The aim of this paper is to propose how to incorporate English as a main language into the Andorran educational system starting in primary school, using a combination of Content and Language Integrated Learning and traditional language classes, in order to address the increasing need for Andorran students to be proficient in English as a result of the global spread of the English language and Andorra´s situation within Europe. Although English is taught as a foreign language within the Andorran educational system, students are not graduating with a sufficient level of proficiency in English to meet today´s demands. The primary method of data collection was acquired through the review of literature concerning language education, plurilingualism and the role of the English language in globalization. We also conducted a semi-structured interview with the director of the Andorran school system as well as with a local primary school principal in order to gather relevant data regarding the reality within the country. As a conclusion, we will demonstrate that students´ linguistic proficiency will improve, not only in children at a high socioeconomic level, but also in students that cannot afford to study English outside of school. Keywords: Global English, Multilingual Education, CLIL, Language Education REFERENCES Alvarez, I. (2015, July 15). El Govern vol tenir l´angles com a llengua vehicular. El Periodic. Retrieved from https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/45286/el-govern-vol-tenir-langles-com-a-llengua-vehicular Beacco, J.C., Byram, M., Cavalli, M., Coste, D., Cuenat, M.E., Goullier, F. and Panthier, J. (2016, August). Guide for the Development and Implementation of Curricula for Plurilingual and Intercultural Education. Strasbourg: Council of Europe. Retrieved from https://rm.coe.int/guide-for-the-development-and-implementation-of-curricula-forplurilin/1680702437 Bjorklund, M., Bjorklund, S. and Kav, S. (2013). Multilingual Policies and Multilingual Education in the Nordic Countries. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 2013, 6(1), 1-22. Retrieved from http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1053769.pdf Consell General d´Andorra. (2017, Apr. 27). Comissio Legislativa d´Educacio, Recerca, Cultural i Esports, [public appearance]. Retrieved from http://www.consellgeneral.ad/aplics/Butlleti_Consell.NSF Council of Europe. (n/d). Common European Framework of reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from https://www.coe.int/t/dg4/linguistic/source/framework_en.pdf Delvin, K. (2015, July 13). Learning a Foreign Language a ´Must¨ in Europe, not so in America. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/07/13/learning-a-foreign-language-a-must-in-europenot-so-in-america/ Educacio Aposta Per l´Angles com a Llengua Vehicular. (2013, Oct. 6). Diari D´Andorra. Retrieved from https://www.diariandorra.ad/noticies/nacional/2013/10/06/educacio_aposta_per_angles_com_llengua_vehicular_42 667_1125.html Esteve, O., Fernandez, F., Martin-Peris, E., and Atienza, E. (2015). The Integrated Plurilingual Approach: A didactic Model Providing Guidance to Spanish Schools for Reconceptualizing the Teaching of Additional Languages. Linguistics and the Human Sciences, 11.1. Equinox Publishing. Retrieved from http://mon.uvic.cat/aula-investigaciollengua/files/2015/12/Esteveetal.pdf Farras, J. (2003). La realitat sociolinguistica andorrana a debat, Segons else resultats d´estudis no impulsats per l´Administracio. Noves SL. Revista de Sociolinguistica. Retrieved from http://www.gencat.cat/llengua/noves/noves/hm03primavera/catalana/farras.pdf Global English: The European Lessons. (2001, March 30). The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/education/2001/mar/30/tefl1 Govern d´Andorra. (2017). Educacio Website. Retrieved from http://www.educacio.ad/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=168:230610-deu-centres-participaranen-la-prova-pilot-del-projecte-escoles-verdes&catid=50:premsa&Itemid=114 Govern d´Andorra. (1993, Sept. 3). Llei Qualificada d´Educacio de 3-9-93. Bulleti Oficial del Principat d´Andorra. Retrieved from https://www.bopa.ad/bopa/005051/Pagines/645A.aspx?pDataInici=&pDataFi=&pSearchWord=&pOrdre=rellevanc ia Govern d'Andorra Ministerio de Finanzas Departamento de Estadistica. (2015). Andorra en Cifras 2015. Retrieved from http://www.estadistica.ad/serveiestudis/publicacions/Publicacions/Andorra%20en%20Xifres_cast.pdf Hamid, M.O. and Honan, E. (2012, April 24). Communicative English in the Primary Classroom: Implications for Englishin-Education Policy and Practice in Bangladesh. Journal Language, Culture and Curriculum 25(2), 139-156. Retrieved from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07908318.2012.678854 Herzog-Punzenberger, B., Le Pichon-Vorstman, E., and Siarova, H. (2017). Multilingual Education in the Light of Diversity: Lessons Learned. NESET II report, Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. doi: 10.2766/71255. Howard, E. and Sugarman, J. (2009). Program Models and the Language of Initial Literacy in Two-Way Immersion Programs. Center for Applied Linguistics. Retrieved from http://www.cal.org/twi/initialliteracy.pdf International Baccalaureate Organization. (2004). Information on Language Use in the IB Diploma Programme English Courses. Retrieved from http://www.ibo.org/contentassets/599acfec42b94ad9a2e0a351fd7f02d5/engsupportdoc.pdf Johnson, A. (2009). The Rise of English: The Language of Globalization in China and the European Union. Macalester International: Vol. 22, Art 12. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1447&context=macintl Marsh, D. and Frigols Martin, M.J. (2012). Introduction: Content and Language Integrated Learning. Retrieved from https://www.unidue.de/imperia/md/content/appliedlinguisticsdidactics/lingon/marsh__frigols__clil_intro__ts_me.pdf Marquet, M. (1997, June 26). Tendencies Recents de la Politica Linguistica a Andorra: Ensenyament i Usos Linguistics. 151158. Retrieved from http://publicacions.iec.cat/repository/pdf/00000052/00000100.pdf Mayans, P. (2015, May 1). La Llengua de l´ensenyament a Andorra. Retrieved from https://blocs.mesvilaweb.cat/pmayans/?p=268213 Mico, J. (2006). Els estudis De Sociolinguistica a Andorra. Treballs de Sociolinguistica Catalana. pp.269-290. Retrieved from http://www.raco.cat/index.php/TSC/article/view/249213/333546 Ministeri d´Educacio i Ensenyament Superior. (2015, Sept). Informe de Plantejament Metodologic. Govern d´Andorra. Retrieved from  http://en.calameo.com/read/0010059478d1a4f5dc1d3 Pavon Vasquez, V. (2010). The Introduction of Multilingual Teaching in Andalucia: Heading Towards a Newly Proposed Methodology. Journal of Border Educational Research (8), 31-42. Retrieved from https://journals.tdl.org/jber/index.php/jber/article/download/7183/6428 Phillipson, R. (2003). English-Only Europe? Challenging Language Policy. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. London and New York. Retrieved from https://books.google.ad/books?id=9HiCAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=Business+Week++article+"The+Gr eat+English+Divide:+In+Europe,+Speaking+the+Lingua+Franca+separates+the+Haves+from+the+HaveNots."&source=bl&ots=ofhGwnERIx&sig=hJ2ik8dB67aP00FjiqzVmwtN54c&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onep age&q=Business%20Week%20%20article%20"The%20Great%20English%20Divide%3A%20In%20Europe%2C %20Speaking%20the%20Lingua%20Franca%20separates%20the%20Haves%20from%20the%20HaveNots."&f=false Teba Fernandez, E. (2017). Content and Language Integrated Learning [PowerPoint Slides and Lecture]. Retrieved from https://ucjc.blackboard.com/webapps/bb-collaborate-BBLEARN/list?course_id=_82269_1 Vez, J.M. (2009, June 12). Multilingual education in Europe: Policy Developments. Porta Linguarum (12), 7-24. Retrieved from http://www.ugr.es/~portalin/articulos/PL_numero12/1JM%20Vez.pdf


A frequency-doubling technique is described that can provide a low-distortion sinusoidal output. The circuit consists only of bipolar-junction-transistor (b.j.t.) arrays, and is hence readily fabricated by s.i.c. technology. Results are given, and the criteria for a low-distortion output discussed.


This paper deals with the calculation of stress intensity factor(SIF) with the finite element method(FEM).SIF of central angled-crack under uniaxial and biaxial loading is calculated with ANSYS finite element calculation software.By comparing the result with the theoretical result,it has proved that FEM is considerably accurate in the calculation of stress intensity factor.After calculating SIF of different angled-crack,the conclusion that crack angle affect SIF has been obtained.This provides valid method for finding fracture criterion of angled-crack under complex load.


The vertical distributions of the microphysical and optical properties of tropospheric aerosols and cirrus cloud were measured using an instrumented balloon and a ground‐based Raman lidar over Tsukuba, Japan (36°N, 140°E), during the Asian dust events on 9 and 21 May 2007 to investigate the influence of Asian mineral dust on ice cloud formation in the upper troposphere. The instrumented balloon measured the particle size distribution, ice crystal images, dew/frost point, relative humidity, and temperature. The Raman lidar measured the particle backscattering and extinction coefficients and the depolarization ratio at a wavelength of 532 nm. The results of the balloon measurements showed that supermicrometer (0.7 to 2.8 µm in optical‐equivalent radius) dust particles and ice crystals (10 to 400 µm in maximum dimension) were present in the upper troposphere (8 to 12 km in altitude), with number concentrations varying from 5 × 10−3 to 0.6 cm−3 for dust and from 5 × 10−3 to 0.15 cm−3 for ice crystals. The Raman lidar measurement indicated that the particle depolarization ratios were 15 to 35% in the altitude range of 6 to 12 km, indicating the predominance of nonspherical particles in the region. The temperature ranged from −33 to −63°C, and the relative humidity with respect to ice (RHi), estimated from the total (vapor plus condensate) water content obtained with the Snow White hygrometer in the cloud, was 130% at maximum on 9 May, which was close to the activation point of Asian mineral dust as ice nuclei to form ice crystals.


Amidst this emphasis on the role of the state in both domestic and international affairs, the study of cities and their broader political-economic functions has been seriously neglected—a bias that we intend in this paper to redress. We develop here the concept of the "global political city"—a broad community, with complex non-governmental socio-economic dimensions, that nevertheless serves as an important arena for political transactions. After elaborating the general concept, we apply it concretely in the case of Washington, D.C., and suggest potential applications elsewhere in the world, noting the particular significance of the "strategic information complex" typically evolving in such cities as a source of international influence.


FOR quite some time there has been a concerted effort to bar the terms "progressive" and "reactionary" from any discussion of human affairs that claimed to be objective or scientific. In the academic disciplines of political science, sociology, and history the attempt has enjoyed a large measure of success, though one can still come upon unreconstructed thinkers who continue to use these terms. The main argument against their use is that the terms carry with them ethical and factually incorrect judgments to the effect that the course of history has been, in general, an advance toward greater freedom of the individual. Anyone with a sharp ear can detect the muffled sounds of a grinding axe on both sides of this discussion. Those who seek to outlaw the terms "progressive" and "reactionary" are trying to strike the main weapons from the hands of certain social critics: those who use historical theories of human society to criticize the existing social order. Hegel and Marx are, of course, the most important figures here, though they are no more than the culmination of a long train of thought. One of the more disagreeable conclusions that can be drawn from these theories is that any society, including our own, is destined to become antiquated and replaced by something better.2 The experience of the past fifty years has of course been very hard on theories of progress. Two world wars, the retreat of parliamentary democracy, the rise of totalitarian governments, concentration camps, and the perfection of the means of mass destruction are facts difficult to square with any theory of progress. Yet they are not the only facts. During the same period the material condition of the masses has almost certainly improved in large areas of the world, and promises to rise further. Future historians of freedom might find this to be the most significant fact of all. Such considerations, together with the obvious political partisanship, in effect if not by intention, of those who reject the concept of progress, make it appear worthwhile to have a fresh look at the problem. The following remarks do not pretend to be more than observations, set down, I hope, in a fairly satisfactory logical order, that have occurred to me in the course of other research. It is appropriate to begin with the question: Do the terms "progressive" and "reactionary" have any objective meaning-that is, any meaning independent of the political hopes and dislikes of thinkers who use these words? Do they refer to any real facts?3 "Progress" in ordinary speech means movement in a single direction toward an approved goal. Then the question becomes in part: Is it possible to discern any unidirectional movement in human history? Now there is at least one area, technology, in which there is overwhelming factual evidence of con-


Extreme wind atlases of South Africa were developed using three reanalysis data and recently developed approaches. The results are compared with the maps produced using standard wind measurements over the region. It was found that different reanalyses with the same approach provide similar spatial distribution of the extreme wind with coarse resolution data giving smaller extreme winds. The CFSR surface winds at 38 km horizontal resolution provides the best spatial distribution of the extreme winds.


We present energy-dependent measurement results, regarding grating-based X-ray phase-contrast imaging. These were done using a Talbot grating interferometer according to the proposal made by Weitkamp et al.1 using a commercial microfocus X-ray tube producing a standard tungsten spectrum and a Talbot-Lau grating interferometer with a medical X-ray tube. The spectroscopic, pixelated, photon-counting Timepix detector was used for photon detection. Using these setups, we measured the visibilities for different energies at different source to phase-grating distances. These results showed a constant maximum visibility, shifting to higher energies increasing the distance. This behaviour can be explained by changing the distance leads to a change in the setup's effective design energy. The results also showed that the expected drop of visibility for a misaligned setup does not take place when a polychromatic X-ray source is used. Additionally, images obtained with phase-contrast imaging at different energy thresholds are presented and evaluated. This knowledge about the energy-dependency of the setup's parameters will help to optimise X-ray phase-contrast imaging towards the clinical application.


The reputation of the Maison Cartier de Paris was established by the end of the 19th century, when it became the major supplier of jewellery to the European aristocracy and their American counterparts. This catalogue, first published to accompany exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York and the British Museum, provides an insight into the world of Cartier and its clients from Indian Maharajas to courtiers and film stars. In addition to 220 items of jewellery and decorative accessories illustrated and described in detail, the book also includes contemporary archive photographs, over 70 highly finished designs for pieces and a group of newly discovered plaster casts recording major pieces which no longer survive.


An analytical methodology was developed to establish priorities for a set of transportation energy conservation (TEC) strategies within an urban environment. Such a methodology is needed because of the high cost and long-term shortage of energy, the lack of an effective and comprehensive TEC evaluation tool, and the requirement for optimal allocation of limited transportation funds. The objectives of this research were to (a) develop a cost-effectiveness methodology for evaluating and ranking the various TEC strategies under given situations and (b) apply the developed methodology to a realworld situation to demonstrate its usefulness and practicability. Among the desirable features incorporated into the methodology are (a) a comprehensive accounting of all relevant effects of TEC strategies, (b) an approach to assure compatibility among tangible and intangible effects, (c) linkage of the theoretical framework to the decisionmaking process, (d) application of multiattribute utility theory to subjective impact assessment, and (e) the use of cost-effectiveness concepts. The case study of the Salt Lake City Metropolitan Area in Utah has demonstrated the methodology's utility, ease of application, and acceptance by decision makers and responsible agencies.


Scattering with angular limitation in projection electron-beam lithography (SCALPEL) marks for alignment and registration have been fabricated in SiO2 deposited in Si trenches using a process that is similar to that used for shallow trench isolation in complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuits. The marks were detected using backscattered electrons in a SCALPEL exposure tool using 100 keV incident electrons. The signal-to-noise from the Si/SiO2 marks is comparable to that measured from Si/WSi2 marks fabricated in CMOS gate material. The Si/SiO2 marks fabricated from this process are a viable option for gate alignment to the thin oxide level and is extensible to circuits with critical dimensions less than 100 nm.


This study aims to provide a deeper understanding of income diversification carried out by banks and provide guidelines for future researchers in conducting research related to the relationship between income diversification and bank stability. The method used in this research is the Systematic Literature Review (SLR), which identifies and assesses the findings of previous studies in order to guide further research in the future. There was 1 article from conference papers and 1 article from working papers. The remaining 28 articles came from well-known publishers. So 30 articles were obtained from well-known publishers and content following the topic of this literature review. The findings of this study indicate that the main motives for implementing the income diversification strategy are increased performance, reduced risk and competition between banks. This study also shows that there is a fairly wide research gap regarding the relationship between income diversification and bank stability. In addition, it was found that the Herfindahl Hirschman Index (HHI) is the most widely used measurement as a proxy for income diversification, and the generalized method of moment (GMM) is the most commonly applied statistical testing tool. The findings of this study are expected to provide a comprehensive picture of the implementation of the income diversification strategy and provide guidance for future research areas.


immunized in the routine setting based on a low-risk allergy history, of whom none were reported to the Israel Ministry of Health to have had vaccine-associated allergic reactions. Of 429 patients deemed highly allergic and triaged for 2 hours of observation after vaccination in a specialty setting, 9 patients (2.1%), all women, had immediate allergic reactions. In 6 patients (1.4%), reactions were mild; only 3 patients (0.7%) experienced anaphylaxis, all cases of which resolved with epinephrine in 2 to 6 hours without hospitalization. 1


Discrete integration over exponentially large combinatorial sets is a key task for approximate probabilistic inference. Ermon et al. recently developed an approximation algorithm for discrete integration with provable guarantees using hashing techniques. These works reduce discrete integration to solving a polynomial number of MAP inference queries for models that include random linear parity check constraints. Empirical evidence suggests these inference queries can be solved much more efficiently when the linear parity constraints involve only a few variables. The challenge is how to obtain the required hashing properties with codes that are as sparse as possible. In this work, we establish a connection between Average Universal (AU) hashing and low-density parity-check codes; we show how the desired statistical properties of Average Universal (AU) hash families translate to properties of the average distance distribution of the code ensemble. Using this connection, we show that random independent LDPC codes with logarithmic degrees suffice to yield AU hash families with the required properties.


It is the purpose of this paper to search for options to improve technical and economic efficiency of hydraulic fracturing. The paper presents conventional hydraulic fracturing technologies at multiple development targets and interval frac technology using diverter soluble balls for directional wells under the conditions of multiple development targets. The paper also presents experience of technology application at the enterprise and economic analysis (costs reduction for workover actions).
 The technology is based on application of diverter soluble balls and it allows performing selective hydraulic fracturing for two and more productive formations for one packer trip-in and one frac fleet approach thereby enabling considerable reduction in the time and increasing the economic value of actions. The main elements of the process are diverter balls which plug (creating a temporary artificial overlap) perforated intervals of the first development target after fracturing at a continuous process, enabling flow redistribution and deviation of frac drive fluid to lesser permeable second frac development target. The process is continuous as follows DFIT, frac #1, diverter balls injection, frac #2.
 Diverter balls have been tested in the enterprise's labs against characteristics and properties, compatibility of products with formation fluids. Frac technology using diverter balls has been successfully tested as part of the pilot project and it is applied at the enterprise on a commercial scale enabling reduce costs for workover crew's work by 23%, workover actions – by 20%, increasing profitability of frac workover actions for both an existing producing well stock and at the cost of a new well stock drilling. It is worthwhile noting that the existing conventional frac equipment allows applying the technology. It does not need special upgrading. The technology applicability criteria are identified. Success of works which have already been performed is over 95% and it is approved by well logging to determine flow profile. The technology application allows involving into development all low productive formations of dissected section with a considerable reduction in the time and workover action costs.


Significant asynchronous phenomenon exists in super rice because of the different spikes and spikelet positions, which affect the accumulation and properties of starch. However, little is known about the endosperm enrichment and physicochemical properties of starch between superior and inferior grain in super hybrid rice. YY2640 was selected as the study material to investigate the enrichment and physicochemical properties of starch between superior and inferior grains in super rice by using semi-thin section, X-ray diffraction, and other related technologies. Superior grain filling was a continuous process, whereas inferior grain started at 8-10 days after anthesis. The order of starch accumulation starts at the central endosperm near the abdomen, followed by the endosperm of the proximal vascular bundle and finally the aleurone layer of the abdomen. Compared with the inferior grain, the superior grain featured a higher 1000-grain weight, apparent amylose content, total starch content, average starch granule size, relative crystallinity, solubility, and a resonance peak ratio at 1022/995 cm-1 , whereas the swelling power and the ratio of resonance peak at 1045/1022 cm-1 were lower. The final hydrolysis degrees of HCl, AAG and PPA of the superior grain were significantly lower than those of the inferior grain. The findings indicated that the different physicochemical properties of starch were mainly due to the development order of superior and inferior grains and the spatial enrichment of starch.


Objective: By observing cyclical pressures of different frequencies on rabbit chondrocyte proliferation and secretion of integrin α1β1,to study the effects and mechanism on rabbit chondrocytes. Method:Isolated fetal rabbit articular chondrocytes,the third- generation cells were seeded in plates. Set control group A(normal culture) and group B of different frequencies pressure(pressure 172 kPa,frequency group B1 0. 2Hz,group B2 0. 5Hz,group B3 1Hz,group B4 2Hz,group B55Hz). Pressure intervention of different frequencies 2 hours per day,3 consecutive days after the intervention,to detect theproliferation of chondrocytes by Optical Density(OD),and ELISA assay was used to measure the integrin α1β1 level of culture supernatant. Result: OD value of group A was 1. 08 ± 0. 13,group B1 was 1. 19 ± 0. 11,group B2 was 1. 23 ± 0. 08,group B3 was 1. 35 ± 0. 06,group B4 was 1. 45 ± 0. 09,group B5 was 1. 37 ± 0. 12. Pressure groups compared with the control group was increased,the difference was statistically significant. There is significant difference between groups B,the peak appeared in B4 group. Group A of integrin α1β1 level was 3. 02 ± 0. 26 pg /mL,group B1 was 3. 28 ± 0. 19 pg /mL,group B2 was 3. 43 ± 0. 11 pg /mL,group B3 was 3. 77 ± 0. 24 pg /mL,group B4 was 4. 01 ± 0. 09 pg /mL,group B5 was 3. 94 ± 0.13 pg /mL. Integrin α1β1 value of pressure groups compared with the control group was increased,the difference was statistically significant(P 0. 05). There was significant difference between groups B; the peak appeared in group B4. Conclusion:The same size(172 kPa) cyclic pressure stimuli on rabbit chondrocytes at different frequencies can promote chondrocyte proliferation and increase the integrins,but not the higher the frequency,the stronger the effect. In this study,the frequency of 2Hz has the strongest effect.


Axially displaced elliptical (ADE) reflectors have been used frequently in satellite communications due to their potential for high performance. The main advantages of the ADE configuration include high illumination efficiency and low subreflector blockage loss. Furthermore, shaping techniques can be applied to the ADE reflectors to optimize the antenna efficiency and/or to minimize the sidelobe levels. The sidelobe level reduction can be achieved by minimizing the spillover and edge diffraction, as well as by controlling aperture distribution. This paper discusses key issues related to the synthesis and analysis of shaped ADE reflectors.


A good work program is needed by using the WISN (Workload Indicators of Staff Needing) method, which helps see the workload given to and received by medical workers in health facilities. This study aims to determine the appropriate number of employees using the WISN (Workload Indicators of Staff Needing) method to reduce the workload in the hospital's medical rehabilitation polyclinic. This research is a descriptive study with quantitative data analysis conducted at the H. Abdul Manan Simatupang Hospital in 2021. The data taken is medical record data on the total number of patient visits at the medical rehabilitation polyclinic and staffing data for the rehabilitation polyclinic. H. Abdul Manan Simatupang Kisaran Hospital. We found a relatively high number of visits at the Medical Rehabilitation Polyclinic; the workforce data obtained totaled four employees who handled patients directly. The study's results found that the available work time was not directly proportional to the existing standard workload, where the available work time is 135,360 minutes per year while the Standard Workload is 347,424 minutes per year. The workload in the Medical Rehabilitation Polyclinic is too high, and we can obtain the cause from the number of operational staff on duty.


The effects of Lorentz and CPT violations on macroscopic objects are explored. Effective composite coefficients for Lorentz violation are derived in terms of coefficients for electrons, protons, and neutrons in the Standard-Model Extension, including all minimal and non-minimal violations. The hamiltonian and modified Newton's second law for a test body are derived. The framework is applied to free-fall and torsion-balance tests of the weak equivalence principle and to orbital motion. The effects on continuous media are studied, and the frequency shifts in acoustic resonators are calculated.


This paper describes about the printed character segmentation and recognition system for slabs in steel manufacturing process. To increase the recognition rate, it is important to improve success rate of character segmentation. Since Slabs' front area surface are not uniform and surface temperature is very high, marked characters not only undergo damages but also have much noise. On the other hand, since almost marked characters are very thick and the space between characters is only about 10 ~ 15 ㎜, there are many touching characters. Therefore appropriate character image preprocessing and segmentation algorithm is needed. In this paper we propose a multi-local thresholding method for damaged character restoration, a modified touching character segmentation algorithm for marked characters. Finally a effective Multi-Class SVM is used to recognize segmented characters.


This study aimed to optimize the per‐O‐acetylation, deacetylation, and benzylidene protection of carbohydrates and investigate the scope of saccharides via alum‐catalysis. Initially, optimization was based on the previously reported PTA‐catalyzed acetylation of glucose, but alum‐catalysis required heating conditions.  The study expanded to investigate the per‐O‐acetylation of different saccharides, including galactose and mannose, which produced stereoisomeric mixtures. The study proposed a plausible reaction mechanism for the isomerization observed in galactose and xylose after acetylation. The mechanism involved chelation of the active alum‐catalyst with the O‐6 position and β‐type O‐1 position of galactopyranose to form a transition state complex via ring opening. This study investigated the generality of the de‐O‐acetylation method on a variety of carbohydrates using per‐O‐acetyl saccharide substrates bearing different functional groups. The direct protection of benzylidene in addition to acetylation/de‐O‐acetylation with a focus on optimizing reaction conditions for the synthesis of carbohydrate derivatives. Overall, the study offers insights into optimizing de‐acetylation, per‐O‐acetylation, and benzylidene protection investigating the scope of saccharides via alum‐catalysis.


The methodologies and applications on the use of biogas technology in the world appear in many scientific research studies on the issue of efficiency, combustion and emission control in internal combustion engines. The present analysis is a survey of current cutting-edge biogas engines. The survey includes engine development and every-day applications and also identifies some of the operating parameters and behavior of such pieces of equipment, whose operation relies on spark ignition, combustion, and compression ignition. The findings point to a considerable improvement in engine performance and also demonstrate the importance of further research on the use of biogas in internal combustion engines, which can be used in processing power e.g. energy supply for current demand and the need to optimize worldwide use of engines. This appears to be vital when thinking about the engine and its adjustable parameters in order to improve standard performance.


The natural antioxidant (Thymus vulgaris L.) was expected to prevent the damage of kidney due to diabetes mellitus. This study aims to determine the ability of ethanol extract of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) to maintain the function of the kidney of diabetic read by measuring the level of urea and creatinine serum. White male rats were induced with alloxan 160 mg/kg body weight, to obtain diabetic rats. Animal test were divided into five groups: negative control; normal control; and treated group (three dose levels). Urea and creatinine serum levels of diabetic rats were obeserved, significant raising of urea and creainine were used as indicator for the damage of kidney. The nephropathy diabetic rats were treated with thyme extract with dose 100; 200; 400 mg/kg for 17 days. The result showed dose of 400 mg/kg body weight of ethanol extract of thyme raised the levels of blood of glucose and urea and for (11. 94%, p = 0. 465), (61. 9%, p = 0. 180) respectively and dose of 100 mg/kg body weight of ethanol extract of thyme raised the creatinine level for (50%, p = 0. 854). Based on those results, ethanol extract of thyme reduce the function of nephropatic diabetic rats.


Author(s): Chavac, Liza | Abstract: Guided by a phenomenological approach, this qualitative study examines the resilience and cultural wealth of Latino men as they navigate the transfer process at a two-year community college. This study conducted four semi-structured interviews to highlight how, despite facing difficult circumstances, individual factors along with their aspirational and navigational capital positively impact Latino men in higher education. Ultimately, this study aims for four things (a) to add to the limited amount of research of Latino men in community college (b) to display the success of Latino men in higher education (c) to challenge deficit notions of Latino men in higher education and (d) to provide findings that will inform the community college sector of the Latino men transfer experience.


Summary Objectives: To assess patient satisfaction with bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA) and therole of preoperative audiometric testing. Patients and methods: A telephone satisfaction survey was conducted on all patients implantedbetween June 1, 2005 and February 1, 2008. Patients with unilateral total deafness underwentpreoperative audiometric tests in quiet and in noise and stereoaudiometry with and withoutBAHA. Patients with a conductive hearing loss underwent preoperative audiometric tests inquiet and in noise and real-life testing at home using a headband. A standardized satisfactionquestionnaire derived from the Entific BAHA questionnaire was used. Results: Twenty-two out of 26 patients responded to the questionnaire. Ten patients wereimplanted for conductive hearing loss (CHL) and 12 for unilateral total deafness (UTD). Meanfollow-up was 19 months in the UTD group and 21 months in the CHL group. Sixty-seven percentof UTD and 80% of CHL patients reported improved quality of life. The BAHA was worn for morethan 4hours per day by 83% of UTD and 100% of CHL patients, and at least 5 days per week by67% of UTD and 80% of CHL patients.


The utilization of airspace is the implementation and sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia as a whole. Including the national airspace arrangement, service delivery, personnels, facilities, flight navigation services, and the imposition of sanctions in accordance with applicable legal regulations in Indonesia. Airports are the most important facilities in air transportation services in various places including in Indonesia, because their function is intended as a place for departure and landing of aircraft, boarding and falling of passengers, goods (cargo), and postal. The method of writing this scientific article is to apply qualitative methods and methods of literature. This study uses the literature review method so as to obtain results on Personnels Capability has an influence on Individual Quality in Airport Services, Safety recognition has an influence on Individual Quality in Airport Services, and Socialization of Safety Areas has an influence on Individual Quality in Airport Services.


Security of multi-tenancy in cloud platforms raises a growing interest since research has revealed that the sharing of resources constitutes a vector of vulnerability. In this paper, we examine how one can leverage the sharing of resources, through the manipulation of the amount of resources consumed by VMs, to abusively enforce the dynamic resource management system to trigger VM migrations. This causes waste of resources for the hosting infrastructure and affects performances of VMs. To demonstrate this cross-VM attack, we use VMware's Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS) in charge of dynamic VM migration management. We perform a detailed analysis of the running of our experimentations by monitoring DRS details during the whole duration of the attack. We explore in various contexts the minimum amount of resources required for the attack to succeed. In our experimentation performed on small clusters, we observe higher vulnerability when the cluster gets larger and when DRS aggressiveness level gets higher. Finally, our experimentations show that the attack can be replayed several times to produce series of VM migrations.


It is known to provide a cassette with a static memory in which parameters of the magnetic tape are recorded, such as tape status, recorded titles, type of tape, length of tape, type of recording process or premagnetization. The object of the invention is to provide a new type of reader for the static memory of such a cassette that opens new possibilities of application and is in particular useful for future small digital videocassettes. The reader is designed as a handy unit (1) that may be operated independently from the recorder and is provided with a receptacle for the cassette (7) with contacts (6) for the memory (11), as well as a field (2) for displaying the content of the memory (11). The invention is particularly useful for digital videorecording cassettes.


"The article highlights the issues of the number, organization, infrastructure, and sanitary condition of Polish prisons in 1918-1939, as reflected in the materials of the Ukrainian, Polish, Lithuanian, and Belarussian archives. The main research methods are problem-chronological and comparative-historical. In 1922, there were about 400 prisons in the Second Polish Republic (II Rzeczpospolita), but their number tended to decrease. Architecturally, the Polish prisons in the interwar period were closed complexes with various interconnected buildings. Most of the prisons were located in former monasteries and ancient castles, so their reconstruction and renovation/repair were pertinent throughout the whole interwar period. The infrastructure of the prison depended on its function features and size. The prison complex included, besides the prison administration building, premises where prisoners were housed and trained, barracks for penitentiary guards, hospitals or medical centers, various handicraft workshops, places of worship, and specially designated courtyards for prisoners' walks in. Various controlling bodies inspected regularly the state of things in prisons regarding their observance of the law and the proper sanitary condition. They were special audits by the Ministry of Justice, inspections by prosecutors and the judicial authorities, or even inspections conducted by governmental commissions. The normative-legal documents determined that the Polish prisons ought to be quiet, clean, and orderly. In fact, the situation was often the opposite."


The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of rosuvastatin (ROSS) on learning and memory on scopolamine (SCOP) induced amnesia in mice. Experiments were carried out on 20 adult albino mice, divided into 4 groups and the experimental animals were treated for 14 days with ROSS (10mg/kg.p.o).To induce amnesia, scopolamine 3 mg/kg ip was administered intraperitoneally. Cognitive skills of the animals were examined after the induction of amnesia by using elevated plus maze (EPM), Morris water maze (MWM). In EPM model, scopolamine received animals showed significant increase in transfer latency on day 7 and 14 when compared to control animals. Whereas piracetam and rosuvastatin received animals showed significant decrease (p<0.05) in transfer latency period when compared to scopolamine treated animals. In MWM test, rosuvastatin treatment showed significant decrease in escape latency period (p<0.05) when compared to scopolamine treated animals The results confirm that, scopolamine impaired learning and memory process in animals, whereas administration of ROSS significantly ameliorated scopolamine induced amnesia in both elevated plus maze and Morris water maze test as indicated by significant reduction (p<0.05) in transfer latency (TL) (p<0.05) and escape latency (EL) respectively, hence it can be concluded that, that rosuvastatin improves cognitive functions against scopolamine-induced amnesia in mice. *Correspondence to: Jayaraman Rajangam, Department of Pharmacology, Sree Vidyanikethan College of Pharmacy Tirupati, 517501. Andhra Pradesh, India, Tel: 0877-2236711; E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


To study the optimum ultrasonic-assisted chiral resolution condition of bupivacaine racemate,response surface methodology( RSM) based on Box-Benhnken experimental design model was applied to optimize the conditions of chiral resolution. The effects of independent variables,including ultrasound power,solvent amount and resolution temperature were investigated,and the resolution effect was evaluated by purity and yield of levobupivacaine. The optimal resolution condition for levobupivacaine within the experimental range of the variables researched was as follows: ultrasound power of 300 W,solvent amount of 4. 8 mL / g racemate and resolution temperature of 60 ℃. Under this condition,the yield and purity of levobupivacaine were predicted to be 90. 4% and 96. 4% respectively, and corresponding experiment results were 89. 5% and 96. 2%,which demonstrated that it was feasible to optimize the resolution of bupivacaine by using RSM. Compared with the reported results, ultrasonic-assisted has obvious strengthening effects on chiral resolution of bupivacaine racemate.


On excavation of rock mass, the equilibrium of in situ stresses is disturbed around the excavation and redistribution of stresses takes place. If the induced stresses exceed the strength of the rock mass around periphery of the underground opening, failure of rock mass takes place developing a broken zone around it. The radius of the broken zone depends upon value of in situ stresses and the rock mass quality whereas its shape varies with the shape of the tunnel and in situ stress anisotropy. The failed rock mass around the tunnel periphery starts advancing in the tunnel. The excessive tunnel closure is required to be arrested by installing supports in time. In very poor rock masses under the influence of high in situ stresses, this closure is very high and leads to squeezing ground conditions. The paper summarizes the state-of-the-art with regard to prediction of squeezing ground condition, tunnel closure and support pressure for future direction of research.


An edgewise winding method for forming an edgewise winding having a non-circular outer shape including a bent portion, a short side portion, and a long side portion is achieved by feeding a wire (11) by a length corresponding to the short side portion or the long side portion, and edgewise bending the wire (11) by a bending jig (54) while rotating an entire winding (15) to form the bent portion. A side surface of the long side portion of the winding (15) is supported by a first support block (52), a second support block (53), a first stopper block (55), a second stopper block (56), and others.


This paper describes a neural architecture for learning coordination of different behaviors in a situated agent. Behavior-oriented approaches define the control of an agent directly in terms of its tasks. A key challenge is how to manage the agent's ongoing tasks so that action conflict is minimized and desired levels of compliance with overall goals are achieved. We present mechanisms for adapting the coordination strategy through shortand long-term adaptive inhibition and timevarying performance feedback. Finally, we present preliminary experimental results for a simulated robot which demonstrate the effectiveness of this method.


Acid drainage from mining activities occurs in different areas of the Santa Catarina Carboniferous Basin. Coal mining activities have left a legacy of more than 6,700 ha of affected surface areas, 15,000 ha of underground mining areas, more than 800 mine openings and 2,000 km of contaminated rivers, which are distributed in three river basins. Acidification of the environment, loss of land use capacity and toxicity to the environment were the evidenced and verified impacts in all areas as the main environmental risks in areas of liabilities for coal mining. In order to identify the critical areas in relation to the identified impacts, a potential risk susceptibility equation was defined by applying the AHP Analytic Hierarchy Process according to the hierarchy of the environmental indicators of the areas, obtaining crossmatrices, with which the susceptibility equations were elaborated. The weights according to the characteristics of the results served to reclassify the environmental indicators and thus the application of the equations. After obtaining the equation and its application the results indicated that the nine areas studied are framed in high and critical susceptibility to risk, so the AHP methodology is used to manage the risks in the area of environmental liabilities, serving for risk assessment and other information for determine options and make decisions about how to reduce and eliminate risks. In this way, the application of the AHP incorporates a consistent methodology in the process of choosing priority areas for environmental recovery.


Abstract : The collection of in-situ underwater acoustic and oceanographic data is critical to achieving a more complete understanding of how marine environmental conditions affect underwater acoustic transmissions, especially over vast ocean expanses. At-sea experiments provide the requisite data and performance measurements that are essential to developing and improving underwater sound detection systems, improving sound propagation and other models, and accurately characterizing the ambient underwater acoustic environment over annual cycles and differing spatial scales. Prior to at-sea experiments that involve underwater active acoustic transmissions, a thorough analysis of potential impacts on the marine environment associated with the transmission of anthropogenic sound is required by Federal legislative and regulatory dictates. Marine Acoustics, Inc. (MAI) provides the Ocean Acoustics department with the analytical rigor needed to ascertain potential environmental impacts associated with ONR Code 322OA-sponsored at-sea experiments. This impact analysis supports the comprehensive documentation required to verify compliance with the pertinent Federal and Navy requirements.


Seru, a new production organization, was developed to cope with the volatile manufacturing environments with short product life cycles, uncertain product types, and fluctuating production volumes (sometimes mass, sometimes batch, and sometimes very small volumes.). Many leading global companies such as Samsung, Sony, Canon, Panasonic, LG, and Fujitsu have adopted seru. Seru overcame a lot of disadvantages inherent in TPS and brought amazing benefits to seru users. Seru is still largely unknown outside Asia. This article introduces seru's history and defines various seru types. The evolutionary process of developing serus is described by using industry cases. A seru pyramid is constructed to compare seru with the TPS. A just-in-time organization system is introduced. We show why applying it can bring great productivity, efficiency, and flexibility to a production organization.


Previous studies showed concordance between the typical Periodic Sharp Wave Complex (PSWC) activity in EEG of Creutzfeldt‐Jakob Disease (CJD) patients and the MRI findings, while the concordance with slow activity in EEG is less established. The aim of this study was to better characterize the association between MRI findings and EEG changes using quantitative EEG (qEEG) analysis.


The Parkinson's disease is a degenerative and progressive condition of the central nervous system, characterized mainly by damages in motor skills. Along the development of the disease, there is a degeneration of the neurons from the "substantia nigra" that leads to losses in the sensory-motor activities, and the main symptoms are: shaking hands when resting, bradicinesia, rigidity and postural alterations. The integrative research adds up the analyses of the relevant results that can offer support for making choice and improving the clinical practices, and the making it possible the synthesis of the state of knowledge for a specific subject. The objective of this research is an integrative review on functional evaluation in patients with Parkinson's


Abstract The objective of the present study is to analyze the quality of hyperspectral data fusion using low spatial hyperspectral (LSH) Airborne Visible InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer-Next Generation (AVIRIS-NG) 8 m data and high spatial multispectral (HSM) WorldView-3 image at 1.24 m remote sensing images with spectral unmixing technique. The resultant HSH data shows new prospects for urban surface material characterization with spectrally distinct classes. The spatial resolution of LSH is enhanced by injecting the high-frequency details from the corresponding HSM bands in fast discrete curvelet transform domain. The image fusion-based products' quality has been analyzed by endmembers extraction and fractional maps generated using Piecewise Convex Multiple-Model Endmember Detection (PCOMMEND) method. Experimental results showed that the fusion has improved the spatial as well as spectral separability to extract the endmembers, particularly for the urban surface materials like the combination of water and asphalt, and bare soil and roof tiles.


A general two-dimensional (2D) theoretical approach capable of providing an explicit closed-form solution is developed for the calculation of elastic stresses in single-lap adhesive bonded joints, assuming linear distribution of a longitudinal normal stress in the joint thickness direction. By treating the adhesive layer in the same way as the adherends, the two-dimensional stress and strain distributions at any point, and the tensile force, shearing and bending moment at any cross section can be predicted accurately, in both the adhesive and adherends. This makes it possible for the subsequent failure analysis of the bonded joints to predict all the main modes such as adherend failure, cohesive failure and adhesive failure. The analysis is based on a two-dimensional elasticity theory that both includes the complete stress-strain and the complete strain-displacement relationships for the adhesive and adherends. Then, through the use of the displacement continuity conditions at the interfaces between the adhesive and adherends, four coupled, fifth-order ordinary differential equations with constant coefficients for the determination of the stresses are developed. The proposed method is capable of satisfying all the boundary stress conditions of the joint, including the stress-free surface condition at the ends of the bondline. The calibration of the new theoretical approach was verified by comparing it with the previously theoretical solutions, and the 2D geometrically nonlinear finite element models with the rotation and non-rotation boundary conditions. It is indicated that the present solution can provide a good prediction for the stress and strain distributions in the adhesive and adherends. A different approach is also established for determining bending moment factor of the short joints wherein the consideration of overall joint moment equilibrium is emphasized. It was shown that when the proposed bending moment factor is adopted instead of the original one, the classical solution by Goland and Reissner (1944) [4] might still remain applicable to the adherends and adhesive even with the parameter E3t1 /( E 1t3 ) > 0.1.


This paper presents two cases of calcifying odontogenic cyst, the first in association with a odontoma and another to ameloblastoma. When this happens the treatment planning modifies drastically because the biological environment changes for each associated lesion. The treatment would be since a curettage until a block resection. This shows the importance of accurate diagnosis and a close follow-up on clinical practice.


Unearthing the " Lost " Andean Root Crop " Mauka " ( Mirabilis expansa [Ruíz & Pav.] Standl.). Although recognized as part of the vibrant array of native roots and tubers that support farmers ' livelihoods in the Andean region, the root vegetable " mauka " ( Mirabilis expansa (Ruíz & Pav.) Standl.) is little known outside the scattering of communities where it is cultivated and is considered at risk of disappearance. Based on fieldwork carried out in Peru in 2016, this study documents ethnobotanical knowledge of mauka through interviews with 40 farmers across the regions of Ancash, Huánuco, Puno, and Amazonas. Further, it re-evaluates the distribution of the crop and explores opportunities for conservation. Mauka was found to be more widely distributed in Peru than previously thought, and a total of 21 germplasm specimens were collected for ex situ conservation, including one landrace from Puno that had not been previously described. Farmers reporteda substantial decline inmauka cultivation intheir communities 20 – 50years ago, with its lack of commercial value cited as a major reason for abandonment. Promisingly, through facilitating an encounter between several of these farmers and chefs at the renowned Peruvian restaurant Central , we demonstrate that revaluing mauka as a gastronomic ingredient could incentivize ongoing cultivation. demostramos que revalorizar gastronómico incentivar cultivación nuevamente.


THE SURFACE PROPERTIES OF SOILS AND MINERALS AS WELL AS THE PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF THE PRINCIPLE CONSTITUENT GROUPS OF THE BITUMENS ARE PRESENTED. THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SURFACE PROPERTIES OF A CERTAIN SYSTEM IS A FUNCTION OF THE AMOUNT AND CHARACTER OF SURFACE PRESENT. THE PHYSICO- CHEMICAL CHARACTER OF A CERTAIN SURFACE IS A FUNCTION OF THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND OF THE GEOMETRICAL STRUCTURE OF THE SURFACE LAYERS. THE SURFACE PROPERTIES OF SOILS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE FUNCTIONS OF THEIR SILICA-SESQUIOXIDE RATIO AND OF THE AMOUNT AND KIND OF ADSORPED IONS. THE BOND FORMATION BETWEEN BITUMINOUS MATERIALS AND THE SURFACE OF A SOIL PARTICLE IS A FUNCTION OF THE AMOUNT AND CHARACTER OF THE POLAR PARTICLES PRESENT IN THE BITUMENS. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SATISFACTORY BOND BETWEEN A MINERAL SURFACE AND BITUMINOUS MATERIAL CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY USE OF THE FOLLOWING DIFFERENT METHODS: (1) MIXING OF THE MINERAL AGGREGATE AND THE BITUMEN AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES, (2) CHANGING SURFACE CHARACTER BY EXCHANGE ADSORPTION WITH MORE SUITABLE IONS OR BY PRECOATING WITH MOLECULES WITH DUAL CHARACTER LIKE THOSE OF SOAPS, NAPTHENIC ACIDS, AND (3) USE OF THE ORIENTING INFLUENCE OF WATER ON THE CHARACTER OF THE BITUMINOUS INTERFACE, EITHER BY SPECIFYING A CERTAIN MOISTURE CONTENT OF THE MINERAL MATTER OR BY THE USE OF EMULSIONS.


Subject. This article deals with the issues of asymmetric development of economic sectors in the northern regions.
Objectives. The article aims to conduct a rating integrated assessment of the efficiency of the economy of municipal districts of the northern regions.
Methods. For the study, I used a comparative analysis, ex post evaluation, and the typological approach.
Results. The article offers a methodological approach on the basis of which the rating of economic development of municipal districts of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) is calculated.
Conclusions. The demand for the mineral resource base of the municipal areas of the northern region in the world market is the main factor affecting their uneven economic development.


Biotelemetry is used by researchers to track the interactions of animals with each other and the environment. While advancing technology has led to the development of numerous biotelemetry tools, radio telemetry remains the most common method for tracking small animals. Moreover, telemetry tracking of animal movement is an important skill for entry-level positions in wildlife biology. Thus, hands-on experience using radio telemetry provides students with an advantage as they pursue careers in wildlife biology, as well as an opportunity to build science process skills. We present a lesson in which students use radio telemetry to track animals; collect, analyze and interpret spatial data; and consider its applications to local wildlife management and conservation. Students submit their data to a national database collecting observations from multiple institutions as part of Squirrel-Net (http://squirrel-net.org). The aggregated data allows students to generate and test hypotheses across a broader variety of species and habitats than would be possible at any single institution. The lesson is designed for adaptation to diverse educational contexts, from a single two-hour laboratory period (basic skills acquisition) to a semesterlong student-driven research project (open inquiry Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience, or CURE). Although this activity and the national database focus on spatial data for squirrels, which are diurnal, charismatic, easily identified, and present on most college campuses, the same methods and materials can be modified for any animal capable of carrying a radio transmitter and being safely tracked by students. Citation: Duggan JM, Varner J, Lanier HC, Flaherty EA, Dizney L, Yahnke CJ, Connors PK, Erb LP, Hanson JD. 2020. Squirrels in space: Using radio telemetry to explore the space use and movement of sciurid rodents. CourseSource. https://doi.org/10.24918/cs.2020.25 Editor: Luanna Prevost, University of South Florida Received: 11/2/2019; Accepted: 6/18/2020; Published: 9/14/2020 Copyright: © 2020 Duggan, Varner, Lanier, Flaherty, Dizney, Yahnke, Connors, Erb, and Hanson. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Conflict of Interest and Funding Statement: JMD received support from a California State University, Monterey Bay Faculty Support Grant. JMD, JV, and PKC were supported by the 2019 CourseSource Writing Studio. JV and PKC have been supported by the Colorado Mesa University Faculty Professional Development Fund. Support for EAF was provided by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Hatch Project 1019737. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under a collaborative grant (Nos. 2013483, 2013281, 2013308, and 2013320). None of the authors has a financial, personal, or professional conflict of interest related to this work. Supporting Materials: Supporting File S1. Squirrels in space – Lecture slides on space use and movement; S2. Squirrels in space – List of resources for identifying focal species and field sites; S3. Squirrels in space – List of resources for purchasing equipment; S4. Squirrels in space – Example IACUC Protocol; S5. Squirrels in space – Lecture slides on tracking basics; S6. Squirrels in space – Worksheet for assessing preparation for equipment use; S7. Squirrels in space – Master datasheet and upload instructions; S8. Squirrels in space – Data collection instructions; S9. Squirrels in space – Example questions for summative assessment; S10. Squirrels in space – Instructions for creating simple maps; S11. Squirrels in space – R code for spatial analysis *Correspondence to: 100 Campus Center, Seaside, CA, 93955. Email: firstname.lastname@example.com. CourseSource | www.coursesource.org 2020 | Volume 07 1 Lesson


Manufacturers have long benefited from reusing returned products and parts. This benevolent approach can minimize cost and help the manufacturer to play a role in sustaining the environment, something which is of utmost importance these days because of growing environment concerns. Reuse of returned parts and products aids environment sustainability because doing so helps reduce the use of raw materials, eliminate energy use to produce new parts, and minimize waste materials. However, handling returns effectively and efficiently can be difficult if the processes do not provide the visibility that is necessary to track, manage, and re-use the returns. This paper applies advanced analytics on procurement data to increase reutilization in new build by optimizing Equal- to-New (ETN) parts return. This will reduce 'the spend' on new buy parts for building new product units. The process involves forecasting and matching returns supply to demand for new build. Complexity in the process is the forecasting and matching while making sure a reutilization engineering process is available. Also, this will identify high demand/value/yield parts for development engineering to focus. Reutilization of returns is good for the environment. The higher the quantity of ETN and certified service parts (CSP) that are recovered and reused, the better the result is for the environment. So another major goal of this work is to minimize the solid waste volume that is disposed of from scrapped parts. Analytics has been applied on different levels to enhance the optimization process including forecast of upgraded parts. Machine Learning algorithms are used to build an automated infrastructure that can support the transformation of ETN parts utilization in the procurement parts planning process. This system incorporate returns forecast in the planning cycle to reduce suppliers liability from 9 weeks to 12 months planning cycle, e.g., reduce 5% of 10 million US dollars liability.


In response to the increasing demand on in-season crop inventory, this study presents results of early season crop identification and acreage estimates based on a random forest classifier using RADARSAT-2 fine quad (FQ) SAR data. Thirty RADARSAT-2 FQ SAR scenes acquired over Indian Head, Canada, during the 2009 AgriSAR campaign led by the European Space Agency (ESA) were analyzed. Consistent with results from other researches, this study revealed that the highest classification accuracies are achieved in mid to late season (early July to mid August) when most of the crops experiencing vegetative growth and early reproduction. In addition by incorporating multi-beam images, an increase in classification accuracy of 2% to 12% can be achieved. For images acquired close in time, shallower incidence angles usually give better classification accuracy compared with steeper incidence angles. In order to achieve optimal classification performance, both multi-temporal and multi-beam acquisitions should be combined. For major crops such as canola, spring wheat, lentil, and field peas, over 85% accuracies can be reached early in the growing season (early July) when multi-temporal multi-beam RADARSAT-2 FQ data are used.


In abandoned mine sites, i.e., mine sites where mining operations have ended, wide spread contaminations are often evident, but the potential sources and pathways of contamination especially through the subsurface, are difficult to identify due to inadequate and sparse geochemical measurements available. Therefore, it is essential to design and implement a planned monitoring net-work to obtain essential information required for establishing the potential contamination source locations, i.e., waste dumps, tailing dams, pits and possible pathways through the subsurface, and to design a remediation strategy for rehabilitation. This study presents an illustrative application of modeling the flow and transport processes and monitoring network design in a study area hydrogeologically resembling an abandoned mine site in Queensland, Australia. In this preliminary study, the contaminant transport process modeled does not incorporate the reactive geochemistry of the contaminants. The transport process is modeled considering a generic conservative contaminant for the illustrative purpose of showing the potential application of an optimal monitoring design methodology. This study aims to design optimal monitoring network to: 1) minimize the contaminant solute mass estimation error; 2) locate the plume boundary; 3) select the monitoring locations with (potentially) high concentrations. A linked simulation optimization based methodology is utilized for optimal monitoring network design. The methodology is applied utilizing a recently developed software package CARE-GWMND, developed at James Cook University for optimal monitoring network design. Given the complexity of the groundwater systems and the sparsity of pollutant concentration observation data from the field, this software is capable of simulating the groundwater flow and solute transport with spatial interpolation of data from a sparse set of available data, and it utilizes the optimization algorithm to determine optimum locations for implementing monitoring wells.


1. The use of ionic liquids as solvent for simple substances selected from sulfur, phosphorus, selenium and / or tellurium, wherein the ionic liquid comprises at least one type of cation, and at least one type of anion. ! 2. Use according to claim 1, wherein the soft anion is aromatic. ! 3. Use according to claim 1, wherein the soft anion is basic. ! 4. Use according to claim 1, wherein the soft anion may be selected from [S2CNR2] -, [S2CSR] -, [S2COR] - and [S2CNR2] -, where R may be hydrogen, C1-C40 alkyl group, a straight- or branched alkyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl or C5-C10 aryl group, and wherein said alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl groups may be unsubstituted or substituted by one to three groups selected from C1-C6 alkoxy, C6-C10 aryl, CN, OH, SH, NO2, C7 to C30 aralkyl or C7-C30 alkaryl. ! 5. Use according to claim 4, wherein R is selected from C1-C10 alkyl group, a straight- or branched chain, a C5 -C7 cycloalkyl group or C5-C8 aryl group, wherein said alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl groups are unsubstituted or may be substituted with one -tremya groups selected from C1-C6 alkoxy, C6 to C8 aryl, CN, OH, SH, NO2, C8 to C15 aralkyl or C8 to C15 alkaryl. ! 6. Use according to claim 5, wherein R is selected from C1-C6 alkyl group, a straight- or branched-chain C5-C6 cycloalkyl group or a C5-C6 aryl group, wherein said alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl groups are unsubstituted or may be substituted with one -tremya groups selected from C1-C6 alkoxy, C6 to C8 aryl, CN, OH, SH, NO2, C8 to C15 aralkyl or C8 to C15 alkaryl. ! 7. Use according to claim 1, wherein the soft anion is selected from [O2CR] -, wherein R represents a C1-C40 alkyl group, a straight- or branched


Electron microprobe analyses of chevkinite(?) from a Miocene granite porphyry stock are consistent with the general structural formula proposed by Gottardi (1960) and yield a mineral formula of: 4x BvI C2tI D2"rO8(Si2or)2 where A: Ce13Ca, ,La".rNdooPro 'Mori B : Fet'; C : TLzALrFedlMArMo '; D: Ti' Crystallization of the chevkinite, both as microphenocrysts and groundmass grains, took place at approximately 7(n-750"C, 1.5 kbar, near HrO-saturation, and oxygen fugacities of approximately lO-rs atm. Compositional changes from microphenocrysts to groundmass grains reflect di-fferentiation of the granitic magma, and include enrichment in Mn, Nb, La, and possibly Fe3*, and depletion in Ca, Al, Ti, Mg, Pr, Sm, Nd, and possibly Y and Gd. Substitution within the chevkinite follows the general equality CaT+Tf+:REEI*+M3 +'2+ Within the two A sites, a higher-coordinated Alx site and a slightly lower-coordinated A;tt'-tx site, the approximate substitution 0.95Ca + 0.05Pr : 0.5La + 0.5Ce occurs, with most of the exchange occurring in the A, site. Under extreme differentiation and La enrichment, substitution does occur in both A sites, with the general form La = 0.10 Sm + 0.45 Ce + 0.45 Nd.


The choice of diagnostic tests is part of clinical activity, a process evaluation and analytical deductive whose purpose is to determine the cause or nature of the patient's problem. Despite its importance, this power is rarely individualized as the axis of specific training intervention. In this paper the author, guiding the internship complementary space of medical training, practice par excellence, where you want the internal is the main agent of their training, describes a formative intervention project, inspired by the pedagogy aims to promote and develop critical attitude when choosing the internal diagnostic tests.


i.e., one which had sacramental dispensation as its focus. Women missionaries, not involved institutionally with this dimension, often displayed tremendous resourcefulness and adaptation in meeting the physical, social, and psychological needs of those they served, as this book indicates. These writings provide a further asset for examining the relationship between religion and the civic community because these women frequently responded to critical medical and social crises in cities and towns before government structures were in place to meet these needs. The book does leave us wondering about a few things. With so much action happening, especially in the frontier conditions related in these annals, how is contemplation achieved? Does the editorship of the early annals by Mother Austin Carroll in 1881 (from which a number of Healy's accounts are taken) say more about the uniformity which might have settled in and her desire to restore some of the original fervor of the Mercy foundations? Reference is made to the help ofthe Mercy women in Belize in 1886after an epidemic of yellow fever (82-83). Did American Mercy Sisters themselves aid the sick there and stay on to found a mission? As few American Catholics were abroad as missionaries at this time, the answer could supply further information on early Roman Catholic missions overseas from the United States. The strength of the book lies in making available primary sources for the study of women, mission, and evangelization in nineteenth-century North America.


This article presents a fuzzy logic based offline control strategy for the stabilisation of a single-wheeled inverted pendulum robot (SWIPR). A SWIPR comprises of robot chassis mounted on a single wheel. A Matlab-Simulink model of the system has been built from mathematical equations derived using Newton's second law of motion. The study considers three different shape membership functions (MFs) i.e. gaussian, gbell and trapezoidal for designing of fuzzy logic controllers (FLCs). The performance parameters considered for comparison of controllers were rising time, settling time, steady state error and maximum overshoot. The simulation results proved the superiority of gbell MFs over other MFs.


This work deals with the global instability mechanism of viscous fingering in a Hele–Shaw cell with the inclusion of surface tension. We investigate the interaction and propagation of travelling waves in the system, and obtain two discrete sets of global wave modes: symmetrical modes and anti-symmetrical modes. We call the instability mechanism determined by these global modes the global trapped wave (GTW) instability. A unique global, neutrally stable state of the system is found; it explains the formation of the narrow, oscillatory fingers discovered by Couder el al. (1986) and by Kopf-Sill & Homsy (1987).


Dirofilariasis is a common parasite infection in stray dogs caused by Dirofilaria immitis (dog heartworm). Under very rare circumstances, it can cause human pulmonary lesion via a vector/intermediate host, the mosquito. It typically presents as a well-circumscribed, peripheral, solitary pulmonary nodule on radiograph, and is easily confused with lung malignancy. Diagnosis rests on histopathologic identification of the excised worm. We reported a 48-year-old female with a rare coexistence of pulmonary dirofilariasis and lung cancer. Clinical suspicion of a mixed etiology should be maintained in a lung cancer patient with a separate lung nodule. An undetermined pulmonary nodule should not preclude the possibility of surgical intervention for lung cancer patients with resectable disease.


ABSTRACT This paper considers how the values of industrial relations scholars affect their academic identity. The specific values considered are collegiality, civility and collectivism. The meaning of these values in academia is reviewed, along with some of their inherent contradictions and the challenges posed by their implementation in contemporary academic working life. The paper concludes with suggestions about how a scholarly association can help support and strengthen academic values, and a call for scholars to reflect on what makes academic life rewarding and how to retain it.


The Czech Republic's mass-privatization scheme changed the governance of many firms in a short time. The authors show that mass privatization was effective in improving firm management because of the concentrated ownership structure that resulted. For a cross section of 706 firms for the period 1992-95, they find that the more concentrated the firm's ownership, the higher the firm's market valuation and profitability. Large ownership through bank-sponsored investment funds and strategic investors appears to be particularly important in improving corporate governance and turning firms around. They find no evidence that market valuation or profitability were lower for firms in which investment funds sponsored by a firm's main bank represented a large ownership stake. It is often argued that the firm's main bank having (indirect) ownership control could represent a conflict of interest. The empirical analysis here shows, quite the contrary, that such indirect ownership control has a significant positive influence. On balance, banks that had an (indirect) equity stake in a firm have a positive influence on the firm's corporate governance.


Objective
To investigate the effect of low dose ropivacaine combined with low dose fentanyl on labor analgesia in patients with pregnancy induced hypertension.

Methods
From January 2012 to June 2016, 120 cases of pregnant women with hypertension in Lishui Central Hospital were selected, and they were divided into observation group and control group according to the random number method, with 60 case in each group.The observation group was treated with epidural anesthesia, the control group was not anesthetized.The systolic blood pressure(SBP), diastolic blood pressure(DBP), VAS score, delivery mode, oxytocin application, labor, neonatal Apgar score, postpartum hemorrhage during the delivery of the two groups were collected.

Results
The SBP and DBP at 10min after anesthesia, active period, the second stage of labor in the observation group were (135.76±11.64) mmHg, (136.57±7.68)mmHg, (141.23±9.78)mmHg, (84.56±6.57)mmHg, (85.46±7.21)mmHg, (85.47±7.27)mmHg, respectively, which were lower than those in the control group[(156.35±14.37)mmHg, (158.71±8.2)mmHg, (172.15±14.65)mmHg, (107.58±7.68)mmHg, (108.68±9.04)mmHg, (113.24±11.53)mmHg] (t=8.674, 8.253, 9.934; 15.476, 14.278, 17.054, all P=0.000). The VAS scores at 10min, 40min, 80min, 120min after anesthesia in the observation group were (6.23±1.12)points, (1.67±0.82)points, (1.16±0.64)points, (1.63±0.75)points, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control group[(7.18±1.08)points, (7.37±0.99)points, (7.68±0.94)points, (7.58±0.87)points] (t=4.758, 33.264, 41.867, 35.286, all P=0.000). The rate of cesarean section in the observation group(28.3%) was lower than that in the control group (56.7%) (χ2=9.855, P=0.002). The rate of vaginal delivery and oxytocin application in the observation group(46.7%, 55.0%) were higher than those in the control group (21.7%, 28.3%) (χ2=8.336, 8.777, P=0.004, 0.003). There were no statistically significant differences in the first stage of labor, the second stage of labor, the third stage of labor, the 1 min Apgar score, 5 min Apgar score and the postpartum hemorrhage between the two groups(P=0.410, 0.376, 0.207, 0.289, 0.243, 0.486).

Conclusion
The low dose ropivacaine combined with small dose of fentanyl for the labor analgesia of pregnant women with hypertensive disorder can reduce blood pressure, reduce childbirth pain, reduce cesarean section rate, improve vaginal delivery rate during delivery.

Key words:
Hypertension, pregnancy-induced; Analgesia, obstetrical; Ropivacaine; Fentanyl


Background: Acute myeloid leukemia is a heterogeneous hematologic malignancy associated with gene mutations, chromosomal rearrangements, deregulation of gene expression and epigenetic modifications. The treatment outcome of AML is highly variable signifying the heterogeneous nature of the disease. Aim of the Study: To evaluate miRNA-155 expression level as a prognostic marker for adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Patients and Methods: 101 subjects were included in this study. They were classified into 2 groups, patient group (61 adult patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia) and control group (40 apparently healthy adult subjects). miRNA-155 expression was assessed using real time PCR using QIAGEN, miScript, Quanti Tect and Rotor-isc (QIAGEN Group) PAXgene (pre Analytix Gmbh). Samples were either peripheral blood or bone marrow aspiration sample. Results: Roc curve detected 2.85 as best fit value of miRNA-155 for discriminating patients from healthy controls with sensitivity 92.3%, specificity 88.5%, AUC 0.98 and CI (0.96 - 0.99) (p < 0.001). The 75th percentile value of the patient group was taken as prognostic cut off value with a value < 9.8 as low miRNA-155 and a value ≥ 9.8 as high miRNA-155. The expression level of miRNA-155 was significantly higher in AML patients than in controls (p = 0.002). Patients with high miRNA expression had a significantly higher white blood cells count (p = 0.002), bone marrow blasts (p = 0.006) and peripheral blood blasts (p = 0.006) compared to patients with low miRNA-155 expression. Patients with poor cytogentics had a significantly higher level of miRNA-155 expression compared to patients with favorable cytogentics (p = 0.007). The complete remission rate was significantly higher in patients with low miRNA-155 expression compared to those with high expression (86.4% and 23.5%, consequently, p = 0.004). The disease free survival was significantly shorter in patients with high miRNA-155 expression compared to those with low expression (median 12 months, 95% CI (7.4 - 15.5) and median notreached, consquenly, p = 0.001). The overall survival was significantly higher (p = 0.002) in patients with low miRNA-155 expression (median overall survival was not reached) compared to patients with high miRNA-155 expression (median overall survival 14.5 months, 95% CI; 10.2 - 17.6). Conclusion: The expression level of miR-155 was significantly higher in AML patients than in control groups and high miRNA-155 expression level was significantly associated with poor cytogenetics, poor response to therapy and shorter disease free and overall survival conferring a poor outcome.


Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to introduce the realizing process of the fuzzy logical reasoning method in relation to the insulation detection of insulator strings, especially about the establishment of the fuzzy relation matrix.Design/methodology/approach – Utilizing fuzzy logical reasoning method, the online fault diagnosis of the transmission line insulator strings can be realized efficiently, although the insulation status of the insulator strings is influenced by many factors and the relation between the measured electric parameters about the insulator with the degree of the deterioration is ambiguous.Findings – Utilizing the pattern recognition method to build the fuzzy relation matrix after choosing the probability of the corona current, the root‐mean‐square value and the peak value and the pulse frequency of the leakage current as the fuzzy operating input variables, using the fuzzy reasoning method to estimate the insulation status proves to be a practical approach.Practical implications...


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to find out the characteristics and evolutionary trends of China's inter-regional innovation correlation network, the status and roles of each province in China's inter-regional innovation correlation network and the influencing factors of China's inter-regional innovation correlation effect.

Design/methodology/approach
Based on the patent data of 30 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) in China from 1991 to 2017, social network analysis was used to find out the characteristics and evolutionary trends of China's inter-regional innovation correlation network and the status and roles of each province in China's inter-regional innovation correlation network. Furthermore, the QAP method was used to find out the influencing factors of China's inter-regional innovation correlation effect.

Findings
China's inter-regional innovation correlation is becoming increasingly close and inter-regional innovation correlation network is becoming increasingly stable. Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong and other eastern coastal provinces are at the core in the inter-regional innovation correlation network, while the western regions are marginal actors. China's regional innovation development territory can be divided into four blocks, namely, "bidirectional spillover block," "net spillover block," "main beneficial block" and "net beneficial block," and gradient transfer mechanism is obvious between the blocks. The geographical adjacency and similarity in regional industrial structure, urbanization level and government attention degree have significant positive effect on China's inter-regional innovation correlation effects.

Research limitations/implications
This paper only uses patent application as a measure of regional innovation level to analyze inter-regional innovation correlation effect. Meanwhile, this paper carries out an empirical study only from the provincial level and not from the city level.

Practical implications
This paper provides the practical basis for further promoting the coordinated development of regional innovation and promoting the construction of regional innovation systems with different characteristics.

Originality/value
This paper contributes to understand the status and role of each province in inter-regional innovation correlation network. Meanwhile, this paper also helps to understand the influence of the proximity and external environmental factors on inter-regional innovation correlation effect.


Analyzing some proverbs taken from the Selected Works of Deng Xiao ping , this paper offers a study on the rhetorical effect of proverbs through articles by the celebrity and appreciates, as far as the rhetorical effect of proverbs is concerned, the language of the Selected Works of Deng Xiao ping characterized by its conciseness, vividness, easiness in understanding and its simple way in explaining profound things.


The statistical properties of speckle patterns that are generated in the Fresnel region, when a rough surface is illuminated with a fully developed static speckle pattern are studied. The intensity autocorrelation function characterizes the roughness of specularly reflecting surfaces. The measuring effect is based on a roughness-dependent spatial intensity modulation of the speckle field which is scattered from a surface under speckle pattern illumination. In addition, anisotropic surfaces give rise to an anisotropy of the speckle modulation phenomenon. The speckle patterns under investigation are first recorded by use of a CCD camera and are then evaluated by digital image processing in order to determine a 2D-autocorrelation function. The main advantage of this approach compared to profilometric and light scattering methods such as angle resolved scattering (ARS) and total integrated scattering (TIS) is its reliability and its capability to in-process applications. The measurement results basically depend on the rms roughness. In comparison with ARS- based measuring principles, the surface autocorrelation length shows only little influence. Furthermore, only a small angular range (less than 5 deg.) of the scattered light distribution needs to be evaluated, so that distances of more than 100 mm between optical setup and rough surface can be realized. Earlier investigations in this field deal with speckle patterns obtained from transmitting isotropic surfaces. In this study reflecting anisotropic surfaces, which are typically produced by mechanical processes such as grinding and turning are taken into consideration. Therefore, a more general theoretical description of the rough surface which covers both, isotropic and anisotropic roughness will be given.


This paper reports a piezoelectric aluminum nitride (AlN) based MEMS hydrophone with ultra-low operation frequency and ultra-high noise resolution. The hydrophone was fabricated on a cavity SOI substrate using a 7-mask AlN-on-SOI process platform. The fabricated hydrophone achieved a non-linearity of 0.11%, a sensitivity of -182.5dB±0.3dB (ref. to 1Vrms/μPa) and a noise floor of -125dBV/√Hz, i.e. a noise resolution 57.5dB referenced to 1 μPa/√Hz within the ultra-low operation frequency of 10Hz~100Hz, the highest noise resolution of MEMS hydrophones and better than traditional bulky hydrophones[1].


Introduction: Most defects of the corneal epithelium, such as ulcerative keratitis, do not respond to conventional treatment and they progress to stromal ulceration and imminent perforation. Among new therapeutic options to correct these corneal defects, there is the use of amniotic membrane and corneal plasties; both surgical treatments seek a corneal reepithelialization and an adequate healing process when medical treatment has not been successful. Objectives: This work seeks to analyze updated studies concerning amniotic membrane implants for the solution of deep corneal ulcers in canines and felines, in order to define the therapeutic principles of amniotic membrane in ocular pathologies, determine a protocol for the preparation of amniotic membrane grafts, and serve as a basis for practical studies about corneal implants in canines and felines in Colombia. Conclusions: Based on the results obtained during the document review process and the surgical experience of the authors, it can be concluded that the use of amniotic Graciano Echeverry LF, Acevedo Toro SP, Vanegas Giraldo JL. Implante de membrana amniótica en la corrección de úlceras corneales profundas de caninos y felinos. Rev Med Vet. 2018;(36):109-120. doi: http://dx.doi. org/10.19052/mv.5177 Rev. Med. Vet. ISSN 0122-9354 ISSNe 2389-8526: Bogotá (Colombia) N° 36: 109-120, enero-junio del 2018 Recibido: 16 de marzo de 2016 . Aceptado: 30 de diciembre de 2016 1 Médico veterinario. Especialista en Clínica. Miembro del Grupo Centauro. Médico veterinario, Hospital Veterinario Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.  email@example.com 2 Médica veterinaria. Especialista en Clínica. MSc. Grupo Centauro, Coordinadora Unidad de oftalmología y anestesia, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. 3 Médico veterinario, Hospital veterinario Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.19052/mv.5177


The possibility to prepare hybrids made by poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and/or poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEtA) with TiO2 was studied. The processes of polymer formation-radical polymerization and sol-gel process for inorganic network —were achieved simultaneously. Due to a high reactivity of titanium isopropoxide (TIP) in the sol-gel process, a complexant comonomer, allyl acetoacetate (AlAcAc), was used. Covalent bonds between polymer and inorganic chains were obtained by addition of trialkoxysilane derivates with vinyl (VTES) or methacryloyl (MPTS) groups. The presence of TIP inhibits the radical polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc). The PVAc-TiO2 hybrids were produced by the sol-gel process of TIP in the presence of pre-obtained PVAc. Except for VTES and MPTS, trialkoxysilane derivates with methyl (MeTES), octyl (OTES) and phenyl (PTES) groups were used. The thermal stability of hybrids is strongly affected by TiO2 presence and by the type of trialkoxysilane derivates. The thermal stability of PVAc hybrids decreases in the presence of TiO2 inorganic network. The glass transition temperature of polymers increases in the presence of the inorganic network.


Personality assessment has a great impact on the outcomes of the selection interview. Women are perceived to have personality characteristics which are different from men. It is doubtful whether these sex stereotyped personality characteristics are based on real differences in verbal and nonverbal behaviour between men and women. Previous studies have shown the influence of sex stereotypes on interview-outcomes. In this study, the relationship between verbal and nonverbal behaviour of male and female applicants and their personality assessment has been investigated. Results show that males and females are assessed stereotypically based on their sex, but also based on their behaviour. For females, a feminine or masculine assessment is of special importance for her chance of selection. The less feminine is a woman's assessment the more likely she is to be accepted as an eligible candidate by the selection board. These accepted women show 'female' behaviour as well as 'male' behaviour.


We have studied the surface termination of atomically flat SrTiO3 surfaces treated by chemical etching and subsequent thermal annealing, for all commercially available orientations (001), (110), and (111). Atomic force microscopy confirms that our treatment processes produce unit cell steps with flat terrace structures. We have also determined the topmost atomic layer of SrTiO3 surfaces through time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. We found that all three orientations exhibit a Ti-rich surface. Our observation opens doors for interface engineering along the [110] and [111] directions in addition to a well known [100] case, which widens the range of functional heterostructures and interfaces.


As the healthcare industry shifts from traditional fee-for-service payment to value-based care models, the need to accurately quantify and compare the performance of institutions has become an integral component of both policy and research. To date, several notable metrics have been introduced, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaids Hospital Value Based Purchasing (HVBP) program. However, despite widespread adoption, these standards suffer from a fundamental oversight. Where the factors utilized to characterize performance reflect only intrinsic facets of an institutions care, capturing elements of mortality rates, patient satisfaction, outcomes, and spending. Yet, this approach is directly at odds with our current understanding of health and wellness, as it is well known that social, economic, and community factors are deeply intertwined with healthcare outcomes. To this end, with institutions spread across diverse geographic regions, our manuscript demonstrates that HVBP performance metrics do not exist in isolation. Rather, they possess strong associations to the community factors in which the institution resides. Aggregating a broad set of factors from disparate data sources, this work moves through the informatics pipeline. Identifying performance scoring profiles though clustering and employing robust linear models to uncover novel relationships and advance the discussion around the need for value-based care quality metrics.


Tumor immune therapy, especially anti-programmed cell death ligand-1/programmed cell death-1 (PD-L1/PD-1) treatment, is currently the focus of substantial attention. However, despite its enormous successes, the overall response rate of cancer immunotherapy remains suboptimal. There is an increased interest in combining PD-L1/PD-1 treatment with anti-angiogenic drug Apatinib to enhance antitumor effect. Presently available data seem to suggest that Apatinib may exert immune suppressive effects to make the PD-L1/PD-1 treatment works. Here, we review the extensive tumor microenvironment immune modulatory effects from antiangiogenic agents Apatinib in order to supporting VEGFR2 targettherapies in clinical trials are existing.


Using a combination of aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and density-functional calculations, we show that Si atoms stabilize graphene nanopores by bridging dangling bonds along the perimeter of the pore. We find the Si-passivated pores survive intact even under the microscope's intense electron beam. Density-functional calculations show that Si atoms are strongly bound to graphene nanopores. Our molecular dynamics simulations show that addition of C adatoms form dendrites sticking out of the graphene plane due to the strong preference of Si atoms for tetrahedral coordination, instead of filling into the nanopore. The resulting stabilized pores of specific size and shape provide an optimal approach for sustainable graphene-based molecular translocation devices.


Interpretation of recently acquired high-resolution three-dimensional seismic data has been combined with two-dimensional cross-section restorations and new insights into salt tectonics derived from scaled physical and numerical models. This prompted a reevaluation of the development of salt-related structures in our areas of interest in the U.K. Southern Gas Basin. Salt-related structures in the overburden comprise a series of broadly northwest-trending grabens and associated salt diapirs and walls. These structures are considered to be caused by thin-skinned gravity-driven deformation that triggered and controlled the growth of grabens and diapirs and the later inversion of selected grabens. Additional structures were created by bending and by vertical movements associated with extensionally driven diapiric collapse. The development of the overburden structure was not driven by salt movement; salt structures developed as a simple "reaction" to the thin-skinned extension and subsequent contraction of the overburden.


Nb is a single dominant gene in potato that confers hypersensitive resistance to potato virus X group 1 and group 2 (strains ROTH1 and CP2, respectively). Genetic and molecular analysis showed that Nb is located on the upper arm of chromosome V and form part of a cluster of resistance genes encoding specificities to many different pathogens. Part of the strategy for cloning Nb was the construction of a high-resolution genetic map around the Nb locus using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technology in conjunction with a bulked segregant approach. We describe the genetical localisation of molecular markers tightly linked to the Nb locus and the development PCR-based markers suitable for isolation of the Nb resistance gene by positional cloning. To characterise the viral elicitor of Nb-mediated resistance we introduced modifications into the genome of the avirulent PVX strain ROTH1 and the virulent PVX strain UK3. We show that the Nb avirulence determinant corresponds to the 25 kDa PVX movement protein and that the isoleucine residue at position 6 in this protein is required for the activation of the Nb response. To study cellular events associated with the Nb response, the 25 kDa proteins of both viral strains were tagged with the green fluorescent protein (GFP). Using laser scanning confocal microscopy we showed that the Nb-mediated response is associated with degradation of subcellular structures.


Based on theoretical arguments, the authors provide a clear pathway to utilizing a new chiral particle -- a chiral bobber -- for the purposes of future spintronics. They discover that these novel chiral states possess inherent transport traits that allow for their unambiguous electrical detection in systems comprising several types of chiral states. The unique properties of bobbers are rooted in the nontrivial spin topology of these particles, which also bear great potential for cognitive computing.


I n this paper, we introduce a new class of sets, namely fuzzy α * -open sets and fuzzy α * -closed sets. Further we define fuzzy α * -interior and fuzzy α * -closure and discuss their properties. Finally, we relate fuzzy α * -open sets and fuzzy α * -closed sets with some other sets in fuzzy topological spaces.


Schwannoma originating from the esophageal branch of the recurrent laryngeal nerve is clinically rare event. The best approach to preoperative pathological diagnosis, surgery, and airway management for this submucosal tumor in the tracheal membranous portion remains controversial.


A new statistic is proposed for the analysis of circular data. The statistic is designed specifically for situations where a test of uniformity is required which is powerful against alternatives in which a small fraction of the observations is grouped in a small range of directions, or phases.