Without question, astronomy is about Big Data and clustering is a very common task over astronomy domain. The expectation-maximization algorithm is among the top 10 data mining algorithms used in scientific and industrial applications, however, we observe that astronomical community does not make use of it as a clustering algorithm. In this work, we cluster $\sim$ 1M stellar objects (simulated Galactic spectral data) via the traditional expectation-maximization algorithm for clustering (EM-T) and our extended EM-T algorithm that we call EM* and present the experimental results.


Dynamics of origin and initial stages of development of bands of deformation in the termal aged aluminum-magnesium AMg6 alloy, tinseled with the constant velocity of increasing of applied stress = const is investigated by the high-speed videotaping. It is established that the primary band represents a band of the localized shift which extends in a plane of the maximum tangents of pressure with speed of top, which on 2-2.5 order above initial speeds of lateral growth.


The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Escherichia coli is determined by three closely linked genes corresponding toits three enzymic components: aceE, pyruvate dehydrogenase ; aceF, dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase and lpd, lipoamide dehydrogenase [ 1,2]. The ace genes form a transcriptional unit which is polarised from aceE to aceF [3]. The lpd gene supplies components for the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex in addition to the pyruvate complex and although lipoamide dehydrogenase and pyruvate dehydrogenase complex syntheses appear to be coupled, expression of the lpd gene can be independent o f the ace operon [4]. The ace operon is induced by pyruvate and the aceE gene product is believed to function both as an enzyme and as a regulatory protein controlling the synthesis of the complex [3,5,6]. Regulatory mutations responsible for constitutive synthesis of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex have been selected by their ability to render phosphopyruvate synthetase mutants resistant to the inhibitory effects of lactate during growth on acetate [7]. Theseace e mutations are recessive to the wild-type allele in the trans position (U. Henning, personal communication), they are linked to the ace region and one has been placed Within the pyruvate dehydrogenase structural gene, between two missense mutations, aceE2 and aceE6 [8]. Recently, mutants with deletions extending towards and into the ace operon have been isolated [4,9]. Some of the deletions were isolated in an ace c strain and these offered the possibility of locating the constitutivity locus relative ~o the deletion end-points and to several reference aceE and aceF markers. 2. Materials and Methods


Based on the works of Gordon ([4]) and Zhang-Zhou([8])) on the variational minimizing properties for Keplerian orbits and Lagrangian solutions of Newtonian 2-body and 3-body problems, we use the constrained variational principle of Ambrosetti-Coti Zelati ([1]) to compute the Lagrangian actions on Keplerian and Lagrangian elliptical solutions with fixed energies, we also find an interesting relationship between period and energy for Lagrangian elliptical solutions with Newtonian potentials.


Has the suburban novel exhausted itself? In a 2004 article entitled "Heading Home to Adultery and Angst," New York Times critic Charles McGrath heralds the arrival of writers such as Tom Perrotta and Chang-rae Lee, the latest to cover the well-trod suburban terrain of "Updike and the ghost of Cheever, gloomily surveying the well-kept lawns and . . . wondering where all the action had gone" (E1). Though McGrath credits these new writers with conferring fresh hipness on a literary tradition largely abandoned as "too old, too square, too white and middle class" (E1), as his title suggests, he notes little change in a body of work noted for characters whose disposable incomes have only fostered bottomless longing, malaise, and navel-gazing. McGrath's essay thus begs the question: can anything new be said by and about novels concerned with the foibles of self-absorbed suburbanites, especially in the context of the traumatic events of 9/11 and an aftermath that continues to unfold? I would suggest that it is precisely because of recent cataclysmic events that the suburban literary tradition now warrants reconsideration. Such a claim may seem counterintuitive. Bruce Robbins argues, for instance, that "In the face of large-scale impersonal violence, many [American novels] retreat into domesticity—behind national borders, behind the door of the family home" (1097). The fact that writers are once again "heading home," as McGrath puts


Group breeding schemes were introduced into Britain in the 1970s as a means of increasing the rate of genetic improvement in sheep and providing a vehicle for breeders to cooperate and pool resources. The Lleyn Group Breeding Scheme was set up in 1978 with the aim of improving several maternal traits in a breed known for its prolificacy. Although the breed originates from North Wales members of the group were drawn from different parts of Britain. Flocks in the scheme were all recorded by MLC and sheep had the possibility of being selected using MLC's selection index, appropriately weighted for the traits of interest to group members.This analysis was designed to investigate the genetic progress made in the scheme between 1979 and 1993. Three traits were analysed; adjusted early lamb weight (LW) (at eight weeks of age), mature weight (MW) (at 18-months) and litter size (LS) in the form Number of lambs born per ewe lambing (NLBEL). These three traits were investigated in ten flocks which participated in the scheme, at varying levels, during the 14-year period 1979-1993. However, only genetic progress in the nucleus flock is reported in this paper.


ABSTRACT In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected the global tourism industry and continues to impact the Chinese hotel sector today. Using a multiple cases study method, we analyzed the response strategies of four Chinese hotel groups – Jinling, Jinjiang, New Century Hotels & Resorts, and Huazhu Group Ltd.—across four successive periods: (1) outbreak; (2) first recovery; (3) struggle; and (4) a predicted finest moment. We identified four internal recovery strategies: (a) rapid response, (b) recovery exploration, (c) optimization and upgrading, and (d) rejuvenation. Hotel groups' resilience proceeded through all four stages include (re)activation, consolidation, extension, and ecosystem. Each stage demonstrated the companies' movement from reliance on internal resources to interdependence across the supply chain with on the help of digital services such as contactless check-in, robot delivery and cloud-based PMS. We additionally identified a close link between stakeholders including online travel agencies, government and hotel chains. The analysis in the present study is premised on resource utilization, product and service development, organizational management and operation, leadership, digitalization, and social responsibility. Suggestions to cope with a long-duration crisis like COVID-19 are also provided.


Facing the massive data rapidly growing in the data centers, deduplication storage system continuously confronts the challenges in providing the corresponding throughputs, necessary capacities to move backup data within backup and low recovery window times. One approach is to construct a well design deduplication clusters which includes many high throughputs data nodes to generate an allover throughputs up to 1.5GB/s. When we present a deduplication cluster that can deduplicate with high throughput and deduplicate rates, we focus on the routing strategy which mainly affects the performance, deduplication rates and the fault tolerance which enhance the cluster stability. We built our prototype system based on the sparing index and SRC routing strategy which is based on the chord algorithm to enhance our improvement in efficiency of deduplication, and the system introduces new techniques and structure to accelerate the IO performance.


Abstract In this paper, we present results of the analysis of the pollen and microscopic charcoal content of a sediment core from Skylark Pond near Point Año Nuevo in Santa Cruz County, California. The core covers approximately the last 3,000 years and is of interest because Skylark Pond is located only 1.8 km from Quiroste Valley State Cultural Preserve, an important ceremonial and habitation location for the historic Quiroste tribe containing numerous late Holocene archaeological sites. The results show an increase in fire activity from the fifteenth century to the present. Peaks in charcoal at ca. AD 1425 along with subsequent high charcoal abundance indicate either small, frequent fires ignited by humans or large natural conflagrations. Significant changes after European colonization include increases in grass, oak, and bracken fern, all of which indicate the opening of the redwood forest by logging and ranching. Historic period charcoal peaks can be attributed to the burning of logging slash.


Background: Controversy persists about the associations of blood pressure with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in diabetes and the associated disease burden, particularly in low- and middle-income country populations. We aimed to assess these associations among Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods: In 2004-08, the China Kadoorie Biobank recruited 512,715 adults aged 30–79 years from 10 localities across China, including 26,315 with T2D but no prior CVD, followed-up for ~9 years. Cox regression yielded adjusted HR for major CVD and all-cause mortality associated with usual (longer-term average) blood pressure. Attributable fractions were estimated to assess cardiovascular mortality burden due to uncontrolled hypertension (SBP ≥130 mmHg or DBP ≥80 mmHg).

Findings: Overall, 75.7% of participants had self-reported (24.8%) or screen-detected (50.9%) hypertension. Among individuals with self-reported hypertension, 82.3% were treated, of whom 9.3% achieved control. There were positive log-linear associations of blood pressure with CVD, with no evidence of a threshold down to ~120 mmHg for usual SBP. Each 10 mmHg higher usual SBP was associated with HR of 1.28 (95% CI 1.25-1.30), 1.18 (1.15-1.21), 1.17 (1.15-1.19) and 1.45 (1.38-1.52) for cardiovascular death (n=1,807), major coronary event (n=1,190), ischaemic stroke (n=4,362) and intracerebral haemorrhage (n=469), respectively. There was an apparent J-shaped association with all-cause mortality (n=4,503). In this population, uncontrolled hypertension accounted for 39% of cardiovascular deaths.

Interpretation: Uncontrolled hypertension is common in Chinese adults with T2D, resulting in substantial excess risks of CVD. Improved hypertension management in T2D could avoid a large number of cardiovascular-related deaths in China.

Funding Statement: The baseline survey and the first re-survey were supported by a research grant from the Kadoorie Charitable Foundation in Hong Kong. The long-term continuation of the project is supported by program grants from the UK Wellcome Trust (088158/Z/09/Z, 104085/Z/14/Z), the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (2011BAI09B01, 2012-14), the Chinese National Natural Science Foundation (81390540 / 81390541 / 81390544, 2014-18) and the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFC0900500 / 2016YFC0900501 / 2016YFC0900504 / 2016YFC1303904, 2016-2021). The British Heart Foundation, Medical Research Council and Cancer Research UK provide core funding to the Oxford CTSU. Fiona Bragg acknowledges support from the BHF Centre of Research Excellence, Oxford (RE/13/1/30181).

Declaration of Interests: We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

Ethics Approval Statement: Ethics approval was obtained from relevant local, national and international ethics committees prior to commencement of the study. All participants provided informed written consent.


Using a redshift survey of 1323 galaxies (1092 new or remeasured) in a region of 95 deg2 centered on the nearby galaxy cluster Abell 2199, we analyze the supercluster containing A2199, A2197, and an X-ray group. The caustic technique accurately reproduces the true mass profiles of simulated simple superclusters (i.e., superclusters for which the virial mass of one cluster is 2–10 times the virial mass of all other clusters in the supercluster). We calculate the masses of the two main components of A2197 (A2197W and A2197E) by using archival X-ray observations and demonstrate that the A2199 supercluster is simple (the mass of A2199 is 5 and 12 times larger than A2197W and A2197E, respectively) and thus that the caustic technique should yield an accurate mass profile. The masses of A2199, A2197W, and A2197E within r500 (the radius within which the enclosed density is 500 times the critical density) are 22.0, 3.8, and 1.7 times 1013 h-1 M⊙, respectively. The mass profile is uncertain by ∼30% within 3 h-1 Mpc and by a factor of 2 within 8 h-1 Mpc and is one of only a few for a supercluster on such large scale. Independent X-ray mass estimates agree with our results at all radii where they overlap. The mass profile strongly disagrees with an isothermal sphere profile but agrees with profiles suggested by simulations. We discuss the interplay of the supercluster dynamics and the dynamics of the bound subclusters. The agreement between the infall mass profile and other techniques shows that the caustic technique is surprisingly robust for simple superclusters.


When esthetic demands of the patient require accentuated precision in surgical technique, incorporation of advanced surgical aids in general clinical practice becomes a necessity. Periodontal plastic surgical procedures have been reviewed in the dental literature and assessed for their validity so as to provide the practitioner with the knowledge required in making patient-centered, evidence-based decisions with respect to the treatment of gingival recession. Connective tissue grafts is considered the gold standard for root coverage procedures due to statistically significantly superior results compared to other procedures. However, the coverage of multiple tooth recessions and patient morbidity due to the need of larger second surgical wound at the donor site in the gingival recession reduction are the major shortcomings. A case report of multiple roots recession treated using a modified connective tissue grafting procedure, the free rotated papilla autograft using periodontal microsurgery has been presented here. The advantages are the use of a single surgical site, avoiding any palatal patient discomfort, good color compatibility with adjacent tissue and healing by primary intension.


The Elk River-Clarkia area lies from 10 to 35 miles northwest of the Idaho batholith in a zone of moderately to highly metamorphosed sedimentary rocks of the Precambrian Belt series. The Prichard formation, which is the oldest unit in the Belt series, covers the northeastern part of the area and consists mainly of garnet-mica schist with a minor amount of quartzite. It is separated by a fault zone from the younger formations. The massive Revett quartzite is fragmentarily exposed along and near this fault zone and is overlain by a fairly thin layer of schist of the St. Regis formation. The youngest formation, the Wallace, covers the western and southern part of the area. It consists of aluminous schist and interbedded calcareous gneiss and quartzite. The Burke formation, which should occur between the Prichard and Revett formations, could not be identified in this area. Two large and a number of small bodies of igneous rocks occur in the metasedimentary series. One of the large bodies is quartz diorite and the other is quartz monzonite. The composition of the small bodies ranges from gabbro to quartz diorite, quartz monzonite, and granite. The grade of metamorphism of the Belt series increases gradually from northwest to southeast parallel to the major structural trend and suggests that the metamorphism is related to the intrusion of the Idaho batholith, the nearest outcrops of which are exposed about 10 miles southeast of the area under discussion. The critical mineral assemblage in the schists in the northern part is almandine--muscovitebiotite-quartz; in the calcareous layers of the gneisses the common assemblage is hornblende-biotite-epidote mineralsalbite--microcline--quartz with or without scapolite and calcite. These mineral assemblages are typical of the biotitealmandite subfacies of the epidote amphibolite facies. Toward the south, kyanite appears with staurolite in the aluminumrich layers of the garnet-mica schist and diopside becomes stable in the calcareous layers of the gneissic units. Oligoclase instead of albite occurs with the epidote minerals. Microcline abounds in many thin biotite-rich layers interbedded with diopside and biotite gneisses. These mineral associations suggest metamorphic temperatures of the staurolite-kyanite subfacies of the epidote amphibolite facies. The occurrence of sillimanite instead of staurolite and kyanite in the schist in the southern part of the area suggests the sillimanite-muscovite subfacies of the amphibolite facies. Grossularite occurs with calcite in a few calcareous layers, but the assemblage diopside--biotite--plagioclase (An30 ) is most common. Metamorphic temperatures are estimated to rise from 380°C in the northern border to 570°C in the southern border. Contrary to the normal distribution of the potassium feldspar in the regionally metamorphosed area, microcline is rare or lacking in the gneisses of the southernmost pa.rt-that is, in the zone of highest grade of metamorphism. This lack of microcline can be either depositional or due to a later partial removal of potassium from a contact zone of the Idaho batholith about 20 miles wide. In the light of the regional geology the latter possibility seems more likely and would suggest that potassium was mobilized in a wider contact aureole than the other elements (calcium, aluminum, iron, and magnesium). It was removed from the inner contact aureole, which is the zone of metasomatic enrichment of basic components (Hietanen, 1962), and probably also from the southern part of the area under discussion, which part belongs to an outer contact aureole of the batholith. No other traces of regional metasomatism could be found in this outer zone.


Purpose : To reveal the potential of the method of combined PET/CT with 18 F-FDG in the differential diagnosis of space-occupying lesions of the liver. Material and methods : We selected patients for 5 years including PET/CT were detected space-occupying lesions of the liver (1101 patients). All patients underwent a combined PET/CT with 18 F-FDG standard Protocol whole body with the multiphase contrast-enhanced. Indicators of informativeness of MSCT, PET and PET/CT methods (sensitivity, specificity and accuracy) were calculated using standard formulas. Results: Metabolic active liver lesions were revealed in 777 patients. At the same time, despite the predominance of malignant tumors among them (in 99.5 % of patients), we also met metabolic active lesions /foci of FDG hypermetabolism, which belonged not to neoplastic lesions (in 0.5 % of patients). Metabolically inactive liver lesions were detected in 324 patients. Prevailed benign and not neoplastic lesions (in 79.3 % of patients). However, in 20.7 % of patients metabolically inactive liver lesions were malignant (metastatic lesion, metabolically inactive after the conducted chemotherapy in 58 patients, metastases of malignant tumors of the kidney – in 8, high-grade differentiated HCC – in 1). When calculating the indicators of informativeness of MSCT, PET and PET/CT methods, PET was more sensitive (97 %) and more accurate (97 %) than MSCT (93 % and 96 %, thus), MSCT showed higher specificity (98 %) than PET (97 %), but the indicators of informativeness of the PET/CT method were the highest (sensitivity and accuracy reached 98 %, and specificity – 99 %). Conclusion : Based on the results obtained, for the purpose of differential diagnosis of liver lesions, it is recommended to perform PET/ CT with 18 F-FDG with bolus contrast enhancement, because in some cases the liver malignant tumors may be metabolically inactive. PET/ CT has higher rates of informativeness than each of the methods (PET and MSCT) separately, but in some cases, using PET/CT is not always possible to reliably differentiate the malignant and benign lesions (according to our data – 2 %).


The Bible,the Book of Books,is originally the gospel for women to look after equality and freedom.However,when we annotate it,we may find that in most cases discrimination against women is outpoured between the lines.A lot of frightfulness of human beings is embodied in women,such as gluttony,greed,sloth,lust,envy,wrath,and pride in the seven deadly sins.Thus it seems that women are the incarnation of evil.The cultural phenomenon that men are superior to women does exist in The Bible,which brands sexual discrimination.


In this paper, we shall apply symmetry analysis to second order functional differential equations with constant coefficients. The determining equations of the admitted Lie group are constructed in a manner different from that of the existing literature for delay differential equations. We define the standard Lie bracket and make a complete classification of the second order linear functional differential equations with constant coefficients, to solvable Lie algebras. We also classify some second order non-linear functional differential equations with constant coefficients, to solvable Lie algebras.


--- Peru is the third largest country in South America and has large natural resources, rich biodiversity, diversity of ecological zones and with very little population in rural areas also have an advantageous geopolitical position, because we are in a position central South America, but despite having this great advantage we have not yet integrate our processes that promotes competitiveness National Competitiveness Council has reduced continuity to our joint sustainable development and our international presence.

The shortsightedness of a geopolitical vision by the political class, society and business is because education has prevailed teaching a static
geography, unrelated to its vast natural resources and population, which are the building blocks of all Nation state, territory, state and population.

As we know the competitive advantages are not copied, but to develop it is necessary to have an original vision of the country, focusing all energies to create processes, activities, knowledge and relationships that are consistent with that vision and that together produce a model own operating, covered all with a view of competitive country according to our best abilities and leveraged our comparative advantages.

If the economic situation of a growing economy by the international situation favorable to the primary export of minerals, being that vulnerable to external policy, we need to consolidate a system based on national competitiveness but geopolitical vision that allows us sustainable
growth over time. It is therefore important to recognize that not interest the amount of resources that may be, but you can do with what you have.

Keywords: Geopolitical vision, competitiveness, National Competitiveness Council.


In light of the increasing convergence between public and private sector accounting models, should local governments be required to adopt requirements similar to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX)? Survey results from 42.2% of municipal finance officers from Ohio and Florida suggest they embrace in concept the enhanced accountability resulting from adopting principal officer certification (POC) and the independent audit committee (IAC) for larger cities. However, like their counterparts in the private sector, they have reservations regarding the benefits of implementation relative to costs. Theories of innovation diffusion and planned behavior provided a theoretical framework for multivariate analysis. The contradictions in our findings may relate to respondents' reservations regarding the private sector financial reporting model that is becoming increasingly prevalent in public financial management.


The community characteristics,physiological characteristics and its genetic diversity of the mangrove plant—Aegiceras corniculata were studied.The ecological characteristics of mangrove plant Aegiceras corniculata in mangrove wetland in Futian,Shenzhen were elaborated,as well as its sustainable utilization and development of the wetland system.


Lexical Processing Drives Motor Simulation Meylysa J. Tseng (firstname.lastname@example.com) Department of Linguistics, 569 Moore Hall, 1890 East West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA Benjamin K. Bergen (firstname.lastname@example.com) Department of Linguistics, 569 Moore Hall, 1890 East West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA Abstract While growing evidence suggests that sentence understanding engages perceptual and motor systems for the purpose of mentally imagining or simulating the content of utterances (Barsalou 1999) it is not known whether processing words alone does the same. We investigated whether making a decision about the form of a word would lead to activation of motor mechanisms, using a modified version of the Action- sentence Compatibility Effect (Glenberg and Kaschak 2002). Fluent signers of American Sign Language (ASL) were shown pairs of ASL signs which were either identical or not. Critical signs involved hand motion forward or backward, relative to the body. Subjects indicated whether the two signs were the same or different with a manual response requiring their hand to move either forward or backward - thus in a direction either compatible or incompatible with the direction of motion denoted by the sign. Results demonstrated a compatibility effect - literal and metaphorical motion signs facilitated response motion in the same direction, suggesting that mere phonological processing of a lexical item with motion meaning engages the motor system. The same experiment, performed with non-signers yielded no such effect, demonstrating that the effect was not simply the result of perceptual processing of the form of the sign. These results support an embodied view of linguistic processing where the content of language about motor actions is simulated using parts of the cognitive system responsible for actually performing the described actions. Keywords: mental simulation; American Sign Language; motor control; lexical processing, Action-sentence Compatibility Effect Introduction If one were charged with the duty of building a human being from scratch, one would have to give it a motor system with which to act upon the world. To facilitate thinking about acting, one might configure this motor system such that, when necessary, it could be run without sending sufficient output to the relevant effectors for them to actually move - thus allowing the same system used for action execution to internally simulate acting for the purpose of reasoning. Finally, if one wanted to bestow upon one's creation the capacity to communicate about acting on the world, a particularly parsimonious solution would be to hook the communication system into the motor system. In such a system, acts of communication would begin with the speaker internally recreating a motor experience, followed by the selection and production of language appropriate to evoke a similar experience in the mind of the understander. Remarkably, the demands of effective communication about action seem to be met in humans by this very solution (Barsalou 1999, Zwaan 1999, Glenberg and Robertson 2000, Bergen et al. 2004, Bergen and Chang 2005). Mounting evidence demonstrates that finely detailed perceptual and motor processing is automatically and unconsciously evoked during language processing (Stanfield and Zwaan 2001, Glenberg and Kaschak 2002, Zwaan et al. 2002, Richardson et al. 2003, Bergen et al. 2003, Bergen et al. 2004, Kaschak et al. 2004, and Matlock To Appear). This constitutes broad evidence for the view that language understanders make use of perceptual and motor simulation to gain deep understanding of language, even when performing tasks that do not directly ask them to perform imagery. The last decade has witnessed an explosion of evidence demonstrating that the motor system is critically engaged during behaviors that are related to motor control, but involve no actual motion on the part of the relevant individual. Much of this work has developed from the discovery of "mirror neurons" in monkeys (Gallese et al. 1996, Rizzolatti et al. 1996) - neural circuits that become active during either the execution or perception of specific motor control events, like grasping and reaching. The work has since been extended to humans, where neural imaging and behavioral methods have demonstrated that different overlapping regions in pre-motor cortex become active when subjects execute and perceive actions produced by the mouth, leg, and hand, respectively (Buccino et al. 2001), and similarly that executing actions and recalling those actions also activate common areas in motor and parietal cortex (Nyberg et al. 2001). In addition to execution, perception, and memory of motor actions, recent work has begun to investigate whether language about actions is processed using action-specific areas of the motor system. Pulvermuller et al. (2001) and Hauk (2004) found that when subjects performed a lexical decision task, verbs associated with different effectors led to different paths of processing in motor cortex. These findings were further corroborated by Tettamanti et al. (m.s.) who showed that passive listening to sentences describing mouth, leg and hand motions also activated different parts of pre-motor cortex, along with BA 6, BA 40 and BA 44.


Single crystals of Pb1−3x▯xNd2x(MoO4)1−3x(WO4)3x (PNMWO) with scheelite-type structure, where ▯ denotes cationic vacancies, have been successfully grown by the Czochralski method in air and under 1 MPa. This paper presents the results of structural, optical, magnetic and electrical, as well as the broadband dielectric spectroscopy measurements of PNMWO single crystals. Research has shown that replacing diamagnetic Pb2+ ions with paramagnetic Nd3+ ones, with a content not exceeding 0.01 and possessing a screened 4f-shell, revealed a significant effect of orbital diamagnetism and Van Vleck's paramagnetism, n-type electrical conductivity with an activation energy of 0.7 eV in the intrinsic area, a strong increase of the power factor above room temperature for a crystal with x = 0.005, constant dielectric value (~30) and loss tangent (~0.01) up to room temperature. The Fermi energy (~0.04 eV) and the Fermi temperature (~500 K) determined from the diffusion component of thermopower showed shallow donor levels.


This paper discusses the issue of whether corporations and shareholders should be taxed separately as under the so called two tier or classical method of taxation, or whether the tax paid by the corporation should be seen as a payment made on behalf of and be imputed to the shareholder. Advocates of imputation argue that that the two tier tax system penalises shareholders by favouring retained earnings and debt over share capital, and that the way to overcome this is by reducing the tax burden on share capital. This paper explains why these claims are flawed by showing that the surplus remaining from the investment of debt capital (by e.g. its interest deductibility and fixed entitlements) serves only to enhance the interests of equity. More importantly, the paper demonstrates that imputation will not result in the abatement for debt; it may instead exacerbate it.


Given brain and myoelectric signals taken from a mouse, how can we classify its sleep stages accurately? Classifying sleep stages is the fundamental problem in recent diagnoses and clinical researches. However, sleep staging suffers from a serious weakness, clinical experts visually inspect the brain and myoelectric signals to improve sleep staging accuracy. This is because recent diagnoses and clinical researches require classification accuracy at least 95% so as to enhance preciseness of their analyses. In this paper, we present an automatic classification method MASC based on the following three approaches: (1) it extracts effective features for fully representing each sleep stage property, (2) it classifies sleep stages by using temporal patterns of sleep stage transitions, and (3) it re-classifies sleep stages only for the results with low-confidence. As a result, MASC achieves more than 95% accuracy for both noisy and noiseless mice data.


nuclear reactor molten reflector. # lower side reactor surrounded by a reflective material neutron content flat containers or cylindrical crowns, being very transparent to neutrons but high rate of neutron backscattering reflective material, and melting the sheath plates; the reflector material being in liquid state during operation of the reactor may be evacuated suddenly if any alarm signal is transferred.


This paper makes the acoustic emission of granite under uniaxial compression and splitting tensile test by electro-hydraulic testing machine and AE .We studied the relationship of uniaxial compressive strength and splitting tensile strength with the loading rate and AE characteristics of granite .The results show that uniaxial compressive strength and peak strain raise with loading rate, the AE energy gradually increases and get maximum in the 30% of the peak stress in the process of uniaxial compression test, and in the splitting tensile AE energy generates in the initial loading and gets maximum when the granite brittle fracture.


Animals have been used for research by humans from different cultures. The most used species was a rat, followed by mice, notwithstanding, several projects mentioned a broad range of animals, like rabbits, bovines, pigs, snakes, goats, lizard, hamsters, embryonated eggs and other.1‒2 Their usage provided answers to questions about health and welfare. People enjoy a healthier quality of life because of this progress, and the consequent development of new medicines and treatments. Despite the fact that, the use of animals in scientific and therapeutic research has been a subject of hot discussion for many years, it still needs more consideration.1‒4 No honest scientist desires to use animals or induce them unnecessary suffering if it can be bypassed, and therefore scientists admit controls on the use of animals in research. More frequently, the bioscience community believes that animals should be used for analysis only within an ethical frame.5‒7 The Three Rs (3Rs) in connection with science are leading systems for more ethical use of animals in experimentation. They were first reported by W. M. S. Russell and R. L. Burch in 1959. The 3Rs are (3Rs) (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement). Replacement is methods which avoid or replace the use of animals in research. The reduction is the use of processes that enable researchers to obtain comparable levels of information from fewer animals or to get more information from the same number of animals. Refinement refers to the use of methods that alleviate or minimize potential pain, suffering or discomfort, and enhance animal well-being for the animals used.8‒10 Good science and experimental design help to decrease the number of animals used in research as they allow scientists to accumulate data using the smallest number of animals needed. Still, good science also means that enough number must be used to enable accurate statistical study and to generate significant results to prevent the recurrence of measures and the resulting need to use more animals. A group of scientist screening potential anticancer drugs applies the so-called hollow-fiber system, in which tumor cells are increased in a tube-like polymer matrix that is inserted into mice. Drugs are then applied, the tubes removed and the number of cells defined. This system has raised the amount of data that can be collected per animal in some investigations and has, therefore, decreased the number of mice used.5‒10 Although animals cannot yet be replaced entirely, it is essential that researchers maximize reduction and refinement. Sometimes this is achieved relatively quickly by improving animal husbandry and housing, for example, by enriching their environment. These simple measures within the laboratory aim to satisfy the physiological and behavioral needs of the animals and therefore maintain their wellbeing. Another critical factor is refining the experimental procedures themselves, and perfecting the management of pain.5‒10


Presented is a case of an isolated leiomyosarcoma of the broad ligament in a woman who had a synchronous ductal carcinoma of the breast. Carcinoma of the breast, thyroid, or colon is the most common second primary neoplasm in women with pelvic malignancy.


Funding information Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DE), Grant/Award Number: 387092747 Abstract The effect of triethanolamine (TEA) at various dosages on the early performance of cement paste was systematically evaluated through the techniques of rheological measurements, penetration tests, and ultrasonic pulse velocity. The correlation of early performance to the chemical hydration process was analyzed by calorimetry, zeta potential, in situ XRD, and pore solution analysis. It is found that the effect of TEA on the early performance of cement paste is strongly dependent on its dosage. With the TEA dosage below 0.1 wt%, the setting and microstructural development of cement paste are retarded. Meanwhile, the yield stress of fresh paste is decreased due to the increasing zeta potential of cement grains. The promoted formation of ettringite (AFt) and monosulfate (AFm) caused by TEA decreases the rheological retention ability. At dosages ≥0.2 wt%, the reaction of aluminate-containing phases is greatly accelerated and a flash setting is observed. Besides, the importance of ferric phase on the reaction of cement with TEA is highlighted. At a low dosage, TEA prefers to accelerate the dissolution of tetracalcium aluminoferrite (C4AF) first and increases the [Fe] in the pore solution of cement paste. In cement without C4AF, the retardation of TEA on silicate phase hydration is significantly alleviated.


Generally, the function of Run Command feature on Windows operating system is to open documents or installed applications, and to manage Windows services. However, this feature is often used as a shortcut for operating user to give commands related to maintaining running system such as database management system. By using Short Message Service (sms), those commands can be done remotely. In order to do that, a sms gateway must be developed so computer can respond command that has been sent via sms. One of many options to build the gateway is under Java Platform by using Java class library that is packed in SMSLib Library. To use SMSLib, many communication classes are also needed such as Java Communication Library, RxTx, Apache Jakarta Commons/Net. To handle command that is not provided by default Windows command for Run feature, alternatively vbs script file or MS-DOS batch file can be used together with Run Feature.


Special anatomic structures of the amphibians ease the ultrasonographic examination (ie, skin, uncompartmented pleuro-peritoneal cavity, fluid within the celom). Heart, liver, gallbladder, fat bodies, stomach, intestines, gonads, kidneys, and bladder are displayable. Main differences to reptile sonography are the hyperechoic liver with only few large vessels, the large sinus venosus, the amount of follicles and ova within the ovaries, and therefore the problems in differentiation between ovary, liver, and fat bodies. The fat bodies of anura are finger-like projections in the celom. The bladder is always visible. Preferred technique involves applying the scanner with the patient in a water-filled plastic container.


We utilize birefringence and neutron scattering to study the statics and kinetics of a pressure-induced order−disorder transition (ODT) in a solvated diblock copolymer. We find that birefringence is an excellent technique to measure the order−disorder transition at high pressure, yielding sharp changes in its intensity at the transition. Small-angle neutron scattering exhibits a corresponding change in the width of the scattering peak at the ODT. Both techniques indicate a nearly linear increase of the ODT temperature as a function of pressure. The combination of pressure as a controlling thermodynamic variable and birefringence as the measurement tool permits short time scale kinetics experiments. We find the time scale of the disordering process to be significantly shorter than the ordering time, as revealed by profound asymmetries in the response of the system upon pressurization compared with depressurization. Disordering times as small as 0.5 s are observed in rapid pressure drop experiments.


ABSTRACT This is a study of a robot-controlled ultrashort pulse laser system used for tooth preparation to overcome drawbacks of traditional manual methods, thus improving its quality, precision, and clinical efficacy. Based on the international advanced digital technologies, automation technologies, and medical laser technologies, the entire tooth preparation process was completed autonomously using the robot-controlled ultrashort pulse laser. In the study, 15 extracted human first molars were prepared automatically by the robot system. And the result accuracy was evaluated using software. Compared with the CAD data of standard tooth preparation, the overall average error, preparation depth of the natural tooth preparation, and convergence angle were 0.05–0.17 mm, 2.097 ± 0.022 mm with an error of 0.097 ± 0.022 mm, and 6.98 ± 0.35° with an error of 0.98 ± 0.35°, respectively. The feasibility and accuracy of the robot-controlled femtosecond laser technique for tooth preparation were confirmed.


Study of visual performance data obtained under conditions of simulated or real visual work has suggested that, in addition to the visual sensory process involved in performing the Landolt ring tasks, there must also be important processes involving the oculomotor mechanisms of vision responsible for the speed and accuracy of saccadic eye movements and the maintenance of accurate ocular fixation in the momentary fixational pauses during which Information is obtained about the task. Direct recordings of these two oculomotor processes have been made with an exotic computer-driven equipment assemblage, and the performance of each process has been shown to improve as a function of increased task visibility. A quantitative model has been developed which will make It possible to calculate performance effectiveness of the two oculomotor processes for different task luminances for tasks of known equivalent contrast, C. The method has been shown to apply so long as the lengths of ocular saccades do not exceed 3 d...


The results of the toxicological experiment on extracts from Epilobium angustifolium L. herb are presented. Absence of reliable negative changes, structural and functional disorders was established in accordance with the criteria for assessing the harmfulness and danger of toxic effect of the raw materials studied in Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). Significant differences in some hematological parameters in the experimental group of animals where the dose of Epilobium angustifolium extract making 800 mg/kg of animal weight was chosen for study compared to the control one are not diagnostically significant and are within the fluctuations of physiological norms for the animals species given. It was found that the extracts in doses of 200, 500 and 800 mg/kg (by dry residue) in repeated oral administration for 28 days do not cause detectable toxic effects.


The invention M IM: discloses a method for improving the leakage current characteristic of the (MIM Metal Insulator Metal) capacitor. M. IM capacitor forming method of the present invention is disclosed, comprising: providing a semiconductor substrate layer is formed not containing a metal pattern; The step of depositing the first metal film for lower electrode on said base layer; Depositing a first intermediate in order to prevent the first oxide also improves the surface roughness of the first metal film on the first metal film and at the same time; The step of depositing a dielectric film having a high dielectric constant on the first interlayer; Depositing a second intermediate layer to increase the band gap energy on the dielectric film of the high dielectric constant; Depositing a second metal film for the upper electrode on the second intermediate layer; The step of patterning the second metal film, the second nitride film, a dielectric film and a first interlayer film forming the upper electrode; And forming a lower electrode by patterning the first metal film, wherein said first and second intermediate layer is one selected from the group consisting of a nitride film, a silicon oxide film and an aluminum oxide layer, preferably a nitride, the nitride film is deposited to a thickness 10~200A according to the PECVD process at a temperature of 300~500 ℃.


This study investigate the effect of macroeconomic variables on net assets of multinational companies operating in Nigeria with the aim of identifying how level of interest rate affect the net assets of these companies. Increased integration and growing macroeconomics fluctuations requires more attention to be paid to link between the "noise" that these fluctuations represent and the companies own development. For many reasons, management of these companies must weed out the effects of the "noise" so as to obtain a clear picture of long term sustainable profits, and thus a picture of how the company's intrinsic competitiveness is fostered. An understanding of the effect of the fluctuations also provides the basis for risk assessment. The net assets of multinational companies in Nigeria are affected either positively or negatively by a number of factors occurring within or without the economic system. This study examines the impact of interest rate (INT) on net assets of multinational companies to Nigeria from 1994 to 2010. net assets were represented by Net Assets Value Index in the model which is NAVI = a o + a 1 INT + U. A regression model was designed to test the relationship between the net assets and interest rate as a macroeconomic factor. The regression analysis slowed that a reduction in interest rate results in increase net assets. Government should therefore implement policies that will reduce interest rate and improve standard of living of its through the encouragement of investment and enhance transactions in multinational companies sixty three (63) multinational companies spread across the country. For the purpose of the study, the selected a sample size of twelve (12) multinational companies which is a subset of the population. Particular attention was given to fifteen years financial statement in the companies in the study. variables results to 15.6% decrease in the Net assets for interest rate. The t-test shows all the interest rate have a positive relationship with the Net assets.


Tracy Huziak-Clark, Advisor With the rapid growth of immigrants in the United States it has become vital for this culturally diverse group of second language learners of English to competently learn English. Competence in communication is considered a platform for students to establish for themselves an equal opportunity to succeed academically and in social interaction. This study explored how special language programs, like the ESL program, utilize culture in its methods of teaching English. Culture is an element in language that stimulates discussions, thus developing communicative competence, language acquisition and develops awareness of oneself and others. This study also explored other strategies that the ESL teacher used in promoting successful communication and the barriers that inhibit students' acquisition of English. To arrive at my findings I observed an ESL classroom of five culturally diverse students, and one ESL teacher. With my observations I gave out questionnaires to all six of my participants, and later analyzed the findings to address the intentions of the study. The findings from the study revealed that culture cannot stand as a component of its own when it comes to language teaching, but it should be utilized alongside Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) that stimulates meaningful discussions. Although the ESL teacher revealed elements of CLT in her instruction, ESL teachers still need to strategies ways of infusing CLT in their day-to-day language teaching.


Self-pollination was estimated in three Georgia pecan (Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch) orchards. Selfing in two large orchards lacking an interplanted complementary pollinizer (one orchard being comprised of 'Curtis' and the other 'Mon- eymaker') was estimated to be at least 3% and 49%, respectively. A 'Cheyenne' orchard containing 'Stuart' as a complementary pollinizer at 5% density was estimated to have had at least 14% and 42% of ripened nuts derived from selfing in two consecutive years. These estimates suggest self-pollination may reduce yield in pecan orchards in the southeastern United States.


Many people want to reduce their smartphone usage to increase productivity and well-being, but fail to accomplish this goal. We conduct a randomized control trial with a student population (N=112) over three weeks to test the effectiveness of two widely available digital nudges for screen time reduction. Along with a tracking-only control condition, a passive digital nudge (i.e., grayscale mode) was compared to an active digital nudge (i.e., time limits). The passive nudge led to an immediate, significant reduction of objectively measured screen time compared to the control condition. Conversely, the active nudge led to a smaller and gradual screen time reduction. Those in the control condition, who simply tracked their usage, did not lower their screen time. As opposed to the popular belief that reducing screen time is beneficial, we found no immediate causal effects of reducing screen time on subjective well-being and academic performance.


California's red sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus franciscanus, catch peaked at 23,577 metric tons (t) in 1988. Since then, catches and CPUE have trended downward at different rates in northern and southern California, with 10,086 t landed statewide in 1995. West coast sea urchin catches and CPUE from British Columbia, Can., to Baja California, Mex., have generally declined during this period which followed a decade of rapid fishery expansion. This expansion was in response to increasing demand from Japan fueled by rising prices based largely on a more favorable export currency exchange rate. West coast stock assessment methods have been based on integrating a combination of fisheries dependent data and population surveys into models at various levels of complexity. California management policy has centered on technical measures such as size limits and seasonal closures and has been largely ineffective in stabilizing declining catches.


Most laymen will agree that there must be some optimal population size for any given country and for the world as a whole. Also, most people are aware to some degree that there is an increasing problem with pollution in the world, and especially in the industralized countries. However, Barnett (1970) has reported a study where only 54% of individuals who were deeply concerned with environmental deterioration considered population control to be necessary, and Dolan (1969) has argued against the notion that population and pollution are closely linked, referring to this concept as the "population-pollution fallacy." Ehrlich and Holdren (1971) propose just the opposite; that population and pollution are inseparable, a view that I share.


The interaction between the rotor and stator is a major source of high amplitude pressure fluctuation and flow-induced vibration in multistage centrifugal pumps. The pressure fluctuation is detrimental to the reliable operation of pumps. The sensitivity of vibration is severe if the number of stages is more. In the present experimental study, a vertical multistage centrifugal submersible pump is used to measure the pressure fluctuation level at Best Efficiency Points (BEP) and to determine the influence of stage and operating speed on pressure fluctuation. For this purpose, pressure fluctuation signals were captured at the delivery side of the pump at BEP at various speed settings. The characteristics of pressure fluctuation at BEP at various operating speeds were studied with the help of spectra, i.e., in the frequency domain. The amplitude variation of pressure fluctuation with harmonics of vane passing frequency at stages were studied. Results have indicated that variation of pressure fluctuation with stage and speed exhibited a non-linear variation. In addition, such a pressure fluctuation study will be helpful to modify the design to obtain a uniform pressure distribution in the stages of a multistage pump.


Complete 28S rDNA of three species of representataive bryozoan lineages were amplified and sequenced. Their primary structures,and predicted secondary structures of D2、D3 and D8 domains were compared and analysed combining with those of other three representative species published in GenBank. The results show that each sequence of them is over 3300 base pairs and their GC contents are from 41.8%-57.7%; the secondary structures of D3 and D8 domains are relatively conserved,whereas the D2 domain is significantly variable; the sequence lengths varied markedly among them for each D domain,however,their morphological characteristics of the secondary structures are basically the same. The phylogenetic relationships based on the morphological characters of secondary structures are consistent with those based on the primary structures and other features,and this fact shows that the moclecular morphology is also the valuable source for the phylogenetic information.


The article employing a systems, synergetic and integrated approaches focuses on the idea of social and personal openness of professional education instrumental to harmonisation of interests of principal bearers of educational needs: person, society, economics, state.


The overview and the design of 8m~3 high altitude simulated control system,and the process of applying Visual C++ technique to design system with LabVIEW components were introduced.The key technologies such as control,data processing integration were solved,and the experimental efficiency of high altitude simulated control system was raised.


Figure 1. A: Postcontra st axial CTat the level ofthe larynx shows an enlargem ent ofthe left piriform apex (long thick arrow), anterior displa cement of the left aryepiglottic fold (short thick arrow), and anterior rotation of the arytenoid (thin arrow). B: Coronal MR1 at the same level demon strat es the left vocalfold pa ralysis . The f old on the affected side remain s in the paramedial position (lon g arrow) durin g inspiration and phonation. The laryngeal ventricle (sho rt arrow) is also enlarged. B


Mobile manipulators are one of the most complicated types of mechatronics systems. The performance of these robots in performing complex manipulation tasks is highly correlated with the synchronization and integration of their low-level components. This paper discusses in detail the mechatronics design of a four wheel steered mobile manipulator. It presents the manipulator's mechanical structure and electrical interfaces, designs low-level software architecture based on embedded PC-based controls, and proposes a systematic solution based on code generation products of MATLAB and Simulink. The remote development environment described here is used to develop real-time controller software and modules for the mobile manipulator under a POSIX-compliant, real-time Linux operating system. Our approach enables developers to reliably design controller modules that meet the hard real-time constraints of the entire low-level system architecture. Moreover, it provides a systematic framework for the development and integration of hardware devices with various communication mediums and protocols, which facilitates the development and integration process of the software controller.


The actual global scenery places the Brazilian small business under the pressure of new competitive forces. The big challenge for their managers is to determine the market's sensibility, the innovation and the technology of the product, as well as their adaptation to new management models. This paper results from a research that approaches the various aspects of managerial competence in small businesses, and the objective general is analyze managerial competencies considered essential in view of managers of small clothing companies in the city of Vila Velha/ES. The analysis was conducted through exploratory-descriptive research and the design used was the survey. A questionnaire was applied to open and closed questions to 48 entrepreneurs of Small Companies in the City of Vila Velha/ES. The managers interviewed revealed greater emphasis to technical and conceptual skills, because they value the knowledge of the business and its environment, beyond the identification of both the competitive advantage of opportunities, both relevant in the conduct of their businesses.


Submitted for the MAR09 Meeting of The American Physical Society Sorting Category: 07.11.1 (E) Diameter and Geometry Control of Vertically Aligned SWNTs through Catalyst Manipulation RONG XIANG, ERIK EINARSSON, JUN OKAWA, YOICHI MURAKAMI, SHIGEO MARUYAMA, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Tokyo — We present our recent progress on manipulating our liquidbased catalyst loading process, which possesses greater potential than conventional deposition in terms of cost and scalability, to control the diameter and morphology of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). We demonstrate that the diameter of aligned SWNTs synthesized by alcohol catalytic CVD can be tailored over a wide range by modifying the catalyst recipe. SWNT arrays with an average diameter as small as 1.2 nm were obtained by this method. Additionally, owing to the alignment of the array, the continuous change of the SWNT diameter during a single CVD process can be clearly observed and quantitatively characterized. We have also developed a versatile wet chemistry method to localize the growth of SWNTs to desired regions via surface modification. By functionalizing the silicon surface using a classic self-assembled monolayer, the catalyst can be selectively dip-coated onto hydrophilic areas of the substrate. This technique was successful in producing both random and aligned SWNTs with various patterns. The precise control of the diameter and morphology of SWNTs, achieved by simple and scalable liquid-based surface chemistry, could greatly facilitate the application of SWNTs as the building blocks of future nano-devices. X Prefer Oral Session Prefer Poster Session Rong Xiang firstname.lastname@example.com Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Tokyo Date submitted: 15 Oct 2008 Electronic form version 1.4


Soils with pedogenic carbonate cover about 30% (3.44 × 106 km2) of China, mainly across its arid and semiarid regions in the Northwest. Based on the second national soil survey (1979–1992), total soil inorganic carbon (SIC) storage in China was estimated to be 53.3±6.3 PgC (1 Pg=1015 g) to the depth investigated to 2 m. Soil inorganic carbon storages were 4.6, 10.6, 11.1, and 20.8 Pg for the depth ranges of 0–0.1, 0.1–0.3, 0.3–0.5, and 0.5–1 m, respectively. Stocks for 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 1 m of depth accounted for 8.7%, 28.7%, 49.6%, and 88.9% of total SIC, respectively. In contrast with soil organic carbon (SOC) storage, which is highest under 500–800 mm yr−1 of mean precipitation, SIC storage peaks where mean precipitation is <400 mm yr−1. The amount and vertical distribution of SIC was related to climate and land cover type. Content of SIC in each incremental horizon was positively related with mean annual temperature and negatively related with mean annual precipitation, with the magnitude of SIC content across land cover types showing the following order: desert, grassland >shrubland, cropland >marsh, forest, meadow. Densities of SIC increased generally with depth in all ecosystem types with the exception of deserts and marshes where it peaked in intermediate layers (0.1–0.3 m for first and 0.3–0.5 m for latter). Being an abundant component of soil carbon stocks in China, SIC dynamics and the process involved in its accumulation or loss from soils require a better understanding.


The photolysis of (CH3)2CDCH2CH3, (CH3)2CHCH2CD3, and of equimolar (CH3)2CHCH2CH3−(CD3)2CDCD2CD3 mixtures has been investigated in the presence of NO at 1470 A (8.4 eV), 1236 A (10 eV) and at 1048–1067 A (11.54–11.72 eV). Furthermore, in order to obtain quantitative information concerning the free radicals produced in the fragmentation processes, (CD3)2CDCD2CD3 has been photolyzed at 1236 A in the presence of various concentrations of H2S.Fragmentation of the excited isopentane molecule produced at 8.4 or 10 eV, as well as of the superexcited molecule formed at 11.54–11.72 eV, yields mainly olefinic products and the following radicals, in order of decreasing yield: H>CH3>C2H5>C3H7. In addition, on the basis of the various isotopically labeled products, it is concluded that methane, ethane, and propane are split off from the excited isopentane molecule by formation of (a) the corresponding carbene (1,2 elimination), or (b) the corresponding olefin (1,3 elimination). When the energy of the photon is increas...


A new and highly efficient polymer, postpolymerization, modification platform based on an inverse electron demand Diels−Alder reaction is reported. Welldefined polymers were synthesized from allyl glycidyl ether and glycidol by anionic ring-opening polymerization with postpolymerization modifications conducted with a number of tetrazine derivatives that carried functional groups spanning from carboxylates and esters to primary amines. Analysis of polymerization kinetics by real-time H NMR, and GPC revealed a rapid and high degree of side-chain conversion (>99%), with the generation of well-defined functional polymers, in both organic and aqueous solvents, without the need for additives or catalysts. ■ INTRODUCTION Poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs) are one of the most widely used polymers, with applications ranging from drug-delivery and protein bioconjugation to the synthesis of hydrogels as well as being applied in emerging technologies such as solar cells. Poly(allyl glycidyl ethers) (PAGEs) have been suggested as functional alternatives to PEG, as they offer an identical polyether backbone while offering postpolymerization modification capability through the functional allyl handles positioned along the polymer chain. Postpolymerization modifications are typically based on the reaction of functional groups incorporated within a polymer that are inert under polymerization conditions but which can be converted in a subsequent reaction step into a range of other functional groups or act as the site of a second polymerization reaction. These modifications need to be highly efficient to guarantee near-quantitative conversion, ideally under mild reaction conditions that avoid degradation of either the polymer or the functionality that is being introduced. Although a number of successful reactions have been introduced for postpolymerization modifications, the development of efficient synthetic protocols to decorate polymers with functional units remains a key need in macromolecular chemistry. The advent of so-called "click chemistry" techniques have led to widely accessible and well-defined macromolecular architectures and functional polymers. Among these, the copper-catalyzed azide−alkyne Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction and has led to a great number of postpolymerization modifications over the past decade. Although the requirement for a metal catalyst and its subsequent removal can be a limitation (particularly for biomedical applications) there are always concerns over the explosive nature of low-molecular-weight azido species. Some metal-free "click chemistries" have been reported for polymer modification, such as the "thiol−ene" reaction; however, thiol-containing compounds undergo various oxidation-based chemistries, such as disulfide formation, limiting scope. Another possible drawback of thiol−ene addition chemistry is that the radical formed following thiol addition may attack adjacent vinyl groups, leading to intramolecular cyclizations and crosslinking. The additive-free, inverse-electron-demand Diels−Alder (invDA) reaction between electron deficient tetrazines and electron-rich dienophiles has attracted considerable attention. Thus, tetrazine-norbornene chemistry has been extensively employed in bioconjugation, in cellular imaging, and in DNA ligation roles. Notably, the invDA has been applied to modify and conjugate polymer chains; however, to date, only tetrazine-strained nobornene chemistry has been reported. An alternative to strained nobornenes are unstrained dienophiles, which can also react with tetrazines and which are synthetically readily available, stable, and comparatively small in size compared with nobornene, an important feature as smaller functional side chain typically results in increased degrees of functionalization due to diminished steric effects, while 1,2,4,5-tetrazaine display good thermal stabilities. The significant promise of PAGE-based materials thus promoted an investigation into postpolymerization modification through ivaDA reactions with tetrazines with the aim of establishing a robust platform amenable to the elaboration of polymers with a wide variety of functionalities in an efficient fashion. Received: April 26, 2016 Revised: July 5, 2016 Published: July 25, 2016 Article pubs.acs.org/Macromolecules © 2016 American Chemical Society 5438 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.6b00867 Macromolecules 2016, 49, 5438−5443 ■ RESULTS AND DISCUSSION A series of tetrazine derivatives containing pyridyl, phenyl, or pyrimidyl moieties conjugated to carboxylic acids, esters and amides were employed to study how these substituents influenced the bimolecular reaction of the ivaDA reaction, with allyl glycidyl ether (used as the reaction partner in these initial scoping reactions) with reaction monitoring conducted via NMR analysis (Scheme 1). The reaction with TZ1 was found to proceed to completion within 2 h at 25 °C (Table 1). Under the same conditions reactions with TZ2−TZ7 were significantly slower with conversions from 14 to 50% within 10−14 h; however, increasing the temperature to 60 °C gave conversions of >90% in 10 h in all cases. At 100 °C, the reaction with TZ7 reached completion within 3 h; however, under these conditions TZ2 gradually degraded. TZ2, TZ6, and TZ7 were chosen as examples of different tetrazine reaction centers with rate constants determined under pseudo-first-order conditions following the decay in the absorption of the tetrazine unit at 530 nm, by fitting the data with a simple exponential equation (Figures S5−S7 in the Supporting Information). The second-order rate constants were calculated from the linear dependence of the observed rate constants on the concentration of the allyl glycidyl ether used (Table 2). It was expected that the reaction between the tetrazines (TZ2−7) and allyl glycidyl ether would be slower than the corresponding strained dienophiles, such as norborenes (k ≈ 1−5 M−1 s−1) or trans-cyclooctenes (k ≈ 10 M−1 s−1) (it should be noted that there is considerable discrepancy in the literature concerning these rate constants). The Scheme 1. (a) Preparation of Poly(allyl glycidyl ether) and Their Reaction with Tetrazine and (b) Tetrazines Used in This Study Table 1. Reaction Conditions Used for the Analysis of Tetrazines with Allyl Glycidyl Ether (AGE) in [D6]DMSO and Conversion tetrazine temperature/°C conversion/% time/h TZ1 25 100 1.5 TZ2 25 50 10 TZ2 60 91 10 TZ2 100 80 2.5 TZ3 25 38 14 TZ3 60 95 12 TZ4 25 17 10 TZ4 60 95 11 TZ6 25 14 14 TZ6 60 97 14 TZ7 25 32 14 TZ7 60 88 12 TZ7 100 100 3 Molar ratio of tetrazine to allyl glycidyl ether was 4:1. Measured by relative integration of the allyl versus aromatic protons of 1,2,4,5tetramethylbenzene (used as an internal standard). Table 2. Second-Order Rate Constants for invDA Reaction of Tetrazines TZ2, TZ6, and TZ7 with Allyl Glycidyl Ethers tetrazine k × 10−5 [M−1 s−1] R TZ2 8.93 0.97 TZ6 7.18 0.98 TZ7 1.99 0.98 All reactions were performed in DMSO at 25 °C and repeated at least three times. The initial concentration of tetrazines was 0.5 mM and varying concentration of AGE between 5 to 50 mM, corresponding to 10−100 equiv with respect to the tetrazines. The loss of the absorption of the TZ was measured over time at 530 nm. The linear dependence of the observed rate constants k′ on the concentration of AGE provided the second-order rate constants k (n = 3). (For details, see the Supporting Information.) Macromolecules Article DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.6b00867 Macromolecules 2016, 49, 5438−5443 5439 strong electron-withdrawing effect of the esters in TZ1 clearly enhances the reactivity of the tetrazine, displaying rates comparable to those of the strained dienophiles with dipyridyltetrazine. Herein, our results showed that the reactivity of TZs followed the order of TZ1 ≫ TZ2 ≈ TZ6 > TZ7 as electron-density increases; however, TZ1 was highly reactive, being fully/rapidly degraded in the presence of trace amounts of water, and was not used in studies going forward. On the basis of this understanding, postpolymerization modifications of the poly(allyl glycidyl ether)s were carried out. The homopolymers (PAGE1, PAGE2, and PAGE3) and the random copolymers poly(allyl glycidyl ether-co-glycidol) (PAGE-co-PG) were prepared via anion ring-opening polymerization using potassium alkoxide/naphthalenide as initiators. All polymers obtained exhibited monomodal molecular weight distributions and low PDIs, with absolute molecular weights determined by H NMR analysis (Table 3). TZ2 and TZ6 displayed similar reactivities with PAGE2, reacting some two times faster than tetrazine TZ7, presumably due to the nature of the resulting polymer generated with TZ7, with multiple carboxylic acid/carboxylate groups generated along the polymer backbone (Figure 1). Virtually complete conversion of all allyl-ether pendants could be achieved by tuning the reaction temperature (see Figure 2), with NMR revealing complete consumption of all pendant allyl groups within 18 h at 60 °C and 8 h at 100 °C, with the slowest reacting tetrazine TZ7. Interestingly, the rate of the postpolymerization reaction was also found to be molecular-weight-dependent, as shown in Figure 3, with PAGE1−3 (Mn = 511, 9 kDa, and 40.5 kDa) showing 50% conversion after 1, 4, and 16 h, respectively, despite there being a 4-fold excess of tetrazine (over alkene) in each case. GPC showed the expected increase in molecular weight with no observable cross-linking (Figure 4). It is also important to emphasize that gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis of the resulting polymers showed low PDI = 1.03 to 1.07, indicating well-controlled reactions (Table 3). During postpolymerization modification of PAGE2 with TZ2, the reaction lead to polymers bearing both hydropyridazine and 1,2-pyridazine pendant units (as evidenced by H NMR analysis (Figure 5)); over time the aromatization of the intermediate product, hydropyridazine pendant units, proceeded to comp


The random-field Ising model shows extreme critical slowdown that has been described by activated dynamic scaling: the characteristic time for the relaxation to equilibrium diverges exponentially with the correlation length, $\ln \tau\sim \xi^\psi/T$ , with $\psi$ an \textit{a priori} unknown barrier exponent. Through a nonperturbative functional renormalization group, we show that for spatial dimensions $d$ less than a critical value $d_{DR} \simeq 5.1$, also associated with dimensional-reduction breakdown, $\psi=\theta$ with $\theta$ the temperature exponent near the zero-temperature fixed point that controls the critical behavior. For $d>d_{DR}$ on the other hand, $\psi=\theta-2\lambda$ where $\theta=2$ and $\lambda>0$ a new exponent. At the upper critical dimension $d=6$, $\lambda=1$ so that $\psi=0$, and activated scaling gives way to conventional scaling. We give a physical interpretation of the results in terms of collective events in real space, avalanches and droplets. We also propose a way to check the two regimes by computer simulations of long-range 1-$d$ systems.


The extent to which individual shareholders' taxes affect equity, prices is central to valuation and tax policy. Historically, the dividend tax has attracted more scholarly, attention than the capital gains tax. Even today, the debate between the traditional view and the (now not-so-new) new view continues, and studies of the 2003 reduction in the dividend tax are already emerging. (1) Conversely, the appropriate tax on capital gains has long been hotly contested in policy circles but has received comparably little attention from scholars. This is surprising because most companies pay no dividends and those that do pay dividends typically distribute only a small fraction of their profits. Thus, the capital gains tax would appear to be more important for investors than the dividend tax. In recent years scholars have become increasingly interested in the impact of the capital gains tax on share prices. This report summarizes some of that recent research. Necessary Conditions for Share Prices to be Affected by Taxes When an investor sells a share of stock, the United States taxes the difference between the sales price and its tax basis, which is usually the purchase price. Except for the period 1988-90, individual investors have been rewarded with a reduced tax rate if they hold the stock for a minimum period, which has ranged from six to 18 months. Currently the appreciation on investments held for more than one year (long-term capital gains) is taxed at a maximum rate of 15 percent while the appreciation on investments held for shorter periods (short-term capital gains) is taxed at the ordinary tax rate, currently capped at 35 percent. Policy debates about the level and appropriateness of capital gains taxes almost always revolve around the long-term capital gains tax rate and the length of the requisite holding period. Since changes in these policies often provide added power to our tests of the impact of capital gains taxes on share prices, let's consider the necessary conditions for a change in the long-term capital gains tax rate to affect share prices. (2) To begin with, the marginal investor in the firm must be an individual or a flow-through entity that passes capital gains to individual tax returns. If other investors (for example, qualified retirement plans, corporations, tax-exempt organizations, or foreign entities) are setting prices, then changes in the long-term rate should have no effect on prices because preferential rates for long-term gains only apply to individuals. Furthermore, the marginal investor must be willing to hold the stock for the obligatory long-term holding period, must dispose of the stock in a taxable manner (for example, not as a charitable donation or bequest), must intend to comply with the law (capital gains non-compliance is known to exceed that of wages, dividends, interest, and many other sources of income), (3) and must not have anticipated the tax rate change. In addition, because of complex netting provisions, the long-term capital gains tax rate applies if and only if an individual's long-term capital gains during the year exceed his long-term capital losses and the excess of his short-term capital losses over his short-term capital gains, if any. (4) Finally, inelasticities in the supply of capital must prevent immediate readjustment throughout the economy following the tax rate change. All of these conditions must hold for a change in the long-term capital gains tax rate to affect prices (other than through indirect macroeconomic shifts). Similar conditions must hold for other changes in the taxation of capital gains to affect share prices. Thus, it is an empirical question whether changes in capital gains taxes affect share prices. The remainder of this article reviews recent research designed to provide some empirical underpinning. In general, the preliminary evidence suggests that capital gains taxes affect equity prices and may contribute to short-term departures from fundamental prices. …


We wish to resubmit for publication in BMC Cancer a manuscript entitled "Expression profiling identifies candidate genes involved in neoplastic transformation of serous ovarian cancer" by Merritt et al. This manuscript was returned on the 9th February 2009 with a decision of "revise and resubmit". The material in this manuscript has not been published nor is it under active consideration by another journal. All authors have reviewed the manuscript.


BACKGROUND
Previous studies have reported that there may be a close relationship between elevated serum uric acid (UA) levels and metabolic syndrome. However, the association between these two factors has not been explored explicitly. Therefore, we carried out this study to investigate the association between UA and lipid profiles.

METHODS
A total of 2,482 subjects participated in this cross-sectional study using a multistage stratified sampling method. Lipid profile, glucose metabolism, and other metabolic factors were measured and classified into UA-stratified and age-stratified groups to investigate the relationship between hyperuricemia and metabolic factors. Pearson correlations and logistic regressions were utilized to further explore the association between UA and lipid profile.

RESULTS
The individuals aged 18 to 29 years presented with high serum UA concentrations. Moreover, the prevalence of hyperuricemia was higher among men than in women. Furthermore, statistically significant positive correlations were found between UA and serum triglycerides (TG), serum total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c). Conversely, only high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) was negatively correlated. Moreover, TG group status (1.70≤ TG <2.30 mmol/L) was an independent risk factor for hyperuricemia in both univariate and multivariate models.

CONCLUSIONS
This study found significant positive associations between TG, TC, LDL, and UA but an inverse relationship with HDL-c. Thus hyperuricemia may be a risk factor for abnormal lipid metabolism.


Let G be a group, and let φ (x1, …, xn) be any word in the variables x1, …, xn. We denote by φ(G) and φ*(G) respectively the corresponding verbal and marginal subgroups of G, which are defined as follows. (i) φ(G)is the subgroup generated by all elements of the form φ(a1; …, an) with ai in G(for i = 1, 2, …, n); (ii) an element b of G lies in φ*(G) if and only if for all choices of a1, …, an in G and i= 1, 2, …,n.


The author analyzed the achievements made and insufficiencies existed in high performance sports team in China,and put forward the following opinions based on his analysis: ①Reinforce the cognition to the job of high performance sports team;②The scientific plan to layout of high performance sports team;③For the legalization of cultivating on coach of high performance sport team,perfect the cultivating policy of coach on high performance sport team;④Build competitive mechanism on high performance sports team;⑤For the most choice of Sports Resource,connecting mechanism should be built on choosing between high performance sports team and national sports team.


Objective To analyzethe multiphase contrast-enhanced CT imaging and summarize the imaging features of renal collecting duct carcinoma( CDC). Methods The clinical and radiographic data of 5 CDC patients confirmed by pathological examination were retrospectively reviewed. All patients hadgot the CT plain scan and contrast-enhanced scan. The feature analysis of CDC was performed from the lesion's site,size,shape and internal structure,degreeof enhancement,surrounding structure,invasion,metastasis and other signs,and compared with the results of histological examination.Results Amongthe 5 cases,the CDC of 2 cases was in right kidney,of 3 casesin left kidneyin which one case of left kidney CDC was complicated byclear cell renal cell carcinoma in the right kidney. 4 cases were lobular carcinoma without clear boundary,and 1 case was with spherical carcinoma with a pseudocapsule. The tumor size was( 2. 5 cm × 2. 0 cm)-( 8. 0 cm × 5. 0 cm). The lesions appeared solid( 3 /5) or complex solid and cystic( 2 /5) on CT. The attenuation of unenhanced CT for the solid part of CDC( 34. 63 ± 3. 50) was higher than renal cortex( 32. 83 ± 6. 70) and medulla( 32. 75 ±5. 15),P 0. 05). The degree of enhancement for CDC was less than normal renal cortex and medulla during all enhanced phases( P 0. 05). Thetumors invaded renal cortex in all 5 cases,invaded simultaneouslypelvicaliceal in 2 cases.The renal vein of lesion side was invaded by tumors in 1 case. One case had swollenretroperitoneal lymph node,and other case had no signs ofmetastasis to lymph node and other organ. Conclusion The multi-phase contrast-enhanced CTcan show distinct imaging features of CDC that are correlated with pathological characteristics,butthe confirmed diagnosis shoulddepend on the results of pathological examination.


This paper examines cross-country variation in the liquidity effect – the negative response of interest rates to money supply shocks – focusing on the role of financial factors in explaining this variation. We estimate the liquidity effect for each of 21 countries using VAR models in which money supply shocks are restricted to be neutral in the long-run, then regress the estimated liquidity effect on financial market variables across countries. We find that financial factors play an important role in determining the magnitude of the liquidity effect, and that this evidence is most consistent with generalised versions of limited-participation models. Over the past decade, empirical macroeconomists have accumulated substantial time-series evidence supporting the existence of a 'liquidity effect' – the temporary, but persistent, negative response of interest rates to nominal money supply shocks. 1 This evidence is inconsistent with classical assumptions of price flexibility, perfect information and insignificant transactions costs – money supply shocks will be matched in this case by proportional price level responses, money will be neutral, and there will be no liquidity effect. However, the specific type of market rigidity that generates the observed liquidity effect is not yet well understood. Understanding the sources of the liquidity effect is important in distinguishing among alternative explanations of the monetary transmission mechanism, and thus helping determine the types of models best suited for the analysis of monetary policy. Time series evidence alone is possibly not rich enough to explain the existence and magnitude of the liquidity effect completely. Cross-country variation in the liquidity effect is potentially informative in this regard but has not been fully examined. To our knowledge, no studies have systematically documented or compared the magnitude of the liquidity effect across countries. At best, extant comparisons in the literature are informal and qualitative in nature, and are made over only a handful of countries (e.g., the G-7 countries). In this paper, we attempt to begin filling this void in the literature. We do so by estimating the liquidity effect for a larger country sample (21 countries) than other studies, using a common time-series technique and a careful empirical strategy for * The authors appreciate helpful comments from George Selgin, Jim Fackler, Tim Fuerst, two very helpful anonymous referees, Mike Wickens (the editor), and participants at the Econometric Society European Meetings in Venice, 2002, and the Southern Economic Association Meetings in Tampa, 2001. Lastrapes acknowledges research support from a Terry-Sanford research grant at the Terry College of Business. Part of the work on this project was done while Lastrapes was a Visiting Scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.


Patients with cancer of unknown primary (CUP) carry the double burden of an aggressive disease and reduced access to therapies. Experimental models summing up CUP features are pivotal for CUP biology investigation and drug testing. We derived two CUP cell lines (CUP#55 and #96), and corresponding patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), from ascites tumor cells. CUP cell lines and PDXs underwent histological, immune-phenotypical, molecular, and genomic characterization confirming the features of the original tumor. Genetic testing and FISH analysis identified FGFR2 amplification as therapeutic target in tumor tissues and patient-derived models. Drug-screening assays were performed to test the activity of FGFR2 targeting drug BGJ-398 (infigratinib) and the combination treatment with the MEK inhibitor trametinib, which proved to be synergic and exceptionally active, both in vitro and in vivo. This study brings personalized therapy closer to CUP patients and paves the way to future applications of personalized medicine for metastatic patients with adverse prognosis.


The search for new compounds of plant origin with antimicrobial activity has been the goal of many research groups, due to the increase in the number of microorganisms resistant to antimicrobials. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of two plant species, Tabebuia aurea ("paratudo") and Cordia glabrata ("louro branco"), present in the state of Mato Grosso. The plant material (leaves and flowers) was extracted by maceration in 70% ethanol (Et) and polar hexane (Hex) (non-polar solvent). The determination of the antimicrobial activity was carried out by broth microdilution technique, and the antioxidant potential determined by the DPPH free radical method. In the evaluation of the antibacterial activity, the ethanolic extract of C. glabrata leaves presented better antibacterial potential for Staphylococcus aureus, revealing a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 125 μg / mL. However, for strains of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhimurium, all extracts of C. glabrata showed MICs of 2000 μg / mL or higher. The ethanolic and hexanic extracts of T. aurea flowers and leaves did not show promising antibacterial potential for any of the tested strains. In the evaluation of antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis, the hexanic extract of C. glabrata leaves presented weak to moderate activity only for the C. albicans strain (MIC = 1000 μg / mL). The remaining extracts of C. glabrata and the extracts of T. aurea were not promising against the tested yeasts, showing inhibitory concentrations equal to or greater than 2000 μg / mL. In the determination of the antioxidant potential, the polar extracts (Et 70%) had a higher capacity to sequester the DPPH radical than the capacity obtained for the apolar extracts (Hex). The tests revealed promising antibacterial activity for Staphylococcus aureus and high antioxidant potential of the hydroethanolic extracts of leaves and flowers of C. glabrata, respectively.


Signal to noise ratio (SNR) is one of the key parameters in the communication, radar and spectrum perception systems. In this paper, we propose and demonstrate a SNR enhancement receiver with wide processing bandwidth and tunability, where two coherent optical frequency combs (OFCs) based on multi-channel microwave source and electro-optic modulators are incorporated to accomplish simultaneous frequency down-conversion and channelization. By exploiting a dual frequency microwave source as a comb driver, the FSR tunable OFC is demonstrated. The FSR of the laser can be tuned flexibly from 8 GHz to 12 GHz by controlling the controlling the frequency of the microwave source. Multifrequency microwave signal is generated from a 0-10GHz microwave signal source and cloned to the optical domain by a carrier suppressed single sideband modulator (CS-SS) and then down-converted and channelized to the same IF. The IF signals are digitalized and then added in the digital domain. With the proposed receiver a 7.2 dB SNR enhancement has been achieved.


physician subgroups. As part of the merger, all clinics are preparing to implement an electronic medical record (EMR). The NSC anticipates a starting "go live" date of mid-February 2007, with final completion of all practices by May 2007. One of the NSC groups is a medical practice that conducts genetic testing, including prenatal diagnosis, paternity testing, carrier testing, breast cancer gene testing, Huntington disease, and other presymptomatic testing of adult-onset genetic diseases.


. This paper deals with the frequent use of modal auxiliary verbs in Corpus of Contemporary of American English (COCA). The modal auxiliary verbs mentioned as the data are can, could, will, would, may, might, shall, should, and must. Each data collected are taken from COCA in https://corpus.byu.edu/coca/. The research method is descriptive analysis; the present writers describe every data related to their function in each clause. The findings are related to the highest frequency and the number of elements follow the modal auxiliary verbs. From the 6,008,840 data, it is found the verb would (1,301,269 data) is the most frequently used, it is followed by the verb can (1,228,608 data), the verb will (1,118,515 data), the verb could (885,835 data), the verb may (494,144 data), the verb should (435,903 data), the verb might (300,258 data), the verb must (223,936 data), and the verb shall (20,372 data). This study has also revealed the number of elements following each of modal auxiliary verbs found in the COCA. It is reported that the verb would has seven different types,will has five different types, could and should has four different types, can, may, must, and shall have three different types, and might has two different types as the least number of elements following the verb. From the data analyzed, it is also reported that the modal auxiliary verb would is not only has the highest number in data (as the highest frequency) but also has various number of elements follow the verb.


The development of a novel sensing method coupled with a pattern recognition system is presented as a non-destructive evaluation (NDE) technique for inertia friction welding. The complex nature of sohd-state welding processes, and, in particular, inertia friction welding, prevents a system from incorporating a simple model (e.g., upset) to separate acceptable from unacceptable welds when subtle process variations occur. This work presents the application of an array of non-contact, acoustic emission sensors for determining bond integrity. The sensor data is explored through a variety of feature descriptors (RMS, energy, attack and decay, and power spectrum) and, in some cases, fused with the machine data (speed, pressure, and upset) in an attempt to develop a robust, in-situ NDE technique. The results are presented for bar-to-bar inertia friction welding of copper to stainless steel which exhibits only marginal weldability and, therefore, is ideally suited for validating the capabilities of this new sensing technique.


In multivariate statistical monitoring, batch process models should well reflect process characteristics in order to achieve satisfactory fault detection results. In manufacturing systems, many batch processes are inherently multiphase. Usually, process features are different from one phase to another, and gradual transitions are often observed between phases. Another important characteristic of batch processes is uneven operation durations. In multiphase batch processes, not only the entire batch durations but also the phase durations may be unequal from batch to batch. In this paper, the Gaussian mixture model (GMM) method is adopted to solve both the multiphase and the uneven-duration problems simultaneously. A benchmark penicillin fermentation process is utilized to verify the phase division, transition identification and process monitoring results based on the proposed method.


A novel cascade buck-boost power convertor topology that offers a high degree of power factor correction is proposed. Low-frequency harmonic elimination in the input current is achieved and the power factor is improved to over 99% at power levels of 500 W in typical applications using very simple control circuitry. The buck mode has the same performance as the boost mode. A broad range of output voltage and output power is obtained with unity power factor. The analysis performed and the design equations presented should enable the design to be adapted to a wide range of output power. The effect of the cascade buck-boost inductance and current ripple on the size and efficiency of the converter power stage was taken into consideration. Due to the source impedance and the EMI (electromagnetic interference) filter, the generated high-frequency harmonics do not affect communication systems.<<ETX>>


The catalytic distillation (CD) process for the synthesis of ethyl cellosolve from ethanol and ethylene oxide on molecular sieve catalyst NKC-01 in a 200 mm CD pilot column was simulated using the three-phase nonequilibrium model which was developed in our laboratory. The main feature of this model is that the actual rates for transport and reaction are used and the stage efficiency or HETP (height equivalent to a theoretical plate) is not required. The effect of multicomponent mass and heat transfer between vapor and liquid phases as well as between liquid and solid (catalyst) phases was taken into account according to the Maxwell-Stefan equations. The Newton-Raphson method was used to solve the model equations. The simulation profiles of the temperature and composition along the column are in good agreement with the pilot CD plant data obtained for the synthesis of ethyl cellosolve. Good agreement between model predictions and experimental data is also obtained for the yield and selectivity of the ethyl cellosolve. This model could be extended to simulate other CD processes and commercial scale CD plants.


Antisense‐RNAs have been investigated in detail over the past 20 years as the principal regulators in accessory DNA elements such as plasmids, phages and transposons. However, only a few examples of chromosomally encoded bacterial antisense RNAs were known. Meanwhile, ≈70 small non‐coding RNAs from the Escherichia coli genome have been found, the functions of the majority of which remain to be elucidated. Only one systematic search has been performed for Gram‐positive bacteria, so far. Here, we report the identification of a novel small (205 nt) non‐translated RNA – SR1 – encoded in the Bacillus subtilis genome. SR1 was predicted by a computational approach and verified by Northern blotting. Knockout or overexpression of SR1 did not affect growth. SR1 was derepressed under conditions of gluconeogenesis, but repressed under glycolytic conditions. Two regulatory levels could be identified, one involving CcpA, the second, more important, involving the recently identified regulator CcpN.


In his 2002 State of the Union address, George W. Bush invoked an "axis of evil". What available rhetorical fields enabled the President to link together North Korea, Iran, and Iraq and then judge the result as evil? What could hold this unstable train of signification together? Within what discursive registers was such a monstrous, bizarre moral geography even comprehensible?1 "Evil" finds a hospitable environment in Bush's presidential addresses because of the speculative identity of two seemingly opposed patterns of belief prominent in contemporary America—pervasive relativism and absolutist conviction.2 Through a retrospective on "evil" in presidential speeches, I show how this coincidence of opposites first inhabits the rhetoric of Ronald Reagan, arguably the figure Bush most seeks to emulate as president. At work in the words and personae of both the fortieth and the forty-third presidents is a powerful combination of conviction and vacuity such that resolve exists simply for its own sake. In Bush's speeches this resolve culminates in a vision of himself and America as instruments of the will of God. "Evil" could inhabit the 2002 State of the Union address not simply because of Bush's fluency in the language of the faith, but because of the coincidence of conviction and the broader culture of relativism in which the term "evil" floats so freely. "Evil" is powerful, efficacious, because its very lack of meaning (or the excesses of meaning overdetermining it, which is the same thing) enables the term to produce a conviction-effect: no matter what "evil" means, people can be confident in Bush's conviction—he knows.3 Hearing the 2002 State of the Union address, we believed that he was convinced there was an axis of evil.4


Image fusion of the infrared (IR) and visible images has become one of the essential pre-processing steps for image analysis in medical, defense, remote sensing, etc. Till now, the spatial and transform domain methods have produced fused images that are not of good quality. Also, deep learning-based techniques are mostly concerned with feature extraction from the source images before fusion, but the distinct features of the source images have been overlooked. In the proposed model an attempt has been made to extract the edges of the IR image followed by the feature extraction of the IR and visible images using a dense-network based convolutional neural network. The feature maps from the two pipelines are concatenated along with the edge-extracted IR image and the enhanced visible image to obtain the final fused image. The proposed model has been tested on the TNO image dataset. The quantitative and qualitative results show that the proposed method outperformed when compared with the state-of-the-art method in the entropy content and also produces fused images with better human perception quality.