Data on the scattering of X-rays from various mirror flats obtained from different vendors. The scattering data discussed in this section is obtained by a one dimensional proportional counter at X-ray energies of 8.06, 6.4 and 2.99 keV. X-rays are generated at one end of a 312.4m long tube which is under vacuum. This long tube provides a parallel beam of X-rays which is then collimated by a slit and allowed to scatter from a pair of mirror flats at small grazing angles of incidence. The slit and mirrors assembly is placed 182.4 meters from the other end of the tube where the proportional counter detector is located. The detector is sitting on an optical table which is pivoted so that it can rotate to intercept X-rays at a range of spatial locations. The optical table pivot is located 2.78 meters in front of the detector, and has an operational angular range of 350 arc minutes. Measured from the position of the mirror, this total angular range of the data is (350) (2.78/182.4) = 5.33 arcminutes.


Marine Ornithology 30: 31 (2002) Bouvet Island or Bouvetøya (54°25'S, 3°21'E) is the most isolated island in the world. Nyrøysa is a rocky platform on the west coast of Bouvetøya, formed by a landslide sometime between 1955 and 1958 (Prestvik & Winsnes 1981). Approximately five Northern Giant Petrels were observed at Nyrøysa during the 2000/01 austral summer. Two of these were colour-banded, seen feeding on dead Antarctic Fur Seal Arctocephalus gazella pups. The first, a male (SAFRING No. 9-73306 and orange alphanumeric plastic band 09A), seen on 16 February, was banded as a chick on Marion Island on 29 January 1991. It bred there in 2000/01 and was last seen incubating on 29 August 2000. This breeding attempt had failed by 12 September 2000, and the bird was not recorded at Marion again that season (D.C. Nel pers. comm.). This bird had been previously recorded at Bouvet Island on 2 February 1999 (Isaksen et al. 2000). It had bred at Marion Island in 1998/99 and was last seen at its the breeding site that season with a large chick on 12 January 1999 (Isaksen et al. 2000).


On the basis of propulsive model, a mathematical model which is used to describe the motion of pitching and heaving of dolphin's caudal fin by ways of coordinate transformation is deduced. Meanwhile, this model can show the relationship between the motion of caudal fin and parameters related, then the motion of caudal fin of dolphin is simulated by the software of Matlab which showed the swimming principle. It is believable that this model will be useful for the design of caudal fin machine of robot dolphin, and it's also provide a theoretical foundation for dynamics study of caudal fin of dolphin.


A convenient method of conserving grape (Vitis labrusca L. cv. Delaware; F. thunbergii; V. vinifera L. cv. Rizamat) was developed by culturing nodal segments in Murashige and Skoog's medium, but at a lower than normal concentration of ammonium nitrate under standard tissue culture conditions consisting of a 16-hr photo-period at 28C. The cultures had a higher rate of survival after 262 to 290 days of storage under low ammonium nitrate condition than under low temperature (5 or 10C).


Credit card is a kind of financial production which contains various services. The characteristic of high returns in credit card is promoting a new competition among the civil banks. However, there happens an unprecedented credit card crisis in Korea. The principal reasons are too loose stimulants in policy and incomplete management of credit card. Analysis concerning credit card crisis in Korea will be beneficial to the healthful development of our credit card market.


Purpose – The paper aims to characterize anomaly detection in hyperspectral imagery.Design/methodology/approach – This paper develops an adaptive causal anomaly detector (ACAD) to investigate several issues encountered in hyperspectral image analysis which have not been addressed in the past. It also designs extensive synthetic image‐based computer simulations and real image experiments to substantiate the work proposed in this paper.Findings – This paper developed an ACAD and custom‐designed computer simulations and real image experiments to successfully address several issues in characterizing anomalies for detection, which are – first, how large size for a target to be considered as an anomaly? Second, how an anomaly responds to its proximity? Third, how sensitive for an anomaly to noise? Finally, how different anomalies to be detected? Additionally, it also demonstrated that the proposed ACAD can be implemented in real time processing and implementation.Originality/value – This paper is the first work...


The article deals with the issues of plant density and field germination of winter triticale on gray forest soils of the southeastern part of the Volga-Vyatka zone depending on the variety and seeding rates. The question of establishing the optimum density of sowing, the area of food for grain crops served as the object of study by many researchers. The urgency of the issue of creating optimal sowing density is explained by the fact that the factors that determine the magnitude of the yield are constantly changing. The plant stand density and field germination of winter triticale are significantly influenced by the weather conditions formed during the growing season of winter triticale plants. With an increase in seeding rates, the plant stand density and seeding rate increases, respectively, is important for the formation of a given density of productive stalks. In production, these elements of technology are often underestimated and often unjustifiably overestimate the seeding rate, which is absolutely unnecessary, since the really possible yield is achieved at an optimal seeding rate with minimal seed consumption. The winter triticale seeding rates, both in Russia and in the world as a whole varies from 2 to 8 million viable seeds per hectare. The urgency of the issue of creating optimal sowing density is explained by the fact that the factors that determine the magnitude of the yield are constantly changing. Until now, there is no consensus on the dependence of planting density on the degree of fertility. Some researchers believe that nutrient-rich soil requires less seed for maximum yield. Under these conditions, the plants develop better, they bush more, the maximum yield can be obtained with a lower seeding rate. The opposite opinion that it is necessary to sow thicker on rich soils has become widespread, especially in recent years. Advocates of the bottom conclusion explain their point of view by the fact that fertile soil has a greater supply of food and moisture, therefore, more plants can be grown on the same area, which means that the seeding rate should be increased [1,2.3,4.5,6,7]. Research results indicate that winter triticale with increasing seeding rates increases plant density and field germination of winter triticale plants.


We present a simple cross-calibration procedure for measuring THz power with room-temperature pyroelectric detectors. When efficiently coupled, large-area, metal-film-coated lithium tantalate pyroelectric detectors are perfectly capable of detecting microwatt average power levels or less from THz sources, pulsed or cw. Here we focus on a brass flared-horn coupling technique that increases the pyroelectric responsivity by about 5x compared to traditional, quasi-optical coupling.


The A includes a metal junction, a passivation layer over the metal junction, and a polymer layer over the passivation layer. A metal pillar is above the metal terminal and is electrically connected thereto. A metal ring is coplanar with the metal column. The polymer layer comprises a portion which is coplanar with the column metal and the metal ring.


Legionella species are abundant in the built environment and are increasingly recognized as a cause of Legionnaires ' disease (LD). As the number of cases of Legionnaires ' disease acquired by local communities in the Seoul metropolitan area in Korea has been increased, there was concern that changes in environmental factors could affect disease outbreaks. We described the association between climatic variables and occurrence of legionellosis in Korea and Legionella detection rate in Seoul area. A total of 418 cases of legionellosis were reported between 2014 and 2017. There was a seasonal peak in summer. LD continuously occurred from early spring to winter every year and rapidly increased in summer. In the regression analysis, the primary variables of interest- PM2.5 (  g/m 3 ), NO 2 (ppb), and a number of the date of issue O 3 warning were not significant except for average temperature (R 2 =0.8075). The Legionella detection rate in Seoul, Korea showed a trend similar to precipitation (P=0.708, ANOVA). A relatively high proportion of Legionella detection rate was shown, especially cooling tower (17.7%) and public bath (19.3%). This finding is in line with current understanding of the ecological profile of this pathogen and supports the assertion that legionellosis occurs through contamination of water


The effect of anthocyanins extracted from black soybean (Glycine max L.) on body weight, adipose tissue weight, and serum lipid was evaluated in rats fed the high fat diet. Rats were raised on a normal diet (ND, based on the AIN‐93M diet), high fat diet (HFD, supplemented with 16% lard oil in the ND), HFD containing 10% black soybean, or HFD containing 0.37% black soybean anthocyanins. Weight gain was significantly lowered in the rats fed HFD plus black soybean anthocyanins compared with the rats fed HFD alone. The weight of organs or tissues included liver, epididymal and perirenal adipose tissues was decreased in rats fed anthocyanins compared with the rats fed HFD. The black soybean anthocyanins added diet was also effective in improving the lipid profile. It reduced the levels of serum triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol and increased HDL‐ cholesterol level of rats fed HFD. These results indicate that black soybean anthocyanins have an antiobesity effect, which can reverse the effects of HFD on body weight, adipose tissue weight, and serum lipid contents.


The paper introduces how to realize the serial communication between the system computer and the front-end single-chip computers by the communication control of VB-MSComm. It also discusses how to make the transformation data-form correspondent. Based on the example of the serial communication between the upper and lower computers for liquid level measurement control system in a chemical plant.it puts forward the related program.


Relational query databases provide a high level declarative interface to access data stored in relational databases. Two key components of the query evaluation component of a SQL database system are the query optimizer and the query execution engine. System R optimization framework since this was a remarkably elegant approach that helped fuel much of the subsequent work in optimization. Transparent and efficient evaluations of preferential queries are allowed by relational database systems. This results in experimenting extensive evaluation on two real world data sets which illustrates the feasibility and advantages of the framework. Early pruning of results based on score or confidence during query processing are enabled by combining the prefer operator with the rank and rank join operators. During preference evaluation, both the conditional and the scoring part of a preference are used. The conditional part acts as a soft constraint that determines which records are scored without disqualifying any duplicates from the query result. To introduce a preferences mapping relational data model that extends database with profile preferences for query optimizing and an extended algebra that captures the essence of processing queries with ranking method. Based on a set of algebraic properties and a cost model that to propose, to provide several query optimization strategies for extended query plans. To describe a query execution algorithm that blends preference evaluation with query execution, while making effective use of the native query engine.


Monitoring and forecasting price developments in the euro area is essential in the light of the second pillar of the ECB's monetary policy strategy. This study analyses whether the forecasting accuracy of euro area inflation models can be improved by aggregating forecasts of subindices of the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) as opposed to forecasting the aggregate HICP directly. The analysis includes univariate and multivariate linear time series models and distinguishes between different forecast horizons, HICP components and inflation measures. Various model selection procedures are employed to select models for the aggregate and the disaggregate components. The results indicate that aggregating forecasts by component does not necessarily help for forecasting year-on-year inflation twelve months ahead. JEL Codes: E31, E37, C53, C32


In particular, for detection of DNA in the medical, environmental and / or criminology, it is known to use a system with immobilized DNA as an analytical tool in the analysis of nucleic acid. According to the invention, the immobilized DNA is or provided with a biocatalytically active label, for example an enzyme, and a catalytic activity reversibly inhibiting substance as an inhibitor but it is immobilized in addition to the immobilized biocatalytic label is a DNA which is provided with a substance which the catalytic activity the label may inhibit reversible. Alternatively, may be provided as an immobilized capture biocatalytically active label with a DNA carrying a substance as an inhibitor capable of inhibiting the activity of the label reversible. In a further alternative, a complex of a double-stranded DNA binding molecule, and a substance can be used as an inhibitor, which can inhibit by interaction with the immobilized biocatalytically active label whose activity reversible. In all cases, in a first state to interact, the inhibitor or the combination of inhibitor and double-stranded DNA-binding molecule with the biocatalytically active label and defines the inactive state of the system. Upon binding, particularly hybridization, the DNA to be analyzed to the capture DNA due to the formation of the double strand is the interaction between ...


Core collections are a way to improve the functioning of germplasm collections through systematic evaluation, exploitation, and improved management of the whole collection. The published sizes of cores have ranged from 10 to 30% of the collection. The first step in developing a core collection is usually stratification of the whole collection. We adopted three approaches in the process of core designation. First, the existing ecological data and newly acquired agro-morphological (evaluation) data were analysed to determine the optimal method for capturing the ecological and morphological diversity of accessions. Second, different selection strategies were compared to identify the most powerful analysis with the greatest likelihood of covering maximum diversity. Third, the correlation between the two datasets was investigated. The annual pasture legume, bladder clover (Trifolium spumosum L.), was used for this pilot study because 80% of the existing 398 accessions have near-complete ecological data. The study found that a two-step selection process using ecological data and stratified proportional strategy followed by combined datasets and maximising strategy best represents the whole collection of T. spumosum in the core.


Direct Torque Control of Induction motor is being used for mathematical modeling and control of three phase induction motor. A three level capacitor clamped multi-level inverter is being used for generating a stable sinusoidal waveform output for the operation and control of induction motor. The space vector PWM is used as the firing ring scheme for the multi-level inverter. It provides least total harmonics distortions and is easier to control the three-phase voltage and angle due to its firing ring scheme. The proposed system is simulated using MATLAB and the obtained system response are presented. IOT is the driving element of the fourth industrial revolution. IOT is being used for the control of Induction motor by mobile application through WIFI.


The new bryozoan genus Nudicella (Onychocellidae, Cheilostomata) is proposed to accommodate the common and widespread Australian Cainozoic cheilostome bryozoan Eschara clarkei Tenison Woods, which is redescribed and subdivided into four species: N. clarkei (Tenison Woods), N. cribriforma sp. nov., N. latiramosa sp. nov. and N. tenuis sp. nov. Cellaria gigantea Maplestone is also reassigned to Nudicella. Colonies of this genus display a wide variety of growth forms, including cribrate fenestrate, flat robust branching, foliose, delicate branching and encrusting; their occurrences correlate with changes in sedimentary facies and palaeoenvironments. The distinctive cribrate style of fenestrate growth form has evolved convergently in unrelated bryozoan groups at various geological intervals. It is found in a wide variety of sedimentary facies, as in other coexisting opportunistic genera such as Celleporaria, indicating a wide ecological tolerance. The oldest recorded occurrence of Nudicella is in the Paleocene of north western Australia. From there it appears to spread south in the Eocene and then east towards the Otway Basin in southeastern Australia, where it occurs in the Oligocene and Miocene; no post-Miocene representatives of this genus are yet known.


extreme Fundamentalist groups, is in part due to the fact that people find in them an objective God, a God more than emotion touched with morality, and more than morality touched with emotionalism ? A Church which puts its emphasis on subjective ' experiences ', rational concepts, or moral goodness, is in danger of pointing men and women away from their destiny of confronting the living God for His own sake, not theirs.


In this study a series of different maturation degree coals are yielded by thermally treating a lowgrade lignite, and are used as the sorbents for sorption equilibrium study of phenanthrene. The results revealed that as the degree of maturation increased, the organic matrix became condensed, rigid and reduced, and the aromaticity increased. The sorptive characteristics for phenanthrene were correlated with the physicochemical properties of different maturations kerogen. According with the increase of the aromaticity and rigidity of the organic matrix, the nonlinearity of sorption isotherm increased. The sorption capacity for relatively young kerogen increased as maturation increased, and then decreased as maturation increased for relatively old kerogen.


She is quite a character of charm. Her spec of free-will quite wields its power over the four hundred years from her lifetime to this 21st century. Those characteristic aspects of Hwang Jin-i have been portrayed in many ways in the several genres in the last 5 years. For example in 2005 since Dahoon.com published ??Hwang Jin-i??of Hong Seok-jung, the North Korean novelist, an authoress Jeon Gyeong-rin's ??Hwang Jin-i??has been published in two volumes and sold as much as 150,000 sets in two years and then become the topic of the public. Later in 2006, KBS 2TV produced and televised ??Hwang Jin-i?? for a Wed-Thursday drama and recorded high popularity-rating. In 2007, a film company, who bought the copyright of the North Korean novel, ??Hwang Jin-i??, produced and showed the film ??Hwang Jin Yi??and drew large audience of 1,200,000. There are three categories of Gisaengs, who were highly reputed in history; a national self-existence, a self-preservation, and an artist. While Gyewolhyang and Nongye can be categorized into the type of national self-existence, Sobakju, Hongrang, Kanga, Hanwu and Maehwa can be categorized into the type of self-preservation. In the other hand, Maechang and Hwang Jin-i can be categorized into both types of the self-preservation and the artistic character but nearer to the artistic one. 'One source multi-use' (OSMU) means the enterprise strategy which the source-contents give birth to diverse genres such as games, publications, dramas, films, animations, and characters and raise the related value added. Hwang Jin-i is the text that showed up as a new icon of the mass culture owing to the 2006 OSMU strategy and genre of faction. ??Hwang Jin-i??of Hong Seok-jung created a story differentiated from the other history novels written by the previous writers such as Lee Tae-jun. While the one of Lee Tae-jun has the epic structure centering around the episodes of the historical romances, ??Hwang Jin-i??of Hong Seok-jun weaves the western structure of discord. The work of Hong Seok-jun is transformed into the film containing the aesthetic value on pro-romanticism and style-aesthetics which is different from the other genres. Meanwhile, the film ?Hwang Jin-i?starts the story breaking the balance of the long-story novel with three volumes. While the novel, ??Hwang Jin-i??, which can depict the charm of language-arts, seeks for the balanced beauty on the axis of three theses-the heroine, Hwang Jin-i's entering the Gisaeng-Affront to the hypocrisy of the nobilities of old Korea-Breaking down the feudalistic discrepancy, the film ?Hwang Jin Yi?shows the more intensified aspect of the dramatic tension as the frame of the epic structure is condensed into two theses-Love above class barrier-Breaking down the medieval discrepancy. The film ?Hwang Jin Yi?, however, shows the weakness of the sudden decrease of the dramatic tension because the weakness of the framework such like the unsuitable role weight of Nomi in the framework and the dramatic reverse('Nomi's self-surrender' and 'Hwang Jin Yi's episode of serving to the local magistrate') and the unskilled manipulating the tension lets fall sudden the fun of the drama. Above all, the description of Nomi as 'a strong and chivalrous hero with Herculean strength' in the North Korean film, ?Im Ggeok-jeong?, also aroused the rejection symptoms of South Korean audience. However, the film ?Hwang Jin Yi?obtained good results proposing the possibility of mutual communication between the genres. Though it is the historical work, setting up a method of sincere communication in trying talks between the classes in the dark medieval era itself raised the level of the video culture and at the same time served as a momentum overcoming the chronic critical comment from School of Frankfurt, the loss of 'the critical power' of the mass culture. The film ?Hwang Jin Yi?also achieved the expected results of understanding of the tragic social situation of the medieval era and presenting the future prospect. These successes of Hwang Jin-i as visual media spread into the other genres such like cartoon, musical, play, game, etc and generate the new meaning. On the basis there are codes of arts, love, tension solution of Gisaeng and works as the initial explosive for the creation of new meaning.


This study aims to examine the influence of Audit Opinion, Corporate
Growth, and Switching Management to the Switching Auditor. The type of data
used in this study is secondary data, in the form of audited reports Manufacturing
companies listed in the Indonesia Stock Exchange period 2012-2015. The
population in this study are all companies of Processing Industry listed on BEI
with the number of 149 companies. The sample was obtained by purposive
sampling method with the final number of 14 companies for four years, so that 56
total observations were obtained. Data analysis technique used is logistic
regression analysis.
The test results show that the audit opinion (OA) has no effect on the
switching auditor, while the company's growth (PP) has no effect on the switching
auditor, and the change of management (PM) has no effect on the switching
auditor.

Keywords: Switching Auditor (SWITCH), Audit Opinion (OA), Corporate
Growth (PP), and Change of Management (PM).

ABSTRAK
Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji pengaruh Opini Audit,
Pertumbuhan Perusahaan, dan Pergantian Manajemen Terhadap Auditor
Switching. Jenis data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini yaitu data sekunder,
berupa laporan auditan perusahaan Manufaktur yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek
Indonesia periode 2012-2015. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah seluruh
perusahaan Industri Pengolahan yang terdaftar di BEI dengan jumlah 149
perusahaan. Sampel diperoleh dengan metode purposive sampling dengan jumlah
akhir 14 perusahaan selama empat tahun, sehingga diperoleh 56 total pengamatan.
Teknik analisis data yang digunakan adalah analisis regresi logistik.
Hasil pengujian menunjukkan bahwa opini audit (OA) tidak berpengaruh
pada auditor switching, sedangkan pertumbuhan perusahaan (PP) tidak
berpengaruh pada auditor switching, dan pergantian manajemen (PM) tidak
berpengaruh pada auditor switching.

Kata kunci: Auditor Switching (SWITCH), Opini Audit (OA), Pertumbuhan
Perusahaan (PP), dan Pergantian Manajemen (PM).


In the Li_2O-B_2O3-SiO2 glasses with Li2O≥30 mol%, substitution of Li2O for B2O_3 or SiO2 leads to increase the amount of borate and silicate groups with non-bridging oxygen in glass network; while substitution of B2O3 for SiO2 leads to increase the amount of borate groups with or without non-bridging oxygen and silicate groups with non-bridging oxygen.


EFDC, ESCORT and MIKE21 models are applied at the Gomso Bay to investigate each models' facilities of tidal flat simulation. Comparisons with observation data show that all models simulate hydrodynamic phenomena and tidal flat well. CPU time and WCM are examined to evaluate the efficiency of the models, and the effects of flooding/drying depth and bottom friction are examined to analyze models' facilities of simulating tidal flat. The EFDC model is considered to be fairly good in accuracy, stability and applicability, it is, however, poor in efficiency and its complexity. While the ESCORT model is superior to the EFDC in simulation of tidal flat, it is inferior to the EFDC in CPU time and simulation of bottom friction. The MIKE21 model is excellent in efficiency, but some numerical noise would be detected at low water, not permitting correction of the model.


Thepotentialforfaultsin distributed com putingsystem s is a signi cant com plicating factor for application developers. W hile a variety oftechniquesexistfor detecting and correcting faults,the im plem entation of these techniques in a particular context can be di cult. Hence, we propose a fault detection service designed to be incorporated, in a m odular fashion, into distributed com puting system s, tools, or applications. This service uses well-known techniques based on unreliable faultdetectors to detectand reportcom ponent failure,while allowing the userto tradeo tim elinessof reporting againstfalse positive rates. W e describe the architecture ofthis service,reporton experim entalresults thatquantify its costand accuracy,and describe its use in two applications, m onitoring the status of system com ponents ofthe GUSTO com putationalgrid testbed and aspartoftheNetSolvenetwork-enabled num ericalsolver.


The inelastic scattering of 134 MeV protons to seven 6{sup -} states in {sup 26}Mg has been studied. By combining the results with those of a companion electron scattering study, and utilizing DWIA calculations, it has been possible to extract isoscalar and isovector excitation amplitudes. Shell model calculations using (1d{sub 5/2}){sup 10-n-p} (2s{sub 1/2}){sup n} (1f{sub 7/2}){sup p}, with p = 0 and 1, model spaces can reproduce the general features of the fragmentation, but not the structure of the yrast 6{sup -} state. 28 refs., 10 figs., 2 tabs.


Large amounts of highly purified semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes have become available through simple and scalable polymer-wrapping and shear-force mixing in organic solvents. The obtained dispersions enable the deposition (e.g., by aerosol jet printing) of semiconducting nanotube layers with variable thickness from sparse networks to 300 nm thick films with large optical density. These layers can be applied in field-effect transistors with excellent device performance [1], but also as electrochromic filters [2], for light-emitting diodes in the near-infrared [3] and photovoltaic cells [4]. Charge transport and light emission of such nanotube films depend on network composition and temperature [5], and can be tuned further with molecular dopants (e.g., for unipolar n-type or p-type transistors) or lightswitchable dipoles. Recent examples will be presented and discussed in terms of tailoring the network properties of polymer-sorted carbon nanotubes and their practical applications in optoelectronics.


Context: Primary caesarean section increases the chances of subsequent operative delivery with its attendant problems. It is necessary to frequently review the indications for primary section in order to reduce rates.
Objective: To examine the indications for primary caesarean section.
Study Design, Setting and Subjects: A descriptive, fifteen-year report (1983 through 1997) of primary caesarean section from a private hospital in Lagos, Nigeria.
Main Outcome Measures: Primary caesarean section rates in nulliparae and multiparae.
Results: The overall primary caesarean section rate was 19.6%. It was higher for nulliparae than for previously parous women (32.0% Vs 11.5%, p
Conclusions and Recommendations: Primary caesarean section is commoner in nulliparae than multiparae probably because previous successful vaginal delivery encourages more patient trial of labour in the latter group. A critical, individualised evaluation of cases of poor progress in labour is advocated to effect a decline in the incidence of this indication for surgery. Key Words: Primary Caesarean Section, Cephalopelvic Disproportion, Malpresentation.
[Trop J Obstet Gynaecol, 2004; 21:156-159]


The phenomenon of organizational performance within the TNI AL Headquarters has not been optimally assisted by the existence of existing information technology. The work process becomes less responsive because a lot is done manually. The purpose of this study is to explain the influence of digital leadership, digital competence and digital culture of crew members to improve the performance of the Indonesian Navy's organizations. The research sample was taken by purposive and cluster random sampling by selecting respondents who became operators or were involved in the use of information systems in their work units. The total sample of 445 respondents was obtained from 11 Navy's organizations of the Indonesian Navy Headquarters, which in total had a crew of 1,400 people, but the population involved in IT operations was approximately 800 people. The results of this study indicate that digital leadership has a direct positive and insignificant effect on organizational performance, The direct effect is shown in the positive and insignificant direct influence of digital leadership on organizational performance; while the direct effect is positive and significant digital competence, and organizational commitment to organizational performance; negatively and significantly direct effect of digital culture on organizational performance within the Indonesian Navy Headquarters. Digital competence directly has a positive and significant effect on organizational performance as well as on organizational commitment. Digital culture has a direct and significant negative effect on organizational performance and organizational commitment. The novelty of this research, Organizational commitment has a direct positive and significant effect on organizational performance


In this paper we are interested in introducing the notion of topological collections and transformations for the modeling of mechatronic systems by applying the MGS language (General Modeling System). This approach provides a generic local model that optimizes the global behavior by separating the topology and the physics of the studied system. For this purpose, the MGS language is implied in the case of 2D truss structure. Since a good argument is observed, this approach can be generalized for modeling more complex systems (mechatronic systems).


The leaves, bark and seeds of Bakain (Melia azadarach) and Leaves, bark of Ak (Calatropis procera) were tested for their deterrent/repellency in powder form against Rhyzopertha dominica F in wheat grain. The data showed that all of the treatments i.e. powders of Leaves, bark and seeds of Bakain and Leaves, bark of Ak significantly deterred/repelled the tested insect (R. dominica) in grains compared to control. Best results were obtained with the application of bakain's bark powder with 98.95 percent insect deterrent/repellency of the insect, followed by powder of Ak's leaves and bark of Ak with 89.25 and 86.50 percent deterrent/repellency of R. dominica respectively. Seed of bakain with 73.75 percent insect deterrent/repellency was found significantly least effective, followed by leaves of bakain with 82.50 percent repellency of the tested insect.


The usual method for classification processes of brazil-nut is manual and present some drawbacks like slowness, subjectivity, and inconsistency. In this paper, the main objective is to automate the classification process by analysing digital images with multiple brazil-nuts. These images have been segmented using the Level Set method without reinitialization with a new stopping criteria based on the area of objects, which have been proposed in order to reach better results. The goal is to optimize the manual classification process that has been done until now by generating higher productivity. The efficiency achieved by the proposal is 97.63% for whole brazil-nuts and 84.09% for broken brazil-nuts for image taken at a distance of 40 cm and 99.55% and 98.44% for whole and broken brazil-nuts respectively for image taken at a distance of 30 cm, properly classified.


The financial community has been stunned by the flood of reports of corporate accounting scandals. Congress reacted swiftly with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) imposed sweeping changes for corporate boards of directors. One major objective of this regulation was to improve corporate behavior by mandating changes in corporate governance structures. But, do changes at the top actually pe rmeate the corporation, or do such changes only result in token attempts to comply with a list of rules, regulations and requirements? This literature review covers: the relationship between board characteristics and high quality financial reporting; the role of the board in corporate governance; and literature linking board characteristics with corporate behavior.


BACKGROUND
Limited evidence supports kidney dysfunction as an indication for parathyroidectomy in asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). We investigated the natural history of kidney function in PHPT and whether parathyroidectomy alters renal outcomes.

METHODS
Patients with PHPT were compared with matched eucalcemic controls from 2000 to 2016. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) trajectories were compared over 10 years, with cases subdivided by severity of hypercalcemia: serum calcium 2.62-2.74 mmol/L (10.5-11 mg/dL), 2.75-2.87 (11.1-11.5), 2.88-2.99 (11.6-12), and >2.99 (>12). Interrupted time series analysis was conducted among propensity-score-matched PHPT patients with and without parathyroidectomy to compare eGFR trajectories postoperatively.

RESULTS
We studied 6,058 patients with PHPT and 16,388 matched controls. Modest rates of eGFR decline were observed in PHPT patients with serum calcium 2.62-2.74 mmol/L (-1.0 mL/min/1.73m2/year) and 2.75-2.87 mmol/L (-1.1 mL/min/1.73m2/year), comprising 56% and 28% of cases, respectively. Compared with the control rate of -1.0 mL/min/1.73m2/year, accelerated rates of eGFR decline were observed in patients with serum calcium 2.88-2.99 mmol/L (-1.5 mL/min/1.73m2/year, P<0.001) and >2.99 mmol/L (-2.1 mL/min/1.73m2/year, P<0.001), comprising 9% and 7% of cases, respectively. In the propensity score-matched population, patients with serum calcium >2.87 mmol/L exhibited mitigation of eGFR decline after parathyroidectomy (-2.0 [95% CI: -2.6, -1.5] to -0.9 [95% CI: -1.5, 0.4] mL/min/1.73m2/year).

CONCLUSIONS
Compared with matched controls, accelerated eGFR decline was observed in the minority of PHPT patients with serum calcium >2.87 mmol/L (11.5-11.9 mg/dL). Parathyroidectomy was associated with mitigation of eGFR decline in patients with serum calcium >2.87 mmol/L.


Lipid peroxidation is one of the main manifestations of oxidative damage and has been found to play an important role in the toxicity and carcinogenesis of many carcinogens. This study was carried out to determine the effects of vitamin C on lipid contents and fatty acid compositions of serum and liver in male rats treated with radiation or aflatoxin . Six week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 7 groups; control group, radiation exposed group, treated group, X-ray and co-treated group. Three groups, except control group, were each further divided into vitamin C administered group and not administered groups. For this study, vitamin C was injected with 10 mg/kg of body weight by intraperitoneal injection and 1 hr later, 0.4 mg/kg of was injected by the same method. These administrations were repeated every 3 days over a period of 15 days. Only one time, X-ray was irradiated on whole liver with 1,500 cGy. Then vitamin C and AFB1 were administered by the same level and same method described above. On the 16th day of treatments, the animals were sacrificed. From the analysis of the serum lipid patterns, significant decrease (p co treated group administered with vitamin C (group 7). In liver lipids, the levels of free cholesterol and total cholesterol were also decreased in X-ray and co treated group administered with vitamin C (group 7). The levels of serum free cholesterol and hepatic TG were not significantly different among all groups according to vitamin C administrations. The high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol level of serum was significantly (p co treated group administered with vitamin C (group 7). In the phospholipid fatty-acid compositions of serum and liver tissue, group 3, 5 and 7 showed an increase in polyunsaturated fatty-acid (PUFA) but a decrease in saturated fatty acid (SFA) when compared to the control group. The composition ratio of fatty acid varied according to vitamin C administration. These results suggested that vitamin C has partly suppressive effects on lipid contents and fatty acid composition of serum and liver in rats treated by radiation and .


Balanced steady state free precession (bSSFP) imaging suffers from off‐resonance artifacts such as signal modulation and banding. Solutions for removal of bSSFP off‐resonance dependence are described and compared, and an optimal solution is proposed.


S OCIAL work has been called many things. Here are seven things to remember that social work is not: 1. Social work does not signify social secretarial work; nor is it to be construed as in any sense related to the activities of the so-called society world. Social workers are recruited from all walks of life and their profession is not limited in scope of service to any particular class or creed. 2. There is a misconception of social work as the doling out of material relief by a " Lady Bountiful." Of course, there always has been and always will be in the world a place for the individual who, from his plenty, is ready to give to those who are in need. Without this spirit the world would be a sorry place indeed, and professional social workers would be at a loss to find the funds for necessary relief. It is not, therefore, this spirit of giving with which we quarrel, nor do we want to belittle the value of the gifts or the sincerity of purpose. It is necessary, however, to explain that relief giving is not the sole function of the social worker. Money is, naturally, one of the tools with which she works but it is not given or withheld according to the fullness or emptiness of the exchequer-or merely on an impulse. The professional social worker is trained in the scientific method *of handling her problems. For instance, a man asks for the price of a meal for which he honestly cannot pay. The social worker immediately says to herself: " Why is this man in need? How much better off will he be if I give him money for one meal? What can I do to be of real help to him? " The man may be ill or out of work. It would be easy to give what he asks and dismiss the matter. But how much more effectively she can help if she understands his real need! If she learns that he is out of work, she endeavors to help him in his search for a job. If he is physically unable to work, she will first arrange for him to secure medical treatment. Later she will put him in touch with employment bureaus or help him to make whatever other adjustment may be indicated in order that he can carry on for himself. This of


Abstract We used floristic studies from the state of North Carolina to compare the patterns of total, native and exotic plant species richness from sea level (Atlantic coast) to the summit of the Appalachian Mountains. Few studies have investigated how patterns of native and exotic species richness differ along environmental gradients, and these studies have yielded contrasting results. We compare our results with those few published studies, and demonstrate that there is a need for future studies examining exotic richness along gradients. We modeled the effects of size of study area, year of study, and elevation on species richness using a dataset of sixty-eight floristic studies. Native and exotic species richness showed a positive relationship with area and year. Exotic species showed a steeper slope than native species for the species-area relationship. Richness of both groups was positively but weakly related to year of study. After accounting for area and year, native species displayed a hump-shaped pattern along the elevational gradient. Exotic species richness was weakly related to elevation, which was not a significant variable in the model. This contrasts with the few previous studies that have examined exotic richness patterns along elevational gradients that have found either a strong linear decline, or a strong hump-shaped pattern. Both native and exotic species showed high variation in richness at elevations below 400 m. We conclude that different processes may govern native and exotic plant richness patterns and that exotic richness patterns along gradients may in fact be idiosyncratic due to factors such as disturbance history.


The departure point of this book was the Roman past as a common ground in all three cities. This is confirmed through anthroponymy, law and notarial practices, art, titles, status, topography, and lifestyle. There is a preservation and construction of the past, based on Romanitas. But there is as much a construction of the present. In Rome this is made up of the idealized Romanness of the Carolingians, and of the veneration of St Peter by pilgrims. In Venice it is created by John the Deacon and through the cult of St Mark. Ravenna's interest in its past, without a strong saint, makes it less successful in its present identity. Meanwhile, for the inhabitants of Rome, present and past remain strongly intertwined less through the outsiders' interest in the papacy and St Peter than through the reminding power of everyday topography and visual presence of Romanitas on the ground


A Norman Rockwell-esque "Gone Fishin'" sign on a business may provoke nostalgia of halcyon middle America. It probably means something altogether different to Steve and Janice Lowe, taxpayers who recently went to U.S. Tax Court but came home with an empty creel. To put it in fishing nomenclature, they got skunked. The case is a good summer read, plus a roadmap of how taxpayers fare in hobby loss cases and which mistakes can prove fatal.


© 2019 The Egyptian Journal of Surgery | Published by Context Biliary atresia (BA) remains the most common indication for pediatric liver transplantation worldwide. Ultimately, 50–80% of BA patients will require a liver transplant Thus, much of the research in the field has focused on identifying predictors for transplant and optimizing the efficacy of Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE), in order to decrease the need for transplantation and avoid the risks of lifelong immunosuppression. Aim The aim of this study was to identify perioperative risk factors for the need of liver transplantation following KPE operation for BA. Patients and methods A retrospective analysis of 150 patients undergoing KPE for BA at Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, fromMay 2013 toMay 2018, was carried out. Patients were divided into two groups: group one included 73 (48.7%) patients who survived without the need for liver transplantation and group two included 77 (51.3%) patients with mortality, listed for liver transplantation or transplanted; thereafter, logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent predictors of cases needing liver transplantation. Statistical analysis used Continuous variables were expressed as mean±SD and categorical variables as proportions. Univariate analysis for the two groups were carried out using the independent samples t test for continuous variables and χ test for categorical variables. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent predictors of cases needing liver transplantation. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used for the cut-off determination of predictive parameters using MedCalc application, version 18.2.1. Results The mean age at the time of operation was 74.9±14.6 days after birth (range, 31–111 days); there were 70 (46.7%) male babies and 80 (53.3%) female babies. The mean preoperative weight was 4.6±0.6 kg, while the mean preoperative height was 57.3±3.58 cm. Total bilirubin and albumin levels at 1 and 3 months following KPE were associated with death or the need for liver transplantation; however, only a total bilirubin level of more than 6mg/dl at 3 months is an independent predictor of the need for liver transplantation. Age at the time of KPE and postoperative steroid use were not associated with improved transplant-free survival. Conclusion Total bilirubin level of more than 7.3mg/dl at 1 month and a level of more than 6mg/ dl at 3 months after KPE are predictive of the need for liver transplantation (P< 0.001). Albumin level of less than or equal to 2.5 g/dl at 1 month and a level of less than or equal to 3 g/dl at 3 months after KPE are predictive of the need for liver transplantation (P< 0.001); however, only total bilirubin level of more than 6mg/dl at 3 months is an independent predictor of the need for transplantation (P< 0.001). Age at the time of KPE and postoperative steroid use were not associated with improved transplant-free survival.


In the present study, we used dual-probe microdialysis to investigate the effects of intrastriatal perfusion with neurotensin (NT) on striatal and pallidal glutamate and GABA release. The role of the pallidal GABAA receptor in the intrastriatal NT-induced increase in pallidal glutamate release was also investigated. Intrastriatal NT (100 and 300 nm) increased striatal glutamate and GABA (100 nm, 155 ± 9 and 141 ± 6%, respectively; 300 nm, 179 ± 8 and 166 ± 11%, respectively) release, as well as pallidal glutamate and GABA (100 nm, 144 ± 8 and 130 ± 5%; 300 nm, 169 ± 9 and 157 ± 8%, respectively) release. These effects were dose-dependently antagonized by the NT receptor antagonist 2-[(1-(7-chloro-4-quinolinyl)-5-(2,6-dimethoxy-phenyl)pyrazol-3-yl)carboxylamino]tricyclo)220.127.116.11.3.7)-decan-2-carboxylic acid (SR48692). Intrasubthalamic injection of the GABAA receptor antagonist (−)-bicuculline (10 pmol/100 nl, 30 sec) rapidly increased pallidal glutamate release, whereas the intrastriatal NT-induced increase in pallidal glutamate release was counteracted by intrapallidal perfusion with (−)-bicuculline, suggesting that an increase in striopallidal GABA-mediated inhibition of the GABAergic pallidal–subthalamic pathway results in an increased glutamatergic drive in the subthalamic–pallidal pathway. These results demonstrate a tonic pallidal GABA-mediated inhibition of excitatory subthalamic–pallidal neurons and strengthen the evidence for a functional role of NT in the regulation of glutamate and GABA transmission in the basal ganglia. The ability of intrastriatal SR48692 to counteract the NT-induced increase in both striatal and pallidal glutamate and GABA release suggests that blockade of the striatal NT receptor may represent a possible new therapeutic strategy in the treatment of those hypokinetic disorders implicated in disorders of the indirect pathway mediating motor inhibition.


The authors describe the characteristics of a local exchange carrier's service management system and focus on a computer-to-computer interface to a local exchange carrier's management services. Specifically, they suggest how the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) management protocols could form the basis of an interface between a local exchange carrier's service management system and a customer's integrated network management system.<<ETX>>


In the C.K. et al. v. Republika Slovenija ruling (judgment of 16 February 2017, case C-578/16 PPU), the Court of Justice ruled that the transfer of the asylum seeker should be suspended if the particular medical condition of the applicant is so serious as to provide substantial grounds for believing that the transfer would result in a real risk of inhuman or degrading treatment, within the meaning of Art. 4 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU. The Court thus qualifies its prior case law, ruling that not only risks stemming from systemic flaws but also circumstances affecting the individual situation of an asylum seeker can preclude the transfer under the Dublin system, in exceptional circumstances. After outlining the Court's reasoning, this contribution argues that this judgment changes the Court's approach to derogations under the Dublin system in a positive yet limited way; and that its case law on mutual trust as well as its approach to the case law of the European Court of Human Rights on the matter largely seems to remain unaffected.


In this research work, we propose a high-order time adapted scheme for pricing a coupled system of fixed-free boundary constant elasticity of variance (CEV) model on both equidistant and locally refined space-grid. The performance of our method is substantially enhanced to improve irregularities in the model which are both inherent and induced. Furthermore, the system of coupled PDEs is strongly nonlinear and involves several time-dependent coefficients that include the first-order derivative of the early exercise boundary. These coefficients are approximated from a fourth-order analytical approximation which is derived using a regularized square-root function. The semi-discrete equation for the option value and delta sensitivity is obtained from a non-uniform fourth-order compact finite difference scheme. Fifth-order 5(4) Dormand-Prince time integration method is used to solve the coupled system of discrete equations. Enhancing the performance of our proposed method with local mesh refinement and adaptive strategies enables us to obtain highly accurate solution with very coarse space grids, hence reducing computational runtime substantially. We further verify the performance of our methodology as compared with some of the well-known and better-performing existing methods.


Extraction conditions of pectin from shaddock (Citrus grandis Osbeck) peel,such as acid kinds,temperature,pH-value,time and feedstock ratio,were studied.The optimal conditions were obtained by a series of mono-factor experiments and L 16(45) orthogonal test.Variance analysis indicated that the optimal extraction conditions were:pH-value between 1.5~2.0,temperature 100 ℃,time 100 min and feedstock ratio 20.Pectin yield can reach 14.9% under the optimal conditions.After precipitated by 95% ethanol,the quality of pectin was determined and was as follows:degree of gelation 152°,D-galacturonic acid content 76.3% and ash content only 2.75%.


Rapid medical progress during the last decade has resulted in more people than ever before waiting for diagnostic procedures and operations. The aim of this study was to identify and elucidate patients' experiences of waiting to undergo an operation for carotid stenosis. Nine patients who were all waiting for the operation were interviewed. The interviews were analysed with qualitative content analysis. The results from the analysis were presented as two themes. One theme was to wait and feel secure ground and the other was to wait and feel insecure ground. All of the patients were hovering in a higher or lesser degree between these two extremes. Waiting was both being seen as normal and controllable and as an ordeal and a trial. The result of this study shows that the patients are using different kinds of coping-strategies to manage the waiting-time before the operation. These strategies were both of an active and problem-solving nature as well as of an emotional nature. When caring for these patients it is important to strengthen the patients who experienced the waiting-time as insecure when feelings of stress, uneasiness and anxiety were prominent. It is important that nurses find out how the patient has experienced the waiting-time and when it is considered necessary give the patient extra-time to express his feelings and thoughts.


In this paper, the concepts of "jammed status" and "jam headway" [X. B. Li, R. Jiang and Q. S. Wu, Phys. Rev.E68, 016117 (2003)] are introduced into the Modified Comfortable Driving (MCD) model [R. Jiang and Q. S. Wu, J. Phys.A36, 381 (2003)] to simulate the congested traffic flow including synchronized flow and wide moving jams. Using computer simulation, the fundamental diagram, the space–time plots, the time series of the density in the jams, the 1-min average data in the flow-density plane, the traffic patterns induced by red light are investigated. It is shown that the new model can describe both the synchronized flow and the sparse wide jams quite well.


Christians, including Biblical scholars, almost automatically and without thinking, regard 'messiah' as a title that has a bearing upon Jesus Christ, the Saviour. Yet one should know better, for studies in Hebrew reveal that 'messiah' is derived from a Hebrew word that simply means 'anointed one'. The Messiah in Early Judaism and Christianity, edited by Magnus Zetterholm, reminds the reader that 'messiah' is a term that has been appropriated throughout the history of Judaism and Christianity to various persons and in different ways.


The indications for surgical treatment of complete acromioclavicular luxations are controversial. Surgical treatments using Wolter's hook plates provide satisfactory results in five cases of acromioclavicular luxations and four cases with distal clavicular fractures. All patients with acromioclavicular luxations had Tossy type ‡V lesions, and Neer type h lesions were present in three patients with distal clavicular fractures. Thi device allowed early functional exercise after surgery. According to the evaluation method proposed by Kawabe, in patients with acromioclavicular luxations, there were two excellent results and two good results. All patients with distal clavicular fractures had excellent results.


This work presents a method that optimises the manifold pipe of a marine wastewater outfall under various hydraulic principles and cost considerations. Costing data from 37 international pipe supply companies providing pipes of various diameters for HDPE, steel and concrete were used to develop hybrid design equations for these three main materials used for outfall construction. These equations optimise the trade-off between pumping head and pipe size as well as the compromise between cost of material and favourable hydraulic characteristics. Various grades for each material were considered if relevant to marine outfalls. The resulting equations are very useful for outfall design, as oversizing of a project can incur unnecessary cost and under-sizing will not fulfil an outfall's intended hydraulic purpose and will increase the operational cost in terms of energy.


Optical emission studies of the glow‐discharge deposition of a‐Si:H alloys reveal the presence of reactive species derived from process gases and impurities. Studies of the dependences of emission intensities upon depositon parameters elucidate the mechanisms of formation of these species. Effects of impurities detected by emission spectroscopy upon a‐Si:H film electronic properties are discussed. A model of the chemical reactions involved in film growth is presented.


Khadafy is gone but Ethiopian refugees and workers in Libya are being imprisoned, held in containers, tortured, raped and even killed by racist Libyan police, officials and extremists. If Khadafy's daughter in law burnt a maid's body with hot water others like her are doing worse things especially to Ethiopian women in Libya. Tripoli, Benghazi and El Beida are mentioned as examples of places where Ethiopians and other Africans are subjected to inhumane treatment. SOCEPP has written a number of letters to the new Libyan authorities to respect the rights of Ethiopians and all African migrant workers and refugees but it has received no reply whatsoever. SOCEPP has received the report that hundreds of Ethiopians are detained in containers in the Libyan desert and extorted to bring money from their relatives to get a release. The suffering of Ethiopian women is particularly socking while latest freports indicate that young Ethiopian men have been gang raped in both Tripoli and Benghazi and vilified for their Christian faith.


Phosphate plays a very important role in the modern industries,such as forage,food and modern new gel materials,etc.With the rapid development of the phosphate and phosphate industries,the demand of phosphate and phosphorous salts is increasing constantly at home and abroad.At present,the main method of producing phosphate is the wet-process,after which the purified phosphate can satisfy the need of various industrial productions.Based on the difference of the wet-process technology of the phosphate,the technical research and results of the wetpurified phosphate of recent years at home and abroad are summarized.


From 1934 to 1941 the musical genre was at its height in the Soviet Union. Its birth really coincided with that of Socialist Realism in film, in 1934, so it is not surprising that these new twins were inseparable. The first Soviet musical was Igor Savchenko's 1934 musical comedy, The Accordion (Garmon), based on Alexander Zharov's poem. The music was by Pototsky, and the film starred Zoya Fyodorova. Perhaps the most prolific musical director was Grigori Alexandrov. His name should be familiar as an assistant director to Eisenstein and co-scenarist on October (1929) and eventually as editor of Que Viva Mexico . Alexandrov returned from a recent 1932 trip to America with Eisenstein, impressed by Walt Disney's animation, Busby Berkeley's musicals, and definitely by the American musical.


A look at books that have been banned or challenged throughout the years A listening of challenged children's books considered inappropriate for it's target age group.


A reliable method of securing drain tubing is presented. Knots made from two half-hitches have been used in the sailing world for many years. They provide a strong, slip-free knot which is simple to learn, tie, teach and easy to remove.


Were the Jews a Mediterranean Society?: Reciprocity and Solidarity in Ancient Judaism, by Seth Schwartz. Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press, 2010. 212 pp. $29.95. In spite of its title, this book has nothing to do with Goiteihs classic A Mediterranean Society (Berkeley, 1967-1993), which is not even mentioned throughout the present book. It is, in fact, an attempt to look closely at Jewish society in Palestine in the Second Temple and rabbinic periods and ask whether that society conforms to what is commonly expected of a "Mediterranean" society, and to what is known about Hellenistic and Roman societies outside the Jewish world. To answer that question, Schwartz begins by explaining his understanding of reciprocity, and especially institutionalized reciprocity, as a means for generating social cohesion, as when, for example, a rich Roman would build a new bathhouse for his hometown and in return would be duly honored by the town's people with honorific statues, inscriptions, and pubUc speeches. He also notes that Jews had other means for generating social cohesion, such as the stress on common descent and the celebration of a set of community-binding holidays. In the next chapter, he turns to the question of "Mediterraneanism," a historiographical, anthropological and even literary construct which sees Mediterranean societies as possessing highly institutionalized mechanisms of reciprocity, and as based on elaborate codes of honor and shame. While doubting the validity of this construct, Schwartz nevertheless seeks to test ancient Jewish society against it, and to do so he turns, in the next three chapters, to Ben Sira (second century BCE), Josephus (first century CE) and the Palestinian Talmud (third-fourth centuries CE). In each of these test-cases, a detailed analysis of the sources in search of their views of reciprocity, benefaction, social hierarchy, deference, honor, and related cultural values and social realia leads to a broader assessment of how they fit into the landscape of ancient society as a whole. Seen through this lens, Ben Sira emerges as quite ambivalent on issues of gift-giving and gift- exchange, money, trade, and honor. Josephus, who is "the pivotal figure for the concerns of this book" (p. 81), sees Roman-style benefactions - such as the erection of new theaters - as bad, but is full of praise for more "Jewish" benefactions, such as the distribution of charity to the poor (especially in times of famine) and the subsidizing of religious activities (such as funding the sacrifices owed by nazirites upon the completion of their vows). …


Aim This study was designed to explore parental knowledge of the Irish Immunisation Schedule, diseases vaccinated against, severity of diseases vaccinated against, perceptions of contraindications to vaccination, fears/anxieties regarding a specific vaccine(s), and finally parental source of knowledge/information, all with a view to targeting methods to improve vaccine uptake rates. Methods Prospective questionnaire-based study conducted on the postnatal ward of a busy regional hospital (3500 births/annum). Postpartum mothers (with conversational English) were invited to participate. Study period 1 June 2009 to 31 July 2009. Subjects interviewed and data collected as follows: demographics, beliefs and concerns, vaccines and contraindications—myth vs truth. Ethical approval was obtained from the hospital's clinical research ethics committee. Data analysed with SPSS version 17. Results 386 mothers were invited to participate, 367 (95%) participated and completed a questionnaire; 81% were native Irish, 68% rural dwellers, 62% aged 31–40 years, 42% primiparous. Primarily, rural dwellers were less informed and had more concerns regarding immunisations. 82 participants had concerns with MMR vaccine, majority of these were rural dwellers, 4:1. Additionally, primiparous women less knowledgeable regarding immunisation facts/schedule (see table 2). Abstract G59 Figure 1 Level which school based immmunisation programme should be introduced. Abstract G59 Table 1 Participants' principal information source(s) Information source(s) No. of participants General practitioner 277 (78%) Public health nurse 115 (32%) Department of Health 60 (17%) Internet 97 (27%) Other 38 (11%) Don't know 7 (2%) Abstract G59 Table 2 Comparative knowledge rural vs urban Region Rural Urban p Value Parity PP MP Total PP MP Total No. of participants 104 (29%) 137 (39%) 241 (68%) 54 (15%) 60 (17%) 114 (32%) Level of information Named scheduled vaccinations 8 (2%) 48 (14%) 56 (16%) 5 (1%) 18 (5%) 23 (6%) 0.585 Recalled amount GP visits 30 (8%) 78 (22%) 108 (30%) 15 (4%) 32 (9%) 47 (13%) 0.567 Incidence(s) to reschedule vaccination 4 (1%) 3 (1%) 7 (2%) 1 (0%) 2 (1%) 3 (1%) 1.000 Contraindications to vaccinations 27 (8%) 54 (15%) 81 (23%) 13 (4%) 27 (8%) 40 (11%) 0.720 Knowledge level Death: complication of measles 27 (8%) 46 (13%) 73 (21%) 12 (3%) 18 (5%) 30 (8%) 0.456 Meningitis: complication of mumps 13 (4%) 26 (7%) 39 (11%) 3 (1%) 10 (3%) 13 (4%) 0.264 Spontaneous abortion: complication of rubella 37 (10%) 66 (19%) 103 (29%) 12 (3%) 30 (8%) 42 (12%) 0.301 Pneumonia: complication of pertussis 26 (7%) 52 (15%) 78 (22%) 12 (3%) 23 (6%) 35 (10%) 0.808 Influenza vaccine doesn't give flu symptoms 48 (14%) 60 (17%) 108 (30%) 23 (6%) 35 (10%) 58 (16%) 0.306 Don't know what PCV protects against 58 (16%) 50 (14%) 108 (30%) 40 (11%) 26 (7%) 66 (19%) 0.023 GP, general practitioner; MP, multiparous; PCV, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; PP, primiparous Overall, 33% mothers confirmed a strong media influence in immunisation-related decision making. Finally, 59% mothers would attend postnatal education classes, if vaccination information included; 64% participants would like to see a compulsory immunisation programme; 83% stated school-based immunisation education should be introduced. Conclusions Factual knowledge regarding immunisations is lacking in a significant percentage of Irish mothers, most remarkably uniparous and from a rural background. Postnatal education and/or introduction of information into childhood educational curricula should improve parental knowledge and ultimately immunisation uptake rates.


Introduction: Nonpenetrating deep sclerectomy (NPDS) is one of the surgical procedures used for lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with uncontrolled open-angle glaucoma. This surgery can be enhanced with the use of antimetabolites as well as implants - devices that are placed to facilitate the aqueous outflow by maintaining the virtual space created after removing the deep scleral flap. The purpose of this study was to report the long-term efficacy and safety of NPDS with adjunctive mitomycin C (MMC) and a nonabsorbable hydroxyethyl methacrylate implant (Esnoper V-2000) in our institution.
Methods: This is a retrospective study. Inclusion criteria were: adjunctive use of MMC and Esnoper V2000; follow-up time post-NPDS≥24 months; absence of additional glaucoma surgery within the first 24 months post-NPDS. Of 55 NPDS surgeries performed between April 2013 and January 2017 in our institution, 39 eyes (35 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Primary outcome was surgical success, defined as IOP at last follow-up observation ≤18mmHg and IOP reduction rate (IOP-RR)≥20%, either with (relative) or without (absolute) need of IOP-lowering drugs, and without additional surgery. Secondary outcomes were change in number of antihypertensive drugs, Nd:YAG goniopuncture (Nd:YAG GP) rate, and need for additional glaucoma surgery.
Results: Mean patient age at NPDS was 69.0 (±11.3) years. Mean pre-NPDS IOP was 21.6 (±6.0) mmHg on median 4 (1) IOP-lowering drugs. Mean follow-up time post-NPDS was 40.3 (±14.2) months. Median IOP at 2-years (M24) and last-follow-up was 14.0 (6.0) mmHg, on a median number of 1 (2) IOP-lowering drugs. Statistically significant reductions in median IOP and IOP-lowering drugs were observed at M24 and at last follow-up compared to baseline (p<0.001). Success rate at M24 was 61.5% (25.6% relative and 35.9% absolute success) and 56.4% at last follow-up. Nd:YAG GP rate was 35.9%, performed at a mean time of 14.4 (±6.5) months post-NPDS. Two eyes (5.1%) needed additional glaucoma surgery after M24.
Conclusions: In our study, NPDS with adjunctive MMC and Esnoper V-2000 resulted in a significant reduction in IOP and number of IOP-lowering drugs over the long term, with a relatively high surgical success rate. Our patients could possibly benefit from a higher rate of Nd:YAG GP which was lower than reported in other studies. The need for additional glaucoma surgery is low in NPDS eyes.


The history of modern anaesthesia – from "...no humbug!" to HFNO – has a remarkably short span for the degree of scientific advancement and technological complexity we currently enjoy. Indeed, the data-saturated clinical and research environments within the speciality may lead us to presume that development of new therapies is continuously accelerating. Remove the electronics, however, and examination of the therapeutics at our disposal reveals a different story. Using inhaled agents as an example: Scientific descriptions of the use of ether and diethyl ether in the 1500s are available. Priestley's 'airs' of oxygen and nitrous oxide date from the late 1700s, although it was a century later by the time anyone suggested that administering the nitrous oxide with oxygen was perhaps a safer plan. Morton's 1846 Etherdome demonstration of effective operative anaesthesia in humans precipitated a gust of inhalational invention that also saw chloroform becoming commonplace, but it was only in the 1920s that volatile anaesthesia using ethylene and cyclopropane began to resemble anything like modern delivery methods. The explosive potential of early agents holds an ironic twist for the discovery/development of the halogenated/fluorinated volatiles, which stemmed from the field of chemistry advanced to support the Manhattan Project. Steadily, the names of agents familiar to those practising anaesthesia today emerged: halothane (in clinical use from 1956), methoxyflurane (1960), enflurane (1966), isoflurane (1972), and then a two-decade hiatus before the introduction of desflurane (1992) and sevoflurane (1994). While the latter may feel recent, it is sobering to consider that we are now reaching the point at which our "newest" inhalational agents were introduced before our registrars were born. (Xenon has been excluded from this discussion, as it is still not, nor is it likely to be, in regular clinical use).


ABSTRACT Research from the interdisciplinary science of learning indicates that children learn best when they are actively engaged in learning that is meaningful, socially interactive, iterative, and joyful. These principles coalesce in active playful learning, especially guided play. This active, playful pedagogy enhances learning through intentional instruction that activates students' autonomy and intrinsic motivation while teachers guide them toward a learning goal. In this paper, we provide a framework for facilitating guided play through a 3-part equation of incorporation of cultural values, the science of how children learn, and the science of what children need to learn to thrive in school and beyond. A summary of the research supporting the efficacy of this approach is provided, as are recommendations for how to implement the equation through guided play in our schools.


Abstract : The following points are developed. First, mediation relations are generally thought of in causal terms. Influences of an antecedent are transmitted to a consequence through an intervening mediator. Second, mediation relations may assume a number of functional forms, including nonadditive, nonlinear, and nonrecursive forms. Special attention is given to nonadditive forms, or moderated mediation, where it is shown that while mediation and moderation are distinguishable processes, a particular variable may be both a mediator and a moderator within a single set of functional relations. Third, current procedures for testing mediation relations in industrial and organizational psychology need to be updated because these procedures often involve a dubious interplay between exploratory (correlational) statistical tests and causal inference. It is suggested that no middle ground exists between exploratory and confirmatory (causal) analysis, and that attempts to explain how mediation processes occur require well-specified causal models. Given such models, confirmatory analytic techniques furnish the more informative tests of mediation. (Author)


Cloud computing is speedily growing and lots of a lot of cloud suppliers area unit rising. value potency and resource value maximization become 2 major issues of cloud suppliers to stay competitive whereas creating profit. The profit maximization drawback in united cloud environments collaborate to extend the degree of multiplexing has been investigated. define novel economics-inspired resource allocation mechanisms to tackle Existing abstractions for in-memory storage on clusters, like distributed shared memory, key worth stores, databases, and transverse flute, provide AN interface supported fine-grained updates to mutable state (e.g., cells in an exceedingly table). it's fine-tuned to predict the load of its cluster. the ultimate load of the entire grid is obtained by summing the hundreds of every cluster. The projected methodology for load prediction in sensible Grid has 2 major benefits. 1) Learning client behaviors not solely improves the prediction accuracy however conjointly incorporates a low procedure value. 2) SCCRF will effectively model the load prediction drawback of 1 client, and at the same time choose key options to spot its energy consumption pattern.


This paper presents a new hybrid positioning algorithm whereby restrictive information such as base station sector and maximum range can be used in a Kalman-type filter. This new algorithm is fast to compute and gives almost the same accuracy as the particle filter with millions of particles. Simulations show that in some cases restrictive information such as mobile phone network sector and maximum range informationdramatically improvefilter accuracy. We also present the mathematical fundamentals of the algorithm.


Elegantly written and a delight to read, this biography is a substantial contribution to the scholarly literature on the history of American Protestant missions at the turn of the twentieth century. Arthur Tappan Pierson (1837–1911) was one of the most important figures in the expansion of the American Protestant missionary enterprise in the late nineteenth century. But Pierson was overshadowed by more colorful figures such as Dwight L. Moody, A. J. Gordon, and A. B. Simpson and was gradually forgotten. Robert, the Truman Collins Professor of World Mission at Boston University School of Theology, skillfully rescues him from obscurity. Serving Presbyterian pastorates in Detroit, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia, Pierson came to national attention as a Bible expositor, essayist, and social activist. Increasingly, however, he devoted his ministry to world evangelization and became an international figure in the advancement of Christian missions. Moody invited Pierson to address the Mount Hermon conference of college men in 1886, out of which came the Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions. Pierson urged that "all should go and go to all," and he is credited with coining the watchword of the SVM, "The evangelization of the world in this generation." He was editor of the influential monthly Missionary Review of the World for twenty-three years and carried on a transatlantic preaching ministry in England and Scotland. He called for a world missions conference and was invited to address both the London Centenary Conference on Protestant Missions (1888) and the Ecumenical Missionary Conference in New York City (1900). Robert describes how Pierson, an ardent premillennialist and keenly interested in Jewish evangelism, was "a founding father of the faith missions movement" in North America, a promoter of women's ministry, an advocate of holistic evangelism, a leader in the Keswick holiness movement, a consulting editor of the Scofield Reference Bible, and "a founder of the tradition that grew into American fundamentalism by the 1920s." He delivered over 13,000 sermons and addresses and wrote more than fifty books, some of which are still in print today. This superb volume merits careful study and will richly reward the reader with insights into issues and trends that still challenge Christian missions a century later. —Gerald H. Anderson


This project is to build swimming-pool timer control school age or deep water
rotation swimming-pool. Power input is 9-12V DC from converter. Powerful pump
half horsepower engine single phase AC control by relay electrical switch. Switch
relay electric control by the unit guard are situated in weather proof box nearby with
pump. Consumer may prescribe amount of time for stated pump open and fall shut.


The linear instability of neutral and stratified Ekman flow has been studied theoretically and experimentally (Lilly, 1966 ; Brown, 1972). The fastest growing infinitesimal perturbations equilibrate nonlinearly in the form of longitudinal roll vortices which are close analogues of circulations found in neutral and weakly convective ABLs (Brown, 1970 ; Young, 2002). Therefore a secondary instability mechanism must be invoked for three-dimensional (3D) turbulence to be generated. Through such a mechanism, which is known to exist in the neutral case (Dubos et al., 2008), infinitesimal 3D perturbations to the equilibrated rolls grow and eventually lead to turbulence through nonlinear interactions.


Systems, circuits and methods are disclosed for controlling the word line voltage applied to word line transistors in Spin Transfer Torque Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (STT-MRAM) (410). One embodiment is directed to a STT-MRAM, the STT-MRAM includes a bit cell having a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ, 405) and the word line transistors. Bit cell is coupled to a bit line (420) and source line (440). Word line driver (432) is coupled to the gate of the word line transistors. Word line drivers, to supply the high word line voltage than the power supply voltage is at a low power supply voltage than the transition voltage and configured to provide a voltage lower than the power supply voltage is higher supply voltage than the transition voltage.


BACKGROUND
Heat shock transcription factors (Hsfs) play pivotal roles in plant response to stress. Although glycine betaine (GB) and hot water (HW) treatments are effective in reducing chilling injury (CI), little is known about characterization of Hsfs gene family and their potential roles in alleviating CI by regulating antioxidant system in peach fruit.

RESULTS
In this study, 17 PpHsfs were identified in peach genome and investigated by using bioinformatics, including chromosomal locations, phylogenetic relationships, gene structure, motifs and promoter analyses. Furthermore, the expression patterns of PpHsfs under GB and HW treatments were investigated. PpHsfs showed different expression patterns in GB- and HW-treated fruit, while most of them were significantly up-regulated by both treatments, especially PpHsfA1a/b, PpHsfA2a, PpHsfA9a and PpHsfB2a/b. Meanwhile, GB and HW treatments induced the higher levels of genes expressions and antioxidant enzymes activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) compared to control, contributing to inhibiting hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) accumulation and superoxide anion (O2 .- ) production. Moreover, the correlation analysis between PpHsfs and antioxidant-related genes showed that three PpAPXs were significantly correlated with ten PpHsfs, while PpCAT and PpSOD had no significant correlations with PpHsfs, which indicated that PpAPX might be regulated by PpHsfs.

CONCLUSIONS
Results indicated that GB and HW treatments induced different PpHsfs transcript levels to regulate the antioxidant genes expressions, which might be beneficial to inhibit the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and protect the integrity of cell structure, thus alleviating the development of CI in peach fruit during cold storage. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


Effective management of the airway is a priority in resuscitation efforts and a central issue in emergency medicine for providing ventilation and oxygenation in critically ill patients. Compared to the controlled conditions of the operating theatre, airway management in the emergency department is more difficult than in other circumstances; the patient may be in respiratory distress, desaturating, or may have a compromised airway. In addition, sedation may have a profound effect on hemodynamically unstable patients, who may become severely hypotensive and rapidly deteriorated, while preparation of the patient, environment, and equipment is often challenging [1, 2].


In a setup similar to the self coherent camera, we have added a set of pinholes in the diffraction ring of the Lyot plane in a high-contrast stellar Lyot coronagraph. We describe a novel complex electric field reconstruction from image plane intensity measurements consisting of light in the coronagraph's dark hole interfering with light from the pinholes. The image plane field is modified by letting light through one pinhole at a time. In addition to estimation of the field at the science camera, this method allows for self-calibration of the probes by letting light through the pinholes in various permutations while blocking the main Lyot opening. We present results of estimation and calibration from the High Contrast Imaging Testbed along with a comparison to the pair-wise deformable mirror diversity based estimation technique. Tests are carried out in narrow-band light and over a composite 10% bandpass.


A description is given of the development of beiyllosis in a lab assistant working with beryllium bronze. The condition was manifested as an allergic skin arteriolitis, associated with the formation of ulcers and severe decline in general condition. From an analysis of the worker's duties it appeared that the causative agent was beryllium oxide, which after repeated injuries caused by beryllium bronze fragments, penetrated the skin. Beryllium was estimated by spectrographic methods in tissues and excereta material. Therapeutic procedures are described. The skin manifestations responded best to the local administration of ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) ointment containing ascorbic acid and the parenteral administration of EDTA. However, no improvement in general condition resulted from these treatments. (BBB)


Law can be the site through which women's dignity and equality can be expressed and pursued. Speaking the language of rights translates one's needs from private interests to public claims through words and concepts that the community – local, national and/or international – have already validated. Law can therefore offer a medium to confront the injustices and unfairness built into other systems of political, social and economic ordering. Women's rights advocates have won significant victories through law and have generated gains for women's dignity and equality. However, law can also be a place where women's rights are not only silenced but where social, economic and political power structures are replicated and work against women's rights. This paper argues that effective rule of law programming focused on women's rights and democratic governance must begin with a clear definition of the rule of law, a careful analysis of the causes of women's inequality and the context in which it is perpetuated and sustained, coupled with an ability and desire to harness law as an instrument of social change that is tempered by a sober understanding that law is unpredictable and complex in its results.This paper proceeds in several parts. First, it identifies the key issues relating to women's democratic governance, women's rights and the rule of law. The second part identifies the importance of normativity and power relations for feminist theorizing around the rule of law. Feminist conceptions of the rule of law recognize that law is shot throughout with social and economic power and that harnessing women's emancipation to law is fraught with uncertainties and complications. At the same time, feminist theorizing around the rule of law also recognizes the importance of using law to speak truth to power and to gain access to the sites in which social relations are defined, evaluated and consolidated. The final sections of this paper discuss the different barriers to access to justice that face elite and marginalized women, the possible roles that NGOs can play in the realization of women's rights, and the possible mutually interdependent and reinforcing roles that women in various positions of power can play in promoting women's rights more generally. The very last section sets out areas for further research and analysis. While scholars and advocates have significantly advanced the thinking about and harnessing of law in support of women's needs and interests, much conceptualization, implementation and assessment or evaluation work remains to be done.


In order to solve the key technologies of river regulation,the meandering and braided river at Jianli reach in the middle Yangtze River was studied in this paper.Through investigated and measured data analysis,theoretical research,flume generalized model tests and the other technical methods,the stratification plane isopleth map of fluctuating kinetic energy for the meandering and braided river reach was given.The formation mechanism of the shoal was revealed,and the variation of sediment carrying capacity was also given.It is shown that the fluctuating kinetic energy of the bottom current in the bifurcation region is scattered.The minimum value of sediment carrying capacity is in the bifurcation region,and that is one of the reasons of formation for the shoal.


The Structural Aging Program provides the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission with potential structural safety issues and acceptance criteria for use in continued service assessments of nuclear power plant safety-related concrete structures. The program was organized under four task areas: Program Management, Materials Property Data Base, Structural Component Assessment/Repair Technology, and Quantitative Methodology for Continued Service Determinations. Under these tasks, over 90 papers and reports were prepared addressing pertinent aspects associated with aging management of nuclear power plant reinforced concrete structures. Contained in this report is a summary of program results in the form of information related to longevity of nuclear power plant reinforced concrete structures, a Structural Materials Information Center presenting data and information on the time variation of concrete materials under the influence of environmental stressors and aging factors, in-service inspection and condition assessments techniques, repair materials and methods, evaluation of nuclear power plant reinforced concrete structures, and a reliability-based methodology for current and future condition assessments. Recommendations for future activities are also provided. 308 refs., 61 figs., 50 tabs.


Growing demand for airport capacity and resource efficiency leads to an increasing need to optimise operations. In order to evaluate any promising options for optimisation it is necessary to analyse their potential impact taking into account different stakeholders' perspectives and domains (e.g. punctuality, security, cost efficiency, comfort). This paper discusses a comprehensive approach to evaluate and rank different optimisation solutions for airport terminal processes.


The compound [Ni(pyt)2] has been prepared in good yield by electrochemical oxidation of the metal in a solution of pyridine-2-thione (Hpyt) in acetonitrile. When pyridine (py), 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy), or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) is present in the electrochemical cell the corresponding adducts [Ni(pyt)2(py)2], [Ni(pyt)2(bipy)], or [Ni(pyt)2(phen)] is obtained. The crystal structure of [Ni(pyt)2(bipy)]·0.5 bipy is monoclinic, with a= 10.409(2), b= 12.013(3), c= 19.790(3)A, β= 103.95(3)°, space group P21/c, and R= 0.032 for 3 176 reflections with |Io| > 3σ|Io|. The molecule has a distorted octahedral NiN4S2 kernel, with average bond distances of 2.065 A for Ni–N and 2.485 A for Ni–S. The vibrational and electronic spectra of the compounds are discussed.


In several areas of mathematical physics and engineering sciences, integral transforms and fractional calculus operators play an important role from the application point of view. A remarkably large number of integral transforms as well as fractional integral and derivative formulas involving various special functions have been investigated by many authors. This paper is a short portrayal, concerning the utilization of Riemann-Liouville fractional operators on generalized Bessel-Maitland function. The main results demonstrate how the operators aects the parameters i.e., the Riemann-Liouville fractional integral operator and differential operator involving Bessel-Maitland function are expressed in terms of Mittag-Leer functions. The main results can be applied to obtain certain special cases by specialising the parameters.


Introduction: the organizational climate is currently of interest to almost all companies, due to their influence on organizational and psychological processes, such as communication, decision making, problem solving, learning, motivation, and its impact on the efficiency of the organization and the satisfaction of its members. Objective: to analyze the scientific production on the organizational climate existing in the literature. Method: systematic review in data banks: VHL, Scielo, LILASC considering the indexed descriptors. Twenty-six articles were included for the analysis, according to the search strategy, in the years from 2013 to 2018 framed in the evaluations developed in different countries on the organizational climate assessment as well as the instrument used and the results obtained. Results: in the 26 identified articles, 24 were quantitative with cross-sectional and correlative descriptive designs, one mixed and one qualitative. Made in the countries of Spain, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Mexico, Cuba, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador. Of these, 22 were written in the Spanish language, two in the English language and two in the Portuguese language. In relation to the journals that contributed the most articles are Science and work and the Cuban Journal of Public Health. Conclusions: Organizational climate studies show the importance and effectiveness of organizational climate management. In addition, evidence that organizational climate management influences user satisfaction.


PurposeThe purpose of this paper was to assess the causal relationship(s) between moral hazard and adverse selection of public–private partnership (PPP) construction projects. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to explore the cause and effect relationship between moral hazard and adverse selection problems in PPP construction projects in Ghana. The study produced a framework to predict, estimate and depict the complex causal relationships (i.e. the directionality) between moral hazard and adverse selection.Design/methodology/approachTo test the proposed framework, a quantitative methodology was used, in which, data were collected using research questionnaires that targeted a sample of 280 PPP stakeholders in Ghana. In total, 210 useable questionnaires were retrieved, representing a response rate of 75 per cent.FindingsThe interrelationships between the eight causes and the nine effects of moral hazard and adverse selection were established using the model. The tested framework showed the degree of association and isolation of the unobserved variables on the indicator factors. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to evaluate the fit of items to latent constructs. Because the fit of each model was good and the item loadings were adequate, it was assumed that the indicators of the different variables factors were fitting. Furthermore, a diagnostic fit analysis was conducted using the robust maximum likelihood method to test the statistical significance of the parameter estimates.Practical implicationsThis novel research is one of the few studies investigating the causal relationships between moral hazard and adverse selection of PPP construction projects. The research concluded with future studies that seek to validate the model developed in other countries and/or other industries.Originality/valueThe research findings will serve as a guide for construction stakeholders in the PPP sector on the causes and effects of adverse selection and moral hazard and how to mitigate these.


In the nuclear fuels industry, a great deal of effort goes into ensuring that quality materials are produced. Of these materials, none receives more attention than the uranium-oxide nuclear fuel pellets. These cylindrically shaped pellets (approx. 1/2 inch L X 1/2 inch D) are carefully produced and then meticulously inspected for various defects (e.g., cracks, chips, etc.). The inspection process is designed to remove any defective pellets from each lot, assuring the end user a reliable, predictable, and safe product. The current (manual) inspection process is laborious and subjective in nature. The inspector also receives prolonged exposure to low-level radiation. For these reasons, automated inspection of nuclear fuel pellets has long been a goal of the industry. However, it is not a simple task, due to the many material handling and image processing challenges required to inspect pellets at production rates (greater than five per second). This paper describes an automated nuclear fuel pellet inspection system that has successfully met these challenges. Built around a set of modular, high-speed, pipelined image processing hardware, it inspects pellets at rates of up to seven pellets per second. Recent tests have shown better than 97% detection rates with less than 2% false reject rates. Image processing algorithms and solutions to design challenges are described.


W E DESCRIBE 3 PATIENTS WITH CONfirmed mutations in the folliculin gene to illustrate the dermoscopic features of Birt-Hogg-Dube (BHD) syndrome. Physical examination revealed that all 3 patients had multiple, firm, pale facial papules on examination (Figure 1 [case 1, 50-year-old woman], Figures 2 and 3 [case 2, 55-year-old woman], and Figure 4 [case 3, 37-year-old man]). Each lesion showed well-demarcated areas of pallor with central follicular opening on dermoscopy (Figures 5 [case 1], 6 [case 2], and 7 [case 3]). Histologic examination showed trabeculae of squamous cells, with horn cysts and clear cells, intervening loose spindle cell stroma, and surrounding fibrosis, in keeping with fibrofolliculoma (Figure 8). InitiallydescribedbyBirt et al, fibrofolliculomasare the hallmarkofBHDsyndrome.Togetherwith trichodiscomas and acrochordons, they form the triad of cutaneous lesions seen in this condition, which is also associated with an increased risk of pulmonary cysts, spontaneous pneumothorax, and renal carcinoma. Onset, typically in adulthood, is characterized by asymptomatic papules that primarily involve the head, neck, chest, back, and arms and often have a central hair. In conclusion, fibrofolliculomas have reproducible dermoscopic features which, if multiple, should prompt consideration of a diagnosis of BHD syndrome as well as monitoring for associated complications.


The fundamental features of the social transformation which have taken place in Hungary are generally known. Public opinion is, however, less informed about the dimensions of the changes in the structure of society and about the trends and character of the processes which brought about these changes. The exact description of the social changes and, in addition to this, the analysis of the interrelations demand empirical, documentary information on the one hand, and the exploration of the connections between the factors instrumental to the changes in question, on the other. The complexity of the factors in this regard is generally known: economic, social, political, technical, cultural, demographic and health and welfare elements can all have a role-both separately and in interrelation with one another-in the formation of society. To disregard any of the groups of factors involves the risk of simplification and, through this, of distorted reality. At the same time, for practical reasons the trends and aspects of the examinations and analyses are, of necessity, limited. Admitting, indeed, emphasizing the necessity of an interdisciplinary attitude, the present study intends to approach the subject from the angle of demography, relying in the first place on statistical data. An approach· of this kind is justified on the one hand by the recognition that in the social sciences empirical and quantitative attitudes cannot be dispensed with; on the other hand, owing to the interdisciplinary character of demography, the demographical outlook somewhat decreases the danger of one-sidedness. Nevertheless, both the character of the data at disposal and the extent of this study call for setting out the bounds of the theme and the structure of its discussion. Founded on the logical order of the analysis-also considering the points resulting from the character of the material at our disposal-the following outline seems expedient: I. The modification of the social structure in connection with the


Objectives To evaluate therapeutic efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen on acute carbon monoxide poisoning.Methods Treatment programs of hyperbaric oxygenation:Therapeutic pressure was 0.2Mpa,each time of oxygen was 20×3Min,10 times was a period of treatment.Results 164 cases were cured;1 was dead;3 cases abandoned the treatment.Conclusion Hyperbaric oxygen is the preferred method of treatment for acute carbon monoxide poisoning.Therapeutic efficacy was relative to initial time,length of treatment and the treatment interruption.