This paper reviews the present process technology for biological phosphorus (P) removal, the fundamental biological and chemical P removal mechanisms, analytical characterization methods for biological and inorganic P fractions, and finally conventional and new techniques for process design. The understanding of enhanced biological P removal has improved significantly in the past few years. Polyphosphate (poly‐P) accumulating bacteria appear to be selected by introducing an anaerobic fermentation reactor in which the biomass has access to readily biodegradable organics, like volatile acids, etc. The poly‐P bacteria are able to use poly‐P as an energy reserve to absorb and store the readily biodegradable organics, e.g., as s‐polyhy‐droxybutyrate. This gives them an advantage over nonpoly‐P bacteria in their competition for substrate. In some biological P‐removal plants, phosphate precipitation by cations in the sewage may play a significant role. A few milligrams per liter of iron and/or aluminum in the wa...


In order to avoid the fish damage and increase gut removal rate in gutted process,optimizting the operation parameters of cutted and gutted institution, adopting gutted effect test with selfdeveloped gutted mechanism with the Trachurus japonicus for the test object, using the orthogonal experiment design, the effects of acceptability evaluation with transmission speeds, cut knife rotation speeds and gutted wheel rotation speeds were studied. The result showed that the effect degrees of 3 factors on the acceptability evaluation was as following: gutted wheel rotation speedstransmission speedscut knife rotation speeds. The best parameter combination under the gutted process of Trachurus japonicus experiment conditions was obtained as following: the transmission speed was 2.00 m · s- 1, the cut knife rotation speed was 1 100.0 r · min- 1, the gutted wheel rotation speed was 50.0 r · min- 1, the acceptability evaluation was achieved 98.6, at this time, which could meet the needs of gutted process.


The extraction of hexavalent chromium from aqueous solution by cocobetaine in a mixture of kerosene and benzene is investigated. The results indicate that in acidic solution the extraction efficiency of Cr(VI) is excellent. In these experiments the relative affinities of different anions to cocobetaine are in the order : NO 3 > Cl - > SO 4 2-. Experimental results show that dichromate ion (Cr 2 O 7 2-) is the major extractable species of Cr (VI) at lower pH. The strippant composed of 0.1 M sodium hydroxide and 1 M sodium nitrate, results in maximum stripping.


Gender identification from a skeleton remains is a well-known topic in forensic medicine. Technological advancement has helped the forensic anthropoglots to accelerate the process of solving issues on medical-legal context. The main aim of this paper is to provide a systematic review of the deep learning techniques involved in gender determination from digital images of human skeletal remains, and to perform complete study on analysis of the sexual dimorphic parameters of the skeletal bones. The study will be useful for the researchers who focus on the identification of gender using digital images of the skeleton. This review gives the analysis of different techniques used with their performance results.


The overall objective of the public consultation process was to start a dialogue with the general public on the one hand to share current ideas on the proposed approach and, on the other hand to get feedback and suggestions, in particular on how best to use the public space available. The outcome of this process will be taken forward in an updated version of the development proposal for outline planning purposes.


The following article constructs an account of the pedagogy of a teacher of literature in an Australian secondary school. It provides a small window on her professional practice, and draws on a range of data, including notes made by a 'critical friend' as she observed the teacher giving lessons over several days. The participating teacher shared her lesson plans and engaged in conversations with her critical friend, as well as writing reflections about her teaching. In addition to recording classroom observations, the critical friend wrote extended reflections about what she had observed, sometimes in response to the teacher's ensuing reflections about the success of the lessons. The study thus arises out of a professional dialogue between the teacher and her critical friend, and it attempts to convey a sense of their continuing conversation, as they reflect on what they have learnt from their collaboration. The article captures not only the professional learning which the teacher and her critical friend experienced through their ongoing dialogue, but the exchanges that occurred in this teacher's classroom, as her students engaged in interpretive discussions in response to the text they were studying. The very best literature classrooms so this article maintains enable students to engage in exploratory talk (Barnes, 1978), where the very notion of 'literature', as an esteemed body of texts, is open to interrogation. The students in this classroom appropriate the language of literary analysis in a dialogical way (Bakhtin, 1981), making this language their own through their discussions of the work of a distinguished Australian writer. The protocols for classroom observation that were followed derive from the International Mother Tongue Education Network (IMEN), which positions teachers and academics as collaborators in research on the 6 B. DOECKE, P. GILL, B. ILLESCA, & P.-H. VAN DE VEN teaching of L-1, with the aim of facilitating comparative research on mother tongue education in various national settings. Rather than judging the work of individual teachers, the aim is to create opportunities for them to reflect on their teaching and to articulate their views and values in dialogue with educators in other countries. The goal of the following article is not simply to present the results of a research project, but to prompt readers to enact the interpretive activities at the heart of this inquiry into the teaching of literature. This article is itself a vehicle for others to join in a wider conversation about the teaching of literature across national boundaries.


The company s performance of Information System has been stud& in many researches. But the results of them are that IS investment isn`t correlated with performance or has a negative impact on it. In many cases, these problems are due to the narrow view - "Information System is just made with Information Technology." or to trial to find performance with input and output based on traditional measurements. To clarify these problems and realize the intrinsic value of Information System, We must understand Information System in terms of Business viewpoints. Therefore, In this study, We redefine the Information Management, and then suggest the Information Management performance indicator and the framework for measuring and evaluating the company s performance of Information Management.


The self-designed Flared-TrifluteTM friction stir head was fabricated. 5083 aluminum alloy sheet with 2 mm thickness was friction stir overlap welded, and the best welding parameters were obtained by experiment. The results show that with rotation speed at 1 800 r/min,and feed rate at 30 mm/min, the shear strength of overlap can reath 200.12 MPa, and the second weld pass has no effect on the hardness distribution of the first welding seam.


The superfluid content of very thin adsorbed helium films has been measured directly, using a quartz crystal as a microbalance, by Chester and Yang of the University of California, Los Angeles (Phys. Rev. Lett., 31, 1377; 1973).


This paper studies the dynamic linkage between oil price, gold price and Thailand stock market in the long run as well as in the short run. By employing Time series analysis using monthly data from for the period of August 1999 to August 2013, the study applies co-integration technique, Granger causality test, and Impulse Response Function (IRF) and Variance Decomposition (VDC) analysis. The findings reveal that oil price changes have asymmetric effects on Thailand stock market while a positive relationship has been observed between the gold price and the stock return in the same market. Finally, few implications and applications of the study have been suggested in detail.


ABSTRACT This article investigates two registers of dehumanization in the Brereton Report. It begins with the dehumanization of Afghan civilians that is reflected in the Brereton Report, which alleges that SOTG personnel adopted a liberal interpretation of the rules of engagement to justify using lethal force against Afghan civilians. Drawing on the work of Judith Butler and Sara Ahmed, we draw attention to the gendered and racialized assumptions that constituted the Afghan people as a potential threat, which worked to enable and excuse the violence inflicted upon them. At the same time, we argue that the Brereton Report reproduces and reinforces these dehumanizing assumptions in its decision not to investigate split second decisions made in the 'heat of battle'. We argue that the language used to justify this omission reinforces orientalist tropes about Afghanistan as an dangerous, perilous and ungovernable space, which helped to normalize the violence inflicted upon the Afghan people.


Objective To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in early diabetic nephropathy(DN) and the impact of benazepril on VEGF.Methods Eighty early DN patients were divided into DN group and benazepril intervention group.Using chemiluminescence method,hexokinase endpoint law,as well as immunohistochemical detection to detect the urine protein,FBG and plasma VEGF expression and analysis of data related to each other.Results Before the treatment,there were no significant differences in the level of FBG,VEGF and UAER(P0.05);while after the treatmetn,the level of FBG,VEGF,and UAER in DN group were(7.0±1.4)mmol/L,(201±29)pg/ml and(138±42)mg/24 h respectively,those in benazepril intervention group were(6.5±1.8)mmol/L,(143±19)pg/ml and(112±33)mg/24 h respectively,there were significant differences in the level of VEGF and UAER between two groups(P0.05).Conclusion VEGF in the pathogenesis of DN plays an important role,over-expression leads to kidney damage,angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor benazepril may has abnormal expression of VEGF by inhibiting the non-renal hemodynamics protection.


The invention relates to a module for data transfer with a first central processing unit CPU1 (1), one with the CPU1 (1) co-operating first memory unit (3) with a multi-operating system (S1, S2, S3), a transmitting and receiving unit (2) for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data and a first interface (6) for connection to a peripheral device.


The aim of our work is to perform a market segmentation of the clients of Pousadas de Portugal, a network for over 40 high-end small hotels, ENATUR. The data for this work was provided by a sample of more than 2500 clients that filled in a given questionnaire. The segmentation is based on how often the clients used the hotels, and on the type of stay they were seeking. A few different techniques were used: mixed approaches using a-priori constitution of clusters and/or neural nets (SOM – Self-Organizing Maps) and/or k-means. Profiling the obtained segments adds some new insights about the clients and helps ENATUR managers to better support new marketing decisions.


This paper focuses on the creation of an e-Governance Academy for West Africa. It defines the process for the institutionalization of the academy thus far, including the stakeholder process, funding, and sustainability. It also defines the process going forward, including future partnership that must be sought, the role of the academy and its impact on countries in Africa.


Camilo D. Trumper's Ephemeral Histories: Public Art, Politics, and the Struggle for the Streets in Chile revises and fractures the Habermasian definition of the public sphere to investigate how visual culture, the politics of gender, and the gendered nature of politics function within it. Beginning with the early 1970s, Trumper resourcefully studies the intermedia of architecture, industrial design, posters, murals, documentary film and photography produced within what he calls "everyday urbanism" (7), which shaped the political debates of the time. He closely examines their effects on Santiago's center and periphery to explore "public spheres of political action" (16). Trumper traces the mobilization efforts of workers, artists, and activists across leftand rightwing political lines who created "new modes of political expression by taking to and taking over city streets and walls" (6). Trumper's book is organized into five chapters, all of which reveal how politics affects aesthetics and how aesthetics impact politics. Chapter 1's discussion of urban and political theory revolves around the changing physical site of the UNCTAD building, and charts how the multi-class use of the space shifted beginning under the socialist Allende government through the Pinochet dictatorship. A comparative gendered reading in the employment of the city's space is offered in chapters 2 and 3, which focus on women's movements that spilled into the streets to protest for and against socialist policies, and discuss the masculine nature of strikes around transporting goods and people that impacted Allende's power to govern. Chapter 4 focuses on the traditionally democratic media of murals created by communist youth brigades and artists who printed posters inside and outside of an explicit political agenda. Trumper's elaboration on the collaborative processes and quotidian materials behind the mural production is an important addition to the literature and demonstrates how they were "central vehicles for the politicization of residents" (159). The book proceeds with an examination of the role of documentary films in creating a hemispheric and uniquely Chilean cinema in Chapter 5,


ƒ = k[xi9 • • • , #» , %n+i, • • • » #iv] = £[-X"i, • • • , XivJ/O, where Q = (gi, • • • , q8) is a, finitely generated ideal. The classical solution is nonconstructive in a typical way. One exhibits J a s a submodule of a finite .R-module and then invokes the Hubert Basis Theorem, first to assert that 7 is a finite i?-module, and again to assert that O is finitely generated. But the Basis Theorem is, at best, a guarantee that no particular J or O will ever require infinitely many generators. It does not help us to decide whether generators for I and O can actually be constructed or, if they can, how to construct them, how many are needed, and how they depend on the initial data $ = (£i, • • , pr)* In this note we will describe a method that treats these questions —in the case that k(xi, • • • , xn) is separably generated over k. This restriction and also the requirement that k be a field reflect the limitations of our technique. Also, k must be defined in such a way that the polynomial ring k[T] is constructively a unique factorization domain (or else the class of prime ideals $ = (pi, • • • , pr) would have to be restricted). A fairly general description of such fields is given in [2], following Kronecker's method of interpolation. Any finitely generated extension of a prime field, or even the algebraic closure of such a field, is allowed. But not the reals nor the complexes nor any £-adic field. The same methods apply in the projective case, yielding a constructive version of projectively normal normalization and the completeness of the linear system of hypersurface sections of a fixed high degree on a normal projective variety.


ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to assess the meaning of grandparenthood in grandparent-parent-grandchild triads, and to examine its congruence between generations. Three types of relations were found: (1) the congruent-strongly connected relationship, characterized by a reciprocal and nurturing relation; (2) the congruentnon-connected relationship, characterized by an agreement among all members regarding the problematic and dissociated relations; (3) the non-congruent relationship, characterized by a lack of agreement regarding the nature of the relation.


In the 1970s, the drugs available for the treatment of obe-sity were either bulking agents, such as methylcellulose, orsympathomimetic agents. These are chemically related toamphetamine, although one of them, fenfluramine, hadquite different pharmacological properties, being a seroto-nin (5HT) uptake inhibitor, whereas the other compoundsacted on the noradrenergic system (1,2). None of the sym-pathomimetic agents are available in the UK now as a resulteither of potential for abuse or, in the case of fenfluramine,the finding that one isomer, dexfenfluramine, induced heartvalve defects (3). Phentermine is still available in the USA.These drugs were prescribed for short-term use only andanalysis of many trials of such drugs by the US Food andDrug Administration (FDA) showed that they give a weightloss of approximately 0.5 lb (0.22 kg) more each week thanplacebo (4). It was thought that they produced their anti-obesity effect through a reduction in food intake, althoughthere is little direct evidence that this was their only effectand an increase in metabolic rate also seems likely. Dura-tion of use was restricted, based on the belief that once anew plateau body weight was reached, it showed that thedrugs were no longer working. In fact, removal of thetherapy usually resulted in the return to the original over-weight body mass, indicating that the drugs were success-fully maintaining a lower body mass.In the 1970s and 1980s, there was little drug researchfor new anti-obesity drugs, largely because most companiesdid not perceive obesity as a major therapeutic opportunityand because of registration difficulties and a small numberof patients. It was also thought that obesity was simply theresult of gluttony and sloth. Exceptions were the BeechamGroup (now GlaxoSmithKline) and ICI (now AstraZen-eca), both of which had active research programmes aimedat producing exercise-mimetic drugs that would increaseenergy expenditure (5,6).Between the 1970s and today, few drugs have been mar-keted. As already indicated, dexfenfluramine was with-drawn as a result of heart valve defects (3) and some casesof pulmonary hypertension. Topiramate, originally mar-keted as an anti-epileptic agent, was suspended while inphase III clinical trials because of its many side effects.Currently marketed agents are sibutramine (Reductil), a5HT and noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitor, which acts cen-trally to reduce appetite but may have some thermogenicactivity (7), and orlistat (Xenical), which is an inhibitor ofpancreatic lipase and reduces fat absorption from the gut(8). Both these agents have some problems causing, respec-tively, slightly raised blood pressure and fatty stools withthe possibility of anal leakage. Rimonabant, a cannabinoidCB-1 receptor antagonist (9), has recently (July 2006) beenapproved in Europe and is under review by the FDA.Several drugs have entered phase III trials. Pramlintide –a peptide hormone amylin analogue marketed for treat-ment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes – has some weight losseffects (10), as does exendin – a hormone originally foundin lizards and used in type 2 diabetes (11). Sertraline is


We adopt the corpus-informed approach to example sentence selections for the construction of a reference grammar. In the process, a database containing sentences that are carefully selected by linguistic experts including the full range of linguistic facts covered in an authoritative Chinese Reference Grammar is constructed and structured according to the reference grammar. A search engine system is developed to facilitate the process of finding the most typical examples the users need to study a linguistic problem or prove their hypotheses. The database can also be used as a training corpus by computational linguists to train models for Chinese word segmentation, POS tagging and sentence parsing.


Due to cluttered backgrounds, long-range imaging, rapid relative motion, etc., the detection of small aerial targets remains a challenge. Existing works have illustrated the importance of temporal cues for robust small aerial target detection. However, the strong assumptions about the temporal cues give such methods high-computational complexity and weak adaptability. To address this problem, we treat trajectory verification as a classification problem using convolutional neural networks. A novel small aerial target detection method that uses trajectory hypothesis and verification is proposed in this study. First, the inertial measurement unit (IMU)-assisted interframe difference is used to extract target candidates from each single image. Then, based on the continuous and smoothness characteristics of the target trajectory, hypotheses of the required length are generated by linking target candidates in adjacent frames. Finally, the trajectory hypotheses are sent to a trained classification convolution neural network for verification. The detected targets are traced back from the verified trajectory. Furthermore, trajectory merge is conducted to link adjacent trajectory segments. The proposed method can achieve real-time processing. Experimental results on public datasets show that the proposed method performs better than existing methods.


This chapter will focus on three specific areas of women's health: the care of women in pregnancy, the care of woman relating to cervical cancer screening and breast health. Common to all three topics is the oportunity for the practice nurse to play an important rle in risk assessment, health promotion and health education.


Agriculture plays a significant role in overall GDP of any country. So, there are several efforts those are being made to develop and increase the crop yield. In any of crop, weed i.e. (unwanted crops) is the major concern that may leads to poor production of crop. Therefore, an automatic crop monitoring system is required to monitor the weed. This system will help the farmers to monitor the crops, in gradual fashion, once it has been cultivated. Then specific Vegetation Index (VI) would be applied to locate all green portions in the image that would be part of early wheat crop or weed patches. We used Object Based Image Analysis (OBIA) algorithm to detect the weed patches in RGB and Multispectral imagery captured by UAV at 30-60 m altitude is used to acquire the images of wheat fields. Once the weed patches successfully identified from between the crop rows and within the crop rows then connected component-based classification technique is used that successfully classify the detected object either the object is related to weed patches or actual crop. The core objective of this work is to lessen the human involvement and to introduce the latest techniques and computation technology, peculiarly to identify the weed patches within the crop rows as well as between the crop rows in wheat field. Moreover, exploitation of UAV technology is also the core objective that will significantly provide the site specifically herbicides spraying


In this study techniques based on measurement of intrinsic tryptophan (Trp) fluorescence were used to monitor the stability and conformational flexibility of the single tryptophan protein monellin which was entrapped in sol–gel derived glass monoliths formed from tetraethylorthosilicate. The monoliths were aged either in buffer (wet-aged) or in air (dry-aged). The steady-state fluorescence spectra, steady-state anisotropy and acrylamide quenching behaviour of the single Trp at position 3 were monitored during chemical denaturation with guanidine hydrochloride, and during thermal denaturation. These studies indicated that there were no significant improvements in either chemical or thermal stability when the protein was present in wet-aged monoliths. However, the long-term stability of the protein was improved six-fold when such monoliths were stored at 4 °C. The encapsulation of monellin into dry-aged monoliths caused the thermal unfolding transition to broaden and shift upward by 10 °C, and caused the long-term stability to improve by 12-fold (compared to solution). Chemical stability studies also showed a broader transition for the unfolding of the protein in dry-aged monoliths, and suggested that the protein was present in a distribution of environments, each with a slightly different thermodynamic stability. The steady-state fluorescence responses obtained during denaturation and the accessibility of native and denatured protein to quencher provided clear evidence that the entrapped protein had a smaller range of conformational motions compared to the protein in solution, and that the entrapped protein was not able to unfold completely. The restriction of conformational motion, along with the increased structural order of the internal environment of the monoliths, play a role in the improvements in thermal and long-term stability that were observed.


Discovered in 1988 by R. Oslisly and B. Peyrot, Elarmékora is a high terrace that, today, is situated 175 m above the Ogooué River in the historical complex of Elarmékora, attached to the Lopé National Park in Gabon, a World Heritage site since 2007. The site yielded a small lithic assemblage, including mainly cobble artefacts embedded within the 1 m thick alluvial material. Based on geomorphological and palaeoclimatological criteria, the preliminary dating suggested an age of 400 ka. However, Elarmékora could be a key site for Atlantic Central Africa if this lithic industry can be dated absolutely. In 2018 and 2019, two field trips were organized to collect surface samples as well as samples in vertical depth profiles with the aim of measuring their in situ-produced cosmogenic nuclide (10Be and 26Al) content. Results suggest a surface abandonment between 730 and 620 ka ago representing a minimum age for the cobble artefacts. Concurrently, technological reappraisal of the artefacts suggests an atypical lithic industry that should, for the moment, be considered as 'undiagnostic' Earlier Stone Age. This age bracketing may be compared with a similar age range obtained for prehistoric occupations in Angola using the same approach. This age will place Elarmékora among the oldest evidence for the presence of hominins in western Central Africa and raises the question of a 'West Side Story' to early human dispersals in Africa. This article is part of the theme issue 'Tropical forests in the deep human past'.


We describe promising semiconductor materials for optoelectronics. GaAsSb/AlSb quantum wells on GaSb substrates show photoluminescence near 1.54 μm (0.8 eV) that increases with increasing arsenic fraction. The materials can be monolithically integrated with AlGaSb/AlSb or AlGaAsSb/AlAsSb Bragg mirrors.


The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of information technology leaders' emotional intelligence on subordinate job performance. Participants consisted of information technology leaders, and were recruited from the Association for Information Technology Professionals (AITP) and the Information Technology (IT) Specialist group in LinkedIn (a business-oriented network website). A quantitative, correlational approach was taken by an online administration of two validated instruments—the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) and Van Scotter and Motowidlo's measures for contextual performance (interpersonal facilitation and job dedication). Findings indicated that there was a positive relationship between IT leaders' emotional intelligence scores and subordinates' job performance ratings. Specifically, higher IT leaders' general mood scores, and optimism scores are associated with subordinates' higher interpersonal facilitation and job dedication scores. Further, results provided insight on IT leaders' EI training needs, career development, and guidelines for areas of improvement.


A case of hyperkeratosis lenticularis perstans is reported. A 48-year-old man presented with the 18-year history of multiple, rufous and small papules on the back of hands and upper and lower legs. Histologic examination showed the foci of compact and eosinophilic hyperkeratosis overlying a thinned stratum malpighii. In the underlying papillary dermis there was a tight mononuclear infiltration. The patient was treated with topical 0.025% tretinoin twice daily for 2 months, which resulted in a slight applanation of the lesions.


In this paper, Threshold logic gates (TLG) are implemented using Resonant Tunneling Diodes (RTD). TLG is conceptually similar to the early McCulloch-Pitts model of the neuron and is normally used to implement linearly separable binary functions. RTD has demonstrably promising electronic features due to its high speed switching capability and functional versatility. Great circuit functionality can be achieved through integrating field-effect transistors (FET) in conjunction with Resonant Tunneling Diodes to modulate effective negative differential resistance (NDR) of the RTD. RTDs are intrinsically suitable for implementing threshold logic rather than Boolean logic, which has dominated CMOS technology in the past. The basic functional unit in the proposed implementation is the monostable-bistable transition logic element (MOBILE). Commonly used logic functions like the OR, AND, and MAJORITY function have been implemented and tested through SPICE simulation. Keywordsthreshold logic, resonant tunneling diode (RTD), MOnostable BIstable Latch Enable (MOBILE)


503Background: Dual trastuzumab plus pertuzumab (HP) has shown promising pathologic complete response (pCR) rates in HER2[+] EBC although lower to CT regimens. Identification of new markers of sens...


A wide-area sensor network whose sensor nodes are driven by supplied laser power is proposed in this paper. Each sensor node produces an optical signal by modulating a part of the supplied laser light and sends it back to a monitor. A developed sensor node was driven with an incident optical power of 1.7 mW, which is low enough to drive more than 100 sensor nodes placed along an optical fiber line. We also developed wireless/optical interface nodes that integrate the sensor network with wireless sensors and realize ubiquitous sensing.


The study compared 2 and 3 focus refractive-diffractive IOLs for example «MIOL Accord» and «MIOL Record 3». The results showed that the use of «MIOL Record 3» in comparison with «MIOL Accord» achieved better results in visual acuity at intermediate distances with little loss of spatial contrast sensitivity and high patient satisfaction with visual acuity after surgery.


Mr Dinsey held a building contractors license - medium rise with the Queensland Building Services Authority. He was also a director of multiple companies to which liquidators were appointed in June and September 2011. Because he was a director of a company to which liquidators were appointed, he was automatically categorised as an excluded individual under s 56AD of the Queensland Building Services Authority Ac which meant the Authority had no choice but to cancel his building licence. Because the appointment of liquidators was to multiple companies there was more that one 'company event' and therefore Mr Dinsey was permanently excluded from holding a builders licence. The relevant legislative provision of the QBSA Act.


The molecular geometries of three conformations of methyl propanoate (MEP) (CCCO torsions of 0°, 120°, and 180°) and the potential‐energy surfaces of MEP (CCCO torsions) and of the methyl ester of glycine (MEG) (NCCO torsions) have been determined by ab initio gradient calculations at the 4‐21G level. MEP has conformational energy minima at 0° and 120° of the CCCO torsion, while the 60–90° range and 180° are energy maxima. For MEG there are two minima (at 0° and 180°) and one barrier to NCCO rotation in the 60–90° range. The NCCO barrier height is about twice as high (4 kcal/mol) as the CCCO barrier. The 180° NCCO minimum is characteristically wide and flat allowing for considerable flexibility of the NCCO torsion in the 150–210° range. This flexibility could be of potential importance for polypeptide systems, since the NCCO angles of helical forms are usually found in this region. The molecular structures of the methyl ester group CH3OC(O)CHRR′ in several systems are compared and found to be rather constant when R  H and R′  H, CH3, CH3CH2; or when R  NH2 and R′  H, CH3, or CH(CH3)2.


A cross-sectional survey utilizing semi-structured questionnaires was used to study the herdsmen and livestock farmers' perception, attitudes and risk factors towards zoonotic diseases in Awka North and South Local Government Area. Data obtained were analyzed using chi-square on SPSS (Version 15.0) at a significance level of p < 0.05 to determine possible associations between variables and perceptions of zoonotic diseases. Out of the 384 respondents, 214 (55.7%) had heard about zoonotic diseases. Avian influenza (95.3%), rabies (90.9%) and bovine tuberculosis (64.3%) were perceived by the respondents to be zoonotic. Viruses (82.3%), punishment from gods (72.4%) and bacteria (52.1%) were also perceived by the respondents as major causes of zoonotic diseases, whereas 62% were of the view that zoonotic diseases are of no consequence. Only 26.3% (101) had overall knowledge of zoonotic diseases. Slaughtering of sick animals, drinking of raw milk, skin to skin contact with animals, contact with animals' placenta, handling of animal with open wounds/cuts and keeping of pets were indicted as attitudes and risk factors of zoonotic diseases amongst the respondents. Significant associations ( p < 0.05 ) were found between perceptions/awareness of zoonotic diseases and age, educational status and location. In conclusion, the herdsmen and livestock farmers' awareness/perception of zoonotic diseases is abysmally poor in the study area, thus public education on zoonotic diseases is therefore hugely recommended.


The study aimed to identify the current applications of Managerial and costs Accounting techniques in Iraqi companies, as well as areas in which the application of these


The aim of this work is to investigate the influence of some processes variables on the microstructure and hydrogen absorption kinetics of MgH2 - X wt.% TiFe composites. Samples were synthesized by high-energy ball milling in a planetary (X = 40, 50, 60) and shaker mill (X = 40) under high-purity argon atmosphere. Commercial MgH2 instead of Mg powder was used in order to reduce adherence on the vial and balls. TiFe powder was previously produced by ball milling a mixture of TiH2 and Fe powders followed by a reaction synthesis at 600oC. Milled composites samples were characterized by XRD and SEM analysis. Milling time was preliminary investigated (X = 40) in the planetary ball mill (6 to 36h). TiFe particle size reduction was shown to be difficult since they are surrounded by MgH2 matrix. Strong particle reduction was obtained by using a shaker mill only for 2 hours and adding cyclohexane as process control agent. No reaction between MgH2 and TiFe compound was observed in any milled sample. Hydrogen absorption kinetics measurements of the as-milled samples were conducted on an Sieverts' type apparatus at room temperature after hydrogen desorption at 350oC under vacuum. The best hydrogen kinetics (3 wt% at the first hour) was attained by the planetary milled sample (36 h). Higher hydrogen capacity was observed for the sample milled in the shaker mill (4.0 wt.%), but only after 13h.


Because it is easy to dramatise the stuff of politics, Pan-Africanism is usually discussed only in terms of its political implications. But its protagonists justify their confidence in its value by their belief that functional co-operation on a regional and continental basis offers the best—perhaps the only—way of meeting the social and economic challenges facing the nascent modern African societies. For them, therefore, the real test of Pan-Africanism's success lies not simply in whether the independent African states can succeed in maintaining a single political organisation such as the Organisation of African Unity, but whether it is capable of making an effective contribution towards improving and strengthening Africa's economies and societies. The O.A.U.'s specialised commissions are, therefore, of crucial importance in evaluating the achievements, or potentialities, of Pan-Africanism.


Several devices are interconnected using Internet of things. Sensors integrated with things to communicate with one another. Device communication is automated in Chatbot. In this paper, mobile application is proposed based on how the hospitals are connected with the patients by continuous monitoring their health condition. This application includes chatbot, Bigg Data, and sensor tracking devices.


In order to maximize the attack effectiveness,the initial steady-state scanning problem of anti-armor sensitivity projectile bullet trajectory was studied. Currently,sensitivity projectile's initial steady-state scanning,initial height,decline speed and rotating speed are mainly decided by the performance of the bullets of the device,lacking of systematic research,which limits the effectiveness of end-sensitive bomb attack fully. This paper established the model of attack effectiveness of sensitivity projectile,a detailed analysis of the effects of three parameters on the steady-state scanning phase bullet attack effectiveness was given based on a mature sensitive bullets simulation. The simulation results show that reasonable adjustments of the steady-state rate of decline scanning stage,steady altitude and speed,can significantly increase the attack effectiveness.


The chronic effects of atrazine on total body weight, hydration level, and serum inorganic electrolytes in the tissues of freshwater fish, Tilapia mossambicus, were studied. Significant changes were observed in the tissues indicating the disturbances in the hydromineral balance of the fish as a consequence of atrazine.


Through experimenting on the influence of different mix amount and length of polyamide 6 bristle on the cement bending capability,the optimum mix amount and length has been found out.It proves that with the optimum match,the bending strength of the cement in 28 days can be improved 30% and the compressive strength by 56%.Moreover,the polyamide 6 bristle turns out have quite good durability in cement and concrete.


The objective of this inductive research was to investigate: 1) the relationship between diabetes mellitus and individual risk factors of metabolic syndrome (MetS), in a non-conservative setting; 2) the prediction of future onset of diabetes using relevant risk factors of MetS; and 3) to investigate the relative performance of machine learning methods when data sampling techniques are used to generate balanced training sets. The dataset used in this research contains 667 907 records for a period ranging from 2003 to 2013. Quantifying the contribution of individual risk factors of MetS in the development of diabetes in a non-conservative setting logistic regression analysis was performed. Our analyses contradict the view that diabetes is commonly associated with low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Instead, our results demonstrate that the increased levels of HDL are positively correlated with diabetes onset, particularly in women. We also proposed J48 decision tree and Naïve Bayes methods for prediction of future onset of diabetes using relevant risk factors obtained from logistic regression analysis, over balanced and unbalanced datasets. The results demonstrated the supremacy of Naïve Bayes with K-medoids under-sampling technique as compared to random under-sampling, oversampling, and no sampling. It is achieved on average 79% receiver operating characteristic performance with the increased true positive rate. The results of this paper suggest further research to clarify the pathophysiological significance of HDL and pathways in the development of diabetes.


We haveproposed anddemonstrated monolithic distributed MSM photodetectors withpolymer optical waveguide. Theresponsivity of0.45A/W is achieved usingleakywavecoupling fromBCB polymer waveguide toMSM photodetector. Optical Society ofAmerica


Compressed air energy storage(CAES) has the potential to improve the quality of renewable electricity from wind and solar energy. Using such a technology, the intermittent renewable electricity can be stored at off peak hours, and released in a steady manner at peak time of electricity grid. This paper considers a CAES system for an electricity storage capacity of 56.58 MW and an output capacity of 154.76 MW. For the selection of turbines for the energy release step, reference is made to the second stage turbine of the GE 9171E configuration. Flue gas temperature of the second stage turbine could reach 812.41 K to satisfy the heat supply requirement for heating the compressed air before entering the first stage turbine. As a result, the high pressure combustor for the first turbine could be removed from the system. The heat consumption for the CAES system could be as low as 3783.96 kJ/(kW·h)and the system energy conversion efficiency could reach 56.11%.


The goal of the paper is to present the role of social workers in the elimination of poverty in Lithuania. The context and establishment of strategy to eliminate poverty is presented in the fist part. The development of social support system gets special attention. It is argued the importance of social work in the elimination of poverty. The principles securing achievement and maintenance of social solidarity through social workers' co-operation with their professional organisations are sketched in the final part.


Conventional streak-mode imaging devices are based on image converter tube or rotating mirror concepts, and feature the highest temporal resolution achievable with a time-resolved direct optical detection device. Nowadays, streak cameras are still built using the same technologies, which have reached their fundamental limits. The goal of this work is to propose a solid-state streak-mode imaging device for applications in which a temporal resolution of several hundreds of picoseconds is required. This work presents the design and the characterization of an integrated streak camera in standard 0.35 µm BiCMOS technology. The prototype is based on a vector of photodiodes, each one coupled to an analog memory through a broadband transimpedance stage. The temporal sweep is carried out through a voltage-controlled delay line driven by a delay-locked loop. The measured temporal resolution of the camera is 600 ps at λ = 800 nm and 465 ps at λ = 400 nm. Furthermore, processing the impulse response of the imager enabled the equalization of the frequency response of the sensor allowing the temporal resolution of the camera to reach 450 ps regardless the wavelength.


Recent observations of three classes of nanometer-thick, disordered, interfacial films in multicomponent inorganic materials are reviewed and critically assessed. The three classes of films are equilibrium-thickness intergranular films (IGFs) in ceramics, their free-surface counterparts, that is, surficial amorphous films (SAFs), and their metallic counterparts. Also briefly reviewed are several related wetting and adsorption phenomena in simpler systems, including premelting in unary systems, prewetting in binary liquids or vapor adsorption on inert walls, and frustrated-complete wetting. Analogous diffuse-interface and force-balance models are discussed with the goal of exploring a unifying thermodynamic framework. In general, the stability of these nanometer-thick interfacial films does not follow bulk phase diagrams. Stabilization of quasi-liquid interfacial films at subeutectic or undersaturation conditions in multicomponent materials can be understood from coupled interfacial premelting and prewetting transitions. More realistic models should include additional interfacial interactions, for example, dispersion and electrostatic forces, and consider the possibility for metastable equilibration. It is suggested that quasi-liquid grain boundary films in binary metallic systems can be used to validate a basic thermodynamic model. These nanoscale interfacial films are technologically important. For example, the short-circuit diffusion that occurs in interface-stabilized, subeutectic, quasi-liquid films explains the long-standing mystery of the solid-state activated sintering mechanism in ceramics, refractory metals, and ice.


Robots are becoming more and more prevalent in many real world scenarios. Housekeeping, medical aid, human assistance are a few common implementations of robots. Military and Security are also major areas where robotics is being researched and implemented. Robots with the purpose of surveillance in war zones and terrorist scenarios need specific functionalities to perform their tasks with precision and efficiency. In this paper, we present a model of Military Surveillance Robot developed using Robot Operating System. The map generation based on Kinect sensor is presented and some test case scenarios are discussed with results.


In this paper, we propose an implementation of user interaction effect of web application using jQuery. jQuery is a very popular and extensible JavaScript library. It is strong in controlling DOM(Document Object Model), events and Ajax. But, it is poor at advanced effect of web user UI(User Interface). Implementing advanced effects need to extend jQuery or some skills. So, our proposal is a good way to implement UI effects.


Pull-up action is one of the critical standards and items for measuring personal physique. The traditional manual assessment method is subjective and inefficient, and the existing automatic methods require high demands for playgrounds and equipment. In this paper, we propose monocular vision-based pull-ups measurement with human keypoint estimation on our proposed strict pull-ups benchmark. Specifically, the deep neural network HRNet is employed to estimate the human keypoints frame by frame. The face keypoints are estimated with Dlib on the facial region, meanwhile, the position of the horizontal bar is estimated with Canny edge detection and Hough transform on the hand region. After keypoint smoothing and denoising with the Savitzky-Golay filter, both the valid actions and invalid actions are recognized by our proposed algorithm. On the strict pull-up video dataset we collected, this proposed method achieved 91.5% of the average counting accuracy. The dataset and code will soon be released.


Abstract The present case report provides images from computed tomography and histology of a patient with a salivary gland neoplasm consistent with mucoepidermoid carcinoma.


The authors analyze the problem of radiation trapping (imprisonment) by the method of Holstein. The process is described by an integrodifferential equation which shows that the effective radiative decay rate of the system depends on the size and the shape of the active medium. Holstein obtains a global decay rate for a particular geometry by assuming that the radiating excited species evolves into a steady state spatial mode. The authors derive a new approximation for the trapped decay which has a space dependent decay rate and is easy to implement in a detailed computer simulation of a plasma confined within an arbitrary geometry. They analyze the line shapes that are relevant to a near-atmospheric-pressure mixture of He and Xe. This line-shape analysis can be utilized in either the Holstein formulae or the space-dependent decay approximation.


For the control of processes usually one deals with single mechanisms. Taking a closer look one finds nearly everywhere interrelated systems in nature as well as in society and technology. It has always been the art of papermaking, to deal with interrelated complex systems consciously or unconsciously. The possibilities and the limits of complex control systems can be shown with the example of retention. The structure of control systems varies from simple PID controllers with only a single input and output up to compact multivariable controls which can consider complex technological contexts by multiple inputs and outputs and even up to hierarchic structured multilevel systems with basic controls and a supervisory control level. Correspondly diverse is the variety of control strategies, which stabilise the retention and therefore lead to a stable paper quality.


Our current results on the structure-property relationship in ultrafine grained (UFG) austenitic steels, subjected to large strain deformation under conditions of cold to warm working are critically reviewed. Commonly, the grain size and dislocation density that evolve in UFG steels and alloys during large strain deformation depends sensitively on the processing conditions, i.e., temperature and strain rate. The grain size decreases, and the dislocation density increases with a decrease in deformation temperature. Therefore, a unique power-law relationship with a grain size exponent of -0.6 holds between the deformation grain size and the dislocation density. A power-law function between the grain size and dislocation density is obtained for UFG steels even after annealing. Thus, the yield strength of UFG steels can be expressed by a modified Hall-Petch-type relationship, which includes the dislocation strengthening, by using the grain size or dislocation density as a unique variable.


The aim of this paper are (1) to present the VIROLO++ project prospect, (2) to detail the instrumentation that used for the "on closed roads" experiments that will be conducted from May to July this year (2016) - focusing on trajectories, (3) to present the acquired data and the prospects for training tools, (4) to present and discuss the on-going instrumentation aimling at mesuring the interactions (pressures) exchanged between the riders and the PTW during the bend taking manoeuvres.


INTRODUCTION The state as authority institute isn't a self-sufficient formation with autonomous existence. It is being produced by society development on certain stage. The state exists in society which keeps mentioned institute. In this context the state is interpreted as a mechanism of society selfgovernment and an instrument of society problem-solving 1 . In societyto-state ratio the society is a primary and more global formation, therefore the state as a part of society has to carry out social mission, including through governing activity. In our opinion, this social mission is to forecast and provide society problem-solving and to prevent occurrence of such problems, if it is possible, to serve to citizens effectively, and to provide formulation and implementation of society development strategy. The fundamental factor for state institutions to carry out social mission is interaction with society. Therefore, the attention to problems of such interaction is objective entirely because it corresponds to modern global trend consisting in transition from traditional government administration to good governance. An occurrence of good governance model was caused by the set of social processes such as increasing and significant development of non-governmental organizations' sector, crisis in citizens' trust to authority institutions, decreasing of citizens' participation in official democratic procedures and so on. But it is worthy to pay special attention to the trend to complicating of society development processes and problems with which state authorities deal. According to the law of necessary variety, it is necessary for creating the government administration system capable to govern effectively by certain spheres,


This paper presents the kinematic modeling of a six-wheeled differential-drive mobile robot on the basis of potential field method to avoid obstacles. The position of the robot in the simulation is tested from an initial point to a final point in presence of a rectangular shaped obstacle and obstacle avoidance by the robot is observed. The entire kinematic modeling and testing are conducted using MATLAB Simulink.


The invention relates to a device with a 3D (three-dimensional) display function, comprising a 3D display with a display function and 3D spectacles matched with the 3D display; and the device further comprises a 3D display circuit of a 3D chip source signal and a 3D display circuit of a 2D (two-dimensional) chip source signal. A driving method of the device with the 3D display function comprises a 3D display method of the 3D chip source signal and a 3D display method of the 2D chip source signal. By using the device, both the 3D display of the 3D chip source signal and the 3D display of a 2D signal to a 3D signal can be carried out.


The relaxation of poled nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores in polymer films was characterized by infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy. Both a guest-host system and a photocrosslinkable polymer system were investigated. Polymethylmethacrylate doped with either 2-methyl-4-nitroaniline or 4(4'-nitrophenylazo)aniline was studied. The photocrosslinkable polymer system, polyvinylcinnamate doped with 3-cinnamoyloxy-4-[4-(N,Ndiethylamino)-2-cinnamoyloxy phenyl azo]nitrobenzene was also investigated. Doped NLO active molecules were aligned using the corona poling technique. Infrared spectra as a function of time were used to monitor the relaxation behavior of the oriented dyes after poling. Relaxation of NLO molecules was followed at various characteristic vibrational frequencies. The relaxation behavior of both systems were found to be consistent with those studied by the second harmonic generation technique. Accesion For NTIS CRA&I DTIC TAB Unannounced [] Justification ........................ B y ..................................... Distribution I Availability Codes Avail and I or Dist Special


In this paper we will consider the crossed product C(T) £fi Z, where T is the unit circle, fi(n) = fin is a rotation through the angle i2…nµ for n 2 Z, and µ is a flxed irrational number. We will apply some results about patial actions to repre- sent this crossed product as a C ⁄ -subalgebra of B(L 2 (T)). Also, by a difierent method form the proof of Davidson, we show that this crossed product is isomorphic to the irrational rotation algebra.


Cataract crystalline lenses of patients of various age were investigated. The intensity of peroxidation, the content of products peroxidation, the content of lipids, the total protein and oxidative modifacation of fibers were estimated. The interrelation of oxidation processes of lipids and proteins in a crystalline lens and decrease potential possibility to oxidation as lipids as and proteins of a crystalline lens with the age were revealed.


Chondrocyte cultures derived from the Swarm rat chondrosarcoma were metabolically labeled with [S]sulfate or [6-3H]GlcN. Radiolabeled aggrecan was purified from the cell layer and exhaustively digested with chondroitin ABC lyase. Digestion products were resolved into disaccharide and monosaccharide residues using Toyopearl HW40S chromatography. The separated saccharide pools were reduced with NaBH4 and applied onto a CarboPac PA1 column to resolve all of the internal disaccharide alditols (unsaturated) from the nonreducing end disaccharide (saturated) and monosaccharide alditols. Mercuric acetate treatment was used prior to carbohydrate analysis to identify unambiguously the saturated from the unsaturated disaccharides. The chondroitin sulfate (CS) chains from these aggrecan preparations contained: (a) an internal disaccharide composition of unsulfated (3-4 per chain), 4-sulfated (32 per chain), 6-sulfated (1 per 14 chains), and 4,6-sulfated disaccharides (1 per 6 chains) and (b) a nonreducing terminal composition of 4-sulfated GalNAc (4 out of every 7 chains), 4,6-disulfated GalNAc (2 out of every 7 chains), and GlcUA adjacent to a 4-sulfated GalNAc residue (1 out of every 7 chains). Thus, the vast majority of these CS chains terminated with a sulfated GalNAc residue. The presence of 4,6-disulfated GalNAc at nonreducing termini is 60-fold more abundant than 4,6-disulfated GalNAc in interior disaccharides. This observation is consistent with the suggestion that disulfation of terminal GalNAc residues is involved in chain termination.


Purpose: Two anti-TNF biologics, infliximab and etanercept, are extremely useful for inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, approximately 20 to 30% of RA have been described as non-responders. Here, we analyzed the statistical relationships of whole genome single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with remission or low disease activity (LDA) among RA and developed algorithms using SNPs to predict effectiveness of these biologics. Methods: The total study subjects (first, second and validation population for each infliximab and etanercept) were 260 RA patients for infliximab and another 251 RA patients for etanercept. Effectiveness of infliximab and etanercept was assessed using DAS28-CRP. In first, second and the combined population, relationships of 277,339 SNPs with remission and LDA were analyzed using case-control analyses by Fisher's exact tests for each infliximab and etanercept. We picked up SNPs (P < 0.05) from each first, second and combined population. Then, 10 SNPs with lower P value in the combined population were selected from common SNPs among the first, second and combined populations. We developed algorithms using the 10 SNPs to predict effectiveness of infliximab and etanercept. In the validation population, availability of the algorithms was evaluated. Results: Using combined infliximab-remission and LDA algorithms in the validation population, the accuracy was 90.4%. Using combined etanercept-remission and LDA algorithms in validation population, the accuracy was 76.8%. Conclusions: The combined use of our two algorithms using SNPs may be very useful in the prediction of remission or LDA before treatment with infliximab or etanercept.


Evapotranspiration (ET) estimation through the surface energy balance (SEB) and soil-vegetation-atmosphere-transfer (SVAT) models are uncertain due to the empirical parameterizations of the aerodynamic and canopy-substrate conductances (gA and gS) for heat and water vapor transfers. This study critically assessed the impact of conductance parameterizations on ET simulation using three structurally different SEB and SVAT models for an ecologically important North-Eastern European wetland, Upper Biebrza National Park (UBNP) in two consecutive years 2015 and 2016. A pronounced ET underestimation (mean bias −0.48 to −0.68 mm day−1) in SEBS (Surface Energy Balance System) was associated with an overestimation of gA due to uncertain parameterization of momentum roughness length and bare soil's excess resistance to heat transfer (kB−1) under low vegetation cover. The systematic ET overestimation (0.65–0.80 mm day−1) in SCOPE (Soil Canopy Observation, Photochemistry and Energy fluxes) was attributed to the overestimation of both the conductances. Conductance parameterizations in SEBS and SCOPE appeared to be very sensitive to the general ecohydrological conditions, with a tendency of overestimating gA (gS) under humid (arid) conditions. Low ET bias in the analytical STIC (Surface Temperature Initiated Closure) model as compared to SEBS/SCOPE indicated the critical need for calibration-free conductance parameterizations for improved ET estimation.


Grid applications are normally deployed on computing nodes beforehand, which may cause the undesirable situation that some of these nodes (with hot applications deployed) are always busy whereas the others are consistently idle. Therefore, the overall performance (e.g. throughput and load balancing) of such a Grid system would be seriously degraded. In this paper, we present the idea of Hierarchical and Dynamic Deployment of Application (HDDA) in Grid to improve the system performance. With HDDA, an application can be dynamically deployed and undeployed when necessary. In order to reduce the overhead caused by HDDA, the Average Latency Ratio Minimum (ALR-MIN) replacement strategy is also proposed. It deploys applications to nodes with minimum ALR of Node (NALR), and evicts applications with minimum increment of ALR. The results of the experiment we conducted on ChinaGrid show that HDDA can achieve 10 and 24% less average complete time (ACT) than the schemes of non-HDDA and Static Deployment of Application (SDA), respectively. Additionally, throughput and load balancing of HDDA are also better than the other two schemas. Results of the simulation performed on a simulator particularly developed for this research show that our ALR-MIN replacement strategy results in 17% less relative delay-time of jobs than the well-known Least Recently Used (LRU)-based strategies in a typical setting. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Hot questions in the modern Quaternary geology of the Arctic seas associated with their glaciation are discussed in this article. The questions of the history of the occurrence of the problem of shelf glaciation or "drift" accumulation of boulder-bearing sediments are considered in detail. The results of seismic-acoustic studies and their interpretation with the aim of seismic stratigraphic and genetic partition of the cover of loose sediments of Quaternary age are considered in detail. Arguments are presented in favor of the continental origin of glaciers (Novaya Zemlya, Ostrovnoy and Scandinavian), which in the late Neopleistocene spread to the shelf of the Barents Sea and occupied its surface to depths of 120−150 m. Further development of glaciation was already due to the expansion of the area of shelves glaciers. The facies zoning of glacial-marine deposits is estimated, which is related to the distance from the front of the glaciers. It is concluded that already at the end of the Late Pleistocene, most of the modern Barents Sea was free from glaciers and from the annual cover of pack ice. Data on the absence of the area distribution of frozen sediment strata within the modern Barents Sea shelf are presented.


The enhancement of warming rates with elevation, a phenomenon which is referred to as Elevation-Dependent Warming (EDW), is one of the regional, still not completely understood, manifestations of global warming. Sentinels of climate and environmental changes, mountain regions have overall experienced more rapid and intense warming trends compared to the globally-averaged temperature increase in the recent decades, leading to serious impacts both on high-altitude mountain ecosystems and downstream.


The demand for innovative and entrepreneurial talents in today's society is becoming more and more urgent. As the main position for the country to cultivate innovative and entrepreneurial talents, universities need to pay more attention to the cultivation of innovative and entrepreneurial talents. This paper reasonably constructs the evaluation index system of innovation and entrepreneurship education, then uses the analytic hierarchy process to determine the weight of each index, and optimizes the use of GA-SVM to construct the evaluation model of innovation and entrepreneurship education, so as to obtain a reasonable and effective evaluation system of innovation and entrepreneurship education in universities, and provide a reference basis for the cultivation of innovation and entrepreneurship talents in universities.


The navigation systems available in the present scenario takes into account the path distance for their estimations. In some advanced navigation systems, the road traffic analysis is also considered in the algorithm for their predictions. The proposed work estimates a navigation path with respect to the present pollution level on the roadways. The work suggests an alternate path to avoid additional vehicles to enter the same road which is already impacted by air pollution. A Q-learning (Quality learning) prediction algorithm is trained in the proposed work with a self-made dataset for the estimations. The experimental work presented in the paper explores the accuracy and computational speed of the developed algorithm in comparison to the traditional algorithms.


Background: The symptoms of venous insufficiency of the lower limbs (VILL) include a feeling of heaviness in the legs, pain, and nocturnal cramps, which may be combined with organic disorder (varicose veins). The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of VTLL in terms of both varicose veins and functional symptoms in the participants of the SUVIMAX cohort, which is representative of the French population for the age range under consideration (women: 35–60; men: 45–60). Methods: Information on the venous status of 3065 subjects in SUVIMAX cohort were collected from three different sources: yearly systematic clinical (1994-1996), monthly follow-up by a telematic network (1994–1998) and non-specific questionnaire (1997). Two mutually exclusive populations were thus denned on medically diagnosed varicose and venous insufficiency. Results: Venous insufficiency was medically diagnosed in 192 men (14.6%) and 584 women (33.6%), and varicose veins were diagnosed in 143 men (74.5%) and 317 women (54.2%) from this group. Prevalence reported symptoms of venous insufficiency and of varicose veins was 13.6% and 7.4% respectively in men and 28.2% and 12.4% in women. Sex, age, body mass index and number of pregnancies were found to be correlated with the risk of venous insufficiency. Conclusions: VILL is a very common disease in French adults both as varicose veins and as functional symptoms. Venotonics were the main type of treatment but not enough use is made of elastic compression stockings. [Int Angiol 1999;18.171–5]


Objective:To observe the therapeutic efficacy of fistula root filling in the treatment of fistula chronic periapical periodontitis.Methods:The teeth were treated through disposable root canal preparation,ultrasonic irrigation,and fistula passage therapy with tinidazole which were performed.Patients whose fistula did not heal in the first checkup were given fistula root filling with vitapex paste and hot adhesive dentistry and were then rechecked 2 to 3 weeks,3 months,6 months,and one year after treatment.The therapeutic efficacy was assessed with clinical and X-ray examination.Results:49 out of the 53 tooth were successfully treated,and treatment failed in the rest 4 cases,with the success rate of 92.45%.Conclusion:Fistula root filling after thorough root canal and fistula clean-up can shorten treatment period and at same time achieve satisfactory treatment results.


The article considers the actual questions of the role of life-and-upbringing conditions of neglected juveniles as matters to be proved in criminal cases.


The invention provides a waste gas purification device and a ship. The waste gas purification device comprises a mounting body, a waste gas purification desulfurization part, and a treatment liquid supply part; the waste gas purification desulfurization part is arranged on the mounting body and provided with a gas inlet and a gas outlet; the treatment liquid supply part is used for providing a treatment liquid for the waste gas purification desulfurization part, arranged on the mounting body and communicated with the waste gas purification desulfurization part. The waste gas purification device has the characteristics of convenient installation, convenient maintenance, convenient use and the like. Especially for a large overwater mobile facility which is not equipped with the waste gas purification device, the waste gas purification device is only required to be integrally arranged on an appropriate position of the large overwater mobile facility, the large overwater mobile facility is not required to be subjected to structure improvement, and thus the labor intensity of workers is effectively reduced, the installation efficiency is improved, and the waste of improvement costs is reduced.


The creation of the dance called "Gairah Diujung Syahadat" aims to create creative dance work by expressing ideas which originated from life problems of a young person who converted his belief because he wanted to marry a Minangkabau woman. This dance work entitled "Gairah Diujung Shahadat" belongs to dramatic dance. The presentation form in the dance work "Gairah Diujung Syahadat" is symbolic representational. The dance work "Gairah Diujung Syahadat" is inspired by the social phenomena of life where a young man met a woman in a night life and wanted to marry her. The young man struggleduntil he converted his belief andsaid the creed. After this young man got the women, he did not dothe obligations in his creed. Everyone judged him so that he realized that he could not joke the belief, and he had to return to the right path. The dance work "Gairah Diujung Syahadat" focuses on an incident or event. It is an interpretive expression of the struggle of a young man, but the young man does not consider the impact of his actions for goodness in terms of belief.  The work is manifested through movement, stage setting, make-up, costume, lighting, and is emphasized by music. Keywords: Gairah Diujung Syahadat


Numerical simulations of the interaction between supernova ejecta and a stellar wind are presented. We follow the temporal evolution of the shock fronts that are formed through such an interaction and determine the velocities, temperatures, and densities. We model the X-ray emission from the supernova remnant-stellar wind collision region, and we compare it with recent results from X-ray observations carried out with the Chandra satellite of the SMC supernova remnant SNR 0057-7226, which could be interacting with the wind of the Wolf-Rayet system HD 5980. The simulations predict the presence of shell-like regions of enhanced X-ray emission that are consistent with the presence of X-ray-emitting arcs in the Chandra image. Also, the observed X-ray luminosity is comparable to the X-ray luminosities we obtain from the simulations for a supernova with an initial energy in the (1–5) × 1050 ergs range.


In ophthalmology, particular emphasis is placed on clinical research and publications in order to gain entrance to higher specialist training. However, the length of time from submission of an article to a committee for review through to its publication, has often acted as a deterrent to many people who just want their voice to be heard As a result, concerns were raised that the length of time and administration costs of completing this process may result in a decrease in publications by junior doctors.1,2


A stable radical, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•), frequently used as a reactivity model of reactive oxygen species, was successfully solubilized in water by forming an inclusion complex with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), but the yield was less than 1 %. When β-CD was replaced with 2,6-di-O-methyl-β-cyclodextrin (DM-β-CD), the solubility of DPPH• in water improved significantly. However, the reactivity of DM-β-CD-solubilized DPPH• toward water-soluble antioxidants, such as ascorbate, Trolox, and caffeic acid, was significantly lower than that of β-CD-solubilized DPPH• due to the steric hindrance of the methyl groups in DM-β-CD. Therefore, β-CD-solubilized DPPH• is suitable for evaluating the innate activity of water-soluble antioxidants.


The design and the prototype for the expert system for the Hubble Space Telescope's electrical power system are discussed. This prototype demonstrated the capability to use real time data from a 32k telemetry stream and to perform operational health and safety status monitoring, detect trends such as battery degradation, and detect anomalies such as solar array failures. This prototype, along with the pointing control system and data management system expert systems, forms the initial Telemetry Analysis for Lockheed Operated Spacecraft (TALOS) capability.


The invention relates to a method for querying and updating entries in a database. The data base comprises a main data structure for storing data base entries and a delta data structure for storing new entries, and the method comprises the following steps: receiving (101) a plurality of data base queries, aggregating (103) a received plurality of data base queries to obtain a batch of data base queries, performing (105) a shared scan of the main data structure with the batch of data base queries, wherein the data base entries in the main data structure are queried with respect to each data base query in the batch of data base queries, after the step of performing (105) the shared scanning, merging (107) the main data structure with the delta data structure to update the main data structure with the received new entries.


In this paper,the formation of winding tension,contralling properties and the relation between the rotation speed of leady drive motor and winding diameter are introduced.The transducer Scure together with forgue stepping up function on controlling main electmotor on soft-start,slow-stop and steady-running are used to control widing tension in roving.The result shows that the problem of roving guality stabilization is solved.


Seamless roaming in the global mobility network (GLOMONET) is highly desirable for mobile users, although their proper authentication is challenging. This is because not only are wireless networks susceptible to attacks, but also mobile terminals have limited computational power. Recently, some authentication schemes with anonymity for the GLOMONET have been proposed. This paper shows some security weaknesses in those schemes. Furthermore, a lightweight and provably secure user authentication scheme with anonymity for the GLOMONET is proposed. It uses only symmetric cryptographic and hash operation primitives for secure authentication. Besides, it takes only four message exchanges among the user, foreign agent and home agent. We also demonstrate that this protocol enjoys important security attributes including prevention of various attacks, single registration, user anonymity, user friendly, no password/verifier table, and use of one‐time session key between mobile user and foreign agent. The security properties of the proposed protocol are formally validated by a model checking tool called AVISPA. Furthermore, as one of the new features in our protocol, it can defend smart card security breaches. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Mastering the second language, Czech in our case, is crucial for children of migrants, so that among other things they can integrate into the education process. To adjust the language teaching to the pupils' needs, it is necessary to identify what language skills, or individual competences within the frame of the communicative competence, should be developed. For this purpose, a new diagnostic test for the lower graders and upper graders of primary schools was designed. Although it is not a high-stakes test, it is essential to ensure its validity, reliability, practicality as well as its positive impact on the teaching process, the pupils, their teachers and the society. This paper presents the diagnostic tool, documents the qualities of the measurement device and outlines its further development.


We present a new interferometric and holographic approach which allows for multiple depth multiplexing in a single acquisition, using an off-axis low-coherence interferometric imaging system. This technique enables quantitative amplitude and phase imaging of multiple slices within a thicker sample, in one single image acquisition. The method is implemented using a compact interferometric module that connects to a regular digital camera, and is useful in a wide range of applications in which multiple z slices of a sample are required simultaneously. The simultaneous acquisition is carried out by using optical multiplexing of the interferograms on the camera, whereby each slice has a distinct off axis interference fringe direction in relation to the other. We demonstrate the proposed technique for quantitative optical thickness imaging of microscopic biological samples.


In a previous study, it was found that the operating frequency of a circular patch antenna could be varied as much as 65%, without significantly affecting the radiated power from the antenna using chip capacitor loaded scheme. In this study, a multiple feed scheme to combine with the loaded chip capacitor scheme is used to provide a broadband operation for the circular patch antenna. The simulated results for three patch antennas of different sizes are presented. It was found that the usable bandwidth for the circular patch antenna could be as wide as 19.2% as compared with the center frequency using this scheme.


Abstract An efficient one-pot procedure for the synthesis of propargyl alcohol derivatives from allyl alcohol derivatives has been developed. The key to this transformation from a C–C double bond to a C–C triple bond is that hydrogen bromide elimination from 1,2-dibromoalkanes that contain a neighboring oxygen functional group is promoted by the inductive electron-withdrawing effect of the oxygen functional group. In the one-pot reaction, tetrabutylammonium hydroxide was the best base, and the addition of molecular sieves 13X also promoted the reaction.


for taking on such a unique and challenging study in their article titled ''Pars Plana VitrectomyWith or Without Silicone Oil Endotamponade in Surgical Management of Endophthalmitis.'' Endophthalmitis remains a devastating and challenging complication of both intraocular surgery and penetrating trauma. The prognosis for visual recovery can be poor and is related to the presenting vision, infecting organism, and other associated ocular comorbidities. Nagpal et al performed a prospective surgical trial on eyes with traumatic and postsurgical endophthalmitis. Eyes were randomized to either a limited pars plana vitrectomy [group 1, n = 65 (30 traumatic)] or a complete pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil injection [group 2, n = 64 (38 traumatic)]. Pars plana vitrectomy was performed using three 20-gauge sclerotomies, and all eyes were given one tenth of the standard dose of intravitreal vancomycin (0.1 mg) and ceftazidime (0.225 mg) at the conclusion of the surgery. The lower dosages were used to prevent toxicity in group 2. In addition to functional and anatomical outcomes, the need for future surgery for each group was compared. Nagpal et al found that the improvement in postoperative visual acuity at the last follow-up visit was greater in group 2 eyes compared with group 1 eyes. Visual acuities in group 2 improved in 87.5% of eyes and deteriorated in 1.5% of eyes compared with group 1 in which only 55.4% improved and 16.9% deteriorated. These visual acuity findings seemed to correlate with the higher rate of additional surgeries (41.5% vs 7.8%) and postoperative retinal detachments (25.5% vs 6.2%) in group 1 eyes compared with group 2 eyes. As expected, the postoperative retinal detachment rate was highest in the traumatic endophthalmitis eyes in group 1 (40%) compared with those in group 2 (11.5%). This study by Nagpal et al presents interesting challenges and attempts to study a surgical technique to improve the visual outcome in some of the most severely infected and traumatized eyes. Although silicone oil is used by retinal surgeons as an intraocular tamponade in eyes requiring closure of retinal breaks and/or in proliferative vitreoretinopathy, the authors seem to use silicone oil as a prophylactic measure against postoperative retinal detachments. It is well known that retinal detachments are associated with worse visual outcomes in eyes with endophthalmitis. The authors have reported that silicone oil decreased the incidence of postoperative retinal detachments and/or additional procedures and increased the chance of visual acuity improvement in eyes with traumatic and postsurgical endophthalmitis. The pars plana vitrectomy procedure performed by the authors in group 1 eyes included clearing of the central vitreous and no induction of a posterior vitreous detachment. This technique is most similar to the vitrectomy procedure performed in the Endophthalmitis Vitrectomy Study. Group 2 eyes had a much more aggressive and complete vitrectomy procedure with induction of a posterior vitreous detachment at high vacuum and peripheral shaving of the vitreous base. In group 2, the retinal periphery was carefully examined, and all breaks were treated with cryotherapy, followed by a complete airfluid exchange and insertion of intraocular silicone oil. The vitrectomy technique with silicone oil injection used for group 2 eyes would be considered by most retinal surgeons to be overly aggressive and potentially not necessary in some eyes. The authors seem to caution the reader about the limitations of their study and responsibly omit any statement that recommends the use of silicone oil for all such eyes. The population studied by Nagpal et al must be taken into account when interpreting their results. Based on the poor presenting visions (980%, vision e counting fingers), etiologic mechanisms (trauma), extended timing to surgery (mean, 15Y18 days), and microbiological data (85%Gram negative and fungi), the population studied by the authors would be expected to have a poor prognosis. Highlighting this includes the poor visual outcomes in both groups. Although visual acuity improved postoperatively in more than 80% of eyes in group 2 and in 50% of eyes in group 1, only 26% of these eyes in both groups had a final visual acuity of 6/60 (20/200, Snellen) or better, and only approximately 15% had a final visual acuity of 6/18 (20/ 63, Snellen) or better postoperatively. The much more aggressive vitrectomy procedure performed in group 2 eyes may be expected to benefit eyes with the poorest potential, similar to those eyes studied by the authors. Confounding the interpretation of the results includes the possibility that group 1 eyes may have been undertreated with intravitreal antibiotics and, in some cases, under vitrectomized. Because both groups 1 and 2 had 10% of the standard dose of intravitreal antibiotics injected at the conclusion of the surgery, the silicone oilfilled eyes in group 2 would have had a much higher antibiotics fluid concentration compared with the fluid-filled eyes in group 1. This would insure an adequate bactericidal antibiotic concentration in group 2 eyes compared with group 1 eyes. In addition, 55% of the positive cultures in group 1 were fungi (22/64, 34% eyes). This would be expected to carry a much poorer prognosis, especially in the setting of a limited vitrectomy with no intravitreal antifungal antibiotics at the conclusion of the surgery. Although group 2 also had a significant number of fungi isolated, a more complete vitrectomy may have been able to eradicate the infection without antifungal antibiotics. In summary, the authors have taken on a daunting task in studying such a complex group of eyes. We agree with the authors that many factors were beyond the scope of their study, including the causative organism, that may have influenced their results. In addition, we agree that further research in this area should include long-term observation of such cases with respect to silicone oil management and possible removal. Future studies will hopefully clarify which cases warrant a limited versus a complete vitrectomy with placement of silicone oil. Retinal surgeons should continue to use all the tools in their armamentarium to manage such eyes, no matter how aggressive, and not be discouraged from making intraoperative decisions or performing staged procedures, as long as it is in the best interest of the patient long term.


Emphasis is one of many functions of language, which may strengthen the sense and intensify the tone. As the shell or carrier of meaning, speech sounds are naturally important means for emphasis. The phonetic expressive effect and emphasis is usually achieved by stress, intonation, length of sound, rhyme, and onomatopeia, etc. This paper has explored these phonetic means for emphasis in English.


The association of chloroquine and proguanil is widely used for antimalarial prophylaxis in Plasmodium falciparum – endemic countries with limited to moderate chloroquine resistance [1]. We report the 1st case of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) due to this drug combination. A 34-year-old woman with a previous history of maculopapular skin rash induced by mefloquine in 1995 was referred to our department in February 1996 because of the rapid onset of a generalized eruption of 2 days' duration. The eruption began on the face and trunk and subsequently spread to the limbs. It consisted of a diffuse erythema with multiple superficial nonfollicular pustules. A few target lesions were present on the limbs. The rash was highly pruritic. There was no mucosal involvement. She was slightly pyrexial (38°C). She had been taking chloroquine (100 mg/day) and proguanil (200 mg/day) for 10 days as an antimalarial prophylaxis during a travel across Togo (West Africa). She had not been given other medication in the past 3 months and had no history of psoriasis. Laboratory investigations disclosed hyperleukocytosis (22.7× 10/l) with polynucleosis (20×10/l) and eosinophilia (1×10/l). Histopathologic examination of a skin biopsy specimen showed multilocular spongiform subcorneal pustules containing polymorphonuclears and eosinophils. Chloroquine and proguanil were stopped. The eruption resolved after 8 days with no further recurrence. Epicutaneous tests performed 6 months later with chloroquine, proguanil and mefloquine were negative. AGEP is a recently described entity [2] mostly related to drugs, principally antibiotics (beta-lactams and macrolides). Four cases of AGEP due to hydroxychloroquine have been previously reported, the last in 1995 [3] but no case of AGEP induced by chloroquine or proguanil has ever been published. Chloroquine, an amino-4 quinoleine has a few cutaneous side effects apart from pruritus (which may occur in up to 75% of patients) and exacerbation of psoriasis [4, 5]. Proguanil and cycloguanil, two biguanide derivatives, may induce mouth ulcers [6] without any particular skin side effects. They are seldom used alone and mostly given in combination with chloroquine. Finally, mefloquine, an amino-alcohol, can produce life-threatening adverse cutaneous reactions [7] but has no known cross-hypersensitivity with chloroquine. In our case, it was not possible to distinguish between chloroquine and proguanil as the culprit of the AGEP and future antimalarial prophylaxis was further complicated by skin reaction to mefloquine. Reports of severe cutaneous toxicity in patients taking antimalarials and possible cross-reactions are highly warranted.


The waste heat recovered by traditional industrial waste heat recovery systems is mostly high-temperature flue gas and combustible gas, while the waste heat of medium and low temperature flue gas that accounts for more than 50% of the total waste heat resources has been ignored, which is not conducive to the effective energy saving of industrial production and manufacturing process. In the meantime, few studies have concerned about the changes in the economy of circulating industrial waste heat recovery system. Therefore, to fill in this research gap, this paper aimed at the economy problem of circulating medium and low temperature industrial waste heat recovery system and carried out a series of research. The paper completed the thermodynamic analysis of different medium and low temperature waste heat recovery modes of industrial flue gas, and gave the analysis steps of the economy of circulating medium and low temperature waste heat recovery system of industrial flue gas. The effectiveness and accuracy of the thermodynamic and thermo-economic models constructed in the paper were proved by experimental results.


The term 'Corporate Governance' conveys about how a corporate body is directed and controlled under a set of mission, values, and philosophy. It is a phrase implying greater transparency of management system in corporate entities. Good corporate governance practice is obligatory for the integrity of corporations as it has a greater impact on the growth and stability of the economy. The increasing corruption in the various government departments and their services had kept the political and corporate leaders above the accountability. For this reason the cost of corporate frauds in the government departments and services finally passed on the vulnerable consumers of their products. The corporate scams and frauds are the area of concern for the government, regulators, policy makers and corporate leaders because at last it will either interrupt the operations of a corporation or introduce extra cost results in coming down of profitability.Professionalization of management, transparency in operation, and corporate democracy are the core of the good corporate governance and these must be applied in genuine actions by the corporate entities to ensure rich corporate culture and sustainable business environment.


The intestinal coliform bacterial populations in six piglets and their sows from two litters in the same stable were studied by the aid of an automated system for biochemical fingerprinting (The PhenePlate, or PhP system). Faecal samples from sows were collected once a week until weaning, and from piglets once a week during their first 3 mth of life. Altogether 1248 coliform isolates from 52 faecal samples were studied. The phenotypical diversity of the coliform bacteria in each faecal sample was measured as Simpson's diversity index (D i ), and the similarities between the bacteria in different samples were measured as population similarity coefficients (S p ). The D i of the sows was initially high, but decreased in one sow during an outbreak of diarrhoea which occurred during week 3 of the study. The D i of the piglets varied between samples, and showed no tendency to increase with age. Two piglets included in the study died during the diarrhoeal outbreak, and they generally carried intestinal floras showing lower D i during their first 3 wk of life than those which survived (mean value 0.454 versus 0.744). The coliform population within each piglet was usually quite stable before the diarrhoeal outbreak, but in all piglets the population was drastically changed during and after the outbreak. Piglets within each litter shared similar coliform populations during the first week of life, but piglets from different litters had no coliforms in common. On day 75, the piglets were removed from their sows and mixed with others in different litters, and after that coliform populations of piglets from different sows showed a tendency to become more similar to each other. Samples collected during the diarrhoeal outbreak from different piglets did not contain similar coliform populations which is a strong indication that the aetiological agent of the outbreak was not any coliform bacterium. The present study shows a useful way to investigate intestinal bacteria in both man and animals. The methods are very simple to use, and fully computerised data treatment makes it possible to study large numbers of bacterial isolates. Keywords - Intestinal bacteria; Coliforms; Piglets; Diversity; Stability.


Abstract : In 1997 enlisted attrition in the Coast Guard increased approximately 50 percent from its historical rate. This increased rate of attrition, particularly among junior enlisted members, created a void in the Coast Guard's overall personnel strength. The Congress identified a disparity in the number of personnel the Coast Guard received funded for and the actual number of personnel on the payroll. In response to threatened Congressional action, the Coast Guard chartered the Nonrate Workforce Structure Study (NWSS) to examine the world of work for the most junior personnel (i.e., nonrates) in the service. The study was initially chartered as a Quality Action Team and focused on the issue of ensuring that nonrates were engaged in "meaningful" (i.e., career-developing and challenging) work. It soon became apparent that the scope of the study extended far beyond the bounds of a Quality Action Team and called for an extensive study. The subsequent team that was brought together consisted of enlisted, officer, and civilian employees. They were tasked with examining how the Coast Guard brings in its people, trains them at the accession point, and deals with them at their first units. Consequently, the team broke its study into three phases, each led by a sub-team: Phase I: The Nonrate Team; Phase II: The Recruiting Analysis Team; and Phase III: The Recruit Training Team The Phase I Team accomplished the bulk of the work for the study. Germane to this report was their work identifying the core qualities that every nonrate must possess to be successful in the Coast Guard. This was key for the Phase II Team, which was tasked with identifying the recruiting system to attract 17 - 24 year old men and women who possess these core qualities of success. Turning to the 1996 YATS helped the Phase II Team accomplish this task.


Motivation: A substantial amount of knowledge about biomolecular interactions resides in the biomedical literature and has been increasingly made available as structured, curated database entries. Although recent research in biological assertion extraction has mostly focused on automatically detecting interacting entities, automated generation of provenance for interacting pairs remains of equal importance. We show that a number of machine learning algorithms can be used to directly establish sentence-level support for given entity-entity interactions in biological databases. We specifically focus on findi ng support for specific interaction entries in database assert ions about protein-protein interactions. Results: To find evidence backing up a biological interaction is to classify whether or not each sentence contains assertive support for the claimed interaction. We evaluated our method by comparing its classification against human judgement on a corpus of MEDLINE papers extracted from the BIND (Biomolecular Interaction Network Database). Each article in our experiment has at least one pair of biological entities known to interact with each other and whose interaction is supported by the article. The best two machine learning algorithms in our work achieve over 21% improvement on classification accuracy and over 6% improvement on F-measure, which is statistically significant. Availability: Software code relevant to the work described in the paper are available upon request to the authors.


A detailed understanding of the chemical reactions of organic molecules with semiconductor surfaces will greatly aid schemes for the incorporation of organic functionality into existing technologies. In this paper we report on the reaction of acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) with silicon (001) as revealed by a combination of temperature-dependent scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) experiments and density functional theory (DFT). We observe that low-coverage exposures at room temperature result almost exclusively in the formation of a single adsorbate species. Conversion of this structure into thermodynamically favored bridge-bonded structures is achieved through temperature anneals between 150–250 °C. We determine the chemical identity of each of the experimentally observed species by comparison with DFT total energy calculations and simulated STM images. Calculations of transition states are used to formulate a full reaction pathway explaining the formation of the observed species. Excellent agreement is found bet...


The dielectric elastomer minimum energy structure can realize large angular deformations by a small voltage-induced strain of the dielectric elastomer, so it is a suitable candidate to make a rotary joint for a soft robot. Driven with an alternating electric field, the joint deformation vibrational frequency follows the input voltage frequency. However, the authors find that if the rotational inertia increases such that the inertial torque makes the frame deform over a negative angle, then the joint motion will become complicated and the vibrational mode will alter with the change of voltage frequency. The vibration with the largest amplitude does not occur while the voltage frequency is equal to natural response frequency of the joint. Rather, the vibrational amplitude will be quite large over a range of other frequencies at which the vibrational frequency is half of the voltage frequency. This phenomenon was analyzed by a comparison of the timing sequences between voltage and joint vibration. This vibra...


Enterprise Resource Planning systems efficiently administer all tasks concerning real-time planning and manufacturing, material procurement and inventory monitoring, customer and supplier management. Nevertheless, the incorporation of domain knowledge and the application of adaptive decision making into such systems require extreme customization with a cost that becomes unaffordable, especially in the case of SMEs. We present an alternative approach for incorporating adaptive business intelligence into the company's backbone. We have designed and developed a highly reconfigurable, adaptive, cost efficient multi-agent framework that acts as an add-on to ERP software, employing Data Mining and Soft Computing techniques in order to provide intelligent recommendations on customer, supplier and inventory management. In this paper, we present the architectural details of the developed framework.


More women (56.2%) than men (43.8%) completed the questionnaire. Obviously, this was not considered indicative of the actual percentages of women and men who left or were evacuated, rather that there was a greater interest by women in responding to the survey. As shall be illustrated below, very few female respondents reported on negative experiences that occurred due to being women. On the contrary, several of the gendered experiences were extremely positive, highlighting the protection that Lebanese women should be able to expect in a crisis.