The user-specific information and the using the corresponding search word is the search process is executed search time for specifying a user with a search word in association with the search time specific information for identifying, searching the word storage means for storing the search word ( see 12a) by, a pair of the same user out of the interval of the search time associated with the specific information within the predetermined time, the search word, the search time is the first search word and later the search word as a pair in the sequence of the search time search It generates a word (S4). Among the generated pair search word, and calculating a first number of occurrences pair search word and (S7), calculating a second number of occurrences pair search a reverse order to the order of the search time relative to the word as opposed pair search word (S8) first the case where the magnitude relationship between the number of occurrence and the second occurrence number which satisfies a predetermined condition, and stores the first search word and the search word as a thesaurus later (S9, S10).


The decision taken by the fourth ministerial meeting on public liability insurance on 15 November 2002 forwarded a package of reforms implementing key recommendations of the Panel of Eminent Persons' Review of the Law of Negligence chaired by Justice Ipp ('the Ipp Panel') covering the basis of liability, including duty of care, contribution to injuries and assumption of risk. These reforms of the Ipp Panel, if adopted nationally, can create a climate for more affordable and accessible public liability cover.


Selective delivery of a high level of cisplatin (CDDP) to the omentum, intraperitoneal disseminated tumors and lymph nodes was studied using a dosage form of CDDP-activated carbon. Although intraperitoneal CDDP-activated carbon delivered much higher levels of CDDP to the omentum, tumors and lymph nodes, a primary burst phenomenon of CDDP occurred just after administration. This indicates that activated carbon is an unsuitable particle to provide a slow steady release of CDDP.


Requirements engineering is concerned with the identification of the goals to be achieved by the envisioned IS/IT system. The processes involved include three interrelated functions: requirements elicitation, specification and validation. This study represents an exposition of requirements elicitation/specification concepts and challenges targeting the Government Sector. Groups of Project Managers, Business Analysts and users of IS/IT systems have been surveyed and interviewed and the data on 19 projects is analyzed to ascertain experiences and problems when eliciting and specifying requirements. A 17 factor assessment model is suggested and used for evaluation of the requirements specification documents of the project cases studied. The research concludes that there is considerable doubt within the Government Sector studied as to why it is necessary to produce a requirements specification in the first instance. The design and implementation of an IS/IT system can only be as good as the statement of requirements and a lot more resources and attention need to be channeled to this very important task of requirement specification as part of the project management process.


This paper makes an analysis on the impact of foreign banks' equity entry on banking performance of host country. The impact of foreign banks' equity entry on banking performance of host country is closely related to the economic development stages of home country and host country. There exists typical asymmetric effect and some domestic banks couldn't benefit from foreign banks' equity entry. In fact,only foreignequity entry from high income countries is helpful to the development of domestic banks. The study couldn't provide supports about banks of developing countries entering into developed countries through equity participation. But it supports the reverse statement. It comes up to the real situation of foreign banks' equity entry at present.


Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) is a hereditary disease that affects enamel formation. The patients with AI have esthetic and functional problems due to damage of multiple teeth. So most AI patients resolve these problem through the conservative and prosthodontic treatments. In our case, It was difficult to obtain good results in means of conservative and prosthodontic treatments, because the AI patient had skeletal Class III malocclusion. Moreover, because of vertical dimension loss due to severe dental caries and maxillofacial skeletal disharmony, the ordinary prosthodontic treatment was troublesome. So we planned orthognathic surgery to resolve these problems. After the endodontic treatment, temporary restoration was delivered for stable post-operative occlusion. Then orthognathic surgery was done, and final restoration was delivered in stable period. We obtained satisfactory results in esthetic and functional aspects through multidisciplinary management(conservative treatment, prosthodontics and orthognathic surgery).


In this study. 2I patients between the ages of 40 and 75 (mean age 61) who were within the first 48 hours of acute ischaemic stroke were included. Isovolaemic haemodilution with Dextran 40 (rheomacrodeks) was applied. the mean Htc value was 43 +-4.8 (38-55) before treatment. After five days of haemodilution therapy. the value descended to 35+-2 which is a significant change. The ratio of neurological defidts also showed a decrease. Improvement in EEG findings and P02 levels observed were not considered significant. No complications were observed during the treatment.


The GLEAMS (Groundwater Loading Effects of Agricultural Management System, version 3.0) water quality model was used to predict hydrology and water quality and to evaluate the effects of soil types from a cattle-grazed pasture field of Bermuda-Rye grass rotation with poultry litter application as a fertilizer in North Alabama. The model was applied and evaluated by using four years (1999-2002) of field-measured data to compare the simulated results for the 2.71- ha Summerford watershed. values between observed and simulated runoff, sediment yields, TN, and TP were 0.91, 0.86, 0.95, and 0.69, respectively. EI (Efficiency Index) of these parameters were 0.86, 0.67, 0.70, and 0.48, respectively. The statistical parameters indicated that GLEAMS provided a reasonable estimation of the runoff, sediment yield, and nutrient losses at the studied watershed. The soil infiltration rates were compared with the rainfall events. Only high intensity rainfall events generated runoff from the watershed. The measured and predicted infiltration rates were higher during dry soil conditions than wet soil conditions. The ratio of runoff to precipitation was ranging from 2.2% to 8.8% with average of 4.3%. This shows that the project site had high infiltration and evapotranspiration which generated the low runoff. The ratio of runoff to precipitation according to soil types by the GLEAMS model appeared that Sa (Sequatchie fine sandy loam) soil type was higher and Wc (Waynesboro fine sandy loam, severely eroded rolling phase) soil type relatively lower than the weighted average of the soil types in the watershed. The model under-predicted runoff, sediment yields, TN, and TP in Wb (Waynesboro fine sandy loam, eroded undulating phase) and Wc soil types. General tendency of the predicted data was similar for all soil types. The model predicted the highest runoff in Sa soil type by 105% of the weighted average and the lowest runoff in Wc soil type by 87% of the weighted average


The research is about the use of pictures and realia to improve students' vocabulary mastery of the third grade students of SDN Karanggondang 01 in the academic year of 2017/2018. The objectives of this research are (1) To find out the influence of using pictures and realia to improve students' vocabulary mastery of the third grade students of SDN Karanggondang 01 in the academic year of 2017/2018. (2) To find out the significance improvement before and after teaching vocabulary using pictures and realia.
This research is Classroom Action Research (CAR). It was conducted in two cycles. Each cycle consisted of four steps, they were planning, action, observation, and reflection. The writer took role as an observer who observed everything that happened in the class while the teacher performed CAR for the students. The number of the students in this research was 28 students. The writer used test and observation checklist to collect the data.
The result showed that the implementation of pictures and realia to improve students' vocabulary mastery of the third grade students of SDN Karanggondang 01 in the academic year of 2017/2018 is really successful. The students who passed the passing grade improved gradually from the cycle I and the cycle II. The passing grade was 65. The improvement of the students' vocabulary mastery in using pictures and realia of the third grade students of SDN Karanggondang 01 is significant. In the cycle I, the t-test was 7.002 and the t-table was 2.056. The significant level was 5%. Then, in the cycle II, the t-test was 7.473.


Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of placenta on osteoporosis. Methods 200 patients with osteoporosis were divided into control group and treatment group,100 cases in each group,the patients in control group were treated with calcium carbollate and vitamin D3tablets, the patients in the treatment group were treated with daily oral placenta capsule, the treatment effects was compared between the two groups. Results In the control group,the differences of new bone formation of three biochemical indexes before and after the treatment were not statistically sig-nificant(P0.05);while in the treatment group,the differences of new bone formation of three biochemical indexes before and after the treatment were statistically significant(P0.05). Conclusion The placenta can improve the new bone formation of three biochemical indexes,and has obvious therapeutic effect on osteoporosis.


During the year 2002 we continued the study of the half-submerged Ubaid/pre-Late Chalcolithic village inside the Dam, east to the flooded site of Tilbes Höyük. For the yearly activities the focus was the study of materials rescued during former campaigns. On the other hand, we started the research on two sites from Tigris region, Redwan Tepe and Gre Dimse. Those will be flooded afterwards by the water of Illisu Dam.


ABSTRACT The purpose of this article is to explore stakeholders' perspectives on the relative advances of digital preservation management over traditional heritage management approaches in developing countries, particularly in Africa. Specific examples from the context of Ghana are used to help understand the particular factors that influence the relative advantage of the digital preservation management innovation. The article is based on the findings of a PhD study that explored contextual factors influencing the management and preservation of digital cultural heritage resources in Ghana and it is underpinned by Rogers' Diffusion of Innovation model. An interpretive qualitative approach was employed to solicit the perspectives of 29 key stakeholders from 13 institutions in Ghana through semi-structure interviews. This was followed by an analysis of relevant literature to ascertain how the findings from the context of Ghana relate to other developing countries in Africa. Stakeholders perceive that the digital preservation management innovation has relative advantages over other traditional ways of managing and preserving heritage information in many ways, including; as an effective means to manage cultural heritage resources; enhancing collaboration and resource sharing; contributes to the building strong cultural institutions; leading to the establishment of a national digital memory for developing countries; as an effective means to preserve value of cultural identity for the long term into the digital future; and enabling research and advancement of cultural knowledge. Findings from the literature analysis also show that these relative advantages of the digital preservation management (DPM) innovation occur in similar forms in other developing countries in Africa. Further empirical studies in other developing countries are recommended to fully ascertain the main relative advantages of the DPM innovation over traditional approaches of heritage resources management and preservation.


Carlos was among the many undocumented children in the United States. A native and citizen of Mexico, he entered the United States (U.S.) illegally when he was five years old. Two years later, his father was granted legal permanent resident (LPR) status, but Carlos did not get LPR status until he was 19 years old. Two years after becoming an LPR, Carlos was arrested for smuggling, placed into removal proceedings, and he faced deportation back to Mexico. Unfortunately for Carlos, he did not satisfy the requirements to obtain Cancellation of Removal - a common form of discretionary relief available in removal proceedings.For LPR Cancellation applicants, the applicant must have five years of residence as an LPR, have seven years' physical presence after admission to any status, and not have been convicted of an Aggravated Felony. When Carlos applied for Cancellation, he was faced with the problem that although he had been physically present in the United States and living with his parents for 16 of his 21 years, he had not had LPR status for five years, nor had he accrued seven years of presence post-admission. The government argued that the time requirements for Cancellation must be met using only the applicant's residence and admission. Carlos argued that as an unemancipated minor living with his parents, his father's dates of admission and grant of LPR status should be imputed to him, which would render him eligible for Cancellation. Along with a case involving similar issues, Carlos' case was heard in the U.S. Supreme Court in the October 2011 Term.This article discusses whether the parent's time in residence and date of admission (immigration status) should be imputed to an unemancipated minor; the two recently decided U.S. Supreme Court cases addressing this issue; the policy implications and impact of an imputation rule on undocumented children; and the impetus and potential vehicles for changing the status quo.


This article provides GP-CORE norms for a South African university sample, which are compared to published data obtained from a United Kingdom university sample. The measure appears to be both reliable and valid for this multilingual and multicultural South African sample. The profiles of the psychological distress reported by white South African undergraduate students and UK undergraduate students are similar, while black South African students reported higher levels of distress than both their white counterparts and the UK students. It is argued that this is a result of the persistent inequalities entrenched during apartheid. Within the South African sample, undergraduate students reported greater psychological distress than postgraduate students.


The authors randomly sample appropriate range image points and solve equations determined by these points for the parameters of selected primitive type. From K samples they measure residual consensus to choose one set of sample points that determines an equation having the best fit for the largest homogeneous surface patch in the current processing region. The residual consensus is measured by a compressed histogram method that works at various noise levels. The estimated surface patch is extracted out of the processing region to avoid further computation. A genetic algorithm is used to accelerate the search speed.<<ETX>>


In terms of the data of core analysis and well-logging the lithological and physical characteristics are confirmed.At the same time the physical properties lower limit of inter-salt unconventional effective reservoir of Puwei Area in Dongpu Sag are also given by using oil testing method.It is revealed that the lower limit of porosity and permeability are 8.0% and 0.22 mD respectively.Based on the study of physical properties lower limit controlling factors of inter-salt unconventional reservoir effectiveness are discussed.It is suggested that fractures,shale content and carbonate content are important factors that influence the effectiveness of inter-salt unconventional reservoir of Puwei Area.It is known that the upper limit values of shale content and carbonate content are 17.5% and 27.0% respectively.


Endoscopic resection for early gastric cancer is recommended when the risk of lymph node metastasis is negligible and should be performed through submucosal dissection due to well‐established short‐ and long‐term results. To overcome technical difficulties and decrease adverse events some techniques have been studied. This review outlines current strategies for improving patient selection and highlights innovative techniques that help minimize adverse events. Moreover, we discuss how to improve management after curative and noncurative resections.


A high-birefringence spiral Sagnac waveguide (SSW) device fabricated via direct laser writing (DLW) using a two-photo polymerization (2PP) technique is proposed, designed and experimentally demonstrated as an ultrahigh magnetic field sensor. The sensor comprises a Y-style tapered waveguide and a SSW containing two microfluidic channels. The SSW has a total length of ~ 2.4 mm and a spiral radius of ~ 200 μm. Due to the asymmetric structure, the SSW has a high birefringence of 0.016, which can be designed as a magnetic field sensor, as a magnetic fluid can be filled into the microfluidic channel changing the guiding mode and the birefringence and consequently leading to a change in phase of the interferometer when the applied magnetic field changes. The experimental results show that the proposed photonic device has a sensitivity to magnetic field as high as 0.48nm/Oe within a range from 10 Oe to 100 Oe. The proposed device is very stable and easy to be fabricated, and can therefore be used for weak magnetic fields detection.


Over the past decade, a number of summer camps have been organized for children with cancer. The nature, frequency and type of acute medical problems which occur in this setting are not known. In order to address this issue, we performed a prospective review of all acute medical problems at a camp for children with cancer in Ontario. The camp runs for a one week period in the summer. Over the three years (1993 to 1995) of the study 127 children with cancer attended the camp; the age range of campers was from 3 to 16 years, with 60 children being female and 67 male. The campers had a number of different types of neoplasms, with leukaemia (52%) being the most common diagnosis, followed by CNS tumours (17%) and lymphoma (10%) and a number of neoplasms of miscellaneous types. Over the three years, roughly equal numbers of acute medical problems were seen (1993 - 55, 1994 - 56 and 1995 - 45). The majority of acute medical problems were seen in the mid-week (55%) versus the first third (21%) and the last third (24%). The majority of acute problems occurred among campers (56%) versus camp counsellors (26%) and camp program and support staff (18%). The commonest type of problems seen were lacerations/abrasions (23%), infections (20%) and musculoskeletal injuries(18%); there were a number of miscellaneous other problems. Acute problems with respect to oncologic issues occurred rarely (3%). Over the three years, 5 problems occurred which required a visit to the hospital; 1 fracture, 1 asthma attack and 3 oncologic problems. The majority of acute problems at a camp for children with cancer are similar to acute medical problems at similar camping experiences for children without cancer. Although uncommon, acute oncologic problems can develop and these frequently require attendance at a hospital.


The mass production paradigm on which much of the industry was based has changed. The market is increasingly demanding, requesting diversity and products that are more and more adapted to personal wishes and requirements. This implies producing a greater diversity of products in smaller quantities. Competitiveness is enormous, which forces most companies to be truly effective and efficient, taking care of product quality, delivery time, and final cost. Lean methodologies have been a valuable aid in this field. The diversity of Lean tools has been shown to have answers to the most diverse challenges, and companies are aware of this, increasingly adopting methodologies and processes that aim to progressively reduce waste and adapting their production paradigm to what the market requires. This work intends to provide a vision, as global as possible, of the pathway of Lean implementation in the Portuguese industry. For this purpose, a survey was carried out with a significant sample of Portuguese industrial companies from a wide range of activity sectors. The data collected through the survey were treated statistically, and then a SWOT analysis of the results was performed, which provided a collection of precious information on the evolution of industrial companies in Portugal.


The influence of timing and method of application of sodium or disodium salts of methanearsonic acid (MAA) on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) response, arsenic content of seed, and arsenic content of soils, was studied in field experiments in California, Arizona, and Mississippi. Methods of application consisted of directed and topical sprays. Directed sprays were applied to cover the small weeds in the drill row with a minimum of contact on cotton leaves more than 2 to 3 inches above the ground. Topical sprays were applied from nozzles positioned over the cotton in such a way that the entire cotton plant was subject to coverage. Rates of application were either 2 or 3 lb/A of the salts, and either two or three applications were made to treated plots. Cotton appeared highly tolerant to directed applications. A topical application to cotton 2 to 4 inches slightly reduced yields, but topical applications made at later stages of growth caused progressively severe reductions in yields and delayed maturity. The arsenic content of cottonseed from treated plots was not significantly higher than in that from untreated checks providing that applications were restricted to prebloom stages. Either directed or topical applications made during the blooming stage resulted in detectable increases of arsenic in the cottonseed. The effect of the treatments on arsenic content of soils was relatively small in comparison with natural levels, but the effect was detectable at one of the three locations.


The paper does research on special compaction effect of porous asphalt concrete by means of testing the mixtures′ air voids.The mixtures are shaped by different aggregate types,different compaction times,different mixing temperatures or different compaction temperatures.The paper evaluates the influence of above factors on air voids of the mixture,and analyzes the compaction effect according to the air voids testing results.


The interfacial tension between the room-temperature molten salt (RTMS, also called ionic liquid) composed of 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(perfluoroethylsulfonyl)imide (C8mimC2C2N) and the aqueous solution containing 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride or lithium bis(perfluoroethylsulfonyl)imide has been measured as a function of the composition of the aqueous phase. The phase–boundary potential calculated for this non-polarized interface from the solution composition enables us to construct the corresponding electrocapillary curve, which shows a parabolic shape with respect to the variation of the phase–boundary potential over 300 mV. C8mim+ ions specifically adsorb at the interface. Switching of the potential-determining ion from C8mim+ to C2C2N− causes a jump of more than 160 mV in the potential at the outer Helmholtz plane on the aqueous side of the interface.


I consider a mixture of superconducting and superfluid nuclear liquids of protons coupled to the ultrarelativistic electron gas and neutrons. In the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) approximation, the energy-momentum (stress) tensor is derived, and the entrainment contribution is found in the explicit form. It is shown that this contribution generates a force density when a superfluid velocity lag and the magnetic field are present simultaneously. This force may be important in the nuclear ``pasta'' phase in neutron stars, if the proton and neutron Cooper pairing in the pasta phase is taken into account. It is found that, if the liquid-crystalline matter of the pasta phase is superfluid and superconducting, then magnitude of the forces acting upon element of matter at typical magnetic field and the superfluid velocity lag, under certain conditions may become large enough to induce a critical stress in the neutron-star crust. As an application, the necessary conditions for triggering of a starquake are found in the pasta phase of neutron stars, assuming that the nuclei are flat slabs in a parallel magnetic field. The present model includes two independent local parameters: the superfluid velocity lag and the magnetic field. Possible links between the entrainment force and the magnetar starquake-triggering mechanism and some open problems are discussed.


Collaborative assembly technology supplies a good platform for many designers geographically dispersed to make assembly experiments in the same virtual environment. How to realize collaborative assembly in real time over the internet was concerned about and a composite collaboration architecture was proposed. A data streaming technology was adopted based on C/P (command/ parameter) to realize real-time tasks transmission and a decomposed tasks scheme to realize real- time tasks execution. Based on the architecture and technologies mentioned above, a design system which supports real- time collaborative assembly was developed and it was validated by assembling a mechanical press across network collaboratively.


Cross-national comparison of young adult data is a routine part of the global policy discourse on young adult reproductive health issues. Available to the interested reader are numerous presentations of national indicators in a comparative format. It is nevertheless recognized by all of us that cross-cultural cross-national comparison is inherently difficult. The challenges have been reduced by Dogan and Kazancigil to those of measurement of meaning and of methodology where the latter refers broadly to the design of comparisons. One set of design issues relates to the number of national cases under study. The alternatives range from the single-country Case Study to Small-N designs to Many-N designs to the construction of "league tables." Small-N designs involve few enough countries that they still can be understood as whole cases. Many-N designs involve too many for such holistic understanding but perhaps too few for effective multivariate statistical analysis. The so-called Large-N design involves far too many cases for meaningful consideration of specific national realities and thus total dependence on statistical summaries. But then what is the preferred most effective approach to cross-national comparison? (excerpt)


Energy awareness plays an important role in
developing routing protocol for the battery powered wireless sensor networks. As the replacement of the battery is often unfeasible in practical situations, we present here an optimal solution for the maximum utilization of precious available energy at the same time trying to minimize the latency in data delivery. We propose to form hierarchical chains with deployed sensors to collect information from a
target field where data get fused at every node level before transmitted finally. Our protocol utilizes the higher energy nodes for more frequent long distance transmissions so that the energy expenditure become even between all nodes in the network irrespective of their physical locations. It has been found in our simulation that this protocol outperforms other hierarchical protocols like LEACH and PEGASIS in both the cases of energy consumption and time requirements respectively. It has been also found that the overall lifetime of the sensor network also increases in our protocol.


The article presents a comprehensive chronicle of the illustrious Karachay-Balkarian poet, Magomet Khasuevich Mokaev (1939-2007). It delves into the significant milestones of his life and writing career, offering a succinct portrayal of the primary domains of his poetic endeavors. Moreover, it highlights his remarkable contributions to the cultural fabric of the Balkar people, encompassing his prowess in translation and editing, achievements in the realm of versification, notable advancements in the sonnet genre, and noteworthy publications in children's literature, among others. Conducting an exploration of his poetic collections, namely "Zhuregimi tebiyu" ("Beating of My Heart" (1960), "Jugutur muyuz" ("The Resounding Horn" (1967), "Duniya zharygy" ("Radiance of the Universe" (1976), "Ak biyikleni zhyrlary" ("Songs of White Peaks" (1979), "Azat Ayaz" ("The Liberating Breeze" (1976), "Zhetegeyle" ("Caravan Star" (1980), and "Zhashau Tirmeni" ("Wheelmill of Life" (1996), we discern the poet's profound engagement with timeless themes, while reveling in the melodious cadence and rhythmic tapestry of his verses. Resonating harmoniously within his po-etry, the organic fusion of folklore elements and the rich tapestry of world literary traditions are en-countered. Algyshi (blessings), songs, and the judicious use of proverbs permeate the lyrical tapes-try. The paper adopts hermeneutic, cultural, and semiotic approaches to its analysis.


Phishing is a type of social engineering attack with an intention to steal user data, including login credentials and credit card numbers, leading to financial losses for both organizations and individuals. It occurs when an attacker, pretending as a trusted entity, lure a victim into click on a link or attachment in an email, or in a text message. Phishing is often launched via email messages or text messages over social networks. Previous research has revealed that phishing attacks can be identified just by looking at uniform resource locator (URLs). Identifying the techniques which are used by phishers to mimic a phishing URL is rather a challenging issue. At present, we have limited knowledge and understanding of how cyber‐criminals attempt to mimic URLs with the same look and feel of the legitimate ones, to entice people into clicking links. Therefore, this paper investigates the feature selection of phishing URLs (uniform resource locators), aiming to explore the strategies employed by phishers to mimic URLs that can obviously trick people into clicking links. We employed an information gain (IG) and Chi‐Squared feature selection methods in machine learning (ML) on a phishing dataset. The dataset contains a total of 48 features extracted from 5000 phishing and another 5000 legitimate URL from web pages downloaded from January to May 2015 and from May to June 2017. Our results revealed that there were 10 techniques that phishers used to mimic URLs to manipulate humans into clicking links. Identifying these phishing URL manipulation techniques would certainly help to educate individuals and organizations and keep them safe from phishing attacks. In addition, the findings of this research will also help develop anti‐phishing tools, framework or browser plugins for phishing prevention.


This paper proposes an architecture for artificial-intelligence-based container orchestration in cloud federation environments. The paper adapts the architecture proposed by Kurze et al. [1] and enhances it with two subcomponents in the federation layer to enable resource identification and container orchestration across cloud federation members. These two subcomponents are the AI Resource Identifier and the Container Orchestrator. The AI Resource Identifier is responsible for identifying the available resource in the federated environment whenever needed. It optimizes resource allocation of federation members by using Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques for learning from the past. The Container Orchestrator sub-component is responsible for organizing jobs to be allocated along with all the necessary files and dependencies in a containerized way. This, in turn, enhances scalability and portability in a federated environment.


The problem of designing a robust repetitive-control system is studied based on a state observer for a class of plants with structural time-varying uncertainties. The reconstructed states from the state observer are employed in the state-feedback controller design. Based on the stability theory of two-dimensional (2D) systems, a sufficient condition for the existence of the state observer and the repetitive controller for the repetitive control system are presented in terms of a linear matrix inequality (LMI) whose feasible solutions are utilized to determine the parameters of the state observer and the repetitive controller. A numerical example demonstrates the effectiveness of the method.


The invention relates to a position determining system for a vehicle (1), which by means of an inductive energy transfer system (2, 4) can be charged, wherein the vehicle (1) a secondary-side power transmission device (2) and stationary a primary-side power transmission device (4), in particular in the form of a loading point (4) are arranged, which for charging the vehicle (1) must be brought into position relative to one another, wherein additional coils and / or antennas are arranged in a stationary and / or on the vehicle (1), characterized in that - either at least one additional primary-side coil and / or antenna forms at least a primary-side transmitter, and that at least one additional disposed on the vehicle coil and / or antenna forms at least one receiver for receiving the signals of the at least one primary-side channel, and / or at least one coil and / or antenna on the vehicle additionally arranged, which forms at least one secondary station, and that the primary side at least one additional coil and / or antenna forms at least one receiver for receiving the signals of the at least one disposed on the vehicle transmitter, at least two receivers and / or at least two stations are present, and that the positioning system by means of the transmitted signals of the additional coils and / or antennas relative distance (V


Despite the fact that the interface between wildlife and tourism has attracted increasing academic scrutiny, it has also been recognized that destination-level strategic marketing and planning constitute the least developed aspect of wildlife tourism management. The paper argues that this is partly due to ongoing challenges linked with integrating the needs of a tourism industry management perspective with those of wildlife resources planning, in particular when the diversity and distinctiveness of wildlife tourism destination types is acknowledged. The paper uses the findings emanating from the recent wildlife tourism literature (in particular on the nature of motivations of tourists participating in wildlife viewing experiences) to examine the basis for destination competitiveness in that area, and to investigate ensuing planning challenges. Subsequently, the paper examines a simple case study (wildlife-viewing in the Top End of the Northern Territory of Australia) where knowledge integration issues for wildlife tourism planning have been explicitly tackled with a Geographic Information System (GIS) approach.


Objective To clone entirely coding human PRL-3 gene and construct its recombinant eukaryotic expression vector so as to explore its function and roles in metastasis of the human colorectal carcinoma.Methods With total RNA extracted from the human colorectal carcinoma cell sw480 as template,PRL-3 gene was amplified by RT-PCR with the designed primers based on the public sequence of GeneBank,and then inserted into pGEM-T Easy vector by TA cloning.Recombinant eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3-PRL-3 was then constructed by subcloning technique and confirmed by restriction enzyme digestion analysis and sequencing.Bioinformatical methods were used to predict and analyze PRL-3-interacting proteins,and gene expression patterns of the candidate proteins in human tissues or organs were analyzed by Digital northern blot in NCBI online database.Results The entirely coding human PRL-3 gene was cloned.Recombinant pcDNA3-PRL-3 was successfully constructed.Bioinformatics analyses indicated that PRL-3 was found as an important bridge between ARL-3 protein and ARP6 protein.Gene expression patterns of PRL-3 and its related proteins in human tissues or organs were found similar by use of digital northern blot in online NCBI database.Conclusion Human PRL-3 gene has been successfully cloned and ARL-3 protein and ARP6 protein are predicted to be PRL-3-interacting proteins,which will be useful for further research on its function as well as its implications in the occurrence and progress of colorectal carcinoma.


Supersymmetric models with nonuniversal squark masses can enrich the chi-ral structure and CP violating phenomena in b → sγ decays. Direct CP violation in b → sγ decay, mixing induced CP violation in radiative B d,s decays (such as B s → φγ and B d → K * 1,2 γ), and Λ polarization in Λ b → Λγ decay can be substantially different from the Standard Model. Future experiments at e + e − and hadronic B factories will give important information on the underlying couplings for radiative b decays.


The TREX1 enzyme processes DNA ends as the major 3′ → 5′ exonuclease activity in human cells. Mutations in the TREX1 gene are an underlying cause of the neurological brain disease Aicardi-Goutières syndrome implicating TREX1 dysfunction in an aberrant immune response. TREX1 action during apoptosis likely prevents autoimmune reaction to DNA that would otherwise persist. To understand the impact of TREX1 mutations identified in patients with Aicardi-Goutières syndrome on structure and activity we determined the x-ray crystal structure of the dimeric mouse TREX1 protein in substrate and product complexes containing single-stranded DNA and deoxyadenosine monophosphate, respectively. The structures show the specific interactions between the bound nucleotides and the residues lining the binding pocket of the 3′ terminal nucleotide within the enzyme active site that account for specificity, and provide the molecular basis for understanding mutations that lead to disease. Three mutant forms of TREX1 protein identified in patients with Aicardi-Goutières syndrome were prepared and the measured activities show that these specific mutations reduce enzyme activity by 4–35,000-fold. The structure also reveals an 8-amino acid polyproline II helix within the TREX1 enzyme that suggests a mechanism for interactions of this exonuclease with other protein complexes.


The warm and moist environment of the oral cavity acts as a shielding interface between the external and internal environment and is the only area of the body in which hard tissues rupture through the epithelial surface .The tooth structure provides a unique niche suitable for number microorganisms to colonize, proliferate and live in harmony as a community ,so called Biofilm [1].The oral epithelium adjacent the tooth is precise to form a seal and attachment around the tooth and acts as physical barricade between the microbial biofilm in the external environment and underlying connective tissue. This exclusive function leads to certain vulnerabilities allied with periodontal disease and imparts unique challenges to the tissue, particularly in view of incessant exposure to the bacterial biofilm. The epithelium combats to microbial oppositions from dental plaque by production of chemokines, cytokines and host defence peptides (HDPs). These HDPs are considered to be paramount for the innate immunity of the host [2].


Introduction: Anterior open bite (AOB) malocclusion presents as lack of vertical overlap of anterior teeth. It is viewed to be
unaesthetic and may affect speech and mastication. It develops due to the interaction of hereditary and environmental
etiological factors and these usually affect the vertical growth of the face. This study describes the vertical changes of South African black people presenting with AOB.
Aims and objectives: The aim was to determine skeletal morphological features of patients with AOB malocclusion.
Design: The design was a retrospective, cross-sectional study.
Materials: Archived pre-treatment lateral cephalographs of 181 patients who consulted between 2007 and 2014 were
divided into four groups: control group of 62 patients with skeletal Class I pattern without AOB; test groups of patients with AOB (119) divided into 35 Class I, 43 Class II, and 41 Class III malocclusions. Records of each group were divided according to gender. Descriptive statistics, the Pearson correlation coefficient, t-test and Wilcoxon test were employed to analyze the data, and
p values of ≤0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Results and conclusions: Patients with AOB had a larger vertical facial pattern in all classes of malocclusion. Males presented with larger Sn-GoGn angles than females. The PFH/AFH ratio was lower across all classes of malocclusion compared to the control group.


Fluorenylidene reacts with 1,1-dicyclopropylethylene to give a cycloadduct (5) and the rearranged adduct (6) in a ratio of 10:1; dilution with decalin inverses the ratio to 1:3, which may be due to the increased amount of triplet fluorenylidene.


Background: Cancer-related pain is a major problem worldwide. Studies indicate that patients do not get an adequate pain relief. This creates a large suffering and results in major problems for the ...


A wind turbine generator (WTG) structure is typically supported by a large octagonal mass of reinforced concrete that, in turn, rests on the foundation soil. The foundation soil must provide for adequate bearing capacity, rotational stiffness, and limit differential settlement. However, the pressure acting on the foundation soil varies temporally and spatially as a function of wind speed and direction and the soil properties. Field verification of dynamic responses and pressure distribution assumptions are highly relevant to establishing mechanistically correct WTG foundation behavior. Two WTG foundations in the Midwest have been instrumented, with emphasis on evaluating the dynamic forces and the soil response to in-service wind actions. According to field measurements, WTG foundation soil deformation and pressure distribution ranged from 0.0005 mm to 0.02 mm and 20 kPa to 110 kPa, respectively. The soil deformation profile and pressure distribution were not uniform and depend on depth below the foundation, offset from the centerline, and eccentricity of the dynamic load.


London and New York: Routledge, 2004. vii+235 pp., photos, index, maps, and refs. $30.95 paper (ISBN 0-41594-538-0). Within critical work on globalization, there has been a growing emphasis on new ...


The present invention relates to a sustained-release injection composition for combating parasites, in an animal comprising at least one isoxazolyl sleepy active agent, a pharmaceutically acceptable polymer and a solvent. The invention also provides an improved process for the parasitic infection and eradicate the intrusion, control and prevention of, in an animal, comprising administering to an animal in need thereof a sustained-release injection formulation of the present invention.


0. This paper will present an initial sketch of the English spoken on the island of Dominica, W. I. Dominica is not known for the fact that its population speaks an English creole, but for the fact that its population speaks a French creole ( described extensively by Taylor 1947, 1951, 1955, also by Goodman 1964 and by Amastae 1975). The official language of Dominica is English, but the English of the bulk of the population often differs considerably from received Standard English. The only sustained treatment I know of ( Carrington 1969) considers Dominican English primarily as an 'interference phenomenon' a transitory language variety which is the result of the interference of French creole with speakers' attempts. to learn standard English. While I do not deny that there are in Dominican English many instances of interference, my basic argument is that Dominican English is a creole in its own right (hereafter DEC). I will discuss for the most part only the basilect ( in effect, that variety of creole which is furthest away, or most different from Standard English) of the creole, although I will have some occasion to refer to the decreolizing continuum ( see Bickerton 1973, 1975 for full explanation of these terms; see also footnote 9 for another reference to the variety).


Less developed countries do not conform easily to the accepted patterns of federalism set out in the literature. Third World constitutions tend to be short-lived and in many cases the federations have disintegrated or have become, in real terms, unitary states. Common factors are the strong influence of ethnic or territorial élites, whether of traditional or modern type, and the difficulty experienced by the regime in reversing anti-state norms left over from the preindependence period. Even where a federal solution is successfully legitimized, as in India, Malaysia, and Nigeria, it takes a centrally dominated form. Quasi-federal states such as Sudan and Cameroon exhibit a similar problem of the regime's legitimacy in culturally distinct peripheral areas. Federalism is chosen not for convenience but for survival.


Aimed at the characteristics and causes of earthworks, the author analyzed the key factors affecting the relationship between volume and price,discussed the appropriate ways of measuring and pricing to ensure the accuracy of earthwork calculation and effective control of project cost,and finally proposed the process control of construction.


Flavone acetic acid (FAA) has powerful anti-tumor activity against many types of solid murine tumors, but its biochemical mechanism of action is not understood. The present study examined the role of tumor vasculature and nitric oxide in mediating the anti-tumor effects of FAA. Athymic nude mice bearing subcutaneous RJ2-14 tumors were treated with a single dose of FAA, 200 mg/kg i.p., and euthanized at various times. Apoptosis within tumors was apparent during the first six hours of FAA treatment. We found that Type III, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity was significantly increased in tumors, but not in other tissues, as early as two hours after FAA dosing. FAA also stimulated the formation of the toxic peroxynitrite radical in tumors within two hours of treatment as assessed by immunostaining for nitrotyrosine. Staining was observed in dilated tumor vessels and surrounding tumor cells and correlated with the presence of apoptosis. Tumor endothelium may therefore be a critical target for FAA activity via stimulation of the nitric oxide pathway.


The transfer of beams from one accelerators to another requires a set of parameters correctly adjusted, as well as a sequence of events to trigger all elements relevant to the transfer exactly at the right moment with respect to the beam. The course introduces the basic building blocks of synchronization systems and beam synchronous timing generation. The parameters for the transfer are then derived starting from longitudinal beam dynamics. Furthermore, The steps for the transfer of lepton and hadron beams between circular accelerators are summarized.


As scholarly examinations of the US news parody programs The Daily Show and The Colbert Report multiply, we must recognize that American satirists claim no monopoly on the genre. Upon closer inspection, news parody appears as a truly universal phenomenon; in any culture where television is used as a means of disseminating authoritative information about the real, parody—what some have labeled, or mislabeled "fake news"—plays an increasingly important discursive function. In this article, we provide an overview of international forms of news parody and political satire as they take shape across continents and cultures. We consider the global flow of parody formats, and the multiple ways in which news parody adapts to differing political, economic, and regulatory contexts. Further, we explore the semiotic labor that parody performs in deconstructing broadcast news and wider discourses of authority. Finally, we discuss the political significance of global news parody and the role the genre plays as a popular response to power.


The non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) technique has demonstrated potential for the multicast of multiple videos. However, it simply multiplexes limited number of signals in each single channel and cannot satisfy different video quality requirements of multiple users. To resolve this problem, we construct the NOMA-based uncoded multi-user video transmission (NOMA-UMVT) system in which the allocation of power and channel resources to all the users is jointly optimized to guarantee high video quality. Specifically, we first implement the power allocation of multiuser by converting it into the inter-channel and intra-channel allocation sub-problems. After solving these sub-problems for power allocation, we assign channels with the proposed two-staged channel assignment algorithm. The simulation results demonstrate the superior performance of our proposed NOMA-UMVT system when it is applied to transmit videos to multiple users.


Motor imagery (MI) as an important way of motor learning has been studied widely. The visual task stimulus is an efficient way to improve MI abilities; however, its impact mechanism on motor training is still obscure. This study aimed to explore the influence of visual task stimulus on MI during continuous training. Three types of kinesthetic motor imageries, including a visual task stimulus, a visual stimulus, or no stimulus, were assessed. Brain lateralization and the variations of the event-related desynchronization were investigated. The results demonstrated a greater improvement motor performance after a visual task stimulus. The MI evoked by the visual task shows the most complex event-related lateralization (ERL) among the three contexts, with the presence of many ERL components. These results reveal a complex process of planning, attention focusing, and information processing on the brain, and the complexity of the information process increases with the one of external visual stimulus. This work provides a promising foundation for the incorporation of visual-task stimuli as a strategy to improve motor ability during motor training and motor rehabilitation.


The neutral point voltage imbalance is an inherent problem of the three-level NPC inverter. In this paper, a carrier-based scheme with zero-sequence injection is used to eliminate low-frequency fluctuations of neutral point voltage (NPV). Then the high-frequency NPV prediction with equivalent time-domain model is presented and the variable switching frequency PWM (VSFPWM) based on this prediction is proposed to control the high-frequency components of NPV. With the proposed strategy, the switching frequency is allowed to change in a wide range and the switching losses and electromagnetic interference (EMI) will be improved relative to the constant switching frequency PWM (CSFPWM), while the low-frequency fluctuations are suppressed and high-frequency fluctuations are controlled within the requirement. Simulation and experimental results are provided to verify the proposed method.


This paper provides empirical evidence of export-productivity link, using a comprehensive set of data on Romanian firms activating in ten business sectors. By using the semi-parametric estimation technique developed by Levinsohn and Petrin (2003) to estimate Total Factor Productivity (TFP)we find that exporters display a productivity advantage compared to their domestic counterparts. We seek to distinguish between self-selection and learning by exporting through matching techniques and we find that the most productive firms self-select in activities in international markets, including importing. Learning effects (when TFP is used as outcome) are present on a narrow sample of companies, although in most of the cases are positive and significant when using labour productivity. Stronger evidence for positive effects of international trade is found for importers, which suggests a possible learning by importing phenomenon manifested in Romanian.


K0006(K6)of Qingshihuang's Mausoleum was excavated in July 2000, from which 12 terracotta officer figures were unearthed for the first time. This article presents the preliminary research of 19 samples from 8 individuals. Their More's hardness and water absorption are approximately the same as that of the terra cotta warriors, which implies the similarity of their pottery properties and conservation measures. Both the result of cluster analysis and principal component analysis indicate significant homology of clay materials among individuals of K6 and K1,K2,K3,especially with that of K3. K3 and K6 were simulations of key departments of Qin government and the number of figures was limited. It is quite possible that clays from one single spot could supply enough material for two pits. The supposition that the clay spots and workshops were designated based on the rank of the figures is yet to be proved.


Comparative reflective essay between South America and Scotland, as regards the profile of the typical architecture student, their aspirations, experience and personality.


The dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Web.) is rated among the most important herbs used to biomonitor t he natural environment. The paper was aimed at determining the imp act of the dandelion's rhizosphere on the heavy met al content and the enzymatic activity of soils in urban lands with dif ferent anthropopressure impacts. The research was c arried out in the Upper Silesia region and in towns of eastern Poland. Samples of rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils we re collected in central sectors of the towns and in suburbia. The heav y metal content and the enzymatic activity showed a considerable differentiation in both rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere s oils; however, they were distinctly related to the anthropogenic pressure intensity. The observed enzymatic activity stimulat ion of soil in the direct vicinity of the dandelion 's roots indicates that the rhizosphere zone is a natural filter cleaning the s oil environment from impurities infiltrating from u rban areas. Changes in the soil enzyme activity in the dandelion's rhizosp here zone allow the assessment of the environmental haz rds resulting from the presence of heavy metals in urban soils.


Let G be a connected graph of order n and X ={ x ∈ V : d(x) ≥ n/2}. Suppose |X |≥ 3 and G satisfies the modified Fan's condition. We show that the vertices of the block B of G containing X form a cycle. This generalizes a result of Fan. We also give an efficient algorithm to obtain such a cycle. The complexity of this algorithm is O(n 2 ). In case G is 2-connected, the condition |X |≥ 3 can be removed and G is hamiltonian.


An encoder-decoder architecture with recurrent neural networks in both the encoder and decoder is a standard approach to the question-answering problem (finding answers to a given question in a piece of text). The Dynamic Coattention[1] encoder is a highly effective encoder for the problem; we evaluated the effectiveness of different decoder when paired with the Dynamic Coattention encoder. We found that models leveraging global attention[2] and locally window-based approaches proved effective, but that a simple decoder combining LSTM neural networks, a linear transformation layer, and a post-decoding length-optimized maximum likelihood layer was the most effective.


The presence of the microtubules in the ducts of scolex gland cells of cestodes has been reported by numerous researchers (e.g. Ohman-James C. 1973: Z. Parasitenkd. 42: 77-86; Richards K.S., Arme C. 1981: Parasitology 83: 477487; Kuperman B.I., Davidov V.G. 1982: Int. J. Parasitol. 12: 285-293; Richards K.S., Arme C. 1983: Parasitology 86: 8388; McCullough J.S., Fairweather I. 1989: Parasitol. Res. 75: 575-582; Žd'arska Z., Nebesařova J. 1997: Folia Parasitol. 44: 139-146; Žd'arska Z., Nebesařova J. 1999: Parasite 6: 49-56). The existence of peripheral system of microtubules in the ducts is a general feature of many gland cell types and it is thought to be involved in the transport of secretory granules towards the distal cytoplasm (Richards and Arme 1981, op. cit.; McCullough and Fairweather 1989, op. cit.). However, up to this date, the presence of microtubules has been detected by ultrastructural observations only, and the lack of immunocytochemical studies does not allow to ascertain whether they are microtubules or contractile microfilaments. In the present study we investigated the presence of tubulin (which is the basic structural protein of microtubules), in the duct wall of secretory glands in the scolex of Gymnorhynchus gigas (Cuvier, 1817). The mentioned task was carried out by relying on immunocytochemical analysis with monoclonal anti-α and anti-β tubulin antibodies as tubulin's markers. Plerocercoids of G. gigas were removed from muscles of Brama raii (Bloch, 1791) captured in the Strait of Gibraltar close to the Tarifa coast, Spain. The blastocysts containing the scolices were carefully extracted from surrounding host tissue and washed in a physiological solution before fixation. In order to study the samples under transmission electron microscope (TEM), the original scolices were first processed according to the technique elaborated by Perez-Serrano J., Casado N., Denegri G., Rodriguez-Caabeiro F. 1994: Int. J. Parasitol. 24: 219-224, and an M10 TEM at 60 kV was used. Prior to the immunocytochemical study, the scolices were fixed in a mixture of glutaraldehyde (0.3%) and paraformaldehyde (4%) in cacodylate buffer for 6 h at 4oC, then washed twice (15 min each) at 4oC in a cacodylate buffer containing sucrose (5%), dehydrated in a graded ethanol series, then infiltrated in an intermediate solution of LR White resin and 100% ethanol (1 : 1) for 1 h, and embedded in fresh LR White resin overnight at 4oC. After a few minute's contact with fresh pure resin at room temperature, a final change was made, and then the resin was polymerised in gelatin capsules at 50oC for 24 h. Ultrathin sections were incubated in TBG (30 mM Tris, 150 mM NaCl, pH 8.2 plus 0.1% BSA and 1% gelatin) containing 5% goat serum, in order to block nonspecific binding, and then they were transferred to a drop of the mouse monoclonal anti-tubulin at optimal dilution (1 : 200 anti-α tubulin plus 1 : 100 anti-β tubulin, both from Sigma Immuno Chemicals, in TBG) for 120 min. After final wash, the sections were incubated with 10-nm gold-labelled antimouse IgG from Electron Microscopy Sciences (dilution 1 : 50 in TBG). Similar immunostaining protocol was observed when using other primary antibody (anti-actin; dilution 1 : 100 in TBG) in order to detect existing contractile microfilaments. The ultrastructural study showed that the secretory cells gave rise to ducts that penetrated the distal cytoplasm and contained granules, which were often accumulated in reservoirs (Fig. 1). These ducts seemed to be strengthened by a system of longitudinally oriented microtubules or microfilaments and opened through the tegument (neodermis) without any projections. They discharged their secretion into the environment by an eccrine secretion mechanism (Fig. 2), similar to that suggested for the plerocercoid and adult of Diphyllobothrium spp. (Kuperman and Davidov 1982, op. cit.), the scolex glands of Caryophyllaeus laticeps (Richards and Arme 1981, op. cit.), the frontal glands of the metacestode and juvenile forms of Tentacularia coryphaenae (Farooqi H.U. 1986: Z. Parasitenkd. 72: 653-659), as well as the glandular cells of Trilocularia acanthiaevulgaris (McCullough and Fairweather 1989, op. cit.). The discharge did not involve destruction of the duct, since some microtubules or microfilaments from the duct wall were positively identified after consecutive discharge (Fig. 3). Positive staining of tubulin with immunogold method was observed in peripheral structures of the ducts (Fig. 4), which confirmed the presence of tubulin and therefore helped identifying microtubules. The absence of contractile microfilaments was verified by the negative actin immunostaining observed in the ducts. However, in other sections incubated with anti-actin, positive immunostaining was detected in tegumental and parenchymal muscles. No gold labelling was detected in sections where mouse serum was used or in sections where the primary antiserum was omitted from the labelling protocol. The specificity of the immunostaining was confirmed by the positive tubulin staining of microtubules in the bundle of cilia of the flame cells (Fig. 5) that were surrounded by the negatively immunostaining membranous cytoplasmic extensions. The contractile microfilaments in the tegumental and parenchymal muscles did not show traces of immunostaining with anti-tubulin, nor did other parenchymal structures of the scolex. The present study is the first confirmation of the presence of tubulin, and therefore microtubules, in the ducts that transport secretory granules from glandular cells in a cestode, namely, plerocercoid of G. gigas, by means of an immunocytochemical technique, never used before in such type of studies.


Exploring the genealogical relationships between taxa or building phylogenetic trees is usually based on comparison of functional characters (either morphological ones or the sequences of genes and proteins). However, such characters are affected by various evolutionary processes (such as convergence), which complicates the analysis and can lead to erroneous inferences. (Examples of contradictory conclusions can be found in Hartenberger 1985; Cao, Okada, and Hasegawa 1997; Springer et al. 1997; Rougier and Novacek 1998). Use of characters beyond selective pressure (phylogenetic markers) could clearly provide more reliable results. This approach has recently been applied by Shimamura et al. (1997), who used insertion of short interspersed retroposons (SINEs) at specific sites in the genome as landmarks in mammalian evolution and, as a result, showed that whales form a clade within eventoed ungulates. We have developed a similar method using another binary qualitative character, presence of short retroposon families in the genomes, to provide landmarks of host evolution. Using this approach, we determined the phylogenetic distribution of different SINE families by PCR with family-specific primers followed by hybridization, and we have confirmed the generally accepted phylogenetic relationships between mice (Muridae), hamsters (Cricetidae), and mole rats (Spalacidae), as well as between jerboas (Dipodidae) and birch mice (Zapodidae) (Serdobova and Kramerov 1998). Here, we applied this approach to re-examine the traditional view on evolutionary relationships between dormice (Gliridae) and myomorphous rodents. SINEs are 80–400-bp genomic repeats, apparently originating from RNA genes. They replicate in the genome via RNA polymerase III transcription and reverse transcription (Jagadeeswaran, Forget, and Weissman 1981). We found a novel class of short retroposons in the dormouse genome, composed of two units similar to other rodent SINEs, B1 (Krayev et al. 1980) and ID (Sutcliffe et al. 1982) (fig. 1A). We detected this element (designated B1-dID) in rodent genomes by PCR with primers GCAYRCCTTTAATCCCAG and CTGGGGATKGAACCCAGRG, complementary to conservative regions in the B1and ID-like monomers, respectively (fig. 1A). After agarose gel electrophoresis, the PCR products were transferred on a nylon filter and hybrid-


The main 'challenge' when buying a watermelon, is buying a perfectly ripe one and then lugging it to the car. It is big, it is heavy, and it is a mission to carry it to the car, lay it carefully in the boot, get it into the house in one piece and then, the final challenge, finding a space for it in the fridge, which is probably already full to the brim!


Although deep learning (DL) software has been pervasive in various applications, the brittleness of deep neural networks (DNN) hinders their deployment in many tasks especially high-stake ones. To mitigate the risk accompanied with DL software fault, a variety of DNN testing techniques have been proposed such as test case selection. Among those test case selection or prioritization methods, the uncertainty-based ones such as DeepGini have demonstrated their effectiveness in finding DNN's faults. Recently, TestRank, a learning based test ranking method has shown their out-performance over simple uncertainty-based test selection methods. However, this is achieved with a more complicated design which needs to train a graph convolutional network and a multi-layer Perceptron. In this paper, we propose a novel and lightweight DNN test selection method to enhance the effectiveness of existing simple ones. Besides the DNN model's uncertainty on test case itself, we take into account model's uncertainty on its neighbors. This could diversify the selected test cases and improve the effectiveness of existing uncertainty-based test selection methods. Extensive experiments on 5 datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.


In this paper, a novel walker robot is proposed for post-stroke gait rehabilitation. It consists of an omni-directional mobile platform which provides high mobility in horizontal motion, a linear motor that moves in vertical direction to support the body weight of a patient and a 6-axis force/torque sensor to measure interaction force/torque between the robot and patient. The proposed novel walker robot improves the mobility of pelvis so it can provide more natural gait patterns in rehabilitation. This paper analytically derives the kinematic and dynamic models of the novel walker robot. Simulation results are given to validate the proposed kinematic and dynamic models.


Two Yale political scientists, Donald P. Green and Alan S. Gerber, have studied turnout for years. Their findings, based on dozens of controlled experiments done as part of actual campaigns, are summarized in a slim and readable new book called ''Get Out the Vote!'' (Brookings Institution Press), which is bound to become a bible for politicians and activists of all stripes. The bottom line is that getting out the vote is difficult and costly; only money spent wisely has a noticeable effect.


Collembola were collected from pitfall traps at each of five altitudes, 300, 500, 700, 900 and 1100 m above sea level (a.s.l.) in Lamington National Park, Queensland. All samples were collected in October 2006 (spring). Sites were located in subtropical rainforest except for those at 1100 m which were in cool temperate rainforest where Nothofagus moorei (F. Muell) Krasser was dominant. Specimens collected were identified to species or morphospecies. Over 60 taxa (species and morphospecies) were identified from more than 7000 specimens. Species assemblages were significantly related to altitude generally showing a progressive change in composition with increasing altitude. Assemblages at the highest altitude of 1100 m were particularly distinct and several taxa were restricted to this altitude. Altitudinal patterns of assemblages of Collembola are compared with those of some other invertebrates from the same transect and suggestions for the differences offered. A review of altitudinal zonation in Collembola in various regions and climatic zones is provided.  Nothofagus, rainforest, montane faunas, altitudinal zonation, Paronellidae, Entomobryidae, Odontellidae, Symphypleona, Isotomidae, Hypogastruridae, IBISCA It is now generally accepted that global warming is accelerating and has the potential to alter considerably the distribution of both biological communities and their component species. If we are to conserve biological diversity and the ecosystem services it provides, we first need to document the possible effect of climate change on vulnerable faunal assemblages. This will not only improve understanding of the potential for natural processes of adaptation to occur (or not, as the case may be) but also to identify target organisms for monitoring such changes. The IBISCA (Investigating the Biodiversity of Soil & Canopy Arthropods)-Queensland (Qld) project at Lamington National Park aimed to sample fauna and flora along a transect of increasing altitude to provide baseline data on species' distributions as temperature Greenslade & Kitching 334 Memoirs of the Queensland Museum | Nature  2011  55(2) decreases and rainfall increases (Kitching et al. 2011). From this baseline information, we can recognise species or other taxa that have limited ranges along the transect. The overall aim of the project was to identify taxa that are 'climate responders' so that they can be monitored on a regular basis using focused sampling strategies. Any alterations in distribution of these taxa over time could be detected by monitoring, unless they are very rare. In an otherwise largely undisturbed environment the change may be assumed to be the result of climate variation, if the direction of the altered change is the same as that predicted to occur as a result of climate change. Of course, such monitoring needs to occur on a regular basis over a long enough time scale to overcome the impacts of short-term climatic variability. Data on indicator taxa could feed into management decisions in subtropical regions and become key components of monitoring/management systems. A considerable number of taxa have been surveyed within this project and Collembola (springtails) were one target group. Springtails are particularly suitable for including in such a study as they are abundant and speciesrich in the Lamington National Park (Rodgers & Kitching 1998, 2010). Collembola can also be quickly and easily collected using a range of methods. The collembolan fauna of subtropical forest is little known in Australia, or indeed anywhere in the world. To date, only ten named species of Collembola have been recorded in the published literature from Lamington National Park (Greenslade & Sutrisno 1994; Rodgers & Kitching 2010) and 24 species of Entomobryidae, mainly unidentified, were recorded from the canopy at 700 m above sea level (a.s.l.) in an unpublished thesis (Sutrisno 1994). The same is true of altitudinal zonation of collembolan faunas in general and only a few studies have been conducted of ground-living Collembola (Leakey & Proctor 1987; Bedos 1994; Gabriel et al. 2001; Greenslade 2004), none of these being in subtropical climes. Relevant data from these studies has been compared to the Lamington results reported here. Here, the composition and other characteristics of the collembolan fauna at the different altitudes, sampled for the IBISCA-Qld project in pitfalls on a single occasion, are documented and the wider implications of these findings discussed in relation to species at risk of extinction under a hotter, drier climatic regime. Based on data from other invertebrate taxa, the hypotheses to be tested by the IBISCAQld project will be that different assemblages of species occur at different altitudes and that abundance and species richness diminishes as altitude increases. MATERIALS AND METHODS The trapping programme formed the basis of the IBISCA-Queensland project in the subtropical rainforest of Lamington National Park and used consistent and repeatable collecting methods in 20 plots at five altitudes; four replicates per altitude (see Kitching et al. 2011). The plots are permanently marked and cover altitudes from 300 to 1100 m a.s.l. at intervals of two hundred metres (Laidlaw et al. 2011). A brief description of the vegetation at each alititude is given in Table 1. Altogether, this project used seven baseline sampling methods in three major sampling events (October 2006, March 2007 and January 2008) (Kitching et al. 2011). All methods collected Collembola but only samples from pitfall traps set in October 2006 are reported here. At each of the 20 plots, an array of nine pitfalls were set and left in the ground for nine days. They were arranged in a cross grid with each trap being a minimum of one metre from the nearest one. Traps were 50 mm in diameter (a 120 ml plastic vial within a PVC sleeve) with an aperture diameter of 43 mm and filled with 70% ethanol. Catches from the nine traps were combined before sorting. Collembola were identified to species or morphospecies and counted. All specimens have been deposited in Effects of climate change on Collembola Memoirs of the Queensland Museum | Nature  2011  55(2) 335 the South Australian Museum and a voucher collection at the Arthropod Biodiversity Laboratory, Griffith University, Nathan. Some species have been bar-coded (Bar-coding of Life Project). Average temperatures at the sites range from 18°C at 300 m a.s.l. to 15°C at 1100 m a.s.l. Average maxima and minima temperatures range from 28°C to 5°C, being highest at lowest altitudes. Total annual rainfall is around 1200 mm at 300 m a.s.l. and increases gradually with altitude to around 2400 mm at 1100 m a.s.l. (Australian Government, Bureau of Meteorology 2008). A set of environmental variables was assembled from data presented in other papers within this volume (Laidlaw et al. 2011; Strong et al. 2011). For each plot, this set included data on vegetation (basal area, number of stems, plant species richness), climate (minimum temperature, median temp erature, maximum temperature and atmospheric moisture), soils (moisture, pH, organic content, NO3, P, K, and Ca) and volume of decaying timber (standing and fallen). Relationships between the composition of collembolan assemblages from each plot were examined using non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination using Bray-Curtis similarity values of species and morphospecies abundance (log transformed) data. PERMANOVA (permutational multivariate ANOVA, Anderson et al. 2008) was conducted to statistically investigate the effect of altitude on collembolan assemblage composition. PERMANOVA is analogous to traditional multivariate ANOVA, except that it calculates statistics (pseudo-F values) from distance measures of assemblage similarities between sites, and P values using permutational techniques (we used 999 permutations). Posthoc pairwise comparisons were also conducted using 999 Monte-Carlo permutations between altitudes. Vectors of environmental variables were fitted onto the NMDS ordination. The direction of each vector represents the gradient of the environmental variable and its length is proportional to the correlation between the ordination and environmental variable. Only environmental variables with significant correlation coefficients (at a significance level of P<0.05 based on 999 random permutations) were overlaid on the ordination. Analyses were performed using PRIMER 6 (Clarke & Gorley 2006). Altitude (m a.s.l.) Regional Ecosystem* Description 300 12.8.4 Complex notophyll vine forest on Caenozoic igneous rocks with Araucaria cunninghamii, Argyrodendron actinophyllum, Baloghia inophylla, Brachychiton acerifolius, Dendrocnide excelsa, Diospyros pentamera, Dysoxylum fraserianum, Toona ciliata and Orites excelsus. 500 12.8.3 Complex notophyll vine forest on Caenozoic igneous rocks with Argyrodendron trifoliolatum, Olea paniculata, Castanospermum australe, Cryptocarya obovata, Ficus macrophylla, Syzygium francisii, Diploglottis australis, Pseudoweinmannia lachnocarpa, Podocarpus elatus, Beilschmiedia obtusifolia, Neolitsea dealbata and Archontophoenix cunninghamiana. 700 and 900 12.85 Complex notophyll vine forest on Caenozoic igneous rocks with Argyrodendron actinophyllum, Cryptopcarya erythroxylon, Ficus watkinsiana, Dysoxylum fraserianum, Caldcluvia paniculosa, Geissois benthamii, Orites excelsus, Acmena ingens, Syzygium corynanthum, S. crebrinerve and Citronella moorei. 1100 12.8.5 Simple microphyll fern forest on Caenozoic igneous rocks with Nothofagus moorei and/or Doryphora sassafras, Caldcluvia paniculosa and Orites excelsus. TABLE 1. Vegetation type and dominant plant species present for each altitude sampled along the transect in Lamington National Park. *From Sattler et al., 1999. Greenslade & Kitching 336 Memoirs of the Queensland Museum | Nature  2011  55(2) A similar transect across an altitudinal gradient was sampled for Collembola with pi


Recent longitudinal studies have emphasised the prognostic value of noninvasive tests of liver fibrosis and cross‐sectional studies have shown their combination significantly improves diagnostic accuracy.


The paper entitled "Classification and calculation of electric energy losses in distribution networks" deals
with the problem of the losses division for an operative calculation in distribution companies.


Cavernous transformation of portal vein consists in the development of a network of tortuous collateral vessels bypassing the obstructive area due to chronic PVT. First described in 1869 by Balfour and Stewart, it was Kobrich in 1928 that used for the first time the term of "cavernoma" to define the newly developed network of small vessels as a result of recanalization of the thrombotic portal vein. Once the liver blood supply decreases significantly, the compensatory mechanism is activated and collaterals begin to form within a few days after the obstruction and organize into a cavernous transformation in 3-5 weeks. (Cai, 2009)


There are 57 species and varieties in the known moss flora of the Tehuacan Valley; one of them, Phascum brittoniae, is new to the country. Their distribution in Mexico north of the 19-20ON line does not lend support to the hypothesis that the Neovolcanic Belt has served as a barrier to moss migration between southern and northern valleys. The Tehuacin Valley is a dry area in the south- eastern comer of the State of Puebla. According to Smith (1965a), the northern limit of the valley is about the Mexico City-Veracruz highway; it ex- tends westward to Sierra de Zapotitlin, south to the border with Oaxaca and eastward to the Sierra Madre Oriental or Sierra de Zongolica. The valley has been important from various points of view. It was selected as a critical area in the study of the establishment and diversification of maize (Smith 1965a); it is significant in understanding ages and patterns of domestication of Phaseolus spp. (Kaplan 1965), cucurbits (Whitaker & Cutler 1965) and selection and distribution of avocados (Smith 1966, 1969). Floristically, the Tehuacin Valley has been stud- ied by several authors, notably Bravo (1930), Mi- randa (1948) and Smith (1965b). The last author has also discussed floristic relationships. Recently,


We would like to study in this article the ways in which generic universes are spacialized in comic books (science fiction, fantasy, western). Our hypothesis is that it is at the level of the spatial setting (both diegenetically and graphically) that the modalities of the serial reading pact are largely determined, involving the way of evaluating the work and deciphering it, the questions of plausibility, the judgments on the validity and the interest of the text, as well as a repertoire of stereotypes and intertextual scenarios. It is because serial fiction universes mark their autonomy from realistic referents that they are immediately interpreted as conventional systems.  Falling into a referential logic dominated by intertextual and architectural principles, the image is saturated with signs that refer either to works or to sets of works with which it maintains serial links. These signs produce the world effect, and impose the coherence of each work and the specificity of its relationship to the genre.


In engineering applications, analysis of crack growth life is useful in situations where an unexpected crack has been found in a component of a machine, vehicle, or structure. The objective of this research is to investigate the correlation curve of magnetic flux leakage, Hp(y) signals by evaluating their critical value point with respect to step size. Moreover, the relation of fatigue crack growth rate, da/dN toward the stress intensity range, ΔK and Hp(y) in metal components is also discussed in this paper. The tension-tension fatigue test was conducted with the metal magnetic memory scanning device and crack opening displacement (COD) gauges in 10 Hz (testing frequency) by applying a load for 3.0-5.0 kN respectively. As a result, the correlation curve of Hp(y) was built with the R-Squared values in the range of 0.99 and one mathematical model has been developed for estimation analysis. The sigmoidal shape curve was plotted on the graph of da/dN versus ΔK and also with Hp(y). Thus, for validation, the linear relation is represented between ΔK and Hp(y) that present a good approach for magnetic parameter to be developed in the fatigue crack growth analysis. Therefore, the magnetic method has greater capability to analyze the fatigue crack propagation life in a real application.


5607 Background: The role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by chemotherapy administered concurrently with accelerated RT has not been established. We designed a study to evaluate the feasibility and activity of a novel neoadjuvant triple-drug regimen before and during definitive RT with concomitant boost in locally advanced HNSCC. Methods: Efficacy and toxicity data were available for 8 patients (pts) (7 males, 1 female). Median age: 56 yrs (range 39–68). Stage III: 2 pts and IV: 6 pts. Tumor sites included: oral cavity (2), oropharynx (2), hypopharynx (1), larynx (2), and unknown primary (1). Pts received 2 cycles of capecitabine (1 g/m2/d PO for 28 days), docetaxel (70 mg/m2 IV d1) and carboplatin (AUC 5 IV d1) every 28 days. Response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy was evaluated by imaging and endoscopic studies. For those with at least stable disease, 2 additional cycles with G-CSF support were given concurrently with RT at the total dose of 72Gy over 6 weeks in 42 fx (54 Gy in 30 fx with concurrent B...


The present invention relates to a prosthesis inserted into a heel portion of a dress shoes classified as a shrine or a ladies' shoe. In particular, in a heel-shaped prosthesis having an inner bent portion at a bottom portion, And a locking protrusion is formed on an inner upper portion of the cushion member. The locking protrusion has a first locking portion having a gradually enlarged section from both ends toward the center, a second locking portion having a downwardly extended enlarged width, And the third engagement portion formed at the center front end of the cushion member, The entire inner surface of the cushion member is in close contact with the entire heel of the wearer so that the cushion member is more likely to be comfortably worn, and the cushion member is compressively deformed according to the physical characteristics or form of the user as well as the walking stability due to the elasticity of the cushion member itself. And prevents skin friction or interference with the rigid implants and skin, thereby preventing injuries such as skin damage. The jaw portion is provided to the user who wants to wear shoes loosely or loosely, And is a shoe heel implant having a cushion and a shoulder portion that can prevent a problem that the heel is peeled off and can induce comfortable wearing and natural walking. A shoe, a heel, a prosthesis, a cushion member, a latching jaw,


In shockwave lithotripsy, the combined effect of focused shockwaves and cavitation pulverizes kidney stones. Although cavitation is known to play an important role in stone comminution, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. The goal of the present study is to quantify the potential damage caused by Rayleigh collapse (RC) and shock‐induced collapse (SIC) of a single bubble near a stone. A high‐order accurate, quasi‐conservative, shock‐ and interface‐capturing scheme [E. Johnsen and T. Colonius, J. Comput. Phys. 2006] is employed to simulate both phenomena. A high‐speed re‐entrant jet forms during the collapse and hits the distal side of the bubble, thereby generating a water‐hammer pressure wave. A high pressure is measured along the stone surface upon the impact of this wave, thus providing potential for erosion. In SIC, this pressure may reach 1 GPa and bubbles within approximately 15 initial radii generate a pressure higher than the incoming pulse. In addition, by using the present results a...


We study (2,2) supersymmetric field theories on two-dimensional worldsheet with boundaries. We determine D-branes (boundary conditions and boundary interactions) that preserve half of the bulk supercharges in nonlinear sigma models, gauged linear sigma models, and Landau-Ginzburg models. We identify a mechanism for brane creation in LG theories and provide a new derivation of a link between soliton numbers of the massive theories and R-charges of vacua at the UV fixed point. Moreover we identify Lagrangian submanifolds that arise as the mirror of certain D-branes wrapped around � �


A weak form of weak quasi-continuity, which we call subweak
quasi-continuity, is introduced. It is shown that subweak
quasi-continuity is strictly weaker than weak quasi-continuity. Subweak
quasi-continuity is used to strengthen several results in the
literature concerning weak quasi-continuity. Specifically, results
concerning the graph, graph function, and restriction of a weakly
quasi-continuous function are extended slightly. Also, a result
concerning weakly quasi-continuous retractions is strengthened.


Software was developed and tested which allows an end-user to build a book data object in an interactive fashion. The electronic book model was developed for the Library front-end of the DAVID (Distributed Access View Integrated Database) system. It is a complex data object which is capable of holding data of different types and formats. After the task, the plan was to assess the Book model and investigate the possibility of it serving as a knowledge base for a expert system front-end to the DAVID system. For the rest of the fellowship period, data system interoperability was examined. Specifically, a plan was prepared titled Implementations of the Land Analysis System (LAS) to Meet UNEP/GRID Requirements. This plan is aimed at reaching the goal of building one virtual global change information system which will link existing and future data systems allowing earth and space scientists to learn about, locate, access, and correlate data of interest regardless of its physical location. The plan proposed the construction of a master directory (MD) for the European data systems that is equivalent in structure to NASA's MD. The MD is to contain brief, high-level information about existing Earth and space science data sets sufficient for a user to know where data of interest reside and how to go about getting additional information. The plan also outlined the tasks that would be involved to electronically connect the MD system to the various discipline data systems (e.g., LAS) in order to achieve general interroperabilty, that is, the abilty to perform cross-systems searches and exchange of and access to distributed information.


Cloud computing is a new technology for network computing under the IP architecture,and its potential lies in new ICT business applications.For the majority of operators and enterprises,the main task of cloud computing is data centre transformation.This will ensure cloud computing becomes more widespread among enterprises,institutions,organizations,and operators.Cloud computing will not only provide traditional IT resource usage and application services,but will also support full resource usage and application services—such as IT,communications,video,mobile,as well as Internet of Things under a converged network infrastructure.Some key cloud computing technologies include unified fabric,unified virtualization,and a unified computing system.The formation of an open industry alliance and promotion of open technology standards will also be strategically critical for future development of cloud computing.


Abstract Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a globally important legume crop that is utilized fresh, roasted, or pressed for oil products. A substantial market exists for in-shell peanuts, and shell color is an important factor affecting price — consumers favor bright yellow. Field observations have indicated that the type of soil in which the peanut pods develop can affect shell color and tint. Field and greenhouse experiments in which plants were grown in sandy soil while pods were allowed to develop in various tested soils verified this primary observation: sandy soils resulted in bright-yellow shells, dark soils (such as peat) resulted in a darker shell color, while loess soils resulted in intermediate shell colors. Incubation of peanut pods in saturated soil solutions or filtered soil extracts inferred the existence of two opposing processes that may affect shell color: adherence of water-soluble soil components to the shell surface, and the washing-off of shell material from this surface. Overhead irri...


In this paper, a transimpedance amplifier based curvature compensated bandgap reference (BGR) is proposed. Detailed analysis of the proposed structure is presented. Functionality of proposed BGR is verified through SPICE simulations using 180nm CMOS technology. The proposed BGR gives a reference voltage of 505 mV at room temperature with a maximum change of about 6.9 mV from the room temperature value over the range of 0–100°C at a supply voltage of 1.5 V. Transient behaviour of the circuit is also observed.


A pseudoaneurysm occurs because of a loss of integrity of the arterial wall, resulting in blood extravasating into the surrounding soft tissues and forming an encapsulated hematoma1-6. Pseudoaneurysms can be caused by an inflammatory condition, infection, trauma, or complications of an invasive procedure5-8. The femoral artery is especially susceptible to pseudoaneurysm formation following interventional procedures (most likely because of its frequency of access). One source reported an estimated risk of 0.6% to 17%9, while another source reported an estimated risk of 8%10, which implies that the true incidence is unknown. There are few case reports in the current literature of pseudoaneurysms of the femoral artery caused by orthopaedic implants2,11-16. Femoral artery pseudoaneurysms have a variable presentation with various nonspecific symptoms, which creates a diagnostic challenge. Presentation is commonly a tense, painful, often pulsatile swelling with anemia. We present a rare case of a femoral artery pseudoaneurysm that was caused by a long proximal femoral intramedullary nail and interlocking screw that had been placed eight years earlier for fracture fixation. The patient was informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and he provided consent.

A thirty-nine-year-old man presented to an orthopaedic oncologist with a painful, large mass in the left groin and anteromedial thigh that had been present for about two months. Eight years earlier, the patient had had an intramedullary nail with an interlocking screw placed for treatment of a femoral shaft fracture at an outside institution; the fracture had healed without complication. He denied fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, cold sensation in the leg, or other joint pain. Physical examination revealed a large firm mass in the groin that extended anteromedially in the left thigh. The mass was …


On 27-28 October 2006, Wuhan University Law School, the Institute of International Law and Chinese Society of International Law (CSIL) co-sponsored at Wuhan University a Forum for Chinese Young Scholars and Ph.D. Candidates of International Law. This forum was characterized by the vigorous participants, all of whom are young scholars and Ph.D. candidates of international law under the age of 45. Centering on the general topic International Legal Issues in Establishing an Harmonious World, more than 80 scholars and Ph.D. candidates from about 20 Chinese universities participated in the forum, while some 75 papers concerning classic theory, frontline issues and practical hotspots in international law were submitted.


The influence of arc spraying parameters on the droplet size of titanium and aluminum was studied.The outlet velocity and mass flow ratio of gases and molten droplet mass flow ratio were determined firstly for supersonic wires arc spray(SWAS).On the basis of Nukiyama-Tanasawa's model about liquid droplet atomization average diameter,the analytic expressions of the molten droplet mean diameter between spray voltage and current in titanium and aluminum supersonic wires arc spray was derived,the correlation with arc spray parameters(voltage and current) droplet mean diameters were simulated by computer. The results show that the mean diameter of droplet increases with adding of spray current,and decreases with rising of spray voltage,but the extent of mean diameter changing is very finites at the certain gas pressure and spray nozzle structure.The particle size of spray droplet atomized determining by laser granularity analyzer,the relative error between calculation value and measure result is 9.52%.The shape of the majority of particles sprayed is sphericity by scanning electron microscopy observing.


What does it mean to be a human being? This question takes on particular significance when it is brought into conversation with the history and lives of people with disabilities. For centuries, disabled people have been subjected to attitudes and practices that have served as tools of their dehumanization. In response, disability theologies such as those of Jean Vanier and Thomas Reynolds have sought to reconstruct alternative ways of speaking about what it means to be a human being that begin with the lives of people with disabilities and the quality of vulnerability. Drawing on Nancy Eiesland's interpretation of the wounded Christ of the resurrection, this article argues that if what makes us human is our vulnerability, this understanding is only truly liberating and transformative when it is accompanied by a commitment to resisting the injustices and sins that threaten the lives of the most vulnerable in the first place.


Objective: To assess the periodontal treatment needs of patients in different stages of chronic kidney disease Methodology: A Cross sectional comparative study was conducted in the department of Nephrology and Urology, Sharif Medical and Dental College, Lahore on 32 patients with chronic kidney disease in the time duration of one year. Data was collected after taking an informed consent from the patients. The demographic data along with a list of variables associated with chronic kidney disease was recorded using a structured questionnaire. Data collection was based on the following parameters: Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN). Results: The highest percentage (10%) of patients who required no treatment (TN0) were stage 3 patients. Majority of the stage 5 (93.1%) patients required scaling, prophylaxis and oral hygiene instruction (TN2) followed by stage 4 (90.9%) and stage 3 (40%) respectively. None of the patients required complex treatment, scaling, prophylaxis and oral hygiene instructions (TN3) Conclusion: The highest percentage of patients with healthy periodontium were stage 3 patients. Periodontal pocket depths 4-5 mm were found to be in stage 4 patients the most followed by stage 5 and then stage 3. None of the patients had pocket depths of 6mm or more. Majority of the stage 5 patients required scaling, prophylaxis and oral hygiene instruction (TN2) followed by stage 4 and stage 3 respectively. None of the patients required complex treatment, scaling, prophylaxis and oral hygiene instructions (TN3). Keywords: Chronic kidney disease, periodontal treatment needs, oral hygiene instructions, oral prophylaxis, complex treatment


This paper described the importance of paying attention on the aspects of project characteristics in understanding the contractual behavior of key participants in civil engineering projects. The purpose of this paper was to identify the project characteristics variables contributing to the unfavorable contractual behavior of key participants in civil engineering projects. An extensive literature review was carried out using content analysis and unveiled nine (9) civil engineering project characteristics that may contribute to the contractual behavior of key participants. They were project type, project size, project scope changes, design changes, site surrounding condition, ground condition, project complexity, procurement method, type of standard form of contract. The findings provide basis for understanding the factor that influence the contractual behavior of key participants in order to comprehend the constraints faced by them in implementing the civil engineering projects. Hence, the initiatives or proactive preventing actions can be suggested in future study to improve the contractual behavior of key participants and eventually will lead to the project success.
Keywords: Civil Engineering; contractual behavior, project characteristics.


A Nd-YAG-laser with a phase-conjugating mirror based on stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in a SF6 cell is described. The output energy was up to 300 mJ in 15 ns pulses with shot to shot fluctuations of less than 3%. The repetition rate could be varied between 15 and 45 Hz without changes of the spatial beam profile which was close to a TEM00-mode.