Abstract The effects of chemical reaction on a transient MHD mixed convection flow with mass transfer past an impulsively fixed infinite vertical plate under the influence of a transverse magnetic field have been presented. The medium is considered to be non-scattering and the fluid to be non-gray having emitting-absorbing and optically thick radiation limit properties. The dimensionless governing equations of the flow and mass transfer with boundary conditions are solved numerically by using the Ritz finite element method. The numerical results for the velocity, temperature and the concentration profiles as well as the skin-friction coefficient for different values of physical parameters such as the radiation parameter, magnetic parameter, Schmidt number and chemical reaction parameter have been obtained and presented through graphs and tables. It has been found that there is a fall in the temperature and velocity for both air and water as the radiation parameter is increased. An increase in the Schmidt number and chemical reaction parameter results a decrease in the concentration and velocity profiles for both air and water. Furthermore, an increase in the radiation parameter, magnetic parameter, Schmidt number and chemical reaction parameter decreases the skin-friction.


Employing a 2.5 curie 137Cs source, total elastic scattering cross sections in Pb, Pt, Ta, Sn and Zr were determined using a collimator geometry similar to that of Wilson at angles 20°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75° and 90°. The experimental results were compared with theoretical values obtained from the form-factor formula of Bethe and exact calculations of Brown et al. The experimental values in Pb, Pt and Ta are in conformity with the theoretical values calculated from Brown et al. data. The experimental values in Sn and Zr show good agreement with form-factor values.


Kaisa huhtinen Molecular profiling of human endometrium and endometriosis Departments of Physiology and Obstetrics & Gynecology, Institutes of Biomedicine and Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Finland, and Drug Discovery Graduate School, Finland. Annales Universitatis Turkuensis, Medica-Odontologica Painosalama Oy, Turku, Finland, 2010 Endometriosis is a common hormone-dependent gynecological disease leading to severe menstrual and/or chronic pelvic pain with or without subfertility. The disease is defined by the presence of endometrium-like tissue outside the uterine cavity, primarily on the pelvic peritoneum, ovaries and infiltrating organs of the peritoneal cavity. The current tools for diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis need to be improved to ensure reliable diagnosis and effective treatment. In addition, endometriosis is associated with increased risk of ovarian cancer and, therefore, the differential diagnosis between the benign and malignant ovarian cysts is of importance. The long-term objective of the present study was to support the discovery of novel tools for diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis. This was approached by exploiting genome-wide expression analysis of endometriosis specimens. A novel expression profiling -based classification of endometriosis indicated specific subgroups of lesions partially consistent with the clinical appearance, but partially according to unknown factors. The peritoneum of women with endometriosis appeared to be altered in comparison to that of healthy control subjects, suggesting a novel aspect on the pathogenesis of the disease. The evaluation of action and metabolism of sex hormones in endometrium and endometriosis tissue indicated a novel role of androgens in regulation of the tissues. In addition, an enzyme involved in androgen and neurosteroid metabolism, hydroxysteroid (17beta) dehydrogenase 6, was found to be highly up-regulated in endometriosis tissue as compared to healthy endometrium. The enzyme may have a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis or in the endometriosis associated pain generation. Finally, a new diagnostic biomarker, HE4, was discovered distinguishing patients with ovarian endometriotic cysts from those with malignant ovarian cancer. The information acquired in this study enables deeper understanding of endometriosis and facilitates the development of improved diagnostic tools and more specific treatments of the disease.


Abstract : Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) is a United States Army installation located on the western banks of the upper Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. The APG has been in operation for over 75 years with primary mission of research, development, and testing of munitions and military vehicles. As a results of APG being on the National Priorities List, an installation-wide health risk assessment is currently underway. As part of this health risk assessment, all potential human exposure pathways are being investigated to include the food chain. Hunters harvest approximately 800 whitetail deer from APG annually. To assure public safety, a study was completed by the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (USACHPPM) to identify any potential human health hazards associated with consumption of deer harvested from APG. During the 1993 hunting season, scientists from USACHPPM collected 150 deer samples (muscle and liver) from hunters.


The control of the meridional overturning circulation (MOC) by winds in the latitude band of the Drake Passage has been documented in studies by Toggweiler and Samuels (1995), and subsequently by Gnanadesikan (1999). Their reasoning leads to an elegant scaling, developed in Gnanadeskian (1999), in which the MOC's strength is highly sensitive to windstress inputs in the Antarctic Circumpolar Channel. Separate work by Gordon (1986) also implicates Southern Hemisphere winds as able to influence MOC. In this case the wind stress off the southern tip of Africa modulates the transport of buoyancy anomalies from the Indian Ocean into the South Atlantic. Gordon's work also suggests the possibility that the MOC may be highly sensitive to wind stress in the Southern Hemisphere. In the present study, we employ a climatological ocean circulation model and its adjoint to evaluate numerically the sensitivity of the MOC to surface wind stress. The adjoint model allows us to calculate global maps of sensitivity. These maps provide a geographic picture of where on the planet wind stress perturbations have the greatest impact on the meridional overturning.


The Terminator Tether is a lightweight, low-cost device that will use electrodynamic drag generated by a conducting tether to remove satellites and upper stages from low Earth orbit when they have completed their missions. In order to investigate and optimize the performance of the device, we developed a detailed numerical simulation that includes models for tether dynamics, electrodynamic interactions with the EarthÕs ionosphere, Spindt cathode electron emission, and other relevant physics. Using this simulation, we examined the electrical behavior of the tether-plasma circuit, and found that a device with a tether length of 5-10 km can utilize some of the power generated by the tether to drive its own circuitry without severely affecting the deorbit rate. Thus the device can be independent of the host spacecraftÕs power systems during deorbit. Because an uncontrolled electrodynamic tether is dynamically unstable, we developed a feedback-control scheme and verified its operation using simulations. Using the same models and control scheme, we investigated the performance of the device for disposing of spacecraft from various orbital inclinations and altitudes. We found that a tether device massing 2% of the host spacecraft mass can deorbit an upper stage from a 50¡, 400 km orbit in under two weeks, a mid-LEO satellite from a 50¡, 850 km orbit in under three months, or a high-LEO satellite from a 50¡, 1400 km orbit in less than a year.


This article examines an indigenous religion in Malaysia—that of the Semai of Kampung Chang, Sungai Gepai in Bidor, Perak—and expounds the changes in women's position in Semai cosmology, rituals, and roles. We show that the Bidor Semai religion is neither hierarchical nor egalitarian in terms of the position of women andmen; * We wish to thank our key informants, whose knowledge and memory of the Bidor Semai religion has been central to the writing of this article: Ken Merja, Bah Rintang, Ken Pri, Wak Yam, Bah Chekedoi, Wak Uni, and Wak Simin anak Taman (co-author Tijah Yok Chopil's mother). Ken Merja, Wak Yam, and Wak Simin have since passed away. The three of them were acting as midu (assistants) to the halaaɂ in Kampung Chang. Wak Uni is currently the only senior female halaaɂ in Kampung Chang. The male halaaɂ Bah Rintang and Bah Chekedoi also provided valuable information for this research.We also wish to thank all who have supported us in the process of writing this article. Robert Knox Dentan and Clayton Robarchek sent us some of their publications, and Robert Dentan made us rethink some of the issues raised in this article. Adele S. Baer read a draft of this article, gave valuable comments, and suggested several language changes. Geoffrey Benjamin taught us how to recast Semai words into phonemically responsible orthography. Kirk Endicott gave us valuable comments on the final draft of the article. reclaiming the eclipsed female in the sacred 265 Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Landen Volkenkunde 174 (2018) 264–290 rather, amuchmore complex situation exists. However, whilemale authority is becoming more prevalent, the existence of transmutable spirits and an ungendered creator allows men to actively participate, but does not give them religious power. However, due to outside pressure we are beginning to see a breakdown in these social features. The broader implication of reclaiming the female in the sacred is that it makes a strong social-justice argument for Semai women's rights and, by so doing, gives us a richer understanding of Semai connections to their land and their rights to that land.


Organizations that strive to be competitive must be able to attract and retain talented employees. In population are not many of them, recruiters must use for finding suitable candidates effective tools eg. social networks. Companies advertise, offer products, communicate with clients and recently even seek employees through social media. Job boards (eg. Jobs.cz in the Czech Republic ) now have a significant competitor in the recruitment field - the social networks. In the USA, the selection of employees through social networks is a common practice because social networks in many cases provide easily and quickly accessible information about the individuals. Online HR programs are already in use which research candidate's social network background and provide recruiters a comprehensive overview about the person. For example, recruiter can input the name or email address into this type of program and after a few seconds have the summary of candidate activity on social media. According to the criteria, recruiters can also find passive candidates via social networks. In the Czech Republic, this is a relatively new channel. The paper is focused on social networks and their influence on the recruitment process. The aim is to determine whether social networks can be a suitable tool for recruitment in the Czech Republic, as it is the case abroad. The analysis of the occurrence of keywords on Facebook and Twitter was used for the findings. The survey of publicly available information on Facebook profiles was further used. Research showed that using social networks is appropriate for the recruitment process in the Czech Republic. Although this tool is still in its early stages, the potential is already evident.


Abstract The present paper proposes to establish (§ 1) the data that can be drawn securely from a controversial testimonium on an oration of Cato (Cato, orat. 99 Sblend.) contained in a late antique panegyric (Pan. Lat. 8 (5).13.3), and to illustrate (§ 2) some of its textual and exegetical problems. Further, in the light of a hitherto overlooked comparison with a gloss of Festus, proposals are made: (§ 3) for a new constitutio and interpretation of the text of the panegyric; and (§ 4) for the identification of a textual citation (which will emerge also as a new fragment) from the orations of Cato the Censor, and the identification with Cato of the anonymous antiqui to whom Festus attributes the use (until now not attested elsewhere) of the rare substantive oliueta in feminine singular with the sense of 'gathering of olives'. Finally (§ 5) some considerations are offered on the possible sources used by Festus (hypothesising as intermediary the De obscuris Catonis of Verrius, which could in turn have drawn its note on the oliueta from the very passage of Cato attested by the panegyric) and by the panegyrist (for whom a direct knowledge of the speech of Cato is proposed).


Abstract The marked change in above-ground forest stand structure with elevation towards the alpine treeline has been widely recognized, while studies on altitudinal effects on the root system are still scarce. We studied Norway spruce stands along a 700-m-long elevational transect at Mount Brocken (Harz Mountains, central Germany) to test the hypothesis that fine root dry mass partitioning shows an inverse response to elevation towards the treeline compared to above-ground biomass. Microclimate measurements revealed that thermal conditions at the treeline of Mount Brocken are closely comparable to other treeline sites around the world. Above-ground structure did not differ significantly among stands at lower and mid elevations, but tree height and stem biomass decreased strongly with elevation upslope. Fine root biomass increased with elevation by a factor of nearly two. Annual fine root production was found to be highest at mid elevation but was only 40% lower than this maximum at the treeline. Consequently, the ratio of fine root production to above-ground stem biomass increased by a factor of 2–3 with elevation, indicating a strong shift of below- versus above-ground carbon allocation towards the treeline. We hypothesize that the enlargement of the fine root system at cold sites represents an adaptation to the unfavorable soil conditions, such as impaired nutrient supply.


The reaction of sulfur dichloride with the quinoline derivatives 1a–c gives the dithiinodiquinolines 2a–, whereas with 1e other products, namely quinolinyl sulfide 4 and chloroquinoline 5, are formed.


This paper provides an historical account of the governmental ambitions and unintended side-effects of a specific form of urban regulation in the city of Lagos, Nigeria. A counter-intuitive parable of "corruption", it describes the perversion of this law's original rationale, as it is transformed and redirected to serve the declared and undeclared interests of a wide range of urban actors. This account is brought into dialogue with studies in law and geography studies—particularly the concept of "Seeing Like a City"—that suggest we recognise such processes of transformation as politically ambivalent and necessary to the openness and vitality of urban life. Drawing on research methods from the field of Infrastructure Studies, the paper contributes to these literatures by speculating on the particular "actancy" of architecture in the construction and maintenance of this openness.


The invention relates to Chinese caterpillar fungus barley, which takes barley as a medium, and employs Cordyceps sinensis and cordyceps militaris for performing dixenie mixed solid state fermentation, which belongs to the technical field of biology engineering. According to the invention, barley is obtained through dixenie biotransformation, and has health preserving and health caring efficacy and good application prospect.


THEORETICAL APPROACHES Neo-Liberalism and Social Policy Towards a 'New' Social Democracy Marxism and Welfarism Feminist Critiques of Social Policy Racism and Social Policy CONCEPTUAL DEBATES IN SOCIAL POLICY Distributive Justice and Social Policy Citizenship, Social Solidarity and Social Policy Cultural Turns, Post-Structuralism and Social Policy Living in a Material World Postmodernism and Social Policy SOME CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL POLICY ISSUES Children, Social Policy and the State The Dichotomy of Care and Control 'Demographic Time Bomb', or 'Apocalyptic Demography' The Great Pensions Debate Social Policy and the Politics of Food Wage Supplementation, Social Policy and the State From then Old Poor Law to New Labour New Labour and the Management of Welfare Globalization and Social Policy


JOSPT offers invited reviews of current titles. The June 2006 column includes 8 reviews of the following books: Bone and Joint Disorders: Differential Diagnosis in Conventional Radiology; Pharmacology for Physical Therapists; Handbook of Fractures, 3rd Edition; First AID for the Orthopaedic Boards: A Resident-to-Resident Guide; Anatomical Guide for the Electromyographer: The Limbs and Trunk, 4th Edition; Management of Common Musculoskeletal Disorders: Physical Therapy Principles and Methods, 4th Edition; Challenging Cases in Spine Surgery; and Pilates for Rehab: A Guidebook to Integrating Pilates in Patient Care. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2006;36(6):439–443. doi:10.2519/jospt.2006.36.6.439


This work analyzed physicochemical effect of different types of Mexican clay soils in corrosion and stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behavior in contact with X60 and X65 steels. Four soils were obta...


Forests are one the main natural factors that regulate and determine climate, weather patterns and amount of CO2 of an area. With rapid industrialization and rapid urbanization there is a significant increase in deforestation and as a consequence rise in global mean surface temperatures. Rapid and unchecked cut down of forest cover has resulted in some of the worst disasters during the last decades. This paper focuses on studying the role of deforestation, its influence on climate change phenomena and its consequences in Pakistan.


In Australia each year there are approximately 3000 incidents of snake bite, resulting in 1 to 4 deaths. Of Australian snakebite fatalities, 60% are caused by brown snake envenomation. The most common effect brown snake venom has on the human body is venom-induced consumptive coagulopathy, which can lead to secondary conditions such as haemorrhage, microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia and acute kidney injury. The venom can also cause neurotoxicity, systemic symptoms, collapse and cardiac arrest. The purpose of this case study is to describe and investigate the acute kidney injury that occurred as a consequence of a bite from an Eastern Brown snake. The patient developed anuric acute kidney injury secondary to microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia and required haemodialysis (HD) for three weeks. This case study will describe the clinical events in detail, discuss the pathophysiology underlying the venom-induced consumptive coagulopathy and acute kidney injury that developed, and also reflect on the treatment of the patient including HD, antivenom and first aid. It is intended that this case study will contribute to the limited amount of evidence currently available, and help build the knowledge and preparedness of health professionals for similar situations.


A pot experiment was conducted to detennine the effect of ten days spell of drought, at tillering and flowering stages. Genotype IET 11677 showed highest grain yield/plant under moisture stress followed by Annada, IET 11675 and IET 11672. They have been identified as drought tolerant genotypes as they maintained higher relative water content and positive turgor inspite of reduced water potential under water stress and also had minimum water loss and optimum solute accumulation as a result of osmotic potential. Moisture stress, at anthesis, was more detrimental as compared to at tillering.


We exploit time variation in the degree of development of local credit markets and matched employer-employee data to assess the role of the firm as an internal credit market. Relative to firms located in more developed credit markets, firms operating in less developed local credit markets can offer a flatter wage-tenure profile to lend implicitly to their workers or a steeper profile to implicitly borrow from them. We find that firms operating in less financially developed markets offer lower entry wages but faster wage growth than those offered by firms in more financially developed markets, helping firms finance their operations by raising funds from workers. Because we control for local market effects and only exploit time variation in the degree of local financial development induced by an exogenous liberalization, the effect we find is unlikely to reflect unobserved local factors that systematically affect wage tenure profiles. The reliance on implicit credit flows is more important for firms with more difficult access to bank credit and for workers less likely to face credit constraints. The amount of credit generated by implicit lending within the firm is economically important and can be as large as 30% of bank lending. Consistent with credit market imperfections opening up trade opportunities within the firm, we find that the internal rate of return of implicit loans lies between the rate at which workers savings are remunerated in the market and the rate firms pay on their loans from banks. JEL Classification: J3, L2, G3.


Hemodynamic and antiarrhythmic effects of acediprol and ethacizine were examined in 51 patients with premature ventricular contraction concurrent with neurocirculatory dystonia and coronary heart disease. It was ascertained that acediprol exerted a positive inotropic action and ethacizine lowered myocardial contractility. Acediprol therapy prevents or attenuates the hypokinetic and arrhythmogenic effects of stimulated stress in patients with ischemic and non-ischemic arrhythmias. The preventive antiarrhythmic effect of acediprol is the most pronounced in patients with neurocirculatory dystonia. Ethacizine fails to improve hemodynamic supply of the stress test and enhances stress-related hypodynamia in some patients.


Abstract The ac conductivity data for the binary system Ag2SO4-Tl2SO4 are presented and interpreted in terms of a positive mixed cation effect on cation conductivity that has features in common with the positive mixed alkali/cation effects observed for Na2SO4-Rb2SO4 and Ag2SO4-Rb2SO4 systems, respectively. The data point to other factors, such as ion-ion interactions, bonding, or "lattice loosening," that can promote ionic conductivity in isomorphous structure sulfates along with the larger isovalent guest-ion-free volume contribution. The relatively constant activation energy for ionic conductivity, Qc = 45 ± 5 kJ/mole, indicates a quasi-equal intersite electrostatic potential energy for the mobile cation in the hexagonal structure and indicates that the defect formation enthalpy term is zero or negligible. The ion transport mechanism is interpreted to be of the percolation type with structural connectivity being the critical parameter. The DSC calorimetry data show interesting solid phase transition behavior. The dependence of the solid phase transition enthalpy, ΔHt, on composition is presented, along with the complete phase diagram for the Ag2SO4-TlSO4 system.


In this note we study packing or covering integer programs with at most k constraints, which are also known as k-dimensional knapsack problems. For any integer k > 0 and real epsilon > 0, we observe there is a polynomial-sized LP for the k-dimensional knapsack problem with integrality gap at most 1+epsilon. The variables may be unbounded or have arbitrary upper bounds. In the packing case, we can also remove the dependence of the LP on the cost-function, yielding a polyhedral approximation of the integer hull. This generalizes a recent result of Bienstock on the classical knapsack problem.


ABSTRACT Tuberculosis continues to be an important public health problem. Particularly considering Beijing-family strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which have been associated with drug-resistance and hypervirulence. The Beijing-like SIT190 (BL) is the most prevalent Beijing strain in Colombia. The pathogenic mechanism and immune response against this pathogen is unknown. Thus, we compared the course of pulmonary TB in BALB/c mice infected with Classical-Beijing strain 391 and BL strain 323. The disease course was different among infected animals with Classical-Beijing and BL strain. Mice infected with BL had a 100% mortality at 45 days post-infection (dpi), with high bacillary loads and massive pneumonia, whereas infected animals with Classical-Beijing survived until 60 dpi and showed extensive pneumonia and necrosis. Lung RNA extraction was carried out at early (day 3 dpi), intermediate (day 14 dpi), and late (days 28 and 60 dpi) time points of infection. Transcriptional analysis of infected mice with Classical-Beijing showed several over-expressed genes, associated with a pro-inflammatory profile, including those for coding for CCL3 and CCL4 chemokines, both biomarkers of disease severity. Conversely, mice infected with BL displayed a profile which included the over-expression of several genes associated with immune-suppression, including Nkiras, Dleu2, and Sphk2, highlighting an anti-inflammatory milieu which would allow high bacterial replication followed by an intense inflammatory response. In summary, both Beijing strains induced a non-protective immune response which induced extensive tissue damage, BL strain induced rapidly extensive pneumonia and death, whereas Classical-Beijing strain produced slower extensive pneumonia later associated with extensive necrosis. Abbreviations Mtb: Mycobacterium tuberculosis; SIT: Spoligotype International Type; TB: Tuberculosis; CTB: Classical-typical Beijing; BL: Beijing-Like; CCL3: Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 3 (CCL3); CCL4: Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand four (CCL4); WHO: World health Organization; DR: Direct Repeats; IFN-γ: Interferon Gamma; IL: Interleukin; TGF-β: Transforming Growth Factor Beta; XDR: Extremely Drug Resistant; MDR: Multi Drug Resistant; MIRU-VNTR: Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Units–Variable Number Tandem repeats; OADC: Oleic Albumin Dextrose Catalase; ATCC: American Type Culture Collection; MOI: Multiplicity of Infection; CFUs: Colony Forming Units; ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; qRT-PCR: Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR; RNA-seq: Ribonucleic Acid sequencing; RIN: RNA Integrity Number; RNA: Ribonucleic Acid; DNA: Deoxyribonucleic Acid; dsDNA HS: Double stranded Deoxyribonucleic Acid High Sensitivity; RAI: Red de Apoyo à la Investigacion, Mexico City, Mexico; DEG: Differential Expressed Genes; GO: Gene Ontology; KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes; ORA: Over-Representation Analysis; SNPs: Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms; TNFα: Tumoral necrosis factor alpha; DE: Differential Expression; EPA: Enrichment Pathways Analysis; TLR: Toll-Like receptor; NLRP: NOD-like receptor with Pyrin domain; tRNA: Transfer RNA; MAPK: Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase; NK: Natural killer; ATP: Adenosine Triphosphate; DGC: dystrophin-glycoprotein complex; PDIM: Ptiocerol Dimicocerosate; NCBI: National Center for Bioinformatics Information


The present work is devoted to the detailed study of the turbulent heat transfer problem in a pipe flow with variable fluid properties subjected to highly non-uniform heat flux distribution on the pipe surface. This problem aims to be representive of the conditions found in the tubes of heat receivers in Solar Power Tower (SPT) plants where sun radiation is converted into electric energy. The operational and economical performance of SPT plants rely on an accurate prediction of the thermal field, sometimes beyond the current semi-empirical approach to the heat transfer problem. Moreover, this study might be of interest for many other heat transfer applications in engineering. The primary intention of this thesis is to shed some light on the influence of the circumferentiallyvarying heat flux conditions and of the temperature-dependent fluid properties in the statistics of a fully-developed turbulent flow. To that end, we create and analyze a numerical database modifying the main flow parameters of interest: the friction Reynolds number (Retau = 180 − 360), the Prandtl number (Pr = 0.7 − 4), the heat flux distribution and the sensitivity to temperature of the fluid variables. From the analysis, we observe that, while the friction Reynolds number has little effect on the temperature distribution on the pipe wall, the impact of the Prandtl number is significant. This is of importance for the heat receiver application, as the maximum flow temperature at the inner wall, the so-called film temperature, might be always below certain limit. Another important outcome from the analysis of a case with a heated half of the pipe but cooled in the other half is that, because of the influence of the variable fluid properties, the temperature turbulent fluctuations are enhanced near the cold wall but damped near the hot wall. This behavior is seen to reduce the maximum temperature peaks in the flow while maintaining a similar wall temperature distribution. The variation of the fluid properties are also shown to induce small but discernible secondary velocities in the pipe cross-plane. These velocities are responsible of a non negligible contribution to the heat flux from the heated wall to the cooled wall. To gain a deeper insight in the turbulent heat transfer phenomena, we perform a modal decomposition of the instantaneous velocity and temperature fields to extract the information on the most energetic coherent structures in the flow. The use of a relatively new technique, Extended Proper Orthogonal Decomposition, allows us to discern how the velocity fluctuations are correlated to the temperature fluctuations, hence increasing our knowledge in the heat transfer process. From this analysis, we characterize the modes that are responsible of the heat transport in the pipe crossplane, obtaining that the scales of the structures bringing hot fluid from the heated wall to the pipe core are strongly affected by the Prandtl number.


Many pollution problems have been refered in the teaching material of Middle School chemistry , but lack of detailed example. Here pollution problems and examples have been refered in detail in the paper.


The present invention provides a data storage systems having barriers that may reduce erasure flux and increase write-ability are provided. Data storage systems include a writing element. The writing element has a write pole with a flare region. A magnetic flux barrier is located along the write pole flare region. The magnetic flux barrier is illustratively made from an in-plane magnetically anisotropic material that has an easy plane of magnetization. In another embodiment, a data storage system includes a writing element having an air bearing surface and a shield at the air bearing surface. The shield has a magnetic permeability of approximately zero. The shield illustratively includes alternating layers of positive and negative permeabilities. The shield optionally includes a plurality of shields that may include top, bottom, and side shields.


Background It is generally accepted the association between hyperopic peripheral defocus and myopia progression. To search for a good optical method to slow the myopia progression for the children who need long-time near work, we compared the effects of novel multifocal soft contact lenses (MFSCLs) with single vision soft contact lenses (SVSCLs) on peripheral refraction when looking at both distant and near targets. Methods The refraction of 25 young myopic subjects' right eye were measured at horizontal retina eccentricities in 10º steps from 30º temporal to 30º nasal, with no correction (baseline), novel MFSCLs and SVSCLs when looking at distant (5 m) and near (0.4 m) targets. Results Subjects wearing MFSCLs presented significantly more myopic relative peripheral refractive error (RPRE) profile than SVSCLs at all horizontal retina eccentricities when looking at distant targets (all p<0.01). Compared with looking at distant targets, subjects wearing SVSCLs or MFSCLs showed a hyperopic shift of peripheral defocus when looking at near targets, owning to the effects of accommodative lag and hyperopic RPRE change during accommodation (except T20º and T30º wearing SVSCLs and N30º wearing MFSCLs, p=0.822, p=0.950, p=0.390, respectively, all other eccentricities p<0.05). But subjects wearing MFSCLs could still maintain a certain magnitude of myopic peripheral defocus at horizontal retina eccentricities when looking at near targets (T20° and T30°, p=0.023 and p<0.001, respectively). Conclusions The novel MFSCLs imposed strong myopic peripheral defocus when looking at distant targets. They also maintain a certain magnitude of myopic peripheral defocus when looking at near targets, regardless of the hyperopic effect of accommodation lag and hyperopic shift in RPRE during accommodation.


This study was carried out to assess how rapid social changes have affected breastfeeding practices in a major ethnic groups in Nigeria and to determine the extent of use of infant formula and the influencing factors in the community. 496 mothers in the urban area of Enugu and 543 in the rural area of Mbaise were interviewed by means of a detailed questionnaire. Breastfeeding on demand was a common practice among mothers in the rural areas whereas most mothers in the urban area breast fed mainly in the morning and later in the afternoon after work. The duration of breastfeeding also varied between both groups with urban mothers introducing infant formula 2 months after birth and very few of them breastfeeding up to 9 months. The multiple roles that urban mothers attempt to fulfil culminate in an urban stress which is a major factor affecting undisturbed breastfeeding. In the rural areas 45% of the mothers introduced artificial feeding between 3-6 months after delivery. This was mainly due to the status symbol attached to bottle feeding especially among the young non-elite mothers. An important contributing factor to the practice of prolonged breastfeeding in the rural areas was the support of the extended family resulting in less stress for the rural mothers. It is clear that with increased opportunities for women in Nigeria the practice of regular breastfeeding will be interrupted and many of the mothers will resort to infant formula. The government can assume an active role in safeguarding the practice by reviewing the labor laws which affect the working mother; womens organizations in Nigeria can also play a more active role in the promotion of breastfeeding.


The structures of underivatized di- and tripeptides may be determined from a consideration of the collision-induced dissociations of their [M—H]− ions. There are three types of fragmentation, viz. (i) the backbone cleavage which provides sequencing information, (ii) α side-chain cleavage irrespective of the position of the amino acid residue, and (iii) cleavages which are characteristic of amino acid residues in specific positions, in particular the N- or C-terminal positions.


Adjustment is a process by which a living organism maintains a balance between the needs and the circumstances. For living a happy and prosperous life emotional intelligence and adjustment is a pre-requisite condition. In every sphere of life, starting from birth till death we need healthy adjustment. The present study was conducted with the purpose to find out the relationship between emotional intelligence and adjustment on Academic Achievement of Pre secondary school students of Dharwad District. The study was conducted on a sample of 100 Boys and Girls students of 9th class studying in Dharwad District. In the present study, descriptive survey method was employed the collected data was analyzed with the help of correlation. The results of the present study showed that higher the emotional intelligence and the adjustment on Academic Achievement of Pre secondary school students of Dharwad District.


Objective: To develop an educational technology for people living with an implantable heart device.Methods: This is a methodological study carried out in the period from August 2020 to April 2021, carried out in two stages: integrative literature review and elaboration of educational technology.Results: Based on the evidence, it was possible to list generating themes such as the perception of people living with an implantable cardiac device, which served as the basis for the creation of a podcast entitled "Alphabet of the pacemaker", with self-care guidelines from A to Z for the after time implantation of the device.Conclusions: The construction of evidence-based educational technology is a strategy to subsidize health educational practices and pacemaker users' understanding of health care after device deployment.


Adrian Wilding: In their article, Mark and Paul Engler draw an important contrast between the 'prefigurative' and 'strategic' dimensions of revolutionary movements. Giving a brief history of the former (drawn primarily from American experience), they explain in engaging terms what is at stake in revolutionaries choosing to prefigure in the here-and-now the sort of egalitarian and emancipated existence which they want for society at large. As someone who has emphasised the prefigurative aspect of recent struggles – such as the global Occupy movement – as a key to understanding them, I'm sympathetic to Engler and Engler here.


A characterization of normal distributions of two independent random vari- ables X and Y with a finite E(X 2 ) basedon the linearity of E(X | X + Y) andthe ho- moscedasticity of var(X | X + Y) given by Rao (1976) is provedto be stable.


An easily implementable signal conditioning circuit for resistive humidity and temperature sensors is presented. It is based on a relaxation oscillator in which both the frequency and the duty-cycle of the square-wave output signal simultaneously carry information from two different types of sensors. The output frequency is linearly related to the resistive unbalance of an active bridge, whereas the duty-cycle is independently controlled by a thermal sensor for controlling temperature error of the humidity sensor (RH). The design, analysis, and experimental characterization of the circuit and its application to a sol-gel thin film porous γ-Al2O3-based humidity sensor and resistance temperature detector are reported. Experimental results confirm the theoretical value predicted. The circuit covering wide resistance measurement range has the potential for remotely monitoring measurement parameters accurately.


The relationship between international trade agreements and federalism, particularly federalism in the United States, increasingly receives attention among policy makers and scholars. As part of the exploration of this topic, it is appropriate to ask a somewhat more narrow question focusing on the interaction between international trade agreements and state legislators (as distinct from other statewide office holders and federalism generally). However, any examination of this interaction cannot be done in a vacuum. Indeed, a comparative examination of the relationship between international trade agreements and federal legislators is necessary to place in proper context, or to best gauge, the interaction between such agreements and state legislators.


Specific heat, magnetic susceptibility and pair correlation functions are calculated exactly for classical dimerized Heisenberg chains. Extension to the case of arbitrary spin dimensionality is also made.


Perovskite solar cells achieved high efficiencies but they suffer from the hysteresis of (J-V) curve that depends on the scan direction. The architecture introduced in this paper is hole –free cell with Reduced Graphene Oxide (RGO) as a dopant. The good electrical and optical properties of (RGO) make it acts as a hole transfer layer (HTL) beside its basic role as a dopant of carbon counter electrode. For different areas, the hysteresis decreases by decreasing the cell area. The TiO2/CH3NH3PbI3-xClx interface is truly responsible for the hysteresis in the Perovskite solar cells due to the dependence of the porosity from area to other.


S OF MEMOIRS. 515 Hydrographical Observations in the Labrador Current in 1913. By Donald J. Matthews. (Report on the work carried out by the ss. "Scotia," 1913. H.M. Stationery Office, London, 1914.) THE Scotia was sent out by the Board of Trade in the spring of 1913, under the command of Capt. T. Eobertson, to make observations on the amount of ice collected in the Labrador Current to the northwards of the liner tracks, which might prove a danger to shipping later in the year. She was fitted with apparatus for hydrographical work to a depth of 550 fathoms and for meteorological and plankton investigations. The scientific staff consisted of Mr. G-. I. Taylor (meteorologist), Mr. L. K. Crawshay (biologist), and the writer. The Scotia left Dundee on March 8th, but was much hindered by bad weather, and 'did not get clear of the Hebrides till March 23rd. She reached St. John's, Newfoundland, on April 14th, having passed a group of bergs on the Flemish Cap. The Scotia left St. John's again on April 23rd, and steamed first southwards to Cape Eace and 1 hen south-sastwards across the Banks to the deep water. The surface water had a temperature between 1-5° and 0°; in the deep channel under the coast a minimum of —1-5° or less was reached at 40 fathoms and extended to the bottom in 90 fathoms off St. John's ; near Cape Race the lower layers were somewhat warmer. This temperature distribution, with a minimum at some intermediate depth, is characteristic of polar waters; it was not found on the Banks. Warm salt water was encountered off the south-aasiern edge of the Banks. The next run was made northwards along the edge of the Banks and then eastwards beyond the Flemish Cap, and large numbers of icebergs were sighted in spite of almost continuous fog. The Labrador Current extended seawards as far as the western edge of the Flemish Cap ; eastwards of this the bergs were melting rapidly in relatively warm high salinity water. Between the Cap and the Banks the polar water was underlaid by water with a s.linity of over 34, but the vertical changes


In AR advertising on mobile devices, a user usually interacts with 3D objects through touchscreens. Most AR advertising so far, however, has stayed at the level of simply touching the object's outside, and little attention has been paid to interactions with 3D inner objects. This paper re-defines the gestures required to select an inner 3D object in AR advertising, and proposes interactions corresponding to each gesture.


Objective. To determine health-state utility (HSU) values for type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with various clinical conditions in China, and to examine how these conditions are correlated with HSU values. Methods. A consecutive sample of T2D patients was recruited from a tertiary hospital in Suzhou, China. HSU values of T2D patients were measured using the EQ-5D-5L, a new version of the EQ-5D. T2D patients' clinical data were collected from the survey and the clinical examination; sociodemographic data were obtained from the survey. Ordinary least square (OLS) models were employed to estimate the impact of clinical conditions on HSU values controlling for sociodemographic conditions. Nonparametric biased-corrected and accelerated (BCA) bootstrap was used to calculate the 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results. A total of 289 T2D patients provided data. The mean HSU value of the sample was 0.876 (standard deviation: 0.14), with a median of 0.895 (range: −0.063 to 1). Using the OLS model and BCA bootstrap, the impact of significant conditions on HSU values and 95% CIs are as follows: neuropathy (−0.057, [−0.093, −0.017]), heart disease (−0.074, [−0.122, −0.018]), cerebrovascular disease (−0.160, [−0.287, −0.030]), and increasing diabetes duration (−0.004, [−0.007, −0.001]). Conclusion. The HSU values estimated can be used to assess the cost-effectiveness of health care interventions for T2D patients in China.


Despite the increasing prevalence of rotating-style capture (e.g., surveillance cameras), conventional stereo rectification techniques frequently fail due to the rotation-dominant motion and small baseline between views. In this paper, we tackle the challenge of performing stereo rectification for uncalibrated rotating cameras. To that end, we propose Depth-from-Rotation (DfR), a novel image rectification solution that analytically rectifies two images with two-point correspondences and serves for further depth estimation. Specifically, we model the motion of a rotating camera as the camera rotates on a sphere with fixed latitude. The camera's optical axis lies perpendicular to the sphere's surface. We call this latitudinal motion assumption. Then we derive a 2-point analytical solver from directly computing the rectified transformations on the two images. We also present a self-adaptive strategy to reduce the geometric distortion after rectification. Extensive synthetic and real data experiments demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms existing works in effectiveness and efficiency by a significant margin.


A century ago the area known as New York's Lower East Aside was among the most depressed neighborhoods in the city. As Milton Meltzer has noted, it had the distinction of being "the most crowded slum district in the city, and probably in the world," with an 1890 population density of 37 persons per dwelling (73-75)-half a million people in a tight comer of Manhattan. Strangely enough, the Lower East Side is also a central location of a great deal of American popular culture. A steady flow of creative works have emanated from the tenements at the edge of the Big Apple. The avant-garde movement of the Lower East Side in the early 1960s--when it turned, for some people at least, into the "East Village"--was a remarkable period. Grim though the walk-ups might have been, the atmosphere of creative and artistic energy was exhilarating. There was a ludic buoyancy--perhaps from hunger, or too much herbal tea. Maybe it was because there was so much jazz in the air, maybe because the poets knew the musicians who knew the painters who knew the dancers. Historians like to fix and x-ray avant-garde movements and analyze them in terms of process or product. Those who find themselves attracted to such vortices, however, know that the avant-garde is less about change in the arts than it is about genuine experimentation in social relations. "America in the fifties," writes Ron Sukenick in Down and In: Life in the Underground, "had large numbers of people in what today would be cared internal exile, a condition creating a kind of subversive sensibility maybe best described by the title Herb Gold refused to relinquish, The Man Who Was Not With It. In this mode, even screwing up became a form of resistance" (96). The artistic circles attracted people who were well-educated, curious about other cultures, and widely read. The work of African American writers and artists on the Lower East Side scene was directly influenced by the low-rent cosmopolitanism of their environs. As Michel Oren notes in his excellent study of the Umbra grou, the general freedom of the neighborhood made itself felt in the Umbra poets' life styles and in their poems. From 1960 to 1965 the "LES" was also the locus of a "ferment" in American letters that revolved around a series of coffee-house poetry readings, just as in the '50s and early '60s the single 10th Street block between Third and Fourth Avenues had been home to seven co-op art galleries ... and hangout of the Abstract Expressionists. (185) The relative freedom that Oren speaks of in this passage is more specifically characterized in his quotation from Brenda Walcott to the effect that the neighborhood atmosphere was one of "|a shaky truce'" between its diverse ethnic and socio-economic factions. Bohemian artists are, by definition, people determined not to do what is expected of them. They are usually bright enough to aspire to leadership yet educated enough to feel dissatisfied and skeptical. Often, if they are from minority groups that feel oppressed, they are also the carefully prepared but unwitting vicars of their elders' desire. Some of the younger artists came to the Lower East Side from the South or Midwest. Others, like poet David Henderson, were "uptown boys downtown." In my own case, I was a kid from Long Island who thought he had only one river to cross. To all comers, the Lower East Side offered what La Boheme has always offered--a range of possibilities from the creatively electrifying to the irremediably lethal. What had once been the "heartland of Yiddish culture" soon was distinguished, according to Judd L. Teller, by "the imprint of three distinctive and separate segments--the Puerto Ricans, the Ukrainians who entered the United States from Germany after World War II, and the New Bohemians" (251-52). It is clear, though, that something of the intellectual vivacity that had marked the Cafe Royal in the 1920s and '30s was still alive in coffeehouses such as the Deux Megots and the Metro, where a new generation of poets held forth, debated the same isms, and quarreled about matters having nothing to do with Parnassus. …


Over the p a s t t e n y e a r s a number o f a l l i e d h e a l t h programs i n Community C o l l e g e s i n Canada have implemented modular l ea rn ing , a s a new i n s t r u c t i o n a l approach t o h e a l t h c a r e e d u c a t i o n . S t u d e n t s a r e g i v e n s e l f i n s t r u c t i o n a l packages w i t h t h e i n t e n t t h a t t h e y w i l l i n t e r a c t with t h e i n s t r u c t i o n a l ma te r i a l r a t h e r than the teacher . T h i s s t u d y under took t o examine t h e t e a c h e r s t r e a c t i o n t o t h e changes i n t h e i r teaching, e x p e r i e n c e and comfor t l e v e l i n t h e new de l ive ry system. F o u r t e e n f a c u l t y members f a m i l i a r w i t h and c u r r e n t l y u s i n g modules a s the primary i n s t r u c t i o n a l mode i n an a l l i e d h e a l t h program were t h e s o u r c e s o f d a t a . Each f a c u l t y member was interviewed and these in te rv iews were t ranscr ibed. They were then analyzed and themes b developed. Two themes rep resen t key f ind ings . F i r s t , s tuden t at tendance a t c l a s s and the studentteacher i n t e r a c t i o n a r e r e l a t e d t o the t eacher ' s comfor t l e v e l i n a new i n s t r u c t i o n a l mode. Second, t h e t e a c h i n g s t r a t e g i e s used i n t h e c l a s s r o o m f r e q u e n t l y r e f l e c t t h e p e r s o n a l cherished b e l i e f s of the teacher r a t h e r than t h e philosophy of modular l e a r n i n g described i n the l i t e r a t u r e . The d a t a i n d i c a t e t h a t what a l l i e d h e a l t h programs i n community


Abstract Although empirical studies show that suppliers' innovativeness enhances original equipment manufacturers' (OEM) total innovation performance, some evidence reveals that suppliers' innovation affects OEM in quantitatively and qualitatively limited ways. This study aims to explore innovation systems of European automobile producers, i.e., OEM. Technological innovation systems (TIS) remain relatively underexplored, but the approach is especially valuable for explaining why and how sustainable and circular innovation develop and spread. We applied a mixed-method approach and conducted patent analyses and interviews with 20 respondents from Slovenia, Austria, and Hungary, which are representatives of suppliers for the automotive industry and automotive clusters. We confirm that the European OEMs build innovation ecosystems that are more closed than their Asian counterparts. Furthermore, we define three paths of how inventions of suppliers can reach the OEMs, with developmental suppliers (large companies) having the highest probability of influencing the innovation activity of OEMs. The entry of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and start-ups with their inventions is difficult. However, it is not impossible, especially if they develop new solutions connected to current disruptive trends in the automotive industry: electric cars, autonomous driving and digitalisation.


A algorithm based on information fusion technology and GA-SVM is worked out in order to predict the gas concentration value more accurately. First,using fusion technology,the original correlation data are reconstructed and viewed as the data base. According to the optimization of penalty factor C and regression parameter w of the support vector machine based on genetic algorithm optimization,a coal multisensor prediction model is built. The results show that the performance of multi-sensor based on GA-SVM and information fusion technology is improved greatly,and the range of gas concentration can be predict accurately. The ideal curve can be fitted based on the predicted values,thus the trend of gas concentration can be tracked effectively.


The special requirements for library's digital monitoring project was introduced. According to the platform requirement and the unique architectural layout of specific projects,the specific design ideas and implement method of the library were explained,so as to provide the reference for similar design.


We report a structure that is characterized by a localized increase in porosity or dilation within a tabular band of on average 1–2 mm thickness in porous, poorly consolidated sand. These dilation bands formed in predominantly opening‐mode and provide a sharp contrast to planar opening‐mode fractures or joints with two discrete surfaces in consolidated, low porosity brittle rock. Our observation of dilation bands, together with previously recognized shear and compaction bands, complete the spectrum of localized deformation modes along tabular bands in poorly consolidated sand and sandstone consistent with recent theoretical predictions of deformation localization in granular media.


Phenyl 1-azulenylα-diketone when heated with triethyl phosphite in the presence of catalytic amounts of sodium ethylate is reduced to benzyl 1-azulenyl ketone.


As a national Ⅱ protected plant in China,Tilia amurensis Rupr. is an important tree species for nectar source,medicine and landscape. The resources of ectomycorrhizae colonizing T. amurensis were investigated in three typical distribution areas of T. amurensis in Heilongjiang Province. A total of 18 ectomycorrhizal types were grouped by observing morphological and anatomical characteristics of T. amurensis-associated ectomycorrhizae,of which 13 were formed by basidiomycetes,1 by ascomycytes,and 4 unknown. Our study provides a morphological basis for mycorrhizal seedlings of T. amurensis.


Uveal melanoma is the most common primary ocular malignancy in adults. There are about 0.6-0.8 new patients per 100,000 inhabitants (in Europe). Several studies have demonstrated that complete removal of the tumour by enucleation is not advantageous compared with conservative therapies in terms of metastatic spread and survival. The primary treatment for uveal melanoma depends on many factors: size, location, extraocular extension, visual function, age and performance status.


In this paper we consider infinite dimensional systems subjected to stochastic structured multiperturbations. We address the problem of robustness optimization with respect to state feedback but allow both unbounded input and perturbations. Conditions are derived for the existence of a stabilizing controller ensuring that the norm of the closed loop operator below a prespecified bound. Such controllers will be called suboptimal controllers. The suboptimality conditions are obtained in terms of a Riccati equation which satisfies an operator inequality. Finally, we give a lower bound for the supremal achievable stability radius via the Riccati equation.


The bioeconomy is a new market field that was not considered when most of the existing regula-tions were drafted in several areas, including, for example, regulations on the end-of-life (EOL) stage of plastics. Consequentially, even though an EU bioeconomy strategy exists, a coherent and coor-dinated policy framework is still missing1. In addition, the lack of necessary mechanisms (e.g. regu-lative carbon pricing) and the fact that existing policies and standards are mostly based only on fossil-based products (e.g. existing EOL schemes are focused on fossil-based products and do not consider bio-based counterparts) are hampering the development of the bioeconomy.


The article offers an analysis of the situation of human rights in Cuba, taking into account the legal framework established by the new Constitution. When Raul Castro took office, he implemented economic changes which were not translated into the political sphere. On the contrary, human rights violations continued, and in some cases have increased. The research presented here is based on interviews conducted between 2016 and 2019 in different cities in Cuba and the follow-up of information in different media sources on illegal arrests on the island. The main goal is to ascertain the intensity of human rights violations in Cuba. Received : 31 octubre 2019 Accepted : 13 abril 2020 Published online : 26 June 2020


Abstract A diminishing prospect-inventory, based on traditional structural targets, has placed increasing emphasis upon finding commercially-viable stratigraphic traps. This is especially true in the Barrow-Dampier Rift where recent drilling has identified at least twelve depositional sequences within the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous succession. These sequences document a far more complex Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous sedimentary history than previously recognized using traditional lithostratigraphic mapping techniques. Use of a chronostratigraphic framework to develop a Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous systems tract model reveals that several repetitive facies suites may be penetrated by the drill, depending on geographic location and frequency of lowstand events. These models have profound implications for prediction of Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous submarine fan systems, their potential reservoir distribution, and sealing capacity for hydrocarbon entrapment. Sequence boundary development is closely related to major tectonically-induced changes in basin architecture associated with progressive continental breakup of Easfem Gondwana. Deposition of Callovian to Oxfordian sequences, for example, occurred whilst the Barrow and Dampier sub-basins were two distinct structural entities separated by a complex intra-basinal arch. In this context, early Callovian to Oxfordian basin-floor sand cycles were locally confined to the rift margins and peri-rift terraces, forming mixed channel lobe and fan mound forms. Kimmeridgian to Tithonian depositional sequences, however, are more widespread with sediment transport of up to 40 km. These followed marked submergence of the intra-basinal arch, allowing widening of the sub-basins into one tectonic entity, giving rise to deposition of thick, detached, non-channelised lobes. During the following Early Cretaceous succession, the southern Barrow Rift was completely inundated by the Barrow fluvio-deltaic system, deposited orthogonally to the pre-existing Jurassic rift trend. Continuous delta-switching and episodic disruptions to sediment supply were caused by syndepositional tectonism and/or eustatic sea level fluctuations producing widespread lowstand deposits. Major hydrocarbon reserves are trapped in both fluvio-deltaic and submarine fan reservoirs of the Barrow Delta system. In the Dampier sub-basin, where a more complete and thicker Kimmeridgian to Tithonian interval exists, identified sequences demonstrate an apparent synchroneity with the world-wide global eustasy curve, especially with third-order cycles. This may be a function of the effect of the breakup of Eastern Gondwana on accommodation space and eustasy on a global scale.


The authors propose a method of producing virtual mezzotint using a physics-based rendering approach. Mezzotint is a traditional copperplate printing technique. An important characteristic is its gradations from black to white. This is acquired in three phases during the plate-making process, i.e., by roughening, scraping, and burnishing. Numerous dots and burrs are created with a rocker in the roughening phase over the entire surface of the copper plate to obtain black areas in the print. The burrs are removed in the second phase with a scraper to yield halftones. The plate surface is finally polished with a burnisher in the last phase to produce the white areas. A method of simulating these phases and physical phenomena is discussed in this paper to make mezzotint enjoyable even for beginners and children. Zigzag-stroke patterns and paraboloidal-dot models are applied to the rocker to simulate the roughening phase. Reducing and smoothing models are applied to the scraper and burnisher to simulate the scraping and burnishing phases. The feasibility of the proposed method is demonstrated by observing and comparing actual and virtual plate surfaces with determined patterns and actual pieces of handcrafted work.


Thisstudy adds to the body of knowledgeon Students Work-Study Programm e from the Nigerian perspective. Relying on raw data of 72 Work -Study Students,who participated in this prograrmme in the last two years,the study tries to investigate if


Some questions concerning the existence of time and the validity of Einstein's equations as a quantum-mechanical mean have arisen in the development of semiclassical gravity applied to cosmology. The first is a technical question which concerns the choice of a certain class of solutions. We here show that this is a ``gauge'' choice where we follow the work of Mead and Berry. The ``Berry phase'' turns out to be related to the time integral of the energy. The second question is concerned with the justification of the use of the mean matter energy to drive the cosmological expansion. This is shown to be valid in an inflationary universe. At the same time one obtains the Schr\"odinger equation for matter in conformity with previous work where these particular questions were not addressed. All of this means that cosmology as a theory of the mean is meaningful.


ABSTRACT Vestibular Neuritis (VN) joins to the most significant public health concern. A lot of videonystagmographic (VNG) datasets are admitted to clinical assessment methods, which impose a serious problem in term of complexity. The aim of this work is to develop a simple, fast and intelligent method to identify subjects with a high risk of VN disease. This paper proposes a real-time digital signal controller (dsPIC) based system with a digital output display indicating the VN existence. The clinical feature inputs are extracted from the current VNG analysis. The proposed method has been experimented on a database including 73 patients affected by vestibular neuritis (VN) proceeded with saccadic, kinetic and caloric tests for basic measures. Moreover, the VNG characteristics are divided into two groups: VN and HL cases. The obtained classification results have achieved the best precision when applying the supervised multilayer neural network (MNN). As stated in the performance assessment, we recorded more than 0.9576 for accuracy of detected vestibular neuritis supplied by ENT pathologists which reveals the highest Positive Predictive Values with the specialist's result (PPV = 0.9528, Negative Likehood ratio <0.2). This framework shows ENT application of vestibular dysfunction as a successful tool for automatic VN evaluation without expert intervention.


Metafibers expand the functionalities of conventional optical fibers to unprecedented nanoscale light manipulations by integrating metasurfaces on the fiber tips, becoming an emerging light-coupling platform for both nanoscience and fiber optics communities. Mostly exploring the isolated bare fibers, current metafibers remain as proof-of-concept demonstrations due to a lack of standard interfaces with the universal fiber networks. Here, we develop new methodologies to fabricate well-defined plasmonic metasurfaces directly on the end facets of commercial single mode fiber jumpers using standard planar technologies and provide a first demonstration of their practical applications in the nonlinear optics regime. Featuring plug-play connections with fiber circuitry and arbitrary metasurfaces landscapes, the metafibers with tunable plasmonic resonances are implemented into fiber laser cavities, yielding all-fiber sub-picosecond (minimum 513 fs) soliton mode locked lasers at optical wavelengths of 1.5 μm and 2 μm, demonstrating their unusual polarimetric nonlinear transfer functions and superior saturation absorption responses. Novel insights into the physical mechanisms behind the saturable absorption of plasmonic metasurfaces are provided. The nanofabrication process flow is compatible with existing cleanroom technologies, offering metafibers an avenue to be a regular member of functionalized fiber components. The work paves the way towards next generation of ultrafast fiber lasers, optical frequency combs, optical neural networks and ultracompact "all-in-fibers" optical systems for sensing, imaging, communications, and many others.


In the recent years the synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials has been one of the most efficacious way to produce new materials with improved or completely new properties. The polymer-clay nanocomposites are one of the most interesting nanomaterials with the possibility to create a myriad of new materials with many applications. Lamellar materials are classified as two-dimensional (2D), because there are formed by platelets piled up in one crystallographic direction, as the graphite and clays. The synthesis of controlled dimensional nanostructures as well as the characterization of the intrinsic and potentially peculiar properties of these nanostructures are central themes in nanoscience. The study of different nanostructures has great potential to test and understand fundamental concepts about the role of particle dimensionality on their physicochemical properties. Among the various materials studied in the literature, undoubtedly, polymer-clay materials, especially conducting polymers with smectite clays, such as montmorillonites (MMT) are of particular note. Our group have paid many efforts in the characterization of nanomaterials by using powerful spectroscopic techniques to study both the guest and host in case of inclusion compounds, nanofibers, carbon allotropes or many phases present in polymer-clay nanocomposites. There are two central questions that it was possible to address in this study: (i) the molecular structure of the polymer is drastically changed inside the interlayer cavity of clay and (ii) by using the appropriate synthetic or heating route is possible to change the molecular structure of the confined polymer. In the follow lines, it is briefly told the main aspects of resonance Raman and X-ray absorption spectroscopies in the study of polymer-clay nanocomposites.


This experiment has quantified the methane abatement potential of nitrate in the context of extensively managed cattle. The experimental protocol consisted of two, 4 x 4 Latin square design using eight rumen fistulated Bos indicus steers fed Flinders grass (Iseilema spp.) hay ad libitum. The treatments were Control (nil nitrogen supplement), urea (32.5 g/day urea) and two levels of calciumnitrate: CaN1 and CaN2 (to provide 4.6 g and 7.9 g NO3/kg DM equivalent to similar to 0.46% and 0.80% of DM, respectively). Complete supplement intake was ensured by dosing any supplement that had not been voluntarily consumed, through the rumen fistula, 1 h after feeding. Enteric methane production was measured using open circuit respiration chambers. Methane yield (g/kg DM intake) from the CaN2 treatment tended to be lower (P < 0.07) than either the Control or urea treatments. There were no significant differences in methane yield between Control, urea or CaN1 treatments. Mean blood methaemoglobin concentrations were significantly (P < 0.001) higher for CaN2 animals compared with the Control, urea or CaN1 treatments. In addition, a significant time effect after dosing (P < 0.001) and a significant interaction between treatment and time after dosing (P < 0.001) was apparent. Overall mean total volatile fatty acid concentration was 74.0 +/- 1.53 mM with no significant treatment effect, but a significant effect for both time of sampling (3 h vs 6 h) within days and among 7 sampling days. The inclusion of calcium nitrate as a non-protein-N source significantly reduced the molar proportions of butyrate (P < 0.001), iso-butyrate (P < 0.05) and iso-valerate (P < 0.001) compared with the Control. The provision of nitrate supplements, providing both a NPN and an alternative sink for H that would otherwise support enteric methanogenesis, has some potential. In extensive grazing systems effective methane abatement strategies are required. The elevated concentration of MetHb using CaN2 suggests that the strategy of replacing urea with nitrate in supplements fed to extensively managed cattle in the northern rangelands may be inappropriate where supplement intake cannot be controlled on an individual animal basis and forage quality is seasonally variable.


The aim of this research was to know how the content of lead in the river, the meat and the shell of lobsters at the Alalak River of Berangas Area. The kind of this research was descriptive research, which was to describe something of the condition according to nature. Instruments used consists of some tools and materials. The tools were : Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry, bucket, and stoppered glasses and water and lobsters as materials. The method of this research was a descriptive method. Procedures of this research were to take off the water, and lobster samples are done with direct observation in the field which consisted of four sampling points. The water samples were entered into the bucket, and the lobster samples were entered into the stoppered glasses. Technical measurement of Pb at the water and the meat, as well as the skin of the lobsters, using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry tool. The Pb content tests of water were done at the Health Laboratory of Banjarmasin, whereas Pb content tests of the meat and the skin of lobsters were done in the Basic Laboratory of MIPA Banjarbaru. The results showed that the Pb contents in water were average of 0.0208 mg/l. It was below the threshold of quality standard (0.3 mg/l) based on regulation of South Kalimantan Governor No. 05 in 2007. The averages of Pb contents in the meat of lobsters were 5.147 mg/Kg, and in the skin of lobsters were 15.02 mg/Kg. The Pb content of the meat and the skin of the lobsters were upper the threshold of quality standards (0.1 mg/Kg) based on decision of Dirjen POM no. 03725/VII/1989. So, people should reduce to consume the lobsters from Alalak River especially communities of Berangas and its around areas.


With the exception of certolizumab-pegol, biologic agents for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) cross the placenta and are measurable in newborns' blood


Abstract Data collected from a controlled grazing trial, in which the quality and quantity of kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) and Coastcross II (Cynodon hybrid) pastures fertilized at 2 nitrogen levels (150 and 300 kg N/ha/a) and stocked at 3 stocking rates (8,05,10,74 and 13,42 steers/ha) were related to animal performance. The individual variables significantly describing ADG were stocking rate (R2 = 0,86) and disc height (R2 = 0,70) (P < 0,01). The quality variables, however, were less successful in describing ADG (percentage: crude fibre (R2 = 0,47), calcium (R2 = 0,63) and the Ca:Pratio (R2 = 0,49). When all the variables monitored were analysed using the multiple regression technique, ADG was found to be a function of the number of days spent on the pasture, stocking rate, nitrogen level, nitrogen/pasture type interaction, animal liveweight, disc height lagged and the disc height lagged/pasture type interaction. The variance accounted for by this function was 90,3 %. However, the use of this functi...


Salvia officinalis (sage) belongs to the Lamiaceae (Labiatae) family. Sage is a native of the Mediterranean region, although it has become naturalized in many places throughout the world, and is widely cultivated for medicinal and culinary use. The curative properties of sage are well recognized, and fresh leaves have been used to relieve bumps, sores, wounds, cuts, and other skin injuries. Despite its widespread use, allergic reactions to sage have rarely been reported. Here, we document a patient who developed contact dermatitis to sage after applying a lip balm to relieve dry lips.


For nine Mira-type stars (o Cet, R Leo, S Car, U Her, X Oph, R Aql, RR Aql, S Ori, S Scl,) and one semi-regular star (L2 Pup), the mean light curves have been obtained. The initial values of the brightness (observations) were fitted by a trigonometric polynomial of the statistically optimal order. The Fourier coefficients and the additional parameters (degree of the trigonometric polynomial, amplitude of the brightness, the maximal slope of ascending and descending branch, semi-amplitudes and initial epochs for the brightness maximum (minimum magnitude) of each harmonic contribution, etc., were given in the tables reported earlier (Kudashkina, 2015). In this study, we have received several interesting correlations between these parameters in the bands H and K. It was particularly noted the anomalous position on the figures of the star X Oph. The mean light curves of the investigated stars are commonly symmetric in the near infrared region (H and K).


Stroke is the third cause of death in the world after the cancer and cardiovascular disease. . It has been shown that stroke in Northeast of Iran occurs approximately one decade earlier than in Western countries. Reasons for the high stroke incidence among Persian are not yet clear. It is the first gene-association study in Persian population, which determines the relationship between 25 gene variations and stroke. This genes are involved in 3 cellular pathways and in Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in miRNA genes. So we made a Genetic stroke databases with more than 1000 Stroke patients for this region. 25 gene polymorphisms were analyzed and registries in this database. Furthermore this database is part of INTERNATIONAL STROKE GENETICS CONSORTIUM . In the present study aimed to determine if there is any association between 22 genetic variations in protein-coding genes and also 11 polymorphisms in miRNA-coding regions. In this case-control study patients with ischemic stroke and subjects without any history of vascular diseases were recruited. All cases were diagnosed via computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Genotyping was gen in cases and controls using Real-Time, PCR-RFLP and multiplex ARMS-PCR method. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS v.21 software and a pvalue< 0.05 was considered significant.


Then, as is proved in [4], Z(M) is an ZAbounded martingale for some p > 1. Now, let us fix a continuous BMO-martingale X. We call J(M) = ElX^Z^iM)] the cost of X associated with M. In this paper we are concerned with the following problem: if S is a subclass of BMO, then does there exist an element M° of S such that J(M°) ^ J(M) for all MeSΊ In Section 4 we shall determine a class S for which there exists the optimal martingale M° achieving the minimum cost, and in the last section we shall give a negative example for this existence problem. We also give an example of the existence of the optimal martingale in dynamical systems subject to random perturbations. The results are based on two steps. The first is the theory of H and BMO-martingales developed by Getoor and Sharpe [2], and Kazamaki and Sekiguchi [4]. The second is the stochastic control theory given by Duncan and Varaiya [1]. The reader is assumed to be familiar with the martingale theory as set forth in Meyer [6].


The practice of architecture is continuously changing, mirroring the paradigm shifts in the world it builds for. With increasing use of digital technology, we need to ensure that learning and teaching do not shift from the fundamental skill set required of an architect. Architectural problems are unique in their nature, requiring volumetric visualization and problem solving skills, and although many of these skills can be replicated using digital technology, can digital technology replace the cognitive development, which occurs through manual problem solving? Over the last three decades we have seen the almost ubiquitous use of computers in the design practice and professional studios with increasingly more complex forms being thought of and turned into buildings. This development obviously raises challenging questions of architectural theory and perplexing issues for those concerned with the future of architectural education and its effect on the design process. But how can this effect be analyzed subjectively remains an open question. Recent research efforts have shown that perception and visualization abilities reflect the quality of a design outcome. Very limited research however exists which attempts to understand or document the spatial analysis and visualization abilities of new generations of architects. This paper reports on a novel scalable test that could be used to investigate the processing and synthesis of visual information related to the new kinds of free form encountered in today's architecture. Unlike traditional missing views and orthographic projection problems, proposed test can be used to accurate assess freeform visualization. A number of 2-mainfold very high genus surfaces were selected. Physical models of these surfaces are manufactured from a durable thermoplastic material by Fused Deposition Modeling rapid prototyping machines. Students are then asked to position a digital model of the surface to match that of the physical model and vice versa through a number of progressively timed attempts. Results on the average time to success, failure rates, manipulation rate as well as manipulation rate to total time are calculated and analyzed. Statistical analysis of the outcomes was conducted and the results and conclusions of these experiments are presented in this paper along with limitations of the experiments and suggestions for future research. The results should be of interest to architectural educators and architects concerned with the effect of computer technology on the design process, as well as the future of manual skills in our design studios.


(57) Abstract: narrow fiber size distribution and meltblown web composed of fibers having a low packing density. Web exhibits excellent filtration capacity and has a characteristic as a web rich in flexible resilient.


Realizing the dominance of surface tensional forces helps us understand many phenomena in nature and industrial processes where the critical feature size is below a few millimeters. Causing many unfavorable phenomena in engineering practice, a liquid meniscus can also be purposely engineered to produce unmatched properties for useful applications. Surface tension and contact angles are two major parameters describing a meniscus in contact with solid and vapor. We first study the meniscus under different vapor and solid conditions to advance the knowledge of the meniscus behavior. We then show three novel examples of modifying surface conditions to certain microscale details with micro and nano fabrication techniques so that the engineered meniscus shape manifests dramatic improvements that cannot be achieved otherwise.


This article is devoted to the analysis of a two-space dimensional linear parabolic equation, subject to Cauchy-Dirichlet boundary conditions. The problem is set in a conical type domain and the right hand side term of the equation is taken in a Lebesgue space. One of the main issues of this work is that the domain can possibly be non regular. This work is an extension of the symmetric case studied in Sadallah [13].


Papillomatosis or cutaneous wart is a disease occurring in cattle, goats, rabbits and horses affecting any part of the body (Radostits et al., 2007), assuming the appearance of cauliflower like growth. Bovine papillomatosis is a contagious disease of cattle occurring as warts/papillomas on skin and mucosa caused by bovine papillomas virus (BPV) types 1 to 10 (Vidya et al., 2009). Papillomas viruses (PVs) are classified in the family papilloma viridae. This family of animal and human PVs generally infects epithelial cells causing hyper proliferative lesions known as wart (Singh and Somvanshi, 2010).


Sparse code multiple access(SCMA) is a novel non-orthogonal multiple access technology considered as a key component in 5G air interface design. In SCMA, the incoming bits are directly mapped to multi-dimensional constellation vectors known as SCMA codewords, which are then mapped onto blocks of physical resource elements in a sparse manner. The number of codewords that can be non-orthogonally multiplexed in each SCMA block is much larger than the number of resource elements therein, so the system is overloaded and can support larger number of users. The joint optimization of multi-dimensional modulation and low density spreading in SCMA codebook design ensures the SCMA receiver to recover the coded bits with high reliability and low complexity. The flexibility in design and the robustness in performance further prove SCMA to be a promising technology to meet the 5G communication demands such as massive connectivity and low latency transmissions.


A ratio-dependent predator-prey model with two delays is investigated. The conditions which ensure the local stability and the existence of Hopf bifurcation at the positive equilibrium of the system are obtained. It shows that the two different time delays have different effects on the dynamical behavior of the system. An example together with its numerical simulations shows the feasibility of the main results. Finally, main conclusions are included.


The Indian call center workers of a large computer manufacturer receive lower customer service ratings than their America counterparts despite superior repair outcomes. Indian call center managers are unable to bridge the gap between the customer service ratings of their Indian call centers and American call centers despite accent training and significantly more technical training. This study uses a quantitative coding system to identity one technique that successful Indian call center workers used to improve the customer experience. This work in progress describes the technique and provides examples. It also examines the effect the technique has on customer satisfaction in the small data set of call center calls the study examines. Finally, this study seeks to identify ways to verify the success of the technique and pursue further research.


Objective:To study the distribution of CD1a and S100-positive vascular dendritic cells(VDCs) in artherosclerosis aorta and to reveal the possible relationship between VDC and artherosclerosis.Methods: Eighteen human arterial specimens were collected from autopsy and paraffin sections were made and HE stained routinely.Five of them without obvious morphosis change were assigned as control group and the other 13 with fabric atheromatous plaque were in lesion group.The distribution of CD1a and S100-positive cells were detected by using immunohistochemistry method on sections.Results: CD1a or S100-positive cell was not detected in control group,while CD1a and S100-positive VDCs were found in intima plaque and around the small vessel of adventitia on artherosclerosis aorta of lesion group.No positive cell was detected in tunica media.Conclusions: CD1a and S100-positive VDCs are gathering in intima and adventitia during the forming process of artherosclerosis,which sugects VDCs might be involved in development of artherosclerosis.


This study compares the drying performance of geothermal heat pump hot-air dryer and cold-air desiccant dryer. Through the experiment, the sample condition, drying factor, dehumidification(drying) amount and power consumption were compared. For the purpose of fair comparison, the same experiment was conducted. The persimmon color is dark brown in the geothermal heat pump hot air dryer and orange in the cold air desiccant dryer. The taste and texture are almost the same. The energy efficiency of the geothermal heat pump hot air dryer was better than that of the cold desiccant dryer by about 45%.


Objective To develop the animal model of Pruritus senilis.Methods The whole blood samples were obtained from caudal vein for RBC,HGB,HCT and EO by choosing the kunming mice randomly.Skin of abdomen and forelimb were cut to observe the sebaceous gland.To the rest mice were controlled their forage volume and drinking water.7 days later,cold wind,alkaline water and chemical fiber were used to stimulate the mice for 14 days.Meanwhile,the times of scratching by recording for 10 minutes was recorded.27 days later,the blood and skin randomly again were sampled.Results Compared with the pretest,the times of scratching were raised obviously,the number of the RBC,HGB,EO and HCT also were increased.Besides,the sebaceous gland were secreted vigorously.Conclusions It's viable to adopt comprehensive factors to make an animal model of Pruritus senilis with the theory of traditional Chinese medicine.


One of the basic marketing function is to distinguish a product, service and a company in customers'eyes. We live in a turbulent time where our brains are bombarded with thou-sands of offers and commercial statements every day. Communication by colour and colour itself is becoming one of the most visible part of corporate identity. Content of my Bachelor's dissertation under the name "Colour and its corporate identity significance" investigates colour and its relation to the particular segments of a company identity. It results from a general situation that our society is becoming more and mo-re visually orientated. Intention of the Bachelor's dissertation is to demonstrate connection between corporate identity colour and of memorability of individual companies. The Bachelor's dissertation should prove that well-taken colours which consistently appear in particular sections of CI are the main device of individual companies.


The main purpose of this study was to investigate and compare language learning strategy
(LLS) use pattern of Iranian college level English learners in EFL (English as a foreign
language) and ESL (English as a second language) environments and through different
groups of proficiency. Exploring the participants' views on some language learning related
issues such as language use and language learning obstacles within both EFL and ESL
environments was another purpose of this study.
A total of 157 Iranian students participated in the survey. Twelve Iranian students, six from
each setting group, participated in the semi-structured interviews. The data were collected
and analyzed in separate parts: (1) quantitative analysis, which discussed the data gathered
by the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (Oxford, 1990) survey (SILL), (2)
qualitative analysis, which contained the results of semi-structured interviews concerning
ESL/EFL Iranian language learners' views on some critical language learning related issues
in EFL/ESL settings.
The results of statistical analyses, namely, one-way and two-way ANOVA, MANOVA, and
t-test revealed that Iranian ESL learners significantly performed better than Iranian EFL
learners on the overall SILL, on the six strategy categories of the SILL, and on individual
strategies listed in the SILL. The results also showed that while language proficiency group
factor significantly affected the ESL learners in using both the overall SILL and its six
categories, it did not significantly differentiate between low, intermediate and advanced
EFL learners with respect to overall use of SILL and its six strategy categories. The results
of the interview analysis indicated that EFL and ESL groups considerably differed from
each other with regard to using language outside the class, and the obstacles placed in their
iii
path to learning and using the target language in and outside the classroom in their related
settings. The main theoretical implication of the study is that learners' use of LLSs is
influenced by their cognitive stance as well as social settings in which strategies are
applied.


In this study a genetic map containing 20 markers and typed in 40 CEPH families is presented. It includes 7 thusfar untyped microsatellite markers, 7 that have previously been mapped on a subset of 8 CEPH families, one reference marker, D13S71, and three telomeric VNTR markers. Also, 4 intragenic RB1 markers were typed. The markers have an average heterozygosity of 73% (80%, excluding the three RFLPs). The total sex average length of the map is 140 cM. The mean female to male ratio is 1.54. For the non-telomeric part of the chromosome between the markers D13S221 in 13q12 and D13S173 in 13q33-q34, this ratio is 1.99. This ratio is reversed in the telomeric part of the chromosome between D13S173 and D13S234 in distal 13q34, where it is 0.47. A high new mutation frequency of 1% was detected in the (CTTT(T)){sub n} repeat in intron 20 of the RB1 gene. The map has been integrated with 7 microsatellite markers and 2 RFLP markers from CEPH database version 7.0, resulting in a map with 32 markers (28 loci) of chromosome 13q. In addition, a deletion hybrid breakpoint map ordering 50 markers in 18 intervals is constructed. It includes 32 microsatellite markers, 4more » genes, 5 STSs, and 9 ESTs. Each of 18 intervals contains at least one microsatellite marker included in the extended genetic map. These data allow a correlation between the genetic and physical map of chromosome 13. New ESTs are currently being identified and localized at this integrated map.« less


Since the official beginning of zoological nomenclature byLinne in 1758, the number of known mammals has always beenhigher than that of amphibians. Wilson and Reeder (1993) recog-nized 4629 mammal species, while their number was estimatedto be about 4675 in the middle of 1995 (Hutterer 1995). Theseestimates prompted us to check the current number of valid am-phibian species and their description rates to compare them withthose of mammals.To estimate the current number of living valid amphibian spe-cies we compiled a synthesis of the data provided in AmphibianSpecies of the World (Frost 1985) and the additions and correc-tions to this work by Duellman (1993). The Zoological Record(1990-1995) was used as the main data source to complete thissynthesis. Additionally, we searched recent herpetological andzoological journals for taxonomic changes (descriptions of newspecies, resurrections from synonymy, and new synonyms). Allthese data (available at www.mabnetamericas.org) were processedon IBM compatible computers using Microsoft Access and Excelsoftware. Calculations about expected future discovery rates ofamphibian species were based on a linear regression of the de-scription rates between 1964 and 1994. Our taxonomic classifi-cation follows Duellman (1993). The data on mammal speciesrichness were taken from Wilson and Reeder (1993) as updatedby Hutterer (1995).Annual rates of amphibian species descriptions have been ex-tremely variable (Fig. 1). Most of the outstanding peaks are dueto important contributions of single scientists (1758: Linne; 1768:FIG. 1. Annual amphibian species descriptions since 1758 (synonymsnot included).


Patients with renal diseases often have progressive decline in eGFR, with many clinical researches having outcomes of reaching renal death/renal replacement therapy. In the real life, however, patients with eGFR under 15 mL/min/1.73m2 (the same unit hereafter) lose their lives more often by cardiovascular diseases before reaching endstage renal disease. Moreover, patients with eGFR below 30 are known to have miscellaneous metabolic derangements including phosphate retention, parathyroid hormone excess, metabolic acidosis, hyperkalaemia and renal anaemia. It appears to be extremely important to recognize that, in order to avoid enfacing plethora of metabolic alterations and cardiovascular disorders that progress after renal function falls below 30, we physicians need to take a step to find ways how to keep patients' eGFR above 30 for as long time as possible. At the same time, renal clinics are fully booked already; we need to prioritize the patients who have the highest risks in reaching eGFR below 30. This simulation study was performed to draw a trajectory to clarify who are the most eligible patients for nephrologists to intervene.

 Before performing the simulations using an inverse transform sampling, a priori statistical distributions were retrieved from the real-world data, i.e., a whole-hospital-wide survey over 4 years; (a) distribution of eGFR: obtained from patients with at least 3 measurements of eGFR over 366 days or more, where a median of eGFR values was used to represent the patient's renal function, (b) distribution of eGFR slopes: similarly retrieved, which were then stratified in 6 strata with each eGFR range of [30,35)/[35,40)/[40,45)/[45,50)/[50,55)/[55,60). The simulation was performed in 4 steps. In the first step ("random number generating step"), 65,000 pairs of random numbers (U1, U2) were generated using a continuous uniform distribution, U[0,1]. In the second step ("eGFR generating step"), eGFR was generated using the clinically-retrieved distribution (a, above) from a random number U1. In the third step ("slope generating step"), a slope in eGFR decline was generated using the a priori stratified distribution (b, above) from a random number U2. In the final step ("estimation step"), renal prognosis, especially an eGFR value 10 years later, was estimated in each of the "65,000 simulated patients", with or without an effect of nephrology consults. The primary outcome was defined as reaching the eGFR below 30 within 10 years. If this occurred, time until the eGFR 30 was also calculated.

 In the strata of simulated patients with eGFR's [50,55) and [55,60), 35.3% and 34.9% reached their eGFR below 30, over the periods of 4.78 and 4.95 years in average. In these strata, there were marked differences in renal prognosis based on the eGFR slope, where all the patients with the fastest quartile (annual rate of decline faster than 3.09) reached the outcome, while only 4–11% of the patients with slower decline (the remaining 3/4) reached eGFR <30. The number of patients was the largest in the stratum of [55, 60). In the stratum of eGFR [45,50), 45.3% patients, including 100% of faster quartile and 24.5% of slower 3 quartiles, reached eGFR of <30. Assuming the effect of nephrology consultation as attenuating the slope by 1/3, nephrologist intervention most prominently influenced the prognosis of the patients in strata [40,45) and [45,50) in terms of proportion of patients reaching outcomes (decreases by 10.5% and 12.5%).

 1) Reaching an eGFR of <30 mL/min/1.73m2 is a newly proposed outcome in clinical research with substantial significance such as avoiding cardiovascular events and metabolic derangements that occur frequently at eGFR below 30. 2) Patients in the fastest quartile in eGFR slope, even those whose baseline eGFR 50–60, are the candidates who merit nephrology consultation.


WiMAX is an emerging broadband wireless access system based on IEEE 802.16 specification which defines PHY and MAC layer for both fixed and mobile profiles. The WiMAX system effectively supports wide variety of broadband wireless access (BWA) technologies (including high speed internet and multimedia access) with high Quality of service (QoS) requirements. To support flexibility, efficiency and various requirements of QoS over a range of different applications and environments several provisioning and mechanisms are provided in the standard. In this paper various QoS provisions are analyzed for different application traffics. The effect of Adaptive Modulation Coding (AMC) mechanism on the QoS performance of WiMAX network is also studied. The results obtained show that these provisions and mechanisms enhance the QoS performance of the network in terms of throughput, packet loss and delay.


Abstract In contexts of scientific production deemed peripheral, knowledge produced is depicted in a condition of inferiority relative to that produced in other contexts; the daily practice of science is then guided by values and procedures, be they conscious or not, of peripheralization. This research note discusses the constitution, reproduction and generalization of peripheralization into what I call a regime of management of irrelevance in science: a scientific process with its own pragmatic and value content, whose elements will be presented in this work. These elements were identified during field research in laboratories and interviews with key interlocutors (research leaders) of biotechnology research teams in Brazil. What matters here is instead of taking the center/periphery dichotomy as an objective structure of the scientific system—a common approach in science and technology studies—it is shown as expecta-tions with practical repercussions.


Deflecting cavity geometries considered for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) crab scheme lack axial symmetry resulting in non-zero higher-order components of the deflecting field. A formalism to express the higher-order multipoles was developed and applied on previous cavity designs to characterize their influence on the beam stability. In this paper, the radio frequency (RF) multipoles are numerically estimated for the latest cavity geometries and compared to the older versions. A sensitivity study is carried out to understand the numerical errors levels and define mechanical tolerances.


The problem of learning pairwise disjoint deterministic finite automata (DFA) from positive examples has been recently addressed. In this paper, we address the problem of identifying a set of DFAs from labeled strings and come up with two methods. The first is based on state merging and a heuristic related to the size of each state merging iteration. State merging operations involving a large number of states are extracted, to provide sub-DFAs. The second method is based on a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm whose fitness function takes into account the accuracy of the DFA w.r.t. the learning sample, as well as the desired number of DFAs. We evaluate our methods on a dataset originated from industry.