Daily global and diffuse irradiance data monitored on a horizontal surface at Ile-Ife (7.5°N, 4.5°E), Nigeria, during the period 1992-1998, have been used to calculate values of the clearness index K T , and diffuse ratio K' d and the diffuse coefficient Kd for the station. A characterisation of the sky conditions over the station, based on the calculated K T values for the 7 years of data is presented. The annual sky conditions at the station have been shown to exhibit five characteristic patterns comprising of one distinct dry season and four distinct wet (rainy) seasons. Statistical monthly K T curves have also been established for Ile-Ife after LIU and JORDAN (1960). The possibility of using these monthly K T curves to establish approximate statistical distribution of the daily global radiation for other cities within similar latitude and longitude underscores their importance.


We demonstrate that a dipole-dipole interaction of the benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole moieties, directional H-bond formation of carboxy groups, and a rigid molecular skeleton enable to yield a structur...


1995, the unemployment rate in Canada averaged 9.6 percent, a full 4.2 percentage points above the US rate. Almost a decade later in 2004, the unemployment rate in Canada averaged 7.2 percent, compared to 5.5 percent in the United States, a gap of only 1.7 percentage points.' Other labour-market indicators also reflect this relative improvement. The employment-to-population ratio, for example, rose in Canada from 58.6 percent in 1995 to 62.7 percent in 2004, while in the United States this ratio fell marginally over the same period from 62.9 percent to 62.3.


It illustrates the reasons of the main problems existing in slope roof construction from raw material,construction method and other aspects.Furthermore,it discusses corresponding prevention to different reasons.It points out that in the water-proof roof project,water-proof design is the pre-condition,water-proof construction is the key and water proof management is the guarantee.


This paper introduces the general idea of the experimental reform of computer organization: hardware design software, expounds that the practice teaching should take the experimental principle as the main body ,and its present situation and trend, to explore the feasibility of the experimental reform and the advantages of the software of hardware design. Finally illustrates that the combination of teaching and scientific research is a contest theme.


Using the internal relations among the transistor small signal parameter models such as H、π and Y, We may sum up the general express form and characteristic of the common emitter amplifier gain under different parameter models.


Rhododendron adenosum was categorized as Extinct in the Wild both in the Red List of China's Biodiversity—Higher Plants Volume in  and by Qin et al. (, Biodiversity Science, , –). Other than the specimens collected by Joseph Charles Francis Rock in  (Davidian, , The Quarterly Bulletin of the American Rhododendron Society, , –), the species had not been collected in the type location in the Kulu Mountains in Muli county, south-west Sichuan, although four specimens of Rhododendron aff. adenosum were collected in  and  in the Luoji Mountains (c.  km from the type location) in Puge county, south-west Sichuan. These four specimens did not, however, have flowers, precluding definitive identification. With the support of the Second Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Integrated Scientific Expedition Project (QZKK), the Biodiversity Survey and Assessment Project of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China (HJ) and the Science and Technology Basic Resources Investigation Program of China (FY), field investigations were conducted in May  in both the Luoji Mountains and the type location in the Kulu Mountains. In the LuojiMountainswe confirmed that the specimens of R. aff. adenosum were wrongly identified, as they had a campaniform rather than infundibuliform floral shape and a different number of flowers per inflorescence (.  vs – in R. adenosum). During  days in the Kulumountains, however, we rediscovered one individual ofR. adenosum. As there could be additional individuals in the region, we intend to survey the surrounding mountains for the species. As only one individual R. adenosum is currently known it should be categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and as a Plant Species with an Extremely Small Population (Ma et al., , Biodiversity and Conservation, , –). In addition to field surveys, propagation experiments will be performed once seeds have been collected in the autumn, andwe arediscussingwith local nature reserves ways to protect the single known individual.


Deinococcus radiodurans is a radiation?resistant bacterium, possessing remarkable resistance to a range of damage caused by ionizing radiations, desiccation, ultra?violet ray and oxidizing agents. Its potential applications include remediation of radioactive wastes?contaminated environments. Radiation?sensitive organisms cannot be used in the environment contaminated by both radioactive wastes and organic pollutants. Physicochemical cleanup technologies that could be used are expensive. The use of microorganisms to stabilize or detoxify these envi- ronments is a viable alternative. A bioremediation strategy based on the radiation?resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans is being developed for the decontamination of sources where radiation levels are high. The genetic engi- neering could be overcome the physical, chemical, and physiologic constraints imposed on microorganism by radio- active wastes. Application of engineered D. radiodurans for the treatment of environments where radiation is the principle factor limiting microbial survival and function appears to be a potential and effective approach.


It is considered here, in the first place, that the Francoist was not a fascist dictatorship but fascistized, precisely because of the hegemonic character of National Catholicism. Secondly, that this does not mean that there was no fascist political religion in Spain, which was logically based on the fascist culture of Spanish fascism. Third, that the fact that National Catholicism ended up being hegemonic in Francoism over fascism, must be considered as the result of a complex series of processes, transversalities and conflicts, and not as something that was determined from the beginning.


In the present paper, a Monte Carlo-based framework is developed to investigate the accuracy and reliability of analytical fragility curves of steel moment-resisting frames and simple SDOF systems. It is also studied how the effectiveness of incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) and multiple stripes analysis (MSA) approaches, as two common nonlinear dynamic analysis methods, are influenced by the number of records and analysis stripes in fragility curves producing. Results showed that the simple SDOF systems do not provide accurate and reliable fragility curves compared with realistic steel moment-resisting structures. It is demonstrated that, the effectiveness of nonlinear dynamic analysis approaches is dependent on the fundamental period of structures, where in short-period structures, IDA is found to be more effective approach compared with MSA. This difference between the effectiveness of two analysis approaches decreases as the fundamental period of structures become longer. Using of 2 or 3 analysis stripes in MSA approach leads to significant inaccuracy and unreliability in the estimated fragility curves. Additionally, 15 number of ground motion records is recommended as a threshold of significant unreliability in estimated fragility curves, constructed by MSA.


Easy to make, potentially high efficient Schottky type solar cells are presented. Patterning of the cells of Si wafers was achieved by photo-ablation using a UV Excimer laser. We have found that the patterned cells were as much as 15% more efficient than non-patterned cells.


Polymers can exhibit both large and fast nonresonant third-order nonlinearities which rely on π-electron delocalization and conjugation, as well as good physical and chemical properties suitable for the fabrication of nonlinear integrated optics devices. Soluble polymers with strong charge transfer states such asymmetrically substituted 4-dialkylamino-4′-nitro-stilbene (DANS) and 4-dialkylamino-4′-nitro-diphenylbu-tadiene (DAN2) side-groups were originally developed for electro-optic applications because of their large second order nonlinearities and low propagation losses in waveguide form.1 Using nonlinear grating coupling we found a large value for n2, the Kerr coefficient. Measurements and analysis of the spectral dispersion of third harmonic generation indicate that the dominant contribution to the nonlinearity is due to the local cascading of second order nonlinearities.2


Sensor networks are used in a variety of applications such as battlefield reconnaissance, environmental monitoring, and traffic monitoring. Security and privacy become important concerns when people are participants in sensor network applications [1]. In this research, we focus on providing a framework in which the privacy of people participating in sensor networks applications is protected.


57 ABSTRACT This invention relates to polyester/plasticizer blends which are useful as heat-shrinkable films or sheet in low tempera ture shrink packaging applications. The plasticizer is injected into the melt of the polyester. The plasticizer lowers the glass transition temperature, on-set temperature and shrink rate of the polyester. Film or sheet produced by the polyester/plasticizer blends is clear.


The current status of several light-weight insulation materials extensively used in the market was introduced.Their performance in flame retardance,fire prevention and fire resistance as well as categories and application situation were analyzed.Comparison of the application status of these materials between home and abroad was made.The development tendency of the light-weight insulation materials was pointed out.


Association rules mining is quite an active field in the research of data mining in recent years.In this paper,it is presented that the definitions of association rule and relative terms,and simply surveyed that the algorithms of frequent patterns mining,frequent close patterns mining,max frequent patterns mining,parallel/distributed mining and incremental mining.It is mainly introduced the algorithms that is presented in last three years,and it is given the prediction and expectation of the developing trends in the near future.


Invitation: Launch of the new Australian Literary Studies
As of 2016, Australian Literary Studies is now based at the Australian National University, and for the first time in its 53-year history it will be published online. ALS has long shaped the study of Australian literature. We are now setting out to change the shape of scholarly publishing in Australia, too.


Laboratory experiments on the transition to aperiodic or chaotic motion in a two layer rotating fluid system are described. Theoretical results based on the single wave quasigeostrophic theory indicate that the transition should be abrupt, via a snap‐through bifurcation. The experimental results indicate either a quasi‐periodic, or a period doubling transition depending on the basis potential vorticity gradient.


INTRODUCTION: The refinement of myocardial stabilizer technology has allowed that around 20 to 30% of all CABG
cases are performed in a beating heart style.


In recent decades increasing attention has been paid to how various organizations stage products or events with the aim of `creating (selling) an experience`. In this thesis attention is directed towards the experience dimension, but not from a commercial perspective. The overall intention is to understand the importance of the environment in relation to individual experience and sense of place.The thesis takes its point of departure in the distinctive field of practice of cultural festivals, a phenomenon that from a historical perspective can be understood in the sense of celebration of community. The study takes a `non-commercial` perspective. The purpose of this study is to investigate the festival experience, in the space between the operator's conscious organizing and staging, and the individual's ephemeral and unpredictable experience. The main issues addressed are: What are the characteristics of festival landscape temporarily and materially? What types of aesthetic experience does the festival inspire? These issues are elaborated and discussed in four articles. The qualitative study is empirically based on participant observation and interviews at the Norwegian Extreme Sports festival in Voss, Eikerapen Roots Festival in Aseral, and Steinkjer Festival in Steinkjer. In addition, 120 essays written by 15-year-olds from the three municipalities are analyzed.Within social science research, the study belongs to the performative turn that emphasizes the importance of actions and processes in the mutual production of space. In other words, people not only view the world, but they make the world. In a mutual interaction with the environment and materiality, places, events and identity are shaped and reshaped.The main point of the study is that we cannot create actual experiences, but rather consciously facilitate memorable experiences. A facilitation of a festival is based upon knowledge and experience. By understanding the phenomenon of festivals as performance, the study shows some key characteristics:The driving force of the festivals is based on multisensory, social and reflexive aesthetics. The analysis confirms that the contemporary understanding of aesthetics matches the meaning of `aesthesis` as a holistic sensory experience, as originally launched by Baumgarten in 1750.Outdoor play in early childhood consists of memorable and situated experiences that can strengthen an anchoring to the home environment and sense of place.The festival may become a space for the playful human. The study shows how the perspective of `the playful human` can trigger an aesthetic and social commitment that in turn is related to individual experience.A central part of the festival atmosphere is related to landscape and local belonging.The festival has a short physical duration in the landscape, but is mentally prolonged. The study shows that there is a mutual interaction between the perception of landscape and place, and the festival. The study is intended to contribute to the stated need of festival and event research for greater focus on the holistic, aesthetic and contextual dimensions of festivals. From a geographical point of view, the study is positioned within the performative turn, especially related to landscape research, but also in terms of the development of local places. For research on the experience economy, the study is relevant for an understanding of the spatial and dynamic dimensions of event experience


This work deals with a harmonic control strategy for a transformerless double stage solar energy conversion system (SECS) to alleviate the leakage current in the presence of nonlinear loads enabling harmonics suppression capability. In this SECS, the PV module stray capacitance can elicit leakage current, which causes electromagnetic interferences and potential safety problems. To address these issues, the model predictive controller based adaptive harmonic compensation strategy is presented herein, which not only provides leakage current suppression but it also serves manifold ancillary power quality improvement features. The revised IEEE-519-2014 standard is incorporated in adaptive harmonic compensation strategy to achieve harmonics within recommended limits. The comparative response with a conventional control is exhibited to verify the capabilities of harmonic control strategy. Furthermore, a comparative harmonic suppression capability is analyzed herein to validate the competence of voltage controller. Various real-time simulated results are discussed to manifest capabilities of this control. The leakage current is restricted below 300 mA as per desirable safety requirements against leakage current of VDE-00126-01 and IEC-62109-2 standards. The total harmonic distortion (THD) of grid current and voltage, are achieved within permissible limits in compliance with the revised IEEE-519-2014 code.


We are investigating peridotite alteration in the mantle
section of the Samail ophiolite in Oman. Understanding the
natural system provides insights into design of enhanced, in
situ mineral carbonation for CO_2 storage, and 'negative
emissions' via enhanced CO_2 capture from surface waters.


We study the scaling behavior of the characteristic length of precursor magnetic nanostructures above the Curie temperature with the correlation length of quenched-in disorder. We found that the modulation length of the nanostructures ? follows the scaling law ?~D¯--v, where D¯ is the average size of the magnetized regions in the material. The scaling behavior of the average size of these regions, D¯, with the correlation length of the disorder, s, depends on the properties of the disorder. For Gaussian disorder, we find that D¯ scales with the disorder correlation length as D¯~sa/2, where a is the exponent of the leading term of the pair correlation function of the disorder in the limit r?0, G(r)˜e[1-(1/a)(r/s)a]. These results are quite general and applicable to other systems, e.g., ferroelectric precursors, independent of the nature of the long-range dipolar forces.


The purpose of this community service research is to find out the efforts to develop Akhlaqul Karimah for Islamic youth in Dayah Ar-Raudhah Tahfizh Al-qur'an, Blang Mangat District, LhokseumaweAceh-Indonesia, including interviews, discussion, problem solving, exemplary, habituation, advice, and describing the obstacles that affect Ar-Raudhah Tahfizh Al-qur'an, Blang Mangat District, Lhokseumawe City. The subjects in this study were 610 Haizh. While the object of research is 15 Hafizh. The method used is coaching and education. Obstacles that affect the development and education of Islamic youth morality in Dayah Ar-Raudhah Tahfizh Ak-Qur'an are the willingness of some students who are still unfamiliar, the personalities of some students are different and the environment of facilities and infrastructure is still limited.


The installation and testing of a numerical mesoscale boundary layer model is discussed. A data analysis is first made using the rawinsonde network which shows a strong baroclinic zone developing in the region where convection was initiated. The observed wind field shows an easterly component developing in opposition to the synoptic flow producing convergence. The numerical boundary layer model is used to diagnose the physical development of the thermal and flow fields. Two physical mechanisms are examined; topography and cloud shading. The results shows that while heated sloping topography alone does create a baroclinic zone and convergence values, cloud shading is a stronger mechanism for producing a thermal field representative of observed conditions


Nowadays the thin tinplates are the most important material for a wraps production.Predominant majority of these sheets are treated by drawing, by which are made both parts of tin sheets. By reduction of thicknesses of thin steel sheets and by require speed of deformation during the wraps production made by drawing often leads to the loss of stability of plastic deformation and to its localization. This localization of deformation considerably influences the change of thickness of protective tin layer and its integrity. Because of this it leads to the reduction of thin steel sheets resistance towards corrosion.In contribution are therefore dependencies of stress and strain by uniaxial and biaxial tensile test by different levels of deformation of two types of sheets monitored. After plastic deformation were sheets put under the impact of corrosion environment and was evaluating influence of deformation largeness and localization of deformation at the corrosive resistance of thin tinplates sheets. In contribution are also analyzed some of the cases of concrete corrosive damage of lids, so-called twist lids.


Roberts (1990) has proposed an intriguing and original mechanism for temperature compensation of circadian rhythms, based on the properties of &dquo;vicinal water&dquo;-that is, water associated with a surface. Roberts cites reports that the properties of vicinal water do not show gradual changes with changing temperature, but rather show abrupt phase transitions at characteristic temperatures (approximately 15°, 30°, 45°, and 60°C) and invariant properties on the plateaus between transition temperatures. Therefore, if the frequency of the clock mechanism is controlled by the properties of vicinal water, the temperature coefficient of the frequency may be close to 1. Although this may appear to be an attractive hypothesis, I would like to draw attention to two points that raise difficulties with this view of temperature compensation. First, the vicinal water hypothesis does not adequately account for several lines of evidence from the Neurospora crassa literature. Second, the vicinal water hypothesis is unnecessary, as there is no shortage of more plausible mechanisms for temperature compensation. My first point concerns the simple test of this hypothesis that Roberts proposes: Does the period of a circadian pacemaker show little change between transition temperatures and abrupt changes at those temperatures? An answer to this question is already available for Neurospora. (This evidence and the Neurospora system in general have recently been reviewed; see Lakin-Thomas et al., 1990). Nakashima and Feldman (1980) assayed the period of the conidiation rhythm between 20°C and 36°C, and did find a transition at 30°C. However, the period does not behave as predicted by Roberts: Below 30°C the Qlo is approximately 1.1, whereas above this temperature the Qlo changes to 1.3-1.7. In other


This article analyzes the portrayal of the USA and NATO as Kosovo's friends in the Kosovan media discourse. The research will use the Critical Discourse Analysis based on the model by Van Dijk to demonstrate the production and continuity of the friendship discourse in the Kosovan media. Two daily media outlets are analyzed: Koha Ditore and Epoka e Re, focusing on the strategies used to construct the image of Kosovo's friends for the countries that have supported the independence of the new state of Kosovo. The ideological framing of the friendship discourse is pointed out as the dominant topic in these two mainstream newspapers, but on the other hand, the papers emphasize two different perspectives of using the discourse of friendship, which are adjusted to the editorial policies and persuasive goals of the respective papers.


Small silver clusters have been investigated by electron microscopy. A bimodal size distribution is formed containing particles of diameter 1-2 nm and 4-8 nm. Among the largest particles icosahedra and cuboctahedra appear with equal frequency in HREM. 1 nm size icosahedra, however, could not be found, while cuboctahedra of this size could be resolved. Computer simulations of high resolution images for both structures reveal that icosahedra are more difficult to resolve under the experimental conditions. A dilation of approximately 5% of the lattice parameter could be measured for 1 nm particles. For 2 nm particles, this dilation drops to 2.5% compared with the bulk value of the particles larger than 3 nm.


Acknowledgements - Preface - Primitive Beliefs, Classical Theories, Early Practices - From the Middle Ages to the Renaissance: From Scholasticism to the Study of Nature - The Appeal to Physical Explanations - Interactions: Fact and Theory - Arguments and Counter-Arguments: the Creation - Idealism and Materialism - Natural Selection and Progress - Secular Beliefs: Suppositions and Presuppositions - Molecular Biology: Metaphorical Animism and a New Teleology - Notes and References - Index


"Global" is everywhere – recent years have seen a significant proliferation of the adjective "global" across discourses. But what do social actors actually do when using this term? Written from within the political studies and International Relations disciplines, and with a particular interest in the US, this book demonstrates that the widespread use of "global" is more than a linguistic curiosity. It constitutes a distinct political phenomenon of major importance: the negotiation and reproduction of the "new world". As such, the analysis of the use of "global" provides fascinating insights into an influential and politically loaded aspect of contemporary imaginations of the world.


Objectives : This research was investigated the anticoagulant effect of the Gleditsiae spina extract. Methods : We researched prothrombin time (PT) assay, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) assay in vitro and in vivo using arteriovenous (A-V) shunt rat model and shortening Rat tail bleeding time (BT). A-V shunt and BT were treated with extract of Gleditsiae spina (GS) 400 mg/kg for a week. Results : Bleeding time of Gleditsiae spina extract in vivo had a significant increase as about 1.2 times and thrombus weight of Gleditsiae spina extract had a significant reduction of thrombus weight as 26%. Gleditsiae spina extract represented an effect of anticoagulation by operating on extrinsic pathway factor II, V, VII, X and intrinsic pathway factor VIII, IX, X, XI, XII in the coagulation system. Conclusions : Considering the above mentioned results, it is judged that a Gleditsiae Spina extract has a control effect of thrombus creation.


The authors investigate how a neural network architecture can be expanded with add-on neural networks to deal with a scale-up problem. It is shown that if the new scale-up associative memory design problem is solvable, then the authors' proposed scheme is also valid. A scale-up methodology is developed which allows an increase in dimension for each stored pattern in a dynamic neural network by augmenting additional neural subnetworks, while preserving the interconnection architecture of the original neural network. The proposed scale-up approach eliminates the need for redesigning an overall new neural network architecture. The ease of design is illustrated by the stability requirement of the neural network. The add-on feature proves to be efficient with respect to the design of the interconnection weights.<<ETX>>


Several groups of early vertebrates had in the dermis a pore-canal system that was probably a primitive sensory system functioning to detect water displacements. The lateral-line sensory system, and possibly the inner ears, are believed to have been derived from the pore-canal system.


All of our readers will be aware that this year saw the passing of John Friedmann, a unique figure in the development of planning thought. By that I mean the thinking that goes into theory and practice, and the critical evaluation of the performance of both, for I think that John was very clear that both must prove their performance. And to come to the assessment of 'unique' I fit the dimensions of depth, range and humanity to his work. So we start this issue with three pieces that offer a tribute to John Friedmann. The first is a book review by Megan Horst that had been commissioned before John's death. The book is Insurgencies and Revolutions: Reflections on John Friedmann's Contributions to Planning Theory and Practice, edited by Haripriya Rangan, Mee-kam Ng, Libby Porter and Jacquelyn Chase, a volume of 26 essays by scholars who studied under John and who were ever after inspired by him. What is perhaps most remarkable to me is the range of experience and endeavour set out in these essays, and what that says about the applicability of John's teaching.1 The review is an acute critique of what John's work means to us all. The second and third pieces come from Klaus Kunzmann, a more personal appreciation of John's work and Klaus's reflections on that; together with a special drawing by Klaus that depicts John in action.


Ribosomes are observed intimately associated with nucleocapsids of vesicular, stomatitis virus, especially those that line structures that are either cytoplasmic vesicles or invaginations of the plasma membrane.


Abstract Snow cover changes over the Tibetan plateau (TP) are examined using moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) daily fractional snow cover (FSC) data from 2001 to 2011 as well as in situ temperature data. First, the accuracy of the MODIS FSC data under clear sky conditions is evaluated by comparing with Landsat 30-m observations. Then we describe a cloud-gap-filled (CGF) method using cubic spline interpolation algorithm to fill in data gaps caused by clouds. Finally, the spatial and temporal changes of snow cover are analyzed on the basis of the MODIS-derived snow-covered area and snow-covered days (SCD) data. Results show that the mean absolute error of MODIS FSC data under clear sky condition is about 0.098 over the TP. The CGF method is efficient in cloud reduction (overall mean absolute error of the retrieved FSC data is 0.092). There is a very high inter-annual and intra-seasonal variability of snow cover in the 11 years. The higher snow cover corresponds well with the huge mountains. The accumulation and melt periods of snow cover vary in different elevation zones. About 34.14% (5.56% with a significant decline) and 24.75% (3.9% with a significant increase) of the study area presents declining and increasing trend in SCD, respectively. The inter-annual fluctuation of snow cover can be explained by the high negative correlations observed between the snow cover and the in situ temperature, especially in some elevations of February, April, May, August, and September.


Understanding the role the oceans play in sequestering anthropogenic CO2 is crucial to understanding global climate change. Correct parameterization of air-sea flux of CO2 is an important challenge to modelers. Recently it has been demonstrated that the thin thermal layer at the surface of the ocean can lead to an underestimate of CO2 solubility (Robertson and Watson, 1992). We re-evaluate the effect of the cool thermal skin and present a high-resolution seasonal estimate of its effect on the air-sea flux of CO2. We compare air-sea flux estimates derived using both a mean wind field and a more realistic Rayleigh distribution of the wind field. Using the mean monthly wind stress and a linear relationship between wind speed and the gas exchange coefficient of CO2 (Tans et al., 1990), we estimate that excluding the southern ocean, the surface skin correction increases the air-sea flux of carbon by 0.48 Gt yr-1. This is 25% lower than the correction suggested by Robertson and Watson (1992) and the difference is attributed to the better temporal and spatial resolution of the present data set. When a more realistic representation of the temporally varying winds is used, the corrected carbon flux decreases to 0.36 Gt yr−1. Conservatively, adding a 10% contribution from the southern ocean, we estimate a mean global increase in CO2 flux due to the skin effect of 0.39 Gt C yr−1. This is 40% lower than the previous estimate of Robertson and Watson (1992). Finally, adopting the gas transfer parameterization of Liss and Merlivat (1984), we estimate a CO2 flux anomaly of only 0.17 Gt C yr−1 which is approximately 50% lower than the analogous estimate using the Tans et al. (1990) formulation and a full 75% lower than the estimate of Robertson and Watson (1992). These results suggest that both a proper representation of the wind speed/flux correlation and a realistic distribution of the wind field is essential in making large-scale flux estimates. We also examine the seasonal variation of the thermal skin effect. The largest negative temperature gradients (-0.75°C) are found during the northern hemisphere winter in the regions of the Kuroshio and the Gulf Stream Currents, whereas the central North Pacific has a small positive temperature gradient during the summer months.


Drehbereichsbegrenzer for limiting the rotation angle of a shaft which is rotatably supported in a shaft bearing at least 360 °, comprising a shaft-side stop element (40) which is connected at a radial distance from the shaft axis (18) with the shaft (14) and a bearing-side stop element (42) which is connected to a fixed bearing member (12) such that it protrudes radially into the path of the limiting shaft-side stop element (40), wherein the bearing-side stop element (42) in the circumferential direction of rotation of the shaft (14) can be deflected to a limited distance, the bearing-side stop element (42) about a rotational axis (44) is rotatably arranged, the bearing-side stop element (42) a rotary movement about the axis of rotation (44) running in the displacement of the limited range, and wherein has the bearing-side stop element (42) two stops (56, 58) extending on opposite sides of a plane orthogonal to the rotational axis (44) of the deflectable abutment member (42) longitudinal axis (50) of the bearing-side stop element (42) are arranged.


STUDENTS OF CHINESE antiquity have for some time been awaiting the publication of Dr. Burton Watson's translations from the Shih chi, whose appearance was foretold in the same scholar's modest but useful volume on Ssu-ma Ch'ien.1 The results of Dr. Watson's labors are now available, and are sure to be of interest to all sinologists. It is not only to sinologists, however, that the work is addressed, but also to "the educated reader in general," according to one of the editors of the series of which these volumes form a part.2 A certain freedom has therefore been taken. Some situations in which the translator has, by his own account, "sacrificed strict fidelity to readability" are mentioned in the Introduction (1, 6-7). Professional scholars are likely to have reservations about certain of these liberties, and about others which will be mentioned below. In any case, they must admire the perseverance and industry of the translator in bringing to completion a task of this magnitude and his courage in tackling the innumerable problems presented at every turn. The chronological scope of the material translated is indicated by the sub-titles of the two volumes rather than by the general title of the work (see n. 1 above). Thus the very large part of the Shih chi which has to do with the Ch'in and pre-Ch'in periods is omitted. It will be supposed that some account of this omitted material would be presented, together with indications as to where the reader might turn for translations from it. In these respects the uninitiated will remain entirely in the dark. The parts of the Shih chi dealing with pre-Han matters are dismissed in all too general terms (1, 4-5) as derivative and unreliable.


Management of multiple injuries is presented in the following article. 14 patients with open fractures during multiple trauma were assessed taking into consideration: time of post trauma stabilization and such complications as osteitis and growth impairment. Patients' clinical status with specific aspects were assessed (stride, muscle atrophy, edema, limaxis). Infected tibia false joints were diagnosed in 3 patients. 2 cases concerned open fractures of the II degree and III degree degree of the tibia according to Gustilo. They were patients operated during the first 24 houre in the year 2000. No such complications as infected false joints were diagnosed in patients operated between the 8th-10th day post trauma. All patients achieved bone growth and normal waound post traumatic bone healing.


Direct impingement of the high temperature supersonic jet causes the thermal erosion of materials on the launcher and the equipment surrounding it. Therefore, cooling water is generally injected in to the high temperature exhaust plume. Further, injection of water aids in the reduction of jet noise. The injection is modelled using the Discrete Phase Model available on the commercially available software, Fluent. The effect on temperature reduction of the exhaust plume due to the water addition is investigated by varying the parameters including the cone angle of injection and the droplet diameter size distribution. Keywords-supersonic jet, spray cooling, cone angle, discrete phase model.


The article presents the results of U-Pb isotope dating (SHRIMP-II, VSEGEI, Saint Petersburg) of zircon crystals extracted from plagiorhyolites of the Monakh Cliff in the area of Cape Fiolent in the western part of the Mountainous Crimea (southern suburb of Sevastopol). a concordant age estimate of 168.3±1.3 Ma was obtained from 20 zircon crystals. It exactly corresponds to the Bajocian/Bathonian boundary of the Middle Jurassic according to the International Chronostratigraphic Chart (February 2022 version). The available results of isotope dating of igneous rocks from the Mountainous Crimea, as well as their geochemical typification are synthesised. The plagiorhyolites of the Monakh Cliff in the area of Cape Fiolent are spatially, and most likely paragenetically, associated with the wallrock (Cape Vinogradny) and ore (Heraclea Plateau on the cognominal peninsula) massive sulphide formations, as well as pillow basalts, gabbroids, and serpentinized hyperbasites, combined into the ophiolite association of Cape Fiolent. The obtained dating is the upper age limit for the entire ophiolite association of Cape Fiolent.


In this paper, we refer to a new text transformation technique to move forward the existing lossless, reversible text makeover technique called Substitution coder. Substitution coder is a class of lossless text transformation algorithms which operates by searching for matches between the text to be compressed and a set of words contained in a dictionary, maintained by the coder. When the coder identifies such a match, it substitutes a reference to the word's position in the dictionary. Some dictionary coders use a static dictionary in which an entire set of words is determined before coding commences and does not vary during the transformation process. This kind of approach is most often used when the information to be encoded is fixed and large. A lossless data compression algorithm should preserve the data during the encoding and decoding process. The purpose of the fixed sequence word maintained in the dictionary is to generate some kind of fixed but artificial context in the transformed text that can be exploited by the backend compression algorithm. According to our approach, the Dictionary prop ups to append the new words without changing codes for existing words. The proposed algorithm is implemented and tested using Calgary corpus and Gutenberg files.


The impact of denaturing and stabilizing osmolytes on protein conformational dynamics has been extensively explored due to the significant contribution of protein solvation to the stability, function, malfunction and regulation of globular proteins. We studied the effect of two nonspecific organic molecules, urea, which is a conventional denaturant, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which is a multilateral organic solvent, on the stability and conformational dynamics of a non-inhibitory serpin, ovalbumin (OVA). A differential scanning microcalorimetry (DSC) experimental series conducted in the phosphate buffer solutions containing 0–30% of additives revealed the destabilizing impact of both urea and DMSO in a mild acidic media, manifested in the gradual decrease of thermal unfolding enthalpy and transition temperature. These findings differ from the results observed in our study of the mild alkaline DMSO buffered solutions of OVA, where the moderate stabilization of OVA was observed in presence of 5–10% of DMSO. However, the overall OVA interaction patterns with urea and DMSO are consistent with our previous findings on the stability and conformational flexibility of another model globular protein, α-chymotrypsin, in similar medium conditions. The obtained results could be explained by preferential solvation patterns. Positive preferential solvation of protein by urea in urea/water mixtures mainly weakens the hydrophobic interactions of the protein globule and eventually leads to the disruption of the tertiary structure within the whole range of urea concentrations. Alternatively, under certain experimental conditions in DMSO/water mixtures, positive preferential solvation by water molecules can be observed. We assume that the switch to the positive preferential solvation by DMSO, which is shown to have a soft maximum around 20–30% DMSO, could be shifted towards lower additive concentrations due to the intrinsic capability of ovalbumin OVA to convert into a heat-stable, yet flexible set of conformations that have increased the surface hydrophobicity, characteristic to molten-globule-like states.


The invention relates to a plastic profile, especially plastic extrusion profile, with at least one profile element (1) consisting of a physically foamed plastic (2). The profile element (1) has a smooth, or at least substantially closed, free outer surface (3). The invention is also a tambour door and a method for producing a plastic profile.


The invention provides a preparation method of a 2-chloro-4-substituted pyrimidine compound. The method is high in reaction selectivity, can effectively avoid the production of isomers and by-products in a substitution reaction, and then improves the product yield; and products are easily purified, and high in quality. The structural formula of the 2-chloro-4-substituted pyrimidine compound is as shown in the specification. The preparation method comprises the following steps that 1, a 2-methylmercapto-4-chloropyrimidine compound and alkali have a substitution reaction in a reaction solvent 1 so as to obtain an intermediate product 2-methylmercapto-4-substituted pyrimidine compound, wherein the structural formula of the 2-methylmercapto-4-substituted pyrimidine compound is as shown in the specification, and R, X, and G in the formula are same as limitations in a general formula; and 2, the intermediate product 2-methylmercapto-4-substituted pyrimidine compound obtained in the step 1 and the reaction solvent 2 have a chlorination reaction so as to obtain a final product 2-chloro-4-substituted pyrimidine compound.


Radar sensors operating with different wavelengths and polarizations have been widely used for large-scale forest mapping and monitoring. The interferometric phase obtained by microwave sensors contains additional information on the three-dimensional structure of the scattering targets in the image. An experiment was performed in the Brazilian Amazon (Tapajós National Forest and surroundings) to provide airborne SAR data at Xand Pbands over tropical rain forest. In a first step of the presented research the regular radar backscatter results are joined with an interferometric height model to establish a statistical relationship to forest biomass (primary and secondary vegetation). Subsequently, that model is applied for generation of a thematic land cover map. Backscattering of P-band waves mainly occurs on the ground surface, and can be used for interferometric generation of a Digital Elevation Model. The X-band is reflected by dossel, and thus relates to the forest canopy in a Digital Surface Model. The difference between both models has been shown to represent height of vegetation. Care was taken in establishing statistical models that relate dendrometric parameters from forest types to both P-band backscatter and interferometric height. A best biomass model [biomass = 44.965 + 13.887 × h int + 10.556 × σ°HH ] was established after comprehensive testing of a range of specific allometric equations to achieve statistically high precision in biomass prediction. A segmentation algorithm (hierarchical region growth) was applied to the remote sensing dataset to provide means for application of the biomass model to homogeneous landscape units with similar biophysical characteristics and site histories. A final mapping result displays forest biomass, and accounts for different successional stages and primary forest in intervals.


Bisimulation quantiers are a natural extension of modal logics. They preserve the bisimulation invariance of modal logic, while allowing monadic second-order expressivity. Unfortunately, it is not the case that extension by bisimulation quantiers always preserves the decidability of a modal logic. Here we examine a general class of modal logics for which decidability is preserved under extension by bisimulation quantiers.


By comparing microstructures and properties,It has been found that the properties of the high Mn steel castings after direct water toughening is nearly equal to that after common water toughening. The experiment results have shown that the process of high Mn steel casting can be simplified and the energy used for making high Mn steel casting can be cut down.The direct water toughening is an economical and applicable process for high Mn steel casting.


In 1970's, A few important elements in China's modified understanding of the forces shaping the course of international politics were Soviet's expansionism, Nixon doctrine, and Japan's rise as a major power. At that time, in Chinese eyes, the expansion of Soviet in Asia represented a present threat to China security, and of the two superpowers the Soviet was clearly the more aggressive. In order to cope with international situation, China adopted 'Three Worlds' diplomatic strategy which purposes to 'anti-Soviet'. This paper intends to analysis chinese 'anti-Soviet' policy in realistic aspect. First, make Chinese realistic perception to international situation clear in 'Three World' diplomatic strategy. and next, base on these Chinese perception tries to find out What was 'anti-Soviet' policy and estimate Chinese foreign policy to every region of the world include US in 1970's.


Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2 have a high prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD), as diabetes is implicated in the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. Hyperglycemia, elevated free fatty acid, increased amount of circulating end-glucosylated serum products and insulin resistance are the main mechanisms involved in the accelerated atherosclerotic process observed in type 2 DM patients. Novel treatments have been proposed to prevent and treat CAD in patients with diabetes, mainly in those with diabetes type 2. Several clinical trials have been designed in order to examine the effectiveness of these agents, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers, glitazones, statins and antioxidants, but the results are still controversial.


After the secession of the other Yugoslav republics in the early 1990s, Montenegro is Serbia's only remaining partner in the Yugoslav Federation. Since 1997, Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic has been edging towards greater independence and, possibly, full separation. Many Montenegrins want to move away from the crippled and isolated Serbia of Slobodan Milosevic and closer to the West. However, a large minority of Montenegrins is determined to remain united with Serbia. If Milosevic supported this minority, a referendum on independence could lead to civil war. Another reason for Djukanovic's caution could be his aspirations to emerge as the democratic candidate to succeed Milosevic as president of Yugoslavia.


In the post-war period many German-speaking authors choose Italy as the country of their voluntary exile. However, they do not travel to Italy in Goethe's footsteps, they project instead recent past and present experiences on the land «where lemons blossom». That is why in two of Ingeborg Bachmann's cycles of poems (Lieder von einer Insel and Lieder auf der Flucht) Naples appears as a «place of joy» and a place of horror at once, where menacing signs of war and destruction are still tangible. In her poetry, Marie Louise Kaschnitz tends to depict Naples in a rather mythical and timeless sense, while in her prose she lays more emphasis on social criticism. On the one hand, Kaschnitz appears to be fascinated by the beauty of the city, but on the other one she harshly criticises its poverty and misery.


☻ Study on biotic relationship between tested isolate and E. amylovora on 3 microbiological media (Nutrient Agar with sucrose, King B and LB) showed that 49M inhibited growth of pathogen only on King B medium. Blossoms on Idared/M.26 trees growing in pot in the greenhouse were sprayed with water suspension of strain 49M at concentrations of 10 and 10 cfu/ml. After 24 h blossoms were spray inoculated with water suspension of Erwinia amylovora strain Ea659 at 10 cfu/ml. The presence of blight symptoms was recorded after 5 to 9 days. The preparations: Miedzian 50WP (copper oxichloride), Aliette 80WG (fosetyl-Al), isolate A506 (Pseudomonas fluorescens) and Blight Ban A506 (USA) were used for comparison. Screening on pear fruitlets and identification


This paper introduces a new method to deal with the Undirected Rural Postman Problem (RPP), based on Genetic Algorithms. The RPP is a particular Arc Routing Problem which consists of determining a minimum cost circuit on a graph so that it is possible to traverse a given subset of required edges. The RPP is known to be an NP-hard problem and it has some interesting real-life applications. The authors are aware of only one publication using Genetic Algorithms alone in this type of problems. The new method – the RPGA algorithm – will be described in detail and tested with different groups of problems, the results being compared with those gathered from other publications. A comparison is also made with several crossovers frequently used in TSP problems. A new case based on the city of Porto is also solved. The simplicity of RPGA and the computational experiments suggest that it can be a good choice to solve (undirected) RPP, in a short period of time.


The paper is concerned with the development of an integrated, open and fully usable virtual reality (VR) environment for the construction industry for use on a low-cost PC (but transportable to other, more sophisticated systems) to make VR accessible and usable by small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The paper describes a new VR system for collaborative interaction in the construction industry that enhances communication between the design team, contractors and sub-contractors through open systems design. It discusses how feedback from potential users of these VR systems is assessed and implemented, to ensure systems are designed to meet user requirements. By enabling the use and integration of a wide variety of multimedia technologies, communication channels between different construction parties become more effective.


In this prospective cohort of adults with SCD, we confirm that leg ulcers are still frequent and are associated with elevated TRVand markers of hemolysis. We describe a novel association of leg ulcer with hyperuricemia and oxygen desaturation and suggest potential implications for uric acid as a marker of vascular dysfunction.


Objective:To research the situation of lead pollution effect the children's health.Methods:Get blood from the children's finger and down the dilute fluid,top a lid and agitates to confuse smoothly,examines the blood lead value with no flame atomic absorption spectroscopy.The blood lead ≥ 100 μg/l(1 μg/L=0.004 83mol/L) was lead poisoning.Results:Among the 426 children,the maximal value of blood lead was 257.2 μg/L,minimal value was 15.6 μg/L,average value was 79.47 μg/L,74 cases of blood lead value overtook 100 μg/L(17.4%).Conclusion:Children's health and development have effected by the environment lead pollution.The lead content should be examined in town and country guarding against lead pollution environment but effect children's health.


Canada's The Globe and Mail recently reported that the American companion of a Canadian woman had been deported:

The elderly women, who have little money and no car, left Canada after Ms. Inferrera, a 73-year-old American, was deported – prompting a public outcry. She and her friend of three decades, Ms. Sanford, 83, are inseparable. In addition, Ms. Sanford suffers from a heart condition and dementia and Ms. Inferrera looks after her (Taber, 2012).

The American woman had been refused permanent residency despite numerous appeals, although eventually this decision was reversed (Taber, 2012). Arguments for same-sex marriage often appeal to cases like this, in which longstanding relationships are ignored by authorities, and this harms crucial interests of those involved. But these two women were not romantically involved, and so, presumably, did not consider marriage an option. Why should their relationship lack recognition and support because they are 'just' friends – friends who have cohabited for decades and cared for one another materially? In this article, Professor Brake argues that friends such as these, and other non-traditional partnerships, deserve marriage-like entitlements.

"Mere friends" are not the only neglected category of caring relationships. Groups of more than two are another. Imagine that the two women had lived and shared their lives with a third friend for a similar duration and with a similar degree of interdependency. If there is an intuitive pull to the thought that the two women in the real-life case had a special claim to immigration eligibility, why would the addition of a third life partner weaken their claim to special consideration? In this case, their lives would have twined together in mutual interdependence as did the lives of Ms. Sanford and Inferrera. If the basis of such a claim (at least intuitively) is that the parties have demonstrated a deep commitment and depend upon one another in daily life, a group of three people could demonstrate exactly the same characteristics.

It might be responded that recognizing more than one relationship is simply infeasible, opening the state to all sorts of ludicrous claims. However, immigration now recognizes multiple family members; if the women had been sisters, they could have received special consideration under Canada's Family Class Immigration, whether the sponsor had one sister or two. It might also be thought that while a sister-like relationship between unrelated women might deserve treatment as "family," the line should be drawn at sexual, polyamorous relationships. But if the nature of the three hypothetical women's relationship also had a romantic or sexual element – or if two of the women had such a relationship while the third was a non-sexual indispensable friend to both – how would that relevantly change their claim to possessing a deep commitment and mutual interdependence?

Here, as in previous work, Professor Brake makes the case that justice requires extending marriage-like entitlements much more broadly. Marriage – or a marriage-like legal framework – should have a legal future, but that future should not exclude friendships or committed polyamorous units. In the next section, Professor Brake reviews her previous arguments for extending access to marriage-like rights more broadly (Brake, 2010, 2012). This argument proceeds within the philosophical framework of political liberalism. Those already familiar with my arguments for "minimal marriage" may wish to skip to section 3. In this section, Professor Brake discusses general challenges to arguments for marriage reform, before proceeding in section 4 to the case for extending some current marital rights to friendship and polyamory.


I introduce a distinction between general and local model-data symbiosis and offer three examples of local symbiosis in the fields of meteorology and climate science. Local model-data symbiosis refers to a beneficial, two-way interdependence between a particular model and data set or between closely related models and data sets. For each example presented here, I show how the symbiotic relationship works—what the interdependence consists in and how it is supposed to be beneficial—and I consider whether, alongside the benefits, there is some risk of problematic circularity.


Introduction: Each year, more than 3.6 million Europeans are diagnosed with heart failure [1]. In the Danish 'Teledi@log Project', telemedicine applications have been developed and tested with the goal of decreasing the high readmission rate and improving quality of life for heart failure patients [2]. A prototype of the Intelligent Bed was tested in the fall of 2013. The Intelligent Bed is a hospital bed designed with intelligent components, such as sensors indicating the patient is 'out of bed', light under bed, humidity measurement, and patient's weight. Data from the weight sensor was transmitted to a Personal Health Record that could be viewed by both the patient and by healthcare professionals from hospital and the district nursing office. Via smart phones, the district nurses could receive alarms if certain measurements


The vast majority of gastrin‐related gastrointestinal neuroendocrine neoplasms (GI‐NENs) develop in the context of chronic atrophic gastritis (type 1), a condition closely related to autoimmune thyroid diseases. These neoplasms are defined as gastric NENs type 1 (GNEN1) and have recently been shown to constitute the commonest GI‐NENs in a prospective study. GNEN1s are usually multiple and follow a relative indolent course, raising questions regarding the extent that such patients should be investigated and the appropriate therapeutic interventions needed. Recently, a number of consensus statements and guidelines have been published from various societies dealing with the diagnosis and management of GI‐NENs. Endocrinologists are among the many different medical specialties involved in GNEN1s diagnosis and management. However, despite recent advances, few randomized trials are available, and thus existing evidence remains relatively weak compared to other malignancies. The purpose of this review is to provide recent evidence along with currently employed modalities addressing the diagnosis, management, long‐term follow‐up and potential comorbidities of GNEN1s.


What types of hazards could be in a workplace? This fact sheet highlights chemicals and metals; however, there are many types of workplace hazards. Other workplace hazards include: anesthetic gases, ionizing radiation, loud noise, extreme heat or extreme cold stress, strenuous physical exertion, repetitive movements, whole body vibration, infectious agents, injury, emotional stress and changing shift rotations. Sometimes, workers carry hazardous substances (dust, powder, chemicals, metal flakes) home on their shoes or clothing. Because of this, it is also important talk to your partner or other adults living in your home about their workplace hazards. In general, exposures can happen through: inhaling substances (breathing a gas, powder, dust or vapor into your lungs), absorption through skin, or ingestion (eating or drinking).


It's happened AGAIN... A disgusting foreign object has been found
 in a value meal. As if McDonald's food wasn't blecherous enough
 to begin with, a Wisconsin woman recently bit into a McDonald's
 Chicken Bun sandwich, and almost choked to death on a used
condom!


This paper introduces an improved BCI system based on alpha rhythm, the main composition units of the system are electrodes, acquisition circuit, online detecting algorithm and outer devices. For improving the performance of BCT systems, a new algorithms for alpha wave detection is proposed, which can reduce EEG baseline wandering and energy fluctuation efficiently and make the BCI system work more stable. Based on the BCI system, experiments of media player control are carried out among different subjects, which show that the system has an excellent performance in alpha wave detection and real-time controlling.


Mesoporous TiO2 is a potential photocatalyst because of its merits of non-toxic,large ratio surface area,excel-lent stability and strong photocatalytic activity.The most important work at present is to improve the photocatalytic efficiency of TiO2 by shifting its optical response from UV to the visible range.The mechanism of TiO2 and modification,the effective methods of iron doping and upconversion luminescence agent doping are systematically studied in the paper.Finally,the suggestion on future development of mesoporous TiO2 is also presented.


Climate is a principal resource for tourism, as it codetermines the suitability of locations for a wide range of tourist activities, is a principal driver of global seasonality in tourism demand in MENA Countries, and has an important influence on operating costs, such as heating-cooling, snowmaking, irrigation, food and water supply, and insurance costs. Thus, changes in the length and quality of climatedependent tourism seasons (e.g., sun-and-sea or winter sports holidays) could have considerable implications for competitive relationships between destinations and therefore the profitability of tourism enterprises. A Quantitative Approach-Questionnaire was designed with the aim of travellers to the MENA Countries. It was structured to focus on the role of climate in general as a destination attribute specifically issues of the relationship between weather beach tourism and climate change impacts Results showed that Adapting to climate change requires anticipating change. Some sectors will be better able to plan than others depending on their capacity to adapt. Enhancing this capacity can reduce risks of adverse future impacts. That is why it would be strategic to increase adaptive capacity in tourism sector. To prevent the impact of climate change on coastal tourism and vice versa, a joint organization for MENA tourism should exist and should meet the need of the States, the tourist destinations, the private sector and NGOs to group together and form joint ventures.


The Upper Paleolithic site Chernoozer`e II (Sargatskiy district of the Omsk region) is a key to many issues concerning the settlement of the West Siberian plain in the late Pleistocene and the dynamics of cultural development. A detachment of the Ural archeological expedition headed by V. F. Gening was discovered and studied it in the 1960s and 1970s. A detachment of the Sredneirtyshskaja archaeological expedition under the leadership of T. A. Gorbunova was made inspection of the site and the perspectives of its further study in the course of exploration 2013.


This study was conducted to examine the recent developments in timber certification schemes at global level such as FSC certification and ISO 14001 system and to analyze their potential impacts on the Korean forest products trade. Data and information on standards and procedure of timber certification and certified forest lands were collected from relevant papers, statistics and reports published by regional and international organizations. In order to analyze the impacts on the Korean forest products trade, questionnaire survey to the affected parties was conducted on acknowledge of key words relating to environment and trade and on the additional amount of willingness to pay for a labeled timber from environmentally sound and sustainably managed forests. Quantities of certified timbers supplied would continue to increase due to lots of timber certification schemes developed and implemented at national, regional and global levels and growing interests in certification from many countries. Demand for certified timbers, however, is far from clear at this stage. The deciding factor would be consumer reaction to the certified products. In the short run, the timber certification would have a little impacts on forest products imports into Korean markets since domestic purchasers do not have much interests in environment related trade measures and their willingness to pay price premiums for certified timbers is not high. However, it could be expected that timber certification has negative impacts on exports of forest products, such as flooring and plywood, to developed European markets where timber certification is used as a trade barrier.


A reversible logic gate differs from the conversational logic gate in many ways, such as equal number of input–output, its reverse operation and bijective input/output mapping. In this paper, a new class of 4 × 4 conservative-reversible logic gate named the equalizer SWAP gate (ESG) has been proposed. This gate is self-invertible and performs SWAP operation when two of its control inputs are logic either 0 or 1. The all-optical design of the ESG using a 'semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) assisted Sagnac interferometer' with a counter-propagating signal passing through the SOA has been shown with a mathematical model in this paper. Quantum realization of the ESG has been carried out to construct its unitary matrix. Also, the matrix has been established through numerical simulation. Some complex reversible logic circuits, viz. n-bit XOR/XNOR, full-adder circuit, n-bit binary-to-gray and gray-to-binary conversion, using the ESG unit have also been shown. Simulated outputs, logical complexity, quantum realization, optical cost and delay of the proposed circuit have been analyzed, and are compared with other reversible logic gates.


Deep learning techniques are always bound with big data and large, sophisticated models. In this paper, we show that this is not necessarily true for the task of end-to-end phase retrieval in off-axis interferometric quantitative phase imaging. For this task, we first introduce a new loss function, called bucket error rate (BER), for addressing the problem of imbalanced data distribution by balancing loss-bias of target and background area adaptively. With BER, we demonstrate that a U-Net model can learn the underneath logic for converting a raw interferogram to a phase map from only one training sample. At last, we present a novel mixed-context network (MCN) which can simultaneously aggregate local- and global-contextual information. Experimental results show that compared to U-Net, the proposed MCN is more accurate, more compact, and can be trained faster.


I propose a method for antialiasing Kirchhoff operators, which switches between interpolation in time and interpolation in space depending on the operator dips. The method is a generalization of Hale's technique for dip moveout antialiasing. It is applicable to a wide variety of integral operators and compares favorably with the popular temporal filtering technique. Simple synthetic examples demonstrate the performance and applicability of the proposed method. INTRODUCTION Integral (Kirchhoff-type) operators are widely used in seismic imaging and data processing for such tasks as migration, dip moveout (Hale, 1991), azimuth moveout (Biondi et al., 1998), and shot continuation (Bagaini and Spagnolini, 1996). In theory, the operators correspond to continuous integrals. In practice, the integration is replaced by summation and becomes prone to sampling errors. A common problem with practical implementation of integral operators is the operator aliasing, caused by spatial undersampling of the summation path (Lumley et al., 1994). When the integration path is parameterized in the spatial coordinate, as it is commonly done in practice, the steeper part of the summation path becomes undersampled. The operator aliasing problem, as opposed to the data aliasing and image aliasing problems, is discussed in detail by Lumley et al. (1994) and Biondi (2001). It arises when the slope of the operator traveltime exceeds the limit, defined by the time and space sampling of the data the Nyquist frequencies (Claerbout, 1992a). Even if the input data are not aliased, operator aliasing can cause severe distortions in the output. Several successful techniques have been proposed in the literature to overcome the operator aliasing problem. Different versions of the temporal filtering method were suggested by Gray (1992) and Lumley et al. (1994) and further enhanced by Abma et al. (1999) and Biondi (2001). This method reduces the aliasing error by limiting the rate of change in the integrand (the input data) with temporal filtering. Unfortunately, this approach is suboptimal in the case of rapid changes in the summation path gradient. A different approach to antialiasing was suggested by Hale (1991) for the integral dip moveout. Hale's approach provides accurate results by


Gap‐junctional complexes link goldfish and lizard hair cells with adjacent supporting cells [Hama, J. Neurocytol. 9, 845–860 (1980); Nadol, Mulroy, Goodenough, and Weiss, Am. J. Anat. 147, 281–302 (1976)]. Lizard hair cells and support cells appear to be electrically coupled [Baden‐Kristensen and Weiss, Hear. Res. 8, 295–315 (1982)]. In mammals, anatomical evidence suggests the absence of gap‐junctional complexes between hair cells and support‐cell neighbors, but suggestive membrane specializations have been observed [Gulley and Keese, J. Neurocytol. 5, 479–507 (1976); Nadol, Ann. Otol. 87, 70–80 (1978)]. Horseradish peroxidase marking and intracellular recording techniques were utilized to determine the origin (s) of sound‐induced potential changes in supporting cells of the organ of Corti. Recordings were made in the low‐frequency region of the adult guinea‐pig cochlea, an in vivo preparation. Response characteristics of support cells to tone bursts at various sound levels and frequencies were compared with hair‐cell responses (IHC and OHC) and potentials recorded in organ fluid spaces. Comparisons of the harmonic content of the responses, magnitude, and phase of the fundamental component, and the magnitude of de‐response components suggest a lack of electrotonic coupling between mammalian hair cells and support cells. [Work supported by NIH Grant NS‐08635.]


Renewable energy is an alternative source of energy, such as solar power plants. Solar energy is utilized by using solar cells that produce electrical energy in the form of Direct Current (DC). So, to make electrical energy can be used for Alternating Current (AC), an inverter is needed to convert the DC voltage into AC voltage. The results of conversion on conventional inverters usually cause harmonic values that can cause interference and damage to electrical devices. To reduce harmonics, an 11-level single-phase inverter is designed that is arranged with a diode-clamped inverter topology. The design of the inverter is expected to be able to produce relatively constant output voltage and current with a small harmonic value, making it safe to use for a variety of electronic equipment. This inverter is supplied by PV and wind turbine devices. While the inverter output will be connected with a 220/127 Volt 1 kVA transformer. The use of the transformer serves to determine the value of losses from the transformer caused by the level of harmonics of the inverter. The value of losses from this transformer shows the level of reliability of the 11-level inverter.


(57) Abstract: The present invention teaches a method of identifying a cellular abnormalities associated with pathologies. In one aspect, the present invention is a method for distinguishing premalignant and malignant stages of cancer cervix from normal cervical cells. The method, dried over infrared permeable matrix utilizes infrared (IR) spectrum of exfoliated cervical cells to be scanned at a frequency range of 3000~950cm Identification of samples is based on establishing a test using normal, dysplastic and typical set of spectra of malignant samples. During the test process, multivariate techniques such as principal component analysis (PCA) and / or partial least squares (PLS) is employed. PCA and PLS is to reduce the data based on the maximum change between spectra, form clusters in a multidimensional space exhibiting different populations. Mahalinobis distance or the use of linear regression (e.g. principal component regression based on reduced data from PCA) form the basis for identification. This method is easy to be used, cervical smear following groups: performing statistically reliable distinction between normal (dysplastic previous history without individual), dysplastic and malignant samples. Furthermore, the present invention discloses a method of using the spectra of the individual cells in the methods and the methods described above to obtain the IR spectra of the individual cervical cells immobilized on infrared permeable matrix. In a further aspect, the present invention is a method for using vibrational spectroscopy imaging to differentiate between normal and diseased cells.


The first two decades of the twentieth century was a central period in the Alash national movement as many Kazakhs organized politically and openly expressed their concerns over, and remedies for, tsarist colonization practices, economic and social dislocation, and national- cultural deterioration. February Revolution in 1917 was greeted enthusiastically by Kazakh intelligentsias. The event was seen as marking the beginning of a new era, one in which the Kazakh grievances would receive a fair hearing and former wrongs would be righted. The Kazakh intelligentsias supported the Provisional Government and worked to establish a Kazakh nationalist party, the Alash party, to represent and articulate kazakh national interests in Russia. Their optimism quickly faded as the Provisional Government was overthrown and the Bolsheviks disbanded the democratically elected constitutional convention. Most Kazakh intelligentsia found it difficult to support the new Bolsheviks regime and chose instead to create the Alash Orda autonomous government. This government, which attempted to govern the steppe from 1917 through mid-1919, fought with the various White forces to defeat Bolshevik rule. As the White cause faded in late 1918 and throughout 1919, increasing numbers of Kazakh intelligentsias sought accommodation with the the Bolsheviks. By the end of 1919 virtually all sectors of Kazakh society had acquiesced to Bolshevik rule. Many Kazakh intelligentsia joined the new Soviet government hoping to convince the Bolsheviks of the Kazakh need for cultural and political autonomy.


Spiders inspire legendary levels of fear and anxiety. But an Australian prospective follow up study of 750 people who attended emergency departments with definite spider bites found surprisingly few significant clinical effects. Among these 6% of bites, most caused persistent pain, but no early allergic reactions or necrotic ulcers were recorded, and secondary infection occurred in just seven bites. Widow spiders were the worst culprits, and rapid identification of the type of spider would increase the opportunity of giving antivenin ( Quarterly Journal of Medicine 2002;95:723-31).

Heres the latest search for another use of statins: this time they are being tested as a treatment for multiple sclerosis. American scientists used mouse models to show that atorvastatin prevented disease relapse and lowered levels of inflammation in the nervous system. They say the drug seems to shift the bodys production of destructive T cells, causing it to produce anti-inflammatory T cells ( Nature 2002;420:78-84).

A UK national programme launched in October encourages the reporting of all clinical errors and significant events in order to learn from them. The US healthcare system has recently come under similar close scrutiny. One survey of patients using American emergency departments found that most users …


Hotel booking cancellation is provided a substantial effects on demand management decisions in the hospitality industry. The goal of this work is to investigate the effects of different machine learning methods in hotel booking cancellation process. In this work, we gathered a hotel booking cancellation dataset from Kaggle data repository. Then, different feature transformation techniques were implemented into primary dataset and generate transformed datasets. Further, we reduced insignificant variables using feature selection methods. Therefore, various classifiers were employed into primary and generated subsets. The effects of the machine learning methods were evaluated and explored the best approaches in this step. Among all of these methods, we found that XGBoost is the most frequent method to analyze these datasets. Besides, individual classifiers are generated the highest result for information gain feature selection method. This analysis can be used as the complementary tool to investigate hotel booking cancellation dataset more effectively.


The number of gas molecules and the volume of the vessel are used as independent arguments in the equation of state. It allows one to use this description in difficult conditions when variability in the number of moles of the structural elements and in the molar volume plays an appreciable role. Application of the kinetic model of the processes in multicomponent mixtures allowed one to determine the area of macroparameters, where mesoscopic properties of large clusters appear in thermal diffusion: thermal diffusion coefficient for them corresponds to liquids.


The article deals with the investigation of narrative models in W.S. Maugham's short stories and the analysis of author's technique. Narrative discourse as a form of artistic communication between the narrator and recipient was analyzed and various types of narrative models were defined.


AIM
To evaluate effects of low-intensity infrared impulse laser therapy (IRILT) on concentration of immunity activation [not readable: see text] (soluble receptors of TNF-alpha and neopterin) and indicator of the inflammation activity (concentration of C-reactive protein) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Enzyme immunoassay, radioimmunoassay, enzyme immunoassay and radial immunodiffusion were used to measure soluble receptors of TNF-alpha, neopterin and C-reactive protein in 38 females with verified RA receiving IRILT or sham procedures.

RESULTS
IRILT induced lowering of neopterin, TNF-alpha soluble receptors (p < 0.01) and C-reactive protein (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION
The findings give pathogenetical grounds for IRILT use in RA as this treatment suppresses functional activity of macrophages which serve the main source of neopterin and the receptors synthesis.


BACKGROUND Dental injury is the leading cause of litigation in anaesthesia but an underrecognized preventable complication of endoscopy. AIM To determine frequency and effects of dental injury in endoscopy, we present findings from an audit of outpatient endoscopy procedures conducted at a tertiary university hospital and a systematic review of literature. METHODS Retrospective review of 11265 outpatient upper endoscopy procedures over the period of 1 June 2019 to 31 May 2021 identified dental related complications in 0.284% of procedures. Review of literature identified a similar rate of 0.33%. RESULTS Pre-existing dental pathology or the presence of prostheses makes damage more likely but sound teeth may be affected. Pre-endoscopic history and tooth examination are key for risk stratification and may be conducted succinctly with limited time outlay. Tooth retrieval should be prioritized in the event of dental injury to minimize aspiration and be followed by prompt dental consultation for specific management. CONCLUSION Dental complications occur in approximately 1 in 300 of upper endoscopy cases. These are easily preventable by pre-endoscopy screening. Protocols to mitigate dental injury are also suggested.


Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes responsible for early defense against infections and malignant cells. Specific transcription factors crucial for NK cell development and function include PRDM1, which also regulates T cell homeostasis and is essential for the terminal differentiation of B cells into plasma cells. Importantly, PRDM1 deletion, methylation and loss-of-function mutations were commonly detected in NK cell malignancies. However, the detailed mechanisms through which PRDM1 regulates NK cell homeostasis are still largely undefined.
 Here, we employed an in vitro culture system of human NK cells isolated from healthy donors, in which the NK cells were cultured in the presence of IL-2 with or without an engineered feeder cell line, K562-Cl9-mb21, expressing membrane-bound IL-21, 4-1BBL and CD86. The NK cells were able to expand for months when co-cultured with feeder cells, whereas IL-2 alone could only maintain NK cell survival with limited proliferation for one week.
 We performed ChIP-seq to compare the genome-wide binding profiles of PRDM1 in NK cells grown with or without feeder cells. We found that PRDM1 bound much fewer target genes (802) in NK cells with feeder than in NK cells with IL-2 alone (2880), and 98.5% (790/802) of the binding sites in feeder-stimulated NK cells overlapped with those found in NK cells without feeder. The PRDM1 consensus motifs were almost identical in both conditions. MEME analyses also identified motifs of other transcription factors enriched in the PRDM1 binding sites, such as the RUNX and T-Box families. Interestingly, the RUNX and T-Box motifs, among others, were more enriched in the PRDM1 binding sites lacking the PRDM1 motif than in those with the PRDM1 motif, which indicates that PRDM1 may often bind to DNA indirectly through other transcription factors.
 PRDM1 bound a large number of genes in the NK or T cell receptor signaling pathway, which are employed during NK cell activation. In addition, several genes encoding immune checkpoints that may restrict NK cell activation such as TIGIT, HAVCR2 (TIM3), and IL-1R8 were targeted by PRDM1. Many genes encoding NK cell inhibitory and activating receptors were also bound by PRDM1. Moreover, PRDM1 was found to target transcription factors that are important for NK cell development and homeostasis, such as the RUNX family, TBX21, MAF, and PRDM1 itself. Despite an extensive overlap of PRDM1 binding sites detected in NK cells grown with or without feeder cells, the most enriched pathways were not exactly the same. Importantly, our RNA-seq data on PRDM1-knockout NK cells validated the regulatory role of PRDM1 on a fraction of these PRDM1-bound genes and interestingly, PRDM1 appeared to be an activator for some of the genes, including those encoding immune checkpoint molecules TIGIT, HAVCR2, and IL-1R8.
 We also utilized ATAC-seq to examine the chromatin accessibility of NK cells grown with feeder cells or with IL-2 alone. We identified differentially enriched pathways for the NK cells cultured under different conditions. When compared with the PRDM1 ChIP-seq, we found that those PRDM1 binding sites that contain a consensus PRDM1 motif were less likely to be accessible to transposase than those without the PRDM1 motif, thereby confirming the transcriptional repressor role of PRDM1.
 To further understand how PRDM1 regulates its target genes in NK cells, we performed mass spectrometric analysis on the protein complexes associated with PRDM1. We were able to identify the interaction of PRDM1 with the corepressor Groucho (TLE3) and components from the SIN3, NCoR, and NuRD complex, which have been previously reported in mouse plasma cells. Surprisingly, the protein compositions of the PRDM1-associated complexes from the two NK cell populations were very different. Although PRDM1 is generally associated with transcriptional repression, we also detected the association of PRDM1 with transcriptional activators or coactivators, such as the RUNX-binding protein CBFβ and the T-Box family member EOMES, which may thereby upregulate some of the PRDM1 target genes.
 In summary, we found that PRDM1 binds and regulates an extensive network of genes responsible for NK cell activation and function. Extrinsic stimuli, as provided by the feeder cells, can alter the extent and profile of PRDM1 binding as well as the associated protein complexes and hence alter its regulatory function in NK cells.

 No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


ABSTRACT
Objective: To report an experience of complications occurring during endovascular coiling (without assisted technique) in intracranial aneurysms.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted from January 2010 to December 2013 at the department of Neuroradiology, PGMI Lahore General Hospital, Lahore. A total of 300 patients were included in this study of both gender (male and female) and in the age range of 25-65 years. In our study all the patients with ruptured and un-ruptured aneurysms had undergone coiling.
Results: Out of 300 patients, there were 123 (41%) males and 167 (59%) females' patients. Their age ranged from 30 - 65 years. In this study the overall mean age is 48.36 years. The maximum numbers of patients were in their fifth and sixth decades of life. Coiling was successfully performed in all patients with very low complication rate (1%).
Conclusion: Coiling is a safe and less invasive procedure for both ruptured and un-ruptured intracranial aneurysms with very less complications and low morbidity and mortality rate as compared to other invasive procedures.
Keywords: Coiling, Intracranial aneurysms


We propose an AR(1) model that can be used to generate logistic processes. The proposed model has simple probability and correlation structure that can accommodate the full range of attainable correlation. The correlation structure and the joint distribution of the proposed model are given, as well as their conditional mean and variance.


Pterostilbene (PS) is an effective antitumor drug, but its clinical development has been hampered due to its poor solubility and relatively short half-life. To deal with this predicament, an eight-arm-polyethylene glycol–PS (8arm-PEG–PS) prodrug was synthesized by linking PS with eight-arm-polyethylene glycol (8arm-PEG). The obtained 8arm-PEG–PS prodrug possesses high solubility (∼147 fold of free PS) and relatively high drug-binding capacity (∼7.06 wt%). An in vitro cytotoxicity test demonstrated the excellent anticancer activities with a potency similar to that of free PS. In addition, the PS prodrugs significantly improved the therapeutic effect on the inhibition of tumor growth with lower systemic toxicity compared to the native PS. Compared to the group treated by the free PS, the tumor volume of the groups treated by the PS prodrugs decreased dramatically by more than 2 fold or 3 fold in the Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) tumor-bearing mouse model. On the basis of these results, the 8arm-PEG–PS prodrugs have great promise toward cancer therapy.


Modeling of the manufacturing process of high-voltage power cables was performed with the aim of predicting residual stresses in the cable insulation. A viscoelastic power law-type constitutive m ...


The results of a study of the effect of treatment of purified or mixed lymphocyte populations with concanavalin A (Con A), chymotrypsinized Con A and phytohemagglutinin on their distribution in syngeneic intact and splenectomized hosts after i. v. injection are reported. The currently held view that lymphocyte traffic is controlled by a specific interaction between the sugars on the surface of the lymphocytes and the post‐capillary venule in the lymph nodes is questioned and an alternative explanation offered for the demonstrable decrease in lymph node entry in intact recipients of lymphocytes pretreated with plant lectins.


Objective:  To evaluate the effect of rosiglitazone, an insulin sensitizer, on glycaemic control and insulin resistance in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM)


Stress relaxation after rapid extensional strain was measured to obtain the extensional relaxation modulus. The research had the objectives of developing the lubricated squeezing technique for molten polymers, of applying the technique to two different polymers, and of testing the "separability hypothesis." Equibiaxial extensional flow was generated with a Rheometrics RDS‐LA, using the lubricated squeezing technique. The time dependence of the relaxation modulus was found to be the same in extension as in shear, given by the relaxation modulus of linear viscoelasticity. The strain dependence was markedly different than in shear. Separation of time and strain dependence into a product of two functions is suggested by the experimental results. This is a strong support for the separability hypothesis and simplifies the formulation of rheological constitutive equations. A polymer with linear macromolecules (PS) exhibited stronger strain dependence than a polymer with long chain branched macromolecules (LDPE)....


Most prior techniques for proximity computations are designed for synthetic models and assume exact geometric representations. However, real robots construct representations of the environment using their sensors, and the generated representations are more cluttered and less precise than synthetic models. Furthermore, this sensor data is updated at high frequency. In this paper, we present new collision- and distance-query algorithms, which can efficiently handle large amounts of point cloud sensor data received at real-time rates. We present two novel techniques to accelerate the computation of broad-phase data structures: 1) we present a progressive technique that incrementally computes a high-quality dynamic AABB tree for fast culling, and 2) we directly use an octree representation of the point cloud data as a proximity data structure. We assign a probability value to each leaf node of the tree, and the algorithm computes the nodes corresponding to high collision probability. In practice, our new approaches can be an order of magnitude faster than previous methods. We demonstrate the performance of the new methods on both synthetic data and on sensor data collected using a Kinect™ for motion planning for a mobile manipulator robot.


Review of Crystallography Crystal Lattices Lattices and Unit Cells Miller Indices Powder X-Ray Diffraction and Bragg's Law Typical Powder XRD Setup Indexing Reflections Crystallographic Structure of Fats Nucleation, Crystal Growth, and Structural Implications Introduction to Crystallization Crystallization Kinetics Isothermal Crystallization Kinetics and Microstructure Nonisothermal Nucleation of Fats Intermolecular Forces in Triacylglycerol Particles and Oils David A. Pink Introduction Van der Waals Interactions Mean Field Models Van der Waals Interactions and Rheological Characteristics X-Ray Scattering and Fractal Dimensions Conclusion Rheology of Solids Hooke's Law Stress-Strain Relationships and Elastic Types of Stresses and Corresponding Elastic Behavior Yield Value from Constant Force Cone Rheology of Liquids Types of Fluid Flow Modeling Flow Behavior Viscoelastic Behavior Creep and Recovery/Stress Relaxation Dynamic Methods Microstructure and Nanostructure Alejandro G. Marangoni, Suresh S. Narine, Nuria C. Acevedo, and Dongming Tang Introduction Mesoscale and Nanoscale in Fat Crystal Networks Where Lies the Fractality in Fat Crystal Networks? Conclusions Yield Stress and Elastic Modulus of a Fat Crystal Network Model Liquid-Multiple Solid Phase Equilibria in Fats Leendert H. Wesdorp, J.A. van Meeteren, S. de Jong, R. van der Giessen, P. Overbosch, P.A.M. Grootscholten, M. Struik, E. Royers, A. Don, Th. de Loos, C. Peters, and I. Gandasasmita Introduction and Problem Definition Approach to the Problem Flash Calculations Pure Component Properties Mixing Behavior in Liquid State Mixing Behavior in the alpha-Modification Mixing Behavior in the ss'- and ss-Modifications Predicting Interaction Parameters Practical Applications Summary List of Symbols Appendix 9.A: Pure Component Data Appendix 9.B: Specific Retention Volumes of Several Probes in Stationary Phases of Liquid TAGs Appendix 9.C: Purity of the TAGs Used in Section 9.7 Appendix 9.D: Binary Phase Diagrams of TAGs: Data Experimental Methodology Rodrigo Campos Introduction Crystallization Thermal Properties Polymorphism Microstructure Mechanical Properties Fractal Dimension Oil Migration


Based on the analysis and induction on Mohe and Wuji in the literature,according to the analysis on the relevant remains from the Northern Dynasties to Tang Dynasty distributed in the second Songhua River basin,Heilongjiang River middle reaches,Mudanjiang River dow nstream and trunk stream,Songhuajiang river upstream and other regions,it is proved that this kind of cultural remains have certain commonality,and compared w ith early remains of Bohai State,it is confirmed that the ethnic group represented by these remains should belong to Mohe. Furthermore,due to analysis of the remains in the same space but earlier than Mohe,w e found that except the Heilongjiang River middle reaches,there w as no archaeological culture of Han and Wei Dynasties to the Northern Dynasties reflected the direct origin of Mohe culture,and at present w e only know the remains of Wanyanhe type has most close contact w ith the archaeological culture of Mohe,therefore it is difficult to say that w hat kind of archaeological culture of Yilou should correspond to after all. In addition,this article also discussed the location of Sushen in the literature as w ell as the relations betw een Sushen and Mohe.


There is a growing recognition that bullying, violence, aggression, victimisation, and peerrelation difficulties in schools are pervasive problems with long-term psychosocial consequences for bullies, victims, other classmates, and communities. Bullying is linked to: diminished school performance, poor mental health, delinquent behaviour and future criminality. Bullying also impacts upon schools and communities, leading to: unsafe schools; alienation from the school community; distrust amongst students; formation of formal and informal gangs as a means either to instigate bullying or gain protection from being bullied, low staff morale, higher occupational stress; and a poor educational climate. The present paper presents the results of a comprehensive study examining the relation of multiple dimensions of bullying and victimisation as measured by the Adolescent Peer Relations Instrument: Bully/Target (Parada, 2000) to multiple dimensions of self-concept as measured by the SelfDescription Questionnaire – Short (SDQ II – S) (Marsh, Ellis, Parada et al., 2005). 3500 high school students in NSW, Australia were assessed in relation to these constructs at three time points during one school year. Results presented include: cross-sectional analysis of the relation between bullying and self-concept; and longitudinal structural equation models of this relation over time. Implications based on the findings for intervention are also discussed.


A critical analysis of the major trends within the self determination discourse of contemporary international law
This article analyses the two contending concepts of self determination within the discourse of contemporary international law: statist and national self determination. Each concept is tooted in its own set of political assumptions and pursues opposing political objectives. The dominant statist position, which is acknowledged in positive law provides legal endorsement for the existing statist status quo comprising a fixed number of territorial states with permanent boundaries. Statist self determination provides the legal apparatus for a political strategy for preserving the existing order of territorial states. This, for very long unopposed, conservative position of self determination has in recent times been exposed to the mounting challenge of national self determination, which presses for the self determination of peoples. This progressive and potentially disruptive position of self determination severely jeopardises the existing order of territorial states, posing the risk of secession from, and dismemberment of (multinational) territorial states.


A process reengineering perspective suggests that public health emergency response requires a low degree of mediation and a high degree of collaboration. Employing a functional coupling framework, this paper analyzes China's former public health processes and describes the ongoing development of the public health emergency information system (PHEIS) in China. Five problems of the former public health processes are identified, which have largely limited China's ability to respond to public health emergencies efficiently and effectively. The structure and functions of PHEIS are described, and the facilitation of PHEIS as part of China's public health process reengineering is explained. In addition, this paper discusses implications for future public health emergency information


A new piezo-viscous, average flow model combined with an advanced slab method is used to investigate the lubrication in axisymmetric forging processes with flat dies. Interactions between lubricant transport and surface roughness are studied. Influence of friction on the outward motion of the workpiece is also considered. It is shown that the lubricant is transported outward in a speed slower than half the surface speed, and the film thickness is smaller than the case of the smooth surface if asperity contact is not severe. However, when asperity contact is pronounced, the lubricant pressure distribution is quite different from the prior research. Mixed lubrication is observed in most of the region where asperity contact occurs. Boundary lubrication can only be found in a narrow area near the workpiece edge. Presented as a Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers paper at the ASME/STLE Tribology Conference in Lahaina, Hawaii, October 16–20, 1994


Transition metal oxides have been considered as one of the most promising cathode candidates for sodium ion batteries (SIBs). Tunnel type Na0.44MnO2, a typical cathode material for sodium ion battery, shows hopeful potential for future practical SIBs as large-scale electric energy storage system due to the low-cost and environment-friendly virtues. However, poor cyclability and rate performance of Na0.44MnO2 ascribed to the slow kinetic and structural degradation have limited its practical application. Herein, single crystalline hinged nanorod shaped Na0.44MnO2 (NMO-HNR) is designed by simple solid reaction. By testing the electrochemical performances of NMO-HNR samples which are synthesized at different annealing temperatures, the effects of grain size and crystallinity on electrochemical properties are investigated in detail. Thanks to the robust structure of hinged nanorod which is identified by structural and morphological characteristics after deep cycling, all the samples exhibit outstanding cyclability. Especially, the optimized NMO-HNR-900 material could deliver prominent capacity retention of 93.6% after cycling 1800 cycles at 2 A g−1. More importantly, the full battery performance based on Na0.44MnO2 cathode and MoS2 anode is first reported in this work. As a consequence, NMO-HNR-900//Co9S8@MoS2 HNT full-cell can deliver a decent cycling property with a capacity retention of 72.1% after 80 cycles.