Este estudio pone foco en los procesos de interactividad perceptibles en los sitios corporativos de unos actores politicos no tradicionales de enorme importancia en las sociedades cada vez mas desiguales: las organizaciones no gubernamentales. Se toma como referencia a otros estudios similares, y se selecciona una muestra de siete ONG de Cooperacion al Desarrollo que operan en Espana. Desde este corpus se analiza el nivel de interactividad que ofrecen estas entidades en sus sitios web, y se interpreta el tipo de vinculo que establecen con sus publicos desde los espacios de participacion e interactividad que propician. El estudio concluye que estas ONG ofrecen altos niveles de interactividad en sus sitios corporativos, sin embargo, el primer contacto que ofrecen a partir del llamado a la accion de las paginas web apunta a solicitar aportes economicos, lo cual impactaria negativamente en la generacion de un vinculo a largo plazo entre estas ONG y sus publicos. Palabras claves: Interactividad, relaciones publicas 2.0, organizaciones no gubernamentales, actores politicos, influencia Abstract This study focuses on the perceptible interactivity processes in the corporate websites of non-traditional political actors of enormous importance in increasingly unequal societies: non-governmental organizations. To carry out this study, another similar research is taken as a reference on the methodological matter (Caprioti et al, 2016; Smolak and Castillo, 2017). In the first part of the article, we make a theoretical review about how interactivity gets to establish as an issue for public relations scholars. This is a subject that has been being studied for almost twenty years in the academic field. Then, in the methodology section, to analyze the interactivity level of these websites, a sample of seven NGOs dedicated to Development Cooperation that operate in Spain is selected. These NGOs have the greatest annual budget, and we decided to pick only the ones that do not have a religious basis. The Spanish NGOs that enter on that category are: Oxfam Intermon; Plan Internacional Espana; Educo; Cruz Roja Espanola; Save The Children Espana; Accion contra el Hambre y Ayuda en Accion. We carry out a content analysis is that aims to identify the expression of two categories, Information Presentation Tools and Virtual Visitor Resources. To carry out the methodology, we use a model created by the studies mentioned above. Based on the detection of these categories on each NGO website, the level of interactivity offered by these entities is analyzed, and the type of relationship they establish with their audiences is interpreted from the spaces for participation and interactivity that they promote. The analysis is complemented with the study of the "call to action" present on each web page, as a singular element of web design that aims to establish a privileged contact with the public. Among the results, we can say that several NGOs are using the same tools to get in contact with their audiences. Also, they implement different kinds of digital spaces to get more interactivity with their stakeholders. Nevertheless, we also identified that the first contact that they offer from their websites is asking for money, which might be a problem for them as non-traditional political actors who depends on their capacity of influence in the political system. This action may have an impact on the way people think about them, and the symbolic capital of these entities may be at stake. The research concludes that the NGOs that are part of the study offer high levels of interactivity on their corporate websites, however, the first contact they offer from the call to action of the web pages aims to request financial contributions, which would negatively impact in generating a long-term bond between these NGOs and their audiences. With this first contact, they are communicating that their stakeholders are just money givers, and not citizens how are committed to changing the odds of unequal situations. These results are a contribution to the existing scientific literature about public relations and interactivity on the NGOs, and invite a critical reflection on the actions of digital communication from NGOs for development, non-traditional political actors of enormous importance in the current context. Keywords: Interactivity, public relations 2.0, non-governmental organizations, political actors, influence


In this article a novel composite control technique is introduced. We added a nonlinear disturbance observer to a nonlinear H_∞ control to form this composite controller. The quadrotor kinematics and dynamics is formulated using euler angles and parameters. After that, this nonlinear robust controller is developed for this flying robot attitude control for the outdoor conditions. Because under these conditions the flying robot, experiences both external disturbance and parametric uncertainty. Stability analysis is also presented to show the global asymptotical stability using a Lyapunov function. The simulation results showed that the suggested composite controller had a better performance in comparison with a nonlinear H_∞ control scheme.


Objectiv:To study the role of adjuvant therapy of individual musicotherapy combined with listening and singing on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Methods From January to June in 2011,60 patients with COPD were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group,30 patients in each group.The experimental group was treated with individual musicotherapy combined with listening and singing,meanwhile the control group received the usual care.Then compare the anxiety,the vital signs,the days of hospital stay and the hospitalization expenses between those two groups.Results There were significantly differences in these aspects(P 0.05).Conclusion The individual musicotherapy combined with listening and singing plays a role of adjuvant therapy on patients with COPD,it could relieve the patients' anxiety,stable the vital signs,shorten the days of hospital stay,reduced hospitalization expenses.It is economical and easy to operate,and worth to be applied widely.


In quantum mechanics, photons are bosons – there is no restriction on the number of them that occupy the same quantum state, so many of them can bunch together, and this is well known as photon bunching effect. However, photon bunching and multiphoton interference of bunched photons have never been directly observed from a broadband thermal chaotic light source. Nevertheless, it has been known that the interference intensity of a number N of bunched photons oscillates with a wavelength of N times shorter than the wavelength of the constituent single photons, which should be observable in Fourier transform spectroscopy. A quantum Fourier transform spectrometer was made based on a Michelson interferometer and a diffraction spectrometer to observe the photon bunching from multiphoton interference of the bunched photons in thermal light. The results demonstrates 2 to 12 bunched photons were observed simultaneously from thousands of wavelengths in the light of a tungsten halogen lamp. The experiment discloses some interesting properties of the bunched photons. The results will provide new insights for advancing the theories of quantum optics, and the new technology opens the way for new precise measurement of photon bunching and multiphoton interference of bunched photons that are in all kinds of light sources or that are generated with quantum entangled photons. Introduction In 1956, the seminal intensity correlation experiments1 introduced by Hanbury Brown and Twiss showed that many photons from a chaotic light source tend to be detected together or "bunched". Ever since, this phenomenon has been well known as photon bunching effect. Despite more than


In order to test the performance of large optimization software,based on the research of sequential quadratic programming(SQP) and the development of large-scale optimization software,a normal test problem sets library for large-scale optimization of process systems was established.The test problem sets library was classified according to different criterions.Small cases were used to test the robust,iterations of software,and large-scale cases were used to test the computation time and memory usage.There were still some real cases,which can be used to test the performance of software to solve real problems.The establishment of the normal test sets library can provide support for the development of excellent optimization software.Also,it gives some supports for the researchers in the related fields.


Henbane Hyoscyamus reticulatus L. is a plant species in solanaceae family that seeds hardly germinate because of seed dormancy. In order to determine the best methods for seed dormancy breaking in henbane, a experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design with three replications. The treatments included moist pre-chilling (at 4 °C) for 7, 14, 21 and 28 days, combined treatment of gibberellic acid (500 ppm) and moist chilling at 4 °C for 7, 14, 21 and 28 days, soaking the seeds in hormones gibberellic acid, kinetin, auxin (250, 500, 750 and 1000 ppm) for 24 h, KNO3 (0.1, 0.2 and 0.4%), Hot water (70 and 90 °C) for 5, 10 and 15 minutes, soaking seeds under running water for 24 and 48h, soaking the seeds in sulfuric acid 70% and 90% (5, 10 and 15 minutes) and mechanical scarification with sandpaper. The results showed that seed dormancy in henbane is physiological since the highest germination percentage (96%) was obtained by using the combined treatment of gibberellic acid (500 ppm) and pre-chilling (for 25 days). In addition, moist chilling and gibberellic acid treatments -by itself- on breaking seed dormancy were remarkable in this plant as germination increased up to 40 and 81%, respectively. Effects of hormones were also statistically significant on increasing seed germination but compared with the salient effect of combined chilling with gibberellic acid treatment and gibberellic acid treatment was not so remarkable. On the other hand, other applied treatments (Hot water, sulfuric acid and mechanical scarification with sandpaper) had no effects on breaking seed dormancy in henbane which indicates that the type of seed dormancy in henbane is not physical or it is due to the accumulation of inhibitory substance in seed coat.


L. K. C. Chan (1983) and R. B. Barsky et al. (1986) have demonstrated that a tax cut financed by bonds to be repaid from proportional income taxes on uncertain future income, by reducing the latter's riskiness, stimulates current consumption--Ricardian equivalence does not hold. However, their two-period models exclude the possibility that future taxes are uncertain. In this paper a three-period model is developed that, by allowing the government two periods in which to collect taxes, introduces ex ante tax rate uncertainty. This renders the result concerning Ricardian equivalence ambiguous. By comparison, taxes levied as lump sums and via a 'lottery' respectively produce the 'usual' effects (zero and negative) on consumption. Copyright 1996 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd and the Board of Trustees of the Bulletin of Economic Research


AbstractThe conventional resin used for woodchip sidewalks contains a significant amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and the potential of air pollution could be high due to the release of...


This paper summarizes the method that using radiative view factors to define the intensity field for UVGI lamps and reflected intensity field in duct of HVAC,this method is testified to agree more closely than the method that using the Inverse Square Law by photosensor data and will enable effective designs and lowered energy costs.


The internal structure, initiation and growth of water treeing (WT) is investigated using the direct observation method. Some commonly used polymers are investigated. Alternating-voltage at different frequencies, (50 Hz to 12.5 kHz) and direct-voltages are applied to laboratory made specimens. Many electrolytic solutions of different conductivities are tried. The effects of needle tip radius, electric field, and the time of voltage application are examined. The phenomena of WT are simulated and a computer model is developed, using the finite difference method. The experimental and simulated results show good agreement. The mechanism of WT initiation and propagation behavior is explained.


The synthesis and characterization of a subphthalocyanine–bisazobenzene–subphthalocyanine triad are reported. Evidence for E,E ↔ E,Z isomerization of the linking bisazobenzene moiety is observed in the optical and NMR spectra when the subphthalocyanine rings are used as light-harvesting units. Electronic coupling and communication between the two para-azo units decrease the photoisomerization efficiency. An obvious decrease in fluorescence intensity is observed on moving from E → Z with a recovery in intensity observed on moving back from Z → E that can be attributed to a change in the rate of non-radiative decay.


Epithelial cell lining of the lung alveoli is under constant onslaught of airborne pathogens and pollutants that may cause injury and disruption of the epithelial lining. Repair mechanisms involve proliferation and migration of nearby healthy epithelial cells to the site of injury. Using murine LA4 and human A549 lung epithelial cell lines, and in vitro models of cell migration we have examined the modulation of cellular adhesion and migration by poly-dispersed acid-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (AF-SWCNTs). Flow cytometric and confocal microscopy studies indicated that AF-SWCNTs were efficiently internalized by both cell lines and were localized essentially in the cytoplasmic area. In the scratch wound repair model, exposure to AF-SWCNTs blocked the filling of the scratched area of the cellular monolayers in both cells. Behaviour of the cells around the scratch area was examined in by live-cell imaging time-lapse micrography. The results indicated active cell proliferation around the scratch area that was totally blocked by AF-SWCNTs in LA4 cells and significantly inhibited in A549 cells. Cell migration across a porous membrane in transwell assay system also indicated a marked inhibition of migration of both cells across the membrane. Effect of AF-SWCNTs on the expression levels of important cell proteins involved in cell migration and adhesion were examined by western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. Expressions of proteins like β-Catenin, NM-Myosin and Vimentin that play crucial role in cell migration were suppressed in AF-SWCNTs-exposed cells whereas the expression levels of E-cadherin and Claudin-1, involved in cell-cell adhesion remained unaltered. Our results provide an insight into the mechanism of repair of lung epithelial cell layers.


The protein C (PC) - protein S (PS) anticoagulant system and antithrorribin III (AT III) were evaluated in normal pregnancy (group A, n= 53), severe preeclampsia (group B, n= 15) and chronic hypertension with superinposed severe preeclampsia (group C, n= 18). Group A was classified according to the stage of pregnancy as 1st (n=9), 2nd (n=ll) and 3rd (n=33) trimester (tr). A control group comprised 21 normal, non-pregnant women who were non-users of oral contraceptives. In normal pregnancy a significant decrease in the level of free protein S was observed in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy and was sustained throughout the remaining months. The other coagulation inhibitors (protein C and AT III) undergo no significant changes during pregnancy and remain within the limits of normality. In cases of preeclampsia a significant decrease in protein C was observed. It was more evident in severe preeclarrpsia but was also found in chronic hypertension with superiirposed severe preeclanpsia when compared with the normal pregnancy group at similar gestational age. No statistically significant differences in protein S were found when the normal and pathological groups were compared. AT III decreased slightly in the severe preeclamptic group but the decrease was not significant. The decrease in protein C and AT III levels in severe preeclanpsia could be related with the microthrombotic state that these patients may present. However, protein S, which decreases during normal pregnancy, seems to play no role in preeclanpsia.


The dilatometric curves of 28CrMnMoV steel during continuous cooling process at different cooling rates were measured on Gleeble 3500 thermal mechanical simulator.According to DSC analysis and microstructure observation combined with hardness test,the critical temperatures and phase transformation temperatures were determined from the dilatometric curves,which were used to determine the continuous cooling transformation(CCT) diagram of 28CrMnMoV steel.The results show that ferrite(or pearlite) can be formed in supercooled austenite of tested steel during higher temperature interval,and bainite transformation and martensite transformation can occur during intermedium temperature and low temperature zones respectively.The transformation product consists of polygonal ferrite,pearlite and a small amount of bainite at the cooling rates of 0.05 0.5 ℃/s.When the cooling rate is ranging from 1 to 5 ℃/s,the product is mainly composed of bainite.When the cooling rate is higher than 5 ℃/s,martensite is the main transformation product.Because the alloy elements of Cr,Mo and V can inhibit the decomposition of austenite,pro-eutectoid ferrite and pearlite can be formed only at the condition of cooling rate below 1 ℃/s.Higher manganese content can greatly accelerate the bainite transformation,and therefore bainite can be easily formed during the continuous cooling process for a large range of cooling rate.It is an effective way of decreasing the quenching stress of steel tubes to use the obtained CCT diagram to guide the multiple controlled cooling process,which indicates that the CCT diagram can provide guarantee for excellent touthness of V150 tubing and casing.


20 Dear editor, Andersen-Tawil syndrome (ATS) is a rare cause of periodic paralysis. The inheritance pattern of ATS is autosomal dominant. It is characterized by periodic paralysis, arrhythmias, and distinctive appearances. ATS has been linked to mutations in the KCNJ2 gene that causes defective inward-rectifi er potassium channel Kir2.1, which plays an important role in stabilizing resting membrane potential in both skeletal and cardiac muscles. There are few reports concerning ATS in the Chinese population. The potentially reversible muscular weakness and potentially life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia require early diagnosis. In this report, we presented one case of ATS who had the symptoms of persistent bilateral proximal limb weakness and mildly elevated creatinine kinase. This patient was initially diagnosed with myopathy. Periodic paralysis, dysmorphic feature, and heterozygous mutation of R218Q in KCNJ2 led us to the diagnosis of ATS.


Although standard methods of monitoring the progress of in-situ remediation may provide general results for the most permeable zones affected by soil vapor extraction or bioventing, they are essentially unsuccessful at providing information on the degree of heterogeneity within the remediation zone and on the existence of "hot spots." Data are presented that suggest that monitoring the concentrations of fixed and biogenic gases and measuring soil permeability on a small-scale basis may circumvent the common problems associated with assessing the progress of in-situ remediation. The costs of these monitoring techniques are minor compared to those of designing and operating an in-situ remediation system, and may save additional time and costs by identifying problem areas early in the cleanup process.


A Thesis Submitted to the University of Gezira for the Fulfillment of the , Requirements for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
in Electronics Engineering, Department of Electronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, November (2013)


Objective To explore a series of convenient methods for better isolating the gastric antrum smooth muscle cells from Sprague-Dawley rats.Methods The smooth muscle cells were isolated by collagenase digestion of typeⅡcollagen from the gastric antrum of rats for making a cell suspension.Then cell vitality was detected with trypan blue,and contraction length of cell was observed and recorded under a microscope.Results The single gastric antrum smooth muscle cell was acutely dissociated by collagenase with complete physiological functions,which can be used in gastroenteropathy experiments.Conclusion Isolation of gastric antrum smooth muscle cells by collagenase is convenient,effective and reliable to obtain the single gastric antrum smooth muscle cells.


The insight gained from the t-expansion method has led to the discovery of the best three-parameter wave function for the ground state of helium. A formula is presented which extends the applicability of the t-expansion method to excited states. Some mathematical ramifications are discussed.


The stochastic gravitational-wave background (SGWB) is expected to be a key observable for gravitational-wave interferometry. Its detection will open a new window on early Universe cosmology, on the astrophysics of compact objects, and, as shown in this paper, on the particle physics content of the Universe. In this article we show that, besides their effects on the cosmic microwave background and on large-scale structure, relativistic particles in the early Universe leave a clear imprint on the anisotropies of the SGWB. In particular we show that a change in the number of decoupled relativistic particles shifts the angular power spectrum of the SGWB, as both the Sachs-Wolfe and the integrated Sachs-Wolfe terms are affected. Being very large-angle effects, these lead to new testable predictions for future gravitational-wave interferometers.


Establishing creeping bentgrass on sand-based putting green rootzones is a challenge due to the poor water and nutrient retention of the rootzone. Identifying locally available rootzone amendments to improve rootzone physical properties and enhance establishment would be beneficial. The objective of this study was to compare locally available poultry compost to peat and an unamended sand when establishing creeping bentgrass in sand-based rootzone. The compost treatment resulted in increased turf coverage and darker green turf color during establishment compared to the peat and unamended sand. Locally available compost shows promise as a sand-based rootzone amendment to enhance turf establishment.


This article addresses the viability and utility of the "flipped classroom" concept in law school classrooms. The author argues that video capsules, as a means to lecture outside of the classroom, are an effective way to teach the so-called Generation Y and reclaim the classroom. By using class time to concentrate almost entirely on problem-solving, students are more focused and engaged in the material. Although technologies create certain challenges for the future of legal education, the potential to reinvent the way course material is delivered will help law faculties reach a generation of students that are proving difficult to inspire using traditional means.


The construction of smooth potential field models has many geophysical applications. The recently-developed method of harmonic splines produces magnetic field models at the core surface which are maximally smooth in the sense of minimization of certain special norms. They do not exhibit the highly oscillatory fields produced by models derived from a least-squares analysis with a truncated spherical harmonic series. Modeling the data by harmonic splines requires solving a square system of equations with dimension equal to the number of data. Too many data have been collected since the 1960s for this method to be practical. We produce almost optimally smooth models by the following method. Since each spline function for the optimal model corresponds to an observation location (called a knot), we select a subset of these splines with knots well-distributed around the Earth's surface. In this depleted basis we then find the smoothest model subject to an appropriate fit to all of the data. This reduces the computational problem to one comparable to least-squares analysis while nearly preserving the optimality inherent in the original harmonic spline models.


Key enablers for today's smart phones, netbooks, and internet tablets have been the high data rates offered by 3rd generation (3G) and the areawide coverage provided by 2nd generation (2G) cellular communication systems. Soon, evolved 2G, evolved 3G, and 4G systems are going to be broadly deployed, making reconfigurable radios an economic exigency so as to enable a cross-system mobile broadband user experience. By means of resource sharing in a reconfigurable radio, the bill of materials (BOM) can be reduced, the development cycles shortened, the size scaled down, and the interoperability increased. This thesis aims at reconciling the reconfigurability of RF receivers with the challenging requirements of cellular communications. A thorough analysis of cellular communication standards reveals that they call for an extraordinarily high dynamic range of the RF receiver. However, a high dynamic range and a high amenability to reconfigurability often conflict with each other. A continuous-time direct-conversion receiver in CMOS technology, using an array of duplexers in the RF front-end and employing substantial filtering in the analog baseband, is recognized to powerand cost-efficiently meet the needs of a high dynamic range and a high amenability to reconfigurability concurrently. Circuit techniques for the building blocks (RF filter, LNA, demodulator, baseband filter) of such an RF receiver are in the focus of this thesis. A reconfigurable diversity dual-mode RF receiver for evolved 2G/3G and a reconfigurable quad-mode RF receiver for 2G/3G have been implemented in 0.13 μm CMOS, making use of selected concepts and design alternatives outlined by this thesis. Characterization shows state-of-theart dynamic range (NF ≤ 3dB, IIP3≥−4dBm) and reconfigurability.


The function type variational principle in Zhong [20] is obtainable in a straightforward way from Ekeland's [7]. Basic tools for this reduction are the pseudometric maximality principle in Turinici [17] and a normal type construction similar to the one in Park and Bae [13].


To demonstrate the importance of transformation efficiency in independent event, molecular and cytogenetic analysis were conducted with genomic DNA and chromosome of transgenic plants produced by Agrobacterium tumefeciens LBA4404 (pSBM-PPGN: gusA and bar). Selection ratios of putative transgenic calli were similar in independent experiments, however, transformation efficiencies were critically influenced by the type of regeneration media. MSRK5SS-Pr regeneration mediun, which contains 5 ㎎L -1 kinetin, 2% (w/v) sucrose in combination with 3% (w/v) sorbitol, and 500 ㎎L -1 proline, was efficient to produce transgenic plant of rice from putative transgenic callus in the presence of L-phosphinotricin (PPT). With MSRK5SS-Pr medium, transformation efficincies of Nagdongbyeo were significantly enhanced from 3.7% to 6.3% in independent callus lines and from 7.3% to 19.7% in plants produced, respectively. Stable integration and expression of bar gene were confirmed by basta herbicide assay, PCR amplification and Southern blotting of bar gene, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis using pSBM-PPGN as a probe. In Southern blot analysis, diverse band patterns were observed in total 44 transgenic plants regenerated from 20 independent PPT resistant calli showing from one to five copies of T-DNA segments, however, the transformants obtained from one callus line showed the same copy numbers with the same fractionized band patterns.


. A map T: £ -> F(E, F Banach spaces) is called an e-isometry if | \\T(x) - T(y)\\ - ||x -y\\ \ < e whenever x, y G E. Hyers and Ulam raised the problem whether there exists a constant k, depending only on E, F, such that for every surjective e-isometry T: E -* F there exists an isometry /: E -> F with ||r(x) - /(x)|| < ice for every x G E. It is shown that, whenever this problem has a solution for E, F, one can assume k < 5. In particular this holds true in the finite dimensional case.


This study explored the relations of urban design qualities, the adaptability and people's preference for walking on a commercial street. The research employed survey research method using a self-administered questionnaire applying Likert scale and multiple rating scale techniques. One hundred and three respondents participated in the study. Descriptive statistics and correlations analysis were used to answer the research questions. Results indicated the adaptability quality of a street may depend on the spatial quality of the street such as legibility, human scale, coherence, and imageability while it does not correlate with the appearance of the street such as transparency, complexity, and enclosure. Meanwhile, people's preference of a street for walking may depend on both qualities. Implications of the findings will discuss further in the paper. © 2016. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license ( http://creative commons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. Keywords: Urban Design Qualities; Walkability; Commercial Neighbourhood; Adaptability


This chapter considers k-nn classification of objects that assume values of imprecise nature with respect to attributes being considered. In order to handle imprecise data values, two approaches of crisp conversion of fuzzy data sets are considered. The approaches considered in this chapter are borrowed from Credibility Theory of Liu. A comparative study on the choice of approach for crisp conversion of fuzzy data has been carried out with the help of certain multivariate simulated data sets. Conclusions drawn from the study are presented.


hyperglycemia. However, weight change is more common in the advanced stages of AD: and in our experience, it is associated with increased appetite, lack of satiety, and a preference for "sweets." These symptoms may reflect hypothalamic dysfunction occurring with progressive neurodegeneration. Halter also suggests the converse: perhaps hyperglycemia enhances accessibility to "brain fuel" and reduces the rate of degenerative lesion deposition. The latter is in intriguing possibility that needs further investigation, but the suggestion that chronic hyperglycemia may be beneficial is refuted by many reports of negative cognitive consequences in NIDDM.637 We suggest that chronic hyperglycemia is a risk factor for developing vascular dementia with AD. This could arise by accelerated deposition of advanced glycation end-products (AGEPs) and oxidative damage.8,9 AGEPs accumulate in long-lived proteins through nonenzymatic reactions of glucose and other reducing sugars with free amino groups, particularly the €-amino group lysine. These products are found in plaques, tangles, and vessels, and as they form, can cross-link adjacent peptides and proteins and thereby initiate the neural and vascular cell degeneration. lo Positive feedback mechanisms can drive these processes, including P-amyloid, which binds to the RAGE receptor, stimulating oxidative damage and inflammatory responses." Thus, it is possible that common pathways exist for both vascular and neuronal damage, making those with NIDDM at high risk for mixed dementia. Landi et a14 suggest that oral hypoglycemic agents (sulfonylureas) used for treating NIDDM can inhibit ATPsensitive K+ channels, much like tacrine does, thereby protecting NIDDM patients against AD. While this clearly merits further study, there is no evidence that tacrine slows degeneration in AD. Perhaps it is more important that oral hypoglycemic agents may mask or slow the onset of the clinical symptoms of AD, potentially leading to late or erroneous diagnosis. Mixed dementias are relatively common (approximately 22% of our clinical population) and are often overlooked. The factors that drive this condition represent a critical area for further research, and the diabetes condition is one of the first leads into the problem.


To determine potential relationships between transforming growth factor (TGF)-α and surfactant homeostasis, the metabolism, function, and composition of surfactant phospholipid and proteins were as...


A series of experiments were conducted in order to assess the robustness and accuracy of a recently developed digital image analysis technique (PDIA). This paper investigates the application of the PDIA technique to the sizing of relatively small fuel droplets of diameters in the range 5 to 30 μm produced by a pressure‐swirl atomizer. The measurement performance of the PDIA system has been assessed in terms of individual object diameters and also number and volume probability density functions of diameter in comparison to phase Doppler anemometry (PDA) data obtained under identical conditions. PDIA measurements revealed good agreement with spray data obtained by PDA at a measurement location 36 diameters downstream from the nozzle orifice with differences in the arithmetic mean diameter, D10 and volume mean diameter, D30 of approximately 5 and 3% respectively. The PDIA technique was shown to detect the presence of very large, predominantly non‐spherical droplets whose diameters were in excess of 100 μm. These droplets, although few in number constitute a significant proportion of the total spray volume and would have otherwise been either erroneously measured or have passed through the probe volume undetected using PDA due to non‐sphericity. Smaller objects may also be measured correctly by both methods although sensitivity to signal‐to‐noise ratio, for both methods can generate spurious and contradictory errors.


This study examines the key factors that have impact on the successful adoption of Human Resource Information System (HRIS) within the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA)/Jordan. In order to accomplish the purpose of the study four critical factors are inquired. So, four critical factors are inquired: First, TAM Model (Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) and Perceived Usefulness (PU)). Second, Information Technology Infrastructure (ITI). Third, Top Management Support (TMS). Finally, Individual Experience with Computer (IEC). The research model was applied to collect data from the questionnaires answered by 45 users of HRIS as a source of primary data, based on a convenience sample the response rate was about 91%. In addition, the results were analyzed by utilizing the Statistical Package for Social Software (SPSS). Furthermore, the findings were analyzed; multiple Regression analysis indicated that all research variables have significant relationship on successful adoption of HRIS. The findings indicated IT infrastructures have a positive and significant effect on the successful adoption of HRIS. But there is no significant of PU, PEOU, TMS, and IEC on the successful adoption of HRIS. Finally, the results indicated that no significant statistical differences of demographic characteristics on HRIS adoption. Depending on the research's findings; the researchers proposed a set of recommendations for better adoption of HRIS in SEZA.


In this paper, local stability and local stabilization problems are considered for discrete-time nonlinear systems represented by Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy systems. Improved methods to assess the local stability, design locally stabilizing control laws, and estimate the domain of attraction are developed in terms of single-parameter minimization problems subject to linear matrix inequality (LMI) constraints. The improvement is achieved by applying a convergent LMI relaxation technique to prove positivity of homogeneous polynomial parameter-dependent matrices of arbitrary degree with variables in the simplex. We also take advantage of the recently developed parameter variation modeling technique to deal with the case that the variation rate of the membership functions of the T-S fuzzy systems is bounded and less than one. Finally, several illustrative examples demonstrate the validity and efficiency of the proposed method.


Abstract Few ideas have captured the attention and charged the emotions of the public, of mental health and legal professionals as thoroughly as the concept of parental alienation and Gardner's (1987) Parental Alienation Syndrome. For all of this controversy, the alienation concept stands outside developmental theory and without firm empirical support. The present paper explores alienation and its conceptual counterpart, alignment, as the necessary and natural tools of child-caregiver attachment (Ainsworth & Wittig, 1969; Bowlby, 1969) and of family system cohesion. This conceptual foundation offers developmentalists, clinicians, and family law professionals alike a common language and valuable instruments with which to understand those relatively infrequent but highly charged circumstances in which these tools are used as weapons, particularly in the context of contested custody litigation. The need to establish baseline measures, child-centered interventions, and legal remedies anchored in the attachment model is discussed.


Behavior of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in raw yellowfin tuna during refrigeration and frozen storage were studied. Growth of Salmonella was inhibited in tuna during refrigerated storage, while L. monocytogenes was able to multiply significantly during refrigerated storage. Populations of Salmonella in tuna were reduced by 1 to 2 log after 12 days of storage at 5–7 °C, regardless levels of contamination. However, populations of L. monocytogenes Scott A, M0507, and SFL0404 in inoculated tuna (104–105 CFU/g) increased by 3.31, 3.56, and 3.98 log CFU/g, respectively, after 12 days of storage at 5–7 °C. Similar increases of L. monocytogenes cells were observed in tuna meat with a lower inoculation level (102–103 CFU/g). Populations of Salmonella and L. monocytogenes declined gradually in tuna samples over 84 days (12 weeks) of frozen storage at −18 °C with Salmonella Newport 6962 being decreased to undetectable level (<10 CFU/g) from an initial level of 103 log CFU/g after 42 days of frozen storage. These results demonstrate that tuna meat intended for raw consumption must be handled properly from farm to table to reduce the risks of foodborne illness caused by Salmonella and L. monocytogenes.


A planar conical beam array antenna with low-profile, high-gain, and low-sidelobe level (SLL) is proposed in this letter. The array is composed of three concentric annular planar inverted-F antenna (APIFA) elements, each of which is excited by uniform distributed feeding points with the same excitation amplitude and phase and thus obtain an axisymmetric conical beam. Shorting pins and cambered slots are employed on the APIFA element to realize impedance matching for a given number of feeding points. Synthesis of conical beam for the array can be flexibly realized by adjusting the excitation amplitudes and phases of the elements. A prototype with a low profile of 0.11λ0 is designed, fabricated, and measured. Measured results show that the prototype achieves 11.2% (4.71–5.27 GHz) −10 dB impedance bandwidth. Within the impedance bandwidth, a stable gain of 11.3–12.7 dBi, a stable beam-pointing angle of about 15°, and a low SLL of less than −12.5 dB is obtained, indicating good conical beam performance.


Credit rating agencies have long played an important rolein the economy of the United States. In response to thefinancial crisis of 2008, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reformand Consumer Protection Act introduced reforms to increasethe transparency and accountability of credit rating agencies.With the rise of cryptocurrencies and the expansion ofblockchain technology, established credit rating agencies arenow considering offering ratings for cryptocurrencies, in thesame way they rate traditional securities.
Borrowing from the lessons learned from the experience ofthe 2008 financial crisis, this Note proposes that the UnitedStates government create a public agency to providecryptocurrency ratings. The Note begins by providingbackground information on cryptocurrencies, blockchaintechnology, credit rating agencies, and the subprime mortgagecrisis of 2008. Next, it discusses problems in the credit ratingprocess that were not solved by Dodd-Frank—namely, theprevalence of fraud and conflicts of interest between ratingagencies and issuers. The Note then proposes the publiccryptocurrency rating agency solution and additionalsupplementary reforms that may be adopted to address these unsolved problems.


Abstract The soil has mechanisms which serve as buffers or ionic reservoirs which remove nutrient ions from and return them to the soil solution and thus regulate their availabilities to higher plants. Yet relative amounts of each type of cation‐exchange bond are evidently so different from soil to soil that basic cation saturation ratios per se seem unimportant to the well‐being of a crop. Indeed, it appears that instead we should concentrate on sufficiency levels of each basic cation. Since the above‐mentioned mechanisms buffer the soil available P and K levels as well as pH level, we have developed alternative usages for existing soil tests which seem quite promising as bases for improving the accuracy of lime, and P and K fertilizer recommendations for obtaining near‐maximum yields of crops.


Heart failure is predominantly a condition of the elderly and is associated with substantial mortality, morbidity and functional limitation. In clinical trials of patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors reduce the burden of heart failure. Clinical trials, however, have largely excluded older persons. This paper reviews the evidence for efficacy and effectiveness of ACE inhibitors, current patterns of use of these important agents and the challenges of prescribing ACE inhibitors for older patients with heart failure. The existing literature indicates that (1) despite a relative paucity of data from randomized controlled trials, observational studies suggest that the elderly with LVSD are as likely to benefit from ACE inhibitors as younger patients; (2) ACE inhibitors are underused in older persons despite guideline recommendations, and (3) the older population presents specific challenges in applying the clinical evidence supporting ACE inhibitors, including polypharmacy, cognitive impairment and other common comorbid conditions. Nevertheless, the judicious use of ACE inhibitors in eligible older patients will likely improve health outcomes.


This paper describes a redundant frequency source system with seamless switchover that produces a stable and continuous output frequency signal. This system has primary and backup frequency produce links to generate the reference frequency. It has the ability to monitor the integrity of the frequency produce links and switchover seamlessly between the primary and the backup links. By use intermediate oscillator of the measurement system as a third party criterion, the autonomous monitor integrity of frequency produce links was achieved without external reference signal. The excellent short-term stability characteristics of intermediate oscillator improves the accuracy and real-time for the monitoring of sudden failure and the degradation of performance. Seamless switchover was defined as the maintenance of both output phase and frequency continuity while and after the switcher from the primary to the backup links. It was initiated when system detects a degradation of the integrity of primary links. The experiment result has been presented showing that there were no detectable change in phase and frequency after the switchover, and the jump of frequency was less than 2e-13, the change of phase less than 100ps.


Founded on the significance of the skin bleaching phenomenon in Jamaica, and the persistent influences of colonialism, the purpose of this paper is twofold: (a) to explore the skin bleaching phenomenon and (b) to provide a snapshot of how colonialism (despite national independence) influences perceptions of beauty and identity in Jamaica, particularly through informal learning. Based on an empirical study, the research sought to explore and understand the perceptions and motivations behind the practice of skin bleaching, given the historical and social context, and how it influenced the participants' perceptions of beauty and identity Perceptions of Beauty and Identity: The Skin Bleaching Phenomenon in Jamaica Despite slavery's abolition and Jamaica's independence from Britain, there continues to be internal struggles related to Eurocentric and Afrocentric values on the island. Influences of the British monarchy are still quite evident within the country's political, social and education systems. Afro-Jamaicans constitute the overwhelming majority of Jamaica's population. In fact, 97% of the population is of partial or total African descent (Encyclopedia of the Nations, 2010), yet, there is an elevation of Eurocentric values and a denigration of Afrocentric values in many facets of life. This is particularly true as it relates to skin color; specifically in the promotion of light skin as an indicator of beauty and social status. With vestiges of colonial life lingering in the country, it is important to reflect on how British colonialism framed the nation's history and how it continues to show itself as an agent of socialization in modern culture and society. One lesson taught by slavery and colonialism was a social discrimination and hierarchical structure between members of the same race, based on skin color, a phenomenon known as colorism. Within this struggle, people of color, particularly those with darker skin complexions, are victims of a set of societal structures that support and enable colorism. Further, skin color has a direct correlation to economic and political power and Eurocentric ideologies have deemed light skin as the ideal identifier of beauty (Hall, 2008). Light skin, also called fair skin, is an asset (Robinson & Ward, 1995) and it enjoys a positive image and perception all over the world. Skin color and skin color stratification based on complexion are important issues for all people of color. Hunter (2002) described it as a major sociological issue for African American and Mexican American communities. Light skin color sits within a space of privilege and the preferential treatment afforded to members of the colored community with lighter skin complexions relates to the popular ideal or globalized concept of beauty. Within the black community, skin tone is important in defining beauty (Hunter, 2002; Wolf, 1991); lighter-colored skin for a long time has been and still is typically seen as more beautiful than darker-colored skin. This is particularly true and impactful for women because as Hunter pointed out "light skin color works as a form of social capital for women. Women who


The current study was conducted to determine standardization profile of Coffee Arabica L. is not study before. Coffee Arabica L. (Rubiaceae), is native to South America and south west Asia. Coffee pulps and husks are rich in caffeine, tannins, phenolic compounds, and other organic matter and carbohydrate. Among these compounds found in coffee pulp and husk, phenolic compounds are known to be a potent inhibitor of fermentation. Phenolic compounds cause loss of integrity of the biological membranes of microorganisms such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, affecting the selective barrier capacity of membranes and the enzymatic matrix of microorganisms. These inhibitory compounds include alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and acids. Pharmacognostical and preliminary phytochemical screening of Coffee arabicaL husk is going to be helpful to authenticate and avoid substitution as well as adulteration in the raw material. The microscopic characters, physiochemical information and FTIR will be useful in the expansion of monograph. KEYWARDS: Coffee Arabica, macro&microscopy, UV& FTIR analysis, antioxidants. Hanan et al. European Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research www.ejpmr.com 87 Among the compounds found in coffee pulp and husk, phenolic compounds are known to be a potent inhibitor of fermentation (Klinke 2004). Phenolic compounds cause loss of integrity of the biological membranes of microorganisms such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, affecting the selective barrier capacity of membranes and the enzymatic matrix of microorganisms (Heipieper et al., 1994; Palmqvist et al., 2013). All of these inhibitory components contain ketones, aldehydes, alcohols, and acids (Almeida et al., 2007). Phenolic compounds of low molecular weight are more toxic to microorganisms than the phenolic compound of high molecular weight (Larsson et al., 2000). Literature survey clearly revealed that coffee husks products from agro and industrial wastes growing in south region of the Saudi Arabia have not been subjected to any pharmacognostical studies. In our study we focus in using agroand food industry wastes that can be utilized as valuable and cheap sources of antioxidants and free radical scavenging compounds. We have chosen the waste products one of important plants growing in south region of Saudi Arabia and produced in large quantity which is coffee husk (Coffea arabica). Therefore it was of interest to carry out a pharmacognostical investigation with the aim of establish standardization profile of Coffee arabica Husks as well as a qualitative identification of chemical constituents that possesses antioxidants activities. MATERIAL AND METHODS Plant material The Coffea Arabica L., SP, Pl. (1753). Plate Rub. 15 b. Husk was collected in Feb 2016 from Kholan bin Amer region, AbdulAziz Al-Melahe Farm, 2 Km, Sana'a, Yamane. The plant material was identified by Dr. Mahmoud AbdulAziz Mahmoud, College of Food & Agriculture Sciences voucher specimen (PDH#437) was kept in department of pharmacognosy, college of pharmacy, KSU. Preparation of extract The air dried coarse powdered coffee husk (1.85 kg) was extracted by maceration with 95% ethanol at room temperature. After filtration and evaporation of the alcohol using rotary vacuum at 45oC, the combined alcoholic extract was dark gummy extract (153.7 g, yield 8.31 % w/w, coded as COH). A part of solvent free COH was underwent to phytochemical preliminary screening qualitative tests by handling different reagents for the determination of numerous classes of active components (Wagner and Bladt 1996). Preparation of botanical study Macroscopic evaluation Macro morphological characters of the Coffea Arabica L Husk(color, taste, odor and appearance) were studied and noted. Microscopic evaluation Transverse section Coffee husks were prepared according to a procedure described by Abdulla Al-dea'ajy with some modifications (Abdulla et al., 1997). This procedure was done by using different steps such as: Fixation, Dehydration, Clearing, Infiltration, Embedding, Trimming, Sectioning, and Staining. Fixation. Fixation is a discontinuation of normal life actions in the tissue and establishing of the structure of the tissue. The aim of fixation is to maintain structure as possible compared to the living case by using formalin-aceto-alcohol (FAA), (95 ml of alcohol, 5 ml of formalin, 5 ml of glacial acetic acid). The coffee husk tissues were soaked in FAA in glass sealed container over 24 hrs. Dehydration. Dehydration is the chemical dehydration of the specimen. Common removal of water are alcohol and/or acetone in the following water removing steps, Alcohol 80%, Alcohol 90%, Alcohol 100%, and Alcohol 100% for 2 hrs, 2hrs, 2hrs and 24 hrs respectively. Clearing. Clearing is a process that consists of replacing the dehydrator by a material that would be miscible with the embedding medium like paraffin. The majority of clearing agent is xylene. Xylene is used with ethanol with different ratios in the following clearing steps, xylene:ethanol 1:3, 1:1, 3:1, and xylene only for two hours each. Infiltration. Infiltration is a process that increases the concentration of paraffin by reading paraffin to the tissue again with xylene and when the paraffin is melted, adds paraffin again for 24 – 48 hours. Embedding. The tissue is ready to be located in a mold and cooled. The choice of mold will depend on the type of chuck in the microtome device. There are various kinds of mold can be handled. Spray a stainless steel mold with liberation compound then decant a little amount melted Paraplast (fresh) into it. Transmit the tissue with hot forceps and place it in the center of the depression. Then put the white plastic form on top of the mold and replenish with melted paraplast. Cool the upper exterior surface of the Paraplast by blowing kindly on it. Tissues at this case are very fragile. When a foam of paraplast has formed on the upper surface, sink the cup kindly into a cold water bath. The block would be damaged if it is submerged before it's top has created a protective foam. Cool completely in cold tap water. Paraplast normally divides in the line of least resistanceright meanwhile the tissue. Transverse section (T.S) of the coffee husk were prepared using Microtome device (microTec®), carried in college of Science, KSU, Riyadh. Study of transverse section cellular arrangement of the coffee husk was examined after making slide of thin T.S of the husk. The complete histology was observed under electronic microscope (leica-microsystem, Schweiz, AG, CH-9435 Heerbrugg) (Shruthi et al., 2010). Study of powder characteristics Fine powder of the Coffea Arabica L Husk was used for powder microscopy. The sample was separately treated with 10% chloral hydrate, 50% glycerin and 5% iodine solution (Iyengar 1974). Hanan et al. European Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research www.ejpmr.com 88 Physio-chemical analysis For the determination of physio-chemical parameters, moisture content as well as total ash, acid insoluble ash and water soluble ash values of husk coarse powdered were done as described in the British Pharmacopeia (Migahid 1989). Moisture content Moisture content of husk powder was determined by weighing 2 g of powder sample in a silica crucible and then placed the silica crucible in stove at 105°C for a period till fixed weight of sample was determined. % of moisture content = weight loss of sample/ Weight of sample ×100 Total Ash value Certain weight of the coffee husk (4 g)is incinerated in a silica crucible by gradually increased the temperature and repeat this step until constant weight was obtained. Total ash is mainly composed of oxides and carbonates of Ca, Mg, Na, K and Silicon. %of total ash value = Total ash weight/ sample weight ×100 Acid-insoluble ash Certain weight of the coffee husk (4 g) is incinerated in a silica crucible, then the ash is dissolved in dilute mineral acid (H2SO4) filtered and dried. The dried residue is weighted and the acid-insoluble ash is calculated. The ash dissolved in acid contains mainly of oxides and carbonate of Ca, Na, K, and is termed acid insoluble ash which is calculated by difference. Water soluble ash Certain weight of the coffee husk (4 g) is burnt in a crucible silica then the ash is dissolved in water, filtered and dried. The dried residue is weighted and the watersoluble ash is calculated by difference. It consists mainly of oxides and carbonates of sodium and potassium. Fluorescence analysis The fluorescence behavior of the coffee husk powder in the visible light and UV light were carried out by soaking the powder in different reagent solutions and viewing under the light of short and long wavelength in a UV chamber Wallis 1967; Anonymous 2002). FTIR Analysis Coffee husk fine powder was used for FTIR analysis. Infrared spectra were recorded on a Perkin Eimer FTIR Spectrometer (spectrum BX) 8000 series, between 4,000400cm -1 .


Purpose To investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of total extracts from Oxytropis falcata bunge.Methods The acetic acid-induced writhing test and hot plate mothod were used to observe the analgesic effects and to determine the analgesic type;The anti-inflammatory effects of total extracts from Oxytropis falcata bunge were determined by using the model of xylene-induced mouse ear edema and rat cotton pellets-induced granuloma.Results In analgesic test,total extracts from Oxytropis falcata bunge given by ig caused the acetic acid writhing number(P0.05),but it could not inhibit the pain caused by hot plate;in anti-inflammatory experiments,the total extracts from Oxytropis falcata bunge could significantly reduce the level of xylene-induced mouse ear edema and granulation tissue proliferation in rats.Conclusion The peripheral analgesic activity and anti-inflammatory activity of total extracts from Oxytropis falcata bunge were good.


Neural recording front-ends with voltage controlled-oscillator (VCO) based continuous-time $\rm \Delta \Sigma $ modulators (CTDSM) enable direct analogue to digital conversion with minimized aliasing and hardware overhead, however, their performance suffers from phase glitches due to sampling meta-stability and large interference from input or power line. This brief presents a self-correction scheme for multi-phase VCO-based CTDSM. The VCO's phase pattern is processed in both continuous-time (CT) and discrete-time (DT) domain with real-time error detection and correction to guarantee robust operation. Based on the this scheme, a phase counter can be implemented to assist the XOR-based phase detector (PD) with minimized error, extending the phase detection range, therefore leading to improved quantization resolution and system linearity even with glitches. Fabricated in a 180-nm CMOS process, the prototype achieves 70.7 dB SNDR, 71.0 dB SNR, 83.1 dB SFDR and 71.2 dB DR within 10 kHz bandwidth. The measured input referred noise (IRN) is 5.94 $\mu \text{V}\rm _{rms}$ over 0.5 Hz-10 kHz bandwidth. The performance of this self-correction scheme is verified by injecting phase error with different frequency. A maximum of 16.2 dB improvement of SNDR can be observed for 625 Hz injected interference.


In up-link wireless access communication, the transmitter needs good linearity but low power efficiency power amplifier. If the nonlinear power amplifier is used for improving the power usage efficiency, the higher peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) signal suffers from nonlinear distortion. The effect of nonlinear distortion to Single Carrier-Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) has not been evaluated yet. In this paper, the performance of effect of nonlinear distortion to SC-FDMA is evaluated in terms of PAPR, out-of-band radiation and bit error rate with computer simulation, where there are two types of access scheme in SC-FDMA, first one is interleaved frequency division multiple access (IFDMA) and second one is localized frequency division multiple access (LFDMA). From the simulation results, we clarify IFDMA or LFDMA has the higher robustness for nonlinear distortion.


Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) inhibitors are associated with an increased risk of infections and with a still debatable risk of skin cancer. Furthermore, cutaneous human papillomavirus (HPV) infection may be involved in skin cancer.


Comparisons of preand post-Hurricane Agnes size, age structures, sex and juvenile-adult ratios were made on a population of Chrysemys picta to determine the effects of hurricane flooding. Flooding of nesting sites in June, 1972 resulted in small juveniles not being incorporated into the population. This caused shifts in size and age-class percentages which favored adults. Habitat destruction forced turtles into more shallow areas and predation on adults increased.


Conventional pixel-domain block matching temporal (inter) prediction is suboptimal, since it ignores the underlying spatial correlation. Hence in our recent research we proposed transform domain temporal prediction (TDTP), wherein spatially decorrelated transform coefficients are individually predicted. Later we proposed extended block TDTP (EB-TDTP), which fully exploits spatial correlation around reference block boundaries. However, the transform domain temporal correlation exploited by (EB-)TDTP interferes with the frequency response of sub-pixel interpolation filters. Thus, in this paper, we propose to replace the standard sub-pixel interpolation with filters which are jointly designed with EB-TDTP based on statistics of the data, for either separable or non-separable interpolation structures. We also employ a two-loop asymptotic closed-loop (ACL) approach for statistically stable off-line design. Experiments show that our framework can achieve up to 1dB gain in PSNR over HEVC.


The main payload of CryoSat-2 [1], SIRAL (Synthetic interferometric radar altimeter), is a Ku band pulsewidth limited radar altimeter which transmits pulses at a high pulse repetition frequency thus making received echoes phase coherent and suitable for azimuth processing [2]. The azimuth processing in conjunction with correction for slant range improves along track resolution to about 250 meters which is a significant improvement over traditional pulse-width limited systems such as Envisat RA-2, [3]. CryoSat-2 will be launched on 25th February 2010 and this paper describes the pre and post launch measures of CryoSat/SIRAL performance and the status of mission validation planning.


This work is devoted to the derivation of an asymptotic-preserving scheme for the electronic M1 model in the diffusive regime. The case without electric field and the homogeneous case are studied. The derivation of the scheme is based on an approximate Riemann solver where the intermediate states are chosen consistent with the integral form of the approximate Riemann solver. This choice can be modified to enable the derivation of a numerical scheme which also satisfies the admissible conditions and is well-suited for capturing steady states. Moreover, it enjoys asymptotic-preserving properties and handles the diffusive limit recovering the correct diffusion equation. Numerical tests cases are presented, in each case, the asymptotic-preserving scheme is compared to the classical HLL [43] scheme usually used for the electronic M1 model. It is shown that the new scheme gives comparable results with respect to the HLL scheme in the classical regime. On the contrary, in the diffusive regime, the asymptotic-preserving scheme coincides with the expected diffusion equation, while the HLL scheme suffers from a severe lack of accuracy because of its unphysical numerical viscosity.


Much has been written about the working conditions, experiences of injustice and exploitation, and the formation of the working class in the construction sector in China. However, we know very little about the role of media in the process of gaining/denying voice and visibility. Combining critiques of media forms and media practices with ethnographic insights, and in juxtaposition to the two dominant, or hegemonic, media forms – reality TV shows and media events – which embody, respectively, the market and the Party-state's efforts to exploit the 'media logic', the article considers the success and failure of rural migrant construction workers' media tactics in their struggles to claim wages owed to them. This article is concerned with the politics of voice, and explores how the processes of mediation and mediatization engaged in by all parties – the Party-state, the market, workers and the media – amplify or constrain voice.


4.1 Eigenvalues and Optimization I cannot believe that I have managed to teach three lectures on spectral graph theory without giving the characterization of eigenvalues as solutions to optimization problems. It is one of the most useful ways of understanding eigenvalues of symmetric matrices. To begin, let A be a symmetric matrix with eigenvalues α1 ≥ α2 ≥ · · · ≥ αn, and corresponding orthonormal eigenvectors v1, . . . , vn. Lemma 4.1.1. α1 = max x xTAx xTx .


Objective:To analyze the current situation of capacity-building at all levels of maternity and child health care institutions of Yunnan during 2006~2011,and to provide the basis for capacity-building and development of the maternity and child health care institutions in Yunnan in the process of new medical system reform.Methods:Through annual network monitoring and reporting system of the national maternity and child care institutions,related resources and operation situation information of the maternity and child health care institutions at all levels were collected The capacity-building of the maternity and child health care institutions at all levels were evaluated by contrastive analysis.Results:During 2006~2011,total staff,fixed assets,business income,year outpatient man-time and discharge person-time of maternity and child health care institutions in Yunnan province had a larger growth.The growth rates were 18.8%,97.1%,168.7%,60.8%,and 72.1%.The average values of these indexes coming from all maternal and child health care institutions were about 34.5 people,4.501 million Yuan,2.628 million Yuan,29 338 man-times,624 man-times in 2011.Conclusion:The government and the public health administrative department of Yunnan province at all levels steadily increase the investment into maternity and child care centers for 6 years.So the material resources,financial resources,service ability of maternity and child health care institutions are increased greatly.However,talent deficiency,relatively backward infrastructure,relatively weak service ability,and non-prominent characteristics of maternity and child care are still the bottleneck factors that hinder the development of the maternity and child health care institutions in Yunnan province.


Variational integrators are developed for dissipative systems with one degree of freedom. The dissipation considered herein is of simple Rayleigh dissipation type. The present formulation is based not on the Lagrange-d'Alembert principle, but on Hamilton's principle. A benefit for using variational integration techniques is stressed in this paper. The discrete algorithms are obtained by a stationary condition of action integral, in which the Lagrangian is directly discretized. Unlike the existing algorithms, a coupling term between mass and dissipation exists in the present algorithms. A mixed method, in which a velocity is independent on a position coordinate, is presented for dissipative systems. In order to investigate an accuracy of numerical integrators, we introduce a new parameter in addition to the energy decay. Numerical examples show that the present variational, integrators are available for not only highly but also weakly dissipative systems.Copyright © 2011 by ASME


PURPOSE: A battery car charging apparatus using a motor and a buffer is provided to reduce time and cost required to charge by charging a storage battery into a self development electricity without additional energy cost. CONSTITUTION: Upward and downward cylinders(13, 15) are separated by a piston pad(14) of a buffer. The upward and downward cylinder includes vents(16, 25) of two up and down. Two of three direction automatic cone valves(18, 18a) and one of three direction automatic ball valve(19) are connected to high-tension hoses(17, 17a). An electricity is produced by rotating a gas or an oil compacted by a buffer pressure to a turbine. The produced electricity is charged on a storage battery(24) through a converter(23) and drives an electric motor(26).


A dynamic model of the relationship between the back pressure and the shock-train leading-edge location is useful in the development of a shock-train leading-edge automatic control algorithm. In this research, several models were created relating the back pressure within an isolator to a shock-train leading-edge location. An isolator analog was mounted in a direct-connect, cold-flow, Mach 1.8 wind tunnel. Back pressure was created within the analog isolator using an adjustable ramp mounted in the downstream portion of the test section. All the models approximate a Hammerstein model in structure and include a static nonlinear polynomial model as well as a dynamic model. While the same static polynomial is used for all models, the dynamic models considered include simple continuous models, Auto-Regression with eXogenous variables (ARX) models, and Nonlinear ARX (NARX) models. Model development was accomplished using post-processed data with three of the models implemented and tested experimentally in a real-time (1 kHz) algorithm. All three models were able to predict the location of the shock-train to within one duct height and could, potentially be used for control algorithm development. The ARX and the NARX models returned comparable results in the real-time trials.


This paper has as its central issue the debate between Jürgen Habermas and John Rawls. It is focused mainly on the discussion regarding the democratic political process. Initially, a discussion about the theory of justice as fairness is presented, in order to explore the fundamentals of a theory of deliberative democracy. After that, the critics made by Habermas to this conception are exposed, as well as his suggestions for its development. Then there is a discussion regarding Rawls's response and his attempt to establish parallels between his and the German philosopher's theoretical projects. In the end, we tentatively outline a theory of deliberative democracy that is, as long as it is possible, coherent with the debate and that could be subscribed by both authors.


The blue phosphor,! BaMgAlloOI7:EuZ+, showing a blue emission band at about 450 nm were prepared by solid state reaction of BaC03, A1203, MgO and Eu203 with A1F3 as a flux. The thermal quenching of BaMgAlloO17:EuZ+ phosphor significantly reduces the intensity of the blue emission. It is reduced by an amount of 50% after heating at around 8OO0C for 1 hr. The red emission in the 580 - 720 nm region of 'Do-t7FI and 'D0j7F2 transition of Eu" is produced from the phosphor heated above 1,100 Z. The EPR spectrum also reveals that some part of Eu*+ ions are oxidized to trivalent ions above 1,1002 at around 90' and 140mT. This oxidation evidence is also detected from XANES absorption spectra for Llll shell of Eu ions: an absorption peak is at 6,977eV of Eu" and 6,984eV of Ed'. The combined X-ray and "Ton data suggests that the new phase of EuMgAli10i9 magnetoplumbite structure may be formed by heat treatment.


Various animals and plants benefit from symbiotic micro-organisms, but the effectiveness of the microbial symbionts (i.e. the amount of benefit that the animal/plant host derives from the symbiosis) varies among symbiont genotypes in natural populations. Recent studies on symbioses with horizontal transmission suggest that three factors may contribute to this variation: (a) selection pressure on the microbial symbionts to exploit the host, resulting in reduced host benefit (b) variation with environmental circumstances in the amount of benefit derived by a host from different symbiont genotypes and (c) unpredictable or low abundance of the microbial partner available to infect hosts from the free-living environment. The latter two factors would counter the selection pressure on hosts to specialize (i.e. to form symbioses exclusively with highly effective symbiont genotypes), despite variation in symbiont effectiveness. Vertical transmission is identified as a key route to host specialization on effective symbionts.


This paper presents a low cost innovative duplex channel engineering to simulate and improve specific on-state resistance (Ron) of an Ultra high voltage (UHV) device without compromising on breakdown voltage. In manufacturing of UHV device, tradeoff between on state resistance and breakdown voltage is always present. But with our process design we are able to improve Ron by 15-20% without compromising the breakdown voltage. There are many devices in market with multiple conduction paths, but all these devices use high energy implants. These high energy implants are costly and accuracy of high dose/energy implants is less when compared to low dose/energy implants. Hence we have used a low cost and low energy implants for P-top and N-top to form an extra conduction path. Optimizations are done to obtain high breakdown voltage and lower Ron by varying the P-top and N-top over P-top. As reliability of device is important, we have investigated the interface charge effect on breakdown and the device sustain breakdown voltage for interface charge of 1.5e11. ESD test is also conducted and this structure can pass 4KeV.


Recently adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction has attracted extensive attention for the significant increasing of its incidence.Besides tumour nodemetastasis(TNM) stage and histological subtype,more attention should be paid to the localization of the tumour,which mainly affects the direction of neoplasm metastasis——to thoracic cavity,abdomen cavity,or both of them involved.The extent of ectomy should also be influenced by the metastatic direction.To adenocarcinomas of esophagogastric junction of different localization,the surgeons should take advisable operative approach,excisional scope,reconstructive style and adjunctive therapy according to preoperative diagnosis.


Addressee detection answers the question, "Are you talking to me?" When multiple users interact with a dialogue system, it is important to know when a user is speaking to the computer and when he or she is speaking to another person. We approach this problem from a multimodal perspective, using lexical, acoustic, visual, dialog state, and beam-forming information. Using data from a multiparty dialogue system, we demonstrate the benefit of using multiple modalities over using a single modality. We also assess the relative importance of the various modalities in predicting the addressee. In our experiments, we find that acoustic features are by far the most important, that ASR and system-state information are useful, and that visual and beamforming features provide little additional benefit. Our study suggests that acoustic, lexical, and system state information are an effective, economical combination of modalities to use in addressee detection.


Monocytes play a critical role in inflammation and immune response, their activity being sex‐dependent. However, the basis of sex differences is not well understood. Therefore, we investigated the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) effects on tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) release, autophagy, and chemotaxis in freshly isolated monocytes from healthy young men and women. In basal conditions, male and female monocytes had similar TNF‐α release, chemotaxis, and estrogen receptors (ER‐α) and ER‐β expression, while the LC3II/I ratio was significantly higher in males. LPS treatment induced qualitative and quantitative sex differences. It reduced autophagy and increased TNF‐α release only in male monocytes, while, chemotaxis was significantly influenced only in female cells. Moreover, it reduced the expression of ER‐α only in female cells, while ER‐β expression was reduced in both sexes, but more markedly in female cells. Finally, the interplay between LPS treatment and 17‐β‐estradiol (E2) was present only in female cells. Globally, these findings expand the concept that sex plays a role in regulating monocytes' functions, being sex differences cell‐ and parameter‐specific.


In recent years netizens prefers that web accessing is fast in nature and give appropriate results without any confusion. Recommendation is one of the most useful system based on analysing web log files to be applied for web personalization in future. Web Usage Mining(WUM) is also applicable for online marketing and site modification. This system consists of three main interdependent tasks of WUM which are Data Preprocessing, Pattern Discovery and Pattern Analysis. Association rules are used for relate pages that are most often reference together in a single server session. The main goal of recommendation system in this research is to improve web site usability and to gives recommendations of websites to users of their use.


Meeting energy demands in neurons is critical for proper functions of nervous systems. In addition to glucose, lactate is used as a major energy source in the brain, and a significant amount of lactate is produced through aerobic glycolysis in astrocytes (Schurr et al., 1988; Gladden, 2004; Ivanov et al., 2011; Dienel, 2012). It is reversibly converted to and from pyruvate by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and it is transported from astrocytes to neurons via the astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle (Pellerin and Magistretti, 2012). Lactate is released from astrocytes through monocarboxylate transporters (MCT1 and MCT4), and has been also reported to be released through ion channels yet to be identified (Korn et al., 2005; Sotelo-Hitschfeld et al., 2015). Released lactate is taken into neurons through MCT2 and converted to pyruvate (Bergersen, 2007). Lactate also induces expression of genes (e.g., arc and c-fos) involved in synaptic plasticity (Suzuki et al., 2011; Yang et al., 2014).


Abstract 112 Background: CNS involvement by aggressive lymphoma carries a poor prognosis. Little is known about the frequencies of CNS relapse or progression, risk factors, and the efficacy of prophylaxis in younger patients (pts) undergoing modern chemoimmunotherapy (R-CHOP). Methods: 2.797 younger pts ( Results: Overall, sixty-five of 2.797 pts (2.3%) developed meningeal and/or parenchymal CNS relapse (43.1 %) or progressed during therapy (56.9%). Relapse/ progression in the CNS was combined with systemic disease in 20 pts (32.3%) but represented the only site of disease in the majority of cases (67.7 %). Median time to relapse/ progression was 7.2 months (range: 0.2– 85.2 months); median survival after relapse or progression was 4.2 months (0 - 54.0 months). The incidence of CNS relapse/ progression was low in pts with age-adjusted International Prognostic Index (aaIPI) 0 or 1 (High-CHOEP phase III study with 385 pts: CNS events 0.3%; MInT trial with 818 pts: CNS events 1.6 %) but was significantly higher in the 463 pts on the MegaCHOEP phase II/III trials which included pts with aaIPI 2 or 3 only (CNS events: 6.4 % and 7.5 %, respectively). Focusing on 663 pts treated with state-of-the-art chemoimmunotherapy including rituximab, multivariate Cox regression analysis identified LDH>N (relative risk [RR]=4.5, p=0.046) and stage III/IV (RR=6.2, p= 0.016) as significant risk factors for CNS disease. Using this model, 32.7 % of all pts would have been considered "high-risk"; 82.4 % of those pts who developed CNS disease carried both risk factors. However, only 14/217 (6.5%) of the "high-risk" pts defined by elevated LDH and advanced stage actually experienced CNS relapse or progression. Rituximab significantly reduced the risk for CNS disease when all 1.570 pts treated with CHO(E)P- 14/21 were considered (RR= 0.3, p=0.03). In contrast, the addition of R did not reduce the RR in 309 pts treated with MegaCHOEP ± R (RR=0.8, p= 0.54). There was no indication that the addition of etoposide to CHOP (CHOEP) reduced the risk of CNS disease in any patient cohort treated with chemotherapy and R. Conclusions: Pts with aggressive lymphoma and aaIPI 0 or 1 show low frequencies of CNS relapse or progression. Omitting CNS prophylaxis in such pts seems reasonable also because – similar to our recent findings in the elderly (Boehme et al., BLOOD 2009; 113: 3896) – this analysis in younger pts failed to show benefit of prophylaxis with i.th. MTX in any of the risk groups analyzed. CNS disease remains a serious problem in younger pts with aaIPI 2 or 3. We failed to discover clinical or laboratory features to precisely define a "high-risk" group of patients all of whom might benefit from CNS-directed prophylaxis. Unfortunately, neither high-dose therapy including high-doses of etoposide (MegaCHOEP), standard dose etoposide (CHOEP), nor i. th. MTX reduced the incidence of CNS disease. Rituximab reduced the RR of CNS disease in pts with B-cell lymphoma treated with CHO(E)P- 14/21 but failed to do so in pts treated with R-MegaCHOEP. Disclosures: Schmitz: Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity9s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Glass: Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding. Pfreundschuh: Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity9s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.


This paper addresses several issues concerning the ethical governance of forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG) in humanitarian investigations that seek to identify decedents in mass graves, disaster victims, and to reconstruct past atrocities. FIGG is better suited to human remains investigations than existing forensic DNA methods, such as partial matching in CODIS databases, and for this reason its use has increased. However, survivor communities may not benefit from the use of FIGG to reconstruct past events and promote the goals of healing and reconciliation unless we first address several pressing issues with the ethical governance of FIGG in humanitarian investigations. These include a lack of trust on the part of survivor communities, concerns over privacy, autonomy, informed consent, and the future uses of genetic data that generate an unwillingness to provide DNA for forensic investigations. This paper looks at the movement of Indigenous data sovereignty, which posits that control over data should be put in the hands of those who are most affected by its use, and its potential to be used as a blueprint for the ethical governance of FIGG in all humanitarian investigations. This is illustrated through recent examples of data sovereignty being applied by FIGG investigators: the private, non-profit DNA Justice database, and the mass graves investigations at the Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, Ireland.


Objective To propose a more realistic model for disease cluster detection, through a modification of the spatial scan statistic to account simultaneously for inflated zeros and overdispersion. Introduction Spatial Scan Statistics [1] usually assume Poisson or Binomial distributed data, which is not adequate in many disease surveillance scenarios. For example, small areas distant from hospitals may exhibit a smaller number of cases than expected in those simple models. Also, underreporting may occur in underdeveloped regions, due to inefficient data collection or the difficulty to access remote sites. Those factors generate excess zero case counts or overdispersion, inducing a violation of the statistical model and also increasing the type I error (false alarms). Overdispersion occurs when data variance is greater than the predicted by the used model. To accommodate it, an extra parameter must be included; in the Poisson model, one makes the variance equal to the mean. Methods Tools like the Generalized Poisson (GP) and the Double Poisson [2] may be a better option for this kind of problem, modeling separately the mean and variance, which could be easily adjusted by covariates. When excess zeros occur, the Zero Inflated Poisson (ZIP) model is used, although ZIP's estimated parameters may be severely biased if nonzero counts are too dispersed, compared to the Poisson distribution. In this case the Inflated Zero models for the Generalized Poisson (ZIGP), Double Poisson (ZIDP) and Negative Binomial (ZINB) could be good alternatives to the joint modeling of excess zeros and overdispersion. By one hand, Zero Inflated Poisson (ZIP) models were proposed using the spatial scan statistic to deal with the excess zeros [3]. By the other hand, another spatial scan statistic was based on a Poisson-Gamma mixture model for overdispersion [4]. In this work we present a model which includes inflated zeros and overdispersion simultaneously, based on the ZIDP model. Let the parameter p indicate the zero inflation. As the the remaining parameters of the observed cases map and the parameter p are not independent, the likelihood maximization process is not straightforward; it becomes even more complicated when we include covariates in the analysis. To solve this problem we introduce a vector of latent variables in order to factorize the likelihood, and obtain a facilitator for the maximization process using the E-M (Expectation-Maximization) algorithm. We derive the formulas to maximize iteratively the likelihood, and implement a computer program using the E-M algorithm to estimate the parameters under null and alternative hypothesis. The p-value is obtained via the Fast Double Bootstrap Test [5]. Results Numerical simulations are conducted to assess the effectiveness of the method. We present results for Hanseniasis surveillance in the Brazilian Amazon in 2010 using this technique. We obtain the most likely spatial clusters for the Poisson, ZIP, Poisson-Gamma mixture and ZIDP models and compare the results. Conclusions The Zero Inflated Double Poisson Spatial Scan Statistic for disease cluster detection incorporates the flexibility of previous models, accounting for inflated zeros and overdispersion simultaneously. The Hanseniasis study case map, due to excess of zero cases counts in many municipalities of the Brazilian Amazon and the presence of overdispersion, was a good benchmark to test the ZIDP model. The results obtained are easier to understand compared to each of the previous spatial scan statistic models, the Zero Inflated Poisson (ZIP) model and the Poisson-Gamma mixture model for overdispersion, taken separetely. The E-M algorithm and the Fast Double Bootstrap test are computationally efficient for this type of problem.


For the first time a transition from a second- to first-order dipole-dipole interaction (van der Waals to resonance interaction) has been observed in a study of the excited EuSr molecule which dissociates into europium 4f/sup 7/5s6p /sup 8/P/sub 9/2/ and strontium 5s/sup 2/ /sup 1/P/sub 1/ atoms. The transition was verified by measurement of the wavelength dependence in the quasistatic wings of the cw-laser--excited 4595.3-A line in Eu broadened by Sr ground-state atoms.


Although stored in the back of my mind for nearly fifty years, this part of my memory has not decayed into a shapeless mess. Rather, the glitter of youth on it has made it clearer than ever before. From a different point of view both in time and space, I have come to realize the value of my burning youth when I was a zhiqing in rural China. Here are a couple of stories extracted from my cerebral storage.


Soil remediation is the act of removing or reducing the availability of contaminants from soil. In the case of agriculture, soil remediation targets the removal of pollutants, including residual pesticides/herbicides, hydrocarbons, and toxic heavy metals. This is often done by chemical treatments with multiple washes or excavation of soils, which are costly and time-consuming. Therefore, finding cheaper, less time-consuming remediation methods is highly desirable. In this review, we will examine the addition of biochar as an effective method of soil remediation. Biochar is a carbon-rich material derived from burning biomass in an oxygen-limited environment with benefits such as high cation exchange capacity, large surface area, neutral to alkaline pH, and some nutritional content. Biochar can also be a sanctuary for naturally occurring microbes and can be inoculated with specific microbes for contaminant breakdown. The physical and chemical characteristics of biochar combined with biological activity can help bind and promote the degradation process of these contaminants without the need to use hazardous chemicals or remove a large amount of soil. Biochar, and the microbes they house, can bind these contaminants through electrostatic attraction, sorption, precipitation, and bioaccumulation, reducing their availability to the surrounding environment. However, the characteristics of biochar and its biological activity can vary depending on the feedstock, pyrolysis temperature, and time the mass is heated. Therefore, some of these traits can be modified through pre or post-treatments to suit their intended use, allowing for biochar to be made for specific contaminants. This review hopes to increase interest in biochar research to fill in missing gaps of information that could make biochar production cheaper and more consistent, as it offers a greener way to clean up contaminants in soil.


The invention relates to a hand-held machine tool (10), in particular dowel cutter, comprising a drive member (15) having a cutting tool (13) for drilling and / or milling a recess in a workpiece front side (F) of a workpiece (W) and a having motor drive for the cutting tool (13), and with a stop means (20) having a front abutment surface (21) for engagement with the workpiece (W), and with a guide arrangement (30) for guiding the drive part (15) and the stop means (20) relative to each other so that the cutting tool (13) relative to the front abutment surface (21) along a depth adjustment path for adjusting a penetration depth of the cutting tool (13) into the workpiece (W) forward and backward adjustable, and (with a depth stop assembly 40 ) for limiting a length of the depth adjustment path (T), wherein the depth stop assembly (40) has a stop face and a depth stop body (41), of for adjusting the penetration depth of the cutting tool (13) into the workpiece (W) movably mounted and can be fixed at a depth stop-bearing means (42), and wherein the depth stop face on the stop means (20) and the depth stop-bearing means (42) on the drive part (15) or vice versa, fixed in place or stationary are fixable. It is envisaged that the depth stop assembly (40) as a longitudinal stop for the depth stop body (41) to its adjustment path (43) having an index body (44) which is mounted movable relative to the adjustment path of the depth stop element (41).


We measured juvenile growth rates of the spionid polychaete Polydora cornuta in situ by transplanting and recovering small vials containing labeled individuals and measuring each worm's body volume before and after week‐long transplantations into field sediments. To measure seasonal variation of in situ growth rates, we performed 15 intertidal transplantations between November 2008 and January 2010 in Oneonta Slough within the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve. Our study period included four major rain events with precipitation greater than 2 cm d‐1 that reduced salinity in the tidal channel below 20‰. On average, we recovered one third of the 72 juveniles that were deployed during each transplantation. Mean relative growth rates ranged from 0% to 15% d‐1 among the 15 transplantations and were positively correlated with the mean salinity during each transplantation period. Mean relative growth rates during or a few days after major rain events averaged 2% d‐1, whereas relative growth rates during all other weeks exceeded 7% d‐1. During the November–March rainy season, mean relative growth rates exceeded 8% d‐1 when rain did not occur during a transplantation or during the preceding 7 d, indicating that environmental conditions favoring rapid growth of P. cornuta juveniles returned approximately 1 week after a major rain event. Although the small size of P. cornuta juveniles imposes methodological challenges, their rapid growth and our transplantation methods provide a way to assess environmental quality from the perspective of infaunal performance on small temporal and spatial scales.


During the recent years, the French petrol company -Elfhas been involved in a series of corruption scandals. These scandals have helped reveal to the public the extent and the scale of the system of corruption evolving within and around a company well known for its opacity. They have shown the active implication of Elf in armed conflicts in Africa, directly in the case of Congo-Brazzaville, indirectly in the case of Angola. Because of the secrecy which has always surrounded Elf, what is known is only the top of the iceberg. Some of the facts are not precisely established and our information, based on various secondary published sources is inevitably full of mistakes and approximations. But we have at our disposal enough information to construct a plausible picture of Elf as delinquant organization, and of its modus operandi. Apart from the question of the paucity and veracity of the data, the main difficulty we have encountered has been the complexity of the networks related to the company, which appears as a kind of nebula of networks, a set of networks of networks each related to other nebula of networks. Because of this informal halo, it is difficult to know where Elf as an organization starts and where it ends. In addition the organisation has changed, informally in the structure of its networks, and formally from a parastatal to a private company, The private company has been, in turn, absorbed by another former public French company, Total, which had previously obsorbed by a Belgian oil company, Fina. Elf has become part of TotalElfFina.


Compared to a low tidal volume/low PEEP strategy, a low tidal volume/fixed plateau pressure/higher PEEP strategy offers no mortality benefit but may be associated with reduced morbidity. Level of evidence: 1+ (RCT with a low risk of bias)


(57) Abstract: the [configuration] sill 4 landing 2 with lift, in a plurality of hoistway protective plate 6, which is continuously provided between the header 5 of the landing 3 below this hall 2, the upper side hook piece to 1 1 to form a hook piece that is formed on the other of the protection plate to the lower side to form an insertion-engageable engaging hole 12. [Effect] a plurality of hoistway protection plate 6 to be continuously provided between the sill and header, be fixed to the threshold 4 only the first piece of the elevator shaft in a protective plate 6 in a two-worker since hoistway protection board 6 from handsome can be suspended in the hoistway protection board 6 before can be carried out in one worker, the workability is improved.


This paper addresses the problem of the signal segmentation within a Bayesian framework by using hybrid MCMC sampling. The signal is modeled by piecewise constant processes where the numbers of segments and the position of abrupt are unknown.
The hybrid MCMC algorithm is then used to generate samples distributed according to the joint posterior distribution of the unknown parameters. These samples allow to compute some interesting features of the a posterior distribution.
The performance of the this methodology is illustrated via several simulation results.


Sacred basil (Ocimum sanctum) leaves, seeds and whole plant is useful. Investigations undertaken aiming to increase the growth and yield parameters using different organic substances produced positive results. The present study envisages that spraying of combination of 2% Panchakavya + 0.2% Humic Acid + 2% Moringa Leaf Extract resulted in higher plant height, number of leaves, leaf area and leaf area index of basil both at 60 and 90 days after planting. Further the same treatment also produced a pronounced effect on fresh and dry herb weight at both the stages of plant growth. The highest dry herbage yield of 1317 kg ha1 was recorded from the treatment of combination of 2% Panchakavya + 0.2% Humic Acid + 2% Moringa Leaf Extract (T7) and was significantly differed from other treatments. The same treatment also registered the highest benefit: cost ratio of 2.71. Hence it is concluded that combined bio-stimulant spraying (2% Panchakavya + 0.2%Humic Acid + 2% Moringa Leaf Extract) at 30 and 60 days after planting economically viable in producing higher dry herbage yield in sacred basil.