ABSTRACT Objectives: To evaluate the intratumoral reliability of color Doppler parameters and the contribution of Doppler sonography to the gray-scale differential diagnosis of ovarian masses. Methods: An observational study was performed including 67 patients, 15 (22.4%) with malignant ovarian neoplasm and 52 (77.6%) with benign ovarian diseases. We performed the Doppler evaluation in two distinct vessels selected after decreasing the Doppler gain to sample only vessels with higher velocity flow. Doppler measurements were obtained from each identified vessel, and resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), peak systolic velocity (PSV), and end-diastolic velocity (EDV) were measured. Intraclass coefficient of correlation (ICC), sensitivity, specificity, and potential improvement in gray-scale ultrasound performance were calculated. Results: The general ICC were 0.60 (95% CI 0.42–0.73) for RI, 0.65 (95% CI 0.49–0.77) for PI, 0.07 (95% CI −0.17–0.30) for PSV, and 0.19 (95% CI −0.05–0.41) for EDV. The sens...


It is unlikely that many would doubt that early surgery in elderly patients with hip fractures helps to reduce the harmful effects of prolonged bed immobilisation; hence, early surgery should be the sought-after norm. Indeed, in some healthcare systems, setting targets for timing to surgery in hip fracture patients have helped to focus minds and raise awareness of the beneficial effects of early surgery in this vulnerable patient group.


Melamine derivatives bearing a guanidinium ion were found to extract uridine-5'-monophosphate (UMP) and guanosine-5'-monophosphate (GMP) in water into chloroform layer, whereas not the corresponding nucleosides under the same conditions.


Recently, social networking sites (SNSs) users accumulate the information as to spatial environment through geotag. Users also provide the information about destinations by considering not only their own incentive (i.e., egoistic motivation) but also public benefits (i.e., altruistic motivation) in SNSs. The existing studies on geotag regard that it is important for the construction of tourism information system and the application possibility. However, existing studies have not fully reflected to understand building destination information, forming motivation of contributing destination knowledge, and explaining the behavior of contribution due to the use of geotag. Thus, this study aimed to understand it from the spatial knowledge and the perspective of the private collective model. As a result of the empirical analysis, the accumulation of spatial knowledge learned through geotag positively affected egoistic motivation and altruistic motivation. In addition, altruistic motivation had a positive effect on destination information contribution. However, egoistic motivation had no significant effect on contribution of destination knowledge.


Psycho-education for patients suffering from psychiatric disorders is seen as a key element in the goal of recovery. The present study examined the usefulness of a groupwork cognitive behavioural psycho-educational intervention for patients in a high-security hospital. Thirty-one patients with a primary diagnosis of mental illness completed a group patients entitled: 'Understanding Mental Illness' which promotes awareness of descriptions of illness and strategies for managing symptoms. The SCQ and CORE-OM were administered pre- and post-group, measures to monitor relapse and behavioural change were also included. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants and their feedback was examined using content analysis. Themes from interviews indicated that patients reported a number of benefits. Formal measures used as indices of 'change' failed to yield clear improvements in self-reported functioning. However, the majority of patients engaged in further psychological work, which is cautiously interpreted as a trend in the direction of openness to engagement.


We tested if remote gene delivery of hypoxia‐inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF‐1α) protected hearts against induced ischemia, hypothesizing that gene delivery into skeletal muscle may lead to secretion of proteins with actions elsewhere.


The present invention, diagnosis of monitoring and β-cell failure in the disease progression in diabetes by measuring the level of IPF-1 in the liquid sample, and to the screening of new compounds for the prevention and / or treatment of diabetes.


The article is devoted to the development and experimental justification of the possibility of determining the axial loads of flexible pavements on the basis of full deformation diagrams recorded under shock loading.

Results: The drawbacks of the existing regulatory methods for determining the axial load limit from the impact of vehicles at the operation stage are considered. It is noted that the definition of axial loads only on the strength factor, has several disadvantages associated with the need for information on the design value of the modulus of elasticity of the pavement, as well as the inconsistency of the existing regulatory framework for road design with real traffic loads. It is proposed to determine the maximum axial loads on the basis of the analysis of the complete deformation diagrams recorded at different values of the dynamic load shock load. For the first time, an approach to determining axial loads is proposed, based on the construction of a curve in the coordinates "increase of dissipated energy (ΔW) – load on the coating (F)", and the load initiating the transition from proportional increase of the dissipated energy with increasing contact load, disproportionately. An example is given of determining the maximum axial load on the pavement cover for the exploited section of the M4 "DON" highway

Conclusions: The possibility of determining the limiting axial loads on the pavement coating, based on the analysis of the complete deformation diagrams recorded during impact loading on the pavement coating, was experimentally justified. The need for further improvement and a set of a database of experimental data on changes in limiting axial loads in different periods of the year is noted.


The invention relates to the field of pneumatic conveying, and specifically to the vacuum-pneumatic conveying of granular materials having a high mass concentration. The invention can be used in various branches of technology, especially when it is necessary, at the same time as conveying, to carry out production processes. The essence of the invention consists in a device containing, at an inlet thereof, a suction pipeline with a granular-material input node having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, which pipeline is connected to a granular-material discharger. The granular-material discharger is provided with a rotary feeder and a vacuum gauge, and is connected to a vacuum pump. Said connection is carried out by means of two or more vacuum receivers which are connected to one another in parallel, by means of air ducts having fast-acting valves, in such a way that on one side of the receivers, the air ducts are connected to a suction pipe of the vacuum pump, and on the other side of the receivers, the air ducts are connected to the discharger. The invention allows for conveying a granular material having a high concentration along long-distance pipelines.


The invention disclosed herein will be described a self-supervision system is designed to accurately model, monitoring, treating the surface of a complex three dimensional object. Current applied information on this system, but the laser stripping of the airplane, the present invention is also suitable for use in the application of a wide range of requirements that almost accurately place and adjust the monitor or a processing tool over the surface of the physical object . For example, the system in addition to removing the laser coating, and applying new coatings, and performs fine-granular or inspection work, and the transfer and / or by using a manufacturing process tool or tools, and / or other manufacturing processes, non-limiting examples, it can be seen the result of the welding, riveting or the arrangement of the various surfaces or the display fixture.


Fuzzy Geographically Weighted Clustering (FGWC) is recognized as one of the most efficient methods for geo-demographic analysis problem. FGWC uses neighborhood effect to remedy the limitation of classical fuzzy clustering methods in terms of geographic factors. However, there are some drawbacks of FGWC such as sensitivity to cluster initialization phase that is required to overcome. In this paper a new hybrid approach of FGWC based on Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), namely FGWC-ACO is proposed in which the initialization is performed better and in an appropriate manner. Based on the experimental simulation, the proposed method clearly outperforms the standard FGWC and offers a better geo-demographic clustering quality.


Apathy occurs in many neuropsychiatric disorders and is a central negative symptom of schizophrenia. Apathy has severe functional consequences for patients with schizophrenia and the development of evidence-based treatments is a major challenge. There is now increasing evidence that dysfunctions in reward processing underly apathy, in particular regarding reward anticipation, cost-benefit computation and reward learning. In addition, metacognitive processes such as defeatist performance beliefs modulate reward processing. Psychological interventions for negative symptoms target these processes. While the evidence for cognitive-behavioral therapy for negative symptoms remains limited, recent findings suggest that specifically targeting reward-related dysfunctions may improve efficacy of these interventions. On the neurobiological level, there is now considerable evidence that a dysregulation of the dopaminergic reward system is related to reward processing dysfunctions. Regarding pharmacological treatment approaches, psychostimulants have successfully been used for apathy in dementia to target the reward system. Pro-dopaminergic drugs to target apathy in schizophrenia seem to be safer than anticipated, but their efficacy remains to be established. At the current state of knowledge, there is no evidence-based treatment that specifically targets apathy in patients with schizophrenia today. However, there are encouraging results from research inspired by basic research in neuroscience and clinical research in patients with other neuropsychiatric disorders. Disclosure SK has received royalties from Schuhfried (Austria) for cognitive test and training software.


The characteristics of the system of instruments and units of the fourth generation nuclear electronic device Vektor'' are examined. The Vektor'' system has microelectronics, high-compensating micro-components, and digital elements. In construction, logic operation; and coupling the Vektor'' system is close to the western systems CAMAC and NIM, but the system is designed on the basis of domestic standards and assembly manufacture. The characteristics of the systems connected with it and the principal design standards are examined. The composition of the system and the basic characteristics of its instruments and units are discussed. (tr-auth)


This paper examines the main provisions of the concept of building methods of forming the future readiness of primary school teachers to use digital educational resources.


In this study, we examined whether account receivable and inventory conversion management (ICM) serve as a determinant of corporate financial performance. Ex-post facto design was used and sample of seventy-six (76) firms across various non-financial firm's sectors were employed. Panel data were obtained from 2011-2019; data obtained were analyzed via descriptive (mean, median, standard deviation, minimum and maximum values, kurtosis, skewness and correlation matrix), diagnostic statistics (variance inflation factor, and unit root) and inferential (fixed and random effects model and Hausman specification) statistical tool. Findings of fixed and random effect panel regression revealed that account receivable management (ARM) significantly affects return on asset (Wald Ch2 = 24.63; prob. Chi2 = 0.000 < 0.05) while relationship between inventory conversion management (ICM) significantly affects return on asset (Wald Ch2 = 9.55; prob. Chi2 = 0.0085 < 0.05). Based on the findings, it was recommended that management should enhance accounts receivable and ICM practices as it is vital to enhancing financial performance of non-financial firms. Also, management should initiate appropriate steps to maintain the level of purchasing and sales management in order to reduce losses due to poor inventory controls and to optimize efficient utilization of resource for production.  This study contributes to knowledge by filling the gap in literature on the effect of account receivable, ICM and corporate financial performance in Nigeria.
Keywords: Account receivables, Inventory management; Inventory conversion management;
                    Corporate performance; Cost of capital; Return on asset; Nigerian firms
JEL Classification: G31; M11; M10


Hold on to your clothes and run for cover. Whole body scanners are appearing on vacated land as rapidly as Starbucks. Diagnostic body imaging scans are becoming faster, better, and cheaper.


The invention provides a method for realizing propelling movement, which comprises the following steps of: receiving an on-line push message which contains an identifier of a mobile terminal; and pushing a redirect message to the mobile terminal according to the identifier of the mobile terminal, so that the mobile terminal acquires corresponding content from a service provider according to the redirect message. The invention also provides a device for realizing propelling movement. The device comprises an on-line push message receiving module and a redirect message pushing module, wherein the on-line push message receiving module is used for receiving the on-line push message which contains the identifier of the mobile terminal; and the redirect message pushing module is used for pushing the redirect message to the mobile terminal according to the identifier of the mobile terminal, so that the mobile terminal acquires the corresponding content from the service provider according to the redirect message. The mobile terminal still can realize propelling movement under the condition that the mobile terminal cannot analyze the push message so as to improve the success rate of propelling movement and also improve the user experience.


Abstract This article considers that the fundamentals of marketing which were developed to increase business efficiency fail to fulfil the needs of higher education. An alternative premise is proposed based on the notions of temporality, confidence and trust. The article is timely as higher education embraces a business model of competition almost without questioning the appropriateness of the tools it uses.


Principles of chemical bonding are fundamental to the content of any introductory chemistry course. Part of the discussion of these principles normally entails making the distinctions between ionic and covalent compounds. Often students are shown the macroscopic manifestations of these distinctions in the form of an investigation of conductivity differences between these two classes of compounds. This activity offers another way to allow students to see the impact that these differences have on the properties of materials representing the two classes. Students prepare a gel by combining the superabsorbent polymer sodium polyacrylate and water, then split the gel into several piles. Samples of chemicals representing the two piles are then sprinkled onto each pile. If the chemicals are ionic in nature (or ionizable in water), they cause the gel to break down; if they are covalent in nature, they have no effect on the gel.


The utility model provides a livestock environment control system. The system comprises various sensors and transmitters. The transmitters are connected with a microcomputer processor, the microcomputer processor is connected with a power distribution cabinet, and the power distribution cabinet is connected with a blower fan, a wet curtain, a heating device and an illuminating device. The microcomputer processor is provided with a remote communication module and a storage battery. The remote communication module is in wireless connection with a remote information transceiver, the storage battery is connected with a temperature sensor, and the microcomputer processor is also connected with an environment abnormity alarm, a power failure open-phase alarm and a motor overload alarm. According to the utility model, various parameters of a livestock environment can be acquired, analyzed and controlled, automatic switching and fault alarm functions of various environment adjusting devices in the livestock environment can be realized, an environment control device in a livestock house can work automatically under an unattended condition, and livestock can live in an optimal culture environment.


ABSTRACT In a digital, global world, a paradigm shift in marketing has led companies and customers to become increasingly interconnected through the Internet and social media. Drawing on online review data from 64,285 hotel guests from 36 countries, this research explores the dynamics between customer engagement and recommendation intentions, adopting a cultural perspective. The results reveal that highly engaged customers generally provide more positive reviews. Regarding whether customers issue a recommendation, uncertainty avoidance exerts a context-dependent influence on negative sentiment. An information-motivated herding effect also arises, such that reviews reflect their immediately preceding reviews. Marketing managers thus should complement analyses of satisfaction scores with automatic analyses of textual sentiments in reviews.


This paper describes the journey of big data starting from data mining to web mining to big data. It discusses each of this method in brief and also provides their applications. It states the importance of mining big data today using fast and novel approaches.


While social distancing is a key public health response during viral pandemics, social stress, which can be induced by social isolation, has been implicated in adverse health outcomes in general1 and in the context of infectious disease, such as HIV2,3. A comprehensive understanding of the direct pathophysiologic effects of social stress on viral pathogenesis is needed to provide strategic and comprehensive care to patients with viral infection. To determine the effect of social stress on HIV pathogenesis during acute viral infection without sociobehavioral confounders inherent in human cohorts, we compared commonly measured parameters of HIV progression between singly and socially housed SIV-infected pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina). Singly housed macaques had a higher viral load in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid and demonstrated greater CD4 T cell declines and greater CD4 and CD8 T cell activation compared to socially housed macaques throughout acute infection. These data demonstrate that social stress directly impacts the pathogenesis of acute HIV infection and imply that social stress may act as an integral variable in the progression of HIV infection and potentially of other viral infections.


We present and compare two alternative deep neural architectures to perform word-level metaphor detection on text: a bi-LSTM model and a new structure based on recursive feed-forward concatenation of the input. We discuss different versions of such models and the effect that input manipulation - specifically, reducing the length of sentences and introducing concreteness scores for words - have on their performance.


and the number is expected to increase over time. Soy, and foods containing soy, can help to manage symptoms of type 2 diabetes. However, it is unknown if diabetics actually eat soy (what motivates them to eat it, what stops them from eating it) and if they understand the potential health benefits. This research was conducted to answer these questions. Adults with type 2 diabetes, especially those who don't regularly eat soy, need more information about how to prepare soy and the potential health benefits. The most commonly consumed soy foods were soy beverages, tofu and soy nuts, and those who consumed soy were more likely to be vegetarian, lactose intolerant and avoid drinking cow's milk.


Objective: To investigate the effect of sertraline with gamma-aminobutyric acid on cognitive function of subsyndromal symptomatic depression (SSD). Method:83 SSD patients were assigned to either group A(n=45) receiving sertraline or group B (n=38) receiving sertraline with GABA therapy for 12 month.Wechsler adult intelligence scale (WAIS),clinical memory scale (CMS) and Wisconsin cards sorting test (WCST) were used to evaluate cognitive function,and self depression scale (SDS) to evaluate the symptom severity before and after treatment. Results:After treatment,both groups showed significantly improvement in SDS, all subscales of WAIS, WCST,and auditory recall,paired-association and total MQ of CMS (P0.05 or P0.01);but group B showed more improvement in paired-association as well as total MQ of CMS and correct numbers as well as random errors of WCST (P0.05). Conclusion:Both sertraline and GABA treatment may be superior to sertraline treatment for improving cognition of SSD.


The fetus and newborn incur cerebral hypoxic lesions which result in minimal brain dysfunction. The lesions are basically of a venous infarctional nature. In the premature, the damage affects primarily periventricular deposits of germinal tissue. At term, the loss is mainly in the cortex. Subacute lesions defined provide a transitional link between the acute patterns of neonatal cerebral damage and the chronic lesions in minimal brain dysfunction. This syndrome, estimated to affect over 3 million in this country, is responsible for nervous system disability not only in infants and children, but also in adults.


HESLER, GREGORY STEPHEN. Investigating the Mechanisms of Diamond Tool Wear Cutting Ferrous Materials Using a Quantitative Study of Machining Parameters. (Under the direction of Dr. Thomas A. Dow.) Rapid tool wear occurs during the diamond turning of ferrous materials due to thermo-chemical mechanisms. Unconventional methods such as cutting in cryogenic environments and ultrasonic vibration-assisted machining have had limited success in creating specular surfaces on ferrous materials. A unique measurement technique in the scanning electron microscope has allowed the wear rate and tool edge to be quantified with sub-micron resolution. From this technique, a distinctive wear pattern was observed during ferrous machining of low-carbon steel (1215), where the wear land was not parallel to the machined surface as it is with abrasive wear. The research described here provides a quantitative study of the dynamic parameters contributing to the thermo-chemical tool wear: temperature, tool forces, material flow and cutting edge geometry. The goal is to use these measured parameters to analyze the mechanisms behind the rapid diamond tool wear. Surface temperatures were measured with a thin-film RTD during machining. These measurements were used to predict peak temperatures during machining and compared to temperatures from finite element software. A high-speed imaging system was developed to capture images of the cutting process. The images were used to approximate the shear angle using the ratio between chip and workpiece speeds. Machining experiments were performed using 6061 aluminum and 1215 steel to compare temperatures, forces and wear patterns. Peak temperature predictions for 6061 aluminum compared closely against previously published results. The wear measurements and peak temperature predictions for 1215 steel were used to advance an Arrhenius-type chemical wear model for diamond tools. The strong correlation is indicative of a temperature-dependent chemical mechanism for the diamond wear during ferrous machining. The wear results showed an optimal cutting speed of approximately 1 m/s at a 2 μm depth of cut for 1215 steel. The cutting process was modeled using empirical and analytical simulations. Third Wave System's software AdvantEdge is a finite element program for machining processes that calculates both stresses and temperatures. The AdvantEdge software shows promise for modeling diamond tool wear during ferrous machining. The limitation of analytical wear models is the changing tool geometry. As the tool wears, the pressure, temperature and material flow across the surface changes. Finite element analysis can help model the effects of changing tool geometries by using discrete elements and nodes in the application of the wear rates. The current research compares the perimeter wear rates for the temperature model and Usui model in AdvantEdge. The predicted temperature gradient along the diamond cutting edge and rake face is low because of the high thermal conductivity of diamond. Due to the shape of the worn edge and low temperature gradient, it is predicted that other factors with temperature contribute to the localized recession at the tool edge. Investigating the Mechanisms of Diamond Tool Wear Cutting Ferrous Materials Using a Quantitative Study of Machining Parameters by Gregory Stephen Hesler A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science Mechanical Engineering Raleigh, North Carolina 2014


Abramsson-Zetterberg L, Grawe J (2001). Extended exposure of adult and fetal mice to 50 Hz magnetic field does not increase the incidence of micronuclei in erythrocytes. Adair RK (1992). Criticism of Lednev's mechanism for the influence of weak magnetic fields on biological systems. Bioelctromagnetics, 13:231-235. Adair RK (1994). Biological responses to weak 60 Hz electric and magnetic fields must vary as the square of the field strength. Adrian DJ (1977). Auditory and visual sensations stimulated by low-frequency electric currents. Radio Sci, 12:243-250. Afzal SMJ, Levine GA, Liburdy RP. Environmental-level magnetic fields and estrogen-induced growth promotion in human breast and brain tumor cell lines. In:


The main function of architecture is to arrange living space for everyone regardless of their citizenship, social status, age, and physical abilities. The quality of a settlements' architectural and spatial environment depends on various conditions where one of the key criteria at present is the need to consider interests of specific groups of people and explore architectural planning solutions that will ensure accessibility (safety and convenience) for low-mobility groups of the population. The article shows architectural planning aspects of forming an environment in terms of its convenience for low-mobility groups of the population. Also, it offers directions for the improvement of a settlements' environment considering a criterion of accessibility. The article's conclusions prove that accessibility (barrier-free space) is one of the key criteria of developing a high-quality architectural spatial environment.


This paper has introduced the flow field simulation to the self-oscillation cavity of the pipeline supercharger based on the Self-oscillation Theory with the help of Ansys. Combined with the structure predigestion and the borderline disposal, the research educes the 3D-flow field of the pipeline supercharger. According to the distributing chart of the flow field and the pressure, this paper gets the press curve that varies with the parameter, validates the influence of the structure parameter to the press-increasing effect and provides reference to the optimization design.


In this paper, we develop a distributed adaptive radio transmit resource allocation based on game theory in the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) cellular systems. In this regard we consider power of each user as a resource and then solve power control problem based on the idea of the Nash Equilibrium (NE) from non-cooperative game. Based on game theory, a utility function is proposed that each user tries to maximize its own utility by adjusting the transmit power on every of its subcarriers. According to defined utility function, each user tries to maximize his transmitted data rate while minimize allocated transmit power. In comparison with other references the behaviors of each user and subcarriers is illustrated clearly that how they act and also here more data rate is attained for each allocated subchannel. Simulation results show that the proposed dynamic power control game satisfies fairness among users at NE.


Conceptual literature review and empirical generalization by using meta-analysis method are done to get a whole picture of service satisfaction antecedent studies. It is found that three main paradigms, including expectation disconfirmation, service quality and service value are used to explain the antecedents of customer satisfaction in service research history. A paradigm shift can be seen along these three paradigms, and the domain of service satisfaction antecedents is found to be expanding gradually. However, meta-analysis results show that disconfirmation, the most parsimonious paradigm, achieves the strongest relationship strength with customer satisfaction in service industries. Therefore, disconfirmation paradigm is recommended to measure or monitor customer satisfaction, whereas service quality paradigm and service are recommended when service providers want to improve customer satisfaction since they need to know from which concrete aspects, satisfaction can be enhanced.


This paper describes an algorithm for ball detection and tracking by a robot using image processing. Complex scenes lead to false detection of various objects other than a tennis ball resulting in false data and robot imprecision. We evaluated our approach for ball detection by a robot through use of contour method and centroid of the ball as a distance measure and colour intensity level as detection of the ball itself. Rotation of camera for ball detection and tracking is controlled through a laptop via wireless fidelity.


Bacterial infections have been recognized as a critical challenge to public health, resulting in substantial morbidity, mortality, and enormous costs. In this paper, a digital light processing (DLP) based 3D printing system is employed to rapidly manufacture photocurable thermoset polymers and nanocomposites for potential antibacterial applications. This work shows how nanoparticles that present antibacterial properties can be added to traditional DLP manufacturing and their effects on the physical properties. In this paper, titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles in the 10 to 30-nm range are mixed with photocurable resins for rapid 3D printing and prototyping. The two resins used are a standard photopolymer rapid resin and an ABS-like photopolymer rapid resin. A 1% composite percentage is utilized to avoid the requirement of modification to the printing system due to greatly increased viscosity. Tensile testing data, contact angle data, and abrasion data are performed on a total of four different composites and two controls. These composites have shown a tensile strength of 29.53 MPa. At the 1% nanoparticle weight concentration, the 3D printing nanocomposites are transparent and demonstrate a complete penetration of particles throughout the entire print. The detailed experimental characterization will be conducted to understand the 3D printed material's mechanical properties and microstructures fully. This research can enhance public health by providing a novel approach to control the spread of bacteria and other microbial.


This article mainly uses the literature review,experience and comprehensive induction and so on,by "the innovation study" principle,uses the example to demonstrate the essential features of contemporary physical education teachers' innovative work.Empirical studies suggest that there are five requirements for an innovative physical education teacher;content selectivity,method multiplicity,distinctive organization,and test diversity.It also describes four aspects of innovative outcome and four innovative methods of physical education teachers.


Bronchiolitis is the leading cause of hospitalization for infants younger than 1 year,1 and the associated hospitalization costs are more than $500 million per year in the United States.2 In this issue of Pediatrics , Carroll et al3 describe the increasing disease burden of bronchiolitis from 1996 to 2003 in healthy, term infants enrolled in the Tennessee Medicaid program. Over these 7 years, children with the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes 466.1 (bronchiolitis and bronchitis) or 480.1 (pneumonia caused by respiratory syncytial virus [RSV]) had an increasing number of visits at all levels of care: outpatient office visits, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations, including 23-hour observations. These data raise important questions not only about the definition of bronchiolitis but also about the reason for the increasing number of medical visits for bronchiolitis.

The clinical picture of bronchiolitis was provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics in its 2006 position statement, which states that children with bronchiolitis typically have "rhinitis, tachypnea, wheezing, cough, crackles, use of accessory muscles, and/or nasal flaring."4 This recognizable constellation of signs and symptoms makes bronchiolitis seem like a straightforward clinical diagnosis that then leads to assignment of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes used by Carroll et al.3 However, astute clinicians continue to debate when young children with an acute lower respiratory tract infection and wheezing should be diagnosed as having bronchiolitis, reactive airways disease, or even asthma.

In addition to this basic diagnostic challenge, there is a microbiologic issue. Bronchiolitis is caused by many infectious pathogens, most notably …

Address correspondence to Jonathan M. Mansbach, MD, Children's Hospital Boston, Main Clinical Building 9 South, 9157, Boston, MA 02115. E-mail: jonathan.mansbach{at}childrens.harvard.edu


This study aimed investigating the way in which companies remunerate their directors, executive and fiscal boards based on information disclosed by the Reference Form. To this end, this research made use of the content analysis of the document entitled Reference Forms of the ten largest companies in each economic sector listed on the BM&F Bovespa in 2009. In terms of monetary values assigned to pay, the study inferred that the board is paid by Embraer best and worst paid by the Net, the executive board received remuneration from the higher and lower valley by Eletrobras and the supervisory board was the best remunerated Bank of Brazil and the worst paid Positivo Inf conclude that the executive board is the best paid not only in terms of variety of items that make up the basket of fixed remuneration, variable, and others, and in quantitative terms, receiving larger amounts of paid to the boards and tax. Conversely, the fiscal council is given the least in terms not only quantitative, and is entitled to only a few items of fixed salary, earning less also in qualitative terms.


Observed features of the fission process could be explained with the help of calculated multi-dimensional potential energy surfaces (PES). The energy minima positions in multi-dimensional deformation space reflect the nuclear shape evolution from ground state through intermediate stages to final configuration of separated fission fragments. An increase in accuracy of PES calculations is achieved by choosing the non-restricted shape parameterization. The importance of sufficiently large and complete deformation space in PES calculations has been discussed in [ 1, 21. In case of low energy fission, the coherent motion of the nucleus can be described by means of a several collective parameters characterizing the shape of the system. Consequently, the internal structure of nucleus can be assumed to be in equilibrium at each step of the collective motion. The internal degrees of freedom of the system can therefore be described using the adiabatic approximation. The shell-correction part [3] of the nuclear energy is responsible for the multi-modal structure of the high-dimensional PES.


In the HVDC project, the insulating material of the dry-type bushing of the converter transformer mainly uses epoxy impregnated paper. Surface charge will accumulate on the surface of the capacitor packet easily under the operating DC electric field. The surface charge will distort the electric field on the surface of the insulating material and it will be a threat to insulation safety. In order to study the surface charge accumulation characteristics of epoxy impregnated paper materials under DC electric field, we conduct surface charge measurement experiments on cylindrical samples of epoxy-impregnated paper with or without two-component polyester coating at room temperature. Its surface charge accumulation properties were obtained by measuring its surface charge characteristics after applying voltage for different time. The result shows that coated samples only accumulate charges of the same polarity as the applied voltage, and surface charge polarity of uncoated sample is as same as the polarity of its high and low voltage electrodes. Coated samples reach stabilization more quickly (The charge density gap rapidly narrows in the measurement result of 1, 3, 5 and 10h), uncoated samples are slower to reach stabilization. The average value of the charge density of the painted sample after taking the absolute value is 3.74 times higher than that of the unpainted sample after applying +26kV voltage at room temperature for 10h, and the average value of the charge density of the painted sample after taking the absolute value is 11.8 times higher than that of the unpainted sample after applying −26kV voltage at room temperature for 10h. For the sample of the same kind, the charge density of the coated sample under negative polarity is higher than that under its positive polarity, the charge density of the coated sample under negative polarity is lower than that under its positive polarity. For uncoated samples, the surface charge distribution is related to the distribution of the adhesive layer and paper layer on the surface, and the charge distribution of the coated sample is relatively even. For analyzing the effect of epoxy impregnated paper coating and optimizing the electric field on the surface of the material, obtaining this charge distribution law has important meaning in engineering.


Map shows areas of military posts, trading posts, settlements, Native American habitation, and physical features in Nebraska Territory, Dakota Territory, and Minnesota. Includes notes and routes of explorers or survey parties. Relief shown by hachures and spot heights. Scale [1:1,200,000].


Litter drives a wide variety of important functions in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. However, the role of litter in regulating community dynamics and ecosystem processes has mostly been studied in terms of litter presence or amount. Besides in biogeochemistry, we still do not know how litters from distinct plant species differ in their effects on other ecosystem processes and services including biodiversity support. We briefly synthesize the multiple litter functions and services by using the afterlife legacy of interspecific variation in plant morphological, physical and chemical traits as a unifying tool. We do so by explicit reference to two highly distinct but possibly interacting 'trait spectra': the widely known Resource Economic Spectrum, and the Size and Shape Spectrum, a trait‐based axis ranging from small and relatively simply shaped distal plant organs to large and more intricately shaped ones. Synthesis. Ecosystem services provided by plant litter are driven by either one of the trait spectra or by both. In this way, the Size and Shape Spectrum‐Resource Economic Spectrum concept is a promising tool for understanding and predicting the contributions of different plant species, through the afterlife effects of their litter traits, to various important services in different ecosystems and human contexts.


Identification of Cistanche deserticola relationship using AFLP.The results showed that the from 64 primer combinations,15 polymorphic primer combinations were seleted to perform the AFLP.266 bands have been amplified altogether,among which 148 bands showed polymorphism,amounting to 55.6%.Cistanche deserticola Y.C.Ma was divided 9 types from the types of corolla the genetic distances varied from 0.1778~0.8462.


10573 Background: We aimed to increase understanding of NSCLC pathogenesis through characterization of molecular and pathway signatures in primary lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SSC) samples matched with syngeneic uninvolved normal lung tissue.

METHODS
Microarrary profiling of ADC and SSC matched with pathologically normal lung tissue (n=20 each) was conducted using the Affymetrix Human Gene 1.0 ST array. The differential expression profile of cancer vs syngeneic normal tissue was calculated for each patient and for combined samples using an unpaired t-test. Pathway analyses based on gene expression profiling were performed using Pathway Studio (Ariadne Genomics, Inc). Functional enrichment was performed using Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney test.

RESULTS
Transcriptional regulators E2F, CTGF and PDGF were implicated in lung cancer pathogenesis. SSC was characterized by involvement of EGF, IL1F8 and CX3CL1 pathways, while changes in RB1, mir-200 and EMP2 targets were specific for ADC. Cell cycle and metastatic processes were significantly affected in ADC and SCC. Cell cycle genes TOP2A, CCNB1, MELK, MAD2L1, SFN, CDC6, ASPM and TOPBP1 were significantly upregulated in SSC, opposed to just TOP2A in ADC. The biochemical signature pinpoints changes in purine and pyrimidine biosynthesis and energy production pathways, which were common in ADC and SSC. DNA repair genes RBBP8, PRKDC, SHFM1, and PCNA were significantly upregulated (2-fold or more; p<0.001) in SCC. All oncogenes in ADC, and most in SCC, were significantly downregulated, including FOS and FOSB. In SSC, the oncogenes ECT2 and DCUN1D1 were upregulated. In SCC, tumor suppressors DLG1 and DLGAP5 were upregulated, and TGFBR2 was downregulated. No significant changes were detected in DNA repair genes in ADC, in apoptotic genes in ADC or SCC, or in tumor suppressor genes in ADC. Pathway signatures of lung ADC and SCC show both similarities and differences to triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Significant changes in NAD metabolism appear to be unique to TNBC and ADC.

CONCLUSIONS
Lung ADC and SCC are characterized by distinct alterations in DNA repair, cell cycle regulation, and metabolism, thus providing a molecular basis for novel therapeutic strategies.


A combined physical model for the human vocal folds and vocal tract is presented. The vocal fold model is based on a symmetrical 16 mass model by Titze. Each vocal fold is modeled with 8 masses that represent the mucosal membrane coupled by non-linear springs to another 8 masses for the vocalis muscle together with the ligament. Iteratively, the value of the glottal flow is calculated and taken as input for calculation of the aerodynamic forces. Together with the spring forces and damping forces they yield the new positions of the masses that are then used for the calculation of a new glottal flow value. The vocal tract model consists of a number of uniform cylinders of fixed length. At each discontinuity incident, reflected and transmitted waves are calculated including damping. Assuming a linear system, the pressure signal generated by the vocal fold model is either convoluted with the Green's function calculated by the vocal tract model or calculated interactively assuming variable reflection coefficients for the glottis and the vocal tract during phonation. The algorithms aim at real-time performance and are implemented in MATLAB.


Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of isoconazole nitrate 1% cream and miconazole nitrate 2% cream in the treatment of tinea pedis and tinea corporis cruris.Methods A multi-center,double-blind,randomized controlled trial was conducted.Isoconazole nitrate 1% cream and miconazole nitrate 2% cream were applied in the lesions of the trial and control group respectively twice daily for 4 weeks to tinea pedis and for 2 weeks to tinea corporis cruris.Results Seventy-one cases in the trial group and 72 cases in control group were evaluated for tinea pedis;73 cases in the trial group and 73 cases in the control group were evaluated for tinea corporis cruris.The clinical effective rate of tinea pedis in forth week was 87.3% in the trial group and 87.5% in control group;and 88.7% versus 91.7% in the sixth week respectively.Mycological cure rate of tinea pedis in forth week was 83.1% in the trial group and 94.4% in control group;and 84.5% versus 90.3% in the sixth week respectively.The total effective rate of tinea pedis in forth week was 77.5% in the trial group and 86.1% in control group;and 78.9% versus 86.1% at week 6 respectively.The clinical effective rate of tinea corporis cruris in the second week was 87.7% in the trial group and 93.2% in control group;and 91.8% versus 94.5% at week 4 respectively.Mycological cure rates for tinea corporis cruris at week 2 were 82.2% in the trial group and 89.0% in control group;and 89.0% versus 93.2% at week 4 respectively.The total effective rates of tinea corporis cruris in second week was 78.1% in the trial group and 86.3% in control group;and 87.7% versus 93.2% at week 4 respectively.Treatment-related adverse events consisted of local irritation,itching,burn or erythema,occurred in 2.1% of patients in the trial group,in 1.4% of patients in the control group.The effcacy and safety of isoconazole nitrate 1% cream in the treatment of tinea pedis and tinea corporis cruris are similar to that of miconazole nitrate 2% cream(P0.05).Conclusion This study suggests that isoconazole nitrate 1% cream was effective and safe in the treatment of tinea pedis and tinea corporis cruris.


Primary revamp of reactors, exchangers and other FCC pretreater components provided return on investment for a complex refining facility. Improved FCC yields, even from heavier feedstocks, increased the facility's ULS fuels capacity.


According to the mechanism of identification of internal disturbance factors of missiles and the effect analysis on their performance and reliability, the correlation among these factors was analyzed. The problem of the calculation of correlation between two factors was solved by defining effect function and considering the correlation between two effect functions as the correlation between two factors. A new generalized correlation coefficient was proposed to describe the correlation between two variables quantitatively, and the superiority of this method was shown through analysis and comparison. At the end of this paper, the steps of reliability calculation based on generalized correlation coefficient were developed. And then an example is used to valid the method.


The wireless sensing node used to monitor the film pressure of water-lubricated bearing is installed on shaft and runs at high speed with shaft, it is time-consuming to replace the battery which has finite lifetime. Therefore, the continuous power supply for wireless sensing node is difficult to be solved. In this paper, the non-contact radio energy transmission method is proposed. Compared with the electrically conductive slip ring, the wear and spark discharge can be avoided by this method. The nested coil structure is adopted as the coupling mechanism of inductively coupled power transfer device, and the LCC-S compensation topology is utilized to compensate the primary and secondary circuit. The theoretical model and physical model of inductive power transmission coupling compensation system are established, and the primary and secondary coils are co-simulated by Maxwell and Simplorer software. Finally, the simulation results are compared with the theoretical ones, and the results show that the error between simulation and theory results is less than 5%, which also verifies the feasibility and accuracy of this method.


There have been three trends in the study of the view of humanity in Daesoon Thought: insider theology, outsider theology, and religious studies. This article is intended to interpret the view of humanity in Daesoon Thought from the perspective of Mircea Eliade's New Humanism. We find similarities between Daesoon Thought and Eliade's New Humanism. Daesoon Thought deals with the complexities of life as being labyrinth-like and puts Jeungsan's view of humanity at the center of a Daesoon worldview. Jeungsan examines the existential problems which humans face in the Former World, and gives the religious remedies of Haewonsangsaeng (the resolution of grievances for mutual beneficence) and Boeunsangsaeng (the grateful reciprocation of favors for mutual beneficence) to transform humanity's worldview for usage in the Later World. Jeungsan suggests a way of peace instead of the revolution of Donghak. Through the Reordering Works of Heaven and Earth, Jeungsan changes the mutual contention of the Former World into the mutual beneficence of the Later World. The cosmology of Daesoon Thought * 배재대학교 교수ᆞ종교문화연구소 소장, E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com 2 대순사상논총 제33집 / 연구논문 recovers the relationship between divine beings and human beings in the three realms, and proposes a system of ethics that promotes virtue and reproves vices and human-centericism. In conclusion, the view of humanity in Daesoon Thought is an unapologetic view of homo-religiosus from within a new humanism.


Situation and general aspects. The Port Orf ord quadrangle lies along the coast of Oregon, on the western slope of the Coast Range, nearly 40 miles north of the California line. It is bounded on the south and north by the parallels 42° 30' and 43°, respectively, with the meridian 124° on the east and the coast on the west, and has an area of about 870 square miles. It is decidedly mountainous, and the mountains are very irregular in contour, but relatively even crested, ranging in altitude from about 2000 to nearly 4000 feet. Near the coast in places there is a broad coastal plain, with terraces on the slopes above. Viewed from the narrow valleys the topography is bold and imposing, but above the steep slopes gentle ones extend to divides, which correspond in general in summit elevations and thus give to the view in many parts the aspect of a dissected plateau. The special features in the topography of the Port Orford quadrangle may therefore be considered under three heads coastal plain and higher marine terraces, river valleys, and Klamath Plateau. Coastal plain and liiglier marine terraces. These features of the coast are well displayed in a profile of the slope from White Mountain to the sea. They are well marked as far south as Port Orford, but beyond that point the terraces are rarely conspicuous. The coastal plain, having a width of from 1 to 5 miles, borders the coast, as shown on the map, from the northern end of the quadrangle to Port Orford; and although in general higher along its eastern or inner border than next the coast, it attains its highest level, 225 feet, in Cape Blanco. Much of the soil is sandy, but in places it is a dark loam, and the plain, affords the largest agricultural tracts of the region. Swamps prevail in many places, and ridges of dune sand are common near the coast, where the smaller streams are ponded by sand bars, forming lagoons. Of these Crooks, New, and Floras lakes, as well as Garrison Lagoon, are good examples. Sixes and Elk rivers are strong streams and maintain an open channel across their bars, but the smaller Floras Creek flows for over 2|miles along the beach before it finds an opening. The mouths of these streams vary much with the season. The winter storms from the south and southwest drive the waves and sand up the coast, and the stream mouths are moved in the same direction, but when the northwest winds of summer prevail they bend down the coast again. East of the coastal plain, on the prominent spurs, the rise of the mountain is by terraces more or less distinctly marked. Short, steep slopes, which are ancient sea cliffs with ancient beaches at their bases, alternate with long, gentle ones marking the corresponding wave-cut terraces. The altitudes of these terraces were measured by an aneroid, and the readings were taken in each case upon the best-developed portion of the terrace. Next above the coastal plain lies the 500-foot terrace, which is narrow on the spur northeast of Denmark, but has a larger development near Fourmile Creek, as well as between Elk River and the Sixes.1 At the 1000-foot level, on the White Mountain trail, is a terrace having a width of over a mile. It is well marked by the road on the next spur northward, 2 miles west of Hare, and is cut on a variety of hard rocks intermingled with soft sandstones. On this terrace are some well-rounded pebbles which mark the ancient sea beach. Marshy spots of the coastal plain also occur at this level. The 1000-foot terrace, like the one next below it, has its greatest development near the northern border of the quadrangle and in the neighborhood of Sixes and Elk rivers, Eastward on the White Mountain trail from the 1000-foot level the ascent becomes steeper to a terrace along whose eastern border there is a well-marked sea cliff at an elevation of about 1500 feet. There is an abrupt change from the flat terrace to a steeper slope, and then a more gradual change through a gentle slope to the plateau-like summit of White Mountain, at an elevation of 2200 feet. The 1500-foot terrace is rarely well developed, although the sea cliff is usually distinct and has been traced for many miles along the coast. x It is perhaps most prominent on the divide north of Edson Creek, and may be seen to best advantage from near the same elevation on the ridge between Edson Creek and the Sixes. River valleys. A person looking northeast down Salmon Creek from the north slope of Salmon Mountain, at an elevation of about 2550 feet, sees clearly the general profile of a cross section of the valley. The upper, gentler slopes belong to the earlier pon*on of the valley and the steeper ones below to the later portion, and for convenience in distinguishing them they may be referred to as earlier and later valleys. Earlier valleys do not occur below an altitude of about 1000 feet above the sea. They are broad, and rise to the plateau summits with rolling slopes. The later valleys are narrow, in many places veritable canyons. The earlier valley streams had their mouths approximately at the level of the 1000-foot terrace, when the coast was at that point, and the valleys and terrace are closely related in genesis. Corresponding earlier and later valleys may be recognized along most of the large streams, especially those which traverse harder rocks, in which the forms of the older valleys are best preserved. The earlier valley of Sixes River may be seen to advantage looking east from Elephant Rock, the bottom being over 1000 feet lower than the summit of Mount Avery, while still below it is the canyon of more recent development. To the east, where softer rocks greatly facilitate erosion, the canyon disappears and a wider valley occurs about Eckley. A similar widening of the later valley is noticeable locally along the South Fork of the Coquille near the mouths of Salmon, and: Beaver creeks, and also along Rogue River at Big Bend. In all of these cases the widening of the valley is due to the presence of soft Eocene rocks. Along Rogue River for many miles below the mouth of the Illinois the later valley is a canyon, but if one mounts upon the steep slopes to an elevation of over 1000 feet the aspect changes on reaching the remnants of the earlier valley, the bottom of which is well preserved just beyond the southern border of the quadrangle a few miles east of the mouth of Silver Creek, in a flat-topped hill rising abruptly over 1000 feet from the river. Similar earlier and later valleys occur along Elk River, but the contrast is not so great, especially for 10 miles below the forks, as the steep slopes have occasioned many landslides, overloading the streams and filling the valleys with gravel, which partly buries the trunks of the adjacent forest trees. During the severe winter of 1893 the ground became so thoroughly saturated with water that there were many slides, and some of the streams have not yet removed the debris. Klamath Plateau. To see this feature it is necessary to ascend to one of the higher summits, whence a general view of the uplands may be obtained. Notwithstanding, many small irregularities, which will be better understood after the development of the topography has been considered, an approximation to a general level will be noted, with an inclination toward the coast. Near the eastern border of the quadrangle, as seen from Barklow Mountain, the crest of the Coast Range presents a comparatively even sky line, at an elevation of approximately 3500 feet, but rising gently southward. The flattish summits are best marked to the north, beyond the limits of the quadrangle, where they present in a marked degree the appearance of a plateau deeply trenched by its streams. Westward throughout the Port Orford quadrangle, and, in fact, over the greater portion of the Klamath Mountains, which extend from Rogue River to Sacramento Valley, there is a general sumniit level marking the plateau, with occasional peaks rising clearly above the others, and yet there are but few places where a considerable extent of the original plateau surface is preserved. In Iron Mountain the plain rises to 4000 feet. Toward the sea it gradually declines to nearly 2000 feet, and Mount Butler and Mount Avery rise a few hundred feet above the general plain. Between the Sixes and Floras Creek the rolling plateau surface is marked in Edson Butte, and declines gently westward to Eightmile Prairie and White mountains. Traces of the plateau, which was once continuous over the wjiole country, are still preserved south of Elk River in the flat-topped mountains about Blackberry and Panther creeks, at an altitude of 2500 feet; and just north of Rogue River the undulating plain forms the crest of the divide in the Prairie Mountains east of Lobster Creek, with altitudes increasing eastward from 2200 to 3000 feet. The terraces of the coast, the river valleys, and the plateau are all effects of the processes of land sculpture by marine and river erosion, influenced by changes in the relative position of land and sea, and their development will be considered briefly in the sketch of the geological history of the region. Of the features noted above, the coastal plain is by far the most distinctly represented on the map. The development of the earlier valleys became so advanced as to obscure considerably the plateau feature. Population. The population of the whole quadrangle is scarcely 2000, but most of the people are on the coastal plain. The fertile alluvial flats along the South Fork of the Coquille have attracted settlers, but the narrow valleys along most of the streams are inhabited only by miners. The high precipitation of the region (68 inches) gives it a dense coat of vegetation, much of which is underbrush. Coniferous forests of great extent occur and have yielded much lumber, but a large portion of the wooded tracts is of little importance.


TPS2667 Background: KRAS-mutated tumors are notoriously difficult to treat clinically with targeted therapies. Recent advances targeting KRAS G12C with sotorasib and adagrasib are encouraging but limited to a small subset of patients. NEROFE is a 14 amino acid peptide which inhibits suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2; member of the interleukin 1 [IL-1] receptor family and IL-33 receptor), a novel immune checkpoint present on tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages. ST2 blockade with NEROFE has been shown to transform an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment into an immune-stimulatory microenvironment. NEROFE also has been shown to induce microRNA miR-217 which downregulates KRAS and MAPK1/2 gene expression in preclinical models. When combined with low-dose doxorubicin, NEROFE has a synergistic effect on inducing apoptosis in KRAS-mutated, ST2-positive cell lines and xenograft models. Methods: This is a phase I trial of NEROFE given at 48 mg/m2 (dose level [DL] -1), 96 mg/m2 (DL1), 192 mg/m2 (DL2), or 288 mg/m2 (DL3) IV weekly with doxorubicin 8 mg/m2 IV weekly. A standard 3+3 dose escalation/de-escalation is used. The primary objective is to determine the recommended phase II dose. Patients are eligible if they have an advanced solid tumor with a KRAS mutation and ST2-positivity (via immunohistochemistry [IHC], centrally confirmed with pre-screening allowed). Patients must have measurable disease amenable to serial biopsy. Patients must have had progression or intolerance to all standard therapies or must decline available standard therapy. Pharmacokinetic profiles will be analyzed from serial blood draws pre- and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 24 hours post-infusion on cycle 1 day and cycle 2 day 1. Pre- and on-treatment tumor biopsies are mandatory. Correlative studies include IHC for ST2 expression, immune cell infiltration and blood-based analyses of KRAS mRNA, miR-217, and cytokines. Enrollment to DL1 began in Q1 2023 (NCT05661201). Clinical trial information: NCT05661201 .


Objectives: The main aim of this study is to analyze the differentials in average expenditure on prenatal, delivery and postnatal care by socio-economic characteristics of households in EAG states and assessment of the number of households incurred catastrophic health expenditure on maternity care. Method: We have used 71 st round of the NSSO data held on June 2014. For the analysis of prenatal care, delivery care, postnatal care, total maternity expenditure and Out of Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) have been taken as dependent variables and the independent variables have been chosen based on previous studies as well as socio-economic aspects, especially in EAG states of India. Bivariate analysis and binary logistic method have been used for the data analysis. Results: Results shows that MCE is high in urban sector specially in Orissa among all EAG states. We also found that Orissa has the maximum number of household that incurred high catastrophic-health-expenditure. Conclusion: We can conclude that women belong to better socio-economic condition spent more money on maternity care and incurred high OOPE where is, it is less among women who belong to poor socio-economic condition, due to lack of awareness and other socio-economic hurdles.


Oxidation of thiamine hydrochloride (T-HCl) by sodium N-chloro-p- toluenesulphonamide (chloramine-T or CAT) in HClO4 medium was studied at 30°C. The reaction shows first order dependence in CAT0, fractional order in T-HCl0 and inverse fractional order in HClO4. The rate decreased with decrease in dielectric constant of the medium. The solvent isotope effect was studied using D2O. Variation of ionic strength and addition of the reaction product p-toluenesulphonamide or halide ions had no significant effect on the reaction rate. Oxidation products were identified. The Michaelis-Menten type of kinetics has been proposed and activation parameters for the rate-limiting step and also for composite reaction have been computed. Values of dcprotonation, formation and decomposition constants were evaluated. Mechanism (Scheme) consistent with the observed kinetic results is proposed and discussed.


Energy security is nowadays one of the key world issues that affect the states' economies and security policies . The international environment has changed and it will not be easy to forecast oil and gas prices. There is also another fundamental factor: the increasing greenhouse effect gas emissions from energy production and use. Finding the balance between security of supply, environmental impact and prices is the key for the future energy policy, linked to other objectives such as the strength of national companies or the coherence with other policies. The article proposes nine measures to facilitate Spain's security of supply.


Objective

Positive and negative themes about their illness have been identified in an adult population with anorexia nervosa. It was our goal to explore the thematic content of the letters written by an adolescent population in order to better our understanding of how this different population relates to the illness.

Method

Twenty-seven adolescents with anorexia nervosa were asked to write two letters to their eating disorder, one addressing it as a friend and the other, as an enemy. The coding scheme initially developed by Serpell and Treasure, with minor adjustments, was used to code the letters by two trained raters, with high inter-rater reliability.

Results

Many similarities and a few notable differences between the adolescent population and an adult population were noted. Compared to an adult population, adolescents valued to a greater degree the sense of feeling looked after by the disorder and the increased attention that they felt the disorder provided. In contrast, they did not view loss of periods as a benefit. Regarding perceived costs of anorexia nervosa, adolescents described a greater degree of psychological distress in relation to the disorder, and a greater sense of having been tricked by the disorder. They did not describe as much frustration with preoccupation with thoughts about food or of being controlled by food. All other themes were not considered appreciably different in terms of percentage of statements or of subjects.

Discussion

An understanding of how adolescents relate to their illness in terms of themes can help to provide the therapist with a sense of where a patient is in terms of motivation and readiness for recovery. This in turn can aid in the determination of an appropriate treatment approach that is most likely to foster an optimal therapeutic alliance and to enhance motivation to recover. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.


In allusion to the most outstanding pollution problem of water resources in northern China, one calculating method of basic environmental water requirement of the rivers which can guarantee the river function of depuration and dilution is proposed, namely, the monthly (annual) guaranteed frequency method Under the precondition of different monthly (annual) guaranteed frequencies, this method takes the percentage of different natural annual mean discharge as the grade of environmental water requirement of the rivers with the help of series of hydrological statistical data, and the monthly (annual) basic environmental water requirement of the rivers is calculated individually under different guaranteed frequencies and different grades As a case the Huang Huai Hai plain of North China is analyzed Firstly, the main problems existing in the course of water resources utilization and water environment of research area are analyzed, and the main function of river system is confirmed Secondly, the current water utilization of rivers is evaluated with the criterion of Tennant method, and the results indicate that the average water consumption of the rivers in Huang Huai Hai plain in 1997 is shortage, and except that basin slice of Huaihe River belongs to "extremely good grade", the others all fall into the category of "worst" grade or "extremely bad"grade Thirdly, the basic environmental water requirement of the rivers in Huang Huai Hai plain was calculated using the method put forward in this paper, and the results showed that the minimum environmental water requirement of the rivers in Huang Huai Hai plain is 21 76 billion m 3 , accounting for 15% of normal annual runoff In which, 3 09 billion m 3 are for Haihe River basin, 5 2 billion m 3 for the downstream of the Yellow River and 13 47 billion m 3 for Huaihe River basin The results are verified through Tennant method, which proved that the calculation result is reliable The countermeasures and suggestions to meet the need of basic environmental water requirement of the rivers in research area are proposed finally The research of this article not only enriches the environmental water requirement theory, but also set up good foundation for further study of ecological (environmental) water requirement, and can offer effective basis for water resources planning and water environmental conservation for the research area at the same time


Currently, one of the urgent tasks of graph analysis is community detection. A large number of algorithms have been developed for detecting communities in graphs. Meanwhile, these communities have nothing to do with groups of people, i.e., family, colleagues, friends, and are used to simplify the graph representation. For a large number of tasks, it is useful to detect a group of people who closely communicate with each other. Many algorithms for detecting communities do not take into account that one participant can belong to several communities, and this is a prerequisite for detecting social circles. The paper overviews the main approaches to community detection, and among these emphasizes the approaches based on functionality optimization, clique problem, cluster analysis and label distribution. The approaches based on the analysis of ego-networks, i.e., considering the subgraph formed by the connections of one participant, are considered separately. The study gives the basic algorithms that are applicable for the selection of communities with certain relationship types based on billing information. Findings of research are useful for community detection depending on the task and available input data


Soil is the most important yet neglected factor in the construction projects. All structures, houses, highways, bridges, dams and even life itself is dependent on soil. Many consumers see soil analysis as a fund loss despite being the cheapest in the construction process, the cost of soil testing is hardly up to one percent of the construction cost. Some contractors also ignore the importance of proper soil research and analysis and base their design on assumed bearing capacity and settlement rate. The present paper is based on mapping all the soil index properties. In this work bore logs are collected from different agencies. The necessary data is extracted from bore logs and mapping of index properties is carried out. These maps will help the engineers and contractors to get a general idea of the soil strata and help them to design the foundations and carry out other construction works.


Pyrrole and pyrrolopyrimidine derivatives are important and versatile compounds. The main objective of the present book is to provide an overview in the synthesis and reactions of pyrrole and pyrrolopyrimidine derivatives and their used in medicine and study their Pharmacological activities such as "Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic, Antimicrobial, Anti-hepatoprotective, Anti-hyperglycemic, Anti-cancer and Anti-viral activities".


In this paper, we investigate an adaptive controller for nonlinear systems. Dynamic surface control(DSC) is employed to design an effective controller for following a desired command. The conventional backstepping design generally used for nonlinear systems suffers from the inherent problem of explosion of complexity because it has to repeat differentiations of the virtual control input. By using the DSC approach, this problem is avoided. For designing the adaptive controller, the multi-dimensional Fourier integration is employed in order to estimate non-periodic nonlinear functions. It is shown that the proposed controller design can guarantee the uniformly ultimate boundedness of the closed-loop system solution, and make the tracking error arbitrarily small. The simulation using the longitudinal dynamics of the air-to-air missile model results validate the feasibility of the proposed control law.


Husserlian and Heideggerian phenomenology face severe problems if not dead-ends while trying to formulate a politically active philosophical position. It can be assumed, at least for the sake of the argument, that Žižek's return to Hegel is, in part, an attempt to avoid these problems that are connected to the philosophy of the subject and action, or even, work. Consequently, it may be relevant to see how Žižek's phenomenology of the subject compares to that of Husserl and Heidegger, especially with regard to progressive or revolutionary action, a place where, necessarily, the notions of subjectivity, of being human, and of work, of engaging materially and socially in the world, come together. The emphasis here will be on Žižek's thoughts as they are presented, not on their historical roots or accuracy, for instance, in view of his interpretation of Hegel (not, even, on what that interpretation exactly is). The historical momentum included in a Hegelian phenomenology of the subject is explicit. Furthermore, if we, like Žižek, read Hegel as philosopher of the negativity of subjectivity, there is ample reason to suspect that Husserlian and Heideggerian phenomenology has not been radical enough in its allegedly purely formal (phenomenological) description of subjectivity. Crudely put, the claim could be that while both Husserl and Heidegger stay too close to a particular positive subjectivity (transcendental reason, German Dasein) they miss the truly universal dimension attainable through a dialectic of subjectivity. In Žižek's reading of Hegelian dialectic such universality is, however, necessary for radical political engagement. In this sense, whatever the


On August 29th, 2005, New Orleans was hit with one of the most damaging hurricanes in the history of the United States. Even before the storm, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) listed a hurricane strike in New Orleans as one of the most ruinous threats to the nation. Despite these warnings and the mandatory evacuation orders, more than 70,000 citizens chose not to evacuate the city prior to the storm. Previous literature focuses on income, frequency of exposure to hurricanes and credibility issues to explain the unwillingness of individuals to evacuate (Baker, 1991; Gladwin & Peacock, 1997; Lindell and Perry, 1992). In this paper, I propose a theory of evacuation based on individuals' property related concerns. During a hurricane strike, it is especially difficult to maintain law and order. Thus an individual might decide to put his life at risk in order to protect his property; causing coordination problems. I model evacuation decisions as a noncooperative game and examine its Nash equilibrium. I find that as property-related concerns increase, probability of evacuation decreases. I further find that as the number of residents increase in the city, probability of evacuation decreases. This paper provides the policy makers with the tools to determine welfare associated with mandatory vs. voluntary evacuation orders and the groundwork to lay out guidelines to follow prior to making any type of evacuation decision.


High density service with electric multiple unit cars produces such contact wire wear on JNR that replacement as frequently as every 3 years is necessary in some places. A laser measuring system has been tested for 5 years; its success points to building a catenary inspection car for routine service.


Nonequilibrium carrier dynamics in copper selenide (Cu2−δSe δ=0.15, Cu3Se2) nanowires (diameter ≈18 nm, height ≈2 μm) and nanocrystallites (diameter≈18 nm) in femto- and picosecond time domains by the means of a transient dynamic grating technique were investigated. Bulk and quantum confinement approaches were used to fit the experimental results using nonequilibrium carrier fast relaxation, recombination, and trapping mechanisms. A nonradiative Auger recombination was concluded to be the main mechanism of nonequilibrium carrier recombination. The Auger coefficient for copper selenide was estimated of the order of 10−30−10−29 cm6 s−1. Hole trapping at shallow impurity centers in nanowires was interpreted. From calculating the experimental results the trapping parameters and high concentration of centers >1020 cm−3 were evaluated. Finally, direct measurement of carrier lifetime in copper selenide nanostructures showed values of the order of ≈10−10 s. Samples were characterized by the means of transmission ...


empire" (227). It took about three decades and three wars, and would be disrupted somewhat during the wars with the French between 1689 and 1713, but it is clear that they belonged to the empire as much as any metropolitan policy maker. Koot's research is strong, but his interpretations can be puzzling. Must the Anglo-Dutch trade links he has demonstrated be seen as proof that "access to Dutch goods" affected the "economic ideologies" of the British colonists? Was there really a "Dutch influence" on their "commercial culture" that made them appreciate "the benefits of a collaborative and multiethnic community because it had sustained them through the early decades of building colonies" (227)? Beginning the study before the Anglo-Dutch Atlantic trade connection existed, rather than at its inception, might help distinguish the Dutch connection from the colonists' self-interested (and transitory) endorsement of free trade. The trajectory of Koot's book describes a consolidation of center and periphery even as his analytical framework pits English colonists (the titular "periphery") against the metropole. He is strongly affected by the colonists' initial resistance, in word and deed, to the Navigation Acts. It is clear that English colonists preferred free trade when it profited them. Whether this is a story of needs and desires, as Koot insists, or simply wealth and power is uncertain. The Dutch connection may demonstrate that the British colonists were "pieces of an integrated cross-national and interdependent Atlantic community" and not just "cogs in a larger British Atlantic" (212). However, it also demonstrates that the English colonists needed power and desired wealth, and they would seize them whenever and however they could, in a world swirling with wars and revolutions. Koot rightly maintains, "the radical innovation in the middle of the seventeenth century was not colonists' refusal to accept an exclusive empire, but rather was state builders' attempts to impose this structure on a preexisting culture that prized cross-national exchange" (224). Nonetheless, he may underestimate the degree to which colonists prized cross-national exchange because it helped them build a British empire. Perhaps ironically, Koot ends his book with the colonists starting to turn against each other, not the metropole. In the 1710s West Indians began "calls for restrictions on foreign trade," even as New Yorkers argued they "needed to export flour to Dutch, French, and Spanish colonies in order to" maintain their balance of payments with Britain (222). Both claimed the empire for themselves. Koot's analysis can be perplexing when taken at the scale of the aggregate (colonists vs. metropole, Dutch empire vs. English empire, cross-national vs. exclusive). His particular case studies (Barbados, New York, the Leeward Islands) are impressive, however, and add to our understanding of how the British Empire emerged out of a world of competing empires, even as it was divided within and without.


The invention discloses anti-aging isotactic polypropylene noise-absorbing cotton which is composed of a top surface layer, a back surface layer and a cellucotton layer clamped between the top surface layer and the back surface layer, wherein the top surface layer and the back surface layer are made of a non-woven fabric material. The anti-aging isotactic polypropylene noise-absorbing cotton is characterized in that the non-woven fabric is prepared from the following raw materials in parts by weight through a melt-blowing method: 100 parts of isotactic polypropylene, 12-15 parts of poly-terephthalic acid malon dihydric alcohol, 5-7 parts of tritolyl phosphate, 3-4 parts of pentaerythritol stearate, 1-2 parts of anti-aging protective ODA, 2-3 parts of phenyl-triethoxy silane, 10-12 parts of dimethyl terephthalate, 10-12 parts of marijuana stem, 10-12 parts of attapulgite, 4-8 parts of grapevine, 3-4 parts of radix curcumae, 2-3 parts of chrysanthemum, 3-4 parts of rhizoma atractylodis and 4-5 parts of accessory ingredient. According the preparation method, the anti-aging protective and the like are added to modify isotactic polypropylene by adopting the melt-blowing method, so that the weather resistance of common noise-absorbing cotton is greatly improved, the ageing time is postponed, the service life of a product is prolonged, and the prepared noise-absorbing cotton has the advantages of uniform thickness, good product viscosity, high tensile property, obvious noise-absorbing effect and the like.


Systems and methods are described in which composite solids such as dyed fibers or fabrics are produced by reversibly generating permeable regions within a heterogeneous solid. Permeating substances are trapped within the heterogeneous solid on reversal of the permeability to form a composite solid, within which the permeating substances are protected from environmental factors.


This paper describes a process for systematic evaluation and updating of the undergraduate educational objectives and outcomes of the engineering programs at the San It describes a set of assessment tools, which includes survey questionnaires, test results, and interviews. The course objectives are defined and evaluated for each subject in the curriculum by the faculty on a regular basis to ensure that the program outcomes are being met. A group of three or four faculty members are assigned to evaluate each course outcome on a continual basis and their recommendations are used to make course improvements. This paper will discuss the course and program outcome assessments. It will explain how assessment data are collected, analyzed, and used in the enhancement of our undergraduate programs. quality instruction in the department, shows how the course objectives identified by instructors as essential or important relate to the student outcome for the program objectives. The learning objectives identified by faculty as "Essential" and "Important" are summarized below. The relationships between the selected course objectives and the specific student outcomes are also identified. The percentage column indicates how often the ME faculty members have identified a course learning objective as important or essential. Not all items given in the IDEA report are included here. Only those items related to our program objectives are included.


The publication history of this book underlines the importance of considering it at this point in time. It was Ž rst brought to the community in 1997 in a hard cover edition. It is now released, with a new preface, in a soft cover edition in 1999. This obviously re ects a judgement by the publisher that this is a book of wider impact than the usual collaborative volume that archives some signiŽ cant research in a particular domain. The Ž rst strength of this collaborative volume lies in the fact that it is not the product of a conference that brought various researches together at only one point in time. It is a product of an ongoing programme of research with a common framework accepted by a number of authors. (It originated in a workshop organized by a research network funded by the European Science Foundation—an inter-organizational network itself.) Its second signiŽ cant strength lies in the fact that it provides a comprehensive review of the research directions that have in uenced attitudes toward the phenomena of inter-organizational network formation among Ž rms. The perspective of the book is accurately represented by the title. Its central concern is the process of formation of inter-organizational networks, with emphasis on the word formation. It seeks to restore a balance between studies of the motivations for networking, which have dominated the literature, and the analysis of the process of networking. It begins by placing inter-organizational networks as a middle ground for resource management and governance between the arms-length relationships of the market and the intimacy of connections within the Ž rm. When, why and how do Ž rms engage in interorganizational networking? The editor and many of the authors stress the value of a multidisciplinary approach to these questions. Indeed, the disciplinary perspectives included are varied, but two seem to dominate—organization theory and economics. The clue to the emphasis may lie in a focus on the Ž rm. This book is not, for example, addressed to the student of an 'innovation system', whether regional or national, where activities of governments, research institutes, or universities are seen (from a 'macro' viewpoint) as of comparable importance to the activities of Ž rms. This book proceeds from a 'micro' viewpoint appropriate under the assumption that the infrastructure provided from the other sectors is in place to be drawn on by Ž rms. Three main issues serve to sub-divide the book and act as themes for speciŽ c studies. These are: resource  ows and the role of activity links, mutual expectations and the role of trust, and information  ows and the role of catalysts. Three speciŽ c contributions appear under each of these headings. All sections blend empirical research (new studies and careful literature reviews) with conceptual and theoretical analysis of the networking process.


Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, devastating, interstitial lung disease, with few therapeutic options. IPF is characterized by pulmonary restriction, dyspnea, hypoxemia, exercise intolerance and poor quality of life (QOL). Objectives: We aimed to examine the effect of exercise training (ET) on clinical outcomes in IPF patients. Methods: A randomized controlled study included thirtytwo IPF patients (aged 68 ± 8 years) who were allocated either to the ET group (n = 15), participating in a 12-week, twice-weekly 60-min supervised ET-based pulmonary rehabilitation program, or to a control group (n = 17) continuing with regular medical treatment alone. Cardiopulmonary exercise test, 6-min walking distance (6MWD) test, 30-second chair-stand test, pulmonary function tests, dyspnea and QOL were assessed at baseline and at the end of the 12-week intervention. Results: Significant differences were observed between the ET and the control groups in raw mean deltas (Δ = post- – pre-intervention): Δ6MWD, 81 m, p < 0.001; ΔV O 2


Regulatory policies regarding tail docking vary from country to country. Tail docking is prohibited in Denmark, Germany, Scotland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Some Australian states prohibit the procedure, but others allow it only if performed by a veterinarian for udder health reasons. Canadian guidelines recommend that competent personnel conduct the procedure and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association officially opposes routine tail docking of dairy cattle. In the U.S., there are no federal or state laws or regulations regarding tail docking of cattle, but recently (2004) the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) approved a new position statement as follows:


Governance of abandoned mines has become a pressing issue for China. The utilization of abandoned mines is a technology that can solve the problem of governance and recreate the value of mines, which is in line with the current strategic goals of ecological protection and double carbon in China. In this paper, the various utilization models and the advances in rock mechanics of abandoned mines across the globe are summarized and reviewed. The utilization models of abandoned mines can be categorized into four aspects: Energy storage, Waste treatment, Ecological restoration, and carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration. There are a number of applications and uses of abandoned mines, such as pumped storage, compressed air storage, salt cavern gas/oil storage construction, carbon dioxide storage and utilization, radioactive waste disposal and treatment, and tourism development. Various progress practices of abandoned mines are discussed in detail with emphasis on the national conditions of China. The basic rock mechanics problems and advances involved in the construction of the facilities related to the utilization of abandoned mines are discussed and evaluated. The establishment of relevant research and experimental platforms will contribute to the sustainable development of China's mining industry and the improvement of clean technologies.


Let D be a domain in R% x Ä,1 and dpD be the parabolic boundary of D. Suppose dpD is composed of two parts B and S: B is given locally by t = t and S is given locally by the graph of x" = f(x¡, x2, .. ., xn_i, t) where / is Lip 1 with respect to the local space variables and Lip j with respect to the universal time variable. Let o be the n-dimensional Hausdorff measure in R"+l and o' be the {n — \ydimensional Hausdorff measure in R". And let dm{E) = do(E ni)+ do' X dt(E n S) for E ç dpD. We study (i) the relation between the parabolic measure on dpD and the measure dm on dpD and (ii) the boundary behavior of subparabolic functions on D. For a Lipschitz domain in A"1, the relation between the harmonic measure and the (n — l)-dimensional Hausdorff measure on the boundary has been studied by Dahlberg [2], who proves among other results, that these two measures have the same null sets. In the first part of this note, we study the analogous problem for heat equation and prove that if a set on the boundary of a Lipschitz domain in Rn+X = R" X Rx (properly adapted for heat equation) is of certain Lebesgue type measure zero then it is the union of a set with parabolic measure zero and a set with adjoint parabolic measure zero. The inverse result has not been obtained yet.1 In the second part of this note, we study the boundary limits of subparabolic functions in a Lipschitz domain D in Rn+X and prove that if u is a subparabolic function in D with positive parabolic majorant and £ is a uniformly separated family of parabolically nontangential curves in D (defined in §3) ending on E C 3D, then u has limit along every curve ending in E \ F, where F is the union of a set with parabolic measure zero and a set with adjoint parabolic measure zero. The subharmonic version of the above Received by the editors February 1, 1978. AMS (MOS) subject classifications (1970). Primary 35K05; Secondary 31B25.


Abstract Aim: To compare the effect of implantation of intracorneal rings on corneal sphericity between one segment ring and double segment ring implantation in keratoconus eyes. Setting: Memorial institute for ophthalmic research Methods: This study is retrospective study done on 30 eyes of keratoconus patients between 2019and 2021. Intracorneal rings were implanted in the cornea for treatment of keratoconus The study was done on two study groups, in Group A one ring segment was implanted and in Group B two ring segments were implanted. The choice of the number, thickness and arc length of the rings were done according to Kera ring manufacture nomogram. We studied the Corneal sphericity measured by corneal ashericity coefficient (Q value) concluded from Pentacam preoperative and 6month postoperative. Keratometric values, visual acuity and refraction of the patients were also studied preoperatively and 6month postoperative. Results: The changes in refraction were statistically significant before and after surgery in both groups regarding UCVA and refraction. Comparing both groups regarding sphere and cylinder refraction, we found that there was significant difference in sphere refraction pre and postoperatively (p<0.001& 0.009 respectively) and in cylinder refraction preoperatively (p =0.024). The changes in Q anterior were significant in both groups. Moreover, the changes in K1, K2, K max and astigmatism values before and after ring implantation were significant in both groups. Comparing the results of K1, K2, K max and Q anterior significant difference was observed between the two groups after surgery while there was significant difference in K1and K2 before surgery. Conclusion: Intracorneal ring segments implantation for treatment of keratoconus either one or two rings change the anterior corneal asphericity approximating the Q anterior value to the ideal Q value (-0.46) and improve the UCVA and the BCVA of patients besides decrease the refractive sphere and cylinder values. Implantation of two rings have higher effect than implantation of one ring on approximating the Q anterior value to ideal.


This paper proposes that the essential component of conversation is the three-turn sequential organization, which exists in both mundane conversation and institutional interaction. On the basis of that understanding, we analyze 3rd turn in news interview and arrive at the conclusion that evaluation is not found in the third turn delivered by the program host, although the third turn can be used to fulfill different communicative functions, and we think that absence of evaluation in the third turn is in accordance with the requirements of news media to be neutral.


The Information Technology devices provide a lot of useful information anywhere. Though the usefulness of the IT devices, they interfere with the driver's attention in driving situation. The integration of the in-vehicle interfaces is important to manage the interaction process of the in-vehicle electronic devices and provide the information safely. We consider about the in-vehicle interfacing system design method to make the system. The design of the integrated system is based on the main subject that interacts with the driver. This paper describes the better design to make the integrated system compatible and flexible. To develop the real in-vehicle interaction system, we classify the interaction from the existing IT devices, the navigation system and the mobile cellphone. The direct operation of the IT device is monitored by the integrated system to know the driver's action in driving situation, and the information from the IT device is managed to provide when/how the driver recognize. We will apply the system design method to develop the HVI(Human-Vehicle Interface) system to integrate the in-vehicle interaction.


Web service is a growing technology that has been widely adopted by many organizations. It has provided a medium for communication between service provider and service requestor in the business environment. The role of semantic in web service has played an important role in this communication by allowing automatic discovery, selection and composition between the service provider and requestor. However, both service provider and the requestor are unable to achieve their business goals when there are miscommunications between their processes. This paper presents an overview of the process incompatibility between Web Services and the ways to automatically resolve them. Several approaches have been analyzed to understand the existing process mediation framework. These approaches have been presented in three categories namely Rule-based, Pattern-based and Planner-based. Moreover, we have compared these approaches based on few criteria such as expressiveness, automation, correctness and completeness.


The structure and the function of multi-arc and sputtering coating machine are reviewed, and the coating properties of TiN+Au(IPG) are prepared by this kind of machine discussed. Then, the structure and the feature of this kind of new multi-function ion plating machine, composite ion coating machine, are introduced. We can find its some model application in the field of surface plating. A special multi-layer coating of metal/cermets was prepared by the machine which has very excellent performance.


This paper describes a mathematical model of an uneven road surface where the statistical characteristics of the roughness are isotropic. A spectral density matrix is obtained in consideration of a correlation of the roughness between the right and the left track. By factorization of the rational spectral density matrix, which results from the approximation of the cross spectral density, the transfer function matrix is formulated, and the minimal realization of the shaping filter is obtained analytically. The results of the numerical simulation using the shaping filter are in good agreement with analytical ones.


With the present increase in globalization and competition, companies are put under the pressure of improving their ability to adapt immediately to market developments, offering higher flexibility, and to proactivism in creating future markets. Within this scenario, the relative importance of physical resource endowments as drivers of economic growth is decreasing as these factors are now almost ubiquitously available. Capital and work are no longer the differentiating and generating factors of sustainable competitive advantage. On the contrary, soft production factors, that is, those related to personal bounded knowledge, are becoming more important. Among the studies considered seminal in stressing the role of such production factors, mainly knowledge and human capital at a theoretical level, those of ROMER (1986) and LUCAS (1988), respectively, stand out. From them there has been a stream of literature, both theoretical and empirical, that considers such types of capital as main drivers of economic growth. Specifically, all these soft production factors can be generically grouped in what is known as intangible assets (IA). These assets can be defined as