Sprinting is well-known as one of the most important ability in football and a number of studies had investigated various sprinting aspects of football players.  However, as most of the previous studies have focused only on male football players, the information about female football players are very limited, to date. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to clarify the differences in sprint motion between male and female university football players. The subjects were ten male and ten female university football players (Male[n=10]: 173.3±3.9cm, 65.9±5.6kg, 19.5±1.1yrs, Female[n=10]: 162.0±2.0cm, 56.9±2.0kg, 19.8±1.8yrs). Each subject performed 50m full sprint, where the sprint motion was recorded at 30–40m section using one high-speed digital camera (Exilim EX-FC160S, Casio, Japan) operating at 300Hz. 10 white half spherical markers were placed on the both sides of lower limb. The lower limb joints angles were calculated based on the two-dimensional coordinates obtained using a motion analysis system (Frame-DIAS IV, DKH, Japan). Comparisons were made between the two groups for these parameters using independent t-tests and the level of significance was set at p < 0.05. For 50m sprint time, the female group (7.93±0.31sec) were significantly slower than the male group (6.62±0.24sec). Maximum hip and knee joint extension angles and ankle plantar flexion angle of the female group showed significantly larger than those of the male group at toe-off. Furthermore, female group showed significantly longer relative time duration (stance phase/single step) than that of the male group (Female: 58.7±2.3% vs. Male: 55.2±3.2%). From these findings, it can be suggested that female football players tend to use greater lower limb extension motion than male football players during the stance phase of sprinting. During the stance phase of sprinting, six female players used heel-strike technique like long distance runners. Greater lower limb extension motion seen in these players was thought to be due to the heel-strike technique because the heel-strike technique may limit the range of stretching of triceps muscle, thereby disturbing the utilization of its elastic component during the stance phase of sprinting.


A text reading apparatus comprising: a visual line direction detection device (3), for a driver; a storage unit (15) which stores the sight line direction when the driver looks at a display device (2); a gaze determination device (16) that determines the driver looks at the display device when a state that the detected visual line direction with the stored line of sight direction coincides continues for a predetermined time or longer; a voice conversion device (17) serving as a voice signal outputting text information of the display device based on an instruction; and a reading control device (18) which inputs the instruction when the driver looks at the display device while the display device displays the text information and the vehicle starts to move.


Single-crystal neutron diffraction analyses of 2- and 3-aminophenols have been performed. In addition to O−H···N and N−H···O hydrogen bonds, both these structures contain previously unidentified N−...


In this paper, the authors firstly analyze MP4 stream format, and then present a new approach to MP4 stream transmission using turbo codes over the Gaussian fading channel. The experiment shows that this approach can effectively protect and correct the worst errors in MP4 stream transmission over the Gaussian fading channel.


There is lack of prospective evidence regarding vagal nerve stimulator (VNS) in younger children with intractable epilepsy. Here, we report the outcomes of using VNS in two pre-school patients for pediatric intractable epilepsy (VNS-PIE) study. Medical treatment was ineffective in both the patients, and they underwent VNS implantation. Seizure frequency, score on the Gesell scale, and heart rate variability (HRV) were assessed following VNS therapy. After 6 months VNS treatment, the seizure frequency in the two patients decreased by 50% from that at baseline, based on the records in their epileptic diary. Video electroencephalography (EEG) examinations showed that abnormal fast waves diminished in the background in Patient 1, and captured seizure frequency in Patient 2 remarkably decreased. The adaptability, language, and individual and social interaction on their Gesell scales increased slightly, suggesting that VNS had a positive effect on the development of these two children. Moreover, the changes in the different HRV indices indicated improved cardiac autonomic function. In conclusion, these two cases indicated that VNS may not only be a superior therapy for pre-school children with intractable epilepsy, but also may exert a positive effect on their mental development and cardiac autonomic function.


With improved data from BATSE and other instruments, it is important to develop a range of diagnostic tools to link gamma‐ray burst observations with theory. I will review some of the physical processes which may take place to form the spectrum of gamma‐ray burst sources, assuming that the bursts originate on strongly magnetized neutron stars. The important diagnostics that these processes provide to probe the emission region and how they might be used to interpret observed spectra will also be discussed.


In vehicular applications, fuel cell operates under varying load conditions. Sudden load variations may affect the performance of the fuel cell. The performance of a fuel cell depends on several parameters like input reactant flow rate, partial pressure of the reactants, stack temperature and membrane hydration which can be controlled by varying range of current. Unexpected load variations can cause reactant starved condition that leads to membrane dehydration and failure of the fuel cell. So Voltage Control is an important issue to be considered seriously while implementing any applications with fuel cells. This paper considers Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) which is widely used for vehicular applications. The aim of this paper is to track the output voltage of fuel cell by varying the input flow rate of hydrogen with the help of a Harmony search optimized Fractional Order PID (FOPID) Controller. The above Controller is implemented and simulated in MATLAB SIMULINK by considering the State space Model of Fuel cell. The performance of the proposed controller is analyzed by (i) Calculating the system (ii) Estimating the Time Response Characteristics of HS tuned FOPID Controller. Finally the simulation results are compared with that of existing PID Controller.


The present invention relates to a container handling device (1) for bottles, containers and the like, in particular, labeling means, said means comprising at least one centering means (2), having upstanding surface (3) and the bottle of the gripping device (4), provided at least one detection and control system (9), having at least one optical system (10). The bottle gripper (4) has an inspection opening (19) on the head side and foot side, at least one light source (14, 17; 14, 33), the bottle gripper (4) is at least partially or comprises a light guide or comprising a light guide element (6; 30), so that the surface, in particular the cover side (24) through an optical system and by the bottle gripper (4) is checked, and by means of a light guide or light guide design element (6; 30), the inner region can be illuminated inspection (23).


An efficient two-step three-component reaction of isothiocyanates, iminocarboxylic acids and a guanidine or hydroxylamine is developed to give 1,2,4-oxadiazoles in a one-pot reaction.


The classical-map hyper-netted-chain (CHNC) scheme, developed for treating fermion fluids at strong coupling and at finite temperatures, is applied to electron-electron and electron-hole double quantum wells. The pair distribution functions and the local field factors needed in linear response theory are determined for a range of temperatures, carrier densities, and barrier widths typical for experimental double quantum well systems in GaAs-GaAlAs. For electron-hole double quantum wells, a large enhancement in the pair distribution functions is found for small carrier separations. The CHNC equations for electron-hole systems no longer hold at low densities where bound-state formation occurs.


The integration of wireless local area network (WLAN) hotspot and the 3G cellular networks is imminently the future mode of public access networks. One of the key elements for the successful integration is vertical handoff between the two heterogeneous networks. Service disruption may occur during the vertical handoff because of the IP layer handoff activities, such as registration, binding update, routing table update, etc. In this paper, the network interface switching and registration process are proposed for the integrated WLAN/cellular network. Two types of fast vertical handoff protocols based on bicasting and non-bicasting supporting real-time traffic, such as voice over IP, are modeled. The performance of a bicasting based handoff scheme is analyzed and compared with that of fast handoff without bicasting. Numerical results and the simulation are given to show that packet loss rate can be reduced by the bicasting during handoff scheme without increasing bandwidth on both wireless interfaces. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Simple Summary Genomic instability (GI) caused by homologous repair deficiency (HRD) is a novel highly clinically relevant biomarker that cannot only identify patients suffering from high-grade serous ovarian cancer that may benefit from poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors but also helps in functionally annotating mutations found within genes of the homologous repair pathway. Tumors in which GI plays a role in therapeutic considerations currently include ovarian, breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancer. Therefore, we developed, implemented, and clinically validated a comprehensive custom Agilent XT HS2 hybrid capture next-generation sequencing (NGS) assay that allows in addition to the analysis of homologous recombination repair (HRR) pathway and relevant cancer genes, complex BRCA1 and BRCA2 alterations including large deletions and the evaluation of the GI-Score (GIS) status on one single tumor sample. The NOGGO (Northeastern German Society for Gynecologic Oncology) GIS v1 assay was validated as part of the European Network for Gynaecological Oncological Trial groups (ENGOT) HRD European Initiative on a subset of the ENGOT PAOLA-1 clinical trial samples. Patients identified as HRD-positive using the NOGGO GIS v1 assay showed a benefit of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) with comparable hazard ratios to the Myriad MyChoice assay. Abstract The worldwide approval of the combination maintenance therapy of olaparib and bevacizumab in advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer requires complex molecular diagnostic assays that are sufficiently robust for the routine detection of driver mutations in homologous recombination repair (HRR) genes and genomic instability (GI), employing formalin-fixed (FFPE) paraffin-embedded tumor samples without matched normal tissue. We therefore established a DNA-based hybrid capture NGS assay and an associated bioinformatic pipeline that fulfils our institution's specific needs. The assay´s target regions cover the full exonic territory of relevant cancer-related genes and HRR genes and more than 20,000 evenly distributed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci to allow for the detection of genome-wide allele specific copy number alterations (CNA). To determine GI status, we implemented an %CNA score that is robust across a broad range of tumor cell content (25–85%) often found in routine FFPE samples. The assay was established using high-grade serous ovarian cancer samples for which BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation status as well as Myriad MyChoice homologous repair deficiency (HRD) status was known. The NOGGO (Northeastern German Society for Gynecologic Oncology) GIS (GI-Score) v1 assay was clinically validated on more than 400 samples of the ENGOT PAOLA-1 clinical trial as part of the European Network for Gynaecological Oncological Trial groups (ENGOT) HRD European Initiative. The "NOGGO GIS v1 assay" performed using highly robust hazard ratios for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), as well a significantly lower dropout rate than the Myriad MyChoice clinical trial assay supporting the clinical utility of the assay. We also provide proof of a modular and scalable routine diagnostic method, that can be flexibly adapted and adjusted to meet future clinical needs, emerging biomarkers, and further tumor entities.


This paper introduces the principiumin of underwater electric current communication,In terms of the character of electrical current field,the constant current field model is brought forward for the electrical current field communicatin,and the relation between input and output is given,the advantages of electric current communication are analyzed.Several attentive problems in designing underwater electric current communication systerm are discussed.The conclusions include the communication frequency had better opt for VLF;increasing the communication distance in a certain orientation;the vertical bisectors or baselines of the receiving electrodes and transmiting electrodes should be superposition;in order to achieve the aim of anti-jamming,the way of modulate and demodulation should choose narrowband and high-level power efficiency,which will be stated referrence on studying more underwater electric current communication systerm.


The invention relates to a method for estimating portion and attributes of objects in the image. The present invention provides an improved method for detecting human meaning attributes in computer vision. In the detection of the human meaning attributes in computer vision, the present invention maintains a list of semantic attributes, each of which corresponds to the body part. Next, the computer module analyzes the segments of a frame of digital video, detects the meaning attribute of each by finding the most probable attributes for each segment. For further analysis, a threshold for selecting the candidate segment of a frame is applied. Then the candidate segment of the frame, by applying a physical structural principles of the human body, by further analyzing the high resolution version progressively images, by performing a geometric analysis and resolution context analysis, partial and attributes to verify the presence and accuracy. Computer module, appearance characteristics, geometric characteristics, and when the higher resolution version of the image can be used by evaluating the resolution context features, based on the weighted average score calculated for a higher resolution version of the image, calculating a resolution context score regarding low-resolution version of the image. Finally, is the optimal placement step is performed by dynamic programming, the optimal output having both semantic attribute and spatial position of the body part on the frame is selected. .FIELD 1


Households in the world as well as in Indonesia have become more exposed to a wide variety of vulnerabilities and risks due to the recent increase in the intensity and scope of global natural disasters. This study aims to comprehensively examine the impact of natural disasters on Indonesian's household welfare (consumption and poverty) using the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS). This study finds that households in rural areas are the most vulnerable to natural disasters; the average asset losses and medical/funeral costs from natural disasters are roughly USD 2,190/household. Our econometric models confirm that earthquakes are the most destructive disaster to affect household welfare, whereas droughts, forest fires, floods, and other disasters appear to have only moderate effects. Disaster-mitigation preparedness plays a significant role in reducing the devastating impacts of disasters and in lessening households' vulnerability to becoming impoverished.


The synthesis of nuclei with large proton numbers up to Z = 118 [1–7] has lead to discover of a new region for investigations of the structure of nuclei, namely, the investigation of the structure of the superheavy nuclei. A number of interesting experimental results have already been obtained [8–11] and calculations that provide information on the single particle spectra and evolution of the shape of these nuclei with increasing Z have been performed [12–41]. A number of calculations of the excited states spectra of superheavy nuclei were made in [42–50]. Currently, the main source of experimental information on excitation spectra of superheavy nuclei is their α-decay. With the start of work of the Factory of superheavy elements in Dubna and due to a significant increase in the yield of such nuclei in fusion reactions, gamma spectroscopic studies became possible in this area of the nuclide chart. One of the most interesting questions related to the study of the properties of superheavy nuclei is the question of the next magic number of protons after Z = 82. It is well known how accurate indicator of what numbers of protons and neutrons are magic, is the behavior of the excitation energy of the 21 states of even-even nuclei. When the values of Z and N approach the magic numbers, the value of E(21 ) increases sharply and reaches a maximum at double magic nuclei. This makes information about the excitation energies of the 21 states of the even-even superheavy nuclei important for understanding of their structure. It should be noted that the excitation energy of the 21 state also gives, in principle, information about the shape of these nuclei. For the experiments planned to measureE(21 ) it could be useful to know theoretical predictions of the values of E(21 ) in the region of the nuclide chart under investigation. The well known Grodzins relation formulated in 1962 [51], which established that the product of the energy of the 21 state per probability of the E2 transition from the ground state of the nucleus to the 21 state, is a smooth function of A and Z. This property does not depend on whether the nucleus is spherical or deformed, although both E(21 ) and B(E2; 0 + 1 → 21 ) vary through a large factor. This is especially important when analyzing the properties of nuclei from those parts of the nuclide chart where the transition from deformed to spherical nuclei occurs. Later on Raman et al. [52, 53] by analyzing a larger set of the experimental data have shown that the Grodzins relation can be presented in the following form


The work is devoted to the issues of implementation the signal converters of integrated sensors in data fusion concepts. The problem of developing a universal signal converter for the construction of integrated sensors is solved. The basic requirements for such a converter are wide functionality which combines different methods of measuring conversion and compliance with current trends of microelectronic sensor development. Considering the requirements of modern microcircuit technique, in particular for sensory devices of the Internet of Things, the signal path of the synthesized sensors is implemented based on PSoC of 5LP Family Cypress. The testing of the developed system was carried out in the implementation process of integrated sensors for impedance spectroscopy.


With the development of China's economy, its dependence on foreign oil increases every year. Therefore, oil reserves play a vital role in ensuring China's energy security. The selection of a base site for the construction of strategic oil reserves is a priority. This study analyzes the status quo as well as future development trends for oil processing conditions, pipeline transportation conditions, consumption and production in the base radiation area, crude oil loading and unloading capacity of the port, reserve modes, and other factors. Preliminary planning of the spatial layout of the petroleum strategic reserve base is also detailed in this study. Strategic oil reserve bases can be positioned at the Pearl River Delta, the crude oil pipelines of Central and Southwest China and the large refineries and locations near the crude oil port terminals. Meanwhile, ground and underground reserve modes should be combined.


Calls for new directions in MIS research bring with them a call for renewed methodological .rigor. This article offers an operating paradigm for renewal along dimensions previously unstressed. The basic contention is that confirmatory empirical findings will be strengthened when instrument validation precedes both internal and statistical conclusion validity and that, in many situations, MIS researchers need to validate their research instruments. This contention is supported by a survey of instrumentation as reported in sample IS journals over the last several years. A demonstration exercise of instrument validation follows as an illustration of some of the basic principles of validation. The validated instrument was designed to gather data on the impact'of computer security administration on the incidence of computer abuse in the U.S.A. This work was carded out under the auspices of International DPMA (Data Processing Management.Association). It was supported by grants from IBM, IRMIS (Institute for Research on the Management of Information Systems, Indiana University Graduate School of Business) and the Ball Corporation Foundation. An earlier version of this article appeared as "Instrument Validation in the MIS Research Process," Proceedings of the Annual Administrative Sciences Association of Canada Conference, F. Bergeron (ed.), Whistler, B.C., June 1986, pp. 103-118. Keywordsi MIS research methodology, empirical measurement, theory construction and development, content validity, reliability, construct validity, internal validity ACM Categories: H.0, J.0


Report of a Case. A 69-year-old white woman presented to the hospital with a 3-day history of left lower quadrant abdominal pain that was progressive, constant, and exacerbated by movement. Six days prior to admission, the patient's physician prescribed 100 mg of oral doxycycline twice daily for 10 days for bronchitis. The patient's medical history included breast cancer, atrial fibrillation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, myocardial infarction, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and diverticulosis. Long-term medications included warfarin, diltiazem, atorvastatin, alendronate, albuterol, and fluticasone. One month prior to admission, the international normalized ratio was 2.6. Vital signs were normal except for a heart rate of 104 beats/min. On physicalexamination,thepatient'sabdomen was tender to light palpation with both voluntary and involuntary guarding. The stool guaiac findings were negative. Liver function test resultsandserumhemoglobin,calcium, and albumin levels were within normal limits.The internationalnormalized ratio was 7.2. Nineteen hours after hospitalization, the serum hemoglobin level had decreased by 68 g/L (49%). An abdominal computed tomographic scanshowed large left retroperitoneal bleeding. The patient's therapy included fluid replacement, transfusion of 4 U of fresh frozen plasma as well as 4 U of packed red blood cells. Two subcutaneous phytonadione doses of 10 mg and 5 mg were administered at 5 and 35 hours, respectively, after admission. The Table indicates the change in hematologic and coagulant parameters associated with the bleeding and after therapy. At 6 days postadmission, the patient was discharged home with the plan to replace warfarin therapy with aspirin therapy for stroke reduction from atrial fibrillation.


Today, companies increasingly are using alliance to fill gaps in their own capabilities and to grow in new markets and regions. Because of challenge of global competition, textile companies are increasingly using strategic partnership to maintain competitiveness. Although there seems to be an increase in the number of alliances formed, at the same time, there is also evidence that strategic alliances are underperforming, due to different levels of risk, resource requirements, and interaction among the partners. Developing an Alliance Balanced Scorecard (ABS) can mitigate the natural risk in alliance making process. This study focuses on how to apply the Balanced Scorecard on an alliance-making of three Textile companies as a result of a demand. We present a multiple criteria approach for evaluating Strategic Alliances in the first stage during their initiation and planning. In order to get multiple dimensional perspectives on the partners and industry, the ABS is embedded in the strategic model such as Porter's five competitive forces, the Internal Factors Evaluation Matrix, and SWOT through a hierarchical structure of criteria that reflect the ABS balance considerations. All motivations and issues of making alliances classified in four-perspective framework based on ABS: financial, strategic, operational, and relationship. The proposed approach integrates the Alliance Balanced Scorecard with data analysis by Fuzzy Multiple Criteria Decision Making (FMCDM) and develops a Strategic Alliances making model. These finding provide the rationale for a firm in alliance to develop a Strategy Map and Balanced Scorecard as part of the Strategic Alliance making integration process and evaluate a firm's capability for strategic alliances making with data analysis in fuzzy environment.


Bacteriological Examination.-I proceeded by m~ans of swabs to take specimens of products. (1) From the right and left aspect of the septum nasi. (2) From the mucous membrane covering the hard palate. (3) From the mucous membrane covering the soft palate. (4) From the mucous membrane of the back of the pharynx. (5) By means of a slight incision I obtained some of the lymph from the nodule over the lower end of the ulna in the right arm. (6) In the same way I obtained some small shred of tissue from a tubercle at the back of the left wrist. Microscopical examination of these various products revealed the presence ot a large number of bacilli of leprosy. The case is obviously one of leprosy of the nodular type. Some of the lesions are of the nature generally associated with anresthetic leprosy. Recommendations.-Having been asked to offer suggestions regarding the disposal of the case, I beg to say that such a case should undoubtedly be isolated, more especially in consideration of the feelings of the other persons interned in the camp. As isolation would probably be a matter of great difficulty at a camp, I would suggest that, if there is no objection from the military point of view to such a case being transferred to a hospital, inquiry should be made either at the Southern Hospital in Liverpool or at the Seamen's Hospital at Greenwich, to find whether these institutions would be in a position to receive such a case. The question of special treatment would not arise till the patient was received in such a hospital. With regard to general treatment, I, of course, need not say anything.


Movements and ranges of white-tailed deer were studied for 8 years in the Adirondack Mountains. Deer were box-trapped on winter and summer range and 105 radio-collared deer and 266 deer marked with collars and ear streamers were released during the study. Summer ranges of deer on the study area averaged 184.3 ± 24.6 ha. Seasonal movements were correlated with snow depths of about 38 cm. There was no difference (IP < 0.05) between summer and winter range size of males and females. Females and adult males used the same range year to year with few excep tions. A majority of 1 1/2 2 1/2 year-old males exhibited dispersal movements of 5 1 0 km. Range fidelity to a specific area was less pronounced in winter than summer. Background: Procedures: Findings: Analysis: See attached manuscript. See attached manuscript. See attached manuscript. See attached manuscript. I ! i ) i ! Recommendations: This job has been terminated. The attached draft manuscript will serve as a combined final report for Jobs VI 1, 2 and 4. Program Coordinator TTtTe Prepared by: Principal Investigatory UjJL̂fl Richard W. Sage Jr. ̂ / v ~ Program Coordinator Title Approved by William F. Porter Project Leader 5a te Approved by:________ _____________________________________________ Eugene Parks, Supervising Date Wildlife Biologist Approved by: Stuart Free, Chief Bureau of Wildlife Date


AbstractThe aim of this technical note is to present methods that allow for direct computation of the bed roughness due to sediment transport based on a formula developed in the literature for case...


Crown gall disease in grapevine is caused by pathogenic strains of Allorhizobium vitis. A. vitis strain F2/5 is a non-pathogenic biocontrol agent that was previously shown to act as a biological control agent to crown gall disease and first isolated from South Africa. Here, we present the complete assembled genome and is 5.94 Mb in length with 5,414 predicted protein-coding sequences, has two circular chromosomes and five plasmids. The genome sequence has no detectable T-DNA border sequences and is missing key virulence genes which is consistent with the bacteria being non-pathogenic. The F2/5 genome sequence could contribute to understanding the molecular basis underlying the biocontrol activity.


Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea; College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea; Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Medical Research Collaborating Center, Biomedical Research Institution, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea; Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Laboratory of Cutaneous Aging and Hair Research, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea; Institute of Human-Environment Interface Biology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea; Department of Dermatology, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea


J Rahnefa et al 1984 Chichester: John Wiley xi + 985 pp price £92.45 ISBN 0 471 88914 8 This magnum opus of nigh on 1000 pages is in the very best traditions of American technical writing. The four authors are all associated with the Electric Power Research Institute, a well-respected Californian organisation, and have clearly poured their hearts and minds into a book at once all-embracing, yet eminently readable.


B cell-restricted immunotoxins were constructed by conjugating anti-B monoclonal antibodies to saporin, the major ribosome inactivating protein from the seeds of the plant Saponaria officinalis. HD37-SAP is directed against CD1 9, the broadest B cell-specific determinant. HD39-SAP and HD6-SAP recognize two different epitopes on the CD22 molecule, an antigen present on the cell surface of B cells at late stages of differentiation. All three immunotoxins inhibited DNA synthesis and protein synthesis in target B lymphoma cells with a dose-related effect, in short incubation times and in the absence of potentiators. A clonogenic assay demonstrated that all immunotoxins could eliminate more than two logs of cbonogenic malignant B cells with a two-hour incubation at concentrations not toxic to cells


Corona treatment improved bonding between sheets of cellulose and synthetic polymers. The bond strength increased at higher temperatures of pressing. Physical changes in the surface were detected microscopically after corona treatment in air. Sheets treated in pure nitrogen made strong bonds although the surface treated in nitrogen was indistinguishable from the untreated surface.


Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) systems stem out as a promising technology that has the advantage of an easy integration with thermal energy storage. The current benchmark in the CSP technology is represented by the solar tower receiver with molten salts working as heat transfer fluid. The main drawback of this system is the relatively low working temperature of the molten salts (about 565 °C), which affects the efficiency of the subsequent Rankine cycle for energy production. The use of dense suspensions of solid particles as solar receivers in CSP systems is gaining ever increasing interest, as the dense suspension can simultaneously act as receiver, heat transfer fluid and heat storage medium. Dense suspensions can work at higher temperature with respect to molten salts, even between 1000–1500 °C, without any safety, corrosion, or disposal problem. In this work, different granular materials were investigated to scrutinize their potential use as dense suspensions in directly irradiated Fluidized Bed (FB) reactors. Experimental tests were performed in a directly irradiated FB reactor exposed to a 12 kWel beam-down simulated solar furnace. The dynamics of the directly irradiated FB reactor was analyzed with specific reference to temperature distribution at the surface and in the bulk of the bed as a function of the inlet gas velocity. Material performances were compared by considering the energy required to sustain the fluidization conditions and solar absorption capacity of the granular material.


with the social development of transportation industry,logistics has already become an indispensable part of people's lives,nearly twenty years,vehicle routing problem has become the graph theory,applied mathematics,computer application,operations research,network analysis and transportation science and other subjects of common research hotspot.By years of verification,the question is very difficult by the conventional method to answer,the people through the intelligent algorithm to conduct research and analysis.The first,the paper on the vehicle routing problem is described,followed in the problem on the basis of analysis of the multi objective evolutionary algorithm,the vehicle routing problem with mathematical modeling,the actual vehicle routing problem plays a positive role in guiding


Using the conductometric technique, the process of contact of subcooled distilled water with a hot surface was studied. The results of measurements of the parameters of the contact made in the range of the temperature change of the heated surface 170 ± 620 ° C are given. An experimental fact has been revealed, which indicates that a transition from film to bubble boiling is preceded by a short (several millisecond) hydrodynamic process that is characterized by intense interaction of waves at the vapour - liquid interface with the heated surface. With the help of wavelet analysis, the amplitude-frequency characteristics of this process are investigated and a qualitative physical model of its flow


Resent observations of a number of galaxy clusters using the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect indicate that about of the baryonic mass is missing from the hot intracluster medium (ICM), which is significantly larger than the fraction of stars and cool gas, which account for only about 10%. Here we address the question of whether the remaining 22% ± 10% can be accounted for by the thermal evaporation of gas from clusters. We have found that evaporation can occur only from the cluster "surface," r ~ rvir, and not from its interior. We evaluated particle diffusion through the magnetized ICM for several scenarios of ISM turbulence and found that diffusivity is suppressed by at least a factor of 100 or more, compared to the Spitzer value. Thus, only particles at radii r ≳ 0.9rvir can evaporate. The diffusion of particles from inside the cluster, r ≲ 0.9rvir, takes longer than the Hubble time. This lowers the cluster-averaged fraction of the evaporated hot gas to a few percent or less. However, if the missing hot component is indeed due to evaporation, this strongly constrains the magnetic field structure in the cluster envelope, namely, either the gas is completely unmagnetized (B ≤ 10-21 G) in the cluster halo or the magnetic fields in the ICM are rather homogeneous and nonturbulent.


Librarians at the University of Calgary collaborated with instructors on an inquiry-based learning course with varying involvement across four course sections. This study uses text analysis of student assignments to assess information literacy (IL) skill development across four levels of course participation: librarian as instructor-of-record, two levels of embeddedness, and a single 'one-shot' session. The methodology included the tracking of keywords generated using the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy and text analysis of student reflection assignments in an inquiry-based, research-focused first-year undergraduate course. The results suggest that the benefit to student IL skills is not related to amount of librarian instruction, but rather to the level of instructor buy-in with regard to library services and the importance of IL skills. We argue that the most impactful librarian involvement is as an IL course consultant rather than a full-time embedded librarian (which is surprising given the literature on the efficacy of embeddedness). Although further research is needed, the study results have significant implications for academic librarian instructional practices and collaborations on course content with faculty members.


Objective: to verify the effectiveness of the pelvic floor muscles rehabilitation program (PFMRP) in female volleyball athletes, analyzing the amount and frequency of urinary leakage. Methods: experimental study. The sample consisted of 32 female athletes from Famalicao Athletic Volleyball Club (Portugal). The athletes were selected by convenience and distributed randomly into two groups: experimental group (EG = 16 athletes) and the control group (CG = 16 athletes). The EG underwent PFMRP for three months. The PFMRP was the awareness and identification of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM), pre-timed PFM contraction prior to occasions of increased intra-abdominal pressure, and 30 daily contractions of MPP at home. The CG had only access to the pamphlet. The assessment instruments included the questionnaires, the Pad Test (amount of urinary leakage) and frequency record of urinary leakage (7-day diary) before and after PFMRP. Results: the amount of urine leakage decreased in 45.5% of athletes under PFMRP intervention, and in 4.9% of athletes in CG, with statistical differences between the groups (p < 0.001). The reduction in the frequency of urinary leakage was 14.3% in EG, and 0.05% in CG, a statistically significant difference between the groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion: PFMRP in this study was effective to reduce stress urinary incontinence in female volleyball athletes. The program allowed significant improvement of symptoms of quantity and frequency of urinary leakage.


: This article is about Odo Rigaldus ' stay at the University of Paris. Odo Rigaldus arrived in Paris around 1220 to study the liberal arts and then theology. He was already an advanced student of theology when he took the Franciscan habit like his master, Alexander of Hales, in 1236. Odo remained in Paris as a bachelor then master in theology until 1248. Throughout his years in Paris, he learned from other masters, participated in debates and disputationes, received academic training, studied alongside other students, and trained disciples in his turn. This article pres-ents the training received by Odo Rigaldus, his intellectual activity within the university, as well as the social network which he established during his years in Paris, in order to shed light on the knowledge he acquired and on the clerics and the personalities with whom he was linked during these founding years and whom he met, in some cases, during his episcopate. Only a few traces or references have come down to us relating to the time spent by Odo Rigaldus at the University of Paris. His name figures, among many others, in the Latin MS 15652 in the Bibliothèque nationale de France, which is a collection of reportationes or notes taken by an anonymous student during a course of study on the Sentences or on the Bible in Paris around 1240.¹ In 1242, with his master Alexander of Hales and two other bachelor students in theology, he composed the Expositio regu-lae quatuor magistrorum super regulam fratrum minorum. ² A number of sermons from this period in Paris can also be identified.³ The Franciscan chronicler Salimbene offers these words in praise of Odo ' s authoritative status in Paris:


Preliminary quantum-chemical calculations (DFT) were performed for 2-(β-aminoethyl)-pyridine (AEP). In calculations, rotational isomerism around the single C-C and C-N bonds ofthe chain aminoethyl group in AEPwas considered. Nine stable conformations (four trans and five gauche) with similar Gibbs energies were found. For all of them, vibrational frequencies were calculated at the DFT(B3LYP)/6-31G* level. Infrared (FT-IR) spectra were recorded in apolar solvent (CCl 4 ) for various concentrations of AEP, and compared with those found by computations. The comparison shows that in apolar CCl 4 solution AEP exists as a mixture of different conformers. Analysis of the experimental stretching NH and CH vibrations, and the bending in-plane NH vibrations suggests that all nine conformers of AEP can be present in CCl 4 solution.


Optimal $L^2 $ error estimates are derived for the usual Galerkin method for the semilinear elliptic problem \[Lu \equiv \mathop \sum \limits_{i,j = 1}^N \frac{\partial } {{\partial x_i }}\left( {a_{ij} (x)\frac{{\partial u}} {{\partial x_j }}} \right) + a_0 (x)u = f(x,u),\quad ,x \in \Omega \], $u = 0{\text{ on }}\partial \Omega $. When $f_u$ is bounded inside the resolvent set of L it is shown that the Galerkin equations can be reformulated as a monotone operator problem. Optimal $L^2 $ error estimates then follow. $H^1 $ error estimates are also derived in the case when $f_u $ touches $\sigma (L)$.


Rural structural transformation in Africa is not following the pattern observed in Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries, where increasing productivity of agriculture and the industrialisation triggered a structural transformation and urbanisation. In Africa, it is factors such as the stagnating or declining productivity of small-scale farmers and the degradation of soils and grazing land that lead to urbanisation. But African cities offer few jobs and poor prospects for the migrants. This development has resulted in growing slum areas and further migration within the region and across the Mediterranean Sea. Details of the interrelationships have been investigated by an SLE research group and recommendations have been made to make these trends more socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable.


In this study, we aimed to explore the molecular mechanism underlying the effect of resveratrol (RES) and curcumin (CUR) on the treatment of CIN. And we also investigated the potential additive interactions between RES and CUR. Rat models were established as a Sham group, a contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) group, a CIN+RES group, a CIN+CUR group and a CIN+RES+CUR group. ELISA was performed to observe the expression levels of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in the rats. H&E staining was performed to measure renal dysfunction of each rat group. Real-time PCR, Western blot, computational analysis and luciferase assays were used to establish the signaling pathways responsible for the effect of RES and CUR on CIN. The levels of serum creatinine, BUN and serum NGAL were significantly increased in CIN rats, which were recovered by the administration of RES and/or CUR. The high injury score in the CIN group was preserved by the administration of RES and CUR. The expression of both miR-17 and miR-30c was markedly decreased while the expression of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), forkhead box O3 (FOXO3), NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NRLP3), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and cleaved caspase-3 was all markedly increased in the CIN group. RES or CUR treatment mitigated the above dysregulation in CIN rats, and the combined administration of RES+CUR exhibited a more impressive effect. TXNIP was a target gene of miR-17, while FOXO3 was a target gene of miR-30c. The combined administration of RES and CUR additively reduced the expression of NLRP3, and attenuated renal injury and inflammation in CIN treatment. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


In this paper the use of ?circuit constants? for the calcualtion of transmission-line problems is dealt with in an elemetary way, in the hope that many who perhaps would not have the time or patience to follow the original papers of Messrs. Evans and Sels may be encouraged to use their very powerful and useful methods. To avoid having to refer to textbooks for the elements of complex algebra, a few notes on its use have been included. The formulae for calculating the constants of series and parallel circuits are developed; and the determination of the particular values of the constants for transmission lines, and for transformers, is dealt with in detail. Following this, methods for dealing with more complex cases of lines supplying more than one substation, and branching lines, are dealt with. An actual example of an existing transmission line is worked out in detail.


ion is not as simple a process as initially thought (Figure 5). Possibly because of the high affinity of silver towards gold and halogen, various Au-Ag intermediates (A, B, C) are formed during the halogen abstraction step. These intermediates have been isolated and identified (Figure 5). The presence of silver could also have an additional deleterious effect: the formation of a dinuclear gold-silver resting state (i.e., intermediate D in Figure 5).


A variety of light-harvesting capsules were successfully constructed by assembling polyelectrolyte complexes and antenna dyes of graduated absorption energy into nanoscale walls (thickness of a single layer around 2 nm). Two-step downhill energy transfer was demonstrated with absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy for the first time on light-harvesting capsules. Energy transfer occurs parallel to the capsule surface if the dyes are coadsorbed to the preassembled capsule wall. Energy transfer perpendicular to the surface was achieved by sequentially assembling the dyes in different layers of the wall. Although perpendicular energy transfer is less efficient because of longer intermolecular distances, utilization of J-aggregates and optimization of dye combinations and dye ratios yielded an efficient energy cascade along three components. The light-harvesting capsules are analogous to the light reactions of photosynthesis in chloroplasts.


CuSCN, as a new type of inorganic hole-transporting semiconductor with a wide bandgap (>3.4 eV), is attracting much attention in the fabrication of perovskite solar cells. In this article, by using first-principles density functional theory (DFT) and the quasi-harmonic approximation (QHA) approach, we have studied lattice dynamics and abnormal thermal expansion of the system, including α- and β-CuSCN phases. The influence of the abnormal thermal expansion of the lattice on the electronic structure, especially on the bandgap of the system, was explored and discussed. We found that due to the shearing modes and the three acoustic modes along the direction of the c-axis, the α- and β-CuSCN show a negative thermal expansion (NTE) in the direction of the c-axis. The torsion modes of the Cu–N–C–S atomic chains in the α-CuSCN may lead to an NTE in the directions of the a, b-axes of the α-phase. As a result, our theoretical results demonstrated that the α-CuSCN exhibits an anisotropic bulk NTE. While the β-CuSCN displays a strong uniaxial negative thermal expansion in the direction of the c-axis, in the directions of the a, b-axes, it exhibits positive thermal expansion. Our DFT calculations also predicted that the α-CuSCN has a direct bandgap, which increases slightly with increasing temperature. However, the β-CuSCN has an indirect bandgap at low temperature, which converts to a direct bandgap near the temperature of 375 K due to the strong positive expansion in the ab plane of the phase. Our work revealed the mechanisms of the abnormal thermal expansion of the two phases and a strong coupling between the anisotropic thermal expansion and the electronic structures of the system.


An improved method is presented for obtaining fractional approximations. The fractional parameters are now solutions of a set of linear equations, and no nonlinear equations are involved as in the previous procedure. Excellent fractional approximations are presented for the Coulomb functions for η=0.5, 1, 2, and 5. The accuracy is sufficient for most of the computations where this function is used. The straightforward extension to higher orders is indicated.


A mission reliability modeling and simulation method for software-hardware integrated systems is proposed to decouple the software and hardware of the system, by taking the system function as the traction, and referencing the related method for shared equipment, which can effectively solve the problem of mission reliability modeling and calculation of complex systems including software and hardware in engineering. This method is applicable to the equipment systems whose software and hardware are developed by independent departments, and is used for the general department to predict the system mission reliability and assign the index to the development departments.


The paper introduces the principle of dyeing for silkworm protein fiber, discusses about the choice of processingtemperature, determines the technical parameters for silkworm protein fiber dyeing, clarifies the influencing factors of dyeing forsilkworm protein fiber.


Standing dead trees (SDTs) are an important component of forest ecosystems, but reliable estimates of SDT population parameters may be costly, due to spatial and temporal variation in dead tree abundance, which often causes an excess number of zero observations (a.k.a. 'zero inflation') in survey data. The objective of this study was to compare a new estimation method, the Expected-Zero Hurdle (EZ-Hurdle) method, with a typical fixed-area sampling (FAS) method, as methods for estimating the abundance of SDTs under different forest conditions. This study demonstrated that the EZ-Hurdle method provided more precise estimates than FAS when data describing the distance from the plot centre to the nearest SDT were incorporated into a model-based estimator that reduced estimation error associated with zero-inflation in the data. However, the EZ-Hurdle method was determined to be a less cost-efficient sampling method than FAS with smaller (�7 m radius) plots, because the additional time required to find the nearest dead tree to each plot centre was large, relative to the improvement in precision. On the other hand, the EZ-Hurdle method was a more cost-efficient sampling method than using larger (�18 m radius) plots. The EZ-Hurdle method appears to be a useful method for improving the precision of estimates of SDT abundance whenever there is a restriction on changing the sampling design or adding more plots to a survey.


Today's tire pressure monitoring systems comprise valve stem mounted wheel units for pressure measurement which are battery-powered. In this contribution, a novel intelligent tire system is presented which provides a wealth of functionality including tire pressure system monitoring. The main features are battery-less operation based on a transponder principle and the permanent, transparent incorporation of the electronics in the tire. Hence, there are no life-time or ecology issues as in battery-based systems, the mounting process is simpler than in valve stem systems and tire identification capabilities are provided. The paper describes the basic system functionality and the key technical parameters to start an industry-wide discussion on standardization.


Abstract The circadian rhythm of human rectal temperature was compared in three female subjects living for 14 days under almost natural conditions without uses of electrical lamp during summer and winter. The time of morning rise of the rectal temperature rhythm was earlier in winter than in summer. Cosinor analysis revealed that the acrophase was earlier in winter in two subjects and the amplitude was also larger in winter in all three subjects. The findings are discussed in terms of circadian physiology.


Generalization, i.e., the ability of solving problem instances that are not available during the system design and development phase, is a critical goal for intelligent systems. A typical way to achieve good generalization is to learn a model from vast data. In the context of heuristic search, such a paradigm could be implemented as configuring the parameters of a parallel algorithm portfolio (PAP) based on a set of "training" problem instances, which is often referred to as PAP construction. However, compared to the traditional machine learning, PAP construction often suffers from the lack of training instances, and the obtained PAPs may fail to generalize well. This article proposes a novel competitive co-evolution scheme, named co-evolution of parameterized search (CEPS), as a remedy to this challenge. By co-evolving a configuration population and an instance population, CEPS is capable of obtaining generalizable PAPs with few training instances. The advantage of CEPS in improving generalization is analytically shown in this article. Two concrete algorithms, namely, CEPS-TSP and CEPS-VRPSPDTW, are presented for the traveling salesman problem (TSP) and the vehicle routing problem with simultaneous pickup–delivery and time windows (VRPSPDTW), respectively. The experimental results show that CEPS has led to better generalization, and even managed to find new best-known solutions for some instances.


These results suggest that, over the time period studied, international diversification into foreign bonds has offered some benefits. These benefits are best measured, however, by comparing the performance of a passive world index with that of a US. index. An ex post mean-variance analysis systematically overstates the possible gains from going international. The concept of mean-variance optimization, developed by Markowitz, is the cornerstone of modern finance theory and a powerful tool for efficiently allocating wealth to different investment alternatives.' The technique incorporates investor preferences and expectations of return and risk for all assets considered, as well as diversification effects, which reduce overall portfolio risk.


PT Herba Penawar Alwahida sells a variety of herbal products. The process of buying and selling transactions occur every day, resulting in a pile of data pretty much. However, so far the transaction data has only been used as material to make monthly reports without further use of data these, even though from these data information can be extracted to support marketing. To utilize existing transaction data, the authors make a website-based data mining application. This application will be developed by method association (Association Rule) uses apriori algorithm. So that it can be seen the level of accuracy of this application. With the application of data mining, is expected to help the distributor to get information about which HPAI products are often purchased by consumers simultaneously, so as to improve the product marketing and maintaining process availability of stock of these products to remain.


This is the final volume of a three volume study (see also L51651 and L51685). Volume III documents the engineering critical assessment analysis on the effect of weld metal matching on girth weld performance. This analysis was conducted to determine how weld metal yield strength overmatching or undermatching influences the prediction of girth weld defect sizes. Small- and large-scale test data were evaluated according to the non-mandatory engineering critical analysis (ECA) methods listed in API-1104 Appendix A, BS-4515 Appendix H, and CSA-Z184 Appendix K. An additional analysis was conducted using the newly revised PD6493:1991 to provide a critical analysis to explain the results of wide-plate tests.


The hot-carrier injection (HCI) degradation mechanism of 1.8V n-channel metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (nMOSFET) is studied, and the degradation tendency of the saturated drain current ($I$dsat) under different gate bias stresses is shown. Combining with the experimental data, a neural network model based on the long short-term memory (LSTM) for predicting the behavior of the HCI degradation is trained and tested. The model reaches a fairly good predictive ability (R2 = 0.974 and mean absolute error = 0.06686). The degradation rate δIdsat(t) from 0% to 6% is successfully used to predict the remaining degradation process until 10% shift of $I$dsat(t) based on the model, which can obviously decrease the testing time and labor cost.


Summary An experimental study has been made of the conditions necessary to produce transition in a swept attachment-line boundary layer which is subjected to disturbances from trip wires of various sizes. The boundary layer considered is that formed on a long, untwisted, tapered wing which has been tested in both the backward swept and forward swept configurations. Results from these tests are compared with previous work on an untapered model. Some important similarities and some puzzling differences have been found. Finally consideration is given to the practical implications of this work. It is suggested that a forward swept wing may be capable of supporting a laminar attachment-line flow at a much higher free-stream Reynolds number than a corresponding swept-back wing.


Implementation of tangible virtuality means providing means for creating airborne visual images, rendering them with physical properties and making them sensible for the human senses. Airborne creation and direct manipulation requires separating the virtual objects from the image generating (physical rendering) device. One step in this direction is using electroholographic, or pseudo-electroholographic, devices which are able to create virtual objects in mid-air by various light interference techniques. A virtual object is a computer model, visualized by the projection system to appear as a real, tangible object. Te enable the required direct interaction with the virtual objects these have to be perceptually separated from the projected device, they have to be perceived as floating in the air. In our research we use the Holovizio Hv128WD system, a mono-parallax, high resolution holographic imaging device supporting 3D image visualization rather than physical rendering of virtual objects. The device generates 62 views of virtual objects where each view is visible from a specific viewing direction. The user of the system perceives this as a stereo view to the object. We have been collecting application experiences related to this device for more than one year, and we have found some restrictions and limitations in the image creating capabilities which we are trying to eliminate in our current research. This paper reports on the first phase of research which focuses on some major image generation problems and exploration of possible hardware, software or data management causes. The goal of this first phase is to develop and validate the proper measurement methods. A pilot experiment is performed to verify the applicability of the method. The results show that the proposed measurement methods are feasible and helpful in analyzing the observed problems. Some problems appear to have a more fundamental cause and may only be worked around.Copyright © 2009 by ASME


As Internet delay times affect the perceptions of users, the ability to differentiate the feel of Internet sites using statistical measures beyond average packet delays may be of commercial value. One such statistical measure is the Hurst parameter of a long-range dependent (LRD) process. A dichotomous Hurst parameter derived from segmented day and night delay data suggests that variations in Internet delay statistics are real and may be caused by diurnal human activity.


ED 018 167 56 FL 000 813 A FURTHER SEARCH FOR ELEMENTS OF TOMORROW'S CLASSROOM. DENVER-STANFORD PROJECT ON THE CONTEXT OF INSTRUCTIONAL TELEVISION, REPORT NUMBER 12. BYHAYMAN, JOHN L., JR. JOHNSON, JAMES T., JR. STANFORD UNIV., CALIF.INST. FOR COMMUN. RES. REPORT NUMBER NDEA-7A-354 PUB DATE JUL 64 DENVER BOARD OF EDUCATION, COLO., SCH. LIST. NO. 1 GRANT OEG-7-14-1380-'083 EDRS PRICE MF.-$0.25 HC-$1.60 38P.


Modernization in Pacitan has brought an impact on people's lives change. Economic development impacts on the increase of educational opportunities and delays the age of marriage. The culture of early marriage in the past had been distressed by the postponement of the age of early marriage. The goal of this writing is to analyze the process of the early marriage transformation from the past to the present and the pattern of early marriage model in the present. The study was conducted in June 2018 in the district of Pacitan done by using observation, interview, and FGD (Focus Group Discussion) methods. The interview was conducted on the subjects of early marriage and those closest to the subjects of early marriage. FGD was conducted with community leaders who had known the description of the early marriage phenomena. The study was conducted in rural areas of Pacitan where the practice of early marriage commonly done in the past and in the town of Pacitan which gave great influence for the transformation of early marriage in Pacitan. The results showed that early marriage in the past which had been motivated by tradition is not practiced in the present. Marriage in the present is more due to pregnancy outside marriage caused by the strengthening of the free sex practice. Therefore there was a great change from the practice of early marriage in the past and the present. Keyword: The Transformation, Early Marriage, impact of modernization


A new structural complexity and vulnerability analysis method for electric power system dispatching data network (EPSDDN) based on complex network theory is proposed. The existing structure of EPSDDN can be categorized into two typical structures: double-star and mesh, and is analyzed from the statistically characteristic parameters and cumulative distribution of degree and betweenness centrality of these two typical network structures. Simulation result shown that the double-star network is a typical scale-free network while the mesh network is a typical small-world network. The static and dynamic vulnerability of the typical networks are analyzed using single fault and cascading outage respectively. Simulation result indicates that the vulnerability of EPSDDN has close relationship with network structure. The mesh network is much more robust to selective single failure than the double-star network, while the cascading failures are much easier to take place in the latter, and the vulnerable nodes concentrate on the nodes which have high betweenness centrality.


Nowadays food is one of the major concerns of people. During this COVID-19 a pandemic situation, everyone wants to take the right food with its nutritional values. "Superfoods" are the expanded availability of products which has been a major demand for marketing. "Superfoods" has tremendously and recently gained attention along with the digital marketing strategy to motivate the super health benefits for the human body and also to prevent diseases and to provide the health benefits. Fruits and vegetables are the main sources of it. In many situations these foods play a very important role in decreasing the risk of critical conditions and diseases. Superfood represents a natural source of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients required for a healthy lifestyle. These superfoods provided focusses on hygiene and balanced nutrition with the objective for promoting the health of the people in a better way [9]. This article explores how "Superfoods" awareness and its requirements can be known to common people using the blog. Therefore, we have created a blog on superfood and made a survey of it to know about the people's views.


Aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU) is a lysosomal storage disease caused by deficiency of aspartylglucosaminidase. The disease is overrepresented in the Finnish population, in which one missense mutation (Cys163Ser) is responsible for 98% of the disease alkies. The few non‐Finnish cases of AGU which have been analyzed at molecular level have revealed a spectrum of different mutations. Here, we report two new missense mutations causing AGU in two Canadian siblings. The patients were compound heterozygotes with a G299→ A transition causing a Gly100→ Gin substitution and a T404→ C transition resulting in a Phe135→ Ser change in the cDNA coding for aspartylglucosaminidase. The younger patient recently underwent bone marrow transplantation.


Beware to be bothered by this initial draft version of a clinical practice guideline statement on hemodialysis adequacy:
"Twice-weekly hemodialysis may be conditionally recommended over thrice-weekly hemodialysis as maintenance renal replacement therapy for CKD 5 patients.  Level of Evidence: Low. Strength of Recommendation: Weak."


ness in relation to the clause as a whole override this principle. Further, based on this single variable, the various process types cluster into two broad semantic types: concrete and abstract clauses. Regarding the system of AGENCY, clauses divide into middle or effective, depending on whether or not they embody the feature of agency. Middle clauses represent the process as being self-engendered while effective clauses represent it as being caused by an external participant, the Agent. The study contributes to systemic functional theory and the general meta-theory of language, functional language typology and African linguistics. The description is also appliable for the purposes of language education, translation, orthography, discourse studies and other practical settings where the Dagaare language is in focus.


A probabilistic approach is described which is able to estimate triplet cosine invariants via their second representation. The experimental tests on structures of different complexity show that triplets with positive cosine are estimated with an accuracy better than via Cochran's distribution. Furthermore, in favourable cases, a large percentage of negative triplets can be found.


With the development of electronic information technology and semiconductor technology, the application of embedded system widespread increasingly, more and more high-performance microprocessor is used in the control field, in order to satisfy the more and more demands of each application more of control. The digital voltage regulator control system based on ARM embedded platform, overcame the disadvantages of traditional analog control with a knob or sliding variable type resistor to the AC voltage. This system, which is based on embedded technology, building embedded platform with ARM microprocessor can real-time control the digital-analog signal conversion, to control the size of ac voltage regulation by using sine wave voltage regulator module. This article through the field test, verify the functional performance of the digital voltage regulator control system, and quantitative tests that this system can realize linear adjust to AC voltage. As intelligent adjust device of the voltage regulating control system is usually used in household, medical and industrial automation and others fields, and has the features such as high controlling accuracy, the well linearity, and easy to operate.


The economic globalization is the profound background and fundamental trend of development and changes of today's world.It has been far beyond the economic scope and has brought far-ranging influence on the international politics,security,social and cultural fields increasingly.Simultaneously,it dosen't only provide the new platform for the patriotic education in colleges and universities,but also brings the new topic for the patriotic education in colleges and universities.Under the background of the new times,the paper presents that colleges and universities must correctly understand and properly deal with the economic globalization,according to characteristics of the new times,take a firm hold of key points of the innovation of the patriotic education and enhance the effectiveness and the pertinence of education.


Sampling-limited resolution in a two-dimensional infrared focal plane array is discussed in terms of the reciprocal (inverse) lattice in the frequency domain. It is shown how the bandwidth of the signal that can be reconstructed without error can be increased by a microscan. Microscanning means translating the image over the detector array along a short distance and then resampling the image, thus increasing the spatial sampling rate by decreasing the distance between samples. Two current microscan modes are compared: the rectangular bidirectional mode, in which the image is translated by half the array's pitch along the two main perpendicular axes, and the diagonal mode, in which the image is shifted by half the diagonal of a rectangle defined by four adjacent pixels. It is shown that the diagonal mode implies the same frequency limit in accordance with the Nyquist criterion, in the horizontal and vertical directions, as the bidirectional mode. The temporal MTF that is a result of the microscan is calculated for the case where the temporal impulse response is a one-sided exponential pulse, like the thermal response of uncooled IR detectors. A simple algorithm for the reconstruction of the diagonal-microscan sampled data is suggested, and its MTF is derived.


Technology of amorphous alloy superplastic micro-forming was born accompany with the prosperity of microproducts.Metallic glass has broad application prospects on fabricating high performance microproducts because of the excellent super-plastic forming ability in supercooled liquid region and mechanical properties in micron-size.Supercooled liquid region,time temperature-transformation and mechanical behavior of bulk metallic glasses in supercooled liquid region were introduced,based on that,the effects of different temperatures and different strain rates on the formability were analyzed.Meanwhile,the forming technology was described and existed questions were pointed out.


Objective To investigate the clinical effect of nursing measures to prostate postoperative hemorrhage. Method 120 cases of patients who had transurethral prostatic hyperplasia hemorrhage wrer randomly divided into control group and experimental group,each group had 60 cases. The patients in the control group were used general nursing,The patients in the experimental group were used a treatment program which was formulated according to each person's condition,in addition to general nursing. Results Bleeding rate was significantly higher than that of the experimental group,the quality of life and satisfaction with nursing measure of two groups after four weeks were less than that of the experimental group. The difference was statistically significant( P 0. 05). Conclusion After transurethral resection of benign prostatic hyperplasia,bleeding is the main complication,implement a proactive and personalized nursing measures to patients who had prostate postoperative hemorrhage,can reduce the bleeding rate and improve the quality of life effectively. It Should be widely applied in clinical.


PURPOSE: To obtain a supporting chain for energy conductor which can be assembled/disassembled easily while employing a commercially available material by a structure wherein a coupling piece is force fitted over a corresponding protrusion on a link plate through a pipe piece. CONSTITUTION: A link plate 5 constituting a chain link 1 is provided, at the opposite edges of the inner wall thereof, with long and short protrusions 21, 22 which are fitted, respectively, with a pipe piece 23 provided with no slit and a pipe piece 24 provided with a longitudinal slit 25 and having rounded outside. The pipe piece provided with no slit belongs to the long protrusion 21. Since the pipe pieces 23, 24 are force fitted over the protrusions 21, 22, a linking piece for coupling both link plates 5 fixedly is formed. The pipe piece 24 is enlarged at the longitudinal slit 25 and pushed over the flat surface of the short protrusion 22 to be engaged therewith. COPYRIGHT: (C)1990,JPO


Microencapsulation of flaxseed oil (FSO) was studied with tapioca starch (TS)-whey protein isolate (WPI) combination as a shell material using spray drying to optimize the process variables for preparation of spray dried microcapsules of flaxseed oil using TS-WPI coating material combination. Box Behnken design (3k ) was used to design the experimental runs of selected independent variables (three level), which included starch: protein ratio (1:1, 3:1 and 5:1) and oil loading (20 %, 25 %, and 30 %) of total solids in feed mixture and inlet air temperature (IAT:160 o C, 170 o C, and 180 o C) of spray dryer. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used for response analysis and for optimization of process variables for maximizing encapsulation efficiency and minimizing peroxide value (PV). Quadratic models were significantly fitted to the responses with high coefficient of determination (R2 ). The optimum conditions predicted based on numerical optimization were 20 % oil loading, 2.40:1 TS: WPI ratio and 170 o C drying air temperature, respectively. The results of responses observed after confirmatory experiment were in good agreement with the predicted responses of the model.


* Recommended by Edwin G. Boring, accepted for publication by Carl Murchison of the Editorial Board, and received in the Editorial Office, January 16, 1934.


An introduction to current research in computer-aided design (CAD) and packaging for optoelectronic systems utilizing free space optical interconnects is presented. New CAD tools are presented that allow layout of multistage networks based on CGH fabrication limitations and the subsequent synthesis of the interconnect holograms. Recent work involving double-sided alignment of a single substrate as well as alignment techniques between two different substrates is discussed. Several packaged systems utilizing photorefractive crystals to minimize alignment problems are also presented.


The advent of Microsoft Windows and other graphical user interface (GUI) platforms has ushered in a host of "visual" applications that greatly simplify the task of data entry, as compared to conventional methods. This paper describes a unique Windows GUI application that enables an engineer to draw a one-line diagram, interactively enter bus and device parameters into dialog box fields, and then save this date to a power systems database. This innovative method of "visually" entering date into a power systems database is significant addition to the one-line drawing capabilities of this application. In addition, the application makes extensive use of Windows features which enhance the robustness of the software from both the developer's end user's viewpoint.<<ETX>>


227 Mycobacterium tuberculosis induces IL-17A responses through TLR4 and dectin-1 and is critically dependent on endogenous IL-1. F. L. van de Veerdonk, A. C. Teirlinck, J. Kleinnijenhuis, B. J. Kullberg, R. van Crevel, J. W. M. van der Meer, L. A. B. Joosten, and M. G. Netea IL-17A production induced by Mycobacterium tuberculosis through TLR4 and dectin-1 is dependent on the steps necessary for the induction of endogenous IL-1 . ‹ SEE CORRESPONDING EDITORIAL ON PAGE 221


Epoxy polymers are an important class of material for use in various applications. Due to their hydrophilic nature, epoxy resins tend to absorb moisture. Absorption of moisture degrades the functional, structural and mechanical properties. For polymers, it is known that moisture absorption can lead to both reversible and irreversible changes. In this study, the combined effect of moisture and elevated temperature on the mechanical properties of Epon 862 and its nanocomposites were investigated. The extent of permanent damage on fracture toughness and flexural properties of epoxy, due to the aggressive degradation provided by hygrothermal ageing, was determined by drying the epoxy and their clay/epoxy nanocomposites after moisture absorption. From the investigation it was found that, hygrothermal ageing has detrimental effect on mechanical properties of both neat polymer and clay/polymer nanocomposite. Significant permanent damage was observed for fracture toughness and modulus, while the extent of permanent damage was less significant for flexural strength.


The Obama administration's 2020 goal in higher education is that by 2020,America will once again have the highest proportion ofcollege graduates in the world.It has formulated a series ofpaths toachieve it,including reducing the dropouts and improving the graduation rate in high schools and promoting the university enrollment,designingthe America graduation initiative for CommunityColleges,providingfinancial aid tostudents in higher education.But there are some challenges from the development in recent years,such as the feasibility of the goal,the weakness in economyand the unclear paths and soon.


The emergence of an innovative economy determines the demand for new competencies from future highly qualified specialists, where the university plays a special role in the formation and implementation of innovative potential. The paper analyzes the transformations in higher education, which are determined by large-scale processes affecting axiological attitudes regarding the role of knowledge in social development.


Rising groundwater and salinity are potential risks across irrigated agricultural landscapes. Water is scarce in many areas that will benefit from efficient water use. Excessive deep drainage (DD, mm) beneath irrigated crops is undesirable because it may cause salinity and decrease water-use efficiency. Nine irrigated, commercial cotton fields (eight furrow-irrigated and one spray, lateral-move irrigated) were selected in the upper Murray–Darling Basin, on Vertosols with a wide range of clay contents (38–75%). The lysimeters used, described as 'confined, undisturbed, constant tension, non-weighing', were installed to capture water passing 1.5 m depth at three in-field positions: (i) near the head ditch, (ii) mid-way between head and tail ditches, and (iii) close to the tail ditch. At two sites, infiltration along the length of the field was monitored in two seasons using furrow advance-SIRMOD methods. Seasonal DD values of up to 235 mm (2.4 ML/ha.season) were measured (range 1–235 mm), equivalent to 27% of the irrigation applied at that location in that season. Individual DD events >90 mm accounted for 15 of 66 measured values from 26 furrow irrigations. DD varied strongly along the length of each field, with DD commonly reducing from the head ditch to the tail ditch. SIRMOD simulation mirrored this trend, with large decreases in infiltration amounts from head to tail. Greater DD at head locations was attributed to long periods of inundation, especially early in the season when siphons (in-flows) were allowed to run for up to 24 h. Most of the DD occurred during pre-irrigation and the first two or three in-crop irrigations. Inter-season variation in DD was large; limited water supply in drought years led to fewer irrigations with smaller volumes, resulting in little or no DD. The DD under lateral-move, spray irrigation was almost zero; only one irrigation event in 4 years resulted in DD. Control of DD under furrow irrigation can be achieved by changing irrigation management to lateral-move, spray irrigation, which minimises DD and greatly increases water-use efficiency with no yield (cotton) penalty. Across all of the lysimetry sites, high salinities of the DD leachate indicated that large amounts of salt were being mobilised. The fate and impacts of this mobilised and leached salt are uncertain.


Aim: Dilation of the distance from the skin to the kidney stone is one of the important steps of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). However, due to cost and exposure to radiation, there is a debate about the proper dilatation method. For this purpose, a controlled clinical trial was planned to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of 12 F Amplatz dilator + balloon dilator in terms of shorter duration of tract dilation and scopy time during PCNL. Material and Methods: 60 patients with kidney stones and performed PCNL were included in the study and divided into 3 groups. While balloon dilation was maintained after using 12F Amplatz dilator -onlyin Group 1, balloon dilation was performed after using 8/10 dilator/sheat set, dual-lumen ureteral catheter and ZebraTM angled type guidewire as described in the teachings in Group 2. Dilation in patients in Group 3 was performed with just Amplatz dilators ranging from 10F to 30F without using balloon dilation. The access time, dilation time, operation time, scopy time, cost, nephrostomy tube removal time, hospital stay period parameters were recorded. Results: Dilation, operation and scopy times were significantly lower in Group 1 compared to the two other groups (p<0.05). The costs were higher in Group 2. Conclusion: Due to the shorter dilation, scopy and operation time and cost benefits, using 12F Amplatz dilator before and then balloon dilator seems advantageous.


In this paper, we present a novel contention based cross-layer synchronous MAC protocol, CROP-MAC, to reduce the end-to-end transmission delay and energy consumption by optimizing the pipelined flow of data packets in wireless sensor networks. CROP-MAC optimizes pipelined flow with the help of staggered sleep/wake scheduling, efficient synchronization and appropriate use of routing layer information. Staggered sleep/wake scheduling and routing layer information enable CROP-MAC to schedule source to sink transmission of multiple data packets in a single cycle. We evaluate CROP-MAC through ns-2.35 simulations and compare it with PMAC, PRMAC and BulkMAC. Simulation results show, CROP-MAC outperforms best of the three protocols by 608.89 %, 14.36 % and 12.5 % in terms of end-to-end transmission delay, packet delivery ratio and energy consumption, respectively.


An illumination system for a projection exposure apparatus (1) for EUV projection lithography has an EUV light source (2) which generates an output beam (3) of EUV illumination light with a predetermined polarization state. An illumination optical system (5) delivers the output beam (3) along an optical axis, whereby an illumination field (14) in a reticle plane (15) is illuminated with the output beam (3). The light source (2) has an electron supply means (2a), an EUV generation device (2c), and a polarization adjusting means (25). The Generation means (2c) is supplied via the electron supply means (2a) with an electron beam (2b). The polarization adjusting means (25) exerts an adjustable deflecting effect on the electron beam (2b) to the polarization setting of the output beam (3). The result is an illumination system which operates on the basis of an electron beam-based EUV light source and provides improved resolution for an optimized illumination output beam.


A ketogenic diet, one kind of carbohydrate-restricted diets, is considered to reduce body weight and improve metabolic disorders. However, the mechanism of how a ketogenic diet provides such metabolic benefits is unclear. SIRT1, a NAD-dependent deacetylase, plays an important role in lipid metabolism. We investigated the role of hepatic SIRT1 in the beneficial effect of ketogenic diets on improving obesity and metabolic disorder. In this study, eight-week-old male liver-specific SIRT1 deletion (SIRT1 LKO) mice and control mice were subjected to a high fat diet (HFD) or an intermittent ketogenic diet (iKD), ketogenic diet alternated biweekly with HFD, for 12 weeks. The results showed that the body weight of mice fed on iKD was significantly lower than mice fed on HFD, even though higher energy intake was observed when mice were fed on a ketogenic diet. Interestingly, SIRT1 LKO mice on HFD were slightly heavier than control mice on HFD, but SIRT1 LKO mice on iKD were thinner than control mice on iKD. Lower fasting blood glucose was observed after every 2-week ketogenic diets intervention, and there was no significant difference between SIRT1 LKO mice and control mice. Compared to HFD, iKD significantly improved insulin resistance. Notably, iKD improved the glucose metabolism of SIRT1 LKO mice, but such improvement was not observed in control mice. These results indicate that an intermittent ketogenic diet improves metabolic disorders induced by HFD and has further beneficial effect on obesity and metabolic disorder in the absent of hepatic SIRT1. The underlying mechanism will be further studied. Disclosure W. Guo: None. F. Xu: None. G. Li: None. H. Liang: None. M. Cai: None.


The European Union (EU) should aim at providing European citizens with European public goods. In a pseudo-federal system like the EU, political deliberation should be about how to finance and produce the public goods that benefit all European citizens, and not only member states individually. Sustainable development is the typical example of a European public good, but there are many others, some of which belong to the economic policy domain: macroeconomic stability, full employment, social integration, (...).


How can trade policies support development? Fifty years ago, the concept of Special and Differential Treatment (SDT) was introduced and implemented in the form of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). This permitted the grant of better trading conditions to developing countries, and preferential tariffs under the GSP were a main pillar. This evident discrimination between countries is allowed under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. But because GSP is implemented through national schemes, there are variations across donor countries.


Abstract The study presents a fragment of pilot studies showing the reconstruction of the transverse arch of the foot using a specially constructed orthosis for this purpose. It involves the mechanical reinforcement of the effect by an orthosis, which pushes down the I, IV, and V metatarsal bones while elevating or blocking the fall of the near-immobile II and III metatarsal bones according to the "three-force" rule. The correction of the transverse arch of the foot runs simultaneously with the correction of hallux valgus (HV). As a result, the significant correction of HV and associated toe deformities was achieved. In stage I foot deformity, the reduction of HV was reduced from 19.1° before to 15.1° after putting on orthosis (p = 0.024). In stage II, the reduction was from 20.1° (before) to 16.2° (after; p = 0.032). Equally satisfactory results were obtained for the remaining angles of the metatarsal bones. In the future, the method can be suitable for patients undergoing preparation for corrective HV surgery and for maintaining postoperative HV results. It can be used preventively, for example, by women who frequently wear high-heeled shoes and by those who need to remain standing for prolonged periods of time.


The geolocation of lightning discharges is important in a wide variety of applications. These include lightning warning and safety applications, thunderstorm nowcasting and forecasting, locating lightning-caused damage to resources and infrastructure, risk assessment, geophysical research, insurance, and a variety of other real-time and forensic applications. The most common way to geolocate lightning is by using a lightning locating system (LLS), which may be a groundbased or satellite-based electromagnetic (including optical) sensor or a network of sensors (e.g. Nag et al. 2015). Ground-based long-range lightning locating systems such as the Global Lightning Dataset GLD360 (Said et al. 2013) typically have numerous sensors located across the world and continuously report lightning activity in all parts of the world in quasi-realtime. The Indian Subcontinent is among the most lightning-rich areas on earth. Recent studies (e.g. Holle 2016a,b) have shown that a substantial number of people are killed or injured by lightning in this region, especially during agricultural activities. Current totals of annual fatalities include the following:  Bangladesh: Multiple-fatality incidents occur nearly every year, such as 64 over a two-day period in 2016 (Holle and Islam 2017). The annual number of fatalities is 251 per year in the last six years (Dewan et al. 2017).  India: Annual fatality totals in recent publications range from 2234 (Selvi and Rajapandian 2016), to 1755 (Illiyas et al. 2014), to 159 (Singh and Singh 2015). The wide range indicates the difficulty in identifying death tolls. In addition injuries occur several times as frequently as deaths, but are generally underreported.  Sri Lanka: 49 deaths per year (Gomes et al. 2006).


The thesis, starting from the characteristics of the construction project, deploys the combining method of normative and empirical research. According to integrated Risk Management Paradigm, the thesis sums up the overall framework of the construction project system and proposes the evaluation index system of the risk analysis based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process. In addition, the paper puts forward a comprehensive risk evaluation model and makes clear the relative importance of various risk factors. By so doing, it provides some thoughts for the construction


Abstract In the present study, the fiber-bending around the needle during the piercing process of the carbon fabric is investigated. In this regard, a mathematical model is established to investigate the bending elongation of the carbon fiber around the needle and the interaction between the carbon fiber and the needle tip. Then the mechanical behavior of the carbon fabric when moving down the tip of the steel needle is analyzed. Based on the performed analysis, a shape curve equation that satisfies the puncture needle tip is established. Furthermore, the influence of different needle tip shapes on the mechanical behavior of the carbon fiber is analyzed. The performance of the needle tip is subjected to different loads, including the puncture template, horizontal tension of the fiber to the needle tip, frictional resistance between the fiber and the needle tip, sliding force, and the bending moment. The performed analysis shows that when the shape of the needle tip assumes the form of curve 10, the downward force, horizontal tension, friction resistance, sliding force, and bending moment are minimized. Accordingly, curve 10 is proposed as the optimal shape for the needle tip. The present study is expected to provide theoretical guidance for selecting overall puncture process parameters.


We previously found that in newborn pigs, prolonged asphyxia results in significant decreases in cerebral periarachnoid CSF cAMP during the recovery. The decreases in cAMP were well correlated with reduced dilator responses to stimuli that use cAMP as a second messenger. We hypothesize that prolonged asphyxia can also inhibit cAMP accumulation in human newborn CSF, suggesting inhibition of cerebral adenylyl cyclase. The normal range of CSF cAMP in newborn babies was determined via CSF of neonates requiring a spinal tap during infection work-up. Babies who had no findings indicative of CNS pathology including negative CSF culture were considered to be the control group (n= 23). The asphyxiated group consisted of babies with known perinatal asphyxia based on fulfillment of the asphyxia criteria (intrapartum distress, abnormal blood pH, Apgar score, and related clinical findings). These babies required spinal taps as part of septicemia work-ups, but subsequently were found to have no CNS infection. CSF cAMP was markedly reduced in asphyxiated neonates as compared to non-asphyxiated controls (6750±2000 vs. 23800±2200 fmol/ml).


Climate anomalieS: impaCtS of ReCent loSeRS anD WinneRS Data/Case Study 2007-01 illinois State Water Survey a Division of the illinois Department of natural Resources and an affiliated agency of the university of illinois ABSTRACT This document focuses on the impacts from a wide variety of climate anomalies in the continental United States during 1985-2005, and for which there are good measurements of resulting societal, environmental, and economic impacts. Climate anomalies produce sizable losses, but some also benefit society and the environment in ways that often go unrecognized but persist for years. The last 20 years (1985-2005) are the first era with quality, in-depth studies of these impacts, particularly economic ones. Delineation of impacts from recent anomalies has applications in helping to assess impacts that future changes in climate could create. Most major businesses in the nation are highly climate sensitive, including agriculture, transportation, power generation, construction, and retail. This document should be useful and benefit the many sectors affected by climate anomalies, and also those who must make decisions relating to such conditions. The ten major climate anomalies during the 1985-2005 period were: Assessment of various impacts associated with the ten climate anomalies revealed several nonclimatic factors, as well as climate conditions, were responsible for the sizable economic losses from these recent climate extremes. One influential nonclimatic factor was related to the insurance industry and its poor handling of weather/climate losses in recent years. Several societal factors also played a significant role in recent sizable climate-caused losses. Population growth and often growing wealth have increased society's vulnerability to climate anomalies. Demographic changes have shifted the nation's population density to more weather-vulnerable locations. Flood and storm assessments further have revealed growing problems of an aging infrastructure across the nation. The economic impacts of the ten climate anomalies assessed herein totaled $258.7 billion in losses and $125.0 billion in gains (2006 dollars). Total gains represented 33 percent of the total economic impacts. Assuming the economic measures presented are reasonably correct, the economic impacts of the anomalies, plus findings from other climate impact studies, are useful inputs for estimating the impacts that a future climate change due to global warming may produce.


Linear ultrasonic motors using a combination of the first longitudinal mode and the fourth bending mode were designed and fabricated. The driving characteristics of the motors, which were composed of a straight metal bar bonded with piezoelectric ceramic vibrators as a driving element, were measured. Unimorph and bimorph ceramic vibrators were attached on three kinds of metal bars for constructing the stators of the linear motors. As results, motors made with the bimorph ceramic vibrators had higher velocity than motors of the unimorph vibrators. As a metal bar for stator, magnesium alloy, which has lower elastic coefficient than aluminum alloy, was better for the motors.


We are thrilled to announce that the Division in Geriatric Medicine received an endowment from the Archstone Foundation to support an Archstone Foundation Chair in Geriatric Healthcare. After a national search, our leadership team has concluded that the most deserving for the founding Chair is Dr. Sonia Sehgal, a UCI geriatrician. Dr. Gibbs Firefox https://web.communications.uci.edu/assets/email/hs-cohs/22may-som-...


The proper design and management of product-service system (PSS) supply chains is a prerequisite for the successful implementation of servitised business models. As underlined by empirical evidence, research on how different types of PSS offerings affect the design and management of the upstream supply chain of PSS providers still appears to be lagging. Therefore, this paper introduces a theoretical explanatory conceptual framework derived from a literature analysis and further developed by four case studies from the automotive sector, which highlight the linkages between the value proposition and supply chain of PSS providers. The results are summarised into 11 propositions that underline the key roles and capabilities that bridge PSS offering features with distinctive characteristics of the PSS supply chain. They also show specific patterns of partners' relationships and organisational configurations that can be identified during the servitisation transformation.


States and districts are revising discipline policies to reduce out-of-school suspensions (OSSs), but the consequences of these reforms are largely unknown. We examine a reform in Philadelphia that prohibited OSS for classroom disorder infractions. Employing a difference-in-differences approach, we examine the relationship between the reform and student suspensions, achievement, and attendance. For students suspended before the reform, classroom disorder OSS decreased and attendance (but not academic achievement) improved following the reform. Postreform changes in peer outcomes varied with school-level implementation: in schools that eliminated classroom disorder OSS, peer math achievement and attendance were unaffected, whereas peer math achievement declined and attendance decreased in schools that did not fully implement the district-level reform.


Common strategies to decide whether a variable is a confounder that should be adjusted for in the analysis rely mostly on statistical criteria. The authors present findings from the Slone Epidemiology Unit Birth Defects Study, 1992-1997, a case-control study on folic acid supplementation and risk of neural tube defects. When statistical strategies for confounding evaluation are used, the adjusted odds ratio is 0.80 (95% confidence interval: 0.62, 1.21). However, the consideration of a priori causal knowledge suggests that the crude odds ratio of 0.65 (95% confidence interval: 0.46, 0.94) should be used because the adjusted odds ratio is invalid. Causal diagrams are used to encode qualitative a priori subject matter knowledge.


Forty six species of the genus Encarsia (family Aphelinidae) have been recorded as parasitoids of whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Mexico. These aphelinids are associated to species from 8 Aleyrodidae genera, including important pests of several crops as the citrus blackfly and the greenhouse whitefly.