In this paper, the protective effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract(GSPE) on cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(CDDP)-induced renal oxidative stress and mitochondrial injury in rats were investigated. Rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control group, CDDP model group, GSPE(400 mg/kg) group, CDDP + GSPE(200 mg/kg) group, and CDDP + GSPE(400 mg/kg) group. Each group was administrated with distilled water or the corresponding doses of GSPE by gavage for 15 consecutive days. After 10 d of administration, the CDDP and CDDP + GSPE groups were administered a single intraperitoneal injection of CDDP(8 mg/kg), and the remaining groups were administered with normal saline by intraperitoneal injection. The blood urea nitrogen(BUN), creatinine(Cr E), renal index, antioxidant index for renal cortex, and index for the carbohydrate metabolic enzyme were measured, and the renal structures were observed using a light microscope. Compared to the CDDP model group, the GSPE pretreated rats showed a significant decrease in renal index as well as BUN and Cr E contents. The CDDP treatment improved the contents of renal cortical reduced glutathione(GSH), and malondialdehyde(MDA), meanwhile, the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD), glutathione peroxidase(GSH-px), malate dehydrogenase(MDH), and hexokinase(HK) were enhanced. The pathologic slice revealed that GSPE pretreatment could reduce CDDP-induced pathological damage such as glomerular atrophy. This study suggested that GSPE had a protective effect on the CDDP-induced renal oxidative stress and mitochondrial injury in rats.


Image segmentation is a most fundamental problem in computer vision and image understanding. In this chapter, we propose an new energy functional for image segmentation which requires explicitly a feature and a distance measure for each segmented region. Using the spectral histogram proposed in the Chapter 4, we derive an iterative and deterministic approximation algorithm for segmentation. We apply the algorithm to segmenting images under different assumptions. Image segmentation is the central problem in computer vision, and the performance of high-level modules such as recognition critically depend on segmentation results. Roughly segmentation can be defined as a constrained partition problem. Each partition, or region, should be as homogeneous as possible and neighboring partitions should be as different as possible. Two computational issues can be identified from the definition. The first issue is to define features to be used and the associated 131 similarity/dissimilarity measure. Given the similarity/dissimilarity measure, the second issue is to design a computational procedure to derive a solution for a given input image. To address the first issue, one needs to define a feature, which can be a scalar or vector and a distance measure in the feature space. In the literature, this issue is not well addressed. For intensity images, mean and variance values are most widely used, which are closely related to the Gaussian assumption behind many algorithms Those features in general are only justified through experiments on selected texture images. Comparing with existing features, spectral histograms provide a well-justified feature vector. As demonstrated in the previous chapter, the spectral histogram can effectively capture the texture appearance and has been successfully applied to image modeling and classification. The second issue has been studied extensively in the literature. Existing methods can be classified roughly into local algorithms and optimization of a global criterion. Local algorithms include edge detectors and region growing [152] [89] [88] [13]. While good experimental results have been obtained, the major difficulty of local algorithms is that the segmented regions are not guaranteed to be homogeneous. For example, in region growing, two different regions may be grouped together due to noise and variations in local areas. Optimization approaches can be further divided as local and global based on the segmentation criterion. If the criterion only consists of local terms, such as in pair-wise classification, those approaches may suffer the problem of local algorithms. The results may critically depend on parameter values such as …


Combining an artificial neural network approach for parameter identification with internal model control, an adaptive IMC algorithm for time varying delay system is explored. Theoretical analysis and computer simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can overcome time varying delay and parameter variability. It possesses better robustness and anti disturbance ability. [WT4"HZ]


Numerical simulations of 1D force-free magnetodynamics (FFMD) by Koide and Imamura showed details of the energy extraction mechanism around a rapidly spinning black hole under the force-free condition in the case of a radial magnetic surface along the equatorial plane. The energy is transported like a tsunami from the ergosphere and spreads to the outside. In this paper, we perform 1D FFMD simulations with nonradial magnetic surfaces along the equatorial plane, which are more general magnetic surface configurations. Using the results of simulations and analytic solutions of the steady-state force-free magnetic field, we find that, except in the case of a radial magnetic surface at infinity, the tsunami induced at the neighborhood of the horizon damps gradually and energy flux along the equatorial plane vanishes after a long period of time or at infinity. This suggests the energy extracted from the spinning black hole through the nonradial magnetic field is transported toward the high latitude around the axis of the black hole and is converted to the kinetic energy of the jet or outflow.


Civil and transport engineers and the discipline, with a preoccupation with design and operational standards, have historically been accused of leading infrastructure transformations that degrade the integrity of natural ecosystems and impersonalise the public arena (Bergen et al. 2001; Harris 2008; Postman 1992). The public perception is vastly improved given curricula that integrate sustainability principles (Koth et al. 2009), innovative construction materials with low embodied energy, and more public accessibility into consensual decision-making. The sustainability debate, however, has turned to questions of unlimited growth and the implied climate change crisis. There is a dearth of information on how environmental attitudes held by engineering students have transitioned to keep pace with evolving values in western industrialized societies with regard to stewardship of planetary resources. The New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) was administered to final year civil engineering (CE) students, along with Schwartz's Values Survey detailing deeply held, life guiding principles. The study found a cohort (33%) of CE students whose responses across the scale mirrors those of environmental degree students also studied, in being 'greenest' and more concerned about ecological crises. However, CE students show the greatest, significant mean differences with environmental students in dimensions associated with inter-species equity, an optimism that supports modifications to the natural world, and resiliency in the balance of nature. The bottom ranking of beauty as an important life principle also distinguishes civil engineering students. The work offers ideas for course content that addresses what may be fundamental value differences between CE graduates and the environmentalist public.


We present a system for facial modeling and animation that aims at the generation of photo-realistic models and performance driven animation. It is practical implementation of MPEG-4 compliant Synthetic Video Facial Animation pipeline (Simple and Calibration Profiles with some modifications), which includes: facial features recognition & tracking on real video sequence; obtaining, encoding, network transfer and decoding of the facial animation parameters (FAPs); face model adaptation (calibration) and texturing by photos or video stream; synthetic 3D head animation and visualization. All pipeline stages, except model adaptation, operate in real time, fully automatically and produce appropriate results. To obtain the animation parameters new methods of robust online face tracking and more precise but off-line FAPs estimation are developed. Model-independent animation method was used. A number of new features including mouth contours special processing, eyelashes and "expression wrinkles" were added beyond standard to improve the resemblance of the Talking Head to the prototype person. The following libraries and applications were created to encapsulate "Talking Heads" original technologies: Face Tracking&Analysis Library, Images-to-Head Calibration application, Intel Facial Animation&Visualization Library. They are absolutely independent and could be used separately for various applications.


Introduction A key component of any reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm is the underlying representation used by the agent for learning (e.g. the parameterization of its function approximator). Transfer learning tasks typically look at speeding up a target task after learning in a source task. This paper considers a different, but related, question: is it possible, and desirable, for agents to transfer from a source representation to a target representation? Elaboration, presented below, is a representation transfer (RT) algorithm that may allow an agent to learn faster than learning with a single representation. One motivation for such flexibility is learning speed: changing representations partway through learning may allow agents to achieve better performance in less time. SOAR (Laird, Newell, & Rosenbloom 1987) can use multiple descriptions of planning problems and search problems, generated by a human user, for just this reason. Other work (Sherstov & Stone 2005) suggests that gradually reducing the generalization of a function approximator may improve the speed of learning. In this paper we suggest that it is advantageous to modify the internal representation while learning in some RL tasks, relative to using a fixed representation, so that higher performance is achieved more quickly.


Objectives The aim of this study was to examine the effects of an intervention to alter patient unpunctuality. The major hypothesis was that the intervention will change the distribution of patient unpunctuality by decreasing patient tardiness and increasing patient earliness. Design Prospective Quality Improvement. Setting Specialty Pain Clinic in suburban Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Participants The patient population ranged in age from 18 to 93 years. All patients presenting to the clinic during the study period were included in the study. The average monthly volume was 86.2 (SD=13) patients. A total of 1500 patient visits were included in this study. Interventions We tracked appointment times and patient arrival times at an ambulatory pain clinic. An intervention was made in which patients were informed that tardy patients would not be seen and would be rescheduled. This policy was enforced over a 12-month period. Primary and secondary outcome measures The distribution of patient unpunctuality was developed preintervention and at 12 months after implementation. Distribution parameters were used as inputs to a discrete event simulation to determine effects of the change in patient unpunctuality on clinic delay. Results Data regarding patient unpunctuality were gathered by direct observation before and after implementation of the intervention. The mean unpunctuality changed from −20.5 min (110 observations, SD=1.7) preintervention to −23.2 (169, 1.2) at 1 month after the intervention, −23.8 min (69, 1.8) at 6 months and −25.0 min (71, 1.2) after 1 year. The unpunctuality 12 months after initiation of the intervention was significantly different from that prior to the intervention (p<0.05). Conclusions Physicians and staff are able to alter patient arrival patterns to reduce patient unpunctuality. Reducing tardiness improves some measures of clinic performance, but may not always improve waiting times. Accommodating early arriving patients does serve to improve clinic performance.


The paper discusses that agricultural modernization is magnificent goal and agricultural industrialization is essential way of the modern agriculture dlevelopment in China,dlemonstrates the basic intension,constituting condition and realizing channel of agricultural modernization,summarizes different versions,managing model and effective action of agricultural industria-lization.


The present invention relates to organic electroluminescent and solar cell material intermediate triphenylamine binding 6-bromine carbazole derivative and preparation thereof.Triphenylamine binding 6-bromine carbazole derivative of the present invention has structural formula (I), and wherein R is ethyl, propyl group, normal-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, positive decyl, 2-ethylhexyl, p-methylphenyl or p-methoxyphenyl.The preparation method of this triphenylamine binding 6-bromine carbazole derivative is: under nitrogen protection; three (3-carbazole benzene) sulfonamide derivatives is dissolved in DMF; the DMF of N-bromo-succinimide is joined in above-mentioned solution, at 20 DEG C-30 DEG C, react 24-48h, be separated, purifying obtains target product.Product of the present invention, as useful intermediate, has advantages such as can preparing various organic electroluminescent and solar cell material, and preparation technology is simple, only needs simple heating unit, just can carry out under nitrogen atmosphere, normal pressure, is convenient to batch production.


It is a prospective study conducted in the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Madras Medical College from January 2015 to March 2016.
AIM AND OBJECTIVES:
The objective is to study the relationship between cervical length at midpregnancy and 1) Gestational age at delivery, 2) Onset of labour, whether spontaneous or induced, 3) Mode of delivery, 4) Caesarean section due to failed induction, 5) To determine the mean cervical length in our population.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
500 antenatal women were included in the study. Transvaginal ultrasound was done between 19-24 weeks and cervical length was recorded. The women were subsequently managed according to the hospital protocol. The women were followed up to term and their labour outcome was recoded. The maternal characteristics like age, body mass index and socioeconomic status were analysed for any confounding factors. Labour outcome analysed were the onset of labour whether spontaneous or induced, gestational age whether preterm or postdated, mode of delivery and the caesarean section due to failed induction.
RESULTS:
The mean cervical length for patients who went into preterm labour is 3.263 and for those who did not go into preterm labour is 3.655 (P<0.001). The mean cervical length for patients who had postdated pregnancy is 3.863 and for those who did not have postdated pregnancy is 3.578 (P=0.03). The mean cervical length for patients who had spontaneous onset of labour is 3.549 and for those who did not have spontaneous onset of labour is 3.817 (P<0.001). The mean cervical length for patients who had caesarean delivery is
3.772 and for those who did not have caesarean delivery is 3.46 (P<0.001). The mean cervical length for patients who had caesarean delivery due to failed induction is 3.897 and for those who did not have caesarean delivery due to failed induction is 3.559 (P<0.001). The probability of caesarean section due to failed induction increases 4 fold with 1cm increase in cervical length.
CONCLUSION:
Lower the cervical length, higher is the risk of preterm labour. Increase in the cervical length at midtrimester is associated with increased in the incidence of postterm pregnancy, failure of spontaneous onset of labour, cesarean section in view of failed induction. Thus, measurement of cervical length by transvaginal ultrasound at mid trimester can be used as an easy predictive tool to determine the possible outcome of labour and risk of cesarean ¬¬section.


The effectiveness of alternative volatility forecasting models is a thoroughly explored area. This study explores a less saturated topic; the effectiveness of the size of the estimation window on the accuracy of one-day and 126-day forecasts in foreign exchange markets. This is done using a rolling window methodology and forecasting 126-days ahead of our in-sample period with GARCH(1,1) and ARIMA(1,1,1) models. We use exchange rate data of three currency pairs; USD/EURO, USD/GBP and EURO/GBP over the period 21/01/2009 to 29/03/2019. This paper finds that generally more data increases model forecast accuracy, although this statement is not universally found to be true. Acknowledgment I would like to make a dedication to those who have helped me this past year. Firstly, I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Sebastian Gryglewicz whose assistance and guidance has been invaluable to this piece of work. I would like to thank my parents, whose support the past year, and all my life has been essential to being where I am. Finally, I would like to thank the Gibney family who took me into their own home when I needed help. I hope that I can help someone in the future as much as they did for me.


The phenyl and pyridyl rings of the title compound, C14H11NO2, are nearly perpendicular to each other, with a dihedral angle of 86.1 (1)°. In the crystal, the molecules exist as centrosymmetrically hydrogen-bonded C—H⋯O dimers and the molecular packing is stabilized by C—H⋯π and π⋯π interactions.


Abstract Background Chronic urticaria (CU) is a skin condition driven by mast cells and basophils. The exact responsiveness profile of these cells, especially regarding the anti‐IgE treatment, Omalizumab, is not fully investigated. We sought to characterize the surface activation profile of basophils in CU during Omalizumab treatment and their responsiveness to IgE and non‐IgE stimulation. Methods Whole blood basophils from 11 CU patients and 10 healthy controls were stimulated with either medium, anti‐IgE, fMLP, C5a, or Substance P for 30 min and characterized by flow cytometry. Results CU patients showed a broad range of basophil count as opposed to healthy subjects. An increased number of unstimulated CD69+ (p = 0.05), but not CD63+ basophils was observed in CU groups in comparison to healthy. The expression of CD203c and CD200R were comparable between all groups, whilst the FcεRI was reduced with the treatment. Both IgE and non‐IgE mediated stimulations upregulated CD63, CD203c and CD200R, but not CD69 in all groups, however, no difference between the groups was observed. Among unstimulated basophils, expression of MRGPRX2 was higher in CU patients after Omalizumab treatment than in the healthy group (2.4% vs. 1.5%, p = 0.01). The anti‐IgE stimulation increased the number of MRGPRX2‐expressing basophils in the CU group before and after omalizumab as compared to the healthy (p = 0.003; p = 0.005). The fMLP and C5a stimulations showed a similar effect to the IgE‐mediated stimulation. The MRGPRX2 ligand, Substance P did not activate basophils. Conclusion CU basophils show increased expression of MRGPRX2 after IgE and non‐IgE stimulation.


This article describes the methodological challenges associated with disease-based international comparison of health system performance and how they have been addressed in the EuroHOPE (European Health Care Outcomes, Performance and Efficiency) project. The project uses linkable patient-level data available from national sources of Finland, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Scotland and Sweden. The data allow measuring the outcome and the use of resources in uniformly-defined patient groups using standardized risk adjustment procedures in the participating countries. The project concentrates on five important disease groups: acute myocardial infarction (AMI), ischemic stroke, hip fracture, breast cancer and very low birth weight and preterm infants (VLBWI). The essentials of data gathering, the definition of the episode of care, the developed indicators concerning baseline statistics, treatment process, cost and outcomes are described. The preliminary results indicate that the disease-based approach is attractive for international performance analyses, because it produces various measures not only at country level but also at regional and hospital level across countries. The possibility of linking hospital discharge register to other databases and the availability of comprehensive register data will determine whether the approach can be expanded to other diseases and countries. © 2013 The Authors. P Open Access for this article is made possible by a collaboration etween Health Policy and The European Observatory on Health Systems nd Policies. ∗ Corresponding author at: National Institute for Health and Welfare, entre for Health and Social Economics (CHESS), Mannerheimintie 166, 0270 Helsinki, Finland. Tel.: +358 29 524 7327; fax: +358 29 524 7537. E-mail address: email@example.com (U. Häkkinen). 1 On behalf of the EuroHOPE Study Group. 168-8510 © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. ttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2013.04.013 Open access und ublished by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.


One of the largest miscible gas injection operations worldwide is currently being conducted in an offshore carbonate field located in Abu Dhabi, which has a near-critical fluid system. Throughout the production process, there is an observed gradual increase in the gas-oil ratio (GOR) in 'Reservoir A'. The evolution of the gas-oil ratio (GOR) may be attributed to various physical mechanisms, including production below the bubble point, gas coning, or the breakthrough of miscible gas. In the latter scenario, there exists ambiguity regarding the extent to which reservoir dispersion has caused the diffusion of the miscible displacement front, potentially leading to a loss of miscibility. The primary aim of this study was to assess the GOR response through the utilization of numerical simulation and other analytical techniques.
 A producer-injector pair was utilized in a numerical simulation to investigate various scenarios, including: (1) production below the bubble point; (2) gas coning originating from the gas cap; (3) a perfect miscible displacement; (4) a perfect immiscible displacement; (5) a miscible displacement that transitions to immiscible due to dispersion; (6) a combination of the aforementioned scenarios. The primary output parameters monitored encompassed the gas-oil ratio (GOR) and the flowing bottom pressure at the producer. Subsequently, various runs were compared to each other and in relation to the observed gas-oil ratio (GOR) response.
 A surveillance strategy that was suitable for the intended purpose was implemented in order to evaluate the efficacy of the overall development strategy. The results of recent production logging tool (PLT) tests conducted at different choke sizes revealed no evidences of free gas production downhole. The utilization of inline multiphase flowmeters has been deemed essential in capturing the evolutionary trends of gas-oil ratio (GOR). The primary factor contributing to the evolution of gas-oil ratio (GOR) was determined to be the oil swelling resulting from miscibility, as observed through the comparison of simulation-based type curves with the GOR trend.
 In addition, it has been suggested that regular monitoring of compositional ratios (C1/C2+C3) should be conducted alongside the ongoing inter-well tracer campaign. This will provide an enhanced ability to anticipate and track the movement of the gas front within the reservoir. Optimizing the gas injection pattern and oil production offtake is crucial in order to enhance sweep efficiency.


The purpose of this paper is to examine the nomological relations among market-orientation, entrepreneuship-orientation, learning-orientation and innovativeness in medium-sized business (SMEs). The study involves a questionnaire-based survey of owners from small-medium sized-firms operating in Purbalingga regency. A total of 150 usable questionnaires were received from SMEs. These were subjected to a Partial Least squares (PLS) analysis. The results show that firm learning-orientation and firm market-orientation positively influences firm innovativeness; firm market-orientation positively impacts firm learning orientation; firm learning-orientation mediates the relationship between firm market-orientation and firm innovativeness. This study has implications for SEMs aiming at increasing their innovativeness based on its orientation on market and organization learning. Keywords: SMEs, learning, entrepreneurship, market, innovativeness


Photochemical and time-resolved spectroscopic studies of diand mono-rhodium inorganic complexes were undertaken to elucidate the mechanism of photocatalytic hydrogen generation from hydrohalic acid solutions. Nanosecond transient absorption (NSTA) experiments on solutions of Rh2(dfpma)3PPh3(CO) (dfpma = bis(difluorophosphino)methylamine) in THF and methylene chloride revealed a long-lived (τ ~ 12 ms) intermediate species with an absorption maximum at 395 nm. This intermediate was shown to be quenched by PMe3 following pseudofirst-order kinetics characterized by a 4.3 * 10 M s second-order rate constant. Preliminary NSTA experiments undertaken in the presence of HCl showed behavior indicative of bulk reaction of Rh2(dfpma)3PPh3(CO) with HCl yielding Rh2(dfpma)3PPh3Cl2. Transient absorption experiments on Rh2(dfpma)3PPh3Cl2 revealed a long-lived (τ > 3 ms) transient species with an absorption max at 400 nm. NSTA experiments undertaken with Rh2(dfpma)3PPh3Cl2 in the presence of HCl showed no distinction from those performed in solvent alone. Steady-state photolysis experiments showed that the presence of dissolved CO greatly increases the rate of decomposition of Rh2(dfpma)3PPh3(CO) when irradiated. This coupled with NSTA data pointed to the possibility of a ligand re-arranged intermediate during the photolysis of Rh2(dfpma)3PPh3(CO). An improved synthesis of Rh2(dfpma)3Cl2 was found by allowing 1 eq. [Rh(COD)Cl]2 to react with 3 equivalents of dfpma. Subsequent thermal chemistry showed that Rh2(dfpma)3Cl2 did not react thermally with H2 or HCl. Photocatalytic studies showed that 2 days of irradiation in 0.1 M HCl/THF solution yielded only 3 – 5 eq. H2, as compared to 10 – 50 eq. of H2 when starting with Rh2(dfpma)3Cl4. This ruled out Rh2(dfpma)3Cl2 as the major catalytic species in that process. Preliminary investigations of (PPh3)3RhCl as a mononuclear catalyst capable of taking HCl to H2 and PPh3Cl2 in the presence of light determined the process to be complex and low-yielding. Thesis Supervisor: Daniel G. Nocera Title: Professor of Chemistry


The whole site of the waste disposal centre Leppe in Lindlar has been modified by the project :metabolon into an authentic learning site for knowledge transfer. Addressing all age groups, the project offers insights into environmental knowledge and explains contexts of resources and material flows. The site conditions allow practical outlooks on future energy systems. Following the meta theme of "lifetime learning", pupils and students are addressed by different modules, considering their individual learning levels.


Older adults with chronic insomnia were treated in a small group setting. The treatment consisted of nine therapy sessions (including one-month follow-up session) which involved sleep education (SE), sleep hygiene (SH), stimulus control (SC) procedures, progressive muscular relaxation and cognitive therapy (CT). Sleep diaries and self-rating questionnaires showed an improvement in the amount of sleep, sleep onset and sleep hygiene. The group gained an understanding of normal sleep patterns in old age and showed a decrease of worrying cognitions regarding their inability to manage their sleep. They benefited from being in a group situation and expressed satisfaction about their current sleep pattern. Changes were maintained at one-month follow-up.These findings, taken in conjunction with previous reports, suggest that late-life insomnia can be effectively treated with a combined approach which includes a cognitive-behavioural group approach. However, considering the need to consolidate the skills for future relapses, it is suggested that further sessions should be provided, in particular when applying cognitive techniques. Additional research with larger samples is warranted.


Surakarta City is one of the cities in Indonesia that has experienced the effects of urbanization and rapid development. This is evident from the slums along the banks of the Kali Pepe. This river intersects the city of Solo and stretches for about five kilometers from Sangkrah Village to Gilingan Village. This river used to have an important role in accommodating urban mobility. In 2016, Kali Pepe received attention for its pedestrian segments, parks, and riverbank development. This study describes the settlement characteristics along the riverbanks in relation to the sustainability of the Kali Pepe. Descriptive-qualitative methods accompanied by in-depth interviews were used to collect data. Moreover, the study exploration of field conditions was recorded in the form of sketches and photographs. The results of the study show two prominent potentials from the characteristics of the Kali Pepe riverbanks in relation to its sustainability, i.e., (1) nature characteristics that can be developed through integrated water transportation tourism; (2) The emergence of home-industry that is backed by the potential of employment in the informal sector and accommodated riverbank tourism.


A double-balanced frequency up-converter using the Gilbert cell structure has been designed with the TSMC 0.18 ㎛ CMOS library. The frequency up-converter consists of a Mixer core and IF / LO balun. Frequency Up-converter exhibits a 3.4 ㏈ conversion gain with a - 7.6 ㏈m P 1㏈ for IF power of -10 ㏈m and LO power of 0 ㏈m inputs. It also exhibits 92.2 % modulation depth as a ASK modulator.


A soil survey was carried out in a wooded region of the Chalk River Project where an isolated plant had been built to concentrate liquid fission products. During its operation in 1954 over 1000 gal of acid waste, containing complexing agents and over 1000 c of Sr/sup 90/, was poured into a pit lined with limestone. Intensive soil and groundwater sampling have located and defined a migration pattern in the groundwater. Undisturbed samples of sand were collected from beneath the water table and a multiple sampler was used to obtain sand samples for radiochemical analysis from various depths in the same hole. Ruthenium migrated rapidly from the disposal traveling at about the same rate as groundwater; this has been followed by slower-moving Sr/sup 90/ that has developed into a continuous tongue 650 ft long and containing 800 c. It has been estimated that Sr/sup 90/ will be released to the environment in about 130 years but that the rate of release into a nearby stream will not cause the concentrations of this radionuclide to rise above drinkingwater tolerance. (auth)


This study is a textbook analysis based on the view that textbook is a crucial aspect which should be recognized in the process of education development. Derivative topic covered on Indonesian eleventh grade's mathematics textbook from 2008 to 2017 was chosen to be anlyzed. Furthermore, this study attempted to provide a picture of how the mathematics textbooks covered the topics. The analysis of four textbooks: 2017, 2014, 2009, and 2008 textbooks, was carried out by applying conceptual framework and "mathematical story" theory derived from literary theory. The result showed that the 2008 book had the widest range of contexts involved in derivative concept explanation. Meanwhile, all of the books were lack of discussion on derivative as a function within graph, verbal, and physics contexts. Furthermore, the narrative analysis showed that the 2017 and 2014 textbooks provide the most promising "mathematical story" for fostering reader's curiosity. In addition, the 2017 and 2014 book also offered more multifaceted lesson in comparison with the other textbooks.


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For 6 tropical bryophytes, measurements of the diel courses in water status and net CO2 exchange were made in a submontane tropical rain forest in Panama. In addition, the response of gas exchange to changes in photon flux density (PPFD) and thallus water content (WC) was studied under controlled conditions. Diel variation of WC was pronounced, and both low and high WC limited carbon gain considerably. Low PPFD, e.g. during rain storms, was less important in limiting CO2 exchange. More than half of the mean diurnal carbon gain of 2.9 mg C per g thallus carbon was lost during the night as respiration. Assuming that the average 24-h carbon gain was representative for the entire year, we estimated the net annual primary productivity of the mosses and liverworts to be 45% of the initial plant carbon content.


Abstract This paper presents the design of 28 GHz, 200 kW gyrotron for Indian TOKAMAK system. The paper reports the designs of interaction cavity, magnetron injection gun and RF window. EGUN code is used for the optimization of electron gun parameters. TE03 mode is selected as the operating mode by using the in-house developed code GCOMS. The simulation and optimization of the cavity parameters are carried out by using the Particle-in-cell, three dimensional (3-D)-electromagnetic simulation code MAGIC. The output power more than 250 kW is achieved.


At the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, highly accurate information about the clinical manifestations of the disease was not available, and the reported symptoms were non-specific and more related to respiratory symptoms such as fever, dry cough, fatigue, and sputum production. As time has passed, skin manifestations have been proposed as one of the clinical manifestations of COVID-19 in some patients. Among all reported lesions, livedoid lesions appeared simultaneously with the symptoms of SARS-CoV-2, mainly in elderly people with severe infections, and were associated with the highest risk of the mortality of all skin lesions. Knowledge of the skin manifestations that may be the only symptoms of COVID-19 may help in early diagnosis and specific treatment. In the current review, the skin findings of patients in association with COVID-19 were summarized into the categories of maculopapular or morbilliform lesions, urticarial lesions, chilblain-like lesions, vesicular lesions, petechiae or purpura lesions, and livedoid lesions.


Abstract : Composite plastic bonded explosive samples containing 80% and 85% HMX (cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine) in a polymer plastizer binder were produced by mixing, extruding, cutting, drying, and pressing. Before pressing, the extruded material was in some cases coated with a thin layer of graphite (approx. 1 micrometer) for ease in pressing. As part of a general study of these composites, the compressive strength was determined as a function of temperature, strain rate, and the amount of the graphite added. Without graphite, the compressive strength increases with decreasing temperature and increasing strain rate. With graphite, this strength has the same behavior above approximately -10 deg C, but is insensitive to both temperature and strain rate below this temperature for a strain rate of 1.0/sec. In addition, the low temperature value of the compressive strength appears to decrease with increasing graphite thickness. The cracking and fracture patterns are temperature and strain rate dependent and are different with and without graphite. These results indicate that the bond produced by pressing the graphite containing material is stronger than the composite above about -10 deg C and weaker below this temperature so that failure initiates in the composite above about -10 deg C and in the bond below -10 deg C. With increasing strain rate this transition temperature increases. The results also indicate that the bond produced by pressing the material without graphite is at least as strong as the extruded material itself. (MM)


Metabolomics and lipidomics play an important role in precision medicine. Global or targeted analyses of metabolites and lipids provide a specific metabolic phenotype, a "metabotype," of an individual, which can provide important information on their propensity to develop certain diseases or their likely reaction to nutrition or pharmaceuticals. Metabolomics is increasingly being used in research to look at the etiology, prognosis, and outcomes of disease or provide more detailed information on normal human biochemistry. By combining metabolomics data sets with clinical, physiological, or other omics data sets, systems biology approaches can be used to provide context to the observed changes. For human populations in particular, the huge variation in genetics, lifestyle, and other extrinsic factors means that epidemiologic cohorts are often required to reach sufficient statistical power to draw meaningful conclusions. In addition, when disease entities are being studied, it can take years for enough representative samples to be collected. For these reasons, many metabolomics studies are reliant on samples collected and stored in either "official" biobanks (i.e., sample access available to other researchers on application) or privately stored sample repositories.

Biobanks have grown and been increasingly professionalized in the past 20 to 30 years. Many biobanks were originally started for large-scale genetic analyses, and not all repositories have collected biofluids or tissues specifically with metabolomics analyses in mind. Measurements of individual metabolites can be highly dependent on collection and sample storage conditions. Thus, to reliably answer research questions, we need to have reliable collection and storage of samples in a form that makes them suitable for robust metabolomics analyses. To do otherwise invites the introduction of large technical variations in the data set and increases the risk of missing important metabolites that are contributing to the observed phenotypes or incorrectly attributing a metabolite change owing to technical error to …


About the World Bank Group and Staff Exchange Program (SEP). Partnership programs at a glance. A word of Thanks, by Benedicte Boullet. Moving in, moving on. A first Voice Secondment Program (VSP) cohort graduates, by Gizem Eren-Baig. Pharmaceutical expenditure management: a challenge for middle-income countries, by Andreas Seiter. In partnership with the German development service, by Michael Broemmel. Partnering with Africa: a better way to reduce poverty, by Isidore Ondoki. The International Labor Organization's (ILO's) local economic development program: partnership in action, by Julie G. Viloria-Williams and Anne Posthuma. Building partnership for urban development: the work of the cities alliance, by Chii Akporji and Christiane Einfeldt. A closer look at partnership building through the staff exchange program, by Brad Julian. Cooperation matters: a Dutch-German partnership for energy access, Arno D. Tomowski and Joerg Baur. Embracing Cocoa as a means for poverty alleviation, Josef Toledano. Knowledge sharing for higher education agricultural: the global open food and agricultural university, by Suresh Babu. Working toward a world free of flares, Francois-Regis Mouton. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is shaping the future through science. The Islamic development bank - World Bank: capacity building for improved aid effectiveness, by Fareed M. Hassan. New years' gathering: the partnership programs community. Learning lunch presentation by Konard Von Ritter: SEP experience at the nature conservancy.


Objective:To study the best extraction process of Eguichuan injection; Methods:To use the orthogonal design table which contains 4 factors and 3 levels and to use ferulic acid as the index of evaluation; Results:The infection order of each factor was CADB, and the level of each factor was A 3B 1C 1D 1. Conclusion:To extract 3 times with 10 folds water of pH7 and each time lasted 30 minutes.


Some of our oldest and most powerful myths focus on sacrifice as a means of gaining power, strengthening relationships, and binding a community together. The oldest of these myths emphasizes blood sacrifices as the most powerful for this purpose. Our current American myths emphasize nearly the opposite: that success can be obtained without sacrifice. This article examines the implications of this fundamental shift on civil society. The author takes the Akedah—the Old Testament story of the binding of Isaac—as a central point in the evolution of the sacrifice myth. In particular, the author explores the evolution of "sacrifice" from ritual blood offering in a religious context to that of labor undertaken in a social context.


As brain-computer interfaces (BCI) must provide reliable ways for end users to accomplish a specific task, methods to secure the best possible translation of the intention of the users are constantly being explored. In this paper, we propose and test a number of convolutional neural network (CNN) structures to identify and classify single-trial P300 in electroencephalogram (EEG) readings of an auditory BCI. The recorded data correspond to nine subjects in a series of experiment sessions in which auditory stimuli following the oddball paradigm were presented via earphones from six different virtual directions at time intervals of 200, 300, 400 and 500 ms. Using three different approaches for the pooling process, we report the average accuracy for 18 CNN structures. The results obtained for most of the CNN models show clear improvement over past studies in similar contexts, as well as over other commonly-used classifiers. We found that the models that consider data from the time and space domains and those that overlap in the pooling process usually offer better results regardless of the number of layers. Additionally, patterns of improvement with single-layered CNN models can be observed.


Dynamics of abundance and biomass is investigated for zooplankton in shallow and deep-water parts of the Ussuri Bay in May-September of 2007-2011. Boreal copepods prevail in spring and early summer, with domination of wide-spread species Pseudocalanus newmani and Oithona similis (in sum 65-70 % of total number) and neritic species Acartia sp. aff. clausi (28 %), but subtropic copepods Oithona brevicornis and Paracalanus parvus become more abundant in late summer (in sum 50-67 % of total number). Not numerous but large-sized species Sagitta spp., Neocalanus plumchrus , Metridia pacifica , and Calanus glacialis take 30-40 % of the total biomass Two seasonal peaks of zooplankton abundance are observed in the shallow northern part of the Bay (in June and September) but only one seasonal peak (in May) - in its deep-water southern part. Generally, the zooplankton community in the Ussuri Bay is distinguished by high species diversity caused by species with both different zoogeography, as tropical, sub-tropical, boreal, and arctic-boreal ones, and different environmental preference, as residents of brackish, neritic, and oceanic waters (the latter large-sized species provide high biomass of zooplankton). Meroplankton species are presented in the zooplankton community during entire investigated season.


The medium pH level of plant tissue culture has been shown to be essential to many aspects of explant development and growth. Sensitivity or tolerance of medium pH change in vitro varies accordingly to specific requirements of individual species. The objectives of this study are to 1) determine medium pH change over time in storage conditions and with presence of explants, 2) evaluate the effects of medium pH change and explant growth performance and 3) assess the effects of adding a pH stabilizer, 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES) to Douglas-fir micropropagation medium. Spring buds, collected before breaking dormancy from juvenile and mature donor trees were utilized for these evaluations. Medium with or without MES, each at five medium pH levels was pre-adjusted before adding MES, agar and autoclaving. Medium pH changes and explant growth parameters were measured at eight different incubation times. In general, medium with MES provided a more stable medium pH compared to pre-adjusted pH values under two storage conditions as well as with presence of explants over time. A general trend of decreasing medium pH over time was found comparing explants from juvenile and mature donor genotypes. Explant height and weight growth increased over time, but differ among explants from juvenile and mature donor genotypes. The effect of the pH in the culture medium is a very important factor that often is not taken into account. This papers reports on the changes in the medium pH at several times during the tissue culture process and their effect on the explants growth. From this point of view the article is very interesting and deserves to be accepted for publication. Changes in the pH of the culture medium after and before autoclaving and during culture time have been studied in depth (see any of the editions of the book series Plant Propagation by Tissue Culture, George and Sherrington, Exegetics, London). The paper is well written and data well analyzed. I have found very interesting results as the effect of light on the medium pH during storage that can be of interest for plant tissue colleagues. Also, I have some questions to address to the authors. This is a descriptive paper analyzing pH fluctuations in the tissue culture media for the micropropagation of Douglas fir, and assessing the effect of MES, a commonly used compound in tissue culture media, for stabilizing media pH. Parameters such as the effect of incubation time (days) and dark/light in the presence or absence of MES were studied, in addition to the morphology of explant (buds) in MES + or - media. As expected, MES was found to be useful in stabilizing pH in different conditions and therefore recommended for the Douglas fir micropropagation media. This paper could be useful to the horticulturists, especially those working on micropropagation; though, the findings of this paper, in my opinion, are common knowledge in the field of tissue culture. I major criticism on the experimental data analysis, which compels me to approve this paper with reservations: only one concentration, 2 g/L, of MES was used throughout this study. No reasoning was presented towards selection of this particular concentration. MES is used in many tissue culture media at different concentrations. While the authors shy away from making any conclusions (regarding the role of MES), they suggest MES played a role in stabilizing pH. This conclusion cannot be substantiated without a dose-response curve and determination of optimum concentration.


In the present investigation, the preparation and characterization of polyamide/TiO2 as thin film nanocomposites (TFN) for brackish water desalination was investigated. TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by a green method using thyme plant extract as a reducing and capping agent. The TiO2 NPs was successfully prepared in pure crystalline anatase phase with 15 nm size, and −33.1 mV zeta potential. The antimicrobial tests confirmed the antimicrobial activity of TiO2 against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. In addition, TiO2 NPs showed a good photocatalytic activity in degradation of methylene blue dye. TFN based on interfacial polymerization was enhanced by embedding 5% of the greenly synthesized TiO2 NPs within the polyamide thin film active layer. The incorporation of TiO2 NPs was confirmed by SEM, atomic force microscope (AFM), surface wettability, and FTIR. Membranes performance was investigated based on flux, salt rejection and fouling resistance. The antifouling was examined using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as protein fouling by dead-end cell filtration system at 2 bar. The results showed the TFN increased in water flux by 40.9% and a slight decrease in NaCl rejection (6.3%) was observed, with enhancement in antifouling properties. The flux recovery rate of the modified TFN membranes after fouling with BSA solution was enhanced by 21.5% (from 61.7% for TFC to 83.2% for TFN). Also, they demonstrated remarkable anti-biofouling behavior against both bacterial strains.


Baccaurea courtallensis, a member  of the Phyllanthaceae family is a tree species endemic to peninsular India. Despite the fact that this plant is naturally propagated through seeds, there is no information on its reproductive biology. To understand the reproductive biology of this species, its floral biology is very important. Hence, this study was conducted to comprehend the detailed aspects of its flowering and fruiting characters. Blooms occur during February–May; fruits develop and mature from June to September. Flowers are unisexual, and dioecious. The present study reports on the rare occurrence of monoecious flowers in many inflorescences of a few trees. Crimson red fruits are arranged in a racemose type of inflorescence and hang in symmetric clusters. Inflorescence clusters are observed all along the trunk from base upwards. Wind and insect pollinations were observed in this species during field visits: honey bees and black ants were observed as the major floral visitors. Pollen grains showed 96.24% fertility in the acetocarmine glycerin test and 80% viability in the fluro-chromatic reaction test. Pollen germination was 63.1% in Brewbaker and Kwack's medium containing 10% sucrose. The detailed aspects of flower and fruit morphology and anatomy respectively are reported for the first time.


From a field experiment, the changes in morphophysiological characters and antioxidant enzyme activities were studied in two Lycoris species (Lycoris radiata and Lycoris aurea) subjected to 16 days of water deficit stress. With the increase of water deficit stress processing time, leaf relative water content (RWC), membrane stability index (MSI), net photosynthesis (Pn), stomatal conductance (gS), transpiration rate (E), and chlorophyll (Chl) content decreased in both studied species. The water use efficiency (WUE) showed an opposite tendency between the two species under water deficit stress, where WUE of L. aurea decreased moderately andWUE of L. aurea increased somehow. Intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) in L. aurea and L. radiata decreased in respond to water deficit stress at early stages of stress treatment, then increased throughout the rest of the stress period, and reached levels higher than those in well-watered plants at the end of the treatment. In addition, there was a significant increment in soluble sugar content and proline accumulation under water deficit stress in both species, andL. radiata showed a much more accumulation. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), guaiacol peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) increased in both plants subjected to water deficit stress while declined as the stress time increased. In L. aurea, catalase (CAT) showed a sustained increment, but it responded later and after a transient increase declined again in L. radiata under water deficit stress. In conclusion, L. radiata was more tolerant to water deficit stress than L. aurea as evidenced by its relatively higher water status, higher levels of proline, soluble sugar and pigments, and stronger photoprotection. Moreover, relatively higher antioxidant enzyme activities and lower levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in L. radiata were also associated with its better protection against water deficit stress-induced oxidative damage. Water deficit is considered as a major environmental factor that influences various physiological and biochemical processes in plants (Tezara et al., 1999). Plants can exhibit either drought escape or drought resistance mechanisms, with resistance further classified into drought avoidance and drought tolerance. Drought is manifested primarily as osmotic stress, resulting in the disruption of homeostasis and ion distribution in the cell (Miller et al., 2010; Zhu, 2002), leading to increased accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide (O2 ), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and the hydroxyl radical (·OH) in plants thus causing an oxidative stress (Miller et al., 2010; Zhu, 2002). Plants possess well-developed antioxidant metabolites, enzymes, and nonenzymes to a variable extent, which have the ability to detoxify ROS (Miller et al., 2010). Antioxidant metabolites and nonenzymatic antioxidant systems include ascorbate acid (AsA), carotenoids (Cars), reduced glutathione, b-carotenes, and a-tocopherol. The antioxidant enzymes being the most efficient mechanisms against oxidative stress, which mainly include SOD; CAT; various PODs; glutathione–ascorbate (GSH) cycle enzymes such as APX, dehydroascorbate reductase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, and glutathione reductase (Farooq et al., 2009). Lycoris Herb. is a genus of Amaryllidaceae composed of 20 species and distributed in the moist warm temperate woodlands of eastern Asia such as China, Korea, and Japan (Hsu et al., 1994). L. radiata and L. aurea are two traditional groundcover plants and typical hysteranthous geophyte appearing in autumn. Their floral stems and flowers start growing from August to September, and the leaves grow from September to October. In the wild, L. radiata and L. aurea usually distribute in sheltered moist slops along streams in the mountains, edges of forests, paddy fields, and margins of plantations (Hsu et al., 1994). In addition, L. radiata seeds are often difficult to germinate and the seedlings take 10 years to reach flowering size. Therefore, these plants have been usually produced by clonal propagation (Zhou et al., 2007). Many studies of Lycoris have been performed on karyotypes analysis (Hsu et al., 1994; Zhou et al., 2007), morphology (He et al., 2011), medicine (Toriizuka et al., 2008), photosynthetic characteristics (Liu et al., 2012; Meng et al., 2008), molecular aspect (He et al., 2010), and characterization of transcriptome (Chang et al., 2011; Wang et al., 2013). Although it has been considered that Lycoris bulbs are very durable, tolerating the extremes of drought and waterlogging, as well as poor soil conditions, little information is available in the literature on the underlying mechanisms of water deficit stress-induced oxidative stress in Lycoris. Meanwhile, the comparisons among different Lycoris species under water deficit stress were poorly investigated. Here, the effects of water deficit stress on various aspects of physiological responses in two Lycoris species L. radiata and L. aurea were examined, with the aim of identifying factors that influence tolerance to water deficit stress in Lycoris species. Materials and Methods Plant material and growth conditions. The bulbs of two species (L. radiata and L. aurea) with the same or similar sizes (1.8– 2.2 cm) in diameter were planted and grown in a greenhouse at the research station of Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (118 83# E, 32 05# N), Nanjing, China. For the water deficit stress treatment, one seedling (with 2– 3 leaves) was transferred into each plastic pot (15.0 cm top diameter and 14.5 cm deep), containing 1 kg of dry loamy soil of 25% sand, 25% organic matter, and 50% peat. Plants were placed in a chamber at a mean temperature 21.6 ± 1.4 C, 53.7% ± 3.6% relative humidity, 14/10 h day/night rhythm with a photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) density of 150–200 mmol·m·s. For water deficit stress, two watering regimes were set: Received for publication 1 July 2015. Accepted for publication 17 Sept. 2015. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation (31301798; 31270339); Industry-academic Joint Technological Innovations Fund of Jiangsu Province (BY2014131); The Science Foundation of Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (201201). Corresponding author. E-mail: jswangren@aliyun. com. 1702 HORTSCIENCE VOL. 50(11) NOVEMBER 2015 75% field capacity (FC) as the control group and 35% FC as the stress group. FC was calculated according to: FC = (SW – DW)/ DW, where SW was the weight of saturated soil and DW was the weight of dry soil. The pot masses were calculated for 75% and 35% FC according to the above equation. SW was determined after the pots were saturated for 24 h (the gravimetric water was allowed to drain). Then the soil was dried and DW was determined (Sun et al., 2013). During the experiment, the evapotranspiration loss was supplemented gravimetrically by weighing the pots every other day. Pots were randomly and periodically rotated to minimize the effect of environmental heterogeneity. At the indicated time of experiment (lasting for 16 d), three randomly selected seedlings from each treatment per species were harvested, and the leaves in the middle part of the plants were sampled to make physiological assays. Measurement of leaf RWC. Leaf RWC was estimated gravimetrically according to the method of Shrestha et al. (2003). Briefly, three leaf discs (1 cm) per plant were cut and weighed immediately to determine their fresh weight (FW). After being immersed in distilled water for 8 h under low irradiance, the leaves were reweighed as turgid weight (TW), and then dried at 70 C for 48 h to obtain their dry weight (DW). RWC was calculated according to: RWC (%) = (FW – DW)/(TW – DW) · 100. Photosynthetic traits measurements. Pn, gS, Ci, and E were measured with a Li-6400 portable photosynthesis system analyzer (LICOR, Lincoln, NE) under 25 ± 0.3 C, 1500 mmol·m·s intensity of radiation, and 380 ± 2.83 mmol·mol CO2 concentration. Water use efficiency was calculated as the ratio of Pn/E. The photosynthetic light response curves were constructed after 16 d of water deficit stress treatment. Photosynthesis measurements were made between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM on fully expanded leaves from each plant with a leaf temperature of 25 C and a relative humidity of 70%. Leaves were exposed to a series of PPF density (PPFD) values: 2000, 1600, 1300, 1000, 800, 600, 400, 200, 100, 50, 20, and 0 mmol·m·s. Leaf pigments content. Total photosynthetic pigments were extracted with 95% ethanol. Fresh leaf tissue (0.1 g) was placed in a test tube containing 10 mL 95% ethanol and left in the dark for 72 h. The absorbance of the extract was measured spectrophotometrically at 480, 665, 649 nm, and the turbidity of the extract was checked at 750 nm to be sure that it was always less than 0.01. The amounts of Chl and Car were calculated using the equations as described by Lichtenthaler (1987). Determination of soluble sugar content. Leaves (0.5 g, FW) were ground in a mortar and pestle. Then 1 mL of 80% ethanol was added, and the mixture was filtered. The filtrates were recovered, and the residues were washed again with 80% ethanol and filtered. Both filtrates were mixed, and 3 mL of distilled water was added. The extract was centrifuged at 12,000 gn for 15 min, and 1 mL of supernatant was collected. Soluble sugar concentration was determined by the sulfuric acid anthrone method (Yemm and Willis, 1954). Proline content. 0.5 g of FW leaves was extracted for free proline content measurements according to Bates et al. (1973). The reaction mixture consisted of 2 mL of leaf tissue extract, 2 mL of acid ninhydrin, and 2 mL of glacial acetic acid, and was boiled at 100 C for 1 h. The reaction was then terminated in an ice bath, and the reaction mixture was extracted with 4 mL of toluene. The absorbance was read at 520 nm, and the free proli


From the onset of modern history,the Chinese traditional culture is characterized with maladjustment under the impact from Western culture. Such condition had deteriorated due to dramatic changes in contemporary economic and social transitions in China. The cultural maladjustment during major social restructuring has led to a variety of obstacles, abnormalities and uncontrollable issues,especially the challenges for civic moral building. In the face of historical context of cultural maladjustment,civic moral building must adhere to the premise of Marxism to inherit the virtues of traditional Chinese culture and discard its obsolete feudal elements. On the other hand,we should give access to the world's advanced moral and cultural traditions,change our concepts,way of thinking,and behavior patterns,while maintaining Chinese elements and indigenous characteristics.


Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurobehavioural disorder in children and often persists into adulthood. Current treatments lack efficacy in a large number of patients, and the aetiology of ADHD needs to be further elucidated in order to develop alternative treatments. The neurokinin-1 receptor knockout (NK1R-/-) mouse has recently been proposed as an animal model of ADHD; it is hyperactive and this is reduced by psychostimulants, polymorphisms in the TACR1 gene (the human NK1R gene) have been found in patients with ADHD, and NK1R-/- mice have deficits in monoamine transmission, consistent with the pathophysiology of ADHD. Finally, the NK1R-/- mouse exhibits inattentiveness, impulsivity and perseveration in the 5-Choice Serial Reaction-Time Task (5-CSRTT). The aim of this thesis was to further validate the NK1R-/- mouse model of ADHD by studying the effects of d-amphetamine on its performance in the 5-CSRTT, and subsequently to test alternative drugs that could be therapeutically beneficial. However, over the course of this work, the hyperactivity of NK1R-/- mice was not stable when tested acutely. Therefore, telemetry was used to monitor the activity of mice in their homecage over many days. Also, the breeding method was expanded to include heterozygous matings in order to minimise genetic drift. Whilst hyperactivity in this test was robust in both colonies, the impulsivity seen in NK1R /- mice bred from homozygous matings was not present in NK1R-/- mice bred from heterozygotes. Furthermore, there was a reduction in choline acetyltransferase-positive cells in the striatum of homozygously-bred but not heterozygously-bred NK1R-/- mice. These findings highlight important interactions between early environment, NK1R function and the central cholinergic system. They also support evidence suggesting that abnormal cholinergic transmission is involved in ADHD, and could underlie impulsivity. Finally, these findings could have important implications for future research on impulse control disorders.


Sodium dodecyl sulphate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis has been used to determine the difference between thylakoid polypeptide patterns of light and dark grown strains of the cyanobacterium Chlorogloea fritschii. There were only 2 prominent bands present in the dark grown strains, polypeptide Mr 50 000 and polypeptide Mr 90 000, also five fainter bands in the Mr range 45 000–66 200 corresponding to photosystem one, compared with the 32 bands present in the light grown strains. There was no obvious indication of the Mr 33 000 3‐(3,4‐chlorophenyl)‐1,1‐dimethyl‐urea binding protein. In addition the progressive daily development of the various photosystem components in the light and their relationship in photosynthesis was determined. It was observed that the increase of the relative concentrations of the photosystem two and phycocyanin components indicated their developments are mutually synchronized. The effect of light to dark and dark to light transfer on established strains was investigated. Appreciable loss of photosystem two components and the presence of an additional band Mr 22 500 of unknown function in the light to dark transfer, and little reactivation of the photosynthetic capabilities in the dark to light transfer was observed.


LEARNING OBJECTIVES In this chapter, you will: ➔ Gain an understanding of the concepts of privacy and confidentiality, and be able to differentiate them ➔ Gain an understanding of the nurse's legal and moral responsibilities in relation to privacy and confidentiality ➔ Gain an understanding of the safe use of digital and social media to maintain patient confidentiality ➔ Learn about the legal requirements of mandatory reporting Ross was admitted through emergency services with chest pain, and was found to have had a myocardial infarction. He was admitted to the cardiac unit and placed on bed rest with cardiac monitoring. On admission, Kate, his nurse, gathered information from him about his condition and lifestyle to help plan his recovery and rehabilitation. When collecting this information, Ross told her that he was married and had three teenage sons. He added that he also had a long-term and loving relationship with Gill, and together they had a daughter who was seven years old. His wife did not know about his relationship with Gill or about his daughter, and he asked Kate to promise that this would not be disclosed to her. He said, 'I know I can trust you with this information.' He was most concerned that Kate arrange for Gill and his daughter to visit as well as notify his wife what had happened to him. Kate briefly described this unusual family situation in his notes, and suggested that discreet management of visitors was required as part of his nursing care. The next day, as she entered the unit, she noticed several nurses – one of them from the neighbouring renal unit – huddled around Ross' case notes. They were whispering and giggling, apparently about her notation regarding his family situation. This chapter introduces the concepts of privacy and confidentiality in relation to the management of patient information, and outlines legal requirements for reporting harmful conduct of health professionals and others. The above case demonstrates how easily private and sensitive information recorded about a patient can result in a breach of confidentiality and unprofessional conduct. Kate appropriately recorded very personal information Ross had disclosed to her because she judged that it was relevant to his care. Yet other nurses perceived this to be a source of curiosity and gossip, and in sharing this with a nurse not involved in his care, had breached Ross' confidentiality.


This paper investigates the statistical relationship between social capital and subjective well-being. Social capital is conceptually divided into four categories, i.e., bonding civic engagement, bridging civic engagement, bonding trust, and bridging trust. Web-survey data conducted in Japan in February 2015 is used (N = 11,814). The OLS regression for female sample shows that both of bonding and bridging trust have significantly positive effects on subjective well-being. On the other hand, the OLS regression for male sample indicates that there are significantly negative interaction effects between bridging and bonding social capital on subjective well-being. These findings suggest that at least in the male, bridging social capital facilitates subjective well-being not in anytime but only when one is poor in bonding social capital, in other words, he is isolated from their neighboring com-


OF DISSERTATION STUDIES TO IMPROVE EXHAUST SYSTEM ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE BY DETERMINATION AND ASSESSMENT OF THE SOURCE CHARACTERISTICS AND IMPEDANCE OPTIMIZATION It is shown that the relationship between an impedance change and the dynamic response of a linear system is in the form of the Moebius transformation. The Moebius transformation is a conformal complex transformation that maps straight lines and circles in one complex plane into straight lines and circles in another complex plane. The center and radius of the mapped circle can be predicted provided that all the complex coefficients are known. This feature enables rapid determination of the optimal impedance change to achieve desired performance. This dissertation is primarily focused on the application of the Moebius transformation to enhance vibro-acoustic performance of exhaust systems and expedite the assessment due to modifications. It is shown that an optimal acoustic impedance change can be made to improve both structural and acoustic performance, without increasing the overall dimension and mass of the exhaust system. Application examples include mufflers and enclosures. In addition, it is demonstrated that the approach can be used to assess vibration isolators. In many instances, the source properties (source strength and source impedance) will also greatly influence exhaust system performance through sound reflections and resonances. Thus it is of interest to acoustically characterize the sources and assess the sensitivity of performance towards source impedance. In this dissertation, the experimental characterization of source properties is demonstrated for a diesel engine. Moreover, the same approach can be utilized to characterize other sources like refrigeration systems. It is also shown that the range of variation of performance can be effectively determined given the range of source impedance using the Moebius transformation. This optimization approach is first applied on conventional single-inlet singleoutlet exhaust systems and is later applied to multi-inlet multi-outlet (MIMO) systems as well, with proper adjustment. The analytic model for MIMO systems is explained in details and validated experimentally. The sensitivity of MIMO system performance due to source properties is also investigated using the Moebius transformation.


Direct evidence has been found for the existence of coherent particles and small precipitates in bulk Se‐doped GaAs (n=2×1018 cm−3) and in Se‐doped, vapor‐grown epitaxial GaAs (n=4×1018; 1×1019 cm−3). Data obtained from moire fringe contrast indicate a probable particle composition of Ga2Se3. In samples with more than 2×1018 carriers cm−3, the major part of the total Se content is in the form of particles, and this accounts for the difference between the total Se concentration and the electrically active Se concentration. Diffusion in the solid can account for particle growth in the Bridgman‐grown crystal, but not in the vapor‐grown epitaxial material.


This paper describes our work in developing a 2.4-MW permanent magnet generator (PMG) for a diesel electric propulsion system. The PMG was designed by using a design method combining electromagnetic field analysis, stress analysis, and thermal and fluid analysis. Several generator characteristics were verified in examinations of a 2.4-MW PMG prototype.


In the logistics networks, the distribution center links the supply point and demand point, which severs as a bridge between them and it is very important. So a good location for distribution center can surely enhance the profits of logistics industry. After introducing the concept of distribution center and the significance of site testing, this paper proposed the principles and steps of site testing of logistics distribution center. Then, among the numerous site testing methods, we chose the Integer Programming method to select a site. Finally, through model establishment and model solving, we get the best location for city distribution center.


Nowadays the flow of international trade is that there seems to appear economic block significantly because most countries contract FTAs, so our market condition is changing to a severe competitive situation. Korea which has 70% of foreign dependence on trade must get involved in regionalism, and also actively promote FTA more than any other countries. After we contracted FTA with Chile in 2003, we have concluded FTA with Singapore, EFTA, ASEAN and U.S.. Since contracted of Korea-U.S. FTA on April in 2007, the pharmaceutical industry are anxious. The pharmaceutical industry in korea has recently come to a crisis that it is hard to expect a growth due to structure of profit and a change for the worse of management. Considering this kind of surroundings, we need to present the policy to enhance competitiveness for damage limitation on pharmaceutical industry by Korea-U.S. FTA. Under this background, this study has groped for a direction to strengthen the competitiveness to develop pharmaceutical industry in quality. The competitive enhancement plan is presented which is divided into the government policy part, the R&D part, and the management part.


A theoretical approach is presented to calculate the natural circular dichroism recently discovered in the x-ray range (XNCD). XNCD is shown to be due to an interference of electric dipole and quadrupole transitions. The basic formula represents XNCD as an odd secondrank tensor. The crystal symmetries compatible with XNCD are determined. Sum rules are derived that relate XNCD to the mixing of odd and even orbitals on the absorbing site in the ground state. A multiple-scattering theory of XNCD is presented. The results are analyzed to show that XNCD is sensitive to the relative orientation of the cluster shells. A scattering path analysis is carried out to identify the paths responsible for the signal.


To examine correlations of body mass index (BMI) or % total body fat (%TF) with metabolic biomarkers of chronic disease risk and to explore differences in prevalence of overweight according to BMI‐based definitions by WHO, CDC, and IOTF criteria.


The business model and strategic position of Quebec's rural foundries at the beginning of the 20th century is virtually unknown. Inferences have been made based on pictorial and oral data sources. This data reveals that successful rural foundries were, in essence, confined to producing and selling agricultural tools to local farmers on an as-needed basis, because large urban foundries were already mass-producing domestic and industrial objects. In contrast, use of detailed accounting records and advertising publications of three rural foundries over the 1900 to 1914 period provides a clearer picture of the production and of the clientele of those rural foundries. Analysis of these sources suggests that the strategic business model of rural foundries was much more elaborate than the existing literature posits. Rural owner-managers of the early 20th century were sophisticated strategists, marketers, and operators.


bConsciously formulated ethics seem to have developed in journalism, as in other occupations, as part of the striving toward professional status. Once conceived, the idea led a vicissitudinary life. As Christians points out, the 20th century saw a surge of interest in ethics in the 1920s, a period of virtual indifference (at least as measured by published works on the subject) for about four decades thereafter, then a resurgence of interest in the last decade.' The uncertain regard which American journalists pay the idea of ethics within their occupation is shown by changes in kind, as well as degree, of interest. In the 192Os, a "nonfunctional approach dominated in which passion for righteousness, duty, communal welfare, trust, decency and honesty of purpose were common exhortations signalling deep connectedness with others."2 But that conception was quickly overtaken by a competing one which saw ethics as "equivalent to an objective, i.e. unbiased, reporting of facts.") The wide range of attitudes toward ethics was at the center of concern of a group of [Jniversity of Illinois faculty who designed a qualitative study of media ethics. They wanted a research design which would cast the widest possible net, catching perceptions of the question not limited by the researchers' own (perhaps narrow) categories. The aim, as in most


Ten-week composting experiment was conducted at Faculty of Agriculture Farm, Suez Canal University, Ismailia Governorate, during Summer 1999. Sewage sludge has been stabilized by composting in mixtures with the following plant residues at rates 10 and 20 : 1 w/w; 1) wood carpentry refuse, 2) peanut shells 3) rice straw, 4) wheat straw, 5) corn straw, 6) sugar cane refuse, 7) grass clippings, 8) peanut shoots, 9) chickpea residues and 10) lupine residues. The objective of the experiment is to produce a compost environmentally safe material that is free from pathogens, and can be used beneficially on agricultural newly reclaimed soil as a organic fertilizer by composting of sewage sludge with plant wastes. The data indicated that, organic C content of sludge-plant residue treatments was gradually significant decreased with the time till the end of the experiment (10 th week). Increasing the rate of sewage sludge application resulted in a marked decrease in total N content of the mixture. It can be arrange the different plant residues according to low C/N ratio as well `as high organic C decomposition rate in the following order: chickpea residues  peanut shoots  wheat straw  lupine residues  corn straw  grass clippings  sugar can refuse  wood carpentry refuse  peanut shells  rice straw at 10:1 sewage sludge : plant waste. While, wood carpentry refuse  corn straw = grass clippings  peanut shoots  chickpea residues = sugar can refuse  wheat straw  lupine residues  rice straw  peanut shells at 20:1 sewage sludge : plant waste. lower than maximum permissible concentrations for agricultural use. Raw sewage sludge has pathogenic bacteria and parasites in the range of the infective dose to human. However, composting conditions of sewage sludge-plant residues were greatly effective in reduction of total bacteria and coliforms, pathogenic bacteria i.e. Salmonella sp ., Shigella sp . and Vibrio sp and pathogenic parasites i.e. Ascaris lumbericoides , Trichuris trichiura , Entrobius vermiculus and Hyenolepis spp . of organic carbon decomposition were ranged between 17.88 and 35.81% at 10:1 sludge-plant treatments and 12.88 and 36.63% at 20:1 sludge-plant treatments for peanut shoots and shells respectively. These findings are in a good agreement with those obtained by Vigerust (1984).


In modern communication systems based on Ethernet technology, the use of physical ring structures and ring redundancy protocols has been common for some time in the past. A challenge remains the configuration of such a redundancy protocol on each device with the networks stretching out over large areas, like in offshore wind power stations, where each windmill houses at least one Ethernet switch. The distance between windmills can be several kilometers and configuration of the redundancy protocol on each device is an elaborate process. In this paper, a mechanism is proposed which automatizes the configuration of ring redundancy protocols and eliminates the need to configure each device separately. The actual protocol implementation is intended to be part of the next major software release of Hirschmann Industrial Ethernet Switches.


This work was funded by Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and FEDER through CQ-UM, National NMR Network (Bruker 400), research project PTDC/QUI/81238/2006 and PhD grant of G.P. SFRH/BD/38766/2007.


The invention provides an aerobic denitrification reactor with a mycelium pellet as a carrier, which relates to the technical field of water treatment. The aerobic denitrification reactor comprises an enclosed reactor. An aeration head is arranged at the bottom the enclosed reactor; a water inlet pipe and a water outlet pipe are respectively arranged on an upper side surface and on a lower side surface of the enclosed reactor; a biomass carrier is provided in the enclosed reactor and is composed of mycelium pellets; a biofilm composed of aerobic denitrifying bacteria is formed on the mycelium pellets. The reactor provided by the invention enables nitrobacteria and aerobic denitrifying bacteria to well grow and propagate under the condition of a whole aerobic cycle and achieves a stable effect of synchronous nitrification and denitrification; the reactor utilizes the mycelium pellets as a carrier to overcome the problem of a short stable operation period of a whole system caused by considerable loss of the aerobic denitrifying bacteria since the aerobic denitrifying bacteria have weak competitiveness in the system and are difficult to form a dominant bacterial community, thus playing a crucial role in long-term stable operation of the whole reactor system.


The direct conversion of heat to electricity is a prominent way of energy generation. This could be achieved by direct energy converters such as thermoelectric and thermionic converters. It is evident from the study that the thermionic energy conversion has higher conversion efficiency as compared with other direct conversion methods. Thermionic energy converter with low work function materials is an emerging field of research. The methods for optimization of Thermionic energy converter are focusing towards space charge limitation and electron acceleration. Magnetic/electric field, electron beaming shows best results in improvement of conversion efficiency. Nanostructure materials can exhibit lower work function for better performance. Graphene is recently being studied for obtaining lower work functions for emitter and collectors. Recent advancements in the space charge mitigation and collector and emitter materials are discussed in the paper. This paper provides the assessment of advancement in materials and methods for thermionic energy generation.The direct conversion of heat to electricity is a prominent way of energy generation. This could be achieved by direct energy converters such as thermoelectric and thermionic converters. It is evident from the study that the thermionic energy conversion has higher conversion efficiency as compared with other direct conversion methods. Thermionic energy converter with low work function materials is an emerging field of research. The methods for optimization of Thermionic energy converter are focusing towards space charge limitation and electron acceleration. Magnetic/electric field, electron beaming shows best results in improvement of conversion efficiency. Nanostructure materials can exhibit lower work function for better performance. Graphene is recently being studied for obtaining lower work functions for emitter and collectors. Recent advancements in the space charge mitigation and collector and emitter materials are discussed in the paper. This paper provides the assessment of advancement in material...


This work is concerned with boundary conditions for multi-dimensional first-order hyperbolic systems with stiff source terms (also called relaxation). It is observed that usual relaxation stability conditions and the uniform Kreiss condition are not enough for the existence of the zero relaxation limit. To remedy this, we propose a so-called generalized Kreiss condition for initial-boundary value problems (henceforth, IBVPs) of the relaxation systems. By assuming that the relaxation system admits the quasi-stability condition and the prescribed boundary condition satisfies the generalized Kreiss condition, we derive a reduced boundary condition, for the corresponding equilibrium system, satisfying the uniform Kreiss condition and show the existence of boundary-layers. Moreover, if the relaxation system admits a more restrictive relaxation stability condition, then Friedrichs' strictly dissipative boundary conditions, which induce certain uniform stability estimates, are shown to satisfy the generalized Kreiss condition. The present results are expected to be used as theoretical criteria to construct relaxation approximations for IBVPs of conservation laws, which are of practical interest.


In the last decade, the number of courses using online learning has increased significantly and based on student demand; continued growth is projected. Although distance learning is well accepted, when compared to traditional classroom learning, lower student satisfaction, higher student attrition, and concerns about quality have been reported (Rovai, 2002a; Rovai, 2002b). The absence of "community" has been associated with each of these issues and this has stimulated research about how to successfully build a community in a virtual environment, to overcome these challenges. Successful online learning communities are also important for most blended learning courses (Rovai & Jordan, 2004). Discussion boards and other tools are being increasingly used to supplement instruction during traditional classroom courses. Therefore, across most courses in higher education today it is imperative that faculty members know how to establish and sustain successful online learning communities. The goals of this article are to a) define "online learning community" and delineate the factors that contribute to a successful learning community, b) review the evidence supporting the importance of a learning community in distance and online learning, and c) recommend strategies to promote achievement of a successful learning community.


In ordes to study the effect of formaldehyde on normal cell, human erythrocyte is used 4o investigate formaldehyde toxicity. Human erythrocyte were exposed by variaus formaldehyde concentrations: 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0×10~(-6)m, respectively. The cell suspensions were then incubated at 37℃ for 60 min. Experimental results show that formaldehyde causes decrease in the aetivity of erythrocyte ethylcholinesterase and in the number of titrable sulfhydryl groups and an increase in the activity of glyceraldehydephosphate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydogenase. The inward Ca~(2+) leak is also increased.


Recent studies demonstrated that exercise ameliorated physical and cognitive impairments of patients suffering from the CNS disorders,including stroke,spinal cord injury and epilepsy.On the one hand,exercise might stimulate neurogenesis in the hippocampus,induce hippocampal mossy fiber sprouting and increase hippocampal synaptic plasticity.On the other hand,exercise might inhibit hippocampal neuronal apoptosis,reduce oxidative stress damage in the hippocampus after brain injury and it might play an important role in neuroprotective effect by changing the expression of the neurotransmitters and growth factors in the hippocampus.


Pace, R. 2007. Description of Amischa paolettii sp. nov. and Thamiaraea tsitsilasi sp. nov. from the Australian region. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 64: 7–11 Two new species of Aleocharinae from Australia are described and illustrated: Amischa paolettii sp. nov. of the tribe Athetini and Thamiaraea tsitsilasi sp. nov. of the tribe Thamiaraeini. The genus Amischa Thomson is new for the Australian region.


Continuation refers to the operation by which the cumulative distribution function of a discontinuous random vector is made continuous through multilinear interpolation. The copula that results from the application of this technique to the classical empirical copula is either called the multilinear or the checkerboard copula. As shown by Genest and Ne\v{s}lehov\'{a} (Astin Bull. 37 (2007) 475-515) and Ne\v{s}lehov\'{a} (J. Multivariate Anal. 98 (2007) 544-567), this copula plays a central role in characterizing dependence concepts in discrete random vectors. In this paper, the authors establish the asymptotic behavior of the empirical process associated with the multilinear copula based on $d$-variate count data. This empirical process does not generally converge in law on the space $\mathcal {C}([0,1]^d)$ of continuous functions on $[0,1]^d$, equipped with the uniform norm. However, the authors show that the process converges in $\mathcal{C}(K)$ for any compact $K\subset\mathcal{O}$, where $\mathcal{O}$ is a dense open subset of $[0,1]^d$, whose complement is the Cartesian product of the ranges of the marginal distribution functions. This result is sufficient to deduce the weak limit of many functionals of the process, including classical statistics for monotone trend. It also leads to a powerful and consistent test of independence which is applicable even to sparse contingency tables whose dimension is sample size dependent.


Pyrolysis of soybean oil was carried out in a ZnCl2-KCl molten salt.The effects of feed rate,flow rate of carrier gas,pyrolysis temperature and input quantity were studied.And the compositions of the bio-oil were analyzed by GC-MS.The results show that the feed rate and carrier gas flow rate have great influences on the pyrolysis by changing the reaction residence time of soybean oil.When the feed rate is 1.2 g/min and without the carrier gas,the soybean oil can be fully cracked with the longer residence time.The gasification of the primary pyrolysis products is enhanced with the increasing of temperature,which leads to the yield,the content of oxygenated compounds and the acid value of bio-oil increase.With the increasing of input quantity,the yield of bio-oil is near 70% and keeps stable,but the decarboxylation effect decreases.The properties of biooil are improved and its component distribution is similar to the 0#diesel after catalytic hydrogenation.


This full-day workshop focuses on appplications of meetingware within commercial settings. Our aim is to share information among people with experience in implementing groupware within organizations, and to share our knowledge about new meeting technologies and practices.


In the current conditions of the spread of coronavirus infection that has been labeled a pandemic, the issues related to the development of value orientations among citizens of the Russian Federation as a whole, and students in particular, are acquiring special importance The authors studied various opinions regarding the essence and content of the "value orientations" concept, and as a result revealed dual nature of the development process of personal value orientations The main tendencies of formation of value orientations of young generation were examined, and the basic factors that have impact on their formation were systematized In the midst of pandemic, the volunteering movement in universities takes on special importance A legal definition of volunteering was analyzed, making it possible to identify the key attribute of this movement, which is its voluntary nature The foreign experience of volunteering was explored It was established, that in the face of the pandemic, the quantity of volunteers in Russia has grown The reasons behind this were identified, and the relationship between a willingness to help and an emergency was established: in the situation of pandemic people have become more united, conscientious and ready to extend a helping hand to each other [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Asia Life Sciences is the property of Asia Life Sciences (ALS) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use This abstract may be abridged No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract (Copyright applies to all Abstracts )


Defeating the U-boat is published as part of the Naval War College Newport Papers. At about eighty pages this is a compact book, written not only concisely but with enviable clarity and cogency...


The past years have seen the rapid development of halide perovskite solar cells, light emission diodes (LEDs), X-ray detectors, and photodetectors, due to the superior optoelectronic properties of perovskite materials, such as tunable bandgap, long carrier diffusion length, and high carrier mobility. Up to now, polycrystalline perovskite solar cells hold a record efficiency of over 25%, which is comparable with the commercialized Si solar cells. Further improving the optoelectronic devices requires tailoring the crystal growth process which is crucial to reduce the defect density and inhibit carrier recombination. Another way to enhance the device performance is the utilization of perovskite single crystals that possess much better electrical properties than polycrystalline perovskites. The main drawbacks of bulk perovskite single crystals include difficult substrate integration, too large thickness, inefficient carrier collection, low photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), etc. To take full advantage of the superior properties of perovskite single crystals, thickness and morphology control are necessary. In order to fully understand the formation of polycrystalline thin films, Kumar et al. reviewed the fabrication process of polycrystalline thin films and the critical factors influencing the crystal growth. This review described three techniques to optimize the film morphology and device performance: substrate temperature treatment, antisolvent treatment, and cosolvent engineering. They think the key parameter deciding the nucleation and subsequent growth of the nucleated particles is the Gibbs free energy. Through changing substrate temperature to control the volatilization rate of solvent or dripping antisolvent, the grain size and coverage of thin films can be modulated. Apart from this, the solvent boiling point, coordination affinity, and dipole strength also play a significant role in deciding the ultimate film morphology, defect density, and charge transfer resistance. This review is instructive for an understanding of crystallization process of perovskite films, which is beneficial for regulating defect density in the active layer to suppress ion migration and improve material properties. Perovskite single crystals are ideal candidates for X-Ray detectors due to their large carrier mobility-lifetime product. A key challenge is growing large single crystals with controlled thickness directly on substrates. To this end, Feng et al. reported the growth of methylammonium lead tribromide (MAPbBr3) single crystals directly on indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates through inverse temperature crystallization and succeeded in controlling the thickness of the crystal wafer through regulating the distance between solution surface and substrate. When the crystal surface is close to the solution surface, the vertical growth stops while the lateral growth continues, thus resulting in a thickness-controlled, substrate-integrated, and inch-sized single-crystal wafer. The crystal thicknesses can be adjusted from 1 to 3.5 mm. Subsequently, through surface polishing and O3 treatment, the surface traps are passivated, leading to X-Ray detectors with a sensitivity of 632 μC Edited and reviewed by: Andrzej Grzechnik, RWTH Aachen University, Germany


Presents a new hybrid fuzzy logic controller which can balance an inverted pendulum supported on a linear track cart starting from arbitrary initial conditions for the pendulum. The controller is hybrid in the sense that it combines fuzzy logic, deterministic rules and energy based control concepts. The experimental equipment is briefly described and the controller structure defined. Performance of the controller with hardware-in-the-loop is then presented. The paper concludes with a design challenge for control systems designers.


Genetic algorithm (GA) is employed for thinned array synthesis in this paper, and the side lobe level is used as the optimization target to optimize the position of the array elements. The simulation results show that the −17dB side lobe level is achieved under the condition of 50% sparse rate, which verifies the effectiveness of the algorithm. By adopting thinned array, the channel number of phased arrays is reduced, thus reducing the antenna cost.


X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, depth profiling with secondary ion mass spectrometry, and conductivity measurements have been performed on Sb‐doped Si(100) films grown at low temperature (350 °C) by molecular beam epitaxy. The measurements reveal two important effects: (1) a significant increase in the surface segregation of Sb as the dopant concentration approaches 1×1020 cm−3, and (2) a decrease in surface segregation as the surface concentration of Sb reaches one monolayer. We believe that the presence of this monolayer of Sb is responsible for the surface segregation becoming self‐limited and the associated bulk concentration exceeding 1×1020 cm−3.


AbstractIn the powder metallurgical production of materials, the analytical characterisation of the starting powders, especially the determination of the O content, is of the utmost importance. Depending on the conditions of storage in the time between production of the powders and their processing, the very large and active surface area can cause drastic changes in the properties of the materials because chemical reactions of the adsorbed surface gases and moisture with the powders take place. In an attempt to define an analytical procedure for the accurate determination of the o content under these complex circumstances, round robin tests were organised by the Sonderwerkstoffe Working Group of the Chemists' Committee of the Gesellschaft fur Bergbau, Metallurgie, Rohstoff- und Umwelttechnik (GDMB). Furthermore, the possibilities of identifying the various O species and their distribution between surface and bulk of the powder particles (e.g. adsorbed/chemisorbed H2O, CO2, dissolved/bound oxide) by means ...


Abstract A hybrid system consisting of a biological membrane (including an enzyme complex) in proximity (1 -10nm) to an ISFET is modelled. The response of the microelectronic device to a H+ production, resulting from the enzyme-mediated transduction of a chemical signal, is simulated. Both steady and transient conditions are considered. Finally, hypothetical chemical mechanisms resulting in output switching phenomena are briefly discussed.


Microstructured films as optical components have become more and more important for information displays recently. Such films can act as light management components, that distribute light uniformly in LC displays or on rear projection screens. Glare control and AR can be achieved using microstructures on the front surface of displays. Recently developed large area holographic exposure techniques combined with mass replication allow a very precise definition of the optical properties of such light‐weight, cost‐effective films.


Many compiler-directed Scratch-Pad-Memory(SPM) management methods using both static and dynamic approaches have been proposed to obtain optimized utilization of SPM components.Important issues in those methods are determining the SPM layouts under limited size and maximizing the reuse of data in SPM.To address these issues,a compiler optimization pass for the data SPM based on call chain analysis was developed.It makes some non-call related functions share storage space for their local variables,which reduces run-time memory requirement of program and increases access of SPM.Consequently,it can be combined with existing compiler-directed SPM management methods to enhance performance and lower energy consumption.