Data mining is widely used domain for extracting trends or patterns from historical data. In a relational database, especially with normalized tables, a significant effort is required to prepare a summary data set that can be used as input for a data mining algorithm. In general, a significant manual effort is required to build data sets, where a horizontal layout is required. The existing aggregations performed through SQL functions such as MIN, MAX, COUNT, SUM, AVG return a single value output which is not suitable for making datasets meant for data mining. We propose simple, yet powerful, methods to generate SQL code to return aggregated columns in a horizontal tabular layout, returning a set of numbers instead of one number per row. This new class of functions is called horizontal aggregations. The result of the queries is the data which is suitable for data mining operations. It does mean that this paper achieves horizontal aggregations through some constructs builds that includes SQL queries as well. We propose three fundamental methods to evaluate horizontal aggregations: CASE: Exploiting the programming phase construct; SPJ: Based on standard relational algebra operators (SPJ Queries); PIVOT: Using the PIVOT operator, which is offered by some DBMSs. Keywords—Aggregations, SQL, data sets and data mining


The current regeneration mode of public space in the old city of Guangzhou is ineffective, thus necessitating supplementation with a more systematic methodology. The "plug-in design" targets sustainable regeneration while preserving the overall urban texture and context, i.e., it has little impact on the spatial qualities of the old city. The ultimate goal is to activate the public space of the old city of Guangzhou point to area through the insertion of various plug-ins. In this study, the methodology is applied to Xudi Gaodi Street, the core area of the old city of Guangzhou, to explore its effects on sustainability. The internal public space is isolated and supplied with rigid and flexible plug-ins from multiple dimensions, which not only improves the spatial environment but also injects new urban formats. This work provides a specific solution for regeneration in Guangzhou's old city while enhancing empirical knowledge of the plug-in design to support urban regeneration theory and further practical development.


Introduction: Subarachnoid hemorrhage is one of the cerebral strokes, which is diagnosed from other types by risk factors and type of treatment. Published data have shown variations between age, gender and mortality rate in different area. This study aimed to determine demographic, environmental and clinical characteristics of subarachnoid hemorrhage patients who admitted at Farabi Hospital during 1992-2002. Materials & Methods : This retrospective- descriptive study was based on the available records of subarachnoid hemorrhage patients. Variables including; age, sex, season of admission, clinical symptoms, blood glucose and cholesterol level, history of hypertension, smoking, diabetes mellitus and alcohol consumption were closely monitored and analyzed. Results: Subarachnoid hemorrhage diagnosed clinical profiles were studied in 240 patients (62.5% women and 37.5% men).  The highest and lowest rates of diagnose age group were 50-59 and 80-89 respectively. 46.7% of subjects had history of hypertension, 5.5% was diabetic and 15.5% had history of smoking in their clinical profiles. The most common risk factor was hypertension and the most common clinical reported symptom was headache. Subarachnoid hemorrhage was more frequent in spring and winter season Conclusion: The results revealed that women were more susceptible to subarachnoid hemorrhage than men. The age of patients was lower than the other types of strokes. In conclusion major risk factors of strokes such as hypertension, smoking, diabetes and chronic headache could be closely monitored through the public health system.


The article discusses the main peculiarities of assignment of rights under a simple partnership agreement. Due to the lack of direct regulation of the assignment of rights under a simple partnership agreement, a position has been formed in judicial practice, according to which the assignment of rights is possible only with the consent of all the partners. The author criticizes this position and finds arguments against it in German law, the history of legal regulation a simple partnership agreement in Russia and the current legislation. The analysis allows us to find the optimal model of assignment of rights under a simple partnership agreement.


We describe instrumentation and principles of terahertz-subterahertz (THz-subTHz) spectrometers based on continuously frequency tunable coherent radiation sources – backward-wave oscillators (BWOs). The spectrometers cover frequency range from 1 cm−1 (0.03 THz) to 50 cm−1 (1.5 THz) and operate at temperatures from 2 K to 1000 K, also in magnetic fields up to 8 Tesla. We illustrate abilities of the BWO-spectroscopy by presenting some late results on dielectric, conducting, superconducting and magnetic materials.


In this paper, directional lifting wavelet transform (DLWT) is innovatively used in the compression of complex synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. As real-part and imaginary-part of the complex SAR image are rich in edges, two complex SAR image coding algorithms using DLWT, i.e. DLWT_IQ and DLWT_FFT are proposed. DLWT_IQ separately applies DLWT and bit plane encoding on the real-part and imaginary-part. DLWT_FFT applies DLWT and bit plane encoding on the real image converted from complex SAR image with fast Fourier transform (FFT). Compared with the coding algorithms using discrete wavelet translation (DWT), DLWT_IQ and DLWT_FFT perform better amplitude peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) and mean phase error (MPE) than coding algorithm using DWT. Through comparison of the two algorithms using DLWT, DLWT_FFT's coding performance is better. In addition, DLWT_FFT also shows superior amplitude and phase fidelity to the frequency-domain algorithm.


Summary form only given. The Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) and the USGS Pacific Seafloor Mapping Project mapped approximately 2000 km/sup 2/ of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico continental shelf during June 2002, using a Kongsberg Simrad EM 1000 multibeam echosounder. Mapping focused on select topographic highs that have been identified as biological features warranting protection from oil and gas activities by the Minerals Management Service (MMS). These areas are of interest for future biological and ecological investigations by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). High-resolution bathymetry maps were not previously available for these features, with the exception of the East and West Flower Garden Banks, where these data have been crucial in Deep Water Habitat Characterization surveys. Previous investigations conducted on the features of interest (with the exceptions of East and West Flower Garden and Sonnier Banks, accessible by SCUBA) had not been conducted since the 1970s and 1980s, and without the use of high-resolution, georeferenced maps to target survey sites. In 2002, the multibeam base maps were instrumental in targeting dive sites during the Sustainable Seas Expedition (SSE)-a submersible effort culminating from a partnership between NOAA and the National Geographic Society (NGS). Data obtained during this project will contribute to the benthic habitat characterization and assessment of the associated fish communities. The base maps will also be used for all future ROV and submersible missions to investigate these features. The multibeam data has provided a base data layer for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) projects into which all future (and historical) data can be integrated and upon which future scientific investigations can be planned and implemented.


Calico, Joy H. Brecht at the Opera. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2008. 204 pp. $45.00 hardcover. In her first book, Brecht at the Opera, Joy H. Calico challenges a literocentnc Brecht scholarship, arguing that Brecht's theories and dramatic oeuvre have been significantly shaped by his engagement with and critique of opera. Her unique scholarly angle - a combination of musicology, performance studies, and cultural history - generates a whole set of new perspectives and theories on Brecht's work and on 20th-century opera more generally. One of Calico's central arguments involves Brecht's concept of epic theater, whose theoretical roots she traces to his continuous engagement with opera and anti-opera in the late Weimar era. According to Calico, Brecht's critique of the insufficiencies of a bourgeois operatic genre, and his subsequent artistic experimentations with opera and anti-opera, generated his theory of epic theater and the new authence contract. By convincingly redefining Brecht's Lehrstucke as both musical genre and anti-opera, Calico is able to show the writer 's attempts to establish a new authence contract through music. The narcotizing effect of (continuous) music is to be suspended in favor of a music that serves as a tool for estrangement and foster communal participation (i.e. singing audience), thus creating a critical and proactive authence. Calico continues by exploring the privileged status of music and opera for the gestus, another concept of Brecht's epic theater project (chapter 2). The Brechtian gesture was to serve in lieu of or as an addendum to the text in order to foster the Verfremdungseffekt. Calico interrogates the delicate triangulation of music, text, and performance, detecting a shift in Brecht's thought in the mid 1930s, which moved the gestus from the body to the sounding body (the voice) . The author articulates a detailed theoretical background (Wagner, Pavis, and Benjamin) and shows how the gestus is to mediate and/or contradict the text. She thereby makes an intriguing case for a specific kind of engagement with the nexus of music and text in modernist opera. In both cases, the gestus and the Lehrstuck, Calico relies on the methodology of "fragment studies." By tracing his operatic explorations, revisions, and fragmentary compositions, Calico is able to make a convincing case for Brecht's aesthetics of incompletion. Brecht's texts, she argues, are to be understood as a continuous work in progress, an artistic piece in a constant state of flux, which can only find a completion through performance. A completed and published work cannot and should not be considered its "best" incarnation. This theory of an open-endedness for Brecht's works allows for a entirely new angle on the study of Brecht's oeuvre, especially some of the artistic manifestations of his changing perspective on race, politics, and literature. …


The article shows that public
officials'positive perception of their individual and collective performance is largely dependent
upon organisational factors. It also highlights the central importance of "participative" and
value-focused management. The results of a survey conducted by the authors within a number
of public organisations in French-speaking Switzerland illustrate the importance of factors such
as the working environment, the degree of transparency, a utonomy and participative conduct,
and even communication and information aspects, such as value-based management (instead of
management based on measurement and control) or the public service motivation, in order to
develop a sense of efficiency among work teams and employees in the public sector.


With the increasing peak performance of the high performance computers,high performance interconnection network is facing more design challenges.Enabled by advancements in high bandwidth serial transport technology and pin bandwidth,high performance interconnection network paves the way for high-radix network.How to utilize high-radix router providing more design choices is the key for high performance network topology.The paper studies several typical high-radix topologies.We analyze the performance and cost of those high-radix networks theoretically and compare them with common low-radix topologies.A high-radix interconnection network simulator,named xNetSim,is explored to evaluate these topologies.xNetSim is built in the OMNeT++platform.In the simulation,the network loads is varied and the throughput and latency of different topologies are verified.At last,the performance gaps between these kinds of high-radix interconnection network topologies are briefly analyzed.


One Dielectric Kit for Vials, developed by the ITACA research institute, was used to obtain the experimental values. These values were later correlated to obtain a mathematical expression of dielectric properties as a function of temperature, solvent composition and solid-liquid ratio. First, ethanol-water mixture permittivity was calculated by a simple square root mixing rule from pure compounds properties. The permittivities of pure components were computed by Debye's Law, with parameters fitted as temperature functions. Ethanolwater mixture permittivities were predicted with a deviation of 9.5%, compared to experimental values.


The purpose of this paper is to clarify the effects of a combination of electricity rates, the price of the electricity generated with a photovoltaic (PV) system, and a subsidy when a government aims at achieving a certain level of PV-system adoption. A microeconomic model based on classical demand theory is made. The case is mainly analyzed where the amount of PV-generated electricity is different from household to household while the amounts of electricity consumption and budget as well as utility functions are identical. Other cases are also mentioned. It is shown that a household prefers a higher PV-generated electricity price with a higher electricity rate to a higher subsidy if any one of the following conditions is satisfied with other things being equal: (1) it will have a relatively large amount of PV-generated electricity if it installs; (2) it has a relatively large amount of budget; or (3) it has a relatively small amount of electricity consumption. Furthermore, other things being equal, the difference in utility functions has no effect on the preference. This suggests, though the mixed effects of these conditions are not examined, that a combination optimal for a household does not always optimal for another.


Sandalwood oil has been extracted using subcritical state carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) at 200 bars and 28 o C using the two experimental conditions, and the fractionation of the extract is analyzed intermittently. Comparative studies with regards to extraction using steam distillation, hydro distillation, soxhlet extraction and pre-treatment studies have also been carried out. All these studies reveal that the subcritical carbon dioxide extraction is much more efficient in terms of physical properties of the oil as compared to commercial sandalwood oil. Acid value of the liquid CO2 extracted oil is found to be the best next to the value of ethyl alcohol extracted oil. SC-CO2 yields 4.11% of oil in the first hour, 1.21% in second hour, 0.89% in third hour and 0.30% finally in the fourth hour. The first hour gives α-santalene (0.55%), β-santalene (1.30%), α-santalol (51.30%), β-santalene (27.94%); second hour gives 0.48, 1.08, 54.50, 28.16% third and fourth hour give 1.00, 1.92, 50.27, 26.18% and 1.14, 2.17, 51.99, 26.76% respectively. Benzene extraction yields 3.01% of an absolute out of 6.30 g of concrete, diethyl ether yields 2.58% of an absolute out of 5.25 g of concrete, EtOH yields 3.70% of an absolute out of 10.90 g of concrete (under the 5 hour of process time). Hydro distillation (alkaline treated) yields 2.68% of sandalwood oil in 48 h, steam distillation gives 1.60% of sandalwood oil in 10 h of process time. Yield of 4.11% is obtained by SC-CO2 only.


The inventions discloses a high-temperature high-pressure circulation stirring gas liquid phase reaction kettle and belongs to the technical field of gas liquid phase chemical reaction devices. The reaction kettle comprises a kettle body (1) which is provided with a liquid feeding port, a heating cooling and heat preservation device arranged outside the kettle body (1), a vacuum pump (6), a gas circulation tube (3) and a gas raw material adding and pressure device, wherein a stirrer (2) is installed inside the kettle body (1), the gas circulation tube is matched with a gas circulation pump (4), the gas raw material adding and pressure device comprises a gas feeding tube and a booster pump (5), one end of the gas feeding tube is connected with a raw material gas source through a needle valve and is connected with a pressurization gas source through the needle valve and the booster pump (5), and the other end of the gas feeding tube is led into the kettle body (1). According to the reaction kettle, the structure is simple, stirring, circulation, heating, pressurization and vacuum pumping are integrated, the raw material utilization rate and the reaction efficiency are improved, the reaction time is shortened, the investment is reduced, the cost is saved, hazards of wall sticking and local overheating are reduced, and the reaction kettle is practical.


Finite graph products of groups with solvable conjugacy problem and with finite cyclic edge groups are considered. It is shown that the graph product has solvable conjugacy problem if each of the vertex groups has solvable conjugacy problem. The conjugacy problem for graph products (the fundamental group of a graph of groups as defined by Bass and Serre; see Serre [2]) was studied by Horadam [1]. Horadam showed that finite graph products with finite cyclic edge groups inherit a solvable conjugacy problem from their vertex groups under certain conditions, one of which is that the images of the edge group generators in each vertex group are powers of a common central element. We show that this condition is not necessary and, in fact, that all finite graph products with finite cyclic edge groups inherit a solvable conjugacy problem from their vertex groups. Let D be a finite connected directed graph with edge set E, vertex set V, and source and terminus maps s and t, respectively. Let (G, D) be a graph of groups; that is, for each v E V, there is a vertex group Gv and for each e E E, there is an edge group Ge . Further, for each e E E, there are partially recursive monomorphisms Ae: Ge Gse and Be: Ge -* Gte . Let T be a maximal tree of D and let E' be the edge set of T. Then the graph product G* has presentation G= (Gv (v E V), e (e EE); eBe(x)e= Ae(x) (x E G, e E E), e = 1 (e E E')). Note that G* is a finite sequence of HNN-extensions (one for each e in E-E') of a tree product G*=(Gv (vEV); Ae(x)=Be(x)(xEGe, eEF')), which is itself a finite sequence of free products with amalgamation (one for each e in E'). We will consider graph products such that for each e E E, Ge is a finite cyclic group (kie). Received by the editors July 10, 1990 and, in revised form, July 16, 1991. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 20E06, 20F10; Secondary 20F05. Research supported by a grant from the Naval Academy Research Council ( 1993 American Mathematical Society 0002-9939/93 $1.00 + $.25 per page


In this paper, geographical distribution of extratropical storm surges in the world are introduced. Extratropical storm surges and their types in China Seas are discussed. The present prediction techniques and forecasting accuracy of extratropical storm surge in the world are reviewed briefly. Finally, countermeasures of extratropical storm surge disaster protection and reduction are proposed.


• A 56 year old lady was referred to our endocrine service for further management of levothyroxine replacement. • She was diagnosed with Graves' disease 26 years ago and underwent subtotal thyroidectomy as definite treatment. • Post-operatively, she was commenced on 100mcg of levothyroxine and continued to have regular follow up with her GP. • It was noted that her levothyroxine dose had to be reduced to 50 mcg daily over a period of 10 years due to persistently suppressed TSH levels with free T4 levels within the normal range. • In January 2015, her thyroid function showed a picture suggestive of over-replacement with TSH <0.01 (0.3-4.2) milliunit/L, free T3 of 6.3 (2.5-5.7) pmol/L and free T4 of 24 (9-23) pmol/L. Therefore, her levothyroxine dose was further decreased to 50 mcg on alternate days by her GP. • In November 2016, she was seen in our endocrine clinic while on the above levothyroxine regimen. • She didn't report any symptoms related to thyrotoxicosis or overreplacement. Introduction: • Treatment options for Graves' disease include antithyroid drugs, radioiodine ablation and surgery. • Thyroid surgery for Graves' disease commonly falls into one of three categories: 1) total thyroidectomy, which aims to achieve complete macroscopic removal of thyroid tissue; 2) bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy, in which bilateral thyroid remnants are left; and 3) unilateral total and contralateral subtotal thyroidectomy, or the Dunhill procedure. • Total thyroidectomy removes target tissue for the thyroid‐stimulating hormone receptor antibody. It controls hyperthyroidism at the cost of lifelong thyroxin replacement. Subtotal thyroidectomy leaves a thyroid remnant and may be less likely to lead to complications, however a higher rate of recurrent hyperthyroidism is expected and revision surgery would be challenging • We present a case of thyroid function recovery more than two decades after subtotal thyroidectomy with active remnants and positive TSH receptor antibodies.


Objective To investigate the impact of pulmonary Acinetobacter baumannii infection on the prognosis of patients in a Chinese neurological intensive care unit (NICU). Methods Patients with pulmonary infection and positive sputum culture findings were retrospectively enrolled. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors influencing prognosis. Neurological disease improvement/nonimprovement and mortality rates were assessed. Results The study included 374 NICU patients with pulmonary infection (110 [29.4%] with A. baumannii, 264 [70.6%] with other micro-organisms). A. baumannii infection (OR = 2.987) and invasive mechanical ventilation (OR = 16.898) were independent factors in disease prognosis. A. baumannii infection was associated with longer NICU stay, fewer improved patients and increased mortality rate compared with other pulmonary infections. Conclusions A. baumannii infection prolongs the duration of the NICU stay and negatively impacts on prognosis. Prognosis of NICU patients could be improved by controlling A. baumannii infection.


This study summarized peri-operative nursing of laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation with CT in the treatment of liver tumor of 58 cases. The advantage of the operation was introduced to patients one day before the operation and the mental nursing was provided. Skin preparation was checked and the instruments needed in the operation was prepared. Before the operation, the circulation nurse chose the lower limbs of the patient to establish the venous channel, and cooperated with anaesthetist and paid attention to the security of the patient. Before the scanning, all paths should be confirmed to be safe for the good condition of CT. The instrument nurse should pay attention to the operation process, good management and strict sterile operation of the instruments on the operation table, and particularly to the location and direction of the connection line of the radio frequency needle. After the operation,the scanning frame should be put at the right position and the slide track of the CT protected and regular maintenance of the CT played an important role. All the patients' operation were successful and no serious complication related with operation and nursing occurred.


Hydroxyurea is efficacious against sickle cell anaemia (SCA)-related complications in African children. Prior studies demonstrated conflicting results on the effect of hydroxyurea on risk of infection, the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in African children with SCA.
 We evaluated the incidence of infections before and after starting hydroxyurea in 117 children aged 1-5 years with SCA enrolled in the Zinc for Infection Prevention in Sickle cell anaemia (ZIPS) clinical trial that received zinc or placebo treatment for one year (Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03528434). Children were enrolled between March 2018 and November 2019 and initiated on hydroxyurea (20 mg/kg/day) if they met Uganda SCA guideline criteria for hydroxyurea treatment at any time during the study. We compared the incidence of infections before and after hydroxyurea therapy, adjusting for zinc treatment.
 Overall, the mean duration on hydroxyurea was 223.8 (85.2) person days. The mean(SD) incidence of any severe/invasive infections (infections meeting strict clinical and laboratory or radiological diagnostic criteria) was 6.2(9.0) vs. 1.9(2.3) infections per child per year before and after hydroxyurea (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 0.40, 95%CI: 0.29-0.54, p<0.001), including a decrease in the incidence of bacteremia [IRR: 0.05] malaria, [IRR 0.28], cellulitis [IRR: 0.24], gastroenteritis [IRR: 0.41], pharyngitis [IRR: 0.59] and sinusitis [IRR: 0.38] (all p<0.05). Similarly, the incidence of clinically defined infections (infections meeting clinical but not laboratory/radiological criteria) decreased after hydroxyurea, (IRR: 0.49, 0.41-0.59), influenced primarily by large reductions in the incidence of lower and upper respiratory tract infections (p<0.001 for both). As expected, hydroxyurea treatment was also associated with a decrease in complications of SCA, including vaso-occlusive crises, hospitalizations and transfusions (all p<0.001). There was no interaction between zinc and hydroxyurea therapy on risk of infection and SCA-related complications.
 In Ugandan children with SCA, hydroxyurea therapy not only decreases the incidence of SCA-related complications, but also substantially reduces the incidence of infections. Research to understand the underlying mechanisms of protection from hydroxyurea against infection and exploration of its potential use for infection prevention is warranted.

 Ware: Bristol Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Addmedica: Research Funding; Hemex Health: Research Funding; Nova Laboratories: Research Funding; Novartis: Other: DSMB Chair; Editas: Other: DSMB Chair.


It is well known that traditional high gain observers face peaking problem during the transient period, this undesirable properties could cause more serious degradation if the systems is attached with time delay. This paper solves this problem by constructing a cascade integral observer to estimate the future states of time-delay systems. With a distinctive structure, the predictive observer, which is also called predictor, can handle time-varying delays and eliminate the "peaking phenomenon" during the transient period. Then, a predictor-based output feedback control is designed to guarantee the boundedness of system states. Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional and perturbation theories are used to prove the convergence of the estimation error and the closed-loop system. Finally, a numerical example illustrates the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.


Military need has spurred the invention of hearing protector since the times of Greek mythology. Earplugs were patented in 1864 and canal caps attached to an adjustable headband in 1884 as protection for soldiers and sailors. Attempts to limit gunfire noise by mechanical devices commenced in 1905, leading to Mallock‐Armstrong plugs for use in the First World War. Disposable earplugs were patented in 1914 also. Systematic development of earplugs for forces during the Second World War culminated in the V‐51R. Leather flaps over the ears were supposed to protect the crews of military aircraft. The increased noise of jet engines led to the production of recognizable earmuffs, although the stiffness of the cushions required a strong headband to ensure a seal against the head. This caused a vicelike grip. The problem was overcome with the development of fluid‐filled cushions by Shaw in 1954. Progress has continued towards comfort and acceptability, with glass‐down appearing in the late 1950's, conformable foam plugs in the 1970's, and nonlinear electronic systems incorporated into muffs in the 1980's.


O NE of the more intriguing of the unsolved mysteries of the American Revolution concerns the types of flags displayed by the military and naval forces of the embryonic American nation. This uncertainty is responsible for several facets of the legendary history of the Revolution, from the Betsy Ross fantasy to the myth that George Washington's coat of arms was the prime inspiration for the initial design of the national banner. Although our rebellious forefathers made frequent references to the "American flag" and the "Continental Colours," they seldom saw fit to record its design. Any attempt to reconstruct the flags of the American Revolutionary era must be based largely on conjecture and fragmentary evidence. The American Revolutionary navy was never very large, but the dispute between Great Britain and her colonies had hardly reached the gunpowder stage before unemployed seamen began to grow restless and projected schemes to fit their idle ships with cannon and take to the sea as privateers. Massachusetts, noted for its seafarers and maritime commerce, appears to have been among the first of the colonies to take steps to give its privateers legal status. In November, 1775, the provincial legislature passed "An Act for encouraging the fixing out of Armed Vessels to defend the Sea-Coast of AMERICA, and for erecting a Court to try and condemn all Vessels that shall be found infesting the same," which provided for the issuance of letters of marque and reprisal and the establishment of prize courts.1 Apparently, this legislation was but a formality, as there was evidence that the privateers had been operating previous to the passage of the act, and within two weeks General Washington was complaining that "our rascally privateersmen go on at the old rate, mutinying if they cannot do as they please."2 The provinces, not yet states, likewise mani-


The reality of aerosol loading is synonymous to climate change. According to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) imagery, aerosol deposition over West is very high compared to other parts of the world. The danger of aerosol loading is grave when in excess and little effort is made by government in the West Africa region to embark on ground measurement of aerosol optical depth (AOD). In this paper, the satellite measurement (Multi-angle Imaging Spectro-Radiometer) was used to obtain the aerosol optical over the research area. The computational analysis was carried out using the MATLAB software. The percentage of increase of aerosols loading was high in 2001, 2005 and 2011 that was 5.7%, 24.5%, 8% and 11.1%. Cumulatively increase of aerosol loading within 15 years was 11.7%. It is therefore recommended that government in the region should be more committed to ground measurement of AOD to ascertain the state of air pollution in the lower troposphere.


The case report of a 34-year-old patient from a rural area with low educational status and history of good health and menstrual disorders by default was described, who went to the Emergency Room at "Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas" General Teaching Hospital of Santiago de Cuba, due to severe abdominal pain in epigastrium, which was extended to the back and intensified by fetal movement. Complementary tests, specifically ultrasound, were performed and showed the presence of a cornual ectopic pregnancy in the third quarter, reason why it is decided to make a laparotomy, remove the product of conception and perform subtotal hysterectomy, after that the patient was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit of the institution.


Abstract : As an assessment of databases used to store Maritime Situational Awareness data, the hypothesis is posed that a database built upon a data model, utilizing international standards, recognized and accepted data modelling concepts, best practices, etc. would be more trusted by the community utilizing the data contained within the database. In this work, the validity of this hypothesis was investigated and assessed by decomposing trust into the sub-components: predictability, dependability, faith, reliability, robustness, familiarity, understandability, explication of intention, usefulness, competence, self-confidence, and reputation. An analysis of how these components are expressed in the context of a database system and in particular, how they impact the data model, was performed. The analysis indicates that reliability, understandability, usefulness, familiarity and reputation are the components that capture the concept of trust in a data model. These components were then applied in an analysis of the National Information Exchange Model-Maritime data model, essentially grading the model against the applicable trust components. Results vary from a poor grade on aspects of reliability, to excellent in terms of familiarity and reputation.


This study sought to explore Basic School Ghanaian Language teachers' perceptions of ICT integration in Ghanaian language teaching. The study employed the explanatory sequential design. Stratified random sampling was used to obtain data from 205 teachers in the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo region of Ghana. Analysis of data collected through a self-developed questionnaire and a semi-structured interview guide reveals that Ghanaian language teachers exhibit a positive perception of ICT integration in education. However, in practice, they tend to integrate ICT into their instruction on an occasional basis. Also, it was revealed that lack of financial support for ICT resources and lack of in-service training are factors that militated against ICT integration in Ghanaian language teaching. Finally, the study revealed a statistically significant difference between degree and diploma holders' perceptions of ICT integration in teaching and learning


Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect and application value of ultrasound-guided percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEI) on patients with the post-operative recurrence of live cancer. Methods Thirty nine cases of recurre of liver cancer for which reoperation could not be done were given two courses of PEI. Results After two courses of the therapy, among the 47 masses in 39 cases 15 masses disappeared and other 20 reduced, 5 cases with 12 masses were all under control during treatment. Conclusion PEI is a simple and effective method to treat patients with recurrence of liver cancer without indications of reoperation.


ABSTRACT Dementia has been identified as a global challenge across the spectrum of health and social care (World Health Organisation. (2012) Dementia: A public health priority. Geneva: WHO). This paper will explore the implications of this for social work education and the challenges it poses. There is a lack of this focus on social work with older people and people with dementia (pwd) in social work education. Based on calls for an infusion of content on ageing and dementia in social work curricula, paper proposes that we should adopt a person-centred philosophy alongside gerontological social work competencies to achieve this. The specific aim of this paper, therefore, is to explore how we can use these ideas as teaching tools to engage social work students in the discourse on dementia and to develop appropriate skills to work with pwd, their families and carers.


A new two-equation Kinetic-Eddy Simulation (KES) model is developed for large-eddy simulation (LES) of wall-bounded high Reynolds number flows. This model solves for the local unresolved kinetic energy and the local length scale. The dissipation of the kinetic energy depends on the length scale, as well as, on the length scale gradient. New terms of subgrid viscous work, subgrid pressure diffusion, and subgrid heat transfer are also proposed for the closure of energy equation. In most of flow domain of simulated cases, the subgrid length scale is compatible to computational grid scale, and KES model behaves like a LES. In some other regions, the length scale tends toward the integral length scales, smoothly approaching very large-eddy simulation (VLES) limit. Thus, this closure is considered a VLES-LES approach. The KES model has been applied for 2D flows around NACA-0015 airfoils at different angles of attack, including regions of linear-lift, mild separation and static stall. The predicted aerodynamics compares well with experimental measurement. Especially in the static stall simulations, vortex shedding with massive separation is clearly captured.


The biconical trap of Challier and Laveissièr was compared with Langridge's box screen (LBS) and Moloo's awning screen skirt (ASS) for relative efficiency in catching the tsetse species, Glossina pallidipes Austen, in two areas in Kenya. The dark blue biconical trap performed better than the ASS in one area, but both of them caught more males than females. In the other area, the sky blue version of the biconical gave higher yields than LBS and the white biconical. In both areas, the white biconical trap caught the highest proportion of old flies, while ASS caught the highest proportion of young flies. The biconical trap is preferable because it is collapsible, easy to handle and transport, and needs minimal manpower to operate, unlike the LBS and ASS.


The crankshaft is the core part of an automobile engine, and the accuracy requirements of various shape and position errors are very high. On the basis of a synchronous measurement system, the connecting rod journal is deeply studied, including data processing and roundness evaluation. Firstly, according to the measuring processes of connecting rod journals, the real sampling angle distribution function was established, and the corresponding Gaussian weight function of each sampling angle was calculated. The weight function and the collected data corresponding to the angle were subjected to discrete cyclic convolution operation in the spatial domain to obtain the filtered effective circular contour data. Secondly, the particle swarm optimization algorithm was improved, and its inertia weight was set to decrease nonlinearly to speed up the convergence. A calculation process suitable for the evaluation of journal errors was designed. Then, the improved particle swarm optimization algorithm was used to evaluate the roundness of the corrected rod journal contour data. At last, through multiple measurement experiments, the feasibility and effectiveness of the synchronous measurement scheme and data processing method proposed in this paper are verified.


The present paper is an attempt to uncover the regularities of gender assignment in German. After introductory remarks in which the origin and manifestation of gender in various Indo-European languages are remarked on, the specific nature of German gender is discussed particularly with respect to putative gender predictability. The distinction between stem and stem extension is drawn and a detailed characterization of both in German is offered. In a following section the area of loan-words is examined from the point of view of gender and the phonological criteria used in assigning gender to loan-words are enumerated with a closing discussion of seemingly arbitrary gender in this area of the German lexicon.


The article sets out to show that there is an idea as well as a doctrine of adult education (as a consequence of a concept of life‐long learning) already in Comenius. The idea and doctrine of adult education is deduced from the concept of man and the theory of education and school, which we find in the "Didactica magna" and the "Pampaedia" of Comenius. The conception of adult education as it was developed by Comenius is compared with the different type of adult education that Plato described in the context of his political theory of an ideal state.


This paper explores efficient ways to use flash memory to store online analytical processing (OLAP) data. The particular type of queries considered are range queries using the aggregate functions SUM, COUNT and AVG. The asymmetric cost of reads and writes for flash memory gives higher importance to how updates are handled in a flash memory environment. A popular data structure used for answering OLAP range-sum queries is the prefix sum cube. It allows the range-sum query to be answered in constant time. However, updating the prefix sum cube is very expensive. To overcome this, the Δ-tree was proposed by Chun et al. (Dynamic update cube for range-sum queries. Proc. Int. Conf. Very Large Data Bases, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2001, pp. 521–530. Morgan Kaufmann Publisher). The Δ-tree stores all updates to the prefix sum cube in a separate r-tree. This approach worked well for the hard disk where in-place updates are relatively cheap. However, for flash memory where in-place updates are very expensive, the Δ-tree performs very poorly. We take a four-pronged approach to overcome the problem of expensive in-place updates. The first is efficient caching of updates in RAM. The second is writing out whole trees from RAM to flash memory instead of incrementally updating a disk resident tree. The third is we allow users to trade bounded amounts of accuracy for less updates via lossy compression. Finally, we use a quadtree index structure instead of the R-tree. We prove that the quadtree compression problem is NP-complete. A greedy heuristic is proposed to find near optimal solutions in polynomial time. Various experiments were conducted to compare the proposed algorithms against the existing Δ-tree. The results show that our algorithms consistently outperformed Δ-tree by factors of between 10 and 100. This demonstrates the importance of designing flash memory customized algorithms for OLAP range queries. In addition, among our algorithms, the error bound solutions with a small error bound setting significantly outperform the accurate solution in terms of performance for a variety of parameter settings. This indicates that the error bound algorithms offer users an effective trade-off between execution time and accuracy.


Deuterium (2H) magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR has been employed to monitor the restricted mobility of a molecule grafted at the inner surface of mesoporous SBA-15. The grafted linear moiety (O3Si–C...


The utility model belongs to glove technology field, in particular relates to a sweat uptake rubber gloves. The problems of non absorbing sweat, low intensity, weak universality and so on in prior art of gloves are need to be solved. The utility model comprises a rubber layer, a water absorbing material layer and a lining. The water absorbing material layer is provided between the rubber layer and the lining, and is attached to the lining. The utility model takes the advantages of the rubber gloves and the fabric gloves, warmth retention in winter, dry-touch in summer, being simple, convenient and applied. The utility model is very suitable for using in the field of family, field, medical health and enterprise production.


Objective:To Study the effect of comprehensive rehabilitation for CP.Intervention:325 patients with CP were treated by comprehensive rehabilitation treatmets.The methods included physical therapy,occupational therapy,speech therapy,and Chinese traditional medicaine,Such as massage and scalp acupuncture.Part patients were given orthotherapy and short brace for lower limb.At the same time.psychotherapy and sensory integration therapy were done for the patients with CP.Enlighten education were done for patients with goup.fostered them understanding ability,daily living ability,speech ability through games,music,and handwork.Main prognosis index:The subjects were evaluated by their developmental quotient(DQ) scores including gross motor.fine motor,expressive language,and so on.DQ=[(evepopmental age) /(Chronological age)].100.Remarkable effect:improved DQ are>10 scores:Part Effect:improved DQare≥ 5-9 scores:No effect:improved DQ are ≤4 scores.Result:after 3-6 months treatment,197 cases had remarkable effect,104 cases had part effects,and 24 cases had no effect.The total effective rate was 93.5%.Conclusion:It shows that comprehensive rehabilitation treatments have acquired significant effect for children with cerebral palsy.


In this study, composite coatings of Ni-Fe-Co-graphene were successfully produced via electrodeposition on a steel substrate from sulfate acidic bath under different conditions. Findings showed that the incorporation of graphene could improve the electrocatalytic activity of the coatings for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in an alkaline environment. As indicated by linear sweep voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements in 6 M KOH, the best coating (graphene concentration of 0.2 g L -1 ) presented a low overpotential (169 mV at 10 mA cm -2 ), high exchange current density (272.3 μA cm -2 ), and large electrochemical surface area (686.5 cm 2 ). Tafel slope analysis showed that HER occurred on the composite coatings via the Volmer–Heyrovsky mechanism. Relevant conclusions were validated by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometer, X-ray diffraction, and electrochemical workstation.


Multi-model predictive control has become an effective method for handling the process of nonlinear system. But the traditional multi-model has large model tracking error and slow convergence speed when it is used to the MIMO nonlinear system solving the condition with large scale transition of operating condition. To solve these problems, a new structure of multi-model called multi-hierarchical model has been presented. This structure consists of many layers that each layer is comprised multiple models. The number of sub-models in each layer is different. In the condition of the same global operation space, upper layer has smaller number of sub-models, and lower layer has lager number of sub-models. Because of this structure, the models chosen from different layers can deal with the operating condition changed with large scale. But, the model switching method presented by the author is not flexible enough. In this paper, a new model switching method between different layers is presented. This method uses the error of output and the variation of output error as the layer switching rules. In the end of this paper, the simulation results of pH neutralization process which is a MIMO nonlinear system demonstrate that the multi-hierarchical model using the new model switching method is superior to single-hierarchical model with smaller model tracking error, better convergence speed and stability.


Distributed mobility management (DMM) is designed for flattening the network architecture to resolve the problems, e.g., scalability, non-optimal path, and reliability issues, existed in mobile Internet's mobility management. Although Software Defined Network (SDN) has been applied to DMM to enhance the performance of existed DMM-based schemes, the current mobility management schemes still suffer the high signaling cost and handover latency. In this paper, a Software Defined Network (SDN)-based Backward Fast Handover (SBF-DMM) method that can let MN have the higher chance of being in the predictive mode, which can finish the handover preparation processing before MN disconnecting from the current Mobility Anchor and Access Router's (MAAR's) domain, was proposed. Furthermore, SBF-DMM also can support sub-optimal routing through the help of the SDN Controller. To evaluate and verify the proposed method, an analytical model was devised. The performance analysis has shown that the proposed SBF-DMM has the better handover performance than the other methods in terms of signaling overhead, average handover latency and packets loss.


Many authors underline that the investigations on depressive patients regard non-homogeneous groups of subjects because no unique, widely accepted diagnostic system exists. The aim of the work was to compare seven diagnostic systems (based on L.I.C.E.T-D) as well as to evaluate in to what extend the results obtained in different centers are comparable with each other. Thirty in-patients with depression were included. The results show the range of the diagnosis of depression (psychogenic and endogenous) in bipolar disorder reflects major depression in DSM-III, RDC, primary depression by Feighner, and endogenomorphic depression by Kleist and Berner as well.


Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are abundant in eukaryotic proteomes and preform critical roles in many cellular processes, most often through the association with globular proteins. Despite lacking a stable three‐dimensional structure by themselves, they may acquire a defined conformation upon binding globular targets. The most common type of secondary structure acquired by these binding motifs entails formation of an α‐helix. It has been hypothesized that such disorder‐to‐order transitions are associated with a significant free energy penalty due to IDP folding, which reduces the overall IDP‐target affinity. However, the exact magnitude of IDP folding penalty in α‐helical binding motifs has not been systematically estimated. Here, we report the folding penalty contributions for 30 IDPs undergoing folding‐upon‐binding and find that the average IDP folding penalty is +2.0 kcal/mol and ranges from 0.7 to 3.5 kcal/mol. We observe that the folding penalty scales approximately linearly with the change in IDP helicity upon binding, which provides a simple empirical way to estimate folding penalty. We analyze to what extent do pre‐structuring and target‐bound IDP dynamics (fuzziness) reduce the folding penalty and find that these effects combined, on average, reduce the folding cost by around half. Taken together, the presented analysis provides a quantitative basis for understanding the role of folding penalty in IDP‐target interactions and introduces a method estimate this quantity. Estimation and reduction of IDP folding penalty may prove useful in the rational design of helix‐stabilized inhibitors of IDP‐target interactions.


THE FLOOR of the Caribbean Sea (Figs 3.1,3.2) is essentially oceanic. It consists of several basinal areas (from west to east, the Yucatan, Colombian and Venezuelan Basins), separated by shallower areas (the Nicaraguan Rise and Beata Ridge). The Cayman Trough is a narrow, very deep linear basin immediately north of the Nicaraguan Rise and is notable for being the site of contemporary sea-floor spreading. The Caribbean sea floor has been extensively described in the recent "Caribbean Region" volume of the Geological Society of America's Decade of North American Geology series . Papers in that volume which are especially pertinent to the present discussion include chapters 2, 9 , 10 and 13. Extensive reference is also made here to the results of the Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP), notably Leg 15 (1970-1971). The floor of the main part of the Caribbean—that is, the Venezuelan and Colombian Basins—is underlain by a vast plateau basalt which is not typical of oceanic crust, but which has close analogues elsewhere in the world ocean. The origin and evolution of this basalt is central to the history of the Caribbean region and will be the main focus of this chapter.


Power grid data has become an important asset of the enterprise, but power grid enterprises lack effective technical means to solve the grid data assets life cycle monitoring and management. From the design principle of component, loose coupling and standardization, the power grid data assert management platform based on SOA is designed and realized. A captured through the database log method to real-time acquisition of data assets change information, and account management, management of the panoramic view, daily monitor- ing and management, traceability management, valuation management and process management data asset management the core function is designed, which realizes the standardized management of grid data assets, and shows the status of data assets from the business, technology, management and other perspectives. KEYWORD: SOA; Power Grid Data Assert; Database Log; Data Transaction


The soil quality is threated with heavy metal pollution.Phytoremediation turns out to be a spotlight now.The growth of Philodendron selloum in polluted soil with different content of Pb and Cd was studied.The result indicated that Philodendron selloum had tolerance for Pb at 10 times concentration and Cd at 100 times concentration of 3rd national standard.With the study of mental contents in different plant parts,the result showed that Philodendron selloum could cumulate heavy mental from the polluted soil,especially in roots,partially transferring to stems and leaves.The characteristics of Pb and Cd transferring in plants were also analyzed.


The purpose of this study is to find the perspectives of the Toba Batak education stakeholders towards the education of children with disabilities and its implementation in Toba Samosir. The education stakeholders consist of a head of education department in Toba Samosir, head of the H foundation, two principals and three teachers from the Special Primary Schools. This study uses qualitative descriptive approach and research data obtained through interviews. The results of this study demonstrate that the education stakeholders knowledge about disabilities needs improvement in accordance with the development of science. Stakeholders know the cultural views towards disability and its implications, and the education services available for children with disabilities in addition to encountered its problem in Toba Samosir. Stakeholders considered that the education for children with disabilities should be implemented with the cooperation of all parties, application of the institution-based education and that the education development on disabilities will be implemented faster if there is personal experience with people with disabilities. While the education concepts considered appropriate are the special school and the CBR (Community Based Rehabilitation) strategy, also inclusive education because it represents the Toba Batak philosophy.


The rf (16 mc/s) break down characteristics of argon have been studied, in the presence of a low intensity (0-180 gauss), longitudinal and a high intensity (100-1500 gauss), non-resonant transverse magnetic field over the pressure range of 0-5-100 mm Hg. In the case of a longitudinal magnetic field, break down potential increases monotonously with increasing magnetic field. But in the case of transverse magnetic field it shows a significant increase up to a certain field and then decreases slightly with the increase of field at pressures above 40 mm Hg.


Human Epididymis Protein In this study, we investigated the role of serum recurrent disease in patients during follow Provincial Tumor Hospital between 2008 and 2014 were included in the retrospective study. HE4 and CA125 were developed recurrent disease. a sensitivity of 76.3%, a specificity of 89.6%, a negative predictive value of 93.3% and a predictive value of 66.6% when assessing for recurrent ovarian cancer whereas CA125 was associated with a sensitivity of 54.9%, a specificity of 79.3%, negative predictive value of 86.6% and a positive predictive value of 41.8%. However, combinin sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value and positive predictive value increased to 83.9%, 90.9%, 95.4% and 71.4% respectively. predictor of re recurrent ovarian cancer.


Many biological systems rely on the proper maintenance of an extremely delicate balance between two opposing actions. Such is the case in platelets, where stimulatory and inhibitory signals oppose one another to regulate homeostasis. Pathological imbalance of this physiological process in platelets leads to thrombosis. Thrombosis, in humans, is the result of both hereditary and acquired conditions. Several genes have been identified which, upon loss of function or improper regulation, predispose patients to thrombosis.' Platelet activation is marked by several well-characterized features: adhesion, granular secretion, shape change, and aggregation.* Additionally, fibrinogen receptors are exposed on the surface of the glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex, which after activation are competent to serve as fibrinogen binding sites.3 Among the activators, the most potent and physiologically relevant is the serinekhreonine protease thrombh2 Other agonists include platelet activating factor, ADP, epinephrine, thromboxane A2, collagen, and von Willebrand factor. The ability of platelets to respond to these various agonists is severely reduced upon inhibition by platelet antagonists such as prostaglandins (PGE, and PGI2). These molecules, although produced primarily in endothelial cells, are released into the bloodstream where they can inhibit platelets. The antagonists act primarily through activation of adenylate cyclase, and thus an increase in platelet CAMP levels occurs.


Background: Knee Replacement (KR) results in improved pain symptoms and quality of life, therefore, is one of the most commonly performed orthopedic procedures. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life among patients with knee replacement. Research design: A descriptive research design was utilized in this study. Setting: This study was conducted at Orthopedic Outpatient Clinic at Benha University Hospital in Benha City. Sample: A convenience sample of patients attended to previously mentioned setting; the total sample included 100 patients. Two tools were used I): A structured interviewing questionnaire which consists of three parts to assess a): Demographic characteristics of patients with knee replacement. b): Medical history of patients with knee replacement 2): Knowledge of patients with knee replacement and 3): Reported practices of patients with KR, II): Quality of life scale to assess the effect KR operation on quality of life among the patients. Results: 52 % of patients with KR aged from 50 years old or more with mean and standard deviation was 50.98±16.55, 64% of the patients had total knee replacement, 26% of the patients had good knowledge about KR, 58% of patients with KR had satisfactory total reported practices scores, and 72% of patients with knee replacement had good total quality of life score. Conclusion: More than one quarter of the patients with KR had good knowledge about KR operation, while more than half of them had satisfactory practices regarding KR and less than three quarters of patients with KR had a good total quality of life scores. Recommendations: Regular follow up for patient with KR to ensure effectiveness of operation, avoiding complication and revision of KR.


Here, we report the experimental observation of random lasing in a controlled atomic vapor. We use Raman gain in a laser-cooled atomic cloud. By tuning the gain frequency in the vicinity of a scattering resonance, we observe an enhancement of the light emission of the cloud due to random lasing.


Most Arabic systems developed for newspaper information extraction relate to events that occurred in the past. This paper presents a proposal for developing a web-based system that will be able to regularly collect news reports from Arabic newspaper websites, and then be able to extract information relating to future events, e.g. event type, date and location. Also, the system will be able to deposit the extracted data in an online database in order to enable users to access them. The proposed approach is based on Arabic grammar and on dependency relationships.


A new multivariable adaptive nonlinear predictive controller is designed using a general nonlinear input-output model and variable tansformations. The controller is similar in form to typical linear predictive controllers and can be tuned analogously or by specifying a single parameter for each controlled variable. In addition, the design procedure is computationally efficient The new controller is compared to a multi-loop PI control system with one-way static decoupling, and to a nonadaptive, nonlinear predictive controller through tests on a simulated nonlinear distillaton column.


A study on the design of 700 MHz, 1 MW CW klystron amplifier for KOMAC (KOrea Multipurpose Accelerator Complex) proton accelerator has been carried out by KAPRA (Korea Accelerator and Plasma Research Association). A triode type electron gun including a modulating anode, six cavities including one second harmonic cavity and electromagnet for electron beam focusing were designed to produce desired output rf power. Thermal analysis at the collector according to the magnetic field profile near the collector side pole face was performed to efficiently cool the heat generated through the kinetic energy loss of the electron beam. In addition to the design study, an operation experiment of the klystron for broadcasting whose output power was 15 kW and frequency range 574 - 698 MHz was performed at 700 MHz. In this paper, the results of the design study and the operation experiment of the klystron for broadcasting at 700 MHz are presented.


Known cooling and separating means are not biodegradable and have a tendency after repeated application to an undesirable film formation in the mold. It is therefore proposed to use a concentrate for producing a cooling and separating means for reusable molds, in particular steel castings, having dissolved in water active ingredient, which according to the invention includes a protein having a weight fraction of 10% to 50%. With such a cooling and separating means a good releasability of the castings from the mold and a good cooling effect on the mold can be achieved. Furthermore, this means biodegradable.


Vehicle loading over-length will influence the passing ability and driving safety.In order to measure the vehicle loading length,a measurement system is researched based on IR light curtain,ultrasonic distance measurement sensor,photoelectric switch sensors and single-chip microcomputer.The software program of the system and hardware system are designed and debugged,the simulation platform of freeway entrance and exit is built up.The system is tested on the simulation platform.The experimental results show that the measurement system has high precision.The system can measure the vehicle loading length accurately in the condition of vehicle queuing because of using double benchmark trigger mechanism.The system can be applied to freeway entrance and exit and can cooperate with other geometry size measurement system and weighing system to realize the vehicle over-limit comprehensive inspection.


Summary form only given. We report on the fabrication of a specially designed porous silicon microcavity (MC) with the cavity mode located inside the photonic band gap, and on the experimental observation of the enhancement of the second-harmonic (SH) response of such microstructures in the vicinity of the MC mode.


This letter examines the controllability of matrix-weighed networks from a graph-theoretic perspective. As distinct from the scalar-weighted networks, the rank of weight matrices introduce additional intricacies into characterizing the dimension of the controllable subspace for such networks. Specifically, we investigate how the definiteness of weight matrices, encoding a generalized characterization of inter-agent connectivity on matrix-weighted networks, influences the lower and upper bounds of the associated controllable subspaces. We show that such a lower bound is determined by the existence of a certain positive path in the distance partition of the network. By introducing the notion of matrix-valued almost equitable partitions, we show that the corresponding upper bound is determined by the product of the dimension of the weight matrices and the cardinality of the associated matrix-valued almost equitable partition. Furthermore, the structure of an uncontrollable input for such networks is examined.


This paper presents a detailed review of deep learning techniques used in Sentiment Analysis. Sentiment analysis is one of the most researched areas in natural language processing. Natural language processing has a wide range of applications like voice recognition, machine translation, product review, aspect oriented product analysis, sentiment analysis and text classification like email categorization and spam filtering. The conventional methods used for sentiment analysis is lexicon based processing. However, with the advancements in the field of artificial intelligence, the machine learning algorithms started to play a major role in sentiment analysis applications. Currently deep learning technique is the latest hotspot being used for predicting the sentiments. Several research works have been carried out in the Natural Language Processing (NLP) using the deep learning methods. The most popular deep learning methods employed includes Convolution Neural Network (CNN) and Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) particularly the Long Short Term Memory (LSTM). These techniques are used in combination or as stand-alone based on the domain area of application. The focus of this survey is on the various flavors of the deep learning methods used in different applications of sentiment analysis at sentence level and aspect/target level. Furthermore, the advantages and drawbacks of the methods are discussed along with their performance parameters.


Based on a data set from 192 farmer households, 16 villages, 4 counties (cities) in Zhejiang collective forest areas, this paper analyzed the status of famers' forestry production and their technical demand, and examined determinants of farmer' demand for forestry production techniques using econometrics model. The results shown that: (1) The average forestland size is 1.6 hm2 for each farmer household in collective forest areas, and more than one third of farmer households had ever afforested in the past 5 years; However, the net income from forestry accounted for only 8.2 per cent of the total net income of farmer households. (2) Most farmers acquired the forestry production techniques from their own experience, and only 4.5 per cent of farmer households acquired techniques by trainings; Meanwhile, 40.3 per cent of farmer households need techniques on new species, 31.3 per cent for diseases and pests control. (3)Forest structure, income, training experiences, education were the main determinants of farmer households' demand for forestry production techniques. Finally, some policy implications were proposed. [Ch, 7 tab. 15 ref.]


The article analyzes the relationship between emotional competence and psychological health. The author suggests a structural functional model of emotional competency and justifies the urgency of the issue of its development beginning from elementary school. On the theoretical and empirical level the author proves the existence of a relationship between emotional competence and psychological health.


This paper presents a new robust estimation approach for nonlinear systems. Former approaches to robust nonlinear estimation such as the unscented H ∞ filter(UHF) [1] perform well on in disturbed nonlinear systems. However, with regard to undisturbed systems, the performance of robust nonlinear filters has proven inferior to that of conventional nonlinear filters. In this paper, a new filter is proposed which performs well on both disturbed and undisturbed systems by integrating a UHF and an unscented Kalman filter (UKF). The proposed filter uses a hybrid filter structure for the proper integration of the two local filters; a fuzzy-based mode adaptation rule is also implemented to improve performance.


The catalytic activity of heteropoly compounds in the oxidation of benzyl alcohol and cyclohexa nol under phase transfer conditions has been studied. The catalytic activity of six kinds of heteropoly acids with Keggin structure will drop by the order of GeMo12 (H4GeMo12O40). PW12, PMo12, SiMo12, GeW12 and SiW12. When the three protons of H3PW12O40 Were replaced by Na+ step by step, the catalytic activity will raise gradually with the drop of acidity. The addition of base and trace amount of sulfuric acid to the reaction system resulted in an increase of catalytic activity. It was found that catalytic activity of mono-lacunary heteropoly compounds is higher than that of the primary heteropoly acids (or salts). The catalytic oxidation system of HPA-H2O2-PTC is very active in the oxidation of benzyl alcohol ana cyclohexanol, but it has little activity in the oxidation of inactive compounds such as n(or iso)-proplalcohol. n-butyl alcohol and n-hexanol. Solvent has great effect on reaction, when polar compounds such as water were used as solvent, the catalytic activity is better than that when non-polar compounds were used as solvent.


A number of location characteristics, such as buildings, mountains, and trees, are likely to influence the wind flow that reaches a microwind turbine located at a residential area, and as a consequence they may affect the actual wind speed that is potentially utilized by the turbine. In this context, simple regional predictions for the wind energy from the nearest location available can easily lead to unacceptable modeling errors. There is thus a need to develop a framework for predicting the values of the wind speed at the desired location. This work addresses the aforementioned issue by employing a multilayer feed-forward back-propagation neural network for classification that utilizes the global forecast system (GFS) predictions on wind speed and direction to identify patterns of the wind behavior at the location considered in order to obtain a stochastic distribution of the daily wind speed. The proposed approach aims to support the implementation of an enhanced energy box (EB) management decision tool, while its feasibility is demonstrated through a case example for a region in the south of Portugal.


Advances in the last 2 decades in critical care management have resulted in the survival of many p a t i e n t s who would previously have died. Unfortunately, not all patients recover, and some will be left in a persistent vegetative state (PVS), aptly referred to as a "fate worse than death."l Persons in PVS are no longer distinctive individuals with personality, emotions, thoughts, social interactions, and awareness, but have lapsed into the persistent limbo of unconsciousness. The PVS patient has no cognitive functions and no awareness of self and surroundings. Reflex and vegetative functions persist. If food is supplied and the patient receives constant and total nursing care, the digestive, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems will continue to work and the patient will persist in the same state for many years. The ethical and moral decisions of what to do in each individual case of PVS are complex and controversial.2-1n The first step in the process of PVS management requires a correct identification and diagnosis. The report on PVS by t h e American Neurological Association (ANA) Committee on Ethical Affairs2 emphasizes the importance of establishing strict clinical criteria for the diagnosis. Quoting from the report: "The public must be assured that the PVS can be diagnosed with a high degree of certainty by well-defined clinical criteria" because "all subsequent decision making regarding management of this condition must start from its accurate diagnosis." A review of the l i terature reveals confusion about the nosology of impaired consciousness and vegetative ~tates .2 .7-~,~1-~~ The study by Childs e t all5 in this issue of Neurology addresses the problem of the accuracy of the diagnosis of PVS in patients referred to the Healthcare Rehabilitation Center in Austin, Texas. The Center is an inpatient rehabilitation unit for brain injury patients. Forty-nine patients entered the unit with a diagnosis of PVS or coma. Careful examination of the patient data demonstrated tha t 18 patients (37%) were diagnosed inaccurately in that they had behavioral evidence of cognitive function. The authors comment that the misdiagnosis was in most cases due to confusion in the terminology used to describe alterations of consciousness. Furthermore, the misdiagnosis was more frequent in cases of trauma than in cases of postanoxic PVS. The Glasgow Coma ScaleI6 is often used to classify the neurologic deficit of head injury patients, but the scale is not well suited for patients with eyes-open cycles. To cope with the diagnostic difficulty in separating coma from PVS, some authors have coined new terms such as "prolonged unconsciousness,"17 "mute responsiveness,"I8 and "prolonged coma,"Ig which compounds the confusion. Clinical observation requires consistency and reliability. Childs et all5 found that the misdiagnosis in some patients was probably related to a lack of extended observation by qualified personnel. Their article15 confirms the need to reassess PVS. We must first clarify the confusing terminology and then establish strict medical criteria to be met before the determination of PVS is made. The ANA Committee on Ethical Affairs2 suggests that only three terms be defined clinically: coma, lockedi n syndrome, and vegetative state. They suggest that the terms "apallic" state or syndrome, "akinetic mutism," "coma vigil," "alpha coma," "neocortical death," and "permanent unconsciousness" be avoided. They also emphasize the importance of distinguishing between vegetative state and persistent vegetative state. A vegetative s ta te is a medical diagnosis that can be made by careful clinical observation at a given instant in time, whereas PVS requi res prolonged observation. PVS is defined2 as "a vegetative state that has continued or endured for a t l eas t 1 month." We should emphasize tha t this is an operational definition t h a t does not imply either permanency or irreversibility. The data available indicate tha t the prognosis of PVS must be separated from its definition. Prognosis of PVS requires the utilization of three additional items of information: PVS etiology, PVS duration, and patient's age. The prognosis for a n elderly patient in PVS after cardiac arrest is universally poor,2n whereas the prognosis of a child in PVS after head trauma is compatible with recovery (Multisociety Task Force Report 1993, in preparation; see below). To quote from the ANA report2: "We cannot make early, precise, and unerring outcome predic-


Tripolar mitosis is a specific case of cell division driven by typical molecular mechanisms of mitosis, but resulting in three daughter cells instead of the usual count of two. Other variants of multipolar mitosis show even more mitotic poles and are relatively rare. In nature, this phenomenon was frequently observed or suspected in multiple common cancers, infected cells, the placenta, and in early human embryos with impaired pregnancy-yielding potential. Artificial causes include radiation and various toxins. Here we combine several pieces of the most recent evidence for the existence of different types of multipolar mitosis in preimplantation embryos together with a detailed review of the litera-


We propose a halftoning method which preserves the edge by using an iterative gradient morphological filter from gray scale images. To evaluate performance of the proposed method for generating halftoning images, we conduct comparative experiments of halftoning images which are generated by using an inverse median filter, and subjective evaluation by visual assessment and questionnaire survey.


The demands of state-of-the art documentation and analysis of our cultural heritage motivated us for interdisciplinary cooperation between various countries and institutions. This includes a wide range of possible partners, which are a company supplying us with adapted hardware and software for Cultural Heritage; archaeologists working in the field as well as those taking care of objects already within a museum; and the faculty of mathematics and computer science for development of new methodologies utilizing new technologies.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a picture of the maintenance management status in a sample of Moroccan industries through highlighting the most impacting factors. A preliminary framework of a maintenance management model is proposed on the basis of the study findings.

Design/methodology/approach
A mixed methods research (MMR), including qualitative and quantitative independent studies, was conducted in a sample of Moroccan industries. The process of collecting data involved submission of questionnaires to industrial managers and on-site visits. Analyzing case studies and correlations between maintenance factors were used to define the status of maintenance management. The preliminary framework of a maintenance management model was presented through a basic graph.

Findings
The surveyed companies have three levels of maintenance management: inner, medium and good. The most impacting maintenance factors include the top management policy and maintenance department approach. Most of the companies surveyed do not have an overall maintenance model, as most of decisions are based on random factors rather than the data analysis approach. The preliminary framework of maintenance management model involves the main factors with recommendations to improve maintenance management performance.

Research limitations/implications
The sample in this study is limited to seven companies in the qualitative study and thirty-one companies in the quantitative study. The informants are the industrial managers of those companies. In order to apply this maintenance model in industry, an advanced version of this model is to be developed through providing key performance indicators (KPI) and an implementation process for each factor, including other participants in the companies from top management and operational levels.

Practical implications
The study may contribute to assess maintenance management and to develop a framework of maintenance management models in industries, especially when no previous basic study was conducted in a specific context.

Originality/value
The original contribution of this paper is using MMR to develop a preliminary framework of a maintenance management model. This methodology aims to narrow the gap between academic studies and maintenance management in industries.


HOLSAT (HOLiday SATisfaction) is a model developed by Tribe and Snaith (1998). The HOLSAT model compares the performance of positive and negative holiday attributes against a holidaymaker's expectation. This study utilized this model by applying it to measure tourists' satisfaction among domestic visitors while embarking for holiday in Kelantan. The attributes employed are developed for this particular destination and are based on six categories of different types of positive and negative attributes namely; accessibility, accommodation, tourist amenities, tourist activities, food/meal and tourist attractions. A survey of domestic tourists to Kelantan was made using questionnaire. The data were analyzed using matrices which show the mean scores of expectations, experience and difference between experience and expectation scores. The mean scores of expectation were then plotted against experience in a two dimensional map for positive and negative attributes. The significance of the results was determined by the paired t-test. Furthermore the findings give Kelantan's tourism stakeholders and service provider insight into the level of satisfaction among domestic tourists and call for improving the level of services and strategies for future tourism development and management in Kelantan.


Objective To develop multimedia network testing system on"three-primary" Training.Methods Java was used to develop the application program,MySQL was used to establish database of test questions.The stable communication protocol(SOAP,Web service,etc.) and link were applied.Results With this system,random test questions and choices are provided;questions are answered by human-computer interaction;answer time is restricted;the paper is automatically scored;database of test questions is managed openly;test paper is automatically set.Conclusion This testing system is highly automatic,secure,impersonal,extensible,stable,open and efficient.


The role of capillary forces during buoyant migration of CO2 is critical toward plume immobilization within the postinjection phase of a geological carbon sequestration operation. However, the inherent heterogeneity of the subsurface makes it very challenging to evaluate the effects of capillary forces on the storage capacity of these formations and to assess in situ plume evolution. To overcome the lack of accurate and continuous observations at the field scale and to mimic vertical migration and entrapment of realistic CO2 plumes in the presence of a background hydraulic gradient, we conducted two unique long‐term experiments in a 2.44 m × 0.5 m tank. X‐ray attenuation allowed measuring the evolution of a CO2‐surrogate fluid saturation, thus providing direct insight into capillarity‐dominated and buoyancy‐dominated flow processes occurring under successive drainage and imbibition conditions. The comparison of saturation distributions between two experimental campaigns suggests that layered‐type heterogeneity plays an important role on nonwetting phase (NWP) migration and trapping, because it leads to (i) longer displacement times (3.6 months versus 24 days) to reach stable trapping conditions, (ii) limited vertical migration of the plume (with center of mass at 39% versus 55% of aquifer thickness), and (iii) immobilization of a larger fraction of injected NWP mass (67.2% versus 51.5% of injected volume) as compared to the homogenous scenario. While these observations confirm once more the role of geological heterogeneity in controlling buoyant flows in the subsurface, they also highlight the importance of characterizing it at scales that are below seismic resolution (1–10 m).


Lower appreciation for economic value of irrigation water causes the over pumping on ground water resources in application of drip irrigation system in Pejarakan dry land. It has considerable impacts in term of excessive water use and environmental degradation near the well, while the cost for expenditure to install the drip system is relative expensive .Ground water reserve for drip irrigation in Pejarakan dry land area is very limited so, over pumping for rising crop productions and also for balance cost recovery make negative impact to environment. This study aims to determine the economic value of irrigation water and its environmental externality impact by using depth interview data of dry land farmer at Pejarakan Village. Using Imputation Residual Approach (IRA) on drip irrigation, the water price is Rp.2.008/m3/ha for gasoline pumping energy and Rp.3.836/m3/ha for electrical pumping energy. On the other hand, using furrow irrigation, the water price is zero. Water productivity of drip irrigation is 0,758 kg/m3 (Rp.6.822/m3), higher than the productivity using furrow irrigation that is 0,335 kg/m3 (Rp.3.015/m3). These results also show the efficiency of drip irrigation is 58,1% higher than that of furrow. By taking environmental externality cost into account, the farmers' net income will be decreased to 50,2% for drip irrigation using gasoline and 27,9% for using electrical pumping energy. Moreover, 77,6% of the total cost is attributed to install the drip irrigation system which considered too expensive for the farmers, consequently the subsidy is still required. These results are useful to determine appropriate policy options such as subsidy, charge, tax and incentive to water use.


We determine all connected homogeneous Kobayashi-hyperbolic manifolds of dimension $n\ge 2$ whose holomorphic automorphism group has dimension $n^2-2$. This result complements an existing classification for automorphism group dimension $n^2-1$ and greater obtained without the homogeneity assumption.


This quasi-experimental study investigates the effects of relaxation compared to relaxation combined with rational emotive therapy on mood states and pain. Subjects were 34 middle-aged and elderly chronic pain sufferers (26 women, eight men; mean age of 61.06 years). The relaxation group was given training in progressive muscle relaxation with guided imagery, while the relaxation with rational emotive therapy group participated in exercises to dispute irrational cognitions in favour of counter-cognitions that were more adaptive to pain. The Profile of Mood States (POMS) and visual analogue scale provided selfreport data on mood and pain, respectively. Only subjects in the relaxation with rational emotive therapy group exhibited significant change following treatment specifically, reductions in tension-anxiety, fatigue-inertia, and depressiondejection measures of the POMS scale. However, no comparable change was found in visual analogue scale ratings of pain for either group. The relative efficacy of relaxation with rational emotive therapy over relaxation alone in the improvement of mood can be explained by the fact that chronic pain patients typically experience affective distress, and rational emotive therapy by design, targets the cognitions responsible for such affective distress.


Aiming at the current practice teaching link of the major of power plant integrated control operation could not meet the requirements for the cultivation of talents,the paper proposes the virtual-actual integrated practice teaching mode based on the virtual power plant environment,to make up for the lack of practice teaching,to make students have good skills and improve professional quality in the work situations combined the simulation with authenticity,completing the transition from students to plant workers,greatly improves the practical teaching quality and efficiency.


This paper describes how road development enfolds activities such as Planning, Construction, Management and Maintenance of a road network. Technology of road construction, maintenance and operations in advanced countries, with emphasis on automation, is copied in developing world, rather unmindful of its intemperateness. This is inevitable in some sense, the world having come far closer today, than ever before and coalesced into the metaphorical global village. However, for a country such as India, the technology of road construction and maintenance, as is employed in the developed countries, needs to be modulated to its peculiar problems of scarcity of capital and abundance of labour and its predominantly rural setting. At one end of the spectrum of road development is the construction of high traffic density corridors in the form of multi lane national highways and expressways connecting the metros in the country. This is perhaps the sector more amenable for the adoption of the technology that embodies mechanization, automation and high-end specifications. However, the categories of roads connecting smaller towns and bringing together the population that resides in the villages that lie scattered all over the country is a segment that needs to be treated differently. Development of these roads is more suitably done using what can be aptly termed intermediate or appropriate technology. In a lighter vein this is the adoption of the middle path so vehemently propounded by the Buddhist philosophy. This paper deals with the various facets of such intermediate technology along with a few case studies. Successful execution of road construction in the rural areas in Maharashtra, under the Employment Guarantee Scheme combining labor intensive methods with mechanization, provides a perfect example of sustainable road development. Submersible-bridge structures which permit the interruption to traffic only for a small duration in the flood seasons, is another example of cost effective and functionally satisfactory solution on relatively unimportant roads. The article proposes to bring out such cases of application of the appropriate or intermediate technology in the state of Maharashtra, considered as a progressive state in India. All these case studies strongly suggest the adoption of the middle path towards a sustainable road development.


The article studies literary sources of the plot about the arrival of a landowner in the village, presented in A. F. Pisemsky's novel The Troubled Sea (1863). The paper reveals that the model of this plot was formed in the stories of the pre-reform period, i.e. at the turn of the 1850s– 1860s. Especially often stories with this plot were published in M. N. Katkov's magazine Russkiy Vestnik (The Russian Bulletin). The main feature distinguishing this plot is the image of a landowner coming to the village. It was found that his description was stereotypical: the youthfulness and progressiveness of the hero's views were invariably emphasized. In the stories of this time, the conflict arises between a young progressive landowner and a representative of the older generation (father / neighbor / an elderly servant, etc.). Also, an obligatory element of the plot in question is the reorganization of the economy with a modern twist by the recently arrived landowner. The main motive associated with the reconstruction is the total destruction of everything considered old. The paper shows that attempts to rebuild the economy have always been unsuccessful and led to serious dramatic or tragic results. In the post-reform period, the plot associated with the arrival of the landowner in the village became a 'derivative semantisation': it adapted to the new relevant tasks that became the focus of attention after the peasant reform. The paper analyzes in detail the variant given in the story of A.V. Druzhinin Last Summer in the Village (1862). It is shown that the novel The Troubled Sea contains a large number of references to this particular variant. In the course of the comparative analysis of these works, it is concluded that Pisemsky argued with Druzhinin on some issues related to the peasant reform and its results. In conclusion, it is inferred that the plot of the landowner's arrival in the village in the novel The Troubled Sea was obviously guided by the stories in Russkiy Vestnik. Pisemsky shared the view of Katkovsky's edition in interpreting the behavior model of the landowner, who began to reorganize the life of peasants under the influence of democratic literature.


The article examines the indicators of stiffness and immutability of cotonine-containing and mixed tissues of different fibrous composition. Their influence on hygienic properties of sewing clothes is analyzed. Fabrics for summer clothes should be stiff enough, as this affects the underwear space. At the same time, the presence of lignin in the bast fibers gives the cotton-containing fabrics increased rigidity, which negatively affects the draping of the fabrics and the sewing of products in silhouette. Stiffness, relief and heterogeneity of flax fiber gives mixed cotton-containing fabrics the optimal structure for the manufacture of clothing in the summer range. The permanence of the fabric affects the quality of the product, its service life and consumption costs. Among the important factors that affect the rate of indelibility of the fabric is the composition of raw materials and the type of finish. To increase the coefficient of immutability, fabrics with a content of more than 50% of cellulose fibers must be subjected to final finishing by mechanical or chemical means (low-folding or low-setting treatment). It is the rigidity of the material that affects its ability to resist bending. It is established that with increasing content in the composition of cotonine-containing fabrics of polyester and cotton fibers, the conditional stiffness decreases. It is proved that the stiffness of textile materials is influenced by their fibrous composition, structure, properties of fibers and threads, as well as the structure and processing of the material itself. The ability of a textile material to restore its original appearance depends on the elastic properties and elastic deformations with a rapid period of relaxation. Elongation at the time of breaking linen and hemp yarn does not exceed 3%, cotton – 6%. The share of elastic deformation in the total elongation of the fibers is insignificant. Therefore, products made of natural cellulose fabrics are not resistant to wrinkling. The addition of polyester fibers increases the elasticity of tissues and immutability. The reasons for the increase in the coefficient of immutability are: fabric shrinkage after the first cycles of washing, accompanied by an increase in the linear density of the fabric; reducing the degree of polymerization of cellulose, and, as a consequence, the destruction of cellulose fibers and leaching from the surface of the textile material.


The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic poses a serious threat to public health and local economies around the globe. This has created an urgent need to identify effective medications for its prevention and treatment (1). Among these treatments, the off-label use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), a less toxic derivate of chloroquine, has become a common practice among clinicians, including pediatricians, despite lack of evidence of its clinical efficacy for this indication (especially for pediatric patients) at present time (2).


Blood transfusion is inherently associated with risks, and little is known regarding the available quality and safety measures in developing countries. No studies or census has been carried out, and therefore, no data on this compelling issue are available.


Background: Both aspirin and simvastatin are prescribed as treatments or prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of simvastatin on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of aspirin after oral co-administration in healthy subjects. Methods: Subjects were orally administered aspirin 100 mg for 7 days followed by co-administration of aspirin 100 mg and simvastatin 40 mg for 7 days once daily. A series of blood samples were collected before and till 24hours after drug administration on Day 1 (single-dose of aspirin), Day 7 (multiple-dose of aspirin) and Day 14 (multiple-dose of aspirin and simvastatin). The effects of simvastatin on pharmacokinetics of acetylsalicylic acid and salicylic acid were assessed with the 90 % confidence intervals (CIs) of thegeometric mean ratios (GMRs) of Day 14 over Day 7 for maximum plasma concentration (C max ) and the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC 0-24 ). Pharmacodynamics was assessed with maximal changes of platelet aggregation from baseline. Results: Twenty-fourhealthy men aged 20 to 36 years were enrolled and 23 of them completed the study. GMRs (90 % CIs) of C max and AUC 0-24 for acetylsalicylic acid were 1.21 (1.04 - 1.42) and 1.28 (1.19 -1.38), respectively. For salicylic acid, GMRs of C max and AUC 0-24 were 0.96 (0.91 - 1.00) and 1.00 (0.97 - 1.04), respectively. Maximal changes of platelet aggregation on Day 7 and Day 14 from baseline were not significantly different (p=0.41); 87.5 ± 8.8 % and 87.3 ± 9.2 %, respectively.


[ Objective ] To observe the yin-yang balancing therapy in treating calculus of urinary tract. [ Methods J Based on herbs with the actions of tonifying kidney, promoting urination, resolving and draining calculi, sour-sweet herbs for nourishing yin or sweet-salty-warm herbs for activating yang were added for 100 case of urinary calcalus (Group A) . Other 100 cases were treated with western medicine (Group B). [Results] In Group A, 85 were cured, 10 effective and 5 ineffective, the cure rate being 85% and total effective rate being 95% ; in Group B, 24 were cured, 70 effective and 6 ineffective, the cure rate being 24% and total effective rate being 94% . The difference of total effective rate between the two groups was insignificant (P 0.05) and that of cure rate was significant ( P 0.001) . [ Conclusion ] Yin-yang balancing therapy exerts a certain effect in treating urinary calculus and can promote the dissolution of calculi.


A CASE OF AURICULAR FLUTTER. By KENNETH E. HARRIS, M.A., M.D. (Cantab.), F.R.C.P. (Lond.). (Physician, University College Hospital and Royal Chest Hospital.) Auricular flutter is an interesting abnormality of cardiac rhythm, that presents problems in diagnosis and treatment, that are of importance, in as much as they affect the ultimate prognosis and the capacity for work in a patient, whose heart muscle may not be otherwise seriously damaged. Case Record. History. M.E., female, single, aged 4I years, clerk, attended Out-patient Department of the Royal Chest Hospital on October 2oth, I934, complaining of "heart attacks." During the attacks, she had acute dyspncea, a feeling of suffocation, and palpitation, being conscious of the rapid beating of her heart. She has had three or four attacks but has been quite well in the intervals and able to carry on her work. The first attack occurred about one year ago, when she had a cold; this and the subsequent attacks lasted for about half an hour. Each attack has occurred in the early morning when in bed; both the onset and the offset being sudden. The present attack that brought her up to the hospital had, however, already been in progress for three days, and had incapacitated her from work. Past history: no rheumatic fever; no serious illness. Family history: nothing of relative importance. Examination (20/10/34). Slight definite enlargement of the heart. A diastolic rumble and a soft systolic murmer audible at the apex. Pulmonary second sound accentuated. Rate: I56 per minute, regular. Pressure on right vagus nerve in the region of the cartoid sinus produced temporary slowing of rate to about 70. Auricular waves seen in the veins of the neck at double the ventricular rate. No signs of congestive heart failure present. No other abnormal condition in cardio-vascular or other systems found. The electrocardiogram showed auricular flutter with 2 : I block, the auricular rate being 328 and the ventricular i64 per minute (Fig. I.).


Construction cost consultation industry appears with the establishment of market economy system.As a service company,construction cost consultation company should focus on the renewal of working idea and continuous innovation for undefeatable situation.