Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of hemoperfusion with hemodialysis(HP + HD) on patients of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(MODS) with acute renal failure(ARF).Method:18 patients with MODS were treated HP+HD with basic treatment of synthesize medicine.Blood biochemical,gas analysis,C-reactive protein(CRP) and endothelin(ET) were tested in pre-treatment,and post-treatment of HP+HD.Meanwhile,MODS score were graded before the treatment.Results:Compared with pre-treatment,Oxygenation index(FiO2/PO2) was improved obviously on post-treatment.Pressure-adjusted heart rate(PAHR) were decreased on post-treatment(P0.05).Levels of alanime aminotransferase(ALT) and total bilirubin(TBIL) and creatine kinase(CK) and CPR and ET were decreased obviously(P0.05).Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine and Carbon dioxide combining power(CO2-CP) were decreased significantly(P0.01).Conclusion The improvement of cardiac and pulmonary function was concerned with relieving interstitial edema of organization by HP+HD,The treatment can promote the clearance of mediators ET and CRP and improve function of liver,renal,heart and blood coagulation.The prognosis of MODS with ARF is improved with HP+HD.The treatment of HP+HD appears to be a safe,effective,convenient and economic method for patients of MODS with ARF.


No one is more aware than Professor Hodgetts that books on institutional structure are rather out of style these days, but this, quite unabashedly, and quite justifiably in view of the state of our art, is what he has presented. His focus is on structure, the framework of the Canadian public service, its evolution over the past century, and nothing more. He does not attempt to probe the behavioural roles of most Canadian public servants, the scenarios with which they attack policy-forming and organizational problems, or, at any length, the manner in which these public servants serve as organizational sensors for government. What he does attempt is a definitive institutional study designed to serve as a launching ramp for later work of this sort. This is not a text in the classic sense, although it will be used as such especially with advanced classes and with public servants themselves. On the other hand it is not simply administrative history, but rather a collection of slightly more than a dozen well-integrated essays, almost all of which contain some of the wry asides and mature reflection for which their author is justly renowned. The first four of these essays, comprising part one of the book, place the Canadian public service in its setting. Here it is related to its physical, economic, technological, and cultural background, to Canadian federalism and political tradition, and to those important legal foundations which the author has often alluded to before, and which are so frequently overlooked by North American, although not by European, scholarship.


According to many researchers, adopted children are disproportionately represented in residential treatment centers. One study developed a profile of residential treatment center social workers and found that, compared with societal averages, a higher proportion of these workers are themselves adopted and are adoptive parents. Because these workers function as quasi-parents to children in residential treatment, they may require supervision and consultation about adoption, its affects, and the children they see in treatment.


Tandem and multijunction solar cells offer the only demonstrated path to terrestrial 1-sun solar cell efficiency over 30%. Three-terminal tandem (3TT) solar cells can overcome some of the limitatio...


On the basis of the brief analysis of the theory of knowledge and the present situation of regional differentiation, the basic research of regional differentiation theory should be emphasized again; by analyzing the regional differentiation and the concept of regional differentiation rules, this article points out the view that rules of regional differentiation only means zonal differentiation; after further expounding the connotation of zonal rules, the article considers vertical zonation and level zonation have comparability of unified hydrothermal basis and type, and divides the zonal zonation into moisture type, thermal type and hydrothermal type.


Social media and its growing role in tourism has been increasingly an emerging research topic. From information search to decision making behaviours, social media plays a significant role in many aspects of tourism. Social media also plays a significant role in tourism promotion and helps the tourism service providers in focusing on best practices through the feedback they get from tourists and public via social media. The paper analyzes the research published in major tourism journals over the past 10 years. Review of literature suggests that social media has evolved as important platform in the past 10 years and has found a prominent role in tourism. It is critical to encourage thorough investigation into the influence and impact of social media. Most of the researchers have focussed on the positive side of Social media, and a very few have focussed on the negative side of social media. It's not that the negative side of the social media is less of a threat, but as we still see research in social media in its infancy stage so more focus is being shown towards the positive side of social media. It's important that the future researchers also focus on the negative side of social media such as online theft and fraud, fake surveys, etc. in order to strengthen and further extend the positive role that social media can have in Tourism.


This chapter examines the effect of an individualized Computer-Enhanced Language Learning Listening Comprehension Program (MMExplore) on students' listening comprehension ability in the context of learning English as a Foreign Language in the Thai University system. MMExplore is an audio-visual media browser which is designed to provide learners with a wide variety of ways to interact with authentic listening texts. In 2003, MMExplore was used by twenty first year students of the Suranaree University of Technology (SUT), Thailand for a period of fifteen weeks with a minimum of four hours of training per week to evaluate the effect of this program on student performance. Various forms of evaluation, both qualitative and quantitative, were used. The findings of this research suggest that (a) there is an observable gain in students listening comprehension ability in English after training; and (b) the majority of the students were favourably towards this program.


The basic principle of generating Coriolis acceleration and the specifications of evaluating the micro-gyroscope have been introduced in this paper.Some typical micro-gyroscopes based on Coriolis acceleration have been analysized and compared from the point of view of the structure,operating principle,process,performances and so on.Then the evaluation of the micro-gyroscope based on Coriolis acceleration has been made.Combining with the current research status,the future trends of micro-gyroscope based on Coriolis acceleraton has been discussed in the end of the paper.


We present narrow-band Halpha and [OIII] images, and high-resolution, long-slit spectra of the planetary nebulae (PNe) Abell36, DeHt2, and RWT152 aimed at studying their morphology and internal kinematics. These data are complemented with intermediate-resolution, long-slit spectra to describe the spectral properties of the central stars and nebulae. The morphokinematical analysis shows that Abell36 consists of an inner spheroid and two bright point-symmetric arcs; DeHt2 is elliptical with protruding polar regions and a bright non-equatorial ring; and RWT152 is bipolar. The formation of Abell36 and DeHt2 requires several ejection events including collimated bipolar outflows that probably are younger than and have disrupted the main shell. The nebular spectra of the three PNe show a high excitation and also suggest a possible deficiency in heavy elements in DeHt2 and RWT152. The spectra of the central stars strongly suggest an sdO nature and their association with PNe points out that they have most probably evolved through the asymptotic giant branch. We analyze general properties of the few known sdOs associated to PNe and find that most of them are relatively or very evolved PNe, show complex morphologies, host binary central stars, and are located at relatively high Galactic latitudes.


Asymmetric information increases the credit rationing of micro-enterprises. Lender–borrower relationships help to provide this information, thereby increasing the availability of loans. This study aims to investigate the relationship between micro-lenders and micro clients. It is accomplished by describing how such relationships are developed, and analyzing these relationships' impact on the availability and credit term using multivariate regression. The results showed that the strength of lender–borrower relationships positively impacted credit access, but it did not significantly impact the credit term. Furthermore, the amount of income and loan purpose, as the proxies of business characteristics, negatively impacted credit access. These results highlight the critical role of the lender–borrower relationship and business characteristics in the risk management strategy and the sustainability of microfinance institutions.


Thermal-hydraulic behaviors within a PWR fuel assembly is very complex under accident conditions and marine conditions, which has a significant impact on reactor safety. It is crucial to carry out studies on thermal-hydraulic properties under transient conditions. A telecentric lens and a pulse signal generator are applied to improve the performance of PIV system, a high temporal and spatial resolution measurement for flow fields in rod bundle channels is achieved, the velocity distribution in rod bundles are obtained under accelerating flows and decelerating flows. The steady-state flow field is measured to use as a reference, the effect of flow fluctuations on the flow fields in the rod bundle is analyzed. The results present, the accelerating flows improve the velocity gradient between adjacent flow layers in rod bundles and weaken the lateral velocity. In the contrary, the decelerating flows weaken the velocity gradient between flow layers in rod bundles and improve lateral velocity. Conversely, the velocity gradient attenuates in decelerating flows between the rod beam layers and increases the lateral velocity. During the accident, the thermal-hydraulic behavior in the reactor has the characteristics of transient complexity and uncertainty. Studying the flow and heat transfer characteristics of the reactor core fuel assembly under accident conditions can improve a understanding for the accident development process.


Objective To know the status and influencial factors of immunization safety in Shanghai.Methods Descriptive analysis was applied on the data collected by immunization safety monitoring system.Results The reported adverse reactions following immunization(ARFI) was 37.1/100000,including common reaction(32.4/100000)and of abnormal reaction(4.7/100000) in 2006.The rate of practice error was 0.2/100000.Reported ARFI rates were higher in summer autumn and winter. ARFI rates viral and bacterial vaccines caused by were 13.7/100000 and 66.3/100000respectively.The top five categories on the reported ARFI rates were:Anti-rabies serum,Pneumococcal vaccine,Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus vaccine,Haemophilus Influenza B vaccine and Diphtheria Tetanus vaccine.One case died caused by acute allergy reaction after receiving Hepatitis B vaccine.Conclusion The immunization safety monitoring system in Shanghai was accurate and could be more sensitive.Seasonal and district difference were influencial factors to ARFI.Viral vaccines were safer than bacterial vaccines.The safety of different products was significantly difference.Deflection should be taken into account to the product safety evaluation.


Buildings are among the main reasons for the deterioration of the world environment as they are responsible for a large percentage of CO2 emissions related to energy. For this reason, it is necessary to find solutions to this problem. This research project consists of constructing the metamodel of an urbanization located in Panama, Herrera province. The classification and systematization of its main elements, using the software DesignBuilder and SysML diagrams, were carried out for its subsequent implementation in an optimization analysis that seeks to approach the NZED standard. The main objectives of the optimization are reducing the energy consumption at the lowest possible price while maintaining or improving thermal comfort. In this study, it was possible to reduce electricity consumption to at least 60% of the original value and about 10% of the renewable energy generation capacity by implementing optimization techniques within the retrofit category related to the envelope of the buildings and the occupant's behavior.


Thanks to three scholarly developments—the emergence of France's Annales School of historiography in the 1930s, the rise of the sociology of medicine in the 1940s, the appearance of the anthropology of medicine in the 1960s—the 1970s gave rise to the social history of disease. In recent years this branch of the history of medicine has won adherents around the world. The novelty of the social history of disease lies in a new paradigm that integrates medical history with social history. This synthesis between internal history and external history also involves an ontological synthesis: the integration of its dual attributes (biological and sociological) frames disease as a hybrid of nature and society. Since the publication of Chen Bangxian's Zhongguo yixueshi (中国医学史 The History of Chinese Medicine) in 1919, a series of studies has been carried out on the history of disease in China. Only in the 1980s did some historians begin to investigate the social history of disease; examples include Liang Qizi's Yufang tianhua cuoshi zhi yanbian (预防天花措施之演变 Changes in the Prevention of Smallpox and Medical Care, 1987), Mingqing yiliao zuzhi: Changjiang xiayou diqu guojia he minjian de yiliao jigou (明清医疗组织:长江下游地区国家和民间的医疗机构Medical Institutions in the Ming and Qing Dynasties: Imperial Medical Institutions and People's Clinics in the Yangzi Delta, 1987), Du Zhengsheng's Yiliao shehui yu wenhua: Linglei yiliaoshi de sikao (医疗、社会与文化—另类医疗史的思考 Medicine, Society and Culture: An Alternative History of Medicine, 1997), Cao Shuji's Shuyi liuxing yu huabei shehui bianqian (1580–1644) (鼠疫流行与华北社会变迁 Plague and Social Change in North China [1580–1644], 1997), and Yu Xinzhong's Qingdai Jiangnan DeWenyi Yu Shehui (清代江南的瘟疫与社会 Plague and Society in Qing Jiangnan, 2003). Most of these offer theoretical discussions in addition to case studies that place disease within concrete social institutions, economic situations, and customs. In Zhongguo jindai jibing shehuishi, Zhang Daqing traces the social history of disease through the complex institutionalization of Western medicine in modern


The global temperatures and atmospheric carbon dioxide (pCO 2) concentrations varied during the last 800 thousand years. During the glacial times, such as Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the atmospheric partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO 2) was about 80-100ppmv lower than interglacial times, such as Holocene. Compared to interglacial conditions, terrestrial carbon stocks were reduced during glacial conditions. Marine carbon cycles must have been the main driver for lowering atmospheric pCO 2 during ice ages. A number of candidate mechanisms to explain the reduction in glacial atmospheric pCO 2 have been proposed. However, they failed to explain full amplitude of 80-100ppmv reduction. Based on paleo-proxy reconstructions, δC gradient between surface and deep ocean was larger than today, suggesting that the glacial ocean circulation state was different from today. In the deep glacial Southern Ocean, very saline water was identified from paleo proxy data. Moreover, radiocarbon record showed the existence of radiocarbon-depleted old waters in glacial ages. One hypothesis that has been proposed to explain the glacial atmospheric pCO 2 is the isolated reservoir hypothesis: a carbon-rich, radiocarbon-depleted water mass was isolated from the atmosphere during the glacial periods. The stratification of the Southern Ocean water column may have contributed to a reduction of atmospheric pCO 2. In this study preindustrial and LGM marine carbon cycle sensitivity experiments are conducted to estimate a role of stratification in glacial Southern Ocean quantitatively, by using an ocean general circulation model (OGCM). In the control case, atmospheric pCO2 between Modern case and LGM case is about 44ppmv, which was comparable to previous AOGCM study. However, LGM case cannot explain the saline glacial Southern Ocean. Previous study using intermediate complexity models suggested that glacial atmospheric pCO 2 andδC distribution can be reproduced by considering brine induced stratification. Therefore, we also consider the effect of brine induced stratification. We partly succeeded in reproducing the saline glacial South Atlantic Ocean by imposing body forcing near the bottom in the Weddell Sea, Ross Sea and Eastern Antarctica, whereas saline glacial Southern Ocean resulted in increased northward flow of AABW and increased atmospheric pCO 2. Additionally, we used stratification-dependent vertical eddy diffusivity parameterization suggested by Gargett (1984) to discuss changes in vertical eddy diffusivity in Southern Ocean. Contrary to our expectation, vertical eddy diffusivity in high latitude becomes very higher under glacial conditions, and sequestered carbon in deep ocean was released into the atmosphere and resulted in higher atmospheric pCO2. Finally, very stratified Southern Ocean achieved by extremely small vertical eddy diffusivity also cannot reduce glacial atmospheric pCO2. Other processes, which are not taken into account in our study may be important to reproduce the glacial condition.


According to the scientific development of the situation,F.Engels criticized sharply to mechanical reductionism which was mainstream thinking in that time,and presented the complexity thinking systematically based on his dialectics,which was a symbol of universal relations and eternal development.Though it was a bit highbrow,more than years later,the complexity thought of Engels is proved by the complexity sciences,which has become the cornerstone of complexity sciences.


Summary The current energy saving technologies rely on conventional data logging systems, where the current methods in retrieving the energy data is not convenient, and the cost of the data logging systems is high. The Automatic energy Meter Reading (AMR) technology is network-based applications used by electric/energy companies to increase performance and reliability of their energy meter reading and management systems. A mobile agent is a program (code and data) that can autonomously migrate from host to host in a network of heterogeneous computer systems and fulfill a task specified by its owner. Intelligent and secure Automatic Meter Reading and Management using Mobile Agents can be of great importance for municipalities and energy distribution companies so as to minimize the number of traditional visits required by the distribution company, hence decreasing the number of employees used in performing this traditional time consuming and high cost work. In this work we will start by surveying the current technologies and techniques used in handling remote meter reading and management. New modeling and simulation results for different configurations and techniques of automatic energy meter reading and management systems using mobile agents will be presented and compared to traditional client server techniques.


Objective
To explore the plasma expression and clinical significance of osteopontin (OPN) in patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection.

Methods
Fifty-one patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection were enrolled, in which 29 combined with hypertension, while the 22 without hypertension. Fourteen hypertensive patients and 11 healthy subjects were enrolled as controls. Plasma were sampled and examined for the level of OPN by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results
The levels of plasma OPN were significantly increased in patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection compared to healthy subjects [(234.9±20.5)pg/ml vs. (26.0±25.9)pg/ml, P<0.001]. Type A aortic dissection patients with [(274.4±164.6)pg/ml] or without hypertension [(182.8±99.5)pg/ml] both showed significantly increased plasma OPN levels compared to hypertension patients [(24.6±21.9)pg/ml] or healthy controls [(26.0±25.9)pg/ml, all P<0.05]. Spearman correlation analysis showed that there was no significant correlation between serum CRP levels and plasma OPN levels (r2=0.06, P=0.09).

Conclusions
Plasma OPN may be involved in the pathogenesis of Stanford type A aortic dissection, but their concentrations were not correlated with serum CRP levels. The detailed mechanism needs further investigations.

Key words:
Aortic dissection; Osteopontin; Hypertension; C-reactive protein


The hydrogen combustion engine (H$_2$ICE) is known to be able to burn H$_2$ under ultra-lean conditions, while producing no CO$_2$ emissions and extremely low engine-out NO$_x^{\mathrm{eo}}$ emissions. Immediate goals, as for instance the upcoming EURO 7 NO$_x$ limitations, can be reached more easily as extremely low engine-out NO$_x^{\mathrm{eo}}$ emissions facilitate the reduction of the overall tailpipe NO$_x^{\mathrm{tp}}$ emissions. In this work, the feasibility of achieving consistent reductions in NO$_x^{\mathrm{eo}}$ emissions through the implementation of electric hybridization of an H$_2$ICE-equipped passenger car (H$_2$-HEV), combined with a dedicated energy management strategy (EMS) is discussed. In particular, the mixed H$_2$-HEV architecture is investigated and compared to a series H$_2$-HEV, a parallel H$_2$-HEV, and a base H$_2$-vehicle, which is only equipped with an H$_2$ICE. For hybrid vehicles, a low H$_2$ consumption and low NO$_x^{\mathrm{eo}}$ emissions are conflicting objectives, the trade-off of which depends on the EMS and can be represented as a Pareto front. Overall, through the utilization of a dedicated energy management calibration, the mixed H$_2$-HEV demonstrates the capability to consistently achieve extremely low engine-out NO$_x^{\mathrm{eo}}$ emissions. For a broad range of driving missions, the mixed H$_2$-HEV is able to decrease the engine-out NO$_\mathrm{x}^\mathrm{eo}$ emissions by more than 90%, while, at the same time, the H$_2$ consumption is decreased by over 16%, compared to a comparable non-hybridized H$_2$-vehicle. These significant emission reductions are possible without having to modify the exhaust-gas aftertreatment system, or the optimization of any of the individual drivetrain components, but solely by setting the EMS calibration accordingly.


Class distinction has been an ongoing phenomenon throughout human history and has become particularly evident with industrialization. Marx's Theory of Classes explains how modes of production give rise to class distinction. For this reason, this study examines Marx's concept of class distinction and how the social effects of class distinction and the roles of ruler and ruled are reflected in cinema. By analyzing the film "Snowpiercer" directed by South Korean director Bong Joon-ho, the impact of cinema on the social structure and its semantic structures are discussed. In the study, Marx's Theory of Classes and Greimas' Actantial Model were employed to analyze the film. "Snowpiercer" deals with class distinction as a fundamental theme. The film focuses on the impact of class distinctions on society, and the roles of ruler and ruled within class distinction. The semiotic analysis of the film is based on Greimas' Actantial Model. This analysis aims to reveal the semantic structures of the movie and presents the findings.


Abstract This study wants to examine the formulation of the strategy for improving the quality of IAIN in East Java which is focused on: (1) strengthening the academic field (core activities of Higher Education); and (2) Strengthening the supporting activities of Higher Education in improving the quality of IAIN. The development of science and technology in the global era that occurs at this time brings the impact of changes in human life and all the problems can be solved by the mastery of science and the development of technology. This condition requires IAIN in East Java to be able to respond positively and can improve quality and can respond to stakeholder needs and the development of science and technology positively. In order for the IAIN to be able to meet the demands and needs of stakeholders and play a dynamic role in global competition, it is necessary to formulate a strategy to improve the quality of the institution properly. The formulation of this strategy can be used as an effort to make strategic planning carried out in a planned, directed, intensive, effective, and efficient manner in the process of improving the quality of IAIN in the current global era


The M variant of EMC virus induces diabetes mellitus in several strains of adult mice.1-5 Incompletely defined polygenic influences appear to affect the occurrence of the disease. The incidence in DBA/2 animals is >70%, whereas it is about 40% in those of the CD-1 strain. Fewer than 10% of mice of the C3H, C57B1, BALB/CJ and A/J strains are affected.5'6 Although animals of both sexes can be infected with EMC virus, the incidence of diabetes in males is substantially greater than in females.2'57 Its development in castrated male and female animals is markedly enhanced by the administration of testosterone.7 Glucocorticoid hormones also increase the severity of the disease in intact mice.8 Overt hyperglycemia develops 4 to 7 days after subcutaneous inoculation of virus. It is associated with hypoinsulinemia and the presence of decreased amounts of insulin in the pancreatic tissue (Figure 1). Hyperglycemia often is transient, although many mice exhibit abnormal glucose tolerance during convalescence. Persistently elevated fasting concentrations of blood glucose (150 to >500 mg/100 ml) are noted in a variable proportion. While the metabolic abnormality appears to improve with time, some animals loose weight despite hyperphagia and die. Early in the infection, beta cells are degranulated and a variable number undergo necrosis (Figure 2). At this time substantial amounts of virus are found in the pancreatic tissue. During the acute stages of the infection viral antigen is located in the beta cells by immunofluorescence.5 Alpha cells exhibit few if any abnormalities.9 An infiltrate of macrophages and lymphocytes is present in and around the islets during the second week after virus inoculation 2,4 (Figure 3).


This paper discusses the application of thetravel demand model of similar cities groups from the CampinasMetropolitan Region by means of their economic characteristics. The cities groups were obtained from the statistical technique of multivariate cluster analysis which resulted in 4 clusters. This technique required the choice of a similarity measure and the clustering algorithm. The result obtained were represented by a dendogram that represents clusters of seminaries cities. Demand models correlating trips and job variableswere developed for each cluster. Finally, this article has pointed out that the partition of cities using variables such as jobs has revealed to be the most coherent with the observed data, rather than a model that considers cities in the CMR indistinctively.


When working with the cattle farm, it is important to know its evolution. The Brazilian cattle farm needs to be known by the historical data of production. Thus, the objective was to conduct the study of the evolution and distribution of cattle in Brazil, Central West, Goias and the city of Jatai-GO. Effective Brazilian cattle evolved 691% from 1912 to 2014 putting Brazil in a privileged level compared to other countries, surpassed only effective bovine India. The growth of the Brazilian herd is on the


In an earlier paper [I1 we characterized the class of facets of the set covering polytope defined by inequalities with coefficients equal to 0, 1 or S2. -iT this paper we connects/that characterization to the theory of facet lifting. In particular, we-introduc~ a family of lower dimensional polytopes and associated inequalities having only three nonzero coefficients, whose lifting yields all the valid inequalities in the above class, with the lifting coefficients given by closed form expressions. Accession For "" " DTIC TAB __ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ Ic Aysilabl1t Codes ,J'-' A " a ."5.and/or Dist Special


This report describes the regional and site specific geology of the Hanford Sites low-level burial grounds in the 200 East and West Areas. The report incorporates data from boreholes across the entire 200 Areas, integrating the geology of this area into a single framework. Geologic cross-sections, isopach maps, and structure contour maps of all major geological units from the top of the Columbia River Basalt Group to the surface are included. The physical properties and characteristics of the major suprabasalt sedimentary units also are discussed.


This report reviews the current availability of cost information on road maintenance measures and road construction investments, and presents recommendations on increasing the knowledge of costs. The Finnish Road Administration faces a choice concerning how cost knowledge should be maintained in the future, because all maintenance and construction activities are now purchased from the market. There also is a trend into larger and larger contracts. In-depth cost knowledge is therefore becoming increasingly external, unless effort is put into maintaining of cost knowledge in the Road Administration. A basic choice in keeping up cost knowledge is the level of specificity of cost information. Should cost data consist of simply tracing changes in the overall cost level of maintenance and road construction, or should there be a systematic process of collecting, analyzing and presenting unit cost information by type maintenance of construction measure in different parts of the network and in different road classes? Unit cost now implies cost information presented as Euros/km, Euors/m2 or Euros/m3, or some other unit of describing a measure. Unit cost is the most precise indicator of controlling costs, and should therefore be actively used for keeping up cost efficiency. The current cost data sets produced by the Road Administration are twofold. On one hand, there is a process of following up cost aggregates at the budgeting level. On the other hand there is a lot detailed cost information in the hands of single experts and experts groups on specific activities and measures. The latter mass of information is not, however, systematically compiled, summarised or presented to larger user groups. Thus, the process of producing cost information is disorganised. Furthermore, the cost data is not collected into any databank, nor is it set available for all users in or outside the Road Administration. The Finnish Road Administration evidently needs to develop a databank on cost information consisting of both detailed and generalised cost descriptions of maintenance and road construction activities. There already exists a mass of cost data in the Road Administration that could be fed into such a cost data management system. This information should also be refined into more general data and published to users. Cost data could also be presented with geographic information systems on the road network.


Abstract : A table of Bessel functions whose order and argument are both purely imaginary has been prepared. These Bessel functions are solutions to the Schrodinger equation in which the potential energy is an exponential function. It is found that this function represents the repulsive potential of diatomic molecules quite accurately. (Author)


A harmonious campus requires democracy and nomocracy,and to implement the concept of"Manage the School by Law"needs to set regulation on every aspects of the daily works;moreover,while considering whether a set of regulations is reasonable or not we should take it from two aspects:the way the regualations are established and the implementation of the regulations.Here the writer would discuss how to make the regulations more rea- sonable and humanized,from the aspects of the establishment and impementation of the regulations.


This study examined the relationship between preschool teachers' environmental literacy and their science and technology self efficacy beliefs. 120 preschool teachers from teacher education programme at one university participated in this study. Data were collected by using Environmental Literacy Scale and Science and Technology Literacy Self Efficacy Belief Scale; quantitative data analysis was conducted for each of the scale. Results indicated that preschool preservice teachers' environmental knowledge and awareness of environmental uses were found to be somewhat satisfactory but their environmental literacy level was found insufficient. In addition their science and technology literacy self efficacy beliefs were found to be quite sufficient. Correlation analysis showed positive and significant relationship among the subdimensions of environmental literacy, but no significant realtionship between preservice teachers' attitudes towards the environment and their self efficacy beliefs and between preservice teachers' environmental uses and their self efficacy beliefs regarding science and technology literacy. However, results indicated a significant interaction between pre-service teachers' environmental concerns and their self efficacy beliefs regarding science and technology literacy.

 Key words: Science and technology literacy, environmental literacy, pre-school preservice teachers.


objective Sum up experience in skull base reconstructive surgery, probe into purpose, method, material and operative indication of the reconstructive surgery Method Review and analyze the 59 patients of skull base reconstruction,including 54 cases of anterior cranial fossa reconstruction and 5 cases of middle cranial fossa reconstruction, for 56 patients of craniocerebral trauma, 2 patients of meningoma and 1 patients of brain abscess Basicranial fracture was repositioned, open accessory nasal sinus blocked, dura repaired, basicranial defects repaired, cranial nerve explored and decompressing made in the course of surgery Result The deformities of cranial cavities and orbital cavities of the whole group were corrected and nobody was complicated by cerebrospinal fluid fistulae or meningitis Cranial nerve function was improved and the physiognomy recovered satisfactorily Conclusion Skull base reconstruction can improve the prognosis of the patients undergoing basicranial injury and pathologic change surgery, and upgrade the survival quality


A series of 113 patients operated on in the period 1980–1989 for a neck recurrence from a head and neck cancer was studied. All patients had no other evidence of disease. The male/female ratio was 93/20, and the median age was 58 years (range 28–87). Previous treatment consisted of surgery (SG) ± radiotherapy (RT) in 81 patients (SG group) and only RT in 32 (RT group): 59 cases presented a relapse in the treated neck and 54 in the contralateral side. All but one contralateral recurrences were in the SG group. Ten patients were lost to followup. The observed 5‐year survival rate of the whole series was 29.2% (95% confidence interval, 0%–38%). Considering patients with ipsilateral recurrences, the 5‐year disease‐free survival rate was 38.7% (95% c.i., 28.7%–48.7%) and 27% (95% c.i., 18%–36%) for the SG and the AT group, respectively. The 5‐year disease‐free survival rate after SG for contralateral recurrences was 38.8% (95% c.i., 23.8%–53.8%). Dimension and mobility of the neck nodes were the only demonstrable prognostic factors.


This paper deals with the relationship between input torque and input angular velocity for e cold pipe rolling mill,which is made of crank-slider mechanism.Some applicable data and formulas are presented for selecting Input motor power and strength checking of the input shaft and gears mounted to it,when the input angular velocity is increased.Other dynamic indexes are discussed as well,while the velocity Is increased.The solving technique is also given for some problems which will occur when the mechanism runs at high speed.


In this note we characterize all subalgebras and homomorphic images of the free cyclic Heyting algebra, also known as the RiegerNishimura lattice N . Consequently, we prove that every subalgebra of N is projective, that a finite Heyting algebra is a subalgebra of N iff it is projective, and characterize projective homomorphic images of N . The atoms and co-atoms of the lattice of all subalgebras of N are also characterized, along with the Frattini subalgebra of N .


The form of the electron density surrounding a spherically symmetric defect in a Fermi gas at non-zero temperature is calculated. At large distances and moderate temperatures the density decay contains a factor (πkFkT /2EF) csch(πkT/EF) kFr and reduces at zero temperature to the well-known inverse cube dependence of amplitude on distance.


mm, 10–20 mm and >20 mm respectively. Three patients had EUS reported as normal/submucosal thickening only. 78 of the 81 biopsy results of SELs at initial endoscopy provided no diagnostic value. 47 (35.6%) patients underwent FNA of lesion, (0%,12% and 72% of patients for size <10 mm 10–20 mm and >20 mm respectively). 5 (3.8%) SELs were not sampled due to patient factors. 27 (57%) of EUSFNAs were diagnostic: 20 (42.5%) were proven GIST, 3 (6.3%) leiomyoma, 3 (6.3%) other malignancy and one lipoma. Only 2 (28%) FNAs of lesions <20 mm were diagnostic. All patients with SELs <20 mm all survived, except four who died of unrelated causes. Two had a resection and 36 underwent surveillance. Of the 53 patients with SELs >20 mm, 17 had resection/Imatinib, 25 underwent surveillance and two died of other causes. Conclusion EUS is a useful tool in the assessment, diagnosis and follow-up of small SELs. Management of lesions <20 mm remains controversial, however our patients with SEL <20 mm had no clinical sequelae and no EUS findings of concern during follow-up of at least one-year. Diagnostic yield of FNA for lesions <20 mm was low which suggests a more conservative, surveillance approach may be appropriate.


In this letter, we show that innovative physics-based simulations can be used for a comprehensive analysis of RF stages subject to random variations of technological parameters, including the computation of the average (deterministic) RF performance along with their statistical deviation. The variability analysis is addressed by means of the recently developed physics-based sensitivity analysis of AC parameters through Green's functions. To demonstrate the technique, we address the analysis of a FinFET mixer exploiting an innovative independent gates topology, showing that a careful design allows to maximize the mixer conversion gain, while minimizing its variability versus several physical parameters, such as the gate length, oxide thickness, and fin width.


Journalism has been slow to develop distinctive forms in response to the new contexts provided by the internet. One rapidly developing form, unique to the world wide web, is the weblog. This article reviews the claims made by proponents of the form and explores, through the case study of a weblog produced by the British Guardian newspaper, epistemological differences to the dominant Anglo-American news form. The article argues that the rearticulation in this institutional product of the relation between journalists and users, of the claim to authority made in the news text and of the news text as product, provides historians of both journalism and new media with a case study of the adaptation of journalism to new contexts.


A two-week study was designed to test the growth and performance of broiler chicks fed a corn-soybean meal (C-SBM) based control diet with dicalcium phosphate (DCP) and limestone compared to chicks fed diets in which Ca and P were supplied with meat and bone meal (MBM), fish meal (FM), and alfalfa meal (AM). Thirty broiler chicks were randomly allocated to three diets with two replicate cages per diet (5 birds/cage). The three diets were formulated to contain ingredients that would meet or exceed the Ca and P requirements of 0-3 wk old chicks. The control diet was a C-SBM based diet with DCP and limestone. Dicalcium phosphate and limestone were replaced with MBM to meet or exceed Ca and P requirements in diet 2, and the third diet used a combination of MBM, FM, and AM to replace DCP and limestone. On d 1 and at the end of every week, pen body weight (BW) and feed intake were recorded. Average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed to gain ratio (F:G) were calculated for each week. No significant difference was seen in ADG, ADFI, and F:G in chicks fed diets containing alternate Ca and P sources.


This work introduces Physics-informed State-space neural network Models (PSMs), a novel solution to achieving real-time optimization, flexibility, and fault tolerance in autonomous systems, particularly in transport-dominated systems such as chemical, biomedical, and power plants. Traditional data-driven methods fall short due to a lack of physical constraints like mass conservation; PSMs address this issue by training deep neural networks with sensor data and physics-informing using components' Partial Differential Equations (PDEs), resulting in a physics-constrained, end-to-end differentiable forward dynamics model. Through two in silico experiments - a heated channel and a cooling system loop - we demonstrate that PSMs offer a more accurate approach than purely data-driven models. Beyond accuracy, there are several compelling use cases for PSMs. In this work, we showcase two: the creation of a nonlinear supervisory controller through a sequentially updated state-space representation and the proposal of a diagnostic algorithm using residuals from each of the PDEs. The former demonstrates the ability of PSMs to handle both constant and time-dependent constraints, while the latter illustrates their value in system diagnostics and fault detection. We further posit that PSMs could serve as a foundation for Digital Twins, constantly updated digital representations of physical systems.


This paper focuses on practical function, social significance
and symbolic meaning of early medieval central places from the
East-Central Europe, in particular from the area of so-called
Great Moravia, which was a important (pre-)state formation on
the eastern periphery of the Frankish Empire. It is argued that
the vast local agglomerations were not mere military forts, but
very complex centres – genuine civitates or urbs of Moravian
Slavs as they are mentioned in Royal Frankish Annals. Only
rarely can we identify the settlements known from Carolingian
written sources with specific places. Although the majority
eludes localization, we assume that the place names given in
the written sources refer to some of the rich archaeological
sites explored by archaeologists over the last 50 years in the
Czech Republic. The most important ones are Mikulcice, Stare
Město and Pohansko near Břeclav.


Measuring fat dynamics is extremely important in understanding the nutritional ecology of cervids. Estimates of body composition provide insight into an animal's energetic state, potential for reproduction and survival, and quality of habitat they occupy. We validat- ed accuracy of in vivo and post-mortem indices to predict total body fat in mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). Rump fat thickness measured using ultrasonography was relat- ed linearly to ingesta-free body fat, but disappeared at -5.6% body fat. Loin muscle thickness determined by ultrasonography and condition scores exhibited potential to quantify nutritional reserves when rump fat has been depleted. Whole body mass did not predict body fat in adult females, but was a good predictor of ingesta-free lean body mass. Kidney fat mass and kidney fat index were moderate predictors of total body fat, but the relationship was curvilinear. Of the post-mortem indices we tested, the Kistner Score exhibited the strongest linear relationship to ingesta-free body fat. We suggest that using an accurate in vivo method to assess nutritional reserves reveals much about past nutri- tional history and future productivity of individuals within a population, especially when determined repeatedly in radiocol lared animals.


PURPOSE
To quantify and compare physical activity (PA) level of university students from different fields of study, and to investigate its correlates.

METHODS
221 students (111 female, 20[18-23]years), from different study fields were cross-sectionally assessed for daily PA (pedometer), cardiorespiratory fitness (20m Shuttle Run Test-20mSRT), health-related quality of life (HRQoL), anxiety and depression symptoms.

RESULTS
In general, 60% of the students were physically active (> 8000 steps/day), presented good HRQoL an cardiorespiratory fitness, minimal symptoms of depression and moderate of anxiety. The highest PA level was observed in students from physical education and sport sciences, and the lowest in those from social sciences (median[IQR]: 9882[8435-13510] versus 7593[6070- 9753] steps/day, respectively; P < 0.01). Male students were more active than female. Steps/day was moderately associated with VO2max [r = 0.42], VO2%pred [r = 0.41] and distance achieved in the 20mSRT [r = 0.43] (P < 0.0001 for all), and weakly associated wit anxiety symptoms (r = -0.20; P = 0.004) and HRQoL domains (0.15 < r < 0.21; p < 0.05). Distance achieved in the 20mSRT was the only determinant of steps/day (adjusted R2 = 0.22; p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS
Most university students can be considered as physically active. In these young adults, lower PA level correlates moderately with worse cardiorespiratory fitness and weakly with worse HRQoL and anxiety symptoms.


Industrial facilities rely on electrical wire systems to perform a variety of functions for successful operation. Many of these functions directly support the safe operation of the facility; therefore, the continued reliability of wire systems, even as they age, is critical. Condition Monitoring (CM) of installed wire systems is an important part of any aging program. This paper describes a method for wire system condition monitoring, developed at the IFE Halden Reactor Project, which is based on Frequency Domain Reflectometry. This method resulted in the development of a system called LIRA (LIne Resonance Analysis), which can be used on-line to detect any local or global changes in the cable electrical parameters as a consequence of insulation faults or degradation. This paper presents some results achieved in field experiments on signal cables for nuclear installations and long sub-sea cables for off-shore oil&gas installations.


Our study aims to verify the cluster variation of Twitter hashtags according to their word distributions. By gathering tweets from Twitter sample data and saving tweets in a time period of each hour separately, we extract hashtags and calculate their word distributions for each time period. Furthermore, by using Ward's hierarchical method, we cluster hashtags to a structure of groups according to the Jensen-Shannon divergence between any two hashtags and show the clustering results with dendrogram, which represents the hierarchical structure of all hashtags. Finally, we verify the differences of clustering results between each time period to analyze the details of cluster variation. The achievement of this study will contribute to develop marketing campaign or advertisement on Twitter.


This paper describes the identification of carbon–carbon bond cleavage within a defined range of epoxides as being a reaction type which is specifically diagnostic of free radicals adjacent to the epoxide. The speed of the epoxide cleavage is greater than that of hex-5-enyl radical cyclisation, and hence the reaction is kinetically competent to act as a new and discriminating type of probe for free radicals in solution.


Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is used to design a novel microchannel network for the application of nonuniform heat flux generated by electronic devices with multiple heat elements. The channel network includes three tapered headers and two channel-regions. A corresponding experiment system is developed which mainly consists of a computer-controlled pump, heating blocks and the apparatuses for measuring the temperature and pressure drop. The distributions of pressure drop, temperature, and the Nusselt number in the microchanel heat sink are provided as well as thermal resistance.


Stringent error budgets for Next Generation Lithography masks require accurate pattern placement. Therefore, predictions of distortions induced during mask fabrication and usage are needed to optimize processing and exposure conditions. This paper focuses on the in-plane distortions resulting from pattern transfer during the fabrication of ion-beam projection lithography and electron-beam projection lithography stencil masks.


The distribution of cocoons of the pine—feeding sawfly, Neodiprion fulviceps (Complex), is clearly related to ground surface temperature. In full shade such as provided by a brush field, cocoons are distributed relatively uniformly in the soil around the host tree; in the open, cocoons are concentrated at the base of the tree and on the north and east sides of the bole. See full-text article at JSTOR


By insisting on the primacy of double-plot, Empson brackets the sometimes deceptive appearances of a text's content to uncover and disengage the more fundamental double-plot system at work within the defining structure of the text. Empson's thinking about the reception of double-plot structures enables Raymond Williams's early formulations of structure of feeling, in particular the gesturing this perplexing, underdeveloped, but persistent concept makes towards understanding collective response to cultural forms. This article explores the implications of the reception of double-plot structures, drawing out the assumptions inscribed in Empson's claims about processes at work as an audience engages with these dramatic structures.


PURPOSE: To provide a guide catheter which indicates smoothly structural movement against a catheter shaft and also has an atraumatic distal end tip which is observable with X-ray. CONSTITUTION: This blood vessel catheter like a guide catheter 10 made of synthetic resin has an atraumatic distal end tip 16, and the far side tip 16 consists of both an elastomeric tubular member 17 of a base edge side 12 and a distal end tubular member 18 which is softer than the member 17. The distal end tubular member 18, which is impregnated with a X-ray radiopaque material, enables observation of the distal end tip 16 by X-ray radioparency when the catheter is arranged on the prescribed position in a patient. A catheter shaft 11 has excellent torsion and a pushing characteristic, and consists of very thin wall surface. The catheter shaft 11 consists of an inner tubular member made of a twisted polymer string impregnated with a thermosetting polyurethane and an outer jacket 22 which is fixed to a twisted tubular member 21 or a thermoplastic coating.


Objective To investigate the resistance of Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus and Musca domestica to commonly used insecticides in Changsha, Yiyang, and Yueyang, Hunan province, China in 2011, and to provide a scientific guidance for the management of mosquitoes and houseflies.Methods The resistance of mosquitoes and houseflies to insecticides was determined by larval immersion and topical application, respectively.Results Cx. pipiens quinquefasciatus showed resistance to all insecticides tested with the following resistance ratios: 1.14-2.86 fold to deltamethrin, 2.25-6.75 fold to beta-cypermethrin,1.00-17.24 fold to fenobucarb, and 25.00-65.00 fold to temephos, of which temephos resistance was the highest. Musca domestica was also resistant to all insecticides tested in this study, with resistance ratios as follows: 36.13-109.13 fold to deltamethrin, 28.46-32.81 fold to beta-cypermethrin, 1.43-2.25 fold to DDVP, and 0.82-2.34 fold to propoxur; the resistance to chrysanthemum ester was the highest, with a peak value of 109.13 fold.Conclusion More efforts should be made to the resistance of Cx. pipiens quinquefasciatus and M. domestica to insecticides. It is necessary to enhance resistance monitoring and to use insecticides rationally,so as to prevent and reduce the development of pesticide resistance.


The Friedlander condensation of 8-amino-7-quinolinecarbaldehyde with a series of four isomeric diacetylpyrenes provides the corresponding 1,3-, 1,6-, 1,8-, and 2,7-bis(2′-[1′,10′]phenanthrolinyl)pyrenes. These ligands, along with the tetrahydro analogue to the 2,7-pyrene-bridged isomer, have been treated with [Ru([D8]bpy)2Cl2], where [D8]bpy = [D8]2,2′-bipyridine, to afford the dinuclear RuII complexes, 1H NMR and X-ray crystallographic analysis of which indicate that the bridging pyrene is layered between a [D8]bpy auxiliary ligand coordinated to each metal atom. Although well situated for π−π interactions, little such effect is seen on the photophysical and electrochemical properties of these complexes. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2003)


Along with the rapid development of informationization, digital information resources, readership in higher school is not satisfied with the traditional service provided by library. Quite a few readers can locate the hot information needed very quickly and accurately and solve the problems they encouter in their teaching and research fields. In order to meet the needs of the times and readers, library in high school, on the basis of the sharing of information, should offer subject service needed by readers under the guide of the humanism.


this paper analyses the effects of using internally finned receiver for parabolic trough or Fresnel concentrator. A new 3-D model of a receiver with rectangular insert is proposed, the model approach the fluid dynamic interaction with the heat transfer inside the receiver, the solution of the physical problem with the KMultiphysics, the Tube inlet is defined as a mass flow entrance for the Syltherm 800 which is used as a heat transfer fluid in the present model. The Thermo-Fluidic study investigate for several solar radiation for the rectangular fin, and for various mass flow rates, the chosen geometry is studied and compared to experimental data , the analysis shows a heat transfer enhancement without any effects for the fluid flow inside the receiver Keywords; CFD ; CSP; K; COMSOL; solar absorber


In the present paper a numerical and experimental study aiming at the enhancement of the working range of a transonic compressor via boundary layer suction (BLS) is presented. The main objective of the investigation is to study the influence of BLS on the interference between shock wave and boundary layer and to identify the possible benefit of BLS on the compressor working characteristics. An extensive numerical study has been carried out for the DATUM blade and for 2 different suction location configurations for one speed line and varying back-pressure levels, ranging from choked conditions to stall. It was found that the working range of the transonic compressor with a nominal inlet Mach number of 1.2 and a nominal pre-shock Mach number of 1.35 could be increased by sucking 2% of flow on the SS away, in such a way that the maximum pressure ratio and maximum diffusion could both be increased by 10%, when compared to the DATUM case. For smaller pressure ratios with respect to the design pressure ratio, the BLS is located in a supersonic flow region and thus creates additional losses due to a more divergent flow channel, which additionally accelerates the flow and results in a higher preshock Mach number creating higher losses. First measurements carried out in LTTs annular cascade, do show reasonable agreement with the computations in terms of inlet Mach number, flow angle, main shock location and stall limit. The most pronounced difference between measurements and computations is the occurrence of a terminal normal channel shock behind a bowed detached shock wave and a separation on the SS of the blade, which were both not predicted by the CFD.


This paper discusses the relationships that first-year students have with learning and with technology. Due to the lack of previous work linking e-learning with student retention, differences between 'withdrawers' and 'persisters' were explored. Data were collected using interviews and questionnaires and analysed using thematic analysis. Evidence of a deficit approach to e-learning appears to manifest itself in both groups and technologies that promote social interaction were primarily reserved for personal use rather than within an institutional context. Recommendations from this research include the need to learn how technologies promoting social interaction are used and incorporate lessons learnt into the design of e-learning experiences.


The invention relates to substituted C2-indan-1-one and their physiologically acceptable salts and physiologically functional derivatives. DOLLAR A are described compounds of formula I, DOLLAR F1 in which the radicals have the meanings indicated, and their physiologically acceptable salts and processes for their preparation. The compounds are suitable for. For example, as anorectics.


The purpose of the present study was to identify any significant relationship between critical thinking ability, L2 vocabulary knowledge, and L2 vocabulary learning strategies of Iranian EFL learners. To this aim, the productive vocabulary levels test was administered to measure the learner's L2 vocabulary knowledge and observe homogeneity in terms of vocabulary knowledge. At the second stage, a critical thinking questionnaire was administered, along with a newly-developed L2 vocabulary learning strategies questionnaire; the questionnaires were developed to specify the critical thinking ability and L2 vocabulary learning strategies of the individual participants. The results of the statistical analysis revealed that Iranian EFL learners' L2 vocabulary knowledge was significantly related to their critical thinking ability. The participants' critical thinking ability also correlated positively with their self-assessed degree of determination, memorization, cognitive, and meta-cognitive strategies of L2 vocabulary learning. The study also showed a positive relationship between participants' L2 vocabulary knowledge and their L2 vocabulary learning strategies.


Introduction: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) has one of the worst prognoses among autoimmune diseases. Multi-ethnic Western cohorts have shown ethnic differences in disease characteristics. Due to a paucity of data in Asia, we aimed to describe the disease characteristics and autoantibody profile of Asian SSc patients. Methods: The Singapore SSc database consists of prevalent and incident cases from four institutions. Data were recorded annually according to a standardised protocol. Cumulative disease characteristics were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: From 2008 to 2012, 200 patients (85.5% females; Chinese 78%, Malays 10.5%, Indians 6%) diagnosed at a mean age of 46 years, fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) (88.0%) or the Very Early Diagnosis of SSc (VEDOSS) (12%) criteria. SSc subtypes include limited cutaneous SSc (LcSSc) (32%) or diffuse cutaneous SSc (DcSSc) (37.6%), SSc-overlap syndromes (27.4%) and sine scleroderma (3%). Predominant disease manifestations were Raynaud's phenomenon (n=161, 80.5%), gastrointestinal (GI) (n=125, 62.5%), joint pain (n=116, 58%) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) (n=99, 51.8%). Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) by echocardiography was present in 23.2% (39/168) of patients (mean systolic pulmonary arterial pressure 55.0+19.7mmHg). Renal crisis was rare (n=4, 2%). Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) tested positive in 78.7% (155/197), with anti-Scl-70 (69/197, 35.0%), anti-ribonucleoprotein (RNP) (56/192, 29.2%) and anti-Ro60 (40/193, 20.7%) most frequently detected. Anti-centromere antibodies were infrequent (23/190, 12.1%). Treatment included corticosteroids (80.7%), for peripheral vasculopathy (61.4%), GI (68%), PAH (11.2%) and immunosuppression (62.9%). Conclusion: Compared to Caucasian patients, our predominantly Chinese Asian SSc patients were diagnosed at an earlier age, with more severe PAH, less frequent Raynaud's phenomenon, an autoantibody profile characterised by anti-Scl70, anti-RNP and anti-Ro60, infrequently anti-centromere and more patients had DcSSc.


Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the cause of noncommunicable disease mortality that has increased most since 1990 (data from 188 countries), with great impact on patients' morbidity and mortality, as well as having an enormous economic impact. The incidence of CKD increases with age, but the recognition of the disease by the population is still very low and, consequently, its detection is late1. In United States, the costs related to CKD continue to increase especially for pre -dialysis patients2, and a similar picture occurs in our country.


A compact flow boiling module was developed for cooling a 100-W class package of about one-inch square in size. The cold plate, where heat is transferred from the package was made with a porous plating inside to augment boiling heat transfer. Heat transfer increased by a maximum of 50 percent when an organic refrigerant HFE-7100 was used, while the conditions for heat rejection to the ambient were kept unchanged. The heat rejection was achieved with an 80-mm fan with a matching corrugated fin radiator, whose effectiveness limits the overall size of the cooling module. The microscopic structure in the cold plate negatively influenced boiling of water, holding large patches of vapor bubbles on the surface. When the convective effect was increased by decreasing the cross sectional area of the channel by 10 times, heat transfer was further augmented approximately by 2 folds, making the use of the organic refrigerant an attractive option as the working fluid.Copyright © 2007 by ASME


In the present study, an analysis of high pressure compression in fullerites such as C60, C70,C84 and Carbon nanotubes has been performed using the two parameter based isothermal equations of state,i.e.Murnaghan equation, Kumar equation,Vinet equation, Suzuki equation, Sharma equation and usual TaitÂ's equation. The results achieved from these equations are compared with the available experimental data. It is found that the results obtained from usual TaitÂ's equation of state are in close agreement with the experimental data as compared to those calculated from other equations of state. A good agreement between theory and experiment demonstrates the validity of the TaitÂ's equation of state in nanostructured fullerites and nanomaterials as in case of bulk materials.


Islands are key model systems in biogeography and ecology. However, standardized data on environmental characteristics of the large number of islands worldwide have so far been lacking, and the effects of these characteristics on island ecology and biodiversity remain insufficiently understood. In my PhD thesis, I presented the first comprehensive environmental characterization of the world's islands, covering past and present bioclimatic and physical island characteristics (including the spatial setting of islands and archipelagos). I used these data to investigate how island characteristics influence the diversity and assembly of island floras at different spatial scales and across major plant groups. To this end, I assembled a global database of vascular plant species composition including 45,000 species and covering 1,070 islands. I showed


While many videogames are replete with religious images and intertextuality, the role and purpose of religion and religious intertextuality in videogames has not been extensively examined. Love lists some examples of religion in a variety of videogame genres and reflects on some of the functions religion and religious intertextuality perform in videogames. He then proceeds to closely play a videogame, Bethesda Softworks The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, to examine the roles religion plays in one videogame. Love finds that the religion in videogames operates as cultural critique and challenges the close player to reflect on her/his identity by demanding the player to ethically evaluate her/his actions in the game world.


A qualitative analysis of Laue patterns of bent crystals of rock salt was given by Gross and L e o n h a r d t 1 ' 2 ) . In their calculation they used Mügge's®) concept which amounts to assuming that in plastic bending layers bounded by the slip planes are bent around a direction perpendicular to the direction of slip. In the case of rock salt the slip planes are the {110} planes and the directions of slipping are the directions [110]. In circular bending of a rock salt rod bound by the cleavage planes around the direction [100], one of the slip planes usually dominates, as for example (Oil). The bending of the layers bounded by the planes (Oil), proceeds also around the direction [100]. The L a u e patterns of bent crystals obtained by Gross and L e o n h a r d t are qualitatively in complete agreement with calculations based on the scheme outlined above. I t must be noted that the calculations of Gross and L e o n h a r d t are only a first approximation. Thus L e o n h a r d t in his calculations assumed that the totality of the turned positions of the crystal is exactly located in a point. Such an assumption is mathematically convenient but does not correspond to the real structure of a plastically deformed crystal. In a real plastically deformed crystal there is a relative rotation of two such arbitrarily chosen parts lying at a definite distance from one another. This circumstance is very important as it causes a considerable deviation of the form of the pattern from that previously provided for by the curves given in the work of Leonhardt 2 ) . This deviation is explained by the geometrical details of "reflection" of parallel or slightly diverging beams of X-rays from the crystal planes. Laue and Tank 4) , Bragg 6 ) , and Leonhardt 6 ) showed that even the shape of the spots of the Laue patterns of undeformed crystals depends strongly on the geometry of reflection. The Laue pattern spots are obtained variously for the cases of parallel, converging, diverging etc. beams. For deformed crystals the role of this geometry increases considerably so that already for infinitely thin beams there are possible, as this was shown by the author7), effects leading to an incorrect hypothesis as to the character of the structure of deformed crystals6). The presence in real plastically deformed crystals of relative rotations of parts lying at definite distances from one another makes it possible to calculate theoretically these rotations for given conditions of plastic deformation.


Design of the realistic supersonic jets has been challenging problem. The design space for a ground boom is known to be non-smooth and discontinuous. Due to those particular characteristics as such, gradient-based optimizer can not be employed to locate the global minimum, and gradient-free search method is more suitable for an extensive exploration in design sites. In this study we employ one of the direct search method, pattern search method which has been used for a general constrained optimization on filter methods. A general pattern search (GPS) method is the search algorithm which composes of the search step and the local poll step. Random global search is performed in the search step. In the poll step, the search directions are selected in a way that they can accelerate the convergence of search. A filter algorithm is combined with the PS to handle the mission constraints in a aggregate way. Moreover, to overcome the restriction to a finite set of directions in the GPS for local exploration, mesh adaptive direct search (MADS) method is introduced providing more search directions. A virtual mesh on the design space is constructed and as the algorithm iterates, the mesh can be refined or coarsened corresponding to the success of the search. This method is applied to the shape optimization of the low boom supersonic jet and the pattern search proceeds through the several iterations, until all the mission constrains are satisfied and aerodynamic/boom performance is improved. The objective function is the minimization of MTOW and the low ground boom is treated as one of the constraints.


A new evolutionary algorithm for problems having potential solutions encoded as permutations is proposed. The introduced algorithm is based on the collaboration between individuals that exchange information in order to accelerate the search process. Numerical experiments prove the efficiency of the proposed technique.


The author studies the magnitudes of the suprema of the deviations of rectangular Fourier sums on classes of continuous periodic functions determined by arbitrary partial moduli of continuity. Order precise upper estimates for these magnitudes are found, and in the case where the moduli of continuity are convex asymptotic equalities are obtained that are full analogues of the corresponding one-dimensional equalities of A. N. Kolmogorov and S. M. Nikol'skii. Bibliography: 12 titles.


I read with significant anticipation Professor Richard Lempert's 2009 Presidential Address. For a number of reasonsFpersonal and professionalFportions of the speech had great appeal to me. As a scholar of color who locates his intellectual home within the law and society community, I was heartened that a multifaceted consideration of race was the focus of the outgoing president's address. Moreover, as a legal scholar who has discussed the use of narrative methodology as a site of synergy between Critical Race Theory (CRT) and sociolegal theory (Barnes 2006), I was even more pleased that Professor Lempert's personal stories figured prominently within the address. Finally, I must confess a deep affection for the author, both of his empirical work on affirmative action (Lempert et al. 2000) and the personal kindness he extended to me while he was the president of the Law & Society Association (LSA). 1 Even with significant appreciation and anticipation in place, however, my reactions to the address were somewhat ambivalent. My first response to the piece was to question if there still is any value in this particular form of discourse for anyone other than those who already support race-conscious methods for achieving racial equality. In the general sense, the election of President Barack Obama has coincided with a rise in the belief that our society is now ''post-race''Fthat race is no longer salient, that discrimination is practiced by only an aberrant few, and hence, racial considerations in law and society are no longer needed (see Barnes et al. 2010; Cho 2009). At the level of the specific, many understand that


Underwater acoustic experiments at the NATO SACLANT Undersea Research Centre, La Spezia, Italy (SACLANTCEN) are largely dependent on moored and towed instrumentation. Every year up to 500 cable terminations are made and tested in compliance with safety standards to evaluate breaking strength and fatigue effects and life-cycle analysis of fiber ropes. Elongation and breaking strength can be determined for rope samples (maximum length 10 meters) subjected to up to 300 kN of tensile force. A computerized acquisition system records the details of safety control tests and the associated analysis. The machine also performs tension to tension cycling and "strumming" effect simulations on cable terminations, thus reproducing in air the two basic forcing functions on mooring lines at sea: wave action and current action. Aramid fiber ropes with advanced characteristics are being evaluated and the apparatus is being applied to the development of a new type of rope with high modulus fibers. An improved, rapid splicing technique has been developed for reliable cable terminations for long term moorings. This technique has been successfully applied to the moorings deployed during Atlantic-Ionian-Stream (AIS) 95 and Otranto Gap Experiment (OGEX2) oceanographic experiments in the Sicilian Channel and the Adriatic Sea.


The detection of breast cancer by microwave imaging is a fairly recent technique, based on the difference in dielectric properties between healthy tissues and malignant tissues. Although this technique has many advantages over other conventional techniques, it still has some limitations. Thus, this dissertation aims to contribute to the development of microwave imaging technique. Four different signal processing algorithms have been implemented that allow the removal of unwanted artifacts from the signals of a microwave-based medical imaging system. The best-known and most critical artifact is the reflection on the surface of the skin, which can be of several orders of magnitude higher than the reflection occurred in the tumor. In addition, two medical imaging algorithms are implemented based on beamforming techniques. Finally, to test the correct functioning of each of the algorithms and to analyze their performance, so that a comparison can be made between each of the algorithms implemented, a variety of numerical breast phantoms are used in anatomically realistic FDTD (Finite Difference Time Domain) models. The results allowed to conclude that for some algorithms the artifact is successfully removed, and in any of the simulated scenarios it was possible to detect the tumor successfully. However, there has been a deviation of some millimeters from its actual location, which indicates that there are still some challenges to overcome in microwave imaging techniques.


In the classical form of alpha-1-antitrypsin (AT) deficiency a point mutation renders aggregation-prone properties on a hepatic secretory protein. The mutant ATZ protein in retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of liver cells rather than secreted into the blood and body fluids where it ordinarily functions as an inhibitor of neutrophil proteases. A loss-of-function mechanism allows the neutrophil proteases to slowly destroy the connective tissue matrix of the lung, resulting in premature development of pulmonary emphysema as early as the third decade of life. A gain-of-toxic function mechanism is responsible for liver inflammation and carcinogenesis. Indeed this deficiency is the most common genetic cause of liver disease in children in the US. It also causes chronic liver inflammation and carcinoma that manifests itself later in life. However, the majority of affected homozygotes apparently escape liver disease. This last observation has led to the concept that genetic and/or environmental modifiers affect the disposal of mutant ATZ within the ER or affect the protective cellular responses activated by accumulation of ATZ in the ER and, in turn, these modifiers determine which homozygotes develop liver inflammation and carcinoma. In this article I review a series of studies published over the last 6 years showing that autophagy is specifically activated by ER accumulation of ATZ and that autophagy plays a critical role in the disposal of this mutant protein. Further, I review data suggesting that the autophagy is specifically designed for the cellular response to aggregated ATZ and aggregated proteins in general.


The right to the matrimonial home is a significant component envisaged in the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act. Thus, a woman who is a victim of domestic violence has the right to continue residing in the shared household. But does the statute automatically translate into the reality on the ground? The judgement of the Supreme Court in Taruna Batra has sought to usher in a debate on the extent of women's right to the matrimonial home and the consequent implementation of Domestic Violence Act. The article revisits the entire scenario and provides an analysis of the situation.


In recent years, there has been strong demand for the provision of "precision cancer medicine" that provides optimal treatment for each individual. In Japan, a comprehensive cancer genome profiling test started in 2018. We present two cases and discuss the issues involved in applying this test for patients with malignant tumors in the oral region, along with a literature review. A 79-year-old woman with right lower gingival cancer and a 73-year-old man with left lower gingival malignant melanoma underwent a next-generation sequencing-based multiplex gene assay (NCC Oncopanel test). Both had already received standard treatment and were expecting to finish their standard cancer drug therapy at the time. The former patient was found to have TP53 (R282W) and CDKN2A (R58 * ) gene mutations; the latter patient presented no detectable genetic alterations. Their tumor mutation burdens were 1.6 and 6.2 Muts/Mb, respectively, and both were microsatellite stable. Neither was suspected of having hereditary neoplastic syndrome. According to the results of this test, consensus on a recommended treatment could not be established in the expert panel meeting. In addition to tumor specific mutations, it is expected that the detection of tumor agnostic mutations and the selection of treatment options based on the results will improve in the future


Several of the articles in this issue illustrate profoundly the continuing legacy of colonialism in the subcontinent. A part-special issue of six articles, forming the first section, examine the Natives LandAct of 1913,which has been long regarded as a cornerstone of segregation. These are thoroughly introduced by CherrylWalker and therefore require no separate comment here. Her statement that the remembered past is neither simple nor unambiguous, even when these historical injustices are so clear, is vindicated by three papers, which form the second section, for these also highlight the extent to which the colonial past has had such profound and continuing implications for the economies and societies of the region. Johan Fourie, Robert Ross and Russel Viljoen make use of the 1849 census and other sources to estimate and examine literacy and numeracy rates among 4,678 mission station residents, and analyse how these were affected by factors such as age, gender and duration of residence, as well as competition between missionary societies. They highlight the implications of literacy and numeracy skills, not only in the growth of themissions, but as indicators of 'human capital' that were essential to economic progress. They thus recall Max Weber's pioneering sociological study of the linkage between Protestant religious belief and economic development, building on recentwork by economic historians that has investigated the impact ofmissionary education in promoting economic development inAfrica. Nevertheless, the authors avoid crude contrasts between the influence of Protestant and Catholic missionaries by highlighting such factors as internal rivalry between different Protestant traditions, and the gendered impacts of Protestant and Catholic missionary education on both females andmales. Despite the economic impact of the abolition of slavery and the ending of Khoekhoe civil disabilities, the connection between literacy, numeracy and material advancement was not always apparent to the contemporary colonial authorities, which regarded education primarily as a form of preparation of white children for leadership roles as employers and 'coloured' and African children for roles as employees and labourers. As the authors demonstrate, however, the mission stations did not usually uphold this policy. Literacy rates among residents were higher at stations run by the London Missionary Society and the Wesleyan Methodists than among those administered by the Rhenish, Moravian and South African societies. Nevertheless, rates continued to lag behind those of whites in the Cape Colony, but were comparable to those of populations in South America and parts of theWest Indies. The authors conclude by arguing that, contrary to a general belief, the educational achievements of non-white South Africans have been considerable, even in comparison with similar ex-slave societies in other parts of the world. Phindezwa Mnyaka highlights another variety of the material legacy of colonialism in his analysis of photographs of ruins of East London taken in 1960–1965 by a locally based photographer, Joseph Denfield, thus contributing greatly to our knowledge of white identity at a critical time. As Jeremy Foster argued in an earlier examination, aesthetic and ideological combinations of landscape, architecture, painting, writing and photography became central elements in constructions of white identity in the decades following the South African War and the creation of the Union as a self-governing dominion in 1910. Efforts to create a


In the past few years, commercial banks and other financial institutions have devoted to the development of financial products and financial services innovation, which becomes a new bright spot in the development of international financial market. It provides a huge space for developing carbon finance system. Chinese low-carbon economy has made considerable progress, but the development remains at a relatively early stage. This paper presents several bottlenecks of involvement in carbon finance of Chinese financial institutions, the establishment of a carbon credit trading platform, strengthening the impact of financial institutions as fund agent and trading agent and promoting the innovation of carbon financial products.


This paper analyses the equation of state of whether Joule's Law are independent of ideal gas, and it also discusses the required forms of hydrogen's rotational partition function under indoor temperature condition.


Book Information Occasions of Identity: The Metaphysics of Persistence, Change, and Sameness. By A. Gallois. Clarendon Press. Oxford. 1998. Pp. xiii + 296. Hardback, £35.00.


The spy has an important and effective position in international law, as the spy enjoys a set of rights when performing his work tasks on enemy territory, because of the great danger that this work entails for his life as he is doing his work while he is among the ranks of the enemies of his state, and given the dangers and difficulties the spy faces, so he is keen International law has set many international rules and worked on organizing international conventions, which indicated the importance of the spy's work and the extent of the legal protection provided by the law to him as he performs an important work for the benefit of his country by transmitting military, economic, political and information information about the enemy and presenting it to his country, which may help achieve victory. Therefore, in this research, we will try to explain the role and position of the spy in international law, as he performs a national duty and duty for the benefit of his state, as well as clarifying the legal responsibility arising from him.


Engine-airframe interference investigations require a very high degree of accuracy. Previous experiments showed inacceptable agreement of balance measurements when results of different test campaigns are compared. A new test campaign was agreed by DLR, NLR and DNW including a new simulator calibration. Before this test, DLR checked model details and DNW improved their balance and airbridge situation. A summary of results is presented here. The results of the new test are satisfying and fulfill the requirements.


We first study hyperplane sections of some singular schemes over a field. We prove a Bertini theorem for the log smoothness of generic hyperplane sections of a large class of log smooth schemes over a log point. We also give an abstract generalization of the usual Bertini theorem for smoothness. We then apply this result to the study of hyperplane sections of regular schemes over a complete discrete valuation ring of characteristic zero with algebraically closed residue field. Lastly, give an exposition of a result of Faltings which states that one can compute the $p$-adic nearby cycles of smooth schemes over a discrete valuation ring of mixed characteristic as Galois cohomology.


Purpose - The paper seeks to discuss the recommendations for handling future extreme events based on the response and mitigation effort to Hurricane Katrina. It discusses how information technology (IT) relates to these recommendations. Design/methodology/approach - The paper reviews recent recommendations for handling future extreme events and pinpoints the role of information systems in supporting these recommendations. Findings - The study provides areas for IT researchers and practitioners to focus on to support the crisis and emergency management community. Orginality/value - The paper provides ue for IT researchers and practitioners to focus on to support the Crisis and Emergency Management Community.


Non-motile plants have evolved regulatory mechanisms to maintain homeostasis for optimal growth. Responses to environmental changes in light are particularly important not only during the diurnal transition from night to day but also to react to light changes caused by passing clouds or by wind. Thioredoxins rapidly orchestrate redox control during environmental change by modifying cysteine residues. Here, we assign a function to regulatory cysteines of PGRL1A, a constituent of the ferredoxin-dependent cyclic electron flow (Fd-CEF) pathway and show their role in the regulation of proton motive force (PMF) and nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ). During step increase of low light intensity (10-60 μE*m-2*s-1), the intermolecular disulfide of the PGRL1A 59-kDa complex is reduced transiently within seconds to the 28 kDa form. In contrast, step increases to higher light intensity (60-600 μE*m-2*s-1) stimulated a stable partially reduced redox state in PGRL1A. Measurements of NPQ, PMF and resultant photosynthetic controls Y(ND) and Y(NA) were found to correlate with the redox state of PGRL1A during step increases in light intensity but not in PGRL1mutant plants pgrl1ab or PGRL1A cysteine mutant (PGRL1AC1,2A). Continuous light regimes did not affect mutant growth; however, fluctuating regimes of light intensity showed significant growth reduction in the mutants. Inhibitors of photosynthesis placed control of the PGRL1A redox state as dependent on the penultimate ferredoxin redox state that fuels reducing equivalents to the large set of chloroplasts thioredoxins. Our results showed that redox state changes in PGRL1A are crucial to the optimization of photosynthesis and are regulated by the photosynthetic electron flux.


This paper proposed a low-dropout regulator (LDO) with a dynamic-biasing super buffer technique and a 2-stage error amplifier (EA). The 2-stage EA provides a high loop gain and wide output swing so as to implement an ultra small load regulation and line regulation. The dynamic-biasing super buffer technique, made of super source follower, ultra low-output impedance buffer and dynamic biasing technique, ensures the stability of the LDO with a 1-µF output capacitance and adjusts the quiescent current (Iq) of the LDO in different load current so that an ultra low Iq is achieved by the proposed LDO structure. Based on Global Foundry 0.18-µm CMOS process, the circuit can drive up to 200-mA load current at 1.2-V output voltage in 1.4-V- 2-V supply voltage (Vs). In 1.4-Vs, Iq is 26.3-µA in no load and 57.7-µA in full load. In 2-Vs, Iq is 26.4-µA in no load and 246.2-µA in full load. The load regulation is 1.12-µV/mA in 1.4-Vs and the line regulation is 0.50-mV/V in 200-mA full load.


Xijiang River is "gold belt" with condensed resources in South China, which connects the coastal developed areas to southwest of China. Primary suggestion on constructing the economic industrial aisle of Xijiang River basin was put forward. Integrated economic strategy in Xijiang River Basin was prospected. Some suggestions on integrated economic strategy in Xijiang River basin in China were put forward, which involve establishing the Xijiang River Basin Authority, setting up the affiliation system of integrated economic collaboration in Xijiang River Basin, constituting water bank and implementing virtual water trade.


Objectives: Medicinal plants play a major role in the management of Diabetes mellitus especially in developing countries. The present study investigated the possible therapeutic effects ofCarthamus tinctorius(C. tinctorius) crude extract on certain biochemical markers in streptozotocin (STZ) �induced diabetes mellitus in rats. Materials and Methods: Diabetes was induced in Wistar albino rats of either sex by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of st


Purpose
The purpose of this study is to describe the construction of leadership through authentic dialogues at work and leaders' actions as contributors to dialogic leadership.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors collected the data by recording the organisation's meetings and discussions and used content analysis of dialogic leadership and typifying of critical moments as analytical methods.

Findings
On the basis of the findings, this paper suggests that dialogic leadership begins with a startup critical moment and progresses through the different positions by manager and employees through democratic interaction. Individual and collective level learning of participants and the formation of new knowledge were used in decision- or conclusion-making. The manager promoted the construction of dialogic leadership in conversation by creating important critical moments, which enabled a dialogue to start or contributed to already ongoing dialogue.

Originality/value
The study proposes concrete actions that can be applied in working life. This study provides a new understanding of the leader's activities in promoting dialogue.


Abstract An introductory computer information systems (CIS) course has the critical role of teaching computer information concepts to business majors. Though the importance of the course is generally acknowledged, the course is ofter perceived by students as difficult and tedious. To design the course effectively and to make it more interesting and relevant to the students, instructors may need to assess the attitudes of the students toward the course topics. The purpose of this study is to investigate the perceived importance of each topic relative to the major and class level of the students. One hundred sixty-two business majors in a midwestern university participated in the survey. The study indicates that "hands-on" exercises are considered to be the most important topics in the course. The students in upper level classes rated several topics as less important than did the introductory level students.


Has work is devoted problems divorce with look social pedagogy. Great emphasis is here laying on family plus on her fungible function on correct development children that the consequently affect at it what in a way they will manage its life. Theoretic part is devoted conceptions that the relate to family consequently and then to divorce, where I'm draw on literature. Practical part is supplemented about questionnaire inquiry, that is of consequently then evaluation. Was investigate with, how man shelters in such situation, plus whether him someways this experience affected.


Many Mohs surgeons use a curette to debulk a tumor and better delineate its margins before a Mohs layer is taken. There are instances, however, in which a debulking excision with a scalpel, in lieu of the curetting, is preferable. Debulk specimens are sectioned vertically (''bread-loafed'') as opposed to Mohs layers, which are cut en face. The debulk specimen is taken immediately preceding the first Mohs stage and is traditionally mounted on its own slide for viewing by the surgeon.


Near field characteristics of conformal antenna arrays are analyzed by using a very efficient analytical method, instead of time consuming numerical methods, because this is especially important for the design and optimization process for dynamic beam forming in many near field applications. In order to optimize the near field characteristics in terms of nominal beam width changes and side lobe suppression, typical conformal antenna arrays which are distributed on convex, concave and planar surface are compared with each other. This efficient analytical method can be further developed for analyzing generally volumetric antenna array problems.


Magnetic force microscopy and magnetometry were used to study the magnetic characteristics of pressed nanosized powders BaFe12O19. The powders were obtained by chemical coprecipitation. Magnetic anisotropy of the "easy-plane" type, formed after the pressing operation, was found. The nature of the appearance of anisotropy is discussed.


This paper presents the extension of vector precoding, a generalization of the nonlinear TomlinsonHarashima precoding, with a PAPR (peak-to-average power ratio) reduction technique for the downlink of OFDM systems. The proposed algorithm exploits alternative transmit sequences arising from vector precoding to reduce the peak power in the time-domain baseband transmit signal. The operation is completely transparent to the receivers and therefore requires neither transmission of side information nor additional processing at the receiver side.


Regression models in which the response variable has a compound distribution have applications in actuarial science. For example, the aggregate claim amount in a vehicle insurance portfolio can be modeled using a compound Poisson distribution. In this paper, we propose a regression model, wherein the response variable is assumed to have a compound Conway–Maxwell–Poisson (CMP) distribution. This distribution is a parsimonious two-parameter Poisson distribution that accounts for both over- and under-dispersed count data, making it more suitable for application in various fields. A two-part methodology in the framework of a generalized linear model is proposed to estimate the parameters. Additionally, a method to obtain the prediction interval of the response variable is developed. The workings of the proposed methodology are illustrated through simulated data. An application of the compound CMP regression model to real-life vehicle insurance claims data is presented.


Abstract This paper proposes novel methods with the potential to improve the performance of navigation and tracking systems in underwater environments. The work relies on well-established methods of potential field inversion and introduces a new analytic formulation designed to stabilize the solution of the inverse problem in real-time applications. The navigation method proposed exploits the terrain information associated with geomagnetic field anomalies, without the need of a priori maps. The procedure can also be applied to track a moving vehicle based on its associated disturbance of the environmental magnetic field. We envision the integration of theses methods in terrain-aided navigation systems, simultaneous localization and mapping algorithms, and tracking applications.


Foreword. 1. Perinatal Distress: An Overview 2. A Cognitive Behavioral Conceptualization of Perinatal Distress 3. Efficacy of CBT for Perinatal Distress 4. The Therapeutic Relationship 5. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Perinatal Distress: An Overview 6. Evaluating Unhelpful Cognitions 7. Behavioral Interventions for Perinatal Depression 8. Behavioral Interventions for Perinatal Anxiety 9. Problem Solving Training 10. Communication Skills Training 11. Relapse Prevention and the Completion of Treatment 12. Special Considerations and Future Directions. References


The corrosion rate,together with corrosive wear and corrosion coefficient under load,of alloy CD-4MCu in 69% H_3PO_4 or 69% H_3PO_4+500 ppm NaCl solution measured,and the morphology of their wear tracks was then observed by SEM.The alloy CD-4MCu is revealed to be superior in corrosive wear resistance to stainless steel 304 and even to Carpenter 20Cb3,a high corrosion resisting alloy.From its features of duplex phase structure,it could be suggested that the weight loss related to mechanical factor was improved by existence of austenitic phase due to its deformation strengthening.


PurposeAlthough humour and conflict are popular topics in management, little attention has been paid to the negative effects of humour in terms of how workplace humour could turn into unexpected conflicts. From the perspective of conflict management, human resources (HR) need to better understand this dynamic transition process. The purpose of this research is to explore the transition from humour to conflict and how HR perform when addressing humour-related issues.Design/methodology/approachA secondary data, multiple case study approach is adopted. Case studies are analysed qualitatively and thematically through a content analysis matrix.FindingsAggressive humour is closely related to conflict. Humour content and the context in which it takes place are important influential factors contributing to the transition from humour to conflict. It is challenging for HR to deal with humour-related issues: most victims are unwilling to report the issue at an early stage until they cannot bear the joke, forcing HR to perform reactively.Practical implicationsWorkplace humour-related issues should not be overlooked. HR should adopt an early, proactive approach to prevent severe conflict from developing and relationships deteriorating.Originality/valueThis study highlights the dynamics and complexity of the transition from humour to conflict, providing new insights for HR in terms of effective conflict management.


We derive sufficient conditions for the vanishing of plurigenera, $p_m(J), m>0$, on compact (l|k)-strong, $\omega^l\wedge \partial\bar\partial \omega^k=0$, Kaehler manifolds with torsion. In particular, we show that the plurigenera of compact (l|k)-strong manifolds, k<n-1, for which the holonomy of the unique Hermitian connection with skew-symmetric torsion is contained in SU(n) vanish. As a consequence all generalized k-Gauduchon manifolds with holonomy of the Hermitian connection with skew-symmetric torsion contained in SU(n) do not admit holomorphic (n,0) forms. Furthermore we show that all conformally balanced, (l|k)-strong Kaehler manifolds with torsion, k<n-1, are K\"ahler. We also give several compact examples of (l|k)-strong Kaehler and Calabi-Yau manifolds with torsion.