There is no gainsaying the fact that, 22 years after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Russia is still counting on the losses of that historical development. Apart from losing its position as a regional power, especially among the former union republics of the former USSR, Russia is yet to come to terms with losing Crimea, which it considers as the first great price wrestled from the Ottoman Empire, a mark to Russia's rise to great-power status, and a warm-water port with direct access to the Mediterranean and thus, the wider world; and also Sevastopol, the Crimean port city where Russian Black Sea fleet docks. No wonder, Russia had already started celebrating the annexation of Crimea, thus escalating crisis in that region. A lot has been written about this crisis but a little, if at all, has been said about the ethno-linguistic dimension of the crisis, hence, this piece. An effort is made in this paper to critically analyze the historical background of Ukrainian and Russian languages in Ukraine and the state of Ukrainian language in the Soviet era. Also analyzed is the new language law in Ukraine and how all these contribute to the present Ukrainian crisis. The work concludes that Ukraine is a bilingual country and that the government of the country will do well to maintain the status quo.


This paper presents techniques for modeling triple pendulum isolation bearings subjected to three-dimensional (3-D) excitation. The behavior of the triple pendulum bearing has been described in the XY plane. The XY plane includes the vertical degree freedom and one lateral degree of freedom. However, the bearing behavior is considerably more complex in three dimensions due to the interaction of the four sliding surfaces and their respective restraints. Although shake table tests have shown the bearings to have good performance under threecomponent earthquake excitations, it is important develop a robust analytical model capable of explicitly capturing the 3-D behavior of each internal component. A non-linear, kinematic model is used in the analysis of the bearing three-component motion. Experiments were conducted using the shake table at the University of California, Berkeley as part of an effort to characterize the 3-D behavior. A comparison between the experimental data and the corresponding results of the kinematic model shows favorable agreement.


Piezoelectric energy harvester can replace the battery and provide energy for most kinds of micro devices. And due to its advantages of considerable output power and high output voltage, it has bright prospects. This paper presents a piezoelectric energy harvester based on coupled oscillator model utilizing a L-shaped cantilever beam to collect the vibration energy of the vehicle with the frequency band from 5 Hz to 25 Hz. The finite element analysis of the designed piezoelectric energy harvester is carried out by running ANSYS simulation software, including modal analysis, transient response analysis and harmonic response analysis. The results shows that under the coupling, the amplitude-frequency characteristic curve of each oscillator has two peak points, which widens the working frequency band of the energy harvester. Meanwhile, experimental research is carried out on the collector prototype. By analyzing the experimental results, the natural frequency of oscillator 1 is about 17.1 Hz, and the natural frequency of oscillator 2 is about 21.1 Hz. Therefore, these natural frequencies meet the need to collect vibration energy of 5 Hz to 25 Hz. In addition, by comparing the frequency response curves of the open circuit output voltage of the energy collectors working independently and under coupling, the results show that the operating frequency band of the energy collector is broadened under coupling.


No matter how important it is,the research objective should never surpass the security,health,right and dignity of human subjects.Therefore,the independent ethics review on research protocols combined with the informed consent based on completed understanding by research participants provide a comprehensive protection for the security and benefit of human subjects.In this paper,by strictly complying with international principles and guidelines,as well as domestic laws and regulation,such as Declaration of Helsinki by WHO and Regulation of Clinical Trials for Drug by SFDA,and considering the traits of TCM clinical research,we attempt to explore how to establish an integrated regulation system for the running and administration of IRB,including the regulation system for bioethics review,IRB member nomination,continuing education,review procedure,supervision and monitoring for adverse events,documentation and archiving,standardized procedure for the acquisition of informed consent etc,as the maximally bioethics protection and monitoring for the benefit and rights of human subjects involved in drug trials and clinical researches.And we believe that a good bioethics review system provides an effective approach to a harmonious physician-patient relationship,and safeguards quality,impartiality and representativeness of ethics reviews.The paper hopes to provide reference for the bioethics research on bioethics review principles and methods of TCM research.


The main purpose of the present study is to identify: the health education  level  of students in Zagazig University - the effect of using Facebook on spreading the health education of the students- the differences in the health education level between students based on: gender- place of living ( rural vs urban )– major ( humanities vs scientific). The researcher used the descriptive approach because it was most suitable for the nature of the study. The sample (N=235) was randomly chosen from Zagazig University students. For data collection, the researcher used the health education questionnaire and the Facebook's effect questionnaire. This study found  that :  the sample had a high health education level ,Facebook affects the health education level of the students , there are differences between male and female students in some health education dimensions for the males whereas there are no differences between them in Facebook's effect. The study also found that, there are statistically significant differences between rural and urban students in some of the health education dimensions for the latter group whereas there are differences between them in Facebook's effect for the rural students. There are statistically significant differences between the science and the humanities majors in some dimensions of health and in Facebook's effect of for the humanities major students.


The Niemeijer-van Leeuwen (1973) cumulant expansion for calculation of renormalized interactions is carried to third order for the Ising model on the triangular lattice. Kadanoff cells containing three spins are used. Five types of pair interactions and three types of four-spin interaction enter the calculations. The renormalization equations have one non-trivial fixed point. The accuracy of the result for the corresponding relevant eigenvalues is, however, less than in second order. The idea that the cumulant expansion is an asymptotic expansion has thus been given numerical support.


PMAC is a kind of programmable multi-axis motion controller based on DSP.The turntable motion control system with PMAC is proposed,and the hardware and software structures of the control system are also discussed based on the Windows operating system.The development of the motion control system software is realized with object-oriented technology,and the controlling result shows that this motion control system meets the need of the turntable control.


The present study focuses on the taxonomic revision and phylogeny of some shallow-water Algerian sea cucumber species belonging to the genus Holothuria [the two morphotypes (A & B) of Holothuria (Holothuria) tubulosa (Gmelin, 1791); Holothuria (Roweothuria) poli (Delle Chiaje, 1824) and Holothuria (Roweothuria) arguinensis (Koehler et Vaney, 1906)]. The nucleotide sequences of the 16S rRNA gene obtained by [1] were used to construct the phylogenetic tree of the studied specimens. Our results showed that the two morphotypes (A & B) of Holothuria (H.) tubulosa are genetically separated. We also reported a close genetic relationship between the two morphotypes of Holothuria (H.) tubulosa (A & B) and Holothuria (R.) arguinensis. Holothuria (R.) poli is the most divergent species and is in a paraphyletic position with the other studied specimens. Sequence analyses of the 16S rRNA gene revealed the presence of 58 polymorphic sites: 79.25% of these sites are parsimoniously informative and 20.75% are singletons. The means of haplotype diversity (Hd) and nucleotide diversity (π) were very high. Keywords— Echinodermata, Holothuria, Phylogenetic systematics, 16S rRNA, Haplotypes, Algerian basin.


Cold fronts are sharp surface brightness discontinuities characterized by a jump in gas temperature accompanied by a decline in X-ray surface brightness such that the gas pressure remains continuous across the front and, thus, these structures differ from bow shocks. Models suggest that cold fronts can be generated by external mechanisms involving the accretion of a subsystem with a remnant "cold core". However, internal mechanisms can also create cold fronts, such as gravitational scattering of subclumps or cD oscillation around the bottom of the potential well. These competing models for their formation can be discriminated through the measurements of the SN Type contamination across the front, which in turn can be determined from metal abundance ratios as measured from an ensemble of elements. Here we present the preliminary results of such analysis using a sample of clusters observed with Chandra.


Aqueous biphasic systems (ABSs) consist of two immiscible phases formed when certain water-soluble polymers [e.g., polyethylene glycol (PEG), dextran] are combined with one another or with certain inorganic salts [e.g., (NH4)2SO4, K3PO4)] in specific concentrations [1–5]. As two-phase systems, they are suitable for carrying out liquid/liquid separations of various solutes, such as biomolecules, metal ions, and particulates. In an ABS, the major component in each of the two phases is water, and because of this nondenaturing environment, these systems have been widely employed in biological separations since the first investigation of the partitioning of biomolecule particulates in 1956 using PEG/K3PO4 ABSs [6]. Surprisingly, however, a liquid/liquid extraction technology that holds the possibility of completely eliminating the use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has been virtually ignored for all separations except biomolecules [7,8].


The history of human society is a form of dialectical development of social evolution,in which the latter form of society in relation to the former social patterns are the relationship of both negation and inheritance.Socialism,which start on the basis of the original civilization,cannot and does not leave the road of human civilization.The emergence and the existence of socialism is the antithesis of capitalism,which does not exclude the historical continuity between the two.Whether from the foundation of establishment,the actual situation or the historical experience,the reality of socialism should actively draw on the positive achievements of capitalism in the economic and political system and cultural development.


Introduction: The Exodus: Central, Enduring, and Generative, Pamela Barmash Chapter 1: Out of the Mists of History: The Exaltation of the Exodus in the Bible, Pamela Barmash Chapter 2: Discontinuity and Dissonance: Torah, Textuality, and Early Rabbinic Hermeneutics of Exodus, W. David Nelson Chapter 3: The Past as Paradigm: Enactments of the Exodus Motif in Jewish Liturgy, Richard S. Sarason Chapter 4: The Impact of the Exodus on Halakhah (Jewish Law), Reuven Hammer Chapter 5: Passover and Thanatos in Medieval Jewish Consciousness, Kalman P. Bland Chapter 6: Observations on the Biblical Miniatures in Spanish Haggadot, Vivian B. Mann Chapter 7: From Myth to Memory: German Jewish Translations of Exodus 12-13, Abigail E. Gillman Chapter 8: The Desert Comes to Zion: A Narrative Ends its Wandering, Arieh Saposnik


Dear Editor, Observational pieces of evidence, still awaiting confirmation through randomized clinical trials, support the use of plasma collected from donors who have recovered from COVID-19 infection (convalescent plasma – CP) in treating the infection [1]. In the European Union, the current regulatory basis for plasma for transfusion is based on the requirements of the European Department of Quality in Medicines (EDQM) [2]. These requirements are based on ensuring the preservation of labile coagulation factors, and, by specifying strict limits on the conditions for the collection and storage of the plasma, pose strict limitations to the manufacturing and usage of CP. It may be argued that the preservation of these factors is irrelevant for this product and may well be harmful [1]. It is a matter of urgency to specify CP in terms of the relevant therapeutic entity, in this instance neutralizing antibodies specific to SARS-CoV-2. In this regard, experimental data indicates that the antibodies in plasma are stable and retain activity after multiple cycles of freezing and thawing [3]. Hence, the manufacture of CP may be delayed pending transportation to centralized processing facilities, which may be distant from the initial collection points, which can then prepare the CP in a form that is best suited to its purpose. This could include qualifying the plasma through the relevant screening tests, performing tests to ensure adequate levels of anti-SARS-CoV2 antibodies, and subjecting the CP to pathogen inactivation. Imposing limits on the acceptability of this material through rigid time requirements for separation, freezing and storage will only impede its availability in a form which is fit for its purpose. Similarly, evidence is mounting about the stability of antibodies at refrigerator temperatures, which could allow storage after thawing or as an alternative to thawing [4]. Pending studies on the preservation of PRNT titer, surrogate ELISA assays have shown no decline in antibody titer for up to 95 days [5]. This will allow facilities to produce CP for treatment even in the absence of freezers, or where not all of the three 200-mL aliquots typically produced during the pathogen inactivation process can be transfused within 24 h. The latter scenario is common since aliquots are typically transfused 12 h apart but can also occur where less than 3 aliquots are clinically needed (e.g., for pediatric patients). However, the freezing and storage requirement of the EDQM would negate this possibility, decreasing access to CP. We therefore encourage regulatory authorities, including the EDQM, to rapidly develop a specification for CP, which includes conditions rendering it fit for its purpose, and excise the current measures which are incorporated for irrelevant clinical considerations. In the absence of such a measure, a significant amount of this precious resource could be wasted, to the detriment of patient care.


Patients who need an x-ray while under anesthesia are at risk because clinicians turn off the anesthesia ventilator for an x-ray and may forget to turn it back on afterwards. This problem occurred in a case study reported by the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation in 2004. We demonstrate a system in which automatic synchronization of the x-ray exposure with ventilation eliminates the need to turn off the ventilator to obtain an x-ray. This is accomplished by triggering the x-ray (simulated with a web camera) with the respiratory flow signal.


It was necessary to detect the internal resistance in the application of Li-ion batteries.AC internal resistance test method of the battery was improved.The internal resistance detection method for single battery was used in the internal resistance detection of batteries in series,and the Li-ion batteries internal resistance online detection system was designed.Phase lock loop and benchmark resistance compensating technologies were used to improve the detection precision,the error was less than 10%.


In article the industrial and financial potential of area, security of area by necessary resources for satisfaction of requirements of the population in foodstuff is analyzed.


Toxicity of eight germicides on Black Rot of Gonggan(Alternaria citri) were determined using mycelium growth rate and spore germination method.The results showed that 80 % Mancozeb WP,10 %Difenoconazole WG,80 %Tebuconazole WP,250 g/LPropiconazole EC,25 %Prochloraz EC,40 %Myclobutanil WG had relatively higher activity to mycelium growth of the pathogen,and then the 70 %Topsin-M WP.250 g/LAmistar SC had the lowest activity.On the spore germination test,80 %Mancozeb WP,10 %Difenoconazole WG,70 %Topsin-M WP,25 %Prochloraz EC showed relatively higher effect,and then the 250 g/LPropiconazole EC and 250 g/LAmistar SC.80 %Tebuconazole WP and 40 %Myclobutanil WG were the weakest inhibitor to the spore germination among the eight pesticides.


A method and an apparatus for detecting the contact between the hands and a steering wheel are described which ensure that the driver of a vehicle, the hands on the steering wheel.


Magnetic field generation and evolution models that are capable of describing a large body of observational material are currently available for different celestial bodies. Despite recent decades of great success in numerical magnetic hydrodynamics and in detailed research into some specific problems, asymptotic methods still have to be used to clarify the magnetic field generation mechanism in dynamo theory. In this review, current asymptotic methods are presented together with the results of their application to the simulation of solar, stellar, and galactic magnetic activities.


Aim To exam the difference in proliferatory inhibition effects of Bcl-2,Bcl-xl,Mcl-1,Bcl-w and A1of Bcl-2 proteins family members antisense oligodeoxynucleotides on gastrointestinal cancer cells ( HepG2, Lovo,MGC-803) . Methods The antisense oligodeoxynucleotide targeting for Bcl-2,Bcl-xl,Mcl-1,Bcl-w and A1 and a random oligodeoxynucleotide ( RODN) were synthesized and transfected into gastrointestinal cancer cells ( HepG2,Lovo,MGC-803 ) using LipofectamineTM2000 for 48 hours,cell proliferation inhibition was determined by WST method and cell apoptotic level examined by flow cytometry. Results Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide targeting Bcl-xl and Mcl-1 gene could suppress the growth of gastrointestinal cancer of HepG2,Lovo,MGC-803 cells and induce apoptosis of these cells significantly ( P 0. 05) . The other antisense oligodeoxynucleotide targeting Bcl-2,Bcl-w and A1 showed an indistinctively effect on inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing cell apoptosis. Conclusion Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide targeting Bcl-xl and Mcl-1 can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of gastrointestinal cancer cells of HepG2,Lovo,MGC-803 cells in vitro.


This report documents an effort to determine the effect of exterior-wall thermal mass on the annual heating and cooling loads of a typical 1200 ft 2 three-bedroom residence. The effects were determined using BLAST* simulations for an extensive set of parametric variations of exterior wall thermal mass configurations. Simulations were conducted for six different climatic conditions representing the full range of heating and cooling severity, humidity, and solar gains found in the continental U.S. The basic wall configuration consisted either of two layers (a low-mass insulating layer and a thermally massive layer with varying thermophysical properties) or of just a massive layer alone. For the two-layer wall, variations also included placement of the insulating layer either external to or internal to the thermally massive layer. Three hundred and thirteen simulations were performed for each climate, with each simulation yielding annual heating and cooling sensible loads. The complete simulation results are presented as a tabular data base. Several important aspects of behavior were observed in the data: (1) For a particular value of wall thermal resistance, increasing the wall thermal mass always reduces both the heating and cooling loads. (2) The relative sensitivity of changes in the loads due to incremental changes in the exterior wall's thermal resistance or thermal mass varies widely, and is dependent on the particular values for each, the load type, the wall type, and the climate. (3) The relative importance of exterior wall mass for reducing heating loads, as opposed to cooling loads, .is strongly dependent on climate. ( 4) For walls with thermally massive layers, the loads changed when the position of the insulation and massive layers were interchanged. (5) It was generally true that the loads were lower when the insulation layer was outside the mass layer. A non-linear empirical model that represents the energy use results in the data base .as a function of wall thermal mass and thermal resistance was developed. Using this model, least squares fits to the data were carried out separately for heating and cooling loads, for each of the generic wall types, in each climate. The resulting regression coefficients are presented in tabular form. In general, the agreement between the model predictions and the data is quite good, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The shapes of the simulation data curves are all accurately reproduced, and the relative error for individual curve fits ranges from a low of about 0.1% to a high of 3.7%, with overall averages of about 1% for both heating and cooling. In another part of the effort, selected architectural, engineering, and building use assumptions were varied to determine their· effect on the wall thermal mass energy impacts for a limited number of wall configurations. The results indicate that the marginal benefits (in terms of load reduction) of additional thermal mass in the external walls are a decresaing function of how much thermal mass is already present in other parts of the structure. * BLAST (Building Loads Analysis and System Thermodynamics) is trademarked by the Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, U.S. Department of the Army, Champaign, Illinois.


Loess in China is world-famous for its stratigraphical intactness,huge total thickness,vast expanse of distribution and noticeably metastable geotechnical properties.In distribution,loess spreads outward from the "Central Loess Plateau"composed of Shanxi,Shaanxi and Gansu provinces as the main body and blankets a total land area of 6.3×105 km2.During the Quaternary Period,the prevalent arid,semi-arid climatic environment provided the stage on which material sources came into being,grain particles were wind-transported and deposited and loess strata were thus formed,with almost coincident erosion.In this manner,the spectacular loess geomorphological features and landforms evolved.In the processes,the landslides have been either the end results thereof or active participants.The paper puts emphasis on the granulometry and engineering properties which are peculiar to and characteristic of loessial deposits as well as the role they might play in the initiation and evolution of loess landslides,giving them due coverage and reiterating in the meanwhile the fact that there exists a regular,gradual change(amelioration) of the main geotechnical properties of loess in the direction from Northwest to Southeast all across the"Loess Plateau".From this point,the paper proceeds to discussion of such problems as geomorphological zonation,landslide distribution,structural features of loess landslides as well as their sliding mechanisms.In the brief review of landslide-triggering problems,that of seismic landslides is given due attention.This is followed by a summing-up of the methods of landslide prevention and remediation that are currently in use in China and have been time and again proven to be effective.As illustrations in this regard,several successful cases and experiences therefrom are cited.Finally,in the closing remarks,the issues that need more attention and further in-depth research are raised and briefly discussed.


Method: SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: Control group; type 3 diabetes (T3DM) group; T3DM administrated P165 group. T3DM models were induced by intracerebroventricular injection of Streptozotocin (STZ, 3mg/kg) bilaterally. P165 groups were treated with gastric P165 (355μg/kg) was treated with gastric for 4 weeks, Then,learning and memory ability was detected by Morris water maze test. The rat serum Insulin, Gluocagon, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IFG-1) was detected by ELISA method.


The various factors related to the inert atmosphere used for application of this process are worthy of more consideration than is presently being given them in most industrial plants.


ABSTRACT There are many environmental problems related to the production of inorganic phosphorus (P) fertilizers as well as their continuous usage, which pose great challenges to sustainable agriculture. Applying inorganic P fertilizers combined with pigeon manure tea (PMT) could be a promising strategy to enhance P use efficiency and yield of crop plants. Therefore, this study investigates the effect of integrated use of inorganic P and PMT on P sorption using Freundlich sorption isotherms as well as the availability of P and its use efficiency by wheat grown in a calcareous sandy soil. Application of PMT amendment significantly enhanced P availability compared to the unamended soil. The PMT significantly decreased the rate of P sorption from 246 to 179 mL g−1 and sorption capacity of the soil from 388 to 298 µg P g−1 soil. Consequently, the P fertilizer quantity required to produce the desired level of P in solution (0.2 mg L−1) was low in PMT amended soil (114 mg P kg−1) than that in control soil (140 mg P kg−1). Application of inorganic P in combination with PMT increased P use efficiency (PUE) of the wheat plant. Thus, the combined application of PMT and P fertilizer has positive, complementary, and synergistic effects on P availability in soil and its uptake by wheat plants. Due to its low cost and easy availability, integrated use of PMT1:100 (2.4 t PM ha−1) and inorganic P fertilizer could be an effective amendment to reduce P-sorption and improve soil P availability in the calcareous sandy soil.


A study was conducted to assess the prevailing feed resources and feeding management systems in Umbulo Wacho watershed, southern Ethiopia. The data used in the current study were obtained through individual interviews conducted on 85 randomly selected livestock owners, group discussions with key informants and from secondary sources. In the study area, livestock provide draught power, milk, meat and manure. Cattle were the dominant livestock species and cows comprised 36% of the total number of cattle. The average landholding per household was 0.7 ha, of which 0.1 ha was reported as grazing land. Communal and private grazing lands were gradually shrinking due to the expansion of crop production. This led to the growing practice of tethering and stall-feeding. The annual feed DM yield was only two-third of the DM requirement for livestock kept in the area. Natural pasture, crop residues, crop stubbles, enset by-products and sugarcane top were among the main feed resources. Crop residues were found to be major feed resources for the livestock in the study area, particularly during the dry season in which the biomass of the natural grazing lands is very minimal. Enhancing the quantity and quality of crop-residues will, therefore, be expected to bring about a positive impact on livestock production.


Abstract : There were analyzed four different wing tip shapes. The coefficient of restoration, CR, is given by the ratio of the largest half wing to the smaller half wing in horizontal projection. Flight is stable for CR = 1.00. The influence of wing thickness profile is high. Increasing in the thickness from 5 mm to 15 mm (3 times), CR increases by 48% (5 mm) and 34% (15 mm). Increasing tilt angle, γ, CR increases from 1.00 to ∞ for γ = 0o, respectively, 80o (α = 10 °) (α - angle of the wing tip to the horizontal), then jump to -∞ and grow with negative values. CR increase from 1.00 to ∞ jumping to -∞ for γ = 60°, with α = 30°. Sideslip occurs when model aircraft has horizontally the longitudinal axes and wing is verticals. Airplane model is in an unstable area, for γ = 80o, respectively, 60o for α = 10o, respectively, 30o. The wing tip should be made of straight lines not rounded. Key words : Glider airplane model, wing end shape, longitudinal stability.


The concept of 'symbolic interactionism' has been particularly compelling since its inception as a method for studying human group life and human behaviour. Symbolic interactionism represents one of the most sociological reserach projects in social psychology, and the founders of communication, such as Lazarsfeld, Lewin, and Hovland, are all related to social psychology. Therefore, this article will attempt to answer the following questions through a historical review of the development of social psychology in the United States: symbolic interactionism is so closely related to communication studies, but why is it gradually missing in the establishment of communication studies? Can symbolic interactionism have a new academic resonance with contemporary communication research?


The study was carried out to examine trends in area and productivity of sorghum in Sokoto state, Nigeria from the period 1993-2012. Secondary data collected from the State Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) for the period 1993-2012 were used for the study. Exponential trend equations were fitted to area and productivity to examine their patterns of growth. The computed growth trend for area was negative (-0.015) and significant (P<0.05). The computed growth trend for productivity was positive (0.035) and significant (P<0.01). However, The quadratic time term indicated a stagnated growth in area and an accelerated growth in productivity. It was suggested that the process of decline in area should be reversed through expansion of area devoted to sorghum cultivation and the process of growth in productivity could be enhanced through increased use of advisory services and provision of input supports to the farmers engaged in the cultivation of sorghum


The problem of poverty has attracted specific programmes within the circle of Government administrations particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. One of such programmes is the development strategy tool of provision of microcredit to the poor through Microfinance Institutions (MFIs). Although the issue of the influence of Microfinance loan on poverty reduction has been discussed by some scholars, little efforts have been made to assess the impact of MFIs at the grassroots particularly on those who live in the rural areas. This paper therefore intends to fill the gap in literature by examining the impact of microfinance loan on poverty reduction through the dimension of rural poor income. To achieve this objective, the study adopted multi-stage random sampling technique to collect primary data through the structured questionnaire. A total sample of 1,134 microfinance loan beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries were used as respondents from three states in South- West Nigeria. Descriptive Statistics and Multiple Regression Model were explored to describe the characteristics of the sample for the study and evaluate the impact. The results revealed that microfinance has negligible income effects on the rural poor in Nigeria. To this end, the Government is advised to provide necessary amenities that will encourage MFIs to establish branches in the rural areas; and implement more supportive services like education and training on entrepreneurship and health facilities. MFIs should engage cheap labour available in the rural areas and train them for effective performance and easy penetration to the rural poor.      . Keywords : Development, Poverty, Microfinance Institutions, Income, Nigeria.


Stress Evolution Behavior in CoCrPt Alloy Thin Films with varying Pt Concentration M. - Y. Im, 1 J.-R. Jeong, 2 and S. - C. Shin 3 Center for X-ray Optics, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley CA94720, USA Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom Physics, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon , South Korea CoCrPt alloy thin film is one of the most promising candidates for ultrahigh density magnetic recording media. One of interesting issues for an application of ferromagnetic thin film to high- density magnetic recording media is to investigate growth stress, since stress inevitably generated during thin film fabrication drastically alters magnetic properties as well as mechanical properties due to film fracture and buckling [1]. However, sufficient studies have not been addressed on in situ experimental investigation on stress evolution during film growth of magnetic thin film and its correlation with directly observed film growth structure. We have investigated in situ stress evolution of 400-A (Co 82 Cr 18 ) 100-x Pt x /1100-A Ti alloy films with varying Pt concentration by means of an ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) chamber equipped with a highly sensitive optical deflection-detecting system [2]. Interestingly enough, the stress evolution patterns during the film deposition are remarkably changed with varying the Pt concentration. CoCrPt alloy films with lower Pt concentration ( 6 ≤ x ≤ 13 ) grow through compressive, tensile, and again compressive stress during film deposition, while CoCrPt alloy films with higher Pt concentration (21≤ x ≤ 28 ) develop with compressive and relaxed compressive stress without tensile stress generation. In situ stress-evolution behavior for 400-A (Co 82 Cr 18 ) 100-x Pt x /1100-A Ti alloy films with the Pt concentrations of (a) 6, (b) 13, (c) 21, and (d) 28 at.% are demonstrated in Fig.1. Here, the positive slope corresponds to tensile stress, while the negative slope implies compressive stress. The microstructural studies at the stress transition region reveal that film growth structure plays a major role in considerable change of stress evolution pattern in CoCrPt alloy films with the increase of Pt concentration.


The nuclear and magnetic structures of (Y1-xCax)Ba2Fe3O8+δ with x=0.05, 0.10, and 0.20 have been investigated by neutron-powder diffraction at room temperature. The compound crystallizes with the symmetry of space group P4/mmm and has a structure similar to that of the superconductor YBa2Cu3O7 (1:2:3). There are two types of Fe atoms in the unit cell, one having fivefold pyramidal coordination and the other octahedral coordination. The Ca and Y atoms are randomly distributed over the 1/2,1/2,1/2 position, which are exclusively occupied by Y in the 1:2:3 superconductor. Since the oxygen sites on the basal plane of the structure are fully occupied to achieve octahedral coordination for the iron atoms on this plane, the oxygen content is eight atoms per formula unit, the barium atoms are twelvefold coordinated, and the coordination polyhedron is a cuboctahedron. Extra oxygen atoms corresponding to δ=0.08 and 0.05 are located in the Y/Ca layer. The presence of these atoms produces disorder in the structure resulting in a shift of the oxygen atoms located near the plane of the pyramidal iron atoms. The charge compensation required by the substitution of Y3+ by Ca2+ is achieved in these materials by elimination of the extra oxygen, rather than oxidation of the iron atoms. The magnetic structure is based on a unit cell related to that of the nuclear structure by the transformation of axes (1,-1,0/1,1,0/0,0,2). The magnetic origin of some of the observed diffraction peaks was established by polarized neutron diffraction measurements. As in YBa2Fe3O8, the iron moments are coupled antiferromagnetically within each (FeO2) layer as well as along the c axis of the structure, and they lie in the planes perpendicular to c. The magnetic moments of the two iron atoms are practically identical and have values at room temperature of μ=3.50(3)μB, 3.52(2)μB, and 3.62(2)μB for the three compositions x=0.05, 0.10, and 0.20, respectively.


INTRODUCTION
The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term clinical outcome after computed tomography (CT)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients diagnosed with osteoid osteoma (OO) located in the upper and lower extremities.

METHODS
The study population included 52 patients with a typical clinical history and radiologically confirmed OO who received CT-guided RFA treatment from 1998 to February 2014 at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. The clinical outcome was evaluated based on patient-reported outcome measures and medical record review.

RESULTS
The response rate was 52/60 (87%). Pain relief after the first RFA treatment was found in 46/52 (88%) of the patients and after re-RFA in 51/52 (98%) of the patients. One patient underwent open resection after RFA. No major complications occurred, and four patients reported minor complications in terms of small skin burn, minor skin infection and hypoaesthesia at the entry point. In all, 50 of 52 (96%) patients reported to be "very satisfied" with the RFA treatment.

CONCLUSION
CT-guided RFA is a safe and effective treatment with high patient satisfaction and it provides robust pain relief and improves the patients' quality of life. RFA should be the treatment of choice for most OO.

FUNDING
not relevant.

TRIAL REGISTRATION
The Danish Data Protection Agency approved the project with record number 2007-58-0010.


We report the decay constants of fallen fine (<1 cm in diameter) and coarse ($1 cm) woody debris of the southern beeches lenga (Nothofagus pumilio(Poepp. et Endl.) Krasser), nire (Nothofagus antarctica(Forst.) Oerst.), and guindo (Nothofagus betuloides(Mirb.) Oerst.) in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. The decomposition of small branches (<1 cm) was assessed with the nylon mesh bag technique. A tethered-branch method was used for the decomposition of branches 1-16 cm in diameter of nire and guindo incubated in the field for a period of approximately 4 years. For large lenga branches (8-17 cm) and boles (19-60 cm), we used a chronosequence method, using a 3.5- to 55-year series of natural field incubations. Small lenga branches decayed faster (k =0 .47 ·year -1 ) than those of nire (k =0 .23 ·year -1 ) and guindo (k =0 .17 ·year -1 ). For branches 1 cm, decomposition rates of the species were not significantly different, but diminished with diameter increase. The rate of change of k versus diameter was significantly greater for lenga. In the full range of lenga wood diameters studied, k decreased exponentially with diameter (k =0 .553 ·exp(-0.177·diameter)) attaining a nearly constant value (k =0 .010 ·year -1 ) between 30 and 60 cm. Residence time increased from 2 to 100 years for small branches to large boles, respectively. There was no lag time for decomposition initiation. The decay constants for large lenga branches and boles appeared similar to or slightly greater than those of cold temperate conifers and less than those of hardwoods of the cold and warm temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere. Resume : Cet article traite des constantes de decomposition des debris ligneux tombes au sol, fins (<1 cm de diametre) et grossiers ($1 cm), des lenga (Nothofagus pumilio(Poepp. et Endl.) Krasser), nire (Nothofagus antarctica(Forst.) Oerst.) et guindo (Nothofagus betuloides(Mirb.) Oerst.) a la Terre de Feu, en Argentine. La decomposition des petites branches


The invention provides a maximal attenuation length measuring device of underwater laser imaging equipment. The device comprises a test water tank, a mobile guide rail, an object target installing and orientation adjusting mechanism, an underwater target observation window, a laser range finder, height adjustable castors and a computer, wherein the mobile guide rail is mounted on two longitudinal long sides of the test water tank, the object target installing and orientation adjusting mechanism is in bridge connection to the mobile guide rail, and can move horizontally along the longitudinal direction of the test water tank, underwater target observation window is made of a transparent material, and is mounted at one end of the test water tank, the laser range finder is mounted over the end, with the underwater target observation window, of the test water tank, the castors are mounted under the test water tank, and the computer is positioned in front of the underwater target observation window. The invention also provides a maximal attenuation length measuring method of the underwater laser imaging equipment.


As part of a programme aimed at reducing the environmental impact of the intensive pig industry, the Pig Research and Development Corporation (PRDC) has funded work aimed at quantifying odour emissions from Australian piggery buildings. Previous studies had suggested that the building emission rates are dependent upon such factors as the internal temperature and humidity, the cleanliness of the building, and the age of the building. The methodology developed for estimating the rate of odour emissions from piggery buildings involves the application of a simple continuity equation and requires estimates of the odour concentrations in the air within the building and entering the building along with an estimate of the ventilation rate. Emission rates were measured at eight different piggeries, from a number of buildings of different function, age, design and management Relationships observed between emission rates and the variables of temperature, humidity, shed age and flushing frequency are discussed. The results also suggest that the rates of emissions from modem, well designed and managed piggery buildings are relatively low and that little scope is available to managers to further reduce building emissions.


1. It has previously been shown [by Dobell] that, in cultures of strain K 28c, Entamoeba histolytica could be maintained indefinitely and made to pass through all the stages of its life history. 2. It was also demonstrated that all non-encysting strains of E. histolytica could be induced to encyst in vitro by substituting their concomitant bacterial flora by that of strain K 28c. 3. In order to ascertain what part each constituent of the bacterial flora of K 28c played in the life of E. histolytica, a detailed analysis of this flora was carried out. It was found to comprise eight aerobic organisms (mostly of the B. coli group) and six anaerobes. 4. The properties of individual species and varieties of bacteria were studied by adding them to cultures of the amoebae or by hatching the cysts of E. histolytica in media previously seeded with the bacteria to be tested. 5. With the same end in view two methods were devised for producing simplified strains of E. histolytica associated with from one to four species of bacteria only. By treating the cysts with acriflavine, the mixed flora could be freed of the aerobic organisms, leaving only the spores of the anaerobes. The spore-bearing anaerobes, in their turn, could be eliminated by treatment of the mixture with gentian violet. By using these methods it was possible to produce cultures of 'synthetic' strains of E. histolytica accompanied by any desired combination of bacteria, whose properties it was desired to investigate. 6. The results of the earlier experiments suggested that the essential constituent of the flora of K 28c was B. coli, all varieties of which appeared to promote growth, induce encystation and excystation, and generally favoured the completion of the life-cycle of the amoebae in vitro, whereas the anaerobic bacteria present in the strain appeared to be inactive as regards encystation. 7. However, later experiments have demonstrated conclusively that, although the aerobic bacteria individually induced the cysts of E. histolytica to hatch and supported the growth of the amoebae indefinitely, only one species—the anaerobe N5—was capable of promoting encystation. As regards the aerobic bacteria, their chief role is to provide the anaerobic conditions necessary for the growth of the amoebae with N5 in culture.


Regular physical exercises enhance overall health and wellbeing. Children who are physically educated are more likely to become and remain active specifically having basic information regarding exercise and benefits of exercise as well as mastering sets of basic environment skills that are essential to a child's initiating and continuing a regular exercise program. Individuals will not participate in activities they do not know how to do reasonably well. Researchers have identified a child's movement's competence and enjoyment of physical activity as primary factors in how physically active an individual is during childhood and adolescence. The purpose of the study was to analyze the relationship of body mass index to AAHPER fitness test scores in school children aged 10 -14 years. The participants of the study were randomly selected 200 children from Trivandrum district, age ranging between 10 to 14 years.


In the present report the author presents a simple and systematically defined formula for the fine structure constant based only on the number $\pi$. The difference between the suggested value and the currently known experimental one is about 60 times smaller than the uncertainty interval.


A significant commercial opportunity exists for MEMS in the form of a silicon spatial light modulator (SLM) suitable for both digital display and digital printing applications. The Digital Micromirror Device/sup TM/ (DMD/sup TM/) SLM has been under development at Texas Instruments since 1987, and is the core component of TI's Digital Light Processing/sup TM/ (DLP/sup TM/) businesses. This paper covers the benefits of DLP in digital color printers capable of producing "photorealistic" quality on plain paper, quickly and inexpensively.


Aeration-based electrochemical systems to produce H2O2 face two major challenges: O2 mass transfer limitation and low utilization efficiency of sparged oxygen. To mitigate these problems, a Janus e...


Unlike the traditional fabrication of distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) structure via atomic layer deposition or spin-coating, here the 1–6 pairs of magnesium fluoride (MgF2)/zinc sulfide (ZnS) alternative dielectric layers were grown via thermal evaporation. The absorption, transmission, reflection, and photoluminescence (PL) spectra were evaluated. 5 pair MgF2/ZnS denotes the largest reflectance (88.5% at 535 nm) together with a stopband at 450–650 nm among the 1– 6 pair dielectric layers, exhibiting the potential for using as DBR. Relative to the bare 4,4'-bis(carbazol-9-yl)biphenyl(CBP):(4s,6s)−2,4,5,6-tetra(9H-carbazol-9-yl) isophthalonitrile (4CzIPN) film, the PL intensity of CBP:4CzIPN/5 pair MgF2/ZnS DBR is enhanced and splitted into two peaks. The 5 pair alternative dielectric film presents more uniform aggregation over 4 pair MgF2/ZnS. The cross-sectional scanning electron microscopic image denotes explicit layering for the MgF2 and ZnS. The organic light-emitting diode (OLED) incorporating 5 pair MgF2/ZnS DBR layers illustrates significantly improved electroluminescent (EL) performance due to the photons concentrated in the direction perpendicular to the DBR. The slightly narrowed EL spectrum is originated from the microcavity effect between the two Al electrodes. Here we develop a universal method for the DBR fabrication suitable to most of OLEDs.


To address SNJV concerns that fluoride in Nevada Test site (NTS) groundwaters may impact radionuclide speciation and transport, NTS water quality databases were obtained and scanned for analyses with high fluoride concentrations (> 10 mg/L). The aqueous speciation of nine representative samples of these groundwaters with added trace amounts of uranium (U), neptunium (Np), plutonium (Pu), americium (Am) and europium (Eu) was then calculated with the computer code EQ3NR assuming a temperature of 25 C, using currently available thermodynamic data for these species. Under conditions where U(VI), Np(V), Pu(IV), Am(III) and Eu(III) dominate, F complexes are insignificant ( 50 mg/L). The objective is to evaluate the extent to which fluoride in NTS groundwaters complex U(VI), Np(V), Pu(IV), Am(III) and Eu(III). The approach used is to screen existing databases of groundwater chemistry at NTS for waters with high fluoride concentrations and calculate the extent to which fluoride complexes with the nuclides of interest in these waters.


We synthesized barium-substituted sodium bismuth titanates, (Na 0.5 Bi 0.5-z ) 1-x Ba x TiO 3-d , without a Bi deficiency ( z = 0) and with a Bi deficiency of z = 0.03 by the polymerizable complex method while preventing sodium and bismuth from evaporating. The maximum dielectric constant on the samples without a Bi deficiency ( z = 0) was located around a Ba content of x = 0.10. On the other hand, the samples with a Bi deficiency of z = 0.03 indicated the maximum value of dielectric constant at approximately a Ba content of x = 0.06. These Ba contents were consistent with the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) on each sample with the different Bi deficiencies.


Worldwide studies have been done about the toxicity and carcinogenicity of asbestos minerals occurring in ophiolitic rocks. Inhalation of asbestos due to environmental exposure could cause malignant mesothelioma and lung cancers. In particular, the ophiolitic rocks in Tethyan realm represents a serious enivironmental concern due to both the presence of asbestos-like minerals and the large Cr abundance that is prone to solubilisation as CrVI. At the Pollino Geopark (southern Apennines, Italy), serpentinites-rich ophiolite rocks and sediments of the Frido Unit crop-out. In these rocks, tremolite, an asbestos-like mineral, is typically intergrown with fibrous antigorite and chrysotile. Tremolite shows acicular, friable, fibrous, and elongated habitus, can be easily released into the environment as a result of both natural processes and anthropogenic activities. In the analyzed rocks, tremolite is present mainly in veins as much as in the matrix and forms crowns around clinopyroxene porphyroclasts. The different analytical techniques showed the recognition of the amphibole-like minerals (actinolite and tremolite) that are the dominant phases, with a small percentage of Fe2+. The presence of Fe in the "ideal" tremolite asbestos could cause pathological effects for the human living in the Pollino Geopark. This study has several environmental relevant implications, including, for example, the realization of national health protecting programs and the mapping of natural sites characterized by the presence of asbestos minerals in Pollino Geopark and in others area where outcrop asbestos bearing ophiolitic rocks.


The goal of this three-year project was to provide a quantitative definition of reservoir heterogeneity. This objective was accomplished through the integration of geologic, geophysical, and engineering databases into a multi-disciplinary understanding of reservoir architecture and associated fluid-rock and fluid-fluid interactions. This interdisciplinary effort integrated geological and geophysical data with engineering and petrophysical results through reservoir simulation to quantify reservoir architecture and the dynamics of fluid-rock and fluid-fluid interactions. An improved reservoir description allows greater accuracy and confidence during simulation and modeling as steps toward gaining greater recovery efficiency from existing reservoirs. A field laboratory, the Sulimar Queen Unit, was available for the field research. Several members of the PRRC staff participated in the development of improved reservoir description by integration of the field and laboratory data as well as in the development of quantitative reservoir models to aid performance predictions. Subcontractors from Stanford University and the University of Texas at Austin (UT) collaborated in the research and participated in the design and interpretation of field tests. The three-year project was initiated in September 1993 and led to the development and application of various reservoir description methodologies. A new approach for visualizing production data graphically was developed and implemented on the Internet. Using production data and old gamma rays logs, a black oil reservoir model that honors both primary and secondary performance was developed. The old gamma ray logs were used after applying a resealing technique, which was crucial for the success of the project. In addition to the gamma ray logs, the development of the reservoir model benefitted from an inverse Drill Stem Test (DST) technique which provided initial estimates of the reservoir permeability at different wells.


As part of ongoing studies concerning the Atlantic hake (Merluccius merluccius) deep-water fisheries in the Algarve (Southern Portugal), experimental fishing was carried out during the summer of 1998, with monofilament gill nets and semi-pelagic long-lines, within the same area on the upper continental slope. Both set gears caught large sized hake, with no catch consisting of illegal sized fish (under 27 cm of total length). Both fishing gears used in the study caught hake in a wide range of sizes, resulting in highly overlapped catch size frequency distributions. Significant differences were found between the catch size frequencies of the two gears. The results of the hook selectivity trials showed that there were no differences in size selectivity due to hook size, even though the range of hook sizes used was considerable. The mean total lengths found were 45.6 cm (n=369, SD=4.98), 45.6 cm (n=353, SD=4.71), 44.1 cm (n=289, SD=4.61) and 45.3 cm (n=247, SD=4.97) for SIAPAL brand hooks numbers 10, 9, 7 and 5, respectively. For the gill nets hake mean size increased with mesh size even though a significant proportion of the hake were caught by entanglement, independently of their body size and the mesh size used. The mean total lengths found were 41.1 cm (n=422, SD=5.64), 44.9 cm (n=278, SD=7.00) and 46.5 cm (n=202, SD=7.28) for the 70, 80 and 90 mm stretched mesh sizes, respectively.


Investigations of the functions cited in the title were performed in 23 persons with a normal visual system in conditions of equal illumination, first the glow and the next day or later--the sodium one. All the tests were carried out three times in the morning hours evaluating in this way their dynamics as the time goes. The authors are analyzing the degree of the variability of the discussed functions in the time, as well as their behaviour in conditions of applied illumination. The results obtained suggest that in conditions of illumination by a high-pressure sodium lamp no negative characteristics of this source of light emerged. Deterioration of a small degree was observed only in the range of accommodation for near.


The present study was conducted on 16 fresh cats' hind paws to investigate the anatomical description of the arterial blood supply at the level below the tarsus, which considered as the potential site for intra- operation hemorrhage and thrombus formation. Six cat hind paws with intravascular latex injection, four limbs for surgical approach and three cats used in Duplex ultrasonography technique as a tool for estimating the diameter of the arteries of hind paw of potentially clinical relevant. This work reported that, the hind paw of the cat was supplied by branches from the saphenous A. and the cranial tibial A. Both dorsal and planter aspects of the paw was supplied by superficial and deep sets of arteries; the superficial set consists of the common digital arteries II, III and IV While, the deep set was formed of the metatarsal arteries II, III and IV.


An analysis of experimental investigation focused on microbial pollution of heated was carried out for heating systems installed in different types of buildings as residential houses and civil buildings. The results point on importance of maintenance and cleaning the heating systems for quality of indoor air and occupants' comfort. Keywords— building environment, indoor comfort, heating systems, microbial analysis.


Today's globalisation trends require the workforce to be equipped, adept and enhanced with skills of the 21st century. Classroom teachers face the challenges of fusing their knowledge, experience and other abilities to help their students utilise learning and skills that will deem applicable to their future life. This paper presents the proceedings of the seminar-workshop [Strengthening English Language Teaching and Learning in VTET Institutions and Other Schools] held in July 2009 gathering 50 participant-teachers from the [vocational and technical education and training] VTET institutions and other schools from the government and private sectors in Brunei Darussalam. The programme focused on strengthening teaching and learning of the English language. It included presentations of the four topics shared highlighting: (1) current trends and methodologies in teaching-learning English; (2) professionalism and quality of teachers; (3) ICT lessons for English; and (4) survey results on the teaching and learning of English in the VTET Schools in the country. During the workshop, there were sessions of question and answer, group discussions and sharing of experiences. Evaluations of the seminar-workshop showed the applicability of the lectures to their teaching profession and the chance to gain insights of new ideas on teaching. The teachers also mentioned that they had acquired information on the status of English language teaching in the VTET schools. Some recommendations suggested were: a focus more on writing, a much longer, like a week-long seminar workshop, and tangible materials, books to buy, etc. A general recommendation of the workshop is to organise another related event in the future.


Richard V. Olsen is an environmental psychologist and heads The Environments for Health Care and Aging section at the Architecture and Building Science Group, School of Architecture, New Jersey Institute of Technology. Dr. Olsen specializes in analyzing the environmental needs of special populations, including the cognitively, emotionally, and physically frail. He was the principal investigator on a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which funded the present research. He is also a principal investigator on a dementia day-care study funded by the Alzheimer's Association and on analysis of group-home environments funded by the New Jersey Developmental Disabilities Council. Dr. Olsen also has a design consultation practice in New York City. Ezra Ehrenkrantz holds the sponsored chair in Architecture and Building Science, School of Architecture, New Jersey Institute of Technology. Mr. Ehrenkrantz has a long history in analyzing user requirements and translating them into the design of health, education, and housing facilities. He was recently awarded the Medal of Honor from the New York chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Mr. Ehrenkrantz is also a principal in Ehrenkrantz & Eckstut, an architectural firm in New York City. Barbara Hutchings is a research associate at the Architecture and Building Science Group, School of Architecture, NewJersey Institute of Technology. She also specializes in analyzing the design needs of special user groups, including people with dementia and people with developmental disabilities. Ms. Hutchings was a research assistant on the present study.


A sensitive and reliable method is described for the simultaneous determination of twenty airborne carbonyl compounds in the C1~C10 range.The carbonyls were collected onto solid sorbent(Tenax TA)coated with pentafluorophenyl hydrazine(PFPH),followed by solvent extraction and gas chromatography /mass spectrometry(GC/MS)analysis of the PFPH derivatives.The determination coefficients of the calibration curves(R2)were 0.995~1.00,the limits of detection(LOD)were in the range of 0.15~1.04 ng·m-3,with relative standard deviations of duplicates(n=6)of 7.3%~15.8% and the recoveries were 92.7%~109.2%.The method was successfully applied to the quantitative analysis of carbonyl compounds in ambient air samples.The diurnal variation of carbonyl compounds indicated close relationships between the carbonyl concentrations and the tropospheric photochemical reactions in the Shanghai atmosphere.


Network structure of data center is the basis of data center,Network structure is in relation to the network configuration,per formance,management and maintenance of the data center,etc.This paper points out the lack of the traditional network structure of data center and make a analysis and comparison of several current network structure that the mainstream data centers have adopted.And intro duces the demands and characteristics with the network structure of virtualized multi-tenant datacenters in cloud computing environment.Last,makes a forecast of the future and evolution of the structure of data center network.


We propose a new time-reversal scheme for optical pulses which overcomes the limitations of exisitng schems. We demonstrate highly efficient and broadband reversal of pulses of 100 fs and 10 ps duration.


The socio-economic profile of the respondents is based on a baseline survey conducted among the selected residential units across the universe of study. The survey consisted of 1185 households from different housing categories (see table 2.2) and provides a comprehensive profile of the larger community. However, focused analysis in the rest of the chapters refers to the information gathered from the sample respondents.


The thermoelectric power of single crystals of pure NaCl and of SrCl2‐doped NaCl was measured in the temperature range 550°–755°C using Pt electrodes and a nitrogen atmosphere. The results for the pure crystals differ significantly from previous measurements on polycrystalline material. Current theories of the heterogeneous thermoelectric power do not adequately describe the results. Part, but probably not all, of this discrepancy may be due to errors in transport numbers used, which were calculated from diffusion data. The thermoelectric power of pure NaCl is decreased by heating the crystals in oxygen‐containing nitrogen.


Objective To improve the pretreatment methods and optimal conditions. Methods Sophora alopecuroides seeds powder were soaked for 3 hours with 10% NaOH solution.The extract was extracted with 1:8 of n-butyl alcohol and chloroform mixed solvent. Results The average recovery was 95.82%,and RSD was less than 4%. Conclusion The modified method can abate emulsification and improve extractive rate of total alkaloids in sophora alopecuroides.


Abstract Low input production systems operate on long term values of supporting stable livestock production through efficient and sustainable combination of various production resources to achieve the desired production objectives. Strategies of goat breeding in low-input systems that emphasize on more robustness are a challenge now more than ever, owing to global environmental changes. These changes have exacerbated environmental heterogeneity, low feed availability and varied stresses that these systems are exposed to due to drastic variation in weather conditions, epidemic pressures, and feed availability, among others. Therefore to improve robustness, breeding should aim at increasing versatility of the goats to the changing environments. Characteristics of goats that enhance robustness are influenced by a range of biological mechanisms which are not exhaustively explored to be able to optimise breeding programs for low- input systems. The targeted quantitative traits are complex and influenced by many genes as well as the environment. Performance in low-input goat production systems is influenced by largely varying environmental conditions. Therefore, G x E interaction is envisaged. Most modern breeding technologies that can be used to improve intrinsic robustness have received little utility in low input production systems. For instance genomic selection, a high through put tool for genetic improvement of complex traits and reproductive technologies that facilitate rapid dissemination of superior genetics have achieved low utility in these systems. While these technologies may not have out rightly been outlawed, values espoused in low input production systems limit their use. It is therefore important that the concept of system values is discussed in view of incorporating modern technologies of animal breeding in these systems.


Objective To discuss the value of the standard pterional approach for the anterior circulation aneurysms. Methods 46 patients with the anterior circulation aneurysms were treated via standard pterional approach. Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) was conducted to evaluate surgical outcome. Results Aneurysms were clipped in 43 cases, wrapped in 2 cases, and embolized in 1 case respectively. 45 patients gained good recovery except for 1 patient who was preoperative H-H Ⅳ grade and underwent severe disability postoperatively. No patient died of operation. Conclusion The standard pterional approach can provide optimal exposure of the aneurysm and surrounding vital structures along with minimal invasiveness.


Estimation of groundwater recharge from rainfall is a key factor for determining groundwater resources in water development and management for supporting sustainable socio-economic development, especially for arid areas. The paper presents finite element modeling in the simulation of moisture transfer in unsaturated soils through the relationship between soil moisture, soil suction, unsaturated permeability and soil-moisture dispersivity. Those parameters required for soil moisture transfer are derived from the soil-water characteristic curve functions. Element sizes and time steps used in the modelling have been selected based on a detailed analysis of numerical simulation errors. The methodology had been applied to arid coastal plain area of Ninh Thuan province, Vietnam. Five subsurface soil types in the study area have been collected and analyzed, for saturated permeability, porosity, saturated soil water content, field moisture content, etc. Hourly rainfall data of the years 2014–2018 have been analyzed and grouped into different-duration rainfall events (1-hour, 2-hour, 3-hour and so on). The different rainfall durations and depths of rainfall events and temporal infiltration determined by the moisture transfer modelling have allowed determining the groundwater recharge from the rainfall data. The results show that during the rainy months from May to December 2014–2018, the groundwater recharge from the rainfall is very varying through the modeled soil profiles, from 0.280 m (silty clay) to 0.470 m (sandy silt), which is equivalent to 33.3%—55.2% of the rainfall depth during May—December. Lower infiltration in silty clay is due to low permeability and in the sand is due to low suction, and higher infiltration in silt and sandy silt is thanks to their higher moisture dispersivity. On average, in terms of annual rainfall and soil properties, the average infiltration during May—December is 0.380 m which is equivalent to 44.9% of the rainfall depth, which is about 289 106 m3 of rainwater infiltrated into the Quaternary aquifer over 760 km2 of the coastal plain of Ninh Thuan province. The results would be very useful for effective water resources development and management in a given specific hydrogeological condition for such a severe drought area where water is extremely essential.


The article analyzes the character of deification of Queens of the New Kingdom on the basis of their official representation in Egyptian pictorial and textual evidence. In order to reveal the nature of the deification of Queens and the essence of their theological role as a whole, the article discusses specific methods and features of assimilation of Queens with the goddesses. (first of all, goddesses Hathor, Isis, Maat, Mut, Nekhbet) or goddess of the solar-Eye (Hathor/Tefnut). By "deification" the author means endowing a Queen with the features of a goddess, and two aspects of this phenomenon are distinguished: the deification of living and dead Queens. The focus of the present study is only the deification of living Queens. The author puts the trend to assimilate them with goddesses in close relationship with the evolution of the ideology of royal power and the so-called "solarization" of the image of the ruling king, which reached its maximal expression under Amenhotep III and Ramses II (the period of Akhenaten's reign which deserves a special study was deliberately omitted).
     The bulk of the evidence for this trend is provided by pictorial sources, and in particular, the individual iconography of Queens. The study of the selection of sources allows drawing a fundamental conclusion that there were undoubtedly various semantic parallels between the Queens and the principal goddesses of the Egyptian pantheon. Nevertheless, the assimilation of Queens with the goddesses, with some exceptions, did not reach a level of complete identification with the latter, and these parallels themselves were drawn mainly means of iconography, and not laudatory phraseology.


A model of three qubit quantum logical gate of conditional double controlled phase shift is suggested. Quantum unit of information qubit is encoded by polarization state of quantum mode of optical cavity. A conditional operator which acts on a field states is obtained. It is shown that this operator works as required phase transformation under the certain conditions with high possibility.


Conformal radiotherapy helps to deliver an accurate and effective cancer treatment by exactly targeting the tumor. In this purpose, softwares of the treatment planning system (TPS) compute every geometric parameters of the treatment. It is essential to control the quality of them because the TPS performances are directly connected with the precision on the treated region. The standard method to control them is to use physical test objects (PTOs).1, 2 The use of PTOs introduces uncertainties in the quality assessment because of the CT scan. Another method to assess the quality of these softwares is to use digital test objects (DTOs).3-5 DTOs are exactly known in a continuous and a discrete way. Thus the assessment of the TPS quality can be more accurate and faster. The fact that the DTO characteristics are well known allows to calculate a theoretical result. The comparison of the TPS and this theoretical results leads to a quantitative assessment of the TPS softwares quality. This work presents the control of major quality criteria of digitally reconstructed radiograph (DRR) computation: ray divergence, ray incidence and spatial resolution. Fully automated methods to control these points have been developed. The same criteria have been tested with PTO and the quality assessments by the two methods have been compared. The DTO methods appeared to be much more accurate because computable.


A comprehensive data system on site planning for new residential projects has been devised, featuring a numerical scale from 1 to 10, covering all intensities of land use. The data system and land-use intensity (LUI) scale define: (1) The total floor area of a project in relation to total land area; (2) the minimum open space, outdoor livability space, and recreation space, in relation to the total floor area; and (3) the minimum amount of automobile parking for project occupants, and for guests and service vehicles. The system and scale provide a more meaningful measurement method than density and coverage, yet avoid design rigidity. They encourage good design without stifling creative effort. The Federal Housing Administration uses the LUI scale in analyzing applications for mortgage insurance on new multifamily housing projects, cluster subdivisions, and planned-unit developments. Cities and counties are using the LUI scale and its site-planning data in zoning and subdivision regulations.


This paper summarizes the characteristics of principal coal conversion technologies and their potential for supply of energy in the form of "clean" liquids and gases. Coal conversion as used in the context of this presentation means the transformation of coal from its solid form to a liquid, gaseous, or low-ash solid product which will meet environmental standards. In the caseof high-sulfur coal, the conversion process will reduce sulfur content of the product to a satisfactory level. These coal-derived products represent key candidates for future energy supply from indigenous resources; the achievement of the goal of development of a viable commercial industry has become a national objective.


The author investigates the application of radiation boundary conditions to two-dimensional scattering by a homogeneous penetrable cylinder. The second-order radiation boundary operator proposed by G.A. Kriegsmann et al. (1987) is applied on a conformal outer boundary enclosing the object. By taking the specific case of a lossless circular cylinder for which the exact solution exists it is shown that the on-surface radiation condition (OSRC) method does not necessarily yield accurate results for all values of material constants. Highly erroneous results are produced for certain values of permittivity and permeability, while acceptable results can be obtained for others. The author suggests that the cause of these erroneous results is related directly to the error in the reactive portion of the complex scattered power. However, as the outer boundary of the radiation condition recedes away from the object contour, the error is shown to diminish. Numerical results are presented for the bistatic echo width for both transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) polarizations. >


A school nursing leader is warning of safeguarding and mental health issues for children as they return to school School and Public Health Nurses Association (SAPHNA) chief executive Sharon White also advised school nurses to take care of themselves and their colleagues


Zinc phosphide which has been used as a rodenticide was proved to be highly effective in antifouling from the 24 months sea-water immersion test. In the present investigation, various kinds of antifouling paints containing zinc phosphide as a toxic agent were tested and the optimum composition was clarified. The results are summarized as follows. 1. Zinc phosphide added as a toxic agent showed an excellent effect when its content exceeded 66% of the total pigment content. The antifouling effect was also excellent when any one of PMA, DDT, Cu2O and HgO was mixed by 10% for zinc phosphide. 2. As vehicles of antifouling paints, varnishes made of rosin, coaltar, fish oils brought better antifouling effects than those from ester-gum, tung oil, linseed oil. Vinylite as a vehicle showed an excellent antifouling effect, when it was mixed with rosin by 1: 1. 3. From the comparative examination of the test sample of antifouling paints containing zinc phosphide with that of the MIL specification of the United States for a 24 months navigation, the present test samples of antifouling paints were confirmed to be excellent in practical uses.


The invention provides a multielectrode gas-shield arc welding method and a multielectrode gas-shield arc welding device. A welding pass can be good in appearance, the shape of the welding pass is prevented from deforming and the stability of a fusing metal accummulating portion can be achieved even if high-efficiency welding by three electrodes is performed. The multielectrode gas-shield arc welding method is a method using the multielectrode gas-shield arc welding device (S) which comprises a first electrode (11), a follow-up electrode (21) and a central electrode (31) between the first electrode (11) and the follow-up electrode (21). The multielectrode gas-shield arc welding methos is characterized in that the distance between the first electrode (11) and the follow-up electrode (21) is set to be 15mm to 50mm, direct currents with reversed polarities flow across the first electrode (11) and the follow-up electrode (21), and alternate currents with the fixed current characteristics or decreasing characteristics are made to flow across the central electrode (31) for welding.


Gender mainstreaming in peace and security is informed by a clear mandate and a rich policy context. These derive from both the global agenda for peace and security and the women's rights and gender mainstreaming agenda, articulated by the intergovernmental community at the Beijing Conference (1995). The principle instruments of this policy context are The United Nations (UN) Charter (1947), which governs all UN activity and specifically gives attention to the equal rights of men and women; UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (2000); and The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (1979). CEDAW is a comprehensive treaty and, as such, its provisions must be reflected in the constitutions and legislations of state parties, and hence are legally enforceable. Other policy instruments include The Beijing Platform for Action (1995); The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Agreed Conclusions on Gender Mainstreaming (1997); the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) Under Secretary-General's Policy Note on Gender Mainstreaming (2005); and the DPKO Policy Directive on Gender Mainstreaming (2006), among others.


We study boundary value problems with measure data in smooth bounded domains $\Omega$, for semilinear equations involving Hardy type potentials. Specifically we consider problems of the form $-L_V u + f(u) = \tau$ in $\Omega$ and $\mathrm{tr}^*u=\nu$ on $\partial \Omega$, where $L_V= \Delta+V$, $f\in C(\mathbb{R})$ is monotone increasing with $f(0)=0$ and $\mathrm{tr}^*u$ denotes the normalized boundary trace of $u$ associated with $L_V$. The potential $V$ is typically a H\"older continuous function in $\Omega$ that explodes as $\mathrm{dist}(x,F)^{-2}$ for some $F \subset \partial \Omega$. In general the above boundary value problem may not have a solution. We are interested in questions related to the concept of 'reduced measures', introduced by Brezis, Marcus and Ponce for $V=0$. For positive measures, the reduced measures $\tau^*, \nu^*$ are the largest measures dominated by $\tau$ and $\nu$ respectively such that the boundary value problem with data $(\tau^*,\nu^*)$ has a solution. Our results extend results for the case $V=0$, including a relaxation of the conditions on $f$. In the case of signed measures, some of the present results are new even for $V=0$.


A procedure for evaluation of fatigue damage in steel superstructures of gravity offshore platforms is presented. The finite element method is used consistently for the establishment of the superstructure's stiffness as well as for the local stress distribution. The long-term stress range distribution is provided through the use of spectral analysis, and fatigue damage estimated by using the Palmgren-Miner's summation hypothesis. A structural analysis program based on the finite element method and a program for stochastic response analysis are developed for the above purpose. They are made to work together consistently, and may handle problems of considerable size. A typical North Sea platform of the CONDEEP design has been realistically modelled, and fatigue estimates computed with reasonable computer expenditures. The sensitivity of the results with respect to the modelling of the problem, as well as to the variation of important physical parameters, are demonstrated.


The article is addressed first to the community of professionals in the area of Vocational Education and Training (VET), companies and their representatives, who seek for mutually beneficial formats of cooperation with educational institutions. It seeks to understand the situation in which the training results are applied and investigates the current needs of the market, considering the technological changes that demand new professional competences for the innovation of educational services. To do so, it analyzes projects applied by the methodology of a Russian educational institution.


Compared to classical linear and planar arrays,conformal array antennas possess some potential advantages including reduction of aerodynamic drag,wide angle coverage,space-saving,potential increase in available aperture,reduction of radar cross section, elimination of radome-induced bore-sight error and so on.They will find their promising applications in a variety of fields ranging from space-borne,airborne,ship-borne,missile-borne radar,space vehicles and wireless communications to sonar,etc.However,conformal array antennas integrated onto aircrafts and some other supporting structures are usually subjected to static deformations and vibrations caused by inertial forces and aerodynamic loads.Furthermore,its position errors and orientations of the elements are time varying due to the platform' s mechanical vibrations.As a result the performance of high-resolution direction finding algorithms such as MUSIC degrades severely.So this makes it essential to design robust DOA estimation and position errors calibration algorithm taking into account the influence of deformations and vibrations for such kind of conformal array antennas.This paper presents a robust direction finding and position errors calibration algorithm for conformal array antennas with time varying position errors.To obtain the modified time varying steering vector,mathematical model of vibrations for conformal linear array is given beforehand.The MUSIC spectrum is calculated with the time varying steering vector within a vibrating periodicity.By searching the peaks of the two dimensional(2-D) MUSIC spectrum,the ambiguous initial value of time in the mathematical model of vibration are estimated together with the DOAs.To resolve the ambiguity of initial value of time estimation,repeat the previous process with the snapshots data sampled after a very short time interval. Accordingly the time varying position errors of the elements can be predicted with the mathematical model of vibration and calibrated as well.Computer simulation demonstrates that the proposed algorithm is effective.


We investigate a magnetic proximity effect on Dirac surface states of topological insulator (TI) induced by a Bi$_2$Se$_3$/EuS interface, using density-functional theory (DFT) and a low-energy effective model, motivated by a recent experimental realization of the interface. We consider a thin ferromagnetic insulator EuS film stacked on top of Bi$_2$Se$_3$(111) slabs of three or five quintuple layers (QLs) with the magnetization of EuS normal to the interface ($z$ axis), which breaks both time-reversal and inversion symmetry. It is found that a charge transfer and surface relaxation makes the Dirac cones electron-doped. For both 3 and 5 QLs, the top-surface Dirac cone has an energy gap of 9 meV, while the bottom surface Dirac cone remains gapless. This feature is due to the short-ranged induced magnetic moment of the EuS film. For the 5 QLs, an additional Dirac cone with an energy gap of 2 meV is formed right below the bottom-surface Dirac point, while for 3 QLs, there is no additional Dirac cone. We also examine the spin-orbital texture of the Dirac surface states with broken inversion symmetry, using DFT and the effective model. We find that the $p_z$ orbital is coupled to the $z$ component of the spin moment in the opposite sign to the $p_x$ and $p_y$ orbitals. The $p_z$ and radial $p$ orbitals are coupled to the in-plane spin texture in the opposite handedness to the tangential $p$ orbital. The result obtained from the effective model agrees with our DFT calculations. The calculated spin-orbital texture may be tested from spin-polarized angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy.


Objective To establish a cell line from a spontaneous breast tumor in a rat,and to characterize this cell line.Methods Tumor cells were isolated form a spontaneous breast tumor in a Wistar rat and cultured,and the growth curve,morphology of the cultured cells,chromosome abnormalities,expression of PCK,and colony formation in soft agar were determined.The established cell line was named ZHL2006.ZHL2006 cells were inoculated into nude mice,and the formed tumor was examined by histopathology.Results The ZHL2006 cells grew fast in vitro and the population doubling time was 43.6 h.Microvilli on cell surface,remarkably irregular nuclei,prominent nucleoli,and high nucleocytoplasmic ratio were seen under the transmission electron microscope,and chromosome number and structure were abnormal with malignant cell characteristics.Positive PCK staining showed that the tumor cells were originated from epithelial cells but not matrix.The ZHL2006 cells could form colony in soft agar and had tumorigenicity in nude mice.After long-term in vitro cultivation the cells became immortalized with conspicuous malignant cell phenotype.The success rate of tumor formation after inoculation in nude mice was 6/10,and the morphology of tumor cells were similar to that of original tumor.Conclusion A breast tumor cell line ZHL2006 has been successfully established,showing typical characteristics of malignancy and can be inoculated and to form transplanted tumors in nude mice.


A new method of focused crawling is presented. A diagram of topic levels is built using the concept tree. URL objects to be crawled are endowed with semantic information about topic levels by the diagram and selected according to the semantic relevance and importance. It searches only the important subset of the WWW that pertains to a specific topic of semantic relevance


This study examined differences in neonatal mortality (NM) among Hindus and Muslims religious differences in NM due to tetanus differences between project and comparison areas and socioeconomic effects in Bangladesh. Data were obtained from the ICDDRB Matlab database among all live births and deaths in 1983-84 linked to 1982 Census data. The sample included 7304 live births and 474 neonatal deaths in both the MCH-FP and comparison areas. Findings indicate that NM was lower in the MCH-FP area for all the covariates. Differences were significant among mothers with higher socioeconomic status (SES) in households with larger living space with more schooling with a higher number of living children and Muslim. NM was higher among infants with mothers of lower SES with smaller dwelling space with lack of mothers schooling with fewer living children and with infant male sex. Among Hindus in the MCH-FP area differences in NM were significantly lower among infants living in a larger dwelling space with some schooling among mothers and with a higher number of siblings. NM for all covariates was higher among Hindus than among Muslims. Muslims in the MCH-FP area had lower NM among infants with higher SES larger dwelling space some schooling of mothers greater number of living siblings and infant female sex. Neonatal tetanus was almost twice as high among Hindus. Risk of death was higher for younger and older mothers and the expected sociodemographic variables.


In order to use de-trapped interfacial charge as a performance parameter for diagnosis, it is necessary to reduce the influence of insulation geometry. Available literature shows that this can be done by considering dc insulation resistance $\pmb{R}_{0}$ as the normalization factor. Such normalization may not be always practically feasible as information regarding $\pmb{R}_{0}$ requires measurement of temperature sensitive low amplitude current. In this paper it is shown that geometric capacitance $\pmb{C}_{0}$ (instead of $\pmb{R}_{0})$) can be used as an effective normalization parameter to reduce effect of insulation geometry. Effect of normalizing freed interfacial charge using $\pmb{C}_{0}$ and $\pmb{R}_{0}$ and its subsequent effect on insulation diagnosis are presented in this paper.


The detection of female-released species-specific sex pheromones in moths is mediated by the pheromone receptors that are expressed in the sensory neurons in the olfactory sensilla of conspecific male antennae. Since the pioneering studies on the tobacco budworm Heliothis virescens and the silkworm Bombyx mori a decade ago, genes encoding pheromone receptors have been identified from a number of moth species. Pheromone receptor genes constitute a specialized olfactory receptor subfamily that shares sequence homology. In most cases the pheromone receptor genes are more abundantly expressed in male antennae, and the expression is confined to the neurons in the long sensilla trichodea, which are responsible for pheromone sensing. Both highly specific and more broadly tuned pheromone receptors have been described in various moth species. We review the advances in moth pheromone receptor studies over the past decade, including the methods used in receptor gene isolation and functional characterization, the different ligand profiles of the identified receptors, and the evolution of this multigene family.


This study aimed to evaluate the process of silk dyeing with the extract of eucalyptus leaves. pH, temperature, initial extract concentration was investigated. The initial extract concentration of 20 g L-1, pH 3 and temperature of 90 °C were the conditions which yielded the best results from dyeing. The pseudo-second order model was the one that best represented the kinetic mechanism of dyeing, indicating that chemisorption was the main mechanism involved. The equilibrium data were adjusted to the Langmuir-Freundlich model indicating significant contribution from the chemisorption process. Dyeing with the extract of eucalyptus leaves is a spontaneous and endothermic process with a high degree of disorder. The notes washing fastness of dyed fabrics were 3-4 for the color change and 4 for staining on cotton and wool.


On September 4, CLW published a report on the myriad labor abuses at 6 Samsung-owned and 2 supplier factories in China. Samsung responded to this report on September 7 , claiming that "We are in full compliance with all laws related to child labor, forced labor and workplace discrimination." And in an earlier statement, Samsung said "Samsung abides by all labor and human right laws in each region it operates". These statements are simply not true.


Ionosphere occultation inversion technique is an important means of the ionosphere exploration. Researches on its accuracy and anti-disturbance performance contribute to improve the retrieval results, which is also useful to assess the applied conditions of different methods. In this paper, we firstly analyses three kinds of inversion methods for the electron density in detail, including the Abel integral method, the "Onion-layered" method and the least squares method. Then, we put forward a smoothing way by averaging three fitting functions with weights for the upper ionosphere. Eventually we discuss the retrieved accuracy and anti-disturbance performance of the inversion methods. And numerical simulations based on the calibrated TEC data of COSMIC are carried out. In conclusion, the retrieved accuracy of upper electron density significantly improves after the smooth, which verifies its effectiveness. In addition, the retrieved accuracy by "Onion-layered" method is better than by the least squares method. But when the input disturbances present, the latter behaves better.


Anion-conducting solid alkaline inorganic fuels cell was developed. This fuel cell could be operated at high temperature of 110oC. NaCo2O4 showed OH- conduction and activity for oxygen reduction reaction. The Fe-Co-Ni alloy catalyst prepared in this experiment showed activity not only for hydrogen oxidation reaction but also for ethanol oxidation reaction. Completely precious metal-free fuel cell composed of NaCo2O4 and Fe-Co-Ni cell was made. The cell generated a high output power density of 64 mW/cm2 directly from ethanol at current density of 160 mA/cm2.


The reactivity studies of stable silylenes with organo isothiocyanates are so far not reported. In this manuscript we describe for the first time the reaction of the stable silylene LSiNPh2 (1) [L = PhC(NtBu)2] with PhNCS to yield the silathione LSi(S)NPh2 (2), with elimination of PhNC. The reaction of PhC≡CPh with LSiNPh2 resulted in the [1+2]-cycloaddition product silacyclopropene 3. Treatment of 1 with 3, 5-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone yielded the [1+4]-cycloaddition product 4. Compounds 2, 3, and 4 were characterized by elemental analysis, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and EI-MS spectrometry. The molecular structures of compounds 2, 3, and 4 were established unequivocally by single-crystal X-ray structural analysis.


Paper depicts that one of the main challenges in wireless networks WiMAX is the task of ensuring the required service quality, which involves the separation of user stations network of
guaranteed rate in the downlink. Providing guaranteed transmission rate in the WiMAX technology can be achieved by solving bandwidth allocation downlink. Therefore, existing approaches to analyze the distribution of bandwidth downlink wireless WiMAX technology whereby determined that they use the principle of Best Effort. The quality of service is not guaranteed, and between user stations distributed all of the available bandwidth. The result is a mathematical model, the novelty of which is the possibility of pre-emptive rate limiting, a dedicated service flows user stations in the downlink WiMAX technology by using a linearquadratic objective function that organizes the fair management of requests based on the relative priorities. In the course of solving the problem of scheduling data packets for
transmission service flows of all user stations in the downlink of the proposed model it is necessary to perform a number of important constraint equations: the condition securing a sub-channel for the transmission of one slot for no more than one user station, the condition of adopting a one user station the number of slots, providing the required transmission rate used by the system modulation and coding, the condition of formation of a single packet of data for
each user station, the condition of the formation of the packages "rectangular", terms and conditions for the required number of slots for the transmission of official information. The model proposed is directed to the allocation of each user station guaranteed bit rate in the absence of overload downlink as well as the preventive rate limiting allocated for user station
overload conditions. Furthermore the proposed mathematical model addresses the problem of
distribution slots between data packets as problems balancing the available bandwidth of WiMAX downlink channel for transmitting payload towards subscriber stations, taking account of the form of modulation and coding. As a result, decision analysis found that the
service requests from the service flows user stations is realized on the basis of so-called absolute priority. Thus, in the case where the programming service flow requests from subscriber stations exceed bandwidth downlink preventive restriction mostly experienced service request from a low priority flow. Request transmission rate of the service stream with a higher priority on preventive ogrnaichenie rate experienced in a lesser degree. When using a linear objective function restriction preventive tests first service request from a low priority flow until the complete denial of access. When using a linear-quadratic objective function in the case of overload failures relate to maintain all service flows with high priority to a lesser extent, and in higher concentrations - low priority. Запропоновано математичну модель розподілу пропускної здатності низхідного каналу зв'язку технології WiMAX. Новизна запропонованої моделі полягає в можливості превентивного обмеження швидкості передачі, виділеної сервісним потокам користувацьких станцій в низхідному каналі зв'язку технології WiMAX шляхом використання лінійно-квадратичної цільової функції, організуючою справедливе управління запитами на основі відносних пріоритетів. Запропонована модель спрямована на виділення кожній користувацькій станції гарантованої швидкості передачі в умовах відсутності перевантаження низхідного каналу зв'язку, а також на превентивне обмеження швидкості передачі, виділеної для користувацької станції в умовах перевантаження. Проаналізовано вплив пріоритетів запитів швидкості передачі, що використовуються в моделі, на характер можливих відмов.


Abstract A hybrid rigid and non-rigid registration algorithm has been presented to register thoracic and abdominal CT images of the same subject scanned at different times. The bony structures are first segmented from two different time CT images, respectively. Then, the segmented bony structures in the two respective images are registered based on their boundary points using a soft correspondence matching algorithm, with a rigid transformation constraint on each bony structure. With estimated correspondences in bony structures, the dense deformations in the entire images are interpolated by a thin plate spline (TPS) interpolation technique. To improve the alignment of soft tissues in the images as well, a normalised mutual information based B-spline registration algorithm is used to iteratively refine the registration of soft tissues, and at the same time keep the rigid transformation for each bony structure. This registration refinement procedure is repeated until the algorithm converges. The proposed hybrid registration algorithm has been applied to the clinical data with very encouraging results as measured by two clinical radiologists.


Geostatistics method was used to analyze the spatial distribution of soil total nitrogen and available potassium,and the sampling site maps of the combined nutrients were presented.The results indicated that the reliable sampling site of combined soil total nitrogen and available potassium was subjected to the character of available potassium.The sampling site of combined soil total nitrogen and available potassium was located between the rubber rhizome neck and in the shrub and ruderal zone which was far away the fertilization cave.As the location between the rubber rhizome neck is often influenced by some uncertain factors,so the best sampling site was in the shrub and ruderal zone which was far away the fertilization cave.The results would introduce a new method to determine the reliable soil sampling site for multi-year of growth period of crops in the South China.