The conception of infinity as a process (potential infinity) or as an object (actual infinity) is important for students to acquire understanding in many other related areas in mathematics. This study attempts to describe the infinite divisibility thinking of mathematics student teachers in an Institute of Teacher Education in Malaysia by making sense of mathematics through perception, operation and reason. Data were collected through a self-reporting questionnaire that was administered to 238 elementary school pre-service teachers from selected Teacher Education Institutes in Malaysia. Researchers categorised qualitatively different types of thinking and reported them by using descriptive statistics. The result revealed that the percentage of respondents who conceived infinity as an object was just slightly lower as compare to the percentage of respondents who conceived infinity as a process. Additionally, this study found that there were respondents with problematic conceptions as shown by their inconsistent answers. The open-ended explanations given by all the respondents revealed that most of the pre-service teachers used perception to make meaning on finite and infinite divisibility.


As ISBER celebrates its 20th anniversary, we should be drawn to critically examine our past biobanking initiatives to assess the merits of their achievement and to learn for our future. A decade ago, Vaught et al. published in Biopreservation and Biobanking a review of 16 initiatives in biobanking networks and major national biobank programs. These initiatives represent major biobank efforts from around the world covering the North American, European, and IndoPacific regions. A decade on, we asked each of these national biobanking facilities and networks to tell us what their journey has entailed in what has been a shifting and developing environment for biobanks. We sent out an invitation to all 16 initiatives seeking their input to the following questions:


HE technique of using symbols to represent the dimensionality of physical quantities is deeply embedded in the practice of modern mathematical physics. It is presented as an intuitively obvious device in elementary work (who would question the meaning of cm./sec.?) and in its more sophisticated applications exhibits paradoxical properties. The prevailing belief that this method originated with J. B. J. Fourier seems correct; from this fact one may gain an appreciation of the deep difference between the conceptions underlying mathematical physics of the eighteenth and of the nineteenth centuries. To explore this difference, or even a single aspect of it, is not a straightforward matter. For one is not primarily concerned with scientific results, or even with the reflections on these results, but rather with the tacitly accepted points of technique used in getting through a


After almost 8 years and over a hundred decisions on appeals it is safe to say that being a member of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Board of Appeal (BoA) has not been easy. Being the technically qualified member (TQM) of the ECHA BoA has proved to be challenging and interesting in equal measure. The cases almost invariably raise new and often complex legal and scientific issues and always challenge the members of the BoA to think things through from first legal principles through to understanding complex scientific ideas. And it is this that makes the job of technically qualified member of the ECHA BoA one of the most rewarding imaginable. Constantly balancing legal principles with regulatory demands with the uncertainty of science; balancing three things and perhaps more is never going to be easy.


More than 30 years after the first scholarship of its kind was produced, feminist studies of crime are more commonplace than ever before. Two recent milestone events—the 20th anniversary of the American Society of Criminology's Division on Women and Crime and the creation of this journal, the official publication of the division—provide the perfect opportunity to reflect on what lies ahead for feminist criminology. In this article, the author argues that the future of feminist criminology lies in our willingness to embrace a theoretical framework that recognizes multiple, intersecting inequalities. Specifically, the author maintains that to advance an understanding of gender, crime, and justice that achieves universal relevance and is free from the shortcomings of past ways of thinking, feminist criminologists must examine linkages between inequality and crime using an intersectional theoretical framework that is informed by multiracial feminism.


The 18th century is a period where methods and professions of recitation science were formed in the Ottoman Empire. Some of the scholars who grew up in this century, contributed with their works, for the ways and professions to become main sources and also to make these recitations reach the next periods. One of these scholars is Ahmad ar-Rushdî, who played an important role in transmitting the early practices of the Egyptian method in the Ottoman Empire to the later periods and even to the present day. His work Murshid at-Talabah, has attracted great attention since the it was written and has taken its place as one of the main sources of recitation teachings in Turkey. Ahmad ar-Rushdî, who gave recitation lessons in the Fatih Mosque for a long time, also served as librarian in the Fatih Library and as preacher in Saray-ı Atîk-i Mâmure and Sultan Selim Mosque in Istanbul. Despite this, there are only very few information about Ahmad ar-Rushdî's life in the main sources. For this reason, in the article, the life of Ahmad ar-Rushdî has been tried to be introduce by making use of manuscripts and archive documents.


The performance optimization of cognitive radio is a multiobjective optimization problem.It's difficult to assign the weight of each objective,and some optimal solutions will be omitted while using linear weight method to simply the multiobjective optimization problem into a single object optimization problem.We develop a new performance optimization algorithm called CREA based on a Multiobjective Evolutionary Algorithm.At first,CREA decides a group of fitness functions according to the changing of channel condition,and then runs the Multiobjective Evolutionary Algorithm to get a Pareto-optimal set.At last,CREA chooses a most satisfying solution from the Pareto-optimal set according to the users' service requirement and notifies the radio to update the transmit parameters.The results of simulation experiment testify the validity of CREA.


* Assistant Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi. It is estimated that more than 75 percent of patients with asthma also experience gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD). People with asthma are twice as likely to have GERD as those people who do not have asthma. Of those people with asthma, those who have a severe, chronic form that is resistant to treatment are most likely to also have GERD.


Fluidized beds are commonly used in Chemical Engineering as they provide a large degree of mixing and segregation of solids as well as a large surface area that enable effective heat transfer processes. However, the complexity of the relationships between fundamental parameters makes difficult to predict and compute the dynamic behavior in fluidized beds. As the solid particles exhibit the fluid-like behavior in fluidized beds, it is possible to draw an analogy between solid particles and fluid molecules. Gidaspow (1994) derived the same relation for the Mean Free Path (MFP) of the solid particles in a dilute suspension as the gas molecules through the kinetic theory of gases. Discrete Element Method is a powerful numerical method to determine the mean free path of particles in fluidized beds. In this paper, DEM has been applied in order to examine the mean free path of solid particles moving in a confined space with and without exerting drag force on particles. Then, considering that when particle bed is in full fluidized state, the individual particles undergo a random motion a model has been developed. From this model we are intending to predict the MFP of particles in fluidized beds. The effect of number of particles in the system, particle concentration and particle size has been analyzed. There are very limited experimental results available in literature on the MFP of particles in fluidized beds and therefore the simulation results here presented are providing the opportunity for future validation of DEM models based on MFP.


A repetitive control system for 3-phase inverters based on pole assignment and integral feedback control is presented.Repetitive control is used to reduce voltage distortion,pole assignment technique is used to accelerate dynamic response of voltage control,and the integral feedback function reduces the steady-state error.


(1) Physical Educator; Lecturer of the MsC and PhD programs in Human Movement from State University of Santa Catarina – UDESC; Coordinator of the Laboratory for Human – LADEHU; MsC in Mental Impairment and Learning Disorders by University of Sevilla, Spain; PhD in Sporst Medicine by University of Zaragoza, Spain. (2) Psycho-pedagogy professional; MsC in Human Movement by State University of Santa Catarina – UDESC, Florianopolis, SC. (3) Physical Educator; Lecturer at College Avantis, MsC in Human Movement by UDESC, Florianopolis, SC. (4) Physical Educator; MsC in Human Movement from State University of Santa Catarina – UDESC, Florianopolis, SC (5) Psychomotor therapist; Licensed in Physical Education; Postgraduated in Relational Psycomotricity by International for Relational Analysis CIAR/ FACEL, Curitiba, PR. (6) Physical Educator; Guest-lecturer at State University of Santa Catarina and College Avantis; MsC in Human Movement by UDESC; PhD in Physical Education by Federal University of Santa Catarina UFSC, Florianopolis, SC.


K.E. Tsiolkovsky, an outstanding scientist in the field of aeronautics, aviation and astronautics, in 1903, i.e. 110 years ago, suggested and justified the use of a rocket for space flights with the liquid-fuel rocket engine (LFRE) which ran on hydrogen and oxygen as a fuel. This promising suggestion was not accepted for many years. Liquid hydrogen as an efficient fuel for rockets began to be dealt with in the USSR only in 60s' of the last century. As a result a heavy «Energy» rocket carrier which ran on a hydrogen/oxygen mixture was designed. For the manufacturing purposes a huge infrastructure was created, the production of the necessary equipment was organized. The «Energy» two-stage rocket was designed as a carrier for the orbital reusable spaceship «Buran» which represented the third stage of the space rocket complex «Energy-Buran». Twenty five years ago, on November, 15th, 1988, the rocket «Energy» having started from the Baikonur cosmodrome carried into orbit the 100-ton «Buran»orbital ship. The ship was operated from the Earth and successfully made the flight without a crew in an automatic mode. The content of difficult and demanding job on designing special equipment and developing specific technologies for use of hydrogen-oxygen fuel both in LFRE of the «Energy» rocket carrier and in the energy supply system of «Buran» ship is described. The unique cryogenic systems providing fueling with overcooled liquid hydrogen and oxygen the fuel tanks of the rocket carrier and the orbital ship with subsequent thermostating of them are considered. Many of the applied solutions are still topical nowadays. At the same time there are also modern developments on which basis it is possible to design more perfect space rocket complexes.


120 colour plates. London: The British Library, 2007. £25. 978 0 7123 4946 8 JEH (60) 2009; doi :10.1017/S0022046908006386 This pleasantly written and nicely illustrated short book aims to present the theme of the miraculous by means of the manuscript collection of the British Library, from which most, if not all, of the example are drawn. Carefully interfaith in emphasis, the book draws its examples from the three main monotheistic religions. It does not follow from this that the miraculous is unique to monotheism, for the concept is ingrained in Buddhism and Hinduism. A few lines on this issue would have been appreciated. So this is not a global investigation and if this has the effect of limiting the scope of the miraculous it does have the virtue of enabling us to scrutinise stories of the miraculous that are common to Christianity, Judaism and Islam. So there is a gain on the comparative front. The general idea is a good one, since while the study of the wonderful and of those things beyond the norms of the natural world in general has become fashionable, more specialised academic study of, for example, the development of the miracles of Christ in art seems to have stalled. The book is arranged thematically : chapters are devoted to miracles of nature, to healing, 'great escapes ' and to nourishment. The book is careful not to claim that it is setting out any kind of comprehensive theory of the miracle and its representation across cultures. Also, the concept of the miraculous is regarded as being elastic almost to the point where it governs any supernatural event. The thematic structure suits the author's purpose of reading across Christian, Muslim and Jewish pictorial sources, but it obscures other issues. Given that two of these religions were in principle aniconic, what relative importance did the representation of the miraculous have within them? Can this be judged solely from the luxurious art of the illustrated book, as opposed to the art of the public domain? Also, since chronology is deliberately set aside in favour of diachronic comparison, what of the issue of change? The impression created is that Christianity, for instance, was a monolith with steady unyielding traditions of representation of and attitudes to the miraculous. But this cannot have been so. By the thirteenth century, papal canonisation was laying much less stress on the performance of the miracles of prospective saints and more on the inner growth of virtue ; the age of the wonder-worker had ended, and with it the possibility of representing things spectacular. At the same time there was a growing tendency in the Latin west for the miracles of Christ to enjoy less emphasis than his humanity.Why change of this sort happened, and whether it registered in the other traditions under consideration, is not really addressed here.


Objectives: Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) can experience flares during pregnancy that might influence pregnancy outcomes. We aimed at assessing the disease course during pregnancy and identifying risk factors for flares. Methods: Data about prospectively-followed pregnancies in RA were retrospectively collected before conception, during each trimester and in the post-partum period. Clinical characteristics, disease activity (DAS28-CRP3), medication use, and pregnancy outcomes were analysed with regard to disease flares. Results: Among 73 women who had a live birth, 64 (88%) were in remission/low disease activity before conception. During pregnancy, a flare occurred in 27 (37%) patients, mainly during first and second trimester. Flares during pregnancy were associated with the discontinuation of bDMARDs at positive pregnancy test (55% of patients with flare vs. 30% of patients with no flare, p 0.034, OR 2.857, 95% CI 1.112–8.323) and a previous use of >1 bDMARDs (33% of patients with flare vs. 10% of patients with no flare, p 0.019, OR 4.1, 95%CI 1.204–13.966). Preterm pregnancies were characterised by higher values of CRP [10 mg/L (5–11) vs. 3 mg/L (2.5–5), p 0.01] and DAS28-CRP3 [4.2 (1.9–4.5) vs. 1.9 (1.7–2.6), p 0.01] during the first trimester as compared with pregnancies at term. Preterm delivery was associated with the occurrence of flare during pregnancy (flare 27% vs. no-flare 7%, p 0.034, OR 4.625, 95%CI 1.027–20.829). Conclusion: Preterm delivery in RA patients was associated with flares during pregnancy. Flares occurred more frequently after the discontinuation of bDMARDs at positive pregnancy test. Women with aggressive RA on treatment with bDMARDs should be considered as candidates for continuing bDMARDs during pregnancy in order to reduce the risk of flare and adverse pregnancy outcomes.


The article presents the results of assessment of historical and cultural potential and the safety potential objects of heritage of specially protected natural territories of Vologda region. As a result of the analysis of the correspondence potentials we identified three groups of their equivalents on the basis of which the conclusions on the possibility of incorporating of specially protected natural territories into tourist activities.


The article highlights the main elements of the programme aimed at modernization of the educational activities of Tver State University. Today it faces a challenge to be a key figure in the development of Tver region. The implementation of the project approach and the system of mutually agreed projects and tasks will ensure a qualitatively new level of the entire education system of the upper Volga region. The authors dwell on the main projects in the education sphere implemented now by Tver State University.


Introduction. Three-phase systems. Real Power. Apparent Power and Reactive Power. Components of a Power System. Power System Control. Faults in a Power System. Energy Supplies.


The sum degrees of freedom (DoF) of the two-transmitter, two-receiver multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) X-Network ($2 \times 2$ MIMO X-Network) with $M$ antennas at each node is known to be $\frac{4M}{3}$. Transmission schemes which couple local channel-state-information-at-the-transmitter (CSIT) based precoding with space-time block coding to achieve the sum-DoF of this network are known specifically for $M=2,4$. These schemes have been proven to guarantee a diversity gain of $M$ when a finite-sized input constellation is employed. In this paper, an explicit transmission scheme that achieves the $\frac{4M}{3}$ sum-DoF of the $2 \times 2$ X-Network for arbitrary $M$ is presented. The proposed scheme needs only local CSIT unlike the Jafar-Shamai scheme which requires the availability of global CSIT in order to achieve the $\frac{4M}{3}$ sum-DoF. Further, it is shown analytically that the proposed scheme guarantees a diversity gain of $M+1$ when finite-sized input constellations are employed.


This article experimentally researches exercising imitating signature handwritings writed by two kinds people,have and have not knowledge of handwriting identifying.By examining common trait of two groups' exercising imitating signature handwriting in different exercising phase,and forming of handwriting character,reasons of changing,and value of identifying,the changing regular was summrized and it can be used as referenced foundation for identifying different kinds of exercising imitating signature handwriting.


Abstract : There is a loss in duction as the field of view is progressively restricted while holding the light-level constant. This is similar (1) to the loss in stereoacuity which occurs for Navy divers under the same conditions, and (2) to the loss in duction which occurs in the dark. However, introducing a few simple peripheral stimuli into the empty visual field restores the level of duction but not that of stereoacuity. It was desired to know whether in an empty visual field poor duction is not the basis for a decrement in stereoacuity, but rather that other mechanisms produce the loss in both. It is unlikely therefore, that the underwater stereoacuity of Navy divers will be improved by those methods which improve duction.


Abstract The Family Environment Scale (FES) is being used clinically to facilitate assessment, intervention and evaluation of change in family therapy. This paper illustrates the use of the scale by providing case descriptions of two typical families. Discussion of each family member's real and ideal family environment serves to identify key areas of agreement and disagreement about actual and desired aspects of family functioning. This semi-structured procedure can focus each therapy session on specific interpersonal issues and encourage each family member to take an active part in discussing problems and formulating goals.


There exists many a studies on the insolvency laws across all the nations worldwide. The simple reason for this is the fact that among many problems that a nation faces in the recent times, this is one of the most important issues. In this short write up an attempt has been made to review the insolvency laws existing in some small, yet very important nations.


Through methods of literature review,questionnaire,data statistics and logic reasoning,the paper analyzed and discussed the characteristics of college students' self-efficacy and the correlation between self-efficacy and sports achievements by studying 300 college students.The result of the research shows: Self-efficacy has positive correlation with sports achievements,and students with sports excellence have higher level of self-efficacy than the students with average sports performance;male students perform better in sports and have higher level of self-efficacy than female students;the categories of universities have no significant influence on self-efficacy and sports achievements.The result of regression equation shows that the five factors affecting college student's self-efficacy are sorted by the coefficient in the descending order as follows: academic achievements,categories of universities,gender,major and sports achievements.And the five factors affecting college students' sports achievements are sorted by the coefficient in the descending order as follows: academic achievements,gender,self-efficacy,categories of universities and major.


To research the function effect of fitness yoga for physical posture and pliability on middle aged women, a test of 62 Middle aged women was carried out, the result shows that fitness yoga can reduce the fat of the waist and thigh. But it less than the effect on the comprehensive reduce the body's fat by the aerobics. At the pliability aspect, yoga has superiority.


Reports from enterprises play an important role in external communication. The article presents for the first time an extensive analysis of the present state of business reporting in the forest and timber sectors, as seen from the point of view of the enterprises concerned. In addition to information on the present state of affairs in report-writing, the article analyses the ways in which enterprises evaluate new multi-dimensional concepts in reporting. Furthermore, the attitudes of enterprises towards some of the individual components of these concepts are assessed. The results are presented separately for public and private forest enterprises, for forest contractors and for the secondary wood-processing sector. The results of the survey are qualitatively compared with other national and international reference values, as far as these are available. In the forest and timber sectors a very traditional perception of reporting can be recognised and new approaches are regarded, on the whole, with scepticism....


COST Action 15221 (Advancing effective institutional models towards cohesive teaching, learning, research and writing development) strives to create synergy among supports for four crucial components of academic career – teaching, learning, research and writing.


Tumors are the results of accumulation of multiple gene mutations and their interactions. So by the intervention on tumorigenic factors, we may cure tumors or change their properties. Small molecular RNAs can regulate gene expression and be used as forcefully tumor therapeutic means. Together with our group's achievements, we summarized the functions of ectogenic siRNAs and endogenous miRNAs referring to tumor therapy, therapeutic prospects as well as the correlation and distinction between siRNAs and miRNAs.


PHENEX (Polarimetory for High ENErgy X rays) is a Japanese collaboration to measure hard X-ray polarization from astronomical objects with balloonborne instruments. The first balloon flight of PHENEX was performed on 2006 June 13 from Sanriku Balloon Center, targeting the Crab Nebula. We describe designs of a data acquisition and an attitude control system for the balloon-borne experiment and report their performances during the flight.


An experimental investigation is carried out on a semi-industrial prototype of regenerative roll quench system. It allows the determination of the thermal contact conductance between a roll and a moving strip. The application of the quantitative infrared thermography leads to the angular evolution of the strip temperature while the mean roll temperature is obtained by using thermocouples connected to a wireless telemetry data acquisition system. The experimental facility and the thermal model associated to the thermal conductance determination are presented. The results emphasize the effect of operating parameters such as the velocity, initial temperature and tensile strength of the strip. Modeling of the interfacial thermal conductance is finally proposed.


Although the forces or impetuses that influence an urban structure are diverse, as has been fully studied by scholars from diverse research fields, some have played key roles. We endeavor to explore the key forces and mechanisms forming and transforming the urban spatial structure through Hangzhou, a multi-identity city. Upon studying classical ancient texts, historical maps, critical and recent literature, and POI data, we argue that the first and foremost driver of Hangzhou is commercial culture, rather than any other factors. Under a diachronic view and with graphic analysis, we distinguished Hangzhou's three major transformations during the last 900 years. Each transformation was, respectively, driven by the complicated commercial culture, which was mixed up with other elementary cultures, such as civil, leisure, landscape, and industrial. Furthermore, urban heritages were formed, inherited, revitalized, and reutilized during the transformation processes, which, in turn, enriched the commercial culture and vividly reshaped Hangzhou's urban structure.


Osteoclastic bone degradation involves the activity of cathepsin K. We found that in addition to this enzyme other, yet unknown, cysteine proteinases participate in digestion. The results support the notion that osteoclasts from different bone sites use different enzymes to degrade the collagenous bone matrix.


Several studies have been conducted on the bats of Arkansas' bottomlands. However, none have focused exclusively on one of Arkansas' largest bottomlands habitats, the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge. The objectives of this study were to 1) inventory bat species present throughout the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge via mist-netting and bioacoustics, and 2) estimate the occupancy of bats among five habitat types (cypress-tupelo, emergent wetland, mature forest, reforestation, and managed hardwood). I mist-netted throughout the boundaries of the refuge from sunset for 5 hours and deployed bioacoustic devices from May–August 2014 and 2015. In addition, separate bioacoustics devices were deployed throughout the aforementioned habitat types from May through August, 2015. Four hundred and sixty bats were capture via mist-netting with Rafinesque's big-eared bats (Corynorhinus rafinesquii; n = 156) being the most common capture, followed by eastern red bats (Lasiurus borealis; n = 104), southeastern myotis (Myotis austroriparius; n = 91), evening bats (Nycticeius humeralis; n = 58), tri-colored bats (Perimyotis subflavus; n = 54), and a bigbrown bat (Eptesicus. fuscus; n = 1). Evening bats and big-brown bats tended to occupy managed hardwood forests more than any other habitat with the occupancy probability = 0.81 and 0.58, respectively, tri-colored bats tended to be more present in mature forest habitats ( = 0.89), and Myotis species tended to have highest occupancy rates at cypress-tupelo stands ( = 0.59).


The article deals with Czechoslovak dissident culture after 1968, in particular with the movement Charter 77 and its legacy after 1989, focusing on the concept of paralelní polis (parallel polis) introduced by Václav Benda and widely discussed among dissidents: the idea of creating new and independent cultural, economic, and media structures parallel to the official structures. The study considers the paralelní polis as an instrument through which the (post-)'68-movements led by intellectuals, artists, and theorists sought the emancipation and diversification of civil society in both capitalist and socialist countries. With the collapse of the socialist world after 1989, the history of the paralelní polis reveals that the '68 idea of civil society was ambivalent, while Charter 77 proved to be a heterogeneous movement. Many ex-Chartists came to believe that capitalism could better enable the existence of a civil society than socialism, while others did not accept this view. Moreover, even among the supporters of capitalism there was no unity (some were close to neoliberalism, others were critical of it). In contrast to the 1960s and 1970s, there was no dialogue between these different positions within civil society, but rather radicalization and exclusivity. The radical left, anarcho-capitalism, and Christian fundamentalism developed their particular and mutually exclusive narratives about the legacy of paralelní polis.


Formulas for computing natural frequencies and mode shapes of Hardfill dams are derived based on one-dimensional shear wedge theory;and an equivalent system is applied to calculate the influences of the hydrodynamic pressure on natural freqeuencies and mode shapes.Furthermore,the seismic dynamic responses of Hardfill dams are calculated using response spectrum method.An example is analyzed to compare the differences of natural frequencies and mode shapes between shear wedge method and FEM;and the applicability and accuracy of shear wedge method to analyze the seismic dynamic responses of Hardfill dams are illustrated.


Provided is a method for preparing fermented sprouted red garlic to reduce the specific and stimulus smell of garlic itself and to increase the content of polyphenol and beta-glucan. The method comprises the steps of sprouting raw garlic at a temperature of 10-30 deg.C; spraying steam to the sprouted garlic to heat it at a temperature of 70-90 deg.C for 10-15 hours; dipping the heated one in at least one solution selected from the group consisting of an unpolished rice fermented solution, a Sparassis crispa extract, a Phellinus linteus extract, a Sparassis crispa mycelium extract and a Phellinus linteus mycelium extract for 2-48 hours; drying the garlic with a hot wind of 60-100 deg.C at a humidity of 40-95 % for 230-270 hours; treating the garlic with a low temperature wind of 30-40 deg.C for 40-80 hours; and drying it.


We propose a novel laser temporal weed classification method. Laser projection on weed is subjected to a deep learning network for classification. The method is able to achieve high classification weed treatment between day differences.


The paper traces the ever increasing list of concepts science students perceive as difficult to use inadequate techniques by teachers in presenting the concepts in classroom situations. This is despite the attempts by science teachers in using systematic analogical teaching strategies to clarify concepts. The authors blame this failure on the use of analogies drawn from divergent cultural milieus and thus stressed the need for science teachers, especially in a multicultural society like Nigeria, to have a focus on culturally-based analogy generators. The paper went ahead to exemplify such analogies as well as devised a model of lesson plan based on the Teaching-With-Analogy model for a chemistry base topic. The paper concludes that should secondary school science teachers follow this imprint, the ever increasing long list of difficult science concepts would be shortened for secondary school students for good.


Dear Editor, While I laud Abohaimed et al. [1] for taking on the important, challenging, and seldom discussed topic of euthanasia, I am also constrained to point out some deficiencies (i) in definition and typing, (ii) in consistency of "types" of euthanasia (4 in text and 3 in figure), and (iii) in bundling together "types" that has different ethical and legal implications. Admittedly, most of the definitions of euthanasia are descriptive, and there are multiple interpretations in the literature. Therefore, in the interest of clarity the following comments on definition and usage of the term are offered. The dictionary definition of euthanasia is the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (such as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy [2]. A studied definition (particularly appropriate for health professionals) incorporates 4 elements: (1) an agent and a subject, (2) an intention, (3) a causal proximity (action of agent led to the outcome), and (4) an outcome. Combining these elements, euthanasia is defined as "death that results from the intention of one person to kill another person, using the most gentle and painless means as possible, that is solely motivated by the best interests of the person who dies" [3]. Consent of the subject (person who dies as a result of the action) is crucial as bioethicists are in general agreement that medicalized killing of a person, irrespective of the intent, without the person's consent (involuntary) or if the person is unable to give consent (nonvoluntary) cannot be considered euthanasia [4]. Thus, the term euthanasia should be used within the confines of the parameters of these elements. Passive and indirect "types" are not to be considered euthanasia, and my reasons are stated in comments that follow the authors statements. The authors state passive euthanasia is "withholding or withdrawing of life-sustaining treatment either at the request of the patient or when prolonging life is considered futile" [1]. Withholding or withdrawing of life-sustaining treatment at the request of a patient is not euthanasia as it is grounded on "patient autonomy," one of the basic principles of medical ethics [5]. Besides being ethical it is also legal and practiced in the USA and in other countries. The second element in the statement "or when prolonging life is considered futile" ought to be approached with caution as the definition of futility and who determines it are subjects of contention. The term indirect euthanasia is used by the authors for "the prescription of pain killers that may be fatal in an attempt to relieve suffering" [1]. Relieving the suffering of a patient is not only the primary mission of palliative care but it is also a core obligation of any physician. Fear of an unintended and untoward outcome should not be a de-


This paper describes the development of a stochastic model for the strategic assessment of road maintenance funding and policy decisions. The algorithms used for simulating pavement deterioration utilise Markov processes, resulting in a transition probability matrix that defines defect progression as opposed to the more familiar regression-type model popular with engineers. The model is designed to be used by road maintenance managers and senior administrators for planning medium- to long-term maintenance investment requirements for local and national road networks. Finally, the application of the model is demonstrated with a case study from central Europe.


To study on the detoxification effect of cottonseed meal treated with different substrate by multi-strain mixed solid fermentation,based on the single-factor test,the fermentation substrate composition,the moisture content of the substrate,the ammonium sulfate content and the content of ferrous sulfate as independent variables were selected,with the removal rate of the free gossypol as the value of response,using L9(34) orthogonal experiment to study the impact of various factors on the degradation of free gossypol.Range analysis showed that the impact fermented cottonseed meal free gossypol content of the four factors of the primary and secondary order was: the ratio of waterfermentation substrate compositionthe content of ammonium sulfatethe content of ferrous sulfate.Using orthogonal experiment analysis methods,the optimal detoxification cottonseed meal composition were: 97.4% cottonseed meal(cottonseed meal substrate composed by 70% cottonseed meal,15% wheat bran and 15% corn flour),the content of ammonium sulfate was 2%,ferrous sulfate content was 0.6% and the ratio of water was 0.8.


We present a new crustal thickness map for the wider Dinarides region. The map was constructed from the results of receiver function analyses on more than 90 seismic stations installed in this area, including the newly available AlpArray stations. Moho depth was measured using two methods, simple H − κ stacking and a more complex inversion process based on the neighbourhood algorithm. In the first instance, a simple one layered crust was assumed whereas in the second process a two or three layered crust with the addition of the dipping Moho discontinuity was modelled.


Here, we report the genome-wide identification of transcription start sites (TSSs) from two Alphaproteobacteria grown under conditions that result in significant changes in gene expression. TSSs that were identified as present in one condition or both will be an important resource for future studies of these, and possibly other, Alphaproteobacteria. ABSTRACT Here, we report the genome-wide identification of transcription start sites (TSSs) from two Alphaproteobacteria grown under conditions that result in significant changes in gene expression. TSSs that were identified as present in one condition or both will be an important resource for future studies of these, and possibly other, Alphaproteobacteria.


Authors think that when He + ion interacts with He atom, because one electron goes back and forth between two nuclei, the He + 2 can be formed with a strong binding energy. According to the formation mechanism, the energy curve for this structure has been calculated by using a simple variable wave function. The result shows that a minimal energy of -0.090 14 a.u. occurs at a separation of 1.74 a 0 between the two nuclei. So get the binding energy of 0.090 14 a.u. (start from the energy of He ++He). The binding energy agrees with the experiment result of 0.090 96 a.u. much better than some other results of calculation.


AbstractWater base copper nanofluids having concentrations varying from 0·001 to 0·1 vol.-% were prepared and used as quench media for immersion quenching. Cooling curve analyses were carried out by using a standard ISO/DIS 9950 quench probe. An inverse heat conduction model is employed to estimate the metal/nanoquenchant interfacial heat flux transients from the measured temperature field and thermophysical properties of the quench probe material. The addition of copper nanoparticles had a significant effect on the occurrence of the vapour blanket stage and nucleate boiling stage. Furthermore, all six cooling curve parameters were found to be altered by adding nanoparticles to water. The contact angle of water decreased from 67 to 39° by adding 0·1 vol.-% of copper nanoparticles indicating the improved wettability of nanofluids. The heat flux curve shows a maximum initially then drops rapidly during quenching. The peak cooling rate and heat flux of water increased by adding copper nanoparticles up to 0·0...


Social, technological and economic changes, citizen demand of services modernization, new ICT developments related to the Internet of Things and an economic situation that urges more efficient public administrations, have allowed the adoption of ICT by municipalities in order to provide public services. All the foregoing constitutes a boost of the smart city concept, which is considered in the scientific literature mainly from a technical point of view, overlooking deeper analysis on the specific services being provided by means of smart technologies. The current research identifies services provided using smart technologies at 26 Spanish smart cities and the degree of smart development of those cities based on which services provide. The results highlight that the services most widely implemented are those that allow direct reductions in local administration expenditure. On the other hand, the remaining services enjoy greater perspectives of future development. Additionally, three groups of smart city development have been identified, which allows benchmarking analysis and enhances the exchange of information between the cities.


Solid phase epitaxial regrowth (SPER) has been re-evaluated using molecular boron implantation techniques (B18H22) for the purpose of source/drain extensions as well as for the NFET's halo implants. It had been found that reverse annealing can be omitted. The well documented benefits of fast ramp spike temperature profiles allow the use of highly activating anneals above 800degC without significant de-activation, though extending the useful SPER temperature regime and still limiting diffusion. Typical dopant concentrations for halo implants can get significantly activated during low temperature SPER anneals for those implants


This article offers some reflections related to the role of the Didactics in the process of teaching-learning of History and Social Sciences and their contribution to the dissemination of knowledge, understanding and


Lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) cooled fast reactor, one of the six types of reactors in Gen-IV, has very good inherent safety and significant advantages in reducing and burning nuclear wastes, enhancing economy. Also LBE cooled accelerator driven system (ADS) has been a very innovative and potential waste burner. COBRA-EN is a mature, stable and widely-used sub-channel analysis code for light water cooled reactor but it couldn't be applied in Pb-Bi-cooled reactor directly. Some modifications were made for COBRA-EN in the present work, then the code was named COBRA-PB and was suitable for the sub-channel analysis of Pb-Bi-cooled reactor. The modified code was verified and validated with CFX and experimental results. There was a good agreement between the two results. Then sub-channel analysis of Pb-Bi-cooled reactor was done with the modified code.Copyright © 2014 by ASME


Zone melting recrystallization (ZMR) of Si films on SiO 2 has produced large-area films with electrical properties approaching those of bulk wafers. The mechanisms of film formation and the use of patterning to control orientation and defect distribution are briefly reviewed. Some examples of the use of patterning are: single-grain films have been produced by means of planar constrictions; subboundaries and impurities have been entrained to lie along straight lines separated by ∼100μm through the use of lithographically defined grating patterns; a vertical-constriction technique has enabled (100) texture to be achieved in 50μm-thick Si films; a lithographically-defined orientation filter, which takes advantage of growth-velocity anisotropy, has been used to select a predetermined azimuthal orientation. Patterning is also fundamental to graphoepitaxy. Current research emphasizes low temperature processes based on solid-state surface-energy-driven secondary grain growth.


A 7th Circuit Court of Appeals' decision upheld an insurance company's right to impose limits on lifetime benefits for people with AIDS or related conditions. The judge determined that Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act does not enable changes in the content of insurance policies. Previously there were few limits on insurance caps regarding AIDS coverage, and those remaining were challenged by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Now employers are challenging the legality of such a perception and the EEOC's interpretation. The judge's decision is regarded as controversial, and may not be followed by other jurisdictions.


Reduction of the dissipated energy in RC recharge circuit is useful to dissipate energy for power,to raise the energy ratio of usage.By using a number of sources and the nonlinearity of diodes,a new method of reducing dissipated energy in RC recharge circuit is given and the theoretical calculation is setup.For an ideal situation,the dissipated energy will be reduced to zero in unlimited number of sources.This is of great benefit to the recharge and stored energy equipment in great capacity,high voltage and storage circuit.The examples of the circuit are shown.


Distributed generation is now a days one of the mostly used method for the production of electricity in different sectors like residential, commercial and industrial. The resources like solar, wind, hydro, biogas, tidal and biomass are in the race for the production of electrical energy. They are producing electricity independently as well helps in decreasing the pollution which was one of the main reasons to reduce the use of non-renewable sources. Out of several non-conventional energy sources, the source which is extensively used solar energy. Compared with other sources, it has many benefits like it is freely available, abundant in nature, non-polluting, and for conversion it does not require any rotating device. Integration of any system with other increases the performance. Hence to improve its overall efficiency, a solar system can be integrated with thermal, hydro or wind power system. Also, a best suited converter topology will be opted along with an appropriate maximum power point tracking algorithm to make it more effective in operation. But solar energy depends on radiance and temperature which shows it is variable and its power output reduces due to partial shedding in cells. This will alleviate the conversion efficiency of solar system (it is about 17-20%). Hence to increase the solar power output, soft and hard computing algorithms are used in a system which are called as control algorithms. This paper gives the idea regarding two major converter topologies-buck and boost, their comparison, and suitability of converter circuit for solar applications. Also, the paper focuses on different hard and soft computing methods which works to capture the optimum power point and related control algorithms.


Abstract In the paper we define classes of functions associated with conic domains. Some characterizations and inclusion properties of these classes of functions are given.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression and function of miR-181b in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

METHODS
The lymphoid tissues of 124 patients with DLBCL examined and treated in our hospital from March 2010 to March 2012 were used as the DLBCL group. The healthy lympaid dissases in another 64 patients with non lymphaoma were selected as the control group. The expression levels of miR-181b in two groups were detected, and the expression levels of miR-181b in lymphoid tissues of DLBCL patients with different clinical features were compared. The survival of DLBCL patients with different levels of miR-181b expression was compared.

RESULTS
The relative expression level of miR-181b in lymph tissues of DLBCL patients was significantly higher than that in healthy lymphoid tissues (P<0.05). The higher the Ann Arbor staging was, the higher the relative expression of miR-181b was in lymphoid tissues (P<0.05), and the higher the IPI score was, the higher the relative expression of miR-181b was in lymphoid tissues (P<0.05). The 5-year survival rate of the patients with miR-181b low expression was significantly higher than that of patients with miR-181b high expression (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION
There are differences in the expression of miR-181b in lymphoid tissues of DLBCL patients with different clinical stages and prognosis. It may become an effective indicator for the diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of DLBCL.


The article considers the basic international legal standards of organization and functioning of the prosecutor's office. It was determined that the prosecutor's office, outside of criminal proceedings, began to play the role of ancillary appointments, while public authorities and local governments were given the right to go to court independently. It is noted that Ukraine is a party to the Statute and a member of the Council of Europe, and therefore has undertaken to recognize the principles of the rule of law and the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms (Article 3 of the Statute), is able and willing to fulfill such obligations 4 of the Statute). It is pointed out that the modernization of the constitutional and legal status of the prosecutor's office is taking place in connection with the existence of a number of obligations of the Ukrainian state to the Council of Europe. Attention is drawn to the key acts of the international level, which relate to the organization and functioning of the prosecutor's office, identified their main provisions in the context of the analysis. The expediency of optimal division of competence between the prosecutor (as an administrative agent of the executive or legislative power) and the judiciary is supported. It is pointed out that Europe is developing more and more, citizens are mobile, as a result of which different legal systems are inevitably affected, and therefore it is strategically important to achieve harmonization of criminal justice systems of Council of Europe members. Such harmonization is useful given the feasibility of maintaining the effectiveness of criminal justice systems in the light of the challenges of international organized crime. It is established that the reform of the constitutional and legal status of the prosecutor's office in Ukraine in accordance with the commitments made to the Council of Europe should begin with a gradual solution of a set of issues of compliance of the Ukrainian prosecutor's office with international standards. It is emphasized that in the Ukrainian state the prosecutor's office occupies an important place in the system of public authorities, as its activities absorb two ambivalent components that implicitly complement each other - ensuring law and order.


Service personal values are key elements in consumers' cognitive structure, and have long been considered an important variable in understanding consumer purchasing behaviors. In this paper, we will validate SERPVAL scale by measuring the personal values that are associated with mobile service, banking, restaurant and retail in Chinese regional consumption context. The result shows that the data fit the first-order and higher-order model well, and the scale has a good validity.


Randomization is a marvellously elegant solution to the problem of how to allocate participants to treatments in a clinical trial. Randomization avoids selection bias, distributes potential confounders (both known and unknown) randomly between the different treatments and provides a sound basis for the application of the relevant statistical methodology. Different approaches to randomization are covered in all books on clinical trials (of which there are many) and so the Žrst question that might be asked about the book by Rosenberger and Lachin is what new insights into, and perspectives on, randomization does it provide? Rather surprisingly it provides a great many. The opening chapter 'Randomization and the clinical trial', provides a brief but informative overview of RCTs, including topics such as causation, association and ethics. The chapter ends (as do all the other chapters) with a small set of problems and a list of chapter references. Chapter 2 considers issues in the design of clinical trials such as outcome measures, sources of bias and sample size determination. Again the treatment of each topic is relatively brief, but still provides some useful pointers to good practice. Discussion of the central topic of the book, randomization, begins in earnest in Chapter 3. Here the advantages and possible disadvantages of simple randomization designs, for example, the truncated binomial design, the permuted block design and Wei's urn design are discussed. Rosenberger and Lachin delve into the statistical basis of each approach and much of the material is technically demanding. The result of this approach however is often some insights of practical importance. In Chapter 4, randomization techniques that try to balance on known covariates are introduced. The chapter gives a readable account of stratiŽed randomization and covariate-adaptive randomization, pointing out clearly some of the problems such as treatment imbalances due to incomplete blocks in some strata, and the rapidly increasing complexity if there are many important covariates in the trial. Remaining chapters deal with a number of other important topics to statisticians involved with clinical trials such as the effects of unobserved covariates, selection bias and response-adaptive randomization. Some of the later chapters of the book deal with more general topics such as results in large sample theory and martingales. I was not convinced that these chapters really made the book more useful for its intended audience of graduatelevel students in biostatistics. Overall 'Randomization in clinical trials' offers the statistician a great deal of interesting material in less than 300 pages. It is not a book for the nonstatistician investigators on a clinical trial simply because the amount and level of technical material included would simply put them off. In many ways this is a pity since the results of the detailed statistical analysis undertaken by Rosenberger and Lachin often lead to useful practical insights into randomization that are perhaps not as widely known as they should be.


The shale revolution and the great progress in the US in the development of deposits in tight, ultra-low-permeable, shale strata put the issues of studying and developing unconventional deposits on the agenda. The special geological structure of the deposits of unconventional oils makes it necessary to use new (different from traditional) methods of prospecting, exploration and development of such deposits. And this, in turn, requires a new approach to studying the features of the geological structure and the creation of geological and hydrodynamic models, taking into account the fracturing fields and heterogeneity in the distribution of the reservoir's oil content and the productivity of producing wells. The article deals with the problems of studying the fracturing of rocks and the need to take it into account in the geological and hydrodynamic modeling of oil and gas deposits. The obligatory use of innovative seismic technologies in studying the geological structure of fields and new technologies for studying sludge during drilling is the key to a successful study of unconventional reservoirs and shale strata at various stages of geological exploration and development of oil fields.


Abstract. The behavior of erbium doped fiber amplifiers (EDFA) in a master oscillator power amplifier configuration was characterized, for the first time, in-situ using a Co60 γ-ray source. The results indicate that power degradation and photo-anneal recovery processes simultaneously exist. A fiber optimized for efficiency also provides a radiation harder EDFA with reduced power degradation after a 10 kRad (100 Gy) exposure.


. Jerky is a processed product that combines seasoning and drying. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of adding red galangal on the sensory quality of broiler chicken jerky. The ingredients used in this study were broiler chicken meat, red galangal (Alpiniapurpurata K. Schum), brown sugar, coriander, pepper, salt, onion and garlic. The research used a Completely Randomized Design with 4 treatments and 25 panelists as replication. The treatments tested were P0 (without galangal), P1 (3.5% of galangal), P2 (7% of galangal), P3 (10.5% of galangal). The parameters observed were tenderness, color, aroma, taste, texture, acceptability. Based on the results of the study, the effect of the addition of red galangal significantly (P <0.05) affected the tenderness, texture and taste, but not significantly (P> 0.05) affected the aroma, color and acceptability of broiler chicken jerky. In additon, 10.5% of galangal indicated the best effect on tenderness, texture and taste, of broiler chicken jerky.


To elucidate the role of VLA‐4 (α4β1 integrin) in tumor metastasis, we have transfected cDNA coding z4 subunit into human flbrosarcoma (HT1080) cells. VLA‐4‐overexpressing HT‐VC1 cells exhibited increased ability to interact with known ligands for VLA‐4, such as CS1 peptide and VCAM‐1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1). In addition, the in vitro invasive ability of HT‐VC1 cells was augmented and the mRNA for type IV collagenase was increased in HT‐VC1 cells. The induction of VCAM‐1 molecules on lung endothelial cells of nude mice by tumor necrosis factor‐α treatment resulted in augmentation of in vivo HT‐VC1 cell adhesion to the lung endothelial cells. Thus, the VLA‐4 molecules on tumor cells initiate an adhesive interaction with VCAM‐1 molecules on endothelial cells, that is important for hematogenous metastasis.


Thery, New Brighton, all of Minn. 2-038473 2/1990 Japan ............................. CO9D 11/16 4-309573 2/1991 Japan ............................. CO9D 11/00 73 Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company, 4-063876 2/1992 Japan ............................. CO9D 11/00 St. Paul, Minn. Primary Examiner Mark L. Bell 21 Appl. No.: 09/167,034 ASSistant Examiner Veronica F. Faison Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dale A. Bjorkman 22 Filed: Oct. 6, 1998 57 ABSTRACT (51) Int. Cl." ..................................................... C09D 11/00 52 U.S. Cl. ................... 106/31.6; 106/31.86; 106/3189 An organic Solvent-based piezo ink is disclosed having (a) 58 Field of Search ................................ 106/31.6, 31.86, pigment particles; (b) binder; (c) plasticizer; (d) organic 106/31.89; 347/68, 153 Solvent; (e) a fluorochemical Surfactant; and (f) an antifoam ing agent comprising Silica and Silicone oil. Optionally light 56) References Cited and heat Stabilizers are also included. Method of making and using this ink are also disclosed. U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS


The relationship between an indirect semiconductor band gap and a distribution of phonon scatterers is explored. A forbidden phonon gap results from an array of appropriately sized and spaced phonon scatterers in a host matrix. Possible phonon scatters include impurity atoms, atomic clusters, and other structures such as the dihydrogenated silicon atoms. In indirect band gap semiconductors, the interaction of the electronic bands and the phonon band can result in marked changes in the observed optical transitions. A phonon band--indirect optical gap model is suggested for the observed dihydride dependence of the amorphous silicon band gap.


9519 Background: MM pts with LMD have a dismal prognosis, with median overall survival (OS) < 3 months, no approved therapies and extremely limited clinical trial options. We previously reported initial safety findings from an open label, single arm, single center phase I/IB trial (NCT03025256), in which IT and IV N were well tolerated, without any CNS-specific or unexpected toxicity. Here we report an update on safety and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) for all patients enrolled, and efficacy for the completed dose cohorts. Methods: MM patients aged >18 with evidence of LMD by MRI and/or CSF cytology, ECOG PS ≤2 were treated with IT and IV N. Dexamethasone ≤4mg/daily and concurrent BRAF/MEK inhibitor(i) treatment was allowed. For cycle 1, IT N was administered via intraventricular reservoir on day (D)1. For subsequent cycles (every 14 days), pts received IT N on D1, followed by IV N 240 mg on D2. IT N doses evaluated were 5, 10, 20 mg and 50 mg. Blood and CSF were collected at multiple time points for translational research. The primary objectives of this first-in-human study were to determine the safety and MTD of IT N given with IV N in MM pts with LMD. Bayesian mTPI methodology was used to define the MTD. Results: To date, 23 pts have been treated: two at 5, three at 10, fourteen at 20 mg and four at 50 mg IT N. Median age at LMD diagnosis was 42 (28-73); 12 pts are male. All pts had radiographic evidence of LMD and neurological symptoms; 14 pts had positive CSF cytology at baseline. 21 pts received prior therapies for their metastatic melanoma: anti-PD1 (n = 19), BRAFi/MEKi (n = 14), chemo (n = 2), IT IL2 (n = 4) other (n = 2). 19 pts had prior XRT, including whole brain RT (n = 7). Two pts were treatment-naïve. The median number of IT N doses was five (1- 66). The combination regimen was well tolerated by all evaluable pts (n=23), with only five pts (22%) experiencing gr 3 AEs, and no reported gr 4 or 5 toxicities. Nausea (30%), diarrhea (26%), and rash (22%) were the most common AEs. Eight pts (23%) experienced AEs after IT N administration, all gr 1. Initial efficacy analysis included only pts (n=19) treated with first three dose levels (5-20mg). Median follow-up for these pts is 4.5 months (mos) (1.1, 31.5 mos) and median OS is 63 % at 3 mos, 42 % at 6 mos and 30% at 12 mos. Conclusions: The trial demonstrates the feasibility and safety of IT administration of modern immunotherapy for MM pts with LMD. No unexpected systemic or neurological toxicity was observed with 20mg IT N. 2 additional patients are required to complete the 50mg IT N cohort. OS rates at 6 and 12 mos are encouraging and support further evaluation of IT administration of immunotherapy agents for pts with MM and LMD. Final presentation will include results of LMD for all dose cohorts, composite response assessment and comparative analysis of longitudinal CSF samples to assess immunologic effects. Clinical trial information: NCT03025256.


Background: Precision medicine aims to link molecular targets in tumours with corresponding therapies, particularly for patients with rare cancers. Innovative approaches are needed to translate molecular opportunities into clinical care. The Cancer Molecular Screening and Therapeutics (MoST) program employs a molecular screening platform to identify molecular changes of therapeutic relevance (actionable changes) and a master protocol for multiple, parallel signal‐seeking clinical substudies, focused on therapies for patients with rare and neglected cancers.


For the analysis of stress distributions around a projectile tip in penetration or perforation, a point force P associated with an expansion source E z , which depends on the geometry of the projectile, is employed to simulate the projectile. Using the method of half-space analysis by Mindlin (1936), the boundary effects on the projectile are analyzed. The analytical solutions of an expansion source associated with a concentrated force are derived for the prediction of the damage zones in a target, as the projectile either approaches or leaves the boundary. As a projectile perforates a target, it forms a cratering area at the impact surface and leaves a cone-like spalling area at the exit surface. The presence of these two areas and the fact that the spalling area is larger than the cratering area in perforation, can be explained by the stress analysis of boundary effects. Solution of the cavity expansion source in a half-space is derived. This solution provides a theoretical evidence for the conclusion obtained from the empirical analysis by Forrestal et al. (1994). Their conclusion states that when the projectile is at about twice its shank diameters, it can be approximately treated as though it were in the infinite medium.


Match-to-sample (MTS) has been demonstrated in dolphins using echolocation and across sensory modalities (e.g., visual to echolocation and vice-versa). To assess potential for bistatic MTS, a pilot study was conducted in which a dolphin listened to one of three recorded playbacks of echoes obtained from targets of different shape and material composition and was then asked to echo locate on a set of physical alternatives and choose the corresponding target. Training began with two alternatives and 50% errorless trials, where only the matching physical target was presented. The proportion of errorless trials was progressively reduced to 25%, 12.5%, and then 0% as a criterion of three sessions with >80% correct matching was met. Thereafter, all three alternatives were presented with 0% errorless trials. The dolphin consistently performed above chance over 34 sessions—average correct matching rate was 76% (range 67%–96%)—even though the projected sample echoes did not faithfully reproduce echoes obtained when the dolphin insonified the targets with echolocation clicks. Future testing with novel stimulus sets would be required to determine if and how a dolphin might spontaneously generalize between projected echo facsimiles and real world targets.Match-to-sample (MTS) has been demonstrated in dolphins using echolocation and across sensory modalities (e.g., visual to echolocation and vice-versa). To assess potential for bistatic MTS, a pilot study was conducted in which a dolphin listened to one of three recorded playbacks of echoes obtained from targets of different shape and material composition and was then asked to echo locate on a set of physical alternatives and choose the corresponding target. Training began with two alternatives and 50% errorless trials, where only the matching physical target was presented. The proportion of errorless trials was progressively reduced to 25%, 12.5%, and then 0% as a criterion of three sessions with >80% correct matching was met. Thereafter, all three alternatives were presented with 0% errorless trials. The dolphin consistently performed above chance over 34 sessions—average correct matching rate was 76% (range 67%–96%)—even though the projected sample echoes did not faithfully reproduce echoes obtained whe...


We propose several econometric measures of connectedness based on principal-components analysis and Granger-causality networks, and apply them to the monthly returns of hedge funds, banks, broker/dealers, and insurance companies. We find that all four sectors have become highly interrelated over the past decade, likely increasing the level of systemic risk in the finance and insurance industries through a complex and time-varying network of relationships. These measures can also identify and quantify financial crisis periods, and seem to contain predictive power in out-of-sample tests. Our results show an asymmetry in the degree of connectedness among the four sectors, with banks playing a much more important role in transmitting shocks than other financial institutions.


Scientists concerned with solving problems emerging from different areas of science, often use mathematical concepts and contents to address such problems, particularly they elaborate mathematical models to make inferences about the object studied. This process of elaboration of mathematical models to represent phenomena observed in various areas is nominated as mathematical modeling. This is a practice present in Applied Mathematics as well as in the areas of Physics, Space Engineering, among others. However, on the national scene, from the 1980s, through the work carried out by Brazilian's mathematicians as Rodney Bassanezzi and Ubiratan D'Ambrosio, mathematical modeling has taken a different dimension to be studied and disseminated in academia focused on processes of teaching and learning of mathematical content, that is, it took a different dimension from that of researchers in applied areas. From this perspective, mathematical modeling is approached as a teaching methodology to address mathematical concepts. Researches about mathematical modeling related to educational context have been developed in the context of mathematics education. In these studies, mathematical modeling presents several specificities and takes a variety of designs, which differ with respect to issues such as the importance given to obtaining an accurate model, the presence of ideas of Critical Mathematics Education; responsibility of choosing the topic (student or teacher), among others. These different conceptions permeate different researches in mathematics education, which investigate various aspects involving mathematical modeling in this context, and that can be found in publications of the area. More recently, studies such as Javaroni (2007), Javaroni and Soares (2012) and Soares (2012) have presented a new approach to this researches as they defend the idea of Model Analysis as an approach that proposes a qualitative study of mathematical models as a strategy for teaching and learning of mathematical concepts, in which the critical analysis of models is emphasized. In general, we can say that Model Analysis carries the work with mathematical models emphasizing classroom discussion about their potentiality and limitations with respect to certain represented phenomenon. This may contribute to students understand the process of mathematical modeling as a human construction, which is influenced by their interests and goals, that is, to understand that a model is not neutral and must be evaluated carefully and criticized. Furthermore, the proposed work does not use models only as a way to illustrate the usefulness of mathematical contents, since mathematical concepts are developed along with the analysis of models. References Javaroni, S. L. (2007). Abordagem geometrica: possibilidades para o ensino e aprendizagem de Introducao as Equacoes Diferenciais Ordinarias. 231f. Tese (Doutorado em Educacao Matematica) – Instituto de Geociencias e Ciencias Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro. Javaroni, S. L.; Soares, D. S. (2012) Modelagem Matematica e Analise de Modelos na Educacao Matematica. Acta Scientiae , v.14, n.2, p.260-275. Soares, D. S. (2012). Uma Abordagem Pedagogica Baseada na Analise de Modelos para Alunos de Biologia: qual o papel do software? 341f. Tese (Doutorado em Educacao Matematica) – Instituto de Geociencias e Ciencias Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro.


Drift velocity for holes in high-purity Ge ($|{N}_{D}\ensuremath{-}{N}_{A}|l{10}^{11}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$) has been analyzed for a wide range of temperatures $8\ensuremath{\le}T\ensuremath{\le}220$ \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K and fields $1\ensuremath{\le}E\ensuremath{\le}{10}^{4}$ V/cm applied parallel to 100g, 110g, and 111g crystallographic directions. Experiments are carried out with the time-of-flight technique and theory uses a Monte Carlo method. The physical model includes warping and nonparabolic effect of the heavy-hole band, as well as acoustic and non-polar optical scattering mechanisms. In the case of the acoustic scattering mechanism, energy dissipation and the correct phonon population have been included.


Many real-time OLAP systems have been proposed to query evolving data with sub-second latency. Although this feature is highly attractive, it is very hard to be achieved on analytic graph queries that can only be answered after accessing every connected vertex. Fortunately, researchers recently observed that answering pairwise queries is enough for many real-world scenarios. These pairwise queries avoid the exhaustive nature and hence may only need to access a small portion of the graph. Obviously, the crux of achieving low latency is to what extent the system can eliminate unnecessary computations. This pruning process, according to our investigation, is usually achieved by estimating certain upper bounds of the query result in existing systems. However, our evaluation results demonstrate that these existing upper-bound-only pruning techniques can only prune about half of the vertex activations, which is still far away from achieving the sub-second latency goal on large graphs. In contrast, we found that it is possible to substantially accelerate the processing if we are able to not only estimate the upper bounds, but also foresee a tighter lower bound for certain pairs of vertices in the graph. Our experiments show that only less than 1% of the vertices are activated via using this novel lower bound based pruning technique. Based on this observation, we build SGraph, a system that is able to answer dynamic pairwise queries over evolving graphs with sub-second latency. It can ingest millions of updates per second and simultaneously answer pairwise queries with a latency that is several orders of magnitude smaller than state-of-the-art systems.


A method of detecting errors in data transmission within a CAN controller (13, 20), particularly in the data transmission between a microprocessor (14, 21) and an interface unit (23), for over a CAN bus (11, 22) data to be transmitted by the microprocessor (14, 21) at least one check bit is generated, which can be checked to ensure the consistency of the transmitted data, characterized, in that the check bit generated the interface unit (23) indicates whether safety data are available, wherein the interface unit (23) checks said at least one check bit with security-relevant data.


Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most toxic non-essential and mobile metallic elements found in soils which affects plant growth. A greenhouse experiment was carried out to determine the genotypic differences in effects of different levels of Cd application on yield and on the uptake of Cd and other nutrients in various Brassica plant parts. The B. juncea (Indian mustard) genotypes produced higher biomass of different plant parts than B. rapa. Significant differences in yield of various plant parts were noted between the treatments. The significant interaction was found between Cd treatment and genotype for yield in all the plant parts. Genotype Vardan had a much greater yield than other genotypes. There were significant reduction in yield of about 42% for seed, 41% for leaf, 14% for stem and 32% for root at 80 mg Cd kg soil than the control. Increase in Cd concentration of about 5 times in seed, 6 times in leaves and stem and 9 times in roots was noted significantly at 20 mg Cd kg than in control without affecting the respective dry matter yield. Root had higher concentrations of Cd at all the Cd levels than in other plant parts of Brassica genotypes indicating that there is limited transport of Cd from the root system to the above ground plant parts. The application of Cd increased concentration of Zn, Fe and Mn at lower levels but decreased at higher levels irrespective of genotype and plant part, however, the effect on P was negative even at lower levels of Cd. The B. juncea genotype Vardan outyielded all other genotypes at all Cd levels tried and was found to be most resistant to Cd toxicity and it had also much higher Cd concentration in different plant parts indicating that it has better absorbing ability than others and has higher potential for removing Cd from moderately Cd contaminated soils. The results of this study also show large, exploitable genotypic variation for tolerance to Cd toxicity in Brassica plants.


Sample preparation is a critical step inside the analytical procedure to isolate and quantify persistent organic pollutants (POPs) , such as dioxins, furans and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), that are present at ppt level in biological matrices. Many methods for extraction and clean-up have been described since last 20 years but most of them require significant amount of time to be carried out and are often only suitable to prepare a single sample at a time. In order to increase the sample throughput, simplification and automation of procedures have to be completed. After several years of investigations of various sample preparation techniques, we ended up with rapid procedures including pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) for freeze-dried solid samples and octadecyl bounded solid phase extraction (SPE) for liquid samples; both process being completely automated and able to accommodate up to 10 samples at a time. Clean-up can automatically be carried out online using disposable liquid chromatography columns and computer controlled valve system. Extraction and clean-up time can, for example, be reduced down to 3 hours for 10 samples of milk. These procedures are applicable to a broad range of even high lipid content matrices such as meat products, fish, dairy products, ... Since concentrated purified extracts present very good level of cleanness, they can automatically be injected on bench type GC/MS system using large volume injection (LVI), additionally reducing the duration of the sample concentration step. The global methodology appears to be a possible alternative to classical sample preparation coupled to GC/HRMS. Solid samples + Freeze drying Automated PLE Automated SPE Liquid samples Automated LC clean-up PTV-LV-MS/MS analysis PCDD/Fs, cPCBs results


The American Indian, 3rd edition. CLARK WISSLER. (Oxford University Press, 1938. $3.75.) This book needs no introduction to anthropologists. Since its first appearance in 1917, it has been a standard work on all aspects of anthropological knowledge regarding the two Americas; the only book which summarized the the results of specialized researches in the various divisions of this science in such concise and simple terms as to make them available even to the layman. The steady accumulation of knowledge necessitated a first revision in 1922, and the present edition brings the book once more up to date. A comparison of these three editions shows simply and graphically not only the growth of our knowledge of aboriginal America but also the changes in research technique and the areas which have been intensively studied or neglected during the last twenty years. The first thing which will strike the person who makes such a comparison is the relatively rapid progress of archaeological research as contrasted with that along other lines. The present edition shows changes in all its sections, but in no other have they been as extensive or as far reaching in their implications. In the treatment of the archaeological material, the regional classification is still adhered to, but the only North American regional descriptions which have not been extensively revised are those dealing with the Columbia Basin, North Pacific Area, and Interior Canada. This is simply an indication that these areas have been neglected by archaeologists. The wealth of material which may actually exist here is indicated by the contrast between the description of Plains archaeology as it was known even in 1922 and as it is known today. Even fifteen years ago the Plains were regarded as a barren area yielding only a few traces of low cultures. In the present edition the accounts of this area and of the Pueblo area are the ones which have been most extensively revised. The increase in our knowledge of the Southwest is almost as striking as that for the Plains, and shows wha tcan be done by a concentrated attack on the problems of any particular region. In this connection there is a section on tree-ring dating and a Southwestern chronology which will be of great interest. The new edition also reveals the tremendous increase in our knowledge of early man in America. That he was a contemporary of various large extinct mammals is now established beyond question, but the variety of the cultures for which such associations have been established suggests that there must be some older cultural stratum which is still undiscovered. Incidentally, the fact that none of the new finds have necessitated any extensive revision of the author's previous conclusions as to the probable time of man's migration to America or his general cultural equipment when he arrived shows the soundness of the methods used in the earlier historic reconstructions. In contrast with the archaeological material, the ethnological sections show


We assessed early vegetative growth in a population of 382 accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana using automated non-invasive high-throughput phenotyping. All accessions were imaged daily from seven to 18 days after sowing in three independent experiments and genotyped using the Affymetrix 250k SNP array. Projected leaf area (PLA) was derived from image analysis and used to calculate relative growth rates (RGR). In addition, initial seed size was determined. The generated data sets were used jointly for a genome-wide association study that identified 238 marker-trait associations (MTAs) individually explaining up to 8 % of the total phenotypic variation. Co-localisation of MTAs occurred at 33 genomic positions. At 21 of these positions, sequential co-localisation of MTAs for two to nine consecutive days was observed. The detected MTAs for PLA and RGR could be grouped according to their temporal expression patterns, emphasising that temporal variation of MTA action can be observed even during the vegetative growth phase, a period of continuous formation and enlargement of seemingly similar rosette leaves. This indicates that causal genes may be differentially expressed in successive periods. Analyses of the temporal dynamics of biological processes are needed to gain important insight into the molecular mechanisms of growth-controlling processes in plants. Highlight A genome-wide association study including the factor time highlighted that early plant growth in Arabidopsis is governed by several medium and many small effect loci, most of which act only during short phases of two to nine days.


Abstract The main aim of this study was to deal with one of the major drawbacks of polypropylene (PP) fibers, i.e., low resiliency and low dyeability, by incorporating polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) fibrils, as a dispersed material, and organoclay, as a nano-filler, into the PP polymer matrix. The presence of 10 wt% of PTT and 0.5–1 wt% organoclay in the PP nanocomposite fibers led to an approximately 18.5% and 45.5% increase in the resilience behavior and dye uptake, respectively, compared to pure PP fibers, without using highly toxic carriers. The lowest mean diameter of the nano-fibrils was 75 nm for the hot drawn nanocomposite fiber samples as measured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results of DSC indicated that the presence of both PTT and organoclay significantly influenced the crystallinity of the PP which also confirmed their nucleating effects in the nanocomposite fiber.


Optical pulse shapers are devices that can be used to correct e.g. chirp in optical pulse from lasers, chirp from dispersion or create specific shapes or phase behaviour to optimise e.g. non-linear imaging techniques. In this paper we will discuss design considerations for and present result of our research on integrated devices that can shape optical pulses from mode-locked lasers in the 1.5 μm region. Such devices have the advantage over conventional bulk optics pulse shapers that they can be much more compact as well as more flexible.


Abstract : The following reports document the detailed needs analysis for a proposed Logistics Readiness Reporting System performed by the Department of Systems Engineering's Operations Research Center (ORCEN) at the U.S. Military Academy during academic year 1997-1998. The report is organized as follows. The first section gives an introduction to the problem including the initial problem statement and applicable references. The second section gives a brief background, lists key stakeholders and their needs, along with objective systems assumptions. This section concludes with a statement of the effective need for the objective Logistics Readiness Reporting Systems. The third section of the report details the development of a potential framework for a Logistics Readiness Reporting System. This section documents the objective hierarchy for a proposed Logistics Readiness Reporting System. This framework can be used as the basis for generating momentum for the development of the steering committee and working groups necessary to progress toward a Department of the Army Logistics Readiness Reporting Systems. The final section gives a list of tasks and research next required to further develop this proposed system into a useful, relevant system.


There have rich aesthetics thought in Chinese traditional culture.But it has not formed the aesthetics theory system of independent discipline shape. In 20-30's of the 20th century,Chinese aesthetics was extremely active.The establishment of the esthetics discipline in institutions of higher learning and the appearance of specialized research associations had indicated the formation of Chinese esthetics discipline.


Subjects used eye movements to pursue a light target that moved from left to right with a velocity of 15 deg s−1. The stimulus was a sudden five-fold decrease in target intensity during the movement. The subject's task was to localize the stimulus relative to either a single stationary background point or the midpoint between two points (28 deg apart) placed 0.5 deg above the target path. The stimulus was usually mislocated in the direction of eye movement; the mislocation was affected by the spatial adjacency between background and stimulus. When an auditory, rather than a visual, stimulus was presented during tracking, target position at the time of stimulus presentation was visually mislocated in the direction opposite to that of eye movement. The effect of adjacency between background and target remained the same. The involvement of processes of subject-relative and object-relative visual perception is discussed.


This study aims to find a profile of Quality Management Implementation in three Private Vocational High Schools with a detailed aim of finding an implementation model to provide information to all other private vocational high schools that have not achieved "A" accreditation so that they can achieve " A " accreditation. This research is a qualitative research, where the reseach is conducted in three private vocational high schools in Jambi city which are accredited "A" represented in Yadika, PGRI 2, Pelita Raya schools. Data collection techniques using observation, interview and documentation, data Analysis using the Cresweel model and data valiidity techniques using data triangulation. The results of the research on Implementation of Quality Development Management at private vocational high schools in the form of innovative ideas that are applied in the field, cover a number of aspects that are quite broad because the customers of a Bujan scholl are only students but also administrative staff, teachers, and stakeholders or the community. The Conclusion of this study is that the Quality development management in Increasing the Competitive Advantage of Private vocational high schools in Jambi Provinces is the existence of a solid and responsible team commitment and cooperation in order to get special attention from the community and become an option for the community, the success factor of the Implementation of Quality development management, what can increase competitive advantage in private vocational schools in Jambi Province is organized management, supported by reliable human resources, good relations with the enviroment and the world of work, mature leadership policies, support from foundations and a solid work plan.


The principle of talent management under the Party leadership is not only the basic principle and essential guiding ideology in the talent strategy,but also an important guarantee for talent development of institutions of higher education.In order to meet the needs of scientific development of talent work,the Party Committee of higher education should clarify its functions,rationalize its position and strengthen its leadership to renew the conception of talent,perfect the talent mechanism and create harmonious environment for talent cultivation.


The transport of energy, mass, and charge along quasi one-dimensional hydrogen-bonded systems is an extremely important scientific problem. We have studied proton mobility and electrical conductivity in DNA molecules using PeyrardBishop-Holstein model combined with proton transfer. For choosing the best values for system parameters in which the system behaves orderly, we have used the mean Lyapunov exponent. On the other hand, DNA shows a multifractal nature when electron together with proton flows through it. We have compared the multifractal behavior of two sequence of DNA when by considering the PCET using the Rényi dimension spectrum.


Central lines are frequently used in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for the administration of medications and total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Central line-associated blood stream infections (CLABSIs) have the potential to cause harm in the vulnerable neonate. Current evidence shows that having a CLABSI bundle compliance rate of 95 percent or greater correlates with a reduction in CLABSI occurrences. The purpose of this project is to increase compliance to CLABSI prevention practices in the NICU through education and ongoing central line audits. Baseline line audit data revealed an 80 percent compliance rate (n = 50) and 50 percent of nurses answered at least one question incorrectly in a survey of the central line care protocol (n = 10). Post-intervention data showed an increase in CLABSI bundle compliance to 91 percent (n =24). Additionally, after taking a 1-hour CLABSI prevention class, 20 percent of nurses answered at least one question incorrectly on the protocol survey (n = 5). During the time of this study, there were no CLABSIs. It is recommended that central line audits continue in order to monitor for potential CLABSI risks. It is also recommended that ongoing CLABSI prevention education be provided to nursing staff in order to achieve a 95 percent compliance rate. CLABSI BUNDLE COMPLIANCE NICU 3 Increasing CLABSI Bundle Compliance in the NICU The microsystem assessed for this project is a level three neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) located in the San Francisco, Bay Area. This NICU has 22 beds and primarily treats premature infants in the very low birth weight (VLBW) and extremely low birthweight (ELBW) categories, requiring a higher level of care after delivery including respiratory and nutritional support. The NICU treatment team includes neonatologists, pediatricians, registered nurses, dieticians, and respiratory therapists. These neonates are especially susceptible and a hospitalacquired infection (HAI) has the potential to cause harmful and lasting effects including neurodevelopmental delays (Zachariah, et. al., 2014). According to Mobley and Bizzaro (2017), central lines "are utilized frequently in preterm infants for nutritional support and medication administration, and central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) are among the most common HAI encountered in the NICU" (p. 166). While the CLABSI rate in this microsystem has been zero for the past year, there is an increased risk of CLABSI due to knowledge deficits regarding current line maintenance policy, lack of ongoing audits, and an absence of formal training for new hires regarding CLABSI prevention. Through the implementation of a formal CLABSI class, practicing ongoing line audits, and promoting a culture where CLABSIs are preventable rather than inevitable, the goal is to reduce the overall risk of CLABSIs in the future. Clinical Leadership Theme The global aim of this project is to reduce the risk for CLABSI in the NICU. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN, 2013), the clinical nurse leader (CNL) must "use evidence to design and direct system improvements that address trends in safety and quality" and "implement quality improvement strategies based on current evidence, CLABSI BUNDLE COMPLIANCE NICU 4 analytics, and risk anticipation" (p. 12). According to Harris, Roussel, and Thomas (2014), risk management includes surveillance, identification, and prevention of circumstances that could result in harm, monetary loss, or noncompliance. The role of the CNL is to improve patient outcomes; this includes anticipating and preventing harm. Quality improvement, risk management, and maintaining safety for the patients of the NICU, are the core themes for this CNL project. This project aims to improve CLABSI prevention bundle compliance in the neonatal intensive care unit. The process begins with education of new hires on CLABSI prevention and the central line maintenance protocol. The process ends with the discontinuation of a central line. By working on the process, nursing leadership expects to (1) preserve a zero CLABSI rate, (2) educate new hires on the importance of CLABSI prevention, and (3) avoid potential costs to organization to treat CLABSIs. It is important to work on this now because nursing leadership has identified the need to (1) prevent hospital-acquired infections, (2) reduce expenses incurred though preventable infections, and (3) provide a safe environment for one of the most vulnerable patient populations. Statement of the Problem According to Mobley and Bizzarro (2017), if a neonate acquires a CLABSI during his or her hospital stay, it is estimated to cost $50,000 to treat and may increase the length of stay for up to ten days. While the CLABSI costs are significant, it is more important to note the detrimental effects on neonatal development and quality of life. CLABSIs are associated with increased morbidity and mortality and compared to other patient populations, neonates have one of the highest CLABSI rates (Zachariah, et. al., 2014). Knowing this, it is essential to continually evaluate CLABSI risk in the NICU. CLABSI BUNDLE COMPLIANCE NICU 5 Through a microsystem assessment, staff surveys, and audits, major gaps in education and compliance were identified. According to Zachariah, et. al. (2014), in order to sustain a zero CLABSI rate, it is not enough to simply implement a CLABSI prevention policy. Institutions who had lower CLABSI rates, continually monitored prevention practices as well as achieved a 95 percent or greater compliance with the CLABSI bundle. The purpose of this project is to close the gaps identified and improve compliance to the CLABSI prevention bundle, thus lowering the risk of CLABSI in the NICU. Project Overview The overall goal of this project is to maintain a safe environment for patients in the NICU by preventing central line-associated blood stream infections. This will be achieved by first implementing a 1-hour CLABSI prevention class to all new hires as part of their orientation to the unit. The objectives for this CLABSI prevention course will be to (1) assess current knowledge of new hires regarding CLABSI, (2) provide new hires with thorough understanding of CLABSI prevention and line maintenance bundle, (3) enable new hires to demonstrate proper access of lines, labeling of lines, tubing changes, and dressing assessment, (4) empower new hires to feel empowered to speak up if they encounter any violations of the CLABSI prevention bundle, and (5) emphasize the importance of discontinuing central lines when no longer needed. A secondary goal for this project is to continually monitor compliance of the CLABSI prevention bundle. This will be achieved through ongoing central line audits. The objectives of the line audits are to (1) identify gaps in compliance, (2) increase unit's awareness of issues regarding central line maintenance, and (3) correct problems in central line care before a CLABSI occurs. The specific aim of this project is to increase CLABSI bundle compliance to 95% by November 30, 2017. The aim of this project relates to the global aim of maintaining a safe CLABSI BUNDLE COMPLIANCE NICU 6 environment for the unit's neonates by focusing on prevention and risk reduction. While the aim of this project has a specific end date, central line maintenance and CLABSI prevention will be an ongoing endeavor in order to maintain compliance and sustain a zero CLABSI rate in the NICU. Safety is the number one priority in this particularly vulnerable patient population. Rationale The prevention of hospital-acquired infections has been the focus of many acute care units, including this one. The insertion of a central line on a neonate is one of the most invasive procedures done in the NICU. Those neonates with central lines have the greatest risk of contracting an infection and this has the potential cause long-lasting harm. Due to these reasons, it was important to further investigate central line care and maintenance practices in the NICU. On the surface, the NICU seems to be doing well as evidenced by their zero CLABSI rate for the past twelve months. Data collected through a staff questionnaire (Appendix A), revealed knowledge deficits in the central line maintenance protocol. Fifty percent of staff answered at least one question incorrectly. Additionally, line audits (Appendix B) exposed issues in capping, labeling, and communication of line necessity. The current CLABSI bundle compliance rate is at 80 percent. Furthermore, a root cause analysis (Appendix C) and SWOT analysis (Appendix D) were performed. It is also important to mention the increase in use of travelers on the unit. There is a 30 percent vacancy rate in the NICU, currently being filled by traveler RNs. Traveler orientation is accelerated, consisting of one day of classroom time and two days of orientation on the unit. CLABSI prevention training involves self-led review of protocols on the hospital's intranet system. This process is similar for experienced new hires. CLABSI BUNDLE COMPLIANCE NICU 7


The purpose of the article is to show how computer aided qualitative data analysis tools can be utilized in research practice. Based on the example of a particular research project, I make an attempt to describe how studies are performed pursuant to the procedures of the grounded theory methodology, using NVivo software. This is a presentation of a workshop of a qualitative researcher who uses computer software to aid the research process on a daily basis. At the same time, I stress the existing improvements, but also the consequences and potential difficulties related to the application of computer software in qualitative research. The article is of a review and educational character, and it is intended to familiarize the reader with the possibilities of a tool belonging to CAQDAS and its real application in carrying out a research project based on a selected research method.


Collective Thomson scattering can be used to diagnose localized ion temperature as well as alpha particle velocity distribution and density in a D-T burning tokamak. With one diagnostic beam a simultaneous, but independent, measure of the bulk ion temperature and alpha particle parameters can be made. Use of a long pulse, millimeter-wave gyrotron offers a significant margin in signal to noise ratio capability (..sqrt delta..ftau > 1000) not previously possible with lasers. 9 refs., 2 figs.