Model building methodologies are playing an increasingly significant role in many aspects of software engineering activities. Today models are being applied right from requirement conceptualization to the final software installation and maintenance. Traditional methodologies however, fail to cope with increasing complexity and rapidly evolving nature of the software. The need for an efficient model building methodology is quite manifest today. The main objective of this study is to propose and implement a novel Model Building Methodology utilizing Artificial Neural Network (ANN). In order to achieve this objective, information related to regression analysis was reviewed.


The South China Sea (SCS), abundant in fishery resources, has long been a production base for fishermen of its bordering countries. The current crisis of environmental deterioration and resource depletion in the area has made it imperative to strengthen cooperation among countries and regions to conduct regular assessment of SCS resources and strengthen protection of SCS environment and resources. A new growth point of SCS fisheries resources utilization lies in the development of oceanic fishery resources (such as purpleback flying squids and tuna), which can be fostered by updating fishing gears, adjusting management regulations and establishing overseas fishery bases, among other measures. Fisheries agreements may be signed between countries to safeguard, through consultations, the orderly development of SCS fisheries activities. In view of the extensive basis for SCS fisheries cooperation between Mainland China and Taiwan, a cross-strait SCS deep-sea fisheries co-development corporation and a cross-strait overseas deep-sea fisheries corporation may be established for the purpose of utilizing complementary advantages to protect fishermen's interests and jointly defend SCS sovereignty. Against incidents violating Chinese fishermen's rights and interests in the SCS, a legal protection system comprising a maritime fishing protection mechanism including sea patrol, fishing escort and law enforcement, and a non-governmental rescue and dispute mediation mechanism may be instituted, in addition to normalization management through active prevention.


In this paper, we demonstrate the application of a new methodology for rapid identification of damaged areas to the case of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake sequence. The method aims to integrate Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery, fragility functions, and intense ground motion maps to calibrate a neural network changes detector in SAR images. All the necessary data was collected within a remarkably short period, maintaining relevance to real-world applications. Our findings indicate that minimal labeled data, such as from just six collapsed buildings, is sufficient for optimal neural network calibration. Upon validation with third-party data, this approach achieved an 84% accuracy rate, suggesting its potential as an effective tool during the crucial post-earthquake response phase, as it can provide decision-makers with crucial information to efficiently organize and allocate resources, such as sending aid, food, and rescue squads to the most severely affected areas.


Introduction: Learning management system is one of the most effective methods in teaching and learning The present study aims to identify and categorize effective factors on the effectiveness of this system from students' point of view.
Methods: The present study uses exploratory and '' Q method'. The study participants were Students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in academic year 2016-2017. According to the Q methodology, a small sample of participants were selected based on the purposeful sampling method for the interview Accordingly, 42 statements were identified. Then, 25 students were selected for quantitative study based on the targeted method. Content validity was used to assess the validity of the content and to evaluate reliability; Cronbach's alpha test was used. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 software.
Result: The results showed that a good learning management system should have 42 characteristics from students' point of view. These characteristics led to the identification of six mental patterns, including; ease of use, accessibility, individual attention, positive attitude, independent learning, and usefulness.
Conclusion: The effectiveness of a learning management system should be continuously evaluated from the point of view of its stakeholders. Therefore the six identified mental models in the present study are suggested as a guide and a model for designing and improving the quality of the learning management system in medical universities.


My training in hypnosis has made me a better radiologist, but you don't have to be a hypnotist to increase patient satisfaction.


As time goes on, interpretations of Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations (TWN) evolve. Most contemporary readers are unaware of Smith's prior work and assume that TWN, whose purview is strictly economics, is his sole monument to the history of ideas; their views concerning Smith and capitalism, as may be common today, therefore, are often devoid of ethical content. Examined from a contemporary lense, which, admittedly, may be different than Smith's original intention, can we indeed say, as ethicists would argue, that TWN, examined alone, provides society with an ethical system, which makes life better? What are some key questions that may be asked from the contemporary view? While the results are inconclusive, it is abundantly clear that Smith's TWN, viewed independently, has profound implications for business-ethical praxis today.


The purpose of this master thesis is to investigate the influencing factors on the business
potential of products with health claims, using PrimaLiv as an example. And to
give recommendations on how a dairy producer, which is present in the Swedish
market, could improve the sales rates of products with health claims. We have chosen
to put a main focus on the consumer, as he or she determines the business potential.
This is an unusual approach since most studies cover the producer's perspective. We
thereby wish to contribute with new knowledge on the area in question. In order to
understand the consumer's attitude towards products with health claims a questionnaire
and a sensory analysis have been carried out as well as discussions in focus
groups. 36 persons, men and women, of various ages and with different backgrounds
participated in the consumer investigation. Also, we have carried out a high number
of interviews with people in the academic world, experts, important authorities, producers
and retailers. Through covering all of the important actors, which influence the
consumer we have mapped the situation on a systemic level.
The consumer investigation shows that consumers do not spontaneously put products
with health claims into the category of healthy products. Instead, natural products like
meat and fish, fruits and vegetables and fibre rich bread are associated with healthy
products. Consumers are not willing to negotiate about the taste of a product just because
it is healthy and good taste is co-related to natural characteristics. Since natural
taste associations create positive experiences, the flavour of a product with health
claims should reflect something that is naturally healthy. It is also advantageous if the
flavours are easy to recognize by the consumer. To make sure that the consumer's
requirements concerning taste are fulfilled, a producer should invest in a sensory
evaluation before launching the products in the market. The nutritional value of a
product is also considered important so the keyhole symbol adds value to the product.
Further on, consumers express an insecurity concerning how, when and why they
should consume products with health claims and they are sceptical about the stated
health effects. Moreover, products with health claims are more expensive than ordinary
products, and to make the consumer willing to pay this additional cost he or she
needs to understand the health effect. There are a number of channels in which a producer
could communicate its message to the consumer. Our investigation shows that
the most efficient way to reach potential buyers is to promote the products on the
television, followed by magazines with a health approach. Another way is to network
with health care professionals since consumers listen to and follows their recommendations.
Today, health care professionals' have knowledge lacks about the effects of
the products with health claims, which makes this group potential.
In order to create a high potential of a product with health claims, studies show that
the health effect should be experienced in connection to the time of consumption as a
guarantee from the producer that the product really has a health promoting effect. If
the producer succeeds in this, the possibility of a second purchase increases.
The food industry is a market with intense competition and due to this fact it is important
to build strong brands and products demanded by the consumer. There is no
space for products with questionable taste and high price. The producer must know
what kind of product design that is appealing to the consumer, which makes the product
development process into a vital step. Money spent in this phase will be paid-off
if spent on increasing the producer's knowledge about the consumer.


Abstract Background Giant cell myocarditis (GCM) is a rare and rapidly progressive disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Whilst patients more frequently present with acute heart failure, diagnosis is difficult due to heterogeneity in clinical presentations. Case summary This case report presents a previously healthy 59-year-old Vietnamese woman who initially presented with syncope and a motor vehicle accident who developed rapid decline in left ventricular function. Her initial echocardiogram was suggestive of an infiltrative cardiomyopathy. GCM was confirmed on biopsy, and she received combined immunosuppression. Twenty-seven days following her initial presentation to hospital, she was unable to recover from severe multi-organ dysfunction, and the patient was palliated and passed away. Discussion This case highlights the varied manner in which GCM may present. Even in the absence of cardiogenic shock at presentation, giant cell myocarditis should be considered in the evaluation of new cardiomyopathy of uncertainty aetiology. Diagnosis of this condition has distinct clinical implications on management and prognosis.


122Background: Despite increasing societal acceptance of non-heterosexual persons, sexual minorities continue to face discrimination. The effect of non-heterosexual orientation on adoption of cancer preventive services, particularly prostate cancer screening (PSAS), is not clearly known. We hypothesize that male sexual minorities are less likely to receive PSAS compared to heterosexual (HTS) males. Methods: The 2014-16 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System was queried for males 40-69, without a history of prostate cancer, and having answered all sexual orientation (SO) questions. PSAS occurred if a respondent had a PSA test within the last two years for reasons other than "a prostate problem" or "for prostate cancer". Descriptive statistics were generated for demographic covariates stratified by year and SO [HTS, homosexual (HMS), bisexual (BIS), transgender (TGR), other, and refused]. The Chi-Square test was used to compare the distribution of covariate proportions amongst SO categories within each ...


Homogeneous and anisotropic LRS Bianchi type-V universe has been studied with ω <-1 without Big Smash driven by Hubble's law of variation of parameter. It is investigated that if cosmic dark energy behaves like a fluid with equation of state ωρ = p , ( p and ρ being pressure and energy density respectively) as well as generalized Chaplygin gas simultaneously, Big Rip or Big Smash problem does not arise even for equation of state parameter 1 < ω . Also the scale factor for the future universe is found to be regular for all time.


By analyzing the advantages of Sino-Russian joint training of ice and snow sports professionals in colleges and universities from the perspective of "supply-side reform", this paper points out some existing problems, and puts forward targeted improvement strategies, to reserve more ice and snow sports talents for China by strengthening the exchange of ice and snow sports between China and Russia. Keywords—Sino-Russian union; ice and snow sports; joint


Models of detritus-based ecosystems with delay have received a great deal of attention for the last few decades. This paper deals with the dynamical analysis of a nonlinear model of a detritus-based ecosystem involving detritivores and predator of detritivores. We have obtained the criteria for local stability of various equilibrium points and persistence of the model system. Next, we have introduced discrete time delay due to recycling of dead organic matters and gestation of nutrients to the growth equations of various trophic levels. With delay differential equation model system we have studied the effect of time delay on the stability behaviour. Next, we have obtained an estimate for the length of time delay to preserve the stability of the model system. Finally, the existence of Hopf-bifurcating small amplitude periodic solutions is derived by considering time delay as a bifurcation parameter.


One of the most complex and compelling issues confronting policymakers, parents, and the family court system is what type of parenting plan is most beneficial for children after their parents' divorce. How much time should children live with each parent? An increasing number of children are living with each parent at least 35% of the time in shared residential parenting families: How are these children and their parents faring? In what ways, if any, do divorced parents who share the residential parenting differ from parents whose children live almost exclusively with their mother? How stable are shared residential parenting plans? By reviewing the existing studies on shared parenting families, these questions are addressed.


I has been suggested that azithromycin might prevent a number of infectious diseases, including malaria, infectious diarrhea, and pneumonia. A study was conducted to test that theory specifically in preschool-age children. The cluster-randomized trial was conducted in communities in Malawi, Niger, and Tanzania. Children ages one month to 59 months were identified in five twice-yearly censuses and given a single directly observed dose of oral azithromycin (approximately 20 mg/kg of body weight) or placebo. The primary outcome was the community-level, aggregate, three-country mortality rate as determined from the twiceyearly censuses. The trial involved 1,533 communities randomly selected to be in the intervention or control arm. At baseline census, 97,047 children were enrolled in the azithromycin group and 93,191 in the placebo group. Over the five census visits, 323,302 person-years were monitored. In the three countries combined, the annual mortality rates among enrolled subjects were 14.6 deaths per 1,000 person-years in communities in the azithromycin arm and 16.5 deaths per 1,000 person-years in communities in the placebo arm, for a difference of 13.5% between the azithromycin group and the placebo group. The effect of azithromycin was greatest in children one to five months of age, in whom the mortality rates were also highest in the three countries. Azithromycin efficacy didn't differ significantly by country, age group, treatment period, or treatment coverage. The authors caution that the development of antibiotic resistance during mass distribution could reverse the mortality benefit, although that wasn't observed in this trial. Nonetheless, that possibility, as well as the cost and risk of adverse effects, must be considered.


Supervised classification allows handling a wide range of remote sensing hyperspectral applications. Enhancing the spatial organization of the pixels over the image has proven to be beneficial for the interpretation of the image content, thus increasing the classification accuracy. Denoising in the spatial domain of the image has been shown as a technique that enhances the structures in the image. This paper proposes a multi-component denoising approach in order to increase the classification accuracy when a classification method is applied. It is computed on multicore CPUs and NVIDIA GPUs. The method combines feature extraction based on a 1Ddiscrete wavelet transform (DWT) applied in the spectral dimension followed by an Extended Morphological Profile (EMP) and a classifier (SVM or ELM). The multi-component noise reduction is applied to the EMP just before the classification. The denoising recursively applies a separable 2D DWT after which the number of wavelet coefficients is reduced by using a threshold. Finally, inverse 2D-DWT filters are applied to reconstruct the noise free original component. The computational cost of the classifiers as well as the cost of the whole classification chain is high but it is reduced achieving real-time behavior for some applications through their computation on NVIDIA multi-GPU platforms.


Wikipedia is an online, open and free encyclopaedia edited collaboratively. Today it is the fifth most visited website and the most used online encyclopaedia. Volunteer editors from around the world can edit its content, allowing users to intentionally provide incorrect information. This research aims to find the extent to which a particular group of university students vandalize Wikipedia, while also exploring their perceptions of vandalism. Data is obtained from a questionnaire sent to university students in educational psychology, early and primary childhood education, and related master's programs, as well as a focus group involving a sample of these students and interviews with editors in charge of maintaining Wikipedia. Results show that only a small percentage of students do in fact vandalize. In line with the implicit theories approach, it seems that students and editors have some preconceived ideas (boredom, amusement, or ideological motivations) about what pushes individuals to vandalize.


Summary

Australia's urban landscapes offer opportunities to marry socio-economic and biodiversity conservation objectives. Yet, information is needed on what urban landscape and habitat features are important for wildlife. In this article, we draw together our research from southeastern Australia to describe key lessons for biodiversity-sensitive cities and towns. Lesson 1: The effects of urbanization on wildlife extend into adjacent habitats. We recommend retaining large, undisturbed areas of habitat away from development, avoiding intensive development adjacent to important conservation areas, prioritizing areas of ecological and social significance, screening light and noise pollution at the urban fringe and around large nature reserves, and planting appropriately provenanced locally native species for public streetscapes, parks and gardens. Lesson 2: Strategic enhancement of urban greenspace offers biodiversity gains. We recommend increasing the total amount of greenspace cover, maintaining ecological structures as habitat islands, using landscaping techniques to minimize risks to human safety, and gardening with low-flowering native shrubs. Lesson 3: Large old trees need to be managed for long-term sustainability. We recommend retaining large old trees in new developments, increasing the maximum standing life of urban trees, protecting regenerating areas and planting more seedlings, supplementing habitat features associated with large trees, and ensuring that young trees have space to grow through time. Lesson 4: Education and engagement connects residents with nature and raises awareness. We recommend education programs to enhance opportunities for residents to experience and learn about biodiversity, engaging residents in the establishment and maintenance of wildlife habitat, providing 'cues to care', facilitating access to garden plants that benefit wildlife, and encouraging cat containment. These lessons provide an evidence-base for implementing conservation and management actions to improve the capacity of our cities and towns to support a diverse and abundant biota.


Summary

The Proximity Equilibration Cell (PEC) method of Lenart & Flink (1983) for measuring water activity (aw) in foods was revised by improving equilibration cell design and cell handling procedures. Calibration methods were changed to eliminate time and temperature variation effects on measured (aw). The PEC cells are inexpensive, easy to use and can measure aw over the range 0.4–1.0, although accuracy is greatly improved above 0.6. In a study of osmotic concentration of apple (Palacha & Flink, 1987) over 1000 aw measurements were made over a 3-month period. Values of aw for raw apple (0.985) and sucrose osmosis solutions were in good agreement with literature values.


— This research aims to design an experimental module of micro-hydro power plant then implement those modules by arranging practical instructions and perform the measurement. Measurement data in the discussion of this final project was obtained from lab prototype Micro Hydro Power (MHP) is in the design. Measurements were made using three different types of turbines, turbine blade is a semi-circular, triangular blade turbine, and the turbine blade fins. The measurement results are discussed and analyzed by using formulas and computer programs Ms. Excel. Measurement procedures in lab MHP is designed to determine principle of working prototypes of MHP by measuring Currents (I), Voltage (V), Power (P), Water Discharge (Q), Round Turbine (nt), and Round Generator (ng) with angle nozzle 10 0 , 15 0 , 20 0 , 25 0 , 30 0 , 35 0 , and 40 0 for each experiment, with three kinds type of turbine blades, and can determine the efficiency and regulation. Based on measurement results of the MHP prototype has been designed, the efficiency of turbine on each blade reaches its highest point at an angle of 30 0 . On the corner, the efficiency of the turbine blade semicircle at 0.26, triangular blade turbine 0.46 and fin blade turbine efficiency at 0.38. So from these three types of turbine blades, turbine efficiency level of the most well based on measurements of the prototype has been designed is a triangular blade turbine efficiency value 0.46 or 46%.


In the light of the non-probabilistic robust design theory,this paper summarizes the development process of the theory and its mathematical basis and convex model,points out that that this theory is devised with regard to the limitation and irrationality of random reliability,expatiates on the core and the evaluation standard of the theory.By means of analysis upon of study focuses on the non-probabilistic robust design theories,this paper points out the development trend of the study on non-probabilistic robust design theory.


A compact optical vibration transducer which is based on compact disk (CD) optical pickup head with certain modifications is presented. High signal to noise (S/N) ratio measuring signal is achieved because a signal process integrated circuit (IC) has been integrated into a single chip with the photo detector in the transducer. Some design considerations about the selection of the models, focus servo and error analysis have been addressed in this paper. The experimental results show that the transducer can measure the signal with vibration frequency up to 5 kHz, amplitude about a few micrometer. The resolution of the transducer is 10 nm. When vibration signal is at frequency below 1 kHz, with the closed-loop operation, the maximum measurable amplitude of vibration can be extended to /spl plusmn/0.7 mm.


Abstract We previously demonstrated that adaptation of an embryo-attenuated infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) Arkansas Delmarva Poultry Industry (ArkDPI)-derived vaccine to chicken embryo kidney (CEK) cells shifted the virus population towards homogeneity in spike (S) and non-structural protein (NSP) genes. Moreover, the typical Ark vaccine subpopulations emerging in chickens vaccinated with commercial Ark vaccines were not detected in chickens vaccinated with the CEK-adapted virus. In this study, chickens vaccinated with a low dose (1.6 x 103 EID50/bird) of CEK-adapted Ark vaccine at 5 days of age showed a significant reduction of IBV RNA in lachrymal fluids and decreased incidence of IBV RNA detection in tracheal swabs 5 days after challenge compared to unvaccinated challenged chickens. In a second experiment 5-day-old chickens were vaccinated with 104 or 105 EID50/chicken of CEK-adapted Ark and protection was compared to chickens vaccinated with 105 EID50/chicken of the commercial ArkDPI-derived vaccin...


For the characteristics of multiple loads coupled and non-linear in the regional integrated energy system, an error compensated LSTM-GRU based multivariate load forecasting method for regional integrated energy systems is proposed in the paper. First, the processing of the residual data and abnormal data in the historical data, the factors that have a greater impact on the multi-load load of this paper are screened out through grey correlation analysis, the load is predicted using a traditional Long and Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network. Secondly, the prediction error is trained by the Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) to obtain the error compensation value. Finally, a more accurate load forecast is obtained by reconstructing the load forecast value and the error forecast value. The feasibility of the model proposed in this paper is verified through examples and comparisons with other models.


A trypsin inhibitor, designated Soap Nut Trypsin inhibitor (SNTI) with both antifungal and antibacterial activity exhibiting a molecular mass of 29kDa on SDS–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was isolated from soap nut seeds (Sapindus trifoliatus L) by a combination of ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange chromatography and gel permeation chromatography on Sephadex G-100. It exerted potent antifungal activity against dermatophytic fungi Trichophyton rubrum and Malassezia furfur which are implicated in causing dandruff. SNTI exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Proteus vulgaris and Escherichia coli. The extracts of the pericarp which contained secondary metabolites also exhibited antifungal activity to a lesser extent compared to SNTI. The results obtained herein indicate that SNTI possess exploitable potentials for therapeutic applications. Introduction Protease inhibitors play an important role in the protection of plant tissues from pest and pathogen attack by virtue of an anti nutritional interaction. Protease inhibitors with antifungal activity have captured the attention of a number of researchers on account of their tremendous potential in protecting crops from invading fungi and thus have important economic implications. Antifungal proteins may contribute to both defense against predators such as insects (Murdock LL et.al., 1990) as well as pathogens such as fungi (Wang SY et.al., 2005;2006). It is well identified that there is a spectacular diversity of antifungal proteins produced by plants and have been classified into different groups based on their structure and/or functions (Ng TB, 2004). Sometimes, a combination of antifungal proteins is found in a single species of bean. For instance, proteins and peptides such as lysozyme, nonspecific lipid transfer protein, and protease inhibitor were isolated from mung bean, and all have fungal inhibition activity (Wang SY et.al., 2005;2006;2004). HIV protease inhibitors and SARS coronavirus protease inhibitors are used to fight against HIV and SARS virus, respectively (Ng TB et.al., 1997). Plant protease inhibitors may be involved in the regulation of programmed cell death in plants. One of the common type of protease inhibitors is trypsin inhibitors which have been isolated from both animal and plant tissues. Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitors also inhibit chymotrypsin, α-amylase and human plasmin, and block the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin (Birk Y, 2003; Zhao M et.al., 1996). Dermatophytes, a group of about 40 related fungi belong to three genera: Microsporum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton cause cutaneous mycoses infecting only the keratinized tissue like skin, hair and nails. Dermatophytoses are among the most prevalent infections in the world. Species of Malassezia and Trichophyton have been implicated as contributors to seborrheic dermatitis or dandruff. This condition is partially alleviated by ketoconazole treatment (A Sanfilippo and JC. English III, 2006). Soap nuts are being considered for commercial use in cosmetics and detergents, among many other products. Reports on the antimicrobial activity of SNTI a trypsin inhibitor are not yet available in the literature. Hence, it is worthwhile to investigate the effect of SNTI on selected bacterial strains and dermatophytic fungi causing dandruff. Materials and Methods The Sapindus trifoliatus trees bearing soap nuts were selected from Horticulture Research Station, Pandirimamidi, Rampachodavaram, AP (INDIA). Fruits were collected at ripened stage. The endosperm is used for the isolation and purification of SNTI. Various chemicals used in the present investigation were purchased from the following sources. Bovine pancreatic α-chymotrypsin (3x crystallized, type II), N-acetyl-L-tyrosine ethyl ester (ATEE), dimethyl sulfoxide, elastase, elastin congo red , pronase, papain, pepsin, thermolysin, α-amylase, acrylamide, bis-acrylamide , protein markers and sephadex G-100 were obtained from Sigma Chemical company, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. The bacterial strains Bacillus subtilis (NCIM 2063), Staphylococcus aureus (NCIM 3021), Escherichia coli (NCIM 2066), Klebsiella pneumonia (NCIM 2957), Proteus vulgaris (NCIM 2027) were from NCIM Pune and fungal species Malassezia fur fur (MTCC 1374) was procured from MTCC, Chandigarh. Trichophyton rubrum was collected from Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam. Sample preparation The outer hard seed coat was removed and 25 g of kernel is homogenized with 200 ml of 50 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.6 and then made up to 250 ml with the same buffer. The clear supernatant obtained after centrifugation at 2500 rpm was treated with 50% ice cold acetone and again centrifuged at 2500 rpm for 15 minutes at 4oC. The precipitate dissolved in 250 ml of 50 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.6 was used for further investigations. Purification of SNTI Purification was carried out according to the procedure adopted by (Sai Annapurna et.al., 1991). All operations were carried out at 4oC unless otherwise stated. SDS-PAGE Sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) was performed according to the method of (Laemmli UK and Favre M, 1973). Preparation of pericarp extract for Antimicrobial activity The pericarp from soap nut was removed and air dried and then ground to powder using an electric mill. The powdered material (10g) was subjected to soxhlet extraction for 18h using water, methanol, ethanol, chloroform and hexane separately. The extracts were concentrated and further used for anti microbial activities.


The search for an optimal prediction model is very important in statistics. Especially in high dimensions the question arises, which variables mainly influence prediction. Bayesian modeling provides a good way to deal with this problem. For linear models George & McCulloch (1993) [1] developed a promising approach, where the variable selection takes place within the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling in an intuitive way. In survival analysis, for example, gene expression data constitute a common example of a high dimensional setting where only a few variables show significant influence on the prediction. Lee et al. (2011) [2] introduced a proportional hazards model for survival which is able to deal with such applications. Aiming to use the method of George & McCulloch (1993) [1] within survival analysis, we combined their approach with the survival model of Lee et al. (2011) [2]. This demonstrated promising results in an initial simulation study. To test the practical behavior and quality of the model we used data of medulloblastoma patients and incorporated different extensions, e.g. the use of copy number variation data attempting to guide the variable search. Furthermore, we used parallel tempering to improve the mixture of the MCMC chains and attain more precise predictions [3]. In the course of the analyses it could be seen that the results were marked with a high uncertainty due to the quality and structure of the data. For future research it would therefore be essential to use data of better quality, but apart from that, there is also still a lot of potential for additional changes and extensions to the model. The MCMC sampler was implemented in the statistical computing environment R [4].


At present, the research about liquor making related microorganism mainly concentrated in molds,yeasts and bacteria, but there was few research for the actinomycetes. This paper was based on the study of actinomycetes from the process of liquor brewing enzyme production capacity. The results showed that these actinomycetes both have a certain ability of producing amylase and protease by hydrolyzed circle early screening experiment and the enzyme activity determination. Glucoamylase activity was up to 775.53 u/g dry medium. Protease activity was up to 438.24 u/g dry medium.


The purpose of the present cross-cultural study was to explore the relationships of second and foreign language teachers' and students' attitudes towards Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) in terms of their gender, age group , and educational level in two countries, Spain and Iran. The study was based on a sample of 318 language teachers and 307 language students in Iran and Spain. Data collection was car ried out through two online questionnaires (108 items) for both teachers and students. To make a sound decision, the researchers decided to utilize the Delphi methodology, which was origin ally established in order to diagnose the beneficiary of technologies. In the data analysis p hase, descriptive, t test and one-way ANOVA analyses were performed to find the answers of the res arch questions. The findings of the study revealed that there is no difference between th attitudes of Iranian and Spanish towards CALL in terms of gender, age and educational matter . Finally, pedagogical implications and recommendations for further research are presented.


Luminescence efficiency of ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) is investigated using electroluminescence measurements. The effects of thermal and layer structure on the external quantum efficiency at different current densities are discussed and clarified.


Zonation in rocky littoral shores is a common ecological occurrence, especially among sessile organisms. Abiotic and biotic factors have been extensively studied as reasons for the observed zonation patterns. The gastropod Nerita Plicata is an herbivorous snail that inhabits the upper limits of intertidal zone on the rocky shores. The zonation of N.plicata was investigated in relation to its ability to track resources. Different factors were taken into account, including tide, time of day, and periphyton quality. Vertical transects of both N. plicata activity and periphyton reveal that the snails can find their preferred grazing grounds throughout the day, migrating down to the middle and lower limits of the intertidal zone. Additionally, dispersion analysis revealed that N. plicata can clump in resource rich patches in the lower intertidal zone. Exclosures in the field prevented N. plicata from grazing on patches of algae, but algae did not respond to the absence of grazing. These findings reveal that N.plicata zonation is not confined to the upper limits of the intertidal zone and are temporally dynamic. The patterns are influenced by the availability of resources that are differentially distributed throughout the habitat.


Streets are considered to be major public spaces in the urban fabric. A pedestrian street is a street in which the carriageway space has been prioritised for pedestrian use. In Malaysia, due to enhancements of the streetscape and the promotion of the qualities of urban spaces, "pedestrianisation" has been suggested as a solution to recover space for pedestrian and non-traffic activities. A review of the literature has revealed that when people engage in a variety of activities, the streets become livelier. However, few empirical studies have addressed stationary and sustained activities in pedestrian streets. This research focused on pedestrian activities in Meldrum Walk and Segget Walk in Johor Bahru. Through behavioural observation, data on pedestrians of diverse age groups and genders, along with different types of activities and postures, were analysed. This study recommended that policy makers initiate conscious attempts to create diverse environments to attract a varied group of people to reside near pedestrian streets or attract visitors to frequent these streets. In addition, policy makers need to focus on interest groups, including children, senior citizens and/or disabled people, to make it easier for these groups to participate in activities in pedestrian streets.


Forkhead box P3(FOXP3)~+regulatory T(Treg)cells are crucial for the homeostasis of the immune system,and harbor suppressive capacities of which are maintained by or inherited with distinct epigenetic signatures.The functional features of Treg cells are facilitated by multiple T cell differentiation-related transcription factors that therefore endow them with adaption capability to dynamic microenvironments.Recent studies also recalled the importance of immune cell metabolism,which is intimately linked with Treg cell differentiation,proliferation and function.Understanding the molecular mechanism underlying the functional stability of Treg cells could provide therapeutic opportunities to treat major human inflammatory diseases including infection,autoimmunity,allergy and cancer.


In fact, the relationship between fault and test is uncertain, and the traditional testability model cannot deal with uncertain information. Bayesian network model with uncertain information reasoning ability and self-learning ability has become a research hotspot. Aiming at the difficulty and high cost of Bayesian network testability model, a automatic modeling method based on Bayesian network was proposed. This method uses the circuit functional structure relationship characterized by EDA to provide the required conditions for the K2 algorithm, and verifies the results of the structure and parameter learning. Through this method, the Bayesian network model can continuously update the model structure and parameters by combining expert knowledge, historical experience and later use data, making the model more and more accurate. After simulation and comparison, the algorithm can effectively build a model and reduce the workload of related personnel.


There is trend of increasing the frequency and severity of extreme climate events and related disasters. The objective of this paper is to analyze the health impacts due to the flood occurred in November 2008 in Santa Catarina (southern Brazil) and the underlying social processes behind the disaster. The method consisted in the recovery and analysis of information from different sources (health services, civil protection and the newspapers), for the municipalities affected by the disaster. The results demonstrate that the immediate effects are just one part of health effects that extend over the medium and long term, expressing the underlying social, environmental and institutional vulnerabilities and lack of resilience to disasters. In conclusion we point to the various vulnerabilities that must be addressed to reduce the impact of natural disasters, involving the development agendas, and climate vulnerability reduction.


Beam hopping system sharing transmitting resources in time enables satellites and gateways to reduce their costs for increased HTS capacity. However, the conventional beam hopping system decreases frequency efficiency if the traffic demands vary among clusters because it shares their resources only in a cluster. Therefore, this paper proposes the novel beam hopping technique which overlaps each of clusters to share transmitting resources among them. The effectiveness of the proposal is verified through simulation results.


The Different Than Majority Labeling (DTML) problem has a simple polynomial time algorithm, but is not known to be in NC. In this paper, we show that the DTML problem is extremely unlikely to have an NC1 algorithm.


The stress tolerance index (STI) of leaf photosynthetic parameters was analysed in recombinant introgression lines of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown under water stress of varying intensity in the simulated conditions of soil and soil-atmospheric drought. STI for the chlorophyll content was >1 regardless of experimental conditions. Carotenoids content increased only when soil drought occurred. Maximum quantum yield of PSII photochemistry was the most stable and stress-resistant parameter. Minimal fluorescence yield of the dark-adapted state was only sensitive to soil-atmospheric drought. Nonphotochemical quenching decreased under water stress, while parameters of the fast light curve based on chlorophyll fluorescence increased proportionally to the level of the stress load. We believe that these parameters are the most sensitive to the changes in the water supply of wheat plants, and are convenient for the rapid and noninvasive assessment of the wheat photosynthetic apparatus state under drought conditions.


Strategic default – the practice of opting to default on an underwater home mortgage when the mortgagor has the ability to pay – has been a significant exacerbating factor in the mortgage crisis and its accompanying economic upheaval. The practice is fostered by states that limit or prohibit personal recourse on mortgage obligations. As a result, strategic default is a more pervasive problem in these states than in their recourse brethren. State law determines whether a lender can get a deficiency judgment against a mortgagor; however, the federal government is mostly paying for the mortgage crisis – the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac conservatorship and other mortgage-relief programs have already cost the federal government close to $200 billion. It is unreasonable for the federal taxpayer to foot the bill and yet be subjected to this maze of state laws when it comes to recovering deficiencies, especially from strategic defaulters. This article advocates congressional adoption of a uniform deficiency law for residential mortgages. We conclude that Congress should preempt state non-recourse law by enacting legislation based on Section 8.4 of the Restatement (Third) of Property: Mortgages. Should Congress find such preemption politically unappealing, we advocate that federal agencies such as the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) accomplish the same result through the regulatory process. Absent such an approach, the use of the differential guarantee fee by FHFA with respect to mortgages guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is a promising alternative and represents sensible and desirable public policy. States that choose to use state law to impose greater costs on federal taxpayers and borrowers in other states should be willing to pay the price.


The former winter sports camp Frostavallen was connected by a track to the nearest railway halt, now part of the Skaneleden subtrail Ridge to Ridge. Rubus echinatus, R. senticosus and R. sciocharis occur at three sites in the area, probably a result of timber import half a century ago.


The utility model provides an use ultra violet radiation to come the scheme of disinfecting to the screen of article. The scheme can provide an electron device who includes the screen that is utilized by electron device's user. This screen can be the more at least ultraviolet transparent screen who covers electron device's inside part, and a set of ultra violet radiation source can be close to fixes a position in transparent screen. This group ultra violet radiation source can be by the structure for producing by the ultra violet radiation of the guide of the surface towards ultraviolet transparent screen. Electron device can also include: monitoring and control system, the relevant a set of attribute of surface through monitoring and screen is and based on the monitoring step and control by the ultra violet radiation of guide in the surface department of screen, can manage the ultra violet radiation production.


Abstract Effective role of optical duobinary transmitter with optical coherent quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) receiver based on light amplifiers measured is stimulated by using optisystem simulation software version 13. Signal, noise power levels are stimulated after long haul fiber optic range up to 350 km distance. Measured light amplifiers, optical duobinary transmitters and optical QAM receiver are employed to measure the peak signal amplitude power (SAP) and noise signal power for bit rate transmission with 100 Gb/s based 350 km length. Maximum signal power level margin is enhanced with high data rates transmission.


Palabras clave: metodo de riego, inundacion, produccion agricola. ABSTRACT. The method of irrigation by inundation, which transports the water by channels and furrows, has been used during years in the agriculture production, although require a big amount of water and his efficacy is not very high because almost all the water can't be extracted directly by the roots of the plants. So, is of vital important to obtain reliable and very precise data in the field that allowed to study and project water handling with the less grade of possible uncertainty. With the actual knowledge of the relation water-floor-plant and the possibility by this kind of measure devices to know the quantity of water in the field or in more specific region of it, we can anticipate an effective use of the water by the application of the exact volume in the right moment. For these reasons the Center of Agricultural Mechanization (CEMA) designed an electronic device for measure and indicate the flow and waste of water for open channels, applied for any hydraulic structure that relate the water level of a section of known area, with the water flow that pass by the same section, with the propose of create a device precise and economic, capable of made measures in the field.


The video cassette recorder installs a program reservation board, sectioned by dates and times, in the front part and gets a wanted program reserved by applying an opaque pen to the corresponding section. The VCR comprises a tuner (4), driven by a key-in signal, for selecting a broadcast channel; a digitron (6) displaying various functions; a timer controller (2) generating control signals for driving the digitron and an on screen display; the program board forming the sections for the reservation dates and times, and signal detection tracks; a sensor detecting the reservation dates and times, and supplying the data for the timer controller.


Abstract. Coastal salt marshes are valuable wetland ecosystems, and obtaining accurate information on their spatial and temporal distribution is crucial. However, due to the strong spectral similarity among various types of salt marshes, distinguishing them is difficult, especially in areas with mixed salt marsh growth. In this study, we developed a pixel-based unique phenological feature composite method (PUpf-CM). First, we identified a unique phenological period for each type of salt marsh by analyzing the normalized difference vegetation index time-series of Spartina alterniflora (S. alterniflora) and native salt marshes [Suaeda salsa (S. salsa), Phragmites australis (P. australis), and Imperata cylindrica (I. cylindrica)] in Yancheng National Nature Reserve, Jiangsu Province, China. Then, we generated a composite image for each unique phenological period, maximizing the spectral separability between the corresponding salt marsh and background species. Second, we used the composite images obtained at the unique phenological period of S. alterniflora as input to the random forest classifier, achieving high precision identification of S. alterniflora. Compared with the previously developed pixel-based PUpf-CM, the overall accuracy (OA) of PUpf-CM was 98.26% to 99.42%, and the Kappa was 0.940 to 0.975, indicating an improvement of 0.87% to 4.94% and 0.031 to 0.179, respectively. Finally, we tested the possibility of applying PUpf-CM to salt marsh classification by stacking four composite images obtained at different unique phenological periods. We found that the maximum spectral separability was achieved for the combination of four unique phenological periods, and the OA and Kappa of the PUpf-CM-based salt marsh classification reached 97.54% and 0.969, respectively.


This paper describes the design and implementation of electroluminescent light suits used by the BYU Ballroom Dance Team. The suits are controlled via a radio. The light suit design process comprised suit design and construction, control box design and construction, and a GUI implementation for a transmitting laptop station. These tasks were divided between nine team members and completed over a three-month time period. Each task had its own challenges, but through the hard work and dedication of team members, the project was successful.


This study was conducted to investigate the potential of Aframomum melegueta leaf and seed as biopesticide against Sitotroga cerealella infestation on two paddy varieties at ambient temperature of 28 °C ± 2 °C and relative humidity of 75 ± 5%. The two paddy varieties used were FARO 44 and FARO 52. Leaf and seed powders of A. melegueta were made at 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 g while the extracts were made at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5%. Mortality of the insect on the two paddy varieties was record after 24, 48 and 72 h of application of the powders and extracts of this plant. The highest number of the insect was observed on FARO 52 treated with seed powders and extracts of A. melegueta. Only the seed extracts were able to achieve 100% moth mortality within 72 h of application at 4% concentration and were significantly (p < 0.05) different from others. The powders and extracts of the plant significantly reduced or prevented the adult emergence of the insect and increased their developmental period as well reduced or prevented seed weight loss with seed powders and extracts having the greatest effect on the paddy variety FARO 44. The antinutritional components present in the two paddy varieties include phytate, oxalate, total phenol and tannin cyanide, and the amylase content was also determined, with FARO 44 having the highest value of 17.31, 0.18, 0.43, 10.46 and 5.49 for phytate, oxalate, tannin, cyanide and amylase content, respectively. Powders and extracts of A. melegueta could be introduced into pest management techniques since they are effective against S. cerealella.


Defined contribution pension pillars often require participants to take an active role in selecting pension funds during the whole accumulation period. It is expected that pension a fund participant will select an appropriate investment strategy and investment risk during the different stages of the accumulation phase and depending on the years left until retirement. In this paper, we have analysed the behaviour of second pillar pension fund participants in Lithuania from the establishment of the second pension pillar (2004) till Q3 of 2016. The aim of the study is to evaluate how rational second pension pillar participants were in decisions on selecting the accumulation rate, the appropriate pension fund (investment strategy and investment risk) and changing the pension fund over the accumulation period during various stages of the economic cycle in the financial markets. The results show that the majority of second pension pillar participants are irrational in selecting participation rates. Additionally, it was also observed that the majority of pension fund participants make irrational choices on selecting the pension fund (investment strategy and investment risk) and changing it over the accumulation period. The majority of pension fund participants have selected an inappropriate pension fund (investment strategy and investment risk) with regard to the accumulation period left till retirement. Moreover, participants are passive and tend not to change pension funds during the accumulation period. Pension fund participants who did change pension funds made irrational decisions and chose inappropriate pension funds (investment strategy and investment risk): in case of peak periods in stock markets, the majority of second pension pillar participants changed pension funds by switching from the funds with a lower proportion of equities to those with a higher proportion of equities or changed their pension fund to a fund in the same investment risk category. Moreover, in case of bottom periods in stock markets, the majority of participants did the opposite, switching from funds with a higher proportion of equities to those with a lower proportion of equities.


Secure authentication across insecure communication channels is crucial in today's digital world. When conducting an online shopping or banking transaction, for example, a customer needs to be assured that she is communicating with the intended retailer or bank, rather than falling victim to a phishing attack. Similarly, the retailer or bank must be sure that the transaction originated with a legitimate client as opposed to an impostor. Secure authentication between two or more entities is usually effected through the use of a cryptographic key, i.e. a shared secret that is only known to the participating communicants. Only parties with knowledge of this secret are legitimate, and a secure authentication system ensures that it is infeasible for impersonators to obtain the secret. Geographic reality requires that shared cryptographic keys must themselves be established across insecure communication channels in such a way that eavesdroppers cannot discover them. One of the most common and efficient means by which this can be accomplished is the Diffie-Hellman key agreement protocol [12]. In this protocol's most general form, two communicating parties Alice and Bob first agree on a finite cyclic group G, written additively, and a generator g of G. Both G and g can be publicly known. To establish a shared cryptographic key, Alice and Bob proceed as follows:


This paper deals with a fault-tolerant sensor network configuration problem for a target navigation. A sensor network system consists of many sensor nodes and its network connections. Each sensor node can exchange information by wireless communication. A disadvantage of this system's property is that if there is an inaccurate information from a faulty sensor, this information has possibilities to be diffused to other sensors. Therefore, it is important to reduce effects of the inaccurate information by detecting a faulty sensor as possible as we can. And moreover, in feedback control system for navigation, we have to consider a lack of control inputs which happens depending on each sensor's intermittent observation. We propose two estimation methods for constructing a fault tolerant system. Specifically, we propose a fault-evaluation matrix for the fault detection, and we define a novel switching rule for shutting off inaccurate measurement data. Then we also propose a compensation algorithm for the problem of intermittent observation by using an estimated observation value.


Objective:To observe effects of Fushuning on treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis and to explore it's mechanism Method:Forty SD female rats were devided into four groups randomly:The sham group were made a sham operation The other three groups were ovariectomized bilaterally to mould the models of osteoporosis Three months later,the sham group and estrogen(E 2) group were treated with water and the other two groups were treated with Fushuning and estrogen(E 2)respectively Another three months later the changes of these rats were observed Result:The Ca,P of Fushuning group both in bone and in blood increased( P0 05 ) The density of bone and uterus weight also increased compared with the ovariectomized group( P0 05 );there were more ALP and E 2 in the blood of Fushuning group( P0 05 ) Couclusion:Fushuning pills has great effects in curing postmenopausal osteoporosis by elevating E 2


Objective: To investigate the e ects of rosiglitazone on hyperglycemia and insulin resistance(IR) in rats with cecal ligation and puncture(CLP) induced sepsis.Methods: Eighteen SD rats were equally randomized into sham operation group,sepsis group and rosiglitazone pretreatment plus sepsis group(rosiglitazone group).Sepsis in rats was induced by means of CLP,and rats in rosiglitazone group were treated with rosiglitazone(20 mg/kg) by gavage 30 min before CLP.e fasting plasma glucose(FPG) levels in rats were measured in tail-vein blood samples before and 30,60,90,120and 150 min a er CLP.e rats were sacri ced at 150 min,the fasting insulin(FINs) levels were determined,and the homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance indexes(HOMA-IRI) were calculated.In addition,the TNF-α concentrations in rat serum and jejunal tissues were measured.Results: The FPG level in rats of sepsis group was significantly increased compared with the level before surgery,and the FPG levels at each time point were all signi cantly higher than those of sham operation group(all P0.05),while the change in FPG level in rats of rosiglitazone group was not evident,and its FPG levels showed no statistical di erences compared with sham operation group at each time point(all P0.05).e FINs level and HOMA-IRI as well as the TNF-α concentrations in the serum and jejunal tissues in sepsis group were all signi cantly higher than those in sham operation group(all P0.05),but these parameters in rosiglitazone group changed unremarkably and presented no statistical differences versus sham operation group(all P0.05).Conclusion: Rosiglitazone pretreatment can improve the IR state,and also reduce the systemic in ammatory response in rats with CLP induced sepsis.


The diversity of the clinical picture and the asymptomatic nature of the clinical manifestations of myometrial pathology cause difficulties in diagnosis. There is a lack of reliable diagnostic criteria for this pathology, in particular, imaging, especially with the simultaneous combination of adenomyosis and leiomyoma. The aim of the research. Determination of the possibility of compression sonoelastography in the diagnosis of myometrial pathology and determination of its sonoelastography characteristics in leiomyoma and adenomyosis, as well as comparison of sonoelastography results with histological data. Materials and methods. Elastography images of 155 patients with adenomyosis and leiomyoma, as well as combined pathology, were analyzed, the elastography diagnosis of which was confirmed by histological examination. Results. Leiomyoma and adenomyosis had different elastography characteristics (strain ratios) with different color mapping; their specific characteristics and main differences are determined. Based on sonoelastography, the majority of patients (n = 30) were suspected of having uterine fibroids, 14 had adenomyosis, and 42 had adenomyosis and fibroids. Sonoelastography revealed histological signs of adenomyosis in 3 patients with uterine leiomyoma. Conclusions. Ultrasound examination using compression sonoelastography in such pathological conditions of the myometrium as adenomyosis and leiomyoma, as well as unchanged myometrium, makes it possible to determine changes in the degree of elasticity of the myometrium in the corresponding pathology. Sonoelastography allows the identification of clear distinguishing features of fibroids and adenomyosis. The unchanged myometrium has a certain elasticity, which can be equated to a specific numerical value – the coefficient of deformation. This indicator has different meanings in myoma and adenomyosis, which makes it possible to differentiate these pathological conditions of the myometrium. Compression sonoelastography is able to identify clear distinguishing features of leiomyoma and adenomyosis, and consistency of diagnoses based on sonoelastography and histology is significant but not optimal.


The US House of Representatives failed by just 13 votes to override President Bush's veto of a plan to renew and expand the state children's health insurance plan.

The plan covers about 6.6 million children in families who earn too much to qualify for help from the Medicaid programme for poor people yet cannot afford to buy health insurance, as well as some pregnant women and some adults in disadvantaged families.

Both the House and the Senate had passed a bill increasing spending for the programme by $35bn (£17bn; €25bn) over the next five years …


We report a direct observation of radiation pressure, exerted on cold rubidium atoms while bouncing on an evanescent-wave atom mirror. We analyze the radiation pressure by imaging the motion of the atoms after the bounce. The number of absorbed photons is measured for laser detunings ranging from 190 MHz to 1.4 GHz and for angles from 0.9 mrad to 24 mrad above the critical angle of total internal reflection. Depending on these settings, we find velocity changes parallel with the mirror surface, ranging from 1 to 18 cm/s. This corresponds to 2 to 31 photon recoils per atom. These results are independent of the evanescent-wave optical power. PACS number~s!: 32.80.Lg, 42.50.Vk, 03.75.2b An evanescent wave ~EW! appears whenever an electromagnetic wave undergoes total internal reflection at a dielectric interface. The EW is characterized by an electric field amplitude that decays exponentially with the distance to the interface. The decay length is on the order of the ~reduced! optical wavelength. Cook and Hill @1# proposed to use the EW as a mirror for slow neutral atoms, based on the ''dipole force.'' EW mirrors have since become an important tool in atom optics @2#. They have been demonstrated for atomic beams at grazing incidence @3# and for ultracold atoms at normal incidence @4#. Most experimental work so far has been concentrated on the reflective properties, i.e., the change of the atomic motion perpendicular to the surface @5#. This is dominated by the dipole force due to the strong gradient of the electric field amplitude. In the present paper we report on our measurement of the force parallel to the surface. It was mentioned already in the original proposal @1# that there should be such a force. The propagating component of the wave vector leads to a spontaneous scattering force, ''radiation pressure'' @6,7#. We present here a direct observation of radiation pressure exerted by evanescent waves on cold atoms. Previously, a force parallel to the surface was observed for micrometersized dielectric spheres @8#. In our experiment, we observe the trajectory of a cloud of cold rubidium atoms falling and bouncing on a horizontal EW mirror. The radiation pressure appears as a change in horizontal velocity during the bounce. We study the average number of scattered photons per atom as a function of the detuning and angle of incidence of the EW. The latter varies the ''steepness'' of the optical potential. Due to its short extension, on the order of the optical wavelength, an EW mirror is a promising tool for efficient loading of low-dimensional optical atom traps in the vicinity of the dielectric surface @9,10#. In these schemes, spontaneous optical transitions provide dissipation and cause the mirror to be ''inelastic,'' such that the final atomic phase-space density increases. This might open a route toward quantum degenerate gases that does not use evaporative cooling @11#, and could potentially yield ''atom lasers'' @12#, which are open, driven systems out of thermal equilibrium, similar to optical lasers. It is this application of EW mirrors that drives our interest in experimental control of the photon scattering of bouncing atoms. This article is structured as follows. In Sec. II we summarize the properties of the EW potential, including the photon scattering of a bouncing atom. In Sec. III we describe our experimental setup and our observation of radiation pressure. We investigate its dependence on the angle of incidence and laser detuning. Finally, we discuss several systematic errors.


Summary

Although some retardation in ripening of Doyenne du Comice pears can be obtained when unripe fruit are held in modified atmosphere packs (MA) at 20°C, softening proceeds at a faster rate than chlorophyll loss so that the appearance of the fruit fails to match its internal condition. However, a 4-day extension in shelf-life was obtained by packing the fruit in a part-ripe condition and, although the effects on rate of softening were less than those seen for unripe fruit, the yellower ground colour was more consistent with the eating qualities of the fruit. Increases in fruit-to-fruit variability, and in the risk of skin injury as the pears ripen in MA packs which were also recorded, are likely to preclude the commercial adoption of this technique for Comice pears.


Introduction: Pregnancy in women >35 years is considered an obstetric risk condition, for both the mother and the fetus. Objective: To explore the prevalence and determinants associated with pregnancy in women >35 years in Tunja. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study in which the institutional records of deliveries occurred in women living in Tunja during the period 2011-2015 was analyzed. Results: There were 1 558 births to women >35 years, which constitutes 11.6-13% of the annual total; 49.8% of those births were delivered by caesarean section. Associated factors included affiliation to the contributory regime, school level of the pregnant woman and her partner, urban habitat and stable partner. No increased risk of obstetric complications was found in comparison with other age groups, but positive association with higher probability of prematurity, overweight, stillbirth and cesarean section was observed. Conclusions: The incidence of birth is slightly higher than the national average, perhaps due to social and cultural factors not fully established, but similar to those reported in the literature. It is advisable to deepen the analysis of determinants to improve surveillance and control strategies, as well as screening routines.


The bushing on the HVDC converter transformer's valve side subject to a mixed voltage,electric field distribution is very complex.the electric field distribution of the bushing on the HVDC converter transformer's valve side is analysis by using ANSYS.The time constant to the steady-state and the maximum electric field and the electric field distribution along sheds of bushing are obtained by calculation.Calculation results show that the reversed electric field after DC steady state is higher than that in the polarity reversal test.The electric field along sheds of bushing has a maximum value in boundary of different dielectric.The research results provide scientific basis for the designing and Polarity reversal testing of the bushing on the HVDC converter transformer's valve side.


Described are the functions,composition,technical parameters,structure features,technical requirements and main operation points of the new type rail collection system of the long rail trainsets.


The paper discusses the selection and measurement analysis of transfer standard for power meter as well as the calculation analysis of the data with inter-laboratory comparison and ability statistics.A method to judge the error sources distribution type is given.The verifying method of laboratory capability is introduced by statistical control method based on the determination of measurement errors distribution.


Comrade DENG Xiao-ping makes the point that science and technology are the primary productive forces.America and some other developed countries have appeared new economic phenomena,and these phenomena confirm that science and technology are the important driving forces to the economic development.The application and development of high-tech in which the information technology are mainly used not only play an very important part in the economic development of one country,but give new connotation to the world economy,and make modern world economy unprecedented new features:economy knowledge,economy entwork,economy golbalization.


The static potential acquired by an infinite cylinder immersed in a low density collisionless plasma is discussed in detail. It is assumed that the plasma is uniform at large distances from the cylinder and of infinite extent and has a constant drift velocity in one specific direction. Approximate expressions for the distribution functions of the electrons and ions in the presence of the conducting cylinder are derived from the collisionless Boltzmann equation. An expression for the static potential of the cylinder is derived from the condition that the electrical neutrality of the plasma is maintained at large distances from the cylinder. Simplified expressions for the static potential are given for various physical situations. The case of stationary plasma is obtained as a special case of the former when the drift velocity equals zero. Numerical values are given for some cases.


Objective;To explore the relationship among parents' negative punishment,children's self-concept,and children's social behaviors.Methods;Data were collected from questionnaires given to a sample of 612 children from primary and secondary schools and their parents.Results;The structural equation modeling results showed parents' negative punishments could influence children's social behaviors directly and indirectly.In the indirect approach,through the mediating role of children's self-concept,parents' negative punishments could make a negative role on children's pro-social and aggressive behaviors,and a positive role on children's withdrawn behavior.In the direct approach,parents' negative punishments could make a positive effect on children's pro-social,aggressive and withdrawn behavior directly.Conclusion;Children's self-concept plays a mediating role between the relationship of parents' negative punishments and children's social behaviors.


An integrated general model of critical infrastructure accident consequences including the process of initiating events, the process of environment threats and the process of environment degradation models related to the climate-weather change process in its operating area is presented. The model is proposed to the evaluation of losses associated with the environment degradation caused by the critical infrastructure accident and to investigate the climate-weather influence on these lossess.


Objective To establish an ultraviolet-C radiation (UV-C) induced oxidative stress SD rats model and evaluate the protective and therapeutic effects of Ginkgo biloba extract 50(GBE50). Methods The UV-C induced oxidative stress SD rats model was established by 2 h exposure of 253.7 nm UV light, continued for 7 d, with the radiation density of 2.381 mW/(cm2·h) and daily radiation quantity of 18 W/cm2. The effects of GBE50[100 mg/(kg·d)] were evaluated by measuring the activities of glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px), super oxide dismutase (SOD) and the levels of maloaldehyde (MDA) in various organs. Results The activities of SOD in liver, heart and brain tissues and the activities of GSH-Px in liver and heart tissues were elevated in the GBE50 treatment. Meanwhile, the levels of MDA in heart and brain tissue were decreased in the GBE50 treatment. Conclusions GBE50 might be a potential agent in the protection and treatment of oxidative stress.


ABSTRACT Choosing the right strategy will have a positive impact on increasing visitors and contributing to PAD. The purpose of this study was to determine the marketing strategy for the tourism destination of Danau Mas Harun Bastari, Mujerejo Village, Rejang Lebong Regency. The analysis method uses a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats), assessment of the current condition and the urgency of treatment. The IFAS value on Strength is 14.30 and Weaknesses is 4.81. In the SWOT diagram the values for Strength and Weaknesses are at the point of 9.49 and the meeting point of Opportinity and Threats is at point 0.23, this indicates that they are in quadrant 1, which is supporting aggressive strategies. Marketing strategies for the tourism destination of Danau Mas Harun Bastari, Mujerejo Village, Rejang Lebong Regency that can be done are renovating the lake area, adding facilities such as fishing locations and outbound equipment and placing security personnel. Keywords : Marketing Strategy, Tourism Destinations, SWOT


ABSTRACT Three major environments on the west coast of Florida were sampled for ostracods during 1956 and 1957. These environments included: Ochlockonee Bay, a positive estuary; Apalachee Bay, designated as the inner neritic zone; and an offshore transect from Panama City to St. Petersburg, designated as the outer neritic zone. A total of 165 bottom samples, collected with a Petersen grab, were analyzed for ostracods. Hydrographic data were collected in Ochlockonee Bay and Apalachee Bay prior to and during the sampling for ostracods. Fifty-four bottom samples were taken in Ochlockonee Bay during July 1956 and 87 samples were taken in Apalachee Bay during September 1956 and March and June 1957. Twenty-four bottom samples were collected in the outer neritic zone during July 1957. Ochlockonee Bay is a typical brackish-water environment. The bay is about 5 miles long and averages 1 1/2; miles in width. Most of the fresh water flowing into Ochlockonee Bay oirginates from the Ochlockonee-Sopchoppy River system. The bottom salinity ranges from freshwater to 30 . The salinity of the region west of the bridge (U. S. Highway 98) ranges from freshwater to about 15 . The region east of the bridge has an average salinity range of approximately 16 to 30 . The annual temperature range is in the vicinity of 10° C to 30° C. The sediments of the estuary are predominantly mud, defined as a mixture of predominantly clay and silt size particles, although extensive shell and sand bottoms occur. The organic content of the mud, in the form of plant detritus, is high. The shell bottoms are formed chiefly of living and dead oyster reefs and occur east of the bridge. The hydrography of Apalachee Bay is influenced primarily by two factors, estuarine discharge and the encroachment of Gulf water. The estuarine water originates from Ochlockonee Bay and the St. Marks River. The flow from Ochlockonee Bay is about three times that of the St. Marks River. The salinity is lowered considerably in the vicinity of the mouths of these two estuaries. Considering the entire area of Apalachee Bay sampled, the bottom salinity ranged from 19 to 35 . An annual temperature range of 13° C to 30° C was encountered in Apalachee Bay. Samples were collected from a depth range of 2 to 25 feet. The dominant sediments of Apalachee Bay are detrital quartz sands. In certain areas, especially in the vicinity of the mouth of Ochlockonee Bay, mixtures of mud and sand occur. Gross flats are also common throughout the area. Two major types of sediments are recognized, sand and muddy sand. The latter is defined as sand containing 10% or more mud. The outer neritic zone is considered, for the most part, as a more normal marine environment. A bottom salinity range of 33 to 36 and a bottom temperature range of 24° C to 30° was recorded during the sampling. Samples were collected from a depth range of 30 to 165 feet. Three types of sediments were encountered, gravel, carbonate and sand. The carbonate sediments are defined as containing 25% or more carbonate material formed of limestone detritus, algal and shell fragments. Gravel is defined as any material coarser than sand (2 mm) and formed of shell and limestone fragments. A total of 83 species of ostracods was encountered in this study. Of this total, 47 have been positively identified to species. A total of 26 species was recorded from Ochlockonee Bay. Eleven of this total were found to be restricted to this environment. These species included Aurila conradi var. A. (Howe and Brown), Cushmanidea sp. E, Cyprideis littoralis Brady, Cytheretta multicarinataralis (Swain), Cytheromorpha pascagoulensis Mincher, Darwinula sp., Microcythere johnsoni Mincher, Paracytheridea troglydata Swain, Perissocytheridea bicelliforma Swain, P. brachyforma Swain and P. rugata Swain. Fifty-six species were found in Apalachee Bay of which 13 were limited to this area. These species include Campylocythere laevissima Edwards, C. multipunctata (Edwards), Cushmanidea sp. B, Cytherella sp. A, Cytherelloidea spp. A and B, Cytherura sp. D, Eucythere triangulata Puri, Hemicytherideis sp., Hemicytherura sp., Microcythere sp., M. stephensoni Puri, Paracyris? sp. B, Paradoxostoma sp. and Xestolebris depressa Sars. A total of 47 species was encountered in the outer neritic zone. The species found only in this environment include Caudites sp., Cushmanidea spp. C and D, Cypridina sp., Cytherella sp. B, Cytherelloidea spp. C and D, Cytheropteron alatum Sars, Echinocythereis echinata (Sars), Eucythere sp., Loxoconcha sp., L. guttata Norman, L. wilberti Puri Orionina bermudae (Brady). In each of the three major environments, various biotopes were established primarily on the basis of the type of substratum and the specific composition of the living ostracods. Two biotopes were established in Ochlockonee Bay, an upper bay biotope having 6 diagnostic species and a lower bay biotope having 5 diagnostic species. In Apalachee Bay, three biotopes were established. These were the muddy sand biotope which was found to have 24 diagnostic species, the sand biotope which yielded 9 diagnostic species and the gross-fiat biotope having 2 diagnostic species. The biotopes established in the outer neritic zone were carbonate biotope, sand biotope and gravel biotope. The latter yielded no diagnostic ostracod species. Twenty-three species were found to be diagnostic of the carbonate biotope and 10 species diagnostic of the sand biotope. On the basis of limited hydrographic data, especially temperature, certain species are recognized as stenohaline or euryhaline, stenothermal or eurythermal. Certain species also exhibited restricted depth ranges. The ostracod fauna of the neritic zone of the central west coast of Florida show affinities with the Miocene and post-Miocene faunas of the Gulf coastal regions. The fauna of the outer neritic zone has several species in common with the ostracod fauna of the Florida Bay region. Several species found in Ochlockonee Bay were typical estuarine ostracods as has been found in other areas. 1. Based on a dissertation submitted to Graduate Council of Florida State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Doctor of Philosophy. End_of_Record - Last_Page 166-------


The article presents the Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) of the first part of King Martin Luther's speech "When I Have a Dream" in socio-political context. The study investigates how it lies on the basis of application of Fairclough version of CDA in the first part of the text. Moreover, it explicates the terms like social, cultural and political inequalities in the light of text and framework.


The next generation broadcasting Networks, the so-called NGB, is China's next generation broadcasting network standard, which is going to serve as an alternative to Internet. This paper tries to bring aware of the standardization activities of NGB in China and thus presents this novel broadcast standard beyond Internet for the first time by describing the features of NGB and the architectures of NGB. By looking into both the standardization development and the technical specifications of NGB, this paper serves as both an introduction and an overview to the newest developments of this novel standard which could be potentially the next generation network standard. This paper is concluded with influences of NGB upon the network standards development.


CD4 T helper (Th) cells that secrete interleukin (IL)-17 (Th17) complement the function of Th1 and Th2 cells as a third effector lineage, with a distinct role in neutrophil recruitment necessary for extracellular pathogen clearance and the promotion of certain autoimmune conditions. We have previously demonstrated that natural Th17 (nTh17) cells develop within the thymus in a manner similar to that of natural T regulatory (nTreg) cells (Marks et al., Nat. Immunol. 2009), with activation in response to an increase of self-antigen due to tissue destruction and subsequent host protection via IL-22 secretion. In this study, we report microarray analysis of lymph node nTh17 cells, revealing specific patterns of gene expression compared to naïve, Th1, and nTreg cells. We identified 317 genes uniquely over- or under-expressed in nTh17 cells compared to controls. These results give new insights into the differences among naïve, nTreg, nTh17, and Th1 cells. We further identified two markers, IL-17RE and IL-17RC, that are expressed in nTh17 cells and not in the other subsets or in induced Th17 cells. Neither has been previously reported to be expressed in Th17 cells. IL-17RC appears to be functional in nTh17 cells, in that it offers a way for them to regulate the levels of secretion of IL-17A and IL-22. IL-17RC and IL-17RE could potentially be used as specific markers for natural Th17 cells.


A unique extensive reading program started in 1993 at one college in Tokyo. The program had numerous roadblocks, big and small, on its way. In 2003, after numerous adjustments and changes, the program evolved to become what could be called, retrospectively speaking, "Light Extensive Reading". Then by 2006, with refi nement and modifi cation the program developed to be "Modifi ed Extensive Reading". Now heading towards twenty years, the program is hoped to reach for "Pure Extensive Reading".


Objective To determine the prevalence of smoking and its influencing factors among primary and secondary school students in part of Beijing,and to provide evidence for developing effective tobacco control interventions in Beijing schools.Methods Convenience sampling method was used to 12 primary and secondary schools of the three areas which were Dongcheng District,Chaoyang District and Huairou District.By using self-administered questionnaire for tobacco-related knowledge,attitudes,behavior and so on.Results The rate of trying smoke was 16.2%(26.1% for boys,6.6% for girls).The rate of smoking was 4.2%(7.9% for boys,0.7% for girls).The main factors of primary and secondary students of smoking were as following: families,partners,schools and the impact of individual cognitive.More than 90% of students took the initiative that smoking was harmful to health,but 54.2% of the students had the wrong understanding of that smoking will reduce the weight.Conclusion Smoking situation of Primary and secondary school students in Beijing is grim.Families and schools should take greater responsibility,in order to avoid the premature use of tobacco products.


Objective To detect the distribution of CYP2B1/2B2 in rat brain and the effect of deltamethrin(DM) on CYP2B1/2B2 protein expression.Methods Flurophotometry and immunohistochemical techniques were used.Results The results showed:in vivo,DM could markedly inhibit benzyloxyresorufin O\|dealkylatase(BROD) activity in rat brain microsome after rats had been received DM 12\^5 mg/(kg·d),ip for 5 days.However,in vitro,under the concentration of (2×10 -8 ~2×10 -4 )mol/L,there was no obvious change of BROD activity in rat brain.Moreover,Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that DM could significantly reduce the expression of CYP2B1/2B2.Conclusion Regional distribution of CYP2B1/2B2 is various in rat brain,DM inhibits BROD activity and it is related to the reduction of CYP2B1/2B2 protein expression.


The net rate of proximo‐distal transport of tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine β‐hydroxylase, DOPA decarboxylase and choline acetyltransferase was determined by measuring the accumulation of these enzymes proximal to a ligature of the rat sciatic nerve. The rate of accumulation was constant for at least 12 h. For the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of norepinephrine the rate of transport was correlated to their subcellular distribution and a close correlation between these two parameters was found. Dopamine β‐hydroxylase, an enzyme mainly localized in the particulate fraction of the sciatic nerve, showed the fastest rate of transport (1·94 mm/h) whereas DOPA decarboxylase, exclusively located in the high‐speed supernatant fluid, gave the slowest (0·63 mm/h) rate of transport. Tyrosine hydroxylase, predominantly located in the non‐particulate fraction of the sciatic nerve was transported much slower (0·75 mm/h) than dopamine β‐hydroxylase but still significantly (P < 0.005) faster than DOPA decarboxylase. The subcellular distribution of dopamine β‐hydroxylase in ganglia did not differ significantly (0·45 > P > 0·40) from that in the sciatic nerve, but in nerve endings a greater proportion of dopamine β‐hydroxylase was localized in particulate fractions. Tyrosine hydroxylase and DOPA decarboxylase were found exclusively in the non‐particulate fractions of ganglia. In the nerve endings of the effector organs a small but consistent portion of tyrosine hydroxylase was found in particulate fractions, whereas DOPA decarboxylase was exclusively localized in the high‐speed supernatant fluid.


The present invention relates to a crumple-resistant security sheet comprising fibers; an anionic polymer in a proportion lying in the range 5% to 45% by dry weight relative to the total dry weight of the fibers, and presenting a glass transition temperature greater than 40 DEG C.; and a main cationic flocculation agent in a quantity lying in the range 1% to 5% by dry weight relative to the total dry weight of the fibers.


Supercritical fluid extraction of metals in the presence of complexing agents for environmental monitoring, cleanup, and metals processing is now being extensively researched, and there is a need for solubility data of metal complexes. In this paper, the method used is the combination of a study of chromatographic retention over a wide range of pressures at 40, 50, 60, and 70 `C, followed by selected direct solubility measurements, to provide a comprehensive set of solubility results obtained with minimum effort. The method relies on the assumption that an inverse relationship exists between chromatographic retention and solubility in the mobile phase. This assumption is checked in this study. Results are presented for the solubility of ferrocene in supercritical carbon dioxide and a nickel complex, (5,7,12,14-tetramethyl-2,3:9,10-dibenzo[b,i][1,4,8,11]tetraazacyclotetradecine)nickel(II), in supercritical carbon dioxide modified with 10 vol % methanol.


The author discusses the development of the number,the rules,the levels,the fields,the technique tricks,the athlete's gender and age,and the groups of all kinds about the Chinese Wushu Sanda in practice games,and analyses the spread,the promotion means and the measures of the Chinese Wushu Sanda.The author thinks that the game of Chinese Wushu Sanda will break through the restrictions of the present number of competitors,the rules,the levels,the fields,the technique tricks,the athletes gender and age,and furthermore,it will become the games in which no more than male and female will be permitted to compete in the games,in which rules will be more flexible and easier to operate,in which the race fields will be expanded,and in which the game forms will be coexist.Lastly,the measures are taken as follows: carrying out the trains of the Chinese Wushu Sanda in Chinese schools and universities,being a part of the courses about physical trains;establishing the games of different levels and forms,popularizing the Chinese Wushu Sanda sports;China Embassy and Wushu stars should play a role in the spread of the Chinese Wushu Sanda,the cities and the contingents overseas about the items of the Chinese Wushu Sanda should be built,new technique tricks should be innovated by interchanging with other countries in strike items,and the above are suggested so that the Chinese Wushu Sanda will be promoting the Chinese Wushu Sanda to move towards the world,become a compete event in Olympic Games.


This paper reviews the different types of provisions explicitly addressing electronic commerce (e-commerce) in regional trade agreements (RTAs). The analysis covers the 275 RTAs currently in force and notified to the WTO as of May 2017. The analysis shows that e-commerce provisions have become increasingly more detailed but remain highly heterogeneous. The most common types of e-commerce provisions refer to the promotion of e-commerce, cooperation activities and the moratorium on customs duties. Other e-commerce provisions concern the domestic legal framework as well as more specific issues, such as electronic authentication, consumer protection, personal information protection and paperless trading.


Background—QT dispersion is a potential prognostic marker of tachyarrhythmic events and death, but it is unclear whether this applies to patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Methods and Results—Of the 1518 patients with advanced CHF and left ventricular dysfunction enrolled in the Danish Investigations of Arrhythmia and Mortality on Dofetilide-CHF (Diamond-CHF) study, a baseline ECG was available in 1319 patients. Of these, QT dispersion could be measured in 703 patients. During a median follow-up of 18 months (minimum 1 year), 285 patients (41%) died. The median QT dispersion was 70 ms (34/155 ms [5%/95% percentiles]), with no difference between survivors and nonsurvivors. Survival analysis revealed no prognostic information derived from QT dispersion regarding all-cause mortality (risk ratio 1.00, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.00; P=0.74), cardiac mortality (risk ratio 1.00, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.01; P=0.55), or cardiac arrhythmic mortality (risk ratio 1.00, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.01; P=0.38). Conclusions—QT dispersio...


In Indonesia, low soil P availability is the major constraint in upland area.  Therefore, it is needed to find soybean varieties with characters efficient in P and high yield.  The objective of this study was to evaluate P uptake, P efficiency, yield, morphological and physiological characters for selection of P efficient varieties.  A Randomized Completely Block design was used with three replications.  Seven varieties i.e. local, Slamet, Leuser, L1 503, S1 131(2), SL3 113(6), S1 053 and P applications i.e. without P and 36 kg P2O5 ha-1 were tested.  Some variables such as plant height, shoot weight, leaf number, branch number, filled and unfilled of pod number, grain weight, P content, P uptake and efficiency were analyzed.  Data was analysis by F test and followed by DMRT.  The results showed that there were different responses on P uptake among genotypes under low P condition. Slamet, S1 053, SL3 113 (6) and Leuser had characters of high potential of yield and efficient in P uptake under P stress.  Some characters could be used for variety selection of P efficient with high yield i.e. shoot and grain weight, and P efficiency.


The social impacts of 1986 Đổi Mới economic reform in Vietnam are well-studied. However, connections between Đổi Mới change and 1990s artistic transformation are not. This study examines these ties to reveal how post-Đổi Mới, outside Vietnamese mainstream art, and in not yet globally-open Hanoi, vanguard expressions emerged. Using artwork analysis and cross-disciplinary literature, this paper spotlights how material and social landscapes of 1990s-Hanoi impacted art. It uncovers parallels with Southeast Asian contemporary art to conclude that Hanoi vanguard practices constituted early Vietnamese contemporary art expanding regional 20th century art history without obligatory recourse to outside models.


This sixth article in our maths series focuses on setting up experiences and activities that include the need to measure, and giving children opportunities to use the language of measurement, within them.


Abstract.  We consider nonparametric prediction problem for both short‐ and long‐range‐dependent linear processes. Asymptotic properties of local linear estimates are obtained and, for long‐range‐dependent processes, an interesting dichotomous phenomenon is described: the limiting distribution depends on the interplay between the strength of the dependence and the magnitude of the bandwidth. A simulation study is carried out to assess the performance of the nonparametric prediction estimator.


The forefoot of the mole-rat (Myospalax myospalax psilurus), found in the vicinity of Peking, is twice as large as its hindfoot. Serial sections of the spinal cords of two adult animals were compared as to the configuration of the white and gray matters and to the relative magnitude of the motor cells in the anterior horn of the cervical and lumbar enlargements. The results were as follows: The cervical enlargement innervating the foreleg is much larger in cross section than the lumbar enlargement which innervates the hindleg. As compared to the lumbo-sacral levels, the anterior horn of the cervical region is broader in area and its cell columns attain greater proportions with better delimitation. In the cervical enlargement, the gray matter of the anterior horn expands laterally to form the antero-external and postero-external angles. The latter thrusts far out and contains the retroposterolateral column supplying the digital muscles. At equal-spaced representative levels, the cervical enlargement consis- tently out-ranks the lumbar enlargement in the distribution of the motor cells in the anterior horn, which control the leg muscles. The sum total of such cells at all the levels of the cervical enlargement is 1.4-1.5 times that of the lumbar enlargement. Moreover, when taken separately, the total motor cells in the posterior part of the anterior horn of the cervical enlargement, which innervates the distal portion of the foreleg, are 2.2-2.8 times that of the lumbar enlargement. The third and fourth toes assume enormous size on the forefoot. The retroposterolateral column which supplies the digital musculature is larger and longer in the cervical intumescence. The cells in the middle segment of this column are generally larger-sized, more numerous and with better-defined subdivisions. These traits apparently suggest that the cells in control of the third and fourth toes are mainly located at this plane. The striking difference in the size of the fore and hind feet reflects itself in the differential development of the anterior horn cells in the cervical and lumbar enlargements. This goes to show once more that the motor centers of the spinal cord develop in correlation with the peripheral organs innervated as well as with the particular mode of life of the animal.


The authors report two cases of intestinal occlusion, one ileal and the other colic, caused by endometriosis. Both patients underwent surgery. Following a review of data in the literature regarding the frequency, pathogenesis, diagnosis and management, the authors conclude that pre- and intraoperative diagnosis is often impossible in these cases and must be postponed to histological analysis. Full remission was achieved after surgery.


Frequently occured dry years and a sharp decrease of productivity and gross harvests of grain crops require scientifically grounded selection of grain crops that stabilize its production. Currently, the drought resistant sorghum varieties can become a good alternative for the main spring grain crops. In the Luhansk region, the average annual amount of precipitation is 475 mm, which confirms the advantage in growing grain sorghum over other spring grain crops. However, plant density of the modern recommended grain sorghum varieties related to specific soil and climatic conditions has not yet been studied enough. The purpose of the current research was to study and highlight the optimal plant density of the grain sorghum variety 'Ataman' in the conditions of the Luhansk region. The study was carried out on the basis of the Luhansk National Agricultural University in 2018-2019. Sorghum was sown at the rate of 350.000 germinated grains per hectare. In a sprouting phase, plant density was manually formed according to the experimental scheme (from 40 to 340 thousand/ha). The study of the new early-ripening grain sorghum variety 'Ataman', developed by the FSBSI "Agricultural Research Center "Donskoy", showed that regardless of the moisture supply and the thermal regime during vegetation, it was advisable to grow this variety with a plant density of 140-220 thousand/ha. In the conditions of the Luhansk region with mineral nutrition N60P40, it was possible to form the productivity of the grain sorghum variety 'Ataman' at the level of 5.06-5.52 t/ha of grain and more. The vegetation period of the variety 'Ataman', depending on the plant density and weather/climatic conditions of the year, was 90-102 days, which made it possible to harvest it in the 1st-2nd decade of September without additional drying of the grain. The variety did not lodge or shed its grain, and was also resistant to grain aphids.


Our aim is to investigate the global asymptotic behaviour, oscillation, periodicity and bifurcation in discontinuous Beverton–Holt type difference equationwhere x0>0, functions k and r are discontinuous piecewise constant functionssatisfyingand h is Heaviside function.