Background: Neurofilament light (NfL) is a promising biomarker of active axonal injury and neuronal degeneration. We aimed to characterize cross-sectional and longitudinal plasma NfL measurements and estimated ages of biomarker onset in an exceptionally large number of presenilin (PSEN1) E280A mutation carriers and age-matched non-carriers, 8–75 years of age, from the world's largest autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease kindred. Methods: Between August 1998 and December 2018, members of the familial Alzheimer's disease Colombian kindred were recruited from the Alzheimer's Prevention Registry at the University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. In this cohort study we used a single molecule array immunoassay and log-transformed data to examine the relationship between plasma NfL levels and age, and determine the earliest age at which NfL separates between mutation carriers and noncarriers. Results: We included a cohort of 1,070 PSEN1 E280A mutation carriers and 1,074 non-carriers with baseline assessments and 242 mutation carriers and 262 non-carriers with longitudinal (6 ±3 years) measures, ranging in age from 8 to 75 years. Plasma NfL measurements increased with age in both groups (p<0.01), and began to differentiate carriers from non-carriers at age 22 (22 years before the estimated median age at mild cognitive impairment [MCI] onset of 44), though the ability of plasma NfL to discriminate between carriers and non-carriers only reached high sensitivity close to the age of clinical onset. Interpretation: Our findings support the promise of plasma NfL as a biomarker of active neurodegeneration in the detection and tracking of Alzheimer's disease and the evaluation of disease-modifying therapies. Funding: National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Banner Alzheimer's Foundation, COLCIENCIAS, the Torsten Söderberg Foundation, the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Alzheimer Foundation, the Swedish Brain Foundation, and the Swedish state under the ALF-agreement.


Indian farmers are totally dependent on agriculture and livestock for satisfying their basic food and economical needs. Maximum farmers are habitual to take crops continuously with traditional ways without checking the current suitability. Government of India has developed centers to train and provide the information to farmers but everyone don't approach to it. To get the increased yield, usually farmers add fertilizers without understanding requirement which may leads to soil degradation. Proposed solution is an automated system which can monitor major parameters required to estimate suitability for cropping. This system can be made available locally to every farmer. Outcome of this monitoring system can be used to identify particular crop suitability, so that suitable crop can be adopted.


0 Introduction Submitting to the dualism of the rationalistic tradition of thought and its notions of some (objective) reality and the (subjective) conceptions of it, Barwise/Perry (1983) have presented a new approach to formal semantics which, essentially, can still be considered a mapping of this duality, mediated though by their notion of situation. Within their relational model of meaning, any language expression is tied to reality in two ways: by the discourse situation allowing its meaning being interpreted and by the described situation allowing its interpretation being evaluated truth-functionally. This is achieved by recognizing similarities or invariants between situations that structure a system's surrounding environments (or fragments thereof). Mapping these invariants as uniformities across situations, cognitive systems attuned to them are able to identify and understand those bits of information which appear to be essential to form these systems' particular view of reality: a ow of types of situations related by uniformities like individuals, relations, and time-space-locations which constrain \a world teaming with meaning" 1 to become interpretable fragments as persistent courses of events. Thus, the notion of situation allows for the formal identiication of both, the (internal) structure of the cognitive subject with the (external) structure of its environment as perceived as a situational fragment of the objective world, a n d the systematic constraints exhibited by related situations with the persistency of courses-of-events for those systems that are properly attuned.


A ventilating system includes a high frequency con trolled breathing gas source in HFJV operation, wherein the exhaled gas is removed through an outlet line through which a flush gas is conducted, is im proved to permit a determination, under high frequency ventilation, of both the final expiratory CO2 concentra tion and the basic pressure building up in the lungs (the lung-internal PEEP). To this end, the control device is in addition connected to a flush gas valve provided upstream of the breathing gas supply device, and de signed to intercalate a measuring interval after a se quence of breathing gas pulses, during which interval the breathing gas valve and the flush gas valve are closed. A system of measuring the breathing gas valves is provided in the outlet line and it is actuated during the measuring interval to perform the measuring operation.


This paper presents binary Support Vector Machine classifiers for detection of fraudulent credit card transactions. Support Vector Machine (SVM) is a well-known method in statistical learning theory for classification and regression problems. The objective of this paper is about evaluation of accuracy and performance of different kernel methods using Sequential Minimal Optimization (SMO), C-Support Vector Classification (C-SVC) and υ-Support Vector Classification (υ-SVC). A Comparison of computation time and classifiers' accuracy for SMO classifier with C-SVC in LIBSVM is provided. The simulation results show that accuracy of SMO classifier in with different kernel functions is higher than C-SVC in LIBSVM on credit data dataset obtained from UCI machine learning database.


This paper presents a Trojan-detection system model based on behavior analysis. Through the abstract description of the Trojan's behavior, according to certain rules to establish a behavior feature database, and combining the heuristic analyzer to further analysis and judge whether the program is the Trojans, then do the appropriate processing at last. The experiments show this method is effective and efficient in real time and light load, and can be used to in practice to monitor the computer system in real time.


The Sand Island and Barbers Point primary treatment plants discharge wastewaters into Ma~mala Bay through ocean outfalls located off the southern coast of O'ahu, Hawai'i, at a water depth of approximately 60 m. The macrobenthos in the vicinity of these outfalls has been monitored since 1986. Replicate grabs at multiple stations located along transects and depth contours have been collected to provide biological samples for quantitative analyses. Samples for analysis of sediment grain size and parameters of sediment organic enrichment have also been collected. Benthic conditions at sites near the outfalls have been compared with reference conditions at sites 3 to 6 km from the outfalls to assess biological changes that might be related to the wastewater discharges. The structure of mollusk, nonmollusk (all macrobenthos excluding mollusks), and crustacean assemblages has been analyzed separately.


An linear ultrasonic motor with two vibrators has been studied.The vibrators are located symmetrically and cross at right angles with each other at a head block with two driving tips The motor has two vibration modes:one is a symmetrical mode and the other is anti-symmetric.The normal direction motion of the head block tips is excited by the anti-symmetrical mode.The lateral motion of the tips is excited by the symmetrical mode.The stator is designed so that these vibration modes are generated.To obtain high output force and high power , materials were carefully selected.The head block is made from duralumin, and the back block is made from bronze.Heat-treated high strength chromium manganese steel bolts were used for binding the PZT elements.The no-load speed was 0.75 m/s, and the output force was 16 N, which is 22 times of the stator weight at the driving voltage of 200 V and the pre-presure of 70 N.


The work presents results obtained performing a survey campaign specifically designed to formulate an effective restoration project in a critical context. Within the remarkable project, promoted and financed by the Italian Presidency of the Council of the Ministers, and the Italian Ministry of Defence, for designing the conservative restoration plan of the Military Shrine in Cima Grappa (Italy), the assessment of the overall tunnels' stability and a report of the state of conservation of the underground area has been produced. Exploiting the most advanced laser scanning survey technique, and some specific algorithms for point cloud analysis, several outputs have been generated, in particular a detailed geometrical 3D reconstructions of man-made and natural tunnels coating materials, geo-mechanical survey of rock mass, map of rock collapses and cinematic analysis of instability processes. The integration of Laser Scanning technique with the most commonly used Scan-line survey for rock-mass characterization and architectural surveys, allowed to perform advances analysis even in a high-risk study area as the one considered in the restoration project, which is represented by a predominant subterranean development. Most of the tunnels and underground spaces, displayed rock collapses and diffuse active instability processes that certainly could have drastically slowed down surveys and analysis. The adopted techniques allowed to rapidly proceed in acquiring data end to deliver sound outputs. This paper aims to report both a general description of the project, spending some words on the historical value of the place and describing the complex environment of work, and a detailed depiction of the performed survey activities with particular attention in showing laser scanning survey and the obtained results.


We investigate the three-dimensional Anderson model of localization via a modified transfer-matrix method in the presence of scale-free diagonal disorder characterized by a disorder correlation function g ( r ) decaying asymptotically as r − α . We study the dependence of the localization-length exponent ν on the correlation-strength exponent α . For fixed disorder W , there is a critical α c , such that for α < α c , ν = 2 /α and for α > α c , ν remains that of the uncorrelated system in accordance with the extended Harris criterion. At the band center, ν is independent of α but equal to that of the uncorrelated system. The physical mechanisms leading to this different behavior are discussed.


At least one insolubilizing oil-soluble hydrophobic cooling component having a melting point close to the melting heat and substantially body temperature of greater than 100 J / g, containing the cooling component is not soluble polymeric emulsifiers, and an acceptable carrier cosmetically, composition for topical application to the skin.


In recent years, online abuse has emerged as a huge problem across the Internet and especially on social media. To deal with this unacceptable behavior, many social media providers have implemented built-in reporting functions on their platforms. Social media is used a lot in Saudi Arabia especially Twitter, Whatsapp and Instagram [15] also online abuse is growing. Thus, this research discusses and analyzes the parameters that influence the utilization and use of reporting functions in social media among the Saudi society. To achieve this aim, Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Technology Readiness (TR) are adopted as the research framework. Also, perceived responsibility, perceived emergency, evaluation apprehension (social appraisal) and peer's influence are added as additional factors that can influence the adoption. The proposed framework is expected to be of great benefit to understanding what influences the use of online reporting functions.


In time measurements involved in the detection of elementary particles using large counters, the time uncertainty introduced by the finite propagation velocity of the produced signal may be significant compared to the desired time resolution. A novel method, the essential ingredients of which are the time properties of delay lines and AND and OR logic gates, is introduced to reduce this effect drastically. The basic circuit is described, and then the synthesis of time averaging filters, a four-stage filter (implementation and testing), experimental results, and future applications are discussed. The problem of precise timing with a counter of large dimensions can also be solved by means of an analog method; the principle involved, implementation, testing, and time resolution and deadtime are considered. (RWR) 7 figures


The state has been traditionally viewed as a political organization whose main components are government (legitimate authority), people and territory. While these elements are essential to any consideration of the state, they cannot in themselves suffice. The traditional view fails both to analyse the division of the population into distinct if sometimes vague socioeconomic entities with conflicting interests and to examine the nature of the legitimate authority. Moreover, it lacks an understanding of the legitimation process, i.e. the manner by which the different sections of class-divided socioeconomic structures attempt to gain control and impose their authority on the decision-making process. Any adequate concept of the state must include a realisation that there is an indissoluble link between its formative process and the realm of private relations (civil society), and that the state structure thus formed is relatively autonomous.' In addition, the state being forced to co-exist (peacefully or not) in an international community, is constantly shaped through the process of integration in the international system. Foreign policy therefore constitutes the organic interaction of a state with the international community.2


We live in an increasingly connected world. The internet pervades our everyday existence, on our smart phones, tablets and computers, transforming the way we share and communicate with one another, shop, eat out, bank, travel, exercise, play and learn. It is often celebrated as a fundamentally democratic medium that allows the free flow of information and ideas. However, some segments of the population have little or no access to the internet and are increasingly excluded from this new mode of being and interacting. One such group is the prison population. Prisoners in Australia are generally locked away not just physically, but also virtually, with very few states or territories allowing prisoners any sort of internet access. With TAFEs and universities increasingly adopting online teaching environments, the impact of such policies is to greater disadvantage prisoners who seek to utilise their prison time to better themselves through education. The importance of education has been recognised by the international community, as has its application to prisoners, whose right to education is not lost simply by virtue of their imprisonment. Further, education plays a critical role in the rehabilitation of offenders, and has been proven to decrease recidivism markedly. This article argues that while there are real security risks associated with providing internet access for prisoners, the current blanket restrictions in place in most Australian jurisdictions cannot be justified. As will be demonstrated, there are a number of ways in which prisons can, and do, provide limited access to the internet for prisoners to facilitate their engagement in learning. Such models offer a way for prisons Australia-wide to protect the rights of prisoners and simultaneously protect the safety and interests of victims and the broader community.


Provided are a display panel, a display device and a pixel arrangement method, thereby improving frame quality. The display panel comprises a plurality of sub-pixels arranged in an array, wherein the sub-pixels arranged in a first direction is configured according to one of the following arrangement modes: first sub-pixel arrangement: inserting a first sub-pixel or a third sub-pixel between each two second sub-pixels; and second sub-pixel arrangement: inserting a first sub-pixel and a third sub-pixel between each two second sub-pixels.


High acid value Polyesteramide resins based on Dehydrated Castor Oil (DCO) and Niger Seed Oil have been synthesised. These high acid value polyesteramides are neutralised with varying percentage of triethylamine (TEA) and dispersed in water. These water-dispersible resins are cured with Hexamethoxymethylmelamine (HMMM) in varying proportions at elevated temperature. Various film properties of the compositions have been studied and compared.


Although they areoften overlooked,innovative medium-sized firms (100-499 employees) in Canada can provide insightfor other firms that may help them to find their way in the global marketplaceand improve their productivity. This report seeks to explore the innovation capabilities and performance of these Canadian firms. Data used in the analysis were collected from a variety of sources,including the Statistics Canada's Longitudinal Employment Analysis Program,interviews with firm executives, and a literature review. Focusing on the manufacturing industry, the medium-sized firms were divided according toemployee growth rates as follows: high-growth, growth, stable, anddeclining. Innovation capabilities and performance are measured for each of thegroups.In all of the measurements, the high-growth firms produced the best results. Although the reasons for the dominance of the high-growth firms have not been confirmed, there are two factors that are believed to contribute to these firms' success -- superior institutional capabilities and a work force with superior technical capabilities. For the Canadian economy,the focus should be on creating and developing more innovative firms as opposed to growing small firms into large firms. (SRD)


Large vessels containing electrostatically charged flammable mists or dust clouds form part of many industrial processes. Consequently, high internal space potentials and electric fields are possible, promoting electrostatic discharges. The risk of ignition is often addressed by nitrogen inertion or by adding explosion protection systems. A preferred cost-effective alternative is to analyse the process with the aim of determining the maximum electric field that can be generated inside the vessel, for comparison with breakdown strength of air at which electrostatic discharges can occur. This field can seldom be measured directly. It can, however, be determined by performing simple measurements of the charge concentration and vessel dimensions to model the electrostatic conditions using a finite element, field analysis package. The package has been routinely used in hazard analyses by Wolfson Electrostatics, allowing the potential distributions and electric fields inside vessels to be displayed, using interactive graphics, as contour lines, vectors or graphs. Two hazard investigations in which the package was used are described in this paper.


Objective: To observe the clinical effect of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) in the noninvasive treatment Methods: After invasive mechanical ventilation during treatment line offline test failed for many times, the effect of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation therapy was observed. Results: Tracheotomy in noninvasive positive pressure ventilation after treatment, patients with no bosom frowsty, breath, breathing and other symptoms, can sleep well and have a good diet. Conclusion: Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation of noninvasive use has important clinical significance.


The rat carotid body was immunohistochemically stained for carbonic anhydrase I, II and III (CA‐I, CA‐II and CA‐III). Immunoreactivity for CA‐I was distributed in type I cells, type II cells and nerve bundles. Smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells of blood vessels were also strongly stained for CA‐I. CA‐II immunoreactivity was distinctly positive in type I cells and nerve bundles. Vascular smooth muscle cells were weakly positive, and type II cells were negative for CA‐II. CA‐III immunoreactivity was identified in type I cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. Our results suggest that carbonic anhydrase isozymes in type I cells play an important role in chemoreception for hypercapnia. Immunoreactivities for CA‐I and CA‐II in the nerve fibres may participate in the synergic action of carotid sinus nerve between hypoxic and hypercapnic stimuli.


One of the more troublesome questions confronting the person conducting research in criminology or criminal justice, particularly if he or she aims to influence policy decisions, is how to make that research relevant to those responsible for such policy decisions. Indeed, policy analysis has become a popular academic innovation. Departments and schools have emerged that seek to promote the development of such activity. A number have been quite successful in relating research efforts to practical problems. But the precise proc-


Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is a major
complication of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), resulting from
disturbances in the regulation of PTH, calcium, phosphorus, and
vitamin D and Ischemic heart disease (IHD), also called coronary
heart disease or coronary artery disease, is an imbalance between
myocardial oxygen demand and supply. A phase-III and Bioequivalence
study is the mandatory requirement to launch the drug in India
which was not approved in other countries and not in India.
newlineA calcimetic drug Cinacalcet for the treatment of SHPT and
antianginal drug Ivabradine for the treatment of chronic stable
angina were selected for the research work. Method Development was
performed to develop fast but accurate and precise methods for the
estimation of these drug molecules. All the developed methods were
validated as per the international guidelines of method validation.
The application of these validated methods was evaluated on samples
of bioequivalence studies. As efficacy and safety of these drugs in
Indian patients was not known. A phase-III studies of these drugs
were conducted in Indian patients to evaluate their efficacy and
safety in Indian population. Bioequivalence study shows that both
the drugs are bioequivalent with the reference drug. A clinical
study of cinacalcet versus Calcitriol shows that calcimimetic agent
cinacalcet provides a novel therapeutic approach for controlling
secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with chronic kidney
disease in Indian population and A clinical study of Ivabradine
versus Atenolol shows that Ivabradine may be an effective and safe
alternative to the range of options available for the treatment of
stable angina and, potentially, other myocardial ischaemic
conditions for Indian population. So Cinacalcet and Ivabradine are
effective and safety for the treatment of SHPT and Chronic stable
angina respectively in Indian Patients. newline


Geochemistry is normally referred to as the study of Earth's chemistry by exploring properties of materials and natural processes from deep beneath the Earth's surface to the upper atmosphere, demonstrating the natural phenomena nowadays and discovering the history of nature. This study describes a subtopic of geochemistry: inorganic isotopes and trace elements, and discusses the application of the isotopes and trace elements in studies of geothermal spring water and ore deposit. The study of water samples in Hengjing, China was accomplished with the help of gas isotope analysis. The carbon isotope ratios and gas compositions indicate that the thermal waters are mostly sourced from meteoric and mantle sources in this area. The He isotope could evolute from mantle fluid, and CO2 is a product of the carbonate decomposition of rocks at high temperatures. The other study, conducted on the Zhaoxian ore deposit, revealed the origin and processes of formation of the different compositions of the ore. The magmatic-hydrothermal activity in this tectonically active area contributes much to the mineralization process of the ore, as shown by the analysis of trace elements of pyrite. The fluid inclusion He-Ar isotope shows that the ore was characterized by crust-mantle mixing with a little participation of meteoric water.


Maritime transportation is one of the most important and extensive transportation modes in the world. Maritime transportation is the backbone of contemporary world trade and therefore special attention should be paid to all subjects concerning this mode of transportation. It is also necessary to complement maritime transportation by other modes, such as rail and/or truck (road). This article deals with the problems of maritime transportation and provides the summary of recent developments, trends and statistics mainly on transatlantic maritime routes (Europe to US). Besides maritime transportation, this thesis also reviews the trends and statistics of rail and truck (road) transportation in US and Europe. The authors considers four Czech biggest cities (points of origin), five European ports, eight US ports and 10 biggest cities in US (points of destination). The adapted TCMMSP (transnational collaborative multi-mode shipping problem) is applied to this case study and it seeks to solve the transportation of a set of five shipments with unique O-D (origin-destination) pairs and volume. The end of the thesis summarizes the results and analyses the average costs, optimal set volume, optimal shipment routing and port analysis.


This paper describes extensive computer-based analytical studies on the details of unsteady flow behavior around airfoils subjected to flow induced vibration in turbo-machinery. To consider the time-dependent motions of airfoils, a complete Navier-Stokes solver incorporating a moving mesh based on an analytic solution of motion equation for airfoil translation and rotation was applied. The drag and lift coefficients for the cases of stationary airfoils and airfoils subjected to flow induced vibration were examined. From the numerical results in non-coupling case as out of consideration of the airfoil motion, it was found that the separation vortex consisted of large-scale rolls with axes in the span direction, and rib substructures with axes in the stream direction. In the coupling simulation including the airfoil motion, both the translation and the rotation displacement were gradually increased when the airfoil translation and rotation natural frequencies synchronize exactly with the oscillation frequency of the fluid force. In addition, the transformation from complex structure with rolls and ribs to two-dimensional aspect of only rolls could be visualized in three-dimensional simulation.


An analysis of the factorization approach in charm hadronic decays is carried out by using the spectral-functions method and by exploiting the updated information on the semileptonic processes of both the {ital D} meson and the {tau} lepton. Not only the two-body but also the multiparticle exclusive decays can be computed for the first time. While for some channels agreement with experiment is somewhat acceptable, within a factor of 2, much larger variance is found for other modes: {ital D}{sup 0}{r arrow}{ital K}{sup {minus}}{ital a}{sub 1}{sup +}(1260), {ital D}{sup 0}{r arrow}{ital K}{sup {minus}*}{pi}{sup +}, {ital D}{sup 0}{r arrow}{ital K}{sup {minus}}{pi}{pi}{pi}{pi}.


AbstractThe Kuroshio–Oyashio Extension (KOE) is a region of energetic oceanic mesoscale eddies and vigorous air–sea interaction that can influence climate variability over the northwest Pacific and East Asia. General circulation models (GCMs) exhibit considerable differences in their simulated climatology around the KOE region. Specifically, there are substantial intermodel spreads in both sea surface temperature (SST) and the upper-level westerly jet. In this study, the cause for such large spreads is studied by analyzing 21 pairs of coupled and atmospheric GCMs from phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5).It is found that the intermodel spread of the climatological westerly jet among coupled GCMs is largely inherited from their atmospheric models rather than being due to their SST difference as previously thought. An anomalous equatorward shift in the simulated westerly jet can give rise to a cold SST bias around the KOE region as follows. The equatorward jet shift induces cyclonic ...


This research aims to determine and rank factors for assessing the success achieved by inter-organizational networks. After reviewing the theoretical foundations and research background, the factors for measuring the success achieved by inter-organizational networks, including 3 main factors and 38 sub-factors were determined. In the second stage, the validity of factors was investigated by a survey of experts involved in the field of information technology and software and hardware. The results show that factors used in this study are fully approved by the experts of the subject. The results also suggest that IT managers and network engineers need 3 main organizational, network and institutional factors to evaluate the success of inter-organizational networks. Data were tested using Friedman test, one-sample T-test, Smirnov-Kolmogorov and Spearman tests, and Cronbach's alpha was calculated. The results of Friedman's test indicated that from experts' point of view, network factor is the most important one, and organizational and institutional factors were respectively ranked second and third. Regarding each factor, the rank of each sub-factor was determined; hence, in network index, sub-index of teamwork and collaboration has the highest rank. In organizational and institutional indices, the highest ranks respectively relate to sub-indices of software infrastructure and organizing. To implement inter-organizational networks, and evaluate the success achieved by these networks, paying attention to such factors is considered crucial.


Aims: The aim of this study was to survey the agronomic practices that practiced by the farmers for potato and cucumber crops, and to estimate the water productivity of these crops.
Study Design: A questionnaire was designed to collect data about the agronomic practices that practiced by the farmers during the growing period of cucumber cultivated in open field and potato crops.
Place and Duration of Study: A field survey was carried out at Al-Bqaia'h and Kashda areas located at Tubas governorate of the West Bank, Palestine between December 2021 and July 2022.
Methodology: The questionnaire includes several parts: soil characteristics, crop cultivation, crop development, crop fertilization, yield production, type of irrigation systems used, irrigation water management, and amount of applied irrigation water. Crop evapotranspiration (ETc) was estimated using AQWACROP program. Soil samples were collected from the selected field to evaluate the soil fertility status.
Results: It is indicated that the crop evapotranspiration of potato (378 mm), higher than that of cucumber crop (343 mm). Huge amount of water (754 and 689 mm) were applied by the farmer during the growing period of potato and cucumber, respectively compared to calculated actual water requirement. The water productivity of cucumber crop varies among different farmers and varies from (3.56 – 6.82 kg/m3) in Al-Bqaia'h area, and (3.7 – 7.5 kg/m3) in Kashda area. The water productivity of potato crop varies from (4.29 – 8.10 kg/m3) in Al-Bqaia'h area, and (5.1 – 8.1 kg/m3) in Kashda area. It is found that the dripper discharge of 2 L/hr enhanced the water productivity compared to the dripper discharge of 4 and 8 L/hr.
Conclusion: The field survey found that the water productivity of cucumber and potato crops was mainly affected by the performance of individual farmers, the amount of water applied, method of water application and the crop verity.


I. Introduction The anomaly of including consumer hire agreements within the purview of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 is more apparent than real. Although contracts of hire do not generally involve the provision of credit, they frequently afford a method of long-term disposition akin to such deferred-purchasing devices as hire-purchase and conditional sale. Indeed, one of the decisions which featured most prominently in the Crowther Committee's discussion of this form of surrogate credit involved a hirer who had failed to realise that the contract under which he held the chattel (a caravan) was one which precluded any acquisition of title by him. The abuse to which this type of transaction was subject clearly justified an extension of the Act to certain forms of consumer hiring. This extension was consonant with the policy, advocated by Crowther, of regulating transactions according to their function rather than their form.


Vascular rings may cause pressure on the trachea and/or esophagus of varying degree, resulting in symptoms. This study assessed the presentation symptoms, diagnostic methods and treatment results after surgery in children with vascular ring.


NASA is piloting fiscal year (FY) 1997 Accountability Reports, which streamline and upgrade reporting to Congress and the public. The document presents statements by the NASA administrator, and the Chief Financial Officer, followed by an overview of NASA's organizational structure and the planning and budgeting process. The performance of NASA in four strategic enterprises is reviewed: (1) Space Science, (2) Mission to Planet Earth, (3) Human Exploration and Development of Space, and (4) Aeronautics and Space Transportation Technology. Those areas which support the strategic enterprises are also reviewed in a section called Crosscutting Processes. For each of the four enterprises, there is discussion about the long term goals, the short term objectives and the accomplishments during FY 1997. The Crosscutting Processes section reviews issues and accomplishments relating to human resources, procurement, information technology, physical resources, financial management, small and disadvantaged businesses, and policy and plans. Following the discussion about the individual areas is Management's Discussion and Analysis, about NASA's financial statements. This is followed by a report by an independent commercial auditor and the financial statements.


The effect of six particulate fillers on the compressive strength of undamaged and damaged glass-epoxy laminates was studied. The intention was to determine whether, and how, the mechanical properties of the filled organic matrix could be correlated with the impact damage tolerance (expressed as compressive strength retention after impact) of fitted epoxy-glass laminates. Impact damage was induced by an instrumented falling weight device. The laminates contained solid glass beads, hollow glass microspheres, quartz, calcium carbonate, alumina trihydrate (ATH) and mica. The test results showed that all the fillers, apart from hollow glass microspheres, increased the tensile and flexural moduli of the fitted epoxy, and this in turn was accompanied by an improvement in the compressive strength of some of the undamaged lominates, but there was no positive correlation between the flexural modulus of the fitted matrix and the impact damage tolerance as reflected in compressive strength retention. In contrast there was a good correlation with matrix strength; i.e. a significant decrease in the compressive strength retention of impact-damaged laminates as the matrix flexural strengths were reduced by adding fillers. The pre-impact interlaminar shear strength of the laminates also correlated well with the compressive strength retention after impact.


Edge plasma studies are of vital importance for understanding plasma‐wall interactions in magnetically confined fusion devices. These interactions determine the transport of neutrals into the plasma, and the properties of the plasma discharge. This presentation deals with optical spectroscopic studies of the plasma boundary, and their role in elucidating the prevailing physical conditions. Recorded spectra are of four types: emission spectra of ions and atoms, produced by electron impact excitation and by charge‐exchange recombination, atomic spectra arising from electron impact‐induced molecular dissociation and ionisation, visible spectra of molecular hydrogen and its isotopic combinations, and laser‐induced fluorescence (LIF) spectra. The atomic spectra are strongly influenced by the confining magnetic field (Zeeman and Paschen‐Back effects), which produces characteristic features useful for species identification, temperature determination by Doppler broadening, and studies of chemical and physical sp...


The purpose of this communication is to report the results of a study indicating that a given magnitude of interaural intensitive disparity (IID) produced a larger extent of laterality, as measured via an acoustic pointer, for stimuli centered at 4 kHz than for stimuli centered at 500 Hz. The data and their analysis, taken together, suggest that the findings reflect true across-frequency differences rather than being manifestations of response-related factors.


Introduction: physical exercise, integrating cardiac rehabilitation (CR), has a proven positive effect on the prog-nosis of patients with cardiovascular disease, optimizing cardiac performance in terms of functional capacity. CR programs aim to obtain maximum clinical benefits with minimal risks to the patient. Objectives: assess the safety and efficacy of a cardiotachometer-monitored out-of-hospital CR program in high-and moderate-risk patients, based on the absence of major cardiac complications and improvement in participant's functional capacity. Materials and methods: retrospective cohort study, submitted to a CR plan for 12 weeks in the period between January 2014 and March 2020. Clinical and functional parameters were evaluated at the beginning and at the end of the rehabilitation plan, controlling effort tolerance, blood pressure and heart rate using cardiotachometers. Results: 181 patients were included, aged 58.7 ± 9.7 years and 87.8% female, of whom 90% were carriers of ischemic heart disease. According to the classification of the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Reha -bilitation, the patients were distributed as follows: 54 (29.8%) at high risk, 29 (16.0%) at intermediate risk, and 98 (54.1%) low risk. In more than ten thousand hours of physical activity performed, one patient required implantation of a permanent pacemaker due to complete atrioventricular block. A significant improvement (p = 0.001) of the func tional capacity, from 7.34 ± 2.68 to 10.2 ± 2.35 (mean relative improvement: 28.1%.) was obtained. Conclusions: the CR is a safe and effective procedure for cardiac patients, even in moderate or high-risk subjects. The use of cardiotachometers allows adequate exercise monitoring and timely detection of complications.


the control of anthracnose in the southern states. The exact temperature range for Ascochyta nd buckwheat was not determined. Results obtained by other workers have shown that there is no definite optimum for infection, but that there is a wide range of temperature in which, providing some other factor does not interfere, the number of infections taking place does not vary much if the plant is exposed to infection for a sufficient length of time at the lower temperatures. These earlier results are borne out by the work of LAURITZEN. He concludes, therefore, that in considering control measures we must note not only the temperature which seems favorable to infection, but also the length of time for which the plant has been exposed. The results he obtains from a study of the effect of humidity on infection lead him to point out that "the absence of certain diseases in semi-arid and arid regions where agriculture has been practised for long periods of time may be due in part to the small moisture content of the air," and that " seasonal variation in the moisture content of the air plays an important part in determining the amount of disease that develops." Because of the rather general belief that a film of moisture on the leaf surface favors infection, it is interesting to note the conclusion reached by the author that such a film is not essential. He considers it proved that, within certain limits of humidity, the spore is able to absorb sufficient water for germination, at first by imbibition and later by osmosis. He suggests also that in depressions of the leaf surface, especially above the stomata, the humidity may be high enough to make germination possible.-D. H. ROSE.


The seepage stability is the important factor which impacts the safety and stability of the tailings dam,and the position of the saturation line directly affects the safety and stability of the tailings dam.Taking the concrete tailings dam for example,and based on the measured data on drilling,the suitable calculation parameter and boundary condition are chosen to build a reasonable calculation model to analyze the seepage situation of the tailings dam when the drainage facility is normal or damaged.The conclusion is that the permeability of the primary dam has a close relationship with the seepage stability of the tailings dam.When the impermeable layer of the primary dam is blocked,the permeability at exit is reduced and the saturation line of the dam rises,and even the water may exude from the dam slope.The seepage scheme with the local horizontal holes can effectively reduce the saturation line and ensure the safety of the dam.


Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is now a significant health problem in today's culture. It ranges from a spectrum of abnormal conditions during sleep from the primary snorer to mild, moderate, or severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). SDB also comprises other conditions, such as sleep-related hypoventilation, sleep-related hypoxemia, and central sleep apnea syndromes.
One of the components of the pathophysiology of OSA that remain unclear is the association of allergic rhinitis (AR) in the evolution of OSA. Several studies relate OSA and AR's co-existence in the common clinical practice, but its correlation was not clear. This review article aimed to review the relationship between OSA and AR in terms of the role of chemical mediators and pathophysiological and the effect of AR treatment in support of OSA.
The symptoms of AR further accelerate the clinical progression to OSA development. Inflammatory mediators such as histamine, cysteinyl leukotrienes, and interleukins are found at a high level in AR, which can aggravate AR symptoms such as nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, and itchiness, which can then lead to sleep disruption in OSA patients. In addition, OSA patients also have increased chemical mediators such as tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 6, and 1, which would activate the T helper 2 phenotypes that can aggravate AR symptoms. This vicious cycle can potentiate each other and worsen the condition. Few studies have shown that treatment of AR can improve OSA, especially the use of intranasal steroid and leukotriene receptor
antagonists.
A detailed evaluation of rhinitis symptoms should be made for those OSA patients so that they can benefit not only from the improvement of AR but also the good sleep quality.


Previous research related to the controversial Hurst phenomenon is reviewed and evaluated. Because of the inherent statistical properties of the rescaled adjusted range (RAR) statistic it is suggested that research primarily be devoted to this statistic rather than to the various definitions of the Hurst coefficient. Simulation studies reveal that for independently distributed random variables the RAR does not significantly depend on the underlying distribution of the random variables but is a function of the sample size. For modeling correlated data the statistical attributes of a discrete fractional Gaussian noise (FGN) process are studied and also improved. An efficient maximum likelihood estimation technique is developed for the FGN model, and it is shown how the residuals of the fitted model can be calculated and then subjected to diagnostic checks. An exact simulation procedure is developed for simulating FGN in such a way that synthetic traces from the model lie outside the Brownian domain. The Akaike information criterion (AIC) is suggested as a method for choosing between a FGN and a Box-Jenkins model. For the six annual river flow series that are considered the AIC selects the best Box-Jenkins model in preference to the FGN process for each data set. Because Box-Jenkins models can be shown to preserve the historical RAR, in many practical applications it may be advantageous to use a Box-Jenkins model instead of a FGN process.


Since the construction of the first embedded system in the 1960s, embedded systems have continued to spread. They provide a continually increasing number of services and are part of our daily life. The development of these systems is a difficult problem which does not yet have a global solution. Another difficulty is that systems are plunged into the real world, which is not discrete (as is generally understood in computing), but has a richness of behaviors which sometimes hinders the formulation of simplifying assumptions due to their generally autonomous nature and they must face possibly unforeseen situations (incidents, for example), or even situations that lie outside the initial design assumptions.Embedded Systems presents the state of the art of the development of embedded systems and, in particular, concentrates on the modeling and analysis of these systems by looking at model-driven engineering, (MDE2): SysML, UML/MARTE and AADL. A case study (based on a pacemaker) is presented which enables the reader to observe how the different aspects of a system are addressed using the different approaches. All three systems are important in that they provide the reader with a global view of their possibilities and demonstrate the contributions of each approach in the different stages of the software lifecycle. Chapters dedicated to analyzing the specification and code generation are also presented.ContentsForeword, Brian R. Larson.Foreword, Dominique Potier.Introduction, Fabrice Kordon, Jrme Hugues, Agusti Canals and Alain Dohet.Part 1. General Concepts1. Elements for the Design of Embedded Computer Systems, Fabrice Kordon, Jrme Hugues, Agusti Canals and Alain Dohet.2. Case Study: Pacemaker, Fabrice Kordon, Jrme Hugues, Agusti Canals and Alain Dohet.Part 2. SysML3. Presentation of SysML Concepts, Jean-Michel Bruel and Pascal Roques.4. Modeling of the Case Study Using SysML, Loc Fejoz, Philippe Leblanc and Agusti Canals.5. Requirements Analysis, Ludovic Apvrille and Pierre De Saqui-Sannes.Part 3. MARTE6. An Introduction to MARTE Concepts, Sbastien Grard and Franois Terrier.7. Case Study Modeling Using MARTE, Jrme Delatour and Jol Champeau.8. Model-Based Analysis, Frederic Boniol, Philippe Dhaussy, Luka Le Roux and Jean-Charles Roger.9. Model-Based Deployment and Code Generation, Chokri Mraidha, Ansgar Radermacher and Sbastien Grard.Part 4. AADL10. Presentation of the AADL Concepts, Jrme Hugues and Xavier Renault.11. Case Study Modeling Using AADL, Etienne Borde.12. Model-Based Analysis, Thomas Robert and Jrme Hugues.13. Model-Based Code Generation, Laurent Pautet and Bchir Zalila.About the AuthorsFabrice Kordon is Professor at University Pierre and Marie Curie in Paris, France, where he is in charge of the team Modlisation et vrification of the LIP6. His research field is at the crossroads of distributed systems, software engineering and formal methods.Jrme Hugues is lecturer-researcher at the Institut Suprieur de lAronautique et de lEspace (ISAE) in Toulouse, France and has been a member of the language standardization committee (AADL) since 2006. His research fields cover the engineering of embedded systems and the generation of automatic code of these systems from modeling languages, integrating verification and analysis tools on the model and code level.Agusti Canals is a software engineer and has worked at CS Communication et Systmes in Paris, France since 1981. He is deputy director of the Direction de la Qualit et des Audits Techniques (DQAT) of CS and an expert in software engineering (certified UML Professional and SysML Builder by OMG).Alain Dohet is a general armament engineer at the Direction Gnrale pour lArmement (organization of the French Defense Minister ensuring the conduct of system programs), where he is in charge of guiding activities, skills, methods and tools in the fields of systems of systems (SoS), systems engineering, analysis for certification purposes, operational safety of embedded computing systems and critical software.


As the dependency on software systems grows, software developers need to be able to identify and meet the requirements for a system. In his prominent research, Jackson shows that both environment assertions and requirements reside together in the environment. Due to this close relation, it is natural that there is a form of influence between the two. Existing literature indicates the importance of environment assertions in different software engineering activities, including requirements-based testing. However, little is known about the influence of environment assertions in requirements elicitation. In this paper, we perform a preliminary study involving 48 developers and a prominent online conferencing software application, Webex. The results of our study suggest that environment assertions positively influence requirements elicitation activities. To that end, this preliminary study opens a new avenue for requirements engineering researchers and practitioners.


Failure to manage the risk of concussion properly could lead to fewer people playing sport, according to Scotland's chief medical officer, writing in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.


As we have seen in the last chapter , the English criminal justice system was struggling to find appropriate sentencing options for the rising tide of juvenile offenders that was coming into the courts by the early nineteenth century. 'In time of war', as Wade pointed out in his Treatise on the Police and Crime of the Metropolis in 1829, 'the sea service … afforded a convenient outlet for profligate youths, but now it is with great difficulty persons can be found to take them, as is proved by the experience of the Marine Society'. Wade was also clear that the alternatives were far from satisfactory. 'The methods now employed to dispose of delinquent children failing to reform them or relieve society from their presence, it is certainly expedient a new experiment should be tried', he wrote. 'This class of offenders … may be imprisoned and whipped, … (or) transported for a limited term. Neither of these punishments serves any salutary end, and when applied, the magistrates generally take occasion to remark, at the time, that they have resorted to them merely because they have no other way of disposing of the objects before them.' Wade's solution was compulsory exile, and assisted emigration in various less drastic forms did emerge as a major policy option in the late 1820s and 1830s.


One of the most promising renewable energy crops and biomass feedstock for biogas production in Europe is the C4 plant grain sorghum due to its high photosynthetic efficiency. The release of lignocellulosic material and therefore the acceleration of degradation processes of sorghum stalks and leaves can be achieved using mechanical and thermal pretreatments, which assist to hydrolyse the cell walls and speed the solvolysis of biopolymers. This study is focused on hotcompressed liquid water, steam explosion and ultrasonic pre-treatments of grain sorghum stover. The effectiveness of pre-treatments was evaluated by means of soluble chemical oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand, and by the biogas and methane productivities. The results show that the pre-treatments disintegrated the lignocellulosic structure, increased and accelerated the biogas and methane production, and increased the mesophilic anaerobic digestion potential of grain sorghum stover. Our laboratory tests demonstrated that the steam exploded grain sorghum stover possess the highest biogas productivity.


Myelinolytic substances of microbial origin may be useful in developing procedures to test compounds for anti-demyelinating properties in vitro. Any agents exhibiting activity under these conditions may then be tried clinically for chemotherapeutic efficacy in multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases. i\yelinolytic substances (e.g., lipolytic enzymes) which differ in substrate specificity and mode of action may also be used to disassemble native myelin. The identification of fragments sequentially released might yield information on the physicochemical structure of the undenatured myelin complex. These considerations motivated earlier studies in which 132 soil microflora were surveyed for their ability to develop on phospholipids ancf related substances (Schatz et al., 1956a). Of the 109 actinomycetes included in the 132 organisms, 6 proved capable of demyelinating fresh blocks of bovine spinal cord in vitro (Adelson et al., 1956). The present investigations were carried out with our most actively myelinolytic actinomyeete. Certain lipids and lipid derivatives were tested as growth substrates and for their effects on oxygen uptake by this organism.


In dogs treated for cataract by lens extraction, the authors comment on the wide variety of procedures that have been advocated and used in pre-operative treatment, anaesthesia, operative technique and postoperative care. The article outlines the procedures that have been tried and rejected over the last 10 years and those which are now favoured by the authors. Using standard criteria to assess results, the successful outcome of treatment has increased from 50% to 75%.


This chapter recovers the first major assault on Scotland's humanist history, its myth of an Ancient Monarchy in the 1680s and the subsequent, increasingly probing challenges which were directed against it in the wake of revolution. The authority of historians such as Hector Boece and George Buchanan was no longer sufficient to protect them from challenges based upon new and more sophisticated interpretations of medieval texts. In particular, Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh's high-profile dispute with English and Irish scholars such as William Lloyd, Edward Stillingfleet, and Roderick O'Flaherty is identified as a turning point in the development of Scottish historiographical practice.


CBGA (Ceramic Ball Grid Array) is one kind of advanced package for FPGA, which can fulfill the demands of high interconnect density, high thermal and electronic performance, high chip-assembling yields, high reliability. But in multiple loading environments, CBGA has the invalidation mode of solder joint thermal-mechanical failure, which will influence the long term reliability of FPGA circuits. But there is few research on the China native made CBGA package. In this paper research of finite element analysis and solder joint fatigue predictive equation have been made on some of CBGA packages, and some failure prediction and ATC test results have been given.


The article is devoted to the consideration of the possibility of applying the methodological principles of scientific realism in the history of ancient philosophy. The author shows that in its strong version, scientific realism is not an appropriate basis for historical research, since it involves minimizing the number of interpretations of philosophical material of the past. Another serious drawback of applying strong versions of scientific realism in the history of philosophy is their focus on the correspondent theory of truth. This theory does not fit the historian of philosophy, since she aims not only at creating a realistic picture of the past, but also at incorporating the philosophical ideas of the past into the modern context, therefore a coherent theory of truth is more likely to meet her objectives. After a brief review of the weak versions of realism (H. Putnam's "internal realism", S. Blackburn's "quasi-realism" and "sensibility theory"), the author concludes that these kinds of realism are more suitable for the history of philosophy in general and for the history of ancient philosophy in particular. As a result, the author concludes that the historian of philosophy must take into account the objectivity and independence of the philosophical ideas of the past, and inevitably be guided by his own conceptual and terminological facilities in order to incorporate the ideas of the past into the modern philosophical context.


This report describes the results of a series of tests on soil borings taken in Atchafalaya Test Section VI, a 2000-ft-long portion of the Atchafalaya Basin Protection Levee System in south-central Louisiana. The samples were tested to interpret the depositional layers in the foundations soils and to determine various engineering properties.


Empirical and anecdotal evidence of the benefits of music for athletes has grown over the past decade. Michael Phelps, the most successful Olympian of all time, listens to music until about two minutes before his races start
and has attributed part of his phenomenal success to this practice. The aim of this presentation is to demonstrate ways in which the evidence base can be applied in practice. A range of evidence-based music applications for
athletes is discussed. First, use of inspirational music is presented, giving examples from bobsled and trap shooting. Secondly, manipulation of pre-competition mindset using music is explained, giving examples from
rowing, boxing and athletics. Thirdly, the role of music in rehabilitation from injury is exemplified, based on work with a six-time kayak world champion incapacitated by chronic fatigue syndrome and unable to compete. Fourthly, the incorporation of innovative use of technology to enhance the effects of music is presented and discussed. Brainwave training utilising the flicker response delivered via custom-made glasses to promote alpha wave
activity was shown to be an effective mood regulation strategy when used in conjunction with music among shooters at the 2006 Asian Games. Similarly, music used in conjunction with analysis of EEG activity was utilised among shooters preparing for the 2008 Olympic Games. Firstly, individualised links between brain activity and best shots were assessed using on-range EEG analysis, followed by neurofeedback training (NFT) to promote ideal
brain activity. Next, music with associations of winning was used during NFT to promote a conditioned response. This music was then used as a pre-task stimulus to promote ideal brain activity during performance. Finally, a
recent innovation has incorporated appropriate music, words and photographs into a PowerPoint presentation, converted it into an mp4 file and loaded the presentation
onto a mobile phone for viewing by the athlete as and when required. The principles and practice of using music interventions with athletes has been demonstrated and
discussed. The evidence-based examples described in this presentation provide a guide for applied sport psychology practitioners to implement music interventions with elite
athletes.


Supplementing ruminant diets with macroalgae is gaining interest globally because bromoform-containing seaweeds (e.g., Asparagopsis spp.) have been shown to be highly effective enteric methane (CH4) inhibitors. Some alternative seaweeds decrease in vitro CH4 production, but few have been evaluated in animals. This study examined the effects of including the red seaweed Mazzaella japonica in the diet of beef cattle on dry matter intake (DMI), rumen fermentation, digestibility, nitrogen (N) utilization, and enteric CH4 production. Six ruminally cannulated, mature beef heifers (824 ± 47.1 kg) were used in a double 3 × 3 Latin square with 35-d periods. The basal diet consisted of 52% barley silage, 44% barley straw, and 4% vitamin and mineral supplement [dry matter (DM) basis]. The treatments were (DM basis): 0% (control), 1%, and 2% M. japonica. The DMI increased quadratically (P = 0.025) with the inclusion of M. japonica, such that the DMI of heifers consuming 1% was greater (P < 0.05) than that of control heifers. The apparent total-tract digestibility of DM decreased linearly (P = 0.002) with the inclusion of M. japonica, but there were no treatment differences in the digestibility of organic matter, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber, or starch. The level of M. japonica linearly (P < 0.001) increased the N intake of the heifers. Fecal N excretion linearly increased (P = 0.020) with M. japonica, but there were no differences in total urinary N excretion, N fractions (allantoin, uric acid), total purine derivatives, microbial purine derivatives absorbed, microbial N flow, or retained N. There were no treatment effects on rumen pH or total volatile fatty acids (VFAs); however, adding M. japonica to the diet quadratically (P = 0.023) decreased the proportion of acetate, whereas 1% inclusion decreased the acetate proportion. Methane production (g/day) decreased quadratically (P = 0.037), such that the heifers receiving 2% M. japonica produced 9.2% less CH4 than control animals; however, CH4 yield (g/kg DMI) did not differ among treatments. We conclude that supplementing a forage-based diet with up to 2% M. japonica failed to lower the enteric CH4 yield of beef heifers. M. japonica can be used in diets to help meet the CP requirements of cattle, but inclusion rates may be limited by high inorganic matter proportions. When comprising up to 2% of the diet, M. japonica cannot be recommended as a CH4 inhibitor for beef cattle fed on high-forage diets.


The current information monitoring and warning system usually works by adopting one of the detectors such as the TV camera,low-light-level(LLL) TV and infrared thermal imager or switching among them.Every detector has its own advantages and disadvantages,which cannot fully reflect the needs of monitoring information when just using general models.In order to solve this problem,a video monitoring system with image fusion technology was designed.Through the analysis of the imaging mechanism and features of the three complementary detectors,the components of this video monitoring system were introduced.Based on the working principle of the system,the main structure of the front detection system was designed.The turntable achieves the field of view of +90°~-30°in vertical direction and ±175°in horizontal.The optical-axis parallelism error of the system is less than 0.5 mrad.After the discussion of the fusion algorithm and registration of images from different fields of view,the experiment of image fusion was done to test the performance of this system.Finally,image quality and system real-time testing show that the video image fusion monitoring system can realize all-day information monitoring.


For any conceivable desalination process using the gas hydrate formation, the kinetics has to be one of the most important parameters from the economic point of view. We thus were to improve the kinetics of the R-134a (also known as HFC- 134a) gas hydrate formation by using promoters and three different kinds of edible surfactants were selected for the desalination process targeted to produce potable water; κ-carrageenan, lecithin, and polysorbate 80 among anionic, amphoteric, and nonionic surfactants, respectively. Then, the kinetics change of the R-134a hydrate formation was monitored by varying the surfactant concentration. Experimental results demonstrated that the rate of R-134a hydrate formation increases with the addition of edible surfactants in general and the effect as a promotor has an order of polysorbate 80 > κ-carrageenan > lecithin. As a supportive measure, the atomic charges of each surfactant were calculated by using a DFT (density functional theory)-based molecular modeling and the results showed a positive relationship between the promotor effect of each surfactant and the number of oxygens available for hydrogen bonding and the negativity of their atomic charge values.


Objective: To investigate suppression of RNA interference (RNAi) on expression of Skp2 of SKOV3 ovarian carcinoma cell line. Methods: The Skp2-siRNA was designed and synthesized, then transfected to SKOV3 ovarian carcinoma cell lines. The cell lines were divided into five groups, including the blank control group, the siRNA transfection group 1, the siRNA transfection group 2, the mock transfection group and the negative control group. The expression level of Skp2 mRNA and protein were detected by realtime-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The growth and proliferation of SKOV3 ovarian carcinoma cell lines were observed with CCK-8 assay. Results: After transfection with Skp2-siRNA, the expression level of Skp2 mRNA and protein were down-regulated, the growth and proliferation of SKOV3 ovarian carcinoma cell line were inhibited in the siRNA transfection group 1 and the siRNA transfection group 2. There were significant differences between the siRNA transfection group 1 and group 2 and the blank control group(P 0.05),but no significant difference between the siRNA transfection group 1 and siRNA transfection group 2 (P 0.05). The silencing efficiencies were 75.31% and 76.86% in siRNA transfection group 1 and group 2 respectively. The protein suppression rates were 62.10% and 63.11% respectively. The inhibition ratios were 52.75% and 53.06% respectively by CCK-8 assay. Conclusion: The down-regulation of Skp2 expression of SKOV3 ovarian carcinoma cell line by Skp2-siRNA can lead to the suppression of proliferation. The small interfering RNAs technique can inhibit the proliferation of carcinoma cell by oncogene silencing.


Two extract from the walnut tree bark ( Juglans regia ) were investigated for antimicrobial activities against seven human pathogens such as: Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, salmonella suis ATCC 13076, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27583, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Shigella sonnei ATCC 11060 and one was human pathogenic fungus: Candida albicans ATCC 10231. In this study, methanol was used as an extraction solvent, and bioactivity screening was done by agar well diffusion method. The bark extract in both samples showed strong activities against almost all the pathogenic microorganisms. Furthermore, the purified crude extract of the two samples has been analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results indicated that the main component in the crude extract for bark sample 1 (MHO) was cyclobutanol (91.7%) and for bark sample 2 (MHC) was 1, 3-dioxolane, 2, 4, 5-trimethyl (92.9%). In both extracts cyclobutanol was present in high percentage (91.7%). Further, 4h-pyran-4-one,2,3-dihydro-3,-dihydroxy-6-methyl; 1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol,2,2-dimethyl; 1,6,3,4-dianhydro-2-deoxy-beta-d-lyxo-hexopyranose; cyclopropyl carbinol; 2-heptanamine,5-methyl-; pyrimidine-2,4(1h,3h)-dione,5-amino-6-nitroso; alanine; butanenitrile,2,3-dioxo-,dioxime,o,o-diacetyl; (r)-(-)-2-amino-1-propanol and benzaldehyde,4-ethoxy were present in both bark extracts as 80-89%. Moreover, ethanamine,2-propoxy; 2-isopropoxyethylamine; (r)-(-)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol; 3,4-furandiol, tetrahydro-,cis; glycerin; eicosanoic acid; pentadecanoic acid; 1-octadecanamin,n-methyl and (s)-(+)-1-cyclohexylethylamine appeared in bark sample 1 as 80-91%, while the compounds 1,3-dioxolane,2,4,5-trimethyl; 11-tridecen-1-ol; hexadecanal; 4-tridecene,(z); 2-undecene,(e); 4-tetradecene,(z); acetic acid, trifluoro-, decyl ester; 2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylcyclopent-2-en-1-one and d-glycero-d-tallo-heptose were present in bark sample 2 as 80-92%.


Lowering of the temperature from 37.5 degrees C to 28 degrees C provokes a decrease in the response of the beta cell to the stimulation by glucose (1.5 g/1, 3 g/1 and 5 g/1). The insulin secretion obtained at 28 degrees C, compared to that obtained at 37.5 degrees C, is weaker for strongly stimulating concentrations (3 g/1 and 5 g/1) than for a slightly stimulating concentration (1.5 g/1).


The production rate of soft real photons or soft lepton pairs by a hot QCD plasma is dominated by strong collinear divergences. As a consequence, it appears that the effective theory based on the resummation of hard thermal loops fails to handle properly these light-cone sensitive processes since some formally higher order diagrams are in reality the dominant ones.


The low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3 (NH3-SCR) over MnOx-CeOx/ACF (activated carbon fiber) modified by Fe, Cu, or V was investigated in the presence of SO2. The results revealed that the SO2 tolerance of MnOx-CeOx/ACF was not enhanced after Cu and V modification. The addition of Fe to MnOx-CeOx/ ACF enhanced its resistance to SO2 poisoning over the first 6 h in the presence of SO2, but then deactivated quickly. The samples were analyzed by N2 adsorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FT- IR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). We found that catalyst surface coverage by ammonium salts as well as metallic sulfates and sulfites formed by the reaction between SO2 and metal oxides in the catalysts was responsible for catalyst deactivation in the presence of SO2. Sulfur on the surface of the deactivated catalysts was mainly in the form of metallic sulfates and sulfites with 70.4%, 68.9%, 86.3%, and 71.4%(w) on deactivated MnOx-CeOx/ACF, Fe- MnOx-CeOx/ACF, Cu-MnOx-CeOx/ACF, and V-MnOx-CeOx/ACF, respectively. A valuable contribution towards understanding the deactivation of catalysts based on MnOx-CeOx/ACF for the SCR in the presence of SO2 was made.


Background: Treatment of osteomyelitis often requires antibiotics over an extended period. Underinsured patients are often kept in an acute care setting for the duration of treatment rather than a subacute care facility or at home for antibiotic administration due to difficulties with placement in lower-level care settings. This provides a significant financial burden on both the hospitalized patient and the hospital system. This report highlights the wide discrepancy between costs to the patient between care settings. Methods: A theoretical patient scenario based on a current patient scenario was described to billing officers at a large tertiary care center with affiliated extended care facilities and home healthcare services. Costs to the patient for antibiotics, as well as room and board were obtained. Findings: Six weeks of inpatient care with dual-therapy broad-spectrum antibiotics and basic nursing care costs $50,980. Similar care at an extended care facility costs $31,072, while similar services provided by home health nursing costs $12,307. Conclusions: The uninsured patient population is placed with a large financial burden when undergoing long-term antibiotic treatment. Practitioners and care coordinators should evaluate the proper setting for treatment for patients on an individual basis and strive to find appropriate placement amidst financial challenges. Charitable care that provides medications and potentially other medical needs at a reduced rate for patients with limited financial resources and no insurance should be considered. These efforts will reduce the cost of treatment to the patient and in turn reduce the burden on the hospital system.


As clock frequency increases and feature size decreases, clock distribution and skew tolerance present growing challenges to the designers of singly-clocked, globally synchronous processors. We describe a globally-asynchronous, locally-synchronous (GALS) approach, which we call a Multiple Clock Domain ( MCD) processor, in which the chip is divided into several clock domains, within which independent voltage and frequency scaling can be performed. Boundaries between domains are chosen to exploit existing queues, thereby minimizing inter-domain synchronization costs. We propose four clock domains corresponding to the front end (including L1 instruction cache), integer units, floating-point units, and load-store units (including L1 data cache and unified L2 cache).
In addition, we quantify the potential energy savings of a specific MCD processor based on the Alpha 21264 microprocessor using off-line analysis of traces of a broad range of applications to identify the potential energy savings. With the results from this off-line algorithm as a benchmark, we describe the design, analysis and performance of a realistic on-line frequency/voltage control algorithm which achieves on average a 19.0% reduction in Energy Per Instruction (EPI), a 3.2% increase in Cycles Per Instruction (CPI), and a 16.7% improvement in the Energy-Delay product, with a Power Savings to Performance Degradation ratio of 4.6. This Energy-Delay product improvement is 85.5% of what was achieved using the off-line algorithm. All of our results (from both the off-line and online algorithms) were achieved using a broad mix of compute bound, memory bound, and rate-based applications from the MediaBench, Olden, and Spec2000 benchmark suites.
We also demonstrate that the inherent characteristics of an MCD microarchitecture allow internal processor complexity to be dynamically traded for frequency on a per-domain basis. Simply configuring the MCD processor once per application increases performance 17.6%, on average, compared to the best fully synchronous design. When adapting to application phases, performance improves by 20.4%.
These techniques provide an enabling technology which will allow future processor designs to achieve higher levels of scalability, performance, and energy efficiency than would otherwise be possible with a monolithic synchronous processor.


Overview of analyses that look at the relationship between where UK MPs were born and their constituency in the 2017 general election. These analyses update those relating to the 2010 and 2015 general elections, and examine trends.


The invention relates to a safety and arming device for spin-stabilized explosive projectile, the device comprising a screen (10) closing a transmission channel (11) connecting a detonator (4) and a pyrotechnic relay (12), the screen being constituted by two half-frames (10a, 10b) movable relative to each other and transversely to the transmission channel (11). This device is characterized in that the two half-frames (10a, 10b) are slidably mounted in a bore carried by a rotor (14) coaxial with the projectile and mounted to pivot relative to the axis (6) of the projectile, which rotor carries the transmission channel (11), the two half-screens are also locked in the closed position of the channel by at least two latches (26,24). The invention also relates to a boot device implementing such a device security and armament.


It is important and significant to study the berthing time at the bus stop. After anglicizing the influence factors of berthing time, the article statistically analyzed the characteristics of these factors acting on the berthing time. Then some useful countermeasures were put forward to reducing the berthing time for improving bus system's service quality.


The Mw 6.4 Southwest Puerto Rico Earthquake of 7 January 2020 was accompanied by a robust fore- and aftershock sequence. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has issued regular aftershock forecasts for more than a year since the mainshock, available on a public webpage. Forecasts were accompanied by interpretive and informational material, published in English and Spanish. Informational products included narrative "scenarios" for how the aftershock sequence could play out, infographics, and a report on the potential duration of the aftershock sequence through the next decade. Forecasts are based on the epidemic-type aftershock sequence (ETAS) model and generated using the USGS AftershockForecaster software—an interactive graphical user interface built on the OpenSHA platform (Field et al., 2003). The initial forecast is based on past sequences in similar tectonic environments; subsequent forecasts are tuned to the ongoing sequence via Bayesian model updating. Probabilistic aftershock forecasts for the next day, week, month, and year were publicly released and archived at a daily to monthly tempo, allowing for a truly prospective test of the forecast. Here, we evaluate the forecast over the first year of the recorded aftershocks. The ETAS-based forecast performed well overall, successfully capturing both the chance of having at least one earthquake of a given magnitude in a forecast interval as well as the non-Poissonian distribution of the total number of aftershocks within an interval. A retrospective analysis shows that the ETAS model is a substantial improvement over the existing Reasenberg and Jones (1989) forecast model. The exercise also reveals some limitations of the current model, in particular, with respect to nonstationarities in the aftershock magnitude distribution and model parameters throughout the evolving sequence.


The work of Luke, who introduces himself to the reader through a narrative that can be read on two levels, human and divine, gives an important place to ethics; particularly when he employs parallel presentations of models and the formulation of vital questions, posed by different protagonists. In the formation of Christ's disciples, baptism and the call to conversion go hand in hand. Luc strives to show that the mission of those who have witnessed the risen Christ, depending on individual situations, calls for choices, ruptures and stances to be made, even painful ones. He gives special attention to mercy, perseverance, the sharing of possessions and prayer. During the disciples' formation, the role of communities is important, as well as the experience of decisive meetings. The narrative form of Luke's text, with its diversity of situations, incites the reader's creative freedom. Far from denying the difficulties and the tensions, it invites us to use our discernment, echoing today as in the past the question which runs through the narrative: "what must we do?"


Quantitative dry powder medicament dose which is sealed dose container, while minimizing exposure to the ambient atmosphere, a method and apparatus for enabling access for inhalation. The present invention relates to a single dose form of the inhaler, movable inhaler member, relates to inhalers which so-called slide is provided. Slide has at least one compatible receptacle adapted to receive a dose container of the selected type. Slides (in this position, the user receptacle, accessible to a for loading the sealed dose container) first protruding position between, and a second position that is drawn into the inhaler which is a possible move.


ABSTRACT. Sulfoxaflor is recommended for use as an insecticide on wheat, barley, rapeseed, sugar beet, apple and cabbage. In the State Enterprise "L.I. Medved's Research Center for Preventive Toxicology, Food and Chemical Safety, The Ministry of Health of Ukraine" a study was conducted on the toxicological and hygienic assessment of sulfoxaflor and the insecticide Transform, WG based on it; PDD of sulfoxaflor for humans, hygienic standards of the substance and regulations for safe use of the drug are substantiated.

Aim. Toxicological and hygienic assessment of sulfoxaflor and its insecticide, assessment of the risk of exposure to agricultural workers and the population.

Methods. Expert-analytical, toxicological, physico-chemical, hygienic.

Results. According to the parameters of toxicity, sulfoxaflor and the drug Transform, WG belong to pesticides of the 2nd class of danger according to the limiting criterion of harmfulness – the reproductive toxicity of sulfoxaflor. It has a polytropic effect on the body with predominant damage to the liver and reproductive organs. Mutagenic, carcinogenic and teratogenic activity and embryotoxicity of sulfoxaflor are not limiting when assessing its danger.

As a result of field studies, it was established that residual amounts of sulfoxaflor were not detected in the grain of the wheat and barley crops, the seeds of the rape crop and its oil, the roots of the sugar beet crop, the apple crop and their juice, cabbage at the limit level of detection methods.

The degree of possible professional risk of exposure to flupyradifurone in case of entering the body of agricultural workers by inhalation and dermal routes does not exceed the permissible level.

Conclusions. The use of the insecticide Transform, WG based on sulfoxaflor in the agriculture of Ukraine on wheat, barley, rapeseeds, sugar beetroots, apples and cabbage in compliance with hygienic standards and regulations is not dangerous talking about the sulfoxaflor contamination possibility of agricultural crops and environmental objects.

Keywords: insecticide, sulfoxaflor, toxicological properties, hygienic standards and regulations, hazard assessment.


Overexpressors of Glycine max disease resistant 1 (GmDR1) exhibits broad-spectrum resistance against Fusarium virguliforme, soybean cyst nematode (SCN), spider mites, and soybean aphids in soybean. To understand the mechanisms of broad-spectrum immunity mediated by GmDR1, we investigated the transcriptomes of a strong and a weak GmDR1-overexpressors following treatment with chitin, a pathogen- and pest-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) found in these organisms. The strong and weak GmDR1-overexpressors exhibited altered expression of 6,098 and 992 genes, respectively, as compared to the nontransgenic control following chitin treatment. However, only 192 of these genes exhibited over two-fold changes in expression levels in both strong and weak GmDR1-overexpressors as compared to the control. MapMan analysis of the 192 genes revealed 64 biotic stress-related genes, of which 53 were induced and 11 repressed as compared to the control. The 53 chitin-induced genes include nine that encode receptor kinases, 13 encode nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) receptor proteins, seven encoding WRKY transcription factors, four ethylene response factors, and three MYB-like transcription factors. Investigation of a subset of these genes revealed three receptor protein kinases, seven NLR proteins, and one WRKY transcription factor genes that are induced following F. virguliforme and SCN infection. The integral plasma membrane GmDR1 protein most likely recognizes PAMPs including chitin and activates transcription of genes encoding receptor kinases and NLR proteins. GmDR1 could be a pattern recognition receptor that regulates the expression of several NLRs for expression of PAMP-triggered immunity and/or priming the effector triggered immunity.


A process for the isomerization of a feed of hydrocarbon compounds containing C5 and/or C6 hydrocarbon compounds, in which process: a) an isomerization unit (1) is supplied with at least one liquid fraction of the feed of hydrocarbon compounds and the isomerization is carried out in the presence of a chlorinated catalyst; b) a stabilization unit (20) containing at least one stabilization column (2) is supplied with the effluent obtained from the isomerization unit (1) and a separation is carried out in the stabilization unit (20); c) an absorption unit (7) contains at least one absorption column (3); d) a liquid flow enriched in chlorinated compounds is extracted from the absorption unit (7) and returned to the isomerization unit (1); e) the liquid flow containing at least one isomerate of the feed of hydrocarbon compounds is extracted from the stabilization unit (20).


The fault-tolerant quadrotor flight control systems operating without reconfiguration in a case of the sensor failure is the powerful mean for increasing the quadrotor flight safety. In this paper, the procedure for design of such system is proposed. It is based on the application of the extended observer synthesis based on the matrix Sylvester equation along with standard LQR method augmented with special optimization procedure for increasing the stability margin of systems with and without reconfiguration. It was performed the simulation of the fault-tolerant flight control system with the mathematical model of the certain real quadrotor, which was developed and manufactured at the National Aviation University. A result of this simulation demonstrates the efficiency of the proposed design method and appropriate system dynamics in a case of the sensor failure.


ed hydrogen). Further dehydrogenation creates the corresponding aldehyde, which shifts to interact with the surface in an upright manner (ɳ 1 (O)). They propose the most likely explanation of the shift in aldehyde-surface interaction is the result of a reduced electron density in the Pd due to the electronegative O(a), which cannot donate as well to the carbonyl π orbital of a side-on aldehyde adsorbate (ɳ 2 (CO)). Figure 1-8 shows an example TPD of acetaldehyde where the desorption temperature of an ɳ 1 adsorbed aldehyde is lower from O/Pd(111) as a result of the weaker bonding interaction of oxygen's lone-pair electrons compared to an ɳ 2 adsorption structure. The dominate reaction pathway is nucleophilic oxidation of the aldehyde to a carboxylate, which completely decomposes to CO2 and H2O or may be hydrogenated to the corresponding acid. Oxygen scavenging of hydrogen precludes formation of many hydrogenated products. Scheme 1-3. The five roles of oxygen in the reactions of simple alcohols on O/Pd(111). Mechanism adapted from reference. 51


Abstract Turner Rockshelter, located on the southeast flank of central Montana's Bull Mountains, contains extensive panels of Biographic rock art showing both triangular and rectangular body style humans, mature style horses, battle pit fortifications, and a characteristic type of decorated halter. By comparison to known-age Blackfeet robe art, the images can be identified as Blackfeet and seriation dating indicates that they were most likely drawn in the 1880s. Detailed ethnohistoric records document that horse raiding during the decade of the 1880s was centered in this area of Montana with the Blackfeet and Crow as the principal protagonists. The several panels of rock art here indicate that Turner Rockshelter served as a redoubt bivouac for parties of Blackfeet horse raiders during the last years of intertribal warfare.


This paper discusses a novel design for a 140MHz-1GHz broad-band resonant coaxial cavity high power amplifier system developed by Redstone Technical Test Center, ETM Electromatic, Inc. and BURLE Industries, Inc. Of particular interest are the three tunable cavities and the beam power tetrode that powers the high-power stage of the amplifier. Also discussed is the single broadband cavity used to tune the intermediate power stage of the amplifier


We developed an experimental device to measure the coefficient of friction of human finger pulp and investigated the influence of three factors (angle of contact with the friction surface, moisture condition of the fingertip, and roughness of the friction surface) on the coefficient of friction. Ten male subjects who had no hand injuries (average age : 23.8 years) were selected. Each subject was instructed to touch the friction plate (acryl plate) using the right index fingertip while applying a vertical force of approximately 20 N and then to slide the right index fingertip at a speed of approximately 5 mm/s. The angle of contact with the friction surface was defined as the angle between the central axis of the finger and the friction plate, and was set to 30, 45, and 60 degrees. In order to investigate the influence of the moisture condition, artificial sweat was applied to the fingertip to simulate three conditions (dry, appropriate moisture, and excess moisture conditions). In order to investigate the influence of the roughness of the friction surface, four aluminum plates processed by straight knurling under different conditions were used as friction plates to produce different surface roughnesses. The maximum coefficient of friction at the start of finger sliding was taken as the maximum coefficient of static friction μs, while the average coefficient of friction during sliding was taken as the coefficient of dynamic friction μk of the subject. As the angle of contact increased, μs and, μs tended to decrease, and μs at an angle of contact of 30 degrees was significantly greater than that at 60 degrees. No significant difference was observed for μk. With respect to the influence of the moisture condition, μk for the appropriate moisture condition was significantly greater than that for the dry condition. In addition, μk for the excess moisture condition did not differ from that for the dry condition. In the case of μs, there was no significant difference between the three conditions. With respect to the influence of the roughness of the friction surface, as the surface roughness increased, μs increased, and when the surface roughness exceeded a certain fixed level, it did not affect μs or μk.


There are several global detection methods, but they are not applicable to LANs. A new cooperative approach to automatic worms detection by using LANs is proposed in this paper, which focuses on scanning worm characteristics in LANs and uses different methods to cope with different worm behaviors, The results show that this approach is promising in quickly finding worm intrusion in LANs and in extracting unknown worm signatures for prevention of more worm threats.


In a Volterra dislocation the relative displacement by the Burgers vector appears abruptly in the dislocation core so that the core has no width. This leads to divergent stresses and strains, which are unrealistic. Hybrid models correct this failure by considering a balance of forces that results in a finite core width, and finite stresses and strains throughout. Interatomic forces tend to constrict the core and elastic forces tend to widen it. The Frenkel-Kontorova model comprises two interacting linear chains of atoms as a representation of an edge dislocation, with linear springs between adjacent atoms of each chain. The Peierls-Nabarro model assumes the core is confined to two parallel atomic planes sandwiched between elastic continua. This model enables the stress to move the dislocation to be calculated, and it leads to the concept of dislocation kinks. These models highlight the role of atomic interactions in affecting ductility.


The application of electro and !lame deposited metallic coatings is becoming increasingly widespread in industry to restore dimensionally worn machine parts, to impart greater surface wear characteristics, and more traditionally, to protect against surface corrosion. In each case, the coatings perform admirably, but they often cause an undesirable drop in the fatigue strength of the basis metal sometimes as much as 58 per cent!. In an electrodeposited plating such as hard chromium or nickel, there are several factors that contribute to the reduction of the endurance limit:


Custom and religion as they relate to women's rights was the focus of a recent workshop hosted by the Women Lawyers' Association. Veni Soobrayan reports


Light field records the information of the light in space and contributes to regenerate the content effectively, which makes immersive media more promising. In this paper, we propose a geometry-guided compact compression scheme (GCC) for light field image. We regard that the geometry of GCC includes the structure in a single sub-aperture image (SAI) and the relationship among SAIs, which can be used to fully explore the compact representation for light field image. The light field image is grouped into key SAIs and non-key SAIs. The key SAIs are obtained by down-sampling in the angular domain and arranged into the pseudo-sequence that needs to be compressed. We consider the superpixel-based segmentation algorithm to detect the contours and obtain the sketch map for the non-key SAIs. Meanwhile, the graph model is used to establish the relationships among the SAIs by the vertices and edges. On the decoder side, the light field image is reconstructed by the graph convolutional networks, and the sketch map optimizes the details of the recovered images to some extent. Experimental results show the benefit of GCC in terms of rate-distortion performances compare with several state-of-the-art methods for the real-world and synthetic light field datasets. Besides, the proposed GCC is able to generalize over datasets not seen during training.


In this work, an efficient procedure for the functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) based on nitric acid oxidation was presented. The morphologies of MWCNTs oxidized under various conditions were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The FTIR provided clear evidence for the presence of carboxylic groups (-COOH) attached to the surface of MWCNTs resulting from the acid treatment. The unfunctionalised MWCNTs(p- MWCNTs) and carboxy1 functionalized MWCNTs (f-MWCNTs) were successfully applied into the Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bone cement. The resultant mechanical experiment indicated that the f-MWCNTs were a promising additive to improve the compressive strength and bend strength of the PMMA bone cement. The morphology and degree of dispersion of the MWCNTs in the PMMA matrix at different scales were analyzed by SEM. Improvements in mechanical properties were attributed to the MWCNTs arresting or retarding crack propagation through the cement by providing a bridging effect into the crack, normal to the direction of crack growth. Copyright © 2013 IFSA.


Flesh color was an important key factor for loquat phenotype and fruit quality.To explore the gene fragments controlling flesh color,a loquat mutation(yellowish orange plant emerged bud mutation of whitish yellow) was used as material to evaluate the fruit quality and polymorphic bands between wild type and mutant genome by ISSR,SSR and SRAP markers.In addition,the marker OPH-01/1800 bp linked with yellowish orange flesh color was also assayed in this study.Results showed that soluble solids and total sugar of mutant fruits were higher,and β-carotene was decreased extremely compared to that wide type.No polymorphism was found in 108 SSR pairs and in 9×11 primer combinations.Two polymorphic bands with 1369bp(assigned as TB1) and 535bp(TB2) were obtained from wide type,they were both absent in mutant whitish by ISSR markers UBC854 and UBC813,respectively.The marker of OPH-01/1800bp in wide yellowish orange was 1719bp(TB3),which was absent in mutant type.A homology search against the NCBI database using a translated nucleotide query(tblastx) was performed,and TB1 might be the production of nonspecific amplification,TB2 sequences were highly related with NAD-dependent sorbitol dehydrogenase in eriobotrya japonica,1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase in pyrus and malus domestica.TB3 had highly homologous to genes sequences with F-box proteins,S-RNase,and MdSFBB9-alpha and beta genes in malus and pyrus pyrifolia.


In this paper, we propose a method to recover the relative pose of two robots in absolute scale and in real-time using one monocular camera on each robot. We achieve this by fusing measurements from the onboard inertial sensors on each platform with information obtained from feature correspondences between the two cameras using an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF). This forms a flexible stereo rig, providing the ability to treat the two robots as one single dynamic sensor, which can adapt to the environment and thus improve environmental mapping, obstacle avoidance and navigation. We demonstrate the power of this approach on both simulation and real datasets, employing two micro aerial vehicles (MAVs) to illustrate successful operation over general 3D motion.


This study seeks to answer three questions. Can one discern anything typical about the leaders of peasant mass movements? Was Jesus typical? What made him typical? After preliminary definitions a summary of anthropological studies of peas ant mass movements is presented. The evidence from these works indicates that leaders do exhibit a pattern with respect to social origins. Next the article surveys the mass movements in the Roman empire known from the classical sources, fol lowed by a similar survey of movements in Palestine. Virtually the same pattern can be seen in these sources. The conclusions will be that there was a discernible pattern concerning the origin of the leaders of the movements, that Jesus fit the pattern, and that his background as a craftsman did not impede his leadership of peasants.


Change and its role in organizations, is always increasingly significant. Change requires new knowledge and advanced ways of strategic action. The purpose of this paper is to check the influence of different dimensions of knowledge management on learning organization in textile sector of Pakistan. The impact of knowledge management dimensions on learning organization is found to be statistically significant. All dimensions of knowledge management positively impact on the dimensions of learning organization according to proposed hypotheses. All results are highly significant except leadership in knowledge management that shows insignificant results for vision and strategy and work practices. The main limitation of this study is that the data are taken only from textile organizations of Faisalabad to represent the textile sector of Pakistan. Keywords : Knowledge management, Learning organization.


A low power loss flow-meter is designed based on the MSP430F149 to cope with the high electricity expense caused by the lack of the external power supply or by the use of wires. Both hardware and software designs are presented. The system power source adopts two levels conversion: a logical judgment selecting circuit is designed for the primary conversion,as the pressure drop DC / DC and LDO have their respective advantages in transfer efficiency under different conditions; in the secondary conversion,LDO is used to lower the power line voltage of the simulation part so as to save the power loss. The system temperature and the pressure compensation modules adopt the intermittent sampling pattern,which cuts off constant current supplies in the sampling gaps from the upper voltage end using SPDT( single pool double throw),thus reducing the system power loss. The system mean current reduces to 470 μA,which meets the battery power supply design requirement.