explosion of a waft similar to a typhoon of techniques for data garnering, data dissemination, internet technologies and the manifestation of susceptible applications; privacy and security issues in knowledge discovery have reached the pinnacle opening a new sphere of influence of issue connecting to privacy of populace which requires solemn judgment. Hence forth we are pressurized to develop mechanism for altering the unique facts by some means, with the intention that the private data and private knowledge linger private even subsequent to the mining process. There are many mechanisms which have been adopted for privacy preserving data mining. Pinning our attention to the earlier works done for association rule hiding by Aris Gkoulalas et al., is based on the concept of distance flanked by the original database and its sanitized version, where all sensitive rules have been hidden. By quantifying distance, knowledge is gained with minimum modification that needs to be made in the original dataset in order to hide sensitive, while austerely affecting nonsensitive, itemsets. In this paper, we have endeavored to enhance the existing concealment technique and to develop a conceptual framework with the objective of implementing Privacy Preservation using the masking/concealing/hiding technique. They have used the Apriori algorithm to compute the large itemsets, which is less efficient and doesn't minimize side effect generated by it. We portray an efficient and optimal algorithm. Given a sensitive frequent itemset, for all the transactions containing this itemset, algorithm first identifies the transaction with the shortest length. In such a transaction, the candidate item with the maximal support value is deleted to decrease the support of the sensitive itemset. This sort of an approach hides the frequent sensitive itemsets efficiently and also it hides the non-sensitive itemsets. In this paper, we have tried to overcome the side-effect; along with harnessing the advantages of Frequent Pattern Growth Method which mines the complete set of frequent itemsets without candidate generation. We establish that any kind of Data Mining can be done securely with this algorithm and architecture without sacrificing accuracy. The investigational appraisal shows that this modus operandi yields good results on real world datasets, demonstrating its effectiveness towards solving the problem with good data utility, privacy and performance. Concisely stated it endeavours to disclose self-assurance amid privacy and revelation of information by attempting to minimize the impact on the concealed transactions.


Background: Approximately 16% of adolescents' daily calories come from added sugars (AS), and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) contribute significantly to AS intake. Consumption of AS and SSB have been linked with adverse effects on adolescents' weight and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Objective dietary intake biomarkers for AS, such as the δC proposed biomarker of AS and SSB intake, could clarify the relationship between AS/SSB intake and obesity. To date, only two studies have assessed the δC biomarker in children or adolescents; neither utilized a controlled feeding study design. Objective: It was hypothesized that fingerstick δC values would be a sensitive and reliable indicator of actual AS intake in adolescents. Design: Subjects (n=32, age 15.3 years, 53.1% F), using a crossover design, completed one of two seven-day controlled feeding periods. The controlled diets were equal in macronutrient composition except for AS content (5% or 25% of calories). Diets were isocaloric to ensure that participants remained weight stable. Subjects consumed either the 5% or 25% AS diet first depending on a randomly assigned diet sequence. After a four-week washout, participants completed the second feeding period. During each controlled feeding period, a fasting fingerstick blood sample was collected daily. Results: Fingerstick δC values significantly changed by -0.05‰ and +0.03‰ after subjects completed the 5% and 25% AS diets, respectively (F(1, 30) = 18.828, p < 0.001). High reliability was demonstrated between day 7 and 8 δC values on the 5% (ICC = 0.996) and 25% (ICC = 0.997) AS diets. After excluding outliers (n=4), mean δC difference on the 25% AS diet increased to +0.04‰ with no change in reliability. Conclusions: These results support use of fingerstick δC to indicate AS intake in adolescents. Future investigations could investigate the development of an equation to estimate AS intake based on fingerstick δC values.


After lots of experiments by using 19~27 MeV differential energetic proton data based on the observation of SAMPEX from July of 1992 to June of 2004,it is found that the change of F_(10.7) and altitude have a great influence on the distribution of differential energetic proton flux in South Atlantic Anomaly.During the geomagnetic quiet time at 540±25km altitude,the energetic proton flux in South Atlantic Anomaly decreased with the increasing of F_(10.7_,and the variation trend was flat when F_(10.7)≥ 115 sfu.It is found that there was obviously an anti-correlation between the absolute value of SYM-H and the differential energetic proton flux in South Atlantic Anomaly for storms with SYM-H -50,and also there was a lasting effect on differential energetic proton flux in South Atlantic Anomaly.In addition,the proton flux could be significantly reduced in South Atlantic Anomaly during the main phase,while the proton flux showed a substantial resuming trend in the recovery phase of geomagnetic storms.


A SWOT analysis is a tool that can provide prompts to the managers, clinical leads, nurse tutors, nurse mentors and staff involved in the analysis of what is effective and less effective in clinical systems and procedures, in preparation for a plan of some form (that could be an audit (CQC), assessments, quality checks etc.). In fact a SWOT can be used for any planning or analysis activity which could impact future finance, planning and management decisions. It can enable you (the management& clinical staff) to carry out a more comprehensive analysis.


Charcoal analysis of high mountain structures in the Vansa valley - Cadi Mountain range (Alt Urgell) and in the Madriu valley (Andorra): forest resources uses from the Neolithic to modern age In this paper we present the results of the charcoal analyses obtained during the first stage of the project called Ocupacio del sol i formes del paisatge de muntanya als Pirineus orientals de l'Antiguitat a l'epoca medieval, directed by J.M. Palet (ICAC) and S. Riera (SERP-UB). The studied areas are two: southern slope of the Cadi mountain range, specifically Vansa valley (Vansa-Fornols and Josa-Tuixen, Alt Urgell) located in the Cadi Natural Park, and Madriu valley, located in Escaldes (Andorra). Antracological studies have a fundamental role in the constitution of this project, since the charcoal residues are present and particularly abundant in all the structures. The objective of this work is to understand and learn the dynamics and relationship of the population that occupied these valleys with the high mountain and, in particular, with its forests. The recorded structures were charcoal kilns, furnaces and cattle constructions. We analysed levels from an ample chronological range; starting from Neolithic Antique and going all the way to Modern Age. From Neolithic Antique to Modern Age, cattle populations that rose to these altitudes searching for summer meadows collected wood from their immediate surroundings. The main purpose of these shepherds was to obtain good meadows to feed their cattle. The wood was solely used as building material for houses and other structures. During Roman times, mainly in Cadi, the metallurgical activity (at least one part of it, as it is the first transformation of the iron) gains importance. Although we still have not proved the existence of charcoal kilns during this period, we suppose that the fuel of choice for this purpose was coal. Nevertheless, the majority of data obtained regarding the use of wood belongs to the charcoal kilns identified and dated between the 14th and 18th centuries. These kilns are directly related to the ovens found in the surroundings. The type woods used for this purpose were freshly cut pine, birch and fir. In this paper, besides the type of wood that was used, we have been able to understand additional ethnographic aspects of the charcoal makers through the study of current charcoal producers. In spite of the little variability of the anthracological results, we have been able to observe several vegetal formations from mountain and sub-alpine stages. Pine represents almost the totality of practically all the structures. This has allowed us to take some measurements in the structure of the fragments in order to see if it's possible to distinguish in between the Pinus sylvestris and Pinus uncinata. The exceptional preservation of the charcoal samples has allowed us to observe several objects that conserved its morphology, such as: covers for containers or a handle for some type of tool. We have been able to observe that the taxa used for activities that require a great amount of raw material, are those obtained from the immediate surroundings (in this case pine). Although the manufacturing of objects would be performed during shepherds' and charcoal makers' free time with the wood from their immediate surroundings, it is very probable that they carried objects made with material from other settings, like boxwood or fir. The high mountain, unlike what it has traditionally believed, has never been a fringe area. During times when agricultural activities were considered a priority, the occupation of High Mountain not only does not decrease but stabilizes, since this surrounding offer a series of much appreciated specific resources since prehistory (i.e.: forests, minerals and meadows).


This headline is not about the national primaries. It is about AAUP. This year there is an especially hotly contested election. There are two slates of long-term AAUP activists competing for the top leadership positions. Both slates recognize the serious, even critical challenges facing AAUP – structural, financial, and membership challenges. Your ballot should be arriving if it hasn't already. You have until APRIL 15 to vote. As we all know, the AAUP is the primary national organization committed to the defense and preservation of academic freedom and tenure. It is the only national organization challenging the growing "corporatization" of higher education. It is the organized voice for shared governance and contingent faculty. Join us at our Annual Meeting as we discuss these matters and organize ourselves to build AAUP into the powerful organization it needs to be if we are to have the quality higher education required to deal with the challenges and opportunities ahead. There will be a discussion of academic freedom centered on prominent recent tenure and retention matters led by Mehrene Larudee. There will also be a panel discussion of governance featuring Michael Haskins, Harper College, Ken Anderson, University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, and Brian Frederking, Mc Kendree University. There will also be time to plan and organize. Please join us. We need you. Saturday, March 29 at St. Xavier University, 3700 W. 103 St. Chicago, 12:30pm to 3pm.


Following the evolution of the balance sheets, income statements, assets, profitability, deposits, loans, equity, capital adequacy, liquidity, and some other ratios; financial performances of both participation and conventional banks are compared in our study.In this work the usage of financial technique analysis methods such as ratios analysis as well as trend analysis through tables and graphs thanks to the interactive monthly bulletin data (2005 – 2015) collected from BDDK2 and TKBB3. At the end of the study, it is seen that, Conventional Banks perform better than Participation Banks, but it is essentially noticed that Participation Banks are the fastest growing industry with more stability and constancy than Conventional Banks.


Objectives  In this article, we examine definitions of suggested approaches to measure the concept of good decisions, highlight the ways in which they converge, and explain why we have concerns about their emphasis on post‐hoc estimations and post‐decisional outcomes, their prescriptive concept of knowledge, and their lack of distinction between the process of deliberation, and the act of decision determination.


The invention discloses fruit and vegetable chips and a production method thereof, relates to the production method of the fruit and vegetable chips, and in particular relates to the process technology for producing and manufacturing the fruit and vegetable chips by utilizing fruits and vegetables as raw materials. The fruit and vegetable chips can be produced by mixing one kind of fruits and one kind of vegetables according to certain proportion and also can be produced by compositely mixing various kinds of fruits and various kinds of vegetables according to certain proportion. The fruit and vegetable chips are made from 10-70% of fruit and vegetable concentration pulp, 1-10% of sweeteners, 0.1-1% of sour agents, 0.01-0.5% of spices, 0.1-0.5% of nutrient supplements, 10-30% of beans subjected to curing and pulping, 10-30% of curing starch and the like. The fruit and vegetable chips are ready-to-use and nutrient. After a large number of mature fruits and vegetables are marketed, the fruits and vegetables can be stored in a pulp mode. Therefore, the fruit and vegetable chips can be produced all year round, obvious slack season and busy season can be avoided, and product competition is improved.


The beach-cliff system "Rocha do Gronho" is a stretch of the west coast of Portugal that marks the southern limit of a coastal lagoon – The Obidos lagoon. The cliff is cut in sedimentary material and the elongated beach is generally narrow being almost submerged by the spring tides. Existing documents show that, in almost all of the second half of the twentieth century, there has been a state of equilibrium of the beach-cliff system because the abundance of sediments proceeding from the lagoon and carried south by the longshore current (predominantly N-S) provided a covering of the cliff base that protect it from the assailing force of the waves. The cliff face evolved mainly by small magnitude rockfall events. Between 1958 and 1995, a rate of retreat of 0.15m (±0.02m) year−1 was recorded. Afterwards, the frequency and the magnitude of the occurrences of mass movements had changed. Five events leading to a 33.6m retreat of the cliff top have been recorded. The type of movement, the affected length of the top of the cliff, the maximum retreat, the lost area of the top of the cliff and the volume of material displaced were estimated for each event. The identification of the processes involved as well as the evaluation of the potential triggering factors allowed an assessment of the influence of human intervention in the lagoon (changing the main draining paths and consequently the patterns of sediment transport) in the modifications of the "Rocha do Gronho" evolution.


The effect of three levels of inclusion of cotton seed meal (PA) of low level of gossypol in the concentrate of 36 replacement Holstein calves was evaluated. Three treatments were used: T0: 0% PA; T1: 10% PA and T2: 20% PA with 0, 150 and 300 ppm of free gossypol respectively. The diets were supplied from birth to weaning (60 days). No significant differences were observed between treatments for feed consumption, body weight gain, final body weight or size. On the contrary, the activity of the serum sorbitol dehydrogenase enzyme was 29.5, 44.7 and 59.5 U/l for T0, T1 and T2, respectively (p<0.001), exceeding the value considered normal (14.7 ± 1.3 U/l); however, there were no visible negative effects on calves.


Abstract In this study, effect of core-shell structure on compaction behavior of harmonic powder is investigated.Harmonic powders are made by electroless plating method on Fe powders. Softer Cu shell encloses harder Fe core, andthe average size of Fe core and thickness of Cu shell are 34.3 µm and 3.2 µm, respectively. The powder compactionprocedure is processed with pressure of 600 MPa in a cylindrical die. Due to the low strength of Cu shell regions, theharmonic powders show better densification behavior compared with pure Fe powders. Finite element method (FEM) isperformed to understand the roll of core-shell structure. Based on stress and strain distributions of FEM results, it isconcluded that the early stage of powder compaction of harmonic powders mainly occurs at the shell region. FEMresults also well predict porosity of compacted materials. Keywords: Harmonic powder, Finite element method, Shell compaction region, Compaction behavior ······························································································································· ·································································································


An adaptive control scheme of digital loop filter for automatic frequency control (AFC) is proposed to improve LTE downlink throughput in high-speed train (HST) channel. A mobile device in HST channel suffers from performance degradation due to the abrupt change in Doppler shift. In this case, a higher loop gain is desirable to quickly track the Doppler shift. However, in general, there is a fundamental trade-off between locking time and phase jitter performance in AFC. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the channel condition for adjusting AFC loop gain. In this paper, a wireless channel classification problem is formulated and the optimal classifier is derived by using support vector machine (SVM) algorithm. In particular, HST and non-HST channel environments are classified by exploiting the statistical distribution of the phase estimates. Experimental results show that the SVM-based adaptive loop gain control improves the throughput in HST channel.


The metalation of fluorene by means of the Et2Mg–HMPA system was investigated. The reaction scarcely occurred at all when the mole ratio of HMPA: Et2Mg fell below 1:1, but it proceeded easily when the ratio was over 1:1, and a solvent-separated ion pair of magnesium fluorenide was formed. When the ratio was 2:1, the order of reaction was unity in both fluorene and Et2Mg. It was demonstrated by the kinetic and NMR studies that the active species of metalation in such a case was not Et2Mg but the Et2Mg–HMPA complex, in which two molecules of HMPA are coordinated to Et2Mg.


Software support for calculations involving physical quantities is discussed. A Python package (called Quantity-Value) is presented that allows a measured value to be paired with a measurement unit (scale), in an entity that can be used in mathematical operations. The software applies the rules of quantity calculus so that the nature of quantities, and the measurement scales, become an integral part of calculations. To overcome traditional difficulties with unit-checking systems, the software places emphasis on quantities, rather than units. Quantities of interest in the problem domain can be declared and dimensional information for 'dimensionless' quantity ratios can be retained. This approach appears to be more powerful than systems designed to work directly with measurement units.


Imprecise probability methods are often claimed to be robust, or more robust than conventional methods. In particular, the higher robustness of the resulting methods seems to be the principal argument supporting the imprecise probability approach to statistics over the Bayesian one. The goal of the present paper is to investigate the robustness of imprecise probability methods, and in particular to clarify the terminology used to describe this fundamental issue of the imprecise probability approach.


In a separable Hilbert space $\cal H$, greedy algorithms iteratively define $m$-term approximants to a given vector $f$ from a complete redundant dictionary $\cal D$. With very large dictionaries, the pure greedy algorithm cannot be implemented and must be replaced with a weak greedy algorithm which is defined through a weakness sequence $t_m \in [0,1], m \ge 0$. The strong convergence of weak greedy algorithms is known as soon as $\sum_m t_m/m = \infty$ and $\cal D$ is complete (\ewordi.e. $\overlinespan(\cal D) = \cal H$). However in some practical implementations it is hard to control $\t_m\$. It is easier to find a smaller complete dictionary $\cal D^\star \subset \cal D$ such that $$ |\langle f_m-1,g_m\rangle| \ge \sup_g \in \cal D^\star |\langle f_m-1,g\rangle|. $$ Such \ewordpartially greedy algorithms are ``better'' at each step than the pure greedy algorithms in the complete dictionary $\cal D^\star$, which is known to converge strongly. It is natural to conjecture their strong convergence, which is observed in some numerical experiments. We prove their convergence in a slightly stronger sense than the weak sense. However, by giving a counter-example, we disprove the natural conjecture about their strong convergence.


Some of the basic ideas of pursuit‐evasion games have been presented in an earlier paper. This paper is an extension and an elaboration of these ideas with emphasis on the determinability of pursuit‐evasion games.


Starting from the advanced measuring system of the distributed solar photovoltaic generation and smart power grid,this paper introduces a smart bi-directional electric meter intended for use in distributed photovoltaic generation. The smart meter adopts ADE7880 as a chip for electrical power measurement and LPC2119 as its controlling core. This paper gives power metering methods and system control processes. Test results show that this bi-directional smart meter with a low error rate can support remote expansion and control functions.


With globalisation fuelling the fire for infectious diseases, it's important for general physicians to be aware of the tropical infections presenting to hospitals. Malaria, with over 400,000 deaths annually worldwide, has an Irish notification rate of 1.2 per 100,000 of the population, the seventh highest incidence rate of imported malaria globally. This analysis aims to examine the demographics and outcomes of Irish patients with malaria over a four year period.

 A retrospective analysis of all patients with malaria admitted to Irish hospitals between January 1st 2016 and December 31st 2019 was performed. Data was obtained from the National Quality Assurance Improvement System (NQAIS), a national electronic database that collates data from hospital admissions. This was analysed using STATA. Patient demographics, hospital length of stay and documented malaria subspecies are described.

 Between January 1st 2016 and December 31st 2019 there were 289 cases of malaria admitted to Irish hospitals, 13/289 (4.5%) requiring high dependency care. 197/289 (68%) were male. The mean age was 35 years (95% CI 33.3 – 37). 220/289 (76%) of all cases resulted from Plasmodium falciparum infection, 16/289 (5.5%) Plasmodium ovale, 11/289 (3.8%) Plasmodium vivax and 2/289 (0.7%) Plasmodium malariae, while 40/289 (13.8%) were unspecified. The median length of stay was 3 days (IQR 1-4 days) and 72/289 (25%) were admitted under an Infectious Diseases team, although this had no significant impact in length of stay (3.1 days versus 3.4 days, p=0.68). 117/289 (40%) were admitted in the months of August and September. There were no reported deaths.

 This report gives a clinical context to the 2016 – 2019 NQAIS data, particularly with regards to inpatient length of stay, malaria species diagnosed and numbers requiring critical care. The majority of all cases in the four year period were P. falciparum, reflective of the dominant African region of exposure in most cases. Interestingly, 43% of all cases were from hospitals outside of the Dublin City catchment area, reflecting a diversification of travel and population demographics in Ireland. This highlights the importance of malaria awareness in all regions in Ireland, not simply the major urban centres.

 All Authors: No reported disclosures


The dust emission of the lime kiln in a paper making factory in Iowa state of U S A. Sometimes is too high. We have used our software "Process Analyser" to treat the data record and find the chief factors affecting the dust emission.


The finite element dual singular function method [FE-DSFM] has been constructed and analyzed accuracy by Z. Cai and S. Kim to solve the Laplace equation on a polygonal domain with one reentrant corner. In this paper, we impose FE-DSFM to solve the Stokes equations via the mixed finite element method. To do this, we compute the singular and the dual singular functions analytically at a non-convex corner. We prove well-posedness by using the contraction mapping theorem and then estimate errors of the algorithm. We obtain optimal accuracy O( ) for velocity in and pressure in , but we are able to prove only O( ) error bounds for velocity in and stress intensity factor, where is the eigenvalue. However, we get optimal accuracy results in numerical experiments. A variational approach for sliding fluid on substrates. Xianmin Xu(ICMSEC,CAS) A variational method is introduced to calculate the evolution of liquid film and liquid droplet moving on a solid substrate. An explicit time evolution equation is obtained for the contact angle of a liquid film that starts to move on a horizontal substrate. The equation predicts the dynamical transition at the receding side, and the ridge formation at the advancing side. The same method is applied for the evolution of a droplet that starts to move on an inclined solid surface, and again the characteristic shape change of the droplet is obtained. This demonstrates the potentiality of the present method to wider classes of problems of sliding liquids which involve contact line pinning, surface tension gradients and evaporation etc.


There is a growing emphasis on generic skills in higher education to match the changing skill-set requirements of the labour market. However, researchers and policy makers have not arrived at a consensus on the generic skills that actually contribute towards workplace employability and performance that complement and/or underpin discipline-specific graduate attributes. In order to strengthen the qualifications framework, a range of 'generic' learning outcomes have been considered for students undergoing higher education programs and among them it is necessary to have the fundamental generic skills such as literacy and numeracy at a level appropriate to the qualification type. This warrants for curriculum design approaches to contextualise the form and scope of these fundamental generic skills for supporting both students' learning engagement in the course, as well as the graduate attributes required for employability and to progress within their chosen profession. Little research is reported in integrating such generic skills into discipline-specific learning outcomes. This paper explores the literature of the generic skills required for graduates from the discipline of Information Technology (IT) in relation to an Australian higher education institution. The paper presents the rationale of a proposed Bachelor of IT curriculum designed to contextualize the learning of these generic skills within the students' discipline studies. Keywords—Curriculum, employability, generic skills, graduate attributes, higher education, information technology.


The present invention discloses an apparatus capable of running two operating systems in a method using the shared device, the method comprising a first communication device using the first shared application operating system, when the switching from the first to the second operating system when the second operating system, said shared device-related information is transmitted to a second application of the second operating system, such that the second application can utilize the information associated with the shared communication device.


Machine learning in high-stakes domains, such as healthcare, faces two critical challenges: (1) generalizing to diverse data distributions given limited training data while (2) maintaining interpretability. To address these challenges, we propose an instance-weighted tree-sum method that effectively pools data across diverse groups to output a concise, rule-based model. Given distinct groups of instances in a dataset (e.g., medical patients grouped by age or treatment site), our method first estimates group membership probabilities for each instance. Then, it uses these estimates as instance weights in FIGS (Tan et al. 2022), to grow a set of decision trees whose values sum to the final prediction. We call this new method Group Probability-Weighted Tree Sums (G-FIGS). G-FIGS achieves state-of-the-art prediction performance on important clinical datasets; e.g., holding the level of sensitivity fixed at 92%, G-FIGS increases specificity for identifying cervical spine injury by up to 10% over CART and up to 3% over FIGS alone, with larger gains at higher sensitivity levels. By keeping the total number of rules below 16 in FIGS, the final models remain interpretable, and we find that their rules match medical domain expertise. All code, data, and models are released on Github.


Companies deal with different customer groups, requirements differ among them, which makes it important to define the service level precisely and improve customer service through different supply chain strategies for each group. An alternative to deal with imprecision related to the segmentation processes suggested by either the Leagile or the Dynamic Alignment Schools is the application of fuzzy set theory. The objective of this work is to develop a quantitative model that uses the fuzzy set theory and, based on sales data, assess the company's supply chain(s). The model's aim is to facilitate managers' decision-making processes to achieve the dynamic alignment. It was possible to identify the supply chains that serve the client groups evaluated, providing answers faster than the analysis proposed by the models found in the literature. The application in two real situations validated the model since the results obtained were consistent with the reality pointed out by the experts of the companies assessed. The model indicates possible actions for the realignment of the supply chain by their managers. Results obtained should improve practice, preparing managers to cope with the organizations` multiple supply chains. This study is the first one that aims to segment quantitatively supply chains on a company applying fuzzy set theory, providing a novel approach to align operations and supply chain strategy dynamically.


We have investigated a new method by which selective high doping concentration of GaN can be obtained using XeCl excimer laser and presented low ohmic contact resistance fabricated by the proposed method. We have irradiated silicon film deposited by sputtering on GaN using XeCl excimer laser and formed ohmic contact on the region irradiated by laser. Ohmic contact resistance by laser doping process was effectively reduced to 0.27 ohm-mm while 0.66 ohm-mm was measured in ohmic contact by conventional method. We have verified that silicon is diffused into GaN by high laser energy during laser irradiation through SIMS analysis and ohmic contact resistance is reduced due to increase of doping concentration under ohmic contact region.


An interesting study on the underlying correlations between pharmacokinetic parameters and the effective indexes of FHT based on PK-PD model.


A review of The Universe at Midnight. Observations Illuminating the Cosmos . By K. CROSSWELL. (Free Press, 2001). Pp. xii+338. US$27.00 (hbk). ISBN 0 684 85931 9. Scope: popular survey. Level: general reader.


One of the more intriguing minor characters of The Great Gatsby is the man responsible for James Gatz's transformation from dreamy small-town boy to wealthy, powerful bootlegger: Dan Cody, the metals magnate whose photograph is enshrined in Gatsby's bedroom.1 When one considers the enormous impact which Cody had upon the creation of Gatsby—man and myth— it is surprising (and a bit frustrating) that Fitzgerald supplies us with tantalizingly little information about him; but the information that he does provide is remarkably suggestive. Dan Cody's very name conjures images of an American hero. According to Robert Emmet Long, the name "suggests the American frontier": Cody is an adventurer "of a former age who has made his fortune from slender beginnings, and he poses for Gatsby the same possibility";2 in fine, he embodies the rags-to-riches motif so ingrained in the American psyche and so visible in the tales of Horatio Alger. Ernest Lockridge takes this one step further and sees in the Christian name "Dan"...


This paper presents value added estimates for the Italian regions, in benchmark years from 1891 until 1951, which are linked to those from official figures available from 1971 in order to offer a long-term picture. Sources and methodology are documented and discussed, whilst regional activity rates and productivity are also presented and compared. Thus some questions are briefly reconsidered: the origins and extent of the north-south divide, the role of migration and regional policy in shaping the pattern of regional inequality, the importance of social capital, and the positioning of Italy in the international debate on regional convergence, where it stands out for the long run persistence of its disparities.


Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) facilitate information collection greatly in Internet of Things (IoT) systems. On the other hand, non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) is regarded as a promising technology to provide high spectral efficiency and support massive connectivity in 5G networks. The integration of NOMA into UAV-assisted wireless networks shows great potential, but how to determine the user grouping and power allocation in NOMA according to the different locations of UAV is challenging. In this paper, we propose a general NOMA-enabled UAV-assisted data collection (NUDC) protocol to solve the formulated sum rate maximization problem such that the location of UAV, sensor grouping, and power control are jointly considered. Moreover, a joint signal-to-interference-ratio (SIR) hypergraph-based grouping and power control (SHG-PC) NOMA scheme is provided to obtain the appropriate sensor grouping and the optimal power control solutions efficiently. Extensive simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed protocol.


Objective To study the effects of polysaccharide of Cyclocarya paliurus(CPP) on alloxan- induced diabetic mice. Method The diabetic mice were induced by alloxan ip, and treated with normal saline, Glibenclamide tablets and three doses of CPP for 4 w respectively. The contents of fasting blood glucose(Glu), insulin(Ins), C–peptide and glucagon(Gln)were detected before the first and last time of ig CPP. Results Glu, Ins, C-peptide in serum and Gln in plasma were deceased in the glibenclamide group and low or median CPP doses group. These effects were better in high dose CPP group than those in low or median dose group. Conclusion Polysaccharide of Cyclocary paliurus can decrease the contents of glucose and insulin in serum and glucagon in plasma of alloxan-induced diabetic mice.


The purpose of this study is to describe the experiments of hydrogen generation from water molecules reacting with activated aluminum particles and the identification of its characteristics using an ARMA model on the assumption of the applications for a fuel-cell vehicle. Because 1 gram of the activated aluminum particles can generate about 1.1 liters of pure hydrogen, they have application possibility as the hydrogen resource of a fuel cell car. However, the details of hydrogen generation characteristics by this reaction are not well known. The reaction has non-linearity and time-varying due to the characteristics of the sample, the external environment and so on. Therefore, it is difficult to construct a mathematical model based on the physiochemical law of the reaction. Here, the dynamic characteristics of hydrogen generation are assumed to be described as a linear ARMA model using the reaction temperature and hydrogen generation. The parameters of ARMA model are identified by a constant trace adaptive algorithm using the measured data. The outputs of the ARMA model are well accorded with the measured data.


This paper, in terms of the origin of Lu's theories, his academic style of "being ready to benefit from others' strong points", and his personal loftiness, discusses Lu's special roles in and contributions to the famous Debate between Zhu Xi and Lu Jiuyuan, which was held in the E-Hu Temple, Jiangxi Province, in the year of 1175. It also points out the significance of the Debate to the then and following academic activities.


Following with the 21st century's arriving, some modern technologies based on information are being applied more and more in the industrial design teaching domain currently, specially the using of the computer aided teaching CAI software, and it is gradually entering into classroom, enormously enhanced the teaching efficiency, it introduces the industrial design teaching to a brand-new boundary by manifestations with abundant bewrites and pictures, perfective acoustic images, concordant act and quiet, and by the extraordinary expressive force that can surmount the space and time


The article is devoted to peculiar features of village architecture of Northwestern Ustrushana. Different methods of erecting buildings in the village are investigated.


The highly effective solving method on designing synthesis according to preconcerted performance of micro-electro-mechanical system(MEMS) has been put forward.The designing synthesis according to the preconcerted performance is a reverse problem of MEMS analysis.It let the performance analysis equation set be transformed into performance designing equation set.Using the solving method derived by the Newton iterative method to solve this nonlinear performance designing equation set will make the MEMS to possessing the preconcerted performance.This method when compared with the natural simulative optimization algorithm adopted in foreign countries such as genetic algorithm and annealing algorithm etc.its computing efficiency and calculation accuracy were greatly enhanced.For instance,towards the designing synthesis of certain resonator,when the genetic algorithm and the annealing algorithm were being adopted,it needs the analyses up to 10 000 times,the time of computation would reach to 4~5 h,and the relative error of calculation would up to 5%.Yet the needed analysis times of this method was only twenty to thirty,the time of calculations doesn't exceed 30 s with a relative error of calculation less than 0.01%.


The invention discloses a high-reliability cylinder cover comprising a cylinder cover body and a seal ring. The seal ring is disposed below the cylinder cover body. The cylinder cover body is made by melting, by weight, 75 to 84% of forged steel and 16 to 25% of nickel at high temperature; the seal ring is made by melting, by weight, 64 to 72% of polyvinyl chloride plastic and 28 to 36% of ethylene propylene rubber. The high-reliability cylinder cover made in the above way has the advantages that mechanical properties of the cylinder cover body such as physical strength are greatly improved, the cylinder cover body never wears in long-term usage, the seal ring is excellent in corrosion resistance, wear resistance and sealing performance, and the high-reliability cylinder cover is effective.


By means of immunoelectrophoresis and the immunoselection technique the binding of free secretory piece to serum paraproteins of different classes was studied in vitro. Only the polymeric IgA and not the monomeric forms, nor paraproteins of IgG or IgD classes, were found to bind free secretory piece in vitro. This property was not dependent on the subclass or the light chain type of the tested paraproteins. In addition higher polymers of IgM with sedimentation coefficients of 25S to 30S also bound the secretory piece, whereas 19S forms did not.


Romania's strategic objective of EU integration imposes, among others, policies that ensure the implementation of community requirements on the free movement of products, which is based on an open market economy, based on competition and economic and social cohesion. Agricultural productivity (main economic branch through its impact on the society and environment) is influenced by technological level of applied work, sowing work occupying a very important place in these technologies. This paper presents a method for testing the hoeing plants sowing machines with the help of a stand equipped with laser sensors that measure the time interval between the fall of two seeds which it transforms in space and which it compares to the reference area calculated by a specialized software after entering the input data (density, distance between rows, number of holes on the disk, speed).


: Introduction: DWI MRI is useful in assessing anal fistulas because it allows detecting small and multiple tracks simultaneously and assessing their degree of inflammation and can be used for monitoring. Aim: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of the diffusion-weighted image for the diagnosis of perianal fistula, taking the surgical results as the gold standard. Study design: Descriptive, cross-sectional. Study 2017 to 29, 2018. Materials and methods: The study included 218 patients aged 20 to 60 years with symptoms of rectal fistula. Patients with recurrent fistula who were unable to perform MRI were excluded from the study. DW-MRI was performed in all patients and a rectal fistula was sought. DW-MRI results correlated with surgical results. Results: The mean age was 46.51 ± 9.82 years. Of these 218 patients, 132 (60.55%) were male, 86 (39.45%) were 2.5: 1 women, DW-MRI positive, true positive were 123 cases and false positive were 12. Of the 83 DW-MRI negative patients, false negative cases were 10 and true negative cases were 73. Overall specificity, sensitivity, positive, negative predictive value, predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of diffusion weighted imaging for the diagnosis of perianal fistula taking surgical findings as gold standard was 92.48%, 85.88%, 91.11%, 87.95% and 89.91% respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that DW-MRI is a very sensitive and precise method of preoperative detection of perianal fistula. study, conventional magnetic resonance imaging These results can be compared with a study of 25 patients, which showed the specificity and sensitivity of MRI in peri-diagnosis of anal fistula at 100% and 88%, respectively. (23) A same study was conducted in 42 patients with suspected anal fistula. This study compared digital anal examination, improved magnetic resonance imaging with dynamic contrast, and surgical results. Magnetic resonance imaging was superior to digital rectal examination with or without surgery. MRI sensitivity and specificity in fistula detection was 97% and 100%, respectively. (24) Another study was performed to see the accuracy of MRI in primary fistula track and abscess pathways, and it was found that the MRI specificity and sensitivity were 86% and 100%, respectively. The specificity and sensitivity of abscesses were 96% and 97%, respectively. (25) Imaadur Rehman et al. Similar results were obtained in the diagnosis of the type and extent of perianal fistula, showing that MRI has 90% sensitivity, 100% specificity and 90% diagnostic accuracy. (26) In one study, the specificity and sensitivity of MRI to accurately identify and classify primary pathways were 95.56% and 80%, respectively. (27) In another study, the specificity and sensitivity of MRI detected abscesses in 87.50% and 95.24%, respectively. (28) The real MRI potential in the anal fistulas assessment was significant in the study of sixteen patients with cryptogranular fistulas compared to the results of magnetic resonance imaging under anesthesia. (29) The writers suggested that magnetic resonance imaging is the utmost perfect method defining the course and presence of anal fistulas may benefit decrease relapse due to evaluation. These results were established in a control study of thirty five patients who


Reducing the risk and occurrence of foodborne illness is a priority for the foodservice industry. Despite the large presence of Latino(a)s in the foodservice workforce, there is little research on attitudes toward food safety and related behavior among this group. This study employed the Health Belief Model to investigate Latino(a) foodservice employees attitudes towards food safety and antecedents of food safety behavior. Results showed that food safety knowledge did not affect self-reported food safety behavior but did significantly predict 'perceived susceptibility', 'severity', and 'barriers'. The analysis also indicated that 'perceived benefits' and 'cues to action' have a direct impact on food safety behavior.


It has long been known that the joint cartilages, as age advances, tend to undergo certain changes which render them less resilient and less able to withstand injury. These have been referred to as regressive or involutionary (Collins, 1949, p. 100), but their true nature is still obscure. The gross and microscopic features of so-called age-changes in the joints have been well studied in large series of individuals by Heine (1926) and Bennett, Waine, and Bauer (1942), and they are of the same type, though varying in degree, as those seen in osteo-arthritis accompanied by symptoms or by bony deformity of the articulations. Local mechanical conditions cannot be dismissed in considering the aetiology of osteo-arthritis; if disadvantageous, they certainly accelerate the process. But apart from the occasional instance of secondary osteo-arthritis occurring in the severely injured or badly deranged joint of a young person, osteo-arthritis is a disease of the elderly, and the senescence of articular cartilage in man needs to be examined. Some attention has been given to the chemical composition of the matrix of cartilage, but little to its cells, although upon them its vitality clearly depends. The activity of chondrocytes in the synthesis of chondroitin sulphate can be studied with radioactive sulphate, and there is now enough experience with this method to permit its use in vitro with human tissues, as will be explained. Our present study uses this technique and is directed to comparing chondrocyte function in an articular cartilage (patella) with that in a nonarticular cartilage (rib) in the same person. An intrinsic senescent change might affect the cartilage of the body as a whole; or a cellular failure to maintain the matrix might be apparent only in the joint cartilages. Chemical analyses of human joint cartilage in osteo-arthritis, by Hirsch (1944) and by Matthews (1953), indicate a loss of mucopolysaccharide which might well be the consequence of failing chondrocyte function. Our results, however, point to a different conclusion-that the chondrocytes of ageing articular cartilage become increasingly active in sulphate utilization, whereas those of the rib show no such trend.


Background: Recent findings report that in Brugada syndrome, the long-term prognosis of patients with non-type-1 ECG, including mild coved ST-elevation (STE)<2 mm, was similar to that of patients displaying type-1 ECG. Based on these evidences, the computerized diagnosis of Brugada-type ECG have been reported to be classified into 3 types: Type-1 (coved STE≥2 mm), Type-2/3 (saddleback STE≥2 mm), and suggestive Brugada ECG: Type-S (coved STE between 1–2 mm). Type-1 ECG can be occasionally unmasked only when recorded at higher intercostal spaces (HICS). This study focused on Type-S recorded at HICS. Method: Screening ECG from 12850 consecutive patients (6616 males) undergoing health checkups was reviewed. Among the total patients, 156 patients (1.2%) (134 males) identified as having RSR'-pattern ECG in leads V1 and/or V2 without Brugada-type ECG at 4th intercostal space, were enrolled. We analyzed ECGs recorded at 3rd and 2nd intercostal spaces (HICS). Results: In 8 of 156 cases (5%), RSR'-pattern shifted to Type-S ECG at HICS. All 8 cases were asymptomatic and male. Their age ranged between 42 and 68. Conclusion: Our results indicated that men with RSR'-pattern ECG who are in their middle years may have a potentially Brugada-type ECG.


Explicit model predictive control (eMPC) enables conventional MPC to be used to fast sampling systems and implemented by low-cost embedded devices. The primary limitation of eMPC is that the complexities of eMPC solutions are often exponential functions of problem sizes. In this paper, high-level canonical piecewise-affine (HL-CPWA) functions are introduced to approximate eMPC solutions. A HL-CPWA function uses a global and compact functional form to approximate any continuous eMPC controller to arbitrary precision. This guarantees minimal memory storage requirement and fast online computational time to represent and calculate suboptimal eMPC solutions. The HL-CPWA eMPC feedback laws have explicit analytical expressions, which can be easily implemented by elementary 'circuit blocks'. This facilitates the use of constrained MPC in small-scale industrial and consumer electronics applications.


Bifurcation with symmetry is considered in the case of an isotropy subgroup with a two-dimensional fixed point subspace and non-zero quadratic terms. In general, there are one or three branches of solutions, and five qualitatively different phase portraits, provided that two non-degeneracy conditions are satisfied. Conditions are also derived to determine which of the five possible phase portraits occurs, given the coefficients of the quadratic terms. The results are applied to the problem of bifurcation with spherical symmetry, where there are six irreducible representations for which the subspace of solutions with cubic symmetry is two-dimensional. In each case, the number of solutions and their stability is found.


The choriocappilaris layer is considered to be one of the first retinal layers affected in age related macular degeneration and other retinal diseases [1]. Imaging this fine vascular layer below the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) has been very challenging due to the high scattering and absorption of the RPE. In OCTA higher inter B-scan times increase the sensitivity for slow motion and hence improve the contrast of fine vessels. However, it was demonstrated that for the choriocappilaris the opposite is the case [2]. Novel swept source laser technology enables acquiring images at A-scan-rates of 1.7 million A-scans per second, which is approx. 17 times faster than the fastest commercially available OCT devices [3, 4]. OCTA images of the human macula with different inter B-scan times were acquired and compared. The same prototype system was also used to acquire single shot wide-field OCTA images with up to 60 degree field of view.


The variety of types and circuits of static reactive power sources (RPS) poses the problem of determining the technical-economic range of their application in electrical systems. The article presents certain of the most highly developed types of RPS and shows that their use depends on particular tasks related to the production, transmission and distribution of electrical energy.


Although version space support vector machines (VSSVMs) are a successful approach to reliable classification, they are restricted to separable data. This paper proposes generalized VSSVMs (GVSSVMs) applicable for separable and non-separable data. We show that GVSSVMs can outperform existing reliable-classification approaches


The factors determining the optimality of a technique for signature authentication have been examined. These are: procedures for validation and preprocessing of the data, selection of the parameters of the model, and application of higher level decision strategies to enhance performance. The best results were obtained using a sequential strategy requiring the test signature to be repeated a maximum of two times in the event of a defined uncertainty. The false acceptance and false rejection error rates averaged about 0% and 4% respectively using a database of 1600 signatures.<<ETX>>


The invention discloses a novel high-precision vehicle overload detection system, which is used for detecting the load of a vehicle to be tested. The novel high-precision vehicle overload detection system comprises a test table, a support base, a position limiting part and a vehicle load detector, wherein the test table is in support connection with the vehicle to be tested and is in friction contact with wheels of the vehicle to be tested, the support base is in support connection with the test table and is in zero friction contact with the test table, the position limiting part is arranged at one side or multiple sides of the test table and limits the movement of the test table, the vehicle load detector comprises a force sensor, and the force sensor is arranged between the test table and the position limiting part and detects the pressure and/or the tension of the position limiting part. The vehicle to be tested only needs to be parked on the test table, the weight does not need to be uniformly distributed on the test table, the load of the vehicle to be tested can be accurately measured, in addition, the force sensor does not need to bear the load weight of the vehicle to be tested, and the service life of the force sensor can be prolonged. The invention also discloses a detection method adopting the novel high-precision vehicle overload detection system.


Summary The paper indicates some of the geological consequences of the compaction of muddy sediments under the pressures which are set up in the course of deposition, and supplements the experimental observations recorded by Mr. A. W. Skempton (pp. 119-35 of this volume).


This paper represents a new and intelligent system for license plate recognition used in many cases, for example: unattended parking lots, security control of restricted areas, traffic law enforcement, congestion pricing, and automatic toll collection. The proposed system is a process based on a combination of the complement methods that increases the accuracy of output data and is generally accountable on the images that have many problems and aren't answerable with a particular approach. The performance of this system is in a form that, firstly, the input image is given to all the complement methods in order for the location of the plate candidate to be determined, then their response is investigated according to the valence function and finally the location of plate is properly determined by the majority of votes and ensures the accuracy of output data. If the complement methods are chosen correctly, this proposed system will be responsive to the images in which the license plate recognition is likely. This method has been tested on two data sets that have different images of the background, considering the distance, and angle of view so that the correct extraction rate of plate location reached at 100% and 99% respectively.


Summary A method is reported for determination of lipid-bound radioiodine in blood by ion exchange resin technic. The method has been shown to be reproducible, accurate, rapid, and economical.


The subject of this paper is the use of "simple solutions" or "modes" to regularize a hypersingular boundary integral equations (HBIE)for small strain elastoplasticity. A particularly simple form of the regularized HBIE is obtained by the use of three global "modes" of deformation: rigid-body displacement, linear displacement, and a fully constrained plastic solution. The resulting regularized HBIE is used in an implicit boundary element method ( BEM) scheme for solving elastoplasticity problems. Numerical results are presented for an illustrative plane-strain example.


https://doi.org/10.4068/cmj.2022.58.2.83 C Chonnam Medical Journal, 2022 Chonnam Med J 2022;58:83-84 Corresponding Author: Hyung Ku Chon Department of Internal Medicine, Wonkwang University School of Medicine and Hospital, 895 Muwang-ro, Iksan 54538, Korea Tel: +82-63-859-2564, Fax: +82-63-855-2025, E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Article History: Received February 19, 2022 Revised April 5, 2022 Accepted April 17, 2022 FIG. 1. Abdominal computed tomography reveals (A) diffuse edematous swelling of the pancreas, "sausage like" appearance of the pancreas with a low attenuating halo (white arrows) and (B) diffuse bowel wall thickening involving the rectum (open white arrow).


The article analyses Nigeria's socio-economic performance. The main attention is paid to the influence of natural and geopolitical conditions on the development of the country's economy. At the same time, the researchers' attention is focused on the health situation, energy development, the number and composition of Nigeria's population, and the reasons for population migration.


Objective:To establish a method for isolating bilobalide from crude Ginkgo Biloba extract(GBE).Methods:High speed countercurrent liquid chromatographic(HSCC)method was adopted.The solvent system was prepared by thoroughly mixing chloroform,methanol and water in proportions of 4∶3∶2,set aside at room temperature,before use the two layers were separated.The lower layer was used as mobile phase and the upper layer as stationary phase and eluted in a flow rate of 2.0 ml/min ;and the apparatus was rotated in 800r/min.The eluant was collected and samples obtained were identified by TLC.Results:Bilobalide monomer can be obtained via a single separation and can be identified by TLC.Conclusions:A simple and rapid HSCC method is established for separation of bilobalide from crude Ginkgo Biloba extract and a new rout is provided for separation of active ingredients from traditional Chinese herbmedicines.


Pennsylvania-born man talks about his father, a Hilo Electric manager; Puueo neighborhood; and Hilo education. He also covers Hilo's social hierarchy, events of December 7, 1941, sugar industry, waterfront jobs, and the 1949 longshore strike. After the 1960 tsunami, he helped coordinate the sugar plantations' equipment and personnel in the massive cleanup. He also summarizes the history of sugar in Hawaii.


We investigate cross-layer rate adaptation techniques for a secondary user (SU) equipped with a finite buffer in green cognitive radio networks. We assume that the activity statistics of the licensed primary users (PUs) channels are independent and identically distributed, and a SU detects their states using a spectrum sensing method. We formulate the problem as an infinite-horizon partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP). The policy is obtained using maximum-likelihood heuristic policy (MLHP) technique. We assume that the transition probabilities of the PUs and the fading channel between the SU's transmitter and receiver are known, but the exact PU's states are hidden. By tracking belief of the hidden states, the SU takes decision on the rate and corresponding power to minimize energy consumption with constraints on delay and bit error rate. Numerical results are given to show the performance of the proposed MLHP, which is found to perform very close to fully observable optimal policy. We also show pointer to choose design parameter so that the scheduler becomes the most energy-efficient for given quality of service requirements of the application.


Abstract This study presents the essence, importance and role of hotel computer systems used in Veliko Tarnovo region. The attached questionnaire presents a method of analyzing systems and their role in the management process. The study shows the most used local systems, their advantages and disadvantages and possible steps and recommendations for the improvement of their effectiveness.


Children experience demanding changes during the transition from early childhood programs to primary school. Research shows that children's initial academic and social success at school can affect their long-term adjustment, achievement, and success. The authors, both early childhood teachers in Singapore, undertook an action research project that involved using young children's constructions and pretend play to adapt a transition-related challenge into an authentic learning experience for a group of fourteen 5to 6-year-olds in a suburban kindergarten. The teachers employed the action research cycle of data gathering and reflection about teaching practice and learner needs, planning and implementation of change to address the problem, and additional data gathering and reflection to assess the effects of the change and to determine future modifications. The teachers concluded that the activities achieved successful cognitive and affective outcomes in supporting the children's ability to apply what they had learned to solve a real-life problem outside the classroom. The children's positive experience contributed to helping them develop positive attitudes about school prior to transition. It also contributed to reducing one potential cause of anxiety and stress for the children and their parents.


An expansion, accurate up to the Madelung term, is derived for the drop in the ionization potential (and pressure) due to the strong Coulomb interaction. The ionization limit, separating the free and bound electron states, is determined with the help of the percolation theory. The principle of no explicit dependence of the total thermodynamic functions of the plasma on the ionization limit is employed. This has the consequence that the region of thermodynamic stability is greatly expanded compared with other models.


Electrical power companies are continually seeking to expand and modernize electric power systems in response to new consumer demands, as well as the requirements set by the national electricity agency. The protection devices have a fundamental role in the maintenance of these systems and in the control of the indicators of continuity. In view of the diversity of power systems, especially when it comes to distribution circuits, computational tools are needed to assist engineers in designing protection relays for distribution systems. Therefore, the purpose of this work is the development of a genetic algorithm capable of automatically configuring a set of settings belonging to the protection relays of radial distribution feeder, in order to minimize the absolute operation time of the feeder circuit.


Several models have been proposed in the field of psychophysics to quantify relationships between any stimulus (e.g., touch, sound, light, and smell) and the perceived response by individuals. One such model is referred to as the Weber-Fechner Law. The Weber −Fechner Law, however, is not one law, but two separate laws: Weber's Law and Fechner's Law. Moreover, not all human senses respond to stimuli according to Fechner's law (in fact many do not). Weber's Law and special cases such as Fechner's Law are each based on the "just noticeable difference threshold" concept. Disciplines Agricultural Science | Agriculture | Plant Pathology Comments This chapter is from Encyclopedia of Research Design (2010): 1612, doi:10.4135/9781412961288.n494. Posted with permission. This book chapter is available at Iowa State University Digital Repository: http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/plantpath_pubs/71 Encyclopedia of Research Design


The system of a glass bead embedded in a glassy polymer matrix is very suitable for studying microscopic deformation mechanisms initiated at stress concentrators. The interfacial effects apply not only to polymers filled with rigid particles but also to polymers filled with fibers. [on SciFinder (R)]


The relation between the migration of rice planthopper(RPH) and the meteorological factors is quite
close. On the basis of the fruit of the migratory principles of RPH in China and abroad, this article analyzes the
effect of the meteorological factors on the migration procession. RPH in a very great measure take wing at dusk, and
a percentage of 90. 5 concentrate on the time scale that is the twenty minutes before sundown in the dusk, and fre-
quently do when the ground temperature reach 25℃. The spatial distribution of the temperature determines the feasi-
ble dimensional-area of the migration of RPH, and the upper-limit altitude is about 15℃ isotherm, RPH group in
the optimum-temperature(ahout 17℃) and maximum-wind-level layer, and the strong humidity environment is of
benefit to the migration. During the immigration period, the strong sinking-flow or rainfall enforces RPH to land
largely. The aerial wind-speed is the power of the migration of RPH. In China, the southwester and northeaster op-
erate the transportation in the yearly migration procession, the subtropical high is the power of the trip migration of
RPH, going forward and falling back in China, and moreover the outbreak of RPH appears when the subtropical
high of Mar. -May is stronger. The large-scale-meteorological factors, such as the warming of climate and the ab-
 normity of the sea temperature etc., in largely, influences indirecily the occurrence of RPH by influencing the
large-scope climate.


Banana by-products are undervalued and their potential remains untapped.
They are often composted after the fruits are harvested, reducing the cause of environmental pollutions
due to open burning.

 The study aims to identify the bioactive compounds in banana [Musa acuminate x balbisiana
Colla cv. Saba (Musaceae)] inflorescence buds that are responsible for the antibacterial activity on
selected foodborne pathogens.

Dried inflorescence buds were extracted using methanol and subsequently partitioned into
chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol and deionized water. Further isolation of bioactive components
was based on a bioassay-guided fractionation and the inhibitory activity at various concentrations
against selected foodborne pathogens was determined. The compounds were identified using highperformance
liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry
(LC-MS/MS).

The SPE-fraction 3 (BWF-3) purified from the methanolic water partition of banana inflorescence
showed the most prominent inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus with minimum inhibitory
concentration at 12.0 μg/ml. The BWF-3 was later identified as proanthocyanidins with epigallocatechin
as the main extension unit. Additionally, the survival of Listeria monocytogenes increased
with the fortification of ferum (II) and (III) at a concentration as low as 1 mM but not for the calcium,
magnesium, manganese and glucose.

The methanolic partition of banana inflorescence buds could be a potential source of
natural antibacterial for food and pharmaceutical applications.


Supersymmetry provides the most promising solution to the gauge hierarchy problem. For supersymmetry to stablize the hierarchy, it must be broken at the weak scale. The combination of weak scale supersymmetry and grand unification leads to a successful prediction of the weak mixing angle to within 1{percent} accuracy. If supersymmetry is a symmetry of nature, the mass spectrum and the flavor mixing pattern of the scalar superpartners of all the quarks and leptons will provide important information about a more fundamental theory at higher energies. We studied the scalar mass relations which follow from the assumption that at high energies there is a grand unified theory which leads to a significant prediction of the weak mixing angle; these will serve as important tests of grand unified theories. Two intragenerational mass relations for each of the light generations are derived. A third relation is also found which relates the Higgs masses and the masses of all three generation scalars. In a realistic supersymmetric grand unified theory, nontrivial flavor mixings are expected to exist at all gaugino vertices. This could lead to important contributions to the neutron electric dipole moment, the decay mode p {r_arrow} K{sup 0}{mu}{sup +}, weak scale radiative correctionsmore » to the up-type quark masses, and lepton flavor violating signals such as {mu} {r_arrow} e{gamma}. These also provide important probes of physics at high energy scales. Supersymmetric theories involving a spontaneously broken flavor symmetry can provide a solution to the supersymmetric flavor-changing problem and an understanding of the fermion masses and mixings. We studied the possibilities and the general conditions under which some fermion masses and mixings can be obtained radiatively. We also constructed theories of flavor in which the first generation fermion masses arise from radiative corrections while flavor-changing constraints are satisfied. 69 refs., 19 figs., 9 tabs.« less


We present a novel type of grating-assisted coupler for coupling light from an optical fibre to a thin semiconductor waveguide. The Dual Grating-Assisted Directional Coupler (DGADC) consists of two gratings, one thick waveguide with a refractive index similar to the refractive index of the fibre, a thin semiconductor waveguide and a layer with refractive index which is between that of the thick and thin waveguides. Specifically, a coupler in silicon on insulator (SO!) has been analysed. The maximum coupling efficiency for this coupler can approach 1 00%, while the minimum coupling length can be around 2mm.


Objectives To summarise clinical presentation, diagnostic findings and long‐term outcome for dogs clinically diagnosed with meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin affecting the spinal cord alone. Methods Medical records were reviewed for dogs diagnosed with presumptive spinal‐only meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin between 2006 and 2015. Results 21 dogs were included; the majority presented with an acute (43%) or chronic (52%) onset of neurological signs. Ambulatory paresis was the most common neurological presentation (67%). Neurological examination most commonly revealed a T3‐L3 myelopathy, and spinal hyperaesthesia was a common finding (71%). A spinal cord lesion was visible in 90% of cases on magnetic resonance imaging. Eighteen lesions (86%) showed parenchymal contrast enhancement and 17 lesions (81%) showed contrast enhancement of overlying meninges. All dogs were treated with immunosuppressive doses of glucocorticosteroids, sometimes combined with cytosine arabinoside. At time of data capture, 10/21 dogs (48%) had died or been euthanased because of the condition. Overall median survival time was 669 days. Clinical Significance Meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin should be considered in the differential diagnosis of dogs presenting with a progressive myelopathy. Magnetic resonance imaging features can possibly help to distinguish presumptive meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin from other more common spinal diseases. Overall, long‐term survival is guarded, approximately 50% of dogs will die or be euthanased despite appropriate therapy.


There was made analysis of social and environmental activities on Highway Transportation Enterprises (HTE). There were considered two objective functions of environmental activities direction on HTE: minimal impact of HYE on environment, and possibility of maximum growth of basic production assets of HTE in the conditions of optimal management of ecological state of environment. There was mentioned importance of systematical monitoring of nature and society. There were developed algorithms of management optimization with respect to environmental activities on THE, which could be used as a practical matter with the aim of determine of optimal value of financial means, directed on environment cleaning from contaminations.


Urban ethnic groups wony about their elderly. And they have good reason to worry. The decline of older ethnic communities and the churches they built as aspiring immigrants conjoins issues of aging, church and urban life. The capacity of churches has been strained by the eclipse of community. Yet, churches, families and other mediating institutions can cushion the effects of neighborhood deterioration and its influence on the elderly. No matter how efficient economic transfer programs and human services systems are, the reality of "soc~al poverty," caused by the breakdown of community support, is clear, and the number of neglected, isolated elderly will surely increase. Urban ethnic neighborhoods have an especially revealing incidence of such problems. However, these neighborhoods also provide models of social inventions that suggest new pathways and remedies. Our survey of 65 urban ethnic parishes indicates distinctive patterns and approaches, viable models for an effective ministry, and a glimpse into a...


Alto is an infrastructure for experimental nuclear physics in France that comprises both an on-line isotope-separation facility based on the photofission of uranium and a stableion beam facility based on a 14.5-MV tandem accelerator. The isotope-separation on-line section of Alto is dedicated to the production of neutron-rich radioactive ion beams (RIB) from the interaction of the γ-flux induced by a 50-MeV 10-μA electron beam in a uraniumcarbide target. It is dimensioned for 10 fissions per second. The RIB facility is exploited in alternating mode with the tandem-based section of Alto, capable of accelerating both light ions for nuclear astrophysics and heavy ions for γ-spectroscopy. The facility thereby offers the opportunity to deliver beams to a large range of physics programmes from nuclear to interdisciplinary physics. In this article, we present the Alto facility as well as some of the highlights and prospects of the experimental programme.


It is undoubtedly that the rapid evolution of technology provides rich traffic data provided by a different type of sensors. The sensors range from the traditional loop detectors to GPS data obtained from traffic Apps, such as Waze and Google maps, or technology installed in a vehicle. Nowadays, there is also significant development and application of Bluetooth traffic data for intelligent traffic system (ITS) (Friesen & McLeod, 2015). Despite the wide range of information available in the network, the datahave different characteristic, for example, including the data acquisition process, and spatial and temporal availability. The recent review of traffic data by Respati, Bhaskar, and Chung (2018)provides traffic data characteristics and their embedded challenges.


Mouthstick and Morse code input methods were compared with respect to their effectiveness in transcriptive typing. Six able-bodied subjects without previous Morse code training were tested. Learning rates and final transcriptive typing rates obtained over a 2-month period were calculated for each method. The final average typing rates for mouthstick and Morse code input modes were 12.6 and 7.88 words per minute, respectively. Average mouthstick learning rates were also greater than Morse code learning rates. One quadriplegic patient who was a regular user of a Morse code computer interface was tested and had a 12.4 words per minute typing rate. These results indicate that the mouthstick input method surpassed the Morse code method in input rate and learning rate for the relatively short term of this study. However, prolonged testing should be done with disabled subjects to further explore the uses of both modes of input.


The influence of TiO 2 additives on the sintering behavior of In 2 O 3 ceramics has been investigated. TiO 2 increases the densification rate, decreases the grain growth during the intermediate stage of sintering, and hinders the pore/ boundary breakaway that can affect the final stage of sintering. For a given grain size, TiO 2 shifts the grain size/density trajectory toward higher densities. TiO 2 mainly acts by a second-phase mechanism, but it also may decrease the decomposition rate of In 2 O 3 .


Stevia rebaudiana leaves, also known as sweet leaf. It has been used as sweetener for centuries in South America. Stevia rebaudiana leaves contain noncaloric sweeteners (steviol glycosides) whose consumption could exert beneficial effects on human health. Steviol glycosides are considered safe. The aim of present study was to determine qualitative of stevioside and rebaudioside A which compounds of steviol glycosides consist in Stevia leaves by soxhiet extraction method using Waters preparative HPLC autopurification system. Samples were sequentially extracted by soxhiet extraction method using methanol solvent and the analytes separated by Waters XBridge C 18 column (150 mm x 4.6 mm I.D., 5tm). This HPLC analytical column, performed with a mobile phase in isocratic mode elution consisting of acetonitrile/water (80:20 v/v). Stevioside were the most abundant steviol glycosides found followed rebaudioside A in samples of Stevia (n = 5) from Malaysia. This proposed Waters preparative HPLC autopurification system can be applied for further analysis in this study for the routine quality control of Stevia leaves and their commercial preparations.


East African pastoralists have well-developed systems of communal land management that have been challenged by recent demands from some pastoralists for land privatization. This article analyses the impact on household well-being of privatizing land among a community of Samburu pastoralists in northern Kenya. Using longitudinal data from household surveys conducted in 2000 and 2005, trends in wealth, income, stratification and livelihood strategies are analysed comparing the privatized community and a community where land remains communally managed. Results indicate few significant differences in wealth and income between the privatized and communal areas, although cultivation has become an important additional strategy in the privatized community. Significant levels of wealth stratification are present in both communities but are mitigated to some extent by mobility across wealth quintiles over time. Wealthy and poor groups exhibit different livelihood strategies with wealthier groups relying more on livestock trade and home consumption while poorer groups depend on wage labour and trade for their income. Policy implications of this analysis include the need for development strategies specific to different wealth groups, greater investment in education and infrastructure, and more attention to employment creation in pastoral areas.


—Mobile telephony and mobile internet are driving a new application paradigm: location-based services (LBS). Based on a person's location and context, personalized applications can be deployed. Thus, internet-based systems will continuously collect and process the location in relationship to a personal context of an identified customer. One of the challenges in designing LBS infrastructures is the concurrent design for economic infrastructures and the preservation of privacy of the subjects whose location is tracked. This presentation will explain typical LBS scenarios, the resulting new privacy challenges and user requirements and raises economic questions about privacy-design. The topics will be connected to " mobile identity " to derive what particular identity management issues can be found in LBS.


【Objective】To study the effect of parenteral and enteral nutrition PN + EN on immune function in critically pulmonary infection-post renal transplantation patients.【Methods】30 critically pulmonary infection pa-tients were divided into 2 groups.In each group 15 patients were included.15 patients were treated with PN +EN in experimental group and 15 patients were treated with standard TPN in control group.Two groups were supplied with equal nitrogen and calorie.Plasma levels of total protein,albumin,hemoglobin,IgA,IgG and IgM and total lympho-cyte were detected before and after treatment.【Results】TLC and IgG were significantly increased in experimental group compared with control group.(P 0.05).The changes of other items were not significant.【Conclusion】PN + EN can improve the immune function of critically patients.


The study reviews Thermal Processes of dense-phase Particulates Calcination and Sintering. The article considers an up-to-date research and training problem of these ThermallyActivated Processes on conveyor-based machine for Pelletization optimization. The study includes the problem of programmable Phosphorite pellets dense-phase warming, considering kiln`s technical restrictions and technology abilities of calcination and Sintering mechanism. A task of Optimal Control of Pelletized Phosphate material thermal-activated Calcination Processes is established in the article, which can be solved by converting into multi-criteria optimization. Control parameters are the following: Heat-Transfer Agent`s temperature at dense bed entry and its Sweeping Velocity. Control criterion: a reacting degree minimum and Sintering of raw material. Based on the optimization results, the authors suggest conveyor-based Pelletization machine operating regime providing resource and Energy Saving in the Thermal Pretreatment Technology of Phoshorite Pellets. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) PRES17 conference


Pierre Courtade's novel La Place rouge (Red Square), published in 1961 at a time when socialist realism has ceased to be mandatory for Communist creative artists but without an aesthetic alternative being provided is first of all an individual attempt at abandoning socialist realism. However, the novel, its reception, and the particular positioning of its author within the French Communist Party—critical when inside the Party, loyal when outside—allows us to understand how the artists' schemas as well as those of their audience, which were shaped by the socialist realist episode, prevented the novel and its author from gaining strictly literary recognition. These constraints materialize notably through "literary smuggling," which is indecipherable by anyone unfamiliar with the rules of coding and decoding.


Conference on Research Sponsored by the Sub-Committee on Research of the Committee on Policy. The Sub-Committee on Research invited some twenty members of the American Political Science Association to participate in a three-day conference on research, held at the University of Chicago on September 16, 17 and 18. The purpose of the conference was to secure a free and stimulating discussion of what seem to be the basic emerging problems of research in the field of government and politics. The committee hoped that there might develop a consensus of opinion as to what are some of the most fundamental problems now calling for research and as to how they might be most effectively attacked by the profession. Particularly, the committee sought advice as to questions of professional responsibility and leadership in the field of research. Throughout the conference, the chair was occupied by Professor Charles E. Merriam, of the University of Chicago. Three topics were submitted, not as a restrictive agenda, but merely as points of departure for the discussion: (1) adaptation of the democratic process to the speed and technical requirements of the modern age; (2) the problem of areas, regionalism, federalism, and inter-governmental relationships in America today; and (3) the problem of financing governmental functions, with particular reference to the poorer states and communities. The first of these topics was utilized in the opening sessions as a broad province affording opportunity to mark out some of the important phases of the general interests of research. In the discussions of the following day, the second agenda item was narrowed down to consideration of research having particular reference to the Tennessee Valley Authority and to local rural areas. The more particularized discussion of these two focal points of curiosity developed a fair variety of suggestions that could be applied in other directions. On the third day, the last item of the agenda was disregarded and attention centered on summarization of the conference experience and formulation of specific advice to the sponsoring committee. Obviously, the details of the discussions must be left to the record submitted to the Sub-Committee, and possibly it is in the by-products of the discussion rather than in the actual record itself that largest results are to be found. Broadly, however, the discussion permits of summary under seven rather distinct headings. The first is the matter of aids to research. Consideration was given to the possible establishment of a periodical informational service to make available to research men information, suggestion, and direction, particularly information from government sources. The possible establishment of


(57) Abstract: presence of an inert organic solvent in the polymerization prevention conditions, the presence of an acid catalyst if further 2-cyanoacrylate is a reactant, 2-cyanoacrylic acid or its acid halide is reacted with an alcohol or phenol, such as diols or polyols, the generated water or hydrohalic acid continuously removed, it consists of recovering the ester (including distilled non esters) 2-cyanoacrylate the method of production. Thus many of the produced esters are novel compounds, including without or with a substituent long chain alkyl cyanoacrylates and multifunctional cyanoacrylate (including bis-cyanoacrylate). Such esters have a wide range of applications. For example, grafting of such esters in the polymer backbone, it is possible to improve the properties such as heat resistance of the polymer.


Approvals of medical device increase every year as industry of medical device grows. Therefore KFDA keeps trying to improve approval systems. However, the firms of medical device are in trouble due to regulation amendment, a firm of small size, exchange of the person in charge. The staffs of KFDA increase their work load because applicants of approval of medical device aren't used to writing of document. Therefore the firm of medical device in business have a long term. KFDA develops eight guidance document item by item for one-step evaluation and approval for Medical Devices because applicants of approval of medical device write documents easily. KFDA reviewer can carry on quick reviewing in use of this eight guidances. This guidance are improved on satisfaction of applicants of approval of medical device.


This paper proposes robust simulation of piecewise linear systems as a tool for the analysis of nonlinear electronic circuits. Rather than computing the evolution of a single trajectory, robust simulation computes the evolution from a set of initial conditions in the state space, for all forcing input signals within a given class. We describe here a tool to perform this analysis using mathematical programming. Among various applications, the tool allows to estimate the domain of attraction of equilibria, and to
determine if some design speci£cations — expressed
themselves in terms of reachability of subsets of the
state-space — are met. A test of the tool on Chua's
circuit is presented.


The literature on civil society in postcommunist regimes highlights its weakness as compared with civil society in other democracies. In this article the authors make a general argument on how different patterns of antecedent dictatorship affect the development of civil society across a range of democracies. They examine the slow emergence of two behaviors associated with a robust civil society—participation in organizational life and in protest—and explain variation across countries as a function of regime history. They draw their individual-level data from the World Values Survey and analyze the behavior of over forty-one thousand citizens from forty-two democracies. Using methods of hierarchical linear modeling to control for both national-level and individual-level factors, the authors find that different types of dictatorship and variation in their duration produce different negative legacies for the development of civil society.


Introduction/Aim: In patients with asthma, the airway smooth muscle (ASM) layer is thicker and is stable with age. Within the ASM layer, extracellular matrix (ECM) represents less than 20% of its total volume fraction (V V ). Departure from normal development of the ASM layer may alter V V ECM and result in airway hyperresponsiveness and asthma or contribute to fixed airflow obstruction later in life. The aim of this study was to compare the volume fractions of ECM, ASM and "Other" (space between ASM cells) within the ASM layer from infancy to adulthood in subjects with (n=84, age range 4-59yrs) and without (n=59, 0.2-57yrs) asthma. Methods: On transverse airways taken from formalin-fixed, post-mortem lungs, sections were cut from paraffin-embedded tissue blocks at 0.5microns and stained using the Masson9s trichrome technique. Volume fractions of ECM, ASM and Other within the ASM layer were measured (x1000) by point counting and then related to age in cases with and without asthma. Results: Cases of asthma had decreased V V ECM (17±5%, mean ± SD) compared with control subjects (19±4%, p=0.02) and no difference in V V ASM or V V Other. V V ECM and V V ASM positively correlated with age in control subjects (r 2 =0.13, p=0.005 and r 2 =0.11, p=0.01), but not in cases of asthma (r 2 =0.04, p=0.07 and r 2 =0.03, p=0.1). V V ASM and V V Other did not correlate with age. Discussion: These data suggest that the ASM layer normally undergoes structural change from infancy to adulthood and this involves changes in V V ECM. However in asthma, the ASM layer may not follow the same developmental trajectory as control subjects, possibly due to the confounding effect of early structural changes in the layer of ASM.


The author examines the activities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the field of coordination of the activities of the participating states in the field of public health protection. The author examines the current state of international legal regulation of cooperation in the field of health protection within the SCO through the prism of generally recognized international legal standards in this direction. The theoretical basis of the research is the works of M.V. Podvyaznikova, M.S.Malichenko, S. I. Pomazkova, N.Gafurova, Zh.Oryntaev. In order to determine the areas of cooperation in the field of health protection, international legal documents adopted at the SCO summits, in particular the SCO Charter, Declarations and Agreements on Mutual Cooperation, were analyzed. In addition, the general state of cooperation between the SCO states in the field of health protection in practice was analyzed. As a result, it is concluded that cooperation in the field of health protection within the SCO needs to strengthen the legal component, in particular, it is necessary to conclude international agreements on specific areas of public health protection and the organization of medical care. At a time when the consequences of the rapid spread of coronavirus infection, the largest humanitarian catastrophe of the coming century, have become an indicator of systemic problems of international law in the field of health protection as a branch of international law, and the established system of international legal regulation has proved unable to counteract COVID-19, rightly identifying the task of carrying out its consistent reform to ensure human security, strengthening the international legal framework for regulating the right to health within the SCO, in our opinion, can have a certain positive impact on the adoption of the necessary, more specific universal international treaties in this direction, especially in the fight against infectious diseases.


Abstract Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a condition characterized by a constellation of reversible major risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). While it has been widely demonstrated that weight reduction by 5–10% decreases CVD and T2DM risk factors, including atherogenic dyslipidemia, on the other hand, its effects on comprehensive serum cytokine profile and endotoxemia are less investigated. Furthermore, the impact of weight loss on these parameters was studied especially in subjects with morbid obesity, often after bariatric surgery; while the studies on the effects of a physiological weight reduction with a balanced hypocaloric diet in overweight and moderately obese subjects showed contradictory results. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate in overweight and obese men with MetS the effects of caloric restriction on the MetS-associated risk factors, chemical composition of lipoproteins and serum concentration of a wide spectrum of inflammation markers. In addition, the second purpose of this work was to study the possible correlation between lipoprotein chemical composition and these inflammation markers. Eighteen adult Caucasian males (25 kg/m2 < BMI < 35 kg/m2) with MetS losing at least 5% of their initial weight after six months of a Mediterranean-style balanced hypo-caloric diet were included in the study. Lipoproteins were isolated from plasma by ultracentrifugation in a discontinuous KBr gradient. Lipoprotein concentrations of proteins, cholesterol, phospholipids, and triacylglycerols were determined by colorimetric assays. Peripheral cytokine levels (IL-2, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17, GM-CSF, MCP-1, MIP-1b, IL1-b, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, G-CSF, INF-g, TNF-a) were determined by Bioplex multiplex immunoassay. Endotoxemia was measured by Limulus Amebocyte lysate assay. The effects of weight-loss were analysed by Wilcoxon's test, the correlations between covariates by Spearman's test (significance: p-value ≤ 0.05). After weight loss, we observed an improvement of MetS-associated risk factors and changes in lipoproteins composition. In particular, together with a reduction of triglyceridemia, we detected a massive transfer of triacylglycerols from HDLs toward LDLs. Furthermore, a significant decrease of IL-6 (0.9 ± 0.7 vs 0.5 ± 0.6), TNF-α (0.7 ± 0.3 vs 0.3 ± 0.18), IL-8 (1.6 ± 0.7 vs 1.3 ± 0.3) and MIP-1β (19.2 ± 1.5 vs 18.5 ± 1.5) was observed. Finally, peripheral levels of TNF-α and IL-8 were directly correlated with all lipid species of VLDL, whereas the concentration of MIP-1β and endotoxin with HDL lipids. Weight loss improved cardio-metabolic risk factors and decreased inflammatory state by reduction of cytokine levels. The relationships between lipoprotein composition and serum inflammation markers deserve to be deepened by studying broader populations.


Purpose – To prepare of fine particle size magnesium ferrite pigments by sol‐gel method.Design/methodology/approach – Different magnesium ferrite pigments with stoichiometric ratios were prepared by sol‐gel and dispersion methods. The characterisation of magnesium ferrite pigments were based on X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope, particle size distribution, thermal and magnetometric analyses.Findings – The type of polymer and the starting inorganic materials (oxides or salts) have a significant effect on the properties of the magnesium ferrite pigments prepared.Research limitations/implications – The magnesium ferrite pigments, prepared and used in the work reported here were synthesised from magnesium and iron oxides, oxalates and chlorides. Urea formaldehyde resin and acrylic polymer were used as the dispersing media. Various other materials, e.g. carboxymethyl cellulose, ethoxy methyl cellulose, polyvinylalcohol and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate and polyacrylamide can also be used to ach...


Objective To investigate whether there was arsenic and selenium pollution besides fluorine pollution in the capsicum and corn roasted by coal-combustion in Zhaotong fluorosis areas were collected,and the cumulation in human hair. Methods In September 2005,the capsicum and corn samples were collected before they were roasted and after roasted by coal-combustion,and the hair samples from people living in Zhaotong fluorosis areas were collected,and the fluorine,arsenic and selenium content in these samples were determined. Results The average arsenic and selenium content in the fresh capsicum not roasted by coal-combustion were 0.034 mg/kg and 0.079 mg/kg respectively. The average arsenic and selenium content in the capsicum roasted by coal-combustion were 0.463 mg/kg and 1.088 mg/kg respectively. The average arsenic and selenium content in the fresh corn were 0.019 mg/kg and 0.051 mg/kg respectively. The average arsenic and selenium content in the corn roasted by coal-combustion were 0.058 mg/kg and 0.085 mg/kg respectively. Except for the average selenium content of the capsicum roasted by coal-combustion,others were all within the limits of arsenic and selenium in foods. Conclusion There is not only fluorine pollution in the capsicum and corn roasted by coal-combustion,but also arsenic and selenium pollution. Furthermore,the selenium pollution level was higher than that of arsenic pollution. The arsenic and selenium pollution level in capsicum was higher than that in the corn. Though this arsenic pollution in the capsicum and corn may be harmful for the people living on these capsicum and corn roasted by coal-combustion to some extent,it was not harmful enough to result in arsenism. Comparing with the arsenic pollution,the selenium pollution in the capsicum and corn may be beneficial for the people eating the capsicum and corn roasted by coal-combustion.


LTHOUGH A STRONG relationship between tobacco and alcohol use is well established, most of our knowledge comes from clinic-based studies (Murray et al., 2002). Unfortunately, clinical populations represent only a small percentage of all individuals with concurrent alcohol and tobacco problems; those seen are primarily severely dependent on alcohol (reviewed in Klingemann et al., 2001). In contrast, studying self-changers—individuals who have recovered from addictive behaviors on their own— may yield knowledge different from clinical studies and may lead to the design of better interventions for those who abuse both substances. This article examines data from six studies of natural recovery and assisted self-change with alcohol abusers, many of whom had dual recoveries (i.e., quit smoking and quit or moderated drinking). The article's goal is to extract data that might help further our understanding of dual recoveries. Major research questions posed by examining these data sets are offered.