The purpose of this paper is to present some key aspects of the learning of the merchant's trade that appear closely linked in various mediaeval merchants' manuals. With very illustrative titles, their aim was to produce able merchants deserving of success. For that purpose, they provided rigorous and necessary mercantile information, they demonstrated techniques that were considered essential and they also presented a set of precepts, rules and recommendations relative to attitudes and behaviour, which should and could be learnt. Putting all this into practice would assist the emerging merchant class in obtaining the benevolence of society and their definitive social redemption, while reinforcing their coherence as a group. Mentioned among these merchants' manuals is a brief fragment from a hitherto unknown Portuguese manual for merchants, on which there is still work to be done.


This paper presents an improved equivalent input disturbance (EID) approach to deal with exogenous disturbances and system nonlinearities. The disturbances and nonlinearities are regarded as a lumped disturbance on the control input channel. The EID approach, which has a state observer and an EID estimator, is used to estimate the lumped disturbance. There is a constraint between the observer and the estimator on the design of the control system for the conventional EID approach. A stable zero was added to the estimator to remove the constraint and to improve the stability of the system in this paper. This ensures that the observer and the estimator can be designed independently. An analysis of the improved EID approach explains the mechanism of disturbance rejection. The simulation and experimental results of position control of a ball-and-beam system demonstrate the validity of the method.


The educative content held in the different school programs are generally made up of concepts, which emerge through time, develop and change. This should be taken into account when developing said content while at the same time taking into account what students know about the concepts which you are trying to bring forth. Some of the existing concepts allow for various interpretations, and one of these concepts is that of breathing, which may have negative repercussions in the assimilation of content of the students specially at the beginner's level.


The use of CBM (Condition Based Maintenance) on critical equipment allows on-line monitoring of equipment vibration level, for instance. The analysis of unstructured data generated by vibration sensors can cause false alarms, in particular when several variables are analyzed. Therefore, T2 multivariate statistical control charts can play an important role in monitoring the condition of critical production equipment, allowing early detection of imminent failure and trigger a maintenance task in order to protect equipment from failure and destruction. When applying these control charts it is important to check whether the observed variables are independent. When this assumption is violated, we suggest modeling the data through the ARIMA (p, d, q) and the consequent application of T2 control charts to model residues/forecasting errors. This paper applies this methodology to study the condition of an electric pump, subject to a set of forced disturbances that could predictably trigger damage if, after the detection of anomalies by T2 control charts, suitable measures were not taken. So it will allow to an effective early detection of anomalies and taking proactive actions that reduce the probability of an unexpected failure.


Secretory Breast Carcinoma (SBC) is a rare and distinct type of breast cancer which accounts for less than 0.2% of all breast cancers. The modern breast imager should be aware of this rare entity as it can sometimes masquerade as a breast abscess as in the present case


The discovery of cage-like carbon molecules (C{sub 60}, C{sub 70}{hor_ellipsis}) by H. Kroto et al. in 1985 sparked the imagination worldwide and resulted in an explosion of research activities. The greatest open question is how such compact structures form so efficiently, It is known from an isotope-scrambling experiments that the fullerenes result from the condensation of carbon atoms in the hot carbon vapor. Several pathways have been suggested but while there is no direct experimental evidence against any of the proposed mechanism, there is not any strong evidence in their favor. Thus it seems reasonable to study the yield of fullerene formation with the simultaneous diagnostics of carbon plasma. Such an approach could give new insights into fullerene formation mechanistics.


To determine the risks of general anesthesia and elective surgical procedures in patients who have histories of hypertension, the authors prospectively studied 676 consecutive operations in a series of patients more than 40 years old. All patients were examined preoperatively, monitored intraoperatively, and closely followed postoperatively. Although patients with higher preoperative blood pressure values had larger absolute intnoperative blood pressure decreases, the mean intraoperative systolic pressure nadirs in patients with tightly-controlled hypertension (100 ± 2 torr) did not differ from those in patients with persistent treated (97 ± 3 torr) or untreated (98 ± 2 torr) mild to moderate hypertension. Similarly, among these three groups of patients, the needs for intraoperative adrenergic agents or fluid challenges (20, 33, and 27 per cent, respectively) and the incidences of perioperative hypertensive events (27, 25, and 20 per cent, respectively) were not significantly different. Multivariate analysis of data for the patients with histories of hypertension showed that neither the preoperative in-hospital diastolic nor preoperative in-hospital systolic blood pressure values independently correlated with any of these three indices of perioperative blood pressure lability, with the development of cardiac arrhythmias, ischemia, or failure, or with postoperative renal failure. Effective intraoperative management may be more important than preoperative hypertensive control in terms of decreasing clinically significant blood pressure lability and cardiovascular complications in patients who have mild to moderate hypertension.


Eco-environment problems come into being.The eco-environment seems more and more sensitive and fragile.This paper tries to initially probe into the eco-environment sensitivity in central Guizhou province.It uses analytical hierarchy process to compute the relative importance of every index,selects even distribution function to define the subordinate degree of every index,and adopts fuzzy synthetical judgement to assess the sensitivity of the eco-environment for thirty-four counties in central Guizhou province.


Purpose Our research strategy has been to study VEGF-A and the adaptive response to ischemia, with the aim of better understanding the benefit that VEGF-A may bring to ischemic tissues, and to characterize the basis for the chaotic and poorly controlled neovascular response that usually accompanies ischemia in retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy.

Methods Acute retinal inflammation was induced using VEGF-A and the mechanisms and consequences of retinal inflammation were examined in STZ-induced diabetes in mice and rats. Various antagonists of VEGF signaling and of leukocyte adhesion were examined.

Results VEGF-A induced upregulation of ICAM-1 on endothelial cells in a VEGFR2-dependent and Neuropilin-1 dependent manner. VEGF-A also triggered leuokocyte invasion via signaling through VEGFR1. These data predict that inhibiting the influx of leukocytes may demonstrate a benefit in DR, which was demonstrated by inhibition of ICAM-1 function following STZ-induced retinopathy

Conclusion Targeting of VEGF-induced inflammation or leukocyte adhesion via ICAM-1/LFA-1 may provide a means of normalizing the microvasculature in DR

Commercial interest


Roadside columns are often the point of impact of vehicles with serious and often fatal consequences. To reduce the number and severity of such accidents, a growing number of scientists and experts are trying to find technical solutions for improving behaviour of roadside columns during the collision with a vehicle. It is about columns which can, unlike the usual rigid columns, absorb the energy or break in a controlled way when impacted by a vehicle. These types of columns belong to the category of passive safety road equipment. They are still in the initial stages of implementation in some countries of the European Union. The paper gives a comprehensive overview of passively safe roadside columns with respect to material production and energy absorbing properties and examines the safety level for the passengers in the vehicle. It analyses the behaviour of three types of columns in a collision with a vehicle with respect to the possibility of absorbing a certain amount of energy, failure mode and passenger safety. The analysis has been made based on comparisons of results of the crash tests and numerical simulations of impacts. It describes in detail the advantages and disadvantages of the application of passively safe roadside columns over traditional rigid columns, which are now still usually implemented along the roads.


This article presents current data of international and Russian literature in respect of Group B streptococcus as one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality of newborns. The review summarizes Cochrane's database, recommendations of the American society of obstetricians and gynecologists (АСОG,2002), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP,2001), the centers for disease control (CDC,2010) on terminology, epidemiology, basic concepts of pathogenesis and methods of prevention of the infection in newborn infants.


Cervical erosion is a common condition which occurs when cells from inside the cervical canal (endocervix), known as columnar epithelium are protrude on the vaginal portion of the cervix (ectocervix). The aim of this research was to evaluate the possible perspectives in the treatment of cervical erosion by using infrared coagulation. A random selection of two hundred (200) patients aged between 20 to 46 years was examined. Clinical criteria for selecting patients were those complaining for having virginal discharge, painful coitus, postictal bleeding, irregular vaginal bleeding and dysuria among patients within their reproductive age. However, after exclusion of malignancy and other chronic conditions a total of 40 patients were diagnosed with cervical erosion and they were taken as a study group. They were divided into two sub-groups of 20 patients in each. As a result 50% were treated with infrared coagulation and another 50% by electro coagulation and compared the obtained results. The study showed that 90% of the patients who were treated by infrared coagulation totally recovered within 4th and 6th week and 75% of those who were treated by electro coagulation recovered within 4th and 6th week.


Objective To study the condition of separating total flavonoids in bengal waterdropwort herb with macroporous resin.Methods Using static absorption,optimum macroporous resin which was used for separating total flavonoids in bengal waterdropwort herb was selected.Using dynamic absorption,the condition of separating total flavonoids in bengal waterdropwort herb optimum macroporous resin was studied.Results Optimum macroporous resin was AB-8,and the optimum codition was as follow:the speed that sample flows through macroporous resin was 1.5 ml·min-1,and the total flavonoids absorbed on macroporous resin can eluted by 80% ethanol of 5 BV,the elution speed was 1.0 ml·min-1.Conclusion Using upwards condition,the purity of total flavonoids in bengal waterdropwort herb can be increased to 25.8% from 9.98%.


The major challenge in future mobile networks is how to improve throughput to support the increase demand in traffic. Software Defined Networks is the new technology proposed but so far it has been proposed to be integrated in the current 4G architecture without major changes. However, we present the mobile networks beyond 4G where Software Defined Network should be used in a more disruptive approach to redesign the current architecture. This proposal includes the proper migration path to ensure reasonable transition phase. The objective is not to meet short term needs but to fulfill the future throughput requirements by revamping the transport network in the mobile backhaul, and moving most of the current LTE network elements to the cloud. In this approach we remove completely the core mobile network as it is known today. Instead, the mobile architecture beyond 4G consists of a simplified access network formed by base stations i.e. eNodeBs, interconnected through a backhaul network composed by SDN switches managed from the cloud together with the rest of LTE network elements.


Future accelerators design needs numerical simulations taking into account rhe totality of the electromagnetic phenomena arising wher. ultrarelativistic bunches move in electromagnetic devices. These computations can be achieved only by somewhat sophisticated programs solving the complete Maxwell's and Newton-Lorentz equations by particle methods (i.e. coupling Eulerian and Lagranginn approaches). We present here such a 2 l/2 particle code, PRlAM, developed at LAI, (Orsay) and dedicated to the design of accelerator electromagnetic devices (RF-guns, accelerating cavities etc.). In PRIAM the particular choice is to use a "mixed" finite element method in solving the Maxwell's equations. This formulation. although quire unusual, is very well suited for the electromagnetic problem : the discrete unknowns related to the electric field E are not the nodal values but the circulations of E along edges of the elements (triangles) whereas the unknowns related to rhe magnetic field are values of BV constant on each triangle, in such a manner that some fundamental structural properties 01' the Malrwell'\ equations are preserved. After a short review of the method (space and time discrelization) some ch'aracteristics and facilities of the program will be described


The paper studies the motion of transportation machine with packages on uneven road. Conditions of transportation that reduce the influence of harmful vibrations to the packages are determined. For this purpose the region was established where the slippage of packages with respect to the transported box of packages does not occur. The conditions for location of eigenfrequencies and forced frequencies are determined with the purpose to ensure that the system operates far from resonances. In order to avoid large overloads it is recommended to choose the velocity of motion in such a way, that the difference between the eigenfrequencies and the forced frequencies would be maxmin.


Automated synthesis of monitors from high-level properties plays a significant role in assertion-based verification. We present a methodology to synthesize assertion monitors from visual specifications given in CESC (Clocked Event Sequence Chart). CESC is a visual language designed for specifying system level interactions involving single and multiple clock domains. It has well-defined graphical and textual syntax and formal semantics based on a synchronous language paradigm enabling formal analysis of specifications. We provide an overview of the CESC language with a few illustrative examples. The algorithm for automated synthesis of assertion monitors from CESC specifications is described. A few examples from standard bus protocols (OCP-IP and AMBA) are presented to demonstrate the application of the monitor synthesis algorithm.


William Suarez USING THE FOUR AGREEMENTS TO REDUCE STUDENT STRESS IN A ZERO TOLERANCE SCHOOL 2008/09 Dr. Yvonne E. Gonzlez Rodriguez Master of Science in Teaching As the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 increased academic pressure on students, the Guns Free Schools Act of 1994 required school districts to implement zero tolerance discipline policies that called for expulsion of students who bring weapons to school or commit drug offenses on school property. The zero tolerance policy forced students to deal with punishments and requirements that many educators feel are unevenly meted out (National Association of School Psychologists, 2008). This resulted is a stressful climate for students. The Four Agreements are part of an esoteric Toltec philosophy that emphasizes stress-free interpersonal interactions (Ruiz, 1997). By enabling students to use this philosophy as an intrinsic part of their school interactions, this qualitative action research study sought to improve the classroom behavior and enhance classroom interactions of a small sample of six students in a medium-sized New Jersey middle school, observing how the Four Agreements affected their behavior over the course of eleven weeks. Ultimately, inadequate data was gathered to make a decisive conclusion, due to suboptimal levels of student participation. Recommendations for future studies in this vein include using more time (ideally a full school year) to observe the effects of the Four Agreements on student behavior.


The syngeneic thymocytes increase the efficiency of spleen colony formation and proliferative activity of CFU-S derived from fetal liver on 13th-16th day of gestation and CFU-S from long term bone marrow culture. The thymocytes effect spleen colony cells. These data indicate that T-cell-CFU-S interaction in spleen colony formation have a physiological character.


Purpose: The aim of the present study was to analyze 7-year cumulative survival rate (CSR, %) of dental implants in the controlled diabetic patients and to evaluate the influence of the position, diameter and length of fixture, bone quality, age, gender and the method of maxillary sinus elevation on the survival rate. Methods: The data of 342 placed implants in the 104 diabetic patients collected between 1995 and 2007 at the Department of Periodontology in Yonsei University Hospital were analyzed. Results: Seven-year CSR of the 342 dental implants in the 104 controlled diabetic patients was 96.5%. The survival rates of the placed implants according the position have no statistically significant difference. The survival rates according to the length or diameter of the fixtures have no statistically significant difference. The survival rates according to the bone quality were 100% (TypeⅠ), 97.1% (Type Ⅱ), 97.7% (Type Ⅲ) and 85.7%(Type Ⅳ). The difference between the survival rate of Type Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ and that of Type Ⅳ was statistically significant. The survival rates according to patient gender were 96.8% (male), 95.5% (female). The survival rates according to patient age were 100% (≤59), 93.8% (≥60). The survival rates according to the method of sinus elevation in the maxillary posterior area were 96.8% (without sinus elevation), 92.9% (lateral approach) and 89.8% (crestal approach). Conclusions: Dental implants can be used successfully in the controlled diabetic patients. In case of upper posterior region which has poor bone density and older patients, the implant treatment should be more properly planed, executed, and followed-up. (J Korean Acad Periodontol 2009;39:311-320)


FACE (Free-air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment) was used to study the effects of elevated CO2 on availability of microele- ments in paddy soil under two N levels. The FACE system was conducted under rice/wheat rotation from June, 2004 at Yangzhou, China, and the CO2 concentration in the FACE is about 200 μmol·mol-1 higher than that in the ambient conditions. After a rotation of rice and wheat, separately in the tillering stage, the heading stage, the milk ripening stage and the mature stage the soil samples were collected for availability of microelements determinations in 0~5 and 5~15 cm soil depth. The DTPA extracting reagent had a fine repeatability and stability of the test values to value availability of microelements in paddy soil. Though DTPA extraction, soil avail- able Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn was measured with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer method. Results showed that elevated CO2 increased the content of DTPA-extractable microelements of soils at different development stages of rice, especially have significant effect on the content of available Zn. The different treatments of N fertilizer have insignificant effect on the concen- trations of DTPA-extractable microelements of soils. There was also no significant effect on availability of microelements under the treatment of FACE and N fertilization.


Corruption in the public sphere traditionally attracts greater attention than private sector corruption. However, the corporate sector's involvement in corruption and related activities, though complex and less obvious, should not be underestimated. The need to combat corporate corruption is recognised under a range of international and regional legal instruments, and in different jurisdictions. It is generally understood that a multi-faceted approach to the problem is required, extending beyond ordinary criminal law measures, and including fundamental principles of corporate governance. Arguably, South Africa has one of the most advanced legal and corporate governance frameworks available to deal with the problem of corporate corruption. This article examines the scope and efficacy of these measures. In some respects, South Africa faces very particular challenges regarding corruption. In other respects, however, the challenges posed for dealing effectively with corporate corruption in the South African context echo those experienced in other jurisdictions.


Inherited genetic polymorphisms in ARID5B, GATA3, and IKZF1 have been reported to be associated with ALL and vary by cytogenetic subgroups. For example, ARID5B variants are associated with hyperdiploid B-ALL in pediatric patients, which occurs in approximately 30% of ALL patients and is a marker of good prognosis. In contrast, a variant in GATA3 (rs3824662) has been consistently associated with ALL regardless of cytogenetics. While associations by subtype and across age have been explored in ALL patients, the effect of sex on the association of germline variants with ALL has not been tested, despite the higher incidence and worse prognosis of ALL in males than females. We tested the association of previously reported ALL variants in a high-risk ALL population of URD-BMT recipients, assessing the association of these variants with different cytogenetic subgroups and for heterogeneity of effect by sex.

Genotyping was performed using the Illumina Omni-Express BeadChip containing approximately 730,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). After quality control, cohort 1 (C1) and cohort 2 (C2) included 364 (C1) and 82 (C2) B-ALL cases of continental European ancestry and 2,229 (C1) and 809 (C2) controls (unrelated healthy donors). The sample size of non-European cases was not adequate for genetic analyses. Cases were a subset of the genome wide association study (GWAS) named Determining the Influence of Susceptibility COnveying Variants Related to one-Year mortality after BMT (DISCOVeRY-BMT) a parent GWAS study in collaboration with the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research. We tested SNPs within GATA3, IKZF1 and ARID5B for associations with disease status using logistic regression assuming an additive model adjusted for age. Analyses were done separately for the following B-ALL subgroups: hyperdiploid negative ALL, Ph-negative ALL, Abnormal cytogenetics and Normal cytogenetics. P -values for each cohort were combined using METAL software with weights proportional to the square root of the sample size( P meta). Sex-stratified analyses were performed using all B-ALL cases and by subgroup. Tests for heterogeneity using Cochran's Q method and I² statistic were used to calculate the percentage of variation across sex and cytogenetic group, abnormal versus normal).

The study population consisted mostly of non-hyperdiploid and Ph negative B-ALL. The GATA3 variant conferred a 78% ( P =2.9x10-10) and 82% ( P =0.001) increased odds of B-ALL in C1 and C2, respectively, P meta=1.7x10-12 (Table 1). The GATA3 SNP was significantly associated, P meta < 5x10-8, with all subgroups except abnormal cytogenetics ALL. The SNP in IKZF1 wasassociated ( P meta < 5x10-8) with B-ALL overall, Ph negative and normal cytogenetics ALL, with some evidence of heterogeneity in odds ratios (ORs) between normal and abnormal cytogenetics B-ALL in both cohorts. The ARID5B variant, previously shown to be strongly associated with pediatric ALL, showed weak or no evidence of association (Table 1). IKZF1 (rs11980379) associations were stronger across all associated subgroups in males (Table 2). When comparing ORs calculated for males and females in there was evidence of significant heterogeneity (Table 2) for B-ALL overall ( P =0.02), non-hyperdiploid ( P =0.02) and normal cytogenetics ( P =0.004).

GATA3 showed consistent association, with replication, across the cytogenetic subgroups analyzed. IKZF1 variant demonstrated differences by sex, with significant associations between this SNP and B-ALL, observed primarily in males, regardless of cytogenetics. Thus, sex-specific associations were not an artifact of underlying cytogenetic distributions between males and females. The variation between males and females indicates the IKZF1 variant may impact ALL risk differently in males and females, potentially explaining both the overall greater risk of ALL in males and the risk of ALL with worse outcomes. ARID5B associations have previously been associated with hyperdiploid ALL, however the majority of our high-risk study population is non-hyperdiploid, so ARID5B may be a marker of good risk ALL which is rarely treated with URD-BMT.

![Figure][1]

![Figure][1]

Disclosures Hahn: Novartis: Equity Ownership; NIH/NHLBI: Research Funding. McCarthy: Sanofi: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Onyx: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; The Binding Site: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Sucheston-Campbell: NIH/NHLBI: Research Funding.

 [1]: pending:yes


As is reported by the GlobeNewswire in Nov. 2017, " The Lung Cancer Awareness Month Coalition (LCAMC), a group of more than 20 research and advocacy organizations from around the world focused on thoracic cancers, announced the launch of the 2017 Lung Cancer Awareness Month with a panel event at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Panelists outlined the most pressing topics in lung cancer prevention and treatment, and their priorities for this November, focusing on better implementation of lung cancer screening guidelines, expanding knowledge of treatment options and growing patient participation in decision making and in clinical trials " (1).


ABSTRACT Introduction: The majority of acute respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are caused by viruses and the overzealous use of antibacterial drugs, when not really required, is a cause for concern. This has led to evaluation of alternative approaches such as boosting the immune response in individuals who are most vulnerable to develop RTIs such as the very young and the elderly. Areas covered: This article overviews the immunostimulant activity and pharmacokinetic properties of pidotimod, and focuses on assessing its role in the treatment and prevention of acute RTIs through evaluation of clinical trials and real-world evidence. Articles were obtained from a full search of Medline, and this was augmented by published clinical studies known to the authors and manufacturer. Expert opinion: Pidotimod's activity was shown to be mediated via multiple pathways of the immune system. Comparison with placebo demonstrated significant advantages for pidotimod in terms of reduced reinfection rates [OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.33; p < 0.00001], a lesser need for antibiotics [mean difference −2.65, 95% CI −3.68 to −1.62; p < 0.00001] and rescue medications, and decreased absenteeism [mean difference-2.99, 95% CI −4.03 to −1.95; p < 0.00001]. No safety concerns were raised in these studies.


The annulation of 2-phenylbenzoic acids with aromatic alkynes can also be applied to the synthesis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for material science.


System resource limitation has been for a long time a great obstacle for memory-intensive applications, and especially for high resolution image processing applications. Memory, and RAM in particular, has a big impact on the performance of those applications. Many solutions to reduce the effects of memory lack have been proposed in the literature, and most of them need an important execution time due to the usage of disk as a virtual memory space. In this paper we propose the use of memory compression through a new technique, called CompCache. This technique introduces new level in the memory hierarchy and uses compression to store ldquoswapped outrdquo pages in memory instead of sending them to disk. In this way, disk accesses are reduced and by consequence applicationpsilas speed is augmented. This technique improves greatly the performance of memory-intensive applications; particularly we focus on image processing. We evaluate the effects of CompCache on several benchmarks, implement suitable compression algorithms and show the results and the interactions with the operating system kernel when CompCache is used to manage the virtual memory.


The study aims to examine the representation of the US Police Department in a foreign media news article, The New York Times, entitled "George Floyd's Brother Pleads with Congress: 'Make it Stop'". The text itself discusses an incident of brutality and systemic racism involving the US Minneapolis police officers towards George Floyd, an African-American, which leads to his death. This incident can be considered to be one of the biggest news that attracts the most attention, reaction, and action all over the world in 2020.  This research uses Critical Discourse Analysis proposed by Teun A. van Dijk, focusing only on the micro-level analysis: macrostructure, microstructure, superstructure. There are four linguistics tools applied in the microstructure, which are rhetorical question, lexicalization, metaphor, and implication. The qualitative descriptive method is the research method used. Since the data are collected by searching for information in the Internet and other printed references, this research is also categorized into a library research for the fact that it has a wide scope of sources, including the academic journal, newspapers, magazine, e-books, relevant web resources, and various multimedia.  The result shows that through these three aspects of the microstructure analysis, the author portrays a negative representation of the US Police Department.


This paper discusses the development of an agent-based test bed permitting the integrated study of retail and wholesale power markets operating over realistically rendered transmission and distribution systems. A key issue to be addressed using this test bed is the dynamic effect of increased penetration of consumer-owned distributed energy resources, such as PV generation, particularly when coupled with increased price-sensitivity of demand as realized through demand response, demand dispatch, and/or price-sensitive demand bidding.


ABSTRACT In order to enhance the performance of organic light-emitting diodes, fluorinated self-assembled monolayer (F-SAM) with long alkyl chain was introduced to the device between the anode and hole-transport layer. CF3-terminated F-SAM has a relatively high electric dipole moment, which may affect hole injection at the indium-tin-oxide (ITO) anode. Two kinds of F-SAM with different alkyl chain lengths (F3-SAM and F10-SAM) were formed on the ITO substrate through hydrolysis and dehydration process. Electric dipole moments of these F-SAMs were obtained from a simulation using Gauss View program. A device was made in a structure of ITO (170 nm) / F-SAM / TPD (40 nm) / Alq3 (60 nm) / Al (100 nm). Formation of the SAM was confirmed by contact-angle measurements. It was found that the contact angles for the F3-SAM and F10-SAM are about 84° and 112°, respectively. A device with properly treated self-assembled monolayer at the anode gives an improvement in turn-on voltage, luminance, and efficiency compared to those of the device without SAM. Turn-on voltage was lowered from 4.25 V to 3.50 V in the device with SAM compared to the one without SAM, which indicates a reduction of hole-injection barrier height due to the electric dipole moment of the F-SAM. An external quantum efficiency of the device with F3-SAM was increased by a factor of about 3.5 compared to the one without SAM.


Objective: To perform image registration with sub band features computed using dual tree complex wavelets and reducing the computation time in registration. Methods/Statistical Analysis: The input images are preprocessed with Gaussian filters; features are extracted from dual tree sub bands. The dominant features are retained with feature selection process to minimize complexity in registration. Translation of images based on similar features is carried out using singular value decomposition. A refinement phase further registers the images considering similarities in features. The proposed algorithm is modeled in MATLAB, registration processes are modeled from fundamental equations. Test images are considered for validation. The test images are geometrically transformed with knows sets of translation, scale and rotational parameters. The two images are registered and the corresponding transformation parameters are compared. Critical points in the images are considered as reference points for validation. Findings: The proposed algorithm performs registration of all images with less than 10% error. The PSNR computed for all sets of data base is greater than 32dB. With dual tree sub bands, the unique features with 150, 450 and 750 orientations are captured thus the features are twice more compared with DWT features. The feature selection algorithm considers the orientations in all three directions thus improving registration process. SVD algorithm optimizes the complexity in transformation process and refinement phase. Elimination of false features and use of appropriate sub band features has reduced the registration time by 76% thus meeting the requirement for real time applications in micro air vehicles. Application/Improvements: The improvement in computation time and registration accuracy of this algorithm is suitable for MAVs moving with speed of 20-30kmph. Multilevel decomposition will further improve the registration process, hardware accelerators can reduce computation time to few milliseconds.


Ultrafine PdAg nanoparticles (NPs) are successfully immobilized on zirconia/porous carbon/reduced graphene oxide (ZrO2/C/rGO) nanocomposite derived from metal organic framework/graphene oxide. Monodispersed PdAg NPs (diameter ≤2.5 nm) can be facilely anchored on the ZrO2/C/rGO and the aggregation of metal NPs can be avoided utmostly. By virtue of the synergistic effect between metal NPs and support, the resulting PdAg@ZrO2/C/rGO exhibits excellent activity (turnover frequency, 4500 h−1 at 333 K) for the dehydrogenation of formic acid. As an effective strategy, it provides an opportunity to immobilize ultrafine metal NPs on metal oxide/porous carbon/reduced graphene oxide, which has tremendous application prospects in various catalytic fields.


Writing is the currency of academia. Although technology-mediated writing has been studied extensively in CSCW, we know little about how writing practices unfold with disabled people, such as dyslexic writers whose neurodivergence shapes how they process language. Our qualitative analysis reveals how dyslexic professionals simultaneously identify how editing tools break down on academic language; develop workarounds that re-appropriate other tools as language sources; cultivate ad-hoc collaborations to compensate for technology's limitations; and navigate culturally ingrained ableist expectations for writing. We discuss how dyslexic writers' experiences with shouldering invisible work to participate in academic writing processes indicates that current tools and services do not support their needs. We then draw on our findings to inform design opportunities to make writing processes more accessible through changes to writing tools, institutional services, and peer review practices.


Abstract Effects of zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) on growth performance trial (30-day period), and carcass traits of finishing lambs were evaluated. Twenty-eight male Rambouillet lambs (32.7±2.6 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to diets with: 0, 5.3, 10.6, and 15.9 mg ZH/kg dry matter (DM). Average daily weight gain, hot and chilled carcass dressing, muscle conformation, hindquarters width, major and minor torax width, crude protein, and ash of Longissimus dorsi (LD) increased linearly as ZH level increased. Feed conversion was linearly improved, and perirenal fat, leg length, and fat of LD were linearly reduced as ZH level increased. Hot and chilled carcass dressing, dorsal fat, area, and sherar forces values of LD, were cubically affected by ZH level, which at 15.9 mg/kg DM offered the best values. The ZH supplementations at 15.9 mg/kg DM showed positive effects on growth performance and carcass traits.


Practice shows that in educational institutions of higher education, students with temporary or permanent disabilities require a significant reduction in physical activity, taking into account their working capacity and functional abilities. Many of them are not fully prepared for standard physical training. Education of such students has its own characteristics, which result in the need to improve the educational process in terms of physical training. An intraindividual analysis was carried out: the stabilometric indicators of the same students with disabilities were compared before and after special preparation. 39 people from the South Ural State University (experimental group) and 31 persons from the P.I. Tchaikovsky South Ural State University participated in the study. All participants are 17-22 years old. This circumstance is associated with the determination of ranges of normal values and a comparative analysis of the results.


During the 1950s and 1960s new scientifi c discoveries
offered exciting possibilities for energy production,
while new horizons appeared for artists viewing
the world from an atomic perspective. Yet, scientifi c
research also developed the hydrogen bomb, and the
escalation of Cold War tensions threatened the very
future that technology sought to enhance. Artists
and writers were at the forefront of the Campaign for
Nuclear Disarmament, protesting against the threat of
thermonuclear warfare even as designers celebrated
the brave new world of atomic forms. Examining the
fascination and fear that coexisted during this period,
this essay explores how British art engaged with both
the positive and negative aspects of the nuclear age.
Works considered include: William Crosbie's atomic
mural in the 'Hall of the Future' at the Exhibition
of Industrial Power held in Glasgow in 1951; Henry
Moore's Nuclear Energy sculpture for the University of
Chicago; and paintings by Graham Sutherland and
Francis Newton Souza.


The reaction ensemble Monte Carlo (REMC) computer simulation method (Smith, W. R., and Triska, B., 1994, J. chem. Phys., 100, 3019) is employed to calculate reaction equilibrium in multi-reaction systems using a molecular based system model. The compositions and thermodynamic properties of argon plasmas (7 reactions) and air plasmas (26 reactions) are studied using a molecular level model based on the underlying atomic and ionic interactions. In the context of the specified molecular model, the REMC approach gives an essentially exact description of the system thermodynamics. Calculations are made of plasma compositions, molar enthalpies, molar volumes, molar heat capacities, and coefficients of cubic expansion over a range of temperatures up to 100 000 K at a pressure of 10 bar, and the results are compared with those obtained using the macroscopic level ideal-gas and Debye—Hückel approximations.


Ageing is not only an important biological issue, but is also an important social and emotional issue that affects an increasing number of elderly people in industrialized countries. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the physiological ageing process may ultimately lead to the understanding and prevention of age‐related diseases. The EMBO Workshop on Molecular and Cellular Gerontology has offered an ideal opportunity to promote the awareness that Europe should increase its capacity for research into ageing, as well as to open the field for young molecular biologists. It has brought together delegates from 14 different countries representing 21 nationalities. The sessions covered a wide range of complementary research areas: molecular and cellular aspects and theories of ageing, molecular basis of the loss of homeostatic maintenance mechanisms, model organisms including fungi, worms, flies, transgenic animal models, genetics of human longevity, clinical and molecular aspects of age‐related diseases, and integrated systems like brain and immune system (IS) ageing.

This workshop report presents some of the highlights of the meeting. We apologize to all participants whose contribution has not been specifically mentioned due to space limitations. The proceedings of this meeting will be published in detail (Toussaint et al ., 2000).

### Keynote lectures

In the first keynote lecture, George Martin (Seattle, WA) summarized the present concepts and research status, and gave an outlook to new directions for research on the biology of ageing. The ageing process is probably under the influence of genes and the environment (nutrition, lifestyle and chance) at a ratio of ∼30:70. This explains the stochastic nature of many age‐related alterations, a theme that came up in many subsequent talks and was stressed also by Tom Kirkwood (Manchester, UK) in the second keynote lecture (Finch and Kirkwood, 1999). Random accumulation of molecular and cellular damage and loss of repair functions are at the …


Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) have been identified as an essentialgroup of microorganisms due to the health-promoting effects theyexert on human and animal hosts. This research was conducted to,isolate LAB from whey obtained from kindirmo a locally fermentedcow milk product in Nigeria, characterize the strains based onphysiological and biochemical properties and identify them using16SrRNA sequencing. A total of 32 samples were collectedaseptically and the whey cultured on an MRS and M17 media.Physiological and biochemical results showed that the isolatedorganisms, which were mostly rod and cocci shaped, includedgram positive and catalase negative species. The organisms didnot only vary in their abilities to tolerate and grow at differentconcentrations of pH, temperature and NaCl, but were able toferment twelve different sugars distinctively. The ten most desirablestrains obtained were subsequently screened by moleculartechniques using PCR and sequence analysis. The PCR resultsrevealed that 98% of the identified organisms were Lactobacillusbulgaricus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus,Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus gasseri andLactobacillus plantarum. These findings showed that kindirmocould be an excellent and potential source of probiotic bacteria,which are often the main sources of probiotics. Further screeningand identification processes were recommended to ascertain thefunctional, technological and probiotic properties of the strains.


cities as well as the growth and decline of individual cities in the context of globalisation. Other issues addressed include making comparison between global cities in Abstract: Most studies on urban system tend to focus more on bigger cities and towns at the upper levels of national and global urban hierarchies neglecting the emerging urban system at the lower levels in the hierarchy. This study set out to determines and assesses the influence of drivers of growth in the emerging urban systems of Vandeikya local government region of Nigeria. Data was collected on 52 central place functions in 67 settlements through physical enumeration and analysed using descriptive statistics and principal component analysis. The result of the study identified four drivers of growth within settlements in the emerging urban system accounting for 86.836% of the total variance within the data set. The result also shows that level of influence of the four drivers of growth vary among settlements in the study area; and the availability of non-agricultural functions constitute these drivers of growth and catalyst for transforming the rural settlements into urban in the study area. However, there is wide development gap among these set of settlements as observed by the wide range of scores associated with each components. Based on the findings, the study recommends development planning that will ensure a balanced and coordinated socio-economic development of the region.


Abstract In this work, bis(δ 2–2-pyrimidinyl)-6,6′-dioxime dihydrochloride (H2L·2HCI) was synthesized by reacting anti-dichloroglyoxime with bis(δ 2-2-pyrimidinyl) (L) and complexes of the resulting vic-dioxime with Ni(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II) were prepared. The Ni(II) and Co(II) complexes with a metal-ligand ratio 1:2 possess the mononuclear structure [M(HL)2] {M = Ni(II) or Co(II)}, while that of Cu(II) with a metal-ligand ratio of 3:2 possesseses the trinuclear structure [Cu3(HL)2CI4]. The Zn(II). Cd(II) and Hg(II) complexes of H2L have a metal-ligand ratio of 1:1 and [(HL)CI(H2O)M] contains six-membered chelate rings. The reaction of mononuclear complexes of Ni(II) or Co(II) with Cu(II) gives heterotrinuclear complexes [M M′2(HL)2CI4] {M = Ni(II) or Co(II) and M′ = Cu(II)}. The structures of these complexes are proposed based on elemental analyses, ir., and magnetic susceptibility measurements.


(TYPE=abstract) The research interests
of my group lie in the area of synthetic organic
chemistry and are directed towards the synthesis of structurally novel
oligomers and polymers. This objective involves both design and synthesis
of hitherto unknown monomers and requires the use of a broad range of
organic reactions as well as stoichiometric and catalytic reactions
with main group metal and transition metal compounds. It further
demands the development of polymerization strategies and methods which
fulfill the requirements of a good polymer synthesis: efficiency and
complete control of structure. Besides the realization of perfect
macromolecules, elucidation of their structures is considered very
important. Only if the nature of defects and the (hopefully very low)
amount to which they are incorporated is known, reliable
structure/property correlations can be obtained. The techniques for
characterization are solution and solid state high-field NMR spectroscopy,
GPC, VPO, membrane osmosis, as well as static and dynamic light
scattering (in cooperation).


Vehicles powered by electricity (EVs) or by a combination of electricity and hydrocarbons (PHEVs) can take advantage of off-peak storage of electricity. This allows cheaper power and avoids increasing peak consumption. While this approach offers less capacity and flexibility for off-peak storage than converting electricity to hydrogen – where storage can encompass many days of average consumption – using off-peak power directly avoids most of the substantial energy losses of interconversion between electricity and hydrogen and so the fuel cost is substantially less.


Telework has many potential benefits for both employers and employees, and has been explored extensively in past and present research. However, the adoption rates of telework is much lower than expected. Organizations in general as well as in New Zealand are reluctant to implement it on a grand scale. The purpose of this study is to find the answer for this phenomenon. This study takes an approach based on the Theory of Constraints to discover one of the main constraints to telework implementation. Constraints were explored across seven factors:  perceived benefit, top management support, economic constraint, workplace constraint,  technological constraint, risks and workforce constraint. Data were collected from members  of four professional associations in New Zealand that specialized in the ICT and commerce fields.  The results of this study indicated that lack of top management support is the main constraint to telework implementation in New Zealand businesses. The author suggests that managers  should pay more attention to top management support, workforce issues and culture change  for a successful telework program. Future research should seek the opinions of non-adopters; explore workforce constraints; and use a data collection method that can identify participants' demographics.


Abstract : American shipbuilding management and planning has become a topic of increasing discussion in recent years and various proposals for change have been advanced. Many of these propose adoption-of certain techniques and approaches successfully used --in other major shipbuilding countries such as Japan and Korea, where shipbuilding management is based on organizational, decision making, and operating structures and procedures founded on quite different cultural backgrounds, human relations, and traditions than those found in the U.S. While some of the techniques and approaches found successful in those countries may be transferrable, it must be recognized that the environment in the U.S. cannot be changed in the short run. This makes successful application of some of these methods difficult. Factors which make Japanese and Korean shipbuilding competitive include value engineering, quality circles, labor incentives, high productivity manufacturing processes; rationalized ship design and production, effective organization, labor relations and flexibility, good supplier and customer relations, and effective production planning management and control. There are some factors which are distinctly different, such as the lack of adversity between shipbuilder and client on one hand and management and labor on the other hand. There is a general recognition and acceptance in these countries that adversary relations and potential litigous actions hinder achievement of ship production efficiency and on schedule low cost (and therefore price) delivery. Similarly most supplier, client, and labor issues with shipbuilding management are resolved by various informal approaches with little if any delay. This is quite different from the generally formal approach used in the U.S.A., where procedure, documentation, and even conflict resolution methods are often defined.


Previous researches have shown the great use of a total removal volume (TRV) in supporting a straightforward machining process plan generation for milling operation. TRV constitutes as any volumes that need to be removed from the blank material in order to achieve the product shape. The TRV is considered as an alternative of the feature-based unit in complementing the well-known 'machining feature'. This paper shows the elaboration and the application of the TRV-based machining process plan generation to support the re-work of a workpiece. To support this study, TRV is proposed to be enriched into two kind of forms, primitive removal volume (PRV) and actual removal volume (ARV). One PRV might have several ARV forms. In a feature-based system, the PRV might be analog as the primitives while ARV represents the exact machining shape. This routine is an effort to manage the future generation of machining shapes in terms of exchangeable feature information.


Theory and practice of reaction dynamics on two‐dimensional potential energy surfaces is investigated. Nonequilibrium multidimensional barrier crossing, occurring when the initial density is located near the ridgeline separating reactants and products, is treated by solving the time‐dependent Smoluchowski equation as a function of diffusion anisotropy. For a locally separable potential, and slow relaxation in the perpendicular mode, the problem reduces to a one‐dimensional Smoluchowski equation with a sink term. It may be further approximated as a first‐order reaction with a time‐dependent rate coefficient. These approximations are compared with exact two‐dimensional propagations on a potential surface representing CO binding to α heme. The intermediate‐time power‐law decay of the survival probability is analyzed with the aid of the above approximations. The power also shows some kind of critical behavior near the isotropic diffusion limit, where these approximations are no longer valid. For fast relaxati...


Abstract The acceptance of the hypothesis of a /vN/ sequence as the basis of both nasal vowels and diphthongs, and the investigation of the nature of the nasal consonant in syllable coda, led us to relate subspecification of the nasal segment to the triggering of nasalization through the principles of Prosodic Licensing (Ito 1986,1989) and Autosegmental Licensing (Goldsmith 1990). Optimality Theory (Prince & Smolensky 1993, McCarthy & Prince 1993) conceives these principles as restrictions. The model predicts that the interaction of restrictions in a hierarchy determines the choice of the optimal form from a group of candidates generated by the grammar of a language for a given input . The conflict between Licence(place) and HavePlace chooses the homorganic NC sequence as one of the three possible optimal forms for the /vN/ sequence in word-internal position. In word-final position, the same two restrictions play a role in nasal glide formation from / oN/. The outcoming of a dissimilated peak-vowel is forced by MaxDist


In this work, a retrospective analysis of anti-periodontosis drugs is carried out using the methods of pharmacoeconomic analysis: analysis of the "cost of disease" (direct costs), "cost-effectiveness" for promoting the original drug "Matripin-Dent" on the pharmaceutical market. In the clinic of the Dental Institute of Kazakh National Medical University named after S.D. Asfendiyarov (Almaty), clinical trials of a new domestic phytopreparation "Dental gel Matripin-Dent" were carried out. The gel preparation was used in the complex therapy of periodontal diseases of an inflammatory and inflammatory-destructive nature. As a result of the experimental studies, it was found that "Matripin-Dent", due to the original composition of the gel composition, provides high adhesion to mucous surfaces, ensures reliable fixation of the drug on the gums, contributes to a better distribution of active components due to good absorption of the ointment base composition. It has been proven that the developed dosage form "Matripin-Dent" based on pharmacologically active compounds of Populus balsamifera L. buds and flowers, leaves, buds of Matricaria chamomilla L. has a number of advantages in comparison with the drugs existing on the pharmaceutical market used in dental practice.


A solid model of the trailing-edge laminate with a stepped scarf joint repair is created and calculated by non-linear time-domain analysis method to analyse the structural strength of the entire model and the shear stress of the bondline. Experimental test of samples of the model was carried out to determine the influences of joint type, repair ply number and joint number on the failure load of stepped scarf joint repair. The results showed double-joint repair can be used for the repair of the trailing edge UD; reinforcement ply can be used for strength recovery of damaged trailing-edge UD laminate; the N-joint repair can be reinforced by N-ply reinforcement, and failure load of repair sample is 1.2 to 1.3 times of the original failure load. Through structural analysis and experimental test, samples and model, of which the failure mode is mainly the shear failure of the bondline, all deformed compatibly.


This paper purports toshow that it is not necessary to read the early Platonic dialogues starting from the "classic" theory of Forms. It argues, instead, that it is possibleto analyze them and, above all, to explain the use of the vocabulary of "presence" starting from the more general and prior possibility of distinguishing a subject from its accidental predicates, especially quality. The relation of "present in" or "being in" to which Plato recurs. is inherited by Aristotle. The distinction between "being said about something as asubject" and "being in something as in a subject" (Categories 2) seems to be a"natural" development of Platonic ontology. It is argued that the Aristotelian conception is closer to the earlier than to the intermediate dialogues.


Mealybugs are worldwide indoor and outdoor pests of agricultural and horticultural crops. In India, nine species of mealybugs have been recorded infesting cotton with varying degrees of infestation ranging from low to severe reducing seed cotton yield up to 50 % failing management. In this study an attempt was made to document spatio-temporal diversity of natural enemies of mealybugs infesting cotton in central India. Surveys were carried out during 2009 to 2016 in 22 districts of central India which revealed a wide diversity of natural enemies viz., 16 species of parasitoids Aenasius aerizonensis (Girault), Acerophagous papayae Noyes & Schauff, Metaphycus sp., Aprostocetus bangaloricus Narendran, Encyrtus aurantii (Geoffroy), Aprostocetus sp., Anagyrus dactylopii (Howard), Anagyrus mirzai Agarwal and Alam, Homalotylus albiclavatus (Agarwal), Homalotylus sp., Anagyrus kamali Moursi, Chartocerus kerrichi (Agarwal), Pachyneuron leucopiscida Mani and 8 species of predators viz., Brumus sp., Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius), Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Mulsant), Chrysoperla carnea (Stephans), Nephus regularis (Sicard), Rodolia fumida Mulsant, Scymnus coccivora Ayyar on five species of mealybugs viz., Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead), Paracoccus marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink, Rastrococcus iceryodes and Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green). Pachyneuron leucopiscida Mani, Promuscidea unfasciativentris (Girault), Prochiloneurus pulchellus Silvestri and Prochiloneurus aegypticus (Mercet) are termed as hyperparasitoids. A. arizonensis was the most dominant parasitoid of P. solenopsis recorded every year starting from 2009 to 2016 in most the locations surveyed with average parasitization 14.1% (9-27%) over these years. Maximum parasitization (37%) of P.solenopsis by A.arizonensis was found in the month of September coinciding with boll development stage of the crop and thereafter recedes in subsequent months.


http://math.colorado.edu/∼kstange/ click "Teaching"; also on canvas. Advice: Please focus on the problems most appropriate to you (the ones you will learn something from). Aim to do at least 6 problems for a given due date. Many of these problems have solutions you can find in your texts or online. Give them a fair shake, but it's ok to learn solutions from elsewhere if you make them your own (by which I mean, learn them so you can authentically recreate them). (You are your own best guide to what helps you learn best.) When called upon, you can present anything that hasn't already been presented.


One-micron continuous-wave (cw) laser emission with 0.80 slope efficiency (0.79 optical-to-optical efficiency) under Ti: sapphire and 0.75 slope efficiency relative to absorbed power under diode-laser pumping at 880 nm into the emitting level is demonstrated in a 1-mm-thick, 1.0-at. % Nd:YVO4 crystal. These values are superior to those obtained with 809-nm pumping into the level 4F5/2, and can be explained consistently by the effect of the quantum defect between the pump and laser radiation, the superposition of pump and laser mode volumes, the pump-level efficiency and the residual optical losses. In the analysis of the 809-nm pumping data a pump-level efficiency equal to the unity was employed, as determined with a method based on the pump-saturation effects on absorption.


: The discussion involves the heat treatment process for the large-sized heavy-walled boiler tube in 12Cr1MoV. Relevant experiment result shows that the structure and properties of the said boiler tube can not be ensured unless proper cooling step is added to the heat treatment process, which ensures the steel structure with 30%~ 40% tempering bainite and 60%~ 70% ferrite or pearlite, thus good overall performance of the tube.


Human facial nerve regeneration was compared in two systems: autologous neural cable grafts (N = 56) and direct end‐to‐end anastomosis (N = 34). The data were analyzed based on the following criteria: facial symmetry and muscle tone at rest, degree of total facial reinnervation, voluntary motion, syn‐kinesis, and electrophysiologic testing. Facial tone and symmetry at rest, and electrophysiologic tests were similar, while voluntary motion and facial rein‐nervation were decreased and synkinesis increased in the autologous cable graft repairs. Electrophysiologic tests failed to distinguish between the two repair methods in successful regenerates. Neural cable grafts were associated with more mass movement and less fine precise emotive facial movement. Excellent cable graft repair results diminish with time because of continual progressive synkinesis, which may take up to 4 years to develop.


ensemble are available for rental from Boosey & Hawkes, publisher of the superlative viola and piano edition that includes Silverthorne's performance markings. Through-composed but sectional, the work's characteristic melodic and rhythmic gestures are presented in an opening cadenza for solo viola; its mixed meter ( 48– 5 8 – 3 4 ) includes a distinctive 9 16 measure. Intermittent patterns of thirty-second notes add rhythmic vitality and are precursors to a quasi-presto section replete with thirtysecond notes that are interspersed with miniature rests, creating fascinating rhythmic patterns. The piano entrance signals a return to the opening semplice, and cadenza material gradually emerges, building to an allegro in which each measure of 3 4 is a metronomic unit (at 69+), and a p rocking figure increases in range as the viola voice, now lyrical, grows in intensity. These two sections are the first of an arch form A–B–transition–B –A . In the returning sections, rhythmic and melodic contours remain similar while pitches change, and the 9 16 pesante measure has significance as signaling sectional changes. The piano's dramatic gestures—pungent dissonant chords a half step apart, or rhythmic flourishes— complement the viola lines throughout. Near the work's close, the quasi-presto cadenza patterns reappear over a pedal point, and gradually the instruments conjoin for a coda that recalls the B section's seemingly unending flow. Immensely gratifying musically, the work is idiomatically appropriate for both viola and piano, challenging but not overly taxing technically, and rhythmically and melodically winsome. Contemporary works that enrich the solo viola repertoire are welcome additions, and the six strikingly different works discussed in this review provide some intriguing and commendatory possibilities—certainly some, more than others. The selections recorded by Silverthorne offer ten additional choices —truly a boon for violists.


Objectives:To investigate whether a magnetic resonance (MR) blood pool contrast agent enables both evaluation of myocardial perfusion and viability in nonreperfused infarction in pigs. Materials and Methods:An optimized MR protocol using the blood pool contrast agent P792 (0.026 mmol/kg, twice the clinical dose, Guerbet, France) was investigated to evaluate nonreperfused myocardial infarction in an animal model. P792 was compared with the extracellular contrast agent Gd-DOTA (0.1 mmol/kg). The MRI findings were compared with histomorphometry performed with microspheres to evaluate perfusion and triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) to evaluate viability. Contrast-enhanced MR imaging of the heart was performed on a 1.5-Tesla scanner 2 days after instrumentation in 6 minipigs. A saturation recovery steady-state free precession sequence was used for perfusion imaging and an inversion recovery fast low-angle shot sequence for evaluation of myocardial viability. Results:P792 tended to depict areas of reduced perfusion more accurately than Gd-DOTA (17.2% ± 11.1% versus 13.7% ± 8.0%) in comparison to the gold standard of histomorphometry with microspheres (18.2% ± 9.8%). Moreover, P792, but not Gd-DOTA, depicted ischemic areas for 30 minutes after intravenous injection. The change in myocardial signal intensity during first pass was not significantly different after P792 compared with Gd-DOTA (140.3% ± 64.4% versus 123.3% ± 22.5%, P = 0.56). P792 was highly accurate in depicting infarcted areas (11.1% ± 7.1%) compared with Gd-DOTA (12.1% ± 8.2%, r = 0.98, P < 0.001) and histomorphometry with TTC (12.2% ± 8.0%, r = 0.99, P < 0.001). Conclusions:Unlike Gd-DOTA, the blood pool contrast agent P792 allows evaluation of myocardial perfusion for a period of 30 minutes and shows good agreement with histomorphometry. P792 must be examined in further studies to evaluate its potential in evaluating early myocardial lesions and reperfusion. In addition, P792 also allows for evaluation of myocardial viability.


Health card program aims to protect the poor in Indonesia during the Asian economic crisis. Health cards were targeted and allocated exclusively to the poor that would provide free access to public health services. The impact of health card program to reproductive health services was rarely discussed by previous studies that pay more attention on health card utilization for both inpatient and outpatient. Using Indonesian family life survey (IFLS) data 1997-2000 from RAND Corporation, this study aims to evaluate the impact of health card program during Asian economic crisis on access to reproductive health services and answer the question whether who had health card really have better access to reproductive health services. Discussion in this paper limit on antenatal care, place of delivery and contraceptive use which are only reproductive health components that covered by health card program. Using combination between descriptive analysis and multivariate analysis, this study found that the health cards were not well targeted and distributed. The study also found that, generally, there is no significant effect of health card ownership to access to reproductive health services.


Nutritional composition and antioxidative capacity of mulberry fruit (Ficus-4x) were investigated for evaluation as new red-colored fruit. Contents of moisture, crude fat, crude protein, and vitamin C were similar, whereas that of crude ash was higher, to those of other berry fruits. Contents of minerals (Ca, 14.33 mg/100 g; P, 39.98 mg/100 g; Fe, 6.01 mg/100 g; Zn, 4.04 mg/100 g; Mn, 2.26 mg/100 g), particularly Fe, were higher than those of other berry fruits. Hardness, springness, cohesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness of mulberry fruit were higher, and color values (L, 36.03; a, 1.80; b, 1.54) were lower than those of strawberry. Relative scavenging activities of mulberry fruit methanol extract and its cyanidine 3-glucoside on 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazy radical (DPPH) were 35.7 and 78.2%, respectively, using butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) as standard. Antioxidant activities in corn oil (peroxide values and conjugated dienoic acid) were tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) > mulberry fruit ethanol extract > mulberry fruit water extract > butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) > tocopherol. Results show mulberry fruit can be very useful red-colored fruit for development of functional foods with beneficial effects on radical scavenging and antioxidative capacities.


We have read with interest the article by Kashani et al, on use of double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) in patients with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass to perform endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) [1]. This is a highly specialized procedure that can be complicated by pancreatitis, an adverse event that was reported in 7.8% of patients in the same study [1]. In patients undergoing antegrade DBE, the rate of pancreatitis has been reported to be up to 3%, particularly in the context of therapeutic or prolonged procedures [2]. High amylase is one of the markers of acute pancreatitis together with clinical and radiological evidence that help establish the diagnosis. Hyperamylasemia following antegrade DBE has been reported in up to 69% of patients [3]. It can be secondary to focal areas of ischemic necrosis due to mechanical stress during DBE resulting in subacute pancreatitis [4]. Use of rectal nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to prevent postDBE pancreatitis has never been explored unlike in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), in which patients receiving rectal indomethacin or diclofenac have a lower incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis [5]. We would like to share our experience from a tertiary center on use of rectal indomethacin in patients undergoing DBE. Patients who received 100mg of rectal indomethacin 30 minutes prior to antegrade DBE were compared to a group of patients who underwent antegrade DBE prior to implementation of the indomethacin protocol. Serum amylase and CRP measured before the procedure from these 2 groups of patients were compared to serum levels 3 hours after DBE. 240 patients (56 indomethacin, 184 controls; 50% males; mean age 58.5 ± SD14.0) were included in this study. Patients had a median of 13.0 ±SD13.0 passes, 65.0 ±SD25.0 minutes, 170± SD52.0 cm of small bowel (SB) examined. 36.3% underwent a therapeutic procedure during DBE: argon plasma coagulation/adrenaline/clips (27.5%), foreign body removal (0.4%), polypectomy (8.3%). Mean amylase (51.6± SD22.7 vs 143.0± SD143.9 IU/L P=0.01) and C-reactive protein (13.0± SD46.1 vs 17.3 ± SD81.7mg/L P=0.01) after the procedure were significantly higher than levels before the procedure. Mean amylase 3 hours after DBE was significantly lower in patients who received indomethacin (114 vs 152) (P=0.04). 83.9% had a rise in amylase in the indomethacin group compared to 92.2% of controls (P=0.06). Only four patients (1.67%; 2 females) developed pancreatitis, all prior to implementation of indomethacin in the protocol. They had a median age of 47.0 ± SD3.20 years, 11± SD29.4 passes, 90± SD52.0 minutes, 150± SD64.2 cm of small bowel (SB) examined and median hospital stay of 14±SD3.70 days. Three had polypectomies. All had evidence of pancreatitis on computed tomography scan. None of these patients received indomethacin before DBE. There was a significant association between amylase post-procedure and length of SB examined (Spearman's rho 0.186; P=0.005). This study identifies an important role for rectal indomethacin in antegrade DBE. We have demonstrated that rectal indomethacin reduces amylase post-DBE and no patients given indomethacin experienced pancreatitis. The same drug can be an important consideration in patients undergoing DBE-assisted ERCP, a select group of patients that are at an even higher risk of pancreatitis than patients undergoing just DBE due to cannulation of the biliary tree.


Microblogs such as Twitter reflect the general public's reactions to major events. Bursty topics from microblogs reveal what events have attracted the most online attention. Although bursty event detection from text streams has been studied before, previous work may not be suitable for microblogs because compared with other text streams such as news articles and scientific publications, microblog posts are particularly diverse and noisy. To find topics that have bursty patterns on microblogs, we propose a topic model that simultaneously captures two observations: (1) posts published around the same time are more likely to have the same topic, and (2) posts published by the same user are more likely to have the same topic. The former helps find event-driven posts while the latter helps identify and filter out "personal" posts. Our experiments on a large Twitter dataset show that there are more meaningful and unique bursty topics in the top-ranked results returned by our model than an LDA baseline and two degenerate variations of our model. We also show some case studies that demonstrate the importance of considering both the temporal information and users' personal interests for bursty topic detection from microblogs.


Low cycle fatigue tests and static tension tests were performed for steel 1Cr11Ni2W2MoV,with air temperature of 500℃.The difference between static elastic modulus and dynamic elastic modulus was investigated.The effects of elastic modulus on parameter of low cycle fatigue were studied also.When fatigue life is longer than 5 000 cycles,the results of fatigue life prediction showed that elastic modulus affected the precision of fatigue life prediction to a great extent,and there was large difference in scatter band.It is necessary to use elastic modulus measured in fatigue machine to predict low cycle fatigue life.


Combined D.D.S. and T.S.C, techniques allow us to follow temperature and frequency dependence of relaxation mode, and gives us more information about behaviour law and molecular mobility of dendrimers. Dipolar nature of the relaxation modes in those phosphorus-containing dendrimers has been shown. Evolution from a simple relaxation mode (G'/sub 0/) to a complex relaxation mode (G'/sub 2/), comes into sight as an influence of specific architecture. Global polarisation increases with generation by discrete additional dipolar relaxation. Generation looks to be directly linked with the dielectric polarisation of those macromolecules.


Multilinguality, creolization and hybridisation are central phenomena of language. Languages bear the traces of creative borrowing, as well as forced changes...


Previous cross-cultural research has not undertaken in situ analysis of conversational style between groups in severe political conflict. The present study is a quantitative and ethnographic study of conversational interruptions in one Israeli-Palestinian `dialogue' event which took place during the Palestinian Uprising. Findings indicate that the previously documented divergent cultural styles of the two groups underwent a process of change. Specifically, the Israeli dugri interruptive style dominated interactions between Israelis (intragroup) and between Israelis and Palestinians (intergroup). However, fewer interruptions were found in the intergroup interaction. Conversely, the Palestinian musayra style of non-interruptions was more significant in the intragroup Palestinian-Palestinian interaction than in interaction with Israelis, where Palestinian interruptions dominated. The political context of events and the erosion of the musayra style are suggested as factors that explain results. Implications are discussed.


The present research study, of a quantitative-descriptive correlational cross-sectional
type, was carried out in the hemodialysis unit of the Victor Lazarte Echegaray-Essalud
Hospital, was performed in the Hemodialysis Unit of the Hospital Victor Lazarte
Echegaray-Essalud, in order to establish the relationship between family functioning
and self-care level in adults undergoing hemodialysis. The sample consisted of 70
adults who met the inclusion criteria. For the data collection, the Family Function Test
FF-SIL was used, as well as the Questionnaire for the assessment of the self-care level
of the alterations of the patient's health in hemodialysis treatment, modified by the
author. The information was processed in the IBM SPSS STATISTICS Version 23
statistical program. It was concluded: The highest percentage (47.1%) of the adults
undergoing hemodialysis, presented family functioning level: moderately functional,
34.3% functional, 11.4% dysfunctional and 7.1% severely dysfunctional. The highest
percentage (78.6%) of the adults undergoing hemodialysis, their self-care is adequate
and 21.4% inadequate self-care and there is a significant relationship between the level
of family functioning and the level of self-care in adults undergoing hemodialysis; chi
square of 48,600 with probability 0.000 being highly significant.


Some 1,000 surveys were conducted on Amazon's MTurk, asking respondents to rate a high- and low-quality visual design, in this case a billboard ad. While most respondents preferred the high-quality ad, over a third opted for the low-quality design. Respondents who showed a preference for the low-quality design liked it for its "static" qualities, in that it was common, typical, average, and standard. Those who preferred the high-quality design liked it for its "dynamic" qualities, such that it was innovative, fascinating, novel, creative, and rich in elements. Older participants show a significant preference for the low-quality design. Implications of these findings for different types of visual communication are discussed.


The utility model provides a microecology rainwater regulating, storing and purifying tank, which comprises a tank bottom, a tank wall, a tank cover and a tank wall extension part. The tank bottom and the tank wall are fixedly connected together. The tank cover and the tank wall are also fixedly connected together. The tank cover is provided with a hole. The tank wall extension part and the tank wall are fixedly connected together. A filtering layer is arranged in the space formed between the tank wall extension part and the upper surface of the tank cover. Vegetation, a nutrient soil layer, a sandy soil layer, a gravel layer, earthwork cloth, a water distributor, earthwork cloth, a gravel layer, solid waste material and earthwork cloth are sequentially arranged from top to bottom so as to form the filtering layer. The microecology rainwater regulating, storing and purifying tank has the advantages of simple structure and good environmental benefit and integrates the functions of purification, beautification, regulation and storage into one body. The microecology rainwater regulating, storing and purifying tank can be operated in cooperation with conventional shunting wells and pumping stations and is substantial in adjusting effect. Meanwhile, the infrastructure utilization rate is increased. The microecology rainwater regulating, storing and purifying tank has not only regulation and storage functions but also purification and ecological beautification functions. Due to the adoption of the microecology rainwater regulating, storing and purifying tank, the problem of pollution caused by the initial rainwater is well solved. In addition, both the pollution load of water on the earth's surface and the burden of a sewage treatment plant are greatly reduced.


This paper sets up a multi-layered and multi-phased four-dimensional numerical well test model, taking into the consideration of the crossflow between layers. The paper applies the hybrid grid to construct rate model and discretize the governing equations. The type curves for buildup and drawdown tests at different stage, the distribution of saturation and pressure at different time are compared for the cases with and without crossflow. The method makes it possible to relate testing analysis at different time, which is very important for analyzing history of the distribution of saturation and pressure.


The designs of cryoconcentrators of block type BV-2 and BL-20 have been developed. The influence of design and operating parameters on the kinetics of freezing of pomegranate juice was investigated.
A decrease in the operating temperature of the refrigeration unit contributes to a more intensive growth of the ice block. When the temperature of the coolant decreases by 1.2 times, the productivity of the BV-2 unit increases by 27 %, and of the BL-20 unit by 12 %. For BL-20, an increase in the initial concentration by 3 times leads to a decrease in productivity by 2.5...1.5 times.
The influence of the temperature of the coolant and the initial concentration of the juice on the rate of concentration change has been determined. At low initial concentrations of solutions (10...15 %), a sharp increase in concentration is observed at the final stage of freezing. The dry matter content of the juice is increased by 16 % at high concentrations, only 4 %.
The kinetics of the ice block separation process has been studied. At the first stage (duration 10...15 minutes), the concentration of effluents is 2...3 % higher than the concentration of the solution. On the second, increases by 6...10 %. In the third stage, there is a monotonous decrease in effluent concentration (2.5 % / hour).
The results of experimental modeling are generalized. The obtained equation in similarity numbers allows calculating the mass transfer coefficients with an error of no more than 20 %.
The developed designs of the BL-20 and BV-2 cryoconcentrators are semi-industrial units. With block cryoconcentration, a concentration of pomegranate juice of 47° Brix was achieved, which is higher than in traditional devices. The results obtained can be applied for further development and creation of industrial plants with optimal improved product parameters.


ABSTRACT This article addresses institutional understandings of and responses to racism in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, examining the different trajectories and their implications. This comparative analysis assesses state and institutional failure to meet basic obligations under international rights treaties, such as ethnic monitoring in state institutions, equal provision of state services and ensuring adequate responses to racism such as in policing. We draw on this to illustrate how civil society actors have sought and been able to influence institutional actors in the context of these trajectories. Northern Ireland is belatedly influenced by UK law and policy norms, while the Republic was quicker to legislate against discrimination on the basis of race and ethnicity, yet dismantled much of its institutional infrastructure for responding to racism.


On November 4,2010,the Fed announced the launch of the second round quantitative easing policy(QE2),which has had a tremendous impact on the liquidity of emerging markets.Through the international spread,the U.S.treasury bonds repurchase,multinational FDI and other channels,QE2 forces the appreciation of the RMB.In the meanwhile,excess liquidity will exert great external pressure to China's asset prices.Especially it should be noted that the current prevalence of low-margin industry in China will push up asset price and enlarge the adverse effects of RMB appreciation.


Fires are costing many countries around 1% of Gross Domestic Product, but compared with other aspects of national waste such as Road Safety, Crime Prevention and Industrial Safety, Fire Prevention ranks low in political priorities. Countries have a responsibility to develop a fire strategy aimed at reducing fire costs. For measuring the success of the strategy, national fire cost statistics are needed for comparison with other countries. These statistics need to cover both fire losses and fire protection costs. In 1983 the World Fire Statistics Centre was formed under the auspices of the Geneva Association and with headquarters in Geneva. Its object is to encourage better world fire statistics and to encourage politicians to rank fire protection higher in the list of political priorities. Major Centre activities have included cooperation with the United Nations in a fire statistical scheme under which 14 countries have submitted annual fire cost statistics and with the Commission of the European Communities (EEC) in the International Fire Symposium held in Luxembourg in 1984. Details of national fire cost statistics are included in this paper, together with some suggestions for future progress, including a plea for a World Fire Research Council. Address all correspondence to 12 Kylestrome House, Cundy Street, London SW1W9JT. FIRE SAFETY SCIENCE-PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM 1009 Copyright © International Association for Fire Safety Science NATIONAL FIRE COSTS A WASTEFUL PAST BUT A BETTER FUTURE Political interest in fire prevention Although fires are costing many countries around 1% of Gross Domestic Product, fire prevention generally ranks low in national political priorities. This fact was dramatically illustrated in a study published by the Geneva Association in 1979 European Fire Costs The Wasteful statistical gap. The study contained tentative estimates for 6 key items of fire costs for 12 European countries covering the years 1970-1975. If all 12 countries had produced annual statistics for each of the 6 items, a regular European collection of 72 valuable fire statistics would have been available for practical fire use. In fact only around 30 of these 72 statistics appeared to be published. Not surprisingly the study went on to comment "This suggests that little political will exists in Europe to reduce fire waste". Why is this lack of statistics so wasteful? The simple answer is that in order to monitor the success of national fire strategy, Governments need to survey the annual trends in their own national fire costs and then to measure them against trends in countries abroad without statistics, measurements are impossible and decision-making remains speculative. Yet other types of national waste are tackled impressively, both at national and international level. Road Safety, Industrial Safety and Crime Prevention all receive top-level political attention. Where political will exists to reduce waste, spectacular results can be achieved as any survey of the achievements of the World Health Organisation dramatically illustrates. Progress on fire statistics There are encouraging signs of increased political interest in fire safety, both at international and at national level. In 1981 the United Nations started a fire statistical scheme and in 1984 the Commission of the European Communities (EEC) held a most successful International Fire Symposium. With the prime object of encouraging better world fire statistics the World Fire Statistics Centre was formed in 1983 under the auspices of the Geneva Association and with headquarters in Geneva. United Nations fire statistical scheme In 1981, The United Nations Economic and Social Council, through its Working Party on Building, agreed to support a proposal for better fire statistics. The proposal came from the meeting held by the International Council for Building Research Studies and Documentation (CIB) in Athens in 1980 at which a spirited discussion had taken place on the need for better fire statistics. As a result of the CIB initiative, the United Nations agreed that the fire statistical problem needed tackling at international level and commissioned a pilot study under which 4 countries provided data for the years 1978/9 covering 6 items of fire costs direct fire losses, Indirect fire losses, Human losses, plus the costs of fire brigades, of fire insurance and of protecting buildings against fire. The study involved stimulating challenges to ensure that the statistics should be as accurate as possible and that the data should be produced on a uniform basis. As there is no uniform European system for collecting fire statistics, a method had to be evolved to bring together a widely varying set of national data. The method adopted was to draft a questionnaire asking countries to submit published data for each of the 6 items of fire costs. A list of possible


Under earthquake,surface collapse often occur when the loose slope is in the instability mode and the collapse size of loose medium slope is an important index in collapse hazards.The collapse size in collapse hazards is also a scientific question for future study,but there are few studies at home and abroad.The loose particle of slop body is chosen as research object in pseudo-static method framework.According to the balance principle of force,the simplified formulae in instability of critical state is derived under different effects of earthquake intensity in this paper.The simplified formulae was validated by the centrifugal model test result(according to the criterion of gravitational force similarity,its height attains 20.4 m) which uses slope body floor as the experimental model.Taking real underground projects of Tongmai to 105 Maintenance in the project of the treatment and reconstruction of Sichuan-Tibet highway at highway section of National Road 318 as an example,this paper will carry out an explanation of application mode in this research method.


In this study an experiment has been conducted on the detection of the most common botnet attacks in the Internet of Things (IoT) environment, using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) architecture. The developed CNN model was optimized by fluctuating the values of the hyperparameters at each repeating run. After the optimization process, the model was evaluated and obtained results were compared with the results in the literature. The entire dataset contains nine datasets of nine different IoT devices, each has ten types of botnet attacks. One of these datasets was used in the experiments. The proposed CNN model classified benign network traffic and botnet network traffic correctly, with a success rate (accuracy) of 97.98%. It performed better than Gaussian Naive Bayes (GNB), ANN, Support Vector Machines (SVM), and K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) models which have success rates of 75.98%, 88.70%, 97.14%, and 97.48%, respectively.


Invasive alien plants in the forests of Asia and the Pacific , Invasive alien plants in the forests of Asia and the Pacific , مرکز فناوری اطلاعات و اطلاع رسانی کشاورزی


The invention relates to a selective hydrogenation catalyst and its preparation method and application. The catalyst comprises a catalyst carrier and metal active ingredients, prepared by the following steps: pickling graphene and then washing the pickled graphene with water to neutral, then immersing the neutral graphene in weak ammonia and drying at a high temperature to obtain the catalyst carrier, preparing active metal into a precursor solution of the active metal, then steeping or spraying the precursor solution on the catalyst carrier to obtain a supported graphene catalyst precursor precursor, drying and then reducing to obtain a product. The catalyst can be used in selective hydrogenation catalytic reaction. Compared with the prior art, the catalyst can be used for a one-stage selective hydrogenation reaction of cracked gasoline and can be simultaneously used for a selective hydrogenation reaction of C2-C4. The catalyst has the advantages of high hydrogenation activity and good diolefin hydrogenation selectivity, and is beneficial for prolonging the regeneration period of the catalyst.


This research paper focused on the occurrence and distribution of rare earth elements origin with coal deposits in East Asia. We evaluated the link between elevated concentrations of rare earth elements in some coal deposits based on the geological arrangement of these deposits were being lain down. Recently, some evidence has been found linking at least two regions that could account for the presence of rare earth elements in some coals in the East Asia Kalimantan. This study sought to identify the information needed to determine whether there might be a potential for commercial extraction of the rare earth elements from coal power plants ash. Amongst the various coal deposits showing elevated levels of rare earths, a number of locations evidence a ratio of heavy REE+Y to light REE. The aim of this study was recovery of the rare earth elements from coal ash residues from coal power plants and simultaneous utilization of CO2. Carbonation is one of the cost effective and ecofriendly process for the recovery of rare earth elements by using limestone and limestone mixture. Accelerated carbonation was more suitable process for CO2 capture and utilized this CO2 for manufacturing of "green cement" (Calcium Sulfo Aluminate) from coal power plants ash. In this paper we reported some case studies of sustainable critical rare earth elements in various fields and managing the supply chain risks of rare earth elements (REEs).


In a Guide Dog population, there is a higher return rate of handlers' second dog compared with any prior or subsequent dog pairings. This phenomenon is called Second Dog Syndrome (SDS). Qualitative studies have identified defining features of this syndrome in Guide Dog handlers; however, there has been no peer-reviewed study into the experience of SDS in companion-dog owners or handlers of other assistance dogs. As such, this exploratory study aimed to define the SDS experience in companion-dog owners and assistance-dog handlers. Ten participants, all women, were recruited to participate in focus groups for companion-dog owners ( n = 5) and assistance-dog handlers ( n = 5). Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. SDS was characterized by a strong bond with the previous dog, ongoing bereavement related to the previous dog loss, negative emotions related to the successor dog, and inability to bond with them. This appeared to be due to comparisons made between the successor and previous dog and unmet expectations of the new dog. For companion-dog owners it was also characterized by a fear of getting hurt again; for assistance-dog owners it was an inability to trust the successor dog, differences in work ability, and a threat to their independence. Time since the loss of the previous dog, awareness of the phenomenon of SDS, and support from the community also influenced the SDS experience. One unexpected finding was that SDS was not exclusively linked to second-paired dogs and that it may be more aptly named "Successor Dog Syndrome." Given that poor outcomes associated with unsuccessful dog–owner bonding may result in relinquishment, this study provides an important first step to being able to quantify the experience of SDS to develop interventions in the future.


In multimedia database, a multidimensional space-based indexing has been used to increase search efficiency. However, this method is inefficient in terms of ubiquity because it uses Euclidean distance as a scale of distance calculation. On the contrary, a metric space-based indexing method, in which metric axiom is prerequisite is widely available because a metric scale other than Euclidean distance could be used. This paper is attempted to propose a way of improving VP-tree, one of the metric space indexing methods. The VP-tree calculates the distance with an object which is ultimately linked to the a leaf node depending on the node fit for the search range from a root node and examines if it is appropriate with the search range. Because search speed decreases as the number of distance calculations at the leaf node increases, however, this paper has proposed a method which uses the latest interface on query object as the base point of trigonometric inequality for improvement after focusing on the trigonometric inequality-based range compression method in a leaf node. This improvement method would be able to narrow the search range and reduce the number of distance calculations. According to a system performance test using 10,000 video data, the new method reduced search time for similar videos by 5-12%, compared to a conventional method.


For functions analytic in a neighbourhood of 0, we show that at least for a subsequence of the diagonal Pade approximants, the point 0 attracts a zero proportion of the poles. The same is true for every "sufficiently dense" diagonal subsequence. Consequently these subsequences have a convergence in capacity type property, which is possibly the correct analogue of the NuttallPommerenke theorem in this setting.


A semiconductor device including a multi-layered gate, is formed as a stacked structure of a plurality of layers having different work functions.


A class of large-scale systems with decentralized information structures such as multi-agent systems can be represented by a linear system with a generalized frequency variable. In this paper, we investigate stability of such systems, which is the most fundamental property from the view point of control. Specifically, we first present a systematic way of deriving a Hurwitz type stability criterion and then show that it can be reduced to a linear matrix inequality (LMI) feasibility problem involving generalized Lyapunov inequalities. Furthermore, the properties of the LMI stability condition are examined, and they are confirmed by numerical examples.


The aftermath of 9/11 compelled Tom M Johnson to focus upon long-term concepts. Tom's first project, "Lakewood: Portraits of a Sacred American Suburb," returned him to the streets and neighborhoods of the suburb where he was raised in search of visuals and memories of his boyhood. Tom now lives in Lakewood with his wife and four cats and is in the process of working on a book of his Lakewood photographs.


How can qualitative research in education incorporate the voices of both the researched and the researcher? In this article, coauthors Polly Ulichny, a researcher, and Wendy Schoener, a teacher, respond to this question. In alternating sections throughout the article, they present two distinct interpretations of the teaching and learning that occurred in adult English as a Second Language classroom and of their developing relationship as collaborators. Together, Ulichny and Schoener come to realize that interdependence extends beyond agreeing on a research focus to include mutual collaboration in all phases of a research project.


Certain oil-based exterior finishes have been shown to protect urea-bonded particleboard for up to 8 years of exterior exposure. The work reported here was undertaken to determine if other currently used exterior finish systems, most notably those using acrylic-latex finishes, could likewise protect ureabonded particleboard from early delamination. Four paint-finishing systems and two stain-finishing systems were evaluated. Finished panels varied in time to board failure, but none of the finishing systems completely prevented panel delamination and excessive thickness swelling in 3 years of exterior exposure in Madison, WI. Furthermore, all-latex finishing systems (paint systems using latex primer as well as topcoat and a latex stain system) usually resulted in excessive thickness swelling and delamination by 15 months of exposure.