A veteran of the high school and middle school classroom integrating technology and engineering into Mathematics instruction, now working at the Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing at Georgia Institute of Technology, leading programs that research and train K-12 teachers on the use of engineering design and robotics to teach core academic standards. As the Operational Partner for FIRST LEGO League in Georgia over the last three year has increase overall participation from 1200 to over 2200 students. With this experience has co-authored three ASEE papers on FIRST LEGO League and engineering in the middle school classroom. My current projects include an NSF research project called Science Learning Integrating Design, Engineering, and Robotics (SLIDER) and a NASA online professional development course for K-12 teacher on Using LEGO Robots to Enhance STEM Learning.


The relation between frames and orthonormal bases is discussed and a new method for constructing the wavelet basis based on the wavelet frame is also presented. An orthonormal wavelet basis is constructed as an example and the proof of its orthonormality is given. Such a wavelet basis is characterized by its dilation factor a 0= 3. It has relatively good time frequency localization as well as is orthonormal. Compared with the famous Meyer wavelet, it has a smaller support in time and decays faster in frequency. Additionally, this wavelet has some symmetry in both time and frequency.


Highly cytotoxic amphidinolide macrolides have been prepared in a highly convergent and largely catalysis-based route. In their Full Paper on page 3983 ff., and two subsequent papers, A. Furstner et al. describe the total synthesis and biological evaluation of amphidinolide B1, B4, G1, H1, H2, V, X, and Y, as well as several analogues.


Another way to help control subthreshold leakage currents is through direct manipulation of device threshold voltages through body biasing. Thus during the standby modes, one can apply reverse body bias and limit subthreshold leakage currents without the need for dual V t devices. Because body biasing allows one to dynamically control V t over a continuous range, it can also be used to tweak circuit performance during active modes. As technology scales, process variation will have a large impact on V t , and overall circuit performance will vary greatly. A significant number of circuits will be faster than the target frequency and can result in excess leakage currents. Figure 21 shows an adaptive body biasing circuit block that can dynamically adjust threshold voltages to compensate for process variations and effectively tighten the distribution of delays in a collection of circuits. A delay feedback mechanism develops the appropriate reverse body bias such that the circuit critical path delay, represented by a matched delay line, meets the target operating speed. By applying reverse bias to fast circuits, we can reduce excessive leakage currents and thus reduce power dissipation in the active mode as well. As the critical dimensions in VLSI circuits continue to diminish, system performance of Integrated Circuits (IC) will be increasingly dominated by interconnect's performance. For the technology generations approaching 100-nm, innovative circuit designs and new interconnect materials and architecture will be required to meet the projected system performance. New interconnect material solutions such as copper and low-k dielectric offer only a limited improvement in system performance. Significant and scalable solutions to interconnect delay problem will require fundamental changes in system architecture, design, and fabrication technologies. Three-dimensional (3-D) IC, devices are allowed to exist on more than one device layer, and they can be contacted from both top and bottom device layers. Flexibility to place devices along the third dimension allows higher device density and smaller chip area in 3-D IC. The critical interconnect paths that limit system performance can also be shortened by 3-D integration to achieve faster clock speed. By 3-D integration, active layers fabricated with different front-end processes can be stacked to form systems on a chip. A cross section of a proposed 3-D integrated circuit/system is shown in Figure 22. A recently derived 2-D stochastic wire-length distribution [1] that has been used to predict interconnect delay and system performance metrics has been extended to 3-D …


Recently, the world is full of anxiety about AI(Avian Influenza). Among Avian Influenza virus subtypes, H5N1 is considered the most threatening to not only birds, but also humans as numerous human cases with high mortality have been reported. Unlike H7N9, which has not been reported infect humans, H5N8 also became infectious to humans due to dramatic mutation. As human infection cases of AI have increased, numerous researchers have been trying to develop an effective treatment against them. Thus, our project group decided to analyze the similarity and difference of H5N1, H5N8, and H7N9, since it would be useful for finding effective treatment of AI, using Decision Tree Algorithm which figures out distinctive factors of given dataset for comparing protein sequences of each viruses. The comparison using Decision Tree Algorithm, which indicates correlation among H5N1, H5N8, and H7N9, will be effective on narrowing the range of attempts on developing treatment for Avian Influenza virus.


More and more organisations everyday are now storing achieves of data to help them make important business decisions. The Commercial Database Management Systems (DBMS) that are available in the I.T. market do not provide any significant and useful methods of storing and manipulate such data. Whilst there has been research into the subject of Temporal Databases, there is a lack of commercial tools. The project aims to design and develop a Temporal Database Management System (TDBMS) that provides means to manipulate temporal data. The TDBMS will provide a Temporal Relational Algebra (TRA) structured query language that is based on and is an extension to Relational Algebra (RA) for extracting data from the Temporal Database. The TRA is to contain most the common operators that are associated with RA such as Cartesian Product, Natural Join, Union and many more. The TRA will introduce new temporal operators, Until and Since based on US logic, which are useful for querying Temporal Databases. US logic is the result of research work undertaken at Imperial College, which have been shown to be useful for Temporal Databases and is mathematically sound.


SWire is a plugin that connects Stata to other software programs, thus permitting the interaction between Stata and other client applications. Software programs relying on SWire can exchange data with Stata or request that Stata execute basic data management operations. Client applications can be developed in many programming languages, and even web pages can communicate with Stata via Swire. The only requirement is that client applications communicate with Stata via the SWire protocol, which is based on HTTP. Software programs like R, QGis, and Office applications can be extended to interact with Stata. Several software programs have been developed to demonstrate how SWire can be usefully employed for connecting Stata to other software programs. One of these is the new SWordy add-in for Microsoft Word, which will be presented here. It allows for the retrieval of data from Stata to Word and the creation of automatic reports, namely, Word documents with numerical data and tables that can be automatically obtained from Stata. Automatic reports are useful for saving time when presenting results in addition to providing a way for documenting the final part of data analysis workflow.


A series of new ultrathin polymer dielectric layers (sub‐40 nm) is synthesized via initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) for application in low‐power, flexible organic thin‐film transistors (OTFTs): poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) (pEGDMA), poly(isobornyl acrylate) (pIBA), and poly(1H, 1H, 2H, 2H‐perfluorodecyl acrylate) (pPFDA). The iCVD process is a solvent‐free, vapor‐phase process to deposit various kinds of functional polymer films with a high purity. The iCVD polymer dielectric layers commonly exhibit low leakage current densities (J i) less than 10−8 A cm−2 in the range of ±3 MV cm−1, high breakdown field (Ebreak) over 4 MV cm−1, and excellent flexibility up to a tensile strain of 3.3%. Hysteresis‐free, low‐voltage OTFTs made of the iCVD dielectric layers are demonstrated with various kinds of n‐ and p‐type semiconductors. The superior performance of the iCVD dielectrics will enable the polymer films to play a pivotal role in developing various types of future organic electronic devices.


Cloud computing is a new computing paradigm which has the potential to speed up Information Technology (IT) adoption among SMEs in developing economies. Its successful implementation can present SMEs with various benefits like reduced IT costs, high scalability and faster time to market. In recent years, many research have been carried in both academia and in businesses to explain the features, benefits and risks of cloud adoption. Literature review reveals that there are existing frameworks available to
support cloud migration. However, there is very little literature available to support cloud migration decisions, which covers the whole cloud migration process for SMEs in Tamil Nadu. This paper aims to fill that gap by presenting the SME decision makers (DMs) with a decision support tool. The proposed cloud migration decision support system
(CMDSS) will be based on Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and will aid decision makers to make cloud migration decision effectively by suggesting a path from where to
start, to how to complete the migration.


This study aims to determine: The effect of the interaction of organic fertilizer dose of coffee husk waste and quinine wood vinegar concentration on the growth of coffee seeds in nurseries. The research was carried out on the land of the Faculty of Agribusiness and Agricultural Engineering, Subang University, West Java Province with an altitude of 118 meters above sea level with an average temperature of 28 – 30 C, the experiment was carried out from May to July 2019, the type of rainfall was very wet. The method used in this study is an experimental method with a Randomized Block Design with a factorial pattern consisting of 2 treatment factors. The first factor is the dose of coffee husk waste (P) consisting of 4 treatment levels, namely p0 = 0 t ha-1 organic fertilizer for coffee husk waste; p1 = 5 t ha-1 organic fertilizer from coffee husk waste; p2 = 10 t ha-1 organic fertilizer from coffee husk waste; p3 = 15 t ha-1 organic fertilizer from coffee husk waste. The second factor is the concentration of quinine vinegar (C) which consists of 4 levels of treatment, namely c0 = 0% quinine vinegar; c1 = 1% quinine vinegar; c2 = 2% quinine vinegar; and c3 = 3% quinine vinegar. The results showed that for the treatment of organic fertilizer coffee husk waste at 6 WAP and 8 WAP there was an increase in growth at a dose of 5 t ha. Wood vinegar concentration of 3% gave significant growth at 6 WAP observations and the best results. There was no interaction between the use of organic fertilizer dose of coffee husk waste and quinine wood vinegar concentration on the growth of coffee seeds in the nursery.


the existence of a heat stable proteolytic activity in fish muscle. The proteinase* activity could not be detected at a physiological assay temperature, but only detected at unphysiologically high temperatures around 60°C. In the presence of urea, however, the temperature-activity curve was shifted to the physiological temperature range around 37°C.3) In addition to these facts, the proteinase had a high molecular mass (470kDa) on gel chromatography, and was dissolved into a few subunits (30 k ~50 kDa) by SDS-polyacrylamide gel analysis.4'5} These facts seem to sug-gest that the proteinase exists as a latent form in vivo and each subunit has somefunction to regulate the activity, though it is as yet unknownwhich subunit is the catalytic one and how the activity is regulated. question, wecomparedthe effects of heating and urea on the activity at 37°C and 63°C. used as a substrate for the proteinase in the earlier but we adopted synthetic fluorogenic pep- tide substrates in to study the specificity under these unphysiological


The purpose of this survey is to review the various applications of exoskeletons in the field of bio-medicine. Exoskeletons have shown huge promise in improving the lives of patients who suffer from partial or complete paralysis of the upper and lower limbs. They have been used to enhance the motion of the limbs in patients who suffer from partial paralysis, to provide rehabilitation to patients who have suffered from major physical injuries and as a means of exercising limbs which have been completely paralyzed, in-order to prevent muscular atrophy.


Crime, incarceration and prisoner reintegration are pressing issues facing the United States today. The U.S. prison population has increased from 330,000 in 1980 to over 2.2 million prisoners today. As the prison population grows at record rates so, in turn, does the reentry of prisoners into society. Currently, around 700,000 prisoners are released each year from custody and reenter society – nearly 2,000 inmates per day. The transition from prison to the outside world is often difficult for post-release prisoners, their families, their communities and the larger society. Many formally incarcerated individuals do not have the skills or support to succeed outside prison walls. Unfortunately, when post-release prisoners are not successfully reintegrated, they are returned to prison and begin the cycle of incarceration.

Practitioners and academics agree that the main components for successful reentry include proper housing, viable employment, and family and community support. However, while there is consensus regarding what post-release prisoners need for successful reentry there is debate as to which programs and policies work best. This paper examines the basic challenges to reentry and provides a brief summary of the problems with reentry program evaluation.


We describe here an operationally simple and straightforward synthesis method for a series of diverse 4,5-disubstituted 1,2,3-thiadiazoles via the nucleophilic addition of α-diazo carbonyl compounds to carbon disulfide. This method features using abundant and inexpensive carbon disulfide under mild reaction conditions.


The paper discusses aspects of the relationship between shopping and tourism with particular reference to city destinations. The East Asian example of Singapore, a popular centre for shopping, is used as a case study and shopping is shown to be a lucrative tourist activity in the city state where there is a large and varied supply of retailers. Official tourism marketing and development strategies acknowledge the contribution of shopping which plays an important role in plans for future growth. Singapore also displays some weaknesses as a shopping destination, however, and the question of competition emerges as critical. Although highly distinctive, the Singapore experience yields insights into shopping as a tourist attraction which has wider implications and a model of factors determining success in attracting and satisfying shopping tourists is presented.


To reduce cost, this paper proposes a system architecture to simulate and assess the multivariate of equipment properties. The architecture integrates the Monte Carlo simulation, the neural network model and the sensitivity analysis to construct a virtual metrology system. By assuming the property's probability distribution, the architecture generates the extreme input data to supplement the actual data for enhancing the model accuracy and estimating the property trend. An industrial case applied to validate the proposed system architecture


The new CS Principles course provides an opportunity to advance the goal of making knowledge of computing and computer science accessible to every student. A pilot course used to inform the development of the CS Principles curriculum framework enabled its instructor to explore alternative pedagogical practices in pursuit of that goal. This article presents observations and reflections of the instructor with respect to these attempted practices.


The ultrasonic-assisted extraction technology of RNA from waste beer yeast were investigated,combining two methods with high concentration of salt and thin alkaline.On the basis of single factor test,extraction technology condition was optimized by orthogonal test.Our results put forward an optimum extracting condition as follows: yeast concentration as 5%,ultrasonic power as 200 W,concentration of sodium chloride as 6%,extraction time as 30 min.Under this condition,the extraction rate of RNA can reach 8.5%.The extracts can be used in production of nucleoside flavoring with high quality.


Introduction: CMV is one of the most significant blood born pathogens that can cause serious morbidity and mortality in low birth weight newborns, immunocompromised patients and transplant recipients. Both serologic screening and leukoreduction of blood components reduces the incidence of infection in recipients but cases of transfusion-transmitted CMV infection still occur. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of CMV DNA in Iranian blood donors. Methods: 450 blood donor samples were tested for the presence of CMV DNA by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay. The sensitivity of CMV DNA PCR was estimated 1000 copies/ml and it was specific for CMV. All of CMV DNA positive samples were evaluated for CMV-IgM and CMV-IgG. Results: 5 (1/1%) out of 450 samples were positive for CMV DNA. 390 (87%) out of 450 donors were male, and 272 (60%) were repeat donor. All of 5 samples were positive for CMV-IgG and they were negative for CMV-IgM. Conclusion: Further studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of molecular testing for prevention of CMV transmission to recipients. The most important elements contributing in the decision whether to implement CMV DNA screening or not, are the sensitivity of assay that is sufficient for detection of CMV in blood components and minimum viral load that is needed for transmission of CMV in recipients.


It is discussed that noticeable problems in the teaching of oral English for the students of Radio and TV University.


In 1949, a previoltsly unrecognizedl ophthalmologic syndrome, the superior oblique tendloin sheath syn(lroimie, was described an(l a group of nine cases, in all of which parallel clinical features were clearly evident, was presentedl (i). The explanation of this syndrome is a congenital paralysis of the inferior obliquie muscle, and the etiologic factor is the presence of a short anterior tentdon sheath of the superior oblique. As a result of the abnormal shortening, the passive movement of elevation is restricted when the affected eye is in the adducted position. The possiblc existence of this syndrome was discovered accidentally, in 1944, during the examuination of a woman patient at the Brooklyn Eye and Ear Hospital. In order to determine the extent of the paralysis of the inferior oblique, she was asked to fixate the light in the lower nasal field of the affected eye while the sound eye was covered. When the fixating light was raised rapidlly, it was observed that the movement of the eye which was followinig it stoppe(l abruptly, just below the horizontal planie. After several attemipts had been ma(le to induce elevation in this field, the patient complained of a pulling sensation andl of pain in the area of the trochlea. She reftuse(d to permit the forceps traction test un(ler local anesthesia. In Novemiiber, 1945, in the course of operation in another case of this kind, it was possible to demonstrate unequivocally the existence of a congenitally short superior oblique tendon sheath. The purpose of this thesis is to present observations on the incidleince, etiology, clinical findlings, and surgical treatment of isolated inferior oblique paralyses. It is hoped that by this approach a clearer picture can be gaine(l of the clinical aspects of the superior oblique tendon sheath syndlrome (hereafter called, for convenience, the sheath syndrome) in relation to isolated inferior oblique paralyses in general and isolatedl congenital inferior obliquie pcaralyses in particular.


perilous glory the rise of western military power is available in our digital library an online access to it is set as public so you can download it instantly. Our book servers saves in multiple locations, allowing you to get the most less latency time to download any of our books like this one. Kindly say, the perilous glory the rise of western military power is universally compatible with any devices to read.


It requires huge knowledge and experience for Architectural design companies (ADCs) to design a building and specify the details for construction. Most knowledge content needed in Architectural design (AD) process can be classified as either explicit or tacit knowledge. And tacit knowledge refers to experience, problem-solving, know-how, design strategy, etc is the most important resource of ADCs. However, tacit knowledge is concealed in employees head and cannot be effectively translated into the company's intellectual capital. Based on the multi-case study, this thesis proposes a blog based knowledge management (KM) system to capture the knowledge in AD process, and at the same time, improve the reuse of the knowledge.


6`4RROFESSOR Dover Wilson, in his edition of Hamlet, writes of the Player's speech in Act II, scene ii, "Critics are agreed neither upon the purpose of the episode ... nor whether Shakespeare himself approved of the Pyrrhus speech."' Discussion of the speech is by now voluminous, and ranges from Dryden's "What a pudder is here kept in raising the expression of trifling thoughts" to Coleridge's "the lines, as epic narrative, are superb. In the thoughts, and even in the separate parts of the diction, this description is highly poetical." A. C. Bradley made a masterly survey of the problems in Note F appended to his Shakespearean Tragedy, and showed that Shakespeare could hardly have intended the speech to be taken other than seriously. The question still needs to be asked, what function does the speech have in the play? In the following pages I shall try to suggest an answer to this question. It is important to examine the speech in the context of the episodes from Hamlet's "O Jephtha Judge of Israel, what a treasure hadst thou!" to the end of the scene. Though the difficulty of this section is mainly that of the function of the Player's speech, additional obscurities are present in the sudden transitions from Jephtha to Dido and Aeneas, to Pyrrhus and Priam, and to the plan to present the Gonzago play. The only obvious and "natural" transition is that from the tears in the player's eyes to the first half of Hamlet's soliloquy. Yet the movement of the thought in the whole passage can be made clear if we bring to light the submerged links between each section. There is no doubt that the plan to present the Murder of Gonzago, which is mooted immediately after the Player's speech, and explained in Hamlet's soliloquy, is a deliberate use of the device of a mirror. In the murder of Gonzago, Claudius is to recognize a representation of his own guilty deed. But not only does this section end with the planning of a mirror that will reflect the original crime; it begins with the dramatically ironic mirroring of Polonius and Ophelia in the Biblical story of Jephtha and his daughter. Here Hamlet's apparent madness has method in it. He invites Polonius to identify himself with Jephtha"Am I not i' the right, old Jephtha?" and Polonius, interpreting in terms of his theory of the cause of Hamlet's melancholy, accepts the parallel: "If you call me Jephtha, my lord, I have a daughter that I love passing well". Hamlet then attempts to direct Polonius' attention to the literal sequence of the ballad lines, pointing to the Jephtha story as one having significance for Polonius, "the first row of the pious chanson will show you more". This episode is a cryptic warning to Polonius in terms of the Biblical story of Jephtha and his daughter. It


On the 17th floor of the Shard, I meditated on how the celebratory book launch of The Grammar of Politics and Performance might square with the environs of one the most emblematically corporatized and security-ridden places in the UK. Shirin M. Rai and Janelle Reinelt's edited volume is part of Routledge's 'Interventions' series, and the book launch accordingly featured an interdisciplinary panel of commentators who posed critical questions about the book's central provocation: how can the interrelatedness of politics and performance be expanded on in academic scholarship? Written by scholars from politics and performance, the volume points readers to what Rai and Reinelt argue are interdisciplinary methods that could better ground and unite critical discourse. In the Introduction, Rai and Reinelt highlight 'the backdrop of contemporary disillusionment with political processes' and critique 'those scholars who are inclined to give up on some major categories of political struggles such as interests, representation, identity and redistribution' (p. 1). They cast doubt on scholarship of the last two decades that overprivileges 'post-political' neoliberal subjectivities at the risk of forsaking material conditions and collective identities. Citing Nancy Fraser's sceptical attacks on feminism, Rai and Reinelt accuse this school of thought of 'throw[ing] the baby out with the bathwater' (p. 9). This shot across the bows (aimed at work by several scholars, including Alan Read, Mathew Causey, and Fintan Walsh) is a phrase Reinelt used as early as 2008 about the abandonment of the term political in theatre discourse championed by the likes of Read and Baz Kershaw. In this volume, however, Rai and Reinelt develop a debate not on terminology but on how political argumentation and analytic praxis could be reappraised and reimagined. Noting the importance of identitarian collectives in civil rights movements, Rai and Reinelt claim their project aims to 'bring practical political processes back into theatre and performance studies' (p. 1). They underline the need to establish a set of durable but flexible principles, or a grammar, that 'can anchor interdisciplinary investigations' (p. 4). In doing so, Reinelt writes, a pluralistic space of both aesthetics and politics can help 'exercise the common grammar that allows the theatre and politics to mutually articulate democratic possibilities' (p. 45). Whether or not Rai and Reinelt's project will succeed in achieving the 'ambition to bring about a paradigm change' (p. i), the volume (nurtured within the University of Warwick's Performance and Politics Network) will surely attract the interests of scholars across many fields. Rai and Reinelt identify three dominant sets of grammar that emerge in the volume and that can be briefly summarized here as: the representational dynamics between individuals, institutions, and audiences; regimes of appearance in relation to power; and the legibility of (il)legitimate identities. The following chapters trace and elaborate on these grammars, some in clearer ways than others. Exceptional examples where performance frameworks are elucidated as part and parcel of political systems include John Parkinson's 'Performing Democracy: Roles, Stages, Scripts', Rai's 'Performance and Politics: Ceremony and Ritual in Parliament', and Reinelt's 'At the Crossroads of Citizenship'. These three chapters tie together well in how they articulate conditions of democratic communication as sets of performative processes located within particular platforms of action and reaction, or 'worksites of citizenship', to use Reinelt's phrase (p. 45). As editors, Rai and Reinelt give strong attention to outdoor performance practices by featuring stilt walkers on the book cover and including excellent chapters on street theatre (Susan Haedicke), the Occupy movement (Sophie Nield), and everyday forms of public resistance in Sarajevo (Silvija Jestrovic). Exploring the potential impacts of public performance, these chapters critically address issues in line with recent debates about the 'public sphere', providing handy complements to books such as Christopher Balme's The Theatrical Public Sphere. Perhaps most evocative are Lisa Fitzpatrick's and James M. Harding's chapters, which incisively address forms of state violence and control through compelling performance accounts and historical investigations. Fitzpatrick offers a powerful inquiry into how Anu Productions' Laundry (2011), an 'archaeological performance' about the widespread incarceration


After the beginning of the third century, early Christians were increasingly insistent on portraying Christ as a miracle worker. In the catacombs and on funerary monuments such as sarcophagi, Christ heals and performs miracles as mentioned in the Gospels. However, any viewer will begin to notice the unique features in the artworks depicting Christ. The implement that Christ wields as he performs his divine office has been the subject of some debate. While it appears to be a wand, this determination is far from conclusive. The art historian Thomas Mathews has memorably suggested that this iconographic inclusion suggests that Jesus was considered a magician.1 However, the "wand" of Jesus does not indicate that he was necessarily understood as a magician. While the specific issue of the so-called wand will be treated in the final chapter, the next two chapters provide a valuable summary of the non-Christian and Christian evidence concerning healing, miracle, and magic in Late Antiquity. The eminent art historian Erwin Panofsky states that any true interpretation of an image must acknowledge a strong familiarity with cognate literary sources.2 This truly makes the interpreter's task an interdisciplinary one. Only by examining the context of the image of Christ the Miracle Worker can we discover a cogent interpretation. In Late Antiquity, individuals were greatly concerned about their health and well-being. The fragile nature of existence became only too apparent when illness or injury struck. Remedies were sought with fervor that bordered on fanaticism. With limited options in the health care system of Late Antiquity, the belief in miraculous cures was very pervasive. Medicine and miracle would naturally be linked together, since healing was so closely associated with


We report femtosecond optically excited terahertz THz emission from tellurium doped GaSb at room temperature. The influence of the majority and minority carrier type and concentrations on the strength of the THz emission is investigated. Strong enhancement of THz emission in GaSb is observed as a result of compensation of native acceptors by tellurium donors. Surface field acceleration and the photo-Dember effect are identified as THz emission mechanisms in GaSb and modeled in dependence of the majority and minority carrier type and concentrations in our GaSb samples. THz emission from p-type GaSb is dominated by the photo-Dember effect whereas THz emission from n-type GaSb is dominated by surface field acceleration. The doping conditions under which THz emission is maximized are identified.


170 cases of ectopic pregnancy admitted to the Johannesburg General Hospital from 1968 to 1972 are reported on compared and statistically analyzed. 128 patients were Bantu 42 were white and of the total only 1 maternal death was reported. The incidence of ectopic pregnancy was 4 times greaer in the Bantu group but only 1/5 was of a chronic nature; the majority of chronic cases occurred in the white group. High parity and low infertility rates were reported disputing findings of the correlation of low parity and ectopic pregnancy. There was found a high incidence of chronic inflammatory change in the fallopian tube. Of the 170 cases 84.1% had a history of amenorrhea varying between 4-5 weeks and 12-13 weeks. Of these 1/3 had symptoms of early pregnancy i.e. breast enlargement and early morning nausea. Other symptoms of ectopic pregnancy included: abdominal pain shoulder-tip pain vaginal bleeding faintness or syncope nausea or vomiting and tenosmus diarrhea dysuria and frequency the last group of no diagnostic value in ectopic pregnancy. Body temperature was an important sign in the presence of other clinical features usually being low or subnormal. Monitoring of the pulse rate and blood pressure in suspected cases of leaking ectopic pregnancy was of greater diagnostic value than admission readings and showed a rise in pulse rate followed later by a drop in blood pressure. Other physical signs included: pallor tenderness rebound tenderness guarding rigidity hemoperitoneum ileus and abdominal distension. The danger of pelvic examination is stated. Culdocentesis is the most useful diagnostic evaluation in the series. Serial hemoglobin estimations are valuable in chronic ectopic pregnancy. In managing ectopic pregnancy blood transfusions are of value however there is a real danger in overtransfusion. Laparotomy was performed in all cases. Early laparotomy is advised and salpingectomy is recommended in all cases of tubal pregnancy unless the opposite tube is absent or damaged. The histological findings are discussed.


The object of this project is to create complex edu cational software for studying computer practise in physics at FEEC VUT in Brno. This thesi s deals with creating of simulative applications for five phenomenons: free fall, verti cal throw upwards, horizontal throw, oblique throw, harmonic motion. These simulations w ere created in the program called Builder 6, in the language C++. Graphic format of t he programs is similar. In the simulations is possible to insert basic input quantities for ev ery phenomenon, for which is pictured the chart, which characterizes the phenomenon. In the t hesis are described input quantities for every simulation and pictured charts. For this phen omenon are described physics theories as well. In the next step was created interface for th e c oice of a phenomenon and for starting relevant programs. It is possible to fill next phen omenon in this interface thanks to the editable file. In the thesis is described the purpo rt of physics in the contemporary World as well as the meaning of the modelling of physical ph enomenon. Klí čová slova: Simulace, modelování, aplikace, fyzika, programován í.


Financing Agreement (Private Sector Growth and Social Protection Development Policy Grant) between the Republic of Yemen and the International Development Association (with schedule, appendix and International Development Association General Conditions for Credits and Grants, dated 1 July 2005, as amended through 15 October 2006). Washington, 14 December 2010


This paper obtained the U-Pb age data with LA-ICP-MS in fine-grained zircons from the part of the rock of Xikou composite intrusives. The dating result of gneissic metacrystal medium monzonite granite of Tiankengli is 452. 6 ± 7. 8 Ma. The dating result of medium-grained granite of Jijiaoli is 161. 2 ± 2. 9 Ma and 168.6 ± 3. 7 Ma. The results with previous ages studies show that the Xikou composite intrusive was a multiple-intrusive rock foundation in Shanghang area of the southwestern Fujian,and was formed in three stages at least. That is,440~ 460 Ma,Caledonian period; 394 ~ 274 Ma,Variscan period; and 120 ~ 169 Ma Yanshanian period. However,the Yanshanian period maybe divide into middle and late period. In the first stage,Caledonian period,formed monzogranite and quartz porphyry. In the second stage, Variscan period, formed medium—fine grained porphyraceous granite and porphyritic granite. In the third stage,Yanshanian period,formed medium—fine grained biotite granite and syenogranite. However,120 ~ 169 Ma was the main magmatic period. This stages of the Xikou composite intrusive was the same as the large-scale magmatic activity in eastern China,and its diagenesis may be related to lithosphere extensional tectonics.


Invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) is a recently reported entity that is a histological variant of breast cancer with a poor prognosis. The tumor is best characterized by a nested pattern of eosinophilic tumor cells aranged in a solid, morular , tubular pattern. The tumor cells have intermediate to high grade nuclei and individual groups have a clear space separating them from the surrounding stroma. We report one case of pure IMPC of the breast


Criteria for estimating the first two probabilistic moments of the normalized parameters of p-\Iy\N curves are presented. These parameters are the ultimate soil resistance and the initial tangent value of the soil reaction which are both normalized with respect to the values predicted by an adequate mathematical expression. Due to the scarcity of data a sequential Bayesian formulation of statistical inference is adopted which deals with engineering judgment; small scale models of piles under lateral loads, as well as full-scale specimens and indirect information is contained in load-deflection curves measured at the heads of laterally loaded piles. When assessing the possible deviations of the normalized variables, attention is given to: uncertainty attached to the prediction formula of the p-\Iy\N curves; influence of uncertainty in basic soil properties; and discrepancies among results from small scale models and field tests. Mean and variance values of the normalized parameters of p-\Iy\N curves corresponding to soft and medium saturated clays are obtained for a particular case.


Purpose: Circumcision is one of the most common surgeries performed in the pediatric population. Multiple regional analgesic techniques, including caudal (CB) and penile block (PB), have championed as offering optimal analgesia for circumcision in the post-neonatal pediatric population without clear consensus. This meta-analysis sought to investigate CB and PB's analgesic efficacy and the impact on postoperative analgesic requirements in pediatric circumcisions. Methods: A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library (1966-2016) was completed to identify all published randomized control trials (RCTs). Keywords searched included "circumcision", "caudal block", "penile block", and "analgesia". Inclusion criteria were limited to the comparison of PB versus CB in children less than 18 years of age and its efficacy towards circumcision. The efficacy, time to first additive analgesia, time to first micturition, duration of prolonged motor blockade, incidence of vomiting, and length of stay were analyzed. Results: 9 RCTs involving 574 children (N = 287 in CB and PB) were included. No differences in analgesic efficacy (relative risk (RR) = 0.983, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.95 to 1.02; p = 0.328) or time to first additive analgesia were observed (standardized difference in mean (SDM) = 0.438, 95% CI = -0.04 to 0.92; p = 0.073). Time to first micturition (SDM = 0.680, 95% CI = 0.40 to 0.96; p < 0.001) and motor block duration (SDM = 0.707, 95% CI = 0.19 to 1.22; p = 0.007) were significantly prolonged in patients receiving CB. No differences were observed between groups in regards to the incidence of vomiting (RR = 1.56, 95% CI = 0.91 to 2.67; p = 0.107) and length of stay (SDM = 0.741, 95% CI = -0.05 to 1.53; p = 0.066). Conclusion: CB and PB offer similar analgesic success rates for pediatric patients (age 18 months to 16 years) undergoing circumcision. CB is associated with a trend towards longer duration of analgesia, but is associated with prolonged urinary retention and delayed ambulation. CB use is recommended in non-ambulatory children, whereas PB is recommended in ambulatory children.


Literature and music both fall into the category of arts.Thus music graduate students need improving their literary qualifications.This paper argues for literary classes for music majors.


Among the most serious environmental concerns facing the world today are global warming, habitat loss, and ecological changes as a consequence of introduced species. Of these, the threat of introduced species has been probably the most overlooked; in particular, marine bioinvaders have been less well studied and documented than terrestrial and fresh-water invasions, in large part because marine organisms are less accessible and less visible, especially to the public. Over the past couple of decades, however, research on vectors, patterns of distribution, ecological and economic impacts, and evolutionary consequences of non-native marine species has expanded to such a degree that nearly every major conference now devotes a session to introduced species. In 1999, the First Conference on Marine Bioinvasions was one of the very first major meetings to focus specifically on marine bioinvasions. The papers in the Proceedings from that first conference collectively represented an overview of our understanding of the status of marine bioinvasions research and management at that time. Subsequently, the Conference has been held biennially at locations throughout the USA and in New Zealand. The Fifth International Conference on Marine Bioinvasions was hosted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 21 to 24 May 2007. The Conference was co-sponsored by the National Sea Grant Office, the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES), and the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES). The papers contained in this volume are a peer-reviewed selection from among those presented at the meeting and represent a range of topics, while also providing state-of-the-art insight into our current understanding of the ecological, economic, and evolutionary impacts of marine bioinvaders. One of the underrepresented areas in research on introduced marine species is the study of smaller organisms, such as amphipods, bryozoans, hydroids, and phytoplankton, as well as on microbes such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. Our PICES plenary speaker, Janet Lawrence, provided an overview of the role of viruses in influencing phytoplankton populations that, in turn, are the underpinning of marine foodwebs. If we thought that 7000 organisms being carried around the world in ballast water each day (or 2.5 10 each year) was an extraordinary number, it is even more impressive that the number of virus-like particles being discharged each year is around 3 10. Viruses are not homogeneously distributed in marine waters, and our present limited understanding of their role in controlling phytoplankton populations, particularly harmful algal blooms, is a rapidly growing area of research. Another key area of marine bioinvasion research is the study of how invaders can persist over time in advective environments. The ICES plenary speaker, James Byers, addressed this dilemma and discussed how successful species use strategies such as spawning over several seasons or years, having shorter pelagic periods that enhance population growth rates, and possessing prodigious larval production. In developing his theory, Byers looked at life histories and ecological interactions, e.g. competition and how it influences larval retention both upstream and downstream to result in persistence against prevailing downstream currents. Physical events may also aid in the persistence and spread of marine invaders in certain systems. For example, Sylvia Yamada and Graham Gillespie suggested that the El Nino event of 1997/ 1998 may have been responsible for moving young green crabs, Carcinus maenas, north along the west coast of the USA. They noted that the prevailing southward currents should have resulted in the disappearance of this crab in the Pacific Northwest, but that local recruitment might be responsible for the population growth that occurred instead. Several papers examine species distribution, persistence, spread, and ecological impacts of invaders on ecosystems. In particular, Arthur Mathieson and colleagues evaluated the occurrence of introduced macroalgae in New England, using historical and recent floristic studies, rapid assessment surveys, and molecular techniques. Two Asian species, Codium fragile subsp. tomentosoides and Neosiphonia harveyi, have expanded their ranges in New England more broadly than expected, so suggesting the possibility of multiple introductions for these species. Other species have remained cryptic for decades. For example, several species of nori (Porphyra spp.) were only recently described as introduced species after detailed molecular studies were able to provide an adequate level of detection. The


We propose an adaptive load balancing algorithm for heterogeneous distributed systems. The algorithm intrinsically allows a batch of tasks to be relocated. The key of the algorithm is to transfer a suitable amount of processing demand from senders to receivers. This amount is determined dynamically during sender-receiver negotiations. Factors considered when this amount is determined include processing speeds of different nodes, the current load state of both sender and receiver, and the processing demands of tasks eligible for relocation. Composition of a task batch is modeled as a 0-1 Knapsack problem. We also propose a load state measurement scheme which is designed particularly for heterogeneous systems.


The aim of the article is to study the features of the use of anti-crisis monetary instruments to support liquidity at the macro level and ensure financial stability in Ukraine in the context of the ongoing full-scale military invasion of the russian federation. The NBU is facing new challenges and tasks related to maintaining the functional capacity of banks, prudent actions aimed at supporting liquidity and financial stability of the banking system. It has already been proved that both a shortage and a surplus of liquidity can be the starting point of a shock explosion in the economy. A comparative-dynamic analysis of the main monetary indicators of the money sphere has been carried out, which has shown their dynamism, controllability, and relative stability. It is noted that in the context of the «unattainable triad», or the Mundell-Fleming trilemma, an independent monetary policy was introduced with respect to the currency, but under the influence of non-monetary factors influencing the monetary sphere, there is a twisting of the spiral of liquidity and the formation of its surplus. Transactions with government bonds and certificates of deposit, which, unlike government bonds, are not a socially useful transaction, do not always achieve the goals of ensuring financial stability and liquidity management under martial law. Monetary transmission in the government securities market does not have a positive effect due to the mandatory military spending of the government of Ukraine. For banks, these operations are a source of profitable liquidity. Due to the non-working transmission mechanism, the inconsistency of the actions of the government and the central bank, in particular, the dynamics of the interest rate does not have a stabilizing effect on the economy.


To mine potential and helpful patterns, the majority of studies on pattern discovery from databases have been conducted in the last few decades. They have several obvious drawbacks: 1) Each thing stands out on its own and varies in significance based on factors including utility, risk, interest, and weight. 2) In specific application settings, an object has a favorable or unfavorable effect (e.g., products are often cross-sold and have positive or negative unit profits, which affect benefits). 3) The user could not have all the necessary information because frequent-based patterns typically only include a small percentage of the relevant patterns (for example, occupancy). To address this issue, we apply economic utility theory to the database and data mining fields. We provide a one-phase approach called pnHUO for discovering High Utility Occupancy patterns with positive and negative utility values that beyond frequency and usefulness. According to user interests, frequency, and utility occupancy, there are various utility occupancy patterns with positive and negative utility values. To hold the necessary data, a new frequency-utility tree and an indexed data structure called a positive-and-negative utility-occupancy list are created during the mining process. A number of pruning strategies are further developed using the determined upper bound of utility occupancy to reduce the search space. To evaluate the usefulness and efficiency of the suggested algorithm, five real datasets were tested in experiments, and the results were positive.


Several structures of n-Si/p-Si/sub 1-x/Ge/sub x//n-Si double heterojunction bipolar transistors (DHBTs) with strained thin base, fabricated by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), are described. Negative differential resistance (NDR) phenomena-a strong and symmetric bidirectional bistability modulated by base bias, together with a multistep characteristic in collector current versus emitter-collector bias voltage in the devices with very thin base-were observed at room temperature. The physical origins are analyzed. The results are compared with the characteristics of n-Ga/sub 1-x/A1/sub x/As/p-GaAs/n-GaAs single HBTs (SHBTs).<<ETX>>


The aim of this work was to compare larvicidal activity of insecticidal plants against malaria vector mosquito Anopheles stephensi. The larvicidal activity of Lantana camara Linn. and Bauhinia racemosa Lam., extracted in petroleum ether, chloroform and ethyl acetate were tested against mosquito larvae of A. stephensi. Late third or early fourth instar larvae were used for the screening. These extracts were used for determining the larvicidal activity using World Health Organization (WHO) method for evaluation of new larvicidal agents. The petroleum ether extract of L. camara showed highest larvicidal activity in comparison to petroleum ether extract of B. racemosa, and ethyl acetate extract of B. racemosa showed highest larvicidal activity in comparison to chloroform extract of L. camara against the mosquito vector A. stephensi. No mortality was observed in control. The result suggests the use of the plants in insect control as an alternative method for minimizing the noxious effect of some pesticide compounds on the environment. Thus, the extracts of whole plant of L. camara Linn. and leaf extracts of B. racemosa Lam. may deliver promising, more selective and biodegradable agents.

 Key words: Lantana camara, Bauhinia racemosa, Anopheles stephensi.


This paper presents a battery energy storage system with a modular push-pull PWM converter (MPC), which is intended for grid connection to medium-voltage or high-voltage power systems. The converter is equipped with a center-tapped transformer and two arms consisting of a cascade connection of multiple bidirectional PWM chopper-cells with floating dc capacitors. This paper discusses the operating performance and control method of the MPC, to achieve voltage balancing of all the floating capacitors. Moreover, a comparison is made between the MPC and a modular multilevel converter (MMC) as the battery energy storage system. The validity of the concept and control method developed in this paper is confirmed by computer simulations using the "PSCAD/EMTDC" software package.


The participation of women in the activities increased revenues can be seen from the amount of income obtained. Women's work is generally not as the main breadwinner although it is possible that the income will be very useful to support the family economy. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of direct and indirect labor income demographic variables against women through the allocation of work time female workers at Pasar Badung. This study using quota sampling method in data collection and analysis technique for the analysis of the data path. Based on the analysis found that age is a significant negative effect on the income of women workers in Pasar Badung while the allocation of working time and a significant positive effect on the income of women workers in Pasar Badung. The number of dependents and the allocation of working time and a significant positive effect on the income of women workers in Pasar Badung. Age and number of dependents indirect effect on labor income women through the allocation of women laborers working time in Badung market or in other words the allocation of working time is a variable mediating the effect of age and the number of dependents on labor income women through the allocation of work time.


VP-attachment in (2a) is based on Minimal Attachment (MA) (fewer syntactic nodes preferred (Frazier 1979)), whereas DP-attachment in (2b) is motivated by Late Closure (more recent attachment preferred (Frazier 1979)). At the second PP (PP2), (1) is disambiguated, supporting DP-attachment. It has been demonstrated that native speakers of English show a garden-path effect in (1) (see, e.g., Ferreira & Clifton 1986; Frazier 1987; Tanenhaus et al. 1995). Their preferred, initial analysis adopting MA-based VP-attachment as in (2a) turns out to be incorrect at PP2 because no attachment site is available for that PP, and thus reanalysis into DP-attachment as in (2b) is required. Hirose et al. (2008) found in the higher-proficiency Japanese EFL learners a native-like preference for initial MA-based VP-attachment. The question remains whether the lower-proficiency learners without such a preference had preferred LC-based DP-attachment instead.


According to the shortages in traditional locating lining methods, the paper combining with the factual example, introduces the application of AutoCAD combining total station in static pressure pipe piles, illustrates the steps for CAD electric graphs and the locating process of the total station, and points out the combining application of the CAD mapping software and the total station can improve the measurement efficiency, and ensure the accuracy and correctness of the pile location in the construction.


The results of minority-carrier lifetime measurements in heavily phosphorus-doped n+diffused layers of p-n junction diodes using a spectral response technique are reported in this paper. Exact modeling of current-flow equations, modified to include bandgap reduction due to high carrier concentration and Auger recombination, is used to compute the dependence of diffused-layer photocurrent Jpthon the incident light energy and intensity. The photocurrent in the diffused layer is also obtained by subtracting the theoretical value of the space charge and uniformly doped p-region component from the experimentally measured photocurrent of the diode at each wavelength. Note that all calculated values based on light intensity include computed transmittance/reflectance through the oxide layer at each wavelength. The comparison of the values of Jpthwith Jpexp, using nonlinear least square techniques, then directly gives the lifetime profile in the diffused layer. A simple expression is given for lifetime as a function of doping which may be used in modeling and prediction of device performance. Using this experimental technique it was found that the lifetime in the diffused layer is an order of magnitude less than that corresponding to uniformly doped bulk-silicon values and is very much process dependent; its value being 3.72 × 10-11s for surface concentration of 3.0 × 1020cm-3and increases to 2.9 × 10-8s at doping concentration of 1.0 × 1017cm-3.


This article deals with modern directions of digital fiscal policy in Russian banking. It considers main problems which Russian banking system is facing now and analyses the influence fiscal policy has on banking


This research investigates and compares three vario us patterns of external injection well systems on the final position of the interface toe. These patterns are: 1) One row of injection wells, 2) Double rows of injection wel ls with different locations, and 3) Staggered rows of injection wells. This paper also studied the effect of different rates of injection and variable distances from the coast on seawater interface movement. The results were compared with the results for othe r researchers. Finally this research studied the effect of the rainfall percolation on t he behavior of the interface toe. This research deals with hypothetical coastal confined a nd unconfined aquifers under steady state conditions. The finite element method was app lied for the groundwater flow equation under assumption of steady sharp interface in homogenous aquifer. A computer program named NUMERICAL with FORTRAN (77) language was used after several modifications to solve the mathematic al concepts of the problem. Analytical method was used to verify the computer p rogram. The Image theory and the superposition principle were the main tools used th rough the analytical procedures.


Grazing cover crops (CCs) can potentially generate economic benefits, but how this practice affects soils and crop production compared with non‐grazed CCs is not well understood. We reviewed all published literature up to 6 Dec 2022 on grazing CCs to evaluate how this practice impacts soils and crop production and to discuss potential factors that may influence grazing CC effects. The emerging literature indicates 18% to 92% of CC biomass was removed when grazed. Grazing CCs increased soil bulk density and penetration resistance (compaction indicators) in 54% of cases (6 of 11 studies). However, the increase in soil compaction as measured by penetration resistance generally remained below the root‐growth threshold level (< 2 MPa). Grazing CCs had small and mixed effects on soil C concentration, wet aggregate stability, water infiltration, water retention, and soil microbial biomass. Also, grazing did not affect subsequent crop yields in 61% of cases (8 of 13 studies) or had variable effects. Grazing at high stocking rates or when soils are wet can result in soil compaction and potentially reduce subsequent crop yields. Additional long‐term (> 5 yr) data are needed to better discern CC grazing implications for different climates, stocking rates, soil types, CC grazing infrastructure, and CC management practices. Particularly, data on CC grazing from water‐limited regions (i.e., semiarid regions) are scant. Success with CCs in water‐limited regions depends on timely precipitation input unless irrigated. Overall, grazing of CCs under proper management has small or no effects on soils and crop yields.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved


This manual provides information for installing and maintaining the computer program PVREG, a program developed to study the impact of distributed photovoltaic systems on the voltage regulation of distribution systems. The manual describes installation on the Apollo workstation or the IBM PC-AT (or compatible), but the instructions and code description should be general enough to assist installation on other computers, also. The manual assumes that the user is well acquainted with the computer on which the program is to operate and with the operating system of that computer. The manual describes the program structure and models in detail and provides step-by-step installation instructions for both the Apollo and AT-compatible computers. 9 figs., 11 tabs.


Introduce: Along with globe warming the individual hurricane damage has increasingly been severe, sometimes, resultant destroy is than ever, even people influenced by super-hurricane disaster seems live in the shadow of apocalypse, super-hurricane generally is mainly characterized as violent winds (too much strong whirling wind or gusts), so here it may be supposed that hurricane winds(usually sustained winds in one minutes or ten minutes interval) is good index to represents strength and power of tropical cyclone, such as Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale, generally, from commonsensible scene , the more power of hurricane; the more stronger winds take places; but from professional and technical aspects, the fundamental and comprehensive mathematical tools should be ability and available to study those kind questions of categories for super tropical


An experimental program was carried out to study the effects of tine in the static testing of concrete to determine fracture energy (Gp). Although it is widely known that the tine does affect testing results of concrete in compression, flexure, and tension, little is known how it affects Gf of concrete. Beams of one size of 3 in. wide, 4 in. deep, and 15 in. span with a /w of 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 were used in the experimental program. These beams were loaded to failure with load control and strain control with time to peak ranging from 34 to 225 seconds. Values of Gp obtained in the periods of time used in the experiment were relatively consistent. To obtain consistent and relevant results, a systematic computation technique for time to peak load is desired where it will depend on the initial notch length, size, and peak load of the beam. Gp was calculated in two manners, the RILEM Method and the Modified RILEM Method. Comparisons were then made of Gp values obtained using the two mentioned methods and different modes of controls. Using the RILEM Method, Gp showed consistently higher results when load control was used then when compared to strain control. However, when the Modified RILEM Method was used, the mode of control did not affect the results of Gp.


We propose a new construct, normative commitment orientation (NCO), which describes a "mindset of obligation" across life domains. In developing this construct, we apply the theory of planned behavior to suggest that NCO develops through socialization experiences across the lifespan and therefore is likely to vary across individuals and cultures. We emphasize the differences between NCO and the classic three-component conceptualization of commitment from Allen and Meyer (1990), which describes normative commitment as an obligation to one's organization. We extend this conceptualization beyond organization boundaries to other life domains and explore the possibility of a stable disposition toward commitment that individuals may possess. This work may have important implications for theory and practice, as it sheds light on an important individual difference the influences behaviors throughout life, including organizationally-relevant outcomes.


In this paper, we propose a semantic naive Bayes classifier (SNBC) to improve the conventional naive Bayes classifier (NBC) by incorporating "document-level" semantic information for document classification (DC). To capture the semantic information from each document, we develop semantic feature extraction and modeling algorithms. For semantic feature extraction, we first apply a log-Bilinear document modeling (LBDM) algorithm to transform each word into a semantic vector, and then apply principal component analysis (PCA) to the semantic space formed by the word vectors to extract a set of semantic features for each document. For semantic modeling, a semantic model is constructed using the semantic features of the training documents. In the testing phase, SNBC systematically integrates the semantic model and the conventional NBC to perform DC. The results of experiments on the 20 News-groups and WebKB datasets confirm that, with the semantic score, SNBC consistently outperforms NBC with various language modeling approaches.


Muscling in on New Worlds brings together a dynamic new collection of studies that approach sport as a window into Jewish identity formation in the Americas. Articles address football/soccer, yoga, boxing, and other sports as crucial points of Jewish interaction with other communities and as vehicles for reconciling the legacy of immigration and Jewish distinctiveness in new world national and regional contexts.


We consider the non-local problem which models the temperature when an electric current flows through a material with temperature dependent electrical resistivity f(u) > 0, subject to a fixed potential difference. It is found that for some special cases where f is decreasing and so the problem can be scaled to make then:(a) for λ < 8 there is a unique steady state which is globally asymptotically stable: (b) for λ = 8 there is no steady state and u is unbounded; (c) for λ > 8 there is no steady state and u blows up for all x, – 1 < x < 1.


________________________________________________________________________________ Behavioural observations suggested that as air-gun noise levels increase, fish respond by swimming faster, in tighter groups and towards the bottom of the water column. Significant increases in alarm responses were observed in fish and squid to air-gun noise exceeding 158 163 dB re 1μPa. An increasing proportion of alarm responses were also observed as the noise level increased. A decrease in the frequency of alarm responses for repeated exposures was observed in squid and some fish. The implications of these findings are discussed with comparisons of noise levels measured from an actual 2678 cui seismic survey air-gun array.


Objective: To express human sCR1 in Pichia pastoris SMD1168 and purify the recombinant protein product.To provide convenience for clinical diagnosis and therapy with the expression similar to human natural protein.Methods: Human total RNA was extracted from peripheral blood.The full length cDNA of human sCR1 gene was obtained using RT-PCR,cloned into eukaryotic expression vector pPIC9K to construct the recombinant plasmid pPIC9K-sCR1 containing human sCR1.Identified by DNA sequencing,then the recombinant plasmid pPIC9K-sCR1 was transformed into Pichia pastoris SMD1168.After methanol induction,The expressed protein products were verified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analysis,and purified by Ni2+-NTA agarose affinity chromatography.Results: The recombinant human sCR1 fusion protein was expressed by yeast cells containing pPIC9K-sCR1 induced by methanol.The expression level was the highest in 48h~72h.It was a protein band 31KDa in gel which could be identified by CD35 of anti-sCR1 protein monoclonal antibod with Western blotting technique.Highly purified sCR1 fusion protein was obtained by Ni2+-NTA agarose affinity chromatography.Conclusion: The recombinant human sCR1 fusion protein can be highly expressed in the Pichia pastoris expression system,resembling the human natural protein's antigenicity.


Up-to-date curetted task of the present geoinformation system is the processing of the remote sensing data. Image analyses in point of mathematical view bases on the theory of the image recognition where it is necessary identification of the input data to the appropriate classis of the objects. Beside with methods of fuzzy logic one of the advance methods of solution the foregoing problem is wide application of Neural Networks in the area. These methods have been taken an adequate instrument which can be described regulation of classification without application of the high accuracy mathematical value as it accepted term for understanding like "small", "significant" etc. There are two approaches of image recognition based on the spectral and spatial characteristics of the investigated class of objects. It is expedient the combination of the both approaches in order to increase an accuracy of recognition and classification of scanned area with complex relief (highlands, settlements, mixed forest, etc.). Each selected individual elements of landscape shall be found out based on the image fragment analyses, their forms, colors, correlation, and heterogeneity. Neural Network allows assessing interrelation of each selected individual elements of landscape. One of the advantages of the Neural Network is that all elements have an ability to operate in parallel that is essentially increasing the efficiency of problem solution, especially in the area of the image processing. Within the framework of this studies have been offered the approach of development of the Artificial Neural Networks with Back-propagation Error where there is a solution of the problem of creation decoding indicators based on superposition of spectral and spatial characteristics of image of Landsat TM satellite. During the study of classification of the object elements considered learning access is known as the indicator of identification of relation of the classes. It is required development of the Neural Network which has to be determining the relation of appropriate classes to the object. The number of parameters on spatial characteristic increase due to involving parameters calculated by horizontal, vertical and diagonal pixels taking part in process. As a result it can be find out an increase of a volume of computation process. The main aim of those research activities is development of methodology of high-performance classification of aerospace images using the Neural Networks for modeling of spectral and spatial images of the investigated class of objects. Integration in GIS Neural Networks is the suitable instrument for effective encouragement of decision-making. As an input and output data the Neural Network uses of GIS spatial data.


This article has analyzed hindrance of pricvate college and university in our country, and proposed the related ways about how to develop private college and university from three facets among society, government and private college and university separately.


A semantic model of a data source is a represen-tation of the entities and relationships contained in the data. Building semantic models is a prerequisite for automatically publishing data to a knowledge graph. However, constructing these semantic models is a complex process requiring consid-erable manual effort and a high potential for errors. Several approaches have been proposed for automatically identifying semantic models of data sources. However, as the schemata of data sources change, the corresponding semantic models may require amendments. We propose a dynamic semantic modeling approach whereby the semantic model of a data source can be adapted automatically as data sources change. We show that our incremental approach outperforms state-of-the-art systems by an average of 7.4% in the F1 score and that it is orders of magnitude faster than constructing a semantic model from scratch.


The magnetic resonance-safe and -compatible instrument comprises a lumen, heating elements, electric current conducting elements, and an energy-guiding element having optical fiber cables. The thermal energy is generated by electric current and/or electromagnetic waves and/or light waves or light pulses by the heating elements, which are entirely or partly made of carbon or carbon fibers. The conducting elements consist of non-metallic materials, and are made of carbon fibers. The heating elements convert optical energy into thermal energy. Independent claims are included for: (1) a magnetic resonance-safe and -compatible guidewire; and (2) a magnetic resonance-safe and -compatible catheter guidewire system.


We studied the conditions under which short-pulsed laser deposited (PLD) stoichiometric multi-element nanocrystals of GaAs,InP,CoPt and Inconel (an alloy of Cr, Fe and Ni) are formed. The properties of the PLD nanoclusters and the irradiated targets were investigated as a function of the laser pulse-length (150 fs-500 ps) and the inert background gas pressure in the synthesis chamber (microTorr to hundreds of Torr). Our results reveal that the formation of stoichiometric GaAs nanocrystals required ablating a GaAs target with a shorter than 25 ps laser in a {ge} 50 miliTorr of inert background pressure. For InP, a mixture of stoichiometric InP and In nanocrystals with an InP/In ratio of {approx} 1 resulted upon ablating an InP target in Ar at 1 Torr. This InP/In ratio increased to {approx} 5 when ablating the InP target in an Ar pressure of 750 Torr. In case of CoPt alloy, the stoichiometry in the target was not reflected in the collected nanocluster films, independent of the background gas pressure. Interestingly, the stoichiometry of the target was found in the collected nanocluster films when an Inconel target was ablated by a femtosecond laser even in vacuum. It is noted that the constituents of Inconel (Cr, more » Fe and Ni) have similar vapor pressures while Co and Pt do not. Our experimental results suggest that the stoichiometries of the PLD multi-element nanoclusters are closer with those of the targets when shorter than 25 ps lasers are used. However, this does not imply that simply irradiating a multi-element target in vacuum with a shorter than 25 ps pulse-length laser would automatically result in the formation of stoichiometric nanocrystals. The preservation of the stoichiometry of the irradiated target and the formation of stoichiometric semiconductor nanocrystals require ablating the targets with a shorter than 25 ps laser in a background gas. The minimum background gas pressure is materials dependent. And for metal alloys, the stoichiometry of the ablated target cannot be found in the collected nanocluster films if the constituent elements have widely different vapor pressures. We have also successfully used density-functional based tight-binding potentials to study the femtosecond laser/GaAs target interaction. This code work can be extended to other multi-element compounds/alloys as well. « less


Biometric detectors for speaker identification commonly employ a statistical model for a subject's voice, such as a Gaussian Mixture Model, that combines multiple means to improve detector performance. This allows a malicious insider to amend or append a component of a subject's statistical model so that a detector behaves normally except under a carefully engineered circumstance. This allows an attacker to force a misclassification of his or her voice only when desired, by smuggling data into a database far in advance of an attack. Note that the attack is possible if attacker has access to database even for a limited time to modify victim's model. We exhibit such an attack on a speaker identification, in which an attacker can force a misclassification by speaking in an unusual voice, and replacing the least weighted component of victim's model by the most weighted competent of the unusual voice of the attacker's model. The reason attacker make his or her voice unusual during the attack is because his or her normal voice model can be in database, and by attacking with unusual voice, the attacker has the option to be recognized as himself or herself when talking normally or as the victim when talking in the unusual manner. By attaching an appropriately weighted vector to a victim's model, we can impersonate all users in our simulations, while avoiding unwanted false rejections.


A cultivar and blend trial of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) demonstrated differential cultivar responses to larval infestation and injury by bluegrass billbug (Sphenophorus parvulus Gyllenhal). Correlation between billbug injury ratings and billbug larval density was r = 0.92. Injury ratings and larval density for blends approximated mean response for cultivars in pure stands. These results suggested that blending could be beneficial in reducing injury symptoms, if appropriate cultivars were selected.


Motivated by improvements in low-temperature polysilicon thin-film transistor (LTPS-TFT) processes, a TFT-based dynamic-logic programmable logic array (PLA) has been designed. Successful operation of the circuit with high repeatability is reported. It is thus demonstrated that the LTPS-TFT technology is mature enough to support aggressive circuit techniques such as dynamic logic.


Abstract 622This paper discusses steward ownership, a concept of business ownership aiming at long-term and purpose-oriented entrepreneurship developed in Germany. Steward ownership can be seen in the context of the current worldwide discussion of corporate purpose and legal innovations like the US-American benefit corporation and the French société a mission has developed a unique approach. The concept is currently put into practice using German company law and the law of foundations. However, in the coalition agreement of the current German government, a new legal form is envisaged to facilitate the founding of steward-owned businesses. The paper presents the concepts and discusses a draft law developed as food for thought for the legislature.


ABSTRACT The irregular menses experienced by obese and/or hirsute women were studied by daily measurement of serum LH, FSH, estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P). During 8 cycles of 24 to 157 days, each episode of menstrual bleeding was preceded by hormonal evidence of follicular maturation and corpus luteum formation. The premenstrual fluctuations of LH and E2 were not different from those observed in normal cycles. Although the luteal phase was of more than 10 days' duration, progesterone secretion was subnormal during each cycle. Serum FSH was low throughout the time preceding the LH/FSH surge. These data suggest that inadequate corpus luteum progesterone secretion may be characteristic of the menstrual cycles in oligomenorrheic, obese infertile women.


The University of Florida (UF) is conducting an integr ated engineering education experiment (covering the first two years of engineering education) for the Southeastern University and College Coalition for Engineering EDucation (SUCCEED), one of the National Science Foundation's Engineering Education Coalitions. The guiding purpose of this effort is to provide students the same benefits that have been achieved through total program integration while avoiding some major drawbacks of such schemes, such as significant changes in program administration. We propose a model different from the total integration model, which has domin ated curriculum reform research. In our model, course and department frameworks remain in tact. Instead, we are changing the way faculty teach and the way students' time is structured to increase learning efficiency. We have 100 students enrolled in the program and plan to work with them for two years. Special s ections of Calc I and Chemistry I were taught in the Fall semester of 1995. S ections of Calculus II, Chemistry II and Physics I are in progress during Spring 1996. These special sections are reducing the dependence on lecture and relying more on active and group learning models. More "studio" classes are being used to improve learning.


Density matrix theory is used to show that for S = 1/2, 1, 3/2 the decay of the I-magnetization (I = 4) in a two-spin IS dipolar coupled system is governed by the differential equation d /dt= -k1{J(ωI-ωS)+3J(ωI)+6J(ωI+ωS)}{ -I0}                         -k2{6J(ωI+ωS)-J(ωI-ωS)}{ -S0} where k1 and k2 are positive constants dependent on S and the dipolar interaction constants. It follows that if = 0, as arises on S- irradiation, or = S0, as in paramagnetic transition-metal complexes, the decay of the I-magnetization is exponential. The theory is used to analyse 14N,2H dipolar-induced 13C spin relaxation in deuterated urea. It is shown that at low temperatures dipolar interactions dominate the relaxation whereas at high temperatures spin rotation effects become important. The relaxation times are very long; at 300 T1 is 114s.


It is of significance to compare the literary ideas of Sigma Qian and Ban Gu.They both emphasized on reflecting realities,praising the good and criticizing the evil.They pursued the ideal of vividly portraying characters and splendidly narrating stories.Both of them agreed that literature derives from life and should serve politics.Thus they approved Qu Yuans works and Ci Fu of Han Dynasty.Their historiographies applied the biographic device of "Portraying a person by his literary works" and the critique rule of "Understanding ones work by referring to his time and life background".They shared the commonplace of authentic recording of history.Their differences lied in writing inclination,understanding of the sources of literature,key points of praising and criticizing theory,critiques of Qu Yuans works and The Record of History.The reason of these differences is due to the various cultural conditions and general moods of their times as well as their personal ideological differences.


The effect of hydrostatic pressure on thermodynamic properties of Rs was theoretically considered within the framework of the Mitsui model adjusted by taking into account piezoelectric interaction with the shear strain ε4. The approach, according to which theory model parameters are linearly dependent on hydrostatic pressure, was proposed for consideration. The calculations were carried out in molecular field approximation. Theoretical results for thermodynamic characteristics were compared to experimental data. Basing on theoretical study, the explanation for discrepancies in experimental data derived by different researchers for static dielectric permittivity of a free crystal was proposed. The increase of saturation polarization due to application of hydrostatic pressure is predicted.


The invention provides a ladder-shaped gap structure for a gas compressor of an aircraft engine, and relates to the stability expanding technology of a high-load fan or a machine pressure gas machine of the aircraft engine. The gas machine of the aircraft engine comprises a blade and a cartridge receiver housing, wherein the position which corresponds to the inner side wall of the cartridge receiver housing is provided with a ladder-shaped peripheral groove with a certain depth and width in a machining way, the different ladder-shaped gap structure distributions can be obtained by optimizing the size of a matching gas and the position of the ladder-shaped peripheral groove, and the size and the position of a blockage group at the top region of the gas compressor can be effectively controlled due to the interaction of complex flow between the ladder-shaped groove and the top region of the gas compressor, so that the flowing area of the channel main flow can be improved, the stability work margin of the gas compressor can be improved, and the performance of the gas compressor can be improved.


Departing from a lax concept of Hispanism, this article analyzes the numerous contributions that Italian, French, German, British, North American, and other authors from various countries have made to the study of the Basque question, understood broadly, from the last Carlist War in the nineteenth century to the present day. Our object of study is academic historiography, setting aside partisan historical literature; but we also include treatises from the social sciences that broach the Basque case, particularly from anthropology, sociology, and political science. Studies by those foreign authors have focused mainly on the history of Basque nationalism, predominantly on the present time and on the violent and radical nationalism of ETA, which not all have been capable of analyzing with sufficient objectivity. The other period that has provoked the most interest among them has been the Civil War, especially the destruction of Gernika and its international repercussions. However, there are few surveys of modern Basque history written by foreign Hispanists or social scientists.


work that occupied their lives, tensions and differences surrounding the question of what it meant to practice hospitality to visitors, and the place of literacy and book use and ownership. It is easy to miss these humble elements of everyday life when reading the Sayings primarily for spiritual nourishment or philosophical insight. And yet they provide the very ground out of which the spiritual thought and practice of the monks emerged and the material reality that continuously shaped their searched for meaning. Wortley notices and makes visible these elements of the monks' lives, resulting in a more full-bodied reading of this tradition than we have often been offered previously. Still, there are limits to Wortley's approach. This is especially noticeable in the chapter he devotes to "Women in the Desert." Here, we learn of monks who visited women, women who visited monks, women as demons, women disguised as monks, and what Wortley calls, in a surprising euphemism, "less-respectable visitors" (118). This chapter is almost completely descriptive in character, in keeping with the author's stated intention to offer a dispassionate but historically and literarily accurate account of the lives of the ascetics who inhabited the desert during this period. However, given the extraordinary scholarly work that has been done on women's experience in the ancient desert tradition by Elizabeth Clark, Susanna Elm, Rebecca Krawiec, and Virginia Burrus, among others, one feels more acutely the limits of this somewhat flat and uncritical account of women's experience. The introductory character of the book perhaps excuses the author from the obligation to respond seriously to this scholarship. Still, the account given here hardly begins to touch on or explicate the complex, subtle, and often contentious place of women in early Christian monasticism. In spite of this shortcoming, this is an admirable and helpful book. I have been reading these texts for over thirty years and am broadly familiar with their main themes and questions. Even so, I found myself continuously surprised and often delighted at the texts Wortley incorporated into his analysis and his perceptive interpretations of them. His own deep familiarity with these texts and his long experience as a translator means that his readings and interpretations are often illuminating, surprising, or both. This is a fine introduction to the literature of the desert fathers and mothers and will serve both newcomers and those familiar with this tradition well.


Objective To investigate the role of intra-operative and percutaneous three-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasonic cholangiography (3D-CEUSC) in the diagnosis of biliary anomalies. Methods Diluted SonoVue, an ultrasonic contrast agent, was injected into the cystic duct of 13 living liver donors via a cannula for intra-operative 3D-CEUSC, while injection via a T tube or a PTCD tube were done in 14 patients for percutaneous 3D-CEUSC. The maximum branching order of the intra-hepatic bile ducts, the percentages of display of the first-, second-, and third-order intra-hepatic bile ducts, and the rates of detection of biliary anatomical anomalies were evaluated. Results The median of the maximum branching order of the intra-hepatic bile ducts shown was fourth-order on intraoperative 3D-CEUSC and third-order on percutaneous 3D-CEUSC, respectively. The difference was significant (P=0.01). From the first- to the third-order of intra-hepatic bile ducts, the percentages of display for intra-operative 3D-CEUSC were 100% (23/23), 96.2% (50/52) and 82.7% (86/104),respectively, while they were 100% (24/24), 94.6% (54/56) and 60. 7% (68/112) for percutaneous 3D-CEUSC. The differences were not significant when comparing the first- and the second-order branches of intra-hepatic bile ducts as shown either on intra-operative or percutaneous 3D-CEUSC (P=1).The percentages of display of the third-order branches using intra-operative 3D-CEUSC was higher than that of percutaneous 3D-CEUSC (P<0. 0001). Three biliary anatomical anomalies were detected by intra-operative 3D-CEUSC and 4 anomalies were detected by percutaneous 3D-CEUSC. All of these anomalies were confirmed by X-ray cholangiography. Conclusion Both intra-operative and percutaneous 3D-CEUSC could diagnose biliary anatomical anomalies accurately. These procedures may become important techniques to evaluate the biliary anatomy in hepatobiliary surgery pre-operatively or intraoperatively.

Key words:
Contrast enhanced ultrasound;  Three dimensional;  Biliary tract;  Variation


Temperature uncertainty models for land and sea surfaces can be developed based on statistical methods. In this paper, we developed a novel time-series temperature uncertainty model, which is the autoregressive moving average (ARMA) (1,1) model. The model was developed for an observed annual mean temperature anomaly X(t), which is a combination of a true (latent) global anomaly Y(t) for a year (t) and normal variable w(t). The uncertainty is taken as the variance of w(t), which was divided into land surface temperature (LST) uncertainty, sea surface temperature (SST) uncertainty, and the corresponding source of uncertainty. The ARMA model was analyzed and compared with autoregressive (AR) and autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) for the data obtained from the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies Surface Temperature (GISTEMP) Analysis. The statistical analysis of the autocorrelation function (ACF), partial autocorrelation function (PACF), normal quantile–quantile (normal Q-Q) plot, density of the residuals, and variance of normal variable w(t) shows that ARMA (1,1) fits better than AR (1) and ARIMA (1, d, 1) for d = 1, 2.


DNA samples from 206 unrelated Kuwaitis of both sexes, i.e. 200 randomly selected individuals and 6 glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient probands, have been analyzed by the PCR/RFLP technique for mutations underlying the most common G6PD-deficient variants (Mediterranean and A–). At the first step all samples were studied for the 563C→T and 376A→G mutations, then the samples positive for 376A→G were further analyzed for 202G→A, 680G→T and 968T→C mutations. Three mutations (563C→T, 376A→G and 202G→A) were found to be present in the Kuwaiti population at polymorphic frequencies (0.0503, 0.0215 and 0.0111, respectively). Nineteen out of 20 unrelated Kuwaiti chromosomes with 563C→T had Mediterranean haplotype as judged by 1311C→T polymorphism. The frequency of G6PD-deficient genotypes was 4.5% (5.73% in males and 2.56% in females).


With the improvement in energy storage and power electronic control technologies, utility-scale energy storage systems (ESS) have been increasingly deployed in today's power systems and have shown great potential in providing ancillary services. This paper investigates the impact of ESSs on power system transient stability in the context of uncertainties from renewable generation and demand-side activities. The transient behavior of ESSs with varying battery charging/discharging characteristics is first investigated, and trajectory sensitivity analysis is then performed to quantify the sensitivity of ESS parameters on post-disturbance rotor angle development. The case study was performed on a wind-penetrated power system with industrial-grade dynamic BESS models.


Background: Self-reported symptom studies rapidly increased our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 during the pandemic and enabled the monitoring of long-term effects of COVID-19 outside the hospital setting. It is now evident that post-COVID syndrome presents with heterogeneous profiles, which need characterisation to enable personalised care among the most affected survivors. This study describes post-COVID profiles, and how they relate to different viral variants and vaccination status. Methods: In this prospective longitudinal cohort study, we analysed data from 336,652 subjects, with regular health reports through the Covid Symptom Study (CSS) smartphone application. These subjects had reported feeling physically normal for at least 30 days before testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. 9,323 individuals subsequently developed Long-COVID, defined as symptoms lasting longer than 28 days. 1,459 had post-COVID syndrome, defined as more than 12 weeks of symptoms. Clustering analysis of the time-series data was performed to identify distinct symptom profiles for post-COVID patients, across variants of SARS-CoV-2 and vaccination status at the time of infection. Clusters were then characterised based on symptom prevalence, duration, demography, and prior conditions (comorbidities). Using an independent testing sample with additional data (n=140), we investigated the impact of post-COVID symptom clusters on the lives of affected individuals. Findings: We identified distinct profiles of symptoms for post-COVID syndrome within and across variants: four endotypes were identified for infections due to the wild-type variant; seven for the alpha variant; and five for delta. Across all variants, a cardiorespiratory cluster of symptoms was identified. A second cluster related to central neurological, and a third to cases with the most severe and debilitating multi-organ symptoms. Gastrointestinal symptoms clustered in no more than two specific phenotypes per viral variant. The three main clusters were confirmed in an independent testing sample, and their functional impact was assessed. Interpretation: Unsupervised analysis identified different post-COVID profiles, characterised by differing symptom combinations, durations, and functional outcomes. Phenotypes were at least partially concordant with individuals reported experiences. Our classification may be useful to understand distinct mechanisms of the post-COVID syndrome, as well as subgroups of individuals at risk of prolonged debilitation. Funding: UK Government Department of Health and Social Care, Chronic Disease Research Foundation, The Wellcome Trust, UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, UK Research and Innovation London Medical Imaging & Artificial Intelligence Centre for Value-Based Healthcare, UK National Institute for Health Research, UK Medical Research Council, British Heart Foundation and Alzheimers Society, and ZOE Limited, UK.


This study was aimed at assessing the relationship between fishermen's characteristics and perceptions on independent fishermen's insurance program. A total of 32 respondents who participated in independent insurance program were deeply interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. The questions were constructed using a Likert-scale answering system, ranging from 'Strongly Disagree' to 'Strongly Agree'. The correlation between the two variables was analyzed with Pearson's correlation coefficient. The results showed that the overall perceptions on independent fishermen insurance program were categorized as 'Good', indicating that this insurance program was acceptable and beneficial for them. About 67% of relationship between perception and characteristic of the respondents was positively correlated, ranging from 'weak' to 'very weak', but not differed significantly between the two variables. Clarity, consistency and completeness of information about this insurance program are becoming the key factors in the success of the program.


A method for automatic planning of robot pushing operations is described. The operation is performed by a two-point pusher. It has been shown that such an operation can entirely constrain polygonal workpiece in a plane and can deal with objects in the presence of initial uncertainty. The operation is discussed with regard to bounds on initial error in position and orientation. The success of an attempt to push the object depends on correct pushing direction and starting point of the pusher. The goal is to catch the object between the fingers and to eventually bring it to known position and orientation. The starting point and the pushing direction define an operation space of all possible tasks. A bounded region in this space is constructed, such that any point inside this region guarantees the object will not be pushed away. The planner also accounts for the uncertainty in positioning, suggesting the pushing operation that will succeed even if worst case error occurs.<<ETX>>


As chlorate concentrations have been found to be harmful to human and animal health, governments are increasingly demanding strict control of the chlorate concentration in drinking water. Since there are no chlorate sensors available, the current solution is sampling and laboratory analysis. This is costly and time consuming. The aim of this work was to investigate Sensor Data Fusion (SDF) as an alternative approach, with a focus on chlorate formation in the electrochlorination process, and design an observer for the real-time estimation of chlorate. The pH, temperature and UV-a absorption were measured in real time. A reduced-order nonlinear model was derived, and it was found to be detectable. An Extended Kalman Filter (EKF), based on this model, was then used to estimate the chlorate formation. The EKF algorithm was verified experimentally and was found to be capable of accurately estimating chlorate concentrations in real time. Electrochlorination is an emerging and efficient method of disinfecting drinking water. Soft sensing of chlorate concentrations, as proposed in this paper, may help to better control and manage the process of electrochlorination.