Blockchains are typically managed by peer-to-peer (P2P) networks providing the support and substrate to the so-called distributed ledger (DLT), a replicated, shared, and syn-chronized data structure, geographically spread across multiple nodes. The Bitcoin (BTC) blockchain is by far the most well-known DLT, used to record transactions among peers, based on the BTC digital currency. In this paper we focus on the network side of the BTC P2P network, analyzing its nodes from a purely network measurements-based approach. We present a BTC crawler able to discover and track the BTC P2P network through active measurements, and use it to analyze its main properties. Through the combined analysis of multiple snapshots of the BTC network as well as by using other publicly available data sources on the BTC network and DLT, we unveil the BTC P2P network, locate its active nodes, study their performance, and track the evolution of the network over the past two years. Among other relevant findings, we show that (i) the size of the BTC network has remained almost constant during the last 12 months – since the major BTC price drop in early 2018, (ii) most of the BTC P2P network resides in US and EU countries, and (iii) despite this western network locality, most of the mining activity and corresponding revenue is controlled by major mining pools located in China. By additionally analyzing the distribution of BTC coins among independent BTC entities (i.e., single BTC addresses or groups of BTC addresses controlled by the same actor), we also conclude that (iv) BTC is very far from being the decentralized and uncontrolled system it is so much advertised to be, with only 4.5% of all the BTC entities holding about 85% of all circulating BTC coins.


The application of pig slurry may have different influence on copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) dynamics in the soil compared with mineral fertilization. The aim of this research was to determine the different forms of Cu and Zn in soil and their uptake by bean plants in response to the application of mineral fertilizer and pig slurry (PS). The treatments were: mineral fertilizer (Cu and Zn oxides) and liquid pig slurry, at increasing rates (0/0, 1.7/6.0, 3.4/12.0 and 6.8/24.0 kg ha-1 Cu/Zn, respectively) applied in a Rhodic Kandiudox. PS increased the Cu content in soil in the exchangeable form, Fe oxides and residual, while the mineral fertilizer increased Cu contents in the fraction associated with soil organic matter. Soil Zn contents in the fractions available, exchangeable and SOM were highest under mineral fertilization, while in the soluble fraction the contents were highest under PS. The fertilizers had not impact on Cu and Zn contents associated with Al oxides, and these elements were mostly associated with Fe oxides in the soil. PS promoted the highest biomass production in shoots and roots of the bean plants, reflecting in the highest accumulation of Cu and Zn.


Mashhad granitoid complex is part of the northern slope of the Binalood Structural Zone (BSZ), Northeast of Iran, which is composed of granitoids and metamorphic rocks. This research presents new petrological and geochemical whole-rock major and trace elements analyses in order to determine the origin of granitoid rocks from Mashhad area. Field and petrographic observations indicate that these granitoid rocks have a wide range of lithological compositions and they are categorized into intermediate to felsic intrusive rocks (SiO2: 57.62-74.39 Wt.%). Qartzdiorite, tonalite, granodiorite and monzogranite are common granitoids with intrusive pegmatite and aplitic dikes and veins intruding them. Based on geochemical analyses, the granitoid rocks are calc-alkaline in nature and they are mostly peraluminous. On geochemical variation diagrams (major and minor oxides versus silica) Na2O and K2O show a positive correlation with silica while Al2O3, TiO2, CaO, Fe2O3, and MgO show a negative trend. Therefore fractional crystallization played a considerable role in the evolution of Mashhad granitoids. Based on the spider diagrams, there are enrichments in LILE and depletion in HFSE. Low degrees of melting or crustal contamination may be responsible for LILE enrichment. Elements such as Pb, Sm, Dy and Rb are enriched, while Ba, Sr, Nd, Zr, P, Ti and Yb (in monzogranites) are all depleted. LREE enrichment and HREE depletion are observed in all samples on the Chondrite-normalized REE diagram. Similar trends may be evidence for the granitoids to have the same origin. Besides, LREE enrichment relative to HREE in some samples can indicate the presence of garnet in their source rock. Negative anomalies of Eu and Yb are observed in monzogranites. Our results show that Mashhad granitoid rocks are orogenic related and tectonic discrimination diagrams mostly indicate its syn-to-post collisional tectonic setting. No negative Nb anomaly compared with MORB seems to be an indication of non-subduction zone related magma formation. According to the theory of thrust tectonics of the Binalood region, the oceanic lithosphere of the Palo-Tethys has subducted under the Turan microplate. Since the Mashhad granitoid outcrops are settled on the Iranian plate, this is far from common belief that these granitoid rocks are related to the subduction zones and the continental arcs. The western Mashhad granitoids show more mafic characteristics and are possibly crystallized from a magma with sedimentary and igneous origin. Thus, Western granitoid outcrops in Mashhad are probably hybrid type and other granitoid rocks, S and SE Mashhad are S-type. Evidences suggest that these continental collision granitoid rocks are associated with the late stages of the collision between the Iranian and the Turan microplates during the Paleo-Tethys Ocean closure which occurred in the Late Triassic.


Our studies of the pharmacokinetics of boron focused on the variations in the concentration in blood of Sprague-Dawley rats with time after the administration of single intravenous doses of 50-200 mg/kg of 10B-enriched sodium mercaptoundecahydro-closo-dodecaborate (BSH). After the lowest dose of BSH there was a progressive decline in the boron content of the blood, with a biological half-life (t1/2) of approximately 4.5 h. Higher doses of BSH resulted in slower boron clearance rates. A dose of 100 mg/kg of BSH was the maximum safely tolerated by the rats. The boron content of the skin at this dose of BSH was a factor of 0.6 lower than that in the blood. To determine the dose-related changes in the response of the central nervous system to BNCT-type radiation exposures, a well-established and clinically relevant model, the rat spinal cord, was used. The spinal cords (20 mm field length) of rats, infused with 100 mg/kg of BSH, were irradiated for 3 to 5 h with cold thermal neutrons from the H6 beam on the DIDO reactor (AERE, Harwell). The skin surface neutron flux was 4.8 x 10(8) n/cm2/s. Exposure times of > or = 4 h resulted in vigorous, biphasic skin reactions, indicative of long-term vascular damage in the dermis. Rats were monitored closely for 84 weeks after irradiation. No abnormal neurological responses were observed and there was no histological evidence of lesions in the spinal cord at the end of the study. These findings indicate that the central nervous system has a high tolerance to BNCT-type radiation using BSH as the neutron capture agent.


This study examines whether or not in Sturge-Weber syndrome hypoperfused brain areas that are affected by calcification continue to retain some function and participate in language and motor activations. [150]-Water positron emission tomography (PET) was used for brain mapping of these functions in two patients with extensive unilateral calcification and hypoperfusion and in one patient with calcification and hypoperfusion restricted to the left posterior region. Task-related regional cerebral blood flow changes suggest that (1) hypoperfused areas may become activated during language and motor performance, and (2) progressive calcification in Sturge-Weber syndrome is associated with functional reorganization in the language and motor domains. Interhemispheric reorganization appears to be more pronounced for language than for motor functions. (J Child Neurol 1997;12:431-437).


The objective of this report is to facilitate a productive policy dialogue in support of Armenia's efforts to build a more dynamic economy capable of thriving in an increasingly knowledge-driven global marketplace. The report supports the objectives of the Armenian government's national development strategy, which focuses on economic versatility and robust job creation. While Armenia faces a complex set of macroeconomic challenges, this report will concentrate on a select number of issues crucial to the creation of a more open, adaptable and resilient economy. Armenia's medium-term outlook is complicated by a mix of adverse domestic and external factors, but there is reason for cautious optimism. Despite its considerable progress over the past two decades Armenia is still struggling to free itself from the vestiges of central planning. As the period of macroeconomic adjustment following the global financial crisis comes to a close the authorities are renewing their efforts to build a sophisticated modern economy based on human-capital accumulation and technological innovation. Recognizing that Armenia is at a critical juncture in its development, this report identifies a number of reforms designed to increase competitiveness on both the supply and demand sides of the economy.


BRIEF SESSION DESCRIPTION:Learn how student engagement with an online textbook student resources can increase student learning in an online business course. This session will highlight how student scores and perceptions of learning are impacted by participation in an online textbook companion.________________________________________________________________FULL ABSTRACT: Online course instructors often struggle with how to encourage students to engage with the course content, beyond passive reading of textbooks or viewing of online lecture content.A'  The presentation will focus on a comparison between an online business class that does engage with an online textbook companion, MindTap, and an online business class that does use MindTap. Rather than just demonstrate how to use the tools, however, the instructor will present the test outcomes comparing two sections of the same online business course, as well as student perceptions of the usefulness of such resources. Does active student engagement with the textbook content increase student outcomes, or is there little difference between these students and those who learn passively? Faculty will be able to see tangible outcomes comparing students learning without online engagement with textbook companion sources, and those students learning with such resources. Can these resources benefit student confidence in the course material and, subsequently, boost student outcomes?


The symptoms of Parkinson's disease occur due to degeneration of dopamine neurons in substantia nigra. It has been demonstrated that glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a potent neurotrophic factor when it comes to protect and enhance survival of dopamine neurons in animal models of Parkinson's disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate short- and long-term effects of GDNF on survival and nerve fiber outgrowth of dopamine cells and astrocytic migration in mouse fetal ventral mesencephalic (VM) tissue. Primary tissue cultures were made of mouse fetal VM tissue and evaluated at 7 and 21 days in vitro (DIV) in terms of dopaminergic nerve fiber outgrowth and astrocytic migration when developed with GDNF present, partially, or completely absent. The results revealed that VM tissue cultured in the absence of GDNF did not exhibit any significant differences in migration of astrocytes or dopaminergic nerve fiber outgrowth neither after 7 DIV nor after 21 DIV, when compared with tissue cultured with GDNF present. Migration of astrocytes and dopaminergic nerve fiber outgrowth reached longer distances when tissue was left to develop for 21 DIV in comparison with 7 DIV. In order to study the long-term effects of GDNF, mouse fetal dopaminergic tissue was transplanted into the ventricles of adult mice and evaluated after 6 months. No surviving dopamine neurons were present in the absence of GDNF. In contrast dopamine neurons developed with GDNF did survive, indicating that GDNF is an essential neurotrophic factor when it comes to long-term dopamine cell survival. More cases have to be assessed in the future in order to strengthen the findings. Thus, transplanted dopamine neurons will be assessed after 3 and 12 months in order to map out when dopamine neurons deprived of GDNF undergo degeneration.


349 and themes is treated in the last 23 pages. Paratore's range is commendable, and the only rather surprising omission I noted is that of Camoes, OsEnfatrioes (see L. R. Shero, T.A.P.A. lxxxvii [1956], 210-12). The large number of entries enforces a tantalizing brevity; one would like to know what Paratore thinks of Giraudoux's version, but the six lines on p. 112 can do little more than explain the reasons for the choice of title. The treatment of the material by countries is revealing, and the misleading tendency in some circles to think of Plautus and Terence together as un unico modello (p. 103) for regular comedy is well brought out (see again p. 106). Where the distinctive features of Plautus were recognized, Paratore draws attention to the appeal he seems to have had for the more popular or even the more avantgarde writers (p. 112). I noted a tendency to record some very recent adaptations and performances (pp. 107-8), interesting in their way, in rather greater detail than is commensurate with the scale of the rest of the treatment. A somewhat expanded edition of this essay would be worth having. A little extra space would enable Paratore to expound his own judgements and improve the proportions of the work by allowing a more even coverage of the problems calling for discussion.


Summary: After exposure of Staphylococcus aureus strain Oxford (h) to penicillin in vitro under conditions leading to the death of at least 99·9% of the exposed population, the offspring of surviving cocci ('persisters') showed the same sensitivity as the original population. Successive exposure of the offspring of persisters did not increase the proportion of survivors nor their resistance. Persisters were not the most resistant cocci in the original population; their offspring showed the same distribution of cocci resistance as the parent culture. The number of survivors, about 1 in 2500 cocci, was proportional to the original number when exposed to penicillin in a small volume (10–20 ml.), but not in a larger volume (40-200 ml.). Inocula of less than 10 staphylococci allowed to multiply to 103/ml. before addition of penicillin yielded persisters. Populations greater than about 2 x 108/ml. were not acted upon by penicillin, even when the majority of the cocci were only 4 hr old, unless the mixtures were shaken. The proportion of survivors at 37° from equal volumes of penicillin broth containing 105–108 organisms/ml. was not affected by the age and growth phase of the exposed bacteria, conditions of previous storage of the inoculum, initial exposure at low temperature, type of container, aeration by shaking, clumping of cocci, a 1000-fold increase in the dose of penicillin, or addition of streptomycin. When removed from penicillin, persisters and their offspring multiplied at the same rate as the parent culture without requiring a recovery period. The persisters were neither spheroplasts nor L forms. Indirect evidence indicates that persisters survived because at the time of first contact with the penicillin they were in a state unfavourable to initiation of division or cell wall synthesis.


A wall-stabilised argon arc (35 A) submitted to recurring decay and reignition is disturbed during its decay phase by a high-voltage peak which includes some electrical parameter variations. The spectral observation of this event is presented. This study shows that the arc conductance variation for a short voltage pulse arises from electron heating.


We consider the problem of constructing visually optimized balanced multiple descriptions of images, instead of being optimized with the conventional measure of mean squared error (MSE). The recently proposed modified multiple description scalar quantizer (MMDSQ) is used because its central and side quantizers all have convex and uniform cells. Since the majority of research results on the visual distortion caused by quantization noise assumes convex and uniform quantizer cells, they can be conveniently applied to the system based on MMDSQ. The technique provides substantially higher side reconstruction perceived quality when compared at the same central reconstruction quality, which is verified through perceptual tests


The lag screw is the simplest means of rigid internal fixation. By virtue of its ability to compress bone fragments without the use of a bone plate, it has wide application and achieves great stability. This article presents techniques to apply lag screws to fractures of the mandibular symphysis, the mandibular body, and the mandibular angle. Results are reviewed in studies of 315 patients whom the author has treated with lag screw fixation. The advantages of the lag screw technique over bone-plate fixation, such as a more rapid application, obviation of the need to adapt a bone plate, minimal displacement of bone segments, and the rapid application of fixation without diminishing the rigidity of the fracture reduction, are discussed, as are the technique's contraindications.


Previous findings indicate that operator's reliance towards a static automated aid increases with the degree of automation (DOA) especially when decision-making is affected. In this data reexamination of a previously conducted study, operators' automation verification was investigated comparing a static automation supporting decision selection with an automation which in most trials only narrowed down possible diagnoses. Thus, in the majority of trials information sampling was essential for task completion in the latter condition. However, in a few trials the automation provided a diagnosis, too – giving participants the rare opportunity to fully rely on the automation. The question was investigated how participants behave in the exceptional occasions in which reliance is possible compared to participants who always have the opportunity to rely. Results show that when reliance was possible as an exception, participants verified their aid significantly less compared to the group who could rely throughout all trials. Implications for approaches of flexible automation are discussed.


A generalized algorithm is proposed for simulating a system of interacting spherical particles simultaneously executing both rotational and translational Brownian motion. Rotation–translation couplings are obtained numerically for (a) a pair of rigid spheres using the generalized algorithm and (b) a pair of rigid cubic octamer particles using a translational algorithm with rigid constraints. The likely importance of rotation–translation coupling in the Brownian–dynamics context is discussed.


Magnetic bacteria orient and navigate along geomagnetic field lines and are widely distributed in freshwater and marine habitat. The ability of these bacteria to respond to magnetic fields is based on the presence of intracellular magnetosome, i.e. membrane-bound magnetic particle of either magnetite (Fe3O4) or greigite (Fe3S4). The magnetosome formation is achieved by tightly controlled processes which involves the accumulation of iron and deposition of the mineral particles at a specific location in the cell. Biomineralization of magnetosome may involve intricate processes, but the exact mechanisms is still poorly understood. This review focuses on the current knowledge about biochemical, physiological as well as molecular biological aspects of the biomineralization process of magnetic bacteria, especially in the magnetosome formation. Key words: Magnetic bacteria, magnetosome, biomineralization


This paper presents ScenEdit authoring environment, a graphical tool dedicated to design pedagogical scenarios. The environment is based on ISiS goal-oriented model we have elaborated to structure the design of scenarios by teachers-designers and to favour sharing and reuse practices. We present here the main functionalities of the environment with an example of use.


The authors modified the cone beam filtered backprojection algorithm of L.A. Feldkamp et al. (1984) and applied it to the symmetric tilt-angle case. Both the modifications of the algorithm and a single preliminary test are reported.


Arsenic is a metalloid member of heavy metals associated with many health problems from various cancers to skin diseases. Due to mankind activities and natural sources, arsenic contamination seen globally. More than 150 million people globally face with arsenic via arsenic polluted ground water. It is well known that speciation of arsenic is important for its actions inside of the exposed organism. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is one of six model organisms, provides an general answer for the question "What eukaryotes do?". So assessing some questions on budding yeast gives a general idea about potential results in other eukaryotes including human. One of the issues investigated on this yeast is that impacts and metabolism of arsenic. Arsenic is well studied on Saccharomyces cerevisiae and consequently much data became available. In this review, cellular impacts of arsenic and response of the yeast towards arsenic exposure is covered.


Fusarium graminearum causes Fusarium head blight, an important disease of wheat. F. graminearum can also cause disease in Arabidopsis thaliana. Here, we show that the Arabidopsis LOX1 and LOX5 genes, which encode 9-lipoxygenases (9-LOXs), are targeted during this interaction to facilitate infection. LOX1 and LOX5 expression were upregulated in F. graminearum-inoculated plants and loss of LOX1 or LOX5 function resulted in enhanced disease resistance in the corresponding mutant plants. The enhanced resistance to F. graminearum infection in the lox1 and lox5 mutants was accompanied by more robust induction of salicylic acid (SA) accumulation and signaling and attenuation of jasmonic acid (JA) signaling in response to infection. The lox1- and lox5-conferred resistance was diminished in plants expressing the SA-degrading salicylate hydroxylase or by the application of methyl-JA. Results presented here suggest that plant 9-LOXs are engaged during infection to control the balance between SA and JA signaling to facilitate infection. Furthermore, since silencing of TaLpx-1 encoding a 9-LOX with homology to LOX1 and LOX5, resulted in enhanced resistance against F. graminearum in wheat, we suggest that 9-LOXs have a conserved role as susceptibility factors in disease caused by this important fungus in Arabidopsis and wheat.


The paper investigates further an approach to modeling dynamically changing Gaussian spatio-temporal fields. In that approach, the dynamics are introduced by embedding deterministic velocities into a stochastic spatio-temporal Gaussian model. In this way, a dynamically inactive stochastic field with given spatial and temporal covariance structure gains dynamics that in general follow a deterministic pattern. Here, we make an important connection between the resulting stochastic field and underlying deterministic dynamics by demonstrating that in the case of isotropic spatial dependencies, the observed random velocities are centered at the velocities of the underlying physical flow. Additionally, we discuss strategies for simulation of such fields and give foundation for fitting and prediction procedures that are based on the obtained results. In an effort to illustrate attractiveness of the approach for modeling environmental phenomena, we consider a parametrized specification of spatio-temporal correlation structure and embed to it the dynamics driven by the shallow water equations. Through simulations, we show how the spatio-temporal behavior of the resulting non-stationary Gaussian field is altered by the embedded dynamics. (Less)


The aim of this study is to evaluate biomechanical stability of resorbable internal fixation system in a servohydraulic testing unit (STU) and using 3-D finite element analysis (FEA) in bilateral mandibular vertical body osteotomies (BMVBO) immediately after surgeries, at the postoperative 1st and 3rd months healing periods in a rabbit model. We used 18 rabbits in our study. Stress tests were measured by applying vertical forces at the anterior incisal edge by loading from 0 N/cm2 until plastic deformation and breakage had occurred. Maximum forces that hemimandibles could stand and the amount of deformations were recorded and analysed in the each option by FEA and STU. In immediate group, there is no significant difference statistically in both maximum forces and deformations data in STU and FEA tests. In 1 month group, maximum forces data in FEA is statistically greater than STU values and deformations data in STU is statistically greater than FEA values. In 3 months group, there is no significant difference statistically in maximum forces data whereas deformations data in STU is statistically greater than FEA values. During the monitoring of biomechanical stabilities of rabbit mandibles in which body osteotomies were performed and fixated with resorbable systems, the use STU and FEA interchangeably depended on the time of testing and assessment parameters. Anahtar Kelimeler :  Biodegradable implant, biomechanics, finite element analysis, mandible, osteotomy


Increasing demand for higher resolution of miniaturized displays requires techniques achieving high contrast tunability of the images. Employing metasurfaces for image contrast manipulation is a new and rapidly growing field of research aiming to address this need. Here, a new technique to achieve image tuning in a reversible fashion is demonstrated by dielectric metasurfaces composed of subwavelength resonators. It is demonstrated that by controlling the temperature of a metasurface the encoded transmission pattern can be tuned. To this end, two sets of nanoresonators composed of nonconcentric silicon disks with a hole that exhibit spectrally sharp Fano resonances and forming a Yin-Yang pattern are designed and fabricated. Through exploitation of the thermo-optical properties of silicon, full control of the contrast of the Yin-Yang image is demonstrated by altering the metasurface temperature by ΔT ≈ 100 °C. This is the first demonstrated technique to control an image contrast by temperature. Importantly, the turning technique does not require manipulating the external stimulus, such as polarization or angle of the illumination and/or the refractive index of this environment. These results open many opportunities for transparent displays, optical switches, and tunable illumination systems.


Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine "black box" links between HRM innovations and organizational performance by investigating the perspective of a workforce often excluded from the HR realm. Professional Independent Contractors (IPros) play a vital role in achieving workforce flexibility and innovation. While the use of such arrangements has been examined often using a compliance-oriented lens, the authors explore the value of adding a commitment aspect.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 375 IPros working in Australian organizations completed an online questionnaire distributed by a national business support services provider.

Findings

Results show organizational support significantly predicted work engagement and affective commitment. Self-efficacy, age and gender were also significant predictors.

Research limitations/implications

The cross-sectional nature of this study and reliance on self-reported data limit the reliability of the findings. In addition, the findings may be specific to the Australian labor market.

Practical implications

The study present the views of a difficult to reach population and the findings suggest by adopting an innovative hybrid commitment-compliance HR configuration, practitioners may positively increase desirable contractor outcomes.

Social implications

Concerns that organizational imperatives for efficiency, quality and high performance will be compromised by considering the human side of non-employee work arrangements are not supported. Indeed, as previously outlined, much of the concern with the employee/non-employee dichotomy is legally based and an artefact of a system of labor law that in many settings has failed to move with the times.

Originality/value

Few investigations of the impact of high commitment HRM practices have incorporated the perspective of professional, non-employees. While IPros are recipients of compliance focused contractor management practices, carefully integrated commitment-based HRM aspects have the potential to deliver positive outcomes for both individuals and organizations.


This article presents the development of an automated three-point bending testing system using a robot to increase the efficiency and precision of measurements for PLA/TPU polymer blends as implementation high-throughput measurement methods. The system operates continuously and characterizes the flexural properties of PLA/TPU blends with varying TPU concentrations. This study aimed to determine the effect of TPU concentration on the strength and flexural stiffness, surface properties (WCA), thermal properties (TGA, DSC), and microscopic characterization of the studied blends.


Electrodeposition of nickel particles on ITO substrates is achieved by current pulse reduction. A comparison between potential pulse and current pulse experiments presents differences in particle size and particle size distribution. The latter shows smaller particle size dispersion than what is found with potential pulses. Characterization of the particles carried out by Atomic Force Microscopy shows particles with average sizes between 100 to 300 nm. Magnetic characterization by Magnetic Force Microscopy and SQUID shows that particles of ~300 nm were ferromagnetic with a coercive field of 200 Oe and a saturation magnetization of 40 × 10-6 emu at 300 K.


The principle that theories should be tested by the accuracy of their predictions but not by the realism of their assumptions needs to be qualified. As a practical matter we often need to evaluate the applicability of theories to cases for which they have not been tested by their predictions. Here we rely on the fact that theories are applicable only within a specific domain. In determining whether a specific case, for which no direct tests are available, is within the theory's domain, we look primarily at whether the assumptions of the theory are as applicable to it as they are to the cases for which the theory has been successfully tested.


Abstract During the latter part of the 20th century, many U.S. state governments adopted growth management programs for the purpose of establishing a more proactive role in the regulation of land use. Although many scholars have recently begun to critically examine the implementation of these new state initiatives, few have explored their effects on patterns of intraurban land development. In this article, we develop a framework for thinking about the likely effects of state growth management programs on a central city's ability to attract new residential construction activity and investigate this issue using a panel data approach. Multivariate regression results suggest that these programs have observable effects on the spatial distribution of residential construction activity within urban areas. Furthermore, we accept several hypotheses regarding coefficient stability across states, regions, and program designs. These findings suggest that state growth management programs may be an effective tool for promoting the revitalization of central cities.


Steady flows of gas and particles in unbounded-fluidized beds have been shown to lose stability to localized voidage disturbances. An insight is provided into the linear stability of bounded gas-particle flows using a kinetic theory approach. The stability analysis is carried out for two illustrative sets corresponding to fluidized systems having walls acting as sinks and sources of fluctuation energy. Instabilities are characterized by computing leading eigenvalue profiles and dominant eigenfunction contour maps. Results show two types of dominant instability patterns (symmetric and antisymmetric) for flow in a vertical duct, both of which propagate through the bed in the form of traveling waves at speeds comparable to that of the solid phase. Moreover, model predictions show that increasing solids fraction and decreasing particle inelasticity will suppress the wavy disturbance. The physical mechanism of instability formation is further investigated using a term-by-term method of analysis. Results show that instability modes can be suppressed if solid phase inertia or inelastic particle collisions are eliminated from the momentum and pseudo-thermal energy balance equations. Finally, the symmetric instabilities were shown to develop into bubble-like structures while the antisymmetric instabilities develop into streamer-like structures. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2007


Archaeological sites are composed of unique, complex landscape settings including architectural remains, visually and spatially interrelated spaces, and ecologies with topographical features and landforms framing them. Today, they are subject to many pressures caused by developmental changes as well as improper conservation and planning strategies. One reason is that heritage conservation is still heavily focused on architectural features and less on the landscape setting. Wider landscape components set an authentic backdrop for cultural heritage and make the setting vivid and legible. Concentrating on this trend, this article explores the visual values of archaeological sites from the tripartite conceptualization view of visual landscape integrity, namely considering the archaeological landscape setting as an artifact, three-dimensional space, and scenery. Using the archaeological site complex of Bergama in Western Turkey as a case study, I propose a visual landscape–oriented approach as a tool for the sustainable conservation and presentation of heritage sites in the process of cultural resource management.


On-line diagnosing of GIS (gas insulated switchgears) requires the pattern classification and identification of signals that are emitted from GIS. To classify the patterns correctly, substantial data sets that are emitted by artificially mimicked defects in GIS are needed. Applying the neural networks to the data sets, in general, identification methods of defects in GIS have widely been developed. Some identification system shows a good success such that the misclassification rate is reduced to below 5%; the key features in identification, however, are not obviously revealed in neural networks systems because of nonlinear network structures. The decision tree method that classifies the signals using the feature rules in plain graphical representations can explains the classification rules in clear forms. We applied the decision tree classification method to the signals emitted from the signals by artificially prepared defects in GIS, and find that the method shows a good classification rates over 95% which are comparable to that in neural networks. We also discuss the robustness from noise, and compare the results of the misclassification rates by the two methods.


Among various elements to affect customer's evaluation of vehicle quality, BSR(Buzz, Squeak, Rattle) are considered to be a mostly contributing factor. In this paper, we provide the test method which can be used to reduce the BSR noise of instrument panel in a vehicle. First, potential source regions of the instrument panel for BSR are localized by using the vibration-excitor and near-acoustic field visualization system. Then, subjective evaluation of BSR noise from the detected potential noise source regions is made with the Zwicker's loudness and time-varying loudness methods. This illustrative analysis reveals that current experimental methods can be used as a test procedure to systematically tackle BSR issues in early stage of the vehicle development cycle, which can result in the reduction of the production cost.


Dynamics of maize leaves' biopotentials evoked by coldand heat stimuli with two frequencies 0.05 and 0.1 Hz is analyzed. Potential amplitude dependence of heating rate and time interval between first and following stimuli during both heating and cooling was discovered. It is ascertained that following potentials' amplitude increases in time during heat stimulation and decreases in time during cold stimulation. Qualitative difference in the reaching of potential stabilization is established for both stimulation frequen-cies; and probable reasons of the difference are analyzed. Potential stabilization levels are fixed for each series of experiment.


Cognitive radio (CR) enhanced vehicular ad hoc network (CR-VANET) is a special VANET that each vehicle could explore local spectrum gap and reduce data congestion by mitigating interference by dynamically accessing spectrum holes. One of the most important challenges for CR-VANET is to identify the presence of primary users (PU) over wideband spectrum at a particular time and specific geographic location. In this paper, maximum likelihood ratio (MLR) detection is proposed as an effective scheme for wideband spectrum detection in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) based overlay CR-VANET. OR fusion rule with square-law selection (SLS) is implemented at roadside to make global detection decision by means of the combination of each vehicle's local sensing results. Hence, cooperative wideband spectrum detection is implemented in dynamic topology CRVANET to enhance the reliability of spectrum detection. Specifically, robust cooperative sensing technique is investigated with the consideration of sensing channel SNR, reporting channel fading, as well as inter-user error rate, with the purpose of exploiting diversity in multi-vehicle cooperative sensing scenario. Limitations of cooperative wideband spectrum sensing are presented with MLR detection in space-time block code (STBC) and time division multiple access (TDMA) protocols for practical consideration. Simulation results are presented to confirm our theoretical derivations. It is revealed that, compared with conventional energy detection (ED), cooperative wideband spectrum detection with MLR has adaptive detection thresholds. Moreover, robust cooperative sensing by roadside SLS OR rule and its limitations are also performed with receiver operation characteristics (ROC). It is proven that, MLR detection is available in robust cooperative sensing with dynamic threshold variations for CR-VANET practical applications.


Aiming at the influence to municipal sewage treatment in the utilization of seawater, effects of salinity on nitrogen removal were studied using A/O process. The experiment indicated that the salinity of 20g/L was the tolerance limit for the nitrogen removal of the system. The salinity within 10g/L had little effect on the removal efficiency of ammonia nitrogen. At 20g/L salinity, the removal rate still kept high value and above 80% after the sludge being domesticated. The treatment efficiency plunged and the ammonia nitrogen removal rate dropped to 50% under 25g/L salinity condition. The nitrification rate decreased with the increase of salinity and changed little at the salinity from 5 g/L to 15 g/L. Under the salinity above 20 g/L conditions, it decreased evidently. Otherwise, the proper salinity was beneficial to shortcut nitrification-denitrification. The shortcut nitrification-denitrification was realized at the salinity above 15 g/L. The nitrite-nitrification rate was 97% at 20 g/L salinity.


The answer to the question of what it means to say that a right is absolute is often taken for granted, yet still sparks doubt and scepticism. This article investigates absoluteness further, bringing rights theory and the judicial approach on an absolute right together. A theoretical framework is set up that addresses two distinct but potentially related parameters of investigation: the first is what I have labelled the 'applicability' criterion, which looks at whether and when the applicability of the standard referred to as absolute can be displaced, in other words whether other considerations can justify its infringement; the second parameter, which I have labelled the 'specification' criterion, explores the degree to which and bases on which the content of the standard characterised as absolute is specified. This theoretical framework is then used to assess key principles and issues that arise in the Strasbourg Court's approach to Article 3. It is suggested that this analysis allows us to explore both the distinction and the interplay between the two parameters in the judicial interpretation of the right and that appreciating the significance of this is fundamental to the understanding of and discourse on the concept of an absolute right.


The body has become an increasingly important resource upon which individuals construct their self-identities. Whether it is through the clothes that we choose to wear, the hairstyles we adopt, or the size and shape of our bodies, consumer culture increasingly promotes the body as an entity of individual choice whose outward appearance reflects who we are on the inside. This thesis explores the relationship between the body and self-identity through an exploration of contemporary tattooing practices, and in so doing adds to the burgeoning body of work that has explored the relationship between the body and identity (i.e. Turner 1991; Giddens 1991; Shilling 2012), and the expanding corpus of literature that has explored tattooing (i.e. Sweetman 1999a, 1999b, 1999c; Atkinson 2002, 2003a, 2003b, 2004; DeMello 2000; Pitts 2003; Sanders 2008).

Data for this thesis was generated by conducting mixed-method ethnographic research in order to explore how individuals utilise tattooing as part of their individual body projects of self-identity. Adopting Norbert Elias's figurational – or process – sociology I explore how and why tattooing has become an increasingly sought after and acceptable form of corporeal alteration that has moved from the social margins to occupy a place of heightened respectability, and why individuals choose tattooing over others form of body project available to them. I propose that a key reason for tattooing's popularity in 21st century Britain is that is allows individuals to fulfil quests for authenticity that have become an increasingly central concern for contemporary citizens.

Concurrently, this thesis also explores the relationship between researchers and their research settings by examining the insider/outsider status of social researchers, and exploring themes of involvement, detachment, and reflexivity. It argues that the ideal of totally objective social research proposed by Weber is not obtainable, nor should it be. Instead, researchers should take into account their own biography and how this impacts upon the research process and the dissemination of findings, in order to produce object-adequate knowledge.


Flatulence is one of the commonest symptoms complained of by patients with indigestion or what they think is indigestion. Unfortunately, in many cases the cause cannot be determined. The first thing the physician must do when a patient complains of gas is to find out what he means. Does he mean that he is belching, does he bloat, does he feel as if gas was trapped in a segment of intestine or does he pass excessive amounts of flatus? Curiously a patient may have any or all of these troubles and still not have real flatulent indigestion! The chronic belcher is swallowing air because he is nervous or frightened; the woman who bloats may have only an angioneurotic edema of her bowel; the man who feels as if he had gas in his stomach may have only a duodenal ulcer or constipation, and the man who is passing much flatus


The aim of this study is to develop a high-efficiency single-input multiple-output (SIMO) dc-dc converter. The proposed converter can boost the voltage of a low-voltage input power source to a controllable high-voltage dc bus and middle-voltage output terminals. The high-voltage dc bus can take as the main power for a high-voltage dc load or the front terminal of a dc-ac inverter. Moreover, middle-voltage output terminals can supply powers for individual middle-voltage dc loads or for charging auxiliary power sources (e.g., battery modules). In this study, a coupled-inductor-based dc-dc converter scheme utilizes only one power switch with the properties of voltage clamping and soft switching, and the corresponding device specifications are adequately designed. As a result, the objectives of high-efficiency power conversion, high step-up ratio, and various output voltages with different levels can be obtained. Some experimental results via a kilowatt-level prototype are given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed SIMO dc-dc converter in practical applications.


Typically, the vital signs that are representing the state of human body, are the body temperature, sphygmus, respiration and blood pressure. The body temperature is the result of metabolic regulation and human steady-state body temperature is maintained from 35.9 to by heat regulatory center. The body temperature is indicative of infection and especially it should be monitored to requiring intensive care patients or after surgical patients. But, measuring of body temperature to a heavy workload on nursing staff has been recognized. And, the health service of nurse is limited by simple tasks such as the measurement and record of vital sign. In this paper, the body temperature monitoring telemetry system was proposed to prove the recoding and transmission of body temperature patch system according the standard(ISO TS11073-92001). We proposed the transmission protocol to suit the MFER(medical waveform format encoding rules). The telemetry patch system was implemented and it was verified by experiments.


Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a syndrome of multiorgan system dysfunction that is caused by hypercytokinemia and persistent activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and macrophages. A nearly ubiquitous finding and a diagnostic criterion of HLH is the presence of cytopenias in ≥ 2 cell lines. The mechanism of cytopenias in HLH is multifactorial but appears to be predominantly driven by suppression of hematopoiesis by pro-inflammatory cytokines and, to some extent, by consumptive hemophagocytosis. Recognition of cytopenias as a manifestation of HLH is an important consideration for patients with bone marrow failure of unclear etiology.


Gelsolin forms ternary complexes with two actin monomers in the presence of Ca2+, which nucleate actin polymerization and cap the barbed ends of filaments. It has therefore been assumed that the two actins are oriented in a similar manner to the terminal subunits in the genetic helix of F-actin. We have tested this using chemical cross-linking with N,N'-1,4-phenylenedimaleimide. For all conditions tested, we identified as the only cross-linked dimeric species an actin dimer indistinguishable from the lower actin dimer of 86 kDa. This lower dimer was previously identified in the initial phase of actin polymerization and also when actin paracrystals are chemically cross-linked [Millonig, R., Salvo, H. & Aebi, U. (1988) J. Cell Biol. 106, 785-796]. It probably defines a contact between adjacent monomers oriented in an antiparallel orientation. In contrast, when F-actin is cross-linked by the same reagent, an upper dimer of apparent molecular mass 115 kDa is formed, which corresponds to adjacent monomers in the genetic helix. The formation of this upper dimer was specifically inhibited by addition of gelsolin to F-actin. Evidence is presented for a Cys374-Cys374 cross-link in the lower dimer. Isolated lower dimer binds to gelsolin in a 1:1 stoichiometry, but it inhibits nucleation of polymerization by gelsolin. Other gelsolin constructs that bind two actin subunits (e.g. the N-terminal half of the molecule, which has severing and capping but no nucleating activity) also form only lower dimer when cross-linked with N,N'-1,4-phenylenedimaleimide. Only segment 2-6 (gelsolin fragment devoid of the N-terminal segment 1) induces an upper dimer orientation of the two actins under nucleating conditions. Our evidence suggests that the two actins associated with gelsolin are not fixed in the orientation of adjacent subunits in F-actin; instead they have a flexible orientation with respect to each other, which permits cross-linking into a stable antiparallel form that does not correspond to the presumed nucleating conformation.


This study aims to determine the spiritual development of students in SMP Negeri 12 Palopo, and to determine the role of Islamic religious education teachers in the spiritual development of students in 12 Palopo State Middle School. This research is a qualitative descriptive study, using normative approaches, pedagogical approaches, and psychological approaches. Data sources in this study are primary data and secondary data. Collected with Observation and Documentation Interview techniques. Data analysis techniques are data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results of the study show that: (1) The spiritual development of students in Palopo State 12 Junior High School. In addition to the religious material the teacher also provides the properties of local wisdom, namely the habits that exist in the community that is always emphasized to students so that there is no disconnect between the conditions in the community and what they will face, especially in terms of togetherness, kinship, and discipline. through learning materials and will also involve students in social activities such as raising funds for disaster victims, visiting sick friends or teachers, mourn if there is one teacher, community leader, student and student representative who is experiencing a disaster. The direct and active approach is expected to grow and develop a sense of empathy for the surrounding environment. (2) The role of Islamic religious teachers in the spiritual development of students in SMP Negeri 12 Palopo, namely, as instructors, providing learning materials as well as lecturing practices at school, performing congregational prayers before going home from school. The teacher also controls students in their respective environments by using prayer journal books.


that things have improved. I know that some dermatologists who have not been successful with colour photography say they would irather have a good black-and-white picture, but then the real answer should be that they ought not to have taken a bad colour one. One of the present-day troubles of acting as photographer-physician is that it is very difficult in these days of hard drudgery and work in dermatological out-patient departments (where often most of our best pictorial provender is provided) to find time to take any photographs. Hence, much as I dislike it, I have tried at different times to get a professional photographer to take photographs of a case for me. The result has always been most disappointing or a complete failure, even though the photographer has been a most highly qualified technical person. In my experience professional photographers are often somewhat fussy and pedantic, and more inclined to think of a studio portrait or picture than a clinical one. The latter may be taken solely to bring out some particular point-e.g., the burrow or acarus in scabies on the foot of an infant. "Hospital photography departments are often an absurdity," as Dr. Twiston Davies states. Furthermore, the so-called clinical camera is often an antique abomination and an anachronism totally unsuitable for its object. Usually it is a bulky half-plate affair with a small aperture, poorish quality lens capable of only some prolonged exposures, and unable to reproduce true details in anything like reasonable time. Its bulkiness does not permit rapid change of position when taking a quickly moving object, and one would find it impossible to take such an object as an unruly child with eczema of the face, etc. It cannot conveniently be used anywhere in the hospital owing to its size, and is not suitable for use either at the bedside or in the out-patient department. Having been somewhat destructive in my criticism, let me now offer some constructive ideas. For good clinical work I think a camera made on the combination of the ideas incorporated in either the "Leica " or " Contax" with the " Reflex Korelle " and provided with a good-quality lens capable of doing clinical work with an F 3.5 aperture would be valuable. It should be capable of taking a good detailed picture in artificial light using F 3.5 aper.ure at not more than one-thirtieth of a second. If made on the above principle it should not be bulky or heavy in weight, and could readily be held in the hands if necessary for bedside work and also for taking photomicrographs in colour. There are obvious advantages in using 35 mm. film for clinical work, i-ncluding convenient size, cheapness, and the fact that it is possible to get all varieties of film in this size. In the U.S.A. it is possible to get copies and enlargements in colour from 35 mm. colour transparencies, and those I have seen are quite good, but owing to monetary difficulties in this country at present it is not feasible to get this done here. Perhaps later on it may be done, and in any case it is an accomplished fact. With regard to a properly equipped photographic department in a hospital, there is always a certain amount of routine work that could be effectively carried out there, such as the taking of pictures of pathological post-mortem specimens, photomicrographs of sections, copying, enlarging, and reducing prints and negatives, developing and printing, etc.


Because uncertainty exists as to whether dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine, the major component of lung surfactant, is part of a lipoprotein molecule, a study was designed to investigate the relationships between the phospholipids and proteins of rabbit lung washings obtained by lavage with aqueous solutions. Surface-active sediments contained phospholipid and protein in ratios directly dependent upon the ratios in the washings from which they were obtained. Comparison of negatively stained lung washings and sediments revealed that sedimentation caused extensive aggregation of surfactant "liposomes". Analytical ultracentrifugation revealed that both cell-free washings from lungs and suspension of pure phosphatidylcholine contained components with flotation rates ranging from 25 to 400. Density gradient centrifugation of washings, without prior sedimentation, resulted in the appearance of a phospholipid band associated with only a small amount of protein. The density of the band varied depending upon temperature. No qualitative differences in the protein compositions of the phospholipid band and other gradient fractions were found by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Albumin, IgG, IgM, and several nonplasma proteins were present. These results indicate that little, if any, protein is specifically attached to the phospholipids of lung surfactant; rather, the lipid-protein complexes of lung washings are the result of a nonspecific association caused by removal of water-soluble surfactant from the lung and promoted by sedimentation.


The work described in this paper was carried out as part of the development of an advanced solar photovoltaic (PV) conversion system. During the design of the system, simulation of both the power chain and the control algorithms was found to be useful, but to simulate a system as a whole requires a non-application specific circuit-based simulation model of a PV array for a simulator such as Saber, or the well known SPICE. There were found to be no such models readily available and thus the development of one became necessary. This work successfully sought to develop a cheap, but effective system to characterize existing cells and generate the device-dependent data that provides the link between the environmental variables irradiance and temperature, and the electrical characteristics of the device.


The authors attempted to increase the cytotoxicity of the renal hilar lymph nodes in ten patients with renal cell carcinoma by administration of recombinant interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) into the subcutaneous tissue of the instep. A total of 5000 to 21,000 units was given over 3 to 12 preoperative days. Mononuclear cells separated from the lymph nodes excised from the renal hilum at surgery served as the effector cells. Fresh autologous tumor cells and three cultured cell lines, K562, Raji, and ACHN, served as the target cells. Cytotoxicity was measured by a chromium‐releasing assay. The results showed that the mononuclear cells from the lymph nodes of the patients given IL‐2 became cytotoxic to all target cells. Surface markers of lymphocytes in the lymph nodes were unchanged. Peripheral blood lymphocytes showed increased cytotoxicity only against Raji cells. Adverse effects were mild or moderate and included local redness, high fever, liver dysfunction, and toxic erythema.


This paper investigates the presence of threshold effect of public debt and internal debt on economic growth in Kenya for the period 1970-2018. The Smooth Transition Regression model of analysis is used to analyze the effect of public and internal debt on growth. The findings of this study indicate that the threshold level of internal debt in Kenya is 17.3115% implying that domestic debt positively impacts economic growth when this threshold level is exceeded. The public debt threshold estimate is 33.29% and growth is positively affected when public debt exceeds this level. The results of this study imply that public and internal debt have a U-shaped relationship with the economic growth rate in Kenya and that the rate of economic growth is dependent on the amount of debt owed by the country. These results imply that there is a need for appropriate policy actions on more productive use of debt to ensure economic growth.


A Mn(III)(2)Fe(II) chain with a [-Mn(III)-(O(Ph))(2)-Mn(III)-ON-Fe(II)-NO-] repeat unit was synthesized via the assembling reaction of Mn(III) salen-type dimers and Fe(II) pyridyloximate complexes, where the -(O(Ph))- and -ON- bridges represent a biphenolate bridge and an oximate bridge, respectively. The bulky counter anions, BPh(4)(-), which surround the chain to form a zeolite-like brick wall, successfully isolate the chains from a magnetic point of view. This compound is isostructural with Mn(2)Ni-BPh(4), which is an SCM with S(T) = 3 (H. Miyasaka, A. Saitoh, M. Yamashita and R. Clérac, Dalton Trans., 2008, 2422). Because the Fe(II) unit is diamagnetic, the Mn(III) dimer, which has the potential to be a single-molecule magnet (SMM), is nearly magnetically isolated, although a weak antiferromagnetic interaction with J/k(B)≈-0.1 K is perturbed between the Mn(III) dimers with S(T) = 4 via the Fe(II) unit. Ac susceptibility data shows that two types of relaxation of the magnetization are present, which are attributed to SMM and chain relaxations.


Detailed knowledge on the shape of the seafloor is crucial for many researchers. Bathymetric data are critical for navigational safety and are used for underwater mapping. This study develops a sea-surface vehicle (SSV) system for underwater mapping by using both bathymetric data from a low-cost single-beam echosounder located on the SSV, and the navigation data of the SSV. The navigation of the SSV was obtained using a global positioning system (GPS). The effect of changing bathymetric and navigation data due to external disturbances such as wind and waves on the map was analyzed. The sea-bottom slope angles, which are effective in changing bathymetric data, were estimated and corrected in relation to the estimated angles in a particular mapped area for more accurate underwater mapping. Additionally, the effects of the grid range of the mapped area, beam angle of the echosounder, and position of the echosounder on the underwater mapping were analyzed. These analyses were based on simulation data, and were performed in a MATLAB, HYPACK, and Global Mapper environment. An underwater map was also obtained in the Kozlu/Zonguldak area, Black Sea by using a single-beam echosounder located on the SSV. This map was improved by estimating sea-bottom slope angles and the corrected bathymetric data to obtain a more accurate underwater map of the area. The experimental and simulation results were compared, focusing on the sea-bottom slope changes, sea-surface disturbances, bathymetry grid range changes, and draft effects.


The theoretical and experimental work done on the basic techniques and successful operation of a stable, frequency-doubled, single-frequency Nd:YAG laser are discussed. An efficient, resonant cavity design with the Nd: YAG rod acting as an internal focusing element was used to attain adequate TEM sub 00 mode volumes in the laser rod and the small beam waists at the nonlinear crystal (Ba/sub 2/NaNb/sub 5/O/sub 15/) necessary for optimum intracavity second-harmonic generation. Various mode filters were investigated, resulting in the use of a double, intracavity Fabry-Perot etalon arrangement to obtain single-frequency operation of the Nd:YAGlaser with relative ease. Mode competition effects were studied, and the necessary conditions for stable single-frequency operation at both 1.06 and 0.53 micrometers were established. Techniques and component designs were successfully developed to obtain all the frequency-doubled output in a single direction. These included appropriate cavity geometries and the design of doubly reflecting laser mirrors for both 1.06 and 0.53 micrometers including phase considerations, and also the development of AR coatings on Ba/sub 2/NaNb/sub 5/O/sub 15/ effective at both wavelengths. The adequacy of the techniques adopted was demonstrated, and a unidirectional, single-frequency, frequency-doubled power output of 0.35 W obtained consistently from a 5 by 50 mm Nd:YAGmore » rod pumped by a tungsten-iodine lamp operated at approx 850 W in a spherical pump cavity.« less


Pharmacologic blockade of the renin and endothelin (ET) systems is an established strategy to interfere with progression of renal failure. In the Heyman nephritis model, additive benefits of decreases in BP with the combination of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-i) and ET(A) receptor antagonists (ET-RA) were demonstrated. To further investigate these findings and to exclude confounding effects of BP decreases, this issue was reassessed in a low-renin model of subtotal kidney resection. Subtotally nephrectomized (SNX) and sham-operated rats were left untreated or received an ACE-i, an angiotensin II subtype 1 receptor antagonist (AT1-RA), an ET-RA, or combinations thereof (ACE-i plus ET-RA or AT1-RA plus ET-RA). The parameters studied were the glomerulosclerosis index (GSI), tubulointerstitial index, vascular damage index, glomerular geometry, and albumin excretion. After 12 wk, BP values were comparable. Urinary albumin excretion rates were significantly higher for untreated SNX rats (24.3 +/- 31.3 mg/24 h), compared with untreated sham-operated rats (0.71 +/- 0.40 mg/24 h). Rates were significantly lower for all treated, compared with untreated, SNX groups. GSI values were significantly higher for untreated SNX rats than for untreated sham-operated rats. ACE-i caused significantly lower GSI in SNX rats (0.46 +/- 0.06), compared with AT1-RA (0.60 +/- 0.10) or ET-RA (0.65 +/- 0.10). GSI values were significantly decreased further with ACE-i plus ET-RA (0.29 +/- 0.09) or AT1-RA plus ET-RA (23 +/- 0.05) treatment. Changes in the tubulointerstitial index and vascular damage index proceeded in parallel. The results document BP-independent effects of the ACE-i and AT1-RA on the GSI and urinary albumin excretion and an effect of the ET-RA on the GSI. The contrasting results suggest different pathogenetic pathways for glomerulosclerosis and albuminuria. The combination of treatments provided superior effects on the GSI and tubulointerstitial index but not on urinary albumin excretion.


Between February 1995 to August 1997, 120 patients underwent elective stent implantation for isolated proximal left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis. Their age ranged from 31 to 72 years (mean: 50.8 +/- 10.2) and the majority (89%) were males. All patients had angina, documented myocardial ischemia or both and 70 percent or more luminal diameter stenosis in the proximal left anterior descending before the origin of any branch. Majority (62.5%) of the treated lesions were type A. Successful deployment of the stent at the target site was achieved in all patients without any major in-hospital complications, including myocardial infarction, emergency bypass graft surgery or death. Clinical follow-up, ranging from 6 to 31 months (mean: 18.5 +/- 8.1, median: 20), was available in 87 out of 92 (94.5%) eligible patients who had completed at least six months after the procedure. Freedom from angina, myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization and death was observed in 90.8, 100, 95.4 and 97.7 percent of patients, respectively. By the Kaplan-Meier estimate, an event-free survival (absence of death, myocardial infarction, recurrence of angina or revascularization) was 95.4 percent at six months, 89.5 percent at 12 and 18 months and 82.7 percent at 24 to 31 months of follow-up. Only 10 (11.5%) patients developed any event and TLR was required in 4.6 percent of patients. In conclusion, elective stenting for isolated proximal left anterior descending stenosis can be achieved safely and successfully in all patients without any adverse in-hospital events. This modality of treatment also provides long-term benefits in terms of reduction in major cardiovascular events and need for subsequent revascularization.


This research explores the effect of 'social signals' feedback intervention based on automated recognition of affect and non-verbal behaviours within the context of negotiation skills training. The work uses several off-the-shelf technologies; Sociometric badges, iMotions Biometric Research Platform and Nemesysco Layered Voice Analysis, to recognise and analyse emotional expressions, vocal emotions and body movement. A controlled experiment compared standard negotiation skills feedback to feedback augmented with emotion and sensor-based social skills evaluation to explore whether negotiation performance and use of social signals vary depending on feedback condition. The study focusses on paired-negotiation tasks with three conditions: control (standard feedback) vs. two experimental conditions; one where both negotiators in the pair received the augmented feedback; one where only one of the pair received the augmented feedback. We collect objective and subjective measures of negotiation performance, and emotion and social signals data in order to test the following hypotheses: H1: measurable changes in social signals will be evident following training in negotiation skills; changes will be greater in those who receive social signals feedback & H2: training using social signals feedback will result in differences in negotiation outcomes (measured objectively and subjectively).


The objective of this research was to investigate how HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) shocks and threats affected livelihood assets of poultry farmers. The policies helping poultry farmers to mitigate HPAI at national and local levels and what livelihood strategies did the poultry farmers have in order to accommodate threats and outcomes by avian influenza in Yen Son and Tan Binh communes - Tam Diep town – Ninh Binh province? The study combined both qualitative and quantitative approaches in collecting data and information.

The findings of this study find that poultry production can be considered as important for the livelihoods of rural people in Yen Son and Tan Binh communes. However, avian influenza broke out repeatedly in these two communes in four years of 2004, 2005, 2007 and early 2008. This affected both directly and indirectly, both negatively and positively the poultry farmers' livelihood.

Under the negative effects of avian influenza on poultry farmers' livelihood, the government at national as well as local levels has had the culling programme to reduce the spread of avian influenza. Coupled with the culling programme is a compensation policy for the poultry farmers. According to the ideas of the farmers who kept ducks, the compensation levels of Ninh Binh province in 2004, 2005, and 2007 were too low as compared to the market value, but they agree with the compensation level in 2008. Nevertheless, the farmers who kept the local chicken show that the compensation levels of province in four years were not suitable for their local chicken. In addition, the poultry farmers did not get the compensation money of Ninh Binh province until after 6 months as from their poultry were culled. Despite that, the poultry farmers still reported sick birds to veterinary staffs. Besides, vaccination support policy and training courses have been implemented to help the poultry farmers in these two communes mitigate avian influenza in the long term. It appears that the compensation and vaccination supporting policies can be considered as helping poultry farmers in avian influenza mitigation, but the training courses have not contributed much.

To cope with avian influenza shock in the short term, the poultry farmers get the assistance of both non- family and family network and came with temporary off- farm and non- farm employments such as working for Dong Giao farm, selling vegetable or construction work to earn a income for their living. To respond to avain influenza threats in the future, they have the risk management strategies decisions depending on household specific characteristics for example, many households stop poultry production and change to other activities. Nevertheless, the majority of households restarts poultry production, but makes technical changes and combines poultry production with other activities.


Over the years, technological progress has accelerated highly, and the speed, flexibility, human error reduction, and the ability to manage the process in real time have become more critical and required production companies to adapt production and business models according to the needs. The demand for real-time decision support systems adapted to these raising business needs is continuously growing. Nevertheless, businesses usually face challenges in identifying new indicators, data sources, and appropriate financial modeling methods to analyze them. This paper aims to define and summarize the main financial/economic forecasting methods for production companies in the context of Industry 4.0. Main findings show forecasting accuracy of up to 96% when combining economic and demand information, optimal forecasting period from 10 months to five years, more frequent use of soft indicators in forecasting, the relationship between company's size and production planning. Four groups of indicators used in financial modeling, such as (I) production-related, (II) customers' and demand-oriented, (III) industry-specific, and (IV) media information indicators, were separated. The analysis forms a suggestion for decision-makers to pay more attention to the forecasting object identification, indicators' selection peculiarities, data collection possibilities, and the choice of appropriate methods of financial modeling.
AcknowledgmentThis work was partly supported by Project No. 0121U100470 "Sustainable development and resource security: from disruptive technologies to digital transformation of Ukrainian economy".


Rhodolith beds are widespread along the Brazilian coast, being important marine environments supporting a high biodiversity. Although studies on rhodolith beds have increased since the last decade, little is known about the role of herbivory on these environments. We evaluated the influence of herbivory on the distribution and abundance of the epiphytic algal community occurring in a rhodolith bed in southern Brazil through a grazers exclusion experiment. Fully, partially meshed and unmeshed cages, in addition to control samples, were randomly distributed at two different depths. Lower values of epiphytic algal biomass were found within the fully, partially and unmeshed cages comparing to control areas. The increase of herbivory by mesograzers within the cages is suggested as cause for the lower values of biomass. The role of other factors potentially contributing to the structure of the rhodolith bed community is also discussed.


Relevance. The basis for obtaining a large crop volume and its high level of precocity is the use of Apple planting material that fully meets modern standards of intensive gardening. The main purpose of these studies was to study methods of branching stimulation and determine their effectiveness in obtaining branched apple seedlings at the age of one year. Material and methods. The use of non-root treatments and fertilizers as regulators and growth stimulators of apple seedlings does not lead to a significant increase in the number of side branches. Significant growth of the crown of annual seedlings occurs when using mechanical methods to stimulate the growth of side branches. The use of such an agrotechnical technique as a single plucking made it possible to obtain 1-2.6 side branches on different orts. When using this method, but with the simultaneous removal of 3-4 leaf plates, it increased the production of side branches by 1.6-3.7 pieces. One of the most unresponsive to the use of agricultural techniques was the variety "Svezhest". Results. It is effective to apply to annual apple seedlings agrotechnical methods of stimulation of lateral branching by plucking with simultaneous removal of leaf plates in the amount of three to four pieces. These measures must be carried out before reaching the height of the seedling from seventy to eighty centimeters. It should be noted that the use of plucking only, without removing the leaf plates, does not give such an effect.


Conducted between September 2017 and April 2018, this analysis of the Zimbabwe beef value chain addressed the questions: What is the contribution of the value chain to economic growth? Is the economic growth generated by the value chain inclusive? Is the value chain socially sustainable? and, Is the value chain environmentally sustainable? The historical background for the Zimbabwe beef value chain is important as it provides context for the current situation. During the colonial and post-colonial period the key objective for the beef sector was intensive commercial farming and exploitation of market access opportunities under the Lome Convention. Following this Zimbabwe underwent a period of intensive land reform with large-scale transfer of farm land from Commercial (white) farmers to small-scale (black) farmers. Somewhere between 161,500 and 300,000 households have resettled on about 4.9 million hectares (Scoones et al, 2010). Commercial farms (white) have declined from 4,000 to about 725. However, various categories of 'new' (black) commercial farms have been developed pre-and post-land reform (11,000+ households). During this period the national disease control system failed and exports ended. Causes of this collapse include: co-habitation of buffalo and cattle; and, un-restrained movement of cattle from high-risk areas. Illegal exports and imports are also reported. Currently, Zimbabwe aims to reinstate centralised veterinary control to manage transboundary diseases. This has, so far, been unsuccessful with regular outbreaks of food-and-mouth disease occurring, including during the period of this research. A high proportion of the Zimbabwe population is poor (72.3%) and extremely poor (16.2%). Malnutrition affects 33.8% of children between 6-59 months of age. Rural Zimbabwe is poorer than urban areas by some margin (30.4% of households are extremely poor in rural areas vs 5.6% in urban areas). This drives migration and emigration. Livestock are essential for resilience and coping; cattle holding and maize yields closely correlated. Farms without livestock are the most vulnerable. Beef consumption is declining: from 13kg to 4 or 6kg per capita reflecting income changes and the availability of cheap chicken meat. Zimbabwe is a semi-arid country with 85% of the area receiving less than 800mm of rain a year. Resource endowment is high, but distribution skewed and sustainability is questioned by many. Key environmental issues include: land degradation, largely through poor land management; deforestation, through land clearance and fuel use; water scarcity, due to over extraction and urbanisation; pollution of water and air, through mining, urbanisation and intensive agriculture; biodiversity loss, through agricultural expansion and habitat loss; and, climate change and variability, resulting in higher temperatures and lower/variable rainfall.


The cellular events underlying the processes of bone maintenance, remodeling, and repair have their basis in the embryonic production of bone. Although it has been suggested that the cartilaginous model which resides in the center of developing limbs provides the scaffolding for new bone formation, our detailed morphological and histochemical studies indicate otherwise. In particular, there exists a layer of four to six cells, referred to as Stacked Cells, which surrounds a prechondrogenic core of undifferentiated cells in the limb. These Stacked Cells give rise to the lineage of osteogenic cells responsible for the formation of all structural bone. This bone is fabricated outside of the cartilage core, and the core is not replaced by bone, but rather, is replaced by marrow and vascular elements. Several generalizations arise from analysis of the cellular and molecular events of embryonic osteogenesis, and they are as follows: 1) osteogenesis and chondrogenesis are independent events which are programmed early in development, 2) bone formation is a vascular driven phenomenon which is characterized by the directional nature of osteoid secretion, and 3) the fundamental events of bone formation are consistent in chick, rat, and human long bones.


Knowledge generated solely through quantitative hypothetical-deductive research approaches, while extremely valuable in clinical practice, appears insufficient in family medicine; the meanings that patients and professionals give to health issues, as well as the context of health care delivery, play a vital role in enhancing care. Qualitative research in primary care is growing; it is attempting to clarify how people think and the meanings they give to health, disease, and life events. The most common methodology of qualitative research in medicine is grounded theory methodology (GTM). Grounded theory emphasizes using steps and procedures to connect induction and deduction through constant comparison of the data to generate new and valid sociologic theories from empiric material. However, not all studies in medical sciences that use methods for analyzing qualitative data developed by grounded theorists develop a new theory. Family physicians need to have an understanding of GTM to interpret and hopefully engage in qualitative research to resolve some of the elusive issues in health care. This article briefly describes the evolution of GTM and highlights the similarities and differences among the 2 main streams: Glaserian and Straussian grounded theories. It also discusses constructivist grounded theory, which is a modified Straussian grounded theory by Charmaz and Clarke that uses situational analysis in GTMs to incorporate real-world messiness into qualitative research.


Basic geometrical and topological features are described for discontinuous systems modelling power converters. The global Poincaré map considered arises naturally from the sampling process in the oscillatory forced system. It is shown that this map belongs to the class of two-dimensional invertible continuous but only piecewise-smooth maps. It also contains a singular point at which critical curves accumulate. A method is found to compute analytically the characteristic multipliers of a periodic orbit, giving a powerful tool to obtain the values for smooth and non-smooth bifurcations. The images of the regions of multiple crossings are studied geometrically and then numerical computation allows one to deduce the existence of a Smale horseshoe mechanism in the map and also to obtain chaotic motion. Finally, the existence of a chaotic attractor is justified with the addition of 5T-recurrent behaviour near a singular point.


'I"'HIS report is publication No.9 of .I. the University of Minnesota's com~ttee which sponsored studies on "The Community Basis for Postwar Planning." The first part, "News Content and Readership," is by Professor Naf· ziger and the second part, "Management Problems," is by Professor Bamhart. Both studies supply a measurement or an analysis of the eftect of the ~ar on the local daily newspaper.


The flow in the intake manifold of a downsized internal combustion engine has become more unsteady due to the reduction of cylinder number and increasing boosting level. The turbocharger compressor is thus imposed by an unsteady backpressure when matched with an engine. It has been experimentally confirmed that the compressor performance is affected when exposed to pulsating backpressure. In order to enhance compressor stability and achieve better turbo-engine matching, it is necessary to understand behaviors of compressor at pulsating backpressure conditions. In this study, the performance of compressor exposed to pulsating backpressure is experimentally studied on the compressor test rig located in Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The results show that compressor performance with pulsating backpressure is notably different from the one with constant backpressure. Hysteresis loops which encapsulate the steady performance are generated at pulsating backpressure conditions due to filling-emptying effect. The mass flow rate, pulse frequency and compressor rotational speed all have evident influence on dynamic behaviors of the compressor. As the mass flow rate and rotational speed increase, hysteresis loops are enlarged and the unsteady behaviors are enhanced. The influence of pulsating backpressure on the compressor surge margin is analyzed in detail. Results demonstrate that the stable operation range is evidently influenced by the pulsating backpressure. Particularly, the mass flow rate of surge is postponed by 15.1% compared with the corresponding constant backpressure condition. Fast Fourier Transform method (FFT) is applied to identify the initiation of surge. The frequency domain analysis proves that the pulsating backpressure has little influence on the frequency of surge, but the strength of surge is alleviated indicated by the magnitude of fluctuations. The study provides an insight on the influence of pulsating backpressure on the centrifugal compressor, which can benefit the design methodology of compressor as well as turbo-engine matching.


While the developed world benefits from the modern explosion in technology, countries such as Ethiopia are still reliant on the methods of there fore fathers for essential every day tasks like farming, cooling and provision of clean water. These tasks are often physically demanding, very costly in terms of time and energy, and, in many such societies, are often carried out by female members of the family. Additionally, they may cause damage to the local ecology and environment such as the deforestation and soil erosion arising from the use of trees for firewood. Western technologies are of little or no use in these environments as they are often too complex, too costly, inappropriate and difficult to maintain in developing societies.


Homeless adolescents nowadays learn how to survive alone, since no adult takes responsibility of them. They live or rather struggle to survive usually in the places near shopping malls, stations and offices, and other places which are lit up at night or in markets, in railway stations and even under bridges. With this fact, the amount of stigmatization they receive from the people who manage to insult while seeing them could be high and in that situation can be resulted to a higher stress and unfortunately could affect their emotions. This study is intended to determine the relationship between stigmatization and emotional quotient of homeless young adolescents with the aim of creating an intervention program within the results. This study used purposive sampling techniques in selecting the respondents wherein only those people without a home, and therefore typically living on the streets and belongs to age of 13-19 years old were included as respondents for a total of 70. The method used descriptive- correlational design. The results on the relationship between variables perceived stigmatization and emotional quotient of the homeless adolescent shows that there is no significant relationship. It can be inferred that the level of perceived stigmatization of the participants has no impacts to the emotional quotient of the homeless adolescents. Moreover, homeless adolescent tend to look at the brighter side and became more positive in life to accept their situations.


Abstract  Retroperitoneal pelvic lymphoceles are one of the most common complications following renal transplantation, and usually present with a palpable mass, ipsilateral leg edema, hydronephrosis caused by ureteral obstruction, decreased renal function and cutaneous lymphatic fistula. However, lymphocele rarely causes acute urinary retention. In this study, we describe a case of a patient who developed acute urinary retention after renal transplantation mimicking urethral injury. When a transplanted patient demonstrates the inability to void, one should consider bladder outlet obstruction resulting from lymphocele as a possible cause.


The article deals with the analyses of Rivne population dynamic in the interwar period. The research was based on the materials of 1921 and 1931 Census. The ethno-religious and socio-economic characteristics of Rivne residents have been given. Most of the population in the town were found to be Jewish during the interwar period, while this was the most distinctive for towns, which in times of Russian Empire were the parts of so called "Smuhi Osilosti" ("Strips of Settlement"). Polish, whose number was increasing during the interwar period, took the second place in the ethnic structure of residents. Ukrainians took only the third place in the national structure of Rivne in the interwar. Thus, the specificity of national population of towns influenced the structure of residents' employment. Furthermore, there were no big enterprises in towns. While the most part of the population was busy with crafts and trade, a few workers were engaged in communication and state enterprises. The structure of residents' employment of Rivne in the interwar was changed due to the policy of the Polish government. The 1931 census highlighted four social groups. Among them were the owners of means of productions, intellectual workers (intellectuals), workers and persons with unknown social status. In the social structure of Rivne population in early 1930 a little more than 50% were employees (workers-36,4% and mental workers-14,15%). The owners of means of production were represented by 42,4%. The intellectuals of Rivne worked mainly in the non-productive sphere such as state and local administration, public institutions, educational establishments, communication and healthcare, where in the early 1930s there were about 24,4% of employees.


OBJECTIVES
UroVysion cases with one to three abnormal cells that do not meet the threshold for positivity may be better classified as "indeterminate." The aim of this study is to determine the incidence and clinical significance of these indeterminate UroVysion results.

METHODS
The UroVysion fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) results over a 4-year period in our institution were retrospectively analyzed. Follow-up of the initial UroVysion cases, including urine cytology or bladder biopsy performed within 12 months of the initial diagnosis of the result, was obtained from pathology reports.

RESULTS
A significant fraction (178 of 1,907, 9.3%) of the UroVysion cases had indeterminate results. Overall, the subsequent malignancy rate of the group with indeterminate UroVysion results (14 of 59, 23.7%) was higher than the group with normal results (48 of 319, 15.0%), although the difference was not significant (P = .124). For patients without a history of urinary tract neoplasm, the subsequent malignancy rate in the group with indeterminate results (7 of 18, 38.9%) was significantly higher than the group with normal results (16 of 103, 15.5%) (P = .044).

CONCLUSIONS
Our results support that indeterminate UroVysion FISH result may warrant closer clinical follow-up in patients without a history of urinary tract neoplasm. We suggest reporting these cases as "aneusomy of undetermined significance."


A density functional approach is proposed to study the 4He liquid-gas interface. The free energy density, which depends on the particle density and temperature, has been adjusted to reproduce the liquid density and the vapour pressure along the liquid-gas coexistence line, as well as the zero-temperature surface tension. After achieving a fairly good description of the phase transition, the calculated surface tension agrees well with the experimental results. The calculated density profile is used to discuss a recent experimental determination of the surface thickness.


To test whether treatment with aminoguanidine, a drug known to prevent cross-linking between glycated proteins, is effective in improving reduced erythrocyte deformability in diabetes, we studied a group (n = 6) of ALX-induced long-term (12.7 ± 2.2 mo of hyperglycemia) diabetic New Zealand white rabbits before and after 20 wk of treatment with aminoguanidine (100 mg.kg−1 · day−1). The key findings were as follows: 1) at 12 wk of treatment with aminoguanidine, mean erythrocyte deformability normalized and remained within the normal reference range throughout the period of aminoguanidine administration; 2) 10 wk after discontinuing aminoguanidine in a subset of diabetic rabbits, mean erythrocyte deformability deteriorated by ∼50%; 3) blood glucose and total GHb did not vary significantly during treatment with aminoguanidine nor after its discontinuation.


An experiment was conducted to estimate the genetic variability and regression analysis for yield and quality traits in a set of eight brassica genotypes in a randomized complete block design with three replications at The University of Agriculture Peshawar, during 2011-12 cropping season. Significant genetic variability was recorded among genotypes for plant height, pods main receme-1, pod length, seed yield plant-1, 1000-seed weight, seeds pod-1, oil content, protein content, glucosinolate content, erucic acid content, oleic acid content and linolenic acid content except for primary branch plant-1 and pods plant-1 which showed non-significant differences. Genotypes, AUP-401, AUP-402, AUP-404 and AUP-407 showed potential performance for glucosinolate content (55.1 μmol g-1), seed yield plant-1 (23.93 g), pods plant-1 (268.83), protein contents (21.1 %), erucic acid contents (42.7 %) and oil contents (53.3 %). Seed yield plant-1 was taken as a dependent variable to study the effects of many morphological yield traits on it. Branches plant-1, pods main raceme-1, pods plant-1, and seed pod-1 showed a positive effect on seed yield plant-1, while 1000-seed weight, pod length, and plant height showed a negative effect on seed yield plant-1. Seed yield plant-1 as an independent variable showed a negative effect on oil content. Protein content as an independent variable showed a positive effect on erucic acid content, while oil contents as independent variables show a negative effect on protein contents, respectively. The developed germplasm could be used in the upcoming brassica breeding programs to release high yielding, disease resistance, stress tolerance, and insect resistance varieties, which will eventually upsurge the productivity and decrease the gap between demand and domestic production of the brassica crop.


This quotation seemed a proper note with which to begin on a subject that has made monkeys of most of us at one time or another. The struggle to find a suitable configuration for system power, ground, and signal returns too frequently degenerates into a frustrating glitch hunt. While a strictly experimental approach can be used to solve simple problems, a little forethought can often prevent serious problems and provide a plan of attack if some judicious tinkering is later required.


The article deals with the current stage of development of society, associated with the formation of a new type of relationship between the secular and the religious consciousness. If in the secular society of the recent past, these relations were based on the domination of secular ideology, and religious consciousness was interpreted as the evolutionary past of society, the significance of which decreases with social progress until the complete disappearance of religion, then post-secular culture is associated with the formation of a new constructive attitude towards the religious consciousness as an immanent component of social consciousness, which does not disappear with the development of society, but only changes the forms of expression, as well as with the formation of an equal dialogue between secular and religious. Post-secularism does not mean a return to the dominant position of religion and does not cancel the achievement of the secular paradigm. Secularism has transcoding the cultural matrix, therefore, it is no longer possible to take a central meaning and value-forming place in the culture of religion and confessional traditions that once gave birth to this culture. In addition, globalization creates a situation of interaction of religious traditions, unprecedented in the history of mankind, within the framework of one cultural and legal field. We are no longer talking about oppression by more progressive traditions of spiritually primitive traditions (Christianity or Islam in relation to paganism) - traditions with highly developed spiritual, intellectual and missionary potential have to interact with each other. Post-secularity means not only a critical revision of the stage consciousness, but also openness, receptivity, and at least interest in all the various forms of human religiosity. Secularization must be understood, according to J. Habermas, as the dual and complementary learning. Modernization embraces religious and secular consciousness, modifying them. This process of learning, change and enrichment is the essence of the post-secular era. The main characteristic of post-secular society is the "two-way learning process" of faith and reason, or their correlation. In the field of education, the necessary result of the formation of a post-secular society is the introduction of dialogue and tolerance as necessary principles of educational activity and the absence of discrimination on religious grounds.


The present study was undertaken in thirty cyanobacterial strains of Calothrix (family Rivulariaceae) to analyse their morpho-physiological and molecular relatedness. These strains including reference strain (UTEX 379) were procured from culture collection of Centre for Conservation and Utilisation of Blue Green Algae, IARI, New Delhi INDIA. Most of the forms were planktonic or free floating while some exhibited benthic growth behaviour. Variation in colour of thallus was expressed distinctly and the colour ranged from brown, blackish green to dark green. Large number of strains grew as floccose masses while some grew as spreading and few formed evenly distributed suspension. Microscopic examination revealed that the trichomes grew as densely entangled/distinctly or slightly constricted except in few where trichomes were irregularly straight or bent. The present analysis undertaken with different strains of Calothrix using morpho-physiological and molecular approaches, have clearly indicated a high degree of genetic diversity as well as relatedness.


A constitutive equation of rubber is derived by employing a nonaffine molecular chain network model for an elastic deformation behavior and the reptation theory for a viscoelastic deformation behavior. The results reveal the roles of the individual springs and dashpot, and the strain rate dependence of materials in the monotonic and cyclic deformation behaviors, particularly softening and hysteresis loss, that is, the Mullins effect, occurring in stress-stretch curves under cyclic deformation processes of carbon black filled rubber..


Association Rule Mining (ARM) is one of the well know and most researched technique of data mining. There are so many ARM algorithms have been designed that their counting is a large number. In this paper we have surveyed the various ARM algorithms in four computing environments. The considered computing environments are sequential computing, parallel and distributed computing, grid computing and cloud computing. With the emergence of new computing paradigm, ARM algorithms have been designed by many researchers to improve the efficiency by utilizing the new paradigm. This paper represents the journey of ARM algorithms started from sequential algorithms, and through parallel and distributed, and grid based algorithms to the current state-of-the-art, along with the motives for adopting new machinery.