Aeromonas hydrophila and other aeromonads are ubiquitous organisms commonly found in majority of food matrices intended for human consumption. They cause diarrhea, septicemia and extra-intestinal infections in normal and immunocompromised patients. The aim of the present study, to develop a multiplex PCR based strategy for the detection of pathogenic Aeromonas spp. by targeting virulence-associated genes including aerolysin (aerA), cytotonic enterotoxins (alt), serine protease (Ahe 2) gene, along with a 16S rRNA gene specific to genus Aeromonas. A competitive internal amplification control (IAC) was introduced into mPCR assay to negotiate false negative results during PCR reaction. The results showed that, developed method was useful for specific detection and differentiation of pathogenic and non pathogenic strains of Aeromonas spp. mPCR method was successfully evaluated onto several spiked as well as naturally contaminated food samples originated form Karnataka, India. The sensitivity of developed method was determined as 5x10-5 CFUml−1 from experimentally spiked food and water samples. To check the practical usefulness of developed mPCR method a total of 120 vegetable samples were evaluated. Out of 120 samples, eight samples were stayed as positive for A. hydrophila contamination. Multiplex PCR results were well correlated with that off conventional culture based methods. In conclusion developed mPCR method could provide a powerful tool for detection and differentiation of pathogenic A. hydrophila from food and environmental samples. And also it could be a better alternative for time consuming conventional culture based methods for routine food analysis laboratories.


A hot wire sampling probe for instantaneous concentration measurements is described. The sensitivity of the probe to concentration, pressure, and temperature variations is studied on a simple experimental facility designed for steady‐state experiments. The probe sensitivity to methane concentration, measured in methane‐nitrogen mixtures, is 0.024% CH4/mV for the low methane mole fractions. It is shown that this type of probe can be used to measure concentrations in a pressure and temperature varying environment, provided that these parameters are known by another means. Simple calculations with a proper heat transfer correlation allow us to avoid a complete calibration of the probe. The probe resolution is shown to depend strongly on the platinum‐iridium wire operating temperature, which must be as high as possible (usually 830 K in our experiments).


This paper presents LCC resonant converter with a boundary control strategy. Control signals are built by analyzing converter's state parameters (currents and voltages). The control algorithm is independent on frequency or operation mode. The proposed method demonstrates a rapid convergence and supports a desired output voltage in a wide range of operational conditions. Simulation results validate the proposed methodology.


This paper examines the ability of the H∞ design methodology to provide a solution to a gas- or oil-fired boiler control problem, and addresses the nontrivial application issues of the H∞ design. The H∞ methodology is applied to an experimentally verified heating-cogeneration boiler model which exhibits nonlinearities, instability, time delays, non-minimum phase behaviour, and coloured noise disturbances with sensor noise in the frequency range of the significant plant dynamics. The design shows that, to satisfy performance criteria, a high order controller is needed. The paper also demonstrates a trade-off between the reduction of controller order and the loss of controller performance.


Heat Strain is an acute or chronic impact caused by exposure to heat pressure experienced by a person from both physical and mental aspects. Based on the results of a preliminary study conducted on 20 workers using the HSSI (Heat Strain Score Index) method, it was found that 11 people (55%) did not experience a heat strain and 9 people (45%) experienced a heat strain. The physical effects of heat strains can vary, ranging from minor complaints such as rashes on the skin to fainting to life-threatening situations when there is cessation of sweating and heat stroke. Environmental factors that affect heat strain are heat stress, besides that some individual characteristic factors that can also affect heat strains are age, sex, and obesity, other individual characteristics that can affect heat strain are chronic diseases. The purpose of this study was to analyze factors related to heat strain. This research was conducted with quantitative research methods with a cross sectional study design using primary data on 59 workers. The research variables were analyzed using the chi-square test. The results of bivariate analysis have a relationship between heat pressure, age, and hydration status with heat strain. While the variables of obesity and chronic disease have no relationship with heat strain. Companies are advised to gradually put the workload in the area of heat stress on new workers, increase sports activities, provide more drinking water, cooler temperature resting places, nutrition fulfillment programs and conduct medical check-ups thoroughly, and socialize related needs fluid.


This article discusses the element of citizenship in the education system in Malaysia. The role of citizenship is very important to establish a sovereign country, especially for a country that has many races and ethnicities such as in Malaysia. The issue of citizenship is not only exists in the country but also abroad. However, this article only includes discussions on elements of citizenship in the Malaysian education system through the subjects in the curriculum introduced such as the subjects of History, Moral Education, Islamic Studies, Economics, and Civics and Citizenship Education (PSK). The various elements of citizenship as set forth in Malaysian education system through the subjects have caused confusion about the meaning of citizenship in the context of education in Malaysia. This article also reviews previous studies relevant to the element of citizenship in the education system in Malaysia. This article focuses on and includes the element of citizenship in the education system in Malaysia. This article also discusses proposals for each of the concerned issues to improve the competence of knowledge about citizenship among students and teachers in the education system in Malaysia.


The policing reform in Henan province by integrating district police bureau and subordinate stations changed the long-established 3-level model "municipal bureau-district bureau-police station" into 2-level model "municipal bureau-police station".From the perspective of organizational management theory,the new model enhances organizational cooperation and communication.By Motivator-Hygiene Theory,the model has both its positive and negative aspects.


Evaluation of toughening behaviour of the tetragonal phase of zirconia can be made with Raman spectroscopy, which is a useful method to define a correlation model between toughness and transformability. Raman analysis is based on the quantitative mapping of zirconia phases (tetragonal, monoclinic) around Vickers indentations and along cracks which yield indications about transformability of the tetragonal phase. On the basis of these considerations, zirconia-alumina composite were characterised following this procedure: first of all, indentation data were analysed with the aim of defining crack type (median crack or Palmqvist) in order to choose the right equation to calculate KIc. After this, Raman analysis were performed around Vickers indentation to determine the Transformation Zone Size (TZS) and volumetric fraction of monoclinic phase (Vf). These parameters were correlated to toughness and the results were compared to data reported in literature.


Objective
To investigate the status of the readiness for hospital discharge and pain degree in inpatients with thoracolumbar osteoporotic fractures, and the correlation between them.

Methods
A cross-sectional analysis of survey data from a sample of 252 patients with thoracolumbar osteoporotic fractures was conducted in a grade A tertiary hospital in Xi′an from January 1st, 2016 to June 30th, 2016. The status of the readiness for hospital discharge and pain level were investigated through the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) respectively. Pearson correlation coefficient method was used to detect the correlation between the two target factors.

Results
The average score of readiness for hospital discharge was 7.71±1.55. The mean NRS score decreased from 7.8±0.8 at baseline to 2.7±0.6 before discharge. The scores of each dimensions of readiness for hospital discharge from high to low were expected support, personal status, and coping capacity. There was a negative correlation between discharge readiness and pain degree in patients with thoracolumbar osteoporotic fractures (r = -0.537, P<0.05).

Conclusions
The status of the readiness for hospital discharge among the patients with thoracolumbar osteoporotic fractures is in a medium to high level before discharge. The pain degree is significantly decreased to a lower level. There is a negative correlation between the readiness for hospital discharge and the pain degree.

Key words:
Thoracolumbar; Osteoporotic fracture; The readiness for hospital discharge; Pain


Continuous and trouble-free operation of electrical motors is an essential part of modern power and production plants. Faults and failures of electrical machinery may cause remarkable economical losses but also highly dangerous situations. In the industry, model-based methods are still most common choice for condition monitoring of electrical machinery, but during last decade also different kinds Artificial Intelligence (AI) based methods have established a firm position. Support Vector Machine (SVM) is a novel machine learning method introduced in early 90's. It has been successfully applied to numerous classification and pattern recognition problems, and in many applications, SVM has shown to have better generalisation properties than traditional classifiers. Also, efficiency of SVM based classification does not depend on the number of features of classified entities, which makes it attractive for fault diagnostics applications. In this thesis, a SVM based fault classification scheme is designed for electrical machines. SVM is used to classify power spectrum estimates of different variables of the motor based on the motor condition. Also the fusion of outputs of 2-class SVM's to find the global classification decision is studied, and a so-called mixture matrix approach is found to be the most suitable method. Further result is that there exist better fault indicators than stator line current, which is currently widely used in fault diagnostics of electrical machines.


In this paper, we propose a method of applying the method of lines, which has been developed in detail for the Dirichlet problem, in solving two-dimensional problems of hydrodynamics. The advantage of the method is to exclude the input of fictitious time in solving the equations of the current and pressure function, since finite-difference equations with respect to two Cartesian coordinates are solved simultaneously and accurately. The structure of the main tridiagonal matrices of the transition to finite difference equations remains the same for the case of using separate equations of the stream function, vorticity, and pressure. For the exact solution of finitedifference equations, the eigenvalues and vectors of the basic transition matrix are attracted, the values of the elements of which are calculated only once.


Column-like dynamically created plasma structures and their interaction with RF signals are studied for various scientific and industrial applications, including discharge driven plasma jet sources. In such devices a microwave energy propagates along the jet as a surface wave, which is accompanied by radiative losses. The similar phenomenon is used in a so-called "plasma antenna" devices based on discharge tubes. Besides that, plasma jets are studied for Plasma-Assisted Combustion in scramjet engines. For the same purpose a sub-critical and other RF discharges were suggested. The excited species and radicals influence the results for both types of techniques. However, the joint action of both RF energy supply and plasma jets on combustion in scramjets was not evaluated yet. A phenomenon of RF discharge propagation far from the feeding point along the combustion zone was already described, while the spatial distribution of electromagnetic energy and its influence on combustion efficiency are still unclear. Development of RF plasma torch for the Plasma-Assisted Combustion is reasonable in the case of high coupling efficiency, which depends on resonance phenomena and, thus, on geometrical parameters of the non-mixed part of the plasma jet in the flow. The signal reflection may damage RF power source, while the radiation losses may be of uncertain effect. This problem was studied experimentally using the physical model. The energy coupling and impedance mismatch were evaluated for various plasma column dimensions. The results are discussed.


The self-stratification epoxy-organo coatings are prepared by use of incompatible epoxy and organo silicane.The coatings are then characterized by visual inspection, SEM-EDAX and FTIR-ATR.


The idea of unleashing coal draglines and continuous mining on the U.S. countryside is an unsettling one to many conservationists. Generally, the coal industry has only done as much as the laws have required it to do — and less if the laws are not strictly enforced. Many fear the Western states may become the new Appalachia. Roughly half the country's coal reserves are in the West, but today the region supplies only about 10% of the nation's coal. Coal producers anticipate a fourfold increase in Western production by 1985. The transition of parts of northeastern Wyoming from a sparcely populated agricultural area to an intensely strip mined area, for example, poses major social and environmental problems. The best way to minimize the impact of future coal development is to enact strong federal coal surface mining legislation and insist on strong enforcement. Federal strip mining legislation has passed the House and Senate and is now in conference committee.


Understanding the origin of the high activity of Na2O promotion on the χ-Fe5C2(2 0 0) surface during CO2 hydrogenation is imperative. In this work, we revealed how Na2O promoted the catalytic performance of χ-Fe5C2 during CO2 hydrogenation. Detailed analyses confirmed that Na2O addition facilitated the adsorption of CO2 and promoted the desorption of product (C2H4). Electronic structure calculations suggested that the electron donating ability of Na could enhance the dissociation of CO2, which is essential for producing hydrocarbons from CO2.


Sea surface roughness derived from dimensional analysis bears a relation to wave age and swell.The paper explored two scalings parameterization schemes' sensitivity to wave age and wave steepness,concluded that the errors estimated from wave age scaling are lower from wave steepness scaling.Based on data of the six air-sea interaction experiments under different water depth,fetch and sea state conditions,we distinguished between two classes of sea state: pure wind sea or wind sea-dominant and swell-dominant,tested the suitability of the wave age and wave steepness scalings schemes under different experiments.It be found that wave age scaling have higher suitability than wave steepness scaling under variedly sea state conditions.For pure wind sea or wind sea-dominant cases,the calculated results based on PS07 and DGHQ03 are close to those given by the eddy correlation method,GW06 scheme secondly,O02 calculations are overestimated markedly.For swell-dominated sea cases the calculated results based on the two sea-state scalings are all underestimated.The errors of sea roughness based on O02 scheme is the least,the TY01 scheme lead to the maximum errors.


Introduction Cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) causes hemodilution and coagulation factor consumption. The administration of unfractionated heparin accelerates thrombin inactivation and leads to elevated consumption of antithrombin (AT). The heparin-mediated release of tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) from the vessel wall reduces prothrombin activation. CPB surgery thus affects both pro- and anticoagulant processes, which are reflected in changes in a patient9s thrombin generation potential. In this study we investigated how cardiac surgery changes thrombin generation (TG), prothrombin conversion and thrombin inactivation. In addition, we studied the consequences of these changes in pro- and anticoagulant processes for transfusion management using in silico experimentation. Methods Thirty patients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB were included and samples were collected before and after surgery and protamine administration. AT and prothrombin levels were determined and TG was measured at 5 pM tissue factor by calibrated automated thrombinography. Prothrombin conversion and thrombin inactivation were quantified from each TG curve. The effect of transfusion of prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) was simulated by an in silico increase of prothrombin conversion. The effect of PCC administration in combination with AT was modeled as an increase of prothrombin conversion and antithrombin levels. The effect of in silico transfusion of PCC on coagulation was quantified by TG parameters. Results CPB surgery causes a reduction of plasma coagulation factor levels: AT (47%, p We modeled the effect of the transfusion of prothrombin complex concentrate with or without added antithrombin on TG. If the prothrombin conversion capacity was increased to pre-surgery levels in the absence of antithrombin, TG peak height increases to 454 ± 72 nM (figure A). A slight increase of prothrombin conversion (up to 83% of the pre-surgery level) brings TG peak height into the normal range (386±61 nM), but the ETP remains elevated (3278 ± 1141 nM). The optimal way to restore thrombin generation is the simultaneous infusion of PCC and antithrombin. Our in silico experiments indicate that this restores both the peak height (362 ± 69 nM) and the ETP (1601 ± 369 nM∙min) to the pre-surgery level (figure B). Conclusions Cardiac surgery with CPB causes the hemostatic balance to shift toward bleeding due to a reduction of prothrombin conversion. This is only partially compensated by a reduction of thrombin inactivation, resulting in reduced TG after surgery. Post-surgery bleeding can be (and often is) remedied by the transfusion of PCC. However, full restoration of the prothrombin conversion capacity results in a TG profile that predicts a prothrombotic state, as an ETP value in the highest quartile is associated with a 5 times elevated thrombosis risk according to Winckers et al. Equilibrated restoration of the hemostatic capacity asks for the simultaneous supplementation of both pro- and anticoagulant factors, i.e. PCC containing AT or fresh frozen plasma. Disclosures Kremers:Synapse bv: Employment. Bloemen:Synapse bv: Employment. De Laat:Synapse bv: Employment. Wagenvoord:Synapse bv: Employment. Al Dieri:Synapse bv: Employment. Hemker:Synapse bv: Employment.


This project describes the development of an application for Internet Of Things – IoT, which
involves the development of a prototype module which has as purpose the measurement of the
electric current that flows to a certain equipment which is connected in the electric network by
means of such module. From the value of this current one can then calculate, approximately,the
power consumed. This value is then sent to a database consisting of Docs Spreadsheets. With
the module it is still possible to carry out the remote of one or more equipment whose connection
to the electrical network it inter- mediates. This activation can be done by access to computers or
by an application developed through the platform for smartphones MQTT Dash. This module
is based on the functionalities of the microcontroller ESP8266 which is present in integrated
circuit hardware NodeMCU that was used. The current measurement will be made using the
sensor ACS712 and the drive via a relay module. After the implementation of the module its
use achieved the expected results with the measurement of the electric energy consumed and
the remote control of the equipment connected to it. Such results make itThese results make
possible their use in several future works that are interested in the activation and monitoring of
equipments with Wifi network.


The crawler technique adopts as same obtaining technique as common URL instead of telling the difference between webpage URL and seed file URL when the traditional crawler technique crawling the seed file, so it cannot meet the requirement of active monitoring model both in efficiency and accuracy. The traditional SVM classification algorithm was improved as per the requirement of active monitoring model: classified URL by powered least squares support vector machine, and directly obtained the seed file URL by file-download technique as per the classified result. The contents of improved classification algorithm are summarized as follows: collecting the sample information, discretizing and normalizing its feature vector and obtaining it; then obtaining the key parameter of the algorithm by learning it; finally classifying URL. As the test indicates, this improved algorithm can meet the requirement of active monitoring model.


The purpose of this study was to investigate the contributions made by Collective Action Groups (CAGs) operating in Makindu sub-county in improving the socio-economic wellbeing of the community. Stratified random sampling was used to select 204 households that were members of CAGs. A structured interview schedule with 28 items on a seven point Likert scale was used to interview household heads. An index of socio-economic wellbeing (SEWB) with an internal consistency of Cronbach's alpha .854 was created from the perceptions of the respondents. The data was analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study revealed that: there were 159 CAGs involved in nine different activities (financial, work sharing, training, marketing of produce, farm implements, burial activities, building materials health care and peace initiatives) with an average of 25 members who were mainly females (81 %) and married (69.6 %). A high contribution of the CAGs to the SEWB was found to exist (mean 5.41 on a scale of 1-7) and the results were statistically (p=.01) significant. The study concluded that CAGs were useful in enhancing the SEWB of the agropastoral communities in Makindu sub-county and recommended that they be used in development of the communities.


Lorenz (1963) provided the foundation of chaos theory and inspired a fundamental reappraisal of systems' nonlinearity in many disciplines, including physical geography. I will provide a brief overview of chaos in nonlinear systems as documented in Lorenz (1963), including the major tenants of chaos theory, followed by a discussion of the effects of chaos theory within meteorology and climate sciences, geomorphology, and ecology and biogeography. In general, Lorenz (1963) provided the intellectual framework for reconsidering the predictability of many physical systems.


The curve browse modules based on TeeChart controls in the mine safety monitoring system are designed, in which the design mode separates the functions from display for reference, and the curve display and curve functions are packaged separately into the different COM controls. So the common various analysis functions are obtained.


Ethylene (C2H4) is a simple alkene of high commercial value due to multitude of large-scale uses in plastic industry, and as a potential fuel for spark-ignition piston engines. Currently ethylene is derived entirely from non-renewable sources, but it can also be produced directly from atmospheric CO2 via microbial biosynthesis in photosynthetic cyanobacterial hosts by the expression of ethylene forming enzyme (efe) from Pseudomonas syringae. One of the obstacles encountered in expression system design and optimization has been the instability of the efe gene in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and Synechoccocus elongatus PCC 7942, which has previously been overcome by sequence optimization and altered expression strategies. This study focuses on understanding ethylene expression system stability in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6603, and demonstrates that gene optimization and removal of sequence elements implicated with gene inactivation are not essential for sustained production. The results suggest that the observed loss of production efficiency is more likely associated with other factors such as the chromosomal integration site or homologous sequence elements within autonomously replicating expression plasmids, which are central considerations in the development of any future production platforms.


This paper mainly analyzd the foundation knowledge of the Finite Element Mesh(FEM)Superposition Method and the mathematical model is derived by considering the global and local area of theproblem.Finally the stress concentration of the plate with circle holes are analyzed and compared with originalfinite element analysis results.It shows that the FEM superposition method has its application merits for themulti-scale analysis in engineering.


Abstract The efficacy of several organic acids against growth of molds typically found in animal feed was determined. A plate assay was used in which paper disks soaked in a spore solution were placed on the surface of agar plates containing increasing concentrations of the respective organic acid. Mold growth radiated from the disks, and the radius was considered indicative of the degree of inhibition as compared to a control. The efficacy of each of the organic acids against the various molds varied substantially. Valeric acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid displayed the highest efficacy against all molds with the effective concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 0.25%. Other acids, including acetic acid, lactic acid, and benzoic acid, required concentrations of 10 lb/ton or more for effective mold inhibition. Susceptibility of mold to inhibition by organic acids was in the order Fusarium spp. > Aspergillus spp. > Penicillium spp., with Fusarium spp. being the most susceptible mold.


Regression testing is a necessary maintenance activity in the software industry where modified software programs are revalidated to make sure that changes do not adversely affect their behavior. Test case prioritization (TCP) is one of the most effective methods in regression testing whereby test cases are rescheduled in an appropriate order for execution to increase test effectiveness in meeting some performance goals such as increasing the rate of fault detection. This paper explores efforts that have been carried out in relation to TCP frameworks. Through the review of related literature, ten existing frameworks were identified, classified and reviewed whereby two are Bayesian network-based, five are multi-objective, while the rest are varied in terms of aspects and purposes. Accordingly, this study analyzes those frameworks based on their proposed year, TCP factors, number of test cases used, evaluations metric and criteria as well as experimental subjects. The results showed that the stated frameworks are not integrated with nature-inspired algorithms as enhancing optimization techniques while several others were insufficiently evaluated according to stated evaluation criteria and metrics for the effective and practical testing process. There is also a scarcity of frameworks that focus on regression test efficiency. This study indicates the need for further research into the topic to enhance TCP frameworks that focus on several directions for practical considerations in this field such as evaluation issues, specific knowledge dependency, and objective deviation. At the end of this study, several future directions such as nature-inspired algorithms assistance are proposed, and a number of limitations are identified and highlighted.


I once wrote a short story, The Phone Call. In it, a female partner of great capability at a major New York City law firm finally breaks through yet another professional glass ceiling by receiving a request that she handle a major transaction for an "important" new client, finally generating her own client snaring opportunity after spending her entire career undertaking work for the clients of others. Our heroine stands on the threshold of becoming a rainmaker when she learns, to her dismay, that another partner, this one male, though not yet contacted, expects to be retained by the adverse party to the proposed hostile transaction. Because of that anticipated business, he demands the firm turn away the new representation. Needless to say my protagonist is crushed, and in response to her disappointment, the management committee of the firm proposes that they represent both sides to the matter. That way "each [client] will get the best representation money can buy," one of the lawyers rationalizes the proposed solution. One team was to be on the forty-third floor of the building, and the other on the forty-sixth floor. "And since we're all in the same building, they'll be no need for


We have been developing a debris-free laser plasma light source with a gas-puff target system whose nozzle is driven by a piezoelectric crystal membrane. The gas-puff target system can utilize gases such as CO2, O2 or some gas mixture according to different experiments. Therefore, in comparison with soft X-ray source using a metal target, after continuously several-hour laser interaction with gas from the gas-puff target system, no evidences show that the light source can produce debris. The debris-free soft X-ray source is prepared for soft X-ray projection lithography research at State Key Laboratory of Applied Optics. Strong emission from CO2, O2 and Kr plasma is observed.


The panelists will provide a concise overview describing the role of the Standard Document Markup Metalanguage in modern integrated, automated publication processing systems. The Metalanguage is being developed concurrently within the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Task Group X3J6.1 and the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) Working Group TC97/SC/18/WG8. The main thrust of the Metalanguage is to allow documents to be created by an author in a form which allows interchange across a broad range of dissimilar processing systems or devices. All types of documents may be handled, including office documents, books and journals, and technical documentation. These documents may be generated in any sector—academic, commercial, governmental, or industrial.
 The rationale for the basic premise of the Standard Document Markup Metalanguage—separation of form and content—will be established. The application of the logical (editorial) structure of a document will be shown. Structure designation is accomplished with explicit, unambiguous, and simple markup codes for each editorial element included in a given document. The process by which the generation of multiple, different output product forms (e.g., photocomposed pages, databases, online documentation, videotex, etc.) from the same coded source file will be described.
 The panelists will also discuss how the standard may be implemented in various environments.


I. THE MEANING OF INJURY AND COMPENSATION ........... 1435 II. BASIC DAMAGE FORMULAS ............................... 1438 A. Substitute-Price ....................................... 1439 B. Lost-Surplus .......................................... 1439 C. Opportunity-Cost ...................................... 1440 D. Out-of-Pocket-Cost .................................... 1442 E. Diminished-Value ..................................... 1442 F Add-Ons and Offsets .................................. 1442 III. COMPENSATORY DAMAGES AND MARKET STRUCTURE .... 1444 A. Perfectly Competitive Markets ......................... 1445 L The Traditional Model of Business Conduct in Perfectly Competitive Markets ..................... 1445 2. The Statistical-Planning Model of Business Conduct in Perfectly Competitive Markets ................... 1449 B. Imperfectly Competitive Markets ....................... 1451 1. The Traditional Model of Business Conduct in Imperfectly Competitive Markets ................... 1451 2. The Fishing Model of Business Conduct in Imperfectly Competitive Markets ................... 1455 IV. WHAT MEASURE OF DAMAGES SHOULD THE LAW PREFER? ..... .................................... .. 1459 A. The General Case ..................................... 1459 1. Performance ...................................... 1462 2. Precaution ........................................ 1464 3. Reliance .......................................... 1465


There will be described Pyridinylisoxazole of formula (I) or salts thereof. In this general formula (I), Q one of the radicals Q1, Q2 or Q3; R


Objective: To detect the thymidine phosphorytase ( dThdPase ) level in 6 colorectal carcinoma cell lines, and evaluate the anticancer effect of 5'-deoxy-5-Fluorouridine (5'-DFUR) , and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on those cells. Methods; dThdPase level was measured quantitatively by ELISA on 6 colorectal carcinoma cell lines LS174T, Clone A, Colo320, CX-1, Lovo, and MIPI01. Then the drug sensitivity of each colorectal carcinoma cell to 5'-DFUR and 5-FU was estimated. Firstly, 2 × 103 cells were seeded into each well of 96-well plate and incubated at 37 ℃ for 24 hours, then 5'-DFUR or 5-FU was added at a 2-fold-serial dilution (77 μmol/L to 0. 3/μmol/L in 5-FU and 1600 μmol/L to 3. 1 μmol/L in 5'-DFUR. After incubation for 96 hours, MTT assay was performed, and the 50% Inhibition Concentration ( IC50 ) for each drug was calculated with the linear regression of logarithmic transformation. Results; 0. 5 unit/mg and 8. 9 unit/mg of dThdPase level were detected in LS174T and Lovo respectively, but no dThdPase protein was detected in other 4 colorectal carcinoma cell lines. The IC50 of 5-FU on 6 colorectal carcinoma cell ranged from 1.52 ~ 13.68 μmol/L, while that of 5'-DFUR were 68.71 ~528.15 μmol/ L, 15 to 94 times higher than those of 5-FU (P 0. 0001). Conclusion; There was little dThdPase expression in 6 colorectal carcinoma cell lines tested. The IC50 of 5'-DFUR in each of colorectal carcinoma cell was higher than 5-FU in same cells significantly (P 0.0001 ).


An introductory course in Management Information Systems is required of undergraduate business majors. A great deal of material needs to be covered in this course. Use of the usual lecture format leads to adequate coverage of the material but fails to actively engage the students in a manner that is conducive to better understanding of concepts, principles and issues. The long lecture format usually fails to arouse enthusiasm in the students about the many potential applications of information systems for business problem solving. They generally fail to ensure that students would develop a strong interest in the subject matter or develop an appreciation about the important managerial concerns with information systems. In this article, we discuss the use of in-class mini case analysis to actively engage the students in their own learning, help them discover principles that are important in the context of management of information systems and be responsible about their own learning. Some of the benefits of use of in-class mini cases included improved attendance, higher motivation, greater involvement in learning, better retention of important principles and lower monotony in lectures. Analysis of student evaluation data suggests that use of mini case analysis significantly increases the effectiveness of class sessions.


Excess mortality is defined as an increase in all-cause mortality over expected mortality (historical baseline for previous years). In the context of COVID-19, excess mortality may reflect the overall impact of the pandemic on mortality, including not only the number of confirmed deaths from COVID-19, but also deaths from COVID-19 when they were not correctly diagnosed and reported, and deaths from other diseases due to pandemic-related causes. The purpose of the study: to assess the indicators of excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). For the analysis, data from the Federal State Statistics Service for 2015-2022 were used. For 2 years of the spread of a new coronavirus infection in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), 19556 people died. 7.8% of deaths in 2020 and 21.5% in 2021 were related to COVID-19. The number of all deaths was 22% and 44% respectively higher than the expected number of deaths. The proportion of excess deaths in 2020 was 19% of all deaths, in 2021 - 31%. Of the excess deaths, 42% and 69%, respectively, were related to COVID-19. The excess mortality rate reached 333 per 100,000 population in 2021. The high correlation coefficients (0.94-0.95) between COVID-19-related deaths and additional deaths suggest that excess deaths during the period 2020-2021 will largely be due to the spread of COVID-19. The decline in mortality underreporting in 2021 against the background of an increase in excess mortality reflects improved diagnosis and correct identification of the causes of death. Research into the causes of excess mortality is needed to assess the impact of the pandemic and other factors on various aspects of mortality in the population.


The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors that influence Indonesia's nutmeg exports to Vietnam, with the variables of exchange rates, international prices, and Vietnam's gross domestic product. The data analysis method used is descriptive and quantitative methods, the data analysis tool used is the OLS (Ordinary Least Square) method. Includes annual data for 38 years, with secondary data sourced from the Directorate General of Plantations, Bank Indonesia, and the World Bank as research objects. The data analysis technique is multiple linear regression, partial hypothesis testing using the t-test, and simultaneously using the F-test with a significant level of 5%. Based on the results, it can be concluded that partially the exchange rate (NT) has a positive and significant effect on export volume (VE); international price (HI) has a negative and significant effect on export volume (VE), and Vietnam's gross domestic product (GDP) has a positive and significant impact on the export volume (VE) of Indonesian nutmeg.
Keywords: Export volume, Exchange rate, International price, Gross domestic product.


To solve the problem of secure location service, this paper proposes a range-free secure localization protocol—ServLoc localization protocol. By means of authenticating messages, hidden actors passively receiving localization requests and filtering false location reports, etc, ServLoc localization protocol can defend location attacks, keep location in privacy and locate sensor node in a distributive way. In addition, this paper also proposes a voting-based location verification scheme—ServLoc verification protocol and ways to defend actor attacks. The analysis illustrates that ServLoc verification protocol can trade off the security and effective localization problem of WSAN. ServLoc scheme can also effectively provide secure location service, even if the WSANs suffer location attacks.


Shephard and Todd (5) give generators for the finite primitive irreducible groups generated by two unitary reflections in U2. It is the purpose of the present paper to give generating reflections, and defining relations in terms of these reflections, for the seven such groups requiring three generating reflections, that is, for their nos. 7, 11, 12, 13, 15, 19, 22. The reflections are chosen whenever possible so that their product has the property suggested by Theorem 5.4 of (5). That is, except for no. 15, the period of the product of the three generating reflections is h = m2 + 1, and the characteristic roots of this product are 2πim1/h and 2πim2/h, where m1 and m2 are the "exponents" (5, p. 282) of the group. The reason for the impossibility of such a choice for no. 15 is given in § 4. In § 5 the homomorphisms between these groups and certain groups of motions in elliptic 3-space are determined.


6 ABSTRACT IN DANISH 7IN DANISH 7 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND WORD USAGE 8 INTRODUCTION 10 The Context of the Advanced Science Teacher Education 10 ASTE at a glance 10 The original ASTE 12 The reformulated ASTE 15 Situating the research project 18 Theoretical framework 21 Research Objectives 26 Overview of papers 27 Didactic Codetermination in the creation of an integrated Math and Science Teacher education: The Case of mathematics and geography 27 A layered model of didactic codetermination in science teacher education Institutional conditions and constraints when planning multidisciplinary teaching of energy topics 28 The emergence and institutional co-determination of sustainability as a teaching topic in interdisciplinary science teacher education 28 Lesson study in prospective mathematics teacher education: Didactic and paradidactic technology in the post lesson reflection. 29 Didactic transposition of mathematics and biology into a course for pre-service teachers: A case study of 'Health risk or Chance?' 29 The direction and autonomy of interdisciplinary study and research paths in teacher education 29 Conclusions and perspectives for further research 30 DIDACTIC CODETERMINATION IN THE CREATION OF AN INTEGRATED MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHER EDUCATION: THE CASE OF MATHEMATICS AND GEOGRAPHY 34


††† Summary We describe a new design for authorization in operating systems. In this design two additional units are introduced, Certificate Authority which provide certificates for authorization for all participants and Access Controller which is responsible for making access decisions, and we describe the implementation of our design and its performance in the context of Singularity operating system.


A Research Project Submitted to The School of Business in Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for The Award of Degree of Master of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship Development of Kenyatta University. November, 2018.


The aim of the study is to prove the effect of career growth opportunities toward turnover intentions with organizational commitmen as an intervening variable. This reasearch is based on social exchange theory and organizational justice. Based on social exchange theory, every junior auditors who received the benefits of the company as an effective training, good corporate image would affect the career growth of junior auditors and then public accounting firm would be rewarded with a junior auditor's organisational commitment. Organizational justice theory determined as the basis of the effect of the relationship between perceived discrimination on organizational commitment and influenced relationship between perceived discrimination toward junior auditor turnover intentions. The researcher used primary data in the form of a questionnaire to examine this issues. Questionnaires were distributed directly to junior audiors who worked on public accounting firm in Semarang City. Out of 100 questionnaire has been distributed, but only 53 questionnaires that can be used. This reasearch used Structural Equation Model SEM approach with PLS as a software to help reasercher analysed the data. This research is useful for public accounting firm's managers to handle the problems of junior auditors' turnover intentions. The results of this study shows that the variable antesenden: training effectiveness and organizational prestige positively related to career growth opportunities. Further, career growth opportunities positively related to commitment between a junior auditor with KAP too. However, organizational commitment negatevively affects turnover intentions. Meanwhile the perceived discrimination negatively affects organisational commitment. Then perceived discrimination positively relatedt o turnover intentions from junior auditors.


Two professors of dogmatic theology who were colleagues at the Faculty of theology of the Institut catholique de Paris, have just published, quite independently of each other, an essay on Christology. If these works resemble each other in that they are concerned with the thought of Christ today and the modern separation between "Jesus" and the "Christ", they differ on a number of points. (...)


In a study of isomorphic behavior, it was found that the melting point—composition curve of the copolyamides prepared from caprolactam and p-aminomethylcyclohexylcarboxylic acid was sigmoidal, indicating that the methylcyclohexyl group was interchangeable in the crystal lattice with aliphatic carbon atoms of ω-aminocaproic acid. On the other hand, the benzyl group in the copolymers of caprolactam and p-aminomethylbenzoic acid did not interchange as well, and only partial isomorphism occurred. The analogous meta derivatives, m-aminomethylcyclohexylcarboxylic acid and m-aminomethylbenzoic acid, did not fulfill the spatial requirements of caprolactam. Although V-shaped melting point—composition curves resulted, the disturbance in the crystal network was more severe with the m-phenyl derivative than with the m-cyclohexyl derivative.


In this paper, a kind of permanent magnet (PM) suspension active mass drive mechanism is proposed, and its structure is designed. It has the advantages of non-contact, almost zero friction, small volume, and so on. Aiming at the active driving mass mechanism of PM suspension, the unidirectional PM suspension system and bi-directional PM suspension system are designed respectively, and their analytical models are established. By analyzing and calculating the magnetic force of the unidirectional and bi-directional PM suspension system, the support coefficient of the suspension system is deduced. After theoretical analysis, the structure is simulated and verified by ANSYS MAXWELL 3D in order to determine the correctness of the analytical calculation of the model. Finally, a test device is made and experiments are carried out in the constant temperature laboratory. The experimental results show that the Nd-Fe-B PMs used in the unidirectional suspension system can provide a maximum force of 260 N, which verify the feasibility of the PM suspension active mass drive system.


We present terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopy (TDS) as a versatile tool for applications in non-destructive testing. Due to fiber-coupled THz systems, which exploit the advantages of mature telecommunication technology, THz- TDS is a promising tool for industrial process control. As an example, we demonstrate thickness measurements on multilayered plastic pipes by combining THz reflection measurements with a transfer matrix method for data evaluation. Furthermore, we show the potential of THz-TDS for time resolved 2D imaging. For this, we combine a photoconductive near-field probe with a commercially available fiber-coupled THz TDS system. Due to the coherent measurement scheme, which provides amplitude and phase information at each sampling point, in combination with an acquisition rate of 40 pulse traces per second, dynamic processes on the picosecond timescale can be monitored with unprecedented resolution. Exemplarily, we visualize the propagation of a THz-wave on the surface a of photoconductive THz emitter with a lateral resolution of 20 μm and sub-picosecond temporal resolution.


Malacca and Singapore straits are among the world's most important SLOC (Sea Lines of Communication) and SLOT (Sea Lines of Trade) which categorized as armed robbery prone areas. Based on UNCLOS art. 43, littoral states and user states should cooperate to overcome this issue. On the other hand, they have different interests in Malacca and Singapore straits. This research discuss the different interest between littoral states and user states and how it effects the dynamic cooperation on combating armed robbery against ship in Malacca and Singapore Straits from 2010 to 2014. This study found that the different interest between those countries effected the cooperation on combating armed robbery. Furthermore, it also influence the main purpose and activities of the cooperation. The dynamic cooperation between littoral states and user states emerges on multilateral, trilateral, and bilateral cooperation. This research is carried out by using descriptiveanalysis and qualitative method. This study incorporates the framework of international cooperation theory to observe the dynamic cooperation as the conceptual basis of the research.


In this paper, the presence and extent of part-time employment in the Turkish labour market is examined. We attempt to provide the theoretical explanations of part-time work -including the theories in terms of both demand and supply - observed in many empirical studies. It is found that although, part-time work is a recent phenomena in Turkey it has started to grow after the 1990s and is assumed to increase in the future. In addition, part-time employment is largely dominated by females in Turkey as in most of the other countries. We suggest that although part-time employment has some drawbacks in the labour market, in fact it has some advantages as well; it stimulates employment, stimulates flexibility in companies, and helps the combination of paid and unpaid work, training, leisure, and civic activities. Therefore, if equal treatment of full-timers and part-timers would be established in the law and if it is freely chosen by workers it seems a good option for people who do not want to work full-time and thus it is worth encouraging.


The assessment of welding quality in battery shell production is a crucial aspect of battery production. Battery surface reconstruction can inspect the quality of the weld instead of relying on human inspection. This paper proposes a defect detection method in the small field of view based on 2D pre-processing and an improved-region-growth method. A novel approximation-based, high-precision, and simple operation method for line structure optical plane calibration under small field of view is presented, with a measurement error within 0.01 mm. By pre-processing the line scan 2D images, the defect location distribution is obtained, and then the images near the abnormal points are reconstructed in third dimensional (3D). The proposed method enables the extraction of the morphology, size, and other information of the defects with high accuracy. The results of various defect detection experiments demonstrate the stable and reliable performance of the system. The experimental results of defect recognition rate are over 95.3% for defects above 0.5 mm in diameter, and the inspection time is less than 1/2 of the direct 3D defect inspection. Overall, this method has proven to be highly effective in the assessment of welding quality in new energy battery production.


Abstract Titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin layers have been deposited on glass substrates using radio frequency magnetron sputtering technique. The photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 thin layers has been investigated by a methylene blue discolouration test and reveals that films with an anatase structure present the highest performance. Bactericidal activity of the anatase-phase TiO2 layer against food-borne bacteria has then been tested by enumeration of the adherent cells, after adhesion and a subsequent UVA illumination. A decrease of the adherent bacteria number equal to −1.2, −2.6 and −2.3 log is reached for Y. enterocolitica, L. monocytogenes and P. fragi, respectively. SEM observations exhibit bacterial cells with damaged walls for all bacteria. Applied on materials present in the food plants, these TiO2 thin layers may be an effective way for the hygienic conception of the equipment to reduce the biofilm formation and thus, to ensure food safety.


In this paper, we investigate the average capacity and its scaling law of the user scheduling for the multiuser MIMO systems exploiting multiuser and antenna diversities. We show that the limiting distribution of maximum SNR is of the Gumbel-type and average capacity scaling law follows log log k form. We also consider the effect of scheduling delay on the performance of scheduling scheme. Then, we propose two limited feedback scheduling and obtain their average capacity and show that they match the simulation results very well. In the first approach, the base station (BS) always collects feedback from the user with the best channel condition. We derive the normalized feedback load as well as the threshold value that minimizes it. The second approach employs quantization for each user, so that few bits of SNR are sent to the BS. We show that even with 1-bit quantization, the proposed quantized feedback scheduling can exploit multiuser diversity at the expense of trivial decrease of average capacity.


Education is the key to the success of a nation. The history of the world is a witness to the fact. In the current times, higher education has attained a central role in the process of progress and prosperity. Research is the essence of higher education, and is being given prime importance all over the world. All the prosperous nations of the world have developed a 'research culture' in their academic institutions. Pakistan is far behind in research and up till now has not been successful in developing an inspiring research culture in Pakistan. Pakistan's education system needs to develop a healthy research atmosphere for its successful survival in the current era of research and technology.


amounts and several DNA sources. Variant DNA amounts ranging from 9 to 640 ng of DNA template from either blood or serum gave reproducible genotyping results. The latter indicates the high flexibility of the method and allows for the omission of DNA quantification before genotyping. We conclude that this assay is a valuable method that allows simple and rapid high-throughput genotyping in the clinical laboratory.


The Noorabad ophiolitic complex in western Iran is part of the high Zagros situated between the the Zagros folded belt and Sanandaj-Sirjan zones. This ophiolite is an important part of Kermanshah ophiolite .High Zagros has three separate sub-units, which consist of the Biston limestone ,the ophiolite complex , and the Bakhtaran radiolarite. The rocks of this ophiolitic complex consist of bottom to top, serpentinized peridotites, layered gabbros,isotropic gabbros,minor plagiogranit, sheeted dike complex, basalt, andesite and sedimentary rocks. The petrographic studies show that the primary minerals (olivine, plagioclase ,pyroxene and metallic minerals ) of rocks of this ophiolitic complex altered to secondary minerals(serpentine,amphibol,chlorite,sericite and Fe-Oxide). Also, mineralization in rocks consists of chalcopyrite, burnit, malachite ,azurite and iron minerals. Chemical analysis of some lithogeochemical samples from the some area shows noticeable assays for elements such as Mn,Ti and Cu.The majority of anomalous areas are intimately associated with alteration zones in the region.The results of chemical analysis rocks of this ophiolite show that this rocks have geochemical anomalies for Cr, Ni , Mn,Ti,Cu and Ag.


Aim:  That geriatric evaluation and management (GEM) is associated with better quality of care for elderly patients has been reported by previous studies, but evidence supporting that GEM can reduce the burden of morbidity (BOM) was lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of outpatient GEM on reducing BOM and medical utilization in Taiwan.


The author analyzes the control structure of open CNC (Computer Number Control) system and work principle of CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture), and puts forward a open CNC system structure based on CORBA, then divides the system into several components according to their function. The author uses TAO (The ACE ORB, a concrete realization for CORBA) for system components as Soft Bus. The author defines interface of system components by OMG (Object Management Group) IDL (Interface Definition Language), and compiles the IDL file through IDL compiler and transforms to concrete implementation language, then develops the function of the system components. At last the author designs an experiment to verify the interchangeability of the system.


This study aimed to compare the anti-stress effect of Guibitang with Ascorbic Acid on the guinea pigs in heat or forced swimming stress. the experimental animals were heated in hot room for 2 hours in a day during 7 days. Forced swimming stress was loaded by forcing guinea pigs to swim in a oval tub for 2 minutes in a day during 7days. And administered 1.0mg/100g of Ascorbic Acid or 86.0mg/100g of Guibitang extract formonce befor stress. 1. In brain, the contents of norepinephrine in group of the heat of forced swimming stress, in case administered Ascorbic Acid and in case administered Guibitang extract with Ascorbic Acid significantly decreases as compared with these in case administered non Ascoric Acid. 2. In brain, the contents of epinephrine in group of the forced swimming stress, in case administered Guibitang extract with Ascorbic Acid significantly decreases as compared with these in case administered non Ascorbic Acid. 3. In brain, the contents of dopamine in group of the heating stress, in case administered Guibitang extract with Ascorbic Acid significantly decreases as compared with these in case administered non Ascorbic Acid, and these in group of the forced swimming stress in case administered Ascorbic Acid and in case administered Guibitang extract without Ascorbic Acid and in case administered Guibitang extract with Ascorbic Acid significantly decreases as compared with these in case administered non Ascorbic Acid.


What is understanding? Let me tell you a storywhich helps me learn more about it.To tell you the truth, I'm a competitive girl whohas a strong self-respect. I don't like to be seenthrough by others, so if I had something unhappy, Iwould never tell others, even my parents and friends.


Apple slices of 10mm thickness were osmotically dehydrated with sucrose–water solutions of 0.25, 0.35, 0.45, 0.55 and 0.65 (w/w) at 30, 40 and 50 C. Experimental conditions were atmospheric osmotic dehydration and pulsed vacuum osmotic dehydration, where 180 mbar were applied for the first five minutes. Experimental data were fitted to a mathematical model to obtain the kinetic parameters (De, K, k1, and k2). The influence of operation variables on water, solute concentration and weight net gain is discussed. No significant effect of osmotic solution concentration on effective diffusivity was observed, except with 0.25 w/w concentration osmotic solutions at 30 and 40 C. Under these conditions, the diffusion mechanism seemed to be hindered by some active cell transport due to the mild experimental conditions (low temperature and/or concentration). Vacuum impregnation has a strong influence on weight and solute concentration changes throughout the treatment. The effect of temperature on mass transfer kinetics was well predicted by Arrhenius equation.


The judgment of Supreme Court of India in Vodafone Case gave strong signals to the world that Indian Judiciary is Supreme The Finance Bill 2012 introduced in Indian Parliament with retrospective amendments in Indian Income Tax Act to bring Tax net to Vodafone like deals. The arguments for against this attempt of legislature trigged the authors of this paper for this endeavor. retrospective amendment "retrospective" in relation to statutes etc. means "operative with regard to past time". The change effected does not say that it shall be operative with effect from any earlier. The "Retrospective", is used in more the senses than one. Ordinarily courts consider any statute as retrospective if it operates on cases or facts which came into existence prior to its commencement in the sense that if affects, even if for the future only, the character or consequence of transactions previously entered into or of other past conduct. "Thus, a statute is not retrospective merely because it affects existing rights; nor is it retrospective merely because a part of the requisite for its action is drawn from a time antecedent to its passing," Halsbury's Laws of England, 4th Edn., Vol. 44, p. 570, para. 921.


Studies on microwave surface scattering in The Netherlands have indicated the need of accurate radar systems for applications in remote sensing. A SLAR system with digital recording was developed and is now being used for several programs. This system was designed with special attention for speckle reduction and system accuracy. The digital data are processed in a computer with algorithms for geometric and radiometric corrections. In the future also aircraft position and attitude measurements will be used in these correction alogorithms (see ref.3). Examples of the results are shown.-from Author


A general survey is given of the history of the falling-film evaporator and its uses in the food industry. An explanation of the reasons for its production is given and is followed by details of operation and an examination advantages and disadvantages met in its use. Examples of specific design-types are discussed and illustrated.


Abstract – This paper attempts to discuss applied aspects of the Islamic understanding of genetics concepts that have just recently been experimentally confirmed. Focus is made on answering if inheritance is maternal or paternal as well as dominance and recessiveness modes of inheritance. Contrasting the findings of genetics and the Islamic Scripts in The Glorious Qur'an and Honorable Hadith. Interestingly, Islam instructs through The Glorious Qur'an and Honorable Sayings of the Prophet of Islam, Mohammad (PBUH) on modes of inheritance. Is the inheritance determined paternally or maternally? Interestingly, both seem to play a role. In addition, the modes of inheritance of dominance and recessiveness are discussed in some examples with important applications to society.  The scientific precedence of Islamic Scripts (e.g. 13 to 14 centuries) is evident and should inspire researchers to follow up in all domains of science. This is a manner in progressing in science and worshipping God as well: And so amongst men and crawling creatures and cattle, are they of various colours . Those truly fear Allah, among His Servants, who have knowledge: for Allah is Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving [1]


Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) and hyperostosis frontalis internus (HFI) are both characterised by abnormal bone growth, a late age of onset, and an association with obesity, acromegaly and various metabolic disorders. In this study we examined the co-occurrence of DISH and HFI in a sample of 406 black and whites aged 40–102 years old from the Terry Collection, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. Fisher's exact tests showed the co-occurrence was significant for females. DISH was present in 19.6% of black and 29.6% of white females with HFI versus 4.76% and 2.38% of control females without HFI. A similar frequency of DISH was seen in males with HFI (20% black and 27.3% white), but this was not significantly different from the male controls without HFI (16.8% and 18.9%). The risk of developing DISH for females with HFI was nearly 8.78 times greater (CI = 2.56–30.1) than for females without HFI. Logistic regression of the female data showed HFI was a significant determinant (p = 0.001) of the presence of DISH but age was not (p = 0.744). We suggest that similar metabolic, genetic and environmental risk factors in the pathogenesis of the two conditions explain the observed comorbitity. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) accumulation and photosynthesis traits were studied in two rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes maintained under control (22/30 °C - night/day) and at high night temperatures (HNT) (28/30 °C) conditions from heading to milk stage. Rice cultivars were Nagina22 - N22 and BRS Querencia - Quer, which are tolerant and sensitive to high temperatures, respectively. The source-sink flow related attributes were tested to understand the nature of NSC accumulation and translocation. Compared to N22, Quer maintained higher stem starch in glucose on seventh day after heading and at milk stage independently of imposed temperatures. However, the levels of starch in glucose were lower for N22 meanwhile their total sugar concentration (TSC) were higher at control and at HNT at milk stage as compared to Quer. N22 maintained unaltered the spikelet sterility and 1000-grain weight across environments showing a consistent trend with its stem NSC translocation. Both genotypes showed similarity in some gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence performance suggesting unaffected photosystem II photochemistry, linear electron flux, and CO2 assimilation. Beyond indicating that source functioning was not the limiting factor for low TSC and starch in glucose levels found in N22 on seventh day after heading stage. Moreover, our data suggest that the higher translocation capacity shown by N22 can be involved in their lower spikelet sterility and 1000-grain weight stability across the environments. These results indicate that selecting genotypes with higher capacity to stem NSC translocation at HNT could lead to more grain yield stability in future climate scenarios.


Abstract The strain fields in the vicinity of 90° domain boundaries in BaTiO3 ceramics and single crystals have been revealed by high resolution images and diffractograms. It is suggested that such strain fields may be relaxed in the thin ferroelectric films. The observation of 180° domain boundaries in bright field imaging is possible provided that the contrast due to the failure of Friedel's law is large enough. Reflection electron microscopy (REM) has been developed as a novel technique to study the domain boundaries in ferroelectrics. The contrasts of various ferroelectric domain boundaries are discussed. It is found that the contrast of 90° domain boundaries can arise from the differences of deviations from the Bragg condition, including those due to the lattice distortion around the domain boundaries. The contrast can be enhanced by surface resonance conditions.


Channel error calibration for circular array radar can be found in many areas, such as target detection and safety surveillance. Due to curved distribution of each array element, conventional channel error correction instruments for planar array radar is no longer suitable for curved array system. Currently, mechanical correction methods for curved arrays are generally sophisticated, expensive and low efficiency. This manuscript provides a new and convenient channel error correction method for circular array radar system based on pattern fitting. Through constructions of approximation function model of single unit pattern and pattern fitting model of full array concerning physical parameters of radar, channel errors of all elements can be estimated through solving a related optimization model. After the signals fed to each element are compensated by estimated error correction factors, synthetic radiation pattern of full array can be accurately corrected. The proposed method can significantly improve beam synthesis performance of circular array radar and experiment results validate the effectiveness of suggested strategy.


Inclusive fitness theory concerns the study of social traits. Often, individuals differ in their phenotype (e.g. size, weight, nutritional state) independently of their genetic make up, that is, individuals differ in their quality. Individuals can then be classified into different "classes" according to their quality, which enable us to understand social evolution in class-structured populations. This is important because individuals in natural populations often differ in quality, either because of intrinsic factors (e.g. size), or extrinsic factors (e.g. resource availability). My thesis concerns the evolution of social traits in class-structured populations. In chapter 1, I make a brief introduction to my thesis, providing the abstract of each chapter. In chapter 2, I outline a general theory of individual quality, where I show how individual quality impacts social evolution in two fundamental ways. In chapter 3, I show that resource heterogeneity greatly influences the evolution of conditional social behaviour. In chapter 4, I show that temporal group-size heterogeneity promotes the evolution of both conditional helping and harming. In chapter 5, I analyse the effect of individual quality on kin selection. I find that individual quality has an important impact in kin selection, which can lead to extreme forms of social behaviour. In chapter 6, I show that stable environments promote the evolution of negative density-dependent dispersal, while unstable environments promote the evolution of positive density-dependent dispersal. In chapter 7, I show that budding and low local quality promote the evolution of dispersal and cooperation.


This article presents the ethical dilemma related to under what circumstances vulnerabilities should be disclosed. Vulnerabilities exist in hardware and software, and can be as a consequence of pro ...


We have developed capacitive sensor for measuring the moisture level of rice grain based on dielectric measurement of the electrode . Calibration of the initial moisture level wa s conducted at BPTP Pekanbaru . Three local r ice varieties were tested Anak Daro , Cokan , and Pulut with the grain moisture ranging from 19 % to 32 %. Pulut varieties has maximal output frequency of the LC oscillator at 1.255 MHz with a humidity level of 25.85% while the smallest frequency wa s obtained from varieties Anak Daro at 1.135 MHz and 29.56% moisture level . The results showed that the moisture level is inversely proportional to the frequency of LC oscillator output . By using the values of the mathematical model equations , the moisture level of grain can be calculated from the value of the frequency with R 2 values of Anak Daro , Cokan , and Pulut are 0.963 , 0.933 , and 0.965 respectively . Keywords : Capacitive sensor, moisture level, dielectric, LC oscillator, rice grain


Influence of sample thickness on the parameters of martensitic transformations and microstructure peculiarities of martensite in splat quenched with rate 10 4 - 10 6 K/s alloys Ti 50 Ni 50-x Cu x (x = 5 - 32 at. %) has been investigated and discussed. Film thinning results in lowering of the characteristic transformation temperatures, decrease of hysteresis, change of transition intervals. Morphological peculiarities of martensite are also changed after additional thinning. Metastable phase diagram of TiNiCu system after splat quenching and after additional thinning was constructed. Influence of thinning on crystallization parameters of amorphous samples are studied. Observed influence of thickness is stipulated by the stress state arising during transformation in thinned samples.


The sampling efficiency of three sarnpie units was compared tu determine spittiebug egg densities in pastures of Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. To obtain the same levei of precision, the total pasture area to be examined increased by 1.5 tines when sire of the sample unit wa%increased from 75 to 150 cm 2, and by 23 limes when it was increased to 225 cm 2. Using the 75cm unit, fite number of samples necessary for 10%, 15% and 20% leveIs of precision were estimated to be 170, 82 and 48, respectively. The.distribution pattern of egg counts per 75 em 2 ef the pasture, fitted the negative binomial series. A study of sampling variation within 1 ha pastures, showed that differences between blocks, or plots within biocks were significant only in about 20% instances. Nevertheless, choosing of well-distributed sampling sites within the sampling area was suggested.


With contributions from 26 authors from seven different countries most of what is known about primary care-and pretty well everything that has been defined and dissected-is included in Primary Care. The range is indicated by the titles of its six sections: Health, Disease and Care; Systems and Patterns; Work of Primary Care; Common Diseases; Education; Consumers and Patients. By its very nature much of it is descriptive, but it does give us many new insights-for example, Professor David Metcalfe, writing about the evolution of undergraduate teaching in general practice, discusses the reaction of the medical establishment to the Todd report. The report recommended that every student should learn about general practice and understand that its problems are of major importance in themselves rather than minor subdivisions of those seen in hospital. Demands by general practitioners for teaching facilities in medical schools were countered by the assertion that medicine is the same at home as in hospital, and that it can be taught only by hospital specialists. Since general practice was not a proper academic discipline-in that it had no core ofknowledge established by research peculiar to itself-general practitioners should merely put into practice the principles that they had learnt in hospital. Metcalfe points out that this was merely a part of the historical "rights of entry" test to which all new aspirants to the medical curriculum are subjected, and was no bad thing in that it forced the pioneers to define the core of knowledge they wished to teach.


Moving Computational Tools for Aortic Disease from the Bench to the Bedside by Rodrigo Maximiliano ROMAROWSKI Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) have been in the focus of the biomedical community for many years. In particular, blood flow simulations in the aorta are now well established among researchers. Despite these developments, numerical tools do not constitute every day tools in the bedside. The aim of this thesis is to fill the methodological and conceptual gaps between CFD and medical needs in the field of thoracic aortic disease. In Chapter 2, pathologies of the aorta will be described in deep to understand which are the current medical needs. Subsequently, CFD in the aorta will be explained with all the ingredients needed to make robust and simple simulations. Chapter 3 focuses on tuning boundary conditions, a topic where much work has been done in the research community but there is no actual consensus. We propose a novel and simple, yet cheap and reliable, methodology for calibrating the so-called 3 Element Windkessel model. Three applications of CFD in the aorta will be shown in Chapter 4 as a proof-of-concept on moving from a single case to bigger cohorts. These are the iCardioCloud project, a database of CFD on patients with thoracic aortic disease; the impact of the ageing aorta on hemodynamics and the predictive value of computational simulations for embodeviation in TAVI. More advanced applications of computational simulations suited for TEVAR will be approached in Chapter 5. First, CFD will be applied in healthy aortas in order to evaluate the impact aortic arch angulation on blood flow for a better TEVAR planning. Then, a framework for merging virtual stent-graft deployment together with pre-operative imaging will be proposed so as to reliably predict hemodynamics after TEVAR. Finally, virtual endografting of the ascending aorta will be analysed as an alternative to open repair. We conclude that the developed methods and tools satisfactorily fill the different gaps needed for simulating big cohorts of patients and extract both single-patient and populationbased results.


The method serves to improve the cold start behavior of selective CO oxidation catalysts in gas purification stages of a gas generating system for producing a hydrogen-containing reformate gas, in particular for a fuel cell system. After stopping of the gas generating system, a media stream is passed over the selective CO oxidation catalyst to scavenge startverzogernde ingredients.


The aim of this study was to investigate self-esteem of university students in terms of doing exercise variable. Totally 300 students from Suleyman Demirel University voluntarily participated in the research. The students were grouped into two: doing exercises (n: 150) and not doing exercises (n: 150). In the research, Self-respect scale developed by Aricak (1999) was used. In the analysis of findings obtained, frequency analysis, independent ''t'' test and One Way ANOVA statistical methods were applied. As a result; a significant difference was found between self-esteem values of students doing exercises and not doing exercises in the research. It was determined that there was a relationship between doing exercises and self-esteem. Moreover, it was also indicated that there was a relationship between age group variable and self-esteem and as people got older, the grades for self-esteem of individuals increased


The Benxi Steel 2850m3 blast furnace since production began on the 7th BF,on the one hand by new equipment,digestion and absorption of new technologies;on the other hand,by deepening the internal management,and strengthening the organization of production,find out the basic operation of the system to ensure the production of long-term stability,increased blast furnace response to external conditions(mainly the original terms of fluctuations in the fuel) change capacity,achieved a blast furnace production of high-yield,high-quality,low-cost goals.


It describes a technique for adjusting the base station and user equipment (UE) in a wireless network transmission timing. In one operation scenario, the femto base station communicating with the femto UE, in communication with the macro base station located within the coverage of the femto base station is a macro UE. In one aspect, the transmission timing may correspond to the macro base station delay the transmission timing of the femto base station, for example to and from the femto base station downlink signal of the macro base station a femto UE and aligned at the time of the macro UE. In another aspect, the femto UE transmits the transmission timing relative to the femto base station timing advance greater than twice the amount of propagation delay between the UE and the femto femto base station delays, for example to from femto UE and the macro UE uplink signals are aligned in time the femto base station.


With the development of waste incineration technology,eliminating dioxins,a toxic substance in Waste Incineration Flue Gas effectively to meet the industrial emission criterion has been an important subject.Analyze the chemical reaction kinetics process of electron beam irradiation technology on degrading dioxins,base on Simulink simulation module to build model,study effects of the strength of election beam does and the amount of activated Carbon,oxygen,water,OH free radical in reaction environment on dioxins' decomposition efficiency efficiency.Results indicated that the proper reaction condition of electron beam irradiation technology on degrading dioxins are as bellow: temperature lower than 57 ℃,irradiation does of election beam between 6 kGy and 10 kGy,concentration of activated Carbon as low as possible(eliminate activated carbon before irradiation),volume fraction of water more than 0.2% and the concentration of OH free radical high enough.


Introduced a method that uses a chargecoupled device detector(CCD)as a holographic recording medium to record off-axis hologram,and a real image of the object is reconstructed from the digitally sampled hologram by means of numerical methods.Now we use this method to record the in-line hologram and to reconstruct it numerically.However,using CCD's for recording holograms is advantageous because video frequencies are available and no chemical or physical developing is necessary.Here the Michelson optical structure is essential.


Learners' autonomous learning serves both as the means and the end of college English teaching.Autonomous learning,as a new teaching concept,has been the mainstream of college English reform.So,it is very practical to improve students' integrated skills in English through promoting their autonomous learning ability consciously.In the article,the author analyzes the traditional teaching concept;investigates and analyzes the students' present autonomous learning in her college;the most important part in the article is to explore some methods to improve the students' autonomous learning ability in college English teaching.


BaTiO3/SrTiO3 (BTO/STO) superlattices were examined by using X-ray grazing incidence diffraction under total external reflection conditions and ordinary Bragg diffraction. Dynamical diffraction theory was used to simulate Bragg diffractions. It is shown that, these superlattices partially relaxed. However, unlike semiconductor epilayers or superlattices, the lattice constants of BTO/STO superlattices do not completely obey the role of tetragonal distortion. The perpendicular lattice constants deviate slightly from that predicted by elasticity theory. These deviations are probably relevant to the structures of oxide materials.


One of the courses in Danish upper secondary school is the course ongeneral study preparation (called AT). It is stated in the national policy document of this course, that students must demonstrat ...


Aim: The commonly used analytical methods for microplastic (MPs) detection in drinking water and the threat of MP pollution in water intended for human consumption to human beings are presented through a systematic review. Furthermore, MP occurrence, transport, and fate from raw to treated drinking water, tap water, and bottled water, as well as the possible health impacts of MPs on human beings, are also evaluated. Methods: Systematic review included articles published in scientific journals that contain specific keywords in the title and were searched in Web of Science (WOS) and Scopus. The literature was selected and extracted by two reviewers based on the PRISMA-A guidelines, which recommend including 57 items. Results: The experimental studies pointed out that sampling is performed using grab or reduced samples, and sample treatment involves mostly oxidation with hydrogen peroxide and density separation. The minimum sample size obtainable in the extraction and the maximum density of the polymer separable from the matrix provided different results. Clearly, the determination of MPs involves the simultaneous application of several analytical techniques, including optical, fluorescence, and electronic microscopies, µFTIR, µ-Raman, and pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The determination technique also provides different results according to the sensitivity as well as the minimum size determinable. These studies are mostly devoted to establishing the occurrence, transport, and fate within the supply network, the efficiency in removal of MPs from drinking water by treatment plants, and the risk to humans. The MP concentration in drinking water reservoirs is highly variable. However, tap water always presents lower concentrations of MPs than the water that enters the drinking water treatment plants because the different treatments are efficient at removing MPs. Although it has not been fully demonstrated that MPs are toxic to humans, the effects point to oxidative stress, gastrointestinal irritation, microbiome irregularities, and changes in lipid metabolism. Conclusion: Analytical methods present some common features as a first step towards harmonization. However, it is still unknown whether the analytical methods could influence the disparity of the results. The MP concentration in drinking water is low in comparison to other types of water. MPs are not exempt from hazards to human health.


The use of inferential estimation model as a strategy to overcome the lack of efficient on-line measurement for product qualities is proposed. This strategy makes use of easy to measure secondary variables, such as temperature and pressure to infer the value of non-measurable primary variables such as chemical composition. As a case study, a fatty acid fractionation column from a local company was considered. The plant that was simulated using HYSYSTM simulator provided all the required process data throughout the study. To provide the necessary process insights, analyses of dynamic behaviour were carried out. Appropriate secondary measurements with significant relationships with the product composition were then identified for the construction of the inferential estimator within MATLAB® environment. A number of models were considered but nested neural network partial least squares (NNPLS) model was found most proficient. The model was tested online and reasonable performances were obtained. Further refinements were proposed to improve the accuracy and robustness of the estimator. In particular, the issue of data scaling was elaborately addressed. Following the success implementation of the estimator, inferential control of the product quality was examined. In both regulatory and servo controls, better performances were obtained compared to the indirect strategy of controlling product composition using selected tray temperature. This was further improved by employing cascade control. The results obtained throughout this work have illustrated the potential of inferential control strategy and the capability of the hybrid neural network-PLS model as the process estimator. This should therefore serve as an alternative solution to the lack of measurement in chemical process industry. The model developed from the simulation stage is specified to a particular case and it should be verified against the actual process before practical implementation.


The State of Kuwait operates a US$110bn economy and serves as an integral part of the global energy trade, holding over 9% of the world's oil reserves. In addition, Kuwait is making attempts to open its economy, working towards domestic diversification. This paper aims to understand Kuwait's internal financial protection mechanisms and their compliance to international standards. It is imperative to understand Kuwait's legal and regulatory system that combats money laundering and terrorist financing concerns, which further extends to the region's security discourse. This paper focuses on the State of Kuwait's internal efforts to propel anti-money laundering/combating terrorist financing (AML/CTF) measures, and further evaluate these measures with respect to international evaluations.,Anti-money laundering and combatting terrorist financing mechanisms require a layered analysis to understand the legislative and bureaucratic organization of enforcement. Further, these measures, taken within the domestic framework, must be compared to international standards, and thus taken into account by observers. This paper studies Kuwait AML/CTF mechanisms by studying the country's legislation, regulation and implementation. The country's legislation will offer insight into the basic foundation of the country's stance against money laundering and terrorist financing. Kuwait's regulation against money laundering/terrorist financing (ML/TF) will represent the enforcement mechanisms and risk-assessment tools mandated by the independent regulatory authorities. Finally, the country's enforcement levels will provide a deeper understanding of the country's systemic approach to successfully combatting ML and TF activities. In addition, this paper also studies international evaluations that present an independent and factual view regarding Kuwait's AML/CTF structure and its implementation.,Following a thorough examination of primary and secondary literature, this paper finds the State of Kuwait to have taken significant steps in implementing recommended legislative and regulatory mechanisms. The paper found significant strategic deficiencies within internal mechanisms pre-2014, which have been largely resolved in the state's ex post approach to the Financial Action Task Force's recommendations. There is also evidence of an improving enforcement mechanism in the state's recent efforts in reducing exposure to ML and TF risks. However, the paper finds certain "strategic deficiencies" within the country's internal reporting and external publishing administration.,The State of Kuwait is an important member in the route to regional stability and security in the Middle-East and Arabian Gulf region. Kuwait's northern border abuts with Iraq, and connects the country with the rest of the Middle-East. The upward regional instability could create internal security risks for Kuwait. In addition, the State of Kuwait has taken the onus, in addition to the Sultanate of Oman, to mediate the diplomatic lapse between members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The aforementioned positions ascertain a need to examine, and further recommend measures that promote a strong regional financial system.,This paper finds the government of Kuwait to have taken major steps to create a framework that is parallel to international standards. However, there have been significant delays in activating and implementing several regulatory procedures. The delay of certain procedures has since been rectified by the state. This paper presents a comprehensive qualitative analysis of the country's legislative, regulatory and enforcement structures and further evaluates the internal performance.


The integral feature of Legalists thoughts reveals the emphasis on reality,pursuit of utilitarianism,and serious regardlessness of morality.Legalists starts with its unique theory of human nature as its logical starting,constructing a set of ideological system which has both theoretical foundation and political goal,based on the rulers' utility.All these factors shaped the utility tendency of Legalists.


A critically important component of most signal processing procedures is that of computing the distance between signals. In multiparty processing applications where these signals belong to different parties, this introduces privacy challenges. The signals may themselves be private, and the parties to the computation may not be willing to expose them. Solutions proposed to the problem in the literature generally invoke homomorphic encryption schemes, secure multi-party computation, or other cryptographic methods which introduce significant computational complexity into the proceedings, often to the point of making more complex computations requiring repeated computations unfeasible. Other solutions invoke third parties, making unrealistic assumptions about their trustworthiness. In this paper we propose an alternate approach, also based on third party computation, but without assuming as much trust in the third party. Individual participants to the computation "secure" their data through a proposed secure hashing scheme with shared keys, prior to sharing it with the third party. The hashing ensures that the third party cannot recover any information about the individual signals or their statistics, either from analysis of individual computations or their long-term aggregate patterns. We provide theoretical proof of these properties and empirical demonstration of the feasibility of the computation.


Background: 19.8–34.1% of Upper limb injuries are recorded of total injuries in cricket. Shoulder joint is the most affected joint in bowlers. Inadequate force generation due to improper position of scapula and less strength of shoulder muscle might affect the performance of the players. So the objectives of the study was to see the effect of Thrower's Ten Exercise Program on scapular dyskinesia and throwing accuracy . Methodology: 30 cricket bowlers (district and state level) with scapular dyskinesia were selected. Pre and post evaluation for scapular dyskinesia and Functional Throwing Performance Index (FTPI) was done post intervention. The intervention was carried out for 6 weeks . Results: There was significant improvement seen in scapular dyskinesia (p=0.0001) and in throwing accuracy (p=0.0002). Conclusion: This study concludes that the Thrower's Ten Exercise Program when given for a period of 3dyas for 6 weeks showed highly significant improvement in scapular dyskinesia and throwing accuracy. KEY WORDS: Scapular Dyskinesia, Cricket Bowlers, Throwing Accuracy, Thrower's ten program.


Hurricanes, blizzards, and floods. The atmosphere has visited extreme weather in the United States over the last five years. Is this climate change or climatic variability? Is the distinction important in the context of infrastructure design and planning? To address these questions, the meaning and relevance of the notions of climate change and climate variability must be clearly established in the context of natural hazards, and infrastructure engineering. Multidecadal time scales (whether natural or anthropogenically induced) have been firmly identified in the climate record. Compelling evidence of this variability has been found in data sources as diverse as tree rings, and cores taken from coral reefs, sediments, and glaciers across the globe. It is therefore submitted that the criteria used in engineering design of lifeline infrastructures, land-use planning, and water resources management among others must incorporate this knowledge.


Gas hydrates are widespread all over the world. They feature high energy density and are a clean energy source of great potential. The paper considers experimental and theoretical studies on gas hydrates in the following key areas: formation and dissociation, extraction and transportation technologies of natural methane hydrates, and ignition, and combustion. We identified a lack of research in more areas and defined prospects of further development of gas hydrates as a promising strategic resource. One of the immediate problems is that there are no research findings for the effect of sediments and their matrices on hydrate saturation, as well as on gas hydrate formation and dissociation rates. No mathematical models describe the dissociation of gas hydrates under various conditions. There is a lack of research into the renewal and improvement of existing technologies for the easier and cheaper production of gas hydrates and the extraction of natural gas from them. There are no models of gas hydrate ignition taking into account dissociation processes and the self-preservation effect.


Wireless sensor network is a hotspot in information research fi eld. It can be used for signal collecting, processing and transmitting. A design and implementation method of a wireless illumination sensor node based on STM32F103RBT6 is introduced, which uses illumination sensor as the environmental data acquisition unit and wireless RF module UZ2400 to send data to the gateway. Then the gateway sends data to PC so the current environment can be real-time monitored. The hardware design of illumination sensor node is proposed, and the system software architecture and implementation methods are described. The node has high practicability and reliability, which can real-time collect the illumination intensity accurately, so it has a good prospect in the future intelligent housing system.


The utility model provides a portable gallows that overhauls belongs to and overhauls technical field, construct including portal and lifting machine, the portal includes the support frame and sets up the gallows crossbeam on the support frame, and the bottom of support frame is balanced base, and the bottom of balanced base is provided with a plurality of gyro wheels, and the balance base is vertical wears to be equipped with adjusting screw, and adjusting screw's top is provided with adjustment handle, and adjusting screw's bottom is provided with gallows unable adjustment base, the lifting machine structure sets up in the gallows crossbeam. It is stable that this technical scheme provides a balance, the safe simple portable gallows that overhauls of operation.


In this report, air solubility of petroleum-based oil and change in diameter of a stationary bubble in the oil are investigated. The air solubility may be evaluated by the theory on regular solutions. For the petroleum-based oil of five different types measured air solubility was approximately same as that calculated by assuming that the solubility parameter is 1.4×104√(J/m for paraffin-based oil, or 1.6×104√(J/m for naphthene-based oil. No considerable difference in the diffusivity of dissolved air was observed among measured values in the oil of five different types. A bubble, which had once changed in diameter under low or high pressure, took a long period of time to recover the original size in stationary oil such as in swirling oil. And these phenomena appeared after such pressure change was repeated multiple times.


This thesis describes the synthesis and characterization of new heteroleptic copper(I) complexes with diimine and diphosphine ligands for solar energy conversion. The complexes were synthesized with the HETPHEN approach, and were fully characterized by physicochemical and photophysical techniques.
At first, a study of the properties of heteroleptic structures was carried out, considering in particular the effect of the steric hindrance of the coordination sphere. Two new ligands containing an extended phenanthroline core, and bromo groups, are then described together with the corresponding complexes.
The improvement of the visible absorption properties was achieved with chromophoric push-pull styrylbipyridine ligands. This strategy allowed to obtain a series of complexes with impressively high absorption coefficients.
In chapter 4, the use of heteroleptic copper(I) diimine complexes to build rod-like molecular arrays for photoinduced electron transfer was developed. Two Cu-NDI (naphthalene diimide) dyads were synthesized and characterized. Transient absorption spectroscopy evidenced photoinduced electron transfers. A secondary electron donor (ferrocene) was then included, to provide a triad with an increased charge-separated state lifetime of 30 ns in acetonitrile.
The last chapter focuses on the design of complexes containing an anchoring function, for the use as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Two series of dyes were prepared, one of them showing very promising photovoltaic performances (2.4% under 1000 W/m2).