BACKGROUND At our academic tertiary care medical center, we have noted patients referred for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) who increasingly require advanced cannulation techniques. This trend is noted despite increased endoscopist experience and annual ERCP volume over the same period. AIM To evaluate this phenomenon of perceived escalation in complexity of cannulation at ERCP and assessed potential underlying factors. METHODS Demographic/clinical variables and records of ERCP patients at the beginning (2008), middle (2013) and end (2018) of the last decade were reviewed retrospectively. Cannulation approaches were classified as "standard" or "advanced" and duodenoscope position was labeled as "standard" (short position) or "non-standard" (e.g., long, semi-long). RESULTS Patients undergoing ERCP were older in 2018 compared to 2008 (69.7 ± 15.2 years vs 55.1 ± 14.7, P < 0.05). Increased ampullary distortion and peri-ampullary diverticula were noted in 2018 (P < 0.001). ERCPs were increasingly performed with a non-standard duodenoscope position, from 2.2% (2008) to 5.6% (2013) and 16.1% (2018) (P < 0.001). Utilization of more than one advanced cannulation technique for a given ERCP increased from 0.7% (2008) to 0.9% (2013) to 6.6% (2018) (P < 0.001). Primary mass size > 4 cm, pancreatic uncinate mass, and bilirubin > 10 mg/dL predicted use of advanced cannulation techniques (P < 0.03 for each). CONCLUSION Complexity of cannulation at ERCP has sharply increased over the past 5 years, with an increased proportion of elderly patients and those with malignancy requiring advanced cannulation approaches. These data suggest that complexity of cannulation at ERCP may be predicted based on patient/ampulla characteristics. This may inform selection of experienced, high-volume endoscopists to perform these complex procedures.


We present time-series spectroscopy and photometry of Gaia DR2 6097540197980557440, a new deeply eclipsing hot subdwarf B (sdB) + M dwarf (dM) binary. We discovered this object during the course of the Eclipsing Reflection Effect Binaries from Optical Surveys (EREBOS) project, which aims to find new eclipsing sdB+dM binaries (HW Vir systems) and increase the small sample of studied systems. In addition to the primary eclipse, which is in excess of ∼5 mag in the optical, the light curve also shows features typical for other HW Vir binaries such as a secondary eclipse and strong reflection effect from the irradiated, cool companion. The orbital period is 0.127037 days (∼3 hr), falling right at the peak of the orbital period distribution of known HW Vir systems. Analysis of our time-series spectroscopy yields a radial velocity semiamplitude of K sdB = 100.0 ± 2.0 km s−1, which is among the fastest line-of-sight velocities found to date for an HW Vir binary. State-of-the-art atmospheric models that account for deviations from local thermodynamic equilibrium are used to determine the atmospheric parameters of the sdB. Although we cannot claim a unique light-curve modeling solution, the best-fitting model has an sdB mass of M sdB = 0.47 ± 0.03 M ⊙ and a companion mass of M dM = 0.18 ± 0.01 M ⊙. The radius of the companion appears to be inflated relative to theoretical mass–radius relationships, consistent with other known HW Vir binaries. Additionally, the M dwarf is one of the most massive found to date among this type of binary.


Present study is an observation of unusual behaviour of Indian rat snake, Ptyas mucosa (Linnaeus, 1758) in our house yard. All of my family members were busy to pay respect to the health personals, fighting against deadly disease caused by COVID-19 virus. The programme was announced by our respected Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Damodar Modi on 19th March, 2020 to pay respect by sounding with clapping, ringing bell, conch, "kansar" etc. on 22nd March 2020 at 5 pm (17:00 Hours) for five minutes. A loud noise was started at the said time and I observed astonishingly a rat snake is running without any aim. It is the air-pressure vibration effect of noise pollution on wild life.


THE SUBTITLE OF THIS ESSAY is really a pun, as my readers will soon see. Yet, it was no laughing matter when the French police, by the decree of 7 November 1800, made it illegal for women to wear trousers in public except during the long-traditional bedlam of Carnival. Tightening up much looser dress-code regulations in force during the Revolutionary period, this new law was enforced throughout the entire nineteenth century, but with particular stringency when feminists rediscovered a militant voice in the 1880s. Not until around World War I when women stepped forth to replace men in shops, offices and factories did the authorities tolerate women in trousers. Moreover, the decree of 7 November 1800 is still on the books, despite efforts to strike it out in 1969. Besides the general injunction against trousered women, the decree also described a protocol by which women could apply for an official cross-dressing permit—une permission de travestissement—from the Prefect of Police. Yet, in order to obtain such a permit, most of which were valid for no more than three or six months, with possible renewals, the petitioners were required to present medical evidence, certified by a health officer and attested by a mayor or local police commissioner, that some gross physical deformity made it impossible for them to be seen in skirts. For example, a woman with such a dark, heavy beard that the wearing of women's clothes would make her look like a flagrantly attired male transvestite might be authorized to wear men's clothing. Although the exact number of cross-dressing permits may never be known, it is quite certain that they were rare indeed. During the entire decade of the 1850s only twelve women got them; in 1890 ten women were among the lucky few. Even with such authorization, some restrictions still applied. As was clearly stated on the printed form, a woman with a cross-dressing permit could not attend balls, shows or public meetings. Women who broke this law risked not only the embarrassment of arrest, but also jail sentences and fines in the case of repeat offenses.1 What was the rationale underpinning this regulation? A particularly curious feature is its sexual dissymmetry. It showed absolutely no con-


AbstractQuantum theory of interference phenomena does not take the di-ameter of the particle into account, since particles were much smallerthan the width of the slits in early observations. In recent experimentswith large molecules, the diameter of the particle has approached thewidth of the slits. Therefore, analytical description of these casesshould include a finite particle size. The generic quantum interferencesetup is an asymmetric double slit interferometer. We evaluate thewave function of the particle transverse motion using two forms of thesolution of Schro¨dinger's equation in an asymmetric interferometer:the Fresnel-Kirchhoff form and the form derived from the transversewave function in the momentum representation. The transverse mo-mentum distribution is independent of the distance from the slits,while the space distribution strongly depends on this distance. Basedon the transverse momentum distribution we determined the spacedistribution of particles behind the slits. We will present two cases:a) when the diameter of the particle may be neglected with respectto the width of both slits, and b) when the diameter of the particle islarger than the width of the smaller slit.


The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the most frequent Asn501 polar uncharged amino acid mutations upon important structural properties of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) Surface Glycoprotein RBD–hACE2 (human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) heterodimer. Mutations N501Y, N501T and N501S were considered and their impact upon complex solubility, secondary motifs formation and intermolecular hydrogen bonding interface was analyzed. Results and findings are reported based on 50 ns run in Gromacs molecular dynamics simulation software. Special attention is paid on the biomechanical shifts in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) [499-505]: ProThrAsn(Tyr)GlyValGlyTyr, having substituted Asparagine to Tyrosine at position 501. The main findings indicate that the N501S mutation increases SARS-CoV-2 S-protein RBD–hACE2 solubility over N501T, N501 (wild type): (Formula presented.), (Formula presented.). The N501Y mutation shifts (Formula presented.) -helix S-protein RBD [366-370]: SerValLeuTyrAsn into π-helix for t > 38.5 ns. An S-protein RBD [503-505]: ValGlyTyr shift from (Formula presented.) -helix into a turn is observed due to the N501Y mutation in t > 33 ns. An empirical proof for the presence of a Y501-binding pocket, based on RBD [499-505]: PTYGVGY (Formula presented.) 's RMSF peak formation is presented. There is enhanced electrostatic interaction between Tyr505 (RBD) phenolic -OH group and Glu37 (hACE2) side chain oxygen atoms due to the N501Y mutation. The N501Y mutation shifts the (Formula presented.) hydrogen bond into permanent polar contact;(Formula presented.);(Formula presented.). © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.


Akerlof proposes that the norms of decision makers can bridge the gap between New Classical economic theories and conflicting empirical evidence. We apply his framework to cross‐country capital structure decision making and propose a norm theory of capital structure. Consistent with its predictions, we find that two principal components that represent the manager–subordinate relationship and the manager–environment relationship in a national culture are significantly and negatively related to the median leverage ratio at the country level. This study is among the first to provide a direct link between national culture and capital structure as made operational through managerial norms.


The advent of Bitcoin, and consequently Blockchain, has ushered in a new era of decentralization. Blockchain enables mutually distrusting entities to work collaboratively to attain a common objective. However, current Blockchain technologies lack scalability, which limits their use in Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Many devices on the Internet have the computational and communication capabilities to facilitate decision-making. These devices will soon be a 50 billion node network. Furthermore, new IoT business models such as Sensor-as-a-Service (SaaS) require a robust Trust and Reputation System (TRS). In this paper, we introduce an innovative distributed ledger combining Tangle and Blockchain as a TRS framework for IoT. The combination of Tangle and Blockchain provides maintainability of the former and scalability of the latter. The proposed ledger can handle large numbers of IoT device transactions and facilitates low power nodes joining and contributing. Employing a distributed ledger mitigates many threats, such as whitewashing attacks. Along with combining payments and rating protocols, the proposed approach provides cleaner data to the upper layer reputation algorithm.


Low molecular weight alkyl nitrates are produced in surface seawater from the photochemically initiated reaction of NO with organic peroxy radicals. In this study, methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, and n-propyl nitrate photochemical production rates were determined from shipboard incubation experiments. Surface water samples from a variety of different North Paci fi c water masses were irradiated in sunlight, with and without added nitrite. Production was observed in some, but not all unmodi fi ed waters. Production rates increased with increasing addition of nitrite. The relative rates of production of C 1 , C 2 , and C 3 alkyl nitrates were roughly constant in all production experiments, and similar to the concentration ratios in ambient waters. This constancy most likely re fl ects consistency in the ratios of the various organic peroxy radicals involved in the reaction ROO+NO. Alkyl nitrate production rates at 1 μ M nitrite concentrations generally did not vary markedly by water type, indicating that distribution of nitrite, not organic matter may control photochemical alkyl nitrate formation in the oceans. At higher nitrite levels, differences in production rates may re fl ect variations in the concentration or reactivity of dissolved organics.


In this essay the rape analyzes the right to equal access to the allocation of retirement for the personnel of the executive level of the National Police discharged until December 31, 2004, from the point of view of the Inter-American System Human rights. To this end, he went to the rulings of the Inter-American Court, by judgments and advisory opinions www.corteidh.or.cr found on the page, and also using the search "academic google" through the link https: // scholar. Google is/. In conclusion, it was found that Colombia effectively denies the right in question, and the duty to adopt rules of internal order to identify with the content of the American Convention.


The present work describes the catalytic effect of zinc particles for electroanalysis the paracetamol (PAR). The working electrode was prepared by mixing the zinc with the carbon powder. The voltammetric behavior of paracetamol was studied when an anodic peak to appear at 0.35 V in 0.1 M Na2SO4 solution (pH 12). The peak resulting from the irreversible oxidation of paracetamol on the zinc modified carbon paste electrode (Zn/CPE). The catalytic effect was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV). The electrocatalytic behavior of the zinc particles is allotted to its chemical and physical properties. This electrode has a good performance for the electroanalysis of paracetamol. To obtain an electrochemical analysis of paracetamol oxidation at the surface of Zn/CPE, the voltammograms are used in a potential range of - 1.5 V to 1.5 V. More, Zn/CPE can be utilized successfully to ameliorate the electroanalysis of paracetamol at very feeble concentration and with high detection sensitivity. The limit of detection (LD) and quantification (LQ) obtained are respectively 7.52·10-8 mol L-1 and 2.6·10-7 mol L-1. Then the relative standard deviation (RSD) at 2.0·10-5 mol L-1 PAR concentration was 2.88 % for nine repetitions. Afterward, the presented method was used to electroanalysis paracetamol in human blood samples with satisfying results.


"A Talmudic Question to Professor J. Oppert," by Molse Schwab, at the end of the second volume of The Babylonian and Oriental Record, concerning the Persian (Median?) and Babylonian festivals mentioned both in Talmud Babli and Jerushalmi, has remained, so far as I know, unanswered until now. It is somewhat surprising to me that Mr. Schwab did not take notice of my treatise written twenty years ago on this subject,2 and more recently of various articles in my Aruch Completum.' A renewed investigation of these sources, meanwhile augmented by the publication of Harkavy's Responses of the Geonim,' having revealed to me, if not altogether different, at any rate essentially new results, I thought it would be of interest to scholars (especially as P. de Lagarde, with his usual bias, ventures to advance certain theories) to shed new light upon a study so important from a culture-historic point of view. As we shall continually refer to the sources containing the names of the festivals in question, and as these names are greatly at variance with each other, we had better collate, at the very outset, the two Talmudic recensions, with the additional remarks of R. Hai Gaon, comparing the different readings occurring therein with those of R. Chananel, R. Nathan ben Jechiel, the Munich MS. of the Talmud, and the earliest editions thereof.


The article is devoted to the results of a study that revealed significant relationships between responsibility and such phenomena as perfectionism and psychological well-being of the individual. The results of the study allow us to attribute responsibility to the fundamental properties of the individual. The formation of responsible behavior is associated with normal (healthy) perfectionism and a subjective sense of well-being. Low levels of responsibility reveal a link with neurotic perfectionism and personality in General. At the same time, it was found that a high level of responsibility can occur with neurotic perfectionism and a low level of well-being.


Different challenges arise while detecting deficient software source code. Usually a large number of potentially problematic entities are identified when an individual software metric or individual quality aspect is used for the identification of deficient program entities. Additionally, a lot of these entities quite often turn out to be false positives, i.e., the metrics indicate poor quality whereas experienced developers do not consider program entities as problematic. The number of entities identified as potentially deficient does not decrease significantly when the identification of deficient entities is carried out by applying code smell detection rules. Moreover, the intersection of entities identified as allegedly deficient among different code smell detection tools is small, which suggests that the implementation of code smell detection rules are not consistent and uniform. To address these challenges, we present a novel approach for identifying deficient entities that is based on applying the majority function on the combination of software metrics. Program entities are assessed according to selected quality aspects that are evaluated with a set of software metrics and corresponding threshold values derived from benchmark data, considering the statistical distributions of software metrics values. The proposed approach was implemented and validated on projects developed in Java, C++ and C#. The validation of the proposed approach was done with expert judgment, where software developers and architects with multiple years of experiences assessed the quality of the software classes. Using a combination of software metrics as the criteria for the identification of deficient source code, the number of potentially deficient object-oriented program entities proved to be reduced. The results show the correctness of quality ratings determined by the proposed identification approach, and most importantly, confirm the absence of false positive entities.


The usage of WebAssembly (Wasm) is not only increasing in the web browser, but also as a backend technology on servers. Since Wasm introduces several security issues, like the possibility to obfuscate malicious code and cryptomining, an adequate analysis framework is needed for creating analyses that reveal such issues. Existing state-of-the-art analysis approaches lack in soundness, in fully providing essential information to client analyses, or entail a considerable amount of overhead due to their dynamic nature. To meet this challenge, we developed WasmA a static analysis framework for WebAssembly that determines necessary information needed by static client analyses, like call, control-, and data-flow graphs. In the evaluation we show that WasmA is performant, generic and extensible and thus competitive in comparison to state-of-the art tools. The implementation of a cryptominer detection tool on top of WasmA shows its applicability. WasmA is able to provide the required functionality while having a comparative resource-efficient approach, and as a result WasmA outperforms the state of the art.


The invention relates to a nano probe based method for detecting trace proteins by using a microfluidic chip, which is characterized by comprising the steps: manufacturing a microstructure by using a standard photoetching process, and sealing a glass sheet (spotted with a DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) probe) and the microstructure to prepare a required microfluidic chip; simultaneously labeling a monoclonal secondary antibody and a Barcode DNA with a signal amplification function on a nano gold particle, and labeling a monoclonal primary antibody on a magnetic bead; and detecting the trace target proteins in a microfluidic chip channel by means of immunoreaction of antigens and antibodies as well as gradual amplification and silver staining development of signals. The nano probe based method provided by the invention integrates the procedures of enrichment, separation and detection of biological samples, has the characteristics of specificity, rapidness and high sensitivity, and is expected to be applied to the diagnosis and detection of trace proteins (the antigens or antibodies) in clinical laboratory medicine. The sensitivity can reach a pg/ml level and is improved by 1000 times compared with the common ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) method in clinical application.


US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's article "America's Pacific Century" in last November's Foreign Policy used the word "pivot" only three times in outlining evolving US strategy towards the Asia-Pacific. Yet the word was so enticing that the phrase "US pivot to Asia" became iconic when discussing US foreign policy towards the region. Indeed, many questioned the practicality and relevance of the word "pivot," rather than the actual implications of the policy under review. Whatever term one chooses, be it "rebalance," "refocus" or "pivot," the essential point is that the United States continues to enhance its engagement throughout the Asia-Pacific with renewed vigor.


An experimental study of turbulent characteristics of incompressible flow in a two dimensional diffuser with inlet velocity distortion is reported. Turbulence level in the boundary layer increases marginally towards the exit of the diffuser and decreases rapidly in the wake region. The region of maximum velocity fluctuation and the maximum Reynolds shear stress shifts away from the wall in the stream wise direction. The energy spectra of the turbulent kinetic energy in the wake region shows a characteristic behaviour indicating possible vortex shedding from the trailing edge of the airfoil.


Trade credit, as a substitute for bank credit, can ease the financing difficulties of small and medium-sized firms to a certain extent. This paper empirically tests the effect of financial development and internal control on trade credit. Empirical results show that enterprises with high-quality internal control obtain more trade credit easily. Compared with the firms in the high level of financial development areas, in the lower-level areas, firms' internal control quality has a significant effect on trade credit. We also found that non-state owned firms have difficulty obtaining trade credit. This article not only verified the economic consequences of internal control but also elucidated financial development and trade credit factors.


Abstract Courses of initial teacher training have recently undergone profound changes in England and France. In both countries, radical reform has swept away traditional models of practice, replacing them by systems in which schools play an increased role in the training and assessment of students and in which a new emphasis has been placed on the practicalities of teaching. In the turbulent aftermath of these reforms, how do trainees see the new programmes that aim to equip them with the necessary skills and attributes to become successful entrants to the teaching profession? This article compares and analyses the views of English and French trainees in the final months of their respective courses and identifies key areas of similarity and difference between the two systems.


In this article,with the aim at getting sustainable development of human society,the author makes the deep study on environmental cost compensation,puts forward the cost theory conforming sustainable development,and designs the cost element of environment.As for environmental cost compensation,the author also puts forward his own opinion.


We report the results of the non-invasive photonic system AUM for remote detection and characterization of different pathogenic bacterial strains and mixtures. AUM applies the concepts of elastic light scattering, statistical mechanics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to identify, classify and quantify various microbes in the scattering volume in real-time and, therefore, can become a potential tool in controlling and managing diseases caused by pathogenic microbes.


We study the effect of state medical marijuana laws (MMLs) on labor supply and health outcomes among older adults; the demographic group with the highest rates of many chronic conditions for which marijuana may be an effective treatment. Using 1992 2012 Health and Retirement Study data to estimate differences-in-differences models, we find that MML implementation leads to increases in labor supply among older adults along with improvement in health for older men and mixed health effects for women. These effects should be considered as policymakers determine how best to regulate access to medical marijuana. Lauren Hersch Nicholas Johns Hopkins School of Public Health 624 N Broadway, Room 450 Baltimore, MD 21205 USA email@example.com Johanna Catherine Maclean Department of Economics Temple University Ritter Annex 869 Philadelphia, PA 19122 and NBER firstname.lastname@example.com


In the cited passage (John 1:1) wherein the Word is said to have been in the beginning, there is no reference to an antecedent eternity, without commencement; because mention is made here of a beginning, which is opposed to that eternity. But the word beginning , used absolutely, is to be understood of the subject matter under consideration. Thus, Daniel 8:1, "In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me AT THE FIRST." John 15:27, "And ye also shall bear witness because ye have been with me FROM the beginning." John 16:4, "These things I said not unto you AT the beginning because I was with you." And Acts 11:15, "And as I began to speak the Holy Spirit fell on them, as on us AT the beginning." As then the matter of which John is treating is the Gospel, or the things transacted under the Gospel, nothing else ought to be understood here beside the beginning of the Gospel; a matter clearly known to the Christians whom he addressed, namely, the advent and preaching of John the Baptist, according to the testimony of all the evangelists [i.e., Matthew, Mark, Luke and John], each of whom begins his history with the coming and preaching of the Baptist. Mark indeed (Chapter 1:1) expressly states that this was the beginning of the Gospel. In like manner, John himself employs the word beginning, placed thus absolutely, in the introduction to his First Epistle, at which beginning he uses the same term (logos) Word, as if he meant to be his own interpreter ["That which is from the beginning...concerning the Word (logos) of life." 1 John 1:1]. (The Racovian Catechism; Reprinted by Spirit & Truth Fellowship, pp. 63 and 64).


Abstract Purpose: To compare the predictive value of albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade, platelet-ALBI (PALBI) grade and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) class in patients with large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with microwave ablation (TACE-MWA). Methods: A total of 349 consecutive HCC patients (89.1% male; mean [± SD] age 53.4 ± 12.27 years) from three medical centers, who underwent TACE-MWA for up to 3 HCCs with maximum diameters of 5.1–8.0 cm between January 2000 and June 2018, were investigated. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed. The prognostic performances of ALBI grade, PALBI grade and CTP class were compared. Results: TACE procedures were performed using lobaplatin (20–50 mg), epirubicin (30–60 mg), lipiodol (5–25 mL) and gelatin sponge particles (350–560 μm). The end point of the TACE procedure was stasis of blood flow in the feeder artery. The median follow-up duration was 28.0 months, the median OS was 28.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 23.55–32.45 months), and the median PFS was 4.8 months (95% CI 4.26–5.34 months). Patients with a ablation margin size of 11–15 mm experienced better PFS than those with a margin size of 6–10 or 0–5 mm (median, 6.5 versus [vs] 4.0 vs 2.3 months; p < .001). PALBI grade demonstrated significantly greater area under the curve values than ALBI grade or CTP class in predicting 1-, 3- and 5-year OS. Conclusions: PALBI grade provided better predictive value than ALBI grade or CTP class in patients with large HCCs after TACE-MWA.


Abstract A new modification of precision safety goggles with improved parameters, compact optical scheme and lower cost, based on a single LC optically addressed spatial light modulator and the field of their applications are discussed.


Although the mouse cursor can enter the notch of the MacBook Pro (2021), it is partially or entirely hidden by the notch. Moving the cursor around the notch or avoiding it entirely can increase the movement time. This study investigated the possibility of using a cursor warping to the left and right of the notch to shorten the path to the target and restrain the movement time increased by the notch. We conducted an experiment to compare the performance of a default cursor, a cursor twice the default size, and a cursor warping to the left and right of the notch. The results showed that a cursor warping left and right of the notch was not effective in terms of the movement time.


Food insecurity is a major issue in Tanzania and varies across regions and seasons. This study assessed the contribution of smallholder farmer's rural-rural migration to household food security using people's perception. Kidea Village of Kigoma Rural District was chosen as case study to represent other villages which were established by and have been receiving smallholder farmer migrants from other hunger-stricken villages. Land ownership status, types of crops, food availability and access, post-harvest food management practices, the amount of food harvested and length of time it lasted were used as determinants of food security. Household questionnaire, focus group discussion, physical observation and key informant interviews were employed in data collection. The findings show that all respondents had security of land tenure, allowing more food production. Investment in multiple cropping helped to accommodate risks and uncertainties from unforeseen poor climatic conditions. The reported post-harvest food management practices including food donations and brewing did not contribute to food insecurity since their frequencies and amounts were occasional and small, respectively. A high proportion of respondents reporting adequate and affordable food in the village market imply that exchange between food-surplus and food-deficit households was made possible. In addition, majority of respondents reporting better production of crops at destination than in their villages of origin implies that migrant households were food secure. However, it was noted that migration to Kidea is more of subsistence than long term investment in economic development.


This study aimed to investigate the presence of sub-groups of boys and girls presenting different trajectories of multiple eating behaviours (i.e., consumption of vegetables and fruits, sugary beverages, breakfast and fast food) throughout adolescence.

 Data from seven cycles of the MATCH study, which followed 744 participants from the age of 11 to 18 years old, were included. At each cycle, participants reported how often they ate breakfast and consumed vegetables and fruits, sugary beverages and fast foods on a weekly basis. Trajectories of eating behaviours over a 7-year period were identified using group-based multi-trajectory modeling.

 Changes in eating behaviours occurred at roughly 13–14 years of age for both genders. For girls, three different groups were identified, namely 'stable food intake with decline in daily breakfast consumption' (39.9%), 'moderate food intake and declining of overall eating behaviours' (38.0%), and 'stable high food intake' (22.1%). For boys, five different groups were identified, namely 'low food intake with stable daily breakfast consumption' (27.3%), 'breakfast skippers and increasing fast food intake' (27.1%), 'low food intake with decline in daily breakfast consumption' (23.9%), 'high food intake with worsening of eating behaviours' (13.3%), and 'average food intake with consistently high breakfast consumption' (8.4%).

 Among boys and girls, eating behaviours evolve through various distinct trajectories during adolescence. No group of adolescents presented eating trajectories that could be described as healthy and most are characterised by a worsening of eating behaviours throughout adolescence. To promote healthier eating behaviours during adolescence, gender-specific approaches and interventions are needed in addition to general public health messages.

 The MATCH study is supported by the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation (20,130,729), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (435-2016-0888), and Sport Canada through the joint Sport Participation Research Initiative (862-2010-0001 and 862-2014-0002).


Objective The goal of this study was to compare the unit-to-unit biological activity of the vacuum-dried formulation of prabotulinumtoxinA (prabotA) and onabotulinumtoxinA (onabotA) in preclinical assays. Methods Reconstituted 100 U vials of prabotA and onabotA were tested in 3 distinct assays: plate-capture light chain activity (PC-LCA), measuringlight chain enzymatic activity after recovery of toxin from reconstituted product using a proprietary toxin capture step; cell-based potency assay (CBPA), measuring the intoxication steps of binding, translocation, and light chain activity (synaptosomal-associated protein 25 [SNAP25] cleavage); and mouse Digit Abduction Score (DAS), evaluating muscle paresis. Each assay tested 3 separate prabotA and onabotA lots on several independent test dates. Results Multiple orthogonal assays established that when assessed on a unit-to-unit basis, the biological activity of prabotA is lower than that of onabotA. In the PC-LCA and CBPA assays, onabotA displayed 1.51 ± 0.14–fold higher (mean ± SD) and 1.33 ± 0.07–fold higher (mean of pooled lots ± SEM) activity than prabotA, respectively. Similarly, the mouse DAS data showed that onabotA had 1.4 ± 0.1–fold higher (mean ± SEM) potency than prabotA. Results of all 3 assays demonstrated differences in potency, efficacy, and duration of action between onabotA and prabotA on a unit-to-unit basis. Conclusion Preclinical assays established differences in the biological activity of onabotA and prabotA, supporting that the units of biological activity are not interchangeable.


Studies on seven small watersheds have shown that monthly runoff can be satisfactorily predicted from a self-calibrating four-parameter model. The model requires as input the estimated average potential evapotranspiration and the daily rainfall. In addition at least one and preferably two or three years of observed monthly flows are required for parameter estimation. The model is adaptable to a wide range of hydrologic conditions.


the rejection by the senate of the Reciprocity Treaty of 1874 and the Fisheries Treaty of 1888. In each case, an international settlement of great importance to the people of the two countries was sacrificed to the exigencies of political conflict in the United States. Mr. Fleming, however, has not been content to expose the weaknesses of the present method of securing approval of treaties. He discusses with care the several reforms which have been proposed as remedies for the existing situation, and makes a strong case for the transfer of the power of approval or disapproval either to congress or to the house of representatives alone. One cannot doubt that one of these alternatives will commend itself in due course to the people of the United States. Certainly Mr. Fieming's penetrating study will arouse new interest in this important field of constitutional reform. NORMAN McL. RO6ERS


Coherent change detection (CCD) uses a reduction in the cross-correlation between two complex repeat-pass sonar images as a metric to identify changes between two surveys. This is made challenging by other sources of coherence loss that cannot be attributed to specific changes. This paper presents results from an automated coregistration method for the purpose of CCD applied to data obtained from an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) equipped with a 100 kHz high-resolution synthetic aperture sonar (SAS). Two sites with varying complexity and seabed composition were repeatedly surveyed with and without objects with time intervals of 2/3/5/8 days. An automated method is presented that uses a series of increasingly fine control point matching and warping techniques in order to achieve sub-pixel accuracy in image co-registration. The coherence between a number of image pairs shows that it is possible for this environment to maintain coherence over time periods of operational relevance. It is also possible to detect changes using a drop in coherence, including very subtle changes not immediately detectable by visual inspection. A brief analysis of the sources of decorrelation, in particular the temporal decorrelation rate is also given.


Students say they hope to gain patients' trust, become familiar with the geography and routines of the workplace, learn the 'language of care' and begin to recognise technical terms, jargon and clinical abbreviations.


When a scientist analyzes certain datasets, there are three common steps—import, visualize, and process data. There are some prevalent tools to visualize and process data, such as Matlab, Powersim, and Stella. However, these tools cannot handle big data. For data management, scientists are pursuing a new generation of Database Management Systems (DBMS) to replace traditional Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS), because RDBMS is good at data management, but does not perform well on raw data and time series data. Furthermore, most of the new tools, such as Hadoop, cannot fulfil scientists' needs of data management. This paper introduces a web-based application created by us to import, visualize, and process big data. The system offers two methods for users to import data—obtain data from foreign repositories and upload users' files. We used SciDB for data management, because SciDB is designed for big data and scientific use. We used D3.js and Dygraphs libraries for data visualization, which enable users visualize millions of points without experiencing lag.


Pitting resistance of super-pure ferrttic stainless steels with different Mo contents in neutral chloride solution and 10% FeCl_3 · 6H_2O+0.5MHCl solution at 50℃ has been studied by anodic polarization , X-Ray photo—electron spectra, auger-electron spectra and EDX. It was shown that the improvement of pitiing resistance for the steels in chloride solution by Mo addtion is due to: (1) The degree of Cr erichment Cr in the passive film is increased as the Mo content in the steels increased; (2) In the weak points of film the adsorption of MoO_4~(2-) ions, which results from the dissolution of alloying element Mo in the steels makes the passive film more compact and homogeneous.


In this work we have synthesized Mn-doped ZnO nanoparticles for different concentrations using the coprecipitation method. X-ray diffraction results added to the Rietveld refinement show the formation of Zn1-xMnxO nanocrystals with sizes of 46 to 58 nm. These results also confirm the only phase isoamorphous to semiconductor host for concentration lower than 10% of Mn. Magnetization measurements as function of field at room temperature for doped samples with 10% of Mn show an increasing in magnetization with the increasing of crystallite size.


In urban rail transit system, utilization of the regenerative energy of trains is quite an efficient way for energy saving. This paper aims to reduce the total energy consumption of trains in a whole day by optimal utilization of the regenerative energy. The regenerative energy is generated by the braking trains, and in the same time used by the accelerating trains in the same power supply district. A two-layer construction is designed in this paper to solve the energy optimization problem. Firstly, in the upper layer we use genetic algorithm to distribute the running time of trains to every inter-stations; secondly, in the lower layer we calculate a velocity trajectory with tracking strategy in each inter-stations which is strictly closed to the distributed running time; thirdly, a simulation returns all the trains' energy consumption to the determination of GA, and finally achieves an energy optimized timetable of whole day. The simulation is based on the data gathered from Beijing Yizhuang Line, and cooperated with the tracking strategy of trains to ensure the accuracy of the running time and the energy consumption. The simulation result shows a better performance compared to the traditional methods.


This paper presents a composite fuzzy learning finite-time prescribed performance control (PPC) approach for uncertain nonlinear systems with dead-zone inputs. First, a finite-time performance function is constructed by a quartic polynomial. Subsequently, with the help of an error transformation function, the restriction problem of the tracking error performance is transformed into a stability problem of an equivalent transformation system. In order to ensure that all signals of the closed-loop system are bounded, a finite-time PPC method combined with fuzzy logic systems (FLSs) is proposed. Although the tracking error can be guaranteed to be limited within a predefined range, the proposed finite-time PPC method only uses instantaneous data, which cannot guarantee the accurate estimation of unknown functions under the influence of dead-zone inputs. Therefore, based on the persistent excitation (PE) condition, a predictive error is defined by using online recorded data and instantaneous data, and a corresponding composite learning finite-time PPC method with parameter updating the law, which can not only achieve the control aim of the former method but also improve the control effect, is designed. The simulation results verified that the composite learning finite-time PPC method is more effective than the finite-time PPC method without learning.


Introduction: Biomass burning is a principal contributor of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the air. A vast majority of rural households in South Asia are still using crude biomass fuel in kitchens causing poor air quality. This pushes the children and women population to severe exposure risk. In this work, 14 PAHs out of 16 priority PAHs of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)-bound to Biomass Fuel Smoke Particles (BFSPs) produced during burning various crude biomass fuels in rural kitchens had been characterized.
Materials and methods: Representative rural households were taken for this study. Two sets of samples were collected during dry and wet periods using filter paper by a passive collection method and analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).
Results: PAHs with even number of rings (2-ring and 4-ring PAHs) dominated the Biomass Fuel Smoke Particles (BFSPs). PAH contents in BFSPs of the wet period were higher than the dry period samples. Different PAH ratios differed from reported studies on ambient atmosphere particulates and test environment. Higher Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) values were found during the wet period compared to the dry period in most BFSPs. The risk via ingestion and dermal contact was about 104 to 105 magnitudes higher than the inhalation risk.
Conclusion: The study reported seasonal variation of PAHs from biomass fuels and associated health risks to the exposed population. The higher levels of PAHs and the associated health risks may pose significant risks to the exposed women and children.


Inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) infections are rare and devastating. IPP infections are treated with either explant or salvage, the latter with either a malleable or inflatable device. Isolated component infections are very rare in the literature. This is the first description of successful treatment of an isolated IPP reservoir infection, with preservation and eventual reuse of the patient's uninfected pump and cylinders.

 To report a case of successful IPP salvage after an isolated reservoir infection.

 This is a case study of IPP reservoir explant and eventual reimplant in a 51-year-old male, with preservation of the implant pump and cylinders. Past medical history is notable for HIV, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. The patient had a Coloplast Titan IPP placed penoscrotally in November 2020 for treatment of post-prostatectomy erectile dysfunction. The reservoir was placed ectopically in the patient's right high submuscular space.

 In January 2021 the patient underwent emergent exploratory laparoscopic washout and drain placement at a different hospital for perforated appendicitis. The IPP reservoir was not encountered during this procedure. In March 2021 he presented to that same hospital with recurrent fevers and right lower quadrant pain. CT showed increased peritoneal stranding and thickening surrounding the IPP reservoir as well as multiple small, complex loculated fluid collections suspicious for abscesses external to the reservoir. There was no evidence of infection of the pump or cylinders on imaging or physical exam. He was transferred to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center for further care. Conservative treatment with intravenous vancomycin, Zosyn, and fluconazole yielded no change after 48 hours. Three days after initial presentation, the reservoir was explanted during a collaborative procedure with general surgery, during which the appendix remnant was also removed. Intraoperatively the penile prosthesis reservoir was encased in a dense rind that was incised and drained. Copious purulent material was sent for culture, which showed multi-organism aerobic and anerobic bacteria. The reservoir was removed and the remnant tubing to the pump was clamped. The abdomen was irrigated repeatedly with saline, dilute betadine, vancomycin, gentamicin, Zosyn, and amphotericin. The prothesis tubing was cut as low as possible, capped, and wrapped with a paste of vancomycin mixed with Zosyn and amphotericin. There were no intraoperative complications. The patient was discharged two days later. At his one-week postoperative visit, he was readmitted for interventional radiology drain placement due to abdominal abscess recurrence. Once the recurrent abscess had resolved, he underwent successful radiation treatment for recurrent prostate cancer. In March 2022, the reservoir was successfully replaced into the left high submuscular space via counter incision and the dormant cylinders and pump were reconnected. The patient continues to do well, with no signs of recurrent infection and with excellent device function. He is satisfied with the result of surgery.

 To our knowledge this is the only case of isolated IPP reservoir infection successfully treated with reservoir explant and eventual replacement. The original IPP pump and cylinders were preserved without issue and eventually reused.

 Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: Coloplast.


The invention relates to reversible chain transfer agents for RAFT polymerization, belonging to the family of dithioesters, to the family of xanthates or to the family of trithiocarbonates, comprising a group of formula: in which R is a group which comprises at least one activated ester function (I), or comprising a group of formula: wherein R 'is a group which comprises at least one L-amide function, with L selected from biological ligands, mono- or disaccharides, lipids, dyes, fluorescent molecules, polymer chains and solid supports (II).


In this article, the technical concepts and the current progress of the drilling operation of the scientific borehole CCSD-1 is described. Based on the experiences gained while implementing the project, different drilling methods and technologies were evaluated.


An iterative method for finding the center of a linear programming polytope is presented. The method assumes that we start at a feasible interior point and each iterate is obtained as a convex combination of the orthogonal projection on the half spaces defined by the linear inequalities plus a special projections on the same half spaces. The algorithm is particularly suitable for implementation on computers with parallel processors. We show some examples in two dimensional space to describe geometrically how the method works. Finally, we present computational results on random generated polytopes and linear programming polytopes from NetLib to compare the centering quality of the center using projections and the analytic center approach.


The polarized ion model has been applied in the study of the magnesium dichloride dimeric molecule (Mg2Cl4). The calculations predict as the equilibrium configuration for this molecule a planar structure with D2h symmetry with the outer Mg–Cl distance equal to 2.215 A and the ring Mg–Cl′ distance equal to 2.36 A. The angle Cl′–Mg–Cl′ in the ring is 105°.


In this paper, we investigate the use of pre-trained HuBERT model to build downstream Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) models using data that have differences in domain, accent and even language. We use the standard ESPnet recipe with HuBERT as pre-trained models whose output is fed as input features to a downstream Conformer model built from target domain data. We compare the performance of HuBERT pre-trained features with the baseline Conformer model built with Mel-filterbank features. We observe that as the domain, accent and bandwidth (as in the case of Switchboard data) vary, the relative improvements in performance over baseline decrease significantly. Further, with more labelled data in the target domain, the relative improvement narrows down, and both systems become comparable. We also investigate the effect on ASR performance when output from intermediate layers of HuBERT are used as features and show that these are more suitable for data in a different language, since they capture more of the acoustic representation. Finally, we compare the output from Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) Feature encoder used in pre-trained models with the Mel-filterbank features and show that Mel-filterbanks are often better features for modelling data from different domains.


Recently, the fine-grained geolocalisation of User Generated Short Text (UGST) has been attracting much attention from academia. Most of existing methods rarely introduce the semantic information about a location in UGST, and do not prioritize the entities according to their importance. These reduce the performance of existing approaches. To tackle these problems, we propose a Fine-grained Geolocalisation of user-generated Short Text based on LBSN (FGSTL), which consists of three key components: 1) Using Foursquare as a source to build the tight coupling between entity and location, which can address the location-annotated sparseness problem. 2) Filtering out UGST if it does not contain any location-specific entities, which allows us to eliminate the interference of noisy UGSTs at the early stage. 3) Ranking the candidate locations for each remaining UGST based only on its textual data, and selecting the top-ranked location ( or top n locations ) for UGST. The experimental results show the effectiveness of FGST-L.


In this work, a correspondence between black-hole solutions of conformal and massive theories of gravity is found. It is seen that this correspondence imposes some constraints on parameters of these theories. What is more, a relation between the mass of black holes and the parameters of massive gravity is found. Indeed, the acceptable ranges of massive gravity parameters (c1 and c2) are found. It is shown that by considering the positive mass of black holes, some ranges of c1 and c2 are acceptable.


Detecting and tracking broad sound classes in audio documents is an important step toward their structuration. In the case of complex audio scenes, such as the sound track of a TV broadcast, one problem is that several classes of sound maybe present simultaneously. It is therefore important to detect such superimposed events. Most methods would necessitate to estimate a model for each combination of sound classes that is to be detected, which is intractable in practice since it requires a lot of manual labelling. In this paper, we propose and compare several approaches to detect simultaneous events using only the models of the base classes we are interested in. Two main approaches are compared: model combination and binary hypothesis tests. The results show that the best results are obtained with the model combination approach.


To solve the problem of optical encoder steady speed,variable speed rotation and angle positioning in the detection of optical encoder's dynamic,the steady speed,variable speed and position control strategy of a three-loop sensorless brushless DC motor was designed,and the circuit was designed. First,brushless DC motor control circuit with hardware anti-EMF zero-crossing detection method was designed,and the characteristics of anti-EMF zero crossing detection circuit was analyzed. Second,phase adjust closed-loop control model was built to adjust the phase of anti-EMF signal delay. Third,PID algorithm was used to achieve closed-loop control of motor speed,rotation and phase adjustment.Three closed-loop control of the brushless DC motor was formed. Finally,the parameters of the PID closed-loop control were set,and the experiments of phase delay angle compensation,steady speed rotation and sinusoidal rotation,trapezoid rotation and angle positioning were made. The experiments show that the control strategy effectively achieves the adjustment of anti-EMF zero crossing's phase and the closed-loop control of speed and angle. The speed control error is not higher than 1(°) /s,angular position error is not higher than 18 ". It can be widely used in sensorless brushless DC motor control,and can be used for dynamic control of the optical encoder dynamic detection.


To investigate the paleodiet of the inhabitants of Queen Alia International Airport (a 3rd century AD site in Middle Jordan), the concentration of Ca, Sr, and Zn were analyzed in 22 samples from the ribs of 22 human skeletons. Ten more soil samples from 10 graves were also analyzed. The concentrations of Sr, Ca and Zn were measured using the Atomic Mass Absorption method at the laboratories of the Faculty of Archaeology and Anthropology, Yarmouk University. The correlation coefficient and the standard deviation statistics of the results pointed to little if any soil/bone exchange of the above elements and also indicated homogenous soil samples. The results show that the inhabitants at QAIA consumed both protein and plant food with no discrimination.


The purpose of this study is to explore the reality of the political culture in Jordan after twenty years of political openness by identifying the most important features of contemporary Jordanian political culture. In addition, the study aims to examine the main factors that shape this political culture. To build the argument on a solid ground, the study raises some significant questions about the reality of the Jordanian political culture such as: has political culture changed significantly since 1989 (after the political openness)?, what are the main factors that contributed in shaping the political culture in Jordan?, and what is the main type of political culture that clearly prevails in the society?. The study is carried out by using the descriptive analytical approach, as a method for examining the findings of the survey through distribution of 400 questionnaires to five groups of political elite in Jordan. The study concludes that there cannot be a real democratic system in Jordan without the establishment and consolidation of democratic values in the political culture of Jordanian citizens. Another conclusion of the study is that traditional political culture is still prevailing in Jordanian society which is social, tribal, and family ties prominence despite the passage of twenty years on the political liberalization.


Underwater acoustic communication channel is characterized by a severely limited channel compared to the radio wave communication channel. The available bandwidth is limited by frequency-dependent ambient noise and absorption loss in seawater. The time-varying multipath propagation due to the interaction with the ocean boundaries of the sound with relatively slow speed compared to that of radio wave causes an Inter-Symbol Interference(ISI). In addition, the relative movement between source and receiver and sea-surface movement produce significant Doppler shift and spreading. These effects give rise to a distortion of the communication signal. To compensate for this distortion, a number of signal processing approaches have been suggested . The passive time-reversal(TR) approach involves the back propagation from receiver array to source under the assumption of stationary environment, and the resulting signal is temporally and spatially focused on the source location. The temporal focusing mitigates the ISI and the spatial focusing improves a signal-to-noise ratio(SNR). However, the TR performance deteriorates in case of rapidly time-varying channels. This paper presents the results of passive TR performance analysis as a function of receiver depth in time-varying channel.


This paper introduces a new-style propulsion-laser propulsion,mainly discussing the laser propulsion from its basic concept,development abroad and its key technology.


Gender in relation to social class and language variation among different speech communities has attracted a great deal of research. Language use by men and women often reflects gender exclusive roles, social status and power. If their social roles overlap, their use of speech forms overlaps by producing different quantities or frequencies of the same speech form.  The purpose of this study is to examine the role of gender in the production of variants of the long vowel /aa/, /ee/, /ɑɑ/ among the lower working (LWC) in the Cairene speech community. Open-ended interviews were conducted with 24 informants. Five jurists completed a forced choice to judge the vowel length of the long vowel /aa/, /ee/, / ɑɑ/. Results of the Z-test confirm that LWC women use the extra-long variants [aa:], [ee:] and [ɑɑ:] significantly more than the LWC men. Using the stigmatized extra-lengthened forms by women is considered a sign of showing solidarity with members of their local community and of constructing a social identity of the forceful and assertive women whose opinions should be valued. Vowel lengthening is interpreted as an attempt to resist the sociocultural norms that describe their role as only subordinate to men in Arabic speaking communities.


Fabric, the fabric is positioned on discrete portions of the fabric to dissipate static electricity by induction field, it includes a base yarns and antistatic spun yarns conform to one or more standards for static dissipative in the fabric. Antistatic spun yarns may include an inductive antistatic staple fiber may contain antistatic fibers less than 20%. Fabric may be a woven fabric, antistatic spun yarns is 1: 1 to 1: can be inserted into the fabric in both the warp and weft directions in 40 Antistatic spun yarn pairs based yarn ratio of. Fabric is flame resistant and may be adapted to one or more standards for fit to one or more standards, and / or high visibility apparel for flame resistant fabrics. The fabric may have an antistatic fibers total content of less than about 1%.


The review analyzes the work by Professor S. Yu. Marochkin, The Operation of International Law in the Russian Legal System: A Changing Approach, published in 2019 by the European-American publishing house "Brill, Nijhoff." This is an uncommon case of translation and publication of a scientific work by a Russian international lawyer abroad. The author published this book in a foreign publishing house in order to acquaint the world legal community with the Russian rule-of-law state and doctrinal position on complex problems of entry, operation, and application of international law in the Russian legal system. The author considers in detail the evolution of official and scientific approaches, legal consolidation, and actual application of international law in the administrative and judicial practice of the Soviet Union and Russian Federation. In 21 chapters organized into three sections, the author comprehensively considers both general theoretical and specific aspects of the implementation of international legal norms in the Russian legal system, especially in law-making and law enforcement agencies. At the same time, the author does not avoid controversial and problematic theoretical and practical issues, expressing his reasoned opinions on them. The monograph achieves the goals set by the author and allows the foreign reader to grasp the theoretical concepts, official positions, and actions of the Russian Federation in the implementation of its international obligations within the domestic legal system and the resulting scientific and practical problems.


A procedure for designing a physically symmetrical polylithic filter with arbitrary number of symmetrical two-pole crystals is presented. An example of using the method to realise a high order filter is given.


This article summarizes the railroad activities of the Transportation Research Board over the last four years, including the Railroad Research Information Service, the Railroad Research Study, and the work of the TRB committees in the rail transport area. These committees are in the areas of Surface Freight Transport Regulation, Intermodal Freight Transport, the State Role in Rail Transport, Electrification Systems, and Track Structure Systems Design.


Mixing effects on the mass spectrum of light neutral pseudoscalar and vector mesons in the presence of an external uniform magnetic field (cid:126)B are studied in the framework of a two-flavor NJL-like model. The model includes isoscalar and isovector couplings both in the scalar-pseudoscalar and vector sectors, and also incorporates flavor mixing through a 't Hooft-like term. Numerical results for the B dependence of meson masses are compared with present lattice QCD results. In particular, it is shown that the mixing between pseudoscalar and vector meson states leads to a significant reduction of the mass of the lightest state. The role of chiral symmetry and the effect of the alignment of quark magnetic moments in the presence of the magnetic field are discussed.


Ca2+ influx through voltage‐activated Ca2+ channels and its feedback regulation by Ca2+‐activated K+ (BK) channels is critical in Ca2+‐dependent cellular processes, including synaptic transmission, growth and homeostasis. Here we report differential roles of cacophony (CaV2) and Dmca1D (CaV1) Ca2+ channels in synaptic transmission and in synaptic homeostatic regulations induced by slowpoke (slo) BK channel mutations. At Drosophila larval neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), a well‐established homeostatic mechanism of transmitter release enhancement is triggered by experimentally suppressing postsynaptic receptor response. In contrast, a distinct homeostatic adjustment is induced by slo mutations. To compensate for the loss of BK channel control presynaptic Sh K+ current is upregulated to suppress transmitter release, coupled with a reduction in quantal size. We demonstrate contrasting effects of cac and Dmca1D channels in decreasing transmitter release and muscle excitability, respectively, consistent with their predominant pre‐ vs. postsynaptic localization. Antibody staining indicated reduced postsynaptic GluRII receptor subunit density and altered ratio of GluRII A and B subunits in slo NMJs, leading to quantal size reduction. Such slo‐triggered modifications were suppressed in cac;;slo larvae, correlated with a quantal size reversion to normal in double mutants, indicating a role of cac Ca2+ channels in slo‐triggered homeostatic processes. In Dmca1D;slo double mutants, the quantal size and quantal content were not drastically different from those of slo, although Dmca1D suppressed the slo‐induced satellite bouton overgrowth. Taken together, cac and Dmca1D Ca2+ channels differentially contribute to functional and structural aspects of slo‐induced synaptic modifications. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 74: 1–15, 2014


In order to study the influence of fatigue loading to the speed of the sulfate corrosion concrete,introduced effective diffusion coefficient of sulfate ion(Dt)on the basis of the Fick second law in unsteady state diffusion,used the finite difference method to solve effective diffusion coefficient of sulfate ion(Dt) under different stress level of alternation loading and loading frequency,and contrasted with the known sole sulfate ion's diffusion coefficient D in concretes.The result indicated: the effective diffusion coefficient Dt is a good way to token the influence of fatigue loading to sulfate ion diffusion,and the alternation loading has enhanced distinctly effective diffusion coefficient of sulfate ion and the speed of the sulfate corrosion concrete,the speed of the sulfate corrosion concrete increased with the enhancement of stress level and loading frequency of fatigue loading.


This presentation has been reviewed by the EC5 Spacesuit Knowledge Capture Manager in collaboration with the author and is assessed to not contain any technical content that is export controlled. It is requested to be publicly released to the NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC), JSC Engineering Academy, as well as to STI for distribution through NTRS or NA&SD (public or non-public) and YouTube viewing.


ABSTRACT In recent times, the applications of multimedia are rising in a greedy mode and hence the amount of video transactions is also increasing exponentially. This has shouted great demands on effective models on video encoding and also for reducing the transmission channel congestion. This research work introduces a managing technique termed weighted encoding for High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC). HEVC, also termed as MPEG-H Part 2 and H.265 is a video compression standard that is widely utilized AVC (H.264 or MPEG-4 Part 10). When compared to AVC, HEVC grants double the ratio of data compression at a similar level of quality of the video or considerably enhanced video quality at a similar bit rate. This work intends to optimize the weight that adopted in HEVC for encoding. For this, this paper proposes a new Iterative based propagation update in the water wave Optimization Algorithm (IPU-WWO), which is the improved form of Water wave Optimization (WWO). The performance of proposed IPU-WWO is compared over other conventional methods like Artificial Bee Colony (ABC), Firefly (FF), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Genetic Algorithm (GA) with respect to Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR). By doing the encoding process, it minimizes the video size with perceptually better quality video or PSNR.


The present work interferes in the extent of the dissertation of master's degree in psychology, area of early intervention, and it intends to contribute for the understanding of the interactions that happen in contexts of kindergarten classes. Concretely we try to know a little more on the way as preschool teachers' link with the children, and tried to define patterns of the preschool teachers' behavior in his relationship with the children. It is made reference to the empiric study, accomplished near 12 preschool teachers and in which qualitative methods were privileged (observation and interview). It was fallen back upon methods of qualitative research with the program NUD*IST 4.0 – non-numerical unstructured date indexing searching theorizing, version 4.0 (copyright Qualitative Solutions & Research, 1991-1997). The obtained results suggests that there are regularities in the preschool teachers' behavior and some patterns of behavior in relations to the interaction with the children can be privileged.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17575/rpsicol.v17i1.442


Results of experimental and theoretical investigations of free-localized and directed microwave discharges (MWD) are presented. The control over plasma parameters is achieved by changing of MW power level, pulse duration and by application of transverse magnetic field (0 200mT) and gas flows (V ~ 0.7 1M). The flexible scheme for MW energy supply (F=13GHz, W~10-50 kW/cm, τ~5-40μs) of plasma region and for changing the interaction conditions (MWD magnetic field, MWD gas flow) is used in this study. Such general features of discharges as its structure, velocity and size, the temperature and conductivity in plasma channels and their evolution in external magnetic field and airflow are explored. The obvious changing of separate discharge channels behavior and MWD structure modifying, the formation of circular plasma meshes and vortexes and plasma swirls are registered in our experiments. Comparative study of MW and RF ball discharges is performed. The similarity of ball RF and MW discharges is shown.


The present invention relates to the use of platinum (II) complexes of the formulas I, II and III as emitter molecules in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), wherein the radicals are defined in the claims and in the description. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of the platinum (II) complexes as light-emitting layer in OLEDs, light-emitting layer containing at least one platinum (II) complex, an OLED containing these light-emitting layer, as well as devices containing an inventive OLED.


ABSTRACT Marketization is the development of quasi-markets on the systemic level, which promote choice, competition, accountability, and devolution in public schooling. Marketing is a strategy that individual school leaders employ to respond to these logics. This paper argues that education marketization has led to an increase in school-based marketing within the Australian public school system. The eight public school principals we report on here, perceived marketing as a key technique in shaping school choice but paradoxically, felt that they shouldn't have to market to prospective families. In addition, some participants no longer felt like they operated as public schools, but rather, existed somewhere in the "grey zone" between public and private. We use Bateson's concept of the double bind to argue that marketization is creating a system of performative pressures for public school principals that contradict with their ethical values and beliefs. This double bind is not representative of a simple contradiction of individual conflict, but of school leaders caught up in an ongoing system of marketization that produces conflicting definitions of "publicness" and understanding of what public schools are and ought to be.


The topos constructed in [6] is a set-like category that includes among its axioms an axiom of infinity and an axiom of choice. In its final form a topos is free from any such axioms. SetG/ is a topos whose object are G-set Ψs/:GS\longrightarrowS and morphism f:S \longrightarrowT is an equivariants map. We already known that SetG/ satisfies the weak form of the axiom of choice but it does not satisfies the axiom of the choice.(omitted)


Structural fatigue failure mode identification is one of the most important part of the structural system fatigue reliability theory.In this paper,a structural system fatigue failure mode identification method was proposed,which considered the corrosion factor.The corrosion fatigue damage model for structural component was introduced.The applicability of the model was also discussed.Some improvements for the global branching and bounding algorithm were made.As a result of the improvements,the algorithm could be adjusted to deal with both the non-corrosive and corrosive fatigue reliability problem.A method to determine the safety margin equation was also suggested.The oretical analysis and numerical example both revealed that the proposed method can be used in structural corrosion fatigue reliability analysis.


The development of highly fluent large language models (LLMs) has prompted increased interest in assessing their reasoning and problem-solving capabilities. We investigate whether several LLMs can solve a classic type of deductive reasoning problem from the cognitive science literature. The tested LLMs have limited abilities to solve these problems in their conventional form. We performed follow up experiments to investigate if changes to the presentation format and content improve model performance. We do find performance differences between conditions; however, they do not improve overall performance. Moreover, we find that performance interacts with presentation format and content in unexpected ways that differ from human performance. Overall, our results suggest that LLMs have unique reasoning biases that are only partially predicted from human reasoning performance.


This thesis studies the impact of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on physical education in Chinese schools from such different angles as the challenges faced by Chinese school sports, the special value of the existence of Olympic Games and the impact of 2008 Beijing Olympics on Chinese School sports, and tackles the relationship between Olympic Games and School Sports. The Olympic Games help student to develop proper values, enrich the teaching of physical education in China, boost the construction of sports venues and facilities, and infuse new blood into the organization of sports games in Chinese schools.


Contract breaking off relations: Chen Zhiwan of Diantou village in the Western Mountains has a son, Yinwa, age 12, but his family is too poor to raise the child, so he requests to send him to the Geliaogou boys' orphanage to be brought up, and to study and learn prayers. Henceforth whether this boy lives or dies will be of no concern to Chen Zhiwan. He will not regret and go back on his word, and he signs this contract breaking off relations as proof.


One of the problems characterizing the fortification of a coastal city originates from the port infrastructure that claims conflicting demands on the seclusion imposed from the Old Regime urban defence. Starting from the Medieval Age and, a fortiori, after the military revolution in the sixteenth century, the cities shut themselves to preserve their wealth and their social construction. The security of their freedom, their collective organization and the domain of the surrounding area pass through fortifications and walls. These are the defence against treacherous and dangerous strangers. But in the port cities urban life is animated by the harbour and this must necessarily be open to foreigners, thus making the city somewhat vulnerable. The dual dynamics, the dual intent, are recognized in maximum closing as opposed to the maximum opening.


Theoretical solutions are presented for the buckling in uniform axial compression of two types of simply supported curved sandwich plates: the corrugated-core type and the isotropic-core type. The solutions are obtained from a theo_: for orthotropic curved plates in which deflections due to shear are taken into account. Results are given in the form of equations and curves.


The 2015 election has been adjured to be the best in the history of elections in Nigeria, thanks to the deployment of information technology by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In reality, the election was not as flawless as many people believe. There were lots of problems associated with it, particularly in the areas of verification and authentication of eligible voters. This work examines these problems and proposed a fuzzy-based multi-modal architectural model for future elections in contrast to the unimodal model currently in use. The architecture is based on the extraction of the features of fingerprint and iris of the prospective voters as opposed to only fingerprint currently in use. Drawing from the strength of fingerprint and Iris features discussed in the work, a robust architecture supported by the fuzzy-based mathematical model was developed for future elections. Further discussed were the advantages of the proposed architecture over the current INEC method of voter verification and authentication.


The investigation of driving mechanism for the formation of tropical night in the coastal region, defined as persistent high air temperature over than 25 at night was carried out from August 14 through 15, 1995. Convective boundary layer (CBL) of a 1 km depth with big turbulent vertical diffusion coefficients is developed over the ground surface of the inland basin in the west of the mountain and near the top of the mountain, while a depth of thermal internal boundary layer (TIBL) like CBL shrunken by relatively cool sea breeze starting at 100 km off the eastern sea is less than 150 m from the coast along the eastern slope of the mountain. The TIBL extends up to the height of 1500 m parallel to upslope wind combined with valley wind and easterly sea breeze from the sea. As sensible heat flux convergences between the surface and lower atmosphere both at the top of mountain and the inland coast are much greater than on the coastal sea, sensible heat flux should be accumulated inside both the TIBL and the CBL near the mountain top and then, accumulated sensible heat flux under the influence of sea breeze circulation combined with easterly sea breeze from sea to inland and uplifted valley wind from inland to the mountain top returning down toward the eastern coastal sea surface should be transported into the coast, resulting in high air temperatures near the coastal inland. Under nighttime cooling of ground surface after sunset, mountain wind causes the daytime existed westerly wind to be an intensified westerly downslope wind and land breeze further induces it to be strong offshore wind. No sensible heat flux divergence or very small flux divergence occurs in the coast, but the flux divergences are much greater on the top of the mountain and along its eastern slope than on the coastal inland and sea surfaces. Thus, less cooling down of the coastal surface than the mountain surface and sensible heat transfer from warm pool over the coast into the coastal surface produce nocturnal high air temperature on the coastal inland surfaces, which is not much changed from daytime ones, resulting in the persistence of tropical night (nocturnal thermal high) until the early in the morning.


This article describes how the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 may adversely impact venture funding of smaller enterprises (SMEs). We suggest that the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 may in fact result in a less attractive economic environment for SMEs and their private equity investors.


Land reform and asset privatization are essential to the transformation of agriculture from a state controlled to privately operated sector and to its future development in a market oriented economy. Although these are necessary conditions for economic development under a market oriented regime, they are not sufficient conditions. In this paper we review the progress achieved in farm restructuring through land reform and asset privatization and the impacts of this restructuring on the structure of farming and production in Lithuania. We then elaborate the main conditions for sustainable agricultural development in a market economy.


The basic ideas of component-based software development are presented. A method for developing component-based Information Systems (IS) is proposed. An example of establishing this kind of IS is also given.


Reducing the data cache stalls is getting more important as the gap between the CPU speed and the memory speed continues to grow. Many compiler-based techniques including prefetches have been proposed to mitigate the problem for numerical loops, but they are not very applicable to nonnumerical integer loops. One simple idea applicable even to those loops is separating cache-missing loads and their uses by as many as the cache miss penalties by scheduling the loads earlier. Unfortunately, naïve code motion of those loads would not work since they are likely to be stuck at the loop boundary before being separated enough from their uses. Moreover, moving the loads requires other instructions defining their operands to move as well, which would also block separation. In order to overcome these limitations, we propose separating them even across loop backedges and complex control flows. This can be implemented by employing the code motion techniques of enhanced pipeline scheduling, which can allow such separation. Our experimental results on the Itanium and the Open-64 show that the proposed technique can reduce the stalls, increasing the performance tangibly, for some integer benchmarks that suffer from the data cache misses seriously.


The temperature-dependent insertion-loss of volume phase holographic wavelength-division demultiplexers(WDDM) is analyzed using Bragg diffraction theory in this paper. We demonstrate that most of the temperature-induced insertion-loss results from the diffraction deflection. Finally, we propose a new way to improve the temperature characteristics of volume phase holographic demultiplexers if we have a suitable choice between the thermal expansion coefficients of the gratings and the thermal coefficients of the gratings index. This result is useful to design a self-temperature compensation WDDM.


The Δ-scaling method has been applied to ultra-relativistic p+p,C+C and Pb+Pb collision data simulated using a high-energy Monte Carlo package,LUCIAE 3.0.The Δ-scaling is found to be valid for some physical variables,such as charged particle multiplicity,strange particle multiplicity and number of binary nucleon-nucleon-nucleon collisions from these simulated nucleus-nucleus collisions over an extended energy ranging from E1ab=20 to 200A GeV.In addition we derive the information entropy from the multiplicity distribution as a function of beam energy for these collisions.


The International Space Station (ISS) is currently using a water electrolysis process to produce oxygen. The hydrogen produced as a by-product is removed overboard. Carbon dioxide from crew breathing, dissolved in the atmosphere of the station, are extracted and also removed outside the station, but NASA expects to use it and convert it by the physicochemical reaction Sabatier in methane and water. Water will be used for crew needs and electrolysis, and methane is also planned to be removed overboard. When these interrelated processes work, very important substances are lost: methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen. This situation can be remedied by including in the life support system (LSS) of the ATS closed biotechnological regeneration cycles operating in a waste-free mode and synergistically solving the problems of complex provision of the crew with oxygen, water, and, most importantly, food. The process of biological oxidation of methane by methanotrophs bacteria is observed in nature in the first link of the food chain of the world's ocean and has long been used in terrestrial conditions for the industrial production of animal biomass for food and feed purposes. The same can be said about the use of hydrogen bacteria, which use carbon dioxide as a carbon source, with hydrogen as their energy source. Tolerance of these cultures to common nutrient media and the same technological parameters of biosynthesis allows their joint cultivation to obtain animal ingredients for crew food. The proposed work is devoted to the study of alternative processes, integrated use of carbon dioxide, methane, and hydrogen in LSS ATS.


Joining technology of silicon nitride based materials is the most effective means for practical application. The chemical composition of adhesive has significant influence on the joining strength. The recent development in brazing of Si3N4ceramics Cu-base brazing fillers is emphatically review ed in this paper from the point of chemical composition.


The Mesozoic-Tertiary North Pyrenean (Aquitaine) basin is situated between the Aquitaine margin to the north and the Iberian margin to the south. The birth and growth of the basin succeeded a complex Paleozoic history, which left an intricate lithological and structural heritage upon which the chessboard of Mesozoic subbasins developed. The history of the Aquitaine basin is a suite of attempts in the context of the progressive opening of the Bay of Biscay. Synchronous plate motion and later convergence led to the emergency of the Pyrenean foldbelt. The sedimentary filling of the basin comprises continental and evaporitic sequences, extensive marine carbon platforms, and massive flysch and molasse series, reflecting successive movements of increasing intensity. Appearance or revival of synchronous sedimentary and/or structural phenomena such as conjugated fault patterns, block tilting and block faulting, emplacement of mantelic remnants, halokinesis, olistostromes, and mass flows, together with the presence of plastic layers, contributed to shape an extremely complex final image. Gas and petroleum occurrence is controlled by the successive phases and anomalies of this history. The authors furthermore assert that events of the basin-forming extensional period contributed more to the generation of the actual hydrocarbon accumulations than did the effects of the subsequentmore » compressive structural stresses. Geological models proposed by various authors will be reviewed and a general new model will be attempted for the evolution of the Aquitaine basin and the Pyrenees.« less


Applicable taxes in Indonesia can be differentiated taxation based on the parties to bear, the party picked up, and nature. Good service will encourage taxpayer compliance to implement taxation obligations. To be able to improve taxpayer compliance is by listening, seeking out and trying to meet what is desired by the taxpayer regarding the rights and obligations of taxation. The desire or the means to listen to the voice of taxpayers in many countries known as the Tax Ombudsman in Indonesia called the Supervisory Committee of Taxation (KPPer). Giving you the best possible service to taxpayers will increase the level of taxpayer compliance. The high level of taxpayer compliance by itself will increase tax revenues. KPPer is to ensure that the taxpayer has be best served by the DGT, namely: (1) ensure that the taxpayer has been given the ministry (in terms of policy, legal, and administrative), (2) Directorate General of Taxation to give optimal service, (3) KPer and DGT synergistically provide optimum services and in turn increase tax revenue will be achieved. In other words, the formation of synergies between the DGT and KPPer can increase tax revenues.


Novel sulphur-containing 6FDA-SDA-DABA (4,4'-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride ― 4,4'-diaminodiphenylether ― 3 , 5 -diaminobenzoic acid) copolyimides have been synthesized to create a polymer basis for the use as optical polymers, capable of implementing TiO 2 nanoparticles by simple mixing or covalent bonding of functionalized nanoparticles. First fine dispersed nanoparticle-composites were made by simple mixing of rutile-type TiO 2 nanoparticles and the synthesized copolyimides. Moisture-absorption was measured in a climate-cabinet, transparency and cutoff wavelengths have been determined by UV-VIS spectra. The homogeneity of the composites was verified by scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the cross sections. The polyimides show constantly low water sorption below o.o8wt% and cutoff wavelengths below 440 nm. The implementation of nanoparticles by simple mixing was verified by SEM.


Objectives To evaluate the efficiency of valve replacement in high age and high risk patients,the main influencing and the operation indication. Methods The vavular operations were performed in 28 cases from Mar. 2000 to Oct. 2005. Mitral valve replacement was performed in 17 cases,aortic valve replacement in 3,combined mitral and aortic valve replacement in 6,combined mitral valve replacement and coronary bypass grafting in 2, concomitant tricuspid valve annuloplasty in 21. Results Eighteen cases had the early postoperative complication. The late mortality was 3.6%(1/28). In 2 weeks and 3 months after surgery,echocardiography showed every cardiac ventricle diameter significantly decreased. The heart function was classⅠ-Ⅱ in 27,and class Ⅲ in 1. Conclusions The keys to improve the outcome of these operations are to choice optimum surgical timing and the proper management of the high risk factors at the operative period and follow-up periods.


In recent years it has been established that sulfonamides inhibit the respiration of certain bacteria, yeasts, and tissues. This inhibition was first observed on intact bacteria by Barron and Jacobs (l), and it seems to occur simultaneously with the cessation of growth in the presence of the sulfonamide (2). On the basis of numerous investigations, it can be assumed that certain relationships exist between sulfonamide inhibition of growth and of respiration. Sulfonamides may affect these processes by interfering with the synthesis of the coenzymes necessary for respiration (3). However, it seems probable that the effect of sulfonamides on bacterial respiration is only indirectly linked to their effect on growth (4-7). The inhibitory effect of sulfonamides on respiration has not yet been completely explained, although a number of studies point in the direction in which further progress may be made. It has been shown that sulfonamides form dissociating complexes with enzymes and other proteins (8-15) and in several such cases loss of enzyme activity was found to result (16-21). The work of Dorfman, Rice, Koser, and Saunders (22) and Berkman and Koser (23) indicates that phosphopyridine nucleotides participate also in bacterial respiration and it explains the restoration of normal bacterial growth upon addition of pyridine nucleotides to the culture medium, in the presence of sulfonamides (24). It has also been reported that sulfonamides inhibit the respiration of Plasmodium hmowled in the presence of glucose (25), which may be indicative of interference with oxidation of carbohydrates. In order to establish the point at which the drug interferes with respiration, it seemed of interest to investigate the effect of sulfonamides on each of the isolated components of the respiratory enzyme system involved in the oxidation of glucose-6-phosphate. The tests applied here for the components of this system possess a high degree of specificity which permits conclusive evaluation of drug action. The results thus obtained may contribute to a more precise understanding of the inhibition caused by sulfonamides. E$ect of Sulfonamides on Cytochrome Oa'dae-Cytochrome oxidase was


Islamic banking was born in the late 1950s.At present,nearly 80 countries around the world opened Islamic banking and related services,Islamic financial system has a considerable size in Islamic countries,meanwhile the United States and Europe have launched a strategic planning to create a global Islamic financial center of Islamic finance,Islamic financing system showing a strong vitality.At the same time,because Western economies owning highly authoritarian in the global economy,and accounting for a dominant position in global economic development,the Islamic financial system in the collision with the Western economic system is facing a series of challenges,how to achieve the successful economic and heterogeneous convergence with other economic system is particularly important.


FIELD: physics; computer engineering. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to means of identifying mail messages. Extracted data can be in form of features which can be used in conjunction with machine learning systems to create improved filters. Data associated with information on a source, as well as some other information built into the body of a message, which enables a message recipient to contact and/or reply the sender, can be extracted as features. Features or their sub-collection can be standardised and/or opened before using them as machine learning system features. (Opened) features can be used to fill several lists of features which assist in detecting and preventing spam. Examples of features include email address, IP address, URL, an attached image indicating URL and/or parts thereof. EFFECT: identification and blocking disguised spam messages. 51 cl, 15 dwg


Penalty and nature of the cases concerning illegal felling and undue cutting are discussed. One down timber as data is used to calculate its volumes in 2 states of felled trees and standing trees respectively. To make sure the accuracy of the determination, 2 quadrature formulas of central segment division and Newton Division, and binary timber volume table are suitable to be adopted to determine the timber volumes, when only small amount of forest by illegal felling and uncontrolled cutting are in the state of down timbers.


This paper presents the results of a phenomenological study about mathematical problem solving. Eight pre-service mathematics teachers participated: six were studying to become teachers at elementary school level —4th to 6th grades— and two at high school —7th to 12th grades—. The data was obtained through long interviews, thinking out loud problem solving sessions and retrospective interviews that took place immediately after the problem solving sessions. The objective of the long interview was to determine the participants' beliefs and declarative knowledge about this topic. The objective of the problem solving sessions was to determine the type of representation, strategies, and control processes that the participants use when solving problems. During the retrospective interview, the participants had the opportunity to reflect about their performance. These techniques allowed the investigators to contrast the beliefs of the participants against their execution.


Abstract This study examined relationships between social perspective-taking (SPT) and the individual, group, and societal domains of socially responsible leadership. SPT is a higher-order cognitive skill linked to moral development and social coordination, but never empirically connected to leadership development. Analyses determined SPT has a strong direct effect on group-level leadership values and an indirect effect on societallevel leadership values. Results offer critical new insights into directionality in the social change model.


The object reconstruction problem in light and electron microscopy consists of the determination of the complex amplitude from one or more images. This problem, which is usually treated for the case of weak objects, is extended to strong objects. It is shown, for the case of one spatial dimension, that the complex amplitude can be uniquely determined from the intensity distributions in two images taken at different defocus provided we know the intensity in one of the end-points of the exit pupil. It is also demonstrated how the reconstruction equations can be solved. The relation with the Gerchberg-Saxton and the similar Misell algorithm is pointed out.


After studying the differences of the climate and the vegetation between the provenance and the introducing area, 12 species of wild alpine Rhododendron were introduced from Liupanshui, Guizhou Province to Shenzhen, Guangdong Province by the method of progressive introduction. Results showed that Rhododendron delavayi, R. delavayi var. peramoenum and R. irroratum could grow well and bloom normally in Wutong Mountain, and the subgenera Hymenanthes grew better than the subgenera Rhododendron.


Fire distribution simulation is an extensive research topic, which belongs to the important research content of system of systems confrontation simulation. This paper presents a model of air defense fire distribution loop, which is relatively efficient, convenient and reliable, and can be used to guide the implementation of related algorithms. The computational fire distribution loop model includes the calculation of target distribution line and target distribution loop. This model can realize the effective distribution of air defense fire to targets. This model can guide the analysis of fire superiority and the calculation of automatic fire distribution. Combined with the actual project, good results have been achieved.


We present evolutionary calculations of a 0.9 M/sub sun/ metal-poor star in which the outer layers are artifically mixed throughout the main-sequence lifetime. For the case where the mixed region contains 85% of the mass of the star, evolution toward the subgiant branch is relatively unaffected but no significant enhancement of the surface nitrogen abundance occurs. Alternatively, for the case of deeper mixing, significant surface nitrogen enhancements are produced but the star evolves as a blue straggler and does not become a red giant in a normal way. Thus the observations of large nitrogen abundance variations among main-sequence stars and subgiants in the globular cluster 47 Tuc are unlikely to be the result of deep envelope mixing on the main sequence. Mixing at an advanced phase of evolution and mass transfer in close binaries also seem unlikely. We conclude therefore that the most plausible explanation of the observed variations is that they are primordial in origin, that is, they reflect the presence of nitrogen abundance inhomogeneities in the protocluster gas cloud. Subject headings: clusters: globular: nucleosynthesis: stars: abundances: stars: interiors: stars: weak-line


The paper gives design methodology of protection system for an interconnected bus system. The protection system is designed by keeping system constraints in mind. Directional over current protection is applied to the distribution system. The LINKNET structure algorithm is applied to find the primary-backup pairs. The IEEE 14 bus system network is developed in ETAP. LINKNET programming is done using MATLAB software.