreasing flotation rates, molecular weights, apo A-l/apo A-ll mass ratios, lipid percentages of mass, and average sizes. Apoprotein content per particle was reasonably constant compared to lipid content. The physical and chemical properties of the HDL subfractions suggested that the gradient separated three subclasses of HDL equivalent to HDL2b, HDL2a, and HDL3 of human beings. When values among animals were compared, the atherogenic diet shifted the relationship between total plasma cholesterol concentration and total HDL concentration from a positive to a negative correlation. The subfractions most affected were those of d<1.10 g/ml (HDL2b), while the 1.10<d<1.13 g/ml (HDL2a) subfractions were affected to a lesser degree; the more responsive the animal to dietary cholesterol, the lower was the mass concentrations of these subfractions. This pattern suggested that diet-induced changes in HDL2 subfraction particle concentrations may be related to the development of atherosclerosis in African green monkeys; parallel changes in particle composition were not identified.


In this paper, a Fast Fourier Analysis (FFA) with electroencephalogram (EEG) classification based brainwave controlled wheelchair is constructed. This wheelchair is directly controlled by the brain. Thus, it does not require physical feedback from the user. This project is aimed to improve the mind power. It is known as the focusing strength of the brain. By increasing the usage and focusing strength of the brain, it will reduce the risk of brain's degeneration. The method employed in this project is the Brain-Computer Interface (BCI). This method allows the brain to directly communicate with the electrical wheelchair. The recording of the brain's response is then implemented through EEG. This EEG signal is known as brainwaves signal. For EEG signal processing, the signal processing method is known as Fast-Fourier Transform Analysis and EEG Classification (FFTA & EEGC). This processing method generates the mental command of the user. Then, output electrical signal is generated according to the mental command. This electrical signal is sent wirelessly to the microcontroller of the electrical wheelchair. Through this, the electrical wheelchair performs the desired movement based on user's directional thought. In additional, the strength of the brain signal is also recorded for further analysis of user's mind power.


In order to identify and screen specific indexes in the college physical education curriculum content standard system,the authors used the Delphi method to carry out 4 rounds of expert opinion consultation on 48 optional specific indexes.45 members of college physical education teaching guidance committees and 35 directors of college public sports departments participated in expert opinion consultation.After 2 rounds of preliminary investigation and 2 rounds of official consultation,the expert enthusiasm coefficients were 100%,100%,88.75% and 77.50% respectively;the percentages of acceptability(≥0.70) of expert authority were 86.7%,100%,87.3% and 88.7%;the expert opinion consistency coefficients(Kendall's W harmony index) were 0.311,0.628,0.320 and 0.531 respectively;the weights for level 1 indexes in such 5 areas as sports participation,sports skills,physical health,mental health and social adaptation were 12.5%,29.9%,24.7%,22.5% and 10.4% respectively.After 2 rounds of official consultation,totally 30 specific indexes in 5 areas were screened out.


Objective To determine the human basic fibroblast growth factor(hbFGF) in the hairy roots of the transgenic soybeans to provide the experimental bases for the mass production of hbFGF making use of hairy roots. Methods Plant genome DNA extraction kit and rabbit anti-human bFGF monoclonal antibody were used to detect the hbFGF in transgenic soybeans' hairy roots by PCR. Results 19 soybeans' hairy roots were proved to contain hbFGF in total sixty Hyg resistance soybean's hairy roots by PCR, positive rate was 32%. The test with rabbit anti-human bFGF monoclonal antibody showed that the expression of hbFGF was stable in transgenic soybeans' hairy roots. Conclusion The stable expression of hbFGF in transgenic soybeans' hairy roots has a great potential in industrial production.


Abstract We measured significant variation in the instantaneous growth rates for varroa mites, Varroa destructor (Anderson & Trueman) from 1993 to 2002 in Baton Rouge, LA. Mite population growth was monitored in colonies of honey bees, Apis mellifera L., with queens from miscellaneous U.S. sources that had not been selectively bred for varroa resistance. Mite populations were measured at the beginning and end of short field tests that started in the late spring of each year. Analyses of multiple regression showed that only the first two of the following regressors were linear predictors of r, the instantaneous growth rate: 1) percentage of reproducing female mites, 2) proportion of total mites in capped brood, 3) mortality of mites in brood cells, 4) growth of the bee population, 5) capped brood area at the end of a test, and 6) duration of the test. Analysis of commonality indicated that the percentage of reproducing female mites explained ≈26% of the total variation in r, and the proportion of total mites in capped brood explained 6%. The joint expression of both variables accounted for another 4%. Thus, residual error reflected most of the total variation in r, which suggested possible climatic or environmental effects on mite growth. The lowest growth rates occurred in three consecutive years of drought in Louisiana. Measures of ambient temperature and relative humidity correlated to growth of mite populations among different years. Reduced growth rates were probably the result of diminished reproductive rates by varroa mites during periods of hot and dry weather.


Outlines the historical position of smoking in the workplace. Discusses the health risks associated with tobacco together with associated costs. Considers research covering workplace anti‐smoking policies and outlines case studies of policies implemented. Briefly mentions the benefits of education campaigns and incentives for quitting. Suggests that the future workplace policies could considerably affect the future number of individuals taking up the habit.


Object tracking is challenging, and recently, correlation filters methods have been proposed for this task. Most of these methods focus on the central portion of the target and are negatively affected by changes in the target size and shape. This work proposes a collaborative scheme using several local correlation filters combined with a global correlation filter for improving the performance of object tracking methods based on correlation filters. The proposed correlation filter used in this scheme is based on features extracted from multiple layers of deep convolutional neural networks, and a strategy to identify when these models should also be updated is presented. Experiments show that the proposed scheme tends to be consistent and to achieve better results than other comparative tracking approaches. The proposed collaborative approach can be applied to other correlation filters, which tends to further improve the tracker performance.


The large-scale application of low-altitude aircraft such as Miniature unmanned aerial vehicles has brought a series of hidden security issues. However, previous research in interception decision technology still has problems such as low level of intelligence in interception decision-making process. A method of interception decision with simple structure and fast calculation is definitely significant. This paper firstly introduces the security issues caused by low-altitude aircraft, then analyzes the shortcomings of current interception decision methods. A low-altitude aircraft interception decision-making method based on self-optimizing fuzzy inference is proposed. The method uses genetic algorithms to optimize the process of fuzzy inference offline through continuous iteration in order to obtain a fuzzy controller that meets the requirements. It can controll the entire decision-making process online to guarantee real-time decision. It is demonstrated in hypothetical simulations that it can intercept invading low-altitude aircraft online. As the final result, this method shows the ability to improve the success rate of interception effectively.