Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the common communicable disease affecting human beings since ancient times. Though effective chemotherapy emerged during 20th century had raised hope towards eliminating TB burden, it still remains as a distant goal. Awareness about TB among close contacts of active disease is of paramount importance in preventing its spread and promoting early diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to assess the knowledge about tuberculosis among caregivers of tuberculosis patients.Methods: This was a cross sectional study that enrolled 300 subjects who were then caregivers of tuberculosis patients admitted in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine. Subjects were interviewed according to a predesigned panel of questions meant to assess their basic knowledge and perceptions about tuberculosis symptomatology, diagnostic modalities, treatment and prevention.Results: About 90.3% (n=271) of subjects had heard about TB previously and about 37.7% (n=113) considered themselves to be well aware of it. Most of them believed TB to be communicable (90.3%, n=271). Majority believed that TB affects lungs only (n=206, 68.7%), with most commonly perceived symptom being cough (n=285, 95%). Knowledge regarding disposal of sputum was poor (n=110, 36.7%). About 168 (56%) subjects considered usage of face mask by the patient as an effective tool for TB prevention.Conclusions: Caregivers of tuberculosis patients lack proper knowledge about major aspects of the disease. Public awareness and care giver education programs needs to be implemented along with standard TB care to reduce transmission of TB among close contacts.


Plasma antenna can be formed by energizing glass tubes which are filled with neutral gases. It works similarly as metal antenna where it can transmit and receive wireless signal. This study aims to investigate the effect of weather focused on solar radiation towards the performance of plasma antenna represented by signal strength. Fluorescent lamp was set as plasma because it used ionized gas as its conducting element instead of metal. Execution of electrical properties measurements need to be done first, in order to obtain discharge current and voltage values, that need to be used into Glomac programming for the generation of electron temperature and electron density. Next, calculations of the plasma properties was performed to derive the value of plasma and collision frequencies. The plasma properties are important parameters to design and simulate plasma antenna using Computer Simulation Technology (CST). Antenna parameters in terms of return loss, gain, directivity and radiation pattern can be simulated using CST. Signal strength experiment was conducted to evaluate plasma antenna performance in terms of its capability to capture the signals and analyse the effect of solar radiation on that particular moment through the rate of power level over time versus solar radiation data. It was observed at the highest solar radiation rate which is 920 V/m, the power level recorded is the lowest value at-172.93 dBm. Therefore, the signal strength received by the plasma antenna shows remarkable changes under the influence of solar radiation.


Multi-media teaching and PBL teaching mode have attracted the extensive attention in current higher medical education,but mainly have applied to classroom teaching.Multi-media teaching combined with PBL mode,which is an opening teaching mode,has been applied in neurological teaching practice.This mode puts emphasis on students as center and helps students to learn knowledge in solving problems and to solve problems in the process of learning,which fully arouse and promote students' initiatives,thus improving the quality of teaching practice.


W ith a half-life of 1.25 billion years, potassium-40 does not decay often, but its decays have a big impact. As a relatively common isotope (0.012% of all potassium) of a very commonmetal (2.4% bymass of Earth's crust), potassium-40 is one of the primary sources of radioactivity we encounter in daily life. Its decays are the primary source of argon-40, which makes up almost 1% of the atmosphere, and the copious amount of heat released from these decays threw off early estimates of the age of Earth made by Lord Kelvin. Potassium-40 is largely responsible for the meager radioactivity in our food (such as bananas), and it is a significant source of noise in some highly sensitive particle physics detectors. This isotope and its decay products are also useful tools in dating rocks and geological processes that go back to the earliest parts


In this study, the effect of water stress on the germination rate of the seeds of nine pieces of species used for landscaping works in Kastamonu is investigated. The seeds of these species have been subject to germination trials with water stress level between 0 and -8 bar and the germination percentages of the seeds have been identified. The water stress was constituted with the use of polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) solution and germinations were carried out at 25oC in a period of 35 days. Depending on the water stress as a result of these studies, it has been stated that the percentages of all species have decreased as from -2 bar water stress; there are no germinations in -6 bar water stress for the tree of heaven, and in -8 bar water stress for Cupressus arizonica and Sophora japonica. We found that the species most resistant to water stress are Pinus nigra, Cupressus sempervirens, and Pinus brutia.


A flight to high near-earth orbits using a two-stage booster with a sequential arrangement of stages with chemical and electro-rocket engines is discussed in the paper. Simulation for a number of flight schemes is presented. Areas of preferential application of different types of boosters are determined in terms of maximum payload mass placed on the target orbit.


Transient finite element simulations of electromechanical devices with highly perforated deformable or movable structural components are computationally very expensive or even prohibitive, when multiple energy domains and their mutual interactions have to be considered. This is in particular the case, when fluid-structure interactions have to be included in the physical models in order to analyze fluidic damping effects as they occur in microdevices with complex geometry. Especially perforations increase the computational expense drastically, because they require a highly resolved mesh with a large number of discretization nodes to obtain an accurate description of the damping behavior. We developed a modeling toolbox in MATLAB that, starting from discretized FEM device models, enables the automated generation of physically-based mixed-level reduced-order models (Fig. 1); these constitute the proper basis for the coupled-domain simulation of complex microstructured devices within acceptable computation time. The underlying theoretical framework is provided by the generalized Kirchhoffian network theory. In this approach, a microsystem is decomposed into functional blocks, which are represented by reduced-order macromodels. Since these are based on a physical description of the functional behavior, they are scalable with design parameters and, after calibration, are predictive. A fast, but yet accurate system-level model of the full microdevice is obtained by interlinking them to form a generalized Kirchhoffian network, which inherently governs the exchange of energy and other physical quantities between the blocks. Thus, our methodology provides a natural and efficient way to tackle all the couplings between the electrostatic, fluidic, and mechanical energy domain. For the implementation of fluidic damping, we employ the Reynolds equation, which is discretized in form of a finite fluidic network and augmented by dedicated compact models to properly include the effects of perforations, edges and corners of the microstructure (Fig. 3). We obtain simulation results, which are in excellent agreement with the experimental findings [1,2]. A further enhancement of our method is achieved by employing the "reduced hole array" (RHA) scheme. This is an order reduction technique which groups a number of parallel compact models of perforations in arrays and replaces them with computationally less expensive 'superhole' compact models (Fig. 4). The RHA scheme has been implemented in our toolbox as an automated node condensation process steered by structural data that is extracted from the geometry of the microstructure. As illustrative example, we considered a deformable membrane with a total number of 1225 perforations (Fig. 2) and generated full and RHA macromodels with arrays spanning 4, 25 and 100 perforations. The VHDL-AMS models using RHAs show no significant loss of accuracy (Fig. 5), but lead to a drastic speed-up of computation time by a factor of 40 for the simulated response of the membrane to a voltage step (Fig. 6). Thus, by the integration of the RHA technique we are equipped with a powerful modeling toolbox to generate macromodels for a class of microstructures which is very difficult or even impossible to treat with finite elements.


Objectives: The aim of the present study was to examine the expressions of mucin genes MUC1 and MUC4 and to evaluate the difference of their expressions in normal thyroid tissue, follicular adenoma, and papillary carcinoma. Furthermore, we aimed to estimate their prognostic significance in papillary carcinoma.


The study focused on the association between government spending on education and economic growth of Pakistan for the period of 1980-2014. The study employed Johansen cointegration test to find out long run cointegration relationship among the selected variables. The study also employed Granger causality test to examine the bidirectional relationship between government spending on education and GDP. The result of the analyses found significantly long run positive impact of public education expenditure on GDP, the effect of capital is positive but not significant where employment has also a significantly long run positive impact on GDP. The result of Granger causality test based on VECM found neither short run nor long run bidirectional causality but short run unidirectional causality, which is running from public education expenditure to GDP.


Between 12/1993 and 5/2004, 80 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) received a T cell depleted stem cell transplant from an HLA identical sibling, with delayed add-back of donor T cells on days 30–45 and again on day 60–100 for patients not developing ≥ grade II acute GVHD. Four transplant regimens were evaluated (1) total body irradiation (TBI) + cyclophosphamide (Cy) and standard dose (SD) cyclosporine (CSA) + bone marrow transplantation (BMT) (N=25); (2) TBI + Cy + SD-CSA + peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) (N=16); (3) TBI + Cy + PBSCT and low dose or no (LD/N) CSA (N=22); (4) TBI + fludarabine (Flu) + Cy and LD/N CSA (N=17). Median CD34 and CD3 doses were 4.5 x 106/kg and 0.75 x 105/kg respectively Prior to transplantation 54 patients had chronic phase (CP) and 26 had more advanced CML. Kaplan-Meier survival plots were created for overall survival, current disease free survival (DFS); and transplant-related mortality (TRM). Outcomes were analyzed using log rank tests. The outcomes for chronic versus more advanced CML were respectively 85±5% vs 36±10%, p=


Aiming at the problem that products costs rising while benefits falling in oil enterprises, this paper chooses an oil company's product cost as an example and introduces the current situation, the main reasons of the cost rising, meanwhile put forwards the useful measures of cost control to oil enterprises, including: improving material consumption quota for carrying out a standard cost control; relying on progress of science and technology for reducing the cost of product life cycle; optimizing the organization of production for a better production efficiency; setting up the reasonable inventory for reducing the occupied and the inventory cost of funds of enterprises; and improving the enthusiasm of the staff involved in the control of cost with the cost consciousness.


Olusanya et al debate the principles of informed choice within the context of infant hearing screening. In doing so they draw on our conceptualisation and measure of informed choice. Unfortunately they draw an erroneous conclusion, namely that it is inappropriate to measure uptake as part of assessing informed choice. This is based on a misinterpretation of both our definition of informed choice and its measurement. Based on the decision making literature, we have proposed an operational definition of informed choice: ''one that is based on relevant knowledge, consistent with the decision maker's values and behaviourally implemented''. There are two types of informed choice: an informed choice to decline screening, where someone with good knowledge and negative attitudes towards themselves undergoing screening does not undergo screening; and an informed choice to accept screening where someone with good knowledge and positive attitudes towards themselves undergoing screening, undergoes screening. An assessment of informed choice therefore requires an assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and the consistency between attitudes and screening behaviour, to determine whether screening behaviour, usually referred to as uptake, reflects the attitudes of the person offered screening. This definition and model places no value on whether the choice made is to accept or to decline screening: both such choices can be informed and therefore represent a positive outcome of screening. Olusanya et al have also misinterpreted the policy of informed choice in the context of screening. The goal of an informed choice strategy for screening is not for everyone to have positive attitudes towards undergoing the procedure, but rather that people act consistently with their own values, not those of others, including healthcare professionals. There are some situations where there is one clear choice and healthcare professionals recommend a course of action; for example, the need for an emergency laparotomy or the need to reduce a diuretic dose in someone with a low serum potassium. Undergoing a screening test does not fall into this category. We hope this serves to clarify the misunderstanding that Olusanya and colleagues appear to be labouring under, with regard to both the concept of informed choice and its operationalisation.


Preservation of the cultural heritage of museums includes measures to prevent degrading effects induced by air temperature and humidity factors which are difficult to control. The present paper includes a synopsis of values of air temperature and relative humidity characterizing the indoor climate of the "Poni-Cernătescu" Museum of Iași, Romania for a period of one year. The objective of this research was to describe the museum microclimate and to identify and analyze the degradation risk of museum artifacts in order to study the impact of hygrothermal indoor and outdoor loads on indoor microclimate parameters. To achieve the objective, the following activities were carried out: acquisition of data on the relative humidity and the temperature of indoor and outdoor air; analysis of data with climate analysis tools and statistical methods; and transformation of data into quantitative and qualitative numerical measures of collection decay risks. The collected data enabled us to accurately describe the indoor climate conditions of the analyzed building. The main conclusions of the assessment were that the May–July period represented the interval with the highest degradation risk for all types of cultural assets (wood, leather, photos and paintings); this occurred because of the combination of a high amount of water vapor and high air temperature conditions. Based on charts and tabular data, this study presents the evolution of two parameters of internal microclimate, air temperature and relative humidity, and their correlation with external climate factors. The structural and functional parameters of the museum, the working levels of heating and air conditioning systems, the arrangement, the load, and the typological complexity of the artifacts displayed, were also considered in the analysis. The results obtained enabled us to develop useful recommendations to stabilize climate conditions inside the museum. Specific measures to mitigate the detrimental impact of the analyzed environmental factors are proposed. The results obtained show that in the basement, favorable conditions for mycelium growth occurred. In the summer months, across the entire museum space, the preservation indices were the lowest, from 20 to 25, so suitable conditions for storing the artifacts were not met.


In restoration of global motion-blurred images,the motion-blurred images produced directly with Photoshop are defective thus leading to failure of image restoration.An analysis is therefore made,with reference to the physical process of image formation,to find the source of faults and to explain why periodic waves always appear within failing restorations.Accordingly,a strategy of zeropadding the marginal scene areas in proportion to the motion distances is proposed to make things fit.And experimental results show that owing to this pre-processing Photoshop is now ready to output motion-blurred images proper for simulation.


Drowning is a major problem in most of the world. It is the 3rd leading cause of accidental demise globally and accounts for 7% of all injury deaths. There are approximately 236000 deaths worldwide every year due to drowning, but it is still believed that this number underestimates the actual public health problem associated with drowning. This paper proposes a solution to address this issue by introducing autonomous Jelly Bots equipped with drowning detection capabilities for deployment in high-risk areas such as beaches and ghats. The Jelly Bot offers improved rescue capabilities in uncertain situations and is computationally efficient. The proposed model utilizes a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) for real-time video analysis to identify drowning activity with high speed and accuracy. The implementation of underwater drones, visual surveillance, and search and rescue techniques contributes to enhancing beach safety and reducing drowning incidents.


to be methods for at least partially coating a bioactive, biocompatible layer on moldings, to achieve a contact surface with the property of the settlement and propagation of surrounding soft tissue body cells on the layer conducive, characterized in that: bioactive glass, hereinafter referred to as BAG, is used in the composition range S53P4 as a target material, the molded body (5), and recrystallized each activated surfaces to be coated with ions, the molded body (5) on an exposure table a pulsed Elektronenstrahlablation by a BAG-target (3) ablated BAG-ray pulse (7) are exposed, thereby the thermal stress caused by heat of condensation while the BAG-deposition on the surface of the molded body (5) on the pulse frequency of the electron (2) or BAG-ray pulse (7) is controlled until a BAG-layer of 1 to 10 microns thickness is deposited, prior to implantation in order to avoid an initial cytotoxicity of the BAG-coated moldings: either at least three times NaCl electrolyte is subjected to a 24 hour contact with SBF, demineralized water, or 0.9%, ...


Akinetic spectrophotometric method has been described for the determination of metoprolol tartrate in commercialdosageforms.Theprocedureisbased on thereaction ofthedrug with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) at 100 1 °C. The reaction is investigated by measuring the change in absorbance with time at 420 nm. Fixed-time (A) and equilibrium methods are chosen for obtaining the calibration curves. Both calibration curves were found to be linear over the concentration range of 5-60 gm L -1 . The regression analysis of calibration data resulted in the linear regression equationsofA=-1.60810 -4 +3.9610 -3 CandA=7.3110 -4 +1.9010 -2 Cforfixedtime(A)andequilibrium methods, respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) for fixed time and equilibrium methods are 1.16 and 0.415 gm L -1 , respectively. The method has been successfully applied to the quantitation of metoprolol tartrate in commercial dosage forms. Statistical comparison of the results shows that there is no significant difference between the proposed methods and El-Ries's spectrophotometric method.


ABSTRACT This article assesses the impact of the decentralization process on multi-level governance in Indonesia by focusing on the functional assignment of roles and responsibilities among central, provincial and district/city governments. The case of functional assignment in the health and education sectors is used to analyse the decentralization effects of recent legal reforms and is evaluated using the managerial grid model. The research finds that despite recent reforms aimed at deconcentration, central government remains the dominant actor in the system of governance and the delivery of public services. Although in general local governments are allocated a large range of functions, they are not accompanied by sufficient budget allocation. It is observed that functional assignment delegated to local governments vary and should depend on the capacity of each region. To conclude there is a need to establish an independent institution that is responsible for functional assignment to regions in accordance with their respective capacity.


Libraries have become increasingly aware of the crucial role that collaboration plays in making a successful transition from collecting print resources to providing online access to e-resources. Effective collaboration has led information professionals traditionally responsible for managing serials to venture outside the confines of any one library department in order to foster alliances with such partners as public services librarians,


The objective of the research is to investigate the pull factors that have
impacted on FDI inflows in Thailand. It seeks to explain the decline of inward
FDI in Thailand over recent years, in light of competition from inward FDI into
Southeast Asia countries. The study uses empirical exploratory data analysis to
examine the inward pull factor in Thailand compared to neighbouring countries
in ASEAN which are: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam, covering
the period from 2004 to 2015. The main pull factors derived from the literature
findings include: labour cost, infrastructure quality, institutions, FDI restrictions,
and tax rates. The results of the research show that Thailand has lost competitiveness
on labour cost, infrastructure quality, political stability, while FDI restrictions
seems play some role in attracting FDI and it was not the case with tax
rates.


I read with interest the recent editorial by Johnson et al ([2003][1]) and I agree with the authors that substance misuse, including in women of reproductive age, has increased markedly over the past 20 years. In my practice of obstetrics and obstetric anaesthesia, I have provided care to many drug-


Creative dance approach for student who are involved in the creative dance activities can give the  appearance  of  happiness besides the unique potential  of  most creative dance while enhance  their self-esteem. This writing proposed creative dance activity should be develop in our education  system in both the academic module and eo-curriculum activities to generate creative minds,  colourful imagination and induce students dynamic intellectual capabilities. Key words: teaching creative dance, curriculum, self-esteem


Public Law covers major new legislation such as: * Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 * Human Rights Act 1998 and Scotland Act 1998 * Ethical Standards in Public Life (Scotland) Act 2000 * Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commission Act 2002 * Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000 * Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 Coverage Includes: * Sources * Foundations * Elections * Parliaments * Government * The courts and judiciary * Local government * Europe * Access to information * Human rights * Police powers and public order * Judicial review * Ombudsmen


Objective Personalized treatment depends on the treatment goals. Current prediction models to guide initial treatment choices focus on radiological damage progression. However, for some patients this outcome is less relevant, whereas short-term functional ability is relevant to all. Do these various treatment goals share the same predictors? Methods Data of 497 patients from the BeSt study, randomized to initial monoor combination therapy, were used. Predictors of short-term functional disability (HAQ >=1 after three months of treatment) were identified with logistic regression analyses. Predicted risks of a HAQ >=1 were determined per treatment group and for each subpopulation. Results At baseline, 76% of patients had a HAQ >=1 (mean 1.7 ± 0.5). After three months of treatment this was 40% (mean HAQ 1.5 ± 0.5). Baseline HAQ, pain, Ritchie Articular Index and treatment group were significant independent predictors for a HAQ >=1; presence of rheumatoid factor, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies and baseline radiological damage (known predictors for radiological damage) were not. With cut-offs of 35% and 60%, the risk of a HAQ score >=1 was high for 47% and low for 20% of the patients treated with initial monotherapy. Risks were markedly reduced in combination therapy groups, also in unfavorable risk profiles. Conclusion In recent onset active RA, baseline HAQ, pain and initial treatment are predictors for HAQ >=1 after three months. Known predictors of radiological damage were not predictive of short term functional disability. The choice of the best initial treatment thus depends on the relevance of various outcome measures for an individual patient.


By using the ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering technique, the influence of shaking on a single crystal (body-centered-cubic (bcc) lattice) in dilute dispersions of colloidal silica particles was studied in a preliminary manner. After being vigorously shaken, the single crystal was broken into microcrystals while the lattice structure and lattice constant were retained. The scattering profile after shaking always showed a 6-fold symmetry and was not due to single crystals or powder-like. This suggests that the (110) planes (the most densely packed in bcc) of the microcrystals were unexpectedly maintained parallel to, and in contact with, the container (capillary) surface. The preference of the (110) planes over other less densely packed planes contradicts the widely accepted double layer interaction theory and provides a positive support to the largely ignored attractive interaction between charged surface and colloidal particles and between particles.


The gate direct tunneling current in sub-100-nm n-channel metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) in inversion regime has been calculated by solving the one-dimensional Schrödinger equations and two-dimensional (2D) Poisson equation self-consistently. This is the first 2D calculation of gate tunneling currents, although the model is not fully 2D. In the model, the wave-function penetration into the gate oxide and gate electrode is taken into account. The 2D effects of the gate tunneling current, in particular due to the edge direct tunneling (EDT) of electrons from the source and drain extensions, are investigated in detail. For lower gate voltages, the EDT current becomes a dominant component in the total gate current and exceeds the channel-to-gate current by three orders of magnitude at the maximum. Due to the EDT, the gate current is considerably dependent on the doping concentration and the gate overlapped length of the source and drain extensions.


The inhibition performance of Flubendazole (FBZ) drug on the corrosion of the 6061Al-Si alloy in 0.1M HCl has been observed by AC impedance (EIS), Tafel diagrams, electrochemical frequency modulation (EFM) and mass loss (ML) methods. The inhibition efficiency (IE) rises by raising the Flubendazole extent (FBZ) and diminished by raising the temperature. Polarization curves have shown that the Flubendazole acts as a mixed-kind inhibitor. FBZ adsorption on the alloy surface was obeying Temkin isotherm. Thermodynamic adsorption functions (ΔG° ads , ∆H° ads and ∆S° ads ) and the activation parameters (E *a ,Δ 𝐻 ∗ ,Δ 𝑆 ∗ ) were calculated and analyzed. Surface analysis using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) has confirmed the existence of a protective film of drug molecules onto Al alloy surface. The surface analysis of Al alloy was performed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), AFM (atomic force microscopy) and (FT-IR) Fourier transform infrared spectra.


Edward Allen, William Moore and John Bentley were the first 'pioneer' actor-managers to bring professional companies to Montreal and Quebec City in 1786. They were followed in the early 19th century by Ormsby, W.H. Prigmore, Noble Luke Usher, and Mills—to list but a few of the more prominent names—all of whom tried to develop further the tradition of performing popular London plays in assembly rooms or makeshift theatres with little scenery and a few talented performers. Unfortunately, most met with little public (and thus financial) success during this period. But with the arrival of peace after Napoleon's defeat, two managers arrived on the Montreal scene who sought to revive theatrical performances without being deterred by the unhappy experiences of the past—John Duplessis Turnbull, an actor-manager-playwright and tavern keeper in Montreal since 1808, and Thomas Doige, a law stationer. Both men sought to exorcise the spectre of failure by recruiting a company of outstanding performers. Thanks in part to the extended coverage their theatre received in both the Montreal Herald and the Canadian Courant as well as to the recent discovery of contracts and employment records, this theatre's history can now be more fully-documented. This material may not, of course, reveal full particulars of the administrative and economic organization of the New Montreal Theatre but they have allowed its author —Dr. Yashdip Singh Bains—to piece together an outline of the partnership between the two men and the kind of work produced by this then unique Montreal theatre.*


Alkali metal doped CuPc has been reported to have marked energy level shifts. The fundamental physics of the metal-organic interface have been extensively applied to improve OPVs and organic light-emitting devices. Most organic-organic donor-acceptor (D-A) interfaces have very small vacuum level offset, owing to their electronic wave functions are weakly coupled. Therefore, energy-level alignment at organic-organic interfaces has been studied less than that at metal-organic interfaces.


This issue of JAISE is focused on the theme of Challenges in Engineering Intelligent Environments. Since the inception of ubiquitous computing, the difficulties in deploying computing systems in our everyday environments have been recognized. Computing resources, electrical power consumption, visibility, networking, wireless tools, user interfaces, ad hoc infrastructures, security and other issues of concern have long been targets of continued research and engineering efforts. Intelligent Environments have been strong candidates for bringing limited prototype/pilot versions of the ubiquitous computing concept into everyday use. Applications in the fields of healthcare, automation, education, energy efficiency, and working environments have all seen notable successes. As 'big data' and large scale analytics have been brought to bear on these types of tools, new issues relating to data storage, machine learning, and privacy have been exposed. The research community targeting these fields has repeatedly sought high quality engineering solutions to problems arising in smart environments. This thematic issue was proposed and compiled to bring together exemplars of problems engineering teams face, the research approaches to building better smart environments, and to enhance awareness of how these problems might be overcome. The editors have sought out papers in areas including: middleware, software engineering, machine learning, sensors and systems, and user experience to demonstrate the diversity of


A low temperature technique for the synthesis of binder-free cobalt oxide electrocatalysts capable of use in electrochemical energy storage devices is explored. The process of identifying and choosing an oxidation potential that will theoretically produce a specific oxide phase or a mixture of phases is first determined from cyclic voltammogram. Electrocatalytic activity and other performance properties of oxide-phases produced using one-step oxidation potential will be compared to the cobalt oxides formed using two step oxidation potential schemes. Results will be presented on the performances of the different synthesized oxides in ultracapacitor and Li-based battery applications. Detailed microstructural and texture characterization of the composite oxide electrode materials and their correlation with electrochemical performance will also be presented.


THE NEED of a book of moderate compass to present in clear and succinct form the principles of plant physiology is well met by Professor Green's recent volume.' In a handy volume of 450 pages the author has discussed the structure and differentiation of the body (35 pp.); the skeleton (I7 PP.); the absorption, transport and loss of water (5o pp.); aeration and respiration (29 pp.); the various processes of nutrition, including absorption and synthesis of foods, translocation, storage, digestion, secretion and waste products (i56 pp.); energy relations (I7 PP.); growth (i5 pp.); temperature and the influence of environment on plants (25 pp.); irritability and movement (39 pp.). These are not the author's chapter headings but fairly represent the various topics. He has "endeavored to present the plant as a living organism, endowed with particular properties and powers, realizing certain needs, and meeting definite dangers," and to keep clearly before the reader the fundamental identity of the activities of plants and animals. In general the presentation leaves little to be desired. Particularly commendable is the treatment of nutrition. The author not only lays stress upon the true nature of foods, from which category he rightly excludes water and carbon dioxid, but discusses clearly photosynthesis, from which he differentiates, none too strongly, the amylogenic function, and presents, as in his earlier work, an excellent chapter on digestion. The treatment of respiration and the energy relations of plants, however, is not well arranged. To discuss respiration in connection with aeration and before nutrition seems to be a reversal of the logical sequence and that to no gain. It needs to be brought into intimate relation with nutrition, of which it is a phase, and also with the release of energy, of which it is one method. Aeration, though incidental to respiration, should be treated in connection with gas absorption, just as root hairs are discussed in connection with water absorption. The handling of osmosis might be much improved by a broader physical treatment, for there is no process whose fundamental principles are so little comprehended by most students. The author seems to overestimate the importance of root pressure in the transport of water through the stems, for


SGA (Single Genetic Algorithm) is a heuristic global optimization method based on the natural characteristies and uses a large number of populations and stochastic rules. Therefore, SGA needs many function evaluations and takes much time for convergence. In order to solve the demerits of SGA, μGA(Micro Genetic Algorithm) has recently been developed. In this study, μGA which has a small number of populations and fast convergence rate, was applied to structural optimization with discrete or integer variables such as a gear train and trusses. The optimized results of μGA were compared with those of SGA. Solutions of μGA for structural optimization were very similar or superior to those of SGA, and faster convergence rate was obtained. From the results of examples, it is verified that μGA is a suitable and very efficient optimization algorithm for structural design.


We investigate the workings of an early eighteenth century instrument for predicting eclipses described by the French astronomer de la Hire in his book Tabulae Astronomicae.


This paper deals with the hearing of complex low frequency tones. Hearing thresholds of low frequency pure tone and complex tones were measured. The measurement frequencies are from 5Hz to 50 Hz. In the results, the hearing thresholds of complex tones are found to be lower than those of pure tones, whose frequencies are the same as the fundamentals. Hearing thresholds of complex tones are affected by the phase difference between fundamental and harmonic. This means that the hearing of a complex tone is influenced by a higher harmonic component though the component is not audible. The results are not in agreement with the audibility of complex tones in the middle frequency area. The complex low frequency tone is not heard separately as each component but is heard as one complex wave.


Purpose
High risk is one of the most prominent characteristics of the Chinese construction industry, and it poses a significant threat to construction projects. Owing to initiatives aimed at achieving high efficiency, low carbon emissions, etc., industrialization of the construction industry has become an inevitable trend in China. However, it remains to be discussed whether industrialization of construction can reduce the risks entailed in construction projects compared with traditional construction. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
Based on the theory of risk life cycle, this paper proposes a practical risk assessment technique to assess the risk life cycle, including the risk occurrence time and potential financial losses. This technique is then applied to assess the differences between the risks involved in an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) project executed via traditional and industrial production modes.

Findings
The results show that the total duration of risks in the industrial construction project is half of that in the traditional project. In addition, the expected financial loss entailed in the industrial construction project is 29 percent lower than that in the traditional construction project. Therefore, industrial construction has the potential to optimize risk performance.

Originality/value
There is no significant difference between the traditional and industrial construction models in terms of probability of risk. The maximum total loss might occur in the procurement stage in the case of industrial production, and in the construction stage in the case of traditional production. Moreover, the total expected loss from risk in the EPC project in the industrial production mode is only half of that in the traditional production route. This study is expected to provide a new risk evaluation technique and promote an understanding of the life cycle of risk management in the construction industry.


Background: Dried blood spot (DBS) sampling has been proposed as an alternative for venous blood collection in therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of antipsychotics. For implementation in routine practice, a comparison between capillary and venous blood concentrations is mandatory. Results: A DBS method for quantification of antipsychotics was clinically validated. First, whole blood therapeutic ranges were calculated using the blood:serum ratio. Calculation of DBS:blood ratios and Passing Bablok regression analysis demonstrated that concentrations obtained by DBS analysis were highly comparable to those obtained by conventional whole blood analysis. Clinical interpretation of serum, whole blood and DBS concentrations were highly identical (sensitivity 91.6-97.6 %). Conclusion: This is the first clinical study demonstrating the value of DBS sampling in TDM of antipsychotics. Introduction Psychotic symptoms, caused by schizophrenia, schizophreniform, psycho-organic or bipolar disorder, are usually treated with psychotherapy in combination with antipsychotic drugs. Although antipsychotics have proven to be essential for a good therapeutic outcome, there is a wide interpatient variability in response to therapy. Therefore, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of the blood levels of antipsychotics can help in finding the right therapy, explaining non-response, pharmacokinetic interactions, poor response or eventual toxicity. TDM is recommended for almost all commonly used antipsychotics. Usually, monitoring of drugs is performed using serum or plasma obtained by classic blood withdrawal [1-5]. In a psychiatric population, the need for alternative ways of performing TDM is high, especially since blood withdrawal is often experienced as frightening or at least unpleasant. One of these alternative techniques which has gained importance in the last several years, is the use of dried blood spot (DBS) sampling. Being less invasive, easy and inexpensive, with convenient transport and storage, DBS has lots of advantages [6, 7]. So far, only a few publications on the use of DBS for measuring antipsychotic concentrations have been published. Some multi-analyte DBS-methods include one or two antipsychotics besides different other drug classes [8-10]. In 2011, a quantitative DBS method for clozapine and two metabolites using liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to electrochemical detection (ECD) was described. The method was only tested for venous blood spotted on DBS cards, while no capillary blood was collected following a finger prick [8]. In 2014, we developed a multianalyte DBS method for the analysis of 15 antipsychotics and 7 metabolites using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) [11]. Although this method was fully validated based upon EMA and FDA guidelines, a clinical validation should be performed before it can be implemented in routine practice. To this end, the DBS method should be evaluated on a large number of patient samples, thereby comparing the capillary concentrations with venous whole blood concentrations [12-14]. Indeed, as has been demonstrated for several compounds, one cannot simply assume that capillary blood concentrations will be the same for all compounds at all instances. In fact, capillary blood is a mixture of venous and arterial blood. Contamination from interstitial fluid, hemolysis and residual contaminations from the surface of the skin can influence capillary concentrations too [15-18]. Therefore, a thorough clinical study was conducted to make a comparison between antipsychotic concentrations found in venous whole blood and capillary DBS samples. This clinical validation consisted of an analysis of the DBS:blood ratio, statistical analysis using Passing-Bablok regression and a comparison of the clinical interpretation of the results. Two limitations should be added here. First, as the clinical validation was dependent on the collection of patient samples, not all antipsychotics which can be measured with our DBS method were present in these samples. Second, no statistical analysis was performed when the number of samples containing a specific antipsychotic was too low. Materials and methods Patient samples Samples were collected from inpatients at 3 psychiatric hospitals in Belgium (Sint-Norbertus, Duffel, Belgium; Broeders Alexianen, Boechout, Belgium; Sint-Amadeus, Mortsel, Belgium). This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University Hospital of Antwerp (Reference 13/30/300) and all patients signed the informed consent. Inclusion criterion was a clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizophreniform, schizo-affective or bipolar disorder, based on the criteria defined by DSM-IV-TR. Patients had to be in 'steady-state' condition, which means that the dose of their antipsychotic drug may not be changed in the last 7 days before blood withdrawal. For each patient, age, sex, medication scheme, time and date of sampling, time and date of the last dose of the drug and diagnosis for which the medication was prescribed were recorded. As recommended, blood was taken just prior to the morning dose (trough concentration). To make data comparable, serum, whole blood (EDTA) and capillary blood were taken at the same time point. Capillary DBS samples (c-DBS) were obtained by finger prick. First, the finger was disinfected with a 70% isopropanol cloth, air-dried and warmed. The fingertip was then pricked by a single-use automatic lancet (Accu-Chek® Safe-T-Pro Plus, Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany). After wiping off the first drop of blood, the blood was collected into a 25μL endto-end capillary (Hirschmann Laborgeräten Eberstadt, Germany). Once entirely filled, the capillary was placed in the center of a marked circle on FTA DMPK-C Cards (GE Healthcare, Freiburg, Germany) until the capillary was completely emptied. There are two reasons for applying exactly 25 μl of blood onto the DBS card. First, the hematocrit effect can largely be overcome by analyzing the whole DBS, as already described [6, 11]. Second, a volume of 25 μl was necessary to enable measuring low antipsychotic concentrations in blood. Samples were taken to the Toxicological Centre at the University of Antwerp within 4 hours. Twenty-five μL of the whole blood (EDTA) sample was also spotted on a DBS card within 6 hours after blood withdrawal, in order to make a comparison between venous whole blood on DBS (v-DBS) and c-DBS. Based upon the work of others, no stability issues are to be expected during these 6 hours [19, 20]. DBS samples were dried for at least 3 h before storage at 4°C in zip-closure bags containing desiccant. Analytical procedures Serum samples were analyzed by a fully validated UHPLC-MS/MS method for quantification of 16 antipsychotics and 8 metabolites, as published before [21]. The same method was applied on whole blood samples. Sample preparation consists of a simple liquid-liquid extraction of 200 μL of serum or whole blood using methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) as extraction solvent at pH 9.5, after adding an internal standard (IS) mix containing 22 deuterated IS. The upper organic layer was transferred and evaporated to dryness. Finally, the extract was reconstituted in 50 μL of acetonitrile and a volume of 0.3 μL was injected into the UHPLC-MS/MS. All antipsychotic concentrations in DBS were determined using another extensively validated UHPLC-MS/MS method for the quantification of 15 antipsychotics and 7 metabolites. Olanzapine and norolanzapine could only be quantified reliably in serum and not in DBS, probably due to instability in the aqueous reconstitution solvent. Therefore, samples containing olanzapine and its metabolite were only used for comparison between serum and whole blood concentrations [11]. Briefly, after cutting the whole blood spot (containing exactly 25 μl of blood), extraction was performed using 450 μL of methanol and 150 μL of MTBE. An IS mix was added. After vortex mixing for 5 min, the extract was transferred and dried under nitrogen. Samples were reconstituted in 50 μL of aqueous ammonium acetate (10mM)/acetonitrile (9:1, v/v) and a volume of 10 μL was injected into the UHPLC-MS/MS. Instrumentation specifications were identical for both the serum and DBS method. The UHPLC-MS/MS instrument consists of an Agilent 1290 Infinity LC system (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA) coupled with an Agilent 6460 Triple Quadrupole mass spectrometer (MS) run in Jetstream® electrospray ionization (ESI) mode. The LC system was optimized for rapid resolution using an Agilent SB C18 reversed-phase column (2.1 x 50 mm, 1.7 μm) (Agilent Technologies) with column oven temperature at 40°C. The mobile phase consists of aqueous ammonium acetate (10 mM) at pH 3.7 (A) and acetonitrile (B) at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. Gradient elution was programmed as follows: starting conditions 10% B; increasing to 75% B between 0 and 2.5 min; further increase to 95% B between 2.5 and 3 min; retain 95% B between 3 and 4.5 min; go back to initial conditions from 4.6 to 6 min. The MS conditions were: positive mode, nebulizer gas: nitrogen, sheath gas temperature: 400°C, sheath gas flow: 12L/min, nebulizer pressure: 50 psi, capillary voltage: 3000 V, and nozzle voltage: 0 V. Three ion transitions were monitored for each analyte using dynamic multiplereaction monitoring (dMRM) mode. Mass spectrometric conditions were identical for both the serum and DBS method as described before [11, 21]. Data analysis Demographic data of study participants, calculated ratios and clinical comparison with determination of the mean values and 95% confidence intervals (CI) was performed using Excel. To evaluate the correlation between venous whole blood, v-DBS and c-DBS, Passing Bablok regression analysis was performed for every compound separately using MedCalc® (MedCalc Software bvba, Ostend, Belgium). Results and discussion Patients In total, 111 patients (75 male, 36 female; age r


Ethics is a view that is considered very urgent in the order of social life. The implementation of ethics is usually carried out in accordance with the habits of people or each individual in absorbing everything, whether seen, felt or also experienced. Habits that arise are also based on various backgrounds such as appropriate norms from the customs of certain ethnic groups, religions or races. Islam has provided space and opportunity for anyone in politics, of course, in ways that are in accordance with the Shari'a based on the Koran and As-Sunnah, and cannot be separated from anyone who wants to build this country in the future. The important role of Islamic youth is certainly highly expected in changing the concept of politics, which must be accompanied by productive youths in how to take a stand and take part in politics in our loving country. In today's era, there are many problems that occur in the field regarding the character and events that originate from the youth, who are preoccupied with virtual world activities and activities that are not related to the influence of the nation, even being concerned with bad behavior among the community. Here the author wants to examine the extent to which youth are involved in playing an active role and participating in nation building which is related to knowledge in the world of politics.


The seismic response of suspended ceiling systems that were shaken at the University at Buffalo; University of Nevada, Reno; and E-Defense facilities is critically assessed in this paper. After presenting a brief description of each experiment, the most repetitive damage observations in all experiments are discussed. Fragility curves are developed for ceiling perimeter connectors, supporting elements, and overall performance of ceiling systems by using 346 combinations of ceiling configurations and shake intensities. The key findings of these curves are the insufficient support of the 7/8-in. wall angles, unconservative code design capacity of connections for supporting elements, and early damage of ceiling systems because of ceiling-piping interaction. Acceleration amplification factors of ceiling systems with respect to suspending floor are computed. The amplification factors prescribed by the code were found to be unconservative due to the pounding of panels to the ceiling grids and deck vibration in a vertical direction.


The majority of vehicle tracking solutions are designed for general navigation, and as a result have low positional accuracy requirements. Projects requiring above average accuracy quickly run into high costs, while projects requiring sub-meter accuracy are limited by cost and availability. This paper presents a novel low-cost approach for using off-the-shelf components to provide relative-tracking precise to ±5 cm over a limited spatial domain. Keywords—Tracking, navigation, GPS, positioning, optical navigation, correlation, java, wireless, dead-reckoning.


Many subsea electrical and optical cable and connection systems now utilize Pressure Balanced Oil Filled (PBOF) cabling solutions. These cables utilize an elastomeric tube as a conduit for electric wires and fiber optic lines. The elastomeric conduit is filled with a compensating fluid, allowing the sea pressure to freely communicate with the interior oil volume, equalizing the pressure in the assembly. This option for cabling provides for a reliable, and configurable cable system suitable for many subsea applications. This technology has been widely utilized in ocean science observatories, towed arrays, drilling systems, production control systems and Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) systems to name a few. They have become a critical component in many subsea systems today. This paper will review the history of the PBOF cabling attributes, technical challenges and considerations for its use.


Geometric models play a vital role in several fields, from the entertainment industry to scientific applications. To reduce the high cost of model creation, reusing existing models is the solution of choice. Model reuse is supported by content-based shape retrieval (CBR) techniques that help finding the desired models in massive repositories, many publicly available on the Internet. Key to efficient and effective CBR techniques are shape descriptors that accurately capture the characteristics of a shape and are able to discriminate between different shapes. We present a descriptor based on the distribution of two global features measured on a 3D shape, depth complexity and thickness, which respectively capture aspects of the geometry and topology of 3D shapes. The final descriptor, called DCT (depth complexity and thickness histogram), is a 2D histogram that is invariant to the translation, rotation and scale of geometric shapes. We efficiently implement the DCT on the GPU, allowing its use in real-time queries of large model databases. We validate the DCT with the Princeton and Toyohashi Shape Benchmarks, containing 1815 and 10000 models respectively. Results show that DCT can discriminate meaningful classes of these benchmarks, and is fast to compute and robust against shape transformations and different levels of subdivision and smoothness.


This research is aimed to study the cause of infant mortality level in Desa
Kotayasa, Kecamatan Sumbang, Kabupaten Banyumas in 2016.
This research is descriptive qualitative study with survey. The population
in this research is mothers who has 12 infant deaths. The technique of data
collection was using interview. The obtained data were then analyzed in the form
of qualitative description by using table of frequency and percentage.
The result of the research show that the causes of infant mortality are: the
age of the mother who is susceptible to get pregnant (75%), the lack of good
health service (58.8%), the people's habit not to have antenatal since the early
period of pregnancy (58.8%), family income under minimum regional wage
(UMR) (58.4%), and the level of education (41.8%).


In this paper, we present a method on the construction of multiple-valued circuits using Reed-Muller Expansions(RME). First, we discussed the input output interconnection of multiple valued function using Perfect Shuffle techniques and Kronecker product and designed the basic cells of performing the transform matrix and the reverse transform matrix of multiple valued RME using addition circuit and multiplication circuit of GF(4). Using these basic cells and the input-output interconnection technique based on Perfect Shuffle and Kronecker product, we implemented the multiple valued logic circuit based on RME. The proposed design method of multiple valued RME is simple and very efficient to reduce addition circuits and multiplication circuits as compared with other methods for same function because of using matrix transform based on modular structures. The proposed design method of multiple valued logic circuits is simple and regular for wire routing and possess the properties of concurrency and modularity of array.


No symptom in pulmonary tuberculosis is more obvious or more annoying than the cough; now rasping and ineffectual, now milder but continuous, now paroxysmal, or again, remarkably periodical. Each variety has in its turn a rational means for relief, if its cause is but patiently sought. No symptom, probably, in any disease receives more perfunctory or rule-of-thumb therapy than this, 1 at least from others than specialists long skilled in its treatment. And yet by the simplest means the most complete and lasting benefits are often gained. The types of cough are generally pretty well defined. Thus, in the earlier stages of the disease, most patients complain of the attack of coughing directly after getting out of bed in the morning. Here is where most practitioners err, in starting too soon their sedatives. In nearly every case, this morning clearing-up process, due probably to the change in posture, and to


Swift heavy ion (SHI) irradiation of materials induces variety of functionalities and tenability in advance materials. Recent observations of electrical switching in perovskite oxides have triggered a lot of interest for its potential use as non volatile random access memory (NVRAM). We report on the resistance switching induced by swift heavy ion SHI irradiation in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO) thin films grown on SiO2 substrates by chemical solution deposition technique. Well defined hysteresis loops with sharp on-off transition in the I-V curves were observed for the sample irradiated with 100 MeV Ag+7 ions at 1x1012 ions/cm2, indicating that the sample possess low resistance state (LRS) and high resistance state (HRS). Symmetrical resistance ratio (Rhigh/Rlow) of ~ 330% at -1.7 V has been achieved whereas the pristine samples showed only linear I-V characteristics. The RS is bipolar and may be attributed to SHI induced defects in the device. Such defect induced resistive switching has recently been proposed theoretically and our results are direct evidence of the phenomenon.


Head and torso simulators which reproduce the acoustical effect of a median human adult, including diffraction and direction‐dependent transformation from free field to the ear drum as well as allow for objective testing of sound systems involving hearing aids, headphones, earphones, telephones, mobile phones, headsets and sound quality type of measurements may be realized based on different philosophies. It may be based on geometrically simplified shape or mean values of individuals. The geometrically simplified shape will appear like no human being. The mean values may result in non human like features, while average anthropometric dimensions of an adult human may offer data closer to a subjective test. Especially the shape of the pinna may often be critical to test of earphones and headphones as well as mobile phones. Subjective tests on groups of people may be supplemented with objective tests on a manikin for reference and quality control purposes. Variations in pinna size may have significant influe...


Recent research has indicated that old, individually housed monkeys show little interest in novel objects. Yet unanswered is whether this effect is caused primarily by age or housing condition. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of social living in promoting responsiveness to objects. We measured the rates of object manipulation in older animals, assessed responsiveness over time to particular objects as a measure of habituation, and examined social influences on object use. Several social groups of rhesus monkeys that contained older adults were studied. These groups were housed in indoor pens or in an outdoor enclosure, and all monkeys had continuous access to a variety of objects in their home environment. In contrast to previous studies of individually housed monkeys, our group-housed monkeys showed sustained interest in objects. Old monkeys manipulated objects extensively, and this response was all the more significant, given that the objects were not novel. Monkeys housed in an outdoor enclosure showed object manipulation patterns that were not different from monkeys housed in indoor pens. However, females exhibited much higher object-related responses than males. Social facilitation played a role in the reactions of some monkeys to objects. Patterns of social facilitation as well as avoidance were present in two of the three indoor groups that were observed. Failure to manipulate objects in rhesus macaques appears to be more a function of individual housing than of old age. Factors such as environmental complexity, social needs, and early experience should be considered in order to understand why individually housed rhesus monkeys are unresponsive to objects. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.


This follow-up study of 58 heart recipients an average of 2 years after transplantation did not show that the Symptom Checklist 90R, a self-report measure of psychologic distress, predicted medical outcome. Mortality and medical morbidity (graft rejection and infection rate) were the outcome variables used. The findings tend to argue against the validity of some aspects of the psychiatric screening of transplant candidates if prediction of patients' ultimate risk of mortality or medical morbidity is the validation standard.


The utility model relates to a pair of electric roller skates. Each roller skate comprises a shoe body, a front roller and a rear roller, wherein center shafts I of the front roller are supported on two sides of a front roller chamber; a wheel II of the rear roller is connected with a center shaft II of the rear roller through a bearing; a center shaft III is connected inside the center shaft II; the wheel II comprises a driving wheel and a driven wheel, and the driving wheel is fixedly connected with the center shaft III; the center shaft III is connected with a generator; a supporting arm is connected to the center shaft II and connected with a crank and rocker mechanism which is connected with a motor; sliding chutes are symmetrically formed in two sides of a rear roller chamber, limiting grooves are formed in two ends of each sliding chute body, and the center shaft II can be inserted into the limiting grooves; a circuit board is arranged in the shoe body, the motor, the generator and a storage battery are all connected with the circuit board, and the generator and the motor are connected with the storage battery; and the roller skate is further equipped with a remote control which is connected with the storage battery. The roller skates can be used as common shoes for walking and can also be used as the roller skates; when the roller skates move, electric energy can be generated and stored in the storage batteries for controlling shrinking of the rollers at the sole and can also be used for charging electronic equipment such as the remote control and the like, and energy is fully used.


Shared attention theory postulates that when simultaneously co-attending to a stimulus with a similar other, cognitive prioritization occurs that has both psychological and behavioral impact, with the ultimate goal of generating collective knowledge. A cooperative scenario occurs when a group's goal is linked such that one person's success is also another's. By contrast, a competitive scenario occurs when a group's goal is linked such that if one person succeeds, the other fails. The purpose of this thesis was to understand the effect of cooperative and competitive settings on shared attention in a performance domain. I hypothesized that cooperation would moderate the effect of shared attention on performance, such that during synchronous coattention, a cooperative scenario (versus a competitive one) would increase and improve shared attention's influence on performance. This relationship was investigated in a study with 152 undergraduate participants, but the expected relationship was not found. There were no differences between groups in terms of performance on a multiple object tracking task. Subjective experience results are also discussed.


Increased consumption of dietary monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) is associated with a favorable risk factor profile associated with the metabolic syndrome (MetS), including lowered plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)‐1. In addition, the postprandial response to dietary fat has emerged as a dynamic metabolic period associated with MetS. Plasma fatty acid composition was measured in men with high fasting triacylglycerol (n=8, HTAG>1.69 mmol/L) and low fasting TAG (n=8, LTAG<1.7 mmol/L). Each subject underwent three postprandial oral fat tolerance tests (OFTT) of 1g/kg body weight emulsified lipids consisting of varied PUFA/saturated fatty acid (P/S) ratios of 0.2, 1.0 and 2.0, with blood collected through 8h. Fasting MUFA was negatively correlated with total PAI‐1 antigen (P<0.001, r=−0.98) and PAI‐1 activity (P<0.02, r=−0.8) in HTAG, but not LTAG. Fasting total PUFA concentration was positively correlated with total PAI‐1 antigen (P=0.03, r=0.75) in HTAG, but not LTAG. There was no difference in postprandial PAI‐1 total or activity in response to three OFTTs with similar MUFA but varied PUFA TAG composition. These data suggest that elevated MUFA concentrations may have beneficial effects on PAI‐1 in HTAG subjects and that postprandial PUFA concentrations do not influence postprandial PAI‐1 in this population.


Theoretical bases of management by system «a transport network – transport flows» are presented. Laws of formation of transport flows on the basis of modeling are described


This book is part of series of historical dictionaries published by Scarecrow. Like the other volumes in the series, this dictionary includes several maps, a chronology of events, a general introduction, a bibliography, and of course hundreds of pages of entries. Several entries reflect assistance that Brezianu received from Vasile Nedelciuc (a member of the Moldovan parliament). Those entries that Nedelciuc is responsible for are denoted with "V.N." For the uninitiated, this is an excellent resource which provides detailed and important information, and even those who are familiar with Moldova will find new and relevant information. As in any dictionary, the entries are necessarily abbreviated; however, Brezianu does an excellent job of presenting the most relevant facts. The dictionary includes comprehensive listings of individuals (including not only Moldovan politicians but even Western researchers), cities and regions in Moldova (for example Balti and Gagauzia), concepts (such as federalization and autonomy), political parties (including left and right parties) and much more. One of the strengths of this work is that Brezianu and Nedelciuc do a good job of presenting the factual information without injecting personal bias. For example, while the entry for the Transdniestrian conflict is necessarily short, it provides a general overview of the conflict and does so in a very balanced way. Another strength of the dictionary is the manner in which entries are cross-referenced. All cross-referenced entries are denoted by boldface, providing the reader an easy way in which to look up further information on a given subject. The entries are very current. For example, there are entries for the Alliance for Democracy and Reform, Prime Minister Braghis, and the privatization of Moldtelecom. This dictionary is indispensable for researchers who require biographical information on Moldovan politicians. Brezianu and Nedelciuc do a masterful job of providing biographical information on a host of politicians, ministers, and party leaders. These biographical entries often include date and place of birth, education background, previous employment during the Soviet period, and party affiliation. With any undertaking this comprehensive, there are bound to be some entries that contain errors (this is especially true with some of the Western researcher entries). However, Brezianu should be commended for the scope and tone of this dictionary. Because of its rich details, objective summaries, and comprehensive listings, this dictionary will be an important resource for researchers for some time to come.


TiO_2 thin films on Ni-P coating of carbon steel were prepared by electrochemical deposition. The effects of pH, current density and time on electrodeposition of TiO_2 film were studied. The results showed that pH4, 40~50 mA/cm~2 and 40 min were the optimal process conditions. EDX, FTIR and SEM analysis of surface morphology indicated that uniform TiO_2 thin films on Ni-P coating of carbon steel were prepared successfully. Corrosion behavior measurement proved that TiO_2 thin films increase corrosition resistance of Ni-P coating in 10% H_2SO_4 and 10% NaCl solution.


Incorporated bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) into DNA was detected in glutaraldehyde and osmium-fixed regenerating rat liver at the electron microscopic level. Without HCl hydrolysis, BrdU was localized in the nuclei of regenerating hepatocytes by post-embedding immunogold technique using the monoclonal anti-BrdU antibody on ultrathin sections after etching of the epoxy resin with 1% sodium ethoxide or 10% H2O2 followed by trypsin digestion. This procedure localized BrdU in routinely prepared specimens for electron microscopy simultaneously at a much finer structure than ordinary immunoelectron microscopy.


Has the current political system in the People's Republic of China lost its legitimacy in the eyes of the Chinese public? On the basis of three carefully drawn surveys of Beijing residents between 1995 and 1999, the author finds that diffuse support for the current political system-based on attitudes toward institutions and values-remains strong, at least among city-dwellers, though it is gradually declining. Specific support for current political authorities, as measured by evaluations of their performance in major policy domains, is much weaker, with many citizens evaluating the authorities' performance as mediocre. In analyzing the longitudinal data presented here, the author finds that the same set of key sociodemographic attributes and sociopolitical orientations variably influence citizens' attitudes toward the political system and their evaluations of leaders' performance. Further, the study shows that citizens' attitudes toward the system, on the one hand, and their evaluation of incumbents' performance on the other, have different impacts on forms of political participation, such as voting and contacting authorities.


The ecological role of gorgonians (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) in marine rocky bottoms is worldwide recognized, but the knowledge on the ecology and biology of NE Atlantic temperate species is insufficient, considering current global, regional and local threats. In the rocky bottoms of the Algarve several gorgonians were abundant and frequent down to 30 m, namely Eunicella labiata, Eunicella gazella, Eunicella verrucosa, Leptogorgia lusitanica and Leptogorgia sarmentosa. There is a high association of several gorgonian species that co-dominate assemblages, indicating low levels of competition among species. Nevertheless, gorgonian assemblages differed in structure, depending on local conditions. All species evidenced a similar depth pattern, i.e. abundance significantly increased with depth below 15 m. At shallower waters (up to 15 m), the distribution of gorgonians may be constrained by abiotic factors and competition with algae. Indeed, the spatial patterns of gorgonian populations along the southern coast of Portugal were driven by the interaction of both natural and anthropogenic pressures (namely fishing). Although larger colonies were not restricted to the sites with lower fishing pressure, gorgonian populations sampled in more intensively fished areas generally presented skewed distributions towards small sizes. The effects of natural disturbance events on the structure of gorgonian populations were evidenced by distinct demographic patterns in nearby areas under similar anthropogenic pressure. The present studies also showed that the effect of disturbance on size-frequency distribution of gorgonian populations is species-dependent: Eunicella labiata does not seem to be affected; Leptogorgia sarmentosa is likely affected mainly by anthropogenic pressures; Eunicella gazella and Leptogorgia lusitanica seem to be affected by both kinds of stress. The effects on sizefrequency distributions patterns, namely the trend to skewed distribution towards small sizes under disturbance may have consequences for biodiversity of rocky sublittoral areas of the Algarve coast. Indeed, the present study supports the general paradigm that corals are habitats of enhanced abundance and biodiversity. In one of the few studies examining the relationship between gorgonians and their associated non-colonial epifaunal assemblages, gorgonians (Eunicella gazella and Leptogorgia lusitanica) were found to support rich (11 phyla, 181 taxa) and abundant (7284 individuals) assemblages. The present study supports the general paradigm that corals are habitats of enhanced abundance and biodiversity. In one of the few studies examining the relationship between gorgonians and their associated non-colonial epifaunal assemblages, gorgonians (Eunicella gazella and Leptogorgia lusitanica) were found to support rich (11 phyla, 181 taxa) and abundant (7284 individuals) assemblages. These epifaunal assemblages were dominated by amphipods, but polychaetes had a relevant contribute to diversity. Colony size was found to have a relevant role on biodiversity patterns, with small size colonies contributing the least for overall biodiversity. Although both gorgonians shared most of the species collected, 11 and 18 taxa were exclusively associated with Eunicella gazella and Leptogorgia lusitanica, respectively (without considering singletons). Nevertheless, most of these exclusive taxa were either rare or uncommon. The exception was the presence of white flatworms Turbellaria in Eunicella gazella colonies probably taking advantage of crypsis with the white Eunicella gazella branches. Indeed, complementarity in the epifaunal assemblages associated with the two gorgonian hosts decreased when data was analysed after presence/absence transformation, suggesting that patterns of biodiversity are more affected by changes in the relative abundance of dominant species rather than in faunal composition. Gorgonian epifaunal assemblages not only showed high values of α-diversity but intricate patterns of variability in their composition and structure leading to high β-diversity. Although the total pool of species available in gorgonian colonies appears to be the same in both sites analysed, each colony yields a rather small set of this species pool. All together, the colonies may act as a metacommunity, but the structure of the assemblage in each colony (e.g. total number of species, dominance) apparently depends upon host attributes, namely the surface available for colonization (colony height, width and area), complexity and heterogeneity (fractal dimension and lacunarity respectively) and "colonial" epibiont cover (e.g. colonial fauna and macroscopic algae; CEC). In a first attempt to explicitly quantify the link between gorgonians and the abundance and species richness of associated non-colonial epifaunal invertebrates, the nature and intensity of these relationships were found to be not only host-dependent but varied from one taxonomic group to another. In all faunal groups associated with the two gorgonian hosts analysed, the species richness and abundance were strongly correlated with CEC. In fact, CEC possibly due to a trophic effect (direct or indirect enhancement of food availability) combined with the surface available for colonization (species-area effect) were the strongest predictors of species richness and abundance. On the other hand, although structural complexity is usually indicated as the main driver for the rich and abundant coral-associated assemblages, fractal dimension and lacunarity were only relevant for the assemblages associated with Leptogorgia lusitanica. The validity of the paradigm that structural complexity enhances biodiversity may be scaledependent. In the case of gorgonians, the effect of complexity at the "garden" level may be much more relevant than at the individual colony level reinforcing the need for the conservation of gorgonian aggregation areas as a whole in order to preserve host diversity and size structure. On the other hand, although structural complexity is usually indicated as the main driver for the rich and abundant coral-associated assemblages, fractal dimension and lacunarity were only relevant for the assemblages associated with Leptogorgia lusitanica. The validity of the paradigm that structural complexity enhances biodiversity may be scale-dependent. In the case of gorgonians, the effect of complexity at the "garden" level may be much more relevant than at the individual colony level reinforcing the need for the conservation of gorgonian aggregation areas as a whole in order to preserve host diversity and size structure. Anthropogenic activities like fishing may also have a negative impact on reproduction. Likewise the lack of information on distribution patterns of gorgonian assemblages and their role on local biodiversity patterns, no information was available for the Algarve coast concerning reproductive patterns of main gorgonian species. The annual development of reproductive structures in Eunicella gazella populations (16 m depth) was highly synchronized between sexes. The sex ratio of the population was 1.09 (F:M) being close to parity. The spermatogenic cycle extended for six to eight months, but the oogenic cycle was much longer, taking more than one year for mature oocytes to develop. Prior to spawning, high fecundity was observed in females (27.30±13.24 oocytes polyp−1) and males (49.30±31.14 sperm sacs polyp−1). These values are amongst the highest values reported to date in temperate gorgonians. Broadcast spawning of the gametes (no evidence of surface or internal brooding) occurred in September/October after a period of high sea surface temperatures during summer. Females release large sized mature oocytes but retain immature oocytes that develop only in the next season. Although the effect of fishing on gorgonian assemblages in the Algarve coast is apparent, at current rates, scuba diving does not seem to seriously affect gorgonians. However, this is a growing industry and the preference of scuba divers for natural rocky areas with diverse fauna is well known, which put these habitats under threat. The monitoring of scuba divers in the Algarve showed that most of them (88.6 %) have behaviours that can impact the habitat, presenting a mean contact rate of 0.340±0.028 contacts min−1 (±SE). This rate was higher in scuba divers with moderate experience, and in the initial part of the dive (0–10 min). Contacts with fins and hands were common, mainly resulting in sediment re-suspension, but generally presenting low impact. However, fauna was also affected by physical damage and interactions, and under a scenario of significant expansion of this activity, the impacts on local fauna may increase with consequences for the sublittoral rocky ecosystems of the Algarve coast. Overall, the information gathered in this thesis, most of it completely new for the region, is expected to have a major contribution for the management of the Algarve coast.


We study the properties of optimal patterns, our novel extension of Sparql, that allows for a fine-grained control over incompleteness of query answers in knowledge graphs. Optimal patterns encode preferences over the completeness of query answers. In this paper, we add language constructs for expressing dependencies between conflicting preferences. Furthermore, we provide discussions and proofs of fundamental results concerning Sparql with optimal patterns.


This work describes the results about geomorphic analysis made on several Adriatic drainage systems located inthe north Marche-Romagna region (central Italy). The aim of this study is to identify the role of neotectonics onlandscape evolution and its development, and on the features of the drainage basins.The area investigated in this paper is centred on the Torrente Ventena basin, a river that flows from the northernborder of the Marche region to the Romagna region.Ventena River flows in analmost straight line from south-west to north-east crossing transversely the outeranticlinal ridge of the area before reaching the Adriatic coast. Both the course of the river and the shape of itsdrainage basin appear to be strongly influenced by neotectonics. The analysis has been carried out on the mainparameters capable of supplying direct or indirect information relating to tectonic forcing on the landscape.Geomorphological evidences, such as the presence of an asymmetric drainage system and areas with anomalyenergy relief distribution, supported and integrated with field observations, reveals that recent tectonics mighthave played an important role on the control of the drainage system evolution and on its actual emplacement.Anomalies of drainage network, often distributed on lineaments, suggest recent activity on the renowned "ConcaLineament". The data also highlights that drainage network anomalies and high values of energy relief often arelocated in the same areas and are unrelated to local climatic conditions or lithological setting. The data seems toindicate that the upper and central sectors of the basin are affected by recent uplift and tilting.


To study the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the ethanol extracts of ginger,dried ginger and candied ginger. The antioxidant activities of the three extracts were compared by detecting the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity and reducing power. The antimicrobial activities of the three extracts against Staphylococcus aureus,Escherichia coli,Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis were compared through antimicrobial tests. The results showed that three ginger ethanol extracts had certain antioxidant activity in a dose-dependent relationship. These extracts presented different inhibitory effects against 4 common bacteria. The order of inhibitory effect was dried ginger ginger candied ginger. These results provided a scientific basis for further researching on the antibacterial effect of ginger products and developing safe food additives.


Molecular dynamic simulations of the generation and propagation of shock pulses of picosecond duration initiated by nanoscale impactors, and their interaction with the rear surface is carried out for aluminum and copper. It is shown that the presence of deposited nanoparticles on the rear surface increases the threshold value of the impact intensity leading to the rear spallation. The interaction of a shock wave with nanoparticles leads to severe plastic deformation in the surface layer of the metal including nanoparticles. A part of the compression pulse energy is expended on the plastic deformation, which suppresses the spall fracture. Spallation threshold substantially increases at large diameters of deposited nanoparticles, but instability develops on the rear surface of the target, which is accompanied by ejection of droplets. The instability disrupts the integrity of the rear surface, though the loss of integrity occurs through the ejection of mass, rather than a spallation.


Azo dyes are a widespread class of poorly biodegradable industrial pollutants. In anaerobic environments, azo bonds are reductively cleaved yielding carcinogenic aromatic amines, many of which are assumed to resist further metabolism by anaerobes bacteria. The latter compounds generally require aerobic conditions for their degradation. Reactive Black was found to be degraded using Aeromonas spp. to α-ketoglutaric acid with transient accumulation of 4-aminobenzenesulphonic acid (sulphanilic acid), 4-amino, 3-hydronapthalenesulphonic acid and 4-amino, 5-hydronapthalene 2,7 disulphonic acid as a degradation intermediate in anaerobic facultative batch culture. Colour and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) was successfully removed more than 95% and up to 50% respectively. There is no significant correlation between pH and oxygen depletion since there is slightly change in pH was observed (pH from 7.21 to 7.25) though the anaerobiosis was found developed throughout the experiment (redox potential from 0.7 to 1.6 mV). The anaerobic metabolism of glucose as co-metabolite also shown to provide the electrons required for the initial reductive cleavage of the azo group. This finding suggest that it is possible to mineralize the azo dye in the environment; thereby, avoiding accumulation of toxic intermediates in the water. The results provide evidence that the successive microaerophilic/aerobic stages, using Aeromonas spp. in the same bioreactor, were able to form aromatic amines by the reductive break down of the azo bond and to oxidize them into non-toxic metabolites.


Myosteatosis and systemic inflammation are well‐known prognostic factors in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The serum albumin level is a reflection of malnutrition and systemic inflammation, which in turn plays a key role in the development of myosteatosis. However, few studies have been conducted on these synergistic effects. This study aimed to examine the individual and synergistic effects of different prognostic markers related to skeletal muscle quality and serum albumin levels in patients with CRC.


The paper deals with the description of the mathematical model of photosynthesis process in two interacting (peripheral and shaded) leaves. The bioenergetic phenomena is described by six equations for surfaces, thicknesses, and levels of substrates of photosynthesis contents in two types of leaves. The well‐posedness of the problem and the uniqueness of its solution are proved. Computer simulation and its comparison with empirical results are presented.


Much of the continental United States is at a minor to moderate flood risk due to a lengthier-than-usual cold and wet season, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) spring outlook, announced on 20 March 2014.


Sheep cells sensitized with subagglutinating amounts of chicken antisheep cell serum were not agglutinated in RAS. Chicken antibody globulin attached to sheep cell stromas and in the form of an immune precipitate failed to absorb from RAS the factor responsible for the agglutination of sheep cells sensitized with rabbit antibody, whereas rabbit antibody did remove this factor under comparable circumstances. Neither chicken nor rabbit antibody globulin absorbed the factor causing the agglutination of latex particles coated with human γ-globulin.
 Normal chicken γ-globulin used to coat tanned sheep cells and latex particles reacted with RAS to a degree comparable to that of normal rabbit γ-globulin, but was less reactive than normal human γ-globulin. Chicken γ-globulin failed to inhibit completely the agglutination by RAS of sheep cells sensitized with rabbit antibody, although human γ-globulin was inhibitory in relatively high concentrations as compared to the low concentration of rabbit γ-globulin required to inhibit.
 These observations are discussed in relation to the existence of multiple rheumatoid factors of differing specificities.


Angular distributions of elastically and inelastically scattered protons from 100 Mo and 98 Mo were measured at E p =14.7 MeV. Results were analysed in terms of the optical model and the distorted wave Born approximation theory. In addition, the differential cross sections for the first 2 + and 3 - states and those for the possible members of two-quadrupole-phonon triplet were compared with coupled channel calculations. Reasonable agreements between the experiment and the theory were obtained except for the second 0 + state of 100 Mo. Admixture of one-phonon component was required for the second 2 + state.


Stroke is a group of acute cerebrovascular diseases with high incidence,morbidity,mortality and relapse rate.Its prevalence and hazardness in China are very serious.This paper has analysed the reasons of high prevalence and the main problems of stroke prevention and control in China,discussed the necessity and urgency of carrying out the stroke screening,preventing and control project,and proposed strategies,measures and main target.


Novel σ−π-conjugated polymers (8a−c) that have alternating organosilicon and [2.2]paracyclophane units in the polymer backbone were synthesized by polycondensation of dichlorodisilanes (5a,b) or dichlorosilane (5c) with bifunctional lithium acetylide derived from 4,16-diethynyl[2.2]paracyclophane (4) and butyllithium, and their optical and thermal properties were investigated. A self-standing thin film of the polymer was obtained easily by casting from a CHCl3 solution. All polymers were thermally stable in the solid state. The polymers showed delocalization of the π-electron through the Si−Si bonds and the through-space of the [2.2]paracyclophane moiety. σ−π Conjugation between the disilanylene unit and the π-electron system with a paracyclophane core was not significantly effective, which suggests sufficient delocalization of the π-electron along the diethynyl[2.2]paracyclophane unit.


High-speed turbulent flows with shock waves are characterized by high localized surface heat transfer rates. Computational predictions are often inaccurate due to the limitations in modelling of the unclosed turbulent energy flux in the highly non-equilibrium regions of shock interaction. In this paper, we investigate the turbulent energy flux generated when homogeneous isotropic turbulence passes through a nominally normal shock wave. We use linear interaction analysis where the incoming turbulence is idealized as being composed of a collection of two-dimensional planar vorticity waves, and the shock wave is taken to be a discontinuity. The nature of the postshock turbulent energy flux is predicted to be strongly dependent on the angle of incidence of the incoming waves. The energy flux correlation is also decomposed into its vortical, entropy and acoustic contributions to understand its rapid non-monotonic variation behind the shock. Three-dimensional statistics, calculated by integrating two-dimensional results over a prescribed upstream energy spectrum, are compared with available data from direct numerical simulations. A detailed budget of the governing equation is also considered in order to gain insight into the underlying physics.


This paper proposes a modified communication protocol that uses the knowledge of channel states to transmit packets. It shuts off the energy expensive acknowledgement operation during good channel state while uses all its retransmission attempts in bad channel state to deliver the packets through the channel. The impact of this protocol has been directly studied on the coin cell batteries that are used to power wireless sensors by emulating the loads for the battery and radio channel conditions. The radio channel is modeled as two state Markov chain with FAVORABLE and NON-FAVORABLE states. Three different channel conditions - good, bad and uncertain - are considered based on how often they transit between the FAVORABLE and NON-FAVORABLE states. The results have been compared with a classical communication protocol where communication between nodes takes place on send-acknowledge basis with a fixed number of retransmission attempts when error occurs. Our proposed protocol shows promising improvement in battery lifetime when dealing with good channel and found to be more effective in the other two channel conditions when the receive operation time is high. Analytical results are also used to substantiate our observations.


A dense nanostructured 5NbSi2-SiC-Si3N4 composite was synthesized by the high-frequency induction-heated combustion synthesis (HFIHCS) method within 1 minute in one step from mechanically activated powders of 4NbN, NbC and 14Si. A highly dense 5NbSi2-SiC-Si3N4 composite with relative density of up to 98% was produced under the simultaneous application of a pressure of 80 MPa and the induced current. The average grain size and mechanical properties (hardness and fracture toughness) of the composite were investigated.


Synopsis Lamprophyre dykes intruding Gala Group (Upper Llandovery) metagreywackes in the Central Belt of the Southern Uplands commonly contain a few xenoliths, usually of quartzite or vein quartz. However, on the coast south of Glenluce, one dyke contains a suite of incognate xenoliths of foliated and non-foliated meta-igneous rocks in addition to quartz, meta-greywacke and cognate xenoliths. These incognate xenoliths may represent samples either of the basement underlying the Southern Uplands or dioritic/tonalitic intrusions emplaced at depth into the sedimentary cover.


The limited interest shown by experts in a conference on the conservation of invertebrates, organised by an expert in vertebrates in July 1993, is discussed. It is suggested that adequate training and funding is necessary to generate an interest in the conservation of invertebrates, similar to the high level of interest seen in the conservation of vertebrates.


Nested two cylindrical pair method and apparatus for obtaining a secure mechanical connection and pressure seal in the area of overlap of (26 and 27) are provided. Two tubular bodies including the overlap area is expanded in the radial direction so as to increase the inner diameter of the tubular body. This extension, forcing the annular section (28) in the overlapping portions in the pressure sealed union state between the cylindrical body. Long pipe assembled from coupling secured to each other by extended pins (26) and box (27) connected have been screwed nested shape, a Izutsu having an inner diameter larger than the original inner diameter of the long pipe to provide, it can be extended radially around the well bore. Annular seal connecting member comprises an annular sealing ring (29) and an annular Teflon spacer ring (30). Radial expansion of the connector occurs in the axial direction of shrinkage of the groove (31), which dilates the seal ring acts with a spacer ring radially between the extended pin (26) and box (27) sequestering annular space created with. .FIELD 8


The purpose of this study is describe: 1) Tthe planning of extracurricular activities Scouting; 2) The implementation of extracurricular activities Scouting; 3) Tthe supervision of extracurricular activities Scouting; in SD Negeri 2 Ngarap-arap Grobogan. This research uses a qualitative research approach. Data was collected through interviews, observation, and documentation. The results showed: 1) The activities of planning extracurricular activities Scouts held at the beginning of the school year, starting with the preparation of the program, those involved in planning the program of extracurricular activities Scouting is a teacher as well Scoutmaster, Chairman of the Cluster front, and Kamabigus as well as the Principal, and People parents; 2) Extracurricular activities Scouts in SD Negeri 2 Ngarap-arap implemented since grade 1 to grade 6. The event consists of an exercise routine (weekly) and exploration. Exercise regularly held once a week; 3) Monitoring Scout extracurricular activities carried out as a means of quality assurance scouts extracurricular. The principal as Kamabigus act as a watchdog Internal became involved in the implementation of the extracurricular activity of Scouting.

Keywords:planning, extracurricular scout


Perimenopausal Syndrome refers to women before and after menopause due to a decrease as a result of a series of sex hormone the body and the spirit of psychological symptoms. MENG An-qi Professor thought that this levy should be based on nourishing kidney as a fundamental, and dispersing stagnated liver qi for relieving qi stagnation, accompanied by promoting blood flow for regulating menstruation with psychological therapy.


It is of great importance to maintain the hygienic-sanitary quality of food and places where it is handled and marketed. This work aimed to evaluate the hygienic-sanitary conditions of Brazilian croquettes with chicken filling sold by street vendors in the city of Mossoró, state of Rio Grande do Norte. Ten samples were subjected to counting aerobic mesophilic bacteria, counting fungi and yeasts, Salmonella spp., Coliforms at 35ºC and 45ºC. The research was into find dirtiness and pathogenic parasites was carried out with the flotation and sedimentation test. Total coliforms were found in 30% (3/10) of the samples evaluated, with values ranging from <3.0 to> 1100 NMP / g and the presence of thermotolerant coliforms in 10% (1/10) with a value greater than > 1100 NMP / g. The count of mesophilic bacteria varied from 3.17 to 6.23 (Log10 UFC/g). While the mold and yeast count between 3.69 to 5.55 (Log10 UFC/g). Regarding the analyzes of Salmonella ssp., Escherichia coli and pathogenic parasites were negative. The results allowed to conclude that, of the total of ten samples analyzed, 10% (1/10) was unfit for human consumption.


disorders have a large impact on individuals, families, and communities, and are one of the main causes worldwide of disability and distress. Correct diagnosis of mental disorders is essential in clinical practice, pharmacological research, and successful treatment. Patients with mental retardation often have multiple and sometimes complicated medical problems. In this paper we have proposed a feed forward back propagation neural network to classify the level of mental retardation by using Matlab software. There are six neurons in the input layer which represent the attribute of a patient. Output layer contains four neurons which represent four different levels of mental retardation in which each patient will be classified


Mass production of ordered and porous three-dimensional (3D) electrodes is a crucial prerequisite for practical energy storage devices. MXenes have drawn considerable attention as pseudocapacitive ...