The aggregative stability of natural rubber (NR) latex stabilized by nonionic, fatty alcohol ethylene oxide condensate surfactant (Verol S-15) was studied in the presence of formic acid. Natural rubber latex having an additional 3–5 phr surfactant is stable at pH 2 when acidified by formic acid and can be successfully subjected to the subsequent in situ epoxidation. Using a large ratio of H2O2 to isoprene unit (0.4–4.0 M/M) and large excess of H2O2 to HCOOH (3–13 M/M) in reaction, the in situ epoxidation can be performed with reaction mixture having dry rubber content up to 35–37% at room temperature or up to 28% at 50°C. This reaction leads to products of large range of epoxide contents and characterized by absence of side-ring opening groups, proved by IR and 1H-NMR analysis. By infrared spectroscopy it was demonstrated a good correlation between the absorbances of the residual double bonds and of the epoxide groups versus the epoxide content in the range from 0 to approx. 60 mol % level. The solubility and gel content were studied in various solvents, demonstrating that epoxidation leads to increasing gel content at high epoxide levels and to enhancing sensitivity of the product toward polar solvents. By GPC, it was shown for the soluble fraction that epoxidation was accompanied by reducing the molecular weight and by change of the MWD compared with the original NR.


INTRODUCTION NAT1, located on chromosome 8 at 8p21-22, is one of the two N-acetyltransferase genes in the human genome.(3) Although it comprises at least 9 exons covering approximately 53kb, the entire coding sequence of 870bp is contained within exon 9 only.(2) NAT1 has long been known for its key role in drug metabolism. Today, its highly polymorphic character has shifted the focus on its role in the activation and detoxification of environmental carcinogens.(1)


The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of low back reinforcement exercise for low back pain sampled from high school baseball players who complained their low back pain. Lumbar shape, and pain responses were examined before and after treatment to identify the effects of low back reinforcement exercises. The number of suggests were 21 consisted of four groups control group, active group, assistive group, and active/assistive combined group. The time periods of treatments were 30 minutes per day, 5 times a week, total 18 weeks. Lumbar X-ray was utilized before and after treatment for data collection. T-test was used to compare the differences of body shapes in between groups. The results of this study were as follows ' 1. In the analysis of body shape correction between groups, active exercise group showed significant results in the stress line angle, but not so critical. 2. The effects of body shape correction exercise between groups showed significant results on the sacral angle, AP stress angle in the cervical spine and lumbar spine.


This paper addresses 2D sound source localization using multiple microphone arrays with the future aim to be applied to outdoor environments. To achieve such sound source localization, there are two main issues to overcome. One is the lack of knowledge about how to design the system, since the localization performance depends on resolution of the array's Transfer Function, the number of used microphone arrays, signal-to-noise ratio and the target sound's frequency characteristics. We conduct a thorough analysis of the localization results with different simulation conditions. The other problem is the distinction between multiple sound sources, which is directly related to the appearance of outliers in the localization process of these sounds. To solve this issue, we propose an outlier removal method, taking sound property of the observed sounds into consideration. As the application scenario of the simulations, we selected bird song analysis, which provides a challenging environment in terms of constantly changing signal-to-noise ratio and relative sensor-to-target position. When the task is automated, robust robot audition technology can be established, possibly advancing one step closer to creating a fully automated bird song analysis system. We established a prototype system using the proposed method. We present several simulation results followed by a discussion on the issues, leading to establishing system design guidelines that ensure a predictable performance.


This thesis documents the author's attempt at capturing the housing inspection experience from the perspective of the inspector, as well as depicting the potential of this model in the domain of co ...


Scientific discovery is nowadays driven by large-scale simulations running on massively parallel high-performance computing (HPC) systems. These applications each generate a large amount of data, which then needs to be post-processed for example for data mining or visualization. Unfortunately, the computing platform used for post processing might be different from the one on which the data is initially generated, introducing the challenge of moving large amount of data between computing platforms. This is especially challenging when these two platforms are geographically separated since the data needs to be moved between computing facilities. This is even more critical when scientists tightly couple their domain specific applications with a post processing application.
 The paper presents a solution for the data transfer between MPI applications using a dedicated wide area network (WAN) terabit infrastructure. The proposed solution is based on parallel access to data files and the Message Passing Interface (MPI) over the Common Communication Infrastructure (CCI) for the data transfer over a routed infrastructure. In the context of this research, the Energy Sciences Network (ESnet) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is targeted for the transfer of data between DOE national laboratories.


Aim: comparative analysis of the expression profile of plasma microRNAs and target genes in patients with complicated pregnancy.Materials and Methods. A prospective observational comparative study in parallel groups was carried out. The study included 73 women divided into three groups: the main group – 42 patients with preeclampsia (PE), the comparison group – 12 pregnant women with fetal growth retardation (FGR), the control group – 19 clinically healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancy. An examination was performed, which included the analysis of clinical characteristics and the study of microRNA expression in blood plasma using the real-time polymerase chain reaction.Results. MicroRNA hsa-miR-210-5p and hsa-miR-1972 were not identified in any plasma sample. Analyzing plasma microRNAs in group of women with PE showed significant changes in the expression levels of hsa-miR-517a-3p (p = 0.025), hsa-miR-517c-3p (p = 0.036), hsa-miR-574-5p (p = 0.015), hsa-miR-517a-3p (p < 0.001) and an increase in miR-20a-5p (p = 0.046) compared to control group. No significant differences were found in the miRNA expression profile in group of women with FGR compared to control group. Assessing an influence of the studied microRNAs on regulatory signaling pathways allowed to establish that hsa-miR-miR-146a-5p, -181a-5p, -210-3p, -517a-3p, -517c-3p, -574-3p, -574-5p, -1304-5p are potential regulators of the reaction cascades involved in the PE pathogenesis.Conclusion. The changes revealed in the circulating blood plasma miRNA level indicate the presence of specific transcriptomic alterations during complicated course of pregnancy.


The possibilities of solving a key problem that hinders the development of multifaceted and long-term cooperation between universities and research institutes with industrial partners are considered in connection with the prospects for the development of technology transfer centers that received grants from the Ministry of Education of Russia in 2021. The main contradictions, systemic problems and mechanisms for building interaction between the academic and industrial sectors of the economy are highlighted. Foreign and Russian practices of building cooperation, issues of trust and mutual understanding, the possibility of removing barriers to marketing and quality, creating a network structure for transfer management are analyzed. A fundamentally new perspective of state support for the transfer of research and development results is shown, which is opened by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of March 17, 2022 № 392. For the first time, a model of interaction between corporations and technology companies implementing projects with the participation of universities and research institutes aimed at finalizing and creating products has been created under the guarantees of large customers.


The aim of this study was todetermine how the implementation of the Regional Health Health Insurance program (Jamkesda) inthe city of Pekanbaru. Digunkan theory is the theory of implementation that is used to determine thesuccess of the program Jamkesda. Data was collected by observation, interviews, and analyzing thedata contained in records and documentation of the activities of public health services in the city ofPekanbaru. Results of the study showed that the implementation of the program in the city ofPekanbaru Jamkesda accordance with the objectives of the coverage of services performedreasonably well denagn and constraints in the data collection process is the lack of services for poorpeople who use or who get health care Jamkesda. Conclusion The results of this research is theimplementation of the overall program in the city of Pekanbaru Jamkesda been implemented inaccordance with the objectives contained in Regulation No. 7 of 2011 on guidelines for theimplementation of the Regional Health Jaminanan Program to improve access and quality of healthservices to all poor people in the province of Riau in order to achieve the degree of optimal publichealth effectively so as to create a healthy society and the productive poor to support povertyalleviation programs.


A method is described for measuring the absorption spectra of both compounds in aqueous solutions under conditions which minimise the risk of oxidation. Data so obtained are presented for concentrations 10-4 to 10-5M. over the pH range up to 10. Despite the special precautions, oxidation effects are still observed with. both compounds above pH 9–10. Below pH 6 haematein undergoes an acid–catalysed reaction.

There is no evidence of any ionisation process with haematoxylin solutions up to pH 9'6, above which reliable data could not be obtained. For haematein at 25°C. pKa(I) is 6. 86 ± 0. 05 and apparently applies to the hydroxyl in the quinonoid ring, and pKa(II) is 9. 9 ± 0. 1.

Absorption and kinetic studies suggest that in the acid reaction of haematein, catalysed by hydrogen ions in a pseudo–first–order manner, a molecule of water is added to form dihydrohaemateinol, by a reversible process proceeding to about 65% completion at equilibrium under the present conditions. The reaction is thus in some respects analogous to the reverse of the previously reported dehydration of hydroxy–di– or –tri–phenylmethanols to give the corresponding p–methylenequinones.


Eutectic welding has been used successfully to repair the cracked Pendulum Bearing of a Railway Bridge. The Pendulum Bearing is made up of Cast Iron with high percentage of phosphorus content & about 125 years old. The Cast Iron Pendulum Bearing was of unique design carrying the total vertical load of 602.2t under loaded condition of the bridge. Since the Railway Bridges are subjected to heavy dynamic loads, the cracks developed & were propagating and this was considered a safety hazard. In situ welding was carried out to repair cracks on the pedestal of pendulum bearing of the Bridge in 1979. The repaired bearing had given a satisfactory service life of more than 20 years. Development of fresh cracks of similar type at some other locations of the pedestal was reported in 2003 and have again been repaired using the same technique which was established in the field. The paper describes the methodology, chemical composition of the material, the electrodes used and the procedure followed for the repair undertaken.


Aim: This study aimed to assess the effect of polysaccharides from fruit body of Microporous vernicipes (Polyporales) on immunological activities of macrophages and neutrophils. Methodology: Polysaccharides were extracted using hot water (PHW) and cool water (PCW) and tested on the activities of peritoneal macrophage and neutrophil in response of lipopolysaccharides. The effect of the polysaccharides was examined In vitro to assess the phagocytic activities by evaluating the vacuole formation, nitroblue tetrazolium dye reduction, lysosomal enzyme activity, nitric oxide, myeloperoxidase in neutrophil and on neutrophil adherence assay. Results: The cool and hot water polysaccharides of Microporus vernicipes significantly improved Original Research Article Mahamat et al.; JPRI, 32(36): 1-11, 2020; Article no.JPRI.63601 2 the activities of macrophages and neutrophils as demonstrated by an elevated the formation of vacuole following by a high production of nitric oxide, lysosomal enzyme and superoxide. Those polysaccharides extracts of Microporous vernicipes also caused an increase in release of myeloperoxidase by neutrophils. Results also showed that neutrophils treated with polysaccharides extracts of Microporous vernicipes adhered more on a plastic surface than those untreated. It has been also found that polysaccharides of Microporous vernicipes may have cytotoxic effect at high concentration with IC50 of 2.28 and 8.15 mg/mL for PHW and PCW respectively. Conclusion: The result of this study indicates the immunostimulatory activity of polysaccharides of Microporus vernicipes by stimulating activities of macrophages and neutrophils.


The present investigation was carried out to develop the sustained delivery of metformin hydrochloride for an effective and safe therapy using three polymers, Such as 1). Chitosan, 2). Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and 3). Xanthan gum. The term modified-release dosage forms is used to describe products that alter the timing and rate of release of drug substance. A modified-release dosage form is defined as one for which the drug release characteristics of time course and location are chosen to accomplish therapeutic or convenience objectives not offered by conventional dosage forms such as solutions, ointments, normally kidney function. Formulations of chitosan MS1 drug release are 87%, xanthum gum MS4 was 90%, and finally MS7 with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose was 93% which exhibited the highest drug release retardation, also had the lowest matrix concentration. Hence, a lower concentration of polymer such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose is optimized batch suitable to prepare metformin hydrochloride tablets compared to higher concentrations.


In this study, thermal performance of building walls integrated with phase change materials (PCM) was evaluated in terms of indoor temperature reduction and heat transfer time delay. PCM was incorporated as thin layer placed longitudinally within walls. The thermal performance of a room with and without PCM was evaluated numerically. The developed model is based on the enthalpy formulation for PCM melting and solidification, which is solved by an implicit finite difference method. The effect of PCM type on heat gain indoors was studied. Three phase change materials (n-octadecane, n-eicosane and calcium chloride hexahydrate) were tested in hot weather. Results showed that octadecane is the best in ensuring an indoor temperature close to 27 °C for the test room. Moreover, optimal thickness of the PCM layer within the walls is critical for heat transfer reduction and management and should be carefully chosen.


type="main"> Financial intermediaries trade frequently in many markets using sophisticated models. Their marginal value of wealth should therefore provide a more informative stochastic discount factor (SDF) than that of a representative consumer. Guided by theory, we use shocks to the leverage of securities broker-dealers to construct an intermediary SDF. Intuitively, deteriorating funding conditions are associated with deleveraging and high marginal value of wealth. Our single-factor model prices size, book-to-market, momentum, and bond portfolios with an R-super-2 of 77% and an average annual pricing error of 1%—performing as well as standard multifactor benchmarks designed to price these assets.


This study examined the communication styles of East Asians and Anglo-European New Zealanders (Pakeha). Results indicated that in general, Asians exhibited more sociocentric communication behavior whereas Pakeha exhibited more idiocentric behavior. In intercultural interactions, both the frequency and intensity of these behavior styles were exacerbated. Results further indicated that task accomplishment required more time in the intercultural condition as compared to homogeneous conditions. Implications for international management research and practice are discussed.


Introduction: There is evidence to suggest that the human microbiome may play a key role in the development of breast cancer. There is a unique microbial signature in mammary tissue that is associated with breast cancer. Further, there is mounting evidence to support the role of the gut microbiome in promoting or preventing breast cancer. Consequently, specific compositional and/or functional shifts in either of these microbiomes may promote the growth of breast tumors. Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are microbial metabolites produced in the large intestine by bacterial fermentation of complex carbohydrates. These metabolites exit the gut and interact with many different cell types throughout the human body, including those in the breast, via g-protein coupled receptors; GPR41, GPR43, and GPR109A. These metabolites have been identified as a potential functional connection between the gut microbiome and breast cancer but have not been studied in breast tissue in the context of breast cancer. To assess the interaction between the microbiome and breast tumor development, we analyzed the expression of these receptors in tissue collected from women who donated healthy, prediagnostic, or cancerous tissue to the Susan G. Komen and Indiana University Simon Cancer Center Tissue Banks. Methods: DNA and RNA (n=60, n = 15 for each tissue subset: healthy, prediagnostic, adjacent normal, and tumor tissue) was copurified from these tissues using the Qiagen AllPrep® PowerFecal® DNA/RNA Kit. The RNA was then reverse transcribed into complementary DNA. Quantitative PCR was performed on the cDNA using four validated primer sets: GPR41, GPR43, GPR109A, and ribosomal 18S (housekeeping gene). Results/Cconclusions: We did not identify any significant differences in expression levels of these receptors between the participant groups, suggesting that cancer status is not associated with increased metabolic activity of the microbiome. We are currently conducting sensitivity analyses to determine the role of clinical factors such as age, menopausal status, BMI, etc., on the expression of these receptors in breast tissue. We are also investigating the expression of enzymes and transporters in breast tissue related to host cell metabolism of the most bioactive SCFAs (acetate, propionate, and butyrate). This work will yield valuable information regarding the interaction between the human microbiome and breast tumor development. Ultimately, it may be possible to target SCFA-producing bacteria or SCFA catabolic pathways in breast tissue to prevent or treat breast cancer. Citation Format: Annie Kump, Daniel Herrera, Leah T. Stiemsma. Expression of GPR41, GPR43, and GPR109A in breast tissue in relation to breast cancer development [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on the Microbiome, Viruses, and Cancer; 2020 Feb 21-24; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(8 Suppl):Abstract nr A12.


The meat of duck : production and main characteristics. After reviewing the economic importance of duck meat in France (128,000 t produced in 1993) some characteristics of this type of meat are then described. Duck meat is produced mainly from Muscovy ducks which exhibit greater muscle development and have less fatty carcasses than Peking ducks. Like chicken meat, duck meat is lean (breast meat contains only 2 % lipid), and rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. However, unlike chicken meat, duck meat is red. Duck muscles contain mainly red muscles fibers (between 70 and 90 % in the breast). This structural characteristic determines in part the technological and sensory properties of the meat (pH, colour, tenderness, juiciness, flavour). BAEZA E., 1995. La viande de canard : production et principales caract6ristiques. INRA Prod. Anim., 8(2), 117-125.


You see, I am in the rehearsal business. Rehearsals occupy a mere five to ten hours in a typical week, but they are "main events" in my work at OSU. If a rehearsal goes well, I go home happy; if not, well, let's just say that my wife ... and my golden retriever ... have learned to give me extra space when I get home. Rehearsing is an art and it is my profound belief that the same is true of teaching. But I get ahead of myself ... before drawing parallels between rehearsing and teaching, let's set some parameters:


The dissertation contains an analysis of the perceptions of alternative schools in general and the Worcester Alternative High School in particular. The Worcester Alternative High School is an alternative high school that was in operation for four and one -half years in Worcester, Massachusetts. During the years 1972-1976 it provided alternative experiences and learning options for over five hundred stu-


This study focuses on the influence of management commitment, service orientation and stakeholder role in affecting company reputation and environmental performance of State of Enterprises (SOE) in Indonesia. Some CSR managers in state-owned enterprises, especially in state-owned ports enterprise are facing problems about the complexity of allocating funds and CSR programs during field implementation. This study conducted on all managers of one largest port companies in Indonesia which is operating from Sumatra to Papua by using a mixed method. Data collection is done by giving questionnaire to all CSR managers throughout Indonesia and followed by interview and focus group discussion (FGD). Sampling technique is using purposive sampling. The results show that in order to improve the company reputation, company need to increase commitment, give excellent service orientation to the community, and establish a harmonious relationship with stakeholders. The service orientation to the community and the company reputation can improve environmental performance for companies who implement CSR and positively received by the community.


Purpose: The increase in patients requiring hemodialysis has resulted in an increase dialysis-associated infections risk. but there are no Renal Dialysis unit design standard meet specified safety and quality standards. Therefore, appropriate Establish standards and legal regulation is important for the provision of initial certification and maintenance of facility, equipment, and human resource quality. Methods: Literature survey on the design guideline and standards of Renal Dialysis unit design in Korea, U.S, Germany, Singapore, Hongkong, Dubai. Results: There are no established standards for facilities in dialysis units in Korea. To prevent infections in dialysis patients, necessary establish standards. Considering the domestic and overseas Health-care facilities standards, the major factors to be considered in the medical environment for Renal Dialysis Unit are as follows. First, planning to separate Clean areas(treatment area) from contaminated areas(medical waste storage area). Second, ensure sufficient space and minimum separation distance. Although there may be differences depending on the circumstances of individual institutions, renal dialysis unit consider the space to prevent droplet transmission. Third, secure infrastructure of infection prevention such as sufficient amount of hand hygiene sinks. Hand washing facilities for staff within the Unit should be readily available. Hand hygiene sinks should be located to prevent water from splashing into the treatment area. Fourth, Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system for Renal Dialysis Unit is all about providing a safer environment for patients and staff. Implications: The results of this paper can be the basic data for the design of the Renal Dialysis Units and relevant regulations.


Since independence, under the planned process of development, the Indian industries have been making remarkable efforts for speedy development in industrialization across the globe. A variety of purposeful policies and measures has been undertaken to promote industrial development in the world. Accordingly, the industrial sectors in India witnessed significant changes by adopting the multi dimensional strategies in their operations. Ecommerce is one of the dimensional strategies. EC provides benefit to business firms while reducing transaction cost, facilitates in spreading markets geographically, and improves compatibility between parties. It is a assured application of IT brought a revolution in supply chain management which includes manufacturing, retail and service operations. The article focused on the importance of E-Commerce and an attempt have been made to define different types of e-commerce as well as explored its major elements in relation with industrial management. Besides, the process of E-Commerce components may observe in different areas of industry such as manufacturing, retailing and service operations.


In this paper a Newton-type algorithm is used to generate non-singular symmetric matrices of rank one, using a singular symmetric matrix of the same rank as an initial matrix for the iteration. In particular, numerical computations are performed with two different diagonal matrices which are in the neighbourhood of the eigenvalues of the initial singular symmetric matrix to construct a three by three and a four by four non-singular symmetric matrices to illustrate our result.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the construction of the Suicide Behavior Attitude Questionnaire (SBAQ) which measures attitudes of nursing personnel towards suicide, and verify attitude differences among these professionals.

METHODS
The Suicide Behavior Attitude Questionnaire comprises 21 visual analogue scale items (beliefs, feelings and reactions on suicidal patients) selected from a pool of attitude statements generated by focal groups and experts' judgement. The questionnaire was completed by 317 nursing professionals who worked in a teaching hospital. Factor analysis and internal consistency were calculated.

RESULTS
Three interpretable factors were extracted, accounting jointly for 40% of the total variance: Feelings when caring for the patient, Professional Capacity and Right to Suicide, comprising 7, 4 and 5 items, respectively. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients were 0.7, 0.6 and 0.5, respectively. Greater Professional Capacity was reported by nursing assistants and those who had already took care of suicidal patients. The belief that a person does not have the right to commit suicide was stronger among older professionals, those who had never taken care of suicidal patients, those who had a family history of suicide, those who were Protestants and that used to go more frequently to church services.

CONCLUSIONS
The Suicide Behavior Attitude Questionnaire proved to be user-friendly and quite a simple instrument to assess attitude towards suicide among nursing personnel.


In this paper, we study the dynamics of non-interacting and interacting holographic dark energy models in the framework of Brans-Dicke theory. As system's infra-red cut-off we consider the future event horizon. The motivation of this work is to use the logarithmic form of the Brans-Dicke scalar field, $\phi \propto ln(\alpha+\beta a)$, where $\alpha$ and $\beta$ are constants and `a' is the scalar factor as proposed Kumar and Singh in a recent work to study the new agegraphic dark energy models. We find the time-dependent equation of state parameter and deceleration parameter which describe the phase transition of the universe. We observe that the model explains the early time inflation and late time acceleration including matter-dominated phase. It is also observed that the equation of state parameter may cross phantom divide line in late time evolution. The cosmic coincidence problem is also discussed for both the models. We observe that this logarithmic form of Brans-Dicke scalar field is more appropriate to achieve a less acute coincidence problem in non-interacting model whereas a soft coincidence can be achieved if coupling parameter in interacting model has small value.


The high regioselectivity of the iridium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of unsymmetrical α,ω-diynes with nitriles was experimentally determined by Takeuchi and co-workers. In the present study...


Abstract Some new 9,10-anthraquinone (rufigallol) derivatives have been prepared and their mesomorphic properties have been studied. The unsymmetrically substituted tetrahydropyranyloxy-ethers (THP-ethers), exhibited columnar mesomorphism at fairly low temperatures and the xray studies carried out for one of the homologues confirmed the hexagonal nature of the mesophase. The deprotected derivatives of these THP-ethers, also form columnar mesophases. All these derivatives are very good candidates for polymerisation studies.


Studies were conducted on the germination on sucrose-agar of pollen of Cacanski Rubin, Heimanns Konservenweichsel and Sumadinka and on pollen tube growth of these three cultivars in the pistils of 'Cacanski Rubin'. Pollen tube growth in the pistils was recorded at 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25°C. The highest average number of pollen tubes in the style and ovary, and to some extent the percentage of pistils in which the pollen tubes reached the nucellus, was assessed in all three combinations of pollination at the optimum temperatures of 15 and 20°C. 'Sumadinka' had the highest percentage of germinated pollen grains on the artificial medium in both years studied, as well as the highest average number of pollen tubes in the style and ovary of 'Cacanski Rubin' and the greatest percentage of pistils in which the pollen tubes reached the nucellus of 'Cacanski Rubin'. The occurrence of incompatibility observed in the upper third of the style was most pronounced in the combination of self-pollination at 5°C in one of th...


The symmetrical ligand 2,5-bis(2'-pyridyl)pyrazine (BPPZ) exists in the extended form with a dihedral angle between the pyrazine and the pyridine rings of 7.88• BPPZ forms symmetrical bis(bidenate) complexes with MnIl, Fell, and CUll. The dihedral angles between the best planes through the planar pyrazine ring and the pyridine ring are 2.6 in the MnlT complex, 4 in the FeU complex, and 8.5 in the CulT complex. The metal-Npy bond distances are shorter than standard values and similar in length to the metal-Npz distances. Introduction Ligands that can serve as molecular bridges between metal centers and that also contain a delocalized n system have received considerable attention in recent years. Binuclear and multinuclear metal complexes comprising two or more metal centers bridged by multi dentate ligands can exhibit metal-metal interactions, such as energy or electron transfer, magnetic coupling and intervalence transfer [1][2]. Coordination complexes ofBPPZ were unknown until recently when the photochemistry of some group VIB tetracarbonyl complexes were studied [3]. A little later Balzani and coworkers [4-6], Denti *Correspondence: Prof. H. Stoeckli-Evans lnstitut de Chimie Universite de Neuch3tel Avenue de Bellevaux 51 CH-2000 Neuch3tel


Brunelle et al. (Journal of Forensic Sciences. Nov. 1987) recently reported a single-solvent extraction technique for determining the relative age of ballpoint ink entries on questioned documents. This technique was mass dependent, which means equal amounts of ink had to be removed from the document for all samples compared. This paper describes a modification of the previous procedure that makes the age determination independent of the amount of ink sampled for testing. The modified procedure involves extracting the inks with solvents, spotting the ink extract onto a thin-layer chromatographic plate, and then separating the dye components in a solvent system of ethyl acetate: alcohol: water (70:35:30 parts, respectively). The relative concentrations of the dye components are measured using a densitometer. The calculated ratios of the relative concentrations are independent of the amount of ink taken for analysis. Aging curves were prepared for four different ballpoint inks and two non-ballpoint inks. The effect of different papers on ink aging was determined, and the mass independence theory was verified. The feasibility for determining the relative age of non-ballpoint inks was also established.


National medicine is an important part of medical system.Long medical practice and living history plus special environment and location with communication among Zhuang nationality people and other nationalities have made Zhuang nationality medicine develop its own unique medical system.Toxin and deficiency causing diseases is one of important viewpoints in Zhuang nationality medicine system.Zhuang nationality people have deep and direct impression about toxin,meanwhile,have summarized and created various methods of detoxication,even today many of them still are widely applied.There are lots of comments on toxin in both the theory of Zhuang medicine and the theory of traditional Chinese medicine.The conmments on toxin in the theory of traditional Chinese medicine were comprehensive while the theory of Zhuang medicine had developed theory of toxin of its own,and both were complementary each other in the system of medicine.The article made a comparison and analysis,then to summary between both of theories about the concept of toxin,the commom diseases caused by toxin in Zhuang nationality people,the cognition of toxicant,its treatments and prevention against intoxication for the purpose of providing theoretical guide for improving the ability of detoxication and preventing against intoxication.


For a given polynomial $P(X)$ of degree $d\ge 1$ modulo $p$, we estimate the number of elements $1\le u<p$ for which $P(u)$ coincides with the Fermat quotient $q_p(u)$ modulo $p$. In particular, the case $d=1$ improves the bound of Ostafe and Shparlinski on the number of fixed points of Fermat quotients from $O(p^{11/12+o(1)})$ to $O(p^{5/6})$. First we estimate the number of $1\le u<p$ with $q_p(u)=P(u)$ in terms of the number of zeros of certain polynomials. Then, modifying a proof of Heath-Brown and Mit'kin using the Stepanov--Schmidt method, we estimate this number of solutions.


[EN] Run-off management is the main challenge of every big city. Land availability, project timeframe, and financing are several issues regarding run-off management implementation, including Indonesia's Capital City, Jakarta. One of the engineering tools that used to reduce the negative impacts of run-off in Jakarta is Infiltration Well. Several researches on this topic confirm the positive impact of building infiltration well on small catchment area. This study aims to understand the efficacy of infiltration well project on big basin area, the Ciliwung Basin. Ciliwung basin is divided into two sub-basin, Upstream Ciliwung and Downstream Ciliwung. The analysis is performed using volumetric abstraction of infiltration well volume and daily infiltration rate. 4 rainfall stations are used in this study, 2-gauge rainfall stations on each basin. Infiltration well capacity is tested with different return-period rainfall based on daily and storm-rainfall (3-days cumulative rainfall). The results show that by implementing 1 million infiltration wells at each sub-basin the abstraction volume is below 10% for 10-year return period rainfall and below 5% for 25-year return period rainfall.


We have analyzed the properties of weak probe absorption in a closed four-level Y-type system driven by a coherent driving field. The system with two nearly degenerate uppermost levels interacting with the same modes of the vacuum radiation field exhibits the interference effect between the spontaneous decay channels. The phenomenon of this quantum interference can significantly change the absorptive response of the weak probe field. On varying the amplitude of the resonant driving field, in the absence of incoherent pumping in the upper transitions the system can display probe transparency as well as enhanced absorption peak under the condition of resonant detuning of the probe field. With the application of incoherent pumping to the system the phenomenon of symmetric light amplification with two distinct gain peaks one each at the positions of Autler–Townes resonances can be achieved in the presence of the decay-interference effect. We have also shown that the unidirectional incoherent pumping mode is necessary for the evolution of probe gain.


Although specific psychological disorders in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) have not been identified, studies suggest that CRPS patients may have increased rates of traumatic life events. Because these events do not always lead to apparent psychological symptoms, we systematically screened CRPS patients for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to determine if PTSD could be a risk factor for CRPS.


The electrocardiogram (ECG) is an exam that presents a graphical representation of the electrical activity of the heart. Through it, it is possible to observe the rhythm of heart beats, the number of beats per minute, in addition to enabling the diagnosis of various arrhythmias. This article aims to develop a classification model based on the beats of three groups of individuals: with atrial fibrillation, intra-atrial fibrillation and normal sinus rhythm. The methodology of extraction of characteristics based and adapted to classify Atrial Fibrillation and its subtype, Intracardiac Atrial Fibrillation. The classifications were carried out in threedimensional space in two stages: with the application of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and without application of it, through Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Support Vector Machines (SVM) and K-nearest Neighbors (KNN), obtaining accuracy of 93% to 99%.


Background: We evaluated the performance of an automated algorithm available on a clinical OCT (Canon-HS100) for macular volumetric measurements of eight individual retinal layers. Methods and Analysis: Two consecutive three-dimensional scans were acquired on 29 subjects with healthy retinas. Thickness measurements were obtained from eight individual retinal layers in nine macular sectors based on Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) protocol. The repeatability was evaluated using the within-subject standard deviation from which the repeatability limits (Rlimit) and coefficient of variation (CoV) were calculated. Results: The repeatability metrics varied among different layers and sectors. The variation among the sectors was larger in two of the outer layers (plexiform and nuclear layer) and the retinal nerve fiber layer. For the other five layers, the repeatability limit was less than 5µm and CoV was less than 7.5% in all nine ETDRS sectors. Conclusions: The repeatability of the OCT-HS100 to measure eight individual retinal layers is good in general. Nevertheless, the repeatability is not homogeneous among different layers and sectors. This needs to be taken into account while designing clinical measurement protocols.


Abstract : Military research on training transfer has tended to focus on near transfer (i.e., measuring trainees' recall of what they have learned). In this study, our focus is on far transfer, which is concerned with whether and how trainees use what they learn. We investigated how graduates of the U.S. Military Academy Platoon Leader 300 (PL300) course described their experiences of using what they learned in PL300 in everyday settings and in field exercises; that is, how they perceived the process of transferring to other settings the knowledge and skills they learned in the course. We were interested in cadets' experiences using what they learned to address problems encountered in everyday settings. In the first phase, cadets (N=494) who completed PL300 were asked to list key PL300 concepts. Lists were analyzed using word frequency and clustering techniques. In the second phase, cadets (N=87) were asked to describe situations in which they had used what they learned in PL300 (2-15 months after PL300). Based on their written descriptions, a thematic framework was developed. The framework was used to develop the Leadership Knowledge Application Scale (LKAS). In the third phase, LKAS was administered to cadets (N=124) completing summer field exercises (10-20 months after PL300). Particular themes emerged with respect to how PL300 knowledge and skills were used in the field exercises to address different types of leadership problems. The framework and LKAS may be used to enhance far transfer of leadership training.


Outcomes of 1990-91 Arizona At-Risk Pilot Project for grades K-3 and 7-12 are described in this third in a series of annual evaluation reports. The evaluation focuses on effective strategies in the context of the total school environment, examining both implementation processes and outcomes. Following an introduction, chapter 2 describes the e7aluation methodology. Data were derived from student profiles, program narratives, district-reported participation, teacher and 7-12 student surveys, interviews, a cohort study, and retention and budget informatior. The third chapter provides descriptions and evaluation results of the K-3 at-risk programs, including attendance, academic aLtievement, and promotion/retention. Information on the 7-12 programs is presented in chapter 4, focusing on delivery systems, services, and student outcomes. A budget analysis is provided in chapter 5, and a summary and recommendations are offered in the concluding chapter. Findings indicate the overall positive impact of the K-3 and 7-12 pilot programs; identify regional differences; and demonstrate the importance of implementation for program success. Forty-six tables and 19 figures are included. Appendices contain K-3 and 7-12 supplemental data, budget data, and limitations of lata sets. (22 references) (LMI) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the -Nriginal document. *******************************%***************************************


At a minimum, tomorrow's forensic educators need formal training that orients the professional to the responsibilities central to forensic education. While a number of opportunities, as well as applications of those opportunities, are available to forensics students, the rooting of forensics in the speech communication discipline is paramount. Evidence points toward limited careers in forensic coaching and poor training for those entering the forensics profession. A defined curriculum for tomorrow's forensic educator highlighted by a capstone experience in a directing forensics course provides one solution to this crisis. Activities in directing the forensics course should offer the opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge necessary to carry out the functions central for forensic administration. Such a course at McNeese State University, Louisiana, is taught in a seminar format, wherein students and the instructor discuss principles, concerns, choices, and perspectives. The shaping of a philosophy of forensic education is the most important goal of the course. While such a curriculum is essential for preparation to teach forensic activities, it does not replace actual experience. Forensics will not survive without qualified, conscientious, well-trained professionals who are capable of training individuals to follow in their footsteps. (Contains 13 references, a syllabus and daily schedule for the course, and a 53-item supplemental reading list.) (RS) ******************************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * ******************************************************************************** Unifying Research and Teaching: Pedagogy for the Transition from Forensics Competition to Education Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Speech Communication Association San Diego, CA November 23-26, 1996 Scott Jensen Assistant Professor and Director of Forensics Department of Speech and Theatre Arts U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 6/This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. 0 Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. P.O. Box 90420 McNeese State University Lake Charles, LA 70609-0420 Phone: 318-475-5040 Fax: 318-475-5922 1 PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) Forensics research varies in its focus from practical suggestions for specific events to analyses of forensics programs, and from applications for forensics training in careers to argument and rhetorical analyses of public communication. While a number of issues surround forensics, perhaps the most fundamental is the training for future forensics professionals. Our activity is only as strong as the generations that will lead it in the future. This paper addresses three issues: (1) the important transition from competing to educating, with specific attention paid to the role speech training plays in forensics education, (2) the present crisis in training future forensics professionals, and (3) a discussion of a curriculum for the future forensics educator, with specific attention paid to a course in directing forensics. Forensics and the Speech Communication Discipline Two of the greatest strengths of forensics are its diversity and interdisciplinary nature. In Teaching and Directing Forensics, Bartanen defines forensics as a "form of experiential learning designed to improve skills in reasoning, public communication, and aesthetic appreciation" (1994, p. 2). The skills it teaches are most illustrative of the interdisciplinary nature of forensics. When describing forensic activities, Bartanen writes "they provide a unique opportunity for students to learn valuable life skills in an enjoyable, competitive environment" (p. 1). For example, Derryberry (1991) argues that "speakers and interpreters profit from wide exposure to disciplines ranging from history and philosophy to languages, literature, and sociology" (p. 171). While a number of opportunities, as well as applications of those opportunities, are available to forensics students, the rooting of forensics in the speech communication discipline is paramount. Bartanen (1996) "emphasizes forensics as a method of rhetorical training" (p. 8). Klopf notes that "the forensics program should be coached and directed by trained speech teachers" (1990, p. 5). Steve Hunt, in his response to a 1991 Pi Kappa Delta Professional Developmental Conference panel, notes that "directors of forensics, graduate assistants in forensics, and undergraduate participants in debate


We must accept that the tax regime in Ecuador has major differences with
the performances of previous years. Tax crimes are far less visible than
before is because greater control and the same are punishable with rigorous
evident.
Before it was common knowledge that evasion, double counting, changes in
financial data or just the lack of fulfillment of obligations by sponsorships or
pressures, were forgiven. The fraud is all intentional act of simulation,
concealment, omission, misrepresentation or deception to mislead in
determining the tax liability, or what is left to pay all or part of the taxes
actually due, in himself or herself or of a third party and those intentional
conduct that contravene or impede the work of control, determination or
penalty tax administration exercised.
To our knowledge the tax obligation is the fulfillment that taxpayers should
have regarding tax laws as soon born the occasion for taxes.
In Ecuador society is not entirely concientizada value implies contribute to
the Treasury through the fulfillment of tax liability, it appears that taxpayers
are unaware that taxes can serve as a tool for economic development of the
country, this is a means to the State to obtain resources to meet public
obligations, i.e. that taxes can not be established for the benefit of individuals
but for the exclusive benefit.
The tax liability arises at the time the operative event takes place, which
creates our duty to comply with the tribute that belongs to us as taxpayers.
Natural or legal persons performing this retention are withholding agents,
legal entities and businesses must act as withholding agent when paying or
crediting your account to individuals and undivided estates, as well as other
entities not exempt from taxation, except to legal entities, the amounts of
concepts and forms established by law and regulation.
Withholding agents are public, commercial entities, partnerships and other
public entities whose primary purpose is the realization of profit or nonactivities,
professional brokers and shippers, and all that entity which makes
payments for wages , commissions, prizes, among others.


Abstract The implementation of a two-dimensional Euler solver on graphics hardware is described. The graphics processing unit is highly parallelized and uses a programming model that is well suited to flow computation. Results for a transonic turbine cascade test-case are presented. For large grids (106 nodes) a 40 times speed-up compared with a Fortran implementation on a contemporary CPU is observed.


Since the mitral anulus is now known to be saddle-shaped, use of the qualitative motion of the mitral valve (MV) leaflets in the apical four- chamber plane to diagnose mitral valve prolapse (MVP) may be un sound, in that superior systolic dis placement of the MV leaflets would occur in normal subjects, as well as in patients with MVP. It has therefore been suggested that the parasternal long axis (PLAX) plane should be used to diagnose MVP. To test the feasibility of this approach, the au thors examined the predictive accu racy of PLAX prolapse and other isolated echocardiographic abnor malities versus a multivariate deci sion tree approach. PLAX prolapse, which was significantly associated with marked (> 0.7 cm) apical four- chamber prolapse, mitral regurgita tion, the presence of a thick mitral valve, and low relative body weight, was 100% specific for MVP but only 44% sensitive. Similarly, marked api cal four-chamber prolapse was 100% specific but only 53% sensitive. Api cal four-chamber prolapse, if gauged only qualitatively as present or ab sent, was 94% sensitive but only 50% specific. By contrast, the decision tree classified all 32 initial patients correctly, and in a second, test set, se lected 6 additional patients; these 6 patients had many of the clinical fea tures of MVP. These observations suggest that: (1) if prolapse is seen in the PLAX plane, the patient does have MVP; on the other hand, lack of prolapse in this plane does not ex clude the diagnosis of MVP and (2) the apical four-chamber plane, used qualitatively, does not reliably distin guish patients with MVP from those without MVP.


The main aim of this paper is to compare the effectiveness of numerical techniques used for spatial multibody dynamics simulation by applying the natural complement method. In the paper, seven numerical schemes are considered: zero eigenvalue formulation, Pseudo Upper Triangular Decomposition, Schur decomposition, Singular Value Decomposition, QR decomposition, coordinate partitioning and Wang-Huston formulation. In order to illustrate the effectiveness of these schemes, two McPherson struts are considered. Simulations are performed with four error tolerance values and for three stabilization cases. Some suggestions on possible applications of the selected methods are formulated.


Abstract The EPR spectrum of vanadyl acetylacetonate dissolved in viscous nematic liquid crystals has been studied as a function of temperature. A plot of the effective order parameter versus temperature shows a definite discontinuity in slope as the molecular rotation passes from weakly to strongly hindered motion. It is shown that viscosity effects do not completely account for this discontinuity in slope. These results are supported by nuclear spin lattice relaxation measurements on the pure liquid crystals which indicate a change in the dominant relaxation mechanism at the same temperature. In slightly less viscous nematics an approximate correction for the viscosity brings the experimental data into fair agreement with a universal curve calculated by Luckhurst.


[Problem] To provide a manufacturing method for a pneumatic tyre (1), the method comprising a green tyre formation process in which an unvulcanized carcass ply (6A) is adhered to the outer surface of a rigid core (20). The green tyre formation process comprises: a step in which a plurality of rectangular-sheet-shaped first ply pieces (13) are continuously formed by sequentially cutting a long ribbon-shaped ply (12) from the tip, in the ply-width direction; a ply piece formation step in which a plurality of rectangular-sheet-shaped second ply pieces (14) are continuously formed; and carcass formation step in which the first and second ply pieces (13, 14) are used to form an unvulcanized carcass ply (6A). The second ply pieces (14) are arranged so as to not overlap with the first ply pieces (13) on the tyre equator (Co), and so as to directly overlap with the first ply pieces (13) at an inner end section (14i) in the radial direction of the second ply pieces (14).


The utility model relates to a portable barbecue oven which comprises an oven body, an oven cover hinged at the rear edge of the oven body through hinges, a left oven leg and a right oven leg movably connected on the left and the right sides of the lower surface of the bottom of the oven body, an oven mesh left support and an oven mesh right support in plug-in connection on the left and the right sides of the upper edge of the oven body, and oven meshes fixedly arranged on the oven mesh left support and the oven mesh right support, wherein a left insert slot and a right insert slot formed on the left and the right edges of the upper part of the oven body respectively; the oven mesh left support is provided with a left plug-in sheet component; the oven mesh right support is provided with a right plug-in sheet component; the oven mesh left support and the oven mesh right support are inserted onto the left insert slot and the right insert slot at the upper part of the oven body through the left plug-in sheet component and the right plug-in sheet component respectively, so that the oven mesh left support and the oven mesh right support stand upright on the left and the right edges of the oven body. The utility model is convenient to be rapidly disassembled, the height of the oven mesh is selectively adjusted, the fire power is adjustable, and the occupied space is reduced during carrying or storage. The utility model has the advantages of less occupied space, low cost, convenient operation and beautiful appearance.


For this moment, in this article, I will limit myself to put in evidence the presence of black-woman teachers in teaching work in Araraquara, having as a reference the building process of the social categories "the woman" and "the black". These categories were analyzed analogously and they are responsible for the representation of what a "black woman" means to be. Upon black women fall, specially, the racist conceptions which originate the category "the black", through which we can also determine the "place" that those women must occupy in the inclusive social order, mainly in the teaching work area.


Industry 4.0 seeks the digitization and interconnection of all production processes. Due to the huge number of sensors, robots, machines and other devices that need to be interconnected, the Fifth Generation (5G) becomes an enabling technology. In order to address this challenge, this paper presents the implementation procedure of a 5th Generation 5G Non-NSA private network based on Open Air Interface (OAI) and presents the advantages and limitations of OAI that will be useful for academia and the industrial sector. A real use case has been evaluated to demonstrate the capabilities of the network, where an Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) is remotely controlled and monitored using an open source 5G-NSA private network. This paper presents the key steps of the network implementation and analyzes the results measurement campaign. Indeed, a network created with OAI allows evaluating the benefits of many smart manufacturing solutions but with certain limitations in terms of bit rate, latency and number of active users in the private network.


Abstract The disadvantages of using utilization quotient (biomass per unit amount of nutrient present in biomass) in comparing nutrient utilization efficiencies of different varieties and species are discussed. A modified approach to the estimation of utilization efficiency is presented. A comparison of efficiencies of two plants calculated by this method gives an index which is the ratio of biomass ratio: tissue nutrient concentration ratio. Theoretical validity and advantages in practical application of this approach are discussed.


A new-style non-contact capacitive sensor for measuring angle is introduced.Through capacitance signal conversion integrated circuit CAV424 and voltage-current conversion interface circuit AM402,the angle variety of capacitive sensor can be converted into 4~20mA standard industrial current output.The system has simple structure and anti-interference ability,can decrease measurement error.Curve fitting is used to analyze the experimental data,the results show that high linearity direct current is obtained with angle of 0°~90°,and the sensitivity is 0.18mA/(°).


An image sensing technique is developed in this study using image plane analysis to measure the dynamic motion variables of a vehicle based on the road scene viewed from a camera inside the vehicle. Some motion variables such as heading angle, lateral deviation, yaw rate, and sideslip angle of the vehicle are measured and could be further used for steering control systems such as automatic steering and four-wheel steering system. An experimental car is set up to verify the image sensing method. The vehicle is equipped with a V8 video camera to record the road scene viewed from a moving vehicle. To examine the proposed image sensing method, other measuring process is utilized to manually measure the motion variables based on the traces of the vehicle left on the road. The recorded video data are used to test the image sensing technique in an off-line manner in the laboratory to obtain motion information. Some experimental results for the situation of straight road show that the proposed sensing technique is feasible.


In this paper, an efficient customer classification framework is proposed which can be used instead of recency-frequency-monetary-based analysis as it preserves much more information about customers and at the same time it can consider different types of dependencies among purchases. Our proposed model is the best for industries with dependent and low number of purchases for each customer like automobile industry. In this model, by segmenting customers into different subsidiaries based on their number of purchases, an efficient customer classification model is developed to identify target customers. The proposed model is applied on one of the largest automobile manufacturer of the Middle-East and different performance metrics verified its efficiency.


The 'golden calf' episode is discussed in verses Q.20:83-98 and Q.7:148-151. In addition to this there are two short versions in Q.2:51, 54, 92-3 and Q4:153. The same topic also appears in the Bible in Exodus 32. Though the two scriptures' accounts have some points in common they vary in their approaches: the main purposes of the story, the style and tone adopted by the Narrator, its time-span and so on are quite different. This article presents a discussion of the aforementioned Qur'anic narrative. Amongst other things, it approaches the story of Moses and the golden calf systematically, linguistically as well as historically, contrasting its depiction in the Qur'an to that in the Bible. The author also examines interpretations of the relevant verses and/or narrative by both classical and modern exegetes, in order to facilitate a deeper understanding of the Qur'anic presentation of this specific episode.


In the present work, we have investigated the effect of Ni doping on the microstructure and photocatalytic properties of BiFeO3 samples. All the compositions of BiFe1−xNixO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.07) have been synthesized via cost effective ethylene glycol based sol-gel method. The Rietveld refinement of the XRD data revealed rhombohedral crystal structure with R3c space group. The FTIR spectroscopy confirms the formation of BiFeO3 compound. UV–visible DRS result affirmed that the band gap of the samples can be tuned towards visible range by the Ni substitution. The photoluminescence spectra indicate lower intensity with the Ni content, signify reduction in recombination rate of the electron-hole pairs. The photocatalytic response of the nanoparticles was examined for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under visible light irradiation and the highest photocatalytic response was observed for 7% Ni doped sample. Therefore, the observed results suggest potential application of the synthesized nanoparticles for wastewater treatment purpose.


Nowadays, we live in the most prosperous era of humanity, what to a large extent is caused by advancing economic freedom. Policies that promote economic freedom through different channels, create an environment in which people are encouraged and trusted to develop practical solutions to the economic and social challenges. Economic freedom is critical to generating broader-based economic growth that brings more opportunities for a greater number of people to work, produce more and save for the future. Ensuring greater economic freedom is directly related to preserving and enhancing dynamic upward mobility. Economic freedom index, which is yearly published by Heritage Foundation is based on the key aspects of free-market economy. It gathers them into four main categories: rule of law, government size, regulatory efficiency and open markets. All of the four above mentioned categories cover different topics and indexes like property rights, tax burden, government spending, labor freedom, trade freedom etc. In this paper, we are going to assess those ingredients of economic freedom index and analyse which of them influence the country's economy the most. Empirical study will be made on the example of emerging economies.


In this article, we address the socio-technical changes in contemporary times by a historical approach arising from the introduction of internet in the culture. Subsequently, we investigated the importance of knowledge of digital codes in this context. We formulated the hypothesis that it is necessary to face the complexity of understanding the technical infrastructure of the network so that we can educate citizens, and not users, who consume all sorts of codes from complex and constant coding and recoding dynamics, without the proper semiotic competence for the critical interpretation based on the selfreferentiality that language imposes on us in this new historical framework. As a conclusion, we assume that there is a need for a literacy project that includes the understanding of the use of codes in communication.


Discourses on the roles that information and communication technology, computing and networking technology or the virtual university are likely to play in the higher-education system and beyond tend to be emotional and often lack the degree of rationality one would wish for in higher education, i.e. a sector characterized by an agglomeration of highly intelligent people. We often observe that the advocates of technological innovation in higher education compare optimal potentials of the innovation envisaged with the mediocrity of the average situation in established systems. In turn, sceptics consider the errors surfacing in the implementation phases as indicative of the low potential for innovation. Often, very simplistic arguments are put forward about the needs of the employment system, the teaching and learning behaviour of students or the effects of certain learning procedures. Advocates of new technologies often overlook the experiences acquired in distance teaching and learning prior to the advent of new technologies. Altogether, there is not always a readiness to assess the processes and impacts of these innovations in a balanced way. This state of affairs is typical of the early stages of innovation, when innovators tend to act as 'missionaries' who need exaggerated claims and derogative treatment of opposite views to reinforce their own beliefs and their readiness to persuade the others, whom they consider irrational opponents of the innovation at stake. There are indications, though, that the period of exaggerated praise and condemnation is gradually giving way to a period of more realistic discourse on the potentials and limitations that the new information and communication technologies offer for higher education.


One of the complicated problems of traumatology in the treatment of patients with calcaneal fractures is prevention of diabetes mellitus consequences. The work presents the analysis of treatment results of 72 patients with calcaneal fractures treated by means of surgical method at the Traumatological Adult Department, of the Regional Clinical Hospital "Emergency Rescue Hospital" (ERH), Chernivtsi, for the period from 2011 to 2018. With the purpose to examine the efficacy of treatment of calcaneal fractures all the patients were distributed into three clinical groups, patients with diabetes mellitus were isolated, and remote results of treatment were compared. Therefore, analysis of surgical treatment remote results of intra-articular calcaneal fractures in patients suffering from diabetes mellitus demonstrated that application of closed reposition under electrical optical transducer (EOT) control and fixation by means of wires leads to 44,38% improvement of treatment results, shortened terms of inability-to-work and disability.


Nickel is an important strategic alloying element and is being increasingly consumed in this modern era. The present world production of nickel has well exceeded 4000,000 tonnes and is likely to increase further with new plants coming up. With the depilation of high frade resources considerable attention is being paid for prod-uction of nickel from the low-grade ores and a world-wide search for such ores is continuing. India's nickel requi-rement is met by imports for which 18.5 million rupees worth of foreign exchange is annually required for its import, the production of nickel from indigenous lean ores is highly desirable and G.S.I. has been carrying out extensive survey of the nickel deposits in the country.


According to the existing cadastral file data,the full resolution was used to conduct cadastral survey. The parcel boundary,scope,and area of utilization,land ownership and use rights situation of village,independent industrial and mining,scenic spots and special land of Wulin Town was investigated to form data,maps and lists results. The construction of cadastral archives data was carried out,cadastral archives database and its management system was formed. On the basis of this,the land use status of Wulin Town of Mudanjiang City was analyzed,existing problems in land use management were pointed out,improvement suggestions were put forward.


Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are highly coexisting, dynamic and application specific, as well as having resource constrained in nature, thus programming the sensor nodes is difficult when compared to traditional computer systems. It is most difficult task to build reliable and practical programming solutions or systems for distributed and resource-constrained wireless sensor devices. The objective of this research contribution is to present a comparative study in terms of programming approaches, its potentials and pitfalls.


Tokyo (JP) A method of manufacturing a magnetic disk in which at least a magnetic layer, a carbon protective layer, and a lubrication (73) Assignee: WD MEDIA (SINGAPORE) layer are sequentially formed on a substrate is provided. The PTE. LTD. Irvine, CA (US) method comprises forming a film of a lubricant composition on the protective layer, the lubricant comprising a lubricant (21) Appl. No.: 13/166,056 compound having a perfluoropolyether main chain in the molecular structure and an aromatic group or a phosphaZene (22) Filed: Jun. 22, 2011 ring. The method further comprises forming the lubrication layer, and Subjecting the magnetic disk to ultraviolet irradia (30) Foreign Application Priority Data tion under a nitrogen gas oran inert gas atmosphere having an


Background : Biliary atresia (BA) is a progressive disease of infancy. Early diagnosis is particularly essential because prognosis is closely related with timing of Kasai portoenterostomy. There is no non-invasive method that clearly identifies the diagnosis. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a cytokine which is mainly produced by activated macrophages and monocytes. Aim : We aimed to study the performance of serum TNF-α in BA and other neonatal cholestatic disorders. Materials and Methods : The study included 80 infants with neonatal cholestasis divided in two groups; BA group (n=40), non-BA group (n=40) with cholestatic disorders other than BA. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and histopathological parameters were collected. Serum TNF-α level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results : The mean value of TNF-α level was significantly higher in BA group (260.61+155.74 pg/ml) compared to non-BA (126.26+ 64.23 pg/ml) and a cutoff level of 124.4 pg/ml can diagnose BA with 95 % sensitivity and specificity 75 %. TNF-α is correlated with alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyle transferase and grade of liver fibrosis (P value 0.019, 0.004 and < 0.0001 respectively). In Conclusion : Serum TNF-α can be used as a non-invasive and sensitive marker for confirming the diagnosis of BA in in suspicious cases.


In the article, it is shown that in psychology, trust characterizes as one of the factors determined both interpersonal and all social relationships generally.This factor is directly an integral part of the mechanism that ensured the integration and stability of society. The author emphasized the important role of trust having in human life and concludes that the main function of trust is theadjusting of interpersonal relationships. İn the article, it is analyzed detailed elements and structure of the interpersonal trust. By the author also is shown that the concept of trust is one ofthe most important componentsin the structureof the spiritual world of person existing.


This paper searched the characters of thermal field of flutes of the mould in the square billet continuous casting,and analyzed the simplified flutes in the simulation process of the mould thermal field.


Excerpt Hand-SchUller-Christian disease is characterized by infiltration of multiple organs by well-differentiated histiocytes. Diabetes insipidus is a well-known manifestation of this disease, and...


The case study describes the development of the "Ecoservice of Paolo Santarelli": its strategic development pursued along its growing process. Furthermore, the economicfinancial results of the enterprise are compared with those of a number of sample enterprises operating in the same field. Such comparison yields the picture of a dynamic enterprise and of a balanced growing process which places the Ecoservice among the leaders in its sector.


Modernism and Coherence is an attempt to develop a negative aesthetics conceived as determinate resistance of artworks against the meaning assigned to them by criticism. From the accumulation of arguments on great texts of modernism, the book describes gestures of refusal that generate figures of negativity: Adorno's Aesthetic Theory becomes a whirlpool revolving around a center refusing predication; Wallace Stevens' poetry exhibits a phonetic escape valve against the pressure of reality; Robert Frost writes a poem that is ahead of you in both senses of the expression; and James Joyce's Ulysses reads its readers in waves of self-folding. This book is an effort to salvage literature as something in itself in a world that increasingly can only see what is for the other.


H. Rosner,1 M. Schmitt,1 D. Kasinathan,1 A. Ormeci,1 J. Richter,2 S.-L. Drechsler,3 and M. D. Johannes4 1Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids, 01187 Dresden, Germany 2Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Magdeburg, 39016 Magdeburg, Germany 3Leibnitz-Institute for Solid State and Materials Research (IFW Dresden), 01069 Dresden, Germany 4Code 6390 Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375, USA Received 29 May 2008; published 6 March 2009


The cavities for the synchrotron light source Elettra have been conditioned at full power. The OFHC copper cavities have a smooth shape, working at 499.654 MHz. The conditioning has been performed in the laboratory with a prototype power plant. The RF power provided by the klystron amplifier is fed to the cavity by means of a coupling loop. The cavities have been conditioned starting from pulsed operation; the power and the duration of the pulse have then been raised till the requested CW gap voltage was reached. The whole conditioning procedure, starting from the bakeout of the cavities, and the test results are described.<<ETX>>


Abstract : Flow through a transonic compressor cascade model was investigated at M = 1.4 using flow visualization and pressure measurements. Shock patterns for two different blade incidences were documented at increasing back pressures. Data were taken up to a maximum pressure ratio of 1.53 at estimated minimum loss incidence conditions. An oblique shock system persisted, producing large flow turning (6.8 deg) and a slightly supersonic exit mach number (1.02). Losses and blade pressure loading were calculated using a combination of test data and computational approximations. Failure of blade retaining tabs occurred with both aluminum and steel cascade blades. Failures were attributed to fatigue from high oscillatory stress levels and redesigned blade mounts were proposed. (Author)


In this paper, we construct and investigate two supersymmetric versions of the Fokas–Gel'fand formula for the immersion of 2D surfaces associated with a supersymmetric integrable system. The first version involves an infinitesimal deformation of the zero-curvature condition and the linear spectral problem associated with this system. This deformation leads the surfaces to be represented in terms of a bosonic supermatrix immersed in a Lie superalgebra. The second supersymmetric version is obtained by using a fermionic parameter deformation to construct surfaces expressed in terms of a fermionic supermatrix immersed in a Lie superalgebra. For both extensions, we provide a geometrical characterization of deformed surfaces using the super Killing form as an inner product and a super moving frame formalism. The theoretical results are applied to the supersymmetric sine-Gordon equation in order to construct super soliton surfaces associated with five different symmetries. We find integrated forms of these surfaces which represent constant Gaussian curvature surfaces and nonlinear Weingarten-type surfaces.


This study aimed to develop bone substituted biomaterial consisting of inorganic mineral (apatit) and organic material as matrix. In this study, a precipitation method of apatite-chitosan composite synthesis has been used using hen's and duck's eggshell as calcium source and synthetic KH 2 PO 4 as phosphate source. The eggshell and KH 2 PO 4 act as inorganic mineral, whereas organic matrix used was chitosan originated from shrimp shell. The eggshell was calcinated to decompose all the carbonate (CO 3 ) phases. To produce the composite, calcium phosphates were grown on organic matrix of chitosan using ex situ method. The result samples were further dried at 50 o C. Characteristic of the samples were performed using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy. The XRD profile illustrated specific diffraction angles at peaks of apatite crystals. This data were supported by FTIR spectra that showed transmittance peak of phosphates and carbonates from apatites.


ince China's first movie short, Conquering Jun Mountain (1905), Chinese cinema has gone a long way to establish its status as a significant force in international cinema. Like its counterparts elsewhere, Chinese cinema began with a fascination with visual technology, developed from family businesses to competing studios, survived wars and state interference, and has enriched cinematic arts with inventions. To implement a perspective slightly different from other recent surveys, this centennial review of Chinese cinema pays more attention to developments in industry than in ideology, politics, or arts.


Lactobacillus GG in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children. J Pediatr 1999;135:564-568.

Funding: Funding provided by ConAgra, Inc

A modified version of this digest appears in Evidence-Based Nursing 2000;3:76.


Conformation-dependent design of polymer sequences can be considered as a tool to control macromolecular self-assembly. We consider the monomer unit sequences created via the modification of polymers in a homogeneous melt in accordance with the spatial positions of the monomer units. The geometrical patterns of lamellae, hexagonally packed cylinders, and balls arranged in a body-centered cubic lattice are considered as typical microphase-separated morphologies of block copolymers. Random trajectories of polymer chains are described by the diffusion-type equations and, in parallel, simulated in the computer modeling, the probability distributions of block length k being calculated. The problem is similar to that of gambler's ruin and first passage time in probability theory but the consideration is generalized to 3D and the domains of different shapes are considered. In any domain, the probability distribution can be described by the asymptote ∼k −3/2 at moderate values of k if the spatial size of the block is less than the smallest characteristic size of the domain. For large blocks, the exponential asymptote exp(−const ka2/das2 ) is valid, d as being the asymptotic domain length (a is the monomer unit size). The number average block lengths and their dispersities change linearly with the domain size for lamellae, cylinders, and balls, when the domain is characterized by a single characteristic size. If the domain is described by more than one size, the number average block length can grow nonlinearly with the domain sizes and the length d as can depend on all of them.


Investigations on the Himalayan genus Pedicularis L. revealed rich concentration and enormous diversity of species in the Sikkim Himalayas. Out of the 83 Indian species of Pedicularis, 49 species (ca. 59%) are found in the Sikkim Himalayas and 34 species (ca. 41%) are endemic. The Sikkim Himalayas may therefore be designated as the 'megadiversity centre' of Pedicularis L. in India.


Objective To investigate the nursing care for postoperative cognitive dysfunction(POCD)after transurethral resection of prostate(TURP).Methods 22 patients with POCD received diazepam or chlorpromazine symptomatic seda-tion therapy,and also careful nursing care.Results 22 cases were all cured successfully and discharge with good recovery.Conclusion POCD after TURP was not uncommon in clinical nursing care,the etiology should be well understood,and patients can be discharged when receied the corresponding nursing care.


Substantive research on controlled synthesis of noble metal nanoparticles displaying tunable functionality and nanogeometry has been a challenging requirement. We report herein a process involving the active role of tetrahydrofuran hydroperoxide (THF-HPO) and 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (3-APTMS) that allows controlled synthesis of functional gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with the following major findings: (1) an increase in 3-APTMS concentrations causes an increase in size whereas the same for THF-HPO shows the reverse effect; (2) different sizes of AuNPs at the same concentration of 3-APTMS can be made by controlling THF-HPO; (3) addition of 3-APTMS even after AuNPs synthesis allow control over nanogeometry; (4) formation of γ-butyrolactone (GBL) during nanoparticle synthesis which itself participates in AuNPs synthesis. Furthermore, the functionality and nanogeometry of the as synthesized AuNPs are utilized in glutathione sensing justifying the pivotal role of functionality as compared to nanogeometry.


The heavily Neoplatonic and antiquarian-perennialist tenor of Safavid philosophy is now widely recognized by specialists; but few have acknowledged its equally notable Neopythagorean turn. Likewise, that the primary mode of applied Neoplatonic-Neopythagorean philosophy as a Safavid imperial way of life was occult science has been ignored altogether, making impossible a history of its practice. The case of the Twelver Shiʿi sage-mage Mīr Dāmād – famed down to the present as an occult scientist – is here especially illustrative: for he was largely responsible for this Neopythagoreanization of Safavid philosophy, which saw the remarkable transmogrification of Ibn Sīnā himself into a Neopythagorean-occultist, by his espousal of a peculiarly Mamluk-Timurid-Aqquyunlu brand of philosophical lettrism (ʿilm al-ḥurūf) in at least three of his many works. The example of this imperial Neopythagoreanizing lettrist is thus crucial for understanding the intellectual and religiopolitical continuity of Safavid Shiʿi culture with Sunni precedent, as well as contemporary Persianate and Latinate parallels. Within Western history of science more broadly, Mīr Dāmād and the host of his fellow Muslim kabbalists must now be restored to the master mathesis narrative whereby scientific modernity is but the upshot of early modern Western philosophers' penchant for reading the world as a mathematical text.


This work has been made from a qualitative research with the action research method, Didactic strategies to promote the interdisciplinary school of language and mathematics in the intermediate education of the Braulio González educative institution from Yopal city. Whose main purpose was to establish didactic strategies which promote educational framework for the development of competences in these two subjects. The research process was carried out during two complete cycles that covered the phases of observation, planning, action and reflection and it leaves open a third cycle that will give go on to action research with the institutionalization of the didactic strategy called Interdisciplinary writing workshop. This contribution leaves teachers with concerns and expectations to motivate them to develop interdisciplinary didactic strategies that enrich their teaching practices and foster the development of competences, lead by a particular structure of interdisciplinary didactic strategy designed by the research team.


Based on analyzing the problems existing currently in filing of benchmark technical documents, this paper develops an enterprise's EDMS in line with SJ207, and expounds the main design contents of this system especially the design contents of its application system.


There seems to be a prevailing notion that, once a diagnosis of cancer of the prostate has been made, all that is necessary to effect a cure is to perform an orchiectomy. It is extremely unfortunate that this opinion has become so widespread, since this form of treatment is of recent origin; I do not believe that enough time has elapsed since the procedure was instituted to talk about cures. The conclusions are hasty, since most statistical studies on the curability of cancer are based on five and ten year cures. My results have not been as satisfactory as one would be inclined to believe they should be, judging from the literature. Those who have had experience with this treatment should report their results, as was recently done by Randall, who had treated 5 patients by this method. Four of the patients on whom he performed bilateral castration are dead


INTRODUCTION
With cirrhosis only 75% liver volume (LV) is expected, compared with age-matched healthy individuals. Changes in LV might be an indicator of therapeutic effectiveness or disease progression.

OBJECTIVES
To establish whether LV is a prognostic factor in chronic liver disease irrespective of etiology, and whether LV impacts outcomes of liver transplant (LT).

PATIENTS AND METHODS
In total 135 consecutive LT recipients were prospectively included in this study, F/M 38/97, 41 (30%) with alcoholic liver disease (ALD). The median age was 51 (21-70), Body Mass Index (BMI) 27.3 (17.3-39.2) kg/m2, Child-Pugh class (CPC) C, Model of End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) 16 (7-47) points, and the third lumbar vertebra skeletal muscle index (L3SMI) 47.7 (19.7-73.4) cm2/m2. LV and L3SMI were calculated from CT images at listing to LT. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was analyzed to determine the accuracy of LV in mortality prediction.

RESULTS
LV differed significantly in respect to chronic liver disease etiology, with the lowest values in HCV individuals. LV was neither a prognostic factor of disease progression and need for LT in respect to CPC and MELD scores, nor correlated with BMI and L3SMI (all p>0.05). The area under ROC curve (AUROC) of LV in mortality prediction was 0.573 (0.403-0.743, CI 95%). In individuals with LV lower than median the trends to positive association with the risk of prolonged intensive care unit stay and death existed (p=0.057 and p=0.058, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS
LV did not seem be a point of no return in LT candidates.


The current document is a paper-based dissertation investigating health care professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy regarding fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and alcohol consumption during pregnancy. This dissertation incorporates findings from a secondary data analysis of health care professionals in Ontario, as well as original data from health care students training in Northern Ontario. While previous research has demonstrated that health care professionals remain under-educated concerning FASD and alcohol use during pregnancy, limited research has investigated the knowledge and experiences of health care students. The first paper included is a secondary data analysis of the 2001-2002 Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Survey for Health Professionals. Ontario-specific data (N=834) were used to examine the awareness of FASD held by various provider groups in both rural and urban settings. Results from this study indicate that many physicians, midwives, and other health care professionals may have inconsistent knowledge regarding the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure, resulting in mixed messages for women of childbearing age about the safety of alcohol use during pregnancy. The second paper included is a qualitative analysis of scenario-based vignettes regarding alcohol use during pregnancy. Although almost all students (N=21) recognized that no alcohol consumption during pregnancy is the safest recommendation, many students noted that this advice is not always conveyed to pregnant women. Finally, the third paper included is also a qualitative analysis based on a thematic analysis of scenario-based vignettes and semistructured interviews. The third paper explores health care students' (N=21) attitudes and beliefs about women who may continue to consume alcohol throughout their pregnancy and presents the often stereotypical and stigmatic perceptions of FASD and alcohol use during pregnancy held by health care


Objective : Literary investigation of existing data was conducted to verify effects of Moschus and its herbal acupuncture, and determine quality management through component analysis. Results : Following results were obtained through literary investigation. 1. Deer musk (Moschus) is dried navel gland secretions of the adult male musk deer. 2. Moschus is known to be effective for treating various febrile diseases, to revive senses, heart and abdominal pain, complications from cerebral hemorrhage, angina, and others. 3. Single dosage of Moschus is between and should not exceed 1g. Normally taken as powder or pill and may be used externally. 4. Moschus also has protective effects for the liver cells, and experiments revealed possible efficacies for hyperlipidemia, brain damage, hypertension, and etc. 5. For herbal acupuncture usage, Fel Ursi, Bezoar Bovis, and Moschus are used as a mixture (BUM), and it`s known to be effective for protecting the liver and treating arthritis. 6. For component analysis of Moschus, aromatic matter `muscone` should be used as a standard matter.


The first known direct construction for linear families of bounded concentrators is given. The construction is explicit, and the results are simple natural bounded concentrators.<<ETX>>


Cramer's Large Deviation Theorem is used to formalize a modern time series variant of the "Safety-First", loss aversion criterion, providing a behavioral foundation for a new portfolio performance index. When returns are normally distributed, the performance index is proportional to the squared Sharpe Index, so the mean-variance efficient tangency portfolio is optimal, and the CAPM results when all investors behave this way. When returns are non-normally distributed, the index generalizes to a different, preference parameter-free formula, which is easily estimable without prior knowledge of the distribution. The tangency portfolio is no longer optimal; what results instead is a non-CAPM relationship between an asset's expected excess return and the return's covariance with an exponential function of the performance index maximizing portfolio. The endogenous loss aversion induces a preference not only for higher mean and lower standard deviation, like the Sharpe Index, but also for higher skewness and lower kurtosis in non-normal cases, with the potential to explain the demand for portfolio insurance and/or other skewness enhancing strategies.


We theoretically consider the temperature and density dependent transport properties of semiconductor-based 2D carrier systems within the RPA-Boltzmann transport theory, taking into account realistic screened charged impurity scattering in the semiconductor. We derive a leading behavior in the transport property, which is exact in the strict 2D approximation and provides a zeroth order explanation for the strength of metallicity in various 2D carrier systems. By carefully comparing the calculated full nonlinear temperature dependence of electronic resistivity at low temperatures with the corresponding asymptotic analytic form obtained in the $T/T_F \to 0$ limit, both within the RPA screened charged impurity scattering theory, we critically discuss the applicability of the linear temperature dependent correction to the low temperature resistivity in 2D semiconductor structures. We find quite generally that for charged ionized impurity scattering screened by the electronic dielectric function (within RPA or its suitable generalizations including local field corrections), the resistivity obeys the asymptotic linear form only in the extreme low temperature limit of $T/T_F \le 0.05$. We point out the experimental implications of our findings and discuss in the context of the screening theory the relative strengths of metallicity in different 2D systems.


Chloracne is a disfiguring skin syndrome due to exposure to chlorinated organic compounds such as dioxin. The description of this condition begins at the dawn of the twentieth century in workers of chemical factories producing chlorine and caustic soda. Since the 1940s, the production of trichlorophenol and its use in the synthesis of the herbicide/defoliant 2,4-dichloro- and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acids caused the formation of dioxin as a contaminant, and many workers were exposed to dioxin and other chlorinated organic compounds. During the Vietnam war, tens of thousands of tons of a this herbicide mixture, the so-called "Agent Orange", were dropped on the Vietnamese population by the US army, and many people were intoxicated. Between the 1940s and the 1970s, several accidents happened in different chemical factories, releasing dioxin and derivatives in the atmosphere, exposing workers and local populations to various chloracnegen compounds. In 2004, a strange case of political poisoning occurred in Ukraine during the presidential campaign, and the victim, Victor Yushchenko, who developed a strong syndrome of chloracne, finally won the election. This book describes one century of chloracne history and dioxin contamination in various situations, and highlights the public health problem posed by this long lasting chemical waste. Although the chemical syntheses giving rise to the production of dioxin as a contaminant have been abandoned, dioxin and related compounds are still released from waste incinerators, and many populations in the world are exposed. Due to its very long biological half-life, dioxin accumulated in the organism, and more scientific studies are required to understand the consequences of the long-term accumulation of dioxin-like compounds on human health.


A far-field wireless power transfer system is proposed for supplying power to remote wireless sensors. The system is mainly composed of two devices: a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver. The wireless power transmitter emits 4 W of power into a directional antenna. The wireless power receiver utilizes a bi-quad antenna and L-matching network for efficient power rectification. The System is able to recover 3.3 V at a distance of 110 ft.


A theoretical analysis is made of the influence of self-focusing of light on the optical breakdown of transparent materials by focused beams. Special attention is paid to the influence of thermal self-focusing. It is shown that this effect is not usually the dominant mechanism of beam contraction in optical breakdown experiments. This is because, in contrast to the instantaneous Kerr mechanism, the diffraction in thermal self-focusing can compensate the nonlinear refraction; in some cases, thermal diffusion may also be important. The methods for experimental determination of the dominant self-focusing mechanism in optical breakdown are analyzed. It is pointed out that, in many cases, the necessary information can be obtained from measurements of the dependence of the breakdown threshold on the focal length of a lens.


Experimental investigation and stress analysis were made on the surface damage of steel-roller with different depth of hardening layer. A model is thus offered to describe the surface spalling formation. Macro and micro analyses are made for discussing mechanism of spalling in detail.


Because the corn vein and noise influence the contour extraction of the maize leaf disease, we put forward a new recognition algorithm based on Curvelet and Shape Context (SC). This method can improve the speed and accuracy of maize leaf disease recognition. Firstly, we use Seeded Regional Growing (SRG) algorithm to segment the maize leaf disease image. Secondly, Curvelet Modulus Correlation (CMC) method is put forward to extract the effective contour of maize leaf disease. Thirdly, we combine CMC with the SC algorithm to obtain the histogram features and then use these features we obtain to calculate the similarities between the template image and the target image. Finally, we adopt n-fold cross-validation algorithm to recognize diseases on maize leaf disease database. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can recognize 6 kinds of maize leaf diseases accurately and achieve the accuracy of 94.446%. Meanwhile this algorithm has guiding significance for other diseases recognition to an extent.


Summary The medical records of 12 dogs with osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the medial trochlear ridge of the talus were reviewed. Long-term treatment results were obtained from client questionnaires and clinical and radiographic re-examinations. After a mean follow-up time of 52 months, only three of 12 dogs treated for OCD of the medial trochlear ridge of the talus had regained full function of the affected joint(s). In all cases available for radiographic re-examination, osteoarthritic changes had progressed. The medial approach to the hock joint by osteotomy of the medial malleolus was associated with a high complication rate. A meta-analysis of 38 cases (55 joints) of previous clinical studies and the present clinical study indicated that the Labrador Retriever and the Rottweiler were the most frequently affected breeds. Seventy-five percent of the affected Labrador Retrievers and Bull Terriers had bilateral involvement. The data suggested that in young dogs with an acute lameness, due to osteochondritis dissecans of the medial trochlear ridge in the talus, treatment resulted in 18% of the affected limbs in a normal limb function, in 27% in an intermittent lameness and in 55% in a chronic lameness. In dogs with a more chronic lameness, treatment results were better and approximately 40% of the affected limbs returned to normal function, while chronic lameness following treatment was unusual. In dogs older than a year at the time of treatment initiation, treatment became less successful because of the presence of severe osteoarthritic changes before treatment. Only 24% obtained normal limb function following treatment, while in 42% of the dogs treatment resulted in a chronic lameness.