In this paper, we propose a novel controller to stabilize the shape (joints) of an orbital robot about a setpoint, i.e. a regulation task, in the specific setting that its spacecraft velocity is unmeasured. For this output feedback stabilization problem, the controller is presented as a synthesis of an observer for the spacecraft's motion states and a shape control law. To this end, we exploit the inertia-decoupled reduced Euler-Lagrange equations. The main advantage of this approach is that the block-diagonal inertia avoids the need for joint acceleration measurements, and the well-partitioned Cori- olis/Centrifugal matrix highlights useful properties, which aid in the stability analysis. Additionally, the proposed controller uses only a minimal set of measurements in form of shape state-space, i.e. positions and velocities, and the exteroceptive pose (attitude and position) of the spacecraft. Thus, the need for inertial sensors (velocity measurements) on the spacecraft is also avoided. For the error dynamics of the resulting system, we prove uniform almost global asymptotic stability. Furthermore, we validate the analysis and prove the effectiveness of the method though simulations.


Since 2009 Croatia has been stuck in recession. Additionally, mobile market has suffered from several negative market conditions, including short-lived specific telecommunication tax, sustained drops of mobile revenues and demand. The main purpose of the present study is to provide overview of main mobile market performance indicators like general economic background, competition in the mobile market, mobile subscriptions, and mobile traffic development during demanding market conditions during 2009-2013. The results concluded that causal effects of a telecommunication tax on mobile price and operators' price-quality behavior require immediate investigation. These may serve as guidelines for further research.


Taro (Colocasia esculenta Schott; family Araceae) commonly called as eddoe or arvi, an important perennial tuber crop grown for the edible supplementing carbohydrate in the diet of India, tropics, Pacific islands, Africa and other South East Asian countries. Taro is an excellent multipurpose crop for subsistence agriculture giving food security. Cooked tender leaves have the same nutritional value of spinach, also contains vitamin B-complex than whole milk and dietary protein. This might have been a reason that taro became part of Manipuri ethnic cuisines like Utti etc. Given the importance, it is necessary to enhance the production of taro in this region. Really it's a great challenge to enhance the taro production in a limited piece of land. As taro is a long duration crop, production could be augmented through efficient utilization of available sunlight, water and nutrients International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 05 (2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com


The adoption and diffusion research focuses on the exploration of factors and processes responsible for the acceptance, implementation, and use of innovations. Usually, a distinction is made between individual and organizational adoption. Especially the factors influencing the adoption decision of an individual or an organization are in the spotlight of interest of researchers. Knowing these factors fosters a better understanding of the adoption and diffusion processes, supports forecasting, and helps to give guidance. The thesis at hand analyzes the adoption and diffusion of the radio frequency identification (RFID) technology in an organizational setting. In the last few years RFID was actually hyped and considered to be the solution for various management problems. Therefore, the large-scale adoption and diffusion throughout different industries was predicted. Decreasing transponder prices and the existence of a global standard were expected to further accelerate this development. Against the background of effective prices on the decline and a global standard in place the actual RFID adoption rate still lags behind expectations. For that reason this study analyzes factors beside costs and standards additionally affecting the decision to adopt RFID. By focusing on organizations that have already chosen to use a certain standard, this thesis explores the adoption and diffusion of the RFID technology. Based on the existing literature, especially barcode, EDI, and RFID adoption studies, a survey instrument was developed to empirically validate the research model. Therefore, data collected from 159 organizations using exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM) were analyzed. The results indicate that the adoption rate of organizations that have already decided to use a certain standard is three to six times higher than the adoption rate of organizations that have not yet decided to use a certain standard. From the structural causal relationship analysis, a significant positive relationship was found between the compatibility, the support within organizations, and the external pressure caused by supply chain members and the adoption of RFID. Additionally, a significant negative relationship was found between costs and the adoption of RFID. The structural equation model also suggests that the factor 'technical knowhow' serves as a moderating variable.


This guide provides information and tools for measuring research impact, focusing on the use of citation metrics in NRF rating preparation South African Research Output Accreditation System


In this paper, homoclinic/heteroclinic connections of equilibrium points of two different types (that is, equilibrium points with one-dimensional unstable/stable manifolds together with two-dimensi...


It is both a privilege and a challenge to have the opportunity to review one's field of scientific interest to a group of research workers such as the members of this society. Few scientific organizations are devoted exclusively to the cause of young men and are so safeguarded against conservative opinion and reactionary pressure as this group, which retires its members at the age of 45. This law of the society was written into the constitution with the full realization that it had both advantages and disadvantages. To be denied the help of mature experience often results in wasted effort and mistaken directions. Yet in the process of growth, whether of a child, a young research worker or a society such as ours, there can be no substitute for the experience of learning through the errors and


The insufficiency of infrastructure capacity in an air transport system is usually blamed for poor punctuality performance when implementing flight schedules. However, investigations have revealed that ground operations of airlines have become the second major cause of flight delay at airports. A stochastic approach is used in this paper to model the operation of aircraft turnaround and the departure punctuality of a turnaround aircraft at an airport. The aircraft turnaround model is then used to investigate the punctuality problem of turnaround aircraft. Model results reveal that the departure punctuality of a turnaround aircraft is influenced by the length of scheduled turnaround time, the arrival punctuality of inbound aircraft as well as the operational efficiency of aircraft ground services. The aircraft turnaround model proposed is then employed to evaluate the endogenous schedule punctuality of two turnaround aircraft. Model results, when compared with observation data, show that the operational efficiency of aircraft ground services varies among turnarounds. Hence, it is recommended that the improvement of departure punctuality of turnaround aircraft may be achieved from two approaches: airline scheduling control and the management of operational efficiency of aircraft ground services.


Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) are the most common form of genetic variation in humans comprising nearly 1/1,000th of the average human genome. The intelligent analysis of databases may be affected by the presence of unimportant features, which motivates the application of feature selection. In this work, we have proposed a genetic based feature selection. Genetic algorithm (GA) is a search heuristic that mimics the process of natural selection. This heuristic is routinely used to generate useful solutions to optimization and search problems. Clustering is the task of grouping a set of objects in such a way that objects in the same group are more similar to each other than to those in other groups. Bee Colony optimization (BCO) algorithm is a population-based search algorithm. It mimics the food foraging behaviour of honey bee colonies. In its basic version the algorithm performs a kind of neighbourhood search combined with global search, and can be used for both combinatorial optimization and continuous optimization. In this paper the feature selection approach Genetic clustering with BCO was successfully applied to Leukamia cancer data sets. The feature selection approach has resulted in 80% reduction in number of features. The accuracy and specificity for the significant gene/SNP set was 70% and 82%, respectively. The number of features has been considerably reduced while the quality of knowledge was enhanced.


For ground- and spaced-based applications, Ag-coated reflectors are indispensable because of their high reflectivity. The transport, assembly, and storage of these reflectors take places over a long period before they are finally commissioned for application. To endure this period without a decrease of reflectivity, protective coatings with a final layer, which offers a high resistance to aqueous solutions, and a low mechanical stress should be used. These criteria were taken into account for the selection of a final layer for a protected Ag coating, which was applied for reflectors utilized in the CRIRES+-instrument (an IR spectrograph used at the VLT). Reactively sputtered Al2O3, SiO2 and Si3N4 layers were investigated with regard to these criteria. In aqueous (alkaline) solutions, the investigated Si3N4 layers are more stable than the SiO2 layers and the SiO2 layers more stable than the Al2O3 layers. This shows the influence of the intrinsic material properties. The mechanical stress of the sputtered layers depends on the deposition conditions and thus on the selected parameters. A Si3N4 layer with a high resistance to aqueous (alkaline) solutions also offers low and stable mechanical stress. Therefore, the deposition parameters used for this layer were applied for sputtering the final layer of the protected Ag coating for the reflectors.


ABSTRACT Devolution of powers to Scotland has accentuated pre-existing divergence from the rest of the UK with respect to education, training and career guidance provision. Scotland now has an all-age national careers service—Careers Scotland. It is suggested that it is unlikely that a national, publicly-funded careers agency would have been established in the absence of devolution. The article outlines the development of career guidance in Scotland over the last 25 years and how the pre-existing Scottish context and the new context of devolution have impacted upon it. The role of Careers Scotland and its relationship with other providers of career guidance in Scotland are examined. Other key issues considered include: the allocation of resources based on need; relationships with local authorities and schools; and training and professional identities in an increasingly diverse UK guidance context.


The evolution of the cavitation zone behind the front of a converging cylindrical rarefaction wave (RW) in a layer of two-phase distilled water is investigated numerically within the IKvanW mathematical model. The process is initiated by the generation of a shock wave (SW) exponential profile by the coaxial piston in the vicinity of the axis symmetry (R = 0 mm) in the wide range of amplitudes (Umax = 40–200 m/s) and time constants of exponent (10–40 μs). SW propagates along the radius of layer and reflects from a free surface (R = 60 or 100 mm) forming RW. The analysis of influence of SW parameters (at given exponent 10 μs for all amplitudes Umax) on the state of the cavitation zone has shown that the cavitation process is smoothly intensified for each value Umax in the distance ranging from 100–40 mm. Then, it drastically increases approaching the axis (interval 40–20 mm) and reaches 3500 units of the concentration (for Umax = 200 m/s). The total concentration becomes more than 6%. It is of interest to note that a significant effect produced by the changes in the initial parameters of state and in exponents (at Umax = 100 m/s): (1)—at R0 = 1.5 μm, k0 = 10-5, the calculation for exponent 40 μs practically coincides with the results for 30 μs. Thus, the latter can be considered as a limit value for the accepted parameters of two-phase medium state (total concentration reaches 2%) and (2)—at R0 = 7 μm, k0 = 10-3, the concentration distributions increase separately for each exponent and total concentration reaches value close to 16%.The evolution of the cavitation zone behind the front of a converging cylindrical rarefaction wave (RW) in a layer of two-phase distilled water is investigated numerically within the IKvanW mathematical model. The process is initiated by the generation of a shock wave (SW) exponential profile by the coaxial piston in the vicinity of the axis symmetry (R = 0 mm) in the wide range of amplitudes (Umax = 40–200 m/s) and time constants of exponent (10–40 μs). SW propagates along the radius of layer and reflects from a free surface (R = 60 or 100 mm) forming RW. The analysis of influence of SW parameters (at given exponent 10 μs for all amplitudes Umax) on the state of the cavitation zone has shown that the cavitation process is smoothly intensified for each value Umax in the distance ranging from 100–40 mm. Then, it drastically increases approaching the axis (interval 40–20 mm) and reaches 3500 units of the concentration (for Umax = 200 m/s). The total concentration becomes more than 6%. It is of interest to n...


Classical approaches to multi-constrained routing problems generally require construction of trees and the use of heuristics to prevent combinatorial explosion. Introduced here is the notion of constrained path algebras and their application to multi-constrained path problems. The inherent combinatorial properties of these algebras make them useful for routing problems by implicitly pruning the underlying tree structures. Operator calculus (OC) methods are generalized to multiple non-additive constraints in order to develop algorithms for the multi constrained path problem and multi constrained optimization problem. Theoretical underpinnings are developed first, then algorithms are presented. These algorithms demonstrate the tremendous simplicity, flexibility and speed of the OC approach. Algorithms


Objective To explore the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the differential diagnosis of subserous myoma (SM) and ovarian fibroma.Methods CEUS was performed on 58 patients with SM and 26 patients with ovarian fibroma.The enhancement pattern was observed.The diagnostic performance was evaluated by using diagnostic test.Results SM exhibited homogeneous isoenhancement synchronously with the myometrium in early phase.In the late phase,the pseudocapsule remained hyper-enhancement with obvious membraniform sign.Some myomas showed the feeding artery from uterus.Ovarian fibroma demonstrated hyper-enhancement at the periphery portion and hypoenhancement inside.Conclusions The SM and ovarian myomas showed different enhancement patterns,which may provide us some exact information in the differential diagnosis between the two diseases.

Key words:
Ultrasonography ;  Microbubbles ;  Uterine neoplasms ;  Ovarian neoplasms;  Leigmyoma


This paper describes a technique for selecting the weighting functions of the LQGLTR formal synthesis procedure to satisfy a robust performance objective. The procedure is applied to a robust performance design problem for the longitudinal dynamics of a highly maneuverable aircraft. 1 . Introduction A major objective of feedback system design is to achieve a nominal performance specification for a given design model of the plant, and to maintain this performance over a range of expected errors between the design model and the true plant. Although no single performance specification can encompass all the relevant engineering design objectives, a reasonable compromise can be achieved by representing the basic performance specification as a bound on the weighted power spectrum of the input disturbances and performance outputs. Similarly, the errors between the design model and the true plant can often be reasonably represented with a nonparametric (unstructured uncertainty) model. In such cases, the structured singular value [Doy82] can be used to provide an exact measure of the robust performance of any given feedback system design. Since the structured singular value can be used to analyze the ability of a given design to achieve robust performance, it is reasonable to also use the structured singular value directly as the objective of the feedback system design problem. One such approach has been developed in [Doy83, Doy851. The feedback system design problem is formulated as an optimization problem, with the objective of minimizing the supremum (over all frequencies) of the structured singular value. While this approach has been successfully appEed to several problems [Doy84, SkM861, it is still experimental with many difficulties remaining to be resolved. An alternative approach to achieving a small structured singular value over all frequencies was introduced in [LoF88]. In this approach, the structured singular value objective is not optimized directly. Instead, recent results in the analysis of structured singular values are used to specify characteristics of the closed loop system transfer functions that result in good robust performance [Fre88a]. These characteristics are then translated into the design parameters that are used by the formal Linear Quadratic Gaussian/Loop Transfer Funcf on Recovery (LQGLTR) procedure: the design weighting transfer functions on the performance, disturbance and input signals. LQGLTR is then used to synthesize a candidate design. The design is again evaluated, and modified as required until the structured singular value performance objective is achieved. The design problem that is considered explicitly in this paper is one of tracking an exogenous reference signal (command following) in the presence of an unstructured multiplicative modeling error at the plant input. This design problem is a typical robust performance problem, and has been studied in the context of several different applications [DoS81, FLC82, DWS82, SLH811. It illustrates the essential features of the general robust performance problem within a more specific framework, while also providing a reasonable model for many design problems. For this problem, the characteristics of closed This work was supported at the University of Michigan by the Air Force Office of Sponsored Research under conmct number F33615-88-C-3601. James S. Freudenberg Dept. of Electrical Engrg. and Computer Science University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI loop systems which result in a small structured singular value have been identified and quantified. These characteristics will be mapped into desired open loop transfer function characteristics. The well known relationships between LQG/LTR design weighting functions and the subsequent compensated open loop transfer function (c.f. [DoS81, StA871) will be used to select design weights that achieve the required robust performance characteristics. This approach has been formally presented in [LoF88] for both the LQG and H, formal synthesis procedures. The approach will be illustrated in this paper by the design of a control system for the longitudinal dynamics of a highly maneuverable aircraft. The paper is organized as follows. Section 2 formulates the problem of robust command following with input uncertainty. Section 3 summarizes results from [Fre88a, LoF881 that define design criteria in the form of desired characteristics of the compensated loop transfer function. These design criteria are then used to develop a procedure for selecting the LQGLTR weights in Section 4. The example using these weight selections is presented in Section 5. 2 . Robust Command Following with Input Uncertainty


Tom Ford Natalia Large Python Shoulder Bag - Crafted in Italy with the finest snakeskin, it boasts an elegant flap design with glamorous gold-tone hardware.


The fact that renewal of fear can be due to a contextual mismatch between the exposure treatment context and the context where subsequent re-encountering occurs suggests that exposure does not completely remove the underlying fear associations. Conducting exposure in a context that is similar to the re-encounter context may be an effective method of attenuating renewal of fear. The current study examined the effects of context similarity using a single session in-vivo exposure in a sample of 61 moderate to high spider fearful first year psychology students at Griffith University (mean age was 25.36 years). Participants received standardised, in-vivo exposure with a golden orb spider. Fear was measured using self-report, behavioural avoidance, and heart rate measures. Four different contexts were utilised for this study with two being located indoors and two located outdoors. Self-reported fear ratings and heart rate showed that conducting exposure in contexts that are similar to subsequent re-encounter contexts attenuated renewal. This study shows how a simple modification to the exposure process can enhance the long-term cross contextual generalizability of exposure treatment in spider fearful individuals.


I should like to offer some comments on this paper. The material in the annular region 4 may well not be undeformed as is assumed but on which the author's analysis is based (3). The case when r 1 = 0 has been well investigated by Kunogi (4). Several competing modes of deformation are possible and the one to which the author has restricted himself may not be the best: for this reason he is well likely to overestimate the extrusion load. Some indication of the complexity of the process is had by studying the process mechanism in comparable plane strain processes : see problems 47,48, 50 and 56 of (5), related work in (6) and page 247 el seq. of (6). In Fig. 5 the shoulder of the extruded sleeve is shown rounded. Was this conferred by the shape of the die or was the die sharp, as at C, and indicated in Fig. lc? Kunogi's work indicated that the angle at the corner could not be held in several circumstances and accounting for this was attempted in problem 50 (4). In Section 9 the basic yield stress of the die was determined to be 600 MPa. Since steel is rapidly strain hardening and the process is one of unsteady state, how is this particular value justified? Parallel (and triangular) velocity fields were very much an innovation of Professor Kudo (3). So it is disappointing not to see the originator of the author's method mentioned, nor some of his many experimental and theoretical results made use of.


This thesis solve theoretical and practical problems about radio controled cars tyres. In the first part of thesis are solved problems around development and manufacturing of rubber compound and in secont part of thesis is solved technology of manufacturing rubber tyres for racing conditions.


Majority of health institutions in Croatia do not have medical physicists in diagnostic radiology. Regarding this, in the west region of Croatia collaboration between public health institution and University Hospital Rijeka was initiated in 2015. Quality Assurance program was implemented in these public health institutions during 2015 and 2016 and the next step was to assess patient doses for the most frequent X-ray examinations. This included five public health institutions: 1 university hospital, 1 general hospital, 1 special hospital, 2 public health institutions with 13 facilities. The aim of this study was to carry out assessment of patient doses and to establish local diagnostic reference levels of entrance surface air kerma for every institution for six most frequent X-ray examinations. Also, local diagnostic reference levels for the whole west region of Croatia were established and compared with the national diagnostic reference levels and latest published data. Median entrance surface air kerma values for thorax PA, thorax LAT, cervical spine AP, thoracic spine AP, lumbar spine AP, pelvis AP and sinuses are 0.14 mGy, 0.50 mGy, 0.52 mGy, 1.50 mGy, 2.52 mGy, 2.03 mGy, and 1.03 mGy, respectively. Diagnostic reference levels proposed for our region were comparable with other studies.


This study is purposed to summarize and highlight the activities of Lee Yong as a racial movement leader in Chinese revolution movement for the period of 1st Chinese Kuomintang-Communist collaboration ranging from 1924 to 1927, as a internationalist and a Korean reader advocating the peace and co-existence in East Asia. Although Lee Yong was recorded as a "good staff officer" in the artillery division in the Northern Expedition Force, but his military activities in Guangzhou region(廣州) in mid and late 1920s have rarely been known. Lee Yong was born as patriotic martyr Lee Jun(李儁)'s son in Bukcheong, Hamgyeongbuk-do in 1988, and was the figure greatly contributing in the Korean liberation history with his activities in the Korean liberation movement during the Japanese colonial ear and in the South-Korean Unified Government Establishment Movement. In his early days from 1910s to 1920s, Lee Yong actively engaged in armed struggle with his anti-Japanese struggles and Korean independence-achievement strategies. The route informing the fact that he had participated in the northern expedition war and the Guangzhou rebellion during the Kuomintang Revolution period(1924~1927) was the book 'Arirang' written by Kim San. After ending Siberian civil war, many Korean racial leaders having activated in Manchuria, Maritime Province, Siberia moved to the territories in Chinese jurisdiction under the common anti Japanese goal of 'overthrow of imperialism'. As a teacher in the politics department of Hwangpo Military Academy and a general of artillery division in the Dongno Force under Kukmin Revolution Force, Lee Yong participated in the Chinese Kuomin Revolution Force. He organized the Youwol Korean Revolution Association encompassing the nationalists and the communists, and exercised excellent leadership leading the Korean liberation movement leaders in Guangzhou. Since April in 1927, he fully adhered to the principle of Kuomintang-Communist collaboration with opposing Chiage Kai-Sehk's anticommunism coup d'etat. During the 3-days of Guangzhou rebellion, he took an important role as Yeop Yong's staff and a practical rebellion commander and the staff protecting the Hong Corps headquarters. Through such activities, he became emerged as a best elite military officer and a Korean leader among the Korean revolutionists having activated in Manchuria and several territories in Chinese jurisdiction, and was recognized as a leader in Korean liberation movement. Korean revolutionists' participation in Chinese revolution movements beyond the use of such Chinese civil revolutions made Korean liberation movement' activity space be expanded to the Chinese modern history, so became an importance chance making the Korean liberation movement be recognized as a part of anti-imperialism movement which was the universal trend at that time in the world history.


Vaulting horse is a weak point in our women's gymnastics. In order to change this backward situation and improve its athletic technical competence, this article give an overall plan to the women's vauiting horse training and put forward an effective training method involving, ability, technical and psychology training, etc, and give reference to coaches and team members.


Gravity's Rainbow is a monstrous book-monstrous not only in its size or in the scale of its appetites, but because it contains monsters-and until we understand exactly how these monsters inform the structure of the novel, we fail to understand it completely. Many of the monsters seem to be merely interior ones. Very early in the novel, for example, one of Pirate Prentice's first fantasies is of a giant Adenoid threatening London; a line from the movie, King Kong, heads the second section, and the ape himself is referred to several times in that section. More examples: Pointsman dreams of the Minotaur in the first section; Pig Bodine is mistaken for the Abominable Snowman in the third. None of these monsters takes on a palpably physical existence that anyone can actually confront: the Adenoid, after all, is a fantasy, and the ape, Kong, never appears. Yet I want to maintain that these references to monsters serve Pynchon as representations for something wondrous and terrifying in experience, implacably there, outside as well as inside the mind.


Computer-aided Diagnosis (CAD) deals with the use of computerized analysis of medical data for making a diagnosis. It represents a system that supports a medical expert's interpretations and findings. Traditionally, pathologists study histopathological specimen under a microscope and make judgments based on their experience. This judgment is highly subjective and is prone to considerable variability. Wrong diagnosis of cancer cases is a major problem in pathology (Metehan, 2005). In some cases, correct diagnosis is very hard and there can be 30-40% difference between pathologists' decisions. To circumvent this problem and to improve the reliability of diagnosis, it is important to develop computational tools for automation of diagnosis based on quantitative measures. Such automated diagnosis facilitates objective and reproducible judgment which is complementary to that of a pathologist. CAD system plays an important role in transforming qualitative perception to quantitative characteristics of a parameter. Also, it eliminates manual measurement over a large set of data resulting in improvement in quality through reducing inter-observer and intra-observer variations. In addition, it also improves robustness of measurements to evaluate a hypothesis.


In the vehicle fuel evaporation control system, the activated carbon canister is the core component and plays a vital role in the performance of the entire system. In this paper, a numerical simulation of the internal flow and adsorption process of an activated carbon canister used in an ORVR system was conducted to analyze the influence of the structure of the canister on the flow distribution and adsorption process. The research results showed that in the adsorption process, the flow through the activated carbon layer belonged to laminar flow, which was conducive to the full absorption of butane by activated carbon. In the desorption process, the flow velocity reached 0.05-0.09m/s. The higher flow velocity was beneficial to the desorption of the activated carbon. In the initial adsorption stage, due to the high flow velocity through the inlet, the butane concentration distribution was non-uniform, and the activated carbon under the inlet saturated faster than other positions. The activated carbon released heat during the adsorption process. The temperature at each monitor point showed a trend of fast increasing first and then slowly decreasing. The adsorption capacity of each monitor point increased significantly in the early stage of the adsorption process, while in the later stage tended to be stable. The adsorption capacity of butane was directly affected by the temperature of the activated carbon layer. The higher temperature was not conducive to the adsorption process.


Purpose
The encrypted money market has attracted the attention of investors all over the world. Among the encrypted currency, bitcoin is undoubtedly the most popular. Because blockchain technology is the crucial support of bitcoin, exploring the relationship between bitcoin and the blockchain index is necessary.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses the Granger causality test to explore the correlation between bitcoin and the blockchain index. Furthermore, their volatility is analyzed by a GARCH-class model.

Findings
The results show that no significant correlation exists between bitcoin and the blockchain index; external shocks aggravate the volatility of bitcoin and the blockchain index, and the volatility has a certain degree of sustainability; and blockchain index has obvious leverage, namely, its decline has a stronger impact.

Originality/value
The volatility of bitcoin and the blockchain index is crucial for investors.


AlAs/GaAs superlattices are proposed as a potential reference material for sputter depth profiling since, at present, AlxGa1−xAs/GaAs superlattices are grown in a defect‐free single crystalline state with atomically flat and abrupt interfaces by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. It is anticipated that such superlattices should have wide applicability for the assessment of resolution in sputter depth profiling. A preliminary round‐robin test was performed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)/Technical Committee (TC) 201 on Depth Profiling in Japan. It is clear that in all the Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) data obtained on these superlattices, the depth resolution is a constant unrelated to the sputtered depth. In the x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy data, which have a larger analyzed area, the depth resolution deteriorates with the sputtered depth, confirming that the depth resolution is affected by the analyzed area owing to the c...


The unauthorised use of recreational vehicles (trail bikes, BMX, 4WDs, mountain bikes) is a major threat to many saltmarsh communities of the Georges River, Sydney. Analysis of historical aerial photographs was undertaken to quantify the saltmarsh areas damaged by vehicle use and a field study conducted to assess the associated ecological impacts. The field study involved a comparison of vegetation, soil and invertebrate fauna parameters between undisturbed, low and high track density areas of four communities dominated by the low-growing chenopod Sarcocornia quinqueflora and two communities dominated by the taller rush Juncus kraussii.
Aerial photo analysis showed that over 21000m2 of saltmarsh has been directly impacted by vehicle use along the Georges River, with observations of vehicle use suggesting a continuing increase to this area. The field study showed that vegetation cover, soil compaction, soil moisture, and mollusc and crab distributions were all adversely affected by vehicle use. In Sarcocornia communities the impacts were most severe in areas of high track density, though single track areas also showed significant effects. Juncus communities generally showed less damage, due in part to morphological characteristics of the dominant plant species. In both community types vehicle ruts and excavations were prone to waterlogging, could alter vegetation composition and facilitate the breeding of mosquitoes and spread of mangroves. Recommendations are made for the control of vehicle use and restoration of damaged saltmarshes.


The invention is applicable in the technical field of communication, and provides an access method for internet, a system and a mobile terminal. The method comprises the following steps: when a selection instruction for an internet web in an account management application list pre-collocated by a user is received, outputting a security verification request; receiving and verifying the security verification instruction input by the user; when the security verification instruction is accurate, acquiring an account and a password corresponding to the internet web selected by the selection instruction from the pre-collocated account management application list, and inputting the account and the password to the internet web; and receiving login instruction of the user, wherein a control link enters the internet web corresponding to the account and the password, thereby effectively protecting account information and registration information of the internet web, assisting the user to memorize the account and the password, prevent the trouble when the user forgets the login account or password and facilitate the usage of the user.


PURPOSE: To provide a method for manufacturing an iron head which can move the center of gravity of the head of a club downward by employing a material that can ensure the plate to be bonded tightly to the main body of the head and has a lighter weight than the material of the plate. CONSTITUTION: Cope 4 of a first mold, cope 6 of a second mold and drag frame 3 are provided wherein the shape of the rolled side of the cope 6 of the second mold is almost similar to that of a plate 2 and the area of the rolled side is slightly larger than that of the plate 2. Further, the change of the pressure welding area and pressurization point of the mold is used to make the plate 2 deform thus making its periphery fit into a deep tank of the head main body 1 by using the first mold to perform primary rolling in respect to the plate 2 at a slightly smaller area and a pressurization point. Next, the plate 2 is made to further tightly combine with the head main body by pressing the plate sufficiently via a slightly large area and pressurization point of the second mold. Thereafter, the surface is made flat by cutting the same with a fraise, and the manufacturing process is finished via the step of engraving score line in the plate with a CNC engraving machine and the step of buff polishing.


The article considers the sector of industrial metallurgical production in the Chelyabinsk Region. A detailed study of the socio-economic indicators of the metallurgical industry across the country and in the region in particular is given. Companies' reports have been analyzed, on the basis of which the main trends and directions for further development of the metallurgical industry were determined. The authors have identified the reasons for the decline in business activity in this sphere and identified ways out of this situation. In order to overcome the influence of the identified negative factors, a need to increase the investment attractiveness of the industrial sector arises in the Chelyabinsk Region. One of the ways to achieve this global goal, as proposed by the authors, is to increase the competitiveness both of individual industrial enterprises and of the region as a whole.


Some cation-substituted and oxygen-rich compounds derived from the lanthanum copper oxide of composition La2CuO4 have been examined by measurement of the copper K-, lanthanum L3- and europium L3-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure. The results obtained from La2CuO4 are in good agreement with previously reported data and are consistent with the six-fold oxygen co-ordination of copper and nine-fold coordination by oxygen of lanthanum. The results obtained from the compound Eu2CuO4 show co-ordination numbers of four and eight for copper and europium as would be expected for a structure containing copper in a square-planar oxygen environment and europium in square antiprismatic oxygen co-ordination.The compound La2CaCu2O6 has a structure in which copper adopts a square-pyramidal oxygen environment whilst the lanthanum atoms are found to be in nine-fold oxygen co-ordination. The oxygen co-ordination of lanthanum and copper in the high-temperature superconductors La1.85Sr0.15CuO4 and La2CuO4.13 is similar to that in La2CuO4. The results obtained from La2CuO4.4 formed by treatment of La2CuO3.6 in oxygen in a thermal analyser are consistent with the formation of an Eu2CuO4-type structure.


In this paper, a performance analysis of a wireless sensor network (WSN) node based on a thermoelectric generator was performed using a one-dimensional SPICE-compatible equivalent model. Combinations of four miniature commercial thermoelectric modules used as generators and three heatsinks made of dissimilar materials and having different geometries were considered for the WSN node. Based on the simulation results, the power delivered to the load, cold boot time, efficiency, and maximum application temperature were analyzed.


It has become well recognized that affective dimensions of language constitute an integral part of the linguistic system. Japanese provides a prime example of the significance of emotivity as it has grammaticalized a wide variety of expressions to communicate affective information. The collected articles demonstrate the rich diversity of emotive communication in Japanese and analyze various expressions with theoretical perspectives that are often independent from Western models. This volume reflects the influence of traditional Japanese scholars for whom examining affective-relational aspects of language has long been a central concern. The authors are also influenced by more recent scholars in Japanese pragmatics such as Kuno, Kamio, and Maynard. They also draw on anthropological notions used to describe Japanese society.


Exciton dynamics in the B850 and B875 bands of isolated complexes of Rhodopseudomonas acidophila (strain 10 050 and 7050) and in the B875 band of isolated complexes of Rhodobium marinumwere investigated by means of accumulated photon echo and pump-probe techniques at different temperatures and wavelengths. For all three systems, the optical dephasing time T2 was found to be very similar: at 4.2 K, T2 is 116 and 106 ps for the B850 and B875 bands of Rhodopseudomonas acidophila , respectively, and 93 ps for the B875 band of Rhodobium marinum . The rapid dephasing, which displays glassy character, is a consequence of the strong pigment-protein interactions that arise through the rather short distances in these complexes. The observed dephasing time at the red edge of the B850 band of Rhodopseudomonas acidophilaat 4.2 K reveals the existence of spectral diffusion in this system. From the wavelength dependence of the pump-probe signal in the B875 LH1 band of Rhodopseudomonas acidophila at 3Ki t isconcluded that energy transfer between energetically inequivalent LH1 rings occurs on a time scale of several tens picoseconds, while energy trapping takes place in about 250 ps.


The industrial agriculture model faces a great deal of criticism nowadays, most of all because of its external effects. Also its driving forces run out. This model is replaced by the sustainable agriculture model, which takes account of the limitations of natural resources, external costs and public good as well as social and economic objectives. Development of agriculture according to the sustainable agriculture model requires that the market mechanism be supplemented with the institutional (political) mechanism. This mechanism is developed within the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union. The model of sustainable agriculture corresponds to the new agricultural economics - a changed economic account covering, in addition to market "items", other elements related to external costs and public goods created by agriculture. The globalisation process shifts the problems of agriculture to the global level, giving them new dynamics and strongly influencing agriculture in individual countries. External forces determine to a growing extent the functioning of agriculture, whereas the role of the institutional (political) factor is reduced, since globalisation in the political field lags behind the globalisation in the economy. The above mentioned factors exert their influence on the development of agriculture, adversely affecting the sustainable agriculture model.


Introduction Elastomers, because of their inherent resiliency, are capable of providing excellent sealing for connections in piping, pumps, and processing equipment in general. Different types of elastomers, however, exhibit significantly different degrees of resistance to heat and chemicals, and choosing the correct elastomer for a given sealing application is critical for obtaining the best possible performance. Ethylene-propylene rubber (EPDM), for example, exhibits excellent resistance to water and steam, but provides very poor resistance to many aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. Conversely, silicone rubber (VMQ) exhibits acceptable resistance to many hydrocarbons, but has relatively poor resistance to steam.


Sickle cell anemia is characterized by damage and change of hemoglobin to an HBSS that does not allow adequate oxygen exchange and stimulates tissue damage due to lack of cell laxity. It is estimated that 300,000 children with FA were born worldwide in 2010. In Ecuador there is no indexed data on sickle cell anemia so far, so the present work in an analytical, observational, indirect, and retrospective way aims to determine what is the incidence and the clinical profile it presents. With a total of 78 cases, 55% were men, average age of 8.17 years, with a BMI Low of 45%, and 49% of residence in rural sectors. 3% were black and HBSS 96% (electrophoresis), the main reason for anemia in 40% of cases.


This study extends the privacy calculus by a social perspective building on interpersonal communication theory along with the act of perspective-taking in the Social Networking Sites context. Based on a two-step study, we provide evidence for the presence of perspective-taking in self-disclosure decisions using a qualitative approach and empirically test the influence of anticipated perceptions for others on subsequent selfdisclosure decisions among 231 Facebook users. Our results show that SNS users are less egoistic as typically assumed by the privacy calculus model guided by an intrapersonal tradeoff between own benefits and concerns. Users are tensed between their pleasure of self-enhancement and others' anticipated perception caused by their own behavior. However, although users think about the relevance of their message for others, their concern about others' negative affect is self-focused as it does not directly relate to selfdisclosure intent. It is mediated by a fear of being negatively evaluated by others.


This introduction surveys the various functions of analogies in science, medicine and technology. The focus is on their heuristic importance. The productiveness of analogies is linked to the systematic depth and breadth of the established connections. Various examples are presented from different periods in the history of science, most notably GAULEO; such late-Victorian Maxwellians as George Francis FITZGERALD and Oliver LODGE; and Heinrich HERTZ and Niels BOHR. These examples are examined in terms of the specific differing temporal ranges of their claimed validities. They serve as evidence or counterevidence for various systematic analyses of analogies as put forward by various philosophers of science, most notably Francis BACON, John Stuart MILL, Ernst MACH, Harald HOFFDING, Ernest NAGEL, Mary HESSE and Peter ACHINSTEIN. The analytic framework for analogies supported here is what the cognitive scientist Dedre GENTNER has termed structure-mapping.


Degradation kinetics for the treatment of straw paper wastewater in an activated sludge process have been studied and a kinetic model has been derived for both batch and continuous experiments. These two methods are reasonably equivalent only when rather low concentrations of substrate are involved. In other cases batch and continuous results are quite different. Both models, however, show a dependence upon concentration corresponding to that which is typical of multicomponent substrate degradation. The kinetic model derived from continuous tests appears to be more suitable for designing industrial processes in that it avoids oversizing of the aeration unit.


In order to solve the problem of field information collecting and processing in precision agriculture,a system was built for field information collecting and processing based on Mapobjects.The DGPS was used to collect field information combined with Mapobjects and VB.Also it provided a visual way by image processing in Mapobjects for the management and analysis of field information already obtained.A new way of field information collecting and processing for the development of precision agriculture are put forward.


Reconstruction surgeries for malignant soft tissue tumors challenges many surgeons and orthopedic centers. Few cases of triceps brachii leiomyosarcoma reconstruction have been described. There are tunneling techniques already described by other authors. This study aims to report a case of oncological reconstruction of the triceps brachii using the large Latissimus Dorsi flap in a 60 years-old male patient with leiomyosarcoma in the triceps brachii. The patient achieved full recovery of triceps brachii function after eight weeks. The microsurgical options could be helpful in the management and reconstruction of the leiomyosarcomas in patients without limb amputation indication.


A method for automatically evaluating the quality of document page segmentation algorithms is described. Page segmentation involves decomposing a page into its structural and logical units such as paragraphs, halftones, captions and tables. These units are then ordered and logically associated. These two steps are very important in a document recognition strategy. Many di erent techniques have been proposed in literature to segment document pages, but since no robust method to benchmark them is available, it is impossible to evaluate them reliably. Our proposed page segmentation benchmarking strategy is a region-based approach, in which segmentation results are compared with manually generated "ground truth les", containing a synthetic description of all possible correct segmentations. It is described in detail and we give a set of guidelines to generate ground truth les and propose a general format to represent them. The algorithm is simple and fast, and provides a multi-level output for each segmentation, from the page level to the region level.


Precision Agriculture (PA) technologies can enhance the productivity of irrigated agriculture in Arizona. This guide is intended to aid growers in selecting the right technology when considering the need to acquire new, or upgrade existing equipment. It is expected that growers will adopt new technology only when it solves a problem in an economical way, therefore consultation with your local machinery dealer is a key step in being informed on issues such as cost, service, infrastructure requirements, and compatibility between components, systems, brands, etc.


We report on the investigation of the nonlinear refractive index in femtosecond laser written waveguide arrays in fused silica. The nonlinear refractive index is significantly reduced compared to the unmodified material. Due to the dependence of the processing parameters the effective nonlinearity in such waveguide structures can be tuned. This offers additional flexibility in the design of nonlinear devices.


The article describes lobbyism in different interpretations of policy and science and presents theoretical aspects of lobbying activities. A variety of interpretations of lobbying in foreign and Russian scientific literature is analysed. Forms and methods of lobbying are syown and the most popular models of domestic and foreign lobbying practices are dscribed. Special attention is paid to the lobbying as political and economic institution whose uncontrolled activity leads to abuses in power and in economy.


By the ordered tree inclusion we will check whether a pattern tree P can be included in a target tree T, where the order of siblings in both P and T matters. This problem has many applications in practice, such as retrieval of documents, data mining, and RNA structure matching. In this paper, we propose an efficient algorithm for this problem. Its time complexity is bounded by ${\text{O}(\vert }T\vert \cdot \;min\{h_{P}{,\;\vert \text{leaves(}}P)\vert \})$O(|T|·min{hP,|leaves(P)|}), with ${\text{O}(\vert }T\vert + \vert P\vert)$O(|T|+|P|) space being used, where hP (hT) represents the height of P (resp., T) and leaves (P) stands for the set of the leaves of P. Up to now the best algorithm for this problem needs $\Theta (\vert T\vert \cdot \vert leaves(P)\vert)$Θ(|T|·|leaves(P)|) time and ${\text{O}(\vert }P\vert + \vert T\vert)$O(|P|+|T|) space. Extensive experiments have been done, which show that the new algorithm can perform much better than the existing ones in practice.


Multilayer cutting is widely used in finish machining process of thin-walled parts to improve the machining precision. The paper presents a cutting allowance optimization method using genetic algorithm to improve the machining quality and efficiency of thin-walled parts in the field of aerospace. Considering the coupling relationship of the deformation between the layers in layered milling, the parameterized finite element model of thin-walled parts in side milling process is established. The best relationship between the workpiece stiffness and the cutting force is determined though iterative calculations, and the deformation caused by the cutting force can be minimized. The results show that the optimized distribution of the depth of finishing cutting was better than the experience. The method proposed in this paper can reduce the deformation of the workpiece during the machining process, and thus improve the machining accuracy.


Abstract This paper presents a constant mass high pressure isothermal calorimeter and describes the range of applications that this type of equipment can deal with. As an example, the thermophysical properties of an aqueous solution of MgSO4 at low temperature and at high pressure have been investigated. The main results showed that the phase change heat of the solution decreased with increasing pressure and the phase change temperature of the eutectic concentration was depressed under high pressure. Those changes could be related to the MgSO4 solubility and to water latent heat changes.


The present invention relates to a method for producing superconducting coils (1) having the steps of providing a substrate (2) and applying a superconducting material in the form of at least one coil onto the substrate. The application of the superconducting material is performed by at least one coating method directly on the substrate. Winding coated flat wires can be dispensed with. Furthermore, the present invention comprises a superconducting apparatus comprising a superconducting coil (1) produced in accordance with the method.


This paper presents the supply chain management with life cycle approach and direction of improving sustainable supply chain management. The main aim of this paper is to implicate of life cycle perspective across the supply chain, to show importance of this concept. This paper provides an overview of the current status of sustainability assessment methodology and its applicability for extended supply chain. Life cycle approaches to supply chain and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for improving sustainable supply chain were developed in this paper.


Telecommuting, which is the performance of work at home or at a center close to home using telecommunications, has attracted growing interest among planners and researchers as a strategy for reducing traveldemand. This paper investigates the potential of telecommuting as a trip reduction measure, using data obtained from a telecommuting pilot project involving State of California government employees. In this pilot project, a three-day trip diary was administered, before and after telecommuting began, to telecommuters, a control group, and driving-age household members of both groups. A sample of 219 "stayers" is analyzed in this paper. Findings include: telecommuting leads to a substantial reduction in trip generation, vehicle-miles traveled, peak period travel, car use, and freeway travel. It does not lead to an increase in non-work trips.


Single‐unit and gross potential responses to speech can now be recorded at virtually any level of the auditory nervous system desired. It may be useful at this time to review what is known, what is foreseeable in the immediate future, and what appears to be feasible with the present state of technology. This presentation will focus on conceptual and methodological issues. The time seems appropriate for speech scientists in general, and certainly phoneticians in particular, to participate in the analysis of how the brain processes complex acoustic signals such as speech. [Supported in part by NIH grants.]


A novel semi-crystalline polyhydroxyether, poly(hydroxyether ketone) (PHEK), was synthesized via the direct polycondensation between 4,4-dihydroxybenzophenone and epichlorohydrin. By means of Fourier transform infrared and NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC), the structure of PHEK was characterized. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXRD) show that PHEK is a semi-crystalline polymer with a high rate of crystallization. The polymer possesses a glass transition temperature of 109 °C and a melting temperature of 239 °C. When 4,4′-isopropylidenediphenol was used as a second bisphenol and was added to copolymerize with a stoichiometric amount of epichlorohydin, a series of polyhydroxyether copolymers were obtained. The copolymers with various compositions were characterized by means of NMR, GPC, WAXRD and DSC. It was found that the crystallinity of the copolymers dramatically decreased with increasing content of 4,4′-isopropylidenediphenol. The glass transition temperatures of the copolymers are intermediate between those of PHEK and the poly(hydroxyether of bisphenol A) and decreased with increasing content of 4,4′-isopropylidenediphenol. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry


The present study was conducted to find out the harmful effect of exposure to monosodium glutamate(MSG) on laboratory animal weight, hematological and biochemical parameters on rats of 10 -15 weeksold and weight of 100-200 g. Whereas, this study was conducted in the Basic Sciences Branch - College ofNursing - University of Warith Alanbiyaa From 11/1/2019 to 2/1/2020, the animals were divided into fourgroupsG 1- Control The first group controlG 2- MSG (1.8mg / kg) Group IIG 3 - MSG (1.8 mg / kg) + omega-3 (0.8 mg / kg) Group IIIG 4 - MSG (1.8 mg / kg) + omega-3 (1.2 mg / kg) Group IVWhere the four groups were fed according toThe above distribution is according to the concentrations in each group effect of MSG at one oral low doseof 1.8 mg/g body wt. on liver and kidney functions in albino rats. The possible protective effect of omega3 (at oral dose of 0.8 mg/g body wt.) (at oral dose of 1.2 mg/g body wt.) against MSG induced hepatic andrenal stress was also investigated of mono-sodium glutamate for 30 days.The results showed a significant decrease (p <0.05) in blood parameters, including RBC count 5.1 ±0.7 andconcentration of PCV: 14.5 ±0.33, MCH: 34.5 ± 2.77, MCV: 96.5 ±3.21, MCHC: 34.0 ± 0.89. Comparedwith the control group indicating anemia in MSG treated animals.There was a significant increase in the biochemical parameters (AST: 216 ± 14.8, ALT 3.6 ± 0.40, ALP144.75± 6.55). And also in the Urea - Creatinine kidney standardsWhich represents the liver function in animals treated with monosodium glutamate compared with thecontrol group, despite a significant increase (P <0.05) in the level of urea 2.70 ± 0.07 and creatinine 0.098 ±0.005 in the blood in the animal treated with MSG compared with the control group.


The Next Generation Concrete Surface (NGCS) is the most recent new concrete texture introduced in the past 20 to 30 years. It was conceived as a manufactured texture whose properties are consistent and predictable and represents the quietest non-porous concrete texture developed to date. At the time of construction, the NGCS is typically 99 dBA in noise level and has a typical range up to 102 dBA over time. The NGCS has been in service for 9 years and has been constructed in 15 states.


Di-isobutylaluminum hydride and tri-iso-butylaluminum (DIBAL 1, TIBAL 2) are shown to be efficient hydrogenation catalysts for a variety of imines at 100 °C and 100 atm of H2, operating via a hydroalumination/hydrogenolysis mechanism.


Verification is a critical component of the development and use of forecasting systems. Ideally, verification should play a role in monitoring the quality of forecasts, provide feedback to developers and forecasters to help improve forecasts, and provide meaningful information to forecast users to apply in their decisionmaking processes. In addition, as noted by Mahoney et al. (2002) forecast verification can help to identify differences among forecasts. Finally, because forecast quality is intimately related to forecast value, albeit through relationships that are sometimes quite complex, verification has an important role to play in assessments of the value of particular types of forecasts (Murphy 1993). In recent years forecasting approaches have become more complex and have been applied on finer scales. Unfortunately, traditional approaches for the verification of spatial forecasts, including QPFs and convective forecasts, are inadequate to meet current needs. Typically, verification techniques have been based on simple grid overlays in which the forecast grid is matched to an observation grid or set of observation points. From these overlays, counts of forecast/observation (Yes/No) pairs are computed, to complete the standard 2x2 contingency table. The counts in this table can be used to compute a variety of verification measures and skill scores, such as the Probability of Detection (POD), False Alarm Ratio (FAR), Critical Success Index (CSI), and Equitable Threat Score (ETS) (e.g., Doswell et al. 1990; Wilks 1995). An important concern associated with use of this approach is that it is difficult to diagnose particular errors in the forecasts to provide meaningful information that can be used to improve the forecasts or provide guidance to forecast users.


The design,trial production and tests of the ±800 kV post porcelain insulator for D.C.system was introduced.Based on service features the product design was optimized,consisting of 6 porcelain units connected with bolts and cemented with flanges by high strength cement.The porcelain sheds are of alternative profile without arris under umbrella.Calculation shows that the post insulator column can withstand 9th scale in respect of seismic resistance.


This study was carried out to investigated optimum mixing ratio of Korean natural Acer tegmentosum for production of functional oyster mushroom. Total nitrogen and carbon sources of Acer tegmentosum were 0.2% and 44.4%, respectively and C/N ratio was 234. Total nitrogen source and pH of substrate mixed with Acer tegmentosum were 2.7~2.9 and 4.8~5.0, respectively. The contents of , and MgO at Acer tegmentosum media were higher than that of the control. Mycerial growth was the fastest at Acer tegmentosum 10%, and slower by increase of Acer tegmentosum substrate. Yields of fruiting body was the highest to 159 g/850 mL at 10% of Acer tegmentosum and dimeter and thick of pileus were the highest, too. The L value of pileus and stipes were decreased by increase of Acer tegmentosum substrate, but there was no significant difference in the a-value and the b-value. The contents of and of fruiting body were increased at Acer tegmentosum substrate, but there was no significant difference in contents of CaO, MgO and .


The Essential Vitality Program blends holistic nursing, functional medicine, and health coaching to promote lifestyle changes that modify risk factors of costly chronic disease. Karl is a client who experienced enhanced vitality, decreased chronic pain and medications use, and improved meaningful functioning, by partnering with a holistic nurse coach.


The 2018-2019 drought in northwestern Europe caused severe damage to a wide range of sectors, and has made clear that even in temperate-climate countries adaptations are needed to cope with increasing future drought frequencies. A crucial component of drought strategies is to monitor the status of groundwater resources. However, providing up-to-date assessments of regional groundwater drought development remains challenging due to the limited quality of available data. We set up a time series modelling-based method for data preparation to map the spatiotemporal development of the 2018-2019 groundwater drought in the southeastern Netherlands, based on a large amount of monitoring data. The data preparation method was evaluated for its usefulness and reliability for groundwater drought studies and prediction. The analysis showed that the 2018-2019 meteorological drought caused extreme groundwater drought throughout the southeastern Netherlands, breaking 30-year records almost everywhere. Drought onset and duration were strongly variable in space. Groundwater drought development appeared to be governed dominantly by the spatial distribution of rainfall and the geologicaltopographic setting. The time series modelling-based data preparation method was found a useful tool for the given situation to enable a detailed, consistent record of groundwater drought development. The time series simulations were generally found to be reliable; however, the use of time series simulations rather than direct measurement series may bias drought estimations especially at a local scale, and underestimate spatial variability. Finally, time series modelling was also found a promising tool for regional-scale drought nowcasting and prediction. Further development of time-series based validation and simulation methods, combined with accessible and consistent monitoring data, will be valuable to enable better groundwater drought monitoring in the future.


A 59-year-old male was reviewed at an outpatient infectious diseases clinic for investigation of several nodular cutaneous lesions involving his right leg ([Fig. 1][1], left). The skin lesions had been present for approximately 10 months at the time of assessment. They were predominantly located


A 24 degree-of-freedom full vehicle-driving simulator is proposed in this paper. The simulator provides a full immersive graphical virtual scenery and force/motion feedback cues for the driver. The simulator has been developed to provide an open architecture in a local network environment. Using Matlab/Simulink one can interface with the vehicle model through this environment, designing and testing vehicle sub models while evaluating the ride performance of the vehicle. The development and implementation of a rollover detection and warning system is discussed, to illustrate the application of the driving simulator.


Purpose To investigate the morphology of corneal caps in femtosecond laser small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and its relation to the refractive outcomes. Methods A prospective study of fifty-four corneal caps created with VisuMax femtosecond laser were examined using an Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 6 months after SMILE. The cap thickness at nine points on each of the four meridians (0°, 45°, 90°, 135°) and the diameter were measured. Cap morphology, changes over time and its correlation with refractive outcomes were assessed. Results The mean achieved central cap thickness were (108.74±5.06) µm at 6 months and (107.32±4.81 ) µm at 1 month postoperatively, significantly thinner than that at 1 day (110.81±7.95) µm and 1 week (109.58±7.48 ) µm (P<0.05). The mean diameter on 0° meridian was (7.61±0.07) mm, significantly larger than that on 90° meridian (7.57±0.06) mm (P = 0.001). Cap morphology showed good regularity, except that the differences of points in two pairs were significant at 1 day postoperatively. The uniformity was consistent over time and the central cap thickness was thinner than those in the paracentral and peripheral areas. The refractive outcomes stabilized within 1 month. Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was correlated to the central cap thickness at 1 day and 1 week (both rs = 0.33, p<0.05). The uniformity index was correlated with UDVA (rs = 0.34, p<0.05) and corrected distance visual acuity (rs = 0.32, p<0.05) at 1 week postoperatively. Conclusions Corneal caps of SMILE are predictable with good reproducibility, regularity and uniformity. Cap morphology might have a mild effect on refractive outcomes in the early stage. Further study should focus on the impact on the visual quality.


This paper addresses the issue of the blind extraction of a second-order cyclostationary source drowned by an unknown number of interferences and additive noise. It first reviews two recently developed methods based respectively on a subspace decomposition of the observed signals via their cyclic statistics and on multiple cyclic regression (MCR). It then proposes a unifying and refined approach using reduced-rank cyclic regression (RRCR) which combines the respective advantages of the two previous methods and suppresses their drawbacks. It also reveals that unlike the classical MCR technique, the power of the additive noise at the output of RRCR does not depend neither on the number of frequency shifts used in the regression nor on the number of available measured signals. This property is verified by means of simulations where the behaviour of all the methods with respect to many parameters is compared. RRCR is finally applied to the diagnostics of bearings and gears where it is shown to achieve a very good extraction of fault signatures.


Multitarget track correlation is to deal with the data points that are pumped into extrapolating computer, and distinguish the useful points from others. With the help of doppler echo, the radar can easily track target in range dimension. Based on an experimental passive coherent radar system, this paper presents an algorithm to implement multitarget track correlation using doppler-range coordinate, and gives experimental results.


In the late 1980's, it was shown that the Casson invariant appears in the difference between the two filtrations of the Torelli group: the lower central series and the Johnson filtration. This was interpreted as the secondary characteristic class $d_1$ associated with the fact that the first MMM class vanishes on the Torelli group. It is a rational generator of $H^1(\mathcal{K}_g;\mathbb{Z})^{\mathcal{M}_g}\cong\mathbb{Z}$ where $\mathcal{K}_g$ denotes the Johnson subgroup of the mapping class group $\mathcal{M}_g$. Then Hain proved, as a particular case of his fundamental result, that this is the only difference in degree 2. In this paper, we prove that no other invariant than the above gives rise to new rational difference between the two filtrations up to degree 6. We apply this to determine $H_1(\mathcal{K}_g;\mathbb{Q})$ explicitly by computing the description given by Dimca, Hain and Papadima. We also show that any finite type rational invariant of homology 3-spheres of degrees up to 6, including the second and the third Ohtsuki invariants, can be expressed by $d_1$ and lifts of Johnson homomorphisms.


It is widely held that the next major breakthroughs in cancer treatment will be made by properly amassing, analyzing and utilizing existing and emerging "big data." To date there is no single vehicle that integrates the data available, and of those being developed, none that put patient needs and outcomes as primary foci [1]. CancerBase, released as part of the Cancer Moonshot launch in June 2016, fills this space [2]. It is a global, real-time data collection tool designed by and for patients.


New Advances in Synchronization of Digital Communication Receivers. (December 2003) Yan Wang, B.S., Peking University, P.R. China; M.S., Beijing University of Posts & Telecommunications, P.R. China Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Erchin Serpedin Synchronization is a challenging but very important task in communications. In digital communication systems, a hierarchy of synchronization problems has to be considered: carrier synchronization, symbol timing synchronization and frame synchronization. For bandwidth efficiency and burst transmission reasons, the former two synchronization steps tend to favor non-data aided (NDA or blind) techniques, while in general, the last one is usually solved by inserting repetitively known bits or words into the data sequence and is referred to as a data-aided (DA) approach. Over the last two decades, extensive research work has been carried out to design nondata-aided timing recovery and carrier synchronization algorithms. Despite their importance and spread use, most of the existing blind synchronization algorithms are derived in an ad-hoc manner without exploiting optimally the entire available statistical information. In most cases their performance is evaluated by computer simulations; rigorous and complete performance analysis has not been performed yet. It turns out that a theoretical oriented approach is indispensable for studying the limit or bound of algorithms and for comparing different methods. The main goal of this dissertation is to develop several novel signal processing frameworks that enable one to analyze and improve the performance of the existing timing recovery and carrier synchronization algorithms. As byproducts of this analy-


A field study was carried out for two cropping periods in the first season in year 2014 and the second season in 2015. This study was carried out at "share farm", Agrotechnology Plantation UiTM Melaka, Campus Jasin to examine the efficacy of selected insecticides against whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) on brinjal crops and the effect on natural enemies (Spider) under field conditions. Five treatments with four replications were applied. The treatments were T0= Control (water), T1= Imidacloprid (Confidor), T2= Acetamiprid (Mospilan), T3= Dinotefuran (Oshin) and T4= Cyantraniliprole (Benevia). Pre-treatment and post-treatment observation were recorded which is one day before application and 1, 3, 7 and 14 days after application of insecticides. A total of two applications of treatments were done. The results revealed that Imidacloprid was recorded as the most effective and the highest reduction of whiteflies during the first season with 96.73%, followed by Acetamiprid (92.44%), Cyantraniliprole (82.65%) and Dinotefuran (80.74%) while during the second season, Imidacloprid also was recorded as the highest reduction with 79.99%, followed by Acetamiprid (76.34%), Cyantraniliprole (54.09%) and Dinotefuran (36.87%). Overall, chemical control of Imidacloprid was the most effective against whiteflies populations in brinjal particularly in the first season as compared to second season. The effect of these selected insecticides on natural enemies (Spider) revealed that chemical control of Imidacloprid gave the highest reduction of spider with 65.69%), followed by Cyantraniliprole (64.47%), Acetamiprid (41.44%) and Dinotefuran (15.45%). Imidacloprid and Cyantraniliprole were classified as moderately harmful to spider while Acetamiprid and Dinotefuran were classified as harmless or slightly harmful.


The electrocatalytic oxidation of aliphatic alcohols in alkaline solutions at a nickel-based chemically modified glassy carbon electrode (Ni-CME) was investigated. The electrode was characterized by voltammetry and flow injection and applied for amperometric detection of mono- and polyhydric alcohols separated by liquid chromatography. A mechanistic electrooxidation model is proposed that involves a Langmuir-type adsorption process on different sites: NiO and NiOOH for polyhydric and monohydridic compounds, respectively. The process is followed by a hydrogen abstraction from the carbon α to the OH group through a radical pathway in the rate-determining step


A simple circuit for measuring the phase difference between alternating waves with lead-lag indication is proposed. The circuit is capable of measuring phases between zero and 180° over a wide range of input frequencies and hence can be used in power and communication systems.


Several studies were conducted to evaluate commercially available visual signal warning devices as a means of improving the noticeability of motorcycles and riders during daylight conditions. Active lighting systems including revolving lights, prisms, reflectors, and strobes were analyzed. Field data were obtained by mounting a test device on the motorcycle's front fender and then interviewing motorists who passed the motorcycle as it attempted to enter traffic from a side street intersection. Results indicated only 15 to 25% of motorists noticed the motorcycle without a device and that a small, low intensity device on the fender was of no value in improving comspicuity. Two larger, higher intensity devices were selected for subsequent field study, and noticeability was improved over 300% when using either device. /Author/


The three-dimensional Poisson processes model recently has been used in acoustic reverberation from the ocean volume, surface and bottems. In this study the 3D Poisson pro - cess rms, average number of envelope peaks, amplitude pdf and peak amplitude pdf are investigated more throughly than before, using simulated data. A general empirical curves relating target density with the average number of envelope peaks and with rms are found and it is concluded that the average number of envelope peak, and rms are more useful for the estimation of target density, indipendent of the target reflectivity distribution and, as expected, the envelope peak amplitude pdf, is found to be more useful for the estimation of the target reflectivity distributions.


A piezoelectric paper based on BaTiO3 (BTO) nanoparticles and bacterial cellulose (BC) with excellent output properties for application of nanogenerators (NGs) is reported. A facile and scalable vacuum filtration method is used to fabricate the piezoelectric paper. The BTO/BC piezoelectric paper based NG shows outstanding output performance with open‐circuit voltage of 14 V and short‐circuit current density of 190 nA cm−2. The maximum power density generated by this unique BTO/BC structure is more than ten times higher than BTO/polydimethylsiloxane structure. In bending conditions, the NG device can generate output voltage of 1.5 V, which is capable of driving a liquid crystal display screen. The improved performance can be ascribed to homogeneous distribution of piezoelectric BTO nanoparticles in the BC matrix as well as the enhanced stress on piezoelectric nanoparticles implemented by the unique percolated networks of BC nanofibers. The flexible BTO/BC piezoelectric paper based NG is lightweight, eco‐friendly, and cost‐effective, which holds great promises for achieving wearable or implantable energy harvesters and self‐powered electronics.


The objective of the study is to examine the 90-day readmission rate and identify the predictors for 90-day readmissions at a geriatric ward in a tertiary hospital in Singapore. A secondary analysis of case–control data was performed. Data of patients discharged from a geriatric ward between January 2015 and January 2016 were retrieved from an existing data set. Out of 564 index admissions involving older adults, the 90-day geriatric readmission rate was 10.1%. Activities of daily living dependency (odds ratio [OR]: 0.988, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.978, 0.999]) and living with the spouse (OR: 2.988, 95% CI: [1.388, 6.432]) were identified as significant predictors of 90-day geriatric readmissions. The study suggests that rehabilitation to restore the geriatric patient's ability to perform daily activities and adequate caregiver training for the spouse are essential in reducing geriatric readmissions. Also, postdischarge follow-up with both the patient and caregiver can greatly reduce the risk of readmission in geriatric patients.


In this paper, we study the boundary value problem consisting of the higher-order fractional differential equation (−1) ( D 0+ )m u = f(t, u), 0 < t < 1, and the boundary conditions


The survey reports the analysis of adaptiveness of college student to multimedia assisted College English teaching and learning with SPSS13.0 based on a case study of 208 college students.The research interests in the learners' information literacy,learning resources,learning style,learning field,learning strategies,learning evaluation and management.However,it turns out that college students tend to be inadaptive to learning style and strategies with MACETL.As a conclusion,some discussion focusing on the learning strategies is argued in the report.


Objectives:To investigate and compare the antimicrobial resistance of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University.Methods:Antimicrobial susceptibility of clinical isolates from 1999 to 2003 were tested by Kirby-Bauer method.Extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were detected by method recommended by NCCLS.Results:The most common Enterobacteriaceae were Escherichia coli,Klebsiella pneumoiae,Enterobacter cloacae,Proteus and Serratia.The analysis on antimicrobial resistance showed that imipenem was the most active compounds tested against Enterobacteroaceae,followed by cefoperazone/sulbactam and cefepime,which all the resistant rates were less than 20%.Ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin exhibited good antimicrobial activities except Escherichia coli.The incidence of ESBLs in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae gradually increased in the study period,which increased from 9.7% and 18.4% in 1999 to 26.3% and 33.9% in 2003 respectively.The resistant rates of ESBLs-producing strains to cefotaxime were higher than those to ceftazidime.Conclusion:Resistance surveillance not only helps to use antimicrobial agents rationally but also benefits to control the spread of resistant strains.


In vehicle-to-pedestrian impact accidents, the lower limb is the most commonly injured body part. The current regulation used the pedestrian legform test method to assess the pedestrian leg protection performance, which imposed new design requirements for vehicle front end. In order to better understand the effects of vehicle front end structures on the pedestrian legform peak acceleration, a stiffness-based method was proposed, which gave an overall consideration to the geometrical and stiffness variables of vehicle bumper, spoiler and bonnet leading edge structures. A series of 24 finite element simulations were conducted to investigate the correlation between the total stiffness and design variables of the vehicle front-end. By comparing the total stiffness and the local stiffness of front-end structures, the effects of front-end design variables on the legform peak acceleration could be obtained, which help engineers rapidly find the solution to vehicle design improvement.


In this paper, a new algorithm for multiple digital watermarking is proposed that is based on the combination of lifting wavelet transform (LWT) and discrete cosine transform (DCT) then Arnold transformation for encryption purpose is used. Multiple watermarks are embedded to avoid the chances of identity theft. The algorithm comprises of two parts, watermark embedding and watermark extraction. In embedding part, the cover image is decomposed into four sub bands by applying second level LWT. Low frequency sub bands LL2 and LH2 are then transformed by DCT. Two image watermarks are also transformed using DCT then one of the transformed watermark is again transformed using Arnold and its resultant is known as encrypted watermark. Encrypted watermark is embedded to LL2 sub band and normal DCT transformed to LH2 sub band. Extraction of watermark is performed using extraction algorithm. Watermarked image is subjected to various attacks to check the robustness of the algorithm. Experimental results are provided to demonstrate that the algorithm provides good results.


Abstract A series of highly dispersed bismuth molybdate series catalyst, BixPMo12Oy(x=l~8, y = 40~ 61) , were prepared from 12-molybdophospho-ric acid under acidic condition. By means of IR and XRD, we found that the basic composition of the catalysts was a-Bi2Mo3O12/MoO3, and the activity for oxidation of propane was ascribed to the co- effect of a- Bi2Mo3O12 and MoO3 probably.


Mandibular arteriovenous malformation is a rare vascular anomaly characterized by an abnormal connection of the arterial and venous vasculature, without capillary connections, in the mandibular area, commonly presenting with minor gingival bleeding, dental loosening, lower lip numbness, facial deformity and malocclusion. T his usually high-flow vascular malformation may also present with potentially life-threatening, spontaneous, or tooth extraction-induced, hemorrhagic shock. Qeios · Definition, February 10, 2020


Mg5Nb4TiO17 ceramic was prepared by the conventional solid-state route for the first time and its microwave dielectric properties were investigated. The crystal structure and microstructure were analyzed using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy techniques. With increasing sintering temperature, the dielectric constant (εr) and quality factor (Q×f) increased firstly and then decreased, while the τf nearly unchanged. Mg5(NbTi)4O15-MgNb2O6 composite ceramics sintered at 1200 oC exhibits microwave dielectric properties of εr=15.1, Q×f=34,266.6 GHz (at 8.5GHz), τf=-63.8 ppm/oC.


This paper focuses on space- and time-resolved crack detection in concrete structures by combining photogrammetric techniques with acoustic emission analysis. For the photogrammetric measurements, the surface of reinforced concrete members is textured with a random pattern. A consumer-grade digital camera is used to observe the region of interest during the loading tests. In a sequence of images, cracks are visualized by detecting discrepancies in local displacement vector fields, which are obtained from matching algorithms applied to consecutive images. Critical areas of concrete samples are additionally equipped with several acoustic emission sensors to monitor the crack formation and propagation by acoustic emission analysis. The parameter-based method is used to record specific parameters in real time and enables the distinction between bending or shear cracks depending on the signal energy and duration. During the loading tests, information about the crack prolongation is used to derive the time of transition from stable to unstable phase. The acoustically detected shear cracks are monitored in the images to track growth and to stop the experiment before a critical bearing status is reached. Thus, shear cracks can be localized temporally and locally on the surface and inside the structure. In a next step, the detected cracks have to be checked for certain properties providing information about the condition of the structure. Indicators with high level significance referring to structures with no or low advance notice of failure constitute a focal point of further research.


The pulse response of a novel monolithic optical compressor is computationally simulated using the finite-difference time-domain method of electromagnetism. This compact and robust compressor can be made from a solid block of fused silica with all necessary optical components integrated into it. A beam folding mechanism implemented through use of integral Bragg reflectors serves to further reduce the volume of the device. The monolithic compressor is shown to successfully compress dispersion precompensated 0.6-ps Gaussian input pulses to output pulses with a duration of 25 fs.


This paper examines the class dynamics of food sovereignty in Mexico and Ecuador. It argues that the nature of contemporary demands for food sovereignty is heavily influenced by the outcomes of peasant movements' historical and ongoing internal class dynamics. Processes of class differentiation within peasant organizations in both countries have led to the interests of certain classes predominating over or at the expense of others. Despite La Via Campesina's projection of 'unity in diversity', incorporating sometimes conflicting class interests into the movement is particularly challenging. As such, class analysis must be brought back into debates around food sovereignty in order to gauge (and potentially further) the movement's transformative potential.


Background: Polyphenols in Phaleria macrocarpa (Mahkota Dewa) which
stimulate Interferon- production in some immunocyt population can increase
Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyt (CTL) and Natural Killer Cell (NK-Cell) activity; which
can be recognized from apoptotic index as a response to malignant cells and
resistancy of clinically tumor development which can be measure from tumor
growth diameter.
Objective: To prove the difference of apoptotic index and tumor diameter size
and analyze the correlation between apoptotic index and tumor diameter size.
Material and method: A randomized post test only control group design on 20
C3H-mice were divided into 4 treatment groups. The first group is control group,
group-1 was administered with 0,035mg Phaleria macrocarpa/day, group-2:
0,0715mg/day, group-3: 0,14mg/day. After complete tumor cell inoculation,
diameter size of tumor before-treatment was measured. All of group were treated
for 3 weeks, then measured before and after-treatment tumor diameter size and
evaluate the tumor apoptotic index. A One Way ANOVA Test is used to evaluate
the difference of before-and-after tumor diameter size and tumor apoptotic index.
Pearson's Correlation test was performed to analyze the correlation between
tumor apoptotic index and tumor diameter size.
Result: There is significantly difference of tumor size among groups, and
significantly negative correlation (p<0,001) between tumor apoptotic index and
tumor diameter size, with correlation coefficient -0,773.
Conclusion: The reduction of tumor was start at 0,035mg/day administration of
Phaleria macrocarpa extract, and there is significantly negative correlation
between tumor apoptotic index and tumor diameter size.
Key words : Phaleria macrocarpa, apoptotic index, tumor diameter,
adenocarcinoma mammae


According to the features of the state monitoring data of vehicle transmission,a pretreatment procedure is proposed for the de-trend,de-noise,redundancy condensation,extraction of the feature frequency,where the wavelet analysis,wave-packet analysis and cepstrum analysis are integrated.The simulation results show that wavelet threshold de-noising method can eliminate noise and trend,cepstrum analysis is able to extract carrier frequency and frequency modulation,and wave-packet analysis is going to achieve redundancy condensation and stand out the features of the monitoring data.


This study was conducted to develop comic learning media which was valid, practical and effective to help students understand the concept of social arithmetic. This study is a developmental study which adapts stages of Borg and Gall. The stages are 1) initial study and gathering information, (2) planning, (3) developing the initial product, (4) limited field trial, (5) revising the initial product, (6) field trials, and (7) revision of the final product. The result of this study was a comic learning media for buying and selling practices on social arithmetic which has met the valid, practical, and effective criteria. Based on the validity results involving media and educational experts showed that this comic learning media was valid, with the percentage of validity respectively 93.6% (very feasible) and 96% (very feasible). Based on the implementation of this media to VII grade students of MTs N (junior high school) 2 Mojokerto, an assessment by students as the media users showed that this media was practical with the percentage of 82.3% (very good) during the limited field trial, and 92.31% (very good) during field trials. The effectiveness of this media based on students' achievement result that 91% students were in good and excellent category. It means that this comic learning media is effective. Based on these results, it can be concluded that this media was appropriate to be used as learning medium on the topic of social arithmetic.


Plasma corona discharge is used for water sterilization. In this study, plasma corona discharge was generated through a pair of stainless steel electrodes connected to an AC high voltage of 6.52 kV. The distance between electrodes is ±1.5 cm. Variations in treatment time were 0, 60 and 90 minutes. Total Plate Count (TPC) using the pour plate method is used to calculate the qualitative results of the number of microorganisms. The results show that the longer the treatment time, the fewer microorganisms contained in water. At 0 minute treatment containing microorganisms 2.5 × 107 TPC / ml, 60 minutes containing microorganisms 3.0 × 107 TPC / ml and at 90 minutes 1.2 × 107 TPC / ml.


Many educational institutions had to move their face-to-face modality to online modality in a sudden way due to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). On this reflection a foreign language teacher describes his social experience in an Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) when he moved his face-to-face classes to online ones. Based on Rourke et al. (2001) and Swan (2019), three elements were found on his online experience: cohesive teaching strategies, affective teaching strategies, and interactive teaching experiences. Asking for students' mental health, giving advice, and keeping the video on were some of the strategies used. Conclusions suggest that it is vital to introduce people as human beings and touch their own realities during Covid-19 times. Recommendations include not only assessment practices such as take home exams, self-assessment and peer-assessment, but also monitor the ongoing process during emergency times.


The expansion of the communication to the public right brings linking to the copyright protection. While the current case law contains conflicting interpretations of the right of communication to the public, this article will re-interpret this right in the context of hyperlinking, in line with the objectives of the Information Society Directive.


Microtruss cellular metals are a class of multifunctional materials, composed of a regular arrangement of supporting struts. They can be fabricated by stretching perforated metal sheets out of plane by applying force at strut intersections. Once fabricated, external loads are resolved axially along the struts resulting in stretch dominated deformation, yielding enhanced weight specific strength and stiffness at lower densities compared to conventional metallic foams. Given the slenderness of the struts making up the microtruss architecture, failure often occurs by inelastic buckling and is therefore dependent on the rigidity of the strut end constraints. During column buckling the limiting conditions are pin jointed (k=1) and rigid jointed (k=2), with microtruss struts typically having end constraints intermediate to these boundaries. Experimental and finite element methods were used to determine the value of k in IN600 microtrusses. Because of the non-linear stress-strain behavior of the parent metal, the relative significance of end constraint uncertainty is a function of the strut slenderness ratios and the material in question.


ABSTRACT Prediction of bending moments of a batter pile installed in subsiding clay ground is presented. The analysis is based on the assumption that loads acting on the upper part of a pile are similar to the case of a positive project conduit and the lower part of the pile behaves as an elastic beam on Winkler's model. The computed values are compared with the measured values on the prototype of piles tested in a clay ground. From the result obtained, it is concluded that the theoretical values are somewhat larger than the measured values. Diagrams with nondimensional parameters are prepared for designing of pile foundations.


Ascites is one of the most common complications of advanced cancer, can induce abdominal distension, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms, which seriously affects the life quality of patients. At present, there are some nursing problems regarding the use of medication and adverse reactions during the treatment by traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine. In this study, we review the incidence of ascites, treatment status, the nursing of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine to further clarify the main points of nursing, effectively improve the symptoms in cancer patients, thus providing reference and theoretical basis for clinical nurses.

Key words:
Review; Nursing care; Cancer; Ascites; Western medicine; Traditional Chinese medicine


initial clearing in 6 instances while the patient was still on IP antibiotic therapy. Due to concerns about the catheter and/or the tunnel being the source of the recurrent episodes of peritonitis the patient's catheter was removed and replaced 1 week later on 2 occasions. He additionally had an indium scan, a CT scan, 2 Gallium scans, and 2 ultrasounds all failing to identify the source of infection. After the seventh episode of peritonitis, a decision was made to do a hemicolectomy. This was based upon: (a) the patient had diverticulosis by barium enema; (b) the patient had bowel symptoms (diarrhea or constipation) temporally related to peritonitis episodes on 4 occasions; ( c ) no other source of infection; and ( d) the patient's insistence to remain on CAPD. The surgical specimen had fibrosis in the pericolic fat, or evidence of prior episodes of diverticulitis. CAPD was reinitiated 2 weeks after hemicolectomy, utilizing the same catheter that had been in place prior to the hemicolectomy. The patient remained peritonitis free for 18 months after resumption of CAPD.


A mucoralean strain, BCRC 10F0317, was isolated from soil collected in Taiwan. According to the morphological characteristics, growth temperature and phylogenetic analysis of ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2 sequence, this strain was identified as Cunninghamella echinulata var. antarctica. It is a new record to the fungal flora of Taiwan. Illustration and description were provided. Differences between C. echinulata and C. septata were compared.