Liquid metal flows in insulating rectangular ducts in strong magnetic fields are considered with reference to poloidal concepts of self-cooled blankets. Although major part of the flow in poloidal blanket concepts is close to being fully developed, manifolds, expansions, contractions, elbows, etc., which are necessary elements in blanket designs, cause threedimensional effects. The present investigation demonstrates the flow pattern in basic insulating 3-D geometries for the actual and for more advanced liquid-metal blanket concepts and discusses the ways to avoid pressure losses caused by flow redistribution. Flows in several geometries, such as symmetric and non-symmetric 180° turns with and without manifolds, sharp elbows, sharp and linear expansions with and without manifolds, T-junction, etc., have been calculated. They demonstrate high reliability of poloidal concepts of liquid-metal blankets, since they guarantee uniform conditions for heat transfer. If changes of the duct cross-section occur in the plane perpendicular to the magnetic field (ideally a coolant should flow always in the radial-poloidal plane) the disturbances are local and the slug velocity profile is reached roughly at the distance equivalent to one duct width from the manifolds, expansions, etc. The effects of inertia in these flows are unimportant for the determination of the pressure drop and mean velocity profiles in the core of the flow but may favour heat transfer characteristics via instabilities and strongly anisotropic turbulence. Flüssigmetallströmungen in isolierten Rechteckkanälen in Sammlern und Expansionen in einer Ebene senkrecht zu einem äußeren starken Magnetfeld


The Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley (MPV) reaction is an attractive approach to selectively reduce carbonyl groups, and the design of advanced catalysts is the key for these kinds of interesting reactions. Herein, we fabricated a novel zirconium organoborate using 1,4-benzenediboronic acid (BDB) as the precursor for MPV reduction. The prepared Zr-BDB had excellent catalytic performance for the MPV reduction of various biomass-derived carbonyl compounds (i.e., levulinate esters, aldehydes and ketones). More importantly, the number of borate groups on the ligands significantly affected the catalytic activity of the Zr-organic ligand hybrids, owing to the activation role of borate groups on hydroxyl groups in the hydrogen source. Detailed investigations revealed that the excellent performance of Zr-BDB was contributed by the synergetic effect of Zr4+ and borate. Notably, this is the first work to enhance the activity of Zr-based catalysts in MPV reactions using borate groups.


Thank you very much for reading the architecture of the greenwich village waterfront an archival research study. As you may know, people have search hundreds times for their favorite readings like this the architecture of the greenwich village waterfront an archival research study, but end up in malicious downloads. Rather than enjoying a good book with a cup of coffee in the afternoon, instead they are facing with some malicious virus inside their laptop.


Natural monopoly provides a theoretical foundation for the institutional reform on transmission and distribution (TD) grids. Based on the existing literature, this paper starts with the technical and economic aspects and makes a deep research into the natural monopoly nature of TD grids. The natural monopoly features of the TD grids mainly take the form of scale economy and scope economy, which exist in various aspects of TD grids. Both empirical evidence and theoretical study confirm, or fail to deny, the nature of natural monopoly of TD grids indicated by scale economies and scope economies. Related research is urgently needed in China to support institutional reforms in power industry.


The filamentous mould Rhizopus microsporus is a member of the zygomycetes (lower fungi). While some strains serve as food fermenting fungi, others represent infamous plant pathogens and opportunistic human pathogens. Recently, it was shown that some strains of R. microsporus are associated with symbiotic bacteria. Here, we outline why these organisms are important for human health and how they can be exploited for drug development. Furthermore, we illustrate what the investigation of bacterial–fungal symbiosis can teach us about the evolution of pathogenicity factors in general.


In this paper, we present a relative entropy based algorithm to image segmentation. The main idea of this algorithm is to find a threshold by using relative entropy. Particle material image from plant scene is taken as example to show the practical application of the algorithm.Some experimental results are provided to show the proposed algorithm to be superior to the local entropy based algorithm of image segmentation.


The invention discloses a JND (Just Noticeable Difference) value measurement method of image brightness, which comprises the following steps of: converting an original image into an xyY space, respectively carrying out linear compression to a component Y according to different compression coefficients to obtain a group of test images; carrying out visual perception experiment, and finding at least one test pattern to be as a JND critical image; dividing the original image and the JND critical image into a plurality of image blocks, respectively selecting the image blocks with the largest average gray level in the original image and the JND critical image; computing the difference of the accrual display brightness corresponding to the average gray level value of the image blocks with the largest average gray level in the original image and the JND critical image, wherein the average value of the difference is the JND value of a participant to be tested to the original image brightness;and carrying out average computing to the brightness JND values of the different original images of different participants to determine a final JND value. According to the invention, when the parameter of the display is changed, the influence to the image brightness, which can be observed by the human eyes, can be quantitatively evaluated and improved, thus, evidences can be provided for the design and the research of display technology.


Abstract For d × d-matrices A, B and entire functions f, g with f(0) = g(0) = 1, we give an elementary proof of the formula For the case f = g = exp, this is Lie's famous product formula for matrices.


Objective To understand the knowledge and behavior related to HIV /AIDS,as well as their association with information resource among men who have sex with men(MSM) for effective information intervention.Methods The data were collected with anonymous questionnaire survey among MSM selected with snowball sampling method.Results Among 1 353 MSM,95.3% knew blood transmission of HIV;93.1% knew mother to infant transmission and 89.5% knew sex transmission.83.8% of the subjects had sex with male;41.9% had single male sex partner and 58.1% had multiple male sex partners.Among the subjects only 37.3% had consistent condom use(every time having sex);39.2% had occasional condom use;7.2% didn't use condom in the preveious 6 months.Resources of information related to HIV /AIDS most available were television(58.6%),followed by sex partner(51.6%),propaganda(51.0%),and internet(48.7%).Conclusion It is necessary to strengthen and imporve the availability of information resources of HIV /AIDS related knowledge among MSM for the control of the epidemic.


Bidimensional nanomaterials, such as graphene, respond to the rising demand for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials, followed by the advancements in wireless technology and increased signal sensitivity in electronic devices, especially for the safety of aircraft and other structures. Lightweight nanocomposites reinforced with 2D carbonaceous nanofillers can replace metals thanks to their ability to attenuate electromagnetic waves and low susceptibility to corrosion. In this work, the EMI shielding properties in the X band (8–12 GHz) of high content graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) nanocomposites have been investigated. Both the effect of filler content and the nanoarchitecture have been studied. For this purpose, two different configurations have been considered, compact and porous, varying the filler content (from 10 wt% to 90 wt%) and the thickness of the samples. Specifically, four different systems have been tested: thin (i) and thick (ii) compact laminates and thin (iii) and thick (iv) porous coatings. The morphology of the material significantly influences its electromagnetic response in terms of reflection and absorption capacity. Maximum effective absorption of 80% was found for disordered structures, while a maximum reflection of about 90% was found for system highly aligned structures.


A feeding experiment was carried out for 60 days to investigate the effect of three different diets on fattening results for lambs of the Hu sheep aged 4 months The results showed that three diets have different effects on male lambs,but none on the females.The daily gain of the male lambs fed with diet II and Ⅲ were remarkably higher than that of diet Ⅰ.The ratio of feed to body weight of both male and female lambs fed with three ingredients of diets were(2.1)5∶1,1.99∶1,2.09∶1;and the ratio of input to output of three ingredients were 1∶1.54,1∶1.62,1∶1.55.In conclusions,diet II containing 14.18 MJ/kg of energy and 16.53% of crude protein was the best for fattening of Hu sheep,in comparison to dietⅠcontaining 13.41 MJ/kg of energy and 17.89% crude protein and diet II containing 14.13 MJ/kg of energy and 17.87% crude protein.


[Problem] To provide a cationic electrodeposition coating composition containing an amine-modified epoxy resin which achieves sufficient throwing power and corrosion resistance even in the case of being less than 1000 μS/cm, and has excellent emulsion stability. [Solution] The cationic electrodeposition coating composition is characterized in that a resin emulsion contains: an amino group-modified epoxy resin (A) obtained by reacting, with an amine compound (A2), an epoxy group of an epoxy resin (A1) obtained by reacting a propylene oxide-added diepoxy resin (a1) having a specific structure, a bisphenol compound (a2), a diepoxy resin (a3), and a dicarboxylic acid (a4) having two carboxyl groups bonded together by at least one carbon atom; and a curing agent (B) which can cross-link the amino group-modified epoxy resin (A).


The method which enables bringing the initial systems in the form of logical equations to the linear systems of algebraic equations in the form of linear sequential machines is proposed. The scheme of bringing the optimization task of the Sub-Reflector to the task of mathematical programming is shown.


In this paper the electromagnetic field problem coupled with mechanical systems is discussed. The coupled computation for field, electromagnetic forces and stress on the and windings of a 300 MW turbo generator under transient state and variable operating conditions are taken as examples and described. The complete procedure for the determination of forces due to transient current and fields in the end zone is presented. The software methodology of computer graphics, etc., are explored.


Giant cell tumor of bone is a locally aggressive benign neoplasm, which is composed of oval or plump, spindle-shaped mononuclear cells and uniformly distributed multinucleated giant cells. Bone or cartilage matrix production by the tumor cells is usually not seen. We present a pathologically proven case of giant cell tumor, arising in the acetabulum and pubic bone, with unusual cartilage matrix production. We also discuss the differential diagnosis from a chondroblastoma as well as a giant cell-rich osteosarcoma.


BACKGROUND: Coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic severely affected Indonesia in health and socio-economic sectors. As a new disease and the challenge became an opportunity for policy creation of the government.

AIM: The study explored how the government as a policymaker responded to the COVID-19 pandemic within the framework of the policy window, as seen in the news media. This study also looked at how the public perceived the policy creation and the implementation.

METHODS: A qualitative case study was conducted to answer the research questions by reviewing three main national news media, namely, Respublika, Media Indonesia, and Kompas, on primary communication from three policies makers (president, ministry of health, and COVID-19 task force). The searching coverage was within 1 year of the pandemic, from March 2019 to February 2020. The articles were analyzed using content and contextual analysis approaches. The articles were coded thematically using open coding in the native language, supported by MS Excel and qualitative software ATLAS.ti version 8. The data discuss with the existing literature using the policy window framework.

RESULTS: We found that 147 articles were eligible for the study, which the majority of them were president communication. The president communicated in all aspects COVID-19 related policy, including integrated policy, health policy, and the economic. Ministry of health mainly focused on health policy and the task force on public education. The study showed that the government has utilized a policy window for policy creation in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. The policy addressed all related issues that were affected by the pandemic, ranging from healthcare to financing. There were weaknesses in the implementation, such as not adequately informed to the public and some inconsistency among stakeholders.

CONCLUSION: Policy creation without consistent implementation led to public distrust and rejection.


This paper outlines the issues related to RF MEMS packaging and low actuation voltage. An original approach is presented concerning the modeling of capacitive contacts using multiphysics simulation and advanced characterization. A similar approach is used concerning packaging development where multi-physics simulations are used to optimize the process. A devoted package architecture is proposed featuring very low loss at microwave range.


New materials of the octodontid rodent Neophanomus biplicatus Rovereto were recovered from sediments of the Cerro Azul Formation in La Pampa Province. They suggest a Late Huayquerian age for the fossiliferous beds. Analysis of the molar ontogeny in this species shows a greater morphological diversity than previously recognized. The holotype of "Eumusops" paroidens Rovereto (originally referred to the Echimyidae) is a young individual of this species. Neophanomys biplicatus is related to the extant species Octodontomys gliroides Gervais and d'Orbigny and to the Miocene lineage that includes Chasichimus Pascual. These primitive octodontids may have been members of a basal radiation from which the subfamily Ctenomyinae differentiated.


Based on the characteristics of wavelet analysis, this paper designs the algorithm on the four steps of the image edge detection filtering, enhancement, detection and localization, gets the threshold with the best effect is 0.009, uses Matlab simulation, compares its simulation results with the classical simulation results, obtains that wavelet transform algorithm avoids the appearance of noise and false edge in image edge detection, and reflects the advantages of the algorithm in the application of this field.


Marketing academics and practitioners have been studying the effects of marketing orientation on the level business performance for many years. To date, there has been little effort to develop a valid measure of marketing orientation, and analyse its impact on business performance. Because of the lack of such a measure, companies possess no specific guidelines how they may become more marketing orientated. This study presents a valid measure of marketing orientation and analyses its effect on business performance. A conceptual model for marketing orientation is presented. This model comprises of four components: customer orientation; competitor orientation; interfunctional coordination; and long-term orientation. Each of these components is tested to establish whether they are a valid measure of marketing orientation. Together these components form a theoretical model for marketing orientation. These components shall then be used to determine their effect on the business performance of a company. The results from this study, will indicate whether a significant relationship exists between marketing orientation and business performance. To determine whether this relationship exists, the measure for marketing orientation shall be tested on the West Australian wine industry. The status of the West Australian wine industry indicates many wine producing companies are experiencing low performance levels. This study on the wine industry will indicate whether this measure of marketing orientation is valid in increasing 2


Scientists studying a cyanobacterium isolated from rock samples in the Atacama Desert found out how the bacteria extract water to live. Their results may help identify likely sites for life on Mars.


Background/Objectives: The most important functions of electronic government are improving governance, reducing bureaucracy and the risk of petty corruption. The purpose in this article is to examine what Kazakhstan has done to develop its e-government as effective tool against bureaucracy and corruption. Methods/Statistical analysis: This article analysis of e-government that relies on several types of resources. First of all, an articles in Western journals, reports and ratings published by international organizations such as UN and International Transparency organization, second data of Kazakhstani researches centers, analysis of e-government portal and the official state programs of Kazakhstan. An exploratory factor analysis was run for a dataset of 242 responses collected from a 17 items questionnaire. Finding: Tracking feedback of e-government and consumers of electronic services in the context of anti-bureaucracy and anticorruption politics is the new valuable approach in study of electronic communications in Kazakhstan. The study showed that the majority of respondents positively assess the activity of electronic government, its impact on the reduction of administrative barriers and petty corruption. As a result, an activity of e-government in Kazakhstan can be called anti-bureaucratic and anti-corruption strategy. Improvement: Study of activities electronic government through the prism of the bureaucracy and the petty corruption was held for the first time in Kazakhstan. Thus proposed study offers a new approach and method to the consideration of the role of e-services in the fight against administrative barriers and petty corruption in developing countries such as Kazakhstan.


Combined with practical application,asp. net- based common management system is introduced in detail in this paper. The system can define datasheet field arbitrary,thereby generate data sheet,excel template and interface program dynamically. User of the system can flexibly fulfill data inputting,query and export. It overcomes the bad scalability of traditional management system,with good advancement and practicality.


One of the key tasks for higher education is to train innovative talents for the national construction and development, and experiment teaching is an essential part of the higher education. This paper explored the experiment teaching model of optoelectronic circuit from the perspectives of independence and comprehensiveness, integrated the innovative thinking training into the experiment courses, so as to further promote the innovation ability of college students. Through the reform attempts in the experiment teaching for students of three different grades, it was found that the students' innovative thinking has been fully trained, and innovation ability greatly improved. And this experiment teaching model provides a useful support for integrating the innovation education into teaching.


There are two direct reasons why modern Chinese scholars come to academic consciousness and self-discipline: firstly,political subjects of traditional Confucianists have suffered enough due to historical setbacks so the latent idea of renouncing the world becomes the most important requirement of life in the reality;secondly,due to the great change of means of production and system of distribution in modern China,all places for ancient hermits to retreat are destroyed and so are their former homes.Although Qian's lamenting on the late death and a painful life cannot be easily discerned in his academic study,it forms the most distinct characteristics of his poetry in his old-style poems since he expressed it so directly.


Relatively recent have occurred dual-clutch automated boxes, which promise a lot in the field and can be used successfully in cars and trains as well as in the aerospace industry. This paper wants not only to present such a gearbox but also to realize its dynamic synthesis, based on the engineering optimization of the mechanical efficiency achieved in each used speed gear. The presented method is original. In the paper are presented the original dynamic synthesis relations, based on the mechanical efficiency of the exchanger, determined separately for each of its speed gear used, for six forward and one on reverse. The applied method of calculation is based on a precise technology used to determine the mechanical efficiency of a gear, depending on the number of teeth of the two wheels in the gear, the angle of the pitch circle and the tilting angle of the wheel teeth in drive.


For improving the survival of Triplophysa(Hedinichthgs) yarkandensis(Day) in captivity.This study researched the biological habits such as feeding habits,thermophilic habit,sex ratio,phototaxiaing habit,et al.The results showed that the lowest survival temperature was 5 ℃,and the highest one was 33 ℃,the optimal one was at 20±1 ℃.The behavior was abnormal when the dissolved oxygen below 2 mg·L-1.The stifle point was 1.18 mg·L-1 when the water temperature was at 20 ℃.In different months,the sex ratio was different and the size of mature individuals was also different in different habitat environments.


To the Editor.— I have been somewhat delayed in writing this letter, but I do feel I should respond to an erroneous statement made by the authors of " Pseudomonas aeruginosa Rash Associated with a Whirlpool" (235:2205, 1976) regarding the findings of a similar occurrence and investigation that we conducted in 1972. 1 I'm personally acquainted with the authors, and I am sure that it was simply a misinterpretation of our data. It was stated on page 2206 that "A similar outbreak in Minnesota has been described, but in that investigation several pseudomonads were identified from pool surfaces, but none was recovered from pool water." This statement was incorrect. Indeed, in our investigation, pseudomonads were recovered from pool water, as well as from infected skin areas of several of the children who used the whirlpool. Unfortunately, in Table 4 of our article, the source of a culture was simply indicated as


Under increasing environmental pressure, hotel firms need to improve their ability to access international alliances while maintaining good performance for sustainable development. This paper uses survey data from 784 hotels running at different levels of service in China to test the hypothesis in an integrated analytical model, and the findings show that the impact of international alliances varies with different levels of green hotels. Despite operating in the same sector, hotels running at different levels of service vary their respective tactics to gain sustainable competitive advantage and achieve significantly different results. This study intends to inform hotel managers in obtaining specific performance goals by developing absorptive capacity, and by choosing the most suitable alliance for their level of operation.


VarStar Detect is a Python package available on PyPI optimized for the detection of variability inside photometric measurements. Based off of the Least Squares method of regression, VarStar Detect calculates the amplitude of a Fourier Polynomial fit of the data as a measure of variability to assess if the star is indeed variable. This work shows the mathematical background of the package and an analysis of the code's functionality on TESS Sector 1 Data.


The present invention relates to a partially or fully nitrogen-containing compound and treated with acrylic acid and / or methods of making even a low residual monomer content, water-soluble or water-swellable polymeric acrylic acid derivative product, characterized in that, in the 120 ~ at a temperature of 240 ℃, the polymerization product is subjected to subsequent heating. Polymerization product prepared in this way suitable for use as flocculants, dispersants and absorbers.


ABSTRACT Our paper re-considers the agrarian question in urban India by focusing on the social reproduction of labor in informal economy households. Based on life histories of working-class women of rural origin, we explore lived forms of differentiation within the informal economy, the social division of labor as mediated by intersecting lines of difference, and possibilities of disorienting normative hierarchies through acts of 'cultural production'. Our term 'middle migrants' characterizes households that have managed to establish a foothold in cities, even as they remain enmeshed in their rural lives through translocal householding and cultural dispositions to difference.


Due to the high demand of mobile services, and the full loading of the mobile allocated spectrum, a very tight frequency reuse schemes appeared, and high levels of interference occurred and due to the overlap of cells, which in turn made it very difficult to allocate frequencies for the different cells in the cellular system. Here in this seminar genetic algorithm was implemented as a method to get the optimum frequency allocation for such cases. Alphabetical encoding was used since the problem size and the number of cells in the scope is relatively large, an existing GSM network was used as a model to test the work. Different scenarios were applied on the genetic algorithm to tune and the system parameters and get best performing form of it for such problems.


Presents the capabilities and limitations of a variety of EMP (electromagnetic pulse) simulator models useful for the Army's EMP survivability programs. Comparisons among frequency- and time-domain models are provided for two US Army Research Laboratory EMP simulators, AESOP (Army EMP Simulator Operations) and VEMPS II (Vertical EMP Simulator II). The models discussed have been developed to predict the field levels, waveshapes, and peak field contours for the VEMPS II and AESOP simulators. Each model has features that make it attractive for different applications. Detailed FDTD (finite-difference time-domain) models allow accurate close-in predictions. These models have been invaluable in the design of the VEMPS II, as well as in gaining a basic, physical understanding of the detailed field structure. The FDTD models have also been used to provide the sources for and to validate the simpler models. These simpler models have been extremely useful in estimating fields at large distances from the simulators. They also serve as a convenient engineering tool in support of simulator tests. >


Managers of second-growth forests at Redwood National Park and the Bureau of Land Management's Headwaters Forest Reserve encourage the development of late seral forest characteristics using mechanical thinning, where competing vegetation is removed to promote growth of residual trees. Yet the ability to quantify and reliably predict outcomes of treatments such as these is hindered by the long time scales at which forests respond to thinning. Here we present analyses of tree growth at Redwood National Park (RNP) and Headwaters Forest Reserve (HDWT) from sites that have had > 5 years to respond to thinning treatments. Compared to untreated stands, thinned stands had lower stem density (trees ha) and basal area (m ha), primarily due to removal of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). Individual tree growth (basal area increment, BAI, m yr) was related to tree size (basal area, m) and treatment history, with the highest growth rates observed in large trees. Both redwood (Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl.) and Douglas-fir appeared to have a small, but detectable, positive growth response to thinning treatments. Early results suggest a large degree of variation among sites, with possible systematic differences in growth responses between RNP and HDWT. Future work will focus on identifying site-level differences (site quality, local competition, slope, aspect, stand age, distance from the ocean) to improve our understanding of the growth response.


Between 488 and 489 AD, the Buddhist monk Sengqiebatuoluo fitttlEŘPE u, Saňghabhadra, translated a vinaya commentary, the Shanjian Iii piposha in Guangzhou. Many Chinese catalogues have recorded information about this translator and his only known translation. From a review of these catalogues, it becomes clear that a certain "Record of Dots" is inextricably bound up with Saňghabhadra and his work. This "Record of Dots" dates this translation in the 975th year after the Buddha had passed away (hereafter: AB year). As such, an interesting chronology is handed down in China which concerns the dating of the historical Buddha. In this article will be examined where this dating precisely originates from. As early as 1 896, it has been conjectured by J. Takakusu that Sanghabhadra's Shanjian lu piposha is a Chinese translation of Buddhaghosa's commentary on the Theravadavinaya, the Samantapāsādikā .2 The Samantapāsādikā is dated either by the end of the fourth or at the beginning of the fifth century.3 I will argue that this dating of the famous vinaya commentary in Pāli might be about one century too early. Proof for this conjecture lies precisely in an improved understanding of the nature of the "Record of Dots". In what follows, this very nature will firstly be examined. After that, a comparative study with the Sinhalese chronicles will reveal how its origin can be traced.


Multiple Inputs and Multiple Outputs (MIMO) antennas are required for mobile phones in 5G and beyond. One of the biggest challenges is: How to achieve high isolation between antennas closely packed? This talk gives a brief overview of various techniques proposed in recent years, such as the use of parasitic elements, neutral lines, metamaterials, electromagnetic band gap (EBG), etc. It is shown that these techniques could achieve good isolation up to about 20 dB when antenna elements have a distance of about half wavelength, but the performance deteriorates quickly when the antenna elements distance is reduced further. A technique called Common-Mode/Differential-Mode (CM/DM) antenna design is then presented. The CM/DM technique is shown to be able to achieve high isolation over 20 dB when the antenna elements have zero distance between them. The technique is promising for achieve compact-size highly integrated MIMO antenna systems for smart phones in 5G and beyond.


In real case, slope behavior shows the 3-dimensional movement and failure ; however the modeling methods for 3-D behavior are more difficult and need more variables. In this paper, 3-D coordinate system is divided into two 2-D coordinate systems. If two 2-D systems are used, 3-D system could be replaced by them. Therefore the analysis of slope behavior would be more easy and efficient. 3-D coordinate has the three variables, X, Y, and Z and in this coordinate, three variables must be calculated altogether. By the way, 3-D system is divided into three 2-D coordinate having two variables(X and Y, X and Z, Y and Z). However, in general, most sensing systems for slope are made to measure two angles(horizontal and vertical angles)and one length between a measuring point and another point. Therefore X and Y coordinate could be neglected and the other 2-D coordinates will give the perfect information for analyzing slope behavior. The purpose of this paper is to show slope behavior in 3-D not using 3-D coordinate system directly. It is proved by the data analysis of real slope behaviors.


Salafis do not view Shias very favourably. In general, this has to do with their ideological objections to Shias' beliefs and, perhaps secondarily, the political conflicts with Shia powers like Iran, Syria and the Lebanese Hizballah (Haykel, 2010; Steinberg, 2009). Given the fact that Jordan has virtually no Shias, the kingdom may differ from other countries in that the sectarian issue is less urgent there. Yet Jordanian Salafis also use sectarianism to vilify other Sunnis in a competition for their own regime's favour. This article shows that Jordanian Salafis contribute to the sectarianization of the kingdom with their own anti-Shiism by relying on a discourse in which anti-Shia ideological and political arguments and intra-Sunni polemics are inextricably mixed. It first deals with the Jordanian regime's stance on Shias and its relationship with Salafis. The article then analyses what some prominent Jordanian Salafi scholars have said about Shias and how they have used this to curry favour with the regime, at the expense of other Sunnis.


This article explains why the Philippines, a small country and a long-time US ally, shook the world in 2016 by democratically electing a president who has defied conventional expectations, touched the lives of ordinary Filipinos, been accused of human rights violations in his war on drugs, and could affect the geostrategic rivalry between the US and China.


Abstract This note extends earlier results which concluded that generally technical analysis trading rules were profitable when applied to several US dollar exchange rates. These results were linked to the presence of long swings in the dollar series, and here, it is tested whether they still hold in a different setting, with a quasi-fixed exchange rate system. Applying non-parametric and parametric tests to the main European currencies does not allow to confirm, in this case, the profitability of these rules. These results strengthen the likelihood of the hypothesis of a causal link from the exchange rate DGP to the profitability of technical analysis trading rules, as already highlighted in several articles.


A framework is described for comparing the Satellite Power System (SPS) with various projected alternative energy sources on the basis of technical possibility, economic viability, and social and environmental acceptability. Each of the following energy sources is briefly described: conventional coal, light water reactor, coal gasification/combined cycle, liquid-metal fast-breeder reactor, central station terrestrial photovoltaic, fusion, and the SPS. The analysis consists of comparison of characterizations, side-by-side analysis, and alternative futures analysis. (LEW)


Studies the influence of three factors(water-binder ratio,mixing amount of fly ash and water reducing agent)on flow and mechanical property of High-performance cementitious grout,using orthogonal test method.The result shows that three factors have little influence on mechanical property,but possess obvious effect on flow property.The sequence from strong to weak of this affection on initial fluidity,30min fluidity and flexural strength is water-binder ratio,fiy ash,mixing amount of water reducing agent.But on compressive strength,mixing amount of water reducing agent become the most important factor.


In this work, a new pathway to obtain high-carbon content ceramic for high-temperature applications was developed. Within this method, polyimide (PI) was used as the carbon source and polysilazane (ML33) as the preceramic polymer using different ratios (ML33/PI). The reactions were conducted in inert system and the resulting polymers were pyrolyzed in nitrogen at temperatures of up to 1500 °C. TGA analyses showed that the weight loss of synthetized polymers was inferior to the pure compounds, which suggests an interaction between ML33 and PI during pyrolysis. XRD and RAMAN analyses revealed that the formed ceramic is predominantly composed of a SiCN amorphous matrix. According to XRD analyses the presence of carbon from PI prevented the crystallization during thermal treatment up to 1500 °C, thus providing high thermal stability to the formed compound. Moreover, the samples displayed excellent oxidation resistance, which are attributed to the protection supplied by the carbon phase. Therefore, the results suggest that this new material is a promising alternative for high-temperature applications in oxidizing atmosphere.


To study the impairment of executive functions of patients with tumor in both right and left frontal lobe.Methods:24 patients with tumor in left front lobe,25 patients with tumor in right front lobe and 30 healthy controls were administered with neuropsychological tests for executive functions including WAIS-RC (PAT),WAIS-RC(ST) and CDT,then the results were analyzed.Results:Compared with healthy controls,the patients with tumor in left frontal lobe showed significant impairment in each target of executive functions.The patients with tumor in right frontal lobe only showed significant impairment in Wais-RC.The scores of patients with tumor in left frontal lobe were lower than that of the right.Conclusion:The executive functions of patients with tumor in frontal lobe had obvious impairment,and the impairment of left side may be more serious.


In this study, a new PMU-based method of identification of electromechanical oscillations is presented exploiting Principal Components Analysis (PCA). The proposed method makes it possible to carry out analysis on a limited number of the so-called Princial Components (PCs), obtaining information on the behavior of voltages and currents at buses following a small perturbation. The analysis is completed using the Prony analysis on the PCs, which is able to determine the amplitude, frequency and damping of a mode. To assess the effectiveness of the method, the algorithm has been applied on a test system based on the Kundur Two-area system as well as on a real event.


This article addresses the attempts of synthetic chemists to mimic nature's syntheses of terpene natural products in the laboratory. The article begins with a brief overview of cation mediated cyclization reactions. Some simple examples are used to highlight important concepts such as the influence of intermediate stability, steric factors, and transition state structure on the outcome of a reaction. These ideas are then extended and developed towards sequential and transannular cyclizations. The article is primarily aimed at sophomores and undergraduates with an interest in organic/biological chemistry.


Peptides featuring the LR(S/T) motif were identified that could specifically bind to the C-type lectin-like molecule-1 (CLL1), a protein preferentially expressed on acute myeloid leukemia stem cells (LSCs). Micellar nanoparticles were covalently decorated with CLL1-targeting peptides for targeted drug delivery. The resulting peptide-coated nanoparticles were 13.5 nm in diameter and could be loaded with 5 mg of daunorubicin per 20 mg of telodendrimers. These "targeting nanomicelles" transported the drug load to the interior of cells expressing CLL1 and to LSCs isolated from clinical specimens in vitro, but did not bind to normal blood or normal hematopoietic stem cells. The presence of CLL1-targeting peptides on the surface of the nanomicelles enabled the improved binding and delivery of substantially more daunorubicin into the cells expressing CLL1 and CD34 + leukemic cells compared with unmodified nanomicelles. In conclusion, nanomicelles coated with


He I photoelectron spectra have been obtained for 1,4-benzoquinone (PBQ) and some selected derivatives. A correlative study, which is based on the vibronic characteristics of the various ionization events and on the differential sensitivities of these events to chemical substitution (usually methylation, fluorination, or chlorination) on the benzenoid ring, leads to an MO assignment for the low-energy ionization regime. The assignment for PBQ, in order of decreasing MO energy, is n/sub -/ > n/sub +/ > ..pi../sub circled +/ > ..pi../sub -/; that for tetrafluoro-1,4-benzoquinone (TFPBQ) is n/sub +/ > n/sub -/ > ..pi../sub -/ > ..pi../sub circled +/. The perfluoro effect on PBQ induces shifts of the n orbitals which are approx.1 eV. The perfluoro shifts of the ..pi.. orbitals are somewhat smaller than those of the n orbitals. CNDO/2 computations provide uniformly poor agreement with the experimental data and retain no assignment utility unless used in a perturbative sense.


The finite-element method (FEM) (Comsol RF Module) has been employed for modal analyses of porous silicon (PSi) waveguides composed of a guiding layer of low porosity (high refractive index) on a cladding layer with higher porosity (lower refractive index). These can be made by switching the current density from a lower to a higher value during the electrochemical etching process. The applicability of these structures for vapour sensing is investigated and an extremely sensitive PSi-microring resonator is presented.


SUMMARY 1. The hydrologic connectivity between landscape elements and streams means that fragmentation of terrestrial habitats could affect the distribution of stream faunas at multiple spatial scales. We investigated how catchment- and site-scale influences, including proportion and position of forest cover within a catchment, and presence of riparian forest cover affected the distribution of a diadromous fish. 2. The occurrence of koaro (Galaxias brevipinnis) in 50-m stream reaches with either forested or non-forested riparian margins at 172 sites in 24 catchments on Banks Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand was analysed. Proportions of catchments forested and the dominant position (upland or lowland) of forest within catchments were determined using geographical information system spatial analysis tools. 3. Multivariate analysis of variance indicated forest position and proportion forested at the catchment accounted for the majority of the variation in the overall proportion of sites in a catchment with koaro. 4. Where forest was predominantly in the lower part of the catchments, the presence of riparian cover was important in explaining the proportion of sites with koaro. However, where forest was predominantly in the upper part of the catchment, the effect of riparian forest was not as strong. In the absence of riparian forest cover, no patterns of koaro distribution with respect to catchment forest cover or forest position were detected. 5. These results indicate that landscape elements, such as the proportion and position of catchment forest, operating at catchment-scales, influence the distribution of diadromous fish but their influence depends on the presence of riparian vegetation, a site-scale factor.


Summary. Certain cytokine gene polymorphisms may be associated with severe acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. The present study analysed 196 patients and their donors for TNF−308, TNFd, IL‐10−1064 and IL‐10−1082 gene polymorphisms. Serum analysis of tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and interleukin 10 (IL‐10) levels during conditioning therapy was also performed. Among patients with sibling donors, the TNFd allele 4 was significantly correlated with acute GVHD grades II–IV (P < 0·01). Acute GVHD grades II–IV were more common among patients homozygous for the IL‐10−1064 allele 13 (P = 0·02). Patients homozygous for the TNF−308 allele (AA) correlated with higher TNF‐α serum levels during conditioning (P = 0·02).


The study investigated the effect of tree leaf phenology, topography and wind speed on estimating forest canopy height (FCH) and above ground biomass (AGB) using optical drone data in Miombo Woodlands of Malawi. Data were acquired in 2019 from thirteen plots of Ntchisi Forest Reserve, in two-fold; tree measurements from 0.1ha in-situ plots and airborne RGB ortho-images overlaid on the terrestrial plots from 50 ha boxes. The imagery were acquired by DJI Phantom-4 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) at ~7cm pixel resolution. These were processed using Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry algorithm in Agisoft Metashape Professional software. Malawi's local allometry  was used to estimate AGB while the Analysis of Variance was employed to test accuracy. Results reveal that leaf phenology, topography and wind speed significantly (P<0.05) affected estimation of FCH and AGB using the airborne observations. Wind speed contributed highly (53.95% and 55.52%) to the total variation of FCH and AGB, respectively. Furthermore, wind speed upsurge >5m.s-1 (-666.90±27.62%; -64.78±8.47%), topography >15% slope (-114.53±2.92%; -17.07±2.31%) and leaf-off condition (-188.45±25.62%; -27.80±7.98 %) bore higher errors for FCH and AGB, respectively. A significant variation of relationship (R2=0.71; P<0.05) was observed between ground-based height and UAV canopy height. Nevertheless, the variation of the relationship strongly increased by 10% to R2=0.81 when two plots highly affected by the wind speed were excluded from the analysis. Similarly, a significant variation of relationship (R2=0.81; P<0.05) was registered between the ground-based and UAV-based AGB. Correspondingly, a very strong variation of relationship (R2= 0.95; an increase by 14%) was yielded when the two plots highly affected by wind speed were excluded from the analysis. These findings imply that seasonal leaf-fall, slope and wind speed significantly influence the accuracy of FCH and AGB estimations in Miombo Woodlands. Hence, for accurate results, it is a pre-requisite to consider leaf-phenology, topography and wind speed prior to undertaking ground and airborne inventory in the Woodlands.


In this paper we compare the correlation among formal and informal volunteering and self-perceived health across 14 European countries after controlling for socio-economic characteristics, housing features, neighborhood quality, size of municipality, social participation and regional dummies. We find that formal volunteering has a significantly positive association with self-perceived health in Finland and the Netherlands, but none in the other countries. By contrast, informal volunteering has a significantly positive correlation with self-perceived health in the Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal and Greece, and a significantly negative relationship in Italy. Our conclusion is that formal and informal volunteering measure two different aspects of volunteering whose correlations with perceived health seem to depend on specific cultural and institutional characteristics of each country.


The objective of the proposed work is to develop an intelligent distributed fiber optical sensor system for real-time monitoring of high temperature in a boiler furnace in power plants. Of particular interest is the estimation of spatial and temporal distributions of high temperatures within a boiler furnace, which will be essential in assessing and controlling the mechanisms that form and remove pollutants at the source, such as NOx. The basic approach in developing the proposed sensor system is three fold: (1) development of high temperature distributed fiber optical sensor capable of measuring temperatures greater than 2000 C degree with spatial resolution of less than 1 cm; (2) development of distributed parameter system (DPS) models to map the three-dimensional (3D) temperature distribution for the furnace; and (3) development of an intelligent monitoring system for real-time monitoring of the 3D boiler temperature distribution. Under Task 1, the efforts focused on developing an innovative high temperature distributed fiber optic sensor by fabricating in-fiber gratings in single crystal sapphire fibers. So far, our major accomplishments include: Successfully grown alumina cladding layers on single crystal sapphire fibers, successfully fabricated in-fiber gratings in single crystal sapphire fibers, and successfully developed a high temperature distributed fiber optic sensor. Under Task 2, the emphasis has been on putting into place a computational capability for simulation of combustors. A PC workstation was acquired with dual Xeon processors and sufficient memory to support 3-D calculations. An existing license for Fluent software was expanded to include two PC processes, where the existing license was for a Unix workstation. Under Task 3, intelligent state estimation theory is being developed which will map the set of 1D (located judiciously within a 3D environment) measurement data into a 3D temperature profile. This theory presents a semigroup-based approach to the design and training of a system type neural network which performs function extrapolation. The assumption of the semigroup property suffices to guarantee the existence of a generic mathematical architecture and operation which is explicit enough to support the direct design and training of a neural network.


An aerodynamic field experiment of boiler is carried out and a field investigation is made on factors including fly ash sampler,coal particle sizes,volatile content and primary air ratio etc,the results show that one main reason is flame kernel deflection and dispersion,the other is air leakage from sampler that causes high content of combustible materials in fly ash of a thermal plant No.4 boiler.After repair welding in burner and modification in sampler device,there has a big improvement on aerodynamic and fly ash content is lower than design value.


Artificial intelligence and big data technology have broad development prospects in the medical field. This article introduces the development of artificial intelligence and big data process, artificial intelligence and big data technology mainly in the field of medical health development condition, artificial intelligence and big data applications in healthcare, artificial intelligence and big data exist in the field of medical health challenges shows the four aspects of artificial intelligence and big data technology is widely used in the field of medical, think that artificial intelligence and big data promoting and deepening health reform, but also faces some obstacles in the development. In order to develop the supporting ability of intelligent medical treatment, some Suggestions are put forward, such as the combination of technology and products, demand, data exchange acquisition ability, interpretability of results and improvement of laws and regulations.


In current practice, unsteady flow simulations for turbomachinery are performed using a dual-time-stepping scheme. This work is motivated by the need to solve the time-accurate Navier-Stokes equations with greatly decreased computational cost. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the introduction of an initial ADI step, guaranteeing second order accuracy in time, followed by a small number of cycles of the dual-time-stepping scheme augmented by multigrid. The O ∆t 2 accuracy in time should be retained without the need for large numbers of inner iterations required for convergence of typical iterative methods. The details of this new scheme are presented in this paper while examples are given to demonstrate the second order accuracy and the convergence properties of the scheme.


A new theory about porous materials has evolved in recent years, and it differs from traditional theories to a large extent. In this paper, by referring to documents to test the new theory experimentally and theoretically, we make analysis of the relationship between thickness of porous materials and the frequency of incident sound wave, so as to further discuss about the new theory. Results prove that the new sound absorption theory is of great significance in the sound absorption mechanism of porous material and very useful in practical application.


Ever since Erwin SchrA¶dinger's classic 1944 book What is Life?, physicists have been eagerly looking for applications of quantum mechanics to biological systems.


Other than the expected abdominal pain post-embolization, only few complications occur after uterine artery embolization (UAE). Necrotic cavitation of adenomyosis is a particularly rare complication. Here, we describe a patient with adenomyosis who experienced persistent fever after UAE, which ultimately resolved with the spontaneous expulsion of adenomyosis.


Modern communication technologies stimulate appearance of new arts and transform the classic paradigm of creative work, constructed on the author public opposition. The interactive telecommunication art, where individual creative streams stimulate mutually, demonstrates a social-communicative nature of creativity distinctly. In other areas of creative work creativity does not show its essence so obviously. The article deals with some aspects of the new concept of creativity as an open subject-subject interaction.


Purpose: This study is to investigate correlation between eye fatigue and letter contrast according to letter contrast changes on monitor display. Methods: Reading speed test were carried out for 53 subjects (mean age: 22.68 ± 1.85 years) who have over Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) 1.0, and 45 subjects, who could read over 123 out of 163 letters among 53 subjects were selected. They were asked to read the letters which were composed of Black (contrast 100%), Dark gray (contrast 80%), Gray (contrast 80%), Light gray (contrast 30%) randomly. The change of their eye fatigue by letter contrast on monitor display was measured by monitoring their eyes with an eye-tracker while they were reading letters. Results: Event Duration (sec) was 33.635 for Black, 32.266 Dark gray, 33.936 for Gray, and 34.848 for Light gray. Average of Fixation Duration (sec) was 0.224 for Black, 0.218 for Dark gray, 0.239 for Gray and 0.243 for Light gray. Average of Pupil diameter (mm) was 41.133 mm for Black, 41.160 mm for Dark gray, 40.880 mm for Gray and 40.459 mm for Light gray. Frequency (blinks/ sec) was 0.211 for Black, 0.206 for Dark gray, 0.221 for Gray, and 0.238 for Light gray. Conclusions: Event Duration and average of Fixation Duration were the shortest for Dark gray and the longest for Light gray. In average Pupil diameter was the biggest Dark gray and the smallest for Light gray. Blink Frequency (blinks/sec) was the lowest for Dark gray and the highest for Light gray. Visual fatigue by brightness of letters on monitor display was the least for Dark gray followed by Black, Gray and Light gray.


This study delved into the cultural capital, value systems, and social organizations in sea salt farming in Ban Laem District of Phetchaburi Province, considered within the framework of GIAHS. The research methodology involved qualitative tools such as in-depth interviews, SWOT analysis, and TOWS matrix, and focus group discussions with key stakeholders such as salt farmers, community leaders, local government officials, and scholars. The study underlines that the sea salt production in Ban Laem District is deeply rooted in both tangible and intangible cultural traits, contributing to the area's distinct cultural identity. The traditional ceremonies, foods, crafts, and tools associated with salt production form the tangible cultural aspects unique to the area. Sea salt farming's historical, aesthetic, scientific, economic, and social values accentuate its community-wide importance. However, challenges such as traditional knowledge and practice erosion, skilled labor scarcity, limited comprehension of Good Agricultural Practice (GAP), environmental degradation, and globalization's impact threaten the cultural authenticity of the salt farming community. To counter these challenges, this study recommends preservation of traditional knowledge, cultural value awareness, reinforced environmental conservation, and fostering collaborations among salt farmers, governmental bodies, and the private sector. Collectively, these efforts will contribute to the sustainability and resilience of Ban Laem's sea salt cultural heritage.


Several survey results note that Indonesian people still carry out financial planning, in line with the diverse needs it is important to have the ability and skills to make finances. The purpose of this study was to examine and analyze the effect of financial literacy and social environment on personal financial planning for students of the UPN "Veteran" Jawa Timur Accounting Study Program. The sample used in this study found 94 respondents who were determined using the purposive sampling technique. Data analysis in this study was carried out using IBM SPSS 25 software. Based on testing and analysis, it was obtained that simultaneously (Test F) financial literacy variables and social environment variables affected the personal financial planning variable, partially (T-test) The individual financial literacy variable influences the personal financial planning variable, while the individual social environment variable does not affect the personal financial planning variable.
Keywords: Financial Planning, Literacy, Social Environment


In order for family planning to be successful changes must be brought about in the beliefs and behavior concerning marriage and procreation. Educational institutions should include the study of population dynamics and policy in their curricula. Attitudes can be developed easier when people are in their younger years. Population education is important in both formal and nonformal systems. In 1968 the Family Planning Association of India (FPAI) initiated steps to establish population education in India. There has been close cooperation between the government and voluntary agencies. Haryanda and Madhya Pradesh have already brought population education within school systems and Maharashtra Pradesh Kerala and other states plan to include it in their school systems soon. Programs have also been established for the drop-outs the never-schooled and those living in rural areas.


Australia universities regard strategic planning as an important measure in university management.Explanation on strategic planning concerned influenced the management practice of university.Five characteristics of the strategic planning in Australia universities: based on the apprehension of the organizational characteristics of university,monitoring the relevant environment of university,leaving university make strategic plan alone,attracting sections concerned in planmaking and showing their own characteristics,are useful for reference to university planning.Orientation of university and analysis of the moving power should be the first step in strategicplanmaking for universities in China.


The magnetic response of most natural materials, characterized by magnetic permeability, is generally weak. Particularly, in the optical range, the weakness of magnetic effects is directly related to the asymmetry between electric and magnetic charges. Harnessing artificial magnetism started with a pursuit of metamaterial design exhibiting magnetic properties. The first demonstration of artificial magnetism was given by a plasmonic nanostructure called split-ring resonators. Engineered circulating currents form magnetic plasmons, acting as the source of artificial magnetism in response to external electromagnetic excitation. In the past two decades, magnetic plasmons supported by plasmonic nanostructures have become an active topic of study. This Perspective reviews the latest studies on magnetic plasmons in plasmonic nanostructures. A comprehensive summary of various plasmonic nanostructures supporting magnetic plasmons, including split-ring resonators, metal–insulator–metal structures, metallic deep groove arrays, and plasmonic nanoclusters, is presented. Fundamental studies and applications based on magnetic plasmons are discussed. The formidable challenges and the prospects of the future study directions on developing magnetic plasmonic nanostructures are proposed.


The Institute for the Study of Digital Inclusion (ISDI) promotes digital inclusion through dispersion of computers and promotion of digital literacy to at risk children of low economic status within the State of Florida. The goals of this study were to determine: 1) Will providing students with relevant software and hardware skills and knowledge influence long-term academic performance? 2) Will digital literacy increase the student's commitment and desire to actively participate in future learning processes ? Our findings indicate a direct increase in academic performance and participation in learning processes by students that completed the Make It-Take It After-School program.


This document contains: Structural studies on passive films using surface EXAFS, EX-SITU and IN-SITU sample and detector chambers for the study of passive films using surface EXAFS, and Ellipsometric studies of chelating inhibitor effects on the cathodic delamination of an organic coating on iron.


Monitoring systems consisting of several magnetometers and cameras were installed to detect artificial magnetic disturbances at the Kakioka, Memambetsu, and Kanoya Magnetic Observatories in Japan. These systems calculate the magnetic dipole moment and source position of artificial magnetic disturbances as a routine matter. For sources of disturbance that are not magnetic dipole moments, each event must be tackled individually. For a non-dipole disturbance at Kanoya from 16 to 22 June 2011, the position and intensity of two lines of direct currents were calculated, and the baseline value affected by these currents was corrected appropriately.


Cloud computing is a versatile technology that can support a broad-spectrum of applications. The low cost of cloud computing and its dynamic scaling renders it an innovation driver for small companies, particularly in the developing world. Nowadays, digital storage of computer data is moving toward cloud computing which is a set of infrastructure provides data storage for organizations and individuals. Due to this large scale, in case an attack occurs in the network of a cloud it would be a big challenge to investigate the cloud. Therefore, digital forensics in cloud computing is a new discipline related to the increasing use of computers, networks and digital storage devices in numerous criminal activities in both traditional and Hi-Tech.This paper focuses on the literature on some challenges in cloud computing forensic investigation, and it is followed by evaluation and analysis of all types of information on cloud computing and its impacts on computer forensic investigations in publishing alliances with the survey was carried out in the field. Keywords— Cloud Computing, Digital forensics, Computer forensic, Network attacks, Cloud Security.


Rural microwave data transmission, which has the capability of connecting numerous types of distributed sensors to provide IoT connectivity, often requires signal transmission over long distances at low elevations, resulting in challenges due to multipath interference and signal depolarization. A microwave antenna system that addresses these challenges within acceptable size, power, and cost constraints was designed and tested. This bihelical antenna is composed of two concentric, circularly polarized helical antennas mounted on a conducting backplane, a phase trimmer, and signal combiner. The proposed antenna functions as a microwave bridge system and is intended to fill the gap in mid-range network access in rural settings.


A high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) method was developed for the determination of flonicamid,chlorantraniliprole,methoxyfenozide,flubendiamide,chlorfenapyr and lufenuron in unpolished rice and soil.The residues were extracted with acetonitrile,and cleaned up with NH2 solid-phase extraction for unpolished rice samples(no cleanup for soil).Determination of analytes was completed using HPLC with DAD detection at 265,254 and 230 nm.The results showed that the coefficient of determination(R2) of this method was above 0.999 4 and the calibration curve was linear in the range of 0.05-5 mg/L.The fortified recoveries of these six pesticides in rice and soil samples at three levels(0.1,0.5,1 mg/kg) were in range of 84.5%-113.2%,with relative standard deviations(RSDs) less than 9.3%.The limit of detection(LOD) of the method was estimated to be 0.010-0.016mg/kg,and the limit of quantification was 0.03-0.05 mg/kg in these samples.


This plenary talk is a fast-paced review of the four hundred years of astronomical discovery since Galileo's first use of the telescope. In order to discuss "400 Years of Astronomical Discovery" I need to cover about 16 years per minute of speech. However, the scope of relevant material is by no means evenly divided over the years and so my subtitle is "The Accelerating Understanding of our Place in the Universe." We are about 3/4 of the way through IYA, the International Year of Astronomy. It is thus timely to think about the successes of the year and, as this ASP annual meeting title indicates, forge a path to a future of continued public engagement in astronomy. In this context of public understanding and appreciation of science, it is important to note the world view into which Galileo was born. The accepted cosmology was that there were two very separate realms: that of the Earth, consisting of soil/earth, air, fire, and water and on which all was transient, and that of the heavens or Heaven, consisting of a perfect regularity, remote from Earth's imperfections and eternal. It was Galileo's passion to understand these realms and the connection between them. In pursuing such questions, Galileo blazed the path to modern astronomy – and as we all know, got himself into a bit of trouble along the way. The scientific and political landscape is an important consideration when interpreting the progress of human knowledge. Some ground work had already been laid by the time Galileo came of age. Specifically, the earlier Copernicun revolution (1543) took our cosmology from an Earth-centered to a Sun-centered system of perfect circles. Contemporary Kepler, while working with Tycho Brahe, determined (1605-1609) that planetary orbits are elliptical rather than circular. The stage was therefore set for Galileo to take humanity from the limited understanding enabled by naked-eye observations of the sky to that revealed by magnified observations through his use of the refracting telescope. He had heard of the 3x magnifier, which he duplicated in 1609, and quickly improved it to a 30x version. By turning a spyglass into a telescope, Galileo taught us (1609-1612) that the Moon's surface is not a perfect sphere (but rather appears imperfect like the Earth, pockmarked with features), the Sun has blemishes (that rotate), Venus has phases, Jupiter has moons, and that there is much more to the universe than the 30 arcsec spatial resolution of the unaided eye can perceive – such as the non-pointlike or extended nature of the planets, the odd shape of Saturn (later understood as rings), that there are many more fainter stars within the Pleiades star cluster, and that the "Milky Way" is in fact a vast collection of stars, rather than a celestial fluid.


Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most common types of leukemia in adults, accounting for approximately 35% of leukemia in United States (CA Cancer J Clin 2014;64(1):9-29). The use of chemotherapy is associated with significant survival benefit in AML, particularly young and fit individuals. Although survival rates have improved remarkably in the younger age group, the prognosis in older patients continues to be poor. The receipt of chemotherapy has a potential to alter the prognosis in elderly AML patients, however, many older patients may not be able to receive chemotherapy. We analyzed the trend in chemotherapy use in AML patients ³60 years using NCDB to understand the socioeconomic determinants of chemotherapy use. Methods: This is a retrospective study of AML patients (n= 99,664) diagnosed between 2000 and 2011 in the NCDB hospitals. NCDB contains approximately 70% of new cancer diagnosis in the United States and Puerto Rico. Chi-square test was used to determine any differences in characteristics of AML patients 60 years or above who did or did not receive systemic therapy. Results: Nearly 61% of AML patients were 60 years or above (n= 60,477), however, chemotherapy use was significantly lower in these patients than those below 60 years (57% vs 70%, p Conclusions: AML predominantly affects patients more than 60 years of age (Cancer. 2006;107(9):2099-107). The factors negatively influencing treatment outcomes, including poor performance status, the presence of comorbidities, adverse cytogenetics and antecedent hematologic disorders are more common in this subset of population (Blood research. 2014;49(2):95-9). The management of elderly AML patients is complex and requires good understanding of risks and benefits of chemotherapy in individual patient. Our study demonstrates that the chemotherapy use in elderly patients is lower than younger patients and differ by patients9 gender, type of hospital and the presesnce of comorbidties. Understanding the health care disparities can help individualize and optimize cancer treatment leading to better quality of care in patients expected to have poorer outcomes. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


The prospects of boosting the modernization of Russian industry necessitate the study of resources that might stimulate such endeavors. Contrary to the global literature, Russian publications mostly focus on the studies of generalized and institutional trust, as well as on the influence it exerts on modernization processes at the macro-level. Meanwhile, the impact of intra-firm trust as a factor, contributing to employee involvement in innovation, remains relatively misattended.
Our purpose lies in encouraging the discussion of the presence of intra-firm trust and the effect trust has in furthering the processes of technological modernization. The intermediary tasks include the assessment of trust's prevalence between colleagues, employees, and managers, as well as an analysis of the impact these types of trust have on the employees' involvement into innovative activities at the enterprise level.
The empirical ground for the study includes the results of a formalized survey of main industry workers conducted at three industrial enterprises in the Perm Territory in 2018-2019 (n = 450) using the method of a continuous survey of people present at their workplaces.
The input of our research is due to the approach we propose to measure the horizontal trust by examining the vertical trust on several levels of organizational hierarchy; in addition, we employ an expanded list of indicators of employee involvement in innovation. The survey data are collected at three industrial plants. This helps to arrive at conclusions distinct from the published results of the studies of employees, sampled and surveyed per municipalities.
Our results manifest the wide expansion of trust in organizations studied. However, we have not discovered any relationships between the organizational trust and actual employees involvement in the initiation and implementation of innovations. The impact of trust was detected only for the employees' preparedness to take part in the ongoing projects. Thus, trust-building efforts at the workplace have a limited effect on employee involvement in innovations. We stress the importance of considering other factors that make the relationship between organizational trust and involvement in innovation more specific.


Section I: Life, Politics and Theory Chapter 1: Life Career and Politics Chapter 2: The Function and Practice of Theatre: visions, theories and critical responses Section II: Key Plays Chapter 3: The Family, Gender and Sexual Relations Chapter 4: Time and the Time Plays Chapter 5: Work and Visions of Dystopia/Utopia Section III: Key Plays/Productions Chapter 6: The Good Companions Chapter 7: An Inspector Calls Chapter 8: Johnson Over Jordan


The commentary by Grunau and Linn (1) relating to an article of mine that was published in Frontiers in Public Health—Epidemiology (2) contains some important points, but I am left with a perception that the authors of that commentary have sometimes written with different frames of reference from the frame of reference within which I wrote my article. In this response, I will attempt to deal briefly with the areas where our frames of reference do and do not intersect and how our contributions might be used to maximum advantage. Because the word limit for articles categorized as "perspectives" within Frontiers in Public Health (FPH) prevented me from writing a more detailed article originally, but also because of the stimulus provided by Grunau and Linn's commentary, in a separate publication (3) I have recently expanded on topics raised in my original article as well as on topics raised within Grunau and Linn's commentary. Within this response, I deal briefly with the major topics that I think need to be addressed in direct response to Grunau and Linn's contribution, along with occasional reference to my subsequent article (3). First, I believe it is important to acknowledge that the words screening and diagnosis carry different meanings for different people, as well, obviously, as inconsistent meanings for the same people. Therefore, in order to avoid confusion, I believe it is useful to clarify what is meant by these words in any particular context. I attempted to do that within the opening paragraph of the introduction in my original article, where I wrote:


This study was carried out to evaluate the growth performance, cut parts characteristics and organ proportions of broiler chickens fed single straight diet fortified with fish meal. The basal diet was augmented with fishmeal to take the crude protein from 22% to 28%. One hundred and twenty day-old broiler chicks were used in this study which lasted for six weeks. The birds were randomly distributed into 4 treatments (T , T , T and T ) that were replicated hree times with 10 birds per replicate. The replicate T , T , T and T had different inclusion ate of crude protein which were 22%, 24%, 26% and 28% all with an energy level of 2900kcal/kg. Parameters measured were the initial body weight, final body weight, values calculated include average daily feed intake, average body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. There were no significant differences observed in all the growth parameters measured. No significant differences (p>0.05) were observed in the cut parts characteristics and internal organ proportions measured. Taking all the parameters measured into consideration it suggests that in this single straight diet for broiler chicken, there were no adverse effects on their growth performance. Therefore, the four treatment diets were good enough to give body weight in the range of 2-2.5kg that resulted in dressed carcass weight of 1.35-1.5kg, a range of weight that the fast food lines desire.


Abstract In this paper we present some necessary and sufficient conditions for the stability of periodically switched discrete-time linear index-1 singular system, (PSSS). In particular, it is proved that, if at least one subsystem of a PSSS is asymptotically stable, then there is a switching rule, so that the whole system is also uniformly exponentially stable. Furthermore, for a periodically switched control system with no stable subsystems, there exist a switching rule and feedback matrices, such that the obtained PSSS is uniformly exponentially stable.


Purpose
This study aims to investigate the characteristics, as well as the purpose and posts of the COVID-19 Facebook groups.

Design/methodology/approach
A systematic search for COVID-19 Facebook groups was conducted on June 1, 2020. Characteristics of the groups were examined using descriptive statistics. Mann-Whitney test was used to study the differences between groups. The study of the most popular groups' posts was also carried out using the content analysis method.

Findings
The groups had a combined membership of 2,729,061 users. A total of 147,885 posts were received. There were about approximately 60% public groups. A high percentage of the groups (86.5%) had descriptions. The results showed a significant relationship between the groups' description status and the number of members (p-value = 0.016). The majority of COVID-19 Facebook groups (56%) were created to meet their members' information needs. The highest number of studied posts were related to vaccination (35.2%), followed by curfew rules (19.6%) and symptoms (10.6%).

Originality/value
Translating these insights into policies and practices will put policymakers and health-care providers in a stronger position to make better use of Facebook groups to support and enhance public knowledge about COVID-19.


Effects of crust-freezing of wholesale loins, mechanical cleaving, freezing-frozen storage of prepackaged chops, and simulated transportation conditions on appearance of pork loin chops during retail display were determined. Surface discoloration was increased and overall appearance was decreased by crust-freezing prior to mechanical cleaving and by freezing-frozen storage (−34°C for 10 days) of prepackaged chops. At retail display intervals of 1 and 3 days, chops which had been crust-frozen with liquid nitrogen, cut with a power cleaver, packaged, frozen, transported and displayed were most extensively discolored and had the lowest overall appearance scores. The most satisfactory system for cutting and distribution of pork loin chops, to minimize surface discoloration and to maximize overall appearance scores, consisted of bandsaw cutting of fresh (not crust-frozen) loins and retail packaging followed by either immediate display or by simulated transportation and subsequent display. Freezing-frozen storage of prepackaged chops, in an attempt to prolong storage-life temporarily, was not feasible. Expected retail caselife was not affected by crust-freezing, mechanical cleaving or simulated transportation conditions to the extent that was associated with freezing-frozen storage of prepackaged chops.


A new class of electrically contactable slot waveguides are discussed regarding its unique advantages for building high-performance electro-optic modulators. 2dB/cm waveguide losses near 1550nm were achieved with devices fabricated in silicon-on-insulator with 248nm photolithography.


This paper describes a decentralized control strategy for the automation of road intersections and studies its impact on traffic in a realistic urban road network. The controller incorporates a consensus-based auction algorithm (CBAA-M), which allows vehicles to agree on a crossing order at each road intersection, and an on-board model predictive controller that avoids collisions with other traffic participants, while trying to satisfy performance metrics over time. Randomized simulations show that this decentralized control approach guarantees efficiency, safety, and a higher throughput than traditional solutions.


Summary This paper is divided into two main sections. The first section represents the publication of a shabti preserved in the Musée du Louvre in Paris (Inv. No. E 3088). This shabti belonged to a Lady of the House named Iahhetep. It dates to the 18th Dynasty under Pharaoh Thutmosis III. It is notable because it is one of the first known shabtis to exhibit female features in its outer appearance: the Hathor wig. The second section of this paper deals with female shabtis in general. It illustrates their iconographic variety and outlines their role as transitional figurines within the movement from mummiform shabtis towards the production of shabtis in the dress of daily life. Furthermore, female shabtis may have served as a vehicle of the owner's self-presentation and may thus be regarded as a manifestation of the self-confidence and self-awareness of elite women of the period.


ABSTRACT Agricultural systems are inherently sensitive to variability in weather and climate, whether naturally-forced or due to human activities. Robust predictions of possible changes in crop productivity and crop distribution due to climate in the future are vital for our understanding and management of cropping systems over the coming years to decades. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change defines adaptation as 'the adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climate stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities' (Parry et al. 2007). Mitigation is the actions taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or enhance their sinks (Verbruggen, 2007). Most crop adaptation studies in practice study both the impacts and adaptation of climate change. For example, an assessment of sowing a different crop genotype (as an adaptation option) may be examined in response to the impacts of artificially imposed changes in climate and atmospheric conditions, such as elevated CO2 or warmer temperature. Tools and techniques for adaptation and mitigation research on crops comprise those that involve plant experiments and those that employ simulation modelling. Different plant experiment techniques range from those that use plant growth chambers to impose tightly controlled differences in climate to those in near-field conditions that more closely match some aspects of projected climate changes. The latter include Free-Air CO2 Enrichment rings (for the study of responses to CO2 and drought), temperature gradient tunnels (CO2 and temperature) and open-topped chambers (CO2 or ozone). None of these experiment systems entirely simulate all components of a changed climate, but meta-analyses of many of these studies can provide a broad consensus of impacts of climate change (for example, Ainsworth et al. 2005) that potentially can inform adaptation options. Plant experiments to study possible mitigation options from agricultural systems may include the measurement of methane emissions from paddy rice soils with treatments such as altered water management, different soil organic matter content or rice cultivars that may result in lower methane emissions. Also, results from such crop plant experiments are used extensively to develop, evaluate and parameterise crop simulation models. Many assessments of adaptation options for agriculture in future climates use simulation models. Such assessments of the impacts of and adaptation to climate change involve two quite different models; a climate model and a crop or agricultural system model. Understanding the nature of each type of model is crucial to interpretation of simulation results for adaptation. In particular, numerical climate models and crop simulation models are on different spatial and temporal scales. Climate change projections are made using general circulation models (GCM) run at the global scale. Adaptation options in agriculture are commonly at a much smaller scale, often at the level of a farm where many decisions are made. GCM output can be used directly for assessments over large areas, such as countries and regions (eg Challinor et al., 2004). However, more often downscaling of climate information is done prior to the crop simulation using either dynamical methods (regional climate models run with GCM boundary conditions) or statistical techniques (for example, weather generators). There are even techniques that combine the use of some GCM output directly with statistical techniques, for example to reconstruct patterns of rainfall (for example, Hansen et al 2006). There are important sources of uncertainty within climate – crop projections that need to be recognised in order to quantify the boundaries of confidence of assessments of adaptation options. Uncertainty arises from internal (natural) variability within climate models, greenhouse gas emission scenarios, as well as from the representation of processes in climate models and crop simulation models. Recent studies have started to account for these sources of uncertainty in an explicit manner (eg Hawkins and Sutton, 2008; Challinor et al., 2008).


This investigative study examines the exposure of metro commuters to inhalable airborne particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5, and PM1) in and around the subway premises, and their associated health risk due to regular exposure to high levels of PM. PM monitoring was carried out in five metro stations (four underground and one elevated) in Chennai, India. PM measurements were taken for 3 days a week (two weekdays and one weekend) in each metro station. The adverse impacts on health and the risk of disease were assessed using AIRQ+, a tool developed by World Health Organization (WHO). Exposure to PM was found to be up to twofold higher than the WHO stipulated safe limits. Exposure to PM2.5 was noted to be dominant (59%–70% of total PM mass). PM accumulation was found to be high in stations having a large number of commuters and those located in the busiest areas of the city. Infiltration of outdoor road emissions was found to have a significant influence on the deterioration of subway air quality. Underground metro stations were found to have the least dispersion and high accumulation of air pollutants whereas elevated metro stations were noted to have high dispersion and least accumulation. Health risk assessment indicated the non-carcinogenic risk to passengers (Hazard quotient = 1.18 and Cancer risk < 10–4), who were exposed to PM regularly for a period of 1 year. Continuous, long-term exposure up to 8 years will lead to the development of carcinogenic risk (Hazard quotient > 10 and Cancer risk > 10–4). Further, the health impact evaluation indicated high incidence per 100,000 population; asthma (816.92), unhealthy days (424.7), and lost workdays (416.57) due to acute exposure and ischemic heart disease (60.11), stroke (50), acute lower respiratory infections (30.52), and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (21.17) due to chronic exposure.


Christological discourse holds a central place in the wider theological discourse due to the centrality of the doctrine of Christ in the establishment of the Christian message. This in effect places integral value on the task of Christological formulation if at all we intend to stabilize Christian theology. The core of the Christian message is inherent in the ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In as much as the primary sources of Christology remains the biblical narrative, there is a significant urge for theological practitioners to supplement the biblical narrative with a well-researched historical account of the life of Christ beyond the confines of the scripture to verify authenticity and historicity of the biblical account. This calls for an industrious effort of theologians to engage historical data as an indication of the existence of Christ. Our study seeks to undertake this task and contribute to Historical and Christology scholarship by addressing the question of the historical quest of Christ. To accomplish this task, our approach will be centred on pagan testimonies, Jewish testimonies, and historical evidences from materials outside the biblical sphere. A negligence of addressing these concepts may subject the Christian narrative to massive objection in our day and age.


AIM
The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of pre-treatment radiographic features (alpha-angle, d-distance and s-sector) on the duration of active orthodontic traction of impacted maxillary canines treated by a combined surgical (flap approach) and orthodontic (direct traction to the center of the ridge) treatment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
A study population of 168 patients (168 canines) was evaluated. Multiple regression analysis was used.

RESULTS
Pre-treatment radiographic variables were associated significantly with the duration of orthodontic traction. Age, gender and site of impaction did not affect the duration of traction significantly.

CONCLUSIONS
Alpha-angle, d-distance and s-sector are valid indicators for the duration of orthodontic traction.


This article intends to study the methods used by Hindu missionaries to bring the tribals within their fold in order to avoid the spread and popularity of Christianity among the tribals. Barring a few scholars like S.C. Roy and K.N. Sahay, no one has ever tried to look into the activities of Hindu missionaries in the region prior to 1947. The primary sources clearly show that in their methods they were quite organised and united, contrary to the views of most scholars. It is argued in the article that the main objective of Hindu missionaries was to check Christian missionary activities instead of promoting upliftment work among the tribals. The information culled from newspapers, the Patna State Archives and other materials form the source of evidences used to formulate and substantiate arguments in the article.


Objective To evaluate the effects of resveratrol(Rev) on migration and invasion of glioma cell line U87 cells and its mechanism.Methods Viability of glioma U87 cells treated with Rev in variable concentrations for 24 h and 48 h was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) assay.The migration and invasion were evaluated by in vitro scratch assay and Boyden chamber assay respectively;matrix-metalloproteinase(MMP) activity was determined by gelatine zymography assay.Results MTT assay showed Rev inhibited the proliferation of glioma U87 cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner(P0.05);compared with control group,the migration and invasion of U87 cells treated with Rev were decreased obviously,accompanied by the inhibition of MMP-2 activity.Conclusion Rev can inhibit the migration and invasion ability of glioma U87 cells.The inhibitive effects may be associated with the decreased MMP-2 activity.


In this paper, we propose a distorionless PAPR reduction scheme for multicarrier system that's combining the partial Transmit Sequence (PTS) and the selective mapping (SLM) techniques. Afterwards, we numerically discuss the PAPR characteristics using the complementary cumulative distribution function (CCDF) of the Peak-to-Average-Power-Raito (PAPR). Also, we discuss and compare the computational complexity and the Bit Error Rate (BER) of the proposed scheme with the various schemes. The simulation results show that the combined PTS-SLM scheme (CPS) has a better PAPR and BER performances than (PTS). Besides, (CPS) generates PAPR performance approximately near to the PAPR performance of (SLM).


This thesis is a case study that describes and analyses a higher education restructuring, namely: the amalgamation of two faculties in an Australian university. The findings of the study reveal that the restructuring impacted staff and students which included changes in job positions, redundancies, emotional impacts, extra work demands, loss of institutional identity and status, loss of support from the administrative staff and disrupting academic affairs. This study further shows that higher education nowadays is all about market values and that globalization changes the way a university operates and reforms.


This small scale case study was designed to explore children's perceptions of extrinsic rewards as feedback and how this affects their intrinsic motivation for learning. Incorporated in this paper is a review of relevant literature and studies previously carried out in this area, a methodology explaining and giving rationale of how the research was undertaken, an analysis and discussion of the study findings and final conclusions. This report drew upon both qualitative and quantitative data and the research methods adopted were questionnaires undertaken by 25 children and semi-structured interviews carried out with 6 children in one school all from the same year 5 class. The findings of this report concluded that all children saw feedback as an important aspect of the learning process with the overwhelming majority stating that intrinsic rewards were feedback on learning.  In addition, from the child's perspective there were a majority of factors that influenced the impact of extrinsic rewards on intrinsic motivation for learning. Overall, it was down to the individual child and their experiences and preferences.


Omega band auroras were observed with the THEMIS ground based All-Sky Imagers array at SNKQ in Canada at ˜0230 MLT on 1st March 2011. We could find almost whole processes of the generation of omega band aurora from the initial growth phase to the declining phase through enhancement phase. Scale size of the omega band aurora during the maximum phase was ˜500 km and ˜200 km for north-south and east-west direction, respectively. Growth of omega band-like structure started in the western sky of SNKQ field of view. Then the auroras enhanced their intensity and drifted eastward with speed of 0.15 km/sec. Fine structure of the omega band aurora consists of intense pulsating auroras with ON-OFF period of about 10 sec. Ps 6 magnetic pulsations with a period of ˜600 sec were observed in association with the omega band auroras. Footprint of THEMIS-D spacecraft crossed poleward part of the omega band aurora. THEMIS-D observed significant signatures on electromagnetic field and particles in association with the time when the spacecraft crossed the omega band pulsating aurora. In particular it is very interesting and important that DC electric field intensity modulated with almost the same period of optical pulsating auroras. In this presentation we will demonstrate characteristics of optical features of omega band pulsating aurora obtained by all-sky imagers and also particle and field signatures onboard spacecraft when the footprint of THEMIS-D crossed the omega band aurora.


changed the paradigm of CML treatment, was within reach. Six years later, the first JAK2 inhibitor, Ruxolitinib, has gained FDA approval but, while very effective at ameliorating disease symptoms, it does not appear to alter the natural history of these diseases. In particular, its effect on JAK2V617F allele burden, widely assumed to reflect the size of the neoplastic clone, is limited.7 Therefore, novel strategies, most likely involving novel targets, are required to foster the development of innovative therapies for MPN patients. Because, as demonstrated by the use of a pan-CDC25 inhibitor in this study, the phosphatase CDC25A is amenable to pharmacologic inhibition, and healthy hematopoiesis appears largely unaffected by this intervention, the paper by Gautier et al provides a promising lead toward the exploration of alternative targets for rational drug design in MPN treatment. Conflict-of-interest disclosure: The author declares no competing financial interests. ■ REFERENCES


This work presents a computer-aided detection (CAD) system to aid radiologists in finding sclerotic bone metastases in the ribs on routine body imaging CT protocols with 5mm chest/abdomen CT images. First, the spine is segmented to locate the ribs using thresholding, region growing and a vertebra template. The centerlines of ribs are then traced by a progressive algorithm based on maximizing the cross-section overlap. The profile of the ribs along the centerline is analyzed to generate the initial detections. A set of quantitative features is then extracted and sent to a support vector machine for classification. Novel visualization techniques are also developed to display all ribs and the distribution of bone lesions in one single view. The system was tested on 10 data sets with 185 sclerotic lesions identified by an expert. A leave-one-out cross-validation results in 75.4% sensitivity at an average of 5.6 false positives per case.


We present an analytical framework of multimarket competition and supporting empirical analysis to explain why and when competing firms in an existing market may prefer an alliance entry over independent entry into a new market. Our findings suggest that an alliance entry is more profitable than an independent entry (i) when the new market is larger relative to the existing market, and (ii) when the competition in the existing market is stronger relative to the new market. We compare these key predictions with archival data from the regional shopping center industry in the United States and find that instances of alliance formation in this industry are consistent with our model-based predictions. Data, as supplemental material, are available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/mksc.2016.0988.


The Major objective of the present study was to examine economic empowerment of women (independentvariable) and the role of NGOs (dependent variable) in District swat Khyber pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. A sample sizeof 270 from three Tehsils was randomly selected. The data were analyzed through frequency and percentagedistribution. Moreover, dependent variable was indexed and cross tabulated with independent variable. Chi-squaretest statistics was applied to ascertain the relationship between dependent and independent variable respectively.The study concluded that, empowering women economically means empower the whole family and women canmanage family budget better than male members. The government and nongovernmental organizations shouldarrange an awareness programs and different seminars' regarding women empowerment in economic affairsspecifically is the order of the day is put forwarded some of the recommendations in the light of present study.


A system that uses a bridge as weighing device to measure the weight of vehicles in motion is under evaluation. It is named the bridge weigh-in-motion system (hereafter referred to as Weigh-in-Motion: WIM). Based on the analysis of strain responses at different bridge locations during vehicle passage, gross and axle weights of vehicles in motion can be calculated. Weigh-in-Motion by using instrumented bridges was originally developed by Moses and others, in which axle weights are calculated from strain responses and influence lines of various locations of bridges where strain gages are attached. In Japan, Miki and others have attempted to improve Moses' approach. According to the strain responses at the top end of vertical stiffeners in a steel plate girder which is relatively sensitive to individual axle load, axle weights can be calculated by the ratio of these responses with good accuracy. This approach has been tested in actual bridge fields. Matsui and others have proposed a method to predict axle weights from the information of crack opening and closure on the bottom surface of an RC floor slab. A more practical and applicable WIM system is under development by the authors based on the above studies. In this paper, the prototype of the system is introduced and the field measurement results are compared with those by mat-type scale. This system is intended not only to check the weights of heavy trucks, but also to evaluate the effect of weight of vehicle on bridge components.