which can promote plant growth and plant productivity. This study was performed to investigate the occurrence and to isolate indigenous Azospirillum in the nodules of peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) from three cultivated areas in Thailand. It was found that the population of Azospirillum in peanut nodules from three soil types by most probable number method with semisolid N free (Nf) medium were 2.4x10 4 , 2.4x10 3 and 2.3x10 2 cfu/g respectively. Six bacterial isolates were obtained and were characterized. Based on their morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics they were putative Azospirillum spp. All of them formed the blue pellicles below the surface of semisolid Nf medium. Their colonies on Congo red agar were red, opaque with dry consistency. They were all Gram negative rods. Based on the ability for utilization of glucose and trisodium citrate as carbon sources, they could be divided into three groups. From 16SrDNA sequencing analysis, 3 isolates belonged to A. oryzae , 2 isolates belonged to A. formosense and 1 isolate belonged to A. brasilense . A. oryzae isolate was similar as A. brasilense isolates for their high acetylene reduction activity (ARA) but A. brasilense produced higher IAA production while the IAA production were low. Among the six isolates, only A. oryzae isolates could solubilize phosphate and produced siderophore. Meanwhile A. formosense isolates had the lowest ARA while the IAA production were high and they had positive antagonism against TAL 1000 Bradyrhizobial strain. A. brasilense was selected for further study for co-inoculation with TAL1000 Bradyrhizobium in peanut in the future.


The Internet, which is the environment of the proposal herein presented, is characterized by heterogeneity, both from the point of view of algorithms and management, and from the point of view of physical links. Taken into account this aspect, a possibility to increase the performance of both data and real-time traffic is to insert flow control mechanisms at the application level. This allows controlling all the parameters at the application level and then delegates the control problem at the network borders (end-to-end). In this context, a flow control mechanism operating at the application level has been designed and proposed. It is aimed at maximizing the number of network multimedia applications (NMAs), while providing a sufficient level of PQoS (Perceived-QoS) to each user. The control scheme is based on the variation of the compression parameters and technique, to dynamically adapt the output bit-rate of the application to the network load. The QoS perceived by the users is adopted as performance index to select the best video encoder parameters related with a desired (by the network) output bit-rate. The proposed scheme has been tested in real experiments over LAN and WAN network domains.


Recently, graphene has gained a lot of attention in the electronic industry due to its unique properties and to overcome the limits of miniaturization making way for novel devices in the field of electronics. Among the synthesizing methods for growing large graphene films, chemical vapour deposition is one of the promising and common techniques but defects such as cracks, holes, or wrinkles are hard to avoid. The presence of defects influence the electrical properties of graphene thus the local conductivity distribution across the surface of the graphene can characterize its electrical behavior. The difference in conductivity values of the defect and the background can be estimated with electrical impedance tomography. Due to the very high conductivity of graphene, the reconstructed electrical impedance tomography conductivity images suffer from poor spatial resolution. Considering the graphene defect conductivity and the number of defects are known a priori then the unknowns are defect geometry and background conductivity of graphene that are estimated using hybrid particle swarm optimization - gravitational search algorithm. The defect geometries are described by truncated Fourier series coefficient which can represent the complex shapes. Numerical studies are done for graphene characterization with single and multiple defects. Monte Carlo simulations with 20 runs having different noise seed are carried out to evaluate the robustness of the proposed algorithm. Statistical analysis is done and the results of the proposed algorithm are compared against the conventional modified Newton Raphson method and gravitational search algorithm. Experimental studies with graphene sheet 2.5 cm $\times2.5$ cm with defects are performed for shape estimation. The results showed that the proposed algorithm has a good estimation of background conductivity and defect geometry.


In 1979, Berry and Balazs [M V Berry and N L Balazs 1979 Am. J. Phys. 47 264] obtained a strict solution of the Schrodinger equation with Airy function used as the initial condition, and described the wave function represented by such solution as the Airy wave-packets. They discovered that infinite Airy wave-packet has unique properties such as non-spreading and free acceleration, proving that it is the only nontrivial non-spreading solution of the time-dependent Schrodinger equation in one dimension. However, the observing of the finite Airy beam seems to be more meaningful since wave-packets in reality is inevitably band limited. A certain form of finite Airy beam was investigated by Siviloglou et al. in 2007 [Siviloglou G A, Broky J, Dogariu A, Christodoulides D N 2007 Phys. Rev. Lett. 99 213901; Siviloglou G A, Christodoulides D N 2007 Opt. Lett. 32 979]. They noted that the Airy wave packet still exhibits its most exotic feature, i.e., its trend toward free acceleration. While in the present paper we discuss the properties of Airy beam in a few steps further and propose several conclusions. On the one hand, a theoretic explanation is given to solve the matter of the centre of mass of infinite Airy beam. On the other hand, deeper research is conducted on the unique properties of finite Airy beam. Another form of finite Airy beam is discussed by reduction to absurdity, and its field distribution is put forward by numerical simulation. We find that the trajectory of the centroid holds its position, which means that the beam cannot accelerate freely as a whole. Ultimately, we have the conclusion that finite Airy beam can neither freely accelerate nor be non-diffractive.


Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites have
attracted immense interest as a promising material for a variety of optoelectronic
and sensing applications. However, issues regarding long-term stability have emerged
as the key bottleneck for applications and still require further study. Here, we
develop automated experimental workflow based on combinatorial synthesis and
rapid throughput characterization to explore long-term stability of these
materials in ambient conditions, and apply it to four model perovskite systems:
MAxFAyCs1-x-yPbBr3,
MAxFAyCs1-x-yPbI3,
CsxFAyMA1-x-yPb(Brx+yI1-x-y)3
and CsxMAyFA1-x-yPb(Ix+yBr1-x-y)3. We have both established a new
workflow and found out the main tendencies in the mixed cation and anion
systems, which led to the discovery of non-trivial composition regions with
high stability. The Non-negative Matrix Factorization and Gaussian
Process regression are used to interpolate the photoluminescent
behavior of vast compositional space and to study the overall behavior
of the phase diagram. This interpolative regression analysis helps to
distinguish mixtures that form solid solutions from those that segregate into
multiple materials, pointing out the most stable regions of the phase diagram. We find the
stability dependence on composition to be extremely non-uniform within the
composition space, suggesting the presence of potential preferential
compositional regions. This proposed workflow is
universal and can be applied to other perovskite systems and
solution-processable materials. Furthermore, incorporation of experimental
optimization methods, e.g., those based on Gaussian Processes, will enable the
transition from combinatorial synthesis to guide materials research and
optimization.


ABSTRACT: As part of a research program to hasten late-fall establishment of a winter cover following potatoes, the use of pregerminated seed of winter rye (Secale cereale) relative to natural seed was investigated in three phases. Phase 1 comprised a pot experiment in a controlled environment to test for an advantage of pregerminated seed in shoot and root growth as cover performance parameters. Phase 2 was a hand-seeded field-plot experiment to confirm the advantage. Phase 3 was a machine-seeded field experiment to test this advantage in a system of simultaneously seeding rye and digging potatoes. In Phase 1, pregermination showed a significant 20% advantage in shoot length. In Phase 2, pregermination showed an advantage of 144% to 175% in shoot dry weight, 82% to 157% in root dry weight, and 56% to 136% in leaf area. In Phase 3, however, natural seed outperformed pregerminated seed in all parameters. The results of Phase 3 were considered to be a biological anomaly, caused possibly by damage done to the germinating seed during handling and seeding.


Several authors have reported that the presence of teeth may be one of the determinants of mandibular fractures. Fracture of the jaw plays an important role in the practice of the oral surgeon. A number of factors contribute to the strength of the mandible. These include presence of active and strong musculature, the shape and thickness of the bone, and the presence or absence of teeth.


The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services provides incentive payments to physicians who meet electronic health record (EHR) meaningful use criteria. Whether most physicians with EHRs are able to...


The utility model relates to a hand-pushing electric shears for lawns which takes the storage battery as the power source, which is applicable for the finishing and the maintenance of the greenbelt square lawns of the court, the residential district, the park and the hotel and so on. The utility model comprises a shears body; the lower part of the shears body is provided with a land wheel; the rear part of the shears body is provided with a hand-pushing rod and the bottom is provided with a rotating type cutting knife and a cutting knife height adjusting device. The shears body is internally provided with a direct current motor and a storage battery group; the output shaft of the direct current motor is directly connected with the cutting knife; the storage battery group is connected with the direct current motor.


The invention relates to feed, in particular to green-grape livestock and poultry feed suitable for pigs, chicken and so on, which is prepared from grape pip powder or grape pip meal or ripening grape pin powder, corn, soybean meal, DDGS, corn fiber feed, bone powder, calcium monohydrogen phosphate, limestone, and salt according to certain ratio. The feed has the characteristics of saving corn, improving the performance of the livestock and poultry, and improving the economic benefit. The feed experiment indicates that 4 to 10 percent of grape pin is added to pigwash for a female pig without harmful effect on the female pig reproduction, the weight for baby pigs which are ablactated is increased, the weight of fatting pigs is increased, and furs for the fed pigs are bright, the egg-lay performance of laying hen can be improved, and the crude fiber content of the feed can be adjusted.


Abstract The work presented in this workshop suggest important room for improvement in data-driven health policy making in France and in Germany. We identify data generated by healthcare systems can be mobilized to inform four different aspects of public health and health care policy making: 1. Supporting patient-centered evaluation of healthcare services: micro-level data collection is key to developing evaluation tools which can be used to improve quality of care and patient experience, as evidenced by the development of PROMS and PREMS. 2. Adapting care supply to population needs: meso-level data collection enables local and national policy makers to design and implement healthcare programs and investments which fit population needs. 3. Developing targeted prevention policies: meso-level data collection can also be used to identify health hazards, improve population safety and limit health impact of exposure to sanitary and environmental risks, allowing local and national policy makers to articulate prevention strategies. 4. Informing healthcare research: patient and meso-level data are invaluable resources for health and life-sciences research, supporting identification of biomarkers and development of diagnostic tools and treatment. Additionally, we identify that all four of these aspects of data-driven policy have implications at a local, national, and European level. In light of this, Institut Montaigne strongly advocates for a population-based approach, as implemented in Canada, relying on multiple datasets as well as individual and collective responsibility. We also stress the need for coordination at a European level, aware the current implementation of the European Health Data Space is an opportunity to leverage information from EU-wide databases. Data-driven public health and health care policy is a tool of public value and its use is critical to ensuring resilience of current health systems and addressing future crises.


Abstract Innovative multiple heterocyclic rings incorporating phenothiazine moiety (2–16) were synthesized through the reaction of N-cyanoacetamide phenothiazine derivative (2) with various types of reagents. The new compounds were tested against their antimicrobial activity. Compounds 10, 14, 15 and 16 showed higher activity toward Gram (+) than Gram (−) bacteria strains. Spectral and analytical data confirmed the correct structures of all the compounds.


-Within project management it is important to distinguish, recognize and manage the relevant stakeholders of the project, due to this, the objective of this article is to analyze the different influence strategies that can be used by stakeholders and how to manage them in the different phases of the life cycle of a project. In this article, the population under study is the Pasacaballos community and its impact on the development of the Oiltanking Cartagena loading dock expansion project, in the year 2022, the case-study focuses on three aspects: power analysis, legitimacy and urgency for the analysis of the intentions of secondary stakeholders. The main findings are that based on the fundamental type of influence strategy used by stakeholders and recognizing the stage of the project life cycle, an effective management model can be developed to dilute the influence of stakeholders or minimize the impact that their actions may have on the development of the project's decision-making process.


David C. Seeberger, ATC ANKLE PROPHYLACTIC INTERVENTIONS IN DIVISION III MALE AND FEMALE BASKETBALL ATHLETES 2011/12 Burton R. Sisco, Ed.D. Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration Prophylactic ankle taping has been considered the basis of lateral ankle injury prevention and has been used at all levels of sport competition. An alternative to ankle taping is a semirigid reusable ankle brace. This study compared the incidence of ankle sprains in Division III collegiate basketball players during a 4 week period. Each subject was randomly selected to one of four groups which include a taping group, bracing group, PowerTape® group, and rehabilitation group. The purpose of this study was to prospectively compare ankle taping, bracing, PowerTaping, and rehabilitation for the prevention of ankle sprains. A total of 25 men and women basketball players were followed up for a 4 week period, 5 ankle sprains occurred with no lateral ankle injuries occurring in either of the PowerTape® groups. There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of ankle sprains between the 4 groups. Findings of the survey data revealed that subjects reported having no performance deficits in basketball drills, athletic performance, and muscle performance.


grading on the basis cycle Background: The interpretation of the result of CBNAAT is done on the basis of CT value as high, medium, low and very low. CT value may correlate with time to positivity in culture. Methods: This is a prospective study with 163 gene X pert positive sputum samples analysed for correlation between CT value and time taken for growth in culture. Samples were sent for culture (MGIT) as well as CBNAAT. Association between CT value and time for growth was analysed by chi square test (p value < 0.005). Spearman correlation was used to determine correlation of X pert CT values with TTCP. Results: Out of 163 X pert positive samples, 29.44 % (n=48) samples were culture positive, 63.19% (n=103) were negative and 7.36% (n=12) were contaminated. Mean CT value and mean TTCP among culture positives are 22.18 and 30.87 respectively. There is significant association between CT values and time for growth (p value <0.05). Spearman correlation of mean CT value with TTCP in culture showed moderate positive correlation. Linear regression analysis found association between MGIT TTCP in culture and CT value of CBNAAT (R 2 =0.22). Conclusion : Samples with high and medium detected CT values have shown early culture positivity. Background: Steven-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is an acute reaction to the skin and mucous membranes that is characterised by damage and flaking of the skin, accompanied by pain and can cause death. Treatment with anti-TB drugs sometimes results in skin lesions that range from mild self-limiting reactions to severe forms Background: Bed aquiline is the newly introduced drug in the of MDR/XDR 2019. India, the studies on Bed aquiline are lacking, as the drug is recently introduced in the regimen. This study at evaluating the incidence of the two adverse effects, QT prolongation and liver function derangements in the Longer Oral Regimen started for the treatment of MDR/XDR TB during the first 6 months of Bed aquiline containing course of the treatment. QTC are Background: Smoking is associated with unfavourable treatment outcomes like failures and defaults among the TB patients.


Purpose

Temporary agency working continues to grow in the UK. The purpose of this paper is to look at a number of important developments in the agency industry, which generate implications for the performance of agencies, temps and the user firms in which temps work and to set out some of the key performance implications of these developments. These developments are: the increasingly complex set of contractual arrangements between agencies and user firms; the changing regulatory environment; and the changing role of agencies in pay setting.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews the state of the art literature on agency working, and draws on 15 years of primary research and secondary analysis of the sector by the authors.

Findings

The paper shows that there is a proliferation of models of temporary agency worker supply, some of which involves agencies playing a greater role within firms in the management of temps, with other involving a deliberate and strategic distancing of client firms and/or agency in the day-to-day management of temps. This creates significant challenges for the management of temps. The paper also finds that there are significant tensions and challenges arising from the implementation of the Agency Working Regulations, even though these regulations have the potential to raise motivation and performance of temps.

Practical implications

The management of temps creates significant challenges for organisations and agencies. New models of supply of agency labour have the potential to make these challenges even more problematic, if not addressed effectively. The implications of the shifting regulatory and political environment also need closer scrutiny, particularly in the context of the recent EU referendum result in the UK.

Originality/value

The paper sheds light on a number of new developments in the agency sector, and by demonstrating their effects on organisations, agencies and temps, draws out some of the performance implications of the continued and changing use of agency temps.


The plasma is produced by magneto-acoustic techniques in a glass tube situated in a constant magnetic field. The plasma flows out continuously along the axis into the measuring chamber at whose centre the magnetic field varies from 700 to 2500 Oe. A hydrogen plasma was studied at pressures of (5 to 1) × 10−3 Torr. The active high-frequency power put into the discharge was 4 kW. The temperature of the electrons varied from 4 to 10 eV, and the electron concentration at the centre of the chamber was 1 × 1010 to 4 × 1012 cm−3. The density of the plasma and the temperature of the electrons were determined mainly by electric probes. Further, the density and temperature of the electrons were checked by a microwave technique (for which the Fabry-Perot interferometer was used) as well as by optical methods. In the range from 10 to 200 kHz, intensive (∼1 V) electric noise with first-harmonic frequencies of several tens of kHz was discovered and investigated by means of dual electric and capacitative and double capacitative probes. The relationship between this noise and the plasma parameters was studied, and discussed from the point of view of the "universal" plasma instability.


The Freeman-Sheldon syndrome is an autosomal dominant disease and the main features are the changes in the face with external projection of the lips (whistling position), underdeveloped nasal cartilage, narrow nostrils, microstomia and microglossia, which explains the signs of respiratory distress and swallowing problems, promoting the indication for tracheostomy. This paper reports a case of tracheostomy in a newborn baby suffering from the Freeman-Sheldon syndrome, contributing with information that can help health professionals to improve the respiratory condition in such cases and to prevent future complications with invasive mechanical ventilation in the long -term basis, justifying the indication of tracheostomy in period similar to that carried out in children without neurologic diseases. J Neurol Res. 2013;3(6):179-180 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4021/jnr250w


The aim of this study is to understand how teenagers from a poor neighbourhood, many of them of foreign origin, build their identity confronting themselves with social, sexual and ethnic differences. How do boys and girls acquire their specificities ? How do social and urban environment, mass culture, family, ethnic and religious factors and school play a part in this process ? hese high school students' neighbourhood is quite typical of the French suburbs, but it's quiet. The teenagers share their life between their families, which have varied profiles, their friends, who value the youth's customs but also their origins and their religion, and the school, where they acquire a specific identity, which is not the same for boys and girls, and where they must think of their future. Or these teenagers, familial, religious and school values converge. Differences due to school tend to supplant social differences, but this evolution can be stopped when there is no social promotion.


We report a nanocarbon film based microdisk array electrode with an extremely stable electrochemical response for measuring serotonin. The nanocarbon film was formed on a silicon substrate with an electron cyclotron resonance sputtering method, and the nanocarbon film based microdisk array electrode was fabricated using photolithography. The array electrode consists of 335 microdisks with a diameter of 10 µm. The center-to-center distance of each microdisk is 100 µm. The electrochemical properties of the nanocarbon film based microdisk array electrode are compared with those of a gold film based array electrode. Before microfabrication, both nanocarbon and gold film electrodes (both 2 mm in diameter) showed steady responses for the continuous voltammetric measurement of 1 µM of serotonin. Moreover, each microdisk array electrode exhibited a sigmoidal response. The obtained current densities were higher than those of conventional sized electrodes owing to the microelectrode effect. However, the current value at 0.45 V vs. Ag/AgCl at the gold film based microdisk array electrode decreased rapidly and fell to 30 % of its initial value after ten potential scans. In contrast, the nanocarbon film based microdisk array electrode decreased only 2 % under the same measurement condition. Despite the fact that there was more than 10 times the current density at the microelectrode, our nanocarbon film showed excellent performance in suppressing serotonin adsorption.


According to recent studies, the nanoindentation appears to be a very effective tool to analyse mechanical properties of biomaterials, especially in case of hardly accessible soft tissue. Machining of biological material to normal-shaped samples for tensile testing is quite difficult. This paper presents a study of viscoelastic properties of porcine zygapophyseal joint (ZJ) by nanoscale dynamic mechanical analysis (nanoDMA; Lukeš et al. 2010).


As part of a larger ultrastructural study on the photoreceptors of the squid, Loligo pealei, this paper reports findings on non‐synaptic regions. The cross‐sectional profiles of individual distal segments coincided in horizontal sections as far as 75 μ apart, but progressively less with greater separations. Areas of cross‐section showed a unimodal distribution skewed towards 6 μ2, the smallest areas. The distribution of ratios of villous to smooth border was unimodal and skewed with 1.0 being the most numerous and minimal ratio. This ratio tended to increase linearly with area. Cells of small cross‐section were completely surrounded by villous border of other cells and about 60° of the perimeter of any cell had microvilli on both sides of the border. Cells participated in odd or even numbers of rhabdomes, up to eight. Pentalaminar membrane junctions between microvilli of the same or neighboring cells were observed. Cytoplasmic microtubules were concentrated near villous borders. In light adaptation some ommin granules entered the photoreceptor tips, and the rhabdomes which formerly began near the surface, now began somewhat below this level. A terminal bar zone existed proximal to the rhabdomes. Here glial cytoplasm separated photoreceptors and both cells contained ommin granules. Photoreceptor somas lacked glial separation and were highly interplicated. Mitochondria were longitudinally arranged along the somal membrane. The planes of the lamellate membrane bodies, seen in the somal cytoplasm of the cells, did not exhibit a rectilinear pattern such as that displayed by the basically rectangular distal segment cross‐sections and microvillar orientations.


A obtain a magnetic resonance image which can control the relaxivity of the signal. A compounds useful for binding to the nanoparticles or microparticles emulsion, and provides compounds readily bind the particulate component.


Summary form only given. High power characteristics of InGaAsP quantum-well gain-coupled DFB lasers with a loss grating are presented. Among these are record single-mode (SM) values of 115 mW at 1.3 /spl mu/m and 95 mW at 1.55 /spl mu/m. The SM-yield at 20 mW is as high as 66%.


Adverse effects of pulmonary tuberculosis treatment that often arise in the first month are nausea. This effect causes the occurrence of non-compliance with taking anti-tuberculosis drugs. For this reason patients with tuberculosis need non-pharmacological management such as acupressure. Acupressure is a mechanical or compressive manipulation based on one or more movements of certain meridians or points. This study aims to determine the effect of acupressure on nausea and vomiting in pulmonary tuberculosis patients due to the effects of pharmacology. The method was used quantitative design with a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test with group control. The measuring instrument for nausea and vomiting was the Rhodes Index of Nausea Vomiting and Retching. The population was all pulmonary tuberculosis patients in category 1 treatment. The sample technique used is consecutive sampling. Sampling was consisted complaining nausea with or without vomiting. Data was analysis using t-test. The results was showed significant difference before and after the intervention to reduce nausea and vomiting (p = 0.000). Acupressure is a complementary therapy that can effectively reduce complaints of nausea and vomiting in pulmonary tuberculosis patients which is carried out at points P 6 and St 36 for 15 minutes. This research can be used as a recommendation for applying complementary acupressure therapy in providing nursing care to tuberculosis patients


Fluorescence spectra and their rise and decay dynamics of a merocyanine dye in the interface layer have been studied as a function of penetration depth of the evanescent wave intensity by total internal reflection fluorescence spectroscopy. The aggregation of the dye was enhanced in the interface layer of up to ≈ 100 nm thickness compared to the bulk solution.


In order to evaluate the thrust and fuel consumption rate of the engine in flight,the overall design of missile engine installation characteristics must be taken into account. In this paper,based on the analysis of the engine overall performance and components characteristics,through the establishment of inlet additional resistance,nozzle / afterbody drag and engine / inlet flow matching,keep dynamic pressure 50kPa flight trajectory,mounting resistance coefficient,the engine installed thrust,installed fuel consumption rate were calculated. The results show that: the external resistance of the inlet and nozzle,reducing the thrust,fuel consumption increase.


(57) Abstract: The present method includes providing an aliquot of the viral gene transfer vector stocks, by generating a charged fragments from the aliquot, and evaluating the purity of the viral gene transfer vector stocks. Fragments are detected by a detector for generating a sample signal corresponding to (mass / charge number) ratio of the detection fragments. Then, by comparing this signal with a standard signal, assessing the purity of a viral gene transfer vector stocks.


The basic premise of Ramsey Theory states that in a sufficiently large system, complete disorder is impossible. One instance from the world of graph theory says that given two fixed graphs F and H, there exists a finitely large graph G such that any red/blue edge coloring of the edges of G will produce a red copy of F or a blue copy of H. Much research has been conducted in recent decades on quantifying exactly how large G must be if we consider different classes of graphs for F and H. In this thesis, we explore several Ramseytype problems with a particular focus on paths and cycles. We first examine the bipartite size Ramsey number of a path on n vertices, bˆr(Pn), and give an upper bound using a random graph construction motivated by prior upper bound improvements in similar problems. Next, we consider the size Ramsey number R̂(C, Pn) and provide a significant improvement to the upper bound using a very structured graph, the cube of a path, as opposed to a random construction. We also prove a small improvement to the lower bound and show that the r-colored version of this problem is asymptotically linear in rn. Lastly, we give an upper bound for the online Ramsey number R̃(C, Pn).


This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness Problem Based Learning toward Biology learning outcomes in the subject of Basic Nursing Science I. The research design was true experimental design. The population in this study was the first-grade students in Nursing Sciences Study Program in Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Bali. Purposive sampling technique was applied to select the sample size in experimental and control group. There were 162 respondents included in this study. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistic and independent sample T-Test. The result showed that the average of post-test in control group was 67.01 ± 7.53 and average of post-test in the experimental group was 80.16 ± 5.92 (p < 0.05). It could be concluded that Problem Based Learning Model is more effective than a conventional model. It can be used for the alternative model in learning which can improve student's ability in critical thinking and the learning outcomes of Biology in subject Basic Nursing Science I.


We show that the spectrum X of a weakly semiprojective, commutative C*-algebra C(X) is at most one dimensional. This completes the work of S{\o}rensen and Thiel on the characterization of weak (semi-)projectivity for commutative C*-algebras.


Workers on Electronic Manufacturing Service (EMS) assembly lines are exposed to a high degree of occupational stress and fatigue. There is a need for assistive technologies to limit worker stress/fatigue. Electro Dermal Activity (EDA) (Skin Conductance) is a known indicator of a worker's stress/fatigue level. We propose a novel Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) wrist strap-based EDA sensor. Our sensor seamlessly integrates with the dual-wire grounded ESD wrist strap that EMS operators are mandated to wear. Our approach for EDA measurement is non-intrusive, considering that the operators are accustomed to continuous usage of ESD wrist straps. Besides EDA measurement, our front-end circuit also monitors the integrity of the ESD wrist strap and alerts the wearer in the event of an intermittent or open ground. We present the circuit design and stress-test-based experimental results.


That means is a successful one for attracting foreign investment, because it keeps investor far away from political dangers and provide him with political protection. The factors that investor regards in choosing a host country for his investment are the provided guarantees and the stability of the country, politically, economically and legally. Chaos and crises that occurred to the country and its instability made obstacles in the way of foreign investment; it's safer for investor to avoid countries of threats and conflicts. In this study we discuss the attempts of Kurdistan Region in coping with development of investments through declaring the law No.4 of year 2006, yet it's necessary to deal with the laws of investment by giving more trusted guarantees for investors and giving priority to strategic projects whether agricultural, industrial or touristic. To conclude, the reasons of foreign investments decrease in Kurdistan Region, after evaluating the experiment for more than ten years. These reasons are political rather than economic. Despite widening the way for foreign investor for choosing the economic field or activity he wishes as he likes. The Kurdistan Region exerted great efforts for attracting investments by facilitating customs procedures, financial, procedural and legal steps; On the other hand, the state hasn't given so wide market that fits huge investments. Due to the ambiguity of laws in Kurdistan Region, it's necessary that we make guarantees that are more trustworthy and accurate for protecting foreign investments on its land, in order to fulfill all required sides of investment climate and legal protection elements. To provide guarantees of investment in Kurdistan Region we need to form a clear vision about investment climate, and to provide fertile land for attracting investments to achieve economic development for host country. That contributes in making the base and structure of that country for achieving further development and prosperity for Kurdistan Region nation. The idea of legal protection to guarantee the ownership of investors is one motive that encourages investor to choose Kurdistan Region particularly as investment destination. This idea is about giving investor protection against political dangers that may face the investor with investment prosperities by declaring legal terms for this guarantee in Kurdistan investments laws. By providing these guarantees the investor gets complete protection from political danger e.g. expropriation for common good, nationalization, seizure, imposition of custodianship or preventing the transfer of investment benefits.


The use of fibres in High Performance Cementitious Composites is often justified by means of the improvement of impact and blast resistance due to their ability in energy absorption. In order to understand and appreciate the effective increase in uniaxial tension behaviour at increasing strain rates, an experimental investigation is in progress by using a Modified Hopkinson Bar for dynamic loadings available at the University of Applied Sciences of Southern Switzerland of Lugano and a conventional closed loop electromechanical press for statical tests available at the Politecnico di Milano - Polo Regionale di Lecco. The geometry of the specimens is kept exactly the same and due to limitations imposed by dynamic loadings, small size specimens are only considered; nevertheless in statics also conventional bending on notched specimens are carried out to highlight the role of reduced sizes. The material investigated is steel fibre reinforced mortar used for the production of precast roofing elements. The main aim is the comprehension of the high strain rate role on the constitutive relationship in uniaxial tension and the estimation of the improvement in terms of strength and toughness achievable by means of steel fibre addition.


In its present form the prediction model is only valid for accidents between intersections. The model considers the influence on the number of accidents of road alignment, paved width, speed limit, traffic flow and geographical region. The model may be gradually expanded to include additional factors describing the road and traffic environment and also to include intersections. /TRRL/


As companies in all industries explore the rising power of artificial intelligence (AI), they face a familiar dilemma: Should we build or buy? This is rarely an either-or choice. AI vendors have attracted most of the AI talent, so companies are compelled to work with them. At the same time, AI vendors rely heavily on data that only their customers can provide, so such vendors need to work more closely with clients than they may be accustomed to doing.


This paper proposes a simple, distributed algorithm that achieves global stabilization of formations for relative sensing networks in arbitrary dimensions. Assuming the network runs an initialization procedure to equally orient all the agent reference frames, convergence to the desired formation shape is guaranteed even in partially asynchronous settings. We also characterize the algorithm robustness to errors in the initialization procedure. The technical approach merges ideas from graph drawing, algebraic graph theory, multidimensional scaling, and distributed linear iterations.


This article examines the way in which railway employment and urban life have led to the development of a unique identity among the railway workers of Atbara, headquarters of the Sudan Railways. During the period covered by this article, Atbara's railway men formed the core of the Sudanese working class and inaugurated one of the best and most dynamic labor movements in Africa and the Middle East. As many scholars have noted, the development of labor activism, solidarity, and strong social bonds are among the most important characteristics of railway workers worldwide. This article argues that the development of these attributes were closely associated with the nature of railway employment, which involved intensive socialization and acculturation into the norms of the industry.


We study the uniqueness and expansion properties of the positive blow-up boundary solution of the logistic equation
△u + au = b(x)f(u) in a smooth bounded domain Ω. The absorbtion term f is a positive function satisfying the Keller–Osserman condition and such that the mapping f(u)/u is increasing on (0,+∞), b is nonnegative, while the values of the real parameter a are related to an appropriate semilinear eigenvalue problem. Our analysis is based on the Karamata regular variation theory.


The stereochemical arrangement of methyl groups are suitable to correlate with RON (Research Octane Number). Only four parameters (sum of carbon atoms, numbers of primary, secundary and tertiary methyl groups) are used to calculate RON values of individual alcanes


The narrative motive is the search for new principles of architectural design in the paradigm of shaping, the development of techniques and methods of constructing new "plastic objects". The thesis of the need to focus on new principles is supported. The text contains original statements of architects, theorists, critics related to the antithesis of "formula-principle". The article presents student works illustrating the principle of "matryoshka", which, in our version, is an abstraction, a kind of "concept" for a temporary semantic replacement. For the design, we introduced the concept of "Nested structures". Architectural and urban planning structures with specific qualities that allow them to be defined as "nested structures" and identified not only as a design tool, but also its object itself are considered. In this study, "nested structures" are considered as a general principle of creating plastic forms and organizing space in architectural design.


It has been proposed to use elastomeric composites as artificial joints bearing surfaces to increase their fluid film lubrication and therefore reduce their failure attributed to wear mechanisms. The fluid generated between the surfaces supports part of the load and prevents direct contact of the bearing surfaces. However, permanent deformation or failure of elastomeric composites has been observed following debonding between fiber and matrix. It is hypothesized that heat generated at the contact between the elastomeric composite and the reciprocating counter part contributes significantly to failure of the elastomer. A preliminary study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of a tribological experimental model to verify this hypothesis. The coefficient of friction between UHMWPE and metal and an unreinforced polyurethane elastomer bearing against metal was measured using reciprocating motion. The next phase of this project will consist of using this experimental model to analyze the effect of friction on the failure of elastomeric composites composed of polyurethane matrix and fibers. Introduction Total joint replacements are performed to alleviate pain following the diagnosis of degenerative diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. In a total joint replacement ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) components are normally bearing against Cobalt-Chromium alloy, titanium alloy, or ceramic surfaces. UHMWPE debris resulting from the tangential motion between the components leads to implant loosening and retrieval. Techniques have been proposed to reduce the wear rate of the implants such as the modification of the chemical and mechanical properties of UHMWPE and the use of soft layers to increase the lubrication of the bearing surfaces. In fact, a thin, rigidly backed, elastomeric layer allows the formation'of a lubricant film in conditions where a very hard material such as steel would fail. However, experimental studies by the investigators [Chow et al, 1994; LaBerge et al, 1991; Leach et al, 1994; Leach et al 1994a] have demonstrated that severe fatigue stress concentrations ocLur in the layer and at the attachment edge of the coating which decrease the fatigue strength of these layers and their ability to withstand the applied fatigue stresses for a length of time comparable with the life of the bearing unit. National Tekile Center Annual Report: September, 1994 235


This report discusses research concentrated on slowly varying nonlinear oscillatory systems. Some of the topics discussed are; adiabatic invariants and transient resonance in very slowly varying hamiltonians systems; sustained resonance in very slowly varying hamiltonian systems; free-electron lasers with very slow wiggler taper; and bursting oscillators. (LSP)


[Objective] The research aimed to get the optimal extraction condition of small highly active plant Triticale phytase. [Method]Taking a food and forage triticale 209 as material,the optimum extraction condition was explored. Coomassie brilliant blue method was used to measure the total protein content. And according to the new standard,vanadium ammonium molybdate method was used to measure the phytase activity. [Result] The optimum extracting condition was as follows: pH 5. 0,solid-liquid ratio 10,200 r / mim range 1 h,not adding surfactant Triton X-100. [Conclusion]The study of wheat and barley extract phytic acid enzyme technology was suitable for practical application.


JOSPT offers invited reviews of current titles. The October 2013 column includes 7 reviews of the following books: Clinical Epidemiology of Orthopedic Trauma; Core Concepts in Athletic Training and Therapy, With Web Resource; Physical Therapy of the Shoulder: Fifth Edition; Foot and Ankle Sports Medicine; Treat Your Own Knee; Why Do I Hurt? A Patient Book About the Neuroscience of Pain; and Your Fibromyalgia Workbook: A Neuroscience Approach to the Understanding and Treatment of Fibromyalgia. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2013;43(10):760–765. doi:10.2519/jospt.2013.43.10.760


In this paper, two universal reinforcement learning methods are considered to solve the problem of maximum power point tracking for photovoltaics. Both methods exhibit fast achievement of the MPP under varying environmental conditions and are applicable in different PV systems. The only required knowledge of the PV system are the open-circuit voltage, the short-circuit current and the maximum power, all under STC, which are always provided by the manufacturer. Both methods are compared to a Fuzzy Logic Controller and the universality of the proposed methods is highlighted. After the implementation and the validation of proper performance of both methods, two evolutionary optimization algorithms (Big Bang—Big Crunch and Genetic Algorithm) are applied. The results demonstrate that both methods achieve higher energy production and in both methods the time for tracking the MPP is reduced, after the application of both evolutionary algorithms.


The immensity of the problem of alcoholism is reflected by the cold statistical fact that between six-and-a-half to nine million Americans are known to suffer from this disease, with millions more on the verge of a serious drinking problem. Whereas the magnitude of this disease is high enough even to warrant a declaration of national emergency, the combined facts that alcoholism is not a communicable disease, although at least 130 million nonalcoholic Americans are affected by alcoholism, and that its etiology is still unrevealed, probably account for the actuality that the concern for alcoholism is less than it is for hard drugs, the abuse for which has not reached the proportions of alcoholism. The world-wide statistical data bring us to the alarming conclusion that alcoholism constitutes one of the principal causes of human suffering. Each alcoholic human being represents a problem, the magnitude of which depends upon the nature of the defect, the advancement of the alcoholic stage, the family of which he is a part and, the social structure of the community, to name but a few of the influencing factors. Although the term "alcoholic" refers to a common denominator, it does not imply that alcohol is the causative source, nor does it suggest any typology or common characteristics among persons suffering from this disease; yet, considering that the expectancy rate of alcoholism in the children of families in which at least one parent is an alcoholic is ten times higher than it is in general population and that over 50% of all alcoholics have had at least one alcoholic parent, analyses concerning the possibility of inborn errors of metabolism seemed to be warranted and were undertaken at the cell and cell-culture levels. The initial studies included blood group determinations, gross karyotypings, and electrophoretic serum analysis of the blood cells of 280 volunteer human subjects.


Objective: To observe the clinical curative effect of Injection of Herba Erigerontis in combination with danshen root powder injection on unstable angina. Methods: One hundred and two patients with unstable angina were divided into the control group and the observation group,with 51 cases in each group. The patients in the control group were treated with danshen root powder injection,while the ones in the observation group were treated with danshen root powder injection and injection of Herba Erigerontis together. Then both groups' clinical effective rates,lipid changes,adverse reactions,and HS- CRP changes were compared. Results: After the treatment,lipid levels in both groups greatly improved,and the observation group was better than the control group( P 0. 05). The effective rate and the adverse reaction rate of the observation group were 92. 16% and 3. 92% respectively; The effective rate and the adverse reaction rate of the control group were 80. 39% and 13. 73% respectively; And the differences between them were significant( P 0. 05). After the treatment,HS- CRP levels in both groups greatly reduced; The reduced degree of the observation group was better than that of the control group( P 0. 05). Conclusion: Injection of Herba Erigerontis in combination with danshen root powder injection in treating unstable angina can effectively improve lipid level,reduce HS- CRP,relieve angina symptom and enhance the clinical curative effect.


It is common for monolingual dictionaries to state that they are a dictionary of the English (French, etc.) language. This raises the question as to what interpretation of language is meant in this context. Reference is often made to the use of a corpus. However, a corpus can never constitute the language being described. The lexicographer has to decide which occurrences in a corpus are errors and which reflect playful use of expressions not literally used in the text. The issue can be clarified by using Chomsky's distinctions between competence and performance and between I-language and E-language. Neither competence/I-language nor performance offer a viable notion of language that can be described in a dictionary of the English language. Although Chomsky considers E-language a problematic concept, it is shown that it can be used in the context of lexicography if we consider lexicography an instance of applied science


This paper systematically analyzes the sedimentary environment of Late Cretaceous Epoch strata in Yangyan,Hebei and initially thinks it to be a sedimentary association that deposited in lake and fan delta It describes in details basic features of sedimentary environment and process of basin filling Analyzing sedimentary environment of strata contained dinosaur fossil is to make much difference to the study of burying or ecology environment of dinosaut


STRUCTURE OF CATALYST IN FORM OF HOLLOW CYLINDER, FOR PARTIAL OXIDATION BUTANE NORMAL FOR THE PRODUCTION OF MALEIC ANHYDRIDE. CATALYST IS FORMED BY A COMPLEX BASED PHOSPHORUS, vANADIUM AND OXYGEN. THE TABLET 10 THE FORM OF A CYLINDER 11 OF THE MATERIAL CATALYST THAT THROUGH A HOLE CENTRAL 12. SUCH CATALYST GIVES YIELDS HIGHER IN MALEIC ANHYDRIDE, FROM HYDROCARBONS C AND PARTICULARLY N-bUTANE, THAT THE SAME CATALYST FULL.


Research on the perception of vowels in the last several years has given rise to new conceptions of vowels as articulatory, acoustic, and perceptual events. Starting from a "simple" target model in which vowels were characterized articulatorily as static vocal tract shapes and acoustically as points in a first and second formant (F I/F2) vowel space, this paper briefly traces the evolution of vowel theory in the 1970s and 1980s in two directions. (1) Elaborated target models represent vowels as target zones in perceptual spaces whose dimensions are specified asformant ratios. These models have been developed primarily to account for perceivers' solution of the "speaker normalization" problem. (2) Dynamic specification models emphasize the importance offormant trajectory patterns in specifying vowel identity. These models deal primarily with the problem of "target undershoot" associated with the eoarticulation of vowels with consonants in natural speech and with the issue of "vowel-inherent spectral change" or diphthongization of English vowels. Perceptual studies are summarized that motivate these theoretical developments. INTRODUCTION In the past 15 years, there has been renewed interest in some basic questions about the perception of vowels. These questions concern the characterization of what spoken vowels are as articulatory and acoustic events, and how listeners recover speakers' intended vowels from the acoustic signal. In this paper, two directions in which vowel theory has evolved over the last several years are described and some perceptual research that motivates current conceptions of the nature of vowels as dynamic articulatory and acoustic events is summarized. In order to put the recent developments into perspective , I will begin by sketching the basic assumptions of a genetic theory of vowel perception, which I refer to as a "simple target" model. Some version of this view was held implicitly or explicitly by most speech perception researchers in the early 1970s. It is also the "textbook" characterization of vowels and vowel perception that we still teach in introductory phonetics and speech science courses (e. Central to this theory is the notion of the vowel target as a unifying concept among articulatory, acoustic, and perceptual characterizations of vowels. Vowel targets are con-stored representations of the phonelogical segments (Dani-left and Hammarberg, 1973). Articulatorily, these canoni-cal targets are best represented by the static vocal tract shapes assumed when a speaker produces sustained, mon-ophthongal vowel sounds. In continuous speech, these static articulatory positions are considered the goal states when coarticulating vowels in syllabic …


In this opinion article, a basic scientist and a clinical scientist have expressed views on the challenges that exist today in the world of translational research. We highlight differences between the basic scientist and the clinical scientist perspective on translational research, and discuss how these differences are perhaps rooted in the training in each of these disciplines. We also highlight the increasing pressures on both basic scientists and clinical scientists to integrate and come up with solutions for complex diseases, and the dialogue that is necessary to facilitate this interaction robustly. Some suggestions for improving dialogue are included but these are mere starting points for a larger discussion on this topic.


In general, people have known tea as a refreshing and healthy beverage product. Green tea powder is one of the raw materials for the meter industry which contains a lot of polyphenols and antioxidants beneficial for health. The purpose of this study was to evaluate consumer preferences for a variety of food and beverage products containing green tea powder. The research method used is a positive approach and descriptive statistics. Primary data and information were collected from 200 respondents through a survey using well-structured questionnaires and interviews. Organoleptic test (hedonic or preference test) is a technique used in testing the acceptability of various food and beverage products. The hedonic scale is used to determine the level of preference, which is then analyzed using the same multi-attribute ideal number as the Semantic Differential Method. The results showed that 53% of respondents liked the taste of products enriched with green tea powder. Tea lattes, cupcakes, and layer cakes are products that are not favored. They have a preference value of 1.79, 1.48, 1.48, respectively. This means that the product has a dislike attribute, especially in taste, while bread is the most preferred product with a preference value of 0.31. In increasing consumer preferences for food and beverage products enriched with green tea powder, there are at least four development priorities that must be carried out, namely determining the right combination of product composition, improving texture, competitive prices, being more attractive and good, environmentally friendly packaging, create the uniqueness of product. .


E B E M / S Y S T E M A T I C R E V I E W A B S T R A C T M A R C H 2 0 0 3 4 1 : 3 A N N A L S O F E M E R G E N C Y M E D I C I N E 4 1 1 touch sensation were reported for most trials; however, fewer trials reported infectious complications and gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The primary outcome was improvement in neurologic function scores. To better compare these scores across trials, the author obtained additional information through personal communication with the authors of 2 trials. Scores were reported as weighted mean differences (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Because differences in the many arms of each trial limited the ability to compare mortality, only the 180-day mortality of 2 trials was examined. M A I N R E S U L T S Eight trials were chosen for review representing a total of 1,698 patients. The 8 trials were divided into 5 groups based on steroid dose and duration of treatment. One group did not contain patients with acute traumatic spinal cord injury. Of the remaining 4 groups, only 1 included more than 1 trial for meta-analysis. Although all 5 groups were analyzed, the conclusions were based primarily on this multi-trial group, which is the focus of this review. In the group consisting of 4 trials and 797 patients, patients were randomized to receive either high-dose methylprednisolone or placebo for 24 hours after the injury. One trial was only used to discuss complications. The other 3 evaluated neurologic outcomes at varying follow-up intervals. This limited the reviewer from combining results for all 3 outcomes (motor function, pinprick, touch) across all 3 follow-up intervals (6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year). In patients treated with high-dose methylprednisolone, there was no significant improvement in overall motor function scores at 6 weeks patients with acute spinal cord injury when given within 8 hours of injury and should be given to all such patients. The duration of infusion depends on time of patient presentation. Although high-dose methylprednisolone does improve neurologic recovery, it does not improve mortality and is unlikely to lead to complete return of normal neurologic function. Continued research into different methylprednisolone protocols and combinations of agents is still necessary. Cochrane Systematic Review Author


Radio Digital Signal Processing (DSP) elements work well in the conditions for which they are designed, but degrade in edge cases outside of these conditions. In previous work we built individual physics-driven neural network (NN) models to replace standard DSP function models in an LTE-like intelligent receiver. This prevents performance degradation in the edge conditions while giving the same or better performance than the DSP models. In this work we extend these individual NN models to a more realistic LTE receiver with multiple antenna support and stitch together the individual NN models to form a complete end-to-end pipeline. We report results for these NN models as well as the complete pipeline, comparing with standard DSP element analogues using both channel bit error rate (CBER) and bit error rate (BER). The individual NN models perform equal or better than DSP blocks in the more realistic and difficult LTE receiver conditions and the end-to-end pipeline provides a much better performance improvement over a DSP pipeline, providing a modular architecture that can be used in other applications.


D issertation subm itted to the Faculty o f E ducation
University o f the Witwate.-irand, Johannesburg
for the Degiee of Master o f Education
Pretoria 1973


A foldable, hydrophobic acrylic IOL embedded with a small-aperture mask provided excellent visual acuity across all distances in patients who underwent monocular implantation after cataract surgery and was not associated with any visual symptoms that may occur with other presbyopia-correcting IOLs.


The aim of this study is to determine the role of haptoglobin phenotype in realization of adaptive responses of cellular and humoral immunity indices to moderate exercise caused by physical training. The study was implemented in the group of second-year students aged 18–20 who lived in the same climatic and geographical conditions for a long period of time. The students didn't have any acute or chronic diseases and attended the main group of physical training. 60 persons were investigated. Immune system indices analysis was carried out in September before and after physical training lessons. Leukocyte level was calculated using hemocytometer, lymphocyte level was determined on the base of blood smear (dyeing for Romanowsky–Giemsa). Expression of surface antigene by peripheral blood lymphocyte was determined by immuno-fluorescence method with the use of monoclonal antibodies. The level of immunoglobulin in plasma was determined by radial immunodiffusion or Mancini method. To assess the phenotype of haptoglobin (Hp) we used the method of electrophoresis in starch gels. In the course of research we have detected the reduction of the relative and total number of lymphocytes regardless of haptoglobin phenotype in the group of students after physical training; this is a typical feature of the initial stages of stress response. We observed statistically reliable decrease in total number of analyzed subpopulations of T-lymphocyte in the group of students with phenotype Hp2-2 which was obviously the result of changes in the general level of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. In the group of students with phenotype Hp1-1 absolute number of T-lymphocyte with phenotype CD3+ and CD4+ is reduced. In the group of students with phenotype Hp2-1 we have seen only the tendency to decrease in functional mature T-lymphocyte and their helper subpopulation. In the group of students with phenotype Hp2-2 the relative number of helper T-lymphocyte with the phenotype of CD4+ was reduced after moderate physical activity and it caused the decline in immune regulating index CD4+/CD8+. Changes of the level of B-lymphocyte with CD72+ phenotype were not found regardless of the haptoglobin phenotype. Analysis of the impact of moderate physical activity on major classes of serum immunoglobulin revealed the reduction of IgG level in the group of students with phenotype Hp2-2. Thus, we draw the conclusion that serum haptoglobin system shares the adaptive reactions of immune system to moderate physical activity. The most pressing phenotype is Hp2-2. Even in the group of students with immune pressing haptoglobin phenotypes, the analyzed parameters do not go beyond the homeostatic regulations after physical activity and it indicates satisfactory level of immune system adaptation to performed physical activity.


Existing simulation models of power transformers that operate, for example, in the MATLAM Simulink SimPowerSystem environment, are based on an ideal transformer model. It allows using this model as an autonomous link in a complex electrical circuit. The main disadvantage of such models is the difficulty to consider non-standard versions of the magnetic circuit and special schemes for connecting winding elements when modeling. Particularly significant problems arise when modeling special transformers of the certain classes. At the same time, traditionally, when modeling the transient modes of transformers, a different approach is used. It is based on the use of inductance matrices which allows considering all the design features of the active part of the transformer. The disadvantage of this approach is the need to describe an external electrical circuit in addition to the transformer. Therefore, the problem to develop a modern technology for simulation models of transformers with an arbitrary design of the active part is topical. This model meets the requirement for the autonomy of the transformer model from the external circuit model. The authors have used the methods of modeling electrical and magnetic circuits based on the theory of ordinary differential equations, and simulation method using the MatLab Simulink SimPowerSystems package. A technology has been developed for simulation models of transformers with an arbitrary design of the active part based on the use of typical subsystems. An algorithm for matrix of inductances based on the main magnetic field of the transformer with the existing equivalent circuit of the magnetic circuit is given. The authors have presented a diagram of a three-phase transformer model developed using the proposed technology, as well as the results of comparing the current curves in the primary and secondary windings of the transformer when it is turned on at idle and with a resistive load. The results are obtained using the existing and new models. The results of the study can be used to design general industrial and special transformers in design companies and in manufacturing environment. The developed technology can give a special effect when it is used at the R&D stage to study the operating modes of transformers in case the enterprise has no experience to design and manufacture them.


This paper deals with the eigenvalue problem of the Infinite-Dimensional Hamiltonian operators with the diagonal elements being constant.Based on certain properties of their eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the product of the off-diagonal elements, the location of their eigenvalues,symplectic orthogonal relationship between eigen or root vectors,and the completeness of the eigen or root vectors system are characterized.


Our environment contains objects that possess qualities in many modalities. As such we see a piano and at the same time hear its characteristic sound. Usually, we perceive the audio and visual information as belonging to one object. Up to now, two suggestions have been made how this binding mechanism of multimodal information might work. One is based on neurons that encode with higher sensory areas more and more complex features of sensory input. Another approach focuses on temporal patterns of neuronal activity that links regions of similar oscillatory properties. In this experiment we presented artificial auditory, visual and audiovisual stimuli with congruent and incongruent dynamic properties to subjects and recorded their cortical activity with EEG. Unimodal trials were created by two sequential auditory or visual stimuli whereas multimodal trials consisted of parallel presentation of auditory and visual components. In both trials subjects were asked to judge whether they perceived similar changing stimuli. The aim of this thesis was to compare unimodal and multimodal trials with respect to similar mental processes, to examine integration effects of audiovisual stimuli and to compare congruency conditions. ERP and Frequency-Power (FP) analyses were performed and power in Time-Frequency space was computed. Significant differences were found for the first and second stimuli (ERPs and FP), for the integration contrast (ERPs) and the congruency contrast (FP). At a descriptive level evoked power showed constant enhancement for congruent stimuli for a parieto-occipital and constant change for three bands in the gamma range for a fronto-central cluster. The results led to the conclusion that first and second unimodal stimuli as well as unimodal and multimodal trials incorporated different mental processes and thus were inappropriate for detecting late integration effects. The congruency contrast revealed similar ERPs and some differences in FP in the theta (3-8 Hz) and alpha (8-12 Hz) band. However, the conclusion that this enhanced activity is related to a binding mechanism should be taken with care due to high interindividual variations. A coherence analysis of the same data set is necessary to reveal processes that might reflect crossmodal binding.


Determinations of sperm dispersal distances were made in natural populations of Mnium ciliare (C.Muell.) Schimp. by measuring distances between fertilized females and the nearest male. As in other studies, distances were found to be restricted-the maximum was 5.3 cm. In addition, the potential for splash dispersal of male gametes was measured in the laboratory by subjecting splash cups to artificial rainfall. It was found that splashes travel relatively great dis- tances, often over 10 cm. It is concluded that a potentialfor long distance dispersal of gametes exists and that field measurements using the nearest-male method may greatly underestimate the magnitude of sperm dispersal in mosses which produce splash cups.


Lysine of feed proteins is incorporated into tissue proteins without any preliminary changes. It is an indispensable precursor in the synthesis of collagen, participates in the formation of carnitine, which plays an important role in fat metabolism. Lysine activates hematopoiesis, promotes calcium absorption, and has a benefi cial eff ect on protein metabolism and the state of the nervous system. It is used in the synthesis of proteins necessary for the formation of skeletal tissues and enzymes, is an important component of several peptide hormones. The purpose of the work was to study the eff ect of compound feed with diff erent levels of sunfl ower and soybean meal with the addition of lysine in the form of sulfate on the productivity of laying hens. The eff ect of lysine sulfate on the productivity of laying hens and the quality of eggs was studied. The physiological and biochemical justifi cation of the possibility of its use in compound feed of diff erent structures was given. With an increase in the level of soy meal input into the feed to 15 % and the inclusion of lysine sulfate in the feed, the fat digestibility increased by 0,6 abs.%, nitrogen-free extractive substances by 1,4 abs.%. Lysine in the form of sulfate had a positive infl uence on the digestibility and use of essential nutrients in all experimental groups. The results of the production check confi rmed the zootechnical data obtained in the experiments and showed the economic effi ciency of using lysine sulfate in compound feed for laying hens of the industrial herd of the egg productivity. The data obtained indicate the feasibility of using lysine sulfate in compound feed for laying hens.


This paper proposes a novel method based on multiple adaptive neuro-fuzzy in combination of statistic method to detect and diagnose the faults occurring in complex dynamical systems. The basic idea is to use PCA to extract the features for reducing the complexity of the data achieved from a process. The most superior features are fed into multiple ANFIS to identify different faulty conditions in order to prevent the system from serious system failure and possible shutdowns. Each ANFIS has employed to diagnose one of the faults in order to make a decision about the abnormal cases. Ability, and at the same time simplicity and rapidity has significantly enhanced. Moreover, therepsilas no need to have information about the model or the structure, which is the best advantage of using this approach. Using multiple ANFIS units significantly reduces the scale and complexity of the system, speeds up the diagnosis, and simplifies the training of the network. As an example, the proposed algorithm has applied to fault diagnosis of a simulated nonlinear MIMO distillation column. Results confirm the effectiveness of this method comparing to single ANFIS. The presented procedure is applicable to a variety of industrial applications in which continuous on-line monitoring and diagnosis is needed.


A (Rhizopus Oryzae)ME-F11, its mutation screening method and method for fermenting fumaric acid are disclosed. The preserving code is CCTCC NO: M 207066. The fumaric acid concentration reaches to 90-120g/L, total yield reaches to 90-95 wt% . It's simple and can be used for industrial production.


The aim of the paper is to determine the main components of the lexeme rudeness and to study such a manifestation of rudeness as impoliteness. The analysis includes such notions as non-ethical speech acts, the principle of politeness, ethical norms of metacommunication, the notion of social status, linguistic, paralinguistic and extralinguistic means of communication.


A sensitive high‐performance CZE combining on‐column field‐amplified sample injection (FASI) has been developed for simultaneous determination of aripiprazole and its active metabolite, dehydroaripiprazole, in human plasma. A sample pretreatment by means of liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) (diethyl ether) with subsequent quantitation by FASI‐CZE was used. The separation of aripiprazole and dehydroaripiprazole was performed using a BGE containing 150 mM phosphate buffer (pH 3.5) with 40% methanol and 0.02% PVA as a dynamic coating to reduce interaction of analytes with the capillary wall. Before sample loading, a methanol plug (0.3 psi, 6 s) was injected to permit FASI for stacking. The samples were injected electrokinetically (10 kV, 30 s) to introduce sample cations and the applied voltage was 20 kV with on‐column detection at 214 nm. Several parameters affecting the separation and sensitivity of the drug and its active metabolite were studied, including reconstitution solvent, organic modifier, pH and concentration of phosphate buffer. The linear ranges of the method for test drug and its active metabolite, in plasma using amlodipine as an internal standard, were over the range 5.0–100.0 ng/mL. One female volunteer (25 years old) was orally administered a single dose of 10 mg aripiprazole (Abilify®, Otsuka) and blood samples were drawn over a 60 h period for pharmacokinetic study. The method was also applied to monitor the concentration of aripiprazole and dehydroaripiprazole in plasma collected after oral administration of 20 or 30 mg aripiprazole (Abilify®, Otsuka) daily at steady state in one schizophrenic patient.


The paper presents several relationships between the water vapor saturation pressure and temperature , and between the dew point temperature and water vapor pressure of the moist air. Their computing accuracy is compared in the paper .An example is given for the application of the relationships.


Currently, the balance and stability between the price of land and housing, and income and cost as well as land and housing market analysis as an important managerial tool are essential goals of urban managers in developing countries. The methodology used in this study is practical survey by descriptive analysis using questionnaire. Data were analyzed by software SPSS and findings were analyzed by land value analysis system (ULVAS). The results from findings indicate that urban land and housing market are not stable and balanced.


The Experiences of West Virginians Participating in Extension-Sponsored Educational Programming in Ireland: A Narrative Analysis Tina A. Cowger In this dissertation, I asked the major research question of: How do non-formal international experiences influence the life stories of participants from Appalachia as they perceive it? I wanted to understand how non-formal educational experiences in an international setting affect the lives of the participants. I especially wanted to understand the ways in which the life stories of the participants from Appalachia were affected by their international experiences. People tell stories of their lives and their various experiences can impact these narratives and how they share them. From birth and throughout our lives, listening to and telling stories surround us. Society exists through a process of transmission whereas the older communicate habits of doing, thinking, and feeling to the younger and thus, social life survives (Dewey, 1944). Mimicking or imitating is a way in which younger individuals observe accepted social actions and behaviors of others. However, learning to distinguish the appropriate ways to act in different situations is a very important accomplishment in all communities, no matter the age of the individual (Rogoff, 2003). Dewey (1963) and Freire (1972), in their own ways, advocate for the development of active, self-aware learners who have the capacity and freedom to frame their own purposes (Tennant & Pogson, 1995). The method that I chose for my investigation is narrative inquiry. According to Clandinin and Connelly (2000), narrative inquiry allows the researcher to view the experience in question on several levels. Not only is the investigator able to delve into the context of the experience, but is striving to look for growth within the life story as well. Living a life and telling a story are iterative processes. The data analysis revealed a shared group story involving fear outside the comfort level of the participants; judgment regarding cultural comparisons; and intergenerational connections between members of the group. This process has also led me to see how the Extension Service must change our mindset when it comes to our premise. Our communities have a need for critical pedagogy and our people have a need for connections with one another. Our Extension Service needs to defy the current push for following business models and once again work toward instantiating relationship-building as an essential service. NARRATIVE ANALYSIS OF APPALACHIA ADULTS iii Dedication This work is dedicated to my Lord and Savior, who has given me the knowledge and strength for this process. To Mamaw and Papaw Cowger, you were the driving force behind my father's education, who became the driving force behind mine. To Dad and Mom, who never once told me that I could not or should not do something related to my education. NARRATIVE ANALYSIS OF APPALACHIA ADULTS iv Acknowledgements I would first like to state that "with man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible" Matthew 19:26. To my chair, Dr. Melissa Sherfinski, your help, your support, and your confidence in me has been instrumental as I worked through each step of this process. Thank you for all the time and effort you spend on this endeavor. I realize that the time you spent with me was time away from other academic responsibilities and your family. For that, I will be eternally grateful. Thank you to the other members of my dissertation committee: Dr. Sharon Hayes, Dr. Audra Slocum, and Dr. Julie Tritz, words cannot express my gratitude for your advice and your assistance in this endeavor. Your comments and support aided tremendously with my research project. Also, I am grateful for the support of Dr. Erin McHenry-Sorber and Dr. Nathan Sorber, who worked with me at the beginning of this process. I appreciate your reviews and comments that improved my work. I would also like to thank all the other faculty members from the College of Education and Human Services who were my instructors. Each one of you have influenced me and my work during this academic journey. I would also like to offer best wishes and good luck to all my fellow classmates in the C&I program with your future endeavors. I would like to acknowledge my family for their encouragement and support: my parents, Ralph and Margaret Cowger; my brother, sister-in-law, niece, and nephews, Scott, Nina, Sadie, Austin, and Brayden Cowger; Mamaw Cowger; all my aunts and uncles; and my cousins who asked about my progress regularly. Papaw Cowger, Papaw and Mamaw Riggs would have been tickled to see this day and I know they are watching me from above. Also, I want to acknowledge my writing partner, Stephanie Yoho Jones. Our writing sessions are what got me through difficult mental blocks and propelled this work forward. I would like to thank my current and former office co-workers who supported me throughout this process as I balanced work and school: Brandi Adkins, Eva Beto, Louise Donato, Laura Hooper, Diana Marple, John Murray, and Lauren Prinzo. I would also like to acknowledge a wonderful colleague, Jodi Smith, who served as my editor. To my friends and colleagues who have been in my cheering section during this entire process: Lucretia Beafore, Brent Clark, Becca Fint-Clark, Mary Donato, Jennifer Murray, Natalie Summers, and Lesley Woodrum. A few years ago, my nephew, Brayden, made a comment when he found out I was in school (like him): "If she hasn't learned it by now, I doubt she will." Well, B...I've learned it. NARRATIVE ANALYSIS OF APPALACHIA ADULTS v


In order to probe electron wave functions involved in the bonding of NH4F, we have performed Compton scattering experiments in an oriented single crystal and in a powder. Ab initio calculations of the Compton profiles for NH4F and NH4Cl are used to enlighten the nature of the bonds in the NH4F crystal. As a consequence, we are able to show significant charge transfer in the ammonium ion which is not observable using other methods. Our study provides a compelling proof for hydrogen bond formation in NH4F.


Intertextuality is a theoretical construct that refers to the juxtaposed and interactive nature of texts and events (i.e., spoken, written, multimodal, electronic, etc.). The term foregrounds notions of relationality, interconnectedness, and interdependence in modern culture. It explains how one text refers to another text, and two or more texts share a common referent because they are of the same genre or setting. Meaning in a text can be understood in relation to another text. Within the social semiotics and discourse analytic understanding of intertextuality, people in interaction constantly draw from various texts and semiotic tools; construct intertextual relationships by acting and reacting to each other; and take social action..


The study of low-cost (non-convectional) adsorbents, bone char, clay, limestone/clay mixture and silical gel to remove aromatic from DPK have been investigated. Effect of contact time, Adsorbent mass, pH and temperature on the rate of percentage aromatic removal was determined. Equilibrium studies showed that oxidized bone has the highest adsorption capacity. Analysis of variance (one-way) and multiple regression was used to rank the adsorbent in the order of highest selectivity for aromatics as follows: oxidized bone, carbonized bone, activated clay, Silica gel, limestone/clay and limestone. The results from this study can provide a basis for the understanding of adsorbate sorption mechanism.


Harvest impact on forest biodiversity has been widely studied, but for man- agers confronted with a need for integrated cross-taxa assessment, application remains a significant challenge. Using post-harvest boreal forest succession as a model system, we investigate the usefulness of a trait-based multi-taxa approach to improve our under- standing of the community dynamics after disturbance. We assess the strength of response to forest harvesting and recovery patterns of four taxa with contrasting attributes (vege- tation, carabids, spiders and birds) along a post-harvest chronosequence of jack pine stands in the boreal forests of Canada. We used a complementary set of functional and taxonomic diversity metrics to identify commonalities and dissimilarities in the community assembly processes and sensitivities to harvesting among taxa. Despite the overall similarity of community response for most pairs of taxa and metrics, the strength of cross-taxa con- gruency varied greatly among metrics, illustrating the complexity of taxa response to harvest as well as the necessity of including a variety of biodiversity metrics in impact assessments. Of the four selected taxa, spiders were found the most sensitive to harvesting,


d‐Amino acids are the "wrong" enantiomers of amino acids as they are not used in proteins synthesis but evolved in selected functions. On this side, d‐aspartate (d‐Asp) plays several significant roles in mammals, especially as an agonist of N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptors (NMDAR), and is involved in relevant diseases, such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. In vivo modulation of d‐Asp levels represents an intriguing task to cope with such pathological states. As little is known about d‐Asp synthesis, the only option for modulating the levels is via degradation, which is due to the flavoenzyme d‐aspartate oxidase (DASPO). Here we present the first three‐dimensional structure of a DASPO enzyme (from human) which belongs to the d‐amino acid oxidase family. Notably, human DASPO differs from human d‐amino acid oxidase (attributed to d‐serine degradation, the main coagonist of NMDAR) showing peculiar structural features (a specific active site charge distribution), oligomeric state and kinetic mechanism, and a higher FAD affinity and activity. These results provide useful insights into the structure‐function relationships of human DASPO: modulating its activity represents now a feasible novel therapeutic target.


This paper presents an experimental investigation of the use of an optical fiber laser phased array to measure solidified weld pool penetration depth in butt and v-groove joints. The purpose was to determine the optimum distances between the ultrasound source (the array), receiver, and the weld joint, in order to measure weld penetration depth. The relationship between penetration depth and wave amplitude was approximately linear. A narrow range of distances between the ultrasound receiver and weld joint permitted the ultrasonic system to detect penetration depth over the entire thickness of the base metal. Maximum resolution in measuring penetration depth was achieved by keeping the distance between the array and the weld joint as small as possible.


The bremsstrahlung process is studied in complex plasmas including the influence of ions and variable dust charge. The electron-dust particle bremsstrahlung radiation cross-section (e-D-BRCS) is obtained with the analytic expression for the effective dust charge in terms of the Debye length and the temperature ratio. The e-D-BRCS is found to be reduced with either the decrease of ion temperature or increase of electron temperature. The ion density effect is found to be more important in the small electron temperature domain. Interestingly, the influence of ion temperature and density is found to be independent of the bremsstrahlung emission energy. The effective dust charge is also found to decrease with an increase of the ratio of the electron temperature to the ion temperature. In addition, it is found that the effective dust charge increases with an increase of the ratio of the electron density to the ion density. Moreover, the e-D-BRCS is found to be increased with the decrease of ion density.


In order to find out the failure mode characteristics of sandstone under the reservoir water pressure,some sandstones are chosen from a certain landslide area of Zigui district in the Three Gorges reservoir area as the experimental material.The self made rock dissolution tester YRK-1 is used.Three different soaking pressures 0,0.4 MPa and 0.8 MPa are set to do the comparative analysis.The soaked sandstones which are affected under different water pressures are uniaxially compressed and triaxially compressed for different soaking periods.The quantitative results concerning different conditions are obtained.The results show that with the growth of soaking time the failure laws of sandstones are as follows:(1) The crack angles of sandstones under three differrent confining pressures decrease gradually and then approrch stable values;moreover,the soaking pressure greater is the tendency of decrease more obvious is.(2) The shear fissures on the surface of sandstones gradually become shorter but the stretch-draw fissures gradually become longer under uniaxial compression test;furthermore,the soaking pressure greater is the tendency of variation more obvious is.


Population movements in Croatia occurs through long-term trends of rural areas depopulation. In terms of agricultural population that means de-agrarisation and space devastation. A family farm in Croatia consists of a household, farm and connection agricultural activities. The future of "family" agriculture depends a lot of household potentials, because of socio-demographical reproduction. After the redraw of the "master" the potential successor on a farm can ensure its further existence, also the agricultural activities. For this paper research was made during on family farms in Istra County. The main criterion for this research is an existing potential successor on the farm. A poll-questionnaire on 130 family farms was made. The results of this research showed that future successors are mostly the sons of nowadays farmers. The successors are satisfied with agriculture as occupation. The main motivation for agricultural production is financial interest. Main development conditions are developed market infrastructure, product prices that ensure a satisfying income and long-term credits with acceptable terms. The farm transfer was obvious by sucsessors working on the farm and with finished agricultural education (only 5 % of the total succsesors. While the others expressed a positive view of taking over but they were employed off-farm or still in school so we cannot for sure claim successful farm transfer.


Abstract. We previously described in a paper published in BIOS an undergraduate lab activity involving the gene cloning, expression, and purification of Thermus aquaticus (Taq) DNA polymerase, an enzyme used in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Based on the large number of requests for biological materials and questions about the protocols this paper invoked, we explored methods to simplify the protein purification portion of the published lab activity. A faster and simpler protocol would permit labs and classes with limited equipment or supplies the ability to produce active Taq DNA polymerase more easily for both teaching and research use. In the simplified protocol described here, bacterial cell lysis and enzyme purification is achieved in a small starting volume using only a hot water bath, a microcentrifuge, and one simple buffer. The purified enzyme from this protocol works well in PCR, and we additionally describe its use in a 2X master mix.


Anatomy is an important basic course in academy related to medicine,but the students lack motivition while teachers loose their enthusiasm which inhibits the development of the course.After analyzing the problem the measures are confirming the course's position,regulating the contents,enriching and improving the teaching methods,and perfecting examination system.


2 Based on a review of the evidence, members of the A m rican Congress of Rehabilitation 3 Medicine Stroke Group's Movement Interventions Task Force offer these five recommendations 4 to help improve transitions of care for patients an d their caregivers: (1) improving 5 communication processes, (2) utilizing transition s pecialists, (3) implementing a patient-centered 6 discharge checklist, (4) utilizing standardized out c me measures, and (5) establishing 7 partnerships with community wellness programs. 8 Due to changes in healthcare policy, there are ince ntives to improve transitions during 9 stroke rehabilitation. Although transition manageme nt programs often include multidisciplinary 10 teams, medication management, caregiver education, nd follow-up care management, there is a 11 lack of a comprehensive and standardized approach t o implement transition management 12 protocols during post-stroke rehabilitation. This a rticle uses the Transitions of Care (TOC) model 13 to conceptualize how to facilitate a comprehensive patient-centered hand-off at discharge to 14 maximize patient functioning and health. Specifical ly, this article reviews current guidelines and 15 provides an evidence summary of several commonly ci ted approaches (early supported 16 discharge, planned pre-discharge home visits, disch arge checklists) to manage TOC, followed by 17 a description of documented barriers to effective t ransitions. Patient-centered and standardized 18 transition management may improve community integra tion, activities of daily living 19 performance, and quality of life for stroke survivo rs while also decreasing hospital readmission 20 rates during the transition from hospital to home t o community. 21 Abstract word count: 212 22word count: 212 22 M AN US CR IP T AC CE PT ED ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 2 Transition planning after a stroke 23


Temperature dependent NMR chemical shifts for hydrogen and oxygen, NMR quadrupole coupling constants for deuterium and vibrational frequencies for the OH bond of liquid ethanol are calculated for the temperature range 250 to 350 K using the ab initio quantum cluster equilibrium method and compared with experimental measurements. The calculated NMR chemical shifts, quadrupole coupling constants and infrared vibrational frequencies are in good agreement with experimental measurements. The results indicate that cyclic tetramer and pentamer structures rather than linear structures are the principal components of liquid ethanol.


Latex allergy is on the increase. This paper focuses on how sensitization can occur and the use of latex gloves. Implications for the healthcare setting are addressed and recommendations made focusing on glove usage.


Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L. extends across the range of this genus from about 42?N to 240S latitude in the New World. It is recognized to include T. dactyloides var. dactyloides (North America), var. meridonale deWet et Timothy (South America), var. hispidum (Hitchc.) deWet et Harlan comb. nov. (Mesoamerica) and var. mexicanum deWet et Harlan var. nov. (Mesoamericana). The genus is divided into sections Tripsacum and Fasciculatum. Mesoamerican members of section Tripsacum are classified into T. bravum Gray, T. dactyloides (L.) L., T. intermedium deWet et Harlan spec. nov., T. latifolium Hitchc., T. manisuroides deWet et Harlan spec. nov. and T. zopilotense Hern. et Randolph. A key to the species of section Tripsacum is presented. TRIPSACUM L. is a New World grass genus of some 15 species (Cutler and Anderson, 1941; deWet, Gray and Harlan, 1976; deWet et al., 1981). Species limits are not clearly defined, and several taxa grade into one another on the basis of some key morphological characters (Randolph, 1970). The most variable species is T. dactyloides (L.) L. It occurs in various habitats from about 42?N to about 24?S latitude across much of the Americas and the Caribbean islands. The species is characterized by functional diploid (2n = 36), triploid (2n = 54) and tetraploid (2n = 72) races, with the polyploids frequently reproducing as gametophytic apomicts. In Florida, T. dactyloides is sympatric with T.floridanum Porter ex Vasey (2n = 36), in Mesoamerica its range and habitats are similar to those of several tropical species, and it occurs sympatrically with T. australe Cutler and Anderson (2n = 36) and T. cundinamarce deWet and Timothy (2n = 36) in South America. Tripsacum dactyloides was collected from across its range and studied in systematic detail.


Abstract With the fluctuation of international oil prices due to limited conventional petroleum resources, unconventional energy, including bitumen and extra heavy oil, are of primary interest these days. However, in-situ recovery processes of these resources are somewhat complicated, and there are many technical challenges accompanying it. For the recovery process, it is widely known that thermal techniques using steam are essential in reservoir heating. Especially, the steam-assisted gravity drainage process is a leading technology in the development of oil sands. This article presents the steam-assisted gravity drainage process for the production of oil sands by reviewing and analyzing several authors and companies.


Content Based Image Retrieval, CBIR, performed an automated classification task for a queried image. It could relieve a user from the laborious and time-consuming metadata assigning for an image while working on massive image collection. For an image, user's definition or description is subjective where it could belong to different categories as defined by different users. Human based categorization and computer-based categorization might produce different results due to different categorization criteria that rely on dataset structure and the clustering techniques. This paper is aimed to exhibit an idea for planning the dataset structure and choosing the clustering algorithm for CBIR implementation. There are 5 sections arranged in this paper; CBIR and QBE con-cepts are introduced in Section 1, related image categorization research is listed in Section 2, the 5 type of image clustering are described in Section 3, comparative analysis in Section 4, and Section 5 conclude this study. Outcome of this paper will be benefiting CBIR developer for various applica-tions.


This paper presents a real time image processing system, with a stereo color image instrument being chained to Matlab platform, for automatically identifying automobiles ahead and then calculating the distance between the instrument and the object A fuzzy rule based on a color model (hue saturation value) is proposed to extract the color characteristic of the taillights, motivated by the fact that all the automobiles have a pair of red color taillights and the HSV model conforms to the color consistency of human vision system In order to accommodate varying background colors and illumination conditions, the rear window or the shadow of a automobile is further identified by using the value information in the HSV model Moreover, a new algorithm is presented here for quick filtering out the noise consisted of the granulated or slim pixels Finally, experimental results are reported and analyzed.