ALTMAN, R. M. (1963). The effects of tepa on Plasmodium gallinaceum in Aedes aegypti Amer. Jour. Hyg. 77: 221--227. BERTRAM, D. C. (1964). Entomological and parasitological aspects of vector chemosterilization. Trans. Roy. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. 68: 296--317. JonsoN, C. L. (1953). The physiology of hatching of aedine mosquito eggs. Hatching stimulus. Ann. ent. Soc. Amer. 53: 688--691. (1967). Feedings and oviposition behavior in the mosquito Aedes aegypti (L.). I. Preliminary Studies of physiological control mechanisms. Biol. Bull. (Wood's Hole) (in press). WARD, R. A., RUTLEDGE, L. C. & BELL, L. H. (1965). Effects of chemosterilants on the development of malarial parasites in mosquitoes. Mosq. News 25: 470--476.


In 1962, drilling activities for natural gas increased 25% over 1961. Fifty wells were completed to the Medina gas sand. Seven wells tested the formations below the Medina, 6 of which were believed to have penetrated the Precambrian Complex. There were 354 oil-field development wells drilled during 1962.


The objective of this research is to develop a simple analytical method that characterizes plane shock wave propagation through reinforced earth and the dynamic interaction with modular retaining wall panels. The shock wave was initiated as a velocity boundary condition. The exact solution was obtained by the Laplace transform method. A step-by-step design procedure based on the "limit state" concept is proposed. Because of the impulsive nature of ground shock. the maximum response of the wall panel and reinforced soil system depends mainly on the capacity and rate of energy absorption and dissipation of the system. Therefore, the connection between wall panels and soil reinforcement, and soil reinforcement itself should be ductile beyond the proportional limit. Furthermore, the soil reinforcement should possess a high elastic tensile modulus to minimize the wall panel displacement.


The paper presents an analysis of Nahuatl coinages for six artifacts: 'bicycle,' 'car,' 'clock,' 'key,' 'pen,' and 'umbrella,' as attested in interviews with speakers from four communities in Mexico. These artifacts have been selected because of their shared characteristics: the terms for them do not belong to the core vocabulary; they tend to be referred to with Spanish loanwords or with terms created ad hoc using descriptive phrases; the non-borrowed terminology for them is highly varied. The analysis reveals that, despite the ongoing process of language shift and pervasive borrowing from Spanish, new terminology continues to be created in Nahuatl both innovatively and according to established patterns of word formation inherited from previous stages of language contact. This suggests that even a situation of language marginalization, displacement and massive substitutive borrowing, does not impair speakers' ability to create new lexemes according to established patterns, or the ability to innovate morphosemantic patterns.


This study was conducted to determine the effects of some different antibacterial drugs used in the poultry industry for their effects on the immune system of poultry. This experiment was carried on a hundred and fifty Ross PM-3 type, daily broiler chicks. Oxytetracycline and amoxicillin used in treatment of drinking water, and zinc bacitracin and salinomycin capable of being continuously added to feed in anabolic and preservative concentrations were chosen as antibacterial drug samples. Kanatlı İmmün Sistemi Üzerine Bazı Antibakteriyel İlaçların Etkisi* Yusuf ŞANLI, Ali BİLGİLİ, Ayhan FİLAZİ, Ender YARSAN Ankara Üniv. Veteriner Fak. Farmakoloji ve Toksikoloji A.B. Dalı, Ankara-TÜRKİYE Reşat AŞTI, Nevin KURTDEDE Ankara Üniv. Veteriner Fak. Histoloji ve Embriyoloji A.B. Dalı, Ankara-TÜRKİYE Hakan YARDIMCI Ankara Üniv. Veteriner Fak. Mikrobiyoloji A. B. Dalı, Ankara-TÜRKİYE Geliş Tarihi: 17.06.1998 Tr. J. of Veterinary and Animal Sicences 23 (1999) 547-555 © TÜBİTAK 547 * Bu araştırma TÜBİTAK tarafından VHAG-1226 nolu projeyle desteklenmiştir. Kanatlı İmmün Sistemi Üzerine Bazı Antibakteriyel İlaçların Etkisi In the first 21 days of their lives the broilers were fed with a chick starter feed, that did not contain any antibacterial or anticoccidial agents, later with chick development feed ad libitium. On the 19 day of their lives blood samples were taken from all chicks and maternal antibody titers against Newcastle disease virus were determined. According to the experimental alternatives chicks were divided into five experimental groups of 30 animals and live Newcastle vaccine was applied in drinking water on the 19 day. While one of the groups was left as a control group, oxytetracycline and amoxicillin were given respectively to the 2 and 3 groups in drinking water at treatment dose for 3 days, also zinc bacitracin and salinomycin were given to the 4 and 5 groups respectively continuously in the feed. For 3 days after the application of the drug, by taking the blood samples from the 2 and 3 groups, the concentration of the antibacterial drugs were determined and at the 7, 14 and 28 days the antibody titers against Newcastle were determined. Twentyeight day after vaccination 10 animals were slaughtered from each group to determine the lymphocyte concentration of Bursa fabricius and timus. The results were as follows: The maternal antibody levels developed against Newcastle vaccine were 4.4 in 19 day old chicks, four weeks later, an increase was found in the control group, vaccinated under the same conditions. At the end of the same period of time, Newcastle antibody levels reached approximately 7.7, while the antibody levels stayed at 5.7, 5.8, 6.1 and 5.6 levels and did not show any increase in the and 3, 4 and 5 groups, respectively. On the 47 day of the experimental period the live weights of all chiks were determined. All experimental groups treated increased liveweight 8.5-19.46 % compared with the control group. The weights of Bursa fabricius (BF) and thymus (T) of slaughtered animals increased (BF/T) 6.7/18 %, 4.4/21 % and 17/22 % in chicks treated with oxytetracycline amoxycillin and zinc bacitracin, respectively and were decreased 57.2/1.4 % in chiks treated with salinomycin compared with the control group. The average Iymphocyte concentration of BF and T of all groups were determined to be lower than in the control group. The lowest value was observed in the fifth group, effect followed by the second, third and fourth groups. It is concluded that and amoxicillin with a therapeutic effect and zinc bacitracin and salinomycin with an anabolic effect can depress the cellular immunity and according to this can depress the humoral immunity. Therefore the expected effect of immunisation after vaccinations can be reversed.


Ensuring technogenic and environmental safety of transport pipeline systems is a complex state task. The main group of reasons leading to failures, accidents and other incidents in these systems is associated with the quality of manufacture (repair) of equipment, as well as the level of operation of transport pipeline systems. At the present stage of transport pipeline systems development, the design-technological approach, including the maintenance and repair of valves, is significantly changing. Particular attention is paid to the abrasive finishing and lapping treatment, which allows, in one operation, carrying out first the roughing (allowance removal), and then the final finishing with achievement of the shape and dimensional accuracy of the workpiece. The proposed calculated dependences allow predicting the operation reliability and durability of high-precision products of transport pipeline systems valves and, thus, increase the level of environmental safety of transport pipeline systems.


In this paper, we present two approaches to recognize a special type of human action, e.g. climbing a fence, from continuous monocular videos. Both approaches represent human activities as time series of discrete observations. In the first approach, we extract a feature vector from each frame, based on the relative configuration of human body parts against a fence. In the second approach, we propose a novel concept called "stable contact", to decompose the continuous human activities into adjacent but disjoint time intervals called primitive intervals. We then define a primitive motion unit (PMU) on each primitive interval with three attributes, thus converting each continuous activity into a sequence of PMUs. With the time series representations, we utilize Hidden Markov Model (HMM) techniques for recognition, including decoding in the first approach and searching in the second approach. Experimental results, on a set of image sequences with mixed human actions including walking and climbing a fence, show the effectiveness of the proposed methods. We compare the two approaches and discuss their applicability in different scenarios.


ABSTRACT Specialised learning environments provided through private schooling may increase educational quality, which may increase the likelihood that citizens will pursue human rights through civic engagement. We employed 2-stage least squares year and country-level fixed effects and examined how private schooling could affect political rights, civil liberties, and economic freedom indices in 174 nations across the globe from 1999 to 2014. We used an innovative instrumental variable, fluctuations in the short-run demand for schooling within countries, over time, in order to predict private schooling. Our results suggest that an increased share of private schooling enrolment at the primary level leads to enhanced political and economic freedom.


We derive bounds on the signal to interference ratio performance of several blind channel shortening designs based on autocorrelation minimization. We focus in particular on the performance of these designs in oversampled communications systems with multiple receive antennas. The utility of the bounds is demonstrated by proving inherent performance problems with certain classes of designs that previous low dimensional plots of the cost functions were not able to predict. We conclude the paper by providing a convergence result for adaptive versions of these blind designs which can be coupled with the performance results to determine performance of the adaptive designs.


The analysis of influence of the developed technique which basis is made by occupations on the stabilograficheskikh exercise machines taking into account an individual ovarialno-menstrual cycle is carried out. During research it was proved that purposeful development of different types of sensomotorny coordination promotes development of coordination abilities (rhythm, accuracy, balance and its existential manifestations) at girls boxers of 14-16 years. For an assessment of coordination abilities the computer stabilografichesky complex was used, from the built-in tests were chosen: "Evolvent", "Romberg´s Test", "The test with a step deviation", "Triangle". Researches were conducted on the basis of children´s and youth sports schools of Ufa and Sterlitamak of the Republic of Bashkortostan, developing women´s boxing. 23 girls who are engaged in groups of initial specialization (educational and training groups of 4 years of training) and completed with us in control (11 sportswomen) and experimental (12 sportswomen) groups took part in pedagogical experiment.


The invention relates to a method for producing an anticorrosive, oxidation-resistant layer that is applied on a component, whereby the method can be technically carried out in an easy and cost-effective manner and comprises the following steps: a) producing a slurry by mixing a powder containing at least one of the elements Cr, Ni or Ce with a binding agent; b) applying the slurry on the component; c) drying the slurry at ambient temperatures of up to 300 DEG C and d) aluminizing the slurry layer.


Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is a water‐soluble vitamin essential for purine and pyrimidine synthesis, DNA methylation, and the myelination of nerve cells. As vitamin B12 is only found in animal products, vegetarians and vegans are at an inherently higher risk of developing a deficiency than the omnivorous population. The standard measures used to evaluate vitamin B12 nutriture in the clinical setting include total cobalamin, as well as homocysteine and methylmalonic acid (MMA). Each of these markers have flaws, however, as total cobalamin includes biologically inactive cobalamin, homocysteine can be influenced by folate status, and MMA is not present in significant amounts when vitamin B12 nutriture is adequate or excessive. Because of this, holo‐transcobalamin II (TCII), which is the carrier of biologically active vitamin B12, is becoming increasingly popular in research settings to accurately detect cobalamin status. Consequently, there continues to be a discrepancy between the standard analysis methods used in the clinical and research settings. In this study, we sought to compare deficiency prevalence in omnivores, lacto‐ovo vegetarians, and vegans using three different definitions of vitamin B12 deficiency: serum B12 < 148 pmol/L, serum TCII < 35 pmol/L, and serum B12 < 243 pmol/L + TCII < 35 pmol/L. To accomplish this, we analyzed blood samples of 82 subjects between the ages of 19 and 50 years old (27 omnivores, 27 lacto‐ovo vegetarians, and 28 vegans). Chi squared tests revealed significant differences in deficiency detection across the three deficiency definitions (p=0.046). In particular, there was a significant difference in the frequency of deficiency detected using serum B12 (4.9%) and serum TCII (17.1%) (p=0.025) in the total study population. The prevalence of deficiency detected when using serum TCII, rather than serum total cobalamin, appeared to increase more in lacto‐ovo vegetarians (from 7.4% to 25.9%) and vegans (from 3.6% to 17.9%) than in omnivores (from 2.7% to 7.4%), although this difference was not significant. Changing the clinical standard to detect vitamin B12 deficiency may improve deficiency detection, particularly at early onset. In addition, using TCII to detect deficiency cases may improve detection of marginal cases, which can allow practitioners to treat individuals who are deficient before symptoms progress. Future research is needed to examine the feasibility of using TCII in a clinical setting.


Abstract : This study of the Sergeant major uses data gathered from literature search and by personal interviews with scores of senior officers and noncommissioned officers. While the total program is determined to be extremely useful in contributing to the overall mission of the Army, there are perceptions in the field in both the officer and noncommissioned officer corps that are detracting from its value. Further, certain policy guidelines, specifically as they relate to the Command Sergeant Major Program, are dysfunctional and need to be changed. The name Command Sergeant Major should be changed to Sergeant Major of the battalion, brigade, etc.; members selected for sergeant major should be able to be assigned laterally into a designated equivalent staff job; those senior NCOs selected for promotion to E9 will be designated Staff Sergeant Major and only eligible for designated staff level jobs requiring their MOS specific technical expertise; increased preparation of CSM and battalion commander designated will assist team building; brigade level sergeants major will be selected on a system-wide competitive basis; and the role, duties, and responsibilities of sergeants major at battalion level will be specified to a minimum required standard.


The power system is a large-scale nonlinear system, and presents the hybrid characteristic of continuous dynamics and discrete event dynamics. Hence power system is considered as a classic hybrid system. This paper proposed a numerical calculating approach which system control theory is applied for evaluation of stepsize. A solution algorithm used to detect and locate events occurred in process of power system numerical simulation is studied, i.e. this algorithm is taken as a feedback controller, controller input is system guard functions, and controller output is the stepsize of numerical calculation. This output stepsize then combined with traditional stepsize choice techniques and an appropriate stepsize is finally determined for numerical simulation. The proposed algorithm can exactly detect and locate events occurred in power system. Finaly, a simple example of power system is given, the results of numerical evaluation show that the proposed approach is reasonable and feasible.


The adsorption behavior of SO42-in the organic diamine PA-A aqueous solution by anion exchange resin has been studied,and the mechanism of thermodynamics and kinetics was analyzed.The experimental results showed that D296 resin had higher selective adsorption and the equilibrium adsorption capacity of SO42-onto D296 was about 100.20 mg·g-1 at 333K.The adsorption process could be well described by the Langmuir-Freundlich isotherm model.The kinetic data fitted with the first-order rate kinetics model,and the adsorption rate-limiting step was liquid film diffusion.


1 Objectives: Organizational resilience has been investigated in numerous performance contexts 2 outside of sport, with substantial conceptual and operational variance. Given the growing interest 3 in organizational environments in sport, the purpose of the study was to construct a definition of 4 organizational resilience and identify resilient characteristics of elite sport organizations. 5 Design and method: Using the Delphi method, 62 expert panelists working in or with elite sport 6 organizations ( n =45) or having academic experience of resilience in various contexts ( n =17), 7 responded to four online iterative surveys over seven months, yielding both quantitative and 8 qualitative data through item responses and accompanying comments. A reflexive thematic 9 analysis of the integrated data was conducted from a critical realist standpoint. 10 Results: Organizational resilience was defined as "the dynamic capability of an organization to 11 successfully deal with significant change. It emerges from multi-level (employee, team, and 12 organizational) interacting characteristics and processes which enable an organization to prepare 13 for, adapt to, and learn from significant change". The five resilient characteristics identified from 14 the analysis were structural clarity, flexible improvement, shared understanding, reciprocal 15 commitment, and operational awareness. 16 Conclusions: By proposing a definition of organizational resilience which is appropriate to and 17 endorsed by those in elite sport organizations, and identifying resilient characteristics of elite 18 sport organizations, this study provides an important foundation for future research and practice 19 endeavors in this area. 20


Part 1 Part I: Major Theoretical Approaches Chapter 2 Chapter 1: Dynamic Play with Very Young Children Chapter 3 Chapter 2: Child Centered/Non -directive Play Therapy for Very Young Children Chapter 4 Chapter 3: Filial Play Therapy with Infants & Toddlers Chapter 5 Chapter 4: Caregiver-toddler Play Therapy: An Attachment Based Approach Chapter 6 Chapter 5: Ecosystemic Play Therapy with Infants and Toddlers and their Families Chapter 7 Chapter 6: Parent-Child Attunement Therapy for Toddlers: A Behaviorally-oriented, Play-based Parent Training Model Chapter 8 Chapter 7: Theraplay with 0 to 3 Year Olds Part 9 Part II: Applications to Specific Populations Chapter 10 Chapter 8: Situational and Story-stem Scaffolding in Psychodynamic Play Therapy with Very young Children Chapter 11 Chapter 9: Play Therapy Techniques with Very Young At-risk Children in Child Care Settings Chapter 12 Chapter 10: Issue-Specific Guided Play to Support Infants, Toddlers and Their Families in Healthcare Settings: Rationale and Interventions Chapter 13 Chapter 11: Wait, Watch, & Wonder: Infants as Agents of change in a Play-Based Approach to Mother-Infant Psychotherapy Chapter 14 Chgapter 12: Transdisciplinary Play-based Intervention with Young Children with Disabilities Chapter 15 Chapter 13: Dyadic Play Therapy for Homeless Parents & Children Chapter 16 Chapter 14: Developmental Play Therapy for Very Young Children Chapter 17 Chapter 15: Play-based Intervention for Very Young children with Autism: The P.L.A.Y Project


The effectiveness with which employees discharge their responsibilities in organizations is affected dramatically by the extent to which they feel disillusioned with their work. Managers with whom the authors work as consultants lament a cycle that begins with idealization, turns to frustration, and, left unchecked, yields demoralization (the IFD cycle). The authors investigate this cycle and advance two propositions: (1) employees have the right to function in organizations that conscientiously provide resources to obstruct the IFD cycle; and (2) employees have the responsibility to participate authentically in opportunities to obstruct the IFD cycle. Specific interventions into the cycle for restoration of "organizational health" are suggested.


COURSE DESCRIPTION Good communication skills may be the key to any researcher's success. To cultivate the students' international character, including communication skills, for a global world, students will intern either at the Monterey Institute of International Studies (Monterey, USA), or at the GE Healthcare Japan (Uppsala, Sweden)/University of Turku (Turku, Finland) for about one month. As a preparation for academic English, an online writing course will be scheduled before the start of the internship. Upon their return, students will have an opportunity to share their overseas experiences with the IPBS audience at Osaka University. The internship counts 2 credits towards the completion of the interdisciplinary program for biomedical sciences. Attendance at all scheduled classes and social activity is mandatory, and absences will be reflected in your participation grade. PREREQUISITE: an enrollment in IPBS


Pump‐probe measurements on bulk InGaAsP optical amplifiers are compared with numerical calculations based on simplified density matrix equations. We find that the gain dynamics is well described by the combined effect of carrier heating, spectral holeburning, and two‐photon absorption.


This HIBB begins with a general introduction to the Microsoft Word interface, then introduces various standard tasks including creating new documents, opening existing documents, saving documents, working with text, formatting various parts of documents, inserting non-text items into the document, proofreading the document, printing and closing individual documents. The HIBB also introduces and explains the new ribbon menu system used by the recent versions of Microsoft Office suite products, including Microsoft Word.


Cohesion policy is one of the European Union's policies, which provides Member States with the possibility of financial support under the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) as well as with the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), to reduce disparities and encourage the development of less developed Member States. By funding through Cohesion policy funds, the European Union seeks to accomplish a prosperous economy by achieving appropriate European standards in the individual Member States. Cohesion policy emphasizes the development of transport and mobility, and in particular, the investment in key transport links and sections of international importance through the revitalization of railway infrastructure in line with European Union standards. The railway system of the Republic of Croatia has been under-invested for many years, which is why it has not followed the requirements and needs of the development of the transport market. Membership in the European Union has provided the Republic of Croatia with co-financing for the development of the railway system. This paper will analyse the current investments in the railway system and the development potentials that are planned to be achieved in the next programming period. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to analyse the importance of the Cohesion Policy of the European Union for the development of the railway system of the Republic of Croatia in the Programming period 2021-2027. The analysis aims to identify opportunities for further development of the railway system as the 'cleanest' transport industry, guided by the need to reduce harmful emissions following the European Green Deal by using funds from the European Structural and Investment Funds.


We have designed and tested a new parallel N-body code to perform simulations of the formation and evolution of the Large-Scale Structure of the Universe. At variance with the Molecular Dynamics case, N-body codes are able to deal with the complexities of the truly long-range, gravitational interaction. The code is based on a work-and data-sharing scheme, and has been tested on Cray T3D in Bologna (CINECA) and Edinburgh (EPCC). It scales as O(N bodies) for N bodies 2 10 5 , and a load-balancing scheme has also been implemented. We present our results also with a video realized at CINECA with the rst outputs of a large (N bodies > 10 6) simulation performed with this code, showing the formation of a Rich Cluster of Galaxies.


Abstract: The cornified cell envelope is a highly insoluble and extremely tough structure formed beneath the cell membrane during terminal differentiation of kerationcytes. Its main function is to provide human skin with a protective barrier against the environment. Sequential cross‐linking of several integral components catalyzed by transglutaminases leads to a gradual increase in the thickness of the envelope and underscores its rigidity. Key structural players in this cross‐linking process include involucrin, loricrin, SPRRs, elafin, cystatin A, S100 family proteins, and some desmosomal proteins. The recent identification of genetic skin diseases with mutations in the genes encoding some of these proteins, including transglutaminase 1 and loricrin, has disclosed that abnormal cornified cell envelope synthesis is significantly involved in the pathophysiology of certain inherited keratodermas and reflects perturbations in the complex yet highly orderly process of cornified cell envelope formation in normal skin biology.


ABSTRACT Contrary to the occupational therapy tradition, there is little current research on harmonizing expressive doing with contemporary occupational therapy practice. This phenomenological multiple case study explored an integrated application of mindfulness, creative activity, and sensory modulation for adult mental health services users by making and using personalized self-soothing kits. The results showed significant improvements in arousal regulation, positive changes in emotion regulation and mixed results for mood regulation. Progress in participation in present roles and an increased focus on future productivity goals were also among the outcomes reported. The theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.


Device for the gas preparation process for a dryer snuff, especially an air dryer or a flow dryer, characterized in that is provided a device (1), especially a flow tank, the flow of process gas (24 ), before the dryer snuff and before entry of snuff in the process gas, and is evaporated completely water contact process gas introduced on the various nozzles (6) of vaporization, which is adjustable admission of water to humidity changes snuff input and / or quantity input snuff.


Objective To investigate the value of 99Tcm-PHT spleen imaging for the portal hypertension patients who were to have spleen-preserving operation.Methods Twenty normal persons and 24 patients with portal hypertension were included.99Tcm-PHT spleen imaging was made for all the normal persons and patients before spleen-preserving operation and 1 year after that.Semi-quantitative analysis was done on 99Tcm-PHT spleen images.Results The liver/spleen ratios of patients before operation were much lower than that of normal persons(t=11.8,P0.01).The liver/spleen ratios were increased after operation(t=9.5,P0.01).But the ratios were not as higher as normal persons(t=6.9,P0.01).Conclusion Spleen-preserving operation is superior for the portal hypertension.99Tcm-PHT spleen imaging is a most effective method for the portal hypertension patients to illuminate the function of spleen and its survival through spleen-preserving operation.


The paper introduces a universal and practical method for menus manage . By using Pointer and structure of C51 langue, this novel menu management successfully separates the menu program from the main program, and makes the submenus independent from each other. Details and examples, as well as menu modify method are provided.


Sequential immunization with antigens from different strains of HIV‐1, influenza viruses or dengue viruses induced cross‐neutralizing antibodies and enhanced the antibody responses against previous antigens. The characteristics of neutralizing antibodies induced by sequential immunization with different types of human papillomavirus (HPV) L1 virus‐like particles (L1VLPs) are unclear. In this study, mice were primed with one or two types (HPV‐16 or HPV16/18) of L1VLPs, then boosted sequentially with HPV6/18/45/11/31/58 or HPV6/45/11/31/58 L1VLPs, and sera were analyzed with HPV pseudovirus‐based neutralization assay. The results showed that neutralizing activities against earlier immunized vaccine types were enhanced gradually by subsequent immunizations, and low levels of neutralizing activities against nonvaccine types (HPV33/35/52/59/68) were also observed. After absorbing the immune sera with vaccine‐type (HPV16/18/45) L1VLPs, neutralizing activities against tested priming and boosting types (HPV16/18/58) decreased significantly, and that against nonvaccine type (HPV‐33) was also partially eliminated. Moreover, neutralizing activities against vaccine types (HPV16/58) were significantly reduced after absorbing with nonvaccine‐type VLPs (HPV33/52). These data suggest that cross‐neutralizing epitopes exist among different HPV L1VLPs. The cross‐neutralizing activities against nonvaccine types and the enhanced neutralizing activities against earlier immunized vaccine types may result from sequential boosting with these cross‐neutralizing epitopes. These observations support early vaccination with more types of L1VLPs derived from HPVs that cause a serious threat to the population.


Significance It is recognized that the risk of malaria in dry areas is increased in the proximity of irrigation infrastructure. Although historical evidence shows that eventually malaria risks subside on the road to greater prosperity and food security, how this comes about remains poorly understood. We studied changes in land use and malaria risk in a large irrigation project in a semidesert region in northwest India. The transition phase we describe, characterized by elevated malaria despite raised control efforts, has already lasted for over a decade. The protracted nature of this transition highlights the need for a long-term commitment by health authorities and international agencies supporting irrigation schemes, to monitor health impacts and sustain control measures. In arid areas, people living in the proximity of irrigation infrastructure are potentially exposed to a higher risk of malaria due to changes in ecohydrological conditions that lead to increased vector abundance. However, irrigation provides a pathway to economic prosperity that over longer time scales is expected to counteract these negative effects. A better understanding of this transition between increased malaria risk and regional elimination, in particular whether it is slow or abrupt, is relevant to sustainable development and disease management. By relying on space as a surrogate for stages of time, we investigate this transition in a semidesert region of India where a megairrigation project is underway and expected to cover more than 1,900 million hectares and benefit around 1 million farmers. Based on spatio-temporal epidemiological cases of Plasmodium vivax malaria and land-use irrigation from remote sensing sources, we show that this transition is characterized by an enhanced risk in areas adjacent to the trunk of the irrigation network, despite a forceful and costly insecticide-based control. Moreover, this transition between climate-driven epidemics and sustained low risk has already lasted a decade. Given the magnitude of these projects, these results suggest that increased health costs have to be planned for over a long time horizon. They further highlight the need to integrate assessments of both health and environmental impacts to guide adaptive mitigation strategies. Our results should help to define and track these transitions in other arid parts of the world subjected to similar tradeoffs.


ABSTRACT
 We monitored cage-based populations of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica in coastal waters of New York Harbor in 2 phases of sampling, 1 with localities spread out over the New York—New Jersey Harbor area (started 2008) and another with 3 localities within Jamaica Bay (started 2010), all impacted by high nitrogen input, low dissolved oxygen, but over a water quality gradient. Patterns of growth, mortality, condition, and disease were compared with a clean—water site in Shelter Island, NY, sampled in parallel with both sampling phases. In both studies, oyster mortality in the urban sites increased dramatically during and after the second summer growth season. Mortality also increased at the same time period at the cleanwater site, but to a much smaller degree. One instance of high mortality in the Lower Hudson was caused by MSX; but, otherwise, no known diseases were identified as the main cause of the sudden mortality increases. Our results suggest that a general effect of reduced water quality had a cumulative effect on the New York Harbor-emplaced oysters, which culminated in high mortality, mainly at the end of the second summer growing season. Despite the increased mortality, other factors such as soft tissue growth and reproduction were not reduced in the harbor sites relative to the clean-water control site. The vulnerability of oysters grown in impacted waters may have to be factored in attempts to restore oysters to impacted harbor waters.


Possibilities and results of applying the method of automated recognition of faults are reviewed by the example of refining a fault-block model of Malousanov accumulation. Reasons of difference between OWC level of Malousanov accumulation under study and OWC of adjacent accumulations are examined. Updated configuration of the accumulation at tectonic screening areas is presented.


This thesis describes and interprets the sedimentology, geomorphology, and chronology of Quaternary deposits at Highlands, southern St. George's Bay, southwest
Newfoundland. These deposits are critical in understanding the glacial and deglacial history of the region, and whether retreat was interrupted by a climatic reversal causing a readvance at ~12.6 ka BP across the lowlands around St. George's Bay. -- The physiography of the Highlands area consists of a low-relief coastal plain backed to the east and south by the Long Range and Anguille mountains, respectively. The coastal plain is dominated by gravel near the coast, with till outcropping farther inland. The uplands are dominated by bedrock interspersed with till veneer. Late Wisconsinan ice, originating on the southern Long Range Mountains, covered the entire area and extended to a terminal position offshore in St. George' Bay. Striations and clast fabrics indicate that ice flow was generally west-northwestward and unconfined by topography. Deglacial ice flow was affected by topographic highs becoming diverted
southwestward down Codroy Valley and south of Bald Mountain. -- Retreat of ice across the lowlands occurred in a tidewater environment. Sediments exposed in the coastal sections relate to this retreat and were mostly deposited near the grounding-line on a subaqueous fan, as sediment and meltwater entered the sea via a subglacial jet. Two distinct sedimentary sequences relating to the surface topography occur along the coast. The coast is dominated by planar surfaces at 18 to 20 m asl and 24 to 26 m asl, interrupted by the Highlands ridge ranging from 34 m asl at the coast, to >60 m asl inland. Exposures through the planar surfaces consist generally of
bedrock, overlain successively by diamicton, mud, sand, gravel, and sand and silt. These represent a deglacial sequence from subglacial and proglacial deposition of the diamicton; to glaciomarine sedimentation of the mud and sand; and glaciofluvial/fluvial deposition of the gravel on outwash terraces. Sand and silt capping the coastal sections are interpreted as aeolian deposits. -- Exposures through where Highlands ridge intersects the coast (Highlands section) consist of mud, overlain sequentially by sand and gravel; diamicton; gravel and gravelly sand; and sand and silt. This section represents the more proximal part of the grounding-line fan. Diamicton forms a continuous unit along the top of the Highlands section, grading laterally from structureless to stratified, and has characteristics of subglacial, proglacial, sediment gravity flow, and rainout depositional processes. At one site, a fossiliferous diamicton is interpreted to be deposited by a combination of sediment gravity flows, suspension settling from meltwater plumes and ice rafting, and traction currents. A radiocarbon date of 13 680 ± 90 BP (Beta-120124) on paired shells from this diamicton is interpreted to represent the date of its emplacement. This date lies within the range of all other dates (~13.1 to 14 ka BP) on marine organisms from sediments along the coast of southern St. George's Bay, and suggests that deposition of the diamicton was contemporaneous with sedimentation in all areas along the coast. Evidence to support a climatically induced readvance at ~12.6 ka BP was not found.


Additional information available at the end of the chapter Abstract Nonsilica oxide glasses have been developed and studied for many years as promising alternatives to the most used silica glass for the development of optical fiber lasers with unique features and properties. Depending on the glass former of choice, these glasses can offer very distinctive physical properties if compared to silica-based glasses. With regard to the development of photonic fiber devices, these key properties include low phonon energy, high rare-earth ion solubility, high optical nonlinearity and easy handling procedures. This chapter, part I of a detailed study concerning nonsilica oxide glass – based optical fiber laser sources, reviews the main properties of three different nonsilica oxide glass families, namely phosphate, germanate and tellurite. The manufacturing process of an optical fiber using these glass materials is also discussed in Section 3 of this chapter.


An orally bioavailable inhibitor of the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) types 1, 2, and 3 (FGFR1/2/3), with potential antineoplastic activity. Pemigatinib binds to and inhibits FGFR1/2/3, which may result in the inhibition of FGFR1/2/3-related signal transduction pathways. This inhibits proliferation in FGFR1/2/3-overexpressing tumor cells. FGFR, a family of receptor tyrosine kinases upregulated in many tumor cell types, plays a key role in cellular proliferation, migration, and survival.


An image forming apparatus is capable of executing an auto paper selection function for automatically selecting a paper size corresponding to a paper size of an input document from a plurality of paper cassettes, and an auto magnification selection function for automatically magnifying an image of the input document to correspond to a defined paper size. The auto magnification selection function is selected for execution by the apparatus when there is only one size of paper to be selected in the apparatus, and the auto paper selection function is selected for execution by the apparatus when there are a plurality of sizes of paper to be selected in the apparatus.


The reduction of energy consumption is today addressed with great effort in manufacturing industry. A previously presented method for robotic system scheduling, which exploits variable execution time for the individual robot operations, has shown promising results for energy optimization. The method introduces linear time scaling of the trajectories to slow down the manipulators movements. This paper improves the scheduling method by generating energy optimal trajectories using dynamic time scaling. Dynamic programming can be applied to an existing trajectory and generate a new energy optimal trajectory that follows the same path but in a different execution time frame. With the new method, it is possible to solve the optimization problem for a range of execution times for the individual operations, based on one simulation only. A case study of a cell comprised of four six-link manipulators is presented, in which energy optimal dynamic time scaling is compared to linear time scaling. The results show that a significant decrease in energy consumption can be achieved for any given cycle time. Note to Practitioners— In robotic manufacturing systems, much energy is wasted due to an adopted minimum time policy for robot operations. This paper presents a method for producing energy efficient operations as well as an optimization model for scheduling these operations in robot cell. Implementation requires a flexible robot controller which allows manipulation of speed and acceleration profiles. The results are also of interest to industrial robot manufacturers, whom have full control over the robot controller and would like to offer energy efficient solutions to their customers.


The authors analyse 34 observations of patients who were operated on for digestive lesions after radiotherapy in the period 1970-1976. Internal or external derivations accounted for 67% of the operations. These entailed an operatory mortality and morbidity far inferior to that of intestinal resections, which must be avoided as often as possible.


Background: Myocardial infarction is one of the major causes of sudden death in present era and cardiac arrhythmias are common complications of it. Material and methods: Present study was conducted at intensive coronary care unit ( tertiary care hospital, Ahmedabad on of arrhythmia and their nature in relation with the site of infarction and to evaluate prognostic value of arrhythmias in Acute Myocardial Inf Results: Incidence of various arrhythmias was common (68%) than S. bradycardia (19%). S. commonly with anterior wall myocardial infarction, while S. inferior wall myocardial infarction. Conclusion: Study of incidence of various cardiac arrhythmias, their nature and relation to site of infarction as well as prognostic value in patients of acute myocardial infarction proper treatment.


Simon Eidelman, our colleague and friend, well known physicist in the particle physics world, passed away on June 28, 2021. This reports is about his way in particle physics and his contribution to many areas and researches in our field of physics.


It is shown that cyclic difference set codes and one-step majority-logic codes may be constructed from idempotents based upon the cyclomic cosets. The construction method produces the well known perfect difference set codes of lengths 21, 73, 273 and 1057 plus some new codes. The code design produces the dual code idempotent and following F. J. MacWilliams (1)(2) (3), it is shown that this may be used directly to define the parity check matrix of the code. A feature of the cyc lotomic idempotent codes is the incremental approach to the sparseness of the parity check matrix and the property of parity check bit orthogonality which is known to be useful in iterative decoding using belief propagation. It is shown that the difference enumerator polynomial is composed of some, or all of the cyclotomic idempotents which allows a set of code design conditions to be defined. In one of several classic papers F. J. MacWilliams (1)(2) (3) has shown that a cyclic code C of length n may be generated by its idempotent Ec(x) as an alternative to the lowest degree polynomial of C, the generator polynomial, g(x). Material from (1) is presented here to keep this paper relati vely self contained. Any idempotent E(x) has the key property that E(x) 2 = E(x) with the consequence that the coefficients of its Mattson-Solomon polynomial (1) only take values from the base field, GF(2). There may be several idempotents contained in C but there is only one idempotent Ec(x) that will generate the code. While g(x) divides 1+x n the code idempotent Ec(x), although containing g(x) as a factor, does not usually divide 1 + x n but sometimes contains repeated factors of g(x) or non factors of 1 + x n . The generator polynomial g(x) can easily be found from Ec(x) by factorising Ec(x) into its irreducible factors and discarding the repeated fa ctors of g(x) or the non factors of 1 +x n . In this paper it is the dual code of C that is first derived from its idempotent because the minimum weight codeword of the dual code is used to define a sparse pari ty check matrix of C. Cyclic difference set codes and other one-step majority-lo gic codes have been recently given renewed attention (4) due to their good performance as low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes. This is because these codes contain a number of parity check equations which are said to be orthogonal on each bit position of the codeword. From an LDPC code view point there are no cycles of length 4. For a cyclic one-step majority-logic code if the minimum weight codewords in the dual code have weight J then there are J parity check equations orthogonal on each bit position of the codeword with the implication that there are J independent sources of extrinsic information for each bit of the codeword. Moreover as the code is cyclic the iterat ive decoder has n low weight parity check equations to iterate with instead of n k low weight parity check equations as in the case of a randomly designed LDPC code. With these properties cyclic one-step majority-logic codes exhibit good convergence as LDPC codes.


The Kerr solution to the Einstein equation is explicitly rewritten into the one satisfying the de Donder condition. By using this result, the gravitational energy density, htOo, in Einstein's definition is calculated completely. It is positive definite if a/m~O.6, where a and m denote the angular momentum parameter and the mass one, respectively. The validity of the conjecture proposed previously, which states that htOo;;;;'O outside black holes if calculated under the de Donder condition, is discussed by means of the gravitational-wave solution, the Reissner-Nordstrom solution and the Kerr solution.


This paper aims to present, in general, the rationale for performance of muni-cipalities in the field of public safety, as well as pointing out some of the contributions of the Observatory of Public Security of Canoas in knowledge management of municipal politics, qualifying the tactical-operational activities of the various agencies participating in the local "Integrated Management Office" (GGI-M). The experience of the observatory appears as an expression of the interlacing of scientific/academic research with the local management of public security. This kind of research performed by observatory appears as essential to the decisions of municipal administrators, especially in the consolidation of public policies that are intended not only government but also to state policies.


This research is involved in looking into the cognition pattern of social worker position of a fourth-year student majoring in Social Welfare. The purpose of this research is to offer a basic data needed for education of the students who are preparing to get a job of a social worker. For this, applying Q methodology, this research made an objective analysis of their subjective response to social worker position targeting the 30 students in the department of social welfare at the four-year-course college located in Gyeongsangbuk-do and Gyeongsangnam-do. The research results showed that the cognition pattern of the college students' occupational view on social welfare position could be categorized into the three; The first pattern is a "job-skeptic & reality-evasive" type, who tends to perceive the position of a social worker as the one having a lot of job exhaustion and much workload, showing a pessimistic view on the meaning or a sense of mission of a social worker position. The second pattern is a "practice-centered & specialized-job-seeking type" who tends to think much of practical aspects of a social worker job and to seek after the position of a social worker as a specialized job, and at the same time to rely on the policy or system for a social worker position. The third pattern is a "value-oriented & self-achievement type", who tends to think much of the necessity of value or ethics in putting social welfare into practice and also to make much of self-achievement through the channel of a social welfare worker position. Taken together, it might be possibile to turn out professional human resources, but this research thinks it is more necessary to place the education of values of a social welfare worker.


In 1935, a new location appeared on the map of the United States-the Dust Bowl. Although this hot, dry, and windy section of the Southern Great Plains had existed geologically and geographically for millennia, the denomination "Dust Bowl" had not. Historians have frequently written that the first use of this term appeared in a newspaper article on April 15, 1935, and no one has ever found an instance of its usage before that date ("The Drought"; Egan; Lipman; "Dust Bowl Lore"; "The Dust Bowl"; Worster).The significant fact about the term, however, is not the exact date that it first appeared in print. The more important historical circumstance is the rapidity with which the term became part of the national vocabulary. Having never appeared in print before April 15, 1935, its use spread quickly after that date. Some observers claimed that the term became common within a couple of days or a few weeks, and one audacious commentator even claimed that it took only a few hours to spread across the nation ("Black Sunday Remembered"; "Dust Bowl"; Floyd; Forsyth Library; Logsdon; Osteen).Perhaps looking at the frequency of the term's appearance in major newspapers affords a more accurate sense of its rapid spread. After first printing "dust bowl" on April 15, 1935, the New York Times printed it on fifteen additional occasions in 1935, ninety-seven times in 1936, and ninety-two times in 1937. The Los Angeles Times also printed "dust bowl" frequently after April 15, 1935- twenty-three times in 1935, sixty-five in 1936, and one hundred and fifty-two times in 1937 (Proquest Historical Newspapers, Los Angeles Times; Proquest Historical Newspapers, New York Times). But, whatever the precise length of time it took, the phrase "dust bowl" became part of the national map and the national vocabulary very rapidly.The question, then, is why this term became used so widely and so rapidly. At first, the question seems like a matter of simple curiosity, but the inquiry becomes intriguing if one realizes that the phrase has no obvious meaning-is perhaps even ridiculous. A "dust bowl" cannot exist. Looking at similar phrases used to specify kinds of bowls-sugar bowl, cereal bowl, silver bowl, and glass bowl-underscores the peculiarity of the term "dust bowl." "Sugar bowl" and "cereal bowl" both identify kinds of bowls according to their contents; "silver bowl" and "glass bowl" both indicate the material from which a bowl was fashioned. But the term "dust bowl" parallels neither of these linguistic expressions. Dust cannot be used to create a bowl. Only if liquid is added to dust can the new mixture be fashioned into a bowl. But, were that done, the new object would almost certainly be called a "mud bowl" or a "pottery bowl," not a "dust bowl." Likewise, it requires a great stretch of imagination to envision someone collecting dust and depositing it in a bowl. Such a thought challenges credibility (except, perhaps, in the case of gold dust, diamond dust, or some other valuable mineral dust).The only other common phrases that have the form of adjective+bowl are the names of sports stadiums or games (e.g., Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, or Super Bowl) and the ubiquitous toilet bowl. But, the meanings of all those terms are transparent. In referring to a sports arena, "bowl" refers to the shape of the stadium in which games are played, and the adjectives "Rose" and "Orange" refer to an arena's emblem. But, in the case of "dust bowl," there is no relation between the adjective and the bowl.In the case of "toilet bowl," the phrase indicates the purpose of the bowl. It is a place where a person can perform his or her "toilette. " But, when you come right down to it, there is no bowl associated with the "dust bowl." A bowl cannot be made of dust, it is unlikely to be used as a container for dust, dust is not its purpose, and dust does not serve as a bowl's emblem. The so-called "Dust Bowl" does not even realistically describe the land surface. …


Abstract Objectives. Provide a synthetic review of recent studies evidencing an association between human endogenous retrovirus-W (HERV-W) and schizophrenia. Methods. Bibliography analysis and contextual synthesis. Results. Epidemiological studies suggest that the aetiology of schizophrenia is complex and involves a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors such as infections. Eight percentof the human genome consists of human endogenous retroviruses (HERV), and this part of the genome was previously thought to be without importance, but new research has refuted this. HERVs share similarities with viruses and it is assumed that HERVs are present in the genome as a result of retroviruses infecting germ line cells many million years ago. A specific type of HERVs, called HERV-W, has through several recent studies been associated with schizophrenia. Elevated transcription of HERV-W elements has been documented, and antigens of HERV-W envelope and capsid proteins have been found in blood samples from patients. Viruses that have been implicated in pathology of schizophrenia, such as herpes and influenza, have been shown to activate HERV-W elements, and such activation has been associated with elevated biomarkers of systemic inflammation. New research indicates that HERV-W may be an important genetic factor interplaying with the environmental risk factor of infections and that, through this, HERV-W may be important for disease pathogenesis. Conclusions. A lifelong scenario of a detrimental interaction between infectious agents and HERV-W genes may decipher the actual development and course of schizophrenia. Further research is needed to find out if specific treatment strategies could reduce the expression of HERV-W and if this will be associated with remission.


Surely, research is often somewhat Olympian. In one popular conception researchers dwell in ivory towers and discuss among themselves problems of such divine abstraction that we, the common breed who are footing the bill after all, despair. Indeed, it is rumoured that there is not even discussion, just a soliloquy within the ivoryhoused researchers. It is also bruited about that when they descend from snow-bound Olympus they are certain to misinterpret mortal affairs or overclaim the impact of their cogitations on the common lot of humanity.


The soil hydrophysical properties determine how the water demand of the natural vegetation and harvested plant can be satisfied. The direct measurement of these properties is labor intensive, time consuming and costly therefore these are rarely determined soil characteristics. Most of the hydraulic data that already exists is poorly documented. The Hungarian Detailed Soil Hydrophysical Database (MARTHA) was developed to collect all the information about measured soil hydraulic and physical characteristics in Hungary. Recently this is the largest detailed hydrophysical database available in Hungary. It contains information on basic and hydrophysical soil properties, including measured water retention values, physical and chemical characteristics. The database can be used besides others to develop pedotransfer functions and to evaluate the difference between the laboratory measurement methods. Introduction A number of hydrophysical soil databases have been developed in the last two decades worldwide. The UNSODA (Unsaturated Soil Hydraulic Database) is a database of unsaturated soil hydraulic properties. It has information about the water retention, hydraulic conductivity, soil water diffusivity and basic soil properties. It contains approximately 800 data sets (Leij et al., 1996). The HYPRES (Hydraulic Properties of European Soils) database was developed by 20 institutions from 12 countries of Europe (Wösten et al., 1999), and holds measured soil hydraulic characteristics for 4030 soil horizons of those countries. On the database class pedotransfer function were developed to predict the moisture availability of soils in Europe. The pedotransfer functions can be applied for 1 : 1 000 000 scale. In Hungary two databases exist which can be used to develop methods to estimate soil hydrophysical characteristics. One of them is the dataset of the Research Institute for Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry of the Hungarian Academy of Science (RISSAC). It contains information about 270 soil samples, mainly from the Hungarian Great Plain. The pedotransfer functions developed on this dataset can be well applied for the chernozems soil type. The other hydrophysical dataset is the Unsaturated Soil Hydraulic Database of Hungary (HUNSODA) having information about 840 soil samples and holding soil water retention characteristics for 576 soil horizons (Nemes, 2002). Both of these databases are very useful but their disadvantage is that they have information about only narrow groups of soils. The measurement of these soil hydraulic properties is difficult and time consuming and there is an interest to predict them from more easily measured soil properties. For these reasons there was a great need to collect the existing soil hydraulic data and integrate to one unique database. With the National Scientific Research Fund (OTKA) under grant No. T048302 we had the opportunity to develop the Hungarian Detailed Soil Hydrophysical Database (MARTHA) with the collaborations of the County Offices of the Hungarian Plant and Soil Protection Service. The description of the database Our aim is to collect all the measured soil hydrophysical data available in Hungary and to harmonize into one uniform database, called MARTHA (acronym of the Hungarian name of the database), the Hungarian Detailed Soil Hydrophysical Database. Since we receive data about the agricultural areas from all over the country this database is representative for the Hungarian soils, which are under cultivation. It was applied on a database server of SQL platform (Firebird 2.0), the selected program language is Delphi. To visualize the locations of the soil profiles the GoogleMap connection was used. The source of the data The MARTHA database includes existing smaller datasets: the above mentioned dataset of the RISSAC (270 soil samples) and HUNSODA (576 horizons). Further to these basic datasets, we included the data of the Hungarian Soil Information and Monitoring System (TIM) and data hold by the University of Pannonia (UP). The first (TIM) contains field and laboratory data for soils in Hungary, the soil-physical data on about 1023 profiles are ready for processing. Measured values of water retention curves are available for 3115 horizons (Várallyay, 1995). The second (UP) has information about 150 soil samples. These samples are originated mainly from county Zala and Somogy (South-west Hungary). The third main additional data source is that from the Plant and Soil Protection Services of the Hungarian Counties, which produce various purpose soil assessments (e.g. for irrigation planning) and collect data for these needs. In addition to the above data sources, data were obtained from scientists as well through personal request. The first period of the data collection has been closed. The MARTHA database currently contains the soil physical, chemical data of approximately 5000 soil horizons. Database contents The MARTHA database currently contains information about 5416 soil horizons belonging to 1358 soil profiles. Figure 1 outlines the location of the MARTHA's soil profiles on the topographical map of Hungary. Fig. 1. Locations of soil profiles in the MARTHA (visualized by the program).


In the course of product quality test, information technique is introduced to deal with test data. The technique has some advantages such as quick operating rate, more various data and nicety and soon. It offers help to quality management, process reform in time, production control and improvement of product quality.


The temperature measurement of a plasma flowing through a channel is discussed. The temperature of the walls of the channel is generally below that of the flow core, and the temperature field differs according to the direction of obsevation. Diagram showing observed and actual core temperatures is described. (MOW)


The paper reports the effects of eddies on charge distribution in relaxation tanks of shapes which could be employed in petroleum or transformer industries using a 'rotated finite difference scheme'. The notable features of the numerical scheme used are the incorporation of the coupling between the flow and the charge, and defining the charge on the wall as an unknown in calculating the charge distribution. The results show that eddies are formed in the cavity region at relatively low Reynolds numbers (inlet velocity=10 cm/s) and their structure depended on the inlet velocity and the enlargement angle. At low inlet velocities eddies occupied only a small portion of the cavity region; however, at high inlet velocities (/spl ges/50 cm/s), the eddy almost occupied the entire cavity depth. The paper discusses the interaction of these eddies on the convected charge in the relaxation tanks for different flow conditions.


The objective of the project was to design and implement the preventive maintenance scheduling system for machines which is being computerized by Anil Synthetics Ltd., Ahmedabad. The system envisaged was mainly one which would help the production departments to streamline their preventive maintenance activities. The reports generated from this system would help focus the attention of the people responsible on to those machines where there has been an inordinate delay in doing preventive maintenance. A comparative study of breakdown of the machines prior to and after implementation of this system will highlight those machines where improvements in performance are possible through better maintenance.


With the rapid development of information technology and the widespread application of network technology, it has had a great impact on traditional learning methods. Teaching and learning based on the network environment has become an important form and part of school teaching. As a new type of learning method, online learning has its unique advantages and potential for development. It breaks through the limitations of time and space in traditional teaching methods, and brings great convenience and freedom to learners, but there are also many problem. The purpose of this article is to analyze the effective learning behavior of students on the Internet based on data mining. This article analyzes learning behavior and builds a learning behavior mining model on this basis. Use the improved algorithm to mine and analyze the learning behavior data, including preprocessing and conversion of the data in the database, respectively mining the relationship between the learning sequence pattern and the learning behavior and effect, and finally the mining results explanation and evaluation. This paper does certain research and improvement on association rules and sequential pattern mining algorithms, and on this basis, uses the improved algorithm to collect, mine and analyze learning behavior data, and finally apply data mining technology to personalized the learning system optimizes the mechanism of online learning and the learning experience of users. Research on related methods of learning behavior mining, detailed analysis of association rules and sequence pattern mining, and optimization of Apriori algorithm and AprioriAll algorithm. The performance of the two algorithms and their optimized algorithms are compared respectively. The experimental results show that the improved algorithm has better performance improvement.


It is generally considered that economic feasibility of a reconfigurable manufacturing system (RMS) is only attainable if the system is defined to be reconfigurable at the outset of its design. In this work, we consider the potential exception to this perception, in the context of a common industrial scenario where a specialized and expensive manufacturing machine or system will otherwise be rendered useless due to the loss of business of the particular product being manufactured. Specific guidelines to convert from a fixed to a reconfigurable system are proposed, and evaluated through a case study. It is shown that under certain conditions, RMSs may be economically feasible even if they are developed through the modification of pre-existing dedicated systems.


The harmonious development of urban rail transit, underground space engineering, and social economy is the key to regional sustainable development. Based on synergetic theory, this paper constructs the coupling coordination evaluation system of "rail transport-social economy" composite system at the scale of a city cluster. With this system, the coupling and coordinated development pattern and characteristics of "rail transit-social economy" in the Yangtze River Delta city cluster from 2002 to 2020 were analyzed. The paper makes a horizontal comparison with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei city cluster and the Pearl River Delta city cluster, as well as analyzes the differences in development and existing problems, and puts forward policy suggestions for rail and urban underground space development. The results show that: (1) The rail transit of 11 cities in the Yangtze River Delta shows a "step by step" development pattern. That is "national central city, provincial city, second-tier city, third-tier city, etc.", accompanied by periodic changes of coupling and coordination degree. In addition, there is also the phenomenon of unbalanced development within the region; (2) From 2002 to 2020, the development of rail transit in the three city clusters shows a situation of "the overall supply is lacking and lags behind the social economy for a long time". Among them, the Pearl River Delta city cluster has the most serious lags. Multi-channel financing, speeding up the construction of the rail transit scale according to local conditions, and improving operating efficiency are considered to be the keys to solve this problem; (3) In general, the coupling between rail transit and the social economy in the Yangtze River Delta city cluster is better than that in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei city cluster and the Pearl River Delta city cluster, but the coordination is at a slight disadvantage.


Optical computing is an effective technique to accelerate the computing process. Here, an optical computing scheme based on recirculating frequency shifter is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Matrix multiplication can be realized based on our scheme.


The present invention is a polyethylene polymer fibers obtained by melt spinning a polymer fiber, in particular polyethylene polymers, the use of the fiber, and a method for producing the fibers. Furthermore, the present invention relates to heat-sealable filter paper containing the polymer fibers.


Objective To describe the epidemiological characteristics of injury death and in order to provide scientific evidence for preventing and intervening injury in Zoucheng City. Methods Descriptive epidemiology was used to analyze surveillance data of injury death from 2004 to 2007 in Zoucheng City. Results Injury was the fifth cause of death which accounted for 12.72%. The average mortality rate of injury was 77.88 / 100 000. The ratio of injury mortality rates of male to female was 1.81∶1. Suicide (37.88 / 100 000) was the first cause of injury death, which was followed by traffic accidents (22.38 /100 000), falls (3.84/100 000), drowning (3.80 / 100 000). Suicide was the first injury in rural (81.27 / 100 000), traffic accidents was the first injury in city (5.61 / 100 000). Conclusion Injury has become one of major public health problems in Zoucheng City; suicide is the first cause of injury death. Some effective measures should be taken to prevent them.


In this article, I analyze significant gaps between what branding means in Guatemalan Maya communities and how brands are understood in international projects of legal harmonization that are also about rebranding the Guatemalan nation. Following Guatemala's internal armed conflict, neoliberal statecraft has involved policy approaches that amplify the presence of global brands while compounding conditions of socioeconomic inequality that limit Maya men and women's access to authorized goods. Meanwhile, Maya people are invited to participate in a modernist vision of citizenship and social progress that encourages a privatized model of indigenous identity mediated by branded commodities and formal market transactions. In this context, the brand is a powerful medium through which claims to legitimacy and authority are negotiated at national and local levels. [brands, piracy, intellectual property, trademark, fashion, Guatemala, Maya]


Investigation was conduc catalysts for methyl ester used cooking oil with me supported rice husk silica as a than the traditional alkali cata calcination temperature 500 reaction temperature of 65 C 96.5e98.2% in 1 h for all serie and 1.75%, respectively. The ca to reuse six times. The final p ropean Standard (EN) 14214. Copyright 2014, Karab by 2.7 million barrels of 88million b/d, while rthermore, petroleumses of carbon dioxide nsportation and induson petroleum-derived and 4.6 million b/d of scenario has driven the ort renewable energy. that can be used as an data demonstrates the ossil fuel and the quest feedstocks for biodiesel n be said that themajor edible oils. However, as of the operational cost ersiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebang, Malaysia. Tel.: þ60 16 mp.edu.my (G.P. Maniam). ity. duction and hosting by Elsevier B r alkali metal (Li, Na, K) id base catalyst Rezaul Karim , Kwok Feng Chong a Razak, 26300 Gambang, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia uantan, Pahang, Malaysia 13 Samarinda, East Borneo, Indonesia on three alkali metals (Li, Na, and K) supported by rice husk silica as oduction. A simple pseudo-heterogeneous transesterification process of ol was conducted to produce methyl esters using calcined alkali metal solid catalyst. Alkali metal silicate catalysts showed longer lasting activity lysts. The optimum conditions for the process were: alkali metals silicate C, time 3 h; catalyst amount 3%; methanol to oil molar ratio 9:1; and a . The process was able to transesterify oil to methyl esters in the range of s. The catalyst is able to tolerant free fatty acid and moisture up to 1.25% talyst was easily separated from the reaction mixture by filtration and able roduct met the selected biodiesel fuel properties in accordance with Euuk University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. [9], the feedstock price has a huge effect on the overall production cost. In addition, consuming edible oil for biodiesel competes with food supply and has a definite impact on global food security and land. One way to reduce the production cost is by utilizing used cooking oil (UCO). The source is abundant supply, relatively inexpensive and the utilization offers benefits on environmental conservation [25]. In addition, it is low in price in terms of its operational cost and feedstock, and recycling technology can be applied during the process. However, the UCO contains free fatty acid (FFA) and moisture. FFA content in waste oil should be as low as possible for alkali-catalysed transesterification and alkali catalysts will readily react with FFA to form soap if FFA content above 2.5% present in the reaction media [2]. This reaction is highly unfavourable because it will deactivate the catalyst from accelerating the transesterification reaction. Furthermore, too much soap in the product can drastically reduce the methyl esters (ME) yield and inhibit the subsequent purification process of biodiesel, including glycerol separation and water washing. Recently, the production of biodiesel by transesterification method using solid catalysts has become more favourable compared to others and has been scaled up to industrial level. Solid base catalysts bring several advantages, such as the catalyst can easily be separated from the reaction mixture, no washing is required, easy regeneration, less .V. All rights reserved.


ions of blood, must be prescribed. For the purel/ nervous, the antispasmodic reme248 dies are suitable. Assafcetida, valerian (given as the valerianate of zinc), musk, and castor, take their proper place in these cases. All these remedies have lately fallen much into disuse, because they were indiscriminately employed for all forms of hysteria, and therefore often failed to do good; but if you restrict their use to the class of patients just alluded to, I have no doubt that you will be well satisfied with their effects. In all cases of hysteria, we must take care that the ordinary functions of life, especially menstruation and alimentation, should be in proper order. Complications with tumours, chronic metritis, displacement of the womb, foreign bodies (such as intestinal worms), or an accumulation of faeces, must be treated according to general rules. For the relief of hysterical symptoms, I know no more useful remedy than Faradisation, by which nearly all manifestations of hysteria may be arrested, and either temporarily or permanently cured. The effects of this agent may be easily understood, if we consider that hysteria is a functional, not a structural disease, and that its symptoms are, generally speaking, nothing but simple modifications of sensibility and contractility. By Faradisation, we may act powerfully on the organs of sensibility and contractility without injuring them, whatever may be the part of the body upon which we may desire to act, and whatever may be the degree of intensity it may be found necessary to use. According to the nature of the symptom we intend to combat, the mode of application must be different. Hysterical hypervesthesia is generally cured by two or three applications of a wire-brush, conveying a powerful current to the skin, for two or three minutes each time. This procedure is painful, and it may therefore be advisable, in women who are very sensitive, to place them. previously under the influence of chloroform, or to inject morphia subcutaneously, which takes nothing away from the revulsive effects of Faradisation. For hysterical an.Tsthesia, the proceeding is the same, only it must be continued for ten or fifteen minutes. In such cases, no inconvenience attaches to the use of Faradisation, because as soon as the patient begins to feel pain, the anmesthesia is dispelled, and the operation may be discontinued. For anesthesia of the nerves of special sense, the continuous galvanic current is preferable to Faradisation; but the latter is again more useful in anmesthesia of the mucous membrane of the bladder, vagina, and rectum. In hysterical attacks, I prefer a drenching with cold water in hospital, and an emetic in private practice. Faradisation is again useful in globus, spasmodic cough, and dysphagia. If hysterical paralysis is accompanied by acute symptoms, the patient must first be treated according to general rules. Faradisation can only be safely employed after the acute stage has subsided, when it often proves curative. In these cases, it ranks in value immediately after those sublime and elevating emotions, of the curative influence of which I have already spoken. Partial paralysis is always more easily curable than the general fornm. Hysterical paraplegia is however obstinate; while hemiplegia, aphonia, and paralysis of the muscles of the pharynx, are often cured by a single application. I'mr-itish ed c l ou n l.] [March 1 , 1866. & LTH US ON HYSTERU.


. A time-dependent method is coupled with the method of approximate particular so- lutions (MAPS) and the method of approximate fundamental solutions (MAFS) of Delta-shaped basis functions to solve a nonlinear Poisson-type boundary value problem on an irregular shaped domain. The problem is first converted into a sequence of time-dependent nonhomogeneous modified Helmholtz boundary value problems through a fictitious time integration method. Then the superposition princi- ple is applied to split the numerical solution at each time step into an approximate particular solution and a homogeneous solution. A Delta-shaped basis function is used to provide an approximation of the source function at each time step. This allows for an easy derivation of an approximate particular solution. The corresponding homogeneous boundary value problem is solved using MAFS, and also with the method of fundamental solutions (MFS) for comparison purposes. Numerical results support the accuracy and validity of this computational method.


Entanglement is defined in terms of some kind of instantaneous interaction, contrary to the relativistic principle that all interaction is possible only at a velocity less than that of light. This conflict with an otherwise inviolate principle justifies re-examination of the arguments leading to its (ostensible) rejection. Herein the historically essential notion, namely wave-collapse by measurement or the "Projection Hypothesis" of von Neumann is brought to attention and seen to violate Popper's Principle of negatability; thereby disqualifying it as a scientific proposition. Further, it is observed that polarization of electromagnetic signals as used in experiments testing Bell Inequalities is described by structure excluding quantum principles. Consequently, most experiments taken to verify Bell's conclusions cannot in principle do so: a quantum effect cannot be found where there is no quantum structure. Finally, a simple simulation which demonstrates the classical (electromagnetic) generation of the data that violates a Bell Inequality, thereby proving by counterexample that Bell's so-called theorem is misunderstood, is presented.


The paper presents the investigation data of 6 cut-over peat lands in central area of Kirov Region (on the example of Zuev, Orichev, Slobod, Kirov and Chepez areas). The authors found the new locations of 10 rare plant species enlisted in the regional Red Book and species that have limited distribution in a region or have narrow ecological range ( Gymnadenia conopsea, Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Epipactis helleborine, Epipactis atrorubens, Platanthera bifolia, Trichophorum alpinum, Botrychium multifidum, Dryopteris cristata, Thelipteris palustris, Huperzia selago ). They also describe the process of phytocoenoses. The study shows the development of new typical boggy plant societies as a result of secondary bogging (on the example of Trichophorum alpinum , Drosera rotundifolia , Carex nigra , Eriophorum vaginatum , Parnassia palustris ). The paper estimates the state of rare species populations. The authors analyze the ability of the species to inhabit artificial landscapes and anthropogenically modified phytocoenoses. That shows an explerent component of ecological-phytocoenotic strategy. Secondary boggy landscapes can play the role of refugiums for the species which habitats were lost due to industrial impact.


SASHEVA, P., R. YORDANOVA, T. JANDA, G. SZALAI and L. MASLENKOVA, 2013. Study of primary photosynthetic reactions in winter wheat cultivars after cold hardening and freezing. Effect of salicylic acid. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., Supplement 2, 19: 45–48 Thermoluminescence emission in winter wheat cultivar "Sadovo-1", subjected to short period of low positive temperatures (cold hardening) and subzero temperatures (freezing) was measured in order to determinate changes in the redox cycling of Photosystem 2 centers and in the assimilatory potential in chloroplasts. Freezing stress seems to have pivotal a role in the accumulation of bound and free o-HCA forms, while levels of endogenous SA had slight increase. Subjecting the plants on freezing provoked a strong increase in plasma membrane leakage in no hardened plants. Dynamic changes of levels of free proline content were estimated after exposure of plants to low positive temperatures and subsequent freezing. Hardening effect of low positive temperatures was manifested by doubled gap of POD activity in the leaves of nonhardened winter wheat plants.


The present scientific attempt is devoted to investigating the fuzzy nonconvex optimization problems (NCOPs) utilizing the concepts of recurrent neural networks (RNNs). To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first study on finding a solution for fuzzy NCOP using RNN models. For this purpose, the original problem is reformulated into an $m$ th power form, the interval, and then the weighting problem. Then, the Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (KKT) optimality conditions are provided for the weighting problem. The KKT conditions are used to propose the RNN model. Besides, the Lyapunov stability and the global convergence of the RNN model are proved. Finally, several illustrative examples are given to demonstrate the performance of this approach. The obtained results are compared with previous approaches for solving fuzzy NCOP.


The present study aimed to investigate the roles of fibrin deposition and protease activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) in renal cytokine/chemokine production and inflammatory cell infiltration in rats of different ages. Acute inflammation was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats which were then treated with tranexamic acid (TA), TA+urokinase (UK) or TA+low-molecular-weight heparin (HP). Fibrin deposition, inflammatory cells and expressions of PAR-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) were detected. A reduction in fibrin deposition and PAR-1 expression in the LPS+TA+HP group was associated with decreased infiltration of inflammatory cells and down-regulated expressions of MCP-1 and ICAM-1. In the LPS+TA+UK group, the fibrin deposition, but not the PAR-1 expression, was reduced, However, the infiltration of inflammatory cells decreased and the expressions of MCP-1 and ICAM-1 down-regulated. There were significant differences in the fibrin deposition, infiltration of inflammatory cells and expression of PAR-1, MCP-1 and ICAM-1 between young and old rats undergoing the same treatment. These findings demonstrated that fibrin deposition plays more important roles than PAR-1 dose in cytokine/chemokine production and inflammatory cell infiltration in vivo, and ageing may deteriorate the fibrin deposition-induced production of cytokines/chemokines and infiltration of inflammatory cells.


his paper identifies symbols of Irishness deployed in Warwick, Queensland, one of the State's most Irish towns, from 1871 to November 1917. It shows their potency as memory carriers and instruments of ethnic cohesion. Employing an ethno-graphic approach, it traces the periodic deployment, activation and emotional power of Irish symbols, Green and Orange, from both group and individual perspectives. It questions the standard interpretation of the Warwick Egg Incident of November 1917 as an anomaly and, also, the Dublin 1916 Rising and conscription as sectarian triggers.

We focus on episodes in the town's history when Irish symbols, including the green harp flag, an Orange banner, green ribbons and a shillelagh, figured in performances of Irishness, evoking both solidarity and hostility. The episodes were erased from the town's civic narrative but retained the capacity for retrieval. They lay dormant in family memory and local repositories but could be revived through changing generational perspectives or commemorative activities.


Photocopy of a newspaper article about Byrd Howell Granger writing a book about WASP members titled 'On Final Approach.' The article also includes information about the author's death, as well as a photograph of Granger writing with a typewriter.


The adsorption of poly [Fe(III)-OH] cation by claysurfaces led to flocculation of clay particles possibly by polymer bridging while the addition of iron(III) from hydrolysed ferric nitrate solutions resulted in flocculation and cementation by precipitated iron(III). Electrokinetically clays with adsorbed iron(III) behaved similarly to amorphous ferric hydroxides with positive mobilities below the point of zero charge (PZC). Polycations reversed the charge on the clay particles at maximum adsorption, which probably represents neutralization of charge due to surface hydroxyls. When hydrolysed ferric nitrate solutions were added to kaolinite and illite charge reversal occurred at pH values below 6. Adsorption of iron(III) resulted in a partial reduction of negative charge in clays. The reduction of negative charge in kaolinite and illite was close to the charge due to surface hydroxyls. The net charge estimated at all pH values corresponded with the electrophoretic mobility in all the iron(III) clay complexes except bentonite with adsorbed polycations.


Vehicle motion control has many challenges to overcome. One of the main problems is robustness against not only environmental changes but also uncertainties about the vehicle itself. This paper focuses on this problem using robust control design at the control architecture's high level. Researches tend to decentralize the control to treat longitudinal and lateral dynamics separately. Here, an overall vehicle model is first proposed and studied to justify the structure that the high-level controller should embrace. Co-simulation results of different combinations showed promising performances to face uncertainties and couplings. Therefore, robust techniques combined with control allocation techniques may enhance autonomous vehicles reliability.


Due to routine maternal serum screening and fetal ultrasonography, gastrochisis is routinely found in utero, we report a case of gastrochisis diagnosed prenatally, the delivery was made by C-section and the patient was operated at day 1 of life with good outcome The surgical treatment of gastroschisis differs from hospital to hospital and has changed over the years, especially since the spring-loaded silo was invented. Every surgical repair has as its main objective the return of the viscera to the abdominal cavity while reducing the chance that the viscera would sustain harm from direct trauma or increased intra-abdominal pressure.Gatrochisis is remains a rare condition that be closed spontanouesly during the pregnancy and that can prevented by acid folic supplementation.


With ever increasing benefits of non-renewable energy sources, the importance of energy storage system is increasing consistently. Power electronics converters are usually used to convert the power from renewable sources to match the load demand and grid requirements to improve dynamic and steady state characteristics of these green generation systems. Therefore, there is growing importance in bidirectional DC to DC converters for interface battery with energy sources. As DC to DC bidirectional converters can transfer the power between two DC sources in either direction, these converters are widely used in renewable energy hybrid power systems. Efficiency, economy and high conversion ratio are the some challenges in the development of DC to DC converters. For the low voltage range, non-isolated DC to DC converters are suitable also; they are fit for DC micro grid voltage levels.


An extremely useful tool for dealing with the enormous problems involved in banana growing (Musaceae) caused by the attack of diseases such as black Sigatoka can be obtained today by ensuring an efficient regene


Objective Explore the evaluation factors about middle-level hospital administrators. Methods Total 15 experts were involved in 3 rounds of survey with so-called Delphi Methed. Results The study explored the evaluation system, contains 4 major elements and 31 core indicators. Conclusion The study will not only fill up the vacancy in the assessment of middle-level hospital administrators but also provide some practical meanings of the evaluation.


Patient G., 57 years old, was admitted on 6/2/59 with complaints of severe general weakness, pain and swelling in the left lower limb, as well as a sharp increase in the abdomen, nausea, periodic vomiting, persistent constipation (4-5 days) and increased urination. In 1931 she was operated on for a dermoid cyst of the left ovary, after which she felt well for several years. Had 5 pregnancies that ended in normal childbirth.


The changes of pH,organic acids,volatile flavor and microbial counts were studied on Tibetan kefir fermentation.Samples were collected at 0,4,8,12,16 and 20h of fermentation respectively.Lactic,acetic and citric acids were analyzed by HPLC.Ethanol,diacetyl,acetaldehyde and acetone were monitored with GC.The results showed that the content of lactic and acetic acids is increasing during fermentation.The production of lactic acid is 20 times more than acetic acid at 4 h,and 9~12 times at the end of fermentation,reaching respectively 8.56g/L(TK1)and 7.73g/L(TK2),while the acetic acid reaches 0.71g/L(TK1)and 0.81g/L(TK2)respectively.The concentration of citric acid gradually decreases with fermentation time.Among volatile flavors,ethanol is produced most,reaching 3134mg/L(TK1)and 4994mg/L(TK2)respectively at the end of fermentation.The production of diacetyl and acetaldehyde is higher than common yoghourt,with the concentration reaching 62.4mg/L(TK1)and 37.8mg/L(TK1)respectively.In addition,microbial counts were evaluated in the paper.At the end of fermentation,the colony counts of lactococcus reach respectively 2.3×109CFU/ml(TK1)and 1.3×108 CFU/ml(TK2),lactococcus 1.3×109CFU/ml(TK1)and 1.1×108CFU/ml(TK2),and yeasts 1.6×106CFU/ml(TK1)and 6.6×106 CFU/ml(TK2).The results show the great differences between TK1 and TK2.


If the family business shall remain in the family incumbents must choose according to which justice principle they transfer the family business – ownership and management – to the next generation. ...


n• 1927 Professor Reginald G. Trotter of Queen's University conducted an inquiry into the extent of formal courses on Canadian history and allied subiects offered in the universities and colleges of the United States. He reported his findings in the Canadian Historical Review in September of that year. Since then a world depression a d a world war, an extensive "international police action," and the creation of a politically polarized world, have quickened American interest in other nations. American i stitutions of higher learning have grown at an incredible pace during the three intervening decades, tudent enrolment has quadrupled, and new courses have proliferated accordingly. Feeling that the time had come for a new assessment of the status of Canadian history in the United States, the present writer, in the spring of 1958, undertook to repeat Professor Trotter's inquiry. For a fuller view of the extent of academic nterest in Canadian history, an inquiry into libra holdings, textbook sales, and graduate studies was included. This survey is limited to instruction at the post-high school level. American primary and secondary school students receive some instruction in the history and geography of Canada,• but qualitatively this instruction generally leaves much to be desired. It often has been demonstrated thatthe average American high school student knows litfie of Canadian affairs. 2 Since none of the courses in Canadian


The purpose of this paper is to find the meeting point of Neo-Confucian philosophy concept of Great Harmony with the philosophy of Paul Ricoeur about human existence. The notion of Great Harmony in the Neo-Kunghucuism philosophy will be explored in the thinking of Chou Tun-I, Cheng and Chu Hsi philosophers. These three philosophers initiated the concept of Great Harmony by displaying different characteristics and characteristics. Though they are different, , the direction of the three talks leads the reader to discover the meaning and meaning of human existence which Paul Recoeur referred to as a hermeneutic creature. In an attempt to elaborate the idea of Great Harmony and human existence, the author uses the hermeneutic method. The conclusion is that human existence has a double meaning (plural) and not singular. This is where the importance of language hermeneutics to interpret human existence, especially in relation to God as the Supreme Reality.


Significance Concentrated liquid formulations of therapeutic antibodies are susceptible to colloidal instability, including liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS). Herein, we measure the kinetics of aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) formation, the macroscopic stage of LLPS, along a linear temperature gradient device. These studies indicate that ATPS formation proceeds by the growth of protein-rich droplets and their subsequent coalescence. Droplet growth accelerates as the solution is cooled because protein–protein interactions become increasingly free energetically favorable. At lower temperatures, however, ATPS formation is rate-limited by a small barrier to droplet coalescence. A gel can form at the coldest temperatures, which arrest phase separation. We propose a simple 2-step model that relates these results to a reaction coordinate diagram for ATPS formation. Aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) formation is the macroscopic completion of liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS), a process by which aqueous solutions demix into 2 distinct phases. We report the temperature-dependent kinetics of ATPS formation for solutions containing a monoclonal antibody and polyethylene glycol. Measurements are made by capturing dark-field images of protein-rich droplet suspensions as a function of time along a linear temperature gradient. The rate constants for ATPS formation fall into 3 kinetically distinct categories that are directly visualized along the temperature gradient. In the metastable region, just below the phase separation temperature, Tph, ATPS formation is slow and has a large negative apparent activation energy. By contrast, ATPS formation proceeds more rapidly in the spinodal region, below the metastable temperature, Tmeta, and a small positive apparent activation energy is observed. These region-specific apparent activation energies suggest that ATPS formation involves 2 steps with opposite temperature dependencies. Droplet growth is the first step, which accelerates with decreasing temperature as the solution becomes increasingly supersaturated. The second step, however, involves droplet coalescence and is proportional to temperature. It becomes the rate-limiting step in the spinodal region. At even colder temperatures, below a gelation temperature, Tgel, the proteins assemble into a kinetically trapped gel state that arrests ATPS formation. The kinetics of ATPS formation near Tgel is associated with a remarkably fragile solid-like gel structure, which can form below either the metastable or the spinodal region of the phase diagram.


For systems that can only be locally stabilized, control laws and their effective regions are both important. In this paper, invariant policy iteration is proposed to solve the optimal control of discrete-time systems. At each iteration, a given policy is evaluated in its invariantly admissible region, and a new policy and a new region are updated for the next iteration. Theoretical analysis shows the method is regionally convergent to the optimal value and the optimal policy. Combined with sum-of-squares polynomials, the method is able to achieve the near-optimal control of a class of discrete-time systems. An invariant adaptive dynamic programming algorithm is developed to extend the method to scenarios where system dynamics is not available. Online data are utilized to learn the near-optimal policy and the invariantly admissible region. Simulated experiments verify the effectiveness of our method.


It is obvious that any positive government programme costs money and requires the raising of revenue. Promotion of economic development is no exception; indeed, short of war, it can be one of the most expensive activities in which governments today engage. Hence, the overriding issue becomes that of the mobilisation of resources, to an optimal point, for the achievement of socio-economic development.