Introduction. The paper reviews the phenomenon of perception of Western Europe as the "other" in Russian intellectual tradition. The purpose of this survey is to analyze and identify the features of Russian historiosophical consciousness in the transition of Russian civilization from the middle ages to modernity in the context of the idea of perceiving Europe as the "other".Materials and Methods. The main material of the paper is a monograph by Nizhny Novgorod researches «The problem of correlation of panhuman and national in the history of Russian thought». In addition, the material of the research is the works and articles by Russians and foreign authors focus on the subject under consideration. The article used the following methods: historical-philosophical analysis, interpretation, comparison and generalization.Results. In the medieval period the main consolidating power of society was religion, which identified the «other» as the Catholic of Western Europe. During the reign of Emperor Nicholas I, the «other» is still the same West, but the revolutionary West with its slogan «Liberty, equality, fraternity». The minister of national education – the earl S.S. Uvarov, in turn, proposed the following triad – «Orthodoxy, autocracy, nationality». Formation of the Russian nationality was under intense pressure from the West (the «other» of Russian civilization) during this period. The split of the Russian Orthodox Church (Raskol) in XVII century led to destruction of the Orthodox unity. The Orthodoxy was the source of sacralisation of monarchial power. However, the autocracy, having dealt a blow tothe Orthodoxy, set a course for the Western absolutism. Certain social circles, keeping up old traditions of the Orthodoxy, perceived the political authority as the «other». This led not only to the religion split (Orthodoxy), but also to the split in nationality. A pro-Western elite is being formed and, having lost its connection with Orthodoxy and traditional folk culture, it finds itself in the desert of its own historical identity. As a result, historiosophical projects, created by government and intelligentsia, caused an additional split, being unable to restore the lost unity.Discussion and Conclusions. The authors of the research managed to make systematic and detailed historical-philosophical analysis of sources and literature on this topic. The paper presents the main concepts that explain the phenomenon of Russian national identity. This makes it possible to consider and evaluate the key ideas of Russian thinkers. As a result, the authors of the research managed to make comprehensive and systematic historical-philosophical analysis of the development of the idea of Russian national identity through the prism of the concept of perception of Western Europe as the «other» of Russia.


The work described in this dissertation was funded by the Natural Environment
Research Council under grant GT4/93/125/P. I acknowledge travel awards and a
Munro Studentship from Queens' College. I also received support from the CNRS
and from the European Geophysical Society to attend meetings.


A linear compressor and a refrigerator including a linear compressor is provided. The linear compressor may include a shell including a suction inlet, a cylinder provided in the shell to define a compression space for a refrigerant, a piston reciprocated in an axial direction within the cylinder, a discharge valve provided at one side of the cylinder to selectively discharge the refrigerant compressed in the compression space, at least one nozzle disposed in the cylinder to introduce at least a portion of the refrigerant discharged through the discharge valve into the cylinder, and at least one filter provided in the shell. The at least one filter may be disposed in a refrigerant passage defined from the suction inlet to the at least one nozzle via the discharge valve. Foreign substances or oil contained in the refrigerant introduced into the at least one nozzle may be filtered while passing through the at least one filter.


This article is about a courseware design, the courseware which is a single-option practice, can ofifer a correct answer at once and can be distributed on internet for student use at anytime. The article is a useful example of a integration of Authorware, Database and Internet web pages.


Developing participation by engineers in public affairs was strongly evident at the last meeting, held in St. Paul, June 8–9, of the Executive Board of the American Engineering Council of the Federated American Engineering Societies. General round table discussion revealed that local groups in many sections of the country are taking a constructive part in solving community problems. This local effort embraces traffic, smoke abatement, water supply, city planning, state and municipal legislation relating to engineering matters and related subjects.


Tinea capitis is generally considered a common condition in children, but not in adults. If the infection occurs in adults, it may have an atypical appearance. We present an elderly woman with inflammatory tinea capitis. A 71-year-old rural woman presented with a 2-month history of multiple pruritic, crusted, and pustular lesions on the scalp. She had been treated with antibiotics without any improvement.


Skybox recently became the first commercial company to baseline ECAPS' High Performance Green Propulsion (HPGP) technology, implementing a propulsion system design with four 1N thrusters in their second generation small satellite platform (< 150 kg). The initial propulsion module, to be delivered in 2013, will serve to qualify the system design for use in an entire constellation of small satellites intended to provide customers easy access to reliable and frequent high-resolution images of the Earth. Selection of the ECAPS HPGP system resulted from a system study of various propulsion options in support of Skybox's mission to provide high quality and timely earth observation data from a small satellite constellation. Two key technical requirements for the propulsion system were to provide the maximum delta-v achievable (for continued orbit maintenance and mission flexibility) within a considerably limited internal volume typical of many Small-Sats. Additionally, in light of the commercial nature of the project, the overall life-cycle cost was considered to be of utmost importance. A detailed trade study of various propulsion technologies and vendors was conducted by Skybox during the selection process. The results of that study showed that the HPGP solution selected provides nearly twice the on-orbit delta-v of the more traditional monopropellant systems, at the lowest projected life-cycle cost of the liquid propulsion technologies evaluated. The higher performance of the HPGP system will give Skybox's constellation of small satellites significantly improved mission flexibility, enabling collection and delivery of higher quality and more timely data to customers. Furthermore, the handling and transportation advantages of the environmentally benign Ammonium Dinitramide (ADN)-based LMP-103S monopropellant provide reductions in logistics costs and enable more responsive launch preparation. This paper will present an overview of the driving propulsion performance requirements for small Earth Observation satellites such as Skybox's and discuss how the HPGP technology was selected for Skybox's imaging constellation.


In this paper, the results of a series of crossing experiments after 32 years of field testing are presented. At the age 3, 7, 11 and 33 years, growth and quality of 25 progenies planted on three trial plots were assessed. The results showed clear differences in growth performance and quality of the 25 progenies among the various trial plots. On the respective trial plots, the development of the progenies was consistent over the observation period. The advantages of some progenies in quantity and quality parameters achieved during the first 10 years of growing were more or less leveled off until the age of 33 years. The mean values considering all trial plots differed only slightly. On the other hand, few progenies showed growth and quality above average on all trial plots. Some progenies performed badly on all trial plots as well. Based on the results of the assessment at the age of 11 years, 1 progeny was approved as tested material. The quantity and quality of this progeny was not consistent until the age of 33 years. On the other hand, other progenies showed consistent quantity and quality performance above average during the entire observation time. In future, breeding of aspen will concentrate on the broadening of the genetic base by the evaluation of more suitable combinations out of the existing trials. The objective will be to procure a maximum number of tested populations for different site conditions to minimize the risks which may derive from the use of reproductive material with limited genetic variation. Finally, the value of the tested material should not only be seen in advantages in quantity and quality performance but also in more or less predictable characteristics and growth behaviour of the material in question.


This paper playfully uses text, photographs, participant interviews, autobiographical stories and the metaphor of a mirror to explore the power and limitations of three strategies for troubling gender. Firstly, I look to the outdoors as an escape, investigating what it means to "break out" into the outdoors, in effect, breaking away from media/cultural influences that lure us to invest in hegemonic femininity. Secondly, I discuss changing the face of those media/cultural influences through creating counter-representations of femininities. Thirdly, I explore the notion of performativity and other post-structural theories of identity and the body as a way to expose the artifice of gender and play with the male/female dualism.I ambivalently desire to be her, the fairest one, despite the racist subtexts in the "fairness" of beauty. The mirror is alluring. It is a magnifying glass where I might glimpse the surface of the cultural text that is myself. A device that measures "beauty" to be reflected back and judged by the viewer? That measures the achievement of a feminine identity? A measure of control, through which we discipline our own bodies? Or a porthole to another place? How do we see in mirrors? The reflection(s), I find, are not merely reflection(s) but are somehow intricately tied to who I am, influencing me as I influence them. Most troubling to me is that lingering desire to be the "fairest" one of all while at the same time desiring nothing of the sort. Simply put, why do I take part in the practices of hegemonic femininity which I recognize as subordinating, specifically raced and classed, and completely contrary to my feminist beliefs? Teasing out the threads of this desire and following them to see where they go and where they have come from might somehow show me a way to unlearn the desire that I have so painfully learned. Because this desire is so tightly bound up with gendered identity, my approach will be to look at several ways of troubling gender (after Butler, 1990), exploring different paths leading out of disabling corners of feminine identities.I begin in a place where there are no mirrors; that contradictory and complex space variously known as "wilderness," "the outdoors," and "nature." Drawing from my own background as an outdoor instructor, I become interested in how gender is performed in this traditionally male domain. In the fall of 1999 and spring of 2000, I conducted ongoing interviews with several other women who work for the Canadian Outward Bound Wilderness School(1) in order to tease out a more complex picture of gendered outdoor space. This research also involved a focus group interview, a collective art project, and individual reflective journals from all participants as other means of exploring and recording insights and perspectives. Simultaneously I undertook a photographic exploration of gender identity and urban/nature dualisms, enacting various readings and interweavings of femininity, wilderness, and culture. The body, the canoe, the mirror, clothing, background and foreground are all performing in this project that attempts to trouble hegemonic femininity. Strangely, in the end, the photographs also trouble themselves; disrupting gender norms, they reveal, is not so simple.This paper examines gender as a cultural production and also uses photographic cultural production as a form of playful expression and resistance. The interview segments, photographs, and text included here are intended to inform one another throughout a visual and written discussion of identity.Break Out: where there are no mirrorsI've long found the outdoors a place where I can escape the culturally constructed limiting stances reserved for women. Simply in order to exist, and to exist as a wilderness instructor, I must lift, paddle, carry, decide, judge, navigate, know, problem solve, direct, and be dirty; I must do many things popularly thought to be "unfeminine" and this, for me, feels good. …


The first part of this paper describes a psychic birth, which took place with the twofold help of Jungian Analytical Psychology and Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism. In the course of a seven-year analysis, the patient - a Swiss flutist aged 27 - was able to overcome a severe phobia of excrement. The decisive improvement, however, took place only after she started regular Buddhist practice. We can therefore ask ourselves the following questions: had she not started practicing, would she still be in analysis? Would it only have lasted longer but her phobia disappeared completely, or would certain aspects have remained and she would just have been able to cope with them well? This is of course an open -but challenging question - that compels us to be attentive to the possibility that the two ways of spiritual and psychological development can complement each other and be used in parallel. The second part of this paper discusses in particular the prenatal aspects of this possible complementation. It is hypothesized that the practice of chanting of the mantra Nammyoho-renge-kyo - which is the basic aspect of the Buddhist doctrine of Nichiren Daishonin (founded in Japan in 1253) - can significantly help a person to synchronistically change those aspects of the personality which have been structured in ontogenetically and phylogenetically prenatal times.


Simple Summary Postweaning is a stressful period for piglets, accompanied by several modifications of the gastrointestinal tract, which can impair both animal health and performance. Nowadays, some classes of feed additives are under evaluation to benefit health status and promote growth in farm animals, modulating the development of the gastrointestinal tract and the residing microflora, and ameliorating the immune response during stressful situations. In the present study, we investigated the efficacy of mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) to support gut health and improve growth performance. Our results suggest that MOS can exert beneficial effects on gut health, improving duodenal morphology and modulating the expression of inflammation-related genes, which are accompanied by improved feed efficiency. Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) on gut health and performance in post-weaning piglets. In total, 40 piglets were divided into two experimental groups and fed a basal diet with (TRT) or without (CON) 0.2% mannan oligosaccharides for 35 days. Growth performance was determined weekly and faecal microbial composition on days 0, 14 and 35. On day 36, histometrical evaluations were performed on duodenal, jejunal, ileal, and colon samples. mRNA gene expression of inflammation-related genes was evaluated in samples of ileal Peyer's patches (IPP). MOS administration improved feed efficiency in the last two weeks of the trial (p < 0.05), and a decreased clostridia content was found in faeces at day 14 (p = 0.05). TRT piglets showed increased duodenal villi height (p < 0.05), and reduced mRNA levels of Tumour Necrosis Factor α (p < 0.05) and Toll-Like Receptor 4 (p < 0.01) in IPP. Our results suggest beneficial effects of MOS supplementation on gut morphology and the expression of inflammation-related genes in post-weaning piglets, accompanied by increased feed efficiency.


The machining of slim pieces is affected by the chatter phenomenon. In this paper a study of the factors that influence the surface roughness of slim pieces fabricated on a lathe under self-excitation chatter vibration is presented. The purpose of the study is to determine which are the variables more influents in the process. For this study a novel analytical model for predicting the chatter phenomenon is used. The model functions according to the operating conditions of the turning process and the properties of the material to be machined. The one degree of freedom model has been achieved by incorporating into the model the relative motion between the cutting tool and the workpiece and by considering the problem of the forces involved as well as the tool geometry. The aim of the study is to determine which of the operating variables, or combination of variables, influences surface roughness through the chatter effect. Feed rate, depth of cut and cutting speed were found to have the greatest influence.


Dark photons could be produced resonantly by the oscillating axion field in the early universe. This resonant production mechanism has been used in various contexts, including dark photon dark matter and primordial magnetic field production. However, for this resonant production to work in an expanding universe, a large axion-dark photon coupling is required, which is not easy to realize in terms of model building and requires the introduction of many charged fermions and/or the complex clockwork mechanism. In this paper, we present a new scenario that efficiently produces dark photons from the axion with a much smaller coupling. This is possible by modifying the dynamics of axion and significantly delaying the onset of oscillations, as in the so-called trapped misalignment mechanism. As a specific example, we consider models in which dark photon production occurs efficiently despite the small axion-dark photon coupling by temporally trapping an axion in a wrong minimum and releasing it after the Hubble parameter becomes much smaller than the axion mass. In this scenario, it is expected that the polarization asymmetry of dark photons and gravitational waves generated from dark photons will be significantly reduced.


WITH the capture of Babylon by Cyrus the Persian the provinces of western Asia from the Amanus range to the river of Egypt fell under Persian domination. When that great conqueror permitted the Jews in exile to return to their beloved but ruined city, they still remained under his authority, and the new commonwealth established, with its center in Jerusalem, was subject to a Persian governor. Likewise when Ezra desired to go from the East to bring his "law" to the aid of his distressed fellow-countrymen in Judea, he must obtain the consent and support of the Great King, Artaxerxes I., and his journey was pursued through the various provinces of the Persian empire. His privileges, his official position and relations, his activities, limitations, and difficulties, all were involved with the institutions, organization, and life of that vast and potent state. A study of its character and history may not be unimportant, therefore, as a background to the knowledge of his career and achievement. I. The organization of the Persian empire.-Darius I. (B. C. 521-485) was the founder of the imperial system which persisted down to the close of the Persian empire. Up to his time conquered countries had paid no fixed tribute, nor was their relation to Persia definitely determined. Darius altered all this. In the classical statement of Herodotus, "he proceeded to establish twenty governments of the kind which the Persians call satrapies, assigning to each its governor and fixing the tribute which was to be paid him by the several nations. And generally he joined together in one satrapy the nations that were neighbors, but sometimes he passed over the nearer tribes and put in their stead those who were more remote."' The Greek historian then


Summary Bilateral nephrectomy followed by immediate exsanguination allows the collection of blood from rats for the estimation of PRA in a manner that preserves the expected alterations to varying stimuli. This procedure can be used where relatively large samples of blood are required for treatment to inactivate angiotensinase and for the generation of angiotensin.


ABSTRACTIn order to support the development of rural resource potential in the Padi Village, especially in the Tameng Hamlet, the utilization and management of the environment can be done by planting TOGA. The purpose of this activity was to increase community knowledge and skills of community in cultivating the TOGA garden. The method used in this activity was the application of steps implemented in cultivation the TOGA garden. This partner faces a problem in the form of a lack of knowledge about TOGA, so the solution offered was the delivery of material about TOGA as well provides training in planting TOGA. And the results achieved in this activity gained many benefits such as providing knowledge about the efficacy of some of the existing TOGA around the community, how to plant a good TOGA with the practice of making a TOGA garden that can be utilized by the surrounding community and how to process the TOGA.Various kinds of solutions offered were expected to be able to overcome the problems faced by partners.Keywords: Cultivation, Knowledge, TOGA.


Andreas Balog is Professor of Sociology at the University of Vienna and at the Federal Academy for Public Administration. His research interests are in theory, history of sociology, social psychology and sociology of organizations. Recent publications include: "Soziologie, Gesellschaftstheorie and Gesellschaftskritik" ("Sociology, Theory of Society and Social Criticism") in Soziologie and Gesellschaftskritik (Sociology and Social Criticism), edited by Andreas Balog and Johann A. Schiilein (Focus Verlag, 1995); and "Handlungsrationalitat and Nutzenkalkiil" ("Rationality of Action and Utility Orientation") in Soziologie im Konzert der Wissenschaften (Sociology in the Context of Sciences), edited by Tamas Meleghy (Westdeutscher Verlag, forthcoming).


Isogeometric analysis is a recently developed methodology based on technologies that were originated in the field of computational geometry and widely used in design, graphics and animation. It includes standard finite element analysis as a special case, but offers other possibilities that are unique and powerful. It allows more precise and efficient geometric modeling, it simplifies mesh refinement, and it possesses superior approximation properties. Isogeometric analysis has been applied to numerous problems in solid and fluid mechanics. This paper describes an isogeometric formulation for fluid-structure interaction of incompressible fluid flow and nonlinear solids. The fluid discretization derives from a residual-based variational multiscale formulation, applicable to laminar and turbulent phenomena. Both fluid and solid domains may undergo large motions, and the geometry and kinematics are fully compatible across fluid-structure interfaces. A strongly coupled solution algorithm is adopted to preclude instabilities that often afflict weaklycoupled procedures. Applications to the human cardiovascular system are emphasized.


—Advancements in mobile sensing, data mining, and artificial intelligence have revolutionized the collection and analysis of Human-generated Spatial-Temporal Data (HSTD), paving the way for diverse applications across multiple domains. However, previous works have primarily focused on designing task-specific models for different problems, which lack transferability and generalizability when confronted with diverse HSTD. Additionally, these models often require a large amount of labeled data for optimal performance. While pre-trained models in Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Computer Vision (CV) domains have showcased impressive transferability and generalizability, similar efforts in the spatial-temporal data domain have been limited. In this paper, we take the lead and introduce the Spatial-Temporal Pre-Training model, i.e ., STPT, which is connected with a self-supervised learning task, to address these limitations. STPT enables the creation of robust and versatile representations of HSTD. We validate our framework using real-world data and demonstrate its efficacy through two downstream tasks, i.e ., trajectory classification and driving activity identification ( e.g ., identifying seeking vs . serving behaviors in taxi trajectories). Our results achieve an accuracy of 83.125% (16.2% higher than the average baseline) for human mobility identification and an accuracy of 77.88% (13.0% higher than the average baseline) for the human activity identification task. These outcomes underscore the potential of our pre-trained model for diverse downstream applications within the spatial-temporal data domain


We present a general framework for risk semantics on Signal Temporal Logic (STL) specifications for stochastic dynamical systems using axiomatic risk theory. We show that under our recursive risk semantics, risk constraints on STL formulas can be expressed in terms of risk constraints on atomic predicates. We then show how this allows a (stochastic) STL risk constraint to be transformed into a risk-tightened deterministic STL constraint on a related deterministic nominal system, enabling the application of existing STL methods. For affine predicate functions and a (coherent) Distributionally Robust Value at Risk measure, we show how risk constraints on atomic predicates can be reformulated as tightened deterministic affine constraints. We demonstrate the framework using a Model Predictive Control (MPC) design with an STL risk constraint.


Objective To analyze the complications of excimer laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for myopia and myopic astigmatism Methods A total of 2 738 eyes with myopia and myopic astigmatism in more than 1 550 cases were treated with LASIK.They ranged from -0 25 to -27 0 diopters and the highest astigmatism was -7 00 diopter.The parameters of the thickness of corneal cap was 130 or 160 microns All of the main complications were analyzed one by one.Results Irregular cap:2 eyes;Free but incomplete cap:1 eyes; Free cap:2 eyes;Decentral flap:5 eyes;Thin flap:2 eyes;"Washboard";Epithelial defects;Corneal pannus hemorrhage;Interface debris;Chemosis;Subconjunctiva hemorrhage;Corneal flap dislocation:2 eyes;Undercorrection:9 eyes;Overcorrection:3 eyes;Epithelial ingrowth:3 eyes;Night glare;Coneal flap melting:1 eyes;Eccentric ablation;Retinal detachment:3 eyes;Macular hemorrhage:2 eyes Conclusion Complications of LASIK can be decreased with the improvement of operative technique and better designed procedure.LASIK is a safe and effective method for correcting myopia and myopic astigmatism without vision threatening complication.But it is important to pay more attention to any complication.


A hybrid intelligent system is one that combines at least two intelligent technologies, for example, combining a neural network with a fuzzy system results in a hybrid neuro-fuzzy system. In This study we propose an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) to develop long-term weather forecasting model for rainfall prediction. Monthly meteorological data that obtained from Central Bureau of Statistics Sudan from 2000 to 2012, for 24 meteorological stations distributed among the country has been used. In the experiments we built several ANFIS models using different types of membership functions, different optimization methods and different dataset ratios for training and testing. The proposed models have been evaluated and compared by using correlation coefficient, mean absolute error and root mean-squared error as performance metrics. The results show that ANFIS neuro-fuzzy model is able to capture the dynamic behavior of the rainfall data and it produced satisfactory results, so it may be useful in long term rainfall prediction.


Loan spreads are analysed for two types of loans. The first takes losses at maturity only; the second one follows the formulation of CFOs (Collateralized Fund Obligations), with losses registered over the lifetime of the contract. In both cases, the implementation requires the choice of a process for the underlying asset value and the identification of the parameters. The parameters of the process are inferred from the option volatility surface by treating equity options as compound options with equity itself being viewed as an option on the asset value with a strike set at the debt level following Merton (1974). Using data on General Motors stock during the year 2002/2003, we show that the use of spectrally negative Levy processes is capable of delivering realistic spreads without inflating debt levels, deflating debt maturities or deviating from the estimated probability laws.


Annotation The first part, theoretical, deals with the new trends of current management - the knowledge management (knowledge). It generally defines what the knowledge management actually means, it defines its content, the essence and importance of management in current organizations, it defines a knowledge-based organization. In the next step intellectual capital, tacit and explicit dimensions of knowledge as well as knowledge management systems are characterized. It is required to differentiate between data, information and knowledge. In the practical part we shall determine the level of knowledge management application in the banking sector. The results of our survey research highlight the importance of human capital, which, as the bearer of knowledge capital, becomes the most important production factor and presents the companies with a competitive advantage. In conclusion we shall propose various measures to make the most use of knowledge management in the banking sector.


Received 21 March 2006; revised manuscript received 26 July 2006; published 20 December 2006Using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy measurements, we demonstrate optical switching of the transmis-sion of terahertz surface plasmon polaritons SPPs propagating on an indium antimonide surface throughBragg scattering on grooves. The switching of the in-plane transmission of SPPs through the grooves ismediated by the modification of the stop-gap width due to changes of the surface plasmon characteristics,which are induced by the optical generation of charge carriers. The use of a semiconductor surface allows usto achieve switching at extremely low excitation powers. The experimental data can be quantitatively repro-duced using rigorous numerical calculations for surfaces with varying dielectric function. Such an opticallyactive device opens further possibilities for low-frequency surface plasmon optics.DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.74.245324 PACS number s : 73.20.Mf, 42.79.Dj, 42.25.Bs, 78.68. m


rator to lose some of his objectivity: 'Wolfgang actually twirled his thick mustachios, in unwitting parody of a Prussian officer' is part of his portrait of a visiting German. Perera is probably unaware of his own over-identification with his informants, a commonly recognized problem even for orthodox anthropologists. He expresses fierce condemnation of all who seem to threaten his northern Lacandones, whether they be mestizos, Tzeltals or even southern Lacandones. Mingled with the above development of environmental depredation and cultural dissolution are many portraits of individuals and occasional glimpses of Amerindian customs, ceremonies, dream-interpretations and mythology. The work is really a post-anthropological study and is most useful as a description of what fieldwork is like, with its discomforts, temptations, entanglements and stark relationships. It also tells us much about the two authors and is engagingly frank about the role of whisky for observer and observed alike. It is not taxing to the reader and the disclosure of the Lacandones' sense of humour is a welcome relief from the more usual tales of woe in Mexican studies. There is no index, but good maps, photographs, a glossary and an annotated bibliography.


The final chapter of the book summarizes the book's contents and conclusions. An interested reader with time in short supply might be well served to turn to this chapter first. Several useful appendices which list nautical terms in English, Portuguese, and Spanish are included. In addition, detailed inventories of Columbus's ships the Nina and Santa Cruz are also listed as appendices. The book would have been better yet if more and better maps had been included. On the whole, this book is a valuable contribution to European maritime history.


In a classical random walk model, a walker moves through a deterministic d-dimensional integer lattice in one step at a time, without drifting in any direction. In a more advanced setting, a walker randomly moves over a randomly configured (non equidistant) lattice jumping a random number of steps. In some further variants, there is a limited access walker's moves. That is, the walker's movements are not available in real time. Instead, the observations are limited to some random epochs resulting in a delayed information about the real-time position of the walker, its escape time, and location outside a bounded subset of the real space. In this case we target the virtual first passage (or escape) time. Thus, unlike standard random walk problems, rather than crossing the boundary, we deal with the walker's escape location arbitrarily distant from the boundary. In this paper, we give a short historical background on random walk, discuss various directions in the development of random walk theory, and survey most of our results obtained in the last 25–30 years, including the very recent ones dated 2020–21. Among different applications of such random walks, we discuss stock markets, stochastic networks, games, and queueing.


This book was written for students; it can equally well serve the needs of the physician who wishes to learn about a subject which was in infancy during his medical school years. It gives a brief resume of some of the mechanisms underlying viral infections but most of the book comprises chapters devoted to individual groups of viruses and written mostly by basic scientists specializing in the particular groups. The book has both the merits and the failings of any multiple-author text which reviews a rapidly expanding field. The quality of writing is uneven, there is duplication, and the weight of the information, given without emphasis, may well confuse rather than enlighten the reader. As a minor example, the excellent and comprehensive references cited and listed at the end of each chapter will be invaluable for experimental investigators but cannot avoid bewildering the student. There is insufficient discussion of basic


Objective:To explore the relationship between VEGF 936C/T gene polymorphism and susceptibility of severe preeclampsia.Methods:Gene polymorphism of VEGF936C/T of 84 patients with preeclampsia(study group) and 71 normal pregnant women(control group) was detected with PCR-RFLP method.Results:VEGF 936 CT,TT genotype of the study group was higher than that of the control group,VEGF 936CC genotype of the study group was lower than that of the control group,and the difference was statistically significance(P0.05);VEGF 936 C allele of the study group was lower than that of the control group,VEGF 936 T allele of the study group was higher than that of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P0.05);In the same case,the incidence of severe preeclampsia in the CT and TT genotype was 2.732 times of CC genotype.Conclusion:The cases with CT,TT genotypes have high risk of preeclampsia,VEGF 936 C/T gene polymorphism are relevant with severe preeclampsia


Dynamic wavelength switching properties of a fully heater-tuned CSG-DR laser are comprehensively studied. More than 1000 source-destination channel pairs are evaluated, 99 % of which exhibit switching time less than 1 msec.


A taxonomic diagnosis with macro- and microscopic characters of the eleven genera of the tri bes Chironomini, Tanytarsini y Pseudochironomini of the subfamily Chironominae, found in streams of the Sabana de Bogota and surrounding mountains is given. A taxonomic key with illustrations for these genera is also presented.


A novel decomposition of Amadori compound from glucose catalyzed by copper ion is discussed. The Amadori compounds prepared from glycylglycylhistidine and histidyltyrosine were oxidatively decomposed in the presence of copper ion to free peptide, N α -formyl peptide, and the sugar moieties of glucosone and arabinose. The formation of N α -formyl peptive was especially dependent on the concentrations of copper ion. Copper(II)-catalyzed autoxidative decomposition of Amadori compound to free peptide and glucosone has been clarified in our previous study, but the formation of N α -formyl peptide and arabinose was a novel pathway confirmed in this study


Kdtoanga Faiva is the name of my paper. Katoanga Faiva is the name used by Kakai Tonga to refer to the Auckland Secondary Schools Maori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival that is held annually in Auckland. In the paper, I will explore the notion of mdlie, that is, an aspect of cultural difference in Tongan language, arts, and culture with particular interest in its place in the pedagogy of Tongan students in schools.


Country-of-origin research has provided inconsistent findings about how the country of manufacture (COM) affects brand image evaluations. The authors examine how the COM, vertical line extension (VLE) type, and brand concept interactively affect brand image evaluations after brands introduce products in their existing product categories. The authors draw on schema congruity theory to develop a conceptual framework and confirm it using experimental methods. Results from a sample of U.S. consumers demonstrate that the COM's influence on brand image should be considered in conjunction with the type of VLE strategy and the intended conceptual meaning of a brand. Manufacturing in a country with a favorable image does not always improve brand image evaluations. Functional brands can improve their image with an upward VLE regardless of the COM; however, if these brands pursue a downward VLE, the COM has little to no effect. For prestige brands, downward VLEs result in lower postextension brand image regardless of the COM. However, a favorable COM appears to soften the negative effect of downward VLE on postextension brand image evaluations.


/ Since the violent collapse of former Yugoslavia, the `new' nation-states of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Macedonia have attempted to position themselves on the global map while seeking to create a distinctive `brand' (national) identity. Drawing on a textual analysis of their official governmental websites, this article explores how these former Yugoslav states use the Internet to create and represent self-images for the world. The governmental websites analysed frame the nation as a `brand' in that they employ advertising mechanisms to promote and sell their nations. Websites represent national territories, histories, products and citizens as commodities that can be sold to foreign investors and tourists. In this way, the former Yugoslav countries are transformed into brand-states that serve the function of relegating their citizens to the role of either exotic Others ready to be consumed by rich western tourists, or goods for foreign investment.


The paper examines an empirical distribution function generated by a random binomial sampling from a finite population. A comparative binomially randomized experiment is represented as a procedure of alternative binomial sampling from two finite populations. The proposed analogues of the Kolmogorov and Smirnov tests are based on probabilities introduced by binomial sampling.


Ossifying fibromas are benign fibro-osseous neoplasms that affect the craniofacial and mandibular skeleton. Juvenile psamomatoid ossifying fibroma is a rare variant of ossifying fibroma, which can be locally aggressive, and with a high recurrence rate. We present the clinical case of a 15-year-old patient with a morbid history of hypothyroidism and hyperparathyroidism, who consulted for increased volume and displacement of teeth in the right maxilla. The histopathological result was consistent with juvenile psamomatoid ossifying fibroma. Owing to the hospital situation during the COVID-19 the treatment consisted of hemimaxillectomy with iliac crest autograft using digital planning.


That how to use PASCO platform for temperature information acquisition in the three basic physics experiments,was described.It is indicated that science workshop of PASCO is better than in the traditional data acquisition.


Using $5.63\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{pb}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ of data accumulated at the $\ensuremath{\psi}(2S)$ resonance with the CLEO III and CLEO-c detectors corresponding to $3.08\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}$ $\ensuremath{\psi}(2S)$ decays, a search is performed for the decay $\ensuremath{\psi}(2S)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\eta}}_{c}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ to test a theoretical prediction based upon the assumption that the $c\overline{c}$ pair in the $\ensuremath{\psi}(2S)$ does not annihilate directly into three gluons but rather survives before annihilating. No signal is observed, and a combined upper limit from six ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{c}$ decay modes is determined to be $\mathcal{B}(\ensuremath{\psi}(2S)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\eta}}_{c}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0})\ensuremath{\le}1.0\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ at 90% C.L. This upper limit is about an order of magnitude below the theoretical expectation.


Chapter 1: Theoretical Overview Chapter 2: Women before 1945 Chapter 3: Evolution to Political Beings in Post-Liberation Era Chapter 4: Learning and Doing Politics: Strategies and Works Chapter 5: Network Formation in Protest Movement Chapter 6: Resource Mobilization and Protest Strategies Chapter 7: Mothers' Stories Chapter 8: Conclusions and Prospects


Rehabilitation nursing requires a holistic approach to client care because clients often are overwhelmed by multiple environmental stressors. A comprehensive nursing assessment is the first step in a holistic approach. Many health care settings use an assessment form as a guide to client assessment. Assessment guides based on the Neuman Nursing Model will assist the nurse in maintaining a holistic focus in assessment. In health care settings nurses function at many skill levels, with many levels of commitment to nursing. A highly motivated, independent practitioner will perform comprehensive assessments with minimal guidance from an assessment form. Other nurses may be less motivated, more dependent, and consequently will need a more structured assessment form. An assessment form is needed that allows the motivated practitioner freedom to be creative, yet is specific enough to guide the less motivated or less experienced practitioner. An assessment form is used to obtain a data base for a holistic care plan. Using a nursing theory in developing an assessment form can aid in developing a data base that is nursing oriented. The Neuman Health Care Systems model provides a total person approach to problems from a nursing perspective, resulting in a client oriented care plan. Clients are active participants in their health care when the Neuman System is used. The Neuman model is an open systems model consisting of two components: stress and reaction to stress. The individual interacts with the environemnt, either adjusting to the environment or adjusting the environment to himself (Neuman 1980). Stressors arising from the internal and external environments are capable of producing disequilibrium. Divorce and the presence of contaminants in the atmosphere are examples of stressors in the external environment. Paresthesia and an overgrowth of bacteria are examples of stressors in the internal environment. Reconstitution is the state of adaptation to stressors in the environment. Neuman (1980) identifies three levels of forces at which stressors, reactions, or reconstitution may occur. They are: the intrapersonal (within the individual), ining a person's normal response to stressors over a period of time. The outer, broken circle represents the flexible line of defense. The first line of defense is dynamic and can change quickly. Poor nutrition or lack of sleep are examples of behaviors that can narrow the space between the flexible and normal lines of defense.


The characteristic of strong externality of urban public goods brings about that the consumers hide their preferences.The tax is regarded as the way of compensation for the costs of public goods.Setting an effective tax revenue system can better reveal the consumers' preference,which leads to effective supply of public goods.The biggest breakthrough in China's tax system reform is implementing distribution tax system policy.But there are still some contradictions between the distribution tax policy and the effective supply of urban public goods.Through the mechanism of showing preferences such as Second-Price Mechanism,Clerk Mechanism,this paper puts forward how to improve China's current tax system.


The present study aims to investigate the role of English movie subtitles in vocabulary learning by EFL learners at Soran University. Using English movies with subtitles help EFL learners acquire more vocabularies and idioms. The participants were thirty one English department students, they were randomly selected. The participants were males and females and all of them had been learning English since primary school in Iraqi Kurdistan Region schools. And, the study is an attempt to motivate students to subtitles in improving their vocabulary while learning English as a foreign language. The results show that watching English movies with subtitles facilitates vocabulary learning and motivate students in acquiring new vocabularies, phrases, idioms and slangs.


In both children and adults, peripheral artery aneurysms are much less common than central aneurysms. Only about 5% of peripheral aneurysms are located in the upper extremity. Within the upper extremity, subclavian involvement is most common, and more distal lesions are rare. In the pediatric population, true aneurysms have been described in the axillary, brachial, ulnar, and radial arteries. pediatric aneurysms are more associated with cardiac anomalies (aortic aneurysms) and other conditions, such as the Marfan syndrome, the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, the Turner syndrome, infection (mycotic), and various types of vasculitis such as giant cell arteritis, the Kawasaki disease, and polyarteritis nodosa [1].


Recently, research of the servicescape has expanded to include a social element in addition to the traditionally identified physical/tangible element. Typically, this social servicescape construct has been treated as a measured variable, reflecting the other customers in the service environment across three dimensions (i.e., similarity, behavior, and appearance). However, the exclusive use of measurement to operationalize a phenomenon limits both the types of methods that can be used and, correspondingly, the types of research questions that can be asked. Accordingly, the purpose of this research is to propose and test a scenario-based manipulation of the customer social servicescape construct so that future research can address the phenomenon using experimental design. Scenarios crossing the social servicescape with social density (i.e., crowding) are constructed in three different domains (restaurant, hotel, and retail) and tested in terms of their nomological validity by assessing the effects of the manipulated variables on attitudes and satisfaction. Our results demonstrate that the three elements of the social servicescape—similarity, appearance, and behavior—each had a direct and significant effect on attitude and satisfaction. In addition, these results were consistent across the hotel, restaurant, and retail contexts. The clarity and consistency of these findings indicate the viability of the social servicescape manipulations as a research tool.


This chapter presents findings of a three-year longitudinal study of academic motivation and school engagement among low-income high school students enrolled in a corporate work–study program. Our findings demonstrate ways in which the workplace functioned for students as a conduit of emotional resources, offering instrumental support from caring and competent adults, knowledge about the connection between work and school, and an opportunity to occupy the essential adult role of worker.


When groundwater pollution occurs, to come up with an efficient remediation plan, it is particularly important to collect information of contaminant source (location and source strength) and hydraulic conductivity field of the site accurately and quickly. However, the information can not be obtained by direct observation, and can only be derived from limited measurement data. Data assimilation of observations such as head and concentration is often used to estimate parameters of contaminant source. As for hydraulic conductivity field, especially for complex non-Gaussian field, it can be directly estimated by geostatistics method based on limited hard data, while the accuracy is often not high. Better estimation of hydraulic conductivity can be achieved by solving inverse groundwater problem. Therefore, in this study, the multi-point geostatistics method Quick Sampling (QS) is proposed and introduced for the first time and combined with the iterative local updating ensemble smoother (ILUES) to develop a new data assimilation framework QS-ILUES. It helps to solve the contaminant source parameters and non-Gaussian hydraulic conductivity field simultaneously by assimilating hydraulic head and pollutant concentration data. While the pilot points are utilized to reduce the dimension of hydraulic conductivity field, the influence of pilot points' layout and the ensemble size of ILUES algorithm on the inverse simulation results are further explored.


The article is dealing with the need for a sustainable approach in marketing management. With the change of market conditions, the way how marketing managers are working, has changed so that they could be successful in their job. The first part of the article deals with the advertisement saturation and deficiencies in classic marketing management. The second part describes problems in marketing communication. The third part deals with customer relationships management regarding known statistical data and the need for effective management of this relationship. In the fourth part there is the basis for implementation of new approach in marketing management.


Preserving the environment is the most important issue of today's world in which human being has to reduce energy consumption. Over the last years, building energy efficiency has worldwide considerable interest from the experts and researchers, since buildings are the largest consumer of the final energy consumption. During the last decade in Algeria, housing construction issues became one of the development priorities. Policies and strategies were set up to tackle the housing demand and to reorganize the sprawling slum areas, providing social houses for the low-income families, the design and the constructional techniques of these buildings, are operated with overshorter project planning time, it is striving to minimize design costs, neglecting the climate conditions and the sustainability concept. As a result, it has been reported that 37% of the overall energy consumption was attributed to residential buildings. Otherwise, the architectural facade design, technologies, and strategies, are the most significant contributors to the energy performance and the comfort parameters of the buildings. Thus, the main target of this research is investigating the possibilities of enhancing the indoor thermal comfort, visual comfort, and indoor air quality with less energy consumption through the building facade components, presenting a holistic evaluation and


The dispersion relation for guided waves in a warm drifting uniaxial electron plasma is derived for the case of large drift velocities using relativistic transformations. The phase characteristics of the "fast," "slow," and "waveguide" waves are presented and compared with the results of the nonrelativistic treatment. Significant differences are noted for small values of the normalized empty guide cutoff frequency and large drift velocities.


Introduction: The anaerobic power can be defined as the maximum energy released per unit time for this system, while the anaerobic capacity can be defined as the full amount of energy available in the system. The characteristics of the development of anaerobic power and capacity in soccer players have not been elucidated. Objective: Evaluate and compare the power and anaerobic capacity in soccer players of the basic categories, sub15, sub 17, sub 20 and adult athletes that play in professional football club. Methodology: The sample consisted of 197 male soccer players, divided by category vying for championships: Group Sub 15 (n = 42), Group Sub 17 (n = 41), Group Sub 20 (n = 86); Group Adult (n = 28). To determine the parameters of power and capacity anaerobic subjects performed the Wingate Test. Results: the results allowed for the conclusion that in soccer players the maximum anaerobic power is dependent on the chronological age until the adult category, since the anaerobic capacity was dependent until the age of 20 sub category. The maximum relative anaerobic power was higher in the category under 20, but there was a decline of this variable in the adult category.


INTRODUCTION: Clinical phenotypes of acute hypoxic respiratory failure (AHRF) in COVID-19 have been proposed- Gattinoni type ?L? with less interstitial edema/ lung weight and greater compliance vs type ?H? with a more classic acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) pattern of interstitial edema, higher lung weight and lower compliance Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a sensitive tool for the detection of interstitial pulmonary edema Our objective was to describe lung US profiles in COVID-19 induced AHRF, in association with markers of severity and outcomes METHODS: Retrospective observational study Consecutive critically-ill adult COVID-19 patients with AHRF and P/F ratio 1cm thickness) B and C profiles could overlap The A-profile was compared to all others in the analyses of statistical significance Outcomes included the need for and duration of mechanical ventilation, need for tracheostomy and mortality RESULTS: Ten patients met eligibility criteria 3 demonstrated A-profile, 6 B-profile and 1 C-profile Median days (interquartile range) from symptom onset to LUS was: A- 6 (6-14, p=0 20), B- 18 (8-30), C- 6 Median P/F ratio at the time of LUS was: A- 152 (103-269, p=0 31), B- 131 (112- 146), C-98 Median C-reactive protein (mg/dL): A- 8 (5-10, p=0 3), B- 18 (6-31), C- 12 Median Lactate Dehydrogenase (IU/L) was: A- 528 (287-594, p=0 36), B- 622 (528-787), C- 258 Median D-Dimer (mg/L FEU) was: A- 0 88 (0 64- 3 12, p=0 57), B- 2 50 (1 74-35 00), C- 0 35 Mechanical ventilation was required in: A- 1 (33%, p=0 067), 6 (100%), C- 1 (100%) Median days of mechanical ventilation was: A- 0 (0-20, p=0 03), B- 36 (32-52), C- 88 Median static compliance (mL/cmH2O) was: A- 18, B- 27 (25-28), C- 37 Tracheostomy was performed in: A- 0 (0%, p=0 008), B- 6 (100%), C- 1 (100%) Mortality was: A- 0, B- 1 (17%), C- 0 CONCLUSIONS: An A-profile on LUS appeared to be associated with less severe respiratory illness in COVID-19 AHRF with P/F< 300mmHg


After the survey on the nurses who worked aboard on Nankang Hospital ship for 11 y, the authors found some incidences of gynecopathy were rather higher due to psychentonia, hypodynamia, shortage of fresh water, poor sanitation, less health care, lack of relevant experience and inadequate education. The countermeasures included adequate supplies, improvement of hygienic condition on aboard, enhancement of physical exercises, promotion of health education and so on.


Let ${[n] \choose k}$ and ${[n] \choose l}$ $( k > l ) $ where $[n] = \{1,2,3,...,n\}$ denote the family of all $k$-element subsets and $l$-element subsets of $[n]$ respectively. Define a bipartite graph $G_{k,l} = ({[n] \choose k},{[n] \choose l},E)$ such that two vertices $S\, \epsilon \,{[n] \choose k} $ and $T\, \epsilon \,{[n] \choose l} $ are adjacent if and only if $T \subset S$. In this paper, we disprove the conjecture of Badakhshian, Katona and Tuza for $k= \lceil \frac{n}{2} \rceil +1 $ and $k=n-1$ for $n\geq 10$ and $n>2$ respectively. Also, we give an upper bound for the domination number of $G_{k,2}$ for $k > \lceil \frac{n}{2} \rceil$.


Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) is an important yet difficult task, currently performed by expert users, as it requires deep understanding of the data domain as well as profound analytical skills. In this work we make the case for the Hands-Free EDA (HFE) paradigm, in which the exploratory process is automatically conducted, requiring little or no human input as in watching a "video" presenting selected highlights of the dataset. To that end, we suggest an end-to-end visionary system architecture, coupled with a prototype implementation. Our preliminary experimental results demonstrate that HFE is achievable, and leads the way for improvement and optimization research.


The components of soy sauces were analyzed using a combination of simultaneous steam-distillation-extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(SDE/GC-MS).The results indicated that totally 51 components,including 12 alcohols,5 phenols,8 aldehydes and ketones,6 acids,7 esters and 13 heterocyclics,were identified in four soy sauces made by different techniques.Among them,35 commonly substances were identified in three fermented soy sauces.The contents of alcohols,phenols,aldehydes and ketones,esters in fermented soy sauces were one more time than those in blended soy sauce,and the content of acids in fermented soy sauces were also far more than those in blended soy sauce too.But the heterocyclic compounds were majority in blended soy sauce,in which most of them were pyrazine compounds reflected the flavor of grilled Shannon.The results also indicated that the compounds,e.g.,ethanol,2-methyl-1-propanol,3-hexanol,methionol,phenylethyl alcohol,2-methoxy-4-vinyl-phenol,4-ethyl-phenol,alpha-ethylidene-benzeneacetaldehyde,vanillin,2-hydroxy-propanoic acid,ethyl acetate,ethyl ester,methoxyacetic acid,benzyl ester,linoleic acid ethyl ester,5-methyl-2-furanmethanol and 3-phenyl-furan,were only existed in fermented soy sauce samples.4-Ethyl-2-methoxy-phenol,2-furanmethanol,2-furancarboxaldehyde and other substances,constituted the characteristics of aroma components of fermented soy sauce in the blended soy sauce,however,was relatively small.That was one of the reasons for the different flavor between fermented soy sauce and blended soy sauce.The results obtained validated that the different technologies and raw material had great effect on flavor components of soy sauces,and also provided useful information for determination of flavor substances in natural fermented soy sauce and blended soy sauce by chromatographic discriminant analysis methods.


Lumbar-pelvic movements (LPMs) are generally performed in the clinical setting to identify limitations in a range of movements. Continuous monitoring of these movements can provide real-time feedback to both patients and medical experts with the potential of identifying activities that may precipitate symptoms of low back pain (LBP) as well as improving therapy by providing a personalised approach. Recent advances in mobile computing technology and wearable sensors have paved the way for developing mobile physical activity monitoring applications with more advanced and complex algorithms, such as deep neural network (DNN) based models. However, there is a lack of prior studies that focus on real-time LPMs detection with multimodal sensory data. Meanwhile, most research in the area of body movement detection do not consider the potential transition logic of the constituent low-level body movements (e.g., LPMs) within their corresponding high-level physical activity. This information could significantly increase accuracy of detection results. Further, current studies mainly perform deep learning-based movement detection in the cloud (or a backend server) that could increase network bandwidth and response time. To address these limitations, this paper proposes a novel LPMs detection approach using an enhanced and adapted hybrid DNN model, which includes a convolutional neural network followed by a long-short term memory recurrent network (CNN-LSTM), and performs detection locally on the mobile device. The results of a comparative evaluation of the proposed model and baseline models are described. We also introduce a set of domain-specific pre-defined rules, based on the transition logic information, to reconstruct the detection outputs to further improve the detection accuracy.


t o p l Background. To possibly prevent late complications fter classic type A aortic dissection repair, the radical oncept of ascending/arch replacement with simultaeous antegrade descending stent grafting using a hyrid prosthesis was applied and compared with convenional repair leaving the distal false lumen untreated. Methods. Between January 2001 and October 2007, of 71 onsecutive patients with acute type A aortic dissection AAAD), 45 had DeBakey type I dissection and underent emergency surgery within 24 hours after onset of ymptoms. These patients were separated into group 1 n 23) undergoing conventional surgery, and group 2 n 22) undergoing combined repair with antegrade tent grafting. Results. Patients were comparable for baseline charcteristics, but more group 2 patients had severely ompromised hemodynamics (p 0.05) and cerebral alperfusion at arrival (p < 0.01). Intraoperative and


Variations are a major source of delay and disruption on construction sites and this first‐stage research gives an indication of the work yet to be done.


Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Korean version of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) for use with the Korean university student population. Methods: A sample of 504 undergraduate students enrolled at a four-year university in South Korea were recruited for the study. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted, based on pre-existing models, to compare the model fit indices of three previously proposed factor structures for the PSWQ. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach's ⍺ while test-retest reliability was assessed using Pearson correlation coefficients. To assess the convergent validity of the PSWQ, Pearson correlations were conducted to examine the association between the PSWQ and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-T. Results: CFA results indicated that the one-factor model with method effect fit the data well in the sample. The PSWQ evidenced high internal consistency and adequate to good test-retest reliability over four weeks. The PSWQ also demonstrated substantial convergent validity with trait anxiety. Conclusion: The Korean version of the PSWQ was found to be sufficiently coherent and robust to be used with the university student populations and its reliability and validity has also been supported. The PSWQ measures a facet of worry as a general, unidimensional construct but different response patterns emerged between positively or negatively worded questions.


Through the study on rules of the blossom and dry matter accumulation of arid land planted peanut in south Henan area,the result indicated: the seedling and effective flowering period was short,the early growth was fast and the yield distribution coefficient was high.Flower stage began at about 25d after plant emergence and lasted for about 45d.Peak flowering stage appeared 20d after the flowering stage began.The average flowering number per plant was 188.8.131.52% of the pod number resulted from the early flowering stage and the other 73.5% resulted from the peak flowering stage.The late flowering stage was invalid for the pod formation.The dry matter accumulation was slow at seedling,flowering and pegging stages and turned fast at pod setting stage,after then it turned slow again at pod filling stage.The dry matter accumulation peak appeared at 68d after the seedling emergence which the daily accumulation was 0.92 g/plant.


Based on dissecting the reasons of the surface defects of concrete structure,the essay puts forward effective preventive measures and treatment method,this helps to reduce the concrete structure surface defects,and this can contribute to the improvement of concrete construction quality.


The effects of anodizing condition and post treatment on the growth of nickel nanowires, were investigated. A two-step anodizing process was applied in phosphoric and oxalic acid solution. Nickel electrochemical plating was applied to fill Anodic Aluminum Oxide (AAO) pores. For pore filling enhancement, AAO surfaces were treated by silver predeposition. After electroplating, aluminum and oxide layer of some specimens were removed. The results showed that silver preplating increases the pore filling and as the applied voltage becomes higher, the pores diameter decreases.


In this paper, mechanism of common-mode voltage of voltage source inverter is discussed in details, and it is pointed out that among the pulse width modulation (PWM) strategies for cascaded multi-level inverters (CMLI), those who based on inphase modulation of power-cell can cause common-mode voltage. Also, a novel SPWM for reducing common-mode voltage of cascaded multi-level inverter is presented, the proposed SPWM strategy using non-inphase modulation signals and third harmonic injection can totally eliminate common-mode voltage without extra hardware, and maintain high utilizing ratio of DC-Link voltage simultaneously. Theoretical analysis, simulation results are presented to verify the proposed strategy.


A 31-YEAR-OLD WOMAN PRESENTS WITH A 10-YEAR HISTORY OF PROGRESSIVE development of small, whitish/skin-colored papules across her forehead, neck, and upper back (FIGURE, A). She also has scattered skin tags in this distribution. The patient also reports that her brother and father have similar papular facial rashes, and her father has had recurrent pneumothoraces in the past, necessitating pleurectomy. A skin biopsy obtained from a representative lesion confirms the presence of fibrofolliculomas (Figure, B). What Would You Do Next?


A full study was conducted using the statistical method of research in order to analyze the status and structure of primary disability of the adult population of the regions of Ukraine due to tumors in the period ща 2010–2019 and identify the causes that affect the indicators of primary disability and regional characteristics. We have performed the analysis of expanded statistical information regarding disability in Ukraine with the help of the "Report on the causes of disability, indications for medical, professional and social rehabilitation" (form № 14, approved by order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine in coordination with State Statistics Committee of Ukraine dated 10.07.2007 № 378) within 24 regions of Ukraine and Kyiv over the last ten years. In addition, the correlation analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel© to find the connection between primary disability due to neoplasms and a number of medical and social factors using Pearson-Brave correlation coefficient (r). Over the last ten years, the rates of primary disability due to neoplasms and malignant tumors of both adults and able-bodied population have been increasing steadily. They have always been among the top three causes of disability in Ukraine. However, cardiovascular diseases occupied the first place over the last 27 years. In 2019, tumors took the first place. Fluctuations in primary disability due to neoplasms are connected with a number of medical and non-medical causes. The main ones are morbidity, prevalence of neoplasms, number of beds in cancer dispensaries and availability of specialized oncology medical expert commissions in the region, changes in legislation regarding criteria for assessing disability groups. In the structure of primary disability due to neoplasms people of working age (40-60 years) dominate, their number varies by year, but the tendency to predominance persists Among the disability groups a severe second disability group dominates, which indicates a late diagnosis due to untimely treatment of these people and the predominance of the so-called "neglected" forms of the disease. This trend takes place during the observation period of all ten years. The highest rates of primary disability due to neoplasms are also stable throughout the ten-year observation period and are observed in the regions that are considered the most affected by Chornobyl disaster: Kyiv region, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Chernihiv, Volyn, Rivne. However, the increase in this indicator in Poltava region over the last three years is not entirely motivated. The obtained results will be the basis for the development of national and regional measures for the rehabilitation of people with disabilities caused by tumors and contribute to public funds saving due to their targeted distribution in regions and keeping labor resources.


Conventional online instructive frameworks still have weaknesses when contrasted with a genuine study hall education, for example, absence of logical and versatile help, and absence of adaptable help of the introduction and input, absence of the agreeable help among understudies and frameworks. Likewise, they depend on the live information and anticipate the out comings dependent on that. This does exclude information of understudies in a foundation concentrating for some earlier years. This poses a problem for any learning and predictive algorithms to work on them. This work intends to assist the students in articulating their subject, club, project, internship, job preferences. In addition to student profiling, the venture additionally gives counsel to understudies with respect to how the profiles might be utilized to improve their scholastic and quantitative aptitude. In this regard, it is trusted that the profiles will give a valuable device to enable understudies to build up their employability. The profiling framework monitors the learning exercises and connection history of every individual understudy into the understudy profiling database model. In light of this model and along these lines the work demonstrates dynamic learning plans for individual understudies.Data analytic tools, classification techniques, and algorithms will be used to predict the outcomes of the student subject choices. Data (marks and interests) of the students will be classified into clusters upon which self-learning, predictive algorithms will be implemented to cater to students interests and needs. Regression techniques like map reduce will be used to segregate and classify data into definite datasets. It works on these four dimensions like input, comprehending, preparing and understanding. This paper gives the best way to use collaborative filtering strategies for understudy execution forecast. These strategies are frequently utilized in recommender frameworks like Netflix. The essential thought of such frameworks is to use the similitude of users dependent on their evaluations of the things in the system. We have chosen to utilize these procedures in the instructive condition to foresee understudy execution. We compute the comparability of understudies using their examination results, shown by the evaluations of their recently passed subjects.


An immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment is a cancer hallmark and a major impediment to successful immunotherapy. We engineered hematopoietic progenitors to target expression of an interferon-α (IFNα) transgene specifically to their monocytic progeny, including tumor-infiltrating macrophages. Mice chimeric for these IFNα-expressing macrophages showed activation of innate and adaptive immune cells against breast cancer and inhibited disease progression.


Electrical storm (ES) is an emergent condition which requires a sofisticated approach. Massive sympathetic surge almost always connected with ES precipitates recurrent ventricular arrhythmias. Performing stellate ganglion block (SGB) to alleviate the sympathetic activity on myocardium is becoming a standard of care in many centers. However, there is no clear data to predict in which patients the SGB will be ineffective.

 To identify predictors of SGB failure in patients with ES.

 We analyzed our case series of SGB – the procedure was performed in 31 patients with ES in our center from March 2017 to December 2018.

 Mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 27% (±9%), 74% of patients had ischaemic cardiomyopathy. The most frequent type of arrhythmia was monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT), occurring in 71% of patients, followed by polymorphic VT in 13% of cases. After SGB, the burden of ventricular arrhythmias failed to decrease by at least 50% in 10% of cases - these patients were marked as non-responders. Slow monomorphic VT (under 160/min) was observed in all of these patients. On the other hand, fast monomorphic VT or polymorphic VT seemed to respond very well to SGB. We also observed, that patients with ES after acute coronary syndromes were good responders as well. The effect of SGB was not related to age, gender, EF LK or the etiology of cardiomyopathy.

 According to our experience, the failure of SGB in the treatment of ES is not frequent. It typically occurs in patients with slow monomorphic VT. It is probable that such arrhythmias are sustained primarily due to the extensive myocardial substrate, and not because of the sympathetic surge. The situation is quite the opposite in patients with fast VT and acute ischemia.


A facile route for the construction of functionalised spiro[n.4] systems through pinacol type rearrangement of appropriately designed cyclobutane derivatives with an application to a synthesis of (±)-α-cedrene is described.


The Standards for Foreign Language Learning (1996) provide a new set of guidelines for the curricular development of second language (L2) or foreign language programs that will soon be in place across the United States to describe age-appropriate levels of student achievement, and against which teacher preparation and rewards will be measured. This essay traces the Standards as a template for an integrated L2 reading curriculum (Grades 4 through 16) and argues for the early inclusion of authentic reading materials in the L2 classroom.

First, we model ways to visualize the cognitive demands that the Standards place on students who attempt to fulfill them when learning to read in a foreign language. After that, with reference to a short reading text (included in the Appendix in the German original and in translation), we trace how these demands must be accommodated across a reading curriculum that spans grades K to 16 and make a case for the Standards as a tool that must be used to describe curricular sequences, not only learner achievement at particular age or grade levels.


The invention relates to a method for producing high-quality white granulated sugar by clarifying syrup. The method comprises the following steps of: heating the syrup; adding lime milk; adjusting the pH value to be between 8.0 and 8.5; adding anionic inorganic gel serving as a flocculating agent in an amount which accounts for 0.01 to 0.05 percent of the amount of the syrup; keeping the pH value at 8.0 to 8.5 for about 2 minutes; adding phosphoric acid to reduce the pH value to be between 7.0 and 7.5; pouring the syrup into a sedimentation tank or a floatation tank to separate clarified juice and mud juice out; filtering the mud juice by using filtering cloth or a vacuum filter, and mixing the filtered clarified juice and the separated clarified juice; and evaporating, concentrating, boiling sugar, crystallizing and extracting the sugar to obtain the white granulated sugar of above first class; or evaporating and concentrating to obtain the syrup, adding organic bentonite in an amount which accounts for 0.2 to 1 percent of the amount of the syrup, stirring, adsorbing for 5 to 20 minutes, filtering by using the filtering cloth, boiling, crystallizing and extracting the sugar to directly produce sulfur-free refined sugar. The method has the advantages of good clarification effect, high clear juice purity, short process flow, high process operation safety and low labor intensity.


Cryogenic matrix photolysis of 3,5-dichloro-2,4,6-triazidopyridine, 3-chloro-5-cyano-2,4,6-triazidopyridine, 3,5-dicyano-2,4,6-triazidopyridine, and 3,5-difluoro-2,4,6-triazidopyridine (1−4) gives rise to ESR spectral peaks of various triplet mononitrene, quintet dinitrene, and septet trinitrene species. The quintet 2,4-dinitrenes derived from 1−2 and 4 have zero-field splittings (zfs) of |D/hc| ∼ 0.22−0.24 cm-1, similar to values observed elsewhere for m-phenylene dinitrenes. 3,5-Dicyano-2,4,6-triazidopyridine (3) photolysis gives only a weak ESR signal corresponding to a mononitrene with a zfs of |D/hc| ∼ 1.22 cm-1. The spectrum from 1 also shows a 2,6-dinitrene with |D/hc| = 0.283 cm-1, |E/hc| = 0.036 cm-1, which illustrates the effects of heteroatom perturbation upon the zfs of a geometrically rigid m-arylene dinitrene. Spectral peaks for unusual septet 2,4,6-trinitrenopyridines derived from complete deazetation of 1−2 were also identified by simulation of the septet spectra. The zfs parameters for th...


The article discusses the problem of choosing individual means of transport by urban residents when planning trips. Types and benefits of using alternative means of individual transport in cities were demonstrated. Then the decision-making process of users as well as motivations and transport needs of the population were presented. The aim of the research article was to analyze the preferences of residents in the field of choices for alternative, environmentally friendly means of transport.


Axel Martin Fredrik Munthe (October 31, 1857, Oskarshamn, Sweden – February 11, 1949, Stockholm) was a Swedish physician and psychiatrist, best known as the author of The Story of San Michele (1929), an autobiographical account of his work and life.


AIMS
The central antihypertensive drug moxonidine lowers blood pressure (BP) through stimulating an imidazoline receptor within the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). Nitric oxide (NO) generated by the inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in the RVLM has been suggested to be involved in tonic sympathetic inhibition. The aim of this study was to determine the role of NO generated by iNOS in mediating moxonidine-induced cardiovascular inhibition in rats.

METHODS AND RESULTS
In anaesthetized rats, the cardiovascular response to local or systemic injection of moxonidine was observed after treatment with the selective iNOS inhibitor S-methylisothiourea (SMT) in the brain. Using immunohistochemical staining and western blot techniques, the protein expression of iNOS in the RVLM was measured in the moxonidine-infused rats. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of SMT (1-100 nmol) dose-dependently attenuated the moxonidine (20 nmol, ICV)-induced decrease in BP and heart rate. Prior injection of SMT (20 and 200 pmol) into the RVLM also dose-dependently prevented the decrease in BP and renal sympathetic nerve activity evoked by RVLM microinjection of moxonidine (5 nmol) or intravenous injection of moxonidine (50 microg/kg). We further found that expression of iNOS protein following chronic ICV infusion of moxonidine (20 nmol, 2 weeks) is selectively upregulated in the RVLM but not in the nucleus tractus solitarius.

CONCLUSION
The present data suggest that an NO mechanism generated by iNOS in the RVLM plays an important role in mediating the sympathetic inhibition of the centrally acting drug moxonidine.


Abstract We introduce a new mixture autoregressive model which combines Gaussian and Student's t mixture components. The model has very attractive properties analogous to the Gaussian and Student's t mixture autoregressive models, but it is more flexible as it enables to model series which consist of both conditionally homoscedastic Gaussian regimes and conditionally heteroscedastic Student's t regimes. The usefulness of our model is demonstrated in an empirical application to the monthly U.S. interest rate spread between the 3-month Treasury bill rate and the effective federal funds rate.


This paper is concerned with the problem of constructing Bayesian confidence intervals for the ratio of means of two independent populations which contain both log-normal and zero observations. An extensive simulation study is conducted to evaluate coverage accuracy, interval width and relative bias of the proposed method. The Bayesian procedure is also compared with a maximum likelihood-based method and a two-stage bootstrap approach proposed by Zhou and Tu (2000). The simulation results indicate that the Bayesian procedure gives the correct coverage probability and is in general better than the other two procedures.


economic advantage which stood between survival and subjugation; how salutary was the British heritage of Parliamentary government in ,the face of indifference ,in Downing Street and the eankerous outbursts of privilege in the wilderness; how much was honest opportunism the real talisman of political success, triumphing over many hidden ditllculties while it salved many political ills? The one leading que.stion which is not answered is a question for which perhaps no answer can be furnished from abroad, since it resides--according to the best surmise•in the land and the people .of Canada. What was it that held Canada together at all? What was it that allowed Canada .to survive .as a political entry, and, in a generation of naked violence and latent irresponsibility, to become "a medium power"? The very last sentence of the text goes part way, but not all the way: "The strains and tensions of racial and region, al partisanship may persist, but in the present world the forces which tend to hold Canadians apart are becoming daily of less consequence than those which drive them together." The rest of the answer may reside in intangibles which defy reduction to cold print, and it may be argued that the answers to the reviewer's questions are themselves matters of interpretation and not of fact. But the elusive nature of the question remains, •and perhaps it is only "con, temporary history" rather than "past history" which can provide a satisfactory eply. Even in interpretive history there is room for disagreement, especially on judgments which proceed from the outside in. Is it really in accordance with the facts to say (p. 138) that Canadians, lacking the self-reliance tha• comes from economic prosperity and close political integr.ation, had "perforce to depend almost entirely on the weight and bargaining power of British diplomacy"? W•as Great B•tain Canadams trongest defence against "Manifest Destiny" until the beginning of the twentieth century? Ought we to undervalue "the eager beaver r61e" (p. 176) that Canadian delegations have sometimes adopted at ir•temational conferences? This book may be warmly commended for its workmanlike and readable qualitios, for its fairness .in emphasis, and for its over-all balance and perception. If it is intended to be read outside as well as inside Canada, it will deserve a wide public. JA•Es A. Gmso• Carleton College


A novel three dimensional supramolecular network cadmium halide compound with phen ligand was synthesized by mild hydrothermal techniques,and the synthesis and crystal structure of compound were discussed.The compound crystallized in the monoclinic,space group C2/c with a=16.949(3)nm,b=10.544(2)nm,c=7.226 6(14)nm,α=90°,β=110.66(3)°,γ=90°,V=1 208.4(4)nm3,Z=4,R1=0.034 1,wR2=0.081 6.


The present invention relates to a motorcycle shutter having a first shutter member, which is connected to a second flap member form-locking manner, wherein, said first shutter member having a first form-locking element the second flap member having a second form-locking element. A first form-locking element inserted into the second form-locking element. Furthermore there is provided a clip-like element which surrounds the two form-fitting member and prevent release. Clip-like member having two sub-spring arms, the spring arm encloses two sub interlocking element.


Economic globalization and informatization have become two major driving forces of urbanization in the world.However,quantitative researches on the relationships between economic globalization and urbanization are limited.Based on quantitative analysis,the authors summarize the features of the world's urban development in a context of economic globalization as follows:①Obvious stages exist in the growth of metropolises;②Key areas of metropolitan growth has shifted towards the newly industrialized countries in Asia,Africa and Latin America;③Informal urbanization has become a main characteristic of urban morphology;④The Polarization effect of mega-cities is greater than the diffusion effect,and this has lead to a typical dual-urbanization pattern;⑤Monopole urbanization,metropolitan growth and network urbanization coexist.The paper also examines two spatial scale at the global and the country(China) level and discusses the relationships between economic globalization and the growth of the metropolitan area.The hypothesis that "globalization leads to the development of larger cities" was tested. The study shows that the variability of metropolitan growth in the world is generally lower than that of economic factor mobility;however,in China,both variability of economic factors mobility and metropolises growth are relatively high.


In this paper, we investigated the relationship between traditional masculine ideology, body image discrepancy, self-esteem, and the pursuit of muscularity in a sample of school going boys. Constructs were measured using the Traditional Masculine Ideology Scale, Lynch and Zellner's Body Figure Drawings (1999), Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Inventory, and the Drive for Muscularity Scale. Questionnaires were administered to 508 boys, from Grades 10, 11, and 12, at a public single-sex high school in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Analysis revealed significant positive correlations between traditional masculine ideology, the pursuit for muscularity, and body image discrepancy. Indian school boys experienced body image discrepancy more severely than their Black and White counterparts in the sample. Further, there was a significant use of muscle supplements and steroids by school going boys.


TORAŇOVA, Petra, Relocation the seat of the foreign legal entities to inland/our country and vice versa, College of Banking in Prague, Foreign university Banska Bystrica, helpdesk Galanta, Department of Law and Social Sciences, Banking degree program, field of study Law Administration in the business – Thesis supervisor JUDr. Edita Hajnisova, PhD. - Galanta 2010, 58 pages. The aim of the presented bachelor work is first of all the transference of a foreign legal person´s seat into Slovak Republic and vice versa, as well as the change of the seat and the jurisdiction of European Community, which represents the freedom of settlement. I direct my attention also at property participation of foreign persons in Slovak legal persons, protection of property interests of foreign persons in business activities in Slovak republic and at the transfer of the registered seat of a European company. The contribution of this bachelor work lies in the setting of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in the matter of the seat change and also approximation of ECJ decisions.


Fibrillin–containing microfibrils are key architectural structures of the upper dermis and integral components of the dermal elastic fibre network. Microfibril bundles intercalate into the dermal—epithelial junction and provide an elastic connection between the dermal elastic fibre network and the epidermis. Immunohistochemical studies have suggested that they are laid down both at the dermal—epithelial junction and in the deep dermis. While dermal fibroblasts are responsible for deposition of the elastin and microfibrillar components that comprise the elastic fibres of the deep dermis, the cellular origin of the microfibril bundles that extrude from the dermal—epithelial junction is not well defined. We have used fresh tissues, freshlyisolated epidermis and primary human and porcine keratinocyte cultures to investigate the possibility that keratinocytes are responsible for deposition of these microfibrils. We have shown that keratinocytes in vivo and in vitro synthesize both fibrillin‐1 and fibrillin‐2, and assemble beaded microfibrils concurrently with expression of basement membrane collagen. These observations suggest that keratinocytes co‐ordinate the secretion, deposition and assembly of these distinct structural elements of the dermal matrix, and have important implications for skin remodelling.


This chapter describes all the aspects of chemistry of mono cyclic Thietanes and Thietes. It is based on the literature, which appeared within the period 1996–2005. Thiete is a hetero cyclic compound containing an unsaturated four-member ed ring with three carbon atoms and one sulphur atom. The next three sections deal with the synthesis of mono cyclic Thietanes and Thiete rings. One of them describes syntheses from a cyclic compounds classified by number of ring atoms contributed by each component, the second the ring synthesized by transformation the act of changing in form or shape of other ring systems. The last section is about the biological and synthetic applications of mono cyclic Thietanes and Thietes.


This paper discusses the design and performance measurement initiative internal business process perspective balanced scorecard, a case study at CV. Fateha Compunet, a company engaged in the trade of computers and offic ial equipments . Research carried out by identifying a problem with the method of observation, formulating business process problems that lead to complaints, collecting primary data and secondary data such as key performance indicators and other supporting data. Survey methods used in the study is the importance analysis. In this technique, the respondents were asked to rank various attributes of a sub program initiative is based on the degree of importance of each of these attributes. The results showed that based on the monitoring and evaluation of programs key performance indicator value initiatives classified as well so that the target company would potentially be achieved.


The coupling among every power supply module is so widespread that it will seriously affect the performance of the system.This paper models the modular parallel degaussing power system with the state space method,then uses the diagonal matrix decoupling method for the design of decoupling control system,finally simulates the system before and after decoupling with SIMULINK in order to solve the coupling among the parallel degaussing power.The simulation results show that this method can not only realize the complete decoupling between every power supply module,but also improve the dynamic performance and tracking performance of the system after the decoupling.


The major debates on environmental pollutions, abundant availability of renewable resources, scarcity of fossil fuel resources in certain parts of the world, and geopolitical conflicts have underscored the need for promoting the use of renewable and distributed power generation. Since the availability of renewable energy resources, such as wind energy depends on variable atmospheric conditions, a massive integration of renewable energy would require additional reserves to compensate the power deficiency for supplying loads. However, the increasing use of electric vehicles (EVs) along with their charging demands can apply a significant amount of load to the power grid, which can cause stability concerns if not control properly. In this paper, EVs charges are applied to the secondary frequency control and an optimized fuzzy controller is considered to compensate the variable unbalances between demand and generation. To verify the performance of the proposed control method for reducing frequency deviations, several case studies are considered in this paper and simulations are carried out in MATLAB/SIMULINK environment. The simulation results illustrate a good performance of proposed method.


A group signature scheme allows a group member of a group to sign messages on behalf of the group anonymously. In case of dispute, a special entity of the group, group manager, can reveal the signer of a valid group signature. In 2005, Zhang et al. proposed a new group signature with forward security based on their earlier scheme in ICICS 2003. Recently, Zhou et al. proposed a dynamic group signature scheme with forward security at GCC 2007, In the year of 2008, Zhang and Geung pointed out the scheme is insecure and suggested an improvement. In this paper, we analyze a security analysis of Zhang et al.'s group signature scheme and Zhou et al.'s group signature scheme. We also discuss why the improved Zhou et al.'s scheme by Zhang et al. is still insecure.


In order to eliminate the musical noise remained in the results enhanced by short-time spectral attenuation techniques, this paper proposes a novel a priori SNR estimator. The proposed estimator is built on Burg-based power spectral estimation, which takes into account the properties in estimator of smoothness, accuracy and resolution, with the emphasis on their relationships and influences on de-noising. The experimental results demonstrate that: if the proposed estimator is incorporated into the noise suppressor using minimum mean-square error (MMSE) method or log-spectral minimum mean-square error (LSA-MMSE) method, better results will be achieved with the musical noise greatly eliminated and distortion reduced further.


This paper proposes a new heuristic locally determined algorithm for the triangulation between points sequences representing serial sections of a surface. Moreover, a strategy for surface area estimation based on triangulation of crosssectional contours is described, where each contour is represented by its sequence of vertices of maximal digital straight segments (DSS), or by its minimal length polygon (MLP). The application of the strategy, using the new triangulation algorithm, is illustrated by examples.


Background Following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), the main causes of postoperative morbidity and mortality are postoperative pulmonary complications, respiratory dysfunction, and arterial hypoxemia. Aim To evaluate the effect of postoperative incentive spirometry (IS) on dyspnea severity among patients undergoing CABG. Research hypothesis H1: there is a statistically significant improvement in dyspnea severity among patients undergoing CABG after using IS when compared with before use. Design A quasi-experimental (one group pretest–posttest) design was used in the current study. Setting This study was conducted at selected cardiothoracic care units and cardiothoracic ward affiliated to Cairo University Hospitals. Sample A convenient sample of 49 adult patients undergoing CABG was included. Tools Three tools were used to collect data: first, demographic characteristics and health relevant data; second, chest auscultation; and third, dyspnea severity score. Results There were statistically significant improvements found in the dyspnea severity score on first day, second day, and third day after using IS compared with before using spirometry among the patients. Moreover, there was significant improvement in chest auscultation before and after using spirometry. Half of the patients (53.1%) revealed regaining of normal breath sounds on the third day after using IS versus before using spirometry, where only 28.6% had normal breath sounds on the third day. Conclusion It can be concluded that postoperative IS decreased dyspnea severity and improved respiratory function among patients undergoing CABG. Recommendation Future trials may be carried out with adequate research grants with postoperative IS after major surgery and other respiratory diseases to improve dyspnea severity without medication.


During recent years, there have been product launches and research for enabling immersive audio–visual media experiences. For example, a variety of head-mounted displays and 360° cameras are available in the market. To facilitate interoperability between devices and media system components by different vendors, the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) developed the Omnidirectional MediA Format (OMAF), which is arguably the first virtual reality (VR) system standard. OMAF is a storage and streaming format for omnidirectional media, including 360° video and images, spatial audio, and associated timed text. This article provides a comprehensive overview of OMAF.


Graph B was duplicated as Graph A in Figure 2. Please see the corrected Figure 2 with Graph A here:


As a thinker and literary theorist,Li Zhi was first a chivalrous man who held passionate belief and high esteem in heroes,a man who advocated that people should follow chivalrous behaviors rather than live a virtuous life.Therefore he was also a man of indomitable spirit and brilliant thoughts.In view of this,maybe it would be more appropriate to consider Li Zhi as a "gallant thinker",by which we may probably get his original feature as a nonconformist-a blend of great thoughts and heroic spirits.Li Zhi was an outstanding representative in the history of ancient Chinese thoughts.He was also the first thinker and literary theorist who paid close attention to chivalrous literature.The spirit of chivalry had a deep effect upon him.