3-(4,6-Dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)-1-(2-methoxycarbonyl)sulphonylurea was prepared by reaction of me- thyl 2-(chlorosulfonyl)benzoate with sodium cyanate, 4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-amine and pyridine using as a cata- lyst in acetonitrile at 40 to 45℃. 73.7% of the yield was achieved.


Objective: This study aims to determine and verify the use of ethanol extract of Erythrina variegata leaves ethanol extract as a stimulant of hair growth or anti-alopecia. Methods: The E.variegate leaves were collected from Salawu tribe, Tasikmalaya, West Java. The extraction was done by maceration which was based on the standard method of Indonesian Herbal Pharmacopeia. The viscous concentrated extract was fractionated by liquid-liquid extraction. Phytochemical screening according to the Farnsworth method. Method of hair growth on Angora type rabbit was modified of Tanaka method. Results: The results of phytochemical screening using Farnsworth method showed the ethanol extract containing secondary metabolite of tannin compound, polyphenol, steroid, triterpenoid, quinone, monoterpenoid and sesquiterpenoid. The results of hair fertilizer testing using Tanaka method showed that ethanol extract and water extract with 20%, 15%, 10% concentration significantly could fertilize hair with a test for 18 days. Extracts of ethanol with levels greater than 10% showed better results. Water fraction of 10% appeared to show the best result for rabbit hair growth overcome minoxidil. Conclusions: This work found that the concentration of 10% ethanol extract of Erythrina variegata and its water fractions were effective for hair growth on male rabbits. It was suggested, however, for further study to determine the compound which was responsible by using elucidation methods.


Traditional domain adaptation assumes the same vocabulary across source and target domains, which often struggles with limited transfer flexibility and efficiency while handling target domains with different vocabularies. Inspired by recent vision-language models (VLMs) that enable open-vocabulary visual recognition by reasoning on both images and texts, we study open-vocabulary domain adaptation (OVDA), a new unsupervised domain adaptation framework that positions a pre-trained VLM as the source model and transfers it towards arbitrary unlabelled target domains. To this end, we design a Prompt Ensemble Self-training (PEST) technique that exploits the synergy between vision and language to mitigate the domain discrepancies in image and text distributions simultaneously. Specifically, PEST makes use of the complementary property of multiple prompts within and across vision and language modalities, which enables joint exploitation of vision and language information and effective learning of image-text correspondences in the unlabelled target domains. Additionally, PEST captures temporal information via temporal prompt ensemble which helps memorize previously learnt target information. Extensive experiments show that PEST outperforms the state-of-the-art consistently across 10 image recognition tasks.


This article examines the development of citizenship within the European Economic Community as a model for citizenship as such, within a global environment. In historical terms, citizenship evolved within the nation‐state, but the nation‐state, which is no longer valid as the exclusive model of economic development, may be inappropriate as a framework for social rights. The fluidity of labour within the European community means that traditional means of political representation within the nation‐state are irrelevant. Within a global context, the economic barriers which are required by nation‐states constitute political barriers to social rights through the vehicle of citizenship. The article considers the European experience of regional politics as lessons for citizenship reform in a global system.


The evolution of the internet is underway, where immersive virtual 3D environments (commonly known as metaverse or telelife) will replace flat 2D interfaces. Crucial ingredients in this transformation are next-generation displays and cameras representing genuinely 3D visuals while meeting the human visual system's perceptual requirements. This course will provide a fast-paced introduction to optimization methods for next-generation interfaces geared towards immersive virtual 3D environments. Firstly, we will introduce lensless cameras for high dimensional compressive sensing (e.g., single exposure capture to a video or one-shot 3D). Our audience will learn to process images from a lensless camera at the end. Secondly, we introduce holographic displays as a potential candidate for next-generation displays. By the end of this course, you will learn to create your 3D images that can be viewed using a standard holographic display. Lastly, we will introduce perceptual guidance that could be an integral part of the optimization routines of displays and cameras. Our audience will gather experience in integrating perception to display and camera optimizations. This course targets a wide range of audiences, from domain experts to newcomers. To do so, examples from this course will be based on our in-house toolkit to be replicable for future use. The course material will provide example codes and a broad survey with crucial information on cameras, displays and perception.


The teaching and learning of literary theory in Chinese universities are facing many difficulties now though this course plays an important role in fostering creative person. To recover the vitality of theory,we should insist on a general idea that makes abstract into vividness,and go through series of strategy such as compiling individual lecture and courseware,pushing on inquiry instructional mode and establishing a new evaluating mode focusing on the ability check and process evaluation,with the hope that the goal will be realized.


This paper presents an exhausting and critical review of the existing literature on knowledge sharing in (Virtual) Communities of Practice (V)CoP. Factors affecting participants of (V)CoP while sharing knowledge will be presented and discussed. Both knowledge provider and knowledge seeker perspectives will be analyzed. Outcome of this study provides a basis for study of (V)CoPs.


From a rather lean corpus of documentation, Backus has done some excellent detective work in sorting out.a highly confused picture of the peoples on China's southwestern frontier and their sometimes surprisingly successful military roles in the region. China's need to deal with the threat they represented influenced in various subtle and more direct ways a good deal of the history of the period—at least far more than the standard Chinese sources admit. But, although Backus has provided us with perhaps the best treatment of Sino-foreign relations we have yet had for the T'ang period, his work falls short in one important respect. We have already had several studies of China's neighbors during the T'ang, and the means now exist for a comparative treatment of the available data. What is missing here is a discussion of how Sino-Nan-chao relations fit into the wider context of Sino-foreign relations. How were these relations similar to or different from China's relations with other peoples on her borders? And for what reasons? When we begin to obtain the answers to these questions, we will be well on our way toward understanding the Chinese "world order" as the T'ang saw it. One last note: the editors are to be highly commended for providing several excellent maps, a Chinese character glossary, and a workable index—items all too commonly missing from current publications on China.


The multiple-relaxation-time (MRT) lattice-Boltzmann method is implemented to investigate combined natural and forced convection occurring in a two-dimensional square cavity. The top wall slides to the right at constant speed, while the other three remain stationary. The solution is performed for a left vertical wall at a constant temperature, which is higher than of the right wall. This yields a "cooperating" case, in which dynamic and buoyancy forces are added together. The enclosure is filled with air and contains a heat conducting circular cylinder, which is placed at various positions. The double distribution model used in lattice Boltzmann methods has been adopted to simulate the hydrodynamic and thermal fields, with the D2Q9 and D2Q5 lattices selected to perform the corresponding computations. Simulations have been conducted over a wide range of Rayleigh (Ra) and Reynolds (Re) numbers, and the features of dynamic and thermal fields are presented for the spectra of this mixed convection phenomenon. The flow and heat transfer characteristics of the cylinder position are described and analyzed in terms of the average Nusselt number (Nu). The computed results show the influence of the cylinder on the corresponding heat transfer in the enclosure. It has been found that the power (i.e. shear stress) needed to lid the upper surface will depend on the governing parameters.


We present the results of an electron paramagnetic resonance study of homogeneous single phase Zn1−xMnxO thin films with Mn concentrations varying between x=0.07 and x=0.34. Our results show antiferromagnetic (AF) coupling in the entire concentration range with an effective exchange integral of J/kB=−21.8 K for x0.16 much stronger than in the CdMn(S,Se,Te) series. We observe deviations from the Curie-Weiss behavior for concentrations above x=0.16 and show this to be a "universal" behavior of II-VI diluted magnetic semiconductors. Our results demonstrate that AF interactions are dominating in n-type Zn1−xMnxO (x>0.07) with a carrier concentration of 1018 cm−3 contrary to previous claims. These AF interactions are responsible for high spin freezing temperatures and absence of magnetic long range order.


OBJECTIVE:To prepare Metronidazole ofloxacin nasal drops and to establish quality control method of it.METHODS:Metronidazole ofloxacin nasal drops were prepared using metronidazole and ofloxacin as main components.The contents of metronidazole and ofloxacin were determined by double wavelength spectrophotometry.The detection wavelengths were set at 275.8 nm and 301.7 nm for metronidazole,and 293.4 nm and 252.7 nm for ofloxacin.RESULTS:The qualitative identification of prepared nasal drops was in line with the requirement.The linear ranges of metronidazole and ofloxacin were from 4.008 to 20.040 μg·mL-1 and 2.028 to 10.140 μg·mL-1(r=0.999 9).The average recoveries were 99.93%(RSD=0.25%,n=6) and 100.15%(RSD= 0.43%,n=6).CONCLUSION:Preparation technology is simple and feasible.The quality control method is reliable and simple.


【Objective】 To explore the effects of Resveratrol on TRAIL-induced apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line.【Methods】 The proliferation was detected by MTT assay.Apoptosis of cells was analyzed by Annexin V staining combined with flow cytometry assay.The relative activity of Caspase-8 and Caspase-3 were examined by spectrophotometric method.Nuclear was stained with DAPI and its morphology was observed.【Results】 Exposure of cell to 50 ng/mL TRAIL combined with 50 μmol/L and 100 μmol/L Resveratrol for 12 h increased inhibitory effect on cell proliferation which were 62.43±2.07%,87.32±1.44% respectively,as well as enhanced the apoptotic percentage which were 53.59±1.44% and 73.72±1.96% separately,compared with that of the cells incubated with TRAIL or Resveratrol alone.The activity of Caspase-8 and Caspase-3 in the cells treated with TRAIL combined with Resveratrol was also much higher than that of cells treated with TRAIL or Resveratrol alone.【Conclusion】 Resveratrol could enhance the effect of TRAIL on proliferation inhibitory and apoptosis promotion of breast cancer cells via increase the expression of Caspase-8 and Caspase-3.


DOI: 10.14812/cuefd.273857 In this study that was conducted to determine science teachers' and pre-service science teachers' epistemological beliefs and opinions about the nature of science, the study group constituted of 236 pre-service science teachers and 61 science teachers working in secondary schools. In this study conducted with mixed research pattern, as data collection tools, "ScientificEpistemological Beliefs Survey" and "Perspectives on Scientific Epistemology Scale" were used. As a result of the research, according to findings obtained from "Scientific Epistemological Beliefs Survey," it was concluded that science teachers and pre-service science teachers have a traditional understanding of science and there was not significant differences between scientific epistemological beliefs among science teachers and pre-service science teachers. According to the findings obtained from "Perspectives on Scientific Epistemology Scale," it has been revealed that both groups have traditional understanding of science based on positivist paradigm especially towards "source of scientific knowledge, scientific theories and laws", and non-traditional (contemporary) scientific understanding based on post-positivist paradigm towards "changeable nature of scientific knowledge; nature of scientific knowledge to be based on evidences and observations; observations, inferences and theoretical titles in science; creative nature of scientific knowledge; subjectivity and social and cultural structure of scientific knowledge".


As the microgrid contains large-scale flexible components,adoption of the traditional distribution network equivalent method for microgrid equivalence will bring about definite inadaptability to microgrid equivalent research.For this reason,the overall measuring and identification method is employed to investigate the equivalent model of microgrid,and a rational model structure considering the influence of the control strategy on the external characteristics of microgrid is presented.The parameters identification of the model is solved by the immunity algorithm.The proposed model is a non-mechanism model capable of better restoring the dynamic characteristics of microgrid.Finally,the effectiveness of the model is demonstrated via fault simulation.


Automatic tagging of knowledge points for practice problems is the basis for managing question bases and improving the automation and intelligence of education. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to study the automatic tagging technology for practice problems. However, there are few studies on the automatic tagging of knowledge points for math problems. Math texts have more complex structures and semantics compared with general texts because they contain unique elements such as symbols and formulas. Therefore, it is difficult to meet the accuracy requirement of knowledge point prediction by directly applying the text classification techniques in general domains. In this paper, K12 math problems taken as the research object, the LABS model based on label-semantic attention and multi-label smoothing combining textual features is proposed to improve the automatic tagging of knowledge points for math problems. The model combines the text classification techniques in general domains and the unique features of math texts. The results show that the models using label-semantic attention or multilabel smoothing perform better on precision, recall, and F1-score metrics than the traditional BiLSTM model, while the LABS model using both performs best. It can be seen that label information can guide the neural networks to extract meaningful information from the problem text, which improves the text classification performance of the model. More-over, multi-label smoothing combining textual features can fully explore the relationship between text and labels, improve the model's prediction ability for new data and improve the model's classification accuracy.


Expounded in this article is the great significance of research and development of high-stregth concrete and superhigh-strength concrete and their manufacturing technique and relative approaches.The main raw materials and the required performance are explained as well.


The Securities and Exchange Commission's 2016 Tick Size Pilot Program was a natural experiment that imposed increases in tick size for randomly selected small-cap firms. Using a difference-in-differences research design, we examine the effect of this increase in tick size on earnings guidance. We find that after initiation of the program, treatment firms provide significantly less earnings guidance. We provide further evidence that this decrease is driven by increases in investors' fundamental information acquisition and in firms' financial reporting quality, consistent with firms reducing earnings guidance when investors are already more informed. The decrease is stronger for firms with higher proprietary costs of disclosure, consistent with firms being more likely to reduce costly disclosure when investors are more informed. In contrast, the decrease is weaker for firms with greater external financing needs, consistent with these firms continuing to seek the benefits of disclosure, even when investors are more informed. Taken together, our results suggest that an increase in tick size makes investors more informed, which, in turn, reduces the need for firms to provide earnings guidance, though the extent of the reduction depends on the costs and benefits of providing earnings guidance. This paper was accepted by Suraj Srinivasan, accounting. Supplemental Material: The data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4930 .


This study used a gravity model to analyze the importance of China within the "Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI) trade pattern based on different regression methods, including pooled ordinary least squares (POLS), fixed effects (FE), and the Heckman two-step calculation. The results show that from 2000 to 2018, China's position in the BRI trade pattern constantly rose in both exports and imports. After removing zero trade flow, POLS and FE analyses showed GDP and a common language had more influence on national exports than population or common religion. The Heckman two-step results with zero trade flows are similar to the other regression results, showing that both a country's economic aggregate of a country and a common language between two countries were important during trade exchanges. China is one of Eurasia's most attractive trading partners; while China provides more goods for BRI countries to export, it also provides a huge market for other BRI countries' goods while promoting their economic development. Thus, China plays a very important role in the BRI trade pattern. Its huge export/import growth potential is a key economic foundation for further promoting Eurasia's economic and trade integration.


A considerable amount of scientific literature related to the legal status of the embryo indicates the urgency of solving the problem caused by the lack of a single view on the question of classifying it as a subject or object of law. The difference between concepts «the legal subject» and «the legal object» is progressively being challenged by the development of medical science and law. The article examines the features inherent to the unborn child for determining its legal nature.

In order to achieve the objectives and as a result of the analysis of international legal acts and approaches, the article provides an overview of the correlation between the embryo and legal capacity as the main basis for classifying something as subjects of law: the paper considers aspects such as legal capacity to have rights, dispositive legal capacity, and delictual dispositive capacity of the embryo, concentrating on the first one. Moreover, such legal category as the live birth of the embryo is subjected to the analysis.

The second assignment of the work lies in determining the objective feature of the embryo. On that account, the study of the object of law features makes it possible to single out the ones inherent to the embryo. The presence of an objective feature is primarily confirmed by the existing legal regulation of an unborn child's legal status in the world in general and in Ukraine in particular, namely either the mother's or reproductive technology clinic's ownership.

Studies have led to the conclusion that the most common approaches of defining the embryo as a subject or object of law have chosen the path of limiting the legal nature of the unborn child since it has both subjective and objective features, which confirms the expediency of classifying the embryo as a special legal category, sui generis.

Key words: legal status of the embryo, legal capacity of the embryo, subject of law, right of the embryo, object of law, ownership of the embryo.


An article integrates data on visualization tools used in the educational process of highschool students, particularly in the field of medicine. The role of visualization in theformation of professional competencies of students is also shown in the paper.Objective – analysis of scientific papers that describe the possible visualization toolsin the educational process during the explanation of new material, generalization,systematization and testing of knowledge and prove their role as the acquisition ofknowledge, skills and abilities of students.Conclusions. There is a significant choice of teaching methods and tools in the arsenalof a high school teacher now, that considerably facilitates the perception of educationalmaterial by the students and contributes to its better acquisition. One of such effectivemethods is visualization by means of multimedia presentations, videos and interactivetechnologies. This approach will contribute to the better formation of the students'professional competencies, ability to analyze and think critically.


Information retrieval is one of the most important technologies at present. We can always get information in the Internet or distributed computing systems using various information retrieval models. For searching proper information that we need, it is necessary to construct efficient information retrieval agent systems helping many web clients' requests. In this paper, we propose a simple new model for information retrieval agents based on many terms or


A preliminary methodology was obtained for the design optimization of a subsonic aircraft by coupling NASA Langley Research Center's Flight Optimization System (FLOPS) with NASA Glenn Research Center's design optimization testbed (COMETBOARDS with regression and neural network analysis approximators). The aircraft modeled can carry 200 passengers at a cruise speed of Mach 0.85 over a range of 2500 n mi and can operate on standard 6000-ft takeoff and landing runways. The design simulation was extended to evaluate the optimal airframe and engine parameters for the subsonic aircraft to operate on nonstandard runways. Regression and neural network approximators were used to examine aircraft operation on runways ranging in length from 4500 to 7500 ft.


A study of how customers will respond to a tax based on miles per gallon indicates that the long-term effect on gasoline consumption could reduce crude oil imports by 27 percent. When demand elasticity of gasoline is broken down into the price elasticity of demand minus the price elasticity of demand for fuel mileage, it is learned that the short-term miles per gallon factor is larger than previously thought. Adjustments in the stock of automobiles to those providing better gas mileage is indicated by a 20 percent increase in miles per gallon with an additional 40 percent gasoline tax. 20 references.


▸ A lonely instrument in Baja California records tiny fluctuations in the Earth's magnetic field, giving valuable information on the location of geothermal energy.▸ An extremely quiet amplifier detects electrical noise generated by the fluctuating spins in a collection of chlorine nuclei—the first observation of nuclear‐spin noise.▸ Superconducting gradiometers in liquid helium measure tiny fluctuating magnetic fields emanating from the human brain (see figure 1), pinpointing the source of the electrical discharge associated with focal epilepsy.▸ An aluminum bar weighing 4800 kg and cooled to 4.2 K rests in a vacuum chamber at Stanford University, working as the world's most sensitive monitor of gravitational radiation.


This study explains how the teachers used domino cards in teaching descriptive text at SMP 6 Wonogiri. This type of research is descriptive qualitative. The subjects of this study were teachers and students of SMP 6 Wonogiri with 2 teachers and 6 students.This study uses interview and observation techniques in data collection. The results of this study indicate that the implementation of teaching descriptive text using domino cards improved students' vocabulary mastery, student enthusiastic in learning process and fluency in writing descriptive text.  However, there were several difficulties faced by the students as expressed by as follows: 1) the students had limited vocabulary and a tenses. 2) The students were unfamiliar with and never used domino cards before. 3) The students found it difficult to understand the instructions given. Although experiencing some difficulties, the students felt happy and enthusiastic about the domino cards as teaching media in learning descriptive texts.


Interspecific crosses were made among Paspalum intermedium Munro, P. haumanii Parodi, P. brunneum Mez, P quadrifarium Lam., and P. rufum Nees, species with both sexual diploid (2n = 20) and apomictic tetraploid cytotypes. Eight different interspecific hybrid progenies involving diploid species were recovered from crosses using P. intermedium or P. haumanii as the female parent. When P. rufum was the female parent in crosses with the other four species, only the hybrid with P. intermedium as pollen donor was recovered. Paspalum brunneum as female parent gave hybrid progenies only with P. rufum. All hybrids had 2n = 20 chromosomes, and the degree of meiotic pairing was high in most of them. Excepting P. haumanii x P. brunneum, all other hybrids had some pollen mother cells (PMC) with 10 II. Paspalum haumanii x P. brunneum had the least number of bivalents (mean = 4.7, maximum = 7 II). Almost complete pairing was observed in P. intermedium x P. haumanii and P. quadrifarium x P. brunneum, with a mean of 9.86 and 9.9 bivalents/PMC, respectively. The high degree of meiotic pairing in the hybrids is consistent with morphological and ecological affinities of the species as well as their geographical distribution. The data indicate that the genome of each of these species evolved from an ancestral common basic genome, and each of them may be a particular form of the I genome previously assigned to P intermedium. The low rate of crossability among these five species and the high sterility of the hybrids are important barriers preventing introgression.


The present work study experimentally and theoretically the effect of changing the aerodynamic shape of a tractor trailer scaled model on its aerodynamic drag and improving its aerodynamic characteristic by using modification added on the trailer body .The experiment work was executed by using wind tunnel with Reynolds No. equals to 10 based on the truck length on model of 1/30 scale of (Mercedes Benz 1844 ACTROS ContainerTrailer) .The modifications added to rear was base flap and base flap with splitter, using four inclined angle (0 ̊,10 ̊,20 ̊and30 ̊).The experimental results shows that there is a good reduction on aerodynamic drag by approximately equals to 18% when the inclined angle equals 10 ̊.The splitter addition produced an improve in aerodynamic reduction on the behavior of the base flap at β=20 ̊ with 21% drag reduction. The theoretical study was executed by using CFD package which is ANSYS FLOTRAN 12.1 by using CAD preparation of two dimensional model with zero yaw angle .The results obtained for xcomponent velocity , velocity vectors and stream lines shows good agreements between the experiment and theoretical work. Keywords-Drag reduction, CFD , Turbulent flow , Tractor trailer


We propose a simple technique for extracting dominant foreground objects from images in this paper. Image foreground segmentation is a challenging task given problems due to complex background, clutter and occlusion, spectral variability in object appearance etc. Most of the techniques in this respect are semi-automatic in nature which require prior assumptions regarding the object location in the image in the form of rough bounding boxes. On the contrary, we propose a patch transfer based approach which propagates rough segmentation masks from the training to the test image patches. Further, these segmentation masks are combined and updated using a Markov random field model to generate the final foreground segmentation. The proposed technique is simple, robust and can work with very few labeled samples. Results obtained on the Weizmann Horse and the Leeds Butterfly dataset exhibit the superiority of the proposed approach with respect to existing methods from the literature.


A six-light-screen structure was presented.By the method of the analytic geometry,the equations of six light screens were built according to the geometry relation between the six light screens,and combined with the trajectory equations with unknown parameters.The times of the pill flying through the six screens in turn were fed into joint equations,and the unknown parameters of the trajectory equations were obtained.The coordinates of the intersection points of trajectory track and prearranged light screens were obtained.The measuring principle was given,and the measuring precision was analyzed.The result shows that vertical target of six-light-screen is more coincident with the real firing conditions than vertical target of four-light-screen.


The characteristics of a species' evolution can be influenced by its mode of sex determination and, indeed, sex determination mechanisms vary widely among eukaryotes. In nonavian reptiles, the sex determination mechanism has historically thought to be binary, determined either by temperature or genetics. In this study, we add to the growing evidence that sex determining mechanisms in reptiles fall along a continuum rather than existing as a mutually exclusive dichotomy. Using qPCR, we demonstrate that a lizard species, Crotaphytus collaris, possesses sex-based gene dosage consistent with the presence of sex microchromosomes, despite the fact that extreme incubation temperatures can influence hatchling sex ratio. Our results indicate that C. collaris might be the first non-Australian species of lizard having a temperature override of genotypic sex determination, and the first species in which sex switches at both high and low temperatures.


This article analyzes two kinds of elementary theories of inevitable causation and the relative causality,then further analyzes whether there is causation in the case of oil pollution damage arising from collisions of ships.On the basis of the relative causation theory,the author confirms that there is causation between ship collision and pollution damages.It is of significance in theory and practice to confirm that the non-leaking ship is the responsible party in the collision of ships tort case in our country.


COPYRIGHT © 2023 Garber, Frasoldati, Patkar and Papini. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. TYPE Editorial PUBLISHED 05 September 2023 DOI 10.3389/fendo.2023.1276323


Abstract Microwave heating has been applied in the field of drying rare earth carbonates to improve drying efficiency and reduce energy consumption. The effects of power density, material thickness and drying time on the weight reduction (WR) are studied using response surface methodology (RSM). The results show that RSM is feasible to describe the relationship between the independent variables and weight reduction. Based on the analysis of variance (ANOVA), the model is in accordance with the experimental data. The optimum experiment conditions are power density 6 w/g, material thickness 15 mm and drying time 15 min, resulting in an experimental weight reduction of 73%. Comparative experiments show that microwave drying has the advantages of rapid dehydration and energy conservation. Particle analysis shows that the size distribution of rare earth carbonates after microwave drying is more even than those in an oven. Based on these findings, microwave heating technology has an important meaning to energy-saving and improvement of production efficiency for rare earth smelting enterprises and is a green heating process.


Video games can play a vital part in a young child's education, particularly those that look to strengthen their spatial abilities. This study will look at a mixed gender group of 5 year olds from the Institución Educativa Julio Perez Ferrero focussing on the identification of signs to find the way out of a maze. This plays an important role in a childs sense of direction and finding the correct path, hence developing spatial skills. Results have shown that video game use improved the childrens abilities, albeit at differing speeds, to read signs and avoid enemies, such signs included both images and sounds. We discovered that the girls were more attentive at spotting signs and consider the use of virtual mazes to strengthen children's spatial skills highly effective, although implications and direction of this research are open to discussion.


Human resource planning may be regards as the quantitative and qualitative, measurement of work force required in an organization and planning in relation to manpower. Human resource planning is an important function of human resource manager which plays a vital role in the organization. Human resource planning deals with anticipating staff requirements, taking into account current and likely future demands for future and the probable availability of individuals with such skills. This is process by which a firm determines how a management should move from its current manpower position to its desired manpower position. The best main power or human resource planning improve effectiveness of an organization, increase skills , abilities, competency and capabilities of all employees of organization or company. This facilitate or help the organization to achieve competitive advantage in front of competitive market. Better human resource planning increase productivity and profitability of an organization.


Andaman and Nicobar Islands are one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world, located between Lat. 06°45' to 13°41'N and Long. 92°12' to 93°57'E in Bay of Bengal. This archipelago comprised of 572 islands with a coastline of about 1,962km and total area of 8,249 km2. The Andaman Sea is a marginal sea of the eastern Indian Ocean, separated from the Bay of Bengal (to its west) by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and touching Myanmar, Thailand and the Malay Peninsula. Its southernmost end is defined by Breueh Island, an island just north of Sumatra. The maximum length of the Andaman Sea is 1,200 km and maximum width is 645 km. The surface area of the sea is 600,000 km2. The average depth of the sea is 1,096 m while the maximum depth is 4,198 m. The Andaman Sea extends over 92° E to 100° E and 4° N to 20° N, Occupies a very significant position in the Indian Ocean, yet remained unexplored for a long period of time. Marine mammals are important components and occupy elevated trophic level in the oceanic environment. They are generally classified under three major Orders, namely Cetacea (whales, dolphins and porpoises), Sirenia (manatees and dugong), and Carnivora (sea otters, polar bears, and pinnipeds). Till date, there are 129 marine mammals Species of these three Groups and are known to occur in the world ocean.1 Many cetaceans have fully adapted to live in almost all marine ecosystems and have evolved to exploit a wide variety of prey species. Being apex predators, cetaceans have the potential to be important barometers of marine diversity and give them significant role as indicators of marine ecosystem conservation state. Cetaceans are thought to have a major influence on marine food webs as well as the structure and function of some aquatic communities because of their large body size, high metabolic rates, and large numbers.2,3 Therefore, an understanding the role of cetaceans in the marine ecosystem is imperative because it provides a context to evaluate the potential impact of their predation on prey population, prey community structure and variation in prey population.2 Cetaceans are highly mobile animals with complex habitat requirements and are distributed unevenly across oceans, ranging from temperate, tropical, subtropical, and polar water of the deep ocean. These apart, estuaries and the tributaries of some of the world's largest rivers act potential habitat for few cetaceans (river dolphin) and sirenians group (dugong). Some habitats, such as tropical, subtropical and temperate, maintain extremely diverse cetacean species assemblages, whereas Polar Regions support a restricted range of species (Gaston, 2003). Among the different marine habitats, tropical water occupies vast part of the world ocean and covers nearly 50% of the world's oceans, which supports a wide range of distribution of tropical cetacean species.4,5 Dugongs were common in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands until the 1950s, but currently there are only sporadic sightings.6 A first study on the distribution of seagrass meadows was carried out in 1995. This study estimated, the presence of 40 dugongs based on interviews with fishermen and regular divers6–8 sighted three dugongs in the wild at Neil, Havelock and Kodiaghat Islands in the southern Andaman Islands and three dugongs were sighted near Neil Island by.9 The year 2008, it was collated all available information on dugong occurrences from records available since 1956 and found that there were 58 records of mortality in the past 50 years and in the past 20 years there were 10 records of mortality indicating a possibility of a further decline in numbers since the 1999 report.


The effect of water stress on gas exchange, water relations and leaf anatomical characteristics have been studied in two olive cultivars (Olea europea, L. cv. 'Koroneiki' and cv. 'Mastoidis'). Photosynthetic rate as well as stomatal conductance were decreased in stressed plants. Osmotic potential (π) declined rapidly in stressed plants indicating their ability for osmoregulation. Bulk modulus of elasticity (ε) was significantly higher in stressed compared to well irrigated plants. The volume fraction of intercellular spaces of the upper palisade parenchyma, the spongy parenchyma as well as the lower palisade parenchyma were significantly lower in stressed compared to well irrigated plants. On the other hand, the density of mesophyll cells in the upper palisade parenchyma, spongy parenchyma and lower palisade parenchyma increased significantly in stressed plants


On condition that plain-woven composite is widely used and lack of researching on its repairing,a 3-dimensional finite element analysis model with multiple strength criterion and corresponding experiments verification were developed for the different covering layers of plain-woven composite laminates.The results of calculations and experiments verification show that covering layer has much effect on recovering strength,instead too many covering layers may cause more repair flaws.For the case discussed,the best repair covering layer number is one,the maximum strength recovering rate is up to 65.57%.It has great value to other plain-woven composite repairing.The calculations of 3-dimensional finite element analysis model conform to the results of experiments,so the analysis model and the strength criterion could be of great significance on directing the engineering practice of composite repairing.


Customized, on-device applications that provide timely interventions about smoking episodes are very helpful for smoking cessation. For this, real-time detection of smoking puffs are necessary through unobtrusive wearable devices. This work demonstrates auto-generated tiny puff detection models for on-device inference on low-power wearable devices.


Good oral error feedback strategies can boost student motivation, advance language learning, and increase student perception of instructional effectiveness, but the oral error feedback literature offers a confusing picture of what is appropriate feedback. Many teachers have heard that recasts, a type of feedback that involves reformulating the student's error into the correct form, is an appropriate approach, especially because it may avoid increasing student anxiety. Other teachers have probably heard that recasts are not effective and that pushing students to self-correct is a more appropriate technique. In fact, the research literature on oral error feedback has advocated both perspectives, and some writers have even advocated against providing error feedback altogether. This paper looks at four error feedback interac- tions from class observations in an EFL context to highlight issues that may help teachers make appropriate decisions for handling errors in their classrooms. These feedback interac- tions come from the author's doctoral research (Margolis, 2007). The paper first examines the nature of errors and feedback in the classroom, then identifies key decision points in error feedback interactions, and finally suggests a framework for evaluating oral error feedback effectiveness.


The paper presents new data on the effect of Dactylogyrus extensus on the blood of the carp. The data have become available due to a new classification of formed elements worked out by N.T. Ivanova. One of characteristic features of dactylogyrosis is eosinophilia. Polychromatophil anaemia and anisocytosis were recorded as well.


The present work describes an on-going effort that focuses on the application of finite-element multibody procedures to the dynamic analysis of tilt rotors. In particular, we are here interested in using the ability offered by the multibody approach [1, 2, 3, 4] to model in detail crucial features of the system, such as the gimbal joint, in order to understand their possible impact on the stability and vibration levels of the aircraft. In fact, multibody formulations can deal with complex flexible mechanisms of arbitrary topologies: a given mechanism is modelled through an idealization process that identifies the mechanism components from within a large library of elements implemented in the code. Each element provides a basic functional building block, for example a rigid or flexible member, a hinge, a motor, etc. After assembling the various elements, one can construct a virtual prototype of the mechanism with the required level of accuracy. Therefore, using this technology one can model a complex system such as a tilt rotor with a higher level of detail than it is presently possible using conventional industrial tools. A topological view of the multibody model of the aircraft considered in this study is given in fig. 1. The various mechanical components of the system are associated with the elements found in the library of the code. The model consist of the wing, engine and nacelle and of a detailed representation of the rotor. The rotor itself includes shaft, swashplate, pitch links, constant speed joint, flex-beam, cuff and blade. At first, a validation has been carefully carried out by comparison with established industrial codes, including NASTRAN and CAMRAD. The validation effort included modal analyses at different rotor speeds in aircraft and helicopter mode, and comparisons of the rotor aerodynamic loads in different flight conditions, including the transition from airplane to helicopter mode. As an example of the data collected, fig. 2 shows the thrust-power curve in airplane mode at different trim conditions. The correlation with CAMRAD is in this case excellent. Next, a study was conducted on the influence of the possible effects of the geometrical non-linearities related to the hub design on the whirl-flutter stability, the drive train torsional loads, and the overall vibratory level. These details are difficult if not impossible to determine with accuracy with standard non-multibody simulation tools. We consider three models of the Submitted to the XVII AIDAA National Conference, Roma, Sept. 15–19, 2003.


New Bi(Mn 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 ceramics were obtained. Their pseudo-perovskite symmetry with monoclinic distortion was determined by XRD test. Dispersion in permittivity ε′ (T,f) was observed. Small polaron mechanism of electric conductivity was deduced. Several techniques were applied to evaluate electric conduction relaxation times τ(T,f) from ε′(T,f), ε"(T,f), tan δ(T,f), and M" (T,f) dependences. The relaxation times τ (T,f) temperature dependence was fitted with high accuracy by Fermi glass related term τ (T,f)∼ exp[(T0/T)1/4] corresponding to variable range hopping of small polaron model. Perovskite cubic structure was determined for (Bi 1/9 Na 2/3 )(Mn 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 ceramics. The E a , τ0, T 0, and electric conductivity σ values were changed by Na ions addition.


Objective To investigate the value of quantitative tissue velocity imaging(QTVI).in the function evaluation of left ventricular in patients with hypentision.Method 45 healthy people(control group)and 60 patients with hypertension(experimental group)were selected,the tissue motion velocity numbers(Vs,Ve,Va,Ve /Va) of three sections in different walls' segments of left ventricular were detected by QTVI.Results Compared with the control group,the experimental group show lower Vs,Ve of all walls(P0.05) and lower Ve/Va ratio(P0.05),except posterior wall and inferior wall(P0.05).Conclusion QTVI can detect the impairment of cardiac muscle sensitively,accurately and no-invasively,which helpful to the analyse of EH.


Reducing network energy consumption and offering low-latency service quality have been the pursued goals in broadband passive optical networks (PONs). To realize these goals, energy-efficient dynamic bandwidth allocation (DBA) has been extensively studied. Nevertheless, few of these DBA schemes can effectively support low-latency and low-energy requirements, simultaneously. For these existing DBA schemes, the adopted energy-saving methods by sleeping some network elements would not handle the mismatch between the upstream and downstream bandwidth required by an optical network unit (ONU), which brings in a longer active window for each ONU and thus larger packet latencies. In this paper, an energy-efficient low-latency DBA scheme is proposed based on a novel pairwise combination (PWC) method. The essence of the PWC method is to compact the polling cycle length as much as possible by dynamically paring any two ONUs in complementary ways, which in turn also improves latency performance of data packets (i.e., quality of service (QoS)). Moreover, we introduce a multiple-state energy-saving mode into the proposed DBA scheme to reduce the PON energy consumption, with the consideration of both the upstream (US) and downstream (DS) transmissions. We establish an energy saving model for the proposed PWC-PON compared with the PONs with the existing DBA schemes, and also present a comprehensive M/G/1 queuing analysis with modification for the data latency performance. Extensive theoretical analysis and simulation results show that the proposed PWC-PON can reduce US and DS latency by 50% compared with the existing Gate Service (GS)-based DBA scheme. The energy saving efficiency is up to 3.5% higher than the benchmark when the US traffic load is light. It suggests that our PWC-based DBA scheme cannot only reduce the energy consumption, but also reduce the packet latency for PON system.


In his 2003 book Kierkegaard's Relations to Hegel Reconsidered, Jon Stewart challenges the classical interpretation of Kierkegaard's response to Hegelian philosophy. Stewart convincingly argues that Kierkegaard's work addresses Danish Hegelians rather than Hegel himself. However, in my view the conclusion Stewart draws from this — that Kierkegaard's thought on the whole has much less to do with Hegel than earlier commentators have presumed — goes too far in undermining the philosophical and historical significance of Kierkegaard's work, and, perhaps more importantly, closes down too quickly the question of his relation to Hegelian philosophy. The following passage exemplifies Stewart's position: Given that the two are doing quite different things, it is not clear why a comparison of their views is supposed to be fruitful in the first place … The presumption for Kierkegaard having made a philosophical criticism of Hegel is that [Kierkegaard] himself is a philosopher and shares with Hegel a certain common understanding of the nature and office of the discipline. A genuinely philosophical criticism would only make sense if there were a common basis of this kind. If, by contrast, Kierkegaard is not a philosopher in the same sense of the word, then it is not clear why he should be conceived as giving a philosophical criticism of Hegel. It seems rather that given the disparate nature of their respective projects, such a criticism would be at cross-purposes. (Stewart 2003: 636–37, emphasis in original)


China boasts over 130 environmental courts opened between 2007 and 2013, a trend that promises to re-shape environmental law. What accounts for the political appeal of specialized justice? Overall, China's specialized environmental courts are a method for local officials to signal commitment to environmental protection and a forum to defuse potentially explosive disputes. They symbolize the increasing importance placed by China's leaders on environmental issues, while also offering welcome flexibility. Courts can accept cases when disputes are rising, and turn them away when local power holders are involved and caution appears prudent. Many courts struggle to find enough cases to survive, and even the most active courts do not necessarily tackle China's most pressing environmental problems. A new analysis shows that the Guiyang court's docket is dominated by minor criminal cases—crackdowns against powerless rural residents, rather than more ambitious attempts to hold polluters accountable.


This week The BMJ provides plenty of ideas for readers to improve patient care or to create better systems. Some lessons are personal and moving. Partha Kar describes difficult experiences as an international medical graduate (doi:10.1136/bmj.o2360).1 Kindness and time to chat, play computer games, and share dinner with colleagues served to combat his loneliness in ways that even the best formal induction programmes can't. After learning that England has the second highest income inequality in Europe, Helen Salisbury considers whether she could better allocate time to prioritise patient need over demand and tackle inequality in her practice's service (doi:10.1136/bmj.o2375).2 Her practice will try by contacting patients with long term conditions who are rarely seen.


Highway subgrade types are various in hilly areas,having the features of plain areas and mountainous areas. Combining with one expressway design project,the expressway subgrade design points in hilly areas are summarized in the aspects of slope ratio,special subgrade disposal,soil field,prevention and protection engineering and drainage engineering on the basis of similar project experience. What′s more,the subgrade design points are summarized. It can provide reference for expressway subgrade design in hilly areas.


A History of the Water Hyacinth in Africa, authored by Jeremiah Mutio Kitunda, investigates in an encyclopaedic survey the water hyacinth (Eichhornia Crassipes) as a plant originally imported from South America and as one of the environmental scourges and threats to African waterscapes since the late eighteenth century. An overarching theme of the book is that, while it is predominantly about the history of the water hyacinth's transfer to many parts of Africa, it at the same time constantly interrogates the varying implications of what the plant means to different people at different times in terms of whether it is a dangerous or life-threatening weed, a herb, a flower of ornamental value, or a flower of life. For Kitunda, the hyacinth has gone through a transformation over time, from an ornamental plant to a vexatious pest (p. 6). In this sense, his work is a significant and refreshing exploration of the interaction between humanity and the natural environment. Although it is true that hyacinth evolved from a mere object of beauty to an insidious weed responsible for choking many of Africa's waterways, a positive that can be drawn from it is that it has challenged people to find ways to either control or utilise it (profitably), thus bringing it back into the fold as a human ally according to Heather J. Hoag.1


Rotational cooling by supersonic expansion and laser labeling spectroscopy were used to obtain high-resolution fundamental and first- and second-overtone spectra of C-H stretches of benzene in a molecular beam. Rich fine structure in the spectra has been observed. Transformation from the ``normal-mode'' picture to the ``local-mode'' picture seems to occur between v=2 and v=3. Vibrational lifetimes in local-mode bands exceed \ensuremath{\simeq}0.5 psec.


Proper planning is essential for a long-term business. This can be done by implementing proper marketing strategies from time to time. Machine learning can play a key role in decision-making. Machine learning can play a key role in decision-making. This paper proposes a systematic approach which can help offline stores target their customers and obtain maximum profit by using the clustering application of machine learning. It helps offline stores get the benefits of the latest technologies in their business. The initial step for this system is to analyse the acquired sales data based on the purchase history, which will be used to group the customers. K-Means clustering is used to segment customers. Later, the most preferred product of each cluster is determined, and the result of this can be used by the shopkeepers to analyse their business and make good decisions for the long life of the business. It can assist offline stores in finding different groups of customers rather than viewing the entire customer as a single unit.


This paper describes both the design and technical integration of a deep water ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) that is able to employ visual inspection in deep water, as well as to take samples with an underwater arm. Visual inspection is the essential application for a ROV, which is useful for; underwater structure inspection, underwater oil production systems inspection and underwater pipeline inspection. This paper mainly describes the ROV design, and explains in general manner other elements; such as the SCU, LARS and TMS. It is important to mention that the design phase is complete and it was financed by PEMEX (Federal Mexican Oil Company). The project has stalled, since we are waiting for the financial support from PEMEX for the system construction. A future objective is the design and construction of Work-Class ROVs, which can be used to perform PEMEX specific tasks.


This thesis describes the development of a novel in vitro model of monocytes transmigration under flow and use in the study of early molecular events of atherogenesis. In this work, we focused on how endothelial dysfunction, specifically mediated by disturbed flow from atherosusceptible regions of the vasculature, is both communicated to recruited monocytes as they reside in the subendothelial matrix, and how reciprocally, monocytes may exacerbate the endothelial dysfunctional state. We built and integrated our in vitro model to a unique flow apparatus that can precisely replicate atheroprone and atheroprotective shear stress waveforms. We carefully characterized the model that relies on a fibronectin-coated collagenous matrix seeded with a confluent monolayer of endothelial cells co-cultured with THP1 monocytes under flow. We used the model to draw biological insight from endothelial:monocyte co-cultures under flow. We found that monocytes preferentially accumulate on endothelial monolayers exposed to atheroprone flow. We also observed the upregulation of IL-1p in endothelial cells exposed to atheroprone flow when co-cultured with monocytes but not in endothelial cells alone, in each of three independent experiments; yet the aggregated results are not statistically relevant due to variability. Flow-driven dysfunctional endothelium recruits and interacts with monocytes that soon after transmigration become dysfunctional foam cells. Our novel in vitro model that congregates endothelial cells, monocytes and flow responds to the pressing need to understand the interplay between these protagonist cells during


POPULATION: The Amerindian population of Colombia represents around 1.7% of the population (1,2). They belong to different linguistic families (Chibcha, Tukano, Arawak, Guahibo, Choco, Maku, Karib, and Quechua among others). The Amerindian tribes of Colombia are located in the Amazonian/Orinoquian region, the Northeast, Southwest and Pacific regions of Colombia. Few studies have been carried out for STR variability among Amerindian tribes (3-5). On the other hand, several studies have been performed for STR variability in Caucasian and Afro-Colombian populations (1,2,6-10). We have carried out a study in 7 Amerindian populations named Cubeo (n = 49), Curripaco (n = 32), Desano (n = 28), Tucano (n = 26), Embera (n = 31), Puinabe (n = 77), and Nukak (n = 29) for 6 STR loci (CSF1PO, TPOX, TH01, F13A01, FES/FPS and VWA) to determine allele frequencies and other parameters of forensic importance.


In this paper we evaluate whether the placement of Teach First's carefully selected, yet inexperienced new teachers into deprived secondary schools in England has altered the educational outcomes of pupils at the age of 16. Our difference-in-difference panel estimation approach matches schools participating early on in the scheme to those within the same region. We find the programme has not been damaging to schools who joined and most likely produced school-wide gains in GCSE results in the order of 5% of a pupil standard deviation or around one grade in one of the pupil's best eight subjects. We estimate pupil point-in-time fixed effect models to identify core subject departmental gains of over 5% of a subject grade resulting from placing a Teach First participant in a teaching team of six teachers.


Starting with their vision of a useful model of supply behavior as dynamic and market oriented, the authors examine the literature to see what it offers, to fill in some of the missing elements, and to direct attention to the research that is required. Following an introduction, separate chapters deal with the basic theory of supply behavior; joint products, externalities, and technical change; uncertainty, expectations, and supply behavior; aggregate supply and market behavior; and empirical methods and problems. The authors argue that practical understanding of nonrenewable resource supply is hampered by gaps among theory, methodology, and data, and offer a standard designed to achieve consistency among theory, data, and estimation methods. Their recommendations for additional research focus on general specification issues, uncertainty and expectations, market-level analysis, and strategic behavioral issues. 151 references, 9 figures.


Skeletal abnormalities of cervical region or in craniocervical region are of interest to the anatomists, orthopaedicians, neurologists, neurosurgeons and even orthodontists. These abnormalities may result in severe neck pain, decreased neck mobility, muscular weakness and sensory deficits of both upper limbs and sudden unexpected death. During the routine osteology teaching, it was observed that the axis vertebra is fused with the third cervical vertebra. It was observed that body, laminae and pedicles of C2 and C3 were completely fused on both anterior and posterior aspects. The features of these fused cervical vertebrae were analysed and the specimen was photographed from different aspects. This is a condition of block vertebra which has embryological importance and clinical implications.


Simple Summary Mogamulizumab is a recent monoclonal antibody prescribed in the second line to treat advanced mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndromes. We collected data from all patients who used mogamulizumab in six French university hospitals until 1 September 2021. Our primary objective was to determine the median progression free survival (PFS). Secondary objectives were to consider tolerance regarding side effect occurrence and severity. Twenty-one patients were included, with a median time of follow-up of 11.6 months, and progression-free survival was estimated at 22 months. Twenty patients presented adverse events, of which 10 were severe. The median time between the introduction of mogamulizumab and the first adverse event was 21 days. Our study suggests that mogamulizumab is a significant treatment option to extend PFS in patients with advanced refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL). The long-term safety of mogamulizumab was determined to be acceptable since we reported few grade III–IV adverse events (AEs) compared to other systemic treatments. Abstract Background: Advanced mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS) are rare, aggressive cutaneous T-cell lymphomas that may be difficult to treat. Mogamulizumab is a recent monoclonal antibody targeting the CCR4 receptor expressed on the surface of Sézary cells. It can be prescribed in MF/SS stages III to IV in the second line after systemic therapy or in stages IB-II after two unsuccessful systemic therapies. We lack data on long-term efficiency and potential side effects in real-life conditions. Our study aims to determine efficacy considering the median PFS of advanced CTCL with mogamulizumab. Secondary objectives were to consider tolerance and estimate delay until side effects appeared. Methods: Data on patients with advanced cutaneous T-cell lymphomas were collected since French Authorization, in six French university hospitals. Patients were followed until they stopped mogamulizumab because of relapse or toxicity. For those still treated by mogamulizumab, the end point was 1 September 2021. We excluded 3 patients as they had already been included in the MAVORIC study and data was not available. Results: The median time of follow-up was 11.6 months. Of the 21 patients included, we reported four full-response patients, eight in partial response, one in stability, three in progression, and five were deceased. One patient had visceral progression, and seven had new lymphadenopathy. Progression-free survival was estimated at 22 months. Twenty patients presented adverse events, of which 10 were severe, i.e., grade III-IV. The median time between the introduction of mogamulizumab and the first adverse event was 21 days. Conclusions: Our study suggests that mogamulizumab can give patients with advanced refractory CTCL a consequent PFS, estimated at 22 months. The long-term safety of mogamulizumab was determined to be acceptable since we reported few grade III–IV AEs, comparable with other studies. No other study using real-life data has been performed to investigate the AEs of mogamulizumab.


Water quality assessment protocols based on the use of diatoms are now well developed and their value substantiated at an international level. The use of diatoms is not designed or intended to be a "rapid" technology. The detailed level of information generated from the procedure outweighs perceived disadvantages of the additional time required for sample preparation and analysis to species level. The method is applicable across a wide range of aquatic ecosystem types, namely freshwater, brackish, and estuarine, and is inclusive of both lentic and lotic environments, wetlands and their associated damp, marginal and littoral zones. Details provided by diatom assemblages support palaeoecological investigations, historical reconstruction of water quality and the determination of prevailing water quality conditions. Deliberate determination of responses to management strategies or impacts arising from a variety of anthropogenic activities can be achieved via the simple expedient of retrieving living material from introduced artificial substrates. Previous studies in South Africa and elsewhere have shown that on a site-by-site basis the use of diatoms provides a fine level of diagnostic resolution of the causes underlying changes in water quality and environmental condition. The South African Diatom Collection ("the Collection"), a repository of diatom specimens and records that spans the length and breadth of this country, contains an as-yet unutilised wealth of ecological and taxonomic information. More importantly, the historical data analysis records provide an insight into water quality conditions prevailing 40 to 50 years ago – in many cases prior to the "development" of many of our rivers, streams and wetlands. The real value of its existence underpins the great potential for renewed attention to the value of diatom-based approaches to water quality assessments. In addition, the Collection provides a ready-made foundation on which a locally relevant tool for water quality assessment may be established to augment the current use of invertebrate indicators. It is now appropriate that the full potential of the use of diatoms in water quality assessments, and the information contained in the Collection, be developed and utilised for water quality assessment in South Africa.


The Mandovi estuary is a prominent water body that runs along the west coast of India. It forms an estuarine network with the adjacent Zuari estuary, connected via the Cumbharjua canal. The physico-chemical conditions seen in the Mandovi estuary are influenced by two factors: the fresh water runoff during the monsoon season (June-September) and the tidal influx of coastal seawater during the summer (October to May) season. However, the effects of monsoon related changes on the phytoplankton of the Mandovi estuary are not yet fully understood. An attempt to understand the same has been made here by applying the process of daily sampling at a fixed station throughout the monsoon season. It was noticed that the onset of the monsoon is responsible for an increase in nitrate levels upto 26 μM from <1 µM during pre-monsoon and enhancement of chlorophyll a (chl a) as high as 14 µg·L −1 during the same period. The phytoplankton population was observed through both chemotaxonomy and microscopy and was found to be composed mainly of diatoms. CHEMTAX analysis further uncovers the presence of several other groups of phytoplankton, the presence of which is yet to be reported in many other tropical estuaries. It includes chrysophytes, cyanobacteria, prasinophytes, prymnesiophytes and chlorophytes. The appearance of phytoplankton groups at various stages of the monsoon was recorded, and this data is discussed in relation to environmental changes in the Mandovi estuary during the monsoon season.


This paper presents a Raman analysis of the monocrystalline silicon wafer scratched by single point diamond. Si-III and Si-XII phases are found to be existence in the scratched silicon surface, which is the result of the phase transformation. A mathematical model was developed to calculating the molar concentration of phase of the silicon. Based on the mathemathical model, the relationship between the molar concentrations of the Si-I phase and the applied load was analysied.


The key symptom of depression is lowering the mood, but this is not the only sign of depression. Depression is a disease in which the symptoms reach various intensities and occur in many configurations. We distinguish the following types of depression: reactive, endogenous, neurotic, anankastic, agitated, large and small, morning (subclinical and subliminal), seasonal, masked, psychotic, postpartum, drug resistant, in children and adolescents, in the elderly, involutional, organic , in bipolar disorder, dysthymia, depression and anxiety, and in somatic diseases. Psychotherapy is now a popular and effective method of treating depression. The effects of treatment after the use of antidepressants appear only after a few weeks from the beginning of therapy. Old-generation medicines: these are tricyclic antidepressants (TLPDs), inhibitors of neuromediator reuptake and monoamine oxidase enzyme (IMAO) inhibitors. The new generation of drugs is distinguished by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), selective serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), four-ring drugs, noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, selective reversible MAO inhibitors, and drugs with other mechanisms of action. Phototherapy (treatment of light) is currently a widely accepted method of winter depression therapy. Other treatments for depression include electroconvulsive therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation.


A comprehensive study of measures of prevention of crimes undertaken by the National Po-lice of Ukraine is carried out in the paper from the victimological perspective. Moreover, the nature of its social and legal status in the state mechanism of crime prevention is defined. The author proposes the structure of crime prevention subjects and notes that the National Police of Ukraine is an important subject of this activity.


Objective To study the clinical characteristics and therapeutic efficacy of the patients with ganglioglioma. Methods The clinical datas of 8 patients with ganglioglioma confirmed by pathological and immunohistochemical examinations were analyzed retrospectively. Results The average age was 27 years old. Tumors were located in the cerebral hemisphere in 6 cases; the brainstem in 2. Seizure was the main symptom. The CT or MRI manifestations of gangliogomas were not specific and its diagnosis was dependent on pathological examination. The tumors were totally removed in 5 cases, subtotally in the other their cases, 4 cases were treated with radiotherapy and (or) chemotherapy. All patients were followed up for 3 months to 5 years. Seizure control was quite satisfactory: seizure free in 3 cases, good relief was obtained in 1 case. Conclusion Ganglioglioma was relatively benign. Seizure was the main symptom. Microsurgery was the treatment of choice; radiation and (or) chemotherapy should only be used in case of residual tumor and (or) malignant degeneration. The outcome of ganglioglioma was generally good.


With the development of smart grid, energy consumption on residence will play an important role in the electricity market, while the Home Energy Management System (HEMS) has huge potential to help energy conservation. In this study, a practical HEMS model with renewable energy, storage devices and plug-in electric vehicles, considering the battery sustainability and the full utilisation of the renewable energy, is first established. Then, according to the combinations of the genetic algorithm (GA) and the multi-constrained integer programming method, an improved GA is proposed, which goal is to minimise the electricity purchase and maximise the renewable energy utilisation. Finally, it is demonstrated by an example that the proposed method is significant in cost saving and reducing energy wastes. To verify the performances of the proposed algorithm, the numerical results indicate that the proposed algorithm has high computational efficiency and good robustness. In addition, it can avoid the disadvantages easy to trap at a local optimal point, and are insensitive to initial solutions. The effect of the storage device on system property and the sensitivity of cost savings versus demand response, size of the battery, and the electricity price sell to the grid are also analysed.


We analyze the relation between the 2007/08 financial crisis and the subsequent decline in corporate investment on a global level. Employing an international sample covering non-financial listed firms, our results suggest that the causal link which established this relation differed across bank and market based economies. We find that firms operating in bank based economies have not directly been constrained in their investment activities by a shortage in credit or bank credit supply. Rather, in line with financial flexibility theories, these firms seem to have instrumented investment reductions to restore their debt capacities in light of an anticipated decrease in retrievable credit supply volumes. In addition to investment cuts, these firms have also reduced their dividends in order to free up funds for debt reduction. With respect to firms operating in market based economies, our results suggest that the observed shortfall in investments was exhaustively caused by a decline in investment opportunities. Also, an apparently strong decrease in net equity issuance rates concurrent with the onset of the crisis indicates that these firms have not been exposed to a credit supply shock.


Purpose – To present Hayek's model of the sensory order, especially in relation to communication, classification and subjective knowledge, arguing for the necessity of a more articulated theory of the "inter-personal" dimension of the mind. We proposed then to integrate Hayek's model of the mind with the concept of "folk psychology" or "theory of mind" elaborated by modern philosophy.

Methodological approach – This chapter is philosophical but draws on the empirical.

Findings – Hayek proposed a model of the mind and the social order that explains how dispersed and fragmented knowledge can spread in a society of individuals [Hayek, F. A. (1945). The use of knowledge in society. The American Economic Review, 35(4), 519–530]. His social and psychological theories have been dedicated to the study of the spontaneous emergence of orders: institutional and mental orders are tightened together in his epistemology. However, we found that Hayek developed only in nuce the social dimension of the mind: behaviors are determined by mental events and his philosophical psychology is then "mentalistic," that is focused on the understanding of individual inner psychological states, their relation with external stimuli and behaviors, without explaining how individuals interpret other people's mental states.

Research limitations/implications – Hayek seems not to explicitly consider the interaction between personal psychological events and other people's mental events, missing then a fundamental activity played by the mental order, that is the capacity to understand, interpret, and attribute other people's mental states, in a word to mentalize.

Originality/value of the paper – To read Hayek's philosophical psychology under a new light, which focus on the importance of the interpersonal dimension of mental processes.


OBJECTIVE
This paper describes why the Occupational Health & Safety Agency for Healthcare (OHSAH) in British Columbia (BC) was created in 1998, factors contributing to its closure in 2010, and its contributions to healthcare occupational health and safety (OHS).

METHODS
This study applies an inductive approach consisting of 16 in-depth, confidential, semi-structured interviews with key informants, supplemented by a quantitative analysis of WorkSafeBC reports on injury and claim rates before, during, and following OHSAH's closure.

RESULTS
Injuries and claims declined during OHSAH's early years and increased by 59 percent following OHSAH's closure. Multiple factors contributed to the closure.

CONCLUSION
There is value to reconstituting a new healthcare OHS agency.


Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune demyelinating disease, one of the most common symptoms of which are urinary disorders. The review article provides information on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, symptoms, clinical course and diagnostic features of neurogenic dysfunctions of the lower urinary tract in patients with multiple sclerosis. Attention is drawn to the need for early diagnosis of urinary tract dysfunctions, which predetermines the timely initiation and effectiveness of treatment.


In removal-trapping studies with small mammals, it has been found that a large catch of one species occurs during the first few days; as the catch of this species declines on subsequent trapping days, there is an increase in the catch of other species (Calhoun, 1963). According to Calhoun, individuals of the species that is most abundant at the beginning the trapping period (the "dominant" species) have the largest home ranges relative to those of the other species, while individuals of species more abundant later ("subordinate" species) occupy, at least in an ecosystem undisturbed by trapping, relatively smaller home ranges. Calhoun suggests that individuals of these subordinate species enlarge their home ranges as a result of the removal of the dominant species, and, in doing this, members of the subordinate species increase their likelihood of being caught. The basic assumption behind this hypothesis is that "the larger the home range the greater the likelihood an animal will encounter a trap and be caught" (Calhoun, 1963, p. 36). Mathematically, I do not consider this a valid assumption as long as the distance between traps is such that there will be at least one trap per smallest home range. It is true that as the home range increases in size the number of traps per home range increases. But the number of traps per unit area remains the same, so that, other conditions being equal, both the domnant and subordinate species would have the same probability of encountering a trap and being caught. Therefore, expansion of home ranges by subordinate species as a result of removal of dominant species does not explain the removal data. Only if the subordinate species would cover a longer path per time unit after the dominant species has been removed (i.e., if the subordinate species would spend the same amount of time moving but would do so at a faster speed), or spend more time moving at the same speed, would the subordinate species have a higher probability of encountering a trap.


Call centers represent now an important channel for customer care activities. Most services provided by call centers are now accomplished in automated way to save operational costs. The customer is guided through a menu of options, which can be represented as a service tree, down to the desired service. In order to meet QoS constraints the service tree must be designed to minimize the average service time. An optimization algorithm, based on the combined use of Dandelion encoding and evolutionary operators, is proposed here to design the service trees with minimum average service time. The proposed algorithm provides trees whose average service time is lower than that obtained by the reference Huffman coding and is typically within 2% of the absolute lower bound represented by the entropic bound.


Objective To investigate the impact of platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)on in vitro cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and its ras protein expression.Methods VSMCs were obtained from SD rat weighing about 200 g and cultured in vitro. After subculture for three times, VSMCs were transferred into 24-hole culture plate and divided into four groups: control group, and three experimental groups intervened with concentrations of 1, 2 and 4 μg/L PDGF-BB. The proliferation, ras protein expression of VSMCs and the correlation between the two indexes were evaluated by cell counting, immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence methods respectively at 3 time points: 1st,3rd and 7th day. Results ( 1 ) Within 7 days, VSMCs were increased gradually in all 4 groups. The cell count in 2 μg/L and 4 μg/L PDGF-BB groups was increased more faster than in control group, and that in 4 μg/L LDGF-BB group was increased more faster than 1 μg/L LDFG-BB group (P <0.05). (2) Immunostaining and immunofluorescence showed that proliferation cell nuclear (PCNA) expression of VSMCs in higher concentration PDGF-BB group was significantly higher than in lower concentration PDGF-BB group ( P < 0.05 ) after intervention for 3 days. A likewise trend could be detected in ras protein expression of VSMCs ( P < 0.01 ). The expression of ras protein in VSMCs was significantly positive correlation with that of PCNA ( r = 0.735, P < 0.05 ). Conclusion PDGF-BB stimulates the proliferation of in vitro cultured rat VSMCs and increases its ras protein expression.

Key words:
Vascular smooth muscle cell;  Platelet derived growth factor;  Proliferation;  Ras protein


In many European countries, the laws in force are stipulating that goods and services acquisitions as well works contracting using public funds must be made in the auction regime. Public administration, national companies, the enterprises or institutions that benefit from public funds for investments, must use this electronic instrument as a tool in their procurement activity. Even private companies, which are always functioning on the maximization profit principle, are also invited to use this software for good quality products and services acquisition at lowest prices. Tele-AUCTION addresses all these categories of potential beneficiaries. It can be used for the acquisition of great value goods and services that are especially specific for the investments' activity achievement. Tele-AUCTION has two functional blocks. The first block addresses the Investments Department and, as a consequence, works on the Intranet. The second block addresses the potential goods and services suppliers and, as a consequence, works on the Internet. In the following there are presented the steps flow for an electronic auction using this software. The function named "Investments objectives" creates, modifies and deletes records containing investments' objectives. The people from the Investments Department can deal with the following fields: OBJECTIVE NAME, OBJECTIVE CODE, PLANNED VALUE, FINANCING and AUCTION DEADLINE. There are also three read-only fields: CURRENT VALUE, ANOUNCEMENT and AUCTION STATUS associated to the investments objective. In order to accomplish an investments objective, one can make acquisitions of goods and services that can be grouped in objects classes. The most important element in auction progress is to define its basic elements, namely to define objects classes. The function named "Objects classes" creates, modifies and deletes records containing objects classes for a given investments objective. First one chooses an investments objective. So, it is possible to access objects classes pending on current investments objective. The people from the Investments Department can deal with the following fields: OBJECTS CLASS CODE, OBJECTS CLASS NAME, MEASURE UNIT, PLANNED PRICE, PLANNED QUANTITY, PLANNED VALUE and AUCTION DEADLINE for the current objects class. There are also six read-only fields: CURRENT PRICE, CURRENT QUANTITY, CURRENT VALUE, ANOUNCEMENT, REFERENCE OBJECTIVE DEADLINE and AUCTION STATUS associated to the objects class; the last two items are correlated with AUCTION DEADLINE. The function named "Objects classes attributes" creates, modifies and deletes lines in tables containing attributes for a given class of objects included in investments' objective. It also offers the possibility to visualize all current values of attributes for each object belonging to the competing companies. In order to define objects classes attributes, first one accesses a class of objects. One fills-in the following fields: ATTRIBUTE NAME, MEASURE UNIT, MAX / MIN, LOWER LIMIT, UPPER LIMIT and WEIGHT. The attribute PRICE automatically appears at the top of the table, being always the first attribute. So, every class of objects has at least one attribute, the implicit one. It is also possible to visualize the attributes current values for every object proposed by the potential suppliers. As a conclusion, at this step end, the information ensemble necessary to begin an auction is available. It is possible to access the e-auction site using Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape browsers. The potential suppliers must register in the system and so, they become auction competitors. The procedure is very simple. Investments' objectives, objects to buy with their required quantities and attributes are shown by Tele-AUCTION in a friendly manner. The competitors must fill-in: OBJECT NAME, QUANTITY and all OBJECT ATTRIBUTES. They must pay a great attention in their objects description. Every attribute must be specified with accuracy because a mathematical model, for competitors dynamic ranking, will be constructed from the information available in the site database. During the auction, for a fixed object, the system gives information about its attributes in comparison with the attributes of the first three ranked objects, other than the fixed object. So, a competitor can improve the object attributes, hopping that his object increases its competitiveness. There are allowed only five sessions with attributes updating, but the quantity and the price are free to unlimited re-biddings. During the auction, in the case that the auction organizer establishes new limits for the objects class attributes, some object attributes can become out of limits and, in order to stay in competition, the attributes must be updated. When the auction status becomes "closed" no more updates are possible. For the bidden object, its final competition characteristics are done. The competitor must wait for the auction result which appears when the auction status becomes "decided". During three days, the period that is allowed for "closed" status, the people from Investments Department can intervene in the automatic given results in order to make some corrections. The function named "Objects ranking and auction decision" shows the objects ranking and gives the possibility to make auction human decision. For a pair of investments objective - objects class are presented: PLANNED VALUE, CURRENT VALUE, AUCTION DEADLINE, AUCTION STATUS and BIDDEN QUANTITY. All above information is available at any moment of auction progress, whatever is the auction status: OPEN / CLOSED / DECIDED. In a table containing: OBJECT NAME, COMPANY, MERIT, PRICE, QUANTITY, VALUE and ORDERED QUANTITY, the current / final objects' ranking is given. With one exception, all the fields in the window are read-only. Only when the auction status is CLOSED, the ORDERED QUANTITY column is set free to end-user intervention. So, it is possible to ignore automatic auction decision and make a human one. When the auction status is "decided" the competitors are informed about final auction results. The participants' panoramic view is given. The winner or winners are automatically invited to sign the economical contracts. So, the suppliers can trust than they compete in an environment characterized by loyalty and transparence. The strong point of Tele-AUCTION software is the fact that the competitors ranking is automatically made using a mathematical model belonging to the multi-attribute decision making class. The facility to make human correction shows flexibility in front of problem complexity.


The synthesis of pure bismuth molybdates (α, β and γ phases) using a novel method — spray drying — has been studied and successfully applied. It is shown that it is possible to control the synthesis of mixtures of different bismuth molybdates using spray drying. The influence of the relative molar ratio of bismuth to molybdenum constituents on the formation of different bismuth molybdate phases has been investigated. Starting from spray-dried precursors, thermal details of the phase diagram of the Bi2O3-MoO3 system can be accurately reproduced and very pure phases can be easily obtained. Spray-drying is compared to conventional precipitation and solid-state reaction and the obtained products were characterized by XRD, IR, Raman, SEM, BET and DTA.

On a etudie et applique avec succes la synthese de molybdates de bismuth purs (phases α, β et γ) avec une nouvelle methode, le sechage par atomisation. On montre qu'il est possible de controler la synthese de melanges de differents molybdates de bismuth par le sechage par atomisation. On a etudie l'influence du rapport molaire relatif entre le bismuth et les constituants de molybdene sur la formation de differentes phases de molybdate de bismuth. A partir des precurseurs seches par atomisation, les details thermiques du diagramme de phase du systeme Bi2O3-MoO3 peuvent etre reproduits avec precision et des phases tres pures peuvent facilement etre obtenues. Le sechage par atomisation est compare a la precipitation classique et a la reaction a l'etat solide, et les produits obtenus sont caracterises par XRD, IR, Raman, SEM, BET et DTA.


Synopsis Weakly coupled semilinear parabolic systems of the form with homogeneous boundary conditions are studied. The nonlinear function g: C([−r, 0] × Ω ℝn) → ℝn is assumed to be locally Lipschitz continuous with r≧0 a given real number and Ω ⊂ ℝm a bounded domain, , ut for t ≧ 0 is denned by ut (σ, ξ) = u(t + σ, ξ), − r ≦σ ≦ 0 ξ ∊Ω and A is a uniformly elliptic second order diagonal operator. Let u be a bounded classical solution. We first establish precompactness results for the orbit of u in several function spaces. Using these results and assuming that a Liapunov function V is known for the corresponding ordinary functional differential equation ż =g(zt), we then show under some general conditions that the limit set ω+ (as t→∞) of u consists of spatially homogeneous functions only. Moreover, ω+ is invariant with respect to z = g(z,) and V = 0 on ω+. The proof uses a Liapunov function for the full system whichis obtained from V via a simple construction (cf. (3.3)). The theory is illustrated with an example.


Precise information of viscous flow field around propeller is required to design energy saving devices equipped near ship stern. This work presents the detailed flow field measurement data around rotating propeller. The measurements were done using LaVision stereo Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) system. The model ship used in the work is Japan Bulk Carrier (JBC) with/without round shaped small duct equipped at the upstream position of propeller as an energy saving device (ESD). In this paper, measured mean flow field upstream/downstream of rotating propeller with/without duct are presented and the turbulent kinetic energy at one station is also discussed. These data set would be useful to consider the availability of the basic idea of the device and to validate the theoretical prediction of the performance development including advanced CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) computation results in respect of accuracy. Overall, this study will be helpful to design duct-type ESD.


This essay explores Conrad's transnational reception by early twentieth-century female American literary critics through the lens of Fanny Butcher (1888–1987), a nationally renowned literary critic and editor of the Chicago Tribune. It argues that Butcher's early writings on Conrad, from approximately 1914 to the late 1920s, offer valuable insights into Conrad's status as a cultural icon in the United States whose appeal and value was broadly understood to resonate according to lines of gender. They indicate that a woman writing about Conrad at that time necessarily had to negotiate not just his writings, but an author already claimed by vocal male critics: a "compulsory Conrad" who must be embraced by all those who wished to be heard. Butcher's passionate devotion to Conrad, it is argued, should be understood as both an act of free self-expression and a kind of calculated performance that entailed self-censorship even while validating Butcher's authority to speak on matters of literary taste and culture. By framing her own appreciation for Conrad through a discourse that emphasized his elite appeal to a masculine sensibility, Butcher established her position as a female peer in a network of male literary critics. As such, her writing shows how the name "Conrad" operated as a marker of institutionalized power and cultural capital in early twentieth-century America.


The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is reconsidering our national coverage determination at section 220.2 of the Medicare National Coverage Determinations Manual, specifically the Coverage with Evidence Development (CED) requirement (section 220.2(C)(1)). We determined that the evidence is sufficient to conclude that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for Medicare beneficiaries with an implanted pacemaker (PM), implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker (CRT-P), or cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) is reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of illness or injury or to improve the functioning of a malformed body member under section 1862(a)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act under certain circumstances. Thus, we will modify our national coverage determination to eliminate the collection of additional information under the Coverage with Evidence Development paradigm under section 1862(a)(1)(E) of the Social Security Act.


Understanding of islet embryogenesis may prove to be key in the design of future therapies for diabetes directed at re‐initiating islet growth, with the goal to replace and/or replenish the impaired β‐cell mass in the disease. In this context, studies of islet neurohormonal peptides, known to play a role in the local regulation of islet function, and their expression during islet embryogenesis are important. Here we review our studies on the embryonic islet expression of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) and the PP‐fold peptides pancreatic polypeptide (PP), peptide YY (PYY) and neuropeptide Y (NPY). IAPP, which is constitutively expressed in β‐ and δ‐cells in the adult rat, was found to occur in the assumed pluripotent islet progenitor cell, together with PYY, glucagon, and to a lesser extent with insulin. As development proceeds, the insulin/IAPP phenotype is segregated from that of PYY/glucagon; with the formation of islet‐like structures, insulin/IAPP‐expressing cells primarily occupy their central portions, while PYY/glucagon‐expressing cells are found in their periphery. At the time of formation of islet‐like structures, expression of NPY is induced in the insulin/IAPP‐containing cells. Whereas NPY‐expression ceases at birth, PYY is constitutively expressed in non‐β‐cells in the mature rat. Expression of PP is induced just prior to birth in a separate population of islet cells, occasionally co‐expressed with PYY. Although a clear role for these peptides during embryogenesis has not been identified, they conceivably could play a role in the control of insulin secretion, islet growth and islet blood flow. Microsc. Res. Tech. 43:313–321, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


A strong, stable platform for well service and underwater maintenance diving with a high standard of safety, accuracy and redundancy is provided by the 'Seawell' series of monohull vessels, now being built at Sunderland's Pallion yard. A new type of diving spread is to be installed--with increased redundancy and wasted diving time nearly halved.


Constitutive models based on the multilaminate framework provide an alternative framework to more common formulations in terms of stress invariants. The basic feature of multilaminate models, namely the consideration of various integration planes to formulate the stress-strain relationship has the advantage that yield criteria, flow and hardening rules are formulated on planes rather than in three-dimensional stress space making the mathematics simpler. Stress or strain induced anisotropy is an intrinsic feature of these models and inherent anisotropy can be introduced by means of a structural tensor which allows the input of orientation dependent strength properties. A number of different constitutive equations for modelling clays and sands based on the multilaminate framework have been presented in the literature and more recently advanced formulations including small strain stiffness effects or non-local softening behaviour have been developed. In this paper only a very brief summary of the multilaminate model used for the analyses presented in this paper is given. The emphasis is then put on practical applications. First results for slope stability analyses are shown where the consequences of anisotropic strength are highlighted and secondly the influence of considering small strain stiffness effects when simulating a tunnel excavation is discussed.


Thissresearch aimssto knowwtheeincreased critical thinking abilityyand independence studentt learningg by using inquiryylearninggstrategies,  tooknowwtheddifference increase in theeabilityoof critical thinking and independence student learning from the class that uses inquiry learning strategies with the use of conventional learning. Method usediissnon-equivalentccontrolggroup design. Theppopulationiintthis study are studentoofffiveegradeelementaryyschool from Pamulihan districts. The selected sample  were students of class VAAasstheeexperimental class anddstudents of classsVB asstheecontrol class at SDN Sukalilah. Instruments used is test critical thinking ability, question form independence study, observation sheet performance teacher and student activities, anecdotal records, and interview. Research results indicates that the increased in the ability of critical thinkinggand independence studenttlearningbbyuusingginquiry learning strategies. There is an increasing difference in the ability of critical thinking from the class that uses inquiry learning strategies with the use of conventional learning. There is no difference in the increase independence student learning from the class that uses inquiry learning strategies with the use of conventional learning.


The invention discloses an umbrella skirt repairing device and an umbrella skirt repairing method. The umbrella skirt repairing device is used for repairing an umbrella skirt of an insulator and is provided with a shape corresponding to the shape of a to-be-repaired part of the umbrella skirt and provided with a heating device. The umbrella skirt repairing method comprises the following steps that the damaged part of the umbrella skirt is coated with a repairing material, the umbrella skirt repairing device is arranged on the damaged part of the umbrella skirt, and the repairing material is heated, solidified and formed. According to the umbrella skirt repairing device and the umbrella skirt repairing method, the repairing speed is high, operation is easy and convenient, and the maintaining cost is reduced.