The utility model relates to a movable separated-type water cooling storage device. The movable separated-type water cooling storage device overcomes the defects that an existing water cooling storage device uses a water distributor to achieve natural separation of cold and hot water, and is capable of improving cooling storage efficiency of a water cooling storage device by completely separating the cold water and the hot water without using the water distributor. The movable separated-type water cooling storage device comprises a water storage groove, and the water storage groove is divided into a cold water groove and a hot water groove through a partition board. A pulley is arranged on the bottom of the partition board, water level differential pressure of two sides of the partition board is utilized to be used as driving force to push the partition board to move inside the water storage groove and no external power is not needed, and the cold water groove and the hot water groove are communicated through a storage-releasing circulation loop. Due to the arrangement of the partition board, the movable separated-type water cooling storage device replaces a traditional water distributor to achieve the complete separation of the cold water and the hot water, cooling storage efficiency is improved, production cost brought by the arrangement of the water distributor is reduced at the same time, and the cooling storage and thermal storage functions under different working conditions can be achieved according to needs of different water temperature and user load.


This paper indicates the opportunities for the agricultural multifunctional development and the rural areas, the creation of new jobs, both in agriculture and in other sectors. Plans for rural areas should pay particular attention to rural employment and diversification of production as well as development o f other non-agricultural functions in the rural areas.


Minimal research has been conducted on fly ash (a byproduct of coal combustion) and health outcomes among exposed communities, and even less has looked at its effect on children's behavior. This study specifically looks at fly ash exposure and conduct disturbance, using logistic regression to characterize their relationship. Conduct disturbance was gauged by tscores of 55 or higher on the dimensions of aggression and delinquency of the Child Behavior Checklist. Fly ash exposure was determined by air and surface sampling of the children's homes. While the odds ratios suggested fly ash exposure increases the likelihood of conduct disturbance, the results were not statistically significant. Future studies should have a larger sample size. If further research confirms a relationship between fly ash and conduct problems, this may lead to policy change and preventative measures. It is also important for community members to be informed of the potential hazards of fly ash, and for those exposed to know proper steps moving


As reportedin our previous paperl),SN-07, a novel macromolecular antibiotic containing nucleic acid and achromophore,WaS fbundin the culture broth ofAct加omadura roseovibhlCea Var.miuraensね nov.var.Subsequently we Showedthatthechromophorecouldbeisolated fromSN-07bynucleasePldigestionandthatit WaS eSSential fbr biological activity.It was di伍cult to prepare the nucleic acid丘ee chrod mophore from SN-07because ofitsinstability


Options for the primary heat transport loop heat exchangers for the Next Generation Nuclear Plant are currently being evaluated. A helical-coil steam generator is one heat exchanger design under consideration. Safety is an integral part of the helical-coil steam generator evaluation. Transient analysis plays a key role in evaluation of the steam generators safety. Using RELAP5-3D to model the helical-coil steam generator, a loss of pressure in the primary side of the steam generator is simulated. This report details the development of the steam generator model, the loss of pressure transient, and the response of the steam generator primary and secondary systems to the loss of primary pressure. Back ground on High Temperature Gas-cooled reactors, steam generators, the Next Generation Nuclear Plant is provided to increase the readers understanding of the material presented.


Hyperglycemia is a major symptom of Diabetes mellitus and a causal agent of many other major complications of Diabetes mellitus. Many synthetic hypoglycemic drugs such as sulphonylurea and biguanides cause side-effects and are so costly. Herbal drugs are safer and ease in accessibility. Plants are rich in bioactive compounds. Many of them are medicinally important and having hypoglycemic properties While working on the ethnobotanical studies in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan, about 26 plants were identified having hypoglycemic potential. These plants belong to 20 families and are growing wildly or cultivated.


This paper is based on the study of several collections of letters recently published in France, among which La Vie a en mourir: lettres de fusilles, edited by Guy Krivopissko. The corpus will also include Helene Berr's Diary, also made public thanks to the same publisher.


The purpose of this research is to conduct data forecasting on the spread of COVID-19 in West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia at the end of 2020. The data used in this research is the COVID-19 data in NTB Province including the data of the number of positive patient, the number of patients recovered and the number of patient passed away. The forecasting process uses the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) method of the GUI Multiple Forecasting System (G-MFS) based on MATLAB by determining the prediction on the next day of the graph equation generated after the data simulation. The forecasting of the COVID-19 spread in NTB at the end of the year of 2020 obtained that the number of confirmed patients amounting to 19, 614 people with an average increase of 1.48%, the number of patients healed are 6, 651 with an average increase of 1.10%, and the number of patients died amounting to 4, 953 people with an average increase of 2.42%. The average increase in the number of patients who died showed that the provincial government of NTB needs to give more serious attention to handling COVID-19 patients.


A qualitative study was conducted to look at family members' experiences of treatment for sexual abuse. A qualitative approach was selected over a quantitative approach for several reasons. First, little is known about the impact of family-centered treatment for abuse, and a qualitative approach seemed most suitable to the current exploration phase of the research. Second, qualitative research preserves the multiple perspectives represented by different family members, which is especially important in the case of sexual abuse, where the child and other nonoffending members' voices have often been silenced by the offender. Third, our brief qualitative method was minimally taxing and nonintrusive, an important consideration for families experiencing the emotional upheaval that accompanies abuse and its disclosure. Fourth, asking family members to write about their experiences in therapy may itself be therapeutic. Twenty-one families provided 267 descriptive statements of their therapy experiences. Qualitati...


gerating the consequences of cosmopolitan communications, for good or ill, because a series of firewalls persist that preserve the imprint of distinctive national cultures" (p. 309). This is sure to annoy or disappoint those on the left and on the right looking for a clash of civilizations, or for a jihad fought with a McWorld involving progressive cultural commodification of our lives. Despite the many merits of this book, it is also surprisingly remiss in giving insufficient attention to many political and historical factors. The missing politics are of two sorts. First, one has to ask, what kind of cultural politics do we find in the societies, such as Switzerland, Denmark, and Norway, that the authors uphold as exemplars of cosmopolitan places? How should we reconcile the force of the authors' data with the July 2011 shootings and bombings in Oslo, the 2009 Swiss ban on minarets affirmed by a 57% votingmajority ina referendum,or the Jyllands-Postennewspaper controversy in Denmark following the publication of Prophet Muhammad cartoons in September 2005? In these cases, there was overreaction from the right-wing and religious fringes (aboutwhichNorris andIngleharthavewritten elsewhere), but there was also a widespread agreement about the alleged dangers of Islamic extremism, even in a moderate society such as Switzerland where the majority of its Muslims, mostly Bosniak, are secular and cosmopolitan. Switzerland, until quite recently, also allowed direct voting on pictures of potential immigrants for citizenship, a practice that was denounced as xenophobic and racist. My general point is that given racism and xenophobia in the so-called cosmopolitan societies, often affirmed in surveys, are we overestimating their tolerance? Second, there is a narcissism of small differences in the colorful international politics shaping the flows of cultural products in the so-called cosmopolitan societies themselves that the authors do not describe. The Uruguay Round of trade talks (1986–94) almost fell apart over audiovisual exports from the United States to the European Union (interestingly, the authors use the term "audiovisual" popular at the World Trade Organization but resented in UNESCO). France and Canada then led the dramatic movement toward the 2005 UNESCO Convention (incorrectly confused in the book with a 2001 declaration on cultural diversity). This is not just a tempest in a teacup where cosmopolitan societies that are otherwise tolerant of each other fell apart over a minor issue, but a war of cultural images that consumed considerable political space. Moreover, if these cosmopolitans can barely stand the cultural imports from like-minded societies, one can understand how their cosmopolitanism decreases further when confronting "others." There are also historical reservations on the estimates of the communication gap, and on the presence or lack of cosmopolitanism in rich versus poor societies, respectively. First, Orientalism as a historical fact, as argued previously, is ignored in positing the values of cosmopolitanism. Second, openness among developing countries is defined in ahistorical and partial ways. Anthropologists such as James Ferguson and Jane Guyer have demonstrated through detailed ethnographies the complex connections between remote and "developed" societies throughout history, and unraveled both the patterns of cultural hybridity and political domination. Arjun Appadurai speaks of "scapes" and imaginaries" that tie the developing world with the other worlds. Furthermore, polls such as Gallup and World Public Opinion surveys from the Program on International PolicyAttitudesoften showbetter ratesof acceptanceof globalization among the developing worlds than in the "cosmopolitan" ones. Depending on the measurement tool, the communication gap or cosmopolitanism in poor societies might yield different results. Although Cosmopolitan Communications overestimates the openness and tolerance in its cosmopolitan societies and underestimates it for poor ones, while remaining faithful to its data sets, its moderated claims are compelling. This excellent book deserves great recognition and, more importantly, attention from critical followers who will debate its findings while deepening and expanding its research agenda.


This letter presents a system for manipulating microscale objects in an obstacle prone environment using push manipulations based on a learned model. The path planning is done using a RRT* search algorithm adapted for this setup and the manipulation is done using a regression model trained on manipulation data collected a priori . This model is used to capture the dynamics of the micropart and its interaction with the environment such as frictional contacts and other uncertainties that are difficult to model explicitly. The push manipulation is done using probes attached to micromanipulators capable of high-resolution movements. The setup is demonstrated through simulations using two manipulators and a LEGO inspired micropart as it is pushed through different trajectories. Experiments include performing push manipulations in the presence of obstacles, with single and multiple manipulators, and demonstrating the use of the system to perform a microassembly task. The major contribution is a working manipulation system for microparts that implicitly models difficult to model aspects like uncertainties in the environment, such as physical phenomena in the microscale like friction, and the contact interactions between microparts.


Equivalent conditions for structural stability are given for convex programming models in terms of three point-to-set mappings. These mappings are then used to characterize locally optimal parameters. For Lagrange models and, in particular, LFS models the characterizations are given relative to general (possibly unstable) perturbations.


India's national interest has been propelling the country toward becoming a valuable, cooperative partner with the United States. The growing power of China is pushing India to look for partners, especially the United States. The new Indian government, elected in May 2014, is committed to advancing India's national interests and growing India's power as a result of the changing balance of power in Asia. The government has brought a return of nationalism and closer relations with the United States. Therefore, U.S.–India relations are on track to develop more in line with the U.S. vision of an enhanced strategic partnership and an Indian role in the rebalance to Asia. India appears to be more willing and able to be a partner with the United States in the rebalance to Asia, including maintaining security and stability in the Indian Ocean region. To some extent, U.S. activity focused in Southeast Asia will be complemented by India's Look East policy and the U.S.–India Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia–Pacific and Indian Ocean region. There is the prospect of Indo-U.S. cooperation with Myanmar, Vietnam, and other states.


The fat cylindrical antenna was used as a unipole over a vertical ground plane, and was driven by a slotted coaxial line carrying a current probe. The antenna was a continuation of the inner conductor of the coaxial line, and its radius was a. Admittances were measured and calculated for a/λ in the range 0.0128–0.0179, where λ is the wavelength. The experimental results are presented in rectangular plots of conductance G or susceptance B against βh, where h is the length of the unipole and β=2π/λ. There is no comparison with theoretical results, since no theory for the fat antenna is available at the present time. However, the admittances have a behaviour similar to that of the admittances of thin antennas. Curves of βh and G at resonance and antiresonance have been plotted against a/λ. The resonant and antiresonant lengths approach nπ/2 (n odd or even, respectively) as a/λ gets smaller, i.e. as the antenna gets thinner. This agrees with the predictions of the King-Middleton theory. It is expected that, as the antenna gets very fat, the difference between the resonant and antiresonant lengths on the one hand and nπ/2 on the other will be very large, showing a radical departure from the behaviour of the thin cylindrical antenna. The conductances at resonance and antiresonance remain virtually independent of a/λ for fat antennas.


The last 125 pages of the book consist of annotated translations of virtually the entire repertory oi yamabushi kyogen plays. For her translations Morley uses the Kumogata bon text, a handwritten Izumi School text dating from the early nineteenth century. What makes this text interesting and unique is its large body of stage directions and technical advice for actors. As a workbook for actors, the Kumogata bon is a fascinating document and probably deserves more elucidation than it receives here. The Kumogata bon shows kyogen at the end of its transition period from improvisational drama to the largely "set piece" classical form it is today, and its author offers actors choices in mask use, blocking, stage business, and play endings. The only drawback to the Kumogata bon play texts is that no current kyogen performances use them. In defense of Morley's choice of texts, these plays are not very different from modern versions of plays, and no body of universally used texts exists today. The translations themselves are in colloquial English, fast moving and easy to read. Only an occasional word or line strikes the reader as unnatural "translationese," the unfortunate idiom of so many previous translations of kyogen. Reading the yamabushi plays as a body is an instructive exercise. The reader soon learns to identify the patterns of speech and movement associated with the yamabushi, and then is able to enjoy the ruptures of these patterns when they occur. By the time the reader reaches the last play, "The Snail," he can fully appreciate the irony of the yamabushi's success in using a children's song to enthrall people when lofty prayers and spells have failed him on so many previous occasions.


In the past few years there has been a renewed push towards viewing games and gaming differently, most notably in the popular culture book, "Everything Bad is Good for You: How Today's Pop Culture is Actually Making us Smarter" by Steven Johnson( 2005). In his book, Johnson argues that digital based strategy games are actually enhancing our problem solving skills, as well as IQs. He also laments the lack of solid research into how game design changes these skills, and calls for further research from cognitive scientists and educators.


In the above titled paper (ibid., vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 332-341, Apr 04), equations (12) and (13) contain typographical errors. The corrections are presented here.


Model selection has had a virtual monopoly on dealing with model uncertainty ever since models were identified as important conduits for statistical inference. Model averaging alleviates some of its deficiencies, but does not offer a practical solution in all settings. We propose an alternative based on linear combinations of the candidate models' estimators. The general proposal is elaborated for ordinary regression and is illustrated with examples. Some estimators based on invalid models contribute to efficient estimation of certain quantities.


: Obesity is a risk factor for a number of chronic conditions. Obesity is clinically defined using the body mass index (BMI) as weight in kg divided by (height) 2 in m 2 correlated with obesity. Currently, genetic markers of obesity are being studied. This study focused on the association between the angiotensin II receptor AGTR1 gene (A1166C) and fat mass and obesity-associated protein also known as alpha-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase (FTO) (rs9939609) in obese children and adolescents patients in Rostov region, Russia. Five-hundreds of Russian nationality child and adolescent were recruited for the obesity-control studies. The relationship between the A1166C polymorphism of the AGTR1 gene in 300 children and adolescents included as the unhealthy group, compared with healthy group of 200 participants were investigated. Genotyping of A1166C polymorphisms of the AGTR1 rs5186 gene was performed using PCR allele-specific primers. Polymorphisms of the AGTR1 A1166C (rs5186) genes in donor DNA samples were typed by the electrophoretic method using commercial test systems from the Lytech research and production company. The relationship between obesity and AGTR1 gene polymorphism (A1166C) was not established between the obesity and control groups in terms of the frequency of occurrence of the CC genotype (P = 1.000) and (OR 1.05; 95% CI (0.53 – 2.10)) and the C allele (P = 0.942) and (OR 1.01; 95% CI (0.76 – 1.35)). However, in the occurrence of frequency genotype of AA (P = 0.003; OR 0.57; 95% CI (0.39 – 0.82)) and T (P = 0.006) of allele and (OR 1.44; 95% CI (1.11 – 1.87)) the rs9939609 of the FTO gene were revealed differences (P <0.05) between patients and control groups. The association between genotypes obesity risk was indicated, and a significant relationship was shown between the occurrence of obesity with the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism.


Protein domain prediction is a key step in characterizing protein structure, function, and evolution. However, the genome of Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of malignant malaria, remains poorly-annotated using standard approaches to domain prediction. We identified several general problems with domain prediction and developed novel solutions. Firstly, existing domain recognition methods typically evaluate each domain prediction independently of the rest. However, the majority of proteins are multidomain, and pairwise domain cooccurrences are highly specific and non-transitive. Our novel solution, Domain Prediction Using Context (dPUC), successfully harnesses domain co-occurrence to predict weak domains that appear in previously observed combinations, while penalizing domain combinations that have never been observed. Secondly, although the E-value has been the dominant statistic for protein sequence analysis for the past two decades, domain prediction is a multiple hypothesis testing problem and lends itself to the use of q-values, which control the false discovery rate. We develop the first q-value algorithm for domain prediction and introduce several techniques to effectively address the challenges that arise in this application. Follow-up work introduces methods that combine the strengths of dPUC and q-values. All approaches are carefully benchmarked and greatly improve domain prediction compared to standard methods over individual organisms and on a large unbiased and non-redundant database of proteins. Thirdly, domain databases remain incomplete and unsupervised novel domain discovery remains a challenge. We introduce a novel domain discovery framework that takes advantage of advances in remote homology detection using HMM-HMM comparisons, as well as the wealth of information present in the genomes of P. falciparum and 14 of its closest relatives. Our sensitive compariii ative genomics approach yields 284 novel domain families that greatly increase coverage of proteins that were previously unannotated. In conclusion, our collection of novel techniques are freely available as source code, and are broadly applicable. We have demonstrated their utility in improving our knowledge of one of the most diverged and medically-relevant parasites.


This paper characterizes the asymptotic distribution of the input-output mutual information of multiantenna channels. Using recent results on random matrix theory, we prove asymptotic normality of the unnormalized mutual information for arbitrary signal-to-noise ratios and fading distributions, allowing for correlation between the antennas at either transmitter or receiver.


The choice of a cytokinin can make the difference between success and failure in the micropropagation system of a plant species. Cytokinins show stimulatory and inhibitory effects during all kinds of developmental processes such as root inhibition, shoot branching, shoot induction and senescence. Natural cytokinins are N6-substituted purine derivatives which can be classified by the configuration of their N6-side chain as isoprenoid or aromatic cytokinins. In the early years of cytokinin research, only cytokinins with an isoprenoid side chain were thought to be endogenous compounds; however BA derivatives were identified as natural cytokinins. Also the hydroxylated forms of BA, meta- and ortho-topolin, occur naturally, just like their methoxy derivatives and corresponding 9-ribosides. Later fluoro derivatives were synthesized and likewise tested in bioassays and various micropropagation systems. In this lecture, an overview is given of the merits and drawbacks of these new aromatic cytokinins in tissue culture. Own research results and that of colleagues will be discussed. The conclusion is that the new aromatic cytokinin compounds are useful additional tools that might solve particular problems in tissue culture of a number of plant species.


A thermal modelling for the performance evaluation of gas turbine cogeneration system with reheat is presented in this paper. The Joule–Brayton cogeneration reheat cycle is based on the total useful energy rate (TUER) has been optimised and the efficiency at the maximum TUER is determined. The variation of maximum dimensionless TUER and efficiency at maximum TUER with respect to cycle temperature ratio have also been analysed. From the results, it has been found that the dimensionless maximum TUER and the corresponding thermal efficiency decrease with the increase in power to heat ratio. The result also shows that the inclusion of reheat significantly improves the overall performance of the cycle. From the thermodynamic performance point of view, this methodology may be quite useful in the selection and comparison of combined energy production systems.


This paper attempts to establish a fuzzy neural automatic incident detection (FNAID) algorithm, using back-propagation training procedures. A rolling training procedure continuously updating the traffic flow parameters is proposed to enhance the adaptability of FNAID to different traffic flow conditions. A real incident case is deliberately generated to calibrate the traffic simulator—Paramics. To validate the FNAID with and without rolling training procedure, the calibrated Paramics is used to simulate sufficient incident samples. The off-line tests and statistic tests conclude that under various traffic flow conditions, the FNAID with rolling training procedure has better detection performance than the one without rolling.


Concentrations of metallothioneins (MT) were analysed in bivalve molluscs Anodonta spp. and Unio spp. from 6 lakes and watercourses of Latvia with different anthropogenic pressure. The aim of the study was to find the relationship between MT in molluscs and concentrations of heavy metals in sediments. Unio spp. and Anodonta spp. showed no significant differences in the concentrations of MT. High concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Hg, Cu, Zn) were detected in the deepest parts of polluted water bodies, however their concentrations significantly decreased in near shore sediments inhabited by molluscs. Only Zn tends to accumulate in the molluscs, reaching 2-7 times higher concentrations in organisms than in sediments. There was statistically significant correlation between MT and Hg due to high affinity of Hg to MT-complex. Concentrations of Hg and MT in molluscs were related also to condition index of molluscs, suggesting that accumulation of heavy metals in molluscs depends on their physiological status.


The traditional method of installation of kitchen and toilet pipes is to reserve holes on the floor when pouring concrete. Once the pipe installation is completed, use the template again to plug the hole. This traditional practice is extremely easy to cause the kitchen and toilet pipe root leakage, in order to achieve the effect of the anti-seepage, the construction method adopts the method of installing the embedded parts in advance, the embedded parts as the formal pipes, so as to achieve the purpose of anti-seepage. This technology accurately positions the embedded parts from various aspects and uses swim lane diagram technology to clarify the contents and responsibilities of civil construction and installation during pipeline installation.


The organicallymodified MMT was hybridized with nylon 6, nylon 66 and fire retardants respectively. Their structures were characterized, mechanical testing was performed and the fire retardancy of this kind of polymer layered silicate nanoplastics was observered. Although the LOI of MMT/PA is not very high, but it can solve the problem of drippingmelt effectively. It shows that MMT is a kind of drippingmeltsuppressant. There is a kind of synergistic effect of mechanics and fire retardancy between MMT and other fire retardants, which improve the nylon′s properties in many aspects. This kind of synergistic effect is universal. These results will benefit the research of other nanoplastics.


Significance Using crystallographic and biochemical studies, we explored how a viral protein, the matrix (M) protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), affects a pair of cellular proteins: mRNA export factor 1 (Rae1) and nucleoporin Nup98. We identified Rae1 as a nucleic acid-binding protein and showed that the viral M protein mimics the phosphate backbone of any nucleic acid. This mimicry enables VSV M protein to occupy the nucleic acid binding site of Rae1. Because this site is also used as a temporary stopover by host cell mRNA on its passage through the nuclear pore, the viral M protein sabotages host cell mRNA export, thereby paving the way for exclusively cytoplasm-synthesized VSV mRNAs to take over the cell's protein biosynthesis machineries. mRNA export factor 1 (Rae1) and nucleoporin 98 (Nup98) are host cell targets for the matrix (M) protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). How Rae1 functions in mRNA export and how M protein targets both Rae1 and Nup98 are not understood at the molecular level. To obtain structural insights, we assembled a 1:1:1 complex of M•Rae1•Nup98 and established a crystal structure at 3.15-Å resolution. We found that the M protein contacts the Rae1•Nup98 heterodimer principally by two protrusions projecting from the globular domain of M like a finger and thumb. Both projections clamp to the side of the β-propeller of Rae1, with the finger also contacting Nup98. The most prominent feature of the finger is highly conserved Methionine 51 (Met51) with upstream and downstream acidic residues. The complementary surface on Rae1 displays a deep hydrophobic pocket, into which Met51 fastens like a bolt, and a groove of basic residues on either side, which bond to the acidic residues of the finger. Notably, the M protein competed for in vitro binding of various oligonucleotides to Rae1•Nup98. We localized this competing activity of M to its finger using a synthetic peptide. Collectively, our data suggest that Rae1 serves as a binding protein for the phosphate backbone of any nucleic acid and that the finger of M mimics this ligand. In the context of mRNA export, we propose that a given mRNA segment, after having been deproteinated by helicase, is transiently reproteinated by Nup98-tethered Rae1. We suggest that such repetitive cycles provide cytoplasmic stopover sites required for ratcheting mRNA across the nuclear pore.


This paper presents a central pattern generator (CPG) based locomotion control method for a pectoral-fin propelled robotic fish with considering the bio-inspired swimming mechanism. A nonlinear differential equation is employed as the model of neural oscillators, in which undulation frequency and amplitude can be modulated independently. With nearestneighbor coupling connections, the CPG network model is constructed by coupling n such neural oscillators. The existence, uniqueness and stability of the limit cycle of its neural oscillator are proved. Based on the kinematic analysis of pectoral-fin based propulsion, the control methods of swimming forward and backward as well as pectoral-fin and body-caudal-fin coordination motion for the robotic fish are derived. Simulations and experimental results validate the feasibility of the CPG model and the effectiveness of the proposed control methods.


ABSTRACT Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and PCR were applied for the first time to the molecular characterization of Clostridium tetani. Among five strains tested, one (CN1339) turned out to contain a mixture of two genetically different clones and two (D11 and G761) to contain bacteria differing by the presence or absence of the 74-kb plasmid harboring the tetX gene.


Surgical outcomes are influenced by co‐morbidity. The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) Co‐morbidity Consensus Group was convened to improve existing instruments that identify co‐morbidity in International Classification of Diseases tenth revision administrative data.


A technique is presented that enables the chip admittance of stable t.e.d.s (t.e.a.s) to be determined accurately in any microwave circuit. An extension of the technique for the characterisation of oscillating t.e.d.s (t.e.o.s) is discussed.


The purposes of the study were to determine (1) the effect which exercise of the nondominant arm would have upon the reaction-movement time of the dominant and nondominant arms, (2) the degree to which fatigue transfers from one arm to the other arm, and (3) the influence of lateral dominance upon the reaction-movement time of both the dominant, and nondominant arms.


The advances in Internet and information technologies in the last ten years have brought about a structural change in the way information is aggregated, transformed, and then disseminated. Most people of the older generation prefer to get their news the old-fashioned way i.e., from newspapers and magazines. The younger generation, on the other hand, logs on to online sources for their information needs. There is genuine concern that as the older generation moves on, the old media will also gradually disappear. The rise of the new media has put the old (print) media establishment on the defensive. The new is not displacing the old, however; rather, it is transforming the old by forcing it to accept transparency, responsiveness and e$ciency. Increased competition is making the old media to pull up its socks and provide the additional value demanded by a free market where the number of players has multiplied.


Focused as a case study, this article analyzes two agroindustrial initiatives: i) the «Goat Milk Project» led by the Valle de Punilla Goat Producers Cooperative proposes to develop a milk catchment area; and ii) the Goat Entity Project lead by the Quilino Municipality proposes installing refrigeration for prepared goat cattle. Both propose to offer a «local» solution to the goat production crisis Central Argentina faces. If both projects share the idea of promoting regional development by promoting goatraising, they have very different characteristics in terms of the system of actors present and the strategies employed to reach the proposed objectives. Both experiences were studied considering the same dimensions: i) the origin of the initiative; ii) the trajectory of the project and of the system of actors present; and iii) the evaluation of the experience in relation to the proposed objectives. The systematic accompaniment of each one of the projects permits understanding the underlying logic in each as well as the main strengths and weaknesses that characterize them. Finally, the causes that explain the scarce relation that exists between projects and which in theory should be closely related are analyzed and some thoughts are formulated that bring forth the possible trajectory of each one of them.


The purpose of the study is to empirically examine the relationships between key sets of variables known to influence the successful implementation of change management necessitated due to implementation of incremental or radical changes in Government owned manufacturing organizations. The sets of variables are confined to management related barriers. Primary survey data has been collected from public sector companies, defense organizations, academicians, management consultants. The study examines the inter-correlations among the variables representing barriers to change; and identify underlying constructs by using factor analysis approach. This would provide a useful framework in developing strategies for an effective absorption of changes in Government organizations.


IT IS BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL SERVICES TO ANY AND ALL FIRMS WITH good growth opportunities that the fi nancial sector helps developing economies to grow and to converge on the high-income levels of advanced economies. This is not just a matter of the overall volume of lending: it matters crucially which fi rms get fi nance and on what terms, that is, on whether creditworthy fi rms of all sizes, both incumbent ones and those that seek entry, have broad access to fi nance at reasonable costs. Improving access to external sources of funding is undoubtedly the main challenge for fi rm fi nance in developing countries, and that fact alone justifi es the attention it receives. Naturally, it is also the area of fi nance that has received the most econometric research attention. Other dimensions of fi nance also matter, such as cash management and payments services, risk management, and insurance, and they deserve further research attention. This chapter looks at how fi rms fi nance themselves in developing countries and explores the barriers to improved contracting between fi rms and the providers of funds. It discusses the channels through which fi nance affects fi rm performance and the relative importance of fi nancing obstacles as a constraint to fi rm growth compared with other obstacles in the business environment. Firms fi nance their operations and growth in many different ways, refl ecting both the preferences of management and the options that are available to them. Availability of external fi nancing for fi rms depends on the wider institutional environment, and lack of availability is one of the more important business obstacles fi rms have to overcome. Better access to fi nance can help new fi rm entry and growth, which in turn promotes growth at the aggregate level. This chapter examines the impact of fi nancial barriers on fi rms—


This chapter focuses on the mainstreaming of climate change adaptation as an issue of
multi-level governance in the climate hotspot of South East Queensland (SEQ). Although
mainstreaming is not a new governance strategy, the need to find and enact better ways to
integrate climate change adaptation across key sectors such as land-use planning, emergency services, coastal management, public health, and economic development within the
Australian policy and planning context has been highlighted (Swart and Raes 2007;
Durrant 2010; Eburn and Jackman 2011; Gurran et al. 2011; Eburn and Davers 2012). As this SEQ case-study demonstrates, despite the economic, social and environmental costs
of non-coordination, in practice the use of different sectoral policies tends to shift the
problems of adaptation across administrative borders and deliver contradictory policies
that generate more problems than they resolve. How then can we learn from efforts to
integrate climate change adaptation through multi-level governance within the Australian
coastal settlement context?


A failure is often a wound for our self- and social-image. One way to afford a defeat without pain is to have a solid selfesteemable to absorb our unsuccess. Self-esteem is a subject still far from being clear, but thanks to new instruments of evaluationwe can see that there are two halves of the same coin: an explicit self-esteem and an implicit self-esteem. The first one is easy toanalyze but also more artificial. The second one is genuine but more difficult to bring on the surface, and it seems to be the true basisfor every thought that we build on "self". In the last decade researchers worked to develop instruments to observe implicit self-esteemgiven its deeper value to predict human behavior. In addition to the well-known Name Letter Task and IAT (Implicit AssociationTest), Payne et al. (2005) developed a procedure named AMP (Affective Misattribution Procedure). AMP is derived from the primingprocedure (Murphy & Zajonc, 1993) about exposition to stimuli linked to "self".Several studies discussed about other implications of implicit self-esteem and some of them (Zogmaister, Mattedi & Arcuri, 2006)demonstrated that a person with high implicit self-esteem has the ability to better cope with failure than other people. This peculiaritylet us formulate a new instrument able to detect implicit self-esteem thanks to a task about forecasting our performance on an exerciseafter experiencing a failure (a condition created ad hoc by the researcher). The main aim of this contribution is to test this measure incomparison with relative procedures. According to our hypotheses all the implicit measures should positively correlate. Furthermorewe expected a negative correlation among the "reacting to failure" task and the other measurements, because the more the participantsscored in the task the more they demonstrated a low implicit and genuine self-esteem.The results from 80 participants revealed a lack of correlation among implicit instruments; they revealed also negative coefficientsamong the "reacting to failure" task and the other measurements, demonstrating the use of strategies of self-enhancement and selfpresentationactivated by the participants during the last task in order to support they low level of self-esteem.We discuss implicit self-esteem as a complicated and multifaceted construct, of which the different measures tap separate, unrelatedcomponents.


This paper describes a first year seminar on theory and method in the PhD program at Clark University. The pedagogical format of the seminar is grounded in: (a) the general assumption that an investigator's perspective (i.e., world hypothesis, root metaphors; ct. Pepper, 1942) penetrates all aspects of the investigatory process; (b) the belief that uncovering the links among perspectives, theory, assumptions, problem formulation, methods and findings represents an ideal way of understanding the nature of research; and (c) the contention, from a developmental analysis of critical person-in-environment transitions through the life cycle, that providing people-place anchor points on entering a new environment contributes toward more optimal transitions to that environment (Wapner, 1981, 1984 in press; Wapner, Ciottone, Hornstein, McNeil, & Pacheco, 1983). What are the goals of the Seminar? What means are used to achieve these goals? What is the impact of the Seminar as evidenced by student and faculty evaluation and other indicators? What is the basis for its impact? What suggestions are there for change of the format?


Porous anodic alumina and pillar titania structures have been fabricated and used for a vertical alignment of nematic liquid crystals (LCs). The reliable LC penetration into pores was obtained for a pore entrance more than 20 nm. Meantime, the LC penetration into pillar structures has no restrictions due to the absence of the closed pore space. A method to fabricate a porous alumina alignment layer with controlled pretilt angles in the range of 0-16 degrees has been developed. The method is based on porous aluminum anodizing in a meniscal region at high forming current densities.


Abstract : This thesis is concerned with the control of entry of queueing systems. An M/M/1 model with a single class of customers and an infinite time horizon studied by Naor (1969) provides the starting point for this work. Each customer receives a fixed reward for service and pays a holding cost at a fixed rate per unit of time he spends in the system. Each customer may choose to join the system or not. A self-optimizing customer decides whether or not to join by acting to maximize his own expected net benefit. A social optimizing customer decides by acting to maximize the gain rate of the system, the sum of the expected net benefits per unit time of all arrivals. Socially optimal control of the model is provided by establishing a balking point for the customers that is no greater than the balking point a self-optimizing customer would determine. Naor's approach is compared with the semi-Markov decision process formulation of Yechiali (1971). The results for this first model are extended to show that the gain rate can only increase as the arrival rate of the customers increases while the social balking point can only decrease as the arrival rate increases. A semi-Markov approach is used to formulate an expanded model with several classes of customers, each with its own reward and holding cost rate. Socially optimal control of this model is shown to be provided by establishing a balking point for each class that is no greater than the balking point a member of the class would determine if he acted to maximize his own expected net benefit.


A trijunction made of three topological semiconducting wires, each supporting a Majorana bound state (MBS) at its two extremities, appears as one of the simplest geometries in order to perform braiding of Majorana fermions. Embedding the trijunction into a microwave cavity allows to study the intricate dynamics of the low‐energy MBSs coupled to the cavity electric field under a braiding operation. Extending a previous work [Phys. Rev. Lett. 2019, 122, 236803], the full time evolution of the density matrix of the low‐energy states, including various relaxation channels, is computed both in the adiabatic regime, as well as within the Floquet formalism in the case of periodic driving. It turns out that in the stationary state the observables of the system depend on both the parity of the ground state and on the non‐Abelian Berry phase acquired during braiding. The average photon number and the second‐order photon coherence function g(2)(0) are explicitly evaluated and reveal the accumulated non‐Abelian Berry phase during the braiding process.


The Fibrocartilage in the wrist joint is a structure common to the distal radioulnar joint and the wrist joint.It works to cache the direct pressure between the head of ulna and the wrist bones and to disperse the load.The structure is fibered soft bone and subject to urgent and chronic injury due to the stretch,pressure and shearing during movement.Therefore,it is significant for the further research on the physiological functionality and injury mechanism to obtain the biomechanical parameters of the fibrocartilage and rele vant constitutive equation.In this research,sixty experimental pieces of fresh fibrocartilages are conducted on stress relaxation experiments at various strain level and stretch experiments at equal strain speed.In this way,it is learned of the mechanical features of the fibrocartilage under one dimensional destructive stretching experiments.The experimental results are analyzed using the virtual linear viscous theory and the constitutive equation is established for the fibrocartilage.The level of research on stress relaxation is low in the fibrocartilage,and the initial ratio of the stress relaxation is between 8% and 15%.The constitutive equation is: For the wrist bone surface:σe(e)=1.111(e1.923e-1),For the ulna bone surface:σe(e)=1.111(e2.904e-1).The difference of the mechanical features between the wrist bone surface and the ulna surface is small.It concludes that the urgent and chronic injury is not quite related to the location of the fibrocartilage but much related to the striking angle,joint movement margin and the muscle working properties.


Summary: The crystalline structure and phase morphology of linear, branched polyethylenes and their blends during crystallization and subsequent melting were investigated, using a combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). A linear polyethylene (PE1) with weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 114 000 g/mol, and two branched polyethylene copolymers, containing 4.8 mol% (PE4) and 15.3 mol% (PE10) hexane, with molecular weights of 93 000 g/mol and 46 000 g/mol were used as pure samples. Two blends, PE1-4 and PE1-10, each with a weight ratio of 50/50, were prepared by solution blending. Our results indicate that in PE4 a phase separation within the branched component itself occurred, forming a broad distribution of lamellar thicknesses during the crystallization process. PE10 on the other hand did hardly crystallize because of the high degree of branching. Co-crystallization of both components took place in blend PE1-4 and liquid-liquid phase separation occurred in the melt of PE1-10. Morphological parameters were determined by using Bragg's law and the correlation function, respectively. The detected semicrystalline morphology can be well described by the lamellar insertion mode where thin lamellae develop between thicker primary lamellae. During subsequent heating, lamellae melted in the reversed sequence of their formation. The evolution of the structural parameters as a function of temperature revealed that surface melting began at first, and then the complete melting of stacks occurred until the final melting temperature was reached.


The design of a porous membrane support layer derived from cocontinuous polymer blends is presented. We investigate the effect of blend composition, shear rate, residence time, and annealing time on the cocontinuous morphology of polyethylene (PE)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) blends. Porous PE sheets were generated by water extraction of PEO and used as a support layer for gas separation membranes. The PE/PEO blends using nonfunctional and maleic anhydride functional PE (PE-g-MA) were mixed in a batch microcompounder and in a pilot plant scale corotating twin-screw extruder. Using PE-g-MA resulted in pore size reduction from 10 to 2 μm and suppression of coarsening of the morphology during further annealing of the blends due to formation of PE–PEO graft copolymers. Equilibrium interfacial tension, estimated by fitting the rheology of droplet blends to the Palierne viscoelastic droplet model, was 3 and 0.4 mN/m for PE/PEO and PE-g-MA/PEO systems, respectively. The specific interfacial area and phase size dis...


In a two-echelon single-supplier and single-retailer supply chain with permissible delay in payment, we investigate the two-level trade credit policy in which the supplier offers the retailer with limited capital a credit period and in turn the retailer also provides a credit period to customers. The demand rate is sensitive to both retail price and the customerso credit period. By using the backward induction method, we analytically derive the unique equilibrium of both credit periods in the Stackelberg game to determine the retaileros pricing strategy. We find that the optimal retail price is not always decreasing in the credit period offered by the supplier to the retailer. In addition, we characterize the conditions under which the retailer is willing to voluntarily provide customers a credit period. Numerical examples and sensitivity analysis of key parameters are presented to illustrate the theoretical results and managerial insights.


An investigation was carried out at experimental block for chilli crops, Vegetable Research Centre, Pantnagar to evaluate seven botanicals under in vitro and best of three botanicals among them were tested under in vivo conditions against anthracnose of chilli (Colletotrichum capsici).The experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2018 – 2019. Results revealed that among the seven botanicals tested for their efficacy against C. capsici under lab condition at 5 per cent concentration neem was found to be superior with maximum growth inhibition of 27.77 per cent of the test pathogen followed by Tulsi (21.87%) as compared to other botanicals whereas minimum growth inhibition of 3.70 per cent was observed in Parthenium. Among the seven botanicals, at 10 per cent concentration Neem (32.96%) with maximum growth inhibition was again found to be superior followed by Tulsi (27.26%) as compared to other botanicals whereas Parthenium (6.30%) showed minimum growth inhibition of the test pathogen. Among the seven botanicals, at 15 per cent concentration Neem (44.21%) was found to be the best followed by Tulsi (42.93%) with maximum growth inhibition whereas drumstick (9.25%) showed minimum growth inhibition. Among the 10 treatments under field condition Neem @ 15 per cent showed minimum PDI (48.88%) followed by Neem @10% (55.28%) and were found to be effective as compare to other treatments. Neem @15 per cent gave maximum yield (13.39q/ha) followed by Neem@10 per cent (13.23q/ha) as compared to other treatments and minimum yield (10.86 q/ha) was recorded in check.


I.Introduction"In the end, we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand." - Baba DioumNowhere in the legal world do these words ring more true than in the area of copyright. Providing ownership rights in the cultural creations of society helps to ensure their preservation and survival for generations to come. However, when the very basis for those rights is predicated on antiquated values that exclude certain groups and types of cultural creation, then we run the risk of creating a narrowed view of what culture is and how it is reflected in the things we produce. Copyright was not-and is not- explicitly concerned with who could produce cultural creations and who could not, though the implications of copyright protection affect the opportunities of different groups for cultural production. A legal regime that confines protection to the particular creative endeavors of a particular group of people excludes the valuable contributions of those on the outside. Though these exclusions may be unintentional, they are just as harmful as if they had been expressly written into the law.This article takes a critical look at modern copyright law in light of the values and conceptions highlighted in its early development. From its initial emergence as a means of protecting rights in the written word to the rise of the author as a vital hero to the creation of cultural works, copyright continues to espouse certain assumptions and value judgments about cultural creation. By examining these assumptions and values through a critical lens, with the aid of critical race, feminist, and queer theory in particular, I aim to expose the ways in which these assumptions continue to work to the exclusion of the creative works of already marginalized groups of people. As one critical legal scholar has already noted, "[Intellectual property law contributes to determining and maintaining a pervasive set of power relationships in society."1 It is essential that we critique those relationships and deconstruct the ways in which they imbue this area of the law.II.Birth of Copyright and the Importance of the AuthorFrom its very inception into the canon of legal thought, copyright has dealt primarily with the protection of the cultural creations of literate, white, heterosexual males, and this focus continues to color copyright law today. From the first copyright legislation arising out of the early 18th century to the succeeding rise of the Romantic author, the value principles behind providing ownership rights in cultural work have been rooted in the protection of a certain clearly defined cultural creator and his creation.A. Cultural Control and the Statute of AnneThe British Statute of Anne of 1710 emerged in the midst of political, social, and religious upheaval as the very first formal existence of copyright legislation and served a key function in providing control of the majority over cultural output.2 The statute was created to provide protection to authors who were discovering increasing instances of illegitimate printing and copying of their work.3 The printed word had long since emerged from the sole province of clerics and religious leaders to become more accessible to the average person, and printing presses and booksellers were capitalizing off of the increased demand for printed material.4Thus, the Statue of Anne provided for ownership rights to attach to published written material to permit authors to control the dissemination and distribution of their work:Whereas printers Booksellers and other persons have of late frequently taken the liberty of printing reprinting and publishing or causing to be printed reprinted and published Books and other writings without the consent of the authors or proprietors of such books and writings . . . [may it be enacted that] the Author of any Book or books already printed who hath not transferred to any other the copy or copies of such Book or Books share or shares thereof or the Bookseller or Booksellers printer or printers or other person or persons who hath or have purchased or acquired the copy or copies of any Book or Books in order to print or reprint the same shall have the sole right and liberty of printing such Book and Books . …


This work on the theme Rescue mechanisms of the European Monetary Union aims to acquaint readers with the issue of the European Monetary Union. The work shortly introduce the reader with the integration of the EU, with the emergence of economic and monetary union. To progress in last two of the most important part, the readers can read, how the various rescue mechanisms for their application in 2010 and 2011 and the related debt crisis.


While treating a 63‐year‐old woman with leg ulcerations, we observed an unusual phenomenon. A wound débridement was planned to remove adherent necrotic material.After topical anesthesia with a lidocaine‐prilocaine mixture (EMLA® cream) a hemorrhagic,livid margin area developed around the ulcer 90 minutes after application.The area turned necrotic over days and the center was débrid‐ed.


Abstract Background Pneumocystis jirovecii an fungus and the The aim of present study is to develop an improved loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for detection of Pneumocystis jirovecii (P. jirovecii) DNA and use it to examine the prevalence and association of P. jirovecii colonization among non-HIV patients with various pulmonary diseases. Methods We modified the previously reported LAMP assay for P. jirovecii by adding real-time detection. This method was used to detect P. jirovecii colonization in respiratory samples collected from 403 non-HIV patients with various respiratory diseases enrolled from 5 hospitals in China. We determined the prevalence of P. jirovecii colonization in 7 types of pulmonary diseases and assessed the association of P. jirovecii colonization with clinical characteristics of these diseases. Results The new LAMP assay showed no cross-reactivity with other common respiratory microbes and was 1,000 times more sensitive than that of conventional PCR. Using the new LAMP assay, we detected P. jirovecii colonization in 281 (69.7%) of the 403 patients enrolled. P. jirovecii colonization was more common in interstitial lung diseases than in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (84.6% vs 64.5%, P < 0.05). Patients with acute exacerbation of COPD had a higher prevalence of P. jirovecii colonization compared to patients with stabilized COPD (67.4% vs 43.3%, P < 0.05). P. jirovecii colonization was associated with decreased pulmonary function, increased levels of 1,3-β-D-glucan and C-reactive protein, and decreased levels of CD4+ T-cell counts (P < 0.05 for each). Approximately 70% of P. jirovecii colonized patients had confections with other fungi or bacteria. Conclusions We developed an improved LAMP assay for detecting P. jirovecii. Our multi-center study of 403 patients supports that P. jirovecii colonization is a risk factor for the development of pulmonary diseases and highlights the need to further study the pathogenesis and transmission of P. jirovecii colonization in pulmonary diseases.


A dynamical version of the density functional theory (DFT) for classical (equilibrium) statistical mechanics is presented. A nonlinear Langevin equation with multiplicative noise is derived for a density field. The corresponding Fokker-Planck equation is shown to have the appropriate stationary distribution expressed in terms of the free energy functional.


BACKGROUND: Studies have shown lack of agreement/usefulness of computed tomography perfusion (CTP) in selection of appropriate acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients for endovascular treatment (ET).
OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate non-contrast computed tomography (CT) within 8 hours of AIS symptom onset is comparable to CTP imaging.
METHODS: We prospectively studied all consecutive anterior circulation AIS patients with National institute of health stroke scale (NIHSS) >7 who were treated within 8 hours of symptom onset with ET at two stroke centers from March 2011 to June 2015. All patients had a CT, CT angiography and CTP. ET operator was blinded to results of CTP and based their decision on treatment using the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT score (ASPECTS). Every patient had CT 24 hours post ET as well as after any suspected deterioration. Baseline demographics, co-morbidities, and baseline NIHSS were collected. Outcomes were discharge modified Rankin scale (mRS), and in-hospital mortality. Good outcomes were defined as mRS of 0-2. CTP studies were analyzed for "Penumbra" based on previously published criteria.
RESULTS: A total of 283 AIS patients were screened and 119 were enrolled. Mean admission NIHSS and ASPECTS were 16.8 ± 3, and 8.4 respectively. Correlation of CTP with penumbra and without penumbra with good outcomes (50[percnt] vs 47.8[percnt]) was not statistically significant. Mortality in patients with no evidence of CTP penumbra was 22.5[percnt] versus those with CTP penumbra was 22.1[percnt]. ASPECT >7 versus <7 had good outcomes 64.6[percnt] vs 13.3[percnt], p<0.001; and less mortality (10[percnt] vs 51.4[percnt], p<0.001) respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: "Penumbra" pattern on CTP did not identify patients who would benefit from ET when patients were selected with a non-contrast CT ASPECTS >7. There was no correlation of CTP penumbra with good outcomes. Larger prospective trials are warranted to justify the wide use of CTP within 8 hours of symptom onset. Disclosure: Dr. Hassan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chaudhry has nothing to disclose. Dr. Andrew has nothing to disclose. Dr. Afzal has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tekle has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sanchez has nothing to disclose. Dr. Abantao has nothing to disclose. Dr. Riaz has nothing to disclose. Dr. Qureshi has nothing to disclose.


Service companies should generate and deliver superior services and manage service quality. The objective of the study is to analyze the various aspects of management of service quality. The methodology adopted is a conceptual analysis of managing service quality in organizations. Companies should manage customer expectations and product-service bundles. They should appreciate and involve technological developments and information technology in management of service quality. They should implement self-service technologies and chatbots to improve service quality. Academicians may analyze the various aspects of management of service quality and suggest effective models. Practicing managers should manage customer expectations and product-service bundles, appreciate the involvement of technological developments, and implement latest technological developments like self-service technologies and chatbots for managing service quality effectively. All these initiatives will help companies to manage service quality, deliver superior services, and to achieve growth and business excellence.


Breech delivery is associated with adverse perinatal outcome, thus controversy over the mode of delivery in the low resource setting is still on due to desire for large family and unfavourable disposition to abdominal delivery. A Retrospective study over 11 years period was carried out to compare mode of delivery and its contribution to caesarean section trend. Data were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 11. The incidence of breech delivery was similar with other reports in the country and majority of the parturients were not registered for antenatal care in our health facility. There was increasing trend in caesarean section among these parturients contributing to overall rise in caesarean section with no corresponding significant change in neonatal outcome. CONCLUSION: There is a need for practice reappraisal and careful selection of patients with strict adherence to protocol, this will in no doubt allow for vaginal delivery thereby safeguarding the future reproductive career of our women in this environment.


We provide a simplified proof of the existence, under some assumptions, of a spectral gap for the Perron-Frobenius operator of piecewise uniformly expanding maps on Riemannian manifolds when acting on some Sobolev spaces. Its consequences include, among others, the existence of invariant physical measures, and an exponential decay of correlations for suitable observables. These features are then adapted to different function spaces (functions with bounded variation or bounded oscillation), so as to give a new insight of - and generalize - earlier results.


If no typical colonies develop within twenty-four hours on Endo plates made from fermentation tubes showing gas, further effort is made to recover B. coli as follows: (1) One or more colonies are transferred to lactose broth fermentation tubes. The formation of gas demonstrates the presence of B. coli; (2) Plates are again made from the original fermentation tube; (6) A transplant is made from the original fermentation directly to another lactose broth tube, if steps (1) and (2) have both failed to recover B. coli, plates are now made from this transplanted culture; (4) At the same time a transfer is made from this tube directly to a third fermentation tube. If all the above procedures fail to recover B. coli and gas is still formed in this fermentation tube, the inference is that gas in the preliminary test was due to an anaerobe.


We give some suucient conditions for the analyticity of an extension of a continuous function f outside a compact set E C N in terms of the zeros of polynomials of best uniform or least square approximation to f on the set E.


Optical homodyne tomography1 (OHT) has previously been used to determine the quantum state of fields,2 and thus the photon-number statistics3 of these fields in the 300-ps regime. We have demonstrated the use of OHT to measure the time-resolved photon-number statistics of a 5-ns pulsed field with a sampling time of 130 fs and time resolution of 60 ps. The ultrafast sampling allows us to measure the statistics of very-broadband fields, such as that of a diode laser below threshold.


The invention relates to a power generator, in particular to a wave power generating device for generating power by utilizing waves on water surface such as sea waves. The wave power generating device comprises a power machine installation platform, platform upright posts which are fixedly connected beneath the power machine installation platform, a power generator which is installed on the power machine installation platform, and a wave power conversion device which is connected with the power generator in a transmission way. The wave power generating device is characterized in that the power machine installation platform is provided with a pendulum shaft through a shaft seat, the pendulum shaft is fixedly provided with a pendulum wheel and a pendulum rod, and the pendulum wheel is connected with the power generator in a transmission way through a bi-direction-to-single-direction converter; the wave power conversion device comprises a vertical shaft and a wave inducing pond which is fixedly connected with the lower end of the vertical shaft, the outer side of the wave inducing pond is provided with a sliding sleeve, and the sliding sleeve is sleeved on the platform upright post; and the upper end of the vertical shaft is hinged with the pendulum rod. The wave power generating device has the advantages of simple structure, low production cost and remarkable economic benefit, the wave energy in different directions can be utilized for generating the power, and the wave power generating device is free from being restricted by the direction and amplitude of the wave.


A transactional model of stress is expanded to incorporate role stressors (i.e. role overload, role ambiguity and role conflict) as the antecedents of strain and the outcomes of strain including cynicism, professional efficacy, and organizational commitment. This integrated model clarifies the impact of role stressors on strain and the impact of strain on cynicism, professional efficacy and organizational commitment on a study among academics in Malaysian public universities. The perceived organizational support, peer support, and self-efficacy are added in consideration of research indicating that those variables can buffer the effect of role stressors on strain. A longitudinal survey with a six month time interval yielded 357 respondents for Time1 and 210 respondents for Time 2. A structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was used to test this model using data at Time 1 with a cross-validation on the sample at Time 2. The result of the study indicated that role ambiguity account for the strongest direct effect on strain; strain had the strongest direct effect on cynicism. The path analysis revealed that the paths of role ambiguity, strain, cynicism, organizational commitment and turnover intention was a critical path of the model.


The main purpose of this study is to clarify the relationship between the employee's emotion management and service behaviour by analysing employees in the international tourist hotel, which involves high degrees of emotional labour that is more complex than in other industries. According to the empirical evidence, the ability of self-emotional appraisal and other's emotional appraisal become the important factors for in-role cooperative service behaviour and extra-role service behaviour. The practices can regard emotion management as the hint to predict applicant's future service behaviour, and take it as a tool to choose staff with good service performance.


My paper on "Canadian National Railway Records", written in October, 1963, and recently published in the Special Transportation Issue of the Business History Review. Spring, 1965, provides some of the material for this paper, which aims at bringing that progress report up to 9 June, 1965. That paper was aimed at the business manager. Here, an archivist is attempting to speak less formally with fellow archivists. To the business manager, I suggested that there was something to be said for the idea that a business was not only responsible for living within the law, for remaining financially accountable, but also for accepting, within limits, some "historical accountability". A means to indicating such good corporate citizenship would be through the deposit of its basic records not in current use, in some appropriate archival depository where access could be granted to responsible scholars. The usual public records act concept cannot be applied to business records. Trade secrets, competitive information and the like must be protected. But the historic fact is that the excesses of the muckrakers of another day have forced the business administrator to hide his important and valuable contributions to our lives and times. under a bushel. The time is long past due when the contributions of the business community to our way of life should be fairly delineated.


Castor hull combined with four organic matter sources for physic nut seedling production Substrates consisting of mixtures of soil and organic materials have usually been recommended for production of physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) seedlings. Castor hull is a residue produced in large quantities during the hulling process. This residue contains high amounts of macronutrient s. The objective of this study was to evaluate four organic materials for mixing with soil and castor hull. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at EMBRAPA Cotton Research Center between October and December 2006. The treatments were arranged in a complete randomized design with four replications and two plants per plot. Treatments were a mixture of soil and castor hull with one of the following materials: garbage compost, bovine manure, sewage sludge and castor presscake. The Control was a mixture of soil and castor hull. At 55 days after sowing, data on plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, stem diameter , dry weight of shoots and roots and leaf content of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S were measured. All substrates were found suitable for production of physic nut seedlings, however the use of soil with castor hull only showed the lowest seedling


The flexural vibration deformation and vibration radiation noise of piezoelectric vibrator were researched.The vibration equations were built to deduce the flexural vibration deformation functions.Then,the simplified vibration model of piezoelectric vibrator was introduced using vibration theories of micro-plane piston.Also,theoretical equation of sound pressure in close noise field and noise contribution equation of fluid in pump were deduced.Finally,with comparison of the theoretical calculation and experimental testing,the results show that the theoretical noise level of pump is 45 dB and the actual noise level is 37 dB,when the input frequency is 50 Hz.Under this frequency,the fluid in the pump exerts great influence on the pump noise,and the relative error between the testing value and theoretical calculation is 21.6%.The theoretical noise level is 61 dB and the actual noise level is 62 dB,when the input frequency is 120 Hz.In this case,fluid exerts little influence on the pump noise,and the relative error between the testing value and theoretical calculation is(1.6%).It is concluded that contribution quantities of piezoelectric vibrator and fluid in pump under different frequencies are obtained,which proves that the theory introduced by this research agrees with the experimental results well.


This article aims to provide an insider's account of post-devolution policy making in Wales. It focuses on the work of the Welsh Assembly Government in the field of social justice and argues that a set of distinctive and internally coherent principles can be seen in operation across the responsibilities which the Assembly discharges. These include a belief in the usefulness of government, a commitment to progressive universalism, a preference for cooperation rather than competition as a means of improving standards of public services, and the pursuit of equality of outcome, rather than simply opportunity. The article concludes that these principles reflect the underlying preferences of Welsh voters, as expressed in the political make-up of the devolved Assembly.


SUMMARY Rabbit anti-rat lymphocyte serum (ALS) was found to be capable of significantly delaying rejection of AgB incompatible rat heart grafts when given as a single injection as late as the 5th day after transplantation. Additional injection of ALS on the 2nd postgraft day resulted in only slight further delay of injection, but injection of normal rabbit serum on day 2 followed by ALS on day 5 yielded no immunosuppressive effect. This complete suppression of ALS activity is interpreted as evidence for production of antiglobulin antibody in response to normal rabbit serum followed by reaction of this antibody with ALS globulin injected later. Interference of attachment of antilymphocyte antibody to lymphocytes by pre-emptive reaction of host anti-IgG antibody with the heterologous antilymphocyte antiserum is proposed. Plasma cells producing anti-rabbit IgG were found in distant nodes 3 days after but not before normal rabbit serum injection.


An intrapericardial teratoma associated with a large pleural effusion and elevated aortic outflow velocity was diagnosed at 23.6 weeks' gestation. Less than 4 weeks earlier, an obstetric scan, including a four‐chamber heart view, had been normal. In less than a week following diagnosis, fetal hydrops and bradycardia developed. 'Heroic' pericardiocentesis was declined by the patient, and the fetus died. This case demonstrates the potential for rapid growth in pericardial teratomas, and illustrates the possibility of anticipating fetal compromise from tumor mass effect, when intracardiac Doppler studies are abnormal. Implications for management of these rare tumors, and specifically for the hypothetical role of fetal surgery, are discussed. Copyright © 1994 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology


Based on a classical point particle description, we study light induced transverse collimation and phase space compression of a fast molecular beam traversing the crossover region of a high-Q optical cavity and a standing-wave laser beam. The molecules scatter pump laser light, far detuned from any molecular transition, into the resonant cavity mode. We show that despite a very small probability for this process for a single particle, collective enhancement can lead to significant transverse cooling and collimation above the self-organization threshold. The analytical formulae for this threshold derived from homogeneous one-dimensional (1D) models give surprisingly good estimates for the pulsed 3D case. We compare ring and standing wave cavity geometries and show that phase space compression can be achieved even for extremely small particle field coupling if compensated by a large density and pump power. In the vicinity of the critical point the compression time can be reduced by tailored seeding of the cavity mode or using a second buildup cavity for the pump field.


Illinois-based fertilizer giant CF Industries says it will spend $3.8 billion through 2016 on new nitrogen fertilizer capacity at its facilities in Donaldsonville, La., and Port Neal, Iowa. The company plans to take advantage of its access to low-cost natural gas in the U.S. to produce 2.1 million tons of ammonia per year, along with related products urea and urea ammonium nitrate. More than half of the nitrogen fertilizer currently used by U.S. farmers is imported, mainly from Canada, Trinidad & Tobago, and the countries of the former Soviet Union. Experts say the emergence of inexpensive and abundant natural gas in the U.S. is set to reverse a 12-year trend of domestic-capacity shutdowns that began in 2000 when domestic gas prices soared. At the same time, high crop prices, particularly for corn in the U.S. and sugarcane in Brazil, have pushed up farmer demand for nitrogen fertilizers. Ammonia prices recently ...


The survival amplitude $G(t)$ of a nonstationary state decaying into a purely continuous spectrum is treated in terms of an integral transform of an energy distribution with $\ensuremath{\infty}gE\ensuremath{\geqslant}0$. We examine three such distributions. Two are real functions, the Lorentzian ${g}^{L}(E)$ and a modified Lorentzian $G(E)={g}^{L}(E){E}^{1∕2}$, and one is the complex version of ${g}^{L}(E),{g}_{c}^{L}(E)$. Real distributions are associated with Hermitian treatments while complex ones result from non-Hermitian treatments. The difference between the two has repercussions on the $G(t)$ for nonexponential decay (NED) and on the understanding of irreversible decay at the quantum level. For all three distributions, we derive analytically amplitudes (propagators) for NED and then show that these satisfy differential equations, from which additional insight into the decay process for very long and very short times can be obtained. By making analogy with the classical Langevin equation, the terms of the differential equation that are derived when the simpler ${g}^{L}(E)$ and ${g}_{c}^{L}(E)$ are employed, are interpreted using concepts such as friction and fluctuation. On the other hand, when ${g}^{L}(E)$ is multiplied by an energy-dependent factor, as in $G(E)$, the results are, as expected, more complicated and the interpretability of the differential equation satisfied by the NED propagator loses clarity.


Recent laboratory investigations indicate that the stress-strain-strength responses of loose sands are appreciably affected by the fabric orientation of the soil with respect to the frame of principal stresses.A sand specimen exhibiting a dilative response during triaxial compression may show a contractive response during triaxial extension under otherwise identical conditions.A plasticity constitutive model for simulating inherently anisotropic sand behavior is presented.A second-order symmetric fabric tensor is defined to describe the material inherent anisotropy.The location of the critical state line is not fixed but modified to be a function of the anisotropic state variable,which is a scalar defined in terms of a joint invariant of the fabric tensor and the stress tensor.The plastic modulus is also modified to be dependent on the anisotropic state variable.By these two modifications,an existing bounding surface model can successfully simulate both the contractive and dilative responses of sand over a wide range of variations in stress and density.


Abstract: Based on the conducted research found that story increased elementary school age children's critical reasoning. Story characteristic that is potential in increasing elementary school age children's critical reasoning: illogical story, the story is not clearly described, the name of the figure different from their traits, the story figure decription which is different from children schemata, unique figure behaviour, and fantasy story.


* Portions of Stringfield's time spent writing this review were supported by the Center for Research on the Education of Students Placed at Risk (CRESPAR) (U. S. Department of Education grant # R117D-40005) and by the Center for Research on Education, Diversity, and Excellence (CREDE) (U. S. Department of Education grant # R306A60001). However the opinions expressed in this review do not represent government policy and are those of Stringfield alone.


AN ELEMENTARY EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF MERGING BEHAVIOR IS DISCUSSED, AND IN PARTICULAR OF GAP ACCEPTANCE AND REJECTION BEHAVIOR AT A FREEWAY ENTRANCE RAMP. THE TONE OF THE PAPER IS PURELY EMPIRICAL. NO ATTEMPT IS MADE TO DEVELOP A THEORY OF MERGING. NOR TO VALIDATE ANY EXISTING ANALYTICAL OR SIMULATION MODELS OF THE MERGING PROCESS. RATHER, EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN IMPROVED ANALYTICAL METHODOLOGY AND ON THE COLLECTION OF BASIC EMPIRICAL INFORMATION OF THE TYPE WHICH MIGHT BE UTILIZED EITHER AS INPUT TO FUTURE THEORETICAL STUDIES, OR IN THE DESIGN OF A REAL-TIME FREEWAY CONTROL SYSTEM. /AUTHOR/


Seventy-one wild and primitive diploid accessions of the S-, A- and D-genome species of Aegilops and Triticum, one tetraploid wheat, T. turgidum L. var. durum Desf., Mexicali', and two hexaploid wheats, T. aestivum L., Anza' and Yecora Rojo' were evaluated and compared for protein and lysine contents, carbon isotope discrimination, and various agronomic traits in the 1987-88 season under field conditions. Significant variability was observed among the 71 accessions and among the three genomes for all traits. For most characters, the D-genome species exhibited the most variation, followed by the A- and S-genome species (.)


Accountant's continuous education is an important means to raise accountant quality, and calculating stan- dard; it is of great importance to ensure accounting information quality. There are some problem occurred in our regi- onal accountant continuous education, such as only one form, underdevelopment of means and method, ineffectiveness. Hence, accountant's continuous education should consider individual needs, optimize training contents, adopt various educational forms and raise teacher's quality, in order to achieve innovation.


Pussy Riot: Reflections On Receptions : Some Questions Concerning Public Reactions in Russia to the Pussy Riot's Intervention and Trial


In summary, this thesis showed that it is possible to create perylene diimide - GCP zwitterion - Modules that build up complex supramolecular systems. Both monotopic and ditopic Modules could be synthesized and investigated. The found assembly mode for both ditopic Modules and for the 3-pentyl Module is not comparable to any reported assembly for other PDIs due to the exceptional heterotopic stacking. The core linked Module showed furthermore an extraordinary time dependent aggregation change which is also not known for other PDI assemblies. All assemblies are reversibly switchable with multiple stimuli and stable in polar medium. In total, the combination of perylene diimides and the zwitterionic GCP binding motif created exceptional bi-functional supramolecular systems. It is fair to state though that few results of this thesis have been reported for other PDI assemblies before


The healthcare facility was experiencing a high census and as a result was out of labor/delivery/ recovery/postpartum rooms, necessitating some patients be moved to smaller rooms in the pediatric unit according to the facility's protocol. One family that was approached refused to be moved, and an altercation occurred, causing the charge nurse significant distress. The charge nurse in the birthing center approached the department head for advice regarding the allocation of resources. The department head was somewhat confused by the inquiry, because there were numerous other patients that could be approached. When questioned, the charge nurse indicated that the alternate families had insurance and were ''paying'' clients of the facility, whereas the first family approached was without resources other than Medicaid. The nurse felt that those who were not paying for their healthcare through either their own resources or insurance should not be able to refuse reasonable requests regarding the allocation of facilities. When advised by the department head that the source of payment, if any, was irrelevant, the charge nurse continued to defend her position and maintained that those who paid had more ''rights'' than those who did not. .................................................


This book outlines how to achieve zero waste engineering, following natural pathways that are truly sustainable. Using methods that have been developed in various areas for sustainability purposes, such as new mathematical models, recyclable material selection, and renewable energy, the authors probe the principles of zero waste engineering and how it can be applied to construction, energy production, and many other areas of engineering.


Summary Aim - A study was planned to analyse the availability and the licensing status of ocular drugs marketed in Italy and evaluate the evidence on their safety and efficacy in paediatric popu- lation. Materials and methods- A quantitative analysis was performed in order to evaluate the number of ocular drugs with a paediatric licence in Italy. A literature search was also performed in MEDLINE and EMBASE for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) concerning ophthalmic pharmacological therapy in children aged < 18 years, published up to Octo- ber 2010. A search in the international clinical trial registries and in the list of paediatric investigation plans (PIPs) approved by EMA was performed in order to find which ocular drugs are under paediatric investigation. Results- In all, of 195 ocular drugs identified, 130 (67%) of which were marketed in Italy, 62 (48%) with a paediatric licence. No published RCTs were found for one third of ocular drugs licensed for paediatric use in Italy, while 21% of all retrieved studies were re- lated to 23 drugs not licensed for paediatric use. 59 (46%) of 128 retrieved RCTs regar- ded mydriatic/cycloplegic medications. 62 RCTs (56% completed) on 46 drugs, were found in the international clinical trial registries, while only 3 PIPs were approved by EMA. Cyclosporine and bevacizumab were the drugs involved in many ongoing studies. Conclusions- There is a need for further research and clinical development in the paediatric ophthalmic area, wheretheavailability of effective and up-to-date treatments investigated in children remains a priority.


In June 1966, at the start of the Gulf Coast hurricane season, the Johnson Space Center (JSC) celebrated the opening of its new 4,000-square foot, state-of-the-art Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The new EOC has been upgraded and enhanced to support a wide spectrum of emergencies affecting JSC and neighboring communities. One of the main features of the EOC is its premier computerized dispatch center. The new system unites many of JSC's critical emergency functions into one integrated network. It automatically monitors fire alarms, security entrances, and external cameras. It contains the JSC inventory of hazardous materials, by building and room, and can call up Material Safety Data Sheets for most of the generic hazardous materials used on-site. The EOC is available for community use during area emergencies such as hurricanes and is a welcome addition to the Clear Lake/Galveston Bay Area communities' emergency response resources.


In the research of laser dynamic testing technology for swing angle scanning mirror of infrared earth sensor,a method of laser dynamically measuring swing angle of scanning mirror for the infrared earth sensor based on laser measuring technology and CCD detecting technology is presented. System for dynamically measuring swing angle of scanning mirror is developed,which can accomplish the dynamic and static laser non-contact measurement for the parameters of scanning mirror which are swing frequency, angle of zero position,amplitude value, average of peak values, etc. The composi- tion and overall structure of system is introduced. In addition, several key problems such as the measuring accuracy and dynamical range are discussed as the linear CCD is used to the technology of measuring angle, and the formula of measu- rement accuracy and the formula of dynamical range are deduced.


Purpose: This study tests if running economy differs on three surfaces (tartan, cinder and asphalt) in long distance runners. Methods: We measured oxygen uptake (parameter of running economy) breath-by -breath in 30 long distance runners (age: 25+-4 years, height: 183+-7 cm and body mass: 72+-6 kg and VO2max: 65,9+-5 2 ml.min-1.kg-1) by wireless, portable cardiopulmonary stress testing system (Oxycon Mobile). All test subjects were running at the same road racing running shoes. Athletes ran 4 stages for 4 minutes on velocities 10, 12, 14 and 16 km.h-1 with 4 minute break on each surface. Differences metabolic-energy running economy indicators were assessed statistically using a post-hoc Fisher's LSD test. Results: We found significant differences (p < 0,05) between asphalt and cinder for 12, 14 and 16 km.h-1. The lowest values were measured on asphalt surface. Differences of average values of oxygen uptake (for 10, 12, 14, resp. 16 km.h-1 ) on tartan (35.3, 41.1, 47.7 and 54.5 ml.min-1.kg- 1), cinder (36.1, 42.6, 49.3 and 56.2 ml.min-1.kg-1) and asphalt (35.1, 39.9, 46.7 and 53.5 ml.min- 1.kg-1) were on the edge of device error (50 ml.min-1). Conclusions: We found out the lowest values of oxygen uptake on asphalt surface. The asphalt is probably the most convenient surface according energetic aspect for these specific shoes.


The invention relates to the field of rubber tyres, in particular to a tyre base compound rubber material, and a blending method and application thereof. The tyre base compound rubber material with an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) crosslinked structure is prepared by blending the following components in part by weight: 100 parts of first network material of natural rubber, 0.5 to 5 partsof second network material, 0.8 to 10 parts of eutectic aid, 35 to 55 parts of carbon black, 0.5 to 3 parts of water-proof (WP) peptizer, 2 to 10 parts of zinc oxide, 1 to 5 parts of stearic acid, 1 o 8 parts of anti-aging agent, 2 to 10 parts of softening agent, 0.8 to 2 parts of sulfur, 0.8 to 3 parts of vulcanization accelerator and 0.1 to 0.3 part of scorch retarder. By the invention, variousphysical properties and the processing technology of the traditional single sulfur crosslinking bond are kept, the advantages of good temperature resistance, high resistance to shear strength and high torsional deformation resistance of the IPN vulcanized network are integrated, and the use performance of tyres is improved furthest.


The predictor-corrector approach for following the central path of monotone linear complementarity and linear programming problems is simple, elegant, and efficient. Although it has excellent theoretical properties when working in narrow neighborhoods of the central path, its proved complexity assumes a frustratingly high value of O(n1.5L) iterations when based on an $l_{\infty}$ neighborhood and several Newton corrector steps per iteration. This paper shows that by carefully specifying the line searches in each step, the complexity assumes the value O(nL), as should be expected for a method based on this neighborhood.


A prospective review was carried out to evaluate the outcome of surgically repaired open central slip (zone III) injuries which were treated with 3 weeks of proximal interphalangeal joint immobilization within a cylinder splint and then with 3 weeks of controlled mobilization within a Capener coil splint. Thirty-one fingers in 27 patients were assessed by the same independent therapist. All fingers achieved an excellent or good recovery with a mean proximal interphalangeal joint flexion of 94° (range 70–110°) and a mean distal interphalangeal joint flexion of 57° (range 30–81°). Extension deficits of the proximal interphalangeal joint were noted in five fingers (mean 6°, range 3–15°). The results show that a combination of immobilization and controlled mobilization is an effective rehabilitation regime for surgically repaired open central slip injuries.


Conventional compression strength formulas for corrugated fiberboard boxes are limited to geometry and material that produce an elastic postbuckling failure. Inelastic postbuckling can occur in squatty boxes and trays, but a mechanistic rationale for unifying observed strength data is lacking. This study employs a finite element model, instead of actual experiments, to generate experimentally designed data and a smoothed model. Results lead to a better understanding of how to unify elastic and inelastic failure data and form a more general box strength formula. The objective of this study is to determine if the postbuckling formula advocated in a previous review of some historical data on box compression, including subsets of elastic and inelastic buckling, is supported by more pertinent experiments and can thus constitute a mechanistically rational more general box compression formula. The review revealed that a combination of elastic and inelastic postbuckling theory can be universally applied to the data, with different constants for each data source, provided that nonlinear material characterization is introduced and that an empirical correction is applied to panel stiffness.


This paper presents a novel automatic road surface extraction method from mobile laser scanning point clouds of large scale complex urban environment. First, the candidate road surface points are automatically separated from the whole point cloud and divided into independent local patches by utilizing the trajectory. Then, each local patch is modeled as a 3D plane and the model parameters are estimated through the generalized projection based M-estimator (GPBM). The points of each local patch are classified into two classes, where points lying within the model are classified as road surface and the others are non-road surface. Finally, a fast clustering method is performed on the road surface class to filter out false positives. The remaining points of all patches constitute the road surface points. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed algorithm for automatic road surface extraction in complex urban environments.


The US Department of Energy has set an ambitious goal of replacing 30% of current petroleum consumption with biomass and its products by the year 2030. To achieve this goal, various systems capable of handling biomass at this magnitude have to be designed and built. The transportation system for a cotton gin was studied and modeled with the current management policy (FIFO) used by the gin to gain understanding of a logistic system where the processing plant (gin) pays for the transportation of the feedstock. Alternate management policies for transporting cotton modules showed significant time savings of 24% in days-to-haul. To design a logistics system and management strategy that will minimize the cost of biomass delivery (round bales of switchgrass), a seven-county region in southern Piedmont region of Virginia was selected as the location for a 50 Mg/h bioprocessing plant which operates 24 h/day, 7 days/week. Some of the equipment are not be commercially available and need to be developed. The transport equipment (trucks, loaders and unloaders) was defined and the operational parameters estimated. One hundred and fifty-five secondary storage locations (SSLs) along with a 3.2-km procurement area for each SSL were determined for the region. The travel time from each SSL to the plant was calculated based on a network flow analysis. Seven different policies (strategies) for scheduling loaders were studied. The two key variables were maximum number of trucks required and the maximum at-plant inventory. Five policies were based on "Shortest Travel Time Longest Travel Time" allocation and two policies were based on "Sector-based" allocation. Policies generating schedules with minimum truck requirement and at-plant storage were simulated. A discrete event simulation model for the logistic system was constructed and the productive operating times for system equipment and inventory was computed. Lowest delivered cost was $14.68/Mg with truck cost averaging $8.44/Mg and loader cost averaging $2.98/Mg. The at-plant inventory levels were held to a maximum of 390 loads. The loaders operated less than 9,500 hours and the unloaders operated for a total of 2,700 hours for both systems simulated.


We propose a conceptual framework for the understanding of use and reuse of digital content in order to inform the design of future digital repository user interfaces. The conceptual framework proposed here was initially developed, drawing upon the data gathered through surveys and focus groups with digital repository practitioners of cultural heritage knowledge organizations in the United States. Based on the conceptual framework we propose a number of digital repository user interface design ideas that could support digital repository managers in identifying and assessing digital content reuse instances and to assess the value, impact, and relevance of their digital content and collections.