Background Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) stem cells are inherently insensitive to tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKI). However, an important minority of CML patients was shown to discontinue TKI without experiencing molecular relapse. Underlying mechanisms are currently unknown. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are critical regulators of immune responses. Following activation, pDC upregulate MHC-class II and other DC activation markers such as CD86 (also known as B7.2). CD86 is a co-stimulatory molecule during T-cell activation, but also ligand of the inhibitory immune checkpoint receptor CTLA-4, which counteracts T-cell activation. The origin and function of pDC in CML biology is unknown. Within a sub-study of the EUROSKI TKI discontinuation trial we prospectively tested the hypothesis that pDC counts and CD86 expression status govern relapse risk following TKI discontinuation. Methods: Using flow cytometry, cell sorting and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), CD86 expression and BCR-ABL status were analyzed in PDCA-2+/CD123+ peripheral blood (pB) pDC of untreated CML patients (CML pDC), normal donors and 123 patients, who had stopped TKI therapy in deep molecular remission within the international EUROSKI study (EUDRACT 2011-000440-22). All 123 EUROSKI patients had given written informed consent to participate in the immunological sub-study of the EUROSKI trial. Fresh samples from 19 EUROSKI centers in Germany were centrally analyzed prior, as well as 1, 2, 3 and 6 months after TKI discontinuation. PB CD86+ pDC counts were calculated per 105 cells in the lymphocyte gate. Decision trees and 10-fold cross validation were employed to establish relapse prediction accuracy for this value. Results CML pDC were BCR-ABL-FISH positive (median: 81%; range, 57 to 100%). In contrast, the proportion of CD86+ CML pDC varied substantially (median: 25.9%, range 3.2% to 82.4%), suggesting that CD86 expression on CML pDC was not a direct consequence of oncogenic BCR-ABL signaling. This was confirmed experimentally in a murine CML model. In contrast to CML pDC, remission pDC were always BCR-ABL FISH negative (n=10), but still displayed a comparable high proportion of CD86 positive pDC (median: 21%; range, 2.2% to 62%). In contrast, normal donor pDC were rarely CD86 positive (median: 6.8%; range, 4.2% to 17%), reinforcing the aberrant, and BCR-ABL-independent nature of CD86 expression on CML and remission pDC. As a result, healthy donors displayed only between 26 to 84 CD86+ pDC per 105 lymphocytes, whereas EUROSKI remission patients exhibited between 6 to 309 CD86+ pDC per 105 lymphocytes. Based on the important role of CD86 as a high affinity ligand of the inhibitory immune checkpoint receptor CTLA-4, we next asked, whether CD86+ pDC counts are associated with relapse risk after TKI discontinuation. Strikingly, statistical models suggested that a CD86+ pDC count below or above 95 CD86+ pDC/105 lymphocytes optimally separated two relapse categories of EUROSKI patients. Whereas relapse free survival (RFS) (loss of MMR) for patients with more than 95 CD86+ pDC/105 lymphocytes was 30% (n=32), RFS was 69% for patients (n=91) with less than 95 CD86+ pDC/105 lymphocytes (p Conclusion: Our data suggest for the first time a mechanism that governs relapse biology after TKI discontinuation in CML. It is proposed that a chronic engagement of the T-cell inhibitory immune checkpoint receptor CTLA-4 by abundant levels of CD86+ on remission pDC impedes a T-cell-dependent control of CML stem cell survival after stopping TKI. CTLA-4 blocking antibodies such as ipilimumab might therefore prevent molecular relapse and overcome stem cell persistence in CML especially in patients with high CD86+ pDC counts. Disclosures Burchert:Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria. Saussele:Novartis Pharma: Honoraria, Other: Travel grant, Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria, Other: Travel grant, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Other: Travel grant; ARIAD: Honoraria. Muller:Ariad: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Lange:Novartis: Research Funding. Hochhaus:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; ARIAD: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding. Mahon:NOVARTIS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity9s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria; ARIAD: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; PFIZER: Consultancy, Honoraria.


I have, for many years, advocated the use of techniques outside of the traditional methods of accounting in accounting research. I have, therefore, been loath to criticize any attempt, however crude, to introduce mathematical formulations, empirical observation or simulation into the investigation of accounting phenomena. Not so long ago it was necessary to consider the use of mathematics or experimentation of any sort in accounting a revolutionary development and hence worthy of praise ipso facto. We have, however, progressed in recent years so that the mere presence of an equation -or a hundred equations-can no longer be looked upon as a priori evidence of a significant advance in the state of the art. Greenball applies a type of experimentation with a simulation technique which was a significant innovation some years ago.' While it is certainly true that the use of simulation in investigating the problem of investors' use of accounting data is innovative, we must also ask whether, in this instance, the simulation technique used was appropriate to the problem addressed.


High Church-dominated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel thus features heavily, whereas the largely Evangelical Church Missionary Society scarcely appears; Evangelicals are represented instead by the much more marginal Colonial Church Society. It also has implications for the book's chronological coverage: although much has now been written on eighteenth-century Anglicanism overseas, in beginning essentially with the loss of America in  and the despatch of the First Fleet to Botany Bay in , the impression given here is of a tabula rasa. Nevertheless, this book will occupy a deserved place in the growing historiography of global Anglicanism.


Background: Volunteers across various health care organisations are an important resource for compassionate communities to bridge palliative care (PC)) services and the community. However, to date, no studies have systematically mapped volunteers' actual contributions to PC provision and how well they are supported by and within different health care organisations. Such insights are important to shape and optimise supportive environments for volunteering in PC. Aims: Results: Response was obtained for 801 (35.2%) volunteers. conversational techniques, idiolectics open up new approaches to palliative care patients and their needs. Hence, activation of resources through idiolectics and a significant contribution improves the quality of life of these patients. focussing on PC and the lack of guidance for symptom Abstract of persons who live at home with a life-lim-iting long-term illness experience and perceive the collaboration with different professional care providers in the last phase of life. Results: Five main themes emerged from interpretative phenomenological analysis as essential aspects for high-quality collaboration between family carers and professionals: (1) dual approach by health care professionals concerning family carer roles; (2) continuous availability and accessibility of health care professionals; (3) information and communication; (4) coordination of care between all parties; and (5) contextual factors. Conclusions: This study highlighted plenty of missed opportunities for an effective collaboration between family carers and professionals. The themes identified provide a number of opportunities to address the issues that hamper collaboration according to family carers. Background: Improving communication around death and dying is an important component of the international movement towards a public health approach to palliative care. As with other regions, there is a lack of public openness around death and dying across the United Kingdom. Alongside developing an understanding of why individuals at a population level are not having these conversations, there is also a need to build a theoretical understanding of mechanisms towards informing public health initiatives. Aims: The purpose of this study is to explore barriers and facilitators to talking about death and dying in a UK region (Northern Ireland), alongside a novel application of health behaviour change theory to enhance understanding of the determinants of behaviour. Methods: This study involves the analysis of responses from 2 open-ended qualitative items in a large online public survey. The questions ask respondents to identify as a society what the barriers and facilitators are to talking about death and dying. The qualitative data were analysed with thematic analysis, with constructed themes mapped to the COM-B Behaviour Change Model and Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Results: A total of 387 respondents provided qualitative data. Themes constructed for barriers reflected concern over the skill to sensitively navigate conversations, a perceived risk of upset in others and a belief that others are unwilling to have the conversation. Themes constructed for facilitators reflected the broad range of stakeholders with opportunity to encourage discussion, the need for increased engagement throughout the life course and the opportunity to optimise existing health care structures. Conclusion/Discussion: Respondents identified a diverse range of barriers and facilitators to discussing death and dying as a society and were mapped to the COM-B and TDF. The findings may help to inform public health approaches to palliative care on a regional level. Discussion: Results demonstrate that 65% of people with MBD are not accumulating the recom-mended 150 min of MVPA/week. Those with high PA levels had higher levels of physical functioning, lower pain interference, and pain symptomology. These early findings suggest that higher symptom burden may be a barrier for clinicians recommend-ing exercise in patients living with MBD. Abstract Identifying the Most Important Behavioural Determinants of Starting a Conversation About Palliative Care with the Physician: A Cross-Sectional Structured Interview Study in People With Cancer Background: Patients' empowerment and their own communicative behaviours are deemed important for the timely initiation of palliative care. Rigorous empirical data are needed about what factors influence patients to start a conversation about palliative care with their physician. Aim: To assess which factors are (most strongly) associated with having started or intending to start a conversation about palliative care with the physician (=behaviour) in people with cancer. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional sin-gle-centre survey among people with incurable cancer, from August 2019 to March 2020. We developed a specific questionnaire based on an extended version of the theory of planned behaviour and included knowledge, attitude, perceived behavioural control, subjective norm, and social influence. Computer-assisted personal interviewing was used for data collection. Univariable and multivariable logistic regres-sion analyses were performed. Results: Eighty-eight participants (response rate: 65%), of whom 29 already started a conversation about palliative care themselves ( n = 10) or had the intention to do so ( n = 19). Holding a more positive attitude (e.g. important to start the conversation about palliative care myself) (OR 3.312 (1.541; 7.118) and having more positive outcome expecta-tions (e.g. receiving information about palliative care) (OR 4.438 (1.633; 12.062) were positively associated; perceiving more barriers (e.g. feeling good) (OR 0.258 (0.104; 0.636) was negatively associated with having started a conversation about palliative care or having the intention to do so. Conclusion: This study suggests that attitudinal factors are the strongest determinants of people with cancer initiating a conversation about palliative care. Interventions aiming to help them take the initiative in communication about palliative care with their physician should focus on the importance and relevance of behaviour change, elements of behaviour that might be beneficial or difficult and how to overcome barriers. Background: Long-term lung diseases, such as long-term obstructive pulmonary disease, are a growing health concern within the veteran population. Palliative care programmes have mainly focused on the needs of people with malignant disease in the past; however, the majority of those worldwide needing palliative care have a nonmalignant diagnosis. In addition, palliative care provision can often be fragmented and varied dependent on a patient's geographical location. Aims: Explore palliative care provision for veterans with nonmalignant respiratory disease (NMRD), and their family carers, living in a rural area of America. Methods: Qualitative study involving a conveni-ence sample of 16 health care professionals from a large veteran hospital in Boise, Idaho. Data collection consisted of 5 focus groups which were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Findings highlighted that the uncertain NMRD trajectory impeded veteran referral to palliative and hospice services due to health care professionals' own ambiguity regarding progno-sis. A barrier related particularly to veterans was a perceived lack of ability to afford relevant services, and a lack of local palliative service provision. Findings highlighted that a compounding factor to palliative care uptake was also the perceptions held by veterans. Alongside aligning palliative care with dying, veterans also viewed accepting palliative care as 'surrendering' to their disease. Findings indicated that telemedicine may be an effective platform to enhance equity of access to palliative care provision for veterans with NMRD living in rural areas. Conclusion: A new model of palliative care for veterans with NMRD, using a dynamic digital platform, may provide an optimal way of providing efficient holistic care to rural areas with limited palliative services. care with volunteer support. The study identified the characteristics of compassionate communities as a therapeutic landscape. Abstract International infection and including only a few on palliative-care-related topics. Palliative care across documents were end-of-life visits, advance care planning documentation, and clinical deci-sion-making towards the end of life (focusing on hospital transfers). Conclusion: There is a dearth of comprehensive international COVID-19 guidance on palliative care for nursing homes. Most have a limited focus both regarding breadth of topics and recommendations made. Key aspects of palliative care, that is, symptom management, staff education and support, referral to specialist services or hospice, and family support, need greater attention in future guidelines. meetings of the International Last Aid working group, the country representatives agree on a consensus about the curriculum and contents of the Last Aid course slide presentation. Results: At present 16 countries participate in the international Last Aid working group. Commitment to participate in an international working group and respect for the consensus reached in the group are paramount to ensure quality of the courses in all participating countries. The main barrier encountered within the last 4 years for international cooperation is the assumption that major changes to address cultural differences are needed in all countries. Conclusions/lessons learned: Our experiences from different countries so far show that a consensus common curriculum with minor national adaptations is possible. Furthermore Last Aid Courses are well accepted by the citizens in all participating countries although cultural differences exist. Standardisation of the Last Aid is as important as for First Aid courses to ensure quality and to


Abstract The stochastic gradient estimation method of weak derivatives (WD) is presented with the aim of constructing efficient algorithms for the estimation of the "Greeks" of financial derivatives. The key idea is to replace the derivative of the probability measure of the underlying model by its WD. The WD method has the same advantageous property of the well-known score function method that the form of the Greek estimator does not depend on the details of the payoff function but only on the probability density of the underlying model. Simulation studies indicate that the WD estimator has significantly lower variance than the score function and finite difference estimator, however, the associated computational burden in certain cases may not be negligible.


Microprecipitation of folic acid was monitored by the dynamic light scattering (DLS) method. The pH was changed by CO 2 absorption and addition of HCl. The folic acid solutions were examined over the pH range 8.5-4.0. Over the pH range 5.4-6.0, microprecipitation was observed and at pH <5.2 crude precipitation of folic acid occurred. The dependence of the effective diameter on the pH over the pH range 5.4-6.0 is also reported.


The pandemic of COVID-19 generated a significant impact on health and socioeconomically globally due to lack of treatment, high transmission, and morbidity and mortality. In this sense, analyzing the epidemiological scenarios of the disease generates means for health management planning, identification of more susceptible groups, and physiopathological understanding. The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with death in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in a tertiary care hospital. A cross-sectional study was carried out based on secondary data seen at the hospital unit covered by the 8th Health Regional of Paraná (8thRS), in the year 2020. Data related to the socio-demographic, laboratory, and clinical characteristics of patients were collected, and the outcome analyzed was hospital death (yes/no). Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used to analyze the data. ("Predictors of burnout syndrome in intensive care nurses") As of December 31, 2020, 185 patients with RT-PCR confirmed diagnosis for COVID-19 were recorded, with 113 discharges (61.1%; 95%CI;54.1 - 68.1) and 72 deaths (39%; 95%CI; 31.9 - 48.2). In summary, we identified higher mortality in the male group, longer periods of hospitalization, and comorbidities present: hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.


OBJECTIVES
To summarize the difficulties involved in translating tests in Arabic and to describe the translation methods and to apply those to functional indexes.

METHOD
Four functional indexes were translated and then subjected to the following test validation methods: back translation, pre-test, and review by an expert committee.

RESULTS
Translation problems were underlined. These include in particular the different types of equivalence between the source language and the target language (semantics, idioms, conceptual... equivalences). Problems related to comprehensive literal words were the most observed.

CONCLUSION
The current method combining translation with back translation is not sufficient and must be used with, a pre-test and a review committee.


In recent years the teaching of literature to advanced EFL learners has been repeatedly criticised for its predominant orientation towards cognitive text analysis and its neglect of the students' affective faculties as well as their communicative competence. On the basis of an empirical case study I will explore in this contribution to what extent a process- and product-oriented approach to the teaching of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet is suitable to encourage students' active role in creating meaning and to arrive at a profound understanding of the text.


The presently mainly used conventional base oils (Solvent Neutrals) will be substituted medium term by new base oils of API Group II and III. Different samples of these Group III base oils as well as GTL oils and PAO have been investigated regarding their influence on the elastomer compatibility of a typical hydraulic fluid formulation. Due to their low polarity the new base oils cause significantly lower and mostly negative volume changes compared to conventional base oils. A study with different swelling agents shows possibilities and limits due to significantly higher additional costs. Elastomer compatibility tests for 42 days at 100 °C reveal the thermal instability of NBR materials.


We study the pressure-driven transient motion of a periodic file of deformable liquid drops through a cylindrical tube with circular cross-section, at vanishing Reynolds number. The investigations are based on numerical solutions of the equations of Stokes flow obtained by the boundary-integral method. It is assumed that the viscosity and density of the drops are equal to those of the suspending fluid, and the interfaces have constant tension. The mathematical formulation uses the periodic Green's function of the equations of Stokes flow in a domain that is bounded externally by a cylindrical tube, which is computed by tabulation and interpolation. The surface of each drop is discretized into quadratic triangular elements that form an unstructured interfacial grid, and the tangential velocity of the grid-points is adjusted so that the mesh remains regular for an extended but limited period of time. The results illustrate the nature of drop motion and deformation, and thereby extend previous studies for axisymmetric flow and small-drop small-deformation theories. It is found that when the capillary number is sufficiently small, the drops start deforming from a spherical shape, and then reach slowly evolving quasi-steady shapes. In all cases, the drops migrate radially toward the centreline after an initial period of rapid deformation. The apparent viscosity of the periodic suspension is expressed in terms of the effective pressure gradient necessary to drive the flow at constant flow rate. For a fixed period of separation, the apparent viscosity of a non-axisymmetric file is found to be higher than that of an axisymmetric file. In the case of non-axisymmetric motion, the apparent viscosity reaches a minimum at a certain ratio of the drop separation to tube radius. Drops with large effective radii to tube radius ratios develop slipper shapes, similar to those assumed by red blood cells in flow through capillaries, but only for capillary numbers in excess of a critical value.


OBJECTIVE: Based on the analysis of national normative documents and a series of animal experiments to evaluate the effectiveness of a not common method of a diver's recompression after emergency ascent, skipping all the mandatory decompression stops in order to prevent the development of decompression sickness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the study Wister rats (n = 30) were used. The animals were placed in the chamber and there was air compression up to 9 АТА with exposure under pressure within 15 min. Decompression was carried out by pressure release with imitation of emergency ascent. After 5 minutes there was recompression by air up to АТА, isopressure within 10 minutes and elongated decompression. During recompression, further decompression and 2 hours after its completion the animals experienced behavioral response and signs of compression disorder development. RESULTS: The study showed that the test group where the animals' exposure under 9 ATA completed with the planned decompression on the regime did not experience any behavioral disorder and reflexes of posture during and after decompression. There were also no registered gas bubbles in the brain. Similar results were obtained in the test group with emergency ascent, recompression and further elongated decompression, but not in the group with emergency ascent without recompression. DISCUSSION: The application of the proposed recompression method after imitation of emergency ascent leads to neither visual nor morphologically registered signs of decompression disorders. Along with a shorter period of recompression and decompression as compared with the ones, described in regulatory documents, it allows to adopt the proposed method for reducing the loss of time and resources while maintaining diver's health and performance after emergency ascent.


The authors propose a scalable graph-based semi-supervised ranking system for image retrieval. This system exploits the synergism between relevance feedback based transductive short-term learning and semantic feature-based long-term learning to improve retrieval performance. Active learning is applied to build a dynamic feedback log to extract semantic features of images. Two-layer manifold graphs are then built in both low-level visual and high-level semantic spaces. One graph is constructed at the first layer using anchor images obtained from the feedback log. Several graphs are constructed at the second layer using images in their respective cluster formed around each anchor image. An asymmetric relevance vector is created for each second layer graph by propagating initial scores from the first layer. These vectors are fused to propagate relevance scores of labeled images to unlabeled images. The authors' extensive experiments demonstrate the proposed system outperforms four manifold-based and five state-of-the-art long-term-based image retrieval systems.


The present study was conducted on the trachea of six adult Dalmatian dogs. Samples were processed by routine paraffin technique. Histomorphological observations revealed that trachea was lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium which consisted of basal, ciliated and mucous cells. Lamina propria was composed of lymphocytes, plasma cells and glands. Histochemical studies showed that the cartilaginous rims of trachea stained blue with PAS/AB while most glandular cells stained red with PAS.


A cold mass radial supporting device for a liquefied natural gas cylinder relates to the technical field of cold mass radial supporting devices for liquefied natural gas cylinders, and solves the problem of confliction between heat conduction reduction by middle vaccumizing and improvement of stability of the existing liquefied natural gas cylinder in a double-cylinder structure. The length directions of two supporting parts are parallel to the axis direction of an inner cylinder of the liquefied natural gas cylinder, the two supporting parts are fixedly connected with the outer lateral wall of the inner cylinder of the liquefied natural gas cylinder, a supporting component is fixedly connected with the inner lateral wall of an outer cylinder of the liquefied natural gas cylinder and positioned between the two supporting parts, two supporting plates are arranged between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder of the liquefied natural gas cylinder and symmetrically arranged in a 'flared' form relative to the radial center line of the supporting component, and two ends of each supporting plate are fixedly connected with the supporting parts and the supporting component. The cold mass radial supporting device is arranged between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder of the liquefied natural gas cylinder, and has the advantages of low heat conduction and stable structure.


The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor- (cid:2) coactivator 1 (cid:3) (PGC-1 (cid:3) ) coordinates the transcriptional network response to promote an improved endurance capacity in skeletal muscle, eg, by coactivating the estrogen-related receptor- (cid:3) (ERR (cid:3) ) in the regulation of oxidative substrate metabolism. Despite a close functional relationship, the interaction between these 2 proteins has not been studied on a genomic level. We now mapped the genome-wide binding of ERR (cid:3) to DNA in a skeletal muscle cell line with elevated PGC-1 (cid:3) and linked the DNA recruitment to global PGC-1 (cid:3) target gene regulation. We found that, surprisingly, ERR (cid:3) coactivation by PGC-1 (cid:3) is only observed in the minority of all PGC-1 (cid:3) recruitment sites. Nevertheless, a majority of PGC-1 (cid:3) target gene expression is dependent on ERR (cid:3) . Intriguingly, the interaction between these 2 proteins is controlled by the genomic context of response elements, in particular the relative GC and CpG content, monomeric and dimeric repeat-binding site configuration for ERR (cid:3) , and adjacent recruitment of the transcription factor specificity protein 1. These findings thus not only reveal a novel insight into the regulatory network underlying muscle cell plasticity but also strongly link the genomic context of DNA-response elements to control transcription factor-coregulator 11434; Cayman Chemical) dissolved in DMSO in both TA muscles. Mice were sacrificed 6 hours after injection and the TAs isolated for further analysis. As for data access, the Gene Expression Omnibus SuperSeries accession number for the ChIP-Seq and gene expression array data reported in this article is GSE80522.


Power system harmonic detection process of fundamental wave frequency detection accuracy is higher and higher.According to this demand,this paper analyses and compares these harmonic detection methods used at home and abroad commonly. Then the paper presents a high precision detecting methods for frequency of grid fundamental wave based on BP neural network. With the effective learning and training,construct a reasonable BP neural network model and use Matlab software to simulate. These simulating results show that the algorithm for frequency measurement precision is up to 10-3~ 10-5,and any frequency( except50Hz) used measurement of BP neural network algorithm is higher than adding Hanning Window FFT algorithm 2 ~ 3 orders of magnitude.


Upon reaction of the dipyrido-anellated guanidinium salt 1 with one equivalent of CpNa we were able to synthesize the dipyrido-anellated diaminofulvalene 4 in one step in 33% isolated yield. This shortens the initial route that applies a literature-known fulvalene synthesis via uronium salt 3 by two steps and avoids the need for a sacrificial equivalent of CpNa. Although the X-ray structure analysis reveals a shorter exocyclic double bond than observed in the diaminofulvalene V, a theoretical analysis based upon DFT calculations shows a stronger zwitterionic character for the dipyridofulvalene 4. Graphical Abstract A Direct Synthesis of a Strongly Zwitterionic 6,6'-Diaminofulvalene


In this paper, a geotag-based travel route recommendation algorithm that considers the seasonal and temporal popularity is presented. Travel routes are extracted from geotags attached to Flickr images. Then, landmarks/routes that become particularly popular at a specific time range in a typical season are extracted. By using the Bayes' theory, the transition probability matrix is efficiently calculated. Experiments were conducted using 21 famous sightseeing cities/places in the world. The results have shown that the recommendation accuracy can be improved by 0.9% - 10.3% on average. The proposed algorithm can also be incoorporated into the state-of-the-art algorithms, having a potential for further recommendation accuracy improvement.


In contrast to Steven Levine's remarks some years ago that China was a "regional power without a regional policy" (p. 3), Sutter notes that since the death of Deng Xiaoping, the Chinese government has pursued a more active foreign policy focusing on improving China's influence throughout its periphery. In order to persuade the region of the peaceful nature of China's rise, the Chinese government has launched a strong charm offensive, including frequent visits to other Asian countries by Chinese leaders, participation in multilateral organizations and dialogues, and settlement of border disputes that have long shadowed China's relations with some of its neighbors. Sutter devotes a chapter to China's bilateral relations with each of the major powers or power centers in the region—the U.S., Russia, Japan, the two Koreas, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, South Asia, and Central Asia. These chapters provide a detailed analysis of these relationships and the main factors that may shape their future. Meanwhile, Sutter points out that China remains highly sensitive to America's role and policy in the region. In the last few years, the Chinese government has adopted a relatively moderate policy toward the U.S., playing down the differences between the two sides. This, according to Sutter, has resulted from China's recognition that good relations with the U.S. are crucial to its domestic economic development and political stability. On the other hand, China remains suspicious of American intentions. It opposes American support of Taiwan and U.S.-Japan cooperation on the theatre missile defense system. As a hedging strategy, China seeks to "soft balance" U.S. power and influence in Asia and competes for prominence in regional affairs. Sutter argues that whether China will continue its moderate approach or turn to a more confrontational approach in Asia depends critically on American policy toward the region. A firm and effective policy toward China that does not challenge the core Chinese interests but marks clear boundaries China should not cross is the best way for the U.S. to manage the rise of China in Asia. Based on the author's exhaustive research, this book offers a great deal of information on China's new diplomacy in the Asia Pacific region and its possible impact on American interests. It is especially valuable because it examines the contending perspectives on the rise of China in each of the major countries in the region. Although the wealth of details may sometimes be overwhelming and the multilayered analysis is not always easy to follow for a casual observer, a determined reader will surely find it a most informative and insightful treatment of the subject. HONGYING WANG Syracuse University


Analysis of the switching losses in a power MOSFET is crucial for the design of efficient power electronic systems. Currently, the state-of-the-art technique is based on measured drain current and drain-to-source voltage during the switching intervals. However, this technique does not separate the switching power due to the resistance of the MOSFET channel and due to the parasitic capacitances. In this paper, we propose a measurement method to extract the power dissipation due to the parasitic capacitances of a MOSFET, providing useful information for device selection and for the design of efficient power electronic systems. The proposed method is demonstrated on a basic boost converter. The proposed method shows that the existing method underestimates the turn-On losses by 41% and overestimates the turn-Off losses by 35%.


The metastable orthorhombic phase of hafnia is generally obtained in polycrystalline films, whereas in epitaxial films, its formation has been much less investigated. We have grown Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 films by pulsed laser deposition, and the growth window (temperature and oxygen pressure during deposition and film thickness) for epitaxial stabilization of the ferroelectric phase is mapped. The remnant ferroelectric polarization, up to ∼24 μC/cm2, depends on the amount of orthorhombic phase and interplanar spacing and increases with temperature and pressure for a fixed film thickness. The leakage current decreases with an increase in thickness or temperature, or when decreasing oxygen pressure. The coercive electric field (EC) depends on thickness (t) according to the EC – t–2/3 scaling, which is observed for the first time in ferroelectric hafnia, and the scaling extends to thicknesses down to around 5 nm. The proven ability to tailor the functional properties of high-quality epitaxial ferroelectric Hf0.5Zr0.5O...


An important task of affective computing is to build computable emotional models. In our study,PAD theory is used and EBM (emotional block model)is built and verified in facial emotion recognition area. 88 points based Gabor feature and SVM (support vector machine) classifier are used to verify this model on Cohn-Kanade dataset. Non-basic and basic emotions are recognized with EBM model in our experiment,and the advantage and disadvantage are compared with PAD based models and traditional basic emotional models. Experimental results show that EBM is reliable. The result is better in high-convergent emotional block than in low-convergent emotional block.


Preface 1. Introduction 2. What Do You Have to Do?--The To-Do List: 3. How Do You Spend Yourself: The Daily Planner 4. Define, Prioritize, and Choreograph What You Do: Time and Task Management 5. Putting the Plan Into Motion (or "Once I get started...") 6. Keeping the Plan Going (Part 1)--Motivation, Emotions ,and Energy 7. Keeping the Plan Going (Part 2)--Attitudes, Beliefs, and Self-Esteem 8. Outsourcing Coping Skills 9. Data Management--Recording, Organizing, and Managing Information 10. Materials Management--Organizing and Managing Your "Stuff" 11. Environmental Engineering: Managing Your Surroundings 12. Problem Management--Putting Skills Together to Navigate the World 13. Managing College with ADHD 14. Managing the Workplace with ADHD 15. Relationships, Family, and Adult ADHD 16. Health, Well-being, and Adult ADHD 17. Your Relationship with Technology--Good Servant, Poor Master 18. Committing to Undoing the Effects of Adult ADHD 19. The Role of Medication in the Treatment of Adult ADHD 20. Conclusions Appendix A: Online Resources and Organizations Appendix B: Recommended Readings for Consumers Appendix C: Recommended Readings for Professionals Appendix D: Adult ADHD Clinics Appendix E: Useful Tools and Apps Appendix F: Medications for Adult ADHD References Index


The authors are presently studying enzymes which catalyze the formation and cleavage of carbon phosphorous bonds. In 1970 LaNauze et. al. reported the isolation of one enzyme of interest - phosphonoacetaldehyde hydrolase from a mutant of Bacillus cereus. This enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphonoaldehyde to acetaldehyde and inorganic phosphate. They have isolated phosphonatase from wild type B. cereus (grown on 2-aminoethylphosphonate as the P/sub i/ source) and have used /sup 1/H-NMR and /sup 31/P-NMR techniques to determine the products of the enzyme reaction as phosphate and acetaldehyde. The mechanism of the enzyme could involve the formation of a Schiff base between phosphonoacetaldehyde and lysine or it might only require Mg/sup + +/, an essential cofactor for activity. To distinguish between these possibilities they have begun to look at the Schiff base formation in more detail. NaBH/sub 4/ was found to inactivate the enzyme in the presence of substrate but not in its absence. This is consistent with results obtained for the enzyme isolated from the mutant bacteria. In addition treatment of the wild type enzyme with tritiated NaBH/sub 4/ resulted in significant incorporation of radiolabel into the protein as compared to the control. These results tentatively suggest that hydrolysismore » proceeds via a covalent imine intermediate.« less


The problem of recommending food to people has recently become an active field of research. While there is growing body of work investigating how online food recommender systems could potentially be designed to better meet the users' preferences, to date less research has tried to understand the nature of online food choices and their complexity. How do people make their food choices online? To what extent can we model and predict this behavior, and can we actually change it through recommender technology? Whymight we want to change behavior? According to theWorld Health Organization around 80% of cases of heart disease, strokes and type 2 diabetes could be avoided if people would implement a healthier diet. Health-aware food recommender technologies have been touted as a valuable asset in achieving the ambitious goal of developing systems, which positively impact on the food choices people make. For example, they may help people to implement a healthier diet by suggesting healthier versions of a similar meal they typically like. In this talk, I will present our latest research on the online food recommender problem. I will reveal the complex nature of online food choices and how this knowledge can be used to build novel food recommender systems. To conclude, I will present some preliminary work aiming to nudge people towards healthier food choices.


In order to make a better decision from the alternatives in the transportation construction project, and obtain scientific and convincing decision results, a decision method based on closeness coefficient is established, and the standard difference method, maximizing deviation method and entropy method is used to determine the weight of each evaluation index, finally, the results of the 3 methods are compared and analyzed. The model is easy to operate, and overcomes the influence of the human subjective factors, it makes the selection of the project more reasonable, and it also can provide scientific and reasonable basis for decision-making.


In family agriculture it is common for farmers to store seeds in their own homes, preserving the genetic material of their crops and ensuring their food security, but what has been observed are reductions of this practice in small farms. Thus, the objective of this work was to diagnose how the seeds are being stored by farmers to family farmers in the Municipality of Lagoa de Itaenga, as well as to evaluate the germination potentials of the seeds stored. The work was carried out in the community of Marrecos, in the rural area of Lagoa de Itaenga using a semi-structured questionnaire to collect the data, as well as the collection of accesses for the evaluation of germination potential. The study found that the conservation practices of seeds in the community are being reduced, where most farmers store corn seeds, but also renew their seeds every twelve months, conserving them in a natural environment, in which the Bottle and chilli pepper are the most used for the conservation of the genetic material. Most of the analyzed accesses had good germination percentages.


This qualitative study examines the impact of marriage and family therapy (MFT) training on the marriages of trainees. Analysis of data from 18 spouses of alumni from a training program in an evangelical Protestant seminary found participants reporting mostly negative impacts related to time and finances, both negative and positive impacts related to role changes and adjustments, and mostly positive impacts related to marital communication. The additional contribution of this study has to do with the report of an overwhelmingly positive impact of systemic, integrative MFT training on the student's faith as observed by their spouse and on the spouse's own faith.


Using Literature method it holds that the State Council has a right to become a legislative subject of sports arbitration in our country,which depends on not only the social relation of sports arbitration adjusted,but the characteristics of sports arbitration itself,and is conformity with the eighth stipulation in legislation.According to the stipulation of "Regulation of Administrative-Statutes-Making Procedure","Sports Arbitration Regulation"of our country can be drafted by General National Bureau of Physical Education Sport and be promulgated for enforcement by the State Council.In the light of the principle of socialist legal system unification,the regulation of sports arbitration formulated by the State Council must rest on higher-grade laws,the legislative basis of which should be constitution,legislative law,arbitration law,sports law and the civil laws concerned,and ought to refer to the international conventions as well as be in accordance with the international usual practice.


This paper shows how the mechanical panel displacement technique can be used effectively in order to smooth out omnidirectional patterns of TFD TV panel antenna arroys fed by progressive phase shift currents (Fig. la).


The microstructure of materials is generally, macroscopically, anisotropic and/or inhomogeneous. Traditional diffraction analyses do not take into account this anisotropy and/or inhomogeneity of microstructural features. Thus obtained results can be incomplete, ambiguous, or even erroneous. In this work instrumental requirements (application of parallel beam diffractometers with X-ray lenses or X-ray mirrors and parallel-plate collimators in the laboratory and at synchrotron beam lines) and methodological approaches for the diffraction analysis of anisotropic and inhomogeneous microstructures have been discussed and have been illustrated on the basis of two experimental examples: analysis of the anisotropic nature of the structural imperfection of a sputterdeposited Ti3Al layer and analysis of the anisotropic and inhomogeneous elastic grain interaction in a sputter-deposited Ni layer.


A total of 73 sera obtained in two villages of the Kraho Indians of Brazil were tested for nine Ag factors. They were uniformly (x–y+), (a1–d+), (t+z–) and (h–) but showed polymorphism at the cg genetic site, the frequency of Agg being 0.63. Considering all the antigens together, the three arrangements found are not new, but their frequencies are different from those observed in one Caucasian, one Oriental and one African population.


AbstractReligious beliefs, it has been noted, are often hard to disprove. While this would be a shortcoming for beliefs whose utility was connected to their accuracy, it is actually necessary in the case of beliefs whose function bears no connection to how accurate they are. In the case of religions and other ideologies that serve to promote prosocial behaviour this leads to the need to protect belief systems against potentially disruptive counterevidence while maintaining their relevance. Religions turn out to be particularly adept at this because of the use they make of existing cognitive by-products to make them plausible without exposing them overly to investigation.IWhen a group of humans sets out to hunt an animal-a stag, perhaps -a range of beliefs is necessary to make success at all likely. First, the hunters must have beliefs concerning such matters as the probable location of their prey, its likely behaviour and the lay-of-the-land in the area of the hunt. In addition, they must also believe that the other hunters are trustworthy, that they themselves will be punished if they do not cooperate with the rest of the group or, perhaps, that hunting with the others is their only opportunity to obtain food.The two sets of beliefs differ in one fundamental respect. The first set must be accurate in order for the hunt to have a reasonable chance of success. If reality diverges in significant ways from what the hunters believe in this respect, their prey will elude them. This is not the case with the second set of beliefs, however. It does not matter whether the other hunters really are generally trustworthy, whether punishment awaits the defectors, nor whether there are other effective means for obtaining food. All that matters is that the hunters hold such beliefs to the degree sufficient to motivate them to cooperate for the period of the hunt. So, it may be that one of the hunters believes the other to be a paragon of virtue while that other is a scoundrel who merely fears some future retribution. So long as they cooperate, the truth of the matter need not enter into the picture and the hunt may well be a success. As we will see, it is highly significant that the situation becomes more complex when repeated hunts are considered but, at each point, the basic point holds.Drawing upon the distinction sketched in this example I will claim that while most beliefs generally have to be at least partly accurate to lead to effective actions, the role of some beliefs is such that it does not matter whether they are accurate, i.e., their function is nonalethic. The reason is that these beliefs tend to be only indirectly connected to choice of actions as they motivate the desire to cooperate rather than determining the precise manner this cooperation ought to take. I will argue that ideologies are paradigmatic of these kinds of beliefs in the way that they motivate prosocial behaviour by claims that need not be accurate. As pointed out by McKay and Dennett, however, such beliefs have the problem of maintaining their stability in the face of potential counterevidence-people must generally believe them to be true in order to act upon them. Rather than showing that ideologies are impossible, this merely means that they must be protected against counterevidence. The degree to which they have been protected against potential investigation-rendered superempirical-depends upon three factors: the content of the beliefs being hard to falsify, the available empirical methods being inadequate and, perhaps most importantly, the social context being such as to make investigation unlikely. Religions are to be understood as a particularly successful type of ideology. This is because many of their claims are particularly hard to investigate while being rendered all the more plausible by the cognitive biases that make human minds highly susceptible to all supernatural beliefs.1IIThe distinction to which the hunting example draws attention can be generalised. …


The use of an in situ generated Ni(0) catalyst associated with 2,2'-bipyridine or N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene (SIPr) as a ligand and NaO-t-Bu as the base for the intramolecular coupling of aryl chlorides with amines is described. The procedure has been applied to the formation of five-, six-, and seven-membered rings. [reaction: see text]


The Martian ionospheric plasma directly interact with the solar wind due to the lack of the strong intrinsic magnetic field. The recent observations by Mars Express (MEX) revealed that there are three plasma boundaries in the interaction region; the bow shock, the induced magnetic boundary (IMB), and the photoelectron boundary [Lundin et al., 2004]. The IMB is defined as the envelope of the induced magnetosphere which means that the IMB is the stopping boundary for the solar wind. The relationship between the IMB (defined by ion data) and the MPB (the magnetic pileup boundary, defined by magnetic field data of Mars Global Surveyor) is not clear and is still an open issue. To study the characteristics of the IMB, we surveyed about 300 orbits, (Jun.7-Jul.4 2004 and Jan.17-Mar.13 2005), and iden-tified 132 IMB crossings. Because the IMB have finite thickness, we used two definitions of the IMBs; Top of the IMB (IMBT) and Bottom of the IMB (IMBB).TheIMBT is the point where the solar wind ions begin to decrease. The IMBB is the position where the solar wind proton and alpha particles disappear. We obtained the average locations and the distributions of the IMBs by plotting those boundary crossings on three-dimensional maps to investigate the difference and similarity between the IMB and the MPB. The boundary identification is done for different solar wind species, i.e.,


Spectrum sharing allows multiple users, i.e., a primary user (PU) and secondary users (SUs), to share the same frequency band while protecting the communication quality of the PU. Therefore, when an SU shares the same frequency band as the PU, it is necessary to protect the PU's communication temporally and spatially. In general, the protected area is constructed to guarantee the PU's transmission, by disabling frequency sharing within this area. However, this area is generally set to be wider than necessary, and the area that can be shared is limited. In addition, if the SU detects communication from the PU during frequency sharing, the SU must immediately switch to another frequency band to protect the PU communication. With existing technology, the presence or absence of PU communication is judged instantaneously, so the SU temporarily stops transmission at the moment of switching to another frequency band. A spectrum database (SD) stores measured values such as received signal strength (RSS) of the PU has been considered to be a solution for spectrum sharing. In this research, we develop an algorithm that uses the information stored in the SD to detect the vacant frequency in advance by taking into account the moving direction of SU.


This paper reports on the improvement and automation of a method of analyzing ammonium sulfate particles collected on Teflon membrane filters. The filters were analyzed by transmission measurements using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy after collection with dichotomous air samplers. The spectra of the blank filters are subtracted from the spectra of the loaded filters and an integration of the 1000 to 1135 cm/sup -1/ absorbance band for sulfate leads to a lower limit of detection of 0.2 ..mu..g/cm/sup 2/ on 37 mm 2 micron Teflon filters. This corresponds to an ambient concentration of ..mu..g/m/sup 3/ for a 24 hr, 21.6 m/sup 3/ air sample. Ammonium sulfate particulate standards were prepared by sampling the output of a laboratory particle generator. Concentrations were then determined by x-ray fluorescence analysis. An automatic sample changer was constructed which accepts the filter carousel from a Sierra/ Anderson model 245 automated dichotomous sampler. The sample changer is controlled by the FTIR computer. The analysis is nondestructive, automated, and requires no sample preparation.


In last few years there has been significant growth in the construction of Roads and various other Civil Engineering projects. Addition of Admixtures and various other materials in concrete has become an important phenomenon to get higher strength of concrete with the same proportion of material at cheaper rate. This work focuses on the comparison of compressive strength of cube, flexural strength of beam and splitting tensile strength of cylindrical specimen of normal M20 grade concrete with the addition of polyester fibre with super plasticizer in the concrete which lead to increase in the compressive strength of cube, flexural strength of beam and splitting tensile strength of cylindrical specimen of M20 grade concrete.


According to the characteristics of university laboratory construction project,a variety of basic principles for performance evaluation are put forwarded.Detailed evaluation criteria are established.The methods of organizing and putting in practice are expounded.


A new adder design is proposed.Combining CLA and asynchronous self-timed techniques,the adder introduces the hybrid handshake protocol and distributes the carry-generating path with the probabilities of the carry chains.It can speed up the asynchronous adder while keeping a low power and area cost.The adder implements the 0.18μm technique of SMIC.Simulation result shows that the 32-bit asynchronous parallel adder achieves the average delay of 0.880932ns.Its speed is 7.33 times faster than the synchronous ripple adder,1.364 times faster than the asynchronous ripple adder,and 1.123 times faster than the asynchronous carry-select adder.And its area and power cost are less than those of the asynchronous carry-select adder.


From histograms of time delays between counts in a neutron monitor, one can extract the leader fraction, 𝐿 , of neutron counts that did not follow a previous neutron count in the same counter tube associated with the same cosmic ray shower. The leader fraction is the inverse of the neutron multiplicity and can indicate variations in the cosmic ray spectral index over a certain rigidity range above the local cutoff. Here we calibrate 𝐿 from the South Pole neutron monitor, with an atmospheric cutoff of ∼ 1 GV, with respect to a daily spectral index determined using published data from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) aboard the International Space Station for Galactic cosmic ray proton fluxes during 2015-2019. We find that the leader fraction is well correlated with the daily proton spectral index fit over 2.97-16.6 GV as inferred from AMS-02. We estimate the uncertainty in the spectral index as inferred from the leader fraction. This work verifies that the ground-based neutron monitor network can perform precise and continuous monitoring of cosmic ray spectral variations in the long-term future.


The paper dwells upon political and legal nature of representations abroad of Russian Federation subjects. The author shows that the main task of representations abroad is harmonization of relations between federal centre and national and territorial subjects.


AGROWING BODY OF EVIDENCE HAS IMPLICATED CAREgiving as a risk factor for health. Extending this research, the article by Schulz and Beach in this issue of THE JOURNAL is the first study to demonstrate that caregiving is a risk factor for mortality, and thus it makes an important contribution to the broader literature on chronic stress. The caregivers in their cohort were part of a large population-based study of the elderly drawn from a random, stratified sample; additional laudable strengths include the fact that the mortality data controlled for baseline health status and the careful determination of mortality status for 100% of the sample. The findings are particularly notable in view of the very broad definition used for caregiving: these researchers only required that the impaired spouse have difficulty with at least 1 activity of daily living or instrumental activity of daily living "due to physical or health problems or problems with confusion." Accordingly, it is likely that their sample was considerably less burdened and less distressed than the caregivers who have received the most attention, namely caregivers for persons with dementia. Furthermore, their research participants only needed to meet criteria as caregivers at study entry, not in each successive year, so that spouses who functioned as temporary or transient caregivers following acute medical problems in the partner would nonetheless be classified as caregivers in their data. Similarly, it is reasonable to expect that some of their caregivers who reported no strain at baseline, as well as some of their noncaregiver controls, are likely to have joined the ranks of burdened caregivers in ensuing years. As a consequence of these factors, the mortality data are likely to underestimate significantly the actual risks associated with caregiving for a severely physically or cognitively disabled spouse. Chronic stressors such as caregiving that evoke prolonged distress can influence cardiovascular, immune, and endocrine function, and these alterations are sufficient to enhance a variety of health threats, particularly among older adults. For example, 2 studies show that spousal caregivers evidenced poorer immune responses to influenza virus vaccination than well-matched control subjects. Adults who show poorer responses to vaccines and other antigenic challenges also experience higher rates of clinical illness, including influenza virus infection. While pneumonia and influenza together constitute the fourth leading cause of death among persons aged 75 years or older, influenza viruses are also responsible for considerable "excess mortality" beyond those deaths in which influenza is registered as the cause. For example, a Dutch study showed that for each influenza-registered death there were 2.6 additional influenza-related deaths (47% in people for whom heart disease was the reported cause of death, 23% with lung disease, and 30% with other diseases). Not surprisingly, 95% of these deaths occurred in people who were aged 60 years or older. Aging undoubtedly interacts with caregiving to augment vulnerability in other arenas; caregiving is a significant risk factor for the development of depressive symptoms, as well as syndromal depression disorders, and depression can intensify a variety of health threats, particularly among older adults. Depressive symptoms are associated with the development of ischemic heart disease, as well as poorer outcome among patients who have preexisting cardiovascular disease. Chronically depressed mood has been linked to cancer risk in older persons. Depressed mood is an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality in medical inpatients. Data from 11 242 outpatients in the Medical Outcomes Study showed that patients with either a current depressive disorder or depressive symptoms in the absence of a syndromal disorder had worse physical, social, and role function, worse perceived current health, and greater bodily pain than patients with no chronic conditions. The poorer functioning that was uniquely associated with depressive symptoms was comparable with or even worse than that uniquely associated with 8 chronic medical conditions. Thus, the burdens and stresses of caregiving that stimulate psychological morbidity may also impair physical health. While caregiving can be stressful for any family member, spouses have a unique disadvantage. Marriage is the central


AIM: To analyse the effect of Guipi Granule and serum that contains drug on rat's liver. METHODS: Isolated rat's liver perfusion model was used in the experiment for determining AST and ALT content. RESULTS: Middle and low concentration of Guipi Granule (2.5、5.0g/L) didn't cause any chang of enzyme AST、ALT content in isolated rat's liver perfusion liquid. The effect of serum was not different from Guipi Granule groups and control groups. CONCLUSION: The result shows that Guipi Granule doesn't cause damage to the liver cell.


Introduction Productivity in a research environment is difficult to define because different people have different perceptions about its meaning. Certainly, productivity itself is a term of great interest to the general public, especially in industrial circles. Public concern over competitiveness and productivity enters virtually every policy discussion, whether the subject is education, the deficit, or politics (Krugman, 1991). Furthermore, we are frequently reminded of a decline in manufacturing productivity in the United States and of the need to reverse the trend if we are to successfully compete in a global economy (Johnston, 1991). However, despite widespread concern with the subject of productivity in general, the subject of research productivity is one that has not received adequate attention. The subject of research productivity is especially important when one considers that research, particularly governmental and university-based research, is part of the service economy that comprises 70% to 75% of all jobs in the United States (Offermann & Growing, 1990; Quinn, Doorley & Paquette, 1990; Roach, 1991). While several articles have addressed the subject of productivity in a research environment, most fall short of suggesting a methodology for measuring it. For instance, Drucker (1974; 1991) emphasizes the need to raise the productivity of what he calls "knowledge workers" - persons in the service economy who utilize in a work setting the skills and ideas that they have learned in a systematic education. In a university environment, knowledge workers would include faculty, researchers, and support staff. However, while Drucker discusses the fact that increasing the productivity of knowledge workers requires measuring their output in a systematic manner, he does not propose a method for performing this measurement. In a similar article, Kirby (1992) points out the lack of meaningful measures of grant productivity and quality, and persuasively argues for a better measurement system and for integration of those measures into a system of accountability. Like Drucker, however, Kirby does not propose such a system of measurement. And so the question remains, how do we measure productivity in a research environment? Reporting about research activities is one of many responsibilities of the Office of Research Administration, which provides an array of services in support of the research mission (Lowry & Walker, 1992; Valentine, 1992). In addition to the usual grants administration tasks, research administrators are frequently expected to assess and report on the overall research effort of the institution and perhaps suggest ways to improve its productivity. Most reports cite the amount of grant funding generated during a fiscal year, often delineated by departments and/or individual investigators. Ostensibly, these reports are generated because research administrators are under directives from central administration to increase the amount of grant funding awarded to the institution. Such reports, however, are unidimensional. Reporting on grant funding includes only one of several criteria that could be used to evaluate research productivity. What research administrators need is a better and more comprehensive way to report on the research productivity of their institutions. We need a way of ranking individuals and institutions that includes more than the amount of grant funds generated in a given year, and we need to include a full array of activities that would more accurately portray research productivity. The problem is defining research productivity in terms that are acceptable to a diverse constituency. Once we have reached general agreement on what constitutes research productivity, we can develop methods to measure our scientists' and researchers' productivity levels and understand how productive these individuals and their institutions are. Defining Productivity In order to measure research productivity in our respective institutions, research administrators first need to define research productivity. …


Matlakala is home late and her family is already sitting at the dinner table having finished the meal. Thabang, her husband, gets upset about her coming home late; he yells at her and tells the children to go to their room. Then he loses his temper and starts beating her up. She breaks down, battered and unhappy. What is she to do?


Ionic [Pt(C^C*A/B)(P^P)]PF6 and neutral [Pt(C^C*A/B)(S^S)] complexes were designed and synthesized containing cyclometalated N-heterocyclic carbenes (C^C*A/B) and diphosphines (P^P: dpfppe, dcypm) ...


The real-time queue length on signalized intersections is an important parameter for traffic control and management. Based on the analysis of a traffic flow's shockwave profile at the approaches of signalized intersections, a model is built up to detect the real-time queue length based on RFID detector data. Variations of the estimation model are also presented under different traffic volumes, and the relationship between queue length and the capacity of the approach is also considered. A field experiment using RFID Detector Data was conducted at an intersection in Nanjing. The results of the field experiment demonstrate that the proposed models can estimate the real-time queue length with satisfactory accuracy.


Aiming at such problems as unknown goal configuration, grasp space limitation, a large number of barriers in configuration space and high-dimension space redundancy during planning motion of humanoid robot arms grasping target, this paper proposes a generalized inverse rapid-exploring random tree (GIRRT) collision avoidance method. Firstly, it establishes kinematics and inverse kinematics models for upper arm of humanoid robot based on hierarchical sub-dimension space motion planning concept model. Secondly, it proposes a weighted minimal norm GIRRT planning algorithm. Finally, the effectiveness of the algorithm proposed in this paper has been verified via computer 3D simulation.


This study seeks to clarify the mechanism of strain development in curing a thick composite structure with a temperature distribution in the thickness direction. Strain developed during curing can be separated into two parts according to the causes. One is chemical cure shrinkage of the matrix; the other is thermal shrinkage (or expansion) of the cured composite. Therefore, this study consists of a cure-shrinkage part and a thermal-shrinkage part. In both parts, the curing was monitored with an embedded distributed optical-fiber sensor (pulse-pre-pump Brillouin optical-time-domain analysis, PPP-BOTDA) and analyzed. In the cure-shrinkage strain part, the strain distribution caused by different temperature histories was observed. We confirmed that the lower viscosity part was influenced by the cure shrinkage of the other part and that these phenomena can be analyzed by the visco-elastic cure model. In the thermal-strain part, the amount of total shrinkage strain and the apparent coefficient of temperature expansion distribution were observed in the thickness direction. Warpage of the specimen was also observed. These results were confirmed to be caused by the distribution of temperature and of the fiber volume fraction, Vf.


Regarding the infrared target detection under the complex dynamic scene,a method is proposed for infrared moving target detection based on cross-entropy transition region extraction.Firstly,infrared image is processed with method of frame difference and background difference.Then binary image is obtained by segmentation algorithm based on cross-entropy transition region extraction.Finally,the complete infrared target is detected by the morphology filter.The experimental result indicates that this method is quite fit for infrared target detection and satisfies infrared moving target detection.


To build up a warning system of enterprise's financial risk using the estimated probability of financial distress is indispensable in reducing firm's operation and investment risk,and preventing national finance crisis. The traditional prediction models, no matter they are Discriminant Analysis Model, Logit Regression Model, or Article Neural Network Model, all analyze a firm's financial status according to the firm's current financial index. Firm-specific factors, macroeconomic trend, and industrial factor are omitted from the model, as well as decision-maker's individual influence from experience, wisdom and information priority. In order to better handle this problem and improve the accuracy of the model, this article developed a Bayesian model to predict the failure of company using decision-maker's individual judgment.


BACKGROUND: Nutrient management plays an important role for obtaining satisfactory yields and to increase crop productivity. Also keep soil moisture under drought stress is an important factor to produce economical production, so super absorbent polymer has great role to achieve mentioned goal.
OBJECTIVES: Present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different level of super absorbent polymer and Nitroxin biological fertilizer on the productivity of maize and growth Indices.
METHODS: Current research was carried out according factorial experiment based on randomized complete blocks design with three replications during 2015-2016. The first factor included different level of Super Absorbent Polymer (S1= nonuse of super absorbent polymer or control, S2= 100 kg.ha-1 and S3= 150 kg.ha-1 super absorbent polymer) and second factor included three level of Nitroxin (N1= nonuse of Nitroxin or control, N2= 1 L.ha-1 and N3= 3 L.ha-1 Nitroxin).
RESULT: Result analysis of variance revealed effect of super absorbent polymer and Nitroxin on seed yield and biologic yield was significant but interaction effect of treatments was not significant. According result of mean comparison of different level of super absorbent that maximum seed yield (8455 kg.ha-1) biologic yield (13266 kg.ha-1), Leaf area index (3.5), Leaf area ratio (0.0035 m2.gr), Relative growth rate (0.09 gr.gr-1.day-1), crop growth rate (35 gr.m-2.day-1) was noted for use 150 kg.ha-1 super absorbent and minimum amount of mentioned traits was belonged to control treatment. Also between different level of Nitroxin the highest amount of measured characteristics observed for 1 L.ha-1 treatment.
CONCLUSION: Finally according result of current research consume of 150 kg.ha-1 Super Absorbent Polymer and 1 L.ha-1 Nitroxin led to produce highest corn yield and growth indices and it can be advised to farmers in studied region.


Literature and art has thirty years history inChinese modern literature.The cause of these debates not only includes the difference between ideology and aesthetics,but also contains the factor of the content of the way of speech. From Creativity community competed literature research organization, revolutionary literature attacked LuXun,MaoDun etc handled left-wing, we found that the content of the way of speech is a potential psychology fatcor to stir up several debates of literature and art.


For the section of highway parallel with railway,large vehicles running thereon lead to potential safety hazard to the railway subgrade.Wave-form guardrail and concrete wall set at shoulder of the highway could play a role of preventing the subgrade from damage caused by these vehicles.Combining with the actual situation,vehicle-wall collision model is established to the extent that the ultimate force on the wall is analyzed to confirm the maximum secure impact force,as such,the initial collision speed and the vehicle weight limits is solved reversely by the formula of impact force.The calculating results show that both appropriate limitation on speed and weight of loaded truck and large passenger car passing section of highway adjacent to railway subgrade,and SS-class waveform guardrail and concrete bumping wall set there could protect the railway subgrade.


The freshwater prawn Macrobrachium malcolmsonii is an important component of the prawn industry in South India This study was undertaken to assess the quality of this prawn under conditions of frozen storage. Adult prawns obtained from local fishermen were weighed, assigned to four groups and separately stored at -20°C for 7, 15 and 30 days. One group of prawns was maintained alive as control. On the designated days, the frozen prawns were allowed to thaw and weighed. The muscle tissue was then subjected to various biochemical analyses and the results obtained were compared with those kept alive. There was no significant weight loss in the prawns kept frozen for 7, 15 and 30 days. Soluble protein and carbohydrate contents in muscle were markedly lower in frozen than in fresh prawns. This was very pronounced in those prawns stored at -20°C for 15 and 30 days. Conversely, total lipids contents were higher in frozen than in fresh prawns. Qualitative analysis by SDS-PAGE revealed minimal alterations in the protein profile of 7 days frozen prawns, whereas the intensity of staining of polypeptide bands was generally less in 15 and 30 days frozen prawns. These data suggest that maintaining the freshwater prawn in the frozen state at -20°C upto 7 days may not result in marked biochemical changes. However, extended frozen storage appears to result in a decline of essential nutrients.


Gas barrier properties of alkylsulfonylmethyl-substituted poly(oxyalkylene)s are discussed. Oxygen permeability coefficients of three methylsulfonylmethyl-substituted poly(oxyalkylene)s, poly[oxy(methylsulfonylmethyl)ethylene] (MSE), poly[oxy(methylsulfonylmethyl)ethylene-co-oxyethylene] (MSEE), and poly[oxy-2,2-bis (methylsulfonylmethyl)trimethylene oxide] (MST) were measured. MSEE, which has the most flexible backbone of the three polymers, had an oxygen permeability coefficient at 30°C of 0.0036 × 10−13 cm3(STP)·cm/cm2·s·Pa higher than that of MSE, 0.0014 × 10−13 cm3(STP)·cm/cm2·s·Pa, because the former polymer's Tg was near room temperature. MST with two polar groups per repeat unit and the highest Tg showed the highest oxygen permeability, 0.013 × 10−13 cm3(STP) · cm/cm2·s·Pa, among the three polymers, probably because steric hindrance between the side chains made the chain packing inefficient. As the side chain length of poly[oxy(alkylsulfonylmethyl)ethylene] increased, Tg and density decreased and the oxygen permeability coefficients increased. The oxygen permeability coefficient of MSE at high humidity (84% relative humidity) was seven times higher than when it was dry because absorbed water lowered its Tg. At 100% relative humidity MSE equilibrated to a Tg of 15°C after 2 weeks. A 50/50 blend of MSE/MST had oxygen barrier properties better than the individual polymers (O2 permeability coefficient is 0.0007 × 10−13 cm3(STP)·cm/cm2 ·s·Pa), lower than most commercial high barrier polymers. At 100% relative humidity, it equilibrated to a Tg of 42°C, well above room temperature. These are polymer systems with high gas barrier properties under both dry and wet conditions. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 75–83, 1998


Recent studies suggest that morbidity and mortality in patients with pancreatic abscess can be lessened if controlled open lesser sac drainage (COLD) is performed rather than traditional closed drainage (CD). To determine whether the outcome of patients treated by COLD was more favorable, 81 consecutive patients with pancreatic abscess managed surgically between 1966 and 1985 were studied. COLD, consisting of initial wide debridement of the abscess cavity, open packing, suction drainage, repeated operative pack changes, and lavage was used in 17 patients and CD in 64 patients. Age, sex, etiology of pancreatitis, and radiographic and laboratory findings were similar between treatment groups. However, the number of patients with overt systemic sepsis and those at increased risk of death based on Ranson signs associated with the predisposing episode of pancreatitis were greater in the COLD group than in the CD group (100% vs. 61%, and 92% vs. 44%, respectively; p ≤ 0.05 for both). Overall mortality in COLD and CD patients was 18% and 44%, respectively (p < 0.05). However, in patients at increased risk of death (positive Ranson signs ≥ 3), mortality after COLD and CD was 18% and 70%, respectively (p < 0.05). Controlled open drainage may be the treatment of choice in patients with pancreatic abscess precipitated by severe pancreatitis (Ranson signs 5≥ 3) and associated with overt systemic sepsis.


Since 2007, there are four China Da yang cruises (CDCs), which have been carried out to investigate polymetallic sulfides in the southwest Indian ridge (SWIR) and have acquired both gravity data and bathymetry data on the corresponding survey lines(Tao et al., 2014). Sandwell et al. (2014) published a new global marine gravity model including the free air gravity data and its first order vertical gradient (Vzz). Gravity data and its gradient can be used to extract unknown density structure information(e.g. crust thickness) under surface of the earth, but they contain all the mass effect under the observation point. Therefore, how to get accurate gravity and its gradient effect of the existing density structure (e.g. terrain) has been a key issue. Using the bathymetry data or ETOPO1 (http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/global/global.html ) model at a full resolution to calculate the terrain effect could spend too much computation time. We expect to develop an effective method that takes less time but can still yield the desired accuracy.


The research on the driving force of urban landscape pattern evolution has been an international research hotspot. This paper selects 5 administrative districts which are located to the north of Qinling mountains in Xi'an as the research object. Through the social economic data from 2013 to 2018 and the regional land use survey, analyzing the farmland landscape as the biggest changing area in the urban landscape use pattern. Using principal component analysis method to study the process of urbanization driving force and find the main influence factors of the farmland landscape change. The results show that urban social economic development and population growth are the main driving forces of farmland landscape change in the northern foothills of Qinling mountains in Xi 'an. It indicates that the northern foothills of Qinling mountains in Xi'an is still in the stage of rapid development of urbanization, which has a high demand for landuse at the urban-rural junction, mainly converting agricultural land into industrial and residential land.


A presently ongoing Nordic project "Exclay Intemordic Geoproject" aims at research into an overall utilization of expanded clay (exclay) in road embankments. One part of the project is concentrated on skid-resistance of exclay insulated and lightened roads, as insulation close to the road surface may prevent heat transfer from the underlying embankment and cause icing on the road. For this purpose two test sites were constructed with exclay insulation at different depths. This paper discusses temperature, dewpoint, skid-resistance measurements and temperature modelling at the Tuupakka test site and the applicability of the results to the purposes of the project.


This paper proposes an architecture for active network nodes, called Active Packet Editing (APE). The design of APE focuses on accelerating the functions that are essential to active network operation, such as packet classification and NAT. The twofold architecture of APE combines a software active packet processor with an efficient packet editor based on flexible hardware. Based on preset rules (pattern, action), the packet editor classifies and modifies, to a limited extent, packets that pass through the node. Upon the receipt of active packets, the software active packet processor dynamically configures the packet editor. To prevent interference among active applications, and thus ensure security, cryptographic techniques are used to distribute a flow specific key string, which is used to authenticate succeeding packets in the same flow. We are developing a prototype APE node.


Author(s): Sagan, David; Forster, Michael; Schmidt, Frank; Walker, Nicholas; Larrieu, Theo; Roblin, Yves; Bates, Daniel; Wolski, Andrzej; Pelaia, Thomas; Tenenbaum, Peter; Woodley, Mark; Zwaska, Robert; Reiche, Sven | Abstract: A major problem in accelerator physics has been the sharing of lattice description files between programs. At present, there is no generally accepted lattice format that is comprehensive enough to meet current needs. To alleviate this problem, a lattice description format called Accelerator Markup Language (AML) has been created. AML is based upon the standard Extensible Markup Language (XML) format which gives AML the needed flexibility to be easily extended to changing requirements. In conjunction with AML, A set of parsing routines is being developed to speed the integration of AML into any program. These routines, collectively known as the Universal Accelerator Parser (UAP), will have the added feature of being able to translate MAD compatible lattice files and will also contain the needed hooks so that it will be a relatively simple matter to extend UAP to accommodate other lattice formats. Back parser routines to create AML and MAD lattice files will also be part of the UAP package.


Assistive technologies that implement the right solution for People with Disabilities (PWD) through innovative technological friendly interface can empower them to work normal at the workplace. Tracking PWDs movements and linking it to behavior algorithm is useful to inform their caregiver as well as alerting them for missing activities. Different tracking system can be used to determine PWDs' location but this requires a proper algorithm to determine their behavior in order to assist them at the workplace. This paper presents a unified interface for PWD with multiple impairment conditions by supporting essential features for getting help information from the environment, helping them to communicate with others smartly, and providing flexible interface that is adaptable to meet their requirements. It also supports event and personal monitoring as well as location tracking to intervene if necessary and guide PWD to behave normally. This smart interface solution is being developed within the of SMARTDISABLE's research project activities implemented to support PWDs at the workplace. This solution supports wide-spectra of PWD groups (11 groups with various combinations of disabilities) with ability to manage the system interface using multi-model ways of interactions and commanding through use of speech recognition engine, text-to-speech, Mic, and mouse/keyboard.


An embarrassing number of months ago, I was invited to review Philosophy in the Classroom (Lipman, Sharp, and Oscanyan 1977) for Curriculum Inquiry, a project that initially appeared straightforward enough.' A little reading of the book revealed it to be a part of a larger piece-a whole curriculum-"Philosophy for Children." The idea of reviewing this whole grew in intrigue as I received about three inches worth of material from the developers, yet it is with trepidation that what follows is offered as a curriculum review for the following reasons. First, as will become evident later, there are many ways in which my understanding of the program is limited by the lack of firsthand knowledge (almost personal knowledge) that comes from working either with the curriculum or in training sessions designed for teachers of the curriculum. A curriculum of this sort probably depends somewhat for its success upon the particular interpretations of its intent and means that come from having direct access to the thinking of its designers. Second, despite the lineage of the curriculum field, it is


Reconnaissance-level geologic and geophysical studies indicate that the Pilgram Springs, Alaska, area is underlain by an intermediate-temperature, liquid-dominated geothermal system of substantial magnitude. Initial exploratory drilling has confirmed the presence of the shallow, approx. = 1 to 1.5 km/sup 2/ hot water reservoir delineated by our geophysical surveys. Large artesian flow rates of 200 and 300 to 400 gallons/minute of 90/sup 0/C water indicate that at least one good aquifer is present at shallow depths within this reservoir. Resistivity surveys suggest that the reservoir is approximately 50 m thick. Deeper hot water reservoirs may also be contained in the thick sedimentary section identified by seismic and gravity surveys, but they have not as yet been located by our initial resistivity surveys. The power presently being dissipated from the upper 50 m of the system is a minimum of 350 megawatts.


The development of many theories in biochemistry undergoes a process of tortuosity,which are good examples for spreading Marxist philosophy in biochemistry teaching.Two examples,reverse transcription and ribozyme,have been given in this article to illustrate how to pass Marxist philosophy on to students in biochemistry teaching.


Based on the investigations on the managements of the private enterprises, this article would analyzethe problems that rose from the processes of granting authorities to the enterprise managements and provide some methods to solve all these problems.


Traditional unified power flow controller( UPFC) based on voltage source controller(VSC) has high switch frequency,obvious voltage harmonic and lower voltage level. Meanw hile,UPFC has big risk and possibility to suffer the short circuit fault,which can cause the damage to device,especially in the situation of large capacity and high voltage.Thus,this paper applied modular multilevel converter( M M C) in the UPFC,and improved the control strategy of M M C to meet the requirements of the proposed topology,but the system might suffer larger risk of short circuit fault. So this paper also designed the current limiting module based on M M C-UPFC,which could effectively restrain the short-circuit current in the short circuit fault,w ithout increasing any burden to the system in the normal condition. In all,the topology of entire UPFC system has advantages of higher modularity level,smaller harmonic wave,capacity extension,rapid current-limiting in short circuit fault and so on,which can increase system's reliability,safety and economy for the designed topology.


. HE aim of this study is to investigate the influence of using fermented potato ( Solanumtuberosum ) and green bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ) vines on a growing rabbits. A 75 NZW weaned unsexed rabbits at 6 weeks of age 614.62±1.95g as average body weight were assigned randomly, into 5 treatments of 15 rabbits each. Five pelleted diets were: control and other diets of 15 or 30% fermented Potato and green bean vines. The growth trial lasted 8 weeks. Results indicated fermentation treatments improved final body weight, body weight gain and feed conversion, and performance index values (%) were significantly improved with 15 or 30% fermented potato and green bean vines. Total feed intake did not significantly affect by dietary treatments . Digestibility's of CP, CF, NFE, TDN and DE were significantly increased with feed a 15 or 30% fermented Potato and green bean vines compared with the control diet. On the other hand, nutritive values of DCP were significantly affected with 15 or 30% 15 or 30% fermented potato and green bean vines compared to the control diet. However, final body weight, body weight gain and feed conversion, Carcass (weight and percentage), dressing percentages, total protein, albumin, globulin, AST, ALT, total cholesterol, creatinine, urea and. moisture, CP, ash, EE of meat were no affected between different treatments. Net revenue (LE) for diets and economic efficiency increase with the fermentation of different treatments and the best values for them were recorded with 15% Potato and green bean vines diets compared to the other treatments.


During the sport of wave surfing, the fins on a surfboard play a major role in the overall performance of the surfer. This article presents the optimisation of a surfboard fin shape, using coupled genetic algorithms with the FLUENT® solver, aiming at the maximisation of the lift per drag ratio. The design-variable vector includes six components namely the chord length, the depth and the sweep angle of the fin as well as the maximum camber, the maximum camber position and the thickness of the hydrofoil (the four-digit NACA parametrization). The Latin hypercube sampling technique is utilised to explore the design space, resulting in 42 different fin designs. Fin and control volume models are created (using CATIA® V5) and meshed (unstructured using ANSYS® Workbench). Steady-state computations were performed using the FLUENT SST k−ω (shear stress transport k−ω) turbulence model at the velocity of 10 m/s and 10° angle of attack. Using the obtained lift and drag values, a response surface based model was constructed with the aim to maximise the lift-to-drag ratio. The optimisation problem was solved using the genetic algorithm provided by the MATLAB® optimisation toolbox and the response surface based model was iteratively improved. The resultant optimal fin design is compared with the experimental data for the fin demonstrating an increase in lift-to-drag ratio by approximately 62% for the given angle of attack of 10°.


Abstract The common tendency to speak and write of terrorists as "mindless," and to either dismiss or dread them accordingly, is inappropriate. Many leftist extremists are deadly serious about their ideas. Most group leaders of the last three decades have been college‐educated at a minimum; many have professional backgrounds as teachers, college professors, writers, lawyers, and doctors. This sociopolitical reality suggests two questions for reflection: (1) what have been the effects of education upon leftist terrorists, and (2) how have terrorists used their schooling and their credentials to advance their enterprises?


The article introduces three cases of anemic necrosis of femoral head caused by the adrenal cortex hormone. Patients had one-side or two-side femoral head anemic necrosis and athletic function barrier after taking the adrenal cortex hormone. the speed,the degree of anemic necrosis of femoral head is relevant with the medication time and the medication dosage. The longer medication time and more dosage will lead to more frequent femoral head anemic necrosis. We must be alert to femoral head anemic necrosis when we use hormone. If we discover femoral head anemic necrosis, we should immediately stop using the hormone and reduce patient's activity. The minority of patients may stop the progress.


There should be awareness in the transportation marketplace that action will be required to accommodate increased risk exposure in evolving case law. Third party logistics (3PL) business models and economic assumptions will have to materially change if tort liability imputation is included in that adjustment. Innovative insurance developments may, on one hand, be required by this change. 3PL growth facilitation into even larger economic units that are the only units capable of such risk accommodation, on the other hand, may thereby further supply chain control centralization into fewer and fewer 3PL entities' hands.


In this paper, a fifth-order variable-coefficient nonlinear Schrodinger equation is investigated, which describes the propagation of the attosecond pulses in an optical fiber. Via the Hirota's method and auxiliary functions, bilinear forms and dark one-, two- and three-soliton solutions are obtained. Propagation and interaction of the solitons are discussed graphically: We observe that the solitonic velocities are only related to β1(x), β2(x), β3(x) and β4(x), the coefficients of the second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-order terms, respectively, with x being the scaled distance, while the solitonic amplitudes are related to β1(x), β2(x), β3(x), β4(x) as well as the wave number. When β1(x), β2(x), β3(x) and β4(x) are the constants, or the linear, quadratic and trigonometric functions of x, we obtain the linear, parabolic, cubic and periodic dark solitons, respectively. Interactions between (among) the two (three) solitons are depicted, which can be regarded to be elastic because the solitonic amplitudes remain unchanged except for some phase shifts after each interaction in an optical fiber.


In order to evaluate enterprise informatization maturity accurately and effectively, an improved particle swarm optimization algorithm based on BP artificial neural network is developed. Based on analyzing the working principle of particle swarm optimization algorithm, the improved algorithm encodes its particles, formats its fitness function, and updates its particle speed and position, improves it though immunization information process mechanism; Then, paper integrates particle swarm optimization algorithm with BP neural network algorithm and redesigns the training steps for the improved algorithm. Finally, the evaluation indicators of enterprise informatization maturity are analyzed and the improved algorithm is realized. The simulation results illustrates that the algorithm has better self-adaptability and can simplify model structure, increase algorithm efficiency, and improve evaluation accuracy when used for evaluating enterprise informatization maturity.


This guide to formative research on zinc administration during diarrhea was designed to assist a multicenter zinc study coordinated by The International Network of Clinical Epidemiology (INCLEN) between 2002-2004 v and jointly supported by INCLEN JHU USAID and WHO. A zinc intervention and effectiveness trial was carried out in seven sites: (1) Lucknow India; (2) Nagpur India; (3) Manila Philippines; (4) Pretoria South Africa; (5) Cairo Egypt; (6) Addis Ababa Ethiopia; and (7) Fortaleza Brazil. Prior to the intervention trial formative research was to take place in each site to facilitate instrument construction zinc message development in local languages intervention monitoring and evaluation. The guide was largely created in the field in the Philippines by a team of three social scientists having considerable research experience on diarrheal disease and pharmaceutical practice. Given the absence of well trained social scientists at most of the trial sites the guide was developed for use by teams having little expertise in health social science. Researchers at each site were encouraged to review existing social science research on diarrhea and ORT in their locale and when possible to enlist the assistance of local social scientists in the formative stage of their research. (excerpt)


N volume 35 of David Thompson's j urnals, now in the Provincial Archives of Ontario, is a statement in his handwriting covering six foolscap ages giving an account of the journeys made by himself and his associates of the North West Company into and across the Rocky Mountains between the years 1800 and 1812. It was used, with the material in the other volumes of Thompson's journals, in the preparation of the Champlain Society's edition of David Thompson's narrative (Toronto, 1916), but where so much material was available, this document was not specifically mentioned. It is entitled Discoveries from the east side of the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean by David Thompson, and is here printed in full. In 1800 the partners of the North West Company, who were assembled at Grand Portage (here referred to as Fort William, though the headquarters of the company were not moved to Fort William till the following year), decided to send some one across the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean from the head of the Saskatchewan River, starting from Rocky Mountain House which had been built in the previous year. It is interesting to speculate on the motives which induced the partners to come to this decision. Alexander Mackenzie, one of the former partners of the North West Company, had, in 1793, made his dangerous but successful journey from the upper waters of the Peace River through the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific. He was justly proud of his accomplishment, but his partners had not shown much appreciation of it. Moreover, he and Simon McTavish, one of the controlling spirits of the North West Company, were unfriendly towards each other, and found it impossible to work together. In consequence Mackenzie had left the North West Company and was at this time in England making arrangements to publish his book of travels, where he was being treated as a hero. Simon McTavish may have been piqued at this, and therefore may have decided to send one of his own people to perform a journey which would be equally spectacular, and at the same time might be more profitable. As the man to head the expedition, he chose his nephew, Duncan McGillivray,