The multimedia is playing role of timing frames in videos. The representation frame shows the intention on video definition. The keyframes the important factor for extraction information from video frames. The non-related frames is a problem for finding new key exposure. In this paper, we present a new method for extracting essential frames from motion capture data using Optimized Convolution Neural Network (OCNN) and Intensity Feature Selection (IFS) for better visualisation and understanding of motion content. It first removes noise from motion capture data using the Butterworth filter, then reduces the size via principal component analysis (PCA). Finding the zero-crosses of velocity in the main components yields the initial set of crucial frames. To avoid redundancy, the first batch of important frames is divided into identical poses. Experiments are based on data access from frames in the motion capture database, and experimental results suggest that crucial frames retrieved by our method can improve motion capture visualisation and comprehension.


Commission 51 met on August 12, 2009. Outgoing President Alan Boss chaired the meeting, and there were several dozen members present, including incoming President William Irvine, incoming Vice President Pascale Ehrenfreund, and outgoing Past President Karen Meech. Commission 51 (C51) was re-authorized for a term of six more years at the 2006 Prague General Assembly of the IAU, and hence comes up for renewal at the 2012 IAU General Assembly in Beijing, China.


This study mainly focuses on revealing the role of circRPPH1 in gastric cancer cell stemness. In vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of circRPPH1 on gastric cancer cell stemness. Luciferase reporter and RIP assays were implemented to reveal the underlying mechanisms. MiR‐375 directly bound to circRPPH1 in gastric cancer cells. And circRPPH1 acted as an miR‐375 sponge to positively regulate SLC7A11 expression, which has been confirmed to be the direct target of miR‐375 in gastric cancer, and thus regulated ferroptosis. Moreover, circRPPH1 promoted the stemness of gastric cancer cells dependent on the miR‐375/SLC7A11. This study provides a potential target for gastric cancer progression based on the circRPPH1/miR‐375/SLC7A11 regulatory axis.


Using the improved industrial gradient coefficient and sharing index value of manufacturing industry,the author analyzes the gradient potential difference and space layout of 30 manufacturing industries in Jing- Jin- Ji region,comprehensively investigates the basis and advantages,as well as trend and direction of manufacturing industries transfer in Jing-Jin- Ji region,in order to provide a decision- making basis and reference transfer.


Altering the bile acid composition by inhibiting cytochrome P450 8B1 enzyme (CYP8B1) activity results in a decrease in the production of cholic acid (CA, 12α-hydroxylated bile acids) while increasing chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA). Previous studies have shown that knocking out the Cyp8b1 gene in mice protects against diet-induced obesity and improves glucose tolerance and fat deposition in the liver. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that the inhibition of P450 8B1 enzyme activity with a rationally designed small molecule drug would alleviate diet-induced obesity and improve metabolic health. Male C57BL/6J mice (8-10 weeks old) were fed a high-fat and high sucrose (HF) diet over 10 weeks. When mice in the HF group were obese and developed glucose intolerance, half of the mice were treated with P450 8B1 inhibitor (HF/D), and the other half were treated with vehicle (HF/V, 20% β-hydroxypropyl cycolodextrin in the PBS). Mice fed a low fat and low sucrose diet treated with vehicle were used as a reference control (LF/V). Mice in the HF/D group were treated with 100 mg/kg/day, while mice in the vehicle groups (HF/V and LF/V) were administered with the same volume of vehicle. All mice were treated at the same time each morning by oral gavage for 28 days. Bodyweight and food intake were measured weekly. Glucose (GTT)- and insulin tolerance (ITT) tests were conducted before treatment and after treatment. Stool samples were extracted to measure the amount of CDCA and CA by high-resolution mass spectrometry. We found that the HF/D group did not have altered body weight, food intake, and fat composition compared to the HF/V group for the duration of the treatment (28 days). In addition, the HF/D group did not show any improvement in GTT and ITT during the 28 days of treatment. Despite these results related to body weight, GTT, and ITT, the stool samples from the HF/D group generally had a larger ratio of CDCA to CA compared to the HF/V group (CDCA/CA ratios for HF/D vs. HF/V were: 5.5, 9.4, 2.7, 4.1, 3.3 vs. 0.5, 1.5, 2.2, 8.4), suggesting that the inhibition of P450 8B1 did occur in the HFD group. The lipid droplet in the liver also decreased in some mice treated in the HF/D group. Our results suggest that a newly designed inhibitor that has a higher affinity towards the P450 8B1 enzyme relative to our originally designed inhibitor may reduce fatty liver diseases by modifying bile acid composition more effectively. Alternatively, future studies are warranted where the HF mice will be treated for a duration longer than 28 days to check whether the CDCA/CA ratio matches the physiological alterations including body weight and glucose homeostasis. This study was supported by the National Institute of Health [NIH, NIGMS, grant GM125603] to E. Chung This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.


The proposed technical solution relates to the use of bottled water, namely to the devices for the preparation and bottling of water from the bottles, and may be used in offices and at home. A common drawback of known structures is the low water dispensers processability, and therefore low efficiency of the process and efficiency of delivery bottles with water. The task of the claimed technical solution is to provide the ability to control the amount of water in the bottle (including remote), which will be installed on the dispenser container, covered with an optically opaque material to protect the water from sunlight. As well as in improving the technological process of delivery supplier of bottles of water dispensers to consumers through the development and implementation of water dispenser with remote control function of the water level in the bottle. The problem is solved as follows. The design of the water dispenser, comprising a housing, a funnel with a water intake finger to the neck of an inverted bottle, reservoir tubes attachable to the systems of heating and cooling, ensuring maintenance of the set temperature of the water to which the fence are valves, and in the upper part of the tank is formed by an air filter, which provides intake air, amended, consisting in the fact that the water inlet has a second finger insulated duct at whose end is located a sensor, edited the range of this pressure created by a column of water and the discharged air in the bottle, normalizing amplifier and integrated: the power supply to the battery; microprocessor operative and permanent storage devices, which converts the signal from the normalizing amplifier, a signal proportional to the level or amount of water in the bottle; an indicator for displaying information, wherein the bottle in this case can be optically covered by an opaque material to protect the water from sunlight, causing its turbidity. Remote control integrated in the dispenser: SIM-card holder with the controller, a transceiver, a power amplifier, antenna switch; place to ensure that information about the amount of water in the bottle at the address of one or more cell phones with them when you receive incoming requests, voice or text, or in accordance with an algorithm program implemented by the microprocessor. Also, for the organization of the consumer due to the supplier of bottled water in the manual mode, the dispenser can be equipped with a keyboard and display. The proposed technical solution is industrially applicable because it can easily be implemented in production of water dispensers in the enterprises that manufacture this equipment.


Traffic reduction is now firmly on the agenda with the passing of the Road Traffic Reduction Act. Green Commuter Plans, whereby an employer works with staff to reduce car use and encourage more environmentally friendly travel, are emerging as a major means of achieving traffic reduction. There have been some encouraging starts among major employers including local authorities and hospitals. This report presents the result of a survey of London's 33 local authorities as to their progress on introducing Green Commuter Plans for themselves. It also provides information on ideas, proposals and action elsewhere that may be useful to London councils. Finally, some recommendations are made that should ease the implementation of various measures and ensure more consistent approaches across London. Although focusing on London, the report contains information that should be helpful to any large employer in the country. (A)


The Dynamic Radar Tracking of Storms (DARTS) model is a Lagrangian persistence-based nowcasting model that has previously shown utility in nowcasting a variety of weather radar data in severe weather and aviation decision support applications. DARTS is based on the discrete Fourier transform and thus provides an inherent means to perform interpolation. In this context, the model is modified such that interpolation can be accurately and efficiently performed by appropriately windowing the input data and evaluating an interpolating polynomial using the fast Fourier transform. The utility of this interpolation methodology for operational use is demonstrated, and its performance is compared with linear and cubic spline interpolation methods. The use of the original DARTS model to perform advection-based interpolation is also investigated. Rainfall rates derived from data collected by the Weather Service Radar-1988 Doppler S-band radar and the X-band radar at the Dallas-Fort Worth test bed were used for the analyses. The results show that the modified DARTS technique yielded normalized standard error values that were close to those of the forward-backward advection approach using the original DARTS model and ran about 2-4 orders of magnitude faster in terms of computation time. The error structure of the interpolation methods in the context of spatial variability and sampling of atmospheric scales represented by the data is also presented. In this sense, utility of the 1-2-km scales was shown, and the modified DARTS-based approach showed the ability to effectively utilize the value in these scales.


The incorporation of paediatricians to the Primary Care team in Andalusia has made
that approximately 75% of the specialists formed in the last decade will work in this scope,
without a regulated formation of the training resident outside the hospitals. In 1999, a
group of motivated professionals drafts an initial document justifying the necessity of the
rotation of the MIR of Paediatric by primary care, at that time little and not structured. The
conclusions of a later survey sent to the Andalusian professionals allow knowing what accredited
centers from P.C. and what paediatricians receives residents. Parallelly, contacts
with representative people of other communities settle down. Once evaluated the real situation,
in year 2001 the work group is created on Teaching of the Association of Paediatricians
of Primary Care of Andalusia, ordered to impel the document of Accreditation of Centers and Tutors of Primary Care, discussed during a meeting celebrated in Almeria and
approved in the Assembly of Marbella in 2002. Since then, the diffusion strategy begins and
implantation of the same one, arriving at the present situation, in which even without accepted
official regulation, most of the MIR that today are formed in Andalusia display variable
rotations by Primary Care, actually in seven of the eight provinces and 57 PC settings.


This paper describes the design, computational aspects and implementation of an iterative technique for measuring power system frequency. The technique provides accurate estimates to a resolution of 0.01-0.02 Hz for near-nominal, nominal and off-nominal frequencies in about 20 ms. Computation requirements are modest and the technique has been implemented on a modern digital signal processor. The proposed technique was extensively tested using voltage signals obtained from a dynamic frequency source and from a power system. Some test results are presented in the paper.


The paper examines the sway of Agro-pastoral shows in Cameroon during the period of planning for development. Planned Liberalism was a post-independence economic development policy aimed at integrating the economies of East and West Cameroons. Initially, two medium term plans were put in place covering the periods 19601965 and 1966-1971, with much priority on industrial rather than agricultural development, considered a key prerequisite of any meaningful economic take off point. Realizing that industrial development was costly and slow in reducing poverty and stimulating socio-economic change, greater attention was shifted towards agricultural development in the 1970s, more precisely during the periods of the 3 rd (1971-1976) and 4 th (1976-1981) Five Years Development Plans. In the wisdom of the time, agriculture was reconsidered as the primary and most important stage to real development in the country. Agro-pastoral shows were conceived and instituted, to stimulate, incite, inform and act as forums where farmers could learn and emulate from one another thereby enhancing agricultural development. The paper is based on primary and secondary data. It examines how agro-pastoral shows emerged and evolved in Cameroon. It starts with a contextual setting and examines why and how agro-pastoral shows emerged and evolved in West Cameroons and later on in the Unitary State. It ends with some agro-pastoral incentives. The paper contends that agro-pastoral shows enhanced Cameroon"s policy of planning for development, but clogged due to the lack of proper functioning mechanisms and advent of economic crisis in the mid-1980s.


Objective To study the effect of epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) on the development and progress of thymoma. Methods Expression of EGFR was detected by immunohistochemical stain in the tissues of 11 cases of normal thymus and 29 cases of thymoma. Results The positive expression of EGFR was 75.9%(22/29) in thymomas and 18.2%(2/11) in normal thymus. The difference was significant( P 0.01). The positive rate of EGFR was higher in invasive thymomas than in non invasive ones ( P 0.01). The positive rate of EGFR increased with Masaoka stage with a significant increment in Ⅲ Ⅳ stage compared with I stage ( P 0.01). EGFR was strongly expressed in 5 cases of invasive thymomas, in which recurrence or metastasis occurred in 3 during the follow up period after operation. But there was no statistical correlation with whether complicated with myasthenia gravis (MG) and histological type. Conclusion EGFR might be related to the tumorigenesis and development of thymoma. There is high risk of recurrence and metastasis in case of EGFR over expression and radiotherapy, chemotherapy and follow up should be enhanced.


In this paper, we analytically calculate the quasinormal modes of scalar, vector, tensor, and spinor perturbations of the warped dS(3) black hole. There are two horizons for the warped dS(3) black hole, namely, the black hole horizon r(b) and the cosmological horizon r(c). In the calculation, we impose the ingoing boundary condition at the black hole horizon and the outgoing boundary condition at the cosmological horizon. We also investigate the hidden conformal symmetry of the warped dS(3) black hole in the region between the black hole horizon and the cosmological horizon r(b) < r < r(c). We use the hidden conformal symmetry to construct the quasinormal modes in an algebraic way and find that the results agree with the analytically ones. It turns out that the frequencies of the quasinormal modes could be identified with the poles in the thermal boundary-boundary correlators.


Analyzing the success of movies has always been a popular research topic in the film industry. Artificial intelligence and machine learning methods in the movie industry have been applied to modeling the financial success of the movie industry. The new contribution of this research combined Bayesian variable selection and machine learning methods for forecasting the return on investment (ROI). We also attempt to compare machine learning methods including the quantile regression model with movie performance data in terms of in-sample and out of sample forecasting.


The effects of turbulence on the mixing of gases and dust in the outer solar nebula are examined using three-dimensional MHD calculations in the shearing-box approximation with vertical stratification. The turbulence is driven by the magnetorotational instability. The magnetic and hydrodynamic stresses in the turbulence correspond to an accretion time at the midplane about equal to the lifetimes of T Tauri disks, while accretion in the surface layers is 30 times faster. The mixing resulting from the turbulence is also fastest in the surface layers. The mixing rate is similar to the rate of radial exchange of orbital angular momentum, so that the Schmidt number is near unity. The vertical spreading of a trace species is well matched by solutions of a damped wave equation when the flow is horizontally averaged. The damped wave description can be used to inexpensively treat mixing in one-dimensional chemical models. However, even in calculations reaching a statistical steady state, the concentration at any given time varies substantially over horizontal planes, due to fluctuations in the rate and direction of the transport. In addition to mixing species that are formed under widely varying conditions, the turbulence intermittently forces the nebula away from local chemical equilibrium. The different transport rates in the surface layers and interior may affect estimates of the grain evolution and molecular abundances during the formation of the solar system.


The paper aims to extrapolate the nature of domestic credit in Iraq by focusing on the period 2011/14 and focusing on the study's core focus. It explores the overall effects on the variables of economic activity and the population's overall well-being. The results indicate that credit changes in Iraq have not played a clear role under the reality of banks and their work as they are still constrained by many restrictions of an economic and political nature. Nevertheless, domestic credit is critical for encouraging banking and stock market operations and recruiting FDI, which enhances the banking system's and stock market's competence, impacting economic activity and energy consumption. It also enables increased access to credit and financial services and the building of cash for future investment since providing credit is a critical component in economic development. Nevertheless, the results reveal unequivocally that industrialization and financial development are necessary components of Iraq's long-run economic success.


N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is used to identify cardiac stress, manage, and treat cardiac disease progression, and diagnose heart failure (HF). Notably, this peptide is paradoxically lower in HF patients who are obese. In this regard, a growing body of evidence has investigated its association with body composition, but the relationship between NT-proBNP and muscle quality is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the associations between abdominal muscle volume and density with NT-proBNP. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of participants from the MESA Abdominal Body Composition, Inflammation, and Cardiovascular Disease (ABC) ancillary study. At exams 2 and 3, participants underwent abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans and had venous blood drawn. Images were analyzed using software (MIPAV 41.2), and Hounsfield units (HU) were used to determine the density of muscle groups of interest (total abdominal muscle [oblique, rectus abdominus, paraspinus muscles, psoas], stabilization muscles [oblique, rectus abdominus, paraspinus muscle] and, psoas muscle). NT-proBNP was log-transformed due to the skewed distribution of the variable. Fat, lean, and total tissue areas were measured in square centimeters. Multivariable linear regression models were used to test the associations between muscle quantity and quality (area and density), separately, with adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA), sedentary behavior, height, subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, visceral fat density, leptin, adiponectin, CRP, IL-6, and TNF-alpha. We included 1,489 participants with a mean age 64.8 (9.6) years, and 51.6% were female. The majority were non-Hispanic White (42%), followed by Hispanics (26%), African Americans (18%), and Chinese Americans (14%). After full adjustment, stabilization muscle density was inversely associated with NT-proBNP (β = -0.024, 95% CI: -0.038, -0.010). The results were similar for total abdominal muscle density (β = -0.026, 95% CI: -0.042, -0.010) and psoas muscle density (β = -0.013, 95% CI: -0.026, -0.001). For the latter, addition of muscle area as a covariate attenuated the association β = -0.011, 95% CI: -0.025, 0.002). After minimal adjustment, multivariable models of total abdominal muscle and psoas muscle areas for NT-proBNP were inversely associated but became non-significant with the addition of inflammation biomarkers (leptin, adiponectin, CRP, IL- 6, and TNF-alpha) and muscle density. Area of stabilization muscles and NT-proBNP were not significantly associated. Abdominal muscle
 area
 and NT-proBNP were not consistently associated, whereas abdominal muscle
 density
 and NT-proBNP were robustly inversely associated independently of muscle area, sociodemographic characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors, and inflammation biomarkers.


Though Protestantism is all too commonly accused of providing a theology that is too individualistic, there are in fact numerous historical resources from which a decidedly Reformed theology can be developed which is attentive to the social nature of theology. This essay will develop precisely such a theology in dialogue with Henri de Lubac, the Catholic theologian perhaps most aware of the social dimension of Catholic thought. Combined, Heinrich Bullinger's doctrine of election, John Owen's understanding of limited atonement, and Abraham Kuyper's pneumatology provide an adequately social reformed theology that can overcome numerous objections.


The essay discusses the objectivity, principles and main methods of technology introduction on the basis of its concept. Meanwhile, it holds that talents and patents should be well protected.


PURPOSE: A latch device made of sheet metal materials and a refrigerator comprising the same are provided to prevent a latch device from being damaged and unfixed by forming a stopper and a latch member with sheet metal materials. CONSTITUTION: A latch device made of sheet metal materials comprises a latch member(160), a stopper(120), a mounting panel, and a hook insertion unit(170). The latch member rotates on a latch hinge shaft and is engaged with a locking hook. The stopper rotates on a stopper hinge shaft and is selectively engaged with the latch member. The mounting panel is manufactured into an integral type, is made of sheet metal materials, and is installed in a latch device through a joining unit. The mounting panel is integrally cut at the lateral side towards the inside for forming the hook insertion unit. The hook insertion unit is inserted with the locking hook.


This study reports on using near-infrared (NIR) hyperspectral imaging for nondestructive spectral-spatial characterization of natural fiber composites. To illustrate the approach, maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (MAPE)/hemp fiber composites were produced with different filler contents between 0 and 60%. Two different chemometrics methods based on (1) the traditional multivariate PLS calibration and (2) multivariate image analysis and regression (MIA/MIR) were tested to predict tensile properties using NIR images. The results show good agreement between the measured properties and their predictions by both of these methods. The MIR ability to map chemical composition was compared to that of multivariate curve resolution (MCR) and the results were found similar. The proposed MIR approach was found very promising for quality control of polymer composites because of its combined ability to quantify filler content and dispersion within the material, to distinguish compositional variations from physical defects, and to predict the end-user properties of the product all with a single MIR model.


Seismic attenuation is defined as the loss of the seismic wave amplitude as the wave propagates excluding losses strictly due to geometric spreading. Information gleaned from seismic waves can be utilized to solve for the attenuation properties of the earth. One method of solving for earth attenuation properties is called t*. This report will start by introducing the basic theory behind t* and delve into inverse theory as it pertains to how the algorithm called tstarTomog inverts for attenuation properties using t* observations. This report also describes how to use the tstarTomog package to go from observed data to a 3-D model of attenuation structure in the earth.


A solo exhibition at HGB, Leipzig, the third part in a series of solo exhibitions that address education, emancipation, and desire, through a close reading of Capital.


Without philosophical and methodological advances, students will struggle to meet the challenges of modern practice. Future physicians must be able to understand, to interact, and to collaborate with colleagues from a variety of disciplines. This interaction requires partnerships among experts that integrate process, content, and thought with the goal of producing novel solutions to complex problems. Over the past decade, a natural evolution of academic medicine and biomedical research has led to an unprecedented focus on interdisciplinary collaboration.


An interesting conceptual question, regarding the actual position of the Sun at sunset or sunrise, is analysed and discussed in terms of fixed versus rotating frames of reference. A simple, educational experiment can be easily set up to demonstrate this effect and introduce topics such as rotating systems, apparent motion and the Coriolis effect.


PurposeAs skills need to be changed in a dynamic learning environment, employability depends not just on what people already know but on how well they learn, apply and adapt breaking out their comfort zone. This study explores how students from all backgrounds and teachers can engage with inclusive education without discrimination through pedagogy. The research provides a platform through implication for other international readers of developing countries to implement pedagogies of the Indian context.Design/methodology/approachThis archival research focuses on the topical literature to scrutinize efficient ways to elevate the realization of all learners in inclusive settings. What inclusive pedagogy teaching approaches, focusing on the key competences and sustains learning which are effectual in elevating the academic success of all novices.FindingsEducators need to develop their skills and competency by breaking their comfort zone, and individual recital of every faculty affiliate is a decisive feature in accomplishing quality for inclusive education. An education institution also needs to provide passable facilities to academicians and students in order to adapt and utilize technology efficiently without any discrimination. This is an important method of assisting educators to recognize and investigate using this epistemology in new innovative inclusive teaching pedagogy with technologies in industry 4.0.Research limitations/implicationsThe study momentarily suggests an innovative pedagogy approach for stakeholders and users to be adapted in current digital arena.Originality/valueReview of the concepts can provide valuable pointers for policy makers in other jurisdictions contemplating inclusive education. The issues that are dealt with relate to how all students with and without disability can be engaged in a classroom without discrimination, and development is incentivized using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in teaching pedagogy.


Southeastern Australia, where the State of Victoria is located is regarded as one of the most fire prone areas in the world. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology provides fire weather services in Victoria as part of a national framework for the provision of such services. These services range from fire weather warnings to special forecasts for hazard reduction burns. Fire weather services are important inputs into the decision-making processes of fire management authorities that enable effective decision-making at various stages of fire management. The key beneficiaries of these services are the general community through better information provided to fire management authorities. This paper discusses the fire weather service that is provided by the Bureau of Meteorology and makes an attempt to measure the economic impact of such services for bushfires in Victoria focusing on both costs and benefits. The overall costs will relate to the direct and indirect cost of supplying the fire weather services, the cost of the fire mitigation and management efforts implemented as a consequence of these fire weather services and the cost of fire fighting and relief/recovery initiatives. The benefits will relate to minimization or avoidance of damage to timber assets, private property and public infrastructure, of agricultural production losses, of disruption to other economic activities, of human injury and fatalities; of damage to recreational sites and public amenities, of adverse ecological and environmental impacts, and of adverse effect on public health and general visibility due to smoke dispersion. Some of these benefits will have market values and the others non-market values. The benefit-cost comparisons can provide useful information for improvement of existing fire weather programs and also assist in making decisions on future investments in specific activities.


The world's ICT technology develops, the application of new technology will facilitate the change and development of the financial industry into universal, microfinance and wisdom financing by providing services to niche markets. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze which factors affect the intention of users using FinTech-based mobile asset management. Starting from a third-party payment tool, but now, Alipay, which has been transformed into a new asset management tool, we conducted an empirical analysis of how financial service characteristics affect customer intention on mobile FinTech. Empirical studies were conducted after reviewing previous studies on financial service characteristics, customer satisfaction, and use intention. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 as basic statistics and Smart PLS 2.0 (Partial Least Squared) using structural equations. The research results are as follows. First, the characteristics of financial services (convenience, benefit, security, and flexibility) had a significant effect on customer satisfaction. Second, customer satisfaction had a significant effect on use intention. This means that in order to settle in the market, it is essential to establish differentiated financial services in a rapidly changing business environment. In order to attract customers in the mobile market, it is necessary to actively use the characteristics of financial services.


Agent is an application technology of artificial intelligence, But the wrong application method hinder the practical application.Agent in the process of surrogate decide the use of intelligent function. How much intelligent function is more appropriate for Agent based on Intelligent function, how to add intelligent function within Agent what relation between Intelligent Agent and the actual proxied object, all of these affect the application of Agent. In recent year, according to application research of the Agent, Intelligent Agent and Multi-Agent System , we find out some new methods to solve the problems in applications. These methods can make users more rapid and accurate in the process of application Agent, and at the same time, these methods make the application of Agent popular.


The paper discusses characteristics of direct current traction power cable installations. Reviewed are concepts, common assumptions, and industry standards associated with the rating of underground power cables as they apply to dc traction power applications. Also discussed are steady state and transient cable rating analyses, as well as available cable capacity tables and the assumptions on which they are based. The paper distinguishes the differences in approach between the rating of standard power cables and cables for dc traction and provides guidelines. Also confirmed is the importance of using commercially available computer software for analyzing both the steady state and transient current carrying capacity of typical traction cable configurations.


This chapter contains sections titled: Background System Model Intracell Cooperation: Distributed Scheduling Intercell Interference Mitigation/Avoidance Results and Discussion Practical Aspects Summary ]]>


The invention discloses a bidirectional information transmission method, a touch extension system and multi-point touch bidirectional extension equipment. The bidirectional information transmission method includes monitoring graphic image information of specified positions, and analyzing and displaying the specified positions under a triggering condition; generating touch information, monitoring and automatically identifying the touch information, converting the identified touch information into touch signals, converting the touch signals into execution instructions and transmitting the execution instructions to compatible platform interfaces. A monitoring trigger module, an analysis and display module and a touch information generation module of the touch extension system are arranged on the multi-point touch bidirectional extension equipment, and an automatic induction and identification module, a touch signal conversion module and an interface module of the touch extension system are arranged on a target touch screen. Owing to the mode, the bidirectional information transmission method, the touch extension system and the multi-point touch bidirectional extension equipment have the advantages that functional extension effects can be realized for the touch screen, the touch extension system and the multi-point touch bidirectional extension equipment can be operated easily and conveniently, energy can be saved, and the bidirectional information transmission method, the touch extension system and the multi-point touch bidirectional extension equipment further can be applied to replacing a near field wireless communication technology.


This paper discusses the merits of the peening effect in improving the fatigue resistance of compounds and looks at machines that perform the task. There is a lack of information about the process but now a significant increase in studies dealing with peening is helping to overcome problems.


This article describes the present situation and future trends both at home and abroad related to the geological disposal of highly radioactive waste. On the basis of analyzing the background condition of China, some comments and suggestions are put forward.


The lack of general knowledge about autism, its diversity, and its pervasive presence, among people in the real world, bleeds seamlessly into the worlds of fandom, where the very same objections that many autistic adults face in real life ("you can't be autistic, you seem like a real person") get lobbed at fictional characters, and the autistic fans who claim them.


: Wu Lao is a renowned Chinese educator in arts and crafts and a pioneer in modern exhibition design. From painting to arts and crafts, to modern exhibition design and design education, his artistic life has always been closely linked to the needs of the country. Art is the country


This experimental study investigates the dynamical transition from stable operation to thermoacoustic instability in a turbulent bluff-body stabilized dump combustor. We conduct experiments to characterize the dynamical transition utilizing acoustic pressure and local heat release rate fluctuations. We observe the transition to thermoacoustic instability for these experiments as we decrease the equivalence ratio towards a fuel-lean setting. More importantly, we observe significant growth of local heat release rate fluctuations near the bluff-body well before the appearance of large-scale spatial or temporal patterns during the occurrence of thermoacoustic instability. By strategically positioning slots (perforations) on the bluff-body, we ensure the reduction of the growth of local heat release rate fluctuations at the stagnation zone near the bluff-body at operating conditions far away from the onset of thermoacoustic instability. This reduction in the local heat release rate fluctuations ensures that the transition to thermoacoustic instability is avoided. We find that modified configurations of the bluff-body that do not quench these local heat release rate fluctuations at the stagnation zone results in the transition to thermoacoustic instability. We also reveal that an effective suppression strategy based on the growth of local heat release rate fluctuations requires an optimization of the area ratio of the slots for a given bluff-body position. Further, the suppression strategy also depends on the spatial distribution of perforations on the bluff-body. Notably, an inappropriate distribution of the slots which does not quench the local heat release rate fluctuations at the stagnation zone may even result in a dramatic increase in amplitudes of pressure oscillations.


For the purpose of requirement under the Bachelor of Laws (Hons), the student is required to take a subject of Mooting during Second Year of the studies. This subject is mandatory so that the student will be able to gain experience on how to make preparation for a court submission. The Mooting skill is necessary and important for law students as to prepare them in sharpening their research skills as well as presentation skills. Before submit the case before the Judge, the student is required to prepare their pleadings pertaining to the case that was to be appealed in court. During this stage, only the question of law that was to be appealed by the lawyer as the question of fact has been settle in trial court to which two parties that appeal is call as Respondent and Appellant. The pleading is important so that the Judge can get an overview about the case that will be heard before him so that he or she can make a preparation before the trial. Here is the example of the written submission of the pleadings. The course of action of this case is relating to the constitutional law and torts law.


In this paper we consider the Eisenstein series for the Hilbert modular group of a general number field. We compute the Fourier expansion at each cusp explicitly. The Fourier coefficients are given in terms of completed partial Hecke L-series, and from their functional equations, we get the functional equation for the Eisenstein vector. That is, we identify the scattering matrix. When we compute the determinant of the scattering matrix in the principal case, the Dedekind (-function of the Hilbert class field shows up. A proof in the imaginary quadratic case was given in Efrat and Sarnak, and for totally real fields with class number one a proof was given in Efrat.


Background :meconium ileus is obstruction of the terminal ileum by abnormally tenacious meconium; it most often occurs in neonates with cystic fibrosis. Meconium ileus accounts for up to 33% of neonatal small-bowel obstructions. Symptoms include emesis that may be bilious, abdominal distention, and failure to pass meconium in the first several days of life. Diagnosis is based on clinical presentation and x-rays. Treatment is enemas with dilute contrast under fluoroscopy and surgery if enemas fail. Various surgical procedures are described and practiced for operative management of uncomplicated meconium ileus. In our series, we have compared two differnt method of surgery.primary resection and anastomosis and bishop koop method of enterostomy .we compared their effectivness and complications.                                                                                Methods: Forty neonates with ileus meconium included in study, 20 patient in each group., allocating every other subject to each treatment group (alternating allocation) for the bishop koop enterostomy and anastomosis(study group)  or primary resection and anastomosis(controll group). The results of treatment and complications during and after the surgery were recorded in both groups and compared together.              result: there was 3 case of mortality in study group(%15) and 8 case of mortality in controll group(%40).there was meaningful statistical differrences between mortality in two groups..p=0/30 and p=0/002.  Conclusions: in contrast of advantage of one stage repair and primary resection and anastomosis in meconium ileus  neonates it  has more mortality compare to bishop koop method., performing the two-stage bishop koop repair is more safe and recommended for this anomally


The moisture diffusion behavior of several types of domestic polymer matrix composites was systematically studied and their basic moisture diffusion parameters, such as the equilibrium moisture content M m, the constants a and b in the relationship between M m and relative humidity φ , the moisture diffusion coefficient in the direction of laminate thickness D x , the constants Δ E (the active energy of moisture diffusion)and D 0 in the relationship of D x and temperature T , were obtained.


This paper reports on an initial attempt to solve the nurse rostering problem using an evolutionary algorithm selection perturbative hyper-heuristic. The main aim of this study is to get a feel for the potential of such a hyper-heuristic in solving the nurse rostering problem. This will be used to direct future extensions of this work. This study identifies low-level perturbative heuristics for this domain as well as a representation, initial population generation method, evaluation and selection methods, and genetic operator for the evolutionary algorithm hyper-heuristic. The approach was tested on six problems from the first international nurse rostering competition. The performance of the hyper-heuristic was found to be comparable to that of other methods applied to the same problems. The study has shown the potential of this approach and also identified future extensions of this work.


A new luminescent copolymer containing three functional moieties was prepared. It possesses high thermal stability, good electrochemical reversibility, and good thin film- forming ability. Electrical characterization of a two-layer diode device based on the structure of ITO/CuPc/TPDPQ-FPQ/Al showed excellent electroluminescence performance.


Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) can promote the level of services development, which is important symbol of economic and social modernization. It has been making great contributions to the development of service industry during the past decades in China. This paper will use stability analysis, co-integration and Granger causality test to investigate the relationship between FDI and the development of Zhejiang's service industries, and give proposals on promoting the development of service industry.


Left Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Paralysis.-JOHN F. O'MALLEY. Male, aged 33. Two months ago some loss of voice set in, following a cough. Patient then noticed a tendency for liquids to make him cough, as they got into his air-passages. The left vocal cord is in the cadaveric position and the left arytenoid sticks up prominently during respiration, but on phonation is overridden by the right. Examination of chest is negative.


R22 (HCFC22) has been widely used as the refrigerant in air conditioners. According to the Montreal protocol for ozone layer protection, the total production of HCFCs has been capped since the beginning of 1996. Zeotropic refrigerant mixture R407C and nearly azeotropic refrigerant mixture R410A have been selected as alternatives to R22.

We examined refrigerant passages in heat exchangers used in heat pump-type room air conditioners using zeotropic refrigerant R407C through simulation, and obtained the following conclusions. In an indoor heat exchanger, a counter flow configuration when operating as a condenser has higher temperature efficiency. When an outdoor heat exchanger operates as an evaporator, a configuration that suppresses the temperature glide by partially reducing the refrigerant passage not only produces high efficiency, but also reduces the frost formation on fins. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 31(8): 626–638, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.10064


The city of Algiers comprises eight museums, more than half of them are reused buildings. In this paper, we are interested in the museographic lighting requirements in reused buildings that haven't been initially designed for expographic purpose. The conversion of buildings into museums may have some constraints. Natural light is an important constraint whose modeling depends on formal, structural and spatial characteristics of the building. And supplying with artificial lighting depends largely on it, thereby having direct repercussions on energy consumption. Conversion of historic buildings, in itself exhibition subjects, can also reduce adaptive space possibilities to museographic lighting requirements. This paper is the synthesis of a master preliminary study where we attempt to assess the exhibition's lighting quality in three reused buildings, based on blueprints (metric supports), the author's observation and photographic supports. This preliminary assessment is aimed to evaluate the case studies through literature recommendations of "accent" and "ambient" lightings in exhibition spaces. Despite the constraints related to the conversion of a building into a museum and the importance of lighting design in expographic quality, it may be possible to ensure a lighting quality by adapting the collection types to the space opportunities especially related to natural light. The heavy architectural structures present more constraints than light architectural structures, limiting exposition to permanent collections, especially 3D artworks with consequent dimensions that are the best recommended with natural lateral lighting. Oppositely, the light architectural structures induce flexible and big spaces that seem to be the best adapted to temporary collections especially when offering natural zenithal lighting for "ambient" requirements.


The effects of binding to melanin of two synthetic dyes, 5-(4,6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl) aminoerythrosin (AE) and 5-(4,6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl) aminofluorescein(AF) in terms of dye fluorescence, dye triplet quantum yield, the rate of photosensitised oxygen consumption and the rate of photosensitised production of melanin free radicals are reported using steady-state fluorescence, laser flash photolysis and e.s.r. techniques. The dyes react as though they are bound near the surface of the polymeric melanin and the results involving singlet oxygen formation and consumption may suggest a melanin site-specific interaction.


Perhaps the biggest compliment that can be given to any historian is that their work has compelled others to look at their own research in new ways. With respect to my work on the convict barracks and prisons of colonial India, and on the depots and huts of migrants indentured to overseas plantations, Islam and the Army has certainly succeeded. It has offered an entirely new framework through which I have been able to glimpse something of the 'miraculous' within subaltern understandings and experiences of a range of colonial forms of discipline and confinement. Now that Green has opened my eyes, I glimpse something beyond colonial descriptions of babbling idiots, and unaccountable bursts of singing and laughter, which previously I had accommodated within (western-generated and now it is clear to me rather simplistic) ideas about the significance of "everyday forms of resistance" or "lunacy". I can also see something of significance in convict descriptions of the mystery of forests, djinns, ghouls and magic in the penal colony of the Andaman Islands. Indeed, it seems to me that there are some interesting parallels to be drawn between sepoy (pp. 46–47), migrant and convict journeying, as well as the inner life of their barracks, huts, depots, wards and cells – and their relationship with the outside world. Indeed, some of the religious figures named in the book (Fazl-e-Haqq Khayrabadi and Mawlānā Yahyā Al̄ı) were transported to the Andamans during the 1860s. And their genealogies too have become spaces for the making of particular kinds of 'miraculous' histories. There are all sorts of interesting ways in which the ideas in this book could be taken further. First, I would be interested to know something more of contemporary practices in the mazars (burial tombs) of the soldier saints under discussion here (p. xi). How do people remember the faqı̄rs; and are those memories significant to postcolonial histories and practices? Of especial interest, perhaps, is religious syncretism within the barracks during the colonial period and its legacy in the mazars, today visited by Hindus and Muslims alike. Second, and in relation to this point, is Green's own historiographical positioning within the networks of kinship so central to the world of the faqı̄rs he so eloquently describes. As he states in his Foreword, the book could not have been written without the assistance of their descendents (pp. xi-xii). Moreover, the faqı̄r biographies on which he relies are in effect repositories of family and oral histories and traditions: they are genealogical in their very form. In large measure, this book is not just about 'barracks Islam', religion, or about the making of history beyond post-Hegelian understandings of 'scientific reasoning'. Islam and the Army is a history that can reach far beyond the academy itself, drawing family and community into epistemologies of modern India itself.


Climbing has been part of human nature since time immemorial, our ancestors used it to escape predators, to flee from flooding valleys, to gather food and to move to new territories. However it was not until the middle 1700's that man started to use climbing not as a means to ensure survival, but as a source of pleasure and desire to climb and explore. For almost two centuries climbing has evolved through, what has often been referred to as a trial and error method, into a state of the art, modern day sport with various sub disciplines like sport climbing, trad climbing, ice climbing, free climbing and bouldering. In its purest form it is one of the most awe inspiring sports to watch and take part in, and for those select few that dedicate their lives to it, it is a means to make a living, and a way to live on into eternity. Over the past 15 years climbing has become a widely practised and one of the fastest growing sports around the world, and is practised by people from all walks of life, from pre-primary school children right through to retired pensioners, from unemployed students to the most successful business men and women. With this growing interest among the population there also came a growing interest in the use of climbing for various other purposes like psycho-therapy, rehabilitation, team building. But more importantly, for this study, it has urged the researcher to ask what are the discursive resources and strategies that are employed by modern day climbers, seeing as the climbing community consists of such a large variety of people. This study was done from a Discursive Psychology perspective, and was strongly influenced by the work of Jonathan Potter and Derek Edwards, as well as the work of the Rhetoric Group from Loughborough University. The Discursive Psychology approach focuses on management and accomplishment of action and interaction through talk. Discourse is viewed as a resource that functions to accomplish action and Discursive Analysis focuses on the manner that discursive resources are being employed to achieve certain actions in interaction.


The etiology, epidemiology and clinical progress of microsporia are considered. The case with description of atypical clinical progress of microsporia at infants is presented. In this clinical case the wrong diagnostics and as consequence irrational treatment have led to sharp deterioration of dermal process.


Objective: To explore the suitable curriculum program of nursing professional master degree based on the occupational development.Methods: Thirty experts were investigated by the Delphi method for two rounds by mails.Results: Based on the occupational development,3 public courses and 17 specific courses were designed.The specific courses contained three modules including occupational basic module,occupational development module and occupational front-line module.The clinical practice included nursing practice and medical practice.Conclusions: The curriculum program of nursing professional master degree should be mainly designed to cultivate their abilities and based on their occupational development.Clinical practice shouldfocus on specific nursing techniques operation and medical practice.


Embodiment of the invention relates to a robot cleaner such that, specifically, the foreign substance storage portion air inlet portion selectively shielded relates to a robot cleaner. In the robot cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention, the body which contains a drive section to provide a suction force; A main cover for the side of the main body such that the shield; Wherein there is provided detachably on the main cover, foreign substances are stored air inlet portion forming section to the inflow of air containing foreign materials; Is provided on the main cover, foreign body cover to the side of the foreign substance storage portion to be selectively shielded; And there is provided in the foreign substance storage unit, includes the shielding member to the air inflow portion to be selectively shielded.


ObjectiveTraditional MIRD method for dose assessment in nuclear medicine assumes that radionuclide is homogeneously distributed in organs, the dose to cell and cell nucleus is presented by the mean dose to the organ. However, this assumption is hardly satisfication because of various factors, such as nuclide and its carrier, organ/cell and so on. Understanding micro-dose (i.e., doses at cell, meta-cell and molecule levels) distribution of radionuclide is an essential element for stipulating detailed plan for diagnosis and treatment in clinical nuclear medicine, as well as an important factor for predicting and assessing radio-pharmaceuticals effect. Method In this work, the micro distribution of ~ 131 I is described using microautoradiogtraphy and frozen sectioning technique. ResultsTo describe the relationship between argent grain density and nuclide radioactivity a regression curve was depicted, and the R value calculated was 0.9963. The scale coefficient of argent grain was 1.59×10~ -4 Bq. ConclusionThe distribution of radiomedicament ~ 131 I at cellular level is nonuniform.


According to "Ten Five Plan" of environmental protection industry of our country, the definite aim of environmental protection industry of Jigang is depending on the market of Jigang, extending social market and going to the society fast.


Is China the next hegemon? The path to economic openness: from a closed economy to gloabalization. The domestic adaptation to WTO requirements: the impact on agricolture and hukou system. China and the WTO: what are the main consequences after almost 20 years? The economic and social implications.


Background Recent studies demonstrated that N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-pro BNP) increases in patients with diabetes mellitus and raised concerns about the diagnostic validity of NT-pro BNP in assessment of cardiac function in patients with hyperglycemia.Current investigation was carried out to observe the influence of hyperglycemia on the correlation of NT-pro BNP and cardiac function index in patients with acute coronary syndrome(ACS).Methods Fifty patients with ACS were enrolled and divided into hyperglycemia group(fasting plasma glucose(FPG) ≥ 6.1 mmol/L) and euglycemia group(FPG 6.1 mmol/L).All the patients underwent routine transthoracic ecocardiagraphy and tissue Doppler imaging(TDI) investigation.Blood sample were obtained with 24 hours of hospitalization for measuring of NT-proBNP level.Relation between TDI-Tei index and the level of NT-proBNP were analyzed in the two groups respectively.Result TDI-Tei index,systolic index and diastolic index were all significantly higher in hyperglycemia group than that in euglycemia group(0.679 ± 0.139 vs 0.600 ± 0.093,P = 0.022;0.294 ± 0.074 vs 0.258 ± 0.035,P = 0.036;0.385 ± 0.069 vs 0.342 ± 0.068,P = 0.032).TDI-Tei index was significantly negatively correlated with the level of log NT-pro BNP in both hyperglycemia group and euglycemia group(rp = 0.673,P = 0.000;rp = 0.354,P = 0.000).Conclusions(1)Cardiac function in patients with ACS complicated with hyperglycemia is inferior to that in patients with euglycemia;(2)Assessment of cardiac function with NT-proBNP is reliable in patients with hyperglycemia.


This paper develops sign-based estimation methods for the parameters of a median regression in finite samples.We introduce p-value functions that give the confidence one may have in a certain value of the parameter giventhe realization of the sample and sign-based estimators that are the values associated with the highest confidence(p-value). The sign-based estimators are thus obtained using the Hodges-Lehmann principle of test inversion.They are expected to present the same robustness properties than the test statistics they come from and canstraightly be associated with the finite-sample-based inference procedure described in Coudin and Dufour (2007).We also show they are median unbiased (under symmetry and estimator unicity) and present equivariancefeatures similar to the LAD estimator. Consistency under point identification and asymptotic normality areprovided and hold under weaker assumptions than the LAD estimator. However, small sample behavior is ourfirst interest. By a Monte Carlo study of bias and RMSE, we show sign-based estimators perform better than theLAD in very heteroskedastic settings.


Objective:To improve long urethrostenosis or urethratresia success rate of endoscopic surgery.Methods:22 patients with long urethrostenosis or urethratresia,the combination of fiber cystoscope,rigid ureteroscopy,transurethral incision mirror,resectoscope, a variety of endoscopic,surgical treatment of urethral incision.Results:22 patients with long urethrostenosis or urethratresia had a successful surgery,no postoperative incontinence,urinary fistula,urethral dilatation after surgery in the near future be on a regular basis.Conclusion:Endoscopic treatment of a variety of long urethrostenosis or urethratresia,can greatly improve the success rate,reduction of postoperative blindness,is simple,safe,good efficacy,less inva sive and repeatable treatment and so on.


In this paper, a new method for the construction of supersaturated design using Triangular type partially balanced incomplete block designs is proposed. The E(s2) value of the design are also derived. The construction is also illustrated with suitable example. An attempt is also made to compare these design and some remarks are made.


www.jogh.org • doi: 10.7189/jogh.10.010365 1 June 2020 • Vol. 10 No. 1 • 010365 According to the World Health Organization, as of April 21, 2020, 2 397 217 cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including 162 956 deaths, have been reported worldwide [1]. The outbreak began in Iran after the detection of the first death associated with COVID-19, on Feb 19, 2020 in Qom, a holy city in central Iran. After a short period, COVID-19 has widely spread in all other provinces in Iran. As of April 21, 2020, of 330 137 tested patients, 80 868 people have been infected with COVID-19. Of them, 55 987 people have recovered, 3513 people are critically ill and 5031 people have died [2].


The finite gap width replay pulse was considered in this paper, when the transition width is no longer a constant but a function of the depth of the medium. In the numerical calculation this function is approximated in two terms, linear and second order, as a=a(y)=a/sub /spl theta//+k/sub 1//spl middot/y+k/sub 2//spl middot/y/sup 2/. It is found that both pulse amplitude and pulse width change with transition width variation, however, the second order effect is much smaller in comparison with the linear effect of such a variation.


This work presents a study on the relationship between the alloying elements such as niobium (Nb), tantalum (Ta) or zirconium (Zr) and the hydroxyapatite (HAp) formability on the surfaces of titanium (Ti) alloys subjected to alkali treatment process that is developed to form a HAp layer. The HAp formability on the surfaces of pure Ti, TiNb alloys, TiTa alloys, TiZr alloys, pure Nb, pure Ta and pure Zr subjected to alkali treatment in 1mol/L NaOH solution at 363K for 259.2 ks was investigated. The pure Ti, Ti10Nb alloy and Ti10Zr alloy have a good HAp formability because sodium titanate is formed on the surface after the alkali treatment. However, the HAp formability is decreased with increasing Nb and Zr contents. A layer including sodium titanate and sodium tantalate is formed on the surfaces of TiTa alloys after the alkali treatment. Therefore, the Ti10Ta, Ti20Ta, Ti30Ta and Ti40Ta alloys have a good HAp formability. On the other hand, a sodium niobate layer and a thick crystalline sodium tantalate layer are formed on the surfaces of pure Nb and pure Ta, respectively, after the alkali treatment. Moreover, there is no component change on the surface of pure Zr after the alkali treatment. Therefore, the HAp formability on the surfaces of pure Nb, pure Ta and pure Zr is significantly low after they are soaked in a simulated body fluid for 1 week. [doi:10.2320/matertrans.ME201311]


Though cyndi Spindell berck's book is called Pocahontas and Sacagawea: Interwoven Legacies in American History, only a small portion of the work actually focuses on the two women named in the title. only two out of the 11 chapters focus on Pocahontas and Sacagawea. The book is, in fact, a history of native Americanwhite relations in what is now the united States from the early stages of british colonization through the settlement of the West. Pocahontas' story acts as a starting point for this history, while Sacagawea's serves as a significant waypoint; the book concludes with the story of a third native American woman, Sarah Winnemucca, the socalled Paiute Princess. A short epilogue discusses the contemporary position of native Americans, particularly the tribes that Pocahontas and Sacagawea belonged to. The brevity of the historical discussion about the two eponymous women is more necessity than fault; very little historical information exists about them. even so, berck does an excellent job of contextualizing the events of these women's lives, incorporating both native American and european/euroAmerican historical and cultural information. For example, while discussing Pocahontas, she also discusses interactions between the Jamestown settlers and the Virginia tribes to show how the actions of Pocahontas, Powhatan, John Smith, and John rolfe were influenced by the overall colonial situation. She explores the Algonquian symbolism of the white feathers often associated with Pocahontas to suggest that she may have had some sort of spiritual role in her tribe. When encountering historical controversies, such as the veracity of Smith's tale of being saved from execution by Pocahontas, berck discusses a range of theories before expressing her own conclusions. ultimately, regarding that debate, she concludes that "John Smith was much too attached to his head" (p. 26) to have made up the entire rescue scenario, since it would have meant lying to the Queen, but that it was likely an adoption ceremony he misunderstood. Anthropologists have previously suggested the adoption theory, but berck's reasoning for accepting it is intriguing, if perhaps not totally convincing. The book seems to be written with a general, rather than a scholarly, audience in mind; berck's prose is straightforward and easy to follow. it would serve well as an introduction to the figures and issues discussed. From an academic perspective, however, there are some aspects of the writing that are frustrating. Quotations are often dropped into the text without framing or intext attribution. berck repeatedly cites "mattaponi oral history" when she is actually citing linwood custalow's The True Story of Pocahontas: The Other Side of History (Fulcrum Publishing, 2007). While custalow's book is important as one of a few native accounts of the colonization of Virginia, its roots in oral history are still contested. The scope of berck's project is impressive, but as a result, its historical and cultural examinations are of limited depth. Folklorists may find this book unsatisfying, as it does not consider the persistence of these narratives in American vernacular culture; the focus is solely on the historical legacies of these women. That said, berck makes a useful contribution by highlighting connections between historical eras and figures. For example, the descendants of Pocahontas include Thomas randolph, who married the daughter of Thomas Jefferson, the president who sent lewis and clark on their exploration of the


In 1987, the University of Queensland and Hughes Aircraft Company established the Howard Hughes Fellowship in Space Engineering. The objective of the Fellowship Program, funded by Hughes and administered by the University, is to encourage young Australians to pursue education and careers in space science and engineering. To date four students have completed M.Eng.Sc degrees supported by these fellowships. Two of the Fellows have visited the Hughes plant in Los Angeles, one for a stay of a few days and the other for a period of seven months as a Hughes employee, working on dynamics and control of space vehicles. As a by-product of the relationship, there have been several visits by Hughes' technical personnel to Queensland University. In this paper the establishment of the Fellowship is summarised and a brief overview of Hughes Aircraft Company considered. The research and present affiliations of the four students that have completed the program are listed. We make a preliminary assessment of the success of the Fellowship Program and its role in developing collaboration between an academic institution and space-related commercial enterprises.


Purpose
This paper aims to explain the development of fraud prevention disclosure index (FPDI) for Malaysian public universities.

Design/methodology/approach
The paper reported a comprehensive review on fraud prevention and control plans of several international policies and of local and international universities.

Findings
The final 8 categories and 100 items under review have been developed in an instrument, the proposed FPDI, to measure the level of commitment of public universities in preventing fraud.

Research limitations/implications
The FPDI will serve as an evaluation tool to measure the level of commitment of public universities toward preventing fraud practices through disclosure practices.

Social implications
The FPDI is hoped to inculcate anti-fraud culture amongst public universities and to promote accountability, widen and strengthen good organization's ethics, create ethical work place environment and enhance corporate governance framework by instilling a culture of professional conduct that is free from corruption.

Originality/value
This paper is among the first paper that develops the index specifically to measure the universities' level of commitment to prevent fraud.


To solve the level-adjusting and force-tuning problems of high accurate and costly payloads when loading and unloading, a cable-driven auto-leveling parallel robot is developed. A hierarchical fuzzy controller, which has the ability to deal with the rule explosion problem, is proposed in this paper. After a brief introduction of the architecture of the closed-loop control system for the cable-driven auto-leveling parallel robot, the construction of the hierarchical fuzzy controller is set up, in which the force offsets of the four cables and the angle deviations of the two diagonal inclinations are chosen as input variables, and the output variables are the position changes of the four linear motion units. The hierarchical fuzzy controller contains two layers - the low level layer which generates two outputs for leveling adjustment and force tuning, and the high level layer which is used to coordinate the two outputs from the low level layer. Experimental results have demonstrated that the hierarchical fuzzy controller can achieve the control objectives with high regulation accuracy and short adjusting time, and can be easily applied to practical systems.


Bioaccumulation studies with Daphnia magna have become an important tool for hazard evaluation of potentially toxic materials released to aquatic environments. Despite widespread use of this test organism, little attention has been paid to the influence of stored lipids on uptake of xenobiotics. The authors drew upon principles of zooplankton population dynamics in the limnological literature to define experimental parameters for bioconcentration testing of organic compounds. Adult test populations were initially starved and monitored for lipid content and brood production. Mean lipid index values declined at 72 h to less than 50% of those observed at 24 h. The number of hatched young peaked at 48 h and was inversely related to lipid storage and ovary production. In a separate experiment, uptake kinetics of /sup 14/C-labelled quinoline were compared between two daphnid test groups with mean lipid scores of 5.4 and 2.8 respectively. Total radioactivity was significantly higher for the high lipid group at 8 h, and the coefficient of variation was lower. Estimated bioconcentration factors adjusted to dry weight were similar. Our studies indicated that lipid reserves of daphnid test populations can be routinely monitored as an indicator of stress in the laboratory. Bioaccumulation tests should be limited tomore » less than 24 h to avoid depletion of lipid stores, which may cause increased variation in tissue concentration over time. 19 references, 2 figures, 2 tables.« less


Since the 1990s, Chinese entrepreneurs in the textile and apparel industry have confronted rapid change and increasing pressure stemming from mature foreign entrants and changing local demand. Facing multiple challenges to differentiate and keep a competitive advantage, they are being transformed into creativity-driven organisations. The transition of the Chinese clothing industry into a fashion-creating system entails a specific environment. Not only is it under construction, but its evolution may impact the global fashion economy.


Background: Poisoning is a leading cause of hospitalization and death in British Columbia, yet patterns for all-cause poisonings remain unclear. A study was proposed to analyze morbidity and mortality for all causes of poisoning in order to investigate patterns and trends associated with intent, age, sex, health service delivery area, and cause. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on morbidity and mortality data obtained from the BC Discharge Abstract Database and BC Vital Statistics for 2008 to 2013. Cases with poisoning as the primary cause of hospitalization or death were identified by ICD-10 codes and classifications for drugs and other substances, which included antiepi-leptic, sedative-hypnotic, antipar-kinsonism, and psychotropic drugs; narcotics and psychodysleptics; gases and vapors; and nonopioid an-algesics, antipyretics, and antirheumatics. Once data were collected, descriptive statistics were generated. Separate multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate factors influencing the odds of the following events occur-ring: hospitalization or death from poisoning rather than from other external causes; hospitalization or death from self-harm poisoning rather than from poisonings involving other intents; deaths from poisoning rather than hospitalizations from poisoning. Results: Unintentional poisoning hospitalizations and deaths in BC significantly during the study period. Males accounted for a majority of poisoning deaths (66%), while females accounted for a majority of poisoning hospitalizations


In this paper, the configuration bifurcation characteristics at the vicinities of singular points going with different input parameters are investigated. Then, with the aid of the assembly configurations at the theoretical singular points, the reasons to cause the singularities are analyzed. We find that the dimensional-utmost singularities, line vectors correlation singularities and Jacobian matrix correlation singularities can occur individually or jointly while choosing different number of input parameters. The number and the combination form of the input parameters have great influences on the complexity of the singularities and the curvature radiuses of the configuration curves. Selecting a group of adjacent input parameters, the simple configuration bifurcation and the large singularity-free input parameters zones can be obtained. And adopting multi-input parameters, the self-motion regions and the singularity avoidance errors can be reduced. These new discoveries are valuable and of significance for the trajectory design, the singularity avoidance, and the self-motion control for the parallel manipulator, as well as the parallel tools.Copyright © 2008 by ASME


The invention provides a foot-operated lower limb exoskeleton exercise rehabilitation wheelchair. An exoskeleton mechanism provided with a driving degree of freedom and a plurality of driven degrees of freedom is installed on a wheelchair comprising pedals, when a user tread the wheelchair to travel, a customized rehabilitation training which achieve the switching from a complete driving mode of legs to a complete driven mode of legs is achieved, on one hand, when the user is physically inactive, i.e., when the user is completely lack of physical strength or has part of physical strength, the exoskeleton mechanism can provide all power or part of the power which drives the wheelchair to travel to help the user to move; on the other hand, under the condition that the user is full of physical strength, the exoskeleton mechanism can provide different resistance as needed to help the user fully exercise the lower limbs of the user. The most important characteristic of the foot-operated lower limb exoskeleton exercise rehabilitation wheelchair is that the characteristics of the exoskeleton mechanism and the wheelchair are fully utilized, the wheelchair can help the user to move and carry out scientific rehabilitation training to the lower limbs of a convalescent, and the wheelchair is simple and practical, and is suitable for popularization.


Applying both molecular data and ecological niche modelling is essential to infer the speciation mechanism and species delimitation in organisms. Salvia aristata Auch. ex Benth is an endemic species restricted to western, northwestern and centre of Iran and eastern parts of Turkey with variations in morphological character along its distributions. In this study, we applied SRAP marker and ecological niche modelling using climatic and geographic data to detect and examine the genetic structure and niche differentiation in S. aristata accessions. SRAP marker's results showed 242 bands highly polymorph. Genetic distance analysis provided two main clusters. The STRUCTURE analysis provided two distinct ecotypes (K = 2). Our ecological niche model produced good results with high performance based on area under curve (AUC > 0.9) for both ecotypes. Altitude was the most important variable contributing in niche model of both ecotypes. The niche space of both ecotypes is different based on niche identity test and background test as well. Based on genetic and ecological evidence, it is concluded that S. aristata gene pool underwent a parapatric speciation process caused by niche divergence and reproductive isolations as a consequence of divergent selection on floral traits.


The aim of the study – improving the results of surgical treatment of patients with nodular goiter. Materials and Methods . The study included 281 patients with thyroid disease who were hospitalized in the Department of Surgery of the summit clinic for surgical treatment from 2009 to 2016. Results. Recurrence of nodular goiter was observed in 9 patients (4.7 %) for 2 to 6 years. Outcomes of surgeries were successful, and in 30 % of these patients, atypical cells were identified in the opposite lobe of the thyroid gland, despite the fact that it looked clinically intact. Conclusions . The study of long-term results of treatment of patients with nodular goiter determined the optimal amount of surgery in different morphological forms of nodular goiter. Adequate volumes of surgical treatment are hemistrumectomy, extremely subtotal resection of the thyroid gland and thyroidectomy. In carrying out adequate thyroid replacement therapy dramatically reduced the number of relapses after the surgery. The highest percentage (4.7 %) recurrences regardless of the morphological form of nodular goiter was revealed during the economical resection and enucleation thyroid nodule.


The present study investigated the larvicidal and repellent activities of Cestrum nocturnum (leaves) different extracts against Rift Valley Fever vector, Culex antennatus. The obtained results showed that the petroleum ether extract was the most effective extract against Cx. antennatus larvae followed by chloroform, acetone, and ethanolic extracts. The LC50 values of petroleum ether extract recorded 179.4, 164.2, and 148.7 ppm against Cx. antennatus third larval instar after 24, 48, and 72 h., respectively. On the other hand, at 6.67, 3.33, and 1.67 mg/cm2, ethanolic extract induced a degree of repellency equal to 93.1, 90.1, and 60.2% within the 4h post-treatment, respectively. Generally, petroleum ether extract proved high efficacy as repellents. At 3.33mg/cm2 petroleum ether extract produced the highest protection (100.0%) during the entire testing period of 4h post-treatment. Moreover, the protection (93.3, 90.7 and 80.8%) obtained at 2.67, 1.67 and 0.833 mg/cm2, respectively, compared with 100.0% repellency for DEET at a dose1.8 mg/cm2. So, Ce. nocturnum tested extracts can be considered as new promising controlling agents against the mosquito vector, Cx. antennatus.


The article concerns the role of reading in foreign languages, analyzes the problems faced by students of non-language universities in the study of foreign language, and highlights the ways of their solution


Launching a new product on the market requires intensive marketing research to
define the specific needs of the customers. Marketing research methods using brain
imaging with fMRI are able to predict consumer behavior and subconscious feelings
towards a brand. Compared to ordinary marketing research methods, results of
brain scans can convert emotions with regards to consumers' preferences into
marketing strategies.
This study evaluates consumers' preferences for a new milk drink on the Finnish
market using methods of brain imaging and survey taste tests. The results are
applied in a marketing concept recommended in the conclusion to the case
company of the project, Valio Ltd. The study is part of the research project
Neuroservice, which operates at Laurea University of Applied Sciences and is
funded by the Finnish agency for Innovation, TEKES.
The research covered a sample of 31 people and found out that the milk drink is
valued higher in the product category of juices based on emotional values, brain
scans and the results of taste tests. The results of the analysis were compounded
to conclude a marketing concept to the case company, which recommends a repositioning
of the product into the category of juices.
Keywords: Marketing Research, Neuromarketing, fMRI, Brain Imaging, Consumer
Preferences, Marketing Concept


We attempted to review the published literature to find out the status of pain assessment in critically ill patients (CIPs) managing in ICUs of low resource countries. We used broad electronic database (2004-2018) from common search engines. Evidence showed that 33%-61% of the patients in ICU experienced pain at rest and among them 10%-33% of patients experienced moderate to severe pain in developed countries. Prevalence of pain is expected to be high in low resource countries due to huge disease burden of CIPs. The gold standard of pain assessment is self-reporting; however, this is not possible when patients in ICU are unable to communicate. Alternatively, Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS) and Critical Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) can be used in this population. These methods/tools are being used in developed countries, however, no evidence is available in low resource countries. The dynamic nature of pain in ICU patients justifies regular pain assessment in all ICU settings. Authors strongly recommend that pain should be objectively assessed in all ICU patients regardless of age and gender using reliable and validated tools like BPS or CPOT.Citation: Afshan G, Siddiqui S. Pain assessment in critically ill patients in low resource countries. Anaesth Pain & Intensive Care 2018;22 Suppl 1:S83-S87


Nardophyllum deserticola (Cabrera) Nesom and Nardophyllum patagonicum (Cabrera) Nesom are two endemic species from Argentinean Patagonia that were originally described under the monotypic genera Aylacophora and Paleaepappus in 1953 and 1969, respectively In 1993, Nesom included Aylacophora and Paleaepappus within the genus Nardophyllum, arguing that the discontinuities between the paleaceous pappus of Aylacophora and Paleaepappus and the pappus bristles of Nardophyllum do not justify considering them as distinct genera. Careful observation of the herbarium material revealed that: 1) the pappus of N. deserticola and N patagonicum consists of ca. 10 linear-elliptic paleae, while in remaining Nardophyllum species, the pappus is composed of ca. 30 bristles, and 2) the receptacular paleae of Nardophyllum deserticola and Nardophyllum patagonicum are wide and enclose the florets, while in Nardophyllum species, the paleae, if present, are narrow and do not enclose the florets. These observed discontinuities between N. deserticola and N. patagonicum with respect to the rest of Nardophyllum do support the consideration of both species as to two distinct monotypic genera, Aylacophora and Paleaepappus, respectively.


Simulation modeling has been acknowledged as one of the key engineering tools of the 21 st century and many large enterprises, such as automotive and aerospace, have taken advantage of its benefits. Unfortunately, these benefits have not generally been available to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) due to various barriers. An example of one of these key barriers is the time and level of expertise it takes to build a valid simulation model of even a relatively simple manufacturing operation. This is particularly true for SMEs which are often engaged in "low volume, high variety" manufacturing environments, which are complex to model adequately. This paper provides an overview of the importance of SMEs to the nation's manufacturing base and develops a prioritized list of obstacles that SMEs face in terms of tapping into the power of simulation modeling. In addition, recommendations are developed regarding how these obstacles can best be overcome and a research agenda is defined that targets both the issue of preparing a SME"s maturity level and readiness for the technology, as well as technical simulation modeling issues that need to be resolved in order to make the technology more accessible.


This paper investigates the asymptotic behavior of a delayed Nicholson‐type system involving patch structure and nonlinear density‐dependent mortality terms. Based on the fluctuation lemma and some differential inequality techniques, delay‐dependent criteria are deduced for the global attractivity of the addressed system, which indicate that small delays have no effect on the attractivity of the system. Meanwhile, an illustrative numerical example is given to illustrate the feasibility of the theoretical results.


Individuals with hearing hindrance utilize gesture based communication to exchange their thoughts. Generally hand movements are used by them to communicate among themselves. But there are certain limitations when they communicate with other people who cannot understand these hand movements. There is a need to have a mechanism that can act as a translator between these people to communicate. It would be easier for these people to interact if there exists direct infrastructure that is able to convert signs to text and voice messages. As of late, numerous such frameworks for gesture based communication acknowledgment have been developed. But most of them are made either for static gesture recognition or dynamic gesture recognition. As sentences are generated using combinations of static and dynamic gestures, it would be simpler for hearing debilitated individuals if such computerized frameworks can detect both the static and dynamic motions together. We have proposed a design and architecture of American Sign Language (ASL) recognition with convolutional neural networks (CNN). This paper utilizes a pretrained VGG-16 architecture for static gesture recognition and for dynamic gesture recognition, spatiotemporal features were learnt with the complex architecture, called deep learning. It contains a bidirectional convolutional Long Short Term Memory network (ConvLSTM) and 3D convolutional neural network (3DCNN) and this architecture is responsible to extract  2D spatio temporal features.


Pooja Maurya, Abdul Mazeed, Dipender Kumar, Iffat Zareen Ahmad and Priyanka Suryavanshi* Department of Biosciences, Integral University, Lucknow 226 026, India Division of Crop Production and Protection, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow 226 015, India Division of Crop Production and Protection, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Research Centre, Pantnagar 263 149, India Department of Bioengineering, Integral University, Lucknow 226 026, India Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad 201 002, India


A modified synthetic method with a high definition visual camera technique for measuring the solubility of solutes in solvents or mixed solvents was proposed. To verify the reliability of the experimental apparatus, the solubility of NH4Cl in water was determined at different temperatures. The relative standard errors were less than 1%, compared to the literature data. The solubilities of betulonic acid in six organic solvents from (278.15 to 313.15) K were measured and correlated with the Apelblat equation and universal quasichemical equation, respectively. The modified method was quite concise and user-friendly, and made the process of dissolution to become visualized and automatic.


A True Relation of the Apparition of One Mrs. Veal was bound and sold in a volume with Charles Drelincourt?s A Christian?s Defense Against the Fears of Death , a book discussed by the apparition and Mrs. Bargrave. In 1728, 23 years after the appearance of Mrs. Margaret Veal?s apparition, Elizabeth Singer Rowe published Friendship in Death, in Twenty Letters from the Dead to the Living . As its title suggests, this series of unrelated fictional letters reinforces the importance of friendship, both during one?s lifetime and afterwards. This chapter?s basic premise is that the fascination with ghosts roughly echoes the fascination with the invisible world brought to light with popularization of scientific technique and technology. The chapter argues that ghosts come to reflect a growing cultural emphasis on the emotions of the living and perhaps empirical limits to the study of death. It focuses on secular and religious imagery and messages. Keywords: apparition; Elizabeth Singer Rowe; Friendship in Death ; ghosts; invisible world; Mrs. Margaret Veal; religious imagery


In their meta-analysis of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25 (OH)D] levels of fallers and nonfallers, Annweiler and Beauchet [1] found that people with levels <20 ng mL 1 had the greatest risk of falling, whereas the finding for levels <10 or <30 ng mL 1 were not significant. Therefore, levels from 20 to 30 ng mL 1 were optimal for reducing risk of falls. However, the odds ratio (OR) for those with levels <10 ng mL 1 was 1.23 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.94–1.60], so with more studies, the OR might be statistically significant. The OR for people with levels <30 ng mL 1 was 0.95 (95% CI, 0.81–1.11), which is reasonable; however, this result could be affected by those who started vitamin D supplementation late in life because of a physician's concern about bone health, as mentioned in [1].


ABSTRACT Background Alcohol use among adolescents has been linked to a host of negative social adjustment outcomes, including aggression and peer victimization. However, it is not clear if these associations vary among those who use alcohol with parental permission versus without parental permission, which has implications for prevention and intervention approaches. Methods High school students reported on their past-year alcohol use (i.e., no use, only with parental permission, only without parental permission, and both with and without parental permission), aggressive behavior (i.e., proactive and reactive), and peer victimization (i.e., physical, relational, and cyber) experiences. Results Findings suggest that youth who use alcohol both with and without parental permission are associated with higher levels of both functions of aggression and all forms of peer victimization than those who do not use alcohol and only use alcohol with parental permission. Conclusions These results may indicate that parental permission to use alcohol does not necessarily reduce risk for negative social adjustment outcomes. Additional research investigating contributing factors to youth who use alcohol both with and without parental permission is needed to fully understand risk associated with adolescent alcohol use.


Coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) cause various diseases in both human and animals. In this study we analysed antimicrobial resistance and plasmid content in 62 CoNS strains of human and veterinary origin. We detected resistance to all classes of antibiotics in most strains. The majority of strains harboured 1-6 resistance plasmids. CoNS are important source and carriers of antimicrobial resistance genes.


Wireless sensor networks are an important component of the broad framework of ubiquitous computing and are increasingly deployed in a wide range of applications and scenarios. There are many challenging issues that pertain to sensor data management, typically in the areas of analysing this data and communicating this data. In this paper, we present a novel use of sensor readings/data in wireless sensor networks. We propose and develop a model that controls the operation of the sensor nodes themselves using the data from sensors. This 'context-awareness' of the sensor nodes enables considerable energy savings in sensor networks. We present experimental validation of our model using the tiny OS sensor toolkit.


A rock physics based seismic interpretation workflow has been developed to extract volumetric rock properties from seismically derived P- and S-wave impedances, I p and I s . This workflow was first tested on a classic rock physics velocity-porosity model. Next, it was applied to two case studies: a carbonate and a clastic oil field. In each case study, we established rock physics models that accurately relate elastic properties to the rock's volumetric properties, mainly the total porosity, clay content, and pore fluid. To resolve all three volumetric properties from only two inputs, I p and I s , a site-specific geology driven relation between the pore fluid and porosity was derived as a hydrocarbon identifier. In order to apply this method at the seismic spatial scale, we created a coarse-scale elastic and volumetric variables by using mathematical upscaling at the wells. By using I p and I s thus upscaled, we arrived at the accurate interpretation of the upscaled porosity, mineralogy, and water saturation both at the wells and in a simulated vertical impedance section generated by interpolation between the wells.


Churchill's plays" (6). Actually, the analyses do nor deconstruct at all (there is no reason why they should, beyond Kritzer's fashionable claim, but I wonder if she knows what deconstruction is). Rather, they place the plays in the most conventional format of critical discussion. One would like to see more sense of continuity in Churchill's work, of the ways in which she e laborated key recurring themes, and, most important, of the ways her plays inform each other. Kritzer talks very little about the actual productions of Churchill's plays. More should be said about Churchill's productive collaboration with Max Stafford-Clark, for instance. Indeed, it is ironic that a feminist like Churchill would collaborate so regularly with male directors when there is such an extraordinary pool of female directors in England (Deborah Warner, Katie Mitchell, Garry Hines, Di Trevis, and Hettie Mac~ Donald come immediately to mind), What bothered me more was the lack of discussion of Churchill's relat ionship to contemporary playwrights to whose innovations she was alert. Orton is fleetingly men~ tioned a couple of times, but without showing, for instance, how the radio play Lovesick is similar to Orton 's What the Butler Saw, written the same year (1967). In the last chapter, Kritzer states: "Although the issues and themes dealt with by Churchi ll may be encountered in the work of other politically oriented playwrights in contempo~ rary Britain, her use of theatrical form to alter the relationship between play and audi~ eoce sets her work apart" (190). One could argue that Churchill's work is part and parcel of a theatrical project shared by many British theatrical artists in the 1 970S and 1980s. The Gay Sweatshop, which is fleetingly mentioned, was one group regularly engaged in the same sort of formal experimentation. Churchill does not write in an artistic vacuum. Like many fine playwrights, she is eclectic as well as original. One interesting aspect of Churchill's work which Kritzer neglects is its relationship to the capitalistic enterprise of theater. I remember seeing Churchill's savage, Jonso~ nian satire of Post Big Boom wheeling and dealing, Serious Money, in the opulent Wyndham'S Theatre in London. The theater was packed with well~suited, briefcase~ carrying, champagne~guzzling Yuppies who had come to enjoy thi s play which not only satirized them. but by putting them on the West End stage, also in a way autho~ rized them. I don't think I have ever seen an audience enjoy a play so much, nor have I ever been so aware of the ironies implicit in contemporary political theater.


Idiographic analyses (i.e. detailed analyses of single species ranges) can be criticized for subjective and speculative reasoning. Medoid partition is suggested here as a method to perform a statistically supported idiographic analysis. The medoid algorithms attempt to group objects into clusters by finding a set of representative objects called medoids. If areas are the objects that are clustered using species occurrences (0/1) as variables, each cluster will be characterized by a medoid area. The species that characterize each medoid are representative of the entire cluster to which the medoid belongs and can be regarded as (statistically supported) species 'characteristic' of the main distributional patterns observed in the study system and can be used to draw idiographic observations. To illustrate the issues involved, the Coleoptera Tenebrionidae of the Aegean Islands (Greece) were analysed. Two species appeared to be characteristic of the Balkan cluster, while eight species were characteristic of the Anatolian one, and two species were equally distributed in both areas. Idiographic considerations based on these species outlined the importance of a Balkano–Anatolian discontinuity in the Aegean that prevented species dispersal between the two landmasses. This study illustrates that medoid analysis may help the researcher to find some representative patterns from a puzzling distribution. Traditional idiographic analyses can be biased by the fact that species are selected ad hoc. Thus, one cannot establish if results are truly objective or if the author intentionally selected, from a wider array of species, those that supported some preferred patterns. Medoid clustering uses the full array of species to find clusters of areas. After clusters are objectively defined, their medoids are examined to find species that mostly contributed to cluster definition, and the distribution patterns of these species are interpreted.