SUMMARY Leaf protein concentrate was prepared from the weed Parthenium hysterophorus L. and the nutritional properties of this preparation were studied in relation to its amino acid composition and digestibility. The product and the residual fibre closely resembled similar products made from conventional forage species.


Objective: In this study, our aim was to analyze the feto-maternal outcomes in pregnancies with preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome followed up at our clinic. Methods: The data files of the cases with preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome who admitted to our clinic during 2011 and 2013 were evaluated retrospectively. Results: The mean maternal age was 30.08±5.33 in the preeclamptic group and 31.46±5.95 in the HELLP syndrome group, respectively (p=0.432). There was no significant difference between two groups regarding the gestational week during labor and fetal birth weight (p=0.185 and p=0.060 respectively). Intrauterine growth retardation was significantly more common in HELLP group (p=0.033) in terms of gestational complications. The transfusion of blood products was needed more commonly in HELLP group (p=0.023). Platelet levels were significantly lower and serum transaminases were significantly higher in HELLP group (p=0.001 and p=0.038, respectively). Conclusion: Preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome are still severe obstetric complications leading to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. It would be reasonable to transport these cases to multidisciplinary centers having intensive care units.


Objective To investigate the application of air leak test combined with methylene blue solution leak test in the detection of anastomotic leakage after total mesorectal excision(TME)in rectal cancer. Methods In total of132 patients with rectal cancer underwent Dixon according to TME in our hospital from Mar. 2010 to Mar. 2013 were enrolled. All patients were randomly divided into air leak test group(n=65)and air leak+methylene blue solution leak test group(n=67). The intestinal anastomosis of patients in air leak test group were clamped at 2 cm from the upper end of bowel,then injecting 500 mL distilled water to pelvic,and placing 24#Foley catheter through the anus. The catheter balloon was injected with water to close anus,and then injected with 50 mL gas to find the anastomotic leakage where bubbles happened,and then repaired it. Patients of air leak+methylene blue solution leak test group were treated with methylene blue solution test in addition. After sucking out of the distilled water in pelvic and gas in the rectum,1 bottle of methylene blue solution(20 mg)and 50 mL saline were injected,observing the location where the methylene blue solution leaking out and repaired it. Results Three cases(4.62%)of anastomotic leakage were found during operation in air leak test group,and 9 cases(13.85%)were found after operation. Of the 9 cases,5 cases were cured with placement of adequate drainage and symptomatic treatment,3 cases were cured with anal patch,and 1 case was cured with transverse colon fistula and drainage. In total of 15 cases(22.39%)were found anastomotic leakage,2 cases of them were found by air leak test and another 13 cases were found by methylene blue solution leak test during operation in air leak+methylene blue solution leak test group,but no one suffered anastomotic leakage after operation. Compared with air test group,detection rate of anastomotic leakage during operation was higher(P0.05),and incidence rate of anastomotic leakage after operation was lower in air leak + methylene blue solution leak test group(P0.05). Conclusions Large anastomotic leakage can be found by using air leak test,and small and hidden leakage can be found by using methylene blue solution leak test,combination method of the two experiments is better. Repair can be performed effectively under direct vision.


On the basis of the special symmetry of the rare-earth site in the Laves-phase cubic compounds RT/sub 2/ (R is a rare earth, T = Fe, Co, Ni) we predict the occurrence of a structural distortion which vanishes only when (100) is the easy magnetization direction. An extraordinary external strain accompanies the distortion and provides an explanation of the observed size and anisotropy of the magnetostriction in RFe/sub 2/.


Even though the world's energy production is shifting towards renewable energies, oil is still needed during the transition towards a society with a fully renewable energy generation. Inline swirl separators and hydroclones are widely used in the oil industry to separate oil from water. In order to investigate the possibilities and limitations of real-time control of an inline swirl separator, a simplified facility operating with air and water was built at TU Delft as part of the TOMOCON project. It is important to know the behaviour of the flow inside the separator when choosing the operational conditions and designing the controllers. Therefore, an identification of the different flow regimes created inside the device at different swirl intensities is explored in this thesis. The first objective of this thesis, was to investigate the effect of different swirl strengths on the flow regime maps. In this thesis, flow regime maps are generated for flows brought in rotation via an axial swirl generator. For these maps, four different swirl elements with similar geometries but with different vane angles were used to investigate the effect of the strength of the swirl element on flow regime maps. The influence of swirl decay on the flow regime maps was also investigated, by observing the flow further downstream inside the separator. A second objective of this thesis was to propose the start of a mechanistic model which tries to guess where the transition from regular flow patterns to flow patterns with a gas core. The experiments were in a range of 0.03 ms−1 to 0.70 ms−1 for the liquid superficial velocity (usl ) and between 0.02 ms−1 to 1.00 ms−1 for the gas superficial velocity (Usg ). The results showed that the formation of the gas core close to the swirl element is fully dependent of the liquid flow rate and independent of the gas flow rate. It was also shown that this liquid superficial velocity where the transition happens depends strongly on the strength of the swirl element used: the superficial velocity increases as the swirl element gets weaker. An important result that followed from this is: the gas column close to the swirl element forms for a constant product of usl and Tan(Θ), where Θ is the vane angle of the swirl element, such that usl · tan(Θ) = 0.25 The flow regime maps made further away from the swirl element to investigate the effect of decay, showed an important difference with those made close to the swirl element: the maps further away from the swirl element showed a dependency on the gas flow rate. Moreover, the liquid superficial velocity is shifted to higher values due to the decay of the swirl along the pipeline. The second main objective was to construct the beginning of a mechanistic model, to predict the transition from flow types without a gas column to flow types with a gas column. A model was constructed based on the pressure difference between the wall and gas-liquid interface. For this model, it is assumed that flow separation already happens inside the swirl element, such that the tangential velocity (uθ) in the pipe could be determined. The results showed that for a low flow rate of gas, the model predicts the transition from noncolumnar to columnar flow patterns relatively well. The pressure difference between the wall and the gas core was roughly constant for each swirl element, meaning that the driving force for the separation was similar. When the gas flow rate was increased, the pressure difference was lower, while also spanning a larger, such that it could not be considered constant anymore. This indicates that either unforeseen effects came into play or that the driving force for the column is not always the same. Further away from the swirl element, the pressure difference was slightly lower for a situation with a low gas flow rate, when comparing it to the pressure difference close to the swirl element. It also has a slightly larger range further away from the swirl element. For higher gas flow rates, there was a large range of pressure differences between swirl elements, indicating that the driving force might not always be the same. The model was checked with data found in literature and did not match, as the pressure differences were higher for a smaller diameter. There appears to be a ratio between the cross-sectional area and pressure difference and this should be investigated in further research.


Taking the single application of nitrogen and phosphate as control,pot experiment was conduced in order to investigate the effects of straw ash instead or partly instead of potassium carbonate and combined application with bacterial manure on nutrient absorption and distribution as well as yield on wheat. The results showed that the yield of grain all increased significantly by the application of potassium carbonate or straw ash. Compared to control 1,the optimal yield was observed under the treatment A 1 M and K 2 A 2 M,with the increment by 66. 2% and 70. 9%. The highest content and accumulation of nitrogen,phosphorous and potassium in grain were obtained under the treatment A 1 M,while the highest content and accumulation of nitrogen,phosphorous and potassium in other part of wheat were obtained under treatment K 2 A 2 M. With the exception of control 1,the highest nutrient use efficiency of nitrogen,phosphorous and potassium were observed under the treatment A 1,K 1 and K 2 A 2 M respectively,while the maximum nutrient harvest index were all obtained under the treatment A 1 M.


Satellite-borne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is effective remote sensor for daily geo-surface measurement, even in cloudy weather or darkness. To detect moving or parked vehicle, an experimental study of change detection with two SAR images obtained different days was studied in recent literature. The targets in the report did not be controlled; therefore, sensitivity of the detection related to target position has not been treated. In addition, the conventional system only classifies the targets as changed or unchanged. In this paper, we propose and analyze an effective change detection system for monitoring slightly moved vehicle, which is about 2 cm with temporal SAR images. The proposed method uses not only coherence but also amplitude of the images. The results from experiments show the effectiveness of the proposed method.


The drafters of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and of the treaties it spawned did not refer to customary law as a source. Only in the 1960s and 1970s did jurists start to speak of human rights as customary law, largely out of frustration with the slow pace of ratification of the human rights treaties. Lawyers in the United States were especially enthusiastic, especially after courts began applying custom to the Alien Torts Act, and in 1987 the American Law Institute issued an authoritative statement. A major study by Theodor Meron followed. The United Nations Human Rights Committee produced a list of customary norms in the General Comments. Writers contended that State practice was less significant in the identification of custom.


Obesity is a social disease constituting a global pan- demic. It is present in 90% of diabetic and 65% of hypertensive pa- tients. It is associated with cardiometabolic syndrome and with dam- aging physiopathological mechanisms, particularly for the vascular system and the kidneys. On Cuba's Isle of Youth, a community-based epidemiological study of chronic kidney disease (CKD), hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardio-cerebral vascular disease was carried out in total population, including an examination of com- mon risk factors. Objective Based on the Isle of Youth Study (ISYS) data, determine prevalence of obesity and overweight, and their association with CKD, HTN, DM, and shared risk factors for all these conditions in total popu- lation of the Isle of Youth, Cuba. urine markers in 56.9% of obese and 8.9% of non-obese participants; positive albuminuria in 38% of obese and 3% of non-obese. Obese participants were found to be hyperfiltrating. DM prevalence was 9.5% in obese and 1.1% in non-obese participants. Population ≥20 years: Overweight, 31.3%; obese, 13.4%. Positive markers in normal-weight, overweight and obese individuals were 18.3%, 21.2% and 32.7%, re- spectively; microalbuminuria values increased with weight. Obese in- dividuals were found to be hyperfiltrating. HTN prevalence in normal- weight, overweight and obese individuals was 18.3%, 31.5%, and 51.0% respectively; DM rates were 2.8%, 5.2% y 11.3%, respectively. Conclusion In Cuba, obesity poses significant risk for vascular and renal damage and should be the focus of increased prevention ef- forts.


The aim of this study was to investigate static and dynamic visual acuity, refractive error, and the use of visual compensation of elite football players.


The rhymed Office of Saint Francis of Assisi was composed between 1232 and
1235 by Julian of Speyer, the
cantus magister
of the Paris convent at the time. He
used for his work a few already approved poems written by clerics. In the first
Vespers Julian included the hymn
Proles de caelo prodiit
of Pope Gregory IX. The
oldest musical sources of the Office reveal that this hymn had two different melo-
dies (Mel 751 and 752 in Bruno Stablein's edition). In the first section of this
paper the musical origins of the hymn are investigated for in the Franciscan sourc-
es it is not clear which one of its melodies might have been composed by Julian,.
The detailed analysis of Mel 752 confirms its musical similarity to the responsory
Euntes inquit,
an item of the Office certainly composed by Julian. Mel 751, on the
other hand, seems to be an earlier melody for the hymn.
A turning-point in the history of Mel 752 came when the hymn's melody
moved beyond the liturgical borders of Franciscan communities and became wide-
spread throughout Europe. It had appeared in the secular Office in Hungary by
the 14th century. In the second part of this paper, all the medieval Hungarian
sources of Mel 752 are reviewed. According to these sources, the melody was sung
in different liturgical Offices, namely, Prime, Compline, and in the honour of
patron saints (e.g. Saint Anne and Saint Stephen, King of Hungary). A musical
variant of Mel 752 found only in the Hungarian secular sources, also appears. It is
fairly certain that medieval Franciscan communities in Hungary also chanted
Proles de caelo
in the Office of Saint Francis, although contemporary musical
sources (i.e. notated Hymnals) have not survived.
The early Hungarian Protestant communities in the second half of the 16th
and the first half of the 17th century inserted the Hungarian variant of Mel 752
into their morning service. This practice seems not to have existed outside Hunga-
ry, at least according to the evidence. Mel 752 disappeared from Catholic churches
as well as from the repertory of Protestant services in the second half of the 17th
century. From this time on, it was only Franciscan communities that chanted the
melody in Hungary, certainly in its Franciscan variant. It appears only sporadically
in the hymnbooks printed for the faithful. A few metrical arrangements of the
hymn melody are also known from the Baroque era of Hungary.
The musical examples of
Proles de caelo
that have been investigated throw light
upon a complex historical and musicological process, in which the parts of an
Office in honour of a popular medieval saint – Saint Francis – move away from
their original context to serve new liturgical functions. The Hungarian sources
open up a secret chapter in the multifarious history of the hymn
Proles de caelo.


Novel palliative anticancer therapies, including targeted agents, cause dermatologic toxicities that impact patients' functional status and quality of life. As the frequency in utilization of targeted agents in palliative and hospice care settings increases, so does the need for nurses to maintainknowledge and expertise on the management of treatment-induced dermatologic toxicities. The purpose of this review was to describe cancer treatment Y related dermatologic toxicities through a case presentation and describe strategies for prevention, assessment, and management of the symptoms in palliative care settings. Vigilance in assessment, prevention, and management of symptomatic dermatologic toxicities is critical to improving patient care. Palliative care nurses can improve patient care through counseling, education, and support. Early identification of symptomatic dermatologic toxicities can facilitate treatment in a timely fashion. Palliative care nurses can play an integral role in symptom management related to dermatologic toxicities for cancer patients receiving targeted therapies.


This study was conducted at a private field for duck breeding in Al-Muthanna
Governorate from 12/14/2021 to 02/14/2022. The field experiment was included to
study the effect of adding an aqueous extract of licorice to drinking water on the
productive performance of Chinese ducks. A total of 60 unsexed, one-day Chinese
duck chicks were used, prepared from one of the hatcheries in Al-Qadisiyah
Governorate, were randomly distributed to 4 treatments, included 3 replicates (5
chicks each replicate), the treatments were as follows: T1: control treatment. T2,
T3 and T4 were 5, 10 and 15 ml aqueous extract of licorice /liter of drinking water.
The results show that there was a significant improvement in all the studied productive traits (body weight, weight gain, feed intake, food conversion) at the
treatment of licorice aqueous extract in drinking water, in addition to the high level
of licorice aqueous extract (15 ml of licorice per each liter of drinking water),
which gave the best results and significantly.
Keywords: licorice aqueous extract, productive traits, Chinese ducks.


Diabetes is a disease that affects millions of people throughout the world. Diabetes is a chronic illness with no treatment available. As a result, early detection is essential. In this paper author uses Machine Learning Approach (MLA) such as Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF) and Logistic Regression (LR) to predict Type2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). The recent advancements in technology and continuous progress have changed the landscape of healthcare with changes in lifestyle and rise in living standards. Diabetes remains the leading cause of death globally for early prediction of T2DM. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are used for early T2DM and prognosis. However, it is still in its nascent stage when it comes to the early prediction of Diabetes. Author Proposed a Methodology Framework for Type2 Diabetes prediction and other health conditions. The first part of this paper aims at developing and implementing a prediction model based on various Diabetic stages. Using predictive analysis on the dataset author applied three ML algorithms to predict T2DM. Author finds that a model combining Logistic Regression (LR), Decision Tree (DT) and Random Forest (RF) is effective at predicting Diabetes. The result shows the Logistic Regression algorithm has the highest accuracy of 99.349% as compared to DT, RF respectively. In order to improve the classification accuracy in research work will help practitioners in the early detection of T2DM.


In order to realize furniture industry development of higher level, higher quality, higher level, the paper study custom furniture products produced through the use of lean production organization and management, group technology and production organization, etc. can be achieved in implementation of mass customization systems of furniture production.


? Combining with fuzzy logic, on the basis of the properties of HPC quality system, exploringly, the fuzzy multilevel general evaluation system of HPC quality is built. By using such a system, the quality characters of HPC are evaluated, and according to the results of evaluation, some grounds are offered for taking the further measures of control. 〔


This issue of Toxicologic Pathology contains two review articles on mercury neurotoxicity by noted Japanese experts. The paper by Eto, entitled &dquo;The Pathology of Minimata Disease,&dquo; provides a thorough summary of the epidemiology and pathology of mercury neurotoxicity in humans. The complementary paper by Nagashima, &dquo;A Review of Experimental Methylmercury Toxicity in Rats: Neuropathology and Evidence for Apoptosis,&dquo; summarizes experimental rodent data and presents information supporting an apoptotic mechanism for the cerebellar effects of mercury. Not only do these reviews illustrate the use of experimental models to study neurotoxicity, they also summarize data using special procedures to explore pathogenic mechanisms. After realizing the human costs of epidemic toxicities such as Minimata disease and oth-


Pennsylvania's proposed Charter Schools Act, House Bill (H.B.) 1834, allows charter schools to be approved by local school boards or school district voters. This report describes the mission, functions, capabilities, and plans of a potential nonprofit Technical Assistance Activity (TAA) for charter-school applicants under H.B. 1834. The report addresses the extent to which government and the private sector are likely to meet the needs of charter applicants, suggests areas where support provided by a nonprofit TAA may be of special importance to charter applicants, describes the capabilities that a TAA should possess, and provides a framework for planning the development of the new institution. The report concludes that the primary mission of a nonprofit TAA should be to support implementation of H.B. 1834 by providing information, access to professional expertise, and direct assistance to charter applicants. The specific functions of a Pennsylvania TAA are described. The report identifies basic support requirements, describes the particular needs of applicants for specialized expertise; and assesses the availability of appropriate support from government, and the cost and quality of support services from the private sector, and specifies services to be provided by the TAA. Nine tables are included. (LMI) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ***********************************************************************


The energy deposition of electron cyclotron waves in a dipole-confined plasma is investigated for the RT-1 device, specifically including the effects of high-energy electrons and the electron Bernstein wave (EBW) excitation and absorption. Simulations of wave trajectories with various injection locations and angles indicate that the energy deposition of ordinary mode (O-mode) and extraordinary modes (X-mode) is small in low-temperature plasmas. The high-energy electrons in the plasma increase the energy deposition of the X-mode but have little effect on the O-mode. Meanwhile, the energy deposition of the slow X-EBW conversion and O-X-EBW conversion to excite EBW is also discussed. The results show that the converted EBW in an over-dense plasma is easily obtained, but it may not always have efficient energy deposition. Finally, the possible mechanism for the plasma production and heating by using electron cyclotron waves is proposed.


rust-vmm is a collection of building blocks that allows the creation of custom Virtual Machine Monitors, which import only the required features. One of the components of rust-vmm is Virtio. Virtio is a standardized layer between guest and host that facilitates their communication. It is a central part of a Virtual Machine Monitor and a surface prone to attacks because input comes from untrusted parties. This project proposes a way of detecting possible vulnerabilities in the Virtio device implementation from rust-vmm/vm-virtio using fuzzing. For this purpose, we will create a complete fuzzing toolchain and thoroughly test the existing components of rust-vmm.


This thesis contributes to Bayesian spatial and spatiotemporal methodology by investigating techniques for spatial imputation and joint disease modelling, and identifies high-risk individual profiles and geographic areas for type II diabetes mellitus (DMII) outcomes. DMII and related chronic conditions including hypertension, coronary arterial disease, congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are examples of ambulatory care sensitive conditions for which hospitalisation for complications is potentially avoidable with quality primary care. Bayesian spatial and spatiotemporal studies are useful for identifying small areas that would benefit from additional services to detect and manage these conditions early, thus avoiding costly sequelae.


Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show that fixed‐mobile convergence (FMC) has gathered much interest in the telecommunications industry lately. Integrated operators (who own both fixed and mobile networks), are keen to exploit FMC benefits in order to save costs and generate new revenues. This paper aims to analyze the effects of converged network and service environment on the business of existing telecommunication operators.Design/methodology/approach – After an introduction to the regulatory, market, and technology related issues of convergence, the authors focus on analyzing the role of FMC technologies and services in their businesses of an integrated operator with existing fixed and mobile operations in a large Western European country.Findings – Results reveal that an integrated operator can benefit from cost savings, customer retention and prevent revenue erosion by migrating to FMC.Originality/value – This paper examines the effects of fixed‐mobile convergence to an integrated operator.


Nitro-, 2-amino- and 2-acetamido-1-(penta-O-acetylpentitol-1´-yl)benzenes were prepared using previously reported Diels-Alder cycloadducts obtained from sugar-derived nitroalkenes with D-galacto and D-manno configurations as starting materials. Deacetylation and oxidative cleavage of the sugar side-chain of nitrobenzene pentitol peracetates yielded nitrobenzaldehydes. From 2-nitro-1-(D-galacto-pentitol-1´-yl)benzene also 1´,4´- and 2´,5´-anhydro derivatives were synthesized.


The field‐measured current–voltage (I–V) curves of photovoltaic (PV) modules need to be corrected to Standard Test Conditions (STC) in order to estimate the degradation rates. STC correction procedures have various attributes such as accuracy, requirement of minimum number and types of I–V curves, required irradiance range, and the type of correction (specific points or entire I–V curve) that determine their optimality for specific applications. This paper presents the investigation of accuracy and constraints of six different STC correction procedures for high‐throughput field I–V measurements through experimental and simulation studies. Following STC correction procedures are considered in this paper: IEC 60891‐Procedure 1, IEC 60891‐Procedure 2, Modified IEC 60891‐Procedure 1, Standard Irradiance and Desired Temperature (SIDT) procedure, Anderson procedure, and Voltage‐Dependent Temperature Coefficient (VDTC) Procedure. Eight different simulation models for predicting the performance of PV modules at arbitrary irradiance and temperature are compared, and the simulation model that yields lowest root mean square error and the most accurate estimation of power temperature coefficient is identified. The simulated I–V curves using this model and the experimentally measured I–V curves on a flash tester at different temperatures and irradiances are provided as an input to all of the STC correction procedures. The average percentage errors in correction of maximum power (Pmax), open‐circuit voltage (Voc), short‐circuit current (Isc), and fill factor (FF) were determined as a function of irradiance and temperature during measurement. Systematic biases introduced during correction by certain procedures were also identified. Based on the error estimation, constraints of various procedures, and requirements of high‐throughput field I–V measurements, the most optimal STC correction procedure was identified. Moreover, the analysis of the root cause of superior performance of this procedure is also presented.


Insurance Industry is a rapidly growing fast industry in terms of large amount of data. The most critical issue in insurance industry is fraudulent claims. Fraud is nothing but wrongful or criminal trick planned to result in financial or personal gains. As the size of data increases, the traditional approach will not work and it will be tedious job to identify the fraudulent claims. Moreover, new types of claim will emerge and hence it will be difficult to predict the fraudulent claims. This paper depicts an overview of Fraud analytics, prediction, and Data Science algorithms based predictions in insurance industry. International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics Volume 116 No. 21 2017, 629-640 ISSN: 1311-8080 (printed version); ISSN: 1314-3395 (on-line version) url: http://www.ijpam.eu Special Issue ijpam.eu


Origin-destination matrices are important input for network analyses, but are known to be difficult to estimate. During the last ten years various methods have been developed, which use external data like traffic counts, to improve the quality of the estimation. In this study the most important and best-known methods are discussed and put into a framework. A basic distinction can be made between so-called explicit and implicit models, which either do or do not assume a distribution model for the OD-flows. Both explicit and implicit models are characterized by a linearly constrained mathematical optimization; the model of the first class mainly differ in the probability function that is assumed for the observations, the models of the second class mainly by the measure of distance that is to be minimized (objective function). The various methods can be regarded as approximations of each other. The results of the estimation are tested by comparisons with empirical data. It can be concluded that these estimation techniques are simple to use and very useful in the transportation planning process.


ABSTRACT This paper reviews the development of international student mobility in the twentieth century as exemplified by Britain, France, Russia or the Soviet Union, and the United States. It summarises data on international student numbers and describes the development of policy at an institutional and national level in these four countries. Conclusions are drawn and related to current policy debates.


The Daily Schedule: A Look at the Relationship Between Time and Academic Achievement In 1994 the National Education Commission on Time and Learning (NECTL) published the report, Prisoners of Time, the title of which alone presented an evocative image of the limitations imposed on America's public schools. The report argued that America's current education system is hindered by the somewhat universal worship of the clock and the calendar. According to the report, consequences of a strict adherence to the demands of the school schedule are predictable:


Speckle filter performances depend strongly on the speckle and scene models used as the basis for filter development. These models that incorporate implicitly certain assumptions on speckle, scene and observed signals, were generally adopted and used without any justification. In this study, the multiplicative and the product speckle models, which have been used as the basis for the development of the most well known filters, are analyzed. Their implicits assumptions are discussed with regards to the stationarity-nonstationarity of speckle, observed and scene signals. Two categories of speckle filters are distinguished as a function of the stationarity-nonstationary assumption on speckle random variations. The various approximate models used for the multiplicative speckle noise model are then assessed as functions of speckle and scene characteristics. The S. N. Madsen method (1987) was extended to the various models to derive the requirements on scene signal variations for the validity of the multiplicative stationary speckle model, and the product model which forces speckle to be a nonstationary process.


In this paper we examine the historical development of the urban system in Bangladesh, compare its contemporary features with those of other Asian nations, and consider regional differentiation within the Bangladeshi urban system. We give special attention to problems of urban poverty and discuss the research agenda of local and foreign social scientists interested in issues of urban and societal integration in Bangladesh. We conclude that the demographic, social, and economic profile of contemporary Bangladesh has no parallel in Asia or in the world beyond. In sum, Bangladesh, as a product of several hundred years of participation in a global system beyond its control, demonstrates a distinctive form of the contemporary urban crisis in South


Objective To study the changes of somatostatin(SOM) in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of children with convulsive diseases.Methods Sixty-seven children with convulsive diseases were studied as following:obtaining the samples of plasma in the 1st and 7th day after being in hospital,and the samples of CSF in the 1st after being in hospital.We investigated the changes of SOM in plasma and CSF with radioimmunoassay(RIA).Results 1.Convulsive group:the concentration of SOM in plasma in the 7th day(29.47±9.40 ng/L) was significant lower than that in the 1st day(39.23±11.00 ng/L)(t=21.530 P0.001).Each group in convulsive subjects were significant different(t=16.551,10.968,13.715 P0.01).Encephalitis group without convulsion:The concentration of SOM in plasma in the 7th day(20.57±4.82 ng/L) was lower than that in the 1st day(21.66±5.01 ng/L),but there was no significant difference(t=1.321 P0.05).The concentration of SOM in plasma in the 1st day in control group was(19.58±6.04) ng/L.There were significant differences in convulsive group and encephalitis group without convulsion, control group(t= 6.847,7.921 P0.01).There was also positive difference in each group in convulsive subject(F=56.114 P0.01),2.The concentrations of SOM in CSF in the 1st day was(44.14±12.50) ng/L(convulsive group),(22.88±5.60) ng/L(encephalitis group without convulsion),(18.88±5.27) ng/L(control group),respectively.There were positive differences in convulsive group and encephalitis group without convulsion,control group(t=7.406,7.786 P0.001).Each group in convulsive subjects showed positive difference(F=51.150 P0.01)3.The levels of SOM in plasma and CSF had correlated to the degree of convulsion.The concentrations of SOM in plasma in the 1st and 7th day had significantly positive correlation to those in CSF in the 1st day (r=0.956 P 0.001).Conclusions There are levels of SOM in plasma and CSF in cases with convulsions,changing in the different course of convulsion.The levels of SOM in plasma can indirectly reflect the levels of SOM in CSF,positively correlating with seizure severity.These findings suggest that monitoring SOM in children with convulsive diseases can help to guild diagnosis and treatment of convulsive diseases.$$$$


Nowadays, Internet is facing an exponential increase in the number of electronic devices interfaced through it. Previously, there is a limit of connecting only mobile and PCs (personal computer) with the internet but now millions of devices can be connected using the concept of IoT (internet of things). Hence, IoT is able to communicate data between machine to machine and the data that is previously available to private server now easily available to the internet so that it can be accessed efficiently. This paper show the increase in the usage of IoT in monitoring like applications. Smart farming is the technique which intend to provide all the necessary resources for the specified amount of time. These resources required are light intensity, ambient temperature required, relative humidity, soil moisture content, pH reading of the soil. The central idea is to sense all these parameters one by one and take the final decision accordingly. A sensor node should be developed for sensing all the required resources parameters and subsequently send the data to the cloud for further processing. After getting all the required resources values our final aim is to predict the crop production using various data mining techniques. As the human lives are primarily depended on the food resources, the agricultural process need to be efficient and this efficiency can be enhanced if there is an accurate amount of resources. By getting the accurate amount of resources, Data mining techniques such as Random forest, KNN, SVM are used to analyze the crop production in advance such that farmer always have an upper hand on it and by comparing with the previous trend he will be able to detect which kind of parameter is accurate and which is not. A User defined site is designed to monitor all these values of agricultural process.


Using methyl cyanoacetate and 2-isohutanol as raw materials,isobutyl cyanoacetate was synthesized through interesterification by tetrabutyl titanate as catalyst.Effect of reaction temperature,amount of catalyst and material ratio on the reaction wsa investigated in the artical.Experimental results indicated that the optimum condition is that molar ratio of methyl cyanoacetate and isobutanol is 1.00∶1.15,amount of catalyst is 0.2%,reaction temperature is 120℃.Under this condition,the yield reached 97.20%.


The present invention relates to a suction force and the gravitational potential energy railway power lights and methods of use, characterized in that the addition of lights along the railway line to the suction force means a power swing and gravitational potential generating means when the high-speed train by when the swing device to swing to give the suction force, so that the power swing gravitational potential generating means for accumulating gravitational potential, gravitational potential energy is controlled as a mechanical setting device at night time, the gravitational potential energy released drive generators for street lighting. Beneficial effects: the use of suction force generation high-speed train traffic arising, to provide a stable and environmentally friendly electric railway street lighting. Avoiding the disadvantages of existing wind and solar street light power instability. Also it saves power resources in the public grid. Increase the weight using a gravitational potential energy storage power generation, electric power instead of the battery storage, the battery chemistry avoid environmental pollution, but also to avoid chemical short battery life, to be often maintained disadvantages.


Image steganography is the process of concealing secret information in images through imperceptible changes. Recent work has formulated this task as a classic constrained optimization problem. In this paper, we argue that image steganography is inherently performed on the (elusive) manifold of natural images, and propose an iterative neural network trained to perform the optimization steps. In contrast to classical optimization methods like L-BFGS or projected gradient descent, we train the neural network to also stay close to the manifold of natural images throughout the optimization. We show that our learned neural optimization is faster and more reliable than classical optimization approaches. In comparison to previous state-of-the-art encoder-decoder-based steganography methods, it reduces the recovery error rate by multiple orders of magnitude and achieves zero error up to 3 bits per pixel (bpp) without the need for error-correcting codes.


The synthesis and application of a range of functional nanoscale materials (nanomaterials) promises to provide us with new tools in the fight against disease, climate change and the generation and storage of renewable energy. Reading the chapters in this book, and the associated literature, we can s...


The invention relates to a preparation method of instant flexible-packaging purple sweet potato pieces. The preparation method comprises the following steps of: selecting purple sweet potatoes with full appearances and without decomposition, and cleaning the surfaces of the purple sweet potatoes; peeling the cleaned purple sweet potatoes; cutting the peeled purple sweet potatoes into purple sweet potato pieces with the length, width and thickness ranging from 3cm to 5cm; putting the purple sweet potato pieces in a sealed tank, adding a taste immersion liquid in the tank, extracting gas in the tank to allow vacuum pressure to reach 0.05 to 0.09 MPa and the temperature to reach 20 to 50 DEG C, fully infiltrating the taste immersion liquid in the pieces for 3 to 10 minutes to flavor; pre-steaming the flavored purple sweet potato pieces, and cooling the pre-steamed purple sweet potato pieces to 20 to 25 DEG C; putting the cooled purple sweet potato pieces in packaging bags and sterilizing the cooled purple sweet potato pieces; and filling nitrogen in the packaging bags of the sterilized purple sweet potato pieces, and sealing the packaging bags. As no chemical addition agent is added in the instant flexible-packaging purple sweet potato pieces, the instant flexible-packaging purple sweet potato pieces are ensured to be nutrient and healthy and are pure green food, more comprehensive in nutrition, rich in flavor and tasty in taste.


The paper gives an account of the types of blackening associated with canned prawn in brine and their control. It was found that blackening caused by iron sulphide could be controlled by maintaining proper titratable acidity of fill brine in cans. The paper also elaborates on the factors responsible for or governing this critical titratable acidity. In regard to copper sulphide blackening, control was found to be difficult by maintaining the acidity or by additives such as EDTA when the copper content in the material went above the critical level.


Self‐, argon‐, and helium‐broadening coefficients have been measured for 13 lines in the 2ν2 Raman Q branch of CH4 using stimulated inverse Raman spectroscopy. The linewidths clearly show the symmetry‐state dependence characteristic of pressure broadening, and inelastic processes in general, involving spherical‐top molecules. Pressure‐induced line shifts have also been measured for these features in pure methane. The pressure‐shift coefficients do not display the symmetry‐state dependence found for the linewidths. By applying the Rosenkranz perturbation treatment to a pair of collisionally mixed lines, we have been able to obtain an estimate of individual state‐to‐state contributions to the overall linewidth.


During the early design stages of a relatively slender 63-storey high-end residential tower located on the East Coast of the USA, a series of high-frequency force balance and simultaneous pressure integration wind tunnel studies highlighted that the highest occupied levels of the tall building could experience wind-induced motion that had the potential to exceed standard industry occupant-comfort criteria. In order to mitigate these excessive vibrations, additional damping was needed. Among the different types of auxiliary damping devices that can be introduced in a tall building to control wind-induced sway, the so-called tuned liquid column damper was chosen for this specific project primarily because of its simplicity in construction, low initial cost and nearly maintenance-free operation.


This study aimed to determine the effect of revenue sharing on the results of mudharabah and musyarakah financing on Return On Investment (ROI) at PT. Bukopin Sharia Bank 2011-2020. Islamic banks have two financing principles: profit sharing (mudharabah) and profit-sharing (musharaka). This study uses the Partial Adjustment Model (PAM) research method. The population in this study is Islamic banking which is included in the group of Islamic Commercial Banks. The sample used in this study is Bukopin Sharia Bank and is sourced from data from the Bukopin Sharia Bank's annual financial report data. The data used in this study uses secondary data, namely data obtained indirectly from the source in the form of data on the annual financial statements of Bank Syariah Bukopin taken from the official website www.syariahbukopin.co.id. From the research that has been done, the results show that the mudharabah and musyarakah financing variables have a positive effect on Return On Investment (ROI). Based on the results of this study, it is expected that Islamic banking will further increase mudharabah and musyarakah financing. These two products are the hallmarks of Islamic banks, namely profit sharing, because they can affect the rate of return on investment.


For the efficient utilization of bacterial bioresources, the quantitative evaluation of metabolic activity in live bacterial cells is required. Using potentiometric measurements, we quantitatively evaluated the electron generation rate of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 based on individual enzymatic reactions. We evaluated intracellular electron generation in bacterial suspensions supplemented with different carbon sources utilized in the tricarboxylic acid cycle. In bacterial suspensions, ferricyanide was almost completely reduced to ferrocyanide by cell-generated electrons, without an effect on bacterial cell viability. Focusing on this reduction reaction, quantitative evaluations were possible by potentiometry based on the Nernst equation.


In this study,we screened an endophytic actinomycete Hhs.015T,which could suppressed the growth of hyphae and the germination of Sclerotinia significantly.Cell-free filtrate and cell suspensions were sprayed on the leaves and stems of rapes at one day before inoculation,0 day after inoculation and one day after inoculation.The results showed that there was no significant differences between the efficacy of cell-free filtrate and cell suspensions.The best control effect,91.06% for suspensions and 85.22% for cell free filtrate,were achieved by spraying the cell-free filtrate and cell suspension at the same time as inoculation.In the field experiments,the efficacy of applying Hhs.015T to rape plants at the flowering stage reached 41.27% and decreased gradually with the dilution.Scanning electron microscopy revealed that endophytic actinomycete Hhs.015T could suppressed the growth of hyphae significantly and could cause leakage of hyphal cytoplasm and irregular swelling of top hyphal.It could reduce the biomass of hyphal and slow down the formation of infection cushions and then suppress the infection of hypha.Hhs.015T could be used to control the sclerotinia rot with a good development prospect.


【Objective】Research the discussion application the bracket fixing three dimensional fixed radius farend bone fracture cures the method.【Methods】Uses the bracket fixing three dimensional fixed method outside to the radius far-end bone fracture to carry on the treatment.【Result】This group of case 113 examples,10 examples lose the relation,Bone fracture cicatrization time 12~20 weeks,according to Dienst function appraisal appraisal standard appraisal:49 examples are superior,54 examples are good,fine rate is 90.3%.【Conclusion】 Outside the bracket fixing three dimensional fixed radius far-end bone fracture is the wound is small,fixed reliable,simplicity of operator,but prevents effectively is concerned unbending,skin,soft tissue bearing necrosis's method.The clinical effect is good.


Following High Temperature Superconductors (HTCSs) study series, Inverse Least Squares (ILS) 2D Numerical/Graphical Optimization is applied on Molecular Effect Model (MEM). Selected HTSCs class is Thallium group of [ Tl- Sn-Pb-Ba-Si-Mn-Mg-Cu-O ], constrained to  [TC ? 0°  ,  TC > 0° ]. Tetragonal Lattice and Amorphous compounds of this Type II Thallium HTSCs are not included at this research stage. Solutions with Matlab 2D Graphical Optimization techniques to validate primarily the MEM sinusoid-shape analytical geometry are presented. Programming-methods and imaging processing comparisons with GNU-Octave and Freemat software are also shown. Results comprise 2D Tikhonov Regularization algorithms with mathematical methods for this class. Findings obtain acceptable Numerical and 2D Graphical Optimization outcomes with low error-residuals. Results show two parts, the 2D Graphical Optimization MEM modelling, and MEM comparative imaging processing systems with examples and analysis of several numerical equations and predictions. Applications of MEM for the overview of the Multifunctional Transmission Line for SCs and HTSCs are included. Electronics Physics usages for Superconducting Multifunctional Transmission Lines, Superconductors in general, and HTSCs are presented.


The US has laws and regulations to protect children from excessive and unfair advertising on television, in connection with 900 numbers and in schools. This article argues that similar protections are needed on commercial sites targeted to children on the World Wide Web. Specifically, the article considers the extent to which the same underlying policy concerns regarding advertising to children are present in web advertising, suggests why reliance on FTC enforcement of existing law and industry self-regulation is insufficient, and identifies key elements to be included in legislation.


Since their introduction in May of '95, Java and HotJava have revolutionized how people think about the Web and software. Many major companies have since licensed the technology which is well on its way to being an established presence on the Internet. There are many details that made this technology successful. This paper is an attempt to give an overview of the technology as a whole and explain some of the impact it might have on the future of hardware and software.


Ultraviolett light assisted oxidation has been applied for the first firne to oxidize the barriers in ferrornagnetic tunnel junctions . These consist of two ferromagnetic filrns separated by a thin insulating barrier layer . Samples viere magnetically characterized by Magnetooptical Kerr effect rneasurements, rohere separate switching fields of the ferromagnetie layers were fbund . The measured CurrentVoltage characteristics suggest electron trmnelling as the predorninant transport mechanism . This shows that the new oxidation rnethod produces reliable tunnel junctions with a high yield . Area resistivities are an the order of 1 kQ ihn' wirkir is very attractive as the key device for future rnagneto randorn . access rnemories. Ma,gnetoresistance ratios of the tunnel elements usually ranged between 10% and 13% . Transport measurements support the theoreticalhv supported assumptioni that ultraviolet light supported oxidation is self-limiting. lf the electrode resistance of tunnel 4ernents becornes cornparable to the barrier resistance, the tunnel rammt is no langer homogeneously distributed . To account for this effect, a geometry has been used with the current contacts at opposite uriges of the tunnel junctirm . Sonne calculations and sirnulations were performed in order to compare this geometry with sonne others De magnete lapide suo loco dieemus concordiaque, quarr cum ferro habet . sola haec rnateria vires ab eo lapide accipit retinetque Iongo tempore, aliud adprehendens ferrum, ut anulorrnn ca,tena spectetur interdurn. quod volgus imperitum appellat ferrurn vivum Plinius Secundus the Elder, Naturalis Historia XXXIV, 147 We will speak in the appropriate place about the lodesstone and the sympathy which it has with iron . Troll is the only substance that catches the forces of that stone and retains it, for a bong period, taking hold of other iron, so that we rnay sometirnes see a chain of rings . The ignorant lower dass call this live iron', . . .


Excerpt Most peptic ulcers of the duodenum are 5 to 10 millimeters in diameter, and it is uncommon for ulcers to be greater than 1 centimeter (1). Since first described by Brdiczka in 1931 (2), onl...


Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor improves the impaired hyperpolarization and relaxation to acetylcholine (ACh) via endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) in arteries of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). We tested whether the angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist also improves EDHF-mediated responses and whether the combined AT1 receptor blockade and ACE inhibition exert any additional effects. SHR were treated with either AT1 receptor antagonist TCV-116 (5 mg · kg−1 · d−1) (SHR-T), enalapril (40 mg · kg−1 · d−1) (SHR-E), or their combination (SHR-T&E) from 8 to 11 months of age. Age-matched, untreated SHR (SHR-C) and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats served as controls (n=8 to 12 in each group). Three treatments lowered blood pressure comparably. EDHF-mediated hyperpolarization to ACh in mesenteric arteries in the absence or presence of norepinephrine was significantly improved in all treated SHR. In addition, the hyperpolarization in the presence of norepinephrine was significantly greater in SHR-T&E than in SHR-E (ACh 10−5 mol/L with norepinephrine: SHR-C −7; SHR-T −19; SHR-E −15; SHR-T&E −22; WKY −14 mV). EDHF-mediated relaxation, assessed in the presence of indomethacin and NG-nitro-l-arginine, was markedly improved in all treated SHR. Hyperpolarization and relaxation to levcromakalim, a direct opener of ATP-sensitive K+-channel, were similar in all groups. These findings suggest that AT1 receptor antagonists are as effective as ACE inhibitors in improving EDHF-mediated responses in SHR. The beneficial effects of the combined AT1 receptor blockade and ACE inhibition appears to be for the most part similar to those of each intervention.


Abstract A 3.4 kg 6-month-old entire female Belgian hare (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was referred after confirmed traumatic event which resulted in non-weight-bearing left pelvic limb lameness. Orthogonal radiographs of the leg confirmed the tarsocrural luxation with dorsocranial displacement of the trochlea of the astragalus (talus) not contacting the calcaneus. The medial long collateral ligament was severed, and the joint capsule was severely damaged. The medial short collateral ligament was intact. The joint capsule and the long collateral ligament were sutured. Transosseous tunnels were created where the medial long collateral ligament originates (medial malleolus) and inserts (talus), and a nylon suture was passed through them in a figure-of-eight pattern in order to replace the function of the damaged ligament. External coaptation during surgical healing was provided using a Robert-Jones bandage replaced by a fiberglass cast after 3 weeks. Complete joint functional recovery was observed 8 weeks after surgery. Orthopaedic abnormalities were not detected for at least 18 months after surgery. The present case confirms the feasibility of medial long collateral ligament reconstruction and capsulorhexis combined with external coaptation as a successful therapeutic option in the management of tibiotarsal joint luxations in rabbits.


Understanding reading skills are needed to achieve the goal so that students can more easily obtain information or content from reading. Based on the results of preliminary observations conducted


Storage and transport system with - Any number of rack lines (1) for receiving stored goods (3) in several shelving levels; - A plurality of rail tracks (4, 4 a), which are arranged at the level of the individual shelf levels between the rack lines (1); - Several rail vehicles (5) with means (9) for receiving and delivering the stored goods (3), a chassis (6, 7) and drives (8) for locomotion on the rail tracks (4, 4a); and - means for implementing the vehicles (5) between the rack levels; characterized, that the railways (4, 4a) also extend in a pre-zone in front of the rows of racks (1) to destinations for the stored goods (3) and that means for wireless, external energy supply of the vehicles (5) during their operation and a central control computer (13) are provided for the direct control of the vehicles (5) for carrying out transport tasks, wherein the control computer (13) for independent control of the drives (8) and ...


TOP CORPORATE DONORS AND CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS: UTILIZING THE COORIENTATION MODEL TO EXAMINE BENEFITS AND RELATIONSHIPS The concept of strategic corporate philanthropy has emerged in order to satisfy both investors of a corporation and the demands of its other key publics. Based on systems theory and the mixed-motive model of giving, the purpose of the study is to better understand strategic corporate philanthropy. By examining the views of leading U.S. corporations and charitable organizations about such issues as benefits companies expect from their contributions and types of relationships formed between the two types of organizations, donor and recipient, the study seeks to address understudied and unexplored issues in strategic corporate philanthropy. A national mail survey was conducted with 36 corporate giving officers and 66 senior fundraisers. The survey results show that corporate donors and charitable organizations have different degrees of benefits expected by corporate donors, although both groups similarly evaluated the levels of overall benefits corporate donors expect. Both corporate donors and charitable organizations report that social responsibility and public relations benefits are more expected than benefits that directly impact on corporations themselves or corporate leaders, such as marketing, tax savings, and social currency benefits. However, corporate donors placed a very low value on marketing benefits, while charitable organizations estimate their value the same as tax savings and social currency benefits. Moreover, charitable organizations overestimate the value of tax savings and social currency benefits compared to corporate donors. Regarding the types of relationships between corporate donors and charitable organizations, both parties perceive the relationship as more communal than either one-way patronizing or quid pro quo exchange. In general, both groups consider each other as a strategic partner beyond a patronizing or exchange relationship. However, findings from coorientation analysis show that a state of false consensus on the exchange relationship type exists. Corporate giving officers and senior fundraisers mistakenly think there is agreement between the two groups on exchange relationships. In addition, this study revealed the linkages between corporate benefits and relationship types. Regardless of the type of relationship, both corporate donors and charitable organizations to some extent evaluate overall returned benefits to be important. There is no specific expected benefit category unique to patronizing relationships. The communal relationship is more related to the social responsibility and public relations benefits than to benefits that directly impact on corporation themselves or corporate leaders, whereas exchange relationships are positively related to marketing benefits. The study confirmed that corporations view strategic corporate philanthropy as forming communal relationships and seeking social responsibility and public relations benefits that bring both…


A review of various bulk metal forming processes that take into account influence of strain path changes on material flow is presented in this paper. Particular attention is put on computer aided design of innovative angular accumulative drawing (AAD) operation. Research in the area of development of metal forming processes taken advantage of strain path phenomena is conducted in many scientific laboratories as the strain patch change effect influences many crucial properties of the deformed material. As a result it provides a possibility of forming materials, which are e.g. difficult to form in a conventional manner. Advantages and limitations of the AAD process are summarized and presented in this work. Difficulties in development of the complex rheological model that takes in to account strain path changes in the deformed material are also presented and discussed.


Results of a three-dimensional unsteady computational study of a row of jets injected normal to a crossflow are presented with the aim of understanding the dynamics of the large-scale structures in the region near the jet. The jet to crossflow velocity ratio is 0.5. A modified version of the computer program (INS3D), which utilizes the method of artificial compressibility, is used for the computations. Results obtained clearly indicate that the near-field large-scale structures are extremely dynamic in nature, and undergo breakup and reconnection processes. The dynamic near-field structures identified include the counterrotating vortex pair (CVP), the horseshoe vortex, wake vortex, wall vortex, and shear layer vortex. The dynamic features of these vortices are presented in this paper. The CVP is observed to be a convoluted structure interacting with the wall and horseshoe vortices. The shear layer vortices are stripped by the crossflow, and undergo pairing and stretching events in the leeward side of the jet. The wall vortex is reoriented into the upright wake system. Comparison of the predictions with mean velocity measurements are made. Reasonable agreement is observed.


Includes a previous analogy is extended to cover n- and p-type semiconductors and discussions of the concepts of donors and acceptors, donor and acceptor activation energies and the corresponding charge carrier production at various temperatures, and the effects of the presence of both donors and acceptors.


The current article revolves around the fundamental question about the identity of Jesus of Nazareth (Mark 8:29; parallel passages). After obtaining answers among our contemporaries -as in the evangelical account- and after locating the question in the so-called "third investigation" about the historical Jesus, an answer is proposed following the Ignatian spirituality of the "internal knowledge" of the Lord.


Abstract The aim of the work was to study the agglutination and hemolysis of erythrocytes under diff erent conditions in vitro in a patient with unknown cause of anemia and concomitant secondary instability of endoprosthesis. Material and methods. One percent (1%) suspension of erythrocytes of a woman, 61 years old, A (II) Rh- (negative) presented with anemia was incubated with her serum and plasma at pH 7.3, pH 5.8 and 9.0, as well as with IgM α and β antibodies. Unithiol was used to destroy IgM antibodies. The samples were incubated for 12 hours at 37° C, and the presence of the agglutination and hemolysis was evaluated. Results. The incubation of the plasma with unwashed erythrocytes of the patient led to the agglutination of the erythrocytes and the usage of the complement led to the hemolysis. After inactivation of IgM in the plasma the agglutination was absent and the hemolysis was present under usual conditions and at pH 5.8, whereas at pH 8.0 the hemolysis was attenuated, however a slight degree agglutination appeared. The usage of the complement led to the agglutination and the hemolysis, absent at pH 8.0. The plasma incubated with washed red blood cells and the complement led to the hemolysis. The incubation of the serum with washed erythrocytes led to the hemolysis at pH 5.8, attenuated after the usage of the complement. The contact of terbinophine with plasma and unwashed red blood cells led to the absence of both the hemolysis and the agglutination. Candida lusitaniae growth was detected in the plasma. Conclusions. The agglutination of unwashed erythrocytes by own plasma, attenuated in the alkaline medium and enhanced in the acid medium, as well as the absence of the agglutination after the usage of terbinophine and the hemolysis in the presence of the complement might be the signs of mycogenic and autoimmune origin of anemia with the activation of autoimmune complement – binding antibodies.


In this study, quantitative analysis of chemical substance for Goryeo and Chinese celadon was conducted to analyze the glaze property and CIELAB measurement was performed to compare the color gamut of celadon. This study purposes to develop the technical foundation for the realization of celadon col...


Aliphatic trifluoromethyl ketones are a type of unique fluorine-containing subunit which plays a significant role in altering the physical and biological properties of molecules. However, catalytic methods to provide direct access to aliphatic trifluoromethyl ketones is highly desirable yet remains underdeveloped, partially due to the high reactivity and instability of trifluoroacetyl radical. Herein, we report a photocatalytic synthesis of trifluoromethyl ketones from alkyl bromides with trifluoroacetic anhydride. The reaction features a dual catalysis of visible-light and XAT reaction, followed by an enabling radical-radical cross-coupling of alkyl radical with a stabilized trifluoromethyl radical. The reaction provides the first straightforward access to aliphatic trifluoromethyl ketones from easily-available and cost-effective alkyl halides and TFAA.


NovaSensor has developed novel, low-cost packaging techniques for silicon sensors and actuators, which permit the use of these devices in applications which were previously cost-prohibitive. The authors review the design philosophy and design process for several such packages, and discuss them against the background of previous packaging techniques with an eye toward future sensor and package developments. They show how needs for configurability are met while retaining the benefits of an efficient modern semiconductor packaging approach.<<ETX>>


My association with Robert F. Heizer and my knowledge of his manner of work and thought, and his personality, was gained in two periods separated by over 20 years. As an undergraduate at Berkeley in the fall of 1948 I was a student in a course he taught, called "The American Indians: Central America, Mexico, and North America." The wording of the course description sounds as though it may have been several, decades old even then, although one can see now how it might have included ethnohistory: "Development, spread, and attainments of culture; native races and languages." The texts were Kroeber's (1939) Cultural and Natural Areas and selections from Wissler's (1938) The American Indian. My class notes indicate that the lectures omitted Central America and included little on Mexico. More than two-thirds of the time was devoted to ethnology and culture history. Except for the early archaeology ("peopling"), the material was presented in the then current mode of an essentially timeless "ethnographic preset". I find nothing in my notes that corresponds to modern ethnohistory (except for some discussion of the effects of tbe fur trade on the cultures of the Northwest Coast), and almost no history (except for brief conventional treatment of historic movements onto the Plains and a short account of the introduction of horses). The lectures on California Indians were largely devoted to summaries of Nisenan and Yurok cultures. It was after 1948 that Heizer developed his strong interests in history and ethnohistory, and his realization of the distortions inevitable in attempts to reconstruct a fictional ethnographic present (cf. Heizer 1978b: 4).


Making extensive use of the Occupational Stress Indicator (OSI) questionnaire and real-life examples, this guide provides practical assistance on the management of pressure in the workplace. It explains how to identify the symptoms of extreme stress, and how to take the right measures to control it immediately and effectively, by means of a combination of behavioural and physical techniques. The text also covers the management of time, moods and motivation, diet and fitness, and explains how the improvement of communication skills can reduce stress.


In today"s manufacturing environment, different parts manufactured in-house and bought from suppliers are often assembled together into a finished product. Competition has made it very important fo ...


Solid superacid S2O(superscript 2- subscript 8)/TiO2 catalyst was prepared by calcination at 500℃ of precursor prepared by sol-gel method with titanate, absolute alcohol, glacial acetic acid and ammonium persulfate as the starting materials. The catalyst was characterized by XRD, IR and Hammett indicator. The catalyst showed strong acidity (H0<-14.52). Activity and stability of the catalyst were examined for synthesis of acetic ether. The results showed that the catalyst exhibited high activity, with acetic acid conversion of 73.09% under the following condition: 0.6g catalyst, 10mL glacial acetic acid, V(absolute alcohol): V(glacial acetic acid)=1.5:1, reaction time 3.0h. The catalyst showed higher activity stability and can be repeatedly used without regeneration, with acetic acid conversion of 55.13% after five cycles of use.


Abstract An original way of application of drift-scan imaging – electronic tracing technique for observation of the fast moving asteroids is presented in this contribution.


is in this and the next chapter that Taylor's work becomes so rich and challenging as she walks the reader through two Australian children's stories which offer new insights to how children and nature might relate through an ethic of the other (Levinas 1969) and develop a 'common world'. The 'common world' is taken further in the final chapter – 'Enacting Common Worlds' – through discussion of the ways that Australian groups such as the central Arrernte people and the Yipirinye educate children to be part of nature. For me, the most exciting discussion was of an installation by Piccinini (2012) entitled 'Undivided': a 'hyperrealist figurate silicon sculptural installation' (109) which shows a human child curled up asleep with a 'sci-fi, non-human, but strangely humanoid' (109) creature curled up round her. The installation, argues Taylor, alerts us to the ways that 'technocultural and ecological dilemmas' are intertwined (111). This is a rich book which provides a great deal of food for thought. The compact writing draws the reader into engagement with the multiple layers of Taylor's argument and points to new ways of thinking about how we might educate children to be part of the natural world and reflect on their interactions with it. It is a book which all of us working with children should read.


Summary. Sexually mature, male coyotes were injected with [3H]thymidine to estimate (1) the duration of one cycle of the seminiferous epithelium, and (2) epididymal sperm transport time. The mean duration of spermatogenic stages 1 to 8 was estimated to be 3\m=.\4,2\m=.\1,0\m=.\5, 14, 1\m=.\8, 1\m=.\7, 1\m=.\5and 1\m=.\3 days, respectively. The total duration of one cycle of the seminiferous epithelium was 13\m=.\6 days. Radioactive spermatozoa were observed in the caput epididymidis 40 days after [3H]thymidine injection, but data suggested that they may arrive as early as 37\m=.\4 days. Radioactive spermatozoa first appeared in the ejaculate of one male 52 days after [3H]thymidine injection, indicating that the epididymal sperm transport time is about 14 days.


In view of the major problems in computer network experiment teaching,this paper proposed the establishing computer network experimental curriculum teaching system based on network protocol simulation software.The system includes the confirmation,the design and the synthesis-experiments,and covers the content of the computer network experiment course basically.The practice indicates that using this network protocol simulation teaching system to simulate the network protocol network topology and network performance actives the experimental teaching atmosphere,which strengthens the students' study interest and moreover promotes the experimental teaching effect.


The electronic properties of graphene, a two-dimensional crystal of carbon atoms, are exceptionally novel. For instance, the low-energy quasiparticles in graphene behave as massless chiral Dirac fermions which has led to the experimental observation of many interesting effects similar to those predicted in the relativistic regime. Graphene also has immense potential to be a key ingredient of new devices, such as single molecule gas sensors, ballistic transistors and spintronic devices. Bilayer graphene, which consists of two stacked monolayers and where the quasiparticles are massive chiral fermions, has a quadratic low-energy band structure which generates very different scattering properties from those of the monolayer. It also presents the unique property that a tunable band gap can be opened and controlled easily by a top gate. These properties have made bilayer graphene a subject of intense interest. In this review, we provide an in-depth description of the physics of monolayer and bilayer graphene from a theorist's perspective. We discuss the physical properties of graphene in an external magnetic field, reflecting the chiral nature of the quasiparticles near the Dirac point with a Landau level at zero energy. We address the unique integer quantum Hall effects, the role of electron correlations, and the recent observation of the fractional quantum Hall effect in the monolayer graphene. The quantum Hall effect in bilayer graphene is fundamentally different from that of a monolayer, reflecting the unique band structure of this system. The theory of transport in the absence of an external magnetic field is discussed in detail, along with the role of disorder studied in various theoretical models. Recent experminental observations of a metal–insulator transition in hydrogenated graphene is discussed in terms of a self-consistent theory and compared with related numerical simulations. We highlight the differences and similarities between monolayer and bilayer graphene, and focus on thermodynamic properties such as the compressibility, the plasmon spectra, the weak localization correction, quantum Hall effect and optical properties. Confinement of electrons in graphene is non-trivial due to Klein tunnelling. We review various theoretical and experimental studies of quantum confined structures made from graphene. The band structure of graphene nanoribbons and the role of the sublattice symmetry, edge geometry and the size of the nanoribbon on the electronic and magnetic properties are very active areas of research, and a detailed review of these topics is presented. Also, the effects of substrate interactions, adsorbed atoms, lattice defects and doping on the band structure of finite-sized graphene systems are discussed. We also include a brief description of graphane–gapped material obtained from graphene by attaching hydrogen atoms to each carbon atom in the lattice.


The purpose of this article is to review the extant literature on women in skilled trades and construction to identify specific gaps in our knowledge of the career development processes and needs of this understudied and underserved population. Our aim is to stimulate the interest of scholars and their engagement in research and practice relevant to noncollege women with interests in these occupations. Such research is needed to guide successful career interventions, inform public policy, and promote equal opportunity for women in the pursuit of their careers.


If numbers tell a story, the conversion to Islam of the peoples of the Indonesian archipelago can be counted as a great success. It is clear that Islam has taken strong root in the region and has influenced many facets of life – from politics and language to the economy and education – over several centuries, as it continues to do today. The protracted process of the region's large-scale Islamization has given rise to various explanations and interpretations, representing different perspectives on when, where, how and why individuals and communities converted to Islam.The goal of this essay is to focus on a little-explored source for the study of conceptions about, and depictions of, conversion to Islam: the literary corpus of the Book of One Thousand Questions. Although this narrative is known in many languages, my emphasis here is on its versions in Javanese and their relationship to additional, more popular conversion narratives in that language. The comparative study of such sources reveals how early conversions were remembered, retold over time, and reconfigured to address local, and contemporary, events and concerns.


The generalized regularized long wave (GRLW) equation is an important nonlinear equation for describing a large number of physical phenomena, for examples, the shallow water waves and plasma waves. In this study, numerical approximation of the GRLW using the element-free improved moving least-squares Ritz (IMLS-Ritz) method is performed. In the solution procedure, the IMLS approximation is employed to reduce the number of unknown coefficients in the trial functions. The Ritz minimization procedure is then used to derive the final algebraic equation system through discretizing the constructed energy formulation of the nonlinear GRLW equation. Time difference technique and Newton-Raphson method are adopted to solve the nonlinear equation system. Numerical experiments are conducted on the final form of the governing equation system to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the element-free IMLS-Ritz method by comparing the computed IMLS-Ritz results with the existing available analytical solutions.


Searching for spin liquid states has long been attracting both experimentalists and theorists. In this article, we review recent density matrix renormalization group studies of the spin-1/2 XY model on the honeycomb lattice, with first-neighbor ($J_1 = 1$) and frustrating second-neighbor ($J_2>0$) interactions. For the intermediate frustration regime $0.22\lesssim J_2\lesssim0.36$, there exists a surprising antiferromagnetic Ising phase, with ordered moments pointing along the $z$ axis, despite the absence of any $S_z S_z$ interactions in the Hamiltonian. Surrounding this phase as a function of $J_2$ are antiferromagnetic phases with the moments pointing in the $\textit{x-y}$ plane for small $J_2$ and a close competition between an $\textit{x-y}$ plane magnetic collinear phase and a dimer phase for large values of $J_2$. No spin-liquid phases was found in the XY model even with the third neighbor ($J_3>0$) interactions.


The following study aims at presenting the scale and impact of the projects concerning the development of the transport infrastructure in Poland co-financed from the European Union's funds. The authors present the hypothesis that to date the impact of the said projects (implemented within the framework of both National Development Plan 2004-2006 and the National Strategic Reference Framework 2007-2013) is – due to both prolonged period of negligence in this area and dynamic economic development – not significant enough to satisfy the existing needs in the analyzed area. It is emphasized, however, that the said projects have constituted an important part of the investment effort aimed at systematic improvement of the transportation system in Poland. The authors assert not only that in order to meet the existing needs in this field the investment process should continue under the framework of the financial perspective 2014-2020, but also that the continued development of the transport infrastructure should be based on the network-based paradigm and grounded in a solid institutional framework.


LnTeCl (Ln: La, Ce, Pr, Nd) compounds are obtained as single crystals and/or powder samples by the reaction of anhydrous LnCl3, Ln metal, and Te (sealed Ta tubes in evacuated silica tubes, 1050 °C, 5 d, heating and cooling rate of 50 K/h).


Based on the National Bureau of Standards (presently called The National Institute of Standards and Technology or "NIST") statistical data on corrosion of steel, an equation is introduced to estimate the corrosion rate of underground steel. The variables include the major soil characteristics (parameters), namely resistivity, pH value, moisture content and aeration. This formula, together with the IEEE Standard No. 80-2000, is used in the design of steel grounding. Also discussed in detail are the design procedures for a cathodic protection scheme to minimize corrosion of steel grounding. Numerical examples are included in the paper to enhance the understanding of steel grounding design for high voltage AC substations.


The developments in carbon materials that have been commercialized or are of potential for manufacture of electrochemical capacitors are summarized, which covers activated carbon, carbon nanotubes and carbonized aerogels. The properties, characteristics of these carbon materials are emphasized in discussion.


This paper extends the family of fast least squares adaptive filter algorithms to the class of adaptive filters with linear phase. During the development of the fast algorithm for this case, a link to a linear prediction problem involving simultaneous minimization over both forward and backward linear prediction squared errors was discovered.


The relationship between project management and sustainable development is rapidly gain-ing interest from both practitioners and academics. This is so because projects have long term impacts on social, economic and environmental sustainability to South Africa, because of this construction companies are increasingly under pressure to incorporate the objectives of sustainable development into company policies and decision-making processes. The aim of this study is to identify the level of awareness of sustainable project management by professionals in the South African construction industry. A quantitative methodology approach was adopted for this study, a questionnaire was employed to gather data for this study. A total of fifty-two (52) respondents returned their questionnaires. Descriptive statistical tools were used to analyse the findings, tools such as mean item score (MIS) was used to rank the level of awareness of sustainable project management and the reliability of the was also checked. Findings from this study revealed that the implementation of sustainable project management can lead to saving energy, reduction of greenhouse emission amongst many. This study concluded by stating that it will be imperative for policies to be put in place by the government to help encourage organisations to implement sustainable project management.


Objective:Application of interventional radiology equipment,through the introduction and materials in clinic,to better grasp the method of interventional radiotherapy and interventional radiology treatment,reduce adverse events in clinical application.Methods:Various imaging devices such as DSA,CT,MRI etc,imaging within the body structure,the size of the lesion and its relationship with the surrounding tissue by these devices can be very good;and the development of medical devices that need not operation,can accurately reach the lesion site for treatment.Results:At present,the interventional radiology doctors has to catheters or devices "interventional" vascular branches,the digestive tract and other specific parts,used in the treatment of disease.Conclusion:Interventional radiology is an emerging treatment method as the development of modern science and technology.Interventional also has some adverse events radiotherapy applications,will damage the doctor and the patient's health and the impact of clinical diagnosis and other accidents,so do the crime prevention work is very important,so as to carry out the interventional radiology treatment.


INTRODUCTION
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-transmitted flavivirus widely distributed in Africa, Middle East, Asia, Southern Europe and in 1999 was first identified in the United States as a cause of disease in New York City. It mainly circulates among birds, but can infect many species of mammals. Epidemics can occur in rural as well as urban areas.

METHODS
1,280 sera were collected during 2006 from 80 stable workers, as jockey and grooms, 100 fowlers, 500 blood donors, 600 healthcare workers, 100 veterinary surgeons and 100 hunters in the Messina province to evaluate the prevalence of the WNV infection, by ELISA test, in relation to risk exposure or not.

RESULTS
None of the 1280 subjects examined has shown positive for antibodies anti WN virus.

CONCLUSION
Among the strategies of control and surveillance, finally, in our opinion, are and will be indispensable the programs of continuous antibody survey in all the risk categories and in the general population in order to succeed to preview which effects could have the presence of infections from WNV, also imported from other zones where the virus is constantly present, in future and which it could be the impact of geographic factors on the epidemic spread of the disease.


The complete-moving-hysteresis (CMH) model computes both the reversible and the irreversible components of the magnetization and the relationship between these components. An important question associated with a given model is the corresponding identification strategy which provides a method to experimentally obtain the parameters of the model. In order to be experimentally applicable, such an identification strategy has to be robust in the presence of experimental error. This paper presents a complete parametric identification strategy for the CMH model that is applicable to a wide range of recording materials. The method is robust in the presence of experimental errors and requires the measurement of the major loop, the major remanence loop, the virgin magnetization curve and the virgin remanence magnetization curve only. The method is experimentally verified on various commercial recording media. It is found that the model and the identification strategy are in excellent agreement with measured higher-order asymmetrical reversal curves for commercial samples with markedly different characteristics. The limitations of the identification strategy are discussed. A generalized Preisach function for the CMH model is suggested that is applicable to soft magnetic materials, as well. >


Rayleigh wave speed in a heat conducting transversely isotropic material with thermal relaxation is studied. Phase and group velocity for the first four modes have been computed for aluminum alloy plate at different thermal relaxation times. It is observed that if modal phase velocity decrease with increasing frequency normally dispersive profiles, phase velocity is greater than group velocity and consequently carrier travels faster than the envelope. Thus in such cases if a phase disturbance appears at the beginning of the pulse, then it overtakes and finally it disappears in the front. Rayleigh wave speed is computed the medium and compared. It is observed that thermal relaxation time effect plays a significant role thermoelastic speed of Rayleigh waves at the low values of wave number limits


Although I have been an Associate Editor of the ITS Magazine since its inception four years ago, this marks the last issue of my first year as the Editor-in-Chief (EiC). I am glad to end on a high note with our largest issue of the year. In the four issues of 2012, we published 12 papers, all of which went through the rigorous review process of the ITS Magazine. Equally as important, all four issues were published on-time, which is a requirement for receiving an impact factor! Although we most likely will not receive an impact factor in 2013, we should receive one in early 2014. To ensure we receive the highest impact factor possible, we need to continue to have high-quality submissions that are useful and referenced other places in the community. In short, I hope that authors and reviewers continue with the rigor and high standards they have during my first year as EiC. Being involved in the ITS Society has helped me to form those relationships with people whose research areas are quite different than my own. It has also offered me the ability to meet and network with professors whose books and papers I read while I was a student, which is quite exciting for me. Having said all of that, I hope that you enjoy the great issue of the ITS Magazine that we have put together to wrap up 2012. The papers in this issue all address core topics in the field of ITS' tracking objects (including vehicles) and providing notification messages to them.


This paper reports a kind of intercoupled silicon dual-microcantilevers for ultrasensitive mass detection based on the relative change in the amplitude ratio of the out-of-phase vibration eigenstate of the dual-cantilevers. The structural intercoupling of the dual-cantilevers arises from the coupling overhang connecting them at the base. The whole structure operation is excited by a piezoactuator under ambient conditions. Experimental results indicate that the relative change in the amplitude ratio of the out-of-phase vibration eigenstate of the structure is linear as a function of added mass, and it is more than one order of magnitude greater than the relative change in resonance frequency of in-phase vibration eigenstate.


The transport characteristics of a single-electron transistor based on molecules with a monatomic charge center based on Rh, Ru, Pt, Sc, Cr atoms are calculated. The energy spectra of the studied molecules in various charge states are calculated. The results of the calculation of the parametric model's coefficients of molecular shells for the studied molecules are presented.


BackgroundPrecise knowledge of the expected "normal" lumen diameter at a given coronary anatomic location is a first step toward developing a quantitative estimate of coronary disease severity that could be more useful than the traditional "percent stenosis." Methods and ResultsEighty-three arteriograms were carefuly selected from among 9,160 consecutive studies for their smooth lumen borders indicating freedom from atherosclerotic disease. Of these, 60 men and 10 women had no abnormalities of cardiac function, seven men had idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, and six men had left ventricular hypertrophy associated with significant aortic stenosis. Lumen diameter was measured at 96 points in 32 defined coronary segments or major branches. Measurements were scaled to the catheter, corrected for imaging distortion, and had a mean repeat measurement error of 0.12 mm. When sex, anatomic dominance, and branch length were accounted for, normal lumen diameter at each of the standard anatomic points could usually be specified with a population variance of ±0.6 mm or less (SD) and coefficient of variation of <0.25 (SD/mean). For example, the left main artery measured 4.5±0.5 mm, the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) 3.7±0.4 mm, and the distal LAD 1.9±0.4 mm. For the LAD, lumen diameter was not affected by anatomic dominance (right versus left), but for the right coronary artery, proximal diameter varied between 3.9±0.6 and 2.8±0.5 mm (p<0.01) and for the left circumflex, between 3.4±0.5 and 4.2±0.6 mm (p<0.01). Women had smaller epicardial arterial diameter than men (−9%; p<0.001), even after normalization for body surface area (p<0.01). Branch artery caliber was unaffected by the anatomic dominance but increased with branch length, expressed as a fraction of the origin-to-apex distance (p<0.001). Lumen diameter was not affected by age or by vessel tortuosity but was significantly increased among men with left ventricular hypertrophy (+17%; p<0.001) or dilated cardiomyopathy (+12%; p<0.001). ConclusionsThis is a reference normal data set against which to compare lumen dimensions in various pathological states. It should be of particular value in the investigation of diffuse atherosclerotic disease.


TH E EI G H T H AS S E M B L Y of the Uniting Church in Australia, held in Western Australia in 1997, began propitiously. Perth's main street fluttered with banners welcoming the participants. The opening of the assembly, at the Perth Concert Hall, was so popular that the audience overflowed into a side room, where they watched the ceremony on television screens. This was the first time in the Uniting Church's twenty-year history that the assembly had met in the west, and the Western Australians were determined to make it a memorable occasion. But by the time the assembly ended it had been colloquially dubbed the "Assembly of Tears."1 The tears, along with media reports that the Uniting Church in Australia was about to self-destruct, were caused by the assembly's deliberations about homosexuality.2 Like other Christian denominations around the world, the Uniting Church in Australia discovered that discussing homosexuality was a difficult and potentially dangerous activity. In the case of the Uniting Church the "sexuality debate" was made more traumatic by the competing claims for justice between homosexual and indigenous members of the church.


A high speed, high performance, portable, dual-channel, optical Fiber Bragg Grating demodulator based on fiber Fabry- Pérot tunable filter (FFP-FT) is reported in this paper. The high speed demodulation can be achieved to detect the dynamical loads of vehicles with speed of 15 mph. However, the drifts of piezoelectric transducer (PZT) in the cavity of FFP-FT dramatically degrade the stability of system. Two schemes are implemented to improve the stability of system. Firstly, a temperature control system is installed to effectively remove the thermal drifts of PZT. Secondly, a scheme of changing the bias voltage of FFP-FT to restrain non-thermal drifts has been realized at lab and will be further developed to an automatic control system based on microcontroller. Although this demodulator is originally used in Weight-In- Motion (WIM) sensing system, it can be extended into other aspects and the schemes presented in this paper will be useful in many applications.


The technology to separate and recover the CO2 form the fossil fuel burning is believed to be more feasible measures to slow down the emission of the CO2 among the separation and recovery technology of CO2 in the future.O2/CO2 mixed oxygen-enriched combustion technology have the obvious advantages and application.O2/CO2 mixed oxygen-enriched combustion is an energy-saving technology,which is not only beneficial to reduction and control of CO2,NOx and SO2 emissions,but also can increase combustion efficiency.Research on the oxygen-enriched combustion technology is reviewed,the characteristics of energy-saving and carbon emission reduction and the development and application of oxygen-enriched combustion and the problems of it in using are all found out.


Questions arise as to what will happen when a foreign investor sues a Member State or even the EU, given the new European Union (EU) competence over foreign direct investment (FDI) from the Lisbon Treaty, Articles 206–207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). In particular, financial responsibility of the EU resulting from an investor-state arbitration is now becoming a politically sensitive topic, particularly regarding the on-going negotiations between EU and third countries for the conclusion of investmentrelated international agreements. While the EU bears, in principle, international responsibility for the breach of any provision to which it is bound under international law, it is possible, under EU law, to provide for the allocation of financial responsibility between the EU and its Member States. This paper analyses the recent EU Regulation on financial responsibility in investor-State arbitration, putting it in the broader framework of the creation of an EU investment poli...


The authors studied for six years the effects of tree thinning and of undergrowth control in a coastal pinewood of Central Italy. The changes induced by cultivation activities have caused a significant contraction of richness abundance and diversity, not counterbalanced after 4 years from interventions. The species mostly affected are: Hoopoe, Upupa epops, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos major, Little Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos minor, Short-toed Tree Creeper, Certhia brachydactyla, Firecrest, Regulus ignicapillus, and some species of Passeriformes which nest in the undergrowth vegetation.


This paper reports the use of multicriteria analysis in the Analyze phase of the DMAIC (Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control) cycle for continuous improvement. The research was carried out in a tissue paper factory located in southern Brazil. A sample of 64 parts of 16 different reels of recycled paper was used. A problem regarding paper quality variability was detected, presenting a scrap index ranging between 9% and 23%, compromising machine productivity and product sales. This motivated the implementation of a structured project supported by the application of the DMAIC cycle.
The project team (machine operators, maintenance staff, supervisor, and data analyst) defined the evaluation criteria and determined the control intervals and their equivalence with linguistic variables to support the necessary evaluations for the application of fuzzy TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution). The criteria were C1-Longitudinal Strength (Kgf), C2-Longitudinal Elongation (mm), C3-Cross-strength (kgf), C4-Cross-elongation (mm), C5-Weight (g/m²), and C6-Humidity (%).
The results showed that samples with the same ranking had the lowest scrap indexes in the subsequent process. Also, the criterion C5 had a more significant impact on the quality of the product than the other criteria, which was determined from the DMAIC sequence. Improvements related to C5 should be prioritized. The fuzzy TOPSIS method presented is a flexible tool, adapting itself to the solution of the problem and contributing to the decision-making process.