Generation of intense, isolated attosecond pulses [1] is the main motivation for the development of laser systems which are producing few-cycle, TW-level pulses [2–5]. The ELI-ALPS Single Cycle Laser (SYLOS) aims to provide 20 TW single cycle pulses at 1 kHz repetition rate [6]. Due to the requirements for stability and high average power the most promising approach for generating mJ-level, few-cycle pulses is noncollinear optical parametric chirped pulse amplification (NOPCPA) [2–5]. BBO and LBO are the two most favoured nonlinear materials in the visible and near-infrared spectral range, due to their broad gain bandwidth and high damage threshold. It was demonstrated that BBO and LBO can support 5.5 fs [4] and 7 fs [3] pulse durations respectively when 450 nm [4] and 515 nm [3] pumping was used. Even shorter, sub-5 fs pulse durations can be achieved by utilizing two-color pumping, that is, the second- and third-harmonic of a Nd:YAG pump laser in subsequent amplifier stages [2]. The latter solution is the most promising, however at 1 kHz repetition rate there is a risk of optics degradation due to high average power UV light.


[Objective] The application effects of release fertilizer in cornfield,west of Jilin and other types of fertilizers were compared to provide evidence for the controlled release fertilizer in the corn fields. [Method]Three treatments were set. And some indicators were investigated in different growth stages. [Result ]In the western region of Jilin Province,48% long-acting release fertilizer was applied before planting as disposable deep application,and application rate was 720 kg / hm2. Compared with the commonly used local fertilizer,it could increase the yield by 6. 76% and promote corn emergence,root development and stem diameter significantly. [Conclusion]48% long-acting release fertilizer could improve the germination rate,and promote root growth. At corn harvest time,compared with ordinary fertilizer,the effects of 48% long-acting release fertilizer on maize height,aboveground biomass,and the number of rows were insignificant,but it could improve the corn plant biomass conversion rate. 48% long-acting release fertilizer utilization was higher than the average compound fertilizer.


It has been found that the reaction of cholestan-3-one and the Grignard reagent of 3-chlorocholestane afforded 3β, 3'β-bicholestan-3α-ol, irrespective of the α-or β-conformation of the 3-position in the starting material. It was thereby established that the carbanion formed in the Grignard reagent of 3β-chlorocholestane was β-oriented.


This General Supplement Report documents two Computerized Jet Noise Prediction Techniques: the Engineering Method and the Unified Aeroacoustic Prediction Model. A complete description of the computer programs is provided, including examples of input preparation and output cases, plus a listing of the FORTRAN computer code. The comprehensive, empirical, jet noise prediction method has been developed by correlating extensive data from this program and available data from other published sources. The data were correlated by means of basic engineering principles and physical parameters. The resulting prediction method includes unsuppressed conical nozzles; multitube and multichute single- and dual-flow suppressed nozzles; and multitube/multichute nozzles with hardwall and treated sectors. A unified aerodynamic/acoustic prediction technique has also been developed for assessing the noise characteristics of suppressor nozzles. The technique utilizes an extension of Reichardt's method so as to provide predictions of a jet plume flow field. The turbulent fluctuations in the mixing regions of the jet are assumed to be the primary source of noise generation, as in Classical Theories of Jet Noise. The alteration of the generated noise by the jet plume itself as it propagates through the jet to the farfield is modeled utilizing the high-frequency shielding theory based on Lilley's equation. These basic modeling elements have been coupled together in a discrete volume-element formulation. The individual volume elements are assumed to be uncorrelated with each other, so that the total contribution to the farfield is simply the sum of the individual volume element contributions.


Little attention has been given to the small-scale mechanisms relevant to microbial processes that determine the resilience of individual corals to the stress of organic matter (OM) inputs. Such mechanisms may be a critical link for predicting larger scale patterns of reef resilience. The research presented here aims to develop methods necessary to elucidate these processes and to explore the in situ responses of microbial assemblages on coral reefs experiencing persistent OM enrichment. A new method using trypsinization of coral mucus before staining for epifluorescence microscopy is described. It is then applied to a coral reef ecosystem influenced by sewage effluent to discover that corals exposed to effluent had the same number of bacteria present as reference corals; however, the size structure of the community was significantly different. Investigating the responses of microbial communities (from both the water column and corals) to OM inputs from coastal milkfish (Chanos chanos) pens, we found that the percentage of the water bacterial community attached to particles increased by more than 50- fold near the pens. This suggested a physiological or life -strategy change may be induced by such enrichment. A clonally replicated coral transplantation experiment examined the response of naive coral-associated bacterial communities to high and low levels of pen effluent exposure. We found that the communities on corals exposed to high levels of effluent had drastically altered community compositions after five days and the abundance of bacteria in the coral mucus-tissue slurries were 100- fold higher controls at low effluent and reference sites. We also observed a surprising resilience of these communities in that their composition and total abundance recovered by day 22. A combination of novel imaging technology (high speed laser scanning confocal microscopy on live coral) and controlled aquaria experiments were developed and used to investigate a microscale mechanism by which such resilience may occur: that corals may release ( shed ) bacteria into the surrounding water as a mechanism for controlling bacterial abundance on their surface. We observed this phenomenon in real time, and quantified an increase in the rate at which corals shed bacteria as a response to OM enrichment


Spherically symmetric manifolds are one class of important Riemannian models in mathematics and physics which includes the most common spaces such as Euclidean spaces, balls and spheres, etc.. In this paper, we consider the Nevanlinna theory concerning value distribution of holomorphic maps from a spherically symmetric Kähler manifold into a complex projective manifold under the assumption that the dimension of sources is not less than one of targets. In our settings, a Second Main Theorem is obtained, which extends the classical Second Main Theorem of holomorphic maps defined on C and BmC . In particular, one extends the Carlson-Griffiths' equi-distribution theory of holomorphic maps from C m into complex projective manifolds. When some curvature condition is satisfied, we derive a defect relation of Nevanlinna theory.


Abstract Longing is a neglected subject in psychological research and theory despite the fact that it is an important component of human life. Drawing on clinical examples, this article offers thoughts on the place of longing in the lives of Holocaust child survivors and those of second-generation offspring of survivors. The first part describes the concept of longing and its distinction from nostalgia and desire, while the second part uses some clinical examples to describe patterns of avoidance of longing: prohibition, denial, superficial contacts, avoidance and inability to separate. The article ends with an examination of healthy, adaptive aspects of longing that can be used for a richer, healthier life.


One-R algorithm is a simple algorithm which exhibits quite good predictive accuracy for a large class of data. When compared to the more complex algorithms having better predictive accuracy, One-R provides the baseline accuracy for testing new machine learning algorithms. However, the simplicity of One-R means that it has there is a compromise between accuracy and complexity. Often, the accuracy of One- R can be further increased without making it significantly complex. The resulting algorithm as proposed in this paper, One-RM performs equal to One-R in most of the cases and sometimes outperforms One-R by significant margin. Theoretical analysis suggests that One-RM used in conjunction with One-R always performs either better or equal to One-R. Experimental analysis shows that One-RM is a viable alternative to One-R when used as a separate classification rule. Key words : One-RM, One-R algorithm, Algorithm, Accuracy and Complexity. DOI: 10.3329/bjsir.v44i2.3668 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 44(2), 171-180, 2009


The Schiff base,2N-(4,N,N-dimethylbenzyliden) 5(P-methoxy phenyl)-1,3,4-thiodiazole,and their metal complexes Cr(Ш),Mn (П), Cd(П),and Hg(П),were synthesized. The prepared complexes were identified and their structural geometries were suggested by using flame atomic absorption technique, FTIR,and Uv-Vis spectrophotometry,in addition to magnetic susceptibility and conductivity measurements. The study of the nature of the complexes formed in ethanol solution, following the mole ratio method, gave results which were compared successfully with those


Objectives: This study investigated the health-related quality of life (QoL) in patients with various cancers attending cancer clinics at a tertiary hospital in South-East Nigeria and also determined the predictors of the various domain of QoL in these patients.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted among 104 participants. The WHO QoL questionnaire–short version was administered to patients with various cancer types. Analysis of Variance was used to compare the domains of quality of life among the various cancer types. The Independent t-test was used to compare socio-demographic variables of gender and quality of life across the domains and multiple linear regression analysis was used to further test if identified socio-demographic and clinical characteristics significantly predicted quality of life in all four domains.
Results: Of the 104 participants analysed, there was no significant association between individual cancers and overall quality of life (p = 0.67), and with individual cancers and satisfaction with health (p = 0.13). Occupation (p = 0.019), and the number of hospitalizations (p = 0.016) in the psychological domain; occupation (p = 0.032) and co-morbidities (p = 0.004) in the physical domain; age (p = 0.003) in the social domain, and level of education (p = 0.002) in the environmental domain predicted QoL in these patients.
Conclusion: Socio-demographic variables of age, number of hospitalizations, presence of comorbidities, education and occupation were significant predictors of QoL among cancer patients in this study. However, there was no association between cancer types and quality of life.


The article investigates theoretical foundations of the banking supervision. The authors research simultaneously history of establishing the banking system starting from the 17th century and finishing with the period, when CIS countries got independence. Periods of establishing the banking supervision on post-soviet space were analyzed. The essence of the banking supervision from the juridical and economic points of view was presented. The authors on the basis of existing literature analysis and taking into account the mentioned approaches and norms of effective legislation formulated the definition of the banking supervisionin conformity with the banking system of post-soviet countries: banking supervision is one of the key functions of the Central Bank connected with observation, response, control and regulation, including identification and correction of demands and minimization of the totality of banking risks in order to guarantee protection of creditors and depositors, security and stability of the banking system. The authors came to the conclusion that in spite of raising quality of the banking supervision in post-soviet countries in general, the gradual shift to the international standards of accounting (MSFO) and standards of risk assessment (Basel I, Basel II, Basel II.5 and Basel III) the main problem is still the vulnerability of supervision and regulation models that are capable of early response, timely threat identification and use of preventive measures.


This book examined the impact of public bureaucracy on service delivery in Nigeria using the Weberian bureaucratic theory to interrogate the functioning of public service in Ogun State Ministry of Education, 2010 -2015. It adopts a survey research design, quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. One hundred and ninety six respondents were selected thorough a simple random sampling technique to respond to the questionnaire. The research questions were answered using descriptive statistics while hypotheses were tested using chi-square. The findings reveal that there is a significant relationship between public bureaucracy and service delivery in Ogun State; and there are challenges to effective service delivery by Ogun State Ministry of Education. Most of the respondents opined that bureaucratic processes at Ministry of Education impact negatively on service delivery as measured by productivity and efficiency. The study recommends that to ensure expeditious service delivery there should be a periodic review of the laid down rules, regulations, procedures and methods of operations at the Ministry of Education in line with the tenets of the Weberian bureaucracy theory.


revolutionary ideology as the Chinese and have expressed faith in &dquo;peaceful evolution&dquo; and &dquo;peaceful I co-existence&dquo;. Secondly, the Soviet Union has thereby developed a fear or dislike of revolutions in the underdeveloped countries and realises the imperative need for friendship with the United States. China considers these policies as opposed to the basic principles of MarxismLeninism. Thirdly, it seems clear now that the Soviet Union was never too happy about China going communist and becoming powerful. Although the Soviet Union increased its technical and material aid to China after the death of Stalin in 1953, this aid was not meant to put China in a position of independence from the Soviet Union. Griffith has pointed out that &dquo;the primary cause of the Sino-Soviet rift has been the determination of Mao and his associates that China should become a super power and the determination of the Soviet leadership to prevent it&dquo;B Fourthly, when serious differences started appearing in spite of many efforts by the two countries to reconcile them, it became clear that the differ-


The results exposed in this article follow the study presented in previous issues of this journal on the transforming and creative spirit of the educational project of the Cuban teacher Jose de la Luz y Caballero. Its objective is aimed at revealing the contributions made by this relevant professor to the scientific teaching and the formation of a national conscience included in articles and other texts spread in 1839. This work reflects how the Luz´s philosophic theorizing regarding the manifestation of social, policy, ethics, psychological, science and method problems, etc., contributed to dismantling the cousiniano eclecticism and the consolidation of an authentically Cuban philosophic thought. The research demanded the application of the most feasible methods according to the topics characteristics; results which were generalized through logical procedures of the scientific knowledge.


AbstractIn this work, we explore the thermal properties of gallium as an effective phase change material for thermal management applications. Thermal storage and dissipation of gallium manufactured...


THE rich treasure of weapons being recovered from the mound of Ras Shamra serves to underline the importance of Ugarit's military establishment in antiquity.2 Although it was not one of the imperial giants in the Late Bronze Age, Ugarit's location and political position made it imperative that its forces be kept strong and ready.3 Such was the case with every city-state in Syria and Palestine that wished to survive in that difficult time. Ugarit's importance as a mercantile center from which caravans and ships went out to all points of the ancient world also dictated the maintenance of troops for the protection of these commercial interests.4


A recently developed method of individual-tree volume prediction uses measurements of two lower-stem diameters, rather than the more traditional DBH and height measurements, to estimate stemwood. O...


Despite multiple attempts to achieve optical refrigeration in very high (99.5%) external quantum efficiency (EQE) GaAs, no cooling has been observed to date. In this study, we investigate optical refrigeration in GaAs by numerically solving the transient drift-diffusion equation coupled to Poisson's equation. The charge carrier distributions we obtain, together with the heat diffusion equation, allow us to observe the spatial and temporal evolution of cooling/heating within GaAs. Our results indicate that maximum cooling occurs at a laser intensity different from that which maximizes EQE. An 11-fold difference in intensity exists with a corresponding 6-fold difference in cooling power. We ultimately find that samples suspended in vacuum using a 250 μm SiO2 fiber cool to 88 K, starting from room temperature. These results emphasize the critical importance of choosing an appropriate laser excitation intensity to achieve optical refrigeration along with minimizing the conductive heat load on the refrigerator. Furthermore, results of this study are applicable towards analyzing the optical response of other optoelectronic systems where accurate charge and/or heat diffusion modeling is critical.Despite multiple attempts to achieve optical refrigeration in very high (99.5%) external quantum efficiency (EQE) GaAs, no cooling has been observed to date. In this study, we investigate optical refrigeration in GaAs by numerically solving the transient drift-diffusion equation coupled to Poisson's equation. The charge carrier distributions we obtain, together with the heat diffusion equation, allow us to observe the spatial and temporal evolution of cooling/heating within GaAs. Our results indicate that maximum cooling occurs at a laser intensity different from that which maximizes EQE. An 11-fold difference in intensity exists with a corresponding 6-fold difference in cooling power. We ultimately find that samples suspended in vacuum using a 250 μm SiO2 fiber cool to 88 K, starting from room temperature. These results emphasize the critical importance of choosing an appropriate laser excitation intensity to achieve optical refrigeration along with minimizing the conductive heat load on the refrigerator...


Consider a surface, S, with a kaleidoscopic tiling by non-obtuse triangles (tiles), i.e., each local reflection in a side of a triangle extends to an isometry of the surface, preserving the tiling. The tiling is geodesic if the side of each triangle extends to a closed geodesic on the surface consisting of edges of tiles. The reflection group G∗, generated by these reflections, is called the tiling group of the surface. This paper classifies, up to isometry, all geodesic, kaleidoscopic tilings by triangles, of hyperbolic surfaces of genus up to 13. As a part of this classification the tiling groups G∗ are also classified, up to isometric equivalence. The computer algebra system Magma is used extensively.


This master thesis focused on current metal-based Additive Manufacturing (AM) systems in terms of cost and feasibility by developing a metal-based AM decision support tool. In addition, the main differences between laser-beam (DMLM) and electron-beam (EBM) based systems have been investigated. Initially, main principles in AM and powder bed fusion (PBF) are presented. Moreover, DMLM and EBM based systems are compared in terms of performance characteristics, such as build size, beam power as well as beam spot size. Subsequently, existing AM classification schemes are shown and resulting research gaps are outlined. Secondly, a cost and time decision support system based on "MathWorks Matlab" has been developed to provide a comparison of two metal-based AM machines simultaneously. In total, 9 different machines (i.e. EOS, SLM and Arcam), 3 different material types (i.e. aluminum, tool steel and titanium alloys) and 3 different accuracy levels (i.e. high, low, and skin-core) can be chosen as input parameters. Therefore, build volume rates of machines in the range of 50 to 3000 W were calculated and implemented into the model. As an output of the model, the decision maker receives information, such as cost per part, total cost comparison and a build time evaluation for the selected machines, materials and accuracy level. This information allows to select which machine the best choice is for the user's specific interests. To conclude, several experiments including a sensitivity analysis for mass and building height, followed by a skin-core analysis (novel AM production method), an exemplary comparison of DMLM and EBM machines and a random test on all implemented machines and five exemplary parts showing differences in volume and size were performed. Moreover, the Design of Experiments is finished with a Taguchi L-18 orthogonal array test, leading to main effects and influences on several parameters on costs and build time.


Objective To observe the clinical effects of steel wire fixation in treating the avulsion fracture of the tibial intercondylar eminence. Methods From April 1999 to December 2003, 26 cases with the avulsion fracture of tibial intercondylar eminence were treated with internal fixation of steel wire via single tunnel. The steel wire was crossed cruciate ligament and the avulsion fracture, pulled out and tied outside the skin. Results Twenty-three patients were followed up for 1-18 months with a mean of 11 months. The preoperative Lysholm scores were 42.5 points at mean (range 37 to 48 points) and increased to postoperative 93 points (range 85 to 100 points). Two months after operation, radiographs demonstrated an evidence of bone union in all cases and anatomical reduction in 22 cases. Conclusion For displaced fractures, operation in time and anatomical reduction as well as early functional exercises can lead to good clinical results.


When the First Amendment was ratified in 1791 many Americans still regarded trenchant criticism of govemment, its officers, or its policies to be criminally punishable "seditious libel." Not until the bitter controversy ignited by the Sedition Act of 1798 did Americans formulate a theory of political expression in a republic that undercut arguments justifying prosecution for seditious libel. The result was a new libenarianism with regard to freedom of speech and press.


This paper engages with current societal identity debates related to select postcolonial southern African circles, whose European origins can partially be traced back to the creation of the colonial photography genre. The contemporary visualisation of non-white Africans in the European landscape is linked to a genre that was born in the times of High Imperialism. As a child of its time, colonial photography laid the foundation for both racist and racial depiction patterns of certain African peoples and what their supposed traits and looks were from the coloniser's point of view, thereby creating seeing patterns. Until today, social debates and political movements are linked to the visualisation of non-white peoples. This project is about the historical muting of sub-Saharan Africa through stereotypical images and its links to the shaping and maintenance of postcolonial identity debates concerning racialised visualisation traditions in Europe. This repetitive visual blinding is another form of colonial aggression by constantly perpetuating certain image(rie)s and thereby facilitating colonial mentalities. Examples presented below show how far-reaching the colonial photographic stereotypes are by not limiting the scope of seeing traditions to photographs. Instead, other areas of visible everyday spaces like street names, monuments, statues, lawsuits or book covers are included.


The topic of this bachelor thesis is Analysis of the Factors influencing the Mortgage Loan cost and their Effects on Income Tax. The first part of the theoretical part is focused on the definition of Mortgage loan and its connection with the banking business and its specification. The following part defines the main subjects and instruments that form the mortgage market. The conclusion of the theoretical part characterizes effect of the price of the mortgage loan on the income tax. The introduction of the practical part contains a model example and correlative analysis, whose parameters are reflected in following parts. Based on the obtained information, a retrospective view is introduced together with the view of the future which provides an assessment of mortgage loan offers. Conclusion of this bachelor thesis is devoted to evaluation of the whole situation, in correlation with factors that have effects on this banking product and how it affects the price on the income tax.


The purpose of this article is to focus on pedagogical process that can be utilized to develop in students higher order thinking skills considered necessary for quality of life. Moreover, it also describes the rationale of developing higher order thinking skills and its implications in educational context. Academic Voices, Vol. 2, No. 1, 2012, Pages 5-10 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/av.v2i1.8277


A perforated plate is widely used as an acoustic absorption material for compressors and acoustic barriers for roads and railways. It has been confirmed that the perforated plate suppressed the selfsustained tone generated from heat exchangers like a boiler by using it on a duct wall. The effects of the perforated plate on the natural acoustic frequency of an one dimensional sound field partitioned with the perforated plate has been studied in our previous investigations. In this paper, the effects of parameters such as an aperture ratio, a hole's length and set positions of the perforated plate in the duct, on the sound pressure level, in other words, acoustic damping are discussed experimentally and analytically. The both results are comparatively agreement. Furthermore it was clarified that the real hole's diameter d00 should be used in the response analysis and the equivalent hole's diameter d0 (d0=d00√n, n; Number of holes) should not be used. .


This paper examines the effect of international diversification on multinational corporation (MNC) performance in the face of exogenous shocks in the global business environment, and the extent to which MNCs' internationalization aids or impedes post-shock performance. We use the September 11, 2001 attacks as a research setting to investigate the relationship between international diversification and MNC performance after a sudden change in the environment. The empirical tests on a sample of 191 U.S. MNCs and a matched sample of non-U.S. MNCs indicate that the level of pre-September 11 international diversification is negatively correlated with immediate cumulative abnormal returns to shares, but positively correlated with longer-term performance. Copyright  2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. political consequences. For instance, transat-lantic relations between EU countries and the United States, notably Franco-U.S. relations, were seriously affected; further-more, new issues, such as the current tension between the United States and Russia over Iranian nuclear ambitions and the role of central Asia in the war on terror, continue to arise. On the other hand, preventing future terrorist attacks will require new multinational cooperation to sever the financial roots of interna- tional terrorist groups and to identify groups or regimes operating behind the scenes. These realignments may affect U.S. MNCs' original assessments of the risk and uncertainty levels for various host countries. our final sample MNCs in this industry sector. remedy this, we conducted a separate event study including 15 U.S. MNCs and 15 matching non-U.S. MNCs in the banking and financial services sector without R&D intensity in the regression. the coefficient on the industry-level control of the financial


Nearly section of times about milk and dairy products the quality question,has the very tremendous negativeinfluence to the dairy product production and the expense,disadvantageous to the dairy farming development. The dairy products quality security condition is decided in fresh milk (material milk) the qualitysecurity condition,in view of this question,studied one kind to fast to examine the adulteration using the dairy product fast analysis to the fresh milk method. This method is the use infrared spectrum technology distinction adulteration milk,has the features of fast and accurate.


Extracted from text ... i n n o vat i o n
1 0
The unit is dropped into the fuel
tank and automatically locks into
place.
Thieves at the gate
by Raymond Campling
A new anti-siphoning device promises to put the
lid on wide-scale theft of fuel from commercial
vehicles. Its simple yet effective design has won
acclaim from the South African Bureau of Standards
(SABS) Design Institute for its ease of installation
and effective prevention of the insertion of
a pipe into the fuel tank.
Designed and built locally in South Africa and inspired by rising
incidents of fuel theft, the Shepherd's ..


Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and ultimately fatal lung disease. The majority of IPF patients die in hospital settings in Japan not only due to severe symptoms but also late end-of life (EOL) decision. This report presents four cases where advance care planning (ACP) allowed patients to choose their own EOL setting. Case 1 70s male with IPF for 3 years with a stable condition but eventually worsen due to pneumothorax. Through ACP, he chose his home as the place of death. Case 2 60s male with IPF for 8 years but conditions eventually worsen due to severe pulmonary hypertension caused by pulmonary embolisms (PE). After ACP, he decided to remodel the house, allowing him to stay at home for 20 days before dying Case 3 70s female diagnosed with familial IPF 3 years ago but conditions worsen due to acute heart failure due to PE. After recovering 7 months later, she decided to move to a nursing home through ACP. Case 4 70s male with IPF for 12 years, with existing malignant lymphoma, the condition gradually deteriorated leading to the decision to stay at a hospice through ACP In conclusion, ACP was helpful in the cases mentioned above as it gave the patients the power to make their own decision. Although, medical professionals tend to lean towards disease-centered management they understand the difficulties in deciding the best timing to discuss EOL issues so that patients will not lose hope too early on


This activity aims to increase the awareness of the people of Lokasi Baru Village to make animal manure into compost using the vermicomposting method. The method used in this activity is a combination of counseling and structured training. The result of this activity is that participants are able to see the potential resources they have in the form of animal manure and process it into vermicompost fertilizer which is more useful and has economic value. In practice, participants experienced problems at the stage of preparation of developmental media, hatching of worm eggs, and the composting process. Although in the implementation process the participants faced several obstacles, with assistance from the service team they were able to resolve these obstacles independently. After participating in this series of activities, the participants learned that the livestock waste they produce has economic value if managed properly. Therefore, at this time they have been practicing the knowledge gained independently. Keywords: shit livestock; Lumbricus sp.; vermicompost


A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R AC T Article history: Received: 02 January, 2018 Accepted: 17 January, 2018 Online: 30 January, 2018 This article describes the modeling procedure of a direct resistive heat model of the molybdenum sheet and its simulation with electrodes made from various materials. The main characteristic of the proposed model is its dynamic behavior, because model considers the movement of the molybdenum sheet. The simulation results are mutually compared and the optimal material parameters are selected. The development of the model, in which the movement of molybdenum sheet is considered is used for determination of optimal movement speed of the molybdenum sheet in order to achieve requested temperature. The presented model can be also used for determination of optimal electrode materials and its geometrical properties/shape.


ABSTRACT This study was to investigate the role of students' game self-efficacy in their game performance as well as in their visual behavior distributions and transfer patterns during their gameplay. A total of 48 university students were recruited for participating in a gameplaying task while wearing with an ASL Mobile Eye eye-tracker. After the gameplay, each participant was asked to report their self-efficacy of the gameplay. Based on the self-reported game self-efficacy (GSE) score, the participants were divided into the higher and lower GSE groups. Independent t tests were used to compare their game performances and eye-tracking indices for each area of interest. A lag sequential analysis was used to profile the visual transfer pattern for each group. The results showed that the higher GSE group had better performances than the lower GSE group. During the gameplay, the higher GSE students tended to pay more attention to the critical information for a successful play. In addition, the lag sequential analyses revealed different visual transfer patterns for the two GSE groups. The higher GSE group tended to show a critical-factor-centralized visual-trasfer pattern which demonstrated more planning and monitoring gameplaying strategies; while the lower GSE students, probably lacking the self-confidence of gameplaying, tended to pay more attention to the remaining time for the game.This study may provide suggestions for future game-based leraning system designs.


Hemineglect significantly hinders the functional daily activities of patients. In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy of a new method for the rehabilitation of this condition using the Mirror Neuron System (MNS). The MNS shows co-activation by the execution, observation and imagination of actions. We aimed to investigate if action observation and imagination can prime attention in hemineglect. We tested five post-stroke patients with hemineglect. The study used a counterbalanced design. The experimental condition involved forty video clips of daily life actions starting in the center of the screen and then moving to the contralesional hemifield of the screen, and filmed from a first-person perspective. A white screen during which the patients had to imagine the actions they had just observed followed each clip. The control condition featured the same video clips as the experimental condition but flipped in a way that the actions were oriented to the ipsilesional hemifield. Each condition consisted of the viewing of the appropriate forty clips for four days in a row. The study lasted for four weeks, with five repeated measures of hemineglect severity across the period. All of the results were analyzed using single case 95% confidence interval analyses. Every patient showed a reduced hemineglect after the experimental condition on at least one measure, and this effect was absent or statistically lower in the control condition. In conclusion, the results from the study were encouraging for future research and for the development of potential clinical treatments for hemineglect rehabilitation.


Structural colour has attracted more and more attentions owing to its advantages of non-fading, environment friendly and non-toxic. According to its behaviour with respect to the viewing angle, there are two groups: iridescent (angle-dependent) and nor iridescent (angle-independent). However, many applications in textile and fashion require stable colour which means the colour shows low angle dependent. In this work, 314nm silica nanoparticle was synthesized by using a solvent varying technic which based on Stöber method. Iridescent structurally coloured film was directly self-assembled by gravity sedimentation of silica nanoparticle. Then, film was triturated and redispersed by ultrasonic dispersion process. Low angle-dependent structurally coloured film was then obtained by the redispersed silica nanoparticles. The effect of redispersion time on the structural colours was studied. The result shows that a twenty-minute redispersion gives a less bright but low angle-dependent structural colour film.


The comparative knowledge in the conservation of watershed forestry of students majoring in Environmental Education was evaluated and compared the attitudes of students towards the conservation of watershed forestry. The 30 senior students majoring in Environmental Education at the Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahasarakham University was sampling and they were volunteered to participate in the evaluation. The research instruments comprised a manual on the conservation of watershed forestry, a leaflet on the conservation of watershed forestry. The test on the conservation of watershed forestry was a multiple-choice test consisted of 20 items in each four choices and an attitude test towards the conservation of watershed forestry comprising 10 items each with a 3-point response scale. Result showed that prior to participate in the conservation of watershed forestry, the student knowledge was assessed as the moderate level ( =13.57 ) and identified as the high level ( =17.60 ). Knowledge scores before and after their involvement in the conservation were compared and found significantly difference from each other at the P = 0.05. Before they participated in the conservation of watershed forestry, the students' attitude were rated as the 'agreed' level ( =2.63 ), and still remained at the same level after their participation ended ( =2.91). However, when compared to each other, these two figures showed the difference in student attitudes before and after their involvement in the conservation.


Zirconium alloys thin walled pipes with cross section being flattened in three points straightening are important parts in nuclear power station.The stress and strain in straightening deformation had been analyzed based on elastic-plastic theory,and the flatten rate computation formula was established assuming the plane displacement function being triangle series.The flattening experiments were performed for zirconium alloys thin walled pipes with diameter 72mm,wall thickness 2mm and support distance 600mm.The flattening of the cross section would take place when the load reaches 11000N.The computation formula could make help for further research in zirconium alloys thin walled pipes straightening technology.


Identifying interactions among drug compounds and target proteins are the basis of drug research, and plays a crucial in drug discovery. However, determining drug-target interactions (DTIs) and potential protein-compound interactions by biological experiment based method alone is a very complicated, expensive and time-consuming process. Hence, there is an intense motivation to design in silico prediction methods to overcome these obstacles. In this work, we designed a novel in silico strategy to predict proteome-scale DTIs based on the assumption that DTI pairs can be expressed through the evolutionary information derived from frequency profiles and drugs' structural properties. To achieve this, drug molecules are encoded into the substructure fingerprints to represent certain fragments; target proteins are first converted into Position-Specific Scoring Matrix (PSSM), and then encoded as 2-dimensional Principal Component Analysis (2DPCA) descriptors. In the prediction phase, the feature weighted Rotation Forest (RF) classifier is used to estimate whether drug and target interact with each other on four benchmark datasets, including Enzymes, Ion Channels, GPCRs and Nuclear Receptors. The prediction accuracy of cross-validation on the four datasets is 95.40%, 88.82%, 85.67%, and 82.22%, respectively. In order to have a clearer assessment of the proposed approach, we compared it with the Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) descriptors model, Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier model and existing excellent approaches, including DBSI, NetCBP, KBMF2K, SIMCOMP and RFDT. The excellent results of experimental indicated that the proposed approach can effectively improve the DTI prediction accuracy and can be used as a practical tool for the research and design of new drugs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


The complete cDNA sequence of luteinizing hormone receptor( LHR) gene in turbot( Scophthalmus maximus L) was cloned by degenerate primer PCR amplification and RACE technology,and provided a bioinformatics foundation and tissue expression for the study of LHR genetic characters. The full length of LHR gene is 3 814 bp,encodes 685 amino acids and shares a higher degree of homology w ith the Hippoglossus hippoglossus. The amino acid sequence analysis revealed that the LHR gene encoded hydrophobic protein and its relative molecular w eight w as 76. 54 ku,isoelectric point w as 7. 22,and contained signal peptides and transmembrane domains. Subcellular localization of LHR w as in endoplasmic reticulum and cell membrane. Meanw hile,the amino acids sequence contains thirty-three phosphorylation sites,five glycosylation sites,6 leucine-rich repeats,SCOP,PDB and seven conserved transmembrane helix domains. Furthermore,the secondary structure of LHR w as mainly composed of random coil. The tertiary structure of domain area of LHR protein show ed α-helix structure. In addition,w e found LHR protein probably plays a key role in transport,translation and metabolism process. Tissue expression analysis show ed LHR mRNA w as preferentially expressed in ovary,w hereas strong amplification signal w as also detected in liver. Therefore,the above results laid a genetic information foundation for further study of the LHR gene function in the turbot gonads development,providing the theoretical basis for fish breeding in marine aquaculture.


The purpose of this thesis is to study on the relation of modernization and traditional crafts in Korea in 1960' s. The object of tbis thesis is Lee Cheong-Joon's, early works, Jool, Gwanyeok and Maejabee. Those novels treated traditional craftsman. Those characters were a tightrope walker, a bowman and a hawker each other.
The modernization was started from 1960' s in Korea. In this period, an aspect of modernization was summarized development of industry, establishment of inderstrial capital, inflow of western culture and institutions. Generally speaking, Korea's modernization was industrialization by capitalism, and many Korean made light of a way of traditional because they were old types. But some way of traditional had mental values. At last, modernization gave material affluent but it took away many mental values.
Those Lee's works show to be expiated traditional crafts through the process of modernization in Korea. A funambulist, A bowman and a hawker wanted their pride of profession, but they failed by social environment that was effected of capitalism. These craftsmen opposed to deal with simply a technician and hated to regard their crafts as moneymaking.
In addition to their crafts were impossible to succeed by death of their successor or successor had deformity. As a result of analysis on the Lee Cheong- Joon's novels, we could discover a sacrifices of some traditional mental values in the dark side of modernization.


Preface. 1. In Defence of Sociology. 2. Living in a Post-Traditional Society. 3. What is Social Science? 4. Functionalism: Apres la Lutte. 5. 'Britishness' and the Social Sciences. 6. The Future of Anthropology. 7. Four Myths in the History of Social Thought. 8. Auguste Comte and Positivism. 9. The Suicide Problem in French Sociology. 10. Reason Without Revolution?: Habermas's Theory of Communicative Action. 11. Literature and Society: Raymond Williams. 12. T. H. Marshall, the State and Democracy. 13. Brave New World: The New Context of Politics. 14. The Labour Party and British Politics. Notes. Index.


Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether 3-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) imaging with volume rendering can accurately evaluate extensor tendons in the hand and wrist. Methods: Three-dimensional CT imaging was used to evaluate 14 cases. The location where the rupture was suspected was the wrist level in all cases. The accuracy of the image diagnosis was confirmed during surgery in 13 cases. Results: Three-dimensional CT could identify all extensor tendons proximal to the metacarpophalangeal joint. In the cases with rupture, the location of the distal stump could be identified, whereas that of the proximal stump was uncertain. The tendon stump location confirmed during surgery correlated well with the images. Conclusions: This study revealed the usefulness of 3D CT imaging in defining extensor tendons proximal to the metacarpophalangeal joint. This method increased the accuracy and ease of diagnosis and was always useful in surgical planning and patient education.


and viruses Abstract Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) is an oncolytic virus (OV) therapy derived from the JS1 strain of herpes simplex virus one that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2015 to be administered as direct injection therapy for patients with melanoma. The anti-tumor effects of T-VEC are due to viral-mediated tumor cell lysis at the site of administration and a local, and in some cases systemic, anti-tumor response via T cell-mediated host immune response pathways aided by GM-CSF. T-VEC has shown promising results for metastatic melanoma, particularly in patients with skin, lymph node, and soft tissue metastases (stages IIIB, IIIC, and IVa). Studies have explored the utility of T-VEC as monotherapy, neoadjuvant therapy, and in combination with other immunotherapies and targeted therapies. T-VEC has proven to improve durable response rates and overall survival with a very tolerable safety profile. More research is needed to better understand which patients are most likely to benefit from T-VEC therapy, which combination therapies are most effective, and how to sequence multimodality therapy. Additionally, new OVs are currently in development and/or being studied in clinical trials. In this review, we will discuss T-VEC as a monotherapy, neoadjuvant therapy, and combination therapy, in addition to future directions for melanoma therapy as it pertains to new OVs. progression-free survival longer recruiting patients. The estimated completion date is in January 2022. Finally, a non-randomized, open-label, multicenter phase 1b/2 trial (MASTERKEY-318) is assessing the efficacy and safety of intratumoral T-VEC in liver tumors as either monotherapy or in combination with pembrolizumab [43] . The study involves two groups of patients, distinguished based on the underlying disease. Group A will involve patients with non-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) liver metastases, including melanoma. Group B will include patients with HCC. This study is currently recruiting patients and has an estimated completion date of October 25, 2022.


BK viremia in renal transplant recipients increases risk of BK virus-associated nephropathy (BKVAN), posing a threat to allograft function. Up to 30% of all renal transplant recipients develop BK viremia and 1-10% will develop BKVAN. With no effective antiviral, the mainstay of therapy to prevent BKVAN is immunosuppression reduction (IR). Case series showed potential efficacy of using intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) to treat BK viremia. However, a randomized placebo-controlled study is needed.

 A multicenter prospective double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled proof-of-concept study was conducted at three transplant institutions. 14 adult renal transplant recipients diagnosed with BK viremia were randomized (1:1) to receive IVIG and IR versus placebo and IR and were followed for 12 months, with the primary endpoint defined as resolution of BK viremia by month 3. Samples were collected at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months for viral load quantification and immunological assays.

 At enrollment, clinical characteristics of the IVIG group (n = 5) were similar to the control group (n = 9), except that a larger number of participants in the control group had delayed graft function (0% vs. 77.8%, p = 0.02) and a higher baseline BK viral load (11300 vs 99300 copies/mL, p = 0.04). At 3 months, 2 out of 5 patients in the treatment group and 4 out of 9 patients in the control group cleared their viremia (40% vs 44.4%, RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.21 – 3.35, p > 0.99). Patients who received IVIG and IR had reduction in viral load at 6 months only (11300 vs 141 copies/mL, p = 0.008). Those who received IR alone had continued reduction in viral load starting at 2 months (99300 vs 4700, 1542, 906, 278 copies/mL; p < 0.05). No participant progressed to BKVAN. Immunological profiles of each participant will be correlated to the viral load.
 Serum BK viral loads were higher in the placebo group than the IVIG group at enrollment, but not significantly different between the two groups at any of the follow-up time points. The dotted line represents threshold of viremia clearance at less than 1000 copies/mL. * p = 0.04. Bar – median (Mann-Whitney between group comparisons).
 Median serum BK viral loads of the IVIG group decreased at the 6 months follow-up time point. The dotted line represents threshold of viremia clearance at less than 1000 copies/mL. ** p = 0.008 (Mann-Whitney comparing enrollment to each follow-up time point).
 Median serum BK viral loads of the placebo group continued to decrease at each follow-up time point. The dotted line represents threshold of viremia clearance at less than 1000 copies/mL. * p = 0.04; ** p = 0.006; *** p = 0.0008, 0.0003 (Mann-Whitney comparing enrollment to each follow-up time point).

 This proof-of-concept study illustrates that a clinical trial of IVIG versus placebo for the treatment of BK viremia in renal transplant recipients is feasible. IVIG may not be more effective than IR alone; its immunosuppressive effect may even limit BK clearance. A larger sample is needed to attenuate baseline differences between groups and to provide a higher level of evidence on IVIG therapy in BK viremia.

 All Authors: No reported disclosures.


The authors modified the numerical method of Smith et al(1984) to calculate the irradiation on the sea surface and in the interior of seawaters,and presented a real-time irradiation model.Application of this model in the Bohai Sea surface from September 24 to October 7,1998 and from April 28 to May 11 1999 showed a good agreement to the observation data; the bias between calculated and measured irradiation energies are 0.27% and 6.67% for the two periods,respectively.When the phytoplankton biomass is small,light irritation could promote algae growth quickly if other influencing factor are ignored; however,the increase in the phytoplankton biomass would shield the light from entering deep water,resulting in light attenuation and algae growth holdback.


Abstract In 1967 at the fourth exprmntl film festival in Knokke Belgium, a group of German activist film students led by Harun Farocki sought to disrupt screenings with politically engaged happenings. Rejecting these protests, Birgit and Wilhelm Hein returned to Cologne and with other inspired filmmakers co-founded Xscreen, an institution of underground, experimental, material, and independent films. Beginning with 1967/1968, the essay exams the post-World War II divergence of what Peter Wollen famously identified as "the two avant-gardes": the split of New German Cinema from New German Avant-garde Film and of political narrative cinema from material experimental film. An emphasis on New German Cinema in (German) film studies has exiled experimental cinema from film histories into the realm of art history and visual culture studies. Inversely, this foreclosure has erased the political potential of West German experimental or avant-garde cinema from narratives about its 1968.


Studies on well-being and its possible determinants are rare in the international literature, and almost non-existent in Brazil, particularly among youth. The present study focused on the epidemiology of well-being among adolescents belonging to a birth cohort. Well-being was measured using face-to-face interviews, with a question whose answer was based on a graphic scale of faces. 4,452 adolescents were interviewed. Approximately half (49.4%) classified themselves as very happy (face 1); this proportion was higher among girls than boys. Poorer adolescents were more likely than their wealthier peers to identify with the happiest face (number 1), but were also more likely to report moderate to low levels of well-being (faces 3-7). Body mass index was inversely associated with well-being. Among girls, physical activity was directly associated with well-being.


Satellite communication has begun being taken to the expanded scope of mobile services in the upcoming future such as 6G or beyond, attention has been paid to methodologies to combine the on-the-ground with off-the-ground wireless link. Along with advancing the modulation schemes, protocols and signal processing, it is a must-thing to secure physical devices working for them. As all the wireless systems need RF components and modules as in beamforming for 5G, the antenna compatible to the demands of accomplishing the NTN should be devised. In this paper, for the purpose of long-range signal transmission and mountability on the payload of an LEO satellite, we show a novel antenna system of high directivity as a smaller structure. A metamaterial surface is designed to reduce the volume of the classic satellite antenna system, because this is a flat geometry instead of a parabolic one. The high directivity of the antenna is shown increasing the gain of the primary antenna by over 5 dB as the frequency band is kept with no degradation in signals.


Performance of TCP/IP is studied on the wireless network using flow control and congestion control mechanism based on transmission rate. We discuss the elimination or the reduction of various phenomena of burst by flow controlling on transmission rate and verify that there are TCP ACK compression promblems on the queue by burst reaction while executing transmission rate controlled channels. Analyzing periodic burst reaction on the queue of source IP, the maximum value of queue is expected, which represents the applible expectation of throughput reduce and shows the improvement of performance by the reduce of throughput due to hi-directional traffic.


Objective:To evaluate the technique and effectiveness of combined antegrade and retrograde approach to ureteropelvic junction atresia endoscopily.Methods:We retrospectively reviewed our experience of 16 patients with ureteropelvic junction atresia resulted from nephrolithotomy for complex renal stones who underwent endopyelotomy using a combined antegrade and retrograde approach. A ureteroscope was inserted into ureter transurethrally and retrograde puncture was performed by using a stiff end of a 0.038-inch guidewire into the obliterated segment under C-arm fluoroscopic guidance. Simutaneous the other ureteroscope was inserted percutaneously and the retrograde inserted guidewire was extracted through the nephrostomy tract with a forceps. The ureteropelvic junction was dilated by fascial dilators in 4, was incised by cold knife in 10, and was incised by holmium:YAG laser in 2, respectively.Results:Of the 16 cases, 14 were treated successfully, the other 2 cases with stenosis or tortuosity of ureter were treated successfully by using a flexible ureterorenoscope transurethrally. Two 6 F double-J stent were placed postoperatively in 14, metal stent was placed in 2.Conclusions:Ureteropelvic junction atresia result from nephrolithotomy for complex renal stones can be successfully treated with rigid ureteroscope using a combined antegrade and retrograde approach. This technique is safe, effective and less invasive. The success rate maybe increased by using flexible ureteroscope transurethrally.


A new finite element method for the analysis of the micromechanical geometry of filament-wound composite was presented based on the fiber crossover existed in the filament-wound composite.The stress and strain fields in the composite cylinders were analyzed using the ABAQUS software packages,and the filament undulation and crossover were considered.In addition,the effect of winding pattern on the buckling critical load was investigated.The results indicated that the stress distributions were uniform when the analytical approach based on the conventional FE analysis,and the stress distributions were not uniform along the cylinder length and around the circumference for considering the filament undulation and crossover.In addition,the stress units were arranged in regular geometric pattern around circumference and along the axis of rotation.The fiber crossover and winding of composite cylindrical can be represented by filament-winding mosaic patterns in the present study.


The phenomenon is very significant growth in tourism has been able to create business opportunities so high, but it still not fully captured well by the majority of higher education institutions in particular tourism. In fact their educational programs are still oriented in learning programs for development through academic curriculum that prepares graduates only in accordance with the needs of industry. Most graduates oriented as job seekers, but not as the creator of the workplace (job creators). It is necessary for the implementation of innovative educational development program that is able to change the mindset and creativity of graduates integrated focus on aspects of entrepreneurship. Needs and challenges for students who have the competence and dare to create business opportunities that are relevant to the development of a highly competitive global business. Relevant education programs for students expected to be able to understand the business opportunities in entrepreneurship. The education program should be directed by a model of entrepreneurial opportunities through an integrated approach and an internship program in abroad more professional and international perspective. The internship program with overseas by working practices more effective and more facilitated with infrastructure which more adequate. By coaching and mentoring through effective and professional in the international scale indeed. Entrepreneurial education program with the apprenticeship starts from: academic learning, social learning, mental switching, cross cultural learning, and the development of the motivation for the students to have a serious intent in entrepreneurship, or graduates capable more critical thinking to face the highly prospective business opportunities in tourism this time. Keywords: Business opportunities; internships; entrepreneurship education


In this paper, a new formalism for specification of context-free languages is proposed. In this formalism, the application of an auxiliary alphabet and the imposition of additional conditions make it possible to obtain an extension of the class of nondeterministic finite automata. This approach allows to receive a mechanism that recognizes context-free languages. Despite the fact that we define the class of context-free languages, this formalism is similar to the nondeterministic finite automata. This circumstance allows to use classic algorithms of the equivalent transformation of nondeterministic finite automata for objects of formalism that specifies the context-free languages. As such a formalism, automata of a special kind, so called bracketed automata, are introduced. In this paper, we consider the algorithm for constructing a bracketed automaton according to the given context-free grammar. We give an example of a context-free grammar with iterations for the model of arithmetic expressions. Then we consider some equivalent transformations of bracketed automata. We introduce a new special alphabet and prove that on the basis of the alphabet, for each bracketed automaton the usual nondeterministic finite automaton can be constructed. Vise versa, for each nondeterministic finite automaton over a new alphabet, it is possible to construct an equivalent bracketed automaton. Everything done in the paper makes it possible to apply various algorithms of equivalent transformations of nondeterministic finite  automata, such as constructing of a minimal automata, universal automaton, etc., and obtain objects of the proposed formalism which are more acceptable in terms of some characteristics, for example, with fewer numbers of the vertices or the edges.


The polyphenolics of the Appalachian Asplenium complex (Smith & Harborne, 1971; Harborne et al., 1973) confirmed in all respects the concept of reticulate evolution in the species complex which had been proposed by Wagner (1954) on the basis of morphology and hybridization and chromosome studies. For example, A. montanum Willd. contained four C-glycosylxanthone compounds which were present in all hybrids containing the A. montanum genome. It has now been discovered that a parallel situation occurs in the chemistry of a group of European spleenworts, namely the Asplenium adiantum-nigrum complex. Asplenium adiantum-nigrum L. is an allotetraploid derived from A. cuneifolium Viv. and A. onopteris L. (Shivas, 1969). Asplenium onopteris is also a diploid progenitor of the tetraploid A. balearicum Shivas, the other diploid parent being A. obovatum Viv. (Shivas, 1969; Lovis et al., 1972). Thus, A. onopteris is analogous to A. montanum, the diploid ancestor of the tetraploids A. bradleyi D. C. Eaton and A. pinnatifidum Nutt. The analogy is further supported by the presence of C-glycosylxanthones in A. onopteris, A. adiantum-nigrum, and A. balearicum (Fig. 1). The European spleenworts are well known cytologically and morphologically (Lovis, 1977; Walker, 1979), but chemically they are virtually unknown. Several species have previously been surveyed for the presence of xanthones and proved negative: A. adiantum-nigrum (from Spain), A. ruta-muraria L., A. septentrionale (L.) Hoffm., A. trichomanes L., and the related species Ceterach officinarum DC. and Phyllitis scolopendrium (L.) Newm. (Smith & Harborne, 1971). A later reinvestigation of A. adiantum-nigrum indicated the presence of a xanthone-Oglycoside (Imperato, 1980). This particular compound had a 1,3,7,8-hydroxylation pattern in contrast to the 1,3,6,7-hydroxylation pattern of the C-glycosylxanthones found in the Appalachian spleenworts. It also had its sugar molecules attached by an oxygen linkage rather than by a direct carbon-carbon linkage as found in the C-glycosylxanthones. Imperato (1980) suggested that the absence of xanthones in the Spanish sample of Smith & Harborne (1971) may be due to phytogeographical factors.


Several theories propose that one of the core functions of inner speech (IS) is to support subjects in the completion of cognitively effortful tasks, especially those involving executive functions (EF). In this paper we focus on two populations who notoriously encounter difficulties in performing EF tasks, namely, people diagnosed with schizophrenia who experience auditory verbal hallucinations (Sz-AVH) and people with autism spectrum conditions (ASC). We focus on these two populations because they represent two different ways in which IS can fail to help in EF tasks, which can be illustrative for other mental conditions. First, we review the main components of EF (see section "Executive Functions"). Then we explain the functions that IS is taken to perform in the domain of EF (see section "Inner Speech and Executive Functions") and review the evidence concerning problems about EF in the two populations of our study: Sz-AVH (see section "Executive Functions and Inner Speech in Sz-AVH") and ASC (see section "Executive Function and Inner Speech in ASC"). After this we further detail our account about what a properly functioning IS can do for both populations and how different IS profiles may impact EF performance: in the case of Sz-AVH, the uncontrolled and intrusive character of IS negatively affects EF performance, whereas in ASC, EF is not sufficiently supported by IS, given the tendency in this population to present a diminished use of IS (see section "IS in ASC and Sz-AVH: How It Relates to EF"). We finally briefly discuss Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Developmental Language Disorders (DLD) (see section "Further Considerations").


Increasingly pelletizing discs are used for the recycling of dust and sludge. The applied pellet feed is highly variable, for example in terms of chemical composition, grain size distribution and raw density. These raw materials related factors lead to a destabilized pelletizing process, which initially must be homogenized through special mixtures, as well as the use of binders or additives. There are many possibilities to reach stringent restriction of material related target factors. On the one hand it is helpful to be flexible by changing the process parameters of the pelletizing disc. On the other hand, it is necessary to use a material-binder-formulation, which leads to a highly stable pelletizing process. The paper deals with an example of the use of agglomerating device, pelletizing disc, to prepare different dusts and sludges for material recycling. These dusts und sludges are mostly generated in metallurgical processes, e.g. sinterplant, blast furnace and steelworks.


This article outlines and critiques the main fiscal and economic rationales for the Private Finance Initiative – by far the dominant form of public-private partnership in the United Kingdom (UK) – and examines the impact of the policy on the long term financial viability of the National Health Service. It shows that the interest rate on private finance contains a significant element of 'excess return' to investors, and there is no evidence that this 'excess cost' to the public sector is offset by greater efficiency through the contracting process. It concludes that the private financing of public capital investment is highly problematic – and can have a serious impact on the finances and capacity of public authorities. Since 1992, the UK's Private Finance Initiative (PFI) has involved the private sector in the financing and building of public infrastructure and the delivery of related services. This article starts by outlining the motivations and rationales underpinning the implementation of PFI in the UK. It argues that PFI is one expression of the philosophical preference among successive governments for enlarging the private sector's role in the economy, and is driven by a (related) ideological belief in the inherent superiority of private over public models of investment and service delivery in addition to a political imperative to deliver high levels of capital investment into social and economic infrastructure while maintaining the appearance of a tight fiscal stance. Both Labour and Conservative governments have argued that PFI enhances the public interest through the provision of additional resources for public investment, and delivering infrastructure and servicesmoreefficiently than the available alternatives, such as public procurement. The contention of this article is these arguments are flawed. Investment through PFI cannot, in and of itself, lead to fiscal savings; and the economic case for the method is based on false assumptions and misleading evidence. If the economic and fiscal arguments for PFI are not justified, the key question becomes: what is the real impact of this procurement model on the public interest? The bulk of this article provides an evaluation of the impact of PFI on the health system in England, the National Health Service (NHS), a component of the public sector in which public interest considerations ought to be at the fore of decisionmaking. We show that, far from enhancing the public interest, the effect of PFI has been to reduce NHS capacity, thereby threatening its ability to meet need.


Dual-stage servos with multiple microactuators are an effective way to increase the servo performance for higher track density of hard disk drives. The multiple microactuators can be used to perform simultaneous read/write on multiple disk platters so as to achieve a higher data rate using the parallel processing. Also, faster, independent access to data is possible with multiple actuators. However, the interactions among microactuators may degrade system performance or even cause instability. In this paper, we mainly deal with the interaction problem for piezoelectric microactuators to achieve higher positioning accuracy. The control scheme for the microactuators, designed to reduce the interaction impact, is obtained by applying the generalized Kalman-Yakubovic-Popov lemma in conjunction with the Youla parameterization approach. Our simulation and experiment results demonstrate that the proposed control strategy can improve the position accuracy due to microactuator interaction by 40%.


: The purpose of this study is to determine the influence of fintech asset portfolio modeling on the financial performance of investment firms in Kenya. The study was guided by capital asset pricing model. Both descriptive and explanatory research designs were employed in this study. The study population was 57 investment firms. Data was collected using questionnaires and an in-depth interview guide. The use of robo advice, online asset visualization, use of passive investment funds in managing investment portfolios and asset management services have positive and significant relationship with performance of investment firms. However, automated trading has a positive but insignificant with performance of investment firms. However, personal financial management is negatively and significantly related with performance of investment firms. The study concluded that fintech asset portfolio in the management assets enhance financial performance; however, the services remain underdeveloped in some investment firms. The study thus recommends for the use of fintech asset portfolio in the management firms assets. Robo-advisors may help create an opportunity for asset managers looking for cheaper alternatives to receive advice on how to manage assets.


Carbendazim residues were analyzed by column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with photodiode array detection (PDA). The active ingredient was extracted by matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) from wheat grain on an acidic silica gel column using a methanol-dichloromethane mixture. The recovery rate for fortified samples was 87.3 ± 3.3% with a standard deviation (SD) of 2.9%. The detection limit was 0.02 μg/mL. The method was applied to the determination of carbendazim residues in wheat grain samples from a treated field.


To address the inert behavior of cognitive users who do not sense to increase their throughput in the collaborative spectrum sensing process, a spectrum sensing model with a contribution reward and punishment mechanism is proposed to increase the motivation of spectrum sensing. The whole spectrum sensing process is normalized to the number of transmitted bits, and the energy consumption in the sensing phase is considered comprehensively and a reward and punishment function with a reward and punishment strength of 0.25 is introduced in the transmission phase to create an evolutionary game model for spectrum sensing, further select an evolutionarily stable strategy, and use a distributed algorithm to deal with the convergence problem for a given initial participation rate. The simulation results show that the stability of Dual-User cooperative spectrum sensing is the game strategy obtained by the fixed small penalty factor (perception, perception), and the game strategy obtained by the fixed large penalty factor (perception, nonperception) and (nonperception, perception). The superiority of the present reward mechanism is verified in the multi-user case, which can significantly improve the spectrum-aware participation rate and increase spectrum-aware motivation.


Kinetic studies of the reactions of tertiary oximes (monoisonitroso acetone; MINA and butane 2,3 dione monooxime; BDMO) with some carboxylate (p-nitrophenyl acetate and p-nitrophenyl benzoate), phosphate (p-nitrophenyl diphenyl phosphate and bis (2,4-dinitrophenyl) phosphate) and sulfonate (p-nitrophenyl p-toluene sulphonate) esters in gemini surfactants have been conducted. The observed first-order rate constant versus surfactant profiles show micelle-assisted bimolecular reactions involving interfacial ion exchange between bulk aqueous media and micellar pseudophase. Experimental results showed that MINA exhibited better nucleophilic activity towards ester cleavage than BDMO. Pseudophase model has been applied in order to determine micellar second-order rate constants and binding constants. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of CyA monitoring using Co monitoring (fasting level after 12 h from last dose), and C2 monitoring (2 h after morning dose) on renal functions, lipid levels, CyA levels, and daily dosages of CyA in renal transplanted patients in the posttransplant period from the first month to the 36th month. In our center between 1992–2003, 37 of the 54 renal transplanted patients were treated with CyA, prednisolone, and mycophenolate mofetil or azathioprine. The mean age was 32.36 ± 10.32 and 35.00 ± 10.23 (p = 0.39) in Co (M/F: 18/7) and in C2 (9/3), respectively. Cadaveric donor (d), living related d, and living unrelated d were in four patients (p), 17 p and four p in Co, and two p, seven p, and three p in C2, respectively (p = 0.79). Chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) developed in 13 p (52%) and one p (8.3%) in Co and in C2, respectively (p = 0.013). Creatinine clearance values were 72.31 ± 23.10 mL/min and 78.73 ± 22.42 mL/min (p:0.621) at first month, 64.97 ± 22.58 mL/min and 78.00 ± 19.90 mL/min (p:0.065) at sixth month, 56.50 ± 19.62 mL/min and 76.62 ± 21.06 mL/min (p:0.006) at 12th month, 50.28 ± 24.79 mL/min and 80.87 ± 18.24 mL/min (p< 0.001) at 24th month, and 55.15 ± 19.21 mL/min and 86.65 ± 14.97 mL/min (p:0.004) at 36th month in C0 and C2, respectively. The mean daily dosages of CyA were 354.35 ± 122.63 and 266.67 ± 64.95 mg/d (p:0.031) at first month, 277.17 ± 77.94 and 250.00 ± 73.31 mg/d (p:0.228) at sixth month, 247.92 ± 58.48 and 211.36 ± 62.61 mg/d (p:0.09) at 12th month, 232.95 ± 56.90 and 170.45 ± 41.56 mg/d (p:0.003) at 24th month, and 240.63 ± 52.34 and 153.57 ± 46.61 mg/d (p:0.002) at 36th month in C0 and C2, respectively. In C2, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, uric acid, total cholesterol (C), LDL-C, and triglyceride levels were lower than those monitored with C0. In C2, HDL-C levels were also higher than those monitored with C0. None of these patients returned to dialysis or died in this period. In conclusion, during the first 36 months with monitoring C2, preservation of renal function, control of blood pressure serum lipids and uric acid were better than those with monitoring C0. In addition, daily dose of CyA was lower in C2 method and, at the same time, this effect of C2 can be accepted as cost effective.


Based on the relaying scheme which permits the relay node to jointly encode the data information from two source nodes, a new network low density parity check (NLDPC) code is designed for the Rayleigh fading channel. Since the log-likelihood ratio (LLR) of the signal received from the fading channel is not a Gaussian random variable, the Gaussian Approximation algorithm cannot be employed directly in the density evolution. In this paper, a new hybrid bilayer Gaussian Approximation algorithm is derived to predict the performance of NLDPC codes over Rayleigh fading channels, based on which an optimization algorithm is developed to search for the degree distribution of the NLDPC code. Simulations show that, in a network with two sources, one relay and one destination, the system with the designed NLDPC code holds a performance gap of less than 0.6dB from the threshold.


25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) deficiency and genetic variants at the 17q12‐21 locus are independent risk factors for respiratory tract infections (RTIs). We aimed to investigate whether the effect of 25(OH)D at birth and 1 year of age and the polymorphism at the 17q12‐21 locus, or interactions between these two factors, increase susceptibility to RTIs in the first year of life.


Universities' academic research caliber is closely associated with their publication of academic papers.In terms of the quantity and quality of these papers,a positive correlation was displayed that the higher the research ability,the more high-quality papers they published.Based on the analysis of CNKI collected papers published by the faculty of 12 agriculture and forestry universities in 2007-2011,this paper pointed out that universities should attach great importance to the scientific frontier research questions and urgent issues,thus to make the most efficient use of their research fund and to improve the proportion of their senior staff and the number of doctorate recipients.In addition,the paper advocated that provincial colleges and universities should highlight regional characteristics to seek for a way of characteristic development in the advance of their academic research ability.


There is possibility that diazotrophic bacteria populations could be disseminated by rice seeds. The purpose of this study was to quantify the diazotrophic bacteria population that colonize a traditional cultivar (EEA-406) and a modern cultivar (IRGA-419) seeds of wetland rice. For quantification of the endophytic population, shelled seeds were sterilized externally and crushed in saline solution. An aliquot was used for inoculation of the NFb semi-solid medium, selective for diazotrophs, and the MR2A solid medium, used for the total bacteria cultivation. For quantification of epiphytic population, shelled seeds were washed in sterile saline solution and an aliquot used for inoculation in the same media. Diazotrophic bacteria occurred in high numbers in seeds of both traditional and modern rice cultivar. The epiphytic population was greater than the endophytic population in seeds of both cultivars. The results show that wetland rice seeds could be considered an important vehicle for diazotrophs dissemination.


The article deals with the investigation of grammatical means of achieving expressiveness in compressed texts. In addition, the peculiarities of functioning of these means are considered in the article. Researches of linguistic expressive means are closely related to stylistics, thus, expressive means in compressed texts are, first of all, represented by stylistic devices as the expressive discourse is actualized through stylistics. Grammatical level of the language is traditionally subdivided into morphological and syntactical, correspondingly we distinguish between morphological and syntactic grammatical expressive means. Thus, at the morphological level compressed texts are usually characterized by the use of certain parts of speech with expressive meanings. Here mostly belong such categories of words as adjectives and adverbs. Other morphological means may include the use of different tenses. As to syntactic level, the expressive means in the compressed texts are represented by syntactic synonymy, inversion, the use of different syntactic structures (sentence types), the use of short sentences in answers to questions, different types of repetition, ellipse, direct speech, parallel constructions. On the whole, both grammatical morphological means and grammatical syntactic ones are rather productive in achievement of expressiveness in the compressed texts.


Fatigue tests of crack propagation from a pre crack in thin walled tubular specimens made of a medium carbon steel were performed under cyclic torsion with and without superposed static tension. The condition of the transition from shear to tensile mode and the propagation behavior during this transition were investigated from the viewpoint of fracture mechanics. The direction of fatigue crack propagation follows the direction of the maximum of the total range of the tangential stress, Δσθ max near the crack tip and then gradually changes to the direction perpendicular to the maximum of the total range of the principal nominal stress. The propagation rate is faster than the uniaxial data when compared at the onset of crack extension and at high stress intensity factors. The former acceleration is caused by crack closure and the latter acceleration is due to the non singular T stress. The negative nonsingular stress induces excessive plasticity ahead of the fatigue crack, and then accelerates the fatigue crack.


In this paper, we present results of application of Tsallis entropy in detection of denial of service attacks. Two detectors, one based on Tsallis and the other one based on Shannon's entropy, have been applied in several attack simulations, and their properties have been compared. The simulated attack is Synchronize packet SYN flood. A simple packet distribution, that is, entropy of source addresses are considered. In both cases, cumulative sum control chart algorithm is used for change point detection. Properties of two detectors that are compared are detection delay and rate of true and false positives. The results show that Tsallis entropy-based detector can outperform with respect to false positive rate Shannon-based one but that requires careful tuning of Tsallis Q parameter that depends on characteristics of network traffic. The detection delay of two detectors is approximately the same. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Let H(C) be the group of homeomorphisms of the cantor set, C onto itself. Let p: C → M be a (continuous) map of C onto a compact metric space M, and let G(p, M) be {h ∈ H(C) | ∀x ∈ C, p(x) = ph(x)}. G(p, M) is a group. The map p: C → M is standard, if for each (x, y) ∈ C × C such that p(x) = p(y), there is a sequence and a sequence such that xn → x and hn(xn) → y. Standard maps and their associated groups characterize compact metric spaces in the sense that: Two such spaces, M and N, are homeomorphic if and only if, given p standard from C onto M, there is a standard q from C onto N for which G(p, M) = h−1G(q, N)h, for some h ∈ H(C). That is, two compact metric spaces are homeomorphic if and only if they determine, via standard maps, the same classes of conjugate subgroups of H(C). The present note exhibits two natural structure theorems relating algebraic and topological properties: First, if M = H ∪ K (H, K ≠ π) , compact metric, and p : C → M are given, then G(p, M) is isomorphic to a subdirect product of G(p, M)/S(p, H\K) and G(p, M)/S(p, K\H) where, generally, S(p, N) is the normal subgroup of homeomorphisms supported on p−1M . Second, given M and N compact metric and p : M → N continuous and onto, let M ≠ M − CID*α ≠ 0 , where {Dα}α ∈ A is the collection of non-degenerate preimages of points in N Then there is a standard p : C → M such that fp : C → N is standard and there is a homomorphism .


How grim it is sometimes to sit in the back of a classroom and watch a student teacher go through his first trembling paces. Our hearts go out to the quivering neophyte as he struggles to juggle all of those new and mysterious learnings and skills in an effort to capture the glibness of his master or cooperating teacher. Moist with controlled desperation, the student teacher wants so to ask the right kind of questions, to get all of his students to participate, and to remember all of their names. He wants to summarize brilliantly, to not talk too much, to leap to the blackboard to write down a vital fact, to pause significantly with the subtle implication that a point he has just stressed will surely appear on the mid-term exam. Every inch of him is stretching to become a teacher. "Well," some ask, "what's so grim about that? With that kind of focus, don't you think he will make a fine teacher, uh . . ., with lots more experience of course?" Our answer is that he probably won't. He may become a facile teacher, but he probably won't be a fine one, because we see too many like him who are unwilling to solve the problem of what subject matter to teach. That is a harsh statement and we do not make it lightly, but our observations affirm that despite their energy, their ambition, even their passion, too many teachers are devoting themselves to pieces of puff, learnings which add up to rather large zeros. We sense that many, too many, teachers are still speared on the horns of the subject matter dilemma. It is a conflict which has been with us since the beginnings of the profession, stemming from some great unexamined assumptions which have been passed on from one tired relay runner to the next.


In Infectious Behavior, neurobiologist Paul Patterson examines the involvement of the immune system in autism, schizophrenia, and major depressive disorder. Although genetic approaches to these diseases have garnered the lion's share of publicity and funding, scientists are uncovering evidence of the important avenues of communication between the brain and the immune system and their involvement in mental illness. Patterson focuses on this brain-immune crosstalk, exploring the possibility that it may help us understand the causes of these common but still mysterious diseases. The heart of this engaging book, accessible to nonscientists, concerns the involvement of the immune systems of the pregnant woman and her fetus, and a consideration of maternal infection as a risk factor for schizophrenia and autism. Patterson reports on research that may shed light on today's autism epidemic. He also outlines the risks and benefits of both maternal and postnatal vaccinations.


A rapid and sensitive atomic-fluorescence method is described for the determination of zinc in feed-water to high pressure boilers within the range 0·0004 to 0·01 p.p.m. A microwave-excited electrodeless discharge tube is used as the excitation source to stimulate zinc fluorescence at 213·9 nm from a sample solution sprayed into the air-hydrogen flame.The limit of detection of the final method was 0·0004 p.p.m. of zinc and within-batch coefficients of variation were 1·2 per cent. at the 0·01 p.p.m. level and 3·4 per cent. at the 0·005 p.p.m. level.Impurities and additives that are likely to be present in the feed-water were examined and it was shown that none interfered.The method was compared with a solvent-extraction-atomic-absorption method.


Hepatic paragonimiasis is a form of ectopic infestation disease which can be caused by paragonimus. In this case report, we reported a case was diagnosed and treated as a hepatic paragonimiasis in 2015 in our hospital. The patient was accepted left lobotomy resections. Pathologic diagnosis showed that parasitic disease on the left liver lobe. Then is diagnosed as paragonimiasis. But the symptoms and recurrence was not found during follow-up period for 4 months.


Use of air conditioners has been increasing due to economic development. As a result, ratio of the electrical consumption by the air conditioning equipment is continuously increasing, and the lack of electricity at day time or the remaining of electricity at night time is becoming a problem. Ice storage technology is one of the methods to moderate the peak demand and is used widely. Ice storage is the technology that ice will be generated in the night time and the ice will be used in the day time for air conditioning. This will enable to flatten the demand of electricity between day time and night time. The large capacity ice storage chiller is required in the market; therefore we developed the largest capacity semihermetic single screw compressor in the world with the capacity of 490TR in the ice generation mode and 730TR in the cooling mode. For this design, the internal volume index was optimized for both the operation of ice generation and cooling mode. In addition, as for the critical speed which would be an issue in the development of the large compressor, the bearing location was optimized to avoid the resonance with the rotating speed. Consequently, 5% of COP improves from the existing model especially for ice storage chiller. We believe that we can contribute to the environment protection with the high efficient air conditioning equipment by using this compressor.


A convenient method to prepare 4-formyl-3-arylsydone (I) from 3-arylsydnone by the Vilsmeier reaction in moderate yields (30%-76%) was carefully investigated.

According to the Schmidt reaction, I reacts with sodium azide in concentrated sulfuric acid to produce 3-arylsydnone-4-carboxamide (II). But 3-arylsydnone-4-carhonitrile (III) is obtained, if dilute sulfuric acid was used instead.

When III treates with concentrated sulfuric acid, II is obtained in good yield. The all possible reaction mechanisms are suggested.


This is a draft chapter for a study that aims to update the study of T.N.B.M. Spronken, M. Attinger, Procedural Rights in criminal proceedings: Existing Level of Safeguards in the European Union, published on 12 December 2005. This chapter aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the ECtHR case law on four fundamental rights: right to information, right to legal advice, right to legal assistance free of charge, right to interpretation and translation. The study will be completed in September 2009.


Objectives – To evaluate the attitudes and perceptions of adults towards orthodontic treatment. To determine the motivating factor behind orthodontic treatment and the discomfort caused by fixed orthodontic appliances. Methods- A cross sectional questionnaire based survey was conducted among 220 adult orthodontic patients from orthodontic outpatient visiting dental clinics. Ten items questionnaires were used to collect the data. Chi square test was applied by using S.P.S.S. software version 11. Results –Maintaining oral hygiene with 41% emerged as a major perception towards orthodontic treatment, next problem faced is duration of treatment with 37.3% subjects reported. 86% subjects reported teeth as a major feature for facial aesthetics. Only 4.5 % of subjects reported orthodontic treatment expensive. There are 12% subjects feel that there is lack of information towards orthodontic treatment still prevailing. Conclusion – The principal conclusion reported in present study is that people consider smile as a major factor for aesthetics. Reason for other patients not opting for ortho treatment is not because this being too expensive but lack of information. There has to be a special campaign towards educating school children towards treatment modalities present and what difference they can bring in someone's life.


Aims: Should the tibial tray be rotated about the femoral component of a total knee arthroplasty? Literature review provides evidence commending rotation and neutral alignment. We wanted to provide evidence to help this debate. Method: We developed a knee jig allowing full range of movement of a knee arthoplasty. Under compression, we studied the isolated effect of tibial tray rotation about the femoral prosthesis in þxed and mobile bearing prostheses. We photographed the tibio-femoral and patello-femoral articulations. Results: A mobile bearing prosthesis at 15 degrees of tray rotation suffered posteromedial and anterolateral polyethylene impingement. At 25 degrees, the medial femoral component lifted off. The þxed bearing prosthesis showed similar polyethylene impingement, but no femoral condyle lift off. In both prostheses, tray rotation increased lateral patella facet loading, which increased with knee sexion. Conclusion: Mobile bearing prosthesis was less tolerant than þxed bearing prosthesis to tibial tray rotation. Rotation caused polyethylene impingement, which would generate wear debris. Patella tracking was not improved by tibial tray rotation. The mobile bearing prosthesis is less congruent at the tibio-femoral articulation. Therefore there is less Odriving forceO to rotate the polyethylene to align it to the femoral component, when the tray is rotated. We recommend the tibial tray be aligned to the femoral prosthesis in neutral.


In August 2007,the armed forces of the SCO(Shanghai Collaborating Organization,SCO) member states held a world-renowned "Peace Mission-2007" joint anti-terrorism military drill.Taking this drill as an example,the influence of the meteorological environment conditions was analyzed on combat effectiveness of battle modes and weapons in the five stages of the joint anti-terrorism military exercises.Judgment matrixes of AHP(Analytic Hierarchy Process) were built using the Expert-Scoring Method and reasonable Scale Transformation Method.Furthermore,an efficiency evaluation model of meteorological environment influencing on the anti-terrorism campaign was established by using of AHP method.On the whole,the model assessment results are in accord with the objective facts.Consequently,as far as enlarging the anti-terrorism combat effectiveness and the predominance in battlefield weather conditions is concerned,the evaluation model is of great importance in decision-making support and it can bear great military and economic benefits.


Indian boxers have been sent to Havana for training and competitions and one Cuban coach, Blas Fernandez, remains an integral part of the sports institute inPatiala, Punjab,where India's top boxers train.) Dasgupta's failure to locate India's story in the context of the global history of boxing explainswhy he nevermanages to clearly establish what he proposes: that there is a thread that runs through Havana, Harlem (in New York, the spiritual home of professional boxing) and Haryana – three centres of excellence located in different parts of the world. It can be argued that Dasgupta does not pay enough attention to the evolution of sports in India either. He interviews a large number of present and former boxers, their families, coaches, administrators and fellow journalists, and their observations, though often at odds with each other, establish one basic fact: that although some things remain the same (faulty administration, regional differences), the lives of top boxers have changed for the better in certain parts of the country, particularly in Haryana. This, however, is not an isolated phenomenon, but part of the bigger changes that have taken place in the Indian sporting scene in the recent past. The change has begun to be reflected in India's medal hauls at the Olympics, from a bronze each in 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney to a silver in 2004 Athens, a gold and two bronze in 2008 Beijing and two silver and four bronze in 2012 London. Meanwhile the country's cricket board has become rich beyond imagination, thanks to the introduction in 2008 of a city-based franchise league played in the Twenty20 format, and one of the world's richest sports, Formula One Racing, has been hosting a Grand Prix in India since 2011. As a knock-on effect of these developments, the Indian sports ministry spent an unprecedented amount of money (unprecedented in the Indian context, though meagre by global standards) to prepare its top athletes for the London Olympics. Bhiwani Junction falls far short of being the definitive history of boxing in India, precisely because it fails to see the connections between boxing and the changing face of Indian sport, or indeed Indian life. Instead, the reader is led through petty squabbles among coaches and administrators, conspiracy theories about a Pakistani chief of the International Amateur Boxing Association and a sketchy blueprint for the future of Indian boxing. It is not much, but then Bhiwani Junction is the only stop for anyone who wants to know more about the people and places connected to boxing in India. And readers who can pick their way through facile observations and useless asides can be surprised to find little vignettes such as Krishan's succinct summation of his boxing style.


Theodolites represent a well-established three-dimensional-point-measuring technology. However, when used for robot applications they have to be properly calibrated to fulfil the necessary accuracy requirements. The theodolite calibration methods reported in the literature involve the use of costly sophisticated equipment not easily available to most users. Therefore, a new simplified calibration technique is presented based on the use of a graduated precision bar suspended freely to align with the vertical direction. To develop efficient mathematical models, the theodolites will be regarded as 2R open-ended mechanisms with the end-effector axis directed along the line of sight. The proposed models are then coded in a computer program designed to verify the validity of the technique presented. The simulation results will be presented at the end of the paper.