ESRD03 is the database collected from 21 sound effect CDs and RWCP (Sound Scene Database in Real Acoustic Environment) database for environmental sound recognition, including more than 16000 sound tracks and most of them happening in home environments. This paper introduces the database manipulation of segmenting and labeling the data manually. Firstly the tracks are categorized according to their differences on the object, material and motion of the sources. Then the tracks are segmented and labeled in each category. Except for the high level labeling on the basis of content description, which gives the natural description of the sound and is close to the human sense, the properties of event is also segmented and labeled if it can be sensed. Also several labeling schemes are designed in each category for the labeling of the different characteristics of the sound. And the sound can be labeled with different labeling schemes simultaneously. The scheme is designed for the reference of the automatic property extraction and evaluation, and the identification study. It is on the basis of the preliminary research on the environmental sound recognition and the results show the sense of the scheme.


The slings of cranes in power plant usually are custom-made heavy ones,and they may develop crack or crack extension,that affects crane's safe operation,at the area of stress concentration or welding defect after 10 year use.Conventional non-destructive detection technology is characterized by heavy workload,long downtime and easy missing defects.Field test and data analysis show that acoustic emission detecting technology is practicable,and deserves promotion and application with advantages of no downtime,easy to use,environmental protection and energy saving.


A relational bipartite communication problem is presented that has an efficient quantum simultaneous-messages protocol, but no efficient classical two-way protocol.


Heterotopic gastric mucosa(HGM) mostly occurs in esophagus.Though 70% of autopsy cases reported this disease,the percentage in China was less than 1%.Due to its asymptomatic characteristic and high omission rate of diagnosis during endoscopy in China as well as its possible prognosis of esophageal adenocarcinoma,HGM in esophagus needs more attentions in clinic in the future.


This study aims to increase the knowledge on relations between corporate social responsibility (CSR), employee commitment, and firm performance in Serbia. The theoretical part of the article analyzes the relations between CSR and firm performances, as well as CSR and employee commitment, based on available world-wide research results. The empirical part of the article presents the research results for large companies in Serbia, regarding the relations between CSR and firm performance, CSR and employee commitment, and the mediating role of employee commitment on the relationship between CSR and firm performances. The sample consists of 53 large companies, each with more than 250 employees. The database was compiled between October 2019 and March 2020 using self-developed questionnaires. PLS-SEM analysis was implemented to uncover the relationship that exists between the variables. The authors determined that there was no direct effect of CSR on firm performances, but positive, statistically significant effects on employee commitment. Although the direct effect is missing, employee commitment has a positive mediation effect on CSR-firm performance link. The concluding part of the article outlines the theoretical and practical implications, acknowledges research limitations, and offers future research directions.


The article summarizes the key results of researches in the field of early warning systems for financial crises, conducted by the Center for Macroeconomic Analysis and Short-Term Forecasting (CMASF) since 2005. The proposed early warning system consists of three major blocks: the leading indicators of certain types of risks and the composite leading indicator of a systemic banking crisis; the medium-term scenario forecasting of key macroeconomic and financial indicators; stress testing of credit and liquidity risks of banks. On the basis of this early warning system we estimate the risks of financial crisis and some kinds of systemic risks in the different scenarios for the Russian economy in 2012. The analysis, in particular, revealed a sensitivity threshold of the domestic financial sector to changes in the world oil prices. Furthermore, it was found that the greatest destabilizing effect on the Russian financial sector may be caused by systemic credit risk.


The Worldwatch Institute offers a 25th anniversary edition of the State of the World subtitled Innovations for a Sustainable Economy. On the cover is a lone turbine, a provocative image that implies experimentation, innovation, and the quest for sustainable energy, whether on a small or grand scale. Wind power is offered as one source of energy to help replace fossil fuels. In his chapter called "Building a Low Carbon Economy," Christopher Flavin states that the challenge is not finding the power, but fitting the renewable sources into an energy system that was designed to fit around the storage of fossil fuels. (p. 82) Renewable sources, such as solar and wind, are intermittent sources of energy, which take planning and adjustments in the grid structure. (pp. 82–83) Several U.S. utilities have found 10% of peak power supplied by wind turbines requires only a small adjustment to the power grid. In Northern Europe wind contributes more than 20% of peak power, yet only minor adjustments are necessary. (p. 83). With the grid problem solved the turbine on the cover is not just a token symbol; it is a beacon toward future sustainability.


For developing constitutive equation in superalloy In718 hammer forging process, the effect of the forging parameters, such as, strain, strain rate, deformation temperature, deformation steps, and the interval times between two steps, on the flow rule of turbo disc was analyzed in detail. Simplificatin of the multi-pass stress-strain curves has been adopted during the developing of constitutive equation. With the FEM program,the verification of the constitutive equation has been completed at forging shop.


The sphere of charactersreading in L.M. Leonov's novels written in the 1920-30's is seen as a means of character depiction, a way to express the author's principles and the writer's appraisal of literary realities at that time.


Person detection is an important problem in computer vision with many real-world applications. The detection of a person is still a challenging task due to variations in pose, occlusions and lighting conditions. The purpose of this study is to detect human heads in natural scenes acquired from a publicly available dataset of Hollywood movies. In this work, we have used state-of-the-art object detectors based on deep convolutional neural networks. These object detectors include region-based convolutional neural networks using region proposals for detections. Also, object detectors that detect objects in the single-shot by looking at the image only once for detections. We have used transfer learning for fine-tuning the network already trained on a massive amount of data. During the fine-tuning process, the models having high mean Average Precision (mAP) are used for evaluation of the test dataset. Experimental results show that Faster R-CNN [18] and SSD MultiBox [13] with VGG16 [21] perform better than YOLO [17] and also demonstrate significant improvements against several baseline approaches.


Clinical Significance Context: Golgi tendon organ (GTO) disinhibition is thought to contribute to exercise-associated muscle cramp (EAMC) genesis. Despite limited evidence of efficacy, acute static stretching is often prescribed to prevent EAMC based on the belief that stretching activates GTOs. Gastrocnemius GTO inhibition is highest when the gastrocnemius is in a lengthened position, but no research has examined the effect of acute stretching on GTO inhibition. Objectives: We asked: Does a single bout of acute static stretching increase gastrocnemius GTO inhibition? If so, how long does GTO inhibition stay elevated post-stretching? We hypothesized GTO inhibition would increase post-stretching but would return to pre-stretching levels within 5 minutes. Design: Repeated measures, cross-sectional. Setting: Laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: Six men (age=26±3 y; ht=179.5±4.1 cm; mass=81.8±13.4 kg) and six women (age=27±7 y; ht=163.4±4.9 cm; mass=64.4±9.6 kg). Interventions: Subjects' dominant limb medial gastrocnemius GTO inhibition was tested before, immediately after, and 5, 10, 15, and 30 minutes post-stretching. With subjects long sitting, the investigators applied three, 1-minute bouts (1 minute of rest separating each bout) of static stretching to the gastrocnemius by placing the ankle into maximum dorsiflexion. To measure inhibition at each selected time interval, subjects maintained medial gastrocnemius contraction intensity at 5% of their maximum voluntary contraction EMG activity. While contracting, the Achilles tendon was stimulated 50 times (rectangular pulses, 75 mA, 100 μs duration, 2-s interpulse interval). Pre, during, and post-stimulus EMG activity for the 50 trials at each measurement time were filtered, full-wave rectified, and averaged. An algorithm (implemented using MatLab software) identified inhibitory points and calculated the main outcome measures. Main Outcome Measures: Inhibition area (mV*ms-1), inhibition maximum (mV), and inhibition duration (ms). Outcome measures were normalized using 100 ms of pre-stimulus EMG activity. Repeated measures ANOVAs with Geisser-Greenhouse corrections were used to analyze data (α=0.05, NCSS v. 2007). Data are reported as means ± SD. Results: Inhibition area was unaffected by stretching at any time (F1,14=1.5, P=0.25; pre-stretch=0.07±0.09 mV*ms-1, immediately poststretching=0.07±0.10 mV*ms-1, 5 min post-stretching=0.06±0.08 mV*ms-1, 10 min poststretching=0.05±0.04 mV*ms-1, 15 minutes post-stretching=0.05±0.04 mV*ms-1, 30 minutes post-stretching=0.05±0.05 mV*ms-1). Inhibition maximum was also unaffected by stretching over time (F1,14=0.2, P=0.72; pre-stretch=0.0008±0.0009 mV, immediately poststretching=0.0008±0.0008 mV, 5 min post-stretching=0.0008±0.0007 mV, 10 min poststretching=0.0008±0.0007 mV, 15 minutes post-stretching=0.0008±0.0007 mV, 30 minutes poststretching=0.0008±0.0008 mV). Stretching also did not affect inhibition duration over time (F1,14=1.5, P=0.24; pre-stretch=3.5±2.8 ms, immediately post-stretching=3.3±2.8 ms, 5 min post-stretching=3.3±2.5 ms, 10 min post-stretching=2.8±1.6 ms, 15 minutes poststretching=2.7±1.7 ms, 30 minutes post-stretching=2.7±1.8 ms). Conclusions: A single bout of static stretching had no impact on GTO inhibition. Single bouts of static stretching are unlikely to prevent EAMC assuming the theory that GTO disinhibition contributes to EAMC genesis. The effect of chronic stretching programs on GTO inhibition warrants future examination. Experimental Design • Cross-sectional, laboratory study


Leaves of Erythroxylum campestre, E. nanum,and E. tortuosum have been studied in different developmental stages in order to describe the leaf ontogeny and the structure of scars found in mature blades of Erythroxylum. The marginal growth of the leaves is of the "median submarginal" type. At early stages, intense activity in the adaxial meristem leads to the formation of a crest on this surface, while the laminar portion has an involuted aspect, due to the activity of the marginal meristem. The stomata develop at the same time as the mesophyll layers and the final expansion of the blade results from an intercalary growth. Blade scars were not observed during ontogeny. When present these scars appear to result from shallow injuries parallel to the midrib on the abaxial surface.


Objective Investigate the use of vascular access in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients and the complications of native arteriovenous fistulas (NAVFs) in our single center. Methods Patients (n=376) were recruited in our study, 350 of them had wrist NAVFs (wrist group),and 18 of them had elbow NAVFs (elbow group). We evaluated the complications associated with NAVFs between these 2 groups. All statistical analyses were performed with SPSS software package, P 0.05 was assumed to be statistically significant. Results We found 93.09% (350/376) of patients had wrist NAVFs, followed by elbow NAVFs 4.79% (18/376), while 1.33% (5/376) had graft AVFs and only 0.80% (3/376) of patients depended on a cuff catheter. The most frequent complications seen in our patients were thrombosis (13.86%), followed by aneurysm (12.23%), anastomotic stenosis (2.17%); arterial steal syndrome (1.63%); infection (0.54%); and venous hypertension (0.27%). Aneurysm was more common in the elbow group (66.67%) than in the wrist group (9.43%) (?=52.26,P0.01),there were no differences in other complications,patency rate during 1~3 years and Kt/V between 2 groups. We did not find high-output cardiac failure related to NAVFs in our patients. Conclusion We think the wrist radiocephalic NAVF is the first choice for MHD patients; an elbow NAVF is a reasonable alternative for MHD access when a radiocephalic NAVF is not possible.


We are developing a new NIF experimental platform that employs wetted foam liquid fuel layer ICF capsules. We will use the liquid fuel layer capsules in a NIF sub-scale experimental campaign to explore the relationship between hot spot convergence ratio (CR) and the predictability of hot spot formation. DT liquid layer ICF capsules allow for flexibility in hot spot CR via the adjustment of the initial cryogenic capsule temperature and, hence, DT vapor density. Our hypothesis is that the predictive capability of hot spot formation is robust and 1D-like for a relatively low CR hot spot (CR∼15), but will become less reliable as hot spot CR is increased to CR>20. Simulations indicate that backing off on hot spot CR is an excellent way to reduce capsule instability growth and to improve robustness to low-mode x-ray flux asymmetries. In the initial experiments, we will test our hypothesis by measuring hot spot size, neutron yield, ion temperature, and burn width to infer hot spot pressure and compare to predictions for implosions with hot spot CR's in the range of 12 to 25. Larger scale experiments are also being designed, and we will advance from sub-scale to full-scale NIF experiments to determine if 1D-like behavior at low CR is retained as the scale-size is increased. The long-term objective is to develop a liquid fuel layer ICF capsule platform with robust thermonuclear burn, modest CR, and significant α-heating with burn propagation.


The present invention provides a permanent magnet-embedded motor and a rotor thereof, capable of reducing the short-circuit flux of the permanent magnet and improving the torque without increasing the manufacturing cost. In a rotor (2) of a permanent magnet-embedded motor (100), a plurality of permanent magnets (50) are arranged in one magnet housing (42) of a rotor core (40). A rib portion (43) which connects an outer peripheral portion (40a) of the rotor core with an inner peripheral portion (40b) of the rotor core is arranged per plurality of magnetic poles.


The objective of this paper is to propose solutions to overcome conflicts between industrial property rights over trademarks and industrial property rights over trade names. The research tasks consist of: Identifying the cause and the nature of the conflict, the mechanism to deal with the conflict under Vietnam current law; Pointing out unresolved issues in that mechanism, comparing with intellectual property law and practice of other countries to look for proper solutions for Vietnam.


We prove that the function field of an algebraic variety of dimension ≥ 2 over an algebraically closed field is completely determined by its first and second Milnor K-groups.


The paper addresses the plural social and juridical context of non-industrial gold mining in regions of immigration in West Africa today. A case study from Benin has been chosen as empirical background. The text deals with the development of specific norms in that field, "rules of the game" as regards access to gold deposits, the larger social setting of the mining communities and institutions of conflict settlement. Finally, the shifting relationship of gold miners to the central state and its contradictory politics will be explored. 1 Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, PO Box 110351, 06017 Halle/Saale, Germany, Tel.: 0049-3452927-124, Fax: 0049-345-2927-102, e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com. 2 Acknowledgements: This paper is a result of an ongoing research project on social relations in immigrant communities related to small-scale gold exploitation in West Africa. Research was carried out between 1999 and 2001. It was funded by grants from the DAAD, Bonn and the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, Halle/Saale. The text benefited from the comments of Franz von Benda-Beckmann, Andreas Hemming, Pierre-Yves Le Meur, Bertram Turner and others. Responsibility for the views expressed here is mine exclusively.


We report a case of a neonate who developed bilateral intracerebral haemorrhage and purpura fulminans shortly after birth. The baby was diagnosed to have Protein C deficiency. He was initially treated with fresh frozen plasma. All necrotic skin lesions improved with treatment. He was the second baby of his first cousin parents who were discovered to be asymptomatic heterozygotes for protein C deficiency. The first offspring died with a history of gastroenteritis at one year of age.


Play and optimal welfare: does play behaviour indicate the presence of positive 1 affective states? 2 Jamie Ahloy-Dallaire Julia Espinosa, Georgia Mason, 3 4 a Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University, 287 Campus Drive, 5 Stanford, California, 94305-5410, UNITED STATES 6 b Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, 100 St George Street, Toronto, 7 Ontario, M5S 3G3, CANADA 8 c Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, 9 Ontario, N1G 2W1, CANADA 10 11 Corresponding author: Jamie Ahloy Dallaire. 12 Email: firstname.lastname@example.com 13 Address: Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University, 287 Campus Drive, 14 Stanford, California, 94305-5410, UNITED STATES 15 16


This paper is devoted to the learning of the staff reform in 1834 in the period of the rent of the Altai mining district: to the presuppositions, causes, development, social essence. Ministry of Finance consisted in unequal rights conditions of rent and aspired to enlarge profit. Staff reform in 1834 completed this purpose. Staff reduction to a third of previous quantity to stop moving of social bottom in the administration resulted in social localization of mining engineers to the estate. In spite of the fact that Ministry of Finance as a renter sets oneself a target interests of mining, the system of the rise in the ranks and its depending system of increase of trained specialists didn't follow the interests of mining. System of increase of trained specialists, as system of the rise in the ranks was a hindrance for assembling of individual improvements to the united industrial cycle. This doesn't permit to improve the old technology. So, the structure of the local administration didn't complete purposes, fo r them it was created, in spite of principia in the personnel politics were exactly realized.


This paper describes an apparatus which can be used to determine bulk thermal expansion coefficients of liquids as a function of temperature and pressure up to 10 kilobar in a temperature range from −20° to 100 °C. The principle of the method consists in measuring the heat of compression by a step by step procedure. The apparatus is a Joule twin calorimeter which is composed of a high pressure vessel and a reference cylinder. Temperature differences between these two components can be detected at better than 10−5 K by means of a gas thermometer, thus providing high sensitivity. Results are given for liquid n‐hexane and ethyl alcohol.


The invention relates to a hydraulic power unit for a motor vehicle brake system according to the recirculation principle, wherein each brake circuit in the region of the hydraulic unit includes a prefilling (13) which opens for the purpose of intake of fluid between the pressure-retaining valve (9) and the switching valve (11) in the Pumpensaugpfad (8) , The hydraulic unit can thereby be pre-loaded by the installation in the vehicle with less time and process engineering effort.


Both Fain 法如 and Shenxiu 神秀 were disciples of the Fifth Chan Patriarch Hongren 弘忍. After Hongren died, Faru the the leader of the Chan while he advocated that rill mentality should be the external world first, and then initiated the Northern School of Chan. Faru hadn' t decided his law heir before he died, but Shenxiu served as the real leader. Both Faru's actions and his representative work, i. e. Daofan qusheng xinjue 导凡趣圣心决 affected not only the initiation and development of the Northern School of Chan Buddhism, but also to the formation of the Southern School of Chan..


Zhaoqing is not only one of the first famous tourist cities but also a State acknowledged tourist city with numerous historic sites. The author of this paper believes that,as Qixingyan and Dinghu Mount are already well known to the world, it is significant to integrate all the historic tourist resources in the city area to form an urban tourist belt with cultural features. This will form a new tourist pattern corresponding to the natural scenic spots in Zhaoqing. Based on an analysis of the problems at present, this paper emphasizes some principles for developing an urban tourist pattern and suggests some measures for integrating the urban tourist resources in Zhaoqing.


Introduction. In a recent paper* the author has considered the effect of a nuclear spin of half a quantum on the optical spectra of an atom with a central field. The investigation had special reference to caesium, the hyperfine structure of which has been examined by Jackson,f but the results obtained were not in very good agreement with the experimental observations. In the former paper it was stated that the method could be extended to the case of an atom with a nuclear spin of inquanta (where 2 inis an integer), but that the investigation of such a case would be difficult when in > owing to the large number of wave-functions required by the method used to describe any state of the atom. I t has been found, however, that the work is not so arduous as was anticipated, and in the present paper a general method of solving the problem is developed, and applied to the cases in = 1, 1|, 4 |. The first two cases are, as yet, of little practical interest, but are sufficiently simple to make a general solution possible. On the other hand, the case of in = 4 | has practical application to bismuth, the hyperfine structure of which has been investigated in two papers by Back and Goudsmidt.J In the second of these, which deals with the Zeeman effect, it is shown conclusively that the hyperfine structure is due to a spin of 4 | quanta. I t has been found too difficult in the present work to obtain a general solution of the multiplet levels of bismuth, but it has been possible to calculate the intensities of the components of the lines -> Sj, and p$-*■ Sj, the former of which has been examined by Back and Goudsmidt, and the results obtained are in fair agreement with theirs. There is, of course, the usual lacuna regarding the S levels, and we have to make special assump tions to obtain these. In addition the P -> S transitions for in = 1 and in = 1-| are calculated. In all cases we treat the problem as that of one electron in a central field. Since the present work was completed a paper has appeared by Hill,§ in


In this paper,semi-submersible platform construction methods and integration technology are reviewed,pointing out the production efficiency and safety deficiencies.Summing up the advantages and disadvantages of the construction technology,based on "shipbuilding on the ground" idea,a new construction process is put forward.With a total lifting capacity of 20,000 tons,the world′s first bridge crane "Taisun" is the core machine,and the platform construction and outfitting is finished as a huge block,and finally the platform is wholly integrated by the 20,000 tons crane.The technology really realized the idea of "shipbuilding on the ground",which reforms the constructing process for Semi-submersible platform and has positive influences and promotion in ocean engineering industry.


The utility model relates to a percussive PDC (polycrystalline diamond compact) bit. The center of a bit body is provided with a cylindrical cavity. A hydraulic piston punch which can vertically slide up and down is slidably mounted in the cylindrical cavity. The lower end of the hydraulic piston punch is in a hemispherical structure. An internal bevel gear sleeve is welded at the upper end of the cylindrical cavity. An external bevel gear sleeve is arranged on the outer wall of the part, located in the cylindrical cavity, of the hydraulic piston punch. A spur gear transmission sleeve driven by a motor is mounted in a vertical slide through a flat key block. A rigid stratum can be well broken by intermittent reciprocating percussion of the hydraulic piston punch; since the percussion cycle goes in this way, drilling efficiency is greatly improved, the bit experiences less wear and the requirement on equipment is lowered.


Alexis - Family Violence Response Model (A-FVRM3) is
collaboration between Victoria Police and the Salvation
Army Crisis Services Network, Family Violence Services
(CSN FVS) and partner support agencies in the Bayside
area of Melbourne. A-FVRM was designed to provide a
coordinated response to families that met the criteria
of having three or more police attendances within a
12-month period or where the incident of violence
was such that a police member referred the family to
A-FVRM.


Summary The oxidative capacity of succinic oxidase and cytochrome oxidase systems in 3 aortic segments (ascending and arch, descending thoracic, abdominal), inferior vena cava and liver slices of man, rabbit and dog was studied. A species difference was found to exist: a) man exhibited the lowest oxidative values for both systems; b) the dog, the highest values for the succinic oxidase system in the thoracic aorta; c) the rabbit, intermediate values for the succinic oxidase system in all 3 aortic segments; d) oxidative values for the cytochrome oxidase system were of approximately equal magnitude in the aortic tissue of dog and rabbit. A significant decrease in oxidative capacity of aortic tissue was associated with aging in man, while the vena cava and liver remained unaffected. No appreciable change with age was found in rabbit and dog. The significance of the above findings in relation to atherogenesis was discussed.


The organic salts as initiators [A~+B~-:Ph_3C~+ClO_4~-, Ph_3C~+SbCl_6~-, (-)Sp~+ClO_4~- and(-)(Sp)_2~(+3)(ClO_4)_3] and catalysts [A~+B~-:(+)CSA, A~+B~-:Ph_3C~+(+)CSA~- and(-)Sp~+(+)CSA] are prepared and characterized by specific rotation. The asymme-trically stereoselective induction of the initiators and catalysts in the polymerization ofN-vinylcarbazole is in an order of A~+B~-A~+B~-A~+B~-. The specific rotations ofobtained poly (N-vinylcarbazole ) (PVCZ) generally are in accordance with mentioned order.


Based on some link interruption faults happened in frigid zone of the north-east Heilongjiang province, the effects of low temperature on aerial and buried fiber optic cable links are analyzed, and some corresponding resolutions are proposed.


The hydrology of marsh ponds influences aquatic invertebrate and waterbird communi- ties. Hydrologic variables in marsh ponds of the Gulf Coast Chenier Plain are potentially affected by structural marsh management (SMM: levees, water control structures and impoundments) that has been implemented since the 1950s. Assuming that SMM restricts tidal flows and drainage of rainwa- ter, we predicted that SMM would increase water depth, and concomitantly decrease salinity and transparency in impounded marsh ponds. We also predicted that SMM would increase seasonal vari- ability in water depth in impounded marsh ponds because of the potential incapacity of water control structures to cope with large flooding events. In addition, we predicted that SMM would decrease spatial variability in water depth. Finally, we predicted that ponds of impounded freshwater (IF), oligohaline (IO), and mesohaline (IM) marshes would be similar in water depth, temperature, dis- solved oxygen (O2), and transparency. Using a priori multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) contrast, we tested these predictions by comparing hydrologic variables within ponds of impounded and unimpounded marshes during winters 1997-1998 to 1999-2000 on Rockefeller State Wildlife Refuge, near Grand Chenier, Louisiana. Specifically, we compared hydrologic variables (1) between IM and unimpounded mesohaline marsh ponds (UM); and (2) among IF, IO, and IM marshes ponds. As predicted, water depth was higher and salinity and O2 were lower in IM than in UM marsh ponds. However, temperature and transparency did not differ between IM and UM marsh ponds. Water depth varied more among months in IM marsh ponds than within those of UM marshes, and vari- ances among and within ponds were lower in IM than UM marshes. Finally, all hydrologic variables, except salinity, were similar among IF, IO, and IM marsh ponds. Hydrologic changes within marsh ponds due to SMM should (1) promote benthic invertebrate taxa that tolerate low levels of O2 and salinity; (2) deter waterbird species that cannot cope with increased water levels; and (3) reduce waterbird species diversity by decreasing spatial variability in water depth among and within marsh ponds.


In Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN), it is challenging to detect the compromised node. A compromised node is a kind of node which doesn't have features like another normal node, and it can be an intruder or harmful for the network. In the homogeneous WSN, nodes have similar behaviour; this is the main reason that detecting compromised nodes is challenging. We have applied the anomaly technique to identify compromised nodes. We have chosen four specific parameters which decide the behaviour of nodes; we have selected some Intrusion Detection System (IDS) operator and trained them. Selection will be made by internal congestion within a node. The IDS operators has been chosen in such a manner that every node is in the radio range of at least one IDS operator. Learning of IDS operator is based on behaviour's parameters of nodes. After detection of an intruder, the IDS will notify the sink node.


Yinchuan Basin, a semi‐arid area located in Northwest China, is currently subject to increasing pressure from the altered hydrology due to the anthropogenic activities as well as increasing water demands for regional development. Sustainable water management across the region must be underpinned by a clear understanding of the factors that constrain water supply in this area. We measured the stable isotope of oxygen and hydrogen to determine the likely processes that control the interrelations among precipitation, surface water (Yellow River), and groundwater. The hydrogen and oxygen values demonstrate that 2 primary hydrochemical processes, mixing and evaporation/condensation, occurred in the Basin. Recharge proportions of precipitation and Yellow River were quantitatively evaluated based on the isotope mass balance method. The proportions of the Yellow River and atmospheric precipitation recharge are 87.7% and 12.3%, respectively. The evaporation proportions calculated with 18O and D by Rayleigh fractional equation are close to each other, which demonstrate that evaporation intensity increases following the flow direction of the Yellow River. The findings obtained in this study are useful for recognizing the significance of Yellow River to Yinchuan Basin, and some optimal allocation schemes can be adopted for a prospective development of this reputed area in Northwest China.


The calibration method, known in flow injection analysis as a "gradient ratio calibration method", has been verified in respect of capability of applying to determinations by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. It has been revealed that the performance of this method is possible to be different and rather unpredictable if the interference effect occurs in the analytical system examined. The calibration procedure has been attempted to be improved by means of such approaches as the integration of signals processed and the use of spectrochemical buffers. The mcthod in the version proposed is of low time and reagent consuming as well as giving more reliable analytical results, acccptable in terms of accuracy and precision.


When the techniques established for preparing lymphocytes from human blood were applied to canine blood, the resulting preparations were contaminated with significant numbers of other blood cells. A three‐step technique is described here for the separation of canine lymphocytes from blood which eliminates most granulocytes, platelets, and erythrocytes. Defibrinated blood is incubated with iron particles to allow phagocytosis by granulocytes. When mixed with Plasmagel, erythrocytes and iron‐containing granulocytes sediment rapidly, leaving a lymphocyte‐rich supernate plasma which is recovered and banded by centrifugation on a Ficoll‐Hypaque gradient. Any erythrocytes remaining in the lymphocyte suspension aspirated from the gradient are eliminated by hypotonic lysis and centrifugation. The resulting preparation, representing 30 per cent recovery of the circulating lymphocytes, contained 85 to 94 per cent lymphocytes with a cell viability of 99 per cent. The functional capacity of the lymphocyte preparation was tested in three assays: 1) lymphoblastic transformation using phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen, 2) E rosette formation with human erythrocytes showed a mean 5 per cent rosette forming lymphocytes, 3) antibody‐mediated lymphocytotoxicity using a canine anti‐lymphocyte serum showed titers reproducible within one tube dilution.


This an electronic supplement of the paper "Tracers of uplift and subsidence in the Cape Verde Archipelago". The objective of this supplement is to provide more detailed information on the volcanostratigraphy of some of the Cape Verde islands mentioned in the main text, and a detailed description of key palaeo-markers of relative sea-level height used to track the history of vertical movements affecting those islands.


The genus Peliosanthes Andrews, generally placed in the tribe Ophiopogoneae, together with Ophiopogon and Liriope (Dahlgren et al. 1985; Takhtajan 1997, under Ophiopogonaceae; Conran & Tamura 1998), is distributed mainly in South and Southeast Asia (Jessop 1976). In the course of a revision of Peliosanthes, a new species was found in collections from Vietnam and China, and is here described, illustrated and compared with closely related species.


Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) is made up of a network of many compact and constrained sensors. Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) was designed particularly for the constrained nodes and networks in WSNs as a unique web transfer protocol by the Internet engineering task force (IETF) developed. Time synchronization of these low power sensor modules is in high demand. This paper proposes a time synchronization module for CoAP and focuses on the energy efficiency of the WSN for CoAP using NS2, which will help to reduce the overall network overhead and minimize the energy consumption.


Treasures patterns are simplified designs of vessels used in everyday life, which were symbols of luck. Treasures patterns on textiles are largely assorted into four groups: eight auspicious patterns of Buddhism, eight immortal patterns of Taoism, seven treasures patterns of King Chakravarti in the ...


Bloodborne pathogens are all around us, yet we seldom think about them. Exploring the who, what, when, where, and why aspects of bloodborne pathogens allows to develop a better comprehension of the world we live in and how to protect and prevent the spread of infectious disease. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are the top three bloodborne pathogens and the main focus of this entry. This article is designed to be easy to read and readily understood in order to appeal to a much broader range of individuals who may have questions about bloodborne pathogens. BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS: THE FIVE W'S 3


To meet the requirements of public,such as rail station,dock,palaestra,etc.,this paper designs a single chip microcomputer 89C2051 controlled LED self-color clock-display,which has simpleness and practicality and excellent expendability and operated by remote control.The system adopts real-time clock-chip DS3231,which can keep time quite accurate and improve the credibility of system.It can asynchronous controlled by 89C2051 and the time can be modified by infrared remote control.The paper puts forward the design points of the control system's software and hardware,and emphasizes on I2C bus protocol and decoding the remote control.The paper also gives us some software process.


Although social security is recognized as a social right in the international law, it tends to be mainly the countries of Western Europe (mostly EU member states) that have well-developed and extensive social security systems. There has been no thorough analysis of why the development of these rights greatly varies across countries and regions. Significantly for an understanding of this variation, little reference has been made to historical reasons and conditions for the development of social security systems. In this regard, as an antidote to severe political and social turbulence in the 19th and 20th centuries, Western European countries have implemented ambitious social policies that covered broader sections of the population, as social security was an effective and legitimate instrument for maintaining political and social stability. Due to an unwillingness and inability to use coercive structures, social security was a means for the propagation of state authority. This paper begins to redress this lacuna by historicizing international trends regarding social security; and it will, by taking Sweden as a case study, test the controversial association between social rights and political stability. In undertaking this task, the paper provides a historical account of welfare reforms in Sweden. In this article, I argue and demonstrate with historical evidence that even in the Swedish context, social rights legislation was, in every respect, a political stability and security project retooled by Swedish policymakers to promote political stability and security in times of crises. Thus, this article is based on the hypothesis that when coercive structures fail or do not adequately address political instability, welfare reforms (as a non-coercive strategy) can become an alternative means for maintaining political and social stability. Conversely, when non-coercive measures fail, governments largely opt for coercive measures to ensure political stability. In this regard, the findings of this article will have policy implications for those countries that suffer from chronic political and social instability.


Anti-Collision is one of the most important problems of the RFID technology. In this paper, we propose an Efficient Query Tree (EQT) protocol to improve both the Query Tree (QT) protocol and the Collision Tree (CT) protocol. The main idea of the EQT protocol is to reduce as much as possible the timeslots used to transmit bits between the reader and tags, so that the time of tag identification procedure is shortened and the energy consumption is lessened. In the EQT protocol, the timeslots structure, the query and responses between the reader and tags are carefully redesigned to allow tags to transmit fewer bits. We analyze and simulate the EQT protocol and compare it with the QT and the CT protocols. The simulation results show the EQT protocol outperforms the other two protocols in terms of the tag identification time.


Pomacea canaliculata is dangerous pest to paddy field due to fast action on eating stem and young leaves of paddy. Synthetic pesticides are common method used by farmers to control P. canaliculata infestation. However, the usage of synthetic pesticides gave negative impact to natural environment, aquatic and non-target organisms. Thus, botanical pesticides are alternative methods to control P. canaliculata. The aims of this research are to quantify chemical compound in Peltophorum pterocarpum and Ipomoea aquatica extracts and evaluate antifeedant activity of extracts for controlling P. canaliculata. Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spetrophotometer analysis was done to quantify chemical compound in P. pterocarpum and I. aquatica extracts. The result showed all treatments gave the highest amount of lupeol compared with catechin, rutin, salicylic acid, quercetin and kaempferol. Peltophorum pterocarpum extracts in methanol showed highest antifeedant index (AFI) (46.9%) compared with other treatments. Thus, it showed P. pterocarpum extracts in methanol have more abilities to act as an antifeedant. In summary, P. pterocarpum is recommended as an alternative botanical pesticide due to its antifeedant properties on P. canaliculata.


Leisure activities are considered here as a subset of consumption, and we are interested in the relationship between gender schema and leisure activities. In order to test rival predictions about gender schema, sex-typing of leisure activities is related to two individual difference measures: gender personality (Bem 1981) and gender-role attitudes (Spence 1984). 271 subjects were given a list of 75 leisure activities and asked to indicate whether they felt the activity was masculine, feminine, or somewhere in between. We do not find support for Bem's (1981) theory, but do find partial support for Spence's (1984) theory. The findings indicate that males sex-type leisure activities to a greater extent than females. Both sex and gender-role attitudes are found to be significant (p


Whether the effect of hydraulic fracturing is good or not depends on flow conductivity of fracture to some extent.There are many factors influencing proppant's flow conductivity,which should be considered during a fracturing design.In this study,the effect of some factors like time and broken fluid on flow conductivity is studied in laboratory.In addition,other two experiments arec arried on,including an effect of added fibre on conductivity,anda nother effect of a situation that formation water is immersed on conductivity.Results show that(1)the flow-conductivity curve within 100 hours can be taken as a reference data in a long-term experiment on proppant's flow conductivity;(2)the effect of added fibre is not large whereas the effect of broken fluid ranges from 50% to 60%;(3)the effect of immersed formation water reaches 14% to 35%.So,these factors should be taken into considerationd uring the fracturing design.


At present tests of foreign languages have taken shape quite well in our country.However,they are influenced by CET IV and CET VI,so there are many problems in the tests of foreign languages.It makes the types of test questions very single and brings out teaching for examinations.It can not create students' self-determination and enthusiasm of studies.It can not review students' actual levels of English effectively.Therefore,in our country the tests of foreign languages in universities need reform quickly.


The invention provides a preparation method of a titanium alloy silver coating. The surface of titanium alloy is subjected to activating treatment, a thin chemical nickel-plating layer is plated on the surface of the titanium alloy, and silver plating is conducted on the basis of the chemical nickel-plating layer. When a silver layer needs repairing, the silver layer is removed and the chemical nickel-plating layer is reserved, and the silver plating can be continued directly by means of simple hydrochloric acid corrosion. The preparation method of the titanium alloy silver coating is reliable in technology process, simple in operation, and easy to promote and popularize.


Key links in the developing strategy of certified safety engineer are put forward;the significance of implementing certified safety engineer system is described.Based on characteristics of job position and the nature of safety engineering discipline,scientific and stereoscopic categorization of certified safety engineer is put forward,and its safety knowledge and competency requirement are indicated.It is emphasized that at present the managerial type certified safety engineers are in urgent need in work safety field.The knowledge and competency structure of this type safety engineers are analyzed.Furthermore,key issues in the developing strategy of certified safety engineer,such as examination platform of certified safety engineers,their career development and how to make rational use of these talents are constructively suggested.


PART 4. BUILDING CAPACITY FOR CHANGE: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES ///

The man-made world is undergoing dramatic transformations in the 21st century through globalization and the migration of rural populations to urban areas. All our cities, towns and human settlements will be impacted by this change. Despite the acknowledgement of the issue
and the mandate to conserve cultural and natural heritage as point 11.4 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, governmental and philanthropic support have not been significant enough to implement a global conservation strategy on the scale needed. In order to be successful on a larger scale, heritage preservation must be coupled with planning and development to support overall community growth and the broad mission of sustainable development. A new funding vehicle now in formation, the Cultural Heritage Finance Alliance (CHiFA), will work globally to
attract funds from lenders and investors, and re-invests that money in community revitalization with heritage as its centerpiece. This financing can catalyze the mutually reinforcing benefits that
arise from the preservation of culturally significant built heritage and the goals of social inclusion, environmental conservation, and the creation of vibrant communities.


Recessionary situations such as the current Corona pandemic affect people's behaviour, since most people react to them with fear. Nowadays, social media is used by many people all over the world, thus, people as well as public and private organizations and groups share, post and comment messages on social media. This way, many people can be reached in a very short time. However, not all posts on social media can be defined trustworthy. Instead, a lot of people, groups and organizations make use of social media to spread rumours, fake news and conspiracy theories. There are three main motivations increasing people's beliefs in these types of news: desire to feel security for themselves as well as the groups they belong to; making sense of their specific environment and /or striving for safety and control in times of severe recessionary situations. Among the current demonstrators against the Corona policy of the German government, one can often identify supporters of specific groups that share their beliefs. However, it is not easy to differentiate between true and fake news or rumours. The present paper uses the quantitative data collection method to investigate the reasons why people may change their behaviour in recessionary situations and why some people are more prone to believing rumours and fake news on social media than others. In this context, message credibility plays an important role. The results show that rumours, fake news and conspiracy theories are able to decrease people's trust in health agencies and / or governments.


Objective  To assess the degree to which policy changes to artemisinin‐based combination therapies (ACTs) as first‐line treatment for uncomplicated malaria translate into effective ACT delivery.


The direction and the speed of transition from metered dose inhalers (MDIs) containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to non-CFC asthma medications has stirred debate among congressional leaders, physicians and patient advocacy groups. Pediatricians9 greater under standing of the issue and proper education of parents and patients can help allay concerns about the CFC phase-out and acceptability of non-CFC asthma therapies.


Although the Research Article from B. Korber et al. ["Timing the ancestor of the HIV-1 pandemic strains," (9 June, p. [1789][1])] and the excellent commentary thereon by D. M. Hillis (p. [1757][2]) both acknowledge the possibility that AIDS began through an iatrogenic event involving an oral


Greater hydrocarbon potential is present in the Lower Permian Jiamuhe Formation along the northwestern margin of the Junggar Basin, Xinjiang. The formation may be subdivided into three subformations. The lower subformation consists of the volcanic volcaniclastic rock series, while the middle and upper subformations represent the compound rock series including normal clastic and volcanic volcaniclastic rock series. The volcanic eruption and tectonic activity resulted in the gradual uplift of the Zhongguai region, eastward migration of sedimentary facies, and thus the eastward migration of oil and gas accumulation.


We give an analytic demonstration that the $3+1$-dimensional large $N$ $SU(N)$ pure Yang-Mills theory, compactified on a small ${S}^{3}$ so that the coupling constant at the compactification scale is very small, has a first order deconfinement transition as a function of temperature. We do this by explicitly computing the relevant terms in the canonical partition function up to three-loop order; this is necessary because the leading (one-loop) result for the phase transition is precisely on the border line between a first order and a second order transition. Since numerical work strongly suggests that the infinite-volume large $N$ theory also has a first order deconfinement transition, we conjecture that the phase structure is independent of the size of the ${S}^{3}$. To deal with divergences in our calculations, we are led to introduce a novel method of regularization useful for non-Abelian gauge theory on ${S}^{3}$.


The invention relates to a burner assembly having an at least partially from a porous body (28) filled in the combustion chamber (26) upstream with a combustion chamber (26) the evaporation zone (12) for the vaporization of a fuel supply line (16) supplied liquid fuel with an ignition device ( 30) (for the ignition of a combustion mixture of vaporized liquid fuel and a combustion air supply line (18) of the evaporation zone (12 fed) combustion air and having a (combustion chamber 26) downstream flue gas discharge 38). The invention is characterized in that a mixing zone (20) is arranged between the evaporation zone (14) and the combustion chamber (26) in which a combustion gas supply line (22, 24) of the mixing zone (20) supplied fuel gas with the combustion air and / is miscible or the combustion mixture. The invention further relates to the use of the burner apparatus as afterburner in a fuel cell assembly, as well as to a corresponding fuel cell assembly.


92 miles in length, which traverses the peninsula of Jutland. In I825 an irruption of the North Sea drove back the fresh and brackish water fauna of the fiord and replaced it with that of the sea. A slow current passes through it from the east or the west according to the relative levels of the North and Baltic Seas, though in recent years it has been predominantly from the North Sea eastward. The stream is shallow2-13 fathoms with a few expansions in shallow lakes, and exhibits practically uniform conditions of temperature and salinity at the top and the bottom. Owing to the slight depth the temperature rises to 18.4? C. in the summer, and the salinity averages about 3 per cent. The plankton of this interesting region has been investigated by Dr. Petersen of the Danish Biological Station. Three traverses of the fiord were made in i896 and i897, and the collections thus made were supplemented by a seasonal series and by others from the Cattegat and the Baltic. The qualitative examination, made by Mr. H. Grau, was confined in the main to the diatoms and the Peridinieo, which constitute the bulk of the plankton. The investigation determined that the amount of plankton per E meter in the shallow fiord was o0-50 times as great as that of the adjacent and deeper North Sea, and more than double that of the Cattegat, The constitution of the plankton is peculiar in that the predominant species are neritic rather than oceanic, and are not thus abundant in the North Sea, whence the fiord receives its water, nor in the Cattegat, into which it empties. Its diatom flora must therefore breed in the water in transit in response to some change in the physical-chemical environment, as, for example, contact with the bottom, rise in temperature, or the addition of nitrogen by the tributary rivulets. Another instance of this unique phenomena -namely, the maintenance of a peculiar plankton at a given point in a body of water traversed by a current -was discovered in the Cattegat, where an undercurrent from the deeper Skager Rack enters this shallower area, and there is developed within it, in passing, a local and peculiar diatom flora. The results of this work lead the author to suggest that " guide


In this paper, the behaviour of lithium-ion batteries aged with an accelerated (charge/discharge) and a realistic (drive cycle) protocol is compared using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) characterization. Two equivalent circuit models are used to further analyse degradation trends. The results show increased impedances for drive cycle aged batteries above 90% State of Health (SoH) compared to charge/discharge aged cells at the same SoH. Below 90% SoH, the opposite is found, with charge/discharged aged cells showing higher impedance.


The intrusion detection systems gained major significance in the field of internet of things (IoT) as the communicating entities could reach thousands of nodes. An intrusion detection system (IDS) that uses a hybrid learning approach, consists of two stages of detection, local and global. The data collection for the classification purposes at the local detection phase is intended to mimic the network behavior rather than node behavior and the ability to infer the state of the node. A scheme based on obtaining datasets related to the packet counts for normal and malicious cases, collected using promiscuous mode, is adopted in the network. The local detection is conducted by the dedicated sniffers (DS) where each DS uses supervised learning approach based on decision trees to generate correctly classified instances (CCIs). The global stage collects the CCIs sent from the dedicated sniffers (DS) to the super node (SN) and applies an iterative linear regression to generate a time-based profile called the accumulated measure of fluctuation (AMoF) for malicious and normal nodes. A profile of a malicious and a normal node is obtained, and an anomaly is detected after three iterations (processed samples).


Operating speed is one of key elements in the design and operation of freeway. Few studies have been carried out macroscopically to find characteristics of free-flow speed (FFS) using small sample size and not considering the conditions of traffic volume and the effects of hour periods. As an attempt to find out the characteristics of FFS, this study microscopically analysed both the distributions of freeway FFS and percentile speeds according to traffic volume and daily hour periods using huge sample size. It was found out that speed distributions are changed and showed different behaviors under the conditions of traffic volumes(1-5 veh/30sec) and daily hour periods(0-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-19, 20-23). V85(85th percentile speed) at morning, night, and midnight period decreases according to increase in traffic volume respectively, whereas V85 at day time does not show considerable differences. So the behaviors of V85 according to hour periods dramatically changed according to the increase in traffic volume.


Laser shock processing (LSP) is being increasingly applied as an effective technology for the improvement of metallic materials surface properties in different types of components as a means of enhancement of their corrosion and fatigue life behavior. As reported in previous contributions by the authors, a main effect resulting from the application of the LSP technique consists on the generation of relatively deep compression residual stresses field into metallic alloy pieces allowing an improved mechanical behaviour, explicitly the life improvement of the treated specimens against wear, crack growth and stress corrosion cracking. Additional results accomplished by the authors in the line of practical development of the LSP technique at an experimental level (aiming its integral assessment from an interrelated theoretical and experimental point of view) are presented in this paper. Concretely, follow-on experimental results on the residual stress profiles and associated surface properties modification successfully reached in typical materials (especially Al and Ti alloys) under different LSP irradiation conditions are presented along with a practical correlated analysis on the protective character of the residual stress profiles obtained under different irradiation strategies and the evaluation of the corresponding induced properties as material specific volume reduction at the surface, microhardness and wear resistance. Additional remarks on the improved character of the LSP technique over the traditional "shot peening" technique in what concerns depth of induced compressive residual stresses fields are also made through the paper.


Micro-fabricated piezoelectric vibration energy harvesters with resonance frequencies of 31–232 Hz are characterized and deployed for testing on ambient vibration sources in the machine room of a large building. A survey of 23 ambient vibration sources in the machine room is presented. A model is developed which uses a discretization method to accept measured arbitrary acceleration data as an input and gives harvester response as output. The modeled and measured output from the energy harvesters is compared for both vibrometer and ambient vibration sources. The energy harvesters produced up to 43 nW rms g − 2 on a laboratory vibrometer and 10 nW g − 2 on ambient vibration sources typically in large buildings. (Some figures in article are in colour only in the electronic version)


P-1075 was reported to be selective for sarcolemmal ATP-sensitive K+ (sarcKATP) channels because of its lack of mitochondria-oxidizing effect in isolated adult rabbit myocytes. Conflicting results however have been reported on the action of P-1075 on mitochondrial KATP (mitoKATP) channels. The aim of the present study was to reevaluate the effect of P-1075 on mitoKATP channels. Endogenous flavoprotein autofluorescence in isolated rabbit ventricular myocytes was measured to assay mitoKATP channel activity. The mitoKATP channel opener diazoxide (100 μM) oxidized the flavoprotein. P-1075 at a concentration of 30 μM significantly inhibited the oxidative effect of diazoxide from 48.6 ± 7.1% to 28.2 ± 5.2% of the maximum value induced by 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP, 100 μM) (n = 4, P < 0.05). Additionally, P-1075 (30 μM) significantly inhibited the pinacidil (100 μM)-induced flavoprotein oxidation by 48.4 ± 3.9% (n = 4, P < 0.05). The inhibitory effects of P-1075 on diazoxide-induced flavoprotein oxidation were observed in the micromolar range in a concentration dependent manner. P-1075 alone oxidized flavoprotein in the range 30 nM to 5 μM, and was nearly maximal at 150 nM (11.1 ± 1.9% of the DN P value, n = 5). These results indicate that P-1075 exerts diverse effects on mitoKATP channel in rabbit ventricular myocytes: P-1075 has a partial agonist effect and weakly activates mitoKATP channels at low concentrations, whereas P-1075 rather inhibits the opening of mitoKATP channels in the micromolar concentration range.


The invention provides a wall filtering method and a wall filtering system for implementation of ultrasonic color Doppler flow imaging. The method includes: acquiring an input signal; acquiring a filter coefficient matrix of each order of a regression filter according to data length of the input signal; constructing a new filter coefficient matrix by linear combination of the filter coefficient matrixes of adjacent orders; filtering the input signal according to the new filter coefficient matrix to obtain an output signal. The wall filtering method and a wall filtering system for implementation of ultrasonic color Doppler flow imaging have the advantages of smoothness and monotony in frequency response, large stopband attenuation, narrow transition band and avoidance of transient response and loss of data points, and a weight coefficient of linear combination can be changed to establish a wall filter with arbitrary cutoff frequency so as to obtain better ultrasonic color Doppler flow imaging effects.


Query evaluation in tuple-independent probabilistic databases is the problem of computing the probability of an answer to a query given independent probabilities of the individual tuples in a database instance. There are two main approaches to this problem: (1) in `grounded inference' one first obtains the lineage for the query and database instance as a Boolean formula, then performs weighted model counting on the lineage (i.e., computes the probability of the lineage given probabilities of its independent Boolean variables); (2) in methods known as `lifted inference' or `extensional query evaluation', one exploits the high-level structure of the query as a first-order formula. Although it is widely believed that lifted inference is strictly more powerful than grounded inference on the lineage alone, no formal separation has previously been shown for query evaluation. In this paper we show such a formal separation for the first time.
We exhibit a class of queries for which model counting can be done in polynomial time using extensional query evaluation, whereas the algorithms used in state-of-the-art exact model counters on their lineages provably require exponential time. Our lower bounds on the running times of these exact model counters follow from new exponential size lower bounds on the kinds of d-DNNF representations of the lineages that these model counters (either explicitly or implicitly) produce. Though some of these queries have been studied before, no non-trivial lower bounds on the sizes of these representations for these queries were previously known.


During 1992, we sampled fishes at 30 sites in the Kansas River and Smoky Hill River (as far west as Salina). Following this project (and the floods of 1993), we visited 30 sites in 1994 and 1995 along the Smoky Hill River (from Salina west through Wallace County), the Saline River, Solomon River, North Fork Solomon River, and South Fork Solomon River. Information from 77 additional samples was obtained by field crews from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) and Fort Hays State University (FHSU) in 1994 and 1995. Samples were obtained with seines or electrofishing equipment. Fish were identified and counted, either in the field (mostly larger specimens) or in the museum, to determine relative abundances of species at each site. Voucher specimens for these records are housed in the Collection of Fishes at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History (formerly the Museum of the High Plains; MHP) at FHSU, Hays, Kansas. Also included in this summary are records from recently sorted collections at the Sternberg Museum. Computerized records (FishGopher, Cornell University) of the fish collections at the University of Kansas Natural History Museum (KU) and University of Michigan Museum of Zoology (UMMZ) were checked during our studies. This report summarizes records for nine species. Seventy-one additional county records for the maps compiled by Cross and Collins (1995) were listed in the newsletter of the Kansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society (Eberle and others, 1995).


Numerous trials have shown that chronic kidney disease increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Dyslipidemias have been shown to accelerate progression of kidney disease. Statins have assumed a pivotal role in management of hyperlipidemia. However their effect on renal function is still not fully understood. Some clinical trials have shown some renoprotective effect of statins but there is still need for more data to clarify effects of statins on renal function.


Results of a 3-yr study on lamellar tearing, a failure that can occur during fabrication of heavy-section steel weldments, show the following: hydrogen is a contributor to tearing, use of lower-strength weld metal can reduce tearing, and preheating before welding minimizes tearing possibility. These findings can be useful in specifying welding techniques for offshore platforms and other thick-section oil field products, such as pressure vessels. Lamellar tearing, although not widely prevalent, may appear during the construction phase. It is generally detected during fabrication and has rarely been held responsible for service failures, but its consequences can be costly, provoking expensive repairs. Details of the Lehigh University study are presented.


On the basis of the process of preliminary design of inspection station on Lu-Ji Boundary of Jin-shan Expressway,the paper briefly expounds the integrated design of location,size,the overall design,drainage design,entrance and exit ramp design,testing facilities,transport security facilities,site pavement structure according to the actual conditions and requirements.


This study focuses on the connection between teachers' assessment and students' achievement in science instruction in schools of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Specifically, data from TIMMS 2011 were analyzed to answer the question "What is the effect of KSA teacher assessment practices on grade 8 students' achievement in science?" Data were selected for their relevance to the question, including those on approaches to science-instruction as perceived by teachers themselves, data were analyzed with regard to standards set by international discourse, compared with the international average, and were internally weighted to maintain coherent patterns. Findings show a relation between the knowledge-focused approach to teaching and assessing students' achievement prevalent in KSA science instruction and the low achievement results of KSA students in TIMMS 2011. A look at assessment practices in KSA science instruction is called for: There should be a correlation between the extent to which continuous, formative assessment is practiced during instruction and students' achievement as stated by international studies. In our secondary analysis of TIMMS results, we found no traces of an application of formative assessment and indeed no clues as to whether the very concept is known to teachers at all. Professional development about formative assessment and more emphasis on the procedural side of science in KSA instruction are recommended.


In the present study 5% Ca doped PZT ceramics were prepared. DTA/TG of the green gel shows that the weight loss after 600C was negligible and so this temperature was taken as calcinations temperature of the PCZT powder. X ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of calcined powders shows crystalline phase without pyrochlore phase. The average crystallite size of the powder, calculated by Debye Scherrer formula, has been found to be 23nm. Sintering was carried out at 1200°C for 8 hours in lead rich atmosphere. SEM analysis of sintered samples demonstrated that grain size was about 307.786 nm with clean grain boundaries and no large size porosity was observed. From the P-V loop measurement of the PCZT pellet we find the remnant polarization, the maximum polarization and the coercive field to be 0.0375μC/cm, 0.318μC/cm and 383V respectively.


In the title compound, C13H10ClNO, the dihedral angle between the two benzene rings is 59.6 (1)°. The crystal structure features N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, which link the molecules into C(4) chains running along the a axis.


"The principal's role is to stimulate, to encour age, to facilitate, and to know when it's time for him to step aside and get out of the way of prog ress."


The organization of the educational process on the basis of an innovative approach is important in improving the quality of education. In this regard, it is expedient to introduce modern methods and tools of teaching, new forms of lesson organization, as well as the formation of the necessary skills of teachers based on an innovative approach.


A recent technological breakthrough in electron cryomicroscopy (cryoEM) is the development of direct electron detection cameras for data acquisition. By bypassing the traditional phosphor scintillator and fiber optic coupling, these cameras have greatly enhanced sensitivity and detective quantum efficiency (DQE). Of the three currently available commercial cameras, the Gatan K2 Summit was designed specifically for counting individual electron events. Counting further enhances the DQE, allows for practical doubling of detector resolution and eliminates noise arising from the variable deposition of energy by each primary electron. While counting has many advantages, undercounting of electrons happens when more than one electron strikes the same area of the detector within the analog readout period (coincidence loss), which influences image quality. In this work, we characterized the K2 Summit in electron counting mode, and studied the relationship of dose rate and coincidence loss and its influence on the quality of counted images. We found that coincidence loss reduces low frequency amplitudes but has no significant influence on the signal-to-noise ratio of the recorded image. It also has little influence on high frequency signals. Images of frozen hydrated archaeal 20S proteasome ($700 kDa, D7 symmetry) recorded at the optimal dose rate retained both high-resolution signal and low-resolution contrast and enabled calculating a 3.6 Å three-dimensional reconstruction from only 10,000 particles. Thanks to improvements in microscopes and software, single particle electron cryomicroscopy (cryoEM) has recently reached milestones of being able to determine near atomic resolution three-dimensional (3D) structures of large macromolecular assemblies with high symmetry (Chen et al.). The next challenge is to apply this technology routinely to a broad range of biological samples that are in general much smaller and of lower symmetry than large ico-sahedral viruses. From the experimental side, one of the challenges is to efficiently collect large datasets of high-resolution images. A major bottleneck has been the image-recording medium. Until now, the most commonly used media were either photographic film or scintillator based digital cameras (either charge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal–oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) cameras) that detect the emitted photons. The digital cameras offer many practical advantages over film, including immediate access to the acquired digital images, enabling on-the-fly image analysis and automated data acquisition (Carragher et al., 2000; Lyumkis et al., 2010; Zheng et al., 2010). More importantly, these cameras offer higher detective quantum efficiency (DQE) at low spatial frequency, giving good image contrast of frozen hydrated protein samples recorded with very …


Objective
To investigate the inhibitory effect of dexamethasone on residual Lewis lung cancer cells in mice after palliative surgery.

Methods
The model of residual Lewis lung cancer cells in C57BL mice after palliative surgery were established, then accordance with the random number table, 18 mice were randomly divided into 3 groups with 6 animals in each group: the normal saline group, cisplatin group, and dexamethasone group. After operation, the subcutaneous tumor nodules of each mouse were measured on days 4-10 using vernier calipers (accuracy of 0.1 mm). The expressions of hypoxia induction factor-1α (HIF-1α) and mean vascular density (MVD) in the normal saline group, cisplatin group and dexamethasone group were assessed by paraffin immunohistochemical assay. The expressions of HIF-1α, VEGF and PCNA mRNA and protein in the three groups were assessed by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting.

Results
Tumor growth curve showed that the tumor volume in cisplatin group (200.34±20.94)mm3 and in dexamethasone group (436.58±37.94)mm3 were obviously decreased compared with the normal saline group (1 398.81±192.85)mm3, with statistically significant differences (t=-1201.75, P<0.001; t=-921.52, P<0.001). As Paraffin immunohistochemical assay showed, in cisplatin group and dexamethasone group, the expressions of HIF-1α(2.67±0.43, 1.67±0.43) and MVD counts (17.01±3.24, 9.89±2.25)were decreased significantly compared with the normal saline (4.21±0.35, 29.75±5.64), with statistically significant differences (t=-1.55, P<0.001; t=-1.83, P<0.001; t=-12.68, P<0.001; t=-18.35, P<0.001). The results of real-time quantitative PCR showed that the expressions of HIF-1α (0.56±0.11), VEGF (0.61±0.18) and PCNA mRNA (0.38±0.07) in dexamethasone group were obviously reduced compared with the normal saline group (1.21±0.13, 1.13±0.26, 1.06±0.08), with statistically significant differences (t=-0.55, P<0.001; t=-0.62, P<0.001; t=-0.69, P<0.001). The expressions of HIF-1α (0.31±0.12), VEGF (0.30±0.13) and PCNA mRNA (0.18±0.06) in cisplatin group were also obviously reduced compared with the normal saline group, with statistically significant differences (t=-0.73, P<0.001; t=-0.76, P<0.001; t=-0.81, P<0.001). The results of Western blotting showed that the expressions of HIF-1α (85.98±20.86), VEGF (173.28±30.98) and PCNA protein (228.96±22.97) in dexamethasone group were decreased significantly compared with the normal saline group(198.98±29.89, 378.98±28.98, 357.98±35.98), with statistically significant differences (t=98.78, P<0.001; t=85.68, P<0.001; t=120.86, P<0.001). The expressions of HIF-1α (65.78±18.62), VEGF (109.43±19.86) and PCNA protein (176.86±22.76) in cisplatin group were decreased significantly compared with the normal saline group, with statistically significant differences (t=132.86, P<0.001; t=108.68, P<0.001; t=154.74, P<0.001).

Conclusion
Dexamethasone can effectively inhibit the growth and angiogenesis of the residual Lewis lung carcinoma after palliative surgery in mice, and may also provide a new method of postoperative adjuvant therapy for patients, especially who received palliative surgery.

Key words:
Dexamethasone; Angiogenesis inhibitors; Neoplasms; Palliative care


A vibrational technique for the measurement of stress in films has been developed, based on the theory of membranes. Specimens for vibrational analysis are prepared by removing a circular or square piece of the substrate. It is shown that the error introduced due to substrate removal is negligible except for thin metallic films. The resulting specimen, a film stretched across a hole in the substrate, behaves as a membrane. Since its natural frequencies increase with the square root of in-plane stress, these can be measured to compute the in-plane stress. The only material parameter needed is the density of the film. Because a number of natural frequencies can be measured, each of which can be used to compute the stress, this method has a strong check for internal consistency. Two different techniques have been used to measure natural frequencies: (1) sinusoidal excitation and holographic imaging of the vibration modes, and (2) random excitation and Fourier analysis of measured vibrations. In this, the first part of the study, we discuss cases when ideal membrane behavior is obtained. Three applications of the method are presented: measurement of stress in a filled-glass layer bonded to an aluminum substrate, a study of the effect of temperature and humidity on stress in a thermoset polymer coating, and stress in a silver film during heat treatment. The second part of the study1 deals with extensions of the technique when complicating effects, such as air loading, bending stiffness, and an aniso-tropic state of stress, are important. In the third part of the study,2 the method is used to identify the orthotropic axes and all nine elasticity coefficients of a commercially made film.


The spectral and temporal details of the flames of a series of NH4C104-polyurethane propellants during both unstable and stable combustion were observed experimentally. A 400 scan/sec optical spectrometer operating in the middle infrared region was used to follow the concentrations and temperature of the combustion procducts. Both bulk mode instability and intrinsic instability were observed separately and, under some conditions, coupled. Some aspects of the theory of bulk mode instability were confirmed but the assumptions of constant flame temperature and constant composition were found to be inaccurate. Observed fluctuations in temperature of up to 500°C and in composition of up to 40 % were explained by the assumption of a fluctuating surface composition and gas phase quasi-equilibrium resulting in composition waves in the combustion chamber. These phenomena were strongly influenced by the propellant heterogeneity.


STS education,marked with its characteristics of the times,is a new scientific educational theory based on the relations among science,technology and society.STS education has transcended traditional science education and has indicated the demands of quality education.It is the main reformatory direction that STS education is applied on the biology educational reform.It is the effective way to change the traditional scientific knowledge into quality education in biology teaching.


Although the English-language-teaching problems described in the article may appear specialized, there is a common factor which is basic to all language-teaching situations, namely the reluctance of the unsophisticated learner to switch codes in the presence of his peers. Virgin Islands English (VIE) is difficult for mainland teachers to understand and many will only stay for a short time as they find adjustment very difficult. [There follows a description of VIE phonological and morphological characteristics taken from field notes made in the summer of 1965.] VIE is not a direct dialect of Standard American English, it is a subdialect of the variety of British English common to the West Indies. Teacher recruits for the Virgin Islands need to be made aware of this and VIE should be presented to them in the form of an audio-lingual course. High-school or first-year college students should make excellent drill instructors and be a good source of information on current VIE vocabulary and idiomatic expressions. Although no single orientation programme could solve all the problems produced by the confrontation of students from one background and teachers from another, it could neutralize some obvious misunderstandings that generate a personal sense of injury and animosity.


In this paper, we proposed the method for detecting text region on image using DCT-coefficient and transition-map analysis. The detecting rate of traditional method for detecting text region using DCT-coefficient analysis is high, but false positive detecting rate also is high and the method using transition-map often reject true text region in step of verification because of sticky threshold. To overcome these problems, we generated PTRmap(Promising Text Region map) through DCT-coefficient analysis and applied PTRmap to method for detecting text region using transition map. As the result, the false positive detecting rate decreased as compared with the method using DCT-coefficient analysis, and the detecting rate increased as compared with the method using transition map.


Abstract Two related hypotheses that linked cocaine use to depression and health were examined using latent variable structural models. Data were obtained from 654 individuals in late adolescence and once again four yean later during young adulthood. A Self-Selection/Self Medication hypothesis (Hypothesis #1) was examined which predicts that depressive mood predisposes one towards the use of cocaine as a means of self medication against these symptoms. Depressive symptomatology during adolescence did not predict greater cocaine involvement in young adulthood. However. one indicator of adolescent Poor Health, "times felt really ill", predicted greater "cocaine frequency" in young adulthood. An Illness Consequence hypothesis (Hypothesis #2) was also examined, which postulates that cocaine produces certain psychological and somatic disorders. In particular, the "number of times super high", on cocaine during adolescence predicted greater Depression. greater impaired motivation. and more health problems in yo...


The utility model relates to a U-shaped hanging basket comprising a main hanging basket, a left auxiliary hanging basket, a right auxiliary hanging basket and a wall-backing wheel. The main hanging basket is provided with a hanging basket track, and the left and the right auxiliary hanging baskets can move along the hanging basket track; and the main hanging basket, the left and the right auxiliary hanging baskets are provided with the wall-backing wheels. Compared with the prior art, the left and the right auxiliary hanging baskets of the U-shaped hanging basket can move along the track of the hanging basket, therefore, the distance between the left and the right auxiliary hanging baskets can be adjusted according to construction condition so as to adapt to different widths of the wall surfaces of a constructed building.


Judging the conditions of the blast furnace and its variety trend rightly in order to optimize its operations is the key technique of the blast furnace production.This paper according to experts' experience,besides based on analyzing scientifically and predicting numerous factors which may affect states of furnace temperature,emphases how to obtain and express knowledge information on states of the furnace temperature,and represents rules of foundation of its repository and blur establishment by using the principles and methods of fuzzy prediction.Meanwhile the authors have studied and designed the fuzzy expert system used for the condition control of furnace temperature.


In the forest of the Baohua Reserve in the Baohua Mountains, eastern China, six plant communities and 11 sub- communities were described using the Braun-Blanquet method. These communities can be assigned to four already described Chinese vegetation types. Curtis' Compositional Index (CI) and Shannon's diversity index were used to determine the successional stage and species diversity of the communities. The community of Brachystachyum densiflorum and Pinus massoniana and the subcommunity of Fraxinus chinensis and Quercus acutissima with Pueraria lobata had the lowest CI and would be an initial successional stage; the community of Phoebe sheareri and Cyclobalanopsis glauca had the highest CI and would be the final stage. The community of Brachy- stachyum densiflorum and Pinus massoniana and the sub- community of Fraxinus chinensis and Quercus acutissima with Pueraria lobata, both pioneer successional stages, had the lowest species diversity. The climax communities had the highest diversity.


High frequency manganese-zinc ferrite was prepared by oxide ceramic process. The microstructure of representative samples was analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). In addition, the resistivity (p) of samples was tested by YY2812 LCR meter and the magnetic properties were obtained by SY-8232 B-H Analyzer. In combination with the microstructure analysis of material, the effects of SnO 2 additive in MnZn ferrite were investigated, especially on initial permeability (μ i ), resistivity (p), hysteresis loss (P h ), eddy current loss (P e ) and residual loss (P r ). The results show that the amount of SnO 2 additive has an obvious influence on the microstructure and electromagnetic properties of the proposed material, such as μ ι , p, P h , P c and P r . There is an optimum content of SnO 2 which is 0.1% to ensure finer microstructure and lower loss at the frequency of 1MHz.


1Professor, Department of civil Engineering, Institute of Road and Transport Technology, Erode, Tamilnadu 2Assistant Professor, Department of civil Engineering, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam, Erode, Tamilnadu ---------------------------------------------------------------------***--------------------------------------------------------------------Abstract Composite floor systems constructed with cold formed corrugated steel decking covered with concrete are emerging trend in current construction practices for medium to high rise buildings as worldwide. But it is a chicken egg situation because since right kind of profiled sheets were not available in India and its use was not visible in construction.In Indian code for composite structure covering the shear connector area and they mentioned about the deck sheet properties .Hence the aim of the research is to carry out experimental investigation on steel concrete composite floor slab system.


This study investigated digitization in education system and management of early childhood care education in Nigeria. The objectives of this study are to determine the relationship between collaborative learning, game-based learning and management of early childhood care education in North-central, Nigeria. Two hypotheses were formulated and tested. Quantitative research design was used for the study. A self-designed questionnaire titled "Digitization and Management of Early Childhood Care Education Questionnaire" (DMECCEQ) was used to collect information for the study. This study focuses on public primary schools with early childhood care education in North-Central zone, Nigeria. The population of this study comprised all 2,729 head teachers and 5,529 teachers in public primary schools with early childhood care education in North-Central. Sample of 338 head teachers and 361 teachers were proportionally selected in the seven States with the use of Research Advisor (2006) table to determine the sample size of a known population, stratified random sampling technique was used to select primary school head teachers and teachers from the sample schools. This was to ensure that all categories of head teachers and teachers were given equal chance of being selected. The data collected were analyzed using t-test statistical analysis. All hypotheses were tested at the 0.05 level of significance. The result revealed that there was no significant difference between collaborative learning, game-based learning and management of early childhood care education in Nigeria. It was recommended that teachers should continue to make use of collaborative learning in order to increase pupils' motivation to learn, also make use of appropriate game-based learning for learners to have better self-management, opportunities for collaborative and inquiry-based learning in order to enhance effective management of early childhood care education in Nigeria.


In California where air quality regulations are the toughest, an advanced burner is being used in steam generators to reduce emissions. The key to the burner's success is the method in which the flame is controlled. Results of its use in the field are given.


Switching between two concurrent tasks is an important ability of the mind. In a series of two experiments, we explored the role of activation (arousal and subjective significance) and emotional valence in shaping the effectiveness of switching between two cognitive tasks: gender-marking and emotional categorisations of verbal stimuli. We expected arousal to disrupt and subjective significance to boost the effectiveness of cognitive switching. We employed a paradigm that allowed us to present emotional words and measure the reaction latencies when a task given to the participants was switched; thus, the response was more costly than when continuing to respond to the same task. The first experiment, conducted with neutral words, showed that high subjective significance reduced reaction latencies in comparison with medium subjective significance. The second experiment showed a similar pattern only for neutral stimuli in the emotional categorisation task, but not for negative and positive stimuli. We did not find a clear effect of arousal or valence. The results of our studies suggest that subjective significance is independent of arousal in enhancing the cognitive control resources.


In insurance statics the sum of homogeneous in- surance is often needed, and the sum is called Individual risk model which is a fundamental model in risk analysis for in- surance. This paper provide a individual risk model via un- certainty theory.


This paper presents a P2P approach to the delivery of earth-observation data. Conventional P2P networks can speed up data delivery but suffers the problem of stability when handling spatial data. We design a hybrid CDN-P2P strategy to speed up data delivery while maintaining stability. We tested our strategy in a simulation environment in which performance of data transfer is observed against different bandwidths. The results show that the hybrid approach performs much better than the conventional only-server and only-peers model. Dynamic allocation of peers and predownload are also presented as strategies to address the special needs of spatial data delivery.


The purpose of this investigation was to examine the suitability of more advanced transport models for chloride analysis, and of operator-independent procedures, to improve the accuracy of the analysis of chloride data from field extracted cores and related durability projections. The work conducted involved formulating the transport processes in concrete, examining alternative methods for sampling and analysis, and developing appropriate improved procedures. A user-friendly computer spreadsheet program was developed using those procedures. Alternative approaches to fitting slice data were developed, capitalizing on the observation that many profiles still maintain a "square root of time" dependence even if not reflecting simple diffusion. These techniques permit forward prediction of chloride intrusion, and with chloride binding information may provide much improved durability estimates. The effect of surface layers which produce "peaks" in the profile data was investigated also. Relatively simple modeling was found to provide a satisfactory estimate of the chloride profile. Modeling indicates that the carbonation/release mechanism had little or no effect on the total chloride profile ahead of the carbonation front, so that a square root of time dependence of the profile shape is maintained, facilitating durability projection. Core slicing strategies to optimize the prediction of chloride intrusion and minimize costs associated with analysis were developed. Chloride profile fitting procedures including time dependent diffusion and cylindrical geometries were examined. It was tentatively concluded that cores cut from typical cylindrical piles can be analyzed by assuming planar geometry. A new fitting procedure to include chloride binding was developed. If the potential for physico-chemical binding exists, the choice of a model for chloride intrusion will be impacted. It was concluded that in the presence of binding the simplified (Fickian) analysis will produce conservative (but not accurate) predictions of time to corrosion initiation. An advanced binding model was developed and tested, which produces binding parameter information from a total chloride profile alone.


This paper aims to present the objectives and potential applications for the cooperative shadowing systems and the corresponding algorithms for the specific tasks. A definition of a cooperative shadowing system is given. The main objective of this system is still to maintain the desired formation. Differing from other cooperative formation tasks, a co-linear relative position configuration of agents is required to achieve the objective. Decentralized control strategies are preserved. Different characters of the agents are discussed and the relative controllers are developed for each agent character. A speed-only approach is proposed for the applications with agents having turning rate constraints. Relative bearing is the only parameter measured for control purposes. A series of tasks are designed and implemented for evaluating the performances of controllers. Simulation and experimental results are provided and analyzed for improvements and further developments.


Managing the relationship with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) is a key capability for most companies, because dialogue with stakeholders is a requested feature of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). This paper analyses the relationship between businesses and NGOs in Spain. By applying grounded theory, the authors summarize this relationship in the dynamics of conflict and cooperation. NGOs' strategies vis-a-vis companies are categorized and the variables explaining different approaches on both companies' and NGOs' side are examined. The paper concludes by placing the private relationship with NGOs in a wider context (the public arena), dominated by the approach-withdrawal dynamics between firms and NGOs. Finally, this paper presents the theory that results from this research.


The study describes the creation of selected tourism programs in Mexico and their activities in specific locations. It reflects programs" focus and clarifies the purposes of their emergence on the example of "Pueblos mágicos". The main goal is to clarify how the application of the tourist program effects preserving of cultural heritage. The author describes the cultural heritage and its individual components according to the existing division, defines the research area, and justifies its selection. Concrete elements, from classified tangible and intangible heritage groups, are selected and submitted to ethnological research. The author also presents the theoretical approaches for characterizing opportunities created by tourism programs, clarifies the methodology of the research and describes the research locations. In the conclusion, the evaluation of impacts of the program on studied components of cultural heritage is presented.


Continuing medical education (CME) and continuing education (CE) provide frameworks for assimilating and disseminating new advancements and are mainstays of clinicians' professional development and accreditation. However, traditional CME/CE approaches may be challenged in providing opportunities for integrated and interprofessional learning and helping clinicians effectively translate innovations into individual practice. This Commentary describes the reflective learning approach, including its integration into CME/CE and how it can support interprofessional education. Also identified are barriers to reflective and interprofessional learning implementation and CME/CE access. The Commentary provides insights based on point-of-care reflection data and outlines considerations in trialing the use of an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital platform for reflective learning. Further, the Commentary describes how the AI-driven digital platform may help overcome barriers to reflective learning and interprofessional education and support equitable CME/CE program access.


Building an accurate 3D road database is important for many future advanced automotive applications. Intermap is in the process of collecting 2D road networks based on its orthorectified radar imagery and extracting elevations from its IFSAR-derived DEMs. The current 2D collection process is mainly manual, while the elevation assignment to the 2D road vectors is highly automated. This paper presents a semi-automated approach for 2D road extraction from radar imagery and discusses the challenges that we are facing in terms of assigning elevations and the approaches that we have been taking to building 3D road geometry based on IFSAR-derived DEMs. Validation results from various areas in Europe have shown that the 3D road vector products have overall vertical accuracy in the range of 0.5 to 2.0m RMSE, depending on the complexity of the area and the amount of road obstruction due to forest and buildings. * Corresponding author.


The Atmospheric Turbulence Simulator used in testing in the Atmospheric Simulation and Adaptive-optic Laboratory Test-bed at Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate's Starfire Optical Range is configured based on three characteristics; Fried's parameter, r0, the Rytov number, σ2χ , and the Greenwood Frequency, fG. All three may be estimated from open loop data as a means of verifying the simulated turbulence conditions for a given test configuration. However, unlike r0 and fG, the Rytov number isn't directly calculated. Instead the scintillation index is estimated from intensity measurements. At low Rytov values, (< 0.3 - 0.4), this measurement can approximate the Rytov number, however beyond a Rytov of 0.4 this parameter becomes saturated. Branch Points begin to appear after the Rytov value exceeds 0.1. In this work the behavior of the branch point density is examined to determine its viability as another parameter for calibration our turbulence simulator.