Renal cancer is one of the top causes of cancer-related deaths among men globally. Early detection of renal cancer is crucial because it can significantly improve the probability of survival rate. However, assessing the histopathological renal tissues is a labor-intensive job and traditionally, this is done manually by a pathologist, leading to a high possibility of misdetection and/or misdiagnosis especially in the early stages and prone to inter-pathologist variations. The development of an automatic histopathological diagnosis of renal cancer can greatly reduce the bias and provide accurate characterization of diseases even though the nature of pathology and microscopy are highly complex and complicated. This paper investigated the use of deep learning methods to develop a binary histopathological image classification model (cancer or normal). 783 whole slide images of renal tissue were processed into patches using PyHIST tool at 5x magnification power before feeding them to the deep learning models. Five pre-trained deep learning architectures, namely VGG, ResNet, DenseNet, MobileNet, and EfficientNet, were trained with transfer learning on the CPTAC-CCRCC dataset and their performances were evaluated. EfficientNetB0 achieved the state-of-the-art accuracy (97%), specificity (94%), F1-score (98%) and AUC (96%) but slightly inferior recall (98%) when compared to the best published results in the literature. These findings showed that the proposed deep learning approach can effectively classify the histopathological images of renal tissue into tumor and non-tumor classes to make pathology diagnosis more efficient and less labor intensive.


The method which support question and answer system was developed. The offered method allows is automated to carry out linguistically - syntactic processing of input unstructured text information and the user's question for the purpose of generation of theknowledge base of ontologic type. The method builds the answer to the user's question due to preliminary processing of entrance text contentin a natural language and accounting of sense of a question. The basis for a method it is knowledge base model with the indistinct relation ofsense which applies the semantic model of the creation of the knowledge base to word forms of the entrance text and a question. Use of komutiativny semi-group of figurative designs as models of the formal theory Th to offers in a natural language is offered. The developed methodhas expanded interactive opportunities which cover three types, limited behind formal signs and input information, pseudo-dialogue. Themethod provides a possibility of formation of the answer to a question on the basis of information from several offers of the text that allowsconsidering the semantic value of an interrogative pronoun and syntactic sentence structure in the answer to a question. It is executed an experiment and it is received the assessment of the relevance of answers to test questions developed system in comparison with known by means of methods of expert estimates


This paper disproves that Samuelson's re-switching theory. It then shows that his calculation is nothing but an investment evaluation method, not a production decision. Finally, it shows that re-switching is a manipulation of some linear and non-linear functions.


This invention relates to a novel process for improving the quality of petroleum hydrocarbon resins and, more particularly, to a continuous process in which, petroleum resins are improved by the addition to the feed streams of limited amounts of isoprene under critical conditions. Hydrocarbon resins can be produced from certain un saturated petroleum refinery streams containing mixtures of olefins and diolefins by such methods as polymeriza tion using Friedel–Crafts catalysts. The steam cracked distillates have been found especially useful for this pur pose. Such distillates are prepared by cracking petroleum fractions as kerosene, gas oil, naphtha or residua in the presence of 50 to 90 mole per cent steam at temperatures of about 1000 F. to 1600 F. The liquid cut boiling largely below C9 is segregated and heated at about 90 to 140° C. to dimerize cyclopentadienes. Thereafter a Ca to Co and lighter liquid cut including C5 is taken over head and there is separated a dimer concentrate as bot toms. All, or a major portion, of this overhead stream is topped to about 38 C. to remove a dilute isoprene frac tion. The bottoms from this topping operation, together with any untopped material which by-passes this distilla tion, is used as the basic polymerization feed. Although the isoprene containing cut, having a boiling range from the initial boiling point up to --38 C. is an undesirable component in steam cracked distillate streams to be used for resin manufacture, isoprene itself or a concentrate containing more than 50% isoprene con tributes greatly to quality and yield of resin products when it is present in the resin feed. But, despite, the improved yield and higher softening point, the isoprene gives gelled resin products when added into batch type reactions. It has now been found, however, that if a quantity of 50% or higher purity isoprene is added to the reaction mixture and the polymerization is carried out in a con tinuous manner, improved resin yields are obtained. Furthermore, the resins obtained have higher softening points than are realized when the isoprene is not present in the reaction mixture. The resin products are com pletely soluble and contain no insoluble gel. In order to achieve this combination of improved effects, it is neces sary and critical that the polymerization be carried out in a continuous manner. The isoprene which is added should be of at least 50% purity. Hydrocarbon resins to which the present invention is applicable are made by treating a hydrocarbon mixture containing diolefins, olefins, aromatics, paraffins, and naphthenes with about 0.25 to 3.0%, based on the un saturated hydrocarbon feed, of an aluminum halide cata lyst such as aluminum chloride and aluminum bromide. The catalysts may be used as solids or they may be em ployed as solutions, slurries or complexes. Hydrocarbon complexes of the catalysts, obtained by reaction of the aluminum halide with a resin raffinate containing about 60% olefins and 40% aromatics, are also quite useful. Typical hydrocarbon fractions useful for feeds in mak 5


The current study analyzes self-esteem and the apparent mood of one's partner as predictors of perceived responsibility, level of felt rejection, and relationship satisfaction in romantic relationships. The study hypothesizes that ambivalence will act as a moderating variable between self-esteem and romantic relationship outcomes. Previous research on the topic suggests that self-esteem is associated with how participants react to their romantic partner when they are in a specific mood. The current study will be one of the first to examine how ambivalence affects self-esteem's effect on romantic relationships. The results replicate previous research, showing that self-esteem interacts with partner's mood to predict perceived responsibility. Results also show that level of rejection and relationship satisfaction are associated with self-esteem. Ambivalence was not a significant moderator of these effects. Additionally, self-concept clarity was a significant predictor of how responsible participants felt when their romantic partner was in a certain mood.


Stem bending, breakage, and general instability of lodgepole pine has been a major problem in northern Sweden due to low stem stiffness. The overall aim of this thesis was to evaluate the potential incorporation of wood quality traits into lodgepole pine advanced breeding programs. To achieve this, 823 increment cores were sampled from 207 half-sib families at two progeny trials of lodgepole pine and genetic variations in wood density, microfibril angle (MFA), modulus of elasticity (clearwood stiffness; MOEs), radial fibre width (RFW), tangential fibre width (TFW), fibre wall thickness (FWT), and fibre coarseness (FC) were characterised.
To quantify genotype by environment interactions (G × E) for growth and stiffness and to evaluate performance of provenances, diameter at breast height (DBH) and dynamic stiffness of standing trees (MOEtof) were studied, using six 33-36 year-old lodgepole progeny trials within three different breeding zones in northern Sweden. To evaluate genetic gains in selection for an early MFA transition from juvenile to mature wood, six different regression functions were fitted to the MFA profile of each tree to delineate the age variation in MFA transition.
Narrow-sense heritability estimates (ℎ2) ranged from 0.10 to 0.32 for DBH and from 0.18 to 0.76 for wood quality traits. Unfavourable genetic correlations between growth and stiffness were observed, implying that selection for a 1% increase in DBH alone, would confer 5.5% and 2.3% decreases in lodgepole pine MOEs and MOEtof, respectively.
Results of the studies in this thesis indicate that simultaneous improvement of DBH and stiffness is achievable when an optimal selection index combining both traits is implemented. Additionally, it is possible to select for an earlier MFA transition from juvenile to mature wood, and thus, decreasing the proportion of the log containing juvenile wood in lodgepole pine selective breeding programs. Finally, G × E was only significant for stiffness within the northern most breeding zone. To achieve the highest stiffness for lodgepole pine, provenances of Yukon origin should be planted at lower latitudes and those of British Columbia (BC) origin should be planted at lower elevations within the tested breeding zones.


We have joined the construction and validation samples (117 events) to internally validate our model using 1000 bootstrap samples. In each, we calculated the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of our scoring system, the slope of the logistic recalibration framework (the calibration intercept is not relevant in internal validation),3 and the Pvalue (chisquare test) to determine differences between observed and expected (by the scoring system) events. To determine these differences we constructed risk groups based on the predicted probability of events (0%–20%, 20%–40%, 40%–60%, 60%–80% and 80%–100%). Finally, we plotted the flexible calibration curve using linear splines.3 Figure 1 shows the updated results of the internal validation. The AUC had a normal distribution with a mean of .95 and standard deviation of .01 (Fig. 1A). In 94.6% of the samples, no differences were found between expected and observed events (P>.05). The Pvalues did not follow a normal distribution [median, .408; interquartile range, .438] (Fig. 1B). The descriptive characteristics of the recalibration slope (normal distribution) were: 1.01±0.07 (Fig. 1C). Finally, the


Objective
To evaluate the clinical efficiency of the application of iris retractors for the treatment of subluxation of lens in patients with Marfan's syndrome.

Methods
This study comprised 20 eyes of 12 patients with Marfan's syndrome and subluxation of lens. The ranges of lens subluxation were all more than 180 degrees. After continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis, 2-3 iris retractors were used to drag and fixate the edge of capsulorhexis opening. Following phacoemulsification and aspiration, the residual lens capsular bag was removed. Anterior vitreous resection was performed if vitreous prolapsed after removal of the capsular bag. Finally, the intraocular lens (IOL) was sutured and fixated at the ciliary sulcus. The visual acuity, the position of IOLs and surgical complications were observed for 6-12 months.

Results
All the 20 eyes of 12 cases underwent successful surgery. Six months after surgery, the best corrected visual acuity was at 0.3-0.6 in 14 eyes (70.00%) and more than 0.8 in 6 eyes (30.00%). Postoperative visual acuity significantly improved compared with preoperative visual acuity (finger counting-0.2) (Z=-5.44, P=0.00). The IOLs were well centered in all cases during follow-up. No severe complication such as retinal detachment, macular edema or corneal endothelium decompensation was observed.

Conclusion
Application of iris retractors for patients of Marfan's syndrome with subluxation lens can provide excellent intraoperative capsular stability and facilitate the manipulation during operation.

Key words:
Iris retractor; Marfan's syndrome; Subluxation of lens; Phacoemulsification


Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the processes and outcomes of a five‐year initiative to develop inter‐agency working between services for vulnerable 10‐ to 18‐year‐olds in a disadvantaged area of Dublin, Ireland.Design/methodology/approach – A case study methodology included: review of documentation on 32 formal meetings of the network; 43 interviews with agency personnel involved in the network; in‐depth review of nine randomly selected cases which had been treated according to the network's agreed protocol of inter‐agency case management.Findings – The initiative created a vibrant inter‐agency process in terms of developing and implementing an agreed protocol for inter‐agency care planning. However, assessment of the outcomes for young people and their families showed that only a few made any improvement. Four reasons are suggested for this relatively modest result: the target group of 10‐ to 18‐year‐olds had experienced neglect and abuse over many years and this made it difficult to a...


The set of all multiresolution analyses in L2(R) is parameterized by a set of unitary operators which satisfy certain commutation properties.


linear accelerometer comprising a fixed part (2), a movable part (4) in rotation in the plane of the accelerometer about an axis of rotation orthogonal to the plane (P) of the accelerometer, the movable part (4) comprising a center of gravity (G) separate from the point (O) of intersection of the axis of rotation and the plane (P) of the accelerometer, the pivot connection means between the mobile part and the fixed part, means for detecting movement of the mobile part (4) relative to the fixed part (2) of the viscous damping means (10) moving the mobile part (4) in said plane (P), said damping means viscous (10) having interdigitated combs (18), at least a first comb (18) on the movable part (4) and at least one second comb on the fixed part (2), the first comb (18) and the second comb being interdigitated.


Abstract : We report our system and experiments in TREC 2012 microblog Ad-hoc task. Our goal is to return most relevant tweets to satisfy user's information needs which are represented by short keyword queries. In additional to the last year's temporal approach, we used Wikipedia pages to detect concepts of each query. And based on the concepts we detected, we did query expansion and concepts weighting separately. Both methods showed improvements comparing to baseline.


ith the prosperous advancement of the Internet, organizing research has polarized a plenty of consideration in the previous quite a few years both in the scholarly community and industry. Specialists and system administrators can confront sundry sorts of systems (e.g., wired or remote) and applications (e.g., organize security and live gushing [1]). Each system application furthermore has its own particular highlights and execution requirements, which may change powerfully with time and space. In light of the assorted variety and involution of systems, downright calculations are regularly worked for various system situations predicated on the system attributes and utilizer requests. Creating effective calculations and frameworks to manage involute binds in various system situations is a testing errand. As of late, machine learning (ML) strategies have made leaps forward in an assortment of utilization zones, for example, bioinformatics, verbalization apperception and PC vision. Machine learning tries to develop calculations and models that can figure out how to settle on choices straightforwardly from information without following pre-characterized rules. Subsisting


We present an extension of the powerful Hilbert space hypocoercivity method that was developed originally by Dolbeault, Mouhot and Schmeiser. We focus attention on including important domain issues that have not been considered before. The setting can be used to provide a complete elaboration of the hypocoercivity theorem for the degenerate Langevin dynamics. (© 2014 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)


A forecast error covariance model for assimilatiing glider data is proposed. It is based on the assumption of statistical independence of the errors described by the leading dynamical modes and by the small-scale components of the errors' projection on the subspace orthogonal to that modes. The associated cost function penalizes error projections on the modes and the magnitude of the high-pass filtered projection of the errors on the orthogonal subspace.


(Pers.) B.L. Burtt & R.M. Smith is an aromatic plant, distributed widely in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. It has been extensively studied because its essential oil has a variety of biological functionalities. Underwater shock waves consist of instantaneous high pressures that penetrate entire plant cells and selectively destroy the cell walls of leaves and stems by spalling destruction. Therefore, it is expected that exposing leaves to shock waves as a preprocessing step draws more effective extraction of essential oil by subsequent steam distillation. In this study, we prepared


The evaluation of modifying tree form from old central leader system of high-density tree to slender spindle by thinning both limbs and shoots were conducted in 9 years Fuji apple orchards with M.26 interetock in three years in Shaanxi province. The results showed that the total shoots per hm2 decreased to 1 052 280, the constitute of shoot types had changed signifiantly, the rate of spur shoot had increased by 25.4% , the rate of middle and long shoot had decreased to 12.1% compared with the control. Light intercept increased by 126% , the balance between growth and fruit came in third year. Fruiting location shifted back to insides trees and spur shoots. Fruit quality were also improved, yield and income were increased significantly.


This research was conducted to find out how "The Effect of Copy The Master's Method on Poetry Reading Skills of Class VII MTs PAB 2 Students". The location of this research was carried out at MTs PAB 2 Sampali Jalan. Black Market No. 69 Sampali Kec. Percut Sei Tuan. The population of this study were all classes VII-1 and VII-4 which amounted to 140 people. The experimental class or class that uses the Copy The Master method is class VII-1 with 35 students, while the control class or class without using the Copy The Master method is class VII-2 with 35 students. The method used in this research is the experimental method. In this research, a test instrument is used in the form of a poetry reading practice test. After calculating and processing the data carried out in the experimental class, the highest score was 11 people with a score of 70-84 and the lowest score was 10 people with a score of 70 and an average of 75.30 (good). While in the control class, the highest score was 1 student with a score of 70-84 and the lowest score was 1 student with a value of 0-49 and an average of 57.13 (enough). From the above results, we get tcount > ttable (6.98 > 1.71). Thus Ha is accepted. So in other words, the effect of the Copy The Master method on the poetry reading skills of class VII MTs PAB 2 Sampali students.


Being aware of the waterway capacity, as a substantial characteristic of each traffic way, has a great importance to authorities that perform control and regulation of the vessel traffic. In specific real conditions and situations, for the purpose of the vessel traffic control, it is necessary to know specified limits of traffic density, which depends on corresponding parameters of observed system (ship lock zone). The vessel traffic control in the zone of ship lock is a complex system that is made of numerous subsystems. Determination of subsystems and their external and internal connections is conducted according to analysis of a real system. Simulation model is developed according to the analyzed model of vessel traffic process. Developed simulation model contain data on vessels which have passed through the observed system in defined time interval. Also, it contains statistic data on number of vessels and delays due to waiting queues for locking. An application of this model is possible in all cases of the waterway capacity determination by varying numerical data. Obtained results may be used as a planning and decision-making support in the process of the vessel traffic control in the zone of ship lock with two parallel chambers.


This paper establishes Holder time regularity of solutions to coupled McKean-Vlasov forward-backward stochastic differential equations (MV-FBSDEs). This is not only of fundamental mathematical interest, but also essential for their numerical approximations. We show that a solution triple to a MV-FBSDE with Lipschitz coefficients is 1/2-Holder continuous in time in the $L^p$-norm provided that it admits a Lipschitz decoupling field. Special examples include decoupled MV-FBSDEs, coupled MV-FBSDEs with a small time horizon and coupled stochastic Pontryagin systems arsing from mean field control problems.


According to the climatic ecological condition request of potato in Hexi region,this paper put forward the most suitable,suitable,subsuitable,being able to plant,not suitable,regions for cultivation potato and put forward the ways to increase the climatic resources utilization in the region.


Power marketing refers to wholesale and retail transactions of electric power made by companies other than public power entities and the regulated utilities that own the generation and distribution lines. The growth in power marketing has been a major development in the electric power industry during the last few years, and power marketers are expected to realize even more market opportunities as electric industry deregulation proceeds from wholesale competition to retail competition. This Topical Issues Brief examines the nature of the power marketing business and its relationship with renewable power. The information presented is based on interviews conducted with nine power marketing companies, which accounted for almost 54% of total power sales by power marketers in 1995. These interviews provided information on various viewpoints of power marketers, their experience with renewables, and their respective outlooks for including renewables in their resource portfolios. Some basic differences exist between wholesale and retail competition that should be recognized when discussing power marketing and renewable power. At the wholesale level, the majority of power marketers stress the commodity nature of electricity. The primary criteria for developing resource portfolios are the same as those of their wholesale customers: the cost and reliability of power supplies. At the retail level, electricity may be viewed as a product that includes value-added characteristics or services determined by customer preferences.


The Coastal Zone Color Scanner of the Nimbus-7 satellite has revealed the global distribution of the chlorophyll-like pigments. The succeeding ocean color sensors Sea WiFS and OCTS are expected to give more information on the coupled phenomena of biological and geophysical processes in the ocean [Esaias et al., 1986; Brewer et al., 1986; Platt and Sathyendranath, 1988].

We have developed personal-computer software for searching routine station-based observations to systematically calibrate satellite products and for visualizing biogeochemical processes in the ocean interior by generating 3-dimensional perspective views of ocean parameters. Success of our system depends on the spatial and temporal coverage of the routine observations.


The nonlinear propagation of dust-ion acoustic (DIA) waves in an obliquely propagating magnetized dusty plasma, consisting of bi-maxwellian electrons (namely lower and higher temperature maxwellian electrons), negatively charged immo- bile dust grains, and inertial ions is rigorously investigated by deriving the Zakharov-Kuznetsov equation. Later, the multidi- mensional instability of the DIA solitary waves (DIASWs) is analyzed using the small-k perturbation technique. It is investigated that the nature of the DIASWs, the instability criterion, and the growth rate of the perturbation mode are significantly modified by the external magnetic field and the propagation directions of both the nonlinear waves and their perturbation modes. The implications of the results obtained from this investigation in space and laboratory dusty plasmas are briefly discussed.


Purpose
Several genealogical databases are now publicly available on the Web. The information stored in such databases is not only of interest for genealogical research but might also be used in broader historical studies. As a case study, this paper aims to explore what a crowdsourced genealogical online database can tell about income inequality in Denmark during the First World War.

Design/methodology/approach
The analysis is based on 55,000 family-level records on the payment of local income taxes in a major Danish provincial town (Esbjerg) from a publicly available database on the website of The Esbjerg City Archives combined with official statistics from Statistics Denmark.

Findings
Denmark saw a sharp increase in income inequality during the First World War. The analysis shows that the new riches during the First World War in a harbour city such as Esbjerg were not "goulash barons" or stock-market speculators but fishermen. There were no fishermen in the top 1per cent of the income distribution in 1913. In 1917, more than 37 per cent of the family heads in this part of the income distribution were fishermen.

Originality/value
The paper illustrates how large-scale microdata from publicly available genealogical Web databases might be used to gain new insights into broader historical issues.


In recent years, heterogeneous photocatalysis has received increasing attention for environmental applications such as air purification, water disinfection, hazardous remediation and water purification [1, 2]. The high photocatalytic degradation of semiconductors, such as TiO2 and ZnO has attracted extensive attention of many researchers [3]. In this paper, different structures and morphologies of SnO2 containing various amounts of ZnO, was synthesized via a hydrothermal method (without any template), characterized by scanning electron microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction, and used for photocatalytic degradation of Congo red. The results revealed that using different ratios of Zn +2 /Sn +2 affects the phase and morphology of the Zn2xSn1xO2 compounds (see Fig. 1). This type of morphology tailoring of SnO2 nanoparticles, ZnO doped SnO2 porous structure, ZnSnO3 flower-like, and Zn2SnO4 octahedrals was possible, by varying the Zn +2 /Sn +2


BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the effects of treatment choices in ectopic pregnancy (EP), either surgery or single-dose methotrexate approaches, to see whether it leads to the incidence of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) disease after discharge, as well as to determine any correlations in changes in cell blood counts (CBC) with the progress of COVID-19 infections.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted with 95 patients who were diagnosed as having EP at University of Health Sciences Turkiye, Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Gynaecology Training and Research Hospital. COVID-19 swabs were taken from the patients with EP before hospitalization. Demographic parameters, CBCs, post-discharge COVID-19 disease occurrence rates, and infection progress were evaluated.RESULTS: Ninety-five patients with tubal EP were separated into two groups;20 patients who underwent surgical intervention (Group 1), and 75 patients who underwent single-dose methotrexate treatment (Group 2). There was no difference between the groups in terms of their demographic characteristics (p>0.05). The mass size was measured using transvaginal ultrasound and the mean mass diameter in Group 2 was significantly smaller than in Group 1 (Z=4.123;p<0.001). The hospital stay of Group 2 was longer than in group 1 (Z=4.451;p<0.001). No patients were infected with COVID-19 before the hospitalization period;however, three (3.1%) patients were COVID-19-positive in the 90-day post-treatment period, two of whom had surgical treatment, and the other who received medical treatment. The patient who had medical treatment went into self-isolation and used favipiravir medication at home and completely recovered. By contrast, the patients who had surgical treatment needed hospital care. The mean neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) values were significantly higher for those patients with EP in Group 1 compared with Group 2, both pre-treatment and post-treatment (Z=4.108, p<0.001;Z=4.783;p<0.001). Also, significant differences were detected between the groups regarding their haemoglobin levels, and white blood cell, platelet, and neutrophil counts (p=0.005 p=0.001, p=0.008, and p=0.001 respectively).CONCLUSION: Variances in EP treatment modalities and durations of hospitalization days did not increase the transmission of disease or mortality scores. It was concluded that methotrexate treatment could be chosen as the first-line treatment for ectopic pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic for patients. However, healthcare professionals must be aware that medical or surgical treatment approaches for patients with EP may change the NLR, which is an independent prognostic factor in COVID-19.


In the so-called "Old Text" version of the "Wu yi" chapter of Shang shu, the first three kings of the Shang dynasty were Zhong Zong, Gao Zong, and Zu Jia. In the opinion of Ma Rong and Zheng Xuan, Zu Jia was Gao Zong's son. However, their opinions differed from that of the Kong zhuan of Shang shu and Wang Su, which argued that Zu Jia was in fact the grandson of Tang of Shang, Tai Jia. This latter argument later gained theoretical ground from the fragment of the "Wu yi" chapter, which was found from the Xiping Stone Classics and showed the sequence of the three kings to possibly be Tai Jia, Zhong Zong and Gao Zong. On the other hand, though, the Three Styles Stone Classics was thought to be consistent with the opinion of Ma Rong and Zheng Xuan, who were the main proponents of the "New Text." Taken all these into consideration, it can be concluded that the diverging points of view might occur no later than the Former Han dynasty. While the fact that Tai Jia belonged to the sequence of the three kings was recorded in the oracle bones. The information of "Wu yi" must be related to this fact. With reference to the writing system of bamboo and wood slip documents as well as other historical precedents, this paper tries to prove that the term Zu Jia used in "Wu yi" in fact was Tai Jia, whom was placed in the wrong chronological order in the text during compilation. The experts of the Xia-Shang-Zhou Chronology Project followed the opinion of Ma Rong and Zheng Xuan, so the period between Zu Geng and Kang Ding was concluded to be 44 years, while the reign of Wu Yi was concluded to be 35 years and that of Wen Ding to be 11 years. Their conclusion contradicts to the statements in the "Wu yi" chapter; therefore the experts had to impose a liberal interpretation to "Wu yi." As the Xiping and Three Styles Stone Classics suggested, if we identify Zu Jia as Tai Jia, the statement in the chapter of "Wu yi" would then match with the time records in the Stone Classics and other historical literatures.


We report the discovery of hard X-ray delays in the X-ray emission of the Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 110, based on a long XMM-Newton observation. Cross-correlation between the X-ray light curves of different energy bands reveals an energy-dependent delay ranging from a few minutes to an hour. We find that the energy spectrum can be modeled by Comptonization of disk blackbody photons. The energy-dependent delay can be modeled as due to the effect of Comptonization in a hot plasma confined within 10 Schwarzschild radii of the black hole. We discuss our results in the context of inverse Comptonization of the soft photons by highly energetic plasma.


Based on a new self-consistent outer gap model, we statistically study luminosity properties of gamma-ray pulsars with ages of less than or equal to2 x 10(7) yr in the Galaxy as well as those with ages of less than or equal to5 x 10(6) yr in the Gould belt using a Monte Carlo method, where the gamma-ray beaming effect has been included. Generally, the relation between gamma-ray luminosity, Lgamma, and pulsar spin-down power, L-sd, can be expressed as L-gamma proportional to L-sd(delta), where delta is a parameter that depends on the galactic latitude and the gamma-ray threshold. For a given gamma-ray threshold (for example, the EGRET threshold or GLAST threshold), the parameter delta is an increasing function of the galactic latitude. For the EGRET threshold, delta changes smoothly with the galactic latitude. For the GLAST threshold, however, delta has a minimum at \b\ less than or equal to 5degrees, and delta increases by a factor of similar to2 at the range of \b\ = 5degrees-10degrees relative to delta at \b\ less than or equal to 5degrees, and then increases smoothly as the galactic latitude further increases. The reason for this is that high galactic latitude gamma-ray pulsars are dominated by mature pulsars. In fact, the ratio of gamma-ray pulsars with their ages of >10(6) yr to all simulated gamma-ray pulsars also increases with the galactic latitude. For the gamma-ray pulsars produced in a fixed range of galactic latitude, the parameter delta increases slightly with the sensitivity of gamma-ray detector.


A focused effort is needed to capture the utility and usability of the electronic health record for providing usable and reusable data while reducing documentation burden. A collaborative effort of nurse leaders and experts was able to generate national consensus recommendations on documentation elements related to admission history. The process used in this effort is summarized in a framework that can be used by other groups to develop content that reduces documentation burden while maximizing the creation of usable and reusable data.


Abstract It is shown that multi-layer perceptron (MLP) neural networks can be used to model accurately sdof non-linear dynamical systems and to separate unambiguously linear and non-linear responses. The networks are also applied successfully to the problem of classifying the type of non-linearity present in the system. The data used is obtained from numerical simulation; a validation method for non-linear system simulation is presented based on higher order frequency response functions.


Various tools are now available to assist the roboticist in developing autonomy algorithms for tasks such as path planning or collision avoidance. Many tools support the integration of live or simulated RGB cameras, LIDAR, radar, and IMU sensors. This paper will describe adding an RF sensor. The proposed RF sensor detects radio and locates emitters in the environment for the purpose of collision avoidance. We outline an approach to share data to help locate and avoid collisions. The protocol is designed to maximize safety, privacy, security, timeliness, and other desirable properties discussed in the paper. Preliminary results are shown to illustrate the concepts.


Introduction: Experimental studies suggest that exposure to air pollution can lead to neurotoxicity and development of brain tumours in animals, but epidemiological evidence in humans is sparse. We...


The article presents the results of studies of feeding characteristics of such cyprinid fish species as the roach Rutilus rutilus caspius (Jakowlev, 1870) and the bream Abramis brama (Linnaeus, 1758) in various parts of the Daghestan coast of the Caspian Sea. The material was sampled along the entire Daghestan coast of the Caspian Sea, from the Kizlyar Bay to the mouth of the Samur river, in different biological seasons in the period of 2017–2018.


The bachelor thesis is focused on language education of adults in Czech Republic. This thesis is dedicated to the motivation of adults into the study of foreign languages. It describes corporate education and interest adult education in Czech republic and focuses on barriers during studying foreign languages. This thesis highlights pros and points out cons of czech and foreign courses.
The practical part includes quantitative research that is realized by survay research. This particular part researches opinions and experiences of adults with language courses.


Numerous earlier publications Patzold et al [3 to 7] provided interpretations of the Giotto Radio Science Experiment (GRE) measurements as recorded during the flyby period. From the frequency changes as received at the ground station (NASA Station in Australia) the Doppler residuals were deduced. Every Doppler shift was interpreted as a velocity change of the onboard transmitter, and consequently as that of the spacecraft. The reason for such accelerations or decelerations were related to particle impacts of suitable magnitude and impact place. No attention was given to possible influences of the gaseous atmosphere. As presented in this up to now not published assessment, the physical analysis of the GRE data, respecting available temperature measurements during the flyby is yielding a comprehensive interpretation of the interaction of the spacecraft with the atmosphere of the comet Halley and is analyzing the possible structure of the innermost coma of the comet. The analyzed data are only referring to the Giotto flyby as close as 598 km distance from the nucleus of comet P/Halley.


A trimming apparatus and method that can create plural trim shapes using one press die. The trimming apparatus includes a conveying device for conveying a pallet having a workpiece disposed thereon, a trimming device having a press die for trimming the workpiece in a trimming process area, a positioning device for determining the relative position of the press die with respect to the pallet and aposition switching device provided in the positioning device to change operable to change the position of the press die with respect to the pallet in the trimming process area.


Turbulent plasma flows in arc heaters, such as Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's 750 kW, NASA's 20 MW, and Kyushu University's 20 kW facilities, were investigated, and the distributions of the flowfield properties were successfully obtained. The arc discharge in the constrictor section and the expansion processes in the nozzle section played key roles in the formation of an arc-heated flow. Hence, for accurately predicting high-enthalpy flow properties, it was important to correctly model the complex phenomena observed in various-scale facilities. For this purpose, an integrated analysis model to simulate various-scale arc-heated flows with high accuracy was developed. The turbulent flowfield was described using the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations with a multitemperature model, which was tightly coupled with electric-field and radiation-field calculations. A sophisticated and low-cost radiation model and a low-Reynolds-number two-equation turbulence model were introduced into the flowfield si...


This study is to compare how Canny and Sobel Operators can be used as edge detection technique for various logo images. The main process involved Sobel and Canny edge detection techniques using captured logo images and logo images from internet. The images manipulated by median filtering to remove noise and Otsu's method is used to determine threshold value. The result shows that both operators have their own advantages and disadvantages to be used as edge detection aid for logo images.


Widening World of Childhood. By Lois Barclay Murphy, PhD, and associates. Price, $10. Pp 399. Basic Books, Inc., 59 Fourth Ave, New York 3, 1962. In recent years there has been a great increase in the number of publications dealing with socalled normal individuals. These range from studies of aging nursing-home inmates to college students on down to neonates. Perhaps the most thorough, thoughtful, and informative study is represented by a project of which the present book is a partial report. Lois Murphy and her associates in Topeka have intensively and extensively studied 32 children without overt neurotic symptoms. The time span is 12 years, the present report deals with preschool behavior, and the focus is on how young children behave in new situations with new children, new adults, and new experiences. It is to be emphasized that this is a longitudinal ongoing study and is only one of many publications dealing with these 32 children. Those who have read Brody's Patterns of Mothering and Escalona and Heider's Prediction and Outcome will recognize the study and the children, who were first seen in infancy.


Objective: Development and validated of a simple, selective RP-HPLC method for the determination of buprenorphine hydrochloride in pharmaceutical microemulsion formulation. A forced degradation study of developed formulation was carried out in accordance with International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines Q1 (R2).
Method: The chromatogram was obtained with 10 mmolL−1 potassium phosphate buffer adjusted to pH 6.0 with triethanolamine and acetonitrile (17:83, v/v) as mobile phase, C18 HPLC column (250 A— 4.6 mm i.d., 5 µm) kept at 30◦C and UV detection at 284 nm. The compound was eluted isocratically at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min−1.
Results: The average retention time for buprenorphine was 14.319 min. The method was validated according to the ICH guidelines. The validation characteristics included accuracy, precision, linearity, range, specificity, limit of Quantitation and robustness. The calibration curves were linear (R2 > 0.999) over the concentration range 1.0 – 500.0 µgmL−1 for buprenorphine hydrochloride and recovery study for the compound was above 95 %. No spectral or chromatographic interferences from the microemulsion excipients were found. The drug was found to be labile under oxidative stress condition; whereas stable under all other stress conditions.
Conclusion: This method is simple, rapid and suitable for routine quality control analysis.


This article examines distinctiveness of statue of genre film in Korea through researching the aspects of study of melodrama film which has been made recently. The melodrama has been perhaps popular and widespread movie genre in Korea, and lively argument has been made in that genre. Since 1950s, there has been inevitably a profound sense of an heterogeneity and hybridity being distincted from Hollywood genre development. Korean genre film is a hybrid form made of different genre languages. What this study tries to problematise is the matter of the difference in Korean genre film as positive and productive agenda, and the ways in which that Hollywood genre language was transformed and creatively transferred. The ultimate objective of this paper is to foster productive understanding of the heterogeneity of the modernity of Korea and Korean cinema.


With the recent frenzy of new start-ups and acquisition activity in the optical communications space, companies are positioning themselves to better provide customers with the solutions they need for higher bandwidth and performance in the network. Coupled with staggering valuations, the expectations set by the financial institutions puts heavy pressure on creativity in commercializing optoelectronic solutions. Clearly, for high performance and efficient networks, the industry needs to be enabled by new optoelectronic component technologies and new system architectures. This paper reviews and roadmaps some of the key optoelectronic component and module based technologies that will be needed to support customer expectations over the next decade. The paper has two themes: firstly, optical technologies and what they can offer in terms of performance and bandwidth, and secondly, a view on technology roadmaps and where optical technologies are heading. Binding the two themes together will be a critical view of optoelectronic integrated circuits (OEICs). OEICs are well documented in the R&D establishment with over 15 years of papers, however, are gradually emerging as commercial products in optical networking architectures. This paper will review progress made and what the industry can expect from the integration of optical components for better performance metrics as the industry moves forward. The key metrics will include the silicon effect on manufacturing planar components such as optical multipliers (also known as mux and demux), both with add/drop capabilities as well as other associated planar components such as variable optical attenuators, switches, amplifiers etc. As in the majority of OEIC designs, different IC functions with emitter (laser) and receiver (detector) solutions will be discussed.


Abstract– Reinforcing soils with biaxial geogrids have been shown to be an effective method for improving the ultimate bearing capacity of granular soils. The pull-out resistance of reinforcing elements is one of the most significant factors in increasing bearing capacity. In this research a new reinforcing element that includes attaching elements (anchors) to ordinary geogrid for increasing the pull-out resistance of reinforcements is introduced. Reinforcement therefore consists of a geogrid and anchors with cubic elements attached to it, named (by the authors) Grid-Anchor. Three-dimensional numerical study was performed to investigate the bearing capacity of square footing on sand reinforced with this system. The effect of depth of the first reinforcement layer, the vertical spacing, the number and width of the reinforcement layers, the angle of anchors, the stiffness of reinforcement and anchors and the distance that anchors are effective were investigated. Three-dimensional finite element analysis by "PLAXIS 3D Tunnel" software, indicated that when a single layer of reinforcement is used there is an optimum reinforcement embedment depth for which the bearing capacity is greatest (u=0.5B). There also appeared to be an optimum vertical spacing of reinforcing layers for multi-layer reinforced sand (h=0.25B). The bearing capacity was also found to increase with increasing the number of reinforcement layers, if the reinforcement was placed within a range of effective depth (d=1.25B). In addition, analysis indicated that increasing reinforcement and anchor stiffness beyond a threshold value does not result in further increase in the bearing capacity (1kN for anchors and 100 kN/m for geogrid). Results show that the Grid-Anchor system of reinforcing can increase the bearing capacity 2.74 times greater than that for ordinary geogrid and 4.43 times greater than for non-reinforced sand.


The invention relates to the field of explosives, in particular to octogen for a detonating tube. The octogen can solve the technical problem that the particle size of a product of the existing high-strength octogen for the detonating tube is not easy to control during the production process. The octogen for the detonating tube is prepared by the following steps of: fully dissolving the octogen in a dimethyl sulfoxide solvent to prepare a solution; adding water into a crystallizer, and controlling the water temperature in the range of 50 DEG C-60 DEG C; slowly adding a solution where the octogen is dissolved into the crystallizer under stirring conditions and enable the octogen to crystallize, wherein the water in the crystallizer needs to be sufficient to dilute a dimethyl sulfoxide solution and fully crystallize the octogen; filtering the solution after crystallization; and fully washing a filtering medium after filtering, draining, and then placing in a vacuum drying cabinet for fully drying so as to get the octogen for the detonating tube. The product disclosed by the invention has the advantage of appropriate particle size distribution and can meet the special using requirements of the detonating tubes and the high-strength detonating tubes.


Surface grinding is a process extensively employed for removing material with specified surface finish and integrity. It is used in processing of advanced structural ceramics like silicon carbide, which are widely used in engineering applications. Ceramic grinding is a complicated process as ceramics have high hardness and low surface toughness, which adversely affect the output quality. Optimization of the process is thus essential for maintaining desired quality while maximizing productivity with minimum cost. This process has been modelled as a Continuous Nonlinear Constrained Optimization problem. Efforts have been reported to solve this problem by using Genetic Algorithms, Particle Swarms and Differential Evolution. However, most of these attempts have employed algorithms where the users / designers select parameters in the evolutionary operators. This paper improves the existing model with realistic modification and converts it into Mixed Integer Nonlinear Constrained Optimization problem. The same has been optimized by using an Adaptive Quantum inspired Evolutionary Algorithm, which is free from user selectable parameters in evolutionary operators, as they are determined adaptively. The proposed algorithm does not require mutation for maintaining diversity. Further, previous attempts have employed penalty factors or repair based techniques for handling constraints where as this effort employs feasibility rules which is again free from parameter tuning. The proposed algorithm is simple in concept, easy to use, faster and more robust than the known state of art methods available for solving such problems as shown by detailed analysis. Keywords-Adaptive; Ceramic; Constraint Handling; Evolutionary Algorithms; Process Optimization; Quantum


This paper deals with a thermomechanical model describing
phase transitions with thermal memory in
terms of balance and equilibrium equations for entropy and
microforces, respectively. After a presentation and discussion
of the model, the large time behaviour of the solutions to the
related integro-differential system of PDE's is investigated.


Six genotypes of sorghum, selected on the basis of maturity duration, plant height, and grain yield, were crossed in half-diallel fashion. Combining ability analysis revealed that mean sum of squares of gca and sca were significant for days to 50% flowering, harvest index, dry wt. of leaves and stem, primary branches/panicle, and grains/primary branch. Varieties SPV 472 and SPV 475 were identified as desirable combiners for harvest index on the basis of their gca effects. Crosses SPV 472 × 2077 B and SPV 475 × 2219 B were superior combinations for this character on the basis of their sca effects.


Increased demand for wireless communication required efficient quality of communication. Nowadays, wireless communication ns where end-to-end connectivity from source to destination is a crucial task such as interplanetary networks, vehicular networks, underwater networks, etc…In order to address these issues, DTN (Delay Tolerant Networks) have been introduced which helps to enable the end-to-end connectivity between source and destination by using a store-and-forward mechanism. However, the connectivity and performance of conventional DTNs suffer from the issue of unreliable environments, high dynamics of nodes and power consumption. Moreover, security is also considered a challenging task in these networks. Thus, in this work we focus of these issues of DTN and introduce a novel hybrid approach which provides an efficient solution for relay selection, buffer and, trust management scheme, this scheme is called as Relay Selection Trust Management (RSTM) model for Delay Tolerant Networks. The performance of the proposed approach is compared with the existing techniques such as Epidemic routing, Game theory, and spray & waits approaches. The experimental results show that the performance of the proposed approach RSTM achieves better performance in terms of packet delivery, delay, communication.


[Objective]To discuss the clinical effects of acute organophosphorus intoxication with Xingnaojing combined with naloxone treatment.[Methods]A total of 62 acute organophosphorus intoxication patients in our hospital were collected from Sept.2008 to May 2010,including 27 males and 35 females.The age was range from 24 to 61,and the average years were 37.5±2.5.The selected patients were divided into two groups randomly,with 31 people in each group.The control group adopted conventional atropine and cholinesterase reactivator and the experimental group used Xingnaojing and naloxone for therapy.We compared the cholinesterase reactivity in 1h,24h,48h and 72h,duration of sobriety,death toll of the two groups of patients.[Results]For the patients in the experimental group,there was remarkable difference in the cholinesterase reactivity of 24h,48h and 72h compared with the ones in the control group,P﹤0.05.The average duration of sobriety in the experimental group was 13.52±2.15h without death;For the control group,the corresponding data was 21.32±2.44h with five deaths.There was significant differences(P﹤0.05).[Conclusion]Xingnaojing combined with Naloxone in treatment of acute organophosphorus intoxication had desirable effects with short recovery period;It is acceptance,so it is worth being promoted clinically.


Abstract : Throat and fecal specimens have been taken from approximately 40 chimpanzees on each of six occasions over a period of 18 months at 3 month intervals and studies for the presence of viruses. Ninety-six chimpanzees have been examined one or more times in this survey. Sixty-nine viral isolates have been recovered from 502 throat and fecal specimens. Forty viruses have been classified as enteroviruses, presumably belonging to the group of enteric cytopathogenic orphan viruses. Nine adenoviruses have been recovered as well as six members of the reovirus group. Five Coxsackie group A viruses were discovered in feces from one collection period. Five viral isolates classified as parainfluenza Type 2 viruses were identified serologically as being related or identical to SV-5 and the existence of the infection by these viruses of the chimpanzee has been demonstrated by the presence of antibody in the homologous chimpanzee sera. Four viruses recovered are presently unclassified. (Author)


The invention relates to a traditional Chinese medicine preparation for treating infantile anorexia. The traditional Chinese medicine preparation is produced from the following raw medicinal materials in parts by weight: 5-7 parts of lotus seed, 5-7 parts of coix seed, 5-7 parts of Chinese yam, 5-7 parts of gleditsia sinensis, 5-7 parts of white lablab bean, 5-7 parts of codonopsis pilosula, 2-4 parts of astragalus membranaceus, 2-4 parts of white atractylodes rhizome, 2-4 parts of agastache rugosus, 2-4 parts of pinellia ternata, 2-4 parts of cortex magnoliae officinalis, 2-4 parts of hawthorn, 1-2 parts of rhizoma atractylodis, 1-2 parts of endothelium corneum gigeriae galli and 1-2 parts of cinnamon. The traditional Chinese medicine preparation is outstanding in curative effect, quick in effect taking and free from toxic and side effects.


0.78 µm self-aligned AlGaAs lasers have been developed for optical disc recording. The lasers have shown a small astigmatism (<3 µm), low-noise characteristics (RIN < −126 dB/Hz at 3 mW) and stable 30 mW operation (over 1800 hours at 50°C).


Simple Summary Artificial light at night, initially assumed to be innocuous, is associated with an increased risk for developing mood disorders, sleep disturbances, and cancer. However, the influence of ALAN on affective behavior in tumor-bearing mice has not been investigated. Here, we demonstrate that ALAN reduces the latency to tumor onset and increases terminal tumor volume. Additionally, tumor-bearing mice housed in dark nights exhibit increased anxiety-like behavior which is prevented via housing in ALAN. Abstract Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a pervasive phenomenon. Although initially assumed to be innocuous, recent research has demonstrated its deleterious effects on physiology and behavior. Exposure to ALAN is associated with disruptions to sleep/wake cycles, development of mood disorders, metabolic disorders, and cancer. However, the influence of ALAN on affective behavior in tumor-bearing mice has not been investigated. We hypothesize that exposure to ALAN accelerates mammary tumor growth and predict that ALAN exacerbates negative affective behaviors in tumor-bearing mice. Adult (>8 weeks) female C3H mice received a unilateral orthotropic injection of FM3A mouse mammary carcinoma cells (1.0 × 105 in 100 μL) into the fourth inguinal mammary gland. Nineteen days after tumor inoculation, mice were tested for sucrose preference (anhedonia-like behavior). The following day, mice were subjected to an open field test (anxiety-like behavior), followed by forced swim testing (depressive-like behavior). Regardless of tumor status, mice housed in ALAN increased body mass through the first ten days. Tumor-bearing ALAN-housed mice demonstrated reduced latency to tumor onset (day 5) and increased terminal tumor volume (day 21). Exposure to ALAN reduced sucrose preference independent of tumor status. Additionally, tumor-bearing mice housed in dark nights demonstrated significantly increased anxiety-like behavior that was normalized via housing in ALAN. Together, these data reaffirm the negative effects of ALAN on tumorigenesis and demonstrate the potential anxiolytic effect of ALAN in the presence of mammary tumors.


Catastrophe bonds, a relatively new entry into the bond market, are a form of reinsurance in which insurance firms are able to offset the financial risks from both natural and man-made catastrophes. Although the primary offset is within the reinsurance market, starting in the 1990s insurance firms started using the financial markets to offset catastrophe risks. Anecdotal evidence shows that the entry of CAT bonds made the reinsurance market more efficient and allowed investors an opportunity to participate in what has been a very profitable investment opportunity. Our analysis shows that on average, CAT bonds have generated high returns but with the advantage of diversification when compared with similarly rated corporate debt. Thus, CAT bonds are a viable investment option withina diversified portfolio.


Starting at or before 6 weeks and continuing tbrougbout most of the study (Fig. 1, 2). At tbe end of tbe 12-week study, most patients rated tbeir acne as improved (gel, 78.6%; solution, 92.6%), and tbe investigator rated tbe condition of most patients as improved or markedly improved (gel, 85.7%; solution, 89.3%). Tbe percentage ot patients using solution wbo reported skin dryness increased from 17% at baseline to 30% at tbe end of tbe study. In contrast, the percentage of patients using gel wbo reported skin dryness decreased from 20% at baseline to 11 % at tbe end of tbe study. Side effects were reported by four patients during tbe study (tbree using gel and one using solution}. One patient using solution reported mild diarrbea and upset stomacb, whicb resolved after stopping treatment. Witbin tbe first 3 weeks of treatment, one patient using gel reported mild diarrbea tbat did not necessitate discontinuance of treatment, and two patients using gel experienced a flare-up of tbeir acne and discontinued treatment.


Recent years brought extensive growth of multimedia resources publicly accessible via world wide web. Therefore there is much labor dedicated to create a content-based image retrieval systems capable to efficiently index, retrieve and manage large scale databases. In this paper we propose a color indexing method based on Gaussian mixture model of color histograms. The model parameters serve as signatures providing fast and efficient color image retrieval. In this paper we present results showing that proposed approach is robust to color image distortions introduced by lossy compression artifacts. Therefore the proposed method is well suited for indexing and retrieval of Internet based collections of color images stored in lossy formats.


A new passive sampler for ozone/oxidants and its simple analytical system have been developed. The sampler consists of a carbon paper collector coated with nylon-6 polymer and potassium iodide, several layers of membrane filters to remove interferences, and a spacer and Teflon meshes to control sampling rate. Iodine liberated by an oxidation reaction of KI with ozone is stabilized by forming a charge-transfer complex with nylon-6 and is accumulated in the nylon-6 layer. The amount of I 2 is determined by constant-current coulometry using the collector as a positive electrode and a zinc plate as a counter electrode


Legislation concerning the safety assessment and labelling of foodstuffs has been implemented in many countries. Consequential to a number of cases of food adulteration reported globally, a fast and reliable detection method for the food traceability is required in ensuring effective implementation of food legislation in a country. In this study, PCR-RFLP technique based on cyt b gene has been tested for its suitability for these purposes. This method combines the use of a pair of universal primer that amplifies a 359 bp fragment on the cyt b gene from meat muscle DNA and restriction enzyme analysis. Analysis of experimental beef frankfurter, minced beef, pork frankfurter and pork cocktail samples demonstrated the suitability of the assay for the detection of the beef (Bos taurus) and pork (Sus scrofa), but not applicable for some processed food, particularly detection of mackerel (Rasterelliger brachysoma), sardine (Saedinella Fimbriata) and tuna (Thunnus tonggol) origin in canned food. Commercial frauds through species mislabelling or misdescribed were not detected. The assay is demonstrated applicable for routine analysis of meat traceability of foodstuffs and legislation purposes, if sufficient availability of detectable mtDNA in the foodstuffs is ensured.


Cutaneous reflexes were tested to examine the neuronal mechanisms contributing to muscle spasms in humans with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). Specifically, we tested the effect of Achilles and tibialis anterior tendon vibration on the early and late components of the cutaneous reflex and reciprocal Ia inhibition in the soleus and tibialis anterior muscles in humans with chronic SCI. We found that tendon vibration reduced the amplitude of later but not earlier cutaneous reflex in the antagonist but not in the agonist muscle relative to the location of the vibration. In addition, reciprocal Ia inhibition between antagonist ankle muscles increased with tendon vibration and participants with a larger suppression of the later component of the cutaneous reflex had stronger reciprocal Ia inhibition from the antagonistic muscle. Our study is the first to provide evidence that tendon vibration attenuates late cutaneous spasm‐like reflex activity, likely via reciprocal inhibitory mechanisms, and may represent a method, when properly targeted, for controlling spasms in humans with SCI.


Apparently healthy premenopausal women are protected against cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to men; and estrogen has been thought to play a key role. In the presence of diabetes; however, this overall sex‐dependent cardiovascular protection is lost. The increase in vascular function throughout the menstrual cycle in healthy premenopausal women has been established. The present investigation sought to test the hypothesis that the increase in vascular function from menses to the late follicular phase of the menstrual cycle is lost in premenopausal women with type 1 diabetes (T1D).


Purpose: To build and validate a predictive model of outcome for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Materials and methods: We developed a LARCassigner3 classifier based on tumor and paired normal tissues of patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation and surgery from January 2007 to December 2012 in Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center. Excluding 23 pairs of tissues failed in the RNA quality test, rested 197 patients were divided into discovery (n=98) and validation (n=99) cohorts randomly. Median follow-up time was 58 months. We used the Kaplan–Meier method to estimate disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), local recurrent, and distant metastatic rate We constructed a multivariate Cox model to identify the variables independently associated with progression-free and OS. Results: We identified three classifier genes related to relevant colorectal cancer features (CXCL9, SFRP2, and CD44) that formed the LARCassigner3 classifier assay. In the discovery set, the median DFS was 48.1 months (95% confidence interval (CI) 47.3–49.5) in the low-risk group and 23.4 months (95% CI 22.1–24.8) in the high-risk group (p=0.0134); the median OS was 39.2 months (95% CI 38.4–40.3) in the high-risk group and 19.1 months (95% CI 18.3–20.7) in the low-risk group (p=0.0134); 5-year distant metastasis was 13.9% (95% CI 9.0–21.3) in the low-risk group and 49.8% (95% CI 38.7–60.9) in the high-risk group (p=0.0072). Additionally, the different responses to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and the LARCassigner3 low-risk and high-risk groups was statistically significant (p=0.004) in the discovery cohort. Similar results were obtained in the internal evaluation cohort. Conclusions: Patients with LARCassigner3 low-risk tumors were associated with a good prognosis. The clinical utility of using LARCassigner3 subtyping for the identification of patients for neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy requires validation in dependent clinical trial cohorts.


In recent years, ultra-low-frequency oscillation (ULFO) is a prominent problem in power systems of dominant hydropower. In order to suppress ULFO, the most effective strategy is the governor parameters optimization to improve the system damping within the ultra-low-frequency band. However, no explicit standard has been established to stipulate the level of system damping for ULFO suppression. In this paper, the key factors that affect the amplitude and damping of ULFO are firstly analyzed. Then, the design principle of the damping control index of ULFO is put forward. According to it, a damping control index is proposed. After that, a case of ULFO in an actual power system proves the rationality of the proposed index. Finally, the application of the index in the Southwest China Power Grid illustrates its effectiveness and feasibility.


It's an irresistible combination: the world's favourite financial historian lays bare the secrets of the world's most iconic financial dynasty; Niall Ferguson and the Rothschilds; unique access to the financial accounts and also to the private correspondence that bound the fraternal volley of five arrows launched by Mayer Amschel Rothschild from the Frankfurt ghetto at the turn of the nineteenth century; and money, power, recurrent racism and intrigue.


Wishing to confirm these findings, we requested a second specimen from this child. In addition, to eliminate the possibility of a genetic abnormality, we obtained samples from both parents. The parental samples showed normal total ALP activity, normal ALP isoenzyme patterns, and normal serum protein electrophoresis patterns (Figure 1, right, tracks 2 and 3). In the second sample from the child, obtained 21 days after the original specimen, the ALP had fallen to 1000 UIL and the protein electrophoresis pattern had reverted to normal (Figure 1, right, track 4). The ALP isoenzyme pattern on the child was now quite different from that originally observed, but nevertheless abnormal (Figure 1, left, track 1). Two fractions were visible: a compact band in the a1/a2-globulin position of mobility, between the phosphatases seen in a sample containing liver-origin (a2) and high-molecular-mass "biiary" (a1) ALP (Figure 1, left, track 2), and a second diffuse band with the mobility of bone-origin ALP. These appearances are characteristic of transient hyperphosphatasemia of infancy and childhood (3). At the time of the second sample, a history was obtained of mild upper respiratory illness in two of the boy's older sisters but no serum specimens could be obtained from either, nor any further specimens from the boy. We are quite at a loss to explain our findings. Transient bisalbuminemia is well recognized in association with pancreatitis and with antibiotic therapy (4), but neither was relevant to this patient. Also, the transient changes in the other protein bands would seem to be unique and certainly have not been reported in association with an abnormal ALP. Special search was made for any unusual factor in the collection or handling of the initial sample but none was revealed. There was no history of any drug administration. Because the second serum showed the ALP pattern typical of transient hyperphosphatasemia of infancy, one might postulate that the abnormal pattern in the first serum represented the ALP isoenzyme pattern at the very onset of the disorder. Failure to encounter this in our previous studies (3) could reflect the greater likelihood of examining sera obtained when the disorder is established rather than at its immediate onset. We have previously speculated that transient hyperphosphatasemia of infancy represents a response to an infection; perhaps the abnormal appearances seen in the first serum sample here represent the very earliest stage of this response. We have shown that the glycation (sialylation) of ALP is increased in transient hyperphosphatasemia of infancy (3). Post-translational modification of both ALP and serum proteins might also be responsible for the unusual ALP isoenzyme and abnormal protein electrophoretic patterns in the initial sample here, although the nature of any such modification is obscure. Because of the highly speculative nature of our suggestions, we describe our findings as a "mystery," and challenge readers to provide a (more) satisfactory explanation of our observations.


This paper describes several of the advanced non-linear finite-element analyses required for the design of a full containment 155 000 m3 liquefied natural gas (LNG) tank. The focus is on the analysis of the prestressed concrete outer containment, which resists the loading of cryogenic liquid in the case of inner tank failure. Accurate modelling of the effects of −164°C LNG on a concrete tank is in itself a significant non-linear task. Of critical importance are the stresses and cracking induced in the wall by the evolution of a cold front. A transient analysis is presented that ensures the tank remains liquid-tight. The tank is also required to remain liquid-tight in a seismic event, which in this case follows inner tank failure. A transient dynamic analysis of earthquake loading on a tank containing the cryogenic liquid is also presented. The work, carried out using Diana and Ansys, fully confirms the adequacy of the design.


Recent writings on Coase's methodology largely focus on method, at the risk of underappreciating his substantive view of economics. That economics has as its subject matter the working of the real world economic system is Coase's main methodological message and is also the key to understanding Coase's other methodological concerns. Coase's methodological position is illustrated in this paper by comparing him with other economists in terms of their differing research programmes informed by their methodological stances. Along the way, this paper outlines the new institutional economics, a research programme inspired by Coase's methodology.


The effectiveness of loyalty programs is often gauged only by the level of repeated patronage but repeated purchases do not necessarily indicate "trueloyalty". The objectives of this study are to distinguish between truly loyal customers and those who merely appear to be loyal by cross-classification of behavioral loyalty as well as attitudinal loyalty and to examine the antecedents and consequences of different types of loyalty. 262 valid cases from Family Restaurant customers were classified into 4 segments; 'True Loyal'(88 cases), 'Latent Loyal'(37 cases), 'Spurious Loyal'(46 cases) and 'Low Loyal'(91 cases). Then in order to determine the differences of antecedents (satisfaction and switching cost) and consequences (word of mouth and cooperation) among 4 loyalty segments, ANOVA with post-hoc Scheffe test was conducted. The result indicates that 'True Loyal' with high levels of both behavioral and attitudinal loyalty were significantly different from the others in terms of satisfaction, switching cost, word of mouth and cooperation. Moreover it is remarkable that 'Spurious Loyal' was significantly negative than 'Latent Loyal' in terms of satisfaction, word of mouth and cooperation.


This book is about experimental imagination in the British Enlightenment. It tells the story of how literariness came to be distinguished from its epistemological sibling, science, as a source of truth about the natural and social worlds. Early scientists used metaphor to define the phenomena they studied. They likewise used metaphor to imagine themselves into their roles as experimentalists. Late seventeenth- and early eighteenth-century British literature includes countless references to early science to make the case for the epistemological superiority of literary knowledge, whose truths challenge the dominant account of the scientific revolution as the sine qua non epistemological innovation of the long eighteenth century. The Experimental Imagination considers traditional scientific writings alongside poems, plays, and prose works by canonical and non-canonical authors to argue that ideas about science facilitated new forms of evidence and authority. The noisy satiric rancor and quiet concern that science generated among science advocates, dramatists, essayists, and poets reveal a doubled epistemological trajectory: experimental observation utilizes imaginative speculation and imaginative fancy enables new forms of understanding. Early scientific practice requires yet often obscures that imaginative impulse, which literary knowledge embraces as a way of understanding the world at large. Reciprocally, the period's theory of aesthetics arises from the observational protocols of science, ultimately laying claim to literature as epistemologically superior. Early science finds its intellectual and conceptual footing in the metaphoric thinking available through literary knowledge, and literary writers wield science as a trope for the importance and unique insights of literary knowledge.


The War of the Independence generated misery and ruin, increasing the material poverty and the decrease of the buying power of the population. Fruit of this negative economic context the town halls only could destine a tenth part of his budget to the welfare. The effects of the warlike contest against Napoleon also concerned the Church, institution that traditionally by means of diverse ecclesiastic organisations had to attend to the enormous social scarcities that were destroying to the village, since for example, to grant alms, attend to the patients in the hospitals, receive the orphans in the hospices or educate the youngest. In case of Lleida during the liberal regime the organization is necessary to emphasize of diverse meetings of charity, of health and of welfare destined to help the neediest.


Abstract High performance systems, like the F-16, when pushed to their limits encounter qualitative changes in control system properties like loss of controllability or observability. This work identifies and characterizes bifurcations occurring in a nonlinear six degree of freedom F-16 in two scenarios – straight and level flight and in a coordinated turn. Phenomena such as stall, tumbling and spin-roll departure were observed around bifurcation points. This work provides a basis for a formal understanding of how aircraft depart from controlled flight, it is a prerequisite for the systematic design of recovery strategies, and it will contribute to the design of reconfigurable control of impaired aircraft.


For decades, women have sought legal remedy as they tried to break through the metaphorical glass ceiling in a male-dominated workforce. In their efforts to make it to higher positions of power, many endured the subtle taunts and comments, while others struggled with blatant discrimination and environments that clearly did not welcome women (Hardin & Shain, 2005a; 2005b), including their own place of work (Hardin & Whiteside, 2009). In multiple studies, female sports journalists admitted to sexual harassment, but dismissed it as part of the job (Hardin & Shain, 2006; 2005a; 2005b). Public outcry over this phenomenon is minimal, and when it does occur often the victim is the one facing sanctions (Disch & Kane, 1996). This study utilized masculine hegemony and gender role expectations within social capital theory to uncover if negative social capital influenced future sport managers and journalist perceptions of sexual harassment using a sample of n=81 from a large Northeastern university. Results using MANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests demonstrated significant differences between men and women on accepting sexual harassment (p<.05). Correlations between subscales using Kendall's τ also showed significant positive relationships between trust and locker room norms (p<.001), trust and information networks (p<.01), trust and adherence to beliefs about traditional gender roles (p<.001), information networks and locker room norms (p<.001), and locker room norms and adherence to beliefs about traditional gender roles (p<.001). Results are discussed within the context of social capital and gender roles. THE POWER OF NETWORKS 1 Chapter I: Introduction August, 2010. I flip through the television stations as I sit on my bed, the fans blasting on me as my only method of keeping cool in the sweltering, sticky heat of midsummer in the Northeast. Buzz, buzz. My television, a hand-me-down that my grandmother left behind after her death, makes a dull hum with each change of the channel. Snippets of sound travel through the room as I continue surfing, relatively disinterested. I finally settle on ESPN, looking to hear how my favorite baseball team did that night. Instead, SportsCenter anchors announce breaking news: NFL quarterback Brett Favre accused of sending obscene text messages, voicemails, and photographs to former Jets employee Jenn Sterger, according to the Web site Deadspin.com. Now, the allegations of sexual infidelity were nothing new, as countless stories of professional athletes cheating on their partners seem to make news every year. Tony Parker, Kobe Bryant, and Tiger Woods are just some of the players who have made headlines with sex scandals. It was the fact that Favre allegedly harassed a female reporter and that this came to the surface that surprised me. Sterger claimed to have proof – material evidence of pictures he sent and text messages received by the future Hall of Famer. She also saved the voice messages left on her cell phone requesting her to spend


This document is a brief guide to the basis of Compositional Data Analysis (CoDa) intended to help researcher in physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep epidemiology familiarize themselves with basic concepts and develop basic analysis. It is not a formal introduction to the topic. Researchers wishing to develop further understanding and who seek further information should use the references at the end of this document. INTRODUCTION This concise guide is provided as supplementary material to the research article Chastin SFM, Palarea-Albaladejo J, Dontje ML, Skelton DA. " Combined effects of time spent in physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep on adiposity and cardiometabolic health markers: a novel compositional data analysis approach. ". 2015 XXXXXXX. Please cite this manual as Chastin SFM, Palarea-Albaladejo J. Concise Guide to Compositional Data Analysis for Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and Sleep Research: Supplementary Material S2, in Chastin SFM, Palarea-Albaladejo J, Dontje ML, Skelton DA. " Combined effects of time spent in physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep on adiposity and cardiometabolic health markers: a novel compositional data analysis approach. ". 2015 XXXXXXX.


The paper deals with the Standard Market Design (SMD), proposed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), is not completely defined. Several issues were left open for the industry to provide comment. Industry participants and state regulators have supplied their comments with varying degrees of diversity. The proposed SMD is not just a change in market design, but rather it is a major restructuring of the way that the large majority of the electric industry participants conduct their everyday routine business. Furthermore, it is an intrusion, by FERC, into certain retail markets, which fall under the jurisdiction of the state public utility commissioners.


The utility model relates to a static mixer for emulsions, belonging to the technical field of mixing machinery for emulsified matrixes of semi-finished emulsified explosives. The static mixer for emulsions has the advantages of simple structure, no need of mechanical stirring, safety, stability and high efficiency. The adopted technical scheme is as follows: a first feeding pipe is arranged at the top of an emulsifying tank, a second feeding pipe and an emulsified matrix outlet pipe are arranged at the bottom of the emulsifying tank, the lower part of the first feeding pipe is located inside the emulsifying tank, the lower end of the first feeding pipe is provided with a first atomizing nozzle, a pressure chamber is arranged above the second feeding pipe and located inside the emulsifying tank, and a plurality of second atomizing nozzles are uniformly distributed at the top of the pressure chamber. The static mixer for emulsions is mainly used for mixing the emulsified matrixes of semi-finished emulsified explosives.


Understanding that the nursing process is a crucial tool in Intensive Care Units (ICU), this convergent-care research aimed to evaluate the application of the computerized Nursing Process, from the International Classification of Nursing Practices (ICNP®) version 1.0 with the nurses from the Intensive Care Unit of the University Hospital in Santa Catarina. As strategy for data collection three meetings were carried out with five intensive care nurses of the hospital. For the implementation of the meetings the Arc of the Problematical by Maguerez was used with the theoretical support of the Problematical Pedagogy. The study was performed from October to November of 2007 and the results showed that the computerized nursing process in intensive care in according to the ICNP® has criteria of ergonomics, usability and content in accordance with international standards. It also contributes to the improvement of nursing practice. While a terminology of reference for nursing, in agreement with the nurses, this classification showed to be a language of easy understanding and close to the reality and, therefore, allows the development of evidence-based nursing practice in intensive unit.


Abstract The synthesis of dimensionally stable carbon-based chemically modified electrodes (CMEs) is a challenge. The synthesis method, the electrode composition, and the heating used influences various properties of the electrodes. Here, we show an innovative, low cost, and efficient heating method for the CMEs production. We deposited ternary ruthenium, antimony, and tantalum or bismuth oxides on carbon-felts by the Pechini method focusing on the influence of different heating methods (conventional and microwave) on their electrochemical and physical properties. The oxides synthesized using microwave heating coated completely the carbon-felts fibers, displaying homogeneous morphology, while maintaining their three-dimensional character. XRD and XRF analyses confirm the presence of the desired oxides on the coating surfaces and the experimental metal load values close to the nominal (87–91% for Ru, 3–6% for Sb, and 4–7% for Ta or Bi, respectively). The microwave-assisted method yields CMEs with electrochemical active areas 136-fold (for tantalum-based) and 153-fold (for bismuth-based) higher than the unmodified carbon felt. The service lifetime of the CMEs is almost twice as high when using microwave heating than when using conventional heating, which is attributed to the complete and homogeneous coating of the fibers obtained using this heating method. In contrast, the conventional heating led to the incomplete covering of the fibers and to CMEs with low stability. Therefore, the use of microwave heating for the CMEs synthesis reduces the production time at around 60%, thus decreasing the production costs and producing CMEs with improved quality and stability when compared to both conventional-made CMEs and unmodified electrodes.


The purpose of this project is to analyze the impact of a minimum wage increase on the probability of being employed in the fast food industry in selected states and to test the hypothesis that this impact may be different in different regions of the United States. Our study uses the Current Population Survey (CPS) and focuses on four states divided in two groups. The first group includes Vermont and New Hampshire, and the second includes Illinois and Indiana. The states were chosen so that each pair contains two similar states, one of which has experienced a recent minimum wage increase (Vermont in January 2006, and Illinois in January 2005), while the other has kept the minimum wage at its previous level. In each pair, the state which did not experience a minimum wage increase is used as a control group. Once we have separately modeled the effects of the minimum wage increase on employment for each pair of states, we proceed to compare the models and determine whether there are significant differences between them. Our models also include explanatory variables for age, education and race in order to control for individual level characteristics. While we find a reduction of employment in Vermont for workers under the age of 23 after the increase of the minimum wage, no similar reduction was found in Illinois.


Microamounts of Pb,Cr,Ni,Cu,Zn and Mn in fly-coal ash were determined by FAAS.The sample was digested with a mixture of HNO3 and HF(8+1).Boric acid was added to dissolve insoluble fluorides of Al,Ca and Mg.Standard curves of the 6 elements were prepared by using the respective standard solutions,and linear regression equations with correlation coefficients from 0.999 1 to 1.000 0 were obtained.Test for recovery was made by standard addition method,and values of recovery found were in the range of 94.9%-102.4%.


This paper proposes a method of using Compass-1's short message transmission function to support space-based TTC technology,using its time service function to support space-ground time difference measurement technology,and using its positioning function to support orbit determination technology for LEOs.Currently,YG-9,the first satellite carrying a Compass-1 user receiver,has validated the key technologies of space-based TTC.The test on YG-9 has shown that the space-based TTC functions well,the precision of space-ground time difference measurement can satisfy the requirements of onboard computer,and the orbit accuracy of YG-9 can achieve 1m in semi-major axes with only the four-way ranging data between YG-9 and Compass-1.Finally,this paper analyzes the application foreground of Compass-1 space-based TTC technology.


Credit scheme aimed to small holders of private-forests or forest farming is a major effort to carry out greening (afforestation) to produce timber and or other forest products, and to conserve land by involving community participation. Ministry of Forestry launched Private Forest Credit Scheme (KUHR) starting in 1997 and had terminated the credit scheme in 1999 due to a potential failure. Nevertheles, in the future such credit scheme should get attention as one of options to support program for forestry sector development. This study is aimed to identify factors contributing to credit scheme failure, funding alternative, and recommend improvement for future credit scheme. Study synthesized various published and unpublished reports, primary and secondary data and information, and group discussion with stakeholders i.e. banks and company involved in partnership with farmers that had been involved in the past credit scheme. Results of study reveal several findings: (1) Credit schemes should be flexibly adapted to region socio-economic conditions; (ii) Farmers' partner should be selectively chosen to ensure credit repayment; (iii) Bank role in credit chenneling should be adapted to the objective of the underlying program, and (iv) In the funding aspect, blend of funds of reforestation fund, national banks, and low rate oversea funding need to be sought.


This paper introduces simple control rules for the mutation strength and the parental population size using the Meta-ES approach. An in-depth analysis is presented on the mutation strength control using the sphere model. A heuristic formula for the outer mutation parameter will be proposed based on the theoretical analysis. Finally, a new evolutionary control strategy for the parental population size is proposed and evaluated empirically.


The systematic summarization is made for the relation between tidal force and significant shock and its application in the short-term and impending earthquake prediction, and our proposed prediction method based on characteristics of significant shocks is improved in this study. The method is named CH method for short. In all 21 short-term and impending predictions from Jan. of 1997 to May of 2003 using CH method, 12 earthquake cased are of the better and a certain extent prediction, accounting for 57%. It indicates that our proposed short-term and impending earthquake prediction method i.e. CH method shows better effect in earthquake prediction.


The present article introduces the authors' study on the physiological toxicity of Cd~(2+) to SOD, CAT and ATPase enzyme activities of \%Escherichia coli\% K12, \%Bacillus subtilis\% B19 and \%Ralstonia eutropha\% DKC1 through pure bacteria cultivation, because such activities are typical microbial species in submerged paddy soil when they are exposed to Cadmium (Cd) in short term (about 46 h). The results show that the influence of Cd~(2+) on the SOD, CAT and ATPase activities of bacteria was various. According to our observation, different concentrations of cadmium may appear to have different derivational effects on the three enzyme activities of \%E.coli\% K12, \%B. subtilis\% B19 and \%R. eutropha\% DKC1 at the different growing stages. They would keep activated when exposed to low concentrations of cadmium or at the earlier growth stage, nevertheless, they were inhabited when done to higher concentrations of cadmium or at the latter growth stage, which suggest the difference and the potential to resist cadmium among different bacteria. The above three mentioned enzyme activities could report indirectly the existence of noxious substance in environment, sensitively indicating the effect of Cd contamination. Therefore, the result may account for the physiological toxicity of the typical microbial species from Cd~(2+) and therefore can be used as cell biochemical index to indicate the Cd contamination.


All presently published electrical and optical measurements on concentrated ligand stabilized Au 55 -cluster samples reveal an inter-cluster tunnel-conductivity and indicate the influence of a "quantum-size-effect" (QSE) [1],[2] . However these data do not show any initials for the separation of inter- and possible intracluster effects. In the present Raper electronic intra-cluster Properties such as the electrical "conductivity" of 1nm chemical auantum dots, their relaxation frequencies and the relevant activation enthalpies as well as the respective Properties of pairs of Au 55 -clusters have been investigated in comparison to diluted clusters and interpreted by means of Impedance Spectroscopy. Furthermore a method to determine the number and the density of states (DOS) in the metal-core from the measuring data by means of very simple quantum-size assumptions is presented, which is compatible with both the SIMIT [3] and the existing cluster models.


Micro-surfacing is becoming increasingly popular, especially in Europe, and the equipment used to produce and lay the micro-surfacing material is becoming more sophisticated as a result. The U.S. and Europe have opted to use different equipment for micro-surfacing, with Europe using towed machines and U.S. using continuous, high-production machines with hoppers on board the batch machines rather than towed. The on-board system gives greater autonomy to the operator. Automation through an onboard weighing screed manages regulation as well as formulations and stocks. It also provides traceability and quality assurance.


Concerns about the state of democracy in Canada have become a common refrain over the past two decades. The greatest point of contention has been the electoral system. The first-past-the-post system (FPTP) used throughout the country has come under sustained criticism for its tendency to skew the vote-seat relationship in favour of larger parties and to produce majority governments lacking majority support in the population.


Following the advent of Big Data, statistical offices have been largely exploring the use of Internet as data source for modernizing their data collection process. Particularly, prices are collected online in several statistical institutes through a technique known as web scraping. The objective of the chapter is to discuss the challenges of web scraping for setting up a continuous data collection process, exploring and classifying the more widespread techniques and presenting how they are used in practical cases. The main technical notions behind web scraping are presented and explained in order to give also to readers with no background in IT the sufficient elements to fully comprehend scraping techniques, promoting the building of mixed skills that is at the core of the spirit of modern data science. Challenges for official statistics deriving from the use of web scraping are briefly sketched. Finally, research ideas for overcoming the limitations of current techniques are presented and discussed. Big Data Techniques for Supporting Official Statistics: The Use of Web Scraping for Collecting Price Data


One side‐effect of the therapeutic use of antimicrobial agents is respiratory paralysis as a result of inhibition of skeletal neuromuscular transmission; cholinergic neuro‐effector motor transmission in the gastrointestinal tract is inhibited by the same classes of antimicrobial agent. Study of the effects of several classes of antibiotic compound on intestinal motility has suggested that antibiotic‐induced alterations of intestinal motility may be related to the onset of diarrhoea or the development of antibiotic‐associated colitis. These compounds may, however, also initiate or exacerbate diarrhoea by altering control of epithelial function, a possibility that has not previously been rigorously investigated. This series of experiments investigated the effect of six antibiotics on rabbit distal colonic epithelial ion transport.


One study with the objective of accessing the genetic diversity of pig populations in Ha Gang province was undertaken. Nineteen microsatellites (FAO) were used to genotype 1053 pig individuals. A total 221 alleles were observed. The mean number of alleles per locus was 11.63 ± 3.18 (maximum in locus Sw2410 and minimum in locus Sw2008). In total population, the average observed heterozygote frequency (Ho) was 0,629 (ranged from 0.473 to 0.737) and expected heterozygote frequency (He) was 0.814 (ranged from 0.730 to 0.914). Inbreeding was indicated by heterozygosity deficiency with mean Fis = 0.228. The genetic differentiation between 4 different groups (white, black, brown and black-white pig) was small with a mean Fst = 0.017. The genetic distance was highest between white pig and three other pig groups (black, brown and black-white). There was no significant genetic variation between black and brown pig group (P>0.05). Among 10 district black pig populations, the average allele per population ranged from 7.62 (Meo Vac) to 10.68 (Xin Man), the Fis value was in a range from 0.215 to 0.323. The phylogenetic tree showed that black pig population formed 3 branches: I (Yen Minh, Quan Ba, Dong Van, Meo Vac and Bac Me district), II (Ha Giang, Vi Xuyen and Quang Binh district), III (Xin Man, Hoang Su Phi district). (Resume d'auteur)


Vertical profiles of aerosol characteristics obtained near Svalbard, Norway, during the Arctic Gas and Aerosol Sampling Program (AGASP) indicate that high aerosol concentrations and strong visible haze were distributed throughout the troposphere. Layers of Arctic haze were observed in both dry air and moist air. A research flight on March 31, 1983, crossed a previously undocumented Arctic aerosol front structure. Condensation nucleus concentrations of 450 cm/sup -3/ within the polluted continental air mass south of the front decreased to 80 cm/sup -3/ within the clean Arctic air north of the front. Aerosols above the Aitken size range decreased one order of magnitude in both number and mass across this same air mass boundary.


This paper provides empirical evidence on the use of monetary policy instruments and procedures (MPIP) in EU countries. In particular, it focuses on three important issues which arise in this context. Fist, we examine the structural position of the EU money markets. Second , evidence is presented on the relative roles of different instruments in EU Countriesboth in providing liquidity in general and , in addition, in dealing with changes in liquidity supply. Third, the behaviour of money market interest rates is compared across countries and evidence is presented.