The cogging torque of variable flux reluctance machines (VFRMs) is usually large, which will result in undesired vibrations and acoustic noises. This paper introduces several methods to reduce the cogging torque of VFRMs including asymmetrical rotor teeth, circumferential rotor teeth pairing, rotor teeth shaping and rotor dummy slots. First, the cogging torque of VFRMs are analytically calculated, giving instructions how to effectively reduce the cogging torque. Then, the principles of each method are analyzed, and the effects of these methods on average torque and pulsating torque are compared and analyzed. Finally, the electromagnetic performances at various load conditions of each method are compared and analyzed, which can help to choose the most effective cogging torque reduction technique in the VFRM design.


Our previous studies have shown that the nitrofurans AF-2, SQ18506, and FANFT are potent mutagens in Neurospora crassa. The genetic damage produced by these chemicals at the ad-3 region in N crassa has been characterized by a series of genetic tests. The results of these tests indicate that all three agents induce a high frequency of point mutations and probably a low frequency of multilocus deletions. A comparison of the complementation patterns among the AF-2--induced ad-3B mutants and those induced by other chemical agents indicates that the spectra of intragenic alterations induced by AF-2 in N crassa are similar to those induced by monofunctional alkylating agents.


Control strategies for hybrid powertrains are algorithms that choose the power split between the engine and motor of a hybrid vehicle in order to minimize the fuel consumption and/or emissions. The goal of this paper is to propose an efficient tool to evaluate minimal fuel consumption that is achievable in simulation. Several approaches have been proposed, using heuristics (Delprat et al. 1999) or dynamic programming (Brahma et al., 2000; Rimaux et al., 1999). One drawback of these approaches is the huge amount of time required to obtain solutions. The approach described here is based on optimal control theory (Lewis & Syrmos, 1995) and avoids this drawback. Moreover, it can be easily applied to a large family of parallel arrangements.


The presence of 10 of the world's most rapidly deforesting nations in Africa adds to threats to sustainable development on the continent. Although Agro forestry is increasingly promoted for restoring forest, degraded environment, reducing green house gases, and gaining other co-benefits, its implementation in parts of Nigeria is poorly understood. Using geodemographic and spatial analysis, we show patterns of agro forestry implementation in Nigeria's 36 states and capital territory. We found that per capita implementation of agro forestry (populations of farmers and totals by states) have been low nationally and varies among constituent states/territory. We argue that Israel's reversal of about 400year old desertification and Niger (Nigeria's northern neigbour)'s re-vegetation and environmental improvement through agro forestry present good practices and innovations in agro forestry for reversing Nigeria's 50-year old desertification. The implication of this paper for policy includes the adoption of agro-forestry for achieving multiple MDGs in Nigeria as urgent and imperative.


Depression and mental illness are becoming an indispensable concern, primarily among the youth. According to doctors, about 80 to 90 percent of people with depression eventually respond well to treatment. The close correspondence between social media platforms and their users helps in getting insight into the users' personal life on many levels. This project aims to analyze the tweets for self-assessed depressive features, which can make it possible for individuals, parents, caregivers, and medical professionals to combat this disorder. The project helps to identify the linguistic features of the tweets and the behavioral pattern of the Twitter users who post them, which could demonstrate symptoms of depression. This can be considered as an enhancement in the health care industry providing aid in the early detection and treatment of depression. Our proposed model works by synchronizing different machine learning algorithms to work as an ensemble model for higher efficiency and accuracy.


The purpose of this paper was to describe the integrated farming system in a perspective of sustainable
innovation. For that, the paper initially sought to synthesize two of the current conceptions about the
innovation theory: the economic and the sociologic approaches. The first highlighted the contribution
of the Schumpeterian approach of evolutionary economy, which importantly reflects on the conduction
of the innovation politics in several countries. The second highlighted the dedication of Science and
Technology Studies in order to understand how the innovation can be seen as a socio-collective
process which stabilizes a heterogenic network of actors. The path shown for exploitation of theoretical
and practical models of sustainable innovation was developed through the alliance between the
environmental, the economical and the social perspectives. The description of the Integrated
Production Systems fell within this perspective of sustainable innovation, since these systems search
to conciliate indissoluble needs originated from environmental, social, and economic dimensions.
Finally, the conclusion pointed that Integrated Farming Systems are processes developed in a systemic
approach, that is, holistic, since they sought a rational use of natural resources and higher productive efficiency, considering the environmental, social and economic aspects.


In this study, effects of two hericides on pupa formation period, pupa period and number of adults in F1, F2 and F3 generations of Drosophila melnogaster were investigated. 300 ppm concentraiton of 2-4-D applied on parent stock and F1 generation has lengtened the pupa formation period and pupa period of D. melanogaster in F1 generation, while it reduced the number of adults another effective concentration was 100 ppm which has shortened the pupa period in F3 generation. The highest concentration (100 ppm) of 4-CPA applied on parent stock and F1 generation has lengtened the pupa formation period in F1 generation. The same concentration increased the number of adults in F2 generation. On the otherhand 20 and 100 ppm concentrations shortened the pupa period in F3 generation.


As the basic carrier for economic activities in the rural areas, rural settlements have attracts much academic attention all the time in the rural geography. From the perspective of spatial morphology and function, integrating land use data, remote sensing image and rural investigation material, this paper aims to analyze the spatio-temporal variation of morphology and function of rural settlements in Huishan district of Wuxi city based on spatial analysis methods such as ANN index, kernel density and growth intensity index. Later, the evolutionary mechanism and optimizing patterns are discussed. The empirical analysis indicates that after1980 the total area of rural residential land increased by 95%, and the rural residential land growth index changed in an opposite "U" shape, first increased quickly, later decreased slowly,but spatial agglomeration was kept completely. Industrial and commercial land has become the most important element of residential land growth in Huishan district, and has made residential land more diversified and integrated. In the industry and tourism village, the new added residential land expanded in the area outside the old ones, which is featured by diversity and multifunction, and the spatial morphology of settlement become more regular. On the contrary,in the agriculture village, settlements expanded very slowly, residential land kept the dominant position in the settlements, and the morphology of settlement was still irregular. After the year1980, policy reforms promoted the village multifunction and made village's function different from each other. Respectively, in corresponding to three economic and land development types(industrial town mode, tourism town mode and flexible agglomeration mode) could be applied to optimize the spatial morphology of settlements in the rural areas.


The problem of determining the eigenvalues and eigenvectors for linear operators acting on finite dimensional vector spaces is a problem known to every student of linear algebra. This problem has a wide range of applications and is one of the main tools for dealing with such linear operators. Some of the results concerning these eigenvalues and eigenvectors can be extended to infinite dimensional vector spaces. In this article we will consider the eigenvalue problem for the Laplace operator acting on the L space of functions on a bounded domain in R. We prove that the eigenfunctions form an orthonormal basis for this space of functions and that the eigenvalues of these functions grow without bound.


This work presents an safe and efficient methodology for autonomous indoor exploration with aerial robots using Harmonic Potential Fields (HPF). The challenge of applying HPF in complex 3D environments rests on high computational load involved in solving the Laplace equation. To address this issue, the proposed solution utilizes the Fast Multiple accelerated Boundary Element Method with boundary values controlled to ensure both safety and convergence. The methodology is validated through simulations, which demonstrate its properties of efficiency, safety and convergence.


We used 15 site-years of minirhizotron observations (1998–2006 at one site; 1998–2000 and 2004–2006 at second site) from two mature balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) sites to quantify interann...


The warpage of injection-molded parts is an omnipresent problem in new product development. In this study, a method is developed to reduce the warpage by optimizing the wall thickness distribution of a part. This method is based on an iterative optimization procedure consisting of mold flow analysis, a mesh parameterization tool for geometry manipulation, and an optimization algorithm. Starting with the initial design for the mold cavity, the procedure optimizes the wall thickness distribution at user-defined area sections within prescribed tolerances. A unit-square parameterization technique is applied that uses mean-valued coordinates and a second-order polynomial thickness distribution. Three different optimization algorithms—an evolutionary algorithm, a surrogate-based response surface method, and a direct search method—are considered, and the optimization performances of these algorithms are evaluated for a warpage demonstrator and real industrial part. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed procedure and plausibility of the optimized thickness distribution.


A complete method is presented for determining the static and dynamic behaviour of a fishing gear. The net, which is very flexible, is modelised by a set of rigid bars. The hydrodynamic forces, applied to each bar, are determined by combining and generalizing the Landweber and Morison hypothesis. A CFD method is used to calculate the forces on trawl doors. The fundamental principle of dynamics is completed with length equations expressing the elasticity of the bars. It leads to a set of second order non-linear differential equations, which is solved using a Runge-Kutta method. We will now present a few examples of the various applications of our works : the study of the trawl gear equilibrium in a uniform flow, an example of manoeuvrability (gyration of the trawl gear) and an application to security with the simulation of an obstruction.


Crops and soils from field trials in 1963 and 1964 in the U.K. and Germany have been analysed for residues of the insecticide diethyl 1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-chlorovinyl phosphate (Birlanet, SD 7859). Residues of Birlane in turnips, cabbages, potatoes and white radish were less than 0·05 ppm when harvested 8-29 weeks after soil applications at 4-8 lb/acre. Residues in carrots were generally less than 0·05 ppm but were near 0·1 ppm in some mature carrots harvested from soil 17-26 weeks after application of granules at 8 lb/acre.

The initial half-life of Birlane in soils varied from 2 weeks to more than 23 weeks depending on the soil type, the formulation, and the dosage level.

Residues of the trichloroacetophenone that would result from the hydrolysis of Birlane could not be detected in crops and the limit of detectability was 0·02 ppm. Up to 0·1 ppm of the ketone could be detected in peat 15 weeks after application of Birlane at 8 lb/acre.


A video monitoring device (101,102) comprises: a tour monitoring unit (203) causes an image pickup unit (201) to perform a tour monitoring of an area with a movable (e.g. PTZ) image pickup unit, adapted to collect images of a list of tour monitoring positions. A tour monitoring timer is associated with the tour monitoring unit. An unmoving object monitoring unit (302) performs a still object detection process and a still object determination (recognition) process at the positions subjected to the tour monitoring. An unmoving object monitoring time is associated with the unmoving object monitoring unit. A control unit (203,302) performs a control such that the tour monitoring is performed at a position different from the position where the unmoving object detection process is performed and after the unmoving object detection process is performed, and the still object determination process is performed and after the tour monitoring is performed at the different position. This way the monitoring device is capable of setting both of the tour monitoring timer and the unmoving object monitoring timer independently.


The biennial Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) National Conference is designed for anyone interested in undertaking or promoting undergraduate research. It will help faculty members begin or remain active in a career that integrates teaching and research. The Many Facets of Undergraduate Research is the theme of the CUR Eighth National Conference, to be held at The College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio, from June 22 to 24, 2000.


A study was made of the variation in moisture content of fine dead fuel (FFM) in relation to 1) differences of fuel type (needles, leaves, twigs, bark), 2) different fuel locations (dead canopy and surface litter), 3) contrasting management of plantations (unthinned-unpruned vs thinned-pruned) and 4) environmental factors (air temperature (T) and relative humidity (H); moisture content of duff (D) and topsoil (S)). The variation of live (green needle) fine fuel moisture content (LFMC) in relation to needle age, canopy location (shaded vs unshaded) and season was also studied in Pinus radiata D. Don plantations over 2 years. Mean differences of moisture content between the several types of fuel exposed to the same atmospheric conditions were generally significant and ranged from 0.6% (pine twigs vs eucalypt twigs) up to 2.8% oven dry weight (ODW) (eucalypt bark vs recently cast pine needles). T and H were highly correlated between study sites in pine plantations and an official meteorological station at Canberra airport, 15 km away. In the pine plantations, mid afternoon moisture contents of pine needle litter (litter FFMs) were mostly higher than moisture contents of dead needles in canopies (aerial FFMs); the mean differences between litter FFMs and aerial FFMs were statistically significant. FFMs in the unthinned-unpruned plantation were also generally higher than those in the thinned-pruned plantations. Regression analyses of relationships between FFM and environmental variables showed that T and H in combination explained a large proportion of the variation in aerial FFM but much less of the variation in litter FFM. However, the inclusion of either D or S in multiple regression models accounted for significant amounts of the variation in litter FFM. LFMC decreased with needle age and, for full-grown needles, was up to 25% (ODW) higher in shaded compared to unshaded canopy locations. Seasonal patterns of change in LFMC of full-grown needles were not well defined. Variation in the parameters and the precision of FFM regression relationships between fuel locations and stands with contrasting management demonstrate the site specificity and limitations of empirical FFM models. The results suggest that for prediction of aerial FFM, models based on a combination of T and H are most appropriate; while, models that include a soil moisture variable may predict FFM of litter fuels more accurately. However, the intrinsic variation in FFM revealed in this study indicates that such models, although providing a useful guide, may not predict FFM with the accuracy required for fire behaviour models during high fire danger weather - when fuel moistures are low.


Education is an important investment for a child's future. Not only moral and academic education is needed, but also education on financial management. Lack of parental awareness about the importance of financial education from an early age, causes a child's lack of money management knowledge. The purpose of this Community Service (PKM) is to increase children's awareness from an early age so that they can get used to saving so they are able to manage finances, distinguish between wants and needs. Financial literacy counseling is carried out using an online method using Zoom Metting to parents of students (PAUD Group) TKIT Gema Nurani. Counseling was carried out in two meetings. The first is with Gema Conscience TKIT teachers and the second is with the parents of TKIT Gema Conscience students. Approach and Cooperation with Related Parties. This financial literacy education was successful. Furthermore, the application of financial literacy from an early age requires joint participation between teachers, parents and the PKM team so that they can increase knowledge of financial literacy from an early age and can provide benefits for kindergarten students.


....................................................................................................................................... xiv Chapter One: Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 2 Limitations .................................................................................................................................. 5 Significance ................................................................................................................................. 6 Summary ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Project Outline ............................................................................................................................. 8 Definition of Terms ................................................................................................................... 10 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) ............................................................... 10 Division I ............................................................................................................................... 10 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) ......................................................................................... 11 Ivy League ............................................................................................................................. 11 Power Five Conference ......................................................................................................... 11 Non-Power Five Conferences ................................................................................................ 12 Renovation ............................................................................................................................. 12 Preservation ........................................................................................................................... 12 Reconstruction ....................................................................................................................... 13 Restoration ............................................................................................................................. 13 Rehabilitation ......................................................................................................................... 13 Temporary Facilities .............................................................................................................. 14 Permanent Facilities .............................................................................................................. 14 Stage One Facility ................................................................................................................. 14 Stage Two Facility ................................................................................................................. 14 Stage Three Facility ............................................................................................................... 15 Stage Four Facility ................................................................................................................. 15 Stage Five Facility ................................................................................................................. 15 Major Renovation .................................................................................................................. 16 Chapter Two: Understanding Innovation Diffusion ..................................................................... 17 Innovation .................................................................................................................................. 17


ABSTRACT A greenhouse experiment was conducted in the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi (U.P.), India, during kharif 2013 to find out the effect of biochar and sewage sludge (SS) on growth, yield, and micronutrient uptake in rice crop. Nine treatments were employed using six different doses of biochar (2.5, 5.0, 7.5 10, 15, and 20 t ha−1) amended with a fixed dose of SS (30 t ha−1) and 50% recommended dose of nitrogen (50% RDN), i.e., 60 kg ha−1. Other three treatments were absolute control (no fertilizers), 100% recommended dose of fertilizers (100% RDF) which was 120:60:60 kg ha−1 as nitrogen (N): phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5):dipotassium oxide (K2O), and 30 t ha−1SS + 50% RDN. Experimental results showed a significant increase in yield of rice crop with increasing levels of biochar along with SS. Application of biochar at 20 t ha−1 along with 30 t ha−1SS increased grain yield to the extent of 2.5 times over absolute control (no fertilizers) and 8.5% over control (100% RDF). The uptake of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) (micronutrients) increased significantly with graded doses of biochar application from 2.5 to 20 t ha−1 in the soil. The maximum micronutrient uptake and grain yield of rice were found in T9 where 30 t ha−1SS along with 20 t ha−1 biochar was applied with only 50% RDN. The maximum availability of micronutrients in soil was found with 30 t ha−1 of SS + 50% RDN (T3) followed by conjoint application of 20 t ha−1 of biochar and 30 t ha−1 SS + 50% RDN (T9).


Target-biting of confined mice increases following delivery of tail shock and decreases during a tone that precedes the shock. Both phencyclidine and chlordiazepoxide reduced biting (dose dependently) following shock and had no effect on biting during the tone. These observations are discussed in reference to previous reports, which infer that the effects of phencyclidine and chlordiazepoxide on aggression might depend upon the baseline rate of the behavior.


The public accountability relationship chain around the government is the basis to determine the evaluators of government performance.In accordance with the relationship chain of public accountability,the public,higher departments,the legislature and other representative bodies of the public should all be included in the evaluator pool.Except for the above evaluators,the evaluatees are also one important type of evaluators.Many western countries have established multiple evaluation system of government governance which conforms to the requirements of public accountability.In China,however,the evaluators are still very unitary.We should construct such a multiple system which consists of the evaluatees,the public,higher departments,National People's Congress,etc.so that the government could better execute its public accountability.


This chapter moves forward by unpacking the generic identity of computer-animated films and examines the journey narrative structure as their prevailing syntax and first line of action. In this chapter, two forms of narrative are established that are widely operational within the genre. The first of these are the "flushed away" narratives that rely upon on abrupt geographical disjuncture, and which often requires the protagonist to negotiate and quickly adapt to a foreign milieu. The second journey narrative form advanced in this chapter is the "over the hedge" narrative, which are voyages signalled as altogether more prepared or expected. This chapter explores in detail how computer-animated films deploy these two forms of journey narrative structure to interrogate ideas of mobility, location, destination and tourism through the virtual experiences they offer of travelled space. Chapter Two concludes by positioning the journey narrative within the context of film franchising and the "sequelled" narrative. Computer-animated films rarely exists in isolation, but are supported by a range of sequels, spin-offs and short films. This chapter identifies how narrative structure can be productively entwined with the wider role of film series and cycles that continues to define the franchise mentality of post-millennial Hollywood cinema.


The title The New Science of Exercise requires a little explanation. This is an era where exercise physiology appears the domain of anyone and everyone including physiologists, the trainer of the successful Wallabies of the 1991 World Cup, the veterinarian selling steroids to the owners of greyhounds, racehorses and putative Olympic champions, the media and the public at large. Given this societal mix of experts there is a growing public ethic of muddled information which demands a scientific body of excellence to provide advice based on good research concerning an explosion of novel questions. Such questions constitute the New Science of Exercise, which ideally demands a multi-disciplinary approach in a novel laboratory setting, namely, the community. But where does the Australian Physiological and Pharmacological Society stand in relation to this need?


This experiment examined the effect of four colours of artificial light (ALC) on performance, behaviour, water/feed intake (WFI) and welfare of broilers. Day old broiler chicks (Cobb) were assigned into six brooders for either red (RD:650-750nm), white (WT:325-750nm), green (GR:530-545nm) or blue (BL:450-470nm) ALCs from 1- 35d (20lux,9hrs/day at growing stage). Complete Randomize Design was adopted with 6 replicates. Water and Feed provided ad libitum . Daily WFI; weekly weight gain (WG) and behaviour recorded. Common behaviours (21) were evaluated by scan sampling method. Welfare indicators; foot pad dermatitis, breast blisters and hock burning damage scores were determined. Lameness was assessed by gait score and latency to lie (LTL) tests. Six birds/ treatment were evaluated for carcass parameters. Significantly (p DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tare.v14i2.4840 Tropical Agricultural Research & Extension 14(2): 2011 38-44


Doppler shift causes loss of orthogonality in Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), which in turn may severely degrade receiver performance. In high data rate underwater acoustic communication (UAC), the effect of Doppler varies considerably over OFDM subcarriers. This paper will propose an algorithm to estimate the varying effects of Doppler shift over subcarriers and to avoid/mitigate the ICI produced by such effects using variable sub-carrier spacing in multiband OFDM.


Those who ardently advocate free enterprise and at the same time justify specific private monopolies are like u woman who has u keen relish for virtue, slightly favored with adultery.


pumped ruby 1 have shown that the geometry of the crystal and the active zone plays a crucial role in the development of the avalanche. A bulk single crystal with parallel end faces was found to act as a phonon cavity, so that the phonons produced by the avalanche repetitively pass through the active zone and the avalanche is amplified further upon each passage. In the present study, we investigate the phonon avalanche in the restrictive geometry of a thin fiber, which is distinct from a bulk crystal in that the phonons reflecting from the outer wall return to the active zone from many more directions and without significant delay. The magnetic-field split E( 2 E) doublet of Cr 31 again serves as active medium, its upper level E 1 being populated over the larger part of the fiber by selective optical excitation. Stimulated emission of phonons then results from resonant one-phonon processes induced by the spin-lattice interaction to the lower E( 2 E)


The invention discloses a preparation method of Si nanowire arrays, which comprises the following steps: adopting a metal assistant chemical etching method, mixing hydrofluoric acid and silver nitrate to prepare liquid reactant I, mixing hydrofluoric acid and oxydol to prepare a liquid reactant II, carrying out a two-step reaction in the liquid reactant I and the liquid reactant II by a heavy-doping (100) type silicon chip, and etching on the heavy-doping (100) type silicon chip to gain the Si nanowire arrays. The preparation method provided by the invention is convenient and feasible; the controllability of the Si nanowire array length and the carrier concentration is excellent; the stability is sound; wavelength adjustable intermediate infrared surface plasmon resonance vibration can be acquired; the preparation method is suitable for volume production.


Autonomous language learning has been a great concern in the English teaching circles.A story of an autonomous English learning class is told and analyzed from the angle of narrative inquiry in this paper.In this class,the teacher and the students construct a language learning community which is based on the mutual integration and equal consultation.The reading of the story reveals that the essence of the autonomous learning is to fostering the constant motivation in language learning.


(3R,4R)-4-Mercapto-3-phenoxyacetamidoazetidin-2-one (4) has been prepared in good yield from the penicillin V-derived thiazoline-azetidinone (1). Alkylation and acylation led exclusively to S-substituted azetidinones. Reaction with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate in hexamethylphosphoramide gave, in addition to the expected dimethoxycarbonylvinylthioazetidinone (15), the C-4-epimer (18). The latter probably arises via the intermediacy of the azetinone (16).


Abstract In the AIDS Clinical Trial Group randomized trial 002 comparing the effect of high-dose versus low-dose 3-azido-3-deoxythymidine (AZT) on the survival of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients, the median survival in the low-dose arm exceeded that in the high-dose arm. But subjects in the low-dose AZT arm received significantly more prophylaxis therapy for pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), a nonrandomized treatment, than those in the high-dose AZT arm. Thus the improved median survival in the low-dose arm might represent either the benefits associated with avoiding the toxicity of high-dose AZT therapy or the benefits of receiving prophylaxis therapy. The authors use structural nested failure time (SNFT) models to estimate the survival curves that would have been observed if the PCP prophylaxis experience in the high-dose and low-dose treatment arms had been similar. Our simplest models relate a subject's observed time of death and observed prophylaxis therapy to the time that the...


The present study had generated data on heavy metals in water, soil and different kind of vegetables from waste water irrigated sites of Rewa, India and associated risk assessment for consumer's exposure to heavy metals. Present results showed that Pb, Cd, Mn and Cr in waste waters; Cd soils and Pb, Cd and Cr in all tested vegetables were above the national and international permissible limits. People living in the contaminated area are at greater risk for health issues than individuals in the reference area. Children are at somewhat higher risk than adults. Heavy metal concentrations were several fold higher in all the collected samples from waste water irrigated sites compared to clean water irrigated ones. In this study, the soil to vegetable transfer factor (TF) for various heavy metals and for most common vegetables consumed by human being were also calculated and data showed that the TF values differed significantly between soil and vegetable. However, the Daily Intake Rate (DIR) and Hazard Index(HI) of these metals through consumption of vegetables grown in waste water irrigated areas of Rewa was much less than that affect health. The hazardous quotient (HQ) of all studied heavy metals also indicated that all vegetables were safe with no risk to human health except for Pb contamination in Spinach, Cauliflower and Radish had potential for human health risk due to consumption of these vegetables grown in the area having long term uses of untreated waste water for irrigation at Naubasta site.


Abstract : A simple model is developed for the forced response of a mistuned, center-clamped disk to predict experimental observations. The response near a resonance can take the form of rotating node lines. A simple model of a mistuned stationary disk was developed and the transverse responses to both rotating point loads and stationary point loads oscillating in time were determined. The disk model uses torsional springs applied at points on the outer edge of an annular disk to mistune a given transverse vibration mode such that the two resulting mistuned mode shapes are each described by only four terms. The response of all modes other than the two mistuned modes being examined was neglected, as only the behavior near a resonance was considered. The responses to both types did indeed have rotating node lines near a resonance. The node lines were predicted to be slightly distorted and rotating at a varying but average angular speed identical to the circular frequency of excitation. The results also indicate that the node lines will normally rotate forward due to a stationary load and backward due to a forward rotating load. Keywords: Theses; Turbine wheels.


Human serum albumin (HSA) acts as a carrier for testosterone, other sex hormones, fatty acids, and drugs. However, the dynamics of testosterone's binding to HSA and the structure of its binding sites remain incompletely understood. Here, we characterized the dynamics of testosterone's binding to HSA and the stoichiometry and structural location of the binding sites using two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D NMR), fluorescence spectroscopy, bis-ANS partitioning, and equilibrium dialysis, complemented by molecular modeling. 2D NMR studies showed that testosterone competitively displaced 18-[ 13C]-oleic acid from at least three known fatty acid binding sites on HSA that also bind many drugs. Binding isotherms of testosterone's binding to HSA generated using fluorescence spectroscopy and equilibrium dialysis were nonlinear and the apparent Kd varied with different concentrations of testosterone and HSA. The binding isotherms neither conformed to a linear binding model with 1:1 stoichiometry nor to two independent binding sites; the binding isotherms were most consistent with two or more allosterically coupled binding sites. Molecular dynamics studies revealed that testosterone's binding to fatty acid binding site 3 on HSA was associated with conformational changes at site 6, indicating that residues in in these two distinct binding sites are allosterically coupled.

CONCLUSIONS
There are multiple, allosterically coupled binding sites for testosterone on HSA. Testosterone shares these binding sites on HSA with free fatty acids, which could displace testosterone from HSA under various physiological states or disease conditions, affecting its bioavailability.


Synthetic model triacylglyceride oils are important compounds for applications in pharmaceutical and food chemistry. Herein, a practical and highly efficient methodology for the synthesis of saturated and unsaturated triacylglycerides utilizing saturated and unsaturated fatty acids activated by 1,1'‐carbonyldiimidazole (CDI) has been developed and applied in the synthesis of deuterated medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil for studies of plant‐based and diary food emulsions. The deuterium labelled compounds were used to gain new insight into the mechanism of the reaction, which was confirmed by density‐functional theory (DFT) calculations.


My aim in the experiments described below was to define the conditions undcr which young male rats would become susceptible to acute dietary liver necrosis. I n the first series of five two conditions were examined simultaneously; (1) the influence of environment; and (2) the modc of feeding, ix., whether the rats were allowed to eat to appetite or not. I n the second series of three experiment^,^ a method was found of adjusting the susceptibility of groups of rats to the development of acute liver necrosis. With such a method, more detailed comparisons can be made between rats likely to develop liver necrosis in a short time and those which would take longer to do so, or would not develop the disease a t all.


The doctrine of the Incarnation faces the following modal challenge: 'The Son, as God, exists of necessity; Jesus, as man, exists only contingently. Therefore they cannot be one and the same.' On the face it, the kenotic model, on which the Son gave up some of the divine properties at the Incarnation, cannot help to meet this challenge, since the suggestion that the Son gave up necessary existence implies that the necessity in question was only contingent, and this notion makes no sense. A necessary being is necessarily (and therefore eternally) so. This paper, however, argues that some necessities may appropriately be described as 'contingent', being conditional on contingent and mutable circumstances, and that there is a natural understanding of divine necessity on which the Son could give up necessary existence on becoming incarnate.


Purpose – This paper aims to develop and utilize a conceptual framework to examine the impact of liquidity and solvency on cost efficiency for a sample of Kansas farms. Design/methodology/approach – A standard cost-efficiency model is modified to incorporate liquidity and solvency ratios. Tobit regressions are used to determine the impact of farm characteristics on improvements in efficiency. Findings – Results confirm that liquidity and solvency measures have a significant impact on improving cost efficiency. Farms with larger expenditures on purchased inputs relative to capital were less likely to improve efficiency when liquidity and solvency were considered. Originality/value – To the authors' knowledge, the paper is the first to add liquidity and solvency ratios to the cost-efficiency model developed by Fare et al. for the analysis of farms.


The electroless nickel coated bamboo fibre was prepared as the millimeter wave smoke interfering materials and characterized by SEM(scannrng electron microscopy),and EDS(energy disptrsrve spectroscopy).The surface of the product was coated by nickel completely,and the elemental compositions of the plate was Ni/P alloy.The product's conventional physicochemical properties and the 3 mmW,and 8 mmW attenuation performance were studied as well. The results show that the real density of the nickel coated bamboo fibre is 2.45 g/mm3,that the aspect ratio is 15~50,that the particle size is 350~1 250 μm,and that the powder electrical resistivity is 19.14 μΩ·cm.The VSM results show that the nickel coated bamboo fibre is one kind of ferromagnetic material,that under conditions that the dispersed density is 7 g/m2,the 3 mmW static attenuation is 13.6 dB, and the 8 mmW static attenuation is 28.8 dB,and that the millimeter wave attenuation mechanism of the nickel coated bamboo is a comprehensive action of electric loss absorption,magnetic loss absorption and scattering.


As an individual with epilepsy, I can truly say that sharing concerns, experiences, and also frustrations with fellow friends or acquaintances who have epilepsy is very comforting. The intention of Dr. Schachter's book is something many of us have been waiting for in order to help us to realize our illness is not a catastrophe. In this book Dr. Schachter gives an overview of epilepsy and seizures. I feel that a more extended explanation should have been given by the doctor earlier in the book. It would have been of benefit for newly diagnosed patients and their uneducated families. In the book there are numerous descriptions of seizures by patients and some of these have been done extremely well. A wide range of seizure types is clearly apparent. There are however a few suggestions for improvement. I felt that there were too many descriptions of seizures and some of the descriptions were too short for a point to be made and others were quite confusing. A suggestion would be to have a more consistent pattern for these seizure descriptions starting with the type of epilepsy that the individual has and then having the patient state their age at the time of writing as well as their age at the time of diagnosis. The frequency, duration, and a brief description of the seizures could follow. There was a chapter entitled Living with Epilepsy. In this there were many statements of reality and understanding concerning the strength that is needed to live with epilepsy and still hold your head high. There were a few statements that could make newly diagnosed patients feel failure if they are unable to handle their epilepsy with ease. There was no final summary by Dr. Schachter at the end of the book and I feel that this would have been beneficial. The purpose of this book is outstanding, but I feel that more explanation of types of epilepsy is needed. Those who know very little about epilepsy must have more guidance so that the story lines similar to their own can be identified and helpful to them. I also feel that this book can be a prime ingredient for Doctor-Patient communication. The patients can compare their own seizures and feelings to those expressed in the book and do so with confidence that they are not losing their minds. This book also may well help doctors understand epilepsy from the patient's perspective.


In order to investigate the effect of different levels of bio and chemical fertilizers on yield and macro and micro nutrient elements absorption in maize (Zea mays L.) grain, a field experiment was carried out at the faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh in 2013 growing season. Experiment was arranged as factorial based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The first factor (A) included 3 levels of chemical fertilizer including a 1: control, without any fertilizer, a 2: %100 nitrogen fertilizer and a3: %50 nitrogen + 50% phosphorus and the second factor (B) comprised of biofertilizer application with 4 levels as b 1: control, without any biofertilizer, b 2: inoculation by Nitroxin, b 3: inoculation by Phosphate Barvare-2 and b 4: inoculation by Nitroxin and Barvare-2. Results showed that chemical fertilizer application improved quantitative and qualitative yield of maize grain, especially, as phosphorus and nitrogen were applied together. Application of 50% (N+P) in comparison to non-application of chemical fertilizer, increased grain yield (23.63%), grain protein content (10%), phosphorus (9%), potassium (10%), iron (5%) and zinc (7%) concentrations. Also co-application of Nitroxin and Barvare-2 were more effective than application individually. According to interaction between two factors, maize quantitative and qualitative yield improved by together application of fertilizers better than they applied individually. Nitroxin +Barvare-2+ 50% (N+P) increased grain yield by 80%, protein 22%, phosphorus and potassium 50% and iron 9% compared with control. Also phosphor availability by chemical and biofertilizers had competition effect for Zn absorption, and caused reduction in grain.


Monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) have proven to be powerful tools in the characterization of mammalian blood cells in terms of their ontogeny, interrelationships, and functions. Therefore, it is natural that workers with non-mammalian such as fish blood cells have attempted to use similar approaches in the development of much needed methods for the characterization of these cells. In order to study the molecular mechanism of immunology on fish blood cells, monoclonal antibodies were raised. Four-week old Balb/c mice were immunized 4 times within 4 weeks with blood cell of healthy flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. Three days after the last immunization, spleens of the immunized mice were dissected into cells and then fused with P3-X63-Ag8U1 myeloma cell line using 50% polyethylene glycol (PEG) as fusogen. The fused cells were cultured in HAT-GIT selecting medium for about 2 weeks. The survival cells (hybridoma cells) were cultured in GIT. Mediums of hybridoma cells were detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay test (IFAT). Many positive hybridomas were found and 3 of them were cloned because of secreting high titer antibodies. As they were cloned 3 times continuously, it could be verified that the antibodies raised by these hybridoma cell lines were monoclonal. Then the monoclonal antibodies were used to cross-react with the blood cells from other 5 fish species (Scophthalmus maximus, Lateolabrax japonicus, Pagrosomus major, Sebastes schlegeli, Carassius auratus) by indirect immunofluorescence assay test and using Western blotting. Results of this treatment yielded 3 stains of hybridoma cell lines (1C7, 2B6, 3A1) able to secrete monoclonal antibodies against flounder erythrocyte. The cross reaction showed that these monoclonal antibodies reacted with other 5 fish erythrocytes in different degrees: Mab 1C7 reacted with all of the 5 fish erythrocytes. Mab 2B6 reacted with erythrocytes of S. maximus, L. japonicus, P. major and S. schlegeli. Mab 3A1 reacted with erythrocytes of S. maximus and L. japonicus. Further experiments by Western blotting showed Mab 1C7 was able to recognize the protein of S. maximus blood cell whose molecule weight were 52, 47, 45, 3, 29 and 27kD; the protein of L. japonicus and S. schlegeli blood cell of 52 and 29kD; the protein of P. major blood cell of 29kD; the protein of C. auratus blood cell of 44, 29 and 28kD. Mab 2B6 recognized the protein of S. maximus and L. japonicus blood cell whose molecule weight were 30 and 28kD; the protein of P. major blood cell of 30kD; the protein of S. schlegeli blood cell of 29 and 28kD. Mab 3A1 could not recognize the protein by Western blotting. These experiments indicate the presence of the same epitopes on the blood cells of these species of fish. The monoclonal antibodies are ready for use in ontogeny research of fish erythrocyte.


volunteers with high accuracy. 8 Moreover, several VOCs have been identified as candidate substances for the early detection of cancer using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in the exhaled breath of patients with lung and breast cancers. 9–13 Smell detection for the diagnosis of cancer has the benefit of being non-invasive, and could therefore have great potential as a screening tool. However, there is no data for evaluating breath VOCs in patients with esophageal cancer. Endoscopy has a high hurdle for the general public, and the purpose of this study is to develop a diagnostic method by breath analysis as one of the simpler examination methods. Specifically, GC/MS is used to identify volatile organic compounds that are specific to the exhaled breath of patients with esophageal cancer. 14 Exhaled breath analysis can be expected to be a future non-invasive screening method for esophageal cancer. In the future, volatile organic compounds released from various cancer diseases will most likely be discovered. Specific substances contained in the exhaled breath of patients with esophageal cancer.


Abstract Several fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC) systems have been proposed in response to the present high cost of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) systems for plain old telephone service (POTS). With FTTC systems, fiber is brought only as far as the service access point (SAP). From there, copper drops carry POTS signals from the SAP to several residences. Due to the extensive sharing of optical sources and the fibers running to the SAP, the per-subscriber system cost is reduced to levels comparable to that of a copper-bused digital loop currier distribution system. This paper presents an analysis of three different fiber-to-the-curb distribution networks that serve up to 96 customers, initially providing two POTS channels to each customer. These systems serve four customers per SAP through star, distributed star, or bus topologies that offer differing levels of sharing of fiber and optoelectronic components. We estimate the installed first costs (IFC) of the distribution link (remote node to customer) for the three FT...


The pumping configurations for realizing high average power solid state laser are summarized, including Nd:GGG crystal slab laser in heat capacity operating mode, Yb-doped slab lasers and thin-disk lasers etc., which provide a reference for designing high average power solid state lasers pumping modes.


In every developing country there are a lot of problems that are faced specially by the rural areas in terms of poverty, lack of availability of technology, scarce resources and standard of living. So, therefore government has tried its ways and means to bring in the concept of smart villages that can be a new beginning. Smart villages are a concept through which possible sustainable solutions are taken up to improve the quality life of people. This concept of Smart villages was launched on 11 October 2014 as Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) under the leadership of Mr. Narendra Modi on the mark of Mahatma Gandhi's concept of Ideal villages. In the year 2014 SAGY was launched with the motive to develop rural areas with the same pace of urban areas. So, therefore under this concept every member of parliament had to choose their own representative to fix parameters with the motive to make "Model Village" or "Adarsh Gram" by 2016. With the help of SAGY guidelines every member of parliament should work in such a way that the institutional infrastructure is converted into "Model Villages" or "Adarsh Grams". This was the concept for the development of rural areas, but as time passed by. SDG's guidelines came into existence. This concept Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) agenda 2030 was eventually launched in 2015. There is total 17 SDG's goals, one of them mainly focuses on Sustainable Cities and Communities that is SDG 11. So, with this concept under the leadership of MR. Narendra Modi the government of India launched the smart city project on 25 June 2015, With the ambition of creating sustainable environment with smarter solutions, smart cities become the most heated and talked about concept in India. On one hand it has a lot of consequences and is challenging to citizens and on other hand the government of India is trying its efforts best to make people aware and acceptable to this concept. This paper mainly focuses on needs of smart cities and smart villages for sustainable future with the help of case study analysis. Also, to understand how Information Communication Technology (ICT) has played a major factor moving towards green environment making India Sustainable.


—Cooperation among federated APs in dense urban areas can yield energy saving by allowing under-used devices to hand over their wireless stations (WS) to nearby APs and temporarily switch off while meeting user expectations in terms of throughput. We demonstrate the effectiveness and the bene fi ts of our energy-ef fi cient cooperative protocol through a real deployment emulating a residential scenario. The demo we propose is highly interactive, as users can generate traf fi c within a BSS through a wireless station, like a smartphone or a notebook, and observe, through a web interface, the protocol behavior and the network topology changes caused by the new traf fi c scenario.


Digital radiography data was collected for NIF RadHohl-09A Target 54 (MMED No.54, NDE No.T54). Three data sets were collected in order to: (1) characterize the relative density uniformity of the tantalum-oxide (Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5}) target material, (2) note readily-observable non-uniform features in the target, and (3) estimate the density of the target material. The Xradia Micro XCT system in B432 was used to collect the data. The system parameters were: (1) source: (a) x-ray energy = 49 kVp; and (b) power and current = 3.3 W and 66 {micro}A; (2) detector: (a) imaging optics magnifications = 4X, 20X; (b) effective pixel widths = 3.0 {micro}m (4X), 0.6 {micro}m (20X); and (c) integration time = 250 secs (5 frame-averaged 50-second integrations).


This work focuses over the performability analysis of a multi-server retrial queueing model with phase-type inter-retrial times in cellular networks. It is considered that the pattern of the new call arrival and handoff call arrival follows Markovian arrival process (MAP). The service times of both types of calls are phase-type (PH ) distributed with different service rates, and inter-failure&inter-repair times of channels are exponentially distributed. For the prioritization of handoff calls, G channels are kept in reserve for handoff calls. When all the available channels, say S, are busy at the arrival epoch of a handoff call, the handoff call will be dropped. Whereas a new call will be blocked and will have an option to join the orbit of infinite capacity or leave the system without getting the connection, if at least S-G channels are busy. A new call in the orbit, termed as retrial call, retries to get the connection after a random interval which follows PH distribution. This model is analyzed as a level-dependent-quasi-birth-death (LDQBD) process by applying matrix-analytic method (MAM). Further, the closed-form expressions for essential performance measures of the proposed model are derived. Through numerical illustrations, the behaviour of performance measures depending on the various relevant intensities is discussed. An expected cost optimization problem is formulated to determine the optimal value of service intensity and the optimal value of repair intensity. The cost function analysis is executed by employing Simulated Annealing (SA) method.


Cyanogenic glycosides are nitrogen containing secondary metabolites which offer plant defense mechanism against herbivores while recently various insects have developed ability to detoxify, sequester and synthesize these cyanogenic compounds. Dhurrin was the first identified and isolated CNGs from young leaves of sorghum, Sorghum vulgare. The presence of CNGs were confirmed in few species of Chilopods, Diplopods, Heteropterans, Coleopterans and Lepidopterans. Linamarin and Lotaustralin were the major CNGs distributed in Lepidopterans. They have developed an ability to de novo synthesize CNGs and detoxify them with the help of β-cyanoalanine synthase and rhodonase. This may be due to the course of insect evolution or the genes responsible for the synthesis of CNGs may get transferred from plants to insects. In future, the responsive genes in these arthropods should be silenced and expansion of transgenic cyanogenic plants may encouraged to ensure plant defense mechanism.


A tiny sensor, small enough to be worn on clothing, now monitors voltage changes near sensitive instruments after being created to alert Agency workers to dangerous static buildup near fuel operations and avionics. San Diego s Quasar Federal Systems received a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from Kennedy Space Center to develop its remote voltage sensor (RVS), a dime-sized electrometer designed to measure triboelectric changes in the environment. One of the unique qualities of the RVS is that it can detect static at greater distances than previous devices, measuring voltage changes from a few centimeters to a few meters away, due to its much-improved sensitivity.


Many people, if not most, perhaps never associate Richard Wright with the state of Mississippi, which is another way of saying that they do not associate him with the South. He was, however, a Mississippian, a Southerner, and to call him that is not merely to demand due recognition for the statistics of his birth and residence during his plastic years, but also to recognize a fact of the utmost importance in understanding the growth and peculiarities of his artistic imagination. Richard Wright still remains best-known as the author of the novel Native Son. Four years before Native Son, however, he had published a novella which he called "Big Boy Leaves Home." It is of this earlier and relatively unnoticed novella that I wish to evangelize. "Big Boy Leaves Home" is a story which proceeds from beginning to end as a simple, straight-line narrative. Mechanically, at least, it is assembled like a play, detachable into five episodes, each as clearly discrete as a scene in a formal drama, and each along the time-scheme of the novella, placed somewhat later than its immediate predecessor, until the action, at the point which in a theater would ring down the final curtain, conveys Big Boy, the story's titular protagonist, northward toward Chicago, secreted in the covered back of a truck. The first episode breathes something of the atmosphere of a rural Eden. On a clear, warm day in Mississippi four self-indulgent Negro boys are discovered in a wood on the outskirts of the little town in which they and their families reside. The boys are Big Boy and his constant companions Lester, Buck, and Bobo. It becomes quickly obvious that Big Boy is the natural leader of the four and the constant recipient of hero-worship from the other three. It becomes equally obvious that the four should not be where they are, for it is a school day and they are decidedly of school age. They are, then, young rebels giving full vent to some of their rebellious tendencies. And yet it does not appear that they are criminally inclined. They are, rather, healthy and high-spirited cousins-german of Huck Finn, with a proper ambivalence of attitude toward the queer world of adults and a proper interest in enjoying their youth while they still have it to enjoy. They are not, it must be confessed, altogether nice by the standards of a Little Lord Fauntleroy. Their language, for example, runs to words not used in polite child-rearing circles. Their sense of fun expresses itself too often in the sadistic exploitation of some defenseless victim's physical discomfiture. They know, too, about sex, and not through programs of sex education. Even so, they cannot be classed as juvenile delinquents. Nothing about them stamps them as young practitioners of vice and violence. But just as undeniably they cannot be classed as adults. To recognize this is of the utmost importance in a reading of their story. They like to try to act like grownups. What normal adolescents do not? Nevertheless, as adults, they are actually only innocents, actually only ingenues uninitiated into most of what are often called the facts of life. To be classed as adults, they have still seen far too little of the scattered and extensive middens of corruption which tend to separate in a most decisive manner prototypical adulthood from even the latest phase of non-adulthood. Their innocence does not make them as pure as the driven snow. But it does permit them still to think and act like irresponsible children. And it is as irresponsible children, out for a children's lark, that they suddenly, and capriciously, decide to quit their wood--one is strongly tempted to say their enchanted forest--and go swimming, trespassing on the land and the pond of Ol Man Harvey, a white man noted for his lack of love for Negroes and, not incidentally, noted especially to them for his aversion to their swimming in his pond. The second episode takes them, consequently, from their open wood to Ol Man Harvey's pond. …


In endodontic practice, procedural accidents such as perforations are a common happening in an effort to negotiate complex root canal anatomy. One of the ideal requisites of a perforation repair material is that it should not be conducive to the growth of microorganisms. Although Ca(OH)2 has been found to be conducive to repair, it is not used for perforation repair as it was unable to give a fluid tight seal. In 1998, Matsumoto et al, developed a calcium hydroxide based material, CH 61 which they used as a root canal sealer and found it to have excellent sealing properties and low solubility and it was a non irritant. This material also has the potential to be used as a perforation repair material. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of CH 61. Agar plate diffusion method was used. The microbial strains used were: Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. Agar plates were prepared and the prepared bacterial suspensions were then inoculated onto the agar plates. The material CH 61 was dissolved in glycerol and was inoculated onto the agar plates in a specific area. The plates were incubated at 37° C for 48 hours. Zones of inhibition were observed around each of the tested microorganism. Thus it was concluded that CH 61 has an antimicrobial activity but more studies are required to evaluate its potential as a perforation repair material.


Introduction: The renewed goal to return to the Moon as part of the Artemis program will require us to address the practice of Planetary Protection [1]. Our funded project will be important for upcoming Planetary Protection strategies for lunar missions near permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) and future approaches to manned missions on the Moon. In particular, PSRs have scientific value for studies of the process of chemical evolution and most importantly, due to the presence of water-ice. With knowledge gaps regarding PP and PSRs, PSR missions have been temporarily assigned as Planetary Protection Category II-L with requirements (NASA Interim Directive 8715.218) [1]. Therefore, our funded work furthers NASA's science objectives by investigating methods of sterilization and ensuring that contamination is minimized for future lunar exploration.


A new method for calculating the low-lying states of light nuclei is proposed: antisymmetrized molecular dynamics (AMD)\char21{}superposition of selected snapshots. In addition to the cluster features of the core nucleus, the properties of the wave of valence nucleons are well expressed in terms of a superposition of selected AMD wave functions. For $^{6}\mathrm{He}$, the binding energy and the halo nature are reproduced using effective interactions determined from a phase-shift analysis. For the deformed core cases, the three ${0}^{+}$ states of $^{10}\mathrm{Be}$ are well described. Here, the importance of solving the cooling equation for the imaginary part of the Gaussian centers for the nucleons is examined. For $^{12}\mathrm{Be}$, the newly observed $J=0$ state at $2.24\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{MeV}$ is analyzed to be the second ${0}^{+}$ state.


IRONS, AND UNGROUPED IRONS CHINGA, TISHOMINGO AND WILLOW GROVE. J. Honesto, W.F. McDonough, R.J. Walker, C.M. Corrigan, T.J. McCoy , N.L. Chabot and R.D. Ash. Department of Geology, Univ. MD, College Park, MD 20742 (firstname.lastname@example.com), Applied Physics Lab, Johns Hopkins Univ., Laurel, MD 20723-6099, Dept. of Mineral Sciences, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 20560-0119


This paper analyzes the chatter in a sliding mode variable structure control (VSC) of linear time-invariant controllable systems with integral element assuming an exponential reaching law. Relations for the chatter amplitude and frequency are derived as functions of the parameters of the exponential reaching law and variable rate of the control function. The relations are used in the design of a pre-roller tank level VSC for a continuous aluminium casting and rolling system. Some plug chattering is needed in the pre-roller tank level control of a continuous aluminium casting and rolling system to avoid sediment sticking. This system uses the chatter from the VSC to avoid sediment sticking, but the chatter must be under control. Simulation results using a variable structure controller for this system were compared with PID control to verify the theoretical model and show that this VSC is much better than PID control.


With the promulgation of new medical reform scheme,medical insurance handling management has become extremely important.According to the requirement of the targets for universal coverage of healthcare insurance,this paper,based on exploring the influencing factors of management ability,summarized such methods as "two big service function analysis" and "index establishment and data argument analysis".This paper also examined the management status quo of medical insurance handling management and analyzed the problems in handling management such as internal management,informationization construction and social cooperation.This paper finally put forward several suggesitons including establishing governance notion in medical insurance handling management,strengthening law and regulation-making and innovating management mode so as to push forward the realization of universal coverage of healthcare insurance.


1. Introduction Part 1: The Concept and Challenges of the Right to Development 2. The History, Politics and the Concept of the Right to Development 3. The Jurisprudence of the Right to Development 4. The Declaration and the Working Groups Part 2: The Right to Development in International Law 4. The Legal Status of the Right to Development in Public International Law Part 3: The Right to Development in Pakistan 6. The Nature and Extent of the Realisation of the Right to Development in Pakistan 7. Re-Conceptualising the RTD in Islamic Law 8. Pakistan's Poverty Reduction and the Right to Development 9. Conclusion


Weather is one of the things that interest almost everyone. Weather maps are therefore widely used and many users use them in everyday life. To identify the potential usability problems of weather web maps, the presented research was conducted. Five weather maps were selected for an eye-tracking experiment based on the results of an online questionnaire: DarkSky, In-Počasí, Windy, YR.no, and Wundermap. The experiment was conducted with 34 respondents and consisted of introductory, dynamic, and static sections. A qualitative and quantitative analysis of recorded data was performed together with a think-aloud protocol. The main part of the paper describes the results of the eye-tracking experiment and the implemented research, which identify the strengths and weaknesses of the evaluated weather web maps and point out the differences between strategies in using maps by the respondents. The results include findings such as the following: users worked with web maps in the simplest form and they did not look for hidden functions in the menu or attempt to find any advanced functionality; if expandable control panels were available, the respondents only looked at them after they had examined other elements; map interactivity was not an obstacle unless it contained too much information or options to choose from; searching was quicker in static menus that respondents did not have to switch on or off; the graphic design significantly influenced respondents and their work with the web maps. The results of the work may be useful for further scientific research on weather web maps and related user issues.


We prove the global existence of solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations of compressible, barotropic flow in two space dimensions with piecewise smooth initial data. These solutions remain piecewise smooth for all time, retaining simple jump discontinuities in the density and in the divergence of the velocity across a smooth curve, which is convected with the flow. The strengths of these discontinuities are shown to decay exponentially in time, more rapidly for larger acoustic speeds and smaller viscosities. The Navier-Stokes equations describe the conservation of mass and the balance of momentum: ρt + div(ρu) = 0 (1) (ρu)t + div(ρu u) + P (ρ)xj = ε∆u j + λdiv uxj . (2) Here t ≥ 0 is time, x ∈ R is the spatial coordinate, and ρ(x, t), P = P (ρ), and u(x, t) = (u(x, t), u(x, t)) are the fluid density, pressure, and velocity. ε > 0 and λ ≥ 0 are viscosity constants, and div and ∆ are the usual spatial divergence and Laplace operators. Specifically, we fix a positive, constant reference density ρ̃, and we assume that Cauchy data (ρ0, u0) is given for which ρ0 − ρ̃ is small in L ∩ L∞, u0 is small in H for some arbitrary but positive β (the L-norms must be weighted slightly), and that ρ0 is piecewise C (0 < α < β), having simple jump discontinuities across a C curve C(0). We then show that there is a global weak solution (ρ, u) for which ρ(·, t) and div u(·, t) are piecewise C, having simple jump discontinuities across a C curve C(t), which is the transport of C(0) by the velocity field u, and that certain other features of the solution concerning its singularities, readily obtainable from heuristic jump conditions, hold in a strict, pointwise sense. This research was supported in part by the NSF under Grant No. DMS-9986658. MSC 2000 : 35Q30, 76N10.


Medicare Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) represent the nation's largest initiative of Medicare alternative payment models toward value and health outcomes. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have tested various ACO models with differential risk structures, and have issued a final rule to accelerate the ACOs to assume greater financial risks. In response, this research investigates whether superiority exists among various ACO models and determines their potential cost reductions. The results indicate that in minimizing health expenditures given quality services, or maximizing quality services given health expenditures, one-sided ACOs are more efficient than two-sided ACOs, so it might not be advisable to mandate the transition of ACOs from one-sided to two-sided. This research also shows that Medicare ACOs should be able to reduce expenditures significantly through efficiency improvement, without switching to two-sided tracks. Another finding is that the benchmark expenditures for a significant number of Medicare ACOs are below the efficient expenditures and should be adjusted upward.


The continuous production of benzyl amides by anodic oxidation in flow was developed. The stability and productivity of the equipment was examined over time and monitored by means of in-line UV analysis. The applicability of the method to twelve substrates was demonstrated.


Pakistan is a highly gender segregated society with strongly defined gender roles and responsibilities. Findings show that, teachers' beliefs and practices about learning and learners of mathematics are deeply rooted in wider sociological beliefs and practices about the role of men and women in society generally. The study has strong implications for policy and practice in mathematics teaching and teacher education.


This paper studies the longest pattern subsequence problem based on the dynamic programming algorithm.An O(n2) time algorithm for the problem is firstly presented.Then the presented algorithm is improved further by generalizing the RSK algorithm and the standard Young tableau.When |σ|=1,the time required by the algorithm is improved to O(nlogk).When |σ|=2,the time required by the algorithm is improved to O(n),an optimal algorithm.


Speech behaviours and their assessment in children with Down syndrome Three types of problems with speech motor control are typically experienced by children with Down syndrome: 1) early articulation and phonological difficulties, 2) fluency disorders such as stuttering and cluttering, and 3) developmental aphasia-type problems. The first and second involve speech motor processes and the second and third involve interaction between the speech and language processes. This contribution details how motor factors affect speech and reports on the interface between language and speechmotor processes. At the end of each section, the fluency problems associated with these processes are presented and evidence whether children with Down syndrome are affected by these problems is discussed. Research questions that still need to be addressed are identified and the final section, some potential clinical implications are drawn.


Production of the two mRNAs encoding distinct forms of 2′-5′-oligoadenylate synthetase depends on processing that involves the recognition of alternative poly(A) sites and an internal 5′-splice site located within the first 3′-terminal exon. The resulting 1.6- and 1.8-kb mRNAs are expressed in fibroblast cell lines, whereas lymphoblastoid B cells, such as Daudi, produce only the 1.8-kb mRNA. In the present study, we have shown that the 3′-end processing at the last 3′-terminal exon occurs independently of the core poly(A) site sequence or the presence of regulatory elements. In contrast, in Daudi cells, the recognition of the poly(A) site at the first 3′-terminal exon is impaired because of an unfavorable sequence context. The 3′-end processing at this particular location requires a strong stabilization of the cleavage/polyadenylation factors, which can be achieved by the insertion of a 25-nucleotide long U-rich motif identified upstream of the last poly(A) site. Consequently, we speculate that in cells expressing the 1.6-kb mRNA, such as fibroblasts, direct or indirect participation of a specific mechanism or cell type-specific factors are required for an efficient polyadenylation at the first 3′-terminal exon.


A model of heat source is presented for tunnel regeneration semiconductor laser.Three dimension steady-state temperature distribution of laser diode with two active regions was simulated by using the finite element method.It is found that the highest temperature is in the stripe center of the front emitting facet of the active region close to the substrate.Along the direction perpendicular to the junction,temperature of the active region close to the substrate is higher than that of the active region close to the heat sink.Temperature of the rear facet increases much slowly for the asymmetric packaging along the resonator.With the increasing of the injecting current,the temperature and the temperature difference between the two active regions are rising,which is in agreement with the measured data.


Donald Drysdale explains why it is extremely unlikely that the UK would no longer have a value added tax after leaving the EU


A number of state and local planners have requested guidance on screening protocols and have expressed interest in sampling body fluids from exposed or potentially exposed individuals as a means of estimating agent dose. These guidelines have been developed to provide a clear statement that could be used by state and local emergency response personnel in the event of a nerve or vesicant agent incident resulting in off-post contamination; maximum protection from harm is the goal. The assumption is that any population group so exposed would be heterogeneous for age, gender, reproductive status, and state of health.


Sereni is a common plant found in abundance through-out the world. Its stem fiber is rich in cellulose that was graft copolymerized with different vinyl monomers. Variable graft yield was obtained depending on properties of the monomers, reaction conditions and other physico-chemical factors. The graft copolymers were characterized by SEM & FTIR and studied for change in properties like swelling and dye-uptake behavior. These modified fibers were then used as reinforcement in the composites. These composites were then evaluated for physico-chemico-mechanical properties. The modified fiber and the composites could be useful for various industrial and scientific applications.


Three types of agrochemical surveys of the Central Chernozem District soils and the authors' investigations in the Central Chernozem Biosphere Preserve, in the Kursk and Belgorod districts are discussed. The humous status of arable soils is described, as well as their acidity, phosphate and potassium regimes. A forecast of their changes, caused by present-day farming and soil erosion, is given.


We propose a simple method to assess the number of subpopulations in multivariate data by projecting the data on its principal curve and then applying Silverman's bandwidth test to the resulting univariate sample. Our results indicate that this method works well even in high-dimensional settings with relatively small sample sizes, provided that the number of subpopulations is not large compared to the number of dimensions.


An autonomous orbit determination method using only crosslink range measurement is proposed to achieve long-term accurate autonomous orbit determination for a combined navigation constellation constituted by a near-earth navigation constellation and a Lagrangian navigation constellation. This method is advised to solve the problem that rotation and translation of the entire near-Earth navigation constellation relative to the inertial reference frame can bring large error to the autonomous orbit determination using only cross-link range measurement. The model of a combined navigation constellation constituted by a near-Earth navigation constellation and a Lagrangian navigation constellation is given. EKF method and only crosslink range measurement are used to achieve long term autonomous orbit determination of the combined navigation constellation. A Lagrangian navigation constellation composed of four satellites and a near-earth navigation constellation constituted by twelve GPS satellites are chosen to verify feasibility and accuracy of autonomous orbit determination using only crosslink range measurement. Simulations show that this technique can improve the accuracy of long term autonomous orbit determination for the navigation constellation.


The reasons why cracks occur during concrete construction lie both in materials such as aggregate,cement,mixed material and in concrete construction such as mixing,trans porting,casting,curing of the concrete.In this article,the authors analyse the reasons for the occurring of cracks and come up with some controling methods.


Circular dichroism (CD) and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra have been measured on (31R)-bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) c aggregates in organic solvents. BChl c exists as a monomer in acetone with a Qy(0−0) transition at 661 nm. In a mixed solvent system of methanol and dichloromethane (CH3OH/CH2Cl2 = 1/4000), another Qy(0−0) transition appeared at 680 nm with a nondispersion-type CD signal. The ratio of MCD intensity to its dipole strength (B/D) for the Qy(0−0) transition is half the value of its monomer species, indicating a dimerization of BChl c. The apparent inconsistency between the CD and MCD results has been reconciled by assuming the formation of BChl c dimer with a T-shaped conformation. In neat CCl4, a dispersion-type CD signal was observed for the Qy(0−0) exciton components at 680 and 710 nm. MCD spectra of the exciton-type Qy(0−0) components suggest that two BChl c molecules are parallel with their macrocycle planes as judged by the mixing effect between the excited states of Qx(0−0) and...


Humans are embedded in a thick web of social interactions, which form patterns of social networks. The study of social networks—both quantitatively and qualitatively— has emerged as a powerful approach for studying how interpersonal connections influence a person's attitudes and behaviors. The primary concern of all network analysis studies is social relationships and how these relationships are structured. Rather than focusing exclusively on traits of individuals, network studies include an expanded focus to capture the social context in which individuals are embedded, patterns of social interaction, and the extent to which these interactions can influence preferences, adherence to norms, and decisionmaking. It is through social interactions that two key processes occur: social learning (learning the social norms in particular contexts) and social influence (enforcement of the norms through positive or negative sanctions). Patterns of influence may vary based on factors such as strength of social ties, hierarchies of authority, and social status and roles.


Higher education as the right of people is a priority area of public policy and state investment. Because of its important role of change in society, it is considered a public good. This new conception of higher education seeks to guarantee public financing and guarantee the right to education for all through the free registration and democratization of access to the university. In this paper it is analyzed the financing mechanisms of the public universities of zone 3 and the incidence in academic efficiency of the graduate level. The research is quantitative, through the analysis of data obtained from secondary sources of information, the parameters considered for the calculation of each distribution criteria: quality, excellence and efficiency: contemplated in the resource distribution formula were determined. Academic efficiency related with registered students, graduated students, was analyzed based on the results of the institutional evaluations carried out in 2009 and 2013, as well as the parameters established in the formula for distributing resources in the academic efficiency criterion. The category, A, B, C, or D, of the universities not only determines the quality of the institution, but it is a parameter considered in all the criteria for distribution of resources, so that, the universities with the highest category are part of the distribution by excellence criterion. For the verification of the hypothesis, statistical correlation methods based on simple and multiple linear regression were used, in addition to the Data Envelopment Analysis methodology
was applied to evaluate the efficiency of public universities in zone 3. The main conclusion was that the public financing impacts on the academic efficiency of the public universities in zone 3. State is the main source of financing for the universities of zone 3. Public universities through improvement actions that link the academy and management can achieve optimal levels of quality, excellence and efficiency.


On a C2 -domain in a Euclidean space, we consider the oblique derivative problem for a diffusion equation and assume the coefficients of the diffusion and boundary operators are Holder continuous. We then prove the uniqueness of diffusion processes and fundamental solutions corresponding to the problem. For the purpose, obtaining a stochastic representation of some so- lutions to the problem plays a key role; in our situation, a difficulty arises from the absence of a fundamental solution with C2-smoothness up to the boundary. It is overcome by showing some stability of a fundamental solution and a dif- fusion process, respectively, under approximation of the domain. In particular, the stability of the fundamental solution is verified through construction: it is done by applying the parametrix method twice to a parametrix with explicit expression.


Every cell cycle, the chromatin in eukaryotic genomes is duplicated through a precise and regulated mechanism. Initiation of DNA replication requires the binding of the Origin Recognition Complex (ORC) at multiple origins of replication throughout the genome. This ORC is also involved in heterochromatin organization and, in humans, several of its subunits are required for centromere and telomere function and participate in chromosome segregation. Chakraborty et al. discuss the role of ORC in heterochromatin organization and gene silencing in different species, highlighting the authors' recent finding that independent ORC subunits have functions in chromatin organization.


Methodological discussion among historians of science and technology typically manifests as semiphilosophical reflection on the means by which knowledge and technologies are produced, and the ways in which they interact with politics and culture. The idea is that the proper interpretation of sources and the development of proper narratives hinge on a sound understanding of such issues. By comparison, only fleeting attention is generally paid to more technical questions, such as how historical documents are produced and accessed. Richard Rogers's Digital Methods (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2013. Pp. 275. $42) is about exactly that type of question. Rogers, who holds a chair in new media and digital culture at the University of Amsterdam, defines the term "digital methods" in a fairly strict way. First, the concept is not to be conflated with the "digital humanities." Digital methods are not about using computers and the Internet to analyze and present work; they are about mining the Internet for source material for social scientific and humanistic analysis. Second, digital methods pertain to content that is born digital, and so do not encompass things like the digitized library holdings found in Google Books. Thus, Digital Methods will mainly interest sociologists, anthropologists, and historians studying history from the 1990s to the present. Finally, Rogers is not interested in online culture as a peculiar form of culture (i.e., cyberculture). He is interested in how we can use online sources to study culture generally, much as a historian might ponder how culture can and cannot be perceived in sources such as historical cinema or preserved correspondence. Yet Digital Methods is not about anthropological methodology. Rogers


Model studies of the ligand photodissociation process of carboxymyoglobin have been conducted by using amplified few-cycle laser pulses short enough in duration (<10 fs) to capture the phase of the induced nuclear motions. The reaction-driven modes are observed directly in real time and depict the pathway by which energy liberated in the localized reaction site is efficiently channeled to functionally relevant mesoscale motions of the protein.


Three mock-iodine manikins, simulating hypothyroid, euthyroid and hyperthyroid patients, were circulated to interested laboratories in Australia. The true uptake values and the average unsigned errors of the reported measurements (as a percent of true uptake) were 12·4 per cent (12·9), 36 per cent (3·9) and 60 per cent (10·1). It was concluded that Australian euthyroidal uptakes are accurately measured and may be validly compared with those in other parts of the world in international surveys of thyroid function. It appeared that the measurement of both high and low uptakes could be improved.


is about 100 years since the earliest university studies and first research developments occurred which led to the founding of the Society for Psychical Research in London in 1882. Thus, it seems appropriate to have a symposium on what is now called parapsychology at the AAAS Annual Meeting in Chicago. The founders of the society were exceptional persons. One, Sir Arthur Balfour, later became Prime Minister of Great Britain, and another, Frederick Myers, wrote the classic work in the field. In later years, three Nobel prize winners became presidents of the society. The American Society for Psychical Research started in 1885 as a result of a visit of Sir William Barrett to the United States. The change in name to "parapsychology" was associated with a change in emphasis, around 1930, from investigation of spontaneous cases to the experimental, quantitatively evaluated study of psychic phenomena. Parapsychology can be considered as the study of interactions between behaving organisms and their external environment, which occur under conditions precluding participation of the sensorimotor system. For convenience, such interactions are called psi processes. Psi processes, in which the organism's behavior gives evidence that information was received from the environment without the use of the recognized senses, are designated as ESP. Psi processes, by which the environment is altered without the use of the organism's motor system, are called psychokinesis (PK). At the symposium, the first two


In the article the use of methods of spectral theory of the graphs is offered for the estimation of structural complication of decentralizing TCNS of special control system, by research of statistical properties which characterize the conduct of network and forecast its conduct at the change of structural properties. For finding of spectrum of adjacency of count of TCN matrix the use of direct method is offered with the decision of the system of linear equalizations of algebra by the method of secant. It is rotined that a direct method on the basis of method of secant has beautiful convergence and allows to define an approximate decision for the eventual amount of iterations. The offered index of complication of network is invariant and can be used for the decision of tasks of verification of isomorphism of counts, laying out of counts, on clusters and others like that.


Clinical and experimental studies provide evidence that metabolic and inflammatory pathways are functionally interconnected to cardiovascular diseases. Dynamic changes in macrophage activation [classical M1 activation (promote inflammation) or alternative M2 activation (promote wound healing)], in response to various signals, modulate tissue pathology in diabetes. Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6), a NAD-dependent nuclear deacetylase plays an important role in genomic stability, cellular metabolism, stress response and aging. However, the mechanism by which SIRT6 activity affects macrophage function in diabetes is still unclear. Mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM) exposed to high glucose (HG, 25mM D-glucose) showed reduced expression of SIRT6 as compared to low glucose (LG, 5mM D-glucose)- and osmotic control (OC, 5mM D-glucose+20mM D-mannitol)-treated cells. SIRT6 knockdown in RAW 264.7 cells exaggerated inflammatory response in macrophages exposed to high glucose (HG) and in contrast, IL4-induced alternative macrophage (M2) phenotype was defective in SIRT6 deficient BM-macrophages under high glucose condition. SIRT6 protein expression was low in failing (MI-induced) and diabetes-affected hearts. Interestingly, mice receiving intramyocardial injection of SIRT6-deficient macrophages showed further deterioration in LV function, post-MI. Taken together, these data highlighting a role for SIRT6 in regulating both M1 and M2 polarization might have broad implications for numerous inflammatory disease states including insulin resistance and wound healing.


The outcrossing traits in rice (Oryza sativa L.) affect the yield of hybrid seed production. Using a cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) line with good outcrossing traits, such as short flag leaf length (FLL), narrow flag leaf width (FLW), wide flag leaf angle (FLA), and elongated panicle neck length (PNL), for hybrid rice seed production, it is possible to avoid the procedure of cutting flag leaves and make the supplementary pollination feasible by machine. In this study, a japonica restorer C-bao as the receptor parent and a primitive japonica accession Ludao as the donor parent were used to construct a chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL) population. The CSSL population was used to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for the four outcrossing traits using a likelihood ratio test based on the stepwise regression (RSTEP-LRT) method. The CSSL population constructed consisted of 163 lines covering 90.7% of the donor genome. Among the seven QTLs detected in the CSSL population, four QTLs were detected in both years. qFLL-4 explained 6.70% of the two-year-averaged phenotypic variance, and the alleles from Ludao decreased FLL 5.1 cm. qFLA-1.1 and qFLA-1.2 explained 7.85% and 21.29% of the 2-year-averaged phenotypic variance respectively, and the alleles from Ludao increased FLA 17.38° and 31.50°. qPNL-8 explained 8.87% of the 2-year-averaged phenotypic variance, and the alleles from Ludao increased PNL 4.44 cm. These favorable alleles identified could be used to improve the outcrossing traits of parents for hybrid rice seed production in rice.


This paper summarizes the studies of economic crustacean experimental populations,domestic and overseas,during the recent ten yeas.It includes the living enviromental conditions of several economic species,such as water temperature,salinity,dissolved oxygen amount,illumination and media.It also consists of the diet studies,intraspecific relationship (sex and intraspecific competition);interspecific relationship (interspecific competiton,predation and mixed culture);the influence of the crustacean characteristic behaviour chela autotomy and the diseases research results.


Objective:To investigate the effect of exercise training on artery endothelium function of patients, and address the relationship between cardiac rehabilitation exercise training and cardiovascular endothelial function.Method:66 patients diagnosed as coronary artery disease(CAD) after PTCA/CABG were enrolled . They were randomly divided into rehabilitation exercise training group and conventional care group. The patients in exercise training group got 12 weeks of exercise training and conventional care.The exercise program provided supervised conditioning for patients in rehabilitation department Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute. Exercise prescription was dependent on Phase Ⅱ.The conventional group only had conventional care. Result: Flow-mediated dilatation(FMD) increased significantly after the training program in the CR exercise group, but conventional group had no change( P 0.01). Conclusion:The change in FMD was only related to exercise training, and was independent of changes in baseline vessel size. The research indicated the rehabilitive exercise training can improve endothelium function in patients with CAD.


Chronic stress and low-grade chronic inflammation (LGCI) are key underlying factors for many diseases, including bone and body composition impairments. Objectives of this narrative review were to examine the mechanisms by which chronic stress and LGCI may influence osteosarcopenic adiposity (OSA) syndrome, originally named as ostoesarcopenic obesity (OSO). We also examined the crucial nutrients presumed to be affected by or cause of stress and inflammation and compared/contrasted them to those of our prehistoric ancestors. The evidence shows that stress (particularly chronic) and its related inflammatory processes, contribute to osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and adiposity ultimately leading to OSA as a final and most deranged state of body composition, commencing at the mesenchymal cell lineage disturbance. The foods/nutrients consumed by modern humans, as well as their altered lifestyle, also contribute to stress, LGCI and subsequently to OSA. The processes can also go in opposite direction when stress and inflammation impact nutritional status, particularly some micronutrients' levels. While nutritional management of body composition and LGCI have been studied, the nutrients (and their quantities) most affected by stressors and those which may act toward the alleviation of stressful state, ultimately leading to better body composition outcomes, need to be elucidated.


A woman aged about 25 years had a local swelling of the gums of her teeth during pregnancy: epulis gravidarum.


Articular cartilage is a thin but crucial tissue layer which plays an important role in diarthrodial joints. During the last decade, the quantitative ultrasound technique, especially the high frequency ultrasound elasticity measurement technique, called as ultrasound elastomicroscopy (UEM), has been widely employed as a versatile modality to investigate the articular cartilage. Ultrasound elastomicroscopy can measure the deformation of different layers of articular cartilage under compression, but whether the propagation of ultrasound in tissues was changed or not with the imposed load is still unknown. In this study, we developed a new optical method to validate the accuracy and reliability of the ultrasound elastomicroscopy. Layered sponge phantoms were prepared for the experiments. During the compression, both the ultrasound and optical elastomicroscopy systems were employed to record the ultrasound signals and optical images from inside and the font of the phantoms. The deformations of the phantoms from different layers were tracked from both ultrasound and optical signals and were then compared. The preliminary results suggest that the measurements of the ultrasound elastomicroscopy system could be validated.


The article presents materials from a socio-gender empirical study of the attitude of YouTube users to the candidates for the post of President of the Russian Federation who participated in the 2018 elections. The elections are indicative of the gender imbalance. Of the 8 candidates – only 1 is a woman. YouTube, on request in the search bar "presidential debate 2018", gave out four posts with millions of views. The videos were concerned with the most emotional moments of the elections. It was revealed that gender stereotypes affect the perception of the image of a political leader by Russians. The conducted sociogender study showed that the Internet has a huge information potential for gender sociology