It is a well-known fact that longitudinal bone growth is affected especially by hypophysis among other various endocrine organs. Using young rats, changes in body weight and in length of the tibia were studied after removal of hypophysis, and alterations occurring in the proximal epiphyseal cartilage plate of the tibia playing an important role in longitudinal bone growth were examined under light and electron microscopes, with special emphasis on the proliferative zone. Alterations of ATP-ase activity of ruthenium red affinity were also examined electron microscopically. Further, quantitative analyses of the alterations of cell organelles were performed using low power electron micrographs. 1) Following hypophysectomy, immediate suppression in weight gain occured, and little or no gain was seen from 14 to 28 days after removal of the gland with plateau in body weight. Longitudinal bone growth of tibia was also suppressed, and little or no growth was seen from the 14th day afterward as was the case for body weight. 2) Changes revealed by light microscopic examination included reduced width of epiphyseal cartilage plate, decreased number and disturbed arrangement of chondrocytes, rapid transition from proliferative zone to degenerative zone, and disturbed formation of the subchondral trabecula. 3) Electron microscopic examination revealed poor development of rough surfaced endoplasmic reticulum in the cell of proliferative zone, Golgi apparatus ocnsisting of lamellae and a relatively large numbers of vesicles and pronounced decrease in vacuoles. In addition, accumulation of lipid droplets and glycogen granules were seen together with mitochondria exhibited swelling and elevation of electron density in their matrices. ATP-ase activity was decreased. In the cartilage matrix of the proliferative zone, collagen fibrils and ruthenium red positive granules were decreased in number. 4) Rough surfaced endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and cytoplasmic vacuoles were treated quantitatively by dividing the proliferative zone into two parts of upper and lower layers. The data showed marked decrease in the every item examined after hypophysectomy. 5) These results indicate that hypophysectomy causes a decrease in intracellular metabolism of chondrocytes in the proliferative zone with a reduced function of matrix formation. The suppression of longitudinal bone growth after hypophysectomy appears to occur under an intimate correlation with a decrease in matrix formation by the chondrocytes of proliferative zone and inhibition of proliferation of the cells in this zone.


We study the dynamics of cause‐specific mortality rates among countries by considering them as compositions of functions. We develop a novel framework for such data structure, with particular attention to functional PCA. The application of this method to a subset of the WHO mortality database reveals the main modes of variation of cause‐specific rates over years for men and women and enables us to perform clustering in the projected subspace. The results give many insights of the ongoing trends, only partially explained by past literature, that the considered countries are undergoing. We are also able to show the different evolution of cause of death undergone by men and women: for example, we can see that while lung cancer incidence is stabilizing for men, it is still increasing for women.


We study a nonlinear boundary value problem posed in the interior or the exterior of the unit disk in R2. Using capacity operator, we transform it into a pseudo-differential problem on the unit circle. The Galerkin method together with Fourier expansion, is used to approximate our problem. We show the convergence of the fixed-point scheme and we give an accurate bound of the L2-norm of the error. Numerical results coming from a problem arising in electromagnetic casting are also presented.


INTRODUCTION
The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated emergency changes to teaching, learning and assessment across higher education. Healthcare courses were particularly affected because of their interdependence with overstretched health services. We used this unprecedented situation to provide insight into how students react to unexpected crises and how institutions can most effectively support them.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
This cohort study explored students' experiences of the pandemic across programmes and stages from five schools (medicine, dentistry, biomedical sciences, psychology and health professions) in a health faculty in a UK university. We carried out an inductive thematic analysis on the data collected.

RESULTS
Many students reported fluctuating emotions and struggled to adapt to home working. Students' changes in motivation and coping strategies varied, many found structure, recreation and social interaction important. Opinions on how well online learning worked relative to face-to-face diverged across programmes.

CONCLUSION
A one-size-fits-all blended learning response is unlikely to be appropriate. Our study shows students across one faculty, within one institution, responded diversely to an emergency affecting them all. Educators need to be flexible and dynamic in delivering curricula and supporting students responding to an unexpected crisis during their higher education.


Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education is a critical part of a modern education system. Motivating students to learn STEM subjects is however a challenge. Teachers have a critical role in motivating students but to do this effectively they need to have appropriate subject matter knowledge. Data from PISA 2015 show a substantial proportion of teachers in Australian schools are teaching STEM subjects 'out-of-field', which is that they do not have the qualifications to teach these subjects. This paper examines the effects of individual teacher characteristics and school context on of out-of-field teaching in STEM subjects. In particular, it examines the role of school autonomy and staff shortage in this. The results show these two variables have a strong association with out-of-field teaching, however, other factors either mediate or confound their effects. A full understanding of the results requires knowing the role of school funding and school budgets in out-of-field teaching. While we do not have direct measures of these in the data, we can infer their likely roles through the effects of other factors, such as school sector and education level of parents of students in the school, in the model.


Recent work has been carried out on development of isotope wear analysis and optical and eddy current technologies to provide bearing wear measurements and real time monitoring of shaft speed, shaft axial displacement and shaft orbit of the Orbit Transfer Vehicle hydrostatic bearing tester. Results show shaft axial displacement can be optically measured (at the same time as shaft orbital motion and speed) to within 0.3 mils by two fiberoptic deflectometers. Evaluation of eddy current probes showed that, in addition to measuring shaft orbital motion, they can be used to measure shaft speed without having to machine grooves on the shaft surface as is the usual practice for turbomachinery. The interim results of this condition monitoring effort are presented.


Silver nanoparticles of average sizes ~18-21 nm in diameter were prepared by a green approach via chemical reduction of silver nitrate (AgNO3) using Asiatic Pennywort and Bryophyllum leaf extracts as reducing and capping agents. The bio-reduced silver nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopic, XRD and TEM techniques. The characteristic surface plasmon band of colloidal solutions of AgNPs synthesized from Asiatic Pennywort and Bryophyllum leaf extracts were found at 445 nm and 405 nm respectively. The results of XRD and SAED pattern showed that the biosynthesized AgNPs have a crystalline structure with cubic phase (fcc). The antimicrobial activities of the as synthesized AgNPs were investigated against gram negative bacteria Pseudomonas Fluorescens and gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus Epidermidis. It was observed that silver nanoparticles obtained from Asiatic Pennywort was more effective on gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus Epidermidis while AgNPs obtained from Bryophyllum was more effective on gram negative bacteria Pseudomonas Fluorescens indicating size dependent activity of AgNPs. Copyright © 2015 VBRI press.


This essay argues that a new subfield of AI governance should be explored that examines the policy-making process and its implications for AI governance. A growing number of researchers have begun working on the question of how to mitigate the catastrophic risks of transformative artificial intelligence, including what policies states should adopt. However, this essay identifies a preceding, meta-level problem of how the space of possible policies is affected by the politics and administrative mechanisms of how those policies are created and implemented. This creates a new set of key considerations for the field of AI governance and should influence the action of future policymakers. This essay examines some of the theories of the policymaking process, how they compare to current work in AI governance, and their implications for the field at large and ends by identifying areas of future research.


The need of a control of costs and production begins to make itself more strongly in modem developing farm units in dairy husbandry. It has been checked what costs are most important in dairy farming. The cost of roughages and concentrates for the herd amounts to approximately 70% of the net cost price per kg of milk. This percentage is practically independent of the number of cattle per hectare. If the feeding-costs per kind of fodder (roughages and concentrates) and the yield of the herd can be controlled, the farmer controls two major parameters in his farm management. The costs per SE (Starch Equivalent) per kind of roughage have been calculated on the basis of various costfactors both based on work done by the farmer himself and on contractor's tariffs (table 12). Three dairy-farms were controlled for two years in order to examine the results of a method of control. The yield of milk was estimated per month on the basis of the expected standard-cow-production and the expected number of standard-cows per 10 days. It appeared that these estimations were rather accurate. For selection in the herd estimations were made of the lactationproductions (305 days) based on 60, 100, 160 and 200 days of lactation after calving. It appeared that these estimations based on the standard values of the cows were very accurate. The correlation-coefficients between the estimations and the real yields were very high. As a result of these high correlations it should be considered to restrict the milk-sampling (periods of 3 weeks) in milk-recording to 3 or 5 samples in the beginning of the lactation. This would save costs considerably. Besides the milk-yield, estimations were also made of the need of SE per month for each farm, and the supply of SE from roughages and the necessary SE from concentrated fodder. For the grazing-period a method was applied to calculate the need of concentrates by means of the standard-values of individual cows and the standard-cow-production of the herd. This method was necessary, because in the grazing period the low productive and dry cows get more SE from grass than they need for maintenance and production. It appeared that the estimation of the need of SE was comparable with other methods of estimation. Every month the calculated quantity of concentrates was compared with the quantity really needed. It happened that there were months with great deviations, mainly caused by an adaptation to changing circumstances (the weather, the quantity of grass available, the quality of roughages) and giving too much and sometimes too little concentrated fodder. With the prices calculated (level 1975) for roughages, the prices of concentrates and the estimated prices of milk a calculation was made of the feeding-income per month (milk-money minus feedingcosts). It appeared that the costs per kg of milk, based on the costs calculated showed great differences between the summer and the winter period. The estimation of the net margin based on the prices of table 12 proved to be wrong. The real costs per SE were higher than estimated. On the basis of the real costs calculations were made of the costs per SE and per cost-factor for several roughages. Rises in wages and the way of using grassland (percentage of cutting) proved to be important causes of increasing costs. For the system applied the farmer needs the following information: - the composition of his dairy herd - the feeding-strategy applied - the expected standard-cow production One can calculate the milk-production from the quick method for the calculation of the number of standard-cows and the expected standard-cow production. Then it is easy to calculate the need of SE for maintenance and production. The total need of SE can be met by the supply of roughages and the concentrates to be given. In this way a budget can be made that should later be compared with the real situation.


The technique of Thermally Stimulated Currents is used to study the slow molecular mobility in a series of poly (1,4-cis-isoprene) samples with different molecular weights, Mw, and low polydispersity. The technique revealed a high resolution power, particularly useful in the study of the lower molecular weight samples where the chain and the segmental relaxations strongly overlap. The dynamic crossover that is reported for the normal mode by varying the molecular weight is clearly revealed by the thermally stimulated depolarization currents results through the temperature location, TMn, of the normal mode peak, the values of the relaxation time at TMn, τ(TMn), and the value of the fragility index of the normal mode, mn. The kinetic features of the glass transition relaxation of polyisoprene have also been determined.


ABSTRACT This theoretical paper introduces a conceptual framework for empirical study and comparison of collaborative civil society housing (CSH). We suggest that CSH communities satisfy four criteria to a lesser or higher extent: (1) autonomy, (2) participatory democracy, (3) internal solidarity and (4) external solidarity. Drawing primarily on empirical examples from the scholarly literature on co-operative housing, we claim that all CSH communities face challenges that may lead to the erosion of these civil society criteria. We argue that such challenges are general social mechanisms that manifest themselves in various types of situations, for instance, when apartments are transferred or refurbished.


Different settings reveal the operation of different psychical mechanisms; for this reason I try in this paper to take a fresh look at the psychoanalytic setting which underlies the specificity of what we psychoanalysts call psychoanalysis and helps to distinguish it from other forms of therapy--in particular, psychotherapy. In my view, the analyst's creative container function is expressed particularly through the setting. This setting is not an inert vessel, a mere juxtaposition of rules, but an active container which interacts dynamically with the process. Observance of the conditions of the psychoanalytic setting seems to me important if what comes to life is intended to be a psychoanalytic process; the analysand's (or analysand-to-be's) pressures on the analyst to abandon aspects of the setting can then sometimes be interpreted as unconscious attacks on the creative container function of the analyst and on that of the patient himself. A number of clinical examples are given, showing that, like 'Donkey Skin', the analysand may sometimes demand not only pieces of gold from psychoanalysis but also, unconsciously, its skin.


Abstract 1015 Natural killer (NK) cells are a component of the innate immune system that target both tumors and virally infected cells. NK cell killing of tumors is regulated by a delicate balance of activating and inhibitory receptors. These inhibitory receptors bind HLA ligands which prevent NK cell targeting of normal "self" cells. Up regulation of surface expression of HLA molecules has been utilized by tumors as a method to evade NK cell cytotoxicity. Disrupting the function or expression of inhibitory receptors on NK cells could potentially be used as a method to overcome this effect. While most inhibitory receptors are present in only a subset of NK cells, NK cells universally express the HLA-E binding inhibitory receptor NKG2A. We hypothesized that siRNA inactivation of NK cell NKG2A would could be used as a therapeutic approach to enhance NK cell tumor cytotoxicity in vivo. The human natural killer cell line NKL was transduced with lentiviral vectors encoding shRNA targeting various regions of the NKG2A transcript. Following lentiviral transduction, knockdown of receptor expression was confirmed by flow cytometry and RT-qPCR. Compared to wild type (WT) and GFP-transduced NKL controls, NKG2A silenced NKL cells had increased secretion of IFN-gamma and Fas-L by ELISA and increased granzymes A and B and Nkp30 expression by flow cytometry. In contrast, expression of NKG2D, Nkp44, Nkp46, LFA-1, DNAM, and TRAIL was not altered by NKG2A silencing. Chromium-based cytotoxicity assays showed shRNA knockdown of NKG2A significantly enhanced NK cell cytotoxicity of tumor cells: at a 20:1 effector to target ratio, NKG2A knockdown NKLs, WT NKLs and GFP-transduced NKLs induced 68.9%, 8.2% and 8.3% lysis respectively of 721.221 EBV-LCL tumor targets (p=0.001). Remarkably, NKG2A silencing enhanced NKL killing of both HLA-E positive (721.221 EBV-LCL and 526 melanoma cells) and HLA-E negative (K562) tumor cell lines, suggesting NKG2A inactivation increased NK cell cytotoxicity through both HLA-E dependent and independent mechanisms. Using a xenogeneic model, we next explored the in vivo effects of transferring NKG2A silenced NK cells in tumor bearing mice. Immunodeficient NSG mice were injected with 1 million human luciferase transduced 721.221 HLA-E expressing EBV-LCL tumor cells. Twenty-four hours later, tumor-bearing mice were injected with 2–5 million WT NKL cells, GFP-control-transduced NKL, or NKG2A silenced NKL cells, then received IL-2 sq for 10 days to induce in vivo NK cell proliferation. NKL numbers in blood were subsequently analyzed by flow cytometry and tumor burden was assessed by luciferase-based bioluminescence imaging (BLI). At 16 and 21 days following adoptive NK cell transfer, BLI showed that recipients of NKG2A silenced NKL cells had slower tumor growth and significantly smaller tumor burden compared to NKL wt and NKL-GFP transduced controls (figure). Importantly, no toxicity related to infusing NKG2A inactivated NK cells was observed. These in vitro and in vivo data suggest shRNA knockdown of the NKG2A inhibitory receptor could be used as a method to augment NK cell tumor cytotoxicity in patients with hematological malignancies. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


We have experimentally observed re-equilibration of a magnetically trapped cloud of metastable neon atoms after it was put in a non-equilibrium state. Using numerical simulations we show that anharmonic mixing, equilibration due to the collisionless dynamics of atoms in a magnetic trap, is the dominant process in this equilibration. We determine the dependence of its time on trap parameters and atom temperature. Furthermore we observe in the simulations a resonant energy exchange between the radial and axial trap dimensions at a ratio of trap frequencies \omega_r / \omega_z = 3/2. This resonance is explained by a simple oscillator model.


A complete electrical wire link between equipment boxes is analyzed using a theoretical method based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) algorithm. This paper describes how the asymmetry of the transmission line created by different terminations has a direct impact on the radiation level. Thereafter, a transient experimental method is proposed to evaluate the behavior of localized defects on transmission links. The transient results lead to (S) parameters and radiation power. Simulations using the FDTD method validate the experimentation.


Disulfidptosis is a new cell death model caused by accumulating intracellular disulfides bonding to actin cytoskeleton proteins. This study aimed to investigate the expression and prognostic value of disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). The data of expression profiles and scRNA-seq were collected from TCGA and GEO databases. The different expressions of DRGs between normal and LUAD tissues were compared. The LASSO analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis were utilized to develop a DRGs model for the prognosis evaluation in LUAD. The model's predictive accuracy was evaluated with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and C-index. Survival analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to assessing the predictive value of the DRGs model. ScRNA-seq data were analyzed with "Seurat" and "Monocle 2" packages. There were significant differences in 22 DRGs between normal and tumor tissues. A model with five DRGs (ACTB, FLNB, NCKAP1, SLC3A2, SLC7A11) was constructed. The AUC and C-index of the model were significantly higher than that based on clinical parameters. Survival analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated risk score was an independent prognostic predictor. In the scRNA-seq study, we identified 14 clusters and 11 cell types. Clusters 2, 8, and 13 were annotated into Epithelial cells. SLC7A11 and SLC3A2, NCKAP1 and FLNB, ACTB expressed most abundantly in Epithelial cells, Endothelial cells, Naive CD4 T, respectively. We explored the expression of DRGs in LUAD and constructed a predictive DRGs model, which was stable and reliable for predicting LUAD prognosis.


A novel block mercaptosilane (3-benzothiazolthio-1-propyltriethoxylsilane) (Silane-M) was synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, and elemental analysis. Styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR)/silica composites were prepared with Silane-M, and its effect on the properties of materials was studied. Results show that Silane-M can substantially improve the dispersion of silica and strengthen the reinforcement of silica for SBR vulcanizates like anchors of silica to rubber matrix. As expected, it enhances the tensile, tear strength, dynamic compression property, and resistance to abrasion of SBR/silica composites. By adding Silane-M into the system, SBR/silica composites get superior skid resistance and high glass transition temperature (Tg). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009


Ennead IV 5[29] has been poorly served by translators and commentators, misreporting what Plotinus wrote and, with these mangled results, asserting that this part of his treatise on the "Problems about the Soul" is merely a disjointed series of doxographical fragments with little compelling contribution to make. More careful translation and analysis reveal something strikingly different and original. First, he gives a cogent critique of the theories of Plato and Aristotle concerning the body between and the role of daylight. Second, he substitutes his own account in terms of both sympathy and the principle of two acts, explaining vision both during the day as well as at night, notably deficient in previous accounts. Third, he derives some surprisingly original corollaries about the nature of light and the source of color.


This study aimed to examine the antecedents (i.e., perceived trust, perceived
risk, perceived web quality and electronic word of mouth) of Afghan women
toward online shopping, based on Technology Acceptance Model (TAM).
However, empirical findings in this domain are limited and have inconsistent
results. The researcher collected the data from 384 respondents, the result
affirms that there is significant positive relationship existing between the
proposed independent variable such as perceive trust (PT), perceived risk
(PR), perceived web quality (PWQ) and electronic word of mouth (eWOM)
toward online shopping decision of Afghan women. This study is novel in
establishing empirically, by bringing together the different proposed
antecedents, which has influenced Afghan women's online shopping decisions.
Based on the finding, the study recommends that Afghan women will decide
to shop online taking the four antecedents into consideration and if, it meets
the standard criteria and provide an advantage to them. That is how they prefer
online shopping to traditional one. Additionally, the result of the study has
some practical implications, which indicate that to increase the percentage
of women online shoppers the online retailers are suggested to improve the
factors of security, trust, previous customer experience, reviews, and overall
quality of online services


The electronic structures of a variety of metal nonahalides, MM'X(9), with the {d(3)d(3)} configuration are examined using broken-symmetry density functional theory. Complexes containing trivalent ions of the chromium triad and tetravalent ions of the manganese triad are considered, where metal-metal interactions range from strong multiple bonding to weak antiferromagnetic coupling. The division of the metal-based electrons into symmetry-distinct sigma and delta(pi) subsets also gives rise to an intermediate group of complexes, where the sigma electrons are involved in a strong bond, but the delta(pi) subset remain weakly coupled. The balance between localization and delocalization of the metal-based electrons is determined by two distinct factors. The overlap of metal-based orbitals favors delocalization, whereas the high single-ion spin polarization energy associated with an isolated d(3) ion favors localization. Independent estimates of these two factors are made, and their contribution to the observed periodic trends is assessed. On descending a triad, the radial expansion of the d orbitals reduces the single-ion spin polarization energy and also increases overlap between orbitals on adjacent centers. Both factors contribute approximately equally to the increased tendency of the metal-based electrons to delocalize in the heavier congeners. Moving across a period, the greater covalence of the M(IV)-Cl bond in complexes of the manganese triad reduces the spin polarization energy, favoring delocalization. The contracted orbitals of the M(IV) ion, however, reduce the orbital overlap term, favoring localization. Changes in the overlap term dominate, and hence the overall trend is toward greater localization of the metal-based electrons in complexes of the manganese triad.


ABSTRACT
 Three skeletons collected from the late Oligocene Kokoamu Greensand of New Zealand are among the most complete Paleogene penguins known. These specimens, described here as Kairuku waitaki, gen. et sp. nov., and Kairuku grebneffi, sp. nov., reveal new details of key elements of the stem penguin skeleton associated with underwater flight, including the sternum, flipper, and pygostyle. Relative proportions of the trunk, flippers, and hind limbs can now be determined from a single individual for the first time, offering insight into the body plan of stem penguins and improved constraints on size estimates for 'giant' taxa. Kairuku is characterized by an elongate, narrow sternum, a short and flared coracoid, an elongate narrow flipper, and a robust hind limb. The pygostyle of Kairuku lacks the derived triangular cross-section seen in extant penguins, suggesting that the rectrices attached in a more typical avian pattern and the tail may have lacked the propping function utilized by living penguins. New materials described here, along with re-study of previously described specimens, resolve several long-standing phylogenetic, biogeographic, and taxonomic issues stemming from the inadequate comparative material of several of the first-named fossil penguin species. An array of partial associated skeletons from the Eocene—Oligocene of New Zealand historically referred to Palaeeudyptes antarcticus or Palaeeudyptes sp. are recognized as at least five distinct species: Palaeeudyptes antarcticus, Palaeeudyptes marplesi, Kairuku waitaki, Kairuku grebneffi, and an unnamed Burnside Formation species.


One of the long-running debates within the research dealing with developing countries' situations, has been the extent to which management theories and practices rooted in the developed countries' perspectives can be applied by organisations in the developing countries. To contribute to this debate, this study aimed to discover new insights that could highlight the superseding management practices and activities associated with the effectiveness of organisations in a developing country. The study applied an inductive research approach through data obtained via interviews from 54 key role players and ultra-elites in organisations such as members of the board, management and employees. Qualitative research techniques were used to analyse data. The study findings suggest context-specific management practices and activities, unique from those typically cited in the developed countries, as influencing the effectiveness of organisations in Namibia. Moreover, the study found that management practices and activities related to human fundamentals, such as those embodied in the resource-based view of organisations, appear to be significantly associated with the effectiveness of companies in the Namibian context. The findings of the study have theoretical and practical value for those teaching, consulting and leading organisations in developing countries, especially in African organisations. Also, the findings have value for organisational development and design specialists, human resources professionals, Namibian business practitioners, and expatriates who manage operations and people in Namibia.


In our globe today, the auditing profession is under scrutiny. This is because of how audit quality can be ensured, obtained, and maintained. The problem of audit quality is discussed from the viewpoint of intellectual capital and the interaction of the gender of the auditor. Audit quality consists of auditors' competence and independent, while intellectual capital is made up of human capital, rational capital, and structural capital. This research was a correlational design which applied self-constructed questionnaires with Cronbach alpha of 0.82 and 0.75 for intellectual capital and audit quality respectively.  Using a convenience sampling technique, 354(8%) out of 4,390 registered chartered accountants with Chartered Institute of Accountants, Ghana (ICA, GH) who were practicing auditors were used in this study. The study respondents were made up of 191 (54%) males and 163 females, of which 210 (59.3%) had attained degrees, and 144 (40.7%) had an MBA. The study used PROCESS v3.2 and Andrew Haye model 1 to establish the regression and the moderating effect. The results of the study disclosed that there is a high positive significant relationship between intellectual capital and audit quality, and intellectual capital can predict audit quality by 53.68%. Also, there is an enhancing moderating effect of gender on the relationship between intellectual capital and audit quality but not statistically significant. The study recommends that the role of the auditor on audit quality and their intellectual capital must not be differentiated. Therefore, attention must not be placed on the gender of the auditor to give a quality audit.


Abstract Despite numerous losses associated with advanced age, older adults typically fare better than their younger counterparts in terms of psychological well-being. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately threatened the physical and mental well-being of older adults. How have older versus younger adults been doing? The goal of our symposium is to shed light on this question though presentations of intriguing research findings regarding the psychological impacts of the pandemic on older adults. Stone and Mak will describe their work examining momentary changes in affect, activities, locations, and social interactions over time during the first several months of the pandemic for older individuals. Mikels and colleagues will report on completed and ongoing work illuminating the complex ways in which certain older adults have been faring well during the pandemic, whereas others not so much, with attention to underlying factors. Jeste will discuss a diverse line of research that has examined the relationships between loneliness, social isolation, and compassion in older adults before and during the pandemic. Chi and Carstensen will report on completed and ongoing research that links work and prosocial behavior to wellbeing with consideration of associated age differences. Collectively, these presentations will describe the complex and multifaceted psychological impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on older individuals, revealing the multiple ways in which they are resilient as well as vulnerable.


This paper presents a model in which final goods producers outsource intermediate input production. Intermediate inputs are differentiated and their production can be located at home or abroad. The model is used to examine competitive location policy in a (two-country) free trade agreement (FTA). It is shown that national public infrastructure investment has a positive effect on both the number of intermediate input producers and the return to the immobile factor in the home country. International outsourcing from home declines. Opposite effects are triggered in the partner country. In a welfare analysis we characterize national infrastructure policies that aim to maximize national income (net of tax costs) and compare the non-cooperative FTA-equilibrium with optimal policies from an integrated point of view. It is shown when coordination of competitive location policies is useful and when it is not.


From the dynamical equation of barotropic relaxing media beneath pressure perturbations, and using the reductive perturbative analysis, we investigate the soliton structure of a (1+1)-dimensional nonlinear partial differential evolution (NLPDE) equation δy(δ + uδy + (u2/2) δy)u + αuy + u = 0, describing high-frequency regime of perturbations. Thus, by means of Hirota's bilinearization method, three typical solutions depending strongly upon a characteristic dissipation parameter are unearthed.


The aim to demonstrate that subclinical atherosclerosis and vascular rigidity in a postmenopausal patient without clinical sings of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis are connected with a decreased bone mass.Materials and methods. Patient O., 64 years old, was examined at the National Medical Research Center for Preventive Medicine within the program "Comprehensive assessment of total risks and early preclinical markers of osteoporosis and atherosclerosis complications". No complaints during the examination were revealed. Laboratory tests were performed to evaluate blood lipids level, calcium-phosphorus metabolism, determine marker of bone resorption – CTX (β-crosslaps), measure levels of vitamin D and parathyroid hormone. Instrumental examinations included dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry of the spine and femoral neck, carotid ultrasound, applanation tonometry, multispiral computed tomography of coronary arteries with calcium score determination.Results. During outpatient examination, densitometry revealed decreased bone mineral density in the lumbar spine and in the femoral neck, corresponding to osteoporosis, carotid ultrasound identified atherosclerotic plaques, multispiral computed tomography of coronary arteries – coronary calcification, applanation tonometry – increased aortic stiffness.Conclusion. The clinical case is an example of early-detected preclinical signs of atherosclerosis and osteoporosis, as well as an increased risk of cardiovascular complications. Due to the high frequency of subclinical atherosclerosis, vessel wall state should be examined in women at the beginning of postmenopause. Signs of vascular stiffness and subclinical atherosclerosis give occasion to assess risk of fractures using the FRAX ® calculator and, if necessary, to diagnose bone mass loss using X-ray densitometry. Proposed algorithm can contribute to the early detection of cardiovascular diseases and at the same time improve fracture risk assessment.


This paper describes and explains changes in corporate governance in the United States since 1980. The 1980s was a period of unprecedented takeover activity. This activity was distinguished by the prevalence of LBOs and raiders. The paper first considers why LBOs and raiders were prominent in the 1980s and, also, what drove takeover activity in the 1980s. The paper then describes U.S. corporate governance today, and argues why LBOs and raiders have not reappeared despite the recent resurgence of takeovers. A large part of the explanation is that today's shareholders, boards, and managers have applied the insights and strengths of 1980s LBOs. In that sense, we are all Henry Kravis now. * Leon Carroll Marshall Professor of Finance, Graduate School of Business, University of Chicago and National Bureau of Economic Research. This article is an expanded and revised version of a paper published in the Journal of Private Equity. The paper was originally prepared for the Conference on the Power and Influence of Pension and Mutual Funds at New York University on February 21, 1997. I thank Luigi Zingales for helpful comments. Address correspondence to Steven N. Kaplan, Graduate School of Business, University of Chicago, 1101 East 58th St., Chicago, IL 60637.


Although several mathematical and computer simulations of inhaled anesthetic pharmacokinetics have been devised, their complexity sometimes limits an intuitive appreciation of the interactions produced by the determinants of kinetics. In this essay, we illustrate the factors that govern inhaled anesthetic pharmacokinetics with drawings that consider delivery of anesthetic by ventilation to the lungs and dispersion of the anesthetic to tissue depots by the circulation. The illustrations incorporate the effects of both blood flow and blood solubility as determinants of the extent of dispersion. They incorporate tissue volume and solubility as determinants of the capacity of the tissue depots. Capacity to hold (take up) anesthetic is depicted by areas representing specific tissues, and the extent of anesthetic movement is depicted by the length and breadth of arrows to and from the areas depicting capacity. The illustrations incorporate increasingly important elements to kinetics, such as obesity. Obesity increases the depots available for storage of anesthetic, including anesthetic that reaches fat by intertissue diffusion. Such anesthetic returns to the circulation to delay recovery in healthy and obese patients, particularly with more soluble anesthetics. However, the increased anesthetic in fat occurs at a lower partial pressure and thus might not influence emergence materially. We hope that these illustrations will allow anesthesia practitioners to appreciate the interactions of the factors that govern inhaled anesthetic pharmacokinetics.


There have been many changes from the start of children's dentistry in the 1920's to the pediatric dentistry of the 1990's. The emphasis has shifted from treatment to prevention of dental disease. Minorities and females hold the key to the future. Economically, better practice management techniques and procedures are necessary in order to make a comfortable living in the years ahead. Pediatric dentistry has survived some difficult times, but the future appears bright.


Nuclear quenching factors for recoil ions of 1-200 keV in He, Ne, Ar and Xe are discussed. The Bragg-like curve for Time Projection Chamber (TPC) in relation with dark matter search is obtained using the electronic linear energy transfer (LET). The quenching factors for C, N, O, Ar, and Pb ions in Ar gas are also reviewed.


This study aims to describe: 1) innovative, ideal, and fun classroom management plans to improve students' reading literacy in class IIB at MIN 2 Ambon, 2) The teacher's role in classroom management is innovative, ideal, and fun to improve students' reading literacy in class. IIB at MIN 2 Ambon, the role of the principal in supervising the management of innovative, ideal, and fun classrooms to improve students' reading literacy in class IIB at MIN 2 Ambon, and 4) supporting and inhibiting factors for innovative, ideal, and fun classroom management to improve reading literacy of students in class IIB at MIN 2 Ambon. This type of research is a qualitative research with a phenomenological research design. Data collection techniques using interviews, observation, and documentation. The results showed that in MIN 2 Ambon, innovative, ideal, and fun classroom management had been carried out well to improve students' reading literacy in class IIB at MIN 2 Ambon. Classroom management planning is carried out by arranging facilities, teaching management and student arrangements. The teacher's role in learning is to be a class manager or teaching manager, the teacher also acts as a facilitator, motivator, demonstrator, mediator, and evaluator. The principal's role is to monitor teacher performance continuously in literacy activities and programs in schools. The supporting factors and inhibiting factors for classroom management are the physical environment, social emotional condition and organization at the MIN 2 Ambon school


X-ray absorption calculations of Ca L23-edge spectra of calcium carbonate in its two main crystal phases, calcite and aragonite, are reported. The multichannel multiple scattering theory with a correlated particle-hole wave function and a partially screened core-hole potential is used. Very good agreement with experiment for both CaCO3 phases is obtained, while the independent particle approximation completely fails. For aragonite, appreciable linear dichroism is predicted in agreement with recent observations.


We surveyed mitochondrial (mt)DNA restriction site variation within each of the five native species of Hawaiian freshwater fishes: Lentipes concolor, Stenogobius hawaiiensis, Sicyopterus stimpsoni, Awaous guamensis, and Eleotris sandwicensis. MtDNA haplotypes did not vary geographically except among samples of S. hawaiiensis, where haplotypes from Maui clustered together. One haplotype in this cluster also was found on Kauai and on Oahu, and one haplotype was found only on Kauai. MtDNA data suggest gene flow among islands, consistent with interisland dispersal through amphidromous larvae. We hypothesize that dispersal has prevented further speciation in these fishes and that colonization of island freshwater habitats by larvae could be independent of natal island.


Women's writing as a term in post-lacanian poststructuralist texts stands for the specific inscription of women's body into the textuality of language and discourse. Women's writing thus introduces a new layer of presence of the other perspective into the dominant phallogocentric mode of writing, reading and speaking, into the dominant mode of signifying. in the same time, by producing itself as the other perspective and yet doing it within the phallogocentric discourse, it challenges the authority and unity of significational chain within it, opening the potentials of transgressions, restructurations, significations and hybridizations of the system, writing itself as a writing within a writing, a writing which frictions with the (dominant) writing – it constitutes a practice of differential writing. this text explores a potential of women's writing as differential writing, and researches it as a vehicle of possible cha(lle)nge of a phallogocentric signifying mode.


From 1970 to 1985, curative radiotherapy was administered to 63 patients with stage I carcinoma of the true vocal cords. Precision radiotherapeutic technique yields cure rates comparable to surgical results. Good voice quality was preserved in a high percentage of patients.


This research aims to watch the extent of guidance and counseling teacher services in improving student learning achievement shape Islamic morals on students. This research approach is a qualitative research with a descriptive approach. The data source of this research was through the assistance and role of the Guidance and Counseling teacher to 88 students who were sampled. Data collection instruments were carried out by interview and questionnaire. The collected data is then collected, analyzed and interpreted into a whole new concept and also fres. The result of the research is the role of the guidance teacher has included a good classification. But there are still several factors that cause students to experience learning difficulties, for example, factors from within the individual consisting of physiological and psychological factors. Physiological factors are physical conditions and the five senses. While psychological factors, namely talent, interest, intelligence, achievement motivation and cognitive abilities. While the Guidance and Counseling teacher strategy in improving student learning achievement, for example, is correlating between the Guidance and Counseling teacher with parents or homeroom teachers who know the learners' personalities in depth to better know what problems have occurred.


This article reviews the ways in which radical feminism has been and continues to be trans inclusive. Trans inclusive radical feminist opinion leaders, groups, and events are reviewed and contrasted against a popular media narrative that asserts that radical feminism takes issue with trans people. Reviewed are historical instances in which radical feminists braved violence to ensure their feminism was trans inclusive.


Poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) (PiPrOx) is readily prone to crystallization both in solid and from solutions. This feature is detrimental for certain applications. Here, we examine whether the presence of unsubstituted ethyleneimine (EI) units, a gradient distributed within a polymer chain composed of 2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline (iPrOx) and 2-methyl-2-oxazoline (MOx) units, decreases the ability to crystallize the copolymer and affects thermal properties compared to the homopolymer of iPrOx. We assumed that the separation of stiff iPrOx units by the more flexible EI will affect the spatial arrangements of the ordered chains, slightly plasticize and, as a result, decrease their ability to crystallize. The selective hydrolysis of gradient iPrOx and 2-methyl-2-oxazoline (MOx) copolymers, carried out under mild conditions, led to iPrOx/MOx/EI copolymers. To the best of our knowledge, the selective hydrolysis of these copolymers has never been carried out before. Their thermal properties and crystallization abilities, both in a solid state and from an aqueous solution, were analyzed. Based on the analysis of polymer charge and cytotoxicity studies, the potential use of the copolymers obtained was indicated in some biological systems.


The industrial sector is traditionally considered as responsible for negative environmental impacts. Nowadays, sustainable strategies approach both in industrial areas and in individual small-and-medium sized enterprises plays a key role in regional economies, providing and fostering capacity, innovation and competitiveness in various fields, including energy, construction and environmental technologies per sector. Eco-industrial development is a recent policy development that seeks to integrate economic, social and environmental considerations into physical, adaptable sustainability models. This paper presents an integrated procedure for industrial areas towards sustainability in social, economic and environmental aspect. The structure of the proposed procedure is based on the results from SWOT analysis, which was performed for 15 Hellenic industrial areas. The industrial areas management and operation was divided in four thematic categories, where specific processes towards sustainability steps are in detail suggested. Finally the developed procedure was certified by integration of indicators, covering environmental, economical and social issues.


We investigate the impact of non-regular path expressions on the decidability of satisfiability checking and querying in description logics extending ALC. Our primary objects of interest are ALCreg and ALCvpl, the extensions of with path expressions employing, respectively, regular and visibly-pushdown languages. The first one, ALCreg, is a notational variant of the well-known Propositional Dynamic Logic of Fischer and Ladner. The second one, ALCvpl, was introduced and investigated by Loding and Serre in 2007. The logic ALCvpl generalises many known decidable non-regular extensions of ALCreg. We provide a series of undecidability results. First, we show that decidability of the concept satisfiability problem for ALCvpl is lost upon adding the seemingly innocent Self operator. Second, we establish undecidability for the concept satisfiability problem for ALCvpl extended with nominals. Interestingly, our undecidability proof relies only on one single non-regular (visibly-pushdown) language, namely on r#s# := { r^n s^n | n in N } for fixed role names r and s. Finally, in contrast to the classical database setting, we establish undecidability of query entailment for queries involving non-regular atoms from r#s#, already in the case of ALC-TBoxes.


Abstract The effectiveness of resource programs is of critical importance for the mainstreaming of handicapped children. Efficacy studies have demonstrated the value of such programs in increasing academic achievement. The Israeli resource room (therapeutic class) defines the teacher's role as providing varied support services, promoting both mental health and academic achievement. The aim of the present study was to specify significant variables in the efficacy of the Israeli therapeutic class. Children improved in academic and behavioral areas; age, sex or causes of referral were not significantly associated with levels of improvement. The effect of the program on hyperactive children was limited. Levels of cooperation with the regular teacher, however, did differentiate significantly between improvement levels, endorsing the role of the regular teacher as an agent of change and promoter of goodwill for handicapped children attending regular classes.


Although the operative benefits of the Six Sigma methodology in the business world are well accepted, the long-term benefits of the initiative are currently under discussion. This paper aims to analyse how Six Sigma methodology is related to the knowledge transfer process, a source of competitive advantage. For this purpose, we observe how team management in Six Sigma firms differs statistically from the team management proposed by other quality management initiatives, and how Six Sigma team management is related to the knowledge integration and knowledge transfer processes. An ANOVA analysis and Partial Least Squares approach were used to analyse data from 53 European Six Sigma firms, confirming the hypotheses developed. The results confirm that Six Sigma methodology offers new possibilities to companies and that implementation of Six Sigma has a positive effect on the variables that influence long-term organisational performance, such as knowledge management. Relevant academic contributions and implications for practitioners are included.


These years, Foot Orienteering (FootO) has become a popular sport among civilian and also a physical course in many universities and some high schools in China. In order to solve the problems emerging in FootO teaching and training, we develop an intelligent system named as FOTT, i.e., Foot Orienteering Teaching and Training in this paper. There are mainly three parts, a Data Center Server deployed on a private cloud, a few Teacher Clients encapsulated into tablets, and numbers of Student Clients encapsulated into mobile phones. FOTT has four practical functions, i.e., anti-cheating, emergency rescue, intelligent assistant and data mining. With the help of FOTT, teachers can improve efficiency in FootO teaching, while students can increase their skills in FootO training.


Detailed heat transfer coefficient and film effectiveness distributions are presented on a cylindrical leading-edge model with simulated thermal barrier coating spallation using a transient liquid crystal technique. Tests were performed in a low-speed wind tunnel on a cylindrical model in a crossflow with two rows of injection holes. Mainstream Reynolds number based on the cylinder diameter was 1.009 x 10 5 . The two rows of injection holes were ±15 deg from stagnation. The film holes were spaced four hole diameters apart and were angled 30 and 90 deg to the surface in the spanwise and streamwise directions, respectively. The simulated spallation cavities were rectangular in shape and had rounded edges. The simulated spallation was placed at two locations, 20-40 deg (S3) and 35-55 deg (S4), respectively. The cylinder surface was coated with thermochromic liquid crystals, and a transient test was run to obtain the heat transfer coefficients and film effectiveness. The effect of coolant blowing ratio was studied for blowing ratios of 0.4 and 0.8. Results show that the Nusselt numbers increase and film effectiveness values decrease with an increasing blowing ratio


PURPOSE
To determine the ten-year visual results and outcomes of excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) for recurrent corneal erosions.

METHODS
Twenty-six eyes of 23 patients with recurrent corneal erosions were treated by PTK from 1996 to 2000 at the Goiania Eye Institute, Brazil. All eyes had failed to respond to conventional therapy. Data regarding preoperative and postoperative best-spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), spherical equivalent (SE), symptomatic relief, incidence of recurrence, and complications arising from the laser treatment were analyzed. The mean duration of symptoms prior to PTK was 18 months (range, 8 to 36 months). The corneal epithelium was debrided, and laser ablation was performed to a depth of 5 micron with an ablation zone of 7 to 9 mm, using the Technolas 217C Plano Scan excimer laser. Mean postoperative follow-up was 12 years (range, 10 to 14 years).

RESULTS
At the last follow-up visit, 15 eyes (57.69%) were symptomsfree. Five eyes (19.2%) had occasional mild symptoms of irritation and photophobia upon awakening. Recurrence of painful corneal erosions occurred in six eyes (23.07%), which required a PTK retreatment. Twenty-four eyes had a preserved or improved BCVA, while 2 eyes showed deterioration of 1 line on Snellen test. Eleven eyes (42.3%) had no change in SE, and the others (57.69%) had a change of less than +/-0.75 diopters (D). There were no major complications during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSION
Ten-year data show that PTK is a safe, fast, effective and minimal invasive choice of treatment for recurrent corneal erosions in patients who do not respond to conventional treatments.


Estimates published between 1975 and 1997 of mass, heat, and salt fluxes into and out of the Arctic Basin are statistically combined into aggregate estimates for the purpose of determining the uncertainty of the budgets. Because they include information from many previous estimates, the aggregate estimates are consistent with previous results but with smaller uncertainty. The sums of the aggregate estimates are nonzero but within two standard errors of zero. Systematic adjustment of the aggregate estimates in proportion to their uncertainties gives two new sets of flux estimates: one set that conserves volume (as an approximation to mass), and another that conserves volume, heat, and salt. The conservation requirements greatly reduce the uncertainty of the most uncertain terms in the budgets. The budgets indicate the necessity, in steady state, of a net average flux of 1.4±0.3 × 106 m3 s−1 from the Arctic shelves to the Arctic basin, consistent with previous estimates. The budgets also imply a net freshwater flux from the shelves into the basins: the freshening effect of surface transport is larger than the salinating effect of dense shelf overflows. The uncertainties derived here are lower-bound estimates as they do not consider the effects of aliasing or other undersampling errors.


Summary A toxic substance was demonstrated in yolk sac cultures of ten strains of the spotted fever rickettsia which were selected according to their virulence for guinea pigs, tick-host species, or etiologic relationship to the various diseases of the spotted fever group. These strains included the agents of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, boutonneuse fever, South African tick bite fever and Indian tick typhus. Three variables are shown to affect the production of the toxic factor in yolk sac cultures of R. rickettsii . These variables were (a) incubation of infected eggs after death of the embryo, (b) dose of inoculum used to initiate the egg cultures, and (c) the length of the time of survival of the embryo after inoculation. The toxin of R. rickettsii was found to be specifically neutralized by serums of spotted fever convalescent individuals or experimental animals. It was also found to be neutralized by serums of human beings or guinea pigs following their injection with spotted fever tick vaccine.


In this article, existential sentences are examined as a syntactic dominant of I. A. Bunin's lyrical poetry. The interest in the originality of the syntax of Nobel laureate's literary texts is due to the lack of research on this issue, linguists' focus on the aesthetic salience of the vocabulary, its expressive properties and combination potential, as well as stylistic figures and tropes. Meanwhile, it is the writer's selection of specific syntactic structures for the implementation of the idea, the representation of key ideas and concepts that reflect his personality and the peculiarities of his perception of the surrounding world. The author refers to Bunin's poems from 1886–1917 and 1918–1953 published in Bunin's collected works in 9 volumes. In the writer's poetic oeuvre, existential sentences are regularly used. Despite the traditional structure that underlies them and is represented by three meanings ('the object of being', 'being', and 'area of being'), the richness of the lexical content of each of the main components stands out. As a result, existential sentences become a universal form used to represent completely different situations in the author's individual worldview: the existence of natural objects in space, meteorological phenomena, events, time periods, artifacts, etc.; physical states of the surrounding world; psychological states of the subject. Acting as a semantic core of a poetic text, existential sentences do not have a fixed place in it, and are used as a lyrical beginning, an interposed element, or an ending in its structure. In each position, their use is conceptually significant. It is established that the peculiarity of existential sentences in Bunin's lyrical poetry is their syntactic unconditionality (attachment to three registers of speech, i.e. reproductive, informative, and generative) and polyfunctionality (performing the pictorial, characterising and concluding, and generalising functions).


In present work, we attempt to unify the modeling of different sub-processes under the umbrella of twophase porous media theory. Two sub processes are considered: (1) the wetting and compaction of individual plies and (2) the overall preform deformation and macroscopic Darcian flow. The idea is to identify a set of relevant constituents, i.e. particles, voids and liquids, and assign them to pertinent media. The result is a set of overlapping continuous media, each having its own density-, velocityand stress field on the macroscopic scale. In addition, we introduce internal variables to describe irreversible micro-processes in the system, such as microscopic infiltration and preform deformation. In this work we extend the previous developments, coupling the preform deformation on different scales to the process of micro infiltration, with respect to the modeling of the microcompaction as well as the Darcian interaction on the macro scale. A coupled displacement-pressure, geometrically non-linear, finite element model is presented. The approach is applied to a representative numerical example where we used parameter values out of the literature and estimates from our own micrographs.


In 14 patients undergoing open-heart operations the haemodynamic effects of diazepam 0.4 mgkg(-1) followed by ketamine 2 mg kg(-1) were studied. In eight patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery, the mean arterial pressure decreased significantly after diazepam from 90.3 +/-7.4 (SEM) to 78.0 +/-5.0 mm Hg (P less than 0.05). However, no changes occurred in six patients undergoing valve replacement. The subsequent administration of ketamine produced no significant changes in mean arterial pressure. No signfiicant change in heart rate occurred in any patient at any time during the period of study. No patient reported unpleasant emergence reactions after operation.


J.R.R.Tolkien studied the Old Norse literature and mythology thoroughly. While knowing Northern literature does not provide a key to unlock the meanings of his major works, his characters, creatures, implements, customs, incidents, and themes do have antecedents in the Eddas and sagas. This paper assesses the extent and impact of those antecedents.


One of the areas in migration studies in China that has not been adequately understood is population displacement as a result of environmental deterioration. This paper offers a comprehensive review of recent literature in this area. It focuses on people displacement produced by accelerated environmental deterioration in West China. It briefly reviews the literature on environment-related migration and then discusses the distribution and features of the major ecologically fragile zones. Following is an examination of poverty as an important factor in initiating migration. It examines the processes and some consequences of environment-related displacement and resettlement. Finally, some suggestions on how best to cope with issues of people displacement are addressed.


Since the beginning of the Saudi Arabian academic year 1435 (Sept 2014), the web-based learning management system Blackboard has been introduced and made available to all instructors and students for all courses at King Abdulaziz University (KAU). The current study takes place to assess the current usages of the Blackboard usages at KAU. The data collected from the 923 students of the foundation year which represent about one-third of the total number of the male students for the academic 2016-2017. Based on statistical evidence gained from the students responses to the survey questions, 78% of the students are inactive users of the Blackboard. The study follows up with interviewing five instructors who teach first-year students in order to seek explanations of the Blackboard low usages by the students. The outcomes point significant processes at an individual level and as well as an organizational level. The Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) was used to study the case because it is believed to be the best explain such adoption of innovation at individual and organizational levels. Based on the current outcomes and the author's experience in teaching a computer course using Blackboard, a strategy called 'FORCE' is proposed for the diffusion process.


Between 1990 and 1995 the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Center for Improving Science Education (National Center) developed a system for ongoing evaluation of K-12 educational programs in the DOE-supported national energy Laboratories. As part of the formative evaluation component of this collaborative endeavor, field staff in the Laboratories began creating profiles of their programs. However, many individuals within DOE Headquarters were not familiar with this profiling process and were unprepared to use the valuable information that the profiles generated. This manual was produced to orient Headquarters staff to profiling. It focuses on how Headquarters staff can use the profiling process to help their funded programs establish and/or maintain high quality. Its purpose, then, is not to train Headquarters staff to become proficient in profiling, but to show them how to draw on the Laboratories` use of profiling to bring about program improvement. Profiling is the process of systematically examining and describing a program`s elements against a set of components that define Effective Practice. The instrument used to capture the data for analysis is called a template, and most of this manual focuses on the templates and how to read and interpret them. However, since it is important to understand these data in context, the authors also describe what should accompany each template in a complete profiling packet and offer guidelines for reviewing complete packets and providing feedback to program managers. This document consists of Support Materials for the manual: exercise answer keys; templates; guidelines for reviewing templates; a complete profiling packet; guidelines for the trainer.


Fusarium species are the most detrimental pathogens of soybean root rot worldwide, causing large loss in soybean production. Maize/soybean relay strip intercropping has significant advantages on the increase of crop yields and efficient use of agricultural resources, but its effects on the occurrence and pathogen population of soybean root rot are rarely known. In this study, root rot was investigated in the fields of the continuous maize/soybean strip relay intercropping and soybean monoculture. Fusarium species were isolated from diseased soybean roots and identified based on sequence analysis of translation elongation factor 1α (EF-1α) and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), and the diversity and pathogenicity of these species were also analyzed. Our results showed that intercropping significantly decreased soybean root rot over monoculture. A more diverse Fusarium population including Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC), F. incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC), F. oxysporum, F. fujikuroi, F. proliferatum and F. verticillioides, F. graminearum and F. asiaticum was identified from intercropping while FSSC, FIESC, F. oxysporum, F. commune, F. asiaticum and F. meridionale were found from monoculture. All Fusarium species caused soybean root infection but exhibited distinct aggressiveness. The most aggressive F. oxysporum was more frequently isolated in monoculture than intercropping. FSSC and FIESC were the dominant species complex and differed in their aggressiveness. Additionally, F. fujikuroi, F. proliferatum and F. verticillioides were specifically identified from intercropping with weak or middle aggressiveness. Except for F. graminearum, F. meridionale and F. asiaticum were firstly reported to cause soybean root rot in China. This study indicates maize/soybean relay strip intercropping can reduce soybean root rot, change the diversity and aggressiveness of Fusarium species, which provides an important reference for effective management of this disease.


The transient electrical properties of a planar probe which is immersed in a flowing continuum plasma and in which the flow velocity is parallel to the probe surface are studied theoretically. When the probe is pulsed negatively, the resultant ion current overshoots its final equilibrium value. The time constant for recovery from this overshoot is shown to yield the information about the plasma flow over the probe. When the plasma sheath edge is inside the hydrodynamic boundary layer it is able to directly probe the velocity structure of the hydrodynamic boundary layer. The theory used to describe the probe's electrical properties differs from other thick sheath theories in that both gas compressibility and ion/electron recombination effects are considered.


Aqueous extracts of Emblica officinalis and Chyavanaprash, an indigenous drug preparation in which Emblica officinalis is a major ingredient, were found to inhibit 20-methylcholanthrene-induced sarcoma and to increase the life span of the animals. Oral administration of Emblica (10 mg/mice) and Chyavanaprash (50 mg/mice) extracts produced a 75% reduction in the development of sarcoma. The aqueous extract of Emblica was also found to inhibit the activation and mutagenicity of 2-acetamidofluorene (2-AAF) as well as that of direct-acting mutagens N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and 4-nitro-O-phenylenediamine (4-NPDA). The extract was found to inhibit microsomal P-450 enzyme, aniline hydroxylase. The activity of the extract may be mainly related to its oxygen radical-scavenging activity as well as to inhibition of Phase-I enzymes.


Since the start of the twenty-first century, the United States patent system has been under intense scrutiny.1 Prominent representatives of whole industry sectors, including business leaders in information and communications technology, have clamored that the system is in many ways impeding innovation, rather than promoting it.2 The resulting drumbeat for reform has yielded steady results but also much turbulence. The Supreme Court has repeatedly overturned holdings or policies of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit or the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO).3 Congress has rewritten substantial portions of the Patent Act and has added whole new forms of administrative proceedings.4 The Federal Circuit itself has revisited and rethought various aspects of precedent or accepted practice.5Debates over patent damages, especially damages according to a reasonable royalty measure, have frequently lain at the center of this storm.6 As indicated by the symposium articles described below, such damages debates broach fundamental questions about the patent system's aims, the proper extent of the system's reach, and the best means for improving system performance. On a practical level, patent damages debates demand attention to sometimes fine points of procedure and call for imaginative ways of improving adjudication.In many ways, the fierceness and persistence of debates relating to patent damages is predictable. Relevant points of tension reflect the often uncomfortably restrictive limits against which the patent system naturally strains. These limits include (1) limits to theoretical agreement on substantive goals and implementing methodologies; (2) limits to the information available to apply theory correctly even if theoretical agreement is assumed; (3) limits to the abilities of courts and other decision-makers to assess liability or monetary awards properly based on whatever facts and theories apply; and (4) limits on the territorial and subject-matter reach of patent law that can lead to questionable gaps in coverage or discontinuities in results.To advance conversations about how to proceed in the face of such limits, the University of Texas School of Law hosted a conference on patent damages ("PatDaml") in June of 2016.7 A gift to the School of Law from Intel Corporation supported the conference as well as the offering of honoraria to authors of conference papers. At the same time, control over agenda and speakers for the conference was left wholly within the law school's discretion. The conference featured three separate panels of trial judges, damages experts, and in-house counsel. The conference also featured sessions for the discussion of draft papers to be published as articles in three separate issues of The Review of Litigation and the Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal. The journal issue in which this Foreword appears presents four of those articles.The twelve articles prepared in association with PatDaml address a variety of issues related to patent damages via a mix of scholarly approaches. Through a series of one-paragraph descriptions, this Foreword highlights aspects of the individual papers. The Foreword concludes with a brief discussion of common threads.In Patent Damages Heuristics,8 Thomas Cotter argues for addressing the limited fact-finding and decision-making capacities of courts by having them make more conscious and thoughtful use of heuristics-i.e., "shortcuts or 'rules of thumb' for reducing the time and effort needed to reach a solution or decision."9 Cotter starts with the proposition that policymakers should use a "proposed heuristic when the sum of the administrative and error costs associated with its use is lower than the sum of the administrative and error costs resulting from" any competing alternative.10 Cotter then discusses how to weigh error costs versus administrability savings in selecting appropriate heuristics.11 He also develops a taxonomy for different types of heuristics in assessing patent damages, including heuristics for determining patentee eligibility for a particular form of damages, for providing a more readily calculated proxy for the amount of damages to which a patentee is theoretically entitled, and for informing more granular aspects of calculational methodology. …


In this study, the way to enhance the sensitivity of evaluating deep surface cracks by DCPD technique using four probes is considered. The potential drops across two-dimensional cracks having different depths are analyzed by the three-dimensional finite-element method. The effect of the distance between current input and output probes and the distance between measuring probes on the change in potential drops are analyzed for a wide range of crack depths. By extending the distance between current input and output probes, the change in potential drop with the change in the depth of deeper crack becomes large. But the voltage of potential drop becomes small to measure. Finally, the way to select the appropriate distances between the probes for the measuring sensor is shown from the viewpoints of sensitivity and the required current.


This paper demonstrates how to build risk into capital investment decisions. We illustrate how to combine distribution theory, technology, and a business professional's skills and insight into a capital investment analysis. In addition, we show how management can approximate the risk of each cash flow estimate and display the overall capital investment results. This framework is extended by showing how a mutually exclusive decision can be improved, using a lease versus purchase example. [1] An Excel template is readily available from the authors allowing a hands-on application of the framework presented in this paper. In addition, this paper positions the reader to comfortably use more advanced analytics, such as Monte Carlo simulation, a tool that is readily available in commercial software applications. This paper focuses on the application of net present value. The advantage of using net present value in a capital budgeting decision is that it shows the potential stakeholder wealth creation and wealth destruction. An internal rate of return analysis is intentionally left out of this paper. According to Brealey, Myers and Allen, Principles of Corporate Finance , New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin 2006, pp. 91-99, internal rate of return should not be used to evaluate mutually exclusive capital investments.


Topic driven crawlers are increasingly seen as a way to address the scalability limitations of universal search engines, by distributing the crawling process across users, queries, or even client computers. The context available to such crawlers can guide the navigation of links with the goal of efficiently locating highly relevant target pages. We developed a framework to fairly evaluate topic driven crawling algorithms under a number of performance metrics. Such a framework is employed to evaluate different algorithms that have proven highly competitive among those proposed in the literature and in our own previous research. In particular we focus on the tradeoff between exploration and exploitation of the cues available to a crawler, and on adaptive crawlers that use machine learning techniques to guide their search. We find that the best performance is achieved by a novel combination of explorative and exploitative bias, and introduce an evolutionary crawler that equals the performance of the best nonadaptive crawler. We also analyze the computational complexity of the various crawlers and discuss how performance and complexity scale with available resources. Evolutionary crawlers achieve high efficiency and scalability by distributing the work across concurrent agents, resulting in the best performance/cost ratio.


The present paper shows that in the absence of fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) licensing terms, the adoption of a standard depends on the degree of network effects. If the degree of network externalities is low, patent holders may opt for developing incompatible technologies in order to avoid the entry deterrence in the downstream market and the resulting decrease in the royalty income. If the degree of network externalities is sufficiently high, patent holders may prefer developing a common standard even though it has a negative impact on the market entry in the downstream market. Generated network externalities are then sufficiently high to create additional demand compensating the losses from the entry deterrence. The application of FRAND terms eliminates the entry deterrence problem and by consequence stimulates the standard adoption. The use of the FRAND commitment has beneficial effects for consumer surplus and total welfare.


This paper presents study that investigates brain activity (using ERP methodology) of male adolescents when solving short problems in algebra and geometry. The study design links mathematics education research with neuro-cognitive studies. We performed a comparative analysis of brain activity associated with the translation from visual to symbolic representations of mathematical objects in algebra and geometry. The findings demonstrate that electrical activity associated with the performance of geometrical tasks is stronger than that associated with solving algebraic tasks. Additionally, we found different scalp topography of the brain activity associated with algebraic and geometric tasks. Based on these results, we argue that problem solving in algebra and geometry are related to different patterns of brain activity.


Introduction  The Human Capital Theory exposes that inequality in labor income is due to different factors, including productivity and education.  Objective analyze income inequality in the Ecuadorian labor market. The research takes data from the National Employment, Unemployment and Underemployment Survey of INEC estimating the Mincerian equation (1974) by adding dummy variables. Materials and methods  The research takes data of secondary information that rests in the ENEMDU survey updated to December 2018 that includes the characteristics of the EAP in Ecuador.  Results characterization of the gender variable, schooling positively influences their hourly wages.  Discussion  Regarding the gender variable, this long term of not correcting the salary differences may have an impact on old age.  Conclusions When there is gender discrimination, it is imperative to identify and quantify the jobs and professions to which women have access in a lesser proportion.


Abstract Hydrodynamic and sediment transport modeling is important to the analyses of the aggradation and degradation of a river system, the sediment management in a reservoir, and the study of downstream effect on the coastal sediment. This paper presents a development of a three-dimensional hydrodynamic and sediment transport model to investigate the variation of sediment concentration in Shihmen Reservoir in Taiwan under typhoon induced flood events. The fundamental equations that govern fluid flows and sediment concentration are the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations and sediment transport equation. Model equations are solved by using an implicit, finite-difference scheme in a curvilinear and vertically stretched coordinate system. A case study of Shihmen Reservoir utilizing the present flow and transport model is presented. The upstream flow-rate conditions are obtained from the data recorded during the 2005 Typhoon Haitang. The computed results clearly reflect the three-dimensional feature of the velocity field in the reservoir. The predicted time-varying water surface elevation during the 140-hour flood event agrees well with measured data. For the sediment concentration, only limited measurements in the domain are available. When comparing with the measured data, the present model is capable of providing reasonable predictions on the rising trend of sediment concentration during the period that flow rate increases, however, the model overestimates concentration values at the recession stage when the measurements of sediment concentration are shown in the decreasing trend. Other results showing the time variation of the velocity vectors and sediment concentration at selected vertical layers are presented and discussed.


The present study examined associations among mindfulness, self-compassion, social anxiety, loneliness and attention bias toward threat in a community sample of undergraduate university students (n = 176). Of interest was whether threat bias would mediate the independent effects of mindfulness and self-compassion on social anxiety and loneliness. Threat bias is characterized by the display of exaggerated attention toward threatening cues in the environment and has been repeatedly linked to the origin and continuation of anxious symptoms. Given the focus of contemplative practices on attentional awareness and control, this study examined whether mindfulness and self-compassion may contribute to decreased levels of anxiety and loneliness, in part, by influencing attentional mechanisms that may lower threat bias. The specificity of individual facets of mindfulness and self-compassion were also examined in relation to threat bias, social anxiety and loneliness. Overall, findings confirm previous studies, demonstrating strong predictive associations between mindfulness, self-compassion, social anxiety and loneliness in college students. Results also highlight the indirect effect of attention bias in the relationship between self-compassion, loneliness and social anxiety. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to contemplative intervention programs to promote healthy social adjustment and relations in late adolescent college students.


Safety aspect in construction is very importance and it has to apply to any construction project. It can be lead to accidence that could cause injured to workers as well the public and some causes can lead to death. Pre-cast construction also not exclude from having hazard in its construction process during the installation component. However, the most construction accidents occur because lack of proper planning, unsafe equipment, not follow the method statement, unsafe site conditions, not using the safety equipment that was provided, and poor attitude towards safety during installation process. The aim of this project is to study the process of installation component pre-cast concrete and to identify the safety aspect and the requirement during the process installation at site, included to identify the level of safety during installation process at site. The data was collected through documents study, interview, and industrial visit, constructed and distributed questionnaire in order to identify the safety requirements in pre-cast construction. All of the interview and research questionnaire survey are conducted among contractor that registered as class 7 with Construction Industrial Development Board (CIDB) and class A with Pusat Khidmat Kontraktor (PKK) in Klang Valley. Returned questionnaire were analyses with used average index and frequency analysis method to identify safety aspect using pre-cast construction. The results indicate that the safety aspect implemented by company involved in precast construction process is at a good level at safety aspect during bracing, propping, welding and grouting process and very good level at safety in general aspect and safety aspect during lifting process. This are a few safety aspect and requirement during installation process such as construction site workers equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE) and etc. In conclusion with existence of this study, it can boost up knowledge and give detailed information about safety aspect in Industrialized Building System using pre-cast concrete and must improve step of awareness until 0% of accident.


Abstract A collection of 57,877 conodont elements that includes 39 species representing 30 genera was made from the upper part of the Phragmodus undatus Zone and the lower part of the Plectodina tenuis Zone (late Turinian–early Chatfieldian). Conodont samples were collected from 30 sections in eastern North America and Baltoscandia, where the P. undatus–P. tenuis Zone boundary projects into B. alobatus Subzone based on K-bentonite bed correlation. Elements previously assigned to form-species of Oistodus are shown to be apparatus associates in coniform apparatuses of Besselodus. Pseudobelodina manitoulinensis new species is described and the apparatus-based taxonomy of Scyphiodus primus and Staufferella polonica are proposed.


A model of growth and substrate utilization for ferrous-iron-oxidizing bacteria attached to the disks of a rotating biological contactor was developed and tested. The model describes attached bacterial growth as a saturation function in which the rate of substrate utilization is determined by a maximum substrate oxidation rate constant (P), a half-saturation constant (Ks), and the concentration of substrate within the rotating biological contactor (S1). The maximum oxidation rate constant was proportional to flow rate, and the substrate concentration in the reactor varied with influent substrate concentration (S0). The model allowed the prediction of metabolic constants and included terms for both constant and growth-rate-dependent maintenance energies. Estimates for metabolic constants of the attached population of acidophilic, chemolithotrophic, iron-oxidizing bacteria limited by ferrous iron were: maximum specific growth rate (μmax), 1.14 h−1; half-saturation constant (Ks) for ferrous iron, 54.9 mg/liter; constant maintenance energy coefficient (m1), 0.154 h−1; growth-rate-dependent maintenance energy coefficient (m′), 0.07 h−1; maximum yield (Yg), 0.063 mg of organic nitrogen per mg of Fe(II) oxidized.


Background: Trachoma is the second leading cause of blindness in Ethiopia. Even in trachoma hyperendemic areas, not all member of the community develop trichiasis. Whether this is due to uneven exposure or other factors is not clear. This necessitated a case-control study to see the extent of exposure among these groups.
Objective: The purpose of the study was to assess the extent of exposure to known environmental risk factors among cases with trachomatous trichiasis and age, sex and location matched controls with no trachomatous trichiasis in Dalocha District, Central Ethiopia.
Methods: all patients with clinically diagnosed trachomatous trichiasis (TT) according to the WHO definition for TT and an equal number of sex and location matched controls with no trachomatous trichasis were subjected to an interviewer administered questionnaire consisting of questions assessing family size, number of children raised, frequency of face washing, water sources and distance from it in minutes, location of kitchen, toilet waste disposal, place for cattle at night and some more considered to be related with repeated trachomatous infection.
Results: One hundred ninety seven cases with TT and an equal number of controls were the study subjects. Regression analysis of individual risk factors showed that irregular face washing practice (odds ratio (OR))=2.27;95% confidence interval (CI):1.48-3.49) and being illiterate (OR=0.34;CI:0.18-0.64) were significantly associated with the development of TT. Regarding face washing, this significance was also maintained in a logistic regression analysis of the variables where the type of water used for washing and the frequency of cooking were also positively associated with TT.
Conclusion: Improved educational status and regular face washing of the community may decrease the likelihood that people will be at risk of developing TT and its blinding complications. [Ethiop.J.Health Dev. 2002;16(3):287-293]


A prospective study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of N-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, measured simultaneously in serum and pleural fluid, in identifying pleural effusions due to heart failure. Pleural fluid and serum samples from all patients presenting for thoracentesis between April 2004 and May 2005 were simultaneously collected. The discriminative properties of NT-proBNP levels in identifying pleural effusions due to heart failure were determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and compared to the diagnostic value of finding a transudate by Light's criteria. Ninety-three patients were evaluated, 27% with cardiac effusion and 73% with exudative effusions of various cause. Levels of NT-proBNP in pleural fluid and serum correlated closely. Serum and pleural fluid NT-proBNP levels were significantly elevated in patients with cardiac effusion. With a cut-off value of 4,000 ng·L−1, NT-proBNP levels in pleural fluid and serum displayed comparably high diagnostic accuracies of 92 and 91%, respectively. All patients misclassified by Light's criteria were correctly identified by measuring NT-proBNP levels. N-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels in either pleural fluid or serum showed a high diagnostic accuracy compared to traditional criteria. Thus measuring N-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide is a valuable additional diagnostic tool for the detection or exclusion of cardiac origin of pleural effusions.


Ocker's magisterial study, a widely comparative investigation of the theory and praxis of late medieval biblical exegesis, began with a question: Why did commentators of the late Middle Ages find it difficult to maintain the distinction between the literal and spiritual senses of Scripture? In documenting and explaining this phenomenon (through "scholastic views of signification and religious notions of knowledge," xi), Ocker discovered that the innovations of late medieval exegesis—a notable departure from earlier schools of thought and methodology-—had in fact much in common with the praxis of sixteenth-century Protestant commentators, the latter working under the influence of post-Valla humanist rhetoric. Whether or not they find this conclusion compelling, all categories of readers will profit greatly from this well-conceived, richly documented, and lucidly argued tome. The book provides enough background information on fundamental issues, concepts, and personages so as to render the work accessible to even the most novice scholar in the field. At the same time, given its original insights and firm command of the primary sources—a good many of them unpublished and hitherto little studied—the most seasoned biblical scholar or medievalist will find it as well an extremely satisfying, informative experience. It is simply impossible to understand the culture, behavior, and "mentality" of medieval and early modern Europeans without understanding the Bible; Ocker has made a significant and most laudable contribution to our understanding of their understanding of that text.


OBJECTIVE
To re-evaluate the safety, effect, and pathological reactions of cellulose acetate polymer (CAP).

METHODS
30 right carotid arteries of rats were embolized and got two embolized vessels for histological study in each of the seven stages within four months. Fifteen canine aneurysmal models were created by transplantation of venous pouches. Twelve of them were occluded with CAP. Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) follow-ups of occluded aneurysmal models were carried out 1, 2 and 8 weeks after occlusion. One animal was sacrificed randomly at each stage for pathological study.

RESULTS
Only five of the 12 aneurysmal models were completely or partially occluded within the patency of parent arteries within two months of observation after embolization with CAP. Stenosis of one branch of aneurysmal parent artery was occurred. The residual cavity of one partially occluded model artery was enlarged. Two models ruptured on four and five days after embolization. Three embolized models and their parent arteries were all occluded.

PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS
acute pathological reaction occurred within vessels embolized with CAP. Endothelial cell and basal membrane were damaged and vanished. Elastic lamina was exposed to arterial lumen and attached by thrombus layer. Fibrous cells and smooth muscle cells showed obvious degeneration. CAP and thrombus were gradually organized in two months after thrombosis. The orifices of aneurysmal models were covered with newly developed fibrous tissue and endothelial cells in two months after thrombosis.

CONCLUSIONS
We think that acute chemical erosive effect of CAP was evident. A strong effect could lead to rupture of some of the CAP thrombosed aneurysmal models. Besides, stenosis or occlusion of the parent arteries could be induced in some cases after embolization with CAP. For the above shortcomings and limitations, it should be improved carefully before it is applied in clinic.


t—Automation is known as one of the most powerful tools for enhancing the mine productivity and safety. Automated mining machineries are so complex and capital intensive assets which need comprehensive maintenance, support and logistic planning to be able to meet their desired production goals. There are several technical, operational and safety challenges in the maintenance of this kind of machinery which force the mining companies to take the advanced solutions for increasing the maintenance quality and reducing the downtimes as much as possible. In this paper firstly the various automation modes of mining machinery are reviewed briefly. Thereafter, regarding to literature review and some field observation, three maintenance challenges are presented and discussed: safety of maintenance crew, maintenance big data and asset integration problems in mine automation systems. Considering the operational difficulties and safety issues the intelligent Reliability Centered Maintenance (iRCM) and eMaintenance as two advanced applicable methods are recommended for maintenance improvement in automated


An unusual intramolecular kinetic isotope effect (KIE) in the reaction of dichloroketene with cis-2-butene does not fit with a simple asynchronous cycloaddition transition state, but it can be predicted from trajectory studies on a bifurcating energy surface. The origin of the KIE is related to a high propensity for transition state recrossing in this system, with heavier masses recrossing less. The KIE can also be predicted by a statistical model that treats the cycloaddition as a stepwise mechanism, the rate-limiting second step being associated with an entropic barrier for formation of the second carbon-carbon bond. The relevance of this stepwise mechanism to other asynchronous but seemingly concerted cycloadditions is suggested by examination of organocatalytic Diels-Alder reactions.


The Centre for Large Space Structures and Systems Inc. (CLS3) is planning a low Earth orbit formation flying satellite mission with four nanosatellites. The project will be a collaboration between companies and Universities, with CLS3 contributing with the control subsystem. Although formation flying satellites constitute a potentially cost efficient formula for some satellite missions, several issues need to be resolved before they can be used efficiently. The propulsion subsystem is one of the systems that induce the most restrictions on the duration of the mission. With an optimized orbit selection and control system the amount of fuel spent to retain the desired formation can be lowered. This thesis investigates several models that have potential use for the design of the control system. Moreover, some methods to improve the selection of orbits are reviewed. Specifically, the usage of linear models enables analytical solutions to be found, for example formations where the satellites move in a circle around the center of the formation. These solutions can be used to find similar solutions for the available non-linear models. In addition, dynamic models that include the effect of the most prominent perturbations, the geopotential anomaly and atmospheric drag, are evaluated. The knowledge of how these perturbations affect the individual satellites and the formation is essential to the design the control subsystem. Furthermore, this knowledge can be used to choose orbits that are less susceptible to the effects of perturbations.


Background: The number of Hajj pilgrims is increasing every year, and has crossed the huge figure of 2 million. During Hajj period of 1428H (2007G), cardiac problems have been reported as one of the commonest causes of admissions in hospitals. However, the data regarding their Nationalities, age and gender is not available in the literature. This study was carried out to identify the cardiovascular diseases in Hajj pilgrims for the year 1429H (2008G) classified on geographical, age and gender basis, and to suggest pre-Hajj measures for their home countries and their handling by concerned Ministry during Hajj. Methods: On retrospective basis, data of all patients belonging to different Nationalities of various regions of the world, their age and gender, was analysed, who were admitted in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) and cardiology wards at AlNoor Specialist Hospital Makkah, over a period of 15 days in Hajj season 1429H (2008G). Results: Out of 203 patients hospitalised, the majority (94%) were older, i.e., >45 years. The patients suffering from various cardiac diseases were in the following order: heart failure cases 67%; ischemic heart disease 21.7%; and valvular heart disease 11.3%. As an outcome of total admissions (hospitalisation), 84% patients were discharged in stable condition, 9% were discharged against medical advice, 4.5% were unable to perform Hajj and 2.5% patients died. Conclusion: Most common cardiac diseases were found in hospitalized patients for Hajj 1429H, which belongs to different countries over the globe. It indicate loop holes in the health services of their home countries not verifying the physical fitness of their pilgrims before allowing them to proceed for Hajj. This study will also serve as a helping tool for the Ministry of Hajj in Saudi Arabia to take appropriate measures for demanding strictness for the physical fitness of Hajj