Online retailers invest significant resource to improve conversion rates, defined as the proportion of website visitors that make a purchase. Using 1,184 observations from six e-commerce websites, this paper aims to analyse conversion rate determinants, also considering moderation effects of seasonality and webpage speed of load. Results show that free shipping and discounts policy have a positive effect on the conversion rate, moderated by seasonality and load speed. These finding could be useful guidelines for e-commerce managers in order to allocate their limited resources to the most relevant factor to increase online sales.


This paper focuses on the teachings and admonitions regarding wisdom found in the sixth edition of Adam Smith's Theory of Moral Sentiments (TMS). Following a mind-path marked by the seminal contributions of Glenn Morrow (1923), Donald Winch (1978), and Laurence Dickey (1986), the paper offers an interpretation of the higher moral standard (superior prudence) introduced by Smith in the last edition of TMS, as his response to the socio-economic and cultural changes that took place in Great Britain in the second half of the eighteenth century. Between the first and last editions of TMS the taste for luxury and conspicuous consumption became widespread and contagious both geographically and across ranks. Prudence and other-approbation, sufficient gatekeepers of moral conduct and character in the previous editions of TMS, became progressively less effective in keeping society away from moral deception and in regulating reputation and the distinction of ranks. The paper examines the introduction of superior prudence in the last edition of TMS as Smith's vision of a dialectical process between external and internal approbation that is capable of transforming individual dependence on social praise into a dialogue between materialistic and moral concerns, which would lead to a progressively wiser, although conflictual, existence.


For the existing terrestrial broadcast services AM, FM and DAB (VHF and L-Band), a active rod antenna with a new low-cost design and a height of only 14 cm is presented. A special high-impedance amplifier with low hardware effort based on only one HEMT for FM- and DAB services enables high performance of the ultra-short antenna structure which consists of a capacitive coupled helical structure. In combination with this amplifier, different helical structures are investigated. Measured results show the high performance of the active antenna, which yields a signal pick up and noise behavior fulfilling typical automotive requirements.


Coplan, J. A., "Ballet Dancers' Turnout and Its Relationship to Self-Reported Injury." Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy 32(11):579-584, 2002. This was a retrospective cohort study. Its objective was to compare the relationship between the degrees of turnout, passive hip external rotation range of motion, and self-reported history of low back and lower extremity injury in ballet dancers. Thirty college-level ballet dancers and instructors were evaluated. Each participant completed an injury questionnaire that placed the participant in one of two groups: with or without a self-reported history of low back and lower extremity injury. Each dancer's first position turnout and passive external rotation range of motion for both hips were measured, and the difference between these two measurements was identified as "compensated turnout." A two-sample t-test was used to determine if the average compensated turnout was significantly different in the injured and non-injured groups. The mean (± SD) compensated turnout values for the injured and non-injured groups were 25.4° (± 21.3°) and 4.7° (± 16.3°), respectively. This difference was significant at p = 0.006. It was concluded that, based on a self-reported history of low back and lower extremity injuries, ballet dancers have a greater risk of injury if they reach a turnout position that is greater than their available bilateral passive hip external rotation range of motion.


The theory of multifractal analysis is a subfield of the dimension theory of dynamical systems. It studies the complexity of the level sets of invariant local quantities obtained from a dynamical system. For example, we can consider Birkhoff average, Lyapunov exponents, pointwise dimensions, or local entropies. These functions are usually only measurable and thus level sets are rarely manifold. Hence, in order to measure the complexity of these sets it is appropriate to use quantities such as the topological entropy or the Hausdorff dimension. The dimension spectrum has been extensively studied for Hölder continuous potentials for C conformal repellers Λ in [3,4,7,10]. Feng etc [6] consider the dimension spectrum for the Birkhoff average of continuous potentials on C conformal repellers Λ. Barrel etc [1] consider C conformal repellers and potentials for which Φ is almost additive. Barreira etc [2] study the spectrum of u−dimension for the almost additive potential with a unique equilibrium measure. Cao [5] study the dimension spectrum of asymptotically additive potentials for C average conformal repellers. It is interesting to know whether the subtle structure of dimension survives after small perturbations of the original system. We will consider this problem in this paper. Let M be a C∞ Riemann manifold, dimM = d. Let U be an open subset of M and let f : U → M be a C map. Suppose Λ ⊂ U is a compact invariant set on which f is conformal expanding. Let φ : M → R be a continuous potential


Invited talk at the EPS-HEPP meeting in Krakow, July 2009. My first thought, and presumably the default expectation, was that I'd talk in a general way about the grandeur of high energy physics and the exciting future we anticipate, especially with LHC coming on line. But an unfortunate byproduct of the delays at LHC and the slow pace of other experiments is that I've already done that sort of thing many times, as have many other conference embellishers, and the ritual is getting stale. So I'll speed through the litany, and then indulge myself by advertising some ideas I've been fond of, some for quite a while, that I think are interesting, promising, and not as well known as they should be.


Consumer interest in game meat has increased in recent years, mainly due to the growing population of some wild species, the "natural sounding" aspect of game meat and its good nutritional value [...].


Throughout history there have been managers who stand out as examples of leadership. Many of them have been intensely studied and are admired and held up as examples to be emulated. Very often they are exceptional individuals. As leaders they have certain deeply rooted personal principles and values that enable them to obtain what so many companies nowadays dream of obtaining: employee commitment to a content-rich, credible and urgent mission. As a rule, they are exceptional cases, exceptional individuals, exceptional achievements. But what about the rest of us – managers, supervisors, team leaders – who have not been blessed with exceptional qualities? Is it possible to promote leadership in ordinary organizations? Is leadership really reserved for a select few? In the years we have been developing and implementing management by missions (MBM) we have found that ordinary people at all levels of the organization can become leaders if the context is right. To build such a context, companies need to abandon the personalist conception of leadership that has predominated for decades.


We present an overview of measurements of the surface impedance Zs(T ) = Rs(T ) + iXs(T ) and complex conductivityσs(T ) = σ1(T )− iσ2(T ) in theab-plane of high-quality highTc single crystals YBCO, BSCCO, TBCCO, and TBCO and their theoretical interpretation. Electrodynamic principles of the experimental 'hot finger' technique, most frequently used in high-precision measurements of the surface impedance, are analyzed. A systematic description of the results of measurements obtained by means of this technique are presented. The conventional theory of the local electrodynamics of superconductors is discussed, and it is argued that traditional models do not describe adequately the microwave response of high-Tc superconductors. The comparison is performed of experimental curves of the surface impedance and complex conductivity to calculations based on the modified two-fluid model, which includes quasiparticle scattering and characteristic change in the density of superconducting carriers as a function of temperature. Further, the existing microscopic models are reviewed, which are based on unconventional symmetry types of the order parameter and on novel mechanisms of quasiparticle relaxation. The relevance of these models to the experimental data is discussed. The prospects for further research of the high-frequency response of high-temperature superconductors are outlined.


Pasting constructive elements of car, for example for bonding seams of beading in the rough construction of body, using an adhesive of several components, wherein the adhesive components are mixed together by a mixer and then applied in the desired location of the component automobile, wherein the mixing device one dynamic mixing head (10) having a body rotatable mixture (12), with injection valves at high pressure (14) for the adhesive components used (a, B) and with connections for cleaning washing with high pressure liquid.


Abstract The Lagrangian and the Generalized Linear Momentum are given in terms of a constant of motion for a one-dimensional autonomous system. The possibility of having an explicit Hamiltonian expression is also analyzed. The approach is applied to some dissipative systems.


Coastal predatory fish are of key importance for the provisioning of ecosystem services in the Baltic Sea. Worldwide, however, there has been a general and sharp decline in predatory fish populations, in turn threatening the viability and function of marine ecosystems. On the basis of the literature, the past (data until the 2000s) and current (data until early and mid 2010s) trends in abundance of coastal predatory fish in the Baltic Sea are reviewed in this paper. Potentially important impacting factors behind the temporal development of the populations and measures to strengthen and restore them are also discussed. Available data from coastal fish monitoring programs suggest a stable or increasing abundance of coastal predatory fish as a functional group and for the species perch in the majority of areas assessed in the Baltic Sea. For pike and pikeperch, data to support assessments is scarce, but suggest substantial declines in the abundance of both species in most assessed areas. The impacting factors behind these patterns vary between species and areas, but include climate, habitat exploitation, fishing, and species-interactions in the coastal food web. Measures to restore and support coastal predatory fish communities should follow an ecosystem-based approach to management and include efforts to regulate fisheries sectors in combination with habitat protection and restoration.


Objective To evaluate the value of preoperative lateralized 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy(1HMRS) on temporal lobe epilepsy(TLE).Methods 1HMRS of 45 patients with unilateral TLE confirmed surgically and pathologically were retrospectively analyzed,and 10 patients without systemic disease and neurological symptoms served as control.The N-Acetyl L-Aspartic acid(NAA),Creatine(Cr),Choline(Cho),NAA/Cr,NAA/Cho,NAA/(Cr+Cho) were calculated respectively and compared among the lesion group,the contralateral group and control group.Results NAA,Cr,Cho,NAA/Cr,NAA/Cho,NAA/(Cr+Cho) were,respectively,(52.31±12.78) ppm,(40.36±8.06) ppm,(42.78±10.43) ppm,(1.29±0.15),(1.24±0.14) and(0.63±0.05) for the lesion group,and(58.04±13.25) ppm,(40.49±10.02) ppm,(42.42±10.68) ppm,(1.45±0.16),(1.39±0.13),(0.70±0.05) for contralateral group,and(59.86±11.28) ppm,(39.00±7.10) ppm,(40.43±6.61) ppm,(1.55±0.19),(1.49±0.12),(0.76±0.06) for control group.There was significant difference in NAA,NAA/Cr,NAA/Cho,NAA/(Cr+Cho) between hemispheres with and without lesions(P0.05).The coefficient of variation of NAA/(Cr+Cho) ranged from 7.04% to 7.93%,and the diagnostic accuracy rate and specificity was 86.67% and 100% respectively when NAA/(Cr+Cho) ratio was 0.65 and the margin was 0.07.Conclusion 1HMRS can quantify biochemical metabolic disorders of temporal lobe and is a complementary modality for evaluating TLE.


Fish and Karabenick ( 1971) investigated the relationship between Rotter's (1966) Internal-External Control Scale and Janis and Field's (1959) Feelings of Inadequacy Scale for males only. AS predicted, there was a significant correlation of -.28 (p < .001), indicating that men with higher self-esteem tend to be internally oriented. Such an outcome is not surprising since earlier investiga[ions have indicated that internals describe themselves as being self-confident, independent, assertive, persevering and insightful, while externals tend to describe themselves unfavorably, as being self-pitying, anxious and inadequate. In light of recent studies which indicate that many of the correlates of locus of control differ for men and women (Hjelle & Clouser, 1970; Platt, Pomeranz, Eisenman, & DeLisser, 1970; Ryckman, Martens, Rodda, & Sherman, 1972), it was decided to administer the same measures to 178 men and 204 women registered in introduccory psychology during a class to check the correlation for women.


Keywords: Drill, Operation Count Fraction, Learning Achievement.
The research in this thesis background by the problems faced by the
students of class V the State Islamic Elementary School Kolomayan where
learning achievement of students is still deemed less. Based on initial research, the
low learning achievement was due to the method less attractive teacher or
monotonous. In response to these problems, researchers applied the method in
learning Math Drill. Thus, the expected application of the method of teaching
Math Drills in Operation Count Fraction materials capable of improving student
achievement.
The problems of this paper are: (1) How does the application method on
Math Drill Operation Count Fraction material for students of class V in the State
Islamic Elementary School Kolomayan Wonodadi Blitar academic year
2013/2014? (2) How does an increase in the application of the method of learning
achievement in Mathematics Drill Operation Count Fraction material for students
of class V in the State Islamic Elementary School Kolomayan Wonodadi Blitar
academic year 2013/2014?
The purpose of this study was (1) to describe the application of the method
steps drill in mathematics arithmetic operations material fractions fifth grade
students State Islamic Elementary School Kolomayan Wonodadi Blitar Academic
Year 2013/2014. (2) improve the learning achievement of material fractional
arithmetic operations fifth grade students State Islamic Elementary School
Kolomayan Wonodadi Blitar Academic Year 2013/2014.
This thesis is beneficial to the Head of State Kolomayan Elementary School,
as one of the reference model of learning to improve the quality of teaching in the
school was, for the State Government Elementary School Teachers Kolomayan
consideration as input methods to be used in teaching and learning activities, the
students State Islamic Elementary School Kolomayan as achievement ways to
improve learning, the library State Islamic Institute Tulungagung, the reader /
researcher as a reference for the reader and as a reference for the further conduct
similar studies.
The study design used was Classroom Action Research as much as two
cycles. Each cycle consists of four stages: planning, implementation, observation,
and reflection. While collecting data using observation techniques, interviews,
tests, questionnaires, field notes, and documentation is done directly in the field.
Source data from this study were fifth grade students of State Islamic Elementary
School Foreign Kolomayan Wonodadi Blitar. Analysis of the data used include
data reduction, data display, and conclusion. Indicators of success in this study if
the student mastery of the material reached 75% of the goals that should be
achieved, with a minimum value of 70 criteria for completeness.
The results showed that student achievement increased from the first cycle
to the second cycle, namely in the first cycle with an average value of 66.29
(57.85%) and the second cycle with an average value of 72.40 (77.77 %). Based
on the research results, it can be concluded that the application of the method can
improve learning achievement Drill Mathematics arithmetic operations material
fractions fifth grade students State Islamic Elementary School Kolomayan


We present the results of a complete Einstein imaging proportional counter X-ray survey of optically selected galaxies from the Shapley-Ames Catalog, the Uppsala General Catalogue, and the European Southern Observatory Catalog. Well-defined optical criteria are used to select the galaxies, and X-ray fluxes are measured at the optically defined positions. The result is a comprehensive list of X-ray detection and upper limit measurements for 1018 galaxies. Of these, 827 have either independent distance estimates or radial velocities. Associated optical, redshift, and distance data have been assembled for these galaxies, and their distances come from a combination of directly predicted distances and those predicted from the Faber-Burstein Great Attractor/Virgocentric infall model. The accuracy of the X-ray fluxes has been checked in three different ways; all are consistent with the derived X-ray fluxes being of ≤0.1 dex accuracy. In particular, there is agreement with previously published X-ray fluxes for galaxies in common with a 1991 study by Roberts et al. and a 1992 study by Fabbiano et al. The data presented here will be used in further studies to characterize the X-ray output of galaxies of various morphological types and thus to enable the determination of the major sources contributing to the X-ray emission from galaxies.


-egfr- calculates estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in mL/min based on the serum creatinine and/or cystatin C along with various other variables. The exact variables required depend on the eGFR formula used and the options that the user specifies.


of an agricultural territories at microlevel allows to improve land management carry out the highly precision optimization of for total energy consumption for technological process. Evaluation of the energy efficiency of technological pro-cesses connected with processing of the soil indicates significant changes in the energy costs for the varying types of processing and technological parameters. According to variants of plowing saving of energy consumption can reach 30%, flat-cutting processing of the soil – 38%, disking of the soil is 20% and sowing – 14%. Saving of direct fuel consumption for the most energy-intensive operations can be up to 7 kg/ha.


Abstract Since the strain, friction, and vibration of carpet yarn have direct impact on the quality of tufted carpet, mechanical properties of yarn play an important role in carpet weaving. An improved method based on Boltzmann superposition principle for describing mechanical behavior of carpet yarn is presented in this paper, which greatly reduces the amount of calculation and further improves the fitting precision. To estimate the performance of the model, we carry out some experiments on carpet yarn specimens, and compared with a nonlinear viscoelastic model widely used in studying nonlinear material. The results showed that the improved method and the nonlinear viscoelastic model perfectly fit the stress relaxation experimental curves when the deformation of the specimens is small, however the improved method is more accurate than the nonlinear viscoelastic model based on single integral constructive equation when the models are used to predict the stress relaxation responses.


This research paper deals with an important book related to one of the well-known aspect of Islamic jurisprudence which is called "fatawa" its deals those contemporary legal and social issues which does not exist in the classical literature of jurisprudence and Muslim scholar elaborates its legal status in the light of Qur'an and Sunnah and opinions of classical jurists and their principals. I have focused on in this research work on one of the prominent book known as " Fatawa Wadodia" which was compiled in Swat state under the supervision of the than King of the said state. The purpose of this book was to provide legal Islamic guidance to those judges who were working in the territory of Swat state. The state has hired a very prominent Islamic scholar of that time Molana abdul Haleem for this job who were serving in Ajmer India, the book has divided into two major category of Islamic law, one is related to the ritual practices and the second one has discussed social and judicial issues. My work during this research paper is related to the first volume of the said book, and I have elaborated the method of books as well as a brief history of this precious intellectual efforts of the Swat state. I have adopted analytical and descriptive method in this research work.


Garnet‐based solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs) are attractive for solid‐state lithium metal batteries due to their wide electrochemical window, high conductivity, and excellent stability against lithium metal. However, the risk of short‐circuit encumbers the cycle life and capacity of garnet‐based solid‐state batteries without clear reason or mechanism. Here, reversible short‐circuit behavior in the garnet‐based solid‐state batteries, which differs from the short‐circuit in liquid cells, is reported for the first time. In situ neutron depth profiling is adopted to quantitatively measure Li transport, which helps forecast and confirm the reversible nature of the short‐circuit in garnet‐based batteries. A real‐time Li accumulation monitoring system of NMC//CNT/garnet/Li cell is designed to reveal the Li dendrite formation mechanism. The voltage drops of the CNT monitoring electrode during the charging process indicate the formation of Li dendrites inside the garnet bulk, while the smooth voltage profile during the discharging process demonstrates the disappearance of the short‐circuit. This is the first confirmation of short‐circuit behavior that provides clarification of the Li dendrite formation mechanism in garnet‐based solid‐state batteries, which is shown to be a reversible process caused by the low ionic conductivity and non‐negligible electronic conductivity of garnet SSEs.


In this paper, we introduced the notion of near subsemigroups, near ideals, near biideals and homomorphisms of near semigroups on near approximation spaces. Then we give some properties of these near structures.


In the traditional Ndebele society of Zimbabwe, there is a marked asymmetry of knowledge and authority between men, women, and children. It implies a difference in the application of negative and positive politeness by them based on their traditionally assigned gender roles. Hence, this study demonstrates how gender roles and relations within the Ndebele society influence the forms and functions of politeness used in daily interactions. The analysis was conducted by using the politeness theory as the theoretical framework, which proclaims that communication is a way that structures social relations. Personal and participant observations were used as sources of data collection. The research revealed that the forms and functions of politeness used in daily interactions within the Ndebele society are influenced by the formal and socially distant relationships between men, women, and children. In this regard, politeness conventions were determined by analyzing the norms, values, and particular power structures of the Ndebele society. Moreover, it was also found that gender dichotomy is developed from an early age and the "I" holds the power dynamics in relationships. So, it was concluded that the forms and functions of politeness in the Ndebele society are determined by one's position in it. Furthermore, this position implicitly represents the social and power relations within the society, maintaining a patriarchal social structure and habitus. In this respect, the submissiveness of women towards their husbands shows the set pattern of the patriarchal society and its expectations from a woman.
Keywords: gender roles, patriarchy, negative politeness, politeness, positive politeness, submissiveness


The interaction between electronic and vibrational degrees of freedom in single-molecule junctions may result from the dependence of the electronic energies or the electronic states of the molecular bridge on the nuclear displacement. The latter mechanism leads to a direct coupling between different electronic states and is referred to as nonadiabatic electronic-vibrational coupling. Employing a perturbative nonequilibrium Green's function approach, we study the influence of nonadiabatic electronic-vibrational coupling in model molecular junctions. Thereby we distinguish between systems with well separated and quasi-degenerate electronic levels. The results show that the nonadiabatic electronic-vibrational interaction can have a significant influence on the transport properties. The underlying mechanisms, in particular the difference between nonadiabatic and adiabatic electronic-vibrational coupling, are analyzed in some detail.


The storm that envelops Angola's people is one which reaches out further in time and space than the narrow limits of the present day liberation struggle. It covers both the rich past of the African peoples of Angola and the present problems of all Africa. The eye of this storm lies in the wide, deceptively calm, 'sertoes' of eastern Angola, where war and history seem at first sight to be absent. Angola's history is presented as an integral part of the wider west central African pattern, in which the Mbunda, Luvale, Luchazi and other peoples of eastern Angola have played an important role. The story of the kingdoms of Kongo and Ndongo, whose outlines are by now well known, is completed by a novel attempt to reconstruct the history of the east from the meagre published sources. And beyond the typology of primary resistance, secondary resistance, and modern nationalism, Basil Davidson draws another, more dialectical, distinction between 'reformism' and 'revolution', between elitist and mass response. Thus the origins and development of the modern U.P.A. (Uniao das PopulacOes de Angola) are shown to be the product of a long tradition of reformist elitist resistance to Portugal, symbolized by the autonomous pretensions of the Kongo monarchy and the Luanda 'assimilados'. The M.P.L.A. (Movimeeto Popular para a libertacao de Angola), however, is seen as the result of the grafting of the radical, often Marxist, theories of a fraction of the elite onto the popular traditions of armed resistance. The relevance of the Angolan case to modern Africa lies in this atypical orientation of a part of the elite, due largely to the Portuguese refusal to decolonize. And Davidson insists that this revolutionary current can alone save Angola from the neo-colonial future which has been the fate of so many African countries. But he does not shrink from pointing out the inherent contradiction between the M.P.L.A.'s call for a wide national front, and its insistence on the need for social revolution. The recent agreement between the M.P.L.A. and the U.P.A., concluded since this book was written, is likely to make this contradiction even more apparent.


With the 'digital library' emerging as a trend in the present era, the information society of today suffers not from the lack but from a surplus of information. Distinguishing relevant from non-relevant information is therefore, one of the main tasks of librarians. The development of information technology in the field of digital libraries has attracted many research efforts during the last years. Many interesting projects have been started, dealing with the various open issues arising in this field addressing the challenges such as metadata selection, preservation, technology obsolescence, and copyright issues, etc.DESIDOC has taken several initiatives in this direction. Building a 'digital library of newspaper clippings' is one such effort in this direction. This articles discusses in detail all the issues related to the development of digital library of newspaper clippings and implementation of 'Greenstone Digital Library' software in developing such collection. http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dbit.25.3.3655


Aim To improve the synthetic procedure of 2-en-1-one moiety in the A ring of territrem B analogues,and to evaluate their protective activities against OGD(oxygen-glucose deprivation)-induced injury of a primarily cultured newborn rat′s hippocampal neurons.Methods The target compounds were synthesized from 2-en-ebester 5 and partially transformed from the by-product of 2-en-1-bromo-ebester 8 via bromination,hydrolysis and oxidation.Their protective activities against injury of a primarily cultured newborn rat′s hippocampal neurons arising from OGD were determined.Results and conclusions Four derivatives of 2-en-1-one-ebester 6a~6d were synthesized with the structures confirmed by their 1H-NMR and MS spectra.The pharmacological data shows that compound 6b is active against injury arising from OGD.


This article discusses how CSX Railroad describes its National Gateway as an innovative public-private partnership, which is one of the largest transportation projects in the nation. It will create a doublestack intermodal corridor, with new intermodal terminals that will link the Mid Atlantic seaports of Wilmington, NC, Hampton Roads, VA and Baltimore with the Midwestern cities of Chicago, IL, St. Louis, MO, Memphis, TN as well as with Charlotte, NC, New Orleans, LA, and Tampa, FL. The improvement projects are designed to increase vertical clearances at 61 locations in the eastern portion of CSX's 21,000 mile system. This project will increase freight capacity between the Midwest and the East Coast.


In this paper, legitimate eavesdropping in a point-to-point suspicious communication network with multiple wireless powered full-duplex legitimate eavesdroppers is investigated. The eavesdroppers are assumed to adopt the power splitting technique to coordinate energy harvesting and information eavesdropping, and use the harvested energy to proactively jam the suspicious communication. For both collusive and non-collusive eavesdroppers, the successful eavesdropping probability is maximized by optimizing the power splitting ratio at each eavesdropper. Heuristic algorithms are proposed to solve the optimization problems. Simulation results are provided to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms. It is shown that the proposed algorithms outperform the reference algorithms without proactive jamming, especially for non-collusive eavesdroppers with a high energy harvesting efficiency, a high transmit power of the suspicious user, or a large number of eavesdroppers.


In this study, we investigated the influence of a transverse electric field on the mechanical properties of carbon, boron nitride, and silicon carbide nanotubes based on density functional theory and continuum mechanics. To evaluate the Young's modulus of the nanotubes, a compressive distribution loading was implemented in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the nanotubes in the presence and absence of an electric field. According to the obtained results from the geometry of the deformed nanotubes, an elliptical function was used to estimate the overall deformation. Based on the Green strain theory, the displacement of each particle is defined by the conversion matrix to transform the initial circular shape of the nanotubes to the final elliptical shape. The classical continuum theory was employed to estimate the relationship between strain energy and strain field of the nanotubes. An evolutionary genetic algorithm was used to achieve an accurate estimation of the fitting of the energy...


Abstract : People in program offices make decisions every day. Sometimes the alternatives are clear with unambiguous outcomes but more often the options are less certain and have far-reaching unintended consequences. An effective risk management program can provide program managers with the information they need to make smart decisions in the face of this uncertainty. Although the techniques for risk management are well documented and not technically difficult a variety of factors make them hard to implement effectively. This article describes what risk management is identifies some of the typical challenges and provides specific examples and recommendations on how to implement an effective risk management program.


Scanning electron microscopy was used to detect the presence of microorganisms in the intestinal surface of Onychochaeta borincana. The intestines of fourteen adult specimens were extracted, washed, and prepared for microscopy protocol. The presence of segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) and rod-shaped bacteria (RSB) were observed in the fore, mid, and hindgut wall of all samples. SFBs and RSBs appeared to be more abundant in the midgut. Spore-like segments were only present in the hindgut. A non-characterized network of filaments was also observed exclusively in the posterior part of the gut. SFBs appear to be attached to gut walls and are probably indigenous.


Regenia Gagnier's comment that late Victorian literature 'represents the everyday economic life between the genders' as 'refracted through the discourses of technology, machinery and economic operations' applies equally to modernist writing of the early twentieth century, especially before England's social structure was ruptured by the devastation of the Great War.1 In Katherine Mansfield's stories the effects of modernity in the forms of 'economic events that shaped the contemporary world',2 then, are crucial touchstones for the changing subjectivities and self–other relations of her characters. To read her work through an economic lens informed by twenty-first-century consumer discourses and the ideology of global capitalism is to become aware of the marketplace as a powerful, animating force that intersects with and destabilizes her characters in unpredictable ways, shaping her modernist response to money conceived as the basis of economic and social power.


AIM
To study an effect of L-lysine aescinat on the dynamics of complaints, severity of neurological syndromes and parameters of cerebral blood flow estimated by transcranial doppler and duplex scanning in patients with chronic cerebral venous insufficiency (CCVI).

MATERIAL AND METHODS
Eighty patients with ultrasound-confirmed CCVI were examined. The basic group included 40 patients who received two treatment courses (intravenous drop-by-drop/stream introductions of L-lysine aescinat in the dose of 5ml during 7 days in 2nd and 30th days of examination). The comparison group consisted of 40 patients.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
Treatment with L-lysine aescinat led to the significant decrease in complaints and improved the scores on the scales used in the study. There was an improvement in the cerebral hemodynamics (an increase of hemodynamic reserve and normalization of the linear blood flow velocity in deep veins) in the patients with CCVI. The safe profile of L-lysine aescinat used in recommended doses was confirmed.


The criteria of trustworthiness developed by Guba (1981) can be utilized to both plan and judge evaluations within the naturalistic inquiry paradigm. This article (1) describes the process and results of a study done to evaluate an educational program developed to increase faculty-student contact in a clinical clerkship, (2) applies the criteria of trustworthiness to the evaluation methodology, and (3) identifies some issues andproblems that may affect an evaluator's ability to apply the criteria of trustworthiness as completely as theoretically desirable.


Commutative symmetric operator families of the so-called 𝐷 + _ -class are considered in Krein spaces. It is proved that the restriction of a family of this type on a special kind of invariant subspace is similar to a family of operators adjoint to multiplication operators by scalar functions acting on a suitable function space.


This paper investigates and analyzes the measured power-quality results of an onshore wind farm with three wind-turbine generators connected to the power grid of Taiwan Power System. The three 2-MW wind permanent-magnet synchronous generators of the studied Taichung Power Plant's onshore wind farm are connected to the extra-high-voltage bus of 161 kV through a step-up three-winding distribution transformer of 161/23.9/11.9 kV, 60/30/30 MVA. The measured results were recorded from October 8th, 2015 to November 13th, 2015 for total 37 days. The recorded power-quality results include current harmonics, voltage flickers, and voltage variations. Special output-limitation outcomes of the studied wind farm were also recorded. According to the analyzed long-term measurement results, the power-quality indices such as system frequency, voltage variations, voltage flickers based on ΔV10, and total demand distortion of current at the point of common coupling can meet the grid code of Taiwan Power Company.


A suppressing the occurrence of pinholes or cracks due to bending during the vapor deposition film processing lamination etc., and to provide a deposited film capable of suppressing the lowering of gas barrier properties. The present invention comprises a substrate film comprising a polyvinyl alcohol polymer, a vapor deposition film comprising a metallized layer laminated on the base film is measured by electron microscopy of the metal deposition layer the average particle diameter that is, is at 10nm or more 142nm or less, characterized in that the base film further comprises an inorganic oxide. The average thickness of the deposited metal layer, preferably 30nm or more 100nm or less. .FIELD 1


The oxazoline core is found in many active pharmaceuticals. It has for some decades been recognized as a useful synthon in chemical synthesis and, more recently, as a ligand in catalysis. The PyOX-core (2-(2 ́-pyridyl)oxazoline), consisting of two heteroatom rings, was accidentally formed for the first time in the early 1970's. The excellence of PyOXstructures as metal catalyst ligands was recognized from the late 1980's onwards, an observation generating a need for more efficient syntheses of enantiopure, functionalized PyOX-ligands. In the first part of this thesis, an efficient synthesis route to form an enantiopure PyOXbased thiolate compound was optimized. This method was then applied in the synthesis of a series of enantiopure solid-supported compounds. The novel PyOX-derived thiolate was used to form a novel chiral gold nanoligand. Its gold core was to the best of our knowledge smaller than before in experimental chemistry. This nanoparticle was used as a ligand in a known asymmetric test reaction, giving a reasonable selectivity. Novel PyOX-ligands, synthesized in this thesis, were also used as chiral ligands in the asymmetric Henry reaction, an application previously unknown for PyOX-ligands. Finally, the methodology used to prepare substituted and chiral PyOX-ligands was applied to the synthesis of a new, enantiopure ligand family, the IndOX (2-(2 ́-indolyl)oxazoline). This thesis has yielded an optimized methodology to form substituted enantiopure bidentate oxazoline ligands (PyOX and IndOX) in a simple and efficient way. The methodology was also applied on ligand formation on solid polymer and semi-soluble nano supports. These ligands were tested for known asymmetric test reactions and a new test reaction for PyOX-ligands (Henry reaction) was introduced.


Wireless sensor nodes deployment optimization problem is studied.Wireless sensor network deployment determines its capability and lifetime.Traditional genetic algorithm generates local optimal problem easily in wireless sensor nodes deployment optimization process because the probabilities of crossover and mutation are fixed,thus the results are not ideal,and network lifetime is too short.In order to optimize network deployment and improve the network life,this paper puts forward a wireless sensor nodes deployment optimization method based on genetic algorithm and simulated annealing algorithm.In this method,sensor nodes deployment optimization is transformed into combinatorial optimization problem,and network nodes are expressed as a grid,using genetic algorithm to search the optimal deployment,and simulated annealing algorithm is used to the population change,for the search speed improvement.Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm,compared with the simple genetic algorithm and simulated annealing algorithm,has higher efficiency in deployment and more alive nodes in network,which prolongs the network lifetime.


One of the causes of the recent upheaval in health care is health plans' adoption of the concept of "medical necessity" as the limit of their coverage -- i.e., that the plans will cover the cost of procedures that are "medically necessary." The concept has caused hardships for the plans, physicians, patients, and coverage purchasers because medical necessity has proven to be legally vague, clinically artificial, and both unreliable and restrictive for patients. To avoid those problems, plans should jettison medical necessity and the notion that they will provide "all of the care someone needs." Instead, the plans should turn to guidelines-based contracting: They should lay open to consumers the clinical guidelines by which they make benefit determinations, and make those guidelines the explicit basis on which the plans contract with enrollees. That way, people would have a clearer idea of what coverage the plans provide.


On the basis of previous research work, an improved processing technology for catalytic cracking was established. The new technology has some fundamental modifications in the reaction control mode in order to gain the better FCC product distribution and higher product quality. The analysis on experimental data shows that the new technology for two stage riser is effective for improving the quality of the product. Compared with the gasoline produced by the first stage reaction, the olefin content and the octane number of the final gasoline were remarkably reduced by 10 percentage point and increased by 2~6 respectively. The stability and anti knock quality of gasloine was also improved greatly.


Abstract The runoff routing model structure is commonly used for flood estimation in Australia. There are several models in use including RORB, RAFTS, URBS and WBNM, but they all have as their structure the sub-division of the catchment, the application of rainfall excess from generally one process to each sub-catchment, and the routing of this excess rainfall through a series of non-linear storages to the catchment outlet. One issue that has been identified with RORB and WBNM is that the models are not internally or self-consistent, with the subdivision of the model having an effect on the model result. This paper describes an investigation into the links between runoff routing storage parameters for the RORB and RAFTS models. The investigation revealed that the relationship was satisfactory for single node RAFTS models, but not for multiple nodes. This confirmed that the RAFTS model with multiple nodes is not internally consistent and regional storage parameters are affected by the number of nodes in individual models. The consequences of the lack of self-consistency are described. They can be reduced, but not eliminated as they are an integral consequence of the runoff routing model structure.


Alopecia involves the loss of some or all of the hair from the head and sometimes other parts of body. The etiology contains a lot of factors including drug use and psychotropic agents at sometimes. Atypical antipsychotics are less frequently accused, compared to the other psychotropic agents. In the literature, olanzapine, risperidone, ziprasidone, loxapine, quetiapine and haloperidol are the reported drugs associated with alopecia. Alopecia which may be seen rarely, was observed in our patient with schizoaffective disorder, thus in this report the patient's follow-up, treatment process and approach to alopecia cases were described.


Background: patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by Hypomagnesemia has been linked to poor glycemic control due to increased insulin resistance and impaired of insulin secretion. serum magnesium le pioglitazone. patients with T2DM treated with metformin mg/day for at least 4 weeks with a body mass index (BMI) of < 30 kg/m was analyzed using (NGSP) certification. The serum magnesium level was analyzed 311/501 System mean magnesium levels with HbA1c (r with poor glycemic control. with metformin or pioglitazone was inversely correlated to glycemic control. Serum magnesium levels monitoring is


This paper suggests an approach to automatic software design in the domain of graphical user interfaces. There are still some drawbacks in existing user interface management systems (UIMS's) which basically offer only quantitative layout specifications via direct manipulation. Our approach suggests a convenient way to get a default graphical user interface which may be customized and redesigned easily in further prototyping cycles.


Essential elements are needed in the day to day living of both human beings and the plants including tea ( Camellia sinensis ). Different clones of tea have been developed and distributed to farmers in various locations however it remains obscure the levels of the essential elements in their resultant black teas. This study aimed at establishing the micronutrient levels of different clones planted in a single site and also establish whether the levels of the micronutrients varied in the same pattern when planted in different regions. It was found that the different clones varied significantly (p≤0.05) in their micronutrient levels when planted in a single location under similar agronomic practices and this did not follow a similar pattern when the clones were planted in different locations. Thus there is need to identify region specific clones in order to optimize the micronutrient content of resultant black teas.


Prior to the advent of modern analytical techniques, the methods of producing prehistoric paintings were a subject of conjecture. The authors have extensively sampled and analyzed prehistoric paints in several French cave sites of the Upper Palaeolithic, including Niaux, Ariege, and the nearby Reseau Clastres. Their results indicate that more than 12,000 years ago, artists working within a restricted area utilized a number of paint recipes which were most probably not used at the same time. These recipes are thus chronologically relevant and could assist in dating the paintings. As a consequence of this work, a reexamination of many currently held views about the production and chronology of the art and those based on stylistic arguments will become necessary. -- AATA


Fast Periodic Visual Stimulation (FPVS) provides a new objective electroencephalographic method for assessing an individual's ability to discriminate between different categories of stimuli. Participants do not need to understand the task, or provide any response, making it ideal for the assessment of cognition in patient populations. We have adapted FPVS to examine a range of cognitive processes that deteriorate in Alzheimer's disease, see Figure 1, with the ultimate aim of developing a functional biomarker to aid early diagnosis.


This study was to determine the fruit maturity level of wild bitter gourd and the composition of water extract which is effective as antifeedant and appropriate for mortality test on armyworm larvae. Results obtained show that w ater extract of wild bitter gourd fruit contain s phenolic compounds, flavonoids and triterpenoids . Terpenoid compounds contained in water extract of fruits at maturity level 4H, 8H and 12H we re momordicoside L, momordicoside K, compound 3β, β7, 25-trihydroxycucurbita-5.23(E)-diena-19-al:R1=H, R2= H and momordicine 1. Fruit maturity level 4H 50% and 4H 60% resulted to the highest a ntif ee dan t index , ie 40.08% and 44.20%. LC 50 at fruit maturity level 4H observ ed on day 7 was 40% .


ABSTRACT University rankings have become commonplace in higher education. Traditional quantified rankings do not merely measure educational performance: they equally grant status, enforce competition between institutions, and are emblematic for the ongoing capitalization of higher education. Drawing on the field of Science and Technology Studies, this article undertakes an up-close, critical analysis of one ranking platform: U-Multirank. Explicitly recognizing the downsides of the football league mentality that is currently present in traditional league-table university rankings, U-Multirank provides a multidimensional and visual way of ranking higher education institutes that aims to take into account the diversity of the higher education sector and the complexity of what it is to evaluate educational performance. The article starts by analyzing U-Multirank as a situated place, that is, as embedded within a broader environment that is not exterior to the composition and eventual publication of the platform itself. After disentangling the platform's situatedness, the article traces the operations and actions performed by U-Multirank. Governing by visual shapes rather than merely by numbers, the platform acts as a kaleidoscopic optical device installing specific sorts of vision and specific forms of higher education. The article further elaborates how the platform configures specific, responsibilized and singularized, types of users, and concludes with some remarks regarding a more general shift towards more participatory forms of datafication and knowledge creation.


The objective of this research is to explain the relevance of the use of Blockchain technology in trade finance to 6roblema6 financing gap between 6robl and SMEs in developing economies. These SMEs face more obstacles to the implementation of Blockchain initiatives 6ro their counterparts in industrialized countries. The research focused on the role of Blockchain technology in international trade to overcome economic, sociopolitical and cognitive barriers, which are identified as key obstacles in the financing of SMEs in developing countries. The focus of the research was qualitative. We conducted three in-depth interviews with Technology CEOs from 3 of the largest banks in the United States. We conclude that the biggest obstacle to promoting the implementation of Blockchain technology is the lack of regulation, since it is necessary to solve the 6roblema of legal standardization that mitigates information security gaps. Thus, how to overcome the barriers of community building and resistance to change in business practices of SMEs to achieve a massive adoption of technology.


A vehicle capable of easily translating in an arbitrary direction. A vehicle comprising: wheels composed of two front wheels and two rear wheels; four steering actuators connected to the wheels, respectively, and steering the wheels; four drive actuators connected to the wheels, respectively, and driving the wheels; a joystick (64) tiltable in an arbitrary direction to perform operation and instructing the operation of the steering actuators; an accelerator pedal (63) for instructing the operation of the drive actuators; and a controller (100) which, when the joystick (64) is tilted, steers the wheels in the direction in which the joystick (64) is tilted, and when the accelerator pedal (63) is operated, drives the wheels on the basis of the amount of the operation of the accelerator pedal (63).


ABSTRACT 'Knowledge-based' approaches have recently made a breakthrough in urban planning. How to develop balance in knowledge-based planning between abstract and scientific knowledge, on the one hand, and 'local knowledge' on the other hand has been long debated. To this debate, we add a form of knowledge with potential for sustainable urban planning, i.e. ethnographic knowledge that could transmit an understanding of urban dwellers' daily practices and values to planning organisations. Theoretical literature is the foundation of our argument, which we illustrate with a case study involving urban planners and decision-makers in the Helsinki region of Finland.


The recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody (mAb) h2E2 is a lead candidate for immunotherapy of cocaine abuse. This anti‐cocaine mAb has been shown in vivo to inhibit cocaine's distribution to mouse brain by 19‐fold compared to controls, with an equivalent increase in plasma cocaine concentrations. Despite binding to h2E2 in plasma, cocaine appears to be eliminated more rapidly than in controls. However, in vitro studies using pH‐buffered (1:1) mouse plasma demonstrated that h2E2 protects cocaine from metabolism to the major inactive metabolites of cocaine, ecgonine methyl ester (EME) and benzoylecgonine (BE). As cocaine and its metabolites are also excreted renally, tests for abuse measure urine concentrations of cocaine and BE. It is hypothesized ‐ based upon h2E2's high affinity and effects on cocaine's distribution and metabolism ‐ that the presence of h2E2 would decrease urinary excretion of cocaine, EME, and BE. This hypothesis was tested in male Swiss‐Webster mice pre‐treated with an i.v. infusion of vehicle or h2E2 (1.6 µmol/kg) 1 hour prior to i.v. bolus injection of an equimolar dose of cocaine HCl. Excreted urine was collected 17‐20 minutes after cocaine administration and cocaine, EME, and BE concentrations were determined using GC/MS. The mAb h2E2 caused dramatic 8‐fold (88%), 7.7‐fold (87%), and 3.6‐fold (72%) decreases in urinary cocaine, BE, and EME concentrations, respectively, as compared to levels in the absence of h2E2. If similar effects occur in humans, caution should be used when interpreting efficacy measures of anti‐cocaine vaccines and mAbs that are based on urine cocaine and metabolite concentrations.


The Port Bouvard Bridge over the Dawesville Channel 100 km south of Perth was built by Thiess Contractors and opened to traffic in September 1993, two months ahead of schedule. The bridge was incrementally launched, and the design contained many features which facilitated meeting the weekly cycle which was achieved for all launches. It has a number of unusual design aspects which combined to produce an easily constructible and maintainable bridge. The most striking of these is the very large open cross-section, which utilises a pair of 3.1 metre deep I-beams to support a 19 metre wide deck. With a length of 360 metres, this is the largest bridge designed in Western Australia since the introduction of the AUSTROADS Bridge Code, which proved to have some unexpected influences on the design. The substructure columns are up to 19 metres high and the pilecaps were specially designed to resist vessel impact. The bridge also has special features for services access, maintenance, and pedestrian facilities.


This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of supplemented omega 3 poly unsaturated fatty acids on fertility of Karayaka sheep during the flushing period. This trial was arranged on 3-4 year old, average 55±0.5 kg live weight, 80 head Karayaka sheep were distributed completely Randomize into 4 groups. Oestrus synchronization was performed in the three groups of sheep except for control group. Experimental groups were pasture, pasture (oestrus synchronization), barley and Omega-3. Progeny yields were determined as 80 % in the control, 125 % in the pasture, 116 % in the barley and 135% in the omega-3 groups.The highest twin birth was observed in omega 3 group (44%), follwed by pasture group (33%) and barley group (24%). The results indicated that, addition of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids to supplemental feeds increased fertility of Karayaka sheep.


This study was initiated to establish a partnership between The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine's Shelter Medicine and Companion Animal Initiative of Tennessee's (SM/CAIT) program and a historically underserved and growing population, Knoxville's Latino community. Specifically, this pilot study aimed to better understand the interests and needs of Knoxville's Spanish-speaking pet owners through the community engagement organization Centro Hispano de East Tennessee (CH). We sought to understand this community's access to veterinary care and identify any perceived barriers. The study also aimed to elucidate ways SM/CAIT can tailor outreach programs to underserved populations with pets and improve animal welfare throughout East Tennessee.
Investigators adapted a survey created by research staff from AlignCare, a program developed to identify access to veterinary care issues and limitations in underserved populations. The survey was translated into Spanish and offered by the SM/CAIT team to CH members attending events and classes at their organization's community center. All participation was voluntary and anonymous, and participants received one free, engraved pet tag for completing the survey. Surveys were collected and descriptively analyzed. (UTK IRB-19-05365-XM)
Key survey results (n=45) showed that 28% of Centro community members obtained pets through an animal shelter or rescue organization, friends or family gifted 28%, and 26% came from breeders or pet stores. The primary reason for pet ownership included a love of animals and the perspective that the pet is part of the family (76%). Forty-eight percent reported that pets were not spayed or neutered (s/n), and of these, 39% said s/n was too expensive, whereas 22% did not know where to receive s/n services. Respondents reported that they would access local veterinary services for annual exams (56%), vaccinations (82%), and parasite prevention (58%). Twenty-six percent identified a time over the past two years when they could not get needed treatment for a sick pet, the primary reason being lack of affordable care. Other reasons included not knowing where to find care (22%), language barrier (11%), and a concern that the care provider would think badly of them for not seeking care earlier (22%). Participants said they would be interested in services and resources on vaccines and parasite prevention (64%), training and behavior (36%), information on clinics, and pet care resources (29%).
The survey findings led to implementation of a vaccine clinic for Knoxville's Latino community. The municipal shelter attended, and local resources and AVMA brochures in Spanish were provided on pet ownership, internal parasites, external parasites, vaccines, heartworm disease, and spay-neuter options.


A new type of component, the patch antenna with the relative humidity sensing function using a modified polyimide is proposed for RFID. The proposed structure can be applied for RFID sensor tag as a physically and functionally combined antenna with the RH sensor. For high sensitivity, a polyimide film was synthesized from aromatic monomers where no hydrophobic element is included. The fabricated patch antenna with RH sensing function was characterized in view point of sensitivity. Furthermore, to enhance the resolution of the sensing function, the patch antenna was designed to have a narrower bandwidth by meandering structure. From the measured results, the sensitivity of the proposed structure was -108 kHz/%RH under 25%RH ~90%RH. This means that the proposed component provides the humidity sensing function as well as the radiation. Therefore, it is apparent that the proposed RH sensing antenna using a modified polyimide can be applicable and useful for the implementation of the compact RFID sensor tag


This Thesis seeks to give its reader the tools to understand the data privacy divide between the EU and the US. It explains the crucial notions, historical and jurisprudential factors and regulatory frameworks underlying and constituting it.

First, it answers why regulating data privacy is paramount to our democratic societies on both sides of the Atlantic. The growing importance of the data driven economy, whose raw material is our personal data, creates challenges to basic democratic values, for example privacy and the freedom of speech. This Thesis explores the darker side of the digital economy, sometimes referred to as a form of surveillance capitalism. It describes how the advertisement-based business model of some of the most successful internet companies may, if left unregulated, render citizens vulnerable to enhanced forms of influence and manipulation, and weaken essential counter-powers such as dissidents, whistle-blowers and the press.

Second, it answers how the EU and US approaches to regulating data privacy differ. In essence, different historical roots and economic incentives on both sides of the Atlantic explain the difference. The EU has had a painful experience with government surveillance and invasions of privacy, in particular in the former German Democratic Republic. On the contrary, the US does not have such history and its economy has enormously benefited from lax data privacy regulations, allowing it to grow internet giants. As a result, the EU regulates privacy and data protection tightly and enshrines them as fundamental rights, while the US takes a more market-based and light-touch approach by treating data privacy essentially as a subset of consumer protection law.

Third, it answers why the CJEU decided to invalidate the adequacy decision concerning the first attempt at bridging the divide, the Safe Harbor. In summary, this Thesis argues that the Court was trying to give leverage to the EU as the negotiation of the Safe Harbor 2.0 (now Privacy Shield) were nearing their end, in order for the US to make concessions and agree on a more protective framework than would have otherwise been possible.
Fourth, it synthesizes the current avenues for transferring personal data from the EU to US, that is to say, primarily, the Privacy Shield, and other vehicles such as consent and contracts, the SCCs, the BCRs, codes of conducts and certifications.


This paper investigates the determinants of international technology licensing using data for 50 countries during 1996-2012. A multi-country model of innovation yields a dynamic structural gravity equation for royalty payments as a function of fundamentals, including imperfect intellectual property protection and differences in corporate taxation. The gravity equation is estimated with nonlinear methods. Model's fundamentals account for about 60% of the variation in royalty payments. A quantitative analysis sheds light on the impact of global taxation reforms on international technology licensing and innovation. The findings highlight the role of taxation in shaping cross-border technology flows and the consequences of profit-shifting.


Subject to serious gas pollution in the environment, this paper developed a gas detection system based on porphyrin chemical sensor. The reaction between porphyrin and organic gas will cause color change, so the images of the porphyrin chemical sensor array before and after the chemical reaction with the target gas were collected automatically by CCD. The feature information of the target gas was obtained using the image processing technology. The target gas was detected using the proper pattern recognition algorithm. The system was used to detect nine kinds of common VOCs and ammonia, and the experiment showed its effectiveness in qualitative identification of VOCs and quantitative identification of ammonia. It is concluded that the detection and control of VOCs is vital on indoor air quality evaluation and control and can detect harmful gases to prevent infection and gene mutation.


This investigation is conducted to obtain the wear and friction behavior of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) as an antiwear additive to bio-based pongamia oil. The tribological tests were carried out using a four-ball tester (ASTM D-4172). The variation of viscosity of bio-based pongamia, madhuca indica and neem oils is also evaluated in conformity with IP70/62. The test results were compared with synthetic petroleum-based lubricant (SAE20W40). The experimental test data showed that pongamia oil containing HNTs (1.5 wt.%) has superior tribological characteristics and smoother wear scar diameter compared to other combinations of pongamia oil without additives and other bio-based oils.


The purpose of this paper is to present a local theory of input/output stability of dynamical systems. It is shown that, by setting the problem in the context of extended binormed spaces it is possible to obtain local versions of some of the most important input/output stability results, such as the so-called small gain theorem and circle criterion for stability of nonlinear systems.


The relationship to history in the speech of El Watanfor the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the independence of Algeria
The present text concerns the relation which maintains the subject enunciator with the historic event. The study of the relation of the subject with the event will request the development of the linguistic marks of enunciative positioning which get free of the press of the fiftieth anniversary of the Algerian independence. The media speech has not only for office to report facts and events but also goes as far as wanting to explain, to clarify even to involve the reader, what imposes discursive instructions where the subject to enunciator tries to persuade the authority of reception and by adopting it discursive strategies which clarify of the commitment is the commitment is the enunciative disappearance. It is the object of this contribution which will try to exploit meditative corpuses of the six supplements "special independence of Algeria" to highlight the tracks of the enunciative positioning as well as the various strategies which allow the enunciator to legitimize et support this discourse.


shape and geometry by giving a very important example: the hepatocyte! The hepatocytes are the main liver parenchymal cells that are highly valuable in research purposes. In vitro models of hepa- tocytes would be of great importance to understand the physiological functions of liver and pathological processes of liver diseases. We aim to underline the hypothesis that geometry and functional modulation together with histology and gross anatomy may be linked to functional and pathological properties and stress on the way of learning and also teaching anatomy.


Background Many courses in higher education have a need for mathematical concepts. Whether or not mathematics fulfills a supporting role, all studies expect some basic knowledge. Therefore many lecturers organize remedial math courses. For Belgium, most are organized in a classical way: theory lectures followed by exercises, leaving little room for differentiation. 1.2 Objectives The main goal is to develop a remedial and adaptive course for all participating colleges and universities (Association K.U.Leuven). The contents and level are determined by the chosen field of study and the individual mathematics level. As such, we improve their basic mathematical knowledge and close the gap between secondary and higher education. 1.3 Approach


Purpose : The one-stage repair offers the benefit of utilizing skin that prior surgical operations have not damaged, has an intact blood supply and requires fewer hospitalization days, but it also depends on the surgeon's "expertise" and the family's preferences. Two-stage surgery is frequently preferred in severe primary proximal hypospadias or revision hypospadias. This study aimed to compare the surgical and functional outcomes of one-stage vs. two-stage hypospadias chordal repair. Methods : We conducted a comparative, non-randomized, prospective study on 60 patients with hypospadias with any degree of marked chordae. Patients were allocated to receive either one-stage or two-stage repair using onlay grafts and flaps. All patients were followed for one year postoperatively. The repair was completed six months later using the standard Thiersch–Duplay technique in those with a two-stage repair. Results : Thirty patients were managed in a two-stage procedure (28 with onlay preputial flap and two with buccal mucosal graft), while the remaining 30 patients were managed with a single-stage hypospadias repair with preputial skin flap (tabularized or onlay). The blood loss and operative time were significantly higher in the two-stage procedure group (p <0.05). The success rate of surgery in the one-stage group was 80%, while the two-stage group had a success rate of 83%, indicating a statistically insignificant difference between the two groups. The postoperative complication rate was 20% and 17% in the one-stage and two-stage groups, respectively. Conclusion : The one-stage correction is an effective surgical procedure for treating this condition, with short operative time and less blood loss without the need for a second stage.


Local governments are obligated to use geospatial information under the fundamental law of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure. In this research, we investigate the evolutionary process of the geographic information system (GIS) in relation with Nolan's stage model in the context of three local governments that plan to adopt Integrated GIS, which is developed from individual GIS. As a result, we found that it is possible to delineate the developmental stages of the GIS by analyzing it in relation with Nolan's stage model. Moreover, we studied three local governments that are scheduled to introduce Integrated GIS and examined the effectiveness of the evolution of the GIS on the governments.


'Leadership is doing what is right when no one is watching', said George Van Valkenburg. Every now and then you see or hear something that really makes you sit up and take notice. I had one of those moments when I saw this quote. I hope it has the same effect on you.


Objective: to identify and analyze the main health care for patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and to study how patients perform self-care. Method: this is a bibliographic, descriptive, integrative review type study. The search for articles was carried out in the databases MEDLINE, LILACS, Scopus and BDENF and in the Virtual Library SciELO, time frame from 2013 to 2018. The descriptors "Diabetes Mellitus Type 2", "Nursing Care" were crossed "and" Self-care ", totaling 788 studies found, followed by a careful evaluation of the content, which resulted in a final sample composed of 17 articles. Results: three categories were evidenced within the studies: "Care with the use, administration and storage of medications"; "Glycemic control and self-care of patients / Foot care" and "Caring for food, physical activity, body weight and family support". Conclusion: it is concluded that the nurse must develop educational activities, aware of his role as an educator, so that the patient understands the need for treatment and participates in his adherence.


This article proposes to prove economically the existence of a second level digital divide in Morocco. We have well designed and administered a questionnaire to approach 1030 persons living in the two largest cities of the Kingdom: Rabat and Casablanca. It seemed to us at the appropriate time to get down working in these big cities where normally there should not be any digital divide, at least the one of first degree, in order to detect inequalities in the use of the Internet. By the present field work we seek to determine far beyond Internet access, a kind of persons being behind the second degree digital divide. Our results lead us to say that the use of the Internet in the cities is influenced by socioeconomic position and the living conditions of individuals. The second degree digital divide is omnipresent. These results are enough to put into perspective the effectiveness of policies to ensure a wide coverage of the country by the ICT expected to create the added value and improve the living standards and social wellbeing of citizens.


The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of sewage sludge in supplying N to sunflower plants in order to substitute mineral N. Sewage sludge is an organic residue and, therefore, can contribute with several nutrients like P, S, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn in addition to N supply. Besides improving the chemical and physical characteristics of soils, utilization of sewage sludge in agriculture can increase the lifespan of sanitary landfills. The present experiment was carried out at Sao Manuel Farm, which belongs to the School of Agronomical Sciences [Faculdade de Ciencias Agronomicas‐UNESP, Botucatu] and is located at the city of Sao Manuel. An experimental design in randomized blocks was adopted including 6 treatments and 5 replications. Treatments were as follows: T0 ‐ mineral fertilization according to bulletin 100 but without N; T1 ‐ chemical fertilization according to IAC technical bulletin 100; T2 ‐ 50% of N from sewage sludge plus 50% N from chemical fertilization; T3 ‐ 100% of N from sewage sludge; T4 ‐ 150% of N from sewage sludge; T5 ‐ 200% of N from sewage sludge. Urea was used as source of N; simple superphosphate, as source of P; potassium chloride, as source of K; and boric acid, as source of B. Each parcel consisted of 100 m2. For sunflower, the utilization of sewage sludge as a source of N led to significant increases in oil and dry-weight production.


We present the results of a systematic study of the dependence of intersubband infrared detector performance on the subband energies. By using samples cut from different positions on a single wafer grown with a known thickness variation it is possible to obtain a set of devices for which the well width varies in a controlled manner, but the barrier height remains fixed. Current versus voltage and responsivity measurements demonstrate the importance of the detector performance on the exact location of the upper state: optimum peak response is obtained when the subband is resonant with the top of barrier.


This article focuses on a possibility to have a personal three dimensional graphical user interface inside a virtual environment on a tablet device. We describe the visual design process and early phase user experience evaluation of four 3D GUIs in a virtual environment. A user evaluation was conducted by using a structured pair evaluation procedure, where we adapted the concept walkthrough method with nonfunctional visually high quality prototypes. In addition, we conducted a self-expression task, where participants were able to draw their idea of a 3D GUI on a touch screen tablet device. This evaluation provided us a lot of user feedback for the design, which we utilized in the final iterated designs. In addition, we point out many design issues relating to the visual design of the personal GUI in virtual environments in a touch screen context. Our user evaluation indicated that participants would like to have their personal 3D GUI in a virtual environment. However, the visual design of the 3D GUI should create a secure and private feeling for them. Also, participants did not want the GUI to occlude excessively with the background. The visual indication is needed also when a user transfers items from a personal GUI to the virtual environment and for showing the user's active position between the GUI and virtual environment. We took all of these and other aspects into account when we designed the final iterated designs, which are also introduced in this article. Keywordsvisual design; user experience; 3D GUI; touch screen tablet device; HCI; self-expression method.


Geogebra, a free software tool for dynamic geometry developed by M. Hohenwarter and an international team, has opened new possibilities in teaching elementary geometry from a kinematic, dynamic and interactive viewpoint. This paper is an extended abstract of the lecture given at the conference.


The aim to design electric power business simulation training system is make participators or students research,explore relative theory and principle,accumulate experience.Aimed at some typical electric power market models,puts forward corresponding simulation scheme,adds teacher module in order to analyze and evaluate the behavior of participators.


Abstract Housing price is one of the most popular topics in urban studies. Among all the determinants of housing price, transportation accessibility is an essential factor that people often conside...


Participants The Overactive Bladder Symptom Score questionnaire was translated and culturally adapted for Hong Kong Chinese, according to the Principles of Good Practice for the Translation and Cultural Adaptation Process for Patient-Reported Outcomes Measures. Chinese-speaking patients with overactive bladder symptoms were recruited from five urology clinics. The patients completed the OABSS-HKC, a 3-day micturition diary, International Prostate Symptom Scores, and the Patient Perception of Bladder Condition questionnaires, and again after a 2-week interval (that is, on two occasions). Test-retest reliability was evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient and weighted Kappa coefficient. The relationship between OABSS-HKC total scores and items in the comparison measures was evaluated using Spearman's correlation coefficients.


Pre-school is part of a decisive period in the formation of a child. In this context, this research aimed to analyze mediation situations and pedagogical practices that interfered in a positive way with curricular access and social interaction of a child with Down syndrome. A preschool class, her teacher, and a caregiver of the target child participated in this research. The data collection was conducing through systematic observation and recorded with filming and field notes. The results indicated favorable mediations for curricular access in the following situations: proximity between the child and the teacher; sharing of activities with the child; requests for collaboration of the child in routine activities; proposition of group activities; among others. We conclude that the quality of interaction and the concern with this quality were the main factors responsible for promoting the participation of the target child in the activities.


. The development of information technology and information systems, it is the main factor that can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the main businessprocessesthatarecarriedout.Inutilizingbetterinformationtechnology,a systemthatisconnectedtothedesiredapplicationinachievingthehospital'sgoals. Therefore,weneedanenterprisearchitecture(EA)designusingtheOracleArchi-tectureDevelopmentProcess(OADP)method.Thisresearchproducesablueprint architecturebyhaving4importantcomponents,namelybusinessarchitecture,data architecture,applicationarchitectureandtechnologyarchitecture.


Multifunctional perovskite-type oxides (ABO3) with flexible chemical tailoring characteristics and unique physical properties, are attracting an ever-increasing attention of scientists in the field of biomass chemical looping gasification process. Barium substituted lanthanum ferrite La1-xBaxFeO3 (x=0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9, 1.0) with perovskite structure was used as oxygen carrier for algae chemical looping catalytic steam gasification (CLCSG) process for the first time. The effects of the Ba-substitution, mass ratio of perovskite and algae (P/A), temperature and water injection rate on the gasification performance were investigated. Results showed that the activity of LaFeO3 was dramatically improved by Ba substitution due to the formation of Fe4+/Fe3+ and oxygen vacancies. Among all the doped LaFeO3 perovskites, La0.3Ba0.7FeO3 (L3B7F) exhibited the best performance and gave highest syngas yield, carbon conversion and gasification efficiency. A maximum syngas yield of 1.00 m3/kg‧Algae, carbon conversion of 98.86% and gasification efficiency of 96.71% were obtained at 900 oC with a water injection rate of 0.3 ml/min. Continuous high syngas yield and carbon conversion were observed during the cyclic redox tests.


IMPRESS is part of the European Commission's 6th Framework Programme and stands for Intermetallic Materials Processing in Relation to Earth and Space Solidification. The main scientific objective of the project is to gain a better understanding of the complex links between materials processing, material structure and resultant properties of intermetallic compounds. In order to achieve this objective, the IMPRESS project combines a wide range of activities including improved casting technology, fundamental studies of solidification both terrestrially and in space, the creation of reliable thermodynamic and kinetic databases, thermophysical property measurements, multiscale computer modelling, structure characterisation, mechanical property testing and industrial product development. With the knowledge generated, the project aims to develop and test 40cm investment-cast TiAl turbine blades for aero-engines and stationary gas turbines. For blade manufacturing the principal melt processes under study are tilt casting, counter-gravity casting and centrifugal casting. All these processing routes involve a phase transformation to the solid, and it is the control of this solidification that represents one of the most important challenges in the project.


This paper explores the difference between societal cultural practices (the way societal culture is perceived to be, or "as is") and cultural values (the way societal culture "should be") using the GLOBE project's (House et al, 2004) published data and findings from 62 societies. The difference between cultural practices and values is referred to as 'cultural differentiation'. The paper suggests that cultural differentiation can be an indicator for potential for societal change. GLOBE's overall data as well as those for selected countries are examined. The latter is done by focusing on several developed countries from Europe and several developing societies from the Middle East and by measuring and comparing their cultural differentiation scores and their potential for and patterns of change. The implications of this approach to cultural differentiation for societal change and for leadership and organizational practices across cultures are discussed.


The as-cast and heat-treated microstructure of B,Hf,Y micro-alloyed TiAl-based alloy with high Nb content were investigated.The OM observation shows that,the as-cast microstructure of B,Hf,Y micro-alloyed TiAl-based alloy was near lamellar microstructure in which α2/γ lamellar colonies were refined.The XRD analysis shows that,besides α2 and γ phase,β(B2),Y2O3,YAl2 were also included in the as-cast microstructure.The analysis of SEM combined with EDS shows that the β(B2) phase was distributed near the lamellar colonies grain boundaries,granular Y2O3 and YAl2,and granular or strip boride existed in grains and grain boundaries.After heat treatment at 1260℃ for 20h,at 900℃ for 30min and subsequent air-cooling,the duplex microstructures composed with thin α2/γ lamellar and γ equiaxed axis grains were obtained in the alloy,the β(B2) phase has been basically eliminated,simultaneously the YAl2 has disappeared,and meanwhile Hf-rich Y2O3 and Nb-rich titanium boride phases formed.


A approach of using high performance Ge photo-detectors (PD) integrated with Si waveguide based microresonators for multiplexing detection has been proposed. Simultaneous measurement of the resonance curves of sensor array using this approach has been demonstrated. The resonance peaks of integrated sensor array show good correlation (R2=0.9979) with that of normal resonator, proving the feasibility of this approach for multiplexed bio-sensing application.


Background: The term caustic generally refers to alkaline and the term corrosive generally refers to acidic agents' injury; however, in medical literature caustic is frequently a term applied to both substances. Ingested alkali typically damage the esophagus more than stomach or duodenum, whereas acids usually cause more severe gastric injury. Since esophagus has a slightly alkaline pH, its epithelium is more resistant to acids, so that only 6 to 20% of those who ingest these substances present lesions in this organ. Case : A middle-aged addicted man who drunk hydrochloric acid accidentally had extensive necrosis of the stomach with remarkable sparing of the esophagus on second look exploration. A total gastrectomy with a Roux-en-Y esophago-jejunostomy with feeding jejunostomy was performed. Conclusion : In caustic GI injury, patients who are operated on and found to have no evidence of extensive esophago-gastric necrosis, a biopsy of the posterior gastric wall should be performed to exclude occult injury. If histologically there is a question of viability, a second


Zionism is an ideology or better still, a movement which aims at returning the Jews to their homeland. Literally, Zion refers to the city of Jerusalem in Palestine. The formal establishment of the Zionist state of Israel has been met with strong opposition that has continued till date. The aim of the paper is to analyze the Zionist movement and show how it has led to conflict in the Middle East that is presently threatening the whole world.


Abstract Treatment of 19 vol of 10% solution of milk fat in petroleum ether with 1 vol of either 2 n methanolic potassium hydroxide or sodium methoxide at room temperature results in the almost instantaneous formation of methyl esters from glyceride fatty acids. The solution may be analyzed by gas chromatography at once.


We have successfully grown ultrathin oxides on large area of silicon wafers by the microwave plasma afterglow oxidation method. Analysis of the Fourier transform infrared spectra indicates that the general bonding structures of the ultrathin oxides grown by microwave plasma afterglow oxidation at 700 °C could be identical to those grown by dry O2 thermal oxidation. Electrical property measurements (e.g., time-zero dielectric breakdown and time-dependent dielectric breakdown) are also investigated. Based on our results, we conclude that microwave plasma afterglow oxidation is a useful method for the preparation of large area ultrathin oxide films on silicon substrates.


Copper thin films have been deposited onto Corning glass substrate s by means of two kinds of DC magnetron sputtering. The goal of this research was to study differences in thermal characteristics of both kinds of the films. The differences between these layers o riginate from the technological processes; one of them employs an inert gas ‐ argon ‐ in the vacuum chamber, and the other is the so-called "pure" self-sputtering. Thermal characterization of the layers wa s performed using the scanning thermal microscopy (SThM) as well as a far field thermographical system.


I argue that the slow diffusion of industry information is a leading cause of the lead-lag effect in stock returns. I find that the lead-lag effect between big firms and small firms is predominantly an intra-industry phenomenon. Moreover, this effect is driven by sluggish adjustment to negative information, and is robust to alternative determinants of the lead-lag effect. Small, less competitive and neglected industries experience a more pronounced lead-lag effect. The lead-lag effect is related to the post-announcement drift of small firms following the earnings releases of big firms within the industry.


Intravascular sensor system comprising a pressure and / or temperature sensor array for detecting the pressure and / or temperature. In one example, the sensor is subjected to interrogation by an optical catheter. In this example, the swept source, it is possible to acquire both the image and the pressure / temperature data vessel or artery of a patient. In another example, intravascular pressure sensor system comprises a sheath are embedded pressure sensor in the sheath wall. As another example, it includes a process of making and using intravascular pressure sensor system.


Seychellois society is characterized by its people's belief in the sovereignty of their independent state and pride in their creole identity and culture. The source of that culture however, is sixteenth century slavery, which in Seychelles lasted well after Abolition. Because the Seychellois population has a strong component of African slave descent, the current attitude that slavery and colonialism is no longer relevant to Seychellois society is contradictory. Like in all such creole societies, there is an underlying sense of trauma in the Seychellois' perception of him/herself, which is expressed in the language and folklore of the people. This thesis explores the trauma resulting from Seychelles' painful past of slavery, as reflected in its orature. The analysis begins with the local historical factors, then moves on to the wider creole world of the Indian Ocean and the Caribbean, offering some interesting insights into the common experiences of Creoles in ex-slave societies and the complex nature of their identity issues. In the case of Seychelles, three aspects of its creole orature, the proverb, the riddle and a dance form called the moutya, expose past and present trauma. These types of orature also reveal the creativity and resilience of their societies, through the creolization process, which has given them new and more positive identities in the modern world. As such, the recommendations made aims to address the trauma of the past as the beginnings of a healing process.


This paper aims at discussing possible future changes in role differentiation in the family caused by an increase of wives'labor market participation. For this purpose, a qualitative approach was taken rather than a simulational analysis based on macro data.The first condition in the future which can be predicted at this moment would be an advancement of class stratification by occupation that females belong to, as a result of the Equal Employment Opportunity Law. Then, males' participation in house keeping and social activities would incease with an improvement of general working conditions such as a flex-time system and reduction of total working hours. Total working hours for household chores also will decrease as a result of more availability in purchasing home-aid services. Even if they are unemployed, more wives tend to participate in social activities.Predictable statements expected in this case are as follows : 1) Equality at workplace would proceed gender equality in family.2) Ideology and an actual practice would not develop in parallel regarding role differentiation and equality by sex. For instance, the husband may share household chores but does not neccessarily retain an egalitarian ideology.3) Type of role sharing would differ depending on household type and their marital relationships and it also would be diversified by their resource such as the possibility of using household-aid services and help from their kin.


Numerous application fields of automation the industrial processes have demonstrated favorable outcomes with modern control algorithms that rely on artificial intelligence. Therefore, some researchers have endeavored to implement these algorithms in the attitude control of satellites by evaluating their performance in simulated scenarios. However, due to the associated cost and risks, there is a scarcity of experimental data available for testing new attitude control algorithms on a real satellite. To address this issue, simulation of satellite positioning based on the dynamic model of the satellite with reaction wheels was carried out to perform a comparative analysis of a hybrid proportional integral and derivative (PID) fuzzy control algorithm and a classical PID control algorithm, regarding the analysis of the obtained performances. The obtained results indicate that using a Hybrid Fuzzy PID control algorithm produces better performances, than the PID control algorithm.


Abstract Many economic theories suggest that the relation between two variables y and x follow a function forming a convex or concave curve. In the classical linear model (CLM) framework, this function is usually modeled using a quadratic regression model, with the interest being to find the extremum value or turning point of this function. In the CLM framework, this point is estimated from the ratio of ordinary least squares (OLS) estimators of coefficients in the quadratic regression model. We derive an analytical formula for the expected value of this estimator, from which formulas for its variance and bias follow easily. It is shown that the estimator is biased without the assumption of normality of the error term, and if the normality assumption is strictly applied, the bias does not exist. A simulation study of the performance of this estimator for small samples show that the bias decreases as the sample size increases.


This paper deals with the foundations of the stochastic mathematical finance, and it has three main purposes: 1. We present a self-contained construction of the vector stochastic integral H • X with respect to a d-dimensional semimartingale X = (X1 t , . . . , Xd t ). This notion is more general than the componentwise stochastic integral ∑d i=1H i •Xi . 2. We show that the vector stochastic integrals are important in the mathematical finance. To be more precise, the notion of the componentwise stochastic integral is insufficient in the First and the Second Fundamental Theorems of Asset Pricing. 3. We prove the Second Fundamental Theorem of Asset Pricing in the general setting, i.e. in the continuous-time case for a general multidimensional semimartingale. The proof is based on the martingale techniques and, in particular, on the properties of the vector stochastic integral.


The aquaculture industry has long recognized the need to reduce phosphorus (P) waste outputs associated with environmental impact, and reduce off-flavor producing com- pounds, which can impact the quality of the fish product. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of dietary high P (HP) and low P (LP) on growth, nutrient digestibility, P retention, and P loading as well as their correlation to the synthesis of geosmin-associated off-flavor in a recircu- lating aquaculture system of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. The above diets were fed to quadruplicate tanks of rainbow trout (average mass ± SD: 127.4 ± 3.1 g) for 84 d. Results showed that the effects of the HP and LP diets on growth and P retention were not significantly different. While the apparent digestibility of P and other nutrients were higher in fish fed the LP diet, P waste outputs and geosmin levels in the fillets of fish were higher in fish fed the HP diet. Magne- sium (Mg 2+ ), potassium (K + ) and zinc (Zn 2+ ) concentrations in tank water were significantly lower in fish fed the HP diet than the LP diet in most of the sampling events. Furthermore, the tank water geosmin concentration was not strongly proportionally correlated with tank water-soluble P con- centration for both the LP and HP diets. There was a strong proportional linear relationship between the geosmin concentration in tank water and in trout fillet for both the LP and HP diets. Results suggest that off-flavor contents in fish fillets and water were related to the dietary P level and metabolic P waste outputs into the system, findings that have implications for the formulation of sustainable diets for rainbow trout.


Stage fright, also known as stage fright or fear of public speaking, is a recognized phenomenon that affects many people in different contexts. This research focuses on analyzing how stage fright becomes a communication barrier in the educational field, specifically in the classroom. The methodology used is mixed research under the Quantitative and Qualitative approach, data collection was carried out through interviews and survey. The results indicate that stage fright has a significant impact on students' communication in the classroom. Those who experience stage fright tend to avoid actively participating in discussions, oral presentations, and other activities that require speaking in front of their peers. This negatively affects their learning by missing opportunities to express ideas, ask questions and participate in discussions. Factors that contribute to stage fright in the educational context are identified, such as fear of judgment and negative evaluation, lack of confidence in communication skills, and peer pressure. These factors create anxiety and stress, further hindering students' ability to communicate effectively. As a result of the research, strategies are proposed to address stage fright and promote effective communication in the classroom. These include relaxation techniques and stress management, creating a supportive and trusting environment, designing activities that promote active participation by all students, and training teachers in managing stage fright.


We study the following reaction-diffusion system with a cross-diffusion matrix and fractional derivatives in , in , on , , in where is a smooth bounded domain, , the diffusion matrix has semisimple and positive eigenvalues , , is an open nonempty set, and is the characteristic function of . Specifically, we prove that under some conditions over the coefficients , the semigroup generated by the linear operator of the system is exponentially stable, and under other conditions we prove that for all the system is approximately controllable on .


In this report we propose a new model to represent spect ral functions called the composite model . This model is built on the idea that we decompose all spe ctral functions into smooth and spiky components, each with its own distinct representation. Specifically, a smooth spectrum can be expressed as a linear combination of a set of given basis functions and thus be represented through the corresponding coefficients. The discrete spike in a spiky spectral function can be represented directly through their locations and heights. For the smooth spectra, we propose resampling the functions that are reconstructed from the coefficients in the linear combination to improve efficiency. Spectral multiplications are thus greatly reduced in complexity. This new model demonstrates remarkable advantages in representing spectral functions with aspect to accuracy, compactness, computational efficiency, portabil ity, and flexibility. We expect that this work will significantly contribute to the research and applications in color science, realistic image synthesis, and color image analysis.