The effects of delayed emergence of white clover (cv. Grasslands Huia) seedlings, following slot-seeding during spring and early summer 1983, were simulated by sowing seeds at intervals into slots cut in turves of permanent grassland in soil-filled tanks or in the field. The resulting spread and growth of the species were assessed during the following 15–18 months. The effects of propyzamide, a grass-suppressing herbicide (at 0·2 kg ha-1), were also investigated in the field.

A delay of 10 or 18 days in the sowing of seeds in turves in the tanks reduced clover dry weight yield from 23 to 11 during 1983 and from 118 to 96 g (0·12 m)-2 during 1984. Spread of stolons from the slots was also greatly delayed and effects persisted for at least a year. Increased clover growth on the earliest sown treatment more than compensated for a slightly smaller yield of grass.

In the field, yields of clover from late summer 1983 until spring 1984 closely reflected the order of emergence. Afterwards, differences were less clear-cut but the cumulative yield of clover until August 1984 of the earliest-sown treatment was twice that of a treatment sown 20 d later. Effects of delayed sowing in summer 1983 were more pronounced on stolons than on foliage growth when measured in September 1984, with significant reductions in many stolon attributes even with 8 d delay in sowing. Application of propyzamide in autumn 1983 increased clover yield during 1984 from 1·7 to 3·0 and total herbage yield from 7·1 to 8·6 t ha-1.

The results demonstrated some of the benefits of rapid seedling emergence and of the use of a grass-suppressing herbicide, but did not indicate any interaction between the two factors.


We show how one can encode $n$ bits with $n^{o(1)}$ ``wave-bits'' using still hypothetical filter-machines (here $o(1)$ denotes a positive quantity which goes to 0 as $n$ goes to infity). Our present result - in a completely different computational model - significantly improves on the quantum superdense-coding breakthrough of Bennet and Wiesner (1992) which encoded $n$ bits by $\lceil{n/2}\rceil$ quantum-bits. We also show that our earlier algorithm (Tech. Rep. TR03-001, ECCC, See this ftp URL) which used $n^{o(1)}$ muliplication for computing a representation of the dot-product of two $n$-bit sequences modulo 6, and, similarly, an algorithm for computing a representation of the multiplication of two $n\times n$ matrices with $n^{2+o(1)}$ multiplications can be turned to algorithms computing the exact dot-product or the exact matrix-product with the same number of multiplications with filter-machines. With classical computation, computing the dot-product needs $\Omega(n)$ multiplications and the best known algorithm for matrix multiplication (D. Coppersmith and S. Winograd, Matrix multiplication via arithmetic progressions, J. Symbolic Comput., 9(3):251--280, 1990) uses $n^{2.376}$ multiplications.


Objective: To investigate the effects of Tanshinone ⅡA(TSN) on blood superoxide dismutase(SOD),nitric oxide(NO),and hydroxyproline(HYP) in rats with pressure over-loading myocardial hypertrophy.Methods: Pressure over-loading myocardial hypertrophy model was established by thoracic aorta constriction operation.Forty healthy adult SD rats were randomly divided into the sham-operated group,the model group,low dose TSN group(5 mg/kg,intraperitoneal injection,i.p.),high dose TSN(20 mg/kg,i.p.),Valsartan group(10 mg/kg,gastrogavage).The cardiac index,and left ventricular weight index were measured,and the activity of SOD,and contents of NO and HYP were detected.Results: Compared with sham-operated group,cardiac index,left ventricular weight index,and content of HYP were increased,while content of NO and activity of SOD were decreased in the model group.Compared with model group,high dose TSN decreased cardiac index,left ventricular weight index,content of HYP,but increased the activity of SOD and the content of NO remarkably.There was no significant difference between low dose TSN and the model groups.Conclusion: TSN has protective effects on pressure over-loading myocardial hypertrophy of rats,and its mechanisms may involve in increasing production of NO,inhibiting production of collagen,and improving metabolism of oxygen-derived free radicals.


The alkaline discharge mechanism of Ag I Cu I I I O 2 is characterized at room temperature using linear sweep voltammetry and ex situ X-ray powder diffraction. Four distinct discharge processes are resolved at +0.35, +0.06,-0.28, and -0.56 V (vs. Hg/HgO). A discharge mechanism AgCuO 2 → Ag 2 Cu 2 O 3 → Ag° + CuO → Cu 2 O → Cu° is proposed based upon analysis of ex situ X-ray powder diffraction patterns of the discharge products.


(57) Abstract: blocking the various pressure was vented to the outside air to prevent expansion or explosion of the battery (10), the flow of current through such as by batteries (10) within the interior of the overheating and excessive current internally pressure release of the related spring (38) disengaged apparatus and an electric vehicle battery having a (10). Internal reconnection member of the battery (10) is performed subsequent internal abnormally inside the thermal anomalies and other. As selectable embodiment, the electric vehicle battery (10) is filling device and filling method for filling under vacuum is shown.


In 2015 bank lending to larger firms expanded whereas it continued to contract for smaller ones; this gap is also observed for companies belonging to the same sector of economic activity or with similar budgetary conditions. Econometric estimates confirm that, taking into account a large number of firms' characteristics (profitability, liquidity, sales dynamics, capital expenditure, economic sector and geographical area), the contraction in lending was especially pronounced for micro-firms and for riskier companies. The greater financial fragility of micro-firms, particularly due to their higher indebtedness, accounts for more than 70 per cent of the difference in the annual growth rate of loans to large companies and about 40 of that to small and medium-sized enterprises. A non-negligible proportion of these gaps is not explained by the firms' characteristics considered in the analysis; it may instead reflect supply factors associated with a lower propensity on the part of some banks to finance small firms.


The design and construction of continuously reinforced concrete (crc) overlays on flexible pavements of trunk road A2 are described. The existing pavements were dual carriageways of flexible construction built in 1975-76; isolated sections had failed completely and the whole length was approaching failure. Three 1 km and one 0.9 km crc overlays were constructed during 1981. These overlays are all of nominal 200 mm thickness and have a steel content of 0.65 per cent; anchorages are provided at both ends of each overlay. Construction was in one-lane widths by a conventional paving train using ready-mixed concrete. (Author/TRRL)


This paper aims to review the recent architectures of power management units for ultrasound-based energy harvesting, while focusing on battery-less implantable medical devices. In such systems, energy sustainability is based on piezoelectric devices and a power management circuit, which represents a key building block since it maximizes the power extracted from the piezoelectric devices and delivers it to the other building blocks of the implanted device. Since the power budget is strongly constrained by the dimension of the piezoelectric energy harvester, complexity of topologies have been increased bit by bit in order to achieve improved power efficiency also in difficult operative conditions. With this in mind, the introduced work consists of a comprehensive presentation of the main blocks of a generic power management unit for ultrasound-based energy harvesting and its operative principles, a review of the prior art and a comparative study of the performance achieved by the considered solutions. Finally, design guidelines are provided, allowing the designer to choose the best topology according to the given design specifications and technology adopted.


Traditional steganography schemes based on hypertext are achieved by embedding blanks and tabs at the end of every row. These schemes have many disadvantages in security and efficiency, as they can easily be detected and attacked. The paper analyzes the structure of hypertext files and proposes a new and more secure steganography method. This method achieves the aim of hiding secret information in hypertext by modifying the written state of the markup letters. Experiments and analysis prove that it is a method with high efficiency and security.


Summary The present study has been conducted to evaluate the antioxidant properties of fermented wheat (Triticum aestivum Linn.) extracted using acidified water, 70 % acetone and 70 % ethanol as compared to uninoculated control. Antioxidant activity, measured by the scavenging ability against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals and hydroxyl radicals, reducing power and ferrous ion chelating ability was more effective in fermented than unfermented wheat. Furthermore, the extraction yield, total phenolic, total flavonoid and free phenolic acid content were significantly enhanced in fermented wheat. Among the various extracts examined, the acetone extract of the fermented wheat had the highest content of antioxidant compounds (66.37 mg/g as gallic acid equivalent per mass of the extract for polyphenols and 32.27 mg/g as rutin equivalent per mass of flavonoid extract) and antioxidant activity with the lowest EC50 values. Thus, fermentation with Cordyceps militaris can be used as a tool to develop wheat as a health food or ingredient with multi-functional properties which can be used in the food industry as a natural antioxidant.


Given a degree n univariate polynomial f(x), the Budan-Fourier function Vf (x) counts the sign changes in the sequence of derivatives of f evaluated at x. The values at which this function jumps are called the virtual roots of f, these include the real roots of f and any multiple root of its derivatives. This concept was introduced (by an equivalent property) by Gonzales-Vega, Lombardi, Mahe and then studied by Coste, Lajous, Lombardi, Roy .The set of virtual roots provide a good real substitute to the set of complex roots; it depends continuously on the coefficients of f. We will describe a root isolation method by a subdivision process based on a generalized Budan-Fourier count, fast evaluation and Newton like approximations. Our algorithm will provide isolating intervals for all augmented virtual roots of f. For a polynomials with integer coefficients of length size = ~O(n), its bit cost is in ~O (n5). We rely on a new connexity property of the Budan table of f which collects the signs of the iterated derivatives of f.


Abstract : Slight tension to specimens of uranium, aluminum, zinc, and alpha and beta-brass during cyclic heat treatment (c.h.t.) produces considerable residual deformation, which substantially exceeds in value (sometimes by several times) the total deformation from creep and from c.h.t. without application of load. Cyclic heat treatment of transverse specimens of textured sheet uranium in the alpha-phase temperature region, and also of beta-brass without tension, causes contraction of the specimens, but with small external tension causes considerable elongation on their part in the direction in which the external force acts. Cyclic heat treatment of uranium with a continuously applied load and a transition through the point of phase transformation alpha to beta the residual plastic deformation increases in comparison with the deformation resulting from c.h.t. within the limits of the alpha-region. In alpha + beta brass the residual deformation resulting from tests for creep alone considerably exceeds deformation under the in-fluence of c.h.t. with a continuously applied load. The dimensional change of the specimens is directed toward the action of the applied external force.


Abstract: This study focuses on the impact of El Nino and La Nina on rainfall in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). From the study and analysis of rainfall data for the UAE, collected between 1980 and 2013, it was found that the phenomena of El Nino and La Nina have an impact on the amount of rainfall in the United Arab Emirates. An UAE Effective Drought Index (EDI) was created from monthly rainfall data for UAE. When this index was compared with the Oceanic Nino Index (ONI), Nino 3.4 Index of the El Nino and La Nina phenomena, it could be obviously seen in the generated graph that most periods in which an El Nino was dominant there were increased amounts of rain, and vice versa for La Nina that led to less rainfall amounts. This is due to the effect of El Nino and La Nina on weather patterns in the atmosphere, such as Jet Streams and Rossby Waves that travel around the globe, UAE is one of them.


Objective: To investigate the validity of measurement of plasma Aβ levels for predicting the onset of cognitive impairment and dementia and clarifying factors related to plasma Aβ levels.
 Background: There is a great need for biomarkers that could predict onset of cognitive impairment and diagnose early stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
 Methods: Plasma As40, As42 levels are measured by ELISA in 1,138 participants in the Iwaki Health Promotion Project. The median age of this population was 54 years (19~90 years of age), and the male-to-female ratio was 38:62. Basic profiles of health of 600 items include height, weight, body fat percentage, ability of exercise, MMSE score, WMS-R, ADL, blood chemistry, whole genome analysis including the e4 genotype of apolipoprotein E (ApoE). We analyzed the correlation for each values.
 Results: Plasma levels of As40, As42, and As40/42 ratio were increased with ageing. In non-ApoE e4 allele carriers, levels of As40, As42, and As40/42 ratio were all increased with ageing. In heterozygous ApoE e4 carriers, As40 and As40/42 ratio were increased with age, however, As42 was not correlated. In homozygous ApoE e4 carriers, levels of As40 and As40/42 ratio were not correlated with age, and As42 levels were decreased with ageing. Plasma fasting blood sugar and creatinine are additional factors for plasma As levels. MMSE scores were gradually decreased from 60's and these decrease of cognitive levels are significantly correlated with decline of motor skills: Timed Up and Go test, Whole body reaction time test, and Grip reaction time tests.
 Conclusions: These findings suggested that plasma As levels are strictly regulated with aging and ApoE e4 dose. Scores of MMSE are also associated with plasma As levels. Cognitive functions are closely correlated and motor functions. Thus, plasma levels of As are useful predictor of declining of cognitive and motor functions. Disclosure: Dr. Nakamura has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shoji has nothing to disclose.


Poisoning and toxic ingestions cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Extracorporeal therapies such as dialysis, hemoperfusion, and plasma exchange are selectively applied to patients with severe intoxications unresponsive to standard interventions and can be lifesaving. Extracorporeal therapies are a complex but fundamental aspect of the practice of nephrology. Without high‐quality evidence to guide implementation, an understanding of toxicokinetics and the physiochemical principles of the enhanced elimination techniques is especially important. This review provides a comphrensive, user‐friendly outline of the application of extracorporeal therapy in the poisoned patient.


Soft sediment deformation structures are observed in the laminated sediments and sandy part of the 150 m thick palaeolake profile exposed along the Chhidu Nala near Garbyang village in the Tethys zone of Kumaun Himalaya. The deformed, laminated sediments and sand are separated by gravel. We observed both penecontemporaneous and post-depositional deformational patterns. The deformation may have taken place due to thixotropy and fluidization causing visco-plastic failure of the mud, and density inversion between mud and sand due to liquefaction, was probably triggered by earthquakes. This gave rise to soft sediment folds, dykes, faults, load and pseudo-nodule structures in mud, silt and sand. The study area lies in the seismically active zone of the Kumaun Himalaya.


Cellulose is the most abundant biopolymer which is a topic of extensive research work. In this study Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was utilized to assign the molecular structure of cellulose. B3LYP at 3-21g**, 6-31g** and LANL1DZ then MP2 at 6-31g* levels of theories were conducted to compare the calculated vibrational spectra with the FTIR spectrum. Model molecules of cellulose starting with monomer up to cellulose 18 units were studied with PM3 semiemperical method in order to follow up the effect of polymerization upon some selected physical parameters. Results indicate that final heat of formation and band gap energy have decreased with increasing cellulose units while total dipole moment has increased with increasing cellulose units. It is concluded that the reactivity of cellulose has increased with increasing the units also the unique hydrogen bonding dedicates cellulose to several applications.


The management and reconstruction of pharyngo-cutaneous, and esophago-cutaneous fistulae after head and neck cancer surgery are most important and difficult problems. Various kinds of flaps, such as local flaps, distant pedicled flaps and myocutaneous flaps have been used in primary and staged pharyngo-esophageal reconstructions.In most cases of head and neck cancer, preoperative and postoperative irradiation therapy is required. It is well known that reconstructive surgery is very difficult after full dose irradiation, which leads to postoperative complications.We use delto-pectral flaps and free skin grafts in two cases of esophago-cutaneous fistula, and the postoperative course was satisfactory. These patients are described, and the technical aspects and the results of treatment are discussed.


This paper presents a theoretical scientific study of movement, sports movement, health and spiritual health in terms of cultural anthropology. It informs on the key aspects of the meaning of human movement and outlines the scope of the term spiritual health. It teleologically approaches the study to ascertain how the cultural anthropology interprets human movement and health along the lines of current human needs and intentions of the current understanding and also to the presentation of findings of cultural anthropology of sports in the human sports motion. It applies the methodological tools of qualitative research which logically comprises contemplation, selective compilation teleological and non-participating observation through electronic media. From the perspective of cultural anthropology it defines fundamental aspects of health. In conclusion, the study highlights the importance of examining non-religious spirituality, which largely, along with other factors, configures the quality of life of a modern human.


Abstract The TLS 1.3 protocol is a new and an enhanced version of TLS and TLS 1.2 protocols. This protocol assures a secure communication between the client and the server over the internet, that gives an end-to-end security to the seamless cyber-physical system communication. Most of the browsers which have been using TLS 1.2, compromises on several security constraints. In order to address this issue, the TLS 1.3 is defined by the IETF group through multiple improved iterations, which in turn empowers the TLS 1.3 to satisfy complex security requirements for robust communication. According to several research studies, we identified the various scenarios that ascribe the performance of TLS 1.3, its advantage over TLS 1.2 and also the scope of improvement in TLS 1.3 as it is still evolving. As per various research, TLS 1.3 possesses several shortcomings in the areas of Zero Round Trip Time (a.k.a 0-RTT), Fault Tolerance, and Forward Secrecy which leads to security issues. In this paper, we thoroughly examine the shortcoming and scope of improvement in TLS1.3 as presented by various researchers and also study the error alerts defined in it. We propose the requirement of three new error alerts in the current version of TLS 1.3 which are Cookies Extension, Deadlocked Connection and Integrity Algorithm Storage in order to have a smooth communication.


A simple device is described which is used for microhardness measurements in the temperature interval 80-300 K. The device is small and can be mounted on most types of commercial microhardness measuring equipment normally intended for room temperature work. The advantage of the device described is that measurements at low temperature are carried out with equal ease as at room temperature without the use of a vacuum chamber or a special protective atmosphere against sample contamination.


In order to achieve perfect trajectory-tracking performance over the entire time interval at a higher convergence speed, this paper proposes a suboptimal learning control scheme for a class of nonlinearly parametric time-delay systems under alignment condition. The controller is designed by integrating the robust learning control with the suboptimal control, in which, the control Lyapunov function and Sontag formula are employed in generating a suboptimal controller for the nominal system, while robust learning control mechanism is applied to deal with nonlinearly parametric time-delay uncertainties. As the iteration number increases, the system state can follow its reference signal over the full time interval. The proposed method extends some existing results. Numerical simulations demonstrate that our suboptimal iterative learning control scheme improves the convergence performance in comparison with traditional solutions.


The paper presents an outline of the history of Russian and French cultural alliance, beginning with episodic contacts in the 16 th and 17 th centuries until the 18 th c., which commences a dialogue with France that would continue over several hundreds of years. Its ideological and cultural principles became the source of inspiring civilization transformations and the foundation of the pro-Western identity of the then still until recently Holy Russia, with Peter I, "the Revolutionary on the Throne", as the initiator and promoter of a Western – French – civilization. The process of infiltration by the French culture advanced further thanks to the fascination on the part of Peter I's daughter Elizabeth with anything that was "in the French spirit". This resulted in the phenomenon of Gallomania, which culminated in the second half of the 18 th c., i.e. during the reign of Catherine II. At that time, with the Russian admiration for the French Enlightenment ideals in the background and thanks to Catherine II's friendship with the Encyclopedistes (mostly Voltaire and Diderot), Russia – with its Enlightened Absolutism – aspired to the circle of the most powerful European countries.


Electron energy loss fine structure near the threshold of inner-shell edges can potentially give valuable information on bonding on an atomic scale. To use near-edge structure it is essential to understand what factors influence both the occupied and unoccupied local density of states in the material of interest. Different techniques of electronic structure theory are suitable for metals, semiconductors, and ionic materials, although some methods can be applied to a wide range of systems. To extract quantitative information on bonding it is important to avoid those edges that are strongly affected by the presence of the core hole such as cations in ionic materials.


This paper describes a method and instrumentation for electrical pH control in aqueous solutions. It is targeted to environmental and industrial on-line chemical and optic fiber sensors measurement, calibration and process control. The method is an alternative to the existing automatic pH controllers based on correction chemical addition. The on- line measurement of dissolved gaseous species which produce acidic and basic waters is of great concern for environmental monitoring applications. Such measurements are maintained by using preconditioned water samples and ion- selective electrodes or absorption spectrometry. A gas- permeable membrane can be used to allow only the transport of the molecular form of the measured species where the solution pH is controlled to ensure the reversible transition of the species of interest from ionic to molecular form and to allow their permeation through the membrane. An electrochemical instrument for electrolysis- based feedback controlled pH regulation has been attempted. The choice of galvanostatic, potentiostatic and combined methods of modulation electrodes biasing with their speed, settling time and accuracy are discussed. Different feedback control approaches, involving electrochemical and optical sensors, are compared.


A smooth, flexible, and transparent electrode was fabricated by embedding a percolated network of Ag nanowires (AgNWs) at a surface of colorless polyimide utilizing an inverted layer film-processing approach. The electrode with buried AgNWs showed excellent physical characteristics: a smooth surface roughness (less than 1 nm in root-mean-square roughness), high flexibility (resisted cyclic bend testing with a curvature radius of 500 μm for 1000 iterations), high transparency (higher than 84% at a wavelength of 550 nm), and good conductivity (12.38 Ω/sq for sheet resistance). One demerit that remained for this electrode was a limited surface coverage of conductive pathways for electric carrier transference, originated from the fully embedded structural configuration. Here, the authors could successfully deal with this issue by an Ar plasma treatment in order to partially excavate the embedded AgNWs without a significant increase in surface roughness. Green quantum-dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) using In...


The desirable features of pulsed lasers as components of a satellite tracking system were recognized very soon after their initial development (Fig. i). After design of some tentative systems, NASA launched the Beacon-Explorer B in 1964, containing fuzed silica retroreflectors especially for laser tracking. Several stations were soon ranging successfully, with precision generally about 2 meters. Other satellites were soon launched, so that there are now seven earth-orbiting arrays of laser retroreflectors (Fig. 2). The four arrays on the lunar surface are also used for the s_me purpose.


253 Received January 20, 2012; revision accepted for publication June 25, 2012. doi: 10.1620/tjem.227.253 Correspondence: Yu-Yuan Li, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Guangzhou Institute of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou First Municipal People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, 510180, P.R. China. e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com The C-681G Polymorphism of the PPAR-γ Gene Is Associated with Susceptibility to Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease


Some say he is indeed the "greatest", the best-known person on earth, ahead of Pele or Michael Jackson. From the sidewalks of big cities where peddlers sell posters of his knock-out punches to the genteel halls of universities and museums where his memory is celebrated, "Mohammed Ali" is a worldwide phenomenon that cuts across racial, ethnic, and class lines. Ali's life has been recounted so many times and in so many formats that the prospect of learning anything truly new about "the Greatest...


This paper outlines a new method by which high quality 35 mm images may be obtained during laparoscopic surgery. A 35 mm camera is placed 'in-line', that is between the video camera and the laparoscope. This allows complex laparoscopic procedures to be photographed without adding to the operative duration. This technology offers a high quality alternative to the various electronic image devices currently available.


Digital volume reflection gratings are numerically constructed from digital transmission gratings recorded at different wavelengths. We study the effect of the grating thickness, wavelength, and incident angle on the performance of digital volume reflection holography. Point cloud is studied for random circular apertures in the object plane.


Objective To observe the influence of casein hydrolysate( CH) to Rhizoma Gastrodiae, Eucommia Ulmoides, Polygonium Multiflorum and Radix Angelicae Dahuricae compound( Chines herbal compound, CHC) on antihypertensive effect and acute toxicity.Methods KM rats were divided into control group and CH-CHC groups, distilled water and CH incorporated with CHC(CH-CHC) were intragastric administered at the Maximum gastric capacity, twice every day for 14 days. SD rats were divided into control group and normal control group, distilled water and CHC-CH, were intragastric administered. SHR rats were divided into positive control group and 5experiment groups, Niuhuang Jiangya capsules(0.288g/kg), CHC-CH low dose group, low, middle, high dosage of CH-CHC and CHC group, and all groups were daily intragastric administered respectively for 4 weeks. Systolic pressure( SP), diastolic pressure( DP),heart rate(HR), angiotoninⅡ(AngⅡ), nitric oxide(NO) and endothelin-1(ET-1) were determined. Results SP, DP, Ang, NO and ET-1 of rats from CHC-CH groups and CHC group were all decreased significantly comparing with those of control groups(P0.05 or P0.01). SP, DP and AngⅡlevels of serum were also significant decrease between CHC-CH and CHC groups, the normal controle group had no significant different with control group. The HR of every group and all itmes in acute toxcity test had no significant different.Conclution CHC-CH and CHC groups had significant antihypertensive effects on SHR rats, and CH can enhance the effects significantly,which had no influence on hypotension on normal rats and no acute toxicity.


To describe the phenomenology of cervical dystonia (CD) in patients with migraine and the effect of its treatment on migraine frequency.


The increase in energy consumption is the most critical problem worldwide. The growth and development of complex data-intensive applications have promulgated the creation of huge data centers that have heightened the energy demand. In this article, the need for energy efficiency is emphasized by discussing the dual role of cloud computing as a major contributor to increasing energy consumption and as a method to reduce energy wastage. This article comprehensively and comparatively studies existing energy efficiency techniques in cloud computing and provides the taxonomies for the classification and evaluation of the existing studies. The article concludes with a summary providing valuable suggestions for future enhancements.


The utility model discloses a whirlpool-proof water pump water suction pipe, which comprises a water suction pipe body, wherein one end of the water suction pipe body is provided with a water suction hole; the water suction hole is provided with a laminar flow guide mechanism which is used for reducing Reynolds number and preventing turbulent flow; and the laminar flow guide mechanism is provided with a plurality of vertical guide plates which are coaxial with the water suction pipe. Compared with the prior art, the utility model has the beneficial effects that: 1. the utility model has simple structure, easy manufacture and low cost; 2. the utility model effectively reduces the Reynolds number of flow on the water suction hole of the water suction pipe of the water pump, ensures that the water flow in the water suction hole of the water suction pipe is under the laminar flow state, and effectively prevents air from entering the water suction pipe.


In this paper, the Harnack inequality result are established for a new class of the homogeneous nonlinear degenerate parabolic equations \begin{align*} div A(t,x,u,\nabla_x u)-\partial_t \vert u\vert^{p-2}u=0 \end{align*} on a bounded domain $ D \subset R^{n+1}. $ Let $A(t,x,\xi,\eta)$ be measurable function on $R\times R^n\times R\times R^n\to R^n$ that satisfies the Caratheodory conditions for $ \, \text{arbitrary } \, (t,x)\in D$ and $(\xi,\eta)\in R^{1}\times R^n.$ The following growth conditions are also satisfied: \begin{equation*} A(t,x,\xi,\eta)\eta\geq c_{1}\omega(t,x)\vert\eta\vert^{p} \end{equation*} \begin{equation*} \vert A(t,x,\xi,\eta)\vert\leq c_{2}\omega(t,x)\vert\eta\vert^{p-1},\quad p>1. \end{equation*} The exclusive Muckenhoupt condition $ \omega^{\alpha} \in A_{1+{\alpha}/r} . $


The man–machine cooperative system is attracting great attention in many fields, such as industry, welfare, and so on. The assisting system must be designed so as to accommodate the operator's skill, which might be strongly affected by fatigue. This paper presents a new fatigue recognizer based on the electromyogram (EMG) signals and the stochastic switched ARX (SS‐ARX) model which is one of the extended models of the standard hidden Markov model (HMM). Since the SS‐ARX model can represent complex dynamic relationship which involves switching and stochastic variance, it is expected to show higher performance as a fatigue recognizer than when using simple statistical characteristics of the EMG signal and/or standard HMM. The usefulness of the proposed strategy is demonstrated by applying it to a peg‐in‐hole task. © 2012 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

http://www.suzlab.nuem.nagoya-u.ac.jp/files/I-09-3 Fatigue Recognition Using EMG.pdf


The bounce in viscous fluid cosmology with inhomogeneous viscous fluids in Bianchi Type-IX space-time has been investigated by considering different forms of scale factor. The general features of the fluids which realize them and the possibility to have an acceleration after the bounce have been discussed. Index Terms Bianchi Type-IX Space Time, Scale Factor, Viscous Fluid, Bounce, Energy Conditions.


Abstract:Portraits of Abraham often bear the distinctive stamp of their creators, a fact attested in spiritual biographies of the patriarch in medieval Jewish literature. An example is Abraham as portrayed in the pages of a Torah commentary by the fourteenth-century Maimonidean Eleazar Ashkenazi ben Nathan ha-Bavli. In step with Maimonidean models, this Abraham ardently cultivates noesis as the principal religious activity. At the same time, he puts himself in grave danger in order to promote a revolutionary monotheistic teaching. While often taking his bearings from Maimonides, Eleazar can imbue Maimonidean ideas and interpretations with new resonances and turn them in novel directions. In his account of Abraham's career as a monotheist missionary, Eleazar portrays Abraham in a manner without Maimonidean precedent when he imputes to the patriarch the use of mockery as a device to breach idolatrous ignorance. Eleazar emulates Abraham's use of ridicule in his campaign on rationality's behalf. Yet where Eleazar's Abraham uses mockery against pagan irrationality, Eleazar deploys it to deride fruits of the midrashic hermeneutic and its foremost medieval spokesperson, Rashi. Put otherwise, Eleazar ridicules midrashim that threaten to turn the divine word into a propagator of the sort of unscientific myths Abraham so heroically opposed. In so doing, he positions himself in a line of enlighteners standing at the perennial crossroads between rational religion and popular faith.


In this paper, we consider the conjecture that σ2t+1l-1,2t are the only nonlinear balanced elementary symmetric Boolean functions where t and l are positive integers. We prove if n=2t+1l-1, l odd and 2t+1\nmid d, σn,d is balanced if and only if d=2k, 1 ≤ k ≤ t. Our results verify most cases of the conjecture for n ≡ 3 (mod 4) .


This paper considers popular misconceptions concerning Imperata cylindrica grassland areas and Imperata succession in Northern Thailand. It provides a description of a suggested ley farming system (alternation of pastures and crops). Only 2.5 percent of 2,500 km2 of Northern Thailand is covered by I. cylindrica, nearly all between 1,000-2,000 m and in the western part of the north. There is little evidence that watershed characteristics of I. cylindrica grassland are inferior to those of forested areas; it is readily grazed and is a poor competitor under grazing; it is also relatively easy to establish improved pasture; and grazing quickly results in sown legume dominance to the almost total exclusion of I. cylindrica. I. cylindrica is found mainly in maize/opium areas and is absent from the Karen integral swiddening areas. Establishment of I. cylindrica can be attributed to the removal of shade in the seed and seedling phase; this is a consequence of the intensive weeding practised in the maize/opium swidden systems. Preliminary experiments indicate the benefit of a previously fertilized sown legume pasture to a subsequent upland crop. I. cylindrica grassland should be oversown with Desmodium intortum cv. greenleaf pastures and grazed for 2-3 years, and then dibbled and cultivated with upland crops for two years. Management details are presented. Major constraints to the adoption of ley farming in the Northern Thailand highlands include entrenched traditional tribal attitudes, lack of expertise and interest by official personnel and organiza- tions, and the current high price for opium coupled with the ease of growing and selling it.


We study the fundamental groups of compact Sasakian manifolds, which we call Sasaki groups. It is shown that all known K$\ddot{a}$hler groups are Sasaki, in particular, all finite groups are Sasaki. On the other hand, we show there exists many restrictions on the fundamental groups of compact Sasakian manifolds. We also study the Abel-Jacobi map of a compact Sasakian manifold and its applications to Sasaki groups.


The automatic judgment technology is an important component of the simulation training system. In this paper, an algorithm of the auto-judging of cloze test is proposed and applied to the simulation training system for military transportation developed by ourselves. The result shows that this algorithm makes the judgment more objective, quickly and practical.


Tuberculosis and Crohn's disease are chronic diseases affecting similar parts of the gastrointestinal system, and they cannot be differentiated clinically. Histopathological examination of a biopsy remains a gold standard for Crohn's disease, but this procedure may not be sufficient for diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis. In this study, a 19-year-old patient with intestinal tuberculosis is presented; the diagnosis was made by direct microscopic examination, culture and polymerase chain reaction positivity for tuberculosis in a secondary colonoscopic examination. In all patients admitted with fever, chronic diarrhea and abdominal pain, intestinal tuberculosis should be kept in mind, and microbiological tests should be performed due to the similar clinical findings and same affected parts of the gastrointestinal system, even if histopathological results are compatible with Crohn's disease.


Latin America (L.A.) is considered as a strategic geopolitical zone, en effect to the fact that: it houses large reserves of natural resources within its territory, also it is classified as one of the subcontinents with the highest provision and content of raw materials worldwide; which brings up the paradox that is a very diverse territory and also abundant in resources, but it is not a pole of development. As a result, there are emerging powers and actors of great international influence who see with great interest the fact of accessing the resources of a strategic nature that L.A. contains, because of the facilities that are evidenced respect to their abundance and excess exploitation at low costs. It is no longer necessary to infer that anyone who manages to take over indefinitely strategic natural resources will have a leading role in the international arena. With these considerations regarding strategic resources, it is evident the regional need to have a strategy of collective and cooperative defense among the Latin American peoples. In this sense and with the desire to provide the region with security and defense, it has become possible to consolidate collective cooperation organizations that seek the same objective (defending natural resources). This is the case of the South American Defense Council (CDS), created as an instance of coordination of security and defense of the region through the promotion of dialogue and cooperation. Because the consolidation of the CDS is already a fact, it is cataloged as a great achievement with respect to Latin American integration, since through this institution an attempt has been made to correct the rivalry gap between neighboring countries and their past conflicts through cooperation and the dialogue. While it is true that the CDS has fostered integration, there are also shortcomings that must be overcome so that it does not become one more of the null functioning institutions that throughout its struggle to integrate the countries of the region. region ended up stagnating and in some cases disappearing.


Software has been developed for use with the Fermilab Advanced Computer Program (ACP) multiprocessor system. The software was designed to make a system of a hundred independent node processors as easy to use as a single, powerful CPU. Subroutines have been developed by which a user's host program can send data to and get results from the program running in each of his ACP node processors. Utility programs make it easy to compile and link host and node programs, to debug a node program on an ACP development system, and to submit a debugged program to an ACP production system.


The effects of lysine,VE and VB on growth performance and carcass meat quality of finishing pigs were studied.The result showed that the average daily gain(ADG) of the experiment groups supplemented with 100g/100kg lycine,45 g/100kg VB and 20 g/100kg VE were improved significantly and increased by 72g(P0.05),43.7g and 29.8g(P0.01) as compared with control group,respectively.Feed:gain(F/G) were reduced(P0.05).The carcass meat qualities of trial pigs were improved by Lycine,VE and VB.Longissimus muscle area of lycine group and VB group increased by 22.54 %and 17.29 %,fatback thickness of VE group and lycine group reduced by 23.13 % and 14.18 %,the lean rate of VE group,lysine group and VB group increased by 10.36 %(P0.05),7.42 %(P0.05)and 4.62 %(P0.05)as compared with control group,respectively.Color score and marble lines of lysine group and VE group increased by 18.87 %,20 % and 18.87 %,30 %,loss water rate of VE group reduced by 48.47 %,intramuscular fat content of VE group,VB group and lysine group increased by 25 %,23.93 %and 10.71 %as compared with control group,respectively.Composite selection index was used to evaluate the effects of lycine,VE and VB on finishing pigs.The results showed that the improved effect of VE on finishing performance and meat qualities of trial pigs was the best.


Precalculating irradiance for photon maps is an enhancement to the photon mapping method that was proposed by Christensen to reduce redundant irradiance calculations during rendering. In this enhancement, irradiance values are precalculated at the location of photons in the photon map prior to rendering and are stored within the photon's data structure. These precalculated irradiance values are then used during rendering. However, this enhancement may calculate irradiance values that are not used during rendering. This paper presents an improvement to Christensen's method, called on-demand caching, that removes these unused irradiance calculations by performing irradiance calculations during rendering and caching the results in the photon map.


A general theory of migration is described based on definitions of individual behavior and on the theories, corollaries, and inferences arising from those definitions. A life cycle utility maximization model is used to define individual behavior, and a welfare function is introduced to examine the model's implications. The application of the model to the analysis of empirical data is considered. (summary in ENG)


The myofibrous composition of the tibialis anterior and vastus intermedius muscles in 8-week-old Wistar strain rats was studied after a 3-week program of treadmill running to evaluate the effects of physical exercise and the effects of different exercise intensity. The animals were classified into three groups: Group I ran 30 minutes three times a week, Group II ran 30 minutes six times a week and the control. The tibialis anterior and vastus Intermedius muscles were removed at the age of 8 weeks, and cross-section areas were measured and classified into three muscle fiber types: red, white and intermediate in the section stained by succinic dehydrogenase or Sudan black B. The size of the muscle fibers and the ratio of the three muscle fiber types in a cross-section were measured and calculated to assess the muscle composition. The ratio of muscle fiber types in the loaded groups was not different from the control in either the tibialis anterior or the vastus Intermedius. The size of muscle fibers, however, increased in Groups I and II. In the tibialis anterior, the ratio of hypertrophy was particularly high in the white muscle fibers; in the vastus intermedius, it was very high in the red muscle fibers.


Two players in the modeled primitive society independently decide whether or not to arm and fight each other for distributive gains. Wealth and technology levels determine the balance of force and whether the society is in Rousseau's Garden of Eden, the Hobbesian war, or an arms race. Wealth and technology levels also determine whether the state emerges by force with concentrated power and wealth, or by agreement with shared power and wealth. Under certain conditions, the players are better off having a predatory state than contesting each other. The theory has important empirical and policy implications.


Studies [3], [5] have demonstrated the power of graphical versus textual presentations. Our postulate slates that graphical definition must include a graphical representation of the data structures used [1]. Current research addresses the representation issue, the goal being not only to visually present graphical control flows but also the data being transformed by those control structures. The initial problem solving course at the USA is designed to teach concepts of algorithm formation as a method of solving formal analytic problems. Algorithms are defined graphically in control structure charts using textual dictionaries of variables. With this method, data is visualized graphically as it flows through the al gorithm. Research has been undertaken to investigate the necessary components and features required to support the environment. This research is based on Law's work [4] defining structure charts in the SLAW (Structure Language Algorithm Writer) environment. A graphical tree represents the control flow of the algorithm. Textual dictionaries define the data structures employed. The flow of control is indicated by a hierarchy of shapes. SLAW has successfully been used as a teaching tool [2]. The primary focus of this research is the generation and investigation of a method for algorithm develop ment, DATA (Data to Algorithm Translation Analysis), entirely free of any programming language syntax, has been developed to graphically represent data structures and flows which yield structure charts in the SLAW method of algorithm development. The user creates a structure chart. Multiple dictionaries are now defined, each using graphical iconic symbols. Each lask/action in the chart will have associated with it a dictionary bubble which will become active and expand into a data window at the execution or reference of the lask/action. The data windows allow the user to monitor the data flows.


Examines the food system and considers the impact of the following societal changes on it: increasing longevity and growing populations; increasing urbanization; globalization of the food market; changes in attitudes and values; decline of the traditional "housekeeping" role. Describes the role of the different actors. Discusses the problems of achieving food policy goals with particular reference to institutions, policy instruments and information.


This paper analyzes whether and to what extent business cycle,credit risk,credit quota,stock market performance and entrepreneurial confidence affect corporate financing choices.It is found that corporate financing behavior varies with business cycles.Firms prefer equity to debt when macroeconomic conditions improve, but prefer debt to equity when macroeconomic conditions deteriorate.In addition,when loan quota increases,the probability of equity financing increases.However,default risks are uncorrelated with financing choices.Moreover, when entrepreneurs are more confident about the future prospects of the economy,they will choose debt over equity financing.Overall,the empirical results indicate that firms do not prefer equity financing,and that financing choices are broadly consistent with the pecking order theory but are against the trade-off theory.


With the research methods of literature study,questionnaire investigation and statistic analysis,150 university students of Huanggang Normal Institute have been tested for their sports consumption motive,level and structure.The paper reveals that university students have clear sports consumption purpose and healthy motive but their consumption level is low and their consumption is mainly material.The influential factors of sports consumption are high prices of sports products,lack of sports facilities and heavy study tasks.The paper proposes advices for the university students to establish the correct sports consumption ideology.


The article presents the results of verification of author's model of the psychological readiness to competition of athletes on a sample of Greco-Roman wrestlers. The substantive aspects and problematic moments in the psychological content of the motivational, emotional, volitional and reflexive components of this model are revealed. The influence of motivation on other structural components of the athletes' psychological readiness for competition has been analyzed. A comprehensive approach to improving the psychological readiness of athletes for competitions is proposed.


Herbal medicines are being used by about 80 per cent of the world p opulation, mainly in the developing countries for primary healthcare. It is assumed that all the herbs and the products made thereof are safe and free from undesirable side effects. But this assumption is wrong and there are many scientific evidences which prove that herbs may possess toxicity or can produce undesirable side effects. The present communication reports benefits and toxicities of some well - known medicinal plants which are used more frequently in traditional system of medicine.


Epidemiological studies support diet as a factor in the prevention and treatment of non-communicable chronic diseases, whose occurrence increases with age due to the poor choices or the adoption of a monotonous diet. The aim of this study was to construct the food consumption profiles of older adults of a Brazilian city to identify the main food groups and eating habits that contribute to these profiles and to estimate its association with socioeconomic characteristics, health and use of health services, lifestyle, and anthropometric indicators. This is a population-based cross-sectional study conducted with a representative sample of 621 community-dwelling older adults (≥60 years) in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The food consumption profile was the dependent variable obtained from a Food Frequency Questionnaire, utilizing the two-step cluster method. The multiple multinomial logistic regression model was used to estimate the independent associations, obtaining the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Three clusters were generated, namely, (1) "unhealthy" (2) "less unhealthy," and (3) "fairly healthy." The cluster "unhealthy" was characterized by a regular consumption of beans, fats, fatty/processed meats, and whole milk. The factors independently associated with this cluster were lower education level, lower individual income, history of at least one doctor's appointment in the year preceding this study, and being a former smoker. The cluster "less unhealthy" was characterized by a regular consumption of beans, green vegetables, vegetables and fruits, as well as fats, fatty/processed meats, and whole milk. The factors independently associated with the "less unhealthy" cluster were lower education level and history of at least six doctor's appointments in the prior year. The cluster "fairly healthy" was characterized by the same pattern of "less unhealthy," except for skim milk and low-fat dairy products. The evidence of the associations indicates the profile of older adults who require greater attention and care related to improved nutrition. The illiterate or semi-literate aged individuals, those with low income, and those who neglect to seek medical advice must be the focus of healthy eating actions and programs.


Optically active dihydropyridine derivative of the invention is (R) -2- amino-1,4-dihydro-6-methyl-4- (3-nitrophenyl) pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid 3- (1-diphenyl-methyl-azetidin-3-yl) ester 5-isopropyl ester is or its pharmacologically acceptable salt.


ABSTRACT Separation of 225Ra (t1/2 = 15 d) from its daughter isotope 225Ac (t1/2 = 10 d) is necessary to obtain pure 225Ac for cancer alpha-therapy. In this study, microscale separation of 225Ra from its daughter 225Ac using BioRad AG50X4 cation exchange resin was achieved with good reproducibility across microdevices, and ≥90% purity was achieved for 225Ac, which is comparable to conventional chromatography. These results indicate the potential for greater use of microfluidics for biomedical radiochemistry. The modularity of the system and its compatibility with different resins allows for quick and easy adaptation to the various needs of a separation campaign.


In the Interpretation of Dreams, Freud tells of the humiliating memory of his father being insulted. Insulting someone expels them from a universal that proceeds from the imagination and that was produced by an established discourse of power, thus creating a minority category. This paradigmatic scene launches Freud into both an investigation of the exclusionary violence of language and a desire to respond to this humiliation. How can a banishing act still enable subjectivation? In Excitable Speech, Judith Butler analyses this transformation. What stigmatizing effects can scientific discourse and psychiatric diagnoses have on subjects? Insult may produce shame, yet the latter can transform into agency. Jean Genet's writings are the epitome of this aspect.


Shellfish are commonly associated with viral gastroenteritis outbreaks in human consumers. However, several attempts to depurate contaminated bivalve mollusks have been halted by increased persistence of viruses in mollusks' tissues, mainly in digestive tract. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were applied to evaluate the localization of simian rotavirus SA11 strain in experimentally contaminated Crassostrea gigas oysters. Highest concentrations of SA11 persisted in digestive tract along 12-h experiment, whereas gills, mantle, labial palps and hemolymph presented fewer SA11. SA11 was found in close association with mucus filling oyster stomach. It can account for increased virus accumulation in digestive tract. DOI:  http://dx.doi.org/10.17525/vrr.v15i2.45


AbstractWhile a robust theoretical framework for tropical cyclogenesis (TCG) within African easterly waves (AEWs) has recently been developed, little work explores the development of low-level meso-β-scale vortices (LLVs) and a meso-α-scale surface low in relation to deep convection and upper-tropospheric warming. In this study, the development of an LLV into Hurricane Julia (2010) is shown through a high-resolution model simulation with the finest grid size of 1 km. The results presented expand upon the connections between LLVs and the AEW presented in previous studies while demonstrating the importance of upper-tropospheric warming for TCG.It is found that the significant intensification phase of Hurricane Julia is triggered by the pronounced upper-tropospheric warming associated with organized deep convection. The warming is able to intensify and expand during TCG owing to formation of a storm-scale outflow beyond the Rossby radius of deformation. Results confirm previous ideas by demonstrating that th...


Aim To study the inclusion effects of β-cyclodextrin(β-CD)and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin(HP-β-CD)on rubidate.Methods The content of rubidate was determined by the UV chromatography method.The phase solubility method was used to study the intermolecular reaction between the host and guest agents,the soluble effects of 2 CDs on rubidate and thermodynamic profiles in the complexation.Results The solubility of rubidate in aqueous solutions was linearly escalated with the increased concentration of CDs,showing a plot of the typical AL-type phase solubility.The thermodynamic parameters of ΔG and ΔH in the complexations of rubidate with CDs gave a negative value.The thermodynamic parameter of ΔS in the complexation of rubidate with β-CD gave a positive value,while ΔS in the complexation of rubidate with HP-β-CD gave a negative value.Conclusion The 1∶1 molar ratio inclusion complex of rubidate with each CD could be spontaneously formed at the experimental temperatures,increasing the solubility of rubidate in aqueous solution.Appropriate temperature probably facilitates the progress of complexation.


The embodiment of the invention discloses a simulating system of a distributed device and a method for processing a service by simulating the distributed device. The system comprises a message receiving and transmitting module and at least one service processing module, wherein the message receiving and transmitting module is used for receiving message information by the receiving and transmittingprocesses of a message and forwarding the message information to the corresponding service processing module according to the type of the message information; and the service processing modules are used for processing the message information forwarded by the message receiving and transmitting module by the hardware subprocess in the service processing process. The procedure of the distributed device can carry out development debugging in a windows system on the basis of the technical scheme of the embodiment of the invention, few system resources are occupied by debugging, the debugging efficiency is high, the real-time debugging effect can be achieved in the debugging of the procedure, and the quality of procedure development can be effectively ensured.


Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand the nature of leadership development in Syria, by answering specific research questions: what are the types of leadership behaviours and capabilities adopted by companies operating in Syria? And why are they adopted? Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative research method has been adopted to achieve the aim of this study. Findings – The findings revealed that the leadership behaviours and capabilities required for business environment in Syria include strategic thinking, business skills, communication, understanding the whole, ability to change, teamwork, self-awareness, decision making/problem solving, and adaptability. Research limitations/implications – Research data has been collected in an unstable environment because of what was called the Arab Spring, so this affected not only the participants, but also how they respond to each question. Additionally, only the for-profit sector was involved in the study because of its flexibility, lack of burea...


This paper reviews the hypothesis that averaged evoked response (AER) recordings encode the perception of stimulus content. AERs may be altered by changing subjects' expectancies, attention, affect, etc. AERs may also be altered by differences in the physical parameters of the eliciting stimuli. But if perception is viewed as the processing of the specific informational content of the stimuli, there is no convincing evidence that AERs encode perception. Thus, AKRs appear to be a summary of the activity of stimulus feature detectors and the results of decisions concerning the salience or importance of that information—AERs represent general operations not the specific content of the information being processed.


This thesis is mainly concerned with the two open in multi-objective optimization; that is,
 * the comprehension and solution of the model-building issues of current MOEDAs, and;
 * the formulation of stopping criteria for multi-objective optimizers.

With regard to the first issue, we argue about what elements of MOEDAs should be modified in order to achieve a substantial improvement on their performance and scalability. However, in order to supply a solid ground for that discussion, some other elements are to be discussed as well. In particular, we:
 * sketch the supporting theoretical corpus and the fundamentals of MOEA and MOEDA algorithms;
 * analyze the scalability issue of MOEAs from both theoretical and experimental points of view;
 * discuss the possible directions of improvement for MOEAs' scalability, presenting the current trends of research;
 * give reasons of why EDAs can be used as a foundation for achieving a sizable improvement with regard to the scalability issue;
 * examine the model-building issue in depth, hypothesizing on how it affects MOEDAs performance, and;
 * propose a novel model-building algorithm, the model-building growing neural gas (MBGNG); which fulfill the requirements for a new approach derived from the previous debate, and;
 * propose a novel MOEDA, the multi-objective neural EDA, that is constructed on top of MB-GNG.

Theoretical discussions and algorithm proposals are experimentally contrasted with current
state-of-the-art approaches when required.

The formulation of an strategy for stopping multi-objective optimizers became obvious
and necessary as this thesis was developed. The lack of an adequate stopping criterion made
the rendered any experimentation that had to do with many objectives a rather cumbersome
task. That is why it was compulsory to deal with this issue in order to proceed with further
studies. In this regard we:
 * provide an updated and exhaustive state-of-the-art of this matter;
 * examine the properties and characteristics that a given stopping criterion should exhibit;
 * put forward a new stopping criterion, denominated MGBM, after the authors last names, that has a small computational footprint, and;
 * we experimentally validate MGBM in a set of experiments.


This paper investigates the design criteria for an ultrasound positioning system used in smart tool applications. A novel range-finding system based upon low cost, ease of implementation, and an automatic gain controller (AGC) is developed. We also design several signal processing algorithms for this system, including an amplitude threshold method (ATM), a frequency threshold method (FTM), and a cross correlation method (CCM). These methods are compared in one dimension based upon precision and processing time. Our results show promising results for a high-accuracy, low-cost, and flexible solution for smart tool applications. For smart tool applications which require 1mm precision and target speeds of 0.25m/s, we recommend the CCM, which strikes a balance between processing time and accuracy. We discuss methods for improving these algorithms.


Platelet activating factor (PAF) is a potent phospholipid mediator produced by different cell types, showing a well-characterized role in allergy, inflammation and cardiovascular disorders. Using the PAF-induced platelet aggregation as a guide, the potent and specific PAF receptor antagonist, kadsurenone along with 40 compounds were isolated from Piper medicinal plant spp. as well as Kadsura heteroclita and Arctium lappa. By the spectroscopic analysis, the structures of all the isolates were identified as lignans and neolignans. These compounds were tested on the 3H PAF receptor binding assay. Bicyclo [3, 2, 1] octane neolignans demonstrated potent PAF antagonistic properties. The 8.3' and 8.0.4' neolignan analogic were also found to be active. The structure-activity relationships were discussed.


Detection of forest fire is a complex and vital process. The system must be accurate and the response of the system must be fast. The main parameter to be measured in case of forest fire is temperature. Hence it is important to select appropriate temperature sensor considering the various parameters and real time scenario. In this paper selection of an appropriate temperature sensor for forest fire detection system is done based on real time experiment. Another important aspect of this system is the network for transmission of sensed data to base station for analysis. The network employed must be wireless and it must be secure, reliable, robust, easy to implement and cost effective. The loss of data or latency in the network can results in a disaster. AHP is used to select an appropriate network with higher throughput and lower latency.


The concept of star-relation has been shown to be suitable to unify and compare many results in pointed and non-pointed categorical algebra. In particular, the notion of star-regular category can be seen as a common generalization of the classical notion of regular category (in the total context) and of normal category (in the pointed context). Many categories investigated in universal algebra (groups, rings, Lie algebras, modules over a commutative ring) and in functional analysis (Banach spaces, locally compact abelian groups, topological groups) are star-regular categories. The main goal of this thesis is to study two fundamental aspects of star-regular categories. We first show that a general version of the Noether isomorphism theorems and of the Zassenhaus Lemma hold in these categories. We then introduce the notion of semi-effective star-regular category in order to investigate descent theory. In particular we prove that regular epimorphisms are effective descent morphisms in these categories. This result applies to any ideal determined category, to any almost abelian category, and to any efficiently regular category.


The first thematic section of this issue of Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science, on "Humans, Religion, and Normativity," features two articles. Bruce Reichenbach analyzes three phases of philosophical thought regarding what it is to be human; for the last phase identified, strong artificial intelligence (AI), he asks the question of where in strong AI intentional action and providing moral justification, that is, normativity, is to be found—he sees an incompatibility between strong AI and a Christian understanding of personhood. Joona Auvinen provides a critical examination of whether or not, and in what way exactly, the aims characteristic of religious practice are normatively significant; he argues that this is highly dependent both on controversial issues concerning the nature of religion, and on a number of controversial metanormative issues.


This thesis deals with the issue of life insurance focusing on investment life insurance. There are described the life insurance, history and computations in this area. In addition, the analysis of the structure of life insurance, in particular the most common setting of insurance contracts, and the risks related to life insurance are presented.


Stress-induced trafficking of ceramide synthase 1 to mitochondria is mediated by previously unidentified protein, p17/PERMIT. How lipid metabolism is regulated at the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) for transducing stress signaling remains largely unknown. We show here that this process is controlled by trafficking of ceramide synthase 1 (CerS1) from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the OMM by a previously uncharacterized p17, which is now renamed protein that mediates ER-mitochondria trafficking (PERMIT). Data revealed that p17/PERMIT associates with newly translated CerS1 on the ER surface to mediate its trafficking to the OMM. Cellular stress induces Drp1 nitrosylation/activation, releasing p17/PERMIT to retrieve CerS1 for its OMM trafficking, resulting in mitochondrial ceramide generation, mitophagy and cell death. In vivo, CRISPR-Cas9–dependent genetic ablation of p17/PERMIT prevents acute stress-mediated CerS1 trafficking to OMM, attenuating mitophagy in p17/PERMIT−/− mice, compared to controls, in various metabolically active tissues, including brain, muscle, and pancreas. Thus, these data have implications in diseases associated with accumulation of damaged mitochondria such as cancer and/or neurodegeneration.


Abrasive Flow Machining (AFM) uses the visco-elastic properties of a polymeric carrier, combined with abrasive grains, as a tool for machining of difficult to reach geometries, such as holes or cavities. Due to the design of the workpiece holding device and variable flow rates, the complex shear modulus of the polymer can locally be influenced and thus a targeted removal on the workpiece can be produced. As a result there is a reproducible material removal, causing requested polishing, deburring or edge rounding. Due to shear thinning and visco-elastic behavior of the tool, the process simulation for AFM is very complex and has not been implemented yet including an exact physical material model. Initial machining parameters so far are based on experience and extensive experimental research. This publication gives an insight into the investigation of modeling the abrasive media in AFM by adapting the standard Maxwell model of elastomers and extending it to the Generalized Maxwell model. Assuming the material removal of the process being caused by the shear stressed dependent bonding of the abrasive grains, a fundamental material model, easy to be integrated in conventional simulation programs, is developed and presented in this paper. © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of The International Scientific Committee of the 14th CIRP Conference on Modeling of Machining Operations" in the person of the Conference Chair Prof. Luca Settineri


Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox polycrystalline ceramics or the ceramics powder prepared by solid-state reaction was cupsulated in copper can with the dimensions of 22φ-14φ-65 ?? . The billet (can containing ceramics) preheated at a temparature of 840°C for 8 minutes, and then successfully extruded by pressing at a maximum load of about 34 ton. Phase stability, texturing of ceramics before and after the processing, and effect of the processing on the densification of extruded polycrystal were investigated in this reserch.


Background: Choosing augmentation equipment is a critical factor in maxillary sinus augmentation. The choice of one of thesematerials for sinus augmentation remains controversial.Purpose: The aim of this clinical study was to compare the biological performance of the new coral hydroxyapatite (CHA)graft material and the synthetic material made from tricalcium phosphate (b-TCP) in sinus augmentation.Materials and Methods: The study consisted of 20 patients (10 men and 10 women) who were edentulous or partiallyedentulous in the posterior maxilla and required the placement of implants. A total of (20) sinus transplants were performed ina single step using implant installation procedures. CHA was used in 10 patients and b-TCP in 10 patients.Results: An average increase in the height of the mineralized tissue of 7.1 ± 1.1 mm in the b-TCP group and 4.6 ± 1.17 mm inthe CHA group was when comparing the preoperative CT scan with that after 9 Months. After the maxillary sinus augmentationprocedure. The average percentage of the density of the transplanted area after 9 months, based on the initial alveolar ridgedensity at the implantation site, was 63.6 % and - 2.89 % for the b-TCP group and the CHA group (P < 0.001 and 0.373)respectively.Conclusion: Both graft materials showed successful biocompatibility and osteoconductivity in sinus augmentation. However,B-TCP appears to be more effective than CHA in osteoconduction.


Entrepreneurship has become the catchword of our time (Kao, 1995). It has become so much familiar and popular that almost every person can readily relate to and identify with. Hence, it is significantly interviewed with our daily lives-our day-to-day existence. Undeniably, many people today envision themselves becoming successful entrepreneurs. Making an enterprise successful, however, requires a high degree of effort in an environment where consumers are becoming more and more difficult to satisfy (Edralin, 1998). Hence, the present study is initiated on psychological characteristics and its impact on firm Performance: a case study of small medium entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka with the sample of ninety entrepreneurs. Cluster sampling was used in drawing samples for this study. The data obtained was factor analyzed to determine the psychological entrepreneurial characteristics of Sri Lanka. Further, correlation and multiple regression analysis were performed in order to test the hypotheses. The results from the operational hypotheses indicate that there is a significant relationship between psychological characteristics and firm performance; In addition, psychological characteristics have statistically positive impact on firm performance.


We performed first-principles calculations based on density functional theory and many-body perturbation theory to investigate the electronic and optical properties of monolayer, bilayer, and bulk litharge α-PbO, including spin–orbit coupling effects. The fundamental gap is direct for the monolayer (4.48 eV) and indirect for the bilayer (3.44 eV) and the bulk material (2.45 eV). The exciton binding energies are large for the monolayer (1.1 eV) and the bilayer (0.9 eV), indicating that excitons are stable at room temperature. However, the lowest-energy excitons for the monolayer and the bilayer are dark with radiative lifetimes on the order of milliseconds. A pronounced van Hove singularity in the valence band of the few-layer structures suggests it becomes a multiferroic two-dimensional material upon hole doping. Our results indicate strong optical absorbance in the vacuum UV region and transparency in the visible and near UV for monolayer PbO, suggesting applications for atomically thin solar-blind UV ph...


The objective of this work was to identify differences in soil water availability and plant
available water, and morphological changes of sorghum and soybean crops submitted to irrigation
and terminal soil water deficit in three soil texture classes. Two experiments were conducted in the
experimental field of the Rural Engineering Department of the Federal University of Santa Maria-RS,
during 1997/98 (sorghum) and 1998/99 (soybean) growing seasons. A set of drainage lisymeters
was used. A rain shelter was used to avoid rainfall on the experiment site. A completely randomized
statistical design with two replications was used. Treatments applied were two water management
and three soil texture classes. Irrigations were applied when cumulative maximum crop
evapotranspiration reached 25mm; the terminal soil water deficit for sorghum and soybean plants
was imposed during V3 and V8 vegetative growth, respectively. The three soil texture classes used
were clayey, silty clay loam and sandy loam. Upper limit and lower limit of plant availability water to
plants were evaluated in the lysimeters. Field capacity and permanent wilting point were used to
determine soil water availability, using the conventional methodology.
Results indicated that the soil water availability was 44, 66, and 72 mm for the clayey, silty clay loam
and sandy loam soil classes, respectively. However, the plant available water to sorghum and
soybean plants, average of two years, was 95, 154 and 124 mm. Values of plant available water
were 109, 133 and 72% higher than soil water availability determined by conventional methodology.
Reduction in leaf area index, plant height and number of nodes in sorghum and soybean plants
submitted to terminal soil water deficit was more expressive in the clayey soil, compared with
irrigated plants. These results clearly indicated that plant available water needs to be determined in
the field, for each soil classes, soil management and crop species.


The Texas Instruments IVC102 precision integrator has high-quality internal capacitors. The circuit in Figure 1 allows you to measure very-high-resistance values of RX. A precision difference amplifier, a TI INA105, applies a reference voltage to RX. During integration, a negative voltage ramp, VO, is generated at the output of the IVC102. The two LM311s compare the amplitude of VO with two fixed thresholds and generate the two digital signals: start and stop.


Nowadays, modern technology helps authors to protect their original works which are published electronically. This technology provides them with the ability to restrict copying and distributing their works; quantity and quality. But, this deprives, for example, users from the right of getting a copy for personal usage. Consequently, illegal procedures and conducts have occurred to overcome these restrictions and help illegal users in getting illegal copies of authors' production. However, the Jordanian Copyright Law in its rules regulates all different legal aspects of this issue and offends in its rules this illegal conducts.This research focuses on finding the legal balance between the exclusive right of the creator of an original work in its use and distribution, and the right of users to access this work without limitations and restrictions. To operate this issue; jurisprudence and court judgments, support researchers to discuss this issue from all different legal aspects. Keywords : Copyright law, Ordinary Usage, Personal Usage, Jordan.


All temporal truth-functions are expressed in the form of ordinary truth-function by the use of sequential variables.The temporal truth-functions are classified in three categories : (1) Simple temporal truth-function, (2) Happening function and (3) Sequential f unction.Some fundamental temporal truth-functions are as follows : After-happening function, Hp. (After the happening of p) Delay function, Dp. (Delaying p for an interval) Jumping function, Jp. (Jumping over a positive interval of p) Temporal conjunction, K(p, q). (p and q, but p before q.)Hp≡sDp≡-p∧HpJp≡p∧-S1K(p, q)≡(p∧q)∧S(p)


Adhering to a dispositional theory of causal explanation, White (2013) proposed that causal understanding originates in experiences of acting on objects; a mechanical interaction (i.e., agentive cause-object produces a change of state in an effect-object) is viewed as a causal prototype. Causality is identified depending on the degree of similarity to this prototype. White (2013) deduced a set of clues as a heuristics for generating causal judgments under uncertainty. We investigated the impact of 8 cues (e.g., activity, immediate effect, contact, two entities), which we analysed for their predictive strength of causal perceptions. Assuming that children adhere stronger to a dispositional core schema, we compared children and adult's causal judgements.

Each 30 adults and 7-year-old children participated in the Study. Modelled after White's experiment (2013), participants were asked if they recognized causality in videos showing a toy car, a ball, or water interacting. Each video was designed in reference to the prototype (inspired by Michotte's launching event), with systematically omitted cues. If participants rely on these cues to identify situations as causal, they should be less likely to do so if one of them is removed.

A linear mixed models analysis revealed a significant effect for the number of cues in an event for both groups children and adults. Both groups interpreted different events as causal based on their similarity to the prototype but the effect for adults was significantly greater than that of children. Examining each separate cue shows that the strength of their impact varies (e.g., contact has a stronger influence than sequence).

In this experiment we conclude that children and adults indeed use singular dispositional cues when judging situations as causal or not. Additionally, over development the intuitive causal schema appears to become more solidified than corrected. This adds important theoretical implications to the field of causal cognition and cognitive development, and may provide a first hint to why adult's causal thought is still incongruent with Newtonian mechanics.


This paper focused on how to choose low carbon logistics providers for the enterprises under the background of low carbon economy.Firstly it built an evaluation index system of low carbon logistics service provider,then according to the grey attributes of the evaluation indices and the correlation among the evaluation indices,combined the grey system the-ory with the analytic network process,and applied to the evaluation and selection of low carbon logistics providers.An ex-ample was given to verify the effectiveness and practicability of the evaluation model.


Objective To explore the clinical characteristic of the Influenza A H1N1.Methods Compare and analysis the difference between the 106 Influenza A H1N1 and other 63 flu from August to Novenber in 2009.Compare whether it has difference in sex,morbidity age,clinical symptom,laboratory inspection.Results The average age of the Influenza A H1N1 is lower than other type of flu,and the average course is shorter than other flu,the difference has the significance(P0.05).The common symptom of the two groups are fever(39℃),sore throat,cough and body ache,the difference hasn't the significance(P0.05).The white blood cell total of the circumference blood does not elevate in both two groups,(P0.05).The patient of the two groups all have high infection before and one week after the illness(P0.05).Conclusion The influenza A H1N1 is more common in the young and middle-aged,and can communicate between person to person.The common symptom are fever(39℃),sore throat,the cough and body ache,which is difficult to differentiate from other seasonal flu.The influenza A H1N1 usually has a good prognosis and short-term self-recovery.


Introduction Previous studies have suggested that cognitive impairment is associated with falls in older adults. However, the consistency of results among different subgroups defined by multiple characteristics of the elderly has not yet been tested. Additionally, results are inconsistent regarding the effects of different cognitive domains on falls. Therefore, this study sought to use representative data from a nationwide study to better understand the longitudinal association between cognitive impairment and subsequent falls in older adults. Methods The current study was conducted based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) data of respondents aged ≥60 years in 2015 and the fall data in 2018. The respondents were divided into subgroups according to different demographic characteristics. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to adjust for various confounding factors and evaluate the association between cognitive impairment and falls. Results Of the 5,110 respondents included in this study, 1,093 (21.39%) had falls within the last 2 years. A significant association was found between cognitive impairment and subsequent falls (OR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.95–0.99, P = 0.001) after adjusting for all of the covariates related to falls. Analysis of different cognitive domains showed that orientation (OR = 0.94, 95% CI 0.90–0.99, P = 0.013) and memory (OR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.90–0.97, P = 0.001) were significantly associated with falls. In subgroup analysis, the ORs of people aged 60–74 years, male, with lower education level were 0.97 (95% CI 0.95–0.99, P = 0.008), 0.96 (95% CI 0.93–0.98, P = 0.001), and 0.97 (95% CI 0.95–0.99, P = 0.001), respectively, suggesting that the associations were also statistically significant in these subgroups. There was also a significant association both in urban (OR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.95–0.99, P = 0.001) and in rural residents (OR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.95–0.99, P = 0.003). Conclusions Our results suggest that the associations between cognition and falls vary depending on the different demographic characteristics of older adults. These findings may be useful for designing more accurate identification and intervention for the fall risk for specific high-risk groups.


The sixteenth century saw the near demise of Arabic medicine. The humanists, led by men such as Leoniceno, Manardi and Fuchs, rejected the Arabic and the medieval Latin writers. However, despite protestations of principle, knowledge of Arabic medicine was quite widespread amongst European, and especially Italian, medical writers. Apart from the traditional inertia of pedagogy, the very scholarship of the humanist medical writers ensured that Arabic medicine stayed alive in renaissance Europe. The sense of distance between Arabic medicine and English early modern medicine is very apparent. Arabic medicine was known to Europe in Latin translation; but English medical writers began to write in their own tongue. The universalism of classical medicine, into which Arabic medicine was incorporated, was thus not only threatened by the loss of its universal language, Latin, but also by the doctrine of national remedies for each nation. Keywords: Arabic medicine; English medical writers


Religious pluralism is a belief that often gives rise to disputes and debates among various quarters, either for or against the motion. The Islamic society in Malaysia seems to be in a dilemma when it comes to taking a firm stand on this matter. This study intends to discuss and display the facts concerning religious pluralistic beliefs while explaining its danger towards the value of religiosity in Malaysia. The methodology used will be library research and hermeneutic methods. This study concludes that this belief can confuse the beliefs of the muslims and distance them from the true practices of Islam. This situation demands that all quarters must play a role in controlling the spread of religious pluralistic beliefs within the society.


An experimental system is described for studying the boiling of water from the outer surface of tubes at low values of heat flux (from 5,000 to 100,000 Btu/hr-ft/) and pressures up to 2000 psia for both natural and forced convection. The design of the major components is virtually complete and work on accessory items is proceeding. The instrumentation requirements are being detailed. The results of a literature survey are presented. (auth)


The Italian real estate system and introductions to NPL. The legislation governing non performing loans. Methos for computing credit risk. Valuation of real estate asset. NPL-burden or opportunity, to seize on?


Production of purple-fleshed sweetpotatoes, source of anthocyanins, pigments with high antioxidant activities, is expected to be extended during the upcoming years, as there is a strong trend to market products promising improved health. This study aimed to evaluate yield, postharvest quality and pest resistance of roots of purple-fleshed sweetpotatoes. Six genotypes (BGBD 0005, BGBD 0080, BGBD 1261, BGBD 1399, BGBD 1402 and BGBD 1405) and the cultivars Beauregard and Brazlândia Roxa as controls were evaluated during two seasons 2018 (Experiment 1) and 2019 (Experiment 2), in Brasília-DF, Brazil. The experiments were conducted in a complete randomized blocks design with four replications, with experimental plots consisting of two rows of six plants. Roots were harvested about 140 days after planting and evaluated for yield, appearance, insect damage and quality characteristics as soluble solids, dry matter and color. All genotypes showed roots with good resistance to soil insects. The highest commercial production of genotypes BGBD 1261, BGBD 0005, and BGBD 1405 associated to quality traits (dry matter content and soluble solids) and pest resistance, showed their potential for being released as cultivars or to be used in breeding programs.


The RMMLA Conference in Reno provided an unusual backdrop for sessions and discussions regarding literature and language instruction. The contrast between theoretical literary studies and the ever present reality of people gambling away their lives hoping to "hit the jackpot" gave the conference a very surreal feel. The sessions themselves were interesting and many of the more practical sessions on distance education, technology in education and teaching abroad were very motivating and I hope to apply some of the insights gleaned to the Spanish program at Athabasca. The critiques of my presentation were overall positive with questions focusing on how I could integrate individual literary expressions into the theoretical model that I was trying to develop. Of particular interest was a comment regarding the absence of contemporary oral tradition in this framework which was an element that I had not considered before. I walked away from the session with a renewed energy to pursue these concepts further and to organize these concepts into publishable form.


With the objective of containing and preventing infectious diseases, prevention is seen as a key element in ensuring animal health aligns with correct regulatory standards. One such infectious disease is the Bovine Viral Diarrhoea. It is present worldwide, impacting financially within the beef and dairy industry. Currently, a BVD eradication programme consists of sending potentially infected samples to laboratories for analysis. This can be a time consuming process, thus enabling the opportunity of a possible disease to spread to other animals. This paper will report a microfluidic cartridge that allows electrochemical sensors to migrate from lab to field, using a straightforward, low-cost rapid prototyping method of a microfluidic system. Once the sample is placed into the cartridge it is subsequently inserted in a handheld console that will transmit results via Bluetooth to a phone app. The fabrication method employed to achieve this goal, is dependent on the utilisation of a desktop vinyl cutter. This machine facilitates a rapid prototyping method which can, with the use of double-sided pressure sensitive (PSA) material; consistently achieve microchannels with a minimum width of 200 μm. The microfluidic platform is assembled using PSA and PMMA (Poly (methyl methacrylate)) centred on a chip, which in turn consists of 6 electrochemical sensors. This process subsequently performs faradaic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry to detect the disease. A microfluidic design and full assembly is presented, using this rapid prototyping method. Due to its ease of fabrication, the entire process, from materials to testing, can be completed speedily to provide a leak-free microfluidic platform utilising inexpensive equipment.


Abstract : The fiberoptic signal link was intended specifically for transmission of instrumentation signals from a test object immersed in a strong rf field, where electrically conducting connections were unsuitable. The link has a dc-to-1O-kHz bandwidth and a 7D-dB dynamic range with 1 percent linearity. The design is practical, using low-cost electronic and electro-optic components. (KAR) p. 2


Retentate, highly pigmented pulp, from red colored Star Ruby grapefruit juice was placed in glass test tubes and stored in a refrigerated locker at 4.5°C for 8 weeks. The effect of light exposure (Cool White Fluorescence, 4150 K) on visual color changes using CIE color parameters (L*, a*, b*, hue angle, and chroma), and predominant carotenoid pigment (lycopene, β-carotene) contents by HPLC were investigated during the storage period. The changes in color parameters in the retentate were small, causing a slight color shift. Gradual decline of CIE a* value indicated the apparent loss of red character in the samples. Total carotenoid concentration gradually declined by more than 25% for both samples after 8 weeks of storage, but no significant effect of light-exposure on pigment loss was observed. Analysis of lycopene and β-carotene by HPLC indicated slight differences in loss but were not statistically significant under this condition.


Interpretation of the cytochrome c data based solely on a polypeptide or simple protein model leads to an apparent contradiction which is resolved by consideration of coupling of heme and protein transitions. The reciprocal relations required for this coupling are noted and the expected thermodynamic relations are found. Thus, evidence has been presented for the coupling of protein and heme transitions in cytochrome c.


Renewable energy remains an underutilised resource within urban environments. This study examines the ongoing German Energiewende (energy transition) as an example of renewable energy being treated as a necessary resource for urban development. It departs from existing literature by operationalising the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF), taking a policy systems approach to analyse (and explain) the cases of three German cities—Munich, Berlin, and Freiburg. This approach helps draw lessons for future UK energy scenarios by placing more abstract conceptions of Sustainable Energy Transitions (SETs) within the context of UK cities, post-Brexit. By discussing five main themes: the shift from government to governance; the need to break 'carbon lock-in'; renewable energy innovation as an underutilised resource; developing governance strategies for renewable energy resources; the shift from policy to practice, the study yields a detailed reconceptualisation of approaches to renewable energy resource-use policy. The novelty of this study lies in its response to these challenges, taking a policy systems approach to energy governance. The article concludes with a proposed integrated framework. The framework, which is based on multi-scalar and multi-stakeholder integrated energy governance strategy, reconsiders the way in which renewable energy resources are seen in current governance terms in the UK. The framework presents a new approach to renewable energy resource-use policy that embraces innovation, responsible governance, and inclusive processes, (alongside thinking beyond simply technical solutions) to considering the socio-economic impacts of policy decisions in cities.


This article examines the experience of, outcomes of, and lessons drawn from the evacuation of Scottish schoolchildren during the early part of the Second World War. We begin by discussing the historiography of evacuation in Great Britain. The focus then shifts to the particular circumstances of Scotland. Here the mechanisms of evacuation were different from elsewhere in Britain in that children were evacuated in family rather than school class groups. This difference was attributed by contemporaries to the particularity of Scottish education and educational structures. We then examine three influential responses to evacuation in Scotland. As we show the tendency here, in contrast to England, was to blame the purportedly poor state of the evacuees on structural rather than behavioural or individual factors. In other words, the socio-economic environment rather than personal failings was fore-grounded, although this is not to say that Scottish analyses entirely eschewed what were seen as individual shortcomings. We conclude by assessing what the Scottish experience adds to our knowledge of evacuation and the extent to which it confirms or refutes 'revisionist' interpretations; and what implications this experience had for the subsequent development of Scottish welfare provision.


concepts: The case of natural number. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 137, 22–38. Dehaene, S. (1997). The number sense: How the mind creates mathematics. New York: Oxford University Press. Dehaene, S., Bossini, S., & Giraux, P. (1993). The mental representation of parity and number magnitude. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 122, 371–396. Dehaene, S., Izard, V., Spelke, E., & Pica, P. (2008, May 30). Log or linear: Distinct intuitions of the number scale in Western and Amazonian indigene cultures. Science, 320, 1217–1220. Doumas, L. A. A., Hummel, J. E., & Sandhofer, C. M. (2008). A theory of the discovery and predication of relational concepts. Psychological


Several variations of large space-based observatories have been hypothesized using different approaches to deploying the primary and secondary mirrors on orbit. Careful consideration must also be given to the design and implementation of the shield that protects these observatories from thermal extremes, micro-debris, and controls stray light entry into the optical train. One approach to the shield architecture is use of an Optical Barrel Assembly (OBA), such as that used on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). For space telescopes much larger than the HST, an OBA will need to be deployed or assembled to form an adequately large structure to fully shield both the primary mirror and secondary mirror. This paper describes the design, prototyping, characterization tests, and test results from two different OBA development efforts. The first design is a combined barrel and secondary mirror support structure. This system was designed for a fixed primary mirror and deploys straight upward along the optical axis, carrying the Secondary Mirror Assembly (SMA) with it. The second OBA design is of a structurally independent OBA that deploys out from behind the Primary Mirror Assembly (PMA) (itself deployed or assembled) and extends forward along the optical axis to completely enclose the optical train, pulling along the shroud material. Examples of both systems were built out of prototype materials, tested, and the test results were compared against modeled predictions of system performance. The designs, test procedures, and test results are presented along with recommendations for future work.