THE SO-CALLED GILDED AGE is generally perceived as a time when a materialist mentality took hold of Americans--a period when their country underwent tremendous economic and social transformations that had a major impact on people's lives, attitudes, and ways of self-fashioning. Indeed, the dominant narrative about the Gilded Age is, as Winfried Fluck and Leo Marx have pointed out, the one about America's "historical turn towards materialism" (415). In his recent study A Sense of Things (2003), Bill Brown draws attention to the centrality of the physical object world in late nineteenth-century American culture; he speaks of an "age of things," referring to an era when the invention, production, distribution, and consumption of material objects took on unprecedented forms and quantities (5). My focus here will also be on things and the relations people maintain with them, but I am less concerned with discontinuity--the narratives of a new materialism--than with certain continuities. I will concentrate on the domestic, subjective, and feminine dimensions of human object-relations--relations that are embedded in and shaped by specifically gendered interiors. In this paper, "interiority" denotes both subjectivity and interior space, and I explore the connections between spatial, material, and psychic aspects of interiority, including the inner or secret life of things. Accordingly, it is the inside of "materialism" rather than its conspicuousness that interests me here--a materialism that is intimate rather than public, moral rather than fetishistic, idiosyncratic rather than narcissistic. Concretely, I will analyze the literary life of domestic objects in two short stories, one by Sarah Orne Jewett and one by Mary Wilkins Freeman. In these writings, the domestic sphere is the major arena of women's development, influence, and self-articulation, and it is also the realm where the relations between the genders, parents, and children, and, most significantly, people and things are mapped out. I consider the literary treatment of domestic material culture with regard to the cultural revaluation of the so-called "woman's sphere" in mid-nineteenth-century America, which attributed a major responsibility to women as guardians of civilization. In this tradition, the white middle-class home was closely associated with an ideal of feminine domesticity. The contemporary advice literature-most prominently Harriet Beecher Stowe and Catherine Beecher's The American Woman's Home (1869)--emphasized women's vital role as "ministers" of the family home. A Christian and moral dimension was ascribed to the tasks of housekeeping, child-rearing, and interior decoration-and woman's civilizing role was estimated accordingly. My paper sets out from the perception that this ideal domesticity does not simply encompass a woman's care and love of her husband and children but also that of physical objects. Like the family, domestic things are in her charge, they are objects of her affection and devotion as well as media of feminine self-expression that articulate her aesthetic sensibility and refinement. While the association of material and psychological forms works rather harmoniously in the work of Stowe, it is rendered more complicated in the stories by Jewett and Freeman where the emotional bonds between female characters and private objects are still significant but have ceased to correspond to an ideal of feminine domesticity in an unproblematic way. Harriet Beecher Stowe and the Motherly Chair I will briefly exemplify the relevant aspects of Stowe's "sentimental materialism" (see Merish) with regard to the famous chapter in Uncle Tom's Cabin entitled "The Quaker Settlement."' Here, the emotional investment in things is often accompanied by an animation of the home's object world; that is, things assume a lively, sometimes even a human aspect. A case in point is offered by Rachel Halliday's prominent rocking chairs: There is "a larger sized one, motherly and old, whose wide arms breathed hospitable invitation, seconded by the solicitation of its feather cushions,-a real comfortable, persuasive old chair, and worth, in the way of honest, homely enjoyment, a dozen of your plush or brochetelle drawing-room gentry" (UTC 116). …


Current HPC clusters are capable to reduce execution time of parallelized tasks significantly. The paper discusses the use of two selected strategies of cluster computational resources allocation and their impact on parallel efficiency of fire simulation. Simulation of a simple corridor fire scenario by Fire Dynamics Simulator parallelized by the MPI programming model is tested on the HPC cluster at the Institute of Informatics of Slovak Academy of Sciences in Bratislava (Slovakia). The tests confirm that parallelization has a great potential to reduce execution times achieving promising values of parallel efficiency of the simulation, however, the results also show that the use of increasing numbers of computational meshes resulting in increasing numbers of used computational cores does not necessarily decrease the execution time nor the parallel efficiency of simulation. The results obtained indicate that the simulation achieves different values of the execution time and the parallel efficiency in regard of the used strategy for cluster computational resources allocation.


This paper, presented at the Laboratori per la Critica Sociale organised by the Centro Studi Transformazione Economico-Sociali (CESTES-PROTEO), is the English language version of 'The age of war: From world market to world conquest', presented at the Forum on the Theoretical analysis of the Imperialism of the XXI Century, organised by the Laboratorio per la Critica Sociale del Centro Studi Trasformazioni Economico-Sociali (CESTES-PROTEO), Rome University La Sapienza, 12 April 2003. It was also presented to the 5th Annual Conference of the Association for Heterodox Economics, Nottingham Trent University, 8-10 July, 2003. The Italian version was entitled 'L'eta della guerra: dal mercato mondiale alla conquista del mondo', The paper argues that the world is entering a new age of war, a political consequence of Globalisation. A supplementary file contains slides that accompanied a subsequent presentation of this paper at the University of Umea, Sweden, also in July 2003


a rich and illuminating discourse-analytic study of women's friendships and the kinds of conversaincluded. I certainly did not always agree with her analyses, but I found them illuminating. The 'women' were English-speaking women, mostly from relatively privileged backgrounds in England, and they agreed to record themselves when they got together for companionable periods of natural unscripted talk. Men talk: Stories in the making of masculinity (MT) is a worthy successor to WT. Not surprisingly, however, its tone and its emphases are rather different. The focus of MT is on narrative, on telling stories. Storytelling, C argues, is central to men's construction of themselves and of the other men they encounter in their lives. Men's stories, her corpus suggests, focus on male exploits and achievements and promote camaraderie among men but not emotional intimacy. The stories analyzed in MT offer further support for the idea that 'hegemonic masculinity' (Connell 1995) crucially involves distinguishing oneself from and claiming superiority to both women and gay men. Hardly surprising, but C's analyses are far more detailed, subtle, and nuanced than such a summary can convey: MTis an important contribution to the recent literature on masculinity as performed by men and boys in contemporary Western industrial society. Ch. 1, 'We was playing naked football', sets the stage, noting that, although research involving men's speech has been going on for some time, it is only recently that scholars have examined men and their speech as gendered. (I use here the short quotes that C has selected to open her chapter titles.) The all-male data that are the main focus of the book are drawn from recordings of thirty-two different conversations of friendship groups, which include 203 stories; twelve separate groups are represented, and they include different ages and class backgrounds. Directly or through intermediaries, C got these groups to consent to recording themselves for her research project. Although occasionally participants indicated awareness of 'this professor' who would listen to them, on the whole their speech struck her as not particularly self-conscious. Sometimes, C reports, she felt like a voyeur as she listened to talk that was very different from what she heard in mixed-sex or all-female conversations. Ch. 2, 'Good story!', offers a very nice introduction to conversational narrative as a distinctive genre. C draws from her data to show that at the heart of a story is a sequence of narrative clauses—event reports typically in the past tense but sometimes shifted to the 'historic present' to highlight a particular event—ordered to match the order of the events in the episode being narrated. Of course, stories typically also include nonnarrative clauses that provide background or offer evaluation. The second key feature of stories is their claim to 'tellability'—to having a 'point' worthy of the audience's attention. And, of course, a speaker needs to signal that a story is beginning ('Did I tell you . . . ?') in order to get the floor for a protracted turn and that it is ending ('So, that was ...' ) inorder to return to 'the now of the conversational present' (30). Where men's and women's stories differ dramatically, says C, is not in such relatively formal features but in what counts as tellable: Men but not women tend to tell tales with heroes, battles, and triumphs. Why? '[I]n telling a story, a male speaker is . . . performing not being a woman' (37). Certainly this is often so, but is it always the case? C does not say that the focus on


Background: Low birth weight has been consistently associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes and hypertension during adulthood. However, little is known about the relationship between birth weight and incident atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common cardiac arrhythmia in the population. Methods: We prospectively followed from 1993 to 2008 27982 women who were >45 years and free of cardiovascular disease and AF at baseline. Information on birth weight was categorized into 5 different categories: <2.5, 2.5–3.2, 3.2–3.9, 3.9–4.5 and >4.5 kg. Women with missing birth weight information were excluded. The primary outcome measure was time to incident AF. AF was self-reported on the yearly questionnaires and subsequently confirmed by electrocardiogram and medical record review. Results: During 14.5 years of follow-up, 735 AF events occurred. Women in the highest birth weight category were significantly older (56 versus 52 years) and had a higher body mass index (25.9 versus 25.0 kg/m2) than women in the lowest category. They also had a higher prevalence of hypertension (30.0% versus 27.2%) and a lower prevalence of diabetes (2.8% versus 4.0%). Age-adjusted incidence rates for incident AF from the lowest to the highest birth weight category were 1.45, 1.82, 1.88, 2.57 and 2.55 events per 1000 person-years of follow-up. Birth weight remained a significant risk factor for the development of AF after adjustment for age and a large number of other potential confounders. Compared to those in the lowest birth weight category, the multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) were 1.31 (0.97–1.77), 1.27 (0.96–1.68), 1.68 (1.21–2.34) and 1.63 (1.07–2.50) (p for trend 0.004) among women in higher birth weight categories. Censoring women at their first cardiovascular event did not alter these findings. Conclusion: Birth weight is significantly associated with incident AF among women, suggesting that early life determinants may play an important role in the pathogenesis of AF.


This paper is an econometric analysis of the relationship between education and labor productivity. While economists agree that human capital is an important factor in determining productivity, it has been difficult to measure. Traditionally, the number of years of schooling has been used to measure education, but this fails to account for the quality of that education. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) implemented the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2000 as a cross-country test of cognitive ability. This paper seeks to determine if PISA may be a more useful measure of skill level than the number of years of education. The regression analysis results indicate that PISA is, indeed, a useful metric for identifying human capital. It also raises important questions about academic achievement. According to its findings, the PISA scores of the highest achieving students appear to be most closely associated with higher productivity. A somewhat harder to explain finding was that wider gaps between high and low PISA groups (i.e. higher inequality) had a positive association with productivity. This presents interesting questions for how policymakers should approach education, particularly with respect to equality.


Acrylamido-azobenzene(AAAB)was synthesized by the reaction of acryloyl chloride with p-aminoazobenzene.Then,poly(acrylamido-azobenzene)(PAAAB)was prepared from the monomer AAAB,using conventional radical polymerization with 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile(AIBN)as an initiator and THF as a solvent at 60 ℃.The resulting AAAB and PAAAB were characterized by FT-IR,1H-NMR,and GPC,and the photo-responsive behaviors of the monomer and its homopolymer were investigated.These results showed that the number-average molecular weight(Mn) of PAAAB was about 7360 and the molecular weight distribution was in the range of 1.45 to 1.60.Photo-induced isomerization occured for both AAAB and PAAAB,and the recovery of photo-induced PAAAB solution under natural light was faster than in darkroom.


Different samples of the user provides a method for obtaining the one code from biometric sample in a way that makes it possible to distinguish between each sample of another user while providing the same code. It analyzed different characteristics in order to obtain the mean and variance values, which are used to control the reading process of different feature values. Further, combining the features, using a subset of the bits of the combination as a code. This not only common each bit for all users samples also allow some truncation of bits that differ between the same users different samples.


This paper presents a critical evaluation of various drug enforcement strategies (such as supply reduction overseas, dramatic increases in customs and domestic law enforcement resources, forfeiture of proceeds of drug trafficking, harsher penalties, and targetting high-level drug distributors) and demonstrates the limitations and advantages of these approaches. Based on this analysis, it is argued that attempts to control illegal drug use by law enforcement strategies must necessarily fail. Some comments are offered about the proper place of law enforcement in a drug control policy.


Among the materials for the next generation of optoelectronic devices, inorganic-organic interfaces are of particular importance. Combining inorganic semiconductors, conjugated organic molecules, and metal nanostructures into hybrid materials will lead to novel features that can potentially give rise to a new class of devices. To achieve this goal in its entire complexity, a thorough characterization of the intrinsic electronic and optical properties of these systems is essential. First-principles theory represents the most effective formalism in this context. Densityfunctional theory (DFT) and its time-dependent extension (TDDFT) are among the most popular and powerful approaches for these purposes. We have been applying these methods to investigate the nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of macrocyclic carbon-conjugated molecules such as the freebase phthalocyanine (H2-Pc), the porphine, and the C60 fullerene. We have focused on the description of optical limiting, a third-order optical nonlinearity consisting in the attenuation of the light transmitted through the material upon increasing intensity of the incident beam. We have provided the first ab initio description of this phenomenon adopting on a nonperturbative approach based on real-time TDDFT (RT-TDDFT). The good agreement with experimental results for the prototypical case of H2-Pc demonstrates the success of the proposed scheme 1. More recently, we have further improved the description of optical limiting by including the contributions from triplet excitation channels. To this end, we have derived an analytic expression for the corresponding absorption coefficient in the nonlinear regime, which we have subsequently used to post-process the results from RT-TDDFT calculations. A publication reporting these results is currently in preparation 2. We have applied RT-TDDFT to investigate transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) in carbonconjugated molecules such as ethylene, benzene and thiophene. In Fig. 1 the results of the simulations performed on ethylene are shown. The frequency of the laser pulse is set in resonance with the transition from the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) to the lowest unoccupied one (LUMO), which in case of the ethylene molecule is at 7.8 eV. The duration of the pulse is set to 17 fs and the TAS is computed by probing the systems every 2 fs, starting from t = 0 fs when the laser pulse is initially turned on. In all the spectra shown in Fig. 1 a pre-peak appears around 2 eV short after the turning on of the laser. The value of this time delay depends on the laser intensity: the weaker the external perturbation, the longer the appearance of the pre-peak is delayed. This emerging maximum, which is associated to excited-state absorption (see also 3), persists almost steadily during the whole duration of the simulation, also after the laser is turned off. The dynamics of the pumped peak at about 7.8 eV is also strongly influenced by the laser intensity. When the most intense pulse is applied, alternating maxima and minima recall the dynamics associated to Rabi oscillations. The analysis of these results is the subject of a publication in preparation 4.


In this project, we focus on the three latter stages which is a common practice in the field of MOT. Therefore, our problem setting is: given a set of objects detected by a state-of-the-art ML detection system, perform online MOT on all frames in a video sequence. Here the term "online" means that the tracking algorithm cannot peak into the future and can only use the current and past frames when performing the tracking. Also, we will say that our algorithm uses public detections since it uses the set of objects detected by a state-of-the-art ML detection.


In the title compound, C20H14N4O2, molecules are linked into chains by N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, but the cyano group does not participate in the supramolecular aggregation. The crystal structure of the compound indicates the presence of a double bond with Z geometry, connecting the imidazolidine and indole units. The dihedral angle between the imidazole and benzene ring planes is 62.45 (4)°.


There was once a time, not so many years ago when accounting could be thought of as an essentially nonpolitical subject. So wrote Professor David Solomons in a 1978 Journal of Accountancy article entitled "The Politicization of Accounting." In that article, Solomons argued forcefully--and I believe persuasively--for neutrality in financial reporting, for "if it ever became accepted that accounting might be used to achieve other than purely measurement ends, faith in it would be destroyed just as faith in speedometers would be destroyed once it were realized that they were subject to falsification for the purpose of influencing driving habits." Today, as we reflect upon the lessons learned from the recent wave of corporate-reporting scandals, I believe David Solomons' words a quarter of a century ago ring truer than ever. For paramount among the many lessons to be learned from the reporting scandals and their wider impact on the investing public and the capital markets is that neutrality in financial reporting really matters. Neutrality matters not only to the viability of individual companies and the financial well being of their employees, investors, and creditors, but also to the overall stability and vitality of the capital markets and, therefore, to our economy and our society. As I write this commentary, I am coming up to my first anniversary with the FASB as its chairman. I am grateful to the Editor of Accounting Horizons for providing me this opportunity to look back on the past year and reflect on the many challenges we faced and to look forward as we attempt to chart the future course of U.S. accounting standard setting. We are hopeful that this course will enable us to better address the issues confronting accounting and financial reporting at this moment in history. Although this article describes many new things we are doing, the fundamental principle of neutrality in financial reporting is and must be a constant and rigorous guide to our standard-setting process. THE IMPORTANCE OF NEUTRALITY IN FINANCIAL REPORTING I believe that neutrality in financial reporting is a precondition for honest, trustworthy accounting information. That means our accounting standards must be free from bias that is aimed toward achieving a predetermined result or influencing someone's behavior or designed to achieve a particular political result. It is not a process of counting votes, although constituent input is critical to helping the standard setter understand the business transactions and economic phenomena involved and the relevance, reliability, and operationality of proposed standards. The process of setting the standards must acknowledge that standards setters serve the capital markets. Moreover, the goal in standard setting must be to set standards that will provide useful information to those markets at a reasonable cost. And once set, accounting standards must be applied based on steadfast adherence to the principles embodied in those standards without regard to the effect of financial reporting on market values or human behavior. Without a doubt, the primary concern must be the relevance and reliability of the reported information, not the potential effects of the information on particular interests. THE CHALLENGES BEFORE US The recent spate of major financial reporting scandals produced real challenges for those involved in the financial reporting process. Many, if not most, of the financial reporting problems stemmed from outright GAAP violations, apparent audit and corporate governance failures, structuring of sham transactions by investment bankers, and research analysts' conflicts. These problems also prompted broader questions and concerns about virtually every aspect of our corporate reporting system, including accounting standards and the standard-setting process. I think those questions were both appropriate and overdue. These broader questions related, in part, to the propriety of existing guidance on specific technical subjects--accounting for special-purpose entities, guarantees, and broader topics like revenue recognition, pension accounting, employee stock compensation, reporting of financial performance, and the use of fair value measurements in accounting. …


The Nitrogen (N) input for intensive vegetable production is higher than for other agricultural crops. The anion nitrate has a high potential to contaminate groundwater due to its mobility in the soil. Two strategies to minimize N leaching are tested: (1) Slow release fertilizers (e.g., ENTEC ® 26), and (2) late ploughing in winter (e.g., 01.02.). The influence of fertilizer strategy and ploughing date on nitrate leaching and yield parameters are analyzed in an ongoing perennial field experiment. We chose two fertilizing strategies (Nitrochalk and ENTEC ® 26) and three fixed ploughing dates (01.12., 01.01. and 01.02.). Two vegetable crops are cultured followed by winter rye as a catch crop each year. N fertilization was calculated as 80% of the recommended amount for both fertilizer strategies. The nitrate leaching was measured continuously in 60 cm depth in semi-annual intervals using Self-Integrating Accumulators (SIA). Three years of ley farming lead to a high soil organic N content. The high mineralization potential caused high nitrate leaching. The mean annual nitrate leaching is lower for Nitrochalk (223 kg N ha -1 a -1 ) than for ENTEC ® 26 (266 kg N ha -1 a -1 ), but not significantly. We assume that the nitrification inhibitor in ENTEC ® 26 is inactivated by sorption to the clay fraction. Mean nitrate leaching during all years decreased with later ploughing date: 263 kg N ha -1 a -1 (01.12.), 250 kg N ha -1 a -1 (01.01.), and 135 kg N ha -1 a -1 (01.02.). In three of four winters, the nitrate leaching maximum was observed in the treatment with the highest temperature during one week after ploughing and not for the earliest ploughing. Therefore, the temperature within one week after the ploughing event is suspected as co-factor. The differences in nitrate leaching at different ploughing dates are caused by soil organic N stock changes due to mineralization. Yield decreased for late ploughing (01.02.).


Abstract. This article explains how papers should be structured to guide the preparation of papers to be submitted to Psychological Test Adaptation and Development. Each submission should adhere as...


Datasets are rarely a realistic approximation of the target population. Say, prevalence is misrepresented, image quality is above clinical standards, etc. This mismatch is known as sampling bias. Sampling biases are a major hindrance for machine learning models. They cause significant gaps between model performance in the lab and in the real world. Our work is a solution to prevalence bias. Prevalence bias is the discrepancy between the prevalence of a pathology and its sampling rate in the training dataset, introduced upon collecting data or due to the practioner rebalancing the training batches. This paper lays the theoretical and computational framework for training models, and for prediction, in the presence of prevalence bias. Concretely a bias-corrected loss function, as well as bias-corrected predictive rules, are derived under the principles of Bayesian risk minimization. The loss exhibits a direct connection to the information gain. It offers a principled alternative to heuristic training losses and complements test-time procedures based on selecting an operating point from summary curves. It integrates seamlessly in the current paradigm of (deep) learning using stochastic backpropagation and naturally with Bayesian models.


Information on the earthquake with KR=14.1, which occurred in Kyrgyzstan on November 17, 2015, is presented. Its epicenter is related to the South Fergana zone of the Osh region, in which felt earthquakes with intensity up to I=8–9 occurred repeatedly. This event was named Taldyk according to the settlement nearest to the epicenter. The earthquake was accompanied by numerous aftershocks: for the first day, 189 events were registered, for the second – 196, for the third – 84. Most part of the aftershocks is localized within the depth interval of 12–13 km, which is practically equal to the depth of the main shock (h=13 km). The focal mechanism of the main shock has a reverse type with strike-slip components. No serious investigation of the consequences of this earthquake carried out. Some macroseismic data are received from field reports of the station operators. For a more complete analysis of the possible impact of this earthquake and, first of all, for the needs of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kyrgyzstan Republic, a map of theoretical isoseismals was created.


In 1988 the Polish playwright Slawomir Mrozek was invited by the Nobel Foundation and the Royal Theatre in Stockholm to deliver a speech for the 'Strindberg-O'Neill' symposium on the issues suggested by this title. In defining his terms and their relationship, he combined Aristotelian precision and existential candour with a gentle irony entirely his own. The speech was first printed in the Polish theatre journal Dialog, to whose editors we are grateful for permission to print this translated version.


For psychotherapists in private practice, drawing a professional will fulfills the ethical obligation to plan for the impact on patients of sudden termination due to illness or death. The named Practice Executor assumes these responsibilities only when faced with the tragic loss of a colleague, and personal grief affects professional duty. Narrated in first-person voice, this paper conveys the emotional challenges and elucidates the clinical, business, and practical decision-making required to facilitate closure of a psychodynamic psychotherapy practice. Guidelines for Practice Executors, as well as considerations for psychotherapists preparing their own directives, are provided.


This paper reports several experiments on how quickly speakers can prepare and produce a subject-verbobject (SVO) sentence whose verb and arguments are provided as visual-orthographic stimuli. The key experimental manipulations were the relative timing of the subject (S), verb (V), and object (O) stimuli. The general motivation for investigating S, V, and O stimulus timing in this way is that in everyday settings, our attention to events in the world and to the entities which participate in them is unlikely to be simultaneous or evenly distributed in time; the effects of this nonsimultaneity on utterance planning and production may reveal important information about the mechanisms of syntactic organization. For example, consider the following scenario, illustrated in Fig. 1A: you and your friends, Al, Bo, and Cam, are playing a game of tag. Al is chasing Bo, and is about to tag him, but you are unaware of this, because you and Cam are hiding around the corner. As you peer around the corner, you see Al (A1), then you see Al reach out his hand to tag someone (A2), then you see that it is Bo who is being tagged (A3). A simple description of the event is Al tagged Bo. Now imagine a different scenario (Fig. 1B), where again you and Cam are hiding around the corner. This time you see Bo run into view from around the corner (B1), then you see a hand tag him (B2), followed by Al, the owner of the hand (B3). You might say Bo was tagged by Al, but you can still say Al tagged Bo.


In subjects with frailty syndrome, aging-related loss of muscle (sarcopenia) might progress to the extent that an older person loses his or her ability to live independently. Metabolic syndrome is a set of risk factors (abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia) which markedly increases the risk of arteriosclerotic vascular disease. Due to the ongoing obesity pandemic and growing elderly population, frailty and metabolic syndromes are major emerging concerns in the healthcare system. Recent studies show that resistance training has remarkable beneficial effects on the musculoskeletal system including the prevention and treatment of these syndromes. Resistance training is probably the most effective measure to prevent and treat sarcopenia. With regard to the effect of resistance training on the muscular strength of elderly persons, the rate of improvement increases with intensity. Resistance training also has a favorable effect on metabolic syndrome since it decreases fat mass including abdominal fat, enhances insulin sensitivity, improves glucose tolerance, and reduces blood pressure values. Optimal nutrition enhances the anabolic effect of resistance training. Resistance training should be a central component of public health promotion programs along with aerobic exercise.


Nonnegative constraint total variation regularization was applied to inversion of particle size distribution.The lagged diffusivity fixed point method was used to solve the constructed nonlinear optimization problem.Simulation results show that total variation regularization can obtain well unimodal and bimodal distribution in no noise or in the noise level of 0.01.Finally,we verified the performance of this algorithm by inversion of 150nm polystyrene particles,60nm and 200nm mixed particles.


We are grateful to the University of St Andrews for financial support and the EPSRC National Mass Spectrometry Service Centre (Swansea) for mass spectral measurements.


It is a mistake, committed by many, to equate a substantial SNP vote with an alleged rise in nationalism or nationalist sentiment in Scotland, argues Jan Eichhorn. The evidence indicates the contrary: data from the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey suggests that fewer people emphasise their Scottish national identity distinctively.


Mark Dalton, a thirty-two-year-old histology technician, was hired six months ago by a large chemical company. He has proven to be highly skilled and produces excellent slides at a rate exceeding his co-workers. Recently, after he took a week's sick leave, the employee health department nurse was surprised to learn that he is suffering from chronic renal disease. His entrance medical questionnaire did not mention any problem. Since his job requires exposure to chemical solvent vapors at levels permissible by OSHA regulations, the company physician counseled him that continuing exposure to the vapors could exacerbate the disease. Company management found a job for which he would qualify at the same


The specific growth rate is one of the key parameters in fermentation process,but to get its value on-line is difficult because of lack of reliable sensors. An on-line estimation of the specific growth rate in aerobic fermentation process is thus proposed by measuring CER (carbon dioxide excretion rate) and then selecting the important parameters in the model through optimization. It is very easy to implement since the carbon dioxide excretion rate can be obtained easily. This method has been applied to Nosiheptide fermentation process in which the specific growth rate is given by an estimator computing the biomass. The results show that the estimated values conform well with the measured values,i.e.,the proposed method is reliable and practical.


This report discusses the following topics: beryllium in the ITER blanket; mechanical testing of irradiated beryllium; tritium release measurements on irradiated beryllium; beryllium needs for plasma-facing components; thermal conductivity of plasma sprayed beryllium; beryllium research at the INEL; Japanese beryllium research activities for in-pile mockup tests on ITER; a study of beryllium bonding of copper alloy; new production technologies; thermophysical properties of a new ingot metallurgy beryllium product line; implications of beryllium:steam interactions in fusion reactors; and a test program for irradiation embrittlement of beryllium at JET.


This research aims to examine and obtain empirical evidence about the elements of corporate governance mechanism that affect the replacement of public accountant on a voluntary basis in Indonesia. This issue is important because the company raised given the freedom to choose the auditor and replace it outside the rules (mandatory). Independent variables that used in this research : managerial ownership, concentration of ownership, change of directors, the composition of the board of commissioners, audit committee size, and the number of audit committee meetings. The object of this research are firms on the sector of manufacturing, trade, services and investments listed in the Indonesian Stock Exchange during the five years (2009-2013) but for some variables needed data in previously. Data collection method used in this research is purposive sampling, based on predetermined criteria. A total of 45 companies per year, is used as sample company. Data were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Results from this research showed that the concentration of ownership and the number of audit committee meetings per year, have a positive influence on voluntary auditor switching. The next result shows that managerial ownership and the size of the audit committee have a negative effect on voluntary auditor switching. While the other variables examined in this research as the change of the directors and the composition of the board of commissioners are not shown to have an influence on the company's decision to do voluntary auditor switching.


Oaths appear in numerous types of documents from ancient Mesopotamia, including letters, treaties, contracts, and especially texts related to trials. Scholars have generally divided the oaths into two categories: promissory oaths and assertory oaths. The difference is straightforward. Promissory oaths indicated that the oath-taker would perform some act in the future. These occur in a variety of genres but are especially well known from treaties, such as the socalled vassal treaties from the Neo-Assyrian period. In these documents, subjects of the Assyrian king would demonstrate their allegiance by swearing that they would be loyal to him and to the


There has been no contribution more substantive when it comes to preventing serious disease and saving lives than the use of immunizations-and the pneumococcal vaccine is certainly a great example to support this. But over the past 15 years as we have improved the standard pneumococcal conjugate vaccine from 7 serotypes (PCV-7) to 13 (PCV-13), how has that affected serotype colonization? Even more interesting is how has the use of antibiotics in the setting of this vaccine further altered colonization and a child's risk for getting serious pneumococcal infection. Lee et al. (10.1542/peds.2017-0001) explored these trends using 15 years of nasopharyngeal swab collections from children in Massachusetts, before and after the move from PCV-7 to PCV-13 by looking at colonized serotypes that were grown from the swabs. More than 6500 children are included in this study, and there is lots of good news, but also some concerning news. For example, the added serotypes to PCV-13 that were prevalent before that vaccine was instituted, were much less common after PCV13 began to be given in children who received this vaccine. However, as might be expected, non-PCV serotypes not in the PCV-13 vaccine have begun to increase in prevalence on swabs over the past few years.


Taking the case of the extraction of paddy planting areas in Xi County of Henan Province,Linear Spectral Mixture Model(LSMM) was selected to classify and calculate paddy planting areas,moreover,location accuracy calculation was carried out for its result and high resolution ALOS data,thereby,average precision reached 87.89%.Meanwhile,comparing with decision tree classification method and neural network classification,total precision of mixed pixel decomposition method improved remarkably.The results indicated that the extraction accuracy of paddy planting areas can be improved by using mixed pixel decomposition method of HJ-1A/B satellite.


With the popularity of distributed photovoltaic systems and the large growth of data collected in the systems, it is quite necessary to make some data processing operations. In this paper, aiming at improving the quality of data collected in distributed photovoltaic systems, an improved multiple imputation method based on chained equations is proposed. This method is based on the framework of multiple imputation. Firstly, we use MICE (multiple imputation by chained equations) method rather than traditional imputation method such as regression model method to get a number of different imputation data sets. Then we analyze these different imputation data sets. Finally, we pool these different imputation data sets to get the final imputation set. Simulation results show that the mean square error of the proposed imputation method is lower than current popular imputation methods.


The SrTiO3 polycrystalline nanofilms with perovskite-type structure were prepareddirectly on Si(100) substrate by the sol-gel process. The precursor solution took strontium acetateand titanium tetrabutoxide (Ti(OC4H9)4)as starting materials, acetylacetone as chelator, 2-methoxyethanol as solvent, acetic acid as subsidiary solvent catalyzer, and the wet film wasspin-coated on Si substrate. XRD, AFM, SEM and spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) were used toinvestigate the properties of SrTiO3 nanofilms. The homogeneous, smooth and crack-free surface ofSrTiO3 nanofilms with thickness of 20~30 nm, refractive index of 1.75~1.85, grain size of 35~60 nm,RMS of 3.4~3.8 nm and cone-like grain shape were obtained.


In this paper, the study of influence of Mass Ratio and pH on thixotropy of the aqueous suspension consisting of magnesium ferrum hydroxide(Mg-Fe-MMH)possessing permanent positive and Kaolinite possessing permanent negative charges is reported. The suspensions studied displayed positive thixotropy in various of Mg-Fe-MMH/kaolinite ratio (R0~0.286) examined in this work, and the viscosity of the equilibrium systems decreased first, then increased with the increasing of the R. For the systems of R0.129 displayed positive thixotropy in various of pH (3.60~11.76) , the trend of positive thixotropy and the vicosity of equilibrium systems increased with the increasing of pH. And the mechanism of the influence of all factors is discussed.


Cardiovascular disease is very common among newly diagnosed middle aged and elderly diabetic patients and causes substantial morbidity. Most of these patients will have type 2 diabetes. However type 1 diabetes can occur at all ages and insulin treatment can be inappropriately deferred in older newly diagnosed patients. We examined the records of all new diabetic patients between 1994 and 1997, aged over 50 years and within 6 months of diagnosis, to determine their presenting cardiovascular profile and baseline factors which might predict rapid progression to insulin treatment. We identified 455 patients and 371 had 2 year follow-up data. 71% had a blood pressure greater than 150 and/or 85 mm Hg, 70% had a cholesterol>5.0 mmol/L and 28% had diagnosed ischaemic heart disease. Within 2 years (8±2 months), 22 (6%) had progressed to insulin treatment. Predictive factors for insulin were presentation HbA1c (risk ratio 1.36, p<0.001), ketonuria (1.6, p<0.05) and the BMI/HbA1c ratio (0.23, p<0.0001) but not BMI alone. In conclusion, new diabetic patients aged over 50 years are at high cardiovascular risk. Progression to insulin treatment within 2 years of first clinic contact is uncommon. However, presenting HbA1c and especially the BMI/HbA1c ratio are strong predictors. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


The purpose of this paper is to carry out a comparative analysis between different sources of producing heat in a district heating system that can be used in a transition period from a technically obsolete source to a state-of-the-art source. What is being analyzed is the impact of the technology on the mode of operation and the degree of integration in the new source.


An electric field model based on baseline and core points is proposed to estimate fingerprint orientation field.Orientation field firstly emerged in baseline and cores area.Orientation field near baseline is parallel to baseline which is caused by baseline.Orientation field near core point is changeable which is influenced by core point.Then fingerprint orientation field outspreads.At last,orientation field converges at delta point.This model can explain well why core and delta points exist in pairs in fingerprint images.Experimental results in NIST-4 show that our model can estimate fingerprint orientation field fairly accuratly.


Historically the blood has always been a lovely liquid for humans, however, it was only after great scientific advances in hemotherapy that blood transfusion techniques have become a routine therapy in medical practice with great safety for donors and patients. However , despite the scientific evidence that the use of blood for therapeutic purposes requires a strict control before being transfused as this practice is not free from adverse reactions to patients (transfusion reactions), still arise, increasingly, supporters of the practice known as auto-hemotherapy. A widespread technique only in the global network of computers, the internet, so incipient and without scientific proof or validation. So, considering the need for a critical review of the practice and possible side effects associated with this technique a literature review to address the self-hemotherapy theme was proposed.


Summary The significance of joining flow regions with moving waves is discussed and a generalised treatment of simple, one dimensional, moving shock waves is presented analytically and in chart form. The problem is next considered with the shock wave replaced by different types of non-steep waves and their corresponding charts given. Possible and impossible flow configurations are examined and the results presented in the form of a diagrammatic table. An alternative shock wave chart is described in an appendix and worked examples, showing the use of the charts, are presented.


Abstract Detection of a potential predation risk and its influence on patch choice was measured by examining the spatial distribution of 10 two-spotted gobies Gobiusculus flavescens (FABRICIUS) between two feeders, at one of which the presence of a predator was introduced either visually, chemically or both visually and chemically. Without predation influence the gobies were distributed according to the Ideal Free Distribution (IFD). However, as the chemical and I or visual stimulus from a predator cod (Gadus morhua L.) was introduced together with the food at one of the feeding sites, the gobies avoided the affected site. The avoidance persisted during feeding sessions for 1 or 2 days after the introduction. Although image had the most pronounced effect at the time of introduction, odor had a stronger effect on the gobies persistence in avoiding the affected site. Introduction of odor from an injured conspecific (alarm substance) at one of the feeding sites, had no significant influence on the gobies' di...


The conductive gate on the surface of crystalline silicon solar cell is mainly used for outputting current energy and it will reduce the stability and service life of the battery element in a great degree if it shows poor adhesion between the matrix and the gate. Physical vapor deposition method has advantages of good controllability and low cost. To obtain good adhesion between the copper grid and the substrate on the basis of inheriting advantages of physical vapor deposition,we used magnetron sputtering method to prepare copper grid on single crystal silicon. Influences of work pressure and sputtering power on the adhesion between deposited gates with substrate were discussed by designing process parameters. The detection of overall morphology, disconnection rate and surface morphology were respectively carried out by metallographic microscope and scanning electron microscopy. The enhanced assay was used to predicate the adhesion of the copper grid through ultrasonic vibration. Experimental results show that the width of the deposited copper gate is more uniform and the disconnection rate reaches 0 when sputtering power is 180 W and high working pressure is 0.8 Pa.


This light-emitting device has: a substrate (1012); wiring (104) formed on the substrate (1012) in order to supply electric power to a light-emitting layer; a transitional metal oxide layer (105) formed across the wiring (104) on the substrate (1012); a dividing wall (106) formed on the transitional metal oxide layer (105) and has an aperture section (106b) above the wiring (104); a barrier layer (108) formed on the transitional metal oxide layer (105) exposed through the aperture section (106b) in order to block fluorine migration; an organic layer (109) formed on the barrier layer (108) and doped with an alkali metal; and an electrode (110) formed on the organic layer (109) in order to supply the electric power from the wiring (104) to the light-emitting layer (107) when electrically connected to the wiring (104) via the organic layer (109), the barrier layer (108), and the transitional metal oxide layer (105).


The paper considers an initial problem with an initial function for a linear functional differential equation of neutral type with constant coefficients


In The Second Person Standpoint, Stephen Darwall makes a new argument against consequentialism, appealing to: (a) the conceptual tie between obligation and accountability, and (b) the 'right kind of reasons' for holding others accountable. I argue that Darwall's argument, as it stands, fails against indirect consequentialism, because it relies on a confusion between our being right to establish practices, and our having a right to do so. I also explore two ways of augmenting Darwall's argument. However, while the second of these ways is more promising than the first, neither provides a convincing argument against indirect consequentialism.


Many psychological phenomena may be understood as nonlinear dynamical systems, which may have sensitive dependence on initial conditions; nearby trajec-tories may diverge exponentially in time. These systems involve increasing uncertainty as predictions are forecast further into the future. Few methods exist for predicting these potentially chaotic time series. Existing methods are sensitive to measurement error and focus on local dynamics of a system, ignoring glo-bal complexity. This abstract presents three novel extensions to HAVOK (Hankel Alternative View of Koopman; Brunton et al., 2017), which decomposes nonlinear systems into intermittently forced linear systems. A forcing parameter allows HAVOK to demarcate regions where a time series is approximately linear from those that are nonlinear. Obtaining linear repre-sentations for strongly nonlinear and chaotic systems could revolutionize the prediction and control of these systems. HAVOK can model noisy Likert-type scale data with missingness making it a powerful tool for the prediction and control of psychological processes, estimating properties of nonlinear psychological phenomena that are intractable to other methods. HAVOK the havok R package Applications include forecasting of nonlinear events in real time, and extrapolation of the latent time series without additional input.


Abstract. In this paper, we establish some strong convergence theorems of modified general composite implicit random iteration process to a common random fixed point for a finite family of asymptotically quasi-nonexpansive in the intermediate sense random operators.


The secondary invasion of the Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus) into tributaries of the Laurentian Great Lakes has resulted in ecological impacts on many native benthic species. However, the ecological impacts on White Sucker (Catostomus commersonii), a native benthic species has not been examined. A comparative control and invaded site study design was used to examine diet overlap and the dietary impact of the Round Goby invasion on White Sucker's trophic niche. We found significant diet overlap between Round Goby and White Sucker, and White Sucker in sympatry with Round Goby shift their feeding strategy to be more generalist when compared to White Sucker in uninvaded locations. No influence of diet competition with Round Goby on the trophic niche of White Sucker was found in this study. Our results support the hypothesis that White Sucker are experiencing competition for prey items with Round Goby. These increased competitive interactions may exacerbate the observed declines in White Sucker abundance as Round Goby continue their invasion upstream in Lake Ontario tributaries.


In order to utilize the absolute gravity (AG) measurements in terms of tectonic study it is necessary to reduce all disturbing environmental and instrumental effects. Many of those can be easily modelled and this step is done routinely during measurements (i.e. tide, polar motion, ocean tidal loading). Other remains in data and there is a lack of conventional models for them. Significant gravity variation is associated with changes of soil water at global scale. We study this effect for the Lower Silesia (South-western Poland) territory. Computed gravity changes can reach up to 2 µgal peak-to-peak amplitude with seasonal time scale. This effect is beyond of accuracy of modern ballistic gravimeter. Using real data collected with FG5 gravimeter we show here that neglecting of this phenomenon can lead to serious misinterpretation in term of secular gravity changes. This is emphasized especially when only sparse data of a few year time span is at our disposal. No attempt of modelling of local hydrology impact on effect was made, while in this study we concentrate on large scale water storage influence on measured gravity.


The mechanical properties of welded joints are significantly influenced by the execution parameters. Within the scope of the ongoing AiF‐FOSTA research project P1020 dilatometer examinations and tests on welded joints using a new test specimen were carried out. Thermomechanically rolled and quenched fine‐grained structural steels were examined. Based on these examinations, regression models were developed to assess the mechanical properties of the heat‐affected zone as a function of the cooling time t8/5. In addition, the mechanical properties of welds with filler metals G35, G42 and G79 were examined and statistically evaluated. The results provide the basis for further development of the execution rules and a new design approach for welded joints on high‐strength steels.


Sodium chloride-modified zeolite Z-Na for the removal of ammonia nitrogen and lanthanum-modified zeolite Z-La for the removal of phosphorus were prepared by sodium chloride modification and lanthanum chloride modification. Through adsorption kinetics and isotherm model fitting, the synergistic effect of pollutants in the removal of ammonia nitrogen and phosphorus by these two zeolites was explored. The results show that in the case of composite pollutants, the presence of phosphorus can inhibit the adsorption of ammonia nitrogen by Z-Na, (the adsorption rate is reduced from 2.3840ℎ−1 to 1.3442ℎ−1, and the maximum adsorption capacity is 13.6612mg / g reduced to 11.8906mg / g);the presence of ammonia nitrogen will promote the adsorption of phosphorus by Z-La (adsorption rate increased from 1.0623ℎ−1 to 4.8595ℎ−1, while the maximum adsorption capacity is almost unchanged).


In the future active network management and protection solutions have to enable utilization of intended island operation as well as active control and utilization flexibilities during normal and islanded operation of grid interactive microgrids. In this paper, combined islanding detection schemes for both MV and LV network connected distributed generation units during normal grid-connected operation are studied. Utilization of active network management functionality at MV level enables to control the reactive power unbalance continuously in order to ensure reliable islanding detection without non-detection zone. Combined scheme also prevents maloperations due to other disturbances.


As knowledge is dynamic, what is new today becomes obsolete tomorrow which warrants the need to upgrade or update one"s professional understanding of the field. The purposes of this study were twofold: unveiling the current status of continuous professional development (CPD) implementation and divulging those factors that affect teachers" engagement in the practice of CPD. Participants were selected purposefully from teachers, principals and supervisors, and data were collected using interviews, focus-group discussions, open-ended questionnaires and informal discussions. Using qualitative data analysis methods, major categories emerged. From the results it was found out that the status of CPD practice was not that much effective and all the stakeholders were hesitant about its effectiveness. Teachers engaged in CPD were not making the most effective use of it. They associated it with other issues often unrelated to the purposes of CPD. Emphasis on generic contents of training materials, lack of ownership, inconsistencies on its provision, disparity of knowledge among teachers, and supervisors and principals, and conceptual problems about CPD were among the identified factors that hindered its effective implementation. More importantly, the core owners, viz.; teachers, also seemed to have a gloomy picture of its effectiveness. Some possible interventions were suggested based on the findings.


One effect of both reward and punishment is the cessation of responding. Satiation is the name given to reward-induced response cessation and suppression is the punishment-related term. In general one would expect punishment to stop responding sooner than reward, although tbis probably depends upon both the magnitude and frequency of the rewards and punishments. In this study we held re ward and punishment magnitudes constant, although by no means equaI, and varied the fixed ratios of rewards and punishments produced by responding. Recent research teIls us some things about punishment frequency and reward frequency in reward-punishment situations. For example, intermittent punishment suppresses responding less than continuous punishment (e.g., Azrin, Holz, & Hake, 1963) or, to put it another way, behavior continues Ion ger in the presence of less frequent punishment. However, evidence showing that the reward schedule which maintains operant responding also modulates the suppressive effect of punishment is equivocal. Although Church & Raymond (1967), working with rats, found less suppression with a VI 0.2-min reward schedule than with a VI 5-min schedule, Holz (1968) reported a proportional reduction of response rates in pigeons as punishment intensity increased when reward was concurrently programmed on two keys at VI 1.9 min and VI 7.5 min. Of possible reward-punishment combinations one would anticipate that the combination of frequent reward and infrequent punishment would most favor response persevera tion. Accordingly, we chose to study small reward ratios (FR I, FR 2, FR 4) in combination with larger punishment ratios (PR I, PR 4, PR 16). Preliminary work convinced us that to get a moderate number of responses out of the rat before he ceased responding we would have to employ reward


The propagation of the optical solitons is usually governed by the nonlinear Schrodinger equations. In this article, the two variable(G'⁄G,1⁄G) -expansion method is employed to construct the exact traveling wave solutions with parameters of two nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) namely, the (1+1)-dimensional nonlinear Schrodinger-Boussinesq system and the (2+1)-dimensional hyperbolic nonlinear Schrodinger (HNLS) equation which describe the propagation of optical pulses in optic fibers. When the parameters are replaced by special values, the solitary wave solutions of these equations are found from the traveling waves.

 Key words: The two variable (G'⁄G,1⁄G) -expansion method, nonlinear Schrodinger-Boussinesq system, hyperbolic nonlinear Schrodinger (HNLS) equation, exact traveling wave solutions, solitary wave solutions.


Moore, Paul E., Thomas Lahiri, Johanne D. Laporte, Trudi Church, Reynold A. Panettieri, Jr., and Stephanie A. Shore. Selected Contribution: Synergism between TNF-a and IL-1b in airway smooth muscle cells: implications for b-adrenergic responsiveness. J Appl Physiol 91: 1467–1474, 2001.—In human cultured airway smooth muscle cells, interleukin (IL)-1b increases cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression and PGE2 release, ultimately resulting in decreased b-adrenergic responsiveness. In this study, we aimed to determine whether tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) synergizes with IL-1b in the induction of these events. TNF-a alone, at concentrations up to 10 ng/ml, had no effect on COX-2 protein expression; at concentrations as low as 0.1 ng/ml, it significantly enhanced the ability of IL-1b (0.2 ng/ml) to induce COX-2 and to increase PGE2 release. IL-1b and TNF-a in combination also significantly enhanced COX-2 promoter activity, indicating that synergism between the cytokines is mediated at the level of gene transcription. Although IL-1b and TNF-a each increased nuclear factor-kB activation and induced extracellular regulated kinase and p38 phosphorylation, combined administration of the cytokines did not enhance either nuclear factor-kB or mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. Combined administration of IL-1b (0.2 ng/ml) and TNF-a (0.1 or 1.0 ng/ml) reduced the ability of isoproterenol to decrease human airway smooth muscle cell stiffness, as measured by magnetic twisting cytometry, even though individually these cytokines, at these concentrations, had no effect on isoproterenol responses. Treatment with the selective COX-2 inhibitor NS-398 abolished the synergistic effects of TNF-a and IL-1b on b-adrenergic responsiveness. Our results indicate that low concentrations of IL-1b and TNF-a synergize to promote b-adrenergic hyporesponsiveness and that effects on COX-2 expression and PGE2 are responsible for these events. The data suggest that the simultaneous release in the airway, of even very small amounts of cytokines, can have important functional consequences.


The invention provides a glue-sealing process for a lead-acid storage battery, and relates to the technical field of lead-acid storage battery manufacturing. Epoxy resin glue is replaced by polyurethane sealant; and a specific operation method for preparing, storing and using polyurethane glue is provided; and the process is normative, convenient and applicable. A battery shell is subjected to the glue-sealing by adopting the polyurethane glue; and the bonding strength and the anti-collision and anti-leakage effects of the battery shell are obviously improved compared with the conventional heat-sealing process and the conventional epoxy resin glue-sealing process.


The purpose of this study was to assess peak torque in males and females using a variable number of repetitions at five different isokinetic velocities. Sixty subjects, males and females, athletes and non athletes were tested on four separate occasions. Each testing session the subject executed a set number of repetitions, either 4, 6, 8, or 10, at velocities of 60, 120, 180, 240 and 300 o·s-1 with a 60 second rest period between each velocity set. The order of repetitions was randomly assigned. A 2 X 2 X 4 X 5 repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze the data with α < .05. The independent variables were gender, athlete, repetitions, and velocity with peak torque as the dependent variable. The following were found to be significant: interaction between gender and velocity; athlete and velocity; velocity; gender; athlete/non athlete; but no significant differences in number of repetitions were found. Therefore, peak torque was demonstrated equally regardless of the number of repetitions. However, by carefully reviewing the data for females it was evident that the women athletes did not reach peak torque at any of the five velocities when they executed four repetitions. In the female non athletes only at the higher velocities did they reach peak torque with four repetitions. It was concluded that females may need more repetitions to achieve peak torque than their male counterparts and that this should be taken into account when they are being tested for strength.


Atomic force microscopes (AFM) can image and manipulate sample properties at the atomic scale. The non-contact mode of AFM offers unique advantages over other contemporary scanning probe techniques, especially when utilized for reliable measurements of soft samples (e.g., biological species). The distance between cantilever tip and sample surface is a time varying parameter even for a fixed sample height, and hence, difficult to identify. A remedy to this problem is to directly identify the sample height in order to generate high precision, atomic-resolution images. For this, the microcantilever is modeled by a single mode approximation and the interaction between the sample and cantilever is derived from a van der Waals potential. Since in most practical applications only the microcantilever deflection is accessible, this measurement is utilized to identify the sample height in each point. Using the proposed approach for identification of the sample height, the scanning speed can be increased significantly. Furthermore, for taking atomic-scale images of atomically flat samples, there is no need to use the feedback loop to achieve setpoint amplitude. Simulation results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach and suggest the most suitable technique for the sample height identification.Copyright © 2005 by ASME


Shape memory epoxy resin of PU / TDE- 85 was prepared by using tetrahydromethyl- 1,3-isobenzofurandione( METHPA) as a curing agent. The characteristics of the blends were investigated by tensile test,SEM,DMA and FTIR. Blends with varying proportions of PU / TDE- 85 were studied for their mechanical properties,thermodynamics,glass-transition temperature and shape memory properties. The test results show that the toughness of epoxy resin was improved by adding PU. And the glass-transition temperature also decreased accordingly. Moreover,the material exhibited a good shape memory performance,the shape recovery and the shape fixity of this material can achieve 96% and 100%,respectively.


The European Eureka/Celtic project WiSafeCar – Wireless traffic Safety Network Between Cars (July 2009 – March 2012) aimed at developing an effective service framework and advanced wireless traffic safety network between vehicles and infrastructure allowing utilization of vehicle based sensor and observation data to generate intelligent, secure and reliable real-time services for vehicles. The participants from Finland, Luxembourg and South-Korea planned and developed advanced solutions, services and hardware within the project. This paper presents the final results of the project with main focus on the road and route weather monitoring, forecasting and warning services and results of the piloting work carried out in Finland. The paper also presents the scope and objectives of the WiSafeCar's follower Celtic project called CoMoSeF - Co-operative Mobility Services of the Future that was commenced on the 1st July 2012 with the aim to develop co-operative mobility solutions, devices and applications feasible for large scale deployment and supporting the intelligent transportation system (ITS) Action Plan and national ITS strategies. CoMoSeF will bring the existing and emerging sensors, services and communication solutions closer to market and create the business models needed.


. Effects of Septoria nodorum on the grain yields and yield components of three spring wheat cultivars were studied in Finland using artificial field inoculation over three years. At low infection level, in 1986, grain yield was reduced in all cultivars by 2 —lo Vo, but statistically insignificantly. In 1984 severe infection reduced the grain yields of cultivars Kadett and Tähti by 27 Vo and 32 Vo, respectively, while in 1985 the yield of Tähti was reduced by 16 Vo and that of Kadett by 18 Vo. Grain weights were reduced under low disease stress by 3—5 %, while under severe disease stress the reductions were 7—20 Vo. Disease strongly reduced the green-leaf area duration compared with fungicide-treated plots. Examination of single tillers showed that all yield components were significantly reduced. The disease amount on second leaves correlated best with grain weight loss. Implications of these results for controlling the damage caused by S. nodorum in spring wheat are discussed.


In the bond-parametric space (Z_1, Z_2, R_1/R_2, Σφ, Δφ), experimental data of erystaltype of 2005 intermetallic compounds and the experimental thermodynamic functions ofliquid alloys are processed. Some empirical rules are obtained, and the physical meaning ofthese rules is discussed.


Water balance of the mine is the basis of general assessment of deposit saturation. The problem of solving of the equation of water balance of a mine is a complicated series of unknowns or directly immeasurable values. Each value of the equation is considerably weighed with different determination error. In this paper there are some case studies of coal basins in the Czech Republic showing the methods of determination of mine water balance equation and methods of determination of some directly immeasurable parameters of this equation. 1 WATER BALANCE EQUATION OF A MINE Water balance of mine is the basis of general assessment of deposit saturation. Hitherto hydrogeological assessment of mines is based on observation of discharges pumped to the surface. These values are mistakenly considered as "mine inflows". The problems connected with the solution of the water balance equation of a mine are complicated by a variety of unknown or directly immeasurable values. The water balance equation has substantially more components than those obtained by geologists during assessment of hydrogeological conditions of a mine. Generally, the equation can be formulated in the following form /m period/: Qp = Qop + Qen Qv Qt ± Ql ± Qr where Qp......amount of water pumped to the surface Qop.....amount of operational water put into a mine Qen.....amount of water recharged from rock environment Qen=Qin+ Qaq where Qin....amount of infiltrated water from precipitation Qaq....amount of water recharged from aquifers


This paper examines the usefulness of open systems theory in Adult Education (AE) organisations. Attention is placed on SCDE. AE organisations, by virtue of the provision of education to the critical mass of people, make them useful to the development of countries. Their usefulness, however, is felt when they render their services effectively to the people. This paper which is a library research has noted that inadequate funding, lack of effective communication and lack of partnership with the wider society has led to failings of some AE organisations. Devising better means of securing adequate funds for programming and management is the way to go. The SCDE should regularly engage in effective communication and partner with the various publics in implementing her programmes. This will ensure the maximization of success in her programmes. Needs assessment should also be made central in SCDE programmes. It concludes that the SCDE should exhibit a high degree of creativity in resource mobilisation toward programming. This is one surest way of ensuring that the SCDE implement overarching educational programmes that seeks to build quality human capital for Ghana's development.


In his article protesting against proposed cuts to outputs from the Office for National Statistics, Hawkes argues that statistics are the lifeblood of policy.1 He's right, of course, but it is not just policy that will suffer if we lose these data: ultimately people will.

For example, one year and five year cancer survival by age for England, an output at risk, provides Macmillan Cancer Support with unique information on …


Organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) with a pentacene/TPBi/pentacene sandwich structure were realized and characterized. Compared with the single pentacene layer transistors, these devices not only showed an obvious reduction of threshold voltage but also presented a significant enhancement of field-effect mobilities. The performance improvement was attributed to the high conductivity of the sandwich active layers, which were analyzed by applying the transfer line method. Meanwhile, the morphologies of pentacene films with and without the TPBi interlayer were characterized by atomic force microscopy, the smoother surface of the upper pentacene film was observed in pentacene/TPBi/pentacene. Moreover, by applying X-ray diffraction, a higher-order growth phase of the pentacene thin film was observed.


We report on a possible correlation between the mass ratio and the period ratio of pairs of adjacent planets in extrasolar planetary systems. Monte Carlo simulations show that the effect is significant to a level of 0.7%, as long as we exclude two pairs of planets whose periods are at the 1 : 2 resonance. Only the next few multiple systems can tell if the correlation is real.


ABSTRACT In this study, we examine how adolescents in a dual-language program negotiate intersectional identities through interaction, while engaged in small-group exploratory talk around the task of a collaborative-writing project. We recognize that while dual-language settings can help adolescents build relationships with ethnolinguistically different peers who might be otherwise tracked into separate classrooms, dual-language spaces, nested within a larger racialized U.S. system, also have potential to reify marginalized identities. Using a microethnographic lens, we examine how students in an extra-curricular high school dual-language Spanish-English program negotiate intersectional identities while engaging in small-group work to write a bilingual book to share with elementary students. We found that the small-group setting was a space where students negotiated both marginalized and privileged identities, sometimes related to language and other times related to a host of other factors. We consider how talking directly with adolescents about the roles that might be placed on them as participants in dual-language programs can enlist them in the work of creating dual-language spaces that validate the various identities students seek to take up.


MISHELF microscopy is generalized by considering 4 illumination/detection channels while retaining single-shot working principle, twin image mitigation and noise averaging. Proof of principle validation is included considering a resolution test target.


During July-September 1993 in Bangladesh senior field research assistants interviewed 650 women clients younger than 20 to older than 45 after the clients received services at union family welfare centers (FWCs) in the rural subdistricts (thanas) of Abhoynagar and Sirajgang to examine the quality of services at the FWCs from the clients perspective. The clients tended to be young and married to live less than half a mile from the FWC and to have never attended school. The average number of previous pregnancies was 3.75. 55% were currently using a family planning method. The leading reasons for seeking services at FWCs were personal sickness (68.2%) and child care (51.1%). Many clients did not remember (as high as 14%) or were not informed of (as high as 8%) the dosage of drugs they received. 8% of clients were receiving prenatal care services. 6% were receiving family planning services. The IUD was responsible for 7 of the 19 family planning-related complications. Overall the women did not differentiate between the quality of services provided by family welfare visitors (FWVs) or that of medical assistants (MAs). They did consider MAs to be better at counseling than FWVs while FWVs were better at respecting privacy. They rated clinical examination counseling and provision of drugs as poor services for both the FWV and MAs. Most clients expected curative services and drugs at FWCs. Clients considered health education in group settings family planning services and care of pregnant women as services of marginal quality. They tended not to know about preventive services (prenatal care postnatal care and family planning) at FWCs. Clients tended to be satisfied with the behavior the privacy offered and the waiting time at FWCs. FWCs provide no technical guidelines to help FWVs and MAs make correct diagnoses and dispense appropriate treatment. These findings will allow the Maternal and Child Health-Family Planning Extension Project of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh to take steps to improve quality of care at FWCs.


Inelastic peripheral high energy interactions due to exchanges of various types of poles (pions, kaons, and vacuum regions) are considered from a unified viewpoint, from that of amplitude poles in the complex angular momentum plane. It is demonstrated that in the region in which effects related to the motion of poles described by these quanta are important, the overwhelming part of the contribution is from the vacuum region. However the contribution from this whole region decreases logarithmically with energy and the production multiplicity is small. In the region which yields the main contribution to the cross section these pole motion effects do not play any role. Here the main contribution is from single-pion exchange as computed in the one-meson approximation. This circumstunce is related to the difference in kinematics of elastic and inelastic processes. Some criteria are considered that can be employed for differentiating between inelastic processes due to vacuum region exchange and processes due to meson exchange. (auth)


Introduction IN RECENT years there has been increasing interest in autoimmune phenomena in myasthenia gravis. The accumulation of evidence along these lines began with the observation of Nastuk, Strauss, and Osserman in 1959 that there are fluctuations in serum complement levels in myasthenia gravis, with a tendency for complement levels to fall during exacerbations. 1 Simpson, in 1960, theorized that many of the puzzling features of myasthenia gravis (MG) could be explained by the presence of antibodies to the motor endplates of skeletal muscle fibers. 2 That same year Strauss and associates reported that pooled crude globulin from MG patients, when tagged with fluoresceinisothiocyanate, would react in antibody antigen-like fashion with normal, myasthenic, or cardiac muscle, and that complement was fixed in the reaction. 3 They subsequently demonstrated that the antimuscle globulin was in the 7 S fraction and that it bound rather specifically to the "A" band of skeletal


This paper deals with the reform of teaching methods of microcomputer courses, which are important for students in major of Measurement and Control Technology and Instruments. A new model of teaching-learning process is proposed, where a three-phase progressive teaching mode is used. At each phase the way of how to proceed course teaching and how to training practical ability of students is discussed. This teaching mode can obtain good effect on training the students' ability, activating their interest and improving the teaching quality. This paper explores a new teaching way of combination of theory and practice on micro computer courses.


1.MSC Student of Industrial Safety Engineering, Department of Industrial Safety Engineering, Faculty of HSE(Health, Safety and Environment), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences(SBMU), Tehran, Iran. 2.MSC Student of Industrial Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering,tehran university, Tehran, Iran. 3. MSC Student of Business Managment, Department of Management, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran. 4. Department of Industrial Engineering ,Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences(SBMU), Tehran, Iran. 5.Department of Industrial Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences(SBMU), Tehran, Iran.


Adrenocortical function was studied in 61 patients with active acromegaly. The secretion rates of cortisol and the levels of urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids were elevated in the majority of patients compared with normal control subjects. The 17-ketosteroids were significantly elevated in men only. The morning plasma cortisol, diurnal variation of cortisol, and urinary free cortisol were always within normal range. The half-life of cortisol was not significantly different from the control subjects in the group as a whole; however, it was always shorter in those patients with an elevated cortisol secretion rate and increased urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids. Responses to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), dexamethasone, and metyrapone testing were normal in most of the patients studied. These data favor the hypotheses that the primary abnormality found in the majority of patients with acromegaly is hypersecretion of cortisol, secondary to a nonthyroid hypermetabolic state, and that there is no evidence for direct action of growth hormone on adrenal steroidogenesis.


A tower-shaped dual-mode linear ultrasonic motor(LUSM) was presented.The motor was composed of a tower-shaped stator and a slider.The stator used six piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate ceramic(PZT) plates sticked to a metal elastomer to form an actuator.The stator used symmetric vibration mode in y-z plane to excite normal vibration of the driving tip,and used bending vibration mode in x-z plane to excite tangential vibration of the driving tip.Because of 90? phase shift between the normal and the tangential vibration,elliptical motion of the driving tip was obtained,so the slider was pushed to move.The problems of where to hold the motor and excite the mode,and how to excite the mode were discussed.A prototype and its test equipment were fabricated.The following new point was presented: the working performance of the motor is dependent on the frequency consistency on the condition of contacting.The optimum working point of the motor was obtained from the modal testing on the condition of contacting.Then the testing of mechanical characteristics was accomplished near the optimum working point.When the peak value of exciting voltage is 500 V and the pre-pressure is 6 N,the maximal velocity with no load is 980 mm/s and the maximum output force is 1 N.Because the stator's mass is 20 g,the thrust-weight ratio(the ratio of output force to stator's weight) is 5.


(03/01/2019) Tinuso: A processor architecture for a multi-core hardware simulation platform Multi-core systems have the potential to improve performance, energy and cost properties of embedded systems but also require new design methods and tools to take advantage of the new architectures. Due to the limited accuracy and performance of pure software simulators, we are working on a cycle accurate hardware simulation platform. We have developed the Tinuso processor architecture for this platform. Tinuso is a processor architecture optimized for FPGA implementation. The instruction set makes use of predicated instructions and supports C/C++ and assembly language programming. It is designed to be easy extendable to maintain the exibility required for the research on multi-core systems. Tinuso contains a co-processor interface to connect to a network interface. This interface allow for communication over an on-chip network. A clock frequency estimation study on a deeply pipelined Tinuso implementation shows that it is feasible to operate it at a frequency higher than 300 MHz in current state-of-the-art high end FPGAs.


High-tech knowledge is the "New Horizons" in the"World Three",existing in the top of "tree of knowledge"with its own features of existence and evolution.High-tech knowledge has three forms such as awareness(or tacit knowledge),the symbol(or coding knowledge) and physical form(or technology black box).Awareness form of high-tech knowledge transformed into symbolic form or physical form can be materialized into the social system to play a role,and symbolic forms of high-tech knowledge is the "explicit" of the consciousness form high-tech knowledge,physical form of high-tech knowledge is the result of socialization of the awareness or symbolic form of high-tech knowledge.With their interactions,mutual conversion,and common development,they constitute the evolution approach of high-tech knowledge.


Basic Health Research Data 2018 states that the prevalence of malnutrition in infants is 18.8%. MPASI, complimentary food to breast milk, is food or drink containing nutrients, given to babies or infants aged 6-24 months, and given in stages according to the age and digestive capacity of the babies or infants to meet their nutritional needs other than breast milk. This dedication aims to improve the nutritional status of infants under five years old by providing nutrition education to mothers of children under five related to the provision of complementary feeding recommended by WHO. The method used is counseling to 30 mothers of toddlers in Mataram City. The results of the community service activity show that there is an increase related to participants' knowledge of complementary foods, solving problems for children who do not want to eat, and an increase in commitment to make complementary foods according to those recommended by WHO. The conclusion of this dedication is an increase in knowledge and willingness of mothers to provide food in accordance with WHO recommendations.


This article presents the results of a pilot study assessing the level of formation of a stochastic competence among teachers of mathematics. Besides, the indicators that reflect the competence of formation of stochastic students are identified and ranked in order of importance. Different instruments (questionnaires, tests, assignments) have been used to solve the problem under study.


Nutrients play a vital role in the sustainability of sheep production by maintaining the reproductive process and the health status of the ewe. This study evaluated blood hematology changes during prepartum and postpartum on ewe fed flushing diet. A total of 20 Garut sheep were used in this study. A completely randomized factorial design 4 × 2 was used. The first factor was ration (P1= basal ration; P2= Flushing concentrate 6% palm oil; P3= Flushing concentrate 3% palm oil and 3% lemuru oil; P4= Flushing concentrate 6% lemuru oil), and the second factor was a physiological phase (prepartum and postpartum ). Erythrocyte and hemoglobin levels were higher postpartum than in the prepartum period (P<0,05), but the ration was not affected. The postpartum ewe has a lower percentage of lymphocyte and monocyte but higher neutrophil than the prepartum period. P2, P3, and P4 significantly (P<0,05) improved the number of monocytes. P3 significantly (P<0,05) decrease lymphocyte and increase neutrophil. The neutrophil to lymphocyte (N/L) ratio is very low in P4 and high in P3. In conclusion, feeding flushing concentrate 6% lemuru oil can improve the immune system by maintaining normal blood hematology during the prepartum and postpartum.


The utility model relates to a closed vane wheel with S-shaped novel vanes dedicated to a small high-speed centrifugal fan, which comprises a rear wheel disc (2) and vanes (3); wherein, the vanes (3) are circumferentially, equidistantly and vertically assembled on the rear wheel disc (2) clockwise or counterclockwise; and the vane wheel is characterized in that the cross section of each vane (3) is similar to a S. When the vane wheel rotates at a high speed, the airflow in an air inlet arranged at the center of a front wheel disc first enters the large circular arcs, which are close to the center of the rear wheel disc, of the vanes, and then is slidingly transferred outwards to enter the small circular arcs, which are far from the center of the rear wheel disc, of the vanes, as a result, the kinetic pressure of the air is increased, the flow speed is increased, and the airflow is ejected out after passing through the flow channel of a fan shell. The utility model resolves the defect that the prior vane wheel with alternated long and short vanes can cause airflow interference to affect power, consequently, the efficiency of the fan is increased by over 5 percent, and the noise is reduced by over 3 decibels.


The article contains a description of representation methods of science in mass culture, which are being used for adaptation of difficult particularized scientific knowledge for ordinary consciousness.


tudied the dry-cultivation,conventional water seedling and floppy disk seedling three different seedling raising methods on rice seedling effect.Result: drought seedling emergence rate,seedling quality,high resistance,it was worth popularizing of raising seedling.


Conceptualising foreign aid as a controversial social object, this study utilised Social Representations Theory as a social constructionist framework to understand the meanings that arise from people's social interactions in relation to foreign aid practice in a particular historical, political and social context such as the province of Sulu in Southern Philippines. Key informant interviews and group discussions with representatives of various social groups involved in the practice of foreign aid in Sulu were conducted. Research data were examined using thematic analysis. Results showed two interrelated representational systems about foreign aid in the province. First, foreign aid was understood as a valuable resource for peace and development in Sulu. Second, based on narratives of aid practice in the province, the same social object was also represented as a profiteering enterprise that operates at various levels of the aid structure. Results are discussed in terms of meaning-making in aid practice; the possible psychological, social and political consequences of the social meaning of foreign aid as a profiteering enterprise; and the potential of these social representations for reflection, critique and transformation in the practice of foreign aid.


The forward iteration method for determining rational construction state of cable stayed bridges is introduced in the paper. It can deduce the cable tensile forces and the form setting levels of every construction state by method of least squares, according to the rational dead load state. Some disadvantages of backward analysis method are avoided and nonlinear problems of structure are solved effectively.


Process studies in hillslope hydrology - an overview, M.G.Anderson and T.P.Burt vegetation and hydroclimate, J.S.Wallace and H.R.Oliver determination of hydraulic soil properties, J.M.H.Hendrick soil water hysteresis - models and implications, D.B.Jaynes surface sealing and infiltration, M.J.Romkens overland flow and erosion, J.J-P Gerits et al hydraulics and overland flow, I.D.Moore and G.R.Foster hydrogeochemistry of snow and snowmelt in catchment hydrology, H.G.Jones and J.Stein geography of surface runoff - some lessons for research, M.Church and M.K.Woo macropores and hydrologic hillslope processes, P.Germann subsurface runoff, M.G.Anderson and T.P.Burt environmental isotope studies of storm and snowmelt runoff generation, M.G.Sklash solute transport in soils, B.W.Bache runoff production in peat-covered catchments, T.P.Bur et al perspectives on hillslope research, E.M.O'Loughlin.


With the wide application of FRP composites for retrofitting and strengthening of existing structures, accurate and efficient analyses of models become very important as the study of interface crack growth is essential to ensure the reliability of structures under static and cyclic loading conditions. In the absence of exact analytical solutions for complex plate problems, numerical methods such as the finite element method, the boundary element method, and recently meshless methods have been frequently used and extended to include nonlinear effects. In the past decade, meshless methods have been widely developed and implemented to various engineering problems. Krysl and Belytschko have extended the element free Galerkin (EFG) method for static analysis of thin plates and shells. All EFG formulations require a background mesh of cells for integration. In a different meshless approach, the proposed truly meshless Finite Point Method (FPM) uses a moving least square approximation within a collocation strong form for solving the governing equilibrium equation. In FPM, imposition of boundary conditions is not directly performed. Instead, a procedure similar to other internal nodes is followed. In this paper, the fracture analysis of two dimensional FRP composites is considered. Enriched basis functions are introduced in the meshless formulation to capture the singularity at potential crack tips. A number of problems are solved and the results are compared with available analytical solutions and other numerical techniques to assess the performance of the proposed approach.


Adsorption mechanism of attapulgite to TCE and its effect factors was prepared by adsorption kinetics experiments, isotherm equilibrium adsorption experiments and experiments of environmental effect factors. Its performance of adsorption showed that, compared with the original attapulgite, the removal of organattapulgites to TCE was significantly improved and grew up with the amount of organic carbon. Further, its main removal mechanism was partition of attapulgite's organic phase to TCE and the anion-cation organattapulgites, 100S/100 H, was best with the most removal efficiency . Under such conditions, namely TCE initial concentration of 100mg.L−1, controlling the temperature of 30°C, 2h of adsorption time, the anion-cation organattapulgites, 100S/100H had the best removal of TCE,which remained stably at about 62%.


For the inverse problem of recovering surface parameters from inherent radiation recorded by scanning radiometers, a maximum likeihood technique based on secondary processng in Wiener and Kalman filters is proposed.


In February 1993, the U.S. Air Force Civil Engineering Support Agency asked the U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station to provide technical assistance for construction of a stone matrix asphalt (SMA) pavement demonstration project at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB). In August 1993, approximately 0.8 km (0.5 mi) of SMA pavement was placed on a road at Edwards AFB. The SMA mixture contained crushed stone, natural sand, fly ash, cellulose fiber, and an AR-4000 asphalt cement. The following summer, it was reported that excessive amounts of bleeding had occurred in all wheelpaths. An inspection in August 1994 confirmed this finding, and it was noted that the bleeding was worse near the intersections. The SMA mixture apparently contained too much asphalt cement. Several factors contributed to the bleeding: (a) the SMA mixture as designed contained too many fines, especially in passing the No. 4 sieve, compared with current guidance from the National Asphalt Paving Association and others; (b) the void content of the mixture may have been inadequate; and (c) samples obtained from the in-place pavement had a finer grading and higher asphalt content than specified. The bleeding has caused concern; however, no maintenance has been performed on the SMA pavement and no measurable rutting has occurred in the wheelpaths.


The ciliary permeability barrier is mechanistically distinct from other cellular diffusion barriers and allows soluble proteins under ∼100 kD in size to enter cilia in the absence of active transport.


It is necessary for ultrasonic diagnostic doctors to be widely and standardized training.This article aimed to emphasize the necessity of standardized training on ultrasonic diagnostic doctors,and to explore its principle requirements,methods,contents and value.


Aim:  Development of a fast, automated and reliable screening method for screening of large collections of bacterial strains with minimal handling time.


The invention discloses a beak-head hook installed on a conveying chain. The beak-head hook is characterized by comprising an upper member and a lower member, wherein the upper member is connected with the conveying chain, one end of the lower member is rotatably connected with the upper member, the other end of the lower member is provided with a hook-shaped part with a downward opening, and a spring is arranged between the upper member and the lower member. The outer bottom edge of the lower member of the beak-head hook is in a convex arc shape. An arc groove is formed on the bottom of the lower member of the beak-head hook and close to the outer edge. A chute is formed below the conveying chain, a retaining part is arranged on the chute, the bottom of the beak-head hook is lifted upwards under the action of force when encountering the retaining part, and the hook-shaped part on the beak-head hook is separated from a hook of a clothes hanger, so that the clothes hanger is kept on the chute. Consequently, the beak-head hook has the advantages that the beak-head hook can automatically release the clothes hanger when encountering the retaining part, and is simple in structure and convenient to use, so that the production efficiency of workers can be improved.


Mikeal Parsons' engaging and instructive new book argues that Luke draws on ancient physiognomy to present certain of his characters and that Luke does this to subvert ancient assumptions about the ways in which appearance reveals moral character. The subversion derives from Luke's understanding that the new community is to be radically inclusive, one that reaches out to those who have been ostracized because of their appearance. The first two chapters of the book introduce physiognomy in Greek and Roman literature and practice, then discuss the awareness of physiognomy in early Jewish and Christian literature. According to one tractate (Physiognomica, attributed to Aristotle), the specialist in physiognomy studies "movements, shapes, colors, and traits as they appear in the face, from the hair, from the smoothness of the skin, from the voice, from the appearance of the flesh, from the limbs, and from the entire stature of the body" (p. 22). Because "soul and body react on each other," one may study the body to analyze the internal character. So Aristotle can write that "when men have large foreheads, they are slow to move; when they have small ones, they are fickle; when they have broad ones, they are apt to be distraught; when they have foreheads rounded or bulging out, they are quick tempered" (p. 21). The heart of Parsons' study lies in his examination of four stories in Luke-Acts: the bent woman in Luke 13, Zacchaeus in Luke 17, the lame man in Acts 3, and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. In every case, we are


In response to 'Ask the family' (News analysis November 18), a good part of my role as a school nurse is to aid teenagers to integrate into the school community. Drugs and alcohol issues are addressed through police, drug agencies, national curriculum and school nurses.


To assess immunohistochemically 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine (8‐OHdG, a sensitive biological marker of oxidative damage and stress) in testicular tissue from patients with varicocele, to determine whether 8‐OHdG is related to spermatogenesis, as oxidative stress in testicular DNA is associated with poor semen quality and reduced fertility.