Crosslinguistic as well as intralinguistic comparisons of pairs of constructions often reveal a specific type of variation in form, namely pairs of expressions that seem to yield the same interpretation even though they differ in their forms. In other words, judging by one member of such pairs, the interpretation of the other member does not seem to be computed in parallel with its syntactic derivation. In this paper, we look at some of these cases and propose to derive this variation using the theory of nonsimultaneous spell-out (Marušič 2005, in press). An old observation regarding word-composition states that semantics of derivational morphology crucially differs from the semantics of inflectional morphology, while at the same time the phonology of the two types of morphemes is basically the same. We implement this insight using nonsimultaneous spell-out. We claim that at the word level, spell-out of the syntactic structure does not happen simultaneously to both interfaces; rather, spell-out to LF happens immediately after a category-defining head is merged with a root or another category-defining head (adopting Distributed Morphology [DM], Marantz 1997, Harley & Noyer 1999, Embick & Noyer 2001, 2006, etc.), while spell-out to PF is postponed until the next merge. At the point when inflectional morphology is added into the structure with some Agr head, a word is typically completed. In some cases, though, PF spell-out can be further delayed, which gives rise to the observed variation. This paper is organized as follows. In section 1.1, we set the scene by briefly introducing several pairs of constructions that seem to yield the same interpretation even though one member of the pair expresses the category in question with a word ('syntactically') and the other with an affix ('lexically'). Section 1.2 presents one case of such variation in form in more detail, namely the so-called definiteness-marking suffix on standard Slovenian adjectives and the colloquial Slovenian adjectival definiteness-


Purpose

Ice cream is one of the popular sweet throughout the world. However, it contains high fat and sugar but lacks natural antioxidants. Several herbs in Thailand which are traditionally used as food ingredients show high antioxidant properties such as ginger and lemongrass. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to develop reduced sugar herbal ice cream using lemongrass and ginger extract.

Design/methodology/approach

Two ice cream formulas were prepared by using the lemongrass or ginger extract at the levels of 10, 15 and 20 percent (w/w), respectively. Moreover, xylitol was added as a substituted sugar at 80, 90 and 100 percent (w/w). Sensory evaluation was conducted by nine-point hedonic scale. Moreover, the physical, chemical and microbiological properties of the final ice cream product were determined by comparing with the control formula.

Findings

Based on the sensory evaluation, the two herbal ice cream formulas (15 percent lemongrass or ginger extract) with 90 percent xylitol replacement have the highest overall acceptability score of 7.28 and 7.44 (like moderately), respectively. The viscosity, overrun value and hardness of the reduced sugar herbal ice cream were not significantly different as compared to control formula (p=0.05). The chemical composition analysis showed that the total sugar of the product decreased by 65 percent. Moreover, antioxidant activities of herbal ice creams were higher than the control formula. The number of total bacteria of reduced sugar herbal ice cream was less than 10 CFU/mL.

Originality/value

The reduced sugar consumption is useful for lowering the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), especially diabetes mellitus. This paper presented the reduced sugar herbal ice cream formulas with high antioxidant activity. Therefore, these data could be the prototype in order to develop herbal and healthy ice cream product.


The effect on body fat accumulation on male Wistar rats undergoing continuous feeding with a histidine-enriched diet was investigated. Five-week-age rats were assigned to two groups and were fed either the control diet (purified diet AIN-76™) or the histidine-enriched diet containing 3% histidine for 28 days. It was observed that both adipose tissue masses in retroperitoneal and epididymal areas of rats fed histidine-enriched diet significantly decreased (p<0.05) compared to those of control rats, while there was no significant difference in the food efficiency ratio between them. The blood levels of histidine derivatives of 3-methylhistidine and carnosine were significantly (p<0.05) increased in the rats fed a histidine-enriched diet, whereas there were no significant different between the histidine-enriched diet and control groups in the general amino acid distribution. Our results demonstrate that a histidine-enriched diet suppresses body fat accumulation in rats.


With the limited battery energy, underwater rechargeable sensor networks (URSNs) has become a promising technology in ocean exploration and monitoring. Multiple autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) can be employed to charge the sensor nodes (SNs) in large-scale URSNs. However, few studies have focused on the issue of charging task of AUVs. This paper proposes region division strategy for multi-AUV charging underwater SNs, which aims to minimize the number of dead underwater SNs and maximize energy efficiency of AUVs. We first propose an improved K-means algorithm based on artificial fish swarm algorithm (IAFSA-KM) to divide the large scale networks into different regions. By dividing the URSN into regions, each AUV can be responsible for the charging tasks of the SNs in its corresponding region. Then we use IAFSA-KM algorithm to enhance the underwater optimal charging scheme. The experimental results show that the IAFSA-KM algorithm performs better in data classification tasks, and our charging scheme can reduce dead underwater SNs and promote the energy utilization of AUVs efficiently.


The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence rate of malaria among pregnant mothers in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State (2008-2012). Three research questions and one hypothesis guided the study. The descriptive survey of expost-facto design was adopted for the study. The population consisted of all pregnant mothers that attended health facilities in Nsukka LGA. The antenatal case folders were used. A total number of 11,094 malaria cases were found out and used for the study. The instrument for data collection was researchers designed inventory proforma. Data generated were analyzed using frequency and percentages. The Chisquare statistic was used to test the null hypothesis. The result showed that the highest prevalence rate of malaria in pregnancy was recorded in 2008 (210.1 per 1000) while the lowest prevalence rate was recorded in 2012 (147.0 per 1000); age was a factor in the prevalence of malaria among pregnant mothers; and there was a fluctuating prevalence trend of malaria among pregnant mothers for the five years. Based on these findings, the researchers recommended among others that, increased awareness campaign and intervention strategies by the roll-back malaria programme should be maintained to ensure continuous reduction of malaria among pregnant mothers.


• Objective: To compare the efficacy, safety, and patientreported effectiveness of short-course moxifloxacin versus azithromycin for the management of acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (AECB) in a primary care setting. • Design: Prospective, multicenter, nonblinded, phase IIIb clinical trial. • Participants: 401 adult patients with signs and symptoms of AECB. • Intervention: Patients randomly received a 5-day oral regimen of either moxifloxacin (400 mg once-daily) or azithromycin (500 mg on day 1, and 250 mg once daily for 4 days). • Outcome measures: Rate of clinical success at followup 14 to 21 days after completion of therapy. Patientreported responses to therapy (time to symptom relief and resumption of normal activities) were assessed by questionnaire. Drug-related adverse events were also assessed. • Results: Clinical resolution at 14 to 21 days was 85% for moxifloxacinand 81% for azithromycin-treated patients (95% confidence interval, –6.0% to 14.0%). Drugrelated adverse events reported in the moxifloxacin and azithromycin groups were 12% and 9%. Patients in the moxifloxacin group reported feeling better significantly faster than did patients in the azithromycin group (P = 0.0236). More moxifloxacin-treated patients (40%; 71 of 176) reported symptomatic relief by day 3 than did azithromycin-treated patients (27%; 45 of 165) (P = 0.012). More moxifloxacin-treated patients (36%; 58 of 163) reported a return to normal activities within 3 days of therapy than did azithromycin-treated patients (26%; 41 of 159). No significant differences were observed in average work time lost. • Conclusions: Short-course moxifloxacin was as effective and safe as azithromycin in the treatment of AECB. Patients treated with moxifloxacin reported faster symptom relief and returned to normal activities more rapidly. Acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (AECB) is a common respiratory condition associated with substantial patient morbidity. Approximately 50% of patients who experience acute exacerbations report at least 2 episodes per year [1,2]. More than 12 million outpatient physician visits are related to AECB. Twenty percent of patients with AECB will require hospitalization due to the development of pneumonia and/or respiratory insufficiency [1–3]. Most patients experiencing an exacerbation consult a primary care physician and are prescribed antibiotic therapy. Bacterial cultures generally are not performed due to the time, expense, and difficulty of obtaining uncontaminated bronchial sputum samples in the primary care setting. Although bacteriologic eradication is an important marker of overall antimicrobial efficacy, a quick return to work or other activities as reported by patients is also a clinically important outcome. The Moxifloxacin Therapeutic Circles program was initiated to provide a clinically relevant practice perspective on the treatment of AECB. This trial, which was conducted exclusively in the primary care setting, compared moxifloxacin and azithromycin for the treatment of AECB. Although clinical efficacy was the primary outcome of interest in this study, patient-reported outcomes were also assessed. The trial attempted to simulate actual clinical practice conditions; accordingly, bacteriologic assessments and follow-up cultures were not conducted, reflecting an empiric approach to treatment.


Religious art was proudly supported by Anglicans after the Glorious Revolution of 1688 for its ability to connect both the early and Medieval churches with the Church of England, and, more importantly, to demonstrate the Anglican's rejection of the increasingly powerful dissenting perspective. Because nonconformist challenges to the Church's authority were often framed around the issue of religious imagery, art became a focal point for a power struggle between two Protestant groups: the Anglicans and the Puritans. Taking a defensive stance on the use of religious imagery, the late seventeenth-century Anglican Church promoted religious art on a large scale, both for church and household worship. As a symbol of their loyalty to the Church of England, Anglican laity brought pictures featuring Biblical and hagiographic imagery into their homes for both instructional and devotional purposes. These images, purchased at London auction houses, reflect how the middle levels of lay society enthusiastically embraced religious iconography and indicate the self-conscious identity of Anglicanism in the midst of Protestant conflict and division. The question of the presence of 'Catholic' images in Protestant English homes goes beyond simple decoration—religious imagery became a symbol of one's religious sentiments.


For induction of mutations, seeds (1.5% moisture content) of Nigella sativa L. (black cummin) were treated with 4. 6, 8, 10, 20 and 30 KR of X-rays and 0.5%, 0.75% and 1.0% EMS for 2 and 4 hours. Seed germinability, survival rates, LD50, the M1 variants, the total mutation frequency including chlorophyll mutations, viable mutations and non-viable morphological mutations have been enumerated. Mutagenic efficiency and effectiveness were determined. Mode of inheritance of some of the mutant traits was also studied.


The paper analyzed the rhetorical meaning of discourse by means of pursueing its microstructure——the phonetic feature, vocabulary and sentence structures. It is pointed out that a discourse may convey its semrhetoricel meaning through its microstructure. This study helps the works of better reading, comprehension and appreciation of varied English works.


Coming after the SPOT satellites series, PLEIADESHR is a CNES optical high resolution satellite dedicated to Earth observation, part of a larger optical and radar multi-sensors system, ORFEO, which is developed in cooperation between France and Italy for dual Civilian and Defense use. The development of the two PLEIADES-HR cameras was entrusted by CNES to Thales Alenia Space. This new generation of instrument represents a breakthrough in comparison with the previous SPOT instruments owing to a significant step in on-ground resolution, which approaches the capabilities of aerial photography. The PLEIADES-HR instrument program benefits from Thales Alenia Space long and successful heritage in Earth observation from space. The proposed solution benefits from an extensive use of existing products, Cannes Space Optics Centre facilities, unique in Europe, dedicated to High Resolution instruments. The optical camera provides wide field panchromatic images supplemented by 4 multispectral channels with narrow spectral bands. The optical concept is based on a four mirrors Korsch telescope. Crucial improvements in detector technology, optical fabrication and electronics make it possible for the PLEIADES-HR instrument to achieve the image quality requirements while respecting the drastic limitations of mass and volume imposed by the satellite agility needs and small launchers compatibility. The two flight telescopes were integrated, aligned and tested. After the integration phase, the alignment, mainly based on interferometric measurements in vacuum chamber, was successfully achieved within high accuracy requirements. The wave front measurements show outstanding performances, confirmed, after the integration of the PFM Detection Unit, by MTF measurements on the Proto-Flight Model Instrument. Delivery of the proto flight model occurred mi-2008. The FM2 Instrument delivery is planned Q2-2009. The first optical satellite launch of the PLEIADES-HR constellation is foreseen beginning-2010, the second will follow beginning-2011.


Poster: "ECR 2013 / C-2266 / A pictorial review of the Benign and Malignant Conditions involving the Salivary Glands and Oral Cavity." by: "L. Lavelle1, J. F. Gerstenmaier1, C. J. McCarthy1, E. Ni Mhurchu1, D. E. Malone1, J. Griffin2; 1Dublin/IE, 2Dublin /IE"


This study investigates the copyrolysis of sewage sludge (SS) and waste polypropylene (PP). SS exhibited low heating value and high ash content, whereas PP had a high heating value and volatile content. The properties of SS and PP were analyzed, and copyrolysis process, activation energy, synergistic effects, and gas yield were investigated using thermogravimetry combined with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The results showed the existence of a three-stage synergy, and

 10
 %
 PP
 +
 90
 %
 SS

 showed maximum aromatic yield. The activation energy value for the blended fuel exhibited positive synergy. The Taguchi method was used to determine the operating conditions in a high-temperature furnace for the maximum C5–12/C19+ ratio and optimal pyrolysis oil quality. The PP : SS ratio was the most influencing parameter, followed by the pyrolysis temperature. 30% PP and 10% PP had the best C5–12/C19+ ratio and pyrolysis oil quality, respectively. We obtained a maximum C5–12/C19+ ratio of 9.1 and the optimal ratio of petrochemical product components (

 alkenes
 +
 monoaromatics

 ) to worthless products (

 polyaromatics
 +
 cyclic

 compounds

 ) of 4.02. The optimal experimental parameters to achieve these two targets were operated with 10% HZSM-5 and activated alumina. HZSM-5 improved the heating value, oil yield, carbon-number ratio, and pyrolysis oil quality.


This document gives formatting instructions for authors preparing papers for publication in the Proceedings of an IEEE conference. The authors must follow the instructions given in the document for the papers to be published. You can use this document as both an instruction set and as a template into which you can type your own text. In this paper we present a novel microprocessor based improved ultrasonic direction and range finder combining both extended operational range as well as improved sensing resolution. The improved range related performance includes minimal measurement range of only few centimeters while the maximal range can be hundreds of meters and even more than that. The obtained measurement accuracy is 1.5cm and the range resolution is 1mm. The measurements can be performed in 3-D space. Keywords— ultrasound, range finder, direction finder


Non-traditional casting has been a controversial practice in film, television and theatre that was implemented to offer people of color and women opportunities which had previously been available to white or male performers. The following is a case study documenting the process by which I have discovered that non-traditional casting as a practice contributes to the oppression of people of color as well as supports the status quo of the white patriarchy. This case study is analyzed from the historical, sociological, psychological and philosophical theories and ideologies relevant to the unsuccessful attempt of a female actor of African-American descent at portraying a white, Evangelical, male minister. It concludes with an invitation and an approach to making better people.


Taiwan has made significant efforts in the last five years to overhaul its IP system according to international standards and since January 2002 has been a member to WTO/TRIPS. After frequent revisions of the IP laws in the 1990s in order to gear up for WTO accession, the legal system has now reached a certain level of consolidation that makes publication both timely and advisable. The more so, as there is no comprehensive book on the Taiwanese IP system published in English. This volume is written by leading Taiwanese academics and practitioners in the IP field and has been edited by the Max Planck Institute. All areas of IP are covered in around 200 pages and the appendix contains the relevant statutory provisions. Importance is attached to the practice of the courts and IP offices and to matters related to enforcement. An introductory chapter puts the IP system in the context of Taiwanese law in general. This book will appeal to practitioners and academics alike. The book is part of the Max Planck Series on Asian Intellectual Property Law.


The aim of the paper is to present certain language issues and their relevance for the implementation of marketing activities of selected companies in the Chinese market, based on the systematized data from secondary sources. The paper consists of six parts. The first part reveals the relationship between language and culture, as well as the importance of adapting companies' marketing programs to specific languages and cultures of target markets. The second part of the paper identifies and analyzes translation issues in international marketing, from the perspective of the relevant literature. In the third and fourth part we elaborate on marketing implications of correctly and incorrectly translated names of multinational companies, their brands and advertising slogans on the Chinese market. The fifth section deals with Dell's business model implementation problems within China. Final part of the paper deals with the effects of marketing activities on customers' attitudes and values in local markets, as well as the symbolic role of products and numbers in some of these activities.


We used infructescences from the late Cretaceous deposits of northern Kazakhstan and Siberia to establish Cathiaria gen. n. These infructescences are compound, consisting of two orders of axes: a main axis that is irregularly fi nely ribbed, and alternate to subopposite secondary lateral axes. Immature lateral axes are short, fl attened, and bract-like; they bear sessile fruits on the adaxial side. During maturation the lateral axes become elongated, more or less cylindrical, bearing nutlet-like, single-seeded fruits. The systematic position of Cathiaria is uncertain. Among the recent plant taxa this genus shares most features with the family Moraceae. The infructescences of Cathiaria have been found in association with the leaves of Liriodendropsis simplex (Newb.) Newb. in six localities and in association with the male infl orescences of Freyantha sibirica Krassilov & Golovneva at one locality. Here we present evidence to support the hypothesis that these organs may have been produced by the same plant, presenting an unusual combination of characters suggestive of an extinct angiosperm family.


IT IS generally believed that estrogens are rapidly inactivated by the liver, this belief being based largely upon data obtained from four types of observation, a) Liver tissue (dog, rat, mouse, rabbit, guinea-pig, frog) and cell-free extracts of liver have been found to inactivate estrogens in vitro (Silberstein, et al., 1933; Zondek, 1934; Engel and Navratel, 1937; Heller, et al, 1939; Heller, 1940; Engel, 1941; Heller and Heller, 1943). b) It was reported (Israel, et al., 1937) that estrone s i not inactivated when perfused through a heart-lung preparation (dog) but is rapidly (within 15 minutes) inactivated when perfused through a heart-lung-liver preparation, c) Ovaries transplanted to the mesentery (Golden and Sevringhaus, 1942) or pellets of crystalline estrogen implanted in the spleen (Biskind and Mark, 1939; Biskind, 1940, 1941) exert little or no estrogenic effect as comparedwith their characteristic action when implanted subcutaneously.


The Juggler is a performance that aims to investigate the relationship between the theatre and the ICT. The aim is to realize a real and at the same time imaginary place where actors can interact with imaginary characters, objects or situation. The plot of the performance is simple: the Juggler will meet two characters: Trick and the Shaman. These two characters will guide the Juggler inside a fantastic world where he will able to connect the terrestrial world and the afterlife searching for the memory, values, essence. Therefore, the Juggler will express the need to act with the imagination to tell a world of memories relived through signs, symbols and atmospheres suspended for walking away from a reality too much unnecessary concrete. The core of this experience is the relationship between video and body actors. They talk, returning one dimension to another. The video, in this experience, it is not intended as a form of sealed and assembled in support of a language (both theatrical and performative), but is conceived and developed as a flexible material at the disposal of actors / performers / dancers in a state of inter-connection . The actions of one determine the reaction of the other. In order to achieve this goal, a multimedia product was developed in Flash. This media allows the actors on stage to interact in unreal situations or create new and non-repeatable. In this way the director can be an active part of the show, changing the course of history in real time. The use of Flash, in fact, allows the director to choose which part of the storyboard to use and the situation going to build. In the same way the public can interact with the actors and scenes. It 'important to note that the media has the duty to act as a backdrop to the show and the costumes have been designed taking into account the need to interact with a virtual performance space. As previously mentioned the core of the show is the multimedia content developed in Flash. The artistic purpose, that we wanted to achieve with this product, was to build a show in which traditional methods and approaches of the theatre have merged with those of ICT. In this way an innovative way of understanding the visual representation has been built. So technology is not a simple tool to support the artistic performance but it is a protagonist of the action and able to modify and interpret the course of history. The multimedia content has been built making use of original texts and music. The show has been featured in various Italian opera houses, creating a performance much appreciated by audiences and critics. A version for the web of the product has been created and can be find at the following link: http://www.maxcoppeta.it/giocoliere/


Objective. This research addresses the effect of interruptions on task groups; interactions and individual group members' feelings about the task and the group itself. The interruptions that we consider are not generated from within the group, but have their source outside the group. Emphasizing the theories of structural ritualization, relational cohesion, and productive exchange, we predict that interruptions that have positive, negative, or neutral effects on the group all cause problems with the resolution of routine. Methods. We design and conduct a four-condition experiment to test our predictions. Results. There was more stability in group procedures when there was no interruption than when there was any kind of interruption. There were no differences in efficiency or activities between positive and negative interruptions. However,thereweremoreagreementsinpositiveinterruptiongroupsthaninnegative interruption groups. Additionally, group members' perceptions varied by the type of interruption: those in positively interrupted groups reported higher levels of competence and feelings of success. Conclusions. We find that interruption, in and of itself, creates problems with resumption of group processes. Whether the interruption is positive or negative, however, does create interaction differences and differences in group members' perceptions and affect related to the group and each other. Teams are critical to the functioning of numerous institutions. Such teams include research and development teams in government and industry, combat teams in the military, and surgical teams in hospitals. All of these teams are characterized by relatively small size, group tasks, interdependence among group members, and, consequently, the necessity of cooperation for the successful task completion. Examining surgery teams, Healey, Sevdalis, and Vincent (2006) recorded the number of interruptions that occurred during a single surgery. The number of interruptions ranged from 6 to 123, with the average number of interruptions being a little over one per minute! Some of these interruptions were generated by equipment; others were generated by


Whenever a poet allows us to follow his creative processes, we are grateful—even though he may be no supreme artist but merely a solid craftsman. An account of the manner in which William Cullen Bryant composed his poems will therefore interest students not only of American letters but of poetry at large. From youth to old age, Bryant believed that great poetry and indeed all true poetry has its origin in the emotions of the poet.


Objective To study the optimal technology of MR diffusion-weighted imaging on the normal rabbit's liver. Materials and Methods After 15 New Zealand white rabbits were anaesthetized, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was performed respectively with SE EPI using different b values, repetition times (TR) or thickness (2mm and 5mm) under the condition of different field of views (FOV) and different coils at 1.5T MR (GE Signa Twinspeed, USA) when other parameter were same. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), quality index or signal-noise ratio (SNR) were analyzed by SPSS10.0.Results (1)With b value increased, the ADC, quality index and SNR decreased at the same time (P0.01), but the distinction of quality index among DWI with b=10, b=50 or b=100 was insignificant (P0.05), quality index and SNR were not satisfied. (2)The ADC, quality index and SNR hadn't significant distinction among DWI with TR increased. (P0.05). (3)The quality index of DWI with 2mm-thickness was better than that of 5mm-thickness (P0.01), but SNR of DWI with 2mm-thickness was decreased. (4)The SNR of MRI with knee coil was obviously better than that with brain coil, but the quality index decreased on the contrary (P0.01). (5)When FOV and SNR increased, the quality index firstly increased, then decreased (P0.01). Conclusion Appropriate b value (b=100), thickness (2mm), brain coils, FOV, TR, deep anaesthetized and big NEX are very important in DWI scanning to get high quality imaging on high field MR.


The authors describe CRONOS-II, a knowledge-based scheduler that can model both technological and temporal constraints needed to represent realistic production plans. This scheduler is able to decompose the execution of elementary tasks into parts. Furthermore, it offers the possibility to control the global quality of the produced schedules. From the technical point of view, it implements a depth-first heuristic-guided search joined to an original failure-driven backtracking mechanism.<<ETX>>


The response of Chinese cabbage yield and N and P uptake to excessive appliying N,P and organic fertilizer were investigated through a field experiment.Results showed that,in contrast to N0(no N fertilization),N1(N rate 225 kg /hm2) increased Chinese cabbage yield with 102.4%,and there was no significant impact on yield when the N application rate was greater than N1.While for P fertilization,in contrast to P0,P1(P2O5 rate 180 kg/hm2) increased the yield of Chinese cabbage,with 21.5%,and there was no significant impact on yield when P application rate was greater than P1.For organic fertilizer(M) application,M1(M rate 300 t/hm2) significantly increased the yield of Chinese cabbage in contrast to M0.It was concluded that excessive applications of N,P and organic fertilizer led to luxurious N and P uptake and declined of yield increase rate of Chinese cabbage.The balance of input and output N,P were satisfied with N rate 225 kg /hm2,P2O5 rate 180 kg /hm2 and M rate 300 t/hm2.The yield of Chinese cabbage was not increased when the N,P2O5,M application rate was greater than 225 kg /hm2,180 kg /hm2,150 t /hm2,but N,P was wasted.


The purpose of our research was to assess beliefs of small community consumers regarding use of the Internet for product acquisition. We applied a portion of Rogers's (1995) innovation diffusion model where he hypothesizes characteristics of an innovation (e.g., complexity, trialability) that facilitate or impede adoption. In addition, we were interested in whether these characteristics differed between small community purchasers and non-purchasers of innovations. Usable questionnaires were returned by 2,198 small community consumers. Data were analyzed using multivariate and univariate analyses of variance. Small community consumers who purchased through the Internet were more likely than non-purchasers to perceive Internet shopping as being relatively advantageous; more compatible with their values, beliefs, needs, and past experiences; less complex; more trialable; and more observable. Furthermore, small community consumers who were purchasers using the Internet perceived Internet shopping as less risky than did non-purchasers. The results were parallel across the three product categories of food, apparel, and home furnishing products.


This study aims to determine teachers' environmental support towards the implementation of history teaching in classrooms. Teacher's environmental support is reviewed for the aspects of infrastructure and administrative management. This survey study was conducted using a questionnaire instrument. Respondents were selected using a random sampling technique involving 800 primary school teachers in Peninsular Malaysia with various demographic background (gender, teaching experience and option). The results of pilot study showed that all constructs are at a high level of validity and valid to be used in actual study with 0.987. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23.0 to analyse descriptive data (mean and standard deviation). The results showed that the level of teachers' environmental support on the aspect of administrative management was at moderately high level, while teachers' environmental support for infrastructure facilities was only at moderate level. In enhancing the implementation of history teaching in classrooms, school administrations are ought to provide support and preparation in terms of adequate facilities and proper management that meet the teachers' need and may facilitate them in conducting history lessons.


For good charge retention, while maintaining high charge blocking barriers and deep carrier trapping sites, the NOR or NAND memory architectures to enable erasing a direct tunnel programming, the gate stack based on the band gap technique, reversed with asymmetric tunnel barrier in the mode and the floating node memory cells of the normal mode, it contains the non-volatile memory devices and arrays facilitates the use. Erase capability and direct tunneling program at low voltages, it reduces damage to the gate stack and the crystal lattice from high energy carriers, reducing write fatigue and to improve device lifetime. Erase capability a direct tunnel program at low voltages, also via scaling low voltage design and additional devices shapability enables size reduction. Memory cell of the present invention also allows multiple bit storage. These characteristics, embodiments of the memory device of the present invention, it can replace the DRAM and ROM both in the system and makes it possible to operate within the definition of the universal memory. .FIELD 1A


Background: Poor mental health in childhood and adolescence is associated with a range of negative outcomes. The unique role of schools to support pupils with psychological difficulties has been increasingly recognized (Layard and Clark, 2014; Fazel et al, 2014). However, gaps in school-based research have provoked a demand for real-world evaluations to provide models of good practice (DH, 2013; Fazel et al, 2014). Pyramid is a targeted, school-based intervention which promotes the socio-emotional well-being (SEWB) of vulnerable pupils. Evidence from primary school evaluations has demonstrated improvements in vulnerable children's SEWB (Ohl et al 2008, 2012; McKenna et al, 2014).
Aim(s): To examine the impact of Pyramid on adolescent pupils (aged 11-13), including secondary effects on school performance. To explore intervention facilitators which bring about change.
Methods: The impact of the Pyramid intervention on 45 pupils from six secondary schools was examined through a mixed-methods design. Quantitative measures included cross-informant Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQ: Goodman, 1997, 1998). Qualitative data was collected from focus groups.
Results: Teacher–rated SDQ results demonstrated improvements in the intervention group's socio-emotional competencies compared to a comparison group. A thematic analysis of the qualitative data supported the findings and also identified potential causal mechanisms facilitating change. Moreover, secondary outcomes on school performance were elicited.
Conclusion: These findings will contribute to ongoing research on a larger cohort and provide preliminary support for Pyramid as a developmentally appropriate model for vulnerable young people in early secondary education. The supplementary impact of Pyramid on school performance warrants further investigation.


In other communications to the Society, I have shown that the chief nebula line coincides absolutely in position with the remnant of the fluting seen in the flame of burning magnesium near λ 500, with the highest dispersion we could command at South Kensington. Attempts have recently been made, therefore, with the 30-inch reflector at Westgate-on-Sea, to obtain photographs of the spectrum of the nebula, using magnesium as the term of comparison. The objects sought were, primarily, to determine whether there was a line in the nebula corresponding with one of the lines of the magnesium triplet about λ 373, and to obtain as complete a photographic record as possible of, the spectrum between this triplet and λ 500. With this view, Mawson's instantaneous plates were used, these having been found to be fairly sensitive to the green. The exposures have been carried up to four hours, and five photographs have already been taken, some of them with shorter exposures than that named, in consequence of the sky becoming clouded or irregularities in the driving clock, which is not yet completely finished.


The results of magneto-optical spectroscopy investigations of excitons in a CVD grown monolayer of WSe2 encapsulated in hexagonal boron nitride are presented. The emission linewidth for the 1s state is of 4:7 meV, close to the narrowest emissions observed in monolayers exfoliated from bulk material. The 2s excitonic state is also observed at higher energies in the photoluminescence spectrum. Magneto-optical spectroscopy allows for the determination of the g-factors and of the spatial extent of the excitonic wave functions associated with these emissions. Our work establishes CVD grown monolayers of transition metal dichalcogenides as a mature technology for optoelectronic applications.


Background: Ferroptosis is a new form of regulated cell death (RCD) that plays a crucial role in the genesis and prognosis of tumor. Nevertheless, the relationship between ferroptosis and the prognosis of thyroid carcinoma (THCA) remains unclear and needs to be explored. Methods: By analyzing data from the THCA cohort in the TCGA database, ferroptosis-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with prognostic value were identified, which were used to establish a prognostic signature based on Lasso-penalized Cox regression analysis. Then, the model was testified with Kaplan-Meier survival, Cox regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses based on overall survival (OS). Finally, DEGs between the low-risk and high-risk groups were identified and used to conduct GO enrichment analysis, KEGG pathways analysis and immune infiltration analysis.Results: A 6-gene signature was constructed which including DPP4, GPX4, GSS, HMGCR, TFRC and PGD. The area under the curve (AUC) were 0.890 (1 year), 0.863 (2 years) and 0.883 (3 years) which validated the prominent predictive capacity of the model. Multivariate Cox regression certified the model as a prognostic-related independent predictor for OS.Conclusion: In this study, we established an innovative prognostic signature of 6 ferroptosis-related genes which can be as a prognostic-related independent predictor for OS in THCA, while the potential mechanisms was still unclear and needed further exploration.


For a given floorplan in hierarchical power quad-grids(HPQGs) with the IR-drop constraint and the electromigration constraint, an iterative two-phase approach is proposed to design reliability-driven HPQGs to assign limited power pads and power wires to supply the required current and satisfy the current density constraint for each power branch and the IR-drop constraint for each power node with minimizing total wiring area. The experimental results show that the iterative two-phase approach uses less total wiring area under limited power pads to release all the IR-drop constraints in reasonable CPU time for the tested examples.


Regional trends in the peatland avifauna of Finland have recently been elucidated by JÄRVINEN & SAMMALISTO (1976), whose analyses were based on 112 censuses made in the 1950s. Very few comprehensive studies are available which describe the bird communities of single peatland areas on the basis of more recent data . The most important peatland areas for birds have hardly been studied at all ; there is only a preliminary report by HÄYRINEN (1965a ; see also HÄYRINEN 1965b) on Kesonsuo, a raised bog in Ilomantsi, VÄISÄNEN, R. A. & O. JÄRVINEN 1977 : Structure and fluctuation of the breeding bird fauna of a north Finnish peatland area . Ornis Fennica 54 :143-153 .


In the total life cycle of the construction project, the different tasks in the different stage are often completed by the different participation units, the job's nature, the duty and the benefit of each participation unit are different, and that formed the different types of project management, derived the different types of the construction costs management. Owner's construction costs management has its own characteristics, Owner is in the dominant position, and has the guidance function. This article presents the exploration and the summary on the owner how to play the key role, guarantee the project quality, and enhance the investment efficiency in the aspect of construction costs management in the entire process.


Via the numerical analysis on the intraband dynamics of optically excited semiconductor superlattices, it is found that time-integrated squared THz emission signals can be used for probing both dynamic localization and multiphoton resonance in the coherent regime. Competition effect between dynamic localization and photon-assisted transport has also been discussed.


ABSTRACT Here, we report two genomes, one complete and one draft, from isolates of serotype A2 Mannheimia haemolytica recovered from pneumonic bovine lung.


Orf is a parapox viral infection of the skin contracted from sheep and goats. This curiously named disease spreads to humans by direct contact with an infected animal. In animals, the illness is known as 'scabby mouth', as it causes scabs around the nose, mouth and teats. Human to human spread is very rare. Predictably, orf is a risk for sheep farmers, shearers and anyone that bottle-feeds lambs. It can occur less predictably in a suburban population, for example after a school trip to the local farm.


The mechanisms of metal damage in the pipe of the main pipeline are investigated, the main reasons for their appearance are found and analysed. The main results are obtained by joint use of metallography, indentation, method for processing and analysis of digital images.


An economic analysis of charcoal Marketing in Ibarapa metropolis of Oyo State was done by the use of 60 structural questionnaire accomplished by personal interview. The data obtained was analyzed using Descriptive statistics (percentage frequency, Cumulative frequency), Cost revenue structure, Marketing Margin and Multiple Regression analysis. The research work gave the charcoal marketers an opportunity to express their beliefs and experiences on the constraints being faced in the business and factors responsible for the constraints of charcoal marketing.
The study reveals that mean age of Marketers was 36 years and majority of them are males. It was also revealed that the Marketing margin of an average marketer was W72635.35 while cost of stock marketed was most important variable cost item followed by transportation cost. The regression analysis also reveals that variables identified accounted for 63 percent (R2 = 0.63) of the variation observed in the wholesalers margin per month. The, regression model also revealed that the quantity sold, Number of sales outlet and transportation cost are the determinant of the wholesaler's margin/month). Poor transportation system, inadequate capital and equipment was identified as a major constraints in charcoal marketing. The study therefore recommends the provision of equipment, spare pari, construction of roads and support in terms of fund or loan to facilitate the marketing of charcoal in the Area.


I first met Pinkie Gordon Lane when I accepted a position in the English department of Louisiana State University in 1986. I had heard her give a spectacular reading, however, at the Modern Language Association some years back, so I instantly recognized her when we crossed paths in Baton Rouge. I had already learned that she was somewhat legendary in our department, as she was the first African American woman to receive the PhD in English at LSU. Many of her poems have been set to music by the distinguished composer and LSU Professor of Music, Dinos Constanides, and their joint performances remain memorable for many Baton Rougeans. There has always been a poetic element in Constanides's music, and many critics have praised the lyrical aspect of Pinkie's poems. As a guest in Pinkie's home, I've also had a chance to admire her many paintings, testimony to the remarkable visual aspect also on display in her poems. Pinkie Gordon Lane has been a radiant force in different guises. As Professor and longtime Chair in the English department of Southern University, she trained several generations of poets and students. When she was named Poet Laureate of Louisiana, she embarked on an ambitious program of appearances and performances aimed at spreading appreciation for our state's impressive poetic tradition. She has supported and encouraged hundreds of local talents, and has been generous in her sponsorship of many cultural events that have strengthened our community. The following interview was conducted at Pinkie Gordon Lane's home in North Baton Rouge. (1) Our conversation began with Pinkie's memories of the distinguished scholar and writer Margaret Walker, who had just died. Pinkie had been particularly struck by Walker's biography of Richard Wright, Daemonic Genius. PGL: It's been a long time since I read that book. Margaret says she helped him to write Black Boy. At some point they became alienated--he left her, apparently. And she never got over that rejection. She had a hard time publishing her biography of him, because his wife, Ellen Wright, tried to keep it from being published. There are some stories--off the record--that she [Walker] was climbing in the window where Wright was ... these are stories that circulate among writers! His rejection hurt her until the day she died. I went to one of the parties she had after a conference in Jackson. She had after-conferences parties at her house, and she was a great cook. Her husband was sitting in the corner, and I was sitting on the steps with a plate of food in my lap. I was much younger then ... he said, "Who is that beautiful woman sitting over on the steps?" And Margaret Danner, who had known Margaret all her life said, "He shouldn't have said that, because she will hate you till the day she dies!" Margaret Danner was a very warm, supportive person, so far as I was concerned. I remember that I went to an event in Jackson, and there were just a few writers there, Alvin Aubert and others--and she [Margaret Walker] had probably never heard who I was--my first book, Wind Thoughts, had just come out. She went around introducing everyone and when she got to me she drew a blank: "and this is Pinkie--she's an old shoe!" So I went up to her afterwards and I said, "Margaret, you haven't read my work." And she said, "Well, there are some poets you like and some you don't." I never forgot that remark. But I think she was just trying to get out of a tight spot. After that I got to know her much better. We were at a couple of conferences together. Once she was sitting in the hall by herself, and she told me, "You know, my husband is sick." I had the feeling that she wanted some comforting words. JL: What do you think her value has been and will be for African American writers? PGL: She is practically worshiped as an icon. Her poetry--her early work--and especially one poem that made her famous, "For My People"--that is probably the most famous poem ever penned by a black person. …


Summary: The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease in patients on renal replacement therapy. Spontaneous clearance of HCV is unusual. Second generation assays for anti‐HCV, which have high sensitivity and specificity, are used conventionally for diagnosis. They are supplemented by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for HCV RNA. Quantitative HCV RNA assays, although expensive, may be useful in patients receiving anti‐viral therapy. Preliminary data also suggest that the clinical course and response to treatment may vary according to the HCV genotypes. the higher prevalence of HCV infection among haemodialysed patients (approximately 30%), as compared to patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD; <5%), is largely attributable to their higher transfusion requirement. Yet there is accumulating evidence to incriminate nosocomial transmission. Organ transplantation is another mode of infection, but the incidence remains controversial. Chronic liver disease is demonstrable in around 60% of HCV‐positive patients on renal replacement therapy. Patients can present with prominent elevations in ductal enzyme levels, in addition to abnormalities in parenchymal enzymes. Histologic examination is mandatory to assess the activity and chronicity of liver disease. Liver pathology due to chronic HCV in renal allograft recipients correlates with the dialysis duration and the profile of abnormal liver biochemistry. Although HCV infection does not appear to adversely affect the short‐term graft or patient survival, patients can develop potentially fatal exacerbations of liver disease after renal transplantation. Interferon therapy results in sustained virologic remission in <20% of HCV‐positive dialysis patients, but is associated with a high incidence of symptomatic side effects. In renal allograft recipients, the risk of allograft dysfunction is too high to justify the routine use of interferon, which should be considered only in patients with rapidly deteriorating liver pathology.


In short-term experiments, cells of Phaeocystis sp. grown under phosphate-sufficient conditions were harvested and transferred to phosphate-depleted medium. In these cultures alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) developed after a lag-phase of 8 h; addition of cycloheximide (10 pm01 I-') partly inhibited APA development. Addition of organic phosphate (AMP, 0.5 pm01 l-l) did not have an inducing effect on alkaline phosphatase synthesis. These results indicate that in Phaeocystis sp, alkaline phosphatase synthesis is controlled by the external phosphate concentration. Synthesis is derepressed at low inorganic phosphate concentration in the medium; the threshold concentration for derepression was ca 0.5 pm01 1-' phosphate. The dark synthesis rate of alkaline phosphatase in Phaeocystis sp. was not correlated with the length of the preceding light period for both colony cells and single cells, although at least a 2 h light period was needed by colony cells to give an enhanced dark synthesis rate compared with a dark control. In a batch culture growth experiment APA developed during the exponential growth phase of Phaeocystis sp. APA development was found to be independent of the initial N/P ratio of the medium. The results imply that APA is not a good indicator of phosphorus limitation in Phaeocystis sp.


In 1997, the FDA released an industry guidance entitled Dissolution Testing of Immediate Release Solid Oral Dosage Forms (1). At that time, the established biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS) categorized pharmaceutical actives in four discrete classes according to solubility and drug absorption or permeability. Highly soluble drugs were listed as Class 1 and Class 3. In 2015, nearly 18 years later, a draft guidance Dissolution Testing and Specification Criteria for Immediate-Release Solid Oral Dosage Forms Containing Biopharmaceutics Classification System Class 1 and 3 Drugs was issued for public comment (2). However, a subsequent draft revision reflecting the comments received was never issued. The current guidance Dissolution Testing and Acceptance Criteria for Immediate-Release Solid Oral Dosage Form Drug Products Containing High Solubility Drug Substances, Guidance for Industry was issued in August 2018 (3). Thus, the official guidance was released 3 years after the draft guidance without any opportunity for the external community to review or comment.


In indoor spaces, there is evidence of the importance of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by air through aerosols, especially in poorly ventilated conditions. Viruses are exhaled by infected people into respiratory particles with sizes less than 50 microns (microdroplets) that are suspended in the air (aerosols) and can be transported to distances greater than 2 meters within a closed room, such as classrooms. Therefore, in closed school environments, the conditions of occupation and ventilation are essential to determine and minimize the risk of transmission of the virus. There are various techniques to physically assess the air change rate (ACH) in an indoor space or to estimate it indirectly by measuring carbon dioxide (CO2). However, these procedures could be complex for an untrained community or in the absence of a CO2 monitor. The application of mathematical models allows alternatively to evaluate the ventilation conditions from the estimation of ACH or the concentration of CO2 in an intramural space. Some mathematical models were included as part of a guide developed for the evaluation and monitoring of ventilation in school settings. In this work, the application of mass balance models is presented, under conditions of complete mixing, in a classroom in order to estimate ACH from the volume and occupation of the room. Likewise, mathematical expressions are developed to estimate the concentration of CO2 and evaluate the risk of contagion to COVID-19 in situations with and without ventilation. From simple mathematical expressions, it is contributed to the evaluation of the ventilation conditions of classrooms to avoid possible outbreaks of contagion in face-to-face education.


The evolution and expression of mate choice behaviour in either sex depends on the sex-specific combination of mating costs, benefits of choice and constraints on choice. If the benefits of choice are larger for one sex, we would expect that sex to be choosier, assuming that the mating costs and constraints on choice are equal between sexes. Because deliberate inbreeding is a powerful genetic method for experimental manipulation of the quality of study organisms, we tested the effects of both male and female inbreeding on egg and offspring production in Drosophila littoralis. Female inbreeding significantly reduced offspring production (mostly due to lower egg-to-adult viability), whereas male inbreeding did not affect offspring production (despite a slight effect of paternal inbreeding on egg-to-adult viability). As inbreeding depressed female quality more than male quality, the benefits of mate choice were larger for males than for females. In mate choice experiments, inbreeding did not affect male mating success (measured as a probability to be accepted as a mate in a large group), suggesting that females did not discriminate among inbred and outbred males. In contrast, female mating success was affected by inbreeding, with outbred females having higher mating success than inbred females. This result was not explained by lower activity of inbred females. Our results show that D. littoralis males benefit from mating with outbred females of high genetic quality and suggest adaptive male mate choice for female genetic quality in this species. Thus, patterns of mating success in mate choice trials mirrored the benefits of choice: the sex that benefited more from choice (i.e. males) was more choosy.


This paper firstly introduces the basic principle of the angular measurement between boresight and LOS (the line of sight) of conical scanning system,and the method of angular measurement using one dimensional range profile for small size MMW seeker of High Range Resolution stepped frequency radar is presented.Secondly,the influence of Doppler effect on the angular measurement is analyzed.Finally,some experimental results are given.


The establishment of a sound social credit system is one of the foundations of the normal operation of the market economy.The article points out the difficulties and practical means and concerned issues of constructing social credit system from the meaning of credit about the moral and legal aspects.


This paper develops a kinematic model to predict the axial migration of the rollers relative to the nut in the planetary roller screw mechanism (PRSM). This axial migration is an undesirable phenomenon that can cause binding and eventually lead to the destruction of the mechanism. It is shown that this migration is due to slip at the nut–roller interface, which is caused by a pitch mismatch between the spur-ring gear and the effective nut– roller helical gear pairs. This pitch circle mismatch can be due to manufacturing errors, deformations of the mechanism due to loading, and uncertainty in the radii of contact between the components. This paper derives the angle through which slip occurs and the subsequent axial migration of the roller. It is shown that this roller migration does not affect the overall lead of the PRSM. In addition, the general orbital mechanics, in-plane slip velocity at the nut–roller interface, and the axial slip velocities at the nut–roller and the screw–roller interfaces are also derived. Finally, an example problem is developed using a range of pitch mismatch values for the given roller screw dimensions, and the axial migration and slip velocities are determined.


: Traditional medicines are mostly termed as alternative or non conventional medicine. Even all native medical system including Indian Ayurveda, Yoga, Siddha, Naturopathy, Homeopathy are commonly known as "Traditional Medicine". These are not evidence based, yet people prefer them because of the popularity of these traditional medicines to cure many diseases mainly without any side effect. WHO (World Health Organisation) also acknowledges that traditional medical systems including diverse health practices, approaches, knowledge, and beliefs, plants or mineral based medicine, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination are used to maintain well-being as well as to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses. These are widely practiced and also popular in many developing countries because it is surrounded with wider belief systems all over the world. In India Ayurveda is found in unique form especially in Haridwar Patanjali Yog Peeth Centre. Ayurveda is an ancient system that focuses on healthy living, based on the belief that human life consists of three life forces, and health problems arise while there is an imbalance takes place within the said forces. It uses diet, herbs, yoga, meditation, and self-knowledge to prevent and treat disease. Therefore, in the present paper I would like to understand the reasons behind the popularity of Traditional medicine pertaining to Haridwar Patanjali Yog Peeth Center.


The following dissertation examines the current film festival scene in the Czech Republic. It presents the largest and the most importlant film festivals and notable screenings occurring yearly in the country. Further examining their respective histories and probing their progressions from year to vear. Additionally analyzing their organizational schemas and accompanying programs, supported by detailed statistics from 2004 to 2006 for selected festivals. Also discussed are forms of otganizational srtuctures and the professionals involved in film festivals and special screenings. Included are different types financing for film festivals, acquiring government subsidies and taking adventage of international programs and grants. A section is also devoted to a producerś perspective on the existence of film festivals, criteria on selecting festival strategies and detailing channels through which individual Czech film genres go through. In conclusion an assessment of the current situation of film festivals, and how producers of Czech films benefit from what film festivals in the Czech republic have to offer.


There are already a rich plurality of theses on the policies and implications of China's Economic Reform across various academic disciplines. This essay attempts to apply the theories of the German sociologist Max Weber (1864-1920) to understand China's experience of heading towards market economy and capitalist development. Weber's magnum opus The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism now has hundred years of age. Whilst it continues to provide us with a lucid account on capitalism, it also faces a lot of unforeseen challenges, one of which is China's rapid economic growth in recent years. In order to grip firmly the relationships between Weber's theory and the empirical experience, one must re-examine Weber's perspective on what constitutes capitalism. Of particular importance is his emphasis on "economic ethic" (Wirtschaftsethik) and "spirit" (Geist), which we can use to ponder if the Chinese economy has fully established the mechanisms of a capitalistic system, both materially and spiritually. A re-interpretation of Weber's thought will not only enables us to formulate the truth of the so-called "the rise of China", it also enriches our analytic perspectives for investigating into the changes of the world.


Princess Background: Several alternative prevention strategies are being employed in various clinical settings to reduce Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). Despite the proposed theoretical advantage of these strategies, there is no agreement on their relative effectiveness in real practice. This study aimed to estimate the incidence of CIN and to report on the real effectiveness of sodium bicarbonate to protect the kidney from CIN in various cardiac patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. Methods: This is a retrospective, single-center, cohort study. A total of 60 patients admitted between January 2016 and November 2021 who were undergoing coronary angiography at a single Saudi center were included. All patients received either intravenous sodium bicarbonate or normal saline hydration prior to, during, and after the implementation of CM. CIN was defined as serum creatinine (SCr) ≥ 25 % or ≥ 0.5 mg/dL compared to the baseline value within 48 h after CM exposure. Results: Among all patients, the incidence of CIN at 24 and 48 h was 16.7 % and 15 %, respectively. Strikingly, the incidence of CIN at both time points was significantly higher among patients who received sodium bicarbonate than among those who received normal saline hydration only [30% vs. 3.6 % (P=0.012) and 38 % vs. 3.3 % (P=0.002), respectively]. Dyslipidemia status was the most positive predictor of CIN incidence at both time points. Conclusions: The 16.7 % incidence of CIN in this sample is considered very high compared to the rates in previous national and international studies. This finding indicated that further preventive measures should be urgently initiated with strict protocols for the implementation of CM according to updated guidelines.


Small leaks have been a severe problem for years due to their undetected characteristic. We characterize small leaks at different locations by observing their signatures indicated by flow changes in pipes. We characterize small leaks using a weighted directed acyclic graph, called the Weighted Lean Graph, and use it to develop a sensors placement strategy. We partition a Water Distribution Network into clusters based on the similarity of lean graphs. A cluster inlet is selected from pipes at the boundary of each cluster to place a sensor. We combine the use of lean graph similarity and weights of lean graph edges in the cluster inlet selection and compare the performance to the use of lean graph similarity only. We evaluate our sensor placement strategy by calculating the cosine similarity and the partition balance based on the sensor readings and the cluster sizes, respectively. Experiment results indicate that the use of weighted lean graph has successfully lowered the cosine similarity scores while maintaining the partition balance of clusters. The use of weighted lean graphs has more impact on sparse networks or networks with low connection degree.


A Cross-National Investigation of An Extended Technology Acceptance Model in The Online Shopping Context: A Study Case of Online Apparel Industry Across ASEAN Member States - Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Online Shopping, ASEAN, Intention.


This research focuses on an investigation of the attractive width of high voltage transmission lines to lightning strokes. In order to design the optimal lightning protection, the estimated number of lightning flashes to the line, which is based on its attractive width, needs to be determined. The investigation was performed using experiments with tested models at the Mississippi State University High Voltage Laboratory. For laboratory experiments, a total of 1,900 negative and positive switching impulse voltages were applied to a conducting rod, which represented a lightning downward leader. Different tested models of transmission lines on a scale of 1:100 were used. The effect of overhead ground wires, phase conductors, and the magnitude and polarity of lightning strokes were studied. The attractive width increased gradually with the height of overhead ground wires as well as the magnitude of the lightning stroke current. Impulse polarity had an impact on the attractive width and the attractive width for negative polarity was larger than that for positive polarity. The experimental results satisfactorily coincide with other published works, based on different methods and also with the actual transmission line observations. The new expressions of the attractive width of transmission lines, based on the experimental results, were established. The accurate estimation of the attractive width can help electric power utilities plan transmission systems reliably and economically. The detailed description of the background problem, methodology, experimental results, and analysis were presented in this paper.


The major pilot plant effort has been directed towards understanding the behavior of the extraction column. This emphasis was placed on extraction because the actinide-free raffinate from this column is the process product. Although actual radioactive feeds have been used only in a very limited number of tests, the combination of simulated column tests, minimixer-settler tests, and pilot plant experiments have shown that an actinide-free raffinate can be produced. A pulsed sieve plate column can achieve this separation in a reasonable height. In the design of an extraction process, there are several tradeoffs that have to be examined. One such tradeoff is that between column capacity and separation efficiency; an increase in column diameter (or capacity) means a faster processing rate, but, unfortunately, it also means a decrease in column efficiency. Therefore, the greater the diameter, the larger the HTU and the higher the column has to be to achieve the desired separation. In nuclear applications this is very important since column height is limited by the size of the process containment building. In increasing the diameter from 3 to 8 inches, an increase in HTU's up to 50% was observed by Sege. For plant operations, the pulse columns couldmore » probably be pulsed at 40 CPM, 2.5 cm per pulse. At these conditions, the HTU should be no greater than 0.75 m, even considering changes resulting from scaleup.« less


Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) tandem converter technology is being explored in an effort to improve the efficiency of TPV systems while maintaining high power densities. Series-connected (SC) tandem structures incorporate epitaxially grown 0.74 eV lattice-matched Ga/sub 0.47/In/sub 0.53/As and 0.63 eV lattice-mismatched Ga/sub 0.36/In/sub 0.64/As diodes. Structures have been grown using OMVPE and devices have been fabricated via wet-chemical processing. The 10-cell SC tandem MIM reported here produced 6.14 V in the open-circuit condition, 0.292 A/cm/sup 2/ in the short-circuit condition, and exhibited a fill factor of 67.6%. These values were measured at a cell temperature of 52/spl deg/C using a low emissivity /spl sim/1000/spl deg/C graybody illumination source. To our knowledge, these results are the first-of-a-kind for SC tandem MlMs.


This paper presents the results of a study of a new method for the electric drive load condition monitoring. The parameter for condition monitoring is the mechanical torque of the electrical machine. The proposed approach is based on the analysis of energy transformations in an electric machine. Torque is calculated based on power and loss data. To calculate losses and powers, instantaneous values of voltages, currents, speeds and design parameters of electrical machines are used. The condition monitoring method under consideration does not require additional measuring devices. The torque transducer is directly an electric machine. As a result, the electric machine in such a system is both an energy converter and a measuring converter. The dual use of the electrical machine allows equipment control and condition monitoring through a supervisory and data acquisition system. The study proposes a quadratic approximation for real-time loss calculation. This allows you to increase the system performance for cases of diagnosing emergencies. The method of determining the adaptive power loss coefficients is given. The results of testing a prototype system for electric drive load condition monitoring are presented. The paper concludes that the dual use of electrical machines in the field of condition monitoring is becoming increasingly important.


Abstract Simulation modelling is one way to determine the capacity of railway lines. The specialized software tool OpenTrack was used for simulation. The aim of this paper was to find out whether the OpenTrack simulation software can be used for the calculation of headway, and to compare the results with the methodology of the Railway Infrastructure Administration (SŽDC). Using the software tool, a detailed transport network model can be created including all its important characteristics. The simulation follows the movements and behaviour of trains with predefined parameters on the modelled railway line. OpenTrack allows for monitoring a range of parameters including not only train delays, train conflicts and train traffic flow, but also for instance train energy performance and headways. During the first stage of work with OpenTrack, a simulation model was created, not reflecting any existing infrastructure but including parameters typical of railway lines in the Czech Republic, such as the configuration of gridirons, length of station tracks, size of block sections, etc. This model was subsequently used for the simulation of type train set journeys, and a headway calculator was used for the calculation of headway values. These values were compared with the methodology used by the Railway Infrastructure Administration. The paper is concluded by the comparison of the above mentioned approaches.


ledge of rare and complex diseases of this sort until the means exist whereby data concerning them can be collected, verified, and studied in a systematic manner. This is a basic requirement, and we delude ourselves if we think we can make a serious study of these diseases without such facilities. In the U.S.A. there has been a registry of trophoblastic tumours since 1947 (the Albert F. Mathieu Chorionepithelioma Registry), and in addition to collecting data there is an associated histological reference service. An urgent and serious need for a similar registry exists in this country. Perhaps this would be an appropriate activity for one of the Royal Colleges, and the establishment of such a registry would be a logical first step towards providing answers to some important questions.-I am, etc., K. D. BAGSHAWE.


Abstract : The on-the-job training (OJT) literature was reviewed, and selected references were organized in terms of the following categories; literature reviews and bibliographies; handbooks and manuals; cost effectiveness; technique comparison studies; systems analysis of training; approaches to program evaluation; and military documents. In addition, a number of references were selected that are thought to contain innovative ideas that should be considered by people with responsibility for managing and evaluating OJT programs. The various ways in which these 'innovations' might address current interests or problems in the Air Force OJT program are described. Specific comments are made about the possible advantages associated with each idea. Estimates are also made of the resource requirements involved if modifications to existing procedures or programs were to be implemented.


Abstract. Some people, although they are perfectly healthy and happy, cannot enjoy music. These individuals have musical anhedonia, a condition which can be congenital or may occur after focal brain damage. To date, only a few cases of acquired musical anhedonia have been reported in the literature with lesions of the temporo-parietal cortex being particularly important. Even less literature exists on congenital musical anhedonia, in which impaired connectivity of temporal brain regions with the Nucleus accumbens is implicated. Nonetheless, there is no precise information on the prevalence, causes or exact localization of both congenital and acquired musical anhedonia. However, the frequent involvement of temporo-parietal brain regions in neurological disorders such as stroke suggest the possibility of a high prevalence of this disorder, which leads to a considerable reduction in the quality of life.


This paper presents a novel approach for constrained state estimation from noisy measurements. The optimal trending algorithms described in this paper assume that the trended system variables have the property of monotonicity. This assumption describes systems with accumulating mechanical damage. The performance variables of such a system can only get worse with time, and their behavior is best described by monotonic regression. Unlike a standard Kalman filter problem, where the process disturbances are assumed to be gaussian, this paper considers a random walk model driven by a one-sided exponentially distributed noise. The main contribution of this paper is in studying recursive implementation of the monotonic regression algorithms. We consider a moving horizon approach where the problem size is fixed even as more measurements become available with time. This enables us to perform efficient online optimization, making embeded implementation of the estimation computationally feasible.


The pandemic outbreak poses one of the most influential threats. When faced with such a threat, consumers engage in adaptive behaviors, and one way to do so may pertain to pattern-seeking in their choices. Across five studies, we show that consumers exhibit patterns in sequential choice under the threat of COVID-19. Specifically, consumers high (vs. low) in the perceived threat increase sequential patterns in repeated choice regardless of whether the levels of the perceived threat are measured or manipulated. The effect emerges even when a patterned choice option is objectively inferior to a nonpatterned option. The underlying mechanism of the effect is that consumers experience a lower sense of control, which motivates them to seek patterned choices to regain control threatened by the infectious disease. We further show that the effect on patterned choice is stronger for consumers with lower childhood socioeconomic status (SES), who are characterized by a lower sense of control, than their higher childhood SES counterparts. Noting that infectious disease threats are unavoidable, we offer theoretical contributions as well as novel insights into marketing practices under unpredictable and threatening situations.


Off-reservation and urban Native Americans1 experience complex, sociopolitical identity problems, especially within the framework of minority ethnic groups.2 These identity problems stem from racial discrimination; indigenous identity issues; tribal or reservation cultural affiliation; organizational involvement; extreme minority representation; and a general lack of economic, educational, or political support systems.3 Nearly all such problems and social conflicts are historically based, either present in actual governmental policies or in the perceptions of tribal members living in urban areas. This study finds that in the Chicago metropolitan area, these are further linked to social problems experienced by the other racial minority groups living in the area, exacerbating "minority of minorities" interactional fields with little demographic presence or political power. Chicago is an excellent location to study these complex, overlaid problems, which include identity construction and


Objective To evaluating the promotion effect of Hui Shan YISHENGYUAN Multiplex Lactobacillus Acidified Milk on bowel elimination, mild constipation improvement and physical intestinal canal microbial eco-system.Methods The trial was a 21-days randomized trial on 120 healthy person aged from 25 to 45 years,the male to female ratio was 1∶2,and the study subjects were randomly divided into 3 groups: Blank group,plain yogurt group,Hui Shan YISHENGYUAN Multiplex Lactobacillus Acidified Milk group.Each group intakes the corresponding products 117g twice everyday respectively 1 hour after lunch and supper.Results Both plain yogurt and Hui Shan YISHENGYUAN Multiplex Lactobacillus Acidified Milk have effectively improved digestive system and mild constipation,effectively increased viable count of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus,effectively increased viable count of Clostridiumperfringen,and effectively increased viable count of acetic acid,propionic acid,and butyricacid.Conclusions Significant effectiveness on physical bowel elimination,mild constipation improvement and physical intestinal canal microbial eco-system were proved by intaking Hui Shan YISHENGYUAN Multiplex Lactobacillus Acidified Milk.


Proton-$\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coincidence techniques have been used to measure, by the Doppler-shift attenuation method, the lifetimes of the nine bound states of $^{33}\mathrm{P}$ below 4.3-MeV excitation energy, via the $^{31}\mathrm{P}(t, p\ensuremath{\gamma})^{83}\mathrm{P}$ reaction, at triton bombarding energies of 2.5 and 3.1 MeV. More accurate excitation energies have also been obtained for these states. For the first nine excited states in $^{33}\mathrm{P}$ the measurements lead to the following energies (keV) and lifetimes (psec): 1431.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3 (0.60\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.10), 1847.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3 (0.80\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.15), 2537.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5 (0.070\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.012), 3275.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.0 (0.21\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04), 3490.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.0 (0.11\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02), 3626.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.0 (0.17\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.08), 4048\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1 (0.085\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.030), 4194\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3 (0.15\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05), and 4225\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1 (0.39\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.10). The decay modes and branching ratios for these states have also been measured. These results restrict the spin and parity of the listed states (MeV) to the following assignments $({J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}):3.28 (\frac{3}{2}, {\frac{5}{2}}^{+})$, $3.63 ({\frac{7}{2}}^{+})$, $4.05 ({\frac{5}{2}}^{(+)})$, $4.19 ({\frac{5}{2}}^{+})$. For some transitions better limits have been set on the $\ensuremath{\delta}$ mixing ratios previously measured. The $^{33}\mathrm{P}$ spectrum obtained is compared to other results and to applicable shell-model calculations.


Pd(ttpE)(CH{sub 3}CN){sup 2+} (1) reacts with dihydrogen in DMF or acetone to give an equilibrium mixture of the hydride 2 and H{sup +}. The analogous complex with two-carbon bridges connecting the phosphorus atoms shows no reaction under identical conditions. Kinetic studies show that the reaction is first-order in both Pd complex and H{sub 2}, and inhibited by ligands that bind more tightly than CH{sub 3}CN, suggesting that H{sub 2} reacts directly with a three-coordinate Pd intermediate. The activation of H{sub 2} by 1 can be attributed to both steric and electronic effects produced by the larger chelate bite in 1 compared to the analog with two-carbon linkages in the ligand backbone. Similar results using Ni(II) complexes with tetradentate phosphine ligands will also be presented.


This paper deals with the use of Bayesian networks to compute system reliability. The reliability analysis problem is described and the usual methods for quantitative reliability analysis are presented within a case study. Some drawbacks that justify the use of Bayesian networks are identified. The basic concepts of the Bayesian networks application to reliability analysis are introduced and a model to compute the reliability for the case study is presented. Dempster Shafer theory to treat epistemic uncertainty in reliability analysis is then discussed and its basic concepts that can be applied thanks to the Bayesian network inference algorithm are introduced. Finally, it is shown, with a numerical example, how Bayesian networks' inference algorithms compute complex system reliability and what the Dempster Shafer theory can provide to reliability analysis.


The major objective of this study was to investigate the effects of nonnormality on Type III error rates for ANOVA F and its commonly recommended parametric counterparts namely Alexander-Govern test. The major objective of this study was to investigate the effects of non-normality on Type III error rates for ANOVA. Therefore these tests were compared in terms of Type III error rates across the variety of population distributions, mean difference (effect size), and sample sizes.


Clinical practice is generally based on the foundation of training imparted and knowledge acquired during a residency program. Medicine is an evolving science; hence, a clinician has to update continuously. The updating of knowledge is through books in which knowledge generally is 5 or more years old or from scientific journals for the latest advances. The new innovations and path-breaking research are usually published in journals which allow clinicians to gain knowledge and experience about treatment and outcome for conditions not commonly encountered. The journals are resource materials to educate about newer researches in treatment modalities, their outcome, as well as compare outcomes with world authorities.


Device makes use of microwave spectral absorption in low-Q resonant Stark cell, and indications are that ultimate sensitivity of instrument is within 100 parts per billion of formaldehyde. Microwave source is very small and requires only six-volt dc bias for operation. Coarse tuning is accomplished mechanically and fine tuning by adjusting dc-bias voltage.


We conducted this study to assess the short-term treatment outcomes and safety of facial rejuvenation with the YVOIRE volume plus (LG Chem Ltd., Seoul) in Asian women. In this multicenter, retrospective study, we evaluated a total of 291 women (n = 291) who received a facial rejuvenation with the YVOIRE volume plus. We monitored time-dependent changes in the mean Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) scores at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. In addition, we estimated the duration of efficacy based on the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Furthermore, we analyzed incidences of postoperative complications. Our clinical series of the patients achieved mean GAIS scores of 3.44 ± 0.69 points. There were no significant time-dependent changes in the mean GAIS scores (P > .05). Moreover, the duration of efficacy was estimated at 242.71 ± 17.85 days (95% confidence interval: 228.59-263.44). A total of 37 cases (12.7%) of postoperative complications occurred, all of them were of mild severity. In conclusion, our surgical technique, combined with YVOIRE volume plus, is of significance in that it attempted to address both dynamic and static aspects of the facial rejuvenation. But this deserves further studies using 3-dimensional imaging modalities.


specific form of his questions. To establish the validity of his interpretation, he would need to extend the study to include a group of comparable subjects who were all given precisely the same information and all the information needed to respond to his questions. Then he could compare their responses to those of his previous sample. Educational psychologists have discovered that material presented to individuals has a low recall rate under many circumstances and that many different variables in addition to recency of presentation and format of recall questions contribute to lack of recall. The book is presented as a case study and contributes to raising awareness of the potential adequacies and inadequacies of current procedures for protecting the health and rights of human subjects. As Gray points out, one should be aware that there can be a major difference between getting a signature on an "informed" consent form and "informing" subjects regarding the nature and potential risks of a research project. The data presented are disturbing and should be taken seriously, inasmuch as a high proportion of the 60 subjects could not recall one or more aspects considered important to informed consent. All subjects were asked how well they understood what was to be done, the risks involved, the potential benefits to themselves and to science, what was expected of them, and the technical aspects of the research. The data were analyzed in relation to the variables of private vs. clinic patients, white vs. black and educational level. No mention was made of the fact that all subjects were female, and one would assume some impact related to traditional male-female communication patterns. A discussion of the problem of making decisions under stressful conditions and the amount of time allowed for thoughtful consideration prior to decision making is included. Finally, Professor Gray discusses the entire peer review process and concludes that a system based almost entirely on reviews of proposals allows great opportunity for intentional or unintentional violation of such accepted precepts as the right of subjects to give informed consent. If further investigation substantiates his findings, it would seem necessary to extend the scope of peer review committees. Jeanne S. Berthold, R.N., Ph.D. Director of Nursing Research and Education Rancho Los Amigos Hospital Downey, CA


OBJECTIVE
Previous genomewide association studies (GWAS) identified a region near MAFB at chr20q12 associated with non-syndromic orofacial clefts (NSOC) susceptibility. However, whether other SNPs in this area could independently contribute to non-syndromic orofacial clefts in Chinese populations remained obscure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
We selected 24 SNPs based on a haplotype-tagging SNP strategy and evaluated their associations with risk of non-syndromic orofacial clefts in a large-scale two-stage case-control study with 1278 cases and 1295 controls. Genotyping was performed with Sequenom and TaqMan assay. Associations between the SNPs and risk of non-syndromic orofacial clefts were estimated from unconditional logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS
Overall, six SNPs were found to be the susceptible factors of non-syndromic orofacial clefts. The most significant and independent SNP was rs6129653 (additive model of P value = 1.4E-06). In subgroup analysis, its significant associations with cleft lip only (CLO) and cleft lip and palate (CLP) were observed. Furthermore, in silico bioinformatics analysis indicated that rs6129653 was located in the transcriptionally active region and associated with MAFB expression in human brain tissues.

CONCLUSIONS
Rs6129653 was an independent locus of non-syndromic orofacial clefts among Chinese populations possibly due to its potential of distal transcriptional regulation of MAFB expression.


Three new species of the alpheid shrimp genus Salmoneus Holthuis, 1955 are described from shallow waters of Guam (Mariana Islands), Moorea (Society Islands, French Polynesia), and Panglao (Bohol, the Philippines). The description of Salmoneus paulayi n. sp. is based on three specimens collected on reef flats in the vicinity of Guam's Apra Harbor, Talofofo, and Mangilao. Salmoneus komaii n. sp. is described on the basis of a single specimen collected at Barracuda Rock, one of Guam's popular diving sites. Finally, Salmoneus poupini n. sp. is described based on eight type specimens from several sites in the Moorea lagoon and one additional specimen from Panglao. The three new species appear to be closely related to each other, sharing several features on the minor and major chelipeds, the most obvious being the presence of widely spaced teeth on the finger cutting edges of the major chela. In addition, S. paulayi n. sp. is characterised by the presence of rounded, finely striated convexities intercalated between the teeth on the fingers of the major chela; these convexities are present, but much less developed in S. komaii n. sp. and S. poupini n. sp. The closest relative of these three new species appears to be S. sketi Fransen, 1991 from the eastern Atlantic, the only other species of the genus with widely spaced teeth (instead of serrations) on the cutting edges of the major chela.


Alice possesses a sample of private data from which she wishes to obtain some probabilistic inference. Bob possesses Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) for this purpose, but he wants the model parameters to remain private. This paper develops a framework that enables Alice and Bob to collaboratively compute the so-called forward algorithm for HMMs while satisfying their privacy constraints. This is achieved using a public-key additively homomorphic cryptosystem. Our framework is asymmetric in the sense that a larger computational overhead is incurred by Bob who has higher computational resources at his disposal, compared with Alice who has limited computing resources. Practical issues such as the encryption of probabilities and the effect of finite precision on the accuracy of probabilistic inference are considered. The protocol is implemented in software and used for secure keyword recognition.


The paper highlights the development of Iraqi Kurdistan relations  with Republic of  Turkey after 2003. The author demonstrates, that reorganization of Iraq in federal state gave Kurdistan Region new opportunities for social, economic and political development, among those, the opportunity to build own relationships with neighbor countries. Relations with  Republic of Turkey become one of the most important directions of foreign relations of Kurdistan Region. It is emphasized  that initially negative attitude of Ankara towards the changes in political status of Iraqi Kurdistan was determined first of all by the anxiety that political achievements of Kurds in Iraq could stimulate Kurdish movement in Turkey itself. But in the new situation Turkey leadership had made stake on full-scale development of the relation with Kurdish autonomy, aiming to make it rather tool of its policy in the region then potential threat for Turkey's interests.  Its pivot was created by Turkey economic advance in Kurdistan Region, first of all cooperation in the field of energetic projects. In the context of Turkey new ambitious strategy at the Middle East, its aspiration to become effective go-between and attractive economic partner, Iraqi Kurdistan, friendly disposed to Ankara, had to be an important factor of Turkey influence on the whole Iraq.  As for Erbil, partnerships with Turkey gave the possibility to secure its own centre-independent revenue source and become strong argument  in many discussions with Baghdad.  The author concludes that  despite of getting important bonuses landlocked Iraqi Kurdistan  in relation with Turkey appeared to be much weaker  and  dependent partner. Ankara control over pipelines is crucially important for the economy of Kurdish autonomy.  Possibility of independence of Iraqi Kurdistan  is perceived in Ankara as an unacceptable scenario, threatening to shatter dangerously the situation in Turkey and the whole Middle East. Despite this, now all the factors which lead to previous rapprochement of  Iraqi Kurdistan  and Turkey, still to be actual. Both sides have their own set of important reasons for farther cooperation. The «red line» and main challenge for it is Kurds aspiration to create  an independent state.          Key words: Iraqi Kurdistan; Turkey; Turkey foreign policy; Region Kurdistan foreign relations; energy industry; referendum on independence of Iraqi Kurdistan.


The present project had two main objectives, to experimentally and analytically investigate a bridge deck reinforced with glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebars, and to perform durability tests on four rebar types. An analytical investigation was performed using the finite element software ANSYS for both the actual bridge deck, and for the reduced size laboratory experiment. In addition, laboratory experiments were also performed on an 11-ft-long bridge deck model built inside the structures lab. Except for the length of the girder-deck model, the true scale was used for every other dimension. Three different tests were performed on the model, and the test data verified the analytical results. Once completed, this bridge located in Macon County was instrumented and tested using two loaded tandem trucks. For the durability testing, four different types of GFRP reinforcement provided by different rebar vendors were evaluated under exposure to an alkaline environment at different temperatures. For the moisture tests, a total of 96 specimens were monitored for changes in length, diameter, and weight. A total 128 unscathed samples and 64 "nicked" samples – simulating defects to the rebars that might occur on the field site – were tested in tension to determine the rate of degradation in tensile properties. Concrete cylinders were poured, and 168 pullout specimens were tested (84 at #5 rebar diameter and 84 at #8 rebar diameter).


Efforts to incorporate the concerns of bridge users in bridge investment evaluation are often stymied by lack of a comprehensive framework for assessing different user costs. There is a need to synthesise and update existing user cost estimation techniques so that the incorporation of user costs in bridge investment evaluation can be more consistent and streamlined. Secondly, a bridge detour may occur for more than one reason, thus there is a danger of multiple counting that could cause overestimation of user costs. Thirdly, user costs during bridge workzones have rarely been considered in the literature. To address these issues, this article presents a framework for comprehensive estimation of bridge user costs, an approach to address the multiple-counting problem, and a methodology for bridge workzone user cost estimation. Furthermore, the article develops a method to estimate bridge user delay cost due to traffic capacity limitation. The methodologies are demonstrated using a case study.


Food represents, in a symbolic manner, the dominant ways of a given society. Through an analysis of its habits and consumption practices, it is possible to understand a series of meanings associated with the production of identities, the establishment and maintenance of social relationships, and cultural changes in a society. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to identify, through the classification proposed by Arnould and Thompson (2005) regarding the different research programs on CCT, a group of studies which, in some way, has dealt with the food topic in different contexts associated with consumer culture.


Propellant will be more than 85% of the mass that needs to be lofted into low Earth orbit (LEO) in the planned program of exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond. This paper describes a possible means for launching thousands of tons of propellant per year into LEO at a cost 15 to 30 times less than the current launch cost per kilogram. The basic idea is to mass-produce very simple, small and relatively low-performance rockets at a cost per kilogram comparable to automobiles, instead of the ~>25times greater cost that is customary for current launch vehicles that are produced in small quantities and which are manufactured with performance near the limits of what is possible. These small, simple rockets can reach orbit because they are launched above >95% of the atmosphere, where the drag losses even on a small rocket are acceptable, and because they can be launched nearly horizontally with very simple guidance based largely on spin-stabilization. Launching above most of the atmosphere is accomplished by winching the rocket up a tether to a balloon. A fuel depot in equatorial orbit passes over the launch site on every orbit (approximately every 90 minutes). One or more rockets can be launched each time the fuel depot passes overhead, so the launch rate can be any multiple of ~6000 small rockets per year, a number that is sufficient to reap the benefits of mass production


This paper introduces evolvable hardware (EHW) chips currently being developed by the Evolvable Systems Laboratory at Electrotechnical Laboratory in MITI RWC (Real World Computing) project; a neural network EHW chip capable of autonomous reconfiguration, a data compression EHW chip for printing, and an adaptive control EHW chip for use in prosthetic hands and robot navigation. The authors also introduce the latest activities, including an analogue EHW chip for cellular phones, an EHW-based clock timing chip, and an EHW-based femto-second laser system.