This paper presents and studies three different modulations forms for the Multi-Voltage Boost Converter, they are compared with the H-bridge double boost configuration. Also, improvements for the dc-dc control stage are presented. Dynamic and losses simulation results show that the Multi-voltage boost converter can archive better grid current THD and lower power losses than the H-bridge double boost configuration.


In this paper, the changeable pitching method is used to improve the Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) power output for electric energy generations to partially meet the energy needs for domestic use in a place where continuous wind flow is available. The preset or unchangeable pitch turbines cannot start on their own because of negative tangential force acting on the blades of the turbine. Therefore, the variable pitching method is introduced to solve the starting problem of wind turbines and increase the turbine's efficiency in the form of a power coefficient. The cam and follower variable pitch method is employed for the present analysis. In this research paper, the analytical analysis is done with the momentum stream tube model named as DMST model. The turbine model is tested, and the test results show that the power coefficient (Cp) increases with tip speed ratio, and a maximum power coefficient of about 0.35 is obtained at l = 2.5 at 10 m/s wind speed.


Visceral arterial pseudoaneurysms are rare, however, if left untreated are associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Pseudoaneurysms typically develop as a result of trauma, infection, or underlying inflammatory disease. While management can be dictated by the size and etiology, clear guidelines are not well established, as there are no randomized trials to compare patient outcomes. Up to this point, management has involved antibiotic therapy, surgical debridement, and only more recently, endovascular approaches. We present a case of a 52-year-old male who postoperatively was found to have new liver, mesenteric, and splenic pseudoaneurysms which were all successfully treated through endovascular approach.


Starting from human design perspective of the product and using ergonomics knowledge, measurement method and model method are adapted to analyze harmonious relations between people in the sedentary state and office chairs in various parts. The research aims at how to correctly apply the theory of ergonomics in the design of new product development to ensure that the technical problems related to design fitness. And for the "Chair family "--- the sedentary population, the user-friendly design elements of health office chairs, methods and performance evaluation are studied and summarized as well.


Background
Self-management interventions are considered effective in chronic disease patients, but trials have shown inconsistent results and it is unknown which patients benefit most. Adequate self-management often requires behaviour change. To unravel effectiveness of self-management, a nurse-led intervention was comprehensively developed using the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) to target one component of self-management namely physical activity.

Methods
Firstly, a literature review was conducted to understand which components of COM-B and Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) needed to be targeted to increase patients' physical activity level. Subsequently, intervention functions were identified and matching Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs) were selected. Secondly, the BCW was applied to analyse what behaviour change is needed in nurses to adequately deliver the selected BCTs by conducting a literature review and a focus group with nurses.
Findings
All components of COM-B were applicable for both patients' and nurses' behaviours. For patients this resulted in 17 BCTs that are integrated in four nurse-led consultations: the Activate intervention. For nurses 21 BCTs were identified to adequately apply the BCTs in patients. BCTs for nurses are integrated in a one-day training and a coaching session in delivering the intervention.

Discussion
The Activate intervention aimed to increase physical activity in patients, however, nurses also need to change their behaviour to adequately deliver the intervention. Therefore the BCW was applied twice and resulted in an in-depth analysis in the targeted behaviour in order to increase the fidelity of delivery and effectiveness of the intervention.


The constants of distribution of benzene, diphenyl, and 4,4'-dipyridyl between the mobile phase (acetonitrile-water) and the stationary phase [Hypercarb carbon sorbent or Separon CN nitrilo(silica gel)] were determined from high-performance liquid chromatography measurements. The possibility of using the displacement model for describing the adsorption of an organic molecule on the surface of the sorbents from the binary mobile phase was considered. The model was used to determine the dependence of the distribution constants for the mixture components on the concentration of acetonitrile in the mobile phase. The effects of the chemical nature of the sorbent surface and of intermolecular interactions on the retention of benzene, diphenyl, and 4,4'-dipyridyl were discussed.


Electrochemical determination of dopamine (DA) in the presence of a large excess of ascorbic acid (AA) in their coexistence at a nickel oxide nanoparticle-modified preoxidized glassy carbon electrode (GCox/nano-NiOx) is achieved. The GCox/nano-NiOx electrode is prepared by electrodeposition of nickel nanoparticles (nano-Ni) onto an electrochemically activated glassy carbon (GC) electrode, and the thus prepared nano-Ni were subjected to electrochemical oxidation in alkaline medium for the formation of nickel oxide (NiOx). Modified electrodes were electrochemically and morphologically characterized. The effect of loading level of nickel was investigated by changing the number of potential cycles for the deposition of nano-Ni, i.e., 1, 2, 5, and 10 potential cycles, in the potential range from 0 to -1.0 V vs. SCE. Also, the experimental and instrumental parameters were optimized. Experimental results showed that the modified electrode differentiates well the oxidation peaks of DA and AA enabling the electrochemical determination of DA in the presence of a large excess of AA. Remarkably, it is found that the oxidation current of DA is 2 times larger than that of AA even the concentration of AA is about 5 times larger than that of DA. The LOD and LOQ of DA were calculated and were found to equal 0.69 and 2.3 mM, respectively. This offers the advantage of simple and selective detection of DA free of the interference of AA in real samples.


We describe here a novel method which shows that related large molecules, tannic acid, can control the morphology of silver/gold nanoparticles, resulting in the formation of multi-pod-shaped nanostructures. In this work, multi-pod-shaped gold/silver nanostructures have been synthesized using tannic acid as a reducing as well as a capping agent. The multi-pod-shaped Au/Ag nanostructures have been confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The growth process of gold/silver nanostructures has been studied by UV/vis spectroscopy and extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis. On the basis of these results, we propose a model explaining the role of tannic acid in the growth of gold/silver nanostructures. The reducing and capping properties of tannic acid favor the formation of unisotropic crystal growth. The growth of gold/silver nanostructures occurs as a consequence of the galvanic replacement reaction between Au3+ and Ag0 and subsequent reduction of both metal ions by tannic acid. Furthermore, it...


Optically active polythiophene (PT*) is successfully prepared by electrochemical polymerization using a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) electrolyte solution. Polarizing optical microscopy observations of the polymer reveal a well‐resolved fingerprint texture similar to the optical texture of the CLC. Circular dichroism measurements indicate a Cotton effect. The PT* film produced by the asymmetric polymerization in CLC exhibits a variable diffraction function, electrochemically driven refractive index modulation, and electrochromism originating from the periodic dielectric structure, representing a form of structural electrochromism.


Incompatible trace element abundances have been determined in mantle-derived clinopyroxenes by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) in a comparative study with established microanalytical and bulk techniques. Individual clinopyroxene grains were sampled for the laser ablation study from sieved mineral separate fractions, from which similar mineral grains had been previously extracted for microprobe (SIMS) and bulk (INAA and ID-TIMS) analysis. Mineral grains were ablated with variable degrees of surface spatial resolution (50-200 μm) in order to maximise ICP-MS analyte count rates and to improve detection limits. A comparison of results from the different techniques reveals that for the most homogeneous samples LA-ICP-MS can achieve excellent levels of agreement with other techniques (10%) and good precision for most of the studied elements (1-5% RSD). Variations in calculated concentrations by LA-ICP-MS confirm inter- and intra-mineral heterogeneity determined by SIMS, reflecting changes in sample composition and texture. The long-term reproducibility of the technique is shown by the consistency of results for one sample analysed on thirteen occasions over a period of nine months.

Les abondances d'elements en traces incompatibles ont ete determinees dans des clinopyroxenes derives du manteau par ablation laser couplee a une ICP-MS et comparees avec les resultats de techniques eprouvees d'analyse globale ou de microanalyse. Des grains individuels de clinopyroxene ont eteechantillonnes pour l' ablation laser, a partir de fractions minerales tamisees, fractions qui ont fourni aussi les grains analyses auparavant par microsonde (SIMS) et analyses globales (INAA et ID-TIMS). L' ablation de ces mineraux a ete realisee avec differentes resolutions spatiales (50-200 μm) afin de maximiser les taux de comptage ICP-MS et d'ameliorer les limites de detection. La comparaison des resultats obtenus par les differentes techniques montre que, pour les echantillons les plus homogenes, la methode LA-ICP-MS donne des resultats en excellent accord avec les autres techniques (10%) et une bonne precision pour la plupart des elements etudies (1-5% RSD). Les variations dans les concentrations calculees par LA-ICP-MS confirment les heterogeneites inter- et intra-minerales determinees par SIMS, refletant les variations de texture et de composition des mineraux. La reproductibilitea long terme de la technique est demontree par la consistance des resultats pour un echantillon analyse 13 fois sur une periode de 9 mois.


Applicant's device improves rapidly firing guns. When such a gun fires, applicant's device delays departure of the gun bolt from the chamber or barrel zone holding a spent round's casing until barrel pressure drops to a safe level. The device has a hollow piston which is translatable fore and aft along the barrel and which has an orifice communicated to a duct from an inner barrel diameter to an outer barrel diameter. The duct slants forward toward the gun muzzle in a radially outward direction so as to direct expanding propellant gas from the barrel against a forward internal surface of the piston. Momentum of the gas keeps the piston in its most forward position and the piston solidly connects to the bolt so that the bolt stays at the chamber when the piston is pressurized. Optionally, the piston may have an escape opening at its aft end so that some of propellant gas entering the piston will be forced rearward, thereby creating an additional forward force on the piston during and immediately after firing of the projectile. Also optionally, the cylindrical wall of the piston flexes outward under blast pressure so as to frictionally against a bore in which the piston translates, thereby additionally retarding piston motion upon firing of the projectile.


ABSTRACT This article analyses the feature films of the Polish Dutch filmmaker Urszula Antoniak through the lens of border and migration studies. I argue that Antoniak's films are characterized by an aesthetic of migration that visualizes the radical identity formation of both her migrant and non-(im)migrant figures. Antoniak's fourth film Pomiędzy słowami/Beyond Words (2017) challenges the presumptions that underlie her own aesthetic of migration by situating her characters explicitly in the geo-political, legal, and social contexts that make radical self-regeneration possible for some and not for others. In the end, the migrants in Beyond Words remain metonyms for the redefinition of the self that is possible due to the experience of migration; however, they also recalibrate that redefinition to include community, the evasion or abdication of hegemonic oversight, as well as a new conception of what it means to be a migrant or 'native'.


Nottingham City Transport was top of the league in the latest Passenger Focus survey of customer satisfaction. Alan Millar finds out what lies behind this achievement by England's largest municipal bus company.


Transcription of the human haptoglobin (Hp) gene is induced by interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) in the human hepatoma cell line Hep3B. Cis‐acting elements responsible for this response are localized within the first 186 bp of the 5′‐flanking region. Site‐specific mutants of the Hp promoter fused to the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene were analysed by transient transfection into uninduced and IL‐6‐treated Hep3B cells. We identified three regions, A, B and C, defined by mutation, which are important for the IL‐6 response. Band shift experiments using nuclear extracts from untreated or IL‐6‐treated cells revealed the presence of IL‐6‐inducible DNA binding activities when DNA fragments containing the A or the C sequences were used. Competition experiments showed that both sequences bind to the same nuclear factors. Polymers of oligonucleotides containing either the A or the C regions confer IL‐6 responsiveness to a truncated SV40 promoter. The B region forms several complexes with specific DNA‐binding proteins different from those which bind to the A and C region. The B region complexes are identical in nuclear extracts from IL‐6‐treated and untreated cells. While important for IL‐6 induction in the context of the haptoglobin promoter, the B site does not confer IL‐6 inducibility to the SV40 promoter. Our results indicate that the IL‐6 response of the haptoglobin promoter is dependent on the presence of multiple, partly redundant, cis‐acting elements.


Submitted for the MAR15 Meeting of The American Physical Society Giant proximity effect and critical opalescence in EuS TIMOTHY CHARLTON, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Science and Technology Facilities Council, United Kingdom., SILVIA RAMOS, JORGE QUINTANILLA, School of Physical Sciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, United Kingdom., ANDREAS SUTER, Paul Sherrer Institut, Switzerland, JAGADEESH MOODERA, Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States. — The proximity effect is a type of wetting phenomenon where an ordered state, usually magnetism or superconductivity, "leaks" from one material into an adjacent one over some finite distance. For superconductors, the characteristic range is of the order of the coherence length, usually hundreds of nm. Nevertheless much longer, "giant" proximity effects have been observed in cuprate perovskite junctions. Such giant proximity effects can be understood by taking into account the divergence of the pairing susceptibility in the non-superconducting material when it is itself close to a superconducting instability: a superconducting version of critical opalescence. Since critical opalescence occurs in all second order phase transitions, giant proximity effects are expected to be general, therefor there must be a giant ferromagnetic proximity effect. Compared to its superconducting counterpart, the giant ferromagnetic proximity effect has the advantage that the order parameter (magnetization) can be observed directly. We have fabricated Co/EuS thin films and measured the magnetization profiles as a function of temperature using the complementary techniques of low energy muon relaxation and polarized neutron reflectivity. Details of the proximity effect near TEuS C will be presented. Timothy Charlton Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Science and Technology Facilities Council, United Kingdom Date submitted: 14 Nov 2014 Electronic form version 1.4


This study investigates the influence of monetary incentive and type of instructions given to operators on the spread of actual data points around two possible learning models; the linear and the power models. The investigation is based on a laboratory study in which subjects were asked to perform a specific task in different conditions of learning: with or without incentive, and with or without exact specifications according to which the task had to be performed. The value of the spread for these four cases was measured by the coefficient of variation and other similar indicators. Analysis of the spread points to the following major conclusions: ( a) with the introduction of an incentive system the spread reduces by approximately 20%; (6) when an exact work method is specified, the spread reduces; (c) the coefficient of variation reached an average value as high as 0-28. Finally, a numerical example shows how the coefficient of variation can be used to improve the estimate of batch production time.


The Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe once said that "arrogant Westerners" should not review African literature. His objection was to the Western criticism labeling African literature "universal", and, he felt, denying its African identity. I do not agree with this rather radical view, and I am certain a now much older and mellower Achebe might have altered his stance. However, I do agree that Western or white criticism has largely missed the point of African literature, or, more generally, Black Literature. The best example of this is the criticism Toni Morrison frequently laced from white critics in America. In the late seventies, an article in the venerable New York Times Book Review, unbelievably, published a typical comment saying that Morrison was "too talented" to write "only" about black people. Morrison responded with characteristic grace, saying: Being a black female writer does not mean that my world became smaller. It became bigger. When I say I write about people, that's exactly what I mean, black people. The range of emotions I've had access to as a black woman writer is greater than someone who is neither. She went on to say, rightly, that the implication being made was that writing about black people was somehow less important. And: why should she, a black woman, tell white readers and critics about their world? William Faulkner had written a "provincial literature" that achieved international acclaim and success. James Joyce's work was not considered inferior because he wrote to non-Catholics about a Catholic community. Sadly, today black writers still have to work under this immense pressure of what Morrison once referred to as the "white gaze". A while ago, I read a column in an Afrikaans newspaper in which the columnist discussed the role of publishers and editors in the development of manuscripts--the details are relevant to the point of this article. What is relevant, though, is a remark made by some high-ranking individual with an Afrikaans publishing house. According to this person, "brown" (a term in itself infuriating--why can't white Afrikaners see its absurdity? As if all of us bruin mense are one shade. In fact, some of us are jet black while others might be mistaken for one of this person's ethnicity) writers do not write "mature", or some such pejorative, literature since we were not brought up on the "right" models. I tell you, it was all I could do to write this article. As Alice Walker once said: "Writing saved me from the sin and inconvenience of violence." This comment is wrong and narrow-minded on so many points. First, it implies that there is one, set, "right" way of writing--which I do not believe is the case. What contribution can a writer, young writers especially, make if they merely follow the "right model"? And if he or she does not tell his or her own story, with its unique perspectives and nuances? Or if only one type of work is published and receives critical attention? How can literature move forward? Second, the implication is that all white writers follow the right models. Because, surely, it is not only black or bruin writers who write, if you will, flawed literature. I could go on, but these points are the most important and the ones I can express most articulately, without flying off the handle. Personally, I have also experienced this lack of understanding. I recently pitched a script to a theatre, unrefined though it was. I had no illusions about becoming a great playwright; realistically, I did not even anticipate a response. I am a writer who had an idea that manifested itself as a play of sorts. What I hoped to accomplish by sending it off was for someone with the necessary expertise to help refine my script or to totally reject it if it was not fit for the stage. What I experienced was not as harsh as the criticism suffered by Morrison and many others. …


This paper introduces an approach to include a variable switching time point into predictive torque control (PTC). In PTC, the switching frequency is limited by the sampling frequency; its theoretical maximum value is half the sampling frequency. However, in reality the switching frequency is lower than this value, and thus, high current and torque ripples occur compared with modulator-based control methods. In order to overcome this, an optimization problem is formulated and solved in real time. Thereby, apart from the regulation of the torque and the flux magnitude to their references, an additional control objective should be met: the minimization of the torque ripple. To do so, the time point at which the switches of the inverter should change state is calculated. Further advantages of the proposed method include the design flexibility and great performance during transients. Experimental results that verify the performance of the presented control strategy are included.


Dr. Andrew Colin, the Chief of Pediatric Pulmonology at the University of Miami will give a talk titled "Pediatric Pulmonology - Where did we start and where are we going?", a broad overview of the history of the field through his personal 40-year journey over thre This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


Attractive electron correlations due to an electron-vibron interaction can overcome the direct Coulomb
repulsion of polarons in deformable molecular quantum dots (MQDs). If it happens, a switching appears in the
I-V characteristics of the degenerate nonadiabatic molecular bridges weakly coupled with electrodes providing
a route to ultrafast "memristors" (memory resistors) as the basis for future oscillators, amplifiers and other
important circuit elements. Here, we extend our theory of polaronic memristors to adiabatic MQDs strongly
coupled with leads to show that the degeneracy of MQD (or multilevel energy structure) along with the
polaron-polaron attraction is a vital ingredient of its switching behavior in the strong-coupling regime as well.


IT IS NOW possible to observe the pattern developing in craft and technician courses following the reorganisation prompted by the Government's White Paper. The City and Guilds of London Institute's Mechanical Engineering Craft Practice course (No 193) has been running for four years and the Mechanical Technicians' course for two years. Electrical Technicians and Installation courses have been in operation several years, although the latter scheme was modified two years ago in order to provide an alternative craft course; these electrical courses must now be considered part of the new comprehensive scheme. This year the examination for the General Engineering course was held for the first time, and in September the intake to the new Ordinary National Certificate course had to conform to the higher entry standards.


Abstract. Tractors' field performances are affected by soil, climatic and machine factors which in turn influences their cost and profitability. The effects of ploughing depth, speed and tractor model on operational and economic performances were examined. The soil characteristics of the study site were determined using laboratory tests. Ploughing operations, using ASABE standard D497.5 were carried out at 5.5, 6.5 and 7.5 km/h ploughing speeds for ploughing depths of 20, 25 and 30cm. The soil type in the study site is predominantly sandy-clay. Mean fuel consumption for Fiat, MF and Steyr models were 24.26, 25.43 and 25.72 l/ha while average of 18.34.78, 23.67 and 33.39 l/ha of diesel were used for 20, 25 and 30cm ploughing depths respectively. Average ploughing efficiency are 89.45, 80.24, 76.92% and 72.49, 81.94, 92.18% for 5.5, 6.5, 7.5 km/h ploughing speed and 20, 25, 30 cm ploughing depth respectively. Average total cost of ploughing per hectare are N8299, N8546, N8724 and N7906, N8572, N9092 for 5.5, 6.5, 7.5 km/h ploughing speed and 20, 25, 30 cm ploughing depth respectively. The average cost of fuel per hectare was N3770 which is 44% of average total variable cost and 81% of the total cost of ploughing per hectare. The average profit/loss made by Fiat, MF and Steyr tractor model ploughing in a sandy-clay soil as at 2010 are N529, N86 and N815 per hectare respectively(1$ = N146). Tractors' field and economic performance for ploughing operation depends significantly on type, purchase price, ploughing depth and speed (p ≤ 5).


The performance of final settling tanks (NKB) as a sedimentation basin in the activated sludge process of waste water treatment plants are in close relation with the hydromechanical behavior, which is dominated by density currents. Any energy input in the tank leads to a disturbance of the settling process and thus to a longer sludge residence time. Main energy sources are thereby the inflow and the scraper movement with consideration of the sludge composition and the density of the sludge-water mixture respectively. With this investigation the fundamental behavior of the inlet jet and the scraper operation in NKB is evaluated. The main part of the modeling consisted of physical model tests in a pilot plant, which was operated with real activated sludge. Additionally analytic and numeric modelling was included for the description of the inflow. The energy input in the NKB was investigated by a systematic variation of the scraper operation and the inlet conditions, and accordingly the hydraulic load for the tank. Therefore it was necessary to evaluate the flow velocities and the density distribution for different sludge composition, defined by the sludge volume index SVI. The sludge volume index varied between SVI = 55 to 200 ml/g and the total solid concentration usually lay in the range XBB = 2.5 to 3.5 kg/m. Different hydraulic loads resulted from


We investigate the occurrence of bubble-crash pricing patterns in laboratory financial markets with a mixture of experienced and inexperienced traders. We find that even with a minority of experienced traders, bubbles are substantially abated.


Numerical modeling is now an essential part of undergraduate engineering education. This paper reviews the content and delivery of a course for undergraduate engineers, in computational and visual electromagnetics using the integrated programming language, Matlab. A number of numerical methods are discussed including FDM, FEM, MOM and BEM during class. Matlab is then used to implement these methods in a series of workshops, laboratories exercises and assignments.


This study proposes a new type of tri-screw pump, which has a 1:2:3 ratio of the active diameter of the screw, the diameter of the pitch circle, and the top diameter of the active screw. Fixed width correction method of the driven screw is also proposed to avoid wear of tooth top. The mathematical model of active and driven screws is established. To avoid the wear of the tooth top arc, several transition patterns are proposed, and the transition curve in the form of a circular arc is deduced. The designed screw curve is grinded, and the tri-screw pump is assembled. The hydraulic pump test bench is tested using the overflow valve to perform pressure loading of 3–5 MPa on the outlet of the screw pump. The outlet flow rate and pressure are tested, and results indicate that the output flow of the pump conforms to the designed flow rate. This study establishes the detailed equation of the end face profile of the tri-screw pump (active and driven screws) and corrects the arc profile of the line angle.


Recent findings have suggested that oxidative damage might contribute to the cytotoxicity and carcinogenicity of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The induction of oxidative stress also plays an important role in the toxicity of another mycotoxin: ochratoxin A (OTA). In this study, the protective effect of rosmarinic acid (Ros A) against AFB1 and OTA‐induced cytotoxicity was investigated in a human hepatoma‐derived cell line (Hep G2). Rosmarinic acid, a natural phenolic compound contained in many Lamiaceae herbs such as Perilla frutescens, sage, basil and mint, inhibits complement‐dependent inflammatory processes and may have therapeutic potential.


A long-standing question in lightning studies has concerned how lightning is initiated in thunderstorms, given the absence of physical conductors. Remote sensing observations of discharges are starting to provide the answer to this question, obtained in large part with radio frequency instruments and techniques. A recent important and unexpected step in this process has come from observations of the phenomenon called narrow bipolar events (NBEs) at NM Tech's mountain-top Langmuir Laboratory observatory in central New Mexico [1]. NBEs are fast, high current, short duration discharges that are the strongest natural sources of VHF radiation on earth [2]. They occur either in isolation from other discharges in a storm, or sometimes at the beginning of intracloud (IC) discharges [3, 4], but otherwise have eluded explanation for nearly four decades.


Modern times require higher management level and skills. It is necessary for financial personnel in colleges and universities to work hard, promote their professional morals, update their knowledge, and set up new management concepts so as to enhance their comprehensive qualities and maximize the efficiency of financial management.


We can inspect the aesthetic and value conception of Indian ancient drama from the representative sculptural production The Dancer SHI-Po,which manifests many characters of Indian traditional art conceptions.We will start with the sculpture,explore the connection between them by analyse the origin of tragedy and comic idea,the conception of love and the value of ethics


Objective To evaluate the effect of paraesophagogastric devascularization and splenectomy with transabdominal esophageal transection and reanastomosis in the treatment of portal hypertension Methods Clinical data of 48 portal hypertensive patients undergoing this procedure from June 1997 to June 2002 were analyzed retrospectively to evaluate the effect and complications of the operation Results Forty three patients were followed up for an average of 39 months The varicose veins eliminating rate was 93% The rebleeding rate was 2% The survival rate was 93% Two patients died of severe intra abdominal infection due to leakage of esophageal anastomosis and hepatic failure respectively during the early postoperative period Postoperative thrombosis rate in portal system was 8%, hydrops rate in splenic recess was 6%, the leakage and stenosis rate of anastomosis were 8% and 6% respectively Conclusion Paraesophagogastric devascularization and splenectomy with transabdominal esophageal transection is an effective method for the treatment of portal hypertension Because there is a risk of postoperative anastomosis leakage and stenosis, attention should be paid to the choice of patients for operation and manipulations during the operation


Urban air pollution represents one of the greatest environmental challenges facing mankind in the 21st century. Noticeably, many developing countries, such as China and India, have experienced severe air pollution because of their fast-developing economy and urbanization. Globally, the urbanization trend is projected to continue: 70% of the world population will reside in urban centers by 2050, and there will exist 41 megacities (with more than 10 million inhabitants) by 2030. Air pollutants consist of a complex combination of gases and particulate matter (PM). In particular, fine PM (particles with the aerodynamic diameter smaller than 2.5 μm or PM_(2.5)) profoundly impacts
human health, visibility, the ecosystem, the weather, and the climate, and these PM effects are largely dependent on the aerosol properties, including the number concentration, size, and chemical composition. PM is emitted directly into the atmosphere (primary) or formed in the atmosphere through
gas-to-particle conversion (secondary) (Figure 1). Also,
primary and secondary PM undergoes chemical and physical
transformations and is subjected to transport, cloud processing, and removal from the atmosphere.


A multi-sampling technique is introduced in the stacked optical code label's encoder implemented by fiber Bragg gratings. The experimental results of a 19-node setup show that scalable optical multicasting can be well supported.


Abstract : In the first half of 1977, the R/V Thomas Washington of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography continued work on INDOPAC Expedition, starting from Guam, Marianas, and ending in San Diego. Geophysical and geological programs were carried out in the marginal seas of southeast Asia; biological and physical oceanographic programs were carried out near Guam, and in the central and eastern Pacific. This report includes a brief summary of the work on each cruise leg, a chronology, cruise tracks, and lists of stations, samples, and observations. Work on leg 13 was in cooperation with the K/M Samudera. (Author)


Introduction: Bloodstream infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality which requires antibiotic treatment. Antimicrobial resistance is an emerging serious public health threat in both developed and developing countries. Children are more susceptible to infections requiring an appropriate choice of antibiotic based on blood culture. This study aims to investigate the bacteriological profile and antibiotic sensitivity pattern of blood culture isolates and compare the yield of bacterial growth between Brain Heart Infusion Broth (BHIB) or BD BACTEC culture media.
Methods: A total of 12,795 blood samples were sent for bacteriological culture either for BHIB or BACTEC techniques, 10994 and 1801 samples respectively. Chi-square test was used for showing association between BACTEC and BHIB among isolates.
Results: The findings showed that the BACTEC method detected more positive isolates than the BHIB method. The rate of isolation was found highest among children under five years. The most common pathogens isolated were Staphylococcus species (28.1%), Staphylococcus aureus (25.6%), Acinetobacter species (12%), Pseudomonas species (8.2%), Klebsiella species (6.6%), CONS (4.4%), Escherichia coli (4.4%), Salmonella Typhi (3.5%), Enterobacter species (3.2%) and Streptococcus species (0.3%).
Conclusions: Staphylococcus aureus was the commonest isolate identified in the current study. BACTEC culture method detected the higher percentage of isolates than BHIB method.


In 1945, C. O. Clark proposed a method to develop synthetic unit hydrographs for the modeling of watershed rainfall response. His technique utilizes two components: a translation hydrograph and a l...


The Next Generation Safeguards Initiative HCD Subprogram has successfully employed unique nuclear capabilities and employee expertise through INL to achieve multiple initiatives in FY14. These opportunities range from internship programs to university and training courses. One of the central facets of this work has been the international safeguards pre inspector training course. Another significant milestone is the INL led university engagement effort which resulted in courses being offered at ISU and University of Utah.


Through the process of "bracket creep," the marginal tax rates faced by taxpayers under a progressive income tend to increase as inflation pushes up nominal incomes. Congress has sought to offset the resulting revenue increases by cutting taxes periodically in recent years. Because of the potential economic importance of marginal tax rates, this article examines changes in marginal tax rates since 1964 to assess the effect of inflation and tax cuts on the level and structure of marginal tax rates. The article finds that marginal rates generally have risen over the period, especially for upper income taxpayers. Based on official projections of nominal income growth, marginal tax rates will not, in general, fall as a result of the 1981 tax cut. Only a fundamental restructuring, such as the adoption of a "flat-rate" income tax, has the potential of reducing marginal rates significantly.


Automation and Artificial Intelligence have a transformative influence on many sectors, and software engineers are the actors who engineer this transformation. On the other hand, there is little knowledge of how automation and Artificial Intelligence impact software engineering practice. To answer this question, we conducted semi-structured interviews with experienced software practitioners across frontend and backend development, DevOps, R&D, integration, and leadership positions. Our findings reveal 1) automation to appear as micro-automation in the sense of automation of tiny and specific tasks, 2) automation as a side product of work, and bottom-up driven in software engineering, and 3) automation as a possible cause for cognitive overhead due to automatically generated notifications. Furthermore, we notice that our interview participants do not expect automation and artificial intelligence tools to change software engineering's essence in the foreseeable future substantially.


Summary: Nipple reconstruction is a commonly performed component of breast reconstruction. A nipple reconstructed using local skin flaps requires protection from trauma. Here we describe a novel, effective, simple, rapid, inexpensive, and convenient method to protect a reconstructed nipple in the early postoperative period.


Apparatus and method (102) for loading and unloading the tire rubber is not cured blank (24), the apparatus includes a clamp and at least one hook (106), the hook can be mounted around a horizontal hook extending outside of the axis (18) between an engaged position and a disengaged position relative to the rotation of the jig. The present invention further relates to a method for handling an uncured rubber tire blank.


Background : Epidemiological studies and clinical trials have shown that meticulous control of blood pressure is required in patients with hypertension to ensure decreased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Objective : To compare the effect of Metoprolol and Telmisartan on blood pressure reduction and heart rate in patients of Stage I Hypertension. Material and Methods : This was a prospective, randomized, open, parallel study conducted at the outpatient department of Medicine. Patients of either sex with Grade I Hypertension according to JNC VII, aged between 18-60 years were enrolled and followed up every 2 weeks from baseline till 12 weeks. Patients were randomly divided into two groups to receive tablet Metoprolol 50 mg (Group A, n=30) and Telmisartan 40 mg (Group B, n=30) once a day. Response to study treatments was evaluated in terms of decrease in Blood pressure and heart rate. Results were analysed using Student's 't' test. Results : Baseline characters of both the groups were well balanced. Systolic Blood Pressure was reduced by 7.5 % from Metoprolol and 12.9% by Telmisartan and Diastolic Blood Pressure was reduced by 8.2% in group A and 13.6% in group B. Both the drugs leads to significant reductions (i.e. P<0.05) in systolic as wel as diastolic BP. Heart rate reduction was significant and was observed to be more with the Metoprolol group i.e. 15.2% reduction as compared to 9.1% reduction with Telmisartan. Conclusion: Telmisartan is a better choice than Metoprolol in Indian Population for treating Grade I hypertension as it leads to greater reduction in Blood Pressure and less effect on Heart rate.


Buildings and transport consume two thirds of the total global energy. It is desirable to maximize the use of renewable generation in these sectors, and to optimize the use of that energy by managing diverse sources and loads. This is particularly challenging in high-density residential premises where the space for such infrastructure is limited, and storage can have significant impact on energy utilization and demand. In this paper, we have proposed an aggregator-based-strategy (ABS) to optimally utilize the available energy resources and storage in an apartment building with twenty households, each having an electric vehicle (EV), and an aggregated solar photovoltaic (PV) energy and stationary battery storage (BS) system. The strategy is flexible and can be applied to any building with EVs, solar PV and BS to minimize the cost of energy consumption without compromising the flexibility of energy usage or travel requirements. The model also accounts for the battery capacity degradation and its associated cost to make it more realistic. The model is evaluated using real data and the results show that the strategy not only reduces the cost of energy consumption but also reduces the amount of energy drawn from the grid significantly.


Objective: Assessing long-term prognosis is still a challenge in palliative patients. Use of scores (eg. PAP) has been proposed, but additional assessment methods are needed. Linear and non-linear measures of heart rate variability (HRV) have been used in cardiology and diabetic patients to assess risk factors for sudden cardiac death. Short-term HRV measurement is a simple bedside technique which can be used on palliative patients without causing stress. Design and Method: A total of 24 cancer patients with a survival prognosis less than 6 months, receiving palliative care, are included in this prospective study. A short-term HRV measurement was performed several times on each patient, depending on survival time. Time domain and frequency domain indices were calculated (SDNN, RMS-SD, HF, LF, VLF, and LF/HF). In addition, approximate entropy (Pincus 1991) was computed as non-linear measurement. Results: All heart rate variability indices declined nonlinearly during the course of the disease. Approximate entropy also declined. Some patients however had a temporary increase in HRV. Conclusion: As far as we are aware, this is the first study which has assessed HRV changes in palliative patients. The preliminary results are encouraging. HRV is potentially an interesting bedside tool for the assessment of palliative patients prognosis, but larger studies are needed.


The motor-wheel driving electric vehicle can realize the direct yaw-moment control by means of the longitudinal force difference between left and right wheels in order to improve its yaw rate response. Furthermore, the H∞ control is used to determine the longitudinal force difference between left and right wheels in order to restrain the effect of uncertainties such as the parameter perturbation and the model perturbation in order to improve the robustness of the direct yaw-moment control. The simulations of the parameter perturbation and the model perturbation with the step steering angle input show that the proposed control improves the vehicle handling stability under the effect of uncertainties.


Objectives This study aimed to evaluate and compare 1-year anatomic and functional outcomes in patients undergoing transvaginal versus transabdominal repair of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) with synthetic mesh reinforcement. Methods We conducted a retrospective, matched cohort study of patients undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (RALSC) and vaginal extraperitoneal colpopexy (VEC) with synthetic mesh from December 2008 to March 2011. We compared the preoperative to postoperative changes in anatomic, quality of life, and functional outcomes between groups after 1 year of follow-up. One-year surgical satisfaction was also assessed. Results Thirty-eight RALSC patients met the inclusion criteria and were matched by age and month of surgery to 38 VEC patients. Of those, 31 RALSC and 30 VEC patients (80%) had complete 1-year data. Preoperative to postoperative outcomes were similar in both groups with similar improvement seen in anatomic Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification measures as well as functional questionnaire scores. Both groups demonstrated high surgical satisfaction. Symptom distress inventory scales revealed 84% and 90% resolution of symptomatic "bulge" in RALSC and VEC patients, respectively (P = 0.74). The RALSC group had a significantly greater operative time by approximately 96 minutes and greater use of general anesthesia (P = <0.001). No difference was noted in blood loss, hospital days, or return to normal voiding between groups. Conclusions Transabdominal and transvaginal techniques of colpopexy using synthetic mesh implants for POP have been shown in this retrospective cohort study to improve quality of life and anatomic measures with similar outcomes. Robotic-assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy results in a greater use of general anesthesia and longer operative time.


A big step towards overcoming the prolonged complexity of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) in South Asia is the setting up of the South Asian Regional Standards Organisation (SARSO) under the umbrella of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The regional body, based in Dhaka, went into operation in 2015. The main objective of the SARSO is to facilitate coordination and cooperation among SAARC member countries in the fields of standardisation and develop a set of harmonised regional standards. Such standards will not only help reduce the Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) to regional trade but also enhance global trade of the region. In the global stage, developing countries will come under more pressure from developed countries to comply with stringent standards while exporting to their markets. The regional standards can help to a great extent in dealing with such challenges. Like any other initiative, the SARSO is also facing many challenges and progressing slowly. This paper argues that all the SAARC member countries need to cooperate with each other for operating the SARSO effectively so that they can deal with the increasing global pressure. [Views expressed in the paper are solely the author's own and in no way the views reflect those of the organisation he works with] *Planning Editor, The Financial Express. Email: email@example.com


In this article we introduce new classes of life distributions namely new better (worse) than used in expectation at specific age t0 NBUE-t0 (NWUE-t0) and harmonic new better (worse) than used in expectation at specific age t0 HNBUE-t0 (HNWUE-t0). The closure properties under various reliability operations such as convolution, mixture, mixing and the homogeneous Poisson shock model of these classes are studied. Furthermore, nonparametric tests are proposed to test exponentiality versus the NBUE-t0 and HNBUE-t0 classes. The critical values and the powers of this tests are calculated to assess the performance of the tests. It is shown that the proposed tests have high efficiencies for some commonly used distributions in reliability. Sets of real data are used as examples to elucidate the use of the proposed tests for practical problems.


Many of the component-based embedded real-time software methodologies that decompose software into components and reuse these components from structural view fail to address issues of mapping components to tasks and using proper real-time scheduling algorithms from temporal view.In this paper,a real-time component model and a way of mapping component to tasks are presented.Four kinds of scheduling algorithms that can be used in component embedded operating systems are also described.It is provided that preemption threshold scheduling model is more suitable for component embedded real-time systems than others through comparison among these algorithms.The simulation experiments show it.Simulation results and conclusions are useful for designing and implementing component embedded real-time systems.


The general Hartree–Fock (GHF) method is a quantum mechanical method for electronic structure calculations that uses a single determinantal wave function with no restrictions on the one‐electron orbitals other than orthonormality and the use of a specific basis set. The more familiar restricted Hartree–Fock (RHF) and unrestricted Hartree–Fock (UHF) methods can be regarded as special cases of the GHF method in which additional restrictions are imposed on the occupied orbitals. We propose that the GHF method is very suitable as an electronic structure method to be incorporated into computer simulations that combine the calculation of the Born–Oppenheimer ground state surface with the simulation of the motion of the nuclei on that surface. In particular, for many problems of interest there is only a single GHF minimum of the energy, and the GHF wave function is a continuous function of nuclear positions. The RHF and UHF methods, in comparison, typically have a multiplicity of local minima with curve crossing...


Comparisons of distances between the positions obtained from harmonic and anharmonic refinements lead to the conclusion that the positional parameters may have different physical meanings for the two cases. The mean positions are obtained if the temperature factor (t.f.) has no first-order terms in the reciprocal-lattice vector Q (harmonic t.f., Fourier transforms of the Gram-Charlier series); if there are


The speech parametrization methods: linear prediction cepstrum coefficients and mel-frequency cepstrum coefficients were compared with regard to language identification accuracy in a Gaussian mixture model based language identification system. Ten different languages were used to test against a set of ten second test files. The 12th order linear prediction cepstrum coefficients with delta and accelerate coefficients resulted in the best accuracy of 60.0 percent. This has shown that information obtained from linear prediction analysis has increased the ability of discriminating different languages. It also shows that language identification performance may be increased by encompassing temporal information by including delta and acceleration features. Besides, the performance of our test system has proved the feasibility of the modeling language by a single Gaussian Mixture Model instead of using complex system such as phonetic recogniser followed by language modelling or large vocabulary continuous speech recognition system.


An important loss process in CTR plasmas is the process of dielectronic recombination, which proceeds via autoionizing states. At this date, however, this problem is not fully understood, largely because of the nearly complete lack of fundamental atomic data on high excited autoionizing states. In this document, we outline the continuation of a program to investigate the properties of autoionizing states of alkaline earth metals by means of a novel laser excitation technique developed at SRI. This approach will allow us to study, for the first time, autoionizing states of arbitrary n, and l in a controlled environment. Specifically, we plan to measure autoionization rates and branching ratios as a function of n and l and the effects of electric fields. These experiments should yield the basic atomic data, autoionization rates, required as inputs to sophisticated model calculations of dielectronic recombination rates.


Myo-inositol phosphates are phosphate esters of a cyclic alcohol derived from D-glucose-6P. The best-known component of this family is phytic acid, its features are 12 replaceable protons in its structure and it can be found in many different forms, called phytates. The negatively charged phytic acid chelates positively charged divalent cations, determining a poor absorption of the bound metals in small intestine of humans and monogastric animals.


&NA; Soft‐tissue loss associated with lower extremity fracture poses a substantial reconstructive challenge. Following stabilization of life‐threatening conditions and bony disruptions, the reconstructive team must address the soft‐tissue envelope of the limb. The wound is managed with débridement followed by coverage. Coverage options range from basic to complex and include delayed primary closure, healing by secondary intention, skin grafting, local flap coverage, and distant tissue transfer. The choice of soft‐tissue coverage method is based on its ability to provide an environment conducive to fracture healing. Understanding the merits and disadvantages of each reconstructive option helps to avoid undertreatment or overtreatment.


Heart failure in the family - design and methodology of a randomised study evaluating education and psychosocial support to patients and their caregivers.


While point defects in elemental (Si) and compound (GaAs, GaN, AlN) semiconductors have been extensively studied both experimentally and theoretically, only limited theoretical studies of these defects exist for technologically important binary $(\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{i}}_{x}\mathrm{G}{\mathrm{e}}_{1\text{\ensuremath{-}}x})$ and pseudobinary $(\mathrm{I}{\mathrm{n}}_{x}\mathrm{G}{\mathrm{a}}_{1\text{\ensuremath{-}}x}\mathrm{As}$, $\mathrm{I}{\mathrm{n}}_{\mathrm{x}}\mathrm{G}{\mathrm{a}}_{1\text{\ensuremath{-}}x}\mathrm{N}$, $\mathrm{A}{\mathrm{l}}_{x}\mathrm{G}{\mathrm{a}}_{1\text{\ensuremath{-}}x}\mathrm{N})$ semiconductor alloys. Here, we use density-functional theory and a recently developed bounds-analysis approach to survey the atomic structures, formation energies, and charge-state transition levels of the stable and metastable states of As interstitials in the pseudobinary alloy $\mathrm{I}{\mathrm{n}}_{0.5}\mathrm{G}{\mathrm{a}}_{0.5}\mathrm{As}$. Our studies consider seven different candidate defect structures for the As interstitial, with calculations performed for selected defect charge states in the range $q=\ensuremath{-}2$ to $+3$. In each case, the mean and standard deviations of the defect-formation energy are determined using statistical sampling methods that place the defect into a wide variety of differing local-alloy environments. When examined from the point of view of the mean formation energy of the defect, the stable configurations of the As interstitial in $\mathrm{I}{\mathrm{n}}_{0.5}\mathrm{G}{\mathrm{a}}_{0.5}\mathrm{As}$ are found to resemble previous findings for GaAs, with a ${\mathrm{C}}_{1\mathrm{h}}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{p}{001}_{\mathrm{III}}$ interstitial structure in a $q=+1$ charge state favored near midgap and below, and a ${\mathrm{C}}_{2\mathrm{v}}\text{\ensuremath{-}}11{0}_{\mathrm{a}}$ split-interstitial structure in a $q=\ensuremath{-}1$ charge state favored above midgap (the named point-group symmetries refer to the underlying symmetry that the alloy defect would possess if within GaAs). The statistical sampling reveals a strong dependence of the defect-formation energy on the local-alloy environment, with the standard deviation $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ of the formation energy approaching 0.21 eV for the most stable As-interstitial structures. Because the range of ground-state energies encountered by an As-interstitial defect when moving through the alloy is found to be quite large, approaching $\ensuremath{\sim}1.2\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}(\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3\ensuremath{\sigma})$, defect-diffusion pathways in $\mathrm{I}{\mathrm{n}}_{0.5}\mathrm{G}{\mathrm{a}}_{0.5}\mathrm{As}$ will have spatial and temporal complexities not found in GaAs.


The Adaptively Shifted Integration (ASI) technique, which produces the highest computational efficiency in the finite element analyses of framed structures including static and dynamic collapse problems, is applied to the explosive demolition analysis and the seismic damage analysis of a reinforced concrete building. By expressing an explosion or a member fracture by a plastic hinge located at the exact position with a simultaneous release of resultant forces in the element, discontinuous problems such as these dynamic collapse problems can be easily analyzed even by the conventional finite element code with the displacemental form. By using the algorithms described in this paper, sufficiently reliable solutions for the practical use have been obtained in the explosive demolition and seismic damage analyses of a five stories-five span reinforced concrete building. The present technique can be easily implemented with a minimum effort into the existing finite element codes utilizing the linear Timoshenko beam element. Daigoro Isobe, Yutala Toi


Objective:To explore the expressions of Survivin and p53 and their effects on occurrence,development and malignant change of hydatidiform mole.Methods:The expressions of Survivin and p53 in 42 cases with hydatidiform mole(12 cases with malignant change) and 18 cases with normal villi were detected by immunohistochemical PV-6000 method.Results:There was no significant difference in Survivin expression level between normal villi group and hydatidiform mole group(P0.05).There was significant difference in p53 expression level between normal villi group and hydatidiform mole group(P0.05).The positive expression rates of Survivin and p53 in cases with malignant change of hydatidiform mole were significantly higher those in cases without malignant change of hydatidiform mole(P0.05).Conclusion:Survivin and p53 may be related to invasion and degree of cytotrophoblast cells,detection of Survivin and p53 expressions in hydatidiform mole can predict malignant change of hydatidiform mole,and provide a theoretical basis for clinical preventive chemotherapy.


High-throughput, multiplex slide-scanning technologies have become widely-used. Advantages include the ability to archive digital copies of slides, review slides as teams using virtual microscope software, and standardize analytical approaches. One barrier to implementation is the cost of dedicated slide-scanning devices. We describe a simple method that allows any microscope to be used for slide-scanning. The only requirements are that the microscope be equipped with a motorized filter turret (for multichannel fluorescence) and a motorized xyz stage. This example uses Metamorph, the most commonly used hardware-agnostic microscope


During Ocean Drilling Program Leg 198, Sites 1207, 1208, 1212, 1213, and 1214 were drilled on Shatsky Rise, coring Lower to mid-Cretaceous successions of nannofossil chalk, porcellanite, and chert. Although recovery was poor, these sites yielded an outstanding record of calcareous nannoplankton, providing valuable data concerning the evolutionary succession and paleobiogeography of the largest Cretaceous marine habitat. Mid-Cretaceous sections (Aptian-Cenomanian) were recovered at all sites, and Site 1213 includes an apparently complete Berriasian-Hauterivian section. Biostratigraphic dating is problematic in places because of the absence or rarity of zonal fossils of both Boreal and Tethyan affinity. The majority of nannofossil assemblages are relatively typical of this age, but there are clear differences that set them apart from coeval epicontinental assemblages: for example, Lithraphidites carniolensis is common to abundant throughout and was most likely an oceanic-adapted taxon; the cold- to temperate-water species Crucibiscutum salebrosum, Repagulum parvidentatum, and Seribiscutum primitivum are entirely absent, indicating the persistence of tropical, warm surface water temperatures; and the warm-water species Hayesites irregularis is common. Most striking, however, is the virtual absence of Nannoconus and Micrantholithus, both taxa that were conspicuous and often common components of many Tethyan and Atlantic nannofloras. These forms were almost certainly neritic adapted and usually absent in deep open-ocean settings away from guyots and platforms. Other Tethyan taxa are also absent or rare and sporadically distributed (e.g., Calcicalathina oblongata, Conusphaera spp., Tubodiscus verenae, and Lithraphidites bollii), and factors related to neritic environments presumably controlled their distribution. Site 1213 also records extended Early Cretaceous ranges for species previously thought to have become extinct during the Late Jurassic (e.g., Axopodorhabdus cylindratus, Hexapodorhabdus cuvillieri, and Biscutum dorsetensis), suggesting these species became Pacific-restricted prior to their extinction. Watznaueria britannica may also have been a species with Pacific affinities before reexpansion of its biogeography in the early Aptian. One new genus (Mattiolia) and thirteen new species (Zeugrhabdotus clarus, Zeugrhabdotus petrizzoae, Helicolithus leckiei, Rhagodiscus amplus, Rhagodiscus robustus, Rhagodiscus sageri, Rhagodiscus adinfinitus, Tubodiscus bellii, Tubodiscus frankiae, Gartnerago ponticula, Haqius peltatus, Mattiolia furva, and Kokia stellata) are described from the Shatsky Rise Lower Cretaceous section.


The present study aims to provide an indication of ambient levels of BTEX in the immediate vicinity of petrol filling stations in Delhi & other road side corridors of Delhi. In this study spatial and seasonal variation of BTEX has been measured at different locations in Delhi. For the measurement of VOCs, passive based diffusion methodology was adopted for the adsorption of BTEX over the activated charcoal. Four categories of sampling sites were chosen (residential, traffic junctions, road side corridors and petrol pumps). The result confirms that the aromatic concentrations in the ambient air of gas stations are appreciably higher than the average values in locations with high vehicular flux. The mean concentration of BTEX at all the locations was 0.622μg/m3, 0.361 μg/m3, 1.037 μg/m3 and 0.122 μg/m3. The average concentration of benzene was highest at petrol pump 3.5 μg/m3 however at all other sampling sites it was in the range of 0.294 to 0.712 μg/m3. The mean concentration value shows that the xylene concentration dominates more in Delhi as compared to benzene. The total average BTEX concentration at road side corridors was 0.594 μg.m-3, at residential corridors was 0.262 μg.m-3, at intersections it was 0.649 μg.m-3 and at petrol filling stations it was 1.457 μg.m-3. The concentration was in the order of petrol filling stations > intersections > road side corridors > residence. These data show the predominance of diesel driven vehicles in Delhi since xylene mainly comes from diesel exhausts. The influential VOC species in case of diesel engine exhaust are benzene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, propane, n-decane and undecane and in case of gasoline vehicle exhaust influential species are benzene, ethylbenzene, 1,2,4-methylbenzene, 1,3,5-methylbenzene, n-hexane and 2-methylhexane. So xylene is mainly coming from diesel exhaust since gasoline vehicle exhaust doesn't show this species.


A torque compensation control method of a DGMSCMG system for spacecraft maneuver, which includes the following steps: building the kinetic models of a magnetic suspension rotor, an inner gimbal and an outer gimbal of the DGMSCMG system for the spacecraft maneuver, and designing a torque compensation control method to eliminate coupled disturbing torque in each single kinetic model, guarantee the compensation of the coupled disturbing torque of the DGMSCMG system for the spacecraft maneuver and realize the stability control of the DGMSCMG system, so that the stability and precision of spacecraft attitude control can be increased. The torque compensation control method can effectively eliminate the coupled disturbing torque of the DGMSCMG system for the spacecraft maneuver, guarantee the stability control of the DGMSCMG system and thereby realize the stability and precision of spacecraft attitude control.


41 Ca is calculated in the first-order perturbation theory by using the wave functions of a Woods-Saxon potential and compared with the results of harmonic oscillator potential. The contributions from the particle-hole excitations to continuum particle states, which constitute the major part of the excitations, are calculated explicitly. The resultant first-order core polarization charge in the Woods-Saxon shell model with a t-function type effective interaction 0.283e is smaller than the one of the harmonic oscillator shell model 0.3lle. The effects of the continuum states are discussed in comparison with the harmonic oscillator shell model.


ABSTRACT Agricultural landscapes have become more intensive and monotonous, which may further increase biodiversity loss. Even though Finnish rural landscapes are often heterogeneous, crop choices and rotations lack diversity. The aim of this study was to develop an interactive, multi-step crop rotation tool, which acknowledges farmer's preferences in land allocation for different crops depending on farm and field parcel characteristics. The tool was developed to provide as diverse a 5-year crop rotation plan as possible on the field parcel scale for the farmer's consideration. The tool is flexible and interactive in the sense that it allows a farmer to include or exclude crops and spatially and temporally rearrange them to improve farming logistics. The tool was tested in southern-western Finland with the highest potential for diverse crop choices and sequencing. Test-runs indicated that the tool was powerful in proposing diversified crop rotations: the shares of current monotonous cereal-based rotations collapsed. The final diversification plan always lies in the farmer's hands, who may exclude crop choices and even end up in cereal monoculture rotations. The tool provides estimates on farm economics for each step of the planning process. The tool will be available for all Finnish farmers (∼48,000) on the EconomyDoctor-portal with personal access only and the background information is automatically updated annually.


A computer-aided design tool for the optimization of three-dimensional integrated lens antennas (ILAs) is described. The optimization procedure is based on a genetic algorithm (GA) coupled to the hybrid geometrical/physical optics (GO/PO) method of analysis. It is the first time that this global numerical search technique has been applied to design 3-D shaped ILAs. To validate the proposed methodology and the numerical algorithms, two single-material ILAs are optimized and fabricated at 28 GHz. They radiate a sectoral beam and an elliptical Gaussian beam, respectively. The lens prototypes are fed by an aperture-coupled microstrip patch antenna. The influence of the lens dimensions and internal reflections on the far-field radiation patterns is also highlighted when designing shaped lenses. Comparison between experiments and numerical predictions (GO/PO and finite-difference time-domain) successfully validates our design tool


In this paper we propose a conceptual model of competition which is in line with recent developments in the economics literature. We concentrate mostly on two shortcomings identified in the past literature, namely on the process critique and on the effect of qualitative change, that we consider the heir to the product differentiation critique. Furthermore, we consider that these two shortcomings are not independent, but closely related. For example, qualitative change destabilizes the system, thus inducing a dynamics of change by which its own subsequent development is affected. The conceptual model of competition that we develop in this paper is based on a particular representation of product technology and of industrial sectors, in terms of product characteristics. By means of this representation we propose a definition of the intensity of competition that is in principle applicable empirically and useful for modelling purposes. Furthermore, we distinguish intra-sector competition from inter-sector competition, we maintain that these two types of competition interact and that both influence economic development. A part of our paper is based on the results of a model of economic development by the creation of new sectors. Finally, our model of competition allows us to discuss the relationship between competition and growth. We start our paper by means of a brief summary of the literature on competition and continue by presenting our conceptual model of competition, its analytical dimension and the implications it has for economic growth and development.


By deducing the spherical elastic wave equation in theory, the concept of sphere-radial phononic crystal is proposed, and then the equations to determine the acoustic band structures is deduced. A numerical example is given for steel/nitrile rubber phononic crystal. The numerical simulation results suggest that the band gaps of sphere-radial phononic crystals do exist, which have better attenuation characteristics and practical application performance than the one-dimensional phononic crystals.


We study dynamical properties of digital representations of the Gaussian integers. We are mostly concerned with a specific cocycle defined by the sum-of-digits function sb with respect to the base b representation of Z[i]. This is used to derive uniform distribution results for the double sequence z 7→ {αsb(z)} for irrational α and z in large circles and other domains.


The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for demodulating an output signal from the transducer (1) driven by an alternating excitation signal having an excitation frequency. The transducer produces an amplitude modulated output signal including an amount to be measured (y (t)). The apparatus output signal from the transducer, and a sampling unit for sampling the output signal from the exciter (5, 6, 7), and a calculation unit (8), the calculation unit (8) is in the excitation frequency first complex valued quantity including information on the amplitude and phase of the output signal (Y), calculated based on the sampling value of the output signal from the transducer, the second containing information on the amplitude and phase of the excitation signal at the excitation frequency complex quantity (U, I), calculated based on the sampled values of the excitation signal to generate a complex number that is output as the quotient of the division of the second complex quantity and the first complex quantity, the demodulated output signal the (O


This article analyses the security practices of the anti-nuclear movement in the post-Cold War period through the prism of securitisation theory. By exploring Buzan and Waever's conceptual developments on macrosecuritisations, the practices involved in the struggle against the Bomb are interpreted as securitising moves, in which the anti-nuclear movement is the leading securitiser. In the capacity of securitising actors, nuclear abolition activists argue that nuclear disarmament, under a Nuclear Weapons Convention (NWC), would be the only way to protect humankind from the threat posed by the existence of nuclear weapons. The empirical analysis of these non-state actors and their campaign for a NWC shows that, despite uttering security, the anti-nuclear movement has so far failed to achieve the proposed security measure, that is, nuclear disarmament. Nonetheless, securitisation has been instrumental for these non-state actors as a way of raising an issue on the agenda of decision-makers and urging them to take action.


The thesis beholds that the establishment of the basic norm is indispensable in building up, confirming Kelson's theoretical system as well as defending the knowledge system of jurisprudence and it is also absolutely necessary either to ensure the effectiveness of the practical legal system or to guarantee its reasonableness and acceptableness of the practical legal systems. At the same time, the theory of the basic norm also provides us with a new view to discuss a truth outlook and notion of righteousness in realms of legislative science and politics.


Three related endemic moth genera from Fiji: 'Lophocoleus' Butler, 'Tholocoleus' Robinson and 'Palaeocoleus' Robinson, are reviewed and descriptions and illustrations of the females and their genitalia are provided. An additional new genus and species, 'Archaeocoleus namosii' gen. n. and sp. n., is described and illustrated from both sexes.


An artificial neural network methodology is being developed in order to find an optimum spatial distribution of the fuel assemblies in a nuclear reactor core during reloading. The main bounding parameter of the modeling was the neutron multiplication factor, keff. The characteristics of the network are defined by the nuclear parameters: cycle, burnup, enrichment, fuel type, and average power peak of each element. As for the artificial neural network, the ANN Feedforward Multi_Layer_Perceptron with various layers and neurons were constructed. Three algorithms were used and tested: LM (Levenberg-Marquardt), SCG (Scaled Conjugate Gradient) and BayR (Bayesian Regularization). The artificial neural network has implemented using MATLAB 2015a version. As preliminary results, the spatial distribution of the fuel assemblies in the core using a neural network was slightly better than the standard core.


The field of strategic human resource management has seemingly rediscovered human capital with increasing research focused on human capital as a mediator in the relationship between HR practices and performance. In this paper we review human capital definitions and measurement approaches within this literature. We then identify some of the issues emerging with human capital research. Finally, we propose some future directions for research on human capital in organisations.


This study examined sex‐role stereotyping within FCC‐mandated children's educational programming. A content analysis compared stereotyping across program age ranges and revealed that programs intended for young children present a more traditional view of sex roles than programs intended for teens. Male characters in old programs were stereotyped to a lesser extent than their young program counterparts, while female characters remained equally stereotyped across age ranges. These results suggest that children are being exposed to consistently gender stereotyped television role models at precisely the age when they are forming their own sex role identities.


There is significant motivation to develop and deploy novel nuclear reactor designs to deliver improved performance, safety, and economics for nuclear energy. In gas-cooled fast reactors that use helium as the primary coolant, the presence of xenon could indicate the onset of the fuel failure. We performed a feasibility study using single-pulse laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy to assess the sensitivity for trace xenon detection in a helium buffer of the pressure of 1.25 bar at room temperature. Under these experimental conditions, parametric optimization of recording parameters has ultimately led to the xenon detection limit of about 0.2 μmol mol−1 for 104 laser shots. The results show promise for the use of this technique for online monitoring of reactor fuel integrity, and motivate studies for the development of a compact measurement system that could be integrated with the reactor's primary helium-cooling loop.


Aim: to conduct an analysis of ethical and legal norms relating to childhood in Brazil. Methods: normative analysis of 22 relevant documents from Brazil in two interrelated theoretical frameworks: ethics and interdisciplinary. Results: Nine categories were identified: General Principals, Citizenship, Health, Unborn Child Rights, Research, Education, Social Work, Child Labor and Children with Special Health Care Needs. Each thematic category had from one to five subcategories, discussed according to ethical relevance and priorities for future research. Conclusion: although Brazil had


CASE A healthy 39-year-old woman presents to her primary care provider after a foot fracture because it is still causing her pain and swelling despite treatment over the last month. She is increasingly discouraged and fearful that she may never walk again. History A month ago, the patient presented to her primary care offi ce with pain and swelling to the outside of her left foot after she fell from a stool while hanging holiday decorations. Radiographs of the foot revealed an acute transverse fracture of the base of the fi fth metatarsal (Jones fracture). The patient was prescribed crutches and a CAM walker boot, and was instructed to advance to weight bearing in the boot as tolerated. Ten days later, her swelling had not improved despite adherence to the treatment plan. She reported tingling and numbness of the foot that kept her awake at night. Because of her severe pain, she was referred to the ED, where she received a posterior molded splint after an updated radiograph confi rmed a normal healing fracture. She was referred to an orthopedic specialist, who applied a cast, told her not to bear weight on that foot for 6 weeks, and to take vitamin C. After 2 more weeks, she complained that she still had pain and swelling and could not tolerate the pressure from her cast. The cast was removed and she returned to the CAM walker. Her orthopedist ordered venous ultrasound of the left leg, which was unremarkable. He then called her primary care provider to comment on her unusual behavior, indicating she was calling the offi ce frequently with pain that was disproportionate to a typical Jones fracture. Physical examination At the primary care provider visit, the patient's vital signs are: BP, 120/78 mm Hg; pulse, 80; respirations, 16; temperature, 99° F (37.2° C). She is 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) tall and weighs 154.4 lb (70 kg). Her muscle tone is normal. A bilateral lower extremity examination reveals purple discoloration of the entire left lower leg and 2+ edema isolated to the left foot (Figure 1). She has no calf swelling or tenderness. Pedal pulses are +2/4. Two-point discrimination is normal. Musculoskeletal strength is +5/5 in the right leg and +4/5 in the left leg with diminished strength on ankle fl exion and extension secondary to pain. Her deep tendon refl exes are +2/4 bilateral as measured at the Achilles tendon.


Cancer is the most leading cause of deaths worldwide. Despite present understanding and experimental advancements, the morbidity and mortality still remain high. Dok2 have been visualized as a key player in multiple biological processes as inflammation, differentiation, cellular migration and even as an important marker for tumor progression. Recent reports have vividly discussed the regulatory aspects and prognostic aspects of Dok2. Here, we sought to summarize the recent shreds of evidence of Dok2 involvement in carcinogenesis. Dok2 represents an attractive marker for cancer progression and represents a valuable therapeutic target.


The study explores the image of teacher of Paulo Freire in Teachers as Cultural Workers: Letters to Those Who Dare Teach. Freire addresses "education is an act of love, and thus an act of courage" his focused on teachers' critical reflection, that is to say, he concerned about how do people become a progressive teacher? Education as a continued life, teachers need continued goals in their career life. This thesis seeks the image of teacher of Paulo Freire and attempts to rewrite and reinventing his idea on teacher work especially focus on the beginning teacher. Freire's teacher images can help beginning teacher to understand how to learn and how to teach and especially how to experience the dynamic unity between teaching contents and the process of knowing. The results suggest that beginning teacher may firstly, rethinking their own duty if they really understand it or not. Secondly, open the critical dialogue with student and realize their background. Thirdly, discover the connection between theory and practice.


Efficiently and in high yield, a liquid - can be purified by liquid extraction operation, it can achieve an oligonucleotide manufacturing process according to the phosphoramidite method, to provide a protective nucleotides for extension. The specific base-protecting oligonucleotides and / or specific 3 'position branched chain containing aromatic protected oligonucleotide was found that the above problems can be solved.


T HE chromaffin system of tissues has been reviewed as to origin, morphogenesis, relationships and functions by Kohn (1), Zuckerkandl (2), Iwanow (3), and Hollinshead (4). Reconstructions of the juxta-aortic bodies have been made in various mammals. Kohn (1), Zuckerkandl (2), and Iwanow (3) have presented planographic reconstructions of this system in human embryos and fetuses of various ages, and Wrete (5) has presented models prepared from human embryos of 38 and 39 mm. In order to contribute to the better understanding of the sympathochromaffin system in the human embryo, three stages in the morphogenesis of this system have been reconstructed planographically. The two older stages have also been reconstructed as wax models. The three embryos so utilized were of 9 mm. (greatest length), 14 mm. (greatest length) and 40 mm. (crown-rump length). It was judged that stages intermediate between 14 and 40 mm. did not offer sufficient differences to warrant separate consideration. The 9 mm. embryo was fixed in Zenker's solution; the 14 mm. and 40 mm. specimens were fixed in 20 per cent formalin. All three embryos were embedded in paraffin, sectioned transversely at 10, 11 and 30 micra, respectively, and stained in hematoxylin and eosin. The original models and the planographic reconstructions were made at magnifications of 22.5 diameters (40 mm. embryo) and 62.2 diameters (14 mm. embryo). The original planographic reconstruction of the 9 mm. embryo was made at a magnification of 156 diameters. This investigation was carried out in the laboratory of Prof.-Dr. Jose Escolar


Let X be a complete toric variety with homogeneous coordinate ring S. In this article, we compute upper and lower bounds for the codimension in the critical degree of ideals of S generated by dim(X) + 1 homogeneous polynomials that don't vanish simultaneously on X.


The study examines the relationship between two concepts insufficiently fixed into the collective mind of the scientific community from the educational sciences branch. "Social Pedagogy" and "Social Psychology" tend to become Evelina Balaș frontier sciences, seeking arguments to become mature sciences, with an outlined personality. The difficulties of such an undertaking are amplified because of the existence of identical areas of analysis ("educational phenomena") and also by the delay in arranging the concepts in an unequivocal and unambiguous language (ex. Psychosociology - Sociopedagogy - Social Psychology - Educational pedagogy).


In the short time since the discovery of the modern solar cell in 1954, terrestrial photovoltaic power system technology has matured in all areas, from collector reliability to system and subsystem design and operations. Today's PV systems are finding widespread use in powering loads where conventional sources are either unavailable, unreliable, or too costly. A broad range of applications is possible because of the modularity of the technology---it can be used to power loads ranging from less than a watt to several megawatts. This inherent modularity makes PV an excellent choice to play a major role in rural electrification in the developing world. The future for grid-connected photovoltaic systems is also very promising. Indications are that several of today's technologies, at higher production rates and in megawatt-sized installations, will generate electricity in the vicinity of $0.12/kWh in the near future. 12 refs., 3 figs.


Chapter 19 deals with coordination, both syndetic (with an overt coordinator) and asyndetic. Three semantic types are distinguished: conjunctive, disjunctive, and adversative coordination. The conjoins that are coordinated may be clauses and noun, adjective, or adverb phrases. Conjoins can share a coordinator or have multiple coordinators. In addition there is epitactic coordination.


Using government records, data from hazardous waste treatment companies, and on-site surveys, we evaluated the effectiveness of the current industrial solid waste management system in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), which was established according to the revised Law on Environmental Protection of 2005 and related regulations. In addition, we examined the relationship between the management system and environmental compliance by companies. Attention was paid to the classification of industrial solid waste, its amount finally disposed, and the cost of its disposal in HCMC. The results showed: one, the incoherence of the revised law and regulations in solid waste management caused serious pressure on landfills, and two, the implementation of the regulations has been neglected at all aspects of the current management system due to low levels of companies' registration and reporting, as well as low levels of compliance among companies in industrial zones. A solution for dealing with the current problems is proposed.


The present invention relates to the process for refining acetonitrile with a pervaporation method, comprising the steps of separating the crude acetonitrile by decyanation tower, discharging most light components including hydrocyanic acid, oxazole and acrylonitrile from the top of tower, discharging part of water and heavy organics from the tower reactor, extracting the azeotrope of acetonitrile-water from the lower side of stripping section of decyanation tower into the chemical processing reactor for alkali additive processing, the aqueous acetonitrile removed free hydrocyanic acid through alkali additive processing passing steam and heat exchange of the preheater and the high-purity acetonitrile into the evaporator, removing heavy components in the bottom of reactor, removing the aqueous acetonitrile steamed from the evaporator into the pervaporation membrane separator, which permeate side connects with the vacuum system, condensing the penetrant by the condenser into the permeating tank, obtaining the high-purity acetonitrile through the interception side of pervaporation membrane separator, to be successively condensed by the preheater and the finished condenser into the product tank. The present invention has simple process, low investment in equipment, small occupied area and high utilization ratio of energy.


In spectroscopic studies of isolated rat liver mitochondria, it has been pussible to identify different oxidation-reduction levels of the respiratory enzymes, especially cytochrome b and dihydrode phosphopyridine riucleotide (DPNH), depending upon the presence or absence of adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and to correlate these spectroscopically defined states with the acceleration or inhibition of respiration caused by the addition or withdrawal of ADP from such mitochondria.* * Based on the idea that the glucose inhibition of respiration in ascites tumor cells3' 4 , may be related to the intracellular ADP level, we have applied thc above spectroscopic test to such cells in the transition from respiration with endogenous substrate to the glucose-inhibited state. Such spectroscopic methods have already been used with ascites cells to record their cytochrome6 and pyridine nucleotide7 content and to show by measurements of the rapid kinetics of the components of their respiratory chain that capabilities for rapid electron transport exist, but are not utilized.* 111 the current study, spectroscopic measurements of cytoclirome b show definite changes in the intracellular ,4DP level caused by glucose addition. Other aspects of the glucose effect are revealed under our experimental conditions. The effect of glucose on respiration is found to include an initial transitory phase of stimulation in which the ,4DP level is high. This phase is followed by a severely inhibitory phase in which the ADP (or phosphate) level is too low to support appreciable respiration. Measurements of glucose uptake show that i t follows a similar course of brief stimulation and then inhibition. These observationsg allow us io evaluate various theories for the Pasteur reaction and to suggest that i t may he a special case of extensive interactions of glycolytic and respiratory pathways in which exchange of adenosine polyphosphates between these two enzyme systems may he an important control mechanism*.'O The Ehrlich ascites tumor cells were prepared as before' but, in this case, special precautions were taken to avoid appreciable changes of pH due to fermentative activity of the cells. Thc Ringer solution was buffered with from 10 to 40 mM "tris" instead of phosphate. At the higher concentrations, the pH changed niucli less than 0.1 unit (0.04) during the cycle of respirat.ory changes. In view of such x small change and of the fact that addition of alkali did not reverse the inhibition, we may conclude that the effects recorded were not caused by a pH change. It: was found thal cells suspendcd in higher concentrations of "tris" buffer Cell preparations and reaction media.


This article discusses the Golden Guardian, a California statewide annual exercise designed to evaluate California's emergency response capabilities. The 2008 Full Scale Golden Guardian Exercise (GG08) took place Nov. 13‐14, 2008, and involved a scenario that centered on a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that shook a 270‐km line along the southern San Andreas Fault. It was a no‐fault exercise, meaning that personnel were not evaluated based on their actions, but instead on the effectiveness of the plan to support their response to the earthquake incident. The article discusses the GG08 parameters; strengths identified by the exercise results; and, focus areas identified for developing or revising emergency response plans.


We present a study of ultrafast carrier dynamics on the clean Si(100)2{times}1 surface using time-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. A rapid thermalization inside the surface band is observed, and the carrier relaxation occurs on a time scale of a few hundred femtoseconds to a few picoseconds depending on the initial state energy. The relaxation time increases as the initial state energy decreases with respect to the band minimum. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}


ABSTRACT This paper explores how a small group of young Australian Muslim women are engaging with the discourses of gender, religion and culture in their lives. It draws on data gathered from a study that evaluated aprogramme designed to support learning and public action for human rights. The paper highlights these young women's experiences of the double bind of racism and patriarchy in their lives around familial/community and public ideas about what it means to be a good Muslim woman. In light of this burden of representation, the paper draws attention to the ambivalences of responsibility and risk the young women express about speaking out against the issues that concern them. We conclude with a consideration of the significance community-driven and localized advocacy represents in Muslim women moving beyond the double bind.


The Met Office is moving towards higher resolution models for short range weather forecasting applications. The main motivation for this is to provide improved forecasts of hazardous weather and in particular severe convective events. With the availability of more computer power and the advent of the non-hydrostatic version of the Unified Model (UM) (Davies et al 2005) high resolution models are becoming more feasible. Until early 2005 the highest resolution model being run operationally was the 12km mesoscale model covering the UK. This is currently being replaced by a 4km gridlength UK model. Whilst it is expected that the 4km model will lead to improvements in the forecasting of convective events, it is hoped that, in due course, moving to a 1km gridlength model will bring further improvements. This paper describes trials which have been carried out on a suite of 12km, 4km and 1km models in order to evaluate the potential benefits of the 4km and 1km models. These trials have focused on short range forecasting (out to T+7) of convective events. Key aspects of the model configuration are described in section 2. Section 3 presents some results from the trials.


This article reports on the results of a study seeking to answer: (1) How do students studying abroad change views with respect to different dimensions of a global perspective? (2) How do various elements of the comparative global education program, Semester at Sea, impact the development of a global perspective? Data were collected using limited participation observation (23 participants), interviews and student journals at the beginning and end of a Semester at Sea voyage. Domain, taxonomic and theme analysis were used to identify patterns of change in five dimensions of students' global perspectives. The findings of this study offer some possible conceptual refinements concerning dimensions of a global perspective, and generally reinforce the conclusions of prior research on how tourist and study abroad programs contribute to or detract from the development of a global perspective.


It is shown in the work that the transformation of aluminium and boron centres occurr in glass structure under irradiation of fused silica by high doses of 60Co yrays and n+y flux, as well as under high temperature processing of the samples in the y-field. The mechanism is suggested for the explanation of such changes by transformations of aluminum and boron centres by means of valence bond switch causing valence-configuration change.


The widespread popularity of languages allowing explicitly parallel, multi-threaded programming, e.g. Java and C#, have focused attention on the issue of memory model design. The Pensieve Project is building a compiler that will enable both language designers to prototype different memory models; and optimizing compilers to adapt to different memory models. Among the key analyses required to implement this system are thread escape analysis, i.e. detecting when a referenced object is accessible by more than one thread, synchronization analysis, and delay set analysis. This thesis describes the overall Pensieve compiler and presents in detail its thread escape analysis as well as experimental results showing the effectiveness of the compiler when the target code is following the sequentially consistent memory model. On both single-threaded and multi-threaded programs the performance is up to 100% of the performance of the same programs executing under a relaxed memory model.


Abstract— Structurally controlled aggregation course for five porphyrins (etioporphyrin [EP], 5‐mono‐ and 5,15‐di‐[p‐tol‐yl]etioporphyrin [TP and DTP], 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis[p‐tol‐y1]porphin [TTP], and 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis[3,5‐di‐tert‐bu‐tylphenyl]porphin [TBP]) in dipalmitoyl‐phosphatidyl‐choline liposomes has been monitored by fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy. While TBP shows no tendency to aggregate in liposomes, EP, TP, DTP and TTP form a porphyrin‐enriched domain in membrane interior with time. The further aggregation steps within porphyrin clusters resulting in formation of stacked porphyrin aggregates have been observed for EP, TP and DTP.


Polyurethane (PU) paint is being widely used in industry and life. Currently, nanotechnology can create a variety of materials as small as nanometers with many applications, it has brought many outstanding properties to PU paint. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of SiO2 nanoparticles in PU paint formulation on metal surfaces. We created a sample of two-component PU paint, part A is Desmophen A-160, Bentone 34, BYK 066, Disper 710S, Foamex N, Airex 900, TiO2, SiO2 nanoparticles, BaSO4, Cloparafin, Xylen, Thinner 132, Desmodur N75, and part B is a curing agent Desmodur N75. Methods of analyzing the properties of the PU paint film are based on Vietnam standards. The study results showed that SiO2 nanoparticles have increased the properties of the PU paint film, improving the Impact and Glossy of the PU paint film. SiO2 nanoparticles increase from 1% to 6% by weight, the Impact increased by about 21.62% (74 to 90 kg.cm), Glossy 600 increased by about 13.75% (80 to 91). SiO2 nanoparticles are a good coating substance in PU paint, it improves the properties of the paint film, it increases the Impact and Glossy for the paint film. The higher the rate of SiO2 nanoparticles, the better the properties of the PU paint film. Because the cost of nanomaterials is higher than that of normal coating materials, the nanomaterial should only be added with a ratio of about 2-4% by weight.


This paper reports the effect of humidity and temperature on the adhesive strength of a pressure sensitive adhesive (Flexbond 150) used to bond Mylar films. It has been found that, ill general, the adhesive strength decreases significantly with an increase in temperature. The effect of humidity on the bonding strength, however, was found to be process dependent. The sample preparation conditions, e.g., press weight for the bonding and the press time, are important in determining the humidity effect. The water sorption isotherm A 24°C for the adhesive was also determined. The amount of water sorbed by the adhesive at 95 percent relative pressure was found to be less than one weight percent.