Recent controversies over the safety of drugs such as Vioxx, a painkiller manufactured by Merck, and Seroxat, an SSRI antidepressant manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, have led to a consequence that at first seems entirely positive: they have attracted more attention to the suppression of negative clinical trial data by industry and academic researchers, helping to establish clinical trial registries where randomized controlled trials (RCTs) must be registered at their outset.
In this paper, through a focus on debates over the safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants such as Seroxat, I examine recent efforts to provide more public access to clinical trial data, documenting how, despite declarations of their commitments to openness, pharmaceutical companies have found ways to evade the need to publicly disclose trials. Secondly, I suggest the emphasis on securing more access has fostered the adverse effect of deflecting attention from methodological limitations within studies that are widely available. Drawing analogies to work by Bourdieu, I argue that a paradoxical consequence of the demand for more access is the tendency to solidify faith in the moral authority of RCTs, something that inadvertently strengthens the authority of those, such as regulators and industry groups, which withheld RCT data to begin with.
I suggest it is the very limitations of RCTs – their inadequacies in producing reliable evidence of clinical effects – that help to strengthen popular and scientific assumptions of their superiority as methodological tools. This point sheds light on the question of why systems widely recognized to be ineffective often assume greater authority at the very moment when people speak of their dysfunction.


The giant black aphid Pterochloroides persicae (Cholodkovsky) is one of the most damaging pests of Prunaceous trees. It has been reported in North Africa since 1987. In this study, we have used sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (Cytb), to elaborate the first phylogenetic analysis of this polyphagous pest. Sequences were obtained from 34 Tunisian clones covering different locations and different host plants. A total of 25 haplotypes were identified, among which 21 were unique. Haplotype H7 that was the most frequent would be the ancestral one. The maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree revealed that clones originating from distinct locations clustered into a single consistent group with little variations, reflecting the loss of genetic diversity that would have followed introduction of this pest. These results will have important implications for future studies of the genetic structure of this pest and other closely-related species.


Hydrogen and oxygen recombination catalyst (A) comprising: a porous support; and catalytic metal supported by the porous support, wherein a percentage of the number of particles of the catalytic metal, whose diameters are in a range of more than 1 nm to not more than 3 nm, not to the number of particles of the catalytic metal with a diameter in a range of more than 0 nm to more than 20 nm, is in a range of 20 to 100%, and a chlorine concentration in the recombination does not exceed 5 ppm.


Author inspected the history of the world's acrobatic development according to recent new information of Internetional Gymnastics Federation,analysed and looked into acrobatic trend in the new century.


This paper discusses the concept of the Internet of Things. It analyzes the existing definitions, and introduces a new definition of this concept. In this research study, the experience of the Internet of Things in the world has been analyzed, the possibilities of deflationary development of the economy have been identified with the use of the Internet of Things. The paper presents directions for important qualitative changes in economy and for organizational and technological transformations of production, which may be induced by the development of the Internet of Things. The "smart home" system market has been examined. Its potential has been identified for Russian companies that work in the field of information and telecommunication technology connected with the development of the Internet of Things. To justify the efficiency of money investments into the "smart home" system and services, the algorithm of cost estimation for such systems, which can be used in making a decision about investing, is proposed. The authors conducted the review of the typical projects offered with the "smart home" system. The power law dependence of the unit cost of the system installation from the floor space of the object has been received. The internal rate of return on investment for the introduction of the "smart home" system has been identified at the level of 50%.


Objective:To study regulation mechanism of GnRH agonist(GnRHa) on testosterone synthesis in rat Leydig cells.Methods:The primary rat Leydig cells were cultured 24 h in vitro,and then treated with GnRHa(10-7 mol/L) at varied time courses(6,12,24,36,48 h);the expression of 3β-HSD protein was analyzed by Western blot.After stimulation with GnRHa and PD98059(50 μmol/L),the specific inhibitor of ERK1/2,in Leydig cells,the expression of 3β-HSD and the level of testosterone were also investigated.Results:Treatment with GnRHa resulted in 3β-HSD expression in a time-dependent manner.3β-HSD expression was significantly increased 45% over control after 12 h of treatment with GnRHa(P 0.05),maximally elevated 1.0-fold over control at 24 h(P 0.05),and then returned to basic level after 48 h.We also found the activation of 3β-HSD induced by GnRHa was markedly reversed in the presence of PD98059(61% compared with GnRHa group,P 0.05),following the significant decrease of testosterone(45% compared with GnRHa group,P 0.05).Conclusion:The results suggest that GnRHa regulates the expression of 3β-HSD through ERK1/2,and further induces testosterone synthesis.


Visual-spatial intelligence of children aged 5-6 years becomes absolutely essential for individuals to be well-adjusted and successful. The purpose of this study was to determine the increase invisual-spatial intelligence of children aged 5-6 years after the media were treated using three-dimensional puzzle in kindergarten PGRI 25 Karangrejo Semarang. The population was students in PGRI kindergarten in the Gajahmungkur district who are implemented the same curriculum. Sampling using cluster sampling, the sample is drawn, TK PGRI 25 Karangrejo group B as many as 30 children. The results of the study found an increase in the child's visual-spatial intelligence, seen from the results of the first test and the second test after being given treatment. The results of the first tests a percentage of 46% and the percentage of the results of the second test by 54%. Then based on the calculation results of the tests I and II tests showed an increase invisual-spatial intelligence by 8%. It is clear that an increase invisual-spatial intelligence before and after a given treatment in children. Based on the above description, it can be concluded that a three-dimensional puzzle to provide enhanced visual-spatial intelligence of children aged 5-6 years after treatment is given to the media three-dimensional puzzle. Teachers are advised to use the media three-dimensional puzzle in improving visual-spatial intelligence of children aged 5-6 years..


into consideration, the present study was designed to scientific evaluation of Bilva fruit pulpa. The study includes macro and microscopic characters, powder microscopic characteristics, High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography fingerprints, preliminary phytochemical screening and cphysicochemical parameters. The information generated by this particulars study provides relevant pharmacognostical and physicochemical data needed for proper identification and authentication of Bilva fruit pulpa. ABSTRACT Bilva Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Corr. (Fam. Rutaceae) is a moderate sized tree, 6-12m high, branches armed with straight and growing wild and also cultivated throughout the country. Its fruit pulpa used to cure various ailments such as atisara, Grahani, Raktatisara, Raktarsha, Vibandha, Kasa, Shwasa, Madhumeha, Shukrameha, Garbhashaya shotha, Jwara, Vamana etc. The present paper provides a detailed account of the pharmacognostic studies of Bilva fruit pulpa. The study includes macro and microscopic study, powder microscopic characteristics, High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography fingerprint profile, preliminary phytochemical screening and physicochemical parameters. The information generated by this particulars study provides relevant HPTLC fingerprint profile and physicochemical data needed for proper identification and authentication of Bilva fruit pulpa and root.


Today, as the soft power of culture is becoming more and more important, it is very important to pay attention to the learning and dissemination of culture. As the carrier of this process, the use of advanced technology to improve the museum is of great significance. This paper studies the digital design of smart museum based on artificial intelligence in order to explore the application of smart museum in artificial intelligence, analyze the spatial design of smart museum by using digital technology, explore a feasible method to give full play to the function of smart museum, and put forward some suggestions on the spatial design of smart museum. The design of the smart museum is no longer restricted by time and space and uses digital technology to double use virtual things and dynamic space. Through the detailed analysis of the application of artificial intelligence and digitization in the spatial design of the smart museum, combined with the information decision tree algorithm and data heterogeneous network algorithm, this study constructs the model of the information processing architecture of smart museum and the requirements of digital museum and makes a decision-making analysis of the comparison results of existing data. It includes the digital design of smart museum display technology, display effect, and other display-related contents. Analyzing the impact of smart museum on the object can provide data support for the feasibility of digital space design of smart museum based on artificial intelligence. The results of regression data processing show that the spatial visual sense of digital design wisdom museum is very strong, reaching the level of 5.0, and the picture aesthetic effect is up to 4.8.


This paper provides an introduction to a comprehensive model being developed to predict and control oxide scale exfoliation from the steam‐side of superheater and reheater tubes in steam boilers. The model deals with the main phenomena involved in scale growth and failure in steam, and incorporates major variables related to boiler design and operation. The considerations used to calculate oxide growth under the specific constrains of small diameter tubes carrying high‐pressure steam and operating with large temperature gradients under temperature and pressure cycling conditions, as well as the evolution of stresses and strains in the scales, are indicated but only a cursory description is given of the details of the analytical treatments. An example is presented of calculations made with the model to predict the extent of blockage expected in a single superheater loop as a function of time and outlet steam temperature under several realistic service conditions. The results suggest that problems due to scale exfoliation would be expected early in the operating life of superheater tubes made from austenitic steel TP347H.


A novel control method for boost rectifiers to attenuate the low-order harmonics which are difficult to be removed by the input filter is presented in this paper. The duty cycle within a fixed switching period is varied such that the rectifier is operated at the boundary of the discontinuous and continuous conduction modes. Compared to the traditional discontinuous conduction control with a constant duty cycle, the proposed control strategy features advantages such as a higher power factor or equivalently, a smaller input filter, and a higher output voltage. Experimental results show good conformation with the theoretical analysis.


Bibliography of AgricultureBreeding Field CropsAgronomic CropsPractical Field Crop Production for the NortheastSeed Production of Field CropsAgronomy JournalCrop Management 2nd EdReconciling Agricultural Production with Biodiversity ConservationThe Production of Field CropsTEXTBOOK OF FIELD CROPSPrinciples of Field Crop ProductionTextbook of Field Crops ProductionStudents Enrolled for Advanced DegreesCrop PhysiologyIntroduction to Crops of India, 2nd Ed.Simplified Production Fact Sheet on Selected Field Crops Grown in ZimbabweSCIENCE OF AGRONOMYDiseases of Field Crops and their ManagementCornell Field Crops and Soils HandbookField Crop AbstractsAgronomy Guide for Field CropsDiseases of Field Crops Diagnosis and ManagementSprinkle Irrigation of Row and Field CropsProduction of Field CropsQuality Improvement in Field CropsField Crop ProductionManual on Fundamentals of AgronomyBreeding Field CropsConcepts Of AgronomyLaboratory Manual for Students of AgronomyAlfalfa Management GuideNon Monetary Inputs, Field Crop ProductionJournal of the American Society of AgronomyModern Techniques of Raising Field CropsCrop ScienceGlossary of Terms in Crop ProductionPests of Field Crops and PasturesField Crop Arthropod Pests of Economic ImportanceFundamentals of AgronomyAgronomy of Field Crops


The article discusses the problem of features of social and psychological interaction of teachers of DOU. The results of empirical research of coping-strategy of teachers, and also, the norms of socialization defining them are presented. К eywords: coping-strategy; coping-behavior; strategy of solution of problems; strategy of social support; avoiding strategy; norms of socialization. UDC 316.6 THE INFLUENCE OF NOrMS OF SOCIALIZATION ON FOrMATION OF COPING-STrATEGIES OF TUTOrS OF PrESCHOOL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS Miroshnikova O.S.


In recent years, the growing volume of activities in the northern regions (Arctic, Canada, Northern Russia) has produced an increasing request for communications services. Several studies have concluded that there are already unsatisfied demands for communications services in the Arctic, and that adequate solutions must be developed to  meet current and future requirements. Coverage of high-latitude regions (north of, say, 70o degrees) is not possible (or is seriously limited) from the geostationary orbit. On the other hand, low-altitude orbits require large constellations. In previous investigations (Fantino et al. 2013, Fantino et al. 2015),a family of eccentric, highly-inclined geosyncronous orbits has been proposed and the maintenance (i.e., orbit station keeping) requirements have been analysed. Once the mission is concluded, the long-term, uncontrolled orbital evolution of these orbits inevitably makes them cross the geostationary ring, with consequent high collision danger for the many telecommunications satellites operating at such altitudes. As a result, a disposal strategy is mandatory and, in agreement with current international space policy, should be conceived and detailed as part of the mission design. In particular, an adequate amount of propellant should be available at mission termination to carry out the corresponding end-of-life operations. The proposed study consists in the evaluation of the available options (maneuver strategy, propellant cost, type of engine, execution times and any other relevant aspect that may arise) for disposal of this type of satellites. The scarcity of satellites operating in this class of orbits gives the work a strong character of originality. Furthermore, the growing commercial interest in extending satellite telecommunications service to the high latitude regions gives the study a clear projection into the future of space exploitation.The study aims at identifying and evaluating alternative options for satellite end-of-life disposal from an eccentric highly-inclined geosynchronous orbit. The issues to be considered are the maneuver strategy, the execution times, the requirements on propellant mass and the type of engine required for maneuver execution.


PurposeThis study, based on the moderated-mediation model, investigates the indirect effect of facades of conformity in the relationship between supervisor ostracism and unethical work behaviour. Furthermore, this study tested the moderating role of perceived organizational obstruction in the aforementioned relationship through facades of conformity.Design/methodology/approachEmploying a multi-wave and two-source data from employees and peers (n = 264) of the services sector in Pakistan, the authors tested the proposed framework using Hayes and Preacher moderated-mediation technique.FindingsThe findings reflect that supervisor ostracism encourages unethical behaviour at the workplace. Further, results revealed that facades of conformity mediated this direct relationship. Moreover, the authors found that perceived organizational obstruction moderated the relationship between supervisor ostracism and facades of conformity. Results also confirm that perceived organizational obstruction moderates the mediated relationship.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper concludes with a discussion, managerial implications, limitations and directions for future research.Originality/valueThis study added value in the literature of supervisor ostracism, facades of conformity, unethical work behaviour and perceived organizational obstruction.


Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cyclic fatigue resistance of three heat-treated nickel–titanium (NiTi) systems at simulated body temperature. Materials and Methods: Twelve instruments of similar apical diameter (#25) from three engine-driven NiTi instruments; WaveOne Gold (WOG), Hyflex EDM (HEDM), and M Pro system were tested for cyclic fatigue resistance at 37°C in simulated root canals with 60° angle of curvature and 5 mm curvature radius. All instruments were operated until fracture occurred. Mean and standard deviation of the time to fracture and fragment length were calculated, and statistical significance was set at 5%. The morphological characteristics of the fractured instruments were observed through scanning electron microscopy, and their chemical composition was determined using energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA). Results: HEDM showed the highest resistance to cyclic fatigue at 37°C followed by WOG and M Pro instruments with a statistically significant difference. Scanning electron micrographs confirmed a predominantly ductile mode of fracture for all instruments. EDXA showed that WOG was composed of Ni (45.1 wt%) and Ti (37.0 wt%), HEDM was composed of Ni (52.9 wt%) and Ti (42.4 wt%), and M Pro was composed of Ni (49.7 wt%) and Ti (40.4 wt%). Conclusions: M Pro instrument showed the least cyclic fatigue resistance at 37°C compared to HEDM and WOG.


Schizophrenia is a genuine issue which influences how a man considers, feels and acts. Somebody with schizophrenia may experience issues recognizing what is genuine and what is nonexistent; might be lethargic or pulled back; and may experience issues communicating typical feelings in social circumstances. Schizophrenia is a testing issue that makes it hard to recognize what is genuine and unbelievable, think unmistakably, oversee feelings, identify with others, and capacity ordinarily. Be that as it may, that doesn't mean there isn't trust. Schizophrenia can be effectively overseen. The initial step is to recognize the signs and manifestations. The second step is to look for help immediately. With the right treatment and backing, a man with schizophrenia can lead a glad, satisfying life.
Schizophrenia is a mind issue that influences the way a man acts, considers, and sees the world. Individuals with schizophrenia regularly have an adjusted view of reality. They may see or hear things that don't exist, talk in interesting or confounding ways, trust that others are attempting to mischief them, or feel like they're as a rule always viewed. This can make it hard to arrange the exercises of day by day life, and individuals with schizophrenia may pull back from the outside world or carry on in perplexity and apprehension.
In spite of the fact that schizophrenia is an interminable issue, there is help accessible. With bolster, medicine, and treatment, numerous individuals with schizophrenia can work freely and live satisfying lives.


The importance of multimedia streaming using mobile devices has increased considerably. The dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP is an efficient scheme for bitrate adaptation in which video is segmented and stored in different quality levels. The multimedia streaming with limited bandwidth and varying network environment for mobile users affects the user quality of experience. We have proposed an adaptive rate control using enhanced Double Deep Q-Learning approach to improve multimedia content delivery by switching quality level according to the network, device, and environment conditions. The proposed algorithm is thoroughly evaluated against state-of-the-art heuristic and learning-based algorithms. The performance metrics such as PSNR, SSIM, quality of experience, rebuffering frequency, and quality variations are evaluated. The results are obtained using real network traces which shows that the proposed algorithm outperforms the other schemes in all considered quality metrics. The proposed algorithm provides faster convergence to the optimal solution as compared to other algorithms considered in our work.


Abstract. Vertical vibrations on agricultural tractors, due to soil irregularities, represent a major cause of diseases of agricultural operators. The control of noise and vibration on the operator is of interest to the (Italian) National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL). A prototype of an active suspension system of the operator seat has been developed in the laboratories of INAIL. The prototype can be configured with hydraulic or pneumatic actuation. This paper focuses on the pneumatic solution powered by a proportional pressure control electro-valve. Since several proportional pressure control valves are commercially available, three of them have been experimentally tested to determine the most suitable one for control purposes. Numerical modeling of the three valves has been carried out and described. Experimental tests on the selected valves allow for identifying the main dynamic parameters of the numerical models, providing a reliable simulator to be adopted for the development and optimization of the control system. The performances of the valves are compared and discussed.


The southern slope of Laobai Mountain, with obvious differentiation phenomenon of vegetation vertical zones, was classified as five vegetation vertical zones including Quercus mongolica broadleaved forest zone, Pinus koraiensisbroadleaved mixed forest zone, Picea jezoensis dark coniferous forest zone, Betula ermanii forest zone and Pinus pumila forest zone Due to Laobai Mountain being a middle mountain, disturbed by human being and incised by a few gullies, the vegetation vertical zones are narrow A few gullies, rock river and some plant species good ability of adaptation led to fragmentation of the vegetation vertical zone spectrum At the mountaintop, the ground was flat, and fen and mire was developed Contrast to the Baitou Mountain of Changbai Mountains, there were 2° higher in latitude and 995 m lower in altitude, there was a more Pinus pumila forest zone on the southern slope of vegetation vertical zone spectrum in Laobai Mountain Contrast to Yingjili Mountain of Daxing'an Mountains, 7° lower in latitude and 236 m higher in altitude, there was a more Betula ermanii forest zone on the southern slope of vegetation vertical zone spectrum in Laobai MountainIt suggested that the vegetation vertical zone spectrum of Laobai Mountain was in the transition from cooltemperate mixed needlebroadleaved forest zone to boreal needleleaved forest zone


The poems in this collection contain the poet's reminiscences of his childhood, and regret the loss of its innocence with passage of time. They are about love, its complications, pains and joys.


The well-known expansion of rational integers in an arbitrary integer base different from $0, 1, -1$ is exploited to study relations between numerical monoids and certain subsemigroups of the multiplicative semigroup of nonzero integers.


It is extremely necessary to approach and analyze the relations between information teaching pattern and the study of students on their own,and the connotation of the study of students on their own and conditions forming.


The FDSS macrocell downlink capacity is evaluated for macrocells that operate at the same frequency of the Digital TV station (DTV) and that are nearby the DTV installations. It has been founded that the cell capacity is not affected when the distance between the DTV installations and the macrocell is more than 25 km. For lower distance, the effect is high and the downlink vanishes at a distance less than 2.1 km. COFDM is a system of modulation well-suited to the propagation and interference environment of digital terrestrial television broadcasting (DVB-T) in the UHF bands. It uses a large number of carriers, each carrying a small part of the total coded data rate. The frequency spacing is carefully chosen to ensure "orthogonality" - the carriers do not crosstalk one to the other, despite having spectra, which overlap in the frequency domain (2).


The city of Pekanbaru has a population of 1,091,088 with a minimum wage of only Rp 2,557,486. This study aims to determine the effect of population and city minimum wages on the level of open unemployment in Pekanbaru in 2010- 2017. This research is a quantitative research, with data obtained from secondary data, namely from BPS Kota Pekanbaru in 2010-2017. Data analysis with multiple regression. The results of the study show that: 1) The population has a negative and significant effect on the level of open unemployment in Pekanbaru City 2010-2017. 2) the city minimum wage does not significantly influence the unemployment rate in Pekanbaru City 2010-2017. 3) the magnitude of the influence of the total population and the city of Pekanbaru's minimum wage on the unemployment rate of 50.2 percent.


The cooling system of internal combustion engine plays a major role in a vehicle performance. In the present work, a proposed electronic controller for the cooling system is introduced and modelled mathematically to control the engine coolant temperature using a controllable electric water pump and radiator fan. Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) and Linear Quadratic Regulation (LQR) control techniques are considered to design the cooling system controller both the coolant flow rate and radiator fan speed are used to control the engine coolant temperature. The Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Cycle (WLTC) is used to test the proposed controller based on mathematical simulation using MATLAB/SIMULINK software. The generated numerical results are presented inthetime domain and compared withtheconventional cooling system. The results showed that the proposed controller enhanced the engine coolant temperature either during warmup or steady-state operation over that oftheconventional cooling system.


We illustrate that a triple-well potential structure on a monolayer graphene can be treated as a five-layer optical waveguide. The transfer matrix method was used to deduce the dispersion equation for the graphene waveguide. It is found that the results have the similar dispersion equation, equivalent to the transverse electric wave in dielectrics. The symmetric and anti-symmetric oscillating guided modes are determined and studied in details for the triple-well potential. From the results, we conclude that the oscillating guided modes appear either in the middle well or in all three wells. The results may be helpful in designing various novel graphene-based devices, such as electronic fiber and directional coupler.


FIELD: machine building. SUBSTANCE: in atomiser the distribution chamber has shape of truncated cone expanding towards the flow direction. The distribution chamber is made with hollow axially located wedge-like shoulders on the internal surface. The cone spinner of the swirler has slots repeating shape of the wedge-like shoulders on the internal surface of the cone of the distributing chamber. The nozzle hole of the nozzle in the manhole transits to the diffuser bell of considerably larger diameter. In axis of the swirler the dead hole is absent. Below the curvilinear channels inside to the arc partitions the toroidal channel is adjacent, it smoothly transits to the hemispherical fairing with cone depression at tip. EFFECT: reduced hydrodynamic resistance of through part of the atomiser, increased liquid flowrate determining proportional speed rise, increased entrainment ratio, presence of the warranted clearance between the flame at the atomiser output and surface of the diffuser bell completely excludes creation of the flowing water film on the external surface of the atomiser. 4 dwg


The experimental data on the chemical elements composition of tomato and spring wheat plant tissues under primary soil formation are presented. It is established the dynamics of synergetic and antagonistic interrelation between chemical elements in a different plant bodies (roots, reproductive bodies, stems and leaves). The dynamics of the collective behaviour of the chemical elements in plant tissues is established by methods of the information theory. It is shown that the collective state of the chemical elements, determined by an information function is strictly differentiated for different plant bodies and has hierarchic order.


Narrow-band speech coding techniques were previously found to reduce the accuracy of automatic Speech Emotion Recognition (SER), as well as speech and speaker recognition rates. Artificial Bandwidth Extension (ABE) based on spectral folding and spectral envelope estimation has been applied to compressed narrowband speech to test if an improvement in SER can be achieved. The modelling and classification of speech was performed with a benchmark approach based on the GMM classifier and a set of speech acoustic parameters including MFCCs, TEO and glottal parameters. The tests used the Berlin Emotional Speech data base. In general, ABE led to an improvement of SER accuracy; however the amount of improvement varied between different features, genders, and speech compression rates. In all cases, SER accuracy with ABE was at least 10% lower than for uncompressed speech.


This report presents a set of recommendations for a research and development program on advanced railroad braking and coupling systems. Programs are developed for the following four systems: (1) a brake condition monitor, (2) a hybrid electropneumatic brake operating valve, (3) a multi-purpose coupler system, and (4) a system that embodies the beneficial features of all three systems previously mentioned. Estimated R&D costs for these systems range from 2 to 7 million dollars and would require 5 years to perform. Considerations of institutional factors lead to the conclusion that there are vital roles for government and industry participants. It is recommended that the Federal Railroad Administration provide overall technical direction, a major portion of the funding, and a limited waiver of certain regulations to facilitate experimentation. The Association of American Railroads would play a review and advisory role, while a railroad and an equipment supplier would conduct appropriate testing. A systems contractor would coordinate the R&D, develop hardware, and acquire and analyze test data.


This research seeks to understand how a theory consolidated in the north hemisphere, named Organizational Social Capital, can assist nonprofit organizations in resource mobilization in the Latin American context. In order to achieve this goal, we analyze an inter-organizational project composed of different kinds of organizations (profit and nonprofit with public and private purposes). This proposal involved 100 actors, including Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and some traditional Brazilian organizations such as Gerdau, Petrobras, and NGO Parceiros Voluntarios, among others. In addition to this goal, secondarily, this paper seeks to analyze how this theory can be applied to this context, bringing new insight, contributions, and limitations.


Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is a well-recognized opportunistic infection that occurs in children and adults who have depressed or altered immunologic competence due to a variety of underlying processes. We report a 27-year-old healthy man with the indirect fluorescent antibody(IFA) for Legionnaries' disease show positive result of 1:256. But the pathologic examination show a typical Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. We report a first case from TSGH and the literature is also reviewed.


Abstract The linear stability of uniform potential flow over compliant plates resting on a periodic foundation is studied. The foundation is made up of a one-dimensional periodic array of discrete spring supports. A Fourier Transform-based approach is used to treat the multi-harmonic dynamic response of the compliant plate. The effects of support interval, support properties and plate properties on the stability of the flow are examined in relation to established results for plates on a continuous non-periodic spring foundation. An increase in the support interval leads to a complex proliferation of unstable modes and is generally destabilizing.


Electrostatically stabilized monolayer shells of metal-oxide cluster anions (polyoxometalates, or POMs) on the surfaces of ca. 8 nm tetrahedral and octahedral gold nanocrystals regioselectively direct water-soluble alkanethiolate ligands to the corners and edges of the gold polyhedra.


ABSTRACT Rationale: Cardiovascular risk varies across communities in Canada. Community-level differences in contextual factors may influence risk factor development. Methods: We audited urban and rural Canadian communities using a standardized instrument to collect objective measures of demographic, public transport, tobacco, grocery, alcohol, and healthful restaurant options. We duplicated 209 audits to assess reliability. Results: Of 2074 communities audited between 2014 and 2016, 83.5% were urban. Provincial and urban-rural differences exist in fruit and vegetable availability. Rural communities face higher food prices, are subject to more seasonal variation in fruit and vegetable selection, and generally see less promotion of healthy choices and nutritional information in restaurants than urban communities. In-store advertising for sweet drinks and junk food is more frequent than advertisements for tobacco products. Cigarette prices are lower and variety higher in urban than rural communities, and lowest in central Canada. Alcohol prices are lowest in Quebec. The intra-rater reliability of the audits was high. We created an on-line map for public use. Conclusions: Provincial and urban-rural differences exist for contextual determinants of health. Public health and built environment professionals and government officials should use these data to develop unified federal and provincial strategies to reduce Canada's chronic disease burden.


Various thin films of cadmium sulfide doped with different weight ratios (wt %) of indium (CdS: In), were prepared on glass substrates by Spray pyrolysis technique (SPT), The Microstructural, topography and optical characteristics were studied. Pure films and doped with In 1%. The results obtained revealed that the growth toward single crystalline hexagonal- cubic phases. The dominant reflection is in the direction (101) plane with a crystalline size 47.55 nm, which is calculated utilizing Scherrer equation. The increase in In to 3% tends the structure to be the poly crystalline with the existence of the prevalent reflection in the direction of (101) plane with a the crystal size of 53.89 nm. The topography measurements showed that the surfaces of the nanostructured are in the form of rods with a height of 1.99 nm and a diameter of 50-60 nm. The rod height decreased with the increasing in doping weight ratios, while the diameter of the rod increased. The optical measurements showed lower transmittance with the increasing of doping from T% 95 to T% 64. A decrease in the optical energy gap value was noticed.


Instances of contact dermatitis from free formaldehyde in textiles continue to be reported from abroad, especially from the Scandinavian countries. 1-3 In the United States, a single report of dermatitis due to formaldehyde in paper has appeared. 4 Various formaldehyde resins are widely used for impregnating certain textiles in order to make them crease-resistant, crush-resistant, shrink-resistant, water-repellant, etc. Similarly formaldehyde compounds are used to add "wet strength" to paper. Such paper includes certain facial tissues and paper towels. The usual principle for resin treatment is the impregnation of the textile in a bath consisting of a resin precondensate and a catalyst. Drying and curing at a high temperature then takes place. This is followed by washing to remove the catalyst and uncondensed resin and excess free formaldehyde. The result of this process is the formation within the textile fiber of a thermosetting resin which makes the fiber crease-resistant, etc. and,


The purpose of this study was to (i) analyse trends in the runoff of organic matter (by BOD 5 ) and nutrients from the medium-size (256 km 2 ) rural watershed of Ohne River in southern Estonia, and (ii) model variations in nitrogen and phosphorous runoff. Chemical and hydrological monitoring data between 1980 and 2000 were used in this study. Due to a large and unprecedented decrease in agricultural production and land-use in the Ohne River catchment losses of nutrients and organic matter have decreased significantly. For example arable land decreased from 27% to 16% during the period 1980-2000. The results from this study showed that the runoff of NH 4 -N, NO 3 -N, PO 4 -P and organic matter (after BOD 5 ), calculated by linear trend, decreased from 1.50 to 1.05, 2.89 to 2.08, 0.111 to 0.053, and 7.73 to 5.29 kg ha -1 yr -1 , respectively. To analyse temporal changes of the studied trends, the whole research period was divided into two equal parts: (1) 1981-1990 and (2) 1991-2000. The results of calculations show that the mean annual runoff of NH 4 -N, NO 3 -N, PO 4 -P and BOD 5 from the Ohne River catchment in 1991-2000 was 28.4, 27.5, 35.7 and 21.7% smaller than in the period 1981-1990. In the same time, a significant trend in water discharge was not observed - annual mean specific runoff decreased from 1981 to 2000 only by 0.05 1 s -1 km -2 . A simple empirical model, which incorporates land-use pattern, fertilization intensity, soil parameters and water discharge index, was used to describe variations in total-N and total-P runoff. This model is recommended to simulate annual nutrient flow in small and medium-size catchments with an area approximately between 50-500 km 2 , and medium diffuse pollution level (5-50 kg N ha -1 yr -1 and 0.1-2 kg P ha -1 yr -1 ) without remarkable point pollution sources.


Air transportation has become a common and preferred method of travel, resulting in an ever increasing number of air passengers. The significant growth has resulted in unique and never before experienced demands upon airport landside access and roadway systems. Lacking the traditional tight controls of air operations, landside activities proliferated in an almost laissez-faire manner. With the advent of deregulation the specter of even more confusion and congestion was the catalyst for the development of a separate and unique airport specialty -- Landside Management.


Background: Clinical observation suggested that micro-negative pressure drainage dressing (MNPDD) can promote refractory wound healing. This study explored the effect of MNPDD on refractory wound.

Methods: Human keratinocytes (HaCat) and human fibroblasts (HF) were used to evaluate cell migration ability with micro-negative pressure. MNPDD promotion of cell migration in vivo was reflected by the vimentin content in rat. A multi-centre retrospective cohort study evaluated the effect of MNPDD by comparing skin grafting rate.

Findings: Cell experiments revealed that with micro-negative pressure, HaCat and HF had higher migration capacity at 24 h (22·10±4·24% vs 1·26±1·65% for HaCat and 26·08±4·30% vs 1·98±1·82% for HF, P<·001). Animal experiments revealed that the  wounds with MNPDD had higher vimentin concentration (43·8±4·6 vs 22·5±4·0 per field of view at day 9, P<·001). MNPDD reduced the rate of skin graft (15·10% vs 77·36%, P<0·001) without extending treatment time (22·74±11·58 vs 22·16±13·56 days, P=·792).

Interpretation: MNPDD is a novel effective treatment for refractory wounds; the mechanism may involve cell migration.

Funding Statement: This work was funded by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (81120108015), National Nature Science Foundation of China (81772125), National Basic Research Program of China (2012CB518100), 'Twelfth Five-Year' Scientific Program of China (AWS11J008, AWS14C001), Clinical Key Discipline Project of Shanghai and China, Young Talents Training Program of Shanghai Health System (XYQ2013079), Shanghai "priority" for clinical key discipline and Joint Research Program of important diseases of Shanghai Health System (2013ZYJB0008), and Creativity and Innovation Training Program of Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China (FH2016186).

Declaration of Interests: There are no competing interests or conflicts in the present paper.

Ethics Approval Statement: All animal experiments were approved by the Ethics Committee of Animal Center of Second Military Medical University. The retrospective cohort study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Changhai Hospital Affiliated to Second Military Medical University. All experiments and the retrospective study were conducted according to the appropriate ethical requirements.

The experimental animals were treated in strict accordance with animal ethics standards.

The experiments were conducted in strict accordance to ethics standards; the need for informed consent was waived owing to the retrospective nature of the study.


Quantum resources may provide advantage over its classical counterparts. Theoretically, in certain tasks, this advantage can be very high. In this work, we construct such a task based on a tripartite game played by Referee, Alice, and Bob. Referee sends Alice a value of a random variable. At the same time, Referee also sends Bob some partial information regarding that value. Alice is not allowed to know what information is sent to Bob by the Referee. Again, Bob does not know which value of the random variable is sent to Alice. Now, the game can be won if and only if Bob can unambiguously identify the value of the variable with some nonzero probability, no matter what information Bob receives or which value is sent to Alice. However, to help Bob, Alice sends some limited amount of information to him, based on a strategy which is fixed by Alice and Bob before the game begins. We show that if Alice sends limited amount of classical information then the game cannot be won while the quantum analog of the `limited amount of classical information' is sufficient for winning the game. Thus, it establishes quantum advantage. We further analyze several variants of the game and provide certain bounds on the success probabilities. Moreover, we establish connections between trine ensemble, mutually unbiased bases, and the encoding-decoding strategies of those variants. We also discuss the role of quantum coherence in the present context.


Flowering phenology is critical for reproduction in dioecious species, but selection on timing of flowering may be weakened by physiological factors such as plant size, and external factors such as climate. We investigated the flowering phenology of male and female adults, and female reproductive output, in 10 patches with various sex ratios, of the dioecious shrub Ilex leucoclada (Maxim.) Makino over three consecutive years in an old-growth beech forest. Sexual dimorphism was observed in flowering amplitude, but not in other traits examined, including flowering onset date, duration, peak date, and synchrony with plants of the opposite sex in the population. Plant size had a consistent, positive effect on flowering amplitude in both sexes throughout the study period, but its effects on other factors, including the extent of fruit set, varied. Females in mixed patches showed higher fruit set than those in female patches. Furthermore, although the reproductive output of the female I. leucoclada plants is li...


—The low cycle fatigue (LCF) behavior of two aluminum-lithium alloys was investigated. Efforts were aimed at understanding the effects of microstructure on the cyclic stress-strain behavior and methods by which different microstructures accommodate plastic strain. These goals were achieved by analyzing the cyclic response and the deformed microstructure of each alloy. Direct-chill cast and rolled X2095 exhibited immediate cyclic softening followed by a plateau region. Strain was distributed in a homogeneous manner throughout the microstructure. Mechanically alloyed and forged AA5091 (formerly referred to as 905XL) also deformed in a homogeneous manner, but the cyclic response was characterized by initial softening followed by gradual hardening. Over-strain loops were applied during some of the LCF tests, the purpose of which was to simulate the strain history of the material ahead of a growing fatigue crack during a tensile overload. The over-strain response suggested that the intrinsic material response does not contribute to crack retardation in X2095 or AA5091.


Using the Rowland idea, we find two infinite sets of generators of primes. We also pose some conjectures concerning twin primes.


Class II β genes have been characterized from Mus saxicola, a wild mouse which diverged five millions years ago from the house mouse. The nucleotide sequences of the exons 2 and 3 of Eβ1, Aβ2 and Eβ2 genes have been determined in order to define the molecular mechanisms of interspecies variability. The Eβ1 and Aβ1 (J. X. She, personal communication) genes from Mus saxicola display extensive sequence variability in exon 2 when compared tothose of the house mouse, in association with the variability of residues probably involved in antigen binding. On the other hand, most putative T cell contact residues from the I‐Eβ chain, and to a lesser extent from the I‐Aβ chain, were found conserved in mice. T cell contact residues from Mus saxicola I‐Aβ and I‐Eβ chains are identical to those of the b and q, and of the k haplotypes of the house mouse, respectively. Comparisons performed withAβ2 and Eβ2 genes revealed that both are highly conserved and, in contrast to Aβ1 and Eβ1 genes, that a strong selective pressure for conservation occurs in the Aβ2 second exon. The different aspects of Aβ2 and Eβ2 genes evolution may correlate with the original function of their products. Comparisons of the intervening sequences revealed that the repeated motifs of the hotspot region present in the Eβ1b gene are also conserved in Mus saxicola. Recombinations may have occurred, in some cases in association with χ‐like sequences.


ABC Retailers Inc. (ABC or the "Company") is a U.S. public company that files quarterly and annual reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with a fiscal year end of August 31, 20X8. ABC is a leading retail chain operating more than 100 department stores across the continental United States. ABC department stores offer customers a variety of nationally advertised products, including clothing, shoes, jewelry, and other accessories. The Company's supply chain of products is managed through a single warehouse and distribution facility located in Kansas City, Missouri.


Prenatal screening for fetal Down syndrome has been widely practised in China for many years. In this special issue of BJOG, Tu et al. have published a systematic review on the performance of prenatal screening tests using biochemical and sonographic markers in Chinese women (Tu et al. BJOG 2016). Among the 78 included studies, of which most were from China, the majority (n = 64, 82%) were based on second-trimester biochemical markers. Although the pooled sensitivity and specificity for the second-trimester markers were 0.79 and 0.96, respectively, there were wide variations among individual studies. Most interestingly, 13 of the 64 second-trimester studies had a sensitivity of over 90%. Such an excellent performance has rarely been reported in studies from the non-Chinese population (Alldred et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012 Jun 13;(6):CD009925). This raised a concern over the quality of individual studies that warranted detailed analysis. In contrast, Li et al. reported in detail how to implement successfully a first-trimester combined screening (FTCS) programme for fetal Down syndrome in a resource-limited area of mainland China (Li et al. BJOG 2016). Despite the resource limitations, the author had followed strictly all the steps that were important for a successful screening programme, namely training and accreditation of staff, generation and use of local data, development of a customised cut-off and continuous quality assurance for both sonographers and biochemical assays. Specifically, the quality assurance steps included the following: (1) all sonographers were accredited by the Fetal Medicine Foundation and re-certified annually; (2) the performance of each sonographer was continuously monitored using a rolling standardised audit quality assurance report; (3) the multiple of the median values of individual biochemical markers were assessed monthly to determine the central tendency and dispersion; and (4) outcome data were followed-up. The above steps allowed early identification of deviation from expected performance for which early intervention could be initiated. Certification and quality assurance of sonographers is a particularly difficult process, requiring the support and cooperation of hospital administrators. It is interesting that in Li et al.'s study the cost of FTCS was quoted to be RMB800. Based on screening performance, noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for fetal Down syndrome by cell-free DNA in maternal plasma is a far better test than FTCS, having a sensitivity and a specificity both above 99%. The cost of NIPT has come down substantially over the past 2 years. In China, NIPT is available in many major cities at a current user price most commonly between RMB2000 and 3000. It should not be long before the cost of NIPT is comparable to that of FTCS. At present, many hospitals in China are developing their own in-house NIPT platforms. This is a suboptimal move because such small hospital-based laboratories will not have enough volume to maintain a meaningful quality assurance programme. It is advisable that these screening programmes are coordinated within a region and centralised in one or a few centres where a strict quality assurance programme could be implemented. Even if NIPT has replaced conventional screening, the concept of 'quality assurance' as demonstrated in the study by Li et al. remains the key to the success for all screening programmes.


American State capitals, a type-case of new countries that combine withdrawal from an empire with empire creation, show the two sides of neotoponymy: removing the old name and creating a new name. The long timeline of the processes leads to a mix of foreign and domestic references. Today's toponymical palimpsest alludes to different scales and actors, between local aspirations, geo-marketing, and national geopolitics. Pre-colonial toponymy was kept and the restoration of native toponyms is no longer an issue. The toponymical stability since the end of 19th century might thus be one of the last bastions of the initial geopolitical construct.


The various groundnut production technologies considered were pesticides, processing and packaging, tillage, storage, improved seeds, seed treatment, weeding, transportation, spacing and planting date, fertilizer application and harvesting. Constraints include inadequate fund (2.7), followed by high cost of farm inputs (2.6) and inadequate storage facilities (2.6) were found to alter the adoption of groundnut production technologies among women farmers. Government should help link women farmers with improved groundnut production technologies (improved seeds, farm tools and machine, pesticides, and storage facilities) in order to attain a peak groundnut production in the state at large.


This paper presents a planar metasurface structure for linear to circular polarization (CP) conversion at the industrial, scientific, and medical bands of 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz. The new unit-cell structure consists of two loaded symmetric cross-shaped stubs with a size of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$0.26\,\,\lambda \times 0.26\,\,\lambda $ </tex-math></inline-formula> in a single thin substrate with a thickness of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$0.0064 \lambda $ </tex-math></inline-formula>. The design process and parametric study are presented to clarify the operating mechanism for each frequency. The unit-cell element is analyzed and simulated, which exhibits an axial ratio (AR) bandwidth of 15.8% and 12.6% at a 3-dB criterion with the same polarization mode at 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz, respectively. The proposed LP-to-CP converter achieves a stable AR bandwidth with an oblique incident angle up to 45°. Moreover, a dual-band linear polarization (LP) antenna is combined with an array of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$4\times $ </tex-math></inline-formula> 4 unit cells to validate the polarization converting ability of the proposed metasurface. The LP-to-CP converter and the antenna are fabricated and measured. The measurement results show that the antenna obtains a good impedance matching and CP waves radiation at 2.33–2.51 GHz and 5.55–5.89 GHz. The integrated antenna with dual-band CP waves radiation is suitable for improving the transmission efficiency in communication and wireless power transfer applications.


Abstract Massive stars played a key role in the early evolution of the Universe. They formed with the first halos and started the re-ionisation. It is therefore very important to understand their evolution. In this review, we first recall the effect of metallicity (Z) on the evolution of massive stars. We then describe the strong impact of rotation induced mixing and mass loss at very low Z. The strong mixing leads to a significant production of primary 14N, 13C and 22Ne. Mass loss during the red supergiant stage allows the production of Wolf-Rayet stars, type Ib,c supernovae and possibly gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) down to almost Z = 0 for stars more massive than 60 M⊙. Galactic chemical evolution models calculated with models of rotating stars better reproduce the early evolution of N/O, C/O and 12C/13C. Finally, the impact of magnetic fields is discussed in the context of GRBs.


In  the last few decades,  models of viscoelastic flow have attracted considerable interest due to its powerful potential to depict many processes in petroleum industries, chemical, biorheology, geophysical and so on. The first problem of Stokes for the flat plate as well as the Rayleigh-Stokes problem for an edge has been investigated by many researchers. It should be pointed out that fractional models have been found to be quite flexible in describing the properties of viscoelastic fluid, where the classical differential equations are modified by replacing time integer-order derivatives with time fractional-order derivatives, for which the effective and realizable numerical algorithms play an important role in many practical applications. This work is intended to fill in the blank of the numerical schemes with second-order convergence accuracy in time for nonlinear Stokes' first problems for a heated generalized second grade fluid with fractional derivatives.  A linearized difference scheme is proposed. The time fractional-order derivative is discretized by the second-order shifted and weighted ${\rm Gr\ddot{u}nwald}$-${\rm Letnikov}$ difference operator. The convergence accuracy in space is improved by performing the average operator.  The presented numerical method is unconditionally stable with the global convergence order of $O(\tau^2+h^4)$ in maximum norm, where $\tau$ and $h$ are the step sizes in time and space, respectively. Finally, numerical examples are carried out to verify the theoretical results, showing that our scheme is efficient indeed.


ABSTRACT Consumer fraud in online shopping has become a major problem and severe challenge for online retailers. However, detection lags behind — for academia and practice — and data-driven knowledge about risk indicators in transaction data is still very limited. Thus, this study focuses on the empirical data-based identification of consumer fraud risk indicators and combinations in online shopping transaction data. We demonstrate the use of a decision tree as a data mining technique for analysis of data from one of the world's largest online retailers. Thereby, several patterns of fraud that improve separation of online shopping transactions into fraudulent and legitimate cases are identified. Thus, results can guide the choice of variables and design of fraud prevention actions and systems in future practical and theoretical work.


Existing geophysical and geological data indicate that orthorhombic media with a horizontal symmetry plane should be rather common for naturally fractured reservoirs. Here, we consider two orthorhombic models: one that contains parallel vertical fractures embedded in a transversely isotropic background with a vertical symmetry axis (VTI medium) and the other formed by two orthogonal sets of rotationally invariant vertical fractures in a purely isotropic host rock. Using the linear‐slip theory, we obtain simple analytic expressions for the anisotropic coefficients of effective orthorhombic media. Under the assumptions of weak anisotropy of the background medium (for the first model) and small compliances of the fractures, all effective anisotropic parameters reduce to the sum of the background values and the parameters associated with each fracture set. For the model with a single fracture system, this result allows us to eliminate the influence of the VTI background by evaluating the differences between t...


Variable capacitance functions are demonstrated utilizing the transport of Li ions in a simple Pt/lithium phosphorous oxynitride (LiPON)/Pt structure. The capacitance originates mainly from the for...


A new species named as Lasianthus halconensis from Mt. Halcon, Mindoro, Philippines is described and illustrated. This species is easily distinguished from the other Lasianthus by having strigose indumentum on branches, abaxial leaf surface, petioles and calyx; lanceolate leaves, cuneate at base; obconical calyx and drupes with 8 pyrenes. This species is allied to L. obliquinervis and L. chrysoneurus but differs in stem, leaf and calyx indumentum, leaf and calyx shape and the absence of bracts. Moreover, three new records of Lasianthus in the country are reported including their diagnosis.


We present an open-domain Question-Answering system that learns to answer questions based on successful past interactions. We follow a pattern-based approach to Answer-Extraction, where (lexico-syntactic) patterns that relate a question to its answer are automatically learned and used to answer future questions. Results show that our approach contributes to the system's best performance when it is conjugated with typical Answer-Extraction strategies. Moreover, it allows the system to learn with the answered questions and to rectify wrong or unsolved past questions.


In this paper, we use data collected by the American Terrorism Study (ATS) to empirically examine the strategies used by the prosecution and defense teams engaged in federal terrorism trials from 1990-2002. Because of the different motivations between ordinary offenders and terrorism offenders, it stands to reason that there are a different set of strategies available for both the prosecution and the defense. These differences typically have to do with the extent to which the defense or the prosecution wishes to highlight the motivation behind the offense described in the indictment. When terrorist defendants challenge the jurisdiction of the court or disassociate themselves with their co-defendants, then their case outcomes are more likely to result in dismissal or acquittal. When the prosecution explicitly politicizes a case, the defendant is more likely to go to trial, more likely to be acquitted, and more likely to engage in political defense strategies.


Varieties of Kaki (Diospyros Kaki) are used to be classified into two forms, pollination constant and pollination variant. In the former, the brown dots are never seen in the fruit flesh even in the seeded fruit, but in th latter, the browning of the flesh occurs in proportional intensity to the number of seed developed. The classification is applicable to the astringent as well as the non-astringent varieties. The brown dot is the tannin cell with coagulated and oxidized contents in it. The oxidation of the contents in the tannin cell may be brought about by the activity of oxidizing enzymes. The present study is carried out to accertain the relation of oxidizing enzymes to the browning of fruit flesh on the one hand, and to make oonsiderations of an analogous mechanism of oxidizing enzymes to the colour change of fruit into dull grey after artificial removal of astringency on the other.The writer tested the peroxidase and oxidase reactions with 24 varieties. The reaction of peroxidase is measured by WILLSTAETTER'S pyrogallol method, and of oxidase with guaiac tincture.SZENT GYORGYI's hypothesis, which denotes that the peroxidase is in close relation to ascorbic acid in a respiratory system, is taken into account and ascorbic acid (reduced form) is measured by the titration method after TILLMAN's 2.6-dichlorphenol-indophenol with 41 varieties.Further, the influence of artificial processing to remove the astringency and of the short day treatment on the oxidizing enzymes and ascorbic acid content is studied.The experimental results are summarized as follows:1. Ascorbic acid content is higher in the pollination constant than in pollination variant. The contrast is especialy remarkable in the non-astringent varieties. These results indicate that the ascorbic acid is found in the inverse proportion to the occurrence of brown dot.2. The activity of peroxidase correlates to the density of brown dots, and the most intensitive reaction of peroxidase is represented in the non-astringent pollination variant.3. The reaction of oxidase is concurrent with that of peroxidase in any case.4. After the artificial removal of astringency of astringent fruit, ascorbic acid decreases, though the activities of oxidizing enzymes being not influenced.5. By the short day treatment, ascorbic acid decreases, and the reaction of oxidizing enzymes increases.


The crystal structure of the title compound, C6H7N2O+·H2PO4−, indicates that the anion is connected to the cation via an intermolecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bond. There are other intermolecular N—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds as well as weak C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds in the crystal structure.


The double orientation distribution function (DODF) of the chains in the drawn film of PVDF was determined by the NMR second-moment dependence on the angle φ between the magnetic field H0 and the normal to the film surface. The Fourier coefficient a2 of DODF determined for the unpoled sample changed from -0.24 to 0.28 on poling, but a4=0.08 did not change. These values were obtained from the highly oriented noncrystalline and crystalline parts in the drawn film. By using the Fourier coefficients a2mc (m=1, 2) of the DODF of the b-axis for the crystalline part in the poled sample obtained by the X-ray diffraction method, the Fourier coefficients a2mor (m=1, 2) of the DODF in the highly oriented non-crystalline part were estimated to be a2or=0.3 and a4or=0.24 at 18degC. The invariant of a4 was explained in terms of the DODF of the noncrystalline chains which are aligned preferentially upon poling with the chain dipoles oriented normally to the film surface. This paper discusses the molecular motion in the highly oriented noncrystalline part due to the temperature dependence of these coefficients.


The article covers university competitiveness problem. Self-educated organization is always competitive. The self-education principle of organization is based on establishing the system and inculcation of system thinking approach to organization's members. The paper is devoted to internal audit exercising process, it's necessity and it's application to control the quality of education. Also the paper dwells on the issues caused during the auditing of educational process.


Introduction: Self-care has been suggested to improve heart failure patients´ health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and decrease the patient mortality rate. However, despite the growing importance of self-care and its obvious relationships with positive health outcomes, the evidence to justify its popularity among Portuguese heart failure (HF) patients is not well documented. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the extent of self-care behavior and level of HRQoL and to examine the relationships between self-care and HRQoL among HF patients. Methods: A descriptive correlational study design was conducted on 24 HF patients. Data were collected by using a validated Portuguese version of the Self-care Heart Failure Index (SCHFI V. 6.2) and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ). The data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate statistical tests were utilized. Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression analysis were performed to determine the relationship between self-care behavior and health-related quality of life. Statistical significance was declared at p-value < 0.05. Results: The study participant's mean (± SD) age was 66.88 ± 12.8 years. The overall mean (± SD) score of self-care maintenance, management, and confidence were 47.77 ± 15.28, 54.38 ± 18.26, and 70.20 ± 17.64, respectively. Higher SCHFI scores indicate better self-care behavior and only self-care confidence reached the self-care adequacy cut-off point 70. The majority of the study participants 11 (45%) had a poor health-related quality of life. Being a male gender (βs =−0.408, p = 0.049) and having New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class IV (βs = −0.689, p = 0.009) were associated with poor self-care management. Married marital status (βs = −0.585, p = 0.021) and NYHA class III (βs = 2.612, p = 0.024) and class IV (βs = 2.416, p = 0.034) were associated with the poor emotional HRQol. Poor physical HRQoL was associated with poor self-care management (βs = −2.111, p = 0.007) and better self-care maintenance was associated with a good emotional health-related quality of life. Conclusion: Study participants had inadequate self-care maintenance, self-care management, and poor health-related quality of life. Significant correlations were observed between self-care management and physical HRQoL as well as between self-care maintenance and emotional health-related quality of life. Further research with representative sample size and rigorous study designs is recommended to evaluate the correlation of self-care behavior and HRQoL and other predicting variables among patients with heart failure.


Korean Pop phenomenon, Hallyu, affect to the development of various tourism objects in Seoul and South Korea in general. Hallyu as a new wave is popular among young generations, not only as an entertainment, but also as tourist attraction in South Korea. This phenomenon increased number of travelers to South Korea year by year.  This descriptive research analyze qualitatively several tourism objects well known as shooting site of several popular Korean dramas where travelers may experience several things related to Korean dramas. There are not only K-Pop experiences that make Korean tourism popularity increasing rapidly, but also the government rules have also been paving the important way to promote and develop Korean tourism destinations


Synopsis Three conjugations oj [Liquid- Iron-(Mn,Fe)S], [Liquid- Iron (Fe,Mn)S] and [Iron- (Mn,Fe)S- (Fe,Mn)S] ill the Fe- Mn- S temary -!)istem cOlltaining liP to 4~o oj mallganese in iroll phase, were investi gated as the first apj"oach to understand the kinetics oj sulfide jormation in steel, and the compositions oj all phases were determined in the temperature range oj 670° to 1 500°C. The results are summarized as jollows: 004° 50(f'C. wasjoundjor oj Ventmp. (3) in (j I oj (4) a Ihe peri tecto- eutectic oj (Mn.Fe)S and (Fe,Mn)S coexisted at 1 (}04°C. (5) Below the peritecto- eutectic temperature, both three-phase conjuga tioll oj [Liquid- Iron- (Fe,Mn)S] and [Iron- (Mn,Fe)S- (Fe,Mn)S] were stable. The jormer met the Fe- FeS binary at 988"C, which is the eutectic fem/Jera ture.


AbstractThermoset and thermoplastic polyimides have complementary physical andmechanical properties. Whereas thermoset polyimides are brittle and generally easierto process, thermoplastic polyimides are tough but harder to process. A combinationof these two types of polyimides may help produce polymers more suitable for aero-space applications. Semi-!nterpenetrating Polymer Networks (S-IPN) of thermosetLaRCTM-RP46 and thermoplastic LaRCTM-IA polyimides were prepared in weightpercent ratios ranging from 100:0 to 0:100. Positron lifetime measurements weremade in these samples to correlate their free volume features with physical andmechanical properties. As expected, positronium atoms are not formed in these sam-ples. The second lifetime component has been used to infer the positron trap dimen-sions. The "free volume" goes through a minimum at a ratio of about 50:50, and thissuggests that S-IPN samples are not merely solid solutions of the two polymers. Thesedata and related structural properties of the S-IPN samples are discussed.IntroductionIncreasing emphasis on easy processing and goodfracture toughness of composite matrix resins for aero-space structural applications has provided an impetus todevelop high performance Semi-Interpenetrating Poly-mer Networks (S-IPN's). Thermosetting polyimides aregenerally easy to process but are brittle. In contrast, ther-moplastic polyimides are tough but difficult to process.Combining them would be expected to lead to tough andeasy to process high performance S-IPN's. (See ref. 1.)Based on this concept, we have synthesized a series ofS-IPN's by combining LaRCTM-RP46 with LaRCTM-IAin various weight ratios.The morphology of polymeric materials stronglyaffects their physical and mechanical properties. How-ever, no reliable techniques axe currently available fordetailed morphological studies of these materials, partic-ularly at the molecular level, mainly because of the ratherintractable nature of the interpenetrating polymer net-works. In this investigation, Positron Annihilation Spec-troscopy (PAS) was employed to directly measure freevolume cell sizes Vf in seven S-IPN systems that con-tained weight percent ratios of 100:0, 75:25, 65:35,50:50, 35:65, 25:75, and 0:100 of LaRCTM-RP46 andLaRCTM-IA polyimides. The experimental techniques,results of various measurements, and correlationsbetween Vf and physical and mechanical properties arediscussed in this paper.Experimental TechniquesSample PreparationLaRCTM-RP46 is a thermosetting polyimide pre-pared from the dimethyl ester of 3,3,4,4'-benzophenonetetracarboxylic acid (BTDE), 3,4'-oxydianiline (3,4'-ODA) and the monomethyl ester of 5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid (NE). NE is an end-capping agentthrough which cross-linking reactions occur. The formu-lated molecular weight (FMW) of this polymer wasarranged to be 1500 g/mole. Figure 1 shows the synthesisof LaRCTM-RP46 prepolymer. LaRCTM-IA is a thermo-plastic polyimide, prepared from 4,4'-oxydiphthalicanhydride (ODPA), 3,4'-ODA, and 8 mole percent ofphthalic anhydride. Phthalic anhydride acts as a non-reactive end group to control the molecular weight of thepolymer. Figure 2 shows the synthesis of LaRC_-IApolyamic acid, which is a precursor of the polyimide.The formulated molecular weight of this polymer wascontrolled to be 9000 g/mole.Both LaRCTM-RP46 and LaRCTM-IA polyimideswere recently developed at the Langley Research Center.(See refs. 2 and 3.) Their outstanding physical andmechanical properties show promise for a wide variety ofaerospace and nonaerospace applications. Both polymersare now commercially available.The S-IPN's were prepared from LaRCTM-RP46 oli-gomer and LaRCTM-IA polyamic acid. Typically, theLaRCTM-RP46 oligomers were dissolved in a minimumamount of N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) at 70°C andthen added to the LaRCTM-IA polyamic acid solution inNMP. The mixture was stirred for 1 hour at room tem-perature and then heated for 2 hours at 60°C in a vacuumoven; this was followed by heating for 2 hours each at200°C and 250°C. This heating sequence producedB-staged molding powder. Approximately 5.0 gram ofthe B-staged molding powder was placed in a 3.175- by3.175-cm stainless-steel mold, which was preheated witha Dexter Frekote release agent. The mold was heated to290°C at a pressure of 13.8 MPa and then held for 1 hourat 325°C. Because the LaRCTM-IA material had greaterresin flow than the S-IPN's and LaRCTM-RP46, it wascured at 355°C for 1 hour under a pressure of 2.07 MPa.


Objective: Because short bowel syndrome is associated with iron deficiency, the objective of the present study was to monitor ferremia after the ingestion of different iron compounds and doses in enterectomized patients. Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, cross-over study conducted in 13 patients of both sexes in the metabolic unit of Hospital das Clinicas de Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirao Preto-Uni- versidade de Sao Paulo and was divided into two stages. Three different iron compounds, ferrous sul- fate (FS), sodium iron ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid (EDTA), and dehydrated cell fraction (DCF), were studied. The patients were randomly assigned to one of four groups receiving high-dose DCF (120 mg) and low-dose DCF (5 mg) and the two iron compounds. The subjects (n ¼7) receiving high-dose DCF participated in 2 test days. All patients receiving the physiologic dose (low-dose DCF, n ¼6) participated in 3 test days with a 1-mo interval between compounds. After an 8-h fast, blood samples were collected at 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 h. Serum iron curve and the sum of the area under the curve were calculated and adjusted according to a mixed-effect linear model (P <0.05). Results: Serum FS levels were higher in the 120-mg group compared with the others (P < 0.005). The mean areas under the curve for FS and EDTA at the doses of 120 and 5 mg of elemental iron were 238, 224, 177, and 153 mg/dL, respectively. The mean area under the curve for DCF was 165 mg/dL, with no significant difference between groups. Conclusion: Regardless of dose, FS was the compound that resulted in higher ferremia compared with the other doses and compounds. 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


NUMEROUS studies of chemical and enzymic changes in the brain during maturation have been reported. One objective of these studies was t o correlate such chemical and enzymic changes with morphological and functional alterations in the developing central nervous system. The inherent complexity of the problem occasioned by the occurrence of different cell types and structures in the brain has been increased by the finding that enzymes may exist in multiple molecular varieties. Electrophoresis of human brain material on starch gel results in the separation of as many as 2G-25 bands exhibiting esterase activity (BARRON et al., 1963). There appear to be three acetylcholinesterases in human caudate nucleus and putamen (BERNSOHN et al., 1962). At the present time, the nature of the differences between the molecular species responsible for the varying rates of migration in starch gels under the influence of an electric field is not clear. SVENSMARK (1961) has shown that butyrylcholinesterase has sialic acid as a conjugate which, when liberated by neuraminidase, alters the mobility of the enzyme, and WIELAND and PFLEIDERER (1961) have reported varying ratios of different amino acids in lactic acid dehydrogenase isoenzymes. 7 The development of the zymogram technique by HUNTER and MARKERT (1957) and our interest in brain esterases has prompted an investigation into the differentiation of esterase isoenzymes in the developing rat brain. In addition to the information obtained on the esterase activity of the developing brain, the present study has provided further insight into the nature of an isoenzyme series.


The Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Kurdjumov) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is one of the most economically important and widely distributed pests of wheat in the world. In 1962, D. noxia caused crop losses between 25 and 60% in the central province of Konya, Turkey. In this study, the current status of the pest in wheat-producing areas of Turkey was investigated along a route from Izmir to Manisa, Usak, Kutahya, Eskisehir, Aksehir, Ankara, Konya, Aksaray, Nevsehir, Yozgat and Erzurum. D. noxia was detected in 58 of the 100 wheat fields surveyed in most fields and wheat was at the heading stage. The population density of the pest was low in 23 fields, medium in 22 fields and high in 13 fields. The percentage of infestation was low in 31 fields, medium in 12 fields, and high in three fields and very high in three fields. D. noxia was collected from bread or durum wheat plants (71%), barley plants (10%), volunteer oats (8%) (Avena fatua), volunteer wheat (6%), false barley (Hordeum murinum) (4%) and natural grasses (1%). According to results of the study, population density, damage and infestation rates of D. noxia were higher in high altitudes.


Hydrotalcite are anionic clay material presenting LDH arrangement and high porosity and specific areas, which make it a good adsorbent for pollutant species in water. Besides that, that material type can be used as catalyst or catalyst support in several industrial processes. The most common compositions is based on metallic mix hydroxide with high content of magnesium, but their adsorptive properties arise from aluminum replacement in layer structure. The present work presents the synthesis of carbonated magnesium-aluminum hydrotalcite through the precipitation method in order to investigate the co-insertion of iron (III) in aluminum site. It was found the iron (III) co-inserted samples obtained at 100 and 200 oC for 4 hours present no substantial harming in relation to the common magnesium-aluminum composition. All of the samples presented high porosity and specific area, becoming an alternative anionic adsorptive.


Dr. 0. C. M. DAVIS read some preliminary notes on a research which he had been carrying out for four years in conjunction with Dr. F. W. Rixon. The remarks made referred to a possible mathematical relationship between urinary acidity and combined ammonia, as determined by Folin's method. The amount of decinormal alkali required to neutralize 25 c.cm. of urine, using phenolphthalein as indicator, was referred to as Titration I, and the further amount of alkali required to react with the acid liberated from the neutralized urine by a neutral solution of formaldehyde was referred to as Titration II. Titration II. Titration I. Dr. Davis pointed out that there was clinical evidence to show that in certain pathological conditions (quite apart from ketosis) the value of " R " was increased, and he considered that it was to some extent a measure of the physiological activity of the liver of the individual under observation. He thought that there was little doubt that many adults and children when in good health could maintain a fairly constant magnitude for," R," whereas others seemed unable to do so.


The Royal Society under Martin Folkes's presidency not only promoted pioneering experiments in biological vitalism, but embraced new investigations in static electricity, primarily with the use of insulators. This chapter analyses Folkes's patronage of the electrical work of artist and natural philosopher Benjamin Wilson, and to what extent Wilson was influenced by the Irish natural philosopher and physician Bryan Robinson. Lastly, the chapter delineates the Royal Society's research in seismology and electricity, precipitated by the the London earthquakes of the 1750s.


The paper presents a critical analysis of the civil society discourse emanating from development agencies, and investigates its implications for political and civil society in developing countries. Civil society is a normative ideal, a political concept, as well as a politicaYsocia1 reality and can be conceptualized in multiple ways. Operationalizing the concept for policy purpose is a normative process that privileges the associational view of civil society. This largely ignores the role of 'non voluntary' groups. In most developing countries ascriptive ties are an essential part of the fabric of society; ethnic, communal and religious groups are influential political and social actors. The paper highlights the historical and cultural specificity of the discourse of civil society. It argues for a more inclusive conceptualization of civil society, that acknowledges the importance of local forms of collective action.


Discovery of a new faint planetary nebula is described. The object is located at a = 17 h 38 ni 6 8 = — 23° 33', exhibits Ha and N n emission, and is of magnitude + 16 with a stellar image on blue plates.


High quality Si 1-x-yGexCy alloy layers were grown on Si (100) substrate by rapid thermal processing very low pressure chemical vapor deposition (RTP/VLP -CVD) using ethylene(C 2H4) as C source. The composition of Si 1-x-yGexCy allow layers were measured by Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES). The C incorporation mode was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The content of substitutional C in Si 1-x-yGexCy alloy layers was calculated from the local vibration mode (LVM) of Si-C bond in FTIR spectrosco py. It was found that the lower temperature and higher SiH 4/C2H4 flow ratio are helpful in forming the substitutional C and improving the crystal quality. The mechanism responsible for C inc orporation in Si 1-x-yGexCy alloy layer grown by RTP/VLP-CVD using C 2H4 was explained by the reaction between SiH 4 and C2H4 at different growth temperature.


In order to provide a TDI function for CMOS area image sensors,the working principles of TDICCDs are researched and a TDI algorithm based on the digital domain is proposed,then,how to realize the algorithm by a FPGA is discussed.The algorithm can realize time delay integration on CMOS sensors without changing its device structure.The TDI algorithm for CMOS area image sensors in a digital domain is deduced through an example method.After optimization,the algorithm with optimized structure can save(m-1)(m-2)/2 memory space of image lines.Finally,on the basis of a remote sensing camera,the dependence of pixel resolution and row transfer time on frame rate is discussed and the frame rate requirements under the Ground Sample Distances(GSDs)and TDI stages are calculated by the numerical example method.Experiment results show that the 1 280×1 024 CMOS sensor with a frame rate more than 648 frame/s can meet the requirements of integration imaging for 1 m GSD of 96 TDI stages in an orbital altitude of 600 km.


In the field of terahertz (THz) imaging applications, using a 0.18-<italic>μ</italic>m CMOS process, a <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\text{1}}\times {\text{16}}$</tex-math></inline-formula> low-noise readout integrated circuit (ROIC) is developed for a <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\text{1}}\times {\text{64}}\,{\text{Nb}}_{5}{\text{N}}_{6}$</tex-math></inline-formula> microbolometer array detector. This circuit consists of a digitally programmable current digital-to-analog converter and an amplifier module, which are responsible for biasing the microbolometer and amplifying its output signals with minimum added noise, respectively. Test results show that the ROIC achieves an average gain of ∼47 dB and a voltage noise spectral density of <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\sim {\text{9.34}} \;{\ \text{nV}/ \surd {\text{Hz}}}$</tex-math> </inline-formula> at 10 kHz, which meet the requirements for the THz array detector. Moreover, the responsivity of the Nb5N6 microbolometer detector is −580 V/W, and the corresponding noise equivalent power is <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">${{\text{17}}\ \text{pW}/ \surd \text{Hz}}$</tex-math> </inline-formula>. Together with the ROIC, the <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\text{1}}\times {\text{64}}\,{\text{Nb}}_{5}{\text{N}}_{6}$</tex-math></inline-formula> microbolometer array detector is preliminarily used for THz imaging applications. The imaging results prove that the ROIC can be used with the detector to develop an efficient and low-cost THz imaging system.


This issue of The Journal continues the series of "debate the issues" articles authored by leaders in agricultural education. The focus in this debate is whether or not to use non-degree teachers of vocational agriculture/agribusiness. The authors are Gary E. Moore, Purdue University and James Knight, The Ohio State University. Comments, responses, or questions concerning the issues being debated are welcomed by the editor.


One of problems of high resolution acousto-optic tunable filters (AOTF) design and manufacture is to make an acousto- optic cell with a large length of interaction. The traditionally used cells on an orthogonal diffraction have a disadvantage that their interaction length is determined by the size of the piezoelectric transducer. In addition, a large transducer has a high capacity and small radiation resistance, which is extremely inconvenient. Therefore, in this case, segmented transducers usually are used. However, such partitioning results in more complex AOTF construction and matching of the piezoelectric transducer with an RF signal generator.


The present discussion was a surprise to the author, because he had thus far succeeded in presenting the course of approximately 20 years of research only in scattered, partial, and often preliminary publications. This discussion is thus a still greater honor to the author, indicating at the very least that the questions raised are timely, and probably that there is a certain originality in the interpretation of them.


Introduction: Prasugrel and ticagrelor are recommended over clopidogrel in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). ...


Objective: To evaluate and compare the effect of vein-veinous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(V-V ECMO) and pumpless extracorporeal lung assist(PECLA) applied on animal modeled as acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS).Methods:28 piglets were randomly divided into four groups.ARDS model was established with olive acid followed by different treatment.Lung function,blood gas analysis,the hemodynamic,blood cell test and biochemical examination were carried out at different time points.Results:Compared with group CON,the lung function and blood gas analysis of ARDS animal exist significant differences,but group PE and group EC was better than the mechanical ventilation group;Hemodynamic of group EC was steady,but MAP and CO of group MV and group PE was descent.All of group MV was death.Conclusion:To the ARDS failure in traditional mechanical ventilation treatment,ECLA strategy is safe,effective treatment method.If hemodynamic was stable,PECLA would provide more convenience to medical procedures.


Cuts to Texas' higher education system are making college less a ordable and threatening the quality of education students receive at the state's public four-year and community colleges. Having a highly educated workforce is critical to our economic future, and we need a strong and high-quality higher education system to make that happen. Ensuring adequate investment in our state's colleges and universities requires that policymakers make sound decisions about how to raise and use resources and avoid shortsighted tax cuts.


Many scholars have estimated the Chinese capital stock,but the results are quite different. The main reason is that the depreciation rate is an important and sensitive parameter when estimating capital stock by using the perpetual inventory method. This paper contributes to the theoretical reduction of the relationship among depreciation rate,capital-output ratio,formation rate of fixed assets and economic growth rate. It estimates capital stock by using capital formation of fixed assets in which the estimation procedure is different from the usual procedure. Instead of taking the first year as the starting year,it takes a particular year,1987,as the starting year because there is an input-output table that year. With forward and backward deduction to estimate depreciation rate as well as capital stock,this method ensures the accuracy of depreciation rate and capital stock series,since there are 10 input-output tables and corresponding depreciation amount as the calibrate points.


The ability for autonomous vehicles to cooperatively navigate, especially in GPS denied environments, is becoming increasingly important. It also requires the ability to initialize, or reinitialize estimation algorithms for cooperative systems on-the-fly in cases where precise a priori state information is unavailable. In this paper, we provide a framework that allows estimation of the relative pose and orientation between vehicles in the presence of high initial uncertainty. Effects of cooperation among multiple vehicles exchanging estimates of heading rate and velocity and external sensor measurements are analyzed. A Multi-Hypothesis Extended Kalman Filter (MHEKF) technique is used to initialize pairwise vehicles using range-only measurements. Using solutions identified by the MHEKF algorithm, a joint filter comprising of multiple vehicles is initialized. Sufficient conditions to maintain bounded errors are derived through nonlinear observability analysis using Lie derivatives for the pairwise and the multi-vehicle cases. Using these conditions as passive constraints in the system, simulation and hardware experiments are performed to demonstrate the advantages of using MHEKF when the initial conditions are unreliable. A multi-vehicle testbed for heterogeneous platforms with different sensing modalities is developed to facilitate hardware testing. Improvements in the system performance when cooperation is introduced among vehicles is also highlighted through experiments.


Evaluation of chemical and biological indicators of soil in different land uses could be helpful in sustainable range management, preventing degradation of soil quality trend. This study was conducted in Friedan in Isfahan province in 2010 to compare chemical and biological indicators in three land uses (rangeland, degraded dry land and dry land), during two growing seasons (May and September) in three slopes (0-10, 10-20, 20-30 %). Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, organic matter, cation exchange capacity and microbial soil respiration were measured. Results showed that all measured characteristics except potassium decreased over an increase in the slope. Maximum values of phosphorus, organic matters, cation exchange capacity and soil respiration were obtained in pasture (28.4 mg/kg, 0.62%, 20.38 cmol/kg, 33.2 mgC/day, respectively)but potassium maximum rate was seen in dry land form (406.8 mg/kg).The effect of season on all measured parameters was significant except for N, while the highest amounts of phosphorus, potassium, cation exchange capacity and soil respiration (28.7 mg/kg, 377.3 mg/kg, 19.6 cmol/kg and 25.9 mgC/day, respectively) were seen in May and the highest organic matter rate (0.68%)in September. The results of this study showed that an increase in the slope, poor range management, and the end of the growing season could be major factors degrading the soil quality indices and soil productivity. Keyword: Land use, Rangeland, Dray land, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Cation Exchange Capacity, Soil respiration. 1. Agric. and Natur. Resour. Res. and Educ. Center of Isf. Province, Isfahan, Iran. 2. Soil Conservation and Watershed Manage. Institute.Tehran, Iran. *: Corresponding Author, Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


We review the characterization of communicating finite-state machines whose behaviors have universally or existentially bounded channels. These results rely on the theory of Mazurkiewicz traces. We investigate the question whether channel bound conditions are decidable for a given communicating finite-state machine.


Mature lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) forests were harvested using group selection (GS) (0.02-ha openings) and irregular group shelterwood (IGS) (0.05-ha openings) systems to maintain arboreal and terrestrial lichens in the winter range of northern woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou). Ten years after planting, lodgepole pine showed excellent survival, but were smaller in the partial cut openings compared to the clearcuts. Pine grew less in the Sub-Boreal Pine–Spruce biogeoclimatic subzone (SBPSxc) than in the Montane Spruce subzone (MSxv), and trees were smaller in the GS versus IGS treatment within the MSxv subzone. Interior spruce (Picea glauca × engelmannii) grew best in the MSxv and partial cut treatments, but was significantly affected by summer frost in the clearcuts. In an operational-scale Adaptive Management trial, openings were enlarged to 0.15 ha, and both pine and spruce showed excellent survival, minimal frost damage, and 10-year size similar to clearcut conditions. This study suggests that lodgepole pine and interior spruce can be successfully regenerated in partial cut openings with acceptable growth in gaps of 0.15 ha.


A goal of the work carried out subsequent to the field test was thus to develop a method of collecting and conditioning a gas sample which obviated these concerns. The method was to avoid exposing the gas to any liquid condensate, and was to be insensitive to high loadings of suspended dust or droplets, and should not be affected by pressure fluctuations which inevitably occur in a process line. For this purpose a volumetric gas dilutor was developed. This system extracts a fixed volume of gas at constant pressure and temperature and dilutes it with another inert carrier gas. The critical component of this system was designed and tested in the laboratory as described in Section 2 of this report. Finally, a detailed design for a fieldworthy gas conditioning system was completed to the level of individual components and vendors. A summary of this design was provided to LETC in the June 1983 monthly report, but the system was not developed further. The volumetric dilution system also appears to be a valuable method for preparing gas standards in the range 0.1 ppM to ca. 20%. In much of this range the accuracy of this standard can be traceable to NBSmore » standards. Dilution of a fluid by means of repetitive injections of a fixed volume into a diluent stream requires that the resulting concentration spikes be averaged over time. This chapter shows that a single mixing chamber is normally inadequate, but that a column of 5 to 20 ''plates'' or sub-volumes is optimum. 7 figs., 2 tabs.« less


In-situ simultaneous measurement technique of soft X-ray absorption and X-ray emission spectroscopy, which was available for atmospheric pressure and high temperature, was developed. This technique is expected to provide direct information about electronic structures, both occupied and unoccupied pDOS, of functional materials under controlled atmospheric and temperature conditions. In this work, this technique was applied to simultaneously measure O K-edge X-ray absorption and X-ray emission spectra of LaCoO3-based oxides under various oxygen partial pressure and temperatures. Clear O K-edge spectra could be obtained even in 1bar of 100ppm O2-He, 0.1%O2-He and 1%O2-He atmospheres below 873K. The changes of the O K-edge X-ray absorption and X-ray emission spectra due to the changes of oxygen partial pressure and temperature were discussed in terms of changes of defect concentrations and spin states of the oxides. Availability of the developed in-situ simultaneous spectroscopic technique was successfully demonstrated. © The Electrochemical Society of Japan, All rights reserved.


This chapter examines two of the most important and potentially dangerous aspects of criminal justice process: arrest and detention. With respect to arrest, the different approaches to factual determinations represented by the concepts of "reasonable suspicion" in England and Wales, "probable cause" in the United States of America and "flagrancy" in France are examined and compared. It is argued that international pressures on different criminal justice systems is advancing "reasonable suspicion" as a universal standard. In relation to detention, the question of the presumption in favour of release and that of preventive detention are examined comparatively and it is concluded that pre-trial detention is changing in character and becoming more focused on policing and control strategies. The problem with factual determinations in all these areas is the absence of relevant information on which decisions can be based; making these practices uniquely vulnerable to subjective bias.