Although magnesium alloys were popular in the first half of the 20th century, the bad corrosion properties prevented their breakthrough in industrial mass production. Since the technology for the production of high purity alloys was introduced in the 1970s, magnesium alloys became more and more in the focus of industrial attention. Today magnesium alloys are state-of-the-art in construction parts in automotive industry. Despite its outstanding properties like good castability, low density and nearly unlimited availability the negative aspects like weak corrosion and wear behaviour still limit the application of magnesiums in industry, due to the need of sufficient surface protection (E. Aghion, B. Bronfin, Mater. Sci. Forum2000, 350–351, 19). Today, plasma electrolytic anodisations are state-of-the-art (H. Haferkamp, "Magnesiumkorrosion—Prozesse, Schutz von Anode und Kathode", in: Moderne Beschichtungsverfahren, F.-W. Bach, T. Duda, Eds., Wiley-VCH, Weinheim 2000, ISBN 3-527-30117-8, 242; M. Thoma, Metalloberflache1984, 38, 393; T. W. Jelinek, Galvanotechnik2003, 94, 46; A. Kuhn, Galvanotechnik2003, 94, 1114). They provide acceptable corrosion resistance and protect the magnesium from mechanical damage due to their high hardness. On the other hand, their high porosity limits their use in combination with electrochemically noble materials, leading to galvanic corrosion (J. Senf, "Untersuchung und Beschreibung von Magnesiumdruckgusslegierungen unter tribologischer, korrosiver und mechanisch-korrosiver Beanspruchung, Berichte aus der Werkstofftechnik", Shaker Verlag, Germany 2001, ISBN 3-8265-8428-7). In addition, the high surface roughness of the plasma electrolytic anodisations restricts their use in tribological applications, particularly under sliding conditions (H. Hoche, "Grundlegende Untersuchungen zur Entwicklung von PVD-Beschichtungen auf Magnesiumlegierungen im Hinblick auf die Erhohung der Verschleisbestandigkeit und unter Berucksichtigung des Korrosionsverhaltens", Dissertation, TU-Darmstadt D17, Shaker Verlag, Germany 2004). In order to achieve smooth surfaces with high quality, the PVD technology moves into the centre of interest. Since the 1980s PVD coatings are well established and widely used for different industrial applications, mainly for steel and tool coatings. The authors were the first who carried out serious studies on the development of PVD coatings for magnesium alloys in 1999 (J. Senf, "Untersuchung und Beschreibung von Magnesiumdruckgusslegierungen unter tribologischer, korrosiver und mechanisch-korrosiver Beanspruchung, Berichte aus der Werkstofftechnik", Shaker Verlag, Germany 2001, ISBN 3-8265-8428-7; H. Hoche, "Grundlegende Untersuchungen zur Entwicklung von PVD-Beschichtungen auf Magnesiumlegierungen im Hinblick auf die Erhohung der Verschleisbestandigkeit und unter Berucksichtigung des Korrosionsverhaltens", Dissertation, TU-Darmstadt D17, Shaker Verlag, Germany 2004). The extensive research activities lead to the recent development of a coating system, which provides both, good wear properties as well as good corrosion behaviour.


Due to their distinguishing two-sided markets characteristics,these industries are facing the problem like Marshall's Dilemma.Real estate brokerage possesses the typical characteristics of two-sided markets which are different from the one of one-sided markets.Based on the industry of real estate brokerage,this paper analyzes factors influencing the workable competition of two-sided markets including the platform mode,the system of information share and user protection and so on,which together has a great promoting influence on the workable competition of two-sided markets.The model of big platform among real estate broker companies is an important reference path to the workable competition of two-sided markets.


Rice is the major food crop grown on black soils of southern India and these soils have problems of high zinc fixation due to high clay content, high pH and dominance of smectite minerals causing zinc deficiency problems. The addition of zinc fertilizers to these soils has often been ineffective as the element is transformed to unavailable forms particularly under flooded rice conditions. Studies on the distribution of fertilizer zinc among different pools of soil zinc (Viets, 1962) could be useful in formulating methods of zinc application for higher efficiency of utilization. An attempt was therefore made to study the transformations of added zinc in soils in field experiments conducted in a rice-rice sequence involving the use of 65Zn as a tracer.


In order to evaluate absolute accuracy of point diffraction interferometer(PDI), a system error calibration method based on tilting and rotation of test mirror is used and calibration algorithm are discussed in detail. Calibration formulas are deduced and a verified simulation is conducted. In the method, figure errors of spherical test mirror are measured in N equal position around an initial axis and a tilt axis. The rotationally asymmetric component of real figure about test mirror in each axis position can be calculated through rotation method. As system errors in same coordinate are constant in two rotate measurements, subtract one from another, an equation can be acquired without system error term. The rotationally symmetric component of real figure which expressed in Zernike rotationally items can be evaluated in solving this differential equation with least square. System error can be acquired through deprive real figure error of test mirror from measurement data. The simulation results shows that figure error of test mirror and system error which calculated through this algorithm are consistent with the simulation input values, difference of errors are less than 0.03 nm and residual errors are less than 0.3 nm, it can meet the requirement of the calibration accuracy.


We describe how turbulence distributes tracers away from a localized source of injection, and analyze how the spatial inhomogeneities of the concentration field depend on the amount of randomness in the injection mechanism. For that purpose, we contrast the mass correlations induced by purely random injections with those induced by continuous injections in the environment. Using the Kraichnan model of turbulent advection, whereby the underlying velocity field is assumed to be shortly correlated in time, we explicitly identify scaling regions for the statistics of the mass contained within a shell of radius r and located at a distance ρ away from the source. The two key parameters are found to be (i) the ratio s2 between the absolute and the relative timescales of dispersion and (ii) the ratio Λ between the size of the cloud and its distance away from the source. When the injection is random, only the former is relevant, as previously shown by Celani et al (2007 J. Fluid Mech. 583 189–98) in the case of an incompressible fluid. It is argued that the space partition in terms of s2 and Λ is a robust feature of the injection mechanism itself, which should remain relevant beyond the Kraichnan model. This is for instance the case in a generalized version of the model, where the absolute dispersion is prescribed to be ballistic rather than diffusive.


Purpose of the article emerges the demonstration of specifics of the lyricism as the mental-social quality of Ukrainian culture and particularities her entailments in the music sphere. The methodological base of the study is interdisciplinary reflective-style and the culturology-hermeneutic way to semantic interpretation corresponding to buildings scientific and music-creative thinking in continuation position of T.Adorno, A.Losev, studies of A.Sokol, E.Markova, O.Muravskaya, and others. Scientific novelty got the result - theoretically independent realization to concentrations of the national-mental discovery of Ukrainian culture in creative "nоn-conformism" to avoid of аrtistic-style "mergings" of national artistic contribution with genre-style paradigm generally- European style apportionment.  Conclusions. "Ukrainian lyricism" mark as the way of the thinking, in which rationalist subject delimitation of importances is in principal corrected over-sapidity "steaming" emotional thickenings-rarefactions that will add the person of the sort artificial cultural rhythm self-expression of carriers Ukrainian national character. Stands out the psychic paradigm of oscillation in the spiritual act of concentration and emotional sadness, which recognize in the lachrymal-moving mysticism of the Ukrainian Orthodoxy, passing маximalism of "worldwide saving of" Russian Orient, hoping on spontaneity brotherhood that defines the animated over-individual character of the soul in Ukrainian lyricism. It is emphasized social phenomenon "confusion of scene and lives," which in life discovery marks аrtistical tone of public and larval decisions, confirming in mеlоdy-song manifestation morally-organizing abutment to nations outside of state-building effort. The last, being brought forth on the first plan of national self-determination at the end XX centuries, have realized, possible, discharge of the professional music from song-vоcаl manifestation in favor of chamber-instrumental "modesty" demand artistic begin in the aggregate national existence.


A series of novel cis poly(phenylacetylene)s (PPAs) substituted at the meta-position(s) by both achiral alkoxycarbonyl and chiral alkylamide groups, i.e., rP-I, sP-I to sP-V, or by just a chiral alkylamide group, i.e., rP-VI, were synthesized under catalysis of [Rh(nbd)Cl]2. The dependence of the elongation, screw sense, and stimuli response of helical polyene backbone on the structure and number of substituent was systematically investigated in both solution and solid states. Stretched cis–transoid helices with opposite signs coexisted in the DMF solution of either sP-I or rP-I, but a single handed, contracted cis–cisoid one formed in the mixture of DMF/THF (10/90, v/v). Increasing the substituent size made the polymers sP-III, sP-IV, and sP-V to take only single handed stretched cis–transoid helical conformations regardless of the solvent polarity. The N-methylation of the amide group in sP-II caused a similar effect. With the removal of achiral methoxycarbonyl substituent, rP-VI took just a stretched c...


In West Sumatra, radicalism does not develop and even tends to decease because of the self-defense system of the local society, in the form of the religious and socio-cultural system that arises from the doctrine, values and teachings of Islam practised by the Tarekat community. The study aims to understand the conceptual world of the Tarekat community faith towards radicalism and to explain the struggle of radical idealism in the midst of the dynamics of the religious Tarekat culture in West Sumatra. This research uses the descriptive-phenomenological approach. Focus group discussion was first conducted with the teachers (mursyid) and members of the Tarekat congregation followed by in-depth interviews with the teachers and members of the congregation. Observation was made to examine the socio-cultural conditions of the Tarekat community surrounding their activities in relation to their religious teachings and ideals. This study found that firstly, the fusion of Tarekat teachings with the Minangkabau culture was not conducive to the rise of radical idealism in West Sumatra; secondly, the resilience of Tarekat religious culture and the local wisdom of the Minangkabau prevented radicalism from taking root in the Tarekat community, thus reducing conflict, and; thirdly, the opposition of the Tarekat to radicalism seen in its practice of dakwah culture, has shaped its lifestyle and response to the world.


Objective To explore the vaginal hysterectomy effect on descensus uteri. Methods To divide the 112 cases patients into control group(56 cases) and research group(56 cases). All the cases were chosen from April 2011 to April 2012. The patients in control group adopted the vaginal wall repair surgery, the patients in research group adopted the vaginal hysterectomy combine the vaginal wall repair surgery. Results There was no difference between the two treatment expect the time. It was in a low obvious difference between the two groups and the statistically significant(P 0.05). The cure rate in the research group(91.1%) was obvious higher than it was in the control group(75.0%), the relapsed in research group(0) was obvious lower than it was in the control group(7.1%), It was in a high treatment efficiency and obvious difference between the two groups and the statistically significant(P 0.05). Conclusion It is in a high value to adopt the vaginal hysterectomy on descensus uteri, it is widely used in clinical practice.


Organic matter is ubiquitous in the atmosphere. It can form coatings that directly influence both the physical and chemical properties of the atmospheric water droplets and can have important but nontrivial consequences of climate changes. To understand the effects of organic coatings on gas uptake by atmospheric water droplets, we studied the uptake of three common atmospheric gases (H2O, O3, and SO2) by benzoic acid (BA)- or lauric acid (LA)-coated water droplets in both equilibrium and nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. Free energy ΔF profiles for gas uptake by these coated systems were compared with the uncoated results in our previous work. We found that the changes in Coulomb energy dominate the changes in potential energy ΔU in the BA-coated systems, whereas the changes in Lennard-Jones energy play an important role in the LA-coated systems due to the long alkyl chains. We also found a clear positive correlation between the entropic contribution TΔS and the mobility of water and organic...


The authors have established an empirical criterion for electrical breakdown in vacuum based on macroscopic electrical field strength and voltage. It contains two parameters that have to be adapted to different materials, manufacturing and conditioning processes by statistically evaluated high-voltage tests under lightning surges, and field calculations. Once they are known, breakdown voltages of proposed vacuum insulations such as interrupters can be estimated from field calculations.


The following new species of Dryinidae (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea) from Argentina are described: Anteon nicolasi and Gonatopus julianae. Changes in the key to the Neotropical Anteon and Gonatopus are proposed.


The objetive of this research were to determine the self-life of loloh cemcem with and without grated young coconut pulp  using Accelerated Shelf Life Testing (ASLT) with Arrhenius method. Loloh cemcem was stored in four storage temperaturs, namely 15 o C, 35 o C, 45 o C, dan 55 o C. The observed parameters were pH, and three sensory parameters using preference test, namely flavor, color, and aroma of the cemcem . The observations conducted until 50% of panelist refused loloh cemcem . The results showed the critical quality parameter of loloh cemcem with grated coconut was taste that followed zero order and without the same parameter was found for loloh cemcem without grated young coconut pulp but it followed first reaction order. The self-life of loloh cemcem with grated coconut and without grated coconut  was 16.4 hours and 18.9 hours at room temperature or 28 0 C. Comparison of shelf life prediction and determined by the manufacturer was different.


Car is designed using the software package Autodesk 3ds Max. Polygonal modeling method was used and designed car represent a new conceptual solution car design. After modeling a car in mentioned software, final digital images are generated too. Final digital images are generated using the Mental Ray rendering tool as a default rendering tool of Autodesk 3ds Max. Attention is given only to the external design of the car, while the interior is not modeled. Furthermore, using the software ANSYS Fluent, 2D simulation of the airflow around the side contour of the vehicle was made in purpose of making changes in the geometry of the vehicle to improve the design in terms of reducing air resistance and improving aerodynamics. Most attention of that is given in changing value of angle between the hood and front windshield of car, and analysing back of the car with and without the rear wing. Leading to the obtained 2D simulation and leading with modifications of initial 2D model, existing 3D car model is redesigned. Assumption is that new 3D car model is resulting with better aerodynamic properties. 3D analysis of redesigned car model in terms of mentioned changes is performed too in order to analyse possible improvements compared to the initial design.


(Latitude 34° 25′.2 S., longitude 19° 13′.5 or 1h 16m.9 E. of Gr.)

October 8–9—A disturbance of very moderate intensity began gradually at 22h GMT, October 8, and continued until about 24h, October 9. Small, sharp oscillations during the first five three-hour periods of October 9 were followed by large, shallow bays between 22h and 24h.


In this paper the authors have determined the trajectories of the points from the vibratory plate, considering the case of large oscillation. The numerical results were obtained with a C program. The paper also presents the graphical representation of the trajectories described by the end of the elastic element for two cases of constraints. Key words: lamellar spring, linear vibratory conveyor, vibration, C program.


AbstractA low-grade scheelite concentrate, obtained from Uludag Tungsten Plant (Bursa, Turkey), was used in this study. It contained approximately 35% WO3, 5.2% Sand 27% Fe. The optimum conditions of alkali fusion were: a temperature of 900°C, twice the stoichiometrically required Na2CO3, and 1 h treatment time. Tungsten was dissolved with a maximum efficiency at the end of 1 h of leaching with water at a solid/liquid weight ratio of 1/5 at 80°C under continuous stirring.A dissolution efficiency of 97% was obtained when the sulphur content of scheelite concentrate was decreased to 0.7% by roasting in a rotary furnace operating at 750°C and with 100% excess amount of air, while only 78% of tungsten dissolution efficiency could be reached when the original scheelite concentrate was not roasted prior to the alkali fusion. Phase analyses showed that the sulphur in concentrate has formed a matte phase as Na3FeS3 and confined some part of the tungsten as CaWO4, during the alkali fusion, and decreased its dissol...


The populations of fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) are increasingly being threatened, and it is, thus, a significant problem in Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia. Fireflies and their habitat must immediately be protected before they go extinct. Simpson's Diversity Index used in this paper review to measure the diversity of firefly species across Malaysia. The Simpson's Diversity Index showed that the richness and evenness of firefly species in Malaysia is infinite diversity with D = 0.2255. The authors compiled and reviewed the studies on the firefly species to incorporate available information/data and emphasised their preferred habitat/display trees in response to the issue. Therefore, this paper was also able to track down records of fireflies' species' distribution through the previous studies in eight states in West Malaysia (Peninsula), namely Johor, Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Pahang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, and Terengganu, as well as two states in East Malaysia (Borneo), namely Sabah and Sarawak. It indicates that firefly species, especially from the general Pteroptyx (Pteroptyx tener species), are widely distributed in Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia. Based on the records from the study conducted by previous researchers, it was found that the population of fireflies is declining in some areas in Malaysia, and so are their habitats and host/display trees that have suffered the same decline. Perhaps, this paper will help broaden human beings' geographical understanding/knowledge and create awareness which eventually leads to conservation actions of firefly species and their host/display trees.

http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/resources/files/Pertanika PAPERS/JST Vol. 30 (3) Jul. 2022/11 JST-3302-2021.pdf


This paper aims to show how awareness and realizations are displayed when the environmental sustainability research, and consequently the meanings given for purposes of reflections on the transformative critical awareness. The research took place with thirty-nine students of the final years of the Biological Sciences Degree Course. The associative search it is used, using the technique of free association of words, the subject inducer environmental sustainability. The participants recalled five words, justifying them, stood out the most important, justifying it. Consciousness is towards an awakening required for taking actions aimed at a balanced relationship between humans and the natural environment, leave understood that it is necessary that society is aware of the value of their attitudes. Awareness is demonstrated in need of educational character actions aimed at informing the public about the facing environmental problems, their causes and consequences, so that occurs the awakening of the sense of responsibility in the population towards the environment and the real understanding of weight of human actions on the environmental balance, so that might occur necessary changes aimed at improving environmental quality and maintenance of the basic conditions and essential to the smooth functioning of nature. It concludes that the great issn: 2236-1499 importance to the educational process of the population should be thought and lived, according to the perspective of transforming critical consciousness, the light of Freire's thought.


A meta-analysis is a statistical analysis of the data from some collection of studies in order to synthesize the results. In this paper we discuss issues that frequently arise in meta-analysis and give an overview of the methods used, with particular attention to the use of fixed- and random-effects approaches. The methods are then applied to two sample datasets.


Soil samples were collected from ten different-altitude sites along the Qinghai-Tibet railway, and the community DNA was extracted from the soil samples directly. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene fragment was amplified by nested PCR from the community DNA. Soil bacterial population diversity was analyzed by 16S rDNA-PCR-DGGE. The results showed that the bacterial population diversity was abundant in this high altitude area. Vegetation type was an important factor influencing the bacterial diversity and population similarity in this area, and the altitude acted as a minor impact factor. The bacterial population diversity of soil samples with similar vegetation type decreased with the increasing altitude.


Physiotherapy learners treat patients with Human Immuno-deficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS). There is no available published research on physiotherapy learners' opinions about how the South Afican physiotherapy undergraduate program is  helping them cope with HIV/AIDS patients. This study determines whether the physiotherapy degree offered at South African Universities, adequately prepares learners to cope with HIV/AIDS patients. Differences in knowledge and attitudes of physiotherapy learners regarding HIV/AIDS, amongst  universities is also explored. Two hundred and two senior physiotherapy learners from eight South African universities returned their  questionnaires and 55% of these were viable for analysis. A large portion (79%) of learners indicated that the physiotherapy undergraduate degree did not adequately prepare them to cope with HIV/AIDS patients. Learners' knowledge and attitudes regarding HIV/AIDS differed significantly (41% to 73%)  amongst universities. Formal lectures on HIV/AIDS significantly affected knowledge (0% -100%) but not attitude towards patients. The role of the physiotherapist, precautions, transmission modes, syndrome stages, counseling and clinical skills were considered critical in the management of HIV/AIDS patients.


: This study was concerned in the utilization of Polya's Problem Solving Strategy (PPSS) to improve the worded problem-solving skills in Mathematics of Grade 10 students at Basilan National High School. Specifically, to assessed the level of competence of Grade 10 students in solving worded problems in mathematics anchored on the topic in the third quarter of the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELC) in Mathematics 10. A multi-layered sampling procedure were used particularly, purposive sampling was adopted and a quota sampling were further used in selecting the respondents. The respondents were the Twenty-nine (29) males and Thirty-one (31) females with a total of Sixty (60) students, and a quasi-experiment research method was employed. The findings show that the overall level of competence of Grade 10 students in solving mathematical worded problem for both the control and experimental groups before utilizing the Polya's Problem Solving Strategy (PPSS) revealed as "Beginning Competence". After utilizing the PPSS, the students' level of competence went up to a "Developing competence." Moreover, there is a significant difference between the traditional strategy (Controlled Group) and the treatment group with PPSS (Experimental Group) which means that the performance of students in solving worded problems for Experimental group with PPSS treatment is better than the traditional strategy or the typical way on dealing with worded problems in mathematics. Significant difference was also found in terms of gender and monthly family income.


e15132Background: Despite its great efficacy in patients with solid tumors, immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) might also lead to a series of inflammatory effects known as immune-related adverse even...


s of Poster Sessions CELLULAR ALLERGEN STIMULATION TEST (CAST): A NEW TEST FOR THE DETECTION OF ALLERGY IN CHILDREN WITH RESPIRATORY DISEASE? A Tridon, J.L. Fauquen, V. Sapin M. Maire, G. Betail, A Labbe. Laboratoire d'lmmunologie, Unite de Reanimation et des Maladies Respiratoires de !'Enfant, Clermont-Ed. 63003, DPC/Behring, Rueil Malmaison, 92500, France. CAST measures the production ofleukotrienes following the stimulation of leukocytes by an allergen. We determined if this new test allowed the detection of allergic diathesis in children in comparison with standard allergic data. Thestudywascarriedout in 14 children(5 to 15 years of age), suffering from chronic respiratory disease (asthma, chronic cough). The blood sample was taken during standard allergic examination comprising: skin prick tests, measurement of total lgE, determination of specific IgE (Aiastat DPC: Behring). Isolated blood leukocytes were incubated in a medium containing IL3 in the absence (basal response) or in the presence of stimulative agents (anti-IgE, ionomycin, polyvalent allergen containing 21 allergens). Measurement ofthe leukotrienes LTC4, D4, E4 before and after stimulations was done by immunoenzymatic technique. In 5 children, the basal response was above the limiting value of 280 pglml of leukotrienes and in 3 cases, exceeded 1000 pglml. There was significant correlation (r=0.51, <0.05) between these basal values and eosinophilia. Eight children did not present an increased leukotriene level following allergenic stimulation and both specific IgE detection and skin test were negative. Six had a positive CAST and 4 had significant specific IgE levels. This test seems effective in children with suspected allergy for whom the standard allergy tests are negative despite an evocative clinical context. HOW TO ASSESS COW'S MILK ALLERGY WHEN CONFIRMED BY CLINICAL CHALLENGE? S. Allard, G. Casimir, J. Duchatcau. Pulmonology and Allergy Department and Laboratory of Immunology, University Children's Hospital Queen Fabiola, Free University of Brussels ULB, Belgium. Allergy to cow's milk (CM) is an important problem in pediatrics. In practice, sufficiently specific and sensitive tests, well correlated to the doubleblind placebo controlled food challenge (DBPCFC). arc not available: specific reagins (SR) are detected in serum (RAST) or skin only in about half of positive DBPCFC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of allergic children (AC) in terms of SR, but also basophil histamine release (BHR) and lgG response against betalactoglobulin (BLG), the major CM antigen. Twenty-eight children (gp I), aged from 3.5 months to 12 years, with respiratory, cutaneous or digestive symptoms attributed to CM and confirmed by challenge were compared to a control group (gp 2, n= 18) of asymptomatics (II children, 7 adults). SR were detected (RAST) in 38% of gp I and 15% of gp 2 (p<O.Ol); skin prick test in 9.5% of gp I and in none of the control. Positive BHR was observed in 43% of gp I and 8% of gp 2 (p<O.OO I). Six patients had positive BHR while SR were not detected. This discrepancy could result from a poor sensibility in SR detection for very low titers of antibodies or involve another mechanism than lgE-mediated histamine release. Finally as already documented by our group, higher titers of specific IgG against BLG and also differences in epitope recognition were demonstrated in


It is a very universal phenomenon that the short-run under-pricing of new stocks appears in the stock markets of the world,both in the developed countries and the developing countries. This phenomenon is still one of the popular questions to be studied. For such a phenomenon, scholars abroad have put foreword some theories as explanations, which will enlighten the domestic scholars' cognition of such a phenomenon.


THE NUMBER of overseas nurses applying to register in the UK is soaring, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has said.


The hydrogen sulfide composition in biogas ranges from 0 to 5% depending on the feed source to the biogas digester. To meet renewable natural gas specifications of 0–4 ppm of H2S content, technologies that remove H2S from raw biogas feeds are needed. This contribution assesses three adsorbents with similar textural and physical properties but with different amines grafted to the surface. Specifically, materials containing primary, secondary, and tertiary amines at the end of a propyl surface linker grafted on a silica support are explored. H2S adsorption isotherms and cyclic studies are presented for these materials, and it is shown that secondary amines have the best amine efficiency while tertiary amines are the most stable for H2S capture, of the materials studied. The results suggest the consideration of secondary and tertiary amines for the design of amine adsorbents suitable for H2S removal in dilute gas streams over multiple cycles.


On Wednesday, April 17th the campus of Abilene High School had a special visitor in the form of a Harley Davidson motor bike....Carbon Betty. She is vision created between Kent's Harley Davidson staff and Abilene High's Automotive Technology students as their entry into the Battle of the Kings the ultimate customization bike contest. She is a sleek street bike with a satin black shine that automatically draws a crowd. On this day, Carbon Betty was revealed to the Eagles of AHS along with bike enthusiast as she prepares to enter the nationwide competition.


According to the author, the country's leaders proclaimed innovative development involves changing the mechanism of production activities. The present state of the Russian economy, functioning on the basis of the criteria of maximizing behavior of producers, will make it difficult to use the experience of industrialized countries as a factor in reaching the level of an industrialized economy That is why to make «jump» in the economy, which said in an interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the author finds it necessary to change the «ato» of the market the process of reproduction. His proposal is the need to shift from the conventional market for the reproduction process, the center of which is a «producer», to reproduce, which will be the center of the «product».


Two methods of estimating fertilizer N uptake (FNU) were compared using 11 site-years of data from four winter wheat experiments comparing different N sources, application methods and application times. Direct (15N) and indirect (difference) estimates of FNU were significantly correlated in 10 of the 11 site-year combinations. When plant uptake of applied N increased, both methods provided similar estimates of FNU and allowed treatment effects to be separated with comparable resolution. Neither method nor time of application had any apparent effect on the ability of the two methods to estimate FNU. Key words: Difference method, isotope dilution method, 15N, fertilizer efficiency, fertilizer recovery


Study of the motivation factors that influence in the negree selection. It has been carried out among the Ciencia da Informacâo, Arquivistica e Biblioteconomica Coimbra's University degree students and the Informacion y Documentacion Salamanca's University degree students. Targets and analysis identification have been compared from the compile results by MODO questionary, made about targets and student profiles


The use of calcium hydroxide instead of calcium oxide for recovery of lactose from solutions was studied. With lactose concentrations of less than 10%, recovery was unsatisfactory. Addition of NH4Cl increases the solubility of calcium hydroxide, and at an adequate concentration of NH4Cl it is possible to solubilize part of the Ca(OH)2 without decreasing the amount of lactose in the precipitate. Then, NaOH addition improved lactose recovery markedly, precipitating more than 90% of total lactose. Acetone addition also proved effective.


The study identified perceptions of school of education faculty members at a Historical Black College and University. The research addressed the following areas: faculty attitudes to technology integration, faculty development, and faculty's perception to technology integration as an administrative tool. Data was collected through a survey instrument and faculty technology development training. The Faculty Attitude to Information Technology instrument (FAIT) was administered as at the beginning of Fall 2003 semester. Chi square analysis was done on the pre-test FAIT. T-test will be conducted on the pre and post FAIT Instrument at the end of the 2003-2004 school year. Several technology faculty development sessions are scheduled throughout the year (2003/04) to meet the technology needs of instructors.


In order to provide effective cooling for astronauts during extravehicular activities (EVAs), a liquid cooling and ventilation garment (LCVG) is used to remove heat by a series off tubes through which cooling water is circulated. To better predict the effectiveness of the LCG and determine possible modifications to improve performance, computer simulations dealing with the interaction of the cooling garment with the human body have been run using the Wissler Human Model. Simulations have been conducted to predict the heat removal rate for various liquid cooled garment configurations. The current LCVG uses 48 cooling tubes woven into a fabric with cooling water flowing through the tubes. The purpose of the current project is to decrease the overall weight of the LCVG system. In order to achieve this weight reduction, advances in the garment heat removal rates need to be obtained. Currently, increasing the fabric s thermal conductivity along with also examining an increase in the cooling tube conductivity to more efficiently remove the excess heat generated during EVA is being simulated. Initial trials varied cooling water temperature, water flow rate, garment conductivity, tube conductivity, and total number of cooling tubes in the LCVG. Results indicate that the total number of cooling tubes could be reduced to 22 and still achieve the desired heat removal rate of 361 W. Further improvements are being made to the garment network used in the model to account for temperature gradients associated with the spacing of the cooling tubes over the surface of the garment


Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are a global pandemic, with cases reported from practically every country. The majority of information and studies regarding ophthalmic manifestations in India reflects the pre-HAART (highly active anti-retroviral therapy) era. India may be going through an intermediate stage, where the spectrum of the ophthalmological manifestations may be changing significantly.
Aims and Objectives: The aims of this study were to study the age and gender distribution in HIV patients presenting with various ocular manifestation and to correlate the cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) count with various ocular manifestation of AIDS.
Materials and Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 patients. Ocular manifestations and WHO clinical stage of HIV were noted and CD4 count was calculated. The participants were followed up for at least 6 months on monthly basis when they come to take ART tables or as required for any ophthalmic disorder presented by patient. Any manifestation during this months was included in post HAART group. CD4 count after 6 months was taken into account in post HAART group.
Results: Males predominated females. The number of males in Pre HAART was 60.8% and post-HAART 59.4%. Mean CD4 count in pre-HAART was 140.63 and post-HAART was 221.93. Majority (34 patients) in pre-HAART had CD4 count between 100 and 150, while in post-HAART, majority had count more than 200 (57 patients).
Conclusion: Mean CD4 count of pre-HAART group patients raised significantly. Mean CD4 count of pre-HAART group is 140.63 with SD of 63.4, while it increased in post-HAART group to 222 which is statistically highly significant.


This study aims at the discussion of Physical Education as a curricular component through historical roots, seeking new directions to allow its legitimacy as so. brought to light by scholars on Education and Physical Education, the theme was put into context, some field paradigms which still describe the subject as "activity" were approached, strategies for an effective changes were discussed, the planning and systematization of contents as necessary actions were highlighted. The conclusion is that school Physical Education can overcome this situation as a commitment from teachers who own the formal and informative attributes on the subject is established, along with its own need to provide students with essential life experiences and  knowledge


Some organisms can emit light naturally. Fireflies are most popular organisms among them. The light is produced in all species of fireflies due to luciferase enzymes. Lamprigera is one of the fireflies genus. Its species Lamprigera sp. is interesting to be studied because it has big larvae dan easily be found on ground at night since it has strong light. Information about the luciferase gene in Lamprigera sp. is restricted. In this study we characterize the luciferase cDNA of Lamprigera sp. collected in Kayu Aro, Kerinci, Jambi. Amplification of Lamprigera's luciferase cDNA using LF and LR primers produced 367 bp fragments. The similarity levels of Lamprigera's luciferase cDNA sequences with published Lamprigera yunnana is 83%. This indicates that luciferase cDNA of Lamprigera sp. is different from the published Lamprigera yunnana. However, phylogenetic tree construction shows that Lamprigera sp. have a close relationship with Lamprigera yunnana.


In December 2019, patients with novel corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan, China [1]. The pathogen analysis discovered a new type of coronavirus from infected airway epithelial cells [2], which was named as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [3]. At a time when Chinese people were heading home to celebrate the Spring Festival, many latent cases left Wuhan, which led to the emergence of imported COVID-19 cases across the mainland of China and into some other countries [4, 5]. Shanghai is one of the major cities with imported cases [4, 5]. COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, China, and threatens public health. The clinical and CT features of early stage patients have not previously been characterised. This study aimed to explore the early stage clinical and CT signs. http://bit.ly/38Tbq08


Background: This study examines the comparison of biomechanical strengths of three kinds of the most familiar implants available in Indonesia: conventional and locking sacroiliac plates and screws, also iliosacral screws. Despite the common thought that iliosacral screws are preferred compared to conventional plates and screws due to its biomechanic superiority, this study tested whether the locking plates and screws could offer an alternative. Materials and Methods: This study was an in vitro experimental study with a Randomized Post Test Only Control Group Design using pelvic bones from male cadavers aged 20-50 y.o. Twelve samples were divided into three treatment groups and one control group. Group CPS was fixed with two conventional plates, LPS was fixed with two locking plates, IS was fixed with two iliosacral screws, and control group with sacroiliac joint was left intact. Each group was given an increasing load until a vertical shift of the sacroiliac joint ≥ 2.0


attention on more recent material and focuses more specifically on economic and political issues, areas which she knows particularly well. Her bibliography will be especially useful to those who want to place Guinea-Bissau's postcolonial trajectory in its appropriate historical context. Since the histories of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde have been intertwined for centuries, it is not surprising that the two bibliographies have many items in common. A comparison of the annotation of these common entries confirms the impression conveyed by reading the introduction to each volume: that Shaw is content to let the material speak for itself whereas Galli prefers to present it from the point of view of her (extensive) writings on Guinea-Bissau. Each approach is equally useful so long as the reader is aware of the perspective from which each bibliography has been written. Whatever the approach, however, both volumes will be of immense value to all those interested in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde. Both have the merit of introducing the English-speaking reader to the full range of material available (particularly in Portuguese) and of providing useful research guides for those with no previous knowledge of the two countries.


The process of a ( XI /sup -/ n) collision giving rise to hyperon systems is studied, the possibility of a bound state in the final system being also envisaged. The implication arising from the various parity assignments for the hyperons is discussed and the decay distribution of the possible bound system is analyzed. (L.N.N.)


Vehicular navigation system more new system includes detection and may interfere with the vehicle road environment detector (12) that the object of normally travel or influence transportation condition are present on road (50).The signal that the object or influence transportation condition detected is present, data or information are sent (52) to remote site, processor at the remote site is based on the object detected or influences the presence of transportation condition and generates (54) map rejuvenation, and this renewal map is sent into the vehicle arrived near the position existed in the object or influence transportation condition that (56) are detected to the road environment detector.The onboard navigation system of each vehicle receives (60) map rejuvenation (58) and is shown or be otherwise indicated that (62) object using map rejuvenation (58) or influence the presence of transportation condition.When it is determined that object or influence transportation condition no longer in the presence of, generate another map rejuvenation.


With the growing development of power grid information construction, the data leak prevention technology has become the urgent needs of the power grid information construction process for all kinds of sensitive business data in the entire life cycle of the production, transport, storage and destruction. According to the needs of entire life cycle in the power grid information construction, this paper elaborates the concept of data leak prevention based on the principle, presents architecture of data leak prevention in power grid, and provides a reference of data leak prevention selection in power grid.


Introduction: Pectus Excavatum (PE), the most common of all congenital chest wall deformities, leads to psychosocial repercussions and seems to disturb quality of life. The impact on the cardio respiratory function and exercise abilities is debated. The aim of this study was to describe health related quality of life (HRQOL) and respiratory functions. Methods: This study involved PE patients with a project of cosmetic surgical repair by silicone implants. We evaluated pulmonary function tests (PFTs), cardio pulmonary exercise tests (CPET), HRQOL with the SF36 regarding the morphology characteristics of the deformity (CHIN classification , HALLER index, implant size). Results: 45 patients were included, the mean age was 30 years old with a 2.2 sex ratio. Only one patient (3%) described symptoms. PFTs revealed 2 obstructive syndromes and no restrictive syndrome (mean TLC: 97+/-11%). The mean peak VO2 was 85+/-13% of predicted (33+/-7 mL/min/kg). It was under 84% of the predicted value in 47% of patients (n=21), most of them were limited from deconditioning. None had cardiological, respiratory nor ventilatory limitations. Regarding HRQOL, the mean Physical Composite Score (PCS) was 88+/-10.6% and the mean Mental Composite Score (MCS) was 75.1+/-18.6%. In the patients under 24 years old, and in women with HALLER index over 5, MCS was lower (respectively 61,9% and 68.5%) than in the general population (76,27%). Conclusion: Patients had neither symptoms nor respiratory impairments, but some had a physical limitation due to deconditioning that did not impact their global quality of life. However, the younger patients and women with high HALLER index had an altered HRQOL due to psychosocial repercussions.


TOPALS is a relational model that can be used for smoothing and projecting age-specific rates or probabilities. TOPALS uses a linear spline to model the ratios between the age-specific rates or probabilities to be fitted or projected and a smooth standard age schedule. TOPALS is easy and flexible. The method does not require complex calculations and the interpretation of the parameters is straightforward. TOPALS can smooth and project different types of age schedules. De Beer (2011) demonstrates how TOPALS can be used to smooth and project age-specific fertility rates. This paper demonstrates how TOPALS can be used to smooth and project age-specific probabilities of death for 26 European countries.


To assess the ability of hospitals with large minority populations to use existing quality-of-care measures to reduce racial/ethnic disparities, the researchers analyzed quality-related data on acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and pneumonia by patients' race and ethnicity from five major public hospitals. Senior clinical and administrative leaders were interviewed about their use of quality data and views on disparities and public data reporting. These hospitals exceeded national norms on most measures, and high performance was mostly consistent across racial and ethnic groups. While the findings should be interpreted cautiously, the data indicated some disparities in performance measures related to patient communication. The study also revealed limitations in use of commonly accepted quality measures for detecting disparities. None of the study hospitals had previously looked at these measures by race or ethnicity, and hospital leaders were not in agreement as to whether such data should be publicly reported. Support for this research was provided by The Commonwealth Fund. The views presented here are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Commonwealth Fund or its directors, officers, or staff. This report and other Fund publications are available online at www.cmwf.org. To more learn about new publications when they become available, visit the Fund's Web site and register to receive e-mail alerts. Commonwealth Fund pub. no. 998.


Screening guidelines may need to be reviewed if the incidence of colorectal cancer continues to increase in adults aged under 50, researchers have warned.1 For now, however, research should focus on what's causing the increase, they say, as the number of new cases among younger people is still low.

Their study, published in Gut , analysed data on age related colorectal cancer incidence and mortality between 1990 and 2016 from European national and regional cancer registries. It found that the incidence of colon cancer in 20-29 year olds rose by 2.7% a year …


The article presents and analyses the comparable results of thestand tests of 1.9 TDI diesel engine. The purpose of the conductedresearch included solving a question of how losses in thecharge-air system impacted environmental and energy-economicalparameters in order to ensure the same load characteristicsof the diesel engine. The leakage factor was imitated by a holeof 3.1 mm in diameter, the size of which is possible in practice.Therefore, some significant negative changes were observed. Inall tested range of the loaded engine, a decrease of 6.7...7.8 %in charge pressure impacts an increase in greenhouse gas emissionsby 11...30 %. Fuel consumption increased by 11...14 %and difference in the deterioration of other indicators sometimesvaried compared with normal operating conditions. It was alsofound that, in a case of leakage, the electronic engine control unitinefficiently reduced the emission of the products of incompletecombustion in exhaust gases.


A clinical study of 335 cases of dermatitis treated with hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone (9α-fluorohydrocortisone) applied topically in both lotion and ointment form by the method of paired comparisons was begun Sept. 28, 1954, and is still being continued. Fludrocortisone was supplied for this study in strengths of 0.1% and 0.25% in lotion form in ½ oz. (15 cc.) plastic bottles and in strengths of 0.1%, 0.25%, and 0.5% in ointment form. Corresponding strengths of 1% and 2.5% hydrocortisone in identical vehicles were used for paired comparison with the fludrocortisone preparations. The vehicles were also supplied in similar containers for placebo comparison. Method Patients with selected dermatoses in private office practice were given pairs of the corticoid preparations, the fludrocortisone being 1/10 as strong as the hydrocortisone. They were instructed to apply the lotion or ointment thrice daily to the affected areas. In most cases simultaneous contralateral applications were


The purpose of the article is to study the history of a valuable monument of Ukrainian wooden architecture of the 17th century – the Epiphany of the Lord Church in Stanymyr village in Lviv region, as well as the introduction of a new source into scientific circulation, which allows you to trace the historical development of the church in detail. The research methodology is based on the principles of objectivity, historicism, systematicity, analytical and synthetic criticism of sources. The method of historical reconstruction contributed to the creation of a coherent picture of the history of the Epiphany of the Lord Church in Stanymyr village from disparate facts. The scientific novelty consists in an attempt to systematize the materials related to the history of the church and introduce a new historical source of the 18th century into scientific circulation, which enriches the research base of the monument, as well as the history of the settlement in which it is located. The document proposed for publication can be used for research on church history, architecture, local history, demographic studies, as well as other topics devoted to the history of society in the early modern period. Conclusions. The Epiphany of the Lord Church in Stanymyr is one of the few preserved wooden churches of Opillia, built in the 17th century. The first Christian church in the village probably existed already in the 15th century, but the first documented mention of the church in Stanymyr dates back to the beginning of the 16th century. The modern monument was built in 1689, but it has not come down to us in its original form, which is particularly confirmed by the visitation of the church in 1763. The published document contains a detailed description of the interior of the church (including icons, liturgical utensils, vestments and books) and its surroundings (fence, bell tower, cemetery), as well as immovable property (parson's house and land). The visitation also includes valuable information about the local parish priest, statistics about the parish's population, its toponymy and anthroponymy.


Recurrent middle ear disease is very common in childhood although, in most cases, children grow out of the condition as their immune system matures. In some cases, however, it may lead to poor growth or may suggest an underlying diagnosis associated with short stature. Diagnosis of conditions, such as Turner's syndrome is often delayed and such children may initially present with ENT complaints. It is important to identify these children as early as possible so that they can be given the appropriate support and treatment.


Subsurface studies in many sedimentary basins around the world reveal that widespread onlap has occurred several times since the Precambrian. The existence of onlap indicates deposition on an unconformity surface that had topographic relief. There are several worldwide onlap unconformities. These began to form during (1) early Oligocene, (2) early Paleocene, (3) Late Jurassic (pre-Portlandian-Purbeckian), (4) latest Triassic (pre-Rhaetian), (5) Permian (pre-Leonardian), (6) latest Mississippian (post-type-Chesterian), (7) Early Devonian, and (8) Middle Ordovician times. In addition, several less important, but worldwide, periods of onlap, restricted largely to basin margins or actively rising areas, have been observed. These occurred during (1) late Miocene, (2) early Mio ene, (3) early Eocene, (4) Early Cretaceous (pre-Cenomanian), (5) Middle Jurassic (pre-Dogger), (6) Early Triassic, (7) Pennsylvanian (pre-Desmoinesian), (8) Late Devonian, and (9) Early Silurian times. Earlier workers recognized many of these unconformities in the United States and Canada on the bases of truncation (overstep) and onlap. In this paper onlap is emphasized as the better indicator of unconformities, because onlap is much more widely prevalent than truncation. Unconformities identified only by truncation usually occur in regions which have undergone a local period of uplift. Several factors may obscure the presence of major unconformities. If the underlying sediments were relatively flat at the time of onlap or if the basin was subsiding differentially, yet rapidly, at the depositional site, detailed correlations across large areas usually are required to reveal the presence of an onlap unconformity. The unconformity may be missing in basin centers because of continuous deposition. In such a situation, the strata which were deposited while an unconformity developed toward the basin margin may be identifiable because of a change in depositional rate within the time-equivalent sediments of the basin center. Highly mobile belts commonly have many unconformities; only a few of these may be worldwide. In addition, continental sediments deposited above sea-leve also may contain unconformities that formed entirely as a result of local factors. Characteristically, the sediments of an onlap cycle are deposited relatively rapidly at the beginning of the cycle, and are deposited less rapidly later in the cycle. At the conclusion of the cycle, onlap at the basin margins is scarcely noticeable. During the next succeeding cycle, onlap commonly is relatively rapid again, but the area of onlap is nearer to the depositional basin center. This shift of onlap cycles through time from basin margin to basin center is believed to represent a fairly rapid drop in sea-level. The initiation of onlap is then interpreted to be the result of a gradual rise in sea-level, and local basin subsidence and sedimentation play the dominant roles in determining the positions and amounts of onlap and sedimentary thickening. Although the basic causes of changes in sea-level are not well known, they may be related to changes in the configuration of ocean basins resulting from large-scale End_Page 638------------------------------ mountain building. Some changes in sea-level may be related to the size of ice accumulations at the poles. End_of_Article - Last_Page 639------------


The technique and its numerical realization of the hard airdrome coatings specified calculations with the consideration oftheir interaction with heterogeneous multilayer weak soil half-space is proposed. Numerical simulation of the hard airdromecoatings stress-strain state is carried out on the basis of the relations of the elasticity nonlinear theory with the help of thefinite element method momentary scheme. The task of calculating the actual concrete coating on a rigid artificial basis of theInternational Airport "Odesa" runway is solved. A finite-element model for calculating hard surfaces with the use of amomentary finite element scheme and a universal spatial shell finite element has been developed.


The work of this thesis was conducted during the training MSc Mechatronics Double Degree program between the Tallinn Technical University and St. Petersburg ITMO University. The head of the Department of Mechatronics of ITMO University Professor Victor Musalimov had offered the theme of this work. The main objectives of this master's thesis are the study of electrical phenomena occurring during the friction processes, also study of the characteristics of the memristor in the simulation of friction. The substantial interest for science-based the process control of the friction and the wear are electrical phenomena in friction. Currently, the electromagnetic phenomena occurring in the process of the friction, not fully explored because of its complexity and of the unpredictable nature of the occurrence. In order to more fully explore the electromagnetic phenomena in the process of the frictional engagement of bodies (especially for friction pair consisting of a metal or semiconductor) are necessary to explore in more detail the tribocontact area, in particular its electrical parameters: contact resistance, and also the nature and occurrence of the thermal electromotive force and friction electrification. According to the modern literature, there is reason to believe that there is a dependence that connects the tribological characteristics of friction with the electromagnetic phenomena occurring in friction. The study of all these aspects makes it possible to expand the concept of the electric component of the laws of friction, as well as to more fully explore the process of the frictional engagement. Based on the approach which was proposed in this work, under the simulation of the process of friction, the memristor can replace the contact of the friction pair, also its using will be help in the investigation of the tribocontact in the context of electrical circuits. The first chapter is represented an introduction and the statement of main objectives of the project. In the second chapter, the review of literature devoted to the electrical phenomena occurring in friction was demonstrated. A special place was given to the phenomena of occurrence of the friction electrification and thermal electromotive force, also in the end of the chapter was described the influence of the electrical phenomena on the friction pair wear. The third chapter was devoted to the memristor. It describes the main parameters and characteristics of the element, the device operation. The fourth chapter describes the creation of the memristor model and the obtained simulation results. In addition, there was described the model based on various materials used in the manufacture of the memristor. The fifth chapter is devoted to the results of the conducted tribological experiments. Also in this chapter is proposed a method of obtaining the transfer function of the law changes of the tribopair contact resistance for the later comparison with the electrical characteristics of a memristor. There were provided graphical results of using of this function. In the sixth chapter was described the proposed method for using of the memristor under simulation of the friction processes. In conclusion, it can be deduced that at certain times the electrical characteristics of the tribopair contact (in particular electric resistance and the drop in voltage) is repeating with high precision the electrical characteristics of the memristor. The electromagnetic phenomena occurring in the process of friction have an impact on the characteristics of the friction pair, it does not allow full use of the memristor to simulate the contact. However, comparing the electrical characteristics of the data (of the tribocontact and the memristor) may be determined the parameters of electrical phenomena in friction. This, in turn, opens up new horizons for the study of tribological characteristics in the context of the electromagnetic theory of electric circuit.


The growing importance ascribed by the government training authorities and industry to technician engineering manpower in the United Kingdom has led to great interest in present efforts to give them the higher status which they need and deserve. The Engineers' Registration Board (E.R.B.) has set up a Composite Register of chartered engineers, technician engineers and technicians with titles and designatory letters awarded under the Royal Charter of the Council of Engineering Institutions (C.E.I.).


The international community has affirmed the human right to water in a number of international treaties, declarations and other documents. Most notably, in November 2002 the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights adopted General Comment No. 15 on the right to water, setting out general standards and obligations related to the right to water. This paper analyses if and to what extent the UN concept is acknowledged in Palestine while focusing (a) on water rights allocation between Palestine and its neighbour Israel, taking the commonly shared Mountain Aquifer as an example; and (b) the governmental obligations with regard to the human right to water which broadly are to be categorized in obligations to respect, protect and fulfil this right. The paper analyses whether the institutional setting within the Palestinian water sector is appropriate to meet the challenge of the UN concept. The main obstacles and challenges facing strategic and coordinated governmental action towards the UN concept are discussed. While outlining the most important characteristics of the Palestinian water sector, the criteria of the UN concepts are evaluated. Finally, the paper discusses the precondition for the implementation of the human right to water in Palestine.


In Pharasiot Greek, an Asia Minor Greek dialect, a certain particle copied from Turkish, ki, is employed in a number of seemingly unrelated constructions. Close scrutiny, however, reveals that in each of these constructions, ki is employed as a device geared to influencing the interlocutor's epistemic vigilance. Based on the Cartographic Approach which defends the syntactization of the interpretive domains, I propose that this unique semantics of ki should be represented in the clause structure. Following recent work which advocates the existence of a pragmatic field—Speech Act Phrase (SAP) in particular—above the CP-layer, where discourse and pragmatic roles are mapped onto syntax, I propose that ki is the overt exponent of SA 0 and is further endowed with a [+ sentience] feature indexing the speaker as the sentient mind. The apparent differences between various construction types which involve ki—hence, in which SAP projects—then reduce to whether the [+ sentience] feature on SA 0 is checked by an internally or externally merging category in Spec, SAP.


A Factorial experiment was conducted at the Experimental Station (A) of the Field Crops Department / college of Agriculture University of Baghdad (Jadriya) during the winter season of 2014-2015. The study aimed to investigate the effect of the hierarchy of tiller production in wheat under the influence of seed rates and nitrogen levels. Treatments were distributed in the Factorial experiment within Randomized Complete Black Design with three Replicates and four seeding rates 60,80,100 and 120 kg ha-1 and fertilized with four nitrogen levels 50,100,150 and 200 kg N. ha -1 . The results showed that there were significant differences within two factors and their interactionwith the number of fertile tillers m-2 (the first tiller T1, the second tiller T2, the third tiller T3). m -2 , dry weight (gm) and plant height (cm) during the growing season.As the main stem superiority to give the highest average of number of fertile tillers m -2 72.7 spikes. m -2 and dry weight were 15.131 (gm) and plant height was 76.18 cm compared to other primary (tiller1, tiller2, tiller3) which amounted to 167.54 tillers. m -2 5.39 (g) and 54.41 (cm) respectively. Concerning seed rates were higher than 80 kg. Ha in giving the highest average number of fertile tillers. m -2 reached 181.77 tillers. Fertile. m -2 did not differ significantly from the seed rate 100 kg. Ha, which reached 174.57 tillers. Fertile. m -2 while the seed rate exceeds 60 kg. Ha in giving the highest average dry weight (gm) and plant height (cm) was 2.28 g and 64.03 cm respectively compared to the rest of the other seed rates. The Nitrogen levels have exceeded 150 kg N.ha, gave the highest average number of fertile tillers. m -2 182.1 fertile tillers. It did not differ significantly in the level of 100 kg. N. ha, which gave an average of 164.25 tillers. Fertile.m -2 compared to the rest of the levels, while dry weight and plant height exceeded the level of 100 kg, giving the highest average of 2.362 g and 64.2 cm respectively compared to the rest of the levels. Conclude that the total contribution rate of the primary tillers is half the total number m -2 . Within two factors study, seeding rates and nitrogen levels behaved differently in their effect on the main stem and primary tillers. The older tillers also gave the highest contribution rates compared to the higher tillers in the composition. The lowest seed rate also gave the highest average dry matter accumulation and the average number of fertile tillers. m -2 .


The internet has the potential to deliver psychoeducational interventions and cognitive-behavioral therapy to a wide range of depressed people who have difficulty finding or participating in more traditional forms of psychiatric care. However, the only randomized controlled trial of an online CBT intervention for depression failed to show an effect, probably because of low participation. In a …


In the article weaves and colours of Lithuanian folk skirts fabrics are analysed. The investigation objects are the skirts from funds of three Lithuanian Museums: 258 skirts from National M. K. Ciurlionis Museum of Art, 85 skirts from Lithuanian Open Air Museum and 16 skirts from A. and A. Tamosaitis gallery "Židinys". Distribution of skirts fabrics according to weaves was estimated, and it shows, that fabrics of plain weave are most widespread (53 %), combined and twill weaves are less popular (19 % and 18 %, respectively). The weaves of fabrics are determined during investigation and plans of weave were made proposing recommendations for manufacturing of similar fabrics. Also distribution of colours and number of colours in the fabrics were analysed. The biggest number of colours is in fabrics of simple weaves (plain and twill), and the most characteristic are green, red, black and blue colours. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ms.19.3.5240


Objective To compare hybrid capture-Ⅱ(HC2) to polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-reverse dot-blot(RDB) for detecting HPV infection in women.Methods HC2 method and PCR-RDB were applied to detecting human papillomaviral infection in female genital duct,and the test results were analyzed.Results Concordant results were found in 81.14%(400/493) samples(Kappa =0.63;95%CI,0.57-0.69).The high risk type HPV positive rate detected by PCR-RDB were 1.60%(3/187),29.85%(20/67),69.88%(58/83),86.52%(77/89) and 91.04%(61/67),respectively, when the HC2 RLU/CO of samples were1.00,1.00-9.99,10.00-99.99,100.00- 999.99 and≥1 000.00.Statistical differences were found among the five groups(x~2=289.3,P0.01).Cross reactions were found between HC2 high risk probe and HPV53,66,11,cp8304 and other genotypes.Conclusion There is good concordance between HC2 and PCR-RDB,though cross reaction exists in HC2.Relatively speaking,there are more influential factors for PCR-RDB.


Water heating is a leading cause of household energy consumption and, given its capacitive nature, has been the focus of research on demand side management and grid peak load management. Despite all the existing literature on energy for water heating, very little is known about an inextricably linked key determinant of it - demand for hot water and consumption patterns thereof. Moreover, even though water heating energy demand profiles have been investigated in the past, little is known about the different energy profiles for the days of the week, and regional variance of such profiles. This paper measures and reports actual hot water demand acquired through a novel smart metering solution. The different profiles for the days of the week are evaluated, in addition to weekdays and weekend days. Finally, differences between units in peri-rural Mkhondo and the urban Western Cape are compared in terms of water demand, energy demand, and efficiency (energy in vs. energy out). The results show a striking similarity to previous work, with the exception that scheduling has led to energy demand leading water consumption. The results also show that daily routines vary significantly, and also between regions. Surprisingly, the efficiencies and consumption patterns between the regions are also stark, with the urban Western Cape using 20 % more water on an average day, and with 70.2 % efficiency vs. 45.8 % in Mkhondo.


In this paper, a design and implementation of GPS/Galileo software receiver is given. As a GPS receiver, it is able to perform every function of...


Summary Background Sunbeds fitted with conventional ultraviolet (UV) A lamps that have about 0·7% UVB emission are widely used by patients with psoriasis even though they are minimally effective. A new fluorescent sunbed lamp has been developed that emits a higher proportion of UVB (4·6%) than conventional lamps and also requires shorter exposure times to achieve equivalent erythema.


It is thought that a class of broad absorption line (BAL) QSOs, characterized by Fe absorption features in their UV spectra (called `FeLoBALs'), could mark a transition stage between the end of an obscured starburst event and a youthful QSO beginning to shed its dust cocoon, where Fe has been injected into the interstellar medium by the starburst. To test this hypothesis, we have undertaken deep Submillimetre Common-User Bolometer Array 2 (SCUBA-2) 850 μm observations of a sample of 17 FeLoBAL QSOs with 0.89 ≤ z ≤ 2.78 and -23.31 ≤ MB ≤ -28.50 to directly detect an excess in the thermal emission of the dust which would probe enhanced star formation activity. We find that FeLoBALs are not luminous sources in the sub-mm, none of them are individually detected at 850 μm, nor as a population through stacking (Fs = 1.14 ± 0.58 mJy). Statistical and survival analyses reveal that FeLoBALs have sub-mm properties consistent with BAL and non-BAL QSOs with matched redshifts and magnitudes. An Spectral Energy Distribution fitting analysis shows that the far-infrared emission is dominated by active galactic nuclei activity, and a starburst component is required only in 6/17 sources of our sample; moreover the integrated total luminosity of 16/17 sources is L ≥ 1012 L⊙, high enough to classify FeLoBALs as infrared luminous. In conclusion, we do not find any evidence in support of FeLoBAL QSOs being a transition population between an ultraluminous infrared galaxy (ULIRG) and an unobscured QSO; in particular, FeLoBALs are not characterized by a cold starburst which would support this hypothesis.


With a plenty of investigation and research,the paper focused on the limitation of the conventional water resource management,combined the building of the management information system for Zhangze reservoir in ShanXi,and then chose the experimental unit in Zhangze drainage area for applying research.Based on Internet support,through the technology of GIS,database,Asp variable network and so on,combined the elements of geologic,physiognomy,hydrological and otherwise,used the gigantic information and predominance of freedom in terrain of Internet,breakthrough the conventional limitation,realized the long-distance and interact data access in client,built the netlized,digitalized,intellectualized decision-making system which combined the data process and manage.Furthermore,it integrated the hydrological data,fundamental geographical data,weather data into one database,linked the data from database and model of drainage area hydrology,processed the scene analysis and hydrological systematic simulation.The system is used to refresh,inspect and forecast the information of regional water resource from web net,realized variable management of water resource,made the availability attempt for the informationalization,mobilization,modernization of the water resource management.


Convective precipitation is the main form of summertime precipitation in mid-latitude mountainous regions. To improve the forecasting of convection, numerical weather prediction (NWP) models have been developed that explicitly resolve the spatial scales and the processes associated with deep convection. Here, we use the COSMO-Model, an operational NWP model, for the simulation of a convective situation in Central Europe on 12 July 2006. The model results are evaluated with observations obtained within the PRINCE field experiment in the Black Forest in South-West Germany. In general, the performance of the model is satisfactorily. Convection is initiated by the model, and the overall impact of the convection (vertical transport of heat and moisture) is reproduced. Discrepancies in the location of the precipitation, however, suggest shortcomings of the model incorrectly initiating local convection from small scale valley circulations.


In recent years, several cluster ensemble methods have been developed, but they still have some limitations. They commonly use different clustering algorithms in both stages of the clustering ensemble method, such as the ensemble generation step and the consensus function, resulting in a compatibility issue in terms of working functionality between different clustering algorithms. In addition, in a clustering ensemble method, the accuracy of the final results is a major concern. To deal with it, we propose a novel cluster ensemble method based on a single clustering algorithm (CES). In this method, we iterate a clustering algorithm affinity propagation (AP) ten times in the ensemble generation step to obtain multiple base partitions with a high level of diversity in each iteration due to its nature of producing a random number of clusters. Furthermore, with a few modifications, the same algorithm AP is used to propose a novel consensus function for combining these base partitions into a single partition. The proposed consensus function takes advantage of little side-information in the form of partial labels by using pairwise constraints with AP and number of clusters in a dataset. By employing this information, AP is limited to produce an actual number of cluster centres in a dataset rather than a random number of clusters, which considerably enhanced the accuracy of final outcomes. As a result, CES uses the same clustering functionality in both stages of proposed cluster ensemble method and produces the desired number of clusters in the final partition of a dataset which is significantly improving accuracy when compared to state-of-the-art cluster ensemble methods. Furthermore, as a result of these modifications, the CES outperforms AP in terms of accuracy and execution time. Experiments on real-world datasets from various sources show that CES improves accuracy by 5% on average compared to state-of-the-art cluster ensemble methods and by 55.54% compared to AP while consuming 44.60% less execution time.


We present a methodology for designing wideband, shot noise limited photodetectors using commercially available components and microwave engineering techniques. We use this methodology to design and construct a photodetector using wideband microwave amplifiers and a 3.5GHz bandwidth photodiode. Consistent with our analytic models, the photodetector exhibits linear behavior up to a level of 6.5dB clearance between shot noise and dark noise from 2.0to3.5GHz at 10mA of photocurrent, reducing to 3.5dB of clearance at 6.4GHz.


Pipe breaks are used as indicators of the structural state of pipe network. The approach used considers times to failure between pipe breaks as random variables. Pipe lifespan is divided into two periods, the first one characterized by time‐dependent hazard functions (nonexponential period) and the second one characterized by constant hazard functions (exponential period). Closed‐form expressions have been derived for probability density functions of occurrence of breaks for all break orders as well as expressions for the time evolution of the average number of pipe breaks per unit time. An optimal replacement criterion is defined on a pipe‐to‐pipe basis based on a cost function using conditional probabilities to estimate the expected future costs. Minimization of this cost function leads to a replacement criterion involving hazard functions. When applied to models with constant hazard functions, this criterion identifies a critical pipe break order at which replacement should be made.


Tissue expansion promotes skin regeneration. These responses occur only early after mechanical load and are then replaced by apoptosis‐related events during stress relaxation. The mechanism modulating this transient process remains unknown.


In the low frequency range, discretization methods such as the Finite Element Method are the preferred techniques to solve vibro-acoustic problems. The main limitation of such approaches is that the mesh needs to be refined when the frequency increases, leading to prohibitive calculation costs. This paper presents the Condensed Transfer Function (CTF) method for substructuring vibro-acoustic problems. The problem is split in several structural, acoustic or vibro-acoustic subsystems that are studied individually before being assembled. The vibro-acoustic behavior at the boundaries of the subsystems is expressed in terms of mechanical admittance for structures and acoustic impedance for fluid domains. A set of condensation functions is used as a basis to express the values at the boundaries. The coupling between subsystems is written through the continuity equations of mechanics. Compared to classical reduction methods such as Craig-Bampton, this approach does not require the prior knowledge of the modal basis of the subsystems. Also, the CTF method allows coupling subsystems that are described by different techniques, i.e., analytically, numerically or experimentally. The principle of the method will be recalled and example of applications will be given. In particular, numerical and experimental results on a stiffened cylindrical shell will be compared.In the low frequency range, discretization methods such as the Finite Element Method are the preferred techniques to solve vibro-acoustic problems. The main limitation of such approaches is that the mesh needs to be refined when the frequency increases, leading to prohibitive calculation costs. This paper presents the Condensed Transfer Function (CTF) method for substructuring vibro-acoustic problems. The problem is split in several structural, acoustic or vibro-acoustic subsystems that are studied individually before being assembled. The vibro-acoustic behavior at the boundaries of the subsystems is expressed in terms of mechanical admittance for structures and acoustic impedance for fluid domains. A set of condensation functions is used as a basis to express the values at the boundaries. The coupling between subsystems is written through the continuity equations of mechanics. Compared to classical reduction methods such as Craig-Bampton, this approach does not require the prior knowledge of the modal ba...


Optical fiber sensing technology is gradually replacing the traditional ultrasonic monitoring sensors. In this paper, we proposed an ultrasonic nondestructive testing (NDT) method based on frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW). It had been demonstrated that this method was capable of detecting the ultrasonic wave with a center frequency of 130kHz emitted by piezoelectric ceramic sheets, and a signal-to-noise ratio of ~15dB had been obtained on a nondestructive aluminum plate. When the system was applied to the aluminum plate with cracks of different lengths, the amplitude of the acoustic signal changed, which proved the possibility of the system for ultrasonic NDT in metal plates.


The Health Effects Research Laboratory of the US Environmental Protection Agency sponsored an International Symposium on the Health Effects of Diesel Engine Emissions. It was held in Cincinnati, Ohio on December 3 to 5, 1979. The Symposium brought together scientists, engineers, and Federal, state, and local public health officials for the purpose of determining the state-of-knowledge regarding the physical and chemical characteristics of diesel emissions, in vitro carcinogenic and mutagenic effects of diesel emissions and their components, their biochemical and metabolic effects, the toxicological effects of inhaled diesel emissions, the mutagenic and carcinogenic potency of extracts of diesel and related emissions, the mutagenicity of inhaled diesel emissions, the carcinogenic effects of exposure to diesel emissions, and the results of epidemiological studies involving human exposure to diesel emissions. The Symposium culminated in a panel discussion on the health risk assessment of diesel emissions. The Proceedings consist of 77 manuscripts and associated discussions, as well as the panel discussion. Separate abstracts were prepared for all 34 papers of Volume 1.


The gear is widely used in aviation engines to transmit power. The gear faults affect somwhat the safety of the engines and aircafts. The vibration signal of gear is a carrier of gear situation information, it contains a lot of information about normal gear or faulty gear, so an effective signal process way is the important method of diagnosis the gear in good situation or not.The hybrid method of Wigner-Viller distribution (WVD) and singularity value decompositio(SVD) was introduced and applied to diagnose the gear faults in this paper. The results show that the hybrid method investigated is successfully to ascertain the gear fault.


MedAustron is an initiative for the construction of the Austrian hadron therapy centre. In 2004 the design study was presented. The basic design consists of two ion sources, an ion-injector, a synchrotron and a beam transfer line with five possible beam exits. The synchrotron is based on the proton ion medical machine study (PIMMS) design with some modifications. The injector is based on the GSI design of the Heidelberg ion cancer therapy accelerator with the originalradio frequencyquadrupoleand IHLinac. Modifications have been done in the design of the low energy beam transport and the medium energy beam transport lines. The impact of these modifications has been investigated, and several other beam scenarios have been simulated with different simulation codes.


Composites of different semiconductors are found to show much improved electronic conductivity and decreased charge transfer resistance. In this work, this hypothesis is tested by preparing composi...


A new approach based on a Generalized Regression Neural Network (GRNN) has been proposed to predict the planform surface pressure field on a wing-tail combination in low subsonic flow. Extensive wind tunnel results were used for training the network and verification of the values predicted by this approach. GRNN has been trained by the aforementioned experimental data and subsequently was used as a prediction tool to determine the surface pressure. Most of the previous applications of the GRNN in prediction problems were restricted to single or limited outputs, while in the present method the entire planform surface pressure was predicted at once. This highly decreases the calculation time while preserving a remarkable degree of accuracy. The wind tunnel results verify the accuracy of the data offered by the GRNN, which indicates that the present prediction and optimization tool provides sufficient accuracy with modest amount of experimental data.


With the adoption of pulverization principle of shearing,DG series of double-refiner discs grinding machines were developed.The machine featured unique structure consisting of double groups of kinetic disc and static disc together with simple and effective system of clearance regulation.Both the function of key parameter,the clearance ΔH between kinetic disk and static disk,the factors influencing the quantity and granularity of powder making were analyzed.The related parameters were reasonably selected.


The In-Abeggui gold deposit is located in the Eastern part of the Laouni terrane (Hoggar, South Algeria). Our studies lead us to distinguish two shape kinds of gold mineralization i/big quartz-tourmaline veins hosted in gabbro-diorite massif; ii/ stockwerk and veins hosted in microgranite-aplite dikes. These felsic rocks are the latest and crosscut all the structures. All is incorporated in the frame of a Neoproterozoic volcano-sedimentary basin. The mineralization is characterized by intensive hydrothermal alteration where microgranite-aplite transformed in quartz-muscovite association (greisen). Mineral association encountered in this deposit is : quartz-tourmaline-muscovite-rutile-topazwolframite-molybdenite-pyrite-arsenopyrite-pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite-bismuthinite-native bismuthgalena-sphalerite-native gold-calcite-dolomite and iron oxides. Yet, In Abeggui is a gold deposit by it characterized by the presence of topaz ± molybdenite ± wolframite linked to greisens stage; as well as by plenty of rutile.


The Liquid Salt Combined Cycle™ (LSCC) is introduced as a hybrid energy storage system that integrates electrically heated thermal energy storage with gas turbine exhaust heat. The objective is to provide low-cost, large-scale storage of increasingly curtailed renewable energy, and to use the stored energy to reduce the fuel heat rate of the combined cycle and the time required from startup to full power. The performance, capital, and operating characteristics of a hybrid storage system using two energy sources are contrasted with thermal generation using a fuel source and with energy storage using an electric source. These characteristics are mapped onto LSCC technology, which is depicted with a diagram showing the flow of electricity into storage during charging, the flow of stored thermal energy during discharge. Stored energy provides latent heating of steam and fuel energy drives a gas turbine whose exhaust gas provides sensible heating of feedwater and superheated steam. A description of the major LSCC equipment is provided: turbomachinery, two-tank molten salt storage, charge heaters, steam generator, exhaust heat recovery, and condensate heating. Material selection and thermal design of LSCC are summarized and performance is compared to simple and combined cycle. The Cost of Energy and Avoided Cost of Energy are assessed for a hypothetical LSCC unit within the ERCOT region.


FeNi self-fluxing alloy powders and CeO2 were flame spray welded onto carbon steel, bonding strength investigations of the coating/substrate systems were conducted. The microstructure of the coatings was analysed by a field emission gun scanning electron microscope(FEGSEM), with attached energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDS). The result showed that with the addition of CeO2, the microstructure of the coatings are refined compared with that without CeO2. The mechanism of the microstructural refinement by the addition of CeO2 is dicussed in this paper.


PURPOSE: To provide a transdermal delivery device that has a coating layer containing a pressure-sensitive adhesive material, estradiol and a transdermal permeation enhancer comprising a combination of specific compounds on the surface of a flexible substrate and enable a high transdermal permeability and can maintain a desired plasma level of estradiol. CONSTITUTION: On at least a part of the surface of a flexible substrate, is formed a coating layer containing (A) a dermatologically acceptable pressure- sensitive adhesive material, for example, a silicone or polyterpene, (B) estradiol distributed in a substance and (C) a covering layer containing a permeation enhance comprising (C 1 ) an unsaturated 12-18C fatty acid and its alkyl ester and 5-30wt.% of glycerol and a 3-6C alkylene-1,2-diol (preferably propylene glycol). In addition, a protecting layer is formed releasably on the opposite side of the coating layer thereby providing the objective transdermal delivery device. In a preferred embodiment, estradiol is contained in the coating layer in a concentration over its solubility. COPYRIGHT: (C)1991,JPO


Environment art design profession demand the student have the good expression ability, and include the oral communication expression, writing form expression, diagram expressing three main aspects, this is also the designer's basic character of environment art. Combination the construction of our teacher's troops is with the course characteristics that establish, and draw lessons fromed the teaching experience for environment design of Japanese Tsukuba university, and we are in the design lesson, design theories lesson, graduation thesis, graduate design etc. the course inside pierce throughed this kind of the reformation the way of thinkinged.


Lithium cobalt pyrophosphate (LCPO) is a promising cathode material for solid-state batteries due to its intrinsic high-voltage characteristic. Using density functional theory calculations, we reveal the structural, magnetic, electronic, and lithium migration properties as well as the effects of silicon doping in LCPO. We found that the Li diffusion rate and charge capacity are strongly related to the intrinsic defects in LCPO, and reducing which could improve both the battery parameters. In addition, we showed that silicon doping on the phosphorus site can enhance the charge carrier mobility, while the dopant does not alter significantly other electronic characteristics in LCPO. Our results suggest that the overall performance of LCPO as a cathode material for solid-state Li-ion batteries can be improved by reducing the intrinsic defects and using silicon doping.


We report a semiconductor contact grating terahertz source design based on a rectangular profile for phase-matched terahertz generation in the long infrared pump wavelength range. The calculations show that the best diffraction efficiency can be achieved by a filling factor significantly smaller than 50%. Furthermore, the possibility of diffraction efficiency enhancement was investigated by applying three different antireflective coating structures. Numerical simulations have indicated that at 2.06 μm and 3.0 μm pump wavelength, diffraction efficiencies greater than 91% and 89% can be achieved by adding an appropriate antireflective coating to the GaP and GaAs contact grating structure, respectively. In addition, numerical simulations were performed to investigate the influence of wall angles on diffraction efficiency. The results reveal that the wall angle does not significantly affect the diffraction efficiency: while keeping the wall angle deviation from the vertical below 25 degrees, the efficiency drop remains below 5% for otherwise optimal grating parameters.


A method for forming an interlayer dielectric of a semiconductor device is provided to prevent corrosion progress of an alignment key pattern due to a subsequent CMP process by pre-forming the alignment key pattern of an alignment key active region with a polysilicon. An etch stop layer(112) is formed on the entire surface of a semiconductor substrate(100) on which a semiconductor device is formed. An alignment key shaped polysilicon pattern(114) is formed on the entire surface of an upper portion of the etch stop layer. An interlayer dielectric is formed on the etch stop layer and the entire surface of an upper portion of the polysilicon pattern. The interlayer dielectric and the etch stop layer are sequentially etched through an etching process to form a contact hole. The polysilicon pattern has a low removal rate than the interlayer dielectric. After a conductive layer is gap-filled into the contact hole, a polishing process is performed. The conductive layer is removed up to the upper surface of the polysilicon pattern to form a contact(130).


Soft tissues such as muscles in human body are subjected to varying strain rates under dynamic compressive loadings during automobile accidents. In contrast to recent safety tests involving crash dummies, an efficient method to predict the impact-induced injuries and risks is computational modelling and simulations. In high-impact scenario, development of an accurate human body model needs a thorough understanding of mechanical response of soft tissues at varying strain rates. In the present study, stress-strain response of caprine muscle tissue were tested under compressive loading at varying strain rates using custom-built polymeric split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). Lower extremity muscle tissues were subjected to high strain rate compressive loadings at 600, 1700, 3200 and 4500 s-1. The directional dependency of muscle tissue were examined along and perpendicular to muscle fiber direction. Caprine muscle tissue showed a non-linear and highly strain rate dependant mechanical response at high strain rates under compressive loading in both fiber directions. The experimental findings can further be used in the development of human body models of muscle tissues under impact loadings.


The legend of Gerbert of Aurillac's oracular head reveals significant information about contemporary medieval attitudes toward foreign knowledge from outside of the Latin Christian West, and in particular about the quadrivium, astral science, and celestial divination. In particular, William of Malmesbury's account—the most well-known in the medieval period—demonstrates the extent to which scientific knowledge from the Arabic tradition had penetrated the intellectual climate of England in the early twelfth century.


Since the inception of the national system in 2002, the Scottish GP appraisal process has been underpinned by educational principles of reflection on current practice, evidence of learning and its implementation in daily practice to improve patient care. To encourage reflection and learning by appraisees in Scotland, GP appraiser training is evolving to improve the skills of appraisers.1 The aim is to encourage appraisee reflection and learning by providing appropriate personal and professional challenges and constructive feedback in preparation for enhanced appraisal for revalidation.

While most appraisals end in positive outcomes, evaluation using the GP Scot 3a (appraisee) and 3b (appraiser) electronic feedback database sometimes indicates a difference between the two peers' impression of the appraisal interview. Could this disparity be attributed to unknown differences in personality and doctors' communication styles?

Since 2008, facilitated workshops have identified variation across four key domains of the appraisal process: appointments, paperwork, interviewing and feedback, where personality was perceived to result in particular behaviours. Formal awareness-raising of personality issues may therefore add value to appraisal training.

The Myers-Briggs type indicator (MBTI®) is a psychometric test used world-wide.2 Developed by Katharine Briggs and Isabel Myers from theories developed by Carl Jung in the 1900s, MBTI has been extensively tested for reliability and validity. The Scottish GP appraisal scheme has developed workshops on MBTI training to increase appraisers' awareness of their personal styles and preferences. Key objectives are to enable appraisers to understand and value others by first appreciating the importance of understanding themselves. Further, where differences arise, appraisers are encouraged to adapt to meet their colleagues' needs in order to establish rapport and ensure that the appraisal maximises the potential for reflection, the collection of evidence, and construction of a personal development plan.

The MBTI is a questionnaire, which assesses eight preferences derived …


System identification is an important and often complex process in many areas of engineering. This process is not easy when parameters of the analysed system vary with time. In such cases classical methods fail to identify parameters properly. The work demonstrated in this paper deals with time-frequency representations for identification of natural frequencies of time-variant systems. The method involves the estimation of time-variant transfer functions. A "Crazy Climbers" algorithm - based on Monte Carlo simulations and Markov chains - is used to overcome difficulties associated with the method.