System of systems engineering technology describes the possibility of ill-deflned (autonomous or hierarchically connected) dynamic control system design that includes human decision making in unpredicted (unforeseen) control situations. Kansei/Afiective Engineering technology and its toolkit include qualitative description of human being emotion, instinct and intuition that are used efiectively in design processes of smart/wise robotics and intelligent mechatronics. In presented report the way how these technologies can be married using new types of unconventional computational intelligence is described. System analysis of interrelations between these two important technologies is discussed. The solution of an important problem as robust intelligent control system design based on quantum knowledge base self-organization in unpredicted control situations and information risk is proposed. The background of applied unconventional computational intelligence is soft and quantum computing technologies. Applications of the developed approach in robust integrated fuzzy intelligent control systems are considered using concrete Benchmarks.


Every decade it seems that we have a new version of debates about how to teach reading. Recently, the issues have focused on the science of reading and how teachers can ensure that they are using it to provide informed and effective instruction for their students (Castles et al., 2018). You may be wondering, as are many educators, "What is the science of reading, and how do I know if I am using it in my instruction?"


Performance and energy management in cloud data-center are major concerns that cloud service providers have to encounter due to computing demand has been increasing. Many researchers have proposed solutions to reduce energy consumption such as scheduling and migration while maintaining an appropriate level of performance to customers. In this paper, we propose a new CPU re-allocation algorithm that combined DVFS concept with live migration technique to improve efficiency of energy management and adaptation scheme on real-time service. The proposed algorithm works as three characteristics that are Longest Completion Time (LCT), Highest Utilization (HU) and Lowest Utilization (LU). The result shows the reduction of energy consumption and execution time upon applied characteristics and adaptation scheme.


This paper obtains the uniform estimate for maximum of sums of independent and heavy-tailed random variables with nonnegative random weights, which can be arbitrarily dependent of each other. Then the applications to ruin probabilities in a discrete time risk model with dependent stochastic returns are considered.


A goal for computational analysis of combustors is to produce a tool for life prediction. An important part of this will be the prediction of the temperature field in the combustor walls. The complex geometries of combustor components make this a formidable task. In this paper a 3D coupled numerical flow/conjugate heat transfer calculation procedure is presented for a combustor heatshield. Proper account must be taken of the blockage and heat transfer effects of pedestals. A scheme has been developed to account for these effects without resolving the pedestals in the computational grid. Extra sink terms are included in the momentum equations to account for pedestal pressure drop. An extra energy equation is solved to determine the local pedestal temperature and to account for heat transfer between pedestals and fluid. This treatment has been validated against empirical data for arrays of pedestals in ducts with good agreement for friction factor and Nusselt number. The methodology is then applied to a generic heatshield geometry to indicate that a viable computational route has been developed for combustor heatshield analysis.© 2001 ASME


The agricultural sector is still the key to boosting economic growth in Indonesia, even in a crisis. Several agricultural business owners have currently transformed their business into a social enterprise based on community empowerment in their local regions. Social entrepreneurship is seen as a determining factor for the agricultural sector to grow consistently even during the Covid-19 pandemic. This research aims to determine how social entrepreneurship is implemented in the agricultural sector during the Covid-19 pandemic in the Bandung area. This study aims to determine and describe the application of social entrepreneurship criteria in the agricultural sector, especially in mushroom cultivation during the Covid-19 pandemic in the Bandung area. This study aims to identify and describe what factors determine the success in applying the criteria of social entrepreneurship. This study uses a descriptive method with a qualitative approach. The results showed that the application of social entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector in the Bandung area had met the five criteria of social entrepreneurship involving social mission, empowerment, ethical business principles, social impact, and business sustainability.


A phase variation sensor is designed in this paper for dielectric constant measurements of solid dielectrics. The sensor is designed using a coplanar waveguide (CPW) transmission line terminated with a semi-lumped LC resonator. The inductance (L) of the resonator is made of a thin meandered wire, whereas the capacitance is realized as the edge capacitance between a rectangular patch and ground metallization. By placing dielectric slabs with different permittivities on top of capacitive patch, phase of the reflection coefficient $(S_{11})$ is modified, from which the dielectric constant of the material-under-test (MUT) is identified. A circuit-based analytical design procedure is developed for the sensor to optimize the sensing performance for an arbitrary operation frequency and dielectric constant range of the material-under-test (MUT). The design procedure is validated through EM and circuit model simulation as well as the measurement of a fabricated sensor prototype.


The classification of neuroendocrine neoplasms has evolved substantially over time but remains a topic of controversy and debate. Cytology has become one of the mainstays of diagnosis for these tumors, and the treatment may be entirely based on the FNA report.: This is a retrospective study which aims to describe the cytological features found in different groups of Neuroendocrine neoplasms. We have also tried to enumerate the not so typical features which we have seen in our cases. Cases of Neuroendocrine neoplasms diagnosed by cytology in the year 2018 were included in this study. The slides of these cases were retrieved, cytological features reviewed, and clinicopathological features evaluated. Histopathological correlation was done wherever possible. In this retrospective study, there were 43 cases which included FNA (n=38), Fluid cytology(n=3), Bronchial washings and Brushings(n=2). FNA sites included lung, cervical lymph nodes, scalp, liver, pancreas, and mesentery with the cytological diagnoses of Small cell carcinoma (n=22) Neuroendocrine tumor (n=7), Large cell Neuroendocrine carcinoma (n=3) and Poorly differentiated carcinoma with neuroendocrine features (n=11). Features that are of help include scanty cytoplasm, fine or coarse granular chromatin, nuclear moulding and streaking, cells adhering to vessels, inconspicuous nucleoli, nuclear debris in small cell carcinomas; larger cell size, a moderate amount of cytoplasm, coarse granular chromatin in large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas; uniformity of cell size, round to plasmacytoid cells with stippled chromatin and rosette formation in carcinoid tumors. The identification of neuroendocrine morphology in cytology specimens is crucial as this would be the initial step towards using the appropriate markers for confirmation, which in turn has got therapeutic and prognostic significance.


Tomato Leaf Disease is one of the common things for farmers in growing tomatoes. Tomatoes are one of the popular crops that can grow in low and high areas but are susceptible to disease. For this reason, farmers take precautions by looking at the characteristics and texture of tomato leaves. However, this requires more time and money and a long process. One of the efforts that can be made is to classify tomato leaf diseases. This research aims to classify using the Support Vector Machine and K-Nearest Neighbor methods. The dataset used is tomato leaf image data with 4 classes of leaves affected by disease and 1 healthy leaf. We evaluate and analyze all models using 5-Fold, 10-Fold, and 20-Fold Cross Validation with accuracy, precision, and recall for the best accuracy. The best results of this study are accuracy in the SVM method of 0.953 or 95.3%, Precision of 0.953 or 95.3%, and Recall of 0.953 or 95.3% with 10-Fold Cross-Validation. Compared to the K-NN method, it only obtained an accuracy of 0.907 or 90.7%, a Precision of 0.908 or 90.8%, and a Recall of 0.907 or 90.7% with 10-Fold Cross-Validation.


(57) Abstract: A new method of identifying a biological agent composition, the method comprising (a) a plurality of segmented copolymer, i) at least one segment length; ii) the chemical structure; or iii) copolymers structure; (b) preparing a segmented copolymer compositions having biological agent; at least one of the compositions of the segmented copolymer with (c) biological agents, cells, with animals, plants or other organisms model or measurements of chemical or physical properties of the in vitro, or process testing for biological properties with the theoretical model, and (d) is desired biological properties, about identifying a composition.


We analyze bounds for the best position estimation of a stellar-like object on a charged coupled device (CCD) detector in a Bayesian setting, where the position is unknown but we have access to a prior distribution. We characterize the Bayesian Cramér-Rao (BCR) to bound the minimum mean square error (MMSE) of the best estimator of the position of a point source on a linear CCD-like detector, as a function of the properties of detector, the source, and the background.


This paper deals with the Locally rotationally symmetric (LRS) Bianchi type-I universe model in Mimetic Gravity Theory assuming it an extended form of General Relativity Theory. It was proclaimed a...


Observability in passive location and tracking system is an important problem. This paper investigates the observability of multi-station time difference measurements system. For a 2D plane N orders movement target, three algorithms, linear system theory, nonlinear system theory and algebraic equations are used to demonstrate the observability of multi-station time difference of arrivals (TDOA) passive location and tracking system. The minimum of observation station and observation number are obtained when the targets are observability.


Due to forces such as technology change and increased competition, to sustain manufacturing success a firm must continually evaluate and modify its resource capabilities. This fact underscores the importance of a firm's process change strategy. However, despite its impact on manufacturing performance, fundamental elements of process change strategy are not well understood. Long term performance benefits associated with potential process change alternatives are often unclear. Exacerbating the problem is the fact that uncertainty exists in terms of the actual benefits that may be attained from various types of process change. Issues impacting on the proper implementation of process change are frequently underestimated or ignored. As a consequence, process change often results in reduced productivity, excessive equipment downtime, and quality problems. Related to the above, firms often ignore the underlying dynamics of process change strategy. Finally, firms do not focus sufficient attention on either developing or applying existing knowledge to improve the likelihood of success derived from current or future process change endeavors. In this paper, we introduce taxonomies that provide a framework for firms to develop successful process change strategies. In addition, the empirical and normative literature on process change are assessed in relation to the framework introduced. Lastly, an agenda for future research in the domain of process change is discussed. Thus, it is hoped that this paper will aid practicing managers and researchers alike to better understand the full scope and implications of process change.


Data on a comparative study between a group of 26 primiparous women who gave birth to a child after an homologous In Vitro Fertilization Treatment (IVF) and a group of 26 women also primiparous, who gave birth to a child alter a natural conception, were analyzed to explore the prevalence of psychopathology in the IVF group as opposed to the control group. No differences were detected as regards the psychological parameter of depression between the two groups. The results of the Eysenck Personality Scale point out that there are no differences between the personality profile of women who resort to IVV treatment and women who conceive naturally as no statistically significant differences were discovered in three of the four sub-scales of the EPI among the two groups. There was a differentiation only in the first sub-scale (psychoticism). where the IVF group recorded lower scores to a statistically significant degree.


Abstract In this article, the authors will consider a very narrow yet spectacularly important aspect of the rule of law: its place in a constitution—the constitution of the United Kingdom—in which supremacy rests not with the constitution as a document to be interpreted by a constitutional court, but with the legislature itself. While traditionally the supremacy of the Crown in Parliament has meant that British courts have had no right to set aside even the most oppressive legislation, recent extra-judicial writings and obiter dicta in case law have been indicative of a shift in the judicial mood. In light of these developments, the paper will ask: Where does the relationship between the supremacy of the Crown in Parliament and the rule of law stand now? Where might that trajectory take us? And what might be done to reconcile the two?


Using U.S. census data the author describes and assesses the stability or change in patterns of residential segregation among Mexican-Americans blacks and Anglos in the urban southwestern United States between 1960 and 1970 (ANNOTATION)


In this work modelling and simulation for power generation application has been introduce here via electronic equivalent circuit the Photo-Voltaic mathematical model developed here. The developed model introduces the prediction of Photo-Voltaic cell behaviour by variation in temperature and radiation of solar circumstances. The output of Photo-Voltaic cell 56 volt (depending on the temperature variation) given to the BOOST converter with Inverter. Finally we get 230V AC output as per our requirement. Keywords: Improved boost converter, embedded controller, solar cell


Inductive learning model is a learning model that has three phases, namely the formation of concepts, data interpretation and application of the principle. The influence of implementation inductive model in improving learning outcomes of grade X MIPA student at SMAN 1 Sungguminasa. The study is a quasi-experement with nonequivalent control group design. The population of the study was grade X MIPA students of the second semester of academic year 2016/2017 in SMAN 1 Sungguminasa. The results of the study reveal that the implementation of inductive model significant influence toward learning outcomes students.


The late-stage functionalisation and diversification of complex structures including biomolecules is often achieved with the help of click chemistry. Besides employing irreversible click-like reactions, many synthetic applications benefit from reversible click reaction strategies, so called de-/trans-click approaches. Yet, the combination of both, reversible and irreversible click chemistry – while still respecting the stringent criteria of click transformations – remains so far elusive for modifications of biomolecular structures. Here, we report click'n lock as a concept that enables reversible click reactions and on-demand locking of chemical entities, thus switching from reversible to irreversible modifications of complex biomolecules. For this purpose, we employ the tetrazine–thiol exchange (TeTEx) reaction as a fully traceless click reaction with second order rate constants k2 higher than 2 M−1 s−1 within aqueous environments. Employing TeTEx as a reversible click reaction for the chemoselective modification of biomolecules is made possible by the use of 3,6-disubstituted 1,2,4,5-tetrazines bearing a single sulfide residue. The inherent reactivity of tetrazines towards inverse electron demand Diels–Alder (IEDDA) reactions allows to stabilize the clicked structure, switching from reversible to irreversible systems (click'n lock).


To the Editor:— The experience of Dr. Richard Hewitt with hearing aid batteries, as reported in the Nov. 6, 1954, issue ofThe Journal, page 1010, was of interest to me. A few years ago a woman was brought to me with a lacerated wound of her left arm and forearm and also a burn. On inquiry as to the cause of the injury she informed me that, in preparing a fire outdoors, she had raked up trash, leaves, and bits of wood from the back yard as fuel. She noticed an old "dry cell battery" in the accumulation but thought nothing of it. When the fire was started and much heat generated, there occurred a terrific explosion that knocked her off balance and inflicted the severe wound. The battery was completely demolished. The battery described was of an ordinary flashlight size. I wonder what would happen if a large


Owing to its unique insecticidal principle and excellent insecticidal effect,Chlorantraniliprole has been quickly adopted as one of the major insecticides for pest control of field crops.In present study,the toxicity of Chlorantraniliprole to silkworm(Bombyx mori) was investigated by means of feeding,systemic toxicity,and fumigation in combination with field experiments.The test results of acute toxicity were examined with Pearson's degree of fitting.The results indicated that the silkworm was extremely sensitive to Chlorantraniliprole.The median lethal concentration(LC50) was 4.090 5×10-3 mg/L and median lethal dose(LD50) was 1.143 5×10-8 mg/larva for the 3rd instar newly exuviated larvae.No toxicity was observed when normal concentrations of Chlorantraniliprole were used to fumigate the silkworm rearing room.Both irrigation and leaf spraying with 1.25×10-4 mg/L Chlorantraniliprole solution showed strong systemic transmission properties in root,leaf and whole plant.The residual toxic period of this insecticide to silkworm was very long.Mulberry leaves sprayed with 1.25×10-4 mg/L Chlorantraniliprole solution could still cause 100% mortality of the 3rd and 5th instar larvae after 60 d.Furthermore,toxic reaction was very quick.The poisoning symptoms emerged within 1~5 h after feeding on the poisonous leaves.The poisoned larvae experienced such symptoms as stopping ingestion,remaining still,vomiting slightly and body atrophy sequentially,and died ultimately.According to these test results,it is proposed that the authorities of pesticide management should take immediate measures to reduce the influence of this insecticide on silkworm rearing while using it to control pests for other crops.It is mostly expected that this insecticide is forbidden to be used in sericulture areas.


Currently approved FDA implantation criteria for patient selection for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) include advanced functional class heart failure that is treated optimally on a standard medical regimen, QRS duration >120 msec, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <35%.1 In this small nonrandomized study, Fung et al. investigate the effects of CRT in patients with relative preservation of LV function (mean LVEF 39%), mechanical dysynchrony, and class III symptoms.2 Unlike other ongoing large-scale randomized studies evaluating CRT in less symptomatic patients with LVEF <30%, this trial suggests that the reverse remodeling can be expected as early as 3 months after CRT in less compromised ventricles.3,4 The patients in this study2 had mild-to-moderate ventricular enlargement with a mean diastolic dimension of 5.1 cm and significant reductions to normal values were also observed (5.1 vs 4.6 cm, P < 0.001). Additional improvements in LVEF (39.1 vs 44.2, P < 0.05) and several other measures of systolic function were also seen. These benefits were similar in magnitude to those observed in a retrospectively identified group of registry patients undergoing CRT for conventional indications.


This paper describes a novel fluorous synthesis of fluorinated uracils 4. In this new protocol, fluorous alcohols 1, which are used as fluorous tags, are acetylated to yield acetates 2, which in turn are treated with a base to form their enolates. These are then reacted with fluorinated nitriles to furnish tagged β-enamino esters 3. Although this condensation step had been performed easily in previous solution and solid-phase syntheses, it proved to be very elusive in the fluorous version. Meticulous control of the reaction conditions was thus essential in order to achieve satisfactory yields of β-enamino esters 3. The final treatment of compounds 3 with isocyanates or isothiocyanates efficiently afforded uracils 4 with concomitant elimination of the fluorous tag, thereby facilitating the preparation of a small library of these derivatives.


Flue gas recirculation (FGR) is a method used to control oxides of nitrogen (NO x ) in combustion system. The recirculated flue gases resulted in slow reaction and low flame temperatures, which in turn resulted in decreased thermal NO production. Recently. it has been demonstrated that introducing the recirculated flue gas in the fuel stream, that is. the fuel induced recirculation (FIR). resulted in a much greater reduction in NO x per unit mass of recirculated gas, as compared to introducing the flue gases in air. In the present study. the effect on NO x reduction in turbulent swirl flame in laboratory scale using FGR/FIR methods through the dilution using N₂ and CO₂. Results show that CO₂ dilution is more effective NO₂ reduction methods because of large temperature drop due to the larger specific heal of CO₂ compared to N₂. FIR is more effective 10 reduce NO x emission than FGR when the same recirculation ratio of dilution gas.


In this paper the effects of disaccharides on α-naphthyl esterase from mouse kidney are investigated with histochemical, spectrophotometrical and electrophoretical methods. While a strong inhibition could be observed in the histological sections the biochemical measurements showed very little inactivation. The difference between the histochemical and biochemical results might be due to the difference in tissue preparation before measurement of the enzyme activity.


Objective To investigate their intelligence and quality of life in the elderly with Parkinson's disease.Methods Forty-two elderly patients with Parkinson's disease,and 45 healthy elderly and the elderly with non-Parkinson's disease were evaluated by Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale revised by GONG Yao-xian (WAIS-RC),Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) and life satisfaction index Z (LSIZ).Results The intelligence and quality of life in the elderly with Parkinson's disease were worse than those in the two control groups.Language,operation and intelligence quotient (IQ) in elderly with Parkinson's disease were significantly lower than those in the two control groups.Life satisfaction index ( including physical mobility,sex life,doing house chore,interests and hobbies,and social life) in the patients with Parkinson's disease was worse than that in the two control groups.Canonical regression analysis showed the factors NHP and LSIZ in elderly with Parkinson's disease were worse than those in the two control groups.Conclusions There existed obvious intelligence disturbance in the elderly with Parkinson's disease,and their quality of life and satisfaction of life were worse than those in healthy elderly and the elderly with non-Parkinson's disease.Psychological intervention would be beneficial to improvement of quality of life in the elderly with Parkinson's disease.


Context Agent abuse is a dire predicament worldwide. Learning and memory deficits stemming from the withdrawal of such agents is an increasingly burning issue for researchers. Evidence Acquisition The present review revisits the literature generated by far pertaining to the research on memory and cognition deficiencies after withdrawal of agent abuse and corresponding mechanisms. Results Deficiency on spatial memory, episodic memory and working memory are common after withdrawal of agent abuse. Conclusions The present review suggests that memory dysfunction may result from withdrawal of agent abuse.


TIMING IS EVERYTHING IN THE DEvelopment of human stem cells, researchers from the University of Wisconsin in Madison have discovered. By exposing human embryonic stem cells to various biologic factors in a precisely timed manner, they succeeded in coaxing the stem cells to develop into motor neurons, which transmit messages from the central nervous system to the muscles. The research provides valuable insights into the unique challenges of working with human stem cells, and it may speed the development of treatments for such motor neuron disorders as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. "The main point is that human stem cells can be directed to become any cell you would like, but you have to tell them what to do and when," said SuChun Zhang, MD, PhD, an assistant professor and stem cell researcher at the Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin. The research was published online in the journal Nature Biotechnology on January 30, 2005 (available online at http://www.nature.com /nbt). While laboratory-grown motor neurons may someday provide cells for transplantation into individuals with spinal injuries and motor neuronrelated diseases, the findings have more immediate applications in stem cell research and neurological disease research, Zhang said. Research on mouse stem cell differentiation has not translated well into human stem cell differentiation, in part because mouse development occurs so quickly that the importance of timing is masked, explained Zhang. Because development in humans is slower, studying human stem cell differentiation "has allowed us to tease out the [timing] of introducing biologic factors," he said. Zhang emphasized the need for continuing basic research on human stem cells. "There are fundamental questions not yet solved in human stem cells, and people should not jump ahead into translational research," he said. The ability to grow human motor neurons in the laboratory will provide new insights into disease processes and could be used as an alternative to animal models for finding therapeutic targets and testing drugs. "The motor neurons we have grown give us an opportunity to look at the processes of motor neuron degeneration and to learn how to stop them," Zhang said. Serge Przedborski, MD, PhD, a professor of neurology and pathology at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, who is studying the potential uses of stem cells in treating such conditions as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinal cord injuries, said the Wisconsin group's information has important clinical implications. He noted this research may help identify developmental problems as well. "There may be some subtle imperfection in this complicated program of [motor neuron] differentiation that may place individuals at greater risk of ultimately developing the disease." Lucie Bruijn, PhD, scientific director and vice president of the ALS Association in Calabasas Hills, Calif, which provided most of the funding for the research, said the cells will have an immediate impact on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis research. "We now have an abundant resource of human motor neurons, which we can use in cell cultures and in vitro studies to test various pharmacological drugs," he said.


Atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia (AVRT) utilizing a concealed accessory pathway is common. It is well appreciated that some patients may have multiple accessory pathways with separate atrial and ventricular insertion sites.


The demand for professional development for teachers in higher education is paramount.  In doing so, the teachers must have a good professional development scheme in upgrading their knowledge and skills in performing their main duty. This research was aimed at investigating the areas of teachers' professional development which are supported by the implementation of peer review in team teaching.  It also aims at exploring the challenges in applying team teaching. This study applied qualitative research design with the interview as the data collection method and four English teachers as the participants of the research. The result showed that there are three aspects of TPD which occur. The first one is an attitude which becomes better in terms of improved awareness of the teachers. The other element is self-esteem where it is also improved due to the feedback given after the peer review.  While the third is patience. As suggested in the feedbacks, teachers require to be more patients in dealing with misbehaving students. As for the challenges, it can be concluded that they come from two different sources. The first one is from the individual teacher where they think that some of the suggestions cannot be done or too hard to do. The second one is,  Since TPD requires funding, the institution should also provide necessary and sufficient funding to support the TPD.  This can be done by setting up the policy dealing with the sustainable TPD which, in turn, will give more benefits to the institution.


The Optimal Sink Position Selection Algorithm is proposed based on the maximum demands (OSPSA). In this algorithm the communication demands of the nodes and the communication failure probability between the nodes and the sinks are considered. The sinks multiply cover the key nodes to satisfy the maximum demands to improve the quality of service. Furthermore, the characteristics are analyzed in theory. Simulation experiments are conducted to analyze and compare the relationships between the failure probability, the coverage radius and the maximum coverage demands. Moreover the effects between the number and the maximum coverage demands and the effects between the coverage and the maximum coverage demands are also compared.


Teamwork is the key to get good result except physical quality,psychological quality,skill and strategy.On the basis of refering to the management experience of modern enterprises' cultivating teamwork spirit,the authors expound the impact of teamwork on a basketball team and how to cultivate teamwork spirit applying the methods of documentation,experience summary and observation from the relationship of coaches and players.Some suggestions are proposed.


This descriptive study, with a quantitative approach, identified the social, clinical and demographic profile, and the time interval between the diagnostic and therapeutic stages, from symptoms to adjuvant treatment, of the women with breast cancer treated in an oncology institution in Santa Catarina, Brazil. Data was collected from interviews and the medical records of thirteen women, between August and December 2010. The analysis was supported by scientific recommendations for the treatment of breast cancer, and by descriptive statistics. The results show the illness's high incidence among women between 40 -49 years of age, who are married, and with schooling up to junior high school level. The median time interval until the start of treatment was 245 days, with a further 54 days to the adjuvancy. The findings evidence the advance stage and explain the urgency for the implementation of care for the woman with breast cancer and the National Oncology Care Policy. DESCRIPTORS: Nursing. Breast neoplasms. Delayed diagnosis.


One of the authors has demonstrated that the high-power capability of a latching phase shifter was remarkably enhanced by employing Co2+doped Gd YIG without any increase in the insertion loss. Investigations done so far on the insertion loss are not sufficient to describe this fact. A part of the results of the investigation concerning Co2+doped Gd YIG has been presented by Nicolas et al. The characteristics of the Co2+, doped Gd YIG have been studied in regard to a latching phase shifter by way of the precise measurement of the complex permeabilities. For the samples containing an appropriate amount of Co2+, the part of the insertion loss due to the anisotropy field has been proved to be eliminated, and the value of the spin-wave linewidth has suggested that high-power capability is enhanced. The coercive force indicates the minimum value at that content of Co2+, while the remanence ratio remains fairly constant. It is concluded that the materials containing an appropriate amount of Co2+are superior to those materials without Co2+in both the insertion loss and high-power capability.


This overview summarizes the goals of the European projects Cumuli, Panorama, and Vanguard and references the various contributions in this volume. There are several overlaps between the projects which all evolve around the geometric analysis of scenes from multiple images. All projects attempt to reconstruct the geometry and visual appearance of complex 3D scenes that may be static or dynamic. While Cumuli and Vanguard deal with images from uncalibrated cameras and unrestricted camera position for general scenes, Panorama focusses on a highly calibrated setup used to capture 3D person models. Cumuli and Vanguard developed techniques for handling multiview relations, object tracking and camera calibration, image and geometry based view synthesis, and 3D model generation. Interaction with the modeled scene and mixing of virtual and real objects leads to Virtual/Augmented Reality applications in Vanguard and Cumuli, while the Panorama approach is tuned to fully automatic scene analysis for visual communication and 3D-telepresence. Visualisation aspects are handled by Vanguard and Panorama with the development of auto-stereoscopic displays. 1 The Cumuli Project Cumuli — "Computational Understanding of MULtiple Images" — is an Esprit Long term Research project focusing on multi-image geometry and its applications to 3D industrial metrology. It can be seen as a follow-up to the successful Esprit–BRA project Viva, which involved three of Cumuli's academic partners: Lund University (G. Sparr), Inria Sophia-Antipolis (O. Faugeras) and Inria–Imag in Grenoble (R. Mohr). On the industrial side, Cumuli's partners have expertise in image-based metrology: Innovativ Vision Image Systems in Linköping are specialists in motion measurement from high speed image sequences, e.g. car crash testing; and Imetric based in Courgenay (Switzerland) are world leaders in high precision industrial photogrammetry from still images. The final partner, Fraunhofer IGD in Darmstadt and Munich, specializes in visual modelling for augmented and virtual reality. D. Wang from the Leibniz Reinhard Koch, Luc Van Gool (Eds.): SMILE '98, LNCS 1506, pp. 1–13, 1998. c © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1998


The detection of isomorphism among kinematic chains and their derived mechanism has been a hot area of research for last several years. In the present communication a resistance distance based computerized method is proposed and it is tested for planar kinematic chains up to ten links. In this method the kinematic chains are represented in the form of resistance graph and from that graph a laplacian matrix is generated which is further transformed into a resistance distance matrix. The Square sums of resistances are used as an index for isomorphism identification among kinematic chains. This method is successfully examined for one degree of freedom, 6, 8, 10, links planar kinematic chains, 9 links two degree of freedom and 10 links three degree of freedom planar kinematic chains.


In this paper, we describe FLEXBUS, a flexible, high-performance on-chip communication architecture featuring a dynamically configurable topology. FLEXBUS is designed to detect run-time variations in communication traffic characteristics, and efficiently adapt the topology of the communication architecture, both at the system-level, through dynamic bridge by-pass, as well as at the component-level, using component re-mapping. We describe the FLEXBUS architecture in detail and present techniques for its run-time configuration based on the characteristics of the on-chip communication traffic. The techniques underlying FLEXBUS can be used in the context of a variety of on-chip communication architectures. In particular, we demonstrate its application to AMBA AHB, a popular commercial on-chip bus. Detailed experiments conducted on the FLEXBUS architecture using a commercial design flow, and its application to an IEEE 802.11 MAC processor design, demonstrate that it can provide significant performance gains as compared to conventional architectures (up to 31.5% in our experiments), with negligible hardware overhead.


Abstract This paper describes the movements of the terminal face of the Franz Josef Glacier and to a lesser extent the Fox Glacier, which have been observed more or less continuously on a yearly basis since 1951. The retreat of the Franz Josef Glacier from 1951 until the end of its recession in May 1965 amounted to 1,500 m (5,000 ft) and its re-advance until August 1967 amounted to 380 m (1,250 ft). A survey in October 1967 showed no advance of the terminal face from the August position. The paper is accompanied by photographs and maps showing changes in the position of the terminal face.


Recognition of the need for fostering work on plant genetic resources by the international community led to the formation of the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR). IBPGR has been promoting scientific efforts in relation to various germplasm. including that of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea). some which are briefly described here


We have presented a small sampling of contemporary critical writings about psychiatry. Serious questions have been raised regarding almost every aspect of our theory, our practice, and our place in society. Understandably, any clinician actively involved in treatment activities needs to have a certain freedom from obsessive rumination and doubt. However, training and practice which occur in a setting that recognizes the possibility of truth in criticism while sometimes exquisitely painful may be the healthiest of all for the nurturing and growth of psychiatry. A mature psychiatrist hears what the critic has to say, without condescension, without automatic interpretation of malicious motivation and with recognition that the critic may be right. One may say, in the spirit of Milton's Aeropagetica, "Truth is compared in Scripture to a streaming fountain. If her waters flow not in a perpetual progression, they sicken into a muddy pool of conformity and tradition."


Abstract Many VA facilities serving large rural populations do not have geriatric mental health specialists available to assist with managing the aging Veteran population's complex medical and behavioral comorbidities. We applied mixed-methods to evaluate an innovative model utilizing a geriatric psychiatrist who provides cross-facility consultation in a 5-state region. During a 3-month period, the consultant completed 135 consults and 20 e-consults to settings ranging from outpatient to long-term care. Leadership stakeholder and provider interviews highlight the importance of the availability of the consultant, collaboration with local care teams, staff education, person-centered approach, and work ethic/passion. The core challenges that the consultant helps manage include complex comorbidities, medication questions, and dementia with behavioral disturbance. Initial provider survey responses (n = 11) show high satisfaction with services (100%) and strong agreement (80%) that providers could follow through with recommendations. Next steps include replication of this model in other VA facilities.


Saliva constitutes the external environment of teeth. Dental caries is the chronic progressive destructive disease that takes on dental hard tissue. The changes in organic components, inorganic components, buffering capacity, secretion velocity and flow of the saliva have a close relationship with carious risk. The method of saliva detection helps to detect caries at early stage and provides important information for monitoring caries progress in the high risk population. This article reviewed the recent advances on salivary detection for carious risk evaluation.


P4 has emerged as the de facto standard language for describing how network packets should be processed, and is becoming widely used by network owners, systems developers, researchers and in the classroom. The goal of the work presented here is to make it easier for engineers, researchers and students to learn how to program using P4, and to build prototypes running on real hardware. Our target is the NetFPGA SUME platform, a 4x10 Gb/s PCIe card designed for use in universities for teaching and research. Until now, NetFPGA users have needed to learn an HDL such as Verilog or VHDL, making it off limits to many software developers and students. Therefore, we developed the P4->NetFPGA workflow, allowing developers to describe how packets are to be processed in the high-level P4 language, then compile their P4 programs to run at line rate on the NetFPGA SUME board. The P4->NetFPGA workflow is built upon the Xilinx P4-SDNet compiler and the NetFPGA SUME open source code base. In this paper, we provide an overview of the P4 programming language and describe the P4->NetFPGA workflow. We also describe how the workflow is being used by the P4 community to build research prototypes, and to teach how network systems are built by providing students with hands-on experience working with real hardware.


A technique to charge-multiplex multiple position sensitive avalanche photodiodes (PSAPD) has been studied. We have observed that with multiplexing, the spatial resolution is slightly degraded, but the energy and time resolution are not affected. We are building high resolution PET systems that use numerous PSAPDs, and we would like to use multiplexing to reduce the number of electronic readout channels and complexity. This charge multiplexing technique will reduce the number of readout channels required by a factor of two. A PSAPD is a new silicon semiconductor photodetector that may be used to replace a photomultiplier tube in PET or SPECT systems. It is a planar avalanche photodiode with a resistive coating that allows continuous positioning over the entire active area. The resistive sheet of the PSAPD splits the charge signal amplified by an avalanche process of the diode into four spatial channels. The top contact contains the hole signal which is equal in magnitude to the sum of the 4 spatial channels. The PSAPD can be multiplexed in a way that sums the spatial channels but leaves the top channel independent. PSAPDs are currently fabricated with active areas that range from 8times8 mm2 and higher. The proposed PET system detectors comprise 1 mm lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO) crystals coupled to extra thin PSAPDs. Non-multiplexed, these detectors have achieved excellent spatial resolution (<1 mm2), energy resolution (<10%), and time resolution (<2 ns). Unlike a position-sensitive PMT, the electronic amplification of a PSAPD is only on the order of 1000, which makes it challenging to charge multiplex multiple devices


In clinical trials, heterogeneity of treatment effect often exists between patients with different pretreatment characteristics, such as age, gender, weight, etc. In response to such issue, various subgroup identification approaches have been proposed. Two methods among them, Qualitative Interaction Tree (QUINT) and a method adapted from an optimal treatment regimes (OTR) approach proposed by Zhang et al. (2012), are compared in this paper. These two methods identify three types of subgroups in a situation with two treatments (A and B): one subgroup for which treatment A is better than treatment B, one for which treatment B is better than treatment A, and one for which the difference between the two treatment outcomes is negligible (called "indifference group"). A simulation study was conducted to compare the two methods with regard to their recovery performance (quantified by type I error rates, type II error rates, Cohen's κ agreement to the true subgroups, and splitting performance of the derived trees) and their predictive performance (quantified using the difference between the true expected treatment outcome and the estimated treatment outcome of sample data and population data). Results of the simulation study suggested that QUINT has its advantage in recovering the subgroups, and the method adapted from the OTR approach has its advantage in predicting treatment outcome.


Potassium (K) leaching is affected by soil texture and available K, among other factors. In this experiment, effects of soil texture and K availability on K distribution were studied in the presence of roots, with no excess water. Soils from two 6-year field experiments on a sandy clay loam and a clay soil fertilized yearly with 0, 60, 120, and 180 kg ha−1 of K2O were accommodated in pots that received 90 kg ha−1 of K2O. Soybean was grown up to its full bloom (R2). Under field conditions, K leaching below the arable layer increased with K rates, but the effect was less noticeable in the clay soil. Potassium leaching in a sandy clay loam soil was related to soil K contents from prior fertilizations. With no excess water, in the presence of soybean roots, K distribution in the profile was significant in the lighter textured soil but was not apparent on the heavier textured soil.


This monograph addresses the vital impact of ancient Greek thought on Colonial American cosmography, through an analysis of the ways Colonial Americans interpreted and applied Greek ideas. The conflict between the Ptolemaic tradition and the heliocentric model of Copernicus provides a focal point for this study. To highlight this cosmographic reformation, I examine the influence of Greek democratic culture, in particular the tolerance of open discussion, as well as attitudes of scientific objectivity, mathematical reasoning and religious openness. In turn, this cultural inheritance inspired and enabled leading Colonial American cosmographers associated with Harvard and Puritanism to view scientific truth as God's truth. Thus, religiosity and the understanding of God's created universe in Colonial America embraced an ongoing journey of discovery shaped by scientific inquiry and an openness to changing received wisdom concerning the cosmos. Correspondence | Ben Baumann, email@example.com Citation | Baumann, Ben. (2019) The Origins of the Ptolemaic Tradition and its Adoption and Replacement in Colonial America. Journal of Big History, III(2); 121 153. DOI | http://dx.doi.org/10.22339/jbh.v3i2.3280


LiCoO2 plays a key role in energy storage devices due to its high energy density. And the volumetric energy density of LiCoO2 cathode can be significantly improved by increasing the charging cut‐off voltage to 4.6 V. However, the increase in resistance at the LiCoO2 interface, and the damage to the LiCoO2 from the outside to the inside by the HF generated that caused by the decomposition of the organic electrolyte and LiPF6 under 4.6 V conditions are not conducive to structural stability during cycling. Here, it is shown that the decomposition of electrolyte and LiPF6 is effectively mitigated by inhibiting the interfacial catalytic activity of LiCoO2 using an atomically thin layer of MXenes as a interlayer. Density functional theory results suggest that the decomposition energy of LiPF6 is 1.13 and 3.21 eV at the interface of LiCoO2 and MXenes, respectively. Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry results further indicate that the decomposition products of the organic electrolyte and LiPF6 have a thinner thickness at the interface of MXenes (5 nm) than LiCoO2 (10 nm). This study provides a new and universal strategy for stabilizing the cathode interface to support the development of high energy density lithium‐ion batteries.


A 66-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for the management of recurrent ovarian adenocarcinoma. Eight years earlier, she presented with a mass in the left ovary without ascites, which was ...


Healthy kidneys clean your blood and remove extra fluid in the form of urine. They
also make substances that keep your body healthy. Dialysis replaces some of these
functions when your kidneys no longer work. There are two different types of
dialysis, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. But here we'll talk about hemodialysis.
Hemodialysis is an artificial kidney used to remove waste and extra chemicals and
fluid from your blood. To get your blood into the artificial kidney, the doctor needs to
make an access into your blood vessels. This is done by minor surgery to your arm or
leg. Hemodialysis has many side effects either effecting the urinary system or other
systems


Rabies is a fatal but preventable infectious disease with a large disease burden in endemic countries. The risk of contracting rabies for travellers from a Western country is low. However, an increasing number of Dutch travellers, potentially exposed to rabies abroad, consult a clinician for post-exposure prophylaxis. In this study, several interventions were examined on how they might influence costs involved in rabies treatment and prevention, including the most recent vaccination guidelines and the use of intradermal vaccination.

 A decision tree based economic model was constructed. Costs of new versus old guidelines, intramuscular versus intradermal vaccination, and post-exposure treatment subsequent to increased vaccination coverage in several risk groups were calculated and compared to each other. Statistical uncertainty with respect to numbers of travellers and vaccination coverage was assessed.

 Costs were highest using the old guidelines, estimated at €15.1 million (€405 per vaccinated person). Intradermal vaccinations in combination with the new guidelines led to the lowest costs, estimated at €10.1 million (€270 per vaccinated person). A higher vaccination uptake resulted in higher overall costs. The ratio between the additional vaccinated persons and additional costs in all risk groups was similar, around €104 per person.

 The new rabies vaccination guidelines reduced total costs. Strategies with increased vaccination uptake led to fewer rabies immunoglobulin administrations and fewer vaccinations after exposure but at higher total costs. Although intradermal administration of rabies vaccination on a large scale can reduce total costs of pre-exposure prophylaxis and can positively influence vaccination uptake, it remains a costly intervention.

 The new vaccination guidelines reduce total costs of rabies prevention. Intradermal administration of rabies vaccination on a large scale can further reduce total costs of pre-exposure prophylaxis. Strategies with increased vaccination uptake lead to fewer rabies immunoglobulin administrations and fewer vaccinations after exposure but at higher total costs.


Senna alata (L.) Roxb. (Syn. Cassia alata) is an ethnomedicinal plant belonging to the family Fabaceae. A number of bioactive constituents which contribute to a wide range of medicinal properties are attributed to the species. In the present investigation, an attempt has been made to determine the total phenolic, flavonoid contents and also to study the in vitro antioxidant activity associated with leaf extracts of S. alata. According to our investigations, the highest amount of phenolic content was observed in aqueous extract (52.3 ± 0.03) followed by methanolic (41.6±0.41) extract. Similarly the concentration of flavonoids was also found to be higher in aqueous extract (41.6±0.34) followed by methanolic (31.9±0.63) extracts. In vitro antioxidant assays of aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of S. alata have been carried out by DPPH assay, Reducing power assay, Phosphomolybdenum and Hydroxy radical scavenging activities. From the combined results of all the activities, it can be inferred that the extracts of S. alata exhibited potent antioxidant activities. Hence, they can be used as natural antioxidants like red wine, green tea, cocoa and can be replaced in place of harmful synthetic antioxidants.


In leading design companies, first concepts emerge though joint ideation by industrial designers and engineers. Within the development group, these concepts are internally down selected using feasibility and novelty criteria. When presenting first concepts to the decisionmakers, industrial designers and engineers use story telling to relay these concepts. Comparing, evaluating, combining and deciding which concepts to choose are currently accomplished using a combination of subjective criteria, intuition and social power. The present situation makes the decision prone to situational mood swings, personal negotiation abilities, temporary corporate politics and context dependent preferences. This presents an opportunity for developing a framework for mapping design concepts and a method whereby evaluating the strength of these concepts is possible. It will enable the decision-makers to decide which concepts or aspects of a concept to proceed with based on more objective criteria.


In the present study,the promoter sequence of largemouth bass POU1F1 was cloned which is 1 629 bp in length,predicted the existence of four octamer transcription factor 1(Oct-1)binding sites,one homeobox transcription factors sites,two cAMP-responsive element binding proteins sites and a TATA box.Using directly sequencing,two nucleotides mutations were identified which were located at the-18 and-183 sites,and only two haplotypes were identified(haplotype A and haplotype B).The different genotype individuals and the mutant alleles in stochastic population(126 individuals)were examined.The frequency of A haplotype and B haplotype was 0.246 and 0.754 respectively.The population correlation analysis showed that the AA and AB genotypes have significantly correlated with BB genotype individuals' weight,body length,full length,body depth and body width(P0.05),but there is no significant correlation between AA genotype individuals and AB genotype individuals.Identified growth traits markers for growth traits could be implemented through marker-assisted selection(MAS),with the aim of producing rapidly growing largemouth bass.


The toughness and strength of steel can be improved at same time by V,Nb micro-alloying.Three kinds of Non-quenched and tempered steels were designed.Industrial test shows that the qualified N80 oil-well tubing and coupling tubing can be produced by reasonable rolling and cooling technology.


Based on the local survey of study on the natural protection zone selection of Oceanm eroding geomorphology in Tuanshan of Liaoning in November 2003,The cause of formation of the marine eroding geomorphology,and the environmental quality and biology diversity were discussed.According to the principle of the marine natural protection zone type and level partition(GBT17504-1998),the protection zone type was confirmed and the protection level was presented by the combination method of nature and quantity.The result showed that the environmental quality is good with normal zoology group and the type of protection zone accords with the correlation standards of type Ⅲ of Marine Natural Protection Partition Principle.The main protection object is marine eroding sight.The protection zone can become the national level because of few sights along coast in our country.


Using wideband gap semiconductors (SiC, GaN) appear as possible solution to the growing demand for the development of high temperature power electronics. These devices are devoted to work in harsh environments mainly for "on board applications" like automobile, aircraft and space exploration. In some cases, high temperature is associated to the environment itself (when the converter is located in the vicinity of a thermal engine for example) but in other, it is only related to the increase of the power density associated to power integration. However, the opportunities given by these wideband gap semiconductors devices may be reduced since their packages are inadequate as regards insulation, interconnection and thermal management under high-temperature operations and environments. The aim of this paper is to present the results obtained concerning the insulating parts of this packaging, mainly secondary passivation and encapsulation in a 200 -450 °C temperature range. Gas insulation is used and this original solution is examined for different gases and conditions.


High-speed and continuous switching actions of power semiconductor devices is the main source of EMI in power electronic converters. If the switching speed is reduced, then the EMI emission level can be reduced, but the longer switching transient increases the switching loss. For a fixed switching period, reshaping the waveform of the switching transient to reduce EMI is preferred. Therefore, this paper analyzes the influence of the switching waveforms on the spectrum, and points out the relationship between the derivable order of the switching waveform and the spectrum in high frequency. Then, the switching transient based on sinusoidal waveform is applied and an active gate drive scheme based on closed-loop control is designed for IGBTs. Finally, experiments verify the switching transient tracking performance of the control scheme and the effectiveness of reducing EMI based on the sinusoidal switching transient.


This article reports on a community activist arts-based media production research project. Project TEEN Mirrors Of Motherhood (M.O.M.), was designed by the authors, who are art educators and arts-based researchers, in collaboration with Elizabeth House, a Montreal community organization dedicated to meeting the needs of pregnant teenagers and young mothers. The purpose of the research was to examine how media production, offered in the context of a community organization, can empower teenage girls in difficult circumstances to share their views, to participate in community or policy discussions that affect them, and to define and solve some of the many challenges they face. Using digital photography, art, and video, the young mothers explored ways to re-frame, re-present, and discuss their own understanding of issues in their lives as well as re-consider their options. To disseminate their messages, the project produced an exhibit, a film screening, and a website, www.teenmom.ca. (See Figure 1.)


Linearised stability analysis of stationary and periodic solutions of both finite and infinite dimensional dynamical systems is a central issue in many (physical) applications. Such systems usually depend on parameters, so an important question is what happens to stability when the parameters are varied. This implies that one has to study the spectrum of a linear operator and its dependence on parameters. Moreover, systems arising in physics and other applications often possess special structure, for example Hamiltonian systems. Therefore spectrum and Jordan structure no longer suffice to characterize equivalent systems (under smooth coordinate transformations) but additional invariants are needed. Identifying and interpreting these in infinite dimensional systems seems more involved than in finite dimensional situations. For example, one may consider the symplectic or Krein signature for imaginary eigenvalues in linear finite dimensional Hamiltonian systems. When such eigenvalues meet as the parameters vary, the existence of additional invariants causes non-generic behaviour. In particular, a collision of eigenvalues on the imaginary axis may have dynamical consequences since the stability may change, depending on the additional invariants. At such a collision the boundary of the so called stability domain in parameter space may have singularities. This phenomenon occurs in numerous applications and it may have various physical consequences and interpretations. On the other hand stability questions can also be studied by index theory (Morse index, Maslov index). These approaches are not unrelated; for example the symplectic or Krein signature is connected to the Morse index.


Abstract In this case, we present an underutilised eyebrow approach for removing penetrating foreign bodies of the orbit extending into the anterior fossa floor. Excellent visualisation of the sub-frontal region is achieved and a large trauma craniotomy is avoided, but care must be taken to preserve the supra-orbital and fronto-temporal nerves.


(1) The use of a resonant cavity could not be extended even to the infrared, let alone to the visible range. This is because, to maintain a single isolated mode in a cavity the linear dimensions of the cavity would need to be of the order of one wavelength and thus too small at these higher frequencies. The cavity dimension had to be made much larger than the wavelength resulting in a multimode operation.


While often life-saving, surgical resectioning of diseased tissues puts patients at risk for post-operative complications. Sutures and staples are well-accepted and routinely used to reconnect tissues, however, their mechanical mismatch with biological soft tissue and invasiveness contribute to wound healing complications, infections, and post-operative fluid leakage. In principle, laser tissue soldering offers an attractive, minimally-invasive alternative for seamless soft tissue fusion. However, despite encouraging experimental observations, including accelerated healing and lowered infection risk, critical issues related to temperature monitoring and control during soldering and associated complications have prevented their clinical exploitation to date. Here, we introduce intelligent laser tissue soldering (iSoldering) with integrated nanothermometry as a promising yet unexplored approach to overcoming the critical shortcomings of laser tissue soldering. We demonstrate that adding thermoplasmonic and nanothermometry nanoparticles to proteinaceous solders enables heat confinement and non-invasive temperature monitoring and control, offering a route to high-performance, leak-tight tissue sealing even at deep tissue sites. The resulting tissue seals exhibit excellent mechanical properties and resistance to chemically-aggressive digestive fluids, including gastrointestinal juice. The iSolder can be readily cut and shaped by surgeons to optimally fit the tissue defect and can even be applied using infrared light from a medically approved light source, hence fulfilling key prerequisites for application in the operating theatre. Overall, iSoldering enables reproducible and well-controlled high-performance tissue sealing, offering new prospects for its clinical exploitation in diverse fields ranging from cardiovascular to visceral and plastic surgery. Teaser Intelligent solders containing nanothermometers and thermoplasmonics offer new route to high-performance tissue sealing.


Electrical switching, when used to interconnect tens to hundreds of pods (each having a thousand of servers) in the core of a data center, incurs a high cost and power consumption and is expected to be replaced with optical switching soon. In this paper, we consider hypercube-based interconnection using optical switches in the core and study novel routing and wavelength assignment schemes for a new paradigm called Labeled Optical Burst Switching with Home Circuits (LOBS-HC). In particular, we propose a simple scheme called complementary HC assignment (CHA) for a 2-dimensional cube and ring, and extend the study to a n-cube (n > 2) and generalized hypercube (GHC) by applying the concept of Spanning Balanced Trees (SBTs). We determine the number of wavelengths (and transceivers) needed in each case and show that it can be significantly lower than that needed with conventional wavelength routing using optical circuit switching (OCS). We also show compared the proposed solution with other proposed electronic or hybrid switching based solutions.


Semiotics is a sign study and every thing which are related to the sign like sign system and process of sign usage of a sign system, and as a language sign system in literary text is not only related to the first level meaning, but also more on the second level meaning. Code systems include, action code, puzzle code, culture code, connotative code, and simbolic code.


1 Seedlings of 10 European tall-shrub species and the shade-tolerant tree Fagus sylvatica were grown at 0.3, 1.6, 11, and 63% daylight for 110 days on chalk grassland soil, and on a more nutrient-rich soil developed under Crataegus monogyna. 2 Crataegus monogyna, Fagus, Juniperus communis, Cornus sanguinea, Ligustrum vulgare and Rosa canina suffered high mortality in 0.3% daylight, but only the first three had losses in 1.6%. Overall mortality in deep shade (0.3, 1.6%) was considerably lower in Euonymus europaeus, Rhamnus catharticus, Viburnum lantana and V. opulus. Average mortality in deep shade on grassland soil was negatively correlated with embryo-cum-endosperm dry mass (EEM). Overall mortality in deep shade was significantly greater with higher nutrient supply. 3 In 63% daylight relative growth rate (RGR) was negatively correlated with log EEM, and positively with specific leaf area (SLA, leaf area/leaf dry mass) at time of planting but not at final harvest, i.e. differences in RGR were determined more by unit leaf rate (rate of dry mass gain/leaf area) in the latter part of the experiment. 4 The responses of the species to irradiance and nutrient supply were appreciably different. Cornus, Ligustrum, Prunus spinosa, Rhamnus, and Rosa increased yield strongly under high irradiance on nutrient-poor soil, and responded also markedly to nutrients. Viburnum lantana and Euonymus grew relatively slowly in all treatments, but the former was responsive to nutrients, even in deep shade. Viburnum opulus was more responsive to irradiance but responded to nutrients only in 11 % daylight. Crataegus grew more slowly on its 'own' soil than on grassland soil. Juniperus differed consistently from the other species, growing slowly, and responding strongly to irradiance. Fagus responded moderately to irradiance and not to nutrient supply. 5 In shade allocation to roots decreased, while allocation to stem and to leaves increased generally. All species produced a smaller number and total area of leaves, and increased SLA and leaf area ratio (leaf area/total dry mass). Shoot and root lengths were reduced in shade. 6 The results are discussed in relation to the roles of the various species during secondary succession, and their regeneration niches.


Molecular level understanding of a relationship between structure, bonding and reactivity of olefin and allyl complexes of group 10 metals is presented. In addition to three types of olefin complexes previously known, namely 3-coordinated M (O), 4-and 5-coordinated M (II) complexes, a complex containing, π-olefin and, π-allyl ligands simultaneously represents a new type of the group 10 metal-olefin compounds possessing some unique stability, structural and reactivity aspects. Dynamic equilibria and electrophilic substitution of novel σ-allyl-metal complexes are presented. Mechanistic knowledge concerning stoichiometric reactions of π-allyl-metal complexes, namely nucleophilic substitution and reductive elimination, is surveyed and its relevance to actual catalysis is also discussed.


We study the well-posedness of a modified degenerate Cahn-Hilliard type model for surface diffusion. With degenerate phase-dependent diffusion mobility and additional stabilizing function, this model is able to give the correct sharp interface limit. We introduce a notion of weak solutions for the nonlinear model. The existence result is obtained by approximations of the proposed model with nondegenerate mobilities. We also employ this method to prove existence of weak solutions to a related model where the chemical potential contains a nonlocal term originated from self-climb of dislocations in crystalline materials.


In July 1987, the Court of Appeal made use of Article 177 EEC to refer to the European Court issues relating to the interpretation of Article 30 EEC which had arisen in R v The Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, ex parte the Association of Pharmaceutical Importers (API).' In a previous issue of the Review, this commentator concluded his discussion of the decision to refer by suggesting that 'this case is likely to yield much more of great interest'.2 The European Court has now delivered a judgment3 which is indeed interesting, but it is also surprising and doubtless disappointing to the applicants.


In this article we summarize data from mathematically gifted middle school students working through home-computer-based first-year algebra, second-year algebra, and precalculus courses. Although these students represented only the extreme upper end of the full range of mathematical ability, they nevertheless displayed considerable individual variation on all observed outcomes with little relation to psat score, sex or age. About equal numbers of students accelerated and decelerated through each course. Any particular student's probability of ending a computer session at any point was largely independent of the number of instructional units already worked in that session; however, the value of that probability differed dramatically across students. A gamma model fit the observed distribution of latencies fairly well. Implications are discussed.


The injection and relaxation of electron spins in In 0.1 Ga 0.9 N film were studied by femtosecond time-resolved circularly polarized pump-probe spectroscopy. An initial degree of spin polarization of 02 was obtained, which agrees with 3∶1 ratio of heavy- to light-hole valence bands in transition strength, but not with the 1∶1 or 1∶0.94 ratios. A spin relaxation lifetime of 490±70ps was obtained at room temperature. The spin relaxation mechanism is discussed qualitatively, and is thought to be dominated by BAP mechanism here.


The goal of this study is to achieve zero waste with a UV/Iodide/ZnO (UIZ)-based integrated photocatalytic-biological reactor (IPBR) containing baffles that has been devised to degrade ofloxacin (O...


The electrode assembly of the lithium secondary battery of the present invention is provided comprising an anode plate, a cathode plate, separator for lithium ion conductive electrolyte and an anode separator plate and the cathode plate, and a composite coating layer, positioned between the anode and the separator plate and / or between the cathode plate and the separator. Composite coating comprises 5 to 90 parts by weight of inorganic clay materials, and 95 to 10 parts by weight of an organic polymer adhesive.


The gradient-refractive-index (GRIN) plastic rods with a dopant of rhodamine B (RB) dye in DMSO, prepared by the method of swollen-gel polymerization, were used in preparing a light-pump rod. The high refractive monomer benzyl methacrylate (BzMA) and low refractive monomer methyl methacrylate (MMA) were used in this investigation. 2,2-Azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN) was used as the thermal initiator. The dependence of the optical properties of the GRIN rod on initiator concentration, swelling time, and feed composition weight ratio was investigated. The parabolic refractive index profile of the plastic rod prepared in this investigation was evaluated. Effects of dopant concentration, launched pumping power, and rod length on the light pumping efficiencies were all investigated. The pumping efficiency was estimated by using a Nd:YAG laser at 532 nm wavelength as a pumping source and a dye laser at 610 nm wavelength as a signal source.


The invention provides a method, apparatus and system for realizing reliable multicast. The method comprises: receiving multicast source data, wherein the multicast source data comprises the multicast addresses of source multicast sets; copying the received multicast source data to M copies of multicast data, wherein the multicast data comprises the multicast addresses of sub-multicast sets, M is the number of the sub multicast sets, obtained by grouping the source multicast sets according to a configured grouping rule, and M is an integer greater than or equal to 2; and distributing multicast data corresponding to each sub-multicast set according to the distribution strategy of each sub-multicast set. By using the method, apparatus and system for realizing realizable multicast, the problems of large transmission delay, quite large occupied bandwidth and quite small effective throughput of a reliable multicast data packet in the prior art can be solved.


The interference time ratio and multiple access interference from both base stations (BSs) and mobile stations (MSs) are analyzed for TDD/CDMA uplink systems, and the uplink throughput is evaluated according to a required outage probability. Only the path loss and shadowing effect in the mobile radio channel are considered in our investigating, while the effect of multi-path fading is assumed to be compensated by signal processing and channel coding. In regarding to the interference time ratio, we find that the interference time ratio increases as the cell radius increases for the interfering BSs. For the interfering MSs, the interference time ratio increases as the distance between the MS and the interfered BS decreases. In regarding to the capacity loss due to the cell size, for a 50% down-link cell coverage, when the cell radius increases from 100 m to 5,000 m and 10,000 m, the capacity loss is 45.1% and 87% respectively. For a 85% down-link cell, the loss is 37.5% and 93.7% respectively. While for a 95% down-link cell, the loss is 53.8% and 92.3% respectively. We find that the capacity loss increases as the cell radius and the cell coverage increase. Therefore it is a better choice to deploy TDD/CDMA systems in the micro-cells. Because the BSs tend to transmit more power for a higher downlink cell coverage, the associate interference also increased, and the capacity decreases accordingly. As a result, the downlink power control should be used to reduce the BSs transmitted power.


ABsTRAcr. Generic properties of function spaces have been of particular interest in dynamical .systems and singularity theory. The underlying assumption has been that the complement of a dense Gs set is sparse enough to be considered unlikely. Nevertheless, in infinite dimensional spaces, even dense Gs's may have measure zero. Since there is no one canonical measure on an infinite dimensional Frechet space, notions of measure zero have not often been considered. Here we use a notion of Haar measure zero on abelian Polish groups due to Christensen [1]. We show that those sections of a finite dimensional vector bundle over a compact manifold whose jets are transverse to a submanifold of the jet bundle are complements of sets of Haar measure zero.


In this paper we will consider the concept of $\mathbb{P}$-weakly hyperbolic iterated function systems on compact metric spaces that generalizes the concept of weakly hyperbolic iterated function systems, as defined by Edalat in \cite{E} and by Arbieto, Santiago and Junqueira in \cite{ASJ} for a more general setting where the parameter space is a compact metric space. We prove the existence and uniqueness of the invariant measure of a $\mathbb{P}$-weakly hyperbolic IFS. Furthermore, we prove an ergodic theorem for $\mathbb{P}$-weakly hyperbolic IFS with compact parameter space.


Using the dehydration technology to upgrade the quality of lignite can enlarge the application area.The recent development of lignite upgrading technology was introduced in this paper,and some typical technologies and their developmental tendency were analyzed.


The determination of cell proliferation is one of the more widely used tools for assessing prognosis. However, additional research in this field is warranted because today there are several methodological procedures available for monitoring cell kinetics and it has still not been established which is the most reliable marker of proliferation and which possesses the greatest prognostic value. We performed this study in a series of primary invasive breast cancers to compare the prognostic value of S‐phase fraction (SPF) by flow cytometry, the most widely used method for detecting proliferation at present, with that of antibodies to Ki‐67 and PC‐10 to proliferating‐cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) detected by immunocytochemical methods. A significant linear relationship was observed only between SPF and Ki‐67. In univariate analysis SPF and Ki‐67 values, nodal status, histological grading and peritumoral lymphatic‐vessel invasion were significant predictors of relapse‐free survival (RFS). As far as overall survival (OS) is concerned, only SPF, Ki‐67 and nodal status were significantly associated with the risk of death. PCNA had no prognostic value for either RFS or OS. In multivariate analysis only SPF and nodal status retained a significant and independent prognostic value. Neither the cell‐kinetics parameters assessed by immunocytochemistry (i. e. Ki‐67 and PCNA) nor histological grading were independent prognosticators. In conclusion, our results provide evidence that the determination of SPF by flow cytometry was the strongest cell‐kinetics marker used to assess prognosis in this series of breast cancers. However, different and novel markers of cell kinetics need to be compared in larger series in order to identify the best one. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Abstract Background Surveillance and monitoring of perforator flaps has been well established for many years as a reliable method to detect early changes in the blood flow of the flap. In this manner, early flap revisions could be performed in cases of probable thrombosis. Methods We performed a pilot study that included the first 12 patients to use this device. A temperature sensor electrode was used for remote monitoring of perforator flaps using a mobile phone in real time via a general pocket radio service and short messages developed by the authors, allowing the surgeon to check the temperature from any location. Results The device continually displays the temperature of the flaps in real time performing a curve with measurements every 5 minute using the web page. A significant difference (p < 0.05) is shown between flaps with sufficient flow and flaps with venous thrombosis. Conclusion Real-time direct thermography via the surgeon's mobile phone is a reliable method for flap monitoring, facilitating monitorization during the time when the surgeon is away from the hospital.


The article gives an observation of peculiarities of a structural model of a school complex's educational system. The model consists of interrelated subsystems, components and layers. The basic notions of a structural model of a school's educational system are defined in the article.


School-age children (6-13yrs) and teenagers (14-17yrs) should receive 9-11hrs and 8-10hrs of sleep/day, respectively. Several studies have shown, however, that these age groups are chronically sleep deprived. Our study assessed the sleep patterns of a sample of children and teenagers in Athens, Greece. The study is part of a larger project investigating the association between orthodontic treatment and sleep disturbances.

 Participants (N=27; 69% females; 21 school-age children 9-13yrs, 6 teenagers 14-17yrs) were under treatment in the Orthodontic Clinic of the National and Kapodistrian University. Sleep was assessed with actigraphy/logs for 59±19 days.

 Participants slept on average 7.36±0.42hrs/day. Nighttime sleep was on average 7.23±0.43hrs (percentage sleep: 87.3%±3.38%). Four (14.8%) participants napped at least once/week. Compared to the lowest sleep duration recommended for their age group, participants showed a chronic sleep deficit of 1.42±0.52hrs/day (range: 0.32-2.15hrs). The younger age group had an average sleep deficit of ~1.6hrs compared to ~0.8hrs for the teenagers (p=0.006). During the school year, daily sleep duration increased by ~0.73hrs on weekends (7.78±0.67hrs) compared to school nights (7.05±0.48hrs; p<0.001). On average, school-age participants slept from 23:13 (±31min) until 7:19 (±22min) on school nights and from 23:23 (±2:72hrs) until 8:49 (±39min) on weekends. Teenagers slept from 00:34 (±36min) until 7:40 (±14min) on school nights and from 01:34 (±41min) until 10:34 (±48min) on weekends.

 Our findings verify earlier survey results showing that restricted sleep is a problem for children and adolescents in Greece. To our surprise, both age groups go to bed quite late. The impact of late bedtime on sleep duration, however, is larger in the younger group due to their larger sleep needs. In contrast to earlier research in rural areas, napping was not common in our urban sample, probably due to extracurricular activities and studying at home.

 N/A


Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) found in cigarette smoke play a key role in the appearance of the lung cancer at the smokers. Cytochrome P-4501A1, metabolizes these HPA like benzo(a)pyrene in reactive and mutagen compounds. The CYP1A1 is inductible by the HPA and others compounds like dioxine. This inductibility is itself variable and largely dependent on the receptor Ah (AhR). The AhR is partially responsible for a polymorphic expression of the CYP1A1 and thus could be an important factor in carcinogenicity. We investigated the genetic polymorphisms of the AhR gene in a case-control study of lung cancer. Two new polymorphisms were found, none of them were found to play a key role. . . .


The drive system with silicon controlled rectifier installed in the armoured face conveyors has been subjected to industrial investigation carried out in an average productive longwall at the Piast coal mine in order to determine and prove its special features. The apparatus and measuring system have been described in the paper. Results of the measurements presented in a form of oscillograms have been analysed. Finding of the analysis and conclusions are contained in the final part of the paper.


It is argued that sophisticated battery control systems are required to support the high power, high energy spacecraft secondary battery systems of the post 1985 time period. Four categories of battery control system functions are defined and discussed: battery operational control, auxiliary system control, battery system status indication and fault detection fault isolation. A concept for implementation of such a control system is also presented and discussed.


City of Shanghai is currently concentrating on its Industrial heritage in the process of urban renewal and development as their economy structure has changed. This study examined the transformation of industrial heritage and its main characteristics of the reuse practice with the case study of six cultural facilities that are reused from industrial heritage of Shanghai. The four main values of the reuse were found that are value of history, symbol, preservation, and utilization. There are findings from this study that are the interrelation between the value of symbol and preservation, but also the utilization as the emphasized value in urban renewal processes. In conclusion, the reuse of the industrial heritage could be a sustainable solution for city renewal when the industrial heritage was recreated by the integration of new function and contents with enhanced historical value through the transformation. The challenge is to find an effective and responsible cooperation between city government and private organizations in the development process for the success of urban renewal by reuse of industrial heritage. The effort is needed to achieve goals for the public good by the return of city heritage with higher value through preservation and enhancement based on the in-depth analysis and comprehensive practice.


Abstract Extract Phalaris tuberosa, a common pasture plant, may on occasions cause inco-ordination (staggers) and/or death in sheep and cattle (McDonald, 1942; Le Soeuf, 1948; Lee and Kuchel, 1953; Milne, 1955; Watson, 1956; Moore et al, 1961; Gallagher et al, 1964). Acutetoxicity may be manifested by sudden death(Moore et al, 1961; Gallagher et al, 1964; Gallagher et al, 1967), due to arhythmic tachycardias and ventricular fibrillations with cardiac failure (Gallagher etal, 1964).


«Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life», Oscar Wilde said. Dante Gabriel Rossetti's translation of Dante Alighieri's poetry may be read as a seminal life experience, which sets the pattern and method of a process of imitative self-creation. One might say that Rossetti lived his Dante. This study would suggest that Rossetti inverted the traditional ut pictura poesis into a dynamics of writing, in poetry and painting alike, aiming at faithfulness not to the subject matter but to the "new life" of the emerging virtual self. Elizabeth Siddal was Rossetti's real-life Beatrice, and love transcended and transformed their lives into art. This study is an attempt to examine another form of two-way transmediality: between life and art, βιός and τέχνη, as the epitome of inspiration lived as pneumatic circulation or spiritual exaltation (Aristote, Agamben). In an attempt to suggest a different approach to Rossetti's life and work as life-creation, this paper pays all due respect to previous Rossetti scholarship, although it cannot afford the space to synthetize them all.


To minimize functional morbidity associated with brain surgery, new preventive approaches (also referred to as "prehabilitation") by using motor-imagery-based computer interfaces (MI-BCIs) can be utilized. To achieve successful MI-BCI performance for prehabilitation purposes, the characteristics of an electrocorticographic (ECoG) signal that is associated with overt motor function ("real movement" — RM) versus covert motor function ("motor imagery" — MI) need to be determined. In our current study, 5 patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy (2 males, average age 25 years, SD 15), undergoing evaluation for epilepsy surgery participated in both RM and MI tasks. Although the RM- and MI-related ECoG changes had some common features, they also differed in a number of ways, such as location, frequency ranges, signal synchronization and desynchronization. These similarities and differences are discussed in a view of other neuroimaging studies, including magnetoencephalography (MEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We emphasize the need for inclusion of a broad spectrum of frequencies in ECoG analysis, when RM- and MI-related activities are concerned.


An invitro study to compare the efficacy, safety and antimicrobial properties of a herbal mouthwash with chlorhexidine mouthwash invitro in patients with established plaque was conducted. A total of 20 plaque samples were collected from periodontitis patients and healthy patients and were streaked on blood agar plate. Well Diffusion method was used to compare chlorhexidine gluconate, herbal mouthwash and normal saline. The streaked blood agar plate was incubated at 37° for 24 h and examined for the zones of inhibition. There was no statistically significant difference P=0.062(P>0.05) in the antimicrobial property between the two mouthwashes (Chlorhexidine and Herbal). It was concluded that the herbal and chlorhexidine mouthwash were equally effective invitro suggesting that the herbal mouthwash may be used therapeutically in the future to inhibit oral microbial growth.


Indoor localization technology has received increasing attention because the hobbies and interests of human can be mined from the location data. Wireless local area network (WLAN)-based fingerprinting localization methods have become attractive owing to their advantages of open access and low cost. However, for localization in realistic large areas, three problems persist: (1) excessive memory requirements in the offline phase; (2) high computational complexity in the online phase; and (3) how to select the access point (AP) sets with best distinction capability. A novel method of localization based on adaptive cluster splitting (ACS) and AP reselection is proposed in this paper. The suggested method can significantly reduce the requirements of offline storage and online computing capacity while improving the localization accuracy. The expected result is demonstrated in a theoretical deduction, simulation, and with experiments in a realistic environment.


Purpose of the study: The purpose of this study was to explain the infrastructure and the need to establish a mobile payment in Iran in the form of a phenomenological study. Methodology: In this study, experts active in the first mobile organization in Tehran have been selected as the statistical population of the study. In this study, sampling was continued until the research structures reached the data saturation level. So that newer interviews did not add a new variable to the previous variables. This saturation is achieved in the fifteenth interview. However, to ensure the expressed saturation, four more interviews were conducted and the number of sample members reached 19 of these people. To improve the validity and reliability of the research, all interviews were recorded with the knowledge of the participants, and key points were reviewed to extract. After announcing the agreement, an interview was held with the focus on perception, perception, and desired indicators for an infrastructure model and the need to establish a mobile payment in Iran. Results: According to the findings, two models were presented to explain the need for mobile payment deployment in Iran with three main factors of deployment strategies, technical strategies, and management-marketing strategies, and a model to explain mobile payment deployment infrastructure in Iran with four main cost factors. Infrastructure, management infrastructure, hardware infrastructure, and software infrastructure were designed and developed. Applications of this study: Finally, it was suggested that by modeling the models presented in this study at the level of national strategies, it is possible to provide the grounds for the establishment of mobile payment in Iran. The novelty of the study: The novelty of this research is the establishment of mobile payment in Iran in the form of phenomenology.


We clinically analyzed 48 consecutive retrospective cases of parotid carcinoma initially treated between 1988 and 2007. Subjects were 30 males and 18 females ranging from 5 to 85 years old (average: 57.9 years). Of the 12 histological types seen, the most common was mucoepidermoid carcinoma, seen in 12 subjects (25.0%). We studied their survival based on 5 potential prognostic factors-stage, T stage, neck metastasis, facial nerve palsy, and malignancy grade-together with features of mortality and recurrence. Overall 5-year disease-specific survival was 71.2% and 10-year survival 54.9%. Survival rates were significantly lower in stage IV and high-grade malignancy groups than in stage I-III and low-grade malignancy groups. T stage, neck metastasis, and facial nerve palsy tended to compromise survival. Recurrence developed in 2 subjects, in whom significant recurrence risk factors were stage III-IV (particularly, stage IV), T3-4, and high-grade malignancy. Of 18 deaths, causes were distant failure in 11 and local failure in 5. None died of nodal failure. Analysis of these prognostic factors is important in selecting appropriate surgery and in determining indications for postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy, leading to better treatment outcome in those with parotid carcinoma.


A superhydrophobic surface with a water contact angle of 159 ± 2° and a sliding angle of 2 ± 2° on a zinc substrate is reported in this article. The process is composed of etching, replacement deposition and annealing treatment. The surface morphologies, chemical compositions and hydrophobicity of the as-prepared surfaces were investigated using a scanning electron microscope, powder X-ray diffraction analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and contact angle measurements. The superhydrophobicity of the fabricated surface results from composite structures which consist of densely packed nanoscale particles composed of tin on microscale cavities. The optimal conditions and the formation mechanism of the superhydrophobic surfaces were also studied. Moreover, the potentiodynamic polarization shows that the as-prepared superhydrophobic surface has excellent corrosion resistance, indicating promising industrial applications.


An effective method was adopted to improve the thermo-mechanical properties of the epoxy composite by functionalization of the sisal fiber. Initially, a neat sisal fiber was acetylated with molar solution of acidic mixture (0.5:1 of HNO3:H2SO4) that removed the content of lignin and hemicellulose and increased the crystallinity of the sisal fiber. The acetylated sisal (a-sisal) fiber was further treated with 3-aminpropyltriethoxy silane to graft the silanol moieties on sisal fiber. The functionalization of the sisal fiber with 3-aminpropyltriethoxy silane exhibits the strong interaction with epoxy, resulting in homogenous dispersion of the sisal fiber in epoxy. The composite possesses great enhancement in thermal and mechanical properties. The tensile strength in functionalized sisal epoxy composite (CP-f-Sisal) was significantly enhanced up to 23% in comparison to non-functionalized sisal epoxy composite (CP-n-Sisal) by adding 15 wt.% of the sisal fiber. In addition, the functionalized sisal epoxy composite (CP-f-sisal) shows better thermal stability as compared to non-functionalized sisal epoxy composite (CP-n-sisal). Similar results are attributed by investigating the kinetics of thermal stability parameters that include activation energy and integral procedure decomposition temperature.


The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on demands, resources, and job satisfaction among a convenience sample of early childhood education (ECE) staff employed in Head Start preschools in a large metro area of Colorado. A survey was administered to a sample of Head Start staff at two timepoints: Time 1 (pre-COVID-19 pandemic) in October of 2019 (n = 137) and Time 2 (during the COVID-19 pandemic) in November of 2020 (n = 86). The survey consisted of a combination of validated measures to assess personal and external demands and resources and work satisfaction. Workload is a perceived external demand that significantly improved from pre- to mid-pandemic in this sample (z = −3.3, p < 0.01). Many personal and external resources changed pre- to mid-pandemic, though none were statistically significant. Overall job satisfaction in this sample increased, though it was not statistically significant (z = −1.04, p = 0.3). Mitigating demands, such as minimizing workload, and increasing job-related resources, such as bolstering management supports, may lead to improved job satisfaction of the ECE workforce employed in Head Start settings. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified poor mental health and numerous job demands, some of the pandemic-related regulations may have also decreased the workload for some subgroups of the ECE workforce, potentially translating to improved job satisfaction. However, significant disparities remain with respect to personal and external demands among this sample of the ECE workforce compared to the national workforce suggesting multi-level resources and supports are critical to further buffer these stressors.


Any ambitious and sophisticated work invariably has its peccadillos, and some note should be made of those in Ramet's study. First, while the book is well documented and its use of original and secondary sources eclectic, one is somewhat taken aback by Ramet's apparent willingness to treat information from the Croatian 6migr6 press as having a reliability equivalent to, say, American Universities Field Staff reports. Second, and perhaps more importantly, the policy implications Ramet draws from his analysis are oddly out of tilt with the analysis itself. For example, he abruptly suggests (p. 229) that Yugoslavia's political performance might be improved were it to become a "fully legitimate regime," possibly by abandoning its one-party system. Yet nowhere does he discuss what constitutes legitimacy, give evidence that the Yugoslav government is not "fully" legitimate, or indicate why a one-party system necessarily prohibits the Yugoslav polity from basking in the golden glow of "full legitimacy." Likewise, after explaining to us in marvelous detail why the Yugoslav federal government must be populated by leaders with strong bases of political support in their republics just to carry out its own (i.e., federal) decisions, he suggests that performance would improve if the central government were able to recruit "men from the republics who are not republicans."