WAMBEKE, BRAD WILLIAM. Identifying, Prioritizing, and Reduci ng Variation of Construction Related Tasks. (Under the direction of Dr. M in Liu and Dr. Simon M. Hsiang). In this research, variation is defined as the time diff erence between what was planned and what occurred in terms of task starting times and duration. Variation in construction tasks is important as it can impact overal l productivity performance. Construction projects consist of a large number of inte rdependent tasks. When the starting time or duration of one task varies, it can affect othe r downstream tasks and result in disruptions to the schedule and/or decreased productivity. T he construction process is complicated and involves numerous people with different le vels of responsibility, which can make identifying the root causes of the variation difficul t. The primary goals for this research include identifying, prioritizing, and reducing variat ion of construction tasks. Identification involved determining the most prevalent root c auses of variation. Factor analysis was utilized to illustrate how those individual c uses were interrelated with one another. A risk assessment matrix, commonly used in mil itary planning, was used to quantify the associated frequency and severity of the cau ses of variation and prioritize which causes posed the greatest threat to project performance. Social network analysis was conducted to identify the underlying network of trades, alo ng with the key members of the network. The results of the variation and social net work analyses were combined to develop a decision support system to target variation for elimina tio . The analytical hierarch process (AHP) was used to support decision making when multiple and conflicting criteria were involved. Lastly, the research examined the feasibility of reducing variation by using the Last Planner System®. This research is important and v luable as it serves to address several gaps in the body of knowledge pertaining to variatio n associated with a construction project. Additionally, this research has a broader impac t on the construction community. It provides a framework and repeatable associated analytical m ethods to identify, prioritize, and reduce variation on a construction project. Identifying, Prioritizing, and Reducing Variation of Constructio n Related Tasks by Brad William Wambeke A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy


This study uses causal associative research with a quantitative approach. The sample used in this study was 80 people using a random sampling technique, namely accidental sampling. The results of this study indicate that service rates (X1) have a significant effect on customer loyalty (Y) as evidenced by the t-value of 7.167 > the t-table value of 1.991, so the first hypothesis is proven. The results of the t-test also show that there is a significant influence of location (X2) on customer loyalty (Y) with a t count of 3,908 > t-table value of 1,991, so the second hypothesis is proven. The results of the t-test also show that there is a significant effect of service quality (X3) on customer loyalty (Y) with a t count of 8.881 > t-table value of 1.991, so the third hypothesis is proven. The results of the f test show that service rates (X1), location (X2), and service quality (X3) have a significant effect on customer loyalty (Y) with a calculated f value of 130.309 > f table value of 3.11 so that the fourth hypothesis is proven. The results of the coefficient of determination test can be seen as the value of the coefficient of determination or R Square of 0.772 or equal to 77.2%. This figure means that the Service Rate (X1), Location (X2), and Service Quality (X3) variables have an influential contribution to the Customer Loyalty variable (Y) of 77.2%, while the remaining 22.8% is influenced by other variables. This study did not examine promotion, studio atmosphere, and so on


Cultivation of C. polykrikoides was carried out using different culture media including f/2 medium (without silicate), modified f/2 medium, Conway, TMRL and ESM in the Iranian Shrimp Research Center in 2013. C. polykrikoides was cultured in test tubes, 100 ml, 250 ml, 500 ml Erlenmeyer flasks and in a 16 l aquarium, using 32 ppt seawater (27 ± 2°C) and with light intensity of 5000 lux, under cool-white fluorescent illuminations, and in a 12:12 h light-dark cycle. The best result was obtained using modified f/2 medium followed by TMRL medium. With ESM, cultivation was continued, in 100 ml Erlenmeyer flasks but it was not possible in more than 100 ml container. C. polykrikoides cultivation was unsuccessful with the f/2 medium and Conway medium even in the test tube. The results of the study showed that mass cultivation of C. polykrikoides was possible with modified f/2 medium even in an aquarium, but did not have favorable results with TMRL medium in the aquarium.


While it can take an average of 21 years between the discovery and description of a new species1, the challenges of relating known taxa and the scarcity of high-quality specimens make the description of a new genus even more difficult and time-consuming. Our paper recently published in the Biodiversity Data Journal introduced a new fungus gnat genus–Coelosynapha–demonstrating that despite a taxon being shelved for a long time after discovery, strong collaborative networks spanning many countries combined with the power of DNA barcoding are greatly changing the pace at which we catalogue life. This story begins some 25 years ago when the late French entomologist Loïc Matile (1938–2000) sent Geir E.E. Søli (at the Natural History Museum in Oslo, Norway) illustrations and a brief one-page description of a potential new fly genus, belonging to fungus gnats of the family Mycetophilidae, based on a single specimen collected in Finland. Matile posed a seeming simple question to Søli, "Had this for years...What do you think?" Unable to do much with the scarce material, the specimen was shelved, twice, for even after more specimens were found in Finland in 2009 and sent to a specialist in the USA, no progress was made. The online barcode library facilitates the description of new Diptera genus with circumpolar Holarctic distribution Re is a N at io na l P ar k, N or w ay . T he ty pe lo ca lit y of a n ew fu ng us g na t


Background and Objectives. Obesity is now considered a pandemic problem. Mexico occupies one of the highest places in the world with adults and children with...


11C-Morphine was prepared by methylation of normorphine with 11CH3I. Acetylation of this compound yields heroin. The radiochemical yield is 9% for morphine and 4% for heroin at a specific activity of 1.63 mCi/μmole. Synthesis time including purification by hplc is 18 min for 11C-morphine and 36 min for 11C-heroin, respectively. The tissue distribution of both these compounds was determined in rats at different times after an i.v. injection. The main accumulation of activity is in the small intestine, followed by kidney and liver. Little activity was detected in the brain.


A deterministic dynamic bio-economic model was used to analyse different management options for goats and charcoal production in a forest in Zagros, Iran. The study sought optimal management options from a local community point of view considering net present value (NPV) of income from sale of goats and charcoal under different restrictions on forest harvest imposed by the state. The model was run under six model scenarios: (1) business as usual (BAU), (2) no state intervention, (3) no forest harvesting, (4) strict quota, (5) medium quota and (6) loose quota on charcoal production. The scenarios' results were compared based on four numeric criteria (NPV of income from goats and charcoal, development of standing volume and tree size diversity in forest, interaction between goat population and oak forests) and one subjective criterion (state budget for managing forest). The results indicated that two main challenges exist in forest management in Zagros; (1) to determine the balance between local communities' welfare and biological stability of the forest and (2) to choose between a cheap management regime prohibiting wood harvest but implicitly accepting some illegal charcoal production and a more expensive, but legal, harvest regulation through charcoal production quota. We conclude that the BAU scenario, where forest harvesting was prohibited de jure, but some illegal charcoal production was still undertaken, was the only viable management, which also is practically acceptable by both state and local communities.


Objective To study the active mechanism of Geranium wilfordii Maxim on anti-gastric ulcer induced by ethanol in mice.Methods The index of ulcer,the concentration of NO in serum and the level of PGE2 in gastric mucosa of mice were measured.Results Water extract of Geranium wilfordii Maxim remarkably reduced the index of ulcer(P0.01),increased the concentration of NO in serum(P0.01).The level of PGE2 in gastric mucosa increased(P0.01).Conclusion Geranium wilfordii Maxim can alleviate the gastric ulcer in mice.The effect of water extract of Geranium wilfordii Maxim is better than that of ethanolic extract in the aspect of alleviating gastric ulcer.


I am very grateful to both these commentators, both of whom I know and admire, for their comments. Sass' comments boil down to three: Why is Scheler and my application of his philosophy to psychopathology any better than Bergson and Minkowski's application of his philosophy? Why is Scheler's version of the phenomenological reduction superior to Husserl's own version, and why is Scheler's version more applicable to psychopathology? And, why is Heidegger demeaned in Scheler's philosophy? Before tackling his specific points, I make some general comments about the sort of questions he is asking. Essentially, he is asking questions about the relative merits of a series of philosophers— Bergson, Husserl, Scheler, and Heidegger. My own view is that neither he nor I is a professional philosopher, and therefore our differences of opinion are not an issue that carries much weight. It is unfortunate that not only Scheler's own philosophy, but the relative merits of the other philosophers as well, are not discussed in the philosophical literature in the depth which they deserve; hence, two psychopathologists, who both see the value of philosophical psychopathology, are forced to confront such matters. Nevertheless, the entire discussion should be viewed as a dispute between two psychopathologists who feel obliged to adjudicate in a debate that more major players have ignored. I should say that I take this matter very seriously. Why should I, a psychopathologist, and someone not particularly proficient in German either, have to translate into English—the standard international language now—the seminal work of a philosopher, who, as Sass says, was deemed the greatest philosopher of all in the first quarter of the twentieth century?


Cloud computing is used to describe a collection of (remote) data centers (the hardware and the software) and applications delivered from them as a service (SaaS, Software as a Service). Its success is driven by the cost-effective on-demand availability of large, scalable amounts of computing resources. The cloud has become an established paradigm for many enterprise and consumer applications such as email, web servers, productivity applications, customer relationship management, etc. However, in IC design its success is still limited.This panel will discuss the real and perceived hurdles that currently prevent a broad adoption of cloud computing in IC design, and several scenarios on how this could happen.


: Length-weight and length-length relationships are significant in fish biology. These parameters can provide information on the stock condition and growth studies. In this study, we report the length-weight and length-length relationships for Luciobarbus pectoralis in the Southeastern Anatolia (Hatay, Turkey). A total of 125 (65 female and 60 male) specimens were captured from Asi River (Orontes River) basin using gill nets in September 2015 and March 2016. The total length and weight of both sexes varied from 15.5-38.0 cm and 35.0-855.0 g. The values of the exponent b of the length-weight relationships were 3.441 for females and 3.443 for males. The length-length relationship between total, fork and standart (TL, Total Length-FL, Fork Length, SL, Standart Length) length measurements were found high correlated (R 2 >0.99, P<0.001). This study provides the first comprehensive description of LWRs and LLRs of L. pectoralis from the Asi River (Hatay, Turkey) according to their sexes. Besides, new maximum length and weight values are reported for L. pectoralis .


A theory with the action combining the Einstein--Hilbert term and graviton mass terms violating Lorentz invariance is considered at linearized level about Minkowskian background. It is shown that with one of the masses set equal to zero, the theory has the following properties: (i) there is a gap of order $m$ in the spectrum, where $m$ is the graviton mass scale; (ii) the dispersion relations at ${\bf p}^2 \gg m^2$ are $\omega^2 \propto {\bf p}^2$, the spectrum of tensor modes being relativistic, while other modes having unconventional maximum velocity; (iii) the VDVZ discontinuity is absent; (iv) the strong coupling scale is $(mM_{Pl})^{1/2}$. The latter two properties are in sharp contrast to the Lorentz-invariant gravity with the Pauli--Fierz mass term.


In order to exploit a new way to machine the complicated surface, with modern grinding equipments such as numerical controlled machining center, a method to realize successful interpolate-forming researches on the "grinding by point" of square-surface twist drill is described in this paper, which is based on the functions-calculation functions that can interpolate precisely curves built by mathematic model indicated by the computer NC technologies of the numerical-controlling machining center.


* Division of Cotton and Other Fiber Crops and Diseases, Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Research Administration, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Md. † National Cotton Council of America, Washington, D. C. THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES of cotton are dependent on the fiber structure and shape. Their use value is also influenced by the appearance of the fibers and the products made from them. Fiber


Homosexual culture has existed for a long time in human history, which can be traced back to the ancient Babylonians and the ancient Greeks, and was respected by people at that time. Since the 4th century, homosexuality was considered a sin with the establishment of Christianity. It wasn't until the 18th century that people really began to study homosexuality. The large-scale homosexual liberation movement in the 1960s has led some governments to carry out relevant legislation for the homosexuality. In China, however, the homosexuality law is almost a blank. This paper will analyze the history of the development of homosexual law worldwide, and discuss the possibility of legalization on homosexuality in China in the future by combining and borrowing the existing laws on


With Australia being home to at least seven different types of bowerbirds, the concept of a bower provides a potent symbolic focus for our exhibition 'From the Bower: Patterns of Collecting'. A bower may be described as an enclosed space, a sanctuary in the natural world where objects are gathered. It has a connection to the garden - to plants, birds and insects - and, in medieval times, the bower referred to a woman's private space.


Sets of families of the annual herb Impatiens pallida were created by crossing random individuals from a natural population growing in an undisturbed Fagus grandifolia-Acer saccharum forest in Quebec. Replicate samples of these families were then planted into random sites in the same area from which the parents had been collected. Survival, growth and fecundity were scored in two experiments, conducted in similar Fagus-Acer habitats but in different locations and years. Various measures of all three variables were positively correlated with seed size; large seeds sometims gave rise to large and fecund plants but small seeds never did (...)


We consider the evolution of massive scalar fields in (asymptotically) de Sitter spacetimes of arbitrary dimension. Through the proposed dS/CFT correspondence, our analysis points to the existence of new nonlocal dualities for the Euclidean conformal field theory. A massless conformally coupled scalar field provides an example where the analysis is easily explicitly extended to 'tall' background spacetimes.


It's an important mean to identify the ground object and obtain its information by remote sensing.The new technique was studied at the redbed mound and groundwater deficient regions of Rongchang,Chongqing,ETM images and color-infrared aerial photographs were served as data source,and principal factor was used to determine the subject of investigated,which impacts on the mound regions' groundwater storage.In order to establish the interpretation marks,an analysis the feature of remote sense image,dividing microtopography by computer were conducted and,surface water and wet soil information was identified using supervised and unsupervised classification methods in redbed mound regions.Based on those,recharge condition,runoff and discharge was analysed with hydrogeology survey methods,and regions that it adapt to drill well were divided for individual residents.


The purchase of souvenirs is one of the important factors in a tourist trip which in turn contributes to the economy of a region. Research on the decision to purchase souvenirs produced by SMEs during the Covid-19 pandemic is still very limited. This study fills this gap by aiming to explore the influence of product quality and emotional value on the decision to purchase souvenirs by domestic tourists during the Covid-19 pandemic. Data were collected online in February and March 2022 from domestic tourists who had purchased souvenirs produced by SMEs in Malang during the Covid-19 pandemic, especially in the past year when data collection was collected. Respondents were obtained through SME managers who have contact with customers and through SME communities and academic acquaintances outside Malang. In this way, 109 respondents were obtained, but 104 were completely filled out and fit for analysis. The data were analyzed using Warp Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (WarpPLS-SEM). The results showed that product quality had no significant effect on souvenir purchases by domestic tourists. Product specifications are not or are not in accordance with consumers' desires, the appearance of souvenir packaging is less attractive, and domestic tourists have difficulty bringing souvenirs to their place of origin. On the other hand, emotional value has a significant effect on the purchase of souvenirs by domestic tourists during the Covid-19 pandemic. Domestic tourists perceived the price of souvenirs as cheap, attractive, can be a memory, and unique because it is a typical product of Malang. The findings of this study have implications for the efforts of SMEs and related stakeholders to improve product quality and continue to innovate to create emotional value for souvenirs to attract purchase intentions from domestic tourists.


One of the most vexing problems in George Eliot scholarship has always been the "sad ... sacrifice[s]" (M, Finale, IV: 370) central to the stories of Janet Dempster, Maggie Tulliver, Romola de' Bardi, Fedalma, and Dorothea Brooke. That "[t]hey do not find whatt hey seek," as Virginia Woolf says,(1) has never ceased to puzzle readers, especially feminists looking for a sister in one who was determined to fulfill her aspirations for love and vocation. None of the heroines' renunciations has so bewildered readers as that of Maggie in The Mill on the Floss. Why does she give up the culture and romantic love she longs for? Traditionally, readers, convinced that George Eliot is "a thorough-going Victorian rationalist,"(2) have seen Maggie, supported by George Eliot, renouncing her aspirations to do good to others. Since the revival of interest in George Eliot about the middle of this century, many have become bold enough to say that Maggie, with her creator's approval, renounces her aspirations for spiritual perfection or faithfulness to her family. But most of those in both camps have not been able to avoid the conclusion that George Eliot's view of Maggie's renunciation is confused. Those who think George Eliot supports Maggie's renunciation as doing good(3) are critical of an author sympathetic toward a heroine who at first resists self-denial. Swinburne, who speaks of Maggie's "disloyalty to clear moral law,"(4) suggests that Maggie's duty to others is so plain as to make her grasping after self-fulfillment ignoble. F. R. Leavis, accusing George Eliot of failing to recognize what he regards as Maggie's immaturity, says that the author does not understand her heroine. Others, like Ian Adam, David Carroll, David Moldstad, and Rosemary Mundhenk, see George Eliot confused about whether Maggie does more good by accepting or rejecting her love for Stephen. George Levine contends that George Eliot, aware that Maggie will do harm either by renouncing or accepting Stephen, deceives herself so as to maintain that Maggie does good by renouncing Stephen. Of those who argue that Maggie seeks selflessness or familial love through self-denial, most, like Walter Allen, Joan Bennett, John Kucich, Laurence Lerner, Bernard J. Paris (who revised his earlier view), Michael Steig, and William R. Steinhoff,(5) also accuse George Eliot of being confused. Arguing that Maggie ostensibly chooses renunciation to do good while actually choosing it for its own sake, they feel they have discovered what George Eliot does not perceive, that the emperor has no clothes. I agree with those who think that Maggie and George Eliot are primarily concerned with securing acceptance rather than with doing good. But I want to show, by a close analysis of George Eliot's argument, that the woman whom so many have identified with her heroine and whose insight into character had early been sharpened by her Evangelical practice of self-examination, was herself very little confused about Maggie's character or motives, unless on a deep subconscious level.(6) She is confusing, to be sure, but, ironically, I think, because she deliberately deceives the reader in an effort to conceal that her main concern is not the good of self-realization through love and culture, versus the good of renunciation, but the importance of doing good versus that of securing acceptance. In all her fiction, George Eliot was trying to work out the conflict she herself experienced in crucial decisions over her apostasy, liaison with Lewes, and pursuit of a vocation.(7) Could she justify self-fulfillment in the face of society's demand that she renounce this as harmful to others, and to self, that is, as unnatural? In Adam Bede, she had hinted at her difficulty in endorsing Dinah Morris's sacrifice of personal ambition to social pressure, but she did not seriously challenge conventional wisdom. Now in The Mill on the Floss, she breaks the mold of contemporary religious stories extolling self-sacrifice and submission to authority. …


Background:  Efficacy and limits in preventing perinatal infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) have been examined in a model area in Japan.


Bitcoin is a popular cryptocurrency scheme which has decentralized electronic payment system. The transaction records of bitcoin are stored in public ledger which is connected to the blockchain. The reliability of bitcoin is based on the incentive with compatible proof-of-work that depends on the distributed concord protocol. For a specific state of problem, the attacker can maximize his\her revenue by understanding cryptographic scheme in order to utilize his\her computational power. It shows that a selfish miner earn huge amount of incentives for initiating a block withholding attack within a mining pool. In this work, we implemented various attacks to prevent the pools from rogue miners and rogue pool administrator.


Gender differences in wayfinding behaviour in a complex walk-through maze and in representation of the maze were examined, as well as the relationships between anxiety, wayfinding behaviour and maze representation. Participants were 45 girls and 54 boys, aged 10 to 17, who explored the maze in five separate start-to-goal runs. After the fourth run the participants were asked to represent the maze in drawing or writing. Anxiety was assessed prior to the task and task-specific fear was assessed during the task. Girls scored higher on anxiety and fear scales than boys. Girls moved through the maze more slowly than boys and mentioned proportionally more landmarks and fewer directions in maze representation. No sex differences were found in the total number of elements that were recalled in maze representation. In general, subjects who scored higher on the anxiety and fear scales traversed the maze more slowly and tended (although not significant) to recall a higher proportion of landmarks and a lower proportion of directions than less anxious ones. In conclusion, gender differences in environmental strategies can be explained, to a certain extent, as a result of different levels of anxiety and fear of girls and boys.


In this paper,the meaning of stage support is analyzed in detail,the range of the integral limit of direct sound energy,and the measurement and calculation of reflected sound energy are specifically discussed.According to the analysis of waveform's characteristics in experiments,further discussions are made about the measuring method of scale model experiments.Moreover,a brief explanation about issues that relate to the scale model experiments such as the sound source for measurement,the constitution of the measuring system and the processing of the measured data,etc is provided.


ing tendencies of the language. Intellectually it gives rise to an accentuated scheme of language as veil, or barrier, which it becomes the work of the poet to transgress: Je crois que la poesie d'une langue d'essences comme le francais a pour tache toujours urgente de constituer, ou de retrouver, 1'ordre pro fond, infra-conceptuel, au sein duquel le poete pourra se vivre comme presence, ayant verifie les analogies, ayant defait les aspects opaques, ayant rouvert la voie qui mene vers 1'interieur. 148 Poetic work (which, as it were, the French language forces into a theoretical selfperception) is presented thus as the attempt to re-ontologise a language refractory towards the creation of a sense or effect of presence faced with the temptations of the 'concept'. The poet in so doing is leaving one order, that maintained in the standard practice of the language, so as to integrate another, 'profond, infra-conceptuel', within which, thinkable as a writing subject, that subject can be experienced as 'present / presence', or, again, as an unfolding 'interiority'. That this presence is indeed another 'order', and one which is placed in what appears to be priority to the order vehiculated by the language and its historical development, is characteristic of a certain existential 'optimism' to be discerned in Bonnefoy's treatments of the poetic within a context of disenchantment. While elsewhere 149 more evidently wary of a role and workings of an unconscious in what purports to be a lucid approach of the desire for the 'poetic', the voluntaristic purchase offered by the idea of an infra-conceptual order from which presence would not be banned is recurrent in Bonnefoy's work as the gesture which conflates the affirmation of the desire for poetry with the poetic act itself. But to more immediate effect for present questionings are the implications of such an order for a view of the poetic work as a separate creation, a distinctive space. The poet-essayist, having gestured towards interiority, does indeed take his reasoning via the analogy of physical construction, suggestive of a heideggerian line of poetic 'habitation': 148 'La poesie fran9aise et le principe d'identite' (1965) in Bonnefoy. L 'Improbable et autres essais, op. cit. 245-73, 268-69. 149 See for example the 'Lettre a John E. Jackson' (1980), op. cit.


All children have the right to education that meets their needs and aims to enable them full integration in their society. Education should guarantee all children an equal chance to actively participate in society regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or disability (Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989). Yet sophisticated mechanisms within educational structures marginalize children from poor background, ethnic origins, race, gender and disability to the same social status they were born into (Freire, 1970; Shor & Freire, 1987; Giroux, 1997). This article highlights the characteristics of oppressive education, education that intends to give equal opportunities to all but in practice short cut children from marginalized groups.


The experience of the teachers' inductive education in UK is analyzed and the problem of teacher induction education in China is discussed.The direction of the improvement is explored combining with the "Teacher Education Curriculum Standard(Trial)".


Despite being separated by a short sea-crossing, the neighbouring islands of Alor and Timor in south-eastern Wallacea have to date been treated as separate units of linguistic analysis and possible ...


her various virtues, the persecutions she endured from the devil, her charismata, her last sickness and death. The eighty letters of the second part of the book show us the inner soul of this great woman; they show us the workings of God in His chosen vessel; here in simple language is shown the mystical growing-together of a creature and the Creator. The greatest lesson emphasized in the book to my mind is this: faithfulness to one's duties will lend to union with God. Madame Brault never neglected her duties as wife and mother. She cooked, baked, washed, sewed, and found time to help the poor, the sick, and to assist in decorating the altars of the parish church. In the whirl of all these activities she still became more and more absorbed in the Love that is God. The book should appeal to all who are striving to advance in the spiritual life; it should prove a valuable aid to directors of souls.


The relationship between Lindahl equilibria and the core of an economy with a public good is examined under the assumption that every coalition plays a non-cooperative game against its complementary coalition in sharing the cost for the public good. It is shown that the Lindahl equilibrium is contained in the core if and only if it is unblocked by any one-person coalition, and this is interpreted in terms of the free rider. 1 . In this note, we examine the wellknown relationship between Lindahl equilibria and the core of an economy with pure public goods under a specific assumption imposed on the activities of coalitions of agents. The result of Foley [2] that Lindahl equilibria are contained in the core was derived under a conservative assumption on permissible activities of the complementary coalition. That is, any coalition must produce the public goods for itself without assuming any contribution of the complementary coalition in blocking the allocation of the economy. As a result the core is quite large as mentioned by Foley himself. In fact, Champsauer [1] showed in a game theoretic framework that for every coalition, and hence for every one-person coalition, too, there exist core allocations which are attainable for it.


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The field of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) seeks to help minimize the effects of speech disorders to allow better communication. High-tech AAC devices are electronic devices that address the dual issue of speech impairment and reduced motor control. Communication rate can be improved substantially using word prediction, an application of language modeling to text entry. Word prediction relies on the letters and words that the user has entered so far to suggest likely words that the user is in the process of typing.
Although we can increase language model quality with more training data, these efforts are unlikely to increase the average relevance of training texts. Instead, many documents will be dissimilar to testing data. Even if a few relevant texts are added to the training data, their contribution is marginalized by the abundance of irrelevant texts. We address the problem of varying relevance through adaptive language modeling, specifically topic adaptation and style adaptation. We found that these adaptations increase keystroke savings for both topic and style adaptation individually, and also when topic and style modeling are combined. We have addressed the problem of irrelevant training data with cache models to learn new words and model lexical repetition, and we also integrated a large word list using methods developed for the part of speech ngram model.
We have focused on general-purpose improvements in language modeling and natural language processing. Many of our methods may be applicable to related language modeling problems. However, we have focused only on language modeling improvements which we feel are well-suited for word prediction and AAC.


This case series reports the functional out come after femur neck reconstruction in young patients after neglected femur neck fracture with free fibular grafts. 7 young patients of age 14-21 yrs with stage 3 (Sandhu et al) neglected femur neck fracture were treated with double free fibular grafting and DHS fixation. On long term follow ups all united well with good reconstruction and radiological consolidation of femoral neck on 12 months follow up with good to excellent Harris hip score. 1 patient presented with excellent, 5 with good and 1 with fair result. This series is presented to further validate free fibular grafting in neglected femoral neck fractures in young patients, particularly those with large bone gap and to strengthen the available database.


PRIVATE BUSINESS 1. The minutes of the last Annual General Meeting, having been published in the Journal (18, 565, 1956), were taken as read and confirmed. 2. The Balance Sheet for 1956-57 was presented, having been audited and found correct by Baker and Crozier. The credit balance on April 18, 1957, was £605 19s. 6d. In addition the Society held £800 21% Savings Bonds 1964/67. 3. Bruce Maclean was elected an Extra-Ordinary Member of the Society. 4. Dr. Mannheimer and Dr. Werko of Stockholm were elected as Corresponding Members of the Society. 5. The following Associate Members were elected as Ordinary Members.


Stroke is often caused by carotid plaque rupture, with rupture potential indicated by plaque structure and composition. Delineating carotid plaque components that confer rupture risk is vital to stoke prevention. We have previously shown that ARFI Log Variance of Acceleration, log(VoA), discriminates intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) from lipid-rich necrotic core (LRNC) and collagen (COL) from calcium (CAL) in vivo in humans, while ARFI peak displacement does not. We hypothesize that log(VoA) performance will be further improved by harmonic tracking of ARF-induced displacement. In a pilot clinical study of six carotid plaques imaged in vivo in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA), plaque component contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) achieved by harmonic log(VoA) was compared to that achieved by tracking at fundamental low (4.0 MHz, FL) and high (8.89 MHz, FH) frequencies with validation by spatially-matched histology derived from the extracted plaque specimens. Over all examined plaques, harmonic and both fundamental low and high log(VoA) distributions statistically differentiated plaque components (Wilcoxon, $\mathrm{p} < 0.01$, panel iv). Harmonic log(VoA) achieved the highest CNR between COL and LRNC, which is relevant to fibrous cap delineation, but FH tracking yielded the highest CNR between LRNC and IPH and between COL and CAL. These results suggest that combined harmonic and FH tracking could improve ARFI log(VoA) characterization of carotid plaque components that are correlated to rupture.


A motor train unit foundation brake device suitable for a high and cold environment comprises a clamp forceps unit, a brake disc and a brake lining and is characterized in that double-side gaps between the brake disc and the brake lining are increased to be 3-6mm, gaps among friction particles in the brake lining are not smaller than 6mm, the friction particles on the brake lining are oval, the directions of gaps among the friction particles are arc-shaped, and an anti-freezing coating is sprayed on the surfaces of the clamp forceps unit and a brake cylinder. The motor train unit foundation brake device ensures that grinding materials produced in the braking process in extreme weather or hard particles from the outside can be smoothly discharged, the production origin of metal inserts is eliminated, and a phenomenon that the brake disc and the brake lining are possibly engaged unfirm. In addition, the shortcoming of unsmooth discharging impurity of an original brake disc is overcome, the discharging of the grinding materials produced in the braking process or the hard particles from the outside is facilitated, the production origin of metal inserts is further eliminated, an abnormal abrasion phenomenon of the brake disc is effectively decreased, the maintenance working amount and the maintenance cost are reduced, and the vehicle utilization rate is improved. The anti-freezing varnish is spayed on the surfaces of the clamp forceps unit and the brake cylinder, and snow and ice are prevented from being accumulated.


Summary
The bactericidal potency of groups of biguanides, phenols and detergents has been compared with that of the bis-biguanide, chlorhexidine, and related to measurable effects of the compounds on bacteria. Biguanides, like chlorhexidine, precipitated bacterial cytoplasm and also lysed spheroplasts over a limited concentration range: higher concentrations prevented lysis. Certain phenols and detergents which lysed spheroplasts did not precipitate cytoplasm. All the compounds released radioactivity from isotopically labelled bacteria; at suitable concentrations, biguanides released more radioactivity than chlorhexidine, but at higher concentrations the amount of radioactivity released was reduced. Bactericidal activity correlated with both the ability to lyse spheroplasts and to precipitate cytoplasm from solution. The findings support the hypothesis that damage to the cell wall alone does not kill bacteria but an increase in permeability allows entry of the bactericide. Action of compounds on the cell wall is discussed in relation to a model of its ultrastructure.


Safe, reliable and low cost space based navigation is being provide with embedded INS/GPS systems such as the Space Integrated GPS/INS (SIGI). The SIGI is being used for various space vehicle applications such as launch vehicles, orbital vehicles and re-entry vehicles. This paper describes current space vehicle navigation capabilities. The SIGI is being enhanced to provide additions to these existing capabilities with such items as higher processing and a commercial-off-the shelf operating system. This will allow hosting of various software applications such as advanced navigation functions, flight control, guidance and vehicle management algorithms. The SIGI can host redundancy management functions by incorporating a Cross Channel Data Link card (CCDL) using a high speed firewire bus. The SIGI can then be used as a redundancy management platform which has application to current space vehicle avionics topologies incorporating distributed processing architectures.


Submitted for the MAR16 Meeting of The American Physical Society Quasi-static magnetoelectric quadrupoles as the order parameter for the pseudo-gap phase in cuprate superconductors MICHAEL FECHNER, MERLIN J. A. FIERZ, FLORIAN THÖLE, Materials Theory, ETH Zurich, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 27, 8093 Zurich, URS STAUB, Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, NICOLA A. SPALDIN, Materials Theory, ETH Zurich, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 27, 8093 Zurich — A characteristic of ferroic materials is the emergence of a temporally static finite expectation value of an order parameter. Here, we introduce a new mechanism [1] for ferroic order, in which a non-zero quasi-static magnetoelectric quadrupolar order appears due the coupling of fluctuating spin magnetic dipole moments and polar optical phonons. Using firstprinciples calculations within the LSDA+U method of density functional theory, we calculate the magnitude of the effect for the prototypical cuprate superconductor, HgBa2CuO4+δ. We show that our proposed mechanism is consistent, to our knowledge, with many experimental observations for the onset of the pseudo-gap phase and therefore propose the quasi-static magnetoelectric quadrupole as a possible pseudo-gap order parameter. Finally, we show that our mechanism embraces some key aspects of previous theoretical models, in particular the description of the pseudo-gap phase in terms of orbital currents. [1] M. Fechner, M. J. A. Fierz, F. Thöle, U. Staub, and N. A. Spaldin, arXiv 1510.04844, (2015). Michael Fechner Materials Theory, ETH Zurich, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 27, 8093 Zurich Date submitted: 05 Nov 2015 Electronic form version 1.4


Abstract This article aims to portray aspects of the contemporary cultural ethos of the Arab diaspora community of São Paulo, Brazil. Because the initial waves of immigration from the Middle East to Brazil began before the dissolution of the Ottoman empire, immigrants arrived in Brazil with Ottoman identity documents, earning them the appellation 'Turk'. The broader Brazilian society continues to apply the title 'turco' to these individuals of immigrant origin, irrespective of whether they are Muslims, Jews or Christians, and despite the virtual absence of immigrants from Turkey in this region. People of Syrian and Lebanese descent comprise the bulk of the Arab population of São Paulo. However there are also small numbers of people from other parts of the Middle East and North Africa among their ranks. Nevertheless, members generally refer to the collectivity with which they identify themselves as the Syrian–Lebanese community. This article describes selected aspects of the daily lives of the members of this group, and in the process focuses on several specific settings. Scenes described in this paper include Al-Malik restaurant (a Lebanese variety and dry goods store), an Arabic music and dance performance, and a plebiscite for Bashar Al-Assad at a downtown social centre, Club Homs. In the process of collecting data for this interpretive collage, four research methods were employed: informal interview, micro-ethnography, participant observation, and analysis of locally produced texts.


As zero-knowledge proofs gain increasing adoption, the cryptography community has designed domain-specific languages (DSLs) that facilitate the construction of zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs). Many of these DSLs, such as Circom, facilitate the construction of arithmetic circuits, which are essentially polynomial equations over a finite field. In particular, given a program in a zero-knowledge proof DSL, the compiler automatically produces the corresponding arithmetic circuit. However, a common and serious problem is that the generated circuit may be underconstrained, either due to a bug in the program or a bug in the compiler itself. Underconstrained circuits admit multiple witnesses for a given input, so a malicious party can generate bogus witnesses, thereby causing the verifier to accept a proof that it should not. Because of the increasing prevalence of such arithmetic circuits in blockchain applications, several million dollars worth of cryptocurrency have been stolen due to underconstrained arithmetic circuits. Motivated by this problem, we propose a new technique for finding ZKP bugs caused by underconstrained polynomial equations over finite fields. Our method performs semantic reasoning over the finite field equations generated by the compiler to prove whether or not each signal is uniquely determined by the input. Our proposed approach combines SMT solving with lightweight uniqueness inference to effectively reason about underconstrained circuits. We have implemented our proposed approach in a tool called QED2 and evaluate it on 163 Circom circuits. Our evaluation shows that QED2 can successfully solve 70% of these benchmarks, meaning that it either verifies the uniqueness of the output signals or finds a pair of witnesses that demonstrate non-uniqueness of the circuit. Furthermore, QED2 has found 8 previously unknown vulnerabilities in widely-used circuits.


In this letter, a high breakdown voltage GaN HEMT device fabricated on semi-insulating self-standing GaN substrate is presented. High quality AlGaN/GaN epilayer was grown on self-standing GaN substrate by metal organic chemical vapor deposition. A 0.8μm gate length GaN HEMT device was fabricated with oxygen plasma treatment. By using oxygen plasma treatment, gate forward working voltage is increased, and a breakdown voltage of more than 170V is demonstrated. The measured maximum drain current of the device is larger than 700 mA/mm at 4V gate bias voltage. The maximum transconductance of the device is 162 mS/mm. In addition, high frequency performance of the GaN HEMT device is also obtained. The current gain cutoff frequency and power gain cutoff frequency are 19.7 GHz and 32.8 GHz, respectively. A high fT-LG product of 15.76 GHzμm indicating that homoepitaxy technology is helpful to improve the frequency performance of the device.


Abstract Significant spatial heterogeneities of daytime surface sensible heat flux are common over land within mesoscale domains. Thermally induced circulations, similar to the sea/lake breeze [termed nonclassical mesoscale circulations (NCMSs)], are anticipated in these situations. Growing research interest in NCMSs has developed in the recent decade. In this article, general quantifications of NCMC characteristics are surveyed based on modeling and observational studies, along with further elaborations on specific NCMSs. The numerical modeling studies have indicated NCMSs with intensity comparable to the sea breeze in the ideal situations of sharp contrast between extended wet soil or crop and adjacent dry land areas. Similar results were obtained when contrast of cloud with clear sky and snow with snow-free areas were considered. For less ideal contrast, as well as for thermal contrast generated by some other types of forcing, weaker NCMCs were simulated. The limited observational studies have suggeste...


Although traditional techniques for removing radioactive impurities produce pure water, they are either not selective and/or they produce large volumes of secondary waste. This is especially the case when impurities are present in very low molar concentrations compared to other harmless species. Hence, there is an urgent need for economic and environmental reasons to develop new separation technologies to selectively remove only the radioactive ions while leaving the 'harmless' elements in water. The operational parameters required for the new separation systems are high specificity and high complexation capacity for the trace elements. In addition, they should be easily separated from the treated liquid, and should produce minimal amounts of secondary waste. Recently, we have researched the potential of a new separation technology based on the attachment of ion selective chelating molecules to paramagnetic nano-sized particles so that the resultant conjugates can be used to target and extract trace amounts of ions selectively from aqueous waste streams. Ion selective bifunctional chelating agents can be synthesised for a wide range of nuclides. The attachment of these chelating agents to discrete nano-sized paramagnetic particles has several advantages: nano-sized particles possess high surface area enabling the attachment of a large number of chelating agents to their surface, hence the removal of more contaminants per volume of material. They are also very small compared to the micron-sized particles used in traditional clean-up methods, therefore they have the potential to significantly reduce the volume of secondary waste. Moreover, paramagnetic nanoparticles can be removed easily from aqueous solution by magnetic filtration which is a well proven separation technology used in the steel and mineral processing industries. Magnetoferritin, a magnetic variety of the naturally occurring iron storage protein ferritin, was chosen and tested as a possible paramagnetic nanoparticle because it is easily dispersed in aqueous systems, its size is of the right order of magnitude (ca. 12 nm diameter) and its magnetic susceptibility is uniform and sufficient to respond to magnetic filtration. In addition, magnetoferritin possesses surface functional groups which make it possible to couple other molecules to its surface. Our approach was to synthesise and attach a caesium specific chelating agent to magnetoferritin because Cs is a major radiation source in radioactive waste water and is strictly controlled regarding its release to the environment. We chose calixarene derivatives as putative chelating agents because their exceptional affinity for caesium is well documented. Moreover, their cavity size and hence selectivity can be modified which could be useful in future applications: if the synthesis, attachment and caesium separation of the chosen derivative are successful it opens up the possibility to build a family of chelating agents based on calixarenes to target other problematic ions in waste water treatment. While magnetoferritin is relatively easy to produce (Nanomagnetics, University Gate East, Park Row, Bristol, UK BS1 5UB, following the procedure by Wong et al.), there have been only a few reports on its applications. Similarly, literature on the attachment of calixarene derivatives to macromolecules is also very scarce. Although 1,3-calix[4]arenebiscrown-6 derivatives have excellent affinity towards caesium, they have no available functional groups through which the attachment to magnetoferritin could be achieved. However, previously it has been shown that when one of the crowns has been replaced by two hydrocarbon chains there are insignificant changes in selectivity. According to Arnaud-Neu et al. for example, the Cs/Na selectivity of dioctyl calix[4]arene-crown-6 was excellent, in the region of 33 000. Therefore it was decided to synthesize 25,27-bis[(3-carboxypropyl)oxy]calix[4]arene-crown-6 having two hydrocarbon chains with terminal carboxyl groups as shown in Scheme 1. Purification by flash chromatography was undertaken at each step, the overall yield to the final product was about 20%. High resolution MS, H NMR, C NMR and IR spectra are consistent with the product structure and intermediates. Before attachment of the calixarene to magnetoferritin its capability to sequester caesium(I) ions from solutions was assessed. 25,27-Bis[(3-carboxypropyl)oxy]calix[4]arene-crown-6 (2.4 mg, 2.87 10 3 mmol) was dissolved in deuterated chloroform (2 ml) while solid caesium picrate (17.8 mg, 4.93 10 2 mmol) was dissolved in deuterated water (20 ml). Solvent extraction was performed by mixing the calixarene solution (0.8 ml, 1.15 10 3 mmol) with the caesium picrate (0.8 ml, 0.2 10 3 mmol) solution for three minutes. H NMR spectroscopy was used as a rapid initial methodology for a Centre for Research in Analytical, Materials and Sensor Sciences, Dept. of Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, UK BS16 1QY. E-mail: email@example.com; Tel: +44 117 3282501 b Bradtec Decon Technologies, The Wheelhouse, Bonds Mill Estate, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, UK GL10 3RF w Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental details. See DOI: 10.1039/b925933c


The eggshells of green (Chelonia mydas (L., 1758)), loggerhead (Caretta caretta (L., 1758)), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata (L., 1766)), and flatback (Natator depressus (Garman, 1880)) sea turtles nesting in eastern Australia were examined by scanning electron microscopy to determine if the ultrastructure was contributing to interspecific variation in fungal invasion of eggs. The eggshells of all species investigated were of similar structure (outer inorganic layer of aragonite crystals and an inner organic fibrillar layer) and of similar thickness. Well defined pores that would allow direct access by fungal hyphae or spores and does not contribute to interspsecific variation in the vulnerability of loggerhead sea turtle eggs to fungal infection.


A titration technique was utilized to determine the equilibrium quotients for the first and second aquation steps of cis-Pt(NH/sub 3/)/sub 2/Cl/sub 2/. At 25.0/sup 0/C and an ionic strength of 0.318 M the first and second aquation equilibrium constants are: K/sub 1/ = 3.63 +- 0.22 x 10/sup -3/ M, ..delta..H/sub 1//sup 0/ = 3.4 kcal and K/sub 2/ = 1.11 +- 0.14 x 10/sup -4/ M, ..delta..H/sub 2//sup 0/ = 10 kcal. In the ternary system, cis-Pt(NH/sub 3/)/sub 2/Cl/sub 2/:PtCl/sub 4//sup 2 -/:Cl/sup -/, the kinetics of isotopic exchange of chlorine was investigated. In addition to the expected route of exchange via aquation, a direct exchange of chlorine ligands between cis-Pt(NH/sub 3/)/sub 2/Cl/sub 2/ and PtCl/sub 4//sup 2 -/ occurred which is described by the rate expression. Separation procedures were devised for partial resolution of component yields resulting from dissolving a neutron-irradiated sample of (H/sub 3/O)/sub 2/((Mo/sub 6/Cl/sub 8/)Cl/sub 6/) . 6H/sub 2/O in 1.5 N HCl. A recrystallization procedure was formulated to determine the retention of activity in the parent compound of molybdenum(II) chloride clusters after neutron irradiation. The retention found in an aqueous 1.5 N HCl solution containing 1 percent (H/sub 3/O)/sub 2/((Mo/sub 6/Cl/sub 8/)Cl/sub 6/) .more » 6H/sub 2/O is 0.64 percent. For a solid sample of (H/sub 3/O)/sub 2/ ((Mo/sub 6/Cl/sub 8/)Cl/sub 6/) . 6H/sub 2/O aged 24 hours in Dry Ice after neutron irradiation, a retention of 7.0 percent was observed. Under the same conditions, a sample of (Mo/sub 6/Cl/sub 8/)Cl/sub 4/ with 0.8 percent and 2.7 percent water had retentions of 25.0 percent and 11.1 percent, respectively. Effects of thermal annealing and gamma ray treatment on solid samples of ((Mo/sub 6/Cl/sub 8/)Cl/sub 4/) . 2H/sub 2/O were investigated.« less


Gary, B. 1999. The nervous Liberals: Propaganda anxieties from World War I to the Cold War. New York: Columbia University Press. Jackal, R. and J.M. Hirota. 1995. America's first propaganda ministry: The Committee on Public Information during the Great War. In Propaganda, ed. R. Jackal, 137–73. Basingstoke: Macmillan. Kuisel, R.F. 1993. Seducing the French: The dilemma of Americanization. Berkeley–Los Angeles– London: University of California Press. Roger, P. 2002. L'ennemi américain. Généalogie de l'antiaméricanisme français. Paris: Seuil. Rossini, G. 2000. Il mito americano nell'Italia della Grande Guerra. Rome–Bari: Laterza. Simpson, C. 1994. Science of coercion: Communication research and psychological warfare 1945–1960. Oxford: Oxford University Press.


Background: Optimal survival following sudden cardiac arrest requires heart and brain resuscitation. In patients who achieve cardiac resuscitation, brain recovery from anoxic injury is variable. Neurological sequelae range from complete recovery to coma with brain death. Thus, ideally outcome assessment would incorporate functional and neurologic status.
Objective: Evaluation of the prognostic yield of estimation of at admission random blood glucose (RBG) and serum neuron specific enolase (NSE) levels, and determination of the value of NSE serum level re-estimation  48 hours after admission in resuscitated post-cardiac arrest patients.
Patients and Methods: The study included 90 cardiac arrest patients; 75 were out-of-hospital and 15 were  in-hospital cardiac arrest. All patients received mild therapeutic hypothermia irrespective of the initial rhythm admission. Blood samples were obtained for estimation of RBG and serum SNE. At 48-hours after admission, serum NSE was re-estimated, and the percentage of change in relation to at-admission level was calculated. Clinical evaluation was conducted using the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II). Mortality rate throughout duration of ICU stay was determined. Neurologic outcomes were evaluated using the Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) score collectively as favorable neurological outcome (CPC score of 1-2) or unfavorable outcome (CPC score of 3-5).
Results: Mean time elapsed till return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) since arrival to emergency department was 14.3±3.6; range: 8-19 minutes. Mean ICU stay was 16.3±7.4; range: 3-30 days. Thirty-one patients died (34.4%), 18 patients (20%) had unfavorable neurological outcome (CPC-3), and 41 patients (45.6%) had favorable outcome. Mean at admission RBG levels were significantly higher in non-survivors compared to survivors, with significantly higher levels in survivors had unfavorable outcome compared to those had favorable outcome. Mean levels of serum NSE estimated at admission and 48-hours, and percentage of change were significantly higher in non-survivors compared to survivors, with significantly higher levels in survivors had unfavorable outcome compared to those had favorable outcome. There was a negative significant correlation between survival rate and favorable neurologic outcome and levels of RBG and NSE, patient's age, time till ROSC and APACHE II score. ROSC curve and regression analyses were defined at admission hyperglycemia as the highly significant specific predictor for mortality and high serum NSE kinetics for prediction of unfavorable neurologic outcome.
Conclusion: Hyperglycemia could specifically predict mortality and high serum NSE levels estimated at admission and 48-hours later, with elevated percentage of increase which could specifically predict poor neurologic outcome of resuscitated post-arrest patients.


The kinetics of electrocatalytic dissociation reaction of dimethyl ether (DME) on a platinum (Pt) polycrystalline electrode in an acidic solution yielding carbon monoxide (CO) has been quantitatively analyzed by in situ IR spectroscopy in the potential region between 100 and 500 mV (vs reversible hydrogen electrode). A two-step consecutive reaction model, an initial dehydrogenation step followed by a CO formation step, is proposed for the dissociation process of the DME molecule. The mechanism of the DME dissociation on the Pt electrode surface is discussed based on the kinetic analysis.


Combustion synthesis of iron oxide/iron coated carbons such as activated carbon, anthracite, cellulose fiber, and silica is described. The reactions were carried out in alumina crucibles using a Panasonic kitchen microwave with inverter technology, and the reaction process was completed within a few minutes. The method used no additional fuel and nitrate, which is present in the precursor itself, to drive the reaction. The obtained samples were then characterized with X-ray mapping, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS), selected area diffraction pattern (SAED), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy. The size of the iron oxide/iron nanoparticle-coated activated carbon, anthracite, cellulose fiber, and silica samples were found to be in the nano range (50–400 nm). The iron oxide/iron nanoparticles mostly crystallized into cubic symmetry which was confirmed by SAED. The XRD pattern indicated that iron oxide/iron nano particles existed in four major phases. That is, γ-Fe2O3, α-Fe2O3, Fe3O4, and Fe. These iron-coated activated carbon, anthracite, cellulose fiber, and silica samples were tested for arsenic adsorption through batch experiments, revealing that few samples had significant arsenic adsorption.


Pipes are used in every industrial thermo-fluid equipment and systems, such as tubes, ducts, heat exchangers, air conditioning and refrigerating systems etc. Flatter velocity profiles and more uniform thermal environments are extremely desirous factors for improved performance of these flow reactors and heat exchangers. One means of achieving it in laminar flow systems is to use mixers and flow inverters. In the present study a new device is introduced by changing the dean number of fluid flowing in helically coiled tubes. The objective is to study velocity profile and pressure drop in the proposed device made up from the configurations of changing radius. Pressure drop in straight, helical coil and compact helical geometry configuration were compared using computational fluid dynamics software (FLUENT) results.


Treating creationism as a controversial topic within the science and religion issue in the science classroom has been widely discussed in the recent literature. Some researchers have proposed that this topic is best addressed by focusing on sociocognitive conflict. To prepare new learning opportunities for this approach, it is necessary to know the concrete arguments that students use in their discussions on this issue. Therefore, this study aimed to provide a systematic description of these arguments. For this purpose, upper secondary students (N = 43) argued for either the acceptance of evolutionary theory or faith in Genesis in a written speech. The study was conducted during their regular biology and religious education classes. Generated arguments were analysed by qualitative content analysis. Three dimensions of the arguments were described: the content (science or religion), the valuation of the argument (positive or negative), and whether the argument consisted of a descriptive or normative argumentation. The results indicate that students found it easier to generate arguments about the scientific side of the issue; however, these arguments were negatively constructed. The results are discussed with regard to implications for educational approaches for teaching controversial issues at the high-school level.


Atmospheric particulate matters were collected on quartz fibre filters for 24 hours with a low volume sampler from January 2014 to March 2014 at the Southeast Asian mega city (Dhaka, Bang- ladesh). Particulate matters samples were analysed for eleven trace metals with inductively cou- pled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) at Ca Foscari University of Venice, Italy. Trace metals were extracted from filters with digestion method using a mixture of HNO3 and H2O2. The average concentration of the determined trace metals of As, Cd, Ni, Cu, Pb, Cr, Fe, Mn, Zn, Sband Se were 3.06, 6.28, 3.77, 11.98, 305.6, 9.2, 2057.0, 42.2, 303.3, 5.47 and 2.43 ng∙m −3 , respectively. Arsenic concentration is much lower in the atmosphere of Dhaka, though Bangladesh has severe arsenic problem in the ground water. Lead and cadmium concentrations showed decreasing trend in Dhaka compared than previous measurements—but still they have very high levels compared than Europe and USA. There is very limited information for Mn, Sb and Se concentrations in Dhaka air. Correlation studies showed that several trace metals had potential joint sources of origin, e.g., manganese is highly correlated with iron (r 2 = 0.97) and nickel (r 2 = 0.84), copper (r 2 = 0.86); lead with arsenic (r 2 = 0.79) and antimony (r 2 = 0.78). Enrichment factors analysis was also done with the data base for the respective metals in earth crust and coal fly ash. As and Cu both have com- bined sources, whereas Cd, Pb and Zn were from coal fly ash.Trace metals concentrations in Dhaka city air were much higher than Europe and USA but comparable or slightly lower than other south Asian countries. This is the first extensive study for the eleven trace metals with ICP-MS in Dhaka, * Corresponding author.


This paper studies the smoothness and the curvature of con ict sets of the dis tance function in the plane Con ict sets are also well known as bisectors We prove smoothness in the case of two convex sets and give a formula for the curvature We generalize moreover to weighted distance functions the so called Johnson Mehl model Introduction We consider two regions in the Euclidean plane A classical prob lem is to study the set of points of equal distance to the two sets If the sets are points lines or circles we get in this way parabolas ellipses hyperbolas and lines The sets of equal distance are known under several names bisectors in computa tional geometry equi distance lines con ict lines of the distance function in singularity theory cut locus etc Definition Let d denote the Euclidean distance function A and B two closed sets in the plane E By d x A we denote the distance from a point x to A Conf A B fx Ejd x A d x B g Con ict set Terr A B fx Ejd x A d x B g Territory of A w r t B Terr B A fx Ejd x A d x B g Territory of B w r t A We can also start from iso distance lines sets with respect to A and B The con ict sets are precisely the intersections between iso distance lines with the same distance We can imagine the con ict set as the places where wave fronts from A and B meet at the rst time Moreover one can consider circular discs which are tangent to both A and B The centers of the discs are exactly the points on the con ict set If one considers not discs but only circles tangent to both sets one nds in general a bigger locus of centers since then the tangency is also allowed from the inside of the circle The methods of this paper apply with appropriate changes also to this more general type of bisector Mathematics Subject Classi cation Primary A Secondary U The paper is in nal form and no version of it will be published elsewhere


The requirement and current status of deep packet inspection are analyzed with applications in Peer-to-Peer (P2P). The difference of traditional network and Next Generation Network (NGN) is presented, and the operator's measures of managing P2P are also summarized. The possibility and necessity of operating P2P are also discussed. After the analysis of current Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) technology, the fact that DPI can not satisfy the telecommunication level requirement is pointed out. A concrete mechanism of telecommunication operator dominating P2P service operation is proposed. This mechanism is different from traditional method in utilizing the superiority of P2P technology properly and synthesizing every participant's advantage.


Shakespeare's influence cannot be confined by subject, theme, spatial and/or temporal setting. His works transcend disciplines and geographical identity. He is a linguist, a psychiatrist, ecologist and a political, social and economic commentator. Three thousand new words and phrases all first appeared in print in Shakespeare's plays. Through Shylock's resolve on three thousand ducats repayment, readers of The Merchant of Venice learn about the dangers of a cash nexus on human relations. The major tragedies and tragicomedies impart knowledge about politics at both national and family levels. Julius Caesar; Macbeth; King Lear; Othello, and Romeo and Juliet each touches on the important aspect of power dynamics in the private and public spheres. This paper considers some of the major political events in the build-up to the 2014 Botswana general elections and compares them to Shakespeare's political intrigue in Julius Caesar. The paper concludes that there is credibility in Oscar Wilde's argument in his 1889 essay 'The Decay of Lying,' that "Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life" (Wilde, 1889, p. 11).


This study examined the public relations practices-- the concept, structure, functions, goals and objectives, procedures, and standards of performance--at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. The study concluded that the public relations practices provide an effective, well-organized, well-planned and well-executed program based on formal goals and objectives, definite philosophy and purpose, and criteria for measurement of effectiveness. Although the program has a good sense of direction, it lacks focus, largely because of the mingling of public relations and fund-raising responsibilities in some staff positions and a lack of separate standards of performance for each staff member. Recommendations to strengthen the program include separate and distinct public relations and fund-raising responsibilities in each staff position and standards of performance for each staff member.


The authors of the article analyze the impact of information security threats when conducting online surveys with an uncertain number of respondents. The article discusses threats to change responses of experts and block responses of experts. Finding the probability of making an erroneous decision using the methods of probability theory is a very difficult task. The authors propose using the Monte Carlo method as a solution. A software module that implements this method has been developed. We obtained the dependence of the probability of making an erroneous decision on the probability of changing the answers of experts, the probability of blocking the answers of experts and the number of respondents. The authors showed that there are critical values for the probability of changes in the responses of experts. These values determine the boundaries of ranges with different characteristics of the dependence of the probability of making an erroneous decision. The authors proposed two methods for finding one of the critical values. In conclusion, the authors formulated conditions that reduce the probability of making an erroneous decision.


Gastroparesis presents with symptoms of gastric retention and nongastrointestinal manifestations, with objective evidence of delayed gastric emptying in the absence of mechanical obstruction. Diabetic, idiopathic, and postsurgical gastroparesis are the most common forms, although many other conditions are associated with symptomatic delayed gastric emptying (Table 1). Gastroparesis is estimated to affect up to 4% of the US population[1] and may produce either mild, intermittent symptoms of nausea, early satiety, and postprandial fullness with little impairment of daily function, or relentless vomiting with total disability and frequent hospitalizations. A recent report estimated that inpatient costs for patients with severe gastroparesis approach $7000/month.[2]

Table 1

Etiologies of Gastroparesis

Clinical Manifestations
Gastroparesis presents with a constellation of symptoms. In one study, nausea was reported by 93% of patients whereas early satiety and vomiting were noted by 86% and 68%, respectively.[3] In another series, nausea, vomiting, bloating, and early satiety were reported by 92%, 84%, 75%, and 60% of patients, respectively.[4] Many patients in both case series (89% and 46%) also reported abdominal pain (Table 2). Others experience heartburn from acid reflux into the esophagus that is facilitated by fundic distention which increases the rate of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations.[5] Although some gastroparetics with frequent vomiting lose weight and develop malnutrition, most patients were overweight or obese in one series, indicating that the disorder does not necessarily restrict food intake.[6] Phytobezoars are organized concretions of indigestible food residue that are retained within the stomach. These may increase gastroparesis symptoms or produce a palpable epigastric mass, gastric ulceration, small intestinal obstruction, or gastric perforation.[7] Bezoars are eliminated by endoscopic disruption and lavage, enzymatic digestion (papain, cellulose, or N-acetylcysteine), and dietary exclusion of high-residue foods. Variably delayed gastric emptying may cause unpredictable food delivery in diabetics with gastroparesis, affecting glycemic control and increasing risks of both severe hypo- and hyperglycemia.[8]

Table 2

Characteristics of Pain in 28 Gastroparesis Patients[3]

Quantification of the severity and nature of gastroparesis symptoms has been facilitated by the introduction of validated surveys. The most widely used questionnaire for this purpose is the Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index (GCSI), a symptom score validated in 7 university-based clinical practices in the United States that correlates well with patient and physician ratings of gastric symptom severity.[9] The GCSI comprises 3 subscales (postprandial fullness/early satiety, nausea/vomiting, and bloating) and represents a subset of the comprehensive Patient Assessment of Gastrointestinal Symptoms (PAGI-SYM) survey.[10] The Patient Assessment of Upper Gastrointestinal Disorders-Quality of Life (PAGI-QOL) survey quantifies quality of life in dysmotility syndromes such as gastroparesis.[11] Using these questionnaires, investigators have begun to stratify patients with gastroparesis into different subgroups on the basis of symptom severity and predominant symptom profiles. Although these surveys currently are most useful for research trials, in the near future they may serve a clinical role similar to the Rome criteria for functional gastrointestinal disorders in terms of helping healthcare providers to select symptom-based management approaches.


Liquefied natural gas has the characteristics of high combustion heat,less pollution,easy transportation and high efficiency of storage. While natural gas liquefaction technology has formed a high technology,and is widely used in industrial production of liquefied natural gas. The summary describes process characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of several LNG liquefaction processes which includes cascade connection type liquefaction process,mixing refrigerant liquefaction process,expander- cycle liquefaction process. An overview of the development ofnature gas liquefaction process and field application.


Misinformation propagation in its current form is a global problem that requires urgent solutions. Historically, instances of misinformation publicly propagated can be found as far back as the sixth century AD.Scholars and researchers have generally settled for a definition of 'information disorder' that reveals three variants: misinformation, disinformation and malinformation. What should be of paramount importance, in the fight against information disorders, is the potential of false information to cause harm. The 'harm principle' was proposed by the British philosopher John Stuart Mill in 1859 and needs an upgrade for the social media age. One such upgrade is proposed by Cass Sunstein.


At Advent, we turn our hearts and minds towards the light that broke into the world's darkness. The light that has changed everything.


The effects of the contents for fly ash,the surface modifiers for fly ash on the mechanical,flow performances and the heat-durability of the fly ash/polyethylene were investigated.The results showed that the impact strength,tensile strength,elongation at break and MFR of the composites decreased while flexural strength and hardness(shore D) increased with increasing the fly ash content;the surface modifiers for fly ash improved the mechanical,flow performances and heat-durability of the composites.


Hydro-thermal liquefaction technology for rapeseed straws was investigated the biomass conversion rate with different catalysts and reaction temperatures. NaOH and KOH were used for catalysts, and the reaction temperature were ranged from 180 to 320℃ at every 20℃ of intervals for 10 minutes. The reaction was carried out in a 5,000 mL liquefaction system with dispenser and external electrical furnace. Raw materials (160g), 2,000 mL of distilled water and 10% (wt/wt) of catalyst to plant residue were fed into the reactor. It was observed that the maximum crude oil yield was about 36% at temperature range, 260~280℃ with KOH and at 300 ℃ with NaOH, respectively. It was observed that the more calorific values of crude oil, the higher reaction temperature with KOH, but it had the reverse pattern in NaOH.


The investigation of sensitivity of the ORWO-AF 3 autoradiographic emulsion for β-radiation of energy. 0,155;0,306 MeV, γ-radiation of energy above 1 MeV and XKα + XKβ (5,9 keV; 6,5 keV) has been carried out. Findings can be applied for the correction of autoradiograms of diffusion profiles, if a diffusive element is marked by isotopes of complex radiation (e. g. β- + γ-radiation).


We present far infrared measurements on YBCO films deposited on Si substrate. In particular, we measured the radiation intesity transmitted in the spectral range 50-550 cm/sup -1/ through two samples composed by YSCO films of different thickness deposited on the same Si substrate. With this procedure we derived the extinction coefficient of YBCO at temperatures above and below the critical temperature Tc. Above Tc the-data may be described by using -the Drude model. Below Tc the data are consistent with the results of the Mattis-Bardeen theory for the superconducting phase, by assuming an energy gap of about 250 cm/sup -1/.


Brick is the most commonly used building material for construction. The CO2 emissions in the brick manufacturing process affects the green environment. Therefore, focus should be now more on seeking eco – friendly solutions for greener environment. Analysis of conventional and non – conventional material on cost, energy consumption and carbon emission parameters helps in highlighting suitable options for sustainable construction. AAC block, an eco – friendly material, gives a prospective solution to building construction. In this paper, attempt has been made to replace the red bricks with eco – friendly AAC blocks. The usage of AAC block reduces the cost of construction upto 20% as reduction of dead load of wall on beam makes it a comparatively lighter members. The use of AAC block also reduces the requirement of materials such as cement and sand upto 50%.


The steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) is crucial for transport of cholesterol to mitochondria where biosynthesis of steroids is initiated. Loss of StAR function due to autosomal-recessive mutations in the STAR gene leads to lipoid congenital adrenal hyperplasia (LCAH) which is characterized by impaired synthesis of adrenal and gonadal steroids, which causes adrenal insufficiency, primary ovarian failure in 46XX patients, or 46XY disorder of sex development (DSD). However, there were a few reports of 46 XY DSD patients with LCAH caused by a heterozygous mutation in the STAR gene. Here, we describe another rare case of LCAH in a 46XY patient with DSD and primary adrenal insufficiency due to an autosomal-dominant mutation in the STAR gene.


Nowadays, fruit juice with high antioxidant level has attracted great attention. In this study, pectinase preparation and ultrasound were alternatively used in the phenolic extraction from mulberry fruit. On the basis of kinetic model of second-order extraction, the extraction rate constant of total phenolics and anthocyanins in ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) increased approximately 16.9 and 21.5 times, respectively, in comparison with that in enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE). The level of total phenolics and anthocyanins in the UAE was 11.3% and 15.9%, respectively higher than that in the EAE. In addition, the antioxidant activity evaluated by Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP) and 2,2'-Azinobis-3-ethylBenzoThiazoline-6Sulfonic acid (ABTS) in the UAE was statistically higher than that in the EAE.


The study was aimed to assess the dynamics of risk indices for population health at main stages of surface source water treatment for centralized domestic water supply of the Leningrad region communities. Practical application issues of calculation procedure for the integrated assessment of drinking water from centralized water supply by chemical safety indices, as exemplified by Vsevolozhsk communities (Leningrad region) water supply from the Lake Ladoga and the Neva River as water sources, are discussed. Results of quality monitoring of water from centralized domestic supply system at the stage of water intake, at the output of water treatment, and in the distributing system, accomplished by Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing administration and Center of hygiene and epidemiology in the Leningrad region were used as study materials. The following study techniques were used: descriptive statistics, comparative analysis, risk assessment, generalization. Microsoft Excel program was used for analysis and statistical treatment. Integral water quality index appears to be quite an informative integrated index of the efficacy of the water treatment, however, the same index value can be derived by various combinations of risk values of reflex-olfactory, non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic effects. Therefore, during the calculations, a "risk index of the effects of chronic exposure" was introduced with a view to distinguishing them from effects caused by the adverse organoleptic properties of water (reflex-olfactory effects). For the population these properties are the main reason for refusal from the use drinking water, and at the same time they are physiological, lying outside the pathology. The risk of effects of chronic exposure, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic, expresses the probability of the development of pathology in time, but not the likelihood of an immediate refusal to use drinking water due to its unsatisfactory organoleptic qualities.


This paper presents a hybrid method to construct concise and comprehensible fuzzy rules from training data. The construction procedure consists of a genetic algorithm, which determines the rulebase, and a gradient based optimization for the tuning of the membership functions. An approximation of the well-known Lukasiewicz logic is used to describe both the fuzzy connectives and the memberships, which by this way have continuous derivatives.


A numerical method is described for analyzing the performance of an acoustooptic receiver. The method provides output waveforms, probability density functions for samples of the output, and detection probabilities for output samples. The approach is general in that input pulse envelope shapes, pulse offset frequencies, and output rilter magnitude responses are arbitrary. The basic analysis is also independent of the shape of the optical beam and of the photodiode windows.


Crohn's disease (CD) is a form of inflammatory bowel disease characterized by chronic inflammation along the gastrointestinal tract. We have described the SHIP-/- mouse model of CD-like intestinal inflammation. SHIP-/- mice develop spontaneous ileal inflammation that is characterized by villus hyperplasia and disorganization, edema, immune cell infiltration, ulceration, loss of goblet cells, and muscle wall thickening. SHIP deficiency in people with CD has been associated with a more severe and treatment-refractory disease. Interestingly, NOD2 gene variants, which are the most profound genetic associations for CD, are also associated with a more severe CD phenotype. Muramyl dipeptide (MDP) is a molecular associated microbial pattern, which activates the NOD2 signalling pathway. Recently, SHIP has been reported to play a role in the NOD2 pathway by disrupting the downstream interaction between RIPK2 and XIAP required for NOD2-mediated NFκB activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production.

 Based on this, we hypothesized that SHIP deficiency contributes to inflammation in CD by increasing NOD2-mediated pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Moreover, RIPK2 inhibitors will block intestinal inflammation caused by SHIP deficiency by blocking RIPK2-XIAP interactions required for NOD2 signalling and resultant pro-inflammatory cytokine production. To test this hypothesis, my aim was to determine the effect of RIPK2 inhibitors on the development of spontaneous intestinal inflammation in SHIP-/- mice.

 6 week-old SHIP-/- mice (and SHIP+/+ mice controls) were treated with RIPK2 inhibitors, FCG806791773 or Z1210264067, by intra-pertioneal injections every other day for 2 weeks and compared to SHIP-/- mice treated with 2% DMSO in PBS, as a vehicle control. On Day 14, distal ilea were harvested and gross pathology was assessed. Cross-sections of the ilea were H&E stained to evaluate histological damage based on villi architecture, edema, immune cell infiltration, ulceration, goblet cell loss, and muscle wall thickening.

 As expected, SHIP+/+ mice did not have gut pathology and their healthy gut phenotype was not affected by RIPK2 inhibitors. SHIP-/- mice had ileal inflammation that was evident in gross pathology and in H&E-stained tissue sections. Importantly, SHIP-/- mice treated with RIPK2 inhibitors, FCG806791773 or Z1210264067, had reduced gross pathology compared to vehicle control-treated mice. Z1210264067 treated SHIP-/- mice also had significantly lower histological damage compared to vehicle control-treated SHIP-/- mice.

 RIPK2 inhibitors reduced gross and histopathology in SHIP-/- mice suggesting that RIPK2 inhibitors may be an effective treatment for people with CD, and may be particularly effective in people with CD, who harbor NOD2 risk variants and/or have low SHIP activity.

 CCC, CIHR


The depleting oil reserves and exponential rise in petroleum prices has become a global concern, which has led to a search for energy alternatives. India faces the same threat with its annual requirement for Petroleum products reaching 120 Million Metric Tons (MMT). Biofuels have occupied the centre stage of alternative energy sources with a promise of viable replacement for petroleum among agrarian countries like India. However, production of biofuels is also associated with some undesirable serious socioeconomic implications. This possibly calls for laying down quality requirements in terms of land suitability and food security as biofuel crops displace food crops. In this scenario, the present paper addresses and analyzes some socioeconomic issues involved, the policy making and legal framework to ensure sustainable supply of biofuels.


The objective of this study is to describe patients with Turner syndrome (TS) who had spontaneous pregnancy and, when possible, to present the frequency of this outcome in this genetic condition. This is a literature review conducted in MedLine/PubMed, using the following English descriptors: Turner syndrome and spontaneous pregnancy. The following filters have been activated: articles with a publication date from the last 10 years that present the descriptors in the title/abstract. Twenty-nine articles were identified using the electronic search. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the number of articles selected was seven. However, two more articles were included after consulting the reference lists of these seven studies, totaling nine scientific articles. The frequency of spontaneous pregnancy ranged from 1.26% to 5.6%. Sixty-two TS patients who spontaneously became pregnant and 153 pregnancies were reported. There was a predominance of karyotype 45,X/46,XX (42 patients). Three patients were diagnosed with TS in adulthood and two of them after pregnancy. The minimum age at pregnancy was 21 years and the maximum 32. In the gestational outcome, an expressive number of children born, and abortions were observed, the latter with values of 54.9% and 34.6%. The present study described patients with TS and spontaneous pregnancy with mosaic (more frequent) and pure karyotype. It is believed that this value may be underestimated, since few studies have investigated primarily spontaneous pregnancy in this genetic condition, and many TS patients may not have been diagnosed because of the wide phenotypic variability associated with this chromosomal abnormality.


Many variants associated with complex traits are in non-coding regions, and contribute to phenotypes by disrupting regulatory sequences. To characterize these variants, we developed a streamlined protocol for a high-throughput reporter assay, BiT-STARR-seq (Biallelic Targeted STARR-seq), that identifies allele-specific expression (ASE) while accounting for PCR duplicates through unique molecular identifiers. We tested 75,501 oligos (43,500 SNPs) and identified 2,720 SNPs with significant ASE (FDR 10%). To validate disruption of binding as one of the mechanisms underlying ASE, we developed a new high throughput allele specific binding assay for NFKB-p50. We identified 2,951 SNPs with allele-specific binding (ASB) (FDR 10%); 173 of these SNPs also had ASE (OR=1.97, p-value=0.0006). Of variants associated with complex traits, 1,531 resulted in ASE and 1,662 showed ASB. For example, we characterized that the Crohn's disease risk variant for rs3810936 increases NFKB binding and results in altered gene expression.


We present a silicon photonic switch assembly integrating a nonblocking 4×4 Mach-Zehnder switch and a flip-chipped SOA array. The switch provides close to net-neutral-loss in the full C-band for all states and shows nanosecond-scale reconfiguration time.


A process for producing an oxirane compound from an organic hydroperoxide in ethylbenzene hydroperoxide and an olefin in the presence of an immobilized catalyst bed, wherein the process satisfies the following conditions (1) to (4) (1) catalyst bed is divided into n catalyst beds and the catalyst beds are used in series, an integer of 2 or more where n, (2) is divided fresh organic hydroperoxide in portions which are supplied to respective inputs of the beds catalyst, (3) fresh olefin is supplied to the inlet of the first catalyst bed, and (4) the reaction mixture discharged from each outlet of respective catalyst beds excluding the final catalyst bed is supplied to the inlet of the subsequent catalyst bed.


ABSTRACT:The COVID-19 epidemic upended social and economic life in the United States. To reduce transmission, people altered their mobility and interpersonal contact, and state and local governments acted to induce social distancing through across-the-board policies. The epidemic and the subsequent social distancing response led to high unemployment and to efforts to reopen the economy using more-targeted virus mitigation policies.This paper makes five contributions to studying epidemic policy and mobility. First, we review COVID-19 research on mobility, labor markets, consumer behavior, and health. Second, we sketch a simple model of incentives and constraints facing individuals. Third, we propose a typology of government social distancing policies. Fourth, we review new databases measuring cellular mobility and contact. Fifth, we present regression evidence to help disentangle private versus policy-induced changes in mobility.During the shutdown phase, large declines in mobility occurred before states adopted stay-at-home (SAH) mandates and in states that never adopted them, suggesting that much of the decline was a private response to the risk of infection. Similarly, in the reopening phase mobility increased rapidly, mostly preceding official state reopenings, with policies explaining almost none of the increase.


Vasoconstrictors are usally involved in states of hypoglycemia in diabetic and normal patients. The use vasoconstrictors is considered to be of risk for uncontrolled diabetic patients.However, the state of anxiety, wihch is considered to produce endogenous catecholamines inducing the mobilization of liver glycogen, has not been evaluated.


Home Equity Conversion Mortgages ("HECMs") offer older US homeowners liquidity and implicit home price insurance. If borrowers' homes are worth less than their loan balance when they move or die, their liability is limited to collateral value. The Federal Housing Administration ("FHA") absorbs the lender's loss. FHA aims to break even on this insurance, but pricing does not reflect geographic or cyclical risk. HECMs were disproportionately originated near the recent home price cycle peak in markets with large subsequent busts. Many borrowers thus have credit lines with limits greater than their homes are worth, and FHA has lost money on HECM. Did borrowers adversely select into HECM intending to exploit mispriced insurance? This appears unlikely: borrowers whose loans terminated with credit limits greater than their homes are worth have been no likelier to exhaust credit than similar borrowers whose loans terminated with credit limits below collateral value.


The testimony that follows is one chapter of a wider unpublished autobiography by Charles Stevens.The author was born Chaim Solomon Sieradzki (his pet name was 'Chamulek') in Nowy Sacz, southern Poland, in 1922, the ninth child in a Jewish family of ten. Nowy Sacz is a market town southeast of Krakow with a population then of around 36,000, a third of them Jewish. Charles's father, Kalman Sieradzki, was a manufacturer of sweets, pastries and cakes; Charles describes the family as upper middle class, observant but not Orthodox. The chapter reproduced covers just one month - September 1939 – in Charles's wartime experience as he remembers it as a young 17 year old. It is included here as a text because of its unusual focus, compared with other survivor accounts; readers may find it of particular interest for four reasons. Firstly, for the historical record, it provides a vivid picture of the very first days of the German occupation of a south Polish town, a period that is often omitted or glossed over in testimonies that have as their main focus experiences later in the war. Secondly, it details crimes committed by soldiers of the German armed forces, the Wehrmacht, as well as those of the SS. Thirdly, read critically, it is an unmistakably gendered account written in a distinctive, one might even say sensationalist, narrative style which challenges our notions of the witness genre. Although situated as a post-war memoir - it is a text clearly written with hindsight - nevertheless, it attempts to convey some of the exhilaration and anticipation that the newly declared war brought for a young man with no expectations of the horror that was to come. Finally, and shockingly, it describes a rape witnessed by the author. The inclusion of this episode, keeping the account intact, is recognised as problematic given the 'unspeakability' attached to the issue of rape in wartime and, specifically, given the silence from the women's perspective on this issue that surrounds memory of the Second World War. Yetthose scholars exploring the role of gender and the Holocaust may find this account significant. The text is reproduced here with minimal editing, though names have been changed. Charles's memoir describes his wartime experience in detail; he spent time in Polish and Siberian labour camps before reaching Palestine at the end of the war. There he joined British Army intelligence and changed his name. He arrived in Britain hoping to study medicine but without sufficient funds he turned to tailoring, pursuing a career as an award-winning tailor on Saville Row, London. He and his wife live in London and are parents and grandparents.


The concepts of energy flux and group velocity for nonlinear periodic gravity waves are discussed The average energy flux, average energy per wavelength and "group velocity" are calculated for irrotational periodic gravity waves at a third order of approximation. Then the principle of conservation of transmitted energy between wave orthogonals is applied to the same order of approximation for determining the variation of wave height m decreasing depth. The results are presented as nomographs. It is seen that the "shoaling coefficient" needs to be expressed at least at a third order of approximation to account for experimental results.


Recent studies on seismological data indicate that earthquake magnitude scales with either the dominant period or the peak amplitude in the seismogram's first few seconds. At first sight, this may indicate that the earthquake's final size is some- how related to the way rupture starts. One working hypothesis is that strong radiation from the initial phase of rupture is indicative of a triggering asperity releasing a con- sistent amount of elastic energy, with the potential to drive the fracture to large extents. We tested this concept with a number of numerical simulations, but within the models investigated, scaling was found only for ruptures extending up to about four times the size of the initial asperity; at larger distances the correlation was lost. Alternatively, a careful kinematic analysis of the earthquake source radiation shows that the initial signal recorded at any station does not necessarily correspond to the rupture initiation but may represent an extended portion of the radiating source. Using the concept of isochrones, we show that the apparent scaling may be explained by a simple kinematic model respecting causality, up to a given magnitude threshold where the scaling re- lation saturates. The saturation level is in agreement with that observed in some, but not all, of the real seismicity catalogs. Online Material: Additional synthetic kinematic catalogs.