The equilibrium swelling behavior of heterogeneous systems consisting of a consisting of a continuous network phase and a dispersed lamellar, spherical, or cylindrical phase is described using a thermodynamic model. The case of swelling of both phases but to different extents is described. The equilibrium volume fractions of each phase as well as the stresses at equilibrium are predicted as functions of the polymer interaction parameter, X, the modulus, G, and the geometric character of the networks.


Background: α1-Protease inhibitor Portland (α1PDX) and serpin B8 are proprotein convertase (PC) inhibitors whose specificity and selectivity for PCs are not understood. Results: α1PDX-serpin B8 and furin-PC chimeras revealed new serpin and protease (re)active-site and exosite determinants of reactivity. Conclusion: α1PDX reactive-site and exosite determinants may be exploited for engineering specificity and selectivity for inhibiting PCs. Significance: Specific PC inhibitors will advance understanding of PC function and therapeutics. α1-Protease inhibitor Portland (α1PDX) is an engineered serpin family inhibitor of the proprotein convertase (PC), furin, that exhibits high specificity but limited selectivity for inhibiting furin over other PC family proteases. Here, we characterize serpin B8, a natural inhibitor of furin, together with α1PDX-serpin B8 and furin-PC chimeras to identify determinants of serpin specificity and selectivity for furin inhibition. Replacing reactive center loop (RCL) sequences of α1PDX with those of serpin B8 demonstrated that both the P4–P1 RXXR recognition sequence as well as the P1′–P5′ sequence are critical determinants of serpin specificity for furin. Alignments of PC catalytic domains revealed four variable active-site loops whose role in furin reactivity with serpin B8 was tested by engineering furin-PC loop chimeras. The furin(298–300) loop but not the other loops differentially affected furin reactivity with serpin B8 and α1PDX in a manner that depended on the serpin RCL-primed sequence. Modeling of the serpin B8-furin Michaelis complex identified serpin exosites in strand 3C close to the 298–300 loop whose substitution in α1PDX differentially affected furin reactivity depending on the furin loop and serpin RCL-primed sequences. These studies demonstrate that RCL-primed residues, strand 3C exosites, and the furin(298–300) loop are critical determinants of serpin reactivity with furin, which may be exploited in the design of specific and selective α1PDX inhibitors of PCs.


Rhodococcus equi is a gram-positive actinomycetales bacterial, which cause a pneumonia in foals and in immunocompromised humans. Virulence associated protein A (VapA) encoded from virulence plasmid is essential for intracellular proliferation in macrophage. It has reported that VapA participates in exclusion of proton-pumping vacuolar-ATPase complex from phagosome and causes membrane permeabilization, thus contributing to a pH-neutral phagosome lumen. However, there have been no reports about VapA-induced autophagy or its mechanism. In this study, we sought to determine the role of VapA in macrophage autophagy using western blotting, immunofluorescence, pull-down, Co-IP, LS/MS, pH detection LysoTracker and CFU analysis. We show that VapA inhibiting the macrophage autophagy by detecting the expression of autophagy related protein LC3II and P62 and autophagy flux in VapA treated macrophage. Furthermore, we using pull-down and MS analysis to selected ATP6V0D1 could interact with VapA, Co-IP was used to confirm its interaction. Furthermore, VapA treatment in ATP6V0D1 overexpressed cells weaken the lyso Tracker red stain comparing with ATP6V0D1 overexpressed J774A.1 cells. In addition, the expression of ATP6V0D1 significantly increased in J774A.1 post infected with vapA deletion strain, R. equi 103+/ΔVapA by comparing with wild type R. equi 103+ post-infection. And raise of raise of ATP6V0D1 actually reduce R. equi 103+ intracellular multiplication. These results further suggesting a decrease of ATP6V0D1 were caused the exit of VapA in R. equi. Taken those date together, we reported that VapA mediated lysosome acidification by inhibiting the expression of ATP6V0D1, which contributing the R. equi escape macrophage autophagy.


Using the AdS/CFT correspondence we study the holographic principle and the CFT/FRW relations in the near-horizon AdS5×S5 geometry with a probe D3-brane playing the role of the boundary to this space. The motion of the probe D3-brane in the bulk induces a cosmological evolution on the brane. As the brane crosses the horizon of the bulk Schwarzschild–AdS5 black hole, it probes the holography of the dual CFT. We test the holographic principle and we find corrections to CFT/FRW relations in various physical cases: for a radially moving, spinning and electrically charged D3-brane and for an NS/NS B-field in the bulk.


1884 4-Hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (HPB)-releasing DNA adducts derived from metabolic activation of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and N'-nitrosonornico¬tine (NNN) have been proposed as specific biomarkers of exposure to tobacco products and tobacco smoke. These adducts have been implicated in lung carcinogenesis by NNK and esophageal tumors by NNN. HPB-releasing adducts are also formed by nitrosation and peroxidation from the minor tobacco alkaloid myosmine. Because of its wide spread occurrence in human diet, myosmine is not tobacco-specific. Myosmine is secreted into the stomach and with saliva and is supposed to lead to the formation of DNA adducts under the nitrosative conditions within the gastroesophageal junction. In the course of endoscopy on patients with different stages of esophageal carcinoma, biopsies were obtained from 82 patients (39 males, 43 females, 53 nonsmokers, 29 smokers) for the determination of HPB-releasing adducts. Additionally, plasma were taken for analysis of cotinine and myosmine. The patients filled in a questionnaire on smoking, frequency of alcohol drinking and dietary habits as well as medical treatments and signs of reflux. HPB-releasing adducts were determined after acid hydrolysis of DNA and derivatisation by high resolution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with negative chemical ionization. The method has a limit of detection of 92 fmol/mg DNA and a corresponding limit of quantification of 277 fmol/mg DNA. The average adduct levels in esophageal biopsies of 82 patients was 5037 ± 8333 fmol HPB/mg DNA with no dependency on age and gender. Whereas the differences between smokers and nonsmokers did not reach significance (n = 29, 4742±8967 versus n = 53, 5198±8049; n.s.), frequent drinkers of alcoholic beverages showed significantly higher adduct levels (n = 20, 9946±13341 fmol/pg DNA) compared to infrequent drinkers (n = 54, 3700±5405 fmol/mg DNA; p


"Green Tyre Technology" has been introduced after the successful use of silica in combination with silane coupling agents in tyre tread compounds to reduce the rolling resistance and fuel consumption. Silica reduces the rolling resistance significantly and improves the wet traction of tyre tread compounds compared to carbon black. The use of unmodified silica in non-polar rubber is associated with some processing difficulties derived from the difference in polarity between silica and rubber. The silanol groups on silica surface lead to strong hydrogen bonding between the silica particles and aggregates, causing a poor dispersion of silica in rubber compounds. The dispersion stability and cure characteristics are also adversely affected by the polar nature of silica. Amines or alcohols are commonly added to the compounds to prevent accelerator adsorption on the reactive silica surface and correct the cure properties. On the other hand, strong filler-rubber interactions need to be promoted to optimize reinforcing efficiency of silica and silane coupling agents are normally Comparison of Properties of Admicellar Polymerization Surface Modified Silicaand Conventional Fillers-Reinforced Tyre Tread Compounds†


The Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) rat exhibits increased renal production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) especially in the renal outer medulla (OM) which is known to contribute importantly to the salt-induced hypertension. We have identified increased expression of the p67 phox cytosolic subunit of NAD(P)H oxidase and enhanced enzyme activity in the OM of Dahl salt-sensitive (SS). We found that ZFN knock down of the NADPH-oxidase cytosolic subunit p67 phox in SS rats (SS p67phox-/- ) resulted in a 40% reduction of hypertension and a substantial reduction of renal injury. To determine whether these protective effects were associated with alterations of regional metabolism and oxidative stress, a custom designed cryoimager was used to acquire multi-channel fluorescent images of sequential serial sections with a z-resolution of 30 μm yielding 400 slices per kidney. Computer reconstruction of the stacked sections provided a 3D image of regional changes of metabolic function and oxidative stress within the kidney. Kidneys obtained from SS and SS p67phox-/- rats fed a high salt diet (4% NaCl) for 21 days were flash frozen in liquid N 2 and fluorescent images of the mitochondrial electron transport chain carriers NADH and FAD were acquired. The naturally fluorescent NADH and FAD levels were acquired to provide a 3D representation of the metabolic state of the tissue and oxidative stress. The mean NADH redox ratio (NADH/FAD RR) was significantly higher in kidneys of SS p67phox-/- rats (1.46 ± 0.11 NADH/FAD RR; n=7) compared to SS kidneys (1.00 ± 0.07 NADH/FAD RR; n=4). This represents an average 46% increase in the electron transport chain metabolic activity and a reduction of oxidative stress in kidneys of SS p67phox-/- rats compared to the SS kidneys. Importantly, this was observed only in the region of the renal medulla as revealed by the 3D images of these kidneys. We conclude that p67(phox) is critically involved in cell energetics and ROS production in the renal medulla.


IGHT linkage of genes controlling the synthesis of enzymes involved in Trelated physiological reactions is prevalent in Salmonella pnd Escherichia coli (DEMEREC and HARTMAN 1959). Extensive linkage of this sort has not been reported in Aspergillus and Neurospora. Instead, most of the genes concerned with the reaction sequences studied in the enteric bacteria have been found to be distributed throughout the genome of the fungi. Departures from a completely random distribution of functionally related genes have been reported frequently (see PONTECORVO 1958, for review). However, if one excludes those cases which probably involve complex cistronic relationships relative to the synthesis of a single protein, few linked loci have been observed that are functionally related but distinct. Moreover, tight linkage of more than two distinct functionally related genes has, up to now, not been established in the fungi. The question can then be asked whether clustering of functionally related genes is a result of a selective mechanism peculiar to the physiological activity of the enteric bacteria or whether the selective mechanism is universally operative but more subtly expressed in other organisms. In this report evidence is presented indicating that the genetic determinants of four enzymes' involved in the synthesis of the precursors of the aromatic amino acids and p-aminobenzoic acid (PAB) in Neurospora are closely linked. Furthermore, some specific qualitative and quantitative changes in the enzymatic complement of the mutant strains will be discussed. Specific interest in the linkage relationship of the genes controlling the synthesis of the enzymes involved in the synthesis of the aromatic ring arose as a consequence of an apparent paradox displayed by a mutant strain of Neurospora crassa (C161), obtained by METZENBERG and MITCHELL (1958), which did not utilize shikimic acid for growth as a sole replacement of the requirement for the aromatic amino acids and PAB. The genetic and biochemical evidence suggested that this mutant was unable to carry out a reaction prior to the synthesis of the hydroaromatic compounds that have been established as intermediates in the synthesis of the aromatic amino acids of E. coli (DAVIS 1955) and Neurospora (TATUM, GROSS, EHRENSVARD, and GARNJOBST 1954). Failure of this mutant strain to respond to shikimic acid for growth as distinct from another, Y7655, (TATUM et al. 1954) which does, suggested that either an absolute permeability


Abstract We evaluated the influence of sex and reproductive condition on seasonal distribution and movement patterns of Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens in Namakan Reservoir, Minnesota–Ontario. Blood samples were collected from 133 Lake Sturgeon prior to spawning and plasma concentrations of testosterone and estradiol-17s were analyzed using radioimmunoassay. Steroid concentrations were used to determine sex and the reproductive stage of each sturgeon. A subset of 60 adults were implanted with acoustic transmitters prior to spawning in 2007 and 2008. Movement was monitored using an array of 15 stationary receivers covering U.S. and Canadian waters of Namakan Reservoir and its tributaries. Of the monitored sturgeon, there was no significant difference in the minimum distance traveled between sexes or among seasons. Site residency did not differ between sexes but differed significantly among seasons, and Lake Sturgeon of both sexes had higher residency during winter (mean = 24 d). Five females implanted w...


The college adults' ideological and political education play an important role in the higher education. Improvement of the quality as well as the level of ideological and political education for adults not only relate closely with the direction of the socialist college's running, but also affect the overall quality development of modern builders. Thus, in view of the ubiquitous learning concept, this paper explores the background of the effective implantation of ubiquitous learning into adults' ideological and political education through discussing from the basic idea of ubiquitous learning, besides, it points out the growing point of the effective implantation of ubiquitous learning concept into the adults' ideological and political education.


Objective:To explore the method of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of oligohydramnios in late pregnancy,the association of olignophdramnios with pregnant complications and its effect on perineonate.Methods:The clinical data in 84 patient with oligohydramnios from January 2004 to December 2006 in our hospital were collected,and 100 patients with normal amniotic fluid volume selected randomly served as control at the same time.The complications of pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes were analysed.Results:AFI method was much better than AFV in diagnosis of oligohydramnios by ultrasonography.The combination of both methods could obviously improve the diagnostic accuracy of oligohydramnios.Oligohydramnios could cause pregnant complications,the rate of cesarean section,fetal distress,asphyxia neonatorum and meconium-stained fluid improved significantly.Conclusion:Oligohydramnios in late pregnancy can cause adverse effect to perineonate,it is a dangerous omen to perineonate and need to be done immediately.Ultrasonography is a dependable diagnostic method of oligohydramnios in late pregnancy.


Objective:To explore the management of perioperation and analyse complication of spinal cord chronic compression so as to elevate the curative effect and improve the nerve function.Methods:To analyse the pre-operative treatment、operative methods、intervention study、post-operative treatment and complication of 113 cases of spinal cord chronic compression of cervical spondylosis.Results:All the cases were followed average 14.85±4.68 months,the functional recovery rate 78.8%,3cases aggravation and 16 complications.Conclusions: Many factors could affect the curative effect of spinal cord chronic compression.Operative therapy is only one aspect of these factors.We should elevate the cognition of the importance of the pre-operative treatment,and adopt synthetic measure to cut as far as possibly down the complications and recover the member's functions.


In this study, 580 participants viewed one of the 30 full-length entertainment television episodes. Fifteen of these episodes centered on an organ donation storyline (ODS) where facts about the process were portrayed inaccurately; the remaining 15 were matched by program, but did not feature organ donation, and served as controls. Results indicated nondonors were significantly impacted by negative organ-donation-related content. ODSs produced more negative attitudes, less accurate knowledge, and perceptions of social and descriptive norms less supportive of organ donation among nondonors. However, participants who had already declared a willingness to donate organs after death were not significantly impacted by entertainment television's depiction of myths about donation.


In this letter, we consider the problem of inner-shape estimation of objects covered with soft materials, e.g., pastries wrapped in paper or vinyl, water bottles covered with shock-absorbing fabrics, or human bodies dressed in clothes. Due to the softness of the covered materials, tactile information obtained through physical touches can be useful to estimate such inner shape; however, using only tactile information is inefficient since it can collect local information at around the touchpoint. Another approach would be taking visual information obtained by cameras into account; however, it is not straightforward since the visual information only captures the outer shape of the covered materials, and it is unknown how much such visual-outer shape is similar/dissimilar to the tactile-inner shape. We propose an active tactile exploration framework that can utilize the visual-outer shape to efficiently estimate the inner shape of objects covered with soft materials. To this end, we propose the Gaussian Process Inner-Outer Implicit Surface model (GPIOIS) that jointly models the implicit surfaces of inner-outer shapes with their similarity by Gaussian processes. Simulation and real-robot experimental results demonstrated the effectiveness of our method.


n-Butane-1-13C is isomerized by "HF-SbF5" to n-butane-2-13C without intermediate or concurrent isomerization to isobutane. The rate of the13C-scrambling reaction is only slightly lower than that of the isomerization of n-pentane to isopentane. This result strongly supports the hypothesis that alkylcarboniumion rearrangements that involve a change in the degree of chain branching proceed via a protonated cyclopropane ring. That no isobutane is formed can be explained by the ring opening of protonated methylcyclopropane to the isobutyl structure being "slow" because it involves the formation of an (incipient) primary ion. This is not contradictory to the fact that t-butyl ions are formed in strong acids from n-butyl precursors under different conditions. The difference between HF-SbF5 catalysed and aluminium halide-hydrogen halide catalysed isomerizations of butane is discussed.


The performance of high-speed VLSI circuits is increasingly limited by interconnect capacitive coupling.Capacitive coupling interaction leading to pattern-dependent delay variation between interconnects contributes to a large portion of the delay of a line.To improve accuracy in hierarchical timing analysis,the notions of local false coupling interaction and global false coupling interaction is introduced,and a comprehensive approach is proposed to identify valid interaction using functional relations considering global false coupling interaction generated by connections between modules.Experiments on benchmark circuits demonstrate the usefulness of considering the global false coupling interaction to reduce the excessive conservatism during hierarchical timing analysis.


The aim of the present study was to develop a fast dissolving film (FDF) of taste masked inclusion complex of Famotidine (FMT) using film forming polymer. FDFs were prepared by solvent casting method applying 3 full factorial design. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the independent variables like chitosan as a film forming polymer and PEG-400 as a plasticizer for dependent variable i.e. in vitro drug release (DR).The developed FDFs were characterized for film thickness, disintegration time, FTIR, DSC, XRD, and FESEM analysis.The developed FDFs of FMT were transparent, elegant, smooth and homogenous. Physicochemical characterization of FDFs showed no interaction between the drug and film forming polymer. The drug content was found in the range of 96.05 to 102% and disintegration time was found in pharmacopeial limit, which was less than 1 min. In vitro drug release study showed that approximately 82% drug release within 5 min.


This study deals with bio-ethanol distilled from disposed alcoholic beverages. Through the various experiments while using a small displacement engine which is equipped with electric fuel injection (E.F.I.) system, the feasibility of the disposed alcoholic beverages; leftover-beer is investigated as one of the bio-mass sources. Currently bio-masses are classified into the following seven bio-mass sources, livestock excreta, sewage sludge, human waste sludge, waste of food, agricultural residue, wood-based (wood chips) bio-mass and crops. In those bio-mass sources, the authors pay their attention to the amount of leftover-beer after a banquet. Our investigation clarifies that about 12 l of beer is left and disposed after a banquet of 150 people. Since beer contains 5% alcohols, 600 cc of ethanol can be obtained without fermentation process. Thus in order to obtain alcohol as a fuel, in collaboration with some hotels, leftover-beer is collected. As to a fuel, higher concentration of distilled alcoholic beverages is preferable. Therefore a new double distillation system is developed to separate water, and 85.9% bio-ethanol fuel is produced from 5% alcoholic density of leftover-beer. The ethanol evaporation characteristic of this bio-ethanol is investigated, it is equal to 98% ethanol reagent. This showed that it can be mixed with gasoline. Also, in order to confirm its performance as a fuel, the obtained ethanol is experimented with 121 cc of small displacement engine which is equipped with E.F.I. system. The results of this experiment are compared to unleaded gasoline and showed that it has the same performance of engine power, especially in case of before top dead center (B.T.D.C.) 15.0 deg.. We also calculated the volume of CO2 emission discharged in distilled ethanol under driving conditions B.T.D.C. 15.0 deg., 4000 rpm, for 1 hour. The CO2 production of distilled ethanol is 34.4 kgCO2 , on the other hand, CO2 production of unleaded gasoline is 2.82 kgCO2 . This result shows that the system with high energy efficiency to separate ethanol and water is desired. Furthermore, the density of acetaldehyde from exhaust gas is analyzed. An extremely low reading of 28 ppm is obtained. The results prove the effect of acetaldehyde to the human body is negligible. Finally, employing 50 cc motorcycles with our developed E.F.I. system, experiment with bio-mass ethanol is executed. The results proved the feasibility of our developed bio-ethanol can be a new low emission bio-mass source.Copyright © 2011 by ASME


Summary Data from the National Institute of Education's Safe School Studi' Report suggested that teachers in American urban public schools are emotionally and physically victimized and that the result is heightened level of stress associated with teaching. This study, which is part of larger, longitudinal project, explores the linkages between reported experiences of victimization by 291 urban public school teachers and task-specific stressors in the performance of the teaching role. The level of reported stress and nature and degree of victimization differ by the grade level taught and the race of the teacher. Generally, minority teachers (black and brown) are less likely to report being stressed or victimized than are white teachers, while elementary school teachers report their work to be most stressful. There is no evidence of a specific causal ordering between fear of victimization and teacher stress. Rather, each may feed upon and facilitate the other.


Former research on automatic exploration of ASIP architectures mostly focused on either the internal memory hierarchy, or the addition of complex custom operations to RISC based architectures. This paper focuses on VLIW architectures and, more specifically, on automating the selection of an application specific VLIW issue-width. An accurate and efficient issue-width estimation strongly influences all the important processor properties (e.g. processing speed, silicon area, and power consumption). We first compare different methods for estimating the required issue-width, and subsequently introduce a new force-based parallelism measure which is capable of estimating the required issue-width within 3% on average. Moreover, we show that we can quickly estimate the latency-parallelism Pareto-front of an example ECG application with less than 10% error using our issue-width estimations.


Contemporarily, the problem of financing plays a critical role in real estate enterprises. As for China, the financing model of real estate enterprises is single, and the capital structure is unreasonable. Therefore, it is particularly crucial for real estate companies to search an appropriate financing model. In this paper, we investigate the financing models based on the case analysis of Poly Development and Vanke, which are both leading enterprises in China's real estate enterprises, and compare the differences in the cost of funds and cash flow. According to the analysis, Vanke's financing model was better than Poly's development. If real estate enterprises want to break through the current predicament, they should change the situation of relying on bank loans, e.g., raise fundings from additional corporate bonds and medium-term notes to increase the proportion of direct financing and reduce the proportion of indirect financing. Enterprises should also explore diversified financing methods and expand financing channels. These results provide clues to guide real estate companies to obtain a more reasonable and perfect further exploration.


Research documents the benefits of reading aloud to children and suggests that the more children are engaged during the read aloud experience the greater the benefit to their language and reading development. Children's engagement during a read aloud can be increased by creating anticipation regarding the story, making predictions about what will happen in the story, making connections with the characters, and by utilizing dialogic reading strategies. This paper makes specific recommendations on how to engage young children during a read aloud experience.


In most cultures in Ghana, both male and female infertility are believed to be a curse and a sign of an unfruitful life. The ability to procreate thus defines the identity of the person and his/her existential value in relation to others. Furthermore, childlessness becomes an overwhelming drama as it is perceived to depict an inferior state of being or a life of incompleteness. This type of social identity construction raises serious hermeneutical issues in its engagement with the Judeo-Christian message of inclusiveness. Against this backdrop, this study reads the drama surrounding infertility within the Krobo worldview from the horizon of Isa 56:1-8, using the Communicative hermeneutic approach. Our findings are that an engagement between the Krobo worldview and the Isaian text creates both tension and transformation. The tension comes about because of the contrast of views; and the transformation resides in the change of perspective. The text provides a rich and an alternative understanding of infertility: another way of being and not a curse.


Summary The activity of glucosamine synthetase and the concentration of UDPAH were measured concomitantly in rat livers as a function of time following laparotomy and partial hepatectomy. Glucosamine synthetase activity increased significantly 24 to 48 hr after these treatments. The activity returned to normal levels 4 days after laparotomy but remained significantly elevated at 8 days following partial hepatectomy. UDPAH concentrations were not affected significantly at any time after laparotomy and were only slightly affected after partial hepatectomy. Fasting for 24 hr caused a significant decrease in glucosamine synthetase activity but did not affect the ability of the enzyme to respond to laparotomy or partial hepatectomy. Actinomycin D or cycloheximide administration completely blocked the increase in glucosamine synthetase activity after laparotomy. UDPAH pool sizes were not affected significantly by these treatments.


This paper makes a deep research on the new technology of anneal skip process for the TFTLCD device.The anneal skip process can simplify the process and decrease the cost of production by the synchronization of ITO transformation and PI film curing.Using the anneal skip process,the average resistance of ITO layer and the transmittance of the film were the same as that of the traditional high temperature anneal process.A low resistance and a high transmittance could be realized. The surface of PI film was smooth.There was a good interface between the ITO layer and the PI film; no drum kit,pits and reaction products appeared.At dark or photo state,Ionof TFT using the anneal skip process was the same as that using the high temperature process,but Ioffhad a decrease by 44%. The V-Tcharacteristic of panel using the anneal skip process and the high temperature anneal process were the same.


Studies of the mechanism of pilling have demonstrated that pilling propensity is determined by the rates of fuzz formation, entanglement, and pill wearoff. Motion pictures of fabrics subjected to an abrading action showed that the abradant acted on exposed fiber sections to pull loops which then opened to form fuzz. A pill formed quickly when the fuzz density reached a critical level. The fibers were then twisted and entangled, gradually involving nearby fibers. As the abrading action continued, pills wore away. Techniques were developed which permitted independent quantitative study of each of these three phenomena. The physical properties of several textile fibers were correlated with their behavior in these tests. Interfiber friction and bending stiffness were important factors in fuzz formation. Entanglement tendency was correlated with denier, cross-sectional shape, and bending stiffness. Pill wearoff was determined by abrasion resistance and tenacity. The general applicability of this mechanism has been demonstrated with modified polyester fibers. The reduced pitting tendency of ribbon staple fibers was attributed to a directional bending which reduced their entanglement tendency. Heat-setting increased bending stiffness, which reduced pilling by lowering fuzzing tendency. The most pronounced effect on pilling tendency of polyester fibers was obtained by changes in abrasion resistance, which affected the rate of pill wearoff.


The invention discloses a method for rapidly extracting antioxidative purple sweet potato pigment, which comprises the specific steps as follows: a, washing fresh purple sweet potatoes, cutting the fresh purple sweet potatoes into small cubes, drying the small cubes in a blast drying oven, and then smashing the dried small cubes into powder in an agitator; b, using a rapid solvent extraction device to extract the powder obtained in step a; c, performing centrifugal filtration on the extractant obtained in step b to obtain a supernate, and concentrating the supernate under reduced pressure. According to the invention, the pigment extraction ratio is increased, the extraction time is shortened, and the pigment extracted and obtained through the method has a higher antioxidative efficacy.


As many as 10% of Americans older than 20 years have type 2 diabetes, and more than 20% of the total population has the metabolic syndrome. Type 2 diabetes will develop in many of those with the metabolic syndrome.


We have experimentally demonstrated the generation of 40 GHz optical millimeter (mm) waves with a Mach–Zehnder modulator driven by a 10 GHz local oscillator. The generated optical mm wave mainly consists of two tones, positive and negative second-order sidebands. The transmission performance with two signal modulation formats is investigated. According to our theoretical analysis and experimental results, the transmission distance is limited by fiber dispersion because of the time shift of the signal pulse carried by the two tones when the signal is modulated on both sidebands. However, this transmission distance limitation can be eliminated when only one sideband is modulated by the signal since the time shift of the signal pulse is overcome.


The detailed analysis of "consumption Norms of fuel and lubricants..." has been performed. It was approved by the Ministry of transport of the Russian Federation and it is an official document for the valuation and planning of fuel consumption in road transport, including open pits. It was found that the "rate..." was deficient in the specific operating conditions of mining dump trucks and a significant discrepancy with the actual fuel consumption. To the greatest extent, these shortcomings are noticeable in deep pits. In the result of experimental and analytical studies a new method of rationing the diesel fuel consumption of mining dump trucks was developed. It is based on the calculation of fuel consumption for vehicle cycle and bringing the actual path length to the conventional horizontal transportation distances using the criterion of energy. This method requires comprehensive consideration of the design parameters of mining dump trucks – mining and road traffic conditions. As a criterion for evaluating the difficulty of transporting it justifies the use of the coefficient of difficulty of the course, showing how many times the energy consumption in the movement of trucks on the highway exceed the real energy consumption while driving on a horizontal road with the crushed-stone surface of the same length. The formulae are derived to determine the given distance of transportation on the basis of the horizontal equivalent of the vertical movement of the rock mass. It was found that the linear rate of flow of diesel fuel to mileage and transportation work under other equal conditions is determined by two main factors: the distance of transportation of L and the coefficient μ of difficulty of the course. As an example, the calculation of the linear differentiated norms of fuel consumption of dump trucks CAT 785B in an "Udachny" pit AK "ALROSA" (JSC). The developed method provides high accuracy of regulation of diesel fuel consumption in almost any ranges of mining and road traffic conditions and is recommended for use in deep pits.


The article describes the problem related to teachers' readiness to both the organization and psychological-educational support of handicapped children development given the integrated education. It was detected that one of this problem solution ways is training of teachers-speech pathologists on new joint teaching and gaining by comprehensive schools teachers of necessary knowledge .


The COVID-19 viral disease surfaced at the end of 2019 and quickly spread across the globe. To rapidly respond to this pandemic and offer data support for various communities (e.g., decision-makers in health departments and governments, researchers in academia, public citizens), the National Science Foundation (NSF) spatiotemporal innovation center constructed a spatiotemporal platform with various task forces including international researchers and implementation strategies. Compared to similar platforms that only offer viral and health data, this platform views virus-related environmental data collection (EDC) an important component for the geospatial analysis of the pandemic. The EDC contains environmental factors either proven or with potential to influence the spread of COVID-19 and virulence or influence the impact of the pandemic on human health (e.g., temperature, humidity, precipitation, air quality index and pollutants, nighttime light (NTL)). In this platform/framework, environmental data are processed and organized across multiple spatiotemporal scales for a variety of applications (e.g., global mapping of daily temperature, humidity, precipitation, correlation of the pandemic to the mean values of climate and weather factors by city). This paper introduces the raw input data, construction and metadata of reprocessed data, and data storage, as well as the sharing and quality control methodologies of the COVID-19 related environmental data collection.


The government as a provider of services to the community, is both basic services and basic semi- service the needs of society. Basic categories of services financed through the tax system, while the semi basic services financed through levies which essentially is a community participation in financing certain services in question. The research method using normative juridical approach that was then analyzed qualitatively normative. The results obtained states that: 1).Implementation of Presidential Decree 54 of 2010 on the procurement of goods and services may not be helpful and not useful. This is because it turns out the implementation activities of government goods/services, violations can occur at anytime in any process. Potential violations in procurement of government goods/services have occurred from the initial stage to the final stage, which can be divided into three phases:preparation, implementation phase, and phase. 2).Countermeasures violations carried out in the form of supervision over the course of Presidential Decree No. 54 of 2010 Concerning Procurement of Government Goods and Services so that they can minimize the potential for evil that can cause irregularities that led to the creation of unfair business competition.


The field of e-commerce provides customers with many kinds of goods to choose from. It is also a challenge for consumers to choose among tens of thousands of product categories. The emergence of recommender systems solves such problems for consumers to a certain extent because it would recommend products that may fulfil their needs for consumers. Finding user preferences or rankings for a specific item can be aided by recommender systems. It uses specialized software and techniques to offer suggestions for items utilized by various users. To increase customer satisfaction or sell different things for e-commerce platforms, recommender systems advise consumers about specific items they may be interested in or desire to utilize. Graph neural networks generalize effectively to new datasets because they can learn the graph structure of various datasets. To put it another way, this makes Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) the perfect recommender systems for various real-world issues. As a result, the growth and usage of neural graph networks in recommender systems and the limitations of graph neural networks will be covered in detail in this paper.


The paper presents a study of compressive strength, water absorption and apparent porosity of different types of compressed stabilised peat bricks. Peat soil, sand, PFA cement or OPC cement were steam autoclaved under different conditions to produce brick samples. The percentage of peat soil 20%, PFA and OPC cement was between 20 - 30%, and sand ranged from 50 - 60%. The effect of each component of the mixtures on compressive strength, water absorption and apparent porosity of compressed stabilised peat after 3, 7, 14 and 28 days of conservation at 23 ± was 2°C. The compressive strength increased with increased binder ration. However, strength of mixture with PFA cement was higher than OPC cement. The water absorption decreased with increased ration of binder and period time. The apparent porosity decreased with increased period time. The compressive strength, water absorption and porosity of cemented peat bricks obtained at 28 days for both stabilisers PFA and OPC cement were 6.33 and 5.91 Mpa, 2.6 and 5.4% and 4.75 and 9.7%, respectively. The results demonstrate that the cemented peat bricks can be used as construction building material.


In this paper, two underlay based cognitive cooperative radio networks, each with one secondary source (SS), one secondary destination (SD), N untrusted secondary amplify and forward relays (USAFRs), one primary transmitter, and one primary receiver (PU‐RX), are considered for evaluating the secrecy performance. The SS sends the information to the SD in two time slots via multiple USAFRs in the absence of direct link between SS and SD. In the first time slot, SS and SD transmit the message and jamming signal to multiple USAFRs, respectively. In the second slot, a selected USAFR amplifies and forwards the combined received signals to the SD. The transmit powers of the secondary nodes are chosen so as to maintain the overall interference at PU‐RX below a specified limit. The transmit power of a selected USAFR is derived using the harvested energy from the RF signals of SS and SD. Two network scenarios of eavesdropping by USAFRs are studied: in one case, all USAFRs eavesdrop; while in the second case, only the selected USAFR eavesdrops the message during forwarding of the signal and power is allocated to secondary nodes on the basis of outage threshold of primary network. We investigate the secrecy outage probability (SOP) in both of the networks under several physical parameters. Analytical framework for evaluating SOP for both the cases are given while SOP in single integration form is given for the second case. MATLAB simulation results are presented for both the cases.


OBJECTIVE
To compare a combined dose of ketamine and midazolam versus ketamine alone in the sedation of children requiring lumbar puncture.

STUDY DESIGN
A randomized, controlled study, conducted between January 2004 and December 2006.

SETTING
The Pediatric Emergency Department (PED) at Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Turkey.

PARTICIPANTS
A random sample of 99 children (59 boys, 40 girls) aged 2-14 years (mean age 6.5+/-3.7) undergoing lumbar puncture.

INTERVENTION
Participants were randomized to receive intravenous (IV) ketamine only (1 mg/kg; IVK) (n=51) or ketamine plus midazolam (1 mg/kg ketamine+0.1 mg/kg midazolam; IVKM) (n=48).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
The mean time to sedation and adverse events.

RESULTS
The mean time to sedation was significantly shorter in the IVKM group than the IVK group (2.6+/-1.1 and 3.4+/-1.7 min, respectively; P=0.01). The parental satisfaction was significantly higher in the IVKM group (P=0.001). Also the fasting time and recovery time did not differ between groups, nor was there a significant difference in nausea/vomiting between groups. Nightmares or crying spells were more common in the IVK group than in the IVKM group (P=0.04).

CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that adding midazolam to ketamine did not increase the frequency of adverse events and that the combined sedative was superior to ketamine alone in terms of speed of sedation and parental satisfaction.


Apatite-type lanthanum silicates (ATLS) are attracting great interest as a new class of solid electrolytes possessing high oxide-ion conductivity at relatively low temperatures for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). In this study, doped ATLS of the composition La9.83Si6−x−yAlxFeyO26±δ (x: 0, 0.25, 0.75, 1.5 and/or y: 0, 0.25, 0.75, 1.5) were successfully prepared by solid state chemistry. They were brought into direct contact with CROFER-22 interconnector alloy in order to study Cr migration into the electrolyte. Due to inconclusive SEM-EDX results, a depth profile was acquired by Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and the results showed that the increase of Fe concentration in the apatite oxide's composition enhanced Cr uptake. At the same time, lower conductivity values were measured for the materials after Cr contamination i.e. in Fe containing ATLS. No significant change in conductivity was found for Fe-free ATLS sample.


The future of bridge and overpass design is to be fully circular. To reach that goal many innovations in construction should be made. One of the first steps is to alter the mainly existing linear construction sequence. Therefore, Royal HaskoningDHV started the innovation of re-using prefabricated concrete girders for new overpasses and bridges. In this paper the deconstruction and possible adaption processes are described. It was investigated if girders can be shortened, and their skew angle adapted. This was tested on a real girder. From this it can be concluded that adaption of existing girders is feasible. With this it is easier to re-use girders which can result in less time in storage and shorter transportation distance. Re-use for new design. It is also concluded that omitting the transverse diaphragm beams at the supports is an example of the highest principle of circularity 'rethink the needs' and find a non-material solution.


A recurring argument in the global debate is that climate deterioration is likely to make social conflicts over dwindling natural resources more common in the future. In this paper, we present a modelling framework featuring three potential mechanisms for how the allocation and dynamics of scarce renewable resources like land might cause social conflict in vulnerable environments. The rst model shows how decreasing resources make cooperative trade between two groups collapse. The second mechanism introduces a Malthusian subsistence level below which disenfranchised members of one community start to prey on the resources of another community in an appropriative coflict-setting. The third scenario explores how the long-run dynamics of resources and population levels interact to cause cycles of stagnation and recovery. Predictions from the models are then applied to the ongoing conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan. Our analysis suggests that effective resources per capita in the region appear to have declined by about 5/6 since the 1970s, which at least partially explains the observed disintegration of markets, the recent intensity of conflicts, and the current depopulation of large parts of Darfur.


Lichen nitidus (LN) is a rare asymptomatic skin disease composed of numerous tiny, shiny, flat papules mainly over the chest, forehead, neck, forearm, and glans penis. They are of two types based on distribution, localized which is more common compared to generalized. Dermoscopy helps in differentiating LN from other similar dermatoses such as lichen planus, keratosis pilaris, follicular eczema, lichen spinulosus, which is non-invasive. We describe a 15-year-old female with generalized lichen nitidus with palms, soles, and nail involvement with dermoscopic features and histopathological correlation.


Background indicated that suggested as a awareness on r Methods: Th using convenie Measures of PA intervention gr Whitney, and W Results: The (p≤0.001). In a subtests and rap Conclusion: significantly im influent rapid automatize his was a rando ence sampling. I A and RAN wer roup was divide Wilcoxon tests w e results reveal addition, there pid automatized The findings s mproved by PA apid automatize


A novel miniature robot based on earthworm is designed in this paper.The robot is composed of 5 universal-joint units,and its diameter and length are about 6.8 mm and 110 mm respectively.The structure and locomotion mechanism of this kind of robot are introduced.The method of finite state machine is also explained.Based on this conception,the model of robot locomotive gait is built,and the results of simulation proved that this method is feasible and reasonable.The research has laid foundation for the study on the locomotive gait of the multi-units robot.


Plant leaf disease is one of the important factors affecting the normal growth of plants. It is important to accurately identify the types of leaf disease and take effective measures to ensure the increase of crop production. In this study, we propose a plant leaf diseases classification method based on Few-Shot Learning (FSL), which can obtain good identification accuracy in the classification task with few samples. By changing the parameter setting in FSL, some key features affecting classification accuracy are revealed. The proposal of this research method expands the application scope of artificial intelligence in agriculture, which has important practical significance.


Bird is one component of the ecosystem which has an important role in supporting the occurrence of an organism's life cycle. Therefore, the presence of birds in an area is important, because it can affect the existence and distribution of plant species. The purpose of this study is to calculate the diversity of bird species and identify the source of bird feed in the compound. This study was conducted by field surveys in the residential complex. In addition to the birds as a research object vegetation as habitat / foraging birds were also observed. Data were analyzed by using the bird diversity index, richenes index, bundance index, dominance analysis, analysis of bird distribution and analysis of the level of meeting types, while vegetation will be analyzed based on the type and part of what is eaten by birds. In Pandau Jaya housing complex, found as many as 12 species of birds which consists of seven families. Bird species often present is Cucak Kutilang (Pycnonotus aurigaster) of 20 individuals, Bondol Peking (Lonchura punctulata) 14 individuals and Perkutut Jawa (Geopelia striata) 10 individuals. Bird species diversity (H ') in Pandau Jaya housing complex is still relatively moderate with a value of 2.27, while the Evenness Index (E) of 0.91 and Richenes Index (R) of 2.45. Types of vegetation as a food source, among others: mango, guava, cherry, jackfruit, ketapang, coconut, areca, palm, banana, papaya, flowers and grasses.


The changes that are taking place in modern social reality make the process of socialization of Russian youth more difficult, which in turn forces young people to find ways of social behavior that are optimal for themselves. Very often, such behavior becomes deviant from the norms existing in society - deviant. The authors of the article draw attention to the fact that the uncertainty of social reality, in addition to traditional deviations, encourages new types of deviations, for example, cyberbullying, virtual fraud, computer, telephone addiction. According to the authors of the work, the emergence of deviant behavior of Russian youth depends on a number of factors of the macrosocial environment: digitalization, informatization, pragmatism, overconsumption, a decrease in the level of spirituality, the lack of generally accepted ideals, the ideology of tolerance. The identified factors contribute to the fact that modern young people tend to try various social practices, not allowing the thought that this may adversely affect themselves and the people around them.


In this study, environment-friendly vermiculite (VMT) was used to support nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) and nZVI doped with palladium (abbreviated as Fe-VMT and Pd/Fe-VMT, respectively). The physicochemical properties of the products obtained were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), specific surface area (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results showed that the BET surface areas of Fe-VMT and Pd/Fe-VMT were 39.5 m2 g−1 and 59.1 m2 g−1, and 18.9 m2 g−1 for unsupported nZVI nanoparticles. The presence of vermiculite led to a decrease in the aggregation of nZVI and Pd/Fe as observed by SEM and TEM. Batch experiments were conducted to investigate the catalytic performance of nZVI, Pd/Fe, VMT, Fe-VMT and Pd/Fe-VMT via the dechlorination reaction of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP). The dechlorination rates of 2,4-DCP by Pd/Fe-VMT (by adding Pd) were greater than that achieved by Fe-VMT. Additionally, the dechlorination of 2,4-DCP by Pd/Fe-VMT would be influenced by temperature, initial pH values, Pd loading, initial concentration of 2,4-DCP and the dosage of materials. It was confirmed that the ultimate reduction product of 2,4-DCP was phenol. Overall, Pd/Fe-VMT is a promising material for the dechlorination of 2,4-DCP.


This article examines the history, philosophy, curriculum, methodology, and operations of the Mary McLeod Bethune Institute (MMBI), an Afrocentric supplementary school located in Los Angeles, California. Qualitative data focusing on MMBI students, parents, and staff, and on the school's relationship with its students' public schools and communities are presented. Based on these data, the author posits that Afrocentric supplementary schools play a critical role in the process of developing socially active, conscious, and capable African American youth. Further, these institutions are shown to be essential for the cultural development and academic support of public- and private-school African American students. INTRODUCTION In the late 1960s and early 1970s, community groups in African American neighborhoods across the United States asserted their right to define and establish educational standards for their children. Some groups, such as those in New York City, chose to struggle for community control within public schools (Foster, 1992). Others worked to establish independent institutions outside of public structures (Lomotey, 1992; Ratteray & Shujaa, 1987). These institutions defined educational standards as the achievement of academic excellence exclusively or they stressed both academic excellence and culturally relevant curriculum. In 1989, according to the Institute for Independent Education (IIE) (1990), the 284 independent schools located in predominantly African American neighborhoods throughout the nation were serving approximately 53,000 African American students, or 7.9% of the total African American public school enrollment of 6.7 million. The progenitors of the independent Afrocentric community schools movement of the 1960s and 1970s argued that two elements were central to the creation and sustenance of these schools: institutional autonomy and an Afrocentric perspective. Institutional autonomy was seen as a means of ensuring the development of a liberatory pedagogy within African American communities (King, 1994; Lee, 1994; Ratteray & Shujaa, 1987). Accordingly, the schools' founders and finances were to come from the communities in which they were located. Moreover, autonomy was to be represented in these institutions' oppositional stances to dominant Eurocentric ideology and their ability to offer an alternative value system that is responsive and responding to the cultural and spiritual ethos of people of African ancestry. This emphasis on Afrocentrism was based on the premise that such a world view would offer a "method of thought and practice rooted in the cultural image and human interests of African people" (Karenga, 1995, p. 45). Six such independent Afrocentric community schools were established in African American communities in California during this period: the Nairobi Day School, founded in East Palo Alto in 1966; the Afro-American School of Culture, founded in Los Angeles in 1967; Omowale Ujamaa of Pasadena, founded in 1973; the Winnie Mandela Children's Learning Village, established in Compton in 1973; the Marcus Garvey School of Los Angeles, founded in 1975; and Uhuru Shule, founded in Los Angeles in 1978 (Council of Independent Black Institutions [CIBI], 1996). Of these six, only four remain in operation today. The Nairobi Day School operated as a supplementary school from 1966 through 1969, when it expanded its program to a full-time school until closing in 1984 (Hoover, 1992). The Afro-American School of Culture also underwent numerous transformations, beginning as a supplementary school in 1967 and later expanding to a full-time format in 1971 under the name of Kawaida Educational and Development Center (Kifano, 1992). Four years later, Kawaida closed, only to reemerge as a independent Afrocentric supplementary school under the name of the Mary McLeod Bethune Institute (MMBI). As the experience of these and other schools bears out, the costs of establishing and sustaining full-time independent schools are great (Dixon, 1994; IIE, 1988, 1991; Kifano, 1992). …


The purpose of this article was to describe the clinical and microscopic features of a foreign-body granuloma in submental region that resulted from a fish bone embedded in the floor of mouth. A 45-year-old female patient complained of a hard mass in submental region. Clinical examination showed a non-compressible, firm, fixed lump, painless on palpation. Ultrasound examination showed an internally uneven, uncircumscribed, hypoechoic mass with a steaky hyperechoic spot of 1.1 cm length in the center. A microscopic examination showed newly-formed granuloma, composed of lympocytes and epithelioid cells, and some microabscess with neurophiles. The final diagnosis was a foreign-body granuloma with fish bone. Even though foreign-body granulomas in submental region are rare lesions, surgeon should be familiar with their features and include them in the differential diagnosis of tissue masses.


A new method with repetitive freezing thawing process was developed to separate authigenic clay minerals from sedimentary rocks. The aim of this process was to disaggregate rock samples using the volume expansion of water that impregnates into the samples. The results from X ray diffraction analysis show that in comparison to the conventional method there is no K feldspar pieces in the clay minerals (with clay mineral size 1?μm) separated from sedimentary rocks by the new method.


Fourhybrid celllines secreting monoclonal antibodies against antigens of Bacteroides intermedius weregenerated byfusing murine NSIcells withsplenocytesfroma ratimmunized withB.intermedius strain OMZ248.An enzymelinked immunosorbent assaywas usedtoanalyze thedistribution oftherecognized antigens on 39strains fromvarious Bacteroides species andon 5strains fromother genera.OnlyBacteroides species B. intermedius, B.loescheii, B. melaninogenicus, andB.corporiswere foundtoexpressatleast one ofthe recognized antigens. Strains ofthetwoasaccharolytic black-pigmenting Bacteroidesspecies werenegative. Amongthestrains capable ofbinding toone ormore of themonoclonal antibodies, five groupswithdifferent reactivity patterns could be distinguished. Twoofthemonoclonal antibodies werespecific forB.intermedius. TheB.intermedius strains weremetabolically almost identical, expressed atleast three oftherecognized antigens, andfell intothree distinct antibody reactivity groups,suggesting a tentative separation ofthisspecies intothree new serogroups.Oralandnonoral isolates ofB.intermedius were,however, notdistinguished bythemonoclonal antibodies. Onemonoclonal antibody was directed against an antigen strongly expressed on allsaccharolytic black-pigmenting Bacteroides strains tested sofar, thusconfirming thepreviously notedantigenic relationship between thespecies whichhademerged fromtheformer B.melaninogenicus subsp. intermedius andB.melaninogenicus subsp. melaninogenicus groups.


The macro and micro anatomy of the eyes and optic lobes of hatchling Sepia savignyi were investigated and compared with studies on other coleoid cephalopod inhabiting different ethoecological niches. These organs represent an impressive type of the reciprocal interdependency of form and function required for living this species in its habitats and foraging behavior. The results indicated that the structure of eyes and optic lobes of the hatchling S. savignyi follow the same plan in adult-like configuration. Also, their structures are subjected to their functional relevance and to various demands of the lifestyle on the swimming and brachial motor function, on sensory and on camouflage, as well as cognitive abilities.


In this workshop the presenters discuss limitations of standard QALY estimates for evaluating health-care treatments and outcomes. As a solution, they demonstrate developing, administering, analyzing, and applying a recent stated-preference (SP) or conjoint-analysis health survey. The authors are among a small group of heath economists who recently have begun to employ this approach to elicit preferences for risk-benefit trade-offs, public-health benefits of reduced pollution exposures, benefits of increased longevity, and quality-of-life differentials among various cardio-pulmonary symptoms. SP encompasses a variety of multiattribute preference-elicitation survey techniques widely used by market researchers to evaluate potential new products and new markets for existing products. The SP technique is based on the principle that products are composed of various attributes or features. SP allows respondents to systematically rate, rank, or choose trade-offs among attributes usig a fractional-factorial experimental design. The attributes of these health outcomes may include symptoms, daily activities, number of episodes, and costs or adverse side effects associated with treatment alternatives. Respondents' trade-offs among outcomes, treatments, or other health-care options indicate the relative importance of various attributes. The workshop will help participants to identify salient attributes for pharmacoeconomic decisions and to construct appropriate experimental designs. Administration of a computerized survey also will be demonstrated. The presenters will show how responses elicited from this survey are employed to develop a measure of health-state preference. Such survey results are useful for a wide variety of pharmaceutical and health-outcome applications, including pharmaceutical development strategies, formulary decisions, managed-care insurance coverage, new drug market share forecasting, patient-satisfaction assessment, information dissemination and labeling evaluation, public health policy analysis, and cost-effectiveness comparisons across diverse outcomes.


This paper explores the possibilities offered by informal communities of practice to operate as "prototyping spaces" for innovation in the context of developing economies. It begins by looking at the concept of "economic complexity" and how it is useful in both guiding the priorities and evaluating the challenges developing economies face when attempting to drive growth and build measures of resilience, and raises the question of how these economies can both introduce higher complexity activities while compensating for latecomer disadvantages versus more complex economies. It then examines in detail the case of the Twin Eagles Group, a Peruvian video game development community in the 1990s, and how they reverse engineered technologies and global practices to pursue their creative objectives. Based on this case, it concludes by laying out some of the methodological challenges associated to researching this sort of community because of the multi-sited nature of their activities.


A new method utilizing sound is proposed for a non-destructive test of pipes. Random noise is transmitted from one end of a pipe and the sound pressure is picked up by a microphone at the other end. The output signal of the microphone is pre-whitened by an inverse filter and processed to calculate the partial auto-correlation (PARCOR) coefficients; the inverse filter which compensates the effects of the sound source and the microphone can be obtained from the PARCOR coefficients which are calculated in advance from the microphone signal for a straight pipe. Since the PARLOR coefficients give the set of reflection coefficients of a nonuniform acoustic tube represented as a series of sections with uniform area and equal length, the cross-sectional area function of the pipe is determined from the calculated PARCOR coefficients. An experimental apparatus was built and model experiments were performed for several pipes with an artificial defect, including a pipe with a partial plugging, a pipe with an extension of cross-sectional area and a pipe with an orifice in the wall. The results show that the cross-sectional area functions of pipes can be estimated by the proposed method.


Abduction and detention of a person for ransom (kidnapping), a crime committed generally by gangs, has become a serious problem and challenge to public safety and police action.The high incidence of kidnappings, their dramatic ocurrence and their repercussions on public opinion and image of the city of Rio, have made this offense an outstanding point of reference for social and political debate on organized crime. Kidnappings have motivated public protests, including in part, the huge demonstration Reage Rio (a peace march). This paper strives to be contextual. It discusses the public safety policy of the State of Rio de Janeiro in view of the project of a business-oriented, international city, desired by the entrepreneurial and political elite. It focuses on the rising"law and order" movement and the anti-kipnapping police efforts. Finally, it reveals data collected in a on-going research project that attempts to study criminal conduct commonly associated with "organized crime", such as kidnappings, illegal drug trafficking and bank robberies, in order to, eventually, help formulating more effective and democratic public safety policy.


The intensive exploitation of groundwater resources in the region of Hodna has greatly influenced the hydrochemical functioning of the Mio-Plio-Quaternary aquifer located in the northern part of the basin of Hodna M'Sila, south eastern Algeria. This has resulted in a general decline of the piezometric level of the groundwater level. The objective of this study is to define the main factors governing water chemistry wide plain with 54 groundwater samples. The initial facies on the limits as well as infiltration areas is carbonate. In the southern part of the plain water becomes charged with SO4, Cl and in connection with the dissolution of salt formations and salt lake. The presence of nitrates is related to agricultural activity. The multivariate statistical techniques such as principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering were applied to data on the groundwater quality of the aquifer. These statistical techniques have shown the presence of three salinity groups It gradually changes from upstream to downstream (North-South) of unsalted water to a heavily salted water near the Chott. Water infiltration in group 1 is mixed gradually along the groundwater flow to achieve a higher water charge to group 3 in the zone of discharge .


The article is dedicated to the characteristics of financial control of non-government pension funds participating in accumulation and distribution of significant monetary funds, which partially form national financial system of Russian Federation. Financial control is described through the legal regulation's scope of activities, functions and privileges of separate subjects of government (external), non-government (independent) and internal control. The article highlights gaps and collisions in legal regulations, which prevent financial control from further development, and pays special attention to non-government control forms' regulation, and touches upon self-regulation's development in pension industry. Besides the question of unjustified administration burden's decrease necessity is discussed and preconditions for non-government pension funds' control centralization. The specified groups are classified on relations directly connected with formation, distribution and use of the decentralized (not-government) private and decentralized public pension funds (in material sense) and on the relations creating conditions for their formation, distribution and use. The article is most suited for graduate and post-graduate students of law schools, as well as specialists studying financial law and subject matters of non-government pension funds.


In most non-battery applications, the power to the microcontroller is supplied by using a stepdown transformer, which is then rectified, filtered and regulated. However, in many smaller low-cost applications, the cost of the transformer becomes the key factor in the system. Under these circumstances, the step-down transformer is normally not used in order to reduce the cost as well as the size. The power supply is a simple one-way rectifier with very few components. The output voltage is regulated by using a 5.6V zener diode. Despite its simplicity and low cost, it is still able to deliver enough current to the microcontroller and application circuits.


One of the major difficulties in the design process of an atrium or lobby is providing points of reference to both the architect and the end user to help drive the conversation on an acceptable reverberation time and background noise level for the projected use cases. K2 recently surveyed eight different atrium and lobby spaces in Denver and used this reverberation time and background noise data to develop an appropriate range of reverberation times, for a given room volume, covering most of the common uses for atriums and lobbies. These ranges help provide guidance to both the design team and the end user on design goals and expectations for these spaces. This presentation will present these data, as well as subjective impressions and architectural design of each of the spaces, and describe how K2 used this information to initiate productive conversations with architects and end users and produce realistic design goals.


The purpose of the study. To evaluate the role of chronobiological personality type in the formation of Internet-addictive behavior in schoolchildren.
Materials and methods. The study involved 25 students of both sexes of the 6th grade of secondary school No. 84 in Krasnoyarsk. The chronobiological personality type was determined using the Morningness-Evningness Questionnaire. The Chen Internet addiction Scale was used to assess the level of Internet addiction.
Results. The most common chronobiological type among students was the daytime chronotype. A pronounced and stable pattern of Internet addictive behavior on the CIAS scale was detected in 8,0% of the surveyed schoolchildren, among whom there were only girls. The frequency of gaming addiction was higher in boys, while the frequency of social media addiction was 3 times higher among girls compared to boys. Internet addiction was observed mainly in adolescents with a daytime chronotype. The frequency of gambling addiction was twice as high among the representatives of the evening chronotype, while dependence on social networks was twice as common among schoolchildren of the daytime chronobiological type.
Conclusion. It was found that Internet addiction was observed mainly in students with a daytime chronobiological type.


An extension of the Ramirez-Falicov theory of the $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ transition in Ce is given which accounts for the effect of rare-earth impurities, particularly La.


This report describes the background for the OSGM02 geoid computation of the British Isles. The major data sources are identified. Furthermore, the report includes some general considerations on the data sources, the vertical datums and the time variation in relation to the final geoid model. All relevant data are presently at hand or incoming, and (except for minor data conversion problems and data delivery problems) the material appears to be excellent for the computation of a high-quality geoid. In addition, the present report includes an initial error study by least-squares collocation. For the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland the study is based on land gravity data and DEM data. For the whole OSGM02 area a corresponding study was based on point locations of gravity stations (land and marine) and on assumptions of covariance properties from earlier studies. For the whole area that will be covered by OSGM02, a typical value of the preliminary quasi-geoid error on land is some 0.04 m when using only gravity data. When GPS/levelling data with an assumed error of 0.02 m are added this typical error decreases to some 0.01 m. These estimates are based on the assumption that contingent levelling datum inconsistencies are solved in advance. For the UK except Northern Ireland, where the gravity field is rough in places, the misfit between the geoid heights obtained from GPS/levelling and the geoid heights from the global geopotential model EGM96 has a standard deviation of 0.26m. For the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, where the gravity field is considerably smoother, the corresponding standard deviation of the misfit in geoid heights from GPS/levelling and EGM96 is 0.15 m. The overall conclusion of Stage One based on error analysis is that the OSGM02 project will result in a uniform geoid model at the highest obtainable accuracy. This will permit future levelling operations to be replaced by GPS.


FIELD: pharmacy. SUBSTANCE: invention refers to processing and cosmetics industris, namely to a method for production of a collagen product with the following characteristics: reception of skins of freshwater fish such as silver carp, carp, grass carp, mirror carp, manual or machine cleaning from scale, muscle tissue, fins and mechanical impurities, washing for 30 minutes in drum type machines with a solution of soap and then in water - to remove residual soap, the rinsed skins are subjected to peroxide and alkaline treatment, for which they are poured with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide with mass concentration of 3% and sodium hydroxide with mass concentration of 3 % and kept at 20-25°C for 1.5-2 hours and liquor ratio of 1:4, the treated skins are washed with flowing water at 8-12°C for 10-15 min, then the skins are poured with citric acid solution with mass concentration of 6% and kept for 6 days, the resulting mass is homogenized, packaged in polyethylene and stored at 0…+4°C for° max. 4 months. EFFECT: increase of collagen product quality indicators: increase in collagen output, improved organoleptic properties, reduced complexity and cost by reducing the number of process steps and reagents, intensification of the pre-treatment process and raw materials degreasing. 1 tbl, 2 ex


Metallosis is serious condition that comes about when metallic debris builds up in the soft tissues of the body. This condition is seen in individuals undergoing joint replacement surgery, like those of the hip, knee and elbow. Incidence of metallosis is not common. Here we present a case of 61 year-old male, who had undergone right-sided total hip replacement 20 years earlier due to avascular necrosis. He presented to us with one-year history of massive swelling of right thigh and mild pain and discomfort in September 2013. He was unable to carry weight on the affected limb and had been bed-ridden for the preceding three months. On surgery, we found that the femur had eroded on the medial side, and the whole illium had been destroyed except the iliac crest. We removed the stem, some metal particles and the fibrous tissue. After 2 months of surgery, he died of myocardial infarction.


The aim of the article is to present the functioning of consortia composed of various legal forms of social economy entities. The subject of the research are consortia operating under the brands: "Klunkry", "Panato Bag" and "Juchowo Farm". They include social cooperatives, establishments of professional activity, foundations, associations, social integration centrers and non-profit companies. The mutual cooperation of various legal forms of social economy entities, an innovative management mechanism, and manufactured products are an example of social innovations. Based on the data from the National Court Register, the activity profile, employment level, period of operation, founding entities and the financial situation of the analysed units were examined using the dynamics index method. The research results show that working together is beneficial both financially and socially. All the surveyed entities achieved an increase in revenue compared to the previous year. Thanks to the initiatives, socially excluded people found support and employment.


worlds beyond human reach. It was for this reason a somewhat inherently experimental idiom, premised on the potential of as yet untested artistic methods to reveal as yet unapprehended truths. The Symphonies embody this paradoxical approach and the utopian energies of their author at the beginning of his career; they can be understood as a series of explorations into the proposition (which would remain fundamental to Belyi's understanding of symbolism) that there are separate realms of existence and meaningful links between them. Belyi's Symphonies test whether something is to be gained by casting "ordinary" experience in terms of centaurs and dragons; by relating the psychological experience of alienation to the gap between appearance and reality in science or in mystical practice; by trying to illuminate the cycles of human feelings and experiences with the patterns of artistic composition; and, most obviously, by applying some of the principles of music to literature. The peculiar challenge of translating this sort of work is to preserve the text's clarity and its elusiveness, its elegance and its awkwardness. Belyi's Symphonies can be a thrilling pleasure to read; part of the thrill and the pleasure involve imagining not only the worlds sketched out in the texts, but also the ideas and aims of the author as he arranged his material in this unusual way. For works like these, even the plainest, most matter-of-fact sort of reading requires a hefty load of conjecture. Words, sentences, and larger sections cannot be assumed to function as they do in ordinary language or in any existing literary form (and this is by design) so the text's potential meanings and reverberations lack the guiderails that might insure against gross misunderstanding in reading—or translating—less aggressively innovative texts. Jonathan Stone's achievement is impressive: re-enacting Belyi's lexical repetitions without allowing them to become more (or less) obtrusive than they are in the original, and judiciously evoking some of Belyi's word play without turning the work into a distracting English-language game. He reproduces the distinctive combination of overand under-determination that is so striking in the original. Another challenge is to know how much introducing to do in the introduction and how much information to provide in the endnotes. Too little, and all that comes through is the strangeness of the work. Too much, and one risks preconditioning the reader's experience of works that were clearly and perhaps above all meant to be capable not only of inspiring many different readers' responses but also in some sense of "being" many different things. To my mind, Stone gets this just right as well: enough background and ground-level interpretation to give the reader a start (and a reason to start), not enough to make the texts feel like a set of homework assignments with an answer key. Belyi's particular aspirations entailed the harmonization of empirical, rational, evocative, and mystical aspects of symbolization, and in this respect the work of translation is similar: the demands of denotation and suggestion, content and form, idea and feeling, and presence and potential bear simultaneously on the project and must all be coordinated with minimal loss and maximal effect. With this daunting task, on these challenging texts, Stone succeeds brilliantly.


Measuring coating thickness is an important procedure when controlling the application of coatings to metal substrates for corrosion protection. Portable, low-cost coating thickness gauges have made field measurement of coating thickness practical. Therefore, regular and routine checks of coating thickness can now be made during the preparation and construction of steel work and throughout the life of the structure. This article explores reasons for measuring coating thickness, the types of equipment used, standards that apply to the use of coating thickness gauges, the keys to successful coating thickness measurement in the field, and practical hints for users of thickness gauges.


Extracting natural groups of the unlabeled data is known as clustering. To improve the stability and robustness of the clustering outputs, clustering ensembles have emerged recently. In this paper, an ensemble of particle swarm clustering algorithms is proposed. That is, the members of the ensemble are based on the cooperative swarms clustering approaches. The performance of the proposed particle swarm clustering ensemble is evaluated using di®erent data sets and is compared to that of other clustering techniques.


The physical characteristics of the free songs of the following seven species of Australian cicadas are analysed: Abricta curvicosta (Germar), Arunta perulata (Guérin), Cystosoma saundersii Westw., Melampsalta (Pauropsalta) encaustica (Germar), Melampsalta (Pauropsalta) mneme (Walk.), Psaltoda harrisii (Leach) and Thopha saccata (F.). Oscillographic Plate I) and sonagraphic (Plates II and III) documentation of this material is provided.


In this paper, we study the diversity-multiplexing tradeoff (DMT) of linear dispersion (LD) coded multiple-input single-output (MISO) systems at finite-SNRs. The tradeoff curves provide a characterization of the achievable diversity and multiplexing gains for a given space-time block code (STBC) at SNRs encountered in practice. For this purpose, first, the outage probability is derived for a broad class of LD coded MISO channels in a simple and closed-form expression. Then, for the special case of the correlated Rayleigh fading MISO channel, the outage probability is presented in an exact closed-form. Using this expression, we present a closed-form solution for the DMT framework.


Introduction Previous studies have revealed that the life event stress were associated with people's psychology and behaviors, and impacted individuals' sexual behaviors especially. However, few study have investigated the effect and mechanism of the emergency COVID-19 on psychosexual behaviors during the COVID-19 outbreak in China. Thus, this primary objective of the research was to explore the links between COVID-19 stressing and sexual compulsive symptom, and perceived social support.Methods This study used a cross-design, 3219 undergraduate students were recruited online to complete all questionnaires. Results The obtained results confirmed that COVID-19-stressing was correlated with perceive social support and sexual compulsive symptom, and perceived social support mediated the relation between COVID-19-stressing and sexual compulsive symptom; and gender moderated the link of COVID-19-stressing and perceive social support. In addition, in the case of the individuals' sexual compulsive symptom, the regression analyses showed that COVID-19-stressing and perceive social support were significantly predicted. Conclusions Thus, the findings extends previous knowledge and provide highlighted ideas, indicating that the COVID-19 not only affected individuals' physical health, but also impacted their psychological behaviors and intention, such as sexual compulsive symptom. Moreover, the findings revealed that compared to the female, the male students would promoted higher perceived social support when COVID-19-stressing is boosting.Policy Implication It is important that individuals' sexual psychology were cared via professional consulting during people are isolation for the emergent infection.


As part of an extensive study of the caves and abrigos of Murcia province (SE Spain), the first floristic and environmental data for chasmoendolithic algae in cave-like environments are presented. Seven abrigos and two caves were studied. Photosynthetic active radiation, relative humidity and temperature were measured over a period of 2 years. 18 chasmoendolithic algae were identified: 2 Bacillariophyceae, 15 Cyanophyceae and 1 Xanthophyceae. The most diversified taxa were Gloeocapsa with three and Chroococcidiopsis and Leptolyngbya with two different species.


The present invention relates to a polyisocyanate, a polyol, a polyurethane polyol composition comprising the reaction product of the roll-bet alcohol mixture having from roll bet alcohol or average at least 12 carbon atoms having from at least 12 carbon atoms, the preferred polyols are α, β-diol and α, and γ-diol, polyurethane polyol composition exhibits a very low viscosity is especially useful in the coating compositions of very low VOC, and the resulting cured coating is characterized in that it provides improved properties.


Landslides that are the major hazards, are concentrated along the river valley, road cut sections, cultivated lands and geologically adverse areas like fault zones, incompetent lithology, steep slopes and overhanging cliffs. Present study represents a small part of the Mahabharat Range within the Lesser Himalaya, where landslide inventory mapping was carried out in the Ramche-Jharlang area
because it consists of numerous small to large landslides affecting ecology and society. The main objectives were to delineate both present and past landslides with their characters (geometry, geology, hydrogeology, slope geometry, triggering causes of landslides and their impacts) focusing on the present propagating trends in terms of its cause. The field investigation was carried out by field work in the landslide occurring areas, visual inspection, satellite image analysis, photographical analysis, interaction and interview with the locals and the affected groups. The study reveals nail scratching outlook in most of the hills. The slope failures were debris flow, debris slide, mud flow and deep-seated creeps. The Ramche landslide in the eastern part to the Jharlan-Chhyamthali in the western part, have been devastating and active now and then causing huge casualties. The utmost reasons for occurring small to large scale landslides are inherently weak geological setting along with some adverse geological structures in addition to the triggering factors like concentrated precipitation and earthquakes. Systematic landslide hazard mapping and mitigation measures based on the cause and consequences during the planning and construction stages of infrastructures are fundamental steps to reduce loss from landslide disaster in the region.


During a survey of scale insects on citrus in Western Nigeria between 1963 and 1967, 11 species were recorded belonging to the families Diaspididae. Coccidae, and Pseudococcidae. The family Diaspididae was predominant in all the citrus-growing areas. Most of the scale insect species were found widely distributed in the rain forest vegetational zone, and this distribution extended to some extent to the citrus areas in the derived guinea savannah and southern guinea savannah zones.


With the number of prescriptions rising nationally each year, it is required that web-based technology will fully embraced in the pharmacy industry as an aid to quality-assuring prescribing processes. Electronic prescribing (ePrescribing) has the ability not only to streamline the prescription writing process, but also to reduce the number of errors that may be incurred with hand-written prescriptions. The adoption of ePrescribing nationwide through an ePrescribing system premises active participation of users who are familiar with the cooperative and collaborative nature of healthcare delivery. Thus, there is a need for reusable, flexible, agile and adaptable training content with the objective to enable healthcare professionals instill their knowledge and expertise in the ePrescribing process. To this end, social software, such as a wiki, could be used as it supports cooperation and collaboration anytime, anywhere, combined with semantic web technology that enables structuring pieces of information for easy retrieval, reuse and exchange between different systems and tools. In this paper a semantic wiki is presented as a means for developing training material for healthcare providers regarding ePrescribing process. The semantic wiki should act as a collective online memory containing training material that is accessible to authorized users, thus enhancing the training process with collaboration and cooperation capabilities. It is proposed that the wiki is stored in a secure virtual private cloud that is accessible from anywhere, be it an excessively open environment, while meeting the requirements of redundancy, high performance and autoscaling.


Quantum sensors can be used to monitor the dynamic of chemical processes. Here we implement a multiparameter protocol, on two different chemical reactions, robust against time-varying noise.


Laser additive manufacturing technology is very attractive for industry applications due to the characterizations of rapid manufacture, flexible parameters select, customize, and complex 3D object fabricate. In this article, an EOS M-type direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) system was used to manufacture for customized hip implant with an IPG fiber laser. The part building process takes place inside an enclosed chamber filled with argon gas to minimize oxidation powdered material. We are successful design and producing an implant of imitation bone microstructure in titanium alloy. From the SEM analysis image, an approximately 100% dense surface has be observed. The mainly composition of selective laser additive manufacturing product are acicular structure of alpha-phase titanium. X-ray diffraction patterns also are observed the alpha-phase and beta-phase mixture. This customized hip implant is used to clinical application for replacement the golden retriever's femoral head, and it get good results. Imitation bone structure can promote the biocompatible of titanium material and bone.


Assembled in flat computer process,important parts of the backlight board surface often stained with micro foreign bodies,such as dust,these foreign bodies are not easy to rely on eye detection,and has a great influence on the quality of the final product. Therefore,this paper proposes a backlight plate surface based on foreign recognition mechanism and defect detection of Open CV. First of all,treat the detected image maximum between class threshold segmentation and morphological processing,including the backlight board inspected region. Then,the largest outer Open CV contour search function of cv Start Find Contours positioning to be detected based on the backlight board part of the rectangle region,cv Flood Fill function of OpenCV on the backlight plate profile in an array of the white based,generated mask template,image and processing,to extract the irregular tested area. Finally,the extracted ROI copy of a RGB image,and then the ROI image to open operation treatment,two images are linear subtraction,so that the foreign matters at the obvious. Then image convolution based processing,further highlight the foreign body,and in the original image with a red circle labeling,to display the detection result. The final test performance,the foreign body recognition results showthat: compared with the current image recognition algorithm in this paper,foreign body,mechanism has better recognition effect,accurately identify the backlight board foreign body.


Many civilian applications of commercial unmanned aircraft are being planned to operate in the years ahead. Several countries have developed their own framework to design the operation of unmanned aircraft and the different services that demand safe operation. This paper focuses on the European framework denoted as U-space which concludes with the joint integration of manned and unmanned aircraft in the airspace. U-space is a set of novel services and specific procedures designed to provide safe and efficient access into the airspace to the airspace users. U-space constitutes a management system to organise unmanned operations and provides relevant information to drone operators as well as manned aircraft, air navigation service providers and authorities. The understanding of associated hazards and risks to unmanned aircraft is a critical issue for their operation in complex and non-segregated airspaces. The safety assessment developed herein is crucial to identify safety indicators for U-space. In addition, the identification of safety indicators was used to identify gaps in U-spaces services that are not correctly covered by the U-space framework. Particularly, several safety indicators are identified that currently U-space services do not consider and can imply an increase in the operational risk of unmanned operations.


This paper systematically reviews the issues of quality of life researches on psychotic paitents and their families,and introduces the principle of assessment of quality of life in psychiatric field.


The sand replacement method reinforced by geonet is used for improving the trafficability in the temporary road construction on very soft clay. However, the replacement technique is based on the field experiences so that the theoretical consideration has been required to adapt the geonet. In this study, the mechanical behavior of the geonet on very soft clay has been considered for proposing the design method and the execution management. Applied examples in several sites are also shown. For the covering abstract see ITRD E109917.


The objectives of the paper were to theoretically calculate and experimentally verify the fluid mechanics in the second stage of a model MHD swirl combustor with special emphasis on avoidance of the boundary-layer separation as the flow turns in to the MHD disk generator; to find the most suitable seed injection point at the entrance to the second stage which will yield uniform seed concentration at the combustor exit prior to entry into the disk generator. The model combustor is a multiannular swirl burner that is placed at the exit of the first-stage swirl combustor, which in turn can be used to vary the turbulent shear that arises between the individual swirling concentric annuli. This design permits ultrahigh swirl in the second stage with swirl vanes (if any) to be placed outside the very high temperature regions of the combustor in the clean preheated air. The gas burns completely in the second-stage combustor and turns 90 deg into the disk generator along a trumpet-shaped exit module. In this synoptic results are presented of the fluid mechanics in the trumpet-shaped second-stage exit module, with water as the working fluid.


This paper deals with the concept of science shop,the process of its development and its aim and significance. This article also introduces the application and extension of science shop in China. Based on case study,the article discusses about development and practice of two University Students' Volunteer Service Associations of Popular Science. Finally,the authors pay more attention to the further promotion of the University Students' Volunteer Service Association of Popular Science.


6 In the future energy infrastructure there is a considerable potential for biogas and, in particular, for 7 biomethane as a natural gas substitute. Among the alternatives of upgrading biogas to biomethane, this 8 work focuses on membrane permeation. Taking cellulose acetate as membrane material and spiral-wound 9 as membrane configuration, five layouts are assessed. All layouts have the same biogas plant rated at 10 500 m/h (STP), yet they may adopt: (i) oneor two-stage permeation, (ii) permeate or residue recycle, and 11 (iii) a water heater or a prime mover (internal combustion engine or a micro gas turbine) to exploit residues 12 as fuel gas. Since residues are consumed, all layouts have zero emission of methane into the atmosphere. 13 The membrane material is modeled considering the phenomenon of plasticization; the membrane modules 14 are described by a crossflow permeation patterns without pressure drops. The results indicates that 15 specific membrane areas range from 1.1 to 2.4 mh/m (STP), specific energy from 0.33 to 0.47 kWh/m 16 (STP), and exergy efficiencies from 57.6% to 88.9%. The splitting of permeation over two stages and the 17 adoption of water heater instead of prime movers is a convenient option. The preferred layout employs a 18 single compressor, a two-stage membrane permeation at 26 bar, a water heater fueled by the first-stage 19 permeate, and a second-stage permeate recycle. Assuming a biomethane incentive of 80 €/MWhLHV and a 20 project life of 15 years, the total investment of this plant is 2.9 M€, the payback time 5 years and the net 21 present value 3.5 M€. 22


In this study, termination with conditions referred to as short, open and reference material (SOM) was used for S11 calibration at the front of samples with a coaxial-feed-type cut-off circular waveguide as a preliminary step for dielectric measurement in liquids. With pure water as the reference material, the S11 value for the jig at the front of the sample was then calibrated in the frequency band of 0.50 to 3.0 GHz using a VNA (vector network analyzer) via the proposed method. Next, S11 at the front surface of the sample was measured with various liquids in the jig after calibration. The results showed close correspondence of measured values for each method, thereby indicating the validity of the proposed S11 calibration approach.


Here we describe and experimentally confirm the localization of charged microparticles outside the area of a radio-frequency Paul trap. We consider the nonlinear effective potential formed by the trap, treating the field independently for different electrodes of the trap. To approach the proposed model to reality, we also consider the nonlinear effects originating from the viscousity of surrounding medium. Proposed approach allows to conduct an analytical description of the effective potential and define quasi-equilibrium points both inside and outside the trap. Predictions of the proposed model are in full compliance with obtained experimental results.