Background and Objectives: In spite of higher incidence and prevalence of tuberculosis, the diagnosis of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) in various clinical specimens (such as pleural fluid, ascitic fluids, CSF, lymph node aspirate etc), remains true challenge. Current tools for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in various body fluids are suboptimal. Clinicians underestimate these diseases, and use of insensitive conventional analytical method has contributed to the difficulties in managing patient with extra pulmonary tuberculosis. It is important to develop rapid, sensitive and specific test for early diagnosis of extra pulmonary tuberculosis because of the lack of sensitivity & specificity of the conventional methods as AFB smear by ZN technique and culture on LJ media. Pleural tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis often requires invasive procedures such as pleural biopsy. The study was undertaken to evaluate the combined utility of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for different gene targets (IS6110, MPB64 and protein antigen b; Pab ) especially in pleural fluid specimens with adenosine deaminase (ADA) levels in the diagnosis of pleurisy. Methods: Total 430 clinical specimens (412 extra-pulmonary and 18 pulmonary tuberculosis) were recruited from the outdoor and indoor Department of National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, New Delhi during the 2011-2013 periods. All specimens were further processed for AFB smear, culture on LJ media, ADA level and conventional PCR (IS6110 & MPB 64 and Pab gene targets). Results: The PCR positivity IS6110, MPB64 P 181/412) gene target was found to be significantly low as compared to the IS6110 (65.3%; 269/412; X2=37.058; pc=0.000; Odds ratio 2.401; 95% CI=1.795-3.213) & MPB 64 (63.6%; 262/412; X2=31.245; pc=0.000; Odds ratio 2.229; 95% CI=1.669-2.978) gene targets in extra pulmonary tuberculosis cases. Further we have analyzed the combined utility of PCR with ADA levels among the body fluids (165 pleural fluid, 15 ascitic fluid, 1 lymph node and 1 cerebrospinal fluid; CSF). Our results indicated that the PCR alone can detect total 72.5% (132/182) TB cases, whereas ADA alone can detect 61.5% (112/182; considering cutoff value >40IU/L or confirmed cases of TB on clinic-radiological findings), M.tuberculosis in body fluids. Further data was compared in between single, two and three gene targets considering cut off value ADA >40IU/L levels in body fluids. Our observation showed that the positivity of tuberculosis cases were significantly higher through three gene targets (N=48/83; 57.8%; Mean of ADA >40IU/L =127.3) as compared to single gene target (N=10/83; 12.1%; Mean of ADA >40IU/L =68.2; X2=36.27; pc=0.000; Odds ratio 10.011; 95% CI=4.272-24.008) utilizing conventional PCR technology. No significant difference has been observed in other body fluids. The combined evaluation of both techniques (PCR and ADA) raised 14-15 % additional diagnosis of tuberculosis in body fluids (158/ 182; 86.8%; in pleural fluid= 147/165; 89.1%).Interpretation and Conclusion: Our results suggested that Protein antigen b (Pab) gene target showed less sensitivity as compared to IS6110 & MPB64. This study demonstrated the combined utility of both techniques (multigene target PCR with ADA level), enhanced the sensitivity of diagnosis of tuberculosis in body fluids. The study also confirmed the high diagnostic utility of PCR and ADA methods in diagnosis of tuberculosis in various paucibacillary body fluids in Indian scenario.


The present invention discloses a method of restoring abnormal data in the internal memory and the apparatus comprising a processor receiving an address data signal and a command abort exception where abnormal data; a processor suspends the current instruction being executed, and recording a computer the address pointer points to; address of the computer processor according to the pointer points to, the processor unit acquiring the program currently being executed; abnormality determining processor unit instruction and a program part of the program unit and the current instruction in the first instruction among instructions when the instructions are all reversible, destruction program unit corresponding to the calling program unit, the program unit has applied to release the resources; processor computer pointer points to the first address of the instruction to re-program units, the program re-execution units, to recover abnormal data in the internal memory. By the above-described embodiment, the present invention can improve the recovery rate of abnormal data in the internal memory.


A sufficient condition for mth-order (mges1) polynomials as permutation polynomials (PPs) over integer rings is presented and proved. Possible applications of the proposed simple mth-order PP generation method include the design of interleavers for turbo codes and generation of pseudorandom numbers


Background: Compared with other leading public health probems, research capacity for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder is grossly under-developed. Also, there are unacceptible delays in applying research discovery to routine clinical practice. Stakeholders have expressed concern with the apparent lack of effect of research upon clinical outcomes. Methods: Interdisciplinary consensus-building processes were supported in order to draft a national psychosis research strategy. Review of the management literature was undertaken to identify an appropriate organisational structure within which to implement the strategy. Results: A translational research framework which linked epidemiological, genetic, neuroscience and drug design research to the development of novel therapeutics and clinical pratice improvement was the preferred research program option and a national collaborative structured network was deemed the optimal governance model. Conclusion: Australia is well-positioned to make a world-leading contribution to finding ways to prevent and cure schizophrenia and bipolar disorder but only with new sources of recurrent funding in the order of $20 million annually.


This paper studies strategic interactions where players observe statistics of others' actions, focusing on: First, the endogeneity of the precision of such aggregate information as signals of the fundamental; and second, agents' well-documented difficulty in making inference based on such signals. We conduct our analysis in a beauty contest game with information acquisition, adapting cursed equilibrium to model agents limited ability to process aggregative information. To discipline information acquisition choices in this setting with incorrect information use, we define a novel notion of cursed expectations equilibrium with information acquisition: Agents assess the value of private information according to a subjective envelope condition, as they correctly anticipate their actions and (incorrectly) deem them optimal. We show that there is inefficiently low acquisition and use of private information in the rational benchmark due to an information dissemination externality. Despite suboptimal use, cursed agents rely more heavily on their private information which pushes information acquisition towards its efficient level and causes an initial increase in welfare. Transparency crowds out private information but always increases the endogenous precision of the aggregative signal and welfare, while other policy instruments can have paradoxical effects due to their interaction with cursedness. Finally, we explore the behavior and welfare of an atomistic rational agent playing against a cursed crowd and demonstrate that transparency may be an elitist policy.


A 33-year-old woman had been operated on for a tumor of the thyroid gland in December of 1976, and was admitted to Saku Central Hospital in April of 1983 because of pulmonary and ovarian metastases. She underwent surgical removal of the metastatic ovarian tumor and chemotherapy, but developed headaches in June of 1983. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a well-defined, homogeneously enhanced mass in the right occipital region. Angiography showed a homogeneous, well-defined tumor stain supplied by the right posterior cerebral artery, the posterior branch of the middle meningeal artery, and the meningeal branch of the occipital artery. The tumor was removed in July of 1983. It was situated in the right occipital lobe and was supplied by numerous small meningeal vessels. Histologically, it was composed of small, oval-shaped cells, some with mitotic figures, and giant cells, occasionally forming a follicular structure. Three months later, the headaches reappeared, and a recurrence of brain metastasis was demonstrated by CT. In October of 1983, the second metastatic brain tumor and the dural bed were removed and local radiation therapy was administered. In this case, meningioma-like features were demonstrated by CT scan and angiography, and these findings may be characteristic of brain metastasis of follicular carcinoma of the thyroid gland.


This paper presents the principle of ultrasonic chemistry, the physical effects and chemical effects of ultrasonic cavitation. The main purpose is to describe the action of ultrasound on asphaitene dispersing. It is pointed out that the best advantage of using ultrasound in treating asphaltene is its multi-functions, which includes cavities, shock waves and micro-jets. The former can produce local high-temperature and high-pressure during collapsing, which promote the solicitation of chemical reactions, the latter can destroy the layer-structure of asphaltene.


Ascorbic acid (AA) is a water-soluble vitamin that is found at high concentrations in normal skin. The important and well-known benefits of using AA in skin health include the stimulation of collagen synthesis and the assistance of protection against photo-oxidative damages. To maintain stability and improve drug delivery to the active site, a variety of AA derivatives have been chemically synthesized. Among these compounds, we focus here on a lipophilic derivative, 3-O-cetyl ascorbic acid (3-CetylAA), which remains poorly characterized for cosmetic applications. Uptake analysis in three healthy human volunteers' skin was conducted using a serial tape-stripping technique detecting 3-CetylAA (on average, 128 ± 27 pmol per µg) in the stratum corneum after a 5-h topical treatment when treated with 25 mM 3-CetylAA-containing cream for 13 days twice daily and continuously. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) imaging of vertical cryosections of pig skin revealed the presence of 3-CetylAA in the epidermal layer after topical treatment with 3-CetylAA-containing cream. In sun-exposed human skin, 3-CetylAA improved the texture after treatment with 25 mM 3-CetylAA-containing cream for 4 weeks or more when used twice daily or continuously. An in vitro transformation assay using BALB/c 3T3 A31-1-1 cells demonstrated that 10 µM 3-CetylAA, which is the same concentration exhibited in vitro biological activities in another lipophilic AA derivative, 2-O-octadecyl ascorbic acid, was non-carcinogenic and did not potentiate the UVC-induced transformation frequency when applied for 3 days after UVC irradiation. These results demonstrate that 3-CetylAA is a promising candidate as a lipophilic derivative of AA for cosmetic purposes.


THE B.206 had its origin in the B.206X experimental aircraft which was built in 1961 to obtain aerodynamic and structural data for the production series, and it first flew in August 1961.


A computer keyboard has become to be indispensable in daily life. However, some inappropriate ways of typing could cause tendinitis due to overuse of muscles and joints. In this study, the authors have investigated a wrist-worn wireless motion tracking device to evaluate the keyboard typing workload. Evaluation parameters based on the attitude angles of the user's wrist showed the changes in typing workload intuitively.


A framework is developed to construct computational models of the human motor system (HMS) using iterative learning control (ILC) update structures. Optimal models of movement are introduced using a cost function that is motivated by learned human motion results. Three general ILC update structures are derived that each generate the required limiting solution using different forms of experimental data. It is shown how the parameters in each that govern convergence permit varying degrees of freedom in capturing the observed learning transients. Experimental results in which a participant uses a planar robot to perform reaching tasks confirm the ability of the proposed ILC structures to accurately model the learning ability of the human motor system.


While behavioral economics has had a major impact on positive theorizing in economics, it remains unclear what exactly those new insights about deviations from rational choice mean in terms of policy implications. Given the ever-rising interest in the new, psychologically informed economics, this paper outlines the way in which reasoning about the normative implications of behavioral economics has developed in the last decade. We argue that behavioral economics has inspired new thinking about the prospect of 'behavioral normative economics' (BNE). The paper sketches important approaches in the field, discusses their theoretical shortcomings, and outlines some initial ideas on how to conceptualize individuals' identity as a key task in BNE. We suggest that the dualistic concepts of the individual should be abandoned in favor of a notion of a unified self that is constituted by its capacity to learn and reflect upon new preferences on a continuous basis.


During macroalgae investigation, a new Grateloupia species from Wenchang, Hainan Province, South China, was discovered and named Grateloupia boaoensis Wang et Luan sp. nov. By using morphological observation and molecular analysis, we determined that G. boaoensis was purplish red, cartilaginous and slippery in texture, 15—40 cm high, with completely compressed and foliated axes with lateral branches and sword-shaped apex. The transverse sections were 400—800 μm thick consisting of 4—9 layers of cortex cells and solid medulla, and the medullar filaments were longitudinal and intertwined. The new species exhibited typical Grateloupia-type auxiliary cell ampullae. Cystocarps were densely distributed on both axes and lateral branches. The four G. boaoensis sequences in this study were identical and formed a single monophyletic subclade with G. yinggehaiensis embedded in the Grateloupia clade based on ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase gene(rbcL) sequences. G. boaoensis was considered most closely related to G. yinggehaiensis by morphological observation and molecular analysis.


The article is devoted to the study of Islamic insurance in the United Kingdom. It has been established that insurance is a major component of the state's financial system. At the same time, there has been a rapid development of Islamic finance in recent years. The total Muslim population in the UK in 2020 is 4,130,000. Despite its low Muslim population, Great Britain is taking a proactive stance in developing Islamic finance. Despite the low number of Muslims, Great Britain is taking an active position in the development of Islamic finance. The country has established principles for the development of takafuls, and the market is being regulated. In addition, an ambitious target has been set for London to become an Islamic finance centre. There are currently positive trends in the takaful market. Despite this situation, further development in this area is required.


Previous studies investigated the profitability of stock index futures based on transaction price data, and could overstate the frequency of arbitrage opportunities and size of arbitrage profits. This article obtains a data base for the Hong Kong index futures and index options market that contains both real‐time transaction prices and bid‐ask quotes; the article further examines the bias of identifying arbitrage opportunities based on transaction prices. The article finds the percentage of observations violating no‐arbitrage bounds is significantly reduced when bid‐ask quotes are employed instead of transaction prices. This suggests studies that implement arbitrage strategies based on transaction prices employ prices from the wrong side of the spread. This article finds a relationship between the frequency of violations (evaluated from transaction prices) and the size of bid‐ask spreads in the futures and options markets. This phenomenon indicates that a larger mispricing, which may arise when the bid‐ask spread is wider, does not necessarily imply profitable arbitrage opportunity. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 18:743–763, 1998


A theory of the electrohydrodynamic induction pump is described which includes charge convection, inhomogeneous fluid properties caused by temperature gradients, and harmonics in the electric traveling wave. The case of stable laminar flow in a wide reentrant rectangular channel is presented as an examle. Results are more realistic than earlier models. A limiting synchronous speed appears, as in magnetic induction devices. Velocity profiles become flatter than a parabolic profile as operating conditions of practical significance are reached.


Correspondence between Eleanor Brown, Olin Teague, and Ray Roberts concerning the Women Airforce Service Pilots' (WASP) efforts to obtain veterans' status and benefits through federal legislation.


This paper presents an architecture proposal for a spectrum sensing network using software defined radios. The radios responsible for the sensing are implemented with SDR-RTL, a low-cost radio, capable of receiving signals from several frequency bands, such as those used in FM, DAB and DVB-T. Sensing functions are implemented using GNU Radio, the most commonly used free software for configuring software-defined radios installed in Raspberry Pi's, which makes the sensing structure significantly compact and inexpensive when compared to other solutions. Experiments are performed to measure the probability of detection in relation to the signal noiseratio, as a metric of the efficiency of the system proposed in this work


There were well known newspapers in early nineteenth century Bombay, associated with reformers and political leaders, like the Anglo-Marathi, Bombay Durpun, edited by Bal Shastri Jambhekar and the Anglo-Gujarati Rast Goftar, edited by Dadabhai Naoroji and Nowrozjee Furdoonjee. The aim of this article is not to review newspapers, which are rich primary source materials, but to explore little known writings in English, both by British and Indian writers, published in the years before 1867, when the Books and Newspapers Registration Act came into existence. The focus here is on a cross section of writings and includes works on commerce, almanacs, descriptions of Bombay and its peoples, travel accounts and books on naturalia and medicine, memorials and appeals. These could be of great utility in corroborating and supplementing information provided in the official records, as they are contemporary. Also examined and of significance, are essays written by students of Elphinstone Institution, some of whom became prominent in the later years of the century in the social reform and national movements.


Understanding the role of Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (BVOCs) in atmospheric chemistry and their impact on oxidants and aerosol formation is essential for global environmental research. BVOC emissions, primarily sourced from biogenic processes, pose a challenge due to the vast diversity of vegetation and ecosystems, as well as temporal changes in land use. While prevalent BVOC emission models categorize vegetation into functional types, the variability in environmental parameters and temporal fluctuations within natural canopies remains inadequately represented. This study introduces an innovative device system designed to address these challenges by integrating the Relaxed Eddy Accumulator and Gas Chromatograph Photoionization Detector (REAPER) in real-time measurement of isoprene fluxes. The system is portable, cost-effective and lightweight, easily to deploy in remote environments. By enabling high temporal resolution measurements, this device overcomes limitations associated with traditional techniques and offers accurate chromatograms. The novel instrument also facilitates real-time data transmission through a cloud-based platform, allowing access to meteorological data, calculated parameters, chromatograms and flux results. This feature supports the deployment of these systems across a wide range of sites and integrates them into existing flux tower networks. In conclusion, this research contributes to the advancement of isoprene fluxes measurement techniques and validation of satellite-based retrievals of isoprene abundances providing a valuable tool for scientists studying atmospheric chemistry and its impacts on the environment in diverse ecosystems, ultimately aiding in our understanding of the complex interplay between biogenic processes and atmospheric chemistry.


Globally, phosphine is relied on as the major tool for managing insect infestations in stored food grain. Phosphine is unique; it is cheap, easy to apply, applicable to multiple commodities, and is accepted by virtually all markets as a residue-free treatment. Alarmingly, high-level resistance to PH3 in target pests has developed as an acute and growing problem in both India and Australia and this seriously threatens the long term security of stored food grains globally. Actively dispersing insects may carry resistant genes from storage to storage, and perhaps into populations not exposed to phosphine. Our research aims to investigate aspects of the extent of this movement and to define how this movement impacts upon the development and persistence of phosphine resistance within stored product pest populations. Ecological observations of Tribolium castaneum and Rhyzopertha dominica have been carried out to establish the pattern of emigration from storage structures under field conditions, the mating status of dispersing beetles and the diversity of genetic material that females may be carrying within their spermathecae. The effects of migration and periodic selection events are also investigated in a laboratory simulation study. Active dispersal of insect pests, and their reproductive and physiological state when dispersing, must be incorporated into resistance management models and strategies. The results of our studies will help provide a mechanistic interpretation of the movement of resistance alleles in populations of these pests and thus contribute to the improvement of resistance management strategies.


If strange quark matter is the true ground state of matter, it must have lower energy than nuclear matter. Simultaneously, two-flavour quark matter must have higher energy than nuclear matter, for otherwise the latter would convert to the former. We show, using an effective chiral lagrangian, that the existence of a new lower energy ground state for two-flavour quark matter, the pion condensate, shrinks the window for strange quark matter to be the ground state of matter and sets new limits on the current strange quark mass.


Parenting of babies and young children is the key to improving the survival of the child and encouraging growth. The method of collecting data by distributing questionnaires to 30 mothers who have babies of 6-24 months, the analysis carried out is mapping behavior and knowledge related to complementary foods and their correlation to stunting. Purposive sampling carries out the sampling technique. Based on the chi-square test, there was a relationship between respondents' knowledge and the condition of the baby with a smaller p value of 0.05, namely (p = 0.026). Based on the chi-square test, there was a relationship between respondents' attitudes and the condition of the baby with a p value smaller than 0.05, namely (p = 0.019). Based on the chi-square test, there was a relationship between the respondent's actions and the condition of the baby with a p value smaller than 0.05, namely (p = 0.004). Complementary foods for babies are already given to babies from a very early age (under the month), so the amount of nutrients that the baby needs is not in accordance with the needs of the child.


sexes. He also makes reasoned conjectures about the subjects and composition of the pediments of the Athenian treasury at Delphi, using as evidence the dowel-holes and other marks on the pediment-floor, and the small and not numerous fragments of sculpture; and he succeeds in showing that the East foreshadowed the East pediment of Olympia in utilizing the horizontal lines of two chariots in the narrowing field and quiet standing figures in the centre, while the West contained figures in violent action, probably battle. Finally, C. Picard writes on Nereids and Sirens, Greek folk-lore of the sea, as he calls it: the treatment here is a little too loose for a subject which has been so intensively studied elsewhere, but it is not without some interesting suggestions, even if these occur rather haphazard. Altogether a pleasant and useful book, though the quality of the pictures is not equal to that of the letterpress.


With the development of information technology, the three networks convergence are making progress on technology, policy and market fields in China. This research analyzed the CATV, telecommunication and internet industries based on SWOT theory. It found they have different strengths, weakness, opportunity, threats in different industries. So we found the problems on three networks convergence and proposed the suggestions.


Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and endovascular therapy (EVT) are the mainstays of treatment for large vessel occlusion stroke (LVOS). Prior studies have examined why patients have not received IVT, the most cited reasons being last‐known‐well (LKW) to hospital arrival of >4.5 hours and minor/resolving stroke symptoms. Given that LVOS patients typically present moderate‐to‐severe neurologic deficits, these patients should be easier to identify and treat than patients with minor strokes. This investigation explores why IVT was not administered to a cohort of LVOS patients who underwent EVT.


With the development of the tourism industry, China's demand for tourism talents continues to increase. However, due to the influence of traditional education models, tourism management professionals are trained in curriculum, teacher strength, educational concepts, and teaching internships. A series of problems need to be resolved by the college as soon as possible. Therefore, the rapid development of tourism and the rapid changes in tourism have put forward higher requirements for the cultivation of tourism management professionals. This paper combines the requirements of tourism development on the requirements of tourism management students in innovation and entrepreneurship, from innovation consciousness, innovation ability and innovation. The knowledge system expounds the problems existing in the tourism management majors in terms of innovation and entrepreneurship, and proposes countermeasures in a targeted manner.


In order to fulfil the demand of urban population with sustainable development and use of local material for construction purpose which is cost effective and easily available in local so that the exponential population growth and the existing housing shortage have made the situation even more alarming. To develop the mechanism and large scale filed application of proven innovative and emerging building materials and technologies in the construction sector which is available in local area. The sustainability aspects of building construction need to be factored in for industrial housing construction. This building system was evolved and perfected to reduce the waste, save energy, save water, and create a pollution free environment with smart construction methodology.


Pathophysiology 1. Theories o Build-up of waste products (environmental & dietary) o Family hx o Breakdown of retinal circulation o HTN, smoking 2. Two forms o Wet AMD (exudative)  10% of initial presentations  80% of legal blindness or severe visual loss  Abnormal blood vessel growth with fluid leakage behind macula  Rapid vision loss – months to years o Dry AMD (Atrophic)  90% of pts at onset  13%-18% progress to Wet AMD at three years  Slow breakdown of macular cells – will see drusen deposits & chorioretinal atrophy 3. Prevalence: Dz affects 25-30 million people worldwide 4. Incidence rate in US – based on study involving 4000 peopled followed over 15 years incidence of early and late AMD was 14.3 and 3.1 percent respectively. 1


Dentistry as a profession has developed a store of specialized knowledge that serve as a basis of professional decision making. The world in which we learn and practice dentistry is changing at an astonishing rate. Our desire to keep upto date is o ften tinged with dilemma whether something new is better than our current strategy. Now the practice of dentistry is becoming more comp lex and challenging because of the continually changing in de tal materials and equipments, an increasing litigious society, an increase in emphasis of conti nuing professional development , In keeping abreast with advances in dentistry, we are inundated with i nformation about new techniques, tests, procedures, materials and products. Two phenomena information explosion and consumer movement, both of which are fortified by the extraordinary advancemen t of the internet, are coming together to change th e way all businesses including health care will funct ion in the future. The need for reliable informatio n and the electronic revolution have come together to allow the "paradigm shift" towards evidence-based health care. Recent years have seen an increase in th mportance of evidence-based dentistry, aiming to reduce to the maximum the gap between clinical r esearch and real world dental practice. Aim of evidence-based practice is the systematic literatur e review, which synthesizes the best evidences and provides the basis for clinical practice guidelines . These practice guidelines give a brief review of what evidence-based dentistry is and how to use it.


Economic crisis may inhibit the individual's intention to start a business. Yet, its study in entrepreneurship literature is overlooked. This observation does not come as a surprise, if one looks at how the role of environment has been slowly left out from the study of entrepreneurial intention. This article informs the current models of entrepreneurial intention by bringing back the role of environment and is a first step towards theorizing about the applicability of these predictive models under extremely adverse economic conditions. Using a fact-based approach and drawing upon a dataset of 618 graduates in Greece, the paper explores the role of perceived crisis both as an antecedent and a moderator in an extended model of entrepreneurial intention. Social support is introduced in the model as an additional determinant of entrepreneurial intention. Findings regarding the antecedent effects show that crisis affects all antecedents of intention, apart from attitude, while findings regarding the moderating effects show that crisis moderates only the desirability constructs - intention relationship and it does so in a rather unexpected way. Research and practical implications are discussed.


HOW CAN I COPE WITH STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION? HIV/AIDS is a new disease. Some people are afraid because they do not understand it. They may discriminate against people who have HIV. This makes it difficult for people with HIV to talk about HIV and seek help. HOW CAN I MANAGE STRESS AND WORRY? Stress and worry is part of everybodys life. When you have a chronic illness such as HIV it is normal that you will have times of stress. You can learn to cope. WHAT CAN I DO TO FEEL CALM? Meditate like this: "May I be happy. May I be peaceful. May I be free from anger. May I be free from suffering." Why must we love ourselves first? Because peace begins with individuals. It is only by loving ourselves first that we are able to extend love to others. Charity begins at home. By protecting ourselves we protect the whole world. By loving ourselves we love the whole world. When we say "May I be happy" we are speaking for everyone. The whole world is one. Life is one. We are all of the same Buddha nature. (excerpt)


Despite extensive technological advances in the assessment of fetal well-being and maturity, iatrogenic prematurity and associated respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) remains the primary causes of perinatal mortality and morbidity. Much variation exists regarding selection criteria, administration, precision, and interpretation of individual and combined gestational age determinants. Although obstetrical physical examination and menstrual history remain the mo9st consistently used fetal dating methods, reliability and validity of these procedures have not been systematically examined on a large scale. Laboratory studies (ultrasound measures, amniotic fluid determinants, maternal serum and urine component values) have been more appropriately standardized for specific populations, although lack of agreement persists among authors with regard to test methods and interpretation of test results. The distinction between tests of fetal well-being versus fetal maturity emphasizes the importance of reviewing the p...


Electricity demand continues to increase so that the required power in a large number of high quality and reliability. Problems in electric power system that occur in transmission and distribution lines that is often of lightning stroke. This is because Indonesia is in the region the equator with a tropical climate and high humidity, so that Indonesia has a number of lightning strikes. In this paper the lightning stroke and lightning arrester performance on distribution lines 20 kV were simulated using EMTP (Electromagnetic Transient Program) for lightning stroke observation. As case study, Mojosongo 1 main feeder 20 kV three phase lines were used. From simulation of lightning stroke 20 kA in By1-61-61E-84-9I on S phase at 0,1 ms, will experience of increase of voltage on S phase was 1,3054 MV and for R phase and T phase will experience of increase of induced voltage were 0,79539 MV and 0,80484 MV. Then we will see performance of MOV Arrester (Metal Oxide Varistor) in overcoming lightning stroke trouble, where arrester can decrease voltage up to 15,198 kV on S phase, while at R phase and T phase arrester can decrease voltage up to 11,375 kV and 13,616 kV. Keywords: Distribution lines 20 kV, lightning arrester, lightning stroke.


Metronidazole is a drug used against bacteria and protozoa in the body. The toxicity of metronidazole to kidney،liver and other organs has been shown in some studies. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of metronidazole (200,400 and 600 mg/kg /day) with drinking water for 45 days on some blood parameters in mature female mice (albino). Metronidazole caused a significant decrease in RBC,WBC and in the activity of Alkaline phosphatase، and caused a significant increase in the GOT activity.


A foreign body in the rectum (FBR) is becoming a common presentation in the surgical emergency department. Generally, rectal foreign body removal can be a challenge as regards management due to the wide variety of objects inserted in the rectum. Usually, a rectal foreign body is extracted manually in the emergency department under local anesthesia. In some cases, simple manual extraction of an impacted FBR is unsuccessful. In such cases, general anesthesia with surgical intervention may be required to extract the FBT. We describe the case of a 38-y-old previously healthy male, who presented to the emergency department with rectal bleeding and constant pain in the anal area for approximately three h after inserting a lubricant gel container transanally for autoerotic purposes. Proctoscopy was performed in the emergency department to retrieve the FBR. However, the retrieval attempts were unsuccessful. Laparoscopy-assisted transanal extraction of the object was performed under general anesthesia. The object was pushed (milked) using a laparoscopic bowel clamp down the rectum, and the object was then extracted transanally.


This research was conducted to evaluate the effect of soil application of nitrogen (N) and iron (Fe) fertilizers on morphological traits and shoot mineral contents of bread wheat via factorial arrangement based on randomized complete block design with four replications. The factors included three level of nitrogen (100, 200 and 400 mg N kg-1 dry soil applied) as Ca(NO3)2 and three rate of Iron (No iron, Fe EDTA and FeSO4, ap-plied at the rate of 10 mg Fe kg-1 soil). The results of the present study show that shoot fresh matter production and plant height was significantly enhanced by increasing N supply at each Fe treatment. So that, application of 400 mg N kg-1 soil has the greatest effect on shoot fresh matter production and plant height. Compared with the control treatment, which did not receive extra N fertilizer, N fertilization at 200 and 400 mg kg-1 were decreased shoot Fe, copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) concentration as well as shoot zinc (Zn) and Cu content in wheat. The mean shoot Fe concentrations were 246.9, 247.3 and 314.9 mg kg-1 in control, Fe EDTA and FeSO4 treatments, respectively. Also, the effect of FeSO4 on shoot zinc (Zn), Fe and Mn concentrations and also shoot Zn and Cu contents were higher than that of Fe EDTA. In generally, the higher shoot concentration and content of mineral nutrients were observed on the FeSO4 treatment in 100 mg N kg-1 soil and the lower these traits were observed on the treatment of no Fe at all of soil N supply. Application of Fe fertilizer, in combination with optimum N fertilization or other agronomic practices that can increase mineral nutrients in shoot and seed of wheat (especially Zn and Fe), is required to produce improved seed quality for human health.


The International Reactor Physics Experiment Evaluation Project (IRPhEP) [1] and the International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project (ICSBEP) [2] were established to preserve integral reactor physics and criticality experiment data for present and future research. These valuable assets provide the basis for recording, developing, and validating our integral nuclear data, and experimental and computational methods. These projects are managed through the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD-NEA). Staff and students at the Department of Energy - Idaho (DOE-ID) and INL are engaged in the development of benchmarks to support ongoing research activities. These benchmarks include reactors or assemblies that support Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) research, space nuclear Fission Surface Power System (FSPS) design validation, and currently operational facilities in Southeastern Idaho.


The year 2020 has witnessed the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks occurring in almost all countries of the world, causing the WHO to declare it a pandemic. The disease mainly causes pneumonia and subsequently may deteriorate to hypoxemic respiratory failure. In India, a hugely populated country, there will be always a threat for depletion of ventilator and other critical care resources if the disease spreads widely. As per the previous literature, proning is known to be a proven method to improve oxygenation in ventilated acute respiratory distress syndrome patients. Here, we would like to report an adult COVID-19 patient, who presented with hypoxemia and managed with awake self-proning.


The objective of this study was to better understand the meaning, for the person deprived of freedom, of living in prison with tuberculosis and its treatment. The research was conducted using the phenomenological method of Martin Heidegger, applied to 22 interviews realized in five prisons located in the state of Para, Brazil. The results and its hermeneutics made possible to understand that the person deprived of freedom understands their condition and transcends their facticity and difficulties to achieve the cure of the disease, living as beings of possibilities, revealing their authentic way of facing tuberculosis and its treatment in prison. DESCRIPTORS: Tuberculosis. Therapeutics. Prisons. Nursing. Philosophy.


Two-sided markets theory is one of the hotspots of industrial organization theories of recent years,platform of two-sided market has three kinds of pricing mode: subscription fee,transaction fee and two-part tariff.This article builds a model to find out how the three pricing mode affects profits and social welfare of monopolized and competing platforms,the results show that "unsymmetrical pricing strategy" is universal and rational behavior of platform corporations,and platform will hold advantage position when using subscription fee mode.The article still analyses the effects of platform differentiation strategy and network externalities parameters to platform profits and social welfare.


3092Background: mRNA-2752 is a novel mRNA-based therapeutic agent encoding OX40L T cell co-stimulator, IL-23 and IL-36γ pro-inflammatory cytokines. Here we present findings from a first-in-human st...


Although a number of developments are taking place in the field of information technology and the hardware is readily available at affordable prices, libraries in India have not yet gone for automation in a big way. It is partly due to lack of trained manpower and non availability of suitable software. This paper attempts to discuss the areas of computerisation in libraries, the objectives and functions of computerised acquisition, serials control, circulation, and cataloguing. http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dbit.15.2.3181


In 2118 parotid saliva samples collected at random from a Japanese population, two phenotypes were observed by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Inheritance was controlled by a dominant allele a t an autosomal locus. The frequencies of the genes determining these phenotypes were for the Japanese population studied: Ph+= 0.026 ± 0.008, Ph‐= 0.974 ± 0.008.


Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with second generation drug eluting stents is associated with similar mortality as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease, the results of a real world registry study have shown,1 but a randomised trial found a higher event risk.2

The observational registry study,1 reported in the New England Journal of Medicine , compared 9223 patients who underwent PCI using everolimus eluting stents with 9223 patients who underwent CABG. The two groups were selected from a New York registry of 34 819 …


Objective To explore the importance and methods of the protection of superior cerebellar artery(SCA), anterior inferior cerebellar artery(AICA) and posterior inferior cerebellar artery(PICA) during the microneurosugery for the acoustic neuroma. Methods The clinical data of 64 patients with acoustic neuromas were analyzed retrospectively. All the tumors were resected by microneurosurgery through the suboccipital retrosigmoid approach. Results Of 64 patients with acoustic neuromas, 52 received the total resection of the tumors (81.25%) and 12 subtotal (18.75%). The SCA, AICA, PICA and their main branches were reserved in 58 cases(90.62%). The facial nerve was not reserved anatomically in 11 cases(17.19%). The following up from 6 months to 6 years showed that the facial palsy were not improved in 14 of 21 patients with facial palsy after the operation. Three patients died (4.69%) after the operation. Conclusions The reservation of the normal artery around the tumor is important to decreasing the complications and improving prognosis in the patient with acoustic neuroma. The familiar relative anatomy and skilful microneurosugical technique is the key to enhancing the curative effect of surgery on the acoustic neuroma.


The ground based Cherenkov telescope experiments H.E.S.S., MAGIC, and VERITAS, and the space borne Fermi Gamma‐Ray Space Telescope are currently exploring the galactic and extragalactic Universe in γ‐rays. At the time of writing this article, a large number of Active Galactic Nuclei have been studied in great detail and the γ‐ray observations have had a major impact on our understanding of the structure of jets from these objects. In this contribution, the status of ground based γ‐ray observations of AGN and other extragalactic source classes is reviewed as of October, 2008. After discussing source classes that could be detected with next generation ground based experiments like AGIS, CTA, and HAWC, the potential impact of the observations on the fields of high energy astrophysics, structure formation, observational cosmology, and fundamental physics is reviewed. We close with a discussion of the technical requirements that arise from the science drivers.


During its rapid economic growth, the ROK's agriculture has contributed enormously to its industrialized development by providing raw materials, land and human resources. Agricultural mechanization is a key link in the chain of agricultural modernization and the important content of agricultural technological transformation.


In the traditional motion control method of an unmanned sailboat, the sail and rudder are divided into two independent controllers. The sail is used to obtain the thrust and the rudder is used to adjust the yaw angle. The traditional control method does not consider the synergy between the two controllers and ignores the influence of the roll angle on sailing. It is easy for these methods to cause an excessive roll angle and large yaw angle error, which will weaken the safe navigation and accurate path tracking of an unmanned sailboat. This paper presents a collaborative control method of sail and rudder based on model predictive control. A four-degree-of-freedom kinematics and dynamics model of the unmanned sailboat considering roll angle was established, with the yaw angle and roll angle as the control objectives at the same time. The collaborative control method outputs sail angle and rudder angle simultaneously. By comparing the motion of this method and the separation control of sail and rudder under the same wind field conditions, it is verified that the collaborative control has better effects of yaw angle control and roll angle limitation and can obtain a more accurate path tracking effect.


The paper is dedicated to the overview of current state of the evolutionary games approach to the building of environments to analyze players behavior. The evolutionary game theory applications differ from the orthodox game theory. Initially, it was used to address problems in evolutionary biology and later was suited for broader range of problems.We will oversee the development of the evolutionary games theory in finance and its applications in behavior analysis in competitive gaming. The paper is focused on replicator dynamics, learning model based on it and its possible application to behavior analysis based on fuzzy algorithms and approaches used in economics to be applied to the new emerging field of cybersports.


Crude N-deoxyribosyltransferase from Lactobacillus leichmannii was immobilised by hydrophobic interaction on octyl-Sepharose or by covalent attachment to poly(acrylamide-co-N-acryl-oxysuccinimide) (PAN). Little enzyme activity was retained by entrapment in K-carrageenan. N-deoxyribosyltransferase immobilised on PAN was used to prepare 2′-deoxy-2-thiouridine.


This CD contains the slide presentation and a brief video of the solar sail concept. Solar Sailing is a method of space flight propulsion, which utilizes the light photons to propel spacecrafts through the vacuum of space. The goal of the FeatherSail project is to create a sail vehicle with the ability to provide steering from the sails and increase the areal density.


Despite many successes in concrete creep studies, its effect on the mechanical behavior of concrete members is far from a thorough case-specific understanding. For the members that have been subjected to a long-term load, the classical stress-strain models describing the short-term behavior of either confined or unconfined concrete are unsuitable. In order to investigate this creep-effect, an experiment on eight concrete cylindrical columns confined by fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) is carried out. Based on the theory of plasticity for concrete, a constitutive model that takes into account the effect of creep on mechanical behavior of concrete confined by FRP is presented. In the model, the creep law inspired in the microprestress-solidification theory is generalized to triaxial stress condition for the calculation of the creep of the concrete columns confined by FRP. The predictions of the model agree well with the experimental results. The present study indicates that the creep increases the elastic modulus, slightly decreases the compressive strength, and degrades the deformation capability of the concrete confined by FRP.


A numerical study of a flow over a rectangular wall-mounted obstacle has been investigated, using a DNS turbulent model. The two-dimensional Navier-Stokes and the continuity equations are solved using the finite element method. Turbulent flow characteristics of the flow are presented and compared numerically and qualitatively with other works. Instantaneous and time mean-averaged profiles of the velocity components and time mean-averaged distribution of the wall shear stress are presented. The fluctuations of velocity components and the energy spectrum analysis are given. The skin friction coefficient and the turbulent intensities are also presented. Key-Words: Simulation of Navier-Stokes equations, finite element method, turbulent flow, separation and reattachment. Figure 1. Computational domain of nominally two dimensional flow over a mounted obstacle. The Reynolds number is calculated with respect to the height of the obstacle and the inlet free stream velocity and is equal to Re = 1304. The boundary conditions upstream of the entrance of the computational domain are a uniform free stream. The no-slip boundary conditions are imposed along the walls of the wind tunnel and the obstacle. The free boundary condition, is the outlet boundary which lets the fluid leave the computational domain freely without distortion, [5, 10]. The initial condition is given by solving the two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations at t=0 and (Re)h=1, [5]. 2.1 Finite Element Formulation – Spatial and Time Advancements To solve the governing equations (1) and (2), the finite element method has been used. The pressure was formulated by a linear basic function, while the Proceedings of the 3rd IASME/WSEAS Int. Conf. on FLUID DYNAMICS & AERODYNAMICS, Corfu, Greece, August 20-22, 2005 (pp224-229)


Adsorption properties of simulated radionuclide Cs~(+) in hydrated paste powder(HPP) from alkali-activated slagclay composite cementitious material(AASCM) and the factors influencing them were studied and the adsorption property of HPP from AASCM was compared with those from portland cement(PC),aluminate cement(AC) and portland blast-furnace slag cement(PSC).The results reveal that,under the experimental conditions,the Cs~+ adsorption capacity in HPP from AASCM increases and its distribution ratio decreases with the increase of initial Cs~+ concentration.The adsorption equilibrium time shortens and the adsorption capacity and distribution ratio decrease with the increase of the temperatures.Within a certain range of initial Cs~(+) concentration,the adsorption isothermal curve of Cs~+ in HPP from AASCM conforms to the Freundlich formula,and the adsorption process is exothermal.The adsorption capacity decreases with the decrease of pH values.Cesium ion adsorption in HPP from AASCM is more powerful than those from PC,AC or PSC.


We retrospectively analyzed the hemodynamic status and treatment results of aggressive intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) that presented with intracranial hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, status epilepticus, and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Out of 114 dAVFs we experienced since 1991, 31 were aggressive lesions. Eighteen cases presented with an intracranial hemorrhage, 4 with venous infarction, 3 with status epilepticus, and 6 with symptoms of increased ICP. We retrospectively analyzed the hemodynamic status (focusing on the retrograde leptomeningeal venous, and retrograde sinus drainage) and treatment results of these 31 cases. [cavernous sinus dAVF] Of 52 cases, retrograde leptomeningeal venous drainage (RLVD) was observed in 8, and 2 of these 8 cases presented with an intracerebral hematoma. One was successfully treated by surgical transvenous embolization, and the other by percutaneous transvenous embolization. [superior sagittal, transverse-sigmoid, and marginal sinus dAVF] Of 44 cases, RLVD was observed in 24 and retrograde sinus drainage in 3. Nineteen of these 27 cases presented with an aggressive pattern, including intracerebral hematoma in 8, venous infarction in 2, status epilepticus in 3, and increased ICP symptoms in 6. Eight of these 19 cases were treated only by endovascular procedures, 9 by surgical transvenous embolization, 2 by transarterial embolization combined with operation. [others] The location of dAVF in other cases was the cranial vault in 2 cases, anterior cranial base in 6, craniocervical junction in 7, and tentorium in 3. RLVD was seen in all of these 18 cases, and 10 presented with an aggressive course, including intracerebral hematoma in 8 and venous infarction in 2. Four cases were treated by transarterial embolization, and 6 by operation. Complete angiographic obliteration after treatment was obtained in 24 (77%) cases. The Glasgow Outcome Scale was GR in 18 cases, MD in 4, SD in 4, VS in 4, and D in 1. Procedure-related complications occurred in 2 cases. Aggressive lesions accounted for 2% of cavernous sinus, 43% of transverse-sigmoid & superior sagittal sinuses, and 55% of the other sinus or cortical dural AVFs. Impaired cerebral venous return due to RLVD was a main cause of the aggressive behaviors. Combined endovascular and surgical treatment was very effective for those lesions.


We present experimental results for angular differential cross sections, dσ/dθ, and mean translational energy gain, ΔEmean, as functions of the number of electrons, s, stabilized on the projectile in 26.4 keV Ar8+ + C60 → Ar(8−s)+ + Cr60r+ + (r − s)e− collisions. The most probable scattering angle increases linearly with s for s = 1–7, while processes leading to neutralization (s = 8) scatter more strongly than expected from this trend. The ΔEmean-values are positive and increase with s between s = 1 and s = 2, are virtually constant up to s = 6, and finally decrease to negative values (energy loss) for s = 7. The experimental results are compared with Monte Carlo trajectory simulations for impact parameters ranging from small to large values.


We investigated the paper written by Demirel entitle the Lactate levels and pneumonia severity index are good predictors of in-hospital mortality in pneumonia that has been published in the clinical respiratory research journal in February 2017. The aim of this study was to calculate the value of lactic acid level in predicting the mortality risk. Finally, this study has been revealed that the lactate level and PSI score are independent predictors of in-hospital mortality in pneumonia (P5 .010 and .039 respectively). However, although this study is a valuable research and its results are very interesting but some methodological issues should be considered. Regardless of the results obtained from the model, it is crucial to emphasize that accuracy predictions cannot be guaranteed by cross-sectional study. Development of prediction models are based on cohort study.2–4 In other words, predictive or casual inferences cannot be made from crosssectional studies because associations between variables measured at the same time-point in these studies. Without the temporality assumption (the dependent variable has to occur after the independent variable), there is no way of determining whether a factor is a risk factor, is predictive/ casual, or is a consequence of the outcome. Therefore, longitudinal studies are essential for making assumptions for clinical prediction models while in the study of Demirel determination of independent predictors of mortality in pneumonia is done in a cross-sectional study. Therefore, according to the above explanation, it is necessary considering to this point in interpretation of results of this study for readers.


Euphemism is a kind of language phenomenon that widely exists in human communication.Foreign language is no exception,in which there is a great deal of euphemism.In this paper,the author adopted the previous research findings and analyzed the diplomatic euphemisms from the perspectives of cooperative principle and politeness principle in order to study its function,improve its science,objectivity and credibility,thus helping diplomats take an active role in diplomatic activities.


Abstract : Electrical technology uses a large number of parts made from low-carbon chemically pure armko steel. Such parts are generally called magnetically soft. They operate in a constant, pulsed or variable magnetic field, because of which they require a low coercive force (0.9 - 1.5 Oe), a magnetic induction within the range of 14000 - 15000 Gs and a magnetic permeability of 3.5 - 5.5 thousand Gs/O3. Conversion to the production of soft magnetic material by the method of powder metallurgy permits the saving of a large quantity of electrotechnical steel, the reduction of labor in fabrication, mechanization and automation of production processes while maintaining the required magnetic properties.


In order to classify the relative importance of the parameters governing the accumulation of biofilm in drinking water distribution systems, a study has been carried out, using an industrial pilot ...


The paper describes the properties and potential applications of a novel hybrid varistor device originating from biased voltage induced modified nonlinear current-voltage (I-V) characteristics. Single crystal of an oxide semiconductor in the family of iron-titanates with the chemical formula of Fe2TiO5 (pseudobrookite) has been used as substrate for the varistor. The modifications of the varistor characteristics are achieved by superimposition of a bias voltage in the current path of the varistor. These altered I-V characteristics, when analyzed, reveal the existence of embedded transistors coexisting with the varistor. These transistors exhibit mutual conductance, signal amplification and electronic switching which are the defining signatures of a typical transistor. The tuned varistors also acquire the properties of signal amplification and mutual conductance which expand the range of applications for a varistor beyond its traditional use as circuit protector. Both tuned varistors and the embedded transistors have attributes which make them suitable for many applications in electronics including at high temperatures and for radiation dominated environments such as space.


We present data on the early forms of negation in three Mayan languages (K'iche', Yucatec and Q'anjob'al). These languages mark different contrasts between discourse, clausal and existential contexts of negation. Negation in these languages also interacts with aspect and modality. Children acquiring K'iche' use an internal form of clausal negation while children acquiring Yucatec and Q'anjob'al use an external form of clausal negation. The K'iche' and Yucatec children successfully mark the contrast between the discourse and clausal forms of negation. The data show that children in each language create their own forms of negation.  .


Abstract. We present a practical machine learning (ML) method for serving accessible nonlinear functions, which tackles a regression problem with tremendous parameters. By solving the modified Lugiato–Lefever equation, datasets for emulating the silicon-on-insulator platform and generating the on-chip optical frequency comb (OFC) are gathered. Furthermore, a feed-forward network-based ML model is used to train the datasets, and the prediction of the related parameters is implemented synchronously. Numerical results show that the model combining the finite element method with the ML technique is capable of predicting the properties of on-chip frequency combs for the first time, as far as we know, paving the way for analyzing OFCs based on integrated silicon photonics.


The technology of obtaining was designed and comparative tests of the medical enterosorbents, activated coal (AU-K) and lignin enterosorbents (LE) were carried out. AU-K possesses by mainly developed microand media-porous structure, lignin enterosorbent – by macro-porous structure. However, significant set of the oxygen-containing functional groups on LE surfaces conditions its high activity at the treatment of the lacto-dependent diarrhoea.


CT reconstruction from insufficient data is important in many medical and other applications.Recently to solve this under-determined problem,the Total Variation minimization method has regained popularity due to the newly-emerging compressed sensing theory.In this paper TV-minimization is extended to a more general framework for CT reconstuction from insufficient data.The framework proposed is also based on the compressed sensing theory,but is more flexible and amenable to various applications.Analysis and simulations are conducted for an initial special case and promising results are achieved.


AbstractThe following sections are included:IntroductionThe Increased Role of M&A as a Form of FDIShift in Sectoral Distribution of FDITrends in Services FDIFactors Affecting Services Sector FDI and Policy ImplicationsEmerging Multinationals from Developing CountriesTrends in Outward FDI FlowsCharacteristics of Main InvestorsGeographic DistributionConclusion and Policy ImplicationsReferences


Intermodal transportation is evolving towards a synchromodal system with real-time switching, in which most assignment decisions are postponed until the final planning phase. In such environment, it is important to assist train planners by providing decision support in the operational environment in which they operate. One important task for train planners concerns train load planning, which is concerned with the assignment of load units to the available slots on a train. In this paper, a sensitivity analysis of the parameters of a multi-objective heuristic algorithm for train load planning is presented, which accounts for different aspects of train capacity utilization. The tuned heuristic algorithm provides a number of load plans from which planners can choose the most relevant plan for the specific circumstances they are operating in at that moment.


Research about in-service teachers has shown that specific skills such as the skill to identify effective teaching interactions in others relates to the teachers' skill to engage in effective classroom interactions related to student learning. This study aimed to examine the relationship between these skills for 130 preservice teachers in the final year of their program. Findings indicated that preservice teachers' skill to identify effective teaching interactions in others related to the effectiveness of the emotional support and instructional support exhibited in their observed classroom interactions. In addition, the study investigated the relationship between these skills and the teacher program characteristics. This study provides further evidence that the skill of noticing effective teaching interactions in others is related to implementing one's own effective classroom interactions. Thus, enhancing preservice teachers' noticing skills serves as an important target for current and future teacher training.


We analyze the statistical channel properties of short to very short-range shallow water communication environments based on real channel measurements taken in a water-tank, a swimming pool, very shallow and shallow lakes. More specifically, we estimate the channel impulse response (CIR), the probability density function (PDF) of channel fading and fit to Rayleigh, Nakagami, Weibull, Rician and Beta distributions. We compare the `goodness-of-fit' of these distributions based on the Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence criteria. From our experimental results, we confirm that the shallow water acoustic channel is highly time-varying and does not necessarily follow a Rayleigh distribution. Instead, we observe that in very-shallow water lake environments the channel fading exhibits close-to Weibull or Rician distribution. On the other hand, in shallow water lake the channel fading behavior is better captured by a Beta distribution.


Social Identity Theory attempts to explain why individuals can act primarily as group members and secondarily as individuals and predict how individuals maintain positive social identities. Individuals are motivated to establish social identities to increase self-esteem and reduce uncertainty, and do so by using prototypes to cognitively represent, categorize, and compare in-groups from out-groups. Although Social Identity Theory explains the processes individuals undergo to develop social identities and situate themselves in society, it lacks the framework to explain how culture impacts an individual's identity and the consequences associated with the contextual nature of a social identity. Individualism and collectivism are two cultural syndromes that can be prototyped by the individual, and when incorporated into a social identity, prescribe distinct cognitions, emotions, values, and self-concepts. As the frame of reference in which social identities are constructed expands and contracts, there are different cultural implications for social identities. This paper will extend Social Identity Theory and evaluate the different cultural implications concerning individual, social, and national levels of identity. We will explain fundamental differences in the way people perceive themselves and their realities, and predict how individualism and collectivism affect social identities as the situation context of changes. Implications of Individualism and Collectivism on the Individual's Social Identity Social Identity Theory After the completion of WWII, there was widespread curiosity among social psychologists about the cognitive processes individuals use in rationalizing irrational behaviors. Henri Tajfel first proposed the concept of social identity in the 1970's after completing a series of "minimal group experiments," which established the basic conditions necessary for individuals to demonstrate in-group favoritism and out-group discrimination (Tajfel & Turner, 1979). These basic conditions were established by not allowing participants to see or interact with other participants and arbitrarily assigning them to two groups. Participants were then instructed to distribute points between ingroup and out-group members. Instead of dividing points equally, individuals distributed more points to members of their in-group than to members of the out-group. These findings not only suggest people behave first as group members and secondarily as individuals (Ellemers & Haslam, 2012), but they also began the development of Social Identity Theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979). Social Identity Theory explains the cognitive process through which individuals develop and conform to social identities. According to Tajfel, social identities are the "part of an individual's self-concept which derives from his knowledge of his membership of a social group (or groups) together with the emotional significance attached to that membership" (Tajfel, 1974). The underlying motivation for individuals to establish a social identity is self enhancement which increases an individual's self-esteem Individualism and Collectivism on the Individual's Social Identity 7 (Tajfel & Turner, 1979; Abrams & Hogg, 2006). Abrams and Hogg (2006) explain that "self-esteem is both a dependent and an independent variable in relation to intergroup behavior: it is a product of specific forms of intergroup behavior, as well as the motivating force for those behaviors." Individuals seek to establish a positive self-esteem by constructing a positive social identity achieved through three cognitive processes: social categorization (when the individual categorizes individuals into groups), social comparison (when the individual evaluates group membership), and social identity (when the individual identifies themselves with a social group in society). Social Categorization Turner continued Tajfel's research on Social Identity Theory by developing the Self Categorization Theory. The Self Categorization Theory evaluates how individuals use prototypes to categorize others and identify themselves within society. Prototypes are sets of related attributes, such as attitudes and feelings, and are used by individuals to represent a group's identity and distinguish groups from other groups (Hogg, 2004). For example, Tajfel and Turner (1979) define social categorizations (prototypes) as, "cognitive tools that segment, classify, and order the social environment, and thus enable the individual to undertake many forms of social action. They create and define the individual's place in society." Prototypes are constructed through the cognitive process of social categorization, and vary between contexts as a function of the frame of reference a social comparison is made in (Hogg, 2004). Although prototypes help situate the individual within society, they are equally important in influencing an individual's selfesteem and reducing uncertainty. However, the success of a prototype in positively Individualism and Collectivism on the Individual's Social Identity 8 increasing an individual's self-esteem and significantly reducing uncertainty is contingent on a prototype's degree of salience (Oakes, 1987). In order to increase self-esteem, individuals accentuate in-group similarities and out-group differences, which can be described by the Accentuation Principle. The Accentuation Principle characterizes individual strategies used to increase self-esteem when organizing prototypes: "differences between categories (interclass differences) are accentuated and differences between members within the same category (intra-class differences) are underestimated" (Trepte, 2006). Building off of Tajfel's research on minimal group experiments, the Accentuation Principle explains how prototypes are used to reveal similarities and differences between groups, which allow individuals to positively discriminate in favor of their group to increase self-esteem. In addition to using prototypes in order to increase self-esteem, individuals also use them in an effort to minimize uncertainty (Hogg & Terry, 2000). Uncertainty reduction is a fundamental human motivation and is attainable through the use of social categorizations (Hogg & Terry, 2000). Since prototypes describe, explain, and justify behavior of relevant group members, individuals are also able to predict others' behavior based on their prototypical behavior to reduce uncertainty (Trepte, 2006; Hogg & Terry, 2000). By generalizing individuals into groups, individuals not only increase self-esteem by assimilating with positive in-groups, but it also reduces uncertainty because they can accurately predict attitudes, feelings, and behaviors (Hogg & Terry, 2000). Individuals use prototypes in order to satisfy the need for a positive self-esteem and to reduce uncertainty, but the influence of a prototype on an individual is dependent on a prototype's salience within a group (Oakes, 1987). Individualism and Collectivism on the Individual's Social Identity 9 A prototype's degree of salience influences an individual's emotional attachment to a group's identity and determines the degree to which individuals adopt group behaviors (Oakes, 1987). When a prototype is salient, it becomes the basis of perception, inference, and behavior (Hogg, 2004). Oakes (1987) suggested that salience depends on accessibility and fit of a prototype. A prototype is accessible when it is valued by others, integral in one's self concept, and can be applied in many situations (Hogg, 2003). According to Oakes (1987), "Accessibility refers to the relative readiness of a given category to become activated; the more accessible the category, the less input is required to invoke the relevant categorization." When a prototype is accessible, it must also provide the best fit between the prototype of a group and that group's actual identity in order to be used to explain group behavior generally. A prototype's accuracy depends on the comparative fit (how well a prototype accounts for similarities and differences among people) and normative fit (how well prototypical characteristics account for behavior) (Hogg, 2003). The prototype that best fits the collective group acts as the foundation for social comparison and social identity (Hogg, 2003). An example of social categorization is when individuals identify with a specific sports team. For instance, if an individual closely identifies with Los Angeles Dodgers fans based on a shared enthusiasm for the team, then they will increase their self-esteem by positively distinguishing themselves from the San Francisco Giants by attributing positive characteristics (i.e., strong players) to themselves, and attributing negative characteristics (bad coaches) to the Giants. This positive distinction increases the individual's self-esteem. In order to reduce uncertainty, individuals will use the attributes of their prototypical group (Dodgers) to predict and rationalize the future (even if we lose Individualism and Collectivism on the Individual's Social Identity 10 this game, we have an overall stronger team and will most likely have a better season record). Additionally, the salience of being a Dodgers fan is different for an individual living in LA their whole life than for an individual who has never left Alaska; it is easier for someone from L.A. to identify with the Dodgers because the prototype is more readily available to them than to someone from Alaska. On game day, the fit of being a Dodgers fan is optimal because the prototype can more accurately account for a fan's actions than on an off-day where the individual identifies less as a fan and more with their profession. However, not all prototypes are strictly positive or negative influences on self-esteem and uncertainty, but are a mix of positive and negative attributes. Individuals use social comparisons in order to distinguish the relative status of groups in societies, which ultimately affects t


This thesis explores 1930s Leftist intellectuals in Britain and the fashioning of the Just War through involvement with the Republican cause in Spain. The primary consideration is how Leftists attempted to reconcile the anti-heroic legacy of the Great War with the need to re-create a heroic legend—both to oppose Fascism and to support revolutionary politics. In particular, the thesis focuses on the London-based Left Review, the literary journal of the Communist Writers' International published from 1934-38, which had several contributors join the Republican militias and International Brigades. The eulogies and tributes to intellectual warriors who had been a part of the Left Review community, and who died on the Front in Spain, illustrate the recreation of an acceptable Leftist warrior hero and the emergence of a heroic myth. The contradictions between ideological pacifism and the necessity of opposing Fascism were reflected in the debates conducted within this political and literary milieu. An analysis of these contradictions, and the heroic portrayal of the armed intellectual in Left Review, illuminates how Leftist intellectuals sought to discover and justify a form of military resistance that was consistent with their ideological beliefs. In addition to addressing the particular ideals of British masculinity that were reflected in intellectual discourse on Spain, attention within the thesis is also paid to how the portrayal of the Just War would contribute to Leftist engagement in the Second World War and the notion of the civilian participant in the "People's War."


A novel method utilizing abrupt drive pressure amplitude changes is described for exploring the dynamics of single‐bubble sonoluminescence. Air bubbles that are initially below the luminescence threshold are subject to an abrupt increase in the drive pressure amplitude. The resulting turn‐on time for light emission is qualitatively similar to nitrogen bubbles, except that over time scales of seconds, the light intensity of an air bubble increases [B. P. Barber et al., ''Sensitivity of sonoluminescence to experimental parameters,'' Phys. Rev. Lett. 72, 1380 (1994)], while the intensity from a nitrogen bubble remains low. However, when we begin with a stable sonoluminescing air bubble above the luminescence threshold, and then generate an abrupt decrease in the pressure amplitude below the threshold (no light regime), followed again by an abrupt increase back to its original (sonoluminescing) state, the resulting turn‐on time for light emission appears qualitatively similar to noble gas bubbles: sudden, and...


The propagation of plane homogeneous and inhomogeneous waves in artificial metamaterials taking into account their anisotropy is investigated. It is shown that the experimentally discovered EM-wave transmission through an over-critical waveguide loaded with split-ring-resonators is caused by anisotropy of artificial negative permeability medium created by such resonators.


Abstract: The development of the Think pair share model was developed to improve students' critical thinking skills in speaking learning in junior high schools. The development of the Think pair share model is carried out by adapting the ten stages of the Research and Development model from Borg and Gall. From the results of the model development stages, it is known that the Think Pair Share practical model in learning to speak has an average score of 2.88 or good category. The results of students' responses to the Think Pair Share model in speaking learning obtained an average result of 77.98 or good categories. Through the process of sharing information on ideas that students have, it is hoped that through a model of sharing thoughts, speaking skills will be more focused and produce quality thinking or critical thinking, by paying attention to the principle of benefits and the ability to explore in order to solve problems properly. Keywords: model, think pair share, student response, speaking


The essay argues that Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari's schizoanalysis is a particularly helpful means of framing critical readings of emerging biotechnologies. It not only offers a terminology for articulating the tension between the deconstructive and destabilizing effects of new technologies versus their potential to reinforce traditional patterns of power, it can also push these analyses further. The complex movements of de- and reterritorialization—in which reterritorialization is never just the reconstitution of a system of meaning that has been unsettled by schizophrenic energies, but is always the production of a new one, in which deterritorialized elements connect in different ways—can help us account for the richness of new meanings and uses of foundational terms. The important question then becomes not how and if deterritorialized elements are being reterritorialized, but rather if the reterritorializations that are taking place are positive or negative ones. Drawing on some recent ethnographic work that focuses on how users integrate and normalize the use of different biomedical technologies, the essay discusses how foundational terms are de- and reterritorialized in three examples: nature in the context of assisted reproduction, life in the genomic sciences, and authentic self-hood in the context of the neurosciences.


My thesis deals with the communication mix of Culture Club in Uherske Hradistě (then only KKUH). The content of this work is to make the monitoring of currect KKUH situation and to come with proposal of new opportunities in marketing comunication. The theo-retical part deals with individual elements of communication mix and SWOT analysis. The practical part explains the characteristics of the Culture Club, makes analysis of current communication mix state and SWOT analysis, and finally gives options for improvement, based on gathered information.


Dalian,Hangzhou and Chengdu are regarded as pilot cities of China's first batch "Best Tourist City",and their differences in geographical and tourist resources endowments determine the different urban tourist development strategies.Taking 2001-2007 as a time series,this article selects the performance of tourist enterprises,the social environment and infrastructure,its development potential in the future as first-level indicators,and other 25 indicators as the second-level,then compare on the development of the three cities' tourism industry on the Basis of Factor Analysis.Moreover depending on the specific circumstances of the tourist development,we can put forward different strategies: Dalian,whose tourism resources are relatively scare,but has more complete support system,should choose to focus tourist products on the large festivals,business meetings and exhibitions;Hangzhou,taking advantage of location and resources,should choose market-oriented strategy by strengthening t cooperation mechanisms and optimizing the quality of tourist services;Chengdu,oriented from tourist resources,should choose government-led strategy by strengthening support systems for investment in urban tourism and increasing the intensity of attracting investment.


We investigate whether food price subsidies affect household nutrition using a dramatic expansion of the availability of subsidized rice in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh in the early 2000s. Households in Chhattisgarh improved their nutritional intake relative to households in districts bordering the state as the availability of subsidized rice expanded. This increase is driven by households most likely to be eligible for rice subsidies, and we do not find evidence that households least likely to be eligible changed their diet. These results differ from recent studies suggesting that food subsidies may have little effect on nutrition.


Alternative vocational education techniques are discussed. A proposal for vocational schools should provide such information as the nature of the programs to be offered, the number of students expected in each program, and entry requirements for trainees. Job entry requirements should be compared with qualifications conferred by the program. The value of a program can be determined by calculating investment in vocational training, earnings of an individual with training, and earnings of an individual without training. In many countries graduates from the academic stream compete successfully for jobs with graduates from vocational schools. In this case, if the type of input is similar for both schools, a comparison of the cost per graduate may provide a clue to the economic viability of vocational education. Vocational training may be offered in a wide variety of situations including public and private schools, in-plant training, training centers, and apprenticeship programs. Only an approach that combines all the economic, educational, and institutional variables can provide a guideline for action.


With the growing maturity of MPLS-VPN technology and applications,it is gradually accepted as one kind of scheme to build enterprise networks,replacing the old ones.This paper introduces the concept and basic principles of MPLS-VPN,summarizes its main advantages,and describes some of its applications.Finally,this paper discusses briefly some problems to be solved.


In our real life, it is well known that our cognitive process is always influenced by our environment. It is called as "context dependency" of the cognition. In this paper, we propose a memory model "PATON" that is based on a macroscopic structure of a cortico-hippocampal memory system; it has three components of a symbolic layer, a pattern layer, and an attentional system. The attentional system sends signals to control a change of the model's structure dynamically. The change induces a modulation of metric between memorized items. Computer simulation shows an association process dependent upon a context based on the modulation.


Summary When the marrow and spleen cells of plethoric mice are cultured with 1.0 unit/ml of limulus-lysate-absorbed Ep, the predominant erythroid progenitor cell assayed is the Day 3 BFU-E. Erythropoiesis by these cells can be studied by enumeration of bursts at 3 days or by 24-hr 59Fe incorporation into heme. Endotoxin markedly increased the number of Day 3 BFU-E in the spleens of these mice and decreased the number in the marrow, but it had little effect on erythropoietic maturation. In contrast, Ep produced differentiation of the erythroid progenitor cells resulting in increased splenic CFU-E and a decline in the more primitive erythroid precursor cells. We wish to thank Ms. A. Brockman for excellent technical assistance. Mark J. Koury is the recipient of a research fellowship supported by an NIH Postdoctoral Training Program in Hematology, Grant T32 AM07186. This work was supported in part by Grant AM15555 from the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism and Digestive Diseases, by the Medical Research Service of the Veterans Administration and by the Brownlee O. Curry Leukemia Research Fund.


Objective To investigatethequalityofcarein theambulatoryimplementation effectand experience.MethodsThestudygroup patientsin routineoutpatient care was given based on quality care;patients in control group only clinic routine nursing measures.On two groups of patients with nursing satisfaction questionnaire issued,as well as observed and recorded in two groups of patients with emergency rescue success rate and nursing complaints,the results were analyzed statistically,draw a conclusion.Results The study group patients outpatient quality nursing care,nursing,nursing satisfaction score rate of complaints and emergency rescue success rate were better than the control group of patients,and P 0.05,two patients with statistically significant results.Conclusion The implementation of quality of outpatient care,can significantly improve patients satisfaction with nursing service and nursing staff in emergency rescue success rate,reduces the patient nursing complaint rate,thus effectively improving hospital nursing service level,improve the overall image of hospital,hospital application.


Abstract : Disk-shaped specimens of polycarbonate, and polyimide were subjected to flat-plate impact in a light gas gun under well- controlled and well-monitored conditions. For polycarbonate the stress-volume loading and unloading paths were determined under both static and dynamic conditions. Quantitative fractographic analyses on the impacted polycarbonate specimens were carried out and the results were correlated with computed stress histories to obtain analytical relations and graphs enabling one to predict the extent of damage which will be produced in polycarbonate by an arbitrary dynamic load. A similar detailed analysis was not carried out for polyimide because this brittle material fractured in a much more catastrophic manner; for a given stress duration a small stress increment covered the range from incipient shock damage to complete disintegration. However, static stress-volume loading and unloading curves, an approximate constitutive relation, and the shock damage threshold stress for stress durations of about a microsecond were obtained for polyimide. A detailed study of the fracture mechanism was made for both materials. (Author, modified-PL)


The genus Melockia of the subfamily Hermannieae, Sterculiaceae, includes about 60 species which are widely distributed through the tropics, and, less extensively, through the temperate zone. An encounter with a distylic species, M. tomentosa L., on the desert island of Mona, suggested this study of selfand cross-incompatibility. The occurrence of distyly in this genus evidently has been overlooked by specialists in the field (Crowe, 1964; Pandey, 1957; Brewbaker, 1957) and is not noted in floras of the Caribbean area. Heterostyly is considered to be an advanced system by Crowe (1964), because it occurs in 20 advanced families of the angiosperms, but not in primitive families. Its widely scattered occurrence suggests that it has arisen separately on a number of occasions. One system of self-incompatibility has been described in the family Sterculiaceae. Knight and Rogers (1955) suggested that the system in Theobroma cacao L. is controlled by a series of incompatibility or S alleles, with or without dominance relations among them, and with control of phenotype of ovule and pollen expressed before meiosis. The site of the incompatibility reaction is the ovary. Incompatibility is due to the failure of fertilized ovules to develop (Knight and Rogers, 1955). Ovules are thus "sterilized" by fertilization, and cannot be stimulated by later compatible pollinations. The system is homomorphic, that is, not characterized by morphological variations of stigma, style, or pollen associated with the incompatibility phenotype. Cope (1958, 1962) found evidence that a portion (25, 50, or 100 per cent) of the ovules in the incompatibility pollinated ovary do not exhibit fusion of gametes, and that flowers absciss, even though gamete fusion occurs in other ovules as a result of compatible fertilization. Compatible matings are not characterized by such "non-fusion" ovules. These findings suggest a segregation of pollen types in some cases, and therefore a gametophytic or haploid determination of pollen phenotype. However, crossing reactions among parents and offspring indicate that sporophytic effects are also present. Pandey (1960) and Cope (1962) have recently interpreted the physiological and genetic basis of incompatibility in the genus. The Theobroma system is considered unique in the plant kingdom (Crowe, 1964) although other systems, still not thoroughly investigated, resemble it (Lilium, Freesia, Hemerocallis, Gasteria, and Narcissus). Its characteristics are sufficiently dissimilar from other systems to suggest to Crowe (1964) the separate evolution of this system from a primitive, hypothetical system underlying incompatibility in flowering plants. In addition to Theobroma, self-incompatibility has been found in the closely related genus Herrania (McKelvie, as reported by Fryxell, 1957). The details of the system have not been worked out. East (1940), in his survey of self-incompatibility in the flowering plants, did not report any other self-incompatible species in the family. Recently species of Dombeya have been found to be self-incompatible (Soderholm, personal communication, 1965). Because of the peculiarity of the Theobroma incompatibility system it is of great interest to encounter another system, distyly, in Melockia.


Dementia is the age-related disease. At the same time, the elderly age has one of the
 peaks in the number of suicides. Psychology of patients with demetia is characterized by the
 feeling of hopelessness, pessimism, awareness of own insolvency, dependence on others, that
 affects the risk of suicide. It is established that the highest risk of suicide in the early
 stages of dementia with the progression of cognitive deficit, the risk of suicide decreases.

 To study the role of impairment of higher mental functions (perception, reasoning,
 attention, memory, emotions, will, speech) in the formation of suicidal behaviour in
 patients with dementia in Alzheimer's disease.

 There were examined 75 patients with dementia in Alzheimer's disease, 36 patients with a
 history of suicidal behavior composed the main group, and 39 patients without the signs of
 suicidal behavior composed control group. The study was carried out using
 clinical-anamnestic, psychopathological methods and mathematical statistical methods.

 The high risk of suicide in dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease is combined with the
 inhibition of thinking, the delusional ideas of self-blame and self-effacement (p ≤ 0.05);
 depressed mood, inner agitation, anxiety, feeling of despair, hopelessness, guilt,
 melancholia, apathy (p ≤ 0.05); effector-volitional disorders in the form of hypobulia,
 hypokinesia, hypomimia, decreased libido (p ≤ 0.05); speech disturbance in the form of
 bradylalia p ≤ 0.05; greater exhaustion and decreased attention (p ≤ 0.05). On the contrary,
 the following peculiarities of higher mental functions, namely thought disorder are referred
 to the anti-risk factors of suicide in dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease: the
 delusional ideas of relation and damage (p ≤ 0.05); emotions: the feeling of fear (p ≤
 0.05); effector-volitional sphere: parabulia and hyperkinesia (p ≤ 0.05).

 On the basis of clinical and psychopathological study of patients with dementia in
 Alzheimer's disease, the specific impairment of higher mental functions and
 emotional-volitional spheres reasoning, memory, attention, perception, speech, emotions) are
 identified associated with high risk of suicide.


From the point of view of the control plane,this paper makes a detailed discussion about ASTN/ASON LN CP architecture,and interactions between client LN CP and server LN CP ,after that,it also gives a introduction to the connection types of the ASTN/ASON layer networks with switching capabilities.


Background. In the past decade, near-infrared spectroscopy has gained popularity in neonatal wards. Taking into account modern international experience, the presented work assesses the features of cerebral oximetry in children with surgical congenital malformations under various types of combined anesthesia. The purpose of the study was to assess the state of cerebral oxygenation in newborns and infants with congenital malformations in various types of anesthetic support. Materials and methods. A retrospective study included 150 newborns and infants with surgical congenital malformations, depending on the anesthesia (inhalation + regional anesthesia; inhalation + intravenous and total intravenous anesthesia). The parameters of cerebral oximetry were analyzed in comparison with peripheral saturation, blood pressure, partial pressure of CO2, O2 in the blood, and pH. Results. The minimum index of cerebral oximetry was observed in the left brain hemisphere of children in group I — 50.57 ± 16.66 that may be an unfavorable prognostic factor for further recovery and influence on the cognitive functions of the brain. One hour after the operation, the children of the first group, who received combined anesthesia with sevorane and regional anesthesia, showed the worse indicators of cerebral oximetry compared to groups II and III (rSO2 of the right hemisphere in the first group — 56.84 ± 12.27, rSO2 of the left hemisphere in the first group — 57.53 ± 13.32, p = 0.0001; 0.0028), while the differences in this indicator between groups II and III were not found (p = 0.4167; 0.4029). Conclusions. Near-infrared spectroscopy has proven to be a simple, feasible and useful method for monitoring the oxygen saturation of the brain. When choosing a combined anesthesia by inhalation and regional anesthesia in children with congenital malformations for surgical treatment, cerebral oxygenation should be more carefully monitored with additional control of peripheral saturation, blood pressure, partial pressure of CO2, O2 in the blood and pH.


Studies have been developed in order to produce new ceramic cutting tools based in alumina as an alternative to cemented carbides. Recent works published in the literatur have showed the good potential of niobium carbide to be used as a reinforced element in a metallic or ceramic matrix. This work has the objective to present the results of an alumina reinforced with niobium carbide.. Alumina, yttrium oxide and niobium carbide powders were mixed in a ball milling. Y 2 O 3 powder was used as sintering additive. The mixture was hot-pressed at 1600 °C during sixty minutes. Sintered samples were analyzed by x-ray diffraction, density measurements and mechanical properties. The results showed that the dispersion of niobium carbide particles improves the mechanical behavior of monolithic alumina.


Nowadays optical fibers are used in many industries. In addition to the data transmission, many sensor applications with using some special optical fibers are expanding. Faraday's phenomenon is often used for detection of the magnetic field. The size of the deviation of the polarization plane of optical radiation passing through the optical fiber is evaluated in Faraday's phenomenon that occurs due to the influence of the external magnetic field. This paper describes our new approach to addressing this issue using standard telecommunication fibers, PDMS-based optical connections, specialty products and some magnetic field sensitive materials. Our detector of the magnetic field can find a use for simplified measurement of weak magnetic fields up to 0.3 T.