In humans, spatial orientation plays an essential role in everyday behavior [21]. It is a complex multisensory process and it depends heavily on sensory inputs integrated and modulated in temporal and spatial domains. While most of the current understanding about the organization of the brain's spatial orientation network comes from rodents, recordings in primates and human subjects suggest the existence of an analogously organized network of locationand direction-sensitive cells [15, 10, 6, 11], but with a higher reliance on vision [5]. Even though rodent studies provide a basic model of how spatial navigation is organized in humans and monkeys, several issues remain to be addressed. First, the initial stage of visual information processing occurs in early visual cortices that operate in a retinotopic reference frame. Via progressive transformations, visual input reaches the medial temporal lobe relying on world-referenced representations. While extensive experimental evidence suggest that these transformations occur in the parietal cortex through the mechanism of gain modulation [3, 19], it is still unclear how gain-modulated visual receptive fields are linked to location-sensitive firing in the hippocampal formation. Second, in contrast to rodents with a close-to-panoramic visual field (about 240-320◦), primates have a much smaller visual field. Whether basic learning algorithms, proposed to sustain place field learning in rodent, can lead to coherent spatial representations under such a constraint remains an open question. Third, segregation between geometric and landmark cues has received a lot of attention over the last decades, based on evidence that age and experimental manipulations can bias navigation behavior towards the use of one or the other cue [12, 2]. In particular, it was shown that disorientation leads to an excessive use of geometric cues, suggesting that geometric processing is enhanced during vision-based reorientation. Neural mechanisms underlying this reorientation process remain poorly understood. To address these issues, we developed a neural network model of visual information processing for spatial learning that is able to convert visual input from an egocentric to an allocentric reference frame, link separate views through short-term synaptic memory in order to facilitate spatial learning and perform view-based reorientation in a neurally plausible manner. Our modeling framework links parietal gain fields with spatial orientation functions and it provides an insight into the processing of environmental geometry in the brain.


Postpartum thyroiditis(PPT)is a thyroid autoimmune disorder which occurring in the first year after delivery.The prevalence of PPT is quite high and its clinical features show transient or permanent thyroiditis dysfunction.At present,it is considered that the transient immunologic flare in the postpartum period following the immune suppression during pregnancy is the factor to induce postpartum thyroiditis.Meanwhile,some cytokines lead an active effect in the recovery of postpartum thyroiditis.In addition,the interaction of neuro-endocrine-immune network regulations,genetic agents,microchimera and environment agents have also contributions to the occurrence and development of PPT.


In this paper, the authors address a new approach to three organizational, functional cultures: knowledge culture, learning culture, and collaboration culture, named together the KLC cultures. Authors claim that the KLC approach in knowledge-driven organizations must be designed and nourished to leverage knowledge and intellectual capital. It is suggested that they are necessary for simultaneous implementation because no one of these functional cultures alone is as beneficial for a company as all of them are together. Moreover, there is a risk that organizations with a learning culture developed without collaboration are stuck at the individual level of learning only; and that a knowledge culture developed without a learning culture jeopardizes the organization to be stuck in a passive way where only old, multiply verified knowledge is accepted. As a result, such companies cannot grow. That extreme situation leads to the rejection of new knowledge that is usually rationalized by the need for business safety security - that is nothing more than a ruse for intellectual laziness or personal barriers of fixed-minded managers.


44 INTRODUCTION Pyogenic liver abscess is an uncommon clinical e n t i t y. Various studies report an incidence of 3–4 cases per year in a general hospital of 500 or more beds (1). A mortality of 40% has been described with a potential to reach as high as 79% in certain populations (2). In the pre-antibiotic era, liver abscesses were typically the sequelae of an unrecognized appendicitis. To d a y, however, the major cause of liver abscess is a complication of biliary disease (3). Progress has been made in the understanding of the microbiology of pyogenic liver abscesses. In 1972, Sabbaj identified anaerobic organism in liver abscesses (3). This is a case of an immunocompetent 50-year-old Caucasian female who developed multiple macroscopic hepatic abscesses containing Fusobacterium necro p h o ru m and C y t o m e g a l o v i rus. Fusobacterium necro p h o ru m remains a rare cause of anaerobic liver abscess (4). A viral component of macroscopic hepatic abscesses has not been reported in the literature. Additionally, there have been no prior reports of hepatic abscesses caused by such a combination of organisms.


We study effects of direct interatomic interaction on cooperative processes in atom-photon dynamics. Using a model of two-level atoms with Ising-type interaction as an example, it is demonstrated that interparticle interaction combined with atom-field coupling can introduce additional interatomic correlations acting as a phase synchronizing factor. For the case of weakly interacting atoms with $Jl\ensuremath{\hbar}{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{0}$, where $J$ is the interparticle coupling constant and ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{0}$ is the atomic frequency, dynamical regimes of cooperative relaxation of atoms are analyzed in the Born-Markov approximation both numerically and using the mean field approximation. We show that interparticle correlations induced by the direct interaction result in inhibition of incoherent spontaneous decay leading to the regime of collective pulse relaxation which differs from superradiance in nature. For superradiant transition, the synchronizing effect of interatomic interaction is found to manifest itself in enhancement of superradiance. When the interaction is strong and $Jg\ensuremath{\hbar}{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{0}$, one-particle one-photon transitions are excluded and transition to the regime of multiphoton relaxation occurs. Using a simple model of two atoms in a high-$Q$ single mode cavity we show that such transition is accompanied by Rabi oscillations involving many-atom multiphoton states. Dephasing effects of dipole-dipole interaction and solitonic mechanism of relaxation are discussed.


To the Editor: Omer et al. (May 7 issue)1 skirt the crucial question: Does a developed, educated democracy such as that in the United States still need compulsory vaccination laws to achieve target compliance rates of 90 to 95%? It was the legislation for compulsory smallpox vaccination that led to the conscientious objector laws in the United States and the United Kingdom. Jacobson may have lost the 1905 Supreme Court case2 against the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, but the court concluded that the state government could not pass laws in order to protect an individual person but could do so to protect the public. The U.K. compulsory smallpox vaccination laws of 18533 led to riots, demonstrations, the circulation of tracts, and vaccine refusal, leading the Royal Commission to amend the laws with a conscientious objector clause in 1898 and culminating in the end of compulsory vaccination in 1946. Most member states of the European Union, especially the Scandinavian countries, achieve high levels of compliance with the use of information, education, persuasion, and subtle coercion — but not compulsion. The European Academy of Paediatrics is campaigning to make access to immunization a stated right of children. Surely compulsory immunization is anticonstitutional with respect to parental autonomy?


Introduction: The third molars have a higher prevalence of impaction. When indicated, the extraction of these teeth can result in complications such as fracture mandibular. Objective: To report a case of mandibular fracture that occurred and was identified during the extraction of inferior impacted third molar, and successfully treated by a conservative method. Case report: The patient underwent surgical procedure under local anesthesia for the extraction of tooth 48 which was in position 1B, according to Pell and Gregory. Surgical access was performed through a Maurel type incision and peripheral ostectomy with surgical drill 702, executing lever movements with a straight elevator. The mandibular fracture was detected at the time of removal of the tooth in question. A conservative treatment was adopted, as osteosynthesis and maxillomandibular block with Gilmer Sauer type amarrias were performed. After one week, the maxillomandibular block was removed and the dental occlusion was checked. Final Thoughts: Complications in extractions are always to be considered when planning a surgery. The mandibular fracture in this case was handled. Descriptors: mandibular fractures. third molar. complication. V13N4 Fratura de mandibula durante exodontia de terceiro molar inferior incluso: relato de caso Fractured mandible during impacted third molar exodontia: a case report


Wang, Zheng, and Yao carried out an experiment in 2004 to determine if the Sagnac effect can be applied to the inertial motion. Their experiment showed that there was indeed phase difference between the two light beams passing through the same optical fiber in inertial motion. However, the focus of their experiment was on the rest frame of the light source. They did not realize that the time difference from the phase difference should exist in all reference frames. The difference in the elapsed time taken by two light beams to pass through the linear fiber segment in the rest frame of the segment effectively corresponds to the speed difference between two light beams. The Sagnac effect in inertial motion provides a precise experimental evidence that the speed of light is different in a different reference frame.


Crosslinked polycarbosilanes with mesogenic side chains have been prepared by hydrosilylation reaction of poly(1-methyl- 1-silylenemethylene) and the mixture of one and two functional terminal alkenes bearing promesogenic groups. All synthesized networks exhibit SmC* phase in wide temperature ranges. Their LC properties were compared with side chain uncrosslinked polycarbosilanes with the same general chemical structure. In order to make the temperature ranges of generated mesophase wider, the mixtures of crosslinked and uncrosslinked LC polycarbosilanes have been prepared and studied.


Polar codes have become increasingly popular recently because of their capacity achieving property. In this paper, a memory efficient stage-combined belief propagation (BP) decoder design for polar codes is presented. Firstly, we briefly reviewed the conventional BP decoding algorithm. Then a stage-combined BP decoding algorithm which combines two adjacent stages into one stage and the corresponding belief message updating rules are introduced. Based on this stage-combined decoding algorithm, a memory-efficient polar BP decoder is designed. The demonstrated decoder design achieves 50% memory and decoding latency reduction in the cost of some combinational logic complexity overhead. The proposed decoder is synthesized under TSMC 45nm Low Power CMOS technology. It achieves 0.96 Gb/s throughput with 14.2mm2 area when code length N=216 which reduces 51.5% decoder area compared with the conventional decoder design.


Heidegger is a well-known representative of existentialism in modern Western philosophy.If one wants to know existentialism,one must know Heidegger and if one wants to know Heidegger,one must know Dasein,because Dasein is the cornerstone of Heidegger's philosophy.This article makes a deep interpretation to Heidegger's Dasein from an angle of emotional state.


The number of buildings or constructions which are at the planning or implementation stage can not be allowed to avoid land base in the form of clay, then, of course, it takes geotechnical engineering to solve the problem by improving the native land so hopefully not happen settlement or deformation. Awareness of the importance of the soil remediation process before building construction on it be an idea to use bamboo as a material provision of soil reinforcement. This research was conducted with the full-scale reinforcement and the raft bamboo poles on the ground with a mounting base plate and observations settlement every day. From the results of modeling on the field at the U-50% condition waiting period ranges from 10-14 days, on the condition of the U-90% the waiting time ranges from 40-55 days, on the condition of the U-95% the waiting time ranges from 53-72 days and the condition of the U-99% the waiting time ranges from 83-115 days. Based on observations in the field, the final drop-readable embankment around 545 mm with a time of consolidation U-90% for 59 days. The results showed that retrofitting with bamboo raft poles can reduce the decline to 60.70%.


Food location times have been recorded in three captive monitor lizards ( Varanus spp.). The results, in the form of regression equations, showed that in general the time taken to locate the food decreased with the number of times the food was offered. ITTLE work has been carried out on learning in varanid lizards (Phillips, 1994; Horn, 1999) which is perhaps surprising given their general impression of alertness even to the casual observer. We devised a simple experiment using food as a positive reinforcer to evaluate association learning in three adult monitor lizards from three species, Varanus niloticus ornatus, V. albigularis and V. exanthematicus. We used monitor lizards for two reasons. Firstly there was always a good response to food as a stimulus in our research animals. The second reason was that many types of monitor lizards are intense active foraging predators (Regal, 1978) travelling large distances in their search for food (Thompson & Withers, 1997; Thompson, 1999 and Bennett, 1998 for a review). We predicted that this behaviour, combined with the interest in food, increased the probability of the experiments giving meaningful results. The work was part of a second year HND research project on animal behaviour at Huddersfield Technical College carried out by IF, MT and MR under the supervision of RM. METHODS AND MATERIALS A variety of assumptions must be made when selecting methods of evaluating learning in animals. The method employed here was based on showing the lizards a food item then repeatedly placing it in the same location in an enclosure where it could not be visually observed. The time taken to locate and consume the food item was then recorded. We assumed that if the lizards were learning from experience then the time taken to locate the food should decrease with the increase in the number of trials. The trials were run from midday onwards which allowed approximately four hours for the animals to heat up and activity body temperatures to be attained. Skin surface temperatures of the lizards were measured with a non-invasive Omega OS204 Digital Thermometer immediately before the commencement and at the conclusion of each trial - i.e. just after the animal had swallowed the food. All enclosures had heating facilities to allow the lizards to bask if required but this was not observed during the trials. The experimental arenas were different for each lizard, all of which were imported into the UK as juvenile animals.


The objective of this research is sound effect for brackish water for Sea bass ( Cynoscion nobilis). Breeding farm 25x100m, 2m of depth, and 6 paddle wheels which generate the sound are available for research. Sound profile has been measured to investigate the amplitude at various measurement points at various depths by using Cetacean hydrophone C304. The output of hydrophone has been analyzed by using SpectraPlus software. For the second measurement, two cages which size 3x3m have been used for life fish habitat. Then, fish put in the edge cage (20), center cage (20), and out of cage (12500). Sound profile has been measured for position-based (edge/center cage), time-based (morning/noon/evening), and point-based. Time series, spectrum frequency, and phase have been analysis. Fish growth progress has been monthly measured at every cage. Fish in the cage is growth as linearly, while fish growth for out of cage is exponentially. Size and weight of fish in the both cages is less than out of cage. This research concludes that sound have no significantly effect for fish growth. Limited mobility to look for food and stress are more influences to fish growth than sound effect.


Experiments in a wave flume(lm x 2m x 65m) with 16 wave gages and numerical simulations using a fully nonlinear BIM(Boundary Integral Method) in a super-computer(VP2600) are conducted to make clear the characteristics and occurrence condition of a new type breaker. Further, its deformation and wave height decay after breaking are investigated. It is shown that the new type breaker forms a giant jet with the size exceeding three times of the maximum jet size of usual type breakers and therefore is very efficient to wave control because of strong turbulence excited by plunging of the giant jet and the resultant remarkable absorption.


The aim of the present study was to evaluate new bone formation around the periosteum within the space formed by a polytetrafluoroethylene tube on the surface of rat calvarial bone. The experimental model consisted of 40 rats divided into eight groups (five rats per group). Each group was divided into the experimental group and the control groups, and it divided on 1, 2, 6 and 8 weeks group respectively. For the experimental groups, a polytetrafluoroethylene tube was placed under a raised periosteal flap, and for the control groups, the periosteum was removed and a teflon tube was placed under the skin on the calvarial bone. All surgical sites were then sutured. We examined new bone formation using micro-computed tomography, histology by staining with hematoxylin and eosin, and immunochemistry by antibodies specific to bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and runt-related gene-2 (Runx2). The experimental and control groups were compared at 1, 2, 6, and 8 weeks after surgery. The histological analysis clearly demonstrated that specimens from the experimental groups showed some bone formation at 2, 6, and 8 weeks after surgery. In contrast, the control groups demonstrated new bone only at 6 and 8 weeks after surgery. New bone was produced only from the calvarial bone side; it was not observed from the periosteum side. Micro-computed tomography scan revealed that bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMC), and bone volume/tissue volume ratio (BV/TV) all increased in a time-dependent manner in the experimental groups. In the control groups, the bone volume/tissue volume ratio, bone mineral content, and bone mineral density increased slightly from 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. In all experimental and control groups, BMP-2 positive and Runx2-positive cells appeared on the new bone. In conclusion, these results suggest that the periosteum plays a role in promoting new bone formation.


Buried-channel (BC) MOSFETs are known to have better noise performance than their surface-channel (SC) counterparts when used as a source follower in modern charge-coupled devices (CCDs). CMOS image sensors are finding increasing applications and compete with CCDs in high-performance imaging, but BC transistors are rarely used in CMOS. As a part of the development of charge storage using CCDs in CMOS, we designed and manufactured deep-depletion BC n-type MOSFETs in 0.18- μm CMOS image sensor process. The BC transistors are designed in a way similar to the source followers in a typical BC CCD, and feature deep n-channel implant and threshold voltage exceeding -2.5 V. In this paper, we report the results from their characterization and compare them with normal enhancement mode and "zero-threshold" SC devices. In addition to the detailed current-voltage and noise measurements, 2-D semiconductor device simulation results are presented to illustrate and understand the different conditions affecting the channel conduction and the noise performance of the BC transistors. We show that under optimal bias conditions the noise performance of the BC transistors can be superior despite their lower gain as in-pixel source followers.


differences in sample preparation; for example, Griese and colleagues used centrifugation of BAL to remove cells from the surfactant before analysis, which was not done in the prior studies. Importantly, esterified cholesterol is produced within alveolar macrophages in PAP, and thus they may have underestimated the true proportion of esterified cholesterol present in the alveolar macrophages from patients with PAP. One limitation of the study is that inhibitors of lipid oxidation were not included in the sample preparation and storage, which could have affected the concentration of oxidized lipid species. Such lipid species have specific roles in modulating macrophage functional processes, particularly oxidized derivatives of cholesterol (oxysterols), which act through the LXRa pathway (10). It is also unclear whether the lipidomic profile in individuals correlates with their clinical phenotype, including the presence or absence of fibrosis—this is an area that requires further exploration. Finally, assessing dynamic changes in the alveolar lipidome may be a novel method to monitor the therapeutic response to inhaled GM-CSF or emerging cholesterol-targeted strategies. n


We report theoretical work in which the growth of a cavitation bubble within a thin, stretching film of liquid is considered. Numerical simulations of cavitation bubble dynamics are used to explain how the growth of a cavity within a stretching liquid film may result in the development of sufficiently large negative pressures (or tension) within the liquid to damage adjacent surfaces. The results of this study are discussed in terms of the possible consequences of a rapid expansion of a vaporous cavitation bubble in samples of healthy (nonNewtonian) and pathological (essentially Newtonian) synovial fluid. Contrary to previous indications in the literature, non-Newtonian (specifically, shearthinning) behaviour is found to result in significantly enhanced tensions in the pressure waves developed about a growing cavitation bubble. The magnitude of the tensions so developed are compared with estimates of cavitation thresholds ( o, ) which are obtained from experiments involving the reflection of pulsed ultrasound at a flexible boundary. Under some circumstances the tensions developed about the growing cavity are shown to be commensurate with q. The possible consequences of these findings are discussed in terms of cavitation damage to blood vessels or other tissues. Transactions on Biomedicine and Health vol 6, © 2003 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3525


A novel approach to beam steering is presented using an array composed of elements each supporting a unique radiating mode. The one-dimensional (1-D) beam synthesis properties of the novel ideal multiple mode dipole array are quantified using Fourier synthesis and shown to have significant improvement in scan range compared to a conventional linear dipole reference array. A hybrid phased array composed of multiple mode subarrays is also proposed and shown to be an efficient tradeoff between performance improvement and design complexity. Reasonable agreement is obtained between the simulated and measured impedance and radiation pattern properties of a fourelement multiple mode array. Finally, a 16-element hybrid phased array composed of four four-element multiple mode subarrays is fabricated and measured. The array is shown to have a 3-dB scan range of ±68°, which is in good agreement with the simulated value of ±69° at the design frequency of 4.6 GHz. Additionally, the 3-dB bandwidth of the array is more than 1 GHz at broadside. This bandwidth reduces to approximately 300 MHz at the widest scan angles, which is consistent with an equivalent conventional linear array.


Human bone marrow stromal cells (hMSCs) are a promising source of multipotent progenitors for a broad range of stem cell therapies for regenerative medicine. A basic prerequisite to realizing the therapeutic potential of hMSCs is the ability to identify stem‐like progenitors in a heterogeneous culture. To overcome current limitations in stem cell identification, we have developed a novel high‐capacity assay that will characterize the heterogeneity inherent to hMSCs by (1) classifying cells according to colony‐forming efficiency as a measure of proliferation capacity and trilineage potential as a measure of multipotency and (2) preserving a frozen template of these cell populations for future use. Specifically, the assay quantifies the percentage of tripotent progenitors, bipotent progenitors, lineage‐committed unipotent progenitors and mature cells in an hMSC culture. The high‐capacity format facilitates the analysis of large sample sizes required to obtain statistically significant data on hMSC populations. The assay has numerous clinical and basic research applications, for example, to monitor hMSC preparations in the clinic for consistent content of stem‐like progenitors and to evaluate the effect of culture conditions on progenitor content in the laboratory. This work was funded with grants from NSF and NIH.


The paper analyzes the factors affecting the particle size distribution of the extracted coal mass by shearers, and considers ways to increase the content of coarse fractions. The search for methods and technical solutions is coupled with the idea of increasing the cross-sectional area of the cuts by the choice of their rational forms, which makes it necessary to improve the arrangement of cutters on the executive bodies.


The purpose of this study is to explore the existence of audit expectation gap based on perception, between internal uditors and the users of performance audit report, in accountability and audit concept, including auditor independece, auditor competence, materiality, audit evidence, perfomance audit, and audit report, in the regional government of The City of Denpasar and The Regency of Gianyar. The population in this study are the internal auditors and the heads of agencies as the user of audit report, of both regional governments. The samples used are 38 respondents of internal auditors and 42 respondents of heads of agencies. This study uses primary data obtained by questionaire distributed drectly to the respondents. The hypothesis tested with Mann – Whitney U test. The results of this study are :1. There is an audit expectation gap in materiality, between internal auditors and the heads of agencies as the users of perfomance audit reports in The City of Denpasar and The Regency of Gianyar.2. There is no audit expectation gap in accountability, auditor independence, and perfomance audit, between internal auditors and the heads of agencies as the users of perfomance audit reports in The City of Denpasar and The Regency of Gianyar.


Banknotes often fail on the design of authenticity features for public usage. Two models are introduce , bringing clarity in the largely unknown domain of human beha viour with banknotes, the Coaster-model and the 4Mmodel. Third, the perception phenomenon of heuristic quali ty versus rule-based quality is introduced. These t hr e topics are helpful to understand why banknote design falls sho rt on public authenticity features. The public attitude towards an authenticity self-ch eck is changing because of two developments in the cash cycle, a controlled issue of banknotes via ATMs and an incre ase of retailers checking banknotes with devices. A s a result confidence in the authenticity of banknotes is on t he rise and the need for an authenticity self-check falls. A third cause contributing to the declining public interest in an authenticity self-check is the design of the public authenticity features, which is user-unfriendly. Banknote design ers should have more eye for features meeting user requirements, balancing two different user functions of the Coast er-model, respectively 'keeping confidence' and 'ch ecking authenticity'. In 2013 the first design of the second series of eu ro banknotes was issued. The promoted features for public usage are mainly optical authenticity features, being a p ortrait hologram, a colour changing rolling bar and a watermark. Studies carried out in the Netherlands show that th e general public does not pick up these features. T he cause should be sought in their technology-driven design instead of a use-centered design approach based on user re quirements. A review of user requirements for foil features and c olour features is provided and, based on these requ irements design concepts for foil and colour features are presented .


Peer-to-Peer(P2P) media streaming has emerged as a promising solution to media streaming in large distributed systems such as the Internet. Several P2P media streaming solutions have been proposed by researchers, however they all implicitly assume peers are collaborative, thus they suffer from the selfish peers that are not willing to collaborate. In this paper we introduce an incentive mechanism to urge selfish peers to behave collaboratively. It combines the traditional reputation-based approach and an online streaming behavior monitoring scheme. Our preliminary results show that the overall performance achieved by collaborative peers do not suffer from the existence of non-collaborative peers. The incentive mechanism is orthogonal to the existing media streaming solutions and can be integrated into them.


In three different variants of an one-shot public good game I analyze the relationship between cooperation and cognitive abilities, assessed through the cognitive reflection test (CRT). In a between-subjects design, the baseline case is contrasted with two treatment conditions that allow to control for two potentially moderating factors: By employing a test for the presence of confusion, the first condition scrutinizes whether higher cognitive abilities are correlated with cooperation proper or simply grant a better understanding of the incentive structure. The second condition explores the proposition that the link between cognitive abilities and cooperation could depend on the complexity of the decision situation. To exogenously create a cognitively more demanding choice setting, subjects had to decide under time pressure. I find a strong and positive relationship between CRT-scores and cooperation, that is not driven by confusion. Time pressure has a strongly moderating effect on this relationship.


Unsupervised dependency parsing is an alternative approach to identifying relations between words in a sentence. It does not require any annotated treebank, it is independent of language theory and universal across languages. However, so far quite low parsing quality is its main disadvantage. This thesis discusses some previous works and introduces a novel approach to unsupervised parsing. Our dependency model consists of four submodels: (i) edge model, which controls the distribution of governor-dependent pairs, (ii) fertility model, which controls the number of node's dependents, (iii) distance model, which controls the length of the dependency edges, and (iv) reducibility model. The reducibility model is based on a hypothesis that words that can be removed from a sentence without violating its grammaticality are leaves in the dependency tree. Induction of the dependency structures is done using Gibbs sampling method. We introduce a sampling algorithm that keeps the dependency trees projective, which is a very valuable constraint. In our experiments across 30 languages, we discuss the results of various settings of our models. Our method outperforms the previously reported results on a majority of the test languages.


The ITEMS software package is used to simulate adoption of energy-efficient technologies in the paper industry under several scenarios. The simulation is calibrated so that the reference year replicates the 1991 fuel utilization and end use patterns in the paper industry.
 This paper describes the main features of the ITEMS, including its technology database, the manner in which it simulates the key process steps in producing paper products, and the decision-making rules used in ITEMS regarding technology adoption. In addition, the paper describes the pulp and paper-making technologies included in the simulation. The value of ITEMS in assessing the impacts of R&D investments in energy-efficiency and other policy options is examined.


Abstract. The paper demonstrates the application of hyperspectral data of Flight Laboratory of Imaging Systems (FLIS, https://olc.czechglobe.cz/en) to participate in three practical tasks of urban environment in the Czech Republic: 1/identification of asbestos-cement roofs on buildings; 2/monitoring of thermal regime of municipal solid waste landfill, and 3/estimation of perceived temperature in different parts of the city. These applications benefited from the airborne hyperspectral methods' ability to collect detailed spectral information, assess material composition, and extract biophysical parameters.


The Schwinger pairs production rate is calculated numerically in the soft-wall model with the help of a simpler method in determining the soft-wall's position beyond which probe strings connecting the Schwinger pairs do not fall into. The critical behavior of the production rate and linear part in the middle region are both studied carefully. The latter manifests interesting new features. The results are compared with those in previous hard-wall models.


Today much of a company's competitive edge lies in the knowledge and competence found within the company. Technology and products are becoming increasingly complex meaning that the way knowledge i ...


Abstract. Introduction. Professional selection of workers in extreme occupations associated with increased danger and responsibility is an important task of labor physiology. The study of psychomotor skills under conditions of acute stress, the assessment of the physiological reactions of the cardiovascular system will determine the professional suitability of candidates for various specialties (technical or intellectual-analytical). Purpose of work. The study of diagnostic methodological approaches to assessing the professional suitability of persons in hazardous professions in psychophysiological professional selection. Materials and methods. Psychophysiological studies included the study of psychomotor skills, psychological testing according to the MMIL and 16 FLO tests, physiological studies of hemodynamic features in candidates with different resistance to stress (calculation of stroke blood volume - SV, MC blood minute volume and peripheral resistance of PS), professional analysis of the labor activity of workers to identify the requirements that hazardous professions place on the body of workers, Research results. In candidates for engineering and technical specialties, the tension of the circulatory system reflected high values of the average dynamic pressure (105.73 ± 1.45 mm Hg), changes in the optimal hyperkinetic type of blood circulation to hypokinetic: 66.7% of those examined with low resistance to stress. In candidates for communicative specialties, a sufficient level of physical activity contributed to the stability of the indicators of the cardiovascular system. Conclusions. Informative indicators have been established for assessing the professional suitability of candidates to perform official tasks in extreme conditions: changes in handwriting signs, peculiarities of psychological status (anxiety, conformism), hemodynamic characteristics


Percutaneous transluminal coronary intervention(PCI) is recognized as an effective treatment for coronary heart disease currently.But in-stent restenosis limits its clinical efficacy.It′s demonstrated that collagen accumulation in the ECM plays a major role in the development of restenosis,after both balloon angioplasty and stenting.Factors regulating collagen synthesis and degradation,including various cytokines and growth factors involved in the process,may be new targets for therapies of in-stent restenosis.


Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between body mass index, dental caries (DMFT), untreated dental caries (PUFA) and socioeconomic status in 12 to 15 year old school children.
Material and methods: The study sample consisted of 800 children aged 12 to 15 years, who were selected from 8 schools located in the district-Panchkula (Haryana). Intraoral examination was done for assessment of dental caries by using DMFT index (WHO, 2013).The clinical manifestations of untreated dental caries were assessed visually by using the PUFA index (2010). Socioeconomic status of children was assessed by using Kuppuswami's socioeconomic scale 2016. After one week, anthropometric measurements of children were taken to calculate the body mass index (BMI) of children.
Results: Among 800 school children, 503 (62.9%) children had dental caries. The body mass index (BMI) of children was weakly correlated with DMFT (r=0.285) and PUFA (r=0.109) whereas average correlation was found between BMI and SES (r= 0.424). On applying chi-square test, a statistical significant correlation was found between BMI and DMFT (p<0.01), BMI and PUFA (p<0.01) and BMI and SES (p<0.01). SES of children was weakly correlated with DMFT (r= 0.216) but no correlation was found between SES and PUFA (r=0.052, p=0.145).
Conclusion: The study concluded that a significant but weak positive correlation was seen between dental caries and BMI. A significantly positive correlation was found between PUFA and BMI. The severity of dental caries increased with increase in BMI. No correlation was found between PUFA and SES.


Gravity data in the United States are used to derive warp anomalies. The correlation of these with tectonic structure is discussed.


In this letter, we derive the uplink achievable rate expression of intelligent reflecting surface (IRS)-aided millimeter-wave (mmWave) systems, taking into account the phase noise at IRS and the quantization error at base stations (BSs). We show that the performance is limited only by the resolution of analog-digital converters (ADCs) at BSs when the number of IRS reflectors grows without bound. On the other hand, if BSs have ideal ADCs, the performance loss caused by IRS phase noise is constant. Finally, our results validate the feasibility of using low-precision hardware at the IRS when BSs are equipped with low-resolution ADCs.


In this paper some developments and programs of Cyrus robotic team for participation in Robocup 2013 competitions will be mentioned. New Mechanical designs have provided more speed and accuracy for robots while electrical boards are redesigned to obtain more reliability. On the Other hand software system has been fully reconstructed and our last Java-based code has been completely substituted for a new Qt-based one. Moreover a robotic team manager application has been designed and developed for Android 4 which can be run on tablet computers and bring some useful tools for team coaches.


Fuel cells are considered as the potential for future clean energy in both electrical energy transmission and mobile applications. The biggest challenge in the operating fuel cell system is how to obtain the highest efficiency of fuel cell output voltage in the presence of many variables that affect the work of the cell such as the fuel pressure, temperature, humidity, load current as well as the non-linear dynamical behavior for fuel cell system. This paper presents the modeling of fuel cell system based on the nonlinear mathematical model and analysis it. In this work, it analyzed and studied the stability and the dynamic behavior response of fuel cell output voltage model by using MATLAB/m.files simulation to illustrate the effectiveness performance of the fuel cellsystem when changing the hydrogen partial pressure and temperature variation of the fuel cell as well as the characteristic of the fuel cell "voltage against load current" variation.


This article has conducted the computer auxiliary optimization design research of the low noise hyperboloid gear,reducing the noise of the automobile main reducer for the goal.Through the CAD optimization design the hyperboloid gear design parameters were under the active control,thus the overlap coefficient of the hyperboloid gear achieved accurately establishes in advance,and ensured the design of hyperboloid gear with the lowest noise level under the same machining accuracy.


This editorial refers to 'Migratory activity of circulating progenitor cells and serum SDF-1α predict adverse events in patients with myocardial infarction' by O. Fortunato et al. , pp. 192–200, this issue.

After the oocyte is fertilized, the resulting one-cell zygote gives rise to all stem cell progenies. During the developmental process, these cells are necessary to generate all specialized tissues. However, some of them elude the specification cues and remain quiescent in the adult tissue, as long as the organism does not suffer from injury, illness, or specific cell-type depletion. Most adult stem cells are quiescent,1 others, such as the intestinal stem cells, are very active and feature intense self-renewal kinetics.2 Nevertheless, when these adult stem cells are awakened by an injury or alerted upon the body's request, they need to move on and reach the damaged area using special routs known as cellular highways ( Figure 1 ). The more advanced the illness, the less the number of stem cells remaining in stock. Their ability to migrate effectively into damaged or diseased tissues makes the stem cells promising candidates for cell therapy. Unfortunately, cellular highways can also be used by cancer (stem-) cells during metastasis, e.g. when CXCR4-expressing tumour cells migrate into the lung, liver, bone marrow, and brain, matching high levels of presented SDF-1α.3

Figure 1
SDF-1α/CXCR4 cellular highway. Chemokines control cellular traffic by directing cells that express certain chemokine receptors to specific locations where their ligands are abundant. Besides PCs (circulating progenitor cells) other stem cell types could be recruited in specific cellular highways according to their chemokine receptor expression. ESCs, embryonic stem cells; iPSCs, induced pluripotent stem cells; MABs, mesoangioblasts; MADS, multipotent adipose-derived stem cells.

Fortunato et al. 4 explore the SDF-1α/CXCR4 cellular highway in the context of cardiac damage, highlighting the correlation between SDF-1α plasma concentration and …


The increase in the number of purulent wound complications in the treatment of various surgical diseases in maxillofacial surgery determines the high importance of the medico-social problem of modern medicine. In this connection, the search for new approaches is urgent, including the complex application of 2 or more factors to increase the effectiveness of treatment and prevention of inflammatory diseases of the maxillofacial region.

OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of a comprehensive physiotherapy program, including a low-frequency alternating electrostatic field and broadband electromagnetic therapy, on the severity of pain and local inflammation in patients with inflammatory diseases of the maxillofacial region.

MATERIAL AND RESEARCH METHODS
60 patients with acute pyoinflammatory diseases of the maxillofacial region (phlegmons, abscesses, abscessing boils of the maxillofacial region), mean age 41.2±3.5 years, who were divided into 2 groups: main - 30 patients who underwent a course of complex application of broadband electromagnetic therapy and a low-frequency alternating electrostatic field and control - 30 patients who received drug therapy (antibiotics, drugs of the metronidazole group, antihistamines, multivitamins, detoxification therapy, local treatment of the wound process), which served as a background in the main group.

RESULTS
The combined use of a low-frequency alternating electrostatic field and broadband electromagnetic therapy contributes to a faster and more pronounced relief of the inflammatory process in the area of the pathological focus and pain syndrome in patients with inflammatory diseases of the maxillofacial region, which is confirmed by the data of an objective examination and indicators of the visual analogue scale VAS.

CONCLUSION
The developed complex, which includes a low-frequency alternating electrostatic field and broadband electromagnetic therapy, has pronounced anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in patients with inflammatory diseases of the maxillofacial region, which makes it possible to recommend it for use in wide surgical practice.


15N‐labelled pyridines are liquid‐ and solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) probes for chemical and biological environments because their 15N chemical shifts are sensitive to hydrogen‐bond and protonation states. By variation of the type and number of substituents, different target pyridines can be synthesized exhibiting different pK a values and molecular volumes. Various synthetic routes have been described in the literature, starting from different precursors or modification of other 15N‐labelled pyridines. In this work, we have explored the synthesis of 15N 15N‐labelled pyridines using a two‐step process via the synthesis of alkoxy‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran as precursor exhibiting already the desired pyridine substitution pattern. As an example, we have synthesized 3,5‐dimethylpyridine‐15N (lutidine‐15N) as demonstrated by 15N‐NMR spectroscopy. That synthesis starts from methacrolein, propenyl ether, and 15N‐labelled NH4Cl as nitrogen source.


N-doped TiO2/SiO2(N-TS)composite microspheres were prepared by sol-gel reaction and layer-bylayer electrostatic self-assembly method with cationic polystyrene microspheres as template,ethyl silicate and titanium tetrabutoxide as precursor,triethylamine as nitrogen source.And the N-TS double shell hollow microspheres with mesoporous structure were fabricated after calcinated at the high temperature.The structure of microspheres was characterized by Zeta-plus laser particle size and potential instrument,SEM,XRD,UV-Vis and the visible light catalytic activity of N-TS composite hollow microspheres was studied using methylene blue as the target pollutants.The results show that the alternate coating of SiO2and TiO2forms double shell structure and keeps the hollow microsphere with perfect spherical morphology;N doped has broadened light response range effectively and enhanced absorption in the visible region for the TiO2.The double hollow microspheres calcinated at 500℃ with n(N)/n(Ti)=10have the best visible light catalytic activity,the methyl blue almost completely degraded in 2h,and still keep high visible light catalytic activity for reused hollow microspheres.


Abstract. A theoretical model is introduced to determine the thermocapillary force acting on a microbubble, which adheres to the wall of a container filled with a liquid, during trapping using a focused continuous-wave (CW) laser beam. The model is developed by considering all possible forces acting on the microbubble, which also includes the optical force, the viscous force, and the friction force. The thermocapillary force, estimated from the relative velocity of the trapped microbubble with respect to the container, compares favorably with theoretical predictions based on the temperature gradient induced by the focused laser beam. The proposed experiment can be also used to determine the contact angle and/or the coefficient of friction of the microbubble at the microbubble–container interface. Our results should be useful in the design of efficient systems using microbubbles for drug delivery and water treatment systems.


A fortyyear old male, known case of BetaThalassemia major who was splenectomised in year 2010, presented with symptoms of severe anemia. For the preceding few months, he had been experiencing frequent drops in hemoglobin with gradually increased requirements for transfusion. Physical examination showed pallor and mild icterus. The liver was mildly enlarged. Laboratory tests showed hemoglobin of 75 g/L, platelets of 170 x 109/L and white blood cells 4.5 x 109/L. The reticulocytes were 2.5%. Liver function tests revealed slightly increased indirect bilirubin (43 umol/L) and LDH (290 IU/L). The peripheral blood smear showed microcytic hypochromic red cells, target cells, and a few nucleated red cells (left panel). All additional investigations for recurrent drop in hemoglobin were non contributory. When the etiology remained ambiguous, a bone marrow examination was performed, which revealed many large cells with papery cytoplasm, morphologically consistent with Gaucher's cells (middle panel). They were seen in clusters as well as scattered in interstitial spaces and were highlighted by the PAS stain (right panel). True Gaucher's disease was excluded by normal enzyme levels of betaglucocerbrosidase and acid sphingomyelinase. Genetic testing did not reveal any specific mutations. Gaucher's disease is a rare genetic lipid storage disorder caused by a deficiency of the glucocerebrosidase enzyme and characterized by the deposition of unprocessed glucocerebrosides in macrophages. PseudoGaucher's cells appear morphologically similar to Gaucher's cells. They are histiocytes without lipids and are highlighted with the periodic acid Schiff stain. This condition must be considered in any splenectomised thalassemia patient with an inappropriately low reticulocyte response, who develops an increasing requirement for blood transfusion during the course of the disease. Although extensive involvement of bone marrow by PseudoGaucher cells remains a rare cause of anemia in thalassemic patients, the identification of this entity is important as these patients may be candidates for early bone marrow transplantation.


Adherence to pulmonary medication is pivotal in delaying the progression of lung disease in cystic fibrosis (CF). Further exploring the consequences of poor adherence and its impact on disease severity may be valuable to personalize CF treatment strategy.


The utility model relates to a round direct-connected type electric connector which can be directly connected in electric appliance, comprising a plurality of shield earth-connection reeds on outer edge of a plug shell and on inner and outer edges of a socket shell, wherein the outer edge of the plug shell is jacketed with a support ring with inner edge provided with a groove, a plurality of shield earth-connection reeds are arranged between the groove and the plug shell. A seal ring and a plurality of shield earth-connection reeds are arranged in the socket shell, the outer edge of the socket shell is jacketed with a support ring, and the support ring is provided with a groove on the inner edge, and a plurality of the shield earth-connection reeds are arranged between the groove and the plug shell. The shield earth-connection reeds are round with knife-edges on surface. The utility model utilizes seal ring and the earth-connection reeds in the socket shell and the shield earth-connection reeds in the support ring which fixes the socket and the plug to realize electromagnetic shield function and confirm a slight oscillating quantity of the plug shell and the socket shell. The utility model is more particularly to be used for the condition with multiply connectors between electric appliances.


Treated wastewater has been addressed as an alternative water resource to a great extent lately because of major water scarcity faced worldwide. Among wastewater treatment technologies envisaged, anaerobic membrane bioreactors...


The goal of character recognition research is to simplify and automate the development of character recognition algorithms. We describe an approach based on applying preprocessing to data sets of Latin characters and then applying a machine learning approach to the data sets to build a knowledge base able to classify unseen pre-processed characters. The machine learning method, Induct/RDR, has a number of features that make it particularly suitable for character recognition. It has the potential to integrate automatic analysis with a manual knowledge acquisition methodology if further refinement is required. Initial results on hand-printed Latin characters show the recognition accuracy of up to 90.2% on unseen cases for the machine learning system.


A leading defender of the Supreme Court's ruling in Miranda v. Arizona concluded that the famous and controversial criminal law decision provides substantial benefits and virtually no costs. But how can something that makes so little difference be so important? In the real world, things are more complicated. This rejoinder article contends that this "no costs" illusion is possible only by indulging every presumption against Miranda's harm. Miranda's defender does not acknowledge that the range of error in methodology is equally likely to create a "deceptive illusion" of low or nonexistent costs. Part I demonstrates that, far from calculating Miranda's greatest possible harm, conventional studies simply read the data resourcefully to put Miranda in the best possible light and to shrink Miranda's costs to an acceptable level. Part II then takes on challenges to the desirability of modifying Miranda by replacing its waiver and questioning cut-off rules with a mandatory videotaping regime.


Extensive absolute spectrophotometry of HH objects has been obtained with the 3.9 m AAT and the 1.9 m Mount Stromlo telescopes. Systematic trends in their spectral characteristics have been found. All the observations can be explained in a quantitative manner using a theory of radiating shock waves traveling into a partially preionized medium.There are probably two classes of stellar objects driving the shocks. These are either B-type protostars in the process of breaking up optically thick dust cocoons, or FU Orionis-type stars losing mass. In either case, high luminosities and/or high mass-loss rates are required. If the stellar object is an FU Orionis object, these must be maintained over time scales of order 100 years.


SUMMARYToxicmegacolon is a rare complication of ulcerative colitis; this report describes 8 pa tients, 4 of whom died. The high mortality was attributable to prolonged medical treatment, delay in recognising the need to undertake surgery and colonic perforation. Our findings suggest that steroids have no place in the management of this condition; rather the occurrence of toxic megacolon should be re garded as an absolute indication for surgery with patients being selected for either total colectomy or pan-proctocolectomy.


In recent years, there has been increasing talk of improving energy efficiency and the ability to reduce greenhouse gases in wastewater treatment plants. This necessitates exploring the possibilities for reducing energy costs and the possibilities for obtaining energy from wastewater. In the present study, an analysis of the energy consumed at different stages of wastewater treatment in a municipal WWTP in the Republic of Bulgaria is made, and the average monthly consumption of electricity required for the treatment of one cubic meter of wastewater is estimated. Based on the collected and analyzed data, an assessment was made of the possibilities for energy recovery from dry matter from sludge, by combustion and anaerobic digestion. The obtained results allow for the reconstruction of a facility and the use of the hitherto unused energy potential contained in the sludge.


Background: Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) arising from papillary muscles (PMs) have been reported. Some cases with VAs from PMs have been reported to show late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in arrhythmogenic PMs on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI). Case Report: We report on a 54-year-old female presenting with severe left ventricular dysfunction and frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) including non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT). PVCs (right bundle branch block and inferior axis) comprised 34.7% of total number of QRS complexes during 24 h Holter monitoring. Three dimensional mapping revealed the origin of PVC at the base of the anterior PM, which was also confirmed by transthoracic echocardiography. A total of 17 radio-frequency (RF) energy applications by irrigated-tip catheter were required to eliminate the PVCs. No Purkinje potential was recorded and acceleration of the PVCs was observed during RF delivery. CMRI revealed LGE in both anterior and posterior PMs. The posterior PM was surrounded by widespread LGE in endocardium while the anterior PM was not. Conclusion: Focal delayed enhancement in the anterior PM may indicate the origin of VAs that can exist deep beneath the endocardium. The posterior PM, which also had LGE in itself was not arrhythmogenic this time possibly because of the widespread LGE covering the area.


The seas around the Prince Edward Islands exhibit enhanced phytoplankton production and large populations of birds and seals. However, phytoplankton blooms are hardly utilised by holozooplankton grazers. Much of the phytoplankton biomass sinks to the seabed, supporting a nch benthos, and the link with higher trophic levels is unclear. A large population of the sh r~mp Nauticaris mariolus is concentrated in the inter-island plateau forming a suprabenthic layer extend~ng 5 to 10 m above the bottom. Megalope larvae of N. marjonis exh~bit verbcal d~urnal migration in the watercolumn and rhythms in gut pigment content. The main prey items in adult shrimp guts, however, are benthic suspension feeders and no grazing on phytoplankton occurs. Tkls suggests that, while megalope larvae utilize phytoplankton duectly as a food source, adult shrimps do so indirectly, via their grazing on benthic suspension feeders. As N. manonjs forms a large component of the stomach contents of many visual predators, this indicates a key role for the shrimp in making pelagic production indirectly available to large predators


MicroRNAs are a group of non‐coding RNA that controls the gene expression. The interaction between miRNA and mRNA is thought to be dynamic. Oral cancer "The cancer of mouth" is quite prevailing in developing countries. miRNA has been found associated with oral cancer targeting tumor growth, cell proliferation, metastasis, invasion. The significant association of miRNA with genes could be used as a remarkable tool for diagnosis as well as prognostic analysis of oral cancer.


Foreword: renewing medicine's basic concepts / Edmund D. Pellegrino -- Pt. I. Historical discussions of health, disease, and illness -- Ch. 1. From On the Natural Faculties II, VIII / Galen - - Ch. 2. Diseases of the soul / Maimonides -- Ch. 3. Prometheus's vulture: the renaissance fashioning of gout / Roy Porter and G.S. Rousseau -- Ch. 4. Report on the diseases and physical peculiarities of the negro race / Samuel A. Cartwright -- Ch. 5. The normal and the pathological-introduction to the problem / Georges Canguilhem -- Ch. 6. The myth of mental illness / Thomas S. Szasz -- Ch. 7. The need for a new medical model: a challenge for biomedicine / George L. Engel -- Ch. 8. When do symptoms become a disease? / Robert A. Aronowitz -- Pt. II. Characterizing health, disease, and illness -- Ch. 9. On the distinction between disease and illness / Christopher Boorse -- Ch. 10. Malady: a new treatment of disease / K. Danner Clouser, Charles M. Culver,and Bernard Gert -- Ch. 11. Health: a comprehensive concept / Roberto Mordacci and Richard Sobel -- Ch. 12. The distinction between mental and physical illness / R.E. Kendell -- Ch. 13. The "unnaturalness" of aging-give me reason to live! / Arthur L. Caplan -- Ch. 14. Diagnosing and defining disease / Winston Chiong -- Pt. III. Clinical applications of the concepts of health and disease: controversies/consensus -- Ch. 15. "Ambiguous sex"- or ambivalent medicine? / Alice Domurat Dreger -- Ch.16. The discovery of hyperkinesis: notes on the medicalization of deviant behavior / Peter Conrad -- Ch. 17. Suffering and the social construction of illness: the delegitimation of illness experience in chronic fatigue syndrome / Norma C. Ware -- Ch. 18. The premenstrual syndrome: a brief history / John T.E. Richardson -- Ch. 19. The politics of menopause: the "discovery" of a deficiency disease / Frances B. McCrea -- Ch. 20. Aging, culture, and the framing of Alzheimer disease / Martha Holstein -- Pt. IV. Normalcy, genetic disease, and enhancement: the future of the concepts of health and disease -- Ch. 21. The medicalization of aesthetic surgery / Sander Gilman -- Ch. 22. The quest for medical normalcy-who needs it? / George C. Williams -- Ch. 23. The concept of genetic disease / David Magnus -- Ch. 24. Concepts of disease after the human genome project / Eric T. Juengst -- Ch. 25. From "enhancing cognition in the intellectually intact" / Peter J. Whitehouse, Eric T. Juengst, Maxwell Mehlman, and Thomas H. Murray -- Ch. 26. Treatment, enhancement, and the ethics of neurotherapeutics / Paul Root Wolpe -- Ch. 27. What's morally wrong with eugenics? / Arthur L. Caplan - - Acknowledgments -- Contributors -- Permissions and credits -- Index


Abstract : This monograph seeks to determine what is the best means of motivating airmen under fire, minimize the effects of combat stress, and avert unit disintegration. This journey begins with a brief review of classical theory on combat motivation and then transitions to the more contemporary assertions of Anthony Kellett. From Kellett's analysis, four elements are drawn together to form the basis and criteria by which commanders and aircrews alike can gauge their preparedness for dealing with the stress, fear, and anxieties of combat. With a theoretical basis and model established, this monograph proceeds with an examination of the 1972 Linkebacker II campaign against North Vietnam. This project concludes with a brief discussion of the implications of these four elements upon today's and tomorrow's aerial battlefield.


The improving effect of nanoparticles on wood dimensional stability is barely known nowadays. The expected result of the research was the improvement of the dimensional stability through bulk hydro...


The ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide ([Bmim][DCA]) is a propellant candidate for a standalone electrospray thruster or a dual-mode propulsion system. Characterization of positive polarity ions produced by [Bmim][DCA] capillary emitters with a nominal extraction voltage of 2.0 kV is presented, followed by predictions of propulsion performance. Flow rates from 0.27 to 2.18  nL/s are used to investigate the impact variations in the flow parameter have on the electrospray plume. Measurements indicate the presence of Bmim([Bmim][DCA])n+ (n=0, 1, 2, 3, 4) cation species plus droplet contributions. At 0.27  nL/s, the n=1 species dominates the mass spectrum contributing 56.5% of the total intensity, while at 2.18  nL/s, the dominant species is n=4, comprising 40.7%. Based on the retarding potential analysis, ions emitted from the capillary are formed below the emitter potential of 500 eV. Angular distributions indicate the broadening of both the beam current and mass distribution for increasin...


Palms are an important component of landscapes in tropical, subtropical, and Mediterranean climates, but are anatomically very different from broadleaf trees. Very little is known about the movement and persistence of systemic fungicides into various parts of the palm canopy. This information is critical in selecting fungicides that may be effective against diseases that infect specific parts of the palm. In this study, potassium phosphite was injected intomature coconut palms (Cocos nucifera) at rates of 0, 30, 60, or 90 mL per tree. Various leaf tissue samples were collected periodically thereafter up through 60 weeks and were analyzed for phosphite concentrations. Phosphite moved quickly into leaflet tissue, but concentrations dropped off sharply between 1 and 5 weeks after injection. This drop in leaflet concentrations was balanced by a concomitant increase in spear leaf concentrations. Phosphite persisted at high concentrations in basal rachis tissue of both old and new leaves throughout the experiment. This suggests that this material may be useful for controlling diseases that infect spear leaves and petiole or rachis tissue, but not leaflets. Phosphites (syn. phosphonates) (H2PO3 ; HPO3 ) are alkali metal salts of phosphorous acid (H3PO3), a reduced form of phosphate (PO4 ). Because phosphite has one less oxygen molecule, it has a higher degree of solubility and mobility than phosphate. This characteristic gives phosphite the ability to rapidly cross the membranes of leaves or roots. It is considered an ambimobile ion, which means it has both xylem and phloem mobility (Guest and Grant, 1991; Ouimette and Coffee, 1990). Although it is often sold as a fertilizer, phosphite cannot be metabolized as a phosphorus source by plants (McDonald et al., 2001; Ratjen and Gerend as, 2009; Thao and Yamakawa, 2009). However, phosphite has been effective in controlling plant diseases, especially those caused by Phytophthora spp. (Guest and Grant, 1991; Smillie et al., 1989), including Phytophthora diseases of palms (DeFranqueville and Renard, 1989; Pohe et al., 2003; Th evenin et al., 1995). Phosphite compounds have also been effective in controlling diseases caused by Fusarium spp., Rhizoctonia solani, and Microdochium majus in other crops (Hofgaard et al., 2010; Lobato et al., 2008, 2010). The mode of action of phosphite is complex and is not fully understood. Phosphite has been shown to have direct effects on Phytophthora spp. and other fungi, both in vitro and in vivo. However, it is believed that the primary mode of action of phosphite is through its stimulation of natural plant defense mechanisms (Guest and Grant, 1991; Smillie et al., 1989). The benefits of phosphite as a fungicide include low cost, high mobility within plants, persistence in plant tissue, multiple action sites as a fungicide, and low mammalian and environmental toxicity (Guest and Grant, 1991). Phosphite compounds are typically applied to herbaceous plants using foliar sprays or soil drenches. However, to improve effectiveness and reduce the amount of chemical applied as well as potential environmental impacts, trunk injection is increasingly being used for application on tree crops (Guest et al., 1994, 1995; VanWoerkom et al., 2014). Since trunk injections cause permanent wounds in palms, this method is recommended only for prevention of lethal diseases. Knowledge of phosphite distribution and dynamics in plant tissues is essential to determine the optimum timing for fungicide treatment and to predict which diseases it may be effective against. A study on the distribution and dynamics of phosphite in avocado (Persea americana) trees treated with fosetyl-Al (the active breakdown product of this fungicide is phosphite) showed that phosphite concentrations were higher in branches than in the roots or leaves (Bezuidenhout et al., 1987). Its concentration in the branches and root samples taken from avocado trees reached its peak a month after trunk injection of fosetyl-Al. However, in mature leaves, the phosphite peak was broader. As a result, old branches stored 50% of the phosphite, the roots around 30%, and the remaining 20% was in young branches, leaves, and leaf stems. The conclusion from this study was that phosphite was not evenly distributed among different plant organs. Although phosphite fungicides have been evaluated for disease control in palms (Darakis et al., 1985; DeFranqueville and Renard, 1989; Th evenin et al., 1995), nothing is known about the distribution and dynamics of phosphite in palms. Because palms are arborescent monocots, they differ greatly from dicot trees in their anatomy and physiology, making it difficult to extrapolate the results of research done on dicot trees to palms. The objectives for this study are to determine the uptake, distribution, and persistence of phosphite in trunk-injected coconut palms over time. Materials and Methods Twenty malayan dwarf coconut palms growing at the University of Florida's Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Davie, FL were used in this study. These palms were 30 years old, 8–10 m in overall height, and were fruiting at the time of this study. The palms were growing in a Margate fine sand soil, with individual palms spaced 6 m apart. Palms were fertilized every 3 months by broadcasting an 8N–0.9P–10K– 4Mg plus micronutrients controlled-release fertilizer (Nurserymen's Sure-Gro Corp., Vero Beach, FL) at a rate of 75 g·m to the entire plot. The Arborjet tree I.V. Microinfusion system (Arborjet Inc., Woburn, MA) was used to inject the following four treatments: deionized water (DI) only (control), 30 mL (8.4 g a.i.) potassium phosphite, 60 mL (16.8 g a.i.) potassium phosphite, and 90 mL (25.2 g a.i.) potassium phosphite. All phosphite treatments were diluted 1:2 with DI. The commercial source of the potassium phosphite was StarPhite (Loveland Products Inc., Greeley, CO). Holes 9.5 mm in diameter and 10-cm deep were drilled 1 m above the ground. All of the holes were on the south side of the trunk. Treatments were replicated five times and were arranged in a completely randomized design. Injections were performed on 17 May 2012. Plant tissues were harvested at 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 weeks after application. The following plant tissues were harvested to determine phosphite distribution within coconut palm: spear leaf (youngest unopened leaf) tip, rachis base of the oldest leaf (OBR), middle leaflets from the oldest leaf (OML), and middle leaflets from the youngest fully expanded leaf (YML) (Fig. 1). Coconut palms produce about one new leaf every 5 weeks. Thus, a different spear leaf tip was harvested each time, as were leaflets from youngest fully expanded leaf and old leaf. To sample the rachis from the oldest leaf, this leaf was cut from the canopy. Since untreated (DI only) palm Received for publication 17 Apr. 2015. Accepted for publication 13 July 2015. This research was supported by the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station and by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch Project FLA-FTL-004945. We thank Susan Thor and Elizabeth Desjardin for their assistance in this project. Corresponding author. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com. HORTSCIENCE VOL. 50(9) SEPTEMBER 2015 1327 phosphite concentrations were determined to be very low and were not expected to change over time, these palms were not sampled after week 1. On 11 Feb. 2013, 40 weeks after injection of potassium phosphite, samples of the following plant tissues were harvested from the 90 mL potassium phosphite treated palms for phosphite analysis: spear leaf tip (SPR), rachis base from an old leaf (OBR), rachis base from the youngest fully expanded leaf (YBR), distal portion of the rachis of an old leaf (ODR), distal portion of the rachis of the youngest fully expanded leaf (YDR), basal leaflets from an old leaf (OBL), basal leaflets from the youngest fully expanded leaf (YBL), distal leaflets from the youngest fully expanded leaf (YDL), distal leaflets from an old leaf (ODL), basal half of the distal leaflets from an young leaf (YDLB), and distal half of the distal leaflets from an young leaf (YDLD) (Fig. 1). Plant samples were dried at 60 C for 48 h and ground in a Wiley Mill to pass through a 40-mesh screen. Homogeneous powder samples (0.5 g) were extracted with 10 mL DI, shaken by Labquake shaker (Labindustries Inc., Berkeley, CA) at 75 OPM for 10 min and centrifuged for 10 min at 2400 rpm. The liquid supernatant was then filtered through a 0.22-mm nylon membrane filter using a vacuum pump. The filtrate was collected and refiltered through C18 SEP-PAK Cartridges (Waters Assoc., Milford, MA). This filtrate was then brought to a final sample volume of 5 mL with DI. Samples were kept frozen at –11 C until they could be analyzed. Samples were injected by hand using a 5-mL syringe into a Dionex-100 Ion Chromatograph (Model DX1–03; Dionex Corp., Sunnyvale, CA) with integrated Anion Self-regenerating Suppressor-Ultra, an AS-17 column and eluent gradient system (Kratos Analytical, Spring Valley, NY), and were eluted with 100 mM potassium hydroxide (KOH) at a flow rate of Fig. 1. Locations of palm tissues sampled for phosphite analysis. Fig. 2. Sample chromatogram showing elution times for phosphite and other anions. 1328 HORTSCIENCE VOL. 50(9) SEPTEMBER 2015 0.56 mL·min. Eighteen percent KOH was initiated at 0 min and maintained until 0.45 min. A linear gradient of 18% to 100% KOH was applied between 0.45 and 5.45 min. The eluent of 100%KOHwas continued for 2 min to elute samples before decreasing to 18% KOH for postrun equilibrium. A conductivity detector detected anions and the data were processed using Peak Net Data Acquisition System (Dionex Corp., Sunnyvale, CA). A sample chromatogram showing the elution times for phosphite and other anions using this method is shown in Fig. 2. Treatment mean data for each tissue type were analyzed within and among sampling dates by regression analysis. Diffe


Methods of making and using starch graft copolymers produce particle sizes useful in granule applicators for applying to agricultural fields. Starch graft copolymers on field crops provide excellent anti-crusting properties, increased seed germination and stand, increased crop growth, increased crop yields and reduced water requirements.


In recent times, collagen, which is one of the most abundant proteins found in animals, has appeared to be an attractive candidate for biomaterial applications, for example, in medical implants and wearable electronics. This is because collagen is water-insoluble, biocompatible and non-toxic. In addition, films of different sizes and shapes can be made using this protein as it is malleable and elastic in nature. However, its capacity of electron transport or an absence of it has remained largely untested so far. Therefore, in this work, the electron transport behaviour of collagen has been studied in both film and single fiber state in local probe configuration using current-sensing atomic force spectroscopy (CSAFS). From the CSAFS analyses, the electronic (transport) band gap of collagen has been estimated. It has been found that collagen behaves as a wide band gap semiconductor (near-insulating) in a variety of experimental conditions. The transition to a semiconducting material with low electronic band gap and nearly thousand times enhancement in the current value (pA to nA level) occurs by metal ion-treatment (here, Fe3+) of the native collagen. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on a molecular level study of electron transport behaviour of collagen proteins, and estimation of transport band gap values of collagen and metallated collagen.


This report contains the text of a paper presented to the driver education seminar conducted by the New South Wales State Council for Youth, Sydney 1st December, 1980, entitled: background material on driver education and a precis of a talk by weaver, jk, on the safe performance driving project, dekalb county, georgia, USA.


In view of combining the actual condition of the coal enterprises, the sense of the scientific development has the important directive function on the sustained development of the resource type of the state- owned enterprises.


This paper discusses how the materiality and surface of the digital printmaking process may be seen as visually evidenced in the resulting printed image


AbstractThe present position of theory and practice concerning methods of increasing the strength of ferrous and nonferrous alloys by thermomechanical and mechanical/thermal treatment is described. Special attention is given to methods using substructural strengthening as they allow combinations of high strength and good ductility to be obtained.


SUMMARY This paper describes the use of the L ATEX 2" smrauth.cls class file for setting papers for the Journal of Software: Evolution and Process. Copyright c 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Received . . .


Pregnancy is the period from the start of conception to the birth of the fetus, the duration is 280 days, counting from the first day of the last menstruation, pregnancy is the beginning of a new life in this period of life. During pregnancy the mother will find many changes both in terms of anatomy, physiology and even psychology so that it can be a cause of discomfort in pregnant women, while the discomfort of pregnancy in the third trimester experienced by women is low back pain which is a common complaint that often occurs in the majority of pregnant women, it is estimated about 70% in the third trimester. The purpose of this case study is to describe the discomfort of back pain that occurs in the third trimester at the delta pearl clinic and maternity home. The method used is a descriptive method which aims to create an objective picture with midwifery care that is used from assessment to evaluation. In the study of this case study, no complications were found, so there was no gap between discomfort and supporting theory.


The forward-backward asymmetry measurement in top-pair production at the Tevatron is about $2\ensuremath{\sigma}$ from the standard model prediction. We propose an asymmetric left-right model, which includes a ${W}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ boson with a right-handed coupling of down to top quark, and a ${Z}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ boson with diagonal couplings to the up, top, and down quarks with ${M}_{{W}^{\ensuremath{'}}}\ensuremath{\approx}175\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$ and ${M}_{{Z}^{\ensuremath{'}}}\ensuremath{\approx}900\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$. The model accounts for the asymmetry while remaining consistent with the top-pair total cross section and invariant mass distribution.


In defining the relation ofT-cell sets to one another, the prime task is to determine, for a given pair of cell sets jointly required for a particular function, whether one set is recruited from the other by differentiation (developmental sequence) or whether the relationship is entirely communicative (collaboration or induction). Mice. C57BL/6 (B6) mice (phenotype Lyt-l.2:Lyt-2.2) were obtained from The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine. Congenie B6-Lyt-1 a mice (phenotype Lyt-1. l:Lyt-2.2) were bred at the Sloan-Kettering Institute, New York. Antigens. Preparation of group A Streptococcus vaccine (SAV) and its trinitrophenyl (TNP) conjugate (TNP-SAV) is described elsewhere (5, 6). T-M~ Culture. This procedure, in which CRNPT are cultured for 4 d on M~ from donors primed with SAV, yielding mostly Lyl cells (3), whose HE and SI functions are measured by plaque-forming cell (PFC) assay with T-depleted and intact spleen populations, respectively, is described elsewhere (3) and is briefly recapitulated in footnotes to Tables I and III. Selection of Cell Sets from CRNPT. Ly2 + cells (Ly123 and Ly23) were positively selected from B6 and B6-Lyt-1 a CRNPT as follows: Step 1: Incubation of CRNPT with ct-Lyt-2.2 (7) for 30 min on ice (2.5 × 107 CRNPT/ml of 1:50 et-Lyt-2.2 with a cytotoxicity titer of 1:640 against B6 and B6-Lyt-1" thymocytes, both B6 and B6-Lyt-1 a mice being Lyt-2.2). Step 2: Twice-washed antibody-coated cells from step 1 were applied to plastic dishes coated with immunoadsorbent


In a world where machinery has a primary role in the productivity of most industrial companies, predictive maintenance is crucial. Also, considering that bearings are present in the majority of industrial machinery, most of the monitoring, in one way or another, has a central focus on these elements. At the same time, we find ourselves undergoing an industrial revolution – Industry 4.0 –, where low cost distributed monitoring and data transfer are vital. Considering these goals, which directly translate to a large amount of data generated, it is no surprise that the implementation of Artificial Intelligence, more specifically Machine Learning algorithms, is gaining growing importance when it comes to data analysis in real-time. With this in mind, the development of this dissertation tries to present a practical case where both, monitoring of bearings and Artificial Intelligence, can be applied, always considering the main theoretical concepts of each topic: the range of frequencies to study when analyzing the bearings, the kind of equipment to measure and acquire data, as well as the algorithm to use in order to train the Machine Learning model – in this case, an Artificial Neural Network. This project uses bearings of anemometers during data acquisition, both inside a wind tunnel as well as in an acoustically-isolated environment. Relative to the data analysis, most of the work was done using LabVIEW in junction with MATLAB scripts. The Virtual Instruments created enabled the data analysis and visualization, which allowed proper parameter selection in order to implement an Artificial Neural Network. The final result was a trained Artificial Neural Network model capable to distinguish faulty bearings from healthy ones, under certain limitations due to the small size of the available knowledge. It was left for future works the use of different data acquisition methods for real-time classification on the field, as well as the application of this model to Acoustic Emission data, which allows for better predictive maintenance. It is also expected that this model has the ability to classify different flaws, given better acquisition conditions.


Paradigm -2 AFC grating detection task -4 orientations: 30°, 70°, 110°, 150° -6 stimulus contrast levels logarithmically spaced from .05 to .5 -Orientation cue -80% Valid -20% Invalid Conclusion •Feature-based attention mediates perceptual learning -Performance improves after training for validly cued trials •Feature-based attention mediates transfer of learning -Learning-induced improvements only transfer for validly cued trials Results: Accuracy Results: Contrast Thresholds


AbstractThis article looks at some of the facts revealed in a report on the status of the Indian environment. It examines the various measures undertaken by both the government and NGOs in tackling environmental issues as well as the part played by the media, especially radio and TV, in creating greater awareness of the prevailing environmental plight among the general masses.


There is an increasing tendency of turning the current power grid, essentially unaware of variations in electricity demand and scattered energy sources, into something capable of bringing a degree of intelligence by using tools strongly related to information and communication technologies, thus turning into the so-called Smart Grid. In fact, it could be considered that the Smart Grid is an extensive smart system that spreads throughout any area where power is required, providing a significant optimization in energy generation, storage and consumption. However, the information that must be treated to accomplish these tasks is challenging both in terms of complexity (semantic features, distributed systems, suitable hardware) and quantity (consumption data, generation data, forecasting functionalities, service reporting), since the different energy beneficiaries are prone to be heterogeneous, as the nature of their own activities is. This paper presents a proposal on how to deal with these issues by using a semantic middleware architecture that integrates different components focused on specific tasks, and how it is used to handle information at every level and satisfy end user requests.


Abstract In Part 1 of the present study, it was found that the phase angle between the transverse force and the motion of a cylinder subjected to oscillations in the cross-flow direction, is strongly dependent on the parameters of the cylinder excitation. Since the phase angle is associated with the timing of vortex shedding, i.e., the phase of vortex formation with respect to the cylinder motion, the alteration of the phase angle at different conditions of forced excitation suggests a change in timing. For the investigation of timing at different excitation conditions, a detailed numerical visualization in the near-wake was conducted, by superimposing the vorticity contours on the streamlines when the cylinder displacement had reached the uppermost position. Flow visualization during a half-cycle for characteristic cases of the cylinder excitation was also performed, in an attempt to explain the alterations induced in the vortex spacing by the cylinder motion, which were also observed in Part 1. The numerical solution revealed a switch in timing when the excitation frequency is increased over the natural shedding frequency, which is accompanied by an instability in the near-wake which renders the wake aperiodic. Various examples of aperiodic flows are illustrated, and an explanation for the initiation of aperiodicity is provided. Finally, a balance between the circulation shed into the wake per oscillation cycle and that surviving in the vortices is conducted, while the distribution of u ′ rms along the wake centreline and the base pressure on the cylinder for various excitation conditions are also presented.


The study investigated the adoption of cervical cancer screening (CCS) among women in Ibadan, Nigeria. The relationship between knowledge and adoption of CCS; and relationship between perception (perceived barriers and perceived benefits) and adoption of CCS among the study population were examined. The data collected from 1,000 women were analysed using appropriate statistical and econometrics techniques. A low (12.3%) uptake of cervical cancer screening was reported, knowledge had no significant relationship with screening uptake; there was however a significant relationship between perceived barriers to screening (OR = 1.078, 95% C.I. = 1.007-1.153, p = 0.30) and screening uptake. It concluded that there is an abysmal poor level of knowledge and subsequent low uptake of cervical cancer screening among women in Ibadan, however there is a future intention to uptake the screening if the screening services are available close to them, at a reduced cost and when socio-cultural barriers are adequately addressed.


– The present systematic review aimed to describe the bibliometric and engineering aspects regarding the role of business intelligence as a competitive advantage in organizations between 2012 and 2022. In this sense, a search was initiated in various scientific databases such as: Scopus, Scielo, Dialnet, Redalyc, Alicia, Dspace, Crossref and Openaire; using the following keywords: business intelligence, data management, ETL, decision making, Peru, data mining, organizational approach, datamart, competitive intelligence and artificial intelligence. Subsequently, inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied corresponding to the presence of the study variable in the title, language, year of publication, publication in open Access, type of research, quantitative results of the study, among other criteria. The bibliometric results showed that during the years 2021-2022 applied research in business intelligence has increased, 59% of identified studies have been published in Spanish and 41% in English, while Scopus, Scielo and Dialnet are the databases with the largest amount of research in this regard. In the case of the content results, tools associated with business intelligence and the most relevant effects achieved with their implementation were identified. Finally, it was concluded that business intelligence represents a competitive advantage for organizations due to its positive impact on decision making, resource optimization and efficiency levels.


This paper presents the design of a prototype of an artificial anthropomorphic prosthetic hand that attempts to reproduce the appearance and movements of the human hand. Motivator's goals for the design were functionality, aesthetics and economics. Regarding the functionality, the hand can be configured with three grasping patterns to handle objects of different shapes and sizes. It has five fingers, where the index, middle, ring and little fingers, have three phalanges that facilitate their flexion and extension. The thumb has two phalanges to perform flexion and extension movements. The thumb was designed with an independent mechanism that allows its opposition to the rest of the fingers. The hand opening and closing is performed by DC motors located into the palm and commanded with an Arduino board. The fingers have force and flex sensors that provide feedback to control the hands movements. With respect to aesthetics, we intended to mimic the appearance, in terms of size and shape, of an adult man hand without harming its functionality. Finally, the economic aspect was accomplished using materials and other parts that were easily accessible and inexpensive. The construction of the prototype was performed by plastic modelling technology such as 3D printers.


The eco‐geographical Bergmann's rule predicts that animals have smaller body size in warmer regions than in cold environments because of thermoregulatory reasons. Although this rule has been widely investigated, intraspecific analyses on cosmopolitan taxa are rare. We examined whether geographical variation in wing length, a proxy of body size, shows a Bergmannian pattern and can be explained by three mechanisms known to affect animal body size (heat conservation, resource availability and starvation resistance) in seven species of nocturnal raptors of the genus Tyto.


Every ideology--when it has absolute rule in society--tries to proclaim its infallibility and to eliminate even mere indications of competition by all possible means of its power. This has a very deleterious effect on the thinking of people, on the overall development of human personality. This deformation has also a negative impact on the psychotherapeutic relation example: in addition to depriving the psychotherapeutic repertoire, in certain situations it may have a iatrogenic effect on the patient.


Carnation is an important flower crop having great commercial value as a cut flower due to its excellent keeping quality, wide array of colour and forms and from medicinal point as cardiotonic, diaphoretic and alexiteric. The experiment was conducted at Hi-Tech Horticulture of RAU Pusa, Bihar to study the effect of climatic parameters on performance & evaluation of carnation inside the polyhouse compared to outside. Observations were undertaken to record and evaluate various climatic parameters i.e. ambient air temperature, relative humidity etc. inside and outside the polyhouse, plant growth parameters among three verities Corex Collina and Gionek. Plant parameters like plant height, days to budding and flowering, plant mortality, flowers per square meter different treatments were measured under polyhouse and outside the polyhouse. The average increases in maximum and minimum temperature inside greenhouse were found 5.72°C and 7.82°C respectively. The average increases in maximum and minimum relative humidity inside greenhouse were found 4.67percent and 10.62 percent respectively. Corex recorded highest plant height (103cm) while variety Gionek (81cm), was shortest types. Collina (5.5%) was found very resistant to mortality and varieties Corex and Gionek fairly resistance to mortality with (8.8) & (12.2%) % respectively. Maximum number of flowers per square meter was recorded in variety collina (33.58) and variety which was recorded minimum number of flowers per square meter (25.67) was Gionek. Variety Corex (30.89) was mediate in no of flowers per square meter. Plant height, plant mortality, earliness in budding & flowering, average yield per plant and productivity was minimum in outside the polyhouse and maximum in inside the polyhouse.


victor-Tango-Echo~ this is Melbourne control; continue approach to Mildura airport in a south, south-easterly direction - the runway is clear for landing. Please exercise caution because Plovers are nesting near the northern end of the runway." These could be instructions for an aircraft preparing to land at any one of many regional airports in inland Australia, and the nesting Plovers would be Banded Lapwings Vanellus tricolor. Approximately the same size as the domestic Pigeon, the Banded Lapwing is the smaller of Australia's two species of lapwings, and despite an official name change, both continue to be known as Plovers. The Banded Lapwing is readily identified by a broad black band across the breast and an absence of facial wattles. The back and wings are brown, while the white throat and black head with a white band extending behind the eye, together with bright yellow eyes and bill, give it a boldly marked appearance. Favoring open grasslands or bare plains, these terrestrial lapwings are common residents or visitors at country airports, where the regularly mowed surrounds are much to their liking. Also, there is bountiful food in the form of insects attracted to landing lights. On every one of my frequent visits to Mildura airport, in north-western Victoria, two or more birds have been present. Because their legs are shorter than those of the Masked Lapwing V mil.es, they are replaced by that larger species wherever grass cover is dense and long, such as farmlands. They are conspicuous, their characteristically animated actions always attracting attention. After standing motionless, a bird may move across the ground in a succession of short, rapid runs to capture a grasshopper or cricket, and then again stand still while looking for other prey. Although insects and earthworms are eaten whenever available, small grass seeds are a major food item, especially during dry or cold weather. These lapwings are active at night, especially in bright moonlight when their strident "er-chillchar" or "kew-kew" cries can be heard at all hours. Breeding is dependent on rainfall and may occur at any time of the year. The nest is a scrape in the ground lined with grass or leaves. A clutch of four eggs is laid. Pale brown and heavily blotched with darker brown, these eggs are well-camouflaged. Both parents build the nest, incubate the eggs and guard the cryptically plumaged chicks, which leave the nest soon after hatching. In the unenlightened days when most schoolboys had a collection of birds' eggs in boxes under the bed, a clutch of plover's eggs was a treasured possession equivalent to a badge of courage, for it was well-known how vigorously the parents defended their nest. Dive-bombing attacks accompanied by loud shrieking often deterred the less brave, or intruders were lured away by birds feigning a broken wing as part of their elaborate distraction display. Although numbers of Banded Lapwings in Australian aviaries are low, the species is one of the more popular of softbills, being considered easy to care for and often it is held in a mixed collection of parrots or finches. Indeed it is a most attractive aviary bird, and is inoffensive in mixed collections. My pair shares with a pair of Partridge Pigeons Petrophassa smitbii and a pair of Painted Buttonquail Turnix oaria, the floor of a large aviary housing a breeding pair of Red-tailed Black Cockatoos Calyptorhyncbus banksii and a pair of Western Rosellas P/atycercus icterotis. One drawback is that the lapwings are active at night, especially with bright moonlight, and this can be disturbing to other birds in the aviary. For me it is not a serious problem, because the cockatoos and the buttonquail are also active on moonlit nights. Feeding is relatively simple. Chickenrearing crumbles and a mix of small seeds, mainly millet and plain canary seed, are available to my birds at all times. These are supplemented daily with a softbill mix comprising one part minced meat, one part hard-boiled egg, one part insectivore powder and three parts breadcrumbs. Meal worms are provided only when the birds are nesting, for at other times they capture sufficient livefood by scratching on the ground or probing into grass tussocks. Their favored nesting sites are beside rocks, grass tussocks or logs. Newly hatched chicks crouch flat on the ground and remain perfectly still if approached, so extreme care must be taken to avoid stepping on them. Airports and aviaries have little in common, but either can be home for Banded Lapwings. Attractive, inquisitive, and inoffensive, these charming birds will thrive in a spacious aviary with sufficient ground cover for shelter and nesting. ~