The focus of the cost management literature is almost exclusively on technical issues, with scant attention to its social, political and organisational dimensions. In this paper the authors document research examining the design team as a temporary management structure, with emphasis on the efficacy of the cost management system as a vehicle for attaining client objectives with respect to time, cost and quality. Soft systems methodology is used to explore the perceptions of stakeholders to the cost management system, thus developing conceptual models of the theory and practice of cost management. Significant differences were found to exist between the perceptions of individual stakeholders concerning design team participants, participants' roles, and the very purpose of the cost management system. Recommendations are made for structural, attitudinal and procedural changes to the cost management system in order to facilitate its effective functioning in the achievement of the client's needs and objectives.


The most commonly prescribed antibiotics for patients with hospital‐acquired bacterial pneumonia (HABP) and ventilator‐associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP) due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa are the conventional anti‐pseudomonal β‐lactams (APBLs) (ie, ceftazidime, cefepime, meropenem, or piperacillin‐tazobactam). Similar resistance mechanisms in P. aeruginosa affect the APBLs, and it is unclear if resistance to one APBL can affect the effectiveness of other APBLs. This exploratory, hypothesis‐generating analysis evaluates the impact of APBL resistance among patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) with P. aeruginosa HABP/VABP who initially receive a microbiologically active APBL.


The article deals with the problem of using the international scientometric databases for monitoring results in the implementation of scientific researches, namely, their publications and disseminations. It should be noted that nowadays mobile access increases to open educational electronical systems and to the open international scientometric systems. During our research the relevance of using mobile versions of open international scientometric systems is defined. The benefits of using the open international searching scientometric platform Google Scholar in research activity and monitoring in the implementation of scientific and educational research are investigated. The aim of our study is the necessity of using the mobile version of Google Scholar by scientists in the aspect of technology of mobile learning development. This article deals with a comparison of the interface of mobile and full versions of the system and indicates that the using of a mobile version of the site scholar.google.com can be allowed. The main advantages of using the mobile version of Google Scholar in the
aspect of mobile learning are analyzed. Some aspects are outlined for further research.


This chapter addresses the ways that health can be a social justice issue and how adult educators can work towards social justice, either alone or collaboratively with health professionals.


Cold atmospheric pressure plasma jets (CAPJs) are an emerging technology for the localised treatment of heat sensitive surfaces. Adding humidity to the CAPJ's feed gas yields an effective production of highly reactive intermediate species, such as hydrogen atoms, oxygen atoms, and hydroxyl radicals, among others, which are key species for biomedical applications. This study focusses on the effluent of the CAPJ kINPen, which was operated with argon feed gas and a humidity admixture of 3000 ppm, while a gas curtain was used to limit the diffusion of ambient air into the effluent. The axial and radial density distribution of O and H atoms is measured by means of picosecond two-photon absorption laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy (ps-TALIF). A maximum O atom density of (3.8 ± 0.7) × 1015 cm−3 and a maximum H atom density of (3.5 ± 0.7) × 1015 cm−3 are found at the nozzle of the plasma jet. The experimental results are compared to a two-dimensional reacting flow model that is coupled with a local zero-dimensional plasma chemical model. With this model, the main H and O atom production mechanisms are determined to be the dissociation of H2O and O2 in the plasma zone of the plasma jet. The latter indicates, that a significant amount of oxygen (1%) was present inside the device. The reaction of OH with O atoms represents the main consumption pathway for O atoms and is at the same time a significant production pathway for H atoms. The main consumption of H atoms is through a three-body reaction including O2 to form HO2, which consumes more H and O atoms to form OH. It is pointed out, that most of the species are produced in the plasma zone, and that O and H atoms, OH and HO2 radicals, and O2 and H2O molecules are strongly connected.


Introduction:
 Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) severity is assessed via trans-CoA blood pressure gradient (BPG) estimated using simplified Bernoulli equation (SBE) with indices from noninvasive Doppler echocardiography (echo). However, simplifications of the SBE and inconsistent readings through a suboptimal insonation window limit diagnostic accuracy (DA). In a rabbit model mimicking human CoA (Fig. 1A), catheter
 vs.
 Doppler comparison of BPG revealed diastolic continuous-flow pressure gradient (CFPG) was independently associated with severity. We therefore hypothesized the unique properties of CFPG would improve DA in humans.

 Methods:
 SBE and CFPG were quantified using color flow Doppler in humans and rabbits with discrete non-recurrent CoA before repair (Fig. 1B). Quantifications used peak velocity proximal to (V
 p
 ) and at the CoA (V
 pk
 ), early diastolic velocity (V
 d
 ), doppler velocity index (DVI), and normalized diastolic pressure half-time (dPHT; see Fig. 1B and C for definitions). Results were compared with measured BPG in rabbits (peak-to-peak catheter BPG) and humans (upper-lower extremity BPG). There was a total of 18 human and 26 rabbit cases; significance was defined a priori as a BPG of ≥20 mmHg. A CFPG ≥4 mmHg threshold was identified by maximizing sensitivity plus specificity in receiver operative curves (ROC).

 Results:
 Accuracy measures (Fig. 1D) revealed the superior performance of CFPG
 vs.
 SBE. Although reports suggest <60% of measured BPG can be explained with SBE, CFPG yielded a specificity of 78% in humans. Similar improvements were observed in rabbits. Results confirm the potential DA of CFPG in echo-based CoA assessment.

 Fig. 1- (A) MRI confirming morphological similarities between rabbit and human CoA, (B) Spectral Doppler images show diastolic continuous flow, (C) indices derived from the generalized Bernoulli equation assuming exponential diastolic pressure loss, (D) diagnostic performance for CFPG
 vs.
 conventional SBE.


Early and Middle Permian marine deposits (Changmean-Chihsian) at Changme of Longlin, northwestern Guangxi, are well outcropped and yield aboundant fossils, including fusulinids, foraminifera, corals, brachiopods, etc. The lithology of the rocks is grey and light grey, thick-bedded to massive crystalline limestones. Five fusulinid zones and four subzones could be recognized.


Research has shown that most boaters do not follow a specialization trajectory resembling a progression from novice to expert. This paper asks what kept people from becoming boating specialists. A life course analysis was used to explore the relationship between changes in boating specialization and life course events (e.g., family changes, career changes, health issues, and new leisure interests). Marriage had a uniformly negative effect on five specialization indicators. Changes in finances, retirement, and illness had selective effects. Although cause-and-effect constraints of life course disruptions were modest, developing other leisure interests had a strong negative influence on specialization, indicating a natural process of attrition occurred from boating over time. Future specialization studies should model processes of progression and retrogression in the research designs.


This paper summarizes the recent progress in Terahertz(THz) waveguides. Many THz waveguides of various sorts have been presented and examined, including dielectric THz waveguides, metal THz waveguides, THz fiber and photonic crystal THz waveguides. Their advantages and limitations are stated, and the perspective of research on Terahertz waveguides is discussed.


In the present work, the Steger and Warming, the Van Leer, the Liou and Steffen Jr. and the Radespiel and Kroll schemes are implemented, on a finite volume context and using a structured spatial discretization, to solve the Euler and the Navier-Stokes equations in three-dimensions. A MUSCL ("Monotone Upstream-centered Schemes for Conservation Laws") approach is implemented in these schemes aiming to obtain second order spatial accuracy and TVD ("Total Variation Diminishing") high resolution properties. An implicit formulation is employed to the Euler equations, whereas the Navier-Stokes equations use an explicit formulation. The algebraic turbulence models of Cebeci and Smith and of Baldwin and Lomax are implemented. The problems of the supersonic flow along a compression corner (inviscid case), and of the supersonic flow along a ramp (viscous case) are solved. The results have demonstrated that the most severe and most accurate results are obtained with the Liou and Steffen Jr. TVD scheme. The first paper of this work treats the inviscid and laminar viscous results. In this paper, the second of this series, the turbulent results are presented. Key-Words: Steger and Warming algorithm, Van Leer algorithm, Liou and Steffen Jr. algorithm, Radespiel and Kroll algorithm, TVD high resolution schemes, Turbulence models, Euler and Navier-Stokes equations, Three-Dimensions.


Since standard engineering-level blast models are typically developed to predict airblast parameters (pressure and
impulse) from TNT bursts, prediction of airblast from other materials uses an equivalence factor by which an
equivalent TNT weight is computed and used in the source term of the model. This approach is widespread in the
industry and has been codified in numerous manuals, books, and papers.
A recent effort co-sponsored by TSWG (U.S.) and FSTD (Singapore) collected and compiled equivalence data for a
wide variety of explosive materials (both military grade as well as home-made) into a single software tool named
STREET. The database thus assembled provides a comprehensive and expandable repository for equivalence data.
Two of the main achievements in STREET are the consideration of equivalence as a function of scaled standoff
(rather than a scalar), and the documentation of uncertainty in the estimated value.
In this paper, we consider specifically the manual- and test-derived data related to Composition C-4, and as a first
step, we draw some judgments regarding the equivalence implicit in blast curves provided by UFC 3-340-02, for
both pressure and impulse.
Next, we consider PE4, which is similar in composition to C-4 and is used widely in the UK. A significant body of
blast data for this explosive has been generated, from which equivalence is computed and is compared to the
available data for C-4, with a view towards determining whether these two materials can in fact be considered as a
single explosive (with two alternate names).
Finally, considering the combined data for both C-4 and PE4, new curve fits are provided that represent the pressure
and impulse equivalence of the C-4/PE4 material (and its uncertainty) as a function of scaled standoff.


This work started as a comparative study of women and labour in England and France in the 17th century, but it has been expanded to use this historical comparison to try and map theoretical interrogations concerning how women's labour is perceived within historical materialism analysis of early modern Europe. While following the lead of a number of international relations scholars who aim to bring historical sociology to the discipline, this essay hopes to question the lack of the usage of gender as an analytical category within historical materialism and, more specifically, political Marxism. Therefore, this work will analyse the ways in which the concept of labour changed in the 17 th century England and France, especially concerning women's labour, while simultaneously engaging with both social reproduction theory and political marxism, especially the work of Ellen Wood and Robert Brenner. The historical analysis will then work to provide the background for a discussion on the notions of gender and class as instrumental for a full historical analysis of socio-property relations in these countries.


The author successfully fights arhythmia perpetua with quinidine, obtaining elimination of its seizures in 1/4 of cases. Treatment with quinidine should always be preceded by administration of foxglove, and quinidine is given only when the latter has eliminated the decompensation, otherwise there may be dangers: embolism, heart paralysis, general deterioration.


With Programming Protocol-Independent Packet Processors (P4) gaining traction to define how the information is processed through the pipeline of programmable datapaths, and OpenDataPlane (ODP) to create an open-source, cross-platform set of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for the networking data plane. MultiArchitecture Compiler System for Abstract Dataplanes (MACSAD) is an approach that converges P4 and ODP in a conventional compilation process, archiving portability of dataplane applications without compromising the target performance capabilities. This work aims at adding IPv4/IPv6 Longest Prefix Match (LPM) support to MACSAD. The proposed LPM support combines a lookup algorithm and the ODP library with MACSAD table support to create a complete forwarding base. We develop a new ODP Helper library for IPv6 lookups based on the current IPv4 solution and we evaluate its performance for diverse workloads and target configurations.


ABSTRACT A new biflavonoid, amentoflavone-7-O-β-D-glucoside, and thirteen known flavonoids were isolated from the fruits of Juniperus chinensis using a bioactivity-guided method and their tyrosinase inhibitory effects were tested using a mushroom tyrosinase bioassay. Two isolates, hypolaetin-7-O-β-D-glucoside and quercetin-7-O-α-L-rhamnoside, were found to reduce tyrosinase activity at a concentration of 50 μM. Quercetin-7-O-α-L-rhamnoside attenuated cellular tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis in α-MSH plus IBMX-stimulated B16F10 melanoma cells. Molecular docking simulation revealed that quercetin-7-O-α-L-rhamnoside inhibits tyrosinase activity by hydrogen bonding with residues His85, His244, Thr261, and Gly281 of tyrosinase. Abbreviations: EtOH, ethanol; CH2Cl2, dichloromethane; EtOAc, ethylacetate; n-BuOH, n-butanol; MeOH, metanol; CHCl3,chloroform; DMSO, dimethylsulfoxide; DMEM, Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium; FBS, fetal bovine serum; α-MSH, α-melanocyte stimulating hormone; L-DOPA, L-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT A new biflavonoid, amentoflavone-7-O--D-glucoside, and a tyrosinase inhibitory flavonoid, quercetin-7-O--L-rhamnoside, were isolated from J. chinensis fruits.


and ANOVA test, with significance whenp,0.05. Results: A total of 494 developed embryos were studied, and 93 of them were place on sequential medium and culture to blastocyst stage. We did not observe any statistical differences between I, II and III groups in: fertilization rate, embryo cleavage, blastocyst development, pregnancy and implantation rates. However, the presence of severe fragmentation (group IV) was correlated with a none pregnancies and none blastocyst development. The relevant results were as follows:


The study of the relationship between financial development and economic growth from 1992 to 2008 with the gray relational analysis shows that the financial development is closely related with the economic growth in China.And the healthy development of finance is helpful for the growth of our national economy.Moreover,in order to drive our national economy to develop healthily,continuously and quickly,we should make some breakthroughs in the construction of financial ecological environment,optimization of financial structure,and speeding up the financial innovation.


Recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula is a common postoperative complication of esophageal atresia [1]. The surgical treatments utilize muscle and pleural flaps [2]. Furthermore, endoscopic fistula closure with fibrin glue, a biomaterial, can be achieved by epithelializing, promoting circulation, and inhibiting leukocyte infiltration [1]. In adults, endoscopic fistula closure using a polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheet is useful for treating postoperative esophageal anastomotic fistulas [3]. However, no such pediatric reports are available. Herein, we report the first pediatric case of endoscopic fistula closure with PGA sheet (▶Video 1). A 3-year-old girl was admitted with the chief complaint of persistent fever and cough after eating. She underwent postnatal thoracoscopic radical esophagectomy for type C esophageal atresia. Owing to postoperative complication, she underwent multiple endoscopic balloon dilations. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed an esophageal fistula on the oral posterior wall of the esophageal anastomosis E-Videos


Spinal pial arteriovenous fistulas (SPAVFs) are rare superficial intradural vascular malformations consisting of a direct shunt between spinal cord arteries and veins. More recently, the treatment choices for this pathology have gained alternative tools, and endovascular treatment in particular have consistently gained traction as one of the most efficient choices of treatment. Surgery has proven challenging, as the anterior localisation of the shunt predisposes spinal cord manipulation and, therefore, inherent oedema and in some cases ischaemic post-operative changes in the spinal cord tissue. Surgery has increasingly been reserved for cases in which the first option of endovascular treatment is not feasible. We report a case of a type IVc SPAVF that was treated with the association of coils and glue.


8 Think about your first reaction if you saw a poster at your local pet shop announcing "New Ornamental Plant Kills All Algae in Your Tank Within 24 Hours—Money Back Guarantee!" How much would you be willing to spend on such a plant? Unfortunately, no such plant has yet been identified. But it is a scientific fact that some plants secrete chemicals that are toxic to other plants. Can we use such plants in algae control in our aquaria or does it explain why some plants do poorly in our aquaria? In 1999, Diana Walstad published perhaps the best book ever written on planted aquaria. In her book Ecology of the Planted Aquarium, she devoted an entire chapter to the phenomenon of allelopathy and this has inspired me to go deeper into this fascinating subject (Walstad, 1999). I must also say that my search through the scientific literature has made me more skeptical about the importance of this phenomenon in planted aquaria. I am sure that Diana Walstad in her book exaggerates the prevalence of true allelopathy in planted aquaria. By definition, allelopathy is the negative influence on other organisms—including higher plants and algae—by excretion of toxic chemicals (Rice, 1984). The ecological benefits of allelopathic behavior are evident. It provides the plant with great competitive advantage with a limited investment in toxic chemicals that are harmless to the plant itself. Allelopathy is rather well documented for a variety of terrestrial plants, but the information on how widespread this phenomenon is among aquatic plants is scanty (Gopal & Goel, 1993).


Zhang Jiliang is an important poet in realm of Qing poem between Jiaqing and Daoguang,the study tendency on him is increasing from 1970,so the comment of the achievements at each stage can propel the deep studies.


The Sharon in general, and the Yarkon basin in particular, are ecologically very sensitive, as they suffer from severe drainage problems, most of the soil in this region is of poor quality, and the area could not have been used for intensive agri culture. Consequently, this was a fringe area that witnessed significant fluctuations in settlement. During most of the Iron Age II, and especially the eighth century BCE ? a period of great prosperity throughout the country ? there were very few settlements in the region (see below), and this period was one of the lowest points in the history of the area. However, during the first century of the Iron Age II (the tenth century BCE), the region experienced great prosperity and a surge in settlement activity. Given the settlement history of the region, the present paper seeks to compare the local settlement fluctuations with settlement processes in other parts of the coastal plain on the one hand, and in the rest of the country on the other, in order to exemplify the unique prosperity witnessed by the Yarkon basin and the Sharon at the transition between the second and first millennia BCE. It is our claim that the phenomenon bears implications for our understanding of the general settlement processes that were operating in the eleventh and tenth centuries BCE throughout the country, as well as for the current discussion of the United Monarchy. Our reconstruction of the settlement history of the region is based on the results of planned excavations, surveys and salvage excavations.


Diabetes mellitus is a major epidemic health problem characterized by abnormal blood glucose level with alteration of carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism. The global prevalence of this disease is increasing day by day and is expected to rise 300 million by 2025. The side effects associated with synthetic drugs has resulted in the shifting of focus towards herbal drugs used in the traditional system of medicine. Mimosa pudica is one such herbal drug that has been used in the Indian system of Medicine against diabetes mellitus. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effective dose at which the drug exhibits its potential antidiabetic effect. Male Wistar albino rats were divided into seven groups of six animals in each group. Type 2 diabetes was induced in rats by feeding them with high fat diet for two weeks followed by low dose of streptozotocin injection intraperitoneally. The diabetic rats were treated with ethanolic leaf extract of Mimosa pudica with four different doses of 100,200,300 and 400mg/kg/b. wt respectively and were compared with standard drug metformin (200mg/kg/b.wt) for 30 days. Increased level of glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, lipid profile and reduced level of insulin were observed in diabetic rats. Treatment with Mimosa pudica leaf extract altered the level of glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, lipid profile and insulin. The extract was found to be effective at the dosage of 300mg/kg/b. wt against high fat diet and streptozotocin induced type 2 diabetes.


In future large-scale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations that will use parallel computing, the isotropic periodic sum (IPS) method is expected to effectively reduce the cost of interaction calculations while maintaining adequate accuracy. To assess the accuracy of this method in estimating low-charge-density polymer systems, we performed atomistic MD simulations of the bulk state of liquid crystal systems based on 4-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (5CB). In conditions of 270 K ≤ T ≤ 320 K and a normal pressure, the temperature dependence of the density, potential energy and order parameter was estimated using the IPS and Ewald sum method. The results of the IPS method and Ewald sum were consistent within the range of error. In conditions close to the phase transition point, however, the averaged values of potential energy and order parameter had a small difference. We concluded that the fundamental physical properties for the bulk state of 5CB systems are determined reasonably by using the IPS method, at least in conditions that are not close to the phase transition point.


Perforating granuloma annulare (PGA) is a infrequent type of granuloma annulare. PGA has a chronic course. The etiology and perforation mechanism are still obscure. We submit a case of a 32-year-old male patient who presented with a 2-month history of asymptomatic lesion on the dorsum of his hand. He did not report the use of any medication, infection, vaccine, trauma, autoimmune disorders, heart disease, and malignancy. Complete blood count, thyroid function tests, lipid profile parameters, and fasting blood glucose were within normal ranges. Moreover, the human immunodeficiency virüs was negative. Histopathologic examination revealed that accumulation of mucin was at the center of the histiocytic reaction, which was grouped in places. Therefore, we diagnosed PGA with clinical and histopathological data. The presented case emphasizes that PGA should be considered in the differential diagnosis of keratotic/ umbilical papules on the dorsum of the hand.


The sulcus of Cynoscion spp. exhibited strong positive allometric growth relative to the medial surface of the otolith, and the ratio between the area of the sulcus and the otolith (S:O) increased dramatically with size. The S:O ratios of larger specimens are the highest that have so far been reported.


This article is devoted to casus H. Dannenbauer – German historian of Middle Ages, who was a member of the Nazi party and often gave moral support to the government of the A. Hitler. But in his scientific works he criticized race approach, when Nazi tried to spread it in German historiography. Moreover, he declared about insolvency of the race approach to the history and accused its supporters in the lack of knowledge the results of modern scientific research. So he was persecuted for his works in the Nazi papers.


ObjectiveTo investigate the glucocorticoid receptor(GR)mRNA expression in lung tissues in pulmonary fibrosis with renal-yang asthenia and pulmonary fibrosis rat models and its clinical value.Methods60 healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the NS group(NS),the pulmonary-fibrosis group(BLM) and the pulmonary fibrosis with renal-yang asthenia group(RYA),every group had 20 rats and were subdivided into two subgroups by 14 days and 28 days courses,each subgroup had 10 rats.Pulmonary fibrosis rat models were established by blemycin-induced by way of once-dripping into trachea,in addition,pulmonary fibrosis with renal-yang asthenia rat models as well as adding adenine by primed-stomach once each day,on day 14 and day 28 respectively,these rats were killed and the rat lung tissues were acquired;and by means of tissue microarray associated with computer-picture analysis technology,the severe degree of inflammation and fibrosis,collagen quantity in rat lungs,were estimated by HE and collagen dye,GR mRNA expression were detected by in situ hybridization way.ResultsGR mRNA expression in rat lung of BLM were upregulated(P0.05),however,those in RYA were downregulated(versus BLM P0.05) on day28;GR mRNA expression among three groups were not significant on day14.ConclusionGR mRNA upregulation in lung tissue could be one of the mechanism of glucocorticoid's effective cure for pulmonary fibrosis,and GR mRNA downregulation in lung tissue in renal-yang asthenia syndrome could be one of cause of glucocorticoid's non-effective therapy for pulmonary fibrosis,in addition,the Chinese traditional medicine with warming Yang effect could be effective therapy for pulmonary fibrosis.


A series of fluorinated gemini pyridinium amphiphiles have been prepared, purified and fully characterized. The synthesis was performed using alkyl trifluoromethanesulfonates as the quaternizing agents, provided very good yields and overcame problems arising with other less powerful alkylating agents. The use of different characterization techniques, such as conductivity and surface tension measurements, shed light on the aggregation process. The title products showed interesting, unusual properties, which could be interpreted in view of a peculiar aggregating behaviour. This family of compounds is very interesting for their possible transfection activity and application in gene therapy. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)


Excerpt INTRODUCTION Considerable confusion has arisen in the interpretation of serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (SGO-T) levels as the number of clinical conditions to which this determinatio...


Inaugural lecture for the Macdonald Chair at the Jack Cram Auditorium, Faculty of Education, McGill University, May 24, 1995.

 Conference inaugurale de la titulaire de la chaire Macdonald, amphitheâtre Jack Cram, faculte des sciences de l'education, Universite McGill, 24 mai 1995.


The academic field of disability studies has expanded rapidly over the last two decades or so. With that expansion has also come some growing ambiguity about exactly what is meant by the term "disability studies." This article reviews the history and evolution of disability studies as an interdisciplinary approach to research and scholarship. While acknowledging the broad range of interests and approaches that can fall under the umbrella of the "disability studies" label, we argue that it may be useful to present a set of core themes or beliefs that seem central to disability studies as a field if it is to fulfill its promise as a truly different way of exploring the meanings of disability in society. Finally, we argue that disability studies should be of special interest to members of TASH and others with particular interest in the lives of people with significant intellectual and developmental disabilities.


2 Introduction Despite leading a shadowy existence in the public biodiversity debate, the issue of the loss of agrobiodiversity is hotly debated in expert circles. A broad understanding of agrobiodiversity can be described as that part of biodiversity that contributes in the context of agriculture to nutrition, livelihoods and the maintenance of habitats. Its scope covers agricultural crops, productive livestock, raw materials, medical plants and animals used for transport. Agrobiodiversity is highly threatened mostly by the spread of modern agriculture and the globalisation of food markets. This article describes the problem, diagnosis and the causes identified. In particular, it will analyse how legal and institutional structures in the international, European and national realm contribute to the problem. The focus is on intellectual property rights, sovereignty regimes as well as on seed trade and livestock breeding regulations. Finally, chances for sustainable use and protection of agrobiodiversity in the future are discussed.


This paper tests a discrete choice model on the mix of franchised and company owned outlets (contractual heterogeneity) within the firm. This is often explained by the existing literature as due to heterogeneous characteristics of the outlets. However, correspondence between outlets and contracts characteristics is not often observed in reality. An explanation is proposed which suggests that contract mixing is driven by the contractual choice of both principal and agents, and that heterogeneous agents will choose contracts that match their characteristics. This hypothesis is supported by econometric results, based on outlet level microdata collected by means of a survey of UK firms.


Integrating two different systems between higher education and pesantren (Islamic boarding schools), Pesantren-based Higher Education (PTBP) is alleged as an ideal Islamic higher education model considering its critical role in the process of integration-interconnection of science and Islamic teaching. Like other Islamic higher educations in Indonesia, PTBP represents poor organizational performance, particularly in research productivity and quality. Since research performance has the most considerable portion in the higher education performance evaluation both nationally and internationally, this study attempted to explore the factors that possibly improve lecturers' research performance at PTBP, categorized into the level of the individual, institutional and resource factors. This study involved 84 lecturers at 7 PTBP in Bogor, Indonesia, selected based on the stratified random sampling and voluntary sampling method. The collected data was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Square (SEM-PLS). The results showed that only research competence positively affected research performance at the individual level, but not for work motivation and time management. Research culture and academic leadership insignificantly affected research performance. However, only high-performance work practice (HPWP) at the institutional level positively affected research performance. Meanwhile, collaboration networks at the resource level positively affected research performance, but not for university research funding. The managerial implications are further discussed in this study.


The purpose of this paper is to develop a class of semantic tableau systems for some dyadic deontic logics. We will consider 16 different pure dyadic deontic tableau systems and 32 different alethic dyadic deontic tableau systems. Possible world semantics is used to interpret our formal languages. Some relationships between our systems and well known dyadic deontic logics in the literature are pointed out and soundness results are obtained for every tableau system. Completeness results are obtained for all 16 pure dyadic deontic systems and for 16 alethic dyadic deontic systems.


Mao Zedong thought of active defense strategy is the magic weapon for the triumph of Communist Party of China in agrarian revolutionary war,national liberation war,revolutionary civil war and socialist national defense construction.The defense mode of fight contains two factors of itself-active and passive.Refusing the inner passive characteristics of active defense strategy will lead to the logic disorder in strategic and fighting theory.Passive strategy and active fighting in strategic defense are the unity of two opposite contradictions.The establishment of Mao Zedong thought of active defense strategy is the apotheosis of concrete analysis of concrete conditions in Marxist dialectical materialism.


In SOA, services may become volatile and fail to deliver the quality of service as requested by users. In this paper, we present an approach for repairing failed services by replacing them with new services and ensuring the new service process still meets the user specified end-to-end QoS constraints. An iterative structural inspection algorithm is designed to produce reconfiguration regions that include one or more failed service. By reconfiguring only services in the selected regions, the business process will not be affected significantly. The algorithm may also utilize those available QoS constraints to relax the original constraints of a reconfiguration region and to provide more effective reconfiguration solutions. We also present the middleware components to support the service reconfiguration in the LLAMA framework.


Abstract A computer records system for cooperating commercial dairy herds is described. Reproductive events are recorded on a basic record form which also serves as a computer input sheet. Events are recorded in chronological order. At periodic intervals (usually monthly), pregnancy is checked for cows sufficiently advanced in gestation. Results of the pregnancy check, along with accumulated record forms on which reproductive events are recorded, are mailed to Clemson University where they are examined for accuracy, coded, punched on cards, and computer processed. A printout is returned to the owner for use in herd management. For the breeding herd printouts summarize number and percentage of cows pregnant, calved  A frequency distribution with number and percentage of cows currently pregnant is given for cows open 85 days or less, 86 to 100, 101 to 115, 116 to 145, 146 to 175, 176 to 205, and 206 or more days. Lists are provided for cows in the separate classifications, and a special list is provided for cows open for 100 or more days. Individual cow reproduction records are shown for the current service period. Types of information obtainable from the records system are described, and values calculated from data input to March 31, 1974, are given as a progress report.


Background: Cross-border health care, whether sanctioned by the governments (out-of-country care) or initiated by the patients (medical tourism), is on the rise globally. The medical tourism industry has shown great potential for improvement in Iran. Objectives: We aimed to examine the representation of data elements on Iranian public and private medical tourism websites and evaluate their content maturity. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to gather and statistically analyze data from 12 medical tourism websites. Results: The highest level of data representation was provided for medical tourism attractions and destinations, followed by the geographical location of hospitals and the establishment of tourist agencies. Very few websites featured data elements on admission forms. Fisher's exact test revealed no statistically significant difference in the representation of data elements between the providers of medical tourism websites (P > 0.05). Most privately owned medical tourism websites and only one in the public sector had a moderate-content status. No website was confirmed to be rich or poor regarding their maturity. Conclusions: More investment is required for the development of information and communication technology infrastructures in the Iranian medical tourism industry to attract foreign service-users, although many other factors such as political and economic forces may be involved.


Sustainable and green energy techniques are in high demand as new energy sources. Over the decades, streaming potential/current has attracted attention as a hydrovoltaic energy technology. However,...


Associated with the invariable characteristic of aeroengine on the similarity coordinate system, an adaptive PID speed control scheme based on similarity theory was proposed. The adaptive law was obtained from similarity PID parameters determined by the attenuation curve method. Simulation results show that controller has advantages of satisfactory performances, good adaptation and robustness. The adaptive PID parameters variation trend is useful for parameters selection of the aeroengine digital PID control system in full flight envelope.


The present invention is an internal combustion engine having at least one exhaust line, and at least one intake channel for supplying air to said combustion chamber for discharging exhaust gas to the turbocharger system from the combustion chamber of the engine turbo It relates conduit supercharging system (28). The turbocharger system includes at least one turbine pressurizes the intake of the engine extracts the energy from the exhaust stream of the engine in cooperation with at least one compressor. To produce a pipe having a low pressure loss, the intake conduit (28), an outlet from the compressor by curved line portions having at least partially non-circular cross-section of the curved pipe portion (19) ( is connected to 31), the diffuser is arranged at a position lower than 5 times the tube diameter downstream of the bent pipe portion. .The


A Thesis in the Department of BUILDING, Faculty of Environmental Sciences,
Submitted to the School of Post-graduate Studies,
University of Jos, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for
The award of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT of the
UNIVERSITY OF JOS


The sensor placement method is disclosed. Sensor arrangement method, group when an event to place an additional first sensor occur within a predetermined service area, groups disposed on the basis of at least one of the position information of the second sensor, the status information and network information, the sensing coverage of the second sensor and determining the network coverage, and, the sensing coverage and a network coverage of the second sensor and, based on the sensing coverage and a network coverage of the first sensor by determining a placement of a first sensor.


This essay contends that a generic category of alternative salvations reflects a modern Euro-American colonizing and universalizing tendency. In contrast, 'salvation' may usefully be shrunk back to its context within the Western tradition of Christian theology. Within this local tradition understandings of salvation have been strongly contested. Renewed theologies of universal salvation have emerged in evangelical, Catholic and feminist theologies. Shrinking these theologies back to their local context facilitates dialogue between these traditioned voices and partners within world Christianity, interreligious encounter, and detraditioned secular Western groups. Such traditioned openness provides an alternative to the aggressive mission that arises from over-exuberant conviction of a dual destiny in the eschaton.


The central question posed in this paper will be how to organize board composition in order to ensure responsible corporate governance both from a CSR and a good governance perspective. Adopting a stakeholder approach to corporate governance, we analyze the arguments given by different theoretical approaches for linking specific board composition with financial performance and CSR, and discuss the empirical research conducted. Despite the inconclusive findings of empirical research, it can be argued that diverse stakeholders on the board will promote CSR activities of the firm, but at the same time will increase board capital (which ultimately may lead to a better financial performance). Finally, we propose a model for selecting board members based on both ethical and pragmatic arguments. Javier Estrada "Investing in emerging markets: A black swan perspective", Corporate Finance Review, January-February 2009, pages 14-21. Abstract: Most investors agree that investing in emerging markets is risky, but not all of them agree on the best strategy to deal with this risk. Some investors view the high volatility of these markets as an opportunity to make large shortterm profits and actively trade; others view it as a risk than can only be borne with a long-term perspective and passively hold their portfolios. The fact is, emerging markets are populated by black swans. These large, unpredictable swings have a massive impact on long-term performance and are concentrated in a negligible proportion of days. Therefore, predicting them successfully and consistently over time is virtually impossible. As a result, the black swan perspective suggests that investors in emerging markets should avoid engaging in futile market timing and follow instead a passive approach. Most investors agree that investing in emerging markets is risky, but not all of them agree on the best strategy to deal with this risk. Some investors view the high volatility of these markets as an opportunity to make large shortterm profits and actively trade; others view it as a risk than can only be borne with a long-term perspective and passively hold their portfolios. The fact is, emerging markets are populated by black swans. These large, unpredictable swings have a massive impact on long-term performance and are concentrated in a negligible proportion of days. Therefore, predicting them successfully and consistently over time is virtually impossible. As a result, the black swan perspective suggests that investors in emerging markets should avoid engaging in futile market timing and follow instead a passive approach. Luo Lu Shu-Fang Kao Cary L. Cooper Tammy D. Allen Steven Poelmans, et al. "Work resources, work-to-family conflict, and its consequences: A Taiwanese-British crosscultural comparison", International Journal of Stress Management, Vol. 16, No 1, February 2009, pages 25-44. Abstract: The aim of this research was to explore relations between work resources (supervisory support and organizational family supportive values), work-to-family conflict (WFC), and workand non-work-related outcomes in a crosscultural comparative context involving Taiwanese and British employees. The authors surveyed 264 Taiwanese employees and 137 British employees using structured questionnaires. For both Taiwanese and British employees, work resources were found to be negatively related to WFC but positively related to work satisfaction. WFC was negatively related to work and/or family satisfaction. More important, the authors found that nation moderated the relationship between supervisory support and WFC: supervisory support had a stronger protective effect for Taiwanese than British employees. It is thus recommended that, in addition to introducing various family-friendly policies, companies should be more active in cultivating a family-supportive organizational culture and mobilizing managers to act as supporters of family life, especially in societies sanctioning collectivistic values and large power distance. The aim of this research was to explore relations between work resources (supervisory support and organizational family supportive values), work-to-family conflict (WFC), and workand non-work-related outcomes in a crosscultural comparative context involving Taiwanese and British employees. The authors surveyed 264 Taiwanese employees and 137 British employees using structured questionnaires. For both Taiwanese and British employees, work resources were found to be negatively related to WFC but positively related to work satisfaction. WFC was negatively related to work and/or family satisfaction. More important, the authors found that nation moderated the relationship between supervisory support and WFC: supervisory support had a stronger protective effect for Taiwanese than British employees. It is thus recommended that, in addition to introducing various family-friendly policies, companies should be more active in cultivating a family-supportive organizational culture and mobilizing managers to act as supporters of family life, especially in societies sanctioning collectivistic values and large power distance. Pinar Ozcan Kathleen M. Eisenhardt "Origin of portfolios: Entrepreneurial firms and strategic action", Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 52, No 2, April 2009, pages 246279. Newsletter Research Division


Abstract Objective This study compares three types of esthetic crowns in fracture resistance force (FRF) and failure type: (1) polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) milled by computer-aided design/computer-assisted manufacture (CAD\CAM), (2) resin-based material via three-dimensional (3D) dental printer, and (3) direct composite celluloid crowns technique in primary molars. Material and Methods Thirty lower second primary molar were randomized into three experimental groups consisting of ten molars for each: group A:CAD\CAM crowns using PMMA blocks; group B: 3D dental printer to fabricate crowns using glycidyl carbamate photopolymer resin; group C: Selected teeth crowned using direct resin composite celluloid crowns. The three groups (A, B, and C) were stored in water at 37°C for 30 days. The FRFs for the experimental crowned teeth were measured using a universal test machine (Testometric) until fracture and the values compared with the mean maximum bite force of children in the primary dentition. FRFs and failure types were recorded and statistically analyzed. Results One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences among the groups in FRF testing. Bonferroni test was used for multiple-correction comparison in comparing force needed to fracture the specimens in the three groups. A significant difference was noticed between groups B-C (p = 0.000) and groups A-C (p = 0.000). No significant statistical differences were noted between groups A-B (p = 0.325) in FRF scores. In failure type, no statistical differences were noted when comparing groups, A and B, groups B and C, but comparing groups A and C showed statistical differences in chi-square statistical test. Conclusion The three tested esthetic crowns exceeded the mean maximum bite force of children in the primary dentition; thus, they can be expected to perform well clinically. Even though using an indirect technique (CAD\CAM milling and 3D printer) showed a higher score in FRF, direct composite celluloid crowns technique can be beneficial since it is easier to repair and still is a useful modality.


Stryker SMARTLock Hybrid Maxillomandibular Fixation System: Clinical Application, Complications, and Radiographic Findings Sir: W read with interest the article entitled "Stryker SMARTLock Hybrid Maxillomandibular Fixation System: Clinical Application, Complications, and Radiographic Findings."1 We must disclose at the outset that Dr. Marcus owns the intellectual property associated with this technology, which is licensed to the Stryker Corporation (Kalamazoo, Mich.). In the article, Kendrick et al. touched on the very issues that were pertinent in designing the Dov C. Goldenberg, M.D., Ph.D.


: Elevators have become an essential part of everyday life and it is necessary to provide secure and safe features in it. Automation plays an important role in the development of advanced technology by utilizing hardware and software, also it increases productivity, safety and profitability. The proposed elevator protection system consists of an additional secondary gear motor placed above the crate of the elevator which is automated for emergency conditions under the control of digital system such as Programmable logic controller (PLC) Siemens S7-1200 series. PLC's are used for their rugged strength to withstand uncertain conditions which occurs in elevators. The signals from PLC controls the secondary gear motor with the help of driver circuits during faulty conditions like power failures, rope damages, primary motor failures. However, if fault occurs in the driver circuits or PLC controllers or secondary gear motor, an exhaust fan is utilized through relay switching for ventilation until rescue arrives. The implementation of the project for modelling and automation system for elevators protection system in real time provides an additional cost of 25% of the whole elevator cost.


OBJECTIVE
This study presents and evaluates a method to detect malingered pain-related disability (MPRD) using the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI), a multiscale self-report instrument with a number of useful applications in pain assessment.

METHOD
In this study PAI scores from respondents in a chronic pain clinic (N = 317) and college students instructed to feign chronic pain (N = 152) were compared.

RESULTS
Although existing PAI validity indicators demonstrated strong effects in discriminating actual pain and MPRD cases, these indicators were not sufficiently sensitive to feigned pain to recommend for clinical practice. A discriminant function was developed and cross-validated, which improved upon the sensitivity of the other indicators and yielded an overall hit rate of 88% for detecting individuals instructed to malinger pain-related disability.

CONCLUSION
These data suggest that this new PAI indicator holds some promise for more effective detection of MPRD.


The thought of the 'New Formula' of the operas is touched off during the professional practical education.The passage is from the definition of the opera performance formula.It combines the concrete examples of long period practical performance of the operas.It deepens the inside center to clarify and explain in order to get the objective conclusion.It directs the possibility of the opera practice in the future development.


Social Media sets out to analyse its subject using critical theory. The book is split into three main sections. The first section, 'Foundations', provides the reader with a grounding in critical theory and Marxism, as well as some of the main themes of the book: theories of the social; political movements, in particular the Arab Spring and the Occupy movement; participatory democracy; and the capitalist control of communication.The bulk of the book is the 'Applications' section, which explores individual social media channels in greater depth. The social media channels covered are: Google, Facebook, Twitter, WikiLeaks and Wikipedia. The final section, 'Futures', looks at whether a socialist, participatory alternative to mainstream social media is possible. The 'Applications' section of the book provides some interesting insights into social networks and into the companies that own them. For instance, the chapter on Google looks at the way in which the company encourages a culture of long hours and overtime among its employees. The chapter on Twitter focuses on it as a public sphere and its role in the 2011 Arab Spring and Occupy movement. Christian Fuchs seeks to undermine the notion that these were 'Twitter revolutions' – for instance, by pointing to interviews conducted with people involved in the events of 2011, which found that other communication channels, besides Twitter and Facebook, played an equally, if not more important role in organising and spreading the protests. In the book's concluding chapter, Fuchs argues for a commons-based internet. Since capitalism is 'the context of the Internet' (p. 255), an 'alternative Internet requires ... an alternative societal setting: a solidary, co-operative information society – a participatory democracy' (p. 264). However, at times it is difficult to untangle the two – e.g. Fuchs' arguments relating to social media and his support for a commons-based politics. He states that the 'primary political task for concerned citizens should ... be to resist the commodification of everything and to strive for democratizing the economy and the Internet' (p. 248). But why, beyond the obvious fact that social media is the focus of the book, does he gives the economy and the internet seemingly equal weighting, and what role does he see social media playing in a commons-based society? Fuchs talks about an internet that 'enables knowledge, communication and collaboration for their own sake as social activities between humans' (p. 257), but it is not clear where exactly social media fits in.


By nearly any standard--federal research dollars, faculty credentials, and student career plans--the medical schools of East Carolina University and Johns Hopkins are as different as day and night. But both agree that Washington's efforts to boost the number of generalist physicians are inadequate.


This study proposes the usage of I2C, (Inter-Integrated Circuit) communication protocol for a modular general
purpose controller board of mobile robots. For the past few years, a trend of purchasing an off the shelf controller board by
designers that would later be altered to fit a robot specification and design are has been increasing. This modular controller
board allows users to use this modular controller board for their designs with minimal modification or without. Rather than
purchasing an all-in-one controller board that might be costly, modularity means that only the needed modular board will
be purchased. A total of four modular controller boards has been developed, which are main controller module, motor
controller module, sensor module, pneumatic controller module, and one extension power supply module. All this modular
controller boards incorporates the latest I2C communication protocol between the modular boards, which is faster and
reduces the connecting wire between the modular boards. The potential of using I2C communication protocol in the
proposed board is verified through a comprehensive series of experiments and the results suggest that the I2C is suitable
and robust enough to be used in the development of this modular boards.


Background Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is a common medical issue in immunosuppressive patients. Increasing evidence supports that B cells may play an essential role in PCP individuals. The present study aims to integrate lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles and further investigate the molecular function of mature B cells in PCP. Methods The lung tissue of wild-type (WT) mice and B-cell-activating factor receptor–deficient (mature B-cell deficiency, BAFF-R–/–) mice were harvested at 3 weeks after being infected with pneumocystis. After total RNAs were extracted, transcriptome profiling was performed following the Illumina HiSeq 3000 protocol. lncRNA-targeted miRNA pairs were predicted using the online databases. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment pathways were analyzed to functionally annotate these differentially expressed genes. Additionally, the immune-related lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA–ceRNA network was subsequently performed. The quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR) analysis was conducted to evaluate the lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles in WT-PCP mice and BAFF-R–/– PCP mice. Results Compared with the control group, 166 mRNAs were observed to be aberrantly expressed (fold change value ≥2; P <0.05) in the BAFF-R–/– PCP group, including 39 upregulated and 127 downregulated genes, while there were 69 lncRNAs differently expressed in the BAFF-R–/– PCP group, including 15 upregulated and 54 downregulated genes. In addition, GO and KEGG pathway analyses showed that BAFF-R deficiency played an important role in the primary and adaptive immune responses in PCP. Furthermore, the lncRNA and mRNA co-expression network was established. We noted that the core network of lncRNA-TF (transcription factor) pairs could be classified into the categories including infection and immunity pathways. Conclusion In summary, in this study, we further explored the role of mature B cells in the pathogenesis and progression of PCP and the data demonstrated that BAFF-R deficiency could play a significant role in immune regulation in the PCP population.


The essence of the issues concerning agriculture,countryside and farmers is farmers' benefit,the base of which is economic benefit.At present,the frequent occurrence of the accidents concerning quality safety of the agricultural products has resulted in heavy loss for the framers' economic benefit.Thus,to guarantee their economic benefit in the quality safety of the agricultural products is very significant.According to the requirement about mutuality of the right obligation,it is necessary to probe into the mechanism of guaranteeing farmers' economic benefit in the quality safety of the agricultural products,to establish self-warning system,to issue farmer subsides about safe production of the products,to ensure quality safety of the agricultural products and to restore urgent relief mechanism.


Background: Zinc is an important trace mineral in human body, therefore development of new methods for zinc determination in drugs is an actual task. Material and methods: Assay of standard solutions of zinc ions and solutions of ointments to be analyzed was performed automatically using the titrator TITRION, which recorded, then displayed on the screen each amperometric titration curve. The titration curves had a sudden break in the current intensity at the equivalence point, caused by anodic oxidation of the titrant and cathodic reduction of H + at pH 3 – 4. The stoichiometry of Zn 2+ ion sedimentation reaction with [Fe(CN) 6 ] 4- ions was studied and confirmed in the presence of the background electrolyte and the ZnO calculation formulas in the analyzed ointments were deduced. Results: Two different ointment masses were weighed for the Zoxitin ointment and the separate calculation results were 0.4172±0.0051 g/g and 0.4212±0.0051 g/g of ointment, and in the zinc oxide ointment ω(ZnO) was 10.208±0.078 %.These results were compared with the results of ZnO analysis in ointment by the classical complexometric titration method. For the Zoxitin ointment m(ZnO) was 0.4223±0.007 g/g of ointment, and for the ointment with ZnO ω(ZnO) was 10.18±0.11%. Conclusions: An automatic amperometric titration method was developed to quantify ZnO in ointments. The method is based on the sedimentation reaction of zinc ions with potassium ferrocyanide solution in presence of acetate buffer solution as background electrolyte.


On the basis of expounding the related theory of fractional calculus, this article summarizes the engineering application of fractional calculus, analyzes the realization theory of relevant fractional calculus in statistics, and finally elaborates the fractional calculus in statistics. The practical application of integration provides a certain reference for the signal processing application of fractional calculus. Finally, in order to verify the effect of the above improved normal distribution enhancement method, a simulation experiment was carried out on the Matlab platform, and the image quality parameters obtained from the experiment were calculated. The results showed that the effect was increased by 6.7%.


Substantive UV-absorbing, water-soluble, cationic polymers containing cinnamidoalkylamines and benzamidoalkylain ines, with inverse temperature dependant solubility are described in the present invention. They are water-soluble at ambient conditions and yet they are water-resistant at the temperature of human body as well as in the presence of electrolytes. These properties make these macromolecules useful for personal care as well as fabric care products.


Pressure wraps are a modern alternative to the traditional compression hosiery. Jeanne Everett discusses the various pressure wraps that are on the market, and how they can be used in the treatment of lymphoedema in a residential setting


Variability and continuity of ore grade was analyzed based on the datas from channel samplings and drillings in north area. Meanwhile, characteristics of grade was also researched by analyzing along horizontal and vertical direction. Some important results were obtained , and it provided reliable theoretical practical foundations for design of productive exploration.


Objective To identify risk factors for intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mechanical ventilator usage among confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients and estimate the effects of mitigation efforts on ICU capacity in Korea. Patients and Methods Data on profiles and medical history of all confirmed COVID-19 patients in the past 1 year were extracted from the Korean National Health Insurance System's claims database to assess risk factors for ICU admission and ventilator use. We used a time-series epidemic model to estimate the ICU census in Daegu from the reported hospital data. Findings Multivariate regression analysis revealed male sex, old age, and residing in Daegu city as significant risk factors for ICU admission. The number of patients requiring ICU admission exceeded the bed capacity across all Daegu hospitals before March 9, 2020, and therefore, critically ill patients were transferred to nearby hospitals outside Daegu. This finding was consistent with our prediction that the ICU census in Daegu would peak on March 16, 2020, at 160 through mitigation efforts, without which it would have reached 300 by late March 2020. Conclusion Older age and male sex were risk factors for ICU admission. In addition, the geographic location of the hospital seems to contribute to the severity of the COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU and to the ICU capacity.


This thesis is mainly about establishing the probability model to solve the algebraic problems like number sequence and combination and so on.


The expression of PD‐L1 in breast cancer is associated with estrogen receptor negativity, chemoresistance and epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), all of which are common features of a highly tumorigenic subpopulation of cancer cells termed cancer stem cells (CSCs). Hitherto, the expression and intrinsic role of PD‐L1 in the dynamics of breast CSCs has not been investigated. To address this issue, we used transcriptomic datasets, proteomics and several in vitro and in vivo assays. Expression profiling of a large breast cancer dataset (530 patients) showed statistically significant correlation (p < 0.0001, r = 0.36) between PD‐L1 expression and stemness score of breast cancer. Specific knockdown of PD‐L1 using ShRNA revealed its critical role in the expression of the embryonic stem cell transcriptional factors: OCT‐4A, Nanog and the stemness factor, BMI1. Conversely, these factors could be induced upon PD‐L1 ectopic expression in cells that are normally PD‐L1 negative. Global proteomic analysis hinted for the central role of AKT in the biology of PD‐L1 expressing cells. Indeed, PD‐L1 positive effect on OCT‐4A and Nanog was dependent on AKT activation. Most importantly, downregulation of PD‐L1 compromised the self‐renewal capability of breast CSCs in vitro and in vivo as shown by tumorsphere formation assay and extreme limiting dilution assay, respectively. This study demonstrates a novel role for PD‐L1 in sustaining stemness of breast cancer cells and identifies the subpopulation and its associated molecular pathways that would be targeted upon anti‐PD‐L1 therapy.


Judith Blau and Manuel Rafael Gallegos Lerma teach Soc 273 together at the University of North Carolina (UNC). This course is devoted to human rights. From the very beginning, Judith and Rafael worked to establish the Human Rights Center of Chapel Hill and Carrboro (HRC). Since Fall of 2010 the students in the class have been integrated into the activities of the HRC, through service-learning. This is a note from the field on their experiences with the HRC.


This case illustrates some of the principles in the authors' article, "Barricades to Strategic Marketing Thinking," which appeared in the January/February 1987 issue of Planning Review.


The risk to food security is particularly dire in rural sub-Saharan Africa, where a third of the world's undernourished people reside. Intercropping has the potential to improve rural livelihoods through better resource utilization and improved resilience to current and future challenges. This paper reviewed the concepts in intercropping and outlined how resources are captured and utilized within the system. Crop simulation models (CSMs) as decision support tools for intercrop/multicrop systems and future directions for modelling multicrop systems are the focus of the review. Through increased crop biodiversity, intercropping improves resilience, food security and nutrition. This is achieved through improved resource capture and utilization due to differences in spatial and temporal distribution of component crops. For farmers to maximize on these advantages, they need to have a thorough knowledge of species combination, arrangements and proportions. A major drawback to intercrop systems is that most of the existing agronomic recommendations are tailored on monoculture practices. This is also evident in the structure of most CSMs that cannot account for heterogeneous crop stands. In conclusion, there is a need to enhance agricultural research on intercrop systems, combining conventional and modern research approaches. Moreover, CSMs should be multidimensional in order to simulate system diversity accurately.


C OUGH IS A COMMON SYMPTOM IN PEDIATric practice and can be particularly troubling to children and their parents, resulting in discomfort, loss of sleep, and missed schooldays and workdays. Caregivers frequently administer over-the-counter (OTC) medications to their children in an attempt to treat cough. Apart from the costs associated with such medications, some OTC medications have unwelcome and potentially dangerous adverse effects. Dextromethorphan, an opiate-derived antitussive commonly found in OTC cough and cold preparations, is generally safe but on rare occasions can be associated with adverse effects such as dystonia, ataxia, lethargy, and even death. Furthermore, several studies have shown that dextromethorphan is not more effective than placebo at reducing cough symptoms. The American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement on the use of codeineand dextromethorphancontaining cough remedies in children states that indications for the use of narcotics or dextromethorphan as antitussives in children have not been established given the lack of data for efficacy and the potential for adverse effects. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that physicians talk with parents about the risk associated with these drugs as well as the lack of data on the efficacy of codeine and dextromethorphan as antitussives.


Objectives: Despite our knowledge on the effect of cognitive test score on subsequent risk of mortality, few studies have compared Blacks and Whites for this association. The current study was conducted on Black-White differences in the magnitude of the association between baseline cognitive test score and all-cause mortality in a nationally representative sample of adults in the United States over 25 years.
Methods: We used data of the Americans' Changing Lives Study (ACL), 1986 – 2011, a national prospective cohort in U.S. The study followed 3,361 adults (2,205 White and 1,156 Blacks), age 25 and older, for up to 25 years. The independent variable was cognitive test score measured at baseline (1986) using the 4-item version of the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire, treated in two different ways (as a dichotomous and as a continuous variable). The dependent variable was time to death (due to all causes) during the follow up period. Covariates included baseline age, gender, education, income, number of chronic diseases, self-rated health, and depressive symptoms. Race (Black versus White) was the focal effect modifier. We used a series of Cox proportional hazards models in the total sample, and by race, in the absence and presence of health variables.
Results: Overall, cognitive test score predicted mortality risk. A significant interaction was found between race and baseline cognitive test score suggesting that baseline cognitive test score has a weaker protective effect against all-cause mortality for Blacks in comparison to Whites. In race-stratified models, cognitive test score at baseline predicted risk of all-cause mortality for Whites but not Blacks, in the absence and presence of baseline socio-economic and health variables. The results were similar regardless of how we treated baseline cognitive test score.
Conclusions: In the United States, baseline cognitive test score has a weaker protective effect against all-cause mortality over a long period of time for Blacks than Whites. The finding is in line with the Minorities Diminished Returns theory and is probably due to structural and interpersonal racism.


Much practical interest attaches to the symmetrical and asymmetrical direction of the principal meridians of corneal curvature in astigmatic eyes. My attention has been directed anew to the subject by the interesting papers of Drs. Knapp and Harlan, (Trans. Am. Oph. Soc. 1894) and by some recent studies of my own on the relation of asymmetrical meridians in the cornea and different grades of refraction error in the two eyes, to cases of abnormality of ocular balance. ( University Medical Magazine , January, 1895). That these asymmetrical conditions give rise to the more severe forms of asthenopia can not be questioned. I have repeatedly brought forward statistics to show that emmetropia must be regarded as the standard refraction for the model eye, since emmetropic eyes and those which most nearly approximate this ideal state of refraction, bear the requirements of civilized life with a minimum of discomfort or peril. If this is


Size, shape or topology optimization are widely used to fulfil the requirements in the design process of rubber products. In many cases, the shape of the product is very complex and comes into contact with other components during operation. It is commonly subjected to large deformation for which the rubber shows strongly nonlinear behaviour. For this complex problem analytical solution is not available, thus finite element method could be used in which the analysis running is a time consuming process. The object of my research is to compare the efficiency and computational cost of different optimization algorithms. This article focuses on the applicability of various optimization methods in the field of automotive rubber goods. Direct search optimization and surrogate model optimization methods will be introduced.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinical effects of a combined ultrafiltration strategy on the surgical treatment of pediatric patients with congenital heart diseases.

DESIGN
A prospective, randomized, controlled study.

SETTING
A single-institution study in an affiliated hospital of a university.

PARTICIPANTS
Sixty-five pediatric patients who underwent open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) to treat congenital heart disease were enrolled. The participants were randomized into 2 groups: conventional + modified ultrafiltration (MUF) (CM) group and prime + zero-balanced + MUF (PZM) group.

INTERVENTIONS
In the CM group (n = 33), conventional ultrafiltration was performed after removal of the aortic clamp, and MUF was performed after the completion of CPB. In the PZM group (n = 32), ultrafiltration was performed for the circuit prime solution, zero-balance ultrafiltration was performed after removal of the aortic clamp, and MUF was performed after the completion of CPB.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS
The blood gas parameters and tumor necrosis factor alpha content in the priming solution and perioperative blood samples were analyzed. Postoperative parameters, including mechanical ventilation time, respiratory indices, intensive care unit time, and hospital time, also were recorded. One hospital death occurred in each group. No severe complications occurred in either group. The lactic acid, glucose, and tumor necrosis factor alpha contents in the priming solution and perioperative blood samples were significantly lower in the PZM group compared with the CM group. The respiratory indices were statistically significantly better in the PZM group compared with the CM group in the early postoperative period. No significant differences were found between the 2 groups regarding the postoperative ventilation time, inotropic support, homologous blood transfusion, drainage, intensive care unit time, or postoperative hospital time.

CONCLUSION
The combined use of ultrafiltration of prime solution, zero-balance ultrafiltration, and MUF strategy is associated with a modest improvement in pulmonary function compared with the combination of conventional and MUF strategies in the early postoperative period, but the principal clinical outcomes are similar.


Cotton fabric was bleached with equilibrium peracetic acid in an exhaustion process and in cold pad-batch, hot pad-batch, and pad-steam bleaching processes. Exhaustion bleaching proceeded for 40 minutes at 60 °C and pH 7.5 with different concentrations of Persan S15 (peracetic acid produced by Belinka, Slovenia). Pad-batch processes were conducted with storage for different times at room temperature or at 60 °C. Two bleaching baths with 15 and 60 ml/l of Persan S15 were used for the impregnation processes. Pad-steam bleaching was also performed; the samples were steamed immediately after padding with bleaching solution or after cold/hot storage. The degree of whiteness achieved with elongation of storage time was measured. The influence of different bleaching conditions on damage to the cotton fabrics was evaluated by measurements of the degree of polymerization and the breaking strength of the fabrics. It was established that the achieved whiteness values depend on the concentration of the bleaching agent, temperature, and time of treatment. The exhaustion bleaching and both types of pad-batch bleaching with low concentration bleaching solution are very convenient processes for bleaching of cotton fabric with peracetic acid. The pad-steam process did not prove appropriate. The breaking strength of the fabric did not deteriorate remarkably with any of the processes, but the degree of polymerization of the fibers revealed that damage occurred at high concentrations of bleaching agent.


Introduction There is no single definition of homelessness accepted by all who use this term. Homelessness exists throughout this and other nations as will become extremely clear in the accounts in this book, and the homeless population is diverse. In the UK, the National Assistance Act of 1948 requires every local authority to provide 'temporary accommodation for persons who are in urgent need thereof, being need arising in circumstances that would not reasonably have been foreseen'. Hence, local authorities have a statutory obligation to provide accommodation to individuals who are roofless, and have not placed themselves in this state. In practical terms, this definition of homelessness is probably the most important one for individuals living in the UK. When these conditions are fulfilled, local authorities have a statutory obligation to act and provide shelter to the homeless person. Whether individuals have been 'blameworthy' in becoming homeless, or not, remains an arbitrary decision made by local authorities. Because resources are scarce, a narrow working definition of homelessness tends to be used. Local authorities are more likely to embrace the needs of homeless families, rather than the single homeless, hence the latter group are more likely to be excluded, under the terms of the Act. Voluntary agencies working with homeless people have tended to use a far broader definition of homelessness. The charity Shelter working for the homeless, for instance, extends the definition of homelessness to those living in very bad housing conditions. Thus people living in very poor quality housing, or sleeping over with friends on a temporary basis, or squatting in a derelict flat would also be defined as homeless.


Household projections are at the centre of the debate about future housing requirements in England. The Census of Population Sample of Anonymised Records offers actual and potential opportunities to 'add value' to traditional projections. This article gives examples of such added value, including testing definitional sensitivity of projection outcomes, assisting further detailed disaggregation of projected components, assisting the matching of household projections to dwelling supply, and offering scope to explore via data linkage the relationships between household projections and 'backlog' housing needs, affordability, dwelling size, and tenure. The last of these methodologies is examined more closely by using findings from a research project which explored the tenure implications of government household projections on rural areas.


In this correspondence, an equivalent definition of algebraic immunity of Boolean functions is posed, which can clear up the confusion caused by the proof of optimal algebraic immunity of the Carlet-Feng function and some other functions constructed by virtue of Carlet and Feng's idea.


Abstract In this article, we want to present the comparative report, as well as the results of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development policy review to improve the efficiency of the use of educational resources (Review Resources Resources). The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development report provides analysis and options to assist governments in achieving the goals of education policies, as well as the fair use of financial resources in this area. This report focuses on the more topics of interest, such us: how responsibilities for raising and spending school funds in increasingly complex education systems can be effectively organized, the way in which mechanisms for distributing funding to schools can be designed effectively to support the learning of young people and how planning procedures can support the preparation of education budgets to ensure their long-term sustainability and align them with the priorities of government education policies. At the same time we set out to present the governance of school funding and describes increasing the involvement of different bodies in the management and allocation of school funds in different States as well as how they are organized and interact with each other. The article also contains some examples of sources of education funding in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Member States such as Austria, Finland, Germany, Greece, The United Kingdom and the United States of America.


The synthesis and characterization of a 2,10-bis(alkoxycarbonyl)-substituted 6-oxo-12H-dibenzo[d,g][1,3,2]-dioxaphosphocin, 6, is described. The lack of an observable 5JHP coupling of phosphorus to the downfield C-12 methylene proton and the observation of a 2JHCH geminal coupling constant of 14 Hz suggest that the conformation of 6 in solution is not solely a boat-chair conformation, but may involve a rapid equilibrium of the boat-chair with either a boat or twist-boat conformation.


After primary infection, cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains latent in the body and can reactivate during periods of immunocompromise. Recently, several researchers have reported high rates of CMV reactivation in nonimmunocompromised critically ill patients, and at least two investigations have suggested that reactivation is associated with worse outcomes in such individuals ( JW Infect Dis Jan 7 2009 and Feb 28 2005).

Now, researchers in Belgium have …


Enterprise social responsibility, as an important strategy at the organizational level, is increasingly linked to business practices, functions and processes, such as logistics management. The objective of the work was to carry out an analysis of the theoretical relationships between the practice of enterprise social responsibility and reverse logistics in organizations, as a basis for the development of cost accounting. Theoretical research methods were applied based on the consultation of updated bibliographic sources, which allowed the systematization of the main contents related to the subject. The synergy between the concepts of social responsibility and reverse logistics and the existing study possibilities for the development of cost accounting was recognized. The bibliographic analysis made possible to identify the potentialities of studying the link between the two concepts within the framework of cost accounting.


The article unprecedentedly asserts the application of neural network in data process of bio-information. To deal with the issue that in the movement of bio-mimetic robotic horse, how to monitor real time bio-information in the process and automatically adjust riding gesture based on the rider's physical conditions to obtain optimal results, BP neural network is proposed to predict optimal virtual speed, which is changed to adjust rider's posture to obtain the optimal sport quantity and quality. Experiment demonstrates that the result meets required precision. After-excise model can be applied to speed prediction.


This paper presents a novel concept for the co-design of microwave heaters and microfluidic channels for sub-microliter volumes in continuous flow microfluidics. Based on the novel co-design concept, two types of heaters are presented, co-designed and manufactured in high-resistivity silicon-glass technology, resulting in a building block for consumable and mass-producible micro total analysis systems. Resonant and non-resonant co-planar waveguide transmission line heaters are investigated for heating of sub-micro-liter liquid volumes in a channel section at 25 GHz. The heating rates of 16 and 24 °C/s are obtained with power levels of 32 dBm for the through line and the open-ended line microwave heater, respectively. The heating uniformity of developed devices is evaluated with a Rhodamine B and deionized water mixture on a micrometer scale using the microwave-optical measurement setup. Measurement results showed a good agreement with simulations and demonstrated the potential of microwave heating for microfluidics.


Amine-templated rare earth sulfates of the compositions: [Ln2(H2O)2(SO4)5][C2N2H10]2, I, with Ln = La, Pr or Nd, [Nd2(SO4)4(H2O)2][C4N2H12], II, [Ln2(SO4)4][C2N2H10], III, with Ln = La or Nd, [La2(SO4)4][C3N2H12], IV and [Ln2(SO4)4(H2O)4][C6N2H14]2[C2N2H8][SO4][H2O]3, with V, Ln = La, Pr or Nd, have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Both I and II have three-dimensional architectures with I possessing eight-membered apertures surrounding 16-membered apertures, and II having 12 membered apertures. Both III and V have interesting layered structures with LnO3 layers possessing (6, 3) net topology and the amine located in between the layers. V has a layered structure wherein the SO4 tetrahedra and the LnO9 polyhedra join together to form (4, 4) net sheets, with two different amines as well as the sulfate ions residing in the interlamellar space.


Rail tracks are subjected to high contact stresses leading to wear and fatigue. With increased axle weight and faster trains, there is a need for routine inspection of the rails. In order to improve punctuality and reliability of track rail inspection, intelligent systems and robotics can be employed. In this research, supported through the FP7 INTERAIL project, a robotic system is being developed for the detection and characterisation of rolling contact fatigue (RCF) defects on in-service track rails using alternating current field measurement (ACFM) techniques. The autonomous inspection system consists of a mechanised trolley, an FS02N Kawasaki robot arm and a commercially available AMIGO ACFM system, supplied by TSC Inspection Systems. The ACFM probe is used to both detect (as the trolley moves at a controlled speed with the sensor in a fixed position) and characterise (whilst the trolley is stationary using the robot arm to survey the rail head) RCF cracks. Results show that the ACFM sensor can detect RCF defects even at significant (approx 4 mm) lift-off; however, if lift-off exceeds 4 mm (for example due to rail-head wear), the data acquired may not be easily exploited to characterise the defects. This paper presents the results obtained based on the work carried out to date.


Mobility and interactivity are two growing phenomena among youth. Mobile applications (apps) are capturing the attention of university students, which opens up a range of opportunities. Using a quantitative and qualitative research method, the possible usefulness of applications in the university environment with an entertainment objective is studied. It is concluded that from the student perspective, interactive applications specialized in their profile are well received and that the main criteria of choice are quality and price. A significant relationship is observed between age and use of social networks to plan entertainment. Spanish university students, therefore, need a specialized app that covers their leisure and entertainment needs digitally and efficiently.


All electronic components and devides are built from materials. The designer however, is primaril Y concerned with circuit design and, in general, little concerned about whether the material construction is face-centered cubic or hexagonal close packed. Unfortunately, the material properties (as crystal structure) are critical at times, and many a design failure is attributed to "lousy materials." Ideally, we should design materials as well as circuits, but practically few of us have time or interest to delve into aIf the aspects of a component construction. For that we rely on materials and other specialists to help us out of trouble. This issue of the TRANSACTIONS is for you, the designer, and published with the intent of providing some background' on materials. The papers proceed from thick film basic compositions, through thin film materials, from passive to active


On the evening of February 16, 2000, I enjoyed a supper prepared by a Singaporean chef in a restaurant called "Casablanca" in the city of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The dining room was decorated with reproductions of paintings of European harbors in classic Dutch style and American movie memorabilia that included a big-screen television showing an Ingrid Bergman film. Above the bar, which advertised a special Y2K cocktail, was a neon clock inscribed with the words "American Dream." The sound system played a tape of Bob Dylan songs until the arrival of a local rock band. I had just come from the Mongolian State Opera performance of "Porgy and Bess" sponsored by the U.S. State Department and several multinational businesses. In the following week I would talk to university students and faculty about George and Ira Gershwin, DuBose Hey ward, American culture, and democratic values. The evening seems a good place to begin a discussion of the globalization of American studies. I know this description echoes those of travel writers who take delight in discovering exotic juxtapositions of traditional and modern, but aside from the language spoken by the staff, the most traditional thing in the Casablanca that night was me. As a United States State Department sponsored American Specialist, I represented more than fifty years of American studies in the service of cultural diplomacy, or what some call cultural imperialism. Many different and contradictory messages are contained in this encounter of globalization and American studies. What do fragments of American and European popular culture filtered through southeast Asia mean to Mongolians and tourists? Why did the Mongolian Opera request and the State Department support a production of "Porgy and Bess"? How can the complicated history of Gershwin's opera be explained to an audience who may know Boyz II Men, but not Scott Joplin?


This paper presents a cognitive radio system (CRS) that complies with the maximum allowable transmit power and emission limits of TV band devices (TVBDs). The CRS consists of a TVBD that uses the existing Wi-Fi module and two Wi-Fi modules operating in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Design methods are proposed for a radio frequency (RF) module, a digital signal processing (DSP) module, and a circuit for transmit-receive mode switching in the TV band device (TVBD). The performance of the implemented TVBD is investigated in both wired and wireless environments. The measured data rates of the implemented TVBD at the application layer are approximately 60 % of the theoretical data rates at the physical layer in the Wi-Fi system. The service coverage of a TVBD network is also measured according to several modulation and coding schemes (MCSs) of the TVBD for a single spatial stream. The coverage measurements of a TVBD network are conducted in both a suburban area, Jeju Island, and a nearly open area, Incheon, South Korea. The results show that the service coverage of a mobile network in TV white space (TVWS) can be enlarged by more than 2 km in the suburban area and by more than 8 km in the nearly open area.


The proliferation of social networking sites (SNSs) has drawn attention to different parties in realising their goals. Advertisers utilise SNSs to promote new products and services; politics optimise SNSs to gather support from the public, while ordinary users use SNSs as a unique platform to practice self-disclosure, develop networks, and sustain relationships. This study explores how social anxiety affects self-disclosure on SNSs and well-being. It also examines the moderating effects of two contextual factors, namely, online disinhibition and psychological stress. Two hundred and thirty-four valid responses were collected via an online survey. A positive relationship between social anxiety and self-disclosure, and self-disclosure and well-being was found. Furthermore, a positive moderation effect among social anxiety, online disinhibition, and self-disclosure was revealed. This research contributes to the development of social networking literature. It also enhances the understanding of disclosure patterns on SNSs among socially anxious individuals, thereby providing important insights for practitioners, educators, and clinicians.


Debra richman Certified Nurse Midwife Dear Editor, I recently attended a conference sponsored by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists entitled Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Pelvic Floor. Approximately 25 people attended this meeting of physicians and a handful of midwives. I am nurse-midwife educated and trained in the US, but currently live and work in Israel. From the programme content I had expected to learn something new regarding the pelvic floor and its preservation. However, I am disappointed to say that very little new material was presented, and I was surprised to hear so much criticism of midwifery practice in Britain. In particular, criticism was levelled at midwives for not doing enough to prevent perineal tears, particularly third and fourth degree. Comments from some of the presenters included: a need to encourage midwives to return to the previous practice of supporting the perineum during pushing, i.e. placing the hands on the perineum; encouraging midwives to do more episiotomies correctly; and finally to stop this nonsense of VBAAC (not VBAC), i.e. vaginal birth AT ALL COST. There was quite a lot of chuckling in the audience after the last comment. I was interested to learn that obstetricians in the past and even today do not always learn the correct way to repair third and fourth degree perineal tears. Obviously, a doctor doesn't want to be called anytime to one of these tears if he/she doesn't feel confident in their suturing skills. I made a comment during one of the presentations about ways to prevent perineal tears such as pushing on hands and knees or in a squat position, because all of the presenters were assuming delivery in the lithotomy position. Diet was not discussed and its influence on tissue integrity. Also, pushing time and stretching of the perineal tissues was briefly mentioned but only as regards to excessive time allowed to push in the second stage and no mention was made of the benefits of open glottis pushing on maternal pushing efforts. I hope sharing my thoughts on this conference will open or continue discussions on ways to preserve the perineum, and maybe in the future something really new will be taught and not merely a rehashing of old arguments. Kind regards, Debra Richman Preventing perineal tears


Abstract : The focus of this study is on how the armies of different nations countered the threat of massive concentrated artillery and/or other types of preparatory fires. Not all were successful, and the reasons for the success or failure of each army provides the contemporary military commander an opportunity to learn from his "predecessors" and benefit from their hard-learned lessons. The following studies are included: "Soviet Artillery in Battle: A Historical Perspective," by Lieutenant Colonel James R. Holbrook; "World War I: Elastic Defense and the U.S. 3d Division at the Marne River," by Lieutenant Colonel Michael E. Dunn; "The Impact of Massive Artillery Fires on Command, Control, and Communications in the European and North African Theaters during World War II," by Lieutenant Colonel Roy R. Stephenson; "German Counterartillery Measures on the Eastern Front in 1944-45: Operation Bagration," by Dr. Samuel J. Lewis; "Japanese Counterartillery Methods on Okinawa, April-June 1945," by Dr. Thomas M. Huber; "The Korean War: The United Nations' Response to Heavy Bombardment," by Dr. William Glenn Robertson; "The Korean War: Chinese Forces' Response to Heavy Bombardment," by Dr. Gary J. Bjorge; and "Israeli Defensive Measures Against Arab Artillery," by Dr. George W. Gawrych.


Password authentication is a mechanism to authenticate the legitimacy of a remote user over an insecure channel. Recently, various neural network based password authentication schemes are used to overcome the drawbacks of traditional verification table approach. The neural network approach unlike traditional approaches does not require verification table, highly prone to attacks, to be stored in the server. The existing layered neural network techniques have major limitations such as greater training time and reduced recall approximation. In the present work we report, the use of auto-associative Hopfield neural network for password authentication. In this method, the input patterns are stored in the weight matrix. Neural network weights upon encryption are retained using Hopfield neural network that are then used to authorize the user. The proposed method covers the accuracy and response time to registration, authorization and password change processes, in comparison to existing layered neural network techniques. The method allows the legal users to change their passwords easily. In addition, an alternative fingerprint authentication mechanism is provided in case of forgotten password.


Here, we present our development of several experimental methods, which, when applied together, can provide a thorough characterization of the nonlinear refraction and absorption properties of materials. We focus mainly on time-resolved methods for studying both transient absorption and refraction that reveal molecular dynamics including excited-state absorption, singlet-triplet transfer, instantaneous electronic nonlinear refraction, and molecular reorientation. In particular, we will describe our recent studies of new materials including organometallic compounds and organic solvents such as Tetrachloroethylene (C2Cl4).


The paper thinks that Chinese predicament in vocational education can essentially be looked upon as a problem of institutional economics.The origin of Chinese predicament in vocational education is that the base attribute of vocational education is not always clear and pertinent system is falsely constituted.The paper has analysed the system of Chinese vocational education in a period of shunt and how to ensure that Chinese vocational education develops healthily from the angle of governing system.


One-hundred and forty-four Year 1 children (51% boys and 49% girls, mean age 6) from Queensland State primary schools participated in a study to investigate the relationship between working memory and cognitive functioning. Children were given two tests of cognitive functioning (the School-Years Screening Test for the Evaluation of Mental Status (SYSTEMS) and the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (K-BIT)) and six subtests of working memory from the Working Memory Test Battery for Children (WMTB-C) (Backward Digit Recall, Listening Recall, Digit Recall, Word List Matching, Word List Recall and Non-word List Recall). The two cognitive tests correlated at r = .50. Results showed a high correlation between SYSTEMS and the Phonological Loop (PL) component of working memory. The K-BIT also correlated highly with PL component. The SYSTEMS and K-BIT showed various levels of correlation with the working memory sub-tests. A measurement model utilising Confirmatory Factor Analysis method showed a strong relationship between working memory and cognitive functioning, the degree of fit for the model was very high at GFI = .996.