During the onset of a natural or man-made crisis event, public often share relevant information for emergency services on social web platforms such as Twitter. However, filtering such relevant data in real-time at scale using social media mining is challenging due to the short noisy text, sparse availability of relevant data, and also, practical limitations in collecting large labeled data during an ongoing event. In this paper, we hypothesize that unsupervised domain adaptation through multi-task learning can be a useful framework to leverage data from past crisis events for training efficient information filtering models during the sudden onset of a new crisis. We present a novel method to classify relevant social posts during an ongoing crisis without seeing any new data from this event (fully unsupervised domain adaptation). Specifically, we construct a customized multi-task architecture with a multi-domain discriminator for crisis analytics: multi-task domain adversarial attention network (MT-DAAN). This model consists of dedicated attention layers for each task to provide model interpretability; critical for real-word applications. As deep networks struggle with sparse datasets, we show that this can be improved by sharing a base layer for multitask learning and domain adversarial training. The framework is validated with the public datasets of TREC incident streams that provide labeled Twitter posts (tweets) with relevant classes (Priority, Factoid, Sentiment) across 10 different crisis events such as floods and earthquakes. Evaluation of domain adaptation for crisis events is performed by choosing one target event as the test set and training on the rest. Our results show that the multi-task model outperformed its single-task counterpart. For the qualitative evaluation of interpretability, we show that the attention layer can be used as a guide to explain the model predictions and empower emergency services for exploring accountability of the model, by showcasing the words in a tweet that are deemed important in the classification process. Finally, we show a practical implication of our work by providing a use-case for the COVID-19 pandemic.


Fire-setting students are those who intentionally or unintentionally set one or more fires due to curiosity, stress, a need for attention, or due to criminal delinquency. This article describes the nature of fire-setting behaviors, discusses the profile and risk factors associated with the behavior, and outlines a group program using empathy training and solution focused brief therapy. The benefits of using solution focused brief therapy and empathy training are discussed along with specific techniques involved in using each component.


In the present study the antidiabetic principle γsitosterol was isolated from L.nodiflora whole plant using bioassay guided separation.Antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant properties γsitosterol were studied in detail using normal and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Insulin secretion assay was conducted to know the mechanism of insulin release from pancreas. In addition histological examinations of pancreas, liver and kidney were carried out.


Direct numerical simulation (DNS) is used to study auto–ignition of turbulent diffusion flames. A novel, all–Mach number algorithm developed by Doom et al 1 is used. The chemical mechanism is a nine species, nineteen reaction mechanism for H 2 and Air from Mueller at el. 2 Simulations of three dimensional turbulent diffusion flames are performed. Isotropic turbulence is superimposed on an unstrained diffusion flame where diluted H 2 at ambient temperature interacts with hot air. Both, unity and non–unity Lewis number are studied. The results are contrasted to the homogeneous mixture problem and laminar diffusion flames. Results show that auto–ignition occurs in fuel lean, low vorticity, high temperature regions with low scalar dissipation around a most reactive mixture fraction, ζ MR (Mastorakos et al. 3 ). However, unlike the laminar flame where auto-ignition occurs at ζ MR , the turbulent flame auto–ignites over a very broad range of ζ around ζ MR , which cannot completely predict the onset of ignition. The simulations also study the effects of three-dimensionality. Past two–dimensional simulations (Mastorakos et al. 3 ) show that when flame fronts collide, extinction occurs. However, our three dimensional results show that when flame fronts collide; they can either increase in intensity, combine without any appreciable change in intensity or extinguish. This behavior is due to the three–dimensionality of the flow. intermediate species experiments. They suggest this behavior is due to time–dependent strain rates in the turbulent DNS of a three-dimensional turbulent hydrogen–oxygen non–premixed flame using a mechanism (7–species, ten–reactions). The were to suggest a mixture and progress variable model for the chemical DNS of two–dimensional turbulent non–premixed hydrogen–air flames to study auto–ignition. show that peak values of HO 2 align with maximum scalar dissipation during ignition. that weak and moderate turbulence enhanced auto–ignition while stronger turbulence delayed DNS to study auto–ignition of a hydrogen/air mixture the grid convergence study. Uniform grids ranging from 64 to 2048 points were used. A grid–converged solution is obtained for a grid of 128 points. time of around 1.6 for the one dimensional diffusion flame with unity Lewis number while ignition occurs around 1 for the non– unity Lewis number. The temperature difference between the unity Lewis number and non–unity Lewis number is 450 K. The fastest ignition time was obtained for the non–unity Lewis number turbulent diffusion flame. The first signs of auto–ignition starts around 1.6, 1.0, 1.4 and 0.9 (non– dimensional time) for the laminar unity Lewis number, laminar non–unity Lewis number, turbulent unity Lewis number and turbulent non–unity Lewis number, respectively. These results shows that differential diffusion plays an important in the auto–ignition of the diffusion flame. The difference


Laser surface hardening technology and manufacturing process was introduced.Process parameters were found to obtain optimum effect of surface hardening,according to material property and technology requirement.The application of this technology in the automotive crankshaft was discussed.


The NASA Combined File Postings Statistics is published semiannually (January and July). This alphabetical listing of postable subject terms contained in the NASA Thesaurus is used to display the number of postings (documents) indexed by each subject term from 1968 to data. The postings totals per term are separated by announcement or other media into STAR, IAA, NLN, and OTHER columnar entries covering the NASA document collection (1968 to date). Over 595,000 book postings for NALNET Books held by NASA Libraries are included under the NLN column. CSTAR postings as well as some previously unreported series are listed under the 'other' column. The distribution of 18,748,083 postings among the 17,304 Thesaurus terms is tabulated on the last page of Combined File Postings Statistics.


Preface Entre Dos Mundos/Between Two Worlds: An Evidence-Based Bicultural Skills Training Program for Acculturating Latino Families Evidence-Base Practices for Juvenile Delinquency: Risk & Protective Factors in Treatment Implementation Risk & Protective Factors in Youth Violence & Aggression: Promising Family-Based Prevention Models Sport as a Cure for Adolescent Aggressive, Antisocial, & Delinquent Behaviours Sociometric Status & Bullying: Peer Relationships, Aggressive Behavior, & Victimization Violent & Delinquent Youths: Relationships with Institutional Authorities & Compliance with Social Norms Violence Prevention & Treatment Programmes for Young Offenders Bullying & Victimization Experiences at School, the Parent-Child Relationship & Child School Performance: A Longitudinal Investigation Personal & Interpersonal Mediators Linking Acculturation Stress to Aggressive Behavior in Latino Adolescents Child-Rearing Practices & Delinquency in Children & Adolescents Sharks & Jets vs. Bloods & Crips: Socio-Economics, Prevention, & Intervention in Different Eras of Gang Violence The Motivational Influence of Attitude, Subjective Norm, Perceived Behavioral Control & Anticipated Affective Self-Reactions, on Behavioral Decision Making of Re-Offending Exploring Issues about Youth Gangs in Canada Risk & Resiliency among Juveniles & Young Adults The Influence of Normative Beliefs about Aggression on Behavior in Children Public Perceptions of Registry Laws for Juvenile Sex Offenders Index.


Invesrigations of verbal and nonverbal "immediacy" behaviors have found that individuals manifest relatively immediate communicative behavior under approval-seeking conditions. For example, subjects talk longer (3) and maintain more eye contacr (2) when interacting with people whose approval they seek than when interacting under other conditions. This study investigates whether individuals also manifest increased linguistic immediacy (4) as they seek the approval of another. College students, 29 males and 52 females, were asked to imagine being interviewed by a psychologist who asked them personal questions, ending the interview with the query. "Do you mind talking about yourself to people who don't know you very well?" One-third of the subjects wrote the answer they would give if, during the interview, they (a) had a positive experience (positive response), ( b) had a negative experience ( negarive response), or (c) wanted to get the interviewer to like and approve of them . (appr~~al-seeking response). The immediacy of subjects' responses was scored accordng to Wiener and Mehrabian (4), with a lower score indicating greater immediacy. An analysis of variance indicated a main effect of response condirion (FI.B) = 3.92, p < .05) which was explored further through comparison via the Newman-Keuls method of rhe mean immediacy scores of the three response conditions. Significantly (ps < .05) more immediate communication was associated with both the approval-seeking (M = 2.99, SD = .35) and positive response (M = 2.96, SD = .62) conditions than with the negative response condition (M = 3.42, SD = 1.22). These results extend the findings of Wiener and Mehrabian (4) by indicating that people manifest relatively immediate verbal communication under approval-seeking as well as other positive communication conditions. It could be argued, however, that results obtained in a role-playing paradigm do not necessarily generalize to actual behavior (1). In this regard, the validity of the relationship between linguistic immediacy and approval-seeking instructions is supported by its consistency with other findings (2, 3) of a relationship between immediacy behaviors and approval-seeking when subjects' behavior has been observed in actual interactions.


In this paper, we introduced the concept of # partial ordering and derived some results related to JS− Normal matrices.


Multi-rotor UAV is a popular platform for low-cost SAR system because it has small volume, lightweight and flexible motion. However, due to complicated flight trajectory and low-accuracy motion sensor, autofocus in SAR processing becomes a challenging problem. In consideration of the characteristics of multi-rotor UAV SAR, this paper proposes an autofocus algorithm based on improved Mapdrift technology. The proposed algorithm can estimate the real-time velocity of multi-rotor UAV SAR and compensate the motion error, and then process the signals with range-Doppler algorithm.


We study the topological linear defects in the frame of (2+1)-dimensional nonlinear O(3) sigma model in terms of the decomposition of U(1) gauge potential. Knot, as a kind of special linear defect, is discussed with the help of the Hopf map. We show that the Hopf number is just the linking number of the knots. At last, the topological point defect is considered with the f-mapping topological current theory in this model.


*Convective weather is currently the largest contributor to air traffic delays in the United States. In order to make effective traffic flow management decisions to mitigate these delays, weather forecasts must be made as early and as accurately as possible. A forecast product that could be used to mitigate convective weather impacts is the Consolidated Storm Prediction for Aviation. This product provides forecasts of cloud water content and convective top heights at 0- to 8-hour look-ahead times. The objective of this study was to examine a method of predicting the impact of convective weather on air traffic sector capacities using these forecasts. Polygons representing forecast convective weather were overlaid at multiple flight levels on a sector map to calculate the fraction of each sector covered by weather. The fractional volume coverage was used as the primary metric to determine convection's impact on sectors. Results reveal that the forecasts can be used to predict the probability and magnitude of weather impacts on sector capacity up to eight hours in advance.


This study intended to clarify the realities of critical thinking of South Korean high school students in science learning. A 42-question survey was conducted on 156 1st-year South Korean high school students to achieve this end. The results indicated that, as well as having a strong curiosity about phenomena, students collect as much experimental data as possible, carefully ascertain cause and thoroughly examine and interpret results. The results also showed that students tend to focus on the collection of experimental data and its interpretation more so than the validity and reproducibility of the experiment and that there is an issue in that they lack a healthy skepticism for things. In addition, the causal relationship of "the deeper a student thinks about things and the more they ascertain the significance and essence, the more carefully they collect experimental data and examine its interpretation" was also clarified as a factor structure that influences the critical thinking of students. At the same time, the causal relationship of "the more inquisitive the student, the more they think about things with a healthy skepticism and without blindly accepting external information, focus on the validity and reproducibility of the experiment and reflect on their own ideas and actions" was also clarified.


Bachelor thesis is focused on monitoring of adult patients in anaesthesiology, resuscitation and intensive care. The theoretical part informs about standard monitoring. It explains monitoring, how it works in practice and how it should be correctly applied in the anaesthesiology, resuscita-tion and intensive care. It includes monitoring of the respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous system, tracking body temperature and special monitoring. During monitoring in intensive care is not always important what healthcare staff sees on the instrumentation, but what they observe and judge directly on patients and the theoretical part is partly focused on this issue. The practical part investigates the knowledge of nurses and paramedics in the physiology and pathophysiology of the monitored parameters. It focuses on nurses and paramedics working in pre-hospital emergency care, anaesthesiology, resuscitation and intensive care. The quantitative method, non-standardized questionnaire, is used for determination and evaluation of knowledge, which was focused on knowledge of monitoring in intensive care and it was challenging and large-scale. Some respondents felt that we need to examine them, mainly for this reason the workers did not want to fill it in. In doing so, our goal was to help them in ignorance and realize that it is not enough to have graduated school, spe-cialization, but it is necessary to educate constantly, because lifelong learning is very im-portant in this field, because acute medicine will constantly evolve.


Macro domains constitute a family of protein structures, conserved in all kingdoms of life. The study of these domains is crucial because of their important role in cellular signaling where the small molecule ADP-ribose (ADPr) is implicated. They are involved in the regulation of a number of biochemical and cellular processes like the DNA repair, the transcriptional regulation, the immunological response while at the same time these domains participate in the viral RNA genome replication mechanism. The precise biochemical role of macro domains in the viruses still remains undefined. The recognition of ADPr by these domains is the key-point for the performance of all their known functions. Therefore, the comparative NMR-driven investigation of the ADPr binding in these types of domains of alphaviruses family members with different phylogenetic origin is expected to contribute to the identification and elucidation of their biological function. Finally, the recent alphaviruses' outbreaks, the relation of the macro domains to diseases, like cancer, and the absence of targeted therapy make the macro domains possible targets for the development of novel drugs.


A bi-directional linear force motor with low power consumption was presented aiming at the disadvantage of high power consumption of conventional electromechanical converter for electro-hydraulic servo and proportional valves.The motor overcomes the nonlinearity of force-versus-position characteristics,reduces non-operating air-gaps and improves electromagnetic transfer efficiency by designing dovetail pole-head and groove based on the principle of differential control formed by permanent-magnet polarizing flux and control flux produced by coil.The flux distribution under different exciting currents and positions was simulated based on the finite element model,and the cause and characteristics of stroke versus displacement were discussed.The simulation results accorded with the experimental results.The motor has positive magnetic spring stiffness,high level of linearity,low hysteresis and low power consumption.


The author considers that the investigated criminal penalty applied to servicemen has its peculiarities, as servicemen serve their sentence while being in the army, so arrested servicemen are not deprived of their special status that is regulated by the departmental nominative and legal acts. The author states that as Criminal Law theory of Ukraine and judicial practice has never dealt with such criminal punishment as arrest so the correspondence of national norms of legislature to norms of International law is of great interest to lawyers. Among the main issues of legislature in Ukraine regulate legal rules dealing with arrest one can define its discrepancy between the European penitentiary regula-tions and national ones. The author focuses on the norms that assure the right to health care, the right to buy food and articles of top priorities, the right to have sits with relatives and close friends, the right to make telephone calls, the right to be kept in custody with the convicts of the same sex, the right to be treated with respect to person's dignity for the convicted servicemen. The author marks that it is a good experience to involve a highly qualified staff in work with convicted servicemen. This staff should be selected properly, they should have appropriate training, wages and the status that is respected by the community. The author considers that legislative regulation and practical activity of guard-room dealing with the arrest of servicemen is at variance with norms of international legislature. That is why carrying out the reforms in the penitentiary service is urgent nowadays. First of all it is necessary to bring military penitentiary institutions into accordance with international legal acts that define the rules of treatment convicts and inmates as most of them have a reference and an obligatory character.


The author examines the phenomenon of the contest-tourism as a kind of event tourism and analyzes its potential in the development of thе tourist destination of Sochi


The properties of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence under the influence of a strong mean magnetic field are investigated from the Lagrangian viewpoint by tracking fluid particles in direct numerical simulations. The particle trajectories show characteristic bends near vortex sheets. A strong mean magnetic field leads to preferential diffusion parallel to the mean magnetic field. The two-particle relative dispersion process shows a dependence on the orientation of the initial separation vector. The relative dispersion is slowed down for initial separation vectors aligned with the mean magnetic field. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)


The tragic and horrendous attack on the World Trade Center also served to construct an unmistakable shape to Islamophobia in the West. It worked as fuel for the already-lit fire of Islamophobia and aggravated the situation with numerous indiscriminate attacks on Muslims. The situation worsened with George Bush's unequivocal statement: "either you are with us or against us". This was the call for a cultural war between the West and Muslims framed by the Us versus Them schemata. This research has analyzed the speech of Imran Khan which he delivered at the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly, employing van Dijk's Ideological Square Model with a specific focus on NVivo 12 Plus to inspect the magnitude of the impact of linguistic memorandums from authoritative institutes. The researchers have investigated the lexicalization of Khan's speech to explore how he uses language to sketch the picture of the West as "them" parallel to "us". His rhetoric is critically examined through the micro and macro-strategies of the Ideological Square Model. The findings reveal that instead of challenging and interrogating the Us versus Them schema that permeates Islamophobia, Khan himself uses the very same schema to show ideological differences between the West and Muslims.


Society is more and more interested in developing mathematical models to assess and forecast the environmental and biological health conditions of our planet. However, most existing models cannot determine the long-range impacts of potential policies without considering the complex global factors and their cross effects in biological systems. In this paper, the Markov property and Neural Network Ensemble (NNE) are utilized to construct an estimated matrix that combines the interaction of the different local factors. With such an estimation matrix, we could obtain estimated variables that could reflect the global influence. The ensemble weights are trained by multiple population algorithms. Our prediction could fit the real trend of the two predicted measures, namely Morbidity Rate and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It could be an effective method of reflecting the relationship between input factors and predicted measures of the health of ecosystems. The method can perform a sensitivity analysis, which could help determine the critical factors that could be adjusted to move the ecosystem in a sustainable direction.


Archaeological researches begins in the region of Serra Gaucha in 1960. The studies focus on specific archaeological sites such as pithouses, linked to pre-colonial occupation, and historical sites of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Besides academic research, the development of archaeological research in the region has been borne by the archeology contract due to the demands of socioeconomic growth. So, the aim of this paper is to present data from field and laboratory activities from Programa de Resgate Arqueologico da area do Barramento do Arroio Marrecas on district Vila Seca, Caxias do Sul, state of Rio Grande do Sul, development carried out by Servico Autonomo Municipal de Agua e Esgoto – SAMAE.


Pictures and scripts are the two main ways to reflect the essence of reading in picture books.Correct handling the relationship between the two will help to show the creator's ability and charm.From the macro level of literary perspective,pictures and scripts are complementary in a picture book.While from a micro-level,the relations between pictures and scripts can be divided into synchronic relation of pictures and scripts and the relation of dislocation,etc.analysis of the relationship between pictures and scripts in a picture book is beneficial to give full play to the potential of art and to achieve their breakthroughs and innovation.


Purpose:To probe into the prophylaxis and treatments of the complicated pneumothorax by CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle pulmonary biopsy.Materials and Method:A total of 67 biopsies were taken on 52 cases of interior pulmonary diseased tissue by CT-guided percutaneous transthortacic needle pulmonary biopsy.Results:A total of 7 patients of the 52 cases(7/52) had the complicated pneumothorax and one of the seven also had hemothorax.The pulmonary compression of all the 6 patients did not surpass 10% and their pneumothortax had been absorbed spontaneously with recovering in bed and the suit remedy in a week′s time.As for the only pneumothorax patient with the least hemothortax,a reexamination made after two weeks of treatments such as hemostasis,oxygen breathing in and recovering showed that the pneumothorax had been absorbed principally and there was no increase of thoracic blood.Conclusion:The occurrence of the complicated pneumothorax by CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle pulmonary biopsy can be effectively reduced by taking the active preventions.;The pneumothorax can also be absorbed with proper treatments even when it occurs.


A School Resources Index (SRI) was constructed using the Rasch scaling technique. Data were from the pooled school resource items that were collected from pupils, teachers, and school heads derived from two sub-regional studies undertaken by Southern and Eastern Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality (SACMEQ) in 1995 and 2000. Capitalizing on the possibility to link more items, the new scale provided a stronger positive correlation between the school resources and the pupils' achievement compared to using the initial variable containing the summation of school resource possessions. This SACMEQ SRI provided a reliable and valid instrument to compare the resource level among different school systems with varied levels of economic development. It also provided a meaningful tool to examine the changes in the school resources between two different time points. From the SACMEQ SRI, the hierarchical resource "profiles" were also established. The profiles could be used as a guideline of standard to identify more critical and relevant resource items at each progress level, for better budgetary planning, resource allocation, priority setting, and benchmarking.


Cancer growth requires angiogenesis; imaging of angiogenesis may thus improve cancer diagnostics and therapy monitoring. Dynamic contrast enhanced ultrasound (DCE-US) permits imaging angiogenesis at the molecular level by using novel targeted ultrasound contrast agents (tUCA). These agents consist of functionalized microbubbles obtained by engineering their shell with targeting ligands able to bind specific biomarkers, over-expressed in tumor angiogenic vasculature. Quantification of binding may thus provide an indirect way of quantifying angiogenesis. Recently, we proposed the first-pass binding (FPB) model to describe the binding kinetics of tUCA. Fitting DCE-US time-intensity curves (TICs) by the FPB model enables quantification of binding by the estimation of the binding rate Kb. After showing the feasibility of the method for angiogenesis imaging in prostate-tumor bearing rats, and performing a preliminary validation for anti-angiogenesis therapy monitoring in colon cancer-bearing mice, in this work we investigated the validity of the proposed model by comparing Kb estimates in rats injected with non-targeted UCAs (Sonovue) and tUCAs (BR55). Significantly lower values of Kb were found for Sonovue compared to BR55, with no significant difference between cancer and healthy prostate for Sonovue.


Dodders ( Cuscuta spp.) are parasitic plants that threaten the sustainability of many crops. Because this parasite is very adept and successful from biological and ecological perspectives, a single control strategy is unlikely to provide sufficient economic control. Dodder ( C. gronovii ) is a particularly serious pest in commercial cranberry ( Vaccinium macrocarpon ) production. Multiple viable strategies must be integrated and tailored into a weed management plan to provide acceptable control. The key to sustainable management of this serious pest will require a combination of chemical and cultural approaches, supported by understanding the complicated nature of dodder biology. Research from small fruit production systems like cranberry into the biology of dodder (e.g., germination patterns, host preference, use of plant growth regulators) may provide insights that could ultimately be useful for other crop system management plans. This paper will present the current knowledge base for integrated management of dodder in cranberry as well as highlight relevant research from other crops and potential topics for future research.


A new numerical method is used to solve the quantum‐mechanical problem of energy transfer between vibrational and translational degrees of freedom in collisions between an oscillator and an atom. The dependence of the probability of vibrational excitation on the energy of the collision and the size of the truncated basis set is examined. The oscillatory dependence of this transition probability on the energy is is shown to be an artifact due to the truncation of the basis set. The new numerical method is the stepwise solution of the coupled first‐order differential equations by exponentiation of the integrated coupling matrices, an application of the general method investigated by Magnus. It is shown to be fast and accurate.


Based on case studies of leading Chinese MNEs' international operations in developed countries, this study develops a reverse knowledge acquisition model of emerging market MNEs through subsidiary-led reverse learning, knowledge sharing and integration processes. It unpacks MNEs' external learning process and contributes to the literature by exploring three mechanisms of learning, sharing and integration. It finds three reverse learning channels, a multi-level hub-spoke type of knowledge acquiring mechanism, and a two-tier three-step integration mechanism. The learning mechanism confirms knowledge acquisition driven by reverse learning behaviours; the sharing mechanism enriches the community perspective of capability building and sharing; the integration mechanism provides an effective way of knowledge integration within the MNEs.


Emergency action level (EAL) technical criteria or parameters for emergency conditions classes.Reference methodology for development of EAL in foreign countries,in process of developed and reviewed emergency plan of home several research reactors,editors of this paper thought that should be taken initiating conditions which result in emergency conditions quantified some instrumental readings or alarm thresholds,in order to distinguish and confirm emergency conditions and provide technical bases for emergency response actions.Then based on this principle,revised or developed emergency plans of INET Tsinghua University,promote development of work for emergency plan of research reactors.


The skeleton conception of elementary particles is considered in the paper. Conventional particle dynamics is formulated in an unaccomplished form, which is adequate only in the continuous space-time geometry. The conventional differential equations of the particle motion cannot be written in the discrete space-time geometry. In the discrete space-time geometry the particle world line is replaced by the world chain. The world chain links has a finite length (not infinitesimal). The world chain appears to be stochastic. Statistical description of stochastic world chains leads to the Schr\"{o}dinger equation, if the elementary length of the geometry is chosen in a proper way. The quantum principles are founded by existence of the discrete (and multivariant) space-time geometry and lose the role of prime physical principles. In the skeleton conception the particle is described by its skeleton (several rigidly connected space-time points). Skeleton conception of the elementary particles realizes a proper description of the particle state, which appears to be adequate in a discrete space-time geometry. The particle dynamics takes the form of a monistic conception, which is described completely in terms of the world function of the space-time geometry. The skeleton conception accomplishes the transition from nonrelativistic physics to the relativistic one and realizes the total geometrization of particle dynamics.


EGJ Issue 28 Spring 2009 ISSN 1076-7975 Environmental Resources: Web Sites and Books Flora Shrode, Utah State University Library, USA Web Sites are listed in the following categories: Commercial Entities Educational Sites International Sites Nonprofit & Research Organizations U.S. Federal Agencies' and State Government Sites Books Commercial Entities ConsumerReports.org: Saving on energy costs http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home-garden/resource-center/saving-on- energy-costs-10-07/overview/energy-ov.htm Lists 10 actions that individuals can take to save energy costs based on Consumer Reports' experts' testing of products and programs designed to save energy and pointing out those "that promise more than they deliver." Financial Times: Climate Change Series http://www.ft.com/climatechangeseries From the website for the U.K. newspaper, the Financial Times, this news series looks at the politics of climate change. Includes stories related to the developed world and emerging economies, opinion pieces, and interactive features on climate change agreement and mapping carbon dioxide emissions. Provides links to stories on the science aspects of global warming. *** GreenHomeGuide http://www.greenhomeguide.com/ This website from the U.S. Green Building Council features a combination of tips, case studies, expert Q&A articles and regional directories of products and services. Browse by area or feature of the home, such as bathrooms or flooring. A product directory (covering San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and New York City) provides a detailed description of the process of selecting and approving the products included in it, noting that only a minority of products are approved. *** Educational Sites American Museum of Natural History: Science Bulletins http://www.amnh.org/sciencebulletins/ This website stands in for visiting the American Museum of Natural History in person in New York City. Online video features present developments in the fields of astrophysics, human biology, biodiversity, and evolution. Science educators can benefit from guides on the website to help them incorporate content from the Science Bulletins in their teaching and classroom learning activities.*


Dyslexia is the most common form of specific learning disabilities. Dyslexia is observed in 5-17.5 % of schoolchildren, and among children with specific learning disabilities, it accounts for about 70-80 %. Usually, dyslexia manifests itself as the inability to achieve an appropriate level of reading skills development that would be proportional to their intellectual abilities and writing and spelling skills. Secondary consequences of dyslexia may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede the growth of vocabulary and background skills. The review discusses neurological management of reading and writing as complex higher mental functions, including many components that are provided by various brain areas. The principles of dyslexia classification, the main characteristics of its traditionally defined forms are given: phonemic, optical, mnestic, semantic, agrammatic. The article analyzes the cerebral mechanisms of dyslexia development, the results of studies using neuropsychological methods, functional neuroimaging, and the study of the brain connectome. The contribution to dyslexia development of disturbances in phonological awareness, rapid automated naming (RAN), the volume of visual attention (VAS), components of the brain executive functions is discussed. The origin of emotional disorders in children with dyslexia, risk factors for dyslexia development (including genetic predisposition) are considered. Dyslexia manifestations in children are listed, about which their parents seek the advice of a specialist for the first time. In the process of diagnosing dyslexia, attention should be paid to the delay in the child's speech development, cases of speech and language development disorders and specific learning disabilities among family members. It is necessary to consider possible comorbidity of dyslexia in a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyscalculia, developmental dyspraxia, disorders of emotional control and brain executive functions. Timely diagnosis determines the effectiveness of early intervention programs based on an integrated multimodal approach.


Reduced flange design is commonly used for fixed bed reactor top nozzles due to the easier provision of manway access for down time maintenance. In this design, a dissimilar flange design is often opted for a material break point of the unit to avoid a dissimilar weld in the piping system.
 This design concept is also adopted our fixed bed reactors. The vessel is made of 2.25Cr steel including 40inch top nozzle. On the 2.25Cr top nozzle, 347SS dissimilar reduced flange was provided for manway access purpose in conjunction with top nozzle. It had been operated for 54,000Hrs until the reduced flange neck experienced minor cracks. As the total operating hours reached 140,000Hrs, cracks were propagated and leaked. According to their inspection record of those cracks, a creep damage like pattern was observed while its operating temperature was 520Deg. C, that was below the 550Deg.C of ASME Sec II Part D[1] allowable stress table time dependent allowable stress range, and also below the 537Deg.C of potential creep damage threshold indicated in API 579-1 / ASME FFS-1[2] Table 4.1 which is the same with API 571 Table 4.3[3]. As we conducted FEM analysis using an isochronous curve based on API 579/ASME FFS-1 Omega Method[2], the results well explained the actual damage and life, and confirmed a creep damage could happen below the creep damage threshold of API 579-1 / ASME FFS-1[2] and API 571[3], depending on the multiaxial stress state.
 In this paper, the detail of the inspection findings and isochronous model FEM analysis including remaining life assessment as well as comparison between the damage and analysis will be discussed.


Abstract Alternative synthetic routes to the title ring systems were examined: the isothiazolopyridines 5a,b and 10 were obtained by single step procedures from pyridine derivatives.


Objective:To investigate the antitumor activity of alchoholic extractive from Formitopsis Pinicola,and to investigate the mechanism.Methods:Sporocarp of Formitopsis Pinicola was extracted by alchol and isolated by silica gel column chromatography.The antitumor activity of the Ethanol extracts,petroleum ether and ethyl acetate were studied in vitro(by Alamar Blue assay) and in vivo(grafting tumors in mice).Results:The Ethanol extracts,petroleum ether and ethyl acetate from sporocarp of Formitopsis pinicola had tumor inhibition effect on NCI-H460 cell line.They also had obvious therapeutic effect on H22 cells in vivo,and which could remarkably increase the apoptosis of H22 cells and enhance significantly expression levels of IL-2 and TNF-a in tumor-bearing mice.Conclusion:Alcoholic extractive from sporocarp of Formitopsis Pinicola exhibited anti-tumor effect in vivo and in vitro and the mechanism may be related with the enhance of the levels of cytokines.


A method based on finite element analysis and damage identification of operational modal is proposed to solve problem of crack existing in lower beam structure of vibrating screen.By establishing finite element model to simulate beam nondestructive and damage by 10%,20% and 30% respectively,each order natural frequency of structural beams and its shape curve are obtained and crack location and damage degree are determined using change of each order frequency and displacement mode shape.Modal parameters are obtained with method of ARMA model parameter identification and analysis of operational modal by experiment.


In this paper, a new control scheme is proposed for controlling multiple single-phase power factor correction (PFC) modules with a single low-cost digital signal processor (DSP). The proposed scheme allows for multiple PFC modules of different current ratings to be operated in parallel and controlled via a single DSP. The DSP based control handles simple current sharing and provides size reduction. The paper describes a current sense technique for each PFC module and a closed loop control algorithm for the output voltage and input current control for operating multiple modules. In the example design, the switching frequency was set at 120 kHz and two continuous conduction mode (CCM) PFC stages were operated in parallel and controlled via a single TMS320LF2407 DSP. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme is capable to be used for modern switching power supplies.


This paper examines the issue of cultural relativism versus universal human rights from the perspective of the New Haven school of jurisprudence. It explores the historical and intellectual content of both Western and non-Western human rights and assesses their departures and commonalities. It reviews relevant modern trends in international law, human rights, legal positivism, pluralism and globalization.


The article explores the problem of ensuring the objectivity of information in the process of political elections. The author argues that absolute objectivity does not exist, because journalistic activities are determined by the position of media owners and political preferences of journalists themselves. However, in a democracy, political and cultural pluralism brings about a variety of media attitudes in the election, which enables voters to make free choices based on understanding of their interests.


The spatial distribution of medical care facilities in the metropolitan community and methods of representing them are analyzed. Two aspects are treated: 1. graphic and analytical techniques for presentation and analysis of areally distributed data, and 2. implications of these distributions for medical care utilization and planning. A three-dimensional analogue model is introduced which provides accurate visual representation and allows limited statistical analysis. The multimodality of the spatial distributions of medical care facilities is demonstrated. Physician offices show the greatest tendency to cluster, primarily in response to location of hospitals; dental offices are second; and pharmacies are least clustered. Location of hospitals reflects historical inertia but has little relevance to their utilization by those who are physically closest to them.


With increasing trade among different countries The exchange rate fluctuations, consumption, inflation, and market portfolios are considered as major risk factors in financial markets. Hence this study aimed to examine the relationship between the exchange rate fluctuations and asset returns within a theoretical and empirical model, i.e. Consumption-based Capital Asset Pricing Model (CCAPM). To this end, a basic CCAPM was extended and imported consumables were included in Epstein and Zin's recursive utility function. The research sample encompassed eight portfolios and monthly data from 2003 to 2014. The pricing model parameters were estimated using Euler's equations and Hansen and Singleton's generalized method of moments (GMM). An estimation of the parameters of Euler's equations indicates the risk aversion and tolerance of economic factors, low elasticity of substitution for domestic consumables and imported consumables, and high elasticity of intertemporal substitution. In the next step, using Euler's linearized equations as asset pricing model and Fama and Macbeth's two-step regression method, the effects of exchange rate risk premium, inflation, market efficiency, and consumption growth on return premium on assets were investigated. The results indicated the positive impact of the exchange rate risk premium, inflation, and market returns on the return premium on assets.


The radio frequency identification(RFID) is widely used in various fields,but the standardization of anti-collision algorithm,the system accuracy of RFID are to be further improved.The paper researched the advantages and disadvantages for the RFID system and its development direction,described RFID security and efficiency,the advantages of fast recognition algorithm,and introduced RFID technologies and materials,networking,wireless sensors,NFC and other technologies combined,and the RFID technology was applied in retail,logistics,transportation and other fields.The comprehensive analysis of the various manufacturers of international application of RFID technology,RFID technology is presented for the development of future trends.


The paper describes the work principle, set-up, functions and features of the system for over-rotating-speed control and protection of DF4 diesel locomotive engine, and puts forward an economical and practical technology of easy control and protection.


This chapter is divided into two parts: the first part, the main notions concerning the interests harmed by money counterfeiting will be examined; afterwards, an outline of some Member States anti-counterfeiting legislation will be provided in order to analyse the importance of the Geneva Convention in the harmonization process. In the second part, the new need for protection specifically connected with the introduction of the euro will be analysed. Money counterfeiting has always been considered under national legal system as an extremely serious offence, able to harm a number of important, vested both in individuals and super-individual entities. The homogeneity of national substantial law is the essential premise for efficient cooperation on the side of enforcement: only if the "intensity of the disapproval" expressed by the different legal systems towards certain offences is the same, there be the reciprocal trust that is indispensable for cooperation. Keywords:euro; geneva convention; money counterfeiting


His talks during his stay in the southern part of China is the collective embodiment of Deng Xiaoping's Theory and a shining example in the emancipation of the mind and the innovation of principles, which show us clearly the correct way and direction for the development of socialism during the significant historical period of socialist modernizations. Its connotation is of cross century times value in the successful advancement of Chinese socialism in the new century.


Human growth hormone (Li) was administered for one year to a pituitary dwarf between the ages of and years. The optimal dosage seemed to be 2.5 mg. daily intramuscularly; less frequent injections, even of the same total amount of hormone, were not as effective. An increase in height of 11 cm. ( inches) occurred during the year, compared to a previous yearly rate of 3 cm. ( inches) while the patient was taking sodium l-thyroxine. The fasting blood glucose level did not change, even though the glucose tolerance curve rose to mild diabetic levels during early metabolic studies while the patient was receiving growth hormone in doses up to 10 mg. daily. Later, the curve returned to normal levels during long-term administration of smaller daily doses. During a control period of seven months after the one year of treatment, growth slowed markedly. Undue bony maturation did not occur during or after treatment. When therapy was reinstituted, metabolic changes similar to those noted initially again occurred. The ou...


programs do not change the structural conditions of globalization – such as loss of land rights, privatization of essential public services, or cutbacks in health and education spending – that reproduce poverty among women in developing nations. ii


Using the test scores of more than 2,250,000 students who participated in the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) from 2009 to 2019, this study examined the direction and magnitude of the trends in gender disparity in participation and high achievement in self-select mathematics exams. The results of this study indicated that the male to female ratio among the AMC participants increased significantly from 2009 to 2019. The findings also showed an established disparity that favored males for each year and for all competitions in both the top 1% and 5% levels, while the trend in the male to female ratios over a decade was stable, except for the top 1% of the population in the AMC 8, in which there was a significant increasing trend that favored males. The possible impacts of these findings within the context of the underrepresentation of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields are discussed.


An 8K×8b N-well CMOS static RAM with a divided word line architecture which decreases both the column current and word line delay will be described. The RAM achieves an access time of 50ns while dissipating 100mW. The use of molybdenum silicide as a substitute for the second polysilicon layer will be reviewed.


GNSS VRS is Network-RTK GNSS positioning technique based on national CORS(Continuous Operating Reference Station) and wireless internet access skill to overcome limitations of traditional RTK surveying. GNSS VRS technique is used widely in the field of general surveying, cadastral and engineering surveying because of its high effectiveness and accuracy. However, it could be improved accuracy through the calibration using known control points before VRS surveying. In his study, we studied the impact of calibrationin in VRS positioning. For the study, GNSS VRS surveying carried out with and without calibration at cadastral re-survey field in Hadong and the both positioning accuracy was analyzed.


Insulin resistance and sensitivity variabilities exacerbated diabetes mellitus (DM) and non-diabetes mellitus (NDM) patients' conditions in the intensive care unit (ICU). This problem has been affiliated with glycaemic control performance and external errors, thus, influencing the blood glucose (BG) monitoring in those patients. A model-based glycaemic control was proposed as it offers a non-invasive observation of DM patients' insulin sensitivity (SI) in the ICU. This model-based glycaemic control used the Intensive Care Insulin Nutrition Glucose (ICING) model that combines stochastic targeted (STAR) protocol which was developed in Christchurch enabling the estimation of SI. However, lower SI in Malaysian cohorts has led to ICING model enhancement, giving better SI estimation to represent each critically ill DM and NDM patient's metabolic parameter. To identify the enhanced ICING model robustness, BG sensitivity error was added with 5% ±1 of noise error then simulated 100 times with Monte Carlo simulations. A total of 131 patients (170 DM and 101 NDM episodes) from the STAR trial in a general ICU was simulated producing 17000 and 10100 Monte Carlo simulations. The Monte Carlo analysis results showed with model enhancement, the model-based glycaemic control for Malaysian DM and NDM is robust and most importantly safe to be used with less than 0.1% of mild and severe hypoglycaemias. The median BG level, the % BG 6.0 – 10.0 mmol/L with and without Monte Carlo for DM and NDM cohort were in the target. In conclusion, through this validation, the enhanced ICING model is robust, optimised and safe to be used for glycaemic control within the DM and NDM in Malaysian ICUs.


Shows an event that occurred on 1 December 1863, the opening of the first section of the railway line between Christchurch and Lyttelton at Ferrymead, Heathcote. The event, watched by large crowds of people on both sides of the line, shows a small steam train on the left and buildings decked with flags on the far side of the railway line. The accompanying text (p. 237) describes the scene and mentions 'The sketch by Mr R. Kelly'
Engraved by R. S. Kelly
Quantity: 1 b&w art print(s).
Physical Description: Wood engraving, 102 x 230 mm.


Background and Objective Sinusitis of odontogenic source is common disease accounts for about one tenth of cases of all maxillary sinusitis. Odontogenic sinusitis differs in its pathophysiology, clinical manifestation and the management from sinusitis of other causes. As the advance of dental procedure, the characteristics of odontogenic sinusitis are changing. The purpose of this study was to define the characteristics of odontogenic sinusitis with respect to the pathophysiology and management. Subjects and Method Sixty two patients who were diagnosed to odontogenic sinusitis between May 2000 and May 2008 were included. All the diagnosis was supported by both dentist and otolaryngologist with objective data such as endoscopic exam and radiologic finding. All the medical records were reviewed retrospectively. Results Dental caries was most common cause of odontogenic sinusitis. Iatrogenic injuries during invasive procedure such as tooth extraction and implants were considerable. Most commonly presented symptom is facial discomfort. The surgical managements including local treatment were needed over 80% of cases. Average follow up period was 15.7 months, no complication was observed. Conclusion The half of cases of odontogenic sinusitis was resulted from iatrogenic problem. The combination of a medical and surgical approach is generally required for the treatment.


By Julie M. Webb University of the Pacific 2019 Organizations benefit from the knowledge held by individual members as well as knowledge that is shared among those members. In order for knowledge to codevelop between members, and to spread, organizations must provide opportunities for members to collaborate. Organizational teams sometimes require assistance with interpersonal communication, establishing consensus, and sharing knowledge when collaborating. Group facilitators can offer guidance and intervene when teams need support. In addition, teams can find support through the use of visual representation boundary objects (VRBOs) to build trust, improve communication, increase cooperation, and share ideas. This study explores how knowledge is shared between team members and uncovers the importance of social interaction during the codevelopment of shared knowledge. The role that group facilitators play in team collaboration is highlighted. The results of the study indicate that a positive relationship exists between the use of a VRBO and the development of shared knowledge amongst a team. Patterns emerged from the findings that reveal a structure to the team's collective meaning making that constitutes an underlying theory of action. The author examines the benefits of using VRBOs for teams and organizations including improved collaboration and communication.


A mechanical model for the offset-axes pendulum drill assembly (OAPDA) was established according to the continuous beam theory and the D.Alembert principle. The lateral force and the tilt angle on bit can be calculated with this model and used to evaluate the deviation control capability of OAPDA. The lateral force on offset-axes sub can be calculated and used to evaluate the eccentrically wearing degree near the offset-axes sub. The calculated results show that decrease of weight on bit (WOB) or increase of the rotary speed is propitious to deviation control, and increasing the offset distance of offset-axes sub or moving up the offset-axes sub is also propitious to deviation control, but it is unable to control the eccentrically wearing degree. Moving up the stabilizer goes against to control the deviation and eccentrically wearing degree. When the contract force on offset-axes sub is quite large, the eccentrically wearing degree of drill collar can be reduced by adjusting the assembly or drilling parameters.


A gas-reaction chamber has been constructed, which allows the in situ transmission electronmicroscopic study of gas-solid reactions at temperatures up to 900 °–1000 °C. The morphological and crystallographic properties of iron, of iron and wustite, and of magnetite depositing epitaxially on (111) gold substrates, either by the thermal decomposition of Fe(CO)5 or by decomposition and chemical reaction from Fe(CO)5–H2 or from Fe(CO)5–H2–H2O mixtures, are described. In other examples, the oxidation of the initially depositing iron is illustrated. In some of the experiments, polycrystalline iron foils were substituted for the (111) gold substrates, and a profound effect of iron deposition on the rate of grain growth in the iron foil was found. Coalescence of iron crystallites and high mobility of the deposit were observed. Incidental observations on the decomposition of Ni(CO)4 are described. These permit comparison of the epitaxial relationships in the Ni–Au and NiO–Au systems with those of the corresponding...


The world faces many large-scale risks. We describe these global catastrophic and existential risks and identify some challenges in governing the prevention and mitigation of such risks. We identify that risk reduction activity in Aotearoa New Zealand has not appropriately addressed these threats. On the basis of the challenges identified, we then deduce the desired features and functions of an entity for effectively governing risk reduction approaches. We argue for an entity that is: anticipatory, central/aggregating, coordinating, apolitical, transparent, adaptive and accountable. We offer structural options for such an entity and outline the merits of several options.


We calculated the time evolution of the free magnetic energy during the 2014 March 29 flare (SOL2014 March 29T17:48), the first X-class flare detected by the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS). The free energy was calculated from the difference between the nonpotential field, constrained by the geometry of observed loop structures, and the potential field. We use Atmospheric Imager Assembly (AIA)/SDO and IRIS images to delineate the geometry of coronal loops in EUV wavelengths, as well as to trace magnetic field directions in UV wavelengths in the chromosphere and transition region. We find an identical evolution of the free energy for both the coronal and chromospheric tracers, as well as agreement between AIA and IRIS results, with a peak free energy of E free ( t peak ) ≈ ( 45 ± 2 ) × 10 30 ?> erg, which decreases by an amount of Δ E free ≈ ( 29 ± 3 ) × 10 30 ?> erg during the flare decay phase. The consistency of free energies measured from different EUV and UV wavelengths for the first time here, demonstrates that vertical electric currents (manifested in form of helically twisted loops) can be detected and measured from both chromospheric and coronal tracers.


What is the condition of modern day family psychology? Merely posing this question raises what in psychotherapy research has been termed the "criterion problem." An additional dimension of this question's presentation, given our circumstances, would be called the "context problem." While the criterion problem raises the question, "What is our yardstick of measurement?" the context problem has to do, as the very term reveals, with the context we wish to consider when asking about family psychology's current status. That is, asking about family psychology within modern day psychology is to ask about family therapy as well. We can, and should, ask about the status of family psychology, as an academic and scientific specialty within psychology. However, as many have observed (Buehlman, Gottman, & Katz, 1992; Kaslow, 1990; Liddle, 1988a, 1992; L'Abate, in press; Markman, 1992), the developmental level of family psychology must be considered, by anyone's evaluation, at an early stage. So, we distinguish family therapy as one clinical manifestation of family psychology. Early on, we were concerned with distinguishing family psychology from family therapy (Kaslow, 1987; Liddle, 1987a). With this accomplished, the present scene seems to call for work that can understand family therapy, as a clinical specialty, and perhaps as a field and distinct profession as well, as a force within mainstream psychology.


The safety early-warning system and emergency system was constructed for the oil port storage and transportation.The system includes three aspects:the model of early-warning,the predicting model of accidents and the establishment of emergency system.By applying to specific oil port,the integrated design of the early-warning model had been completed.


Despite common purposes, many physicians and members of the community feel uneasy about the propriety of relationships between doctors and the pharmaceutical industry.1,2 The reasons for this are not difficult to understand. Medical practitioners and industry also serve divergent objectives: for example, the former seek first of all to represent the interests of their patients, while the latter are obliged to promote the interests of their shareholders. As a result of this divergence, there is a legitimate concern that associations between doctors and pharmaceutical companies may distort the recommendations made to patients and so undermine the basic premise of clinical medicine.


Aim: Overall survival from leukemia is less in low and middle-income countries than in high-income countries. The aim of this study is to review febrile neutropenia (FN) episodes in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated with BFM (Berlin-Franfurt-Munich) protocols at a single center in Turkey.

Methods: Retrospective data were extracted from medical records of children (1-18 years old) with newly diagnosed and relapsed ALL and who were treated between 1995-2010 at Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Pediatric Hematology Oncology Dept.

Results: Two hundred -forty-five FN episodes were detected in 96 evaluable children (mean age: 5.9±3.7 years; M/F: 50/46). According to BFM risk groups; 32 were SRG (standard risk group), 56 were MRG (medium risk group) and 8 were HRG (high risk group) patients. Fifteen patients had relapsed on follow-up and 2 of them had a second relapse. The mean number of FN episodes was 2.5 (±1.58; 0-8) per newly diagnosed patient and 3.6 (±1.88; 1-8) per relapsed patient. Febrile neutropenia episodes were more frequent at high risk patients compared to standart risk patients (p≤0.05). Patients diagnosed before year 2000 had less FN episodes compared to patients diagnosed after 2000 (p≤0.05). Fifty-seven of the FN episodes were fever of unknown origin, 16% were clinically documented infection and 27% were microbiologically documented infection. Of the microbiologically documented infections, 44% of them were caused by gram positive bacteria and 43% were by gram negative bacteria. Eight of 96 patients developed invasive fungal infection during initial treatment and 4 out of 15 patients who relapsed. Of 9 patients who expired on follow-up, the cause of death was fungal infections in 4 and FN in 1.

Conclusion: The high rate of infectious deaths in leukemia compared to that reported in high-income countries, suggests that improvements in infection care and prevention are necessary to improve survival in patients with leukemia. We showed that over the years FN episodes increased at our center in contrast to better quality of patient care. This increase in infections may be atrributed to more intensive treatment regimens. We also showed that high risk and relapsed patients who are treated more aggresively have increased infection rate. The most common cause of death was fungal infections.

Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Endosonography has become standard of care in the diagnostic work‐up of mediastinal lymphadenopathy and peribronchial lung lesions, but its success rate in some specific settings/conditions may be hampered by limited needle flexibility and size. We report on our initial experience with the 19G Flex needle, characterized by larger size and greater flexibility as compared with the currently available cytology needles.


Process planning is the systematic determination of the detailed methods by which parts can be manufactured from raw material to finished product. In a real manufacturing environment, usually several different parts need to be manufactured in a single facility sharing constrained resources. The existence of alternative process plans for each part makes the selection of process plan a very important issue in manufacturing. The objectives in process plan selection might be imprecise and conflicting. In this paper, a fuzzy approach is used to deal quantitatively with the imprecision of the process plan selection problem. Each process plan is evaluated and its contribution to shopfloor performance is calculated using fuzzy set theory. A progressive refinement approach is used to first identify the set of process plans that maximize the contributions, and then consolidate the set to reduce the manufacturing resources needed.


Castration at feedlot arrival may contribute to animal stress, and therefore have potential effects on feedlot performance and health. The purpose of this study was to follow two populations of male calves (those castrated prior to feedlot arrival and those castrated at the time of feedlot arrival) over a 61 day preconditioning period and to compare performance data based on individual animal feed intakes (GrowSafe Systems Ltd., Airdrie, Canada).


T here is ample evidence to support the notion that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced in excess during sepsis and that ROS participate in widespread cellular damage within vital organs. Under normal conditions, the major source of intracellular ROS formation is the mitochondrion, which explains why this organelle is replete with antioxidants. However, through unclear mechanisms, mitochondrial electron transport is inhibited during the acute phase of sepsis (1), thereby contributing to inefficient oxygen utilization and attendant increases in ROS production, particularly superoxide radical (O2 ) (2). Excessive ROS formation, in turn, depletes intracellular antioxidant stores, especially glutathione. The resultant imbalance between ROS formation and clearance in critically ill patients, commonly referred to as "oxidant stress," results in oxidative damage to nearly all cellular components, including lipid membranes, proteins, and DNA (3). Among the targets of ROS are iron-containing proteins, such as aconitase enzymes (4) and ferritin (5), and the resultant protein modification leads to the liberation of "free iron," which is toxic in its own right. Transition-metal ions, particularly iron, are potent catalysts of ROS formation; however, iron is also essential for a wide range of cellular functions. As such, most living organisms have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to safely transport and package iron, enabling its participation in essential biological functions, including oxygen transport and numerous enzymatic actions, while shielding against its potentially toxic effects. In this context, a slight increase in free iron or iron-containing low molecular mass biological complexes leads to enhanced iron uptake and turnover through iron regulatory proteins, which induce the expression of ferritin and transferrin receptors (6). When bound to ferritin, iron is effectively detoxified. However, when released from storage or liberated from oxygen-carrying molecules (e.g., myoglobin) or enzymes, free iron catalyzes the formation of hydroxyl radicals (OH ) from hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (i.e., Fenton reaction) or alkoxyl radicals from lipid peroxides (7). Hydroxyl and alkoxyl radicals, in turn, are extremely toxic, reacting immediately with many biological molecules and with lipid membranes, respectively. Thus, conditions favoring the formation of H2O2 and the release of free iron are potentially catastrophic to the host. Dr. Ritter and colleagues (8) recently showed that sepsis is associated with an acquired imbalance of antioxidant enzyme activities that specifically favors the formation of H2O2. Namely, during sepsis, superoxide dismutase (SOD), the enzyme catalyzing the production of H2O2 from O2 , is present in high concentrations relative to catalase (CAT), which neutralizes H2O2 to form water (8). H2O2 is normally scavenged by reduced glutathione; however, severe sepsis is complicated by glutathione depletion (9) such that H2O2 concentrations ultimately increase within the cell. The resultant oxidant stress contributes to the liberation of iron from intracellular and extracellular locations and inhibits mitochondrial respiratory function such that O2 production is increased. Thus, the ideal conditions for cytotoxic OH formation are created. The article by Dr. Ritter and colleagues (10) in this issue of Critical Care Medicine follows logically from their previous investigations and lends support to the theory that free iron plays an important role in the genesis of ROS in vital organs during sepsis. Recent investigations designed to interrupt ROS formation in the context of sepsis using iron chelation strategies have met with varying degrees of success (11–12). However, combined treatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a scavenger of H2O2, and deferoxamine (DFX), an iron chelator, has not been tested, and as hypothesized by Dr. Ritter and colleagues, this combination would effectively interrupt cytotoxic ROS formation via the Fenton reaction during sepsis. Rodent models of cecal ligation and perforation, like the one used for these investigations, are relevant since they are shown to induce a polymicrobial sepsis that mimics human sepsis (13). By including a volume-resuscitated treatment group, the authors have attempted to avoid hypodynamic (low cardiac output) septic shock, which results in tissue hypoxia, in favor of hyperdynamic (high cardiac output) septic shock, a condition that presumably is associated with normal tissue oxygenation (14). Although tissue oxygenation is not specifically measured in this study, resuscitative efforts minimize the potential for ROS formation due to tissue hypoxia such that the effects of the innate immune response (i.e., inflammatory tissue injury) are isolated. These experiments demonstrate that NAC DFX treatment normalizes the balance between the formation of ROS and their removal by endogenous antioxidant scavengers in vital organs during sepsis. In particular, mitochondrial superoxide production is attenuated and signs of ROS-mediated tissue damage (lipid peroxidation) are reduced in the NAC DFX treatment group relative to the matching sepsis group. Furthermore, the acquired imbalance between the activities of SOD and CAT that typically occurs during sepsis (8) was prevented by NAC DFX. The significant survival advantage of the NAC DFX treatment, even when rendered 3 hrs after the initiation of sepsis, provides compelling support for the notion that free iron plays a central role in the pathogenesis of sepsis-induced vital organ injury, presumably due to functional alterations of biological targets (e.g., membranes, enzymes) consequent to oxidant stress. *See also p. 342.


The Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998 (effective May 1, 1999) will be evaluated in terms of its implications for exporters shipping niche market containerized agricultural products. A border price sensitivity analysis applied to containerized shipment of hard white wheat exports illustrates that rates can be important and feeds into a discussion about the desirability of rate information and other service attributes becoming confidential. An economic analysis of the implications of the 1998 Act for competitiveness of containerized agricultural exports is discussed in terms of selected efficiency and deregulatory issues and shipping strategies likely to evolve as the Act is implemented.


Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, African Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Technology, Wilkins Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Medicine, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa


UNLABELLED
The new diagnostic method, intraoperative ultrasound is presented. There are very few publications in the literature, but they mainly concern the application of transcutaneous ultrasound in localizing the abscesses, their puncture and drainage. Intraoperative imaging of tongue, tonsil, larynx tumors, submandibular and parotid glands and neck masses have been provided by means of a linear 7.5 MHz probe in Poznań ENT Dept. K. Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences. The application of this method is pioneer and new. The aim of the study was to compare the sensitivity and the specificity of preoperative, transcutaneous ultrasound with the intraoperative one, to assess how the new method influences the extensiveness of the performed procedures and sonographic-surgical correlation of safety margins.

MATERIAL
5 patients with parotid tumors, 4 with tongue, 6 with tonsil and 6 with larynx cancers have been examined. In 13 of them, apart from primary site diagnostics, the neck masses have been assessed. The imaging documentation is presented and the preliminary conclusions concerning the usefulness of this method have been drown.


To realize the USB peripheral device,hardware in FPGA,firmware in MCU a nd client software in PC,it is a system level design which must consider the h ardware and software in a general view.Here special aspect is focused on the US B protocol realized in FPGA which can be designed with HDL.It also provides a i nterface with the line driver and the application with user's software.After v erification,it can be realized as a single chip or as a IP core into other SOC applications.


Over the last four years, visits have been made to several isolated Western Australian missions to examine psychiatric behaviour among full‐blood Aborigines. While many of the usual psychiatric syndromes are found, the presentation of these states differs radically from presentation among Europeans. The differences are described.


The effective transparency of rare-gas clusters, post-interaction with an extreme ultraviolet (XUV) pump pulse, is studied by using an atomistic hybrid quantum-classical molecular dynamics model. We find there is an intensity range in which an XUV probe pulse has no lasting effect on the average charge state of a cluster after being saturated by an XUV pump pulse: the cluster is effectively transparent to the probe pulse. The range of this phenomena increases with the size of the cluster and thus provides an excellent candidate for an experimental test of the effective transparency effect. We present predictions for the clusters at the peak of the laser pulse as well as the experimental time-of-flight signal expected along with trends which can be compared with. Significant deviations from these predictions would provide evidence for enhanced photoionization mechanism(s).


In recent years,the room temperature brittleness and the high temperature strength of NiAl inter-metallic have become the researching focuses.This paper introduced some researching results of NiAl inter-metallic about strengthening and toughening such as grain refinement,alloying,fabricating composites,and improving fabricating techniques etc.Furthermore,the existing problems and the researching trends were also pointed out.


ABSTRACT Predictors of ever having sought adoption are evaluated for Hispanic and non-Hispanic White women. Analysis of the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth, a nationally representative study of reproductive health of 7,643 women aged 15 to 44 years, is employed. These include Hispanic and non-Hispanic White women aged 18 to 44 who are currently married and cohabiting (n = 3,118) and Hispanic and non-Hispanic White women aged 18 to 44 of all marital statuses (n = 5,236). Being married, older, and attending religious services are significantly associated with having sought adoption among non-Hispanic White women. Nativity status, language spoken, and resources are significantly associated with having sought adoption among Hispanic women.


A method and device for judging the phase sequence of three-phase AC is characterized by use of the rotation direction of rotary vector angles to determine the phase sequence. Said method incldues sampling the real-time three-phase voltage/current signals, finding out the phase angle difference of the rotary voltage/current vectors, calculating the phase angle difference in a certain time, and determining the rotation directions of rotary vector angles according to the signs of said phase angle differences. Its advantages are high anti-interference power and high correctness.


The spectral reflectance of wheat leaves changes when the plants are under the copper stress. The reflectance of wheat leaves with different Cu contents which are cultured with water solutions are measured using a ASD Fieldspec Spectroradiometer and an Integrating Sphere. Characteristic wavelengths, spectral dissimilar index, correction coefficient and fluorescence emission effect are analyzed using these data. The result shows that the spectral variation of TritiZnm aestivum L. leaves are caused by: (1) The excess of copper induced the inhibition of pigment synthesis and affected the development of the photosynthetic apparatus, which is one of the reasons why the reflectance increases in the visible region; (2) The decreased reflectance in the near-infrared, due to damage to leaf cell walls and mesophyll tissue. (3) The fluorescence effect is also an important factor that affects the reflectance spectra of leaves from 600 to 800 nm.


In April 1997, 4 mated pairs of adult greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) were abrupt-released at Monnon Lake, Arizona. Five of 8 adult cranes died within 10 days of release. One crane flew from the release area within 10 days after release and was never relocated. One pair of cranes, with 1 pair member sustaining a broken wing 4 days after release, survived for 4 months and demonstrated the importance of maintaining pair bonds after release. The cause of death of at least 5 birds was predation. The high immediate mortality and complete long-term mortality experienced in this pilot project suggests that adult cranes are poor candidates for release. These poor results encourage that, in future release attempts with mated pairs or other adult cranes, it is important to provide the cranes with roosting habitat while still in captivity and to hold the cranes in an acclimation pen at the release site for several days prior to release. PROCEEDINGS NORTH AMERICAN CRANE WORKSHOP 8:155-159


In our previous study of a two-dimensional colloidal crystal (Chui et al., EPL 83, 58004 (2008)), we found that confinement can be used to impose a mesoscale superstructure which possesses a predominately mechanical elastic character, by Monte Carlo simulations. The soliton staircases were created along parallel confining boundaries, which give rise to strain waves in the crystal. Here we study a novel non-equilibrium dynamics during structural transformation in the colloidal crystal with a confinement. The dynamics are shown by superimposed configurations and molecular animations obtained from the simulations. Also the corresponding normal stress and shear stress during transformation are calculated. The understanding of this non-equilibrium process should be useful for controlling strain wave superstructure in the self-assembly of various nano-and meso-scaled particles.


HIV prevalence in Burkina Faso has declined sharply in recent decades in tandem with a shift toward safer sexual practices, finds an analysis of data from antenatal care surveillance and population-based surveys. (1) The proportion of pregnant women aged 15-49 testing positive for HIV fell by roughly 70% overall between 1998 and 2014, with the greatest reductions seen in younger age-groups; declines were also evident among men, but were more marked in older age-groups. In addition, there was an increase in the proportion of never-married 15-24-year-olds who delayed sexual debut and a decrease in the share having multiple sexual partners in the past year, as well as an uptick in condom use at last sex with nonmarital, noncohabiting partners among 15-49-year-olds with such partners. Investigators analyzed data on HIV prevalence from nine antenatal care surveillance sites in Burkina Faso that were consistently included in surveillance between 1998 and 2014 (totaling 2,010-3,129 pregnant women aged 15-49 per year). In addition, they analyzed data on HIV prevalence and sexual behaviors from three population-based Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted in 1998-1999, 2003 and 2010, mainly among men and women aged 15-49. With the DHS data, the researchers assessed five sexual behavior indicators (sexual inexperience among never-married youth; multiple partners in the past year among sexually active youth; sex with a nonmarital, noncohabiting partner among all sexually active respondents; condom use at last sex with a nonmarital, noncohabiting partner among all sexually active respondents with such partners; and sexual debut before age 15 among youth) and two general HIV-related indicators among youth (ever having been tested for the virus and knowledge of a formal source of condoms). They calculated survey-specific HIV prevalence, and used chi-square tests to compare HIV prevalence across survey years and to ascertain trends in sexual behaviors. Results of analyses of the antenatal care surveillance data indicated that the proportion of pregnant women aged 15-49 testing positive for HIV fell dramatically in Burkina Faso between 1998 and 2014, by 72% in urban areas (from 7% to 2%) and by 75% in rural areas (from 2% to less than 1%). The greatest reductions during 2007-2014 (the years when age-specific data were available) occurred among younger women: some 55% among 15-19-year-olds, 72% among 20-24-year-olds and 40% among 25-29-year-olds, compared with just 7% among those aged 30 years or older. Analyses of the DHS data showed a similar pattern among women between 2003 and 2010: HIV prevalence fell by 89% among women aged 15-19 (from 1% to nearly zero), by 78% among those aged 20-24 (from 2% to less than 1%) and by 52% among those aged 25-29 (from 3% to 1%), with minimal change among those aged 30 or older. However, the pattern among men was somewhat different, as reductions were more marked in older age-groups: For example, HIV prevalence fell by 43% among men aged 15-19 (from 1% to less than 1%), but by 82% among those aged 25-29 (from 3% to less than 1%). During the same period, the proportion of youth reporting never having had sex increased. Among 15-19-year-olds, this proportion rose for both females (from 76% to 82%) and males (from 74% to 82%); however, among 20-24-year-olds, it rose for women (from 33% to 40%), but remained unchanged for men (33-34%). …


Paleolimnology, bioenergetics modelling, and mesocosm experiments were used to quantify changes in phytoplankton following introduction of trout into fishless alpine lakes in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. During the 1960s, Snowflake and Pipit lakes were stocked with brook (Salvelinus fontinalis), cutthroat (Oncorhynchus clarkii) and rainbow trout (O. mykiss) either singly or in combination. Stocked trout eliminated large invertebrates (Daphnia spp., Hesperodiaptomus arcticus, Gamrnarus lacustris), but the fish died within 15 yr. High performance liquid chromatographic analysis of carotenoids and chlorophylls in sediments inferred that algal abundance increased 4- to 10-fold shortly after fish stocking. In contrast, phytoplankton composition and biomass were constant in nearby, unstocked Harrison Lake, as inferred from fossils. Pigment analysis of mesocosms showed that phytoplankton were sensitive to moderate fertilization: 11 μg P∙L−1 resulted in four- to six-fold increases in algal biomass. Bioenergetics...


In the Mediterranean basin, a large number of olive varieties are present. This poses a series of problems concerning germplasm characterization and management. In addition, there is a problem arising from the existence of homonyms and synonyms. This makes cultivar identification very difficult and complex. Microsatellites or simple sequence repeat (SSR) are locus-specific codominant markers showing a high degree of polymorphism and multiple alleles per locus. Their high informativeness makes them the markers of choice in genetic diversity studies. This work presents the results of molecular characterization and identification of 20 Tunisian olive varieties using 10 SSR markers. All the SSR amplification products were sequenced to determine the number of repeats and the range of allele size. The number of alleles per SSR varied from three to six and the average heterozygosity rate ranged from 30% to 95%. Hierarchical classification of varieties base on similarity measures and clustering was globally consistent with the grouping of varieties by end use and phenotypic characteristics. The result is that varieties having the same name were found to have a clonal relationship. Paternity analysis showed also clone relationships between varieties not known to be related.


Abstract To spur on renewable energy development, some US states have adopted Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) and related policies. Previous studies have examined the factors that lead to such policy adoption, but offer limited empirical evidence on the effects on renewable energy development. We intend to close this gap through empirical analysis. Results suggest that RPS adoption and the stringency of its inherent characteristics were dominant in spurring wind energy development, and that state wind energy potential, economic and market characteristics, energy portfolio, and political structure had significant impacts. Thus, policy and politics matter more than nature in driving wind energy deployment.


AROC has been represented at a number of conferences over the last few months. The conferences and the titles of the papers are listed below. Copies of each of these presentations are often accessible through the AROC website: http://chsd.uow.edu.au/aroc/presentations.html Australian Association of Gerontology: Getting on With Life – Rehabilitation and Chronic Illness in Old Age, Wollongong, 1-2 April 2008. The State of Rehabilitation in Australia in 2006. Health Outcomes 2008: Facilitating Knowledge Exchange and Transfer for a Dynamic Future, Canberra, 29 April – 1 May 2008. Developing Targets for Outcomes of Treatment of Fractured Neck of Femur in Australia Australian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine Annual Scientific Congress: People at Work, Managing Complexity, Adelaide, 6-8 May 2008. The AROC Annual Report: the state of rehabilitation in Australia in 2007 Make mine a combo: Explaining why a combination model of inpatient and ambulatory care services in rehabilitation works better than inpatient and ambulatory care services alone Using the Lawton's and patient goals to evaluate ambulatory rehabilitation outcomes Developing Targets for Outcomes of Treatment of Fractured Neck of Femur in Australia


"(+)-Cyanidanol-3" is the answer to the question "Cyana what?" (+) -Cyanidanol-3 is a naturally occurring flavonoid with chemical structure +3',4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflavan-301 (Figure 1). Over a decade ago, this substance was shown to have hepatoprotective effects against a number of hepatotoxic agents in experimental animals (1-4). Although this drug has been in wide therapeutic use in Europe for the past 6 to 7 years, it is neither known nor available in the United States. In the present issue of Hepatology, there appears an article by Piazza and coworkers entitled "Effect of (+)Cyanidanol-3 in Acute HAV, HBV, and Non-A, Non-B Viral Hepatitis" ( 5 ) . The authors describe a three-part controlled clinical trial in which the effects of cyanidanol were compared with those of placebo in separately randomized groups of patients with acute viral hepatitis caused by HAV, HBV, and non-A, non-B hepatitis virus, respectively. They found that cyanidanol significantly accelerated the fall in transaminase activities and prevented the rebound that characterizes non-A, non-B hepatitis. They found similar, statistically insignificant trends in hepatitis B virus hepatitis, but no such effects in hepatitis A virus hepatitis. The major message of the paper is to point out explicitly what has been long known and often ignored, i.e., the different types of acute viral hepatitis are not only caused by different viruses, but run different clinical courses and respond differently to therapy. It is mandatory, they warn, to identify and stratify separately each type of acute viral hepatitis for investigations of clinical features, prognosis, or response to treatment. The other question that deserves comment is why is an article about an agent only available abroad published in Hepatology? First, although Hepatology is the official journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, it is not an American journal. The study of the liver knows no national boundaries, and Hepatology was conceived as an international journal (6). Indeed, during its first 24 months, 38% of the 142 papers published in Hepatology originated in other countries. Second, some of these papers deal with diseases rarely seen in


Abstract We consider special flows over the rotation by an irrational $\alpha $ under the roof functions of bounded variation without continuous, singular part in the Lebesgue decomposition and sum of jumps not equal to zero. We show that all such flows are weakly mixing. Under the additional assumption that $\alpha $ has bounded partial quotients, we study the weak Ratner property. We establish this property whenever an additional condition (stable under sufficiently small perturbations) on the set of jumps is satisfied. While it is a classical result that the flows under consideration are not mixing, one more condition on the set of jumps turns out to be sufficient to obtain the absence of partial rigidity, hence mild mixing of such flows.


In order to develop more economical and ecologically friendly transformers it is necessary to know the losses throughout the product development process. There are several losses related to transfo ...


LITANY, 1900-1964 The "humanities" are a twentieth-century invention, and the term has never had clear meaning. Morton Bloomfield says it was in the 1920s that the word came to indicate "disciplines like" literature, art, languages, philosophy, "and to some extent history."' Several writers on what one called the "sudden dramatic revival" of the humanities after 1920 (these writers never point out when they flourished before) are impressed by the absence of precise definition: "A cursory examination of the subject," writes Ralph B. Perry in 1938, "revealed the fact that the term 'humanities' had no fixed meaning."2 A 1940 study of The Revival of the Humanities in American Education (New York: Columbia University Press) by Patricia Beesley notes "the absence of fixed formulae" in connection with the term; the humanities "are not to be easily catalogued by reference to any one concept of humanism" (p. 3, p. 64). The term, when it refers to anything specific, usually applies to various subjects, although some (see, for example, Greene, p. 153) point out that the term does not or should not denote subjects. Though "humanities" never developed fixed meaning, from the beginning it has almost invariably been used within one persistent context, the key word in a litany of four constant parts. First is the relation to the scientific. The very perception of the humanities is apparently possible only with respect to the scientific. Beesley attributes the rise of the term to efforts "to denote a field comparable in breadth to the Social Sciences and the Natural Sciences" (p. 3). Bloomfield says "the awareness of their distinctiveness" was created by the rise of behaviorism and the social sciences; "they came into existence as a separate branch of learning to defend them-


t-C4 F9 1 has been successfully tested as a lasant in a solar-simulator-pumped laser system and produced a 14-W CW output. The pump-to-laser efficiency was determined to be three times that of the commonly used n-Ca F7 I.


In India, both High Yielding Varieties (HYVs) and Farmers' Varieties (FVs) are being cultivated in different seasons in various agro-ecosystems in all regions of the country. A review of the contemporary literature reveals that a large number of factors namely, institutional, environmental, socio-economical and technical, determine the choice of a particular kind of variety (HYVs vs FVs). Literature also supports the fact that FVs are adapted better under marginal and low-input environment, due to their inbuilt resilient mechanisms. A large number of FVs of various crops continue to be grown in different states, occupying significant area in different regions and seasons. Also, the contribution of FVs is significant for food and nutritional security, particularly for small and marginal farmers in low-input marginal conditions. With regard to the legal protection of FVs, in case of food grain crops (cereals and pulses), almost all registration of FVs for Plant Variety Protection (PVP) have been for self-pollinated crops by virtue of being homogenous and qualifying the distinctiveness, uniformity and stability (DUS) test for their protection and conservation through legislative mechanism in India. The present study reveals that in case of coarse cereals, vegetables and cash crops, the registration of FVs for PVP are very low/negligible, due to relatively more variability/heterogeneity by virtue of their genetic makeup and pollination behaviour, thus failing to qualify DUS test. The present analysis indicates that provisions under Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Act (2001) need further amendment so that important FVs are not excluded from getting intellectual property right protection.


In this paper we analyze whether and which political institutions are important for famine prevention and for keeping the levels of inequality low. While famines are sudden crises hitting a country, inequality is a structural problem. As a consequence, the institutions needed might be very different. The econometric exercises realized on a group of emerging and developing countries confirm the validity of Amartya Sen's "democracy prevents famine" argument, while democracy is not a significant determinant of income inequality. These results are in line with previous ones, suggesting an unclear role of democratic institutions in facing other structural problems, such as hunger and poverty. Moreover, two main institutional indicators, computed by the World Bank, "control of corruption" and "government effectiveness" are negatively correlated with famine mortality, suggesting that the policy environment, the level of bureaucracy, governmental capacity to take decisions and implement them in a short period are relevant factors for reducing famine mortality. In contrast, political stability explains better income inequality in our sample of countries. Social peace and cohesion are deterrent for inequality, but the direction of the relationship should be investigated further.


A fast event-driven software simulator has been developed for simulating large networks of spiking neurons and synapses. The primitive network elements are designed to exhibit biologically realistic behaviors, such as spiking, refractoriness, adaptation, axonal delays, summation of post-synaptic current pulses, and tonic current inputs. The efficient event-driven representation allows large networks to be simulated in a fraction of the time that would be required for a full compartmental-model simulation. Corresponding analog CMOS VLSI circuit primitives have been designed and characterized, so that large-scale circuits may be simulated prior to fabrication.


The utilization of non-flammable, fluorine substituted mixtures for distributed refrigeration applications is of increasing commercial interest. System designs, which accommodate fluorine-based refrigerants face engineering challenges that are atypical of hydrocarbon based systems. A process has been developed which is tailored to the demands associated with the quick freezing of food and pharmaceutical applications. The refrigeration system has been designed to interface directly with a cryogenic tunnel freezer within the context of a large processing facility. A design methodology has been employed which focuses upon integrated system development and low cost compression. A dual circuit mixed gas refrigeration system has been developed which sequences the refrigerant dew and bubble point thereby minimizing total cycle power. A methodology for component selection has been developed which averts cold-end freezing and two-phase flow. The process has been shown to be competitive with other low temperature refrigeration alternatives such as direct-cryogen application.