On the basis of analyzing and summarizing subject-object access control models and requirements of the access control in CSCWD, a new access control model in CSCWD systems-based on role-in-task, named coarse-grained hybrid access control model (HAC), was proposed to solve the problem that the subject-object access control model can't implement dynamic protection based on pertinence of application logic for accessible object. As a main means for system control, role-in-task concept can associate task, role and user to gether. The coarse-grained model of HAC was established by colored Petri net, and the mechanism for running the HAC model was analyzed simultaneously. The Results show that the model of HAC based on CPN can describe the dynamic behavior of the access control process effectively.


This study presents a novel selective growth method to pattern the high purity and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) network by alcohol catalytic chemical vapor deposition (ACCVD). A hydrophilic surface with a contact angle of 44.22deg or even lower can disperse the Co-Mo catalysts easily and uniformly. Therefore, the SWNTs networks can be only formed and grown on the surface of SiO2 layer after a highly hydrophilic surface treatment. This novel method can be applied in the process of SWNTs electronics devices such as nanosensors or transistors. Finally, a SWNTs networks field effect transistor was also fabricated and demonstrated.


The algebraic classification of the Weyl and Ricci tensors and the relation between them in a Riemann space with an isometry group possessing a nontrivial isotropy group are reviewed. All metrics with Minkowski signature, invariant under a 3‐parameter isometry group with 2‐dimensional orbits having nondegenerate metrics, are constructed from the group properties and are shown to have Ricci tensors with a double eigenvalue, and the orbits are shown to be surfaces of constant curvature. The null orbits are shown to have a triply degenerate eigenvalue of the Ricci tensor. The various additionally degenerate metrics are classified in further detail, extending the work of Plebanski and Stachel.


Extended Visual Cryptography (EVC) concept provides meaningful shares instead of non meaningful shares. In this paper we proposed an algorithm based on EVC which enhances the contrast of the recovered secret image. Here the size of image visible on shares is taken to be three times as that of secret image, both the images are assumed in grey level. In the proposed algorithm secret image and the visible image are first converted to halftone image using Halftone error diffusion method. Recovered image from the shares generated by is found to be of better quality. Standard parameters like Negative Rate Matrix, Recall, Precision, F-Measure, Balanced classification rate (BCR), Balanced error rate (BER) of visual cryptography are used to compare the quality of recovered image by our proposed scheme with other state of art EVC approaches.


definitively, it is a plausible explanation for carcinogenesis consistent with all of the experimental and epidemiologic evidence existing today. Accepting the validity of this notion, we might then consider the epidemiologic evidence further. As indicated above, amphibole asbestos types are retained in the lungs for indefinite periods and tend to accumulate adjacent to and in the pleural tissue. In contrast, chrysotile fibers break down into subfibrils in lung tissue due to the leaching effect of body fiuids.� These subfibrils deteriorate or dissolve further and are then eliminated by the lymphatic system of the lungs and the mucociliary escalator system of the airways. A number of studies of human lungs have shown that chrysotile does not accumulate in inordinate quantities in the lungs of occupationally exposed individuals. Epidemiologic evidence suggests that the likelihood of an individual's developing a mesothelioma relates proportionately to the length of their life. One might speculate that an individual encumbered by a burden of amphibole asbestos might invariably develop a mesothelioma were he to live long enough. This is, of course, a hypothesis that cannot be proved, but it argues strongly for the initiation of deliberate efforts to develop prophylactic approaches to reverse the course of the neoplastic events which might invariably occur in amphibole-exposed individuals. Clearly, therapeutic research efforts and interventions in the future might reasonably focus on means whereby the macrophage and its products might be altered in such a way that the mesothelioma would not be inevitable.


This selective review starts from the systematical inventory on which P. Donceel-Voute entered 77 monuments from antic towns and mainly villages in Syria and Lebanon. The epigraphist will be interested in noticing the multiplication of the inscribed mosaics which have been found in regular excavations during the last thirty years, not to overlook those 'wandering' mosaics registered on the antiquary market. Here are reviewed, in geographical order, the main new inscriptions published in the above-mentioned work, with the addition of some still unpublished documents (see nos 19, 25, 32). Critical remarks are aimed at providing corrections or restitutions to several texts, sometimeso n points related to then terpretation of these monuments(see nos 45, 54). The commentary equally deals with the status of some dedicants, according to the stone epigraphy from the same villages (see nos 18, 39). A major emphasis is put on the prosopography of bishops mentioned on the mosaics, the provenance and date of which di...


Abstract The bromocresol green (BCG) and bromocresol purple (BCP) assays often yield discordant serum albumin results. This study seeks to test the hypothesis that bias in albumin results are influenced by the concentration of serum globulin subtypes. The concentrations of serum albumin, α1-globulin, α2-globulin, β-globulin and γ-globulin are determined in 197 human serum specimens by total serum protein quantification and protein electrophoresis, and by the BCG and BCP assays. The influence of globulins on albumin measurement is validated with protein mixtures of albumin and globulins. The BCG assay bias was directly proportional to the concentrations of α1-globulin and α2-globulin, and inversely correlated with the concentrations of β-globulin and γ-globulin (r2=0.793). The BCP assay bias was inversely proportional to the concentration of α1-globulin and α2-globulin (r2=0.464) but not related to the concentrations of β-globulin or γ-globulin. Among the 197 study participants, those with nephrotic syndrome had a significantly higher level of α2-globulin compared to those in other categories. Thus, the authors conclude that serum globulins contribute to the bias seen in the BCG and BCP assays, with the greatest effects observed for α-globulin on the BCG assay where higher concentrations contributed to a higher bias.


Based on the Morison equation,the finite element method is used to analyze the seismic responses of bridge pier in deep water,and the water is considered as the added mass.An actual bridge pier is analyzed,the results show that the effect of hydrodynamic pressure to seismic responses of bridge pier is notable,and the seismic response may be changed by 50%,the main factors that may affect the hydrodynamic pressure are obtained.Another method according to the seismic design codes also used to analyze the pier,the results are compared,it shows that when decided whether considering the effect of hydrodynamic pressure or not,it may be more suitable to use the relative depth of water in the seismic design.


Objective of this study was to asses role of occlusal contacts, regarding their epidemiological significance in TMD affected population using powerful computer processing procedures. Study involved 252 senior year students, studying at the School of Dental Medicine University of Zagreb from year 2000 to year 2003. They have been thoroughly inspected for signs and symptoms of TMD. Approximately 300 variables were recorded for each student. Using acquired data students were divided into two groups: group which had at least one of the signs and symptoms important for diagnosis of TMD and control group without detectable signs and symptoms of TMD. Absence or presence of occlusal contacts in maximal intercuspidation position (MI) were recorded with 8 micrometers thick dental shim stock foil for every tooth in lower and upper jaw. Special mathematical algorithms, based on chi-square test and recursion, were developed to analyse the data. Using those algorithms, somewhat less than 65536 (216), different occlusal patterns were analysed. Statistical differences between number of students with specific occlusal patterns were automatically recorded and analysed. P-value used to determine statistical significance was set at 0.01 so more reliable data could be presented. Significant difference between occlusal patterns in MI position was determined in group of students that had at least one TMD sign or symptom and students without those signs and symptoms.


For the first time, we present a study of BTI and HCD degradation in a 32 × 64 cell SRAM array including Sense Amplifiers (SA), Write Drivers (WD) and pre-charging circuitry (one each for 64 columns) stimulated by the workload-induced activity of a commercial processor. In under 2 hours, our fully automated framework employs the extracted activities to create voltage waveforms used in SPICE simulations (SRAM Array, SA, WD) and degrades transistors using their individual exhibited voltages as stimuli in BTI and HCD models. We support different temperatures, supply voltages (including DVFS), SRAM, SA and WD designs.


: The novel [W 3 S 4 H 3 (edpp) 3 ] + (edpp = (2-aminoethyl)diphenylphosphine) ( 1 + ) cluster hydride with an acidic – NH 2 functionality has been synthetized and studied. Its crystal structure shows the characteristic incomplete W 3 S 4 cubane core with the outer positions occupied by the P and N atoms of the edpp ligands. Although no signal due to the hydride ligands is observed in the 1 H NMR spectrum, hydride assignment is supported by 1 H-15 N HSQC techniques, the changes in the 31 P{ 1 H} NMR chemical shift, and FT-IR spectra in the W-H region of the deuterated [W 3 S 4 D 2 H(edpp) 3 ] + ( 1 + -d 2 ) samples. Moreover, all NMR evidences suggest that one of the hydrogen atoms of the NH 2 group in 1 + is rapidly exchanging with the hydride. The reaction of 1 + with acids (HCl, HBr and DCl) features complex polyphasic kinetics with zero-order dependence with respect to the acid concentration, being also independent of the solvent nature. This behavior differs from that of their diphosphino analogues, suggesting a different mechanism.


The purpose of this study was to examine relationship between School-Mindfulness and Academic Optimism among teachers in government secondary schools (9 & 10 grades) of central zone of Tigray, Ethiopia. The study was descriptive survey design and employed quantitative approach. By using a self-response questionnaire, data were collected from a sample size of 540 (216 female and 324 male) teachers drawn from a target population of 1789 (1324 males and 465 females) selected through Multi-stage probability sampling technique. Data were analysed by using percentages, Pearson bivariate correlation, and multiple linear regression. Significant positive relationship was revealed between School-mindfulness and academic optimism; and school-mindfulness with each sub-scales of academic optimism. The sub-scales of academic optimism (self-efficacy, trust, academic emphasis) were also appeared to have significant unique contribution when regressed to school mindfulness. Above half of the teachers were found to experience unfavourable sense of academic optimism. Finally, based on the findings proper conclusions supported with the implied recommendations were forwarded.


To study the changes in menstrual blood loss (MBL) following tubal ligation 25 females requesting surgical sterilization at the Shatby University Maternity Hospital in Alexandria Egypt were subjected to Falope ring laparoscopic sterilization. The women were at least 6 months postpartum or postabortive not using oral or injectable contraception for at least 6 months or IUDs for at least 1 month nonlactating with regular menstruation and moderate menstrual blood loss and free from gross pelvic pathology. All women were multiparous with a mean parity of 6 and with a mean age of 34.1. Quantitative estimation of the MBL using the alkaline hematin method with rapid mechanical extraction of sanitary pads using the stomacher lab-blender was carried out for 1 cycle presterilization and repeated at 3 6 and 12 months poststerilization. There were no significant changes in the MBL subsequent to sterilization. When all the 25 cases were studied the mean presterilization MBL was 49.5 ml while the mean poststerilization MBL at 3 6 and 12 months were 54.1 ml 52.7 ml and 50.4 ml respectively. At 3 months poststerilization 11 cases showed increase in their MBL with a mean percentage increase 44.6% while at 6 months 11 cases showed an increase with a mean percentage 30.8%. At 12 months poststerilization only 4 cases showed an increase in their MBL with a mean percentage increase of 25.3%. Tubal occlusion using Falope ring laparoscopic sterilization does not appear to produce significant increase in MBL in the 1st year after sterilization. Women presenting with menorrhagia after sterilization may have had the problem previously. Likewise women using oral contraceptives have a reduced MBL and reversion to spontaneous heavier periods may be erroneously interpreted as menorrhagia due to sterilization but a patients subjective estimate of the MBL is unreliable.


This paper presents a elliptic function suspended-substrate filter structure, its CAD analysis and optimization procedure are described. A design example is given and the CAD results are compared with the full-wave electromagnetic analysis results.


STUDY OBJECTIVES
Although wrist-worn consumer wearables are widely used for home sleep monitoring, few have been validated. It is unclear whether consumer wearables could be an alternative to Actiwatch. This study aimed to establish and validate an automatic sleep staging system (ASSS) utilizing photoplethysmography (PPG) and acceleration data collected from a wrist-worn wearable device.

METHODS
Seventy-five participants from a community population underwent overnight polysomnography (PSG) while wearing a smartwatch (MT2511) and Actiwatch. PPG and acceleration data collected from the smartwatches were utilized to build a 4-stage [wake, light sleep (LS), deep sleep (DS), and REM] classifier, which was validated against PSG. The performance of the sleep/wake classifier was compared with Actiwatch. All analyses were conducted separately for participants with PSG sleep efficiency (SE) ≥80% and SE <80%.

RESULTS
The 4-stage classifier and PSG showed fair overall epoch-by-epoch agreement (Kappa 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.52 to 0.57). The DS and REM times were comparable between ASSS and PSG, while ASSS underestimated the wake time and overestimated the LS time among participants with SE <80%. Moreover, ASSS underestimated sleep onset latency and wake after sleep onset and overestimated total sleep time and SE among participants with SE <80%, while all were comparable among participants with SE ≥80%. The biases were smaller for ASSS than for Actiwatch.

CONCLUSIONS
Our PPG- and acceleration-based ASSS was reliable for participants with SE ≥80% and had a smaller bias than Actiwatch among those with SE <80%. Thus, ASSS may be a promising alternative to Actiwatch.


Purpose – Empowering students has become one of the primary goals of education in the 21st century. The current trend of education is moving towards student-centred and independent learning. The core success of student empowerment lies in the teaching and learning approaches used to engage students. Thus, the present study aims to examine how Hikmah pedagogy, a philosophical inquiry approach, empowers students through the development of a community of inquiry and students' inquiry skills in learning Islamic Education.

Method – This study employed a case study design on a Form 4 class comprising 24 students. The method of data collection involved classroom observation and students' reflective journaling. Analysis of classroom discourse was conducted according to Bloom's Taxonomy to identify higher-order levels of thinking engaged by the students. Meanwhile, students' journals were analysed thematically to examine how Hikmah pedagogy empowered their thinking.

Findings – The study found that after four Hikmah pedagogy sessions, students' thinking improved from lower-order to higher-order thinking (HOT) based on the students' level of questions posed in the Hikmah sessions. Questions posed by the students also indicated an improvement in terms of the quantity and quality of the questions. Finally, analysis of the students' journals showed that students found Hikmah pedagogy a provoking approach that continuously engaged them to be independent in their thinking. This is most useful when learning Islamic Education since it deals with many abstract concepts that require deep understanding.

Significance – Results of the study have shown that Hikmah pedagogy can empower students by improving their HOT, developing their inquiry skills and independent thinking, which directly assist in realising the objectives of Islamic Education, which are to understand, internalise and practise Islamic principles and values.


Recurrent networks are a special class of artificial neural systems that use their internal states to perform computing tasks for machine learning. One of its state-of-the-art developments, i.e. reservoir computing (RC), uses the internal structure – usually a static network with random structure – to map an input signal into a nonlinear dynamical system defined in a higher dimensional space. Reservoirs are characterized by nonlinear interactions among their units and their ability to store information through recurrent loops, allowing to train artificial systems to learn task-specific dynamics. However, it is fundamentally unknown how the random topology of the reservoir affects the learning performance. Here, we fill this gap by considering a battery of synthetic networks – characterized by different topological features – and 45 empirical connectomes – sampled from brain regions of organisms belonging to 8 different species – to build the reservoir and testing the learning performance against a prediction task with a variety of complex input signals. We find nontrivial correlations between RC performances and both the number of nodes and rank of the covariance matrix of activation states, with performance depending on the nature – stochastic or deterministic – of input signals. Remarkably, the modularity and the link density of the reservoir are found to affect RC performances: these results cannot be predicted by models only accounting for simple topological features of the reservoir. Overall, our findings highlight that the complex topological features characterizing biophysical computing systems such as connectomes can be used to design efficient bio-inspired artificial neural networks.


This letter studies the performance of point-to-point multiple-input-multiple-output systems in the presence of large but finite numbers of transmit and receive antennas. We use some recent results on the achievable rates of finite-length codes to analyze the system performance in the cases with short packets. The results are presented for different fading models. With codewords of finite length, we derive closed-form expressions for the error probability/throughput and determine the minimum number of antennas which are required to satisfy different error probability/throughput requirements. As we show, while the error-constrained required number of antennas is sensitive to the length of short codewords, its effect is negligible for codewords of moderate/long length.


Fracture experiments were conducted at temperatures from 20 to 200 C (68 to 392 F) to determine the dependence of the Mode I fracture energy of concrete on temperature as well as the specific water content. The fracture energy values were determined by testing geometrically similar specimens of sizes in the ratio 1:2:4:8 and then applying Bazant's size effect law. Three-point bend specimens and eccentric compression specimmns are found to yield approximately the same fracture energies, regardless of temperature. To describe the temperature dependence of fracture energy, a recently derived simple formula based on the activation energy theory (rate process theory) is used and verified by test results. The temperature effect is determined both for concrete predried in an oven and for wet (saturated) concrete. By interpolation, an approximate formula for the effect of moisture content on fracture energy is also obtained. This effect is found to be small at room temperature but large at temperatures close to 100 C (212 F).


The article presents preliminary data on the excavations of the Rubas fortification complex in 2020. The archaeological site is located in the lower reaches of the river. Rubas, near the village. Commune of the Derbent region of the Republic of Dagestan, 20 km south-west of the city of Derbent.
The monument was discovered in 2014 by local residents. The work on its research is carried out by the Rubass archaeological expedition of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of the DPhIC RAS (head of the expedition LB Gmyrya).
In 2014, 2016–2018 four military engineering structures were identified and investigated: 1) an arched tower structure; 2) stone wall No. 1, attached to the arched structure from the north; 3) monumental stone defensive wall No. 2, oriented in the south-north direction (28 m section was explored); 4) stone wall no. 3, attached to wall no. 2 from the east, oriented west-east (section 5 was investigated).
The excavations were carried out with the financial support of projects by the RFBR-Dagestan (2014) and RFBR (2016–2018) funds. It was established: 1) the undoubted belonging of the archaeological site on the Rubas River to the monumental defensive structures; 2) a complex, multifaceted structure and layout; 3) a variety of technological methods for laying massive blocks into walls; 4) careful processing of stone blocks; 5) the use of a fastening solution using lime and special brackets for fastening the blocks of the facade part of buildings.
However, the scale of the Rubas defense complex and the uniqueness of its location at the bottom of the Rubas River valley determine the presence of problematic issues related to the topography and planning of this object.


The paper analyses the complexity of the geological character in eastern part Baoshan Lead-Zinc deposit,summarizes the methods and fruits in strengthening geological research of mineral field,fully-using mineral resources.It also provides advices on further improving this research.


Although it is not a landscape crop according to MIFAFF(ministry of agriculture, food and rural affairs), yellow mustard is considered a superb landscape crop because of its growth and flower characteristics. We sowed yellow mustard as a landscape and green manure crop in upland soil (four types of soil texture) in spring. And we studied its flowering characteristics, dry weight, and nitrogen yield. The growths of yellow mustard were possible in every soil ranging from sandy soil to clay loam. Its height was 54.1 ~ 76.1cm and the number of node per hill was 11.3 ~ 17.0. Its flowers had a light yellow. It took about 44 ~ 50 days to flower, and flowered for 22~25 days. The dry weight of yellow mustard was 2.27 ~ 3.60 ton ha -1 with highest in sandy loam and loam. Among the nutrients of yellow mustard, nitrogen(T-N) was 12.6~20.8 g kg -1 , and C/N ratio was 21.6~37.7. The nitrogen yield of yellow mustard was 35 ~ 62 kg ha -1 . In conclusion, because of its flowering characteristics and dry weight, yellow mustard was considered appropriate for both green manure and landscape crop uses.


Monte Carlo simulations of molecular recognition at the consensus binding site of the constant fragment (Fc) of human immunoglobulin G (Ig) protein have been performed to analyze structural and thermodynamic aspects of binding for the 13‐residue cyclic peptide DCAWHLGELVWCT. The energy landscape analysis of a hot spot at the intermolecular interface using alanine scanning and equilibrium‐simulated tempering dynamics with the simplified, knowledge‐based energy function has enabled the role of the protein hot spot residues in providing the thermodynamic stability of the native structure to be determined. We have found that hydrophobic interactions between the peptide and the Met‐252, Ile‐253, His‐433, and His‐435 protein residues are critical to guarantee the thermodynamic stability of the crystallographic binding mode of the complex. Binding free energy calculations, using a molecular mechanics force field and a solvation energy model, combined with alanine scanning have been conducted to determine the energetic contribution of the protein hot spot residues in binding affinity. The conserved Asn‐434, Ser‐254, and Tyr‐436 protein residues contribute significantly to the binding affinity of the peptide–protein complex, serving as an energetic hot spot at the intermolecular interface. The results suggest that evolutionary conserved hot spot protein residues at the intermolecular interface may be partitioned in fulfilling thermodynamic stability of the native binding mode and contributing to the binding affinity of the complex. Proteins 2002;48:539–557. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Matching behaviors of Japanese monkeys were analyzed. In Experiment I, two subjects trained on a matching-to-sample task with red and purple. After acquisition, transfer of this were discrimination to yellow and yellowgreen was tested with"non-effective"trials inserted among baseline trials. In non-effective trials, intertrial interval immediately followed the subject's response without differential reinforcement. Although this procedure guaranteed stable responding during tests, matching accuracy severely deteriorated for these novel colors and marked preference for familiar baseline colors was observed. In Experiment 2, two new subjects were trained to discriminate between two of four colors (blue, bluegreen, yellowgreen, and yellow) before matching training with red and purple. After acquiring matching behavior, transfer to the four colors was tested with non-effective trials, Both subjects matched the two previously-trained test colors somewhat successfully, though the preference for baseline colors was not suppressed. Thus, evidence that the identity between sample and comparison stimuli controlled, at least partly, two-color matching-to-sample behaviors of Japanese monkeys was obtained after establishing the discrimination between the test stimuli.


Present-day techniques of pharmacotherapy for patients with various forms of schizophrenia and severe forms of cognitive and amnestic dysfunctions in conditions of psychoneurological nursing home are described. Clinical results of active use of modern medicines with modified action type are discussed. Combined differentiated psychopharmacotherapy is considered to be a component of biopsychosocial influence in nursing home's rehabilitation space.


The active flow control technology by using plasma actuation to manipulate forebody vortices on a slender conical body is being studied based on the previous research. This work is motivated by the need to increase the experimental velocity in the wind tunnel via an effective streamlining created by the actuators. A pair of Single-Dielectric Barrier Discharge (SDBD) plasma actuators is installed near the tip of a 20° circular-cone-cylinder model. The experiments are performed in a 3.0 m×1.6 m low speed wind tunnel at angles of attack of 45° and 50°. The test wind speed is varied from 15 m/s to 30 m/s with Reynolds numbers ranging from 0.16 to 0.32 million based on the cone base diameter. The results consist of measurements of circumferential pressure distributions over nine stations along the cone forebody, including one station using unsteady pressure tappings. The cross-sectional and overall side forces and yawing moments over the cone are calculated from the measured pressures. The experiments have confirmed that the plasma actuator can be used to achieve the proportional lateral control on slender forebodies at high angles of attack combined with a duty cycle technique. An effective control with a relative higher wind speed can be gotten by adjusting the position and induced flow direction of the plasma actuators.


ABSTRACT In recent educational discourse, public schools can be seen as sites of feminine power, as the majority of teachers are female and some gains have been made in girls' school achievement. However, some theorists argue that schools are too feminine, and thus boys' achievement is at risk. This article refutes this claim, and shows that schools are still fundamentally patriarchal structures. Drawing on feminist new materialisms thinkers, particularly Barad's ideas of intra-action and posthuman performativity in relation with Alaimo's concept of the material memoir, this article considers the experiences of the menstruating teacher, and explores how new materialisms can help researchers trace the complex, ongoing ontological relationship between the teacher and the materiality of the school.


The formation of the complex between alendronate, non-chromophoric bisphosphonate drug important for the treatment of a variety of bone diseases, and iron(III) chloride in perchloric acid solution was studied. The stoichiometric ratio of alendronate to Fe(III) ions in the chromophoric complex was determined to be 1:1. The conditional stability constant was log Kave =4.50 (SD =0.15), indicating that the Fe(III)–alendronate complex is a complex of medium stability. The optimum conditions for this reaction were ascertained and a spectrophotometric method was developed for the determination of alendronate in the concentration range 8.1–162.5 gm l − 1 , the detection limit being 2 gm l − 1 . The method was validated for the direct determination of alendronate in tablet


Floor plan of the main floor of the White House showing original floor plan with additions made in 1823, 1826, and 1829.


This paper proposes a vision-based human posture recognition method using a support vector machine (SVM) classifier. Recognition of four main body postures is considered in this paper, and they are standing, bending, sitting, and lying postures. First of all, two cameras are used to capture two sets of image sequences at the same time. After capturing the image sequences, a RGB-based moving object segmentation algorithm is used to distinguish the human body from background. Two complete and corresponding silhouettes of the human body are obtained. The Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) coefficients and length-width ratio are calculated from horizontal and vertical projections of each silhouette. Finally, these features are fed to a Gaussian-kernel-based SVM to recognize postures. Experimental results show that the proposed method achieves a high recognition rate.


• It allows anonymous, intergroup comparison of exam results, thus permitting laboratories to set quantitative performance goals relative to other laboratories. • It reports, for an individual or group, exam results for urine sediment categories (cells, casts, crystals, and organisms/artifacts) and the specific structures (e.g., waxy casts, oval fat bodies) within each category. This allows supervisors to distinguish clinically significant from insignificant errors. • It includes urine chemistry data, thus making the program more realistic because technologists usually have these data when interpreting microscope images. • It is easier to access because it can now be used from any computer on the internet. • It prints reports that meet CLIA requirements for documenting competency assessment. Future improvements to the system will focus on enhancing intergroup comparisons by developing a feature that calculates competency results for subsets of users. Subsets of interest include laboratory personnel in general, laboratory personnel by country, laboratory personnel by laboratory size, nonlaboratory personnel (e.g., nurses and medical doctors), and students. Subscribing institutions will then be able to select appropriate results for benchmarking their laboratory competency. In conclusion, we have demonstrated the feasibility and features of a web-based competency assessment system for microscopic urinalysis. The program allows laboratories to routinely monitor and document the competency of individual technologists and the laboratory as a whole. We are currently in the process of using the program, improving it, and expanding the concept to other areas of the clinical laboratory.


Rate coefficients have been determined in a drift tube‐mass spectrometer apparatus for the oxidation reactions of Ti+ and Th+ ions in O2 and NO for ion mean energies ranging from thermal (300 K) to 5 eV. Formation of the first oxides of metal ions M+ in the reactions M+ + O2 (NO) → MO+ + O (N) is found to occur with rate coefficients close to the theoretical maximum values (i.e., the ``Langevin'' limit), except for Ti+ + NO, which proceeds more slowly. Further oxidation in the reactions MO++O2 (NO)→ MO2++ O(N) has been detected only for M = Th and with small rate coefficients. The associative ionization reaction Th + O2→ ThO2+ + e has been observed to occur, although no rate coefficient can be obtained from our measurements. In addition, thermal energy ionic mobilities of thorium and titanium ions in helium are found to be μ0(Ti+) = (25.5±1) and μ0(Th+) = (15.75±0.5) cm2 V−1·sec−1 at 300 K.


Two observations point up what continues to be seen by scientists as a crucial need for major changes in precollege science education in the U.S. Viewing the current science education experience of many students, Johns Hopkins biology professor James D. Ebert says: 'In today's schools, science instruction during the elementary school years is infrequent and inconsistent. During the middle school years, a student's window to the natural world is typically a textbook accompanied by dreary worksheets. As a result, students enter high school thoroughly bored by science and give no thought to the subject beyond the required course, which more often than not affirms their expectations of an unrewarding experience." Not unrelated is the experience that many prospective precollege science teachers have with their college science education, of which Washington State University chemistry professor Glenn A. Crosby notes: "Sitting in large lecture halls, listening to uninspiring lectures, and attending cookbook labor...


The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of substitution of soybean meal protein by L. acidophilus treated jojoba meal (JM) protein in rabbit's diets on digestibility of nutrients, N balance, caecotrophy, some blood metabolites and carcass traits. Thirty two 5-weeks-old rabbits were divided into four equal experimental groups, 8 rabbits of each in a complete random design. Soybean meal protein was partially replaced by treated JM protein at 0, 10, 20 and 30% to formulate the experimental diets. Feeding treated JM increased (P<0.05) of all nutrient digestibility except ether extract, accordingly nutritive values expressed as total digestible nutrients and digestible crude protein were improved (P<0.01) for diet contained 30% treated JM protein. N balance (g/day) was increased (P<0.05) in rabbits fed diet with 30% treated JM protein versus control. Incorporation of treated JM at 30% in the rabbit's diets increased (P<0.05) daily soft faces excretion, whereas crude protein the proportion of soft faces to total crude protein intake was higher (P<0.05). Plasma total protein, transaminases activity (GOT and GPT), glucose, creatinine and urea concentrations did not differ in JM supplementation diets versus control. Cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations decreased (P<0.05) with the substitution of JM protein in diets from 0 to 30%. Dressing percentage of the rabbit fed 30% treated JM protein was increased (P<0.01) by 5.1% compared to control diet. Supplementation of JM protein at 30% in rabbit's diets could increase nutrient digestibility, carcass traits quality and improve animal health.


Objective:To evaluate in-hospital clinical outcomes after open and laparoscopic bowel resection (BR) with or without alvimopan treatment. Background:Delayed return of gastrointestinal function after BR may be associated with greater postoperative morbidity and increased hospital length of stay (LOS). In clinical trials, alvimopan—a peripherally acting &mgr;-opioid receptor antagonist—accelerated gastrointestinal recovery after open BR. Methods:A retrospective matched-cohort study (NCT01150760) was conducted using a national inpatient database. Each alvimopan patient was exact matched (surgical procedure, surgeon specialty) and propensity score matched (baseline characteristics) to a nonalvimopan BR patient. Outcomes included gastrointestinal and other morbidity (cardiovascular, pulmonary, infection, cerebrovascular, thromboembolic); mortality; readmission rate; and intensive care unit (ICU) stay (intent-to-treat [ITT] population). Postoperative LOS and estimated cost were also compared (modified ITT population). Results:Each cohort included 3525 ITT patients with similar baseline characteristics. Gastrointestinal (29.8% vs 35.7%) and other morbidity (cardiovascular [19.4% vs 24.0%], pulmonary [7.3% vs 10.5%], infectious [9.6% vs 11.8%], thromboembolic [1.2% vs 2.1%]), mortality (0.4% vs 1.0%), and mean ICU stay (0.3 vs 0.6 days) were lower in the alvimopan group (P ⩽ 0.003 for each). Postoperative LOS and estimated direct cost were lower for all alvimopan patients and after laparoscopic and open BR (LOS: −1.1, −0.8, and −1.8 days respectively; cost: −$2345, −$1382, and −$3218, respectively; P ⩽ 0.0008 for each). Conclusions:On average, alvimopan-treated patients had a lower incidence of mortality and most incidents of morbidities. Length of stay, ICU use, and estimated cost were also lower with comparable readmissions. These results in patients outside the clinical trial setting include laparoscopic colectomy and demonstrate a potential association between acceleration of gastrointestinal recovery and improved early postoperative outcomes.


The Prince of Wales Hospital archive consists of a total of 132 prints and 67 half-plate glass negatives, and does not stand out as a collection which will necessarily be remembered for its technical excellence. Indeed, this somewhat anonymous snapshot of clinical photography between the wars only begins to rise above the ordinary once it has been established that no dedicated photography department existed at the Prince of Wales Hospital at this time. The archive consists of two boxes. The smaller of the two contains a number of loose, glass negatives illustrating an assortment of orthopaedic conditions and their treatments (Figure 1). None are annotated, many are inexpertly exposed or developed, and many have been


What makes workers consider it fair for wages to be indexed on job performance or efficiency? In this paper we attempt to answer this question using the 2005 wave of the World Values Survey data for 43 countries to investigate what socio-economic characteristics condition employees' preference for efficiency over equity wages. Our results suggest that employees' preference for efficiency wages increases with education and globalization while it decreases with unemployment, income inequality and income tax rates. Given that conventional economic theory demonstrates the importance of labour efficiency, which improves when workers are remunerated according to their efficiency, for economic growth; our results suggest that institutions and specifically public policies that promote education, and globalization, along with policies that reduce unemployment, income inequality and income tax rates could be used to promote efficiency-based wages.


Al-Tebrineh J, Merrick C, Ryan D, Humpage A, Bowling L, Neilan BA. 2012. Community composition, toxigenicity, and environmental conditions during a cyanobacterial bloom occurring along 1,100 kilometers of the Murray River. Appl Environ Microbiol 78:263–272. Bernbom N, Ng YY, Kjellenberg S, Harder T, Gram L. 2011. Marine bacteria from Danish coastal waters show antifouling activity against the marine fouling bacterium Pseudoalteromonas sp strain S91 and zoospores of the green alga Ulva australis independent of bacteriocidal activity. Appl Environ Microbiol 77:8557–8567. Bertel D, Peck J, Quick TJ, Senko JM. 2012. Iron transformations induced by an acid-tolerant Desulfosporosinus species. Appl Environ Microbiol 78:81–88. Bian F, Qin Q-L, Xie B-B, Shu Y-L, Zhang X-Z, Yu Y, Chen B, Chem X-L, Zhou B-C, Zhang Y-Z. 2011. Complete genome sequence of seawater bacterium Glaciecola nitratireduces FR1064. J Bacteriol 193:7006–7007. 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Draft genome sequence of Halomonas sp. strain HAL1, a moderately halophilic arsenite-oxidizing bacterium isolated from gold-mine soil. J Bacteriol 194:199–200. Masai E, Kamimura N, Kasai D, Oguchi A, Ankai A, Fukui S, Takahashi M, Yashiro I, Sasaki H, Harada T, Nakamura S, Katano Y, Narita Yamada S, Nakazawa H, Hara H, Katayama Y, Fukuda M, Yamazaki S, Fujita N. 2012. Complete genomic sequence of Sphingobium sp. strain SYK-6, a degrader of lignin-derived biaryls and monoaryls. J Bacteriol 194:534–535. Meeks JC. 2011. Closing the cycle. Science 334:1508–1509. Oger P, Sokolova T, Kozhevnikova DA, Chernyh NA, Bartlett DH, BonchOsmolovskaya EA, Lebedinsky AV. 2011. Complete genome sequence of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus sp. strain AM4, capable of organotrophic growth and growth at the expense of hydrogenogenic or sulfidogenic oxidation of carbon monoxide. J Bacteriol 193:7019–7020. Ramirez-Reinat EL, Garcia-Pichel F. 2012. Prevalence of Ca2+-ATPasemediated carbon dissolution among cyanobacterial euendoliths. Appl Environ Microbiol 78:7–13. Savichtcheva O, Debroas D, Kurmayer R, Villar C, Jenny JP, Arnaud F, Perga ME. 2011. Quantitative PCR enumeration of total/toxic Planktothrix rubescens and total cyanobacteria in preserved DNA isolated from Lake sediments. Appl Environ Microbiol 77:8744–8753. Schneider K, Asao M, Carter MS, Alber BE. 2012. Rhodobacter sphaeroides uses a reductive route via propionyl coenzyme A to assimilate 3hydroxypropionate. J Bacteriol 194:225–232. Schühle K, Heider J. 2012. Acetone and butanone metabolism of the denitrifying bacterium "Aromatoleum aromaticum" demonstrates novel biochemical properties of an ATP-dependent aliphatic ketone carboxylase. J Bacteriol 194:131–141. Stoffels L, Kehenbrink M, Berks BC, Unden G. 2012. Thiosulfate reduction in Salmonella enterica is driven by the proton motive force. J Bacteriol 194:475–485. 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populaceby meansof certain distinctions and privileges, so that they themselvesmay benefit thereby and also industry in others may be encouraged,since also those most liberal rights granted of old by St. Andrews University have this particular object in view that, as often as the occasion demands,it can honour only suitable men in any faculty even by the highest honours that pertain to that faculty.


The loss or failure of tissues and/or organs is one of the most frequent problems in modern healthcare. The field of tissue engineering applies the principles of biology and engineering in order to ...


The paper uncovers a natural law aspect in the work of Joao Guimaraes Rosa: mutual recognition among humans, which allows for cooperation and the birth of political life. If such recognition fails, due to either a voluntary or involuntary retreat from human life sharing spaces, the underlying conditions for cooperation and the most basic moral attitudes may also cease to exist. Thus, Joao Guimaraes Rosa's novel illustrates in an exemplary way issues that belong to the natural tradition, in both its lockean or hobbesian versions. The literary approach to issues, otherwise treated as a matter of philosophy, increases the readers' sensitiveness to questions more generally dealt with in a theoretical way, and it shows how contemporary the natural law question is.


"The plan for educating and training outstanding engineers"is a major measure to innovate the cultivation model of engineering education. Based on the teaching foundation of mining engineering,this paper firstly analyzed the process of making talent Education and training programs,put forward the concrete measures for educating and training outstanding engineers. And made some beneficial exploration focused on the theoretical curriculum integration、practice teaching reform and effect evaluation. The practical application shows that these studies have achieved certain results.


Interlockings nails (IN) are orthopedic implants with superior mechanical and, potentially, biological qualities. Despite the countless and indisputable advantages of current angle-stable models, there are still limitations for their use in certain scenarios. The objective of the present study was to describe and biomechanically test a new orthogonal angle-stable intramedullary nail model for veterinary use. The proposed orthogonal angle-stable nail has two 3.8-mm threaded cylindrical holes in each of its portions: in the proximal portion, the holes are 11 mm apart; in the distal portion, the penultimate orifice is positioned at 90 degrees in relation to the last one, with a distance of 5.5 mm between them. The novel orthogonal nail (Group 3 – G3) was evaluated and compared biomechanically with the conventional interlocking nail (Group 1 – G1) and the uniplanar angle-stable nail (Group 2 – G2) by means of destructive torsion and axial compression tests. No statistically significant differences were observed in torsion resistance between the groups in the destructive tests. However, statistical differences were found in stiffness values in the compression tests between the orthogonal (G3) and conventional interlocking (G1) nails (p=0.01) and also between the uniplanar (G2) and interlocking (G1) nails (p=0.001). The new orthogonal nail proved to be biomechanically similar to the uniplanar angle-stable model and superior to the conventional nail. This new arrangement of interlocking screws (orthogonal and closer to each other) potentially enables the fixation of small fragments and at the extremities of long bones in dogs. Nonetheless, further clinical studies are necessary to validate such hypotheses.


We study the contribution to the decay of de Sitter vacua from bounces with O(3) x O(2) symmetry. These correspond to the thermal production of a vacuum bubble at the center of a horizon volume with radius r_H and a temperature defined by the horizon. They are analogues of the flat spacetime bounces, independent of Euclidean time, that correspond to thermal production of a critical bubble. If either the strength of gravity or the false vacuum energy are increased, with all other parameters held fixed, the bounces approach, and eventually merge with, the Hawking-Moss solution. Increasing the height of the barrier separating the true and false vacuum, and thus the tension in the bubble wall, causes the center of the bubble wall to approach, but never reach, the horizon. This is in contrast with the prediction of the thin-wall approximation, which inevitably breaks down when the wall is near the horizon. Our numerical results show that the Euclidean action of our solutions is always greater than that of the corresponding O(4)-symmetric Coleman-De Luccia bounce.


The phenomenon of explicit priority-setting in health care is international and cuts across very different types of health care systems and levels of health care spending. In the context of increasingly stretched resources, economic evaluation in health care is becoming a central component of formal decision-making procedures; in particular, in those countries with a longer tradition in health technology assessment (HTA) such as Australia, Canada, UK, The Netherlands and the Scandinavian countries. In reality, it is unlikely that explicit rationing would ever replace implicit rationing entirely, being as they are the two ends of a continuum, and a certain degree of professional discretion is inevitable at the point of service delivery, with doctors always likely to play a role in resource allocation decisions. However, it is the extent to which a society wishes to move along this continuum that is important, being a political and not just a technical decision that implies making value judgements on national objectives. To the extent that resource allocation is supported by the available evidence on cost-effectiveness produced by independent expert agencies following formal and transparent processes, citizens can feel reassured that the adoption of such decisions represent value for money for collective resources. Although the use of randomised controlled trials as a source of evidence for decision-making is widely accepted, they are not sufficient to address the question of whether a technology is cost-effective. Only decision modelling can characterise and synthesise a specific problem where a decision is required, whatever the limitations of the evidence. This task inevitably demands a number of requirements that phase III trials are normally unable to satisfy: firstly, the inclusion of all relevant comparisons in the analysis, rather than the use of a single arbitrary option or placebo; secondly, trials tend to use surrogate outcome measures rather than measures of absolute gain in health, such as life years gained or quality-adjusted life years (QALYs); thirdly, trials also tend to be based on protocol, which restricts the generalisability of their results and thus their value in making decisions about resource allocation; finally, clinical trials normally have a short follow-up, whereas the aim of economic evaluation concerns estimates of the total length of time in which costs and health outcomes are expected to differ between interventions. The last point, the appropriateness of the timehorizon, is particularly relevant when technologies such as screening and diagnostic tests, and chronic conditions in general, are the object of analysis; hence, an extrapolation of short-term effectiveness measures is needed. Screening has the potential to save lives or improve quality-of-life through early diagnosis of serious conditions, reducing the risk of developing a condition or its complications, but the negative longterm consequences for those cases not detected or incorrectly identified should also be accounted for in any economic analysis. The article published in this journal by J. Thompson et al. presents a costeffectiveness analysis of case finding for hepatitis C in primary care, with a model structure that combines a short-term decision tree and a Markov model to extrapolate the long-term consequences of hepatitis C infection for those people who were not identified for testing through case finding. Needless to say, establishing the cost-effectiveness of a health care intervention is a complex and challenging task, which requires a few fundamental issues to be tackled such as how should the inevitable uncertainty in the data be incorporated in the analysis, how to synthesise data from a variety of sources, how the resource allocation decision should be taken in the context of uncertainty and whether more research should be funded to support future decisions. This complexity means that models must operate within an integrated analytical framework for decision making, which can handle parameter and decision uncertainty


ABSTRACT The researcher utilized block-entry regression analysis to determine the impacts of teacher characteristics, school characteristics, organizational characteristics, and teacher efficacy on retention in teaching from 782 teacher surveys. Findings indicated that 83.50% of participants planned to teach until retirement. Wald statistics indicated that years teaching experience, socioeconomic status (SES), salary and workload, parent and student, and technology all made statistically significant contributions to the model. Contrary to existing literature, the findings indicated that teachers in the lowest SES schools were more likely to continue teaching until retirement than teachers in the highest SES schools. The data seemed to indicate that schools in this study interested in increasing teacher retention rates should consider increasing salaries, reducing their workloads, and strive to improve parent and student participation and cooperation levels.


The COVID-19 pandemic, along with disruptions to routine medical care, brought renewed urgency to public health messaging about the importance of influenza vaccination. This retrospective cohort study used a database of linked claims and electronic medical record data to evaluate clinical and demographic characteristics and influenza vaccination history associated with changes in influenza vaccine uptake following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Influenza vaccine uptake was examined in six seasons (2015–2016 through 2020–2021). Individuals were grouped by vaccination history in the five seasons before 2020–2021. Characteristics of 2020–2021 vaccinated vs. unvaccinated individuals were compared, stratified by vaccination history. Overall influenza vaccination uptake was highest in 2020–2021 (35.4%), following a trend of increasing uptake since 2016–2017 (31.4%). Uptake in 2020–2021 was observed in all age groups except ≥65 years, and the increase was particularly notable in individuals <18 years. In the previous five seasons, individuals ≤17 and >65 years, White, and Asian individuals were most likely, while 18-to-49-year-olds and those with fewer comorbidities were least likely, to be consistently vaccinated. Influenza vaccination status in 2020–2021 aligned with vaccination history; few differences in patient characteristics (age, comorbidities, state of residence) were observed when stratified by vaccination history.


In the historical process, the science of Kalām has become more interacted with the two disciplines. The first is philosophy and the other is Sufism. Its relationship with both disciplines has been a decisive factor in shaping the agenda and interest of the Kalām in favour of the disciplines in question. Therefore, when trying to determine the historical trajectory of Kalām science, it is necessary to consider its relationship and interaction with these disciplines. Here,  taking into consideration the perspectives of Sufis and Sufis will provide a better holistic point of view on the concept of Ahl al-Sunna in order to understand the thought structures of both Ash'arī and Ḥanafī-Māturīdī kalām systems. In this context, the relationship between Ḥanafī- Māturīdī kalām system from the early periods to zuhd and Sufism has been important in terms of shedding light on modern times for the early periods. Because in the early stages of Islamic thought, a scholar had multiple qualities in a process where disciplines were not yet divided into sections, in modern times it is necessary to look at them from a holistic perspective without longing for a certain pattern of thought. In this context, the most victimized from the reductive and discriminatory point of view of modern times are Māturīdī and the thought structure devoted to it.  On the one hand, while trying to get closer to the rationalism of Mu'tazila through Kitāb al-Tawḥīd, on the one hand,  al-Māturīdī and his thought structure were turned into a guarantee of the legitimacy of Sufism and Sufis. The point to be mentioned in particular is the distance between Sufism and  Ḥanafī-Māturīdī theologians' views on inspiration . Therefore he and his thought system have been sacrificed from the context of his time and sacrificed to construction activity in line with the needs of modern times. In this case, starting from Abū Ḥanīfa, it is necessary to look at the Holistic-Sufism relationship from a holistic point of view by evaluating the Ḥanafī-Mâturidi kalām system in its own time and context. Starting from the historical background and background of the issue, the study of Kalām and Sufism in terms of topics of interest leads us to different conclusions from the building activities of modern times. In these factors, the relationship between the Ḥanafī-Māturīdī kalām system and Sufism in the early period (h. Ⅴ. Century) was tried to be evaluated in its own time and context. It should be noted that the aim of this study (The Relation of Ḥanafī-Māturīdī  Kalām System with Sufism in the Early Period, PhD Thesis, Gaziantep University Institute of Social Sciences, Department of Basic Islamic Sciences, Gaziantep, Turkey, 2019) is not to introduce the Ḥanafī-Māturīdī theologians, especially Abū Ḥanīfa and al-Māturīdī, to a Sufi-style as opposed to the rational identity assigned to them. On the contrary, by positioning the Ḥanafī-Māturīdī Kalām system somewhere in the middle of rational and mystical poles, it is to reveal its distance to both poles. In this context, our study consists of four chapters. In the first chapter, the common aspects of the theological and sufi movements which are present in the Ḥanafī-Māturīdī culture basin are tried to be put forward by referring to the historical background of the issue. However, no Sufi movement and formation have been considered as the equivalent and projection of the Ḥanafī- Māturīdī kalām system in Sufism. Anyway, evaluating both the Ḥanafī-Māturīdī kalām system and any Sufi school as branches of the same mentality in different disciplines and the equivalent of each other does not benefit from repeating the misconceptions that have fallen into the perspective of modern times. In the second part, the issue has been cross-evaluated in terms of the subjects of interest of both disciplines in the context of theology and the most important subject of Sufism. In particular, in the subjects of Sufism, the competencies of the Ḥanafī-Māturīdī theologians, and especially their mastery of Sufism, have been emphasized. In the third chapter, the subjects of prophethood in which the relationship between theology and Sufism are put forward have been discussed in the context of sainthood, inspiration, ismah and dignity (al-Karamat). In this section, it is seen that the criticisms of Ḥanafī-Māturīdī theological system are aimed more at Shiite-Bātinī thought than Sufism and sufi. In the fourth chapter, the most important subject of early theological science of esmâ and ahkâm issues have been evaluated in terms of kalām and Sufism and the social dimension of the issue has been tried to be put forward. In the conclusion part, it is emphasized that it is difficult to define the Ḥanafī-Māturīdī Kalām system as anti-Sufi or faraway from to Sufism, considering the mystical infrastructure and historical background of the region, although it is not engaged in a Sufi thought and lifestyle. In addition, the necessity of placing him in a conciliatory position in the middle of rational and mystical ends has been brought to the fore despite the pure rational role that was given to him in modern times.


The ludic experience of exploring wilderness in gameworlds may be compromised by either the negative affects of disorientation or the conspicuous application of architectural principles known to support wayfinding. We use a novel device, inspired by insect navigation, to examine players' situated acquisition of spatial knowledge to enable them return to the origin of their route while they explore an unfamiliar, synthetic natural world. We describe qualitative and quantitative data on player behaviour and distill themes to inform subsequent designs to assist players fulfillment when exploring settings and interpreting them spatially.


Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy steadily has been gaining popularity for the analysis of milk components including total fat, protein, lactose, and ketones. To date, there have been few descriptions of the use of FTIR spectroscopy for the determination of milk fatty acid composition. The first objective of this thesis was to develop a method utilizing FTIR spectroscopy for prediction of the health-promoting index (HPI) of milk. The HPI is known to affect the relative softness of butter (Bobe et al., 2003); so, this model could be used to predict which cows' milk could be designated for generation of niche products. To accomplish this objective, milk was collected from 281 cows for analysis. One set of samples was esterified into butyl esters for analysis via gas chromatography (GC), and the lipid was extracted from another set to analyze via FTIR spectroscopy. The GC-derived values and FTIR spectra were used to make predictive models by using the partial least squares (PLS) procedure of SAS. The models subsequently were used to generate predictions of milk composition by using FTIR spectra from three additional sets of 135 cows. The predictive model generated for HPI did not generate values for data not included in the predictive model satisfactorily (mean = 0.266, root mean-squared error of prediction (RMSEP) = 0.122); so, predictive models were created for additional milk fatty acid combinations. The predictive models generated estimates for several milk composition parameters relatively well. For example, the model generated to determine the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids is able to predict with a mean = 0.347 and RMSEP = 0.096. With further development, the use of FTIR


Prostate health is related to the frequency of ejaculation and prostate drainage. Frequent, repetitive ejaculations theoretically may pose a prostate cancer risk due to ensuing high testosterone levels and loss of zinc. In line with this, the proximity of the human rectum and prostate is of diagnostic and therapeutic importance. We provide evidence to support the view that the proximity of the rectum and prostate in men enables lower bowel distention to compress the prostate's lateral side to facilitate drainage, which might lower cancer risk. This drainage mechanism is likely on-going and gradual, compared to rapid drainage following ejaculation. The physiological context suggests that these mechanisms of prostate drainage are complementary. Dietary content containing polyphenol- and fiber-rich meals, along with voluminous stool formation and increased gastrointestinal transit may all help improve prostate drainage. This may be important in voluntary abstinent men or other categories of sexually limited men. Recognizing that the anatomic relationship between the rectal area and prostate may facilitate prostate drainage, because of diet and gastro-intestinal activity, could be important to prostate health maintenance.


This work describes the approach proposed by the RECOD team for the Placing Task of MediaEval 2014. This task requires the denition of automatic schemes to assign geographical locations to images and videos. Our approach is based on the use of as much evidences as possible (textual, visual, and/or audio descriptors) to geocode a given image/video. We estimate the location of test items by clustering the geographic coordinates of top-ranked items in one or more ranked lists dened in terms of dierent criteria.


With the development of Terrestrial 3D Laser-scanning technology, as the one of main methods of earth observing architecture, Terrestrial 3D Laser-scanning technology is increasingly widely applied in the field of ancient architecture protection. Triangulating a set of scattered 3D points is a common approach but a difficult problem to surface reconstruction from unorganized point clouds. Large wood structures are common structure in ancient architecture. Because the amount of point cloud data of it is very large, universal triangulation algorithms don't adapt for. On the basis of full analysis of the characteristics of the ancient buildings' large wood structure, the algorithm was proposed in this article, which integrated with the cylindrical projection and tangent plane projection triangulation. Experiments show that the method is more efficient and effective support for the regular shape large wood structures.


This paper proposes a group-based image retrieval method for video image annotation systems. Although the wide spread use of video camera recorders has increased the demand for an automated annotation system for personal videos, conventional image retrieval methods cannot achieve enough accuracy to be used as an annotation engine. Recording conditions, such as change of the brightness by weather condition, shadow by the surroundings, and etc, affect the qualities of images recorded by the personal video camera recorders. The degraded image of personal video makes the retrieval task difficult. Furthermore, it is difficult to discriminate similar images without any auxiliary information. To cope with these difficulties, this paper proposes a group-based image retrieval method. Its characteristics are 1) the use of image similarity based on the wavelet transformation based features and the scale invariant feature transform based features, and 2) the pre-grouping of related images and screening using group information. Experimental results show that the proposed method can improve image retrieval accuracy to 90% up from the conventional method of 40%.


Published alongside the exhibition of the same name at the Whitechapel Art Gallery (11 June - 29 August 2004) - The 2004 East End Academy showcases the work of 22 artists living and working in Europe's most dynamic cultural quarter - The exhibition offers a fresh perspective on the latest developments in contemporary art with works ranging from delicate pencil drawings to room-sized installations and including painting, photography and video - Work selected by Chantal Crousel, Director Chantal Crousel Gallery, Paris; Chris Ofili, artist; and Niru Ratnum, critic and curator. The East End Academy was first launched in 1932 as an open submission exhibition for 'all artists living and working East of the famous Aldgate Pump'. East London has changed dramatically since this time, becoming home to many of the world's most important artists and transforming Europe's most dynamic cultural quarter. - multimedia


|Surface characteristics such as topography and critical dimensions serve as important indicators of product quality and manufacturing process performance especially at the micrometer and the nanometer scales. This paper rst reviews di®erent technologies used for obtaining high precision 3-D images of surfaces, along with some selected applications. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is one of such methods. These images are commonly distorted by convolution e®ects, which become more prominent when the sample surface contains high aspect ratio features. In addition, data artifacts can result from poor dynamic response of the instrument used. In order to achieve reliable data at high throughput, dynamic interactions between the instrument's components need to be well understood and controlled, and novel image deconvolution schemes need to be developed. Our work aims at mitigating these distortions and achieving reliable data to recover metrology soundness. A summary of our ndings will be presented. Index Terms|Imaging, Atomic Force Microscope, Deconvolution, Stereo Imaging, Piezoelectric, Model, Performance Limitations, Scan Parameters, Creep, Hysteresis, Calibration


Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that is well characterized by persistent synovitis followed by the destruction of the cartilage and bone in joints. Despite many novel therapeutic approaches and scientific studies, no treatment provides a cure for the disease yet.
The Remember/Regeneration Therapy Method (RTM) is a novel holistic medicine approach that targets physiopathological changes in quadruplet body structures and includes various complementary methods such as acupuncture, ozone therapy and phytotherapy, etc. in different combinations which are determined depending on the clinical features of the diseases affecting the patient.
Method: We retrospectively reviewed medical data of 61 patients with RA who were admitted to our clinic between the years of 2012 to 2018. In order to show the efficacy of RTM on RA, previous patient records including pain score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were statistically evaluated.
Results: The pain scores of patients who received RTM phytotherapeutics decreased significantly, while ESR and CRP values did not show a significant difference compared to current medical agents.
Conclusion: RTM may provide permanent treatment for RA and many other similar diseases by using different RTM combinations which include various holistic methods with different doses, treatment durations and sessions. For that purpose, further scientific studies are needed.


Photolysis of acetone in the presence of various hydrogen donors and of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-butanone involves the formation of propan-2-olyl radicals which show both electron and nuclear spin polarization. The electron polarization of the radicals leads to additional nuclear polarization of the reaction products. Transfer of electron to nuclear polarization can occur by cross-relaxation and cross-correlation. The latter is described in detail. Experimentally, the mechanisms lead to formation of net nuclear polarization for symmetrical radical pairs as well as an unusual kinetic behavior of multiplet effects


• Cefaclor, a new orally administered cephalosporin, was used in a dose of 40 mg/kg/day for the treatment of acute otitis media in 60 children. The effectiveness and safety of this dose in a twice-daily vs thrice-daily regimen were compared. There were no differences in the clinical response between the two treatment groups. The drug was well tolerated by all patients, and no major clinical or laboratory toxic effects were observed. The twice-daily regimen did not improve compliance. ( Am J Dis Child 1982;136:33-35)


Objective: To prepare econazole nitrate hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin(HP-β-CD) inclusion complex and to investigate its solubility and antifungal activity.Methods: The inclusion complex was prepared by freeze-drying method and analyzed by DSC,X-RD,phase solubility and dissolution test.The antimycotic activity of econazole nitrate against Candida albicans was determined by inhibition zone,MIC and MBC.Results: The solubility of econazole nitrate significantly increased with increasing HP-β-CD concentration,showing an AL type phase solubility diagram which revealed that the molar ratio of drug to HP-β-CD was 1∶1.Larger inhibition zone,lower MIC and MBC were found for inclusion complex.Conclusion: By forming inclusion complex with HP-β-CD,the solubility of econazole nitrate was markedly increased,and the antimycotic activity of econazole nitrate against Candida albicans was also improved.


According to the increasing needs of three-dimensional printing technologies to satisfy high-level requirements, customization, and complicity, the quality of three-dimensional printed part becomes an important issue due to the layer-wise nature of additive manufacturing process. The objective of this study is to propose a methodology to identify the quality of three-dimensional printed parts with circular holes in the laser aided additive manufacturing process. We utilize a response surface methodology to represent the relationship between input variables (chord height tolerance and diameter of a hole) and response (geometric error) for evaluating the geometric accuracy of the three-dimensional printed parts with the diameter of holes. From the calculated response surface methodology, we conclude that the proposed methodology can be utilized as a process design guide to guarantee the quality of a part printed from the laser aided additive manufacturing process. The efficiency and limitations of the proposed methodology are verified by conducting a case study.


In this paper we split up the sampling error occurred in stratified and clustering sampling, called global error and measured by the variance of estimator, in many partial errors each one referred to a single stratum or cluster. In particular, we study, for clustering sampling, the empirical distribution of the homogeneity coefficient that is very important for settlement of partial errors.


Since Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) swarm emerged with the merit of high efficiency, flexibility and robustness in search tasks, related research has been in the spotlight in recent years. In this paper, an adaptive cooperative search method with the ability of collision avoidance for multi-UAVs is presented on the basis of the well-known Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm and the efficient topological planning method EGO-Swarm. Remarkably, apart from the introduction of adaptive strategy to compensate for the easy tendency to local optimum of classic PSO, a mechanism of autonomous path planning is innovatively incorporated into PSO algorithm to eliminate possible collisions. This, while inheriting the intrinsic advantages of PSO like few parameters, simple implications and low computational complexity, facilitates the practical application of UAVs in nonideal search environments. Simulation shows that our method proposed is well suited for rapid target localization in scenes dense with obstacles, while confliction among UAVs can also be avoided swiftly.


Objective To explore the value of 64-slice MSCT in diagnosing anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. Methods Seven infants with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery, diagnosed with 64 MSCT and proven by surgery or autopsy, were retrospectively reviewed. Results The opening orifice of the left coronary artery in pulmonary artery was shown by 64 MSCT in all 7 infants with 3 cases arising from the right lateral wall, 1 case from the left lateral wall, 1 case from the left posterior lateral wall and 2 cases from the posterior sinus of pulmonary artery. In 7 cases, the origin of the right coronary artery was normal and all were originated from the right sinus of Valsalva of aorta, the right coronary artery was turtuous and dilated in 4 cases. Conclusion 64 MSCT is emerging as an essential imaging tool for detecting early anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery with high resolution and significance.

Key words:
Coronary vessel anomalies;  Tomography;  X-ray computed;  Infant


Taylor and Francis CDIE_A_565507.sgm 10.1080/01587919.2011.565507 Distance Education 0158-7919 (pri t)/1475-0198 (online) Book R view 2 11 Open and Dist nce Learning Association of Australia, Inc. 320000May 201 nyB tes tony.b tes@ bc. a Changing cultures in higher education: moving ahead to future learning, edited by U.-D. Ehlers and D. Schneckenberg, Heidelberg/London/New York, Springer, 2010, x + 610 pp., US$129.00 (hardback), ISBN 978-3-642-03581-4


T effect of wear and tear of the tailstock assembly of a lathe affects the accuracy of the finished product in several different ways. Wear on the bed-ways or tailstock soleplate lowers the effective centre height and results in the production of tapered work, the rate of taper being dependent on the work diameter and length. On flat-bed lathes in which the parallel central slot serves to align the movable headstock through the medium of a parallel gib-piece fixed under the soleplate and sliding between the bed-ways, there is normally no provision for adjustment, and in time the tailstock barrel becomes capable of some small angular movement which can result in the production of inaccurate work. Worse still, the errors are not consistent and it becomes necessary to make trial cuts before they become evident. Further inaccuracies owe their origin to the set-over device employed for taper turning. They arise because of slackness between the soleplate and the upper portion of the tailstock assembly. Still another source of error is due to the barrel locking mechanism. Usually the basic design is rather poor, the clamping forces give rise to eccentric stresses and the axis of the spindle is often swung out of alignment with the principal axis of the lathe. In lathes with American-pattern V-beds, wear results only in a small reduction in the effective centre height while the axial alignment remains undisturbed, but the errors due to the set-over mechanism are just as serious as in other types of machine. The present note describes some work undertaken to correct serious inaccuracy in a 6-in. centre lathe. Before starting on this operation, the fixed headstock had been completely overhauled, a new mandrel fitted and the main bearings had been re-bored. Chucking operations showed that a 4-in. test-piece could be turned parallel within 0.0003 in. Similar small errors were present in deep bored holes. It proved impossible to better these figures without employing a dangerously small clearance between the main spindle and the split gunmetal bushes. Returning to the tailstock modifications, it will be seen from the diagram that the worn rectangular tenon under the tailstock is no longer employed to constrain the motion of this part while it is being set over. Instead, a short length of square-section machined tool-steel is fitted into V-grooves cut into the upper and lower components of the assembly. To correct for the small reduction in centre height, already mentioned, a slip of hardened shim-steel sheet is employed to pack up the front end of the tailstock. At the handwheel end, a set-screw adjustment is provided, and serves to remove any tendency for the upper component to rock on the edges of the tool-steel bar, and it also provides additional support which prevents the tailstock centre lifting appreciably under heavy cutting stresses. Before undertaking any of the work of alignment, the existing tailstock spindle was removed and the bored hole in the main casting lapped out parallel throughout its length. An expanding cast-iron lap was used, driven from the lathe headstock. A new spindle was then machined from a nickel alloy-steel forging and fitted tightly into the lapped bore. The two V-grooves were then finished to size, (Continued on page 152)


Public health services, which reduce a population's exposure to disease through such measures as sanitation and vector control, are an essential part of a country's development infrastructure. For various reasons, mostly of political economy, public fund for health services in India have been focused largely on medical services, and public health services have been neglected. This is reflected in a virtual absence of modern public health regulations, and of systematic planning and delivery of public health services (Dasgupta, 2006). With growing urban population and urban poverty, it is imperative that health concerns of the large urban poor are addressed. Government fiscal constraints, together with the need for expansion and augmentation of curative and tertiary facility for providing public health services have been some of the key drivers underlying the recent growth of public private partnership in the health sector in most developing countries. The public private partnership in health sector is likely to improve the delivery of health care services besides development and management of health infrastructure more efficiently. Against this view point, present paper purports to review the health care delivery in urban India and examining the role of public private partnership in health sector.


Manufacturing flexibility is wide field of research that lacks a clear and concise definition. It has been described by some to be a source of competitive advantage. Others have described manufacturing flexibility as analogous to quality as a critical measure of manufacturing capability. This thesis considers the role of manufacturing flexibility as it applies to a manufacture of luxury products. A specific definition of flexibility is applied to this firm based on its particular industrial evolutionary stage and operational objectives. Probabilistic modeling, linear optimization and iterative simulation is used to show that volume and product mix flexibility can substantially improve the ability to respond to customer demands while improving capacity utilization. Network flow modeling illustrates that significant benefits can be achieved with limited flexibility. The full benefits of this flexibility are detailed and the organizational barriers to change are explored. Thesis Advisors: Nelson Repenning, MIT Sloan School of Management Chris Magee, MIT Engineering Systems Division and Mechanical Engineering Division Acknowledgements I wish to acknowledge the Leaders for Manufacturing Program and my corporate sponsor, Intel Corporation, for their support of this work. Additional acknowledgement is extended to the internship company for the opportunity to be a part of great company. In particular, I wish to thank Rod, Gregory, Dave and Diane for their ongoing management, mentoring and leadership. I would like to thank Dave, Tony and Aaron for their significant team support, analysis and expert advice without which this study could not have been completed. To Pete, Dan, Aimee and Andy thanks for the information, guidance and feedback that allowed forward momentum to continue. I would also like to thank Professor Repenning, Professor Magee and Professor Graves for their support and open sharing of knowledge. Most importantly I would like to gratefully acknowledge and thank my family Kelly, Zofia and Moses who supported me throughout this process. Without them my life would have no meaning.


This article presents a criticism on historic aspects of the environment around the session of the tune Fleche d'Or by Django Reinhardt, and how critics considered the French musician at his time, both in America and Europe. After the demonstration that this piece is a true earlier example of what was considered the flame of the so called "modal jazz" with Miles Davis, the question takes place: Why was it not heard?


The development of an assay for trace detection of ampicillin using an optical biosensor based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is reported. The biospecific interactions between ampicillin and ampicillin monoclonal antibody were monitored in real time. Water solution with a series ampicillin concentration is detected. The analysis time per sample was less than 10 minutes. Furthermore, the influencing factors including flow velocity and temperature are discussed in detail in order to get the best conditions and ensure the effectiveness and high accuracy of the method. The Limit of Detection(LOD) of the assay for ampicillin is 1.25ng/ml, which is below the EU's Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) of 4ppb. Therefore, the application of optical biosensor technology in antibiotic residues analysis is of great interest.


SummaryIn conventional mice colonies, mouse pinworm, Syphacia obvelata is found very often. Several studies indicate that infection with this parasite can modulate the immune system of the host and can affect experimental final results. The aim of our study was to investigate the most immunogenic proteins of S. obvelata inducing both local and systemic immune response in naturally infected laboratory mice. Protein extracts of S. obvelata were analysed by Western blotting to examine their antigenic character. The antigens were probed with serum and mucosa of S. obvelata naturally infected mice. Surface and somatic antigens were recognized by serum and mucosal IgG, IgA and IgM antibodies. The most immunogenic and dominant proteins were observed. Proteins of Mw ∼ 70, 65 and 48 kDa showed the most evident reaction with serum and mucosa antibodies of infected animals. Surface and somatic antigens of nematode S. obvelata eliciting immune response in laboratory mice may be useful in development of a diagnostic test which could be applied for the infection control prior the experiments.


This paper studies the ECG signal prior to a transient ST change. Two hypotheses are proposed. The first is that various types of ST changes can be differentiated using the signal just prior to the ST event. The second is that ischemic ST changes can be differentiated from non-events, again using the signal prior to the ST event. A machine learning approach, based on Gaussian mixture models and maximum likelihood Bayesian classification, is used to analyze the ECG signal. Two sets of feature extraction techniques, reconstructed phase space and Karhunen Loeve transform, are applied, both of which capture morphological characteristics of the ECG signal. The results in addressing the first hypothesis show that information indicative of the type of ST change is present in the signal prior to the onset of the ST event; however the classification accuracy is low. The second hypothesis cannot be affirmed with the results presented here


Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is an endogenous neuropeptide with a broad array of physiological functions in the nervous system and peripheral organs including the intestine. This peptide exerts its action via binding to VPAC1, VPAC2 and PAC1, which are G‐protein coupled receptors (GPCR). VPAC1 is the major receptor constitutively expressed in many cell types and is responsible for majority of VIP's biological activity. However, the distribution of VPAC1 along the length of the gastrointestinal tract and its sub cellular localization in intestinal epithelial cells has not been fully defined. Therefore, the current studies were undertaken to determine VPAC1 distribution and localization so that VIP based therapies can be targeted to specific regions of the intestine.


Two types of solid micro-thruster structure were designed based on MEMS technique,one of which with discrete and abnormal laval nozzle.Numerical analysis of the interior ballistics,the flow of the gas and heat loss for different designs show that the discrete and abnormal laval nozzle also can accelerate the propellant gas to the speed of ultrasonic.Its specific impulse is almost the same with that of a normal one.In addition,silicon which is commonly used in MEMS technique may tremendously damp the specific impulse,while glass and pottery withgood insulating property can efficiently enhance it.


Safety monitoring results of a dam with clay core are presented. As the left abutment of the major dam is very steep, the TStype displacement transducers and GKDtype pore water pressure transducers are installed to monitor the displacement and seepage of the joint part of clay core and the abutment. The results show that although the stability of the slope of the dam satisfies the criterion, significant displacement and seepage occur at the interface between left abutment and clay core.Therefore, in designing the bank slope of the dam, special attention must be paid to prevent the displacement and the crack resulted.Seepage at key parts in the dam should be observed. Moreover, in numerical analysis of the dam by finite element method, two set of material constants should be chosen to signify the saturated and unsaturated situations corresponding to construction period and water storage period. 


— The quality of medical devices (including their biocompatibility) is regulated throughout the European Economic Area by Directive 93/42/EEC, which came into effect on 1 January 1995. The CE (conformity assessment) mark placed on the device shows conformity with the essential requirements, which guarantee the desired level of quality. Standards can be used to prove this conformity with the essential requirements. Scientific input is needed to produce and update relevant standards.


Policy in traffic congestion by Government of Bandar Lampung directed to create good traffic order for the present and for the future. Problems of this research are: (1) What is the Department of Transportation policy of Bandar Lampung in addressing traffic congestion through the operationalization of Bus Rapid Transit? (2) What are the factors supporting and inhibiting Policy Bandar Lampung Transportation Agency in addressing traffic congestion through the operationalization of Bus Rapid Transit? This research approach is normative and empirical jurisdiction. Data was collected through library research and field study. The data was then analyzed to obtain qualitative researchconclusions. The results and discussion indicate: (1) Bandar Lampung city government policy in addressing traffic congestion through operationalization Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a policy that is both urgent and requires settlement in a short time , because congestion has become a problem that needs to be as soon as possible addressed. (2) The factors that support the policy of Bandar Lampung transportation agencies in addressing traffic congestion through the operationalization of Bus Rapid Transit is a legal umbrella operation of BRT, the BRT implementation and operationalization of the expectations of the people in town that mass transportation