We present a randomized approach for wait-free locks with strong bounds on time and fairness in a context in which any process can be arbitrarily delayed. Our approach supports a tryLock operation that is given a set of locks, and code to run when all the locks are acquired. A tryLock operation, or attempt, may fail if there is contention on the locks, in which case the code is not run. Given an upper bound k known to the algorithm on the point contention of any lock, and an upper bound L on the number of locks in a try- Lock's set, a tryLock will succeed in acquiring its locks and running the code with probability at least 1/(kL). It is thus fair. Furthermore, if the maximum step complexity for the code in any lock is T , the attempt will take O(k2L2T ) steps, regardless of whether it succeeds or fails. The attempts are independent, thus if the tryLock is repeatedly retried on failure, it will succeed in O(k3L3T ) expected steps, and with high probability in not much more.


................................................................................................................... iii List of Appendices .................................................................................................... vi Glossary of Terms ................................................................................................... vii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................. viii Statement of Candidate Contribution ....................................................................... viii Scholarly Outcomes of the Thesis ............................................................................ ix Publications .................................................................................................................. ix Presentations ............................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1: Introduction .............................................................................................. 1 Selection into medical school ................................................................................................ 3 Academic success in medical school .................................................................................... 5 Assessment of the junior doctor ............................................................................................ 6 Summary of Methods ............................................................................................................ 9 Research Aims .................................................................................................................... 10 Chapter 2: Results: Emotional Intelligence .............................................................. 19 Preface ................................................................................................................. 19 Publication ......................................................................................................................... 21 Chapter 3: Results: The Junior Doctor Assessment Tool......................................... 45 Preface ................................................................................................................. 45 Publication ............................................................................................................ 49 Chapter 4. Results: Descriptive Analysis of Junior Doctor Assessment ................. 67 Preface ................................................................................................................ 67 Publication ............................................................................................................ 69 Chapter 5: Relationship between academic and workplace performance in medical students and junior doctors ..................................................................................... 97 Preface ................................................................................................................. 97 Publication ............................................................................................................ 99 Chapter 6: Predicting junior doctor's performance on workplace based assessment .............................................................................................................................. 117 Preface ............................................................................................................... 117 Publication .......................................................................................................... 119


ABSTRACT This paper deals with the design optimization of current source inverter (CSI) fed squirrel cage induction motor. For this a set of ten independent variables is selected and seven objective functions are considered namely, the active material cost, operating cost, a mixed objective function of the active material cost and operating cost, torque pulsations, voltage across commutating capacitor, maximum commutation time of CSI and an integrated objective function. To visualize extreme performance for a particular objective function, the design is optimized considering only one objective function at a time. Finally an integrated objective function is proposed which is formed as a combination of all other objective functions with suitable weighting factors to suit optimum design for a particular application. In the task of design optimization the desired thermal, starting and normal operating performance are optimally met by imposing twelve suitable constraints. In this investigation the Sequential U...


Sound is very widely used in communication. In order to ensure secure communication a cryptographic data scheme is used. Secure sound is needed in many fields such as military, business, banking and electronic commerce. There is also an increasing demand for secured sound in network communication. Several symmetric and asymmetric algorithms are used for sound encryption. In this work, NTRU, the last in line public key cryptosystem is enhanced in two methods and used for encrypting sound files after converting the sound into text. In the proposed methods the message is encrypted one character at a time, since NTRU encrypts only prime numbers, thus 7 bits of each character is encrypted and the eighth bit is left without encryption. In method I NTRU algorithm is enhanced by adding the result obtained from calculating a mathematical equation of one variable to the message and then the resulted encrypted bit is fed-back and added to the next bit of the message in the next step; this procedure is repeated for the subsequent bits of the message. In method II NTRU algorithm is enhanced by adding the subsequent states of LFSR (Linear Feedback Shift Register) to the subsequent bytes of the message. The proposed methods are tested on several sound files; the results show that the proposed methods I and II maintain approximately the same original method encryption and decryption time while generating more complex encryption.


This is a study of the French merchants who traded with Canada (or New France) before the colony was lost to the British. The merchants' families who are the principal subject of the book lived in the Atlantic seaports or in the small towns and villages of south-west France. Based on notarial and parish records, this detailed reconstruction of trading clans provides insights into the French Atlantic empire.


This dissertation explores the use of text summarization technology for generating automatic descriptions of source code artifacts. Firstly, the thesis reports the results of empirical studies aimed at investigating how developers summarize code artifacts when understanding them. These results are useful in explaining how developers abstract source code, in gaining insights about the comprehension process, in explaining the role of code elements in such a process, and for the development of automatic source code summarization tools. Secondly, the dissertation describes several approaches for creating short and accurate textual descriptions for various types of code entities. The results of the evaluations indicate that text summarization techniques are suitable for automatic source code summarization since developers generally agree with the summaries produced by the proposed methods. Thus, these summaries can be useful for improving software comprehension processes, which usually occur during software maintenance tasks.


The history of Spread Spectrum (SS) technology is reviewed from military anti-jaming communications and requirement for spectrum allocation of Personnal Communications Services (PCS),with emphasis on the present research situation of code acquisition and multiuser detection (MUD) of Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS). Based on the development of future wireless communications system (4G), the perspective of SS is given, with the discussion on Ultra-Wide Band (UWB), multicarrier modulation, and Software Defined Radio (SDR). Finally, some interesting conclusions are presented.


ARTICLE INFO In the global competitive environment there is a need for the casting units and foundries to develop the components in short lead time. Casting as a manufacturing process to make complex shapes of metal materials in mass production may experience many different defects such as gas porosity, pin holes, blow holes, shrinkages and incomplete filling. The Gating/riser system design play very important role for improving casting quality. Due to the lack of existing theoretical procedures the designing processes are normally carried on a trial-and-error basis. The main objective of this paper is to design and optimize gating and riser system by using various types simulation software with the goal of improving casting quality such as reducing gas porosity, pin holes, gas holes incomplete filling area and increasing yield. This reviews paper considersthe idea about the design and optimization of gating and feeding system which is based on CAD and simulation technique. The runner and risers are design accordingly, and generated CAD models by varying parameters can be used in the simulation software. After analyzing simulation results with old design and compare, the gating/riser system design is optimized to improve casting quality. Keywords— Casting Design, Casting Defects, Design and Optimization, Gating System, Simulation, Simulation software (Auto-CAST X1) Article History Received: 28 th February 2016 Received in revised form :


the field and its scholarship, when they are imagining themselves becoming substantially engaged with bioethics academically or professionally. As the core values and goals of any practice become established they will be easier to identify and inform practice. Interpreting and enacting those values require ongoing effort and assessment to ensure that the values that should guide practice actually do so. In bioethics, where the ethical stakes are high, processes and measures are needed to assess not only the issues we address but also how we practice. By fostering a substantial mapping of the moral landscape of bioethics, Lisa A. Eckenwiler and Felicia G. Cohn lead bioethics toward its maturity.


IN 1898 the University of Iowa began an ambitious project to redesign a portion of its campus, an area that has come to be known as the Pentacrest. In that year, the university's Board of Regents asked the nationally known architect, Henry Van Brunt, to assist them in their program to expand and modernize the campus. With Van Brunt's help, the University of Iowa succeeded in formulating a grand architectural scheme to express its ideals, convey its public image, and address its need for expansion. Although the ensuing project was in part the result of particular circumstances at Iowa, it was also related to larger, national trends of its day. The Pentacrest, the central campus of the University of Iowa, has always served several functions. Because it directly adjoins the main street of Iowa City, it presents the university's principal public facade to the town. Its buildings house many university classrooms and offices. It also provides a major open space in the center of campus and town. In many respects it is perceived as both the physical and symbolic heart of the campus. The Pentacrest includes five buildings: Old Capitol, in the center, and four neoclassical structures marking its corners (fig. 1). The central building in this arrangement, a handsome Greek Revival edifice designed by John K Rague, was begun in 1840 as the third territorial capitol of Iowa and became the first capitol of the State of Iowa in 1846 (fig. 2). The four newer build-


The Chemistry Department at Imperial College London: A History, 1845-2000 HANNAH GAY & WILLIAM P. GRIFFITH World Scientific 2017 ISBN 9781783269730; xii + 569pp; 45.00 [pounds sterling] The internationally acknowledged status of Imperial College London (known generally as ICL or even 'IC'), and particularly of its Chemistry Department, warrants an account of its emergence as a world-class centre of chemistry research and teaching. This monumental history, designed to meet such a need, comprises 11 chapters and four appendices. A vast amount of material is covered and, to facilitate this, each chapter concludes with a copious set of 'End Notes' which provide a mass of supplementary addenda to amplify the main thrust of the chapter concerned. Each chapter is intended to reflect what are seen as distinct eras in the IC story, thus Chapters 1 and 2 cover an Introduction and the founding of the precursor Royal College of Chemistry, which was absorbed into the Royal School of Mines (RSM) and finally into the Royal College of Science (RCS), resulting in its permanent location in South Kensington. The granting of university status to IC as an independent body as distinct from its long incorporation within the University of London, came after the timeframe of the History. This early period (1845-1885) was marked by the inspirational leadership of the renowned A. W. Hoffman who was followed by Edward Frankland, and Chapter 3 gives an account of the research and teaching milieu prevalent in this period. Notable students included William Crookes and W. H. Perkin of Tyrian Purple fame. Chapter 4 moves into the period 1885-1914 which saw in 1907 the formation of the Imperial College of Science and Technology from the RCS, RSM and City and Guilds Technical College under the leadership of W. A. Tilden. Inevitably, IC Chemistry was drawn into the First World War (Chapter 5), the first conflict to involve many aspects of chemistry. The HoD at this time was Herbert Brereton Baker who led the Department at a difficult time when chemical weapons were being deployed in warfare. IC staff were involved in analysis of gases utilised against British troops on the Western Front and in the development of gas masks able to resist chlorine, phosgene and other gases. This chapter in particular is rich in anecdotal material as is the accompanying end notes. IC had a major recovery task after the end of WW1 owing to the heavy loss of student income but IC Chemistry rallied under Baker who initiated the construction of the first hostel accommodation. Notable in this 'Between the Wars' period (Chapter 6) was the inception of large-scale equipment designed to prepare students for careers in chemical industry, this under the leadership of Christopher Ingold; an amusing account is also given of the financial challenges faced by students in respect of food and laboratory clothing. Other far-reaching developments included the division of the Department into inorganic, organic and physical sections, each with its own professor, and an account is given of the activities of each of these new entities. Also significant were the introductions of MSc and PhD degrees. IC Chemistry in the person of Christopher Ingold played a pivotal role in the application of electronic theories to organic reaction mechanisms, and we read an even-handed account of the famous dispute with Robert Robinson concerning precedence in the promulgation of this type of approach which changed the nature of organic chemistry. WW2 saw another era in the life of IC Chemistry (Chapter 7). A lively account is given of the involvement of IC Chemistry staff in the war effort both scientifically and as regards daily life (taping windows, bomb shelters, safety routines, etc.). Henry Tizard as Rector of IC held a highly important role in WW2, e.g. in heading the Tizard Mission to the USA to share information on radar and the jet engine. …


Aero engine components are often subjected to high stress levels and vibrations during operation. The mechanical integrity of these machined components may be compromised by the presence of burrs and sharp edges. Therefore the removal of burrs and the creation of rounded edges is necessary. To do this manually is time consuming and costly and may have potential quality issues. The application of robots to deburring has been limited by the difficulties in achieving the required degree of quality, controlling reaction forces during metal removal and the lack of tooling designed specifically for robots. The work presented in this paper introduces an efficient robotic deburring method, which is developed based on generation real-time robotic deburring path. The approach uses an in-process measurement sensor to determine the component's exact location prior to the deburring operation. The core of the system is a set of algorithms capable of fitting and generating the required robot path relative to the feature to be profiled. Reducing the reliance on accurate dedicated part holding fixtures and uses laser guided robot ensures the developed deburring system is highly flexible and re-configurable. The paper describes the development of deburring process for a simple straight edge feature and its application to more complex ones. The algorithms were evaluated using representative test pieces made from Titanium, RR1000 and super CMV alloys using a spindle attached to an industrial robot.


The study assessed the «basal» functional state of the body and the cardiovascular system of marine personnel as a factor of its readiness to perform service and combat missions. The study involved 39 marine soldiers with the similar lifestyle, social conditions and the level of carried out service and combat missions at the age of 24 to 44 years. The analysis investigated prenosological states which are prerequisite for the development of pathology of the cardiovascular system and determined the set of accessible informative diagnostic criteria of such prepathological states. The data obtained allowed to recommend methods of prenosological diagnosis of damage to the cardiovascular system during dispensary examinations, military medical commissions and in everyday practice. This aims to improve performance of marine personnel by complex assessment and correction of prenosological and clinically relevant conditions of the cardiovascular system.


Fast algorithms for generating pseudorandom numbers from the unit-normal and unit-exponential distributions are described. The methods are unusual in that they do not rely on a source of uniform random numbers, but generate the target distributions directly by using their maximal-entropy properties. The algorithms are fast. The normal generator is faster than the commonly used Unix library uniform generator "random" when the latter is used to yield real values. Their statistical properties seem satisfactory, but only a limited suite of tests has been conducted. They are written in C and as written assume 32-bit integer arithmetic. The code is publicly available as C source and can easily be adopted for longer word lengths and/or vector processing.


Recent discussions between social science researchers, advocates, judges, lawyers, and family court personnel highlight the strong commitment of professionals across disciplines to work together to assess critically important issues in family law. The difficulty has been bridging the gap between the professions to create true understanding and collaboration and to develop empirical research that can advance the field of family law. To help further collaboration, this article first summarizes a series of discussions between researchers and judges concerning the similarities and differences between the law and social sciences in (1) the methods through which the disciplines pursue truth, (2) the standards used to evaluate evidence, and (3) the methods to pursue justice. With a clearer understanding of the philosophical similarities and differences between the disciplines, the manuscript then reviews the concerns and roadblocks that currently limit social science research in family courts, while identifying possible solutions.


This study aims to determine the success of implementing constructivism-based and contextual learning systems in Indonesian language learning, in particular, the five-grade first semester at SD Negeri 44 OKU with on-line learning techniques in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. This study uses qualitative research methods. The data collection techniques used were participant observation, structured interviews, and documentation. The results showed several recommendations for distance learning designs by viewing teaching as a process of interaction between learning actors. Interactions that are mediated by this technology need to be carefully designed and implemented based on the needs of students. Apart from what has been shared here, the spaces for innovation are still very wide open in the design and implementation of distance learning, with learning spaces to continuously improve teaching. The vast space for innovation and learning is what frees educators to continue to observe, ask, try, find, and reflect on what forms of distance learning are most appropriate to the context of their students.


In this letter, we study the secure transmission in the wireless single-antenna time division duplexing (TDD) system when there is a passive eavesdropper. A joint artificial noise and repetition coding scheme is designed, in which the artificial noise can be removed only by the legitimate receiver instead of the eavesdropper. We prove that by using the proposed scheme, the capacity of the wiretap channel is limited by an upper bound, and the achievable secrecy rate can be maximized by power allocation. Finally, simulation results are supplied to corroborate the theoretical analysis.


We report ferromagnetism above $300\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ in $\mathrm{Zn}\mathrm{O}:x\mathrm{Cu}$ ($x$ in at. %) sputtered thin films. For $xl1$, a large magnetic moment of $1.6\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}∕\mathrm{Cu}$ was observed, which decreases monotonically with increasing $x$. We find evidence that the ferromagnetic moment is due to Cu-O planar nanophase inclusions in ZnO basal planes. The presence of CuO nanophase is confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy studies. These inclusions are present even for $xl3$, where Cu-O structures of a few nanometers in size are observed. Field-cooled and zero-field-cooled magnetization measurements show a bifurcation for temperatures below $300\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$.


an agent responsible for damage and destruction of valuable foodstuffs and other commodities, causing great loss to commerce, is one they share in common with other local authorities. Port medical officers and their staff of inspectors and rat catchers may claim therefore to be, if not more closely, certainly more constantly occupied with the problems of rat control and destruction and, particularly in the larger ports, to have a wider view and possibly a more intimate knowledge of the rat menace. Many of the difficulties encountered in rat repression arise from the complacency and inertia of occupiers who directly suffer from the depredations of rats and mice and who fail to bestir themselves and take appropriate measures until the nuisance becomes unbearable, while on the


The study examines the institutional and economic feasibility of increasing the utilization of the private sector to provide and organize commuter transportation services. It is an evaluation of the private sector's potential to assume a major role in the delivery of collective forms of commuter transportation. The private sector options analyzed in this study are commuter transportation strategies for which the private sector is, at a minimum, responsible for organizing and financing the service. These options include: commuter bus service provided by private bus companies--either unsubsidized or operated under contract to a public agency; employer organized commuter ridesharing programs; and vanpooling services organized by transit agencies, private employers, and ridesharing agencies. By examining the use of these strategies in several metropolitan areas, this study seeks to determine the conditions under which they are utilized, to identify the obstacles to more widespread adoption, and to assess their appropriateness and cost-effectiveness. Because a variety of economic, legal, political, and organizational factors affect the feasibility of those strategies, this study addresses both their institition and economic dimensions. Six major types of private sector strategies are examined in this study. They are: 1) privately provided unsubsidized commuter bus service; 2) contracts with private bus operators for commuter services; 3) service turnovers from public transit agencies to private operators; 4) facilitating private commuter bus services through marketing and equipment assistance; 5) transit agency ridesharing programs; and 6) employer sponsored ridesharing programs. Private sector strategies were examined in eight metorpolitan areas where they have been an important aspect of commuter transportation. These areas are: Boston, Massachusetts; Hartford, Connecticut; Norfolk, Virginia; Newport News, Virginia; San Francisco Bay Area-North Bay, California; San Jose, California; Los Angeles, California; and Houston, Texas. Based on these case studies of urban areas where private sector transportation exists, the authors have determined that the service demonstrates significant economic advantages compared to transit agency commuter bus services, but face major institutional and market obstacles to widespread adoption.


This study uses Grey relational analysis (GRA) to evaluate a portion of the algebraic reasoning that uses multiple-representation of pictorial patterns. Current results of this study not only identify the easiest and hardest questions for students, but also show how proposed GRA provides a novel approach to educational testing.


Aiming at the problem of time-delay repeater jamming in the sea surface target detection environment, it is difficult for radar to discriminate false targets from the time domain and frequency domain. This paper proposes an anti-time-delay repeater jamming method based on spatial position constraint. The spatial position constraint method is a good candidate, which combines the radar's position obtained by radar altimeter with the target's angle obtained by amplitude-comparison angle measurement, and then solves the desired range of the target. In the multi-target tracking mode, by comparing the measured range of the detected target with the expected range under the spatial constraint, it can be judged whether the target is located on the sea surface, thereby determining the target position and the trajectory, and eliminating the time-delay repeater jamming. By analyzing the radius of the spatial error region caused by the angle error and the delay corresponding to the radius, the obtained correlation threshold can as an assistant to discriminate the false target. This method reduces complicated signal processing and avoids excessive computation. The simulation results show that the proposed method can easily and effectively eliminate the time-delay repeater jamming and obtain the target position.


In today's world, a lot of attention is paid to increase production of grain products and at the same time, agricultural producers have almost no proper attention to the quality of the product itself. The main purpose of this study is the necessary to pay great attention to the quality of raw product from which will depend not only on food security of the country, but also improves financial performance, which enables organizations to expand into new markets.


The reaction mechanisms of N-substituted maleamic acids (MA) cyclodehydration (CDH) to the corresponding maleimides (M) and isomaleimides (IM) and IM rearrangement to M were studied by the PM3 Hamiltonian with charge model 1 (CM1P) of the AMSOL computational method with solvation effect in order to establish the most probable pathways. CDH was considered in the presence of acetic anhydride in the presence of an acetate anion or triethylamine as the dehydrating agent in CH2Cl2 as the solvent. In the first step, our computational results supported carboxylic proton losses, provided by a nucleophilic center on the dehydrating agent. In the next step, maleamic acid anion could either add a molecule of a dehydrating agent (path A) or cyclicize (path B). Our results indicate the path B to require more energy than path A, so path B is considered less likely to occur. The formation (path A) of an anion complex I2 between the anion of MA and the dehydration agent was supported as well as acetate anion loss to form the neutral mixed anhydride I3. The ring closure to M or IM occurs only after I3 amide proton loss, meaning that the dehydrating agent necessitate another nucleophilic center. The cyclization of I4 anion over amide nitrogen or oxygen to the reaction outcome depends on the electronic effect of amide nitrogen substituent. The same results were obtained studying CDH of N-substituted ophthalmic acids with acetic anhydride and for MA with N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide as dehydrating agent, in the same solvent. In such circumstances, one can consider them the common features of a general CDH reaction mechanism of MA. Our computational results found the IM to M rearrangement to correspond to the reversible final path of synthesis mechanism although the other investigators considered it to take place under a different reaction. They also supported the importance of the acetate anion in both cyclization and rearrangement mechanisms; the presence of tertiary amine blocks the acetic acid formed during reaction, determines I3 amide proton loss and prevents rearrangement. The theoretical conclusions are consistent with the experimental results. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006


Though it is known that clos interconnection networks have many advantages over the other interconnection networks, it would be interesting to see the performance benefits that clos networks can bring to the real world applications. In this paper, we compare the performance of Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT) in clos networks with that of in mesh networks, a popular interconnection topology. We use both twodimensional (2-d) and three-dimensional (3-d) formulations of FFT for our studies. We show that the performance of FFT in clos networks is significantly better and we further show that 3-d formulation outperforms the 2-d formulation.


In this study, which was made on the purpose of determining the level of beekeeping in Gaziantep province, outcomes coming from data obtained by interviewing with 100 beekepers registeret to the beekeeper association were evaluated. In the study, the beekeeping structure and activities of the province were tried to be found out, also the effect of the colony number and the age of beekeeper in association with honey yield, determination of colony number for an ecanomical income in beekeeping, the beekeping contribution to the province economy, troubles related to procurement of brood materials and supplies; problems about marketing the products that are produced were examined and suggestions for the solutions of the addressed problems were presented.


Disadvantages of some prediction models and indicator system of enterprise financial distress were figured out;and a more completed prediction indicator system was constructed by adding the intellectual capital and outer external environment indicators.The RNN(rough neural network) prediction model is a hybridism of rough set theory and neural networks.When the model was applied to predict a sample which included 92 high-tech enterprises,the accuracy of prediction was 96.7%.The RNN model also shortened the training time and generated fewer rules than the NN model.Therefore,it could be considered as a realistic prediction tool.


Terrorist growth has increased in certain parts of the world. Terrorist groups use Facebook, WhatsApp, messages to spread their information on the social network. It is essential to detect terrorism and prevent its spreading before a certain time. The basic idea of this project is to reduce or stop spreading of terrorism and to remove all these accounts. The terrorists are spreading their terrorism activities using the internet by speech, text, videos. Terrorist groups are utilizing the internet as a medium to convince the innocent people to take part in terrorist activities by infuriating people through web pages that inspire disenchanted individuals to take part in a terrorist organization. This needs a lot of human effort to implement this project that will collect the information and find the terrorist groups. To reduce the human effort, we implement the system which detects terrorist groups in social-media


Aberrant expression of circular RNAs (circRNAs) during placental development could affect fetal growth and contribute to preeclampsia (PE). Circ_0011460 was found to be differentially expressed in placental samples of PE. However, the exact function and mechanism of circ_0011460 in PE process remain largely undefined.


Until the desired programming state is achieved, during a read operation to determine the read current level, for programming cells using the repetitive pulse of the program voltage, a nonvolatile memory device and method. Each successive program pulse has one or more programming voltage to be increased by the step value associated with the previous pulse. Single-level cell type, after each cell has reached individually, first read current threshold is extracted from the programming pulse, the step value is then increased to one or more of the kicker pulse. In a multi-level cell type, one cell after reaching the first read current threshold step value is decreased, after reaching a second reading current threshold, some cells are removed from the individual programming pulses , while after reaching the third read current threshold, other cells are removed from the programming pulse individually. .FIELD 1


In a study of the penetration ofzona-free eggs by foreign spermatozoa in the mouse, rat and hamster, it was concluded that the incorporation of eggs with foreign spermatozoa may depend on sperm capacitation and the physiological affinity between the spermatozoa and the vitellus of different species, and that the zona pellucida appears to be the major block for interspecific fertilization (Hanada & Chang, 1972). Yanagimachi (1972) has reported that hamster zona-free eggs can be penetrated readily by capacitated but not by uncapacitated guinea-pig spermatozoa. Based upon our recent studies of sperm capacitation and fertilization of rat eggs in vitro (Toyoda & Chang, 1974; Niwa & Chang, 1974, 1975), this paper describes the penetration of hamster and rabbit zona-free eggs by mouse and rat spermatozoa as affected by the capacitation of spermatozoa. The medium used for the manipulation of gametes was prepared according to the descriptions of Toyoda & Chang (1974) for the fertilization of rat eggs. Spermatozoa were obtained from the cauda epididymidis of mature, CD strain, Sprague-Dawley rats (weighing 530-610 g) and mature CD-I Swiss albino mice (weighing 30-44 g) and were suspended in 0\m=.\5 ml medium. About 10 min later, a small volume of this suspension was placed in 0\m=.\4 ml medium, covered with oil, to give a sperm concentration of 0\m=.\05-1\m=.\36 \m=x\ 106/ml for the rat and 0\m=.\01-0\m=.\50 \m=x\ 106/ml for the mouse. Superovulation was induced in mature female golden hamsters (Yanagimachi Chang, and mature female mixed breeds


In order to investigate the possibility of Ni-Al based intermetallics coating onto aluminum substrate, the coating process for induction heating has been evaluated by microscopically analyzing the intermetallic layers coated at temperatures lower than the melting temperature of aluminum. The coating layers were divided into two parts with different microstructure along the depth. Hard NiAl 3 layer was found at lower parts of the coatings near the interface with aluminum substrate. This layer was formed by the diffusion of aluminum atoms from the substrate into the coating layer across the interface during the induction heating. Meanwhile, at the upper parts of the coating near the surface, a large amount of un-reacted Ni was still remained and surrounded by several Ni-Al based intermetallic compounds, such as Ni 3 Al, NiAl and Ni 2 Al 3 formed by the lattice diffusion.


This book is written about heterocyclic compounds mainly belonging to Pyridine molecule. Heterocyclic chemistry has been unparalleled progress owing to the biodynamic behavior of various heterocyclic compounds. They are widely distributed in nature and are essential of life; they play a vital role in the metabolism of all living cells. Synthetic heterocyclic chemistry has influenced almost every walk of human life and the synthesized compounds have found their applications in diverse fields as medicine, agriculture and various industrial fields.


Traditional one class support tensor machine (OCSTM) is a popular classifier that is widely adopted for one class classification, however, outliers in the data negatively affects its performance. To improve the robustness of OCSTM against outliers, in this paper, we present OCSTM with bounded loss function rather than finding optimized support vectors with unbounded loss function. To solve the corresponding optimization problem, we have presented half quadratic optimization to drive the problem to traditional OCSTM, followed by solving a typical OCSTM optimization problem iteratively. We further demonstrate our algorithms through experiments on eight real-world benchmark datasets. Experimental results show that the proposed approach separates well most of the samples of interested class from origin even in the presence of outliers.


A squeezed state representation valid even near the singularity is constructed for each mode of a quantized scalar field in a spatially homogeneous and anisotropic background cosmology, and the problem of particle creation in an external field is examined by means of the squeezed state formalism of quantum optics. Using the squeezed state formalism the expectation values of the stress-energy tensor of the scalar field in curved space-time have been calculated. Quantum fluctuations of density and anisotropic pressure have also been calculated.


A super-absorbent resin of starch-sodium acrylate graft copolymer was synthesized by the method of microwavepolymerization using N,N'-methylenebis-acrylamide as a crosslinking agent and ammonium persulfate as an initiator. The factors influencing the reaction such as microwave power,the polymerization temperature,and the polymerization reaction time were investigated. The products synthesizing at traditional condition and microwave condition are observed though Infrared spectroscopy,SEM,X-ray. At the condition of microwave,energy is lower,reaction time is shortened,and synthesis device is simplified. Product performance is also generally slightly higher than the traditional preparation. It shows that synthesis at microwave radiation condition has good research value and application potential.


Experimental evidence is presented which shows that upon neutron irradiation of the compounds Mn2(CO)10, CpMn(CO)3, and CH3CpMn(CO)3 the recoiling 56Mn atom gathers carbonyl radicals to stabilize i...


We evaluated the structure of the ichthyoplanktonic assemblage (taxonomic composition, abundance, developmental stages, and relationship with local environmental variables) in marginal lagoons located in the clearwater Tapajós and Trombetas rivers, Amazon Basin, Brazil during periods of high water (rising waters and flooding). Samples were collected by means of horizontal drags in the subsurface of the water with a plankton net (300 µm mesh). Sorting, counting, identification of biological material, and classification of embryonic and larval stages were performed under a stereoscopic microscope. A total of 122 eggs and 2,813 fish larvae were captured and distributed in nine orders, 18 families, 20 genera, and 26 species. Of these, more than 75% are considered sedentary or short-distance migrants and more than 50% are of commercial interest. The results revealed fluctuating patterns of abundance and species composition between the lagoons of the two rivers. The ichthyoplankton community in the lagoons consisted mainly of larvae of native pelagic fish belonging to the Engraulidae family and larvae of benthic fish such as Eleotridae, making up more than 85% of the individuals captured in the study area. In addition to these two groups, some larvae of piranha species (Pygocentrus nattereri) stood out due to their high densities in the Tapajós river lagoons and croaker larvae (Plagioscion spp.) in the Trombetas river lagoons. The highest larval densities were recorded during the night with significant variations recorded in species composition. The presence of all stages of larval development indicates that these biotopes enable growth and are essential for the biological recruitment of fish species in the region. The ichthyoplankton showed a low correlation with the limnological variables, however, the patterns of abundance and composition of fish larval assemblages in the lagoons of the Tapajós and Trombetas rivers were preliminarily elucidated, although additional work is needed to assess the effects on survival and recruitment


Based on the elaboration of knowledge economy and innovation, and the analysis of the mutual dependence relation, this paper concludes that innovation is the soul of knowledge economy, and then it discusses the effective approaches to innovation.


Conventional techniques such as spatial inverted index used for nearest neighbor search extends the conventional inverted index to cope with multidimensional data, and also able to answer the nearest neighbor queries with keywords in real time, which, as shown in this paper, has a few deficiencies that seriously impact its performance. Motivated by this, I develop a new access method based on natural language processing that improves the performance of k nearest neighbor search.


The invention of the first sensing unit for sensing a vehicle chair access information of the current object to the driving; Here the vehicle is traveling on the chair to detect the current brightness information of the lamps mounted on the vehicle and the second detector; And the control section including the access information and the range information based on the brightness range of the current object with the access information and receiving a second supply current brightness information detected by the second detector, that has already been set based on the object detected by the first detection unit; The determination unit for determining in accordance with the access information control of the relative to the recognition and access information, the range to the object, the current brightness information detected by the second detecting portion based on the brightness information range control portion of the current object detection in the first detection unit; And the determination unit, the current access information to the object access information range of the reference object, if it determines that out of the current brightness information based on the brightness information range, the control of the controller, the current brightness information to illuminate according to the reference brightness information range depending provides a vehicle lamp control apparatus comprising: a brightness level control for adjusting the level of the current brightness information of the lamps and the lamp control method.


Though qualitatively different, Sartre's Critique of Dialectical Reason, Lukács' Ontology, Adorno's Negative Dialectics, and Kosik's Dialectics of the Concrete are equally important attempts to formulate the new adventures of the dialectic. In terms of their scope, Lukács' and Sartre's works are most similar. Both attempt to reconstitute a comprehensive philosophical system. Kosik's and Adorno's works are rather collections of closely related essays devoted to the formulation of problems. This difference turns up in matters of style, also. The slow-moving sentences of the first two authors contrast sharply with Adorno's and Kosik's more insightful, pointed and "quotable" statements. But there is a striking similarity between Lukács' and Kosik's works, when viewed from the perspective of the antinomy of "naivete" and "reflexivity."


The Bepi-Colombo mission is ESA's cornerstone mission to Mercury due to be launched in 2014. The spacecraft is a composite of three modules that will be separated after the long duration cruise stage of the mission is complete (~6 years). The MTM (Mercury Transfer Module) is the first module to be separated from the MCSA (Mercury Composite Spacecraft A). The separation occurs when Pyrotechnic bolts are fired, allowing the separation springs to push the two modules apart (Z direction). It is essential that the acceleration is kept to a minimum so that spacecraft appendages are not damaged. A minimum separation velocity and perturbation (roll, pitch, spin and translations in X and Y) is required to: a) avoid collisions b) protect vulnerable spacecraft components from high temperatures until sufficient module distance has been achieved The separation system uses unguided springs in order to reduce weight. The effects on module rotation of these unguided springs needs to be understood as the springs protrude through the high temperature insulation. This insulation could be damaged by uncontrolled rotation of the modules causing the springs to clash with the insulation during the separation event. The separation dynamics are further complicated by the umbilical connectors that are de-mated during the separation event. These connectors have relatively high de-mate friction for a small portion of the separation travel that has to be managed to reduce accelerations and perturbations. The model is constructed using ADAMSTM, a multibody simulation tool, and utilises ADAMS InsightTM which is a stochastic tool used for Monte-Carlo and sensitivity analysis. This paper presents the modelling of the separation system, contact modelling and stochastic analysis. This paper discusses the lessons learned and the conclusions drawn from the modelling activity. . 1. BUILDING THE MULTI-BODY DYNAMIC MODEL EADS Astrium in Stevenage has heritage in designing separation systems having developed the SPELDA and DELTA II launch vehicle separation systems. These systems separated the payload from the booster just after orbit insertion. The mathematical modelling applied to develop these designs was much simpler, being less sensitive from a perturbation perspective, due to the fact that the boosters were much heavier than the payload. Essentially, the separation event was modelled as if the booster was grounded. For the Bepi-Colombo mission the separation modules would have similar mass properties leading to a much higher degree of interaction during the separation event. This fact together with the implementation of unconstrained springs to save weight (both DELTA II and SPELDA used guided springs) meant that a much more detailed mathematical model was required. To build the dynamic model a number of parameters are required for each module: 1) Mass 2) Inertia in all planes 3) CoG location 4) Spring characteristics (stiffness and preload) 5) Spring locations 6) Allowable spring clearance 7) Umbilical connector characteristics 8) Umbilical connector positions Some of the parameters are straight forward to model but both the spring and the umbilical connectors behaviour are more difficult. __________________________________________________________________________________________ Proc. '13th European Space Mechanisms and Tribology Symposium – ESMATS 2009', Vienna, Austria 23–25 September 2009 (ESA SP-670, July 2009) Modelling the Separation Springs As discussed previously the separation springs are not guided during the separation in order to reduce system weight. A normal compression spring has axial stiffness as well as lateral stiffness. The axial stiffness is essentially linear over the compression stroke, but the lateral stiffness increases as the spring is compressed. Therefore, during separation, the extension of the spring reduces its lateral stiffness. The springs in the model are fixed onto one module (as they would be in the flight) but allowed to deflect laterally as the modules separate, see Figure 1.1-1. Figure 1.1-1, Spring Characteristics As the spring reaches the end of its travel it separates from one of the modules. The interaction between the spring and the module is complex at this interface. In the model the spring relies on friction to stay in place otherwise it would try and slide across the separation plane as soon as any perturbation occurred. In order for the spring to separate at the end of its travel contact modeling is used. A contact model models the interaction of colliding bodies. In this case the spring is colliding with the module and the energy is transferred to the module due to the stiffness of the contact. This contact model along with the friction recreates the reallife behavior of the spring, IE: 1) Spring stays in contact (without sliding) with the module whilst a positive preload exists. 2) Spring separates from module when preload = 0 3) Contact stiffness and exponent (the amount of energy transferred in the contact) does not contribute to module separation. IE Coefficient of restitution <1. Modelling the umbilical connectors During module separation four connectors that provide inter-module power and data connectivity are also demated. The connectors are equipped with their own demate spring and are often described as "zero-force" connectors. In reality this is not the case. A similar connector was used on the Cassini Huygens mission. During development of the connectors, the demate forces were measured, with the force vs. distance plot reproduced below. Figure 1.2-1, Connector de-mate force measurement The plot shown in Figure 1.2-1 shows the typical characteristics of connector de-mate forces. A force of 166N is required to start the de-mate process. This pull force rapidly reduces over the first 4mm of extraction whereupon a plateau is reached. This plateau is pure friction, being constant with respect to position. Another reduced plateau is then reached where friction is evident until the connector/pins are fully extracted and the force is reduced to zero. Any implementation of a de-mate spring will not fully follow this complex demate curve as the spring will follow Hooke's law leading to excess energy. See Figure 1.2-2 below. Axial Stiffness Lateral Stiffness Spring anchored at one end 0mm 10mm


Hulun Lake is located in the Hulun Buir Grassland in Inner Mongolia and is an important component of the northern ecological barrier of China. Fluctuations in its area directly affect the stability of the surrounding ecological environments. In this study, Hulun Lake was taken as the study object, and meteorological data, water body area, water level, reservoir capacity, runoff volume, and social statistical data were used to study the dynamic changes in Hulun Lake and the critical driving forces. We constructed a balance analysis equation, determined the role of groundwater in the water cycle, and examined the minimum ecological water demand of Hulun Lake. The results of the analyses revealed that during the last 55 years, the variation trends of the water level, area, and reservoir capacity were generally consistent and could be divided into six stages. The increased temperature decreased precipitation, and increased evaporation resulted in decreased water flow from the major rivers supplying the lake, which was the main cause of the decrease in the water level and area of Hulun Lake. Groundwater was involved in the water cycle of Hulun Lake. After deducting the seepage and surface drainage, we found that the groundwater recharge volume was around 792 million m3 yearly. Based on the environmental, ecological, and production functions of Hulun Lake, the minimum ecological water demand is 11.272 billion m3.


Taking Dahongshan Mining for example,in terms of meeting the need of development and the current productive situation,to establish harmonious labor relations in mine,the paper proposes to enforce the laws and regulations,to speed up the development of mining production,to innovate management model,to ensure safety in production,to build a harmonious culture of mining and exploring a new labor employment forms.


A critical investigation into computational models developed for studying the spread of communicable disease is presented. The case in point is a spatially explicit micro-meso-macro model for the entire Swedish population built on registry data, thus far used for smallpox and for inuenzalike illnesses. The lessons learned from a software development project of more than 100 person months are collected into a check list. The list is intended for use by computational epidemiologists and policy makers, and the workow incorporating these two roles is described in detail.


While continuing to expand our strength in our three core business divisions: SoC (System on Chip), Microcomputers, and Discrete and ICs, NEC Electronics is pouring its efforts into the digital consumer market where we are focusing on image processing/image display devices, and in the automotive market where the highest standards of reliability are demanded. Because these markets also demand solutions at ever lower cost and with reduced energy consumption, we are actively developing a common platform of basic technologies that address both these requirements. Leveraging the innovative application technologies in each of our core businesses and exploiting the crystallization of the constituent technologies that comprise the technology platform for all major products groups, we are moving forward with the development of industry-leading products (see Fig. ). 2 Our Endeavors in the Digital Consumer Segment


A robust nonlinear control technique based on synergetic control theory is presented to extract maximum power of standalone photovoltaic system (SPV). The synergetic control makes the controlled system robust under the presence of system uncertainties and external disturbances such as variable irradiance and temperature. The designed control law guarantees the fast convergence towards the maximum power operating point origin without any oscillations. The PV system comprises of a PV source, power converter, maximum power point tracking algorithm and load. The simulations results show effectiveness of proposed method in comparison with Perturb and Observe (P&O) method under different atmospheric conditions such as variable solar radiation and PV cell temperature.


Proactive Secret Sharing (PSS) scheme is a method to periodically renew n secret shares in a (k, n) threshold-based Secret Sharing Scheme (SSS) without modifying the secret, or reconstructing the secret to reproduce new shares. Traditionally, PSS schemes are developed for the Shamir's SSS which is a single SSS. Bai (2006) developed a multiple-secret sharing scheme using matrix projection. This paper presents a distributed PSS method for the matrix projection SSS. Once the new shares are updated, adversaries cannot discover the secrets from k shares which are mixed with past and present shares.


Recent years have seen much criticism on College English Test(CET) and reorientation advice for its reform in the college English teaching and testing circle. Last year,the Ministry of Education declared that CET would not be cancelled for the time being,paragraph translation was added to the test. Using the latest "Assessment Use Argument"(AUA) framework of Bachman and Palmer and successful examples of some large-scale tests of English as a foreign language,this paper tries to justify the use of the CET test,examine the origin of its current problems and judge the truthfulness of the criticism and advice it has received. Following the discussion,the paper concludes that using a national test for the college English course is justified. Three test reform measures are suggested to redesign the test battery,guide its test use,and increase substantially the allocation of test resources.


This paper introduces one kind of new woodworker,drawer tenoning machine,and detailedly explains the main structure,the movement principle and the innovation of the drawer tenoning machine,finally utilizes three-dimensional entity modelling software SolidWorks and animated cartoon fabrication software 3DS MAX to carry out the movement simulation, so clearly unfolds the movement course of the drawer tenoning machine.


diagnosis, of this condition when working at Ahmedabad in India, and has drawn from a personal collection of over a thousand cases as well as from the literature. After a brief introduction in which he makes the important point that bone and joint tuberculosis in tropical countries is due almost entirely to the human bacillus and not to the bovine type, he describes the findings in the different regions. A short description of the pathology is followed by a discussion of the radiological appearances. These are illustrated by 98 selected reproductions of X-rays, not interspersed with the text but grouped in the second half of the book. The joints are taken in order of incidence of the disease: hip, knee, ankle and foot, shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand, and sacroiliac joints. Then the spine, the most frequently affected part, is treated as a whoie. Finally tuberculosis affecting the bones only is discussed. A monograph like this should be of great value; unfortunately there are some serious criticisms. The text is not clearly and pleasantly written and the quality of many of the X-ray reproductions is not good enough to demonstrate the finer changes of bone disease. A C E COLE


A real vector X in n dimensions whose components are sinusoidally varying with time can be represented by an n- dimensional complex vector ZelW' whose real part is X. Each of the n components of Z is a complex number with an amplitude and a phase angle. In different real coordinate systems, the components of X transform linearly, but the amplitudes of the components of Z transform nonlinearly. This paper describes a method to reconstruct the relative phases of the (complex) components of Z (and, therefore, of X) based on the amplitude measurements of its n components in an orthogonal coordinate system and at least 2n - 3 additional amplitude measurements in different directions. The author shows the necessary and suf- ficient condition on these additional directions to ensure uniqueness of the phase and polarization reconstruction for any arbitrary vector X, and presents an algebraic method for the reconstruction which offers substantial reduction in computing time over the method of reconstruction by nonlinear optimi- zation. The result of this phase reconstruction is the complete characterization of the polarization of X except for chirality. The special case n = 3 is of immediate practical interests.


In two recent decades, fuzzy controllers have been used in controlling different systems successfully. In this article, a new method is given for controlling of permanent magnetic DC motor connected to unbalanced load. Imbalance of load leads to machine vibrations, fluctuation of power, making exhaustion in machine shaft, and equipment depreciation. In this article neuro-fuzzy controllers are used for controlling unbalanced load. Because of non-linear nature of load and machine, machine fluctuations are different in various speeds. For making controller adaptive with machine, using an artificial neural network, the input-output coefficients are be updated in any speed. Optimized coefficients obtained by using of direct search method, and with these coefficients, artificial neural network trained with Lauvenberg-Marcoardet method. Operational results obtained from developed system, shows the efficiency of given method.


C. M. Kearns argues T. S. Eliot went beyond the point of no return to Buddhist doctrine. When Eliot defines "heresy as taking one facet of a complex truth as the whole truth", and when he writes that "The true reason ... for the failure of all philosophical flights, is not that they venture too far, but that they venture alone," he surely seems to echo the Indic/Buddhist concept of tradition: "Truth is unformulable and tradition, its best approximation: an ordering of many, often discordant truths, arrived at from a multitude of perspectives." Synthesizing divergent facets of truth, tradition avoids being attached to any one extreme view. It is the way of the middle. Eliot"s literary and philosophical impersonalism and traditionalism amply echo these traits. In his Harvard lecture notes(1913-14), Eliot writes: "The views that the world exists or not, both are false, the truth lies in the middle, transcending both views. This kind of synthesis is characteristic of Buddhism from its very beginning under the name of middle path ...." And in his dissertation, he prudently proposes that "certain inferences as to the nature of reality ... forbid us to accept either an idealist or a realistic philosophy at its full value." So he walks the middle way between idealism and realism, monism and pluralism, absolutism and relativism, and between Christian faith and Buddhist attraction. He was not (willing to be) attached to any extreme position.


Context: Production Systems Engineering (PSE) faces a growing complexity of software, i.a., due to increasing capabilities of the hardware, requiring efficient approaches for designing test data and test cases. Apart from this, for long-running legacy systems where often no tests are available tests need to be added belatedly during system maintenance. Equivalence Class Partitioning (ECP) can help to systematically cluster test input and result data as a foundation for test case definition. However, different tools and technologies in PSE often hinder the precise definition and creation of Equivalence Classes (EC) based on the existing source code.Objective: In this paper, we present a model-based approach for deriving ECs based on abstract representations of existing source code and evaluate the approach in a real-world industry use case.Method: We build on best-practices from software testing for developing a model-based approach for deriving ECs as a foundation for test data and test case generation and on the Abstract Syntax Tree (AST) to describe the structure of the underlying source code.Results: First results were promising in the evaluation use case to improve test activities by systematically deriving test data and test cases based on ECs.Conclusions: We observed additional benefits, such as increased test coverage and capabilities for testing error cases.


The article focuses on the discussion of basic approaches to hypotheses testing, which are Fisher, Jeffreys, Neyman, Berger approaches and a new one proposed by the author of this paper and called the constrained Bayesian method (CBM). Wald and Berger sequential tests and the test based on CBM are presented also. The positive and negative aspects of these approaches are considered on the basis of computed examples. Namely, it is shown that CBM has all positive characteristics of the above-listed methods. It is a data-dependent measure like Fisher's test for making a decision, uses a posteriori probabilities like the Jeffreys test and computes error probabilities Type I and Type II like the Neyman-Pearson's approach does. Combination of these properties assigns new properties to the decision regions of the offered method. In CBM the observation space contains regions for making the decision and regions for no-making the decision. The regions for no-making the decision are separated into the regions of impossibility of making a decision and the regions of impossibility of making a unique decision. These properties bring the statistical hypotheses testing rule in CBM much closer to the everyday decision-making rule when, at shortage of necessary information, the acceptance of one of made suppositions is not compulsory. Computed practical examples clearly demonstrate high quality and reliability of CBM. In critical situations, when other tests give opposite decisions, it gives the most logical decision. Moreover, for any information on the basis of which the decision is made, the set of error probabilities is defined for which the decision with given reliability is possible.


There is a limited knowledge about the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) effects on the Amazon basin, the world's largest tropical rain forest and a major factor in the global carbon cycle. Seasonal precipitation in the Andean watershed annually causes a several month‐long inundation of the floodplains along the Amazon River that induces the formation of annual rings in trees of the flooded forests. Radial growth of trees is mainly restricted to the nonflooded period and thus the ring width corresponds to its duration. This allows the construction of a tree‐ring chronology of the long‐living hardwood species Piranhea trifoliata Baill. (Euphorbiaceae). El Niño causes anomalously low precipitation in the catchment that results in a significantly lower water discharge of the Amazon River and consequently in an extension of the vegetation period. In those years tree rings are significantly wider. Thus the tree‐ring record can be considered as a robust indicator reflecting the mean climate conditions of the whole Western Amazon basin. We present a more than 200‐year long chronology, which is the first ENSO‐sensitive dendroclimatic proxy of the Amazon basin and permits the dating of preinstrumental El Niño events. Time series analyses of our data indicate that during the last two centuries the severity of El Niño increased significantly.


Abstract Notwithstanding the ongoing debates on the necessity, indication, extent, and technique of achieving decompressive hemicraniectomy (DC), any procedure that can deliver the envisaged advantages of a DC, without having to take up the patient for a second surgery in the form of cranioplasty, can be of a great advantage in situations in which DC is being used. Step-ladder expansive cranioplasty has been proposed as an effective single-step alternative to DC and cranioplasty at a later date, resulting in a fixed but assured volume augmentation. Recently, a case report has emerged documenting a successfully managed case of acute subdural hematoma (SDH) using this technique. In the present in vitro study, an attempt has been made to evaluate different variants of step-ladder expansive cranioplasty constructs using cadaver and clay models. The findings suggest that the cranial volume expansion in step-ladder expansive cranioplasty is not dependent solely on the patient's skull bone thickness. If the clinical trials prove the procedure to be safe, it can be used at one end, as an alternative to preserving the bone flap at another site prior to cranioplasty, and as a complete one-stage alternative to DC and cranioplasty at a later date, on the other.


Provided is a method and apparatus for classifying geological materials using image processing techniques. The method and apparatus classify geological materials including Stones, rock samples, and rock Surfaces according to type and state by sequentially applying image processing techniques. Such as a color space analysis, a granulometry analysis, texture param eter extraction and texture statistics extraction, to digital images of the geological materials. Since the method and apparatus extract quantitative figures that represent an entire image region by applying various image processing tech niques, such as the color space analysis, the granulometry, the texture parameter extraction and the texture statistics extrac tion, to the digital images of the geological materials, the geological materials can be classified, which is not possible using a conventional image processing technique.


Abstract Australian species of Uromyrtus are revised and separated on morphological differences under the general lineage species concept using the criterion of character fixation. Two new species are described. The first, Uromyrtus lamingtonensis, is endemic to southeastern Queensland and its mountainous southeastern boundary with New South Wales. It is distinguished from congeneric Australian species by dense oil glands on both surfaces of the relatively short, acute leaves. The second, Uromyrtus tenellus, occurs in northeastern Queensland. It differs from other Australian members of the genus by the combination of rounded leaf bases, cuspidate to apiculate leaf apices, absence of prominent oil glands on either laminar surface, and relatively long petals. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and distribution maps are presented for the four Australian taxa. Keys are provided to separate the Australian species of Uromyrtus and to separate Uromyrtus from the New World genus Ugni, which it resembles in several aspects of floral morphology. Transfers are made from Myrtus for two New Caledonian species, Uromyrtus baumannii and Uromyrtus sunshinensis. Communicating Editor: Matt Lavin


Background: Atrial arrythmias have been frequently noted in patients with COVID-19, with high prevalence in those requiring mechanical ventilation. The clinical implications of pre-existing atrial arrythmias, or such 'COVID-associated' atrial arrythmias is yet to be studied.

Objective: To report clinical outcomes of COVID-19 infection in patients with pre-existing and new-onset Atrial arrythmias, and compare these outcomes with patients without Atrial arrythmias.

Methods: Analysis of a large multicenter research network TriNETX was performed including patients more than 16 years of age diagnosed with COVID-19. Outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with Atrial fibrillation or flutter were compared to those without a history of these arrythmias. Propensity score matching was performed to control for known risk factors of severe COVID-19.

Results: A total of 394,338 patients with COVID-19 were included, of which 19,405 patients (4.92%) carried a diagnosis of Atrial fibrillation/flutter. These were further classified into pre-existing Atrial fibrillation/flutter (n=14,973), pre-existing Atrial fibrillation (n=14,494), new-onset Atrial fibrillation/flutter (n=3,812) and new-onset Atrial fibrillation (n=3,521) for sub-group analysis. Patients with Atrial fibrillation/flutter had increased risk of mortality, hospitalization, critical care need, and mechanical ventilation when compared to the control group. New-onset atrial fibrillation/flutter was associated with even worse outcomes, with a 20-fold and 4-fold higher risk of mortality than control group at 30 days in unmatched and matched analyses respectively.

Conclusion: Patients with pre-existing or new onset Atrial fibrillation/flutter are at risk of poor outcomes with COVID-19. Further, new-onset atrial fibrillation portends markedly worse outcomes in COVID-19 disease.


By using a technique of invariant measures developed by Oxtoby [11] for a Polish group, which is dense in itself, we prove an existence of a quasi-finite left (or right) invariant generator of left (or right)-shy sets in an entire group and establish that no any element of the class of all quasi-finite generators of left (or right)-shy sets possesses a uniqueness property. We get the validity of an analogous result for quasi-finite generators of two-sided-shy sets in Polish groups, which are dense in itself and are equipped with two-sided invariant metrics. These results allows us to answer to Questions 2.1-2.2 posed in [17].


Abstract TiO2‐coating of LiNi0.5‐x Mn1.5+x O4 (LNMO) by atomic layer deposition (ALD) has been studied as a strategy to stabilize the cathode/electrolyte interface and mitigate transition metal (TM) ion dissolution. The TiO2 coatings were found to be uniform, with thicknesses estimated to 0.2, 0.3, and 0.6 nm for the LNMO powders exposed to 5, 10, and 20 ALD cycles, respectively. While electrochemical characterization in half‐cells revealed little to no improvement in the capacity retention neither at 20 nor at 50 °C, improved capacity retention and coulombic efficiencies were demonstrated for the TiO2‐coated LNMO in LNMO||graphite full‐cells at 20 °C. This improvement in cycling stability could partly be attributed to thinner cathode electrolyte interphase on the TiO2‐coated samples. Additionally, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy revealed a thinner solid electrolyte interphase on the graphite electrode cycled against TiO2‐coated LNMO, indicating retardation of TM dissolution by the TiO2‐coating.


Flow-sbop type production lines with finite buffer storage between operation stations are considered. Operation stations are subject to breakdowns. Operation time and repair time distributions are assumed to be phase-type. Time until a breakdown occurs is exponentially distributed. A Markov chain approach is developed to obtain certain performance measures using a numerical procedure.


So since my first attempt to download GIMP did not go as well as I planned, I'm going to be attempted to re-download it this


Twelve morphological characters recorded from 40 genotypes of ginger were subjected to correlation and path analysis. The results revealed that all characters studied have positive correlation with yield and direct selection based on leaflet number, rhizome length and thickness of secondary rhizome could help to improve the yield. The lowest residual effect indicates the optiInistic nature of the characters taken for the study.


Background: The classical teaching model consists of lectures where students passively receive information. In the flipped classroom, lecture content is available for students online, and the lecture time is utilised for problem solving and active learning. This project set out to compare these models in a "traditional" anatomy course. Summary of work: Activity logs for Year 2 recorded lectures in the anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract were downloaded from Moodle (VLE). Results of a mock topic test administered under exam conditions and student feedback were analysed. Summary of results: 61 participants submitted voluntarily to the written test; 38 (62.3%) had watched the online lectures. No difference was found in marks between students who did/did not participate (54.0+/-18.6 vs 59.9+/-14.1, p=0.1699) respectively. The response rate was 73%: All watched online lectures, 70% used them to replace contact teaching entirely on at least some occasions. 60% preferred video lectures, 51.2% of whom preferred full-face video recording of the traditional lecture, 16% audio alone and 18.6% a full flipped classroom model. 39.5% felt their performance was negatively affected by this approach due to their lack of motivation to engage with the lecture videos. Discussion: The similarity in student marks between the two teaching approaches suggests that the flipped classroom model may be a suitable alternative, especially when resources are limited. The preference of most students for the traditional model could suggest a reluctance to participate in active learning activities or room for improvement in the video lectures provided. Conclusions: The majority of students accessed online lectures. Those who did performed as well as those who did not in a mock test. Take home message: Flipped classroom teaching is an effective alternative to traditional anatomy teaching. Stoner R, Caruana E, Stabile I MedEdPublish https://doi.org/10.15694/mep.2017.000107 Page | 2


ABSTRACT Retaining current members, attracting prospective members, and reactivating dormant memberships remain fundamental marketing tasks for building and preserving a healthy and thriving church. Pastors are faced with many advertising and promotional choices. Evidence from previous studies are reported and their marketing implications discussed.


ABSTRACT As described in an earlier contribution to the journal (Photography as an Act of Collaboration – Vol. 15, Issue 3), my research explores the possibilities and implications of treating the camera and the photographic process as an active collaborator in the creation of scenes, events and 'moments' that did not exist until brought into being by the act of photographing them. The media artwork described here is the result of an experiment to explore the possibility of establishing the same co-operative relationship with word-processing software as a way to give voice to my unconscious that I had succeeded in establishing with the medium of photography. Despite comprehensively stripping the original text of both sense and sequence, the resulting text not only retains an uncanny degree of consistency with both the style and meaning of the original, but also reveals insights which had been only latent within the original. The result would appear to reinforce the findings of my previous research in photographic practice: that, by giving up conscious, rational control over the means of expression, we can (sometimes) create the conditions necessary for a constructive and often illuminating dialogue with the deus ex machina.


The ability of a client to communicate confidentially with their attorney is a cornerstone in any effective attorney-client relationship. A client is more willing to share information relevant to their representation if they are able to rely on this privilege. Disclosure of such information is often necessary for, and at the very least aids, a lawyer to provide fair and competent representation for their client. Yet, incarcerated clients and their attorneys are routinely subjected to policies and practices that intrude on this sacred privilege. These intrusions are widereaching to the point that almost every form of communication is placed under some form of monitoring. The level of intrusion varies amongst the different forms of communication, but the effect is the same: an erosion of confidentiality, trust, and communication between the attorney and their client. This is especially concerning given the current COVID-19 pandemic that has forced incarcerated clients and their attorneys to increasingly rely on more heavily monitored forms of communication.


Introduction: Head injury is a recognized as a major public health problem that is a frequent cause of death and disability in young people and makes considerable demands on health services. Alteration of the trace elements such as Zinc and copper has great importance in head injury patients. Objective: To evaluates serum level of Copper, Magnesium, Zinc and Chromium in trauma patients at day 5 and 10 after the enrollment and its association with head injury. Methods: Special designed performa was used to collect data of Trauma patients. The data were expressed in percentage. Results: The Total of 34 head injury patients were enrolled in the study. Majority of patients (41.2%) in present Study were aged between 21-30 years. Majority of patients (67.6%) were males. On day 5, only 2.9 % of patients had GCS scores between 12 to 15 which is corresponds with the mild category of head injury. Majority of patients had GCS Scores <8 which corresponds with the severe category of head injury. 41.2% patients had GCS Scores between 8 to 11 which corresponded with the moderate category of head injury.At Day 5, the mean serum copper level were 0.066 mg/dl, mean Zinc, magnesium and chromium levels were 0.224,0.643mg/dl and 0.249 ug/ml respect.Mean level of all the trace elements were found to be lower in moderate group as compared to severe group, however, the difference between two group was found to be statistically significant for copper and zinc levels.On day 10, Mean serum copper, Zinc, magnesium and chromium were found to be 0.093, 0.302, 1.439 mg/dl and 0.27 ug/ml respectively.At day 10, Mean copper levels were found to be minimum among patients who had day 10 GCS scores in severe category (0.034mg/dl). Mean copper levels were found to be maximum among patients who had day 5 GCS scores in mild category (0.126 mg/dl).  Conclusion: . The Present study conclude that, at day 10, copper and zinc showed a significant association with the status severity of head injury however. magnesium was not significant.


The direct current magnetic abrasive finishing (DC-MAF) process provides practically no stirring effect on the static flexible magnetic abrasive brush (FMAB) formed by the magnetic field in the working gap. Absence of stirring leads to dullness of abrasive cutting edges in contact with the workpiece which results in a low finishing rate. To overcome this problem, the FMAB has been made pulsating using a DC-pulsed power supply, and the process is hence termed pulsed current-magnetic abrasive finishing (PC-MAF). The surface roughness was found to improve remarkably by the formation and destruction of the FMAB during the on and off time respectively, under selected pulsed parameters. The surface texture indicates that the process consists of microscratches generated on the finished surface. Further, the surface appears to have been generated by the removal of material from peaks of the workpiece surface by rotation as well as lateral movement of the FMAB.Copyright © 2005 by ASME


In this paper, a fractional-order analog phase-locked loop (FAPLL) model is proposed. In the new model, the traditional analog phase locked loop (APLL) is generalized by allowing the loop filters as well as the voltage controlled oscillators to acquire fractional order dynamics. The new model offers superior performance compared to its integer order counterpart in terms of capture and locking time response. The improvement realized in the response of the FAPLL outweighs the slight increase in the loop bandwidth, typically seen in fractional order systems. The main points of this work are illustrated via numerical examples.


Introduction. Rituximab has been demonstrated to be effective either as intralesional or as systemic therapy in PCBCL, We report our experience in the treatment of PCBCL with intravenous Rituximab. P atients and Methods From February 1999 to February 2014 we treated 75 patients: 47 Follicle Center Lymphoma, 23 Marginal Zone Lymphoma, 5 Diffuse Large Lymphoma Leg type. The stage was T1 in 38 pts, T2 in 22 pts and T3 in 15 pts. In 24 patient prior treatment included: CHT (11), Radiotherapy (4), Surgery (4) or alpha2Interferon (IFN) (5). Rituximab at dosage of 375 mg/m2 for a minimum of 4 cycles, was administered alone (51 patients) or in association with CHT (13). RT (2) or IFN (3). Results. No patient presented adverse effects during the Rituximab infusion. A reduction of circulating B lymphocytes was observed for 11 months, on the average, without an increased risk of infections. No added toxicity was observed in patients treated with Rituximab plus CHT. Overall response rate was 97,3% (CR 82,6 %, PR 14,6 %). Five–years Overall Survival (OS) was 86,9% with Disease Free Survival of 57%. According to stage OS was in T1 94,3%, in T2 90,5%, in T3 73,6%. (T1+T2 vs T3: p Conclusions. Rituximab is effective and safe in the treatment of PCBCL even in heavily-treated or elderly patients. In our patients only the stage of disease was significant for the prognosis. A higher number of patients are necessary to indicate Rituximab in biological and clinical subsets of patients as a front-line therapy. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


The paper disc usses i n details t he mai n pri nci ples of i nte nsi ve quenching process as a pplie d to steel t ools , dies a nd other steel parts . T he pa per c onsiders one- a nd tw o-ste p i nte nsi ve quenching process for t ools a nd dies . W hen a pplyi ng a one- ste p i nte nsi ve quenching met hod, the c ooli ng is i nterr upte d at t he m ome nt of time w hen t he part s urface c ompressi ve stresses are at t heir maxim um val ue a nd t he c ore has n ot reache d t he marte n site start tem perat ure. When a pplying a tw o-ste p i nte nsi ve quenching tec hnique, t he durati on of t he first ste p of cooli ng de pends on the durati on of the "self- reg ulate d thermal pr ocess" . At the sec ond ste p of steel parts wit hin t he marte n site range are c oole d very ra pidly . The paper prese nts als o a new met hod of calc ulati on an d optimisati on of the process of quenc hing .


This paper presents a numerical investigation into interactions between oscillatory waves and moored floating structures by through applying Swarm Intelligence (SI). The effects of small and large incident waves placing a force on the obstacles were studied using two floating structures composed of a rectangle and a cage kind with taut-moored and slack-moored situations. The aforementioned problem was reduced to solve systems of sparse-nonlinear equations for surge, heave, and pitch responses, as well as mooring forces considering that there is a distorted wave motion due to the presence of the movable obstacle boundary. The particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is proposed here to provide insight into computational intelligence factors affecting calculation results and efficiency. Besides that, a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) program is based on a full Navier-Stokes solver. A series of numerical examinations for selected wave heights and wavelengths including a set of optimization procedures have been taken into account in the evaluation of formulated objective function, F, where the best potential solution is computed at each computational step. Meanwhile, a collection of empirical benchmarks were also developed based on reported measurements in the literature to provide sound empirical support for the theoretical findings. The results show that the optimization method exhibits a favorable convergent behavior (F≈0), where the computed results agree well with the measurements in terms of mean amplitudes of the surge, heave, and pitch responses and peak values of mooring-line tensions. The approach would firmly converge on benchmarks with improved computational steps of 18,321 running for 20.1 wave cycles in the case of the taut-moored rectangular structure. For the slack-moored cage, a satisfactory convergence was achieved using a series of data calibrations into an algorithm that took 27,976 iterations and 24.5 s to complete. Furthermore, CFD captures of wave deformations, dynamic forces, and streamlines were able to qualitatively corroborate the results.


This paper introduces the process that British scientist J.C.Farman found the Antarctic ozone hole,NASA researchers'errors on this problem,and Japanese scholar Zhongbofan's contribution;and expounds some enlightenments of the discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole to us:the condition of the test is not the only factor that determines scientific discoveries,the popularity of periodical determines the influence of literature.


Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter One: Tijuana's Origins Chapter Two: Tijuana Today Chapter Three: Milk Money, Drug Money, and the Sexual Entrepreneur Chapter Four: Commercial Sex and the Social Landscape Chapter Five: Legal Status and Policing Chapter Six: Gender Diversity Conclusions and Recommendations Notes Glossary Bibliography Index


Benzimidazole‐derived ICT‐based probe, DFPBEN is developed for trace level determination of water. In presence of water, the naked eye color of DFPBEN changes from red to yellow, while it turns to green from red under UV light. Upon addition of water, DFPBEN shows a ratiometric absorbance change in methanol. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


An improved method for Monte Carlo simulation is described to calculate the neutral-particle transport in a divertor throat and to evaluate the helium removal efficiency from a burning plasma. The required pumping speed for the helium removal is discussed with special emphasis placed on the effects of long exhausting duct and of scrape-off plasma variables. The analysis for International Tokamak Reactor (INTOR) single null divertor suggests a possibility that the pumping requirement for INTOR could be drastically eased--e.g., <10/sup 4/ l/s, for the high scrape-off plasma density of the order of 10/sup 13/ cm/sup -3/.


Can reduce the occurrence of HF at high temperature, NF A crosslinkable elastomer, and a specific surface area 0.5 m 2 /


Soil moisture is a crucial variable which influences the land surface processes. The feedback on precipitation is particularly strong over the Sahelian region. Access to soil moisture value is difficult because of its high spatial and temporal variability. Large scale measurements are of great importance for land surface modeling and numerical weather prediction. Remote sensing approaches are the more appropriated to provide land surface informations at continental scale and high temporal frequency. Among all channels available, passive microwaves are the most sensitive to soil moisture variations. This study proposed a retrieval of soil moisture based on AMSR-E (Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer Earth Observing System) measurements over a Sahelian region.


Parenting training is the treatment of choice for children with behavioural problems in middle childhood. Several protocols have been shown to have benefit in North American efficacy studies, and a subset meet the exacting criteria for empirically supported treatment. Effectiveness studies are fewer but some community based investigations have produced promising results and can make prima facie claims about greater potential generalisability and less stigmatisation and therefore greater treatment acceptability. The study by Harrington et al is a carefully designed study that shows little difference between community and hospital based implementations of this kind of programme. Previous reports which found a benefit for community settings rather than hospital settings were methodologically weaker with high levels of attrition. It should also be noted, however, that community implementation in the present context is to be interpreted as a healthcare (National Health Service) facility away from the hospital but not as a community facility (eg, library, school, community centre). The size of improvement observed was relatively small, which is a common observation in studies of ordinary child psychiatric clinical practice. Nevertheless, given the apparently small treatment effects the absence of a difference between community and hospital settings is not surprising. This is an extremely important study that shows that results from North America should only be used in the design of British mental healthcare delivery for children in a thoughtful and empirically based manner. Peter Fonagy, BSc, PhD, DipPsych, FBA University College London London, UK


Objectives
To study the risk factors for maternal anemia and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in China.

Methods
The study was a multi-stage stratified cluster randomization survey for mothers of children under 2 years of age (Chinese National Nutrition and Health Surveillance in 2013). Totally, 10 652 mothers were selected from 55 counties of 30 provinces in China, of whom 6255 were lactating mother and the other 4397 were not at the time of survey. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin level < 110 g/L. IDA was defined as plasma ferritin level < 15 ug/L and anemia.

Results
The prevalence of anemia and IDA was 10.5% (95%CI:8.5-12.5) and 4.1% (95%CI:3.1-5.0), respectively. Maternal education level and nationality were associated with anemia (OR (95%CI): senior high school above vs junior high school or below:0.67(0.47-0.97); Han nationnality vs minority: 1.74(1.18-2.57)). Maternal age, education level, lactation and calcium supplementation during pregnancy were significantly associated with IDA (OR (95%CI:):25 years old or above vs less than 25 years: 0.44(0.26-0.75); senior high school above vs junior high school or below: 0.75 (0.58-0.98); lactated women vs lactating women: 0.76(0.68-0.98); calcium supplementation vs non-calcium supplementation: 0.82(0.68-0.98)).

Conclusions
The prevalence of maternal anemia remains high, but the prevalence of maternal IDA is at low level in China. Maternal education level and nationality are associated with anemia. Lactation status, maternal education level, age and calcium supplementation are associated with IDA.

Funding Sources
National Health and Family Planning Commission (former Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China) Medical Reform Major Program: Chinese Nutrition and Health Surveillance (2013).


The article presents the results of an experiment on the development and application of training activities to improve the socio-psychological climate in the workforce of the educational organization. The theoretical substantiation of the interrelation of organizational culture and socio-psychological climate in the work collective is given, the preferred type of organizational culture for modern educational organizations is described. The results of diagnostics of the type of organizational culture and socio-psychological climate on the example of an educational organization are described, conclusions are drawn about the need for their development.
A set of training measures to improve the socio-psychological climate and the development of organizational culture is described. The results of experimental work on the implementation of the described training activities are presented, and the effectiveness of their application for the development of the work collective is proved.


In the year 2005, the Pritzker Architecture Prize has been awarded to Thom Mayne, the California architect. This paper analyzes his life experience, social environment, seven typical projects in different periods, which has great inspiration to contemporary Chinese architecture design.


The common purpose of these studies is to explain the recent decline in the number of economics majors. They represent the most significant research on the major since the survey studies of John Siegfried and colleagues over 15 years ago (Siegfried and Wilkinson 1982; Siegfried and Raymond 1984). Although each study approaches the issue from a different angle and draws different conclusions, each advances our understanding of factors affecting economics majors. Margo and Siegfried (1996) examine the long-run trend in economics majors and discover a tendency for the number of economics degrees to return to a fixed share after short-term fluctuations. Willis and Pieper (1996) draw an intriguing connection between the decrease in demand for workers in the financial services


Based on the dual perspectives of resource dependence and resource allocation theory,the paper examine the driven mechanism of marketing and technology resource for the new venture' new product development performance.Result show that both marketing and technology resource are positively related to the NPD' performance when exclude the market and product category variables;while key resources have contingency effects when include these category variables.Specifically,we found that marketing and technology resource have substitutability effects when new venture commercialize radical innovation product in the emerging market,and have complementarity effects when new venture commercialize incremental innovation product in the mature market.We also construct a mathematical judging model to discriminative the contingency effects of driven resources.Finally,we conclude the paper by discussing its theoretical contributions,implications for the NPD practice of new ventures,limitations and directions for the future research.


On 23 November 1980, a major earthquake (Ms = 6.9) struck a large area of the southern Apennines (Campania and Lucania regions, southern Italy). This seismic event, the largest in Italy over the last 80 years, almost completely destroyed 15 villages and caused extensive damage to other towns, including Naples. The quake produced the first well-documented example in Italy of surface dislocation, represented by a fault scarp 38 km long. We undertook a study that included 14C dating of organic materials from layers displaced by paleoseismic events to assess the seismologic hazard for the area. We collected peat and charred wood samples from the walls of two trenches excavated across the 1980 fault at Piano di Pecore di Colliano, Salerno, where the sedimentary suite is faulted and warped by five quakes (including that of 1980). This produced comparable vertical throw and deformation patterns. Chronological data for pre-1980 events, coupled with detailed stratigraphic analysis, yielded a dip-slip rate and a recurrence interval of 0.4 mm/yr and 1700 yr, respectively.


Metal thin film resistors have been integrated into a damascene-copper multilayer metallization system for mixed-signal BiCMOS technology platforms. The thin film process can be adjusted to achieve resistors with very low temperature coefficients, high linearity, low noise, and improved matching as compared to resistors based on implanted silicon or polysilicon processing. In addition, improvement in terms of good RF performance was observed.


CdSe/CdTe type-II superlattices grown on GaSb substrates by molecular beam epitaxy are studied using time-resolved and steady-state photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy at 10 K. The relatively long carrier lifetime of 188 ns observed in time-resolved PL measurements shows good material quality. The steady-state PL peak position exhibits a blue shift with increasing excess carrier concentration. Self-consistent solutions of the Schrodinger and Poisson equations show that this effect can be explained by band bending as a result of the spatial separation of electrons and holes, which is critical confirmation of a strong type-II band edge alignment between CdSe and CdTe.