This paper presents a new approach to unsupervised pattern classification. The classification scheme consists of two main stages. The first one is an unsupervised fuzzy learning procedure, which allows, using a similarity measure and a corresponding threshold, to seek clusters within a set of totally unlabeled samples. It provides, for each detected cluster, a good initial prototype as well as the membership degree of each sample. The second stage is an optimization procedure involving the fuzzy c-means (FCM) algorithm. Both procedures are repeated for different values of the similarity threshold, and three validity criteria are used to assess and rank the quality of all resulting partitions. The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated, for different parameter values, on both artificial and real test data.


Eph receptors are the largest class of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) that participate in bidirectional cell signaling with their cell surface ephrin ligands during the development of vertebrate embryos. Ephrin-A5 is one ligand that interacts with the EphA4 receptor, but is present much earlier than EphA4 in developing Xenopus laevis embryos. This raises the question why ephrin-A5 is expressed so early and suggests that it may have a role in embryonic development and tissue differentiation independent of EphA4. This project attempted to study ephrin-A5's function using a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) knockdown approach. A vector encoding shRNA of the ephrin-A5 mRNA under the control of a strong eukaryotic promoter was injected into early Xenopus laevis embryos in the attempt to knock down ephrin-A5 expression and determine its function. A protein gel visualized the presence of viable proteins and Western Blots visualized the knockdown attempts. The shRNA vector used (pCAX+571) was determined not to have knocked down the expression of ephrin-A5; thus ephrin-A5's function in embryonic development has yet to be determined. 1 Degree Type Open Access Senior Honors Thesis


Introduction Lindane has been used as a broad-spectrum insecticide for seed and soil treatment, foliar applications, tree and wood treatment and against ectoparasites in both veterinary and human applications. However, the legacy of lindane production with the associated large HCH waste deposits has become recognized as an issue of global concern. Each tonne of lindane generated between 8 and 12 t of other HCH waste isomers (α-HCH, 55–80 %; βHCH, 5–14 %; δ-HCH, 2–16 %; and ε-HCH, 3–5 %). Remaining largely unknown to the public and indeed to the scientific community until relatively recently, this has generated the globe's largest POP stockpile— estimated at between four and seven million t of wastes. These wastes, together with those generated from recycling of HCH residues, were generally dumped, usually in an uncontrolled manner, in the vicinity of the production facilities.


NASA sounding rocket 21.114, launched March 7, 1998, during the Coqui II campaign, provided neutral wind and plasma density measurements of a weak intermediate layer. The layer was centered near 140 km and had an approximate peak plasma density of 2200 cm−3. The measured winds were typically less than 40 m s−1, in agreement with wind shear formation theory and coincident density observations. The data obtained during the flight allow us to explore the plasma density structure and wind field morphology of the intermediate layer. Coupled with simultaneous data from Arecibo Observatory, the upleg and downleg density profiles provide three spatially separated measurements that enable the first detailed investigation of the horizontal extent and variation of an intermediate layer.


The Best Article Award is sponsored by IBM, the world's largest service company and leader of the Service Science, Management, and Engineering initiative, and ISSIP, The International Society of Service Industry Professionals. The award is presented annually to the top article in the previous volume of JSR; winners are selected by the Journal of Service Research Editorial Review Board. The winning authors receive a plaque and a single cash prize of $2,000 to share at the AMA Frontiers in Service Conference.


Spectral–spatial features are important for ground target identification and classification with high spatial resolution remotely sensed (HSRRS) Imagery. In this article, two novel features, named the Gaussian-weighting spectral (GWS) feature and the area shape index (ASI) feature, are proposed to complement the deficiency of the basic image feature for land cover classification with HSRRS imagery. The proposed GWS feature is an adaptive region-based feature that aims to improve the spectral homogeneity of a local area surrounding a pixel. Additionally, it is well known that the spectral feature is inadequate for classifying HSRRS imagery. Therefore, one spatial feature called the ASI feature is proposed here to describe the relationship between the area and shape for an adaptive region around each pixel. The proposed GWS and ASI features coupled with the basic red–green–blue (RGB) feature are fed into a supervised classifier to obtain the final classification map. Experiments based on four real HSRRS images demonstrate that the proposed GWS and ASI features are capable of improving classification accuracies compared with some cognate state-of-the-art methods. Moreover, the experiments also reveal that the proposed spectral–spatial features can complement each other for enhancing the classification performance with HSRRS images.


One of the ultimate goals in biology is to understand the function of all genes and the structure of the interaction networks among them. Aside from its scientific value, a complete and detailed understanding would have a profound impact on the field of medicine. For example, it would become possible to design accurate diagnostics for nearly any condition, and it would be possible to accurately predict the effectiveness and side-effects of drugs or genetic treatments [103]. Microarrays (discussed in Chapters 7 and 8) and SAGE (serial analysis of gene expression) have proven to be powerful tools in the pursuit of this goal, providing genome-wide high-throughput measurements of cellular mRNA levels (" gene expression levels ") as a readout of the state of the underlying genetic network. Experiments are often designed to compare the state of the genetic network under two or more conditions. For example, one can observe how the pattern of expression of genes involved in development changes over time, or one can observe the difference in network state between healthy tissue and cancerous tissue. Alternatively, one can monitor the induced changes in expression due to a perturbation such as a structural network change (e.g., knockout or overexpressed gene) or a temporary change induced by a drug, toxin, pathogen, hormone, or other factor.


An efficient synthesis of functionalized fused pyrimidine derivatives from the respective ortho-(isocyanomethyl)nitroarenes is described: hydrolysis of the isocyano group in the title isocyanides followed by catalytic reduction of the nitro group and subsequent cyclocondensation of the diamine formed with orthoesters leads to the final products.


Continuous developments in education technologies are accompanied by diversity of methods and applications in education. The process starting with computer-assisted learning is now in a different dimension via increasing internet possibilities. Another important factor in this issue is that learnercentred approach has been accepted widely and become widespread. Transition from portfolio to eportfolio is one of the current examples to be given about changing process in education technology. The approach which places learners and assignments at the centre has turned into a ―learner work file‖ or in other words ―portfolio‖ format through developing. Portfolio is a big assignment and study collection where a learner collects his studies. The concept of ―e-portfolio‖ has replaced portfolio as information and communication technologies have become main components in education. In this study, information will be given about types of e-portfolio and using them in education.


Driven by their low cost and ease of deployment, as well as their operation in unlicensed spectrum bands, IEEE 802.11-based Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), also termed Wi-Fi, have been established as the de facto access technology for local area wireless connectivity. Especially in densely-populated urban areas, WLAN presence is ubiquitous. Residential WLAN owners, municipalities and venue owners, among others, set up wireless hotspots for private or public use. However, one can identify two important problems that have to be efficiently tackled. On the one hand, while Wi-Fi is present practically everywhere in modern metropolitan areas, access to roaming users is typically restricted. At the same time, the broadband Internet connections WLAN Access Points (APs) are attached to may have excess capacity, thus leaving resources underutilized. On the other hand, unplanned Wi-Fi deployment leads to significant interference problems among neighbor WLANs. In this work, we exploit our prior work on WLAN sharing communities to jointly tackle the above problems. The solution we propose is based on offering users QoS benefits as an incentive to perform spectrum sensing and supply interference reports to the WLAN APs they are connected to. We present the design of our mechanisms, discuss some of their properties and investigate their expected performance overhead, especially on delay-sensitive applications like VoIP.


The cracking reaction of paraffin wax catalyzed by different catalysts such as aluminosilicate and Y zeolite was studied as well as the ratio of the catalyst to paraffin wax .Cracking waste plastics in the similar way,one can find that the abovementioned catalysts have good catalysis avidity and catalysis stability .The purpose of the demonstrative experiment is to lead the students to pay attention to the problem of "white pollution".


Based on the national standard,under Windows 98 environment,we utilize the Microsoft Access software in Office97 to set up the injection mould standard mould frame and major components database system,utilize WINDOWS to set up ODE DB data library linkage,link data by call the ADO control unit in Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0,automatic elect mould frame and automatic generate major components application program is designed.The major structure and partial function are listed about DXF files.It is proved by the example that this method is very convenient in the establish and call and maintenance of the database.


The invention relates to a preparation of an antibacterial composition, which belongs to the pesticide compounding field. Affective ingredients of the antibacterial composition are prepared through mixing two components of cyflufenamid and several triazole bactericides, wherein the weight ratio of cyflufenamid to the triazole bactericides is 90:1-1:90, and preferably 60:3-2:70; the total weight percentage of the active ingredients in the antibacterial composition is 1-90%, and preferably 8-75%, the rest is pesticide allowable and acceptable auxiliary components. A wettable pulvis, a suspending agent, a soluble liquid formulation, an emulsion in water, a water dispersed granule, and a particulate agent can be prepared from the antibacterial composition with known methods. The antibacterial composition is mainly used for controlling fungal diseases of crops of grains, cotton, oil, fruits, vegetables and flowers.


The variability in speech perception between cochlear implant users is thought to result from the degeneration of the auditory nerve. Degeneration of the auditory nerve, histologically assessed, correlates with electrophysiologically acquired measures, such as electrically evoked compound action potentials (eCAPs) in experimental animals. To predict degeneration of the auditory nerve in humans, where histology is impossible, this paper reviews the correlation between speech perception and eCAP recordings in cochlear implant patients.


In this paper, a novel structure is proposed to enhance the absorption of light in thin-film solar cells by surface plasmons excited on metallic nano-rods. The excitation of surface plasmons on these nano-rods that are implemented in amorphous hydrogenated silicon is realized by a two-dimensional array of metallic nanoparticles. This array, which consists of nonresonant plasmonic nanoparticles, can be mounted on the anti-reflection coating of the solar cells.


A novel feature based on the combination of gradient feature and coefficients of wavelet transform is developed in this paper. In handwritten character recognition, the gradient feature represents local characteristic properly, but it is sensitive to the deformation of handwritten character. Meanwhile, wavelet transform represents the character image in multiresolution analysis and keeps adequate global characteristic in different scales. In order to improve the discrimination power, we composed local and global characteristic in a combined feature. Three combination schemes are described in this paper. Experiments are conducted on two Chinese character databases, ETL8B subset (197 categories) and HKBU-SC110 (110 categories), to test the performance of proposed feature. The recognition accuracies of our feature achieve 95.53% and 93.77% for ETL8B subset and HKBU-SC110 by 1-NN classifier, respectively, which are higher than those of gradient feature


In this chapter the essential aspects of anesthesia for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) repair are discussed. The case presented is of a 30-week neonate requiring PDA repair. Subtopics include adjustments in management due to infant prematurity and prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis. The chapter is divided into preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative sections with important subtopics related to the main topic in each section. Issues presented regarding preoperative evaluation include concerns related to the patient's prematurity and risk for necrotizing enterocolitis. Intraoperative management addressed includes choice of monitors, inhalational agents used, potential complications, and postligation. Postoperative topics include use of antibiotics, when repair is the wrong procedure, and postoperative complications.


A method of cleaning a soiled substrate, said method comprising treating substrate moistened with a formulation comprising a multiplicity of polymer particles, wherein said formulation is free of organic solvents, and wherein said polymer particles are reused in additional cleaning procedures according to the method.


Forest and peat bog fires occur almost every summer in several parts of Russian boreal forests due to long rainless and heat periods at summertime. Particulate matter and different gases (CO, CO2, NOx, O3, SO2) in air can be transported thousands of kilometers away from the fire areas. Increased concentrations of the different parameters, like carbon monoxide and aerosol particles were observed on certain days in Southern Finland and even Finnish Lapland during Russian wild fire episodes in summer 2010. During these days the wind direction was from East or Southeast to Finland.


Pyrolysis of combustible municipal solid waste (MSW) is an environmentally friendly waste to energy process that produces an ecological bio-oil with a high-energy value. However, the challenge is to obtain the desired products in considerable quantities, of good quality, and at low cost. The present work objective is to evaluate combustible MSW potential available in Morocco and their recovery in bio-oil produced by pyrolysis. An evaluation was conducted based on the MSW characterization for different Moroccan cities. It shows that Morocco has significant potential in good quality RDF, having a high calorific value and a low environmental impact. The yield of bio-oil that can be produced by pyrolysis of the dry part of municipal waste for different Moroccan cities was estimated using an appropriate model. The average total bio-oil yield estimated for each city is 45 wt%. Besides, the high calorific value fraction of bio-oil derived from Moroccan RDF will cover ~45% of the country's fuel-oil needs.


We combined noninvasive ultrasonic and optical measurements to estimate the mechanical properties of forming colloidal films. Light reflection measurements determined the stage of drying and film structure. A concurrent ultrasound measurement quantified the film stiffness. The main finding was that compressing capillary forces induced a temporal peak in film stiffness when air began to enter the pores in the film. We believe that empirically observing such a stiffening event has not been reported before. This finding advances the understanding of the physics of consolidating suspensions.


Summary: One-third of the world's population is infected with Tuberculosis. Healthcare workers are high risk group to infect with TB. Moreover, the progression from LTBI to active TB is between five to 10 percent during five years. An LTBI screening is a benefit for early diagnosis and end epidemic of TB. Content Outline: Background:


VP7, the major structural core protein of bluetongue virus, is conserved among the 24 bluetongue virus serotypes. The gene encoding VP7 of serotype 4 was expressed in Escherichia coli. A semi-synthetic chicken antibody library was screened with the resulting protein. Six single-chain antibody fragments (scFvs) were isolated. Immune sera blocked the binding of four of the six scFvs in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. These scFvs recognised recombinant VP7 coated directly onto a plastic surface. Their behaviour therefore differs from that of scFv F10 which was selected earlier on directly immobilised bluetongue virus and which binds to VP7 only when it is captured by an immobilised immunoglobulin directed against bluetongue virus.


The development of compressed sensing methods for MR image reconstruction led to an explosion of research on models and optimization algorithms for MRI. Roughly 10 years after such methods first appeared in the MRI literature, the US FDA approved the commercial use of certain compressed sensing methods, making compressed sensing a clinical success story for MRI. This review paper summarizes several key models and optimization algorithms for MR image reconstruction, including both the type of methods that have FDA approval for clinical use, as well as more recent methods being considered in the research community that use data-adaptive regularizers. One impetus for this paper is that "off the shelf" optimization methods have rarely been the best choice for solving optimization problems in MR image reconstruction, due to the large volume of MRI data collected by clinical systems and practical time constraints on processing time. Instead, special purpose algorithms have been devised that exploit the structure of the system model and regularizers used in MRI; this paper strives to collect such algorithms in a single survey. Many of the ideas used in optimization methods for MRI are also useful for solving other inverse problems.


In the present work, it was shown that the dimethyl sulfide (DMS) monooxygenase and the cumene dioxygenase catalyzed oxidation of various chlorinated ethenes, propenes, and butenes. The specific activities of these oxygenases were determined for C(2) to C(4) chlorinated olefins, and the oxidation rates ranged from 0.19 to 4.18 nmol.min(-1).mg(-1) of dry cells by the DMS monooxygenase and from 0.19 to 1.29 nmol.min(-1).mg(-1) of dry cells by the cumene dioxygenase. The oxidation products were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Most chlorinated olefins were monooxygenated by the DMS monooxygenase to yield chlorinated epoxides. In the case of the cumene dioxygenase, the substrates lacking any chlorine atom on double-bond carbon atoms were dioxygenated, and those with chlorine atoms attaching to double-bond carbon atoms were monooxygenated to yield allyl alcohols.


The invention discloses a machine-vision-based intelligent artistic paint robot system that is applied to various souvenirs or ornaments. According to the intelligent artistic paint robot, a scenery or portrait image that is captured by a camera is processed into an image with high light-shade contrast by built-in programming software; an arm is controlled to hold a pen to paint a seen scenery or portrait based on a complex algorithm, so that the artistic painting becomes vivid; and then the paint amount of an inflator is controlled by a line segment interpolation algorithm and a running speed, thereby realizing a clear and coherent painting effect. According to the invention, the advanced computer software, computer vision system and the artificial intelligence are combined. When the provided robot is used for replacing the manual operation, time consumed for painting one picture by the robot is less than ten minutes and the speed is much faster than the street artist. Meanwhile, the interestingness of artistic ornament production is enhanced and the application market of the artistic decoration industry can be seized. Therefore, the provided robot has the wide application range and broad development prospects.


Background: Nowadays, parents are paying more attention to the penis size of their children, especially obese children. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between obesity, testosterone, and estradiol in prepubertal non-obese and obese children with micropenis. Methods: This case-control study was done on 58 non-obese and 86 obese micropenis children aged 8 - 13 years at Golestan Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from June 2018 to May 2020. The body mass index (BMI), testosterone and estradiol levels, stretched penile length (SPL), and the correlation between these were studied. Results: The mean age of children in non-obese and obese groups was 10.2 ± 1.34 and 10.5 ± 1.6 years, respectively. SPL in non-obese and obese subjects was 3.1 ± 1.3 and 2.9 ± 1.22 cm, respectively. SPL in both groups was significantly correlated with height and testosterone (height: r = 0.239, P = 0.009; testosterone: r = 0.344, P = 0.001) but not with BMI, weight, and estradiol. After the adjustment for age, BMI, weight, and estradiol, adjusted odds ratio with confidence interval 95% for penile length across to height and testosterone levels in non-obese group was 1.52 (0.91 - 1.83; P = 0.001) and 0.56 (0.36 - 0.98; P = 0.001), respectively and in the obese group was 1.42 (0.81 - 1.66; P = 0.001) and 0.75 (0.51 - 0.87; P = 0.001), respectively. Conclusions: Penile length is positively correlated with height and testosterone but not with weight and estradiol in non-obese and obese children. It is probably not essential and obligatory to recommend weight loss for this issue and weight loss should not be concerned by children and their parents.


This thesis is concerned with the cover time problem, some variants of this problem, and with random interlacements. Random interlacements is a model introduced by Sznitman in [41] and consists of an increasing family of subsets of Z, for d ≥ 3, parameterised by a level u ≥ 0. Roughly speaking, these sets are the traces of a Poisson cloud of doubly-infinite random walk paths modulo time shift, where u ≥ 0 governs the intensity. The model arises naturally as the limit of the "local picture" left by random walk in the discrete torus graph (Z/NZ), N ≥ 1, and discrete cylinder graph (Z/NZ)d−1 × Z, N ≥ 1, for dimension d at least three, at appropriate time-scales. The cover time of a finite graph is the first time random walk on the graph has visited every vertex. The study of cover times have received a great deal of attention in the past decades. In this thesis we introduce and study cover levels in random interlacements, defined by analogy to cover times, and study cover times in the discrete cylinder and discrete torus graphs in dimension three and higher. In the random interlacements model we are able to obtain a very good understanding of the behaviour of the cover level, to the level of fluctuations, which are shown to be governed by the Gumbel extreme value distribution. In the discrete cylinder graph we obtain a limit law of the cover time of (among others) the "zero level" (Z/NZ)d−1 × {0}, sharpening a result by Sznitman & Dembo from [13]. Finally in the discrete torus we are able to show that the cover time C of (Z/NZ), d ≥ 3, has Gumbel fluctuations in the sense that C cdN − logN tends in law to the Gumbel distribution as N → ∞. This resolves a long standing


The accuracy of per-flow traffic measurement is evaluated using the metrics of both error probability and rela-tive error.Current research on flow traffic measurement mainly focuses on reducing error probability,while little attention has been paid to alleviating relative error.Motivated by the importance of reducing relative error in certain applications such as usage accounting,this study presented a new algorithm named MT-dlCBF(Multi-Tierd-left Counting Bloom Filter) with restrained relative error.MT-dlCBF consists of several tiers of dlCBF(d-left Counting Bloom Filter),and dlCBF at higher tier has longer flow fingerprints and wider flow traffic counters than that of dlCBF at lower tier respectively.In this way,the interference of long flow to short ones can be alleviated significantly,resulting in restrained relative error.Analytical and experimental results show that MT-dlCBF provides significant decrement in relative error and trivial increment in error probability compared to dlCBF.Moreover,MT-dlCBF has higher space efficiency than dlCBF under typical parameter settings.


Malaria is a protozoan infection caused by four Plasmodia speciestransmitted by female Anopheles mosquito. Nearly 40% of the world population is at risk ofacquiring the disease because of increasing resistance to treatment, climate changes and travelsto endemic zones. We report twelve patients with diagnosis of malaria, supported by theidentification of parasites on blood smear. All cases had traveled to endemic zones (Peru,Ecuador, Central America, Africa), but only three used chemoprophylaxis. Seven cases wereinfected with Plasmodium vivax and five cases with P. falciparum. Three of latter requiredintensive care. All patients were treated with standard drugs according to the severity andPlasmodium specie, with excellent results and no mortality (Rev Med Chile 2006; 134: 421-5).(


License Authors of papers retain copyright and release the work under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). HARDy is a Python-based package that helps evaluate differences in data through feature engineering coupled with kernel methods. The package provides an extension to machine learning by adding layers of feature transformation and representation. The workflow of the package is as follows:


Aim of the Work: The present wok aims to assess how to reach the optimum diagnosis of the nature and the complications of lower genitourinary tract cyst in male patient using different radiological imaging modalities. Patients and Methods: 1000 male patients were evaluated with pelvic ultrasound and if lower genitourinary tract cysts were present, the patients were further subjected to either trans-rectal ultrasound (TRUS), TRUS guided aspiration for presence of spermatozoa, TRUS guided seminal vesiculography or CT urography in order to reach the origin of the cyst and the complications of its presence. Results: 14 cases were detected with lower genitourinary tract cysts among our patients with an overall incidence 1.4%; among them 3 patients with mid line prostatic cysts showed normal seminal analysis; 1 patient with prostatic cyst was infertile; 3 patients were detected with infravesical cysts after transurethral resection prostatectomy; 2 cases with small retention cysts were associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia; 1 case was detected with prostatic abscess; 1 patient was detected with unilateral ureterocele; 1 patient was detected with large pelvi abdominal unilateral seminal vesicle cyst; 1 patient was with unilateral ejaculatory duct cyst; 1 patient with small cystic dilation of prostatic urethra was associated with urethral stone.


The rapid assimilation of Ball Grid Array (BGA) and other Area Array Package technology in the electronics industry is due to the fact that this package type allows for a greater I/O count in a smaller area while maintaining a pitch that allows for ease of manufacture. While the original assembly process has proven to be fairly trouble-free, replacement of Area Array package devices after the assembly process can be much more difficult. When reworking BGA and area array devices there continues to be discussion related to the technical merits of using solder paste versus flux only. While using flux only during attachment is the BGA rework technique of choice due to its simplicity, the solder paste printing attachment process is supported by data which indicates that it is a more reliable rework process compared to its flux only attachment counterpart. While there have been several studies comparing these two attachment methods, this study highlights the effect of rework technique on the electrical characteristics and reliability of reworked BGAs. Data from a recent reliability study comparing the two techniques with a focus on a new stenciling technique is presented.


Abstract Female summer flounder Paralichthys dentatus grow faster than males and experience a lower natural mortality rate. Sex-structured assessment models have been developed for other fishes with sexually dimorphic characteristics to better account for population dynamics. Although a desire exists to develop similar assessment techniques for summer flounder, some prerequisite data are not available, including the sex of fish that are landed in the recreational fishery. Furthermore, summer flounder recreational landings are constrained within harvest limits almost entirely by minimum size restrictions—a management approach that could place much of the recreational fishing mortality on females. To fill a basic but important data requirement to improve the stock assessment of this species while also providing some insight on how current management strategies might impact the sex structure of the population, we collected data on sex and length of summer flounder (n = 4,437) that were landed in the New Jers...


In this article we show how to circumvent the problem of having a sum of operators inside a square root. The purpose is to show an ingenuous method that perhaps can be applied to other areas of physics.


Two approaches to control policy synthesis for unknown systems are investigated. The indirect approach is based on the identification of ARMA, NARMA, or Markov chain models, and applications of dynamic programming to these models with or without the use of a certainty equivalence principle. The direct approach is represented by Q-learning, with the lookup table or with the use of radial basis function approximation. We implemented both methods to optimization of a stock portfolio and tested on the Warsaw stock exchange data.


The comfort properties of different bi-layer knitted structures made from tencel yarn as an outer layer and acrylic/micro-fibre polyester yarn as an inner layer have been studied. Six union fabrics have been produced and then analyzed objectively and subjectively for their comfort properties. The air permeability, water vapour permeability, wicking ability and drying rate are found to be higher and thermal resistance is found to be lower for bi-layer knitted fabric made out of micro-fibre polyester (inner layer) with less tuck points as compared to all other fabrics. The same structure shows good ranking on subjective rating of thermal environment scale. The results are discussed with 95% significant level with ANOVA analysis and Friedman one-way analysis of variance.


At Coverys, we do more than insure against risk. We combine medical professional liability insurance with industry-leading business intelligence, education and risk management tools to increase patient safety and help improve outcomes for policyholders. So you can move from risk-averse to risk-prevention. To learn how Coverys uses business intelligence to improve clinical, operational & financial outcomes, call (844) 894-0686 or visit ThinkCoverys.com today.


The invention discloses a storage battery protection circuit preventing overcharge. In the working process of an existing storage battery, the existing storage battery only has the charging protection function and is lack of the discharging protection function, over-discharge will damage the capacity of the storage battery and shorten the service life of the storage battery. The storage battery protection circuit preventing overcharge comprises a charging source, a storage battery and a charging protection circuit. The charging source is connected with the storage battery through the charging protection circuit. The storage battery is connected with loads through a discharging protection circuit. Due to the facts that the charging source is connected with the storage battery through the charging protection circuit and the storage battery is connected with the loads through the discharging protection circuit, overcharge can be prevented in the charging process, over-discharge can also be prevented in the discharging process, normal use of the storage battery is guaranteed, and the capacity and the service life of the storage battery are protected.


Ghana, like many other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, lacks a clearly articulated urban development strategy. Urban growth has been rapid but largely uncontrolled. Ghana's adoption of a decentralization programme in 1988 focused some attention on small towns. The country's more recent adoption of the Millennium Development Goals and other specific poverty reduction strategies requires more concerted state promotion of small towns. Improved service provision and delivery through small towns is a necessary component of any successful poverty reduction or regional development strategy. Copyright (c) 2008 The Author. Journal Compilation (c) 2008 Joint Editors and Blackwell Publishing Ltd.


The highly sensitive and rapid NO gas sensor was prepared with polyaniline/TiO2/carbon nanotube composites. Aniline was polymerized on the surface of carbon nanotube (p-type semiconductor) with embedding TiO2. The gas sensing property was measured by the changes of electrical resistance without or with UV irradiation to investigate the photodegradation of NO by TiO2. The photo-degraded products such as HNO2, NO2, and HNO3, whichwere adsorbed on the PANi-coated carbon nanotubes, resulted in the decreased electrical resistance in the p-type semiconductors of carbon nanotube and polyaniline. The advantages of TiO2 photocatalyst in gas sensing were apparent in the improvement in both sensitivity and response rate.


A method for producing a vector map of a prescribed area (G) having the following steps: production (S1) of orthophotographs by a first camera (2-1) that is oriented at right angles to the earth's surface and that is fitted to an unmanned, automated air vehicle (1) that overflies the prescribed area (G) at a high altitude (FHH); evaluation (S2) of the orthophotographs in order to ascertain at least one infrastructure network located in the area (G); computation (S3) of a flight route for the unmanned autonomous air vehicle (1) along the ascertained infrastructure network located in the area (G); production (S4) of detail aerial photographs of the infrastructure network along the computed flight route by a second camera (2-2) that is oriented obliquely with respect to the earth's surface and that is fitted to the unmanned automated air vehicle (1) that overflies the infrastructure network located in the area (G) at at least one low altitude (FHL), and computation (S5) of the vector map of the area (G) on the basis of the orthophotographs produced and the detail aerial photographs produced.


Coupling atom probe tomography (APT) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the temporal evolution of the precipitate morphology and size distribution, and compositional width of γ/γ' interface and associated elemental partitioning, has been tracked in a model Ni-14Al7Cr(at%) alloy, during isothermal annealing at 800C. During the initial annealing period, accelerated growth of γ' is accompanied by a gradual decrease in interface width and enhancement of solute partitioning. Further annealing exhibits classical LSW coarsening with minimal changes in the interface.


This review uses an economic lens to offer perspectives on securities regulation. We discuss several motives for regulation and highlight some facets of regulatory conflict, competition, and coordination as well as the range of required securities market disclosures. We discuss the roles of economics and cost-benefit analysis in regulation under administrative law as well as "counting" and "line-drawing" exercises and the nature of the "unintended consequences" of regulation. Among the specific examples of securities regulation that the review highlights using economic principles are short-sale regulation (including the economic costs associated with short interest) and enforcement sanctions against corporations. We also note some of the successes (options backdating) and failures (Madoff and mutual fund market timing) of the securities regulator in identifying new enforcement challenges. This review concludes by highlighting the importance of regulatory uncertainty and time-consistent policies and applie...


Triton X-100/n-hexylalcohol/cyclohexane/water inverse microemulsion, 3 inverse microemulsions containing glycin(Gly), arginine(Arg) or histidine(His) were selected as the template to induce the formation of calcium bilirubinate(CaBR) nanoparticles and the effects of amino acids were investigated. CaBRs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy(TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy(UV-Vis) and zeta potential, respectively. The results show that the global CaBR nano-particles with an average diameter of 80 nm were successfully synthesized in the inverse microemulsion systems, and the stability of suspended CaBR nanoparticles in aqueous solution decreases first and then increases with the increase of solution pH values, and zeta potential absolute value of CaBR particles was 0 mV when the pH of the suspension solution was around 4.9. The addition of each of three hydrophilic amino acids(AAs) is helpful to the nucleation of CaBR and influences the microstructure, morphology and agglomeration of CaBR. Global CaBR nanoparticles also formed successfully in the microemlulsion and the stability of the aqueous suspended nanoparticles increased with the addition of His or Gly, but the average diameters of them reduced to 60 nm or 40 nm, respectively. Irregular CaBR nanoparticles with the smallest diameter were produced in inverse microemulsion containing Arg and were easy to agglomerate in aqueous suspended solution.


Summary

Prediction and prophecy.

With the help of a number of mythological and scriptural examples the requirements are sketched, which a scientific prediction should meet. These requirements are:

(A) unambiguity, that is to say it must be as clear as possible under which observable circumstances the prediction is fulfilled and under which it is disproved;

(B) the prediction must rest on information consisting of preliminary observations;

(C) the accuracy of the prediction must be stated by the magnitude of the so-called prediction interval and

(D) the reliability, i.e. the probability that the prediction will be fulfilled, must be mentioned.


The severe shortage of the medical English teachers impedes the development of the teaching.This paper,therefore,analyzes the feasibility of the qualification of the teachers of English for specific purposes.Firstly,the willingness needs clarification of the teachers to turn their interests.In addition,the understanding of the medical English is required.Finally a training mode is put forward.


New photosensitive liquid crystalline compounds with a specific molecular structure have been designed in order to use them as functional dopants for organic photovoltaic devices. The main idea is to establish the effect of doping on the bulk-heterojunction solar cell properties and characteristics. As a part of basic characterisation, the self-assembling behaviour of three new organic compounds has been determined. The resulting photovoltaic devices with a P3HT:PCBM active layer doped by the designed photosensitive materials were investigated by UV-Vis spectroscopy, electrochemical measurements, cyclic voltammetry experiments, AFM surface morphology studies and impedance spectroscopy. The obtained results are summarised and discussed in terms of power conversion efficiency improvement considering the specific chemical structure of the compounds used as functional dopants and the annealing temperature of an active layer. The molecular structure of compounds used as a dopant has a strong effect on the value of short circuit current density. However, no significant effect of the dopant in the P3HT:PCBM active layer on the open circuit voltage and fill factor has been found.


With a purpose of obtaining materials of high specific strength at room temperature and superplastic elongation at elevated temperatures, Mg-Al-Zn ternary alloys containing 1 to 10 mass%Al and 5 to 12mass%Zn were rapidly solidified by gas atomizing and subsequent splat quenching. The rapidly solidified flakes were consolidated to the P/M materials by hot extrusion at 573K. The obtained P/M materials showed finer dispersion of the second phase particles than the I/M counterparts. The hardness and tensile strength of the P/M and I/M materials at room temperature increased linearly in parallel to each other with increasing Al+Zn content in atomic%. The highest tensile strength of 447MPa at room temperature was obtained for rapidly solidified Mg-8mass%Al-12mass%Zn. The decreases in tensile strength and increase in elongation with rising test temperature were more remarkable in the P/M materials than in the I/M materials. At 573K, tensile strength of the P/M materials decreased to below 20MPa and elongation increased to above 100% for a wide range of tensile strain rate. The highest elongation above 900% was observed at 573K for the Mg-10mass% -5mass%Zn P/M material at an initial strain rate of 0.02/s.


The company were the work was carried out cannot be named due to privacy laws.The company wished to gain a better understanding of what happened when adiagnostic kit was produced and examine the pr ...


Dogs diagnosed with appendicular osteosarcoma commonly succumb to metastatic disease despite undergoing the standard of care treatment for curative intent: amputation of the affected limb, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. Post‐surgical chemotherapy improves one‐ and two‐year survival rates, but prognosis is still poor. In response to adverse environmental conditions normal cells are capable of undergoing autophagy, a survival mechanism involving self‐degradation and recycling of cellular components. Neoplastic cells take advantage of this mechanism to enhance their survival during chemotherapy. Autophagy's role in osteosarcoma has been investigated in humans however similar studies in dogs are rare. Our objective was to examine the expression patterns of a select group of autophagy‐related proteins in canine osteosarcoma amputation samples and to identify potential correlations with survival. Immunohistochemistry for beclin‐1, LC3, phospho‐mTOR, phospho‐AKT1, phospho‐S6 ribosomal protein, and p62 was performed on a tissue microarray containing naïve canine appendicular osteosarcoma cores from dogs who began the standard of care treatment (≥1 dose of chemotherapy). For survival analyses, Kaplan‐Meier survival curves for different expression patterns were compared using the log‐rank test and interactions were considered significant if p < 0.05. The median survival time from the date of diagnosis was 250 days and survival time ranged from 67–897 days (n=20, 95% CI: 122–381). Intense phospho‐S6 ribosomal protein labeling was identified most consistently adjacent to osteoid matrix. Phospho‐mTOR labeling was most evident in the nuclear compartment, however cells undergoing mitosis displayed strong cytoplasmic labeling. Canine osteosarcoma cells exhibited a mixture of diffuse and punctate LC3 cytoplasmic labeling, potentially distinguishing between free cytoplasmic LC3‐I and autophagosome anchored LC3‐II, respectively. Western blot analysis of the beclin‐1 antibody produced a 58 kDa band as predicted. Three distinct intensities of cytoplasmic labeling were observed for beclin‐1 in canine osteosarcoma cells. Strong cytoplasmic beclin‐1 labeling in the majority of neoplastic cells was not observed in any cases with greater than one‐year survival (0/6); this pattern was observed only in cases with less than one‐year survival (5/14). Dogs with tumours having light (n=4), moderate (n=9), and strong (n=5) cytoplasmic labeling had median survival times of 294, 301, and 122 days, respectively. Strong cytoplasmic labeling was a significantly correlated with decreased survival time (Chisq=6.9, 2 df, p < 0.05). This preliminary study provides evidence that canine osteosarcoma cells undergo autophagy in vivo, with a similar LC3 labeling pattern to that described in other tumour types in various species. Additionally, it identifies beclin‐1 as a promising candidate biomarker of chemoresponsiveness in canine appendicular osteosarcoma.


Reactive oxygen species (ROS) had been known to influence many signaling events through oxidative modification of proteins. The oxidation of protein phosphatases including protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) and Ser/Thr protein phosphatases (PPases) is particularly important in redox signaling, because the inactivation of protein phosphatases can induce a broad range of signaling pathways. The reversible oxidation and inactivation of PTPs to the sulfenic acid (SOH) state is a well-known redox regulation of signaling transduction. Recently, protein carbonylation also attracted people's attention. This metal-catalyzed protein oxidation was considered to be an irreversible and non-enzymatic modification of proteins. However, a pioneer study has indicated that protein carbonylation/de-carbonylation may be another important mechanism to be involved in redox signaling. Upon stimulation, carbonylated proteins can be decreased subsequent to the peak of carbonylation within short term, and the de-carbonylation process is a proteasome-independent reaction. In this study, we found that the protein phosphatase activities of Ser/Thr PPases and PTPs were both down-regulated in mouse artery smooth muscle cells (ASMCs)-treated by hydrogen peroxide. Moreover, the carbonylation of PP2A and SHP-1 were both determined in hydrogen peroxide-treated VSMCs by using immunoprecipitation assay. On the other hand, the carbonylation/de-carbonylation process was observed in hydrogen peroxide or PDGF-BB-stimulated mouse ASMCs. Nevertheless, the phenomenon of protein de-carbonylation was not observed in mouse ASMCs-stimulated by 4-hydroxynonenal. Furthermore, the treatment of MG132, a proteasome inhibitor, could not abolish the carbonylation/de-carbonylation process in hydrogen peroxide or PDGF-BB-stimulated mouse ASMCs. The results reveal that carbonylation/de-carbonylation process only occurred in primary protein carbonylation but not in secondary protein carbonylation. This carbonylation/de-carbonylation process is a proteasome-independent signaling pathway. In conclusion, we indicate that the carbonylation/de-carbonylation of protein phosphatases may be a novel redox regulatory pathway in activated ASMCs and ASMC associated diseases.


Stride-length estimation is an important part of Pedestrian Dead Reckoning (PDR). In view of the problem that traditional stride-length estimation model has too large estimation errors in complex environments and special gaits, a pedestrian stride-length estimation algorithm based on Bidirectional LSTM Network is proposed to realize accurate estimation of stride-length in normal walking, fast walking, slow walking, running and jumping gait. The algorithm takes raw inertial data of accelerometer and gyroscope as the input and the stride-length as output, which can effectively process the time-dependent inertial data within a gait cycle, so as to extract the relevant features of pedestrian stride-length. The effectiveness of the algorithm is verified by collecting actual data from the built-in inertial sensor of the smartphone. The average stride-length estimation relative error rate is 2.80%, and the average distance estimation error rate is 0.95%, which shows that a good estimation accuracy has been achieved.


ABSTRACT
This article presents the result of empirical research that investigates the effect of online listening strategies instruction and vocabulary knowledge on Japanese language learners' listening skill. Listening strategies instruction used are the integrative model and the Oxford model. Participants in the study were 44 Japanese language learners of grade 12 from SMAN 21 Bekasi. This research used a quantitative approach and a quasi-experimental method. The data was collected by pre-test and post-test related to the learners' Japanese listening skills. The learners' vocabulary knowledge was also measured using a vocabulary knowledge test. The result showed that the online listening strategy instruction, integrative model could not be given to students of class XII of SMAN 21 Bekasi due to the absence of a significant effect of the method and vocabulary knowledge on listening skills of Japanese language learners of grade 12 from SMAN 21 Bekasi. The research shows the possibility of other factors such as learning independency and learner autonomy that can affect the effectiveness of online listening strategy instruction, integrative model on Japanese listening skills.

Keywords: Listening Strategy Instruction; Listening Skill; Vocabulary Knowledge; Japanese language.


Scrotal edema after inguinoscrotal surgery is quiet common and various types of scrotal support have been used to decrease the incidence of scrotal oedema and haematoma. Edematous scrotum is a great source of infection due to rogousity of scrotal wall and due to lots of swept in tropical country like India. Various types of scrotal support like coconut scrotal bandage and triangular (LANGGOT) suspension of scrotum have been in use, with varying degrees of success in preventing such complications. We used Face-mask to suspend the scrotum to decrease the incidence of scrotal oedema in cases of all inguinoscrotal surgeries done in a rural medical college.


This paper deals with a design problem of a robust controller with adjustable parameters for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems. The proposed robust controller is composed of a state feedback with a LQ optimal gain matrix derived by using the nominal system and adjustable parameters. In this paper, we show that sufficient conditions for the existence of the proposed robust controller are given in terms of LMIs. Finally, numerical examples are presented.


Eventually, you will entirely discover a extra experience and achievement by spending more cash. yet when? get you allow that you require to get those all needs afterward having significantly cash? Why don't you attempt to acquire something basic in the beginning? That's something that will lead you to understand even more almost the globe, experience, some places, bearing in mind history, amusement, and a lot more?


The electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of the anion radicals of 1,1′- and 2,2′-biazulenyls have been examined. The ESR spectrum of the latter shows that the unpaired spin is distributed equally between both azulene rings of the molecule. Theoretical calculation of the spin densities by the McLachlan procedure gave satisfactory agreement with the experimentally estimated densities. The ESR spectrum of the anion radical of 1,1′-biazulenyl, which could only be generated by an electrolytic technique, is explained by the fact that the spin exchange between the two halves of the molecule is slow. However, the ESR spectrum of the anion radical of the 3,3′-dicarbethoxy derivative of 1,1′-isomer showed rapid spin exchange through 1,1′-bond.


Abstract This study investigated the influence of loci of content and function words on stuttering frequency in the speech of Arabic children who stutter. Participants were 85 children who stutter (24 preschool, 61 school age). The preschool children who stutter were 17 males and 7 females with a mean age of 4.58 ± 0.50 (range: 4-5 years old). The school age children who stutter were 56 males and 5 females with a mean age of 10.64 ± 2.76 (range: 6-16 years old). No significant difference was found between the preschool and school age children who stutter in the mean percentage of stuttering on both content and function words. For school age children who stutter, results showed a significantly higher percentage of stuttering on function words compared to content words in the mild level of stuttering (p = .010). Taking severity as a continuous variable, results indicated a significant positive correlation between scores on the Stuttering Severity Instrument-4 (SSI-4) and loci of stuttering on both content and function words. The results also revealed a significant negative correlation between age (as a continuous variable) and loci of stuttering in the category of function words. The findings of the current study provide new information about the impact of word type (function vs. content words) on stuttering in Arabic-speaking children.


In this paper , the mechanism,the technological point and the application of microwave-assisted extraction technique in food chemistry were introduced.


Based on object-oriented analysis and design method,the affairs of the aircraft design process is divided into several objects,this paper expounds the development of aircraft design applications systems,and introduces in detail its main design thinking,function frame and its realization.


Preface CHAPTER 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO LAW AND SOCIETY An Introduction to Law and Society Definitions of Law Norms, Mores, and Folkways Approaches to Defining Law Summary of Definitions of Law Families of Law The Common Law The Civil Law Tradition The Socialist Legal Tradition The Islamic Legal Tradition International Law The Functions of Law Dispute Resolution Social Change The Disfunctions of Law The Study of Law The Study of Legal Doctrine The Study of Jurisprudence Law and Society Two Perspectives on Law and Society A Consensus Perspective A Conflict Perspective CHAPTER 2: THEORIES OF LAW AND JUSTICE Legal Systems Natural Law Legal Positivism Utilitarianism The Categorical Imperative Historical School Classical Sociological Theorists Legal Realism Sociological Jurisprudence Functionalism Legal Behavioralism Libertarianism Critical Legal Studies Critical Race Theory Feminist Jurisprudence CHAPTER 3: THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF COURTS, LEGISLATURES, AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES Courts and Conflict Resolution The Development of Federal Courts The Structure of the Judicial System Judicial Gatekeeping The Jurisdiction of Federal Courts Federal District Courts' Federal Courts of Appeal The U.S. Supreme Court The Background of Supreme Court Judges Judicial Review The Supreme Court and Congress The Organization of State Courts State Courts of Limited Jurisdiction State Courts of General Jurisdiction State Appellate Courts State Supreme Courts State Judicial Selection How Judges Decide Disputes Legislation The Constitutional Role of the Legislature The Function of the Legislature Interest Groups and Lobbyists Administrative Agencies The Legal Basis of Administrative Agencies Controlling Administrative Decision-Making Administrative Agencies and Regulated Industries Administrative Regulation of Sexual Harassment on Campus Law Enforcement A Profile of the Police State and Local Police Federal Law Enforcement Private Security International Perspective: The United Nations System CHAPTER 4: THE LEGAL PROFESSION Perspectives on the Legal Profession The Historical Development of the English Legal Profession The Growth of the American Legal Profession The Early Years The Middle Years The Contemporary Legal Profession The American Bar Association The Contemporary Legal Profession Solo Practitioners and Small Firm Lawyers Large Corporate Law Firms Government Lawyers In-House Corporate Counsel Women Lawyers African-American Lawyers Professional Satisfaction International Perspective on the Legal Profession in China CHAPTER 5: LAW SCHOOLS, ACCESS TO JUSTICE, AND LEGAL ETHICS Admission to Law School The Law School Experience Admission to the Bar Lawyers, Clients, and Access to Justice Advertising Contingent Fee Legal Service Plans Meeting the Legal Needs of the Poor Pro Bono Cause Lawyers Self-Representation Ethics Complaints International Perspective on Legal Education CHAPTER 6: DISPUTE RESOLUTION Stages of Disputing Methods of Dispute Resolution Preconditions for Adjudication Social Influences on Disputing American Attitudes Towards the Law The Debate Over Litigation in America Alternative Dispute Resolution A History of Alternative Dispute Resolution International Perspective: Gacaca Courts in Rwanda CHAPTER 7: CRIMINAL COURTS The Adversarial Trial Crime Control and Due Process Defense Attorneys Indigent Defense Prosecutor Prosecutors and The Dismissal Of Cases The Grand Jury Plea Bargaining The Development of Plea Bargaining Working Groups The Mutuality of Advantage in Plea Bargaining International Perspective Inquisitorial Legal Systems CHAPTER 8: JURIES The Jury in Criminal Cases The Development of The American Jury Jury Decision-Making Judges and Juries Jury Nullification Jury Selection Social Science and Jury Selection The Jury and The Death Penalty Sentencing Types of Sentences Factors in Sentencing Sentencing Reform and Three Strikes Laws Wrongful convictions International Perspective The International Criminal Court CHAPTER 9: LAW AND SOCIAL CONTROL Informal and Formal Social Control Legal Controls Criminal Penalties Deterrence Requirements for Deterrence General Deterrence Evaluating General Deterrence Types of Crime and Genera Deterrence Specific Deterrence The Ethics of Deterrence Capital Punishment Executions The Application of the Death Penalty Public Opinion and the Death Penalty The Debate Over Capital Punishment Capital Punishment and Deterrence International Perspectives on Capital Punishment Victimless Crimes Prostitution Gambling White Collar Crime International Perspective: Genocide CHAPTER 10: THE IMPACT OF LAW ON SOCIETY The Impact of Society on the Law Law as the Cause of Social Change Compliance, Rejection and Evasion of the Law Courts and Social Change School Integration Abortion Same-Sex Marriage The Impact of Law on Criminal Justice Interrogations and Confessions Prison Reform Law and Social Movements Civil Disobedience and Social Change The International Law of Human Rights FGM and the Implementation of International Human Rights CHAPTER 11: LAW AND RACIAL AND ETHNIC INEQUALITY Critical Race Theory Driving While Black (DWB) and Racial Profiling Race and Stand Your Ground Laws Race and the War on Drugs Mass Incarceration and Crack Cocaine Race and Crack Cocaine Hate Crimes The Color of Immigration Law The Cultural Defense International Perspective: Global Sex Trafficking CHAPTER 12: INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL CRIME The Evolution of the International Law of Human Rights The United Nations and Human Rights The United Nations Human Rights System Domestic Enforcement of International Human Rights Conflicting Perspectives on International Human Rights Domestic Courts and Human Rights U.S. Congressional Statutes on International Human Rights Child Soldiers and the Humanitarian Law of War Corporations and Human Rights Drones and Counter-Terrorism Torture and Crimes Against Humanity The United States and Enhanced Interrogation CHAPTER 13: PRIVACY AND SURVEILLANCE Does Privacy Matter A Brief History of The Law of Privacy The Law of Privacy Intimate Relationships Reproductive Rights Personal Information Searches and Seizures Statutory Protections The Constitutional Right To Privacy The Panopticon Society Governmental Surveillance Private Sector On-Line Data Collection Identity Theft Cybercrime A Digital Constitution Drug Testing DNA Fingerprints and Biometric Identification International Perspective: Internet Surveillance Glossary References Index About the Author


The present invention relates to apparatus (1) for a means of coupling (4) is fluidly and mechanically connected the two parts (2, 3). The coupling device (4) comprises two axial insertion of the coupling part (5,6), the two portions are connected to said coupling member (2, 3) in one. When the damping member (7) in a portion of the coupling (5,6) movably connected to the associated member (2,3) and thereby surrounds the coupling portion (5, 6), the generated It means the space (1) a particularly space-saving. The present invention also relates to a coupler (4) for such a device (1).


Results of NASA sponsored acoustic tests of three 2 ft. diameter models of the Prop-Fan (a small diameter, highly loaded, many-bladed variable pitch advanced turboprop) are presented. The highly swept model designed for noise reduction produces substantially less near field noise at simulated 0.8 Mach number cruise conditions than the unswept or slightly swept models. It also produces less far field noise at conditions simulating takeoff and landing. The noise reduction mechanism is discussed. Correlation between harmonic noise measurements and theoretical predictions and between measured and predicted acoustic pressure pulses is good. Shadowgraph measurements which show the location of blade associated wave patterns were obtained. Predicted and measured wave locations show good general agreement. Full scale near and far field noise is predicted.


This article presents some of the findings as part of the applied research project for the development of Culinary tourist routes in and around Bucaramanga. By applying the ethnographic method one can appreciate existing relationships and values between communities, families and individuals through reproduction, consumption and safeguarding practices, habits, beliefs and culinary perceptions. In addition, it seeks not to lose the link with the rural world , the permanence of an ancient soup preparation as chorotas recognized. Finally, it is proposed joint tourism and cultural features with aspects of the metropolitan region.


For the past decade, PROTA has compiled and synthesized information on species of useful plants of tropical Africa and made this information available in both English and French using web databases, books and CDs. By documenting the best practices, PROTA contributes to a sustainable rural development in tropical Africa. This effort is coordinated and executed in PROTA network offices in Africa and Europe. Specialists from within and from outside the network contribute as authors and editors. To streamline synthesis of the c. 8000 plant species with a documented use, PROTA classified the plant species into commodity groups. Several commodity groups are worked on simultaneously by different teams of editors and authors. PROTA has disseminated this information in review articles per species through a freely accessible web database. Users regularly download and disperse the information contained in the articles. By late 2008 PROTA realized that a more interactive approach would improve the quality and speed of filling records in the web database and will provide a wider platform for plant information exchange in Africa. As such, an advanced web database christened PROTA4U will be opened-up to users who will be able to comment on reviewed articles and contribute through a wiki on non-validated articles. Early 2010, PROTA4U will be launched with records on all the species available to the public, providing open avenues of publishing scientific information. Non-validated species records will contain information from PROTA's internal databases. Both novice and scientific users will fact-check, create and augment plant information. In the course of 2010 each species record will be filled with appropriate information mined from the internet, providing a pool of information available to users, offering greater opportunities to exchange and update information. PROTA4U will also contain illustrations, geographic distribution maps, color images, and other demand driven products.


Sleep quality has a vital effect on good health and well-being throughout a life. Getting enough sleep at the right times can help protect mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety. In this study, an electroencephalography (EEG)-based machine-learning approach is proposed to measure sleep quality. The advantages of this approach over standard Polysomnography (PSG) method are: 1) it measures sleep quality by recognizing three sleep categories rather than five sleep stages, thus higher accuracy can be expected; 2) three sleep categories are recognized by analyzing EEG signals only, so the user experience is improved because fewer sensors are attached to the body during sleep. Using quantitative features obtained from EEG signals, we developed a new automatic sleep-staging framework that consists of a multi-class support vector machine (SVM) classification based on a decision tree approach. We used polysomnographic data from PhysioBank database to train and evaluate and test the performance of the framework, where the sleep stages have been visually annotated. The results demonstrated that the proposed approach achieves high classification performance, which helps to measure sleep quality accurately. This framework can provide a robust and accurate sleep quality assessment that helps clinicians to determine the presence and severity of sleep disorders, and also evaluate the efficacy of treatments.


Based on the method of documentation,aiming at the actual level of track and field development of China,this article analyzed and summed up the training characteristic of man and woman high jump、man 110m hurdle、woman middle-distance race and marathon.Owing to a breakthrough in mentality to the characteristic of the sports and the following continuous innovations in training methods and training measure,we have mastered the victory key to the track and field superior sports: the law of winning to each event was the very key.


The repeated breakdown of vacuum circuit breaker during the breaking process causes overvoltage and intensifies the insulation deterioration of high-voltage equipment. The work studied the repeated breakdown of vacuum circuit breaker in view of the issue. A withstand voltage test platform of 40.5-kV vacuum circuit breaker was established to obtain the effects of the contact spacing and loop and inrush currents of vacuum circuit breaker on the number of repeated breakdown, the wavefront steepness of the breakdown voltage, and the breakdown duration. The number of repeated breakdown during the breaking of vacuum circuit breaker decreased and the duration of the repeatedbreakdown arc increased with the increased contact spacing of vacuum circuit breaker. As the loop current of the test system increased, the number of repeated breakdown during the breaking of vacuum circuit breaker, the wavefront steepness of the breakdown voltage The results provide a theoretical basis and data support for the preventive test of 40.5-kV vacuum circuit breaker and the optimization of the withstand voltage test.


During the first half of the nineteenth century, the distribution of farmed ice expanded. Ice was shipped down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers as well as by ocean to points south (Butler 2016). Europeans mostly purchased their farmed ice from Norway, but the New Englanders supplied the rest of the world (Blain 2006). As towns began to establish local ice-storage facilities, individual households could obtain a block of ice once or twice a week. The earliest refrigerators were simply insulated boxes designed to house these newly available blocks of ice (Burns 1837). The insulation was sawdust, cork, charcoal, or even seaweed. It was quickly learned that the insulation needed to remain dry so tinor zinc-plated metal became the liner for the inside. The melted ice had to be removed from the box each day so it wasn't long before drains were introduced (Gold 1841). By the time manufactured ice production overtook farmed ice towards the end of the nineteenth century, hundreds of refrigerator designs have been proposed and many patented. Some of the patents seem to make sense and their influence on late-nineteenth century refrigerator design can easily be seen in advertisements of the period (Stanard 1891). Other designs could have benefitted from a little more knowledge of thermodynamics and a little less of the inventor's imagination (Sheldon 1880). By the end of the nineteenth century, even small villages had ice delivery. Whether in a village, town, or city, the family cook could simply post a sign in a window to let the iceman know how much ice was needed. The order would be delivered directly into the refrigerator in the pantry or screened in kitchen porch. The refrigerator was mainly used to extend the life of fresh milk for the household's juvenile occupants. Other items were of less in need of the minor chilling abilities of ice-chilled refrigerators (Plante 1995, p. 146). About the same time the refrigerator got its name, American inventor Jacob Perkins obtained a patent in London for the first mechanical refrigeration machine based on compression (Balzhiser 1906, p. 32). Almost forty years later, John Gorrie, a physician attempting to keep yellow-fever patients cool, built a prototype refrigeration system using air as the refrigerant (Gorrie 1851). Unfortunately, Gorrie wasn't able to go into commercial production because of a combination of his investors dying or backing out, pressure from the farmed-ice industry, and in a couple of years, his own death (Morse 2002). In 1859, Ferdinand Carre demonstrated in France the superiority of ammonia as a refrigerant and a viable method of using it to produce refrigeration (Regnault, Balard, & Pouillet 1864, We have a General Electric Refrigerator bought in 1926...in constant use all these years. It has never been serviced. This is a record I think even General Electric can be proud of. Mrs. H.H. Bader, 304 7th Ave., N.W. Puyallup, Wash. (LIFE 1949, pp. 4-5).


Abstract OBJECTIVE Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant intracranial tumor affecting the pediatric population. Despite advancements in multimodal treatment over the past 2 decades yielding a >75% 5-year survival rate, children who survive often have substantial neurological and cognitive sequelae. The authors aimed to identify risk factors and develop a clinically friendly online calculator for prognostic estimation in pediatric medulloblastoma patients. METHODS Pediatric patients with a histopathologically confirmed medulloblastoma were extracted from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database (2000-2019) and split into training and validation cohorts in an 80:20 ratio. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify the univariate and multivariate survival predictors. Subsequently, a calculator with those factors was developed to predict 2-, 5-, and 10-year overall survival as well as median survival months for pediatric medulloblastoma patients. The performance of the calculator was determined by discrimination, calibration, and decision curve analysis (DCA). RESULTS A total of 1,739 pediatric patients with medulloblastoma met the prespecified inclusion criteria. Fourteen variables, including age, sex, race, ethnicity, median household income, county attribute, laterality, histology, anatomical location, tumor grade, tumor size, surgery status, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, were included in the calculator (https://spine.shinyapps.io/Peds_medullo/). The concordance index was 0.757 in the training cohort and 0.762 in the validation cohort, denoting clinically useful predictive accuracy. Good agreement between the predicted and observed outcomes was demonstrated by the calibration plots. The DCA curves indicated that the developed model has a good clinical prognostic benefit for pediatric medulloblastoma patients. CONCLUSION An easy-to-use prognostic calculator for a large cohort of pediatric patients with medulloblastoma was established. Future efforts should focus on improving granularity of population-based registries and externally validating the proposed calculator.


Binary α-Ga2O3 and ternary α-(AlxGa1−x)2O3 thin films with x = 0.29 and 0.54 were deposited on a-plane Al2O3 substrates via plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. The strain relaxation dynamics along three orthogonal crystal directions was investigated ex situ and in situ by synchrotron-based high-resolution x-ray diffraction. A pronounced in-plane anisotropy was observed as strain is preferably built up across [1¯1.0] whereas along [00.1] it is effectively relieved. The particular behavior depends on the Al content with almost immediate plastic relaxation for x = 0 and 0.29. For x = 0.54, strain relaxation is elastic within the first monolayers. A dislocation glide on the r-plane slip system has been identified as the dominating plastic relaxation mechanism as layers grow thicker.


Two-dimensional (2-D) discrete systems with periodic coefficients are considered for stability. These systems are called periodically shift variant (PSV) digital filters and have many applications in signal processing that include the filtering of 2-D signals with cyclostationary noise, scrambling of digital images, and implementation of multirate filter banks. In this paper, the filters are formulated in the form of the well known Fornasini-Marchesini state-space model with periodic coefficients. This PSV model is then studied for stability. Two sufficient conditions and one necessary condition are established for asymptotic stability. Some examples are given to illustrate the results.


Chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve was used to establish neuropathic pain (NP) models in rats. CCI rats were then treated with propofol (Pro) and their paw withdrawal mechanical threshold (PWMT) and paw withdrawal thermal latency (PWTL) were measured. In addition, the expression patterns of tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), and IL‐10 were detected. CCI rats treated with propofol were further injected with antagomiR‐140‐3p to verify the role of miR‐140‐3p in propofol's analgesic actions. In addition to confirming the relationship between miR‐140‐3p and JAG1, the expression patterns of JAG1 itself were detected. Propofol‐treated CCI rats were also injected with Ad‐JAG1 (adenovirus‐packaged JAG1 overexpression vector and Ad‐NC) to test the role of JAG1 in propofol's analgesic mechanism of action. Finally, the levels of JAG1 and Notch pathway‐related proteins were detected


This paper is part of a series of papers commissioned by the IB and written by IB practitioners. Each paper addresses a topic or issue related to the IB's philosophy or its educational practices.


Based on review of related theories in technological innovation for small and medium-sized enterprises,comparison and analysis are made on the amount and composition of authorization of invention,utility model and design patent in Suzhou and Shanghai in China during the past ten years,and then a theoretical model is set to test the correlations between the patent composition and industrial structure.The result shows that,there exists a positive correlation between the proportion of inventive patents and the ratio of the tertiary industry production,and also a positive correlation between the proportion of utility model and design patent and the ratio of the secondary industry production.Therefore,to transform from "Made in China" to "Created by China" and "Invented by China",the mode of "capital introduction" shall be fundamentally transferred to "capital selection" and "intelligent introduction",and the ratio of service industry,especially productive service industry,shall be enhanced in GDP.


A low profile tri-band microstrip patch antenna is designed and fabricated for GPS and IRNSS application. The design involves Inset feeding technique and substrate FR_4 which is dielectric in nature. The slotted patch is designed using Keysight Technologies, Advanced Design System© where considerable antenna parameters were obtained for the simulated design and for the prototype when measured using Keysight N9917A Vector Network Analyser. Simulated results show that the patch resonates in L1 Band (1.575 GHz), L5 Band (1.176 GHz) and S-Band (2.49 GHz) with reasonable antenna parameter values.


Most current commercial assays for serum folate use folate-binding protein with chemiluminescence detection. Historically serum folate methods have been calibrated using pteroylglutamic acid (PGA) as this is more stable than 5Methyltetrahydrofolate (5MTHF) which is the form present in patients not receiving supplementation. Poor specificity of these binding assays together with different detection technologies and different method designs have highlighted the need for greater standardisation to calibration regimes so that individual folate species can be better identified. We describe here discrepant serum folate results in a patient which appear to be unrelated to the issues described above.

Consequent to a procurement evaluation of multiple analytical systems, serum ferritin, vitamin B12 and folate assays were performed on the Beckman Access, Abbott Architect 12000SR, Bayer Centaur and Roche E170 analysers according to manufacturer's instructions. Method comparison studies using serum samples from 500 individuals showed good agreement between all analytical systems for all three parameters. However, one serum sample from a 44 year old Caucasian male who had presented with weight loss, diarrhoea and a microcytic, hypochromic anaemia (Hb 10.7 g/L) gave discrepant serum folate results and was further investigated. He had no evidence of renal impairment. His only medication was a multivitamin tablet supplement which he had been taking for several weeks. IgA anti-TTG antibodies were 33 U/mL (NR 0 – 10) and IgA endomysial antibodies were weakly positive. There was a polyclonal increase in serum IgA = 4.62 g/L (NR 0.8 – 2.8). Otherwise routine chemistry, thyroid profile and a paraprotein screen were unremarkable. Parietal cell and intrinsic factor antibodies were negative. Serum ferritin = 16 ng/mL (NR 20 – 215); Vitamin B12 = 164 pg/mL (NR 150–600). The patient's sample showed no discrepant inter-system results for ferritin or Vitamin B12. Serum folate assays (NR 3.0 – 15.0 ng/mL) were as follows:

| Technique | Serum Folate | Calibration method |
|:---------------- | ------------ | ------------------ |
| Beckman Access | >20.0 | PGA |
| Roche E170 | 2.2 | Quantaphase II |
| Abbott Architect | 1.9 | Quantaphase II |
| Bayer Centaur | 1.5 | 5MTHF |

This pattern of results was confirmed on a second sample a month later. No discrepancies were found in twenty other patients with positive TTG and endomysial antibodies.

Current methods for folate assays give different results and cannot measure the various forms of folate due to lack of calibrant standardisation with different types of automated analysers. In this patient, it may be that the folate species in the Vitamin supplement are measurable by the Beckman Access but are undermeasured with the other assay techniques. This data suggests the need for a reference method capable of identifying individual folate species in all patients.

| Technique | Serum Folate | Calibration method |
|:---------------- | ------------ | ------------------ |
| Beckman Access | >20.0 | PGA |
| Roche E170 | 2.2 | Quantaphase II |
| Abbott Architect | 1.9 | Quantaphase II |
| Bayer Centaur | 1.5 | 5MTHF |


PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a silver halide recording material to prepare a negative image having superhigh contrast. SOLUTION: This silver halide recording material to prepare a negative image having superhigh contrast, contains a hydrazine compound and a contrast increasing agent compound (the so-called reinforcing agent). Though such a new reinforcing agent substance is presented here, these contain sulfonyl urea, sulfonyl urethane or a sulfuryl diamide group in its molecule together with a tertiary amino group. A method of preparing a black-and-white negative image having superhigh contrast by using this material is also contained. This is particularly useful for duplication in the early stage of printing.


As announced back in April, the entire recorded Beatles catalogue has finally been remastered 22 years after its initial release on CD, to be released worldwide on September 9th this year as single CDs and two box sets. As fans...


AT a meeting of the Sociological Society on February 14 Mr. Francis Galton communicated two papers:— (1) restrictions in marriage, and (2) studies in national eugenics.


Early-onset Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is a rare and almost always familial disease with autosomal dominant inheritance. To date, mutations in only the COL8A2 (alpha 2 type VIII collagen) gene (MIM 120252; 1p34.2) have been reported to cause this disease. So far, only one Australian family has been reported to develop the disease because of the p.Q455K mutation in COL8A2. To determine whether mutations in this gene cause the disease in other similar cases in Australia, we screened the entire coding region of the COL8A2 gene for causative mutations in an affected Caucasian family. The study was conducted in accordance with the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Southern Adelaide Clinical Human Research Ethics Committee (Adelaide). Multiple members of the three-generation family (Fig. 1) were independently examined by six ophthalmologists at different times and institutions. Available clinical information is given in Table 1. Two (II.2 and III.2) of the family members were clinically diagnosed with advanced stage disease following their referral to ophthalmologists. Patients II.2 and III.2 underwent unilateral corneal grafting at the ages of 49 and 48, respectively, to prevent vision loss. The histopathological findings confirmed a diagnosis of early-onset FECD (Table 1). Patient II.2 also had keratoconus (since 15 years of age), blue dot congenital cataract and Map dot fingerprint corneal degeneration. Patient IV.2, the youngest member of the family, was clinically diagnosed with early-onset FECD at 21 years of age but has not undergone any corneal transplantation as yet. She had visual acuities of 6/9 (right eye) and 6/12 (left eye). Clinical details were not available for individual III.4, but other family members reported that he was diagnosed with endothelial corneal dystrophy, keratoconus and herpes simplex virus keratitis. His son (IV.3) is also reported to have endothelial corneal dystrophy but has not been examined. It was also reported that patient I.1 had bilateral corneal transplants at the age of 62; therefore, he was inferred to have FECD. Neither individual I.1 nor IV.3 was available for this study. Overall, the family displayed an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance of the disease (Fig. 1). Four affected family members were recruited (through the Eye Clinic, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide) to participate in this study, following written informed consent. Blood samples were collected, and genomic DNA was extracted, as previously described. The two coding exons and their flanking sequence incorporating the untranslated region (5′UTR), splice sites and stop codon of the COL8A2 gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction using gene-specific primers (Table 2) in each DNA sample. The polymerase chain reaction products were sequenced as previously described. We identified only one intronic Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) (rs274754; G/A) in individuals II.2 and IV.2, as reported in the database of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (dbSNP135) (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ sites/entrez?db=snp). The minor allele frequency of the G allele of this SNP in the 1000Genomes Project (http:// www.1000genomes.org) is 0.491. This SNP is highly unlikely to be causative, as it is a common polymorphism and is present in individuals without early-onset FECD. Neither of the previously reported disease-causing mutations in COL8A2 (p.L450W and p.Q455K) were observed in this family, and no novel mutations were identified. This is only the second study to investigate this gene in Australian cases with early-onset FECD. Our finding


The transportation of natural gas through pipeline is an important aspect in the world. However the combination of hydrocarbon and water under suitable condition form hydrates in pipeline. These hydrates will cause blockage of pipeline. Gas dehydration is the method used to remove water from the hydrocarbon for the smooth transfer of natural gas in pipeline around the world. This research describes the effectiveness parameters on gas dehydration plant. The parameters studies are gas flow rate, absorber pressure and number of equilibrium stages of an absorber in liquid triethylene glycol (TEG) dehydration units. ASPEN HYSYS is used for steady state simulation, design, performance monitoring and optimization of oil and gas production, gas processing and petroleum refining industries. Peng-Robinson equation of state and MESH equation are chosen in the system. In conclusion, the results showed that increasing gas flow rate decreases the dehydration efficiency. While, dehydration efficiency decreases with increasing of operating pressure. Increasing of equilibrium stages increases the dehydration efficiency


The Area 3 Support Buildings site (A3SB) consists of two separate areas located on the north side of Beach Road in the northern portion of Kennedy Space Center, Florida (KSC), outside the secured perimeter of KSC. The A3SB areas are approximately 0.6 miles apart, and were developed as Shiffler's Grocery Store and Service Station (west site) and as a residence (east site) prior to acquisition by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1963. Both areas were used by the Bendix Company in support of NASA as chemical laboratories from 1963 through 1969. Both of the buildings were demolished by 1987. The west portion of the site was used by the US Fish & Wildlife Service (F&W) in support of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR) for parking at the entrance to the Hammock Trails from 1969 to the present. The east portion of the site was used for intermittent suspect materials staging in the early 1990s and is still used as an apiary location, but is otherwise no longer active. In support of the NASA HSWA permit requirements, this site was identified as Potential Release Location (PRL) 218 and a Solid Waste Management Unit (SWMU) Assessment (SA) was conducted in 2013. Confirmatory Sampling (CS) was recommended and approved by the KSC Remediation Team (KSCRT). Three locations of concern (LOCs) were identified and sampled at the site. The LOCs include two former chemical labs and a former suspect staging area. The CS was conducted in March of 2015 at three locations by means of Direct Push Technology (DPT) groundwater sampling and at one location for soil sampling. The samples were collected and analyzed in accordance with the approved CS Work Plan. There were no exceedances of criteria detected in any of the samples from the three LOCs. The results of this investigation indicate that past and/or present operations have not negatively impacted environmental media at the A3SB. Based upon no confirmed groundwater detections above GCTLs and no soil impacts above applicable screening criteria no further investigation is warranted at the A3SB. A No Further Action (NFA) status for all locations was approved by the KSCRT at the June 2015 meeting.


I would like to thank Poulter, Cibulka, and Hesch for their responses to the case report titled "Ilial Anterior Rotation Hypermobility in a Female Collegiate Tennis Player." I appreciate their professional input regarding the case report and admire their commitment to holding the physical therapy profession accountable for fostering evidencebased practice. Several criticisms were made; some I feel are justifi ed, whereas others warrant a response. I will address each of the responses separately.


Bovine leukemia virus (BLV)expression ismostly silent inperipheral bloodmononuclear cells (PBMCs)of infected animals. However, wheninfected cells arecultured, they arestimulated toproduce virus. We studied viral transcription inPBMCstaken fromBLV-infected sheep because thepattern oftranscriptional activation inthese cells should closely mimicactivation ofvirusexpression within mononuclear cells invivo. BLV transcription was activated asearlyas30minafter PBMCswere cultured. Expression was characterized by earlyandlatestages, eachdistinguished bya unique pattern ofcytoplasmic RNAs.Inearly expression, cytoplasmic viral RNA was exclusively thedoubly spliced tax/rextranscript, although alltranscripts were present inthenucleus. Early expression gave way rapidly tolate expression, inwhichallviral transcripts accumulated inthecytoplasm. Thepolyclonal B-cell activator lipopolysaccharide increased theamountofviral RNA byatleast twofold butdidnotalter thepattern oftranscription. Thetransition fromearlytolate expression required new protein synthesis andwas blocked bytheinhibitor cycloheximide. Thisrequirement reflects theessential roleoftheviral Rexprotein inthetransition, butsynthesis ofcellular factors may be required as well. Theseresults provide thefirst demonstration ofstaged viral expression inlymphocytes naturally infected byeither BLV ortheclosely related humanT-cell leukemia virus (HTLV)andvalidate the modelofBLV andHTLV gene expression thatpreviously was derived fromtransfection experiments performed mainly innonlymphoid cells. Bovineleukemia virus(BLV)isan oncogenic retrovirus thatinfects predominantly B cells ofcattle and,under experimental conditions, ofsheep. BLV isstructurally and functionally related tohumanT-cell leukemia virus typesI andII(HTLV-Iand-II) andsimian T-cell leukemia virus, although this groupofviruses shares onlylimited sequence homology (3,4).Infection ischaracterized bylongclinical latency during whichvirus expression appearstobesilent in most infected cells. Circulating lymphocytes carry integrated proviral DNA butdonotproduce detectable virus (23). Incontrast, an antiviral immuneresponsepersists throughout infection. Thus,viral protein production isprobablycompartmentalized withinimmunetissues andmay occurintermittently throughout thecourseofinfection. The spreadofviralinfection tonew hostcells inthesetissues increases thenumberofcells atriskfortumorigenic conversion. To understand howindividuals progressfrom asymptomatic infection todisease, we needtounderstand mechanisms thatcontrol latency andreactivation ofviral expression within theinfected cell. Although BLV transcripts are notreadily detected in circulating lymphocytes, rareBLV RNA-positive cells have beenfoundamong freshly isolated peripheral bloodmononuclear cells (PBMCs), using theverysensitive technique of insitu hybridization (28). Similarly, rareHTLV-transcribing cells havebeenfoundamong freshly isolated PBMCs from patients withHTLV-associated disease (13). Results obtained byusing thepolymerase chainreaction showthatthe presenceofrareBLV orHTLV transcripts isindependent of


Abstract— The Calcalong Creek lunar meteorite is a polymict breccia that contains clasts of both highlands and mare affinity. Reported here is a compilation of major, minor, and trace element data for bulk, clast, and matrix samples determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Petrographic information and results of electron microprobe analyses are included. The relationship of Calcalong Creek to lunar terranes, especially the Procellarum KREEP Terrane and Feldspathic Highlands Terrane, is established by the abundance of thorium, incompatible elements and their KREEP‐like CI chondrite normalized pattern, FeO, and TiO2. The highlands component is associated with Apollo 15 KREEP basalt but represents a variant of the KREEP‐derived material widely found on the moon. Sources of Calcalong Creek's mare basalt components may be related to low‐titanium (LT) and very low‐titanium (VLT) basalts seen in other lunar meteorites but do not sample the same source. The content of some components of Calcalong Creek are found to display similarities to the composition of the South Pole‐Aitken Terrane. What appear to be VLT relationships could represent new high aluminum, low titanium basalt types.


In this paper we studied the effect that the substitution of the methylammoniumion by the cesium ion cause on the properties of the Meta lorganic compound CsxMA(1-x) PbI3, synthesized using the spin coating technique. Through a study of synthesis parameters and their correlation with results of characterization performed using techniques such as spectrophotometry,X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), conditions were found to grow this compound with perovskita tetragonal type structure and suitable properties (in terms of bandgap, thickness and coefficient of absorption) to be used as absorber layer in hybrid solar cells. Special emphasis was placed on evaluating the effect of the change in Cs/MA ratio over the optical, structural and morphological properties of CsxMA(1-x)PbI3 films.


Sprint results are more often seen as deliberate practice model (DPM) effects. The performance is limited,
as the goal is the same for every competition – to run as fast as possible. This requires a specific skill. The
researches confirm that a prerequisite for elite sprinting is an exceptional speed to formal training; this
exceptional ability is partially sprint-specific; many elite sprinters achieve the world-class status in less than
10 years, which suggests DPM (Michael, Lombardo, 2014). Introduce the technology of combining special
exercises with kinesiotaping as a way to solve the motor task in the sprint - to run fast. In the training, the
special exercises were used, the kinesiotaping was applied to enhance psychomotor skills and exacerbate
the proprioceptive sensitivity of individual parts of the body. 10 qualified 21-24 year-old men-sprinters having
5-7 years of sprint training practice took part in sociological studies. A sequence of exercises is presented
aimed at forming specialized sensations of 'track feeling' in a track and field athlete-sprinter with the help of
kinesiotaping. The possibility of forming the motor composition of a new skill for implementing the athletes'
sprinting capabilities is revealed. The special exercises and kinesiotaping made it possible to solve motor
tasks to form the basic skill of repulsion after giving back a track of any stiffness.


The rating process involves transforming a candidate's written or spoken performance into a score, usually with reference to a set of rating criteria. This chapter provides an overview of the practicalities and theory of the rating process in language assessment. It discusses practical considerations for the test designer, including the training of raters, conducting rating during an assessment, and analysis of ratings to investigate reliability. Theoretical frameworks are presented that illustrate why two different raters might assign different scores to the same performance. Following this, statistical techniques are introduced that analyze the raters' scores and reveal possible sources of inconsistency. Examples from recent studies show how language testers have attempted to improve the reliability of ratings by, for example, training raters or refining the rating criteria. The chapter ends with suggestions for how to validate a set of rating criteria and how ratings might be combined or weighted to produce a final score.

Keywords:

Assessment evaluation;
Speaking;
Writing


The newer context-aware applications require many inputs and amongst them the location information is one of the most important. In the near future, we see the potential in using wireless sensors deployed inside buildings to support in generating the location information besides their other routine tasks. This paper records the efforts involved in designing and prototyping a centralized indoor positioning system for tracking a target's position. We present an in-depth discussion on the RSSI based positioning algorithms both, range-based and range-free. Considering that the signal strength can be distorted heavily due to multi-path and shadowing, we have proposed the weighing schemes to leverage the credibility of the measured RSSI values. For online tracking, we have also proposed boundary selection and local grid scanning to lower the searching time, and the RSSI data dissemination and collection schemes to reduce traffic overhead. Evaluations have been done in both the field measurements and with an RSSI generator. The generator has been developed to simulate and replace the real measurements for the ease of algorithm design and testing, thus avoiding repetitive field measurements. The results show that positioning systems with adequate accuracy can be built with our proposed schemes. We expect that these proposed schemes to be integrated in multitude of systems with context-aware applications, which use location information. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.