The Ougi immersive programming system employs abstract data visualization and manipulations utilizing virtual reality technologies. Its multimodal interfaces allow one to edit a program, to control its execution and to debug the program by direct manipulation and hand gestures in an immersive virtual environment. Ougi uses both textual and graphical representations and supports a subset of the Java programming language as the target language. Its graphical jigsaw-puzzle-like representation shows grammatical constraints visually. Ougi enables us to edit nested hierarchical structures and to perform layout of graph structures using direct manipulation. Ougi lets beginners focus on learning the essence of programming without requiring familiarity with the keyboard and commands of a conventional text editor.


Recent advances in high power cw Nd:YAG lasers and fiberoptic beam delivery have resulted in commercial systems with powers up to 3 KW.


A computer-based system is being developed which, when integrated with existing clinical instrumentation, results in an intelligent workstation that can assist the nurse and clinician with management of the critically ill patient. The clinical focus is fluid-electrolyte, acid-base, and respiratory management. The design of the workstation incorporates prototypic components of intelligent instrumentation that have been developed for ventilator management and blood-gas analysis.<<ETX>>


The article highlights the areas of support for the strategic development of the road transport market. Information technology and logistics vehicles that provide effective tools for solving the strategic tasks of the automotive business, ensuring the competitiveness not only of vehicles, but also of national (regional) transport systems as a whole.A comparative analysis of IT systems in the trucking industry in terms of integration with other systems and participants in the automotive services market has been carried out. Analyzed the existing IT systems on the market, designed for road transport enterprises, the introduction of which will not only provide external customers with additional services and increase the productivity of the automotive business, but also optimize the cost of road transport services and positively affect the profitability of road transport enterprises.


Propaganda had always remained a very important tool to influence others. Many researchers had worked and synthesized the concept of propaganda. But there was still a lot to be done as the contemporary propaganda industries had given this phenomenon a very subtle structure. This particular research study aimed to analyze the propaganda definitions set forth by various propaganda researchers to develop a comprehensive definition of the concept. For this purpose definitions provided by thirty different propaganda scholars had been analyzed to identify various elements of propaganda. Fourteen most frequently occurring elements were identified. On the basis of these elements, a comprehensive definition of propaganda was constructed to enhance the propaganda literature of Pakistan, which was the target of international propaganda from last couple of decades. This research paper would open new horizons for Pakistani researchers in the field of propaganda.


Growing lignocellulosic crops on marginal lands is a promising solution for sustainable biofuel production. We evaluated the productivity of bioenergy cropping systems (switchgrass [ Panicum virgatum L., var. Cave-In-Rock], miscanthus [ Miscanthus × giganteus , 'Illinois clone'], hybrid poplar [ Populus nigra × P. maximowiczii A. Henry 'NM6'], native grasses [five species], early successional vegetation, and restored prairie vs. historical vegetation [as reference control]) with and without nitrogen fertilization on low-fertility former cropland at five sites in the Great Lakes Region, United States. We reported biomass yields for


Steady state roughness of surfaces growing by molecular beam epitaxy is investigated by Monte Carlo simulations under conditions where an ion beam is also present which sputters adatoms off the surface. If the sputtering is random, it only increases the roughness. But if the sputtering probability is strongly dependent on the binding energy of an adatom within a cluster or island, the ions can have a smoothening effect. Physical arguments are given in support of the results. 8 refs., 4 figs.


A new species of the genus Paravelia (Heteroptera: Veliidae) is described, increasing the number of species of the genus known from Argentina to three: P. platensis Berg 1883, P. paxila Drake 1957, and the new sp. P. correntina. Some ecological and statistical notes are included. Scanning electron micrographs and illustrations are provided.


Man has been subjected to trauma since the beginning of time. War exposes civilians to greater risks of injury and death than members of the armed forces. In addition to civil defence measures South Africa must increase its ability to handle trauma in peacetime and during any future national emergencies by imposing its educational and research programs in traumatology for public and professional health personnel. Emphasis has been placed by industry on safe equipment and safety methods. The greatest exceptions in this regard are the automobile, density and diversity of traffic, and speed still leads to unprecedented numbers of accidents with many fatalities and disabilities. Lack of adequate control in handling new toxic chemicals as well as handling of household chemicals results annually in many accidental poisonings. Trauma continues to be the leading cause of death for people under the age of 37 years. Its causes are man-made except during natural disasters. It should to a great extent be preventable if we give it the priority and attention it deserves.


The census aroused frequent revolts in the period of Emperor Xuantong.The revolts was so frequent and widespread in Jiangsu Province that they hindered directly local autonomy.These were the results of the cumulation of the tyranny,the despicable behaviors of the officials and gentries,the confusion of the census' deployment,the lack of propagandas for New Deal,the ignorance of the villagers,the psychology of the superstition,the loss of Qing Government's prestige,and the prevailing of the rumors,etc.The surging revolts against the census in Jiangsu Province showed the society was in a vicious running and Qing Dynasty would perish.


The response of a quantum dot in the Kondo regime to rectangular pulsed bias potentials of various strengths and durations is studied theoretically. It is found that the rise time is faster than the fall time, and also faster than time scales normally associated with the Kondo problem. For larger values of the pulsed bias, one can induce dramatic oscillations in the induced current with a frequency approximating the splitting between the Kondo peaks that would be present in steady state. The effect persists in the total charge transported per pulse, which should facilitate the experimental observation of the phenomenon. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.


Simulating computation for Shaojiwan double-arched tunnel about two different excavating sequences is carried out; and pays attention to strength, displacement and stability of effects under two excavating sequences. The results show that the mid-partition is a key load-carrying member; the nonsymmetrical excavating will bring eccentrically loads on the mid-partition easily. From the computing results, this paper evaluates the excavating, and gives some opinions on excavating procedure of double-arched tunnel.


A pulsating device (10) for transforming a liquid flow entering the device from a power supply upstream liquid in a liquid flow intermittently pulsing ejected from the downstream device, the device comprising a chamber (18) for receive the liquid flow entering the device and a gas (26) occupying an initial volume in the chamber, the liquid entering the chamber to compress the gas and decrease the volume that the gas occupies the chamber being adapted and increasing the pressure in the chamber, the device further comprising a valve (16) which is adapted to open above a first threshold pressure Po inside the chamber to initiate a pulse of fluid that exists camera and then to be open, to close below a second threshold pressure Pc within the chamber to complete the pulsation of fluid from the chamber, caracterizad or that the device also comprises a gateway (28) connecting the interior with the exterior of the chamber, and the liquid in the chamber can exit the chamber through the outlet when the pressure in the chamber the outlet is above zero.


In this paper, cable-membrane structure roof of a stadium was taken as a research case, a system reliability research method for large tensile structure was proposed. In the method, failure probabilities of main tensile cables were determined firstly, and main failure modes were obtained according to the relationship between the main tensile cables failure and the system failure, system reliability index would be gotten on the basis of main tensile cables failure probabilities and main failure modes accordingly. In analysis of the stadium, JC method was applied to analyze the reliability of main tensile cables, it was shown that, compared with other cables, the failure probability of lower ring cables and that of lower radial cables were higher, so the structure system failure mode caused by lower ring cables failure and that caused by lower radial cables failure were underlined, and enumeration method has been adopted to analyze the reliability of structure system. The system failure probability caused by the failure of lower ring cables was found relatively high, and the failure of lower ring cables would result in the failure of the structure system immediately, so special attention should be paid. Finally, design strategies have been put forward according to the results of reliability research, safety protection lines were added up by special design of tensile cable joints, and the reliability of the structure system has been improved.


In this thesis, TiO2-pillared montmorillonite was prepared by a sol-gel method. The sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results show that the crystal phase of the sample is composed of anatase and montmorillonite. The microstructure of the sample is still layered structure. Furthermore, the XRD results indicate that the interlayer distance of crystal plane (001) of the montmorillonite left-shift obviously. In other words, its interlayer distance increases obviously. The adsorptive ability of the sample was tested with industry wastewater, which containing Pb2+. The results indicate that the adsorptive rate of sample for lead () cationic is 99.9%. After analyzing with the interlayer space, it indicated that the increasing of the interlayer space is good for the adsorptive ability. And the adsorptive ability reached a maximum when the interlayer space was 1.339 nm. The TiO2-pillared montmorillonite absorbed Pb2+ saturatedly was impregnated into nitric acid solution to dissolve the lead cationic. The results show that the concentration of the nitric acid is higher, the leaching rate of the lead cationic is higher. And it reached a maximum when the concentration of the nitric acid is 2 mol/L after leaching for 20 min.Introduction


In the Non-Invasive Bio Impedance Technique (NIBIT) a low current pulse with high frequency inserted between two electrodes of the object while measuring voltages from the other remaining electrodes with respect to the reference electrode. The electrode arrangement is defined in the
 form of cylindrical shapes of the surface of the phantom. After these arrangements, it inserts the current pulse and measures the voltages according to the selected data acquisition method of bio impedance. The presented algorithm analyzes and defines each obtained data sample from the used
 phantoms and also allows Image Reconstruction (IR) based on developed Graphical User interface (GUI) on MATLAB. The used IR approach is based on Tikhonov regularization and FEM. The FEM and Tikhonov regularization are mathematical approaches that deal with Forward Problem (FP) and Inverse
 Problem (IP) of images. In our approach, the FP solution is identified first in order to reconstruct the conductivity distribution through the EIT inverse solution. Thereafter, This FP is solved through the known current pulse of a given conductivity medium. Likewise, the IP is identified
 and solved through the boundary potential of the object. The end of the obtained result provides a comparable result for the used phantom according to its internal structure. This proposed technique is still reliable despite having some standardization issue according to the procedure.


THE LEGACY OF ANTONIO SANT'ELIA: AN ANALYSIS OF SANT'ELIA'S POSTHUMOUS ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ITALIAN FUTURISM DURING THE FASCIST ERA by Ashley Gardini This thesis is an examination of the posthumous legacy of Antonio Sant'Elia propagated by F.T. Marinetti during the 1920s and '30s in Fascist Italy. It is during the period of Second Futurism that the Manifesto of Futurist Architecture and the images from the La Città Nuova series came to define Sant'Elia's identity as the figurehead of Futurist architecture. This research contributes to the scholarly discussion of Second Futurism by giving context to specific actions taken by Marinetti during the Fascist era to control how Sant'Elia would be remembered. This thesis analyzes the Fascist government's control over Italian society, religion, and culture to understand how art movements functioned in Fascist Italy. By using Emilio Gentile's theory of the "sacralization of politics" to explain how Fascist society functioned in Italy and to identify "fascist religion," this study explores the important role both myth and ritual played in unifying Italian society during this era. It is with this understanding that this thesis concludes by connecting Sant'Elia's posthumous legacy to the Fascist cult of the fallen.


Dysexcitability characterizes the interictal migraineous brain. The main central expressions of this dysexcitability are decreased habituation and enhanced anticipation and attention to pain and other external sensory stimuli.


Leaching is a process to dissolve or filter out unwanted elements present in
matter. In the production of nata de' coco, leaching is used to neutralise the acetic
acid formed from the fermentation process of nata. In this method, water acts as the
neutralizing agent. This is done by soaking nata in water for approximately six to
seven hours. The contaminated water needs to be changed regularly and this is done
manually. This project is a proposal of revolutionizing this process by using a
machine. Improvisation includes a new concept and mechanism and as such
includes a new system design which in turn shortens the time consumed in the
leaching process thus increasing the productivity in volume and in quality. The
approach of the design used in this project uses an integrated computer controller
system through the PLC and water treatment using the water circulation system.
This is to ensure minimal usage of water and energy resources. But, at the same time
making the leaching process easy and effective while operating.


This paper presents a Three-port current-source bidirectional resonant converter. The converter achieves zero-voltage switching (ZVS) due to the presence of a parallel resonant tank circuit, a combination between parallel inductors and capacitors. Moreover, it has reduced output current ripple and reduced power losses in the transistors if compared with a voltage source topology. The conversion occurs with self-oscillating switching technique or with forced switching in a pre-determined frequency range without losing the ZVS conditions. Due to the high frequency transformer that allows a high voltage ratio between the ports, the converter applications includes different energy storage systems that require bidirectional power flow capability, such as hybrid vehicles. A design procedure to select the converter parameters and simulation results are presented to validate the converter operation principle.


The impacts of electric vehicle chargers on power grid harmonic were discussed,and the impacts of electric vehicle chargers with different structure on power grid harmonic were emphatically analyzed.The testing results of harmonic for various chargers were given,and the technical measures for restraining were briefly described.The scheme of on-line power quality inspection and harmonic restraining for electric vehicle chargers were proposed and implemented.The harmonic test results show that 5th、7th harmonic current can effectively be suppressed after filter is installed,which can meet the limited value required by national standard GB/Z 17625.6-2003.


Northwestern Utilities, Calgary, has devised diesel and natural gas-fueled heaters that inject steam to thaw frozen ground for repairs and construction work


We report the discovery of two new λ Bootis-type spectroscopic binary systems (HD 84948 and HD 171948). High resolution spectra were analyzed in order to derive abundances as well as astrophysical quantities. It resulted in extreme (HD 171948) and moderate (HD 84948) underabundances of Na, Mg, Si, Ca, Sc, Ti, Cr and Fe with respect to the Sun, thus establishing all four individual stars as true members of the λBootis group. These two systems are therefore the first spectroscopic binary systems where both components are λ Bootis-type stars. Furthermore, we have discovered δ Scuti type pulsation for one component of HD 84948 making this star particularly interesting for further observations. Since many authors have used the rotational velocity for discriminating λBootis stars (v sin i> 50 kms−1), we note that both components of HD 171948 are the slowest (v sin i< 20 kms−1) rotating λ Bootis-type stars known so far. Using the Hipparcos data, we are able to rule out the diffusion/mass-loss mechanism as origin for these two systems. Preas well as Main Sequence evolutionary tracks for the age determination yield consistent results with the predictions of the diffusion/accretion theory, establishing both systems as being very close to the Main Sequence. A determination of the orbital elements and/or an asteroseismological investigation of HD 84948 could provide an independent proof of our results.


By the year 2030, more than 20% of the population will be aged 65 years or older.1 Currently, this older population represents more than 35% of all inpatient procedures, accounting for a disproportionate use of health care resources and expenditures.2,3 This use of resources often spans beyond the surgical encounter, particularly when patients are discharged to postacute care facilities, with an additional estimated annual cost of more than $62 billion.4 A better understanding of discharge patterns among older individuals undergoing surgery is important not only for resource utilization and planning but also to better counsel patients and families as part of the preoperative decision-making process.


The process of protein translocation is essential to the maintenance of cellular life and has been critically addressed in eukaryotes and bacteria. However, little information is available regarding protein translocation across archaeal membranes. The signal recognition particle (SRP) plays an important role in this process. It binds the signal peptide at the N-terminus of the polypeptide chain and interacts with the cognate SRP receptor (FtsY) located on the target membrane to form a targeting complex (TC). Concomitant GTP hydrolysis by SRP and FtsY delivers the polypeptide to the adjacent protein-conducting channel. The present study aims to characterize the structural domains of FtsY contributing to the targeting complex (TC) formation in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, a thermo-acidophilic crenarchaeon. The contacting residues between SRP54 and FtsY were mapped along the αN1-N3 helices. Interestingly, the previously reported crystal structure did not take the N-terminal A domain into account – a region rich in negatively charged residues. Such observation led us to investigate the contribution of each of the three participating helices (αN1-3) in terms of membrane association and functional TC formation. Through biophysical analyses of SRP-FtsY and FtsY-membrane interaction, and biochemical characterization of the reciprocal GTPase activity, this work sought to elucidate the minimal structural motif controlling the archaeal TC assembly.


1. Acknowledgements 2. Abbreviations 3. Spelling, typography, nomenclature 4. Introduction: aims and methods 5. 1. The idea of nationality: terminology and historical background 6. 2. Ierland in English representations 7. 3. The fictional Irishman in English literature 8. 4. Gaelic poetry and the idea of Irish nationality 9. 5. The public assertion of Irish civility 10. 6. Gael and Anglo-Irish: the development of an Irish national identity in the eighteenth century 11. Conclusion 12. Footnotes 13. Bibliography 14. Index


Method of providing therapy management development includes the step of providing a therapy management development platform having a plurality of functional levels, platforms, to provide a therapy management, first to the functionality with respect to the medical device setting the platform 1 of the access level, and a medical device capable of modifying the operation of the medical devices using the platform. The method also includes the steps of receiving an indication of approval to change the access level to the functionality of the platform to the second access level, in response to receiving the indication of approval, the second access to the functionality of the platform and a step of setting the platform level. The platform is also provided.


The manuscript "Potential imprint of Spörer and Maunder solar minima on coral skeleton carbon isotopes" from Ourback, Malaizé and Corrège lies on the interpretation of d13C signal measured in coral skeleton. After a rapid review of the different factors which could potentially affect carbon isotopes, the authors propose the interpretation of d13C variability at different time scales. They conclude after spectral analysis that the so detected periodicities are essentially linked with solar irradiance leading to a change in the coral feeding mode.


In juvenile dermatomyositis (DM), microvascular abnormalities, measured by nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC), are common early in the disease course. We aimed to compare the presence of NFC abnormalities in patients with medium‐ to long‐term juvenile DM with that of controls, and to explore associations between NFC abnormalities and disease activity and other disease characteristics.


In model-driven engineering, metamodels may get lost over time resulting in the inability to load and view existing model instances. MARS is a system that recovers metamodels from model instances using grammar inference. This paper discusses advances in MARS that improve accuracy and scalability.


The gastric pH and plasma D-lactate as indicators for monitoring,observation of patients with intra-abdominal pressure abdominal pressure changes in the gastrointestinal tract before and after changes in oxygenation and function.These findings suggest that gastric pH of the gastrointestinal tract may reflect ischemia,and abdominal compartment syndrome occurs early,can be sensitive to reflect the abdominal pressure,intestinal oxygenation;plasma D-lactate may reflect intestinal ischemia-reperfusion intestinal barrier function status.Provide more than simple clinical observation and treatment monitoring tool ideas.


The improvement of powder-compaction technology has made it possible to lower significantly the porosity of components pressed from a powder and to achieve a nearly theoretical density of less than 1%). In this case, however, the set of mechanical properties obtained for the powder materials was lower than the set of properties for the cast compact (hotrolled, heat-treated) materials; this can be explained by the high degree of contamination of powder materials by nonmetallic inclusions as a result of their higher oxygen content. The form in which the oxygen exists in these materials differs; this is shown schematically in Fig. I. In our study, we examined the origin of the different forms of oxygen, since it requires individual detailed study, and investigated the effect of oxygen on the mechanical properties of steel 40N3M as a function of its overall content in this steel. The studies were conducted on steel 40N3M produced in accordance with the conventional technology and by the method of powder metallurgy from alloy powders sprayed with water. All sprayed powders were compacted using hot extrusion; in this case, the porosity did not exceed 0.5%. The chemical compositions of the steels investigated are presented in Table i.


The COVID-19 pandemic imposed many market changes, driven partially by new consumer needs. In the electronic commerce field, changes occurred in parallel to an upsurge in demand, directly impacting logistics service quality. Within that context, this paper seeks a way of assessing the quality of e-commerce logistics, based on end-customer perceptions at the close of the purchasing cycle. The objective is thus to develop a mathematical model based on the artificial intelligence precepts that can interpret qualitative expressions captured through a questionnaire. Such values form partial indexes and the E-Commerce Logistics Quality Index (IQLE). After processing 180 records, it was noted that three of the seven analyzed attributes scored below 5.0, denoting some concern, but also opening up opportunities for improvement and the development of marketing solutions.


Detecting outliers is an important, but tricky problem, since the preference of outlier-ness often depends on the user and/or the dataset. Existing techniques traditionally detect outliers based on some prescribed definitions of outlier. However, it is very difficult for a user to decide the definition of outliers in prior. We have developed a system of detecting outliers that match users' intentions implied by outlier examples in prior work. In this paper, we propose a new refined method of interactive outlier detection adaptive to users' intentions. Our experiments on both synthetic and real datasets show that the new interactive method surpass the former method in detecting outliers that match the users' intentions.


An electronic device and a control method thereof are provided. The method includes: controlling the electronic device by using first configuration information; determining whether at least one external object independent of the electronic device is existed in response to a trigger event; obtaining distance information of the external object when the external object is determined to be existed; determining whether the distance information is in conformed with a threshold condition; and switching to control the electronic device by using second configuration information when the distance information is determined to be conformed with the threshold condition.


margi?. During the day, the temperature ranged betwe'n 100.168 and 1&2 . He died at 5 A.M. of the 28th. At the post mortem examination, whidh was made thirtythree hours after death, the body was noted to be of waxy pallor, the -muscles on section being of a pale pink colour. The pericardium contained three ounces of clear serous fluid. The heart weighed eleven ounces and a half, the blood in its cavities being fluid, and light in colour. The valves were healthy, the muscular substance pale, but nowhere of fatty appearance.The lungs were emphysematouis in front, congested posteriorly, and very codewatous, the bronchial mucous membrane was inijected. The liver was large, weighing sixty-six ounces; its surface was granular, and dotted over with punctiform hwemorrhages, which were also scattered thickly throuigh its substance. The spleen weighed nineteen ounces and a half, and was of deep purple colour and firm consistence. The kidneys were rather large, firm, and congested ; the capsules not adherent. The stomach presented extensive submucous hoemorrhages, which were especially marked about the pylorus and greater curvature. In the small intestines, there were areas of aborescent congestion, with punctiform hsemorrhages, which in the ileum coalesced' to form ecchymoses of greater size. The suprarenal bodies and pancreas appeared healthy. The brain-substance was firm, and seemed normlial in. every respect. The retin.T showed numerous haBmorrhages, thos.e in the right being the larger and more numerous. On microscopic examination, the muscular fibres of the heart appeared a little granular, but notlhing more ; the liver was normal, with the exception of the hiemorrliages before referred to ; and the spleen presented no abnormal appearance. REMARKS. -There can be no doubt that the foregoing case was an example of the mysterious disease first described by Addison under the name of idiopathic anTmia.. This was sufficiently attested even during life, by the general pallor, the cedema of the feet and legs, the range of temperature, and the retiiial humorrhages, together with the absence of discoverable organic disease. Other diseases associated with some of the symptoms and physical signs were excluded by the examination of the urine, and by the history and course of the case while under observation. Corroboration was also afforded by the post mortem examination, although it is noteworthy that one of the most pathogiiomonic of the changes found in such cases after death was conspicuously absent-I mean the fatty degeneration of the muscular tissue of the heart. I think that this can be best explained by the extremely rapid fatality, the man having been, to all appearance, seriously ill for little more than a week. The immediate cause of death was aedema of the lungs, which was probably helped by the bronchitis with which his case was complicated, although the latter was by no means of intense chartcter. Perhaps the most puzzling point in connection with this disease is that its morbid appearances, judging by the cases which have been reported from time to time, are very inconstant, and that oven many of the most characteristic symptoms are often absent in individual cases. Of such are the pyrexia, which was well marked in this case, but is frequently not so; the retinal hiemorrhages, which are not only not invariable in this disease but are often present in other varieties of anTmia; and the heart-murmurs, which are generally reported, but were absent here. And it is also worthy of noce that there seems to be no point of corpuscular poverty of the blood beyond which a fatal result is inevitable, nor within which a favourable termination is impossible. One of the chief points of importance in connection with the morbid appearances of the present case is the very considerable enlargement of the spleen (wlhich was, no doubt, in part due to the pyrexia) ; but the extreme variation in size of this organ, both in healtlh and in disease, renders it difficult to draw any conclusion from the fact. Sixteen ounces is the highest weight which I have seen recorded in any previous case of anwmia, while it has been noted as reaching only four ounces in others, being often, also, described as normal. As to etiology, there was nothing suggestive in the present case, excepting the fact of some months' dyspepsia; and this may possibly have been more a consequence than a cause of the anwmic condition. It is a matter for regret that further observations on the blood could not be made, but these were precluded by the short time the case was under observation.


Motion estimation from surface electromyogram (sEMG) signals has been studied extensively over the past decades. Nevertheless, it is challenging for novel subjects to adapt to a trained estimation model since sEMG signals inherently contain user-dependent features that interfere with the estimation model and reduce the estimation accuracy. To achieve accurate motion estimation, a strategy of correlated components analysis-based random forest regressor (CorrCA-RFG) was proposed. The proposed CorrCA-RFG firstly uses CorrCA to extract user-independent features related to motion among multiple subjects, and obtain the projection vectors from sEMG data to the motion-dependent feature space. Then, the RFG is trained by the user-independent sEMG features and establishes the estimation model. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed CorrCA-RFG, this strategy was tested on a public dataset and an experimental study and compared to three methods, namely random forest regressor (RFG), canonical components analysis-based random forest regressor (CCA-RFG), and a convolutional neural network (CNN). For both cases, the estimation performance of the CorrCA-RFG outperformed the other three methods. These results demonstrate that the proposed CorrCA-RFG enables robust motion estimation by extracting user-independent sEMG features.


This paper aims to improve students' learning performance by optimizing their mental stresses in learning through proposing a new course timetabling method. This new method is based on two hypotheses that formulate the link between course timetabling and learning experience: i) a student's learning performance is superior when the student is subject to moderate stress; ii) an individual's mental capacity varies during a day according to Circadian Rhythm. The student's mental stress in taking a course is defined as a function of their mental capacity and the workload required by the course. The workload is determined by utilizing a multi-criteria prioritization technique—Analytic Hierarchy Process. As a result, the timetabling problem is formulated as a mixed-integer linear programming model, which is tested on an engineering program to produce a student-centered timetable for its scheduled courses. This new method differs from traditional course scheduling and timetabling approaches, which are usually tackled as a constrained optimization problem with an objective to optimize a given set of criteria, such as student and faculty preferences, walking distances between consecutive classes, classroom utilization and operating expenses.


The purpose of this research was to discover the effect of solid and NPK fertilizer, as well as the interaction of solid and NPK fertilizer on the growth and production of green eggplant. This research used a factorial randomized block design with two treatment factors, namely the first factor: Administrationof oil palm solid which consisted of 4 levels of treatment, namely: S0 = No palm oilwaste solid; S1 = Administration of palm oil waste solid at 0.5 kg/m2; S2 = Administration of palm oil waste solid at 1 kg/m2; S3 = Administration of palm oil waste solid at 1.5 kg/m2. The second factor is the addition of NPK fertilizer per plant (J) consisting of 3 levels of treatment, namely: J0 = 0 g/plant; J1 = 5 g/plant; J2 = 10 g/plant. The results showed that solid treatment significantly affected the plants height at ages 2, 4, and 6 MST, flowering age, production per plant, and production per plot. The treatment of Solid S3 produced the highest plants aged 2, 4, and 6 MST, respectively (21.78 cm), (53.45 cm), and (77.78 cm), the fastest flowering age (32.89 days), highest production per plant (1748.77 g), and highest production per plot (21.89 kg). The NPK treatment significantly affected the plants height at ages 4 and 6 WAP, flowering age, production per plant, and production per plot. The NPK J2 fertilizer dosage treatment produced the highest plants aged 4 and 6 WAP, respectively (47.83 cm), and (75.84 cm), the fastest flowering age (32.91 days), the highest production per plant (1562.91 g), and the highest production per plot (19.86 kg). The interaction treatment of the NPK fertilizer and solid administration did not significantly affect all parameters. The combination of S3J2 produced the highest plants aged 2 and 6 WAP, respectively (22.33 cm) and (79.67 cm), the fastest flowering age (32.33 days), the highest production per plant (1816.67 g), the and highest production per plot (22.49 kg).


With modern society entering an aging society, revitalizing elderly people's social activities and thus increasing their fall injuries leading to the fracture of various parts of the body, this study sought to examine shock amount generated when elderly people fall in diverse directions and hit the ground in a bid to develop a system aimed at minimizing shocks and preventing bone fractures. Existing studies dealt with young subjects sustaining fall injuries because a more number of elderly people suffer them, compared with young people, making it hard to obtain fall injuries data of elderly people. Thus, in this study, a system enabling a rapid movement and fall induction was used so as to simulate forced falls, and various joint movements during falls were measured using a 3-D human body movement analysis system. Young subjects participated in actual forced fall experiments, due to their safety, and their body movement data were input onto the human body movement simulation program so as to simulate falls, and resulting shock amounts were measured. Dynamic elements occurring during falls in various parts of the body, such as displacement, speed and acceleration, were input into the various parts of the body of elderly people models which were incorporated into the simulation program, and falls were simulated so as to calculate shock amounts generated when elderly people fall and hit the ground. Also, herein proposed was a system designed to reduce fall shock amounts with the aim of preventing bone fractures, using carbon dioxide gas, solenoid valves, air bag systems. This shock reduction system is believed to be used in the bone fracture prevention system that we are keeping researching on.


A forty seven year-old male suffering from branchiogenic carcinoma was reported. The patient noticed u swelling in the left cervical region without other symptoms. Two months after detection of the tumor, he visited a local clinic where he had an exploratory excision of the tumor. Histopathologically, the specimen was diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma arising from the epithelial Tinning of a lateral cervical cyst and he was referred to Kitasato University Hospital. A careful physical examination failed to reveal any other lesions except for the tumor in the left lateral neck. Therefore, the treatment was performed under a clinical diagnosis of branchiogenic carcinoma. The patient underwent radical neck dissection following radiation therapy (4000 rads). There was no recurrence of the tumor thirteen months after the surgery.


We appreciate the interest of Drs Oppel, Hoshizaki, Mathias, Sutter, and Beyerstien1 in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) content in undergraduate medical education. Since the Associate Deans' workshop in 2002, our national curriculum project has moved forward substantially beyond what was described in the editorial.2 With the exception noted below, we generally agree with the content areas listed as part of the University of British Columbia curriculum. These topics have already been incorporated into our ongoing curriculum development project.

We do have three concerns. First, we are puzzled by the authors' reference to CAM "champions," as this word does not appear anywhere in our editorial. We intentionally avoided this term, knowing that, without definition, it would be prone to misinterpretation. We can only assume that the authors saw this term used in the workshop report (cited in our editorial) and used it out of context. The Associate Deans recommended identifying "leaders in CAM teaching within each medical school," which refers to individuals interested in exposing medical students to relevant CAM-related issues in Canada; reinforcing the importance of critical appraisal of all health care therapies; and providing students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to discuss CAM with patients in an informed and nonjudgmental manner. In order to introduce (and smoothly integrate) CAM content into existing curriculums, at least one faculty member needs to provide support to help move the process through bureaucratic and administrative channels. We advocate achieving these curriculum objectives without promoting the uncritical acceptance of any specific CAM practices or products.

Second, the authors identify two primary sources, which they claim that we cited in our editorial (references 3 and 5 in the authors' response). In fact, these sources were neither cited nor mentioned in our editorial. The authors' suggestion that we cited programs that promote CAM appears to have been taken out of context. We referred to the University of Arizona's Integrative Medicine Program merely as an obvious example of the increase of CAM curriculums over the past 5 years in the United States; our intent was not to analyze the degree of objectivity of program content or teaching methods.

Third, the authors propose that CAM curriculums address "why the evidence for CAM is not accepted by the scientific community." The wording of this statement is heavily loaded and, in our opinion, does not do justice to the many peer-reviewed studies of certain CAM therapies that have appeared in leading scientific journals, or to the variety of current scientific opinion regarding the evidence for certain CAM therapies.3

We believe there is a need to build a comprehensive CAM curriculum that interweaves critical appraisal of the evidence, historical and current health care trends, and communication skills in such a way that the curriculum can be adapted and shaped by individual schools to suit their own medical programs. Leadership within the medical schools should be characterized by the principles of balance, diversity, impartiality, and open-mindedness. Our intent is best illustrated by echoing the words of Dr Yasuhiro Suzuki, Executive Director of the World Health Organization, who recently observed that "traditional or complementary medicine is victim of both uncritical enthusiasts and uninformed skeptics."4 We hope that, with appropriate leadership in the introduction of CAM into medical education, it will eventually be victim of neither. Members of the national CAM in undergraduate medical education project are working together to achieve this goal.


Objective:To set up large animals model of brain ischemia.Methods:Set up the model in rabbits to simulate the embolization intervention in vessel with glutin microcapsules in carotis interna artery.Results:After mg class microcapsules embolization,the animals showed marked ischemic syndrome.The successful model for 0.4mg dosage was 70%and the ischemic fociare was noticeable.MRI signals showed that the T2WI in ischemic foci high and the border was clear.Pathological check demonstrated the ischemic tissue has liquid-like necrosis with nuclear scraps and edema around.Conclusion:Verv little glutin microcapsules may bring marked ischemic syndrome in the animals.The process is clear and small trauma was made.The model may simulate the syndrome in human with high success rate.Adjustment of the embolization dosage may suit different types of animals such as rats,rabbits,dogs and monkeys and bring expansibility to the model.


1. A peristaltic pump for use in the sterilization chamber of the endoscope in the sterilization chamber of the sterilization apparatus, comprising: a flexible tube pump having an output end and input end, and an electrically connecting portion at each end, in contact with the fluid in the pumping hose, actuatable a push motor device driven by the engine, the pump hose arranged relatively such that if a push device is actuated, interruption of it stym manner presses the pumping hose, to approximate the inner wall of the pump hose to each other, a first electrode in contact with the conductive connecting portion at the outlet end of the pump hose, and a second electrode contacting the conductive connecting portion in the inlet end of the pump hose, a means for supplying a voltage the first and second electrodes and means for measuring an electrical parameter between the conductive connection portions, prichemkogda outlet end of the pump hose is connected to one end of the end castrate having a cavity that is to be sterilized, and shipped in a conducting sterilization fluid in the sterilization chamber and the inlet end of the pump hose is connected with the sterilization fluid in the sterilization chamber, the only conductive path exists between the first electrode and the second electrode during the operation of the pump, except path through the pump hose, the path through said cavity endoskopa.2. A pump according to claim 1, wherein a push device is rotatably mounted, wherein when protalkivayusche


Mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) are the new generation of self organising networks that offer unrestricted mobility without any underlying infrastructure. It relies on the cooperation of all the participating nodes. Due to the diverse nature of MANET routing is the major challenge. Security for MANETS has become a difficult problem than the security in other networks. Authentication and encryption would be used as the primary defence. Second level of defence to detect and respond to the security problem called an intrusion identification system. In this paper, two phased enhanced intrusion identification and response (t-EIIAR) system for multi hop cluster based MANETs is proposed. The two phases of the proposed method: 1) cluster formation and cluster head selection; 2) the enhanced identification and response system. The fuzzy c means algorithm (FCM) is used to form the cluster and the Intuitionistic Fuzzy TOPSIS (IFT) method used to calculate the trust value for each node in the cluster, based on the trust value select the cluster head and identify the intrusion levels. Finally the intrusion response action is performed from the intrusion level classifications. In the performance analysis, t-EIIAR system maximises the intrusion detection ratio, network life time and minimum energy consumption in both transmitter and receiver side.


In order to improve automated standard of the 3D braiding machine,AS-49PC-4 moving control card is applied to the computer control system and "PC + controller" plan is designed.The connecting AS-49PC-4 controller with drivers and step-motors and control for the step-motor are described in detail.Practices prove that applying this design to the control system,the developed periods is shortened,precision of interpolation is improved,the braiding error is decreased effectively.


Taking the exclosure grassland to some extent of Naiman Desertification Research Station,CAS as a base,an investigation of rainfall,temperature,soil water content and temperature with soil faunal communities was carried out.The seasonal changes of soil faunal diversity and it's response to the rainfall and temperature were discussed.Totally,there were 13 groups and 11 orders captured with mites and beetle larvae as dominant groups,which camp up from spring through summer to autumn;While the common groups took turns with changing season.The density,richness and diversity of soil macrofaunal community were higher in summer than in spring and autumn.While for the soil mesofaunal community,the density was higher at the order of springsummerautumn,and the Shannon index and evenness index were higher in summer.It was suggested that there was a remarkable influence of summer temperature and rainfall on soil macrofaunal community,but not on soil mesofaunal community.


Eurocode 8 prescribes that structures are sufficiently designed if they are capable to withstand a design seismic action, which is defined for a given earthquake recurrence interval associated with ultimate and serviceability limit state. The first requirement is fulfilled if it is proven that the structure does not collapse for a seismic action associated with return period of 475 years. A shortcoming of such design procedure is that the decision is based on conditional probability of failure. In reality, "stronger" or even "weaker" earthquake can cause collapse of the building. This shortcoming of the existing standards for seismic resistant design of buildings can be overcome by introducing more scientifically-oriented design procedures, which is the main objective of the research thesis. The new design procedure used in this research is based on target reliability that is expressed by the acceptable annual probability of collapse of structure. As a case study, an eight-storey reinforced concrete frame building was designed taking into account different level of acceptable seismic risk in order to investigate the relationship between the escalation of target reliability and the global parameters of the structure. We found that the escalation of acceptable risk by a factor of 50 resulted in an increase of the total design seismic forces by about a factor of 10. This was reflected in the quantity of materials used. The amount of reinforcement was increased by about 4.6 times, while the volume of the concrete was greater by a factor of 1.9. It appeared that the structural system is not suitable if the criterion of acceptable risk is very strict. Based on the results of the study it can be concluded that the proposed force-based design procedure to target reliability is quite similar to that prescribed by Eurocode 8, as it essentially differs only in the definition of the seismic action, which, according to the new procedure, depends on the target reliability rather than earthquake recurrence interval.


We report the application of full-field swept-source optical coherence tomography for fingerprint detection. This system consists of a superluminescent diode as broadband light source and an acousto-optic tunable filter as wavelength-tuning device. The conventional optical coherence tomographic system was modified by coating aluminum oxide on one side of the beam splitter which is used as reference mirror and fingerprints on the glass slide as object. Low-coherence interferometry, nonmechanical scanning, and compactness are the main advantages of the proposed system over conventional fingerprint detection techniques. The present technique is noninvasive in nature and does not require any physical or chemical processing.


Currently, we are faced with many complex engineering systems that need to be manipulated. As they are usually not fully theoretically tractable, it is not possible to use traditional deterministic methods. Soft computing, as opposed to conventional deterministic methods, is a set of methodologies (working synergistically, not competitively) that, in one form or another, exploits the tolerance for imprecision, uncertainty and approximate reasoning to achieve tractability, robustness, low-cost solution, and close resemblance with human-like decision making. Soft computing techniques include neural networks, evolutionary computation, fuzzy logic and Learning Automata. The recent years have witnessed tremendous success of these powerful methods in virtually all areas of science and technology, as evidenced by the large numbers of research results published in a variety of journals, conferences, as well as many books. Engineering is a rich source of problems where each new approach that is developed by mathematicians and computer scientists is quickly identified, understood and assimilated in order to be applied to specific problems. In this book we strive to bring some state of the art techniques by using recent Soft Computing techniques after its application to challenging and significant problems in engineering. Soft Computing methods have many variants. There exist a rich amount of literature on the subject, including textbooks, tutorials, and journal papers that cover in detail practically every aspect of the field. The great amount of information available makes it difficult for no specialist to explore the literature and to find the right technique for a specific engineering application. Therefore, any attempt to present the whole area of Soft Computing in detail would be a daunting task, probably doomed to failure. This task would be even more difficult if the goal is to understand the applications of Soft Computing techniques in the context of engineering application. For this reason, the best practice is to consider only a representative set of Soft Computing approaches, just as it has been done in this book. The aim of this book is to provide an overview of the different aspects of Soft Computing methods in order to enable the reader in reaching a global understanding of the field and, in conducting studies on specific Soft Computing


Trends studies are giving their first steps in academia, after having proven themselves in the social and corporate field. Now it is important to develop scientific models for the application of trends studies, including their major tool and discipline: coolhunting. The creation of models in this disciplinary field allows for the creation of standards in the identification and continuous observation of trends, as well as in their application for the generation of innovation and decision making insights, regarding major mindsets and consumer behavior patterns. The objective of this paper is to analyse the existing tools and perspectives on coolhunting and trends studies.  This allows for the creation of a complex matrix, based on the Portuguese perspective and developments in this field, with several combined models that promote the study and the application of trends on branding, without overlooking cultural management.


The demand for more flexible RF systems is being driven by the opening up of additional spectrum to commercial interest and the ability to operate in contested, congested, and constrained environments. These demand signals drive interest in antenna technology advancements, as they are one of the most notable limiting factors in the RF chain. This is even more true in the era of software defined radios. At the forefront of many of these antenna technology advancements are metamaterials and metasurfaces, which are patterned structures that exhibit unusual electromagnetic properties in a bulk context near the point of resonance, such as negative permeability and permittivity. The traditional loading mechanism for these structures consists of the addition of concentric split rings. This approach has some limitations, however. A uniquely flexible circle-packing fractal based loading structure based on the Apollonian gasket is discussed alongside the instantiating methodology. Multiple prototypes based on the structure and compared to the traditional unloaded Split Ring-Resonator (SRR) case to examine a subset of the tradespace of the loading mechanisms. This paper examines 6 different instantiations of the Apollonian-Loaded Split Ring Resonator (ALSRR) to demonstrate a portion of the potential frequency tradespaces offered by the flexible technology and provides a comparison against the unloaded split ring resonator.


This work indicates the device properties of polycrystalline p-AgGaInTe2 (AGIT) thin films deposited on bare and ITO-coated glass substrates with thermal evaporation technique. Device characteristics of n-CdS/p-AGIT heterostructure have been analyzed in terms of current–voltage ([Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text]) for different temperatures and capacitance–voltage ([Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text]) measurements for different frequencies, respectively. The series and shunt resistances were determined from the analysis of parasitic resistance for high forward and reverse bias voltages, respectively. The ideality factors were evaluated from [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] variation at each sample temperature as lying in between 2.51 and 3.25. The barrier height was around 0.79[Formula: see text]eV at room temperature. For low bias region, the variation in the diode parameters due to the sample temperature exhibited the thermionic emission with [Formula: see text] anomaly, whereas space-charge-limited current analysis was also found to be pre-dominant carrier transport mechanism for this heterostructure. From [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] measurements, the obtained built-in potential and series resistances were found to be in good agreement with [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] results.


In the basic study and analysis of the human face detection and feature point location algorithm in video,it proposes a method.First determine the like-face area in the video frame with local SMQT characteristics;Then position the detected human face feature point with the modified ASM,using double threshold Sobel operator for edge detection to extract edge information,using the edge information to change the weight of the feature points when searching,to make more likely of the possibility that the pixels with stronger edge information is selected as the best candidate point.This method was tested to show good positioning of facial features based on fast detection.


A vibration damper based on an eddy current is a frequently used electro-mechanical system. This paper deals with determination of the damping coefficient of such an eddy current damper. For this purpose, Maxwell's relations are simplified to a single quasi-harmonic equation and solved using finite elements. The finite element analysis is done using 'PDEtool' in Matlab. The graphical post-processing is performed partly using PDEtool and partly using a short Matlab code.


This paper outlines the results obtained from Magic software for the CSM_23 (Core Stabilization Method) klystron. This klystron implements the use of a second and third harmonic klystron to increase the efficiency. From the PIC simulation an efficiency of 78.1% was achieved.


Non-meat ingredients are used to impart flavor, slow bacterial growth, and increase the yield of the sausage production. To study the quality of chicken sausage incorporated with non-meat ingredients namely, soy protein powder, non-fat milk powder and potato starch at the rate of 2% (w/w) concentration. Sausage samples were analyzed for physical, nutritional, and sensory properties during refrigerated storage at -4 ℃. The nutritional, physical and sensory characteristics were analyzed, at day 1, week 1, week 2 and week 3 of storage. Moisture, ash, dry matter, fat, pH, texture, and color were significantly difference (p<0.05) among the treatments at day one. During storage the ash, pH content and dry matter content were significantly (p<0.05) increased, and fat content and moisture content was significantly (p<0.05) decreased storage period. At week one, the higher hardness value showed in soy protein powder incorporated chicken sausage and least value showed in without added non-meat ingredient (control) sausage. As results of organoleptic characteristics revealed that, 2% of potato starch incorporated chicken sausage had the highest mean score of overall quality of all sensorial properties namely, color, taste, texture, flavor, and overall acceptability.


In this work-in-progress research-to-practice paper we present a newly integrated set of lenses for creating a senior capstone design course. Our future graduates face several concurrent challenges including both the increasing complexity of technology and rapid pace of innovations, and growing expectations of what engineers design will address in terms of technical and social considerations from users, stakeholders and other communities. Moreover, there are intensifying calls to address equity and inclusiveness across fields of engineering. This work proposes to begin addressing these challenges through a new pedagogical framework that synthesizes three lenses: liberative pedagogies, citizen engineering, and human-centered design and applies this synthesis to capstone design. We specifically focus this pedagogical framework on capstone design given its centrality to preparing students for engineering practice. We review literature on capstone design and summarize each lens. We then discuss our pedagogical design approach for integrating the lenses and present an integrated framework. Our results detail our learning and teaching objectives and assessments we developed from this integrated framework. Finally, we discuss critical reflections on our approach and future challenges we see before concluding.


This chapter on chronic HCV covers the disease in Australia; aspects of diagnosis; clinical and laboratory evaluation and other investigations; and management including shared care protocols. (non- author abstract)


We characterize the solution to the consumption and investment problem of a time-additive power utility investor in a continuous-time dynamically complete market with stochastic changes in the opportunity set. It is demonstrated that under stochastic interest rates the investor optimally hedges against changes in the term structure of interest rates by investing in a coupon bond, or portfolio of bonds, with a payment schedule that matches the forward-expected (i.e. certainty equivalent) consumption pattern. This is of conceptual importance since the hedge portfolio only depends on the specic term structure dynamics through the consequences for the optimal consumption pattern. We consider two explicit examples where the term structure dynamics are given by the Vasicek model and a three factor non-Markovian Heath-Jarrow-Morton model.


We have studied the sequence of phase transformations induced in the Zr-Al binary system by mechanical alloying of mixed Zr and Al powders. The structure of these materials has been studied by transmission electron microscopy and by x-ray diffraction measurements. Three different metastable phases have been found experimentally with variation of the initial composition xAl: (1) a nanocrystalline supersaturated solid solution of alpha-Zr for xAl<=0.15, (2) an amorphous phase for 0.15<xAl<=0.4, and (3) a metastable face-centered-cubic phase for xAl=0.5 with a grain size of 4 nm. The crystallization reaction of the amorphous phase was monitored by differential scanning calorimetry, and the kinetics of the reaction have been examined as well. A possible explanation based on thermodynamic arguments is given for the defect-driven vitrification of the crystalline Zr phase.


This article tries to explain how colonialist relationships in the province of Limon are reproduced despite permanent collective resistance. The focus is pla...


We consider a variant of Wyner-Ziv (WZ) coding over a broadcast channel where a source is to be communicated over a broadcast channel to two receivers that have side-information correlated with the source. In this variant, the transmitter and the receivers have to generate reconstructions that are (almost always) identical to one another, and each reconstruction meets a certain fidelity constraint. We present a complete characterization of the capacity region for the problem.


Research has shown that elementary teachers are mathematics anxious. and that this anxiousness can be transmitted to their students. Therefore, many students are not afforded the opportunity to participate in a comfortable mathematics environment. Preservice elementary teachers (1=63) reported their preand posttest mathematics anxiety using the Mathematic Anxiety Rating Scale. They completed an experienced-based mathematics methods course in which their enrollment was required. Results from t-tests and ANOVAs revealed significantly lower mathematics anxiety levels for students of all ages (20-41 years old) with levels of high school mathematics ranging from algebra I to calculus. Teacher educators should be aware that an experience-based mathematics methods course not only prepares teachers to teach mathematics, but it prepares them to teach mathematics with less anxiety. (Contains 21 references.) (Author) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ********************:************************************************** Lowering Mathematics 1 Lowering Preservice Teachers' Mathematics Anxiety Through An Experience-Based Mathematics Methods Course


In specimens of the hermatypic coral species Fungia scutaria and Montipora verrucosa and in the alga Ulva lactuca, nitrate uptake was measured in light and dark with a flow-through apparatus. The nitrate uptake was measurable in high-nitrate bay water of Kaneohe Bay and also in low-nitrate open ocean water. Nitrate consumption rates by the corals and the alga did not differ from light to dark.

Neither the coral nor the alga showed measurable immediate nitrate uptake in open ocean water of low nitrate concentration when they had been held previously in the high-nitrate bay water. In low-nitrate open ocean water the uptake per unit time increases when the flow of the water increases.

The uptake of nitrate by reef corals even from low concentrations indicates nonspecific nutrient sources for reef corals.


We prove that the Bergman metric on domains satisfying condition S is complete. This implies that any bounded pseudoconvex domain with Lipschitz boundary is complete with respect to the Bergman metric. We also show that bounded hyperconvex domains in the plane and convex domains in Cn are Bergman comlete.


This paper investigates chrominance reconstruction methods that reconstruct subsampled chrominance information efficiently using the correlation between luminance and chrominance components in the decompression process of compressed images, and analyzes drawbacks involved in the adaptive-weighted 2-dimensional linear interpolation among the methods, which shows higher efficiency in the view of computational complexity than other methods. To improve the drawback that the spatial frequency distribution is not considered for the decompressed image and to support the application on a low-performance system in behalf of 2-dimensional linear interpolation, this paper proposes the multi-mode reconstruction method which uses three reconstruction methods having different computational complexity from each other according to the degree of edge response of luminance component. The performance evaluation on a development platform for embedded systems showed that the proposed reconstruction method supports the similar level of image quality for decompressed images while reducing the overall computation time for chrominance reconstruction in comparison with the 2-dimensional linear interpolation.


Thin vertically aligned N-doped nanotubes with narrow layered nanotube diameter distribution and a defined doping level have been synthesized by chemical vapor deposition. Multilayered catalysts and a pure acetonitrile C/N feedstock have been employed. The observed nitrogen content was up to 6% with a predominant sp2 bonding configuration in relation to other nitrogen incorporated forms. Depending on the process parameters, we were able to tune the nitrogen content and the formation ratio of small nanotubes to bamboo nanotubes. The use of multilayer catalyst allows a large temperature window in which substitutionally doped structures form in comparison to other catalysts.


It's confusing, tedious, and time-consuming — and for most practices, it's the only way to get paid for the work you do. Now the good news: There are tools available to make coding easier. Here's our rundown.


Titel, Contents, Table and Figure Index, Abbreviations

1\. Introduction

2\. Literature Review

3\. Material and Methods

4\. Results

5\. Discussion

6\. Summary

7\. Zusammenfassung

8\. References

Appendices and Acknowledgements


IntroductionOn 6 May 2012, the French chose a new president, Socialist Francois Hollande, who in the second round of the presidential elections won against his main rival, the outgoing president, Nicolas Sarkozy, 51.64% to 48.36%.1 It means that after three failed attempts (in 2007, 2002 and 1995) the leftreturned to the Elysee Palace. The future shape of the French European policy lies within the most important questions that this political change raises. The pre-election campaign, while involving all the main French political forces, was a unique opportunity to get broadly acquainted with their approach to the issue.At the beginning, it should be noted that the actors of the pre-election campaigns in the European Union Member States usually leave the international and European questions far behind the internal social and economic issues. It should not, however, be a surprise, as the easiest way to reach out to voters and convince them goes through the issues that are close to their everyday concerns. The last electoral presidential campaign in France was not any different. The deterioration of the living standards of the French, a high unemployment rate and other worrying economic indicators, especially the significant deficit and public debt, the trade deficit, and low competitiveness, pushed the candidates to focus first of all on these problems. As a result, not much space was leftto discuss widely the future of the European project. What is more, it seems that there is a traditional reluctance in France to include Europe into the pre-election debates. This is probably because of the great sensitivity of the issue, which even within the same political groups, for example, the Socialists, stirs much controversy.Nevertheless, the French elections usually coincide with significant moments in the development of the EU, forcing the candidates to take up this subject. It was the case in the pre-election presidential campaign of 1995. That took place in circumstances determined by the European Council decisions of June and December 1994, which aimed at further reform of the EU. The heads of states or governments decided than to set up a Reflection Group to prepare for the 1996 intergovernmental conference that should be held even before the start of accession negotiations with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.2 It was thus clear that the French in 1995 had to choose a president whose tasks would include leading France through another round of delicate negotiations -crucial for assuring the country's continued leadership role. What is more, the elections overlapped with the period of the French Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 1995, which obviously necessitated the country's special activity on the EU stage. This all caused difficult circumstances for the candidates, who since the September 1992 referendum in which the French nearly said "no" to the Maastricht Treaty, had become aware of the strength of the anti-European feelings in the electorate.The situation was not easier during the presidential elections of 2002 and 2007. The 2002 electoral campaign coincided with another important debate about the future of the EU. According to the European Council decisions taken in Leaken in December 2001, the Convention on the Future of Europe was established.3 The main purpose of the body that started functioning on 28 February 2002 was to reform the EU thoroughly, and especially to simplify and reorganise EU treaties that could "lead in the long run to the adoption of a constitutional text in the Union."4 The good result obtained in the first round of the elections by the extremely anti-European leader of the radical right, Jean-Marie Le Pen, who in the second round faced Jacques Chirac, was like a strong reminder just ahead of planned deep reforms of the EU. Finally, during the presidential elections of 2007 when the "reflection period" that succeeded the ratification crisis after the rejection of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe in France and the Netherlands ended, the candidates for president of France once again had to tackle the question of the future of the EU. …


Hydrogen maser and laser have commons in principle and can achieve stimulated radiation amplification of electromagnetic fields, which is an important part of quantum electronics. The hydrogen atomic clock based on the hydrogen atom maser uses the electromagnetic wave radiated from the hydrogen atom level transition to control and calibrate quartz crystal oscillator, which has excellent short-term and medium-term frequency stability. Hydrogen atom preparation systems, atomic beam optical systems and microwave cavity are key technologies for hydrogen atomic clocks. The simulation and calculation of the hydrogen atomic clock physical system is of great help to the design and optimization of the hydrogen clock system. The hydrogen atomic clock physical system mainly includes three parts: atomic preparation system, atomic beam optical system and microwave cavity with an atomic storage. The lifetime of dissociator bulb is the main focus of atomic preparation system calculation and simulation; atomic incident angle and state-selected magnet structure are the key points of atomic beam optical system simulation and calculation; microwave cavity simulation and design concern the calculation of resonance frequency and quality factor Q value of magnetron microwave cavity and sapphire microwave cavity as well as the relationship between the resonant frequency and the Q value as a function of the cavity size and the thickness of the filling medium (sapphire). At present, most of the hydrogen atomic clock physics system simulations and calculations are based on a single physics field. The simulation of multiphysics based on COMSOL Multiphysics has guiding significance for the future design of the hydrogen clock physics system.


The objective of this study is to suggest useful directions to the companies providing tourism information through SNS and the related service providers through investigating differences of sharing and use intention of SNS tourism information according to the level of trust and satisfaction. To achieve the objective, as a conceptual framework of the study, the literature on 'trust and satisfaction about SNS tourism information' and 'information sharing and use intention' were reviewed, and the empirical studies on the perception of the people who experienced the service was conducted. The findings showed that there were differences of sharing and use intention of SNS tourism information according to the level of trust and satisfaction


For remote control of electronic measuring instruments, whose functions can be set via a microprocessor, suitable mobile phones are used for data transmission, via which the measured data are remotely transmitted from the measuring device.


The utility model provides a sealing gasket for a cylinder head cover, of which the section is T-shaped. At least two closed sealing convex ribs are arranged on the junction surface of the upper part of the sealing gasket and a cylinder head, and are parallel to each other, and three parallel oil storage troughs are formed on two sides of the sealing convex ribs and between the sealing convex ribs; therefore, the compressibility of the sealing gasket is ensured, machine oil can flow into the oil storage troughs and is prevented from exuding out of the cylinder head cover and the cylinder head. Besides, a group of vertical long arc strip-shaped lug bosses are formed on two sides at the waisted part of the section of the sealing gasket and are in interference fit with sealing grooves of the cylinder head cover, so that the sealing gasket can be fixed in the grooves during preassembly, and the sealing reliability is improved. The sealing gasket for the cylinder head cover can ensure the reliable sealing between the cylinder head cover and the cylinder head on the high-performance supercharged engine, improves the service life of the product, and facilitates the assembly and improves the efficiency at the same time.


The voltage control is performed by changing the turns ratio. This is done by provision of taps in the winding. The volts per turn available in large transformers is quite high and hence a change of even one turn on the LV side represents a large percentage change in the voltage. Also the LV currents are normally too large to take out the tapping from the windings. LV winding being the inner winding in a core type transformer adds to the


According to the characteristic of composites and the special making procedure of its parts, the composite packing characteristics are summed up. Based on the characteristics, a polygon placement scheme is proposed to automatically nest composites pieces within the rectangular stock. Three key polygon packing technologies are studied,which include calculation of feasible sliding vector and sliding distance when one polygon slides along the other's boundary,evaluation of all the feasible positions,combination of the new placed polygons boundary with original one. Theses technologies are used to implement the placement of pieces with certain sequence, and the sequence can be optimized by simulated annealing (SA) algorithm.


This paper covers the design, development and implementation of state-of-the-art cold processing and finishing plants for producing SBQ bright bars of carbon steel grades for engineering steels and for the automotive steel industry.


According to the noise characteristic of Low Light Level(LLL) image intensifier,the background noise characteristic of LLL image intensifier theoretically was analyzed.Then the photon counting method was designed,and LLL image intensifier background noise was measured by quasi-point source low light illuminometer.On the signal-to-noise ratio measurement device of the third-generation LLL image intensifier,illuminance produced by 0.2 mm point source on the fluorescent screen was measured using quasi-point source low light illuminometer with no input.For the spatial characteristics,the illuminance value inhomogeneity was less than 1% when the phosphor screen center point acted as the center of the concentric circles.But for the temporal characteristics,after the LLL image intensifiers worked 270 min later,illuminance values of phosphor screen center point could reach a steady state.Distribution characteristic of LLL image intensifier background noise based on the illuminance both in space points and time points was analyzed,and data proof for evaluating noise characteristic of LLL image intensifier was offered.


Objective:To investigate the surgical indication and effect of surgical treatment for giant cavernous hemangioma of the liver(LHG).Methods:The clinical data,including selection of operations,management for severe operative bleeding and postoperative supplementary treatment,of 15 patients with giant LHG treated by surgical measures from 2003 in our hospital were summarized and assessed.Results:Nine cases accepted decollement of LHG,and the recovery courses were all right,6 cases accepted embolization of hepatic artery,in which 2 cases accepted operation afterward.Conclusions:Decollement or embolization of hepatic artery were effective in the treatment of giant cavernous hemangioma.


Deforestation is a prominent issue in the call for global environmental sustainability whose status transcends the realm of environmental studies and extends to the broader domains of public policy and popular concern. Deforestation issues are complex, and narratives provide the simple explanations needed by policymakers and the public. One of the most common narratives explaining deforestation places the blame on the rural poor. These narratives make facile connections between the poor who depend on the forests for their livelihood and the environmental degradation which is taking place in their immediate vicinity. They unite two major problems in a neat hermeneutic circle: the rural poor are caught in a vicious cycle of poverty and environmental degradation, where they are both the victims and the perpetrators. While rural poverty and deforestation are closely connected, the relationship is a complex one - contrary to what such simple narratives lead us to believe - and the causes of deforestation remain unclear. This article discusses the causes that explain why are narratives that place the blame for deforestation on the rural poor so pervasive and so persistent?


The mean standard errors and coefficient of variation for different characters in three cultivars, namely, Pant PU-30, Pant PU-35 and T-9 of urdbean (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) revealed that the mutagenic treatments had more values than control. The shifting of mean, values was observed in both the directions negative and positive in all the cultivars. All the mutagenic treatments mean CV and SE behaved independently in all the three cultivars. However, irrefutable trend were gained for combination of varying doses of gamma rays with EMS which were found effective for causing induced genetic variability and their use in breeding in urdbean cultivars.


The paper describes connection of car LED lights through the LIN bus to CAN bus with the possibility of controlling light intensity or light up speed.


Clematis L. is Ranunculaceae genera plants and has quite a high medicinal value. This paper introduces the pharmacological action in different kinds of Clematis L. and summarizes the research progress of every pharmacological action. The scientific basis can be provided in species collation and quality evaluation of Clematis L..


found related to controls. These findings suggest: ll A hypercoagulable state previously to the development of clinical vasculopathy. 2) A decreased fibrinolytic response associated to vasculopathy.-THROMBOTIC


The physical properties of the spinel LiGaCr4S8 have been studied with neutron diffraction, X-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity measurements. The neutron diffraction and synchrotron X-ray diffraction data reveal negative thermal expansion (NTE) below 111(4) K. The magnetic susceptibility deviates from Curie-Weiss behavior with the onset of NTE. At low temperature a broad peak in the magnetic susceptibility at 10.3(3) K is accompanied by the return of normal thermal expansion. First principles calculations find a strong coupling between the lattice and the simulated magnetic ground state. These results indicate strong magnetoelastic coupling in LiGaCr4S8.


OECD donor countries now channel about US$ 5 billion – some 5 per cent of their aid – directly to the budgets of developing country governments. A new independent evaluation, released today at a conference hosted by the OECD, shows that this system of delivering aid can be an effective way to strengthen the management of public financial systems in developing countries, and has helped to improve access to services like healthcare and education.


John Stockwell's In Search of Enemies: A CIA Story is the first and only insider's account of the involvement of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency in Angola's War. As one might expect, this expose by the former Chief of the Angola Task Force reveals sensitive information about the agency's Angolan Program, codenamed IAFEATURE. A veritable sourcebook for scholars of Angola, the Stockwell book makes some startling disclosures and presents important new data to support existing conjectures about U.S. covert operations in Africa. In Search of Enemies assails what Stockwell calls the "tragic, fallacious thesis" that such CIA operations as IAFEATURE ensure the survival of a free America. Arguing that the converse is historical fact, Stockwell chronicles CIA misadventures in Angola during 1975 and 1976 in order to show that "because of the CIA"—whose operations victimize "millions of people" and corrode U.S. credibility abroad—"the world is a more dangerous place." The CIA misdeeds which Stockwell considers counterproductive were alarmingly extensive in Angola. He reveals how the CIA stole planes to contravene the then Secretary of Defence James Schlesinger's refusal to allow traceable U.S. Air Force planes and crews to fly in Angolan air space; deceived congressional committees about the presence in Angola of CIA advisors and about CIA transport of arms within Angola; and originated false stories about the agency's opponents in Angola, The Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), and disseminated those stories to the U.S. and world press. These revelations, considered in the light of similar CIA activities during the Congo crisis of the 1960s, particularly CIA illegal financing of mercenaries, confirm that the U.S. government has remained profoundly hostile to African revolutionary movements friendly to Russia, and therefore is likely to threaten other such movements as they arise on the continent. The other CIA activities Stockwell discloses—CIA efforts to coordinate the alliance between FNLA, UNITA, Zaire, and South Africa—were the subject of conjectures resolutely argued by Ernest Harsch and Tony Thomas in Angola: The Hidden History of Washington's War, a critical expose published two years before the Stockwell chronicle. On the basis of reports from newspapers, magazines, and eyewitnesses, Harsch and Thomas surmise that during the Angolan War the CIA


Slow tourism is the practice of quality time spent by visitors and tourists, usually in areas with natural resources such as heritage sites, protected parks and gardens. Visiting slow tourism areas and engaging in slow tourism activities allows the visitor to appreciate the destination at a much deeper level and in a sensitive manner. Limited local literature is available in South Africa on this new emerging niche form of tourism, where the slow tourist has the opportunity to experience the journey and the destination by staying in one place for a longer time, to see and experience things that are meaningful to them. This new alternative form of tourism is considered an antithesis to mass tourism, and liberates the visitor from angst and stress brought about by today's fast-paced lifestyles. The study was conducted at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens (KNBG) in Cape Town, South Africa, which has a strong attraction for tourists seeking open, green, natural spaces with unique flora and fauna. Tourism role-players and visitor groups have become more environmentally conscious in which they develop, promote, travel and consume tourism products. Sustainable and responsible tourism practices are at the forefront of the slow tourism phenomena which induces the demand and the supply chain of tourism products emphasised by ethical values. A predominately qualitative research methodology was followed to collect the primary data, using the grounded theory approach at the study site, and in-depth interviews with visitors and the Gardens management. The findings of the survey resulted in the development of a model to promote slow tourism using the economic resources of the KNBG.


Stephan Schmidheiny, co-author of the book, "Changing Course: A Global Business Perspective on Development and the Environment", joins Federico J.L. Zorraquin and the other 123 members of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development in taking a close look at whether the workings of financial markets (stocks, bonds, banks, and insurance companies) do, or should, support sustainable development. There is reason to believe that financial markets, in pursuit of short-term goals, undervalue environmental resources, discount the future, and favour accounting and reporting systems that do not reflect environmental risks and opportunities. Companies outside the financial sector that use natural resources and cause pollution have had to grapple with environment and sustainability issues longer than those companies in the financial community. It may now be the financial sector's turn to face the threat of various types of environment-related liabilities. Largely descriptive rather that prescriptive, "Financing Change" examines questions that should become increasingly important as populations burgeon and the developing countries enter financial markets. It examines these issues in separate chapters covering the viewpoints of the financial market participants: company directors, investors and analysts, bankers, insurers, accountants and raters.


Two new cases of Early Chalcolithic arrowhead injuries are described. They come from the funerary site of Las Yurdinas II (Basque Country, Spain), a rock shelter with a little swallet where at least 90 subjects were interred. The lesions are located in a right humerus and a left ulna belonging to adult individuals, one of whom is a male, and both show signs of healing. Other possible signs of violence have been found in the collection, including one cranial trauma and two parry fractures. Both arrowhead injuries are set in the context of similar findings in the Middle Ebro Valley, assessing the number and distribution of cases, signs of healing, possible impact trajectory and the age and sex estimation of the individuals affected. Increasing social complexity and demographic pressure in the region may be causally linked to such an evidence. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


The invention relates to a signal read-out amplifying method of a photosensitive compound medium grid MOSFET detector, comprising the following steps of: setting N-type semiconductor regions at both sides above a P-type semiconductor material of a substrate to form a source electrode and a drain electrode, setting a bottom-layer and top-layer insulting medium material and grid above the substrate as well as a photosensitive compound medium grid MOSFET detector of a photoelectron storage layer; reading out and amplifying the photoelectron, i.e., grounding the source electrode of the detector and the substrate, connecting the drain electrode at a positive voltage of about 0.1V, and enabling the MOSFET detector to operate in a linear region by adjusting the grid voltage of about 1-3V; directly measuring the output drain current to obtain the relation of the current variation of the drain electrode and the number of the searched photoelectron i.e., biasing VG on the grid of the detector and grounding the substrate, wherein the photoelectron in the photoelectron storage layer is formed in the P-type semiconductor substrate by tunneling when the negative bias is high enough. The invention overcomes error caused by excursion of the electron mobility.


http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/333/7571/733 Updated information and services can be found at: These include: Data supplement http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/333/7571/733/DC1 "References" References http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/333/7571/733#otherarticles 6 online articles that cite this article can be accessed at: http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/333/7571/733#BIBL This article cites 25 articles, 9 of which can be accessed free at:


THE potentiality of magnetie fer¡ with a rectangular hysteresis loop as binary storage elements for digital computer was realised earlier by Forrester. x Later, Papian% s and almost simultaneously Rajchman4, ~ showed the practicability of such a system by successfully operating memories of fa i r ly large capacity. This paper describes a modest attempt in this direction. A memory of I00 words, 11 bits each, has beca constructed to operate with a smaU digital computer at the Tata institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay.


Unexpectedly high differences in propane solubility in the systems HNO 3 –H 2 O (salting-in), H 3 PO 4 –H 2 O (salting-out) and H 2 SO 4 –H 2 O (salting-out at low H 2 SO 4 concentrations and salting-in at high concentrations) have been revealed, and the data quantitatively interpreted within the framework of the previously suggested equation relating the excess amounts of solubility with the molar volume of a system; the general nature of these equations for systems of this type has been demonstrated.


The practice of forcing onto developing countries policies developed in other contexts assumes standardised paths to social and economic growth. These policies should enable rapid economic development by "correcting" local market
inefficiencies, without considering the role these may have in preserving stability and preventing violence. Moreover, this approach does not address the compatibility of
such policies with the culture, values and norms of the receiving country.
The thesis aims at extending our understanding of success factors for policy transfer, focusing on organisational schemes for innovation support. It follows the pragmatic
Research paradigm and adopts a deductive approach using mixed methods to study the link between administrative efficiency and innovation performance in developing
countries, an under-researched area. This thesis argues that policies successfully implemented in culturally proximal contexts are more likely to lead to similar results
in the receiving context.
The results of the quantitative analysis indicate a strong relationship between administrative efficiency and innovation performance in low-middle income countries in the Middle East and North Africa. The performance of organisational schemes supporting innovation in the national innovation systems of Egypt and Morocco is qualitatively assessed on the basis of 72 face-to-face interviews with
entrepreneurs, policy makers and academics. The research finds that similar organisational schemes have produced similar results in the two case studies, confirming the working hypothesis and supporting an approach to policy transfer based on "relevant" good practice.


The sense of smell, like taste and trigeminal senses, is a chemical sense dedicated to the perception of chemical stimulations and to the generation of responses to them. Although, from an evolutionary perspective, the chemical senses are the oldest of our senses, our knowledge on the neural processing of the three chemical senses is still incomplete and has been considerably lagging behind that of our other senses. The current review aims to give an overview about human smell function. In particular we focus on the anatomy and physiology of the olfactory system, the epidemiology and the causes of olfactory loss, and on the clinical management of olfactory disorders stressing the impact of smell loss on the quality of life. Lastly, we emphasize the importance of olfaction in every day life. In our opinion, the impairment of sense of smell should be taken into serious consideration by the clinicians, as it could be the indicator of important systemic diseases or the cause of domestic accidents.


A 3-level hierarchical database architecture is proposed for location management in PCS networks. It adds a regional location register (RLR) for roamers between the home location register (HLR) and the visitor location register (VLR) of the current 2-level database hierarchy in GSM or IS-41. The strategy for location registration and call delivery is described. Calculations show that the signaling cost is reduced significantly. Functions of existing network elements such as the HLR and VLR remain unchanged. This greatly facilitates the deployment of this scheme in the evolution of current cellular mobile communication networks.


The aim of the investigation was to research the mineral nitrogen (Nmin) behavior in loamy haplic Luvisols of orchards located in the forest-steppe zone of the Central Russian Upland. The seasonal dynamics of N min (ammonium + nitrates) was studied during the growing seasons of 2018 and 2019 in field experiments with apple and sour cherry. Fertilizers were applied annually in spring at doses increasing from N30K40 to N120K160. The most important factors influencing the nitrogen dynamics were meteorological conditions, productivity of trees, peculiarities of nitrogen uptake by the studied crops. Fertilization of orchards with nitrogen contributed to an increase in Nmin content by 1.5 … 5 times, depending on the dose. The dynamics of Nmin in the soil of fertilized and unfertilized plots was similar and depended on the biological features of the crops: the lowest indicator's level in the soil under sour cherry was in July during fruit ripening, while in the apple orchard a low nitrogen content was noted in August. Studies have shown that in the climatic conditions of the Central Russian Uplands, loamy haplic Luvisols without additional application of nitrogen fertilizers can provide a favorable level of nitrogen nutrition for apple and sour cherry trees in the first years of fruiting.


As a part of their transformation to lean production companies are increasing the proportion of standardised work. Standardisation is commonly put forward as a means to reduce variability and improve quality. It is also expected to embody a base-line for improvement. A great deal of the criticism of lean production is associated with standardisation. Main concerns are that it could lead to monotony and intensification of work. The main question of the paper is: how does an increasing level of standardisation affect the psychosocial work environment of production workers? A total of 48 production workers from three Swedish production companies participated in a survey. In a questionnaire the respondents rated their perception of a number of aspects related to how standardised work is implemented in their company. In addition they rated their psychosocial work environment. The main conclusion of the study is that it is not possible to declare that increasing the level of standardisation is plain good or bad from a work environment point of view. The results show that good quality standards are important from an efficiency point of view as well as a stress perspective.


Given the increased morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 among patients undergoing maintenance dialysis, we examined the seroresponse to an additional dose of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine, using a hypothesized protective anti-spike protein IgG antibody threshold of 7 based on prior work. Among 395 patients, 384 (97%) had seroresponse [≥]7 following administration of the third dose. Among those with suboptimal (peak <7) and minimal (peak <1) seroresponse to an initial mRNA vaccine regimen, the rate of seroresponse [≥]7 following a third dose was 97% (36 of 37) and 64% (14 of 22), respectively. Given ongoing high rates of COVID-19 and rapidly waning immunity after an initial vaccine series, we recommend a third mRNA vaccine dose be standard for all patients receiving maintenance dialysis.