In 2002, one of the first studies to place monetary values on annoyance from aircraft movements using stated choice methods was conducted. A key feature was the comparison of valuations from a method that concealed the purpose of the valuation exercise and a more standard stated preference method where the purpose of valuing aircraft noise would be transparent. It was found that the valuations obtained from the transparent method were somewhat higher, even after controlling for time period, than those obtained from the quality of life based approach.We have repeated the data collection at Manchester Airport, in the summer of 2010. This was an exact repeat in terms of data collection method and stated preference exercises, except for the amendment of council tax levels to account for inflation. In addition, new variants of the stated choice exercises were offered to test specific hypotheses relating to incentive to bias and package effects. This paper reports the initial analysis of both data sets to provide insights into: • How valuations of aircraft noise have varied over time; we are not aware of any such repeat study in this particular context • Whether making clear the purpose of the quality of life SP exercise impacts on the valuations obtained relative to the transparent exercise • Examining whether 'package' effects are present in environmental valuation by offering some common time periods across exercises.


© 1974 – Toronto Workshop Productions. This play is fully protected under the copyright laws of Canada and all other countries of the Copyright Union and are subject to royalty. Change to the script is expressly forbidden without written consent of the authors. Rights to produce, film or record, in whole or in part, in any medium or in any language, by any group, amateur or professional, are retained by the authors. Interested persons are requested to apply for permission and terms to: Toronto Workshop Productions, 12 Alexander Street, Toronto, Canada.


Frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar using ramp-sequence is effective method for detecting the range and velocity of a target. For high-resolution range-velocity radar, wide bandwidth and numerous ramps must be generated. In that case, a high-speed sampling rate and a great deal of memory resources are required. Moreover, because fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is used to extract range-velocity profile, computational complexity also increases significantly. Thus, in order to overcome this problem, in this paper, we propose a new waveform with dual ramp-sequence with relatively low modulation slope compared to the conventional waveform. In the first ramp-sequence, the coarse range-profile and fine velocity-profile are extracted. In the second ramp-sequence, both high-resolution range-velocities are obtained, but ambiguous velocity may arise because of diminished maximum detectable-velocity values. This problem may be resolved by combining the results of both ramp-sequences. In this paper, we analyzed the required sampling frequency of an analog-digital converter (ADC) and the amount of data memory required for typical and proposed methods. Moreover, from field programmable gate array (FPGA) based implementation results, we also estimated the processing times. Compared to that of the typical waveform, the reduction ratio for total processing time was 70 %. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.eie.22.4.15916


In The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, an original short story authored by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the main character ages in reverse, beginning life as a mature adult (i.e., well-differentiated state) and then progressing inexorably toward a childlike existence (i.e., progenitor state). A molecular counterpart to this process, which frequently occurs during oncogenesis, is transdifferentiation, in which cells transition from a well-differentiated state to a progenitor state, which is then followed by the reemergence of a different cell lineage (i.e., metaplasia). Intestinal-type gastric cancer epitomizes this process during its progression from normal mucosa, to chronic gastritis and atrophy, to intestinal metaplasia, and finally to dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. The annual incidence of gastric cancer is estimated to be 0.1% for patients with atrophy but increases 2.5 fold for patients with intestinal metaplasia, underscoring the premalignant potential of this lesion (1). In PNAS, Fujii et al. provide fresh insights into the molecular underpinnings that regulate the development of intestinal metaplasia within the stomach (2).


This paper presents a proposal to develop and acquire competencies based on the Computer Support Collaborative Learning (CSCL) model. Firstly, a theoretical background about the most relevant competency based approaches and a description of the CSCL model as a learning and teaching methodology are presented. Secondly, a new model which integrates information technology and telecommunication based on the CSCL framework is shown. Thirdly, the main characteristics of the model and its prospective working lines are presented. Finally, this paper states the conclusions of the proposal.


We investigate the spectrum of stochastic gravitational wave background generated by hybrid topological defects: domain walls bounded by strings and monopoles connected by strings. Such defects typically decay early in the history of the universe, and their mass scale is not subject to the constraints imposed by microwave background and millisecond pulsar observations. Nonetheless, the intensity of the gravitational wave background from hybrid defects can be quite high at frequencies above $10^{-8} Hz$, and in particular in the frequency range of LIGO, VIRGO and LISA detectors.


Tin sulfides have attracted great attention as promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries due to their high theoretical specific capacity. However, the rapid capacity decay, resulting from...


It has been argued that a monopolist input supplier may find it profitable to create an outside source for its input if it reduces product price and attracts buyers (Farrell and Gallini, Quarterly Journal of Economics, Vol. 103 (1988), pp. 673–694). We consider a monopolist input supplier's incentive for outsourcing and R&D. We show that even if outsourcing can attract new buyers, it is not beneficial to the input supplier if either the existing final goods market is not very concentrated or cost reduction through R&D is sufficiently large. We further show that while R&D may be preferable to the input supplier, outsourcing may be socially desirable, and thus may create a conflict of interest between the input supplier and the society for R&D and outsourcing.


Management studies in nonprofit arts have been a stepchild of business research.
Strategic marketing issues involved in managing nonprofit arts organizations have
received limited attention. In the hope to fill in some of this gap, this research explores
the relationship between market orientation and organizational performance from a
multiple stakeholder perspective. Inspired by the
view that nonprofit organizations deliver services that satisfy individual and societal
needs, this research sets out to investigate the implications of stakeholder concept on
strategic management in the US nonprofit performing arts context. A key postulate
central to the argument is that strategic orientation in the nonprofit arts setting is inherent
in a stakeholder environment. An organization's sustainability significantly depends on
its capability to align with stakeholders interests and to adapt its strategic behaviors in the
same regard.


Simulation of Solidification Morphology Using Monte Carlo and Finite Difference Hybrid Modeling Incorporated with Computational Thermodynamics Atsushi Nogami1 Toshihiko Koseki2 and Yuka Fukuda3 1Department of Environmental Space Design, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, The University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu 8080135 2Department of Materials Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 1138656 3NS Solutions Corporation, Futtsu 2938511


We investigated the spatial behaviour adopted by female New Zealand sea lions, Phocarctos hookeri, at the Sandy Bay breeding colony in 2002 and 2003. Each breeding female exhibited a spatio-temporal behaviour based on two phases: breeding and dispersion. The breeding phase, typical of all otariids, led to the formation of the breeding aggregation where all pupping took place. Each female later moved outside the breeding area and entered a dispersion phase. The female population spread inland, and progressively decreased as females took their pups away from Sandy Bay. Pup survival was not affected by this spatial behaviour though the year had an effect. A larger population size during one year may have created a dilution of male aggressiveness and resulted in fewer movements of females. Females that had to move more during the pupping day were found to be more likely to lose their pups. Although a few studies have shown that mother and pup pairs of other species may exhibit dispersal after breeding, the observed terrestrial dispersion phase of the female New Zealand sea lions has never been reported for any other pinniped species and is likely unusual.


In the 21st century, colleges and universities around the nation are facing an urgent need to develop a standardized syllabus due to the differentiated lecture evaluations according to the number of assignments rather than the nature of performance tasks, the unequal distribution of subject content according to the majors and preferences of instructors, and the inequality of communication skill deviation among students because of the diversified distribution of freshmen among the domestic colleges and universities. The purpose of this study was to propose a new pedagogical plan for the "Talking and Writing" teaching material, which had been newly planned according to the changed lecturing method of "Talking and Writing," one of the "basic" compulsory liberal arts courses for foreign students in Hanyang University. The study analyzed the existing teaching materials of Hanyang University and examined the current state of basic communication courses for foreign students and students in the non-liberal arts majors at other universities to overcome the limitations of the teaching material. The study then organized a standard syllabus to help the students of the 21st century evenly cultivate their basic communication capabilities and core essential capabilities and developed a teaching material for their practice. The teaching material first made the biggest contributions to the improvement of resource, information, and technology utilization capabilities among the foreign undergraduates. Secondly, it led the students to increase their self-management and interpersonal relationship capabilities and thus enhanced the communication abilities, one of the objectives of the syllabus. Finally, it was effective for promoting the core essential abilities needed from freshmen in Korean college.


3251. Bale, Gurunanjappa S., Norbert J. Smith. COMPARABILITY RATIOS BY AGE: BASED ON DEATHS OF METROPOLITAN POLICYHOLDERS. American Journal of Public Health. 1984,74(1):71-72. Comparability ratios based on 42,229 deaths of Metropolitan policyholders in 1979 were computed by age between the 8th and 9th revision ICD codes for 72 selected causes of death. Comparability ratios by age are not available elsewhere. Except for accidents and adverse effects, the comparability ratios for the major causes of death at all ages combined were in close agreement with those computed by the National Center for Health Statistics.


To investigate the intrarater and interrater reliability of the surface electromyography (sEMG) of female pelvic floor muscles (PFM) by visual determination of the onset‐offset during maximal voluntary contraction (MVC).


Numbers needed to treat as summary statistics The emergence of evidence-based practice (EBP) has encouraged clinicians to be sceptical of the claims made by researchers and to critically interpret the results of research. Although EBP is relevant to a wide range of issues in medicine, namely: aetiology, diagnosis, therapy, prognosis, health economics and teaching, attention has focussed mainly on therapy. Therefore, its best-known tool is that used to interpret and summarise the results of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of therapy, the number needed to treat (NNT).' It is simply the inverse of the absolute risk reduction (ARR) and represents the number of patients a clinician would have to treat to see one patient gain a benefit from the treatment. It has been used to challenge the conventional means of reporting the results of therapy, that is, the relative reduction in the rate of events achieved as a result of an intervention, often referred to as the relative risk reduction (RRR).


We study the distribution of vortex lines in a three-dimensional lattice with inhomogeneous couplings. We investigate the spatial distribution of the number of vortex lines, showing how the vortex lines are expelled from the region with higher couplings. Results for the correlation functions are presented, together with a discussion of the implications of the obtained results for the vortex distribution in ultracold trapped gases and in neutron stars.


The present invention relates to an apparatus for laying a seed film (hereinafter, seed film refers to a mulching film to which seeds are adhered and coating same for use in sowing) and a method for laying the seed film by using same. More specifically, the present invention relates to the apparatus for laying the seed film and the method for laying the seed film by using the apparatus for laying the seed film, the apparatus comprising: a leveling board of which the angle can be adjusted; a seed film pressing portion for pressing the seed film which is unrolled; and a seed film fixing portion for fixing the seed film, thereby automatically laying the seed film on a rice paddy in a quick and convenient manner.


The regenerative system of power plants is the basis of thermal power system,which plays an important part for the thermal economy of units,so it is very necessary for regenerative system to analyze the thermal economy.In this paper,the theory of the unit fuel consumption analysis was concisely explained and the additional equipment consumption of regenerative system of 300MW power unit were calculated.Matrix method was employed to obtain the energy consumption distribution in design.The results indicate that the additional equipmentcon sumption of low pressure heaters are lower than those of high pressure heaters,and No.3 LP heater is the weakest position,which need to be improved.


Abstract : Gallium nitride HEMTs were successfully fabricated and tested on silicon substrates. Gallium nitride HEMTs produced on Si substrates had normal current voltage characteristics; however, the transconductance and saturation current density were low. It is believed that this is due to the fact that the GaN epi layers were not optimized on the initial wafer runs. These initial results validate that GaN HEMTs can be produced on low cost silicon substrates and support the position that continued funding in this area will lead to improved performance that may provide a better performance/cost ratio than GaN devices on more expensive substrates such as SiC and sapphire. Other accomplishments include construction and commissioning of a proprietary 100-mm III-Nitride MOVPE system specifically designed to address the uniformity issues required for commercial applications, development of a process route for the growth of GaN on Si(111), demonstration of growth of GaN on 50-mm and 100-mm diameter Si(1 11) substrates, and the first demonstration of a GaN-based high electron mobility transistor on a 100-mm platform.


Background Public health recommendations for physical activity (PA) advice that exercise programs include all four fitness dimensions, i.e. cardiorespiratory, muscle strength, flexibility and neuromotor exercise training at well-defined frequency, intensity and duration/repetitions, and regular evaluations (1). The 2018 EULAR recommendations for PA (2) state that this is also effective, feasible and safe for people with rheumatic diseases. Therefore, the Ankylosing Spondylitis Association of Switzerland (SVMB) has started to implement assessments of all four fitness dimensions in their exercise groups (n=68). Criteria for selection of an assessment were its psychometric properties and feasibility for group setting, i.e. low costs and material requirements: Chester step test (CST) for cardiorespiratory fitness (3); adapted Core Strength Endurance test battery (CSE) for muscle strength (4); Bath AS Metrology Index (BASMI) for flexibility (5); Single-Leg-Stance test (SLS) for balance (as proxy for neuromotor activities) (6). For all assessments, except CSE, norm values for healthy people are available. Objectives To assess the fitness status of people with axSpA across four volunteering pilot groups and evaluate if between-subject variables of interest are associated with fitness status. Methods Participants were assessed at baseline and after 6 months on all four fitness dimensions. For each dimension, a linear mixed model with random intercept was fitted to the data with the within-subject variables time and measurement condition and the between-subject variables age, disease duration, disease activity (Bath AS Disease Activity Index, BASDAI) and PA level (weekly Metabolic Equivalent of Task MET) as explanatory variables. Results Of 30 patients assessed, 10 (33%) were women, mean age was 58.8 (SD 9.68) years, mean disease duration was 32.6 (SD 9.68) years, mean disease activity was 3.1. (SD 2.36) and mean PA per week was 5013 (SD 3479.77) METs. Mean estimated VO2max for cardiorespiratory fitness was 35.2 (SD 6.59). Disease activity was negatively (slope=-1.49, p=0.01) and PA level positively (slope=3.28, p=0.01) associated with cardiorespiratory fitness. Mean core muscle strength endurance was 78.8 (SD 51.98) seconds. PA level was positively associated with core muscle strength (slope= 8.62, p=0.05). Mean flexibility score was 3.1 (SD 2.36), with age being positively associated with flexibility (slope=0.100, p=0.04). Mean balance was 43.1 (SD 21.09) and 7.7 (SD 5.84) seconds with open and closed eyes respectively. Age was negatively associated with balance (slope = -0.84 (p=0.00). Conclusion The SVMB has made an important step by implementing regular fitness evaluations in their axSpA exercise groups. The test scores of the assessed people with axSpA were lower than in healthy people but within the norms. PA level was positively associated with cardiorespiratory fitness and core muscle strength. Disease duration and disease activity were negatively associated with cardiorespiratory fitness only, but not with the other fitness dimensions, which may be different from what is usually assumed. References [1] Garber CE, et al. MedSciSportsExerc 2011;43:1334–59. [2] Rausch AK, et al. AnnRheumDis 2018; 9(77): 1251-1260. [3] Buckley JP. B J Sports Med, 2004;38(2);197-205 [4] Rausch AK, et al. Intra-rater reliability and construct validity of a core strength-endurance test battery in people with axial Spondyloarthritis (manuscript in preparation) [5] Jenkinson TR. 1994;21(9):1694-8. Epub 1994/09/01 [6] Springer BA. J Ger Phys Ther. 2007;30(1);8-15 Disclosure of Interests Karin Niedermann Speakers bureau: Novartis, Anne-Kathrin Rausch: None declared, André Meichtry: None declared, Béatrice Walker: None declared, René Braem: None declared, Adrian Ciurea Consultant for: AbbVie, Celgene, Janssen-Cilag, MSD, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Celgene, Janssen-Cilag, MSD, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB


In this letter, the performance of non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) is investigated from an information theoretic perspective. The relationships among the capacity region of broadcast channels and two rate regions achieved by NOMA and time-division multiple access (TDMA) are illustrated first. Then, the performance of NOMA is evaluated by considering TDMA as the benchmark, where both the sum rate and the individual user rates are used as the criteria. In a wireless downlink scenario with user pairing, the developed analytical results show that NOMA can outperform TDMA not only for the sum rate but also for each user's individual rate, particularly when the difference between the users' channels is large.


Vascular malformations arising from the wall of the external jugular vein are rare. These distinct clinical entities may be easily and op-timally treated with surgical excision without any resultant morbidity. Herein, we report a rare case of venous malformation originating from the external Jugular vein and surgically excised with no recurrence.


Happiness is one of indicated to raise a person's life satisfication scale. One of the way of moslem students in reaching their happiness is by praying (shalat). This correlational research use a incidental sampling with total 109 students of University Muhammadiyah Malang as the subjects. Instrument which used in this research is a scale of prayer intensity with 23 items and Oxford Happiness Questionnaire with 16 items of statement. The acquired data in this research used as the basic analysis with Pearson Product-moment correlation as analysis technique by using SPSS for windows 20. Result of this study indicare a positive relation betweem intensity of prayer and happiness. It based from the result of value r=0,308 and p-0,001. Means the higher of the intensity of prayer then it also raise the scale of happiness and contributions of prayer intensity to happiness is 8% while 92% is influenced by other factor.


Calcineurin regulates the proliferation of many cell types through activation of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT). Two main isoforms of the calcineurin catalytic subunit [calcineurin ...


An energy efficient deep neural network (DNN) learning processor is proposed using direct feedback alignment (DFA). The proposed processor achieves $2.2 \times$ faster learning speed compared with the previous learning processors by the pipelined DFA (PDFA). In order to enhance the energy efficiency by 38.7%, the heterogeneous learning core (LC) architecture is optimized with the 11-stage pipeline data-path. Furthermore, direct error propagation core (DEPC) utilizes random number generators (RNG) to remove external memory access (EMA) caused by error propagation (EP) and improve the energy efficiency by 19.9%. The proposed PDFA based learning processor is evaluated on the object tracking (OT) application, and as a result, it shows 34.4 frames-per-second (FPS) throughput with 1.32 TOPS/W energy efficiency.


Preface Acronyms and organizations Introduction: when worlds collide 1. Theory: on power, borders, and meaning 2. Voice in teh village: building a social movement 3. State security: power versus principal 4. 'Indian market': profit versus purpose 5. Identities across borders: the politics of global civil society 6. New times: the impact of the movement Conclusion: it takes a village References Index.


In this study, the effects of CO2 and methanol on the performance of a biotrickling filter (BTF) packed with plastic Pall rings and treating a H2S-polluted waste gas were investigated to establish the optimum operating conditions and design criteria. The CO2 concentration had no effect on the biodegradation at H2S concentrations below 50 ppm. In the range of 50-127 ppm H2S, CO2 concentrations between 865-1087 ppm enhanced H2S removal, while higher concentrations of 1309-4009 ppm CO2 slightly inhibited H2S removal. However, the methanol concentration had a negative effect on the bioreactor's performance. In the range of 0-81 ppm methanol, the maximum elimination capacity of H2S dropped from 23.82 to 6.42 g H2S.m-3.h-1 after adding that carbon source.


For students of settler colonialism in the modern era, Africa and America represent two polar opposites. Africa is the continent where settler colonialism has been defeated; America is where settler colonialism triumphed. My interest in this essay is the American discourse on the making of America. My ambition is to do this from an African vantage point. Europeans who came to the New World were preoccupied with the ways in which it was not like Europe. Over the centuries that followed, there developed a body of work known as American exceptionalism. The benchmark text for this scholarship is the mid-nineteenth-century reflection on America by Alexis de Tocqueville. Democracy in America remains required reading in most programs in political theory or American politics. Among the arguments Tocqueville advanced in Democracy in America was that the key feature distinguishing America from Europe was the absence of feudalism; not tied down by the baggage of feudal tradition, America could enjoy the benefits of revolutionary change without having to pay its price. My concern here is less with Tocqueville than with how the Tocquevillians understood him. Ever since Tocqueville, an important section of America's thinkers have written its autobiography as reflected in a European mirror. A Eurocentric perspective has shaped the contours of an important part of American political theory. The American autobiography is written as the autobiography of the settler. The native has no place in it. The official museum built in Washington, D.C. to commemorate this history is called the Museum of


The paper investigates and summarizes the main approaches to economic content of the concept "money transfer". It analyzes the modern market of money transfers in Ukraine. It gives analysis of international payment systems against certain criteria; determines the most efficient payment system with the highest level of consumer confidence; using ranking method selects the currency preferred by customers when transferring funds. It offers recommendations regarding the improvement of the money transfer process in banks.


Platforms for publishing research papers are increasing largely that contribute to big data as their volume is humongous and are unstandardized. Classification of this huge chunk of data is one of the biggest challenges in Information Retrieval. In this paper we discuss a scoring based unsupervised learning approach to extract relevant features and classify the research papers according to their content on a two class dataset. Feature extraction is carried out by analyzing the sections of a research paper and scoring them, followed by a two level hybrid classification technique based on title and conceptual summary using graph clustering. Promising experimental results are observed for data set using our research paper classification method. We present the experimental results of our proposed algorithm for feature extraction and clustering and compare the same with different approaches reported in literature.


In recent years, in order to achieve high density and high transmission speed between chips, various kinds of silicon modules have been developed.


According to the transition rates equation of the ground state population and the propagation equation,the numerical model of the group velocity slowdown was established. The relationship between the gain and pump power was analysized. In the absorption area of Tm3 +-dopedoptical fiber,the oscillation leads the pulse to experience absorption saturation,and the propagation delays.In the gain area of Tm3 +-doped optical fiber,this effect induces the pulse to experience gain saturation,and the propagation is in advance. According to the theoretical calculation,the group velocity slowdown is tunable due to coherent population oscillation in the Tm3 +-doped optical fiber amplifier at room temperature.


Past research indicates that children of immigrants may be an especially vulnerable group for unhealthy weight gain (Van Hook and Baker 2010), despite their advantage in early life factors associated with lower obesity (birth weight, breast feeding, exclusive parental care) and lower weight status of parents (Lara et al., 2005). Using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort, we examine whether maternal English language proficiency is associated with child's weight status at 5 years old. Similar to past research, we find that children of low English-proficiency immigrants are the heaviest. However, children of high English-proficiency immigrants have a lower weight status than children of natives. Socioeconomic factors account for the higher weight status of children of low English-proficiency immigrants compared to high English-proficiency immigrants. Early life factors and maternal health habits account for the lower weight status of children of high English-proficiency immigrants compared to children of natives. Past Literature and Theoretical Background Immigrants tend to have much better health than the native born population on many health outcomes, especially in regards to infant health and pregnancy outcomes. Foreign born Hispanic mothers are more likely to breastfeed, have lower odds of infant mortality, are less likely to smoke, drink, or use illicit drugs during pregnancy, and less likely to have low birth weight or early gestational age children (Lara et al., 2005; Singh, Kogan, and Dee, 2007). Breast feeding, prenatal smoking, and low birth weight have all been identified as determinants of obesity (Bergmann et al., 2003). However, these better health behaviors and outcomes do not translate into lower weight status among their children. Past research on young children has consistently found that children of foreign born parents have higher prevalence of obesity and higher growth in BMI from childhood to adolescence, especially among the more recently arrived immigrants, and this remains significant after controlling for race/ethnicity, socioeconomic factors, and family characteristics (Van Hook and Baker 2010; Van Hook and Ballistreri 2007; Li et al., 2010; Van Hook et al., 2009). Parental acculturation likely has both positive and negative effects on children's health. For example, past research suggests that children of immigrants may be especially vulnerable to developing unhealthy weight gain because immigrant mothers are more likely to view heavier child figures as ideal, more likely to underestimate their children's weight status, and less likely to view child obesity as a health concern (Crawford et al., 2004; Fuentes-Afflick and Hassel 2008; Sosa 2011; Bayles 2010; Ariza et al., 2004). Focus group interviews with immigrant mothers indicate they are more likely to view child thinness as a health concern rather than overweight. They associated thinness with malnutrition and intestinal infections (Crawford et al, 2004). These factors may result in children becoming heavier if


The behaviour of specimens from a composite made of a thermoplastic matrix PEI (polyetherimide) reinforced with glass-fibre fabric was studied. The material was exposed to accelerated aging in a climatic chamber at 70°C and a relative humidity of 95%, during periods of time of 10, 30, 60, 90, 180 and 360 days. The specimens were subsequently subjected to isothermal tests at 50, 100 and 150°C during 250, 750 and 2000 minutes with a constant stress of 40% of the material's tensile strength (obtained to ambient temperature). These three temperature values were selected from the results obtained in tensile tests carried out on specimens subjected to different temperatures ranging between ambient temperature and that of glass transition. In addition, the behaviour of the aged specimens was compared with the original material, using the same parameters of temperature, time and constant stress. An increment in tensile strength with regard to the original material was observed.


Sir, I feel that comment is called for on some of the points raised by Dr. R. D. G. Milner in his recent review of neonatal hypogylcaemia (Archives, 1972, 47, 679). Reference is made to the neuropathological consequences of untreated hypoglycaemia reported by Anderson, Milner, and Strich (1967). This paper, however, can be criticized: as only 3 untreated cases are described, there was no biochemical confirmation of hypoglycaemia during life in one of them, and the authors themselves admit that it is unlikely that all of the changes seen in the brain stem and cord occurred during life. The most recent experimental studies in primates (Brierley, Brown, and Meldrum, 1971a, b) have utilized perfusion fixation of the brain in situ, and showed that hypoxia and insulin-induced hypoglycaemia produce similar neuronal alterations, namely ischaemic cell change. Though the fact that the hypoglycaemia was insulin-induced may have had some protective effect, this is unlikely as I have observed similar changes in infants with neonatal hypoglycaemia. Brain sections from 17 infants who died after a limited period (under 24 hours with two exceptions) of hypoglycaemia in the newborn period were examined and compared with sections obtained from a control group of 17 normoglycaemic infants who had experienced a comparable degree of clinical perinatal hypoxia. Both groups were characterized by the presence of ischaemic nerve cell change of similar severity and distribution. Meldrum, Horton, and Brierley (1971) found that 7 out of 15 adolescent monkeys subjected to insulininduced hypoglycaemia had no histological evidence of brain damage at subsequent examination. The maximum period of exposure to blood glucose levels of less than 20 mg/100 ml in these 7 adolescents was 3 hours, while in a similar study Myers and Kahn (1971) found the longest period of exposure without subsequent brain damage to be 6 hours. It is likely that newborn monkeys could withstand longer periods as it is wellknown that the newborn of many species are more resistant to hypoglycaemia than the adult, possibly owing to their higher energy reserves (Mayman and Tijerina, 1971). It cannot be concluded, therefore, that exposure to a limited degree of hypoglycaemia in the newborn period invariably produces any excess CNS damage at a histological level over and above that produced by coincident hypoxia. Dr. Milner attributes some of the confusion about the clinical significance of hypoglycaemia to my papers on this subject (Griffiths, 1968; Griffiths and Bryant, 1971). Perhaps, therefore, I may be allowed to clarify the problem. Everyone would agree that 'true' symptomatic hypoglycaemia requires urgent treatment to avert permanent cerebral damage. This is an uncommon condition (1 to 3 per 1000 births) that usually presents after the first day of life, and in which symptoms are a direct consequence of the low blood glucose level, and are therefore alleviated partially or completely by i.v. glucose infusions. What my papers have shown, on a statistical basis, is that in the large majority of hypoglycaemic infants during the first day of life symptoms are coincidental to the hypoglycaemia, that the hypoglycaemia has a strong tendency to spontaneous correction within this period and that such infants at follow-up have no excess neurological or intellectual handicap over matched control infants. The prognosis for hypoglycaemic infants without symptoms of any sort during the first day of life is excellent, with no neurological impairment on later review. If it is these findings which Dr. Milner finds confusing I can only admit my guilt, pleading in mitigation that by taking cognizance of them, treatment can be placed on a rational basis. I would suggest the following regimen. If an infant is found to be hypoglycaemic during the first day of life and has symptoms, an i.v. diagnostic/ therapeutic dose of glucose is given. If symptoms are relieved after this procedure, 'true' symptomatic hypoglycaemia is diagnosed, and is treated by continuing the i.v. infusion. If symptoms are not relieved, and in asymptomatic infants, the infant is monitored closely during the remainder of the first 24 hours of life and i.v. glucose is given only if spontaneous correction has not occurred within this period. As my results apply to hypoglycaemia largely confined to the first day of life, it may be prudent, in the present state of knowledge, to treat all infants who are found to be hypoglycaemic after this period, regardless of the presence or absence of symptoms. If this policy is combined with an adequate calorie intake and the avoidance of hypothermia, the number of infants requiring treatment for hypoglycaemia will be reduced with no corresponding increase in sequelae.


The aqueous extract of mangifera indica leaf was administered orally at a dose of 400mg/kg body weight to both normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Twenty four (24) rats divided into 4 groups of 6 rats in each group of which two groups were made diabetic and the other two groups were normal. One of diabetic groups was treated with the extract and the second served as diabetic control. The alloxan was given through intraperitoneal route at a concentration of 150mg/kg body weight. The administration of the extract lasted for 21 days. Effect of the extract on glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, High density lipoprotein and protein concentrations were analysed. The toxic effect of the extract was determined using biochemical enzyme markers. The phytochemical screening of the aqueous extract and ethanol extract showed the presences of flavonoids, tannins, cardiac glycosides, resins, sterols, balsam and saponins. Treatment of the diabetic rats with the aqueous extract showed significant (p<0.05) reduction in the levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride and enzymes activities therefore Mangifera indica aqueous extract showed that it possesses hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic properties and showed no toxic effect on the liver at the concentration employed and may be used for the management of diabetes mellitus.


Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between axial length (AL) growth and FBN1 genotype in patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) after lens surgery and customize the selection of intraocular lens (IOL) power. Methods Patients with MFS who had lens surgery and primary IOL implantation received panel-based next-generation sequencing (NGS). The rate of axial length growth (RALG) was calculated using pre- and postoperative AL measurements and corrected log10-transformed age. A multivariable regression model of RALG was developed after analyzing the effect of FBN1 genotypes and confounding factors. Results A total of 139 probands of MFS with a median age at lens surgery of 6.25 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 4.67, 12.50 years) were followed up for a median duration of 2.08 years (IQR = 1.16, 3.00 years). The AL growth curve between the age of 3 and 15 years old was logarithmic. Dominant-negative (DN) variants affecting the disulfide-bridge forming cysteines and the conserved residues for calcium-binding had significantly higher RALG than DN variants affecting other structures (P = 0.001) but comparable to that of haplo-insufficiency variants (P = 1.000). Pre-operative AL (b = 0.563, P = 0.011) and genotype constant (b = 2.603, P = 0.011) were significantly associated with RALG in the final model. A Python-based calculator, Marfan IOL Calculator version 2.0, was programmed using the RALG to predict postoperative AL and customize IOL selection based on the ocular biometric parameters and FBN1 genotype. Conclusions FBN1 genotype impacted the growth of AL in patients with MFS after IOL implantation. Knowing the FBN1 genotype could help cataract surgeons to customize IOL selection.


The title seems cryptic at first, and the thanks extended to "Jesus Christ—the author of all things good" in the acknowledgments section somewhat puzzling. This collection of essays gathered by Paul Carr offers a comprehensive view of Frank Zappa the artist, the public figure and the man. A prolific performer, composer, producer, recording engineer, social commentator and occasional film director, Frank Zappa never achieved the level of popularity of the major American bands that emerged in t...


The Communicative Approach emphasizes that the goal of language learning is communicative competence.We can make use of whatever learning and teaching techniques which help the learners develop their communicative competence.On condition that we follow the basic principles of the Communicative Approach,such as information gap activities,meaning-based communication,authentic materials,our language learners would achieve the goal of mastering a foreign language.In the era of globalization CLT has high flexibility and adaptability,so it is suitable to the teaching of English at every level.But it does not have any problem.In the teaching experiment of college English,teachers have gradually explored some problems.Here we would like to offer some suggested solutions to the problems.


Path compression techniques are efficient on-demand routing optimizing techniques for mobile ad hoc networks. But the existing path compression techniques have some shortages such as blindfold compression and unstable path. It is necessary to achieve the effective tradeoff of compression efficiency and path stability. This paper calculated the dynamic, real-time stable compression period probabilistically based on a dynamic path compression model and proposed a stability module of path compression technique (SMPC), which can restrain the blindness of path compression efficiently and improve the stability of routes. SMPC introduces GPS based SMPC-ES and compression coverage based SMPC-MS to lessens the ephemeral short-cuts and multiple short-cuts. The simulation results show that SMPC based path compression algorithms have good performance in merits of original RREQ, end-to-end delay and delivery rate compared to AODV and PCA. It is a generic and efficient stability module of path compression technique for on-demand ad-hoc routing protocols.


the obstruction has been relieved by operation ; (b) vomiting may occur, and the stercoral matter being inhaled into the lungs during anaesthesia, or even an hour or so after recovery from it, may cause death; (c) a minor degree of the same accident may set up severe or fatal septic pneumonia. The late Mr. Greig Smith advised that in any case of intestinal obstruction with a distended stomach either the stomach should be washed out before giving the anaesthetic or a local anaesthetic only should be used There is, however, this disadvantage in such a proceeding, that the necessary manipulations in a conscious per-


Ivan is the Manager, Labour Market Research and Analysis Branch, in the federal Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). He has responsibility for the analysis of the contemporary Australian labour market and the identification of the current and future demand for skills. Ivan has had extensive international experience and has worked in the ABS in a number of economic and labour market areas. Recent employment experience survey data for Western Sydney will be presented. For a statistician, Ivan has an engaging presentation style and a very dry sense of humour!


Welding is crucial for several industrial sectors. The problems associated with this laborious work and the worker's health are known for a long time. However, the welding is still highly dependent of a skilled human workforce. Researchers presented solutions to automate this process, many of them using robots equipped with cameras. Nevertheless, the fumes produced by the arc welding process adhere to the camera lens hinder the robot's perception. The fume is composed of by-products from melting metal becoming suspended in the air and adhering to surrounding surfaces. Thus, one of the main issues to be solved in the robotized welding with cameras is to deal with the fume adhered the camera lenses. In this paper, we propose a method to minimize the interference of the fumes present in the camera lens based on a fusion of image processing methods. The results shows the method is able to improve the groove detection allowing a better welding.


Recently, utilization of PMIS(Project Management Information System) is in high demand as it is desired to advance the construction market through cost reduction and quality improvement within the given schedule. However, PMIS developed by individual projects are mostly evolving around construction progress status due to the temporary nature of development period and use of the system by project executers is no more than perfunctory that results in limiting the effective communication between the project owner, project manager and constructor. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to review the PMIS developed so far, and present the direction for an effective PMIS.


The invention provides a TV receiver, comprising a RF part, a holding part. The RF part for electromagnetic wave type remote control is configured to transmit electromagnetic wave to the electromagnetic wave type remote control and receive electromagnetic wave therefrom; the holding part is configured to hold the electromagnetic wave type remote control, wherein the RF part of the electromagnetic wave type remote control comprises a RF circuit board part, an antenna part and a ground connecting part; the holding part comprises a conductive support post projected from a panel, a support post projected from the panel, and a conductive metal sheet parallel to the panel and fixed to the conductive support post.


We present the abundance analysis of 82 red giant branch stars in the dense, metal-poor globular cluster NGC 6093 (M 80), the largest sample of stars analyzed in this way for this cluster. From high resolution UVES spectra of 14 stars and intermediate resolution GIRAFFE spectra for the other stars we derived abundances of O, Na, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu. On our UVES metallicity scale the mean metal abundance of M 80 is [Fe/H]=-1.791+/-0.006+/-0.076 (+/-statistical +/-systematic error) with rms=0.023 (14 stars). M 80 shows star to star variations in proton-capture elements, and the extension of the Na-O anticorrelation perfectly fit the relations with (i) total cluster mass, (ii) horizontal branch morphology, and (iii) cluster concentration previously found by our group. The chemistry of multiple stellar populations in M 80 does not look extreme. The cluster is also a typical representative of halo globular clusters for what concerns the pattern of alpha-capture and Fe-group elements. However we found that a significant contribution from the s-process is required to account for the distribution of neutron-capture elements. A minority of stars in M 80 seem to exhibit slightly enhanced abundances of s-process species, compatible with those observed in M 22 and NGC 1851, although further confirmation from larger samples is required.


The platform economy undoubtedly brings advantages, but also generates significant challenges for (local) government. National and local regulators seeking to address such challenges are confronted with limits imposed by EU law, which seemingly grants online platforms a wide degree of freedom to provide their services within the Union's internal market. This article evaluates the room for national and local authorities to regulate platform-mediated services under the E-Commerce Directive and Services Directive after the "Airbnb cases" (Airbnb Ireland and Cali Apartments). Taking the short-term rental market as a case study, the article concludes that there is in fact considerable room to target both the intermediary services provided by the platforms (upstream), as well as the underlying services (downstream). A combination of upstream and downstream regulation is recommended for local enforcement to be effective, avoid further fragmentation from city to city and halt the trend towards ever-stricter regulation of the underlying services.
E-Commerce, Services, EU Law, Platform Economy, Airbnb, Regulation, Short-Term Rental. Digital Services Act


Based on analysis of the principle and functions of the proxy server and the reverse proxy server,this paper proposes a scheme of setting up a Web-based reverse access control system,and describes its function,model,and key technologies.


A proposal for characterizing habitat of forests, obtained from an object-oriented classification of a RapidEye multiespectral imagery, based on dissimilarity matrices of vegetation structure, species diversity and composition is presented. The study area is a forested landscape mosaic after slash and burn agriculture (Ac: 8-23 years ago), selective logging (Fs: 43-53 years ago), and selective logging and forest fire (Fc: 21-28 years ago). The site is located in the central part of Quintana Roo, México, where three vegetation patches were delineated according to remotely sensed multiespectral imagery. Mean differences between vegetation structure properties of each vegetation patch were obtained through a permutational multivariate analysis of variance (p <0.001). Species richness, stem density per hectare, and the axis-1 scores of the non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination of specific composition were identified as the vegetation attributes more relevant to differentiate the vegetation patches by a multinomial logistic model. Fc vegetation patch is characterized by the greatest mean values on Shannon-Wiener index, species richness, and stem density. The Fs has the greatest mean values of canopy height, basal area and biomass at 80 percentile, and the Ac vegetation patch has the lowest values of all mentioned metrics. The species with the greatest relative importance value were: Ac: Bursera simaruba and Psidia psipula, Fs: Gymnanthes lucida andManilkara zapota, Fc: G. lucida and B. simaruba. The uncertainty associated with the metrics assessed by vegetation patch was smaller than the uncertainty of the whole area, because of the efficient variability aggregation of the field data. We conclude that multiespectral information is a reliable tool for distinguishing vegetation patches with specific features, as stem density, specific composition, and species richness.


An investigation was carried out during 2000 to study surface and profile distribution of total and diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable zinc, copper, manganese and iron in Entisols of Punjab. The soils were developed on sand-dunes, floodplains and Siwalik hills region. They showed gradual increase in the fineness of soil texture from sanddune to the mountain region and were associated with aridic, ustic and udic mo~sture regime. The soils were stratified, near neutral to alkaline (PH 6.5 to 9.0) and calcareous. In general, total and DTPA-extractable micronutrients were higher in surface horizons and decreased in subsurface horizons. Soil taxonomic units had a influence on the spatial distribution for total and available content of micronutrient in these soils. The total content varied from 15 to 76 mg/kg for zinc, from 1 to 31 mg/kg for copper, from 100 to 1 350 mg/kg for manganese and from 0.80 to 3.70% for iron. The DTPA-extractable content varied 0.08-1.88 mg/kg for zinc, 0.04-2.40 mg/kg for copper, 0.20-27.7 mg/kg for manganese and 0.50-23.0 mg/ kg for iron. Both total and available micronutrients were higher in the fine-textured soils of Orthents and Fluvents than the coarse-textured soils of Psamments. The total content of micro nutrients increased with increase in clay content and cationexchange capacity (CEC), whereas DTPA-extractable micronutrient increased with increase in organic carbon content and CEC, and decreased with increasing pH and sand content. The total reserve of Zn and eu showed an influence on availability of these respective micro nutrients. Zinc deficiencies were wide spread (47%), followed by Fe (34%) in the cultivated Entisols. These results indicated that zinc is likely to constrain crop production, followed by Fe in Entisols of the Punjab region.


An object that appears abruptly captures attention. To investigate the underlying mechanisms of onset capture, two related questions were asked: (1) Is capture driven by the luminance transients that accompany the onset? (2) Is capture modulated by the observer's attentional set? The questions were addressed by comparing attentional capture by an onset, and an offset, stimulus. If the onset's luminance transients drive, an offset, which also evokes luminance change, should successfully capture attention. Two different top-down contexts were examined: When the target location was defined by (1) a static, and (2) a dynamic, discontinuity. The results showed that an irrelevant onset cue successfully captured attention even when the attentional setting was not programmed to monitor onsets. But, an offset stimulus only captured attention when observers were set, specifically, to monitor an offset, or a luminance change.


This paper describes a system based on metal oxide semiconductor sensors developed for two different environmental applications: monitoring of contaminant gases coming from combustion processes and analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in soils. The promising experimental results suggest that this technique could constitute an important choice of competitive instruments suitable for measurements "in situ".


Propensity‐score matching has been used widely in observational studies to balance confounders across treatment groups. However, whether matched‐pairs analyses should be used as a primary approach is still in debate. We compared the statistical power and type 1 error rate for four commonly used methods of analyzing propensity‐score–matched samples with continuous outcomes: (1) an unadjusted mixed‐effects model, (2) an unadjusted generalized estimating method, (3) simple linear regression, and (4) multiple linear regression. Multiple linear regression had the highest statistical power among the four competing methods. We also found that the degree of intraclass correlation within matched pairs depends on the dissimilarity between the coefficient vectors of confounders in the outcome and treatment models. Multiple linear regression is superior to the unadjusted matched‐pairs analyses for propensity‐score–matched data.


In this paper,on the several aspects where the industry of logistics influenced tourism,we analyzed the logistics factors which affected the quality of the tourist products,distrihution and sales of the tourist products and the checking of luggage during travels,and proposed some suggestions and measures to develop logistics and promote tourism in connection with international experience of tourist logistics and the current logistics situation of China.


http://farmdoc.illinois.edu/podcasts/fefo/FEFO_11_12.mp3 It has been suggested that farmers consider locking in profits for the 2012 production year (see, for example, here). Current commodity price and cost levels suggest it may be possible to lock in profits. To lock in profits, both gross revenue and input costs must be dealt with. As much as possible, gross revenue must be managed to eliminate downside risk. Similarly, input costs must be managed so as to eliminate the possibility of higher costs. This article examines the extent to which gross revenue risk can be reduced by hedging grain and purchasing crop insurance. A future article will examine the process of locking in input costs.


We present an approach to stable n-type doping of organic matrices using organic dopands. To circumvent stability limitations inherent in strong organic donors, we produce the donor from a stable precursor compound in situ. As an example, pyronin B chloride is studied as a dopant in a 1,4,5,8-naphthalene tetracarboxylic dianhydride matrix. Conductivities up to 2×10−4 S/cm are obtained, which is two orders of magnitude higher than obtained previously using bis(ethylenedithio)-tetrathiafulvalene as a dopant [A. Nollau, M. Pfeiffer, T. Fritz, and K. Leo, J. Appl. Phys. 87, 4340 (2000)]. Field-effect measurements are used to prove n-type conduction. Other matrices which can be doped are N,N′-dimethyl-perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic diimide and fullerene C60, frequently used in organic solar cells. Visible light and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirm the donor properties of pyronin B.


In anti-seepage engineering, quality control and engineering applications are based on the accurate measurement of seepage indices for low-permeability materials. The test used to determine the seepage indices for low-permeability materials adopts an external source to produce water pressure, and the seepage flux produced during the process requires manual measurement; thus, the apparatus used is complex and difficult to operate, thereby lowering the testing efficiency and restricting its application. In this study, a built-in servo motor was used to produce high water pressure with a pressure transmitter, and it controlled and measured the seepage pressure. According to the rotation number of the electric cylinder motor, the volume change of water in the hydraulic cylinder was calculated and, thus, the seepage flux was deduced. A simple fully automatic seepage apparatus for low-permeability materials was designed with a human–computer interface. The results showed the successful calculation of seepage flux as a function of the rotation number of the servo motor through automatic measurement. Furthermore, the replacement of the external high-pressure source with the built-in servo motor enhanced the safety performance, and the human–computer interface enabled an interactive operation and simplified the measurement structure. This simple testing method can provide technical support for quality inspection and construction control of anti-seepage engineering.


Alabama, one of the southeastern states in the US, suffers from a heavy burden of obesity. In 2014, Alabama launched a state program named 'ALProHealth', aiming to prevent and reduce obesity prevalence. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential impact of the ALProHealth Program on the prevalence of obesity in Alabama from 2014 to 2017.

 Data for this study come from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). An interrupted time series design was employed. The state obesity prevalence trend for the pre-program period (2011-2014) was estimated and compared with the post-program period (2015-2017). Statistical analyses were conducted using segmented linear regression. Indiana was chosen as the control group in this study.

 The obesity prevalence in Alabama significantly increased from 31.8% in 2011 to 36.2% in 2017, increasing by 0.81% on average each year (95% CI: 0.47 to 1.15, p = 0.002). Before the ALProHealth Program, the obesity prevalence increased by 0.59% (p = 0.11) and 0.32% (p = 0.34) in both Alabama and Indiana respectively, though it is not statistically significant. After the program implementation, the slope of obesity prevalence increased by 0.43 (p = 0.45) and 0.03 (p = 0.96) in Alabama and Indiana respectively, though change is not significant. When comparing Alabama and Indiana, the rate of slope change is higher in Alabama (0.73) compared with Indiana (0.093), indicating the rate of slope change in obesity prevalence increased faster in Alabama than Indiana.

 To sum up, the study found no evidence that the ALProHealth Program contributed to the decrease of obesity prevalence in Alabama. One possible reason is that there was low program coverage. Future studies should examine the potential effectiveness of other programs using a similar conceptual model as ALProHealth Program.

 In 2014, Alabama launched a state program named 'ALProHealth', aiming to prevent and reduce obesity prevalence. The study found no evidence that the ALProHealth Program contributed to the statewide decrease of obesity prevalence in Alabama, which may attribute to low program coverage.


Schur or Hurwitz stability of a characteristic polynomial whose coefficients are nonlinear functions of a set of free parameters is investigated. The nonlinear functions are restricted to polynomials in these parameters. The parameters lie in a given region of uncertainty. Methods for testing the robust stability are discussed, and a new method for solving a system of multivariate real polynomial equations is given.<<ETX>>


It is not known whether the auditory hair cells of fishes possess a tonotopic organization in the saccule. To investigate this question, we exposed groups of six goldfish (Carassius auratus) to one of four tones (100, 800, 2000, and 4000 Hz) at 176 dB re 1 μPa for 48 h. The saccules of each fish were dissected and labeled with phalloidin in order to visualize hair cell bundles. The hair cell bundles were counted at 19 specific points in each saccule to determine the extent and location of hair cell damage. In addition to quantification of anatomical injury, hearing tests (using auditory evoked potentials) were performed on each fish immediately following sound exposure. The location of hair cell loss varied along the length of the saccule in a graded manner with the frequency of sound exposure, with lower and higher frequencies damaging the more caudal and rostral regions of the saccule, respectively. Similarly, fish exposed to lower frequency tones exhibited greater threshold shifts at lower frequencies,...


Queen Tenia'makui and a group of Banaba Islanders, at Banaba, Kiribati. Photograph taken ca 1906 by Lilian Arundel.
Inscriptions: Verso - : Queen Tenia'makui on a non-christian day & much nicer for it
Photographer's title on negative - bottom right: Natives. Ocean Island
Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).
Physical Description: Gelatin silver print 8.4 x 13.8 cm


We present experimental results of 10 Gbit/s, 20 ps soliton data transmission over standard fibre, dispersion compensated to 0.5 ps/nm/km. Acceptable Q values were measured to a distance of 2022 km.


Subject. The article considers digital currencies in the context of global and national financial system development.
Objectives. The purpose is to identify and justify the role of digital currencies in the global finance development and the place of modern central bank policies in the development of digital currencies, to underpin the need for changing approaches to digital currencies on the part of central banks, and to predict possible scenarios for the development of digital currencies on the global scale.
Methods. The study applies methods of logical and statistical analysis, the comparative approach, and systematization.
Results. The paper describes major pros and cons of digital currencies by comparing them with cryptocurrencies; identifies the beneficiaries of the introduction of digital currencies in countries with the most developed strategies for the introduction of national digital currencies. It also unveils barriers to a large-scale introduction of digital currencies to the world market, and highlights the main areas of their use. I developed three scenarios of digital currencies introduction to the world market.
Conclusions. A large-scale introduction of digital currencies as a means of international settlements is not possible at the present stage, however, their use as a tool for dealing with financial crises is the most realistic scenario.


Citation for published version: Schyfter Camacho, P 2015, Metrology and varieties of making in synthetic biology. in O Schlaudt & L Huber (eds), Standardization in Measurement: Philosophical, Historical and Sociological Issues. History and Philosophy of Technoscience, no. 7, Pickering & Chatto, London, pp. 25-38. <https://www.routledge.com/Standardization-in-Measurement-Philosophical-Historical-andSociological/Schlaudt-Huber/p/book/9781848935716>


Sensitive detection of near‐infrared (NIR) light enables many important applications in both research and industry. Current organic photodetectors suffer from low NIR sensitivity typically due to early absorption cutoff, low responsivity, and/or large dark/noise current under bias. Herein, organic photodetectors based on a novel ultranarrow‐bandgap nonfullerene acceptor, CO1‐4Cl, are presented, showcasing a remarkable responsivity over 0.5 A W−1 in the NIR spectral region (920–960 nm), which is the highest among organic photodiodes. By effectively delaying the onset of the space charge limited current and suppressing the shunt leakage current, the optimized devices show a large specific detectivity around 1012 Jones for NIR spectral region up to 1010 nm, close to that of a commercial Si photodiode. The presented photodetectors can also be integrated in photoplethysmography for real‐time heart‐rate monitoring, suggesting its potential for practical applications.


Conventional NMR imaging has increased our ability to detect brain tumors. However, it has not enhanced at the same degree the ability to diagnose tumor type. Hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1 H NMR) performed in low magnetic fields provides a non-invasive method of examining a wide variety of metabolites in the human brain in vivo. The aim of this study is to determine the characteristic in vitro NMR spectra, using high magnetic field, of various brain tumor extracts and to provide a better interpretation of spectra obtained by in vivo NMR. Tissues samples were obtained from 47 patients with CNS (Central Nervous System) tumors. From the PCA (Principal Components Analysis) analysis, we observed a trend toward association between neuroepithelial and non-neuroepithelial tumors with creatine levels. Moreover, considering only astrocytomas, the aggressive tumor increases directly with the glycine/inositol ratio and inversely with creatine levels. These results reflect the high catabolism and osmotic imbalance in tumor tissue. Thus, in vitro NMR spectra contributes to understanding tumor metabolism and can be used as a tool in the development of in vivo NMR methods by the adjustment of parameters to improve non-invasive brain tumor diagnoses.


The 2Dthermal conductive/convective model indicates that a transition layer exists between the conductive solid lithosphere and the convective fluid asthenosphere,which is named as the rheological boundary layer(RBL).Conduction and convection both transfer heat within this region.The thickness of the RBL is mainly controlled by the asthenospheric viscosity(η),but not or slightly influenced by the thickness and thermal regime of the solid lithosphere.RBL thins in direct proportion to lowering of lg(η)whenηdecreases from 1×1021 Pa·s to 1×1019 Pa·s.The existence of RBL results in the difference between the thermal and seismic lithospheric bases.A difference of 70~90km is indicated by comparison between the thermal and seismic lithospheric thicknesses of global typical cratons,which verifies the existence of RBL.Such difference also occurs in the North China Craton,but decreases from ~80km in the Ordos to~20km in the Bohai Bay basin.This phenomenon implies an eastward thinning trend of RBL thickness,suggesting the asthenospheric viscosity decreases from west to east.It is probably related to the low-viscosity big mantle wedge formed by the stagnant Pacific slab at the transition zone,and confirms from one side the influence of Pacific subduction on destruction of the North China Craton.


IC bond pads having thin pad aluminum (Al), less than 0.7μ thick, were probed multiple times by a variety of cantilever probe tips. Probe marks were created by an experimental high force probe card having various tip diameters. A finite element model of the probe tip was matched to the probe mark scrub length to gain a little more academic understanding of what to expect as probe parameters vary. Simulations using this model will be helpful in the future for situations where physical experiments are difficult or costly to run. Bond pads in the experiments include various ON Semiconductor circuit under pad (CUP) structures having Al metallization and silicon dioxide (SiO2) interconnect, previously demonstrated to be robust against cracking when compared against traditional IC bond pads. Smaller ball size and bond contact area are desirable as pads shrink on future products, but this will heighten any adverse effects of probe marks due to the relative % area increase beneath the bond. Experiment evaluations...


In the last few decades product placement has matured and become more sophisticated. Branded products are no longer just 'placed'; they are woven into entertainment content making a stronger emotional connection with the consumer. The outcome is a concept the advertising industry is calling branded entertainment, a convergence of advertising and entertainment. This article considers whether or not branded entertainment is a new technique, or just another form of product placement. By tracking the evolution of product placement and from an analysis of the two concepts, it is suggested that branded entertainment is a new term to describe a more contemporary, sophisticated use of product placement. A conceptual framework for understanding the various forms of product placement is presented, and this highlights the key influences on the effectiveness of this fast-growing marketing phenomenon. The important management issues related to product placement are considered; issues related to measurement, control, and ethics. The article then concludes with recommendations for further research.


This paper presents the test results of an experimental investigation to evaluate the buckling behavior of built-up columns of pultruded profiles, subjected to axial compression. Specimens are assembled by using four (off the shelf) channel shaped profiles of E-glass fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP), having similar detailing to strut members in a large FRP structure that was executed in 2009 to start the restoration of the Santa Maria Paganica church in L'Aquila, Italy. This church had partially collapsed walls and no roof after the April 6, 2009, earthquake of 6.3 magnitude. A total of six columns are characterized with two different configurations for the bolted connections joining the channel sections into a built-up strut. Test results are discussed and a comparison is made with closed-form equation predictions for flexural buckling resistance, with buckling resistance values established from both eigenvalue and geometric nonlinear finite element analyses. Results show that there is a significant role played by the end loading condition, the composite action, and imperfections. Simple closed-form equations overestimate the flexural buckling strength, whereas the resistance provided by the nonlinear analysis provides a reasonably reliable numerical approach to establishing the actual buckling behavior.


The invention relates to the field of rotary air preheaters and discloses an air leakage prevention structure for a rotary air preheater. According to the air leakage prevention structure, through the air leakage prevention structure, the characteristic that radial sealing pieces are always in the rigid suspension state can be used, and the situation that the radial sealing pieces move downwardly due to the drooping deformation of a rotor radial paration plate is avoided, so that similar triangular air leakage regions (any angle) generated in the heat state can be made up for in a self-adaptive manner, accordingly the sealing gap value of the rotary air heater obtained after the heat-state mushroom-shaped deformation is generated is reduced to the maximum extent, and the heat state radial air leakage rate of the air preheater is lowered effectively. Furthermore, the air leakage prevention structure has the beneficial effects of being long in service life, simple in structure, high in reliability, convenient to refit, low in cost, easy to achieve and the like, related components are not likely to be damaged, and the actual application and popularization are facilitated.


Refrigerant mixtures provide an opportunity to adjust their properties to fit design criteria and a possibility to create new blends that can improve heat transfer characteristics. Therefore, mixture of and propane is chosen which may be a promising refrigerant and has good environmental compatibility. This paper presents measured heat transfer coefficient data during evaporation process of /propane mixtures flowing upward in vertical smooth and. micro-fin tubes. Smooth and micro-fin tubes with outer diameters of 5 mm and length of 1.44in were selected as test tubes. The tests were conducted at mass fluxes of 212 to , inlet temperatures of -10 to , heat fluxes of 15 to and for several compositions (75/25, 50/50, 25/75 wt%). Among /propane refrigerant mixtures, the heat transfer characteristics are much better than that of any compositions when the composition is 75/25 (wt%).


Gas chromatography (GC) is commonly used in the analysis of aroma compounds and retention index (RI) is one of the most important parameters in qualitative analysis by GC. GC-MS with RI has a very distinct advantage in the determination of aroma compounds. RI can be obtained by experiments or prediction and the data from experiments are more reliable. However,RIs of some compounds are difficult to obtain by experiments. Presently,RI prediction is still at the exploratory stage but many prediction models are available and RIs of some specific compound species can be accurately predicted. RI makes a great contribution to aroma research,especially in the determination of unknown natural aroma compounds with complicated compositions. The establishment of RI database will be very helpful for rapid detection of aroma compounds.


Abstract The aim of this note is to prove a representation theorem for left–invariant functionals in Carnot groups. As a direct consequence, we can also provide a Г-convergence result for a smaller class of functionals.


Most of the sky is black: picking off the interesting bits is the challenge. By placing pick-off mirrors in the focal plane of an instrument, it is possible to select light from only the desired sub-fields. The Micro Autonomous Positioning System (MAPS) is a method for maneuvering pick-off mirrors into position by giving each mirror its own set of wheels. This paper details the metrology algorithms that are being developed to provide real-time feedback of the robots' positions. This will be achieved through imaging high-resolution targets on the robots and analysing the power floor on which they move. Early tests show that the imaging system is capable of resolving linear motions of lμm and rotation of <1mrad, for an operating area of 25 x 20 cm.


One of the most disastrous consequences of our almost total reliance on fragmented thinking is the tendency to ignore context. As I pointed out in Chapter Two, the analytical methodology of science breaks complex wholes into simple, discrete component parts. It then proceeds to study and assign a precise meaning to, i.e., define, each part. Implicit in this methodology is the assumption that meaning is inherent in the self-evident parts that can be encapsulated in the assigned definition. A tree is a tree is a tree, and a maple tree is always and only a maple tree. By definition, a tree can be nothing other than tree. With the introduction of the scientific/technological system of belief, definitions became increasingly important and, in time, have come to dominate not only our understanding of things but also our perception of things. Like blind men exploring an elephant, we tend to see things in terms of their defined qualities — as separate, discrete entities, complete in and of themselves. Wholes are perceived as being nothing more than a collection of individual parts. A forest is nothing more than an aggregate of individual trees that happen to be growing in proximity. Implicit in this perspective is the assumption that the whole is equal to a sum of its parts. Larger meanings can be discovered only by first understanding the parts and then incrementally reconstructing the whole. And so teachers continue to present facts as isolated building blocks of knowledge and treat each Context, preferably one that students can personally relate to, is essential for learning to be real and lasting.


A package-level hotspot cooling solution using Si hybrid heat sink and diamond heat spreader has been developed. The hybrid heat sink combines the merits of both microchannel flow and microjet array impingement, and can enable high spatially average heat transfer coefficient of 18.9 × 104 W/m2 K with low pumping power of 0.17 W. The liquid jet is designed to directly impinge on the surface of the diamond heat spreader. The eight hotspot heaters, each of size 450 × 300 μm2, were fabricated on the Si thermal test chip. The solid-fluid coupling simulation has been conducted using heaters model for microfluid cooling capability investigation. A gates model in conjunction with the heaters model is used to predict the thermal performance of the GaN transistors with the developed cooling solution. Hotspot cooling capability as high as 10 kW/cm2 was demonstrated and validated. The heating power density of 3.9 W/mm can be dissipated in GaN device, while maintaining the peak gate temperature under 200°C.


Three techniques were used to find evidence of reproductive activity by stocked lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) on Stony Island reef in Lake Ontario from 1986 to 1990. In the fall, egg nets and traps were deployed on different substrate types, and in the spring, fry traps were used to capture newly emergent fry. Fry were only captured in an area approximately 50 by 10 m at the north end of the eastern edge of the reef. Eggs were only captured in nets and traps deployed near this area, or in nets and traps which moved over this area during storms and came to rest at the base of the reef. The area of Stony Island reef actually used by lake trout for egg deposition appeared to be extremely limited relative to the entire reef. This area was characterized by large cobble substrate with minimal infilling by sand and fines. Thus, hatchery-origin lake trout appeared to recognize substrate appropriate for successful egg incubation.


A power measurement system using ETM interface is provided to measure the power consumption or current consumption pattern in a specific function or process. A power measuring system(10) includes data storage unit(180), current diction unit(100) detecting a current supplied to the measurement object device of the target hardware. A current data logging unit(110) receives current data from the current detector, and stores current data with the synchronization information in the data storage unit. An ETM debugger(130) is connected to the ETM interface unit of the target hardware and receives the CPU information of the target hardware. A CPU information logging unit(150) receives the CPU information from the ETM debugger periodically, and stores the CPU information with the synchronization information in data storage unit. A power consumption analysis(160) receives the CPU information and current data synchronization information from data storage unit, and detects the power consumption at the measurement object device by using the CPU information and current data.


This article presents anti-communism as a flexible, chameleon-like phenomenon that took on various guises in different countries, depending on their specific domestic circumstances. Historical scholarship remembers both the Netherlands and the United States as strongly anti-communist. However, in the 1950s Dutch officials contrasted their own supposedly sober-minded approach to communism with what they regarded as emotional responses to communism in America. Based on the private correspondence of Dutch ambassador in Washington, Herman van Roijen, and his interactions with The Hague, it is argued that the Red Scare in the United States (1947–54) unsettled Dutch policymakers and diplomats. The initial phase of the transatlantic alliance was complicated by disagreements between allies about geostrategy and budgetary questions, but also by anti-communism, which revealed a deep cultural divide between Europe and the United States and tested allied relations from the outset.


We report a novel intronic variant in the MTM1 gene in four males in a family with severe X-linked myotubular myopathy. The A>G variant in deep intronic space activates a cryptic 5' donor splice site resulting in the inclusion of a 48bp pseudoexon into the mature MTM1 mRNA. The variant is present in all affected males, absent in unaffected males and heterozygous in the mother of the affected males. The included intronic sequence contains a premature stop codon and experiments using a translational inhibitor indicate that the mutant mRNAs undergo nonsense-mediate decay. We conclude that affected males produce no, or low, levels of myotubularin-1 protein leading to a severe neonatal myopathy. The study highlights the need to consider non-coding variants in genomic screening in families with X-linked myotubular myopathy.


investigator blinded to the patient's group assignment. At 4 min, anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone 4–7 mg kg 1 and Suc (groups A and B) or Roc (group C), followed 60 s later by tracheal intubation. Anaesthesia was maintained with remifentanil 0.25 mg kg 1 min 1 and desflurane 2–3% (endtidal) in oxygen/air. Fasciculations were recorded as 01⁄4absent, 11⁄4mild, 21⁄4moderate, 31⁄4 severe. The incidence of dysrhythmia and bradycardia was noted. Myalgia was assessed as: 01⁄4 none, 11⁄4 slight, 21⁄4moderate, 31⁄4 severe [3]. Postoperative care and pain management were standardized. All patients were questioned on presence and severity of myalgia in the PACU and 24 h postoperatively (by telephone). Data were subjected to Mann– Whitney U-test (demographic data), Fisher's exact test or anova and statistical significance was assured at P < 0.05. Results: Precurarization with Roc reduced the incidence and severity of fasciculation significantly. However, it did not have any effect on the incidence and severity of myalgia, but regularly led to signs of muscle weakness (90%) (Table 1). Cardiovascular side-effects, e.g. bradycardia and dysrhythmia, requiring atropine i.v. were only observed in the Sucgroups (n1⁄43 in each).


UAV teleoperation is a demanding task, especially for amateur operators who wish to successfully accomplish their mission without collision. In this work we present an integrated 2D LIDAR based Sense-and-Avoid system which actively assists unskilled human operator in obstacle avoidance, so that the operator can focus on higher-level decisions and global objectives in UAV applications such as search and rescue, farming etc. Specifically, with our perception-assistive vehicle control design, novel adaptive virtual cushion force field (AVCFF) based avoidance strategy, and integrated sensing solution, the proposed UAV teleoperation assistance system is capable of obstacle detection and tracking, as well as automatic avoidance in complex environment where both static and dynamic objects are present. The proposed system is constructed on the basis of Hector Quadrotor open source framework [1], and its effectiveness is demonstrated and validated on a realistic simulated UAV platform in Gazebo simulations where the UAV is operated at a high speed.


Research has consistently shown that poverty and economic hardship have negative consequences for children. Few studies, however, have examined whether these consequences persists into adulthood. In the present paper we broaden the focus and analyse how living conditions during childhood and adolescence structure socio-economic circumstances also in midlife. How does exposure to poverty during childhood and adolescence affect future probabilities for labour market exclusion and inclusion in early adulthood and in midlife? The data are drawn from a new longitudinal Swedish data set – the Stockholm Birth Cohort Study (SBC) – in which we can follow a cohort of Swedes from birth (1953) to the age of 48 (2001). Our results show that childhood poverty clearly has a negative impact on attainment in adulthood. Persistent poverty in the family of origin and entering poverty in adolescence are particularly detrimental for life chances. This is most salient in the analysis of exclusion in midlife. Educational achievement and deviant behaviour (criminality and drug abuse) are identified as important intervening variables. The results are interpreted as a process of cumulative disadvantage. In our final analyses we focus on those excluded from the labour market in early adulthood and their likelihood to be included in midlife. We find that resource attainment in terms of education and family has positive effects for the chance for inclusion and may in that respect be regarded as turning points.


In this paper, the beta-binomial model is introduced as a Markov chain. It is shown that the correlated binomial model of Kupper and Haseman (1978) is identical to the additive binomial model of AItham(1978) and both are a first order approximation of the beta-binomial model. For small γ, the local efficiency of the moment estimators for the mean ρ and the extra-binomial variation γ is examined analytically. It is shown that, locally, the moment estimator for p is efficient up to the second order of y. Exact formulae for the relative efficiency are obtained for both the cases with γ known and unknown. Generalization to the unequal sample size case is also carried out. In particular, the gain in efficiency by using the quasi-likelihood estimator instead of the ratio estimator for p is studied when γ is known. These results are in agreement with the Monte Carlo results of Kleinman(1973) and Crowder(1985).


Objective: Arterial stiffness (AS) is a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. Its behaviour over time, assessed through repeated measurements, is still largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and demographic determinants of trajectories of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) in a cohort of French hypertensive adults. Design and method: From a population of 7806 patients referred to HEGP Pharmacology Unit (Paris, France) from 1981 to 2022, we selected those who had at least 3 cf-PWV recordings over time. Those with missing treatment information or rare vascular diseases were excluded. Cluster of trajectories analysis was performed and multinomial regression was used to detect differences in baseline characteristics between the identified clusters. Results: 564 patients were included in the analysis (median follow-up was 4.2 [3.2-6.4] years). Four clusters of stiffness trajectories were identified: low-stable (A, n = 199), medium-stable (B, n = 184), high-increasing (C, n = 127), and high-low-high (D, n = 54) clusters (Figure 1). Mean BP (MBP) and cf-PWV at baseline were progressively higher in the medium-stable, high-increasing, and high-low-high clusters compared to the stable one (MBP was 96 ± 12, 99 ± 12 and 101 ± 15 mmHg in clusters B, C, and D vs 92 ± 12 mmHg in cluster A; cf-PWV was 9.7 ± 1.2, 11.6 ± 1.6 and 15.3 ± 2.7 m/s in clusters B, C, and D vs 7.7 ± 1.0 m/s in cluster A; all p < 0.001). On multinomial regression analysis, older age, higher MBP, and diabetes were associated to increased probability of belonging to either C or D clusters when compared to the stable one. Anti-hypertensive treatment with blockers of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) was associated with a decreased probability of belonging to the C or D clusters (Table 1). Conclusions: This real-life data obtained by repeated cf-PWV assessments on a large time span shows that patients who will experience PWV worsening over time are characterized by older age, higher MBP and diabetes at baseline. The use of RAS blockers has a protective effect on PWV trajectories.


Lits higher order symmetries have been examined in some new situations for trans· port processes where the total rate proc:esses.:Ue obtained by the linear combinations of processes involving unequal order of independence ami uneven number of Ouxes. Attempt has also been made to examine a few cases of practical interest wherein these symmetries appear to be physically meanJngful.


A fully differential high speed and highly linear CMOS Track-and-Hold amplifier (THA) that was used in front end of an Pipline ADC is described here. The architecture of Track-and-Hold based on an open-loop architecture with Miller hold capacitance. The Track-and-Hold circuit consists of an op-amp with low impedance nodes and properly voltage gain and bootstrapped switches. Designed circuit is simulated in a standard 0.35 um CMOS technology, the THA achieves -75.7 dB THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) for 1.6 Vp-p, 86 MHz input at 320 MHz sampling rate. The circuit design of major building blocks is described in details.


Asset specificity, the redeployability of an asset to alternative uses, is a key determinant of an asset's resale value. Asset specificity has a direct impact on a firm's ongoing fair value determination, bankruptcy risk, liquidation value, and abandonment option. Consistent with asset specificity reducing the demand for conservative accounting due to increased likelihood of false signals and constraint on managerial discretion on real activities, we document a significant negative association between asset specificity and conditional conservatism. Further tests reveal that this inverse relation manifests as bad news being less quickly incorporated in earnings as asset specificity increases. We find no difference in the extent to which good news is delayed in earnings for firms conditional on asset specificity. In addition, the documented association is stronger when asset specificity arises from lower within-industry acquisition activity. The association is also more pronounced for firms that are in less competitive industries, have institutional investors, have limited access to the public debt market, and/or have more unsecured debt. Our findings are noteworthy for regulators and researchers given the recent interests in the determinants of conservatism.


Immunohistochemical and immunoblot analyses were used to investigate nasal cytochrome P‐450 distribution in mice with either unilateral naris closure for 3, 4, or 5 months, or olfactory bulbectomy. P‐450 immunoreactivity was observed only in the supporting cells and Bowman's glands of the olfactory mucosa. Immunoreactivity was clearly reduced in rostral regions of the open‐side olfactory mucosa where losses of receptor neurons resulted from 3 to 5 months of closure. Closed‐side immunoreactivity was similar to controls. In 4 month closure animals that had regrown their receptor neurons, open‐side immunoreactivity was comparable to controls. Olfactory bulbectomy also depressed P‐450 immunoreactivity. These data suggest that presence or absence of receptor neurons markedly affects P‐450 expression in nonneuronal cells of the olfactory mucosa. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Sensor system for measuring variable physical quantities at a in use vehicle strip, comprising a specimen located in or on the tire (sensor element) of magnetoelastic material, in particular strip or wire made of a ferromagnetic amorphous alloy with a located outside the tire transmitter-receiver unit comprising the irradiated sample body with the electromagnetic wave and receives the echo generated by the test specimen and with an evaluation unit which is assigned to the transmitter-receiver unit, and determines from the difference of the transmitted and received signals the strain state of the specimen as the physical quantity.


Ichthyophonus spp. are cosmopolitan parasites causing proliferative, systemic disease in a number of marine and freshwater fish, including several commercially important species such as Atlantic and Pacific herring (Clupea harengus, C. pallasii), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) and sockeye salmon (O. nerka) (Gregg et al., 2016; Kocan et al., 2006; Rahimian & Thulin, 1996; Tierney & Farrell, 2004; Zuray et al., 2012). There is some uncertainty regarding both species diversity and host specificity within the Ichthyophonus genus, and at present only two species have been formally described, I. hoferi Plehn and Mulsow (1911) from rainbow trout and I. irregularis Rand et al., 2000 from yellowtail flounder (Limanda ferruginea). There are, however, strong genetic indications that the genus comprises more species than the two described so far (Hershberger et al., 2016; Rasmussen et al., 2010). Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) is known to be susceptible to Ichthyophonus infections (Gregg et al., 2016; Johnstone, 1913; Murchelano et al., 1986; Sproston, 1944), but the prevalence has not been extensively monitored. A few studies indicate differences between geographic areas, seasons and individual shoals of mackerel. Sproston (1944) observed varying Ichthyophonus sp. (as I. hoferi) prevalence across different catches in the North Sea, ranging between 0% and 100% over a 3year period with annual means of 38– 70%, whereas Rahimian (1998) did not find any infected mackerel during a survey in the adjacent Skagerrak and Kattegat. Murchelano et al. (1986) observed infected individuals both in the eastern and western North Atlantic, but the general prevalence could not be determined due to low sample sizes. The diverging results of these studies indicate large differences in the prevalence of Ichthyophonus infections in Atlantic mackerel, possibly due to temporal fluctuations or variations in infection pressure in different geographic regions. Recent studies indicate frequent intermixing between the different spawning components within the Northeast Atlantic (NEA) mackerel stocks (Henriksen, Nøttestad, Olafsdottir, Slotte, & Sánchez, 2020; Jansen & Gislason, 2013), and infected individuals in some components may thus potentially spread parasites to other spawning components. NEA mackerel is also found increasingly further north and west, most likely due to changes in the migration pattern following climate change (Nøttestad et al., 2016; Nøttestad et al., 2020). Parasites infecting the mackerel, such as Ichthyophonus spp., can thus potentially spread and infect new fish host species with little or no inherent resistance to them, which could have great ecological and commercial ramifications. The diversity and prevalence of Ichthyophonus sp. in NEA mackerel should be monitored closely. The present study details our observations of the prevalence of Ichthyophonus infections in mackerel obtained from the Northeast Atlantic. A total of 960 NEA mackerel were sampled during research cruises and from commercial catches in the North, Norwegian and Greenland Seas in 2019– 2021. To assess the prevalence of Ichthyophonus sp., freshly caught or defrosted fish were examined macroscopically for visible signs of infection in the form of granulomas in the heart, kidney, spleen or red muscle tissue (Hodneland


Understanding and interpreting climate response from ancient fluvial deposits requires a combined approach of detailed sedimentological description and interpretation, local climate proxies, and the accurate comparison of these sequences with further independent climate records. Application of these multiple lines of evidence is particularly effective in the Quaternary Period, where higher resolution and more detailed palaeoenvironmental reconstruction are possible. This paper presents results from a Devensian (Weichselian) age sequence in northern Fenland, England, that integrates these approaches. Detailed sedimentological description has identified three fluvial facies associations overlain by a period of ice‐wedge cast formation. Fossil plant and coleopteran material within these sediments have been studied to provide palaeoenvironmental reconstructions for the local landscape, including quantitative temperature estimates using the mutual climatic range method on fossil Coleoptera. In addition, joint application of radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating allows this sequence to be compared with the stacked marine isotope record, although dates do not agree well at the limit of the radiocarbon technique. Sedimentological interpretations, palaeoenvironments and global ice‐volume variations (a proxy for climatic severity) are all in agreement and show clearly how the River Nene responded to subtle changes in climate and vegetation cover during the Devensian (Weichselian) Stage. The level of detail possible in this reconstruction shows the importance of this approach in understanding fluvial response to past climate changes.


The emergence of silicon carbide MOSFETs and Schottky Barrier Diodes (SBD) at higher voltage and current ratings is opening up new possibilities in the design of energy dense power converters. One of the main advantages of these wide bandgap unipolar devices is the use of fast switching to enable the size reduction of passive components. However, packaging constraints like parasitic inductances limit how fast the MOSFETs and diodes can switch, because of high frequency electromagnetic oscillations or ringing. Ringing is a reliability concern as it stresses the devices and causes additional losses to the switching losses. In this paper, a framework of power converter design is introduced based on the analytical modelling of current commutation between the MOSFET and the diode. The analysis of the model is done in the frequency domain which lends it to easy use and computational efficiency. The impact of the parasitic inductances on the switching transients have been analyzed. The models are compared with experimental measurements and are shown to provide fast and accurate analysis of the switching transients. The results show the necessity of accounting for ringing when modelling power losses.


Stand development patterns and growth rates of even-aged mixed stands of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamensiesii Mirb. Franco) and grand fir (Abiesgrandis Dougl. Lindl.) were investigated by stand recons...


The lightweight bus body frame can relieve coach mass for energy conservation and emissions reduction. With a monocoque city bus body frame as the research object, the finite element static analysis for the bus body frame is carried in ANSYS, considering four kinds of typical working conditions. By analyzing the calculation results, a lightweight body frame structure scheme is put forward. Through selecting AL6061 aluminum alloy and determining a steel aluminum connection mode, a steel-aluminum hybrid bus body frame structure is designed. Based on the steel-aluminum body frame finite element static analysis, the lightweight design for the monocoque bus body frame is achieved with a total mass reduction 10%, and the bus body safety requirements of strength and stiffness are also well met. It shows that the steel-aluminum body frame structure is reasonable and lightweight effect is obvious.