We investigate the influence of excitation energy and temperature on the phase coherent photorefractive (PCP) effect in ZnSe quantum wells. At temperatures below 35 K and nearly exciton resonant excitation the formation of trions suppresses the PCP effect. At lower excitation energies increasing space‐charge‐fields reduce the trion binding energy which leads to an enhanced thermal ionization of trions resulting in a PCP signal. Due to the thermal dissociation of trions at temperatures exceeding 40 K a strong PCP effect occurs even at nearly resonant excitation.


Murine vasoregulation and ischemia-reperfusion injury studies indicate greater nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in females than in males, linked to estrogen upregulation of endothelial NOS-3 (eNOS). Plasma levels of nitrite ions have been used as an index of NOS activity in vivo. Our research on blood nitrite in humans indicates that eNOS-derived NO is stabilized as nitrite, transported by erythrocytes, and bioactivated by a nitrite reductase activity of deoxyhemoglobin (Dejam 2005 Blood 106:734–739). Transgenic mice expressing exclusively human sickle hemoglobin (sickle mice) originally from Berkeley (Pastzy, 1997) are susceptible to vaso-occlusive ischemic injury from hypoxia, and increased NO availability may protect against this ischemic injury. Hypothesis: Females will have higher whole blood nitrite levels, which will be a marker of NO bioavailability and protection against ischemic challenges such as sickle cell vaso-occlusive liver injury after hypoxia-reoxygenation.

Methods: Whole blood samples were stabilized with a ferricyanide solution as previously described (Dejam 2005), then analyzed for nitrite levels using reductive chemiluminescence. C57BL6 mice were studied at baseline, during normobaric hypoxia (10% O2), or 1 hour after injection of the NOS inhibitor L-N5-(1-iminoethyl)-ornithine (L-NIO, 30 mg/kg) vs saline. Sickle mice had hypoxia-reoxygenation challenge to induce sickle vaso-occlusive injury: 2 hours of hypoxia followed by blood sample 18 hours later for serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) as a marker of ischemic injury.

Results: Average whole blood nitrite was 16% (SEM 7%) lower in males than in females, with much individual variation. Hypoxic exposure as short as 15 minutes lowered nitrite by 40% (SEM 7%). The magnitude of L-NIO effect was similar, lowering nitrite by 30% (SEM 9%). Female sickle mice and C57BL6 mice of both sexes showed no rise in ALT after hypoxia-reoxygenation, but male sickle mice showed 3-fold rise in ALT (p < 0.05). Ovariectomized female sickle mice had elevated ALT that was no different from males.

Discussion: Murine whole blood nitrite levels show sexual dimorphism consistent with estrogen upregulation of eNOS. L-NIO inhibition of NOS was associated with a fall in nitrite level, consistent with inhibition of nitric oxide production. The remaining nitrite after NOS inhibition is likely to be controlled by the several eNOS-independent influences on nitrite, such as dietary nitrite and nitrate, and systemic inflammation. Although hypoxia was expected to upregulate eNOS production of NO, nitrite levels fell significantly with moderate hypoxia, consistent with reduction of nitrite to NO by deoxyhemoglobin. Male sickle mice and ovariectomized females are susceptible to liver injury with hypoxic-reoxygenation challenge, consistent with a role for female hormones in upregulating protective NO bioavailability. Thus, modest changes in NO bioavailability are potentially enough to protect against sickle cell vaso-occlusive injury. Future studies to correlate whole blood nitrite levels with vasoregulation and ischemic protection are feasible with this new method for experimental measurement of whole blood nitrite.


A novel protection architecture that shares branch fiber is proposed in this paper. Based on the quantitative analysis to V-protection structure, this paper makes comparison between V-protection structure and full duplex system. Trough simulation in MATLAB, it is proved that the survivability of EPON with V-protection structure equals to that of EPON with full duplex system, what's more, the branch fiber cost of EPON with V-protection structure is half of EPON with full duplex system's.


There has been a very intense need for employees who are talented in order to enhance the competitive advantage of the organizations. Customer satisfaction and customer service being the prime work in the banking sector has evoked changes which consequently have brought changes in work setups. For example employees in the banking sector in Kenya are more involved in their jobs, working longer hours more than 48 hours hence making it difficult for employees to keep a balance between job, family and other personal issues .This has resulted in work life conflicts which has been found to be associated with mental health issues like stress and depression. The study objective was to determine the influence of flexible work arrangement on organizational performance in the banking industry in Kenya.This study adopted across sectional survey. The target population initially consisted of 44 registered banks by the central bank of Kenya but the study covered 43 banks focusing on branches in Nairobi because at the time of data collection one bank was under receivership. Primary data was collected using questionnaires that had both structured and unstructured questions. On data analysis, multiple regression analysis was used to regress relationship between flexible work arrangements and organizational performance. It was found that work place flexibility initiatives are increasingly seen as a critical component of a result-driven workplace. More and more organizations are recognizing how flexible work arrangements can be used to meet their business objectives and facilitate employee effectiveness on and off the job. The study concluded that consideration of flexible work arrangement aspects that pertains to employees, can greatly influence organizational performance in banks in Kenya.


The 49th annual meeting of the International Conference of Labour and Social History (ITH) assembled scholars from all over the world to discuss the global history of domestic and caregiving work within the households of others. Domestic workers have long been neglected by labour historians despite their significant contributions to national economies. By concentrating on them and the multiplicity of ways in which domestic and caregiving work was and still is performed throughout the world, the conference aimed to contribute to a more comprehensive history of labour. Its objective was to identify similarities and differences in domestic service between different world regions as well as to track the continuities and changes that have occurred in history.


Aiming at the of impact of wet significant problem in the process of hydrogen humidity measurement, which caused by the effect of resonant cavity size changes with the temperature, an experimental suggestion is proposed for temperature compensation. Based on volume perturbation theory, the temperature compensation principle was analyzed; the connection between the resonant cavity size changes and frequency-offset was also conducted. A program of temperature compensation experimental system was given in this paper, in which the temperature control system was improved. The structure of this system is very simple, and it can greatly improve the accuracy of resonant cavity micro-water measurement method with low cost.


The international migrations lead to a relationship between foreigners and nationals that are not always made without conflict. This constant, verified througout the centuries was always a reason for concern and interest by the governments of the countries envolved, the groups of immigrants, the citizens from receiving societies and the social researchers. When they created explaining concepts on the different situations that can configurate a plural society and stablished recommendations to sensibilize the States towards an understanding of common policies facing the displaced public, the receiving States created policies in that subject, many times without attending to those studies, wituout the participation of the giving States and without the contributions of the migrant representants. This situation deserves growing attention of all forces envolved, but not always the policies directed to the immigrants are in line with the concepts established nor the suggested recommendations. We intend to make a balance of this situation in this article.


Acetylcholine (Ach) is an important neurotransmitter, which mainly acts on the transmission of neural signals. A new optical fiber biosensor for Ach detection was fabricated by the simple electrostatic interaction relying on positive charge functionalized optical fiber and citrate-stabilized gold nanorods (GNRs). The highest SRI of this sensor was 848 nm/RI when the optimization conditions were 50 min of incubation time, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$486.98 \mu \text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> of optical fiber diameter, and the 2.63 of aspect ratio (AR). Then, acetylcholinesterase (AchE) was immobilized on the surface of GNRs by the crosslink method to prepare reflective optical fiber sensing probes. The linear range of the optical fiber biosensor for detecting Ach solution was 1–<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$1000 \mu \text{M}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> with the sensitivity of 0.0108 nm/<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \text{M}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. Compared with the traditional detection methods, it was more portable, simple, high strength, easy-to-handle, and cost-effective biosensors.


We determine the strongly segregated phase boundaries between block copolymers formed by joining dendrimers of different generations by their central segments. In all cases, the phase lines between the classical diblock phases are skewed toward keeping the more highly branched species on the exterior of the curved microsegregated domains. Calculations in both the Alexander−de Gennes and classical path self-consistent field model agree well for the predicted phase boundaries.


In this paper we describe a small content-based visual recommendation project built as part of the Allegro online marketplace platform. We extracted relevant data only from images, as they are inherently better at capturing visual attributes than textual offer descriptions. We used several image descriptors to extract color and texture information in order to find visually similar items. We tested our results against available textual offer tags and also asked human users to subjectively assess the precision. Finally, we deployed the solution to our platform.


An innovative six-port network analyzer (SPNA) for characterizing GaAs MESFETs under pulsed bias and RF conditions is presented in this paper. This SPNA allows the measurements of instantaneous S parameters of microwave active devices. These S parameters may then be used to extract the electrical model elements (Cgs, Cgd, Gds, Gm, etc.) of the MESFET using standard procedures. This system is particularly suitable for studying trapping and self-heating effects in GaAs devices.<<ETX>>


This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of chronic endometritis (CE) in women with minimal/mild endometriosis and to analyze whether CE affects their pregnancy outcomes.


This paper reports the isolation, identification and pathoge-nicity of a symbiotic bacterium (Strain 8503) of Steinernema sp., originally collected in Guangdong Province by scientists of the Agricultural University of South China. Studies of the biochemistry, distribution and characteristics of the infective stages indicated that this bacterium is likely to be a Chinese strain of Xenorhabdus nematophilus subsp. poinarii.


Exoskeletons are increasingly interesting for human assistance applications ranging from rehabilitation to force enhancement. However, today's exoskeletons are relatively slow and lack the mechanical transparency required to complete several daily tasks, mainly due to their bulky and non-back-drivable actuation mechanisms. To improve upon conventional exoskeleton designs, this letter presents a novel power-distribution system that combines magnetorheological (MR) clutches and low-friction hydrostatic transmissions using rolling diaphragms. In such a system, MR clutches are used to rapidly modulate the torque provided from a centralized power source and distribute it to each joint through a high-bandwidth, back-drivable, and low-inertia transmission. The main objective of this letter is to investigate the transparency performance of the MR-hydrostatic power distribution in terms of its force-bandwidth and back-drivability with the aim of being used in future exoskeletons. Experiments with a custom one degree-of-freedom haptic joint are supported by an analytical model that demonstrates the high bandwidth (>40 Hz) and good backdrivability (2–11% of peak force) of an MR-hydrostatic system.


The reducibility of nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) with varying the metal amount deposited on zeolite beta in proton form (HBEA) by incipient wetness impregnation (IMP), liquid-state ion exchange (LSIE) and solid-state ion exchange (SSIE) was investigated. From X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES), the reducibility of both metals on HBEA was estimated using Linear Combination Fitting function in ATHENA program. For Ni/HBEA, the agglomeration was observed only in the sample prepared by IMP indicated by a peak corresponding to the (2 0 0) plane of NiO in the XRD spectrum. After calcination, the amount of zero-valent nickel from the preparation by SSIE was 55 and 72% in the catalyst with Ni loading of 3 and 5 wt %, respectively. On the other hand, the amounts of zerovalent nickel in other preparation methods were small (less than 3 and 6 % for IMP and LSIE, respectively). After reduction, the amount of Ni(0) from SSIE did not increase where that from LSIE and IMP increased significantly (to 40 and 50 %, respectively). The reducibility of the samples from the IMP method increased with Ni loading. For Co/HBEA, the Co from all preparation methods was in oxide form and was not reducible under the similar condition.


For discrete-time non-minimum phase plants, the feedback property achieved by enforcing the conventional loop transfer recovery technique is discussed in this paper. Considering digital implementation accounting the computation delay in the controller, we use a discrete-time LQG controller including a prediction type Kalman filter. For simplicity, we assume that a non-minimum phase plant has a single real unstable zero. First, we give an explicit representation of the sensitivity matrix achieved by enforcing the conventional loop transfer recovery procedure at the plant input. The directional property between the target and the achievable sensitivity matrices is clarified. In addition, we show that the sensitivity matrix obtained by enforcing the conventional procedure coincides with that obtained by the partial loop transfer recovery technique which attempts to recover the feedback property related to the minimum phase part of the plant. This fact provides a clear system-theoretic meaning to the enforcement of the loop transfer recovery technique for non-minimum phase plants.


In response to my essay "(Teaching) Writing: Composition, Cultural Studies, Production," Victor Vitanza asks why we must always speak well of cultural studies. My answer: indeed, we must not. He goes on to say that he "would think that there is great hope in questioning any and everything that we do in the name of 'cultural studies for composition,'" and he asks, "should we not, as theorists and teachers, engage in perpetual exchange of self-critique?" At the risk of rendering his response and my reply unneces sary and uninteresting, I can only point to the article itself, in which I offer both a critique of certain cultural studies practices in composition pedagogy and an extended discussion of the value of such critiques. Vitanza and I seem to agree that critiques of cultural studies in compo sition are a good thing. It does appear, however, that while we are both certainly working within what he calls the "big business of Composition and Cultural Studies," we are interested in different aspects of the business. Vitanza is concerned that compositionists who are "teaching cultural studies" may be producing cynics. I am concerned that critiques of teaching cultural studies, as an activity left undefined, may preempt discussions of how and why particular pedagogical practices in composition are devel oped from cultural studies traditions. I believe the latter is the logical precursor to the former in constructing a productive conversation about the question of cultural studies for composition. I'm even not sure how to understand Vitanza's concerns without first being explicit about what teaching cultural studies in composition has come to look like, and why. In "(Teaching) Writing," I contend that undergraduate composition classroom pedagogies based on close readings and interpretations of popular texts (a form of literary analysis that is often and easily associated with cultural studies) may indeed create savvy students rather than better writers. Even so, it does not follow that pedagogies drawn from a cultural studies tradition must inevitably teach students to interpret rather than to write. I argue that both the concept of a cultural studies circuit and articulation theory, developed in particular ways within cultural studies and practiced in the context of writing instruction, may be more useful in teaching undergraduate composition than in analyzing popular-cultural texts.


The recent exposure of several scandals of civil servants has multiple ID certificates have aroused people profound consideration to the internal loophole of public security data management. This paper discussed adopting Overlying Mode (OM) to transform the current public information system, and proposed a new application security system, the core part of our overlay is a biometric database in the new system, which combined with PKI infrastructure will become the necessary infrastructure for the future information systems. Utilizing digital abstract of biological characteristics as primary key of the identity database table can guarantee information integrity. Based on the biological characteristics of the data center and PKI, the security mechanism can be designed to effectively prevent internal personnel identity forgery operation.


INTRODUCTION • Current climate models suggest a 2-5º C warming trend along with increased periods of drought in rainforests of the tropics by the end of the 21 st century." • It is poorly understood how individual plant species and entire forests will respond to these future conditions." • Literature supports that during periods of drought plants preserve water through physiological adaptions such as closing of stomata; however there is marked variability between species and their individual response and resistance. " Figure 1. The rainforest biome in Biosphere 2 is enclosed in a glass framed structure that is 91 feet at its highest point" Figure 2. A static rope climbing ascension system was used to access leaves in the rainforest canopy! METHODS • Biosphere 2 was chosen as a study site because of its unique ability to mimic the micrometeorology of tropical forests in a controlled mesocosm." • Clitoria racemosa, Hibiscus elatus, and Cissus sicyoides were chosen as study samples because they make up the majority (~65%) of the B2 rainforest. " • A d r o u g h t w a s i m p o s e d f o r ~ 4-w e e k s (07/04/15-08/01/15) after a previously consistent rainfall schedule. " • Study sites were set up at three elevations in the canopy to assess microclimate variables: 1-3m, 7-11m, and 14-17m." • Groups of six leaves were chosen; criteria included size, age, and exposure to light for each leaf." • Data was collected on each leaf, weekly, during the hours between 08:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m." RESULTS • Transpiration rates of H. elatus and C. racemosa have strong to moderate negative correlations over the length of the drought." • C. racemosa has no linear correlation with the length of drought." • C. racemosa graph suggests that its conductance is affected by elevation change (higher VPD)." • In relation to canopy elevation the upper level has the strongest correlations among all three species." • H. elatus had the most dramatic change in transpiration rates at each level during the drought (∆ = 242.95 mm 2 s)." • In addition H. elatus was the only plant to exhibit abscission of leaves (4 out of 18)." • C. sicyoides averaged to have the lowest transpiration rates. Functional diversity of photosynthesis during drought in a model tropical rainforest-the contributions of leaf area, photosynthetic electron transport and stomatal …


This paper presents a new stochastic multi-layer agent-based model to study the behavior of electricity market participants. The wholesale market players including renewable power producers are modeled in the first layer of the proposed multi-agent environment. The players optimize bidding/offering strategies to participate in the electricity markets. In the second layer, responsive customers including plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) owners and consumers who participate in demand response (DR) programs are modeled as independent agents. The objective of the responsive customers is to increase their benefit while retaining welfare. The interaction between market players in day-ahead and real-time markets is modeled using an incomplete information game theory algorithm. Due to the uncertainties of resources and customers' behavior, the model is developed using a stochastic framework. A case study containing wind power producers (WPPs), PEV aggregators and retailers providing DR is considered to demonstrate the usefulness and proficiency of the proposed multi-layer agent-based model.


During underbalanced drilling in the low pressure reservoir, ultra-low density imitation drilling fluid with high temperature resistance was applied. The lab test and field application showed that the imitation oil-base drilling fluid have many advantages, such as it could control drilling fluid density in 1.03~1.04 g/cm3 range, oil soluble capacity was increased by 50%, and temperature resistance ability was increased to 130℃, flowability and lubrification was good, strong inhibition, low fluid loss, weak static structural etc. It could satisfy deep horizontal well drilling and geological logging requirement, especially be suitable for low pressure formation or underbalanced drilling.


In this paper, the characteristics of pressure-sensitive adhesive, the properties of pressure-sensitive adhesive and the preparation of pressure-sensitive adhesive are introduced. The research progress of emulsion acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive is the focus of this paper. The methods of producing this kind of pressure-sensitive adhesive and their advantages and disadvantages in recent years are summarized.


Due to growing environmental concerns, wind power has taken a larger share of the generation market. While the increase in wind generation provides diversification of the supply, it also undermines system reliability by introducing uncertainty in power supply and decreasing the maneuverability of the grid in terms of VAR absorbance and provision. To restore the reliability of high wind penetrated systems, this paper proposes hierarchical voltage control (HVC). The proposed pattern generalization methodology is based on principle component analysis and a three-layer feedback architecture utilizing online state estimation. The proposed control includes both steady-state and dynamic constraints. Governed by an optimization trained with cases representing operating snapshots and solved via an active-set algorithm adopting stepwise linearization, the proposed HVC provides efficiency and adaptability. As a result, the proposed control provides adequate system support under a wide range of contingencies and operating conditions to enhance grid reliability. Its capability to regulate yearly round operations in real time is validated using a reduced Western Electricity Coordinating Council power system model.


Leukopenia and anaemia are observed in about a fifth of all patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and may be due either to the destruction of blood cells or their decreased production. The former may be humoral or cell-mediatedor result from apoptosis of peripheral blood cells. Several observations suggest the occurrence of the latter: reduced in vitro proliferation of pluripotentbone marrow progenitorsfrom the bone marrow aspirates of SLE patients, reduced counts of CD34 cells in bone marrow aspiratesin SLE patients, apoptosisof lymphopoieticprogenitorsand apoptosis of bone marrow cells. The aim of our study was to investigatewhether humoral factors may induce suppression of haematopoiesis by increased apoptosis of CD34 cells. For this purpose, we incubated allogeneic CD34 -enriched cells with sera of 18 leukopenic SLE patients. Apoptosis was induced by four of 18 sera. This effect was independentof complement-inhibitionand FAS-blockade. Although reduced proliferationof autologouspluripotentbone marrow progenitorshas been attributed to an IgG serum inhibitor, removal of IgG from these four proapoptoticsera had no effect on apoptosis of allogeneic CD34 cells. The proapoptotic effect was associated with high titres of anti-dsDNA antibodies and low haemoglobin concentrations, but not with high titres of antinuclear antibodies, TNF-a and IFN-a of the sera tested.


Guinea Pig pups cry when separated from their mothers [4]. The biological basis of this response is linked to central serotonin receptors [4]. The hypothesised evolutionary explanation for separation distress in Guinea Pig pups (and human infants) is that it is an evolutionary adaptation with the function of providing security because the cries bring about caregiver proximity [2, 8, 10]. Human antidepressant medications interfere with this stress response in Guinea Pigs, stopping attachment separation related crying before proximity has been gained. Moreover, testing whether novel compounds can terminate Guinea Pig pup separation distress is part of screening for new anti-depressants [4, 5]. Could anti-depression medications and talking therapies interfere with adaptive stress responses to depression in humans? A number of researchers have suggested that depression is an evolutionary adaptation, selected for fitness in the human environment of evolutionary adaptation (EEA) [1, 6, 3, 4]. Some researchers take the view that whilst sadness and low mood and subclinical depression have clear adaptive benefits, major depressive disorders are dysfunctional. Others suggest the boundary between subclinical and clinical depression provided by current diagnostic criteria does not constitute the correct dividing line between functional and dysfunctional symptoms, and that even in some major depressive disorders depressive symptoms can have significant adaptive benefits for the depressed person because of the impact on their social relations and thinking style [4]. This view resolves the 'high rate problem' in depression research by suggesting that only the most extreme cases of major depressive disorder constitute a dysfunctional response to stress and adversity [4]. Specific theories for the adaptive function of depression include:


Objective To study the clinical characteristics of patients with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage and cerebral negative angiographic results.Methods Clinical data,including clinical manifestations,laboratory tests,treatments and reexaminations of 86 patients with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage and cerebral negative angiography admitted to the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University from August 2003 to November 2011 were retrospectively analyzed.Results(1) Clinical manifestations:86 patients all had different degrees of headache,73 cases had meningeal irritation,62 cases had nausea and(or) vomit and 37 cases had hypertension history.(2) Laboratory tests:CT scan showed no simple intraventricular hemorrhage or parenchymal hemorrhage,4 cases had combined intraventricular hemorrhage,3 cases had subdural hematoma and 2 cases had Interhemispheric subdural hematomas.74 cases were once again given cerebral angiography,showing intracranial aneurysm in 22 cases and combined hypertension in 14 cases.The preoperative DSA showed that the vascular wall of skull base artery or trunk artery was not smooth.(3) Treatment and reexamination:among the 22 cases of arterial aneurysm,8 cases were given conservative treatment,7 cases were given intracranial aneurysm surgery and 3 cases were given parent artery stenting.No abnormalities were found in reexamination.Conclusion Spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage with cerebral negative angiographic results may have intracranial aneurysm or other lesions and reexamination of angiography should be conducted when necessary.


Gas diffusion electrode was used for providing better conditions in fuel cell systems for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Because the slow kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction at the proton exchange membrane fuel cell cathode restricts fuel cell efficiency. To this end, researchers have used platinum-coated carbon. In the present study, due to the reduction of carbon corrosion, Zinc oxide nanoparticles have been employed as a support material for platinum. The Pt/ZnO nanoparticles catalyst was made via a combined process of impregnation and seeding method. The microstructure of coating was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) which indicates that Pt nanoparticles are uniformly dispersed on the surface of ZnO. In order to investigate the chemical composition and crystalline phases of coating, X-ray analysis was carried out. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) was carried out for comparing the charge transfer effect during the ORR. The catalytic performance of the electrodes for ORR is evaluated through linear sweep voltammetry measurement. The O2 reduction current for Pt/ZnO alone is expectedly low due to the low electronic conductivity in ZnO. However, adding singlewall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) to the reaction layer improves the electrode performance. The prepared Pt/ZnO/SWCNT 30 wt. % electrode shows high catalytic activity for the ORR, which is probably attributed to conductivity changes caused by the addition of SWCNT. The electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) and durability investigation was studied by cyclic voltammetry in nitrogen saturated 0.5 M H2SO4. The results calculated from ECSA measurements were indicated that the degradation rate of optimized electrode is smaller than Pt/C electrode.


For many networks, different types of data require various QoS (quality of service) constraints such as bit error rate (BER), data rate, or energy dissipation. High data rate, low power dissipation, and simple RF circuitry make ultra wideband (UWB) an attractive technology to meet many QoS requirements. Typical UWB systems are built to meet QoS constraints even under the worst environmental conditions, although the worst environmental conditions occur infrequently. To prevent this waste of resources, we propose a UWB physical layer that adapts its modulation scheme to meet QoS requirements efficiently. The system employs m-ary PPM and adapts its pulse repetition interval (PRI) and/or the number of bits per symbol (log/sub 2/m). Compared to a non-adaptive system, the adaptive system can improve BER up to 50%, energy by 60%, or data rate by 260%.


Mixed Hamming packings are considered: the maximal cardinality given a minimum codeword Hamming distance of mixed codes is addressed via mixed integer programming models. Adopting the concept of contact graph from classical continuous sphere packing problems, a reduction technique for the models is introduced, which enables their efficient solution. Several best known upper bounds are improved and some of them are found to be sharp.


The idea of the systematic Weisskopf-Wigner approximation as used sporadically in atomic physics and quantum optics is extended here to the interaction of a field of non-relativistic fermions with a field of relativistic bosons. It is shown that the usual (non-existing) interaction Hamiltonian of this system can be written as a sum of a countable number of self-adjoint and bounded partial Hamiltonians. The system of these Hamiltonians defines the order hierarchy of the approximation scheme. To demonstrate its physical utility the author shows that in a certain order it provides a satisfactory quantum theory of the 'self-energy' of the fermions. This is defined as the binding energy of bosons bound to the fermions and building up the latter's 'individual Coulomb or Yukawa fields' in the sense of expectation values of the corresponding field operator. In states of more than one fermion the bound photons act as a mediating agent between the fermions; this mechanism closely resembles the Coulomb or Yukawa 'forces' used in conventional non-relativistic quantum mechanics.


The effect of Ethrel on root formation in the blackcurrant (cv. Blacksmith) hardwood cuttings was investigated in five different periods of the year. Low concentrations of Ethrel (up to 250 ppm) stimulated rooting, whereas higher concentrations (above 250 ppm) had a harmful effect on root formation. It is suggested that ethylene can act as a rooting promoter (when low concentrations of Ethrel were used) or as rooting inhibitor (when Ethrel was used in high concentrations). Complete cessation of the inflorescence development was observed in cuttings treated with Ethrel at 100 ppm and higher concentrations.


As traditional communication the network communication is now in rapid development,and P2P communication is also face the problem of NAT hole punching,aimed at this problem the reason why network address translation affect the P2P network communi-cation is analyzed and the method to check the type of network address translation is proposed.Based on this method some analysis on the hole punching process of clone network address translation and symmetric network address translation is made,the existing hole pun-ching methods is summarized and one comprehensive solution method is proposed.


A spectrum of triatomic hydrogen and deuterium was first discovered by means of an emission band with diffuse rotational structure near 5600 A. An additional band of similar but much better resolved structure was subsequently observed near 6025 A. The detailed analysis of these two bands for both H3 and D3 is described in this paper. Both bands are bands of a symmetric top; their structure establishes beyond doubt that triatomic hydrogen has a D3h structure in its Rydberg states. The molecular constants in upper and lower states are close to those in the ground state of H3+ (or D3+) in accordance with the assumption that these states are Rydberg states in which a single electron moves around a H3+ or D3+ core. The predicted states of such a Rydberg electron in a field of D3h symmetry account very well for the observed electronic states, both those involved in the bands described here and those involved in the bands to be discussed in subsequent papers of this series. The lowest state of the Rydberg electr...


The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) stresses the importance of protecting and using biodiversity in a sustainable manner. In particular, the CBD Ecosystem Approach summons the contracting parties to adopt economically and socially sound conservation strategies. The Central Sulawesi rainforests in Indonesia are part of the global Wallacea biodiversity hotspot. Due to their exceptional contribution to global biological diversity, the conservation of these rainforests is an important case for an application of conservation strategies in line with the CBD Ecosystem Approach. Based on this, the overall objective of this thesis is to generate knowledge that could be used to facilitate the design of economically informed and socio-economically sensitive conservation strategies for this important ecoregion.One of the biggest obstacles facing the development and implementation of such conservation strategies is the lack of knowledge on the economic value of non-market benefits generated by tropical forest ecosystems and the agricultural land use systems that replace them. Economic valuation of such benefits adds to the goal of using and conserving biodiversity in a more efficient manner. In particular, this study hopes to contribute to overcoming the ignorance regarding non-market benefits of tropical forest ecosystems by an assessment of marginal values of biodiversity of inhabitants living around the Lore Lindu National Park. This study focussed on preferences for changes in the provision of several different (non-market) ecosystem goods and services of relevance to the local population.A choice experiment survey was designed to elicit preferences for rattan availability, water supply for irrigation, population size of the endemic dwarf buffalo Bubalus sp. ( Anoa ) as well as different ways of cocoa cultivation along a shade gradient. The survey was administered to 301 randomly selected households in the vicinity of the Lore Lindu National Park. In addition to information regarding the choice experiment, further data was collected that was related to the choice task (e.g. difficulty and confusion), attributes (e.g. experience, present use, attitudes) as well as several socio-economic characteristics of respondents and households (e.g. age, education, wealth status). The choice behaviour was analysed using multinomial and nested logit models.The results indicate that the choice experiment on the valuation of the four mostly functional biodiversity services could be conducted successfully. By using design features such as a self-explicated status-quo alternative and the use of visualisations, the design was adjusted to a complex rural so-called developing country setting. Applying an ecosystem service approach facilitated the valuation of functional benefits of biodiversity. The magnitude of marginal willingness-to-pay (MWTP) for an improved provision of ecosystem services ( water , rattan , anoa ) is quite substantial considering the living conditions of the inhabitants of the Lore Lindu region and indicate a willingness to contribute actively to the maintenance of their natural resource base. In the fast growing sector of cocoa agroforestry systems, on the other hand, respondents indicated an unexpectedly clear preference for more intensively managed plantations with fewer shade trees. Thus, biodiversity conservation measures aiming at more sustainable ways of cocoa cultivation (measured here by a shade tree gradient) will be unlikely to be successful without creating economic incentives for the cocoa farmers. One such incentive could be a price premium for biodiversity-friendly cocoa production.A second main objective was to improve the understanding of the behaviour and situation of local economic agents mainly smallholder farmers with respect to their demand for forest ecosystem goods and services. In this regard, the influence of socio-economic, socio-demographic, attitudinal and choice-task related variables on the choice behaviour of respondents was analysed. Regarding different sizes of the anoa population, for example, the results show that marginal willingness-to-pay is a function of an individual s general attitude towards that animal and their knowledge on population biology reflected by an individual s statement on the perceived probability of extinction for a very small population size. The model results suggest that educational efforts can contribute to anoa conservation by altering people s attitude and their knowledge about anoa.By analysing the differential influence of relative poverty on preferences for the four ecosystem services included in the choice experiment, the study could contribute to improving the understanding of distributional effects of changes in the provision of ecosystem services on the welfare depending on the welfare status of the local population. The results suggest that the poorest and poor households according to their ranking on a relative poverty index would benefit relatively more from improvements of the rattan and water attributes. As compared to the poor for anoa, both, the poorest and the less poor, gain relatively higher benefits, however for probably very different reasons.Split-sample experiments can contribute to improving the validity and robustness of the results by observing the influence of small changes in the design on model estimates of choice experiments. Results from such experiments conducted in this thesis show that estimates of MWTP are not robust to a varying order of attributes on choice cards. Effects of attribute order suggested the occurrence of recency effects. The magnitude of recency effects can depend on the relative importance respondents ascribe to the attributes on the choice cards. Further split-sample experiments addressed (i) changes in the institutional background of the payment, and (ii) changes in the frequency of the payment. While MWTP estimates were found to be robust to (i), they differed significantly for (ii). The varying cash availability among households may be an important factor to explain this.


The article gives us an insight into the key issues of car sharing and its impact on urban sustainability. A selection of 314 articles published in peer-reviewed journals from the Scopus database were analysed using Leximancer 5.0 for Automated Content analysis. A total of seven themes were identified explaining the researched topic of the car sharing situation in Europe, which are sharing, economy, model, systems, electrical car sharing, policy and travel. There are two ways of sharing owned cars in Europe; access to cars from the fleet of private organisations and P2P car sharing. Sustainable environmental solutions in the context of the electrification of cars are used. Car sharing usually takes place online and can be free or for a fee as defined by The European Economic and Social Committee. The article provides an overview of understanding the concept of urban car sharing in Europe.


Addressing the risks of nanoparticles requires knowledge about release into the environment and occupational exposure. However, such information currently is not systematically collected; therefore, this risk assessment lacks quantitative data. The goal was to evaluate the current level of nanoparticle usage in Swiss industry as well as health, safety, and environmental measures, and the number of potentially exposed workers. A representative, stratified mail survey was conducted among 1626 clients of the Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund (SUVA), which insures 80,000 manufacturing firms, representing 84% of all Swiss manufacturing companies (947 companies answered the survey for a 58.3% response rate). The extrapolation to all Swiss manufacturing companies results in 1309 workers (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1073 to 1545) potentially exposed to nanoparticles in 586 companies (95% CI: 145 to 1027). This corresponds to 0.08% of workers (95% CI: 0.06% to 0.09%) and to 0.6% of companies (95% CI: 0.2% to 1.1%). The industrial chemistry sector showed the highest percentage of companies using nanoparticles (21.2%). Other important sectors also reported nanoparticles. Personal protection equipment was the predominant protection strategy. Only a few applied specific environmental protection measures. This is the first nationwide representative study on nanoparticle use in the manufacturing sector. The information gained can be used for quantitative risk assessment. It can also help policymakers design strategies to support companies developing a safer use of nanomaterial. Noting the current low use of nanoparticles, there is still time to proactively introduce protective methods. If the predicted "nano-revolution" comes true, now is the time to take action. [Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene for the following free supplemental resource: a pdf file containing a detailed description of the approach to statistical analyses, English translation of the questionnaire, additional information for Figure 1, and additional information for the SUVA-code.]


Clustering‐Based Resource Allocation (CBRA) is a relatively recent approach applied in some communication network technologies that executes resource allocation rules by following patterns discovered in the user and traffic flow information. It is a useful option for classifying traffic and detecting the most suitable Quality‐of‐Service parameters to perform improved resource allocation, especially in mobile systems such as Long Term Evolution Advanced, which are growing in user demand. An open issue in the CBRA approach is the necessity to perform feature engineering manually (feature selection), which may cause loss of relevant system information and consequent deterioration of performance. In this research article, we present a novel CBRA mechanism that implements an auto‐encoder to perform feature learning, thus avoiding feature selection. The auto‐encoder, deployed at the early stages of the CBRA mechanism, transforms the user and traffic flow data into a shortened representation, preventing the curse of dimensionality while capturing the nonlinear correlations of the data. The simulation results indicate better cluster formation and performance improvement for real‐time video applications using the proposed mechanism.


Floor Area Ratio is a key index that influences development construction and economic benefit of the city.Currently,there is an increasing trend of frequent FAR readjustment,which brings about a number of problems.This paper analyses existing problems of FAR valuation,makes a systematic study on different methods of FAR valuation,and proposes a five-step process to determine FAR.It is concluded that both the horizontal 'range' and the longitudinal 'periodicity' contribute to the final valuation of FAR in a scientific and reasonable way as required in regulatory planning.


This paper presents an ALMS-NN (Adaptive Least Mean Square Neural Network) controller based algorithm strategy for the three phase three wire (3p3w) Unified power quality conditioner (UPQC) system. The vital aim of active power conditioning is to manage disparate power quality apropos issues such as mitigation of harmonics in both current as well as voltage, voltage balancing and voltage regulation, compensation of reactive power and power factor correction (PFC) in the power distribution network. An adaptive control algorithm (ALMS-NN) is carried out to extract the compensating reference source currents for shunt and instantaneous p-q control theory to extract the reference source voltage for series active power filters (APFs) of UPQC. Moreover, the voltage source converters (VSC) of the UPQC are triggered by using these reference currents and voltages and performances are compared under uneven loading conditions. The effectuality of the ANN controller algorithm is depicted on the basis of mathematical equation with in-depth simulation study by applying MATLAB/SIMULINK tool in parallel with real-time implementation by RTDS (real time digital simulator).


Highly transparent conductive polycrystalline Ga-doped ZnO (GZO) films with a thickness of about 100nm prepared on cyclo-olefin polymer (COP) or glass substrates at various temperatures below 90°C by ion plating with DC-arc discharge were investigated. A systematic study has been made of the influence of substrate temperature Ts on the structural, electrical, optical and residual stress properties of GZO films. An increase in Ts resulted in a beneficial effect on the crystallinity, electrical conductivity and transmission in the visible (VIS) range regardless of the type of substrate. The minimum resisitivity for GZO on glass and COP substrates was as low as 5.0μΩm and 5.8μΩm, respectively. For all the GZO films with average optical transmission above 90% in the VIS region, with increasing Ts, the optical absorption loss in the visible range decreased according in order of increasing Hall mobility. All the GZO films were found to be compressively stressed. The residual stresses, evaluated from the XRD spectrum, in GZO films on glass substrates are a decreasing function of Ts, whereas they are an increasing function of Ts for GZO films on COP substrates. This finding indicates that for the GZO films on COP substrates deposited at higher temperature, thermal stress is dominant. Keyword: Ga-doped zinc oxide, transparent conductive oxide, cyclo-olefin polymer


Background. A third wave of COVID-19 infection is now sweeping across the globe. Severe injury of the epithelial barrier, caused by the action of respiratory viruses (including coronaviruses), facilitates the invasion of the respiratory tract with other germs, like viruses, fungy or bscteria. Methods. 92 inpatients with COVID-19 pneumonia and 68 inpatients with nosocomial pneumonia (NP) non COVID-19 were enrolled in our study. For microbiological assessment sputum samples were collected. Statistical analysis performed using the x2 test (Statistica software, version 7.0). Results. From the 92 COVID-19 patients 64 (69,2%) were dignosed with secondary nosocomial bacterial infection (SNBI). Overall ESKAPE agents, like K.pneumoniae, E.faecium, Acinetobacter spp. and Ps.aeruginosa were highly detected in SARS- CoV-2 group — 85,7%. in opposed to non COVID-19 group, bacterial agents isolated from the patients with SARS-CoV-2 SNBI manifested higher rate of antibiotical panresistance (p < 0,05). Conclusions. The study showed some etiological and antibiotic resistance differences of COVID-19 SNBI, compared to non SARS-CoV-2 NP and a higher rate of antibiotical panresistance in COVID-19 group. Thus, the empirical treatment in bacterial co-infections in SARS-CoV-2 patients requires proven argumentation and adjustment to antibiotic resistance data in each case separately.


Invigorate your skin, soothe your spirits. Depending on your goals, we can customize your treatment. One facial will surely impress you.


Get Your New Boiler For Less! Instant Quotes From Boiler Installers in Southport! Lowest Prices For New Boilers In Southport- Quick Installs - No Obligation!


FIELD: medicine. SUBSTANCE: method comprises accessing a spine, facetectomy, discectomy, limited resection of acanthas adjacent sections, implaint insertion into interbody space and closure of formed bone defect edges. Access to the spine is carried out by cutting 3-4 cm of the skin in the projection of the joint pair and blunt muscle dissection in the intermuscular sulcus using tubular retractors. Facetectomy and resection of ligamentum flavum are carried out on the access side, and then ligamentum flavum and diapophysis of the lower spondyle are removed on the contralateral side. Total discectomy and implant insertion into the interbody space are carried out. Then, subcutaneous access is made from the existing skin cut and additional aponeurosis cut is made in close proximity to interspinous space. Resection of the interspinous ligament, caudal portion of upper acantha and cranial portion of lower acantha is carried out, preserving supraspinal ligament. Formed bone defect edges are closed, after which transpedicular systems are mounted on the access side and transcutaneously on the contralateral side. EFFECT: method ensures the spine stability and prevents cicatricial degeneration of the paravertebral muscles. 1 ex, 19 dwg


This paper reflects upon the topic "systematising the provisions for the enhancement of students' first year experience and embedding these in policy", by asking, is the effort of implementation by those at the coal face (e.g., first year student advisors) sufficiently valued in practical terms by tertiary institutes? The duties of a first year student advisor (FYA) servicing 250 students within a health faculty's inaugural foundation year are detailed over a 12 month period, with total service hours accumulating to 114 hours. For these 114 hours, points are awarded to the FYA in accordance with the faculty's workload model which allocates points for various academic duties within annual staff performance reviews. Comparison with points awarded for other academic duties and consideration of some general attitudes of academic staff highlight that, while many levels of university acknowledge the importance of and support FYA-type roles, work to raise the awareness of duties undertaken within these roles must continue.


Carl weter was a German educationist in the 19th century. He attached great importance to the influence of
family education on children's growth and put forward a series of educational thoughts, such as the aim for chil-
dren's intelligence development, fostering psychological quality of children's health, language, intelligence and
conducts. We can still gain a positive enlightenment from Carl weter's early thoughts about education for today's
children.


Siah a promising anti-cancer target Christina SF Wong and Andreas Möller 1 Tumour Microenvironment Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia. Corresponding Author: Andreas Möller (firstname.lastname@example.com) Running title: Siah and Cancer


The present invention concerns a NEW FOR MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS Ziegler-Natta process, which is composed of a component part ACTIVE A) A COMPONENT OF SUBSTANCE SOLID COMPOSITION BASED ON TITANIUM CONTAINING titanium, magnesium, halogen and A carboxylic acid ester, AND CATALYST B) an aluminum compound YC) EVENTUALLY ANOTHER ELECTRONIC COMPOSITE. Moreover it REGARDS THE INVENTION A SYSTEM Ziegler-Natta catalyst, which can be obtained according to this process, manufacture polymerised PROPYLENE WITH THE HELP OF THIS SYSTEM catalyst comprising POLYMERISED WELL AS FILM BASED MOLD OF THESE BODIES POLYMERISED.


Abstract We focus on a comparison of the space densities of FR I and FR II extended radio sources at different epochs, and find that FR I and FR II sources show similar space density enhancements in various redshift ranges, possibly implying a common evolution.


In the measurement of residual stress in weldment carried out with use of Kα doublet diffraction, it is often difficult to determine the position of the diffraction peak exactly so far, because of the component lines of the doublet spaced so closely and of the their broadening occurring often in welded specimens. Here a method is presented to alleviate the difficulty, where the double diffraction patterns are separated to their single component profiles by means of a simple numerical calculation. While it facilitates the more exact determination of the diffraction peak and therefore of the macro scopic residual stress level, it facilitates the quantitative determination of the broadening of the diffraction profiles with a reasonable precision, too. Thus it becomes possible to draw into account the problem of estimating microscopic residual stress level therefrom, and therefore a mathematical scheme possibly useful for the practical analysis of experimental results and for the physical interpretation is presented also.


The optical properties of amorphous indium zinc oxide (a-IZO) films that were grown at room temperature by the pulsed laser deposition technique with the aid of a KrF excimer laser were investigated. Two values of 0.65 and 0.90 for the In/(In + Zn) films composition were chosen since they roughly define the area in the In–Zn–O phase diagram where good transmission in the visible range together with excellent electrical properties for a-IZO films were measured. The results of the investigations indicated that the


Enhanced saturation magnetization was observed in granular nanostructured Ni/[Cu(II)–O–C] films deposited by the nonaqueous, electroless polyol process. The saturation magnetization of Ni–Cu complex films at room temperature was 112 emu/g, which was about two times that of bulk Ni (54.4 emu/g). It is suggested that the enhancement was caused by the magnetic interaction between the Ni particles and the amorphous Cu(II) complex. The observed shifted Curie temperature, large anisotropy field, and strong temperature dependence of saturation magnetization support this argument.


With the aim of developing an efficient and inexpensive catalyst for the production of HMF from glucose, a solid Lewis acid catalyst γ-AlOOH, a common industrial catalyst with easy preparation and low price, was used as the sole catalyst to directly synthesize 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from glucose in dimethyl sulfoxide. Various reaction parameters, such as catalyst loading, temperature, reaction duration, and solvent, were investigated. An impressive HMF yield of 61.2% was obtained at the reaction conditions of 130 °C for 3 h. Furthermore, HMF yields from other carbohydrates such as fructose (44.8%), cellulose (50.3%), maltose (53.6%) and sucrose (62.2%) could be achieved using γ-AlOOH as a catalyst. More importantly, the catalyst γ-AlOOH could be reused several times without the loss of its catalytic activities. After five reaction runs, an HMF yield of 57.2% was obtained.


The recently published theoretical approach of Heisenberg is here developed into a systematic theory of quantum mechanics (in the first place for systems having one degree of freedom) with the aid of mathematical matrix methods. After a brief survey of the latter, the mechanical equations of motion are derived from a variational principle and it is shown that using Heisenberg's quantum condition, the principle of energy conservation and Bohr's frequency condition follow from the mechanical equations. Using the anharmonic oscillator as example, the question of uniqueness of the solution and of the significance of the phases of the partial vibrations is raised. The paper concludes with an attempt to incorporate electromagnetic field laws into the new theory.


This article by using the method of the document literature,The investigation,The interviews and other research methods,Analyzed the present development of Chongqing Tongliang dragon dance movement and the main factors of influence the development,And found some problems in Chongqing Tongliang dragon dance movement,Such as mainly middle-aged participants,Relatively limited jobs,The weakness of the reserve force and the disordered competition of the dragon product market.This paper will put forward some corresponding countermeasures,so as to the better development of Tongliang dragon dance movement.


The Nissan ASV-2 advanced safety vehicle was developed in the second phase of the Advanced Safety Vehicle (ASV) project promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. This experimental vehicle took part in a public demonstration of ASV technologies held last year at this Ministry's National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management (NILIM). The Nissan ASV-2 incorporates seven systems that make use of information received from the road infrastructure. This paper presents an outline of these seven systems and explains in detail two of the more distinctive systems.


Known methods for controlling an internal combustion engine can meet the requirements of modern, particularly supercharged Diesel-engine in terms of increased efficiency, an increased comfort or lower emissions no longer be accessible, as for example, the noise can be thus not controlled or influenced. There is described a process in which individual cylinder a variable which characterizes a respective course of combustion in an associated combustion chamber is formed at least and is influenced depending on said at least one, the combustion process variable characterizing the control of cylinder-specific fuel injection parameters. Controlling an internal combustion engine, particularly a compression-ignition internal combustion engine in a vehicle.


This study investigates the use of room temperature bonding for layer transfer process to reduce contaminants on a transferred material. It was found that resist residues on transferred graphene were significantly reduced using surface activated bonding at room temperature in comparison of thermal compression bonding at 250 °C. Surface activated bonding can provide a platform for layer transfer process suitable for 2D materials integration.


In standard microeconomic theory of the firm, the production frontier is used to describe the geometric locus of the optimal production. Most limitations of the conventional estimators of this efficient frontier stem from its reliance on estimation of the upper surface of the joint support of (X, Y), where X∈ℝ p + represents the inputs-usage and Y∈ℝ+ is the produced output. Instead, a recent approach involving the estimation of a partial quantile-type frontier of the joint support, lying close to its full boundary, has emerged in the literature as an attractive alternative. In this paper, we present a new and simple proof of the asymptotic normality of the resulting nonparametric frontier estimators and provide an estimate for the accuracy of the normal approximation. We also propose a Kiefer-type asymptotic representation for these estimators. The main results concern the study of some weak, moderate and strong large deviation properties of the quantile-based frontier estimators.


Chitosan (CH) / Poly (1-vinylpyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate) (PVP-co-VAc) (7:3) blend [CH/(PVP-co-VAc)] reinforced with two types of nanoparticle of titanium oxide TiO2 (type I & II) were prepared by solution casting method. The nanocomposites prepared with different concentrations (1, 2, 3.5, 5, 7.5, and 10) wt%. The tests carried out were AFM, FTIR, Tensile strength, Thermal conductivity measurement, and Weight gain. The results of the AFM test showed that the roughness of the surface decreased with the addition of a small amount of nanoparticles (1 wt.%) to the CH/(PVP-co-VAc) blend. FTIR results for blend film indicates a significant degree of composition between (PVP-co-VAc) and CH molecules. Nanocomposite films indicate that the composition among polymer blends and Nano are associated with changes in intensity, shape, and position of modes. The mechanical properties of chitosan were enhanced by the addition of TiO2 nanoparticle with significant increases in tensile strength (from 47.87 MPa to 64.95 ~ 70 MPa). Because interfacial bonding and homogenous distribution between the nanoparticles and the blend were supportive of markedly improved mechanical strength. The results of thermal conductivity and water absorption showed that the highest values were achieved in the polymer blend (CH/[PVP-co-VAc]), whereas its decrease with the increase of the nanoparticle incorporation.


T Xhe -he Angel of the Waters, more commonly known as the Bethesda Fountain, by Emma Stebbins (1815-1882) is one of the most beloved sculptures in all of New York City's Central Park. The designers of the park, Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux, carefully laid out the park design in their 1858 Greensward Plan, and they believed that artificial additions to the landscape should be as limited as possible. The main focus of the park, they thought, should be the natural landscape (1). The Bethesda Fotmtain and Terrace were the only sculptural compositions that were commissioned as part of the original Greensward Plan. The fotmtain cost over $60,000, which was an extraordinary amount at the time (2). The terrace is such an important aspect of the park design because it spatially joins the lower and upper portions of the park Emma Stebbins was oiñcially awarded the commission in 1863, and it made her the first woman to receive a major art commission in New York City (3). Although it is still tmclear whose idea the central program of the angei and four cherubs was, the biblical reference seemed appropriate in Mght of the fact that New Yorkers were sull celebrating the fresh water brought to the city by the Crotón Aqueduct, huilt in 1842, and the new reservoirs in the park. The pool of Bethesda is described in John 5:2-4 and was quoted in the brochure at the dedication of the sctalpture: "Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called . . . Bethesda . . . whoever then nrst after the troubling of the waters stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had" (1,3). The angel atop the fountain with her widespread wings steps forward with her left leg while she symholically stirs the waters with her right. She holds a lüy in her left hand, which is a symbol of purity. The angel is stylized as a neoclassical figure in composition and attire, though her drapery has great movement in its line. It is form fitting and has an extensive pattern of ctirves and lines. Four cherubs surround the column above the upper basin and symbolize Temperance, Purity, Health, and Peace. Capitals and a pair of columns support the lower basin of the fountain (2). When the Angel of the Waters was finally unveued in 1873 it had a mixed reception among the critics. The substructure of the basin was tmiyersally acclaimed, but many critics attacked the angel. Some believed it to be marvelous and a perfect symbol of the preciousness of water, while others believed it to be the least successful work in the park (1,2). In spite of this fact, today the Bethesda Fountain is one of the main attractions in Central Park There are many works of art that go tinnoticed within the landscape of the park, but this is certainly not one of them.


Despite the importance of a complete characterization of dendritic patterns in castings, the availability of studies on the development of tertiary dendrite arms is scarce in the literature. In the present study, the tip cooling rate, local solidification time, primary and tertiary dendrite arm spacings have been determined in Pb–Sb alloys castings directionally solidified under unsteady-state heat flow conditions. The alloys compositions experimentally examined are widely used in the as-cast condition for the manufacture of positive and negative grids of lead-acid batteries. The initial growth of tertiary dendritic arms from the secondary branches was found to occur only for a Pb–3.5 wt% Sb alloy at cooling rates in the range 0.4–0.2 K/s, with no evidence of this spacing pattern for Pb–Sb alloys having lower solute content. Tertiary dendritic branches have been observed along the entire casting lengths for alloys of the Pb–Sb hypoeutectic range having compositions higher than 4.0 wt% Sb. It is shown that a power function experimental law with a characteristic −0.55 exponent is able to characterize the tertiary spacing evolution with the solidification cooling rate for alloys compositions ≥4.0 wt% Sb. The only exception was the Pb–3.5 wt% Sb alloy for which λ 3 exhibited significant lower values when compared with the experimental values obtained for the other Pb–Sb alloys for a same solidification cooling rate.


Abstract This article explores the topic of diversity in the teaching workforce though the enactment of policy concentrating on teachers with dyslexia within the Further/Vocational Education and Training sectors of England and Finland. Two research projects from Finland and England focusing, respectively, on individual teachers' perspectives and managers' understandings of hidden diversity (such as dyslexia) are re-analysed through the use of the distinction between the ostensive and the performative aspects of organisational routines. The article contributes a new application of theory by drawing upon organisational routines as sources of flexibility and change rather than continuity alone. Avoiding the confusion between the ostensive and performative aspects of routines enables a more dynamic and emancipatory understanding of the identification and support for the promotion of workforce diversity to emerge.


A novel full-band (40% relative bandwidth) waveguide polar modulator (WPM) design based on a new architecture with two turnstile junctions and a nearly frequency-independent differential 180° phase shift between orthogonal arms is presented. The use of suitably designed turnstile junctions together with antiphase waveguide-coaxial-waveguide transitions in reduced-height waveguide technology enables the improvement of bandwidth over previous WPMs with a very compact and simple solution. This design enables continuous rotation about its central axis at 40 revolutions/s, which makes the modulator suitable for receivers with significant <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$1/f$ </tex-math></inline-formula> noise such as cryogenic radiometers. The polar modulator presented in this paper is designed to be cooled down to cryogenic temperatures in order to reduce its contribution to the receiver noise. This design is suitable for radio astronomy applications due to its cost-effective, compact design, and high quality performance as well as being readily scalable. A polar modulator in the Ka-band (26.5–40 GHz) has been designed to show a reflection better than −20 dB, an insertion loss around 0.3 dB, and a cross-coupling near −35 dB measured at room temperature (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$T = 298$ </tex-math></inline-formula> K). This insertion loss is reduced by 30%, while the phase difference and cross-coupling maintain similar values when the polar modulator is cooled to approximately <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$T = 80$ </tex-math></inline-formula> K.


The prices of primary energy,the coal and oil in particular,keep on soaring in recent years,leading to a substantial profit decline of the power generation enterprises on the downstream of the industry chain,and great difficulties for their operations.On the basis of analyzing the financial and operational indicators in the period since 2007 of the listed coal supply and power generation enterprises which have the high quality assets of the coal and power industry,the paper makes a probe into the existing problems in coal supply companies and power generation enterprises and analyzes the causes for the loss suffered by power generation enterprises,and proposes some relevant suggestions,such as perfecting the price mechanism of coal and electricity,strengthening the integrated operation of coal and electricity,and adjusting the power source structures.


There are many applications that require users to coordinate and communicate. Friends want to coordinate travel plans, students want to jointly enroll in the same set of courses, and busy professionals want to coordinate their schedules. These tasks are difficult to program using existing abstractions provided by database systems because in addition to the traditional ACID properties provided by the system they all require some type of coordination between users. This is fundamentally incompatible with isolation in the classical ACID properties of transactions.
 In this talk, I argue that it is time for the database and event processing communities to look beyond isolation towards principled and elegant abstractions that allow for communication and coordination between some notion of (suitably generalized) transactions. This new area of declarative data-driven coordination (D3C) is motivated by many novel applications and is full of challenging research problems.
 I will start by surveying existing abstractions in database systems and explain why they are insufficient for D3C. I will then describe entangled queries, a coordination language that extends SQL by constraints that allow for the co-ordinated choice of result tuples across queries originating from different users or applications, and I will discuss algorithms for evaluating entangled queries. I will conclude with a set of research challenges for event processing in this new area.


The Waledac malware first appeared in November 2008, shortly after the Storm botnet became inactive. This malware is currently quite prominent and active. Its main propagation mechanism is via social engineering schemes which entice or trick users into downloading and executing the malware binaries. The Waledac malware differs significantly from the Storm malware. For example, unlike Storm, Waledac utilises strong cryptographic algorithms, such as AES and RSA with 128 and 1024-bit keys, respectively. There are however a number of design and implementation errors and weaknesses in the malware which makes it relatively easy to intercept, analyse and modify and even to replay Waledac's communication traffic. Interestingly, some of these design and implementation errors and weaknesses were also present in the Storm malware. In this paper, we present the results of our analysis on Waledac. To facilitate our analysis, we captured several versions of the malware binaries and reverse engineered them. We also executed the binaries in secure environments and observed their communication traffic. Our analysis provides valuable insights into the inner working of Waledac malware and the botnet it constitutes. In addition to giving details of the mode of operation of Waledac, we highlight some of the weakness of Waledac, outline some of the differences and similarities betweenWaledac and Storm, and suggest means by which Waledac botnet can be infiltrated and disrupted.


View this article's corresponding video summary at .

the importance of serotonin in gastrointestinal biology is often overlooked given the intense interest of investigators focused on neurotransmitter (mal)functions of the central nervous system. Regardless, the


A common Web GIS framework was designed for the long transmission oil gas pipeline.A digital pipeline Information Management Systems(IMS) was developed on the ArcGIS platform,which was based on VB.NET,Javascript,Microsoft SQL Server and computer aided analyze technology.In the case of licensed,the functions were realized in the designed system,which concluded sharing space information,map zooming in and out,map moving,diagram layer control,visiting viewdata,searching information,special subject analysis.The systems can serve the whole management and improve work efficiency in the long transmission oil gas pipeline,and it is one of the forcefully assistant tools in managing pipeline department.


The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of the use of multimedia, namely PowerPoint Presentation (PPT) to improve the reading comprehension of students of the Elementary Teacher Study Program (PGSD) in learning Bahasa Inggris 2 course in the even semester of the 2020/2021 school year. Researchers chose one class with a total of 30 students using the purposive sampling technique. In this study, the data collection procedure used tests as the research instrument. The results showed an increase in the average score obtained by students where the mean score of students in the pre-test was 55.6, which increased significantly by 24.1 points to 79.7. and the t-test value is greater than the t-table value. In this study, PPTs are effective in improving the reading ability of PGSD students. PPTs increased students' vocabulary and understanding of the general structure of narrative and descriptive texts. PPTs are also efficient in teaching simple past and present tenses.


In this paper, we consider optimal dynamic spectrum management (DSM) for a downstream (DS) DSL scenario in which users are divided into a few separate groups, where vector encoding based signal coordination can be applied in each group and spectrum coordination is possible for all users. This can be seen as a mixed interference/broadcast channel (IF/BC) scenario. We investigate several candidates for vector encoding the signals inside the groups, including the linear zero-forcing (ZF) pre-compensator, ZF Tomlinson-Harashima pre-coder (THP), optimal linear pre-compensator (OLP), and THP with optimal transmit filters. The calculation of the optimal transmit filters (for both the linear pre-compensator and THP) is a non-convex problem. To resolve this problem, we develop a generalized duality between the IF/BC and IF/multiple-access channel (MAC). In order to achieve the highest data rates, optimal spectrum balancing (OSB) is applied to all users on top of the vector encoding inside the groups. Simulation results show that the grouped THP with optimal transmit filters achieves considerably higher bit rates than the other schemes. The resulting algorithm is referred to as the IF/BC-OSB algorithm, and encompasses the OSB (i.e., IF-OSB) and the earlier developed BC-OSB algorithm as special cases.


UNLABELLED
Between the years 2002 and 2006 in the Department of Paediatrics, Haematology, Oncology and Endocrinology, Medical University of Gdansk, six patients with neuroblastoma were qualified for the high risk group. Aim of the study was the evaluation of treatment results after using new methods of therapy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
Intensive multimodal therapy according to the new European protocol HR-NBL-1/ESIOP, was implemented in 6 children. In two cases the high risk group qualification was delayed. Mean time of observation was 2 years 4 months.

RESULTS
After the end of therapy, three of six children remain in complete remission. The histopathology of the tumour was assessed according to Shimada classification. Number of NMYC copies was estimated by the FISH method. One patient died of infection after high dose chemotherapy. Relapses occurred in two patients. One of them died of progression and the other is alive, in the third relapse, with progression of disease.

CONCLUSIONS
The preliminary analysis shows good results of the new protocol in half of the patients. Further additional cooperative studies with bigger groups of patients are required.


Synopsis: Solution-treatment temperature and the refinement of austenite grains by solution-treatment after cold working have been investigated for 17.5Ni-12.5Co-Mo maraging steels with and without titanium. Titanium contents were 1.7 and 2%, and molybdenum content varied from 3.9 to 6.5%. Optimum solution-treatment temperature rises with the increase in molybdenum or titanium content. When the solution-treatment after cold working is applied to the maraging steels which were previously solution-treated at relatively low temperatures, austenite grains are possible to be refined considerably. Tensile properties after maraging in the temperature range 500° to 560° C have also been investigated for 17.5Ni-12.5Co-5.4Mo-2Ti and 17.5Ni-12.5Co-6.2Mo-1.7Ti maraging steels, the austenite grains of which were refined by solution-treatment after cold working. Maximum tensile strengths obtained are about 280 kgf/mm2 for the 17.5Ni-12.5Co-5.4Mo-2Ti steel and about 270 kgf/mm2 for the 17.5Ni12.5Co-6.2Mo-1.7Ti steel. Because of fine austenite grains, the materials are ductile even in high strength level.


The sustainable development of "industry-ecology-well-being" is a strategic goal of rural revitalization. This study selects 10 typical tourist village communities in China as research sites. Based on the adaptability theory of social-economic-natural ecosystems, this study constructs a coupling model of the "ecological dependence-livelihood well-being" of farmers' in terms of adaptability and identifies the mechanism underlying farmers' adaptability to rural tourism disturbance in the context a microsituation by way of a multinominal logistics model. The results found that are as follows. (1) Rural tourism development enhances farmers' livelihood adaptability, and "high ecological dependence-high livelihood well-being" has become the optimal response to tourism disturbance. (2) Changes in the human-land relationship constitute a fundamental factor in the adaptability responses of farmers to tourism disturbance, and government tourism support institutions are an important external driving force. This study provides useful decision-making support and policy suggestions for identifying the model of dynamic adaptation and impact mechanism of farmers in the context of tourism disturbance, thereby promoting the development of tourism, the consolidation and expansion of the key achievements of poverty alleviation and comprehensive rural revitalization.


This paper presents the soft magnetic properties of the Fe-, Ni-, Co- and Fe-Co-Ni polymer composites. The composites were ob-tained with Fe, Ni and Co powders (99.9% purity) with particle sizes of 150, 10 and 2 mm, respectively. Ring-shaped samples were ob-tained using uniaxial compaction at 91 MPa. The Fe-Co-Ni-polymer composite has the highest value of the magnetic permeability (μ=54) at 107 Hz and saturation magnetization (Ms=10000 Am2Kg-1) higher than the Ni-polymer composite (4100 Am2Kg-1).


The death of Thomas Archibald Bennet-Clark was regretted deeply by a wide circle of friends and admirers. The number in this circle was large since Thomas had a gift for friendship which he exercised enthusiastically. He was an indefatigable correspondent. Many will have been glad to receive from him letters written in his characteristic spindly handwriting. These were never arid and had the flavour of being written with the circumstances of the particular correspondent in mind. He was a witty talker. Friends will remember a slightly hesitant speech which was used to enrich a sympathetic but incisive conversation. It was never used to embarrass but always to promote a sympathetic atmosphere. He was physically a small man and in a peculiar way this characteristic seemed to be particularly appropriate to his own ebullient style of good nature. He was a sympathetic and attentive listener, and must have spent long hours in the course of a busy life in discussions of professional and scientific matters. His reward was the friendship and devotion of a remarkable variety of persons. Colleagues became collaborators, students became admirers and professional acquaintances became intimate friends.


The traditio-historical approach to the Book of Deuteronomy has made it abundantly clear that its cultic and legal material does not fit into the distinctive traditions of Jerusalem, which are more characteristically represented by the Holiness Code, the Reconstruction Programme appended to the Book of Ezekiel (xl-xlviii), and the Priestly Document. Instead the background of Deuteronomy has been rightly sought in religious circles of the Northern Kingdom. This, so far as I am aware, was first suggested by C. F. BURNEY in 1918, in the introduction to his commentary on the Book of Judges 1), and has since been elaborated by a number of scholars, especially WELCH 2), BENTZEN 3) and VON RAD 4). The authors of Deuteronomy must be sought among the heirs of the religious traditions of the Northern Kingdom, either among disciples of the prophets, as BURNEY thought, or more probably, as BENTZEN and VON RAD argue, in Levitical circles. These may well have been associated with the sanctuaries of Shechem and Bethel, and have been dispossessed of their living by the religious changes introduced after the Assyrian conquest of the Northern Kingdom in 721 B.C. Ultimately their cultic and legal traditions would go back to the conditions and ideology of the amphictyony, so that Deuteronomy may justifiably be presented as a developed expression of the older Mosaic religion. In agreement with this several distinctive features of Deuteronomy have been thought to reflect the traditions of the amphictyony.


Past RCVS President Niall Connell will take to the stage as the keynote speaker at this year's BVA Members' Day in Glasgow on Thursday 28 September.


Background: The pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has not been fully elucidated. The gastrointestinal tract have a well-differentiated intrinsic nervous system and also this system is connected with nervous system. The symptoms of IBS are related with autonomic nervous system (ANS). It was also possible to see cardiovascular symptoms due to this link. This link can influence QT dispersion (QTd). The aim of this case control study is to show the cardiac effects of IBS by changes in QTd.Methods: There were 56 newly diagnosed patients with IBS and 60 control subjects were included in this study. IBS was diagnosed using the new Roma IV Criterias. Standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) were taken in both two groups. QTd and corrected QTd (QTcd), QT max, QT min, QT avarage, Corrected QT (QTc) min, QTc max, QTc avarage values were calculated with Bazzet Formula from rest ECGs.Results: There were 56 newly diagnosed patients with IBS and 60 control subjects were included in the study (p:0.94). The mean age of the patients and control patients were 51.75±10.41 years and 48.41±9.72 (p: 0.53) years, respectively. QTd and corrected QTd (QTcd), QT max, QT min, QT mean, Corrected QT (QTc) min, QTc max, QTc mean values were calculated. QTd and QTcd values were found to be significantly higher in the patients with IBS (40.2±7.18; 34.1±6.18 / 52±9.8; 50.6±7.61 Msec, respectively). It is concluded that, QTd (p: 0.022) and QTcd (p: 0.032) were significantly incresased in the IBS.Conclusions: Activation of ANS in the patients with IBS can affect QT period in ECG.


Based on three VAR models construction,this paper does an empirical study on the dynamic relations of industrialization,urbanization and agricultural modernization,which will in turn feedback Henan's thirty-three years' orientation and development of the three factors. The results show as follows: The optimum interactive relationship between industrialization and agricultural modernization has not been formed,while industrialization does little contribution to the latter; the interdependent interactive relationship between agricultural modernization and urbanization is in process of formation; industrialization and urbanization is closely related; urbanization contributes a lot to industrialization and agricultural modernization.


A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire in
partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Professional Doctorate in Education


In this study, the following method was used to investigate the connection between Wonhyo 's Buddhist thought and Buddhist temple architecture. In Wonhyo 's works and Wonhyo' s related papers, we extracted the Buddhist philosophy corresponding to the arch


The vision of the totalitarian world described by George Orwell in his classic work «Nineteen Eighty-Four» is still questionable regarding to the technological and social advances in the contemporary society. The modern information systems are examined and compared to the information system described in the novel. Their capacity could be used to build an Orwellian world. Countermeasures exists and are evaluated


Quality assurance is a necessity in the industrial processes. The machine vision technology is an efficient technology for the reliable and fast control of different types of products. This technology allows obtaining a big amount of visual information, superficial and dimensional at a high speed. The objective of this article is to describe a successful application of machine vision technology in a Foam production, a productive sector where this technology is scarcely inserted. The aim of this project is to obtain on-line visual parameters of the process in order to modify the variables of production immediately in an automated way. Those parameters were obtained off-line by means of human visual inspection two days later in a laboratory analysis before this project. The difficulty lies in the fact that visual characteristics of both samples (on-line and off-line) are very different.


One Gram-positive bacteria,Bacillus sp.strain BG-CSN,was isolated from the muds with hypersaline and alkaline water at the beach of Banger Soda Lake in Tibet,China.After cultivating in liquid medium for 48 hours,an extracellular α-amylase AmyBGC from the strain BG-CSN was purified 23-fold reaching to electrophoretic homogeneity by sequentially ammonium sulfate precipitation,Octyl-Sepharose CL-4B column chromatography,DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow chromatography,DEAE-Toyopearl 650M chromatography and Sephadex G-100 chromatography.The enzyme had a molecular mass of 87 kD estimated by SDS-PAGE.The enzyme was optimally active at pH 10.5 and 52.5℃ and showed stability at pH range of 5.0 to 11.5 at the temperature below 35℃. The enzyme activity was inhibited by Hg+ and Fe 3+.The activity was not prevented at all by chelating reagents EDTA and SDS at high concentrations.This enzyme efficiently hydrolyzed starch to yield a series of maltooligosaccharides,including maltose after completion of the reaction.These results indicate that AmyBGC is classified as a liquefying endo-1,4-D-α-amylase(EC-188.8.131.52).


The problem of acoustic wave's slowness surface is derived from the acoustic waves equation,parametric triple equation whose roots are characteristic slowness numbers is obtained after setting the determinant of eigen-matrix to zero.Acoustic wave's slowness is involved with the calculations of the tensor computing,matrix operations,formulaic simplification and so on.The general anisotropic media,there are three different characteristic roots in the equation: a prospective longitudinal wave and two prospective horizontal waves;to the isotropic media,there are two different characteristic roots,one of them is a same root: a longitudinal wave and a horizontal wave.In order to make the abstract concept more intuitive,give the acoustic wave's slowness return of the spatial distribution of graphics.


The debate on enhancement ethics cannot escape some of the deeper questions troubling the concept of personhood. That is, in a sentence, my reading of Robert Sparrow's target article (Sparrow 2022). This development is significant for enhancement ethics, because personhood has assumed the grounding role once played by human nature. Thinking in terms of effects on persons (instead of on human nature) fits in with liberal approaches to enhancement, where enhancements are either like life choices to be regulated along libertarian principles, or like goods such as education to be regulated along principles of fairness. Genetic enhancement in particular can be subsumed under parental autonomy: parents choosing the best for their child. However, insofar the liberal approach rests on the metaphysical fulcrum of personhood, problems with the latter reverberate throughout enhancement ethics. In this commentary I will add two problems to those already identified by Sparrow: one regarding person-affecting enhancement, and the other regarding identity-affecting enhancement.


Received for publication 14 May 2001. Accepted for publication 21 Sept. 2001. This research was supported by the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station and grants from the Gloeckner Foundation and the Florida Caladium Growers' Association, and approved for publication as Journal Series R08380. Caladiums [Caladium bicolor (Ait.) Vent., syn. Caladium ×hortulanum Birdsey, Araceae Juss.] are tropical foliage plants possessing a diversity of leaf colors and shapes found in few cultivated plants. Their popularity is increasing because of their ability to tolerate summer heat and to grow in shaded locations (Harbaugh and Tjia, 1985). The general color groupings in caladium are white, red, and pink, with accents such as spots and blotches possible within each group. Leaf shapes are grouped as strap, lance, and fancy (heartshaped). A recent survey (Bell and Wilfret, 1998) revealed that white fancy-leaved cultivars are the most commonly grown group, accounting for 28% of the commercial tuber production acreage. 'Candidum' and 'White Christmas' are the most important caladium cultivars, based on acreage. Although these cultivars have been reliable producers for many years and perform well as landscape plants, especially in partial sun or shaded conditions, their performance in containers could be improved. 'Florida Blizzard' (Fig. 1), when compared with major white-fancy cultivars, has demonstrated the potential to produce a superior number of leaves and to produce an attractive 10-cm container plant when buds are excised (Evans et al., 1992). The unique leaf color of 'Florida Blizzard' is complementary to 'Candidum' and 'White Christmas', offering an attractive addition to the white-fancy segment of caladiums.


Follows up on a previous article , showing how the author completed his sailing catamaran by moulding the hulls, assembling the hull, finishing the hull, joining hull and beams, installing steering, and finally launching the boat as 'Taboo'. Notes how he created a super-smooth fair hull, and created a mast from a recycled aluminum section.


We simulate both the throughput and the delay of an experimental 7times622 Mbps spectral amplitude coding (SAC)-OCDMA system. Our results reveal that the round robin receiver/transmitter (R3T) protocol performs better than S-ALOHA CDMA protocol and provides a 4.5 dB improvement


Since the cloning of the rat prolactin gene more than 10 years ago its structure, expression, and reg ulation have been studied extensively. These studies together with those of other vertebrate prolactin genes—particularly human and bovine— have de fined some of the mechanisms that regulate synthesis of prolactin mRNA, and have also led to a broader understanding of anterior pituitary development and regulation of other pituitary hormone genes. This chapter focuses on studies that address the regulation of prolactin gene transcription during embryogenesis and in response to extracellular signals.


Uniform convergence of probability measures is analyzed by topologizing the space of events. A new characterization of narrow (weak) convergence of probability measures on Polish space is also obtained.


Drilling speed of the top section (26" hole to a depth of 80m and 17 1 /2" from a depth of 80m-400m) has been a challenge in the Menengai geothermal field with low rate of penetration as per intended target. This section is generally hard formation with frequent drilling fluids losses. Use of the standard roller cone bits on these sections causes a lot of vibrations on the rig leading to frequent breakdowns of the equipment (rotary table and top drive system) and downtime, hence longer drilling periods and high maintenance cost. Loss of circulations while drilling the top section leads to cement plugs to heal the losses, and use of more loss circulation material (LCM) and drilling mud. This increases the time taken to drill these sections due to wait on cement to cure and overall well costs.


In order to evaluate the performance of the enterprise effectively and reasonably, a performance evaluation model is proposed based on optimized DEA algorithm with decision making units. First, a second goal is set on the basis of classic DEA algorithm, and the only public weight is further determined to make the minimizing sum of changes between the efficiency of public weights and the classic DEA algorithm. And then weaken self-interest factor"s influence on the evaluation conclusion in the basic DEA evaluation by using the cross efficiency method. According to the actual situation of objects, give weights for two groups" efficiency respectively. The final efficiency of units is expressed by the linear combination of the two groups of efficiency and the weights. Simulations show that the error of the proposed improved model is relatively small, the sorting result take into account the organization efficiency maximization, self-evaluation of each unit and group evaluation at the same time, and highlight the evaluation target, which is scientific and effective..


The aim of the research was to determine the increase in soil fertility and chile production on sandy soils due to the effect of giving organic matter, zeolite sand and cane blotong. The research started in May-November. The research was conducted in a greenhouse using a completely randomized design. The treatments given were the dosage of organic fertilizer (20 and 40 tonnes ha-1); the zeolite doses (20 and 40 tonnes ha-1) and cane blotong (20 and 40 tonnes ha-1). The observation variables included the level of soil fertility before and after and the chili production variable. The results of this study were the application of organic fertilizers, zeolites and cane blotong increased physical and chemical properties of sandy soil occurred after treatment. The effect of various treatments was only able to increase chili/fruit weight and chili fruit diameter, whereas zeolite was only able to increase the weight / plant of chilies and the number of chilies.


Lung damage, along with the pathology of the upper respiratory tract and kidneys, constitute the classic triad of Wegener's granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). The special features of pulmonary pathology in this disease include the possibility of asymptomatic course. A case of asymptomatic lung damage in a patient with GPA has been reported. Despite clear signs of drug-induced clinical and laboratory remission, routine computed tomography (CT) revealed progressive changes in lung parenchyma as multiple foci with destruction, which regressed after treatment with cyclophosphamide. The importance of instrumental examination, including CT of the chest at the onset of GPA and during the subsequent follow-up, was emphasized.


Two 8-week feeding trials were conducted to investigate effects of different rapeseed meal levels(0.0-50.0%) on growth, feed utilization,blood biochemical indices and toxins residues in grass carp(Ctenoparyngodon idellus)(average body weight were about 5.0 g and 18.7 g).The results showed that: with the increasing of the rapeseed meal levels,the weight gain rate,specific growth rate,feed efficiency ratio and protein efficiency ratio decreased,but no significant difference was observed in 0.0,10.0%,20.0% and 30.0% groups.Glucosinolate(GLS),isothiocyanate(ITC) and oxazolidine thione(OZT) content in the muscle and liver also increased with the rapeseed meal level increasing in average body weight 5.0 g;In average body weight 18.7 g,there were no significant difference in serum glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase,glutamic-pyruvic transaminase,glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase/glutamic-pyruvic transaminase,total protein,albumin,globin,albumin/ globin,urea nitrogen,glucose,creatinine,T3 and T3/T4,but T4 and T3+T4 levels were significantly lower than those of control,liver cells were damaged.From the two trials,a percentage of no more than 30.0% of rapeseed meal supplementation in the feed was suitable.