A plan is presented for production of oil by retorting oil shale in situ after breaking it with underground nuclear explosives. Reserves of oil shale of thickness and grade suitable (greater than 20 gal/ton) for this process occur in the Piceance Creek Basin of Colorado, and are estimated to contain 640 billion barrels of oil in place. Cost projections indicate that this oil could be produced at a price ranging from 00 to 30 at the wellhead with a 20% rate of return on investment (discounted cash flow). The price and production rate vary with oil shale thickness. At a rate of 32 nuclear chimneys per year in oil shale ranging in thickness from 1000 to 2000 ft, production varies from 28 million bbl/yr ( 30/ bbl) to 121 million bbl/yr (P2.O0/bbl). Capital requirements for this in situ process are estimated to be 20 times less than those reguired by a surface retorting process. Environmental problems such as the need to dispose of large volumes of waste rock associated with conventional mining and surface retorting of oil shale would be largely avoided. Problems of seismic ground motion and possible contamination of the oil and groundwater appear manageable. The necessity formore » government action arising from federal ownership of the resource as well as the requirement for a significant government contribution to the development of the nuclear in situ retorting technology requires either government development of the resource or a policy defining how industry and government may jointly develop it. The potential contribution to the energy resources of the nation is so large that this method of recovery from oil shale must be considered. (auth)« less


Cancer is a disease characterized by the uncontrolled multiplication of cells in human body with the inability to be controlled or stopped, consequently forming tumors of malignant cells with the potential to be metastatic. Around one third of deaths due to cancer are due to five leading behavioral and dietary risks: high body mass index, low fruit and vegetable intake, lack of physical activity, tobacco use and alcohol use. According to the World Health Organization, cancer is the second leading cause of death globally and about one in 6 deaths is due to cancer. The economic impact of cancer is significant and is increasing. The total annual economic cost of cancer in 2010 was estimated at approximately US 1.16 trillion. The economic burden on lowand middle-income countries is profound since approximately 70% of deaths due to cancer occur in these countries. To combat the growing challenge, development in cures and preventative therapies has emerged through rapid research in this area. Current treatments include chemotherapy, radiotherapy and chemically derived drugs which have severe side effects. Therefore, there is an increasing impetus on development and use of natural alternative therapies against cancer. Plants sources have been exploited in medicine for their natural antiseptic properties. Thus, research has developed into investigating the potential properties and uses of terrestrial plant extracts for the preparation of potential nanomaterial-based drugs for diseases including cancer. This article aims to take an overview of naturally derived compounds that have anticancer therapeutic properties and their current status in this field.


This paper addresses the challenges of downtoning the speaker's probability in discourse and revealing its means of expression. A study of objective statements in various discourse registers using the linguistic category of modality has potency of investigating the correlation of hedging and the type of modality which is considered to be an aspect of interpersonal metafunction in language competence (Aumuller, 2014). The term "modality" shares a range of concepts within the fields ofphilosophy, morphology, syntax, semantics, and discourse-analysis. Studies on modality as an interpersonal metafunction in Systemic Functional Linguistics have in the literature, mainly focused on variants of genres and/or discourse namely; conservative, legal, media, literary, academic, political and medical discourse as well as the contemporary English usage (Jespersen, 1924). The present paper continues the author's] series on hedging in discourse (Mykhaylenko, 2017). The discourse strategy of hedging/downtoning seems to play a paramount role in discourse: the speaker gives the hearer a possibility to objectively interpret his/her intentional meaning, on the other hand, the hearer expects a definite deontic constituent on the part of the speaker. Based on quantitative and qualitative methods, the article argues that the use of modal expressions can be better explained as reflecting the strategies of hedging used by writers for dealing with the social conditions. Within critical discourse analysis, modality is understood as encompassing much more than simply the occurrence of overt modal auxiliaries such as may, might, can, could, will, would, shall, should, must, and ought (Fowler, 1985). Rather, modality concerns the speaker's attitude toward and/or confidence in the proposition being presented.


In this study, Charpy impact test specimens were prepared by cutting Al 7075 alloy according to ASTM-E23 standards. The prepared test specimens were dissolved in a single-phase region for 1 hour at 480°C in vacuum atmosphere and artificially aged at 120°C for 24 hours after quenching. After the first step aging heat treatment applied, the specimens were artificially aged for 5-50 hours at 180°C for the second time. Microstructural characterization and fracture surface analyzes of the specimens were determined using SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) device, crystallographic analysis of the precipitated phases were determined using XRD (X-ray diffraction) device. The increase in the amount of ƞı phase (MgZn2) with increasing double aging heat treatment time was effective in increasing the strength. After 10 hours of double aging heat treatment, the impact toughness value is improved by 300% compared to the single aged condition.


Nowadays, both personal identification and classification are very important. In order to identify the person for some security applications, physical or behavior-based characteristics of individuals with high uniqueness might be analyzed. Biometric becomes the mostly used in personal identification purpose. There are many types of biometric information currently used. In this work, iris, one kind of personal characteristics is considered because of its uniqueness and collectable. Recently, the problem of various iris recognition systems is the limitation of space to store the data in a variety of environments. This work proposes the iris recognition system with small-size of feature vector causing a reduction in space complexity term. For this experiment, each iris is presented in terms of frequency domain, and based on neural network classification model. First, Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is used to compute the Discrete Fourier Coefficients of iris data in frequency domain. Once the iris data was transformed into frequency-domain matrix, Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) is used to reduce a size of the complex matrix to single vector. All of these vectors would be input for neural networks for the classification step. With this approach, the merit of our technique is that size of feature vector is smaller than that of other techniques with the acceptable level of accuracy when compared with other existing techniques.


In 1971, the UIC decided to study an international data transmission network, named HERMES. The article supplies information on the studies carried out, on present thinking in the UIC and on the problems to be solved in the fields of transport, communications and the necessary installations. It explains the situation at the beginning of 1979, before concluding with details of the expected development of the work.


The Ards Local Strategy Partnership is a successor to the Ards Partnership and was set up under the EU Programme for Peace & Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties.The Partnership's main interests are: Reducing Inequalities; Education and Skills; Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing; Neighbourhood Improvement.
Sector: Community Development
Address: Crepe Weavers Industrial Estate, 20 Comber Road, Newtownards, Down, BT23 4RX, Northern Ireland
Phone: +44 (0)28 9182 6913
Email: email@example.com


One of the conifer species that can thrive in Indonesia is Pinus merkusii. This pine is an endemic species on the island of Sumatra, particularly in Aceh, Tapanuli, and Kerinci. In addition, there were other exotic species (Pinus sp.) growing on the island of Sulawesi. However, it has never been reported before. Therefore, this study aims to examine and describe the soil characteristics under Rombeng Pine (Pinus sp.) stand in Bantaeng Regency in terms of information on the soil nutrients under the Pinus sp. stand. The used method included sampling soil and collecting tree tissues. The results showed that the characteristics of soil properties varied. Both physical and chemical soil characteristics varied, particularly in soil texture class, organic matter content, C%, N%, C/N ratio, P2O5, and Mg.


The maker movement is fundamentally changing the way educators and educational researchers envision teaching and learning. This movement contends making — an active process of building, designing, and innovating with tools and materials to produce shareable artifacts — is a naturally rich and authentic learning trajectory (Martinez & Stager, 2013). Makerspaces are places where making happens in community. I craft my dissertation to explore these two defining characteristics of makerspaces through a comparative case study (Stake, 1995) and a design experiment (Brown, 1992). In the comparative case study, I investigate three youth makerspaces as learning environments and the communities within as learning communities. I employ the design experiment to examine making as an activity that demonstrates learning. With these two complementary studies, I seek to answer the question: how is learning demonstrated in makerspaces? I ground my study in the convergences of new literacies and constructionist learning theories. From the intersections of these two learning theories, I develop an activity-identity-community framework, which I use as my analytic frame. My goal is threefold: 1) to compare three types of youth makerspaces (museum, afterschool, and mobile/library), highlighting design affordances and constraints of each; 2) to build a comprehensive understanding of how experienced young makers approach and complete activities in makerspaces, and 3) to realize implications for design and assessment of makerspace-inspired learning environments (e.g., classroom making activities). Findings expand the limited empirical research connecting making and learning by directly informing our understanding of youth makerspaces as learning environments and assessment of making activities — two key gaps identified earlier this year at the National Research Meeting on


Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) is a new type of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) technique as it can deliver a more accurate shape of sculpted 3D dose distribution to the targeted tumour volume in a single 360◦ gantry rotation or multiple sub-arcs. This improvement, however, has not mitigated the problem of doses to normal tissues outside the treated volume. The out-of-field dose associated risks remains high clinical and scientific interests for investigations. A re-evaluation of the eye lens radio-sensitivity by the ICRP 2011 has resulted in a significant reduction of the threshold for lens opacities from 8 Gy to 0.5 Gy [1]. The objective of this thesis study is to investigate the out-of-field doses to critical structures such as eye lens and CIEDs (cardiac implantable electronic devices) such as pacemakers and ICDs during 6 MV VMAT treatment of the prostate. In order to provide an accurate estimation of the out-of-field dose to the eye lens and CIEDs, the out-of-field dose distribution for a Varian iX 6 MV VMAT at St George Cancer Care Centre was extensively measured and examined while the individual outof-field dose components (patient scatter, collimator scatter and head leakage) were carefully characterised as well. The out-of-field dose profiles with different field sizes and collimator angles were measured at depths of 5 mm, 15 mm and 37.5 mm, using an ionisation chamber within a motorised water tank, and compared with the previous studies in IMRT. The depth-dose measurements were made with a Roos parallel plate


We have demonstrated a kW continuous-wave ytterbium-doped all-fiber laser oscillator with 7×1 fused fiber bundle combiner, fiber Bragg grating (FBG) and double-clad gain fiber fabricated by corresponding technologies. The results of experiment that the oscillator had operated at 1079.48nm with 80.94% slope efficiency without the influence of temperature and non-linear effects indicate that fiber components and gain fiber were suitable to high power environment. No evidence of the signal power roll-over showed that this oscillator possess the capacity to highest output with available pump power.


The present disclosure provides an adhesive film, the adhesive composition of the adhesive film and the display element comprises an adhesive film. The adhesive film comprises a cured product of the adhesive composition, the adhesive composition comprising a (meth) acrylic copolymer of a monomer mixture comprising the adhesive composition comprising (a1) a C1 (meth) acrylic acid copolymer, (meth) acrylic acid alkyl C18 or greater alkyl group having a (meth) acrylic acid alkyl esters to C17 alkyl and (a2) acrylate monomer mixture. The adhesive film has a ratio of about 0.1 or less (B / A). Here, the ratio (B / A) is the aging of the adhesive film 25 ℃ 30 minutes and 90 ° peel strength at 90 ℃ for placing the second adhesive film 40 (B) and the adhesive film ratio of 90 ° peel strength after 30 minutes (a) aging at 25 ℃.


A high voltage cable for a vehicle is provided to prevent disconnection of the cable by abrasion of a braiding unit by forming first and second abrasion prevention units on a shield body unit and a holder unit. A high voltage cable for a vehicle includes a shield body unit(10), a first jig(20), a holder unit(30), and a second jig(40). An inner part of the shield body unit(10) is formed penetratingly so that a braiding unit is connected to the shield body unit(10). The first jig(20) is inserted into a front part of the shield body unit(10) and is closely adhered to an inner peripheral surface of the shield body unit(10). A recess unit is recessed inwardly at upper/lower surfaces. The braiding unit of the high voltage cable of the vehicle is located on an outer peripheral surface of the shield body unit(10). The inside of the holder unit(30) is penetratingly formed to be connected outwardly from the braiding unit. The second jig(40) is connected to an outer peripheral surface of the holder unit(30). After the shield body unit(10), the braiding unit, and the holder unit(30) are closely adhered to each other, the second jig(40) has a pressing unit which presses toward the recess unit of the first jig(20) to maintain a sticking force of the shield body unit(10), the braiding unit, and the holder unit(30).


OBJECTIVE
To find out if there is any correlation between the DNA aneuploidy in gastric cancer that is invading the muscularis propria and survival.

DESIGN
Retrospective study.

SETTING
Teaching hospital, Japan.

SUBJECTS
52 patients who underwent gastric resection for gastric cancer that was invading the muscularis propria, and for whom clinical follow-up data were available.

INTERVENTIONS
Flow cytometric measurement of DNA in paraffin-embedded tissue.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Correlation between survival and clinicopathological variables including ploidy.

RESULTS
22 (42%) of the cases were aneuploid and 30 (58%) were diploid. The lymph node status and DNA ploidy were the significant prognostic variables, but a multivariate analysis showed that only DNA ploidy was significant.

CONCLUSIONS
Nuclear DNA ploidy is an independent prognostic factor in gastric cancer that is invading the muscularis propria.


Gangue containing S,Fe and Mn etc.as well as pollutants generating from a series of reactions accompanying the long-term natural leaching,may bring about a great threat to enviorment.By improving gangue matrix and cultivating the perennial ryegrass,the water body pollution had highly be alleviated in the present work.In the leaching solution,concentration of Fe3+,Mn2+ and SO42-met the requirement of the national life tap water,and the pH value also maintained at the weak alkaline level.Therefore,this measure may provide a practical path for the remediation of the gangue-contaminated land.


The fluxgate magnetometer equipment of LAPAN up to now does not have a supporting system to monitor geomagnetic anomaly in real time. For that reason it is necessary to build and develop such a system. In this system that we will develop a system, so that the analog data received by the fluxgate magnetometer (H component, D component and Z component) parallelly will be procceed to be a digital data integrated trought a card interface. This real time data monitoring system will be by the software to do data acquisition and visualization.


PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a device for realizing a high quality sound collection in which improvement is made to stop the deterioration of the frequency characteristics of an object sound component caused by the fact that an object sound source is moving or the location of the source is not accurately known and high quality sound collection is realized in the device having an adaptive filtering means that conducts filtering of the collected sound by plural sound collecting means that are arbitrarily arranged employing respectively different filtering coefficients and an adding means that adds output signals of the adaptive filtering means and outputs the added output. SOLUTION: Instead of setting a virtual object sound source location as a point, plural virtual object sound source locations are set in a prescribed sound collecting region and restriction conditions to maintain the sensitivity within the range are realized.


The objective of the present study was to evaluate the kinetics of cashew drying in a fixed bed dryer, using a planned experiment. The temperature varied from 35 to 65 oC and air speed from 0.9 to 1.9 m s-1, forming the variables of the process. The cashew fruits were sliced in circular pieces of approximately 0.5 cm of thickness. By regression analysis, significant effect of the temperature was verified on the reduction of the moisture ratio of cashew and that the quadratic model was the one that best represented the experimental data, temperature being the controlling factor of the process.


The paper presents a newtype of ternary two-way slab and shell type energy storage model,coupling the peak valley price,the outdoor natural cold source and phase change energy storage for cooling. Selecting a mixture of decanoic acid and lauric acid as phase change materials at room temperature,we use the computational fluid dynamics( CFD) software to simulate the cool storage process of the peak valley price in night only,outdoor natural cold source and the coupling of two ways. The liquid fraction and the temperature field distribution of the phase change materials in the process of phase change are obtained,and the heat transfer mechanism is analysed. After four hours,the liquid fraction of the peak valley price cool storage only changes from 1 to 0. 7,the one of outdoor natural cold source storage only changes from 1 to 0. 2,and the one of coupling two ways changes from 1 to 0. In the cool storage coupling,the heat exchange of phase change materials with refrigerant water and phase change materials with cold air couple with each other. Compared with the peak valley price cool storage only and outdoor natural cold source cool storage only, cool storage coupling shortens the storage time and greatly improve the energy utilization.


Background:  Undergraduate interprofessional education (IPE) is perceived by many in health and social care education to reduce barriers between the professions. In Aberdeen there has been an IPE programme with Robert Gordon University and University of Aberdeen, and 10 health and social care courses since 2003. The steering groups reported to the Scottish Government in 2008. It was recommended that IPE should be extended from classroom‐based learning experiences to practice‐based learning experiences.


We argue that the tensionless branes recently found on non-BPS D-branes using noncommutative field theory are, in fact, gauge equivalent to the vacuum under a discrete gauge symmetry. We also give a simple construction of the D(2p)-branes in type IIA theory starting from a single non-BPS D9-brane.


The desire of the high-energy-physics community for more intense secondary particle beams motivates the development of multi-megawatt, pulsed proton sources. The targets needed to produce these secondary particle beams must be sufficiently robust to withstand the intense pressure waves arising from the high peak-energy deposition which an intense pulsed beam will deliver. In addition, the materials used for the targets must continue to perform in a severe radiation environment. The effect of the beam-induced pressure waves can be mitigated by use of target materials with high-yield strength and/or low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) [1, 2, 3]. We report here first results of an expanded study of the effects of irradiation on several additional candidate materials with high strength (AlBeMet, beryllium, Ti-V6-Al4) or low CTE (a carbon-carbon composite, a new Toyota" gum" metal alloy [4], Super-Invar).


In this paper, a nonlinear model is used to analyze the dynamic pull-in instability and vibrational behavior of a microcantilever gyroscope. The gyroscope has a proof mass at its end and is subjected to nonlinear squeeze film damping, step DC voltages as well as base rotation excitation. The electrostatically actuated and detected microgyroscopes are subjected to coupled flexural-flexural vibrations that are related by base rotation. In order to detune the stiffness and natural frequencies of the system, DC voltages are applied to the proof mass electrodes in drive and sense directions. Nonlinear integro differential equations of the system are derived using extended Hamilton principle considering nonlinearities in curvature, inertia, damping and electrostatic forces. Afterward, the Gelerkin decomposition method is implemented to reduce partial differential equations of microgyroscope deflection to a system of nonlinear ordinary equations. By using the 4th order Runge–Kutta method, the nonlinear ordinary equations are solved for various values of damping coefficients, air pressures, base rotation and various initial gaps between the proof mass electrodes and the substrates. Results show that the geometric nonlinearity increases the dynamic pull-in voltage and also consideration of the base rotation gives an improved evaluation of the dynamic instability. It is shown that the squeeze film damping has a considerable influence on the dynamic deflection of the microgyroscopes.


Study is not only is a kind of a person's right and a way to realize the value in a person's life, but also has great significance in setting up a harmonious society and, in making our socialism society perfect and developed by itself.


User's content share through social media has reached huge proportions nowadays. However, along with the free expression of thoughts on social media, people risk getting exposed to various aggressive statements. In this paper, we present a system able to identify and classify offensive user-generated content.


Abstract This article argues against the non-cognitivist theory of vision that has been formulated in the work of Nico Orlandi. It shows that, if we understand 'representation' in the way Orlandi recommends, then the visual system's response to abstract regularities must involve the formation of representations. Recent experiments show that those representations must be used by the visual system in the production of visual experiences. Their effects cannot be explained by taking them to be non-visual effects involving attention or memory. This contradicts Orlandi's version of the non-cognitivist hypothesis, but does so while vindicating her methodological position.


We present a general approach to estimating probability measures constrained to lie in a convex set. We represent constrained measures as mixtures of simple, known extreme measures, and so the problem of estimating a constrained measure becomes one of estimating an unconstrained mixing measure. Convex constraints arise in many modeling situations, such as estimation of the mean and estimation under stochastic ordering constraints. We describe mixture representation techniques for these and other situations, and discuss applications to maximum likelihood and Bayesian estimation.


The red-shouldered hawk is a crow-sized buteo, or soaring hawk. The adults are strikingly plumed, with rufous (brownish red) shoulder patches and a rufous barred breast. Rufous lesser and median upperwing coverts form the "red shoulders" evident on this species. The flight feathers of adults are barred black and white and show a white crescent-shaped window across the primaries, which is visible in flight. The underparts, which are rufous with white barring, often exhibit thin, dark streaks on the chest. The head and back are dark brown. The black tail is bisected by several narrow white bands. Although females average slightly larger than males, plumage is similar for both sexes. The call of the red-shouldered hawk is a series of nasal drawn-out "aahhh" cries. Juvenile red-shouldered hawks can be distinguished from adults by their overall browner, less brilliant plumage. The shoulder patches of juveniles are paler rufous and the crescents across the primaries are tawny. The underparts are whitish with variable amounts of brown streaking. The tail is brown with several thin pale bands. Adult plumage appears in the second year. The red-shouldered hawk is a long-tailed buteo with squared-off wings and a protruding head. Characterized by quick choppy wingbeats interspersed with short glides, the flight style of this hawk is similar to that of an accipiter. When soaring, most buteos hold their wings straight out, whereas the red-shouldered hawk bows its wings forward.


The invention is concerned with the capacitor, includes the multi-overlaying dielectric layers with one another, the first capacitance structure, the second capacitance structure and four of the exterior electrodes. The first capacitance structure consists of several of the first interior electrodes and the second interior electrodes overlapping one another. The second capacitance structure consists of several of the third interior electrodes and the fourth electrodes overlapping one another. One of the dielectric layers is nipped in between of one of the first interior electrode and the second interior next to it and one of the third interior electrodes and the fourth one next to the third. The exterior electrodes connect with the edge of the first to fourth interior electrodes separately.


This paper presents the research ideas of interfacial bond property between synthetic fiber and concrete,and summarizes the latest research works and developments.It emphasized on discussing the effect factors and improving measures on interfacial bond between synthetic fiber and concrete.Mechanical model for interfacial bond is analyzed.In addition,the author briefly analyzes their development prospects and tendency.


The main objective of this research was to demonstrate the processes of subjectivity present in the narratives of a trans collective. These narratives were obtained through the audiovisual material generated by said group. These narratives had to do with the transition of their gender identities related to the sociocultural structure. Social network analysis (ARS) was used in this research. Semantic graphs were built using the atlas ti program. The study was structured in three levels. The first level was based on micro-relationships, in which the photographic content of the collective was considered, such as its relationships, subjectivity processes, and consolidation of subjective dimensions within the documentaries' narratives (which were the central observation units). The second level referred to the complexity of what was evidenced in the first level. This second level considered violence due to prejudice, which gave an in-depth character to the relationships between the dimensions and the narratives. The third level delved into the macro relationships. All the relationships between the subjective and violent dimensions were presented. The results evidenced the inherent connections between the subjectivity of identities in transit with violence due to prejudice. It was visualized that violence (in its different forms) is part of the particular way in which trans people construct their gender identity. In addition, the processes of subjectivity were not developed separately but were presented simultaneously through audiovisual narratives.


The present invention relates to an X-ray image acquisition automatic positioning of the absorption means. In order to improve the image quality and optimization of the radiation exposure of the object to provide the best position of the X-ray absorption means. Acquiring (112) a first X-ray image sequence (113). For each piece of the image, determining (114) the best location (115) X-ray absorption apparatus. The second X-ray images corresponding to the image sequence (117) associated with the first sequence (116). Choose the best position for the absorption means (14) associated with the image corresponding to a first sequence (113) is determined for a second sequence (117) of the collection. Accordingly, based on the first sequence is generated based on the specific circumstances of the database having the optimum position of the absorption means, thereby providing the generated position information to the actual acquisition of the second image sequence.


The objective of this paper is to investigate the application of the cross-correlation technique in localizing the leakage in Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) pipeline using wireless three-axis vibration sensors. Most of the existing leak localization techniques that utilized the cross-correlation method is using acoustic and pressure sensors. This study explored the impact of using three-axis vibration sensor ADXL335 to localize the leakages in ABS pipeline. The study focused on the small leak size of 1 mm and the effect of sensor distance and different water pressure is studied. The vibration data used in the cross-correlation data were filtered against the noise interference from the water pipeline. The source of noise interference from the water pipeline are motor, water pump, and valve. The computed leak localization accuracy against the actual leak distance from the three-axis was analyzed. The leakage localization formula is improvised by adding buffer time to have an accurate result. From the experiment, it was discovered that three-axis vibration sensor can be used to localize the leakages in plastic water pipeline and it is suitable for deployment in small to medium water distribution network or within a building.


ABSTRACT:  This study examines how managers coordinate the joint use of earnings management and expectation management by estimating the relationship between these instruments and how this relationship changes as their respective constraints change. We do this by estimating structural models of the two instruments that account for the constraints on their use as well as their effects on each other. Our results suggest that managers use earnings management and expectation management complementarily when managers' ability to use earnings management is less restricted. However, as the constraints on earnings management increase, managers substitute earnings management with expectation management. Moreover, we find that the extent of expectation management influences the extent of earnings management, but not vice versa. Examining the market consequences of the use of these instruments, we find that, while there are penalties for using both earnings management and expectation management, either as complements...


Case I.?Dyspepsia. James Scott, set. 51, admitted 27th September 1852. He states that, about two months previous to admission, he experienced severe shooting pains darting from the left scapula to the epigastrium and left hypochondrium. For many years back he has been much addicted to intemperate habits, and latterly the appetite has been considerably impaired. On admission, the tongue is furred, and cracked in the centre; he has almost constant sour taste in the mouth, worse in the morning after taking food ; frequent acid eructations ; bad appetite, and considerable thirst. About a quarter of an hour after meals he experiences a feeling of heat and pain in the epigastrium, with acid eructations and flatulence; the latter also troubles him during the night, when the stomach is empty. These symptoms continue generally for about an hour and a half, when they gradually abate, and soon after disappear entirely. He then again takes food, and the symptoms return in about a quarter of an hour afterwards, as already noticed. He does not think that one kind of food disagrees with him more than another. He has often much nausea and loathing of food, but no vomiting. There is some tenderness on pressure at a point about the centre of the epigastrium, where he states there is always more or less pain, generally of a dull, heavy character, but sometimes occurring in sharp twinges, shooting to the


more elaborate settings-the addition of harmony parts, descants, solos, responses, sound effects, and percussive accompaniments. All of Leisy's ideas for expanding the arrangements, whether specifically notated or suggested in the text, have been tested with groups of amateur singers. Among the 160 songs are more than thirty spirituals and gospel numbers such as "Come and Go With Me," "Do Lord," "This Train," and "Let My Little Light Shine"; rounds such as "Hey! Ho! Nobody Home" and "White Coral Bells"; familiar folk songs such as "The Fox," "Greensleeves," "Stodola Pumpa," "Hey Lollee," "The Gypsy Rover," "There Was an Old Woman," "Rock Island Line," "The Sloop John B.," "Worried Man Blues," "Tom Dooley," "Green Grow the Lilacs," "The Water is Wide," and "Wanderin' "; and even a few less familiar songs such as "Let Me Fly" and "The Great Meat Pie." Each song is accompanied by a "program guide" providing information about the source of the song and suggestions for interpretation. Leisy handles these commentaries authoritatively and with a light, casual, entertaining touch entirely in keeping with the tone and purpose of the book. He also includes pronunciation guides for foreign texts and definitions of unusual or obsolete words in English texts. An attractive feature of this publication is the availability of a singer's edition at a low price. This paperback edition includes the music and words for all 160 songs, but without the accompaniments, commentaries, and illustrations. Thus, a collection of this sort need no longer be something to lay on top of the family piano or to rest in the personal collection of the community songleader. It would be relatively inexpensive for each member of a club or singing group to have a copy, with the director or accompanist having the larger hardbound volume. In addition, it would seem to be a valuable supplement to a basic musicianship text for use in music courses for the classroom teacher-a large repertory for use in learning singing, music reading, harmonizing, accompaniment techniques, and group performance practices, as well as a handy resource for later use in


The Congress for Cultural Freedom was established in June 1950 in West Berlin with the intention of solidifying anti‐communist opinion among Western intellectuals. Despite much having already been written on its history and its relationship with the CIA, there remains a lack of clarity over its early years concerning the extent of the CIA role and the degree to which a coherent 'strategy' existed. This article concentrates on the various individuals and groups who were involved in the Congress' origins, and how its purpose and method was consolidated by means of its first major venture after Berlin, the 'Masterpieces of the 20th Century' festival held in Paris in May 1952.


Complete, rigorous review of Linear Algebra, from Vector Spaces to Normal Forms Emphasis on more classical Newtonian treatment (favored by Engineers) of rigid bodies, and more modern in greater reliance on Linear Algebra to get inertia matrix and deal with machines Develops Analytical Dynamics to allow the introduction of friction


The tungsten deposits in the Shixing region,northern Guangdong Province,are composed mainly of quartz-vein type ones.Based on the precise Re-Os dating of the molybdenites from the ore-hosted quartz vein,we obtained the ore-forming ages of 154.2±2.7 Ma(MSWD=0.29)for the Shigushan tungsten-bismuth deposit and 159.1±2.2Ma(MSWD=3.9)for the Shirenzhang tungsten deposit.It suggested that the deposits were the products of the peak time of Mesozoic large-scale mineralization in the Nanling region,South China.Our new data provide an important isotope chronological evidence for further study of the regional mineralization regularities and the guidance of regional prospecting.


Posttransplant immunosuppression with calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) is associated with impaired renal function, while mTor inhibitors such as everolimus may provide a renal‐sparing alternative. In this randomized 1‐year study in patients with liver transplantation (LTx), we sought to assess the effects of everolimus on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) after conversion from CNIs compared to continued CNI treatment. Eligible study patients received basiliximab induction, CNI with/without corticosteroids for 4 weeks post‐LTx, and were then randomized (if GFR > 50 mL/min) to continued CNIs (N = 102) or subsequent conversion to EVR (N = 101). Mean calculated GFR 11 months postrandomization (ITT population) revealed no significant difference between treatments using the Cockcroft‐Gault formula (−2.9 mL/min in favor of EVR, 95%‐CI: [−10.659; 4.814], p = 0.46), whereas use of the MDRD formula showed superiority for EVR (−7.8 mL/min, 95%‐CI: [−14.366; −1.191], p = 0.021). Rates of mortality (EVR: 4.2% vs. CNI: 4.1%), biopsy‐proven acute rejection (17.7% vs. 15.3%), and efficacy failure (20.8% vs. 20.4%) were similar. Infections, leukocytopenia, hyperlipidemia and treatment discontinuations occurred more frequently in the EVR group. No hepatic artery thrombosis and no excess of wound healing impairment were noted. Conversion from CNI‐based to EVR‐based immunosuppression proved to be a safe alternative post‐LTx that deserves further investigation in terms of nephroprotection.


This paper addresses the small-strain undrained shear behavior of clays based on an extensive testing program conducted on normally consolidated resedimented Boston blue clay (RBBC). The uniformity and reproducibility in the behavior of this soil permit a detailed study of the role of consolidation stress level, preshear consolidation stress path, preshear lateral stress ratio (K) , rate of shear, and duration of laboratory aging on the small-strain ( ea ≤0.1%) nonlinearity in undrained triaxial compression. The small-strain behavior of normally consolidated (NC) RBBC is measured using a LVDT-based device that is capable of resolving on-specimen axial strains smaller than 0.0001% strain over a 10% strain range, thus allowing full description of the small-strain nonlinearity. The testing program relies on a multistage testing approach developed to minimize specimen variability and reduce testing time. The small-strain nonlinearity of NC RBBC is found to be virtually independent of void ratio or stress leve...


Abstract : The technique of gas chromatography has been used to investigate the solution properties of many solvents with a propargyl (acetylene-terminated) sulfone (PATS). In this case, unlike previous work on the RADEL polysulfone, no correlation between the strength of the specific interaction parameter and the solubility as determined from beaker tests is found. Furthermore, curing of the PATS at 240 deg C for 24 hours did not change the measured plasticizer/solvent interactions. Piezoelectric sorption techniques were used to study the solution properties of a P1700/ATS/dichloromethane system. Phase equilibrium data are presented for ATS/dichloromethane, P1700/dichloromethane and P1700/ATS/ dichloromethane. The ternary system contained 70% P1700 and 30% ATS by weight on a dry basis. Both the Flory-Huggins and corresponding states solutions were used in the data analysis. In both cases, the binary interaction parameter for P1700- ATS interactions indicated strong interactions, in agreement with experimental observations that these polymers form a compatible system. Gas chromatographic investigations of the Radel polysulfone indicate the presence of a phase transition of undetermined character between 185 and 200 deg C in addition to the glass transition between 220 and 230 deg C.


Field experiment with testing analysis was conducted to study the optimum applying rates of nitrogen,phosphorus,potassium,zinc fertilizers and their combining proportions in spring wheat with both high grain yield and high protein contents by a 416-A mixed design under the used soil with medium fertility.The two target function models between wheat grain yield,protein contents and the application rates of nitrogen,phosphorus,potassium,zinc fertilizers were probed.the optimum application rates of nitrogen,phosphorus,potassium,zinc fertilizers and their rational ratios for maximum yield,maximum protein yield and higher protein contents(i.e.more than 13.5%) have been obtained.It was considered by integrated analysis that the optimum rates of nitrogen fertilizer is about 22 kg/666.67m~2,the most suitable ratios of N∶P_2O_5∶K_2O range from 1∶0.45∶0.19,which may get the maximum of protein yield,i.e.both yield and protein contents are better.


Abstract This submission concisely presents analysis of the mm-wave broadband channel propagation data collected under different weather conditions. The emphasis is on measurement based propagation models for small scale fading in rain, for average rain attenuation and large-scale attenuation over broadband millimeter wave links. A deterministic modeling technique for link design is also presented.


Since March 2004 the ground-based 268–280 GHz radiometer MIRA 2 has been in quasi-continuous operation at the inner-tropical Mérida Atmospheric Research Station (MARS) on Pico Espejo (8.58°N, 71.15°W, 4765 m above sea level) in the Venezuelan Andes. Using the optimal estimation method concentration profiles of ozone have been retrieved in the stratosphere and mesosphere. In the middle stratosphere variations of ozone on a time scale of several months were revealed in the resulting time series that probably result from the turnaround of the Brewer–Dobson circulation. In the mesosphere photochemistry plays the most important role for the ozone concentration. Therefore a diurnal cycle is observed in the upper part of the retrieved ozone profiles. The measurements are used to verify model results of ozone in the mesosphere obtained by a photochemistry model, which reproduces the diurnal variation of ozone very well. Also an inter-annual variation of mesospheric ozone during the month of November in 2004–2007 was observed, primarily during the night. As the time series is still too short to clearly distinguish solar or QBO signals, the cause of this inter-annual variation cannot yet be related to one or the other. In November 2006 an unusual decrease of the ozone partial columns above 60 km was measured; the cause of this decrease is also not identified so far.


A technique for measuring residual motion during the stagnation phase of an indirectly driven inertial confinement experiment has been implemented. This method infers a velocity from spatially and temporally resolved images of the X-ray emission from two orthogonal lines of sight. This work investigates the accuracy of recovering spatially resolved velocities from the X-ray emission data. A detailed analytical and numerical modeling of the X-ray emission measurement shows that the accuracy of this method increases as the displacement that results from a residual velocity increase. For the typical experimental configuration, signal-to-noise ratios, and duration of X-ray emission, it is estimated that the fractional error in the inferred velocity rises above 50% as the velocity of emission falls below 24 μm/ns. By inputting measured parameters into this model, error estimates of the residual velocity as inferred from the X-ray emission measurements are now able to be generated for experimental data. Details...


This issue of Academic Emergency Medicine includes an article by Haydar et al. that describes a project designed to reduce ED crowding by admitting patients without having the inpatient physicians actually see them first. This is not a new idea of course and is one that has not been without controversy. There are clearly advantages in direct admissions: it can benefit the admitted patient by providing a more comfortable place to be treated, it certainly benefits the patients in the lobby who are waiting to be seen, and it allows the inpatient service more flexibility. In a community hospital it may even allow consultants to finish seeing patients in clinic or even get bit more precious sleep. But there are benefits in requiring that the admitting physician actually see the patient in the ED too: it minimizes miscommunication, ensures continuity of care, and eliminates the risk from a hiatus in the patient's evaluation and treatment. These factors probably also reduce the emergency physician's malpractice risk. Importantly, a face-to-face meeting between colleagues can (and should) be an opportunity for social interaction and mutual learning. The project managers in this case were obviously cognizant of some of these issues and took care to mitigate them. As such I suspect that the benefits of this system greatly outweighed the harms. But I am not certain that this is true, and the project raises several complex issues. This was a quality improvement (QI) project. A group of managers, presumably experts in system dynamics, identified a problem and developed a solution. They proposed this solution to the involved workers, in this case emergency physicians, who rejected it. To carry out their plan they instituted a series of more and more coercive actions. When simple education failed they tried "counseling" by the physician's administrative superiors; when this proved inadequate, financial incentives were instituted and group sanctions imposed. Technically this was a command-based process. Decision-making was centralized and feedback from the affected parties was minimized. We do not really know if the physicians initially rejected the process for good or bad reasons, if relationships between the ED and admitting services improved or deteriorated, or if benefit exceeded harm to patients. Some of this information was undoubtedly collected and presumably acted upon, but it was apparently done in an informal way. Staff involved in the process did "carefully monitor for any occurrence of potential harm" and since they were intimately involved in day-to-day operations this probably would have picked up any serious problems, provided that the problems were recognized by the providers and reported. Only a few patients who the emergency provider thought merited admission were seen in the ED by the inpatient providers and discharged; this is important to know from the standpoint of overall hospital resource utilization. Other issues may not have been optimally analyzed. Did the gap in care cause any problems? How quickly did the inpatient staff actually see the patients? How many patients were quickly discharged, downgraded, or upgraded once admitted? Were there delays in obtaining or reviewing important tests? Were there delays in giving essential medications or treatments? Were patients happier? Did patients have better outcomes? Were providers eventually pleased with the change? Did the apparent increase in ED provider work load per patient have any unforeseen consequences? Was total hospital throughput time increased or decreased? How did the individual protocol decisions (like ordering follow-up troponin tests on inpatients) work out? These are important questions and although I suspect the results were generally reasonable, clear answers to these questions would be reassuring for the affected hospital as well as other facilities contemplating a similar change. Command decision-making is managerially efficient, and this is often desirable and occasionally even necessary, but it is well accepted that information flow is the Achilles heel of command processes. You only see what you look for, and decision-makers are insulated from the direct effects of their decisions. This inevitably causes an overemphasis on the identified process problem (delays in admissions), which is easily measured and underemphasizes outcomes (particularly rare or unforeseen ones) that might be more important overall. The alternative process is dispersed decision-making. Spreading the decision-making process among many actors maximizes the information available to the system. But dispersed decision making has flaws too. It is inefficient, and since the managers are often right this can be a major problem. It requires a considerably different attitude about the individual agency of people lower on the chain of command. Managers tend be exasperated with physician "professionalism" and view physicians as overly focused on the specifics of the individual The author has no relevant financial information or potential conflicts of interest to disclose. A related article appears on page XXX.


The management by trust (MBT) model is developed to ascertain the most effective system of management. It involves a trust-based managerial approach to design organizational structures and processes, assimilate conflicts, and integrate goals as an independent variable, and effective performance as a dependent variable. The theoretical soundness of the model is established through a survey of research literature, while its validity is determined through action and basic objective researches conducted by the author in India. MBT action research interventions in two plants led to significant improvement in several performance measures and generated a trusting climate. Field data collected from two industrial organiza tions in a basic objective research reveal that effective and ineffective organizations differ in terms of their adherence to trust-based and distrust-based managerial approaches, respectively. Tentatively, the MBT system seems to be an effective managerial device for accomplishing improved performance in industrial organizations.


The 250 meter high Matyas Mount forms a part of the Buda Mountains, located on the Northwest part of Budapest in the vicinity of Obuda. The entrance of the cave of Matyas Mount opens on the southwest slope of the Matyas Mount, 203 meters above sea level on the bottom of an abandoned stone quarry. The total length of its known corridors is 2,310 meters. The deepest point in the cave is occupied by a lake (Silty Lake), the altitude of which is between 111-112 meters, dependent upon the rainfall. The corridors leading to the lake form complicated labyrinths of tectonic origin, similarly to the two other main branches, "Mud Houlding" and "Compass Corridors." The approximately ten meter square surface of the two meter deep lake receives its water supply from two directions, from the west from the "T-rift" "Mud Houlding Corridors", while from the east from the difficultly traversable irregularities formed in the fissures of the "Compass Corridor". The original formation of the cave was in tectonic fissures which were further developed thr'ough water erosion. Both the four large corridor systems of the upper level and the heavily broken fissures of the lower level have their main direction in the NW-SE and NE-SW line. Though the difTerent investigators have somewhat varying opinions in regards to the exact mode and time of origin of the cave, they agree that due to the eruptions of hot springs as a result of tectonic movements these have a secondary role in the cave's formation. The appearance of the formations in the upper und lower levels are quite and well distinguishable. The upper level is dry and is characterized by rounded ofT forms, large rooms and narrow isthmi. The lower one is wet with the results of heavy tectonic movements and signs of cold water karst erosion. The level of the lake water corresponds to the nivo of the first karst water flow. The lowest level of the cave's corridors (Silty Hiver and Lake) was developed in upper Triassic hornstone


Laser-induced breakdown (LIE) thresholds are determined for pulse durations of 2.4 ps, 400 fs, and 100 fs at 580 mn in high purity water, saline and tap water. The dependence of LIE irradiance thresholds on pulse duration, optical wavelength, and focal volume is examined, and the experimental data obtained is compared with a theoretical model. The slopes of the probability curves calculated are compared with mechanisms for LIE, namely avalanche ionization, multiphoton initiated avalanche ionization, and multiphoton ionization. Lastly, the dependence of the peak breakdown electric field on pulse duration and focal volume is empirically determined and compared with previous work.


Interaction of lithium atom with TEX molecule which is a high density energetic material is considered within the restrictions of density functional theory at the level of UB3LYP/6-31++G(d,p). The results indicate that the lithium atom transfers an electron to TEX causing the rupture of one of C-N bonds of the structure. Some geometrical and quantum chemical data have been collected and discussed. A plausible mechanism has been suggested for the destructive reduction of TEX molecule.


The local class field theory completely settles all problems pertaining to the abelian extensions of a complete field. All abelian extensions can be described in terms of norm class groups and it can readily be decided which abelian groups can be realized as Galois groups. In this paper we want to attack a more general problem. We consider non-abelian normal extensions of the ground field whose degrees are powers of a prime which is distinct from the characteristic of the residue class field. We construct an infinite normal extension which acts as an universal field. The algebraic approximation of this field yields complete information on the algebraic structure of the field and its Galois group over the ground field. It is shown that the Galois group contains an everywhere dense subgroup which completely suffices to describe the Galois theory. The structure of this group is readily determined. To a certain extent it is a generalization of the fuchsian groups of the classical theory of algebraic functions. The analogy is rather striking. We thus can associate to the given rational prime and the ground field an abstract infinite discrete group which can be considered as a universal covering group with respect to the given prime. All finite groups which can be realized as Galois groups are homomorphic maps of this infinite group. Finally, we associate to certain non-abelian extensions factor groups which are defined in terms of division algebras over the ground field. These factor groups are isomorphic with the respective Galois groups of the fields under consideration. We thus obtain another generalization of local class field theory. In our proofs we make ample use of the ramification theory and local class field theory. Let k be a field which is complete with respect to a discrete valuation of rank one. Suppose that o is the ring of all integers in k and that I= (X) is the prime ideal of o. We shall assume that the residue field o/1 of k is a finite Galois field containing l, = q elements. Let p F 2 be a prime such that q -1 0 (mod p). Then k contains the pth roots of unity.t In the sequel we shall sup-


Developing efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts based on inexpensive and earth-abundant materials for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is essential for large-scale renewable energy storage and conversion processes but remains a major challenge. In this study, a bamboo-structured nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube coencapsulated with metallic cobalt and Mo2C nanoparticles (Co–Mo2C@NCNT) is designed and synthesized by a successive pyrolysis approach and demonstrated to be an efficient and stable bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting in alkaline medium. Attributing to favorable synergy interaction in composition and structure, the resultant Co–Mo2C@NCNT presents the superior performances toward HER, OER, and even overall water splitting in alkaline medium. To drive a current density of 10 mA cm–2, it needs only an overpotential of ∼186 and ∼377 mV for the electrocatalytic HER and OER, respectively, and a relatively low cell voltage (∼1.628 V) for overall...


The theory of effective Hamiltonians is well established. However, limitations appear in its applicability for many problems in molecular physics and quantum chemistry. The standard effective Hamiltonians may become strongly non-Hermitian when there is a large coupling between the model space, in which they are defined, and the outer space Moreover, in the presence of intruder states, discontinuities appear in the matrix elements of these effective Hamiltonians as a function of the internuclear distances. To solve these difficulties, a new class of effective Hamiltonians (called intermediate Hamiltonians) is presented; only one part of their roots are exact eigen-energies of the full Hamiltonian. The theory of these intermediate Hamiltonians is presented by means of a new wave-operator R which is the analogue of the wave-operator Omega in the theory of effective Hamiltonians. Solutions are obtained by a generalised degenerate perturbation theory (GDPT) and by iterative procedures. Two model systems are numerically solved which demonstrate the good convergence properties of GDPT with respect to standard degenerate perturbation theory (DPT). Continuity of the solutions is also checked in the presence of an intruder state.


Grammosciadium macrodon subsp. nezaketae is described as endemic to Eastern Anatolia. The new subspecies differs remarkably from the G. macrodon subsp. macrodon based on fruit characters. In addition to the diagnostic fruit characters, other significant morphological and anatomical differences between these two taxa are presented as well. A quantitative, morphometric analysis was carried out to achieve more reasonable results and to discuss diagnostic characters in Grammosciadium macrodon and its morphologically closest relatives.


In this paper, a novel image fusion algorithm based on wavelet transform is presented. The images to be fused are firstly decomposed into high frequency and low frequency bands. By considering the physical meaning of the coefficients, a new selection strategy that treats the coefficients in different ways is then developed. This strategy selects the coefficients of high frequency bands with a variance based scheme, while selects the coefficients of low frequency band with an edge based scheme. Finally, the fused image is constructed by an inverse wavelet transform performing on the combined coefficients from all frequency bands. The proposed method is validated and compared with some existing fusion methods. Experimental results can clearly indicate the superiority of the proposed method through visual inspection and objective fusion performance measurements.


We sought to examine the relationship between BMI, sweat rate (SR) and sweat volume (SV) in pre-, peri- and postmenopausal women during a moderate exercise. Based on their ages and menstrual cycle history, thirty healthy women were divided into three groups: pre- (22.5 ± 0.8 yrs, n = 10), peri- (46.5 ± 1.1 yrs, n = 10) and post- (52.2 ± 0.9 yrs, n = 10). Participants underwent a 15- minute walk on a treadmill at a constant speed of 4.2 km/h at 27℃. Sweat was collected and measured with a suction apparatus around a confined area of 120 cm2 outlined on the skin of the face and neck of the participants during the exercise. SR and BMI were determined using the formulae: and , respectively. The older women had a significantly higher BMI: pre-, peri- and post- (23.7 ± 1.3 kg/m2 vs 28.0 ± 1.2 kg/m2 vs 28.4 ± 0.7) (p


This article provides a retrospective analysis of the formation of environmental policy and the formation of the "green" political movement in Russia from the 1960s until today. The study is based on the classification of the stages of development of the domestic "green" movement, proposed by O.N. Yanitsky. The authors describe four stages in the development of the domestic environmental movement: from its inception to the crisis. The purpose of the work is to supplement the proposed by Yanitsky's classification of a new stage in the development of "green" Russia: the article shows that this stage is associated with the creation of patriotic environmental youth non-profit organizations, as well as with the subsequent actions of the authorities, who see their own promising directions in this. In conclusion, a forecast is given that the way out of the crisis of the "green" movement in Russia is associated with the need to institutionalize the movement, in particular, to create a "green" faction in the State Duma in the future.


Aedes camptorhynchus, also known as southern saltmarsh mosquito (SSM), is a mosquito of public and animal health importance. It is a vector of the zoonotic Ross River virus (not present in New Zealand) and a significant cause of nuisance biting, and is involved in the transmission of diseases of importance to animal health (Bull and Mules 1944). It was first detected in New Zealand at Napier in late 1998 and since then in nine other locations, most recently in the Thames-Coromandel district in May 2006.


In tribotronic bearing design active components are used to adapt bearing performance to operating conditions. The principle of self-adaptive bearings has also been presented in literature in which a passive modification of geometry was used for a variation in conditions. This work presents an alternative design approach for self-adaptive bearings. This approach is focused on the shift between two known bearing geometries, where each of them is the preferred solution in a part of the operating regime. Using compliant elements in the bearing design allows for passive shape shifting. Four examples are presented which present this behavior for variable velocity and load conditions. The design approach could possibly provide a cheaper alternative for simple active bearing designs, or could be combined with active components in a tribotronics design to improve existing performance.


An S-band radar transmitter MMIC is reported containing a class-F power amplifier and a switched mode power supply. The integration of the power supply offers the possibility to optimize the power amplifier bias voltage for each individual device in a AESA antenna. This has several advantages such as amplitude tapering with preservation of efficiency, the reduction of spurious signals due to decoherence and the removal of single point of failure.


The invention relates to a method for operating an electrical network, in particular an on-board network of a vehicle, particularly a hybrid vehicle (HEV), a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV), or an electric vehicle (EV). This comprises a battery system, a battery separator unit (10), with which a high-voltage battery (12) from a positive battery terminal (18) and / or a negative battery terminal (32) or of two battery terminals (18, 32) from board network is separable. A main contactor and / or pre-charging coil (22, 28, 36) at least one electro-mechanical switch (20, 34) is preheated. In the case of pulse-width modulation control signal, the control is done with a fraction (54), preferably 10% to 30%, a pulse width suit (52). In the case of control by means of direct current signals, a preheating of the main contactor and / or pre-charging contactor coil is carried out (22, 28, 36) in response to selected temperature-dependent heating gradient of the temperature inside the electrical energy accumulator (62, 64, 66).


PURPOSE: A method of estimating pollution range of ingot steel on ladle change is provided to estimate generation timing of a pollution factor of ingot steel representing the defect ratio of a cast-piece. CONSTITUTION: A method of estimating pollution range of ingot steel on ladle change comprises next steps. The amount(Q) of casting after the finishing of a first radle and the amount of the remaining ingot steel of a turndish at the start of a second radle are respectively designated. With the remain amount(Qrm) of ingot steel and a first proportional coefficient or a second proportional coefficient, the amount(Qplug) of casting when becoming a first referecne value for pollution concentration and the amount(Qpeak) of casting when becoming a second reference value, from the finishing timing of the first radle are respectively calculated(S13,S18).


Systems, especially those in the design and development phase, frequently suffer from unexpected failures, which are caused by insufficient knowledge of the system failure processes. In this paper, we develop a hierarchical Bayesian reliability model that account for unexpected failures. For this, the sample space of all failures is broken down into subspaces of expected failures and unexpected failures. The overall reliability is, then, derived based on the total probability theorem. A Bayesian network model is developed to explicitly compute the probability of unexpected failures. A single board computer reliability analysis is considered and the results show that neglecting unexpected failures overestimates the reliability.


Recruitment as one of the principal practices of the human resource management represents a major stake in all the organizations and in particular in the multinational firm. However the risk to fall into discrimination is current there. This work seeks to study this phenomenon with the help of a qualitative study conducted near ten Tunisian subsidiaries of Multinational Firm. At the conclusion of this research, discrimination with recruitment seems to exist in all the subsidiaries, but to differing degrees. To avoid it, we propose criteria of equity like the adaptability, the good knowledge of the profile, the good definition of the station and the equal opportunity.


Bevacizumab intravitreal injection (IVB) could be detected in plasma that might cause an imbalance in the coagulation system. A hypercoagulable state is potentially involved in the risk for thrombosis, which is associated with high cardiovascular mortality.The objective of the current study was to investigate the risk of elevated plasma fibrinogen levelsin hypertensive and normotensive patients after IVB in diabetic retinopathy. This study was conducted at Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Yogyakarta from March to June 2019. A total of 64 patients were enrolled in the study, included of 32 hypertensive and 32 non-hypertensive patients with diabetic retinopathy who underwent IVB. Patients were interviewed and investigated for physical condition and opthalmological examination. Fibrinogen levelwas measured before and 1 week after IVB. The mean fibrinogen level beforeand after IVB was slightly high in hypertensive patients than normotensive but not significantly different(p>0.05). There was no significant risk of increased fibrinogen levels after IVB in the hypertension group compared to the normotension group in diabetic retinopathy patients. The proportion of patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease after IVB was not significantly different between both groups.


Predatory pricing conduct has long been capable of contravening the existing prohibition on the misuse of market power in s 46 of the TPA. However, the new provision deals specifically with predatory pricing and proscribes certain pricing conduct in a very different manner from the preexisting s 46. This article examines the amendment, considers its effects (some of which may not be positive for the Australian economy) and reviews the position of the recently elected Labor Government in relation to the law's future.


Article history: Received: 2 July 2012 Accepted: 18 Oct 2012 Available online: 21 Jan 2013 ZJRMS 2014 Sep; 16(9): 72-74 Background: The present study aims to investigate the validity and reliability of universal dementia assessment scale in patients with dementia. Materials and Methods: This study, 78 patients with dementia were diagnosed, in that the study tools were applied and collected and then analyzed using SPSS software over these patients. Results: The validity and reliability of the scale was calculated. Also, the appropriate alpha (78%) of this questionnaire indicates the acceptable reliability among Iranian elderly clinical population. Conclusion: Given its characteristics, the universal scale of dementia analysis can be a useful tool for screening the dementia in the clinical population. Copyright © 2014 Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.


It introduces the main logistics distribution modes at present,establishes the evaluation index system of selecting logistics distribution mode,works out the weight of each evaluating index in the choice of distribution mode through combining the quantitative evaluation (entropy weighing) and qualitative evaluation (AHP),and gets evaluation result with persuasion. The introduced TOPSIS method could effectively solve the multi-objective decision of distribution mode selection,makes quantitative ordering for the possible modes,and provide the foundation for the decision of enterprise logistics distribution mode.


Recent scientific reports have shown that older persons treated with antipsychotics for dementia‐related behavioural symptoms have increased mortality. However, the impact of these drugs prescribed during hospitalization has rarely been assessed. We aimed to investigate whether antipsychotics are associated with an increased risk of mortality during hospitalization and at 3‐month follow‐up in elderly inpatients.


Routing of photon play a key role in optical communication and quantum networks. Although the quantum routing of signals has been investigated in various systems both in theory and experiment. However, no current theory can route quantum signals between microwave and optical light. Here, we propose an experimentally accessible tunable multi-channel quantum routing proposal using photon-phonon translation in a hybrid opto-electromechanical system. It is the first demonstration that the single-photon of optical frequency can be routed into three different output ports by adjusting microwave power. More important, the two output signals can be selected according to microwave power. Meanwhile, we also demonstrate the vacuum and thermal noise will be insignificant for the optical performance of the single-photon router at temperature of the order of 20 mK. Our proposal may have paved a new avenue towards multi-channel router and quantum network.


Technology has played an increasingly important role in all aspects of our lives, farming, which is heavily influenced by various environmental factors, has necessitated the development of new methods to improve crop yield. The existing GSM-based Automated Irrigation system is not as effective and has some drawbacks, so the proposed method aims to develop a more effective Smart Irrigation system. With the help of various sensor configurations, users have addressed the use of IoT technology to assist farmers in detecting significant environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, soil moisture, and water level. A water pump controls the flow of water by opening and closing the flow when a signal is sent through the Arduino controller. Drop by drop, water is delivered to the plant's roots by a rain gun, and when the moisture level returns to normal, the sensor detects it and sends a signal to the controller, which shuts down the water pump. Smart Farming using the Internet of Things (IoT) and Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) with their high sensor systems and output results are possibilities to enable more accurate, network, durable Smart Agricultural systems for better Soil health using IoT.


The first report of a western South Atlantic soft skate, genus Malacoraja Stehmann, 1970, is described as Malacoraja obscura, new species, from the southeastern Brazilian continental slope off the states of Espirito Santo and Rio de Janeiro, in depths ranging from 808-1105 m. The new species is known from five specimens and is distinguished from congeners by its unique dorsal coloration with small, faded white spots on disc and pelvic fins, by retaining in larger specimens an irregular row of thorns along dorsal midline of tail (extending from tail base to two-thirds of tail length in 680 mm total length female), and by presenting a ventral tail midline devoid of small denticles only at base (naked region not extending posterior to pelvic fin rear margin). Further diagnostic characters in combination include the lack of scapular thorns in larger specimens, elevated number of tooth rows (64/62 tooth rows in subadult male of 505 mm TL, and 76/74 in large female of 680 mm TL) and vertebrae (27-28 Vtr, 68-75 Vprd), ventral disc and tail with a uniform dark brown coloration, paired postventral fenestrae on scapulocoracoid, enlarged posterior postventral fenestra, circular foramen magnum and paired internal carotid foramina on braincase floor. Adult males were unavailable for study, but an anatomical description of M. obscura, n. sp., is provided. Comparisons are made with all known material of M. kreffti, literature accounts of M. senta, and with abundant material of South African M. spinacidermis; M. obscura, n. sp., most closely resembles M. spinacidermis from the eastern South Atlantic in squamation, coloration and size. Malacoraja is monophyletic due to its unique squamation and rostral appendices, and apparently comprises two species-groups, one for M. obscura and M. spinacidermis, and the other for M. kreffti and M. senta, but clarification of species-level relationships must await more anatomical information, particularly of the latter two species.


Problem/Relevance: This study is motivated by psychological evidence of a strong connection between sporting event outcomes and mood. To evaluate this connection, we analyze the Indian stock market reaction to sudden changes in investors' mood captured by India's cricket results. By focusing on a rarely studied mood variable and a
very infrequently studied stock exchange, this study adds to our understanding of the association between sporting event outcomes and mood.

Research Objective/Questions: In this study, we investigate the impact of cricket wins and losses on the Bombay Stock Exchange. We hypothesize that cricket wins or losses will drive investors' mood substantially and unambiguously so that the game outcomes will be powerful enough to impact asset prices. We also evaluate the hypothesis that losses are psychologically more powerful than wins.

Methodology: We analyze the daily data from the Bombay Stock Exchange using the methodology of Edmonds et al. (2007). This methodology has the advantages of capturing the Bombay Stock Exchange stock returns timevarying volatility through a GARCH model.

Major Fundings: Our findings show that cricket wins and losses do not impact the Bombay Stock Exchange. On the exchange, stock prices reflect relevant information. Our results are thus consistent with the Efficient Market Hypothesis.

Implication(s): Our results imply that on the Bombay Stock Exchange, cricket wins and losses cannot be reliably used by investors and portfolio managers to achieve returns in excess of the average market returns on a risk-adjusted basis.


Objective: To evaluate the expression of STAT-1 (Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription-1) in
HCV patients non responder to interferon treatment.
Study Design: Case control study.
Place and Duration of Study: The research was carried out at Army Medical College Rawalpindi from
January to July, 2012.
Patients and Methods: The study after approved by institute's ethics committee was conducted on 15 HCV
infected patients who were non responder to interferon therapy and 5 controls responder to interferon
therapy. Their age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and marital status was noted. PCR based detection of STAT-1
mRNA was carried out in blood of HCV infected patients resistant to interferon therapy as well as controls.
Data was presented in the form of frequencies and percentages and p values were calculated using Fisher
exact test and student t-test.
Results: Results showed that more males were resistant to interferon therapy as compared to females. The
mean age was less in responders as compared to non responders. Forty percent of the HCV infected patients
non responder to interferon therapy were positive for STAT-1 expression.
Conclusion: STAT-1 blood expression can predict treatment response in HCV patients undergoing interferon
treatment.


Groundwater samples collected from southeastern Brazzaville, Congo, during July 2008 (dry season) were analyzed for pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Calcium (Ca 2+ ), Magnesium (Mg 2+ ), sodium (Na + ) , Potassium (K + ), Chloride (Cl - ), Sulfate (SO 4 2- ), Bicarbonate (HCO 3 - ), Fluoride (F - ) and Nitrate (NO 3 - ) using standard procedures (APHA, 1985). The results revealed that all the groundwater samples were below the limits, accordingly to the WHO standards (2004). Except pH of the samples were below the limit (6.5 to 8.5). EC of all the samples were below 300µS/cm. A comparison of the groundwater quality in relation to drinking water quality standards revealed that pH is the disqualifying parameter. The correlation studies and R-mode factor analysis were carried out on the hydrochemical data set. Factor analysis has revealed the factors controlling the hydrochemistry of the groundwater. Four principal factors were extracted by using Kaiser normalization: (1) dissolution of magnesium bearing minerals; (2) mineralization; (3) dissolution of calcium-bearing minerals (silicate and carbonate): (4) impact of domestic waste water and septic tank.


In a recent report the World Bank observes that while the global economy is showing tentative signs of recovery, the food crisis is not over in poor countries. Although prices have declined from their peaks in 2008, higher food grain prices and devastating climate change effects have been a deadly combination for poor people in low-income countries in rural and urban areas. Beside the humanitarian commitment of the G20 and worldwide efforts in raising productivity and incomes of the world's poor farmers, the situation demands a review of global food policies in favor of more sustainable food policies and practices. The rapidly growing sustainable food movement, through various multi-stakeholder initiatives and organizations offer viable solutions to the internationally dependent, often unfair and un-sustainable global food market system. The paper analyzes the advocacy, partnerships and alternatives of the sustainable food movement as exemplified by the Locavore Movement, Food First Institute, Slow Food Movement and Foundation for Biodiversity.


BACKGROUND
Ethnic and/or racial differences in drug response to antihypertensive agents have been recognized, yet the prescribing practices and the information on efficacy of various agents rely mainly on the response of whites to drugs.

OBJECTIVES
To assess the management of hypertension in Asian Americans and to compare it with an age- and sex-matched group of white patients with hypertension.

METHODS
The patients' medical records were used as the primary source of information for the data collection. The observational period was a 12-month window and included 200 patients of Asian origin with hypertension and 196 white patients with hypertension whose medical records were randomly selected.

RESULTS
The study describes the pattern of use of antihypertensive agents and the differences in response to antihypertensive agents between Asian Americans and whites. The preferred antihypertensive agents in both Asian and white patients included monotherapy with either calcium channel blockers or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. However, medication changes, dose reduction, and the experience of side effects were all significantly more frequently recorded in Asian patients than in white patients (P < .001, P < .008, and P < .002, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS
These findings are supportive of some previous reports on ethnic differences in drug response to antihypertensive agents. The findings also point to the need for further prospective studies on the outcome of hypertension management in Asian American patients.


In this paper, I will explore the filmic reflexivity and reflecn in german expressionist film. Film in the narrative system has been knownas a medium for audience's imaginative empathy and representation of reality. In addition, the trend to narrative film in film history has excluded the filmic reflexivand reflection as filmicharacter. Even though classical film looked at film focusing on the transrency of the filmic medium, filmic reflexivity could be found in early cinemfor example german expressionist film in the 1920s. Expressionist films are renown for the 'caligari style', which was highly symbolic and stylized. Even if the german expressionism narrates a interesting story with audience's imaginative empathy, the transparency of the filmicmedium is broken by mise-en-scene and doppelganger motiv, which related to uncanny. The uncanny is a Freudian concept, that is the instance when "something can be both familiar yet alien at the same time, resulting in a feeling of it being uncomfortably strange."(S. Freund)This uncomfortably strange makes a subject be reconstructed. Not only stylized Mise-en-scene, but also doubling with doppelganger motiv and uncanny play a significant role for the filmic reflexivity. Both breaks the trparency of the filmicmedium and destructs illusionism of the film. These filmic imag often break in the narrative flow. Therefore, doubling ultimately is connected to he theme of the split personality, the exchanged identity and the spectator's own uncomfortable recognition. This paper focus on analyzing The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Robert Wiene, 1919) and Nosferatu (Friedlich Wilhelm Murnau, 1922), that ranged over doubling and uncanny. These german expressionist films are known as a medium demonstrting the process of self-reflection and reflexivity. With regard to this reflectivearacter of film in germanexpressionist films, these films enable film to rediscovery and realize its potential, which has been forgotten, namely self-reflection and reflexivitof film as a medium


ABSTRACT Patients younger than 1 year of age may be diagnosed with paroxysmal disorder, or infantile masturbation. It remains unclear whether the paroxysmal disorder seen in infants who have yet to develop self-awareness or ideas about sex is equivalent to the masturbatory orgasm seen later on in childhood, when the patient has a clear self-awareness and sexual interest. This article details a case that may answer this question. Paroxysmal disorder was initially observed in a female patient at an age of 5 months. It presented regularly throughout her infancy and childhood, up age 8 years. She described the sensations that she experienced during episodes as pleasant as early as age 3 years. In a clinical interview, she confirmed that she experienced pleasure with the rhythmic contractions of her vagina, suggestive of episodes of masturbatory orgasm. This suggests that the paroxysmal disorder seen in infancy is most likely similar to the masturbatory orgasm seen in childhood. The scientific and clinical meaning of early paroxysmal disorder in sexual medicine is discussed.


In this paper, fixed step and adaptive control algorithms by using Hill Climb Search (HCS) method one of the Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) methods are proposed respectively for small scale permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) wind energy conversion systems (WECS). Basically, the controller tracks the maximum power point (MPP) by measurements of current or the ratio of change in power and voltage depending on different control algorithms. To succeed that, controller is dynamically adjusting the duty ratio of boost converter connected to output of WECS by considering needed measurements. The improvements or change observed in different control algorithms are demonstrated with the comparisons.


We present measurements of the electrical and thermal properties of new arrays of bolometeric detectors that were fabricated as part of a program to develop bolometers optimized for the low photon background of the EBEX balloon-borne experiment. An array consists of 140 spider-web transition edge sensor bolometers microfabricated on a 4" diameter silicon wafer. The designed average thermal conductance (see manuscript) of bolometers on a proto-type array is 32 pW/K, and measurements are in good agreement with this value. The measurements are taken with newly developed, digital frequency domain multiplexer SQUID readout electronics.


Currently available IV iron agents pose substantial safety and practical challenges to effective management of iron deficiency anemia. Iron dextran administration requires a test dose and carries the risk of anaphylaxis. Non-dextran-containing IV iron agents (iron sucrose and ferric gluconate) do not require a test dose nor have this safety issue, but pose some practical challenges. These agents are FDA approved only for chronic kidney disease indications and require repeated administration of small doses (125 mg of iron as ferric gluconate over 10 minutes, 200 mg of iron as iron sucrose over 2–5 minutes, or 300–400 mg of iron as iron sucrose over 1.5 to 2.5 h). Accordingly, in a multicenter, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial we assessed the safety of iron carboxymaltose, a new, investigational non-dextran IV iron complex that allows for rapid administration of high doses of iron. Five-hundred and eighty four (584) iron deficiency anemia patients received either a blinded dose of IV iron carboxymaltose (15 mg/kg up to a maximum of 1000 mg in NS) or placebo over 15 minutes on Day 0. On Day 7, patients were crossed over to receive either placebo or iron carboxymaltose utilizing the same dosing as Day 0. We recorded all adverse events and classified as an adverse drug event (ADE) any that was considered by the investigator as being possibly or probably related to study drug. The mean dose of iron carboxymaltose administered was 962 (+ 88) mg. No CTC Grade 4 or 5 or serious ADE were reported and no subject discontinued from study drug due to an ADE. No clinically important differences in vital signs or physical exams were noted between subjects treated with iron carboxymaltose and placebo. During the post dose 24-h and 7-d treatment period, ADEs reported by >1% of patients in either treatment were higher in patients after receiving iron carboxymaltose than in patients after receiving placebo. The 24-h period events included nausea (2.1% iron carboxymaltose vs. 1.1% placebo), headache (2.0% vs. 1.3%), and dizziness (1.3% vs. 0.2%). The 7-d period events included nausea (2.5% iron carboxymaltose vs. 1.1% placebo), ALT increased (1.3% vs. 0.2%), AST increased (1.3% vs. 0%), headache (2.9% vs. 1.4%), dizziness (1.6% vs.0.2%) and rash (1.1% vs. 0.2%). The majority of the ADEs were classified by the investigator as mild to moderate. No ADE consistent with a hypersensitivity reaction was reported. One patient experienced a transient, asymptomatic, CTC Grade 1 decrease in BP (from 132/85 to 95/68 mmHg) which resolved spontaneously. CTC Grade 3 ADEs were reported in 4 patients after receiving iron carboxymaltose (headache and asymptomatic decrease in serum phosphate) and 5 patients (rash, creatinine increase and asymptomatic decrease in serum phosphate) after receiving placebo. We conclude that rapid administration of high dose iron carboxymaltose (15 mg/kg for maximum of a 1,000 mg over 15 minutes) is well tolerated and associated with minimal risk of ADE in a large cohort of patients with iron deficiency anemia.


Construction industry has many drivers. The main one is investments. The bigger investment is the more importance takes the assessment of construction production. The investor makes the decision to invest based on assessment of construction production, organisational and technological reliability. The rapid technology and construction management tools development obliges the investor and his team to create new approaches. The article authors propose to consider it in the identification, analysis and subsequent management of pure project risks. Pure risks are defined as risk events, which implementation is clearly negative or has a neutral outcome. Generally the pure risks are not directly related to financial risk events and are not considered as classical approaches of risk management, which adversely affects the construction project prediction. Consideration of the pure construction risks at different stages of building production allows considering the project from the point of view of potential risks. So the investor can quickly make the decision to invest in the project and to assess the possible additional costs of construction, as the construction manager for different production stages would be able to foresee and prevent some risks implementation.


Roggenkamp and colleagues recently reported the results of their comparative evaluation of the MB/BacT and the BACTEC 460 (3). They observed a significantly lower recovery rate for Mycobacterium tuberculosis using the MB/BacT, and they commented that new diagnostic systems should be evaluated under conditions found in nonspecialized laboratories that have a low rate of detection of specimens positive for M. tuberculosis. Our comparative study of these two systems (1) was performed in a nonspecialized hospital laboratory that processes approximately 5,000 specimens per year for mycobacterial culture, with 5.6% positive for mycobacteria and 1.5% positive for M. tuberculosis, similar to the numbers reported by Roggenkamp et al. We demonstrated that the MB/BacT detected the M. tuberculosis-M. avium complex at a rate that was not significantly different from that of the BACTEC 460. The numbers of specimens that were culture positive for mycobacteria in our study (44) were less than the 123 specimens positive in the study of Roggenkamp et al., and it is possible that with more specimens, differences may have been found. The decreased sensitivity of the MB/BacT system observed by Roggenkamp et al. could be due to differences in the specimens studied, the products used, and the methods. The epidemiology and presentation of patients with mycobacterial disease in Europe and the United States could differ and thereby influence the number of organisms in specimens. Our specimens were predominantly of respiratory origin, whereas the specimens in the Roggenkamp study included urine and gastric fluid, as well as samples from sterile sites. Among 23 specimens positive for M. tuberculosis in our study, 15 (65%) were smear positive, in comparison to 25 of 71 (35%) in the Roggenkamp study. Unlike Roggenkamp and colleagues, we screened all specimens with the more sensitive Auramine O fluorochrome as mandated by the College of American Pathologists (2). The MB/BacT detected all eight smear-negative M. tuberculosis-infected patients in our study. In a previous evaluation of the MB/BacT system, we had observed decreased sensitivity for nontuberculous mycobacteria and a high rate of nonmycobacterial contamination. The manufacturer subsequently revised the medium and the antibiotic reconstitution supplement. Our published study was performed with the revised reconstitution fluid and antibiotic supplement in which oleic acid was substituted for Tween 80 to enhance mycobacterial growth, and vancomycin was added to reduce overgrowth of gram-positive bacteria. Roggenkamp and colleagues used the original supplement. We maximized the recovery of mycobacteria in the MB/BacT by staining contaminated bottles weekly for the full 6 weeks of incubation. Twelve of 33 (36%) of the mycobacteria not detected in the Roggenkamp study, 6 of which were M. tuberculosis, were due to bacterial contamination that may have been improved by using the revised antibiotic supplement that is now available. The performance of this revised supplement will depend on


Sustainable development is becoming the goal of many investigations carried out in chemistry and chemical engineering. Because of the waste generated by chemical reactions, there is a shift from traditional thinking about the catalyst's yield, selectivity, efficiency, and effectiveness. Mild, low temperature, highly selective alternative was found in biological reactions. Biocatalyst application fulfills the two important requirements. It does not deplete natural resources and does not have any significant environmental footprints. Modeling of biological reactions is a very important area of investigation on enzyme-catalyzed reactions. Monod and Moser growth kinetics can be applied to cell growth and substrate utilization. The discovery of new enzymes and optimization of the synthesis and application methods for biocatalysts are being investigated widely for better and industrially applicable technologies.


I report and analyze the administration of a survey investigating students' beliefs about the relationship between science and theology at a college in the young-earth or old-earth creationist tradition. Using a previously established survey, science-theology paradigms were identified. With 221 responses, there was enough statistical power to identify some links between the science-theology paradigms and other beliefs in areas of epistemology of science, theology, and preferred model of creation or evolution. Results showed that these paradigms are often interconnected, not allowing for tidy classifications of students' beliefs about faith and science. Results suggest that students who are more religious and know more science are more likely to match with at least one science-theology paradigm. And, those with more constructivist epistemological views on the nature of science are more likely to view science and Christian faith in harmony.


Abstract : Under the major support from AFOSR (FA9550-04-1-0215) during the years of 2004, 2005 and 2006, we have done significant achievement on scientific research and invented very promising electronic and optoelectronic devices including (1) nano-composite polymer memory devices based on metal-nanoparticles and nano-structured virus biomaterials, (2) vertical organic transistors, (3) efficient polymer solar cells, and (4) high efficient polymer light emitting diodes. We totally published 32 papers in the first rated referee journals and filed 8 patents. Some of the developed technologies have been transferred to industry for commercialization (see the attached table).


Many recently studies have demonstrated that low-temperature plasma (LTP) can induce apoptosis and necrosis in a variety of carcinoma cells in vitro. However, the inhibition mechanisms of LTP on carcinoma cells have been still largely unknown. This study is aimed to investigate the inhibition effect and mechanism of LTP on hepatoma cells. An argon atmospheric pressure plasma jet is used to generate LTP for the treatment of Hep3B human hepatoma cells cultured in vitro. LTP treatment time intervals are set as 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 s, respectively. After being treated with LTP, cell viability, cell apoptosis, cell cycle distribution and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay of hepatoma cells are respectively measured. Experimental results show that, compared with the control cells, treatment of hepatoma cells with 15, 20 and 25 s of plasma result in a significant reduction in cell viability. Based on the exploration of related mechanisms, it is suggested that ROS generated in LTP may reduce hepatoma cell viability by inducing cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis.


The effects of gamma-ray (γ-ray) irradiation on the channel mobility of enhancement-type n-channel 6H silicon carbide (SiC) metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) with gate oxides annealed in a hydrogen atmosphere after pyrogenic oxidation were studied. Irradiation induced interface traps produced in the MOSFETs were evaluated using the associated change in the subthreshold-current curve. It was found that the MOSFET channel mobility depended on the net number of radiation-induced interface traps. By a detailed comparison with the radiation response of silicon MOSFETs, 6H–SiC MOSFETs are shown to exhibit a channel mobility with a much higher radiation resistance.