Abstract Objectives The focus of this paper is to introduce an automated early Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) detection scheme from colour fundus images through enhanced segmentation and classification strategies by analyzing blood vessels. Methods The occurrence of DR is increasing from the past years, impacting the eyes due to a sudden rise in the glucose level of blood. All over the world, half of the people who are under age 70 are severely suffered from diabetes. The patients who are affected by DR will lose their vision during the absence of early recognition of DR and appropriate treatment. To decrease the growth and occurrence of loss of vision, the early detection and timely treatment of DR are desirable. At present, deep learning models have presented better performance using retinal images for DR detection. In this work, the input retinal fundus images are initially subjected to pre-processing that undergoes contrast enhancement by Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE) and average filtering. Further, the optimized binary thresholding-based segmentation is done for blood vessel segmentation. For the segmented image, Tri-level Discrete Level Decomposition (Tri-DWT) is performed to decompose it. In the feature extraction phase, Local Binary Pattern (LBP), and Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrices (GLCMs) are extracted. Next, the classification of images is done through the combination of two algorithms, one is Neural Network (NN), and the other Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). The extracted features are subjected to NN, and the tri-DWT-based segmented image is subjected to CNN. Both the segmentation and classification phases are enhanced by the improved meta-heuristic algorithm called Fitness Rate-based Crow Search Algorithm (FR-CSA), in which few parameters are optimized for attaining maximum detection accuracy. Results The proposed DR detection model was implemented in MATLAB 2018a, and the analysis was done using three datasets, HRF, Messidor, and DIARETDB. Conclusions The developed FR-CSA algorithm has the best detection accuracy in diagnosing DR.


The reliable design temperature is important to the safe and economic operation of air cooling unit.The methods to obtain reliable meteorological data and air-temperature typical years are elaborated,summarized the existing methods that were used to determine the design temperature.All these methods were analyzed and used to solve actual problems,then the above +5℃ weighted average temperature method was use to determine the design temperature by analyzing every method's feasibility,the final design temperature was elevated 2~3℃ by considering the rising air temperature year after year and thermal reflux.


On basis of combination of emulsion technology and sol-gel method,TiO2 nanopowder,with good scatter,was prepared by mimiemulsion reaction that control tetrabutyltitanate hyhodsis rate and its gel process.The physical-chemical reaction of TiO2 nanopowder in heat-treatment process was analyzed by XRD,TG-DSC and FT-IR.The morphology and size of the particles were examined by SEM.The results show that TiO2 powder crystalline changes from amorphism to anatase,and then to rutile with heat-treatment temperature increase.Loss-weight rate of TiO2 powder reaches 38% in heat-treatment course.The size of TiO2 powder,with good dispersing performance,is average 15nm.


The much-anticipated, weather-plagued National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Development Conference on Diagnosing Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, held in Bethesda, Maryland, 4–6 March 2013, led to publication of a consensus panel report (1) that essentially maintains and promotes the status quo regarding gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosis. The panel report contradicts current American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommendations (2). This commentary addresses several areas of disagreement.

The only constant is change, and this is most apparent with the demography of pregnancy. Perhaps the most disturbing omission from the NIH panel's report (1) is the lack of clear acknowledgment of the importance of the increasing prevalence of prediabetes and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, outside pregnancy, in women of childbearing age (2). This omission effectively precludes any strategy for early detection of these potentially serious problems in pregnancy. Much of the NIH report expresses grave concerns about the possibility of a two- to threefold increase in GDM prevalence from the current estimate of 5–6%. However, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2008 data (3) regarding U.S. women aged 18–44 years report frank diabetes in 4.5% of participants (1.7% undiagnosed) and prediabetes in 26.4%. While the current ADA (2) criteria for the diagnosis of GDM are based primarily on considerations of fetopathy, they still have an important role in identifying women with current or future abnormalities of glucose metabolism. Given the NHANES prevalence estimates for impaired …


Exploiting the multi-source data is an effective but challenging problem for land cover classification. Popular remote sensor data, e.g., hyperspectral (HS) and light detection and ranging (LiDAR), contain complementary information for land cover if they are co-registered. In this paper, we aim to integrate information extracted from these data sources for land cover classification. At first, we propose a novel feature extraction method by calculating the inverse coefficient of variation (ICV) using the Gaussian probability of neighbourhood between every pair of bands in HS data. This is calculated for each band with respect to every other band to form an ICV cube. We reduce the number of planes in the cube by applying principal component analysis (PCA) on it and spatial features are then extracted for significant principal components. The spectral information from HS data, their ICV responses, and spatial information from ICV responses have complementary information; that is why we fuse them together by layer stacking to generate discriminant features. Secondly, we also derive height and spatial features from LiDAR Digital Elevation Model (DSM), which are later concatenated with the HS derived features. Finally, these features are classified using linear discriminant analysis (LDA) classifier. The classification results prove the effectiveness of the derived features from both data sources.


This article presents a methodology of determining the load-carrying ability of compressed reinforced concrete elements with layers of various concrete strength and describes the stress-strain behaviour of these elements. The methodology is based on the use of a deformation model and diagrams of materials deformation [1, 2]. The authors used this methodology to develop an algorithm. The algorithm makes it possible to evaluate stress and strain state of normal sections at all stages of loading up to destruction. The solution of the problem is shown as a data table. Analysis of this data table allows to estimate an expected pattern of the samples destruction. The paper also gives an example of calculation of a compressed reinforced concrete element with heterogeneous strength properties of a compressed area with symmetrical reinforcement (4 bars). The calculation methodology in this article has been successfully used to evaluate the load bearing capacity of the described samples and those of other authors.


The bacterial toxin RelE cleaves mRNA in the ribosomal A-site. Although it shares a global fold with other microbial RNases, the active site contains several positively charged residues instead of histidines and glutamates typical of ribonucleases. The pH dependences of wild-type and mutant RelE indicate it uses general acid-base catalysis, but either the general acid (proposed to be R81) or the general base must have a substantially downshifted pKa. However, which group is shifted cannot be determined using available structural and biochemical data. Here, we use a phosphorothiolate at the scissile phosphate to remove the need for a general acid. We show this modification rescues nearly all of the defect of the R81A mutation, supporting R81 as the general acid. We also find that the observed pKa of the general base is dependent on the charge of the side chain at position 81. This indicates that positive charge in the active site contributes to a general-base pKa downshifted by more than 5 units. Although this modestly reduces the effectiveness of general acid-base catalysis, it is strongly supplemented by the role of the positive charge in stabilizing the transition state for cleavage. Furthermore, we show that the ribosome is required for cleavage but not binding of mRNA by RelE. Ribosome functional groups do not directly contact the scissile phosphate, indicating that positioning and charge interactions dominate RelE catalysis. The unusual RelE active site catalyzes phosphoryl transfer at a comparable rate to similar enzymes, but in a ribosome-dependent fashion.


The genetic diversity of loci homologous to disease resistant genes was analyzed in Brassica genus using eight pairs of primers designed from known disease resistant genes of Arabidopsis thaliana. DNA fragments homologous to 6 of 8 genes had been detected in 60 cultivars or lines of Brassica crops, mainly B. napus, and one line of Arabidopsis. The detecting efficiency for the homologous loci to Atloxl1, BGL2, RPS2 and PG11 were high, 62.5%, 94.7 % , 81.5% and 100% respectively. The homologous fragments were also amplified from f our Sclerotinia sclerotiorium resistant lines, Zhongyou821, ZhongR 783, Zho ngR 888 and NingRS 1. Clust analysis showed that the genetic distance between ZhongR 783 and ZhongR888 is as short as 0.0323, while the distance between the two and NingRS 1 is 0.1007. Zhongyou821 and Arabidopsis have a relative ly l arge genetic distance with the three resistant lines, 0.2463 and 0.4979 respecti vely. Since the genetic markers applied in clust analysis are the DNA sequences homology to the disease resistant genes, the above data more or less represent t he difference of genetic background involving disease resistance. The clust anal ysis was also conducted using the combined data derived from the amplified polym orphic fragment homology to BGL2 and RPS2 from 61 DNA samples. It demons trated that the similarity between Brassica genus and Arabidopsis was 44 %. 60 accessions from Brassica can be gathered into one group at the similar ity level of 56%, and into five groups at the similarity level of 70%. The five groups are: Group Ⅰ, including 1 cultivar of Brassica nigra, all six lines of B. oleracea accessions, 1 line of B. carinata and 23 cultivars B. n apus. Group Ⅱ, 1 line of B. carinata and 14 cultivars of B. napus. Gr oup Ⅲ, 7 cultivars of B. napus. Group Ⅳ, 4 cultivars of B. napus. Grou p Ⅴ, 3 cultivars of B. napus.


The paper presents the way of optimizing wood yield without defects for semi‐products. The range of research presented in this work is mainly based on the application of numerical methods and optimization, but it is an issue of widely apprehended industrial mathematics. There were introduced the mathematical conditions, which described relationships between wood and their efficiency. The effect of the research is a computer program called TARPAK2, by means of which one can make simulations whether and out of what material the order will be executed, so as to minimize waste material and multiply the sawmill profits. The program is such the first product in Poland to assist research of secondary timber processing.


We must begin by noting that we endorse Reformed Epistemology, defined by McNabb as the claim "that a subject S's religious belief can be justified or warranted apart from argumentation." This is, of course, because we think that subjects are justified in believing propositions that seem true to them so long as they lack defeaters (regardless of whether they are capable of mounting arguments for such propositions—let alone arguments that others would find satisfactory). McNabb, on the other hand, supports the thesis of Reformed Epistemology by defending a Plantingian proper functionalist account of warrant. And it is toward this Plantingian version of Reformed Epistemology that we will offer two concerns. First, we question the sufficiency of the proper functionalist account of warrant. Second, we argue that even if this account of warrant were satisfactory, Phenomenal Conservatism retains an important dialectical advantage over this account.


AbstractThis research aims to decide the teacher's competencies in the use of media in the thematic learning of class V SD Negeri 31 West Pontianak. The sub-problem in this study is how is the teacher's method in the usage of media in the thematic learning of class V SD Negeri 31 West Pontianak? and What are the problems confronted via instructors in using media in the thematic learning of category V SD Negeri 31 West Pontianak?. While the technique used is descriptive. The supply of the facts in this learn about was once the fifth grade instructor at SD Negeri 31 West Pontianak. Data collection tools in this study were commentary and interviews. Data analysis in this lookup is using an interactive model with the ranges of statistics reduction, statistics display and the system of drawing conclusions. This lookup suggests (1) the teacher's strategy in the usage of the media and (2) the issues faced by means of the instructor in the use of the media.Keyword : Teacher Skills, Media, Thematic Learning


Deep space detection is the result of human exploration of natural intrinsic motivation. To explore the Moon, Mars, target Asteroid soil strata information, meeting the needs of human living space is of great significance. For the mission of celestial bodies, an absorption type sampling method which uses the rotation and pound to burst rock and air flow excitation to obtain samples is put forward. It has characteristics of low reaction force, efficient rock-breaking, light body and low energy consumption. Further, it uses the principle of flywheel energy storage to achieve low energy consumption, passive vibration excitation magnetic control to achieve high efficient rock breaking, and the dense ball bearing shaft inherent function of rush and rotation to achieve structure lightweight. Through ADAMS software, dynamic simulation analysis is ascertained and sampler ground simulation experiment is consolidated according to different hard soil. The results show that the sampling method, can brake rock efficiently, achieve the microgravity sampling function, and provide an effective way for deep space detection.


This paper presents the effect of blade thickness on the hydraulic performance of a mixed-flow pump impeller. For the numerical analysis, three-dimensional steady-state Reynolds -averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations are discretized using the finite volume method with the shear stress transport (SST) turbulence model. The equations were solved using hexahedral grids to analyze the internal flow in the mixed-flow pump impeller. The blockage concept is employed to express the quantitative amount by the variation in the blade thickness. The effects of hydraulic performance on the blockage amount are systematically analyzed with the variation in the best efficiency point (BEP) in the performance curve. The detailed flow characteristics with the blockage effect are analyzed and discussed.


During the last 10 to 15 years, one of the most controversial subjects in the dairy industry has been the use of vegetable fats in dairy type products. In spite of much opposition from various state and federal regulatory agencies and resistance by part of the dairy industry itself on the preparation and labeling of vegetable fa t dairy type products, the makers of these new foods continue to widen their markets, both in institutional and retail outlets. Little more than a quick stroll through your neighborhood supermarket is necessary to see the growing acceptance of these foods by consumers. Especially in the last several years, coffee whiteners, whipped toppings, sour dressings and chip dips, soft serve and frozen desserts have demonstrated remarkable growth, and are gaining ever increasing momentum in the market. Reliable estimates indicate that in 1966 the total market for vegetable fat dairy products was in excess of $240 million at retail prices and a 1967 growth rate of 36% is anticipated. The outstanding potential for new products in this market is obvious. Among the reasons for the growing acceptance of these new foods are: 1. Long shelf-life of finished products. Many of these foods can be kept indefinitely when frozen and several weeks under normal refrigeration. Thus storage and distribution problems are minimized for the manufacturer and retailer, and add convenience for the housewife. 2. Low cost of the basic ingredients. The average price of vegetable fats ranges between 0.44-0.66 cents per kilogram2 Compare this cost with the price of milk fat today and you can see there is a significant cost reduction. 3. Improved technology in developing lipid systems. The principal reason for the success of these new foods is a result of the improved technology by processors of vegetable fats. They are able to process fats that meet almost any desired specifications. This can be done by hydrogenation to control melting point; by blending different types and different melting fats from different sources, by solvent fraetionation of certain portions of fats, and by re-


This paper considers the potential of the dielectrically loaded Quad-ridge Flared Horn (QRFH) feed to provide continuous beyond-decade bandwidth in reflector telescopes for radio astronomy. An overview of the beam pattern evolution over frequency in a recent ultra-wideband feed designed for 1.5–15.5 GHz is presented.


This paper proposes generalisations of the Realized GARCH model by Hansen et al. (2012), in three different directions. First, heteroskedasticity in the noise term in the measurement equation is allowed, since this is generally assumed to be time-varying as a function of an estimator of the Integrated Quarticity for intra-daily returns. Second, in order to account for attenuation bias effects, the volatility dynamics are allowed to depend on the accuracy of the realized measure. This is achieved by letting the response coefficient of the lagged realized measure depend on the time-varying variance of the volatility measurement error, thus giving more weight to lagged volatilities when they are more accurately measured. Finally, a further extension is proposed by introducing an additional explanatory variable into the measurement equation, aiming to quantify the bias due to effect of jumps and measurement errors.


The midnight-noon ebb-flow needle is a acupuncture method with timing changes,which has a long history and a long history esoteric theory.The author discussed about the origin,development,theoretic basis and clinical application of the midnight-noon ebb-flow,making the past medical science to be used for today.


Black carbon (BC) is the focus of numerous national and international studies, largely because of its immense potential for mitigating climate change. The important point to note is that BC impacts both global and regional climate change (Ramanathan and Carmichael, 2008 and numerous references therein). One major difficulty faced by scientists and decision makers alike in assessing the importance of BC is the large difference between the life time of black carbon (days to weeks) and that of the major


Let Ω ⊂ C be an arbitrary domain in the one-dimensional complex plane equipped with a positive Radon measure μ. For any 1 ≤ p < ∞, it is shown that the weighted Bergman space A(Ω, μ) of holomorphic functions is a Banach space if and only if A(Ω, μ) has locally uniformly bounded point evaluations. In particular, in the case p = 2, any complete Bergman space A(Ω, μ) is automatically a reproducing kernel Hilbert space. 1. The main result Let Ω ⊂ C be an arbitrary domain (i.e., non-empty open connected subset) in the one-dimensional complex plane equipped with a positive Radon measure μ. For any 1 ≤ p < ∞, define the Bergman space by A(Ω, μ) := {


Picosecond laser pulses are used to sequentially heat and probe the thermally induced reflectivity transients in copper, and the nonequilibrium heating of electrons to a temperature above that of the lattice is observed. The ability to temporally resolve electronic and lattice heating contributions is of considerable significance to thermomodulation spectroscopy of solids.


In application for acoustic echo cancellation and adaptive equalization, input signal is highly correlated and the long length of adaptive filter is needed. Affine projection algorithms, in these applications, can produce a good convergence performance. However, they have a drawback that is a complex hardware implementation. In this paper, we propose a new subband affine projection algorithm with improved convergence and reduced computational complexity. In addition, we suggest a good approach to implement the proposed method. In this method by applying polyphase decomposition, noble identity and critical decimation to the anne projection algorithm the number of input vectors for decorrelation can be reduced. The weight-updating formula of the proposed method is derived as a simple form that compared with the NLMS(normalized least mean square) algorithm by the reduced projection order The efficiency of the proposed algorithm for a colored input signal was evaluated by using computer simulations.


This paper discusses the key issues involved with harvesting stormwater sustainably. The focus of this paper is on harvesting rather than reuse-i.e. the capture/extraction of stormwater rather than the storage, treatment and use of stormwater. This paper outlines the key principles of sustainable harvesting of stormwater and then considers a number of key items which should be assessed when harvesting stormwater. These issues are explained through example stormwater harvesting projects to illustrate the key issues raised and the considerations that need to be applied in any stormwater harvesting project. This paper provides a summary of clear objectives for stormwater harvesting and a framework for approvals of stormwater harvesting projects.


Take a factory′s bag filter control system as an example,according to the matrix theory,the existing control system is improved.The output reduce from 72-point to 17-point,which cut down the using of PLC module and equipment costs.A simple and effective control method is proposed.


To a dispenser comprising a frame, and a substrate support assembly gantry system, to move in the x-axis, y axis and z-axis direction of the dispensing pump. The dispensing pump includes a local supply reservoir, and a dispensing nozzle for a first line providing fluid communication between said supply reservoir and said local dispensing nozzle. The dispenser further comprises a supply reservoir coupled to the local allocation of the pump remote batch feed system. The bulk feed system is configured to include a first remote receiving viscous material supply container for the second batch to a line between the remote system and the local supply of feedstock reservoir providing fluid communication, and provided the second line and operable to deliver viscous material to the remote supply vessel and the first valve off the viscous material from a remote supply container.


Electric vehicles are going to be a significant load on the existing distribution system, which may lead to unexpected peak loads and rapid fluctuations of power grid. In order to keep the plug-in hybrid vehicles from causing harmful new peaks, a new method is presented for the management of Electric Vehicle(EV) charging along with other domestic load operations in a renewable energy integrated domestic infrastructure. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology was evaluated using simulated case studies. The study indicates that the proposed load shifting program provides annual electricity bill savings to the consumer and the utility benefits from the reduction in peak demand by using demand side management in the domestic sector.


Objective To understand HIV positive rate and its correlation among voluntary counseling and testing(VCT) in Zhongshan City,Guangdong Province.Methods The VCT data during 2010 to 2012 in Zhongshan City were downloaded from China information system for disease control and prevention.HIV and syphilis serological detection were performed for all VCT participants.The HIV positive rates were analyzed using the single factor and multifactor unconditioned logistic regression.Results Three VCT sites received 3 613 clients during 2010 to 2012.Of the 3 601(99.7%) clients having HIV test,212(5.9%) were positive.The HIV positive rates were 5.8%(173 /2 972) for male and 6.2%(39/629) for female.Of the 2 759 clients having syphilis test,121(4.4 %) were positive.The syphilis seropositive rate was 4.9%(117 /2 389) for male and 1.1%(4 /370) for female.The HIV positive rate for syphilis seropositive clients was 25.6%(31 /121).The HIV positive rates were 66.7%(8 /12) for those suspected positive in history test,17.6%(3 /17) for those with blood transfusion or sale history,13.1%(29 /221) for those having a positive regular sexual partner,12.7%(8 /63) for those injecting drug use,10.4%(114 /1 096) for those men who had sex with men(MSM),6.3%(3 /48) for those with sex transmitted disease history,5.9%(4 /68) for those having a regular sexual partner with high risk behaviors,3.0%(1 /33) for those whose mothers were HIV positive,2.5%(22 /896) for those with unmarried heterosexual behaviors,and 2.4%(20 /825) for those with commercial heterosexual behaviors.Clients with occupation exposure,positive family members except for the mother,unsafe behaviors such as exelcymosis and needling,health examination,or fear of AIDS were all screened to be HIV negative.The multifactor logistic regression model showed that,the lower level of education(AOR = 1.39),had a higher risk to be HIV positive;clients with syphilis seropositive tests were 4.14 times the risk to be HIV positive compared to those with syphilis seronegative tests;MSM were 4.78 times the risk to be HIV positive compared to those with unmarried heterosexual behaviors,and those with a positive regular sexual partner were 4.71 times the risk to be HIV positive compared to those with unmarried heterosexual behaviors(all P 0.01).Conclusion Clients of the low level of education,the syphilis seropositive,MSM,and those with a positive regular sexual partner have a relative high HIV infection rate.It is necessary to take more comprehensive and effective prevention measures and intervention.


Case 1. A 64-year-old woman was referred with complaints of bloody vaginal discharge, pelvic pain and vaginal prolapse 10 weeks after a pubovaginal sling procedure and cystocele repair using a Repliform (Boston Scientific, Natick, Massachusetts) dermal allograft and abdominally placed bone anchors. Medical history included hysterectomy and 2 cystocele repairs. Physical examination revealed suprapubic tenderness, granulation tissue on the anterior vaginal wall and prolapse of the vaginal apex to the hymen. Cystoscopy, pelvic x-ray and bone scan were normal. Vaginal estrogen treatment did not resolve the symptoms. The patient underwent transvaginal exploration, partial graft excision, and cystocele and enterocele repair. Pathological examination of the excised graft material revealed benign granulation tissue. At 6 months of followup the patient was asymptomatic and continent without recurrent vaginal erosion or prolapse. Case 2. A 39-year-old woman presented with irritative bladder symptoms, vaginal discharge and suprapubic pain 20 weeks after a pubovaginal sling procedure and cystocele repair using a Repliform dermal allograft and abdominally placed bone anchors. Medical history was otherwise unremarkable. Physical examination revealed suprapubic tenderness, granulation tissue on the anterior vaginal wall and a fixed proximal urethra high in the retropubic space (fig. 1). Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging and bone scan showed no evidence of osteitis pubis or osteomyelitis. Cystourethroscopy was normal. Elevated detrusor pressure during voiding on urodynamic tests suggested urethral obstruction. The patient underwent transvaginal exploration, complete graft excision and urethrolysis (fig. 2). The bone anchors were not removed. Pathological evaluation of the graft material revealed fibrovascular tissue with increased fibrosis. At 8 months of followup the patient had no recurrent vaginal erosion. Irritative bladder symptoms resolved and she reported mild stress urinary incontinence.


In this thesis research on synthesis, microstructure and properties of carbide-based coatings is reported. These coatings are electrically conducting, and can be tailored for high hardness, low fri ...


Remotely operated robots equipped with on board cameras, apart from providing video input to operators, perform optical measurements to assist their navigation as well. Such image processing algorithms require image sequences, free of high frequency unwanted movements, in order to generate their optimal results. Image stabilization is the process which removes the undesirable position fluctuations of a video sequence improving, therefore, its visual quality. In this paper, we introduce the implementation of an image stabilization system that utilizes input from an on board camera and a gyrosensor. The frame sequence is processed by an optic flow algorithm and the inertial data is processed by a discrete Kalman filter. The compensation is performed using two servo motors for the pan and tilt movements and frame shifting for the vertical and horizontal movements. Experimental results of the robot head, have shown fine stabilized image sequences and a system capable of processing 320 times 240 pixel image sequences at approximately 10 frames/sec, with a maximum acceleration of A deg/sec2.


The existence of super-heavy elements (SHE) has been predicted by the nuclear shell model. However, the
nuclear reaction theory for heavy systems, which is essential for the synthesis of SHE, has not been well
established yet. Although we have reached a general agreement on the reaction mechanism, large discrepancies
between quantitative predictions still persist because of the presence of the fusion hindrance phenomenon. The
first aim of this Ph.D. work is to investigate different models associated with the complete description of the
heavy-ion fusion-evaporation reaction. Then, a complete uncertainty analysis, in combination with a newlydeveloped
cascade code called KEWPIE2, is performed. By inspecting uncertainties due to parameters and
models, it is clearly revealed that the fission barrier has the most crucial role to play in constraining the fusion
models. How to determine the uncertainty associated with the fission barrier? Since we do not have enough
reliable data, we propose to consider Bayesian inference by reversing the usual mode of thinking. Based upon
the KEWPIE2 code with simulated pseudo-data (without fusion hindrance), preliminary results tell us that the
estimated uncertainty in the fission barrier appears to be quite sensitive to the number and precision of data
points as well as the nuisance parameters. Furthermore, it is known that the fusion process and the fission barrier
can be both described within the framework of the liquid-drop model. Thus, they should be correlated with each
other. With the help of a simple liquid-drop mass formula and the regression theory, uncertainties in the model
parameters as well as the correlation between the neutron-separation energy and fission barrier are inspected.
The influence of their covariances on the survival probability is concretely investigated. Further consideration
will be required to account for the correlation with the shell corrections.


historical works of Ussher that ordinands in Trinity College, Dublin, read in order to understand the history of the Irish Protestant Church and, in particular, to explain how the Church of Ireland was indeed the true church and how the Reformation had constituted not a break in the life of the church but rather a return to its original purity. As this book rightly identifies, the key to understanding Ussher is not his linguistic ability, his political manoeuvrings or even primarily his theology but his deep understanding of history. There is little doubt that Ussher was a good technical historian. Chapter nine of this book, devoted to his Britannicarum ecclesiarum antiquitates (1639), demonstrates that without a shadow of a doubt. He had a master of both standard sources (mainly Latin rather than Irish) and contemporary historiography and he deployed a network of contacts to locate evidence scattered in the Irish countryside. However, the Britannicarum ecclesiarum antiquitates was untypical of Ussher's historical work. More representative is his Discourse of the religion anciently professed by the Irish and British, which appeared first as an appendix to a work by his friend Christopher Sibthorpe in 1623 and as a separate volume in 1631. This, as Alan Ford's work suggests, was not a straightforward piece of history but rather a point at which history, memory, identity, and theology intersected. Its function was not simply to chart the past but to explain to Irish Protestants who they were and where they had come from. Using a series of religious markers (such as a celibate clergy, communion at Mass, purgatory, and auricular confession), it constructed a story which demonstrated that the practices of his own Church of Ireland were in line with those of the early Irish church and hence heir to the church of the apostles. In doing so he linked it with contemporary ideas of chronology and apocalyptic so that the Irish church could take its place among the pantheon of the churches of European Protestantism. Moreover he did all this, not in his customary scholarly Latin but in the English language that was accessible to those in the Church of Ireland who pondered such issues. This book paints such a nuanced and vivid picture of Ussher's thought that it will now be possible to understand the complexity of those ideas for the first time. Perhaps more importantly it allows Ussher to be placed in the context of his contemporaries. In particular he deserves comparison with his fellow historian Geoffrey Keating whose history was equally leavened with theology and memory but from a different tradition. No less does he deserve comparison with his historical student James Ware whose work on the succession of Irish bishops conveyed similar, though distinct, messages to the work of Ussher. Such comparisons are now possible with this book as a baseline. This is a fine book that opens up new vistas into the murky intellectual world of seventeenth-century Ireland and it is to be commended as a model of its kind to those interested in the modish worlds of identity and theology. RAYMOND GILLESPIE Dept of History, NUI Maynooth


This paper is based on preliminary research in the context of a Ph.D. prepared at the CESAER, in Dijon. The Ph.D. is being prepared under the supervision of three professors: Jean-Pierre Boinon and Marielle Berriet Solliec (professors at the CESAER) on the French side and Paun Ion Otiman on Romanian side (director of the Institute of Agricultural Economics of Bucharest and professor at the USAMV of Banat in Timisoara). This Ph.D. pursues the question of farm mutations in Eastern European countries, more specifically in Romania, with renewed tools like the newly available data from the general census in 2002 and the Farm Structure survey of 2005. The context of EU membership application is also a very interesting field in terms of the evaluation of agricultural and rural public policies. This paper is based on administrative data from the « renta viagera » office but also on data from the national center for statistics. We examine the policy in regards to tendencies observed in Romanian Structure.


The planning situation we deal with has been reported to us by a Swiss service provider which organizes assessment centers for companies. In an assessment center, candidates for job positions perform a series of tasks and are thereby observed and evaluated by assessors (e.g., managers or psychologists). The planning situation consists of scheduling the tasks and assigning some assessors to the tasks subject to specific assessor-assignment constraints such that the total assessment-center duration is minimized.
 We propose a matheuristic which iteratively repeats three phases. In the first phase, the tasks are scheduled without assigning any assessors to the tasks. In the second phase, the assessors are assigned to the tasks based on this schedule. However, due to the assessor-assignment constraints, the resulting solution is not necessarily feasible. In the third phase, in order to attain feasibility, some tasks are shifted in time. The schedule obtained is then used as initial solution for the subsequent execution of the first phase.
 In a computational study, we analyze the performance of the matheuristic on four real-world instances and a set of 240 instances derived from real-world data. The results indicate that our matheuristic outperforms state-of-the-art methods, and optimal or near-optimal solutions are obtained for all instances within short computational time.


Survivability of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on papaya petioles was studied under different environmental conditions. Papaya petioles were kept in different places i.e. Attached to the plant and allowing it tofall on the ground, in the laboratory room temperature, at 4 "c in the refrigerator, at 28±J "c and 30±J "c in bod incubators. Fungal spores collectedfrom petiole lesions at weekly intervals were mounted on cavity slides to count number of spores per lesion and percentage of spore germination. Mature fruits of papaya, banana, mango, grape and pomegranate were used to assess the cross-infectivity of C. gloeosporioides isolated from papaya. Each fruit was spot inoculated with papaya isolate of C gloeosporioides. Number of fruits injected and the diameter of lesions were recorded. The cross infectivity of C. gloeosporioides isolatedfrom banana, mango, grape and pomegranate on papaya, was also studied by spot inoculating each isolate into papaya fruits. Spores of C gloeosporioides were found to be viable under the field condition up to eight weeks since germination percentage was always high in the field, compared to other treatments. The number of conidia produced in petiole lesions was high at 4°c which indicated the ability of the pathogen to survive longer in low temperature conditions. The efficiency of spore production was reduced after the 5 week in all the treatments. C gloeosporioides isolated from papaya could cross-infect only mango and banana fruits while isolates of banana and mango in turn, crossinfected ripened papaya fruits. The cross infection study has shown that the potential exists for post-harvest cross infection of various hosts by C gloeosporioides.


A high performance liquid chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric method are presented for analyzing 2 chromium speciations,including Cr(Ⅲ) and Cr(Ⅵ).In this paper,with optimization of chromatographic conditions and optimization of mass spectrometry conditions,the condition for obtaining a set of optimal parameters is established.The process involovs using 20 mm.mol-1 ammonium acetate and 2.0 mm.mol-1 ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid(EDTA) solutions as the mobile phase,and using tetrabutylammonium hydroxide(TBAH) to adjust the pH value(pH=7.5),by which chromium compounds of Cr(Ⅲ),Cr(Ⅵ) are successdfully separated.The recovery ratio of standard addition in water sample is 85.0%101%.


Although rates of breast-conserving surgery (BCS) have risen substantially during the last 2 decades, many clinicians feel that mastectomy is still


Recent measurements of cosmic ray electron energy spectra suggest that above 10 GeV there may be deviations from a single power law spectrum. There are hints (ATIC) for a bump occurring between 100 GeV and 1TeV, meaning that there might be more high energy electrons than expected. Whether these electrons are produced within pulsar magnetospheres, or due to Dark Matter annihilation or decay, this is still matter of debate. Understanding the nature of these ultra high energy particles is a difficult t ask that can be fulfilled using all the available astrophysical observables. We investigate how different energy spectra produce different observable manifestations in the radio/microwave/mm-wave domain, where corresponding deviations from a synchrotron power law could appear. We raise the question around the detectability of these possible radio spectral features, which may be interesting for a wide scientific community including astrophysicists and scientists working on foregrounds removal for CMB experiments.


Sound absorption is usually performed by using porous materials as acoustic absorbers. These materials are not efficient in low frequencies compared to their efficiencies high frequencies. One of the solutions for absorption at low frequencies is to couple another resonators which are knows as Helmholtz resonators. The drawback of these systems is that they are valid and tuned for a very narrow frequency range. The geometry of the neck of Helmholtz resonators plays an important role in the quality and the range of sound absorption. In this work we will presents experimental results of nonlinear structured geometry of Helmholtz resonators.


A Study on Relationship between Immigration policy and Integration policy for international marriage immigrants Recently the number of immigrant in Korea is gradually growing. So immigration policy, multicultural policy and integration policy are still under controversy. As a result of these circumstances, the importance of social integration policy is now attracting national`s eyes. Even though social integration and immigration are related each other, based on the intrinsic nature of immigration policy, the inter-relationship between social integration policy and immigration policy is not yet forged. And also integration of immigrants is a two-way policy and process which is applied to all aliens and nationals. In this thesis I overview the definition and major elements of immigration policy, and apply the function of immigration policy to integration policy, and research the connections between the two, and analyze the implications and policy directions of marriage-based immigrants as the first ranking of integration. To suggest the inter-relationship between immigration policy and integration policy, I review the specific alternatives for connecting the two.


(1) The model formulation might not be appropriate to address the issues intended. The author used the additive approach to represent the impacts of moisture and temperature on LUE. This is just one of the many possibilities. The multiplicative approach mentioned by the authors is another one. Yuan et al., 2007 used the the Liebig law (the most limiting factor controls LUE) in GPP model (The authors wrongfully referred Yuan's paper as multiplicative approach, see p7691 lines 5-6). The results on the importance of moisture and temperature may well be dependent on specific model formulations. For example, using the Liebig-law approach, Yuan et al (2007) found that temperature only controlled the start and end of the growing season, and LUE was solely controlled by moisture across all sites. More reliable approaches should be used to attribute the impacts of different environmental factors on LUE. Optimal mathematical solutions doe not always mean that the solutions really represent the underlying mechanisms. Therefore, the results generated from this study are very questionable.


Abstract Agricultural communities increasingly have become sites of struggle over identity, belonging and citizenship. While historically the relationship between race and space has been one of segregation and displacement, investigations of these sites of (im)migration reveal new discursive relationships and particular manifestations of whiteness. Adopting a spatial framework, this ethnographic study seeks to de-essentialize whiteneness through an exploration of discourses of contraction articulated by members of a farm community. Contraction refers to white residents' representation of "Hispanicness" as spreading throughout (and threatening) "their" town, specifically commercial and educational spaces. The implications of contraction include the re-consolidation of white privilege as the "minority" group within a context of spatial integration.


Effects of short-chain inulin on apparent characteristics, textural and aging properties of Chinese steamed bread (CSB) were investigated. Specific volume, ratio of height to diameter and sensory assessment scores increased initially with increasing inulin substitution and then started decreasing as inulin substitution increased further, and reached the highest value with 5.0% inulin substitution. CSB with inulin (2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, 10.0% w/w) were all much whiter based on L*a*b* assessment. The substitution of inulin improved textural properties of fresh CSB but accelerated the aging rate. It was found that moisture migration was an important factor affecting the aging rate of CSB. It indicated that appropriate amount of short-chain inulin could improve the quality of CSB. The results could provide a theoretical basis for the practical application of inulin to CSB.

Practical Applications

Inulin has a potential for developing a novel Chinese steamed bread (CSB) with better functionality and more nutritional benefit. The optimal substitution proportion is 5.0% with the consideration of improving the quality of CSB, such as the volume, color, and texture. The research provides a theoretical basis for the practical application of inulin to CSB and possesses a board market prospect.


Abstract Expectations of prison officers' work in policy and in academic literature have become more complex in recent decades, with an increasing emphasis on the need to bring together security roles with human services components of the work. However, staff working within prisons face the daily challenge of working closely with prisoners, who are both subjects of community opprobrium and citizens with complex needs and high levels of volatility. The officer is placed at the centre of this dilemma. This article explores the way these challenges are being resolved in three Australian prisons through the conceptualisation of prison officers' work, and reports research that explored with officers and other staff their understanding of their roles. The article describes the diversity of approaches to conceptualising the work of the prison officer and resolving the competing demands of custodial and human services roles and the influence of the particular prison and the length of time in custodial employment on the resolution of this challenge.


The t(8;21) and t(16;21) disrupt two closely related Myeloid Translocation Gene family members respectively, MTG8 and MTG16. Whereas the expression of MTG8 is highly regulated, MTG16 is more widely expressed and is the family member most highly expressed in hematopoietic stem cells. Therefore, to address the contribution of MTG16 to HSC functions and hematopoiesis, we created mice lacking this gene. We show that this transcriptional co-repressor is required for hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell functions such as cell fate decisions and early progenitor cell proliferation. Inactivation of Mtg16 skewed early myeloid progenitor cells towards the granulocytic/macrophage lineage, while reducing the numbers of megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor cells, which was shown using both flow cytometry and methylcellulose colony formation assays. In addition, inactivation of Mtg16 impaired the rapid expansion of long and short-term stem cells, multi-potent progenitor cells and megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor cells that are required under hematopoietic stress/emergency. Due to this, the Mtg16-null mice could not respond to phenylhydrazine or 5-fluorouracil treatment and were completely defective in the colony forming unit-spleen (CFU-S) assays. Additionally, Mtg16-null bone marrow failed to repopulate the hematopoietic system when it was transplanted into an irradiated recipient mouse and also failed to compete with wild-type bone marrow in a competitive bone marrow transplant. This impairment appeared to be due to a failure to proliferate rather than an induction of cell death, as expression of c-Myc, but not Bcl2, complemented the Mtg16(−/−) defect. Thus, like other key transcriptional co-repressors (e.g., the retinoblastoma protein, pRB, and the nuclear hormone co-repressor, N-CoR) Mtg16 is a key regulator of stem cell functions and lineage commitment in hematopoiesis.


The invention concerns a secure device for dispensing a unitary dose (Mi) of an active substance in solid dosage form. Such a device comprises means for preventing the chamber containing the unitary doses from being filled a second time. It can further accommodate (51) a treatment unit and means for communication with the outside world. Such a device is particularly effective for combating the counterfeiting of drugs. It further makes it possible to detect non-compliance of a patient during a clinical trial or non-compliance of a patient suffering from a chronic disease.


Biotin biosynthesis and retention in Escherichia coli is regulated by the multifunctional protein, BirA. The protein acts as both the transcriptional repressor of the biotin biosynthetic operon and as a ligase for covalent attachment of biotin to a unique lysine residue of the biotin carboxyl carrier protein (BCCP) subunit of the acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Biotinyl-5′-AMP is the activated intermediate for the ligase reaction and the allosteric effector for DNA binding. We have purified and characterized apoBCCP and a truncated form containing the COOH-terminal 87 residues (apoBCCP87). Molecular masses of the proteins measured using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry conformed to the expected values. The assembly states of apoBCCP and apoBCCP87 were determined using sedimentation equilibrium ultracentrifugation. Nearly quantitative enzymatic transfer of biotin from BirA-biotinyl-5′-AMP to the apoBCCP forms was assessed using two methods, mass spectrometric analysis of acceptor proteins after incubation with BirA-bio-5′-AMP and a steady state fluorescence assay. The BirA catalyzed rates of transfer of biotin from bio-5′-AMP to apoBCCP and apoBCCP87 were measured by stopped-flow fluorescence. Kinetic parameters estimated from these measurements indicate that the intact and truncated forms of the acceptor protein are functionally identical.


The foreign policy of the United States has become an important object of study for the international relations due to the impact it has had on the world system, especially after the 9/11 attacks, at which time the country experienced a profound change in the configuration of its foreign policy and security. The fact that this analysis is aimed at analyzing the reconfiguration of the foreign policy of the great power is precisely the influence that this country has at a global level and the capacity it has developed over the years to intervene militarily in other countries, specifically those in the Middle East, due to situations related to terrorism and Arab extremism, with the aim of eradicating possible threats and promoting democratic values. In the following investigation will be carried out a comparative work that will involve the analysis of the foreign policy in the administration of George W. Bush and Barack Obama, focusing the object of study on Iraq, since different strategies were adopted in order to control the country , these tactics will be studied from the general approaches of international relations such as Realism and Liberalism as well as in the sub-theories of each of these that will be discussed in the theoretical framework. The precepts of these approaches allow us to analyze the rhetoric of former heads of state through "lenses" that will explain the prioritization of a militaristic approach in the Bush case, and a new democratizing course with Obama. This comparison in foreign policy will reflect the high bureaucratic component of the United States, and the importance of national institutions, the internal political system, and the vision of leaders as factors that determine the change, continuity or modification of foreign policy.


The method includes steps: network side of public communication network accepts service of group call applied by user in group, and assigning group call id corresponding to the group; binding the said assigned group call id to each user id in the group; when any one user in the group calls the group call id, based on the said group call id, network side indexes each other user id in the group; based on indexed each user id, the group call includes each other user call in the group. The invention guarantees better voice communication quality and real time performance for communication service of group call realized in public network.


Summary
There is a growing body of evidence that uniaxial or biaxial ossification of the cartilages of the foot should not be discounted as irrelevant in a lame horse, especially if extensive. Potential causes of pain and lameness include primary injury of an ossified cartilage and/or the ipsilateral aspect of the distal phalanx, injury of the chondrocoronal or chondrosesamoidean ligaments and desmopathy of the collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joint.


Wave propagation laws are applied in MW cable networks in order to determine zone of constant polarity in after-fault transients. An "all current" polarity law permitting rapid fault detection is proposed and analysed using several EMTP cable models.


Pareto: towards an integrated theory of the economic-social phenomena? - The paper shows the intimate connection among the various branches of Pareto's research interests, in order to reconstruct the genuine path of development of his analysis of human action. A special attention is devoted to the 2006 critical edition of his Manuel. JEL classification: B 13; B 31; B 41. Keywords: Neoclassical thought through 1925; Pareto; Economic Methodology.


Many studies have looked at the physiological effects of sub-thermal temperatures and many conclusions are generally understood. However, there exists considerable debate as to whether cold environments affect human cognitive performance. It is investigated whether cold environments affect human information processing. Twenty subjects' core body temperature (as measured tympanically) was dropped to 35.5/spl deg/C and a performance assessment battery (PAB) of tests was administered as well as a similar PAB at room temperature. The PAB consisted of four tests (The Stroop Word-Colour test, a Working Memory test, a Signal Detection test and the Fitt's Task) that represented the four major stages of information processing (perception, working memory, response selection and response execution). The results indicated that in fact, some stages of information processing were adversely affected when a reduced core body temperature was introduced , but caution is advised when considering the latter two stages. Attention was allocated to the distracting effects of the cold environment during the more difficult tasks but could be argued that cold focused attention on the simpler tasks as only limited attention was required. The method introduced in the present study should be considered in further investigations as attempts to standardise variables in such testing conditions continues. Finally, implications for the design of control systems are discussed.


A 31 year old white woman presented with recurrent abdominal pain and distention. A barium follow through examination was performed. What is the diagnosis?

Congenital small bowel non-rotation as indicated by loops of small bowel on the right side of the abdomen only.

### Discussion

Intestinal malrotation describes aberrations in rotation and fixation of the alimentary tract during intrauterine development. Small bowel non-rotation is characterised by rotational …


Child protection is a child rights issue. Protecting and safeguarding children from abuse and violence and providing a non-hostile environment for their growth are central to the social development of children. Having ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC, 1989), the Indian state is committed to protecting the rights of every child, the family environment and providing special protection and assistance if a child is deprived of such an environment. However, there are several children who may be deprived of this environment due to the loss of one or both parents. Several other children are runaways, have abusive family environments or are abandoned by their parents.


How do we know that people use rich and sophisticated vocabulary in their writing? Laufer and Nation (1995) proposed that the vocabulary richness of a text could be measured by a quantitative index called the lexical frequency profile (LFP) which uses the proportion of frequent versus nonfrequent vocabulary in the text.

Keywords:

esl/efl;
research methods in applied linguistics;
second language acquisition;
corpus;
evaluation;
vocabulary


This thesis begins with my doubts on the close link between Victorian bourgeois domesticity and femininity. Recent scholars have studied "domestic masculinity" of mid-Victorian married men, yet they ignore "male domesticity" of late-Victorian and Edwardian bachelors, particularly when the cases come from children's texts. In this thesis I intend to dissect bachelor's life, idyllic nostalgia and homoeroticism in the representations of male domesticity in J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan (1911), Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows (1908), and Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes (1911). I also adopt two far-reaching series featuring bachelor's friendship, male domesticity and homoerotic potentials as references. One is Thomas Hughes' Tom Brown series, including Tom Brown's Schooldays (1857) and Tom Brown at Oxford (1861), both fusing Victorian boy's adventure story and the public school story. The other is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes (1887-1927), the world-renowned detective series and male romance. By juxtaposing adult fiction such as Sherlock Holmes with Edwardian children's literature, I put the above three texts into the crossover fiction category with intertexuality to evidence the existence of adult issues like homoeroticism in children's texts. With regard to scholars of children's literature and gender theory, I share with them the critical perspectives of childhood, Victorian domesticity and male homosociality; however, I further analyze the ways writers of Edwardian children's literature use to transform the tabooed issue of homosexuality into homoerotic hints. By targeting their texts at duel readership, they emphasize friendship of cohabited bachelors and exclude feminized domesticity in their works.


Although remote sensing has a central role to play in the acquisition of synoptic data obtained at multiple spatial and temporal scales to facilitate our understanding of local and regional processes as they influence the global climate, the use of thermal infrared (TIR) remote sensing data in this capacity has received only minimal attention. This results from some fundamental challenges that are associated with employing TIR data collected at different space and time scales, either with the same or different sensing systems, and also from other problems that arise in applying a multiple scaled approach to the measurement of surface temperatures. In this paper, we describe some of the more important problems associated with using TIR remote sensing data obtained at different spatial and temporal scales, examine why these problems appear as impediments to using multiple scaled TIR data, and provide some suggestions for future research activities that may address these problems. We elucidate the fundamental concept of scale as it relates to remote sensing and explore how space and time relationships affect TIR data from a problem-dependency perspective. We also describe how linearity and non-linearity observation versus parameter relationships affect the quantitative analysis of TIR data. Some insight is given on how the atmosphere between target and sensor influences the accurate measurement of surface temperatures and how these effects will be compounded in analyzing multiple scaled TIR data. Last, we describe some of the challenges in modeling TIR data obtained at different space and time scales and discuss how multiple scaled TIR data can be used to provide new and important information for measuring and modeling land-atmosphere energy balance processes.


Summary and Conclusions 1) Recent application of the atomic pile to the neutron-capture therapy of human brain tumors has focussed attention on the biological behavior of boron compounds. 2) Studies reported in mice and man indicate that borax and boric acid are rapidly absorbed and distributed throughout the body. Uptake by the various organs and tumor describes a family of similar curves such that the faster the rise in concentration, the higher and earlier is the peak. All tissues studied, except brain, reach a peak by 30 minutes. Borate is rapidly excreted by the kidneys as a "low-threshold substance" in a class with urea and sulphate, and clearance from the blood in mice proceeds with an exponential half-time of approximately 65 minutes. 3) Concentrations of borate in the tissues of normal mice are directly proportional to dosage for at least 2 hours after injection over a range of 18 to 700 μg/g body weight. 4) At equilibrium distribution, studied in nephrectomized mice, borate is uniformly distributed throughout the body water, with a 10 to 20% excess bound in the intracellular compartment. This excess is bound more tenaciously in brain than in other tissues and appears to be responsible for the toxicity of these compounds. 5) Study of the factors determining the concentration ratio between neoplasm and surrounding normal tissues indicates that boron-neutron treatment offers little promise for malignant tumors other than those of the brain.


Drop foot is a syndrome characterised by the difficulty in lifting the front part of the foot, caused by the weakness or disability of muscles responsible for foot dorsiflexion. Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO) is an orthopaedic support used in drop foot patients to support and maintain the foot and ankle in the proper position during movement, improving the gait pattern. In this study we investigated the effect and clinical relevance of the use of an AFO on walking ability in patients suffering drop foot syndrome. Two Machine Learning (ML) algorithms were implemented on Knime Analytic Platform: Decision Tree (DT) and Random Forest (RF). They were used on a set of spatiotemporal gait variables assessed by means of the IMU-based wearable system for gait analysis, namely Opal Mobility Lab by APDM, on 19 patients with unilateral drop foot syndrome, in two separate conditions: wearing or not the AFO. The following evaluation metrics were used to evaluate the performances of the two tree-based ML models: Recall, Precision, Sensitivity, Specificity, F-measure, Accuracy and Area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AucRoc). Moreover a Feature Importance analysis was carried out. Results demonstrate RF was perfect in distinguishing the two classes – walking with and without AFO – while DT achieved a slightly lower classification score but still of high discriminative power, confirming the effective incidence of the use of the AFO on walking pattern. The following parameters were identified as the most informative by the Feature Importance analysis: stance and swing phase duration, cadence, step duration and stride length.


Objectives. Cognitive reactivity (CR) has been deÞned as the relative ease withwhich maladaptive cognitions or cognitive styles are triggered by mild (non-pathological) mood suctuations. CR has been found to predict relapse of depression(Segal, Gemar & Williams, 1999). This study compared different measures of CR, andalso investigated the role of thought suppression as a possible mechanism underlyingCR.Design and methods. Participants included 24 previously depressed, and 24 neverdepressed individuals who underwent a mood induction. They also completed aquestionnaire designed to measure CR (LEIDS; Van der Does, 2002a), and participatedin the scrambled sentences task (SST). The SST was designed to uncover thoughtsuppression tendencies, and has been shown to discriminate between never depressedand previously depressed samples.Results. LEIDS scores were higher for previously depressed than for neverdepressed individuals. However, CR as measured with the mood induction did notdistinguishbetweenthesegroups.TheLEIDSwascorrelatedwiththeresultsoftheSSTand with self-report measures of thought suppression.Conclusion. Active suppression of unwanted thoughts may be involved in theapparent inactive state of depressive cognitions during remission.


Most of sugarcane cultivation in Brazil is carried out under non-irrigated conditions, restricting crop yield due to lack of water. Nitrogen (N) fertilization via subsurface drip irrigation can promote the physiological processes of plants and increase the stalk and sugar yield of sugarcane. This present study aimed to evaluate irrigation and N use in sugarcane ratoon, and assess how this might affect physiological parameters and crop yield. We used cultivar SP80-3280 under subsurface drip irrigation and non-irrigated systems and two N levels (0 and 150 kg N ha -1 ). Irrigation and N fertilization rendered positive effects for stalk and sugar yields, as well as for plant physiological parameters. Our results showed that irrigation had positive effects over physiological parameters of sugarcane plants, generating great increase in water use efficiency for stalk and sugar production. It was also observed that the supplementary application of 25% water at the highest water deficit period for the crop has increased stalk yield in 84-94% and sugar yield in 86-100%. Nitrogen fertilizer showed increased efficiency in irrigated crop as well, promoting 84% gain in stalk yield. Therefore, subsurface drip irrigation is a great technique to increase crop yield and/or reduce the effects caused by drought.


An embryonic developmental study was conducted on the duodenum of 35 foetuses of the dromedarian camel collected from the Sokoto metropolitan abattoir, over a period of five months at different gestational ages. The approximate age of the fetuses was estimated and categorised into first, second and third trimester. Grossly, the color of the small intestine was whitish at first trimester and grayish to white in second and third trimester. The duodenum was divided into two main portions namely the dilated (ampullae) part and the thin (straight) part which formed the long part of the duodenum in all the trimesters. At first trimester the thin part was not differentiated but divided into three parts such as the descending part, caudal duodenal flexure (transverse part) and ascending part at second and third trimester. Histological observation of the tissues in this study revealed a complete structure of the tubular organ. The duodenum was found to consist of four layers namely: Tunica mucosa, Tunica sub mucosa, Tunica muscularis and Tunica serosa. The epithelium of the Tunica mucosa was stratified squamous epithelium with varying degree of stratification at first trimester and transformed to low columnar /cuboidal epithelium at second trimester. At third trimester, the epithelium was simple columnar epithelium. The lamina propria mucosa was found absent at first trimester but prominent at second and third trimester. The Lamina muscularis mucosa was found prominent at third trimester but not identified at first and second trimester. At first trimester of age, the tunica submucosa was prominent while at second trimester, it consisted of connective tissue cells and fibres scattered all over the layers with preliminary blood vessels. The cells and fibres were undifferentiated at this stage. There was evidence of duodenal gland found scattered within the layer. At third trimester of age, the connective tissues and blood vessels were found prominent and the duodenal glands were found throughout the length of the duodenum. The tunica muscularis of camel duodenum consist of inner circular and outer longitudinal smooth muscle layers. At first trimester this layer did not differentiate into these two zones but only longitudinal orientation of smooth muscle layer. At second trimester, the layers of two zones with clear demarcation were observed. A thin layer of connective tissue comprising of undifferentiated cells lined the duodenum externally was observed in all the stages of development. Based on the above findings, it showed that development of the camels' duodenum layers and glands was histologically in succession.


In order to overcome the BP neural network's shortcomings, such as the slow convergence rate and easily fall into a local minimum value, the genetic algorithm is used to optimize the BP neural network. Firstly, the BP neural network's structure, initial weight and threshold values are optimized by genetic algorithm, and then the optimized BP neural network is trained by the samples, to get the knowledge existing in the samples. At last, this method is used to predict the water quality of Taihu Lake. The experiment results show that this method has higher prediction accuracy and faster convergence than the standard BP network.


Abstract : This study aims to determine the profile of the 21st century skills student of Techniques and Laboratory management. This research is a descriptive, with a total population was all the students who took the course techniques and Laboratory management academic year 2014/2015. The research sample was determined by total sampling technique based on qualitative and quantitative data, sources of data derived from primary data. Primary data obtained from questionnaires collected, with 88 respondents. The parameters used are the 5 elements of the 21st century skills associated with techniques and laboratory management, including digital a rea literacy, inventive thinking, effective communication, high productivity and spirituality. Data collection instruments used in this study a questionnaire enclosed and open questionnaire. Data analysis technique used is descriptive technique. The result of data analysis show ed that the profile of the 21st century skills students taking techniques and laboratory management gained an average of 3.91 (Good). Based on the results of this study concluded that students who take the course techniques and laboratory management academic year 2014/2015 has the potential to face the challenges of the 21st century. Keywords : 21st Century Skills, Techniques and Laboratory Management , Profile


In this paper, a low‐profile aperture‐stacked patch (LP‐ASP) antenna for breast cancer detection applications is proposed. The antenna is embodied by three substrate layers, in which one layer is applied to feed all stacks and the other two are adjoined substrates with rectangular patches, mounted on the top of the feeding layer. The feeding layer consists of a fork‐shaped strip on one side, and an H‐shaped slot attached to a cross‐shaped slot on the other side. By using the proposed feeding structure and a designed defected ground plane, an additional current path is provided which generates extra resonances and widens the impedance bandwidth from 2.5 to 15 GHz. The overall size of the antenna is 10 × 10 × 3.475 mm3, which is approximately 0.083λ × 0.083λ × 0.03λ at the antenna's lowest operating frequency. To evaluate the performance of the designed antenna in an imaging system, first, a breast model with an embedded spherical tumor (with a radius of 4 mm) is constructed. Then, a conformal array of the designed antenna with 17 elements on a cross‐arranged lattice is placed around the breast model. The quantitative metrics of the reconstructed images show that the proposed antenna can be a good candidate for the breast cancer detection applications.


In view of TiC carbide alloy guide roller failure during high-speed wire rod rolling,the main reasons were analyzed by comparing failure styles,microstructure and properties of natural failure and abnormal failure.The results show that the abnormal failure of TiC carbide alloy guide roller is caused by manufacture defects that reduce the crack resistance and hardness of material or too large impact during working.The measures and suggestions are put forward for guide roller abnormal failure based on this analysis.


A single parent mother has multiple roles as a mother and a father. How does a single parent mother behave after losing a spouse really determine her future life with her children. Single parent mother are required to be a optimistic person toward her future life. The phenomenon that occured in Sukoharjo Regency from 3 single parent mother who lefted by her spouse before the age of 45 years, they states can rise after experiencing sadness. Referring how the single parent mother can rise from sadness and can bring up their confidence for the future, so it is necessary to probe beyond any factors that can bring out confidence and optimism in a single parent mother selves. The informants of this study are 4 single parent mother who live in Sukoharjo Regency and have at least 1 child, has a job and has been a single parent for more than 6 months.
The results of this study are, the psychological aspects that influence the optimism for the future life of a single parent mother is : psychic aspect (positive thinking, spirit of life, and faith in the Godness of life ahead), aspect explanatory style (permanence, unpleasant events = temporary. personality, unpleasant events = external). Factors that influence optimism: 1) faith in God, 2) a well circumstances of her children, 3) family, friends and society around support, and 4) can solve the problem postpartum so well.


Method to track the tool relative to the bone in a computer-assisted surgery. Reference tracker with a MEMS unit is secured to the bone. Reference tracker outputs a tracking data associated with the orientation. Tools and fixed to the bone with the MEMS unit is preset in the initial alignment. Tool outputs a tracking data related to the orientation of the If you are initialization tool. Trackable reference system to associate the bone orientation of the reference tracker is created. MEMS unit of the tool is initialized. During initialization of the MEMS unit tools, associated with the orientation of the tool initial alignment and the reference tracker is recorded. Were calculated using the association, orientation data of the tool is displayed relative to the reference system of the bone. Computer-assisted surgery system for tracking tool against bone after initialization of the MEMS units are also disclosed.


Depression is a common but serious psychological phenomenon caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Varied severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms along with lack of awareness make it difficult to detect and handle for both the suffering individual and psychologists. In this study, a statistical analysis has been provided to establish correlation between depression level and behavioral trends of individuals. Survey response from around 120 undergraduate students served as knowledge base of the study. In light of survey outcome, some design implications on an automated system of depression detection and support system has been proposed.


This article focuses on the rise of domestic outsourcing in the high-tech industry in the Galilee in northern Israel. Outsourcing has emerged as a self-proclaimed mode of development targeting Palestinian citizens of Israel. This industry has expanded significantly in the past decade, attracting lucrative funds from public and private sources, and it has received widespread acclaim. Firms in this industry tend to have ties to the Israeli security establishment, a key player in the architecture of high-tech in Israel. At the same time, a Palestinian capitalist class has coalesced around this industry, embracing the discourse of technology and globalization as forms of self-empowerment. I argue that separation—in terms of wages and physical spaces—is a core operational characteristic within this industry, yet firms simultaneously invoke development as part of their organizational cultures, particularly the integration of Palestinian labor into the Israeli economy, empowerment of women, and peacemaking. Locating the practice of domestic outsourcing within a history of subcontracting to the Galilee, I illustrate that this "new" and "innovative" industry builds on established patterns that reinscribe Palestinian workers as a cheaper labor force. These practices illustrate the intertwinement of inclusion and exclusion within neoliberal economic development as well as the mutual production of Palestinians of 1948 as subjects of Israeli capitalism and colonialism.


The Problem Solving Inventory (PSI; Heppner & Petersen, 1982) is a widely used measure to assess one's perceived ability in problem-solving behaviors and attitudes in the United States and many other countries. In this study, a bilevel model was examined with a Mexican American high school student sample (N = 164) using confirmatory factor analysis. Results of the confirmatory factor analysis supported the bilevel model with the current sample of Mexican American high school students. The data provided support for the PSI and enhances the generalizability of some of the previous findings based on the U.S., Turkish, and South African samples. Also, this study provides crosscultural information that promotes our knowledge about the efficacy of problem-solving constructs across different age and cultural groups. Validity of PSI with Mexican Americans 3 Acknowledgments First and foremost I wish to acknowledge my manuscript advisor, Dr. Lisa Flores, for her unwavering support and help with manuscript. She has been the most influential teacher and mentor I have ever had. Without her, this manuscript would not have been possible. I thank her for her patience and encouragement that carried me on through difficult times, and for her insights and suggestions that helped to shape my research skills. Her valuable feedback contributed greatly to this manuscript. I also wish to acknowledge Dr. Tiffany Whittaker for giving me valuable input and help related to statistics in the manuscript, Dr. Puncky Heppner for providing information about problem-solving appraisal, and Rachel Navarro for her friendship and assistance. I want to thank all my friends at the University of Missouri-Columbia, for being the warm and supportive family during the past two years. Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to my parents and two sisters in Taiwan for their understanding, support and belief in my quest to study abroad in counseling psychology. I am also grateful to Tien-Yu Change for his unfaltering support. Thank You. Validity of PSI with Mexican Americans 4 Exploring the Validity of the Problem Solving Inventory with Mexican American High School Students The Problem Solving Inventory (PSI) (Heppner, 1988; Heppner & Petersen, 1982) has been applied to more than 120 studies in the past 20 years (Heppner, Witty, & Dixon, 2004). Problem-solving appraisal has been linked to a wide rage of psychological variables, including depression (e.g., Dixon, Heppner, Burnett, Anderson, & Wood, 1993), hopelessness (e.g., Bonner & Rich, 1992), suicidal ideation (e.g., Bonner & Rich, 1987), help-seeking (e.g., Neal & Heppner, 1986), psychological distress (e.g., Heppner & Anderson, 1985; Nezu, 1985), physical health (e.g., Elliott, 1992), coping behavior (e.g., Heppner, Reeder & Larson, 1983), career planning and decision making (e.g., Larson & Heppner, 1985; Heppner & Krieshok, 1983), and study habits and academic performance (Elliot, Godshall, Shrout, & Whitty, 1990). In addition, problem-solving appraisal has been linked to a host of behavioral, affective and cognitive activities related to personal problem-solving (Heppner, 1988). These studies demonstrate the important role of the problem-solving appraisal in personal adjustment. Problem-solving appraisal is relevant for educators, psychologists, and student affairs professionals (Heppner & Baker, 1997). For example, educators are interested not only in increasing knowledge about some specific topics but also in increasing students' problem-solving abilities. Similarly, student affairs professionals are often interested in psychoeducational programming to improve specific skills (e.g., assertiveness), as well as general problem-solving skills for preventive purpose. Problem-solving is a topic that has a great deal of applicability for practitioners as they work to increase the problem-solving Validity of PSI with Mexican Americans 5 effectiveness of a broad range of people (e.g., children, adolescents, college students, adults, and older adults.) The PSI has demonstrated acceptable internal consistency across independent samples and cultural groups; however, most of the PSI research has been conducted with European American college students (Neville, Heppner, & Wang, 1997). Thus far, the cross-cultural studies of the PSI have included African American college students (Harrison, 1994; Neville, Heppner, & Wang, 1997), French-speaking Canadian adults (Marcotte, Alain, & Gosselin, 1999), Turkish college students (Sahin, Sahin, & Heppner, 1993), South African college students (Heppner, Pretorius, Wei, Lee, & Wang, 2002; Pretorius, 1992, 1993, 1996; Pretorius & Diedricks, 1994), and adolescents in China (Cheng & Lam, 1997). Among the samples of primarily White college students, the estimates of internal consistency of each of the factor scores as well as the total PSI score ranged from .72 to .90 (Heppner, 1988; Moss, 1983). The PSI has also been found to have acceptable internal consistency estimates across various cultures (e.g., Heppner et al., 2002; Pretorius, 1993; Sahin et al., 1993). The alpha coefficients ranged from .83 to .89 for the PSI total, .76 to .79 for PSC, .77 to .84 for AAS, and .69 to .72 for PC. The estimates of stability of PSI scores were provided for 2 weeks to 2 years across different samples (Heppner, Witty, & Dixon, 2004). According to Heppner (1988), the total PSI scores correlated .80 over 2 weeks, .81 over 3 weeks as well as 4 months, and .60 over 2 years with samples of White college students, Black college students, and French Canadian adults. Validity of PSI with Mexican Americans 6 There are a wide range of studies that supported the validity of the PSI. As evidence of construct validity, the three factor scores and the total PSI score were related to students' problem-solving self-reports (e.g. Rath, Langenbahn, Simon, Sherr, Fletcher, & Diller, 2004) and ratings of level of program-solving skills and perceived level of satisfaction with skills (Heppner & Petersen, 1982). The PSI also predicted a wide range of psychological adjustment factors, such as anxiety, hopelessness, depression, and selfesteem (Heppner & Baker, 1997). Discriminant validity evidence was provided by Heppner and Petersen (1982), who reported that correlations between the PSI factors and both verbal and quantitative intelligence measures of the SCAT, Series II (Educational Testing Service, 1979) were small: PSC (r = .08-.10), AAS (r = .11-.12), and PC (r = .09.15), respectively. Several studies examined the factor structure of the PSI via the exploratory factor analysis or confirmatory factor analysis with samples of Midwestern White college students (e.g. Heppner, Baumgardner, Larson, & Petty, 1988), French Canadian adults (LaPorte, Sabourin, & Wright, 1988), South African college students (Heppner et al., 2002), Turkish college students (Sahin et al., 1993), and Midwestern high school students (Heppner, Manley, Perez, & Dixon, 1994). From the findings of these studies, the PSI factors replicated well across different age and cultural groups. Although the findings for the groups indicate strong test-retest reliability, a stable factor structure, and associations with psychological health, it seems too early to conclude the PSI's cross-cultural applicability. More research is needed with non-White samples to extend knowledge about problem-solving appraisal in diverse groups as well as extended the external validity of the PSI. According to Lucas (2004), these samples Validity of PSI with Mexican Americans 7 may or may not have been representative of their population as a whole. For example, the Chinese sample was collected in Hong Kong where people have unique colonial culture and history which might be different than others in Mainland China or Taiwan. In his critique of the PSI, Leong (1990) indicated that more attention is needed to examine psychometric issues with people of color. In their recent reactions to a specific discussion of the PSI, researchers simultaneously made the notion of the need for further research on the PSI with respect to diversity issues (i.e., race/ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, and social class) (Suzuki, 2004; O'Neil, 2004; Lucas, 2004). Heppner and his colleagues (2004) suggested that the knowledge base and limitations on the PSI would be significantly extended by examining the generalizability or external validity of the existing PSI literature to other populations. Among the racial and ethnic groups in the United States, the Mexican American population has grown tremendously within the last decade and continues to grow at a rapid pace. Of particular concern is the educational future of Mexican American youth. Specifically, Latino/as graduate from high school (57%) and college (11%) at lower rates than their White, Asian, and Black peers (U.S. Census Bureau, 2000). In addition, Mexican American high school students struggle with substance abuse (Morgan-Lopez, Castro, & Chassin, 2003; Ramirez, Gallion, & Espinoza, 1999; Simpson, Joe, & Barrett, 1991), adolescent pregnancy (Del Rio, 1999), anxiety (Glover, Pumariega, & Holzer, 1999), and depression (Roberts, Roberts, & Chen, 1997; Roberts & Chen, 1995). Thus, it is important to understand the role of problem-solving appraisal on Mexican-American youth as this construct may then be used to understand how they deal with various Validity of PSI with Mexican Americans 8 stressors in their lives. Adequate measures of problem-solving appraisal are needed for this group. The primary purpose of this study is to extend previous research findings by examining the psychometric properties and the factor structure of the PSI with Mexican American high school students. To date, no studies have examined the validity of the PSI with Mexican American samples. Internal consistency reliabilities for the PSI will be presented. In addition, a confirmatory factor analysis will be used to determine if


As IoT and network technology become increasingly pervasive, intelligent, and thus more powerful, it will be crucially important for future, sustainable and Human-Centric IoT scenarios that humans and humanity stay in control and can exercise meaningful agency. However, despite a growing understanding that this is of crucial importance, there is no clear shared vision between the multiple stakeholders of what is preferable and how to get there. This paper therefore reports on the first intelligence gathering that is part of a larger foresight study in this respect. More concretely, we report on a horizon scanning study and expert interviews (N=9) conducted in Norway, aimed at identifying emerging issues, trends and developments that may affect future scenarios related to human-centric intelligent networks and IoT environments.


AVS-F instrument (Amplitude-Time Spectrometry of the Sun) is the system of an electronics engineering for onboard data gathering from two detectors: scintillation (CsI (Tl)) detector SONG-D (SOlar Neutrons and Gamma quantums) of complex of detectors SKL (in low and high gamma-band) and from semiconducting detector (X-ray semiconducting spectrometer) XSS-1 (in X-ray band). The experiment is carried out on the satellite CORONAS-F launched on July 31 2001. During more than 2,5 year of apparatus operation more than 30 of solar flares were detected. Characteristics of observed solar flares are presented in this article.To search for other articles by the author(s) go to: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html


The monopoulse technique for target angle estimation fails when there is sidelobe and/or mainlobe jamming. If not effectively encountered, electronic jamming prevents successful radar target detection and tracking. We have developed a technique which cancels one mainlobe jammer and multiple sidelobe jammers in such a way that enables both target detection and unbiased monopulse angle estimation. Our technique makes use of adaptive digital beamforming for sidelobe jamming cancellation followed by a mainlobe canceller for mainlobe jamming cancellation. A constrained adaptation is imposed to maintain the mainbeam in the sidelobe cancellation process.


Interaction of AC and DC system in long-distance,high-capacity,ultra-high voltage AC/DC hybrid system is very complicated.Based on the analysis of operational examples in China Southern Power Grid,the effects of DC control system during AC system fault are discussed first.Then some functions that maybe misoperate during the AC system fault,including the DC protection and monitoring function,converter transformers protection and auxiliary transformers,are analyzed.The improvement suggestions are given,which are not only valuable for improving the operation and maintenance capability and insuring the safe and reliable operation of HVDC system,but also provide useful reference to the design of HVDC transmission projects and the cooperation of AC/DC system in China in the future.


Abstract The aim of this research was to evaluate the stability of spray-dried soluble maté (Ilex paraguariensis) and its total polyphenol content determined with the Folin–Ciocalteu assay, after it was elaborated with three different maltodextrin concentrations (0, 7.05 and 14.10% w/v) using experimental data of water activities and glass transition temperatures. Adsorption isotherms were determined for these three materials at 25°C between water activity values (aw) of 0.1 and 0.85 (resulting in values of water content between 0.04 and 0.33 g of water/g of dried solid). Glass transition temperatures varied from 15 to 52°C. At room temperature powder containing 14.10% of maltodextrin at aw=0.55 was below the glass transition temperature, while the two other compositions were below their Tg and stable at aw=0.40. In the spray drying conditions analyzed, the loss of polyphenolic compounds is negligible. The total polyphenol content varied between 28 and 45 chlorogenic acid equivalents (g % dry powder).


In the sensor network area, BSNs encompass a particular set of restrictions and conditions that separate them from normal WSNs. More so than WSNs, BSNs would profit from different types of sensing information and the sensor network itself provides more opportunities for different applications to use the same resources. However, the heterogeneity of sensor HW devices and the myriad of different applications that try to use them are an obstacle to its development. A problem is the need to address specific characteristics of the HW without abstractions that 1) provide the freedom to access the needed information while 2) complying to a set of requirements and 3) optimizing resource usage according to a set of metrics. We propose a middleware approach for abstracting lower level details from applications. We enrich the approach by building models in the middle layer fed with data from the sensor network and query-ablefrom the application layer. Furthermore: a) applications should be able to set requirements to be met in providing the information, b) several applications should be able to share the same resources, c) the resources should be optimized so as to meet the requirements and prolong the lifetime of the BSN.


In order to measure accurately the error of CT in actual load condition,the CT has to carry the sec-ondary actual load.The paper analyzed the effect of secondary load on the proportion and angular difference of CT after the secondary load simulating box of variable power factor CT was adopted.


Validating the examinations provided by conformity assessment bodies for personnel certification purposes is a requirement of the international standard ISO/IEC 17024 "Conformity assessment—General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons." A fundamental requirement for each examination developer is to achieve a reliable and fair examination process. The validity of a test paper depends on the quality of the sections that constitute the examination. Considering that the examination must measure the competencies derived by the relevant job/task analysis, there is a direct connection between the job/task analysis outputs and the respective examination. There are prescribed steps in linking the relatedness of the examination to the knowledge and skills required for a job. These steps lead to an examination that has been "validated" in that its content accurately measures the necessary knowledge and skills required for the job. This paper describes the steps to design the ideal examination (personnel evaluation) system, as well as some of the statistical techniques that can be used to analyze items that are necessary to establish question banks. The scope of this paper is limited to the "job analysis" component of certification schemes and does not extend to requirements for administration of examinations, including performance-based assessments, oral examinations, and remote assessments.


This article discusses the concept of musical nuances from a process-oriented perspective, with a particular emphasis on the aesthetic experience of hooks in Western popular music. First, the text elaborates on the particularities of nuances from the perspective of cognitive psychology. Second, it highlights their importance for musical interpretation, characterization, memorization, and valuation. Third, it critically reflects on analytical approaches to rhythmic and melodic nuances and gets into alternative methods to analyze such microscopic subtleties in the context of musical hooks. Fourth, analytical examples examine nuance-related intricacies in song phrases as processes regarding the aesthetic experience of increasing and decreasing intensity, tension, and motion. Finally, the findings and theoretical considerations are discussed in the broader context of mainstream popular music analysis.


After months of development,balance treasure didn't flash as is predicted; on the contrary,it has accomplished great evolution from a new fund to a giant one with over one billion users. In order to gain the bigger standing room in fund market,balance treasure adjusted itself positively as the actual circumstance required in the past several months. However,commercial bank system readjusted itself in various abstracts such as the innovation of finance products,the rapid development of agent funds service and the expanding of its own businesses in the meantime,which not only inflicted great pressure on electronic commerce,internet fund product such as balance treasure,but also returned the stroke of the challenge on its own status. There also exist many problems in the electronic commerce. The gains and losses,the impact and effect still stay unclear.


The r-out-of-n F-system and load-sharing system are very common in industrial engineering. Statistical inference has been developed here for an equal-load sharing r-out-of-n F-system on Birnbaum-Sauders (BS) lifetime distribution. A simulation study is carried out with different parameter values and different censoring rates in order to examine the performance of the proposed estimation method. Moreover, to find maximum likelihood estimates numerically, three methods of finding initial values for the parameters pseudo complete sample method, Type-II modified moment estimators of BS distribution method and stochastic approximation method are developed. These three methods are then compared based on the number of iterations and simulation time. Two real data sets and one simulated data set are used for illustrative purposes. Finally, some concluding comments are made including possible future directions for investigation.


We report on the decays of a heavy neutral gauge boson Z2 into W+W−, the Z and a Higgs boson, or two Higgs bosons in superstring-inspired electroweak models with an extra U(1) gauge group, two Higgs doublets and a Higgs singlet. The branching ratios for these processes are generally similar and two boson decay modes of Z2 must exist at the few percent level if kinematically accessible, although the bosonic modes which dominate in any given scenario depend on the U(1) quantum numbers and mixing in the Higgs sector.


Abstract In this work, multi wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) doped borate glass has been successfully developed by melt quenching technique with the chemical composition 67.5B2O3-20ZnO-12Gd2O3-Er2O3-0.5MWCNT. Several peaks observed from absorption spectra due to transition from 4I15/2 as a ground state into several states i.e. 4G11/2, 2G9/2, 4F7/2, 4F5/2, 2H11/2,4S3/2, 4F9/2, 4I11/2, and 4I13/2. The sample shows a strong emission in 1536 nm because of 4I13/2→4I15/2 transition under 520 nm wavelength excitation. Emission around 402 nm and 471 nm under 270 nm excitation could be the indication for presence of MWCNT. The sample exhibits NIR to NIR up-conversion under 1500 nm excitation. Absorption data have been used to calculate optical band gap energy through Tauc plot method. This study shows that MWCNT doped borate glass could be a promising material for solid state application in NIR region.