Techniques for characterizing performance and diagnosing problems typically endeavor to minimize perturbation by measurements and data collection. We are making a call to do exactly the opposite. In order to characterize the behavior of a system and to perform root-cause analysis and answer what-if questions, we need to conduct active and systematic experiments on our systems, perhaps at the same time these systems are running. We argue that in distributed computing frameworks such as MapReduce, Dryad and Hadoop, the conditions are right for automatically conducting these experiments. At each stage there is a large number of nodes doing the same computation, hence providing a sound statistical population. Furthermore, we have the infrastructure in such systems to isolate and recreate the conditions of a run. In this paper we propose the missing piece: a blueprint of the causal interactions that can be used to plan these experiments and perform inferences about the results. Machine learning and statistical analysis give us the tools and algorithms for inducing such a causal blueprint from a combination of passive observations and active intervention.


Background: An estimated 1.6 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer globally each year, and approximately one-third of these women will develop advanced disease (stages III and IV). The Seeding Progress and Resources for the Cancer Community (SPARC): Metastatic Breast Cancer Challenge was created with support from Pfizer Oncology to address the unique needs of women and men living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) by offering grants to organizations initiating novel ways to fill gaps in support and services. Now in its second round, the program is building momentum to further support the MBC community. Aim: SPARC empowers advocacy groups, hospital networks, support groups and other organizations worldwide, addressing four key priorities: Closing the gap on patient information and navigation of care options; Raising awareness of specific needs and challenges faced by women with MBC; Ensuring MBC is embedded in national breast cancer policies; Helping to reduce the incidence of MBC at first diagnosis. Strategy: SPARC was first launched on World Cancer Day 2015 with a second call for proposals announced on International Women's Day 2017 . Proposals were assessed by an external Selection Advisory Group. Selection criteria focusing on impact included: Project's potential to improve the lives of women diagnosed with MBC Organization's ability to deliver the project Feasibility of project goals Sustainability of the project beyond the grant period. UICC provided ongoing monitoring and support including dedicated mentors and online training covering key topics to maximize projects' success. Grantee workshops at the start and end of projects (during ABC3/4-Advanced Breast Cancer Consensus conference and the World Cancer Congress) provided critical networking and knowledge sharing. Second round grantees are linked to first round grantees with similar projects for additional mentoring. Outcomes: UICC received over 80 initial applications from 46 countries in the first call, and 83 applications from 42 countries in 2017 demonstrating continued demand for MBC support. Altogether 40 organizations in 30 countries have benefited from SPARC grants. As well as mentorship and UICC support, grantees gained unparalleled access to both the UICC community and other MBC advocates. Grantees measured the reach of their projects, including numbers of patients supported, healthcare workers trained, institutional collaborations formed and awareness raised. Two years on, 1st round projects have trained 1500 healthcare workers, involved 400 institutions, created online support in 7 countries and continue to reach new MBC patients. Work to embed new practices in national policy and medical curricula is expanding in Brazil, Nigeria, Bulgaria and Uganda. What was learned: Results from 2nd round grantees and key learnings from the two rounds, including grantee to grantee mentorship and WhatsApp support, will be available to be presented at WCC.


Objectives: Maternal hypotension is a common problem during cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. We evaluated the influence of injection speed of local anesthetic to subarachnoid space on maternal hypotension and level of sensory block. Methods: Bupivacaine (0.5%) 9 mg with fentanyl 10 μg was injected to subarachnoid space either quickly (during 20 seconds, 0.1 mL/sec, n=20) or slowly (during 100 seconds, 0.02 mL/sec, n=20) in parturients scheduled for elective cesarean section. The onset and level of sensory block was checked and heart rate and blood pressure was checked by 2.5 minutes during 20 minutes. Hypotension (systolic blood pressure <100 mmHg or <70% of baseline) was treated with ephedrine. Results: Hypotension occurred 70% of parturients with spinal anesthesia. Slow injection didn't influence on the onset and level of sensory block and didn't reduce the incidence of hypotension. But onset of hypotension was delayed. Conclusion: Slow injection (during 100 seconds, 0.02 mL/sec) of local anesthetic delayed onset of hypotension and required less amount of ephedrine. Slow injection of local anesthetic was one of the effective methods for the cardiovascular stability during cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. (Ewha Med J 2012;35(2):83-88)


The major accomplishments during the first nine months of this grant are the following: (a) Heat treatment of stainless steel in air at 900/sup 0/C produces a Cr/sub 2/O/sub 3/ coating which is an excellent diffusion barrier for preventing SS components at elevated temperatures to enter into a thermal absorber coating stack like Honeywell's AMA on Mo coating. This simple-to-apply oxide coating allowed to raise the operating temperature (in vacuum) from 800/sup 0/C without noticeable diffusion of constituents from SS into the coating. (b) The experiments with a torus magnetically enhanced ring-gap discharge showed that it should be possible to coat by sputtering rather economically SS tubing with the AMA-Mo stack. (c) A rather unexpected turn of events occurred when it was discovered that one can enrich metal isotopes by sputtering. (d) In support of other ERDA's grantees, various Auger and ESCA services were provided.


First-principles density-functional theory calculations are used to study the atomistic structure, structural energetics, and electron density near the O monovacancy (VOn; n = 0,1+,2+) in both bulk, amorphous tantalum pentoxide (a-Ta2O5), and also at vacuum and metallic Ta interfaces. We calculate multivariate vacancy formation energies to evaluate stability as a function of oxidation state, distance from interface plane, and Fermi energy. VOn of all oxidation states preferentially segregates at both Ta and vacuum interfaces, where the metallic interface exhibits global formation energy minima. In a-Ta2O5, VO0 is characterized by structural contraction and electron density localization, while VO2+ promotes structural expansion and is depleted of electron density. In contrast, interfacial VO0 and VO2+ show nearly indistinguishable ionic and electronic signatures indicative of a reduced VO center. Interfacial VO2+ extracts electron density from metallic Ta, indicating that VO2+ is spontaneously reduced at t...


recensions exist, as they do in the case of the Yajurveda and Atharvaveda, there are also variants, which in some cases involve the use of retroflex versus non-retroflex consonants, and there is evidence from the time of the recensions that doubts could arise about the appropriateness or otherwise of using such sounds in recitation. After a very detailed discussion of the evidence for the dialectal distribution of retroflex sounds and their increasing prevalence through time Deshpande concludes that there is no need to assume that the presence of retroflex consonants in the Rgveda known to us must date back to the period of composition, since there was plenty of opportunity for these sounds to have been introduced into the tradition at later dates. This naturally raises further interesting questions about the phonological status of the original Rgveda. The eight chapters can be read as stand-alone articles, since they have not been much altered in order to cut out overlaps in content, but it is useful to have them collected in so accessible a form. As part of a single book they complement one another admirably, and reveal most strikingly the author's impressive and many-sided competence in the fields of historical and descriptive linguistics, sociology and history.


The 2.5MeV electrostatic accelerator in Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology of Sichuan University is calibrated with the ()~(241)Am α standard radioactive source and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. The thickness values of some thin-film samples deposited on Al substrates are measured by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and are compared with the corresponding results measured by weighing. Finally, the thickness values of these thin-film samples measured by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry are used to determine the cross-sections for inner-shell ionization of atoms by electron impact. Satisfactory results are obtained.


Switches are a critical component in any networked FTI data acquisition system in order to allow the forwarding of data from the DAU to the target destination devices such as the network recorder, PCM gateways, or ground station. Commercial off the shelf switches cannot meet the harsh operating conditions of FTI. This paper describes a hardware implementation of a crossbar switching architecture that meets the reliability and performance requirements of FTI equipment. Moreover, by combining the crossbar architecture with filtering techniques, the switch can be configured to achieve sophisticated forwarding operations. By way of illustration, a Gigabit network tap application is used to demonstrate the fundamental concepts of switching, forwarding, crossbar architecture, and filtering.


This article is an approach to the current state of the theme of responsibility, ethics and environmental solidarity, the light of the theory of risk of Ulrich Beck and seeking ways to verify the contribution that positivization rights can contribute to the current state of the subject. There is a focus on determining the need for preservation of environmental features for the enjoyment of future generations in terms of maintenance of environmental quality which may be decisive in the quality of life of future generations, to approach from the right in intergenerational environmental theme, framed by characteristics imposed by the risk society.


Ultra high-energy (UHE) neutrino (1015 eV <) detection in natural huge rock salt formation has been studied. Radio wave is generated by Askar'yan effect in rock salt. That is caused by the number asymmetry of electrons and positrons (excess charge) in electromagnetic shower from an UHE neutrino. An Electromagnetic shower in rock salt is generated by a computer code of Geant4.5. A modified Greisen parameterization in longitudinal distribution of the shower and a modified Nishimura, Kamata, and Greisen function in lateral distribution of the shower (structure function) are fitted to a space distribution of the excess electrons. The structure function would assist to calculate radio wave emission without using an electromagnetic shower simulation.


I A sensitive and reproducible gas chromatographic procedure for the quantitative determination of urinary o-cresol is described. The first step involves acid hydrolysis (2N HCI, 100~ 10 rain), which yields unconjugated o-cresol. After extraction (methylene chloride, pH 2), the organic layer is concentrated by evaporation and samples are analyzed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection with a DB-5 column (30 m x 0.25 ram, 0.25 pro). Initial oven temperature is set at 30~ for 12 rain and then increased 2~ to 93~ 3,4-Dimethylphenol is used as the internal standard. The detection limit of the method is 0.36 I~mol/L (l-pL injection). Additional validation data were obtained by analysis of urine samples collected from volunteers exposed to various concentrations of toluene: 10, 20, 30, 50, and 100 ppm over 7 h. Urinary o-cresol concentrations (0-3, 3-7, 7-24, and 0-24 h) were highly correlated with toluene exposure. Introduction termination has been proposed as an alternative method for the biological monitoring of toluene exposure (3). To date, several analytical methods have been tested for the determination of urinary o-cresol (7-11), but there still is a need for a specific and sensitive method for the measurement of low concentrations of o-cresol, which would allow a better discrimination between toluene-exposed and nonexposed workers. The present paper describes a gas chromatographic (GC) method for the quantitative determination of urinary o-cresol. The method was used to determine the urinary excretion of o-cresol in volunteers exposed to concentrations of toluene varying from 10 to 100 ppm. Materials and Methods Reagents o-Cresol (99%) and 3,4-dimethylphenol (99%) were purchased from Aldrich Chemicals (Milwaukee, WI). Solvents and all other chemicals were of reagent grade. Toluene is a widely used industrial organic solvent. Its absorption results mainly from inhalation of vapors. A fraction of the absorbed toluene is excreted unchanged in the expired air (approximately 20%), whereas most is oxidized in the liver, which yields benzoic acid, which is then conjugated with glycine to produce hippuric acid. A very small fraction (< 1%) of the absorbed dose is converted to o-cresol, a hydroxylated metabolite that is excreted into urine as glucuronide or sulfate conjugates (1-3). There is good correlation between urinary hippuric acid excretion and the intensity of toluene exposure (4-6). Hippuric acid, however, is a normal constituent of urine, originating from food, drinks, and drugs containing benzoic acid or benzoates. For low levels of exposure to toluene, the uptake of these substances can significantly influence the relation existing between toluene exposure and urinary hippuric acid excretion. Because o-cresol is not a major constituent of normal urine (normal concentrations are less than 0.9 IJmol/L), its de*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Instrumentation The analytical system used was a Hewlett-Packard 5890 series It GC equipped with a flame ionization detector and a J&W Scientific 30-m x 0.25-mm, 0.25-1Jm, DB-5 column (Chromatographic Specialities, Brockville, Ontario, Canada). The initial oven temperature was set at 30~ for 12 rain and then increased 2~ to 93~ Analytical method In a stoppered glass tube, 200 laL concentrated HCI was added to I mL urine. The mixture was heated at I00~ for 10 min to hydrolyze the conjugated phenolic metabolites. The solution was cooled, and its pH was adjusted to between I and 2 with 10N NaOH. Two hundred microliters of 3,4dimethylpheno] (internal standard, 12mM in methanol) were added. A 5-mL aliquot of methylene chloride was added, and the samples were shaken for 10 rain. The samples were then centrifuged, and the organic layer was evaporated under a flow of air to a final volume of approximately ] mL. o-Cresol was then Reproduction (photocopying) of editorial content of this journal is prohibited without publisher's permission. 3 0 9 Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jat/article-abstract/20/5/309/731080 by guest on 28 July 2018 determined by GC. The calibration curve was prepared with values obtained from the addition of aliquots (0-150 12L) of a stock solution containing o-cresol (140pM) to 1 mL control urine after hydrolysis and neutralization. The standard curve, which ranged from 0 to 21 lJmol/L, was prepared with values obtained from samples that were treated as the calibration samples were. The amount of HC1 used and heating time for hydrolysis were optimized during experiments performed with urine from volunteers exposed to toluene in which o-cresol was present as sulfate or glucuronic acid conjugates. As tested in our laboratories, recovery of unconjugated o-cresol, which was added to the calibration samples, seemed to be affected by hydrolysis. For this reason, o-cresol was added to the calibration samples after the hydrolysis and the neutralization steps. Subjects and methods Four adult nonsmokers (3 men and 1 woman) who showed no recent history of occupational exposure to solvents volunteered for the study. The volunteers were exposed on 5 different days, 7 h per day, every 5 days, to various concentrations of toluene (10, 20, 30, 50, and 100 ppm). The exposure was carried out in a dynamic, controlled environment exposure chamber measuring 18.1 m 3. Purified air, which was introduced from the ceiling through 16 diffusers at a rate of 2-5 m3/min, was temperature (22 • 2~ and humidity controlled (40 • 5%). Solvent atmospheres were generated by the introduction of toluene by means of a high-pressure liquid chromatography pump (Varian, Montreal, Quebec, Canada) into a l-L, three-necked, round-bottomed flask in which the solvent vapors were mixed with clean, compressed air and then swept by aspiration into the inlet duct of the chamber. The concentration of toluene in the chamber was monitored by GC and infrared spectrophotometric analysis as described elsewhere (12). Urine samples were collected before exposure, after the first 3 h of exposure (0-3 h), at the end of exposure (3-7 h), and during the 17 h following the exposure (7-24 h). The concentration of o-cresol was determined by the method described in this paper. Creatinine was determined by a method based on the Jaffe reaction (13), which consists of the reaction of picric acid with creatinine in an alkaline medium, which yields an orangered dyestuff measured spectrophotometrically at 520 nm. Results and Discussion Method performance Typical chromatograms of morning (blank) urine and urine obtained during the last 4 h of exposure (3-7 h) from a volunteer exposed to 50 ppm toluene are shown in Figure 1. The proposed analytical method was satisfactory for the quantitative determination of o-cresol. The detection limit of the method derived from a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 was 0.36 IJmol/L (1-1JL injection). The limits of detection associated with other procedures reported in the literature varied from 0.10 to 0.93 pmol/L (7-9,11). Urinary o-cresol concentrations found in nonexposed humans are generally less than 0.9 IJmol/L (14). Because the limit of detection of the present method is 0.36 pmol/L, its use Journal of Analytical Toxicology, Vo]. 20, September 1996


We present Adaptive Skill Coordination (ASC) -- an approach for accomplishing long-horizon tasks like mobile pick-and-place (i.e., navigating to an object, picking it, navigating to another location, and placing it). ASC consists of three components -- (1) a library of basic visuomotor skills (navigation, pick, place), (2) a skill coordination policy that chooses which skill to use when, and (3) a corrective policy that adapts pre-trained skills in out-of-distribution states. All components of ASC rely only on onboard visual and proprioceptive sensing, without requiring information like detailed maps with obstacle layouts or precise object locations, easing real-world deployment. We train ASC in simulated indoor environments, and deploy it zero-shot (without any real-world experience or fine-tuning) on the Boston Dynamics Spot robot in 8 novel real-world environments (1 apartment, 1 lab, 2 microkitchens, 2 lounges, 1 office space, 1 outdoor courtyard). In rigorous quantitative comparisons in 2 environments, ASC achieves near-perfect performance (59/60 episodes, or 98%), while sequentially executing skills succeeds in only 44/60 (73%) episodes. Extensive perturbation experiments show that ASC is robust to hand-off errors, changes in the environment layout, dynamic obstacles (e.g., people), and unexpected disturbances. Supplementary videos at adaptiveskillcoordination.github.io.


An organic supplement that reduces total particulate emissions from a heavy-duty diesel engine has been discovered during experimental testing. The organic supplement can be blended with hydrocarbon fuels and is effective at reducing particulate emissions during transient and steady-state operating conditions while not increasing oxides of nitrogen (NO/sub x/) emissions. On the EPA emissions certification procedure, reductions in particulate emissions produced by the organic supplement, when compared to certification fuel, were similar to those produced by a low sulfur, low aromatic, narrow boiling range diesel fuel. Sulfate emissions were not affected by the organic supplement and were reduced by the low sulfur, low aromatic diesel fuel. However, the low sulfur, low aromatic diesel fuel had a higher conversion rate of fuel sulfur to sulfates than has been previously reported in the published literature.


Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability and concurrent validity of active spinal mobility measurements using a gravity-based bubble inclinometer and an android application.
Objective: This study was to examine the utility of an android application as a measurement tool in measurement of lumbar range of motion in low back pain patient Methods: It is a descriptive study design with a sample size of 30 patients.
Results: Interclass correlation coefficients were used to analyze the ability of Samsung tab 2 and I handy application for measuring lumbar ROM in LBP patients.
Conclusion: The I handy application has good Intra and inter-tester reliability and it can be used to measure the lumbar spine range of motion.


A three-dimensional rack and pinion model for nosewheel steering mechanism of a large civil aircraft is established through CATIA.Then a finite element model is set up and relevant contact parameters are defined in ABAQUS to analyze the tooth surface contact stress and tooth root bending stress of the rack and pinion meshing.Based on the elastic collision theory of Hertz,the rack and pinion rigid body meshing force is calculated in ADAMS.After that,with the rack and pinion being taken as a flexible body,the rigid-flexible engaging force and tooth root stress are analyzed in ADAMS.The outcomes show that the engaging force result is basically consistant with the rigid body analysis,and the tooth root bending stress and the finite element analyzing result differs by 24.8%.


The welding temperature field of the ultrafine grain steel was computer simulated in this paper,and the thermal cycle curve was obtained.The grain size in HAZ was predicted based on the thermal cycle curve.The outcome of the prediction was in accordance with the outcome of the experiment.The heat affected zone(HAZ) is one of the main areas which affect the properties of welds.It is essential meaningful to complete the prediction of grain size by computer using proper methods and that can provide a new and important foundation for optimizing welding parameters and improving the quality of welds.The result showed that:(1) The width of the HAZ was about 6.5mm;(2) The grain size in HAZ increased obviously and the largest was 180μm;(3) The higher the cooling speed was,the more refined the grain was,but the refined extent was relatively limited,not obvious.


This work demonstrates sparse cell detection in mL samples, using magnetic bead manipulation on an ElectrowettingOn-Dielectric (EWD) chip. Sparse sample detection was performed in two steps: cell capture off chip from the starting solution with a microelectromagnet and on-chip fluorescent signal detection on an EWD chip. In the first step, immunological reactions enable the binding between target cells and antibody-coated magnetic beads, which enabled sample capture with high cell survival rates. In the second step, fluorescent detection is achieved on an EWD chip via fluorescent signal measurement and two-dimensional magnetic bead concentration. Magnetic bead concentration is controlled with an integrated microelectromagnet, a planar set of half-circle-shaped current-carrying wires embedded in an actuation electrode of an EWD device. This two-dimensional wire structure serves as a microelectromagnet capable of segregating magnetic beads into an area on the order of 10 μm2 with a resulting improvement in Signal-To-Noise Ratio (SNR) of 30 times. Simple device integration ensures that the magnetic bead manipulation and the EWD function can be operated simultaneously without introducing additional steps in the EWD chip fabrication process. Immunological reaction kits were selected in order to ensure the compatibility of target cells, magnetic beads and EWD functions. The magnetic bead choice ensures the binding efficiency and survivability of target cells. The magnetic bead selection and binding mechanism used in this work can be applied to a wide variety of samples with a simple switch of the type of antibody. Sparse cell fluorescent measurements with good SNR are made possible by using fluorescent stains and a method of concentrating cells attached to beads into a small detection area. Theoretical limitation of the entire sparse sample detection system is as low as 1 colony forming unit/mL (CFU/mL). DOI: 10.29011/ 2577-2260. 100045


A compact magneto-optical disk head, integrated with chip elements and optical parts, using a hybrid assembly technique, has been developed. Optics and beam splitter characteristics were optimized so as to realize both compact size and sufficient read out characteristics. More than 46 dB C/N ratio and stable operation were achieved, while simple optics and an easy assembly method were used.


Abstract Melt spinning is a polymer processing technique that makes great demands on the extensibility of the polymer melt in the distance between die exit and solidification point [1]. The polymer material is exposed to a rapidly growing deformation rate over a large range of deformation within a short time of about 100 milliseconds. Simultaneously an extreme cooling occurs with cooling rates of about 1000 K/s. For this reason only a few polymer materials are usable for this kind of polymer processing with sufficient take-up speeds. Most polymers show a fiber break in the molten state either by brittle cohesive rupture or ductile failure when approaching critical conditions of deformation. The rheological behaviour of a polymer melt at the critical conditions of deformation in the fiber forming process can not be predicted by means of usual rheological material functions. This paper reports the attempt to find out material functions, which describe the critical deformation states of the melt spinning process. The established material functions are compared with the results of spinning experiments to estimate their practicality.


A direct comparison of treatment uniformity and CO2 use of pure and prediluted free‐air CO2 enrichment (FACE) systems was conducted in a forest ecosystem. A vertical release pure CO2 fumigation system was superimposed on an existing prediluted CO2 fumigation system and operated on alternate days. The FACE system using prediluted CO2 fumigation technology exhibited less temporal and spatial variability than the pure CO2 fumigation system. The pure CO2 fumigation system tended to over‐fumigate the upwind portions of the plot and used 25% more CO2 than the prediluted CO2 fumigation system. The increased CO2 use by the pure CO2 system was exacerbated at low wind speeds. It is not clear if this phenomenon will also be observed in plots with smaller diameters and low‐stature vegetation.


A simple bottom-up procedure using a polymer sacrificial spacer is presented to fabricate graphene electromechanical contact switch devices without using acid etching. Low pull-in voltage of below 2 V is achieved with good consistency on a run-to-run basis, which is compatible with the conventional, complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor circuit requirements. In addition, the formation of carbon-gold bonds at the contact position is proposed as another important mechanism for the irreversible switch—other than the well-known irreversible static friction.


PURPOSE
This study investigated changes induced by a single heavy resistance training session on neuromuscular and endocrine systems in trained athletes, using the same exercises for training and testing.

METHODS
Five different groups volunteered: track and field male sprinters (MS, N = 6), track and field female sprinters (FS, N = 6), body builders (BB, N = 6), and weight lifters performing low-repetition exercise (WLL, N = 4) and high-repetition exercise (WLH, N = 4). In training, the work performed during half and full squat exercise was monitored for mechanical power output as well as EMG analysis on leg extensor muscles of the subjects belonging to the MS, FS, and BB groups. Just before and immediately after the training session, venous blood samples were obtained for RIA determination of testosterone (T), cortisol (C), lutropin (LH), human prolactin (PRL), and follitropin (FSH) in FS and MS. In the other three groups (BB, WLH, and WLL), the hormonal profile was limited to T and human growth hormone (hGH) only.

RESULTS
After training the power developed in full squat demonstrated a statistically significant decrease (P < 0.01) in MS and no changes in FS. The EMG activity remained constant during the training session. Consequently, the EMG/Power ratio increased in both MS and FS, although only in MS a statistical significance was noted (P < 0.05). In MS immediately after the session the levels of C, T, and LH were significantly lower (P < 0.05). No changes were found in FS. In both groups and in BB significant negative correlation was found between changes in T level and EMG/Power ratio in half squat performance.

CONCLUSIONS
It is likely that adequate T level may compensate the effect of fatigue in FT fibers by ensuring a better neuromuscular efficiency.


Abstract Context: Ischemic stroke is the most common type of acute cerebrovascular disease. Carnosol is a polyphenol compound extracted from rosemary. Objective: This study aimed to explore the effects of carnosol on the oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) treated BV2 microglia cells. Materials and methods: MTT and EdU assays were used to detect the cell viability and proliferation. Flow cytometry was conducted to measure the apoptosis rates. Additionally, the protein expression was determined by western blot. The inflammatory factors and antioxidant indexes were detected by corresponding kits. Results and discussion: Carnosol promoted the proliferation and inhibited the apoptosis of the OGD treated BV2 cells. What's more, the protein expressions of PCNA and Bcl-2 were up-regulated, the Bax expression was down-regulated after carnosol treatment. In addition, carnosol decreased the levels of MDA, LPO, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, and increased the levels of GSH, SOD, IL-4 and IL-10 in the OGD treated BV2 cells. Furthermore, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway was activated after carnosol treatment and inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway reversed the carnosol effects. Conclusions: Carnosol promotes the proliferation, inhibits the apoptosis, relieves the oxidative damage and inflammation of OGD treated cells through regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.


We use ab initio methods and neutron inelastic scattering (NIS) to study the structure, energetics, and dynamics of pure and Ti-doped sodium alanate (NaAlH_4), focusing on the possibility of substitutional Ti doping. The NIS spectrum is found to exhibit surprisingly strong and sharp two-phonon features. The calculations reveal that substitutional Ti doping is energetically possible. Ti prefers to substitute for Na and is a powerful hydrogen attractor that facilitates multiple Al--H bond breaking. Our results hint at new ways of improving the hydrogen dynamics and storage capacity of the alanates.


This paper examines the relationship between the incidence of litigation events with potentially large damage awards and managers' accounting choices. We argue that the size of damage awards is a function of reported net income and net worth, and that this relationship provides management an incentive to manipulate accounting numbers. Our results indicate that managers of oil firms facing potentially large damage awards choose income decreasing non-working capital accruals relative to managers of other oil firms. Further, the results indicate that the management of these firms make accounting choices that result in lower non-working capital accruals during the litigation period than in other years. These negative non-working capital accruals appear to result from the underestimation of new reserves.


In the present study in vitro bioactivity properties of silver doped hydroxyapatite (HAp/Ag) ceramic scaffolds were evaluated. HAp/Ag powder samples with 0.3 2.0 wt % of silver were prepared by two different modified wet precipitation methods at 90 C temperature. The Obtained fine HAp/Ag powder was used to prepare dense and porous HAp/Ag ceramic scaffolds. The bioactivity properties of dense and porous HAp/Ag ceramics scaffolds were determined in simulated body fluid (SBF). The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations showed a nucleation process of calcium containing crystals and formation of bone-like apatite layer on the surface of HAp/Ag ceramic scaffolds. SEM microphotographs showed that the formed apatite layer on the dense HAp/Ag scaffolds was thicker if compared with porous HAp/Ag ceramic scaffolds. Significant differences in the formation process of bone-like apatite layer could be attributed to the differences of scaffold porosity, surface morphology and distribution of silver particles throughout the HAp/Ag ceramic scaffolds.


The anthropocentric culture governs much of the world dictating modes, fashions and concepts. The anthropocentrism as dualistic conception of the world is based on supposedly objective and real separation between man and nature, body and mind. In this movement we are facing the unsustainability of this paradigm leads us to other ways of perceiving existence: biocentrism, life as a referral center and to overcome these dichotomies. This article addresses the sustainability issue, pointing to the biocentric ethics as a possibility of realignment (circular) to build routes that add to the perception of man as part of nature and not as its owner. It is our goal to show some concrete ways of building sustainability guided by a biocentric ethics


Abstract. Software testing is a very important phase in the development of software. Testing includes the generation of test cases which, if done manually, is time consuming. To automate this process and generate optimal test cases, several meta-heuristic techniques have been developed. These approaches include genetic algorithm, cuckoo search, tabu search, intelligent water drop, etc. This paper presents an effective approach for test data generation using the cuckoo search and tabu search algorithms (CSTS). It combines the cuckoo algorithm's strength of converging to the solution in minimal time along with the tabu mechanism of backtracking from local optima by Lévy flight. The experimental results show that the algorithm is effective in generating test cases optimally and its performance is better than various earlier proposed approaches.


A PROJECT REPORT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FUL]?ILMENT
OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF BACHELOR OF
ENGINEERING (B.ENG) DEGREE IN
AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING
FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
MINNA, NIGERIA
DECEMBER 2005


ABSTRACT   This study aims to determine the results of SCM performance measurement with the Supply Chain Operation Reference (SCOR) approach at Batik SMEs in Indonesia. The steps in this research are the creation of a hierarchy of variables in SCOR, namely Plan, Source, Make, Delivery, and Return. From these variables derived into dimensions, namely, Reliability, Responsiveness, Flexibility, Cost, and Assets. The variables and dimensions are adjusted to the condition of the company which is then carried out to measure the company's SCM performance. Then the benchmarks are made in the measurement by way of Key Performance Indicator identification (KPI). The next step is to normalize Snorm De Boer which functions to equalize the KPI values. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is carried out next to assist in determining the priority of existing criteria. The results of the measurement of SCM performance in Batik SMEs in Indonesia from 24 KPI and produce the highest performance value in the Make process of 30.74 while the lowest value is a Return of 6.33. The company's SCM performance value is 89.08. This value indicates that the company's SCM performance achievement is classified as Excellent. Keywords - Key Performance Indicator, Analytical Hierarchy Process, Supply Chain Management, and Supply Chain Operation Reference


Abstract : Low-visibility conditions for navigation of vehicles are a frequent occurrence. Driving at night, in blizzards, in sand storms, or in fog form an obvious set of challenging conditions. Remote operation of unmanned vehicles through a camera image provides a similar difficulty. Gathering intelligence from satellite imagery can similarly benefit from improved visibility. Advanced image processing techniques (e.g., contrast enhancement or tone mapping) purport to improve the perceptual quality of images that lack the contrast or color depth perceived by the human visual system (HVS). Applying such an algorithm intelligently to these low-visibility conditions gives us the ability to provide a perceptually usable assisted-vision system.


Agapetes subsessilifolia S. H. Huang, H. Sun & Z. K. Zhou, a new species of Ericaceae from the Gorge of Yalu Tsangpo, Medog, Tibet, in the eastern Himalayas, is described and illustrated.


A number of technical possibilities for isolating high level radioactive materials have been theoretically investigated at various times and places. Isolating such wastes deep underground to insure long-term removal from the biosphere is one such possibility which has been investigated. The present concept involves as a first step creating the necessary void space at considerable depth, say 2 to 5 km, in a very low permeability silicate medium such as shale. Waste in dry, calcined or vitrified form is then lowered into the void space, and the access hole or shaft sealed. Energy released by the radioactive decay raises the temperature to a point where the surrounding rock begins to melt. The waste is then dissolved in it. The extent of this melt region grows until the heat generated is balanced by conduction away from the molten zone. Resolidification then begins, and ends when the radioactive decay has progressed to the point that the temperature falls below the melting point of the rock-waste solution. Calculations are presented showing the growth and resolidification process. The use of a nuclear explosion presents one alternative way of creating the void space.


The near-Earth space radiation environment includes energetic galactic cosmic rays (GCR), high intensity proton and electron belts, and the potential for solar particle events (SPE). These sources may penetrate shielding materials and deposit significant energy in sensitive electronic devices on board spacecraft and satellites. Material and design optimization methods may be used to reduce the exposure and extend the operational lifetime of individual components and systems. Since laboratory experiments are expensive and may not cover the range of particles and energies relevant for space applications, such optimization may be done computationally with efficient algorithms that include the various constraints placed on the component, system, or mission. In the present work, the web-based tool OLTARIS (On-Line Tool for the Assessment of Radiation in Space) is presented, and the applicability of the tool for rapidly analyzing exposure levels within either complicated shielding geometries or user-defined material slabs exposed to space radiation is demonstrated. An example approach for material optimization is also presented. Slabs of various advanced multifunctional materials are defined and exposed to several space radiation environments. The materials and thicknesses defining each layer in the slab are then systematically adjusted to arrive at an optimal slab configuration.


ABSTRACT The study aims to determine the effect of A. microphylla in Arab hens rations on digestibility protein phase layer, crude fiber digestibility and rate of digesta rations. The benefits of research can provide information on the utilization of A. microphylla as a phase Arabic chicken layer ration. This research used Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 4 treatments and 5 replications. Each repeat experiment using 4 units of livestock. The treatment given is the gift of Azolla microphylla different levels (0%, 3%, 6% and 9%). Parameters measured were protein digestibility, crude fiber digestibility and rate of digesta. The materials used are 80 Arab laying hens (age ± 8 months), rice bran, yellow corn flour, A. microphylla, poultry meat meal, CaCO3, Fe2O3 indicator, 0.2 N HCl, vitachick. Equipment that will be used is battery cages, where food and drink, egg tray, hygrometer, thermometer, scales, sprays, cardboard, plastic. The research method used 3 stages, the preparation and adaptation of livestock for 1 week, during the 6-week treatment phase and the retrieval phase for 4 weeks. The results showed that hens fed rations treated Arabs have no real effect with the provision of A. microphylla to ration consumption, digestibility of crude protein, crude fiber digestibility, digesta rate and body weight gain. Keywords: Arab hens, A. microphylla, digestibility, crude protein, crude fiber, the rate of digesta ABSTRAK Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh pemberian A. microphylla dalam ransum ayam Arab fase layer terhadap kecernaan potein, kecernaan serat kasar dan laju digesta ransum. Manfaat penelitian dapat memberikan informasi mengenai pemanfaatan A. microphylla sebagai bahan ransum ayam Arab fase layer. Penelitian ini menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) dengan 4 perlakuan dan 5 ulangan. Tiap ulangan menggunakan 4 unit ternak percobaan. Perlakuan yang diberikan adalah pemberian A. microphylla level berbeda (0%, 3%, 6% dan 9%). Parameter yang diamati adalah kecernaan protein, kecernaan serat kasar dan laju digesta. Materi yang digunakan adalah 80 ekor ayam Arab petelur (umur ± 8 bulan), bekatul, jagung kuning, tepung A. microphylla, poultry meat meal, CaCO3, indikator Fe2O3, HCl 0,2N, vitachick. Peralatan yang akan digunakan adalah kandang battery, tempat pakan dan minum, egg tray, hygrometer, termometer, timbangan, semprotan, kardus, plastik. Metode penelitian menggunakan 3 tahap yaitu tahap persiapan dan adaptasi ternak selama 1 minggu, tahap perlakuan selama 6 minggu dan tahap pengambilan data selama 4 minggu. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa ayam Arab yang diberi ransum perlakuan tidak memiliki pengaruh yang nyata dengan pemberian A. microphylla terhadap konsumsi ransum, kecernaan protein kasar, kecernaan serat kasar, laju digesta dan pertambahan bobot badan. Kata kunci : ayam Arab, A. microphylla, kecernaan, protein kasar, serat kasar, laju digesta


The authors describe the evidences supporting the role of cytokines in experimental pain, discussing possible approaches for pain control using cytokine-targeting therapies. PAIN The present review describes the evidences supporting the role of cytokines in experimental pain, discussing pos- sible approaches for pain control using cytokine-targeting therapies such as soluble receptors, receptor antagonists, neutralizing antibodies, and drugs that inhibit cytokine production. Pain is a nociceptive sensation which perception causes unpleasant emotions. It is accepted that sensitization of the primary sensory neurons is essential to inflammatory pain. Nonetheless, this sensitization of the nociceptor was, for a long time, regarded as a result of the excitatory action of various inflammatory mediators (a "soup of inflammatory mediators") released in the site of the inflamed or damaged tissues (1) . However, this hypothesis was challenged by the discovery of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs me - chanism of action by Vane's group (2) and the demonstration that, in man (3) and in animals (3) , eicosanoids do not cause overt pain but sensitize the pain receptors.


A comprehensive study devoted to designing green surface-active ionic liquids (SAILs) based on the "benign-of-design" approach results in finding greener alternatives.


PURPOSE: To provide a method for treating high concn. org. waste water wherein it is possible to miniaturize a treating tank and to solubilize and decompose a ground solid and to remarkably reduce amounts of excess sludge and undecomposed solid to be aftertreated and to perform org. substance waste water treatment and solid treatment. CONSTITUTION: The waste water treating method comprises a step wherein a water-contg. org. waste is ground in a grinding machine 2, a step wherein the solid of the ground org. waste and a waste water are transferred to a waste liq. storing tank 4, a step wherein a part of the separated solid and the waste water is transferred into an anaerobic decomposition treating tank 9 arranged in series with the waste water storing tank 4 and a step wherein the transferred solid and waste water are brought into contact with an anaerobic microorganism holding bed 10 to perform solubilization and decomposition thereof and in parallel, a step wherein the treated water in the anaerobic decomposition treating tank 9 and the waste water prepd. by solid-liq. separation in the waste water storing tank 4 are treated under an aerobic condition in an aerobic decomposition treating tank 12. COPYRIGHT: (C)1993,JPO&Japio


In this article, Sr2+ and/or Fe3+-doped LaMnO3 perovskites were rapidly synthesized using supercritical water (sc-H2O) in a continuous hydrothermal flow reactor. Nanosized perovskites (6–45 nm) with defective structures were obtained, which led to high surface areas (28–67 m2 g−1) and enriched defects. After being subjected to catalytic toluene oxidation, La0.9Sr0.1Mn0.9Fe0.1O3 exhibited superior activity with T50 (i.e., the temperature of 50% toluene conversion) at approximately 213 °C, T90 (i.e., the temperature of 90% toluene conversion) at approximately 236 °C, and the reaction rate constant, k, at 1.47 mL g−1 s−1 (at 180 °C). Such activity was even comparable to that of some noble metal catalysts. H2-TPR, O2-TPD and 18O2-TPSR analyses suggested that both the Langmuir–Hinshelwood and Mars–van Krevelen mechanisms are involved in such a toluene oxidation process, where the dissociation of gaseous oxygen (via the surface oxygen vacancies) and the diffusion of mobile lattice oxygen (to the catalyst surface) in the lanthanide perovskites played a crucial role in determining their toluene oxidation efficiencies. This explained why La0.9Sr0.1Mn0.9Fe0.1O3 that has enriched surface oxygen vacancies and high lattice oxygen mobility (both originating from the structural distortion in sc-H2O reaction) could yield a remarkable performance in catalytic toluene oxidation.


Complex hydride shows the highest volumetric density and gravimetric density among hydrogen storage materials known today, which has been receiving intensive attentions recently. This paper introduces the formation, characteristics, and classification of complex hydrides. The research status and progress are overviewed and summarized. The issues are also figured out. The research direction and development trend of complex hydride are put forward thereafter.


Food habits and habitat utilization of wildlife species on revegetated stripmine spoils. Current reclamation techniques were beneficial for tundra voles, short-eared owls and marsh hawks. Caribou, Dall sheep, red fox, coyote, wolf, arctic ground squirrel, waterfowl, and various raptorial birds derived partial benefit from the reclaimed areas. The seeded grasses functioned as minor items in the diets of herbivores while reclaimed sites served as hunting areas for the various carnivores and raptors. Moose, snowshoe hare, red-backed voles, willow ptarmigan and most nongame birds were adversely impacted by the reclaimed areas. Woody vegetation and its associated attributes, such as cover and food, were the essential habitat components missing from the reclaimed areas. Stripmining and reclamation procedures result in the formation of ''islands'' of grassland. The availability of undisturbed habitat adjacent to small sized, seeded areas, has made it possible for wildlife to take advantage of the reclaimed sites and still have a sufficient amount of natural food and cover available with which to meet the nutritional and habitat needs of the animal. The detrimental effects of current reclamation procedures increase as the amounts of land disturbed by mining become very large. Present reclamation procedures create grasslands on disturbed sites. As themore » size of the disturbed area and subsequent areas of revegetation increases, the resulting loss of native forage and habitat will be very detrimental to the local wildlife. This adverse effect could be ameliorated if reseeded areas are interspersed with trees and shrubs. If recreating wilflife habitat is the major goal of reclamation, it is recommended that the creation of a diverse vegetative structure should be considered as important as the establishment of a ground cover.« less


with the civitas after twenty-five years' service (see Diplomata in G. I. L. iii.), but sometimes during actual service, which explains the otherwise perplexing fact that in inscriptions auxiliary soldiers are sometimes found assigned to one of the tribes. Where they are stated, as is sometimes the case, to belong to a colony, they were either assigned to this after their enfranchisement, or, as Mommsen thinks, the colony is to be regarded as only a Latin colony. It not unfrequently happened that the civitas was granted to a whole cohort as a special reward, in which case the words 'civium Romanorum' were added to its official description (G. I. L. III. 1577), but while the title apparently remained, the position of recruits was not affected by it. Under Augustus in all probability, and during the Julio-Claudian reigns, the auxiliaries were not only recruited from the districts whose names they bear, but were for the most part posted in or near their own provinces. Definite proofs of this are few, as there are no diplomata of so early a date, and accounts, like those of Tacitus for the Batavian and Jewish wars, are rare. There was probably no hard and fast rule on the subject, and in many cases it may have been a matter of indifference. But economical and sanitary grounds would favour their employment near their homes, while the inconvenience of posting troops in a country with strange language and habits would be greater for auxiliaries than for the legions with their large camps and greater organisation. On the other hand there were reasons which from the first must have worked in an opposite direction. Small provinces like Raetia or Thrace would certainly not need all their auxiliaries, while large provinces like Germany could hardly supply all they required. Again legions, when moved to a fresh province, probably took their auxiliaries with them. Thus Batavian cohorts accompanied the XlVth legion to Britain (Tac. Hist. iv. 12), and cohorts of Lusitani (Hist. i. 70), and Vascones (iv. 33) accompanied the IVth Macedonica from Spain to Germany. So too, cohorts with peculiar arms or equipments were naturally wanted in different parts ; as e.g. Syrians and Dalmatians. On the whole Augustus seems to have posted the auxiliaries in their own homes, unless exceptional circumstances prevented it. Thus German auxiliaries certainly served in Germany till 69, but a military diploma of 60 shows that hardly any native auxiliaries served in Pannonia, a difference explained by the Pannonian revolt of 6 A.D. NO doubt from the various causes mentioned, the exceptions to the original plan increased as time went on, but Vespasian changed the principle of their employment. Moved, no doubt, by the Batavian rising, he carried out in other provinces the method of Augustus in Pannonia, and from his time the auxiliaries were to a great extent denationalised, ie. employed away from home, and also recruited to a great extent locally. A further change, beginning with Trajan, was the formation of what were called nwmeri in inscriptions, and nationes in Hyginus, bodies of barbarians equipped with their own arms, and forming strictly national corps, such as the Mauri of Lusius Quietus, Daci, Palmyreni, Sarmatae, &c These, however, differed from the auxiliaries in not necessarily coming from districts possessed of the right of Latini or peregrini, and were in fact an anticipation of the later employment of Goths and Franks.


Abstract Although some approximate solutions to the elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) problem existed, no numerical calculation of the pressures and clearances under non-conformal contacts had been made. The problems were formidable: any iterative procedure tended rapidly to become unstable; without computers the calculations were lengthy and laborious. However, after 18 months of effort, four solutions were obtained and these laid the foundation for the development of the subject of EHL as a distinct field of study. While computer-based solutions are now available for virtually every type of problem, many of the original insights of these first solutions still apply.


Background: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) reportedly has neurologic consequences in childhood however little is known about the impact in isolated CDH.


Doctrine Dempsey, M. T., Trinity and Election in Contemporary Theology (Eerdmans), £25.99. Eilers, K., Faithful to Save: Panenburg on God's Reconciling Action (T&T Clark International), £65.00. Noll, M. A., Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind (Eerdmans), £16.99. Novello, H. L., Death as Transformation: A Contemporary Theology of Death (Ashgate), £50.00. Oakes, E., T., Infinity Dwindled to Infancy: A Catholic to Evangelical Christology (Eerdmans), £29.99. Robinson, D., Understanding the ''Imago Dei'': The Thought of Barth, von Balthasar and Moltmann (Ashgate), £50.00.


Refined Monte Carlo simulations have been performed on the diffusion-controlled A+B→0 and A+A→0 reaction on two- and three-dimensional critical percolation clusters and in one dimension. For comparison, we also tested the single random walker Sn (number of distinct sites visited in N steps). Effects of excluded volume, time counting, random number generators, averaging procedures, and boundary conditions have been tested and found to be within our simulation uncertainties. However, finite-size and finite-time effects are important, as well as the initial particle density and the number of runs


To the Editor: —It is so gravely important to increase our understanding of human nature in health and in disease that any effort in this direction should be commended. But a body of knowledge must be defended; and we must recognize that as much harm can be wrought by some proponents of psychiatry as by its antagonists. I refer specifically to Trigant Burrow's paper on "A Phylogenetic Study of Insanity in Its Underlying Pathology" inThe Journal, March 4. Dr. Burrow first tells us, in his definition of "phylopathology" and in the implications inherent in his choice of that term, that there is no such thing as a Man Alone; that Rousseau's "Natural Man" and the Noble Savage and Individualistic Psychology are based on romantic concepts. Undoubtedly Man is a social creature, as he is also a chemical congeries, a philosophic concept, an economic unit or a Son of God,


The Three Gorges Reservoir area (TGRA) is one of the most landslide-prone areas in China. Landslide prediction is important for the mitigating of geohazards and it is also an essential component for developing landslide early warning systems. In the TGRA, the preparatory, triggering and controlling factors of landslides are very diverse. The local geological conditions and variations in the controlling factors result in pulsed movements of landslides, the so-called "steplike" deformation of landslides. Most of the existing predictive models are based on a single algorithm including static models and dynamic models. This study proposes an Ensemble model combined with a static model and a dynamic model which combined the advantages of the two models for landslide displacement prediction.


Background and objectives The role of serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) in migraine prophylaxis has not been completely established. Current treatments for vestibular migraine (VM) are based on scarce evidence. We aimed to perform an updated review focusing on the efficacy and tolerability of SNRIs for migraine and VM prevention. Methods We searched the PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases for relevant studies. The primary outcome was migraine frequency. In the case of VM, the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) scores and Vertigo Severity Scores (VSSs) were extracted. Results Six randomized controlled trials involving 418 patients were analyzed. Patients receiving SNRIs had fewer migraine days than those receiving a placebo (standardized mean difference −0.38, 95% CI −0.76 to −0.01, p=0.04). The effects of SNRIs and other active drugs were comparable. In patients with VM, venlafaxine had a significant advantage over other active drugs in decreasing the VSS (weighted mean difference (MD) −1.45, 95% CI −2.11 to −0.78, p<0.0001) and the emotional domain score of the DHI (MD −2.64, 95% CI −4.97 to −0.31, p=0.03). We found no significant difference in the rate of withdrawals due to any reason or withdrawals due to side effects between SNRIs and active drugs and between SNRIs and a placebo. Conclusions SNRIs were clinically safe and effective for migraine and VM prophylaxis, were better than a placebo, and not inferior to other active drugs. SNRIs may be a preferable choice for patients with VM with psychiatric disorders.


The fundamentalparadigmof context-aware computinghas lead to a diversity of conceivable context-based applications. In order to support these applications, efficient and scalable context management platforms have become utterly important. In this paper we propose a layered reference model that encapsulatessuitable abstractionsto tackle the complexityof context managementin mobile ad-hocnetworks. For each layer, we outline strategies and mechanisms we have developed to manage context information efficiently so that it can readily be used by context-based services and applications in these networks. In addition, we discuss refinements of the current model that we currently investigate,whicharerelatedto datasemanticssuchascontext quality and expressive location models, performance enhancementby adaptation,and aspects regarding the integration of ad-hoc context management with infrastructurebased systems leading to a hybrid system structure.


The core of the UTR-10 (modified Argonaut type) reactor consists of two water moderated fuel regions imbedded in graphite, separated by approximately 18 in. and reflected by 12 in. of graphite. Each enriched U fuel region is subcritical when considered separately but reactivity coupling between regions allows the system to be critical. Control of the reactor is accomplished by means of a shim-safety rod adjacent to one fuel region and a regulating rod adjacent to the other fuel region. The arrangement of the core is such that each control rod primarily affects the reactivity of the adjacent region, and hence, different amounts of negative reactivity can be introduced into each region. As a result, the average neutron fluxes in the two regions may be different. This condition, known as "flux ti l t ing," has been reported by Baldwin (1) to occur in the Argonaut reactor when the fuel is loaded in the two-slab configuration. The effects of flux tilting upon the kinetic behavior of the UTR-10 reactor were studied using an analog computer. The two core regions were treated as separate "point" reactors with reactivity coupling. Step and ramp inputs of reactivity to one region as well as a sinusoidal variation of the coupling were simulated on the computer. The reactor kinetics equations used to describe the time behavior of each fuel region of the UTR-10 reactor were:


Developing a new building type raises questions of accommodation appearance and cost.This paper sets in context the emergence, development and decay of one highly specialised and localised building type -the purpose-built coroner's court which appeared in the metropolis in the 1870s. Surviving references suggest how far the existence and the details of the coroner's courts owed to a particular and short-lived combination of procedural requirements, administrative wrangles and social pressures.


Waste recycling begins from the collection phase. The ordinary activity of emptying bins in trucks for subsequent stocking, material separation and recycling treatment has great impact over the whole process efficiency. With optimised garbage collection it is possible not only to achieve a better recycling rate in terms of quantity and material quality, but also to deeply cut the costs of material selection and treatment in the recycling process. This especially applies to collected glass where the recycling steps require multiple treatments for sorting, processing and glass re-use either with "new" material, to obtain glassbased items, or mixed to other substances, even to produce completely different composites. This paper highlights some "design guidelines" of a truck aimed at urban glass-waste collection. Two features give unique capabilities to the vehicle: the automation of both loading and compacting processes and the compactor performance with regard to the size of the treated material, cut down in pieces suitable for optimal recycling efficiency.


Using the Parker Brothers Monopoly game to teach sociological concepts and perspectives on class inequality encourages active learning while avoiding some of the pitfalls associated with game simulations. We propose a three-fold strategy of planning, playing, and debriefing that includes students as active partners in their own learning. Student reactions to this critical twist on a childhood board game are overwhelmingly positive. Instructor strategies for incorporating the board game experience into lecture, student facilitated discussion, and out of class writing are proposed. We also present ideas for streamlining this exercise for instructors needing to limit the use of class time, and discuss pitfalls to avoid based on our decade of experience with this exercise. Finally, we present assessment data supporting our position that student learning is enhanced.


The mechanical properties of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) were characterized by using uniaxial compression and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) as well as finite element simulation methods. A five-parameter linear solid model was used to emulate the mechanical behavior of PDMS. The study results indicated that the effect of viscoelasticity affected the PDMS micropillar arrays significantly. The conventional approach for calculating the cellular force basing on the linear elastic mechanics could result in considerable errors.


We present a spatial array of Lorenz oscillators, with each cell lattice in the chaotic regime. This system shows spatial ordering due to self-organization of chaos synchronization after a bifurcation. It is shown that an array of such oscillators transformed under a discrete symmetry group, does not maintain the global dynamics, although each transformed unit cell is locally identical to its precursor. Alternatively, it is shown that in a 1-dimensional lattice, the coupling destroy the chaotic behavior but there are similar global behaviors between both coupled arrays, suggesting that is the local equivariance which controls the dynamics.


A bibliography is traditionally characterized by the judgments, bounded by explicit selection criteria, made by a single compiler. Because these criteria concern the attributes ascribed to a work and the needs of readers, bibliographic work is largely conceptual even across technological eras and domains. Yet, the development of networked information services, made possible by WWW infrastructure, has enabled very large numbers of people to discover, organize, and publish information, including bibliographies. Indeed, bibliographies, or at least bibliography-like artifacts, are a common genre of website, often published by people without specialized skills in information organization and following non-rigorous selection procedures. Nevertheless, even if the items from these lists are poorly selected and described, this publishing activity is fundamentally important because it structures information locally, creating a patchy network of secondary access points. In turn, these access points enable information discovery, the formation and development of communities of interest, the estimation of document relevance by search engines, and so on. In sum, this activity, and the enabling technical infrastructure, invites bibliographies to take on new interactive possibilities. The aim of this article is to extend the traditional view of bibliography to encompass collaborative possibilities for wide, or narrow, participation in the shaping of bibliographies and the selection of items. This is done by examining the nature of bibliography on the web, by proposing a conceptual model that opens bibliography to participatory practices, and by discussing a case study where a team sought to develop a bibliography of electronic resources. This examination reveals splendid opportunities for expanding the notion of bibliography with participatory policies while remaining true to its ancient roots.


Aims of this research to recognize the influence of Local Tax, Local Retribution, and Audit Opinion for Expenditure Performance of Regional Government. Object of this research is the entire district governance and city governance in Bali Province. Data source of this research documented from Statistic Department Bali Province about the Realization of Local Revenue and Expenditure Report from year 2008 until 2013. This research tool use Multiple Regression Analysis. Total amount of data reseach as much as 54 data. The result of this research indicate that the Local Tax show negative influence for Expenditure Performance. Local Retribution didn't give influence for Expenditure Performance. Audit Opinion didn't give influence for Expenditure Performance.


Much of the recent concern by regulatory agencies about drinking water quality has been directed toward organic contamination in drinking water. Although organic contamination has been thought to primarily affect surface waters, there is a growing awareness and concern over groundwater contamination. What usually occurs is that the groundwaters contain a few organic compounds at high concentrations (microg/L to mg/L levels) while surface water supplies contain many organic compounds at low concentrations (microg/L levels). For example, an EPA research project using the GROB Closed Loop Stripping Method, identified approximately 225 organic compounds during sampling of treated surface water prior to granular activated carbon adsorption at the Cincinnati, Ohio Water Works. Except for the four trihalomethanes (chloroform, dichlorobromomethane, dibromochloromethane, bromoform) all concentrations were in the low part per trillion (microg/L) range. The health significance of these concentrations is unknown. However, one may wonder which is more significant; ingesting a few organics at high concentrations or many organics at low concentrations. The goal of any treatment scheme should be to remove as much contamination as feasible, technologically and economically. Various treatment options are available for removing organic contaminants from drinking water. Three of the treatment options are: granular activated carbon, air stripping,more » and reverse osmosis.« less


Purpose A novel non‐contact, non‐invasive Vibration Tonometry technology with excitation of corneal vibration and their correlation to GAT IOP was tested in a large clinical trial reported


A web-type flexible planar material consisting of a composite is made from at least one web-type homogeneous polymer melt and a planiform fibrous material. The planar material is provided with a heterogeneous structure and consists of at least one homogeneous PVC-free polymer layer and a foundation layer. The foundation layer, comprising a fibrous planar structure, is provided with a coloured pattern and the polymer layer is a transparent wear-protection layer consisting of a mixture of one or more olefin components and one or more thermoplastic elastomer components. The molecular groups of the material components form a permeation network in which the thermoplastic elastomer components form the discontinuous phase and the olefin components the continuous phase of the lattice composite. The material is suitable for use as a floor covering manufacture.


Planets, comets, stars, galaxies and the interstellar medium (ISM) emit complex but distinct molecular spectra. These spectra reveal the chemical composition and physical conditions in the objects. For example, many biologically important molecules, such as acetic acid, formic acid, vinyl cyanide and ethyl cyanide, have been detected in hot molecular cores in the ISM. A diversity of molecules creates complicated and yet interesting astrochemistry in hot cores. However, the formation mechanisms of large molecules are still unclear. Hence large molecule observations are essential to understand hot core chemistry. Among these molecules, acetic acid is one of the most important large species in hot cores. It is a possible precursor of glycine, the simplest amino acid. It only has been detected in high-mass hot cores without oxygen/nitrogen chemical differentiation, which is key to hot core chemical models. Using the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA), we have conducted an acetic acid survey in hot cores. In our survey, we have discovered a new acetic acid hot core, G19.61-0.23, which shows no chemical differentiation as the other acetic acid hot cores. Therefore, we suggest that both large oxygen and nitrogen-bearing species play important roles in acetic acid formation. Ground-based interferometric observations are severely affected by atmospheric conditions. Phase correction is a technique to obtain high quality data and achieve great scientific goals. For our acetic acid survey, a better phase correction technique can not only detect weaker transitions of large molecules, but also increase the map resolution of hot cores. Water vapor radiometers (WVRs) are designed to improve the technique by observing tropospheric water vapor along the lines of sight of interferometers. We have numerically demonstrated the importance of phase correction for interferometric observations and examined the water vapor phase correction technique. Furthermore, we have built two WVR prototypes with new calibration, thermal regulation and backend systems. The WVR prototypes had been tested in a laboratory, on a roof and at the CARMA site to verify their performance. We conclude the WVR thermal stability and dynamic range are critical while the enormous and rapid fluctuations of the sky background emission overwhelm the WVR dynamic range and degrade the WVR sensitivity.


Abstract In this study, the key drivers of sustainability commitment, green supply chain management, big data integration and green human resource practice are explored, and the impact of these sustainable capabilities on the environmental and financial performance of banks is also elaborated. In addition, the influence of green management practices on integrating big data technology into operations is presented. As for the concept of dynamic ability, it has been used to recommend and empirically test conceptual models. Data were collected through a self-administrated survey questionnaire on 317 people working in 37 banks in six Asian countries. Research suggests that big data analytics strategies have an impact on internal processes and on the stability and financial performance of banks. Besides, it is indicated that banks are committed to proper data monitoring of their customers to complete operational efficiency and sustainability goals. Furthermore, our result proved that banks practicing Green Innovation strategies experience better environmental and economic performance because their employees are already trained in Green HR. Finally, from our study, it was found that internal and external green supply chain management practices have a positive effect on the environmental and financial performance of banks, thus ensuring that the bank of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) mitigates the environmental impact through its operations and ultimately experiences an increase in financial performance.


In this paper, an E-IoT service platform that provides energy saving solutions at legacy factory sites is presented. The E-IoT service platform collects process data through E- IoT module, transfers it to analysis system through E-IoT platform, and predicts power consumption through correlation analysis with process variables in E-IoT analysis system. Among the 1,556 raw material process data collected from paper mills, the largest correlation coefficient between raw material and high voltage power was obtained, and a prediction model for raw material high voltage power was established. With this model, the factory can establish the process plan according to the predicted power range, and the energy simulation model can be created for each process.


A graph is a powerful mathematical tool for modeling or visualization of the existence of a particular relation between pairs of elements of a given set. Social networks or relationships between groups of people can be suitably modeled and interpreted using graphs [3]. The graphs can also be used to explore mathematical models of predator-prey relationships, determine trophic levels, dominant species, the stability of the ecosystem, competition graphs, interval graphs, etc. [2]. This article deals with the graph (network) of graphs, meaning every vertex of the given graph is again a graph. The graphs considered in this article are simple undirected graphs. In 1978 [5], a graph's energy is defined, which originated from theoretical chemistry. For an n-vertex graph G with adjacency matrix A having eigenvalues λ1 ≥ λ2 ≥ · · · ≥ λn, the energy E(G) is defined as E(G) = n ∑


i Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .. ii DECLARATION iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ... iv GLOSSARY OF TERMS vii LIST OF FIGURES viii LIST OF TABLES ix LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .... x 1. ORIENTATION 1 1.


This paper briefly introduced the overview of Jiangxia in Wuhan,and the biological characteristics about holly,then preliminary analyzed the necessity and feasibility about the development of improved variety base of holly.It also analyzed the benefits from ecology,society and economy.In addition,it proposed some related suggestion about construction scale,base locations,safeguards and superior tree selections and so on.These measures will provide theoretical reference to the development of improved variety base of holly.


"Petrale sole are taken commercially from Santa Barbara, California, to Hecate
Strait, British Columbia. These 1arge deep-bodied flounders are one of the major contributors to Oregon's trawl fishery, as well as those of Washington, British Columbia, and California. Only the Dover and the English soles appear in greater quantities." (Introduction) Life history and status of the fishery are given. Digitized by an ODFW employee.


The utilization of heritage RS-25 engine, also known as the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME), has enabled rapid progress in the development and certification of the NASA Space Launch System (SLS) toward operational flight status. The RS-25 brings design maturity and extensive experience gained through 135 missions, 3000+ ground tests, and over a million seconds total accumulated hot-fire time. In addition, there were also over a dozen functional flight assets remaining from the Space Shuttle program that could be leveraged to support the first four flights. Beyond these initial SLS flights, NASA must have a renewed supply of RS-25 engines that must reflect program affordability imperatives as well as technical requirements imposed by the SLS Block-1B vehicle (i.e., 111% RPL power level, reduced service life). Recognizing the long lead times needed for the fabrication, assembly and acceptance testing of flight engines, design activities are underway at NASA and the RS-25 engine provider, Aerojet Rocketdyne, to improve system affordability and eliminate obsolescence concerns. This paper describes how the achievement of these key objectives are enabled largely by utilizing modern materials and fabrication technologies, but also by innovations in systems engineering and integration (SE&I) practices. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20170008992 2019-12-03T22:53:34+00:00Z


In this paper we deal with the problem of creating an online environment for taking written exams during the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We have taken an approach that combines Microsoft Teams and an e-learning system. Before the exam begins all students join a Microsoft Teams meeting together with the teachers. This provides a simple way for teachers to check and monitor students' activity during the exam. Also, any student can immediately contact the teachers if they encounter technical problems. Online exam is accessed through an e-learning system. In our e-learning system exam questions can be parameterized, so that each student gets different variants of questions of the same difficulty. Furthermore, the order of the questions is randomized, so that students get different permutations of the questions. In smaller courses this can ensure that each student takes a unique variant of the exam which can discourage and minimize cheating. To answer questions students must upload scans or photos of their handwritten solutions. After the written online exam is manually evaluated, students must also take an oral exam through a Microsoft Teams meeting with the teachers. The described online exam procedure was used on the course Fundamentals of electrical engineering in the Fall semester of 2020/2021.


The effects of three different Chinese herbal additives on growth performance and content of melanin in tissues of Taihe silky fowls were evaluated to determine the feasibility ofimproving medicinal values of the fowls.Birds were fed basal diet (control group),basal diet supplemented with 1% Chinese herbal additive Ⅰ with Sesamum indicum L.as main ingredient (treatment group Ⅰ),1% Chinese herbal additive Ⅱ with Polygonum multiflorum Thunb as main ingredient (treatment group Ⅱ) and 1% Chinese herbal additive Ⅲ with Crinis carbonisatus as main ingredient (treatment groupⅢ),respectively.Results show no significant differences in average daily gain,daily feed intake,and feed to gain ratio (P0.05) of Taihe silky fowls aged 0~12 weeks among the 4 treatment groups.With the exception of groupⅢ,mortality rate in Chinese herbal additive groups generally tends to decline in comparison with the control group,and diarrhea frequency in all Chinese herbal additive treatment groups is lower than that in the control.The Chinese herbal additive treatment groups have higher melanin content in pectoral muscle,leg muscle and skin than the control as the Taihe silky fowl is 4 weeks old.At 8 and 12 weeks old,content of melanin in Chinese herbal additive treatment groups is generally higher than in the control.However,skin melanin content is slightly lower in treatment group Ⅱ than in the control at 8 weeks old,and at 12 weeks old treatment groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ have lower melanin content in leg muscle than control group does.Three different Chinese herbal additive supplements at 1% total diet do not affect growth performance in general,but increase (by different degrees) tissue melanin content of Taihe silky fowls.


Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems and the investments in mobility and social integration have created a large volume of data, which has allowed interaction channels to be available to the customer, which has generated that CRM are customizable, simplified and are a different alternative for users. The COACs are directed and controlled by the "LAW OF PEOPLE AND SOLIDARITY ECONOMY", as well as, like all other market segments, cooperatives must maintain a Relational Marke ting considering current and potential customers, which will generate long-term relationships and thus increase the degree of satisfaction of the same. The economic growth and market share in a company is focused mainly on its customer; a means to achieve a relational marketing strategy is the CRM, which allows customer loyalty. Applying a CRM at the cooperative level breaks the traditional sales paradigms and how to relate to the customer. The need for Huaicana COAC is to have a standard of excellence that allows it to improve the quality of service and increase the levels of satisfaction and loyalty of its partners, it is proposed that a CRM client management system be used that will contribute to Achieve the loyalty of them and expand the market share in the institution on the basis of customer satisfaction. The current situation of the Huaicana COAC was analyzed: its strategy, its processes, its technology, its partners, services and client tracking methodologies. An enlistment analysis was also carried out to implement a CRM business application focused on the business structure. The research of the different CRMs in the market, allows identifying the main partners in Latin America and Ecuador, in addition to segment the CRMs that can be used in banking, with success cases you have a reality of CRM functionality, And how the relationship with customers has improved. As part of a CRM system implementation plan for the Huaicana COAC, actions will be proposed that will allow a strategic redefinition of business, training plans and continuous improvement plans. Keyword: CRM; Loyalty; strategy; planning.


Ab initio multi-configuration Dirac–Fock (MCDF) calculations are performed for energy levels and lifetimes of the lowest 115 fine-structure levels generated from the 3s23p63d7, 3s23p53d8, 3s3p63d8,...


This paper describes an approach to the realization of a VLF loop-type antenna system. The theoretical analysis is applied to a four-loop system for Loran-C reception.


A novel chiral mono-complex (S)-Zn(FcCH2NHCH(CH2Ph)COO)2·H2O·H2O has been synthesized by the reaction of (S)-FcCH2NHCH(CH2Ph)COONa and Zn(Ac)2. X-ray crystal structural analysis reveals that the central Zn2+ ion coordinates with two (S)-FcCH2NHCH(CH2Ph)COO- and one water molecule giving rise to a tree-like configuration. The crystal belongs to orthorhombic space group P212121. The cell parameters are: a=0.893 4(2) nm; b=1.669 8(4) nm; c=2.588 4(6) nm. The oxidation potential and reduction potential of the title complex shift to higher potential compared with those of the pure ligand. At room temperature, the complex exhibits strong solid dual fluorescence properties, which is explained by quantum-chemical calculation. CCDC: 613272.


: Consumer preferences for conventional cowpea characteristics using hedonic pricing have been well-studied, but these preferences are almost undocumented using conjoint analysis in discrete choice context. This study investigated the impact of educational level on consumers' preferences and willingness to pay for white, red, black and brown conventional cowpea attributes. A conjoint choice experiment (CCE) was used to design the survey conducted at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and Usmanu Danfodiyo University (UDU), Sokoto in April/May, 2010. Conditional logit consistent with random utility theory was used to analyze the stated choice data. Results reveal that high protein content is a statistically significant (P<0.05) attribute explaining cowpea choice except for postgraduate students at UDU campus location. Consumers generally prefer cowpea varieties with large-grain size, low dry matter and genetically modified organism free. In Zaria, most respondents prefer beans grown in the north while the undergraduates at Sokoto prefer cowpea of southern origin. Brown beans have the highest potential market share (50.4%) while black beans have the lowest (4%). Thus, the average consumer value high protein content and is willing to pay more in Zaria as compared to Sokoto. It is recommended that plant breeders should focus on developing cowpea varieties possessing the above described desirable attributes to improve greater consumption among educated consumers. Results also show that graduate students value high protein content and bean options more than undergraduate students.


In times of high-pressure, poets of the Modernist School in Taiwan focused on the establishment of images and the application of symbolism and suggestions. They preferred the synaesthesia, distortion and ambiguity, so as to create an illusion of time and space and the correspondence of subjects and objects. JI Xian, as the pillar of the Modernist School, is the most prestigious one of these poets. Besides, ZHENG Chou-yu, regarded as the classic poet in Taiwan literature, has exerted irresistible influences on the following poets with his drifting yet conservative taste, dreamy and bright poetic thoughts and tender lyrics.


Objectives: There is no consensus about the optimal length of hospital stay in patients undergoing elective transfemoral TAVR under general anesthesia. Our study tried to find predictors of failure of early discharge strategy in those patients.
Methods and results: We included retrospectively 135 high risk TAVI patients (mean Log. EuroSCORE 30.8 ± 6) operated under general anaesthesia between June 2017 and January 2018 in central hospital, Bad Berka, Germany. Focus on the preoperative factors was established in favor to find possible predictors of longer hospital stay in this group of patients. Uni- and multivariate analysis were performed to identify independent preoperative predictors of fast-track protocol failure, defined as inability to discharge the patient from the hospital five days after surgery. Independent predictors of fast-track protocol failure were NYHA IV (OR 4.3; CI 95% 2.3-25, p-Value 0.017), ejection fraction (EF) ≤ 30% (OR 3.5; CI 95% 2-12.5, p-Value 0.006), right bundle branch block (OR 4.7; CI 95% 1.25-25, p-Value 0.03) and stroke with residual disability (OR 4.5; CI 95% 1.1-16, p-Value 0.025).
Conclusion: NYHA IV, severely reduced ejection fraction, right bundle branch block and stroke with residual disability might be considered potential predictors of failure of fast track protocol in patient undergoing TAVI under general anesthesia.


The law of standard angle control strategy produces biggish torque ripple because three phases are turned on or turned off for doubly salient permanent magnet(DSPM)motor at the same time.On the base of applying finite element analysis method to DSPM motor,the cause of torque ripple is analyzed in detail.A novel control system is proposed in order to reduce commutation torque ripple.The strategy advances conducting the up power tubes and delays closing the down power-switching devices.The mode of switch is subdivided in the period.There is a transition between two phases and three phases control.The torque ripple of the motor is reduced and the torque production is enhanced at phase conversion.A simulation model of DSPM motor is designed according to the value of flux linkage and induction.The validity of the novel control system is verified by simulation and test.The low speed contrast between the law of standard angle control and the novel control through test indicates that the novel control can reduce torque ripple greatly.


This study aims to obtain evidence related to the effect of fraud pentagon theory and corporate governance on financial statement fraud. This study is conducted by selecting a sample of a manufacturing company which is listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in year 2014 – 2018. The samples obtained are 450 data. The independent variable in this study is the fraud pentagon which are consist of pressure, opportunity, rationalization, competence, arrogance also corporate governance variables. This study uses multiple linear regression analysis and is processed by using IBM SPSS 22 software. The result of this study partially indicates that pressure, opportunity, rationalization, arrogance and corporate governance variables have no positive effect on financial statement fraud. While the competence variabel has a positive effect on financial statement fraud.


The title compound, C9H8Br2N2O3, crystallizes with two very similar independent molecules in the asymmetric unit, each of which adopts a trans configuration with respect to the C=N bond. Intramolecular O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds are observed in each independent molecule. In the crystal structure, molecules are linked into chains propagating along [010] by N—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. In addition, C—H⋯π interactions stabilize the structure.


Objective: This study investigates whether the sequence of anterior and posterior procedure has any effect on the lordosis, disc height and stability in combined A-P fusion of the lumbar spine. Design : A biomechanical study on cadaver lumbar spine. Materials and Methods: Twelve motion segments (between L2–L5) from four cadaver lumbar spines were studied. Anterior and posterior stabilization were performed using a Syncage (Synthes, Switzerland) of appropriate sizes, and translaminar screws respectively. Load-deformation characteristics in flexion-extension, lateral bending, and torsion were tested in a material-testing machine (Dartec, Stourbridge, UK) with 7.5Nm cyclical load. Angular deformation of each motion segment was determined simultaneously, by 2-D optical reflex camera system (Pro-reflex, Qualysis, Sweden). Disc height, and angle of lordosis between the adjacent endplates were determined from lateral radiographs. These parameters were measured in the intact spine, after A-P fixation with front first, and after back procedure first. Results: Compared to the intact spine, the disc height was significantly increased (p 0.05). Conclusion: In combined A-P fusion of lumbar spine, the lordosis is better restored when posterior stabilization is done first, but disc height is better restored when the anterior stabilization is performed first. Stability of fixation is not significantly affected by altering the sequence.


Purpose – The paper aims to examine how to create a sinking fund, the legalities of its creation and ownership, taxation issues and the accounting treatment of tenant contributions towards sinking funds within service charges demands in the UK office sector.Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews the prescriptive guidance that the 2007 RICS Code of Practice makes in terms of the creation and operation of such funds, and concludes within an empirical investigation of industry practice on sinking funds from 2004‐2008.Findings – The paper reports whether the Code has improved practice, disclosure, communication and transparency in terms of such funds and speculates on how a future Code might further improve on existing management.Originality/value – The data are original, and findings conclusively prove the need for enforcement of the existing Code, and necessary revisions as well.


Wireless terminal for use with a multi-mode base station that supports a transmit standby mode and an active mode is described. Transmit standby mode of base station operation is a low power/low interference level of operation as compared to active mode. In transmit standby mode at least some of the synchronization signaling such as pilot tone signaling is reduced in power level and/or rate with respect to the active mode. In transmit standby mode, the base station has no active state registered wireless terminals being serviced but may have some sleep state registered wireless terminals being serviced. Mode transitions from active to transmit standby may be in response to: a detected period of inactivity, scheduling information, base station mode change signals, and/or detected wireless terminal state transition. Mode transitions from transmit standby to active may be in response to: scheduling information, access signals, wake-up signals from the wireless terminal, hand-off signals, etc.


Current state of technical universities students ' engineering grounding and "Engineering graphics" course place in MAI are analyzed in this paper. Also bachelor degree problems and experience of creation of issuing specialty based on «Engineering graphics» department are considered.


A detailed analysis of the proton high‐field NMR spectra of aqueous and organic extracts of lettuce leaves is reported for the first time. A combination of COSY, TOCSY, 1H–13C HSQC, 1H–13C HMBC bidimensional sequences and DOSY was used to assign each spin system and to separate the components of the complex patterns. A large number of water‐soluble metabolites belonging to different classes such as carbohydrates, polyols, organic acids and amino acids were fully assigned. Moreover, the complex spectra of metabolites extracted in organic solvents belonging to sterols, fatty acids, diacylglycerophospholipids, galactosyldiacylglycerols, sulpholipids, pheophytins, carotenoids and hydrocarbons were also assigned. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


An 83% response rate was obtained to a postal questionnaire survey of general practitioners (GPs) carried out as part of a national infertility audit in Scotland. This provided information about how GPs are managing infertility and their opinions on 12 suggested criteria for good practice in a primary care setting.


This literature review explores the pedagogical approach, skill and motivation factors that influence or are influenced by distance education instructors. Advancing distance education in today's technology-driven milieu requires a different pedagogical approach whereby distance education students acquire knowledge. While distance education students want unconstrained access to learning regardless of time and place, instructors value face-to-face interaction. One pedagogical approach that fulfills both stakeholders' objective is a collaborative, problem-based asynchronous course design whereby structure and dialog are optimally balanced. Asynchronous Learning Networks, or ALNs, afford students the flexibility they desire while a collaborative, problem-based technique sets the stage for an instructor-favored framework. In light of traditional course delivery, such a "compromise" has been shown to result in comparable quality of education and performance. Student performance, however, is also contingent on instructor skill and level of effort or motivation. Specific instructor training and development is needed to keep pace with today's rapidly changing distance education milieu. Instructor-identified skills requiring improvement center on the efficient and effective use of technology and the application of a collaborative, problem-based ALN pedagogy. The acquisition of skills does not necessarily translate into being motivated to teach. Incentives, which improve motivation, have been repeatedly shown to be intrinsic while disincentives (obstacles), which include inadequate skills but primarily pertain to time-related issues, are extrinsic. Collectively, instructor motivation, skills and pedagogical approach are intricate instructor-based issues that form an essential part of a quality distance education program.


In the last decade, a new age cohort of 8 to 14 year olds has emerged and been deemed the newest and most vulnerable target audience for advertisers. Advertisers work to create brand loyalty amongst tweens via clever marketing and increasingly interactive branding strategies. In this paper, it is argued that the concept of a 'tween' was constructed and defined for the purposes of profit via selling brands, ideas, and products. An analysis of advertising in education, the tween influence on family spending and the integration of branding into popular culture and gaming indicates a strong trend toward increasing market share and profit by reaching out to young adolescents.


Severe plastic deformation changes the microstructure and properties of steels, which may be favourable for their use in structural components of nuclear reactors. In this study, high-pressure torsion (HPT) was used to refine the grain structure of Eurofer-97, a ferritic/ martensitic steel. Electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to characterise the microstructural changes. Following HPT, the average grain size reduced by a factor of $\sim$ 30, with a marked increase in high-angle grain boundaries. Dislocation density also increased by more than one order of magnitude. The thermal stability of the deformed material was investigated via in-situ annealing during synchrotron X-ray diffraction. This revealed substantial recovery between 450 K - 800 K. Irradiation with 20 MeV Fe-ions to $\sim$ 0.1 dpa caused a 20% reduction in dislocation density compared to the as-deformed material. However, HPT deformation prior to irradiation did not have a significant effect in mitigating the irradiation-induced reductions in thermal diffusivity and surface acoustic wave velocity of the material. These results provide a multi-faceted understanding of the changes in ferritic/martensitic steels due to severe plastic deformation, and how these changes can be used to alter material properties.


This paper is based on a simulation-based but naturalistic study of domiciliary health-visiting expertise undertaken in a large conurbation in central Scotland between 2000 and 2002. The research approach enabled direct comparison and systematic examination of multiple data sets about two simulated clients, which identified differences between issues covered and differences between practitioners' approaches and levels of expertise demonstrated during visits.

 The paper first presents the professional and theoretical background of the study and outlines the study methods before focusing on its main aim. This aim is to provide a detailed account of the informational input used for one of the simulated cases and to present illustrative findings that show the different approaches taken, and levels of expertise demonstrated, by two health visitor participants who visited this particular simulated case. The paper concludes by considering the special relevance and utility of this research approach for professional education and practice development.