Numerical models generating actual fiber architecture by including parameters such as the fiber geometry and arrangement are a powerful tool to explore the relation between the fiber architecture and mechanical properties. The generation of virtual architectures of fibrous materials is the first step toward the computation of their physical properties. In this work, a realistic 3D model is developed to describe the architecture of a complex fiber structure. The domain of application of the model could include natural fibers composites, wood fibers materials, papers, mineral and steel wools and polymer networks. The model takes into account the complex geometry of the fiber arrangement in which a fiber can be modeled with a certain degree of bending while keeping a main fiber orientation. The model is built in two steps. First, fibers are generated as a chain of overlapping spheres or as a chain of overlapping sphero-cylinders. At the end of the first step, a system of overlapping fibers is obtained. In order to obtain a hard-core configuration where fibers cannot overlap other fibers, we use an iterative method called the force-biased algorithm. It applies virtual forces on each point of the fiber: a repulsion force to suppress the overlap between two fibers and a bending and stretching force to ensure that the fiber structure is kept unchanged. The model can be used as the geometrical basis for further finite-element modelling.


Groundnut (Arachis hypogeal L.) originated in South America (Bolivia and adjoining countries) and is now grown throughout the tropical and warm temperate regions of the world. This crop was grown widely by native people of the New World at the time of European expansion in the sixteenth century and was subsequently taken to Europe, Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands. It is an important oil and food crop which is currently grown on approximately 42 million acres worldwide. It is the third major oil seed of the world next to soybean (Glycine max) and cotton (Gossypium sp.).1 Groundnut has only occasionally been grown in northern states due to its warm temperate requirement.2,3 The leading producing states in Nigeria includes: Niger, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kano, Katsina, Adamawa, Bornu, Yobe, Taraba, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Taraba, Gombe and Plateau (Abulu, 1978). Groundnut contains 25–32% protein, 21% carbohydrates, 42–52% oil and 4.26 water.4 All parts of the groundnut plant can be used. The groundnut grown for human consumption has several uses as whole, seeds or is processed to make peanut butter, oil and other products.4 It is consumed chiefly as roasted seeds or peanut butter. Non food products such as soaps, medicines, cosmetics, and lubricants can be made from peanuts. The vines with leaves are excellent high protein hay for horses and ruminant livestock. The pods and shells serve as high fibre roughage in livestock feed, fuel (Fire place "logs"), mulch, and is used in manufacturing particle board or fertilizer. The cake residue from oil processing is used as an animal feed and as a soil fertilizer. Groundnut shells are used in the manufacture of plastic, wallboard, abrasives, fuel, cellulose (used in rayon and paper) and mucilage (glue). Groundnut plants serve the purpose of covering as cover crops for lands exposed to the soil erosion and it fixes nitrogen into the soil through the nodules that developed at the roots. A crop rotation of groundnut–cereal– cereal helps in efficient utilization and reduces soil born diseases and nematodes. It also helps to reduce the incidence of weeds (Henning et al., 1982; Alison 1981) Temperature is the major limiting factor for peanut yield in northern states since a minimum of 3,000 growing degree – days (with a base of 50oC) are required for proper growth and development.2 Groundnut requires a light-coloured and textured soil with good drainage and low moderately low amounts of organic matter for its optimum performance. Such soil is preferred since it is usually loose and friable, permitting easier penetration of roots and pegs, better percolation of rainfall, and easier harvesting. Well-drained soils provide proper aeration for the roots and nitrifying bacteria that are necessary for proper mineral nutrition of the plant. Medium to heavy soils or those with a high clay content leads to loss of pods during harvesting. Groundnut grows best in slightly acidic soils with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5, but a range of 5.5 to 7.0 is acceptable.5 Groundnut responds well to residual soil fertility from previous crops in the rotation, but usually has a low response to fertilizer in soil with medium to high fertility levels. It fixes atmospheric nitrogen with the help of rhizobium in the root nodules. This helps to partially fulfill its nitrogen requirement. However, it takes about 25–30 days to develop root nodules. Therefore, some available nitrogen is required in the early stages for plant growth. An application of 10kgN/ha at the time of sowing is recommended for soils with moderate to low nitrogen content as ammonium sulphate. The requirement for phosphorus in nodulating legumes higher compared with non-nodulating crops. If available soil phosphorus is less than 15kg/ha, there is need to apply phosphatic fertilizer. Single superphosphate is recommended


Highly effective phenoxazine (POZ)–based dyes (dye1, dye2, dye3, dye4 and dye5) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were designed and studied theoretically by using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations. When the electronic properties of dye2 were further analyzed in terms of the coupling among its moieties, it was found that the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the dye2 was originated from the HOMO of the POZ and the triphenylamine moieties and the LUMO of the cyanoacrylic acid moiety, respectively. It was found that HOMO = >LUMO (and HOMO-1 = >LUMO) transition could be considered as an intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) transition and HOMO = >LUMO+1 transition, however, as the mixture of ICT and π–π* excitation. It was shown that through the additional electron donating group, absorption bands due to HOMO = >LUMO transition were red-shifted and another strong absorption bands appeared as peaks between 400 and 450 nm. Of the POZ-based dyes, we showed that dye5 would have the best photovoltaic properties in terms of light-harvesting efficiency and energy-antenna consideration. These results suggested organic dye sensitizers with dual electron donating group would give good photovoltaic performance for DSSCs.


To ensure project bids held fairly and improve the efficiency of calling experts,design and implement a system of extracting and automatically informing experts based on multiqueue and multithread mechanism.The system uses analog voice chip programming,multiqueue and multithread mechanism to achieve automation and concurrent of informing experts.It proposes a model of extract-client and call-server.And on this top,it describes architecture and implementation of sending and receiving requests.The work copes with the problem of potential unsafely,effectively ensures related work finished correctly and efficiently.The system has been used and runs well.


This paper aims to investigate the efficacy of a flipped classroom that was created for twenty novice learners in an intensive summer Chinese language program. The flipped classroom featured fourstage learning: watching videos, taking notes online while watching videos, responding to preview questions, and receiving instant feedback. Threefactor ANOVA, one-way ANOVA, and regression analyses were used to investigate how gender, level of Chinese, instructional topic, and notetaking affected students' learning. Learners also completed a questionnaire to elicit their reactions to the flipped classroom and feedback on the effect it had on their learning. Statistical analysis indicated that the scores differed significantly in instructional topics and that the number of notes taken significantly decreased from the beginning toward the end of the program. Additionally, a significant positive relationship was found between the number of notes taken and test scores. The results of the questionnaire at a 5-point Likert Scale showed that learners strongly recommended the four stages of flipped design despite a slight decrease in the second stage of learning through note-taking while watching videos. Limitations of the study and directions for future research are discussed at the end of the paper. 摘要:本研究旨在探讨暑期初级中文密集项目中翻转教室之有效性 以及其对学习之影响。本实验设计之翻转教室分为四个学习阶段,依 序为学生看教学视频,进而一边看教学视频一边在网上做笔记,再则 回答理解问题,最后收到立即性反馈。本研究采用三因子变异数分析、 单因子变异数分析、以及回归分析,以期探索性别,语言水平, 教 学主题,网上笔记四个因素对学生学习的影响。除此之外,本研究亦 针对翻转教室设计了一个问卷,以期了解学习者对翻转教室的反馈以 及其对参与者学习的影响。统计分析显示,学生的学习分数在不同教 学主题间有显著的差异,学生笔记次数的多寡自项目开始至终也明显 递减。同时也发现,笔记次数多寡与学习分数成正相关。李克量表问 卷结果显示,尽管翻转教室在第二个阶段一边看教学视频一边在网上 做笔记的数值不如其它三个阶段高,大多数学习者仍然普遍支持并推 Tseng, Mann, Chen An Investigation of the Design of a Four-stage Flipped Classroom © 2016 The Authors. Compilation © 2016 Journal of Technology and Chinese Language Teaching 16 荐此翻转教室四阶段的设计以及其未来在中文教学上的应用。本文最 后也提出此研究的限制与未来研究方向。


The purpose of this study is to show the effects of naltrexone in combination with psychotherapy in the treatment of borderline and complex posttraumatic stress disorders. In an open trial 3 out of 5 long term patients benefit from the combined treatment. Success depends extremely on stable psychosocial environment and a mild therapeutic idealization. Some criteria are discussed how to combine successfully various psychotherapeutic approaches with naltrexone treatment.


Steel slag generated from the steel making process contains many divalent cations, such as calcium ions, which adsorb phosphorus. Phosphorus causes eutrophication in rivers and lakes; therefore, the removal of phosphorus has become a major issue. In this study, a reactive steel slag filter was developed from steel slag and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Steel slag was coated with CNT using ultrasonication, dipping, and drying methods. To test phosphorus removal in the aqueous phase by the reactive slag filter, steel slag coated with acid functionalized CNT was used. The CNT-coated steel slag filter was soaked in 300 mL of a KH2PO4 solution. The CNT-coated steel slag filter was characterized by testing it in KH2PO4 solutions at various concentrations (25, 125, and 250 mg PO4-P/L) and different amounts of slag (25, 50, 100, and 150 g). The experiments were performed in batch type, at room temperature for 4 d. The CNT-coated steel slag filter has better potential in phosphorus removal. The removal rate increased with increasing amount of slag filter and decreasing initial KH2PO4 concentration. The final pH was below 9.5 indicating that the CNTcoated steel slag filter neutralized the pH. The adsorption isotherm indicated that the Freundlich model provides a better fit to the experimental data of CNT-coated steel slag filter than the Langmuir model. The K and n/1 value were 421.6 and 0.33, respectively. The results indicate that the CNT-coated steel slag filter has great adsorption efficiency and capacity. This is the first case of using CNT-coated slag for pollutant removal. Overall, the development of a CNT-coated steel slag filter is a good candidate for the treatment of wastewater systems and reducing non-point


This article aims to initiate the integration of sincere concepts and exchange behaviorism as a medium to construct one's mentality. Both concepts are useful in balancing material and spiritual aspects in a person. This study uses a qualitative approach with descriptive analytical methods. The results of this study as well as an auto-critique of Homans theory because the basic George Caspar Homans theory of exchange theory who came from exchange behaviorism was too oriented to the material aspect as a social driver. The results show that the concepts of sincerity and exchange behaviorism cannot be separated because they will have an impact on the partiality of life. Therefore, a necessity in growing the balance of life must pay attention to the material aspects and spiritual aspects.


E Pitini, C Marzuillo, E D'Andrea, B Unim, A Rosso, C De Vito, P Villari Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy Contact: email@example.com Background Given the increasingly rapid development of genetic tests, the assessment of their actual benefits is crucial for clinical and public health practice. For this purpose, different evaluation models have been developed. Our aim was to identify and compare in a systematic manner the existing evaluation models for genetic tests, considering their methodology and evaluation criteria. Methods We performed a systematic review of the literature through PUBMED, SCOPUS, ISI Web of Knowledge, Google Scholar, Google and grey literature sources including any document describing models for evaluating genetic tests such as research articles, congress abstract, documents of government agencies and research organizations. A Delphi survey involving Italian experts in Public Health Genomics has been performed to reach consensus on data extraction. Results We identified 26 models dated between 2000 and 2015 (USA n.10, Canada n.4, Europe n.9, Australia n.1, International n.2), mostly based on the ACCE model (n.12 models), on the HTA model (n.6) or both (n.2). The other ones refer to Wilson and Junger screening criteria (n.2) or to a mix of different criteria (n.4). While 14 tools address all types of genetic test, the other 12 address a specific type of genetic test (i.e. screening, presymptomatic, susceptibility, pharmacogenetic). Most used evaluation criteria are analytic and clinical validity, clinical utility and ethical, legal and social implications. The economic dimension is always considered even if in little detail. Attention for delivery models, organizational aspects, consumer's point of view is often lacking and only few models highlight research priorities or criteria to recommend the use of the test. Conclusions These results unearth the lack of a standardized, shared and complete process for the evaluation of genetic tests and the need to develop an unifying proposal, based on the strengths and weaknesses of the retrieved models.


The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is making a significant contribution to improving maternal and child health in low-income countries.

So we were surprised that the research they funded about postpartum contraception in Uttar Pradesh, India1 did not mention the lactational amenorrhoea method of contraception (LAM), despite its obvious benefits for infant nutrition.

We appreciate that LAM is not understood or communicated as well as it could be, despite work to simplify the criteria.2 A study of data from 45 countries3 found that only 26% of self-reported LAM users met all three criteria.

Yet the study authors do not dismiss LAM, instead they …


We propose an integrated wavelet-based framework of the active contour model (snake) for segmentation and motion tracking of deformable objects in video sequences. The input image frame is represented by means of wavelet transform. First, the moduli of wavelet transform coefficients are used in a multi-resolution motion estimation process to find the initial snake contour in the current frame. The presented multi-resolution motion estimation methods allow a larger movement of the tracked object than does traditional image-based motion estimation. Secondly, the wavelet transform modulus at each scale is considered in the energy function of the snake model. The snake computation is based on a coarse-to-fine scale continuation method. Application of the proposed methods to biological cell tracking is demonstrated in experiments.


Results of a before-and-after study for the Silver Spring station of the Washington, D.C., Metro rail rapid transit system are presented. The study focused on the short-term impacts on the Silver Spring business district of the initiation of rail service and coordinated changes in collector and community transit services. Findings are reported for several impact categories, including transit use, changes in travel habits, traffic and parking impacts, and the community's perceptions of Metro. There were significant initial increases in transit use in the station service area: about 100 percent for regional service and about 200 percent for local services. The percentage of transit work trips to Silver Spring increased from 10 to 13 percent. Approximately 40 percent of midday nonwork trips made by Silver Spring employees into the District of Columbia were made by Metro. Surveys at the station show that a significant proportion--approximately 60 percent--of Metro riders in the morning peak period get to the station by bus and another 16 percent walk. Parking became the most serious negative impact of the station; 1500 daily parkers were added to the parking supply in Silver Spring, which increased the peak-hour occupancy for long-term spaces from 80 to 92 percent. However, this was partly offset by increased use of transit to Silver Spring. Special attitudinal surveys of Silver Spring businesses and residents indicated that, in spite of short-term problems, the overall impact of the station was positive. (Authors)


The author notes ways to be more consistent and practical when designing an interface.He also provides a concrete example of a less-than-perfect user interface on a phone/fax/answering machine.


COPYRIGHT © 2023 Jaureguizar, Redondo, Machimbarrena and Wachs. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. Editorial: Risks of "cyber-relationships" in adolescents and young people


At CRYPTO'19, Gohr built a bridge between deep learning and cryptanalysis. Based on deep neural networks, he trained neural distinguishers of SPECK32/64. Besides, with the help of neural distinguishers, he attacked 11-round SPECK32/64 using Bayesian optimization. Compared with the traditional attack, its complexity was reduced. Although his work opened a new direction of machine learning aided cryptanalysis, there are still two research gaps that researchers are eager to fill in. (i) Can the attack using neural distinguishers be used to other block ciphers? (ii) Are there effective key recovery attacks on large-size block ciphers adopting neural distinguishers? In this paper, our core target is to propose an effective neural-aided key recovery policy to attack large-size block ciphers. For large-size block ciphers, it costs too much time in pre-computation, especially in wrong key response profile, which is the main reason why there are almost no neural aided attacks on large-size block ciphers. Fortunately, we find that there is a fatal flaw in the wrong key profile. In the some experiments of SIMON32/64 and SIMON48/96, there is a regular of change in response profiles, which implies that we can use partial response instead of the complete response. Based on this, we propose a generic key recovery attack scheme which can attack large-size block ciphers. As an application, we perform a key recovery attack on 13-round SIMON64/128, which is the first practical attack using neural distinguishers to large-size ciphers. In addition, we also attack 13-round SIMON32/64 and SIMON48/96, which also shows that the neural distinguishers can be used to other block ciphers.


Moving target localization is a vital research subject of signal processing for the multistatic system. Previous closed-form solutions usually introduce redundant parameters to pseudo-linearize the measurement equations. This type of operation brings in extra estimation error, albeit it is partially corrected with an additional stage, which results in diverging the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) if the noise is large. We formulate a projection matrix to eliminate the nuisances and obtain the initial solution in terms of the least squares (LS) criterion. Then, the initial solution is modified in another stage according to the weighted least square (WLS) technique. The proposed estimator is asymptotically unbiased and can achieve the CRLB in both theory and simulations under mild noise levels, and it is superior to the other algebraic solutions when the noise is large.


Buy Stamps for U. S. Cause We, who are sheltered under the Stars and Stripes regardless of race, have the responsibility to protect the country to the last and the best possible method o f clear ly expressing our endless faith in America is to purchase United States defense savings stamps, which are now being so widely cir culated and publicized. I t is really very simple to say only what we can do in order to serve the country. To say is easier than to do. Millions have resolved to do this and to do that but those that have carried out their plans can be coxinted.


A careful review of the literature on tubercle bacillemia has failed to show a single instance in which the tubercle bacillus has been grown from human blood. A few unsuccessful attempts to obtain such cultures are cited by Bergeron 1 in his review, which is dated 1904. Anderson 2 in 1909 made blood cultures from forty-eight cases of tuberculosis, all of which were negative. He was successful in obtaining three positive blood cultures from eight artificially infected rabbits, and this is the only recorded instance in which the tubercle bacillus has been cultivated from the blood of tuberculous subjects. The reasons for such uniformly negative results are easily seen. Any one who has attempted to grow tubercle bacilli, even from material rich in organisms and uncontaminated, is familiar with the difficulty of getting the growth started. Complete aerobiosis, a carefully regulated temperature, carefully titrated mediums, and proper moisture are all


The selection of an interesting blog is becoming ever increasingly tough work for most users as the number of blogs is exponentially increasing every day. A Recommender System (RS) can help the user to find out the blog of his choice or based on parameters specified by him. The accuracy of RS to find out the right blogs for a particular user gets enhanced, if the text of blog is analyzed using semantic analysis. The RS uses the classification of blogs to find out the right blogs for a user. The information with respect to blogs like blog's title, tags given by blogger, blog image etc., provides good information to classify the blogs. A classification of text can be done using Part of Speech (POS) text analyzer. POS tagger of text provides information about the blogs that can be used to find the similarity between two blogs. The similar types of blogs can be kept together to provide better indexing in the set of large blogs. The paper finds the better accuracy of Collaborative Filtering Recommender System (CF RS) for bloggers when the blogs are processed with different text analysis using semantic information of blogs. The observation is addressed by computing various measures like Precision, Recall and F1.


Background: Exercise and other rehabilitation strategies are not frequently prescribed, although they are recommended by all published guidelines.1 There is limited access and affordability to multiple pharmacological and surgical interventions for relief, which everybody can not manage. Objectives: Establishing physiotherapy intervention, a preferable treatment. Methodology: Reviewing 11 articles meeting inclusion criteria and aggregating their results. Results: While studying comparison of preferred treatments among pharmacological and non pharmacological for pain of knee osteoarthritis, the results show 70% confidence level for later resulted that evidence based care for adults with knee pain, delivered by primary care physiotherapists and pharmacists, resulted in short term improvements in health outcomes, reduced use of ANSAID and high patient satisfaction,2 than with pharmacists and orthopedic surgeons alone. Regarding physiotherapy techniques exercise regimen and postural guidance seem to give 80 – 90% batter results than modalities. Conclusions: Ways to promote high quality evidence that physiotherapy practice should be identified and evaluated, also therapeutic exercises show better results than modalities managing O.A knee. Keywords: Disability osteoarthritis (O.A), Physiotherapy management O.A, Pain management knee O.A, O.A older people.


Weather and climatic conditions of the Republic of Karakalpakstan are distinguished by unfavorable conditions in winter-spring period, soil salinity within the area, leading to reduction of wheat yield. The aim of the research was to develop and implement agro-technical activities to overcome the impact of unfavorable factors during winter wheat cultivation. There is evidence in the literature that diverse winter wheat cultivars have different resistance to stressful conditions and are able to tolerate drought and soil salinity. Various winter wheat cultivars with high productivity, good grain quality and ability to withstand adverse growing conditions were investigated. Field experiments were conducted in "Seyit" dehkanfarm" in Nukus district on the area of 3.5 ha, where leguminous crops were planted at 0.5 ha, and winter wheat was placed at the area of 2.0 ha. Soil type is meadow alluvial, medium-loamy in mechanical composition; humus content in soils varies from 0.7 to 0.9 mg/100 g. Generally accepted field and laboratory investigation techniques were used in the experiments. It was observed high correlation between the leaves area and crop yield r = 0.88, and within the supply of solid and crop yield it formed r = 0.96. The highest productiveness formed the cultivar Krasnodarskaya 99 38.6 c/ha, which is above the standard rate for 6.7 c/ha. It represents the conformation to the high temperature, aridness and soil conditions of the region.


In the spring of 2009,three new pairs of silkworm varieties were identified in laboratory.Their properties of rearing,results of cocoon and silk quality were investigated.Their characteristics of breeding were investigated.The probabilities of popularization in large area were analyzed.


Low temperature water-free keep live transport is a new method for transportation of aquatic products. The fish or other aquatic products will be suspended animation of the dormant state, by the appropriate gradient cooling of in their corresponding ecological ice temperature zone, to reduce respiration and metabolism to improve the survival rates. The article developed a mobile wireless monitoring and traceability management system to acquire micro-ambient gas, humidity, and temperature intelligently in logistics and control them automatically to release transport stress, guarantee the keep alive rates and meat quality of aquatic products. Finally, through test of live Chinese sturgeon water-free keep live transport under the management of MW-MTM system, the survival rate was increased by 5% to reach 99.5% after using this system, reduced the labor force 10% and visualized the traceability of transportation based on Baidu map system.

Practical applications
Aquatic products water-free live transport in ecological ice temperature zone by the appropriate gradient cooling, to make aquatic products in suspended animation in the dormant state, reduce respiration, and metabolism to improve the survival rate. Through the implementation of the monitoring online metabolic gas and controlling of temperature, humidity of cold chain so as to control and trace the quality of the live transport. Those applications of live fish transport provided the theoretical basis for the tracing and optimization of cold chain logistics for live aquatic products.


It has been estimated that there are seven million terrestrial arthropod species on Earth consisting of 6.1 million species of insects, 1.5 million of which are beetles. Tropical forests hold a majority of these species, yet few such places have been adequately sampled for alpha diversity, and there remains even more uncertainty about beta diversity. From an ecological point of view, it is the functional role of organisms within ecosystems that is the particular focus. It has been customary to classify invertebrates within ecosystems in terms of their trophic roles, but it is also useful to consider their roles in networks. In broad terms, we can classify these networks on the grounds of their basal resources. Those based directly on the photosynthetic products of plants are so‐called "green" food webs, and those based on dead and dying plant material are "brown" food webs. Here, we principally discuss the diversity and functional roles of the invertebrates in tropical terrestrial ecosystems. New sampling and analytical techniques, an expanded set of focal taxa, and an enhanced concern with interactions and processes hold the promise of a productive future for invertebrate studies in the tropics. These will not only add to general understanding of the dynamics of tropical ecosystems but will also provide powerful tools for monitoring and responding to environmental change.


A perturbation series is given which expresses the pressure and distribution functions of a fluid in terms of those of another (' unperturbed ') fluid having a slightly different two-body interaction potential, but the same temperature and fugacity. The advantage of this method over the usual constant-density method is that the general term of each series can be given ; it is the integral of a product involving Ursell functions of the unperturbed fluid and the Mayer f-functions of the perturbing potential, and can be conveniently characterized using graphs.


For the full realization of the practical potential of III-V multi-junction devices that incorporate a dilute nitride 1-1.25 eV sub-cell (<40% 1 sun, and <50% at 500X and above), our group, over the past years, have focused on dilute nitride-based devices where the degraded minority carrier diffusion length has a minimal impact on the device performance. We have shown that the incorporation of resonantly coupled GaAsN/GaAs multi-uantum wells in the intrinsic region of p-i-n GaAs cells allows both a significant sub-GaAs-bandgap photon harvesting while maintaining a high open circuit voltage with Woc. Here, in order to gain a better understanding of photo-generated carrier escape and recombination mechanisms in these devices and further optimize the performance, we examine the optical and electrical properties of such devices including with periodic MQWs using various characterization techniques such as: photoluminescence (PL), modulated photo-reflectance (PR), photo-current (PC) as well as current-voltage (IV) measurements under dark or illuminated conditions. The temperature dependent PL analysis enables us to modulate and freezes the carrier thermalization phenomena having extracted activation energies reveal interesting details about carrier escape, intra-cells coupling, and recombination sequences. Extracted electronic temperature of the carriers (about 900K at 300K lattice temperature) from PL measurement reveal more interesting phenomenon on carrier escape and recombination mechanism in both periodic and RTT MQWs solar cell.


Word Count: 70 Main Text Word Count: 1369 Figure Count: 1 Table Count: 1 . CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license peer-reviewed) is the author/funder. It is made available under a The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not . http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/146514 doi: bioRxiv preprint first posted online Jun. 6, 2017;


In conventional dictionary learning, the class label of the atoms is not retained. As a result of that, the location of non-zeros elements in the sparse vector (s-vector) does not infer about the true class of the test vector unlike the sparse representation classification (SRC) over the exemplar dictionary. Thus, in our earlier works employing the learned dictionary for language recognition (LR), the s-vectors are required to be processed for classification. In this work, we explore SRC over discriminative learned dictionary for LR. For this purpose, the language-specific training i-vectors are used to create the language-specific learned dictionary. These language-specific dictionaries are then concatenated to form a composite discriminative dictionary. For sparse coding, the orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and elastic net (ENet) algorithms are explored. The regularized multiclass logistic regression is employed for score calibration. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is validated on NIST 2009 language recognition evaluation data set in closed set condition on 30 seconds duration segments.


There are neither standards nor experience related to subsea tunnel construction in China.Systematical study has been made on Jiaozhou Bay subsea tunnel in Qingdao in terms of project feasibility study,theoretical calculation analysis,indoor testing,field testing and engineering practice,and comparative analysis has been made on different sea-crossing solutions.Conclusions drawn are as follows: 1) Advantages of subsea tunnels have been summarized.2) Key design parameters of subsea tunnels,such as 25 m minimum rock overburden thickness for of 3-lane subsea tunnels,1 time tunnel diameter for clearance between twin tubes and 4% for maximum(longitudinal gradient,are obtained.3) Complex lining,multi-center oval-shaped tunnel cross-section and support parameters are obtained.4) The structural safety and minimum water discharge have been guaranteed by adopting the principle of "stopping the leaking water,with limited water discharging",and the limited water discharging criteria is 0.4 m3/(d·m).5) Technologies,such as controlled blasting,multiple anticorrosion rock bolt,C35 wet sprayed high performance concrete,and C50 durable concrete,are used in the durability design.The predicted service life of the tunnel is over 120 years.6) The geological conditions and ground water conditions are predicted by means of advance water detection technology combined with geological sketching and geophysical prospecting.7) The construction safety has been guaranteed by adopting rapid and safe tunnel construction technologies,such as full-face excavation method or bench cut method,and collapse and water inflow prevention technologies.


The article deals with the variability of indicators of water snake pholidosis in populations of Volga Akhtubinsk and Don flood-plains. The article shows that the number of plates on snake's body is quite steady. The limits of variability of these features in the studied populations are slightly wider, than the species limits mentioned in literature. The author makes distinctions in the nature of variability of bilateral structures. The number of the first row temporal plates is stable, while the combination of the supralabial, postorbital and preorbital is more varied. The combination of the second row temporal and lower-labial plates is mostly varied; they are characterized by the highest level of polymerization. The indicators of pholidosis are distinguished by variability degree: the lowerand supralabial plates variability is minimal (to 10 %), the preorbital and 2nd row temporal plates variability is maximal (from 24 to 36 %). The different elements of pholidosis reveal varying degrees of fluctuating asymmetry: high rates of asymmetry are specific for the second row temporal plates, minimal rates are specific for the supralabial ones. The article reveals the interpopulation distinctions in pholidosis features. In the population of the Don flood-plain the range of bilateral structures variability is wider; in the population of the Volga and Akhtubinsk flood-plains the coefficient of asymmetry is higher. It testifies to the bigger destabilization of the process of water snake ontogenesis in the Volga Akhtubinsk flood-plains.


We introduce the concept of a deterministically driven random walk in a random environment on a state space S', focusing on the case where S is countable. Since our construction has a purely deterministic representation we refer to it as a deterministic walk in a deterministic environment (DWDE). For the deterministic walk in a fixed environment we establish properties analogous to those found in Markov chain theory, but for processes that do not in general have the Markov property. In the finite state space setting, we establish hypotheses for the recurrence or transience of a deterministic walk, and the existence of asymptotic occupation times. In the case of a DWDE on Z, we establish hypotheses that ensure that it is either recurrent or transient. An immediate consequence of this result is that a symmetric DWDE on Z is recurrent. Moreover, in the transient case, we show that the probability that the DWDE diverges to +00 is either 0 or 1. In certain cases we compute the direction of divergence in the transient case.


A road pavement is a structure composed of structural elements, whose function is to protect the natural subgrade and to carry the traffic safely and economically. When the roads are open to traffic, the pavements deteriorate with time due to the combined influence of the traffic, construction material and the environment. Due to the great complexity of the road deterioration process, performance models are the best approximate predictors of expected conditions. Hence, the aim of this research work is to develop a predictive model for the rate of potholes deterioration for a section of the Ijokodo –Apete road in Ido Local Government Area of Ibadan. In actualizing the above aim, a reconnaissance survey and inventory were conducted on the selected road section and potholes were discovered as the predominant pavement distresses, chainages were established for easy identification of the potholes positions, some selected potholes were measured and their volume change was monitored. The pavement structural evaluation and traffic volume data were collected. Regression models were developed for the potholes deterioration rate using SPSS (Statistical package for social sciences) package. Conclusively, the model with the highest coefficient of determinant (R2 ) and least standard error was selected as the reliable model and was used to determine the deterioration rate of the independent variables(traffic volume and structural number) selected at random.


In view of the current status of the treatment of chronic hepatitis B(CHB),the author summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of the treatment of CHB with integrated traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and western medicine,and discusses where to start to manage CHB and the problems to be solved,so as to provide suggestions for the treatment of CHB with integrated TCM and western medicine in clinical practice.


The Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications version 2 (MERRA-2) Aerosol Optical Thickness (AOT) dataset is a consistent and comprehensive dataset combining observations from various satellite instruments and other sources with a numerical model, supporting climate studies, atmospheric modeling, air quality monitoring, and environmental research. Due to the uneven and sparse distribution of the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) in China, the validation for the MERRA-2 AOT dataset over China is inadequate. The construction of the National Civil Space Infrastructure Satellite Aerosol Product Validation Network (SIAVNET) is helpful to compensate for MERRA-2 AOT dataset validation over China. The validation results show that the accuracy of the MERRA-2 AOT goes down along with the aerosol loading in the atmosphere increase. In general, when the AOT is less than 1.0, the slope can reach 0.712 with R2 = 0.584. The percentage of data pairs that fall within the GCOS minimum requirement is less than 60%. Research also shows that MERRA-2 has a lower simulation quality of AOT at high altitudes than at low altitudes in China. Additionally, MERRA-2's AOT simulation quality varies by season. Simulated quality is worst in spring, improving in subsequent seasons. During the winter season, simulations are of the highest quality.


The present study aims to analyze football players' percentages of shot on target and level of self-confidence in different leagues. The sample of the study consisted of 70 football players who regularly play in Tier 1, Tier 2 and Regional Amateur League in Yozgat province of Turkey. Football players' demographic data were obtained using a "personal information form". Participants' shooting abilities were measured using shooting ability test, which is one of the sub-parameters of Mor-Christian football ability test. Participants' levels of self-confidence, on the other hand, were measured using a self-confidence scale developed by Akın (2007). The obtained data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 18 package program. Normality test, frequency analysis, percentage analysis, arithmetic means, t test, ANOVA analyses and post-hoc tests were used for data analysis. The present study found statistically significant differences among football players' total shot on target scores in terms of league level, monthly income, individual shooting training and individual fitness training (p < 0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed among football players' total shots on target and self-confidence scale scores in terms of age, duration as a registered football player, being a registered athlete in another sports branch, playing position, preferred foot, history of serious injury and preferred football coach type (p > 0.05).


In the paper are reported few notes on four Lepidoptera Tortricidae, Phtheochroa apenninana, Epinotia cinereana and Cydia indivisa not yet listed in the Italian fauna, and Cnephasia kenneli new also to Europe. P. apenninana was collected on Gran Sasso, Abruzzo; E. cinereana and C. indivisa were collected in South Tyrol; C. kenneli was found along the Adriatic coast of central Italy. This last species was previously cited for Jordan, Asia Minor, Syria?, Kuldscha?, and Iran. Key Words: Lepidoptera Tortricidae, new records, Italian and European fauna


In a continuing investigation of the effect of interaction of amino groups with adjacently oriented groups on pharmacodynamic properties, a series of aminovinyl ketones has been prepared. The preparation of these compounds was greatly facilitated by the finding that esters of hydroxyvinyl ketones with various acids react as vinyl- ogous acid anhydrides on aminolysis.


Nowadays, study on fractional derivative and integral operators is one of the hot topics of mathematics and lots of investigations and studies make their attentions in this field. Most of these concerns raised from the vast application of these operators in study of phenomena's models. These operators interpreted by Newtonian calculus, however different types of calculi are existed and we introduce the fractional derivative operators focused on Bi-geometric calculus and also their fractional differential equations are studied.


In the process of urban and regional public transport integration in the urbanized areas, the tariff and ticket integration is of fundamental importance, despite the fact that the price is not perceived as the basic transport postulate deciding on the choice of the way of moving. Public authorities of cities located in the metropolis Gdańsk-Gdynia-Sopot and the Pomeranian voivodeship have been undertaking attempts to integrate this transport for almost 30 years, so far without the desired results. This article presents general assumptions of tariff and ticket integration of urban and regional public transport, previous processes of integration of this transport in the Tri-City metropolis and the Pomeranian voivodship, as well as necessary directions of its tariff and ticket integration in this area in order to provide attractive transport offer.


The stretched spiral vortex [T. S. Lundgren, "Strained spiral vortex model for turbulent structures," Phys. Fluids 25, 2193 (1982)] is identified in turbulence in homogeneous shear flow and the spectral properties of this flow are studied using direct-numerical simulation data. The effects of mean shear on the genesis, growth, and annihilation processes of the spiral vortex are elucidated, and the role of the spiral vortex in the generation of turbulence is shown. As in homogeneous isotropic turbulence [K. Horiuti and T. Fujisawa, "The multi mode stretched spiral vortex in homogeneous isotropic turbulence," J. Fluid Mech. 595, 341 (2008)], multimodes of the spiral vortex are extracted. Two symmetric modes of configurations with regard to the vorticity alignment along the vortex tube in the core region and dual vortex sheets spiraling around the tube are often educed. One of the two symmetric modes is created by a conventional rolling-up of a single spanwise shear layer. Another one is created by the conve...


Abstract Context. Some prey species can shift their daily activity patterns to reduce the risk of encountering predators, and, in turn, predators develop strategies to increase their chances of meeting prey. European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a key species in Iberian Mediterranean ecosystems. It is the main prey for many vertebrate predators. It is also a game species and is often the target of management measures such as translocations. Aims. To test whether rabbits adjust their activity patterns in response to differing predation regimes in a management context. Methods. Rabbits were translocated from a donor area, with a high rabbit density, to a release area in central Spain, with a semi-permeable fenced plot and an unfenced plot, which had no rabbits before the translocation. We estimated daily activity patterns and relative abundance index (RAI) for mesocarnivores and rabbits by using camera-traps, and calculated Jacobs selection index (JSI) to classify each species in a diel period. Additionally, we calculated the activity overlap between prey and mesocarnivores in the different areas. Key results. Rabbits were nocturnal in the donor area, where only two mesocarnivore species were detected, red fox (Vulpes vulpes, with a high RAI) and Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon, with a low RAI). However, in the unfenced area, where five mesocarnivore species were present, rabbits showed a crepuscular trend with two activity peaks, around sunrise and around sunset. In contrast, rabbits showed a nocturnal activity in the fenced plot, where four mesocarnivore species were detected but where only the Egyptian mongoose (strictly diurnal) had a high RAI value. Conclusions and implications. The results suggest that rabbits in the fenced plot adapted their activity to avoid the diurnal mongooses. Conversely, rabbits in unfenced areas showed a trend towards day/twilight activity patterns as an adaptation to a diverse community of mesocarnivores. Rabbits can adapt their daily activity patterns to reduce predation risk depending on the pressure exerted by different predator species, with conservation and management implications. These adaptations would allow higher success of rabbit translocations despite the risk of predation by carnivores and could help in the management design of future translocations of this key species.


This paper dealt with the antimicrobial effect of chitoolidosaccharides with different molecular weights in brewing soy sauce through measuring the microbial changes with turbidimetry methods and plate colony-counting. The result showed that different chitoolidosaccharides could effectively restrain spoilage bacteria in brewing soy sauce. CLP-2 had the highest antibacterial effect, which reached to over 90% during 36 h, while CLP-4 had the lowest antibacterial effect. However, the anti-microbial effect of the lowest dosage CLP-4 was better than potassium. Chitoolidosaccharides could reduce the total bacteria count of soy sauce in a short time, and the dosage of CLP-2 was 0.1% in the application.


This work was carried out to improve the quality and yield of Onion Giza 6cv. that grown by sets . Sets were grown on September 12 and 16 in 2006/ 2007 and 2007/ 2008 seasons ,respectively .Plants were subjected to irrigation treatment intervals. Results showed that , increasing the period between irrigations led to a significant reduction in percentage of double bulbs. Application of irrigation later in the growing seasons gave a simultaneous increase in total yield. Plots that received 4 irrigations , gave the lowest weight loss .


Many libraries are still conducting, or are contemplating, retrospective conversion (recon) projects in order to automate their catalogues. Unfortunately, many of the records retrieved from bibliographic utilities require some degree of editing in order that they (a) correctly represent items in the local catalogue and (b) conform to local cataloguing standards. There is little disagreement with this argument. But, the extent of editing necessary is highly debatable. The recon literature is reviewed on the issues of quality control, special material formats and collections, and costs.


According to typical embodiments, only when the rotary electric machine (10) becomes a high rotational speed, a first stator winding having a lower rated voltage (14) will be connected to the second direct voltage source (22). Accordingly, the output can be secured in a higher range of rotation, while preventing the second stator winding (16) reaches the limit of heating. Further, the first switch (30) and the second switch (32), such switching operation can be implemented. Thus, the control device may be realized by a rotary electric machine a relatively simple structure.


Abstract : The calculation of a certain definite integral occurring in the analysis of ring airfoils of elliptic cross section is considered. Although a representation of this integral in closed form by means of elliptic integral is possible, a solution in the form of a recurrence formula for the purpose of numerical calculation is predicted. (Author)


The electric power industry is reviewed briefly, the research that has been done and is being done, as well as areas of research which should be pursued more aggressively. The industry must provide highest service reliability at the lowest cost consistent with sound practice. Any research holding promise of fostering this objective should be considered carefully and encouraged either directly or indirectly.


The subnanosecond relaxation dynamics of two dithiacarbocyanine dyes, 3,3'-didodecyldithia-2,2'-carbocyanine bromide (dye I) and 9-methyl-3,3'-dihexadecyldithia-2,2'-carbocyanine perchlorate (dye II), were examined in dichloromethane solutions by picosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. Contrary to earlier reports, intersystem crossing to an isomerized excited state, together with internal conversion, plays a major role in the radiationless deactivation of excited dyes. Torsional motion of the polymethine chain is prerequisite to both processes


We present an idea for personalized document summarization based on eye movement analysis. Therefore, we describe a reading and skimming detection method and examine several gaze-based measures for determining relevant passages while reading documents. Furthermore, we report the results of an eye tracking user study to examine the performance of the gaze-based measures in identifying relevant read document passages.


ABSTRACT The challenge of governing metropolitan regions calls urban-rural relationships into question. Rural actors' silence within it and the blurring of boundaries between urban and rural are still much debated issues. This paper explores the rural perspective on metropolisation processes, considering local actors' perceptions towards incorporation into a larger urban entity, urban-rural cooperation and the barriers hindering it. Our case investigates a peripheral area within the Italian "National Strategy for Inner Areas" that simultaneously falls into a metropolitan region (Genoa). Adopting a mixed-methods approach, and a rural perspective, we scrutinize i) the material and imagined coherence of the strategic planning (inner) area, and ii) their role in the metropolitan locality-making. Despite a presumed collapse of the urban-rural dichotomy or the two categories, yet the rural exhibits a distinctive identity. However, its agency, even when it is given more voice within metropolitan governance, might be disempowered by colliding policies and internal fragmentations.


Phased array radar systems, which emerged over 55 years ago, have continually evolved from the early 60s to present day. Over 55 years ago, U.S. phased array radar systems brought a new dimension or capability that is fully realized in today's all-solid-state arrays, such as those on the F-22 and F-35 military aircraft. This process of expanding phased array capability involved an evolutionary series of steps each decade. This paper cites the most prominent U.S.-deployed phased array radars as viewed by one phased-array radar advocate.


An instrument employing the principle of flame emission spectrophotometry has been constructed to selectively monitor the mass concentration of Fe2O3 aerosol in animal exposure chambers. The instrument was calibrated over the range from 0.3 to 1.6 mg/m3, and the maximum sensitivity was found to be about 0.3 μg of Fe2O3 aerosol per cubic meter of air.


Nowadays the knowledge-based society and economy as well as the growing demands for highly skilled and educated people are elements that claim for the change of traditional teaching and learning processes in higher education. Therefore, this study explores how students' skills for the knowledge-based economy can practically be developed. The study disclosed a possible teaching and learning model based on multi-session approach that we have built and applied in order to develop students' creative and critical thinking skills. The model target group consisted in third year students, distance learning, Faculty of Management, Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, based in Bucharest and Piatra Neamt territorial centres. The professor chose as subject the analysis of the statement "Renewable energy may help the development of the region you live in" in order to improve students' creative and critical thinking skills by identifying the logic connections between renewable energy and regional development. The teaching and learning activities have been divided into three sessions, in the end of the third session a questionnaire was used in order to reveal students' opinions regarding the usefulness of this original method of teaching and learning. Thus, this study also disclosed the results of using the model from students' point of view, derived from the analysis of empirical data collected during the class through personal observation and questionnaire. The findings of the study revealed that the model for developing students' skills we have proposed may be successfully applied, due to its strong emphasis on creativity and thinking, responding to students' needs within the knowledge-based economy and society.


A persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is the most common congenital variation of the thoracic venous system, affecting around 0.5% in the general population and around 3.0% in patients with congenital heart disease. The most common associated cardiac anomalies are atrioventricular septal defects, conotruncal malformation, bicuspid aortic valve and cor triatriatum. In the majority of cases, a PLSVC does not cause any hemodynamic disturbances or complaints and is an unexpected finding during pacemaker implantation, introducing central venous catheters or cardiovascular imaging for other reasons. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


Figure 1. (A) Cox regression analysis of TLL1 rs17047200 variant and fibrosis progression. Cox regression analysis of TLL1 rs17047200 on the cumulative hazards of progression to advanced fibrosis ( F3) in 886 patients with a known duration of hepatitis C virus infection. Data are shown for a dominant model, due to only a few homozygotes for the TT minor allele and according to Matsuura et al. 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 Dear Sir: We read with interest the Matsuura et al genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 456 Japanese patients identifying tolloid like 1 (TLL1) as a novel susceptibility locus for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) with interferon-based treatment. Although detailed functional mechanisms were not defined, the authors suggested that the TLL1 rs17047200 single nucleotide polymorphism or other intronic variants in strong LD may influence splicing, resulting in production of a catalytically more active short isoform (TLL1 isoform 2). The paper went on to suggest that the effect of the single nucleotide polymorphism was likely indirect, mediated via an impact on liver fibrosis. As evidence, there was a strong association between hepatic TLL1 messenger RNA expression and fibrosis in human and murine models. However, rs17047200 genotype distribution did not differ according to fibrosis stage. This GWAS and the replication study were conducted in Japanese patients; however, polymorphisms, genotype allele frequencies, and effect size are known to vary between populations. Furthermore, HCV treatment itself impacts fibrosis progression and thus questions remain on whether the variant impacts fibrosis in the absence of treatment. Our consortium has access to a large cohort of patients with untreated HCV, including those with a known duration of infection, allowing us to test whether TLL1 rs17047200 is a risk variant for fibrosis progression in Caucasians. The details of the cohort have been described previously. In the cohort of 1546 patients, 23% had fibrosis of F3, the median age was 45 years (range, 38-52), genotypes were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and minor allele frequency was 0.13. In cross-sectional analysis, the distribution of rs17047200 was not significantly different according to fibrosis stage, both in unadjusted analysis (odds ratio [OR] for advanced fibrosis [ F3], 1.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.9-1.62; P 1⁄4 .2) and after adjustment for age, gender, body mass index, HCV-RNA, HCV genotype, and alcohol intake (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 0.9-2.09; P 1⁄4 .1). This result replicates those of Matsuura et al. Next, we determined whether TLL1 rs17047200 is associated with fibrosis progression in the subcohort of 886 patients with a known duration of infection. Interestingly, the proportion of patients with a rapid fibrosis progression rate (ie, higher than the median) was higher for rs17047200 AA than AT/TT (50% vs 40%; P 1⁄4 .01). The association remained independently significant on multiple logistic regression adjusting for the same variables (OR, 1.48; 95%


The purpose of this article is to outline the results of the study concerned with the importance of the standards on socially responsible management and the examination of their impact on the business performance as well as the sustainable development of organisations and the broader social environment in the selected population of medium and large organisations (above 50 employees) in the field of market services in the Republic of Slovenia. The results of the research have confirmed a direct link of understanding the socially responsible management standards in organisations with a larger number of employees (p = .002) and the achieved higher income from operations (p = .006). Participants in the study are most familiar with the requirements of the Quality Management System Standard ISO 9001 and the Environmental Management System Standard ISO 14001, which is particularly significant for older business executives (p = .009) with many years of work experience in the company they run (p = .002). Also, the hypothesis was confirmed that the implementation of the principles of social responsibility defined in the guidelines of ISO 26000 has a positive impact on the selected financial indicators of the organisation – higher profits, business growth, productivity and cost-effectiveness in operations.


In order to carry out ignition experiment on combustion-driven mixing gasdynamic CO2 laser based on N2O/C7H8,a liquid N2O supply system and a N2O/C7H8 mono-injector gas generator were designed.The liquid N2O supply system,ignition and combustion performances of N2O/C7H8 were studied.Experimental results indicate that N2O can be supplied in liquid state by the designed liquid N2O supply system;ignition can be realized under two operating modes(excess oxidizer coefficient is 0.3 or 0.4) in designed time sequence and the combustor pressure is smooth.In addition,with the increase of excess oxidizer coefficient,combustion efficiency improves obviously.


We report the magnetic properties of slightly electron-doped ${\text{Sm}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\text{Ca}}_{x}{\text{MnO}}_{3}$ $(0.80\ensuremath{\le}x\ensuremath{\le}0.92)$. The Griffiths phase behavior in the inverse magnetic susceptibility was observed for $x\ensuremath{\ge}0.85$. The thermomagnetic irreversibility found in all samples could be explained according to the influence of martensitic strain on the magnetization behavior under various cooling histories. In the modified phase diagram, the low-field thermomagnetic irreversibility line passes through the region of Griffiths phase, indicating that the Griffiths phase is correlated with the accommodation strain. Our result indicates that the strain field, in addition to quenched disorders, may be an alternative approach to understand the observed Griffiths phase. Besides, the Griffiths phase itself is suggested to be insufficient for the appearance of colossal magnetoresistance effect in the present system.


Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is increasingly being used in the UK as an alternative to other treatment modalities for the management of head and neck cancer. This article describes key features of the robotic system, and discusses risks of peri-operative dental complications that can arise as a result of introducing large robotic instruments into the confined space of the oral cavity. It also explores potential solutions and the role of dentists in reducing the risks of inadvertent hard and soft tissue injuries occurring during the procedure. CPD/Clinical Relevance: A basic understanding of current surgical treatment modalities and their dental implications is important for GDPs.


Abstract : This is the Final Technical Report of ONR Award Number N000140310238. During the performance period, Dr. Saintval was supported for research toward his PhD. The overall objectives of the research are in Section II, and a summary of major results is provided in Section III. Presentations are listed in Section IV, and the publication plan for results is indicated in Section V.


With the development of power electronics, three-phase voltage source inverters(VSls) are widely used in industry application. In this paper a SiC device based EV battery charger consisting of dual active bridge(DAB) and three-phase four-wire VSI is built. In order to undertake the unbalanced load, an independently controlled neutral module(ICNM) has been adopted for the VSI control to form the neutral line and provide the path for the zero-sequence current. Split DC-bus capacitors with the fourth leg are equipped to the conventional VSI. Meanwhile, the control performance is improved by paralleling virtual resistors to the load, namely, notch-filter-incorporated capacitor voltage feedback control(NF-CVFC), which not only enhances the quality of the output voltage but also ensures the system stability. Finally, a 10kW prototype is built and tested. Experimental results verified the proposed control strategy and the practical feasibility.


A seat position sensing device for use in a deployable passenger restraint system 7 for an automotive vehicle 10. A seat 1 is mounted on a pair of parallel seat tracks for adjustable movement in at least a longitudinal direction. The seat tracks each comprise a movable guide rail 31 having a plastic slide 33 attached thereto, attached in a slidable relationship with a stationary support rail 21 mounted to the vehicle floor. A Hall effect sensor 22 and a magnetic sensor target 32 are mounted facing each other in corresponding rails. The Hall effect sensor senses the presence of the magnetic sensor target and relays a signal representative of the seat position to a processor 5 for controlling deployment of the passenger restraint system.


Among the elements in our contemporary civilisation which stand out because of their novelty in comparison with past epochs one must definitely remember the vast field which goes by the name of &dquo;industrial design,&dquo; which is also connected with the field of graphics (in its various incarnations of advertising graphics, traffic signals, lettering, etc.). Actually the advent of an industrialised society such as our own has brought with it the presence of an &dquo;industrial aesthetics,&dquo; of a will and an instinctive need to &dquo;aestheticise,&dquo; to make the &dquo;natural&dquo; world


Circumstantial evidence (al-Qarinah) is a debatable issue under Islamic law. This paper reviews the debate and argues for acceptability of qarinag in hudud and qisas cases.


Dihydropyrazine (DHP), the intermediate for pyrazine, is
synthesized from ethylenediamine and propylene glycol; it is assumed that
the reaction proceeds by photooxidation of propylene glycol and cyclization
with ethylenediamine to give dihydromethylpyrazine, which by subsequent
oxidative demethylation via the corresponding acid, forms
dihydropyrazine; molecular oxygen, light and TiO2/zeolite
promote the reaction.


(57) Abstract: Lever action slam latch (10) has a slide (110, 150) housed telescopically a pair of opposed, the single-action latch is mounted on the left hand door or right hand door can. Locking mechanism that bypasses difficult key while latch is opened to allow the remains left in the rock.


Thesis (M.E.)--American University of Beirut, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2006.;"Advisor: Dr. Riad Chedid, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering--Member of Committee: Dr. Fouad Mrad, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineerin


In this paper, a novel modeling methodology for the nonlinear vibration analysis of multi-stage bladed disk systems with small blade-to-blade mistuning and a cracked blade is proposed. The modeling strategy is based on an ecient stage-wise reduced order modeling method based on cyclic-symmetry analysis and component mode synthesis. Reduced order models are constructed for individual stages and assembled by projecting the motion of the interface of the neighboring stages onto a set of harmonic shape functions. The analysis procedure allows the stages to have dierent numbers of blades and mismatched computational grids on the interfaces of the neighboring stages. Furthermore, the modeling framework is independent of the modeling method for each stage, which enables the use of various existing modeling methods of single stages. Moreover, nonlinearity can also be included in the multi-stage computations, as long as the nonlinearity can be modeled for a single stage. To demonstrate the capability of the modeling procedure, the nonlinear eect of crack opening and closing is considered, in conjunction with the eects of small mistuning. The accuracy and eciency of the proposed methods are discussed.


Until recently, there was a tendency among scholars of literature and culture to associate Marxism with narrative. Under the influence of Jean-François Lyotard's now canonical claim that postmodernity spelled the end of grand narratives,Marxism came to be seen by many as an obsolete, reductive and dangerously totalizing metanarrative. Rather than challenging thehistorical accuracy of this characterization – Marxism has in fact predominantly been understood as an analytic, not a narrative (Anderson, pp. 53–54) – certainMarxist critics accepted the unfavorable terms of the debate and tied the theoretical fate of Marxism in the field of culture to that of narrative as such. For Fredric Jameson, perhaps the most extreme instance of this trend, Marxism as a theory and practice is only possible if narrative can be rejuvenated amidst that vast process of denarrativization which is late capitalism. Recent work in literary theory, however, has begun to challenge this privileging of Marxism's relation to narrative. Ruth Jennison's brilliant monograph, The Zukofsky Era, is a fine example. It argues that the uneven geographies and radical ambience of Depression-era America were congenial to an extraordinary imbrication of Marxism and avant-garde poetry in the work of Louis Zukofsky, George Oppen and Lorine Niedecker. Jennison reads the work of the Objectivists – as they became known collectively – within the framework of three principal and overlapping concepts drawn from the Marxist tradition: firstly, 'combined and uneven development,' a concept developed by Trotsky to explain the situation in countries like Russia where capitalist industrial development had expanded beyond the confines of the Western capitalist powers themselves, producing shocking combinations of capitalist and pre-capitalist modes of production (the West's historical consecution thus reproduced elsewhere as coeval spatial juxtaposition); secondly, the 'commodity form,' a general term which describes the nature of the basic unit of the capitalist economy, in which use-value serves only to embody exchange-value, and in which social relations are structurally obscured beneath the immediacy of the goods they produce; and thirdly 'mediation,' a


It was shown by W o b ie r that soluble cyanates are gradually converted by the action of water into metallic carbonate and ammonium carbonate, and this seems to have been since generally accepted as a sufficient account of the characteristic hydrolysis of these salts. Since, however, urea is known to result from the interaction of cyanic and ammonium ions), it is natural to look for urea as a secondary product of the hydrolysis of metallic cyanates. In the case of lead cyanate, an investigation carried out in this laboratory) proved that urea is indeed formed in quantity when this nearly insoluble salt is treated with hot water; and it was shown that the complete action is, at all events approximately, expressed by the equation:


Low Birth Weight (LBW) is a critical issue in Indonesia, affecting 5-10% of newborns and contributing significantly to infant mortality. The primary risk factors include multiple pregnancies, maternal anemia, and insufficient maternal energy intake. The aim of this research is to identify the factors influencing the occurrence of low birth weight in Indonesia. The research method utilized is a literature review, which involves searching for research articles from the electronic database Google Scholar using keywords such as Low Birth Weight, causal factors, anemia, nutritional status, and maternal factors. From the research findings, it can be concluded that the occurrence of LBW is caused by risk factors such as anemia (3 articles), preeclampsia (3 articles), maternal age (3 articles), and chronic energy deficiency (1 article). Overall, understanding these factors is crucial for improving efforts to prevent LBW and enhancing the health of both mothers and infants during pregnancy.


Currently, the implementation of virtual, augmented and mixed realities-based solutions is one of the megatrends in the Industrial Automation domain. In this context, Virtual Reality (VR) permits the development of virtual environments that can be used for different purposes, such as designing, monitoring and/or training industrial machinery. Moreover, the access to such environments can be remote, facilitating the interaction of humans with cyber models of real-world systems without the need of being at the system facilities. This article presents a virtual environment that has been developed within VR technologies not only for training and monitoring robot tasks but also to be done at robot operation runtime within an on-line mode. In this manner, the user of the presented environment is able to train and monitor de tasks at the same time that the robot is operating. The research work is validated within the on-line training and monitoring tasks of an ABB IRB 14000 industrial robot.


The subject of the article is important today; it is concerned with study of the effect of stresses, which occur in thin-walled cylindrical containers, such as tanks of fuel-servicing trucks, tankers, railroad tankers, and other containers operated under pressure, which are utilized in various sectors of the national economy. The goal of the undertaken researches is study and analysis of the effect of stresses, which occur in a thin-walled cylindrical container as a result of an inclined dent. Test results showed that during study of the effect of stresses, which occur in the damaged area of a thin-walled cylindrical container, it was discovered that their values depend on the angle of the dent's edge with respect to the container. Moreover, stresses in the damaged area decrease with an increase of the angle and maximum values occur when axes of a dent's edge and container are parallel with each other. Timely maintenance by applying metal bands to the damaged area greatly decrease stresses, especially if rhomboid bands are used.


The utility model relates to a hot water storage tank for second cycle solar water heaters, essentially comprising a water tank liner, a heat-insulating layer, a shell and a heat exchange core installed inside the liner, characterized in that the heat exchange core is connected to the liner through a ring flange welded on the liner, and can be detached during overhauling and cleaning of the water tank. The heat exchange core is composed of a casing pipe shell, an end socket and a base plate welded together. The utility model is essentially used to manufacture second cycle pressure-bearing solar water heaters of various kinds.


A metallostibine Os2(CO)8(mu-SbPh), 2, is generated readily and in high yield and purity from the cluster Os3(CO)11(-SbPh)(Cl)2, 1, through elimination of the terminal Lewis acid fragment Os(CO)3(Cl)2 with activated g-alumina. Compound 2 is air-sensitive in solution but relatively stable as a solid. The Sb atom in 2 adopts a trigonal pyramidal geometry in both the solid and solution states, with an active lone pair. Experimental and computational studies show that 2 is a strong two-electron donor, with a donor strength comparable to that of alkylphosphines.


R.D. 1650/1991, of November 8, on the Technical-Sanitary Regulation for the elaboration and sale of fruit juices and other similar products, in its article 2 of Title One, defines the puree, pulp or cremogenate as follows: Puree, or fruit pulp, or fruit cremogenate, is the fermentable but not fermented product obtained by grinding or sifting the edible part of whole fruits or peeled without removing the juice. Also in the same article defines the puree, or concentrated fruit pulp, or fruit cremogenate as: the product obtained from the puree, the pulp, or the cremogenate of fruit eliminating through physical procedures a part of the water that constitutes it. These purees of strawberry have been the raw material chosen for the development of a new product of added value, obtained by fermentation. Introduction


The combination of a platinum group material (i.e. ruthenium) with a first row transition metal (i.e. manganese) could provide stability and lower the cost of OER electrocatalyst, while still obtaining good OER properties. In this work classical electrochemical techniques have been used to study the electrocatalytic properties of thermally prepared manganese, mixed manganese/ruthenium and ruthenium based electrocatalysts on a titanium substrate at three different annealing temperatures for OER. The structure and morphology of the thermally decomposed oxide materials are examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Turnover Frequency (TOF) numbers are also calculated. The initial OER overpotential values of eight electrocatalysts, in this study, are lower than that of the lowest known OER electrocatalyst, RuO 2. All SEM images with 10 – 100 % of RuOx show a mud-cracked morphology. This morphology is attributed to the excellent electrocatalytic activity of RuO 2.


This section describes the boundaries and the main physical and socioeconomic characteristics of the region in order to defi ne the area considered in the regional GIWA Assessment and to provide suffi cient background information to establish the context within which the assessment was conducted. According to the GIWA regional boundaries, the Aral Sea region includes the territory of three closed water basins-the Aral Sea, Lake Balkhash and Lake Issyk Kul. Each of these basins has specifi c natural and socioeconomic features which should be evaluated separately. This report focuses on the Aral Sea Basin exclusively, which is situated between 55°00' E and 78°20' E and 33°45' N and 51°45' N and has a total area of 2.7 million km 2 (2.4 million km 2 within the border of fi ve former republics of the USSR) (Bortnik & Chistijaeva 1990) (Figure 1). The Aral Sea Basin includes the basins of the Syrdarya and Amudarya rivers which fl ow into the Sea, and the Tedzhen and Murgabi rivers, the Karakum canal, and shallow rivers fl owing from Kopet Dag and western Tien-Shan, as well as closed areas near these rivers and the Aral Sea (Figure 1). Administratively, the region entirely covers Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, some parts of Kazakhstan (the Kyzylorda and Shimkent regions and the southern part of the Aktyubinsk region), Kyrgyzstan (the Osh and Naryn regions), Turkmenistan (excluding the Krasnovodsk region), and part of northern Afghanistan and northeastern Iran. This assessment does not focus on the latter two countries and when the report discusses 'the fi ve countries of the region' it does not include these, but is referring rather to the fi ve former Soviet countries of the region.


After an introduction on the mixing and CP violation (CPV) in the neutral charmed mesons system, we present the current status of the measurements. We discuss some recent analyses performed on the data sample collected by the BABAR detector at the PEPII e+e− asymmetric collider.


1. The aerobic faecal flora of healthy infants was found to comprise coliform organisms, streptococci and occasionally yeast and spore-bearing organisms. Coliforms and streptococci occurred more frequently in the stools of artificially fed than of breast-fed infants in whom micrococci occurred more frequently. 2. Of 191 strains of streptococci isolated from healthy infants' faeces and tested serologically, 8·90% fell into Lancefield's group D. Of the stools examined 93·7% contained group D streptococci. 3. A comparison of the group D streptococcal flora of the faeces of healthy infants and of infants associated with outbreaks of neonatal diarrhoea showed that the percentage of these organisms found in the latter was much higher than in healthy infants, the modes being 90–100 and 10–20% respectively. 4. The same species and varieties of group D streptococci were found in both healthy and sick infants. Streptococcus faecalis was the predominant species. 5. Serological typing of strains of group D streptococci from healthy infants from three maternity hospitals showed that particular types tended to predominate in each maternity unit and to recur over a considerable period of time, in each instance suggesting a reservoir of dissemination to successive infants as they arrived. With artificial feeding an increased diversity of serological types was found. 6. Serological types of group D streptococci isolated from sick infants during ten outbreaks of neonatal diarrhoea showed a considèerable variety. Apart from one outbreak (A), where type I was isolated with great frequency, one or two types tended to predominate in each outbreak, but not to any great extent, and not always the same one. 7. Types 1, 5, 8 and 9 were the types of group D streptococci most commonly found in both healthy and sick infants, but type 1 occurred in a significantly greater percentage of sick than of healthy infants. 8. Tyrosine decarboxylase activities of group D streptococci were usually associated with serological types. The distribution of activities of these organisms was similar in healthy and sick infants. 9. The possibility that neonatal diarrhoea may consist of more than one syndrome is discussed, and several of the outbreaks described here are classified into two groups. The author wishes to thank Dr A. T. R. Mattick for his constant interest in this work; Dr P. M. P. Shattock for advice and many valuable suggestions; Dr E. F. Gale for advice and material; Dr E. H. Gillespie, Dr A. M. McFarlan and Dr J. Wright for material and clinical data; Dr P. White and Miss Z. D. Hosking for assistance with the statistical computations; Mr L. G. Newland for technical assistance; and to express her appreciation to the Medical Research Council for a grant which enabled this work to be carried out.


A Perinatal Mortality Survey was made to determine the administrative obstetric and sociobiological aspects of all births in England Wales and Scotland during the week of March 3-9 1958 (17204 deliveries). In addition mortality data were collected for stillbirths and neonatal deaths which occurred during March April and May 1958 (7651 deliveries). Data were collected from a clinical questionnaire completed by the midwives and through a detailed pathology enquiry in the cases of neonatal death. During March 1958 several special centers were organized to conduct necropsies. By October 1962 data had been analyzed and presented in an initial report. A second report has arisen from further study of data gleaned in the survey. In this new report preferred classifications and terminology are used. The calculation of perinatal mortality rate is obtained by multiplying the number of control week births by 12 dividing this number into all deaths and multiplying by 1000. Minor numerical differences arise from the fact that the analysis for the current report has been carried out by different groups of investigators.


The authors use analytical tools developed to predict the high-frequency characteristics of conventionally wound transformers and apply them to the planar printed wiring board (PWB) transformer case. The authors present a simple modeling technique that is useful in calculating the temperature rise for a PWB transformer assuming conduction through the base of the device as the only thermal path. These two simple techniques-while not completely rigorous for any planar device-prove to be quite adequate for first-cut analysis of practical devices. A case study using a 12-layer PWB transformer demonstrates that simple analytical solutions provide sufficient accuracy for practical designs.<<ETX>>


Black‐headed grosbeaks (Pheucticus melanocephalus) and rose‐breasted grosbeaks (Pheucticus ludovicianus) are passerine bird species known to hybridize in the Great Plains of North America. Both extrinsic (environmental) and intrinsic factors (pre‐ and postzygotic reproductive isolation) have been credited for the generation and maintenance of the grosbeak hybrid zone, but little is known about the genetic characteristics of this hybrid zone. To investigate the stability and extent of the grosbeak hybrid zone, we constructed clines from both molecular sequence data (mtDNA, three autosomal intron loci, and one Z‐linked locus) and morphological data (morphometric analyses and hybrid index scores) to determined zone centre and width. Hybrid zone centre and width were also determined for samples collected across the zone 40 years ago from morphological data. The present and past clines were compared and provided support for stability in hybrid zone location and width, and the evolutionary implications of this are discussed. Three models of hybrid zone maintenance were investigated to consider the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on this zone. Our results suggest low hybrid frequencies, a stable zone location and narrow width, and reduced hybrid fitness over the past 40 years best categorize the grosbeak hybrid zone as a tension zone.


............................................................................................................. 3 Executive Summary .............................................................................................. 4 Background and context of the Activity ........................................................... 4 Purpose and objectives of the evaluation ......................................................... 4 Methodology ................................................................................................ 5 Key findings and conclusions .......................................................................... 5 Summary of lessons learned and recommendations .......................................... 7 Report ................................................................................................................ 8 Background and context of the Activity ........................................................... 8 Purpose, scope and objectives of the review .................................................... 8 Methodology .............................................................................................. 11 Limitations of the review (and the effect of these on the evaluation) ................. 12 Findings and Conclusions ............................................................................. 13 Lessons learned ......................................................................................... 43 Recommendations ...................................................................................... 44 Appendix A: Terms of Reference for the Review of the Community-Based Tourism for Sustainable Economic Development Project, Lao PDR.............................................. 45 Appendix B: Evaluation Plan ................................................................................ 58 Appendix C: Interviewees during the review .......................................................... 96 Appendix D: Reviewer's field Programme ............................................................ 103 Appendix E: List of Data Sources ........................................................................ 105 Glossary of Acronyms ....................................................................................... 106


TIhERE has been much argument whlletlher Medicin-e should lie regarded as a science or as ani art in whicll science is al)plied, anid it may be questioned if a really comprehensive detiiiitioni of Medicine has yet been framied. This shows, whlat no onie can seriously doubt, that it is a imanly-sided professiol, presentinig a varied choice of possible fields of sctivity before those who have to decide whether or lnot it is likely to provide thelm wzitlh a satisfyinig life career. It offers attractions to miien of very differelnt miniidslhumanitarian, "ppractical," educational, and scientific. " The proper study of manlkinid is mnani," and this includes his psychopathology as well as his physical disorders; medicinie touches human life at many joints, anid exerts its influenec on the State, law, industries, education; it apl)peals to theo iaturalist and to those wlho feel iimipelled, in WVilliamr Harvey's words, " to searclhiaild study out the sc-crets of nature by way of experimenlt." -An ilnterest in disease anid all that it mlieans draws m-len, according to their habit of mind, in one of tlhree directions: (1) to practise medicine, curative and preventive; (2) to investigate the problems of disease; or (3) to. teach others. The second anid thir(1d of these occupationis are liot uncomiimonly combined, anid, thouglh undoubtedly most important, are niot adopted by nmore thani a very few of those who tdke up medicille as a profession. It may perhaps be convenient to speak of reseal:ch and teaching as careers in medicine before considerinig the more extenisive subject of the various forims of practice.


The invention relates to an air conditioner (20) for a vehicle interior, comprising a housing (27, 50) with a cooling device and with a heating device, wherein in the housing (27, 50), a first flow passage for a first cold air flow is arranged at least, a second flow passage for a stream of hot air is arranged, and a third flow channel for a second stream of cold air is arranged, wherein a mixing chamber within the housing (27, 50) is disposed, which is acted upon by the hot air flow and the first cold air flow, wherein the housing (27, 50) has at least one outflow opening, which is downstream in the flow direction of the mixing chamber, wherein the flow channels in each case by a flap element (2, 3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 41, 42, 43) are closed, said third flow passage from the A cooling leads bypassing the mixing space to the outlet opening, wherein the flap element (3, 25, 42) in the first Str omungskanal and the flap element (4, 26, 43) are kinematically coupled to each other in the second flow channel, and by a common adjusting device (5, 18) are adjustable and the flap element (2, 24, 41) in the third flow channel kinematically (with the other two flap members 3, 4, 25, 26, 42, 43) is coupled, or (by a further actuating device 12) is independently adjustable. The invention also relates to a method for air tempering.


The Church: Sacraments, Worship, Ministry, Mission By Donald G. Bloesch Christian Foundations, Volume Six Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press 2002, 351 pp., cloth, $27.00 Reviewed by James Stamoolis This volume is clearly evangelical in the broadest sense of that word in that it holds up the evangel, the good news of Jesus. The scope is not merely evangelical or even Protestant, but encompasses insights from Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic theologians. Regrettably there are no citations from theologians from the developing churches. One could be tempted to read the book only for the quotations. One example is that from Alexander Schmemann, the Russian Orthodox theologian, on the real sin of marriage: "It is not the lack of respect for the family, it is the idolization of the family that breaks the modern family so easily, makes divorce its almost natural shadow. It is the identification of marriage with happiness and the refusal to accept the Cross in it" (233) . The list of quotations demonstrates the vast amount of study that went into this volume and the depth of the insights spread across the volume. It forces the reader to reconsider church and how "church" is done in some traditions. After exploring various options on a topic, Bloesch states his opinion as to what is correct. This is a masterful tour de force of ecclesiology and it will find its way to the shelves of those who want a comprehensive reference work. Bloesch devotes two pages to a positive examination of Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry ( 1 76-1 77) concluding that the documents may reopen questions that evangelicals have "generally ignored'' (177). From the standpoint of missiology, the most relevant chapters are "Chapter Ten: A Socio-Theological Typology" and "Chapter Twelve: The Gospel in a Syncretistic Age." The former explores Troeltsch's typology of the church and corrects mistakes found therein while accepting the usefulness of certain aspects of the analysis. For example, Bloesch notes that "A group may be a sect sociologically speaking and still be fairly orthodox in its teaching" (198). But I would hazard a guess that Chapter Twelve will be the portion of the book cited most frequently in missiological articles. Bloesch comes out strongly against syncreticism and declares: "The answer to radical pluralism and postmodernism is the confession that God has spoken decisively and definitely in Jesus Christ and the sacred history mirrored in holy Scripture and that we can give a reliable and trustworthy account of this revelation by virtue of God's own Spirit working within us" (25 1). Bloesch's focus on Scripture and the Spirit mark this volume and anchor it in the life of the church.


There is a growing need for electrical drives to be reliable in a variety of industries. An important area of research in this regard is the switching reluctance machine's (SRM's) reliability. The failure of the drive power semiconductor is a major factor in its performance. Power semiconductor faults cannot be handled by typical SRM drive power conversion topologies. A fault-tolerant power converter topology is described here that allows the drive to function in the case of a switch failure. Changing the direction of the SRM winding current has no influence on machine behavior, hence this converter will be used. Because it can generate numerous phase voltages, SRM speed will determine the voltage levels that can be applied by the proposed power converter. In the Matlab Simulink environment, the SRM drive was tested in both normal and malfunctioning situations. In order to check the performance of the drive, fault-tolerance, we gathered data from a variety of devices and failure modes. The drive's multilayer operation may be verified as well.


The effect of noise and presentation level on the perception of English consonants by native listeners and non-native listeners were examined. English words contrasting in /r/–/l/, /b/–/v/ and /s/–/th/ sounds, which are known to be difficult to distinguish for native speakers of Japanese, were presented to both native speakers of American English (AE listeners) and those of Japanese (J) in white noise and in pink noise at sytematically changed signal-to-noise ratios (SNR). Words were also presented at various presentation levels. The effects of noise and presentation level differed by phonetic contrast and language group. The /b/–/v/ and /s/–/th/ contrasts were more affected by noise at high SNRs, while /r/–/l/ was tolerant for noise when the SNR was higher than −3 dB. The presentation level affected AE listeners' identification of /b/–/v/, but not of other contrasts. J listeners' perception was affected less than that of AE listeners, possibly because the flooring effect for J listeners' identification performance was low, even for original stimuli.


Introduction: Bioengineered tissue-speci c approaches hold much promise to revolutionize reproductive medicine. Here, we created coatings and hydrogels made from non-synchronous (NS, no ovulation was inducted) and synchronous (S, 72h post ovulation) endometrium obtained from decellularized rabbit uteri. The extracellular matrix (ECM) coatings were compared to current standard rabbit embryo culture conditions. Methods: An optimized decellularization (DC) protocol for whole rabbit uteri was established. DC e ciency was tested by histology (H&E, Masson's trichrome and DAPI), DNA and protein quanti cation. The acellular endometrial tissue was separated, milled, solubilized with pepsin and the resulting hydrogel was characterized by electron microscopy and proteomic analysis. 72h after arti cial insemination, rabbit embryos were cultured for 48h in ve culture conditions: NS, S and Matrigel (M) coatings made via non-speci c adsorption and two uncoated controls (C+ and C-, using culture medium with and without fetal bovine serum respectively). Blastocyst hatching/hatched rates, morphometry and mRNA expression of three core pluripotency factors (OCT4, Nanog and Sox2) were performed. Di erences were estimated using Bayesian inference (P ≥ 0.8). Results: Histology showed full DC and intact ECM, this was corroborated by a signi cant drop of DNA and protein content (P<0.05), with no di erence between NS and S uteri. After processing, nano brous hydrogels formed when incubated for 30min at 37°C. Bayesian inference showed no di erence in embryo hatching rates, but S and C+ yielded comparable embryo diameters that were higher to those in NS, M and Cconditions (P ≥ 0.8). Additionally, OCT4, Nanog and Sox2 expression in the S-coating group are consistent with the optimal condition (C+) which is also di erent to the others. Thus, S-coating is proposed as an appropriate biological support to improve embryo development. Conclusion: A DC protocol for whole rabbit uteri was established and endometrial ECM hydrogels were obtained. For the rst time, we demonstrated that coatings from synchronous DC endometrium act as a biomimetic support for embryo development and is comparable to optimal protocols, possibly because of the slow release of synchronous-speci c endometrial proteins. Support: GRISOLIA/2015/002; PI17/01039; PROMETEO/2018/137; AGL201785162-C2-1-R; BES-2015-072429.  Add To Itinerary


This paper proposes a new blind adaptive equalizer based on maximum-likelihood sequence estimation (MLSE) for frequency selective mobile radio channels. A conventional blind MLSE equalizer with a single fractionally spaced transversal filter can cope with timing offset, but it suffers from a performance degradation due to the ambiguity of blind channel estimation. To avoid this ambiguity, this paper proposes a different type of fractional sampling in which separate symbol-spaced channel estimations are performed in the respective fractional sampling phases. The estimation employs a recursive form using the Moore-Penrose generalized inverse matrix. The equalizer combines the separate channel estimation errors, and provides the sum for the Viterbi algorithm processor as the branch metric, which tremendously reduces the probability that the correct solution is turned into an ambiguous false solution. Computer simulation demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed equalizer on frequency selective fading channels