For traditional birefringent materials, the anion groups play the leading role in birefringence, while the alkali‐metal and alkaline‐earth‐metal cations are nearly inactive. This work proposes a strategy to activate the functions of the cation groups and uses the hydroxyborate systems for illustration. The experimental verification is carried out in the same anionic frame by replacing the traditional metal cations with the birefringence‐active units including planar groups of protonation [C(NH2)3], [C3N2H5], and [CN4H7]. The structures of four new hydroxyborates, α‐Rb2[B4O5(OH)4]·H2O, β‐Rb2[B4O5(OH)4]·H2O, [C(NH2)3]2[B4O5(OH)4]·H2O, and (CN4H7)B5O6(OH)4 are obtained for the first time, and [C(NH2)3]2[B4O5(OH)4]·H2O exhibits a markedly enlarged birefringence, which is about 2.75 times that of α‐Rb2[B4O5(OH)4]·H2O theoretically because the activated cations appear. This strategy breaks the dominant status of anions in the design of UV/deep ultraviolet materials with large birefringence and has significant implications for the rational design and discovery of materials with large birefringence in the future.


When the General Accounting Standards Board issued Statement No. 34 in 1999, many utility managers thought it meant big changes to their water rate‐making principles and financial reporting requirements. However, GASB 34 does not change these principles. Although it puts forth new reporting standards and definitions, AWWA Manual M1 remains the preeminent guide for water utility ratemaking, regardless of the accounting rules presented by GASB 34. This article helps eliminate some of the confusion surrounding GASB 34 and its relationship to rate‐making.


The internet and information technology has been making a significant impact on the travel industry which is lucrative and explosively growing online business worldwide. Although cyber travel agencies, the typical online travel business, are getting popular in Korea, the majority of them has not been quite different from traditional off-line travel agencies except they have used internet sites as promotional tools. The purpose of the study is to examine the customers' perception and preference of cyber travel agencies, and to propose desirable implications for better management of them. A survey on 65 employees of 10 cyber travel agencies in Korea was performed using self-completed questionnaires. The results show that cyber travel agencies in Korea need technical improvements to handle with every step of online business transactions confronting with excessive competitions. They are found not to update and supplement travel contents of their internet sites frequently, but build up a database of customer profiles controlling the function of internet membership. Additionally, it is revealed that as the sales ratio of electronic commerce to entile sales is higher, the labor and PR costs are lower, the content updating is higher, and the building up of customer profile becomes easier. In spite of some inherent limitations, this study is expected to contribute for generating better managerial ideas of cyber travel agencies.


By modifying the physical environment, ecosystem engineers can have inordinately large effects on surrounding communities and ecosystem functioning. However, the significance of engineering in ecosystems greatly depends on the physical characteristics of the engineered habitats. Mechanisms underlying such context-dependent impact of engineers remain poorly understood even though they are crucial to establish general predictions concerning the contribution of engineers to ecosystem structure and function. The present study aimed to decrypt such mechanisms by determining how the environmental context modulates the effects of ecosystem engineers (bioturbators) on microorganisms in river sediments. To test the effects of environmental context on the role of bioturbators in sediments, we used mesocosms and recreated two sedimentary contexts in the laboratory by adding a layer of either fine or coarse sand at the top of a gravel-sand matrix. For each sediment context, we examined how the sediment reworking activity of a bioturbating tubificid worm (Tubifex tubifex) generated changes in the physical (sediment structure and permeability) and abiotic environments (hydraulic discharge, water chemistry) of microorganisms. Microbial characteristics (abundances, activities) and leaf litter decomposition a major microbially-mediated ecological process were measured to evaluate the impact of bioturbation on biotic compartment. Our results showed that the permeability, the availability of oxygen and the activities of microorganisms were reduced in sediments covered with fine sand, in comparison with sediments covered with coarse sand. Tubifex tubifex significantly increased permeability (by about six-fold), restored aerobic conditions and ultimately stimulated microbial communities (resulting in a 30% increase in leaf litter breakdown rate) in sediments covered with fine sand. In contrast T. tubifex had low effects in sediments topped by coarse sand, where O2 was already available for hyporheic microorganisms. Our study supports the idea that context dependency mainly modulates the effects of engineering by controlling the ability of engineers to create changes on abiotic (O2 in the present study) factors that are limiting for surrounding communities.


A paediatrician shares her experience of dealing with a teenage girl suffering from anorexia nervosa and her decision to hospitalise the girl after some days as she did not expect any improvement in the girl's condition. However, she states that she was pleasantly surprised when the girl was on the road to recovery after some days, contrary to the expected behaviour among those with anorexia.


Since the implementation of the household contract responsibility system and villagers' self-governance system,it has already formed a typical governance model which is called Cun-Zu.However,with the township system and rural tax reform,it is not only reconstructed the relationship between the local government and farmers,but the local government is also actively responding to these new changes.In this paper,as a case study on Yang Linqiao of Hubei Province,we discusses the new trend of modern rural communities construction,and point out that the rural community construction originated in grassroots action by the local farmers,then institutionalized by the local government,which formed a new model and provided a new perspective for thinking about changes in rural organization system.


This paper aims to investigate the process that the production and consumption of the idea of desire is reestablished and to study the distance between the ideology and daily routine. During the process, a medium changed the ideology of public's will into their passion and drove the public to visually learn the ideology through the repetitive exposure by the medium. Cho-Kwang mainly targeted at the public crowds which were the object to be a reader of the magazine and be refined. The public crowds usually pursued individual practical benefit and superficial politeness. Thus, this can be called as a routinized daily life. At this point of view, the advertisements, especially the cosmetic advertisements, were the most routinized medium. As the statist mobilization started, Japanese and Korean magazines in Japan and Korea tended to show decreased industrial products advertisements, but Cho-Kwang had overwhelming number of cosmetic advertisements comparing with other magazines. This phenomenon, firstly, can be explained as Cho-Kwang tried to be popularized through becoming a daily routine material rather than theoretical ideology. Secondly, it also can be explained by the political and emotional distance between Japan and Joseon Dynasty. The advertisements mainly showed about the Western women's appearance and popular issues without gloomy reality of the war and economic depression. The western women in advertisements showed the representative modern women images so that the female readers had the desire to follow the modern women's body in the advertisement images. After all, wearing makeup became a daily routine as the increase of the consumption class which caused by the symbolized the modern women's body.


The purpose of this communication is to display an original decision model - the Decisional Fit Model. Based on other models of fit, this model focuses on decision making when using a decision support system. In addition, we propose a discussion on the impact of misfit when coping strategies occur.


This essay analyses the metaphors used by translation scholars to define metaphor translation. The topic has elicited a surge of interest in translation studies since the late 1970s, and here a corpus of some 15 essays is taken into account, covering a diverse range of approaches to the issue. The main narrative is that of metaphor as a problem in translation, which finds its way through most if not all of the essays considered here. While not being dissociated with the traditional narrative of a more general theory of translation, in this specific case the activity seems almost doomed to failure. This is also confirmed by a number of spatial metaphors drawing a borderline space for metaphor translation and locating metaphors at the "limits of translatability". A final set of metaphors identified in our corpus resorts to the concepts of dimensions and forces, in order to allow a more encompassing view of the figure and its translation. Such models attempts at moving beyond the narrative of a troublesome, unsolvable activity, towards a non-simplistic, quantitative approach to the issue.


This paper shows simple method to simulate nonlinear longitudinal flight dynamic of an aircraft in the most direct way. The method is based on physical principles of an analytical-empiric flight dynamics. Non-linearity, as stall or thrust dependent on velocity, can be included. Static and dynamic stability derivatives are not required but can be computed as an output. The model is applicable for various aircraft conceptions. Higher level model, for example, based on flight tests data, can be modified by low-level analytical methods, e.g. for modification of horizontal tail area. No special simulation software is necessary. The model is compared to linear model and flight test experiment. This model, together with valuable analytical-empiric data, might be applied for fast flight dynamic computations. Model is easily accessible and understandable even with basic knowledge of flight dynamic and computer programming. The main application of the method is conceptual design when high precision is not expected, even if VLM, CFD or flight test data can improve the precision.


Almost all existing social learning models assume that each agent can perceive her private signal which is used in updating her belief. In this work, we assume that there are some uninformed agents in the network which cannot observe their private signals and update their beliefs just based on the beliefs of their neighbors. We prove that under mild assumptions, even one informed agent is enough to lead all agents in the network eventually learn the true state of the world almost surely. Furthermore, we show through simulation that in a heterogeneous undirected network, it is more efficient to have a few hub agents as the informed agents which can observe their signals, and the convergence speed is almost the same as that when all agents are informed agents.


Abstract A practical synthesis of resveratrol 3-O-β-D-glucuronide, suitable for preparation of large quantities, was developed using selective deacetylation of resveratrol triacetate with ammonium acetate. A simplified procedure for large-scale preparation of resveratrol is also reported. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT


When strategic complementanties lead to the existence of multiple equilibria, a change in control of government may lead to changes in economic behavior by consumers or firms even if the different parties pursue the same policies. The existence of multiple equilibria, however, is not necessary to predict partisan effects. Furthermore, electoral uncertainty is not necessary to generate partisan effects; indeed, such uncertainty can dampen the cycle.


M. Bajtin' s model can not be taken into account without a previous cnticism that overcomes the dependences of the time in which it was elaborated. Sorne reflexions on diverse aspects are suggested in this anide and sorne texts of Berceo, Juan Ruiz and Jorge Manrique which prove the need for defining the limits between the carnival-like aspect and every social reference, are analysed.


This paper highlights the narrative of Africa Rising. It indicates that indeed Africa as well as agriculture are rising. Since 2000, Sub-Saharan Gross Domestic Product has been growing at an average rate of 5% per annum. Agriculture has been growing at an average rate of 3.5% p.a, well above the 2.7% population growth. Evidence shows that this economic and agricultural growth have lead to improvements in the lives of the African people. Real income per person has increased by more than 30% since 2000, and the poverty rate has declined from 57% in 1990 to 43% in 2012. SSA's rapid growth over the past decade and a half has been driven by high global commodity prices, increased foreign direct investments, improved economic governance, and growing domestic demand due to increasing population, spiraling urbanization, expanding labour force and rising middle class. The interesting question is how the Africa rising narrative can be sustained into the future. The paper indicates that the answer lies in the economic and agricultural transformation of Africa. The Africa Progress Report (2014) describes a strategy for economic transformation, while the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) provides a policy framework for agricultural transformation. The paper highlights three examples of frameworks from the author's point of view on how Africa could create such economic and agricultural transformation. The first is based on the author's  published Mukhebi Theory of Economic Development (MUTED), which provides the case for public goods that will provide the necessary physical and soft infrastructure (national and continental nervous system) for significantly enhanced intra Africa commerce and trade. The second is based on the author's published book My 50 Dreams, which provides an inexhaustible reservoir of knowledge for necessary technological development and innovation. The third is based on the author's project involvement is the Africa Centers of Excellence II (ACE II) Project initiated and supported by the World Bank, which provides a framework for universities in Africa to develop necessary high level human capital with mobility across the continent. The paper concludes that Africa and its agriculture are indeed rising despite the challenges. Economic and agricultural transformation is needed to sustain the narrative of Africa rising. MUTED, Dreams and the ACE Project are examples of frameworks of how Africa could sustain and enhance the narrative.


Abstract Feedforward neural networks are often used in a similar manner as logistic regression models; that is, to estimate the probability of the occurrence of an event. In this paper, a probabilistic model is developed for the purpose of estimating the probability that a patient who has been admitted to the hospital with a medical back diagnosis will be released after only a short stay or will remain hospitalized for a longer period of time. As the purpose of the analysis is to determine if hospital characteristics influence the decision to retain a patient, the inputs to this model are a set of demographic variables that describe the various hospitals. The output is the probability of either a short or long term hospital stay. In order to compare the ability of each method to model the data, a hypothesis test is performed to test for an improvement resulting from the use of the neural network model.


Organizations often face difficulty in the evaluation and prioritization of their business processes. Many performance measurement indicators are defined at the aggregate and not at the process level. Surabaya City Office for Population Administration & Civil Registration (COP ACR) is a local government agency which face these challenges. This paper attempts to solve COP ACR challenges by applying BPM approach. First, process performance measurement guideline is developed. Next, the business process selection stage is carried out. The last stage is composing performance measurement indicators. From the business process selection stage, the priorities for process improvement initiatives are application processes for Birth Certificate, Biodata Change on Family Cards with the KLAMPID Application, and (3) Indonesian Citizens Transfer Certificate of Inter-City/Regency/Province processes certificate. In addition, the development of performance measurement indicators results in 29 performance measurement indicators related to Birth Certificate business processes.


Four strains of entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana , Metarhizium anisopliae, Paecilomyces sp and Nomuraea rileyi were evaluated for pathogenicity against Bemisia tabaci in the laboratory invitro using four concentrations of conidia/ml.Thirty whiteflies were used for each set of experiment for each strain of entomopathogenic fungi. They were divided into six groups out of which one group is a control. Each treatment was replicated five times on monthly bases for each concentration along with control. Bemisia tabaci mortality was recorded at two days interval for ten days. Mortality data were analyzed using the Two-Way Analysis of Variance and significant means were differentiated by Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Compared with the control group, all strains had a significantly increased mortality rate of Whitefly (P < 0.05). The most effective strain was B. bassiana in all the concentrations (mortality range between 81.6±0.01 – 95.2±0.44 % at 10 days post treatment (DPT) followed by N. rileyi (63.6±0.41 - 78.2±0.18) %, least performance was noticed in P. species (42.6±0.01 - 68.2±0.44 %). This study has shown that the potential of entomopathogenic fungi especially B. bassiana and N. rileyi has raised a hope to be harnessed as alternative control measure of Bemisia tabaci at larval stage with further research.


In any consideration of the infectiousness of a food substance, the number of virulent contaminating organisms is an important factor. In the study reported in this paper, the methods were designed to give results as to the numbers as well as kinds of bacteria of the type of Bacterium abortus and related strains found in freshly drawn milk. The methods were practically the same as those employed in an earlier work of which this is a continuation. The data presented in this paper are therefore supplemental to the earlier report.1 It was reported in the earlier paper that besides the typical virulent strains of Bact. abortus, other bacteria of similar morphology were eliminated from the udders of many cows whose milk was examined. The history of those cows was not known. Many other samples of milk have been examined from cows whose history is known in order to determine whether there might be any correlation between the presence of organisms similar to Bact. abortus in the milk and the occurrence of abortion. The fact that the serum of a certain small percentage of aborting cows does not react on the,typical strains of Bact. abortus suggested the possibility that some of these bacteria may sometimes be responsible for abortion.


The simplest monosaccharide, glycolaldehyde (CH2OHCHO), has recently been detected toward the Galactic center in the source Sgr B2(N) at five frequencies from 71-104 GHz. None of the individual lines used in the detection had been measured previously in the laboratory; rather, their frequencies were predicted based on lower frequency measurements. We have now recorded and analyzed many new rotational transitions of glycolaldehyde through 354 GHz using two spectrometers. Lines through 48 GHz in frequency were measured with a spectrometer that uses Stark modulation, while the higher frequency transitions were measured with a FASSST (Fast Scan Submillimeter Spectroscopic Technique) apparatus. Analysis of the data has allowed us to confirm the interstellar identifications and to predict the frequencies of many additional lines not measured in the laboratory.


The article by Kim et (1) presents a significant step forward in the evolution of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques to measure two-dimensional intramyocardial displacement and strain. The pulse sequence described in reference 1 is the latest in a set of sequences that have built on an innovative technique called displacement encoding with stimulated echoes (DENSE) (2). The DENSE pulse sequence directly encodes the shift in position (ie, displacement) of tissue in the phase of the transverse magnetization. The first sequence, proposed in reference 2, required a 4-minute acquisition for one end-systolic displacementencoded MR image at one section location, while this latest publication reports a breath-hold sequence using short echo train echo-planar MR imaging (fast gradient-recalled-echo echo train) (3) with a versatile artifact-suppression technique (4) that acquires a time series of 12 displacement-encoded MR images across roughly 3⁄4 of the cardiac cycle at one section location in 13 heartbeats. At this stage, a clinical evaluation of this sequence in comparison with standard tagging methods using the latest tag identification postprocessing algorithms is warranted. Displacement encoding by phase contrast is a significant innovation, on the same level as velocity encoding by phase contrast. The mechanism whereby the magnetization phase angle becomes a function of the shift in position (ie, displacement, with units of length) of the tissue is not immediately obvious. The publication on DENSE MR imaging by Aletras et al (2) described the process of displacement encoding. Transverse magnetization is initially position encoded by an encoding gradient pulse, stored temporarily as longitudinal magnetization during the "mixing time" and then refocused just prior to data acquisition by an "unencoding" gradient pulse. The unencoding gradient pulse causes the transverse magnetization to refocus at a phase angle that is linearly proportional to the displacement that occurred during the mixing time. In later publications (1,5,6), it was made more clear to the reader that the unencoding gradient pulse refocuses only half of the transverse magnetization that had been stored and that the other half of the magnetization is not refocused and destroys the displacement encoding if it is allowed to contribute signal to the data prior to Fourier image reconstruction. The encoding and unencoding gradient pulses are each given a large zeroth moment (gradient strength duration), so that the spatial frequencies of this "unrefocused" magnetization are shifted to outside the spatial frequency range of the acquired data. The unwanted signal from this magnetization is present as an oscillating current in the receiver coil, but most if not all of this signal is eliminated by band-pass analog or digital filtering of the signal during data acquisition. The use of the unencoding gradient pulse to shift the spatial frequencies, to effectively eliminate the unrefocused magnetization, and to preserve the refocused magnetization whose phase is linearly proportional to the displacement is a key innovation distinguishing DENSE MR imaging from amplitude-modulation methods, such as spatial modulation of magnetization (7). Before the development of DENSE MR imaging, spatial tagging and velocity-encoded phase imaging were used to measure myocardial motion and deformation (7–10) and allowed clinicians to establish a significant diagnostic potential for these types of measurements. Scanning options to improve image quality and new postprocessing algorithms to improve automation, speed, and reliability of the motion and deformation measurements continue to be developed. Nevertheless, DENSE MR imaging provides several fundamental technical advantages


Optimization of welding parameters is essential on austenitic stainless steel for industrial applications since they declare the best parameters compared with prioritized constraints. However, available optimization methods, such as the Taguchi method, widely used in this research domain, are weak. Their results are merely comparative and fail to particularly show the specific factor that displays the highest performance in the process. In this paper, the aim is specifically to position the parameters in order of importance and present them in a grey wolf optimization framework. The ultimate tensile strength and yield strength were optimized, and the optimization was conducted using the C++ programming code. Literature data were analyzed for austenitic stainless steel under un-notched/smooth and notched specimen conditions. Empirical models were developed for the ultimate tensile strength and yield strength, among other principal criteria of the material. For the ultimate tensile strength, the best value was obtained at the 100th iteration as 640.75. For the yield strength, the best value of 394.98 was obtained after 100 iterations. A value of 31.07 for the PE was obtained. These results are for the unnotched specimens. However, the PE, NTS, and yield strength values for the notched specimens are 16.32, 780.12, and 494.46, respectively. Based on the findings of this study and compared with other optimization methods, the optimal parameters and outputs predicted using the grey wolf optimization approach were found to produce reliable results. This shows that the grey wolf optimization approach is a good option for predicting the optimal parameters of the tungsten arc welding process by utilizing austenitic stainless steel. The usefulness of this research effort is to help process engineers to implement robust and effective cost decisions in the production of materials based on austenitic stainless steel.


The aim of this research was to identify methods for breaking dormancy and promoting germination of Stryphnodendron adstringens and S. polyphyllum seeds. Seeds of both species were submitted to the following treatments for breaking dormancy: control; mechanical scarification (sandpaper number 220); hot water (initial temperature of 87°C) for 5 and 15 minutes; chemical scarification with H 2 SO 4 (95%) for 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 and 105 minutes; thermal shock 1 (0°C and 50%RH for 1h and thereafter 10 minutes into water Ti=85°C, Tf=57°C); thermic shock 2 (40°C and 40% RH for 6h and thereafter 10 minutes into water, Ti=0°C, Tf=3°C); thermal shock 3 (40°C and 40% RH for 6h and thereafter 10 minutes into water, Ti=25°C, Tf=25°C). We concluded that seeds belonging to same genus but from different species answered differently to some treatments for breaking dormancy. Chemical scarification with H 2 SO 4 (45 minutes) and mechanical scarification with sandpaper are methods that can be employed with efficiency to break dormancy and promote germination for both species.


I n this book, Jackson presents an innovative discussion of the cultural assumptions that affect human resource management (HRM) in global organisations. He focuses on some of the key differences in HRM orientation across national cultures (including Dutch, Japanese, Chinese and British) and geo-political divides (including post-Soviet, European Union, post-Colonial), and comments on how these differences may impact on indigenous and foreign companies in these regions. Each chapter in the book focuses on a particular cultural 'model' of organisations. Within each chapter, Jackson provides an overview of some of the cultural and management research relevant to each region, as well as case studies 'to discuss issues as far as possible within the context of real companies and real cultures' (page x). Each chapter also considers the implications for managerial action from the case(s) and developing further research in each area. The author concentrates on a particular feature of HRM in each of his 'models'. For example, in the Japanese model (chapter 5) he examines how a holistic approach to commitment has played a role in motivating the Japanese workforce, and how such a perspective may be exported to other parts of the world through Japanese multinationals. Another example is the Dutch model (chapter 4), in which Jackson focuses on the role of expatriates, and provides an understanding of the way in which Dutch companies may have developed specific roles for expatriates based on Dutch culture and history. While each chapter focuses on a particular set of issues (for example, expatriation, training and development, and performance management), the purpose is not to suggest that one particular model is the most appropriate to deal with a particular human resource issue. Rather, Jackson takes aspects of HRM in each chapter and submits them to somewhat of a cultural litmus test—using the identification and practice of a particular concept (say, work flexibility) in a particular cultural context (say, the European Union) as an impetus to discuss the appropriate use of the same concept in other cultures and in global business management. He further makes the point that concepts such as commitment, job satisfaction, performance management, and development are most often seen from a Western point of view, developed within Western cultural assumptions and often imposed on other cultural contexts. Here perhaps, one assumption Jackson himself makes is that the reader is approaching the area from the perspective of a 'Westerner'. He voices his concern that the opportunity to


This numerical study focused on the errors that can occur when ellipsometric spectroscopic scatterometry programs are used for critical dimension (CD) control and other significant geometrical parameters. The role of the number of wavelengths, the measurements noise and the spectral range is analyzed in terms of CD precision. Conversely, an important part is devoted to the effect of a bad shaping modelling of the lines (corner rounding, foot and notch effects) and bad characterization of the index. We show that the scatterometry technique is very resistant to measurement noise, even for a small number of wavelengths, although the spectral range has an important role on the CD calculation. We also give quantitative data about the accuracy needed on refractive index of the diffracting material must. Excepted for profiles with additional feet, the CD found is very close to the original line without geometrical defects (corner rounding and notches).


This paper investigates the interaction between corruption and infrastructure provision, employing a data set on Italian public contracts for roads and highways in the period 2000-2005, the paper examines whether the environmental characteristics (i.e. in particular the corruption level) in the area where the infrastructure is localised affect the efficient management of the public work contract. For this purpose a two-stage analysis is carried out. In the first stage, a non-parametric approach (Data Envelopment Analysis - DEA) investigates the relative efficiency by each single public work execution; in the second stage, the determinant factors of the scores variability are investigated, paying attention on the effect exerted by corruption. We find evidence that greater corruption is associated with lower efficiency in infrastructure provision.


Objective: To analyze the clinical effectiveness of Physical Therapy treatment for chronic Achilles tendinopathy. Search strategy: Search in Medline, WoS, CINAHL, Pub Med Central and Science Direct based on the keywords. Study selection: 203 studies were identified, 18 being selected on the basis of the inclusion criteria: from 2006 to November 2011, focused on the objective of the study and with pretest and posttest. Synthesis of Results: Eccentric exercises singly or combined with other therapeutic modalities, especially shock waves are the most used option. The best results are obtained in insertional tendinopathies. Conclusions: More studies are needed to confirm the clinical effectiveness of the different physical agents used for physical therapy treatment for chronic Achilles tendinopathy, and to determine the importance of the lesional location in the recovery process tendon.


Six physical absorbents with the ether groups were selected for CO2 absorption: tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (TEGDME), diethylene glycol monohexyl ether, 2-butoxyethyl ether, triethylene gly...


This study aimed to compare the performance of working memory and episodic memory in students from public and private
schools. A sample consisted of 79 children, aged between 9 and 12 years; divided by gender, age and type of school. The assessment
was carried out individually using the CMS and Raven's test. For the data analysis student's t-test was used, the level of significance
adopted was 5%. The results showed better performance by the public school children in tasks of intelligence and visual memory,
while the students from private schools showed better performance in verbal and visual memory, corroborating studies that highlight
differences in cognitive tasks for children with different socioeconomic levels. These results demonstrate the importance of more
research in the area, aiming to better understand and improve the cognitive development of Brazilian children and adolescents.


To prevent from electrostatic discharge (ESD) damages, the ESD protection design must be added on chip. The ESD protection design with low parasitic capacitance is needed for high-speed applications. In this work, an ESD protection design realized by stacked diodes with embedded silicon-controlled rectifier was proposed. Verified in silicon chip, the proposed ESD protection design with lower parasitic capacitance and higher ESD robustness was more suitable for high-speed ESD protection in CMOS technology.


Linhai tune has a long history and great artistic value.It is listed as national intangible cultural heritage in 2008.With the rapid development of social economy and the diversity of people's cultural interest and aesthetic choices,the shortage of fund,small audience,contracting markets and loss of talents confront Linhai tune.Local quyi should adapt to social development and the audience's aesthetic requirements in order to survive and develop.The paper expounds the artistic value of Linhai tune from research value,aesthetic value and cultural value.We should correctly understand the status quo and future of traditional quyi,and actively seek countermeasures,including the search for Linhai tune artists and organization of the performance,so as to develop the precious cultural heritage.


An analog multimeter mechanical sensor test has been conducted on the design of the ampermeter and voltmeter. Research background of the multimeter damage found in the measuring electronic circuit has burned some of its components but did not experience damage to the mechanical sensor. The research objective is to find out how to predict the voltmeter ampermeter measurement based on the addition of resistance to the analog multimeter mechanical sensor. Based on testing  was found that the amount of electric current that can be passed by the sensor is 163.84uA and the resistance in the sensor is around 1 Kohm. When the sensor is used as a voltmeter by adding Rm in series, it can be determined the voltmeter measurement with the equation 0.1849Rm + 0.1988 (V) with an error of 1.16%. However, when the sensor is paralleled with a resistor, the ampermeter measurement can be determined by the equation 198.81 / Rs + 0.1638 with an error of 0.39%.Large resistance in the meter sensor is not the same there is a difference of 138.56 ohms.


Objective To establish a determination method for rosmarinic acid in Lavandula angustifolia by HPLC.Methods The HPLC separation was performed on a Phenomenex ODS-A column(250mm×4.6mm,5μm)in a gradient elute mode with a mixture consisting of acetonitrile and 2mL·L-1 phosphate acid solution at 30℃.The flow rate was 1.0mL·min-1 and the detection wavelength was set at 350nm.Results The contents of rosmarinic acid in 10samples of L.angustifolia were in the rangs of 0.04%-0.33%.Conclusion The method is simple,accurate and reproducible,and can be used for the quality control of L.angustifolia.


This paper reviews two investigations of the effects of impurities on the properties of metals. In the first example, the results show that room temperature ductility can be achieved in polycrystalline chromium if the impurity level is sufficiently low. The results clearly show that increased carbon can destroy this ductility. The second study shows that high purity titanium is much more resistant to hydrogen embrittlement than material with a lower purity level. It is proposed that this difference occurs because the higher interstitial level causes a decrease in the solubility of hydrogen. Therefore, hydrides, which cause embrittlement in titanium, form more easily in the impure material.


Objective:to investigate the influence of Tangshenan decoction on oxidation irritable reaction in diabetic rats.Methods:The diabetic models were induced by the intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin.Then the rats were randomly divided into normal group,diabetic group without intervention,diabetic group with Tangshenan and diabetic group with Tangshenan combined with Irbesartan.Eight weeks later,observe the 24h urinary protein excretion of the rats and the levels of SOD,GSH-PX and MDA in Serum.Results:Compared with diabetic group without intervention,diabetic group with Tangshenan and diabetic group with Tangshenan combined with Irbesartan can decrease the excretion of urine protein and cut down the content of MDA,but increase the activites SOD,GSH-PX significantly.Conclusion:Tangshenan decoction can decrease the excretion of urine protein,and may protect the kidney function through antioxidative stress to delay the deterioration of DN.


ABSTRACT The Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) and Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) missions provide estimates of soil moisture (SM) at similar spatial resolutions using L-band brightness temperatures (). These missions meet the requirement of SM retrievals with an unbiased root-mean-square difference (ubRMSD) 0.04 (m m−3) compared to in-situ measurements over most of the ecosystems; however, their SM estimates over forests present an ubRMSD 0.10 (m m−3). In this paper, we compared the SM retrievals from the SMOS and SMAP SM products with in-situ SM over a tropical forest in Southern Mexico. The L-band passive SM retrievals were evaluated in terms of four statistical metrics: root-mean-square difference (RMSD), bias, ubRMSD, and correlation coefficient (). In-situ measurements of SM, soil and vegetation temperatures, precipitation, soil surface roughness, tree heights, diameters at the breast height of trunks, and forest cover fraction were collected during a field campaign from 6 January to 14 June 2015 in the Biosphere Reserve of Calakmul, Mexico, covering two areas of about 40 km 40 km each. The comparison between SM retrievals from SMOS and SMAP and in-situ SM showed an RMSD ranging from 0.107 to 0.322 (m m−3) and an ubRMSD from 0.049 to 0.128 (m m−3). Overall, the SMAP SM estimates showed higher values of and were closer to in-situ SM. Because the SMAP and SMOS radiometers performed very similar, these differences are due to the values assigned to the vegetation optical depth (), the scattering albedo (), and the representation of the dynamics in vegetation and soil temperatures in the SMOS and SMAP retrieval algorithm. Based on an optimization process, we estimated simultaneously optimal and values for the tropical forest by using observations from SMAP and SMOS radiometers. The optimal value of was 0.0655 for the tropical forest, and constant over the study period. In contrast, the optimal values of showed to be variant on time and ranging between 1.0 and 1.7, with an averaged value of 1.4 and a standard deviation of 0.24. When applying the optimal values of and and in-situ soil and vegetation temperatures, the SM retrievals showed an ubRMSD of 0.035–0.070 (m m), improving the SM retrievals about 45%. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the effect of the uncertainties in , , and soil and vegetation temperatures on the estimates of . It was found that vegetation temperature () was the most sensitive parameter, with higher than 0.70 for both polarizations in . When comparing in-situ and surface temperature values used in the SMAP and SMOS SM retrieval algorithms, differences up to 10 K were observed, affecting the SM estimates. The results presented in this paper could be useful in the preparation of the SMAP Calibration/Validation Experiment 2019, aiming at improving SM retrievals over forests.


By using Mastersizer 2000 laser particle size analyzer and XRD systems,this paper discusses the characteristics of particle size distribution and mineral components of cryoconites collected from MZRT glacier,XDKMD glacier,YZF glacier and QY glacier in western China. The results show that the cryoconites of these four glaciers are dominated by silt( 2- 63μm) and clay( 2 μm),the content of coarse silt and clay accounts for 62. 32% ~86. 46% and 2. 77% ~ 7. 40%,respectively. The mean particle of cryoconites in these four glaciers are in the sequence of MZRT( 84. 96 ± 45. 14 μm) YZF( 38. 96 ± 13. 94 μm) XDKMD( 34. 76 ± 11. 41 μm) QY( 20. 21 ± 15. 81 μm). The X- ray diffraction analysis data show that the cryoconites samples in these four glacers contains relatively more mineral materials,and the contents of quartz and feldspar are mainly detrital mineral. In addition to MZRT glaciers,the content of illite in cryoconite clay in other three glaciers is the highest. Because the illite and kaolinite are all the product of mineral weathering and decompose of aluminosilicate,they come from terrestrial matter. The contents of illite and kaolinite decresed from east to west in Tibetan Plateau,indicating that the cryoconites in MZRT glaciers come from local dust formed through grinding and frost weathering during rock deformation,chemical weathering is in its early stages. The cryoconite in other three glaciers come from the terrestrial inputs after transporting at enough of distance,through physical weathering and decomposing.


Nano TiO2 photocatalyst is a kind of polymorphism catalyst, it have small particles that make it difficult to disperse, difficult to recovered, and has the little measure contact area. However the SiC foam ceramics material with highly porous, low alloyed steal bulk density and three-dimensional model, coalescence pore structure. To prevent the application of photocatalyst happen, this article aim at studies on the preparation and properties of nano TiO2 photocatalyst based on the SiC foam ceramics, which in order to offer help to the widespread application of photocatalyst. The study results confirms that the optimum dip times is 4 times when load the coating on the surface of SiC foam ceramic with soaking technology; Stereoscopic photograph show that the modified nano TiO2 photocatalyst white coating on the surface of SiC foam ceramic is uniform;EDSanalytic result show that the main elements of the modified nano TiO2 photocatalyst white coating on the surface of SiC foam ceramic compose of Ti, O, Al ,Si; The photocatalytic efficiency of A,Si-Codoped TiO2 coating is better than nano TiO2 powders.


Purpose : To assess and compare the functional disability in patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) using the glaucoma quality of life-15 questionnaire (GQL-15) and to evaluate their quality of life. Methods : 175 patients with POAG and 175 subjects with age-and sex-matched (control group) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Glaucoma quality of Life−15 questionnaire was administered in local Egyptian language via interviews after doing standard tests for visual function for both groups. Results : The median GQL-15 score in the glaucoma cases (34) was significantly higher (indicating more functional disability) than the controls (17). All subscale scores also showed a regular rise in their value as the glaucoma increased in severity from mild to severe. There were visual disability in certain tasks related to glare and dark adaptation which appeared to be early affected during the course of glaucoma. Activities demanding peripheral vision, near and central vision and outdoor mobility affected later but were more significant with the progression of the disease. Conclusion: Glaucoma patients have many functional disabilities with challenges in performing many tasks which reflects on their independence and productivity. This knowledge can be helpful to learn the newly diagnosed and to increase the adherence to treatment aiming to guard against the disease progression; also it suggests adaptations to the patient's environment for better quality of life.


Metastability may arise in rivers subject to multiple disturbance processes because external constraints to ecosystem change sustain the metastable state; this has important implications for management, especially river restoration. The Glenelg River and its southern Australian landscape have been extensively studied by different researchers across many projects, and several restoration actions implemented across different reaches and spatial scales. Research involving diverse researchers and projects over extended periods shows strengths such as flexibility in pursuing emerging research questions, increased regional capacity by facilitating research training, and the generation of broader perspectives on river management. We conclude that metastability is a likely state for rivers with multiple interacting disturbances in regions with Mediterranean-type climates. In such rivers, disrupted relationships between the physical environment and ecological processes are likely, such that habitat restoration might have limited effectiveness. Restoration practices that constitute a disturbance might also risk disrupting metastability, or their impact may be limited because metastability confers resistance to further disturbance. Restoration may be more effectively targeted at less-disturbed reaches where ecosystems have a greater capacity to respond. Similarly, restoration in disturbed reaches might be more effectively directed at supporting metastability in the face of landscape change, than attempting to restore antecedent conditions.


Data show that children of all ages have experienced some form of encounter phenomena with non-corporeal entities ranging from ghosts to religious figures. Those child percipients experienced a variety of reactions to the disclosure process of their experiences ranging from benign to traumatizing. Two studies were conducted that collected short and long answer questionnaire responses from 97 adults (ages 25-80 years) who reported one or more encounter phenomenon experiences before the age of 20. Analyses ofboth studies revealed 6 reaction categories: (a) acceptance, (b) rejection, (c) pathologizing, (d) condemning, (e) demonizing, and (f) deifying. Further, the results showed that encounters with religious figures were categorized inthe most negative response categories in comparison to encounters with other types of entities.


This volume presents a collection of studies on the dynamics of income inequality based on micro data. Using a simple but powerful empirical methodology, the authors analyze the roles of prices, occupational choice, and educational choice in accounting for household income and its contribution to inequality. It casts doubt on the grand theories of growth and income inequality that have dominated discussions in development economics. It paves the way for a full-blown, micro-based general equilibrium theory of income determination and income inequality.


Persistent deficiency of serum B 12 -binding alpha-1 globulin was demonstrated in two brothers, manifesting primarily as low serum B 12 levels. Despite the inability of one subject to maintain normal levels of B 12 in the blood, as shown by persistently low serum values despite monthly injections of B 12 , no evidence of metabolic B 12 deficiency could be found. Tissue B 12 -storing ability appeared to be intact. His brother exhibited only minimal hypersegmentation of neutrophil nuclei; otherwise, he too presented a completely normal picture. The normally present alpha globulin B 12 -binder was virtually absent from saliva and peripheral leukocyte extracts of both subjects. Current indirect evidence favors neutrophils as at least a partial source of the serum globulin. 33 The cause of the possibly hereditary defect in the 2 subjects is unknown. Neither excessive B 12 -binding protein excretion 34 nor a destructive factor in their serum or leukocytes was found.


While locating a foreignizing translation method against a domesticating one,Lawrence Venuti is keenly aware of the inherent contradiction,namely any foreignization also involves some extent of domestication,as any departure from the target culture still depends on dominant target-culture values to become visible. Ezra Pound's translation of Shijing is a perfect demonstration of this contradiction. This paper focuses on the way Pound deals with Dieyong Pattern in Shijing. Through generalizing the ways Pound combines foreignization with domestication in his translation,we hope to provide new insights into translating Dieyong Pattern and other similar structures in Chinese poetry.


To anticipate the spread of the Covid-19 virus in Indonesia, various efforts have been made by the central and regional governments. Tomohon City is the first area in North Sulawesi to have a regional regulation to enforce compliance with the Covid-19 prevention health protocol. This study aims to determine and analyze how the implementation of the Tomohon City Regional Regulation No. 1 of 2021 concerning Improvement of Discipline and Law Enforcement of Health Protocols in the Prevention and Control of Corona Virus Disease 2019 in terms of 3 indicators, namely Health Protocols, Supervision, and Imposition of Sanctions. The research method used is a qualitative method with data collection techniques in the form of observation, interviews, documentation and literature studies. The research location is Tomohon City, North Sulawesi with a total sample of 8 people consisting of the government and the community. The results of the study show that 1) The application of the health protocol as stipulated in Article 8 has not run optimally due to the lack of public awareness and discipline; 2) Supervision as stipulated in article 13, namely regarding the monitoring, prevention and clarification of fake news, periodic evaluation and acceptance of public complaints has been running effectively; and, 3) The imposition of sanctions as stipulated in Article 23 has not been implemented effectively. This is due to the lack of firmness of the officers in the field.


The internet has changed the way we work, spend our day and communicate with each other. Social media is a cluster of websites and applications designed to let people share community-based input, interact, content-share and collaborate quickly, efficiently and in real-time. However social networking is not a new concept, as it has always been within human nature to communicate and socialise with one another, as well as to recommend, comment and remind each other about commercial content (Uitz, 2012). The study aims to review systematically the concept and role of social media marketing in attracting and retaining customers. This article will help marketers, researchers and academicians to understand various dimensions of social media along with their implications for customers. The study identified various variables used by different researchers in their study and can be used for further exploration; consumer engagement, consumers' attitude, web advertising attributes, perceived benefits, i.e., a) practical benefit; b) entertainment benefit; c) social benefit and perceived trust, brand awareness, etc. Detailed literature studies lead to the conclusion that there are various factors which impact consumer's decision making through social media marketing.


We investigate how information goods are priced and diffused over links in a network. A new equivalence relation between nodes captures the effects of network architecture and locations of sellers on the division of profits, and characterizes the topology of competing (and potentially overlapping) diffusion paths. Sellers indirectly appropriate profits over intermediation chains from buyers in their equivalence classes. Links within the same class constitute bottlenecks for information diffusion and confer monopoly power. Links that bridge distinct classes are redundant for diffusion and generate competition among sellers. In dense networks, competition limits the scope of indirect appropriability and intellectual property rights foster innovation.


Introduction: Early extubation after cardiac operations is an important aspect of fast-track cardiac anesthesia. In order to reduce or eliminate the adverse effects of prolonged ventilation, the concept of early extubation in pediatric patients has been examined at our institution. Material and methods: To allow rapid emergence from anesthesia post cardiac surgery, low-dose opioids, supplemented with continuous propofol infusion and low concentration of inhaled agent was used. Intercostal nerve block was used in thoracotomy operations. Contraindications to early extubation were: cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) > 2.5 hours, hemodynamic instability, uncontrolled bleeding, severe pulmonary hypertension and congestive heart failure. Results: Eighty-two consecutive patients were reviewed. The age range was 6 months - 14 years with mean of 3.3 years. Closed cardiac procedures were performed in 15 (18.3%) patients, and operations with Cardio-pulmonary bypass in 67 (81.7%) patients. No patient required re-intubation during the first 24 hours after operation. One patient was re-intubated 48 hours after extubation for sputum retention. There was no mortality, and the incidence of perioperative morbidity was low. Conclusion: Early extubation after pediatric cardiothoracic operations can be achieved safely, and is possible in the majority of such patients.


Urban traffic congestion is similar to the spread of infectious diseases. Based on this point of view, based on the classical infectious disease model SIR, a traffic congestion situation evolution model is established. The effectiveness of the model is verified by numerically solving the equilibrium point R0 and combining with specific examples. The model effectively depicts the process and characteristics of the dynamic evolution of traffic conditions in the central area of the city, which can help the urban traffic management department to make a real-time response to traffic congestion and provide reference for traffic management.


Providing hygienically safe drinking water to remote and economically less developed regions on earth is still one of the largest challenges in water management. The Swiss water research institute Eawag, Dübendorf, proved that membranes can also perform their task in simply constructed local units without sophisticated plant construction, trained personnel, external energy supply and equipment for chemical cleaning by means of gravity-driven membrane disinfection (GDMD) as shown in fig. 3. Similar to the water backpack PAUL developed at the University of Kassel for application in disaster areas (F&S reported several times), raw water is poured from above into the filtration container. An ultrafiltration membrane is located on its bottom. Prior to application for domestic water treatment in Kenya, the system was tested in the laboratory, where it was operated for two years without backwashing and cleaning. Amongst other things, the effects of the membrane cutoffs and the developing fouling layer on the flow and the retention of MS2 phages were measured. According to these tests, a membrane cut-off in the range of 100 kDa to 0.2 μm hardly has any influence on the flux that can be measured during operation for several weeks due to the fouling layer. However, the fouling layer results in increased retention of the MS2 phages with an ultrafiltration membrane compared to the non-fouled membrane, while the retention of the microfiltration membrane (0.2μm) even deteriorates. Ultrafiltration membranes are recommended to ensure sufficient water disinfection.


This paper presents a new method for controlling and stabilizing an automated refueling drogue. The drogue automatically stabilizes in the presence of winds or receiver forebody effects using drogue canopy manipulation. This paper reports on a characterization and simulation study in which the stability derivatives of a low-speed drogue were calculated based on wind-tunnel data. A simulation was developed using a pendulum-based hose model combined with the aerodynamic drogue model. An active feedback control system is shown to stabilize and control the drogue to hold a commanded steady-state offset.


Introduction—Low-energy shockwave therapy (LESWT) has been shown to improve erectile function in patients suffering from diabetes mellitus (DM)-associated erectile dysfunction (ED). However, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Aim—To investigate whether LESWT can ameliorate DM-associated ED in a rat model, and examine the associated changes in the erectile tissues. Methods—Newborn male rats were intraperitoneally injected with 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine (EdU, 50mg/kg) for the purpose of tracking endogenous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Eight weeks later, 8 of these rats were randomly chosen to serve as normal control (N group). The remaining rats were injected intraperitoneally with 60 mg/kg of streptozotocin (STZ) to induce DM. Eight of these rats were randomly chosen to serve as DM control (DM group) while another 8 rats were subject to shockwave treatment (DM+SW group). Each rat in the DM+SE group received 300 shocks at energy level of 0.1mJ/mm2 and frequency of 120/min. This procedure was repeated three times a week for two weeks. Another two weeks later, all 24 rats were evaluated for erectile function by intracavernous pressure (ICP) measurement. Afterward, their penile tissues were examined by histology. Main Outcome Measures—Erectile function was measurement by ICP. Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)-positive nerves and the endothelium were examined by immunofluorescence (IF) staining. Smooth muscle and MSCs were examined by phalloidin and EdU staining, respectively. Results—STZ treatment caused a significant decrease in erectile function and in the number of nNOS-positive nerves and in endothelial and smooth muscle contents. These DM-associated deficits were all partially but significantly reversed by LESWT. MSCs (EdU+ cells) were significantly more numerous in DM+SW than in DM rats. Conclusions—LESWT can partially ameliorate DM-associated ED by promoting regeneration of nNOS-positive nerves, endothelium, and smooth muscle in the penis. These beneficial effects appear to be mediated by recruitment of endogenous MSCs. *Corresponding Author: Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-0738, USA Phone: 415-476-3800 Fax: 415-476-3803 firstname.lastname@example.com. #These authors contributed equally to this study Conflict of Interest: None NIH Public Access Author Manuscript J Sex Med. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2014 March 01. Published in final edited form as: J Sex Med. 2013 March ; 10(3): 738–746. doi:10.1111/jsm.12024. N IH PA Athor M anscript N IH PA Athor M anscript N IH PA Athor M anscript


Abstract We establish constructive refinements of several well-known theorems in elementary model theory. The additive group of the real numbers may be embedded elementarily into the additive group of pairs of real numbers, constructively as well as classically.


Studies of temperature dependence of magnetoresistance for PdxBi2Se3 whiskers in the temperature range 1.6-77K in  magnetic field up to 10 T were carried out. Crystals were grown by chemical transport reaction method in  closed bromide system. The source and crystallization zone temperatures were 1100 K and 780 K, respectively. Doping of the crystals was carried out during the growth process with  palladium impurity to concentrations of (1 – 2) × 1019 cm−3. In the low-temperature region beginning at a temperature of 5 K and reaching a temperature 3.5 K, a sharp decrease in resistance was observed, which is associated with the transition to  superconducting state. Based on the analysis of the temperature dependence of the resistance at fixed magnetic fields, the Curie temperature Tc1=5.3 K and Tc2=3.5 K as well as the upper critical magnetic field Bc2=1.45 T and 0.25 T were determined. The established parameters indicates in II type supercondor. This is indicated by the ratio Δ0/kBTc = 2.0, which exceeds BCS limit of 1.76 and indicates a relatively large value of the superconducting gap Δ0=0.8 meV. The determined ratio A/γ2, which establishes the relationship between the electron-electron and electron-phonon interaction, is about of 2ao, which indicates a strong fermionic interaction with phonons in the PdxBi2Se3 superconductor. The estimated value of the ratio of the Curie temperature to the effective Fermi temperature equal to 0.04 also falls within the range of 0.01 ⩽ Tc/TF ⩽ 0.1, which confirms the unconventional superconductivity in the investigated whiskers.


It is shown that every Riemann surface with n punctures is the infinite Nielsen extension of a surface with n holes. Let So be a Riemann surface of genus g with n punctures and m holes. Assume that 6g 6 + 2n + 3m > 0 and that m > 0. Then So can be represented as U/G where U is the upper half-plane and G is a torsion-free Fuchsian group of the second kind. There is an infinite set I of open intervals of R U {oo} on which G acts discontinuously. Let Q = U U L U I, where L denotes the lower half-plane. The quotient Sd =Q/G is the double of So. It is a compact surface, except for finitely many punctures. The surface sg can be represented as U/G', where G' is a torsion-free Fuchsian group of the first kind. Let D be a component of the preimage of So under the natural projection U -+ U/G' and let G1 be the stabilizer of D in G'. Then the surface Si = U/CG is the Nielsen extension of So. Given a surface So, let Sk be the Nielsen extension of Sk-1, for k E N. Define the infinite Nielsen extension of So to be SOO = So U Sl U S2 U * E. Bers has conjectured that given a Riemann surface S of type (g; n, 0) and positive numbers 11, ..., In there exists a surface of type (g; 0, n) with boundary elements of lengths 11, ' In such that its infinite Nielsen extension is S (oral communication). This conjecture was proven in [4] for a torus with a hole, i.e. when 9 = n = 1. In this paper it will be proven for all g but without being able to specify the lengths of the holes. The Poincare metric is used and the length of a boundary curve refers to the Poincare length of the geodesic to which it is freely homotopic. THEOREM. Given a surface S of type (g; n, 0) there exists a surface of type (g; 0, n) such that its infinite Nielsen extension is S. The following inequalities concerning the lengths of geodesics of Nielsen extensions are need in the proof. They are proven in [3]. I. Given a finite Riemann surface with a boundary curve of length 1, then the length of the corresponding boundary curve of its Nielsen extension is less than 2 1. The length of the corresponding boundary element of its infinite Nielsen extension is therefore zero. II. Let S be a finite Riemann surface such that all its boundary curves have length less than 1. Assume that S has a simple closed geodesic of length x not homotopic to a boundary curve. Denote by xn (xco) the length of the corresponding geodesic of its nth (its infinite) Nielsen extension. Then cx < x00 < x and Cnxn < xoo < xn Received by the editors January 18, 1985 and, in revised form, July 8, 1985. 1980 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 30F25, 30F35, 32G15. (@)1986 American Mathematical Society 0002-9939/86 $1.00 + $.25 per page


Simulation of channel adaptive random access is performed in multiple input multiple output (MIMO) environments. The results show that channel adaptive random access can obtain significant performance gains in MIMO environments.


Imagine the headline "Water: my miracle hangover cure." Or try "E-numbers for health and vitality!" What about "Chemical cocktail saves baby's life"? If a campaign aimed at changing journalists' perceptions of all things chemical proves successful, these headlines may not prove too wide of the mark.

This week Sense About Science, a charity promoting an evidence based approach to scientific issues, launched a media briefing paper, "Making Sense of Chemical Stories" (www.senseaboutscience.org.uk). Its aim: to make mincemeat of six misconceptions that surround the science of substances.

These range from the patently ludicrous (that you can lead a "chemical-free life") to the sadly deluded (that natural chemicals are somehow healthier than synthetic ones). …


Quantitative structure-activity relationships for insecticidal activity (against houseflies) and competitive activity against a specific [ 35 S]tert-butyl-bicyclophosphorothionate binding (to rat brain membranes) of some picrotoxinin-type 4-aminobutyric acid antagonists, including γ-BHC, endosulfan, bicyclophosphates, dioxatricyclododecenes and related compounds, were examined three-dimensionally using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA). The antagonists were classified into two series according to their molecular shapes: i.e. whether their structure was 'linearly' extended beyond the 'mast-head' position of the 'boat-like' skeletons (series 1) or not (series 2). The CoMFA showed that the slopes in steric and electrostatic fields around the molecule were significant for both series in governing the potency variations in insecticidal and binding activities. Hydrophobicity, a possible factor controlling transport behaviour of compounds, was significant in governing variations in insecticidal activity, but not for the case of the rat membrane binding. Assuming that there is a slight topological difference between series 1 and 2 compounds in terms of the mode of binding with the housefly receptor site, the insecticidal activity was analysable with a single equation for the combined set of compounds, but the rat membrane binding was not. The sterically and electrostatically favourable regions surrounding the molecular series indicated by CoMFA were roughly located at positions so as to interact with the binding subsites on the receptors proposed previously.


The heroism is one of the most obvious aesthetic factors of the tragic spirit in Chinese and Western literature.Its expressions of the tragic spirit in Western literature are characters that they both push history forward and become the victim for history.Its expressions of the tragic spirit in Chinese literature are characters that they devote themselves to ethical principle.


Tertiary remains of fossil wood from Turow on the Lusatian neisse A description is given of genus Phyllocladoxylon from Tutrow in Poland, whose occurrence in the Tertiary of Europe has not so far been recorded. Phyllocladoxylon polonicum n. sp. is here identified and a comparative compilation of data obtained from studied specimens is presented. An attempt is made to reconstruct the life conditions of Conifers to which the studied lignites are referable.


Yulia Latynina discusses the consequences of the annexation of Crimea for Russian and European politics, arguing that China is likely to derive the most benefit from the conflict.


The invention discloses a super-chlorine-resistant swimwear fabric. The fabric comprises nylon and super-chlorine-resistant spandex, wherein the content of nylon fibers is 82%, the content of super-chlorine-resistant spandex fibers is 18%, the tissue structure of the fabric comprises the nylon: 1-0/2-3// and the super-chlorine-resistant spandex: 1-2/1-0//. According to the mode, the super-chlorine-resistant swimwear fabric has super-strong chlorine resistance, swimwear can be prevented from being corroded by chlorine in swimming pools or seawater effectively, the durability of the swimwear is improved, and the super-chlorine-resistant swimwear fabric has superior tightening and shaping performances.


Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) is a technique widely used to identify and quantify materials. The most recent EPMA quantification methods use models that accurately describe the ionization depth distribution, the so-called phi-rho-z distribution. While these models were first developed to quantify bulk samples, extensive research efforts have been made in the 1990's to extend their applicability to the analysis of layered specimens. Several phi-rho-z models for thin film quantifications have been published, such as PAP, XPP [1] or XPHI implementation into computer is is of compatibility with computers or because the of license to In an intent to access to thin film analysis tools to we developed BadgerFilm, a free and open-source thin film analysis to determine the compositions and thicknesses of thin film specimens by EPMA. the multi-voltage method experimental k-ratios are measured at several accelerating voltages. iterates on the composition and thickness of films (or substrate) the k-ratios match the experimental k-ratios. multilayered be analyzed using this method. thin film film characterization Backscattering multilayers


Abstract : An exploratory study was performed on the feasibility of using nondestructive examination techniques to detect voids in two types of potted compression end fittings. Four methods of non-destructive examination were tried: conventional pulse-echo ultrasonics, ultrasonic holography, x-radiography, and neutron radiography. The ultrasonic and x-ray methods that were tried proved unsatisfactory as a nondestructive examination tool for the two types of end fittings, and the neutron radiographic procedures successfully displayed the internal structure of only one of the specimen types. The procedures and results from the different methods of examination are summarized. Additional comments are given regarding the application of the methods to aluminum-jacketed specimens, and regarding improved methods for the inspection of steel-jacketed specimens. (MM)


Fiberglass bars are used in asphalt surface covering of reconstruction in South Siming Road.It emphasizes on the physical features of the fiberglass bar and its functions in preventing reflection cracks and the construction techniques of the fiberglass bars are introduced.


Recently, Choi et al. published an article in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, indicating that mental health disorders were experienced by disaster survivors in Korea. Comments were made on topics such as the participant selection, the standardization of vocabulary in disasters, choosing three different types of hazards, the type of interviews, and the language applied for interviews. This Commentary sets out to improve as much as possible the quality of the article.


sink with soakaway for waste, a cold water tap and facilities for providing hot water. Perishable foods were stored in refrigerator vehicles. Toilets-Three main toilet areas could be made accessible from either inside or outside the arena, by double gates. The construction was of dexion slotted angle clad with hardboard to form separate cubicles in units of ten (Figure 4). The seats were of moulded plastic. The units (five back to back) were placed over deep trenches approximately twelve feet deep, two feet wide and ten feet long. Urirrals-Made by excavating trenches two feet wide by ten feet deep, loosely backfilled. Corrugated iron sheeting was f~ed.longitudinally at an angle to form drip trays (Figure 1). Ablutions-These were provided in the main taiIet areas by arranging pressure taps supported on wood frames. mirrors were fixed to wall above the taps (Figures 5 and 6). Car Parks-Area used 22 acres. Camping Sites-Area used 100 acres. Water Supply--Direct from main and distributed by polythene tube. Total recorded consumption 330,500 gallons.


Multicarrier modulation is a technique for increasing the amount of information that can be transported by a communication system (i.e., the capacity). The approach is based on splitting a high-bit-rate signal into hundreds of orthogonal sub-carriers, each with a very low symbol rate. The exploitation of this technique in short-range data networks can hugely increase the throughput of a single optical link, thereby removing the need for high-complexity and high-performance components.1 Future low-cost, energy-efficient datacenters and access networks that employ this modulation technique could therefore operate at very high bit rates by using cost-effective and bandwidthlimited optical sources. For short-range data network scenarios, as well as for longand medium-range networks, optical communications represent the most promising solution for both professional and consumer applications. Compared with optical transport networks, however, short-reach networks are much more sensitive to cost, footprint, and power consumption. For these reasons, such networks require the use of cost-effective and energy-efficient optical sources—such as vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs)—combined with direct intensity modulation (IM) and direct detection (DD).2 In the near future, however, these requirements could be met by using standard and low-cost devices with limited electrooptical (E/O) bandwidths. Key to achieving this is a drastic increase in the spectral efficiency of the transmitted signal from the current standard (i.e., 0.5bit/s/Hz, achieved with on-off-keying transmission). Two different modulation methods—i.e., orthogonal frequency division multiplexing and discrete multitone modulation—have recently been proposed as a way to enhance the transported capacity. Both approaches enable modulated data to be carried on several parallel channels.3 However, the complexity of the transmission Figure 1. Measured and theoretical fiber transfer functions after propagation through 10 and 20km of standard single-mode fiber (SSMF).


Current conventional approaches to biometric development for Text Independent Speaker Identification and Verification system present serious challenges in computational complexity and time variability. In this paper, we develop two approaches using SVMs which can be reduced to Minimal Enclosing Ball (MEB) problems in a feature space to produce simple data structures optimally matched to the input demands of different background of systems as UBM architectures in speaker recognition and identification systems. For this, we explore a technique to learn Support Vector Models (SVMs) when training data is partitioned among several data sources. Computation of such SVMs can be efficiently achieved by finding a corset for the image of the data in the feature space cited above.


In this paper, we propose a new method for evaluation of a three-phase filter, utilizing a "mixed-mode S-parameter based on Fortescue transformation." Because the positive phase sequence is the main component of current in a three-phase circuit, it is necessary to be able to analyze this response. Moreover, it is important to assess the effects of the zero phase sequence in order to investigate both conductive and radiative noise. To perform these analyses, it is useful to transform voltage and current into symmetrical coordinates, which leads to the mixed-mode S-parameter. Measurement examples based on this method are given in this paper. Because three-phase filters with cyclic symmetry have zero matrices as off-diagonal blocks in the mixed-mode S-matrix, each phase sequence becomes independent and non-interactive. Accordingly, by using the multi-section theorem, we can decompose the filter into modal equivalent circuits; the results calculated with these circuits agree well with those obtained from the measurement.


This article gives a brief overview of some of the basic tenets of Buddhism. Its particular emphasis is upon Buddhist expressions of spirituality, as they are likely to be met with in a healthcare setting. Included are guidelines on diet, attitudes to medicine, and beliefs and traditions around death and dying.


This article addresses the problem of designing therapies for the myeloma bone disease that optimize in a systematic way a compromise between drug toxicity and tumor repression. For that sake, the techniques of optimal control are applied to the dynamics of tumor growth, and the necessary conditions of Pontryagin's minimum principle are solved using a numerical relaxation algorithm. A therapy to accelerate bone eywords: ptimal control eceding horizon umor mass recovery is applied in parallel, based on a PI control rule. Since the optimal controller provides an open-loop control, it is turned into a feedback law by following a receding horizon strategy. For that sake, an optimal manipulated variable profile is first computed over a time horizon, but only the initial part of this function is applied. The whole optimization procedure is then repeated starting at a time instant that corresponds to the end of the previously applied control. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. one remodeling


Objective
By taking usage of bioinformatics screening methods, this medical research aimed at exploring how the miRNAs in endothelial progenitor cell exosomes relate to the regulation of angiogenesis.

Methods
miRNAs in endothelial progenitor cells exosomes and angiogenesis-related miRNA was intersected from the existing database to obtain the candidates of miRNA molecules related to angiogenesis in endothelial progenitor exosomes.

Results
160 and 50 miRNAs in endothelial progenitor cell candidates were obtained through experimental data analysis and literature searching respectively. 600 candidates of angiogenesis-related miRNAs were obtained through literature searching; the top 20 with the highest frequency were selected out. Finally, 9 miRNA candidates (miR-126, miR-21, miR-221, miR-92a, miR-199a, miR-210, miR-214, miR-155, miR-146a) that may be highly expressed in endothelial progenitor exosomes and associated with angiogenesis were obtained for the following research.

Conclusions
Based on data analysis and literature searching, bioinformatics could screen out the target miRNAs for follow-up studies easily and reliably, it is worthy to be widely applied and popularized.

Key words:
Endothelial progenitor cells; Exosomes; MicroRNAs; Neovascularization, physiologic; Bioinformatics


We propose a novel structure that is composed of transparent material with half convex mirror array inside it. With the proposed structure, projection-type integral imaging can provide 3-D/2-D convertible feature.


Non-humidified it is to stabilize the voltage over a long period of time and resistance to the opening of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell using the membrane. MEA (50) by sandwiching the carbon layer 22 on one surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 20 comprising a PBI and phosphoric acid bonded to the anode 30, and bonding the cathode 40 on the other side It is configured. A carbon layer 22 is composed of a carbon powder and a first binder. Carbon powder can be used carbon black, carbon nanotube and the like. The thickness of the carbon layer 22 is preferably thicker than the layer thickness of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane (20).


The energy–momentum tensor for a particular matter component summarises its local energy–momentum distribution in terms of densities and current densities. We re-investigate under what conditions these local distributions can be integrated to meaningful global quantities. This leads us directly to a classic theorem by Max von Laue concerning integrals of components of the energy–momentum tensor, whose statement and proof we recall. In the first half of this paper, we do this within the realm of Special Relativity (SR) and in the traditional mathematical language using components with respect to affine charts, thereby focusing on the intended physical content and interpretation. In the second half, we show how to do all this in a proper differential-geometric fashion and on arbitrary spacetime manifolds, this time focusing on the group-theoretic and geometric hypotheses underlying these results. Based on this we give a proper geometric statement and proof of Laue's theorem, which is shown to generalise from Minkowski space (which has the maximal number of isometries) to spacetimes with significantly less symmetries. This result, which seems to be new, not only generalizes but also clarifies the geometric content and hypotheses of Laue's theorem. A series of three appendices lists our conventions and notation and summarises some of the conceptual and mathematical background needed in the main text.


This study investigated the effect of compression ratio and release time on hearing aid wearers' impressions of loud input signals. Two speech and noise signals, differing in spectra and signal-to-noise ratio, were processed in a model compressor with sixteen combinations of compression ratio and release time. The RMS input level of the signals was 75 dB SPL. Subjects rated the processed signals on categorical scales, in regard to loudness, speech clarity, noisiness and overall acceptance. With a compression ratio between 1.5:1 and 2:1 and a release time of 4000-ms, the highest degree of speech clarity and the lowest possible noisiness was achieved, while still maintaining a positive rating on the acceptance-scale. When shorter release times of 40 and 400-ms were used, ratings of acceptance declined when the compression ratio was 3:1 or greater. Thus, the preferred setting appears to be long release times in combination with a low compression ratio - providing the listener with a realistic loudness for the signal. When faster regulation is needed the compression ratio should not exceed 3:1.


Objective To investigate the body image perception among Grade 4~6 students in Changsha city and to analyze its relationship with daily physical activity hours,so as to provide evidence for developing of children obesity health education programs for primary school students.Methods In March 2013,2,224 Grade 4~6 students from 16 primary schools in Changsha city were recruited by multiple-stage cluster sampling.A self-design questionnaire survey and anthropometric measurements were conducted.Results The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 16.2%,9.4% among boys and 6.5%,3.9% among girls.83.2% of the students had accurate perceptions of their body images.Compare to the boys,girls were more likely to have accurate perceptions.Overweight and obese students were more likely to underestimate their body images.Obese students were more inactive to take physical activities.49.4% of the students took daily physical activities for less than an hour.Conclusions Overweight and obese primary school students are more likely to underestimate their body images and are more inactive to take physical activities.Body image estimation should be addressed in the health educational components and physical activities should be encouraged when developing intervention programs for reducing child obesity.


Objective To evaluate the efficacy of new targeted therapies in patients with small cell lung cancer(SCLC).Methods We searched clinical trials comparing new targeted therapies with no targeted therapies for small cell lung cancer published from 1990 to 2011.The quality of the included trials was evaluated.Data were extracted by two reviewers independently into a specially designed extraction form.The Cochrane Collaboration's RevMan 5.1 software was used to estimate overall survival rate and progress free survival rate.Results Six randomized controlled trials were included.These studies included a total of 2026 patients: 1031 treated with new targeted therapies and 995 with no targeted therapies.The pooled result of the 6 studies showed that no statistical advantage in 1-year overall survival rate(OR:0.89,95%CI:0.74~1.06,P=0.2)or 2-year overall survival rate(OR:0.97,95%CI:0.76~1.23,P=0.78),and in 1-year progress free survival rate(OR:0.95,95%CI:0.76~1.17,P=0.61) or 2-year progress free survival rate(OR:1.04,95%CI:0.78~1.39,P=0.78).Similarly,no statistical advantages were detected from the analysis for subgroups in which biological agents was used in first-line or maintainance therapies.Conclusion New targeted therapies have no statistical advantages in overall survival rate and progress free survival rate.


ABSTRACT Inheritance and social reproduction have been widely theorized and studied concepts in the social sciences. In theories of social reproduction a focus on social position and identity is assumed; a focus on moving from one position to another at the cost of overlooking the rich, and arguably more important, movement, process, and flow in between. Turning toward new materialisms for theoretical insight, this article points toward an alternative post-humanist perspective. Leaning on Massumi (2002) and Puar (2007), the author asserts that expanding the analytical focus to include the movement and process of biopolitical capacity will further sharpen the (new) materialist analysis of force and power relations, what Puar refers to as regenerative capacities. It is through the employment and performative force of biopolitical technologies in education policy, the author concludes, that enables the surveilling, managing, and demarcating of regenerative capacities that constrain the movement, process, and potentialities for, and of, social change.


Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome is a condition characterized by short stature, moderate to severe intellectual disability, distinctive facial features, and broad thumbs and first toes. Additional features of the disorder can include eye abnormalities, heart and kidney defects, dental problems, and obesity. These signs and symptoms vary among affected individuals. People with this condition have an increased risk of developing particular types of noncancerous brain and skin tumors.


Compared with other countries' securities markets in the world, China's securities market is highly segmented. This point firstly can be embodied in the three segmental stock markets of China's securities market: A-stock market, B-stock market and H-Stock market. Among these three markets, not only is it different in pricing currency, trade mechanism and ways of raising funds, but also the investors separately permitted open are strictly limited and not allowed open mutually as well. As a result, the stock price of the three markets are quite different. This paper puts emphasis on studying China's market segmentation, which emphasizes on embodying the serious discount problem wildly existing in China's B-stock market. Most listed companies' B-stocks' prices are not only lower than those in A-stock market, but also some of them even once failed down lower than their issuing prices, net assets value and par value before B-stock market being opened to the domestic investors holding foreign currency. Therefore, China's average price-earning ratio has become the lowest one in world's securities markets, which is only 11 times. This number is quite lower than not only that of A-stock market (near 50 times), but also that of international stock market (15-20times). This paper suggests that capital control (including investment barriers, the asymmetric information from the B-stock compared to A stock, and expectation to the exchange rate of RMB) is the main factor leading to B-share discount.


Abstract A DNA marker inoculated onto portable equipment on a medical ward was disseminated to other wards when equipment was shared and to a physician work room and the hospital cafeteria by personnel. These results demonstrate the plausibility of pathogen transmission in healthcare facilities in the absence of shared ward exposure.


Transport accounts for 13% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and 23% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and is one of the few sectors where these emissions are still growing. The growth in CO2 emissions from transport between 1990 and 2005 was the highest for international aviation and international maritime transport. In 2007 the European Union (EU) announced plans to start exploring the possible inclusion of the maritime shipping sector into the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), aimed at tackling the maritime shipping industry's rapidly growing contribution to climate change. This paper will explore the differences regarding the design parameters of an EU ETS system for aviation and maritime shipping. The possible impact of including maritime shipping in the EU ETS system on the competitive positions of the European seaports in the Hamburg – Le Havre range (Hamburg, Bremen, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Zeebrugge, Le Havre) is estimated by using the Port Competition Model.


A directed optical comparator based on thermo-optic effect is fabricated, which is composed of two microring resonators and a multimode interference (MMI) coupler. The device can compare two binary numbers at the speed of 10 kbps.


OBJECTIVES:
The distal root of the mandibular first molar occasionally has an extra root, which can directly affect the outcome of endodontic therapy. In this study, we examined the diagnostic performance of a deep learning system for classification of the root morphology of mandibular first molars on panoramic radiographs. Dental cone-beam CT (CBCT) was used as the gold standard.

METHODS:
CBCT images and panoramic radiographs of 760 mandibular first molars from 400 patients who had not undergone root canal treatments were analyzed. Distal roots were examined on CBCT images to determine the presence of a single or extra root. Image patches of the roots were segmented from panoramic radiographs and applied to a deep learning system, and its diagnostic performance in the classification of root morphplogy was examined.

RESULTS:
Extra roots were observed in 21.4% of distal roots on CBCT images. The deep learning system had diagnostic accuracy of 86.9% for the determination of whether distal roots were single or had extra roots.

CONCLUSIONS:
The deep learning system showed high accuracy in the differential diagnosis of a single or extra root in the distal roots of mandibular first molars.


The electrochemical characteristics of porous Pt and La 0 . 8 Sr 0 . 2 CoO 3 - δ (LSC) electrodes has been found to depend strongly on polishing of the underlying Ce 0 . 8 Sm 0 . 2 O 2 - δ (SDC) electrolyte using SiC and/or diamond prior to cell fabrication. The effect of surface treatment on the microstructure and composition of SDC was investigated using scanning electron microscopy and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis. After high-temperature sintering, the surface of SDC is Sm-enriched and has granular morphology; grinding or polishing removes this grained layer and leads to a decrease in Sm concentration. Refiring of the polished electrolyte at 1450-1650°C results in restoration of the grain structure and Sm composition on the surface. It was found using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy that the surface treatment most strongly influences the high-frequency component of the impedance, suggesting the changes are associated primarily with an interfacial resistance.


Osteocytes are the cells that reside within the bone matrix and make up 90% to 95% of the cellular component of the tissue. Until recently, they were thought to serve as little more than "space holders" in the tissue. However, significant advances have demonstrated that osteocytes are of the utmost importance in regulating the dynamic nature of bone; indeed, it may be that this is their major function. Specifically, osteocyte signaling in skeletal metabolism contributes to (1) regulation of local mineralization, (2) regulation of systemic mineralization, (3) bone formation by osteoblasts, and (4) bone resorption by osteoclasts.


Shock-induced intermetallic reactions have previously been shown to occur on a nanosecond timescale, with the role of mass mixing processes driven by inter-facial shear at material interfaces suggested as a possible explanation. Experimental setups allowing the role of friction on these mechanisms to be considered are presented. Simulations show that the use of an impedance mismatch, shock driven experimental setup should allow sliding velocities of 50 - 100 m s−1 to be attained with mechanical mixing the main reaction mechanism. A second setup utilising the oblique impact of small spherical projectiles upon a target plate is predicted to enable much higher sliding velocities of up to 2 Km s−1 to be attained with thermally driven diffusion reaction mechanisms becoming dominant.


Negative group velocity (NGV) exists only in the anomalous dispersion band with resonance absorption. In this paper, it is verified that spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SSPPs) with spiral-shaped periodic units have the NGV characteristics near cutoff frequency. The negative group delay of this NGV SSPP can be used to achieve the compression of the pulse signal, and also to compensate the positive group delay with high efficiency. Of course, this group delay compensation scheme based on NGV may introduce an absorption loss, which is the characteristic of all passive negative group delay circuits.


The term dividend refers to the part of firm's net profit distributed to shareholders. The policy concerning the quantum of profits to be distributed as dividends is known as dividend policy. Dividend decision is considered as one of the most important decisions that the managers make as it affects the availability of firms' resources for growth and perhaps, the wealth of the share holders. It is therefore, essential to study the dividend practices of a firm. The study tries to analyze the dividend declared by the companies in the same industry differs significantly or not. The study reveals that there is an increasing trend in dividend per share of Ultratechc Ltd. , Shree Cement Ltd. &Ambuja Cement Ltd. On the other hand there is a decreasing trend in dividend per share of Acc Cement Ltd., RamcoCement  Ltd. &J.K.Cement Limited. The study concludes that the dividends declared by the Cement Companies are varied significantly.


The MRPP test statistic studied by Mielke and others is the weighted average distance between pairs of observations within a group. They defined 12 symmetric functions to obtainits first three moments. We define 23 additional symmetric functions to obtain the fourth moment. This can beuseful instudying further approximations to its sampling distribution. We also study the special case when the distance function is the Euclidean distance between ranks of observations


The Gibbs phenomenon of the Fourier series for different summability methods has been investigated by various authors. In this note, we study the same for the [S, α n ] method of summability introduced by Meir and Sharma [3]. The corresponding result for the [T, α n ] method of summability due to Powell [5] can be worked out in exactly the same way. The elements c nk of the [S, α n ] matrix are defined by the relations: 1 where 0<α n <1. The [S, α n ] matrix is regular if and only if