Advances in quantum annealing technology make it possible to obtain high quality approximate solutions of important NP-hard problems. With the newer generations of the D-Wave annealer, more advanced features are available which allow the user to have greater control of the anneal process. In this contribution, we study how such features can help in improving the quality of the solutions returned by the annealer. Specifically, we focus on two of these features: reverse annealing and h-gain. Reverse annealing (RA) was designed to allow refining a known solution by backward annealing from a classical state representing the solution to a mid-anneal point where a transverse field is present, followed by an ordinary forward anneal, which is hoped to improve on the previous solution. The h-gain (HG) feature stands for time-dependent gain in Hamiltonian linear (h) biases and was originally developed to help study freezeout times and phase transitions in spin glasses. Here we apply HG to bias the quantum state in the beginning of the annealing process towards the known solution as in the RA case, but using a different apparatus. We also investigate a hybrid reverse annealing/h-gain schedule, which has a backward phase resembling an RA step and whose forward phase uses the HG idea. To optimize the parameters of the schedules, we employ a Bayesian optimization framework. We test all techniques on a variety of input problems including the weighted Maximum Cut problem and the weighted Maximum Clique problem. Our results show that each technique may dominate the others depending on the input instance, and that the HG technique is a viable alternative to RA for some problems.


Abstract In this paper the application of model predictive control (MPC) to a two-mode model of the dynamics of the combustion process is considered. It is shown that the MPC by itself does not stabilize the combustor and the control gains obtained by applying the MPC algorithms need to be optimized further to ensure that the phase difference between the two modes is also stable. The results of applying the algorithm are compared with the open loop model amplitude responses and to the closed loop responses obtained by the application of a direct adaptive control algorithm. It is shown that the MPC coupled with the cost parameter optimisation proposed in the paper, always guarantees the closed loop stability, a feature that may not always be possible with an adaptive implementations.


Background: Interprofessional education (IPE) is important to create effective interprofessional collaboration also improve quality of health care. Student readiness and perception of IPE will influence the implementation of IPE. This study aimed to analyze an overview, factors that influence and obstacles related to students' readiness and perception of the application of IPE in Indonesia. Methods: Literature reviews with multi-step literature searched on IPE from online databases such as ProQuest; ScienceDirect; SpringerLink and Google scholars by applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Samples of 8 studies met the criteria and then analyzed for the study. Results: Most of students have a positive perception and readiness for IPE. Factors influencing students' readiness and perception such as motivation; study program options; student cognitive level; culture; initial clinical experience / exposure; IPE experience in the curriculum; and the readiness of lectures. Conclusion: It is necessary to find a solution in anticipating obstacles in encouraging students' readiness and perception of the application of IPE in Indonesia, including unclear role constraints (role blurring) and the stigma of feeling inferior compared to other health professions.


La0.8Sr0.2MnO3±d (LSM) powders were prepared by a Pechini-type polymerizable complex process and by amorphous citrate technique. Both processes involve the complexation of the LSM cations from their nitrates or carbonates. The aim of this work is to determinate the differences between the powers obtained by these techniques. The powders synthesized by the Pechini-type process were calcined between 500 °C and 1100 °C. The powders prepared by amorphous citrate technique were calcined at 900 °C. No contamination of either of the powders was observed by X ray fluorescence analysis. X ray diffraction results showed that a perovskitetype structure phase was obtained. BET results showed that the specific surface areas of the powders prepared by the polymerizable complex process and the amorphous citrate route were 6.6 m2g-1 and 5.7 m2g-1, respectively.


An important aim of robotics is to design and build machines that can recognize and exploit opportunities afforded by new situations. Traditionally in artificial intelligence, this task has fallen on abstract representations, but that has left the problem of how to ground the representations in sensorimotor activity. The paper proposes a computational architecture whereby a mobile robot internalizes representations based on its experience. The paper examines a fast online learning algorithm that allows the robot to build up a mapping of how its motor signals transform sensory data. The author also proposes a way of categorizing object affordances according to their internal effects. Based on these effects, wavelet analysis is applied to sensory data to uncover invariance, thus abstracting a representation of goals. Finally, heuristics are explored for projecting a learned sensorimotor mapping into the future to attain these goals.


Selecting design concepts while exploring their solution space makes conceptual design a decision intensive process. Due to the complex nature of conceptual design, decisions taken by designer at the conceptual design stage play an important role in all subsequent phases of product life cycle, the user satisfaction of the product and the environment that the product is used and disposed of. Reviews of existing methodologies reveal that there is a need for designers to have a holistic understanding of and access to total context knowledge of the design problem under consideration to aid their decision making at the conceptual design stage. The design solution space could be explored effectively and an optimal solution could be generated if this knowledge is properly structured and available to use for the designers at the conceptual design stage. A new research approach addresses this problem by proposing, implementing and evaluating a computational framework for supporting decision making at the conceptual design stage using design context knowledge. The evaluation of the implemented tool in this paper shows that the method is effective in proactively supporting the designer's decision making using design context knowledge as a new and holistic approach. The scale up of the approach remains a challenge.


Over a ten-year period, thirty-three consecutive revision total elbow arthroplasties were performed at our institution. These were assessed at a minimum of three years after the revision, with an average length of follow-up of sixty-one months. Eighteen (55 per cent) of the elbows had a good result and fifteen (45 per cent) had a poor result. The poor results were due to infection in three elbows, loosening of the prosthesis in six, inadequate motion in two, continued pain in two, and prosthetic failure in two. Additional surgical revision with another implant was done in the fifteen elbows that initially had a poor result. Eventually the result was good in twenty-four elbows. The three elbows that became infected after surgical revision had a resection arthroplasty and all were rated as having a fair result. The data from this study indicated that reimplantation is a viable option for the revision of a failed total elbow arthroplasty, although more than one revision may be required. They also suggested that young patients who have post-traumatic arthritis should not undergo a total joint replacement, and that revision procedures should be performed in settings that can offer several surgical options and by surgeons who have had experience with these options. Alternatives to reimplantation as a revision procedure should be considered in selected patients.


This thesis mainly analyses the trainee teachers' reasons for choosing the teaching profession, the problems faced by them, perceptions about the role of a teacher and views about the status of the teaching profession in Pakistan. This study considered both trainee teachers and teacher trainers from a Teacher Training Institute, to examine the reasons for choosing the teaching profession in Pakistan. To seek the answer to the research questions of this study, grounded theory procedures are used to explore the views of participants and to provide an in-depth understanding in a particular context. In this research study, the research data are collected from three groups of participants by conducting one-to-one interviews and focus group discussions.

On the basis of the views of research participants, four major research categories are established and under each research category different sub categories are formed. It is reflected in the findings of this study that trainee teachers face many problems and difficulties in the Teacher Training Institute. Data analysis indicates the teaching profession is often associated with low achievers and poor people. It is also considered a respected profession and trainee teachers have a desire to bring positive changes to Pakistani society by adopting the teaching profession. Furthermore, teachers have a significant role in Pakistani society as there are very high expectations of a teacher; and many good qualities, roles and responsibilities are associated with a teacher. The results of this study indicate there is a great influence from the social, cultural and religious norms of Pakistani society on the participants' perceptions and understanding about the different aspects of this study.


The addition of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) greatly enhanced the properties of methylcellulose (MC) stabilized aqueous foams. CNC addition decreased air bubble size, initial foam densities and drainage rates. Mixtures of 2 wt % CNC + 0.5 wt % MC gave the lowest density foams. This composition sits near the onset of nematic phase formation and also near the overlap concentration of methylcellulose. More than 94% of the added CNC particles remained in the foam phase, not leaving with the draining water. We propose that the nanoscale CNC particles bind to the larger MC coils both in solution and with MC at the air/water interface, forming weak gels that stabilize air bubbles. Wet CNC-MC foams were sufficiently robust to withstand high temperature (70 °C for 6 h) polymerization of water-soluble monomers giving macroporous CNC composite hydrogels based on acrylamide (AM), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), or polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA). At high temperatures, the MC was present as a fibrillar gel phase reinforced by CNC particles, explaining the very high foam stability. Finally, our CNC-MC foams are based on commercially available forms of CNC and MC, already approved for many applications. This is a "shovel-ready" technology.


In this paper, the performance of intensitymodulated with direct detection (IM/DD) free space optical (FSO) system using the on-off keying (OOK) and avalanche photodiode (APD) receiver is observed. The gamma-gamma model is used to describe the effect of atmospheric turbulence since it provides good agreement in the wide range of atmospheric conditions. In addition, the same FSO system with equal gain combining applied at the reception is analyzed. After theoretical derivation of the expression for the bit error rate (BER), the numerical integration with previously specified relative calculation error is performed. Numerical results are presented and confirmed by Monte Carlo simulations. The effects of the FSO link and receiver parameters on the BER performance are discussed. The results illustrate that the optimal APD gain in the minimum BER sense depends considerably on the link distance, atmospheric turbulence strength and receiver temperature. In addition, the value of this optimal gain is slightly different in the case of spatial diversity application compared with single channel reception.


An increasing number of software applications incorporate runtime Deep Neural Network (DNN) inference for its great accuracy in many problem domains. While much prior work has separately tackled the problems of improving DNN-inference accuracy and improving DNN-inference efficiency, an important problem is under-explored: disciplined methods for dynamically managing application-specific latency, accuracy, and energy tradeoffs and constraints at run time. To address this need, we propose ALERT, a co-designed combination of runtime system and DNN nesting technique. The runtime takes latency, accuracy, and energy constraints, and uses dynamic feedback to predict the best DNN-model and system power-limit setting. The DNN nesting creates a type of flexible network that efficiently delivers a series of results with increasing accuracy as time goes on. These two parts well complement each other: the runtime is aware of the tradeoffs of different DNN settings, and the nested DNNs' flexibility allows the runtime prediction to satisfy application requirements even in unpredictable, changing environments. On real systems for both image and speech, ALERT achieves close-to-optimal results. Comparing with the optimal static DNN-model and power-limit setting, which is impractical to predict, ALERT achieves a harmonic mean 33% of energy savings while satisfying accuracy constraints, and reduces image-classification error rate by 58% and sentence-prediction perplexity by 52% while satisfying energy constraints.


In recent years, one appointment endodontics has gained increased acceptance as the best treatment for most cases. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of post-operative pain and flare up following single-visit and multiple-visits root canal treatment in pulpally vital molars using two different instrumentation techniques. One hundred seventy seven (177) vital molars teeth from 160 patients were selected and randomly divided into two groups; first group (89) teeth were endodontically treated with multiple visits while the second group (88) teeth were endodontically treated with one visit. Each group further subdivided into two subgroups; first subgroup, canals were prepared by conventional step-back technique using hand-held stainless steel k-files and obturated with laterally condensed gutta-perch cones while the second subgroup were the canals prepared by ProTaper rotary system and obturated with laterally condensed gutta-perch cones. No significant differences in post operative pain and flare-ups between teeth that were treated in one visit and multiple visits. Also the use of the ProTaper rotary system in preparing the canals contributed to lower the incidence of post-operative pain.


A Smarandache multi-space is a union of $n$ spaces $A_1,A_2,..., A_n$ with some additional conditions holding. Combining Smarandache multi-spaces with linear vector spaces in classical linear algebra, the conception of multi-vector spaces is introduced. Some characteristics of a multi-vector space are obtained in this paper.


Recent empirical research in music psychology has established that personality trait profiling may provide a reliable prediction of music preferences. However, research has largely focused on the adolescent age group. Whether adults similarly use music as a tool to construct and reconstruct identities following lifespan experiences is largely understudied. This paper presents the results of an on-line survey which was carried out at Lancaster University to expand recent empirical research on music preferences. The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between personality traits, age and identity dimensions as predictors of music preferences. A large sample (n=768), ages ranging from 17-66 (X=23.9; SD=8.95) completed the survey. Music preference ratings were assessed using STOMP-R. The BFI and the EIPQ were used for personality trait and identity status measurement respectively. Results largely supported recent research except for one notable exception; there was almost zero correlation between Openness and the Upbeat & Conventional Dimension, as opposed to a significant negative correlation. Age comparisons were made between younger participants (17-24 years) and older participants (25-66years). Standard multiple regression analysis revealed highly significant effects of Age and Identity dimensions to predict music preferences. Comparisons of music preference ratings between the older and younger participants demonstrated significant differences. Interestingly, adjusted R2 scores would suggest that these individual differences only account for less than 20% of variance in music preferences. Consequently, further research on music preferences may adopt a more socially constructive methodology to identify how music preference selection reflects the evolving salient identities through maturation.


We demonstrated imaging of the depletion layer in a MoS2/graphene heterojunction fabricated by chemical vapor deposition and obtained their transport parameters such as diffusion length, lifetime, and mobility by using scanning photocurrent microscopy (SPCM). The device exhibited a n-type operation, which was determined by the MoS2 layer with a lower mobility. The SPCM revealed the presence of the depletion layer at the heterojunction, whereas graphene provided an excellent electrical contact for the MoS2 layer without resulting in a rectifying behavior, even if they were anchored within a very short range. The polarity of the photocurrent signal switched when we applied a drain-source bias voltage, from which we extracted the potential barrier at the junction. More importantly, a bias-dependent SPCM allowed us to simultaneously record the diffusion lengths of both majority and minority carriers for the respective MoS2 and graphene layers. By combining the diffusion lengths with the lifetimes measured by femtosecond SPCM, we determined the electron and hole mobilities in each layer, from which we found that the electron mobility (160 cm2 V-1 s-1) was higher than the hole mobility (80 cm2 V-1 s-1) in MoS2, whereas the hole mobility (15 000 cm2 V-1 s-1) was relatively higher in graphene.


Abstract Cranial endocasts, infillings of the skeletal void that once contained the brain and associated soft tissues, represent detailed anatomical structures that have long been the focus of paleontological investigation. We applied computed tomographics (CTs) in order to generate endocast models for the Paleozoic actinopterygian fishes Mimipiscis and Kentuckia, which serve as key representatives of anatomically primitive, early ray fins in analyses of early vertebrate relationships. The resultant endocranial models generally corroborate existing accounts of endocranial anatomy in these genera, drawn from descriptions of the inner face of the brain cavity. However, the endocasts also provide new anatomical details, the most significant of which are the presence in Mimipiscis of widely divergent olfactory tracts, small optic lobes, and anterior and posterior semicircular canals that extend dorsal to the roof of the endocranial chamber. By contrast, Kentuckia possesses a single, straight olfactory tract, wide optic lobes, and anterior and posterior semicircular canals that do not reach the dorsal surface of the endocast. In each of these features, Kentuckia resembles stratigraphically younger actinopterygians such as Lawrenciella and Kansasiella, whereas Mimipiscis more closely resembles sarcopterygians and other outgroups. This character distribution provides further support for earlier phylogenetic interpretations of these genera.


In this paper, we introduce a notion of " epistemic action " to describe changes in the information states of the players in a game. For this, we use ideas that we have developed in our previous papers [BMS], [BMS2] and [B], enriching them to cover, not just purely epistemic actions, but also fact-changing actions (" real moves " , e.g. choosing a card, exchanging cards etc.) and nondeterministic actions and strategies (conditional actions having knowledge tests as conditions). We consider natural operations with epistemic actions and we use them to describe significant aspects of the interaction between beliefs and actions in a game. For this, we use a logic that combines in a specific way a multi-agent epistemic logic with a dynamic logic of " epistemic actions ". We give (without proof) a complete and decidable proof system for this logic. As an application, we analyze a specific example of a dialogue game (a version of the Muddy Children Puzzle, in which some of the children can " cheat " by engaging in secret communication moves, while others may be punished for their credulity). We also present a sketch of a " rule-based " approach to games with imperfect information (allowing " sneaky " possibilities, such as: cheating, being deceived and suspecting the others to be cheating).


Adolescents spend a great amount of time engaged in different leisure activities. Some of the activity choices they make can put them at risk for negative socialization. In particular, peer-oriented, unstructured activities such as hanging out on the streets or at neighborhood recreation centers have been linked to problem development. This dissertation examined these choices and their consequences. I had four main aims. The first was to examine whether attending youth recreation centers is linked to normbreaking for girls as it is for boys. The results from Studies I and II show that it is. The second aim was to examine why youths gravitate to peer-oriented, unstructured contexts. Study II tested ideas involving family and personality. Concerning family, the idea was that youths who have negative experiences associated with the adult-led family context will gravitate towards leisure contexts that are characterized by the absence of adults. Concerning personality, the idea was that youths high in personality characteristics such as impulsivity and thrill-seeking will be attracted to unstructured leisure contexts that lack adult influence. Both of these ideas were supported (Study II). The third aim of this dissertation concerned moving from structured to unstructured activities. The question was why some youths stay in structured activities whereas others move to unstructured activities. Study III tested ideas involving family and peers. Concerning family, the idea was that youths with negative experiences at home will gravitate away from structured contexts and towards unstructured contexts. The findings in Study III were consistent with this idea. The other idea was that youths gravitate to their peers over time—youths whose peers are in structured activities will stay involved over time whereas those whose peers are not in structured activities will move away from structured activities. The results of Study III supported this idea. Thus, concerning why youths move away from structured activities, Study III suggests that both parents and peers play roles. The final aim of this dissertation was to examine potential explanations why peer-oriented, unstructured contexts are linked to problems for some youths but not others. The results from Studies I and II suggest that peer socialization is important. Girls who attended youth recreation centers and were involved with peers and boys were particularly high in normbreaking. These results held when controlling for negative experiences at home and personality characteristics (Study II). The results of Study III suggest that family relationships are important. Youths with close family ties were less prone to delinquency even if they started loitering on the streets. Thus, parents and peers both seem to be involved in whether peer-oriented, unstructured contexts are linked to problems. Overall, these studies have revealed much about the mechanisms involved in leisure context choices and why they are linked to problem behavior. The lessons to be learned are that to understand the choices youths make about their leisure time and the consequences of those choices, it is fruitful to apply a broader perceptive and consider both the youths' own characteristics and the social world surrounding them.


Various fractions of ethanolic extract of Solieria robusta (Greville) Kylin (Rhodophyta) were screened for antifungal activity against 5 fruit spoiling fungi isolated from fruits. All fractions were able to inhibit fungal growth. Aqueous fraction showed maximum inhibition ratios followed by methanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform and ethanol. Elemental analysis was carried out for 11 elements viz., Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Mg, Ni, Pb and Zn. Accumulation of Cd was the lowest in S. robusta, while Mg was present with highest accumulation. Total protein of S. robusta was 25 to 32%.


A differentiated establishment of a chronic action threshold for a population and especially of a subthreshold is a basic hygienic parameter necessary for substantiating safe concentrations of chemical substances. Investigations aimed at detecting the penetration of substances into the cells, their intracellular distribution and ascertaining the extent of deranged biochemical processes localized in subcellular formations are of crucial importance in toxicological experiment. Language: ru


The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is an association between overexpression of cyclin D1 and response to therapy. Immunohistochemical overexpression of cyclin D1 was determined in paraffin-embedded specimens from diagnostic biopsies of 89 primary cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), using a polyclonal antiserum. The tumor response rates were estimated after curative treatment (i.e. surgery and/or radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy). Patients whose tumors were overexpressing cyclin D1 showed complete or partial response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin/5-FU. In addition, a majority of cyclin D1 negative tumors did not respond at all to this treatment (p = 0.02, Fisher's exact test). This study indicates that immunohistochemical assessment of cyclin D1 expression in SCCHN could be a new predictive marker to select a subgroup of patients that will benefit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy.


A new finite element procedure for the solution of the electromagnetic flow meter weight function is presented. The weight function represents the relative contribution of the fluid velocity at a particular spatial location in the flow cross section to the output signal from the flow meter. The solution of the weight function is important for inferring the velocity profile from measured potential differences within the electromagnetic flow meter. First, a numerical simulation model was constructed with COMSOL Mutiphysics [1]. Next, a study was undertaken to compare the numerical simulation model with Shercliff's [2] analytical solution for the weight function. The finite element methodology was found to be correct for solving the weight function. Based on this result, the numerical simulation model was used to compute the weight function for two flow meter geometries. For both cases the electrodes were located on the internal circumference of the flow pipe and the line joining the electrodes was normal to the imposed magnetic field. In the first case the separation of the electrodes was equal to one pipe diameter but in the second case the electrode separation was less than one pipe diameter. The methodology presented in this paper represents the first stage in the development of an image reconstruction technique which could be used to obtain the liquid velocity profile from boundary voltage measurements obtained in flows with highly skewed velocity distributions.


A B ST R A C T Business intelligence systems combine operational data with analytical tools to present complex and competitive information to planners and decision makers. The objective is to improve the timeliness and quality of inputs to the decision process. Business Intelligence is used to understand the capabilities available in the firm; the state of the art, trends, and future directions in the markets, the technologies, and the regulatory environment in which the firm competes; and the actions of competitors and the implications of these actions. The emergence of the data warehouse as a repository, advances in data cleansing, increased capabilities of hardware and software, and the emergence of the web architecture all combine to create a richer business intelligence environment than was available previously. Although business intelligence systems are widely used in industry, research about them is limited. This paper, in addition to being a tutorial, proposes a BI framework and potential research topics. The framework highlights the importance of unstructured data and discusses the need to develop BI tools for its acquisition, integration, cleanup, search, analysis, and delivery. In addition, this paper explores a matrix for BI data types (structured vs. unstructured) and data sources (internal and external) to guide research.


Sea ice dynamics determine the drift and deformation of sea ice. Nonlinear physics, usually expressed in a viscous‐plastic rheology, makes the sea ice momentum equations notoriously difficult to solve. At increasing sea ice model resolution the nonlinearities become stronger as linear kinematic features (leads) appear in the solutions. Even the standard elastic‐viscous‐plastic (EVP) solver for sea ice dynamics, which was introduced for computational efficiency, becomes computationally very expensive, when accurate solutions are required, because the numerical stability requires very short, and hence more, subcycling time steps at high resolution. Simple modifications to the EVP solver have been shown to remove the influence of the number of subcycles on the numerical stability. At low resolution appropriate solutions can be obtained with only partial convergence based on a significantly reduced number of subcycles as long as the numerical procedure is kept stable. This previous result is extended to high resolution where linear kinematic features start to appear. The computational cost can be strongly reduced in Arctic Ocean simulations with a grid spacing of 4.5 km by using modified and adaptive EVP versions because fewer subcycles are required to simulate sea ice fields with the same characteristics as with the standard EVP.


We study the basic theoretical model of a deformable vesicle immersed in a solution of particles that can adsorb onto one of the two surfaces of a membrane. The model consists of an adsorption energy gain for the adsorbing particles and the Canham-Helfrich membrane bending energy, in which the spontaneous curvature is coupled with the adsorption area. We demonstrate that bud, pearling, and tube conformations can be stabilized after minimizing the free energy and that the pearling-tubulation transition has the characteristics of an abrupt structural transition.


Along growth of communications technology and information, existence of media of printing progressively multitude. Media print build competition to prove self as media print enthused by adult circle in this time, start from next wrapper, advertisement content and also pictures to add enthusiasm buy to buy from its consumer. In a magazine, arrange situation of this media of vital importance to be paid attention. Wrapper as display window a magazine becomes one of the factor which is attention need more. Wrappers have to can captivate and steal attention of consumer so that will peep out enthusiasm buy from society. Wrappers have to can draw and as according to content of magazine so that between content and wrapper happened can be justified by its contents. Without supported with quality of good magazine content, hence will be frozen out with other magazine. So that writing of text at covering photo and also magazine and of design draw at magazine especially for magazine which is have segmentation to have to be paid attention. Pursuant to breakdown of above, this research internal issue formula is there any correlation between assessments about writing of title at covering Aneka Yess! Magazine and enthusiasm buy consumer and if there is its relation, how big generated the correlation
Text represents all Language form. Not merely printed words in paper sheet, but also all communications expression, utterance, music, picture, voice effect, image etcetera (Sobur, 2002; 56). Wrapper is loaded picture at face husk an magazine; usually draw to regarding special or especial report of derivative (Big Dictionary [of] Indonesian: 1995:288). When Enthusiasm buy consumer is desire of consumer to buy a goods or product to be used.
This elite represent research of explanative where this research explain correlation of casual between variables through examination of hypothesizing or research of clarification (M.Iqbal,2000:4). Research location conducted in SMA Purusatama Semarang. Population in this research is class student of XI SMA Purusatama Semarang which has bought Aneka Yess! Magazine. Based on result of survey, amount of population matching with researcher criterion got equal to 42 responder. Such as those which have been told by Suharsimi Arikunto ( 2002:112) that if its it less than 100, better taken by all so that its research represent research of population. Become technique determination of sample which is used in this research is totalizing sampling with amount of responder counted 42 people.
From result of data analysis which have been done by researcher find that found by r = 0,401 with P = 0,000. This matter shows the existence of positive correlation very significant between variable of X (Writing of Text Title) and variable of Y (Enthusiasm buy Consumer). According to the interpretation table above, r value is 0,401. it is in number 3 which is 0,400 to 0,600. it means that the relationship is rather low.


Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) (P b Z r O 3 - P b T i O 3 ) were prepared by mixed oxide method at 1100 o C. Crystalline nature of the synthesized PZT has been confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction studies. The particle siz e and strain is calculated from X-ray peak broadening analysis b y using Williamson-Hall plot. The crystallite size is also calculated using Debye-Scherrer's formula. Also, th e surface morphology and particle size of the sampl es were imaged using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Di electric measurement demonstrates that decrease in dielectric constant with increase in temperature. The tempera ture dependence of the ac conductivity indicated th at the conduction process is due to singly ionized (in fer roelectric region) and doubly ionized (in paraelect ric region).


The thermal decomposition of the 5-methyl-2-furanylmethyl radical (R(1)), the most important primary radical formed during the combustion and thermal decomposition of 2,5-dimethylfuran (a promising next-generation biofuel), was studied using CBS-QB3 calculations and master equation (ME)/RRKM modeling. Because very little information is available in the literature, the detailed potential energy surface (PES) was investigated thoroughly. Only the main pathways, having a kinetic influence on the decomposition of R(1), were retained in the final ME/RRKM model. Among all the channels studied, the ring-opening of the 5-methyl-2-furanylmethyl radical, followed by ring enlargement to form cyclohexadienone molecules is predicted to be the easiest decomposition channel of R(1). The C(6) cyclic species formed can undergo unimolecular reactions to yield phenol and to a lesser extent cyclopentadiene and CO. Our calculations predict that these species are important products formed during the pyrolysis of 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF). Other channels involved in the decomposition of R(1) lead directly to the formation of linear and cyclic unsaturated C(5) species and constitute an additional source of cyclopentadiene and CO. High-pressure limit rate constants were computed as well as thermochemical properties for important species. ME/RRKM analysis was performed to probe the influence of pressure on the rate coefficients and pressure dependent rate coefficients were proposed for pressures and temperatures ranging, respectively, from 10(-2) bar to 10 bar and 1000 to 2000 K.


Online affective experiences and their relationships to utilitarian and non-utilitarian outcomes are of growing interest. This study investigates one affective experience – aesthetics – and its impact on online utilitarian values. As the concept of web aesthetic experience has not been well studied or understood, this study proposes a novel theoretical model connecting web aesthetic experiences to online utilitarian values. Based on the prior literature from other disciplines, the study treats the aesthetic experience as a complex and multi-dimensional construct, which contains three distinct subdimensions: aesthetic appraisal, aesthetic judgment, and aesthetic emotion. The research process will include making the selection of diverse level of aesthetic websites and a cross-over design experiment. The structural equation modelling technique will be employed to evaluate the relationships between the web aesthetic experience and utilitarian outcome. The expected contributions of this study are: (i) to construct a novel theoretical model based on the psychological and philosophical concepts of aesthetic experience and utilitarian value; (ii) to identify the multi-dimensional evidence of web aesthetic experiences; (iii) to provide theoretical and practical knowledge for predicting the utilitarian outcomes through online users' aesthetic experiences. The study also points to the need for more research in this complex area.


ABSTRACT The gold mining wastewater effluent is potential source for isolating cyanides-degrading bacteria, since cyanide is commonly used in gold extraction process in the mining industry. An indigenous bacterial strain LP3, capable of growing on and utilizing of a high concentration of cyanomethane (up to 1.0 Molar), could be isolated from Cikotok gold mine effluent. Based on 16S rDNA sequence, the strain was identified as Rhodococcus pyridinivorans. During the growth on cyanomethane (CH3CN), ethanamide (CH3ONH2) and ethanoic acid (CH3COOH) were detected in the growth media, indicating that nitrile hydratase and amidase involved in the metabolism of the substrate. The involvement of both enzymes on the conversion of cyanomethane was also proved by our study on cyanomethane biodegradation using whole cells of R. Pyridinivorans LP3. Besides cyanomethane, the R. pyridinivorans LP3 could also utilize various aliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic nitriles and amides as growth substrates. Base on these results, R. pyridinivorans LP3 is expected to be used as a potential candidate for biological treatment for cyanide-containing wastes, although further research is still needed, before being applied on a field scale. Keywords: biocatalyst, cyanide degrading bacteria, gold mining, Rhodococcus pyridinivorans LP3


The effects of nutrition during the last two trimesters of gestation on GnRH-induced LH release were assessed in crossbred heifers. Heifers (n = 58) were allotted at 90 d gestation to one of three levels of an experimental diet fed at 1, 1.5 or 2% of BW to attain maternal BW loss, BW maintenance or BW gain, respectively, at parturition. Twenty-two heifers were injected (i.m.) once with 100 micrograms GnRH between d 14 and 1 before parturition, and 32 heifers were injected (i.m.) once with 100 micrograms GnRH between d 8 and 21 after parturition. Jugular blood samples were collected before and at 30-min intervals after GnRH for 4 h. Least squares means for BW change differed (P less than .01) among BW loss (-17.6%), BW maintenance (-6.0%) and BW gain (7.0%) heifers. Basal plasma LH concentration was not influenced by nutritional treatment and was similar before and after parturition for all groups. However, in response to GnRH, peak plasma LH concentration was greater (P less than .10) for prepartum than for postpartum heifers. Mean LH peak amplitude in prepartum heifers was approximately twofold greater (P less than .10) in the BW loss and maintenance groups compared with the BW gain group. Prepartum LH release was related inversely (r = -.64) to change in heifer BW and increased (P less than .01) as BW loss increased during gestation. After parturition, mean LH peak amplitude and area under the response curve averaged 50% less (P less than .10) in the BW loss and maintenance groups than in the BW gain group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Reliable and accurate room-level occupancy-tracking systems can enable many new advances in sensors and applications of modern smart buildings. This allows buildings to be more capable of adapting to the needs of their occupants in their day-to-day activities and better optimize certain resources, such as power and air conditioning, to do so. Unfortunately, existing occupancy-tracking systems are plagued by large size, high energy consumption, and, unsurprisingly, short battery lifetimes. In this paper, we present Waldo, a batteryless, room-level occupancy monitoring sensor that harvests energy from indoor ambient light reflections, and uses changes in these reflections to detect when people enter and exit a room. Waldo is mountable at the top of a doorframe, allowing for detection of a person and the direction they are traveling at the entry and exit point of a room. We evaluated the Waldo sensor in an office-style setting under mixed lighting conditions (natural and artificial) on both sides of the doorway with subjects exhibiting varying physical characteristics such as height, hair color, gait, and clothing. 651 number of controlled experiments were ran on 6 doorways with 12 individuals and achieved a total detection accuracy of 97.38%. Further, it judged the direction of movement correctly with an accuracy of 95.42%. This paper also evaluates and discusses various practical factors that can impact the performance of the current system in actual deployments. This work demonstrates that ambient light reflections provide both a promising low-cost, long-term sustainable option for monitoring how people use buildings and an exciting new research direction for batteryless computing.


ABSTRACT In this article, we present a time‐independent earthquake rate forecast for California. Our model features spatial variations of the Gutenberg–Richter b ‐value using the method of Kamer and Hiemer (2015). We account for lessons learned from the outcome of the Regional Earthquake Likelihood Models (RELM) experiment and use RELM's framework to investigate different concepts for modeling the spatial distribution of seismicity. Our resulting forecast shows a significant information gain with respect to all first‐generation RELM mainshock forecasts. Our findings indicate that large‐scale b ‐value variations are a considerable feature for increasing the skill of Californian seismicity forecasts. We underline the importance of statistical rigor when implementing earthquake occurrence hypotheses. Our results have implications for seismic hazard studies, in which the b ‐value is either chosen as a regional constant or varies spatially between local zones. Future improvements of our model may serve as a basis for choosing either of these approaches.


This study is an empirical investigation of consumer satisfaction
with the provision of medicine in Egypt.
One way to look at consumer protection in the medicine market
is to explore consumer satisfaction with the provision of medicine.
A further way is to investigate the various consumption patterns of
medicines (in terms of expenditures). Both ways are combined
together in this investigation to gain an insight into the
protection provided to the Egyptian consumers in the medicine
market. The findings are then used to make recommendations in order
to improve medicine provision and protection in Egypt. In addition,
the study aims to contribute theoretically by presenting a
conceptual model of consumer satisfaction. Further, the work tries
to determine the components of consumer satisfaction with respect
to the underlying factors and the degree of satisfaction
experienced by the Egyptian consumers.
The rationale of the second objective of this study was to
investigate whether consumer segments exist in the Egyptian market
on the basis of consumer satisfaction with the provision of
medicine products with particular demographic and socio-economic
characteristics. Ho such clear segments emerged.
It was hypothesized that: (1) there are no significant
differences among Egyptian consumers with different demographic and
socio-economic characteristics on the basis of their satisfaction
with the provision of medicine products and (2) there is no
significant relationship between the consumption patterns of
medicines (in terms of expenditure) and consumer demographic and
socio-economic (in terms of sex, age, income, education,
occupation, marital status, family size).
The primary data required was collected via personal
interviews using a structure questionnaire. ' Information was
collected on consumer attitudes, opinions and demography / socioeconomy. A random multi-stage area sample of 1300 consumers was
chosen. Respondents were selected from two cities, Cairo and Giza. From that sample, 938 usable cases of data were obtained and
analysed.
Two scales of measurement are employed in this study. First,
an interval scale to measure consumer satisfaction on a set of
variables and statements as well as to investigate consumption
patterns of medicines. Second, a nominal scale was used to record
information on consumers' demographics and socio-economics.
The reliability of the satisfaction scale employed in this
study was statistically tested using Cronbach's Alpha. In addition,
five different types of analysis are used to achieve the research
objectives (i.e., factor analysis, cluster analysis, discriminant
analysis, ANOVA, multiple regression analysis). Factor analysis is
used to analyse the set of satisfaction variables to determine the
underlying factors of consumer satisfaction. The degree of
satisfaction with those factors is also calculated to determine the
extent to which consumers are satisfied with each factor. It was
found that packaging and labelling contribute most to the variance
explained and are the factors with which consumers are most
satisfied. Consumers are least satisfied with medicine price and
availability of medicines.
Cluster analysis is utilized in this study to explore the
similarities and dissimilarities between the Egyptian consumers
segments on the basis of their satisfaction with respect to the
twelve factors identified and the statements. However, this
analysis did not bring out segments. This was confirmed by
discriminant analysis. ANOVA was therefore employed to investigate
the similarities and dissimilarities among consumers with different
demographic and socio-economic characteristics. Multiple regression
analysis was used to determine the relationship between consumption
patterns (dependent variable) and consumer demographic and socioeconomic. The study found that sex, age, income, education, family
size and marital status do affect satisfaction with, and
consumption of, medicine products. In addition, the research
hypotheses are tested via ANOVA (F Ratio) and T tests.
The study makes a contribution to knowledge in three areas,
theoretical, empirical and practical. The main theoretical
contribution is the building of a conceptual model of consumer
satisfaction, while the empirical contribution is that this type of study has not been carried out before into consumer satisfaction
with medicines in a developing country.
Finally, the practical contribution is the significant
implications arising from the work for all the players in the
medicine arena, especially the Egyptian government, since, the
study reveals that the Egyptian consumers feel that the provision
of medicine is less than satisfactory.
The thesis concludes with recommendations for further consumer
behaviour research, empirical studies of consumer satisfaction and
actions which need to be taken by the Egyptian government,
particularly to improve the medicine provision situation in Egypt
and provide the Egyptian consumer with adequate protection.


When a ship-owner orders a vessel from a shipyard, a contract is written to confirm and guarantee the agreement for both parts. An important requirement of the contract is the vessel's speed at a given engine power, RPM and draught, in "ideal" conditions (i.e. calm, infinitely deep and current free water, with smooth hull and propeller surfaces at with no wind and zero drift and rudder angle). The speed capacity of the recently built ship is measured carrying out a speed trial. It is rarely possible to perform the trial under ideal, contractual conditions, and the speed will normally be reduced by environmental factors. Whenever the test is carried out in conditions deviating from those contractually specified, the speed must be corrected for, to best coincide with the contractual stipulations. These corrections can be of significant magnitude and are of great economic importance. Penalties of considerable size are given to shipyards that fail to deliver in accordance with the contract. There are various standards published providing guidelines regarding the execution of speed trials, the measurements that are to be performed during the trials and corrections for environmental factors that are to be made in retrospect. ISO (2002), Perdon (2002), Bose (2005) and B. Henk (2006) were chosen for evaluation and comparison in this thesis. The recommendations of the standards are occasionally disagreeing. The main resistance contribution is claimed to be wind and wave (Bose (2005) and B. Henk (2006)). B. Henk (2006)) states; "these corrections (small displacement deviations, shallow water, and salinity deviations) are relatively small compared to wind and wave directions". Reinertsen (2011) suspects that the added wave resistances calculated by the Hyundai shipyard are too large. This assumption is based on Haugan (2011)'s (employee of KGJS) mean wave load calculations that generally gave results 30 % lower than those found by Hyundai. An unrealistically large correction factor for wave resistance is most definitely advantageous for the shipyard. This will give a higher calculated contractual speed, and the shipyard is consequently more likely to meet the contractual requirements. The Hyundai shipyard's correction procedures were evaluated based on the relevant standards. The shipyard neglects all resistance components, but the added resistance due to wind and waves (they also correct for large discrepancies between the trim/draught obtained at speed trial and that contractually stipulated. This is however not relevant for tankers, as these generally are capable of achieving design draught at the sea trial). This is consistent with the recommendations of Perdon (2002) and B. Henk (2006). The shipyard does not have the speed trials conducted in head - or following waves, nor head - or following wind. B. Henk (2006) and Perdon (2002) underline the importance of executing the speed trials in head - or following waves. Perdon (2002) argues; "in the case when the waves do not come from the bow or the stern the correction methods are not sufficiently reliable and the effects of steering and drift on the ship's performance may be underestimated". ISO (2002) recommends performing the trials in head and following wind (note that there usually is a correlation between true wind - and wave direction). The Hyundai shipyard assumes that the wave direction with respect to the ship's centerline equals the relative wind angle. This conflicts with the recommendations of the standards. They advise to obtain the wave direction by visual observations or instruments such as buoys or sea wave analysis radars. Furthermore, Hyundai's assumption is highly illogical from a scientific standpoint. In this thesis, the added wave resistance (due to diffraction) was computed by a handful of methods proposed in the literature. The computed values obtained in this report were all substantially larger than those found by Hyundai. This denies Reinertsen (2011)'s suspicion of Hyundai's correction factors for wave resistance being unrealistically high. B. Henk (2006) emphasizes the importance of accounting for the location of the anemometer in the computations of added resistance due to wind. This is not done by the shipyard. B. Henk (2006) proposes a formula for correction of improper placements of the anemometer. In this thesis, the added wind resistance was calculated, including this correction. The added resistance found was 28 % smaller than the value obtained by Hyundai. This is relevant as the wind tends to be a key resistance contribution. Finally, the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) has been described. The EEDI estimates a ship's CO2 emission per ton-mile of goods transported; put differently, the vessel's impact on the environment in relation to its benefit for society. The EEDI is to be implemented for all new ships, 1st of January 2013. The value of this index will be determined based on results from speed trials.


In this paper we consider the problem of using signals received at three or four antennas to estimate the direction from which radio-frequency (RF) radiation is arriving. Though the results are couched in the terminology of angle measurements, they are applicable to any ambiguous measurements for which the number of ambiguities is inversely proportional to the accuracy. For an interferometric system the effect of receiver noise is examined. Then the optimum way to process the received waveforms, and the best spacing for the antennas, is determined. Next, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) requirements are determined which must be met to insure that, with a given probability, the final unambiguous measurement is not in error by more than some specified amount. Finally, a comparison is made between a system which uses unambiguous measurements and a system which uses ambiguous measurements and then resolves the ambiguities.


Introductions: Perinatal mortality rate (PMR) of Nepal is 31 deaths per 1000 pregnancies and neonatal mortality rate (NMR) is 21 deaths per 1000 live births according to Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2016. This study aims to analyse the trend of PMR and NMR of babies delivered at Patan hospital, Nepal.
Methods: This was a retrospective study done in the department of Pediatrics to analyse the trend of neonatal and perinatal outcome of babies delivered during three years from April 2016 to March 2019 at Patan Hospital, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Nepal. Data was collected from hospital records and perinatal audit. The mode of delivery (vaginal, instrumental, caesarian), birth status (sex, premature, still, live, APGAR, birth weight) and final outcome (neonatal and perinatal mortalities) were analyzed descriptively using Microsoft Excel 2010.
Results: The final outcome of total 22937 deliveries during three years were PMR 4.34, corrected PMR 10.85 per 1000 total births and NMR 3.62 per 1000 live births. There were 22913 (99%) live births, 3090 (13.3%) had low birth weight, 11898 (52%) spontaneous vaginal delivery, 10700 (47%) cesarean and 339 (1.5%) instrumental deliveries.
Conclusions: The overall PMR was 4.34 per 1000 total births and NMR was 3.62 per 1000 live births at Patan Hospital.
Keywords: neonates, neonatal mortality rate (NMR), Nepal, perinatal mortality rate (PMR), university teaching hospital


Study objectives. Estimation of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) prevalence in high risk patients and the identification of PAD most frequent risk factors in Romanian family medicine practices.
Design and methods. An observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study that enrolled 800 patients between November 2010 and February 2011, from 40 family medicine practices across the country. Inclusion criteria were adult patients with of one or more risk factors for PAD. Patients were investigated for PAD by determining the ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) values; values of ABPI ≤0.9 were considered indicative for PAD.
Results. Approximately 50% of patients had ABPI ≤ 0.9. They had an average age of aproximatelly 60 years old, and the most common risk factors were dyslipidemia and HTA. 33% of these patients were smokers, 33% were diagnosed with coronary heart disease and 19% with cerebrovascular disease. 56% of patients had signs of intermittent claudication, 43% had a low or absent peripheral pulse, 42% had skin modifications. Only 17% of these patients were previously diagnosed with PAD.
Conclusions. Compared to previously prublished data indicating a PAD prevalence of  approximately 29% in high risk patients, in Romania PAD prevalence was 50%. 75% of patients diagnosed with PAD were symptomatic, compared with 50% as communicated in similar studies in other countries. However, only 17% were diagnosed with PAD. Although PAD is an important predictive factor for cardiovascular events, this condition remains underdiagnosed and undertreated in Romania. Therefore, it becomes increasingly important to introduce a correct assessment methodology of patients at high risk of developing PAD by simple and easy-to-use ambulatory methods such as ABPI.


Social Media has a big influence in tourism industry, social media also played as a role in tourism marketing, It has a major effectiveness as a marketing tool and performs with multiple functions. The purpose of this study to discussing the importance of social media when choosing a holiday destinations for the millennial traveler. This paper was conducted in January - April 2020 using descriptive quantitative research methods. The data collection technique of this research is survey analysis. Primary data is collected by questionnaire. There were 72 questionnaires have been distributed according the number of active students at second semester from tourism study in Vocational Education Program, University of Indonesia academic year 2019/2020. After the questionnaires were completed, SPSS 25 version is used to analyze the data. According to the result of this study, social media has a big influences when choosing the holiday destination. Instagram and YouTube are the most important media social platform to get the information and building the trust about the tourism destination.


The study investigated the effects of probiotic treatment on nutrient content of rice straw and its impact on blood parameters and gut microbes of heifers. Eight Holstein crossbred heifers with initial average body weight (BW) of 180.25±21 kg were used in this study. The experimental period lasted for 33 days of feeding, of which 5 days were adjustment period. The treatments included feeding of untreated rice straw (Control) and probiotic treated rice straw. In each treatment, four animals were randomly assigned. Feed were offered twice daily and ensured ad libitum water supply. Probiotic treatment improved crude protein (CP) level from 4.35 to 6.37%. Crude fiber content (acid detergent fiber, ADF) was decreased from 64.83 to 61.30% after treatment of straw using probiotic. Blood glucose, albumin and high density lipoprotein (HDL) level were significantly (P<0.05) increased from 65.62 to 125.08 mg/dl; 3.70 to 4.18 g/dl, and 106.28 to 165.28 mg/dl, respectively in probiotic treated straw fed animals. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) level was significantly (P<0.05) decreased from 8.77 to 0.79 mg/dl and 247.6 to 162.2 mg/dl in probiotic treated rice straw fed animals which are worthy for animal health. Probiotic treated group had a normal range of microbial community in the intestine. In conclusion, probiotic treated straw improves nutrient content of rice straw and maintains normal blood parameters and microbial gut flora of heifers.

 Key words: Probiotic, rice straw, crude fiber, crude protein, acid detergent fiber, blood parameters, fecal microbiota.


Massive is one of the distinctive features of MOOCs which differentiate them from other e-learning experiences. This massiveness entails certain possibilities, but also some challenges that must be taken into consideration when designing and implementing a Massive Open Online Course, in relation to context, work progress, learning activities, assessment, and feedback. This document presents an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the massive aspect of MOOCs, and specifically it narrates the experience of creating a MOOC on Web Science, developed at the University of Southampton (United Kingdom) using the new FutureLearn platform, in autumn 2013. In this document, the importance of Web Science as an emerging field is analyzed and its origins explored. The experience gained from the decisions and the work progress developed for the creation and implementation of a specific MOOC is also shared here. The final section of the paper analyses some data from the MOOC in Web Science, including the participation index, the comments and interactions of some participants, tools used, and the organization of facilitation. Challenges involved in running a MOOC related to course design, platform use and course facilitation are also discussed.


The Carrington-to-Turtle Lake rail line serves five agricultural shippers in a four county area in central North Dakota. Service on the line has been affected by recent embargoes, floods, and poor, deteriorating track conditions. The line is a strong candidate for abandonment as efforts to rehabilitate the line have lacked financial support. Prior to this study, a benefit/cost study, which compares benefits and costs of a rail line reconstruction, was performed for the rail line in an attempt to secure financial assistance for rehabilitation. Railroad abandonment impacts rural communities and local economies in a variety of ways. Businesses that use rail for transportation usually experience a change in their shipping options. Instead of sending and/or receiving materials and supplies by rail, those items must be moved by truck. The severity of the change is often a function of the amount of material shipped and distance hauled. Rail abandonment affects property values. In the absence of tax rate changes, reduced property values translate directly into lower property tax revenues for local governments. Rural areas, especially in North Dakota, often do not have adequate road and highway infrastructure to absorb movements of grain and agricultural inputs exclusively by truck. The transference of rail movements to truck traffic accelerates the deterioration of local roads and highways. Abandonment of the Carrington-to-Turtle Lake rail line was estimated to increase transportation costs for shippers on the line by $329,000 annually. A majority of the increase in transportation costs would be incurred by farmers in the form of reduced commodity prices. The North Dakota Input-Output Model estimated that the $329,000 in direct impacts would generate an additional $682,000 in secondary impacts. Total economic losses for the regional economy were estimated to be $1 million annually. Additional impacts included an annual loss of $17,900 in state-collected tax revenue. Annual net costs (i.e., damages less additional user revenues) to repair and maintain state roads impacted from increased truck traffic were estimated at $297,000 for resurfacing and $868,000 for reconstruction.


Polydactyly is a common malformation of vertebrate limbs. In humans a major locus for nonsyndromic pre-axial polydactyly (PPD) has been mapped previously to 7q36. The mouse Hemimelic extra-toes (Hx) mutation maps to a homologous chromosome segment and has been proposed to affect a homologous gene. To understand the molecular changes underlying PPD, we used a positional cloning approach to identify the gene or genes disrupted by the Hx mutation and a closely linked limb mutation, Hammertoe (Hm). High resolution genetic mapping identified a small candidate interval for the mouse mutations located 1.2 cM distal to the Shh locus. The nonrecombinant interval was completely cloned in bacterial artificial chromosomes and searched for genes using a combination of exon trapping, sample sequencing, and mapping of known genes. Two novel genes, Lmbr1 and Lmbr2, are entirely within the candidate interval we defined genetically. The open reading frame of both genes is intact in mutant mice, but the expression of the Lmbr1 gene is dramatically altered in developing limbs of Hx mutant mice. The correspondence between the spatial and temporal changes in Lmbr1 expression and the embryonic onset of the Hx mutant phenotype suggests that the mouse Hx mutation may be a regulatory allele of Lmbr1. The human ortholog of Lmbr1 maps within the recently described interval for human PPD, strengthening the possibility that both mouse and human limb abnormalities are due to defects in the same highly conserved gene.


To improve the machining efficiency as well as surface roughness, a series of experiments employed fixed abrasive tools are carried out for stainless steel substrate, and influences of properties of fixed abrasive tool on the lapping process are studied. It is found that the resin is the best bonding material in this study. The surface roughness under different concentration of bonding material is similar, and the material removal rate (MRR) increases as the concentration of bonding material decreases from 50% to 20%. But too little of bonding material results into low bond strength that causing low material removal rate. It is also found that higher shear strength, lower wear rate, and the shear strength of the tool with 35% bonding material is the highest. It is obvious that the surface roughness and material removal rate decline as the grit size decreases. The roughness of surface lapped with resin bonded 4000# SiC abrasive tool comes to 18nm, and the material removal rate is 0.63μm/min.


This article deals with the Nordic Council as a cooperation organ for building transnational roads outside of the E-road network during the period 1956–1966. The Nordic experience of planning and interconnecting transnational roads is related to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) and the development of the E-road network. It is noted that whereas the E-road network built on an ambition within the ECE to create mutual understanding and fraternity between the European nations, the Nordic Council viewed roads as instruments to deal with shared economic and social problems. Another difference is that while the member states of the ECE interacted with societal groups and expert organisations during the interconnection of the E-road network, such actors did not participate directly with the Nordic Council. The inter-Nordic stream of technical expertise was primarily channelled through the national road administrations which cooperated to interconnect the trans-Nordic network.


The present paper considers the steady free convection boundary layer flow of a viscoelastic fluid on solid sphere with Newtonian heating. The boundary layer equations are an order higher than those for the Newtonian (viscous) fluid and the adherence boundary conditions are insufficient to determine the solution of these equations completely. Thus, the augmentation an extra boundary condition is needed to perform the numerical computational. The governing boundary layer equations are first transformed into non-dimensional form by using special dimensionless group and then solved by using an implicit finite difference scheme. The results are displayed graphically to illustrate the influence of viscoelastic K and Prandtl Number Pr parameters on skin friction, heat transfer, velocity profiles and temperature profiles. Present results are compared with the published papers and are found to concur very well.


The JNDmetrix human visual system model developed by the Sarnoff Corporation is used to predict observer performance on visual discrimination tasks. It begins with two paired images as the initial input and ends with a JND map that shows the magnitude and spatial location of visible differences between the two input images. The goal of this experiment was to determine if the location and magnitude of JNDs identified by the model corresponded to visual search parameters of the human observer. Radiologists searched 20 mammograms with multiple masses and microcalcifications of different subtleties as their eye-position was recorded. The JNDmetrix model analyzed the same images and identified, with JNDs, discriminable areas on the images. Lesions with lower subtlety ratings were detected later in search than more obvious ones (FNs later than TPs). When the subtler lesions were detected (TP) dwell time was longer than more obvious lesions, but the FNs received shorter total dwell. The subtler lesions when detected (TP) received more total fixation clusters than more obvious ones, but the FNs received fewer. The correlation between the model JNDs and the eye-position parameters was high. Understanding the influence of lesion subtlety on search may help us better model and predict human observer performance.


The horseshoe kidney is a frequent urological birth defect. The most frequent complications are urinary tract infections, stones and hydronephrosis. The occurrence of glomerular disease in horseshoe kidney is rare. Therefore, we report the first case of minimal change disease occurring in a patient with horseshoe kidney in literature. A 22-year-old Caucasian man without personal or family medical history admitted to the pneumology department for a pulmonary artery embolism. In presence of a generalized oedema, a biological assessment was performed yielding intense nephrotic syndrome with urine protein excretion 22g/day. The abdominal ultrasound revealed a horseshoe kidney. Hence a scanno-guided kidney biopsy was taken yielding minimal change disease. High dose steroids were started, then gradually tapered with good response. Horseshoe kidney is the most common renal fusion anomaly, with a prevalence of 0.25% among the general population. The occurrence of glomerular nephropathy in horseshoe kidney has been reported in few cases. We report the first case of minimal change disease occurring in a patient with horseshoe kidney in literature. The mechanism of the association between the horseshoe kidney and these renal pathologies could not be explained in the previous reports. There is no literature data indicating a high rate of glomerulonephritis in horseshoe kidneys. The co-incidence of two renal diseases in this patient can be only a coincidence. The question that arises is whether this glomerulopathy is associated or not with this anatomical abnormality. Further studies are needed to answer this question.


Background Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia is the main dose-limiting toxicity, with high morbidity, mortality and associated costs. Febrile neutropenia (FN) rates vary considerably between studies. Purpose To know neutropenic complications (NC) incidence in our breast cancer patients treated with Doxorubicin-Cyclophosphamide (AC) and Doxorubicin-Cyclophosphamide-sequential Docetaxel (AC-T) schemes; determine their consequences; analyse sample's characteristics and myeloid growth factors use. Materials and methods Patients with breast cancer treated over 20 months were selected retrospectively. 107 patients treated with AC or AC-T comprised the sample. Descriptive variables were obtained. Results 97% of patients were in stage I, II or III; 95.8% received chemotherapy for the first time; 98% started treatment at full dose. 35.5% (95CI 27 to 45) of patients developed NC and 24.3% (95CI 17 to 33.2) suffered FN. 36% of NC were due to first AC cycle. No patient received primary prophylaxis with myeloid growth factors even when docetaxel was started. Secondary prophylaxis was administered in subsequent cycles after patient developed the first NC (it was administered to 91,3% of patients who developed FN and 78% of patients with NC without fever). Apart from two cases, no patient on secondary prophylaxis developed a NC again. Filgrastim and/or Peg-filgrastim were used. 77% of patients with FN were hospitalised (mean= 5±3 days) and 7% had to be attended in the emergency department (ED). 25% of patients with NC without fever were treated in the ED. Next cycle was delayed in 31.5% of NC (mean= 6.6±2.8 days); dose was reduced to 79.5%±4.4% of the scheduled dose in 39.4%; chemotherapy was finished in 7.9%. 5% of the sample received a relative dose intensity (RDI) <85% due to NC. Conclusions The risk of NC in our patients is higher than reported in literature. According to current recommendations, primary prophylaxis with myeloid growth factors would be indicated in our patients.


To isolate brucellosis causative agent from the blood of patients against the background of antibiotic therapy the authors used for the first time the medium consisting of aminopeptide, beta-globulin agar with glucose, glycerine, and twin-60. No valuable food products--meat, liver--were required to prepare the medium; by-product of gamma-globulin production being used. With the aid of the suggested medium there was isolated 2.4 times more hemocultures than on the widely used meat-peptone medium. This is attributed to the presence in the medium of human protein, essential amino acids, and blood mineral substances, which, in combination, facilitated adaptation of brucellosis causative agent to the nutrient medium similar to human blood by composition. Economical effect in using the mentioned medium constituted 53.8% annually.


Novel methods to synthesize and modify the structure, composition, magnetic behavior and electrical conductivity of thin films are of tremendous importance for fabrication of nano-devices. This research focuses on the application of ion beam methods to produce diamond-like carbon thin films and incorporate magnetic nanostructures within them for potential spintronic applications. Diamond-like carbon films were synthesized by ion beam deposition and were implanted with magnetic ions at low energy to induce magnetic order in near-surface region of the thin film. This research work focuses on the exotic ion-solid interactions that occur between the energetic ions and the base matrix and their subsequent effects on the structure, atomic distribution and magnetic behavior of the implanted films. The results are of significant interest to both, ion beam community and spintronics industry.   Diamond-like carbon (DLC) is an amorphous carbon material that contains significant fraction of its carbon bonded in sp³ hybridization. DLC films were produced by high energy ion beam deposition, specifically by both, direct ion beam deposition and mass selective ion beam deposition. Raman spectroscopy revealed that DLC films deposited by molecular ion beams C₃H₆⁺ with 5 keV deposition energy has 30 - 50 % of its carbon bonded in sp³ hybridization. The sp³ content was observed to decrease with increase in deposition energy. The hydrogen content in the deposited films was measured to be 25 - 30 at.% by resonant nuclear reaction analysis. The selection of deposition energy and ion species was observed to have strong influence on the thin film properties.   Cobalt was chosen as the preferred magnetic ion for doping diamond-like carbon thin films. Co was implanted at low energy (30 keV) and at room temperature. The implantation fluence (incident ions per unit area) was varied from 0.8-20 x10¹⁶ atoms.cm⁻². The implantation current density was limited to 5 μA.cm⁻² to prevent any bulk heating effects. Monte-Carlo simulations suggest the implantation profile to be single Gaussian with a projected range of ∼37 nm. High resolution Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (HR-RBS) however showed that the Co distribution varied from a unimodal distribution at low fluences (< 1:5 x 10¹⁶ atoms.cm⁻²) to an asymmetric bimodal distribution at high fluence (7 x 10¹⁶ atoms.cm⁻²). Furthermore, a steady state condition was reached at an implantation fluence of (12 x 10¹⁶ atoms.cm⁻²) which is not expected from the simulations. Cross-sectional TEM imaging and corresponding fast Fourier transform analysis reveals that the implanted Co atoms precipitate into cobalt carbide nanoparticles. At high fluences, the nanoparticles accumulate at two regions : (i) in the immediate near-surface region (nanoparticles as large as 5 nm) (ii) at the projected range of implanted ions (large density of ~ 2 nm nanoparticles) in agreement with the measured Co distribution.  The bimodal distribution along with the nanoparticle formation can only be explained by the occurrence of non-ballistic processes such as precipitation and localized diffusion during Co implantation. These processes are enhanced by energy deposited during collision cascades, relaxation of thermal spikes, and defects formed during ion implantation. A key factor responsible for the manifestation of these effects, is the presence of hydrogen in the base matrix.  Cobalt implantation was carried out on amorphous carbon films (lacking hydrogen) at the same implantation conditions. HR-RBS and TEM measurements on these films show that Co assumes a unimodal distribution when hydrogen is absent in the base matrix. Resonant nuclear reaction analysis shows that ion implantation leads to massive redistribution of hydrogen atoms in the DLC films. Raman spectroscopy further indicate that ion implantation causes graphitization of DLC films. These results show that the energetic ion interactions in DLC matrix are unique and lead to interesting elemental distribution and structural effects.  Cobalt containing nanoparticles in the DLC films lead to room-temperature magnetic order. Magnetic measurements were carried out using a magnetic property measurement system employing a superconducting quantum interference device. The temperature dependence of saturated moment observed from the magnetic measurements of low fluence samples resembles the behavior of a spin glass material. This is explained by the structural disorder present in the magnetic nanoparticles. Increasing the implantation fluence, reduces the spin glass contribution and leads to formation of ordered magnetic phases within the nanoparticles. This is confirmed by both the TEM data and observation of ferromagnetic contribution in addition to spin glass behavior in the temperature dependent magnetization measurements of high fluence sample. Low field magnetic measurements further reveal that the nanoparticles exhibit superparamagnetic behavior. Interestingly, the measurements also indicate presence of dipole-dipole interaction between the nanoparticles.  As deposited DLC films were observed to be electrically insulating. Co implantation resulted in the formation of metallic nanoparticles which is measured to have increased the conductivity of DLC by nearly six order of magnitude. Measurement of electrical conductivity as a function of temperature indicates the dominant conduction mechanism to arise from the tunneling between the large disordered metallic nanoparticles found in the near surface region. Since the particles are randomly oriented, the electrons can tunnel through different pathways and the overall behavior is observed to have a power law dependence over the measurement temperature. At higher temperature, an additional contribution is observed to arise from the smaller nanoparticles positioned deeper inside the implanted DLC films. This contribution can be semiconducting or metallic in nature and is dependent on the implanted Co concentration. The overall conduction behavior of Cobalt implanted DLC is modeled as a network of two parallel resistors with each resistor arm, representing the contribution from the larger and smaller nanoparticles respectively.  This research overall shows that ion implantation into DLC can harness the effects of collision cascades, thermal spikes and defect formation for producing magnetic nanoparticles with unique elemental distributions. The implanted DLC films exhibit novel magnetic and transport properties which can ultimately lead to the development of spintronic devices.  Key results from this research are published in physics journals such as Applied Physics Letters, Journal of Physics: Applied Physics D, Nuclear Instruments and Methods:B which are the relevant journals for this research work.


Conventional infrared lasers (1070 nm) are not ideal for processing materials such as copper or gold. The reason for this is the corresponding high reflectivity of the aforementioned materials for infrared radiation. Since 2017, so-called "green lasers" {wavelengths around 500 nm [Kaliudis, see https://www.trumpf.com/de_DE/magazin/gruene-welle-fuers-kupferschweissen/ for "Grune Welle furs Kupferschweisen, TRUMPF Media Relations," Press Release (2017)]} are available for welding processes and additive manufacturing technologies, viz., laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) and laser metal deposition (LMD). These lasers are specially designed for the processing of highly reflective materials and have been recently used for the fabrication of specimens from pure copper. Due to process reasons, only one alloy is typically used for the manufacturing of components if powder bed based methods (LPBF) are applied. For many components, however, it is the combination of different materials (differences in thermophysical properties) that leads to an improvement in the component performance. The LMD process, in contrast to LPBF, can be adjusted with relative low efforts for the processing of two or more different materials. This offers new possibilities for the functionalization of parts that are already fabricated through a combination of subtractive and additive technologies (hybrid manufacturing). A mould insert for polymer injection molding will be presented in this contribution. It was produced by using a combination of different processes (subtractive, additive) and materials (pure copper, steel 1.2764).2–5 For a conventionally manufactured basic body (1.2764), copper cores were integrated in the corner areas by means of LMD. The cladding of the cores with 1.2764 was carried out with regard to the basic body and guaranteed dimensional accuracy for further processing. In order to improve the flow of coolant to the copper cores in the later application, the upper part of the mould insert with conformal cooling channels was manufactured using LPBF. The entire tool insert demonstrator was then finished and case-hardened. Initial tests under real conditions on the overall component are intended to prove full functionality. Simultaneously, we discuss the added value of the hybrid manufacturing approach that was funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in Germany as part of the AGENT-3D project IMProVe.


Graphene has been proved to be an excellent enhancer in metal matrix composites. Core-shell structured SiC nanoparticles and graphene nanosheets (GNSs) were fabricated and incorporated into aluminum matrix using ball milling in the current study. Graphite powder was exfoliated into thin GNSs, which are flexible to wrap SiC nanoparticles. The ductile aluminum particles were firstly flattened and then repeatedly welded and fractured into equalized particles during the ball milling of Al alloy-SiC-GNSs composite powder, which were observed using scanning electron microscopy and X-Ray diffraction. SiC-GNSs were embedded and dispersed into the aluminum matrix during the milling process.


This thesis includes a description of the project flow for our projects at Semcon. The emphasis is on designing a manual for elMaster Concept.The project flow provides several minor and major elements plotting schedules for this project and the establishment of a manual. When a schedule is drawn, lists and tables with components and connections can be created. This is done to better manage drawings and make changes. These diagrams and tables are used in product manufacturing, testings, controls. It can be edited during processing to finished product. elMaster helps to create a structure in the project through its aspects in the treeview. This is connected to the Design for easy connecting schedules for the project and its various components.This thesis also touches rendering of certain parts of a remote control system and a FAT-testing (Factory Acceptance Test) of a 480V switchgear. for the entire flow of a project and to make it easier to get an intelligible idea of how a project should be built in the most optimal way. It gives an idea of how various schedules, lists and tables used in real time and edited to get the proper documentation to the customer.The manual is designed for inexperienced elMaster. They can learn the program with the help of an example that is based on a real project. In addition to the example are all detailed information in order to advance in a project without much supervision.The thesis includes information on various components that may be included in a larger project. Therefore additional information on technical background.To acquire a better understanding of the remote control system and 480V switchgear, we were seeking information in ABB Handbok Elkraft [1] and Elkraftshandboken Elkraftsystem [2] as reported in a section of the thesis.


Fatec Paradiso is a university extension project that intends to show alternative films, national and international, to students of Fatec Cotia - public institution of technological higher education in the State of São Paulo, and to the community in general, free of charge, in public spaces in the municipality of Cotia, or on the premises of that institution. The exhibitions aim to contribute to the formation of audiences for cinema, to raise awareness about the right to use public spaces and to contribute to a more comprehensive formation, not only focused on performance in the labor market. With this initiative, it is intended to provide a region in need of cinemas, a film program that allows aesthetic appreciation, and the discussion of themes related to the contemporary world or recent history. Since its inception in 2016, exhibitions have been held in different squares in the municipality, open to the entire population of the country. In the exhibitions, testimonies were collected from viewers - students and non-students, about the construction of relationships between the themes of the films and their life experiences and about the importance of carrying out activities of this type in public spaces. Fatec Paradiso's assessment was based on the principle that activities involving art, as a way of transforming a given reality, enable the creation of new cultural policies. In this communication, we will discuss what the project represents for a peripheral region of greater São Paulo and the use of cinema as an educational experience.


Pervasive Education as an efficient method has been drawing increasing attention in the recent years. To provide equal educational facilities for all children in the society is of the basic principles of the educational system in Iran. After family, educational system exerts the highest influence on an individual's development, based onwhich there are two general approaches where the one dealing with providing service for all individuals in such a manner that no one is isolated from the ordinary background of the society is considered the appropriate one. As the population of the country declines and the required work force in future needs to increases, the children with special needs and capabilities can be benefitted in society. Based on this, they have to be particularly focused. The method applied in this study is analytical. A comprehensive review has been done with all the words onexceptional children, coed schools, pervasive education in the databases Iran medex, Since directGoogle scholar, SIDstressing domestic researches. The findings indicate thatthe negative attitude of the teachers toward attracting and covering the children with special needsimpedes the implementation ofmaking the pervasiveprojectto be realized. Crowded classrooms, lack of suitable space,lack of rehabilitation services andinadequately monitoring the peers' negative relationships is of other barriers. Of course, the studies suffer from some drawbacks like being done on a certain group and that most of them were done in the initial stages of the project. Generally speaking, we need to implement the project in all centers and then to follow up its challenges. It is imperative to train the average teachers and the liaison ones and solve their problems, help them to modify their attitude and invite their parents to cooperate.


This book offers fascinating and modern perspectives into the theory and practice of the historical subject of polynomial root-finding, rejuvenating the field via polynomiography, a creative and novel computer visualization that renders spectacular images of a polynomial equation. Polynomiography will not only pave the way for new applications of polynomials in science and mathematics, but also in art and education. The book presents a thorough development of the basic family, arguably the most fundamental family of iteration functions, deriving many surprising and novel theoretical and practical applications such as: algorithms for approximation of roots of polynomials and analytic functions, polynomiography, bounds on zeros of polynomials, formulas for the approximation of Pi, and characterizations or visualizations associated with a homogeneous linear recurrence relation. These discoveries and a set of beautiful images that provide new visions, even of the well-known polynomials and recurrences, are the makeup of a very desirable book. This book is a must for mathematicians, scientists, advanced undergraduates and graduates, but is also for anyone with an appreciation for the connections between a fantastically creative art form and its ancient mathematical foundations. Contents: Approximation of Square-Roots and Their Visualizations; The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra and a Special Case of Taylor s Theorem; Introduction to the Basic Family and Polynomiography; Equivalent Formulations of the Basic Family; Basic Family as Dynamical System; Fixed Points of the Basic Family; Algebraic Derivation of the Basic Family and Characterizations; The Truncated Basic Family and the Case of Halley Family; Characterizations of Solutions of Homogeneous Linear Recurrence Relations; Generalization of Taylor s Theorem and Newton s Method; The Multipoint Basic Family and Its Order of Convergence; A Computational Study of the Multipoint Basic Family; A General Determinantal Lower Bound; Formulas for Approximation of Pi Based on Root-Finding Algorithms; Bounds on Roots of Polynomials and Analytic Functions; A Geometric Optimization and Its Algebraic Offsprings; Polynomiography: Algorithms for Visualization of Polynomial Equations; Visualization of Homogeneous Linear Recurrence Relations; Applications of Polynomiography in Art, Education, Science and Mathematics; Approximation of Square-Roots Revisited; Further Applications and Extensions of the Basic Family and Polynomiography.


Until the early 1980s, despite paying lip-service to the central role of 'human capital', most decision makers were obsessed by physical development and the rate of increase of Gross National Product. Like other Third World countries, Egypt followed suit. Ten years ago, however, with accumulating external debts and social disintegration, it became clear that the returns on investments in these infrastructural schemes were meagre or even negative. Culture, community, and organic leadership were rediscovered as the missing links in the development process. These and other forms of associational life are sometimes subsumed under the concept of 'civil society'. Development has come to be defined as a process in which human potentialities are optimised at the individual and collective levels. This article illustrates the interaction among these variables by reference to examples of community-based development.


Allocation of resurfacing and rehabilitation monies began in 1967 with the separate funding of a resurfacing program. Pavement projects for resurfacing and rehabilitation were selected more often than not on the basis of politics and arbitrary (i. e. , without the benefit of analysis of good inventory and condition data) judgments of decision makers. With the gradual introduction of more adequate roadway inventory and annual condition data, the formula for the allocation of funds has been gradually revised, updated, and improved so there is now a more logical and equitable distribution of funds. With the formation of a pavement management staff in 1981, the quality of inventory and pavement distress data was greatly improved. Creation of the staff also introduced an organizational means whereby pavement condition information could be routinely used as one of the inputs upon which to base decisions regarding allocation of funds to resurfacing and rehabilitation projects. The formula currently used to allocate funds is based upon the lane miles of highways in each district, the unit cost of asphaltic concrete in each of the districts, and the average pavement condition in each district. A modifying factor may be applied each year to assign greater weights to the conditions of the pavements in the various districts and to base allocations of funds more or less upon those conditions, depending upon objectives in any given year. The pavement management staff of the Transportation Cabinet visits the districts each year to share results of pavement condition evaluations, to discuss resurfacing needs in the district compared to other districts, to discuss various pavement management matters, to explain the allocation formula, and to indicate what monies may be provided for the next year. These reviews with district personnel have been effective in convincing them of the appropriateness of the formula and 'the fairness in the allocations. The intent is to bring about a more uniform condition of pavements throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky as well as to improve the overall statewide condition of pavements. The allocation formula is seen as a means of distributing funds in such a way as to eventually meet these goals.


s Background: Postoperative wound site complications are a significant source of morbidity after midline laparotomy. The study's objectives were to compare the two suture patterns for fascial closure in midline abdominal wounds and their effect on postoperative wound site complications. Materials and Methods: Over 4 years, the prospective comparative study was conducted at the Government Medical College Hospital, Srinagar. All the patients ≥18 years and ≤70 years of age underwent midline laparotomy for various indications were included. Patients were randomized to two groups using computer‑generated numbers based on closure techniques. Group A; Large Tissue Bite closure (10 mm from the wound edge and 10 mm apart and Group B; Small Tissue Bite closure (5–7 mm from the wound edge and 5–7 mm apart). Effect of age, sex, body mass index (BMI), albumin, and suture bite on postoperative complications were analyzed. Results: Among 324 patients who met the inclusion criteria, the mean age was 39.17 years, 84.56% were male with a Male: Female ratio of 5.48. Two hundred and two (62.35%) patients had large tissue bite closure, and 122 (37.75%) had small bite closure. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups concerning age, sex, albumin levels, BMI, and type of surgery. About 35.64% of patients in the large tissue bite closure group and 19.67% patients in small bite closure developed surgical site infection (SSI) ( P = 0.002). The difference in wound dehiscence between the two groups (15.84% vs. 7.38%) was statistically insignificant ( P = 0.29). In midline laparotomy closure, the small bites technique results in significantly less incisional hernias than the large bites technique ( P = 0.00001). None of our patients expired during the study period. Conclusion: The small bite technique substantially reduces SSIs, wound dehiscence, and incisional hernia. The accident‑emergency and general surgery residents, in particular, should be made familiar with this technique to avoid postoperative wound site complications and improve the quality of postoperative life.


In linear documentary land, we are trained to see stories everywhere we look. Digital media and its materially distinct characteristics encourage reflections on this particular schooling and the power relations it is embedded in. As a result, many artists, filmmakers and scholars advocate interactivity as presumably more 'authentic' organizing principle for representing realty. While linear storytelling still prevails as framework for a majority of these interactive works, the documentary apprenticeship observed at the non/fictionLab offers an example for exploring digital materiality beyond the narrative paradigm. Drawing on my ethnographic study of a small group of research-practitioners, this paper analyses media software as part of an emerging counterpractice that challenges story as primary organizing principle and facilitates further investigation of digital environments for the making of documentary.


In this paper, a stochastic frontier analysis approach is applied to estimate energy demand functions in the transport sector. This approach allows us to obtain energy efficiency measures at country level that are a robust alternative to the energy intensity indicators commonly used for international comparisons. A transitive multilateral price index is constructed for aggregating the diverse energy components employed in the sector. Due to the likely unobserved heterogeneity among countries, the use of a random parameters model is proposed to accommodate these differences and to obtain different income and price elasticities per country. The estimated model is compared with alternative approaches of addressing this issue such as latent class, true fixed effects or true random effects models. This study is the first to use a random parameters stochastic frontier approach in the estimation of energy demand functions. The proposed procedure is applied to Latin America and the Caribbean, where the transport sector represents a large share of total energy consumption.