In this paper, we investigate the partition inequality, joint convexity, and Pinsker's inequality, for a divergence that generalizes the Tsallis Relative Entropy and Kullback–Leibler divergence. The generalized divergence is defined in terms of a deformed exponential function, which replaces the Tsallis $q$ -exponential. We also constructed a family of probability distributions related to the generalized divergence. We found necessary and sufficient conditions for the partition inequality to be satisfied. A sufficient condition for the joint convexity was established. We proved that the generalized divergence satisfies the partition inequality, and is jointly convex, if, and only if, it coincides with the Tsallis relative entropy. As an application of partition inequality, a criterion for the Pinsker's inequality was found.


I have been competing in South African riding horse classes (SA riding) in Cape Town for many years and have often heard the questions: What are these classes? What type of horse do you need? What do you do in each class? What do the judges look for?


CO{sub 2} and NO chemisorptions, FT-IR, and TGA techniques were used to study the surface structure of calcined and reduced Mo/{gamma}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalysts. The results clearly show that there are three distinct surface structures whose presence is dependent on the molybdenum loading. At low loadings, molybdenum interacts strongly with the alumina surface hydroxyl groups to form strong Mo interaction species. The molybdenum is highly dispersed, difficult to reduce, and has a low coordination number (C.N.). At medium loadings before the monolayer coverage, the Mo-O-Mo interaction increases and the Mo-support interaction may decrease to form Mo interaction species. Such formed molybdenum is well dispersed, reducible, and has a high C.N. The CO{sub 2} uptake at the monolayer coverage is almost zero. Above the monolayer coverage, excess molybdenum aggregates to form bulk MoO{sub 3} and Al{sub 2}(MoO{sub 4}){sub 3} species at the expense of a small amount of well-dispersed molybdenum species to create some exposed alumina surface. The molybdenum formed under this condition is easily reduced, has a large particle size, and has a high C.N. The bulk MoO{sub 3} species interacts with the support to form Al{sub 2}(MoO{sub 4}){sub 3} at high calcination temperatures ({ge}600{degree}C). All the molybdenum phases rearrangemore » and agglomerate to create some free alumina and to decrease the molybdenum dispersion after H{sub 2} reduction. The extent of rearrangement and agglomeration depends on the degree of reduction. At low loadings, only a small fraction of free alumina is recovered because of the low reducibility. A significant amount of free alumina is recovered at medium and high loadings due to the high reducibility.« less


Computer-based knowledge management systemshave become a major part of today's communicationsystem, and with the Internet as a medium, distance isno longer the barrier. In line with this development, wepropose an interactive online multi-user documentediting system for the use of collaborative report papercreation. The goal of this study is not only in developingthe system, but also to create an environment wherecollaborative report paper creation is possible even ifusers are not in the same vicinity.This paper presents a collaborative report papercreation tool for the use of creating report paperswithin an industrial environment.In particular, weexplain how the system works, how the interface lookslike, as well as the advantages of our system incomparison to other existing systems.


The consequences of the latest world financial and economic crisis have become quite apparent. Spain and the Spanish people are suffering the impact of both a lack of confidence in the international markets and a diminished access to finance mechanisms. To affirm that the economy is a transverse factor that determines in a direct and indirect way a country's alternatives in other matters and is key to a state's safety and well-being is saying nothing new. Accommodating the country's national intelligence structures to permit a suitable response to this increasing financial threat is an important challenge. Once the Cold War was over, Spain and most other nations thought that international relations were entering an era wherein the use of force would be pushed to the background. Nevertheless, history has revealed that the collapse of the Soviet Union as a political unit in December 1991


The demand for cloud computing has increased immensely, and its security is becoming challenging. The enormous growth in cloud computing adaptation has been observed, but the information security concerns have not been addressed thoroughly. The security issues related to cloud computing are a concern. The emergence of Blockchain as a key security provider has increased the hope for the availability of a secure cloud computing environment. The data-sharing technique based on the cloud scenario relies on the network's storage and architecture; however, the storage providers are considered trusted third parties for data-sharing and storage purposes. The associated limitations such as security, high operational cost, centralized storage capability, and data availability have become a challenging task, which leads to the development of a trusted data management system for secure data sharing through the Blockchain. This study presents an analysis of secure data-sharing techniques using Blockchain. The related research articles were elicited from several sources such as Springer, IEEE, Elsevier, and other online sources. The primary studies have been categorized into four types: healthcare data sharing, vehicular communication-based data sharing, IoT-based data sharing, and other miscellaneous techniques. The techniques have been analyzed based on various performance metrics. The analysis and findings of this study can pave a way for the future development of safe data-sharing techniques using Blockchain technology.


Computer-mediated communication (CMC) has been a longstanding focus of study in the fields of HCI and CSCW dating back to the first incarnations of the media space in the early 1980s [4]. Since then, this research sphere has explored many different forms of technology ranging from teleconferencing to email and instant messaging. The early focus of this work was largely workplace-oriented where researchers focused on improving and understanding workplace communication practices. However, over the last decade, there has been an increasing focus on studying computer-mediated communication in the home. In the domestic realm, the goal of computer-mediated communication research is to understand the communication practices of families both within and extending outside of the home as family members seek to communicate, coordinate, and connect with their loved ones and friends. Our focus is on technologies that allow family members to directly connect with one another either synchronously (e.g., video conferencing) or asynchronously (e.g., instant messaging), as opposed to technologies where one broadcasts or shares information with many (e.g., social networking sites). Here research typically aims to support communication between parents, children, grandparents, and close friends. As examples, research in this space has spanned many areas of study including the role of locations within the home [3], distributed-family communication [2,5], organizing systems [16], family awareness [13], video conferencing practices [1,7,9], and mobile media [12]. Similarly, it has seen the design of many new technologies to support family routines, such as Digital Family Portraits [11], the Remote Presence Lamp [17], VideoProbe [6], Home Note [14], and the Family Window [8]. Computer-mediated communication for the home has also now moved out of the research lab and into actual everyday practice. Computing technologies are rapidly changing the way families can communicate, coordinate, and connect with others through readily-available (and often free) applications, such as Google Talk, Skype, or iChat. The accessibility and proliferation of these applications means that family members are increasingly faced with new mechanisms to reach out and connect with their family and friends. For this reason, technology is now rapidly reconfiguring the way we think about and design for domestic spaces. As it does so, researchers now must directly confront issues of family relations and the subtle negotiations that are part of that realm. "Connection" can be emotionally expressive or merely informational. Analytic frameworks as well as technologies developed to support work may not be appropriate for understanding this setting.


Carbon is removed from the surface of lunar soil 14163 size fractions by combustions at 500 and 1000/sup 0/C in an oxygen stream and the carbon contents and the carbon-14 activities are measured. The carbon contents are inversely correlated with grain size. A measured carbon content of 198 ppM for bulk 14163, obtained by combining the size fraction results, is modified to 109 +- 12 ppM by a carbon contamination correction. This value is in accord with a previous determination, 110 ppM, for bulk 14163. The small ( 53 ..mu..) grains, 11.2 +- 2.0 dpm/kg. The combusted carbon and carbon-14 are attributed mainly to solar-wind implantation. Melt extractions of carbon-14 from the combusted soil samples gave essentially identical activities, 21.0 +- 1.5 and 19.2 +- 2.0 dpm/kg for the small and large grains, and are attributed to cosmic-ray spallation-produced carbon-14.


INTRODUCTION. Environmental exposure to metals, solvents and pesticides has been shown consistently to play a role in the genesis of Parkinson's disorders (PD) when interacting with genetic predisp...


We propose a new image classification technique that utilizes neural networks to classify skin and non-skin pixels in color images. The aim is to develop a universal and robust model of the human skin color that caters for all human races. The ability to detecting solid skin regions in color images by the model is extremely useful in applications such as face detection and recognition, and human gesture analysis. Experimental results show that the neural network classifiers can consistently achieve up to 90% accuracy in skin color detection.


The global financial crisis and subsequent recession have highlighted the huge costs that financial imbalances can impose on an economy. Because the financial crisis was in large part the result of specific vulnerabilities in the banking sector, reform proposals are accordingly focused on improving the resilience of the global financial system by ensuring that financial institutions' risk management adequately takes account of systemic risks. While our banks have emerged relatively unscathed from the crisis, New Zealand has suffered a long recession. This article discusses these debates in both the global and New Zealand context.


The following is a short summation of the results of 7 weeks of excavation (21 January – 6 March 2008) at the archaeological site of Ayla, located in Aqaba in southern Jordan. The excavations constitute a part of a larger archaeological venture, the Islamic Aqaba Project, which is funded by the University of Gent and directed by Prof. Dr. Johnny De Meulemeester. Among the central scientific aims of the project is the mapping of settlement patterns in Islamic Aqaba (650-1922 CE) in order to achieve an understanding of the site's occupational morphology. Previous seasons have centered on Aqaba Castle and its immediate surroundings, however, this season the archaeological work conducted in Aqaba was expanded to include the early Islamic (c.650-1100 CE) urban core – the site known as Ayla – as well. Due to the preliminary nature of this season's investigation of Ayla, our main ambition for this season was to lay out two diagnostic excavation units in order to establish an indicative stratigraphy for the more large scale excavations in coming seasons. The excavation units were placed inside an outside the walls, and the areas termed IM (intra muros) and EM (extra muros) accordingly. The area under investigation inside the city walls, as uncovered and defined by Donald Whitcomb during the Oriental Institute (University of Chicago) excavations between 1986 and 1993, is the southwestern quadrant of the city. This part of the site was originally selected for a number of reasons. Firstly, no archaeological exploration had been undertaken in this quadrant of the city before. Secondly, although the topography generally slopes downwards towards the beach, this quadrant, though closest to the sea, is the highest part of the archaeological mound. Thirdly, because this project attempts to understand the organisation and morphology of Islamic Aqaba, identifying specific composite parts of the urban environment is central to extrapolating patterns and off-beats from the archaeological data. Whitcomb's identification of an Abbasid market (suq) constructed against the exterior of the western end of the south wall, indicated that there was a distinct possibility that this may have constituted part of an expanding market place, and that the southwest quadrant may have been the core of that market (i.e. an area of commerce and small scale production). Outside the walls a trench was laid out from the Egypt Gate's southern tower. This specific area was selected because it constituted the only part of city's west wall that had not yet been excavated and, perhaps more importantly, because previous excavations have shown that the Egypt Gate seems to have had particular significance in the early Islamic period. It was adorned with a stone carved Qur'anic inscription – the Ayat al-Kursi (Throne verse) – one of the earliest known Qur'anic inscriptions in the world. Moreover, it was the city's welcoming face to pilgrims and traders coming from Egypt, North Africa and Spain – an area that we know brought a significant amount of people and wealth to Ayla. It is thus not unlikely that this area would have seen considerable activity and that if extra muros


Abstract The gibberfish Gibberichthyslatifrons is recorded for the first time from southwestern Taiwan, northern South China Sea, based on the collection of seven adults and subadults from the Dong-gang fish market, Pingtung. These specimens represent the northernmost extent of the adult range of the species, and they fill a distributional gap in the western Pacific Ocean. Our findings suggest that a population of the species has become recently established in the region. Detailed descriptions, otolith morphology, and fresh coloration are provided with comments on the morphological characteristics of the genus.


High Speed Electric vehicles are very significant in urban environment to accomplish the information exchange wirelessly. Meanwhile, energy crisis that the present generation is facing is contributed in major by wireless communication, specifically in (V2V) domain. As the traffic grows and the information content is quite bulky, V2V faces many challenges in terms of energy utilization and power wastage. Modern wireless architectures and allied researches need to be intact on V2V communication to minimize the power loss issues and maximizes the energy efficiency. This paper is focused on recent advance technologies in the field of V2V communication that aims in uninterrupted connectivity in a very dynamic and congested environment. A comparative study of different architectures and algorithms are provided in this paper, to enable the readers to select appropriate techniques based on the real-time traffic conditions. In addition, energy efficient beamforming algorithms and related optimization techniques are briefly described that contributes to a faithful information exchange between the high-speed vehicles.


The isolation and sequencing of particular genes is a necessary step in determining the amino acid sequence of the corresponding proteins and the regulation of their synthesis. In one approach to isolating genes, limited amino acid sequence is used to deduce the corresponding coding sequence. Oligonucleotides of this sequence are then chemically synthesized, radioactively labelled and used as hybridization probes to detect target coding sequences in a clone bank. The redundancy of the genetic code poses a limitation to this approach and probe sequences are usually based on regions of protein sequence that are rich in amino acids with a restricted number of codons eg. methionine and tryptophan. To cover all codon possibilities, it is sometimes necessary to synthesize probes containing a mixture of different individual nucleotides. One way to overcome this problem is to use a base analogue that can pair with any one of the four natural bases at ambiguous positions with or without forming hydrogen bonds. Inosine, which is found in the 5 or "wobble" position of tRNA anticodons, forms base pairs with A, C and U in mRNA. 2'-deoxyinosine is therefore an useful insert at ambiguous codon positions in synthetic DNA probes.1


Around a legal philosophical problem (i.e. is it possible for a civil society universally ruled by law to exist?) the general rule of rights arises. Kant expounded the moral and philosophical foundation of rights, the priority of rights over morality and the possibility having a private right rule in a civic society. He also observed the duality of human nature, the ruling principle of "Rechtsstaat" in constitutionalism and the possibility of an eternal peaceful and ethical universal commonwealth. In the classical liberalist tradition, ideas of natural law, constitutional notions and ideals of legality in Kant's legal philosophy also have a deep influence in the world.


Objectives/Goals This study focused on sweet glycosides found in the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana. The purpose of the first experiment was to determine the role of surface area of leaves and temperature of water when extracting glycosides. The second experiment addressed glycoside distribution in leaves as a function of age and flowering stage to test the hypothesis that biosynthesis of glycosides may not be growth related. The possibility of developing an assay at 651nm was also explored. Methods/Materials Three transplants of Stevia rebaudiana were grown. In the extraction experiment, fresh whole, fresh shredded, and crushed dried leaves were steeped in cold, room temperature and hot water. Samples were taken at times ranging from 5 minutes to 24 hr. In the distribution experiment, samples of leaves were taken from a young branch, from various levels along a sideways flowering stalk, from two dominant stems before and after flowering and extracted in hot water. All samples were appropriately diluted and their absorbance measured at 210nm and 651nm. Standard solutions were made from commercially available stevia powder. Results The results from the extraction experiment indicate that surface area of leaves is critical in determining final glycoside concentration and speed of extraction. When surface area is limited, the higher the temperature of water, the better the extraction. The distribution experiment results support the hypothesis that glycoside biosynthesis is not growth related. Data verify that glycoside content varies with leaf age, with younger leaves having the least amount. In contrast to literature, middle leaves had the highest glycoside concentration while glycoside content in young leaves increased after flowering. A relevant assay at 651nm could not be developed since absorbance values at 210nm did not correlate with those obtained at 651nm. Conclusions/Discussion This study has raised many questions. Is 210nm the best wavelength? Why does the absorbance at 210nm not correlate with that at 651nm? Some absorbances and stevia yields were higher than expected implying presence of other compounds, whose interference must be accounted for. Since some of the observed trends differ from literature, such as doubling of glycoside concentration in younger leaves after flowering, the experiment needs to be repeated. If correct, this could change harvest time from before to after flowering!


The invention discloses a method and a device for automatically detecting surface defects of spherules based on machine vision. The device comprises an automatic spherule distribution device, an image pickup device, an automatic blanking device and an automatic spherule rolling device, wherein the automatic spherule rolling device rotates automatically and circularly among the automatic spherule distribution device, the image pickup device and the automatic blanking device through a delivery mechanism; and the delivery mechanism is connected with a PLC which is in signal connection with a computer. The detection method comprises the following steps of: automatic classification of the sphere dimension, automatic charging and automatic array distribution of the spherules, acquisition of ever changing spherical surface images through a camera, array positioning of spherules with defects, elimination of the spherules with the defects through an eliminator, blanking, and the like. The invention drives spheres to be subjected to automatic array distribution in batches and simultaneously be subjected to automatic multidirectional rolling, makes the spherical surfaces in the whole array capable of being imaged and recognized simultaneously, does not need to take kerosene as a working medium, and is suitable for detecting spherules made of any material.


The U.S.-Japan security alliance faced major challenges when the liberal Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) replaced the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) as ruling party in 2009. This paper traces the evolution of the DPJ's alliance management over the last three years from brash idealism to sober pragmatism as the party was forced to discard campaign promises to "equalize" and "reassess" the alliance, and came to realize that the changing security environment required a stronger alliance and not a diminished one. A major turning point was the unprecedented massive joint cooperation by U.S. and Japanese troops to respond to the 2011 earthquake disaster. The paper concludes that the alliance is as operationally strong now as it was under the LDP, but that the same problems exist, too, particularly the inability to resolve contentious issues regarding U.S. bases in Okinawa.


PurposeEconomic risk plays a vital role in firm's cash holdings. We aim to determine the impact of economic risk on the firm's cash holdings.Design/methodology/approachThe data is collected from the DataStream from 2002 to 2018, which covers 552 listed firms in the manufacturing sector of Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh. We apply a two-step dynamic panel estimation to analyze the results.FindingsWe use the variance of inflation and variance of interest rate as proxies of economic risk. Our results show that variance of inflation has a significant and negative effect while the variance of interest rate has a significant and positive effect on firms' cash holdings in selected countries. Furthermore, we find economic risk negatively affects the firm's cash holdings in the country-wise analysis. Firms should maintain a reasonable amount of cash reserves to handle uncertain situations.Originality/valueThis study may provide insights to financial decision-makers of a firm for better cash management according the economic conditions of the country.


Distributed computing is becoming more prevalent in engineering today. Multi-robot systems are simply an extension of that, not only dividing the computing power, but also the physical capabilities among multiple robots. This paper serves as a proof of concept investigation into a sensor-zone hierarchical topology by assessing its ability to autonomously explore an unknown area. This goal was approached by designing a three-tier robotic hierarchy as well as developing the concept of abstract robot sensor zones. Experiments were conducted by modifying the total number of robots in the system using a custom built simulation and experimentally verified using custom fabricated mobile robots. Results showed that different combinations of robots can yield positive results for heterogeneous multi-robot systems, allowing computational and physical resources to be tailored to specific scenarios.


This essay describes how to create a positive learning environment that elicits high levels of motivation and attention in learners, within a classroom context that recognises student knowledge as socially constructed. Initially the author discusses the importance of student motivation and attention to improve learning. Then the importance of viewing knowledge as socially constructed and how a co-operative learning approach can support effective student learning. Finally, the author outlines how a co-operative learning task focused on the development of computer games by students for other students can create high levels of student motivation and sustained attention.


the magnetic circuit, the total 1 a transformer is proportional to :d voltage while it is proportional rrent when overheating occurs in it. In the paper, the total -volt method (THAVM) is t of THAVM is to locate fault the relations between the total and the current or the applied :d this method is simple and


What kind of cultural policy frameworks are needed for practices that are emerging as layers of interdisciplinary action in face of rising levels of uncertainty and inequality that shape the urban and cultural domain today? The attempt to answer this broad question, the no-nonsense title of the Croatian project must be deconstructed and contextualised – piece by piece


This article deals with the personalities of Snorri goði and William Marshal as described by two great literary works, Eyrbyggja saga and L'Histoire de Guillaume le Maréchal, both believed to have been written between 1220 and 1250 by two unknown narrators. Concentrating upon the destiny of these two heroes and the ethics praised through these two works, this study aims to illustrate the value of a comparative approach focusing on the concept of human ideals in two different environments: feudal Europe and Iceland, during the same period, when, in the first part of the 13th century, a French speaking poet chose to narrate the life of William Marshal while a Scandinavian narrator decided to write about Snorri goði, giving them literary fame and delivering two models of conduct to history.


Following the completion of the International Space Station assembly, the development and initiation of 2 Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle operations, the emergence of commercial space activity on a greater scale, and the evolution of the Cape Canaveral-Kennedy Space Center spaceport, the demands for launch site payload processing and operations can be expected to escalate geometrically in the years 2010 to 2025. Access to space in this coming era must address the question of what payloads; human and otherwise, will be launched into space in order to plan for provisions that must be made to successfully process these payloads and integrate them into the space access system. In order to be ready to meet these needs for the payloads it is imperative that efforts begin to identify and define the parameters that will generate these needs. This paper investigates and identifies the space system parameters that will define the potential payload fleet and associated architectures. It will also identify areas requiring analysis. The paper addresses technical, regulatory, operational, economic, and policy parameters and issues and also outlines initiatives in analytical evaluation of how such factors interact with spaceport development and operation.


A mesoscopic model of finite temperature superfluid helium-4 based on coupled Langevin-Navier-Stokes dynamics is proposed. Drawing upon scaling arguments and available numerical results, a numerical method for designing well resolved, mesoscopic calculations of finite temperature superfluid turbulence is developed. The application of model and numerical method to the problem of fully developed turbulence decay in helium II, indicates that the spectral structure of normal-fluid and superfluid turbulence is significantly more complex than that of turbulence in simple-fluids. Analysis based on a forced flow of helium-4 at 1.3 K, where viscous dissipation in the normal-fluid is compensated by the Lundgren force, indicate three scaling regimes in the normal-fluid, that include the inertial, low wavenumber, Kolmogorov k −5/3 regime, a sub-turbulence, low Reynolds number, fluctuating k −2.2 regime, and an intermediate, viscous k −6 range that connects the two. The k −2.2 regime is due to normal-fluid forcing by superfluid vortices at high wavenumbers. There are also three scaling regimes in the superfluid, that include a k −3 range that corresponds to the growth of superfluid vortex instabilities due to mutual-friction action, and an adjacent, low wavenumber, k −5/3 regime that emerges during the termination of this growth, as superfluid vortices agglomerate between intense normal-fluid vorticity regions, and weakly polarized bundles are formed. There is also evidence of a high wavenumber k −1 range that corresponds to the probing of individual-vortex velocity fields. The Kelvin waves cascade (the main dynamical effect in zero temperature superfluids) appears to be damped at the intervortex space scale.


Sulfated chitosan (SCS), a typical amphoteric polyelectrolyte, was prepared through a homogeneous method, and via coating and cross-linking methods, the sulfated chitosan/polysulfone(SCS/PSF)nanofiltration membranes were prepared by using SCS aqueous solution as casting solution of the active layer, the glutaraldehyde as cross-linking agent and the polysulfone ultrafine (PSF UF) membrane as support membrane, respectively. The surface and cross-section morphologies of the prepared membrane were characterized by environmental scanning microscopy (ESEM). The effects of the composition of casting solution forming active layer and the preparation techniques of the composite membrane on the rejection performance of the prepared membranes were investigated. At 13~15℃ and 0.30 MPa, using the prepared SCS/PSF composite membrane, the rejection ratio of Na2SO4 and NaCl solutions with concentrations of 1000 mg·L-1 are 91.2% and 48.5%, respectively, while the permeate fluxes of them are 3.2 and 6.7 kg·m-2·h-1, respectively. Moreover, the rejection ratios of the inorganic electrolyte solutions are in the orders as follows: Na2SO4 NaCl MgSO4 MgCl2. It suggests that the active layer of the composite membrane has a negative surface charge distribution caused by the absorption of anions from the electrolyte solution, and this charge distribution determines mainly the rejection performance of the composite membrane.


Background The treatment of aortic stenosis is evolving rapidly. Pace of change in the care of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) differs. We sought to determine differences in temporal changes in 30‐day mortality, 30‐day readmission, and length of stay after TAVR and SAVR. Methods and Results We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients treated in the United States between 2012 and 2019 using data from the Medicare Data Set Analytic File 100% Fee for Service database. We included consecutive patients enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B and aged ≥65 years who had SAVR or transfemoral TAVR. We defined 3 study cohorts, including all SAVR, isolated SAVR (without concomitant procedures), and elective isolated SAVR and TAVR. The primary end point was 30‐day mortality; secondary end points were 30‐day readmission and length of stay. Statistical models controlled for patient demographics, frailty measured by the Hospital Frailty Risk Score, and comorbidities measured by the Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI). Cox proportional hazard models were developed with TAVR versus SAVR as the main covariates with a 2‐way interaction term with index year. We repeated these analyses restricted to full aortic valve replacement hospitals offering both SAVR and TAVR. The main study cohort included 245 269 patients with SAVR and 188 580 patients with TAVR, with mean±SD ages 74.3±6.0 years and 80.7±6.9 years, respectively, and 36.5% and 46.2% female patients, respectively. Patients with TAVR had higher ECI scores (6.4±3.6 versus 4.4±3) and were more frail (55.4% versus 33.5%). Total aortic valve replacement volumes increased 61% during the 7‐year span; TAVR volumes surpassed SAVR in 2017. The magnitude of mortality benefit associated with TAVR increased until 2016 in the main cohort (2012: hazard ratio [HR], 0.76 [95% CI, 0.67–0.86]; 2016: HR, 0.39 [95% CI, 0.36–0.43]); although TAVR continued to have lower mortality rates from 2017 to 2019, the magnitude of benefit over SAVR was attenuated. A similar pattern was seen with readmission, with a lower risk of readmission from 2012 to 2016 for patients with TAVR (2012: HR, 0.68 [95% CI, 0.63–0.73]; 2016: HR, 0.43 [95% CI, 0.41–0.45]) followed by a lesser difference from 2017 to 2019. Year over year, TAVR was associated with increasingly shorter lengths of stay compared with SAVR (2012: HR, 1.91 [95% CI, 1.84–1.98]; 2019: HR, 5.34 [95% CI, 5.22–5.45]). These results were consistent in full aortic valve replacement hospitals. Conclusions The rate of improvement in TAVR outpaced SAVR until 2016, with the recent presence of U‐shaped phenomena suggesting a narrowing gap between outcomes. Future longitudinal research is needed to determine the long‐term implications of lowering risk profiles across treatment options to guide case selection and clinical care.


Tunnelling in a double-well potential has features which are not derivable through a mere extension of the concepts used in the context of a single potential barrier with no confining walls on either side. Furthermore, an asymmetric double-well potential, relevant in many contemporary areas of physics and chemistry, possesses certain distinctive aspects in contrast to the relatively simple case of a symmetric double-well potential. In this paper a self-contained numerical and analytical study of these features is reported, and a theoretical model is presented with special attention being given to a unified treatment of both the symmetric and asymmetric cases. The popularly used pair-state model is critically examined, and the important role of the initial state (which is rarely discussed in the literature) is highlighted with specific examples.


An axiomatic approach is proposed for describing the mechanism of crack propagation from microfractures in brittle solids in an arbitrary triaxial stressed state. A microdefect is described by a collection of fronts in its plane. Reduced tensile stresses attributed to adjacent constraints between structure elements of the medium are calculated for each of the fronts. Microfractures are assumed to occur discretely in the case where a theoretical strength of constraints is attained. A microfracture is treated as a nonequilibrium and, hence, extremely rapid process of stability loss suffered by a tensile structure. Crack propagation is considered to be a sequence of extremely rapid microfractures alternating with much more prolonged time intervals during which singularities are formed in the neighborhood of the resulting fracture fronts. For different kinds of triaxial loading, differences in regularities underlying crack propagation and in features of their surface microconfigurations are revealed. Furthermore, the difference in the extent to which the strength of the brittle region is affected by triaxial loading components is examined for different kinds of triaxial loading. These regularities are shown to agree well with characteristic features of the properties of brittle materials that cannot be explained within well-known concepts.


BACKGROUND: Mongolia has one of the highest rates of viral hepatitis infections worldwide yet risk factors have been largely unstudied. This sentinel study of hepatitis infection in Mongolia determined the prevalence of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis C virus antibody (anti‐HCV) among a sample of blood donors and identified demographic and behavioral factors associated with hepatitis infection.


Purpose: Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is a potentially fatal disease. Inhaled iloprost, a stable analogue of prostacyclin, has recently been used as a therapeutic option. However, there are no clinical guidelines on the use of ilo prost, specifically for neonates. This study aimed to suggest the use of inhaled iloprost as a rescue therapy for PPHN based on our experience. Methods: The efficacy and adverse events of inhaled iloprost were evaluated pro spectively in nine fullterm neonates with PPHN. We monitored the following para meters: fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2), respiratory severity score (RSS), heart rate, and mean blood pressure. Results: The inhalation dose was 1 to 2 μg/kg initially, and 4 to 8 inhalations per day were applied over 2 to 8 days, except in the case of one neonate who died 2 days after birth. Echocardiographic findings, changes in FiO2, and RSS improved within the next 7 days in eight of the nine patients. Severe side effects on heart rate and blood pressure were not observed. Conclusion: Our experience suggests that inhaled iloprost can be used as a firstline treatment in newborn infants with PPHN when inhaled nitric oxide is not available. To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first prospective case series on the use of inhaled iloprost in PPHN.


SUMMARY Intracellular microelectrodes were used to study a cholinergic synapse between two identified neurones: the lateral filiform hair sensory neurone (LFHSN) and giant interneurone 3 (GI 3) in the terminal ganglion of the first-instar cockroach Periplaneta americana. The presynaptic cell, LFHSN, was impaled in a region of the axon which forms large numbers of output synapses. The sign and magnitude of the LFHSN spike afterpotential were shown to depend on [Ca 2+ ]o. ljumoir 1 tetrodotoxin (TTX) abolished LFHSN spikes but the addition of 0-1 mmoir 1 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) enabled regenerative depolarizations to be evoked which were followed by large EPSPs in GI3. Addition of 20mmoir


The research which it sees will confront to the coating with paint material and a coating with paint public law application of the river bridge and it will present it will sleep and it will execute, it will reach and a comparison - an analysis from the research which it tries to respect middle of special environment the polyurethane system which is a method coating with paint system and fluorine resin system, against a ceramic system it executed more an objectivity and rational fundamental data. With research method against each coating with paint evening sunlight a research investigation material and structure, it separated with spatial-temporal characteristic and economic viewpoint it executed. When considering overview from material viewpoint, fluorine resin system ceramic system polyurethane system pure with it is judged with the fact that it is excellent. There is a possibility of saying that the coefficient of friction of the fluorine resin system which uses the weapon quality zinc end coating compound ever so hard and polyurethane system is excellent ceramic system than from structure viewpoint. That fluorine resin system = polyurethane system ceramic system pure with it is excellent, it is judged from spatial-temporal characteristic viewpoint. It measures but it considered an internal troubles year grudge in the standard which becomes disturbance the place where it executes the market the expectation life person of the general bridge against 100 years the result fluorine resin system polyurethane system ceramic system which compares a materials unit cost pure with it appeared.


Complex combinations of coordinated multiple views are increasingly used to design tools for highly interactive visual exploration and analysis of multidimensional data. While complex coordination patterns provide substantial utility through expressive querying, they also exhibit usability problems for users when learning required interaction sequences, recalling past queries, and interpreting visual states. As visual analysis tools grow more sophisticated, there is a growing need to make them more understandable as well. Our long-term goal is to exploit natural language familiarity and literacy to directly facilitate individual and collaborative use of visual analysis tools. In this poster, we present work in progress on an automatically generated query-to-question user interface to translate interactive states during visual analysis into an accompanying visual log of formatted text. Our effort currently focuses on a symmetric and thus relatively simple coordination pattern: cross-filtered views. We describe our current thinking about query-to-question translation in a typical cross-filtered visualization of movies, people, and genres in the Internet Movie Database.


During Monday morning clinic in mid-July, you refer 2 cases to the emergency department (ED). The first is a 2-week-old neonate who has had 1 day of decreased oral intake and a temperature of 102°F (38.9°C) at your clinic. The baby appears alert with normal findings on physical examination. Later in themorning you receive an update call from the ED attending physician. Examination of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shows pleocytosis with 55 white blood cells/mL but normal glucose (68 mg/dL) and protein (90 mg/dL) measurements. The Gram stain is negative. The CSF is positive for enterovirus (EV) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The second case is a 5-year-old boy with a history of asthma who has had a cough for 3 days and difficulty breathing for 1 day. He does not respond to 2 backto-back treatments with inhaled albuterol, so you refer him to the ED. He is subsequently admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit for management of status asthmaticus. A nasopharyngeal multiplex film array assay is positive for EV/rhinovirus.


The publication continues a series of articles about the peculiarities of memorial names occurring in the cities of the Central Federal District of Russia. This article considers the specificity of urbanonyms names of geographical features. The author traces the history of this type of proper names, especially the creation of such place names in the capital and the provinces. The article notes that the first memorial names of geographical features appeared in Russia before the revolution of 1917 in St. Petersburg. In province, such type of names at that time were singular and were found only in provincial towns. After the revolution of 1917 memorial names of geographical objects began to appear in the new capital Moscow as well as in large provincial cities. In small towns, such place names were rare. The memorial names emerged in the second half on the 20th century. The author examines the urbanonym models as memorial names of regions, towns, water objects. Memorial place names include urbanonyms in honor of rural and urban centers, region and industrial centers of the Russian Federation and the cities of the former USSR. Urbanonyms in honor of rural and urbancenters were created in large provincial cities. There are place names in honor of industrial and regional centers on the map of Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as many big cities. The choice of geographical realities for memorial names was influenced by economic, political and international relations.


Abstract In a changing climate, there is an interest in predicting how extreme rainfall events may change. Using historical records, several recent papers have evaluated whether high-intensity precipitation scales with temperature in accordance with the Clausius–Clapeyron (C–C) relationship. For varying locations in Europe, these papers have identified both super C–C relationships as well as a breakdown of the C–C relationship under dry conditions. In this paper, a similar analysis is carried out for the United States using data from 14 weather stations clustered in four different hydroclimatic regions: the coastal northeast, interior New York, the central plains, and the western plains. In all regions except interior New York state, 99th percentile 1-h precipitation generally followed the C–C relation. In interior New York, there was evidence that intensity scaled with a super C–C relationship. For the 99.9th percentile precipitation, interior New York displayed some moderate evidence of a super C–C rela...


Temperature-dependent electron spin resonance spectra of main-chain free radicals, -CF 2 (β)-C . F(α)-CF 2 (β)-, in poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) were analyzed by the change in the hyperfine splitting due to β-fluorines, which was a decreasing function of the observation temperature. The results were interpreted in terms of the rotational vibration around the C α -C β bond. The amplitude of the vibration was estimated on the assumption of its harmonic oscillation. The vibration of the PTFE chain was found to have a large amplitude in comparison with that of a polyethylene chain in single crystals. The vibration of the large amplitude was caused by a weak interchain interaction in the PTFE matrices. The amplitude of the vibration in crosslinked PTFE was much larger than that in noncrosslinked PTFE. This result indicated that the free radicals in crosslinked PTFE were trapped in the amorphous region, which had the disordered sites of crosslinking, whereas the free radicals in noncrosslinked PTFE were mainly trapped in the paracrystalline region. The decay reaction of the free radicals in the PTFE matrices was also related to the heterogeneity in the structure and the rotational vibration.


Human resources will always be needed in every production process either to produce goods or in the field of services, this needs to be considered for companies to always involve employees in the company's development process. the shape and purpose of the organization, various visions are designed to realize human interests which in realizing its mission also involve human resources in it. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of employee engagement, organizational culture on employee performance through job satisfaction as an intervening variable at PT Sekar Katokichi Sidoarjo. This research is a type of quantitative research that uses data processing in the form of numbers. Using a sample of 141 employees at PT Sekar Katokichi Sidoarjo, with the distribution of questionnaires which were then tested through various measuring instruments using the help of the IBM SPSS program. The results of this study indicate that there is a direct influence of employee engagement on organizational culture on employee performance. Indirect influence of employee engagement, organizational culture on employee performance through job satisfaction as an intervening variable.


Objective:To study the influence of pre-hospital emergency service models on service effectiveness. Methods:The control group included 1301 cases in which emergence services were delivered by healthcare workers working for both the hospital emergency services and the pre-hospital emergency services ("Amphibian" model) from Jan. to Oct.2003. The experimental group included 1574 cases in which emergency services were delivered by pre-hospital emergency professionals from Jan. to Oct.2004. The service effectiveness of these two groups were compared and analyzed. Results:There were no significant differences in the average service radius and the patient's condition level between the two groups(P 0.05); the inner hospital response time in the experimental group was significantly shorter than in the control group; the pre-hospital mortality and the complications occurrence rate was lower in the experimental group than that in the control group(P 0.05);the local treatment rate and the service effectiveness rate in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P 0.01). Conclusion:pre-hospital emergency service models can significantly influence service effectiveness. The service effectiveness of professional pre-hospital emergency service model is significantly better than that of "Amphibian" model. Professionalism should be the direction of pre-hospital emergency services.


A novel method of analyzing casting defects such as shrinkage cavities by utilizing high-energy x-ray computed tomography (CT) has been developed. The method was realized as the module of three-dimensional (3-D) bitmap CAD software StereoCooker for utilizing x-ray CT images. The cavity measurement method was based on the defocusing feature of an x-ray CT image. The authors assumed the defocusing to Gaussian, and therefore the diameter of the cavity could be calculated from the summation of the voxel value profile of the cavity and the circumference. The Gaussian defocusing hypothesis was confirmed by the CT reconstruction simulation with an accuracy higher than 10% for the conditions of the actual x-ray CT apparatus. The cavity measurement method was verified by applying it to cavity test pieces. The test pieces had cavity diameters of 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8 and 1.0mm. Using the rotate-only mode of the 6MeV x-ray CT, cavities of 0.6mm or greater in diameter could be detected. The accuracy of the cavity size is higher than 0.1mm for diameters of 0.7mm and greater. The verification of simulation by a comparison of the defects predicted by a simulation and those measured by this method has been proposed.Copyright © 2005 by ASME


This study examines the hotel experiences of gay men and lesbians, using qualitative interviews of 54 self-identified lesbians and gay men in the United Kingdom and Israel. The findings show that participants are highly affected by the symbolic meanings they assign to specific elements of the hotel experience. Results indicate that it is important for gay men and lesbians to feel accepted and welcome when their sexual orientation is known. Specifically, they wish to be treated in the same way they believe heterosexuals are treated. Critical elements of the hotel experience focus on the behavior of hotel staff, hotel attributes, and the environment of the hotel. The findings may assist in shaping service provision for, and service delivery to, lesbians and gay men.


The Early Palaeozoic Cape River Metamorphics consist mainly of psammitic gneiss and schist and occur as an extensive linear belt at the western margin of the Charters Towers Province 200 km southwest of Townsville in the northern Tasmanides. A prominent foliation (S2) is the main structure in the belt and is associated with tight to isoclinal folds, subparallel mineral and intersection lineations, and boudinaged pods of vein quartz and pegmatite. In the southwest, the main foliation is a crenulation cleavage (S2) related to D2 deformation. It overprints steeply dipping foliation (S1) formed in a D1 deformation but no associated folds have been found. Gently plunging, upright, open folds (D3 deformation) with axial planar S3 crenulation cleavage have affected the main foliation (S2). These deformations were associated with upper greenschist to lower amphibolite facies metamorphism. Amphibolite-grade orthogneiss containing S2 and S3, deformed granite and migmatite of the Fat Hen Creek Complex occurs in the northeast. In the southwest, the main foliation (S2) is folded around a map-scale, gently plunging synclinorium indicating that S2 formed with a subhorizontal orientation. In metamorphic rocks, the origin of widespread, intense subhorizontal foliation, usually associated with recumbent folds, has been considered problematic and in many cases is attributed to crustal extension. We relate the origin of D2 structures to subvertical shortening (i.e. extension) resulting in orientations that are strikingly divergent to those of upright D1 and D3 structures that were induced by compression. The proposed extensional event is poorly constrained in timing but it affected much of the Fat Hen Creek Complex, the oldest known phase of which is 493 Ma, and occurred prior to 40Ar/39Ar cooling ages at 423 – 409 Ma that also post-dated the D3 deformation.


When compared to films meant for adults, several studies have reported findings of the rate of deaths within children's films to be higher than the rate of deaths in movies targeted towards adults. Many researchers speculate that the reason for the higher percentage of violent and gory deaths of supporting roles in movies and literature targeted towards younger audiences allow children to have a higher exposure to the heavy topic of death. My research aims to show how the higher rate of deaths in children's films and the resulting increased exposure to this sensitive topic can help children cope better with many different types of loss throughout their lives. Keyword: concept of death, childhood experiences, сhildren's films, independent problem solving, movie characters as role model. By providing case studies of the films Finding Nemo, Coco, The Lion King, and Frozen this paper will prove that death in children's media is not only being used to help children cope with death itself, but also losses like mental health, parental abandonment, confusing familial conflict, and older siblings distancing themselves during puberty or young adulthood. In the film Finding Nemo, Nemo has to navigate his way through his childhood with a mother figure around to support him. The sudden loss of his mother also ends up putting his father on an edge, and the viewers are introduced to some sort of anxiety induced mental illness. The film better exposes children and normalizes to them the different types of mental illnesses that they might see within their parents, peers, and maybe even themselves as they grow older. Finding Nemo also gives children an example of how Nemo manages to grow up without a mom in his life, and reassures the viewer that they're not the only one going through the loss of a mom. In the next analyzed film, Coco, Miguel's family was once abandoned by his great-grandfather, and since then, even the very mention of Miguel's great-grandfather's name has been shunned from the family. Miguel is forced to wonder about his greatgrandfather in silence, and he also has to learn about how his grandma grew up after her father abandoned their family. Coco normalizes to kids the questions expected to be asked about abandoned parental figures, and also normalizes how to healthily grapple with the mixed emotions that come with learning about abandonment. Another analyzed film was The Lion King, which although the topic was very subtle, still served as a symbolic way to reach out to kids and help make it easier for them to deal with the issue at hand. After Simba's dad dies, his mom is forced DOES DEATH WITHIN CHILDREN'S FILMS AND LITERATURE MAKE IT EASIER FOR A CHILD TO DEAL WITH LOSS IN A MORE SYMBOLIC MANNER? 59 to remarry Scar, the next suitable successor in line. Simba doesn't understand what's going on, and feels hurt and confused. This example can also symbolize divorce which is a big aspect in many childrens lives. Throughout the film, children are able to relate to Simba's emotions and are also able to see that they're not alone and that other people are also facing the same struggles that they are. The last film analyzed was Frozen, in which the separation of the two sisters was a major plot point. Younger audiences may find this relatable in the sense of one of their siblings putting distance in between them due to external reasons such as college, puberty, and more. Frozen explores the emotions that Anna feels when Elsa refuses to come out of her room and play with her, and it also shows the audience that Anna's not at fault for the reason that Elsa is putting distance in between them. The film symbolizes to children that the sudden pull away of an older sibling is not always their fault, and that external factors must be included into the reason why the older sibling distanced themself. Frozen also normalizes the feelings that a child would go through when their sibling refuses to play with them, and symbolizes to the viewers that no one is at fault for a distance between two siblings.


ABSTRACT The proposed work deals with the tribological studies of thermal spray coated nano ceramic composite materials (GO/WC-10Co-4Cr) under the presence of jojoba oil based bio lubricant. Flame spray coating was carried out on AA6061 discs with coating thickness of (50–150 µm) by different concentrations of (GO) graphene oxide (0.075–1%)wt. + nano mixture of WC-10Co-4Cr powder. Tribology tests were conducted on the coated disc samples using pin on disc apparatus as per ASTM G99-05 for various test parameters namely applied load (50N–150N), disc rotational speed (1–10 m s−1), % vol. concentration of Jojoba oil (0–30%). Results obtained from the tribo tests clarifies that the 0.085 GO/WC-10Co-4Cr composite coatings with 150µm exhibited lower friction coefficient of 0.1854, lesser wear rate of 2.25×10−5 mm3 Nm−1 compared with that of the uncoated specimens. SEM analysis portrays the formation of IMC'S (aluminium carbonate Al2(CO3)3 and chromate Al2(CrO4)3)to strengthen the boundary regime against oxidative wear.


This paper focuses on the emergence of radio receiver technology and its use by the American public as revealed in 1,725 magazine display advertisements in 12 general circulation and women's magazines from 1920 through 1929. It explores how the complicated wireless telephone receiver was adapted to usability for the decidedly nontechnical public. The study also explores how the "new"; radio — broadcasting — became useful to the general public in various aspects of daily life by the end of the decade. From a technical and social novelty in 1920, radio had evolved to a place squarely‐ on the path to social and cultural integration with American society by 1929.


In order to obtain optimum conditions for in vitro propagation of the apple rootstock M 26 (Malus pumila Mill.) in adult and juvenile growth phases, several rooting experiments were performed. Supraoptimal concentrations of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) added to the rooting media resulted in profuse callus formation. Since extensive callus production is detrimental to the survival of the plantlets, modified culture conditions were established to reduce callus formation. A reduction of the time of exposure to IBA to 5 days and, thereafter, transfer to a hormone-free medium did not eliminate callus production. Exposure to darkness during the root initiation phase increased rooting. When the rooting medium was based on the Lepoivre formula instead of the Murashige and Skoog formula, callus formation was reduced. Optimum conditions for rooting were obtained at much lower concentration than earlier reported, being 1.25 μM for the juvenile and 0.5 μM for the adult growth phase in the range of IBA concentrations tested. Anatomical studies revealed that root initials are formed after 5 days of IBA-treatment. Therefore, we transferred shoots directly to non-sterile conditions after the root-inducing phase. This resulted in a 90% survival of the plantlets. Subculture on hormone-free medium can thus be eliminated when the optimum auxin concentration is known.


A new chopper of corn straw and stubble is researched in this paper.The moving forward speed of machine,the rotational speed of bladeaxle,and the obliquity of rotary blade are used as test elements.With smashing ratio and power consumption as test index,and adopting orthogonal experiment,the new chopper of corn straw and stubble is tested in the field.The effect of structure and movement parameters of the new chopper of corn straw and stubble on the smashing capability and power consumption is analyzed.The results show that the rotational speed of blade-axle and the moving forward speed of machine mainly influence the power consumption and smashing ratio.The obliquity of rotary blade has a great effect on power consumption with chopping corn straw and stubble,but less on smashing ratio.Optimized combination is that the rotational speed of blade-axle is 480 r/min,the obliquity of rotary blade is 6°,and the moving forward speed of machine is 2.45km/m.


The problem of determining the convolutional kernel $k(t,x)$, $t>0$, $x \in {\Bbb R}$, included in a hyperbolic integro-differential equation of the second order, is investigated in a domain bounded by a variable $z$ and having weakly horizontal heterogeneity. It is assumed that this kernel weakly depends on the variable $x$ and decomposes into a power series by degrees of a small parameter $\varepsilon$. A method for finding the first two coefficients $k_{0}(t)$, $k_{1}(t)$ of this expansion is constructed according to the given first two moments in the variable $x$ of the solution of the direct problem at $z=0$.


We report on numerical results from a revised hydrodynamic simulation of binary neutron-star orbits near merger. We find that the correction recently identified by Flanagan significantly reduces but does not eliminate the neutron-star compression effect. Although results of the revised simulations show that the compression is reduced for a given total orbital angular momentum, the inner most stable circular orbit moves to closer separation distances. At these closer orbits significant compression and even collapse are still possible prior to merger for a sufficiently soft EOS. We note, however, that the compression observed in the simulation is within the numerical error and also of order of the error expected from the approximation of a conformally flat spatial three metric. The reduced compression in the corrected simulation is consistent with other recent studies of rigid irrotational binaries in quasiequilibrium in which the compression effect is observed to be small. Another significant effect of this correction is that the derived binary orbital frequencies are now in closer agreement with post-Newtonian expectations. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.


Objective 130 patients undergoing bronchoscopy were analyzed.Mechods Patients were randomized to receive 80mg lidocaine of nebuization before bronchoscopy.It was performed before and 2h after bronchoscopy in all patients.Results Findings before,during,and after bronchoscopy were similar in patients.It had little influence on patients.Conclusion Trial of lidocaine nebulization for bronchoscopy in patients is better than routine ways.Premedication with an inhaled lidocaine can be recommended in patients undergoing bronchoscopy.


The new generation of dispatching exchange network based on soft-switch technology can provide voice, data, instant messaging and other multimedia applications, which is well meeting the demand of electric power dispatching production operation. This paper analyzes the realization ways of different IP recording modes, and proposes the integrated dispatching exchange network recording scheme for the power grid, power plants and other different recording scenarios. It can ensure the smooth migration from the traditional power dispatching exchange network to the new generation of the soft exchange network.


Application of simultaneous engineering for manufacturing process in assembly shop was discussed.The concept of manufacturing process guiding design was introduced.The modular production,platform design of production,how to realize the process simultaneous engineering were described.Through simultaneous engineering,the new model development cycle is shortened,the production cost is controlled better and the quality is improved.


ABSTRACT Regional Hurricane modeling systems developed and implemented into operations at National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS) are now used for tropical cyclone forecast guidance in all ocean basins of the world. Lately, HWRF (Hurricane Weather Research and Forecast) modeling system has made significant improvements to the state of the art in numerical guidance for tropical cyclone track, intensity, size, structure and rainfall forecasts. These improvements come from advances in various components of the modeling system that are incorporated into the model in yearly upgrade cycles. NWS/NCEP/Environmental Modeling Center's hurricane team has also developed another non-hydrostatic hurricane model in NOAA Environmental Modeling System (NEMS) framework known as HMON (Hurricanes in a Multi-scale Ocean-coupled Non-hydrostatic) model which was implemented at NCEP operations this past year. Development of HMON is consistent with, and a step closer to developing Next Generation Global Prediction System (NGGPS) chosen Finite Volume Cubed-Sphere (FV3) dynamic core based global to local scale coupled models in a unified modeling framework. In this paper, operational configuration details of this new HMON model are discussed along with operational HWRF model upgrades, and their forecast performance is compared to other models. We also discuss plans for hurricane model improvements in the next two to five years.


Objectives:The screening examination of bladder cancer by detecting urinary survivin and the survivin expression in bladder cancer were evaluated. Methods:Urinary survivin was detected by ELISA and survivn expression of tumor tissue was observed by immunohistochemistry.(Results):There was significant difference in urinary survivin between the groups of treatment and control((P0.01)) and correlation of survivin in urine and in tumor tissue(r=0.97,P0.01).There is significant difference in immunostaining density of survivin between cases with different stages,grades and disease-free time among the group of treatment(P0.05). Conclusion: Detecting urinary survivin is probably a convenient uninvasive test for screening examination of bladder cancer and follow-up examination after treatment.


The Ornstein–Zernike integral equation relating direct and indirect correlation functions has been generalized to linear molecules and solved numerically for a hard‐core diatomic model with the aid of the Percus–Yevick approximation. The generalized PY equation was decomposed into a set of coupled integral equations by expanding the correlation functions in series of spherical harmonics. Iterative solutions of the Fourier‐transformed form of these expressions were obtained after truncating the set. Correlation functions were calculated in this way as a function of density for two values of the molecular length and then used to evaluate compressibility factors from both the pressure and compressibility equations. It is found that the pair correlations at moderate densities obtained from the PY equation do not differ greatly from those calculated previously from density series. In addition, the various equations of state for this and similar hard‐core nonspherical models do not differ greatly from one anoth...


The lack of definition about what would be "integrality" is at the same time a fragility and a potentiality. We can say that integrality is not just a guideline of the National Health System as defined in the constitution. It is a fight flag, a part of the objective image in an statement of such characteristics of the health system, of its institutions and of its practices that are considered desirable by someone. Yet, the subjective image is highlighted as a beaconing element in the health system joined to the ideology of desire, full of feelings, emotion and motivation to the collective construction in the defense of health(1). The Health Organic Law has established the fundamentals of the National Health System, as based on the article 198 of the Federal Constitution. One of them is the integrality "[...] understood as an articulated and continuous set of preventive and healing actions and services for individuals and population, required for each step in al levels of complexity of the system". In such way, this principle seeks to assure the user an attention which includes actions of promotion, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation(2). The reflections developed by health care researchers point that other meanings can be added to those, amplifying the conception of integrality. So, three great sense groups for integrality relate to: a) practice attribute of health care professionals, including the values connected to what is defined as a good practice, not only to what is under in the National Health System; b) service organization attributes and c) government response to health problems can be highlighted(1). In the perspective of integrality, it is possible to affirm, then, that the health production process says about, necessarily, to a collective and cooperative work between subjects, and it is done in a relational network that requires interaction and permanent dialogue. The care, in this relational network, as it is permeated by asymmetries of knowing and power, is a major and imperative demand in health care work and, specially, in Nursing care. We emphasize that the more conscious and more capable we are the more we will be announcers and denouncers face the commitment we assumed allowing to unveil the reality, looking for to unmask its myth and to reach full completion of human work with transforming actions of reality to make people free. The integrality replaces the work sense in health and in Nursing in the re-constitution of humanity of the people when facing their health needs. From this perspective, health work rescues its ontological sense, because integral attention in health is focused toward the necessities of the man as a subject of existential production and not as an object of capital accumulation(3). In another words, integrality supposes the care of the other in his suffering, not only his illness process.


Mo-MCM- 41 molecular sieve was prepared by hydrothermal synthesis method, and BO3-3/ZrO2/Mo-MCM- 41 molecular sieve was prepared by impregnating Mo-MCM- 41 successively with H3BO3 and Zr(SO4)2 solutions. BO3-3/ZrO2/Mo-MCM- 41 molecular sieve was characterized by XRD,N2/adsorption-desorption,FT-IR and NH3-TPD measurement. The results show that the molecular sieve obtained possesses the characteristics of mesopores, good long-range order and crystallinity, and that BO3-3 and ZrO2 are combined with the framework of the molecular sieve so that its acidity is improved. To find out a new method for synthesize polymerized rosin to replace the conventional methods using sulfuric acid as catalyst that exists serious disadvantages, the mesoporous molecular sieve was firstly used under supercritical CO2 condition. It was shown in the reaction that the supercritical CO2 fluid was favorable to the synthesis of polymerized rosin, and that BO3-3/ZrO2/Mo-MCM- 41 molecular sieve exhibited good catalytic activity. Under supercritical carbon dioxide conditions,the product which showed a softening point of 106 ℃ was obtained by using BO3-3/ZrO2/Mo-MCM- 41 mesoporous molecular sieves as catalyst. The reason for decrease of catalyst activity was studied by FT-IR measurement. It is the main factors leading to decrease of catalyst activity that acidity center of catalyst was lost after catalyst was used.


Aims: This study aimed to investigate the roles of neuronal (nNOS) and endothelial (eNOS) nitric oxide synthase in the nerve growth factor (NGF) response during the development of the trigeminal ganglion (TG). In addition the roles of these nitric oxide synthases following NGF withdrawal were ascertained. Finally the effects of administration of high doses of exogenous reactive nitrogen species were considered. Study Design and Methodology : Primary cultures oftrigeminal sensory neurons were pharmacologically treated with reagents known to specifically modify the activity of NOS isoforms or were treated with reagents that release exogenous reactive nitrogen species In vitro. Cultures were maintained for 24 hour s after treatment and the number of surviving neurons determined.In vivodetermination of NOS isoform expression was carried out using immunohistochemistry. OriginalResearch Article


Fluoride content of environmental water samples collected from the vicinity of Pilanesberg National Park was determined using a Fluoride Ion Selective Electrode (F-ISE). Different Total Ionic Strength Adjustment Buffers (TISABs) EDTA, CDTA, citrate and acetate buffers, were compared for their effectiveness in releasing fluorine into the solution in its ionic form, by adjusting the pH and ionic strength of the solution, as well as by chelating polyvalent cations present in the samples. Nine water samples were collected from different sites around the park, where there is a decommissioned fluorspar mine, and an extinct volcano for fluoride content. Quantification was carried out by means of multipoint calibration covering the range of interest in all treatments. The fluoride concentration was calculated using the Nernst equation with values obtained from the calibration graph. It was found that CDTA and EDTA buffers were the best TISABs as they produced a better linearity, slope and recovery in that order, whereas the other acetate also produced better parameters and results than the untreated water samples. *Corresponding author: Forsido TT, Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Arcadia Campus, P. O. Box 56208, Arcadia 0001, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa, Tel:+ 27814705520; E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Received date: January 19, 2021; Accepted date: February 02, 2021; Published date: February 09, 2021 Citation: Forsido TT, Ndibewu P (2021) Comparison of different Total Ionic Strength Adjustment Buffer Compositions for Determination of Low Level Fluoride in Environmental Water Samples with Fluoride Ion Selective Electrode. J Ecosys Ecograph 11: 280. Copyright: © 2021 Forsido TT et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.


Two-thirds of the world's private companies are family owned. It is an organizational model that, despite the arrival of large corporations, remains and is still totally in place. The survival of these organizations is not easy, and is conditioned by multiple factors. The research that addresses the sustainability of family businesses is numerous and has been conducted from multiple disciplines. This document investigates the trends in scientific production related to family businesses and their sustainability, using bibliometric techniques and SciMAT software. A total of 286 articles were analysed between 2003 and 2019 from the journals indexed in the Web of Science (WoS). The results suggest that, although there is a growing interest in the study of the sustainability of family businesses, there is instability in the centrality of the topics, which denotes the existence of a wide margin of development. The most influential and trend-setting themes emerge mainly concentrated in three lines: those that analyse factors that drive sustainability, such as socio-emotional wealth and stakeholders; those interested in knowing about methods or practices that favour sustainability, such as CSR, performance, management or innovation; and those that investigate factors that endanger survival, mainly intergenerational succession processes. The contribution of this work is that, through bibliometric techniques, it sheds light on the groups of topics that condition the sustainability of family businesses, which will help the scientific community in the orientation of future work in this field of research.


The US Food and Drug Administration last week told healthcare professionals that it is updating safety information and recommendations on metal-on-metal hip replacements because of early failures in many cases.

The FDA also issued a proposed order that would require manufacturers of metal-on-metal hip replacements to submit premarket approval applications to prove the safety of the devices. At present the manufacturers have to show only that their devices are similar to ones on the market.

The FDA announcement said, …


A Linear Fluid Inertia Model for Improved Prediction of Force Coefficients in Grooved Squeeze Film Dampers and Grooved Oil Seal Rings. (December 2008) Adolfo Delgado-Marquez, B.S., Universidad Simón Bolívar; M.S., Texas A&M University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Luis San Andrés In Squeeze Film Dampers, (SFD), grooves (deep or shallow) are used to feed oil into the damper and prevent oil starvation within the fluid film lands. In oil seals with film land of clearance c, short shallow grooves (depth ≤ 15c, length ≤ 30c) are machined to reduce the cross-coupled stiffness coefficients, and thus improve the seal stability characteristics. Moreover, test stands for these devices can also incorporate grooves or recesses as part of oil feeding/ discharge arrangements. A common assumption is that these grooves do not influence the test system forced response. However, unexpected large added mass coefficients are reported in these configurations and not adequately predicted. In the case of grooved oil seals, experimental results also show that circumferential grooves do aid to reduce cross-coupled force coefficients but to a lesser extent than predictions otherwise indicate. A linear fluid inertia model for analysis of multiple-groove SFD or oil seal configurations is advanced. A perturbation analysis for small motion about a journal centered and off-centered position yields zeroth and first order flow equations defined at each individual flow region (land and grooves) of constant clearance ( c ).The analysis considers both the circumferential and axial dynamic pressure variations across the groove and land regions. At the groove regions, an effective groove depth ( dη ) and effective clearance ( c d c η η = + ) are defined based on qualitative observations of the laminar flow pattern through annular cavities. This depth differs from the actual physical groove depth. The boundary conditions at the inlet and exit plane are a function of the


Health is a healthy state of a person who is not only physically but also socially, spiritually and mentally. In every area there must be a health service facility called a hospital. The construction of hospitals in Pontianak City is not so evenly distributed, especially in North Pontianak District. Type C general hospital is a hospital with a capacity of at least 100 inpatient beds, and related to the number of facilities and the ability of specialized medical services at least 4 (four) basic specialists. The approach used in planning a type C hospital is a healing environment approach, which is an approach that combines elements of nature, psychology, and the senses with considerations of site, actors and activities, size of space, architectural elements, structures, utilities. The purpose of this design is the design of a type C hospital that can meet the needs of health facilities in North Pontianak District and the design of a hospital building that is comfortable, safe, and can respond to the surrounding environment by combining natural, psychological, and sensory elements. The methodology used is data collection, data analysis and synthesis, and the design phase. The result of the design of a type C hospital is a hospital building that is comfortable, safe, and able to respond to the surrounding environment by combining natural, psychological, and sensory elements in North Pontianak District.


The effect of the intensity of the exciting radiation on the efficiency of zinc-sulphide phosphors activated with silver an d containing varying amounts of cobalt below 4·10−4 percent has been studied at temperatures between −180° and 100°C. The results are in agreement with the theory of hole migration and show that the rate of recombination of electrons with ionized killing centers is much faster than that of electrons with ionized silver centers. From the change of intensity dependence with temperature between 0 and 100°C the distance between the activator level and the full band was found to be 0.37 ev. To explain an anomalous result at low temperatures with high Co concentrations, it is suggested that shallow electron traps are present in the zinc-sulphide lattice.


Breast Cancer is one of the dangerous diseases in most of the countries. There are many techniques for early detection of breast cancer to prevent from death. Most commonly used techniques are massive screening, physical examination, MRI scanning, X-ray, ultrasound scanning. However, these techniques have several technical limitations that reduce the diagnostic accuracy. Digital mammography technique can be used for the early dectection of breast cancer.It is most efficient and it provides additional features.Data security is a very important issue when mamommographic images transferred in public network.Generally security is characterised in terms of privacy, authenticity and integrity. All the above three aspects should be considered in a telemammography system.In this paper we describe how to implement data security in telemammography system by using public key cryptography techniques.AIDM is an effective method for image authenticity and integrity in telemammography application.


This study aimed to identify the perspective of wheelchair basketball players and workers in the Arab world toward applying professionalizm. It also aimed to identify the differences in the perspectives toward applying professionalizm according to the attribute variable (player, administrative, coach). The study sample consisted of all the Arab participant teams in the Al-Nahda First Arab Championship for Wheelchair Basketball and the Silver Jubilee Championship for the Jordanian Paralympic Committee that took place in Jordan. The total number of participants was (97) as follows: (74) players, (14) administratives, and (9) coaches. The proficiency questionnaire was administered as an instrument to collect the data.
The data were analyzed using the mean, the standard deviation, the percentile, and One way ANOVA. The results indicated a positive perspective by the players and workers in the wheelchair basketball game toward applying the principle of proficiency. The results also showed that there are no differences of statistic indication in the perspectives toward applying the proficiency according to the attribute variable (player, administrative, coach).
In light of the study results, the researchers recommended a necessity for conducting studies related to proficiency aspects that have not been handled by this study until the completion of proficiency special framework, a necessity for gathering Arab efforts represented by the Arab Federation of sport games and the Arab nation paralympic committees to study the possibility of applying proficiency in the field of wheelchair basketball game.


This paper presents the research developed in order to detect the cardiac structure in echocardiography gray images from the fetal heart. It is based on patten recognition and use a density probability function with the scales of gray. The function is also used for search of the similar cardiac structure, where it is applied on the whole image, and then compared with the pattern of structure in which one interested. In order to obtain the similarity that defines the choice of the structure of interest we use the Bhattacharyya coefficient. The method uses texture features to isolate the region of interest inside the ultrasound image to improve the results and performance. A prototype was developed to evaluate the proposed method. The results of the experiments are also presented in this paper.


This study is an empirical study of 'the effect of the key factors of Smart Factory on management performance through internal environmental factors in small and medium enterprises'. The purpose of the research is to verify that the implementation of a Smart Factory affects the performance of management and contribute to the continued development of the company, and to suggest the national policy of expanding the deployment of a Smart Factory. The procedures were surveyed by working-level officials of small and medium-sized manufacturing companies with a Smart Factory and statistically analyzed with the SPSS and SMART PLS. The results of the study showed that first, the environmental factors within the company had a positive effect on the key components of the Smart Factory. Second, the key factor in Smart Factory has had a positive impact on management performance. The above evidence shows that the key factors in smart factory considering the environmental factors of an enterprise affect its management performance, thus laying the theoretical foundation for the performance of smart factory construction. In the future, we will study how to build a Smart Factory.


The increased interest in recent years regarding the properties and applications of nanomaterials has also created the need to characterize the structures of these materials. However, due to the lack of long-range atomic ordering, the structures of nanostructured and amorphous materials are not accessible by conventional diffraction methods used to study crystalline materials. One of the most promising techniques to study nanostructures using X-ray diffraction is by using the total scattering (Bragg peaks and diffuse scattering) from the samples and the pair distribution function (PDF) analysis. The pair distribution function provides the probability of finding atoms separated by a certain distance. This function is not direction-dependent; it only looks at the absolute value of the distance between the nearest neighbors, the next nearest neighbors and so on. The method can therefore also be used to analyze non-crystalline materials. From experimental point of view a typical PDF analysis requires the use of intense high-energy X-ray radiation (E ≥ 20 KeV) and a wide 2θ range. After the initial feasibility studies regarding the use of standard laboratory diffraction equipment for PDF analysis [1-3] this application has been further developed to achieve improved data quality and to extend the range of materials, environmental conditions and geometrical configurations that can be used for PDF experiments. Studies performed on different nanocrystalline and amorphous materials of scientific and technological interest, including organic substances, oxides, metallic alloys, etc. have demonstrated that PDF analysis with a laboratory diffractometer can be a valuable tool for structural characterization of nanomaterials. This contribution presents several examples of laboratory PDF studies, in which the experimental conditions have been successfully adapted to match the specific requirements of materials under investigation.


In second language (L2) research and testing, measures of oral fluency are used as diagnostics for proficiency. However, fluency is also determined by personality or speaking style, raising the question to what extent L2 fluency measures are valid indicators of L2 proficiency. In this study, we obtained a measure of L2 (Dutch) proficiency (vocabulary knowledge), L2 fluency measures, and fluency measures that were corrected for first language behavior from the same group of Turkish and English native speakers (N = 51). For most measures of fluency, except for silent pause duration, both the corrected and the uncorrected measures significantly predicted L2 proficiency. For syllable duration, the corrected measure was a stronger predictor of L2 proficiency than was the uncorrected measure. We conclude that for L2 research purposes, as well as for some types of L2 testing, it is useful to obtain corrected measures of syllable duration to measure L2-specific fluency.


We demonstrate a method to implement a Zeeman term to the 2D-Ising Hamiltonian in a spatial Ising machine. An NP-complete problem of the 2D-Ising spin-glass in an external magnetic field is studied.


Science" and "humanities" must be developed balancedly and harmoniously. In the past few years, though the education of humanities in university, of science and engineering has been strengthened, the phenomenon of regarding science as superior to humanities is still existing. Facing the internationalization of higher education, it's the top priority for university of science and engineering to strengthen the construction of the courses of humanities and carry forward the spirit of humanities.


The rise and sustainable development of mining enterprises are inextricably linked with the creation of competitive technology for advanced technologies in construction, mining, engineering and geological surveys. In the improvement of characteristic technologies, an important role is played by power discrete drives with linear electromagnetic engines, which make it possible to abandon motion converters and especially successfully compete with traditional electric engines in machines and installations where discrete translational motion of the working body is necessary. The kinematic separation of the armature and the output shaft and the use of an axial channel in a linear electromagnetic engine made it possible to create electromagnetic machines with new properties in which the mechanical power is derived using a toothed bar of any desired length. In the work, the force analysis of the interaction of the working body with the locking mechanism in a stepper linear electromagnetic drive engine of the conveyors is carried out. The degree of influence of the angle of inclination of the locking elements on the amount of effort required to drive the working body is revealed.


Conventional battery management systems (BMSs) typically adopt hierarchical master-module architectures with standard wired-communication systems for electrified vehicles. The installation of additional wiring causes critical wiring-harness issues and the centralized master-module BMS architecture may results in the failure of the entire system if the Master BMS fails. This paper proposes a new distributed wireless Internet of Things (IoT) network for dispersed and decentralized wireless battery management systems. The proposed network includes a lightweight IoT protocol, a fast and autonomous leader election algorithm for data aggregation and communication with external systems, and an IoT gateway for cloud support services. The proposed IoT network will enable battery systems to be simpler, dispersed, scalable, reliable, and cost effective.


This paper covers the two related areas of the European VMS Platform, and its work dealing with and seeking to harmonise VMS policy across Europe, and the VMS Working Group producing Codes of Practice based on European guidelines for the use of VMS and matrix signals. For a number of issues harmonisation may initially be difficult to achieve due to the technology currently Installed on the networks not being able to "universally" support the proposals and the cost implications of replacing that technology. Harmonisation may therefore recognise a range of different options for a number of areas. However indications are that new technology, such as the Highways Agency's MS4 VMS signs and similar developments across Europe, will enable greater harmonisation on issues such as danger warning pictograms. Through exchange and sharing of ideas between European Governments and VMS Committees and Industry relating to best practices, developments and policies, a more common approach can be encouraged. Key issues, such as a suitable pictogram for fog and for diversion routing, are being discussed to seek agreement.


Abstract The effects of 2 concentrations (15 and 30%) of ethanolic Argemone ochroleuca Sweet (Papaveraceae) extracts were determined on the feeding behavior and development of 3rd instar larvae of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) through their continuous ingestion of treated maize leaves for 48 h. The extracts were obtained from dried whole plants including stems, leaves, and flowers. Armyworm food consumption was slightly reduced (by 13 to 14%) at both concentrations compared with the controls. Larval growth was significantly affected only at the highest concentration, with a 23% reduction in larval weight after 48 h of feeding on the treated leaves and a 38% reduction after another 48 h of feeding on an untreated artificial diet. By contrast, the duration of the larval and pupal stages was prolonged by 43% (from 13.5 to 19.4 d) and by 8% (from 2.1 to 2.2 d), respectively. Total larval mortality was also higher at the highest concentration (31%) than in controls (10%). During the pupal stage, neither the number of pupae that formed nor their mortality or weight was significantly affected by the treatments. However, both of the bioassay concentrations significantly lengthened the duration of the pupal stage in males, whereas in females, only the higher concentration did. In addition, no effect was observed on the adult emergence, sex ratio, and fecundity. In summary, the primary effect of ethanolic A. ochroleuca extracts appears to be a reduction in feeding, which simultaneously slows larval growth and increases mortality.


Background: The comorbidity of personality disorders is a common phenomenon among bipolar patients. The purpose of this study was to present the frequencies of personality disorders in a sample of bipolar I patients after treatment of manic phase in patients consulted Farshchian Hospital in Hamadan. Methods: In this cross-sectional study of 101 adult patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder in the manic phase of hospitalization in Farshchian psychiatric hospital in Hamadan city assessed according DSM-IV after treatment of manic phase in 2012 by means of Millon clinical multiaxial inventory-3.Data analysis by frequency and chi square. Result: the overall frequency of personality disorder was (44.6%). The most common personality disorder cluster was cluster B (32.7%), followed by cluster C (6.9%) and a cluster (1%). Frequency of personality disorder was significantly high in patients with having family history of psychiatric disorder. The prevalence of cluster B personality disorder was high in the younger patients and (A + B) personality disorder was high in the older patients. Conclusion: Overall, the presence of comorbidities in BPD has negative prognostic implications for psychological health and for medical well-being. Clinicians should consider the diagnosis and treatment of personality disorders in patients.


Enterprise culture is an important soft power for the development of enterprises.The construction and development of socialist enterprise culture must adhere to the socialist orientation.It must pay attention to the connotation and the management of enterprise culture,and it must pay attention to the innovation and individuality of enterprise culture.We should develop enterprise productivity with this soft power of corporate culture.


The effect of bloodsucking parasitic larvae of the blow fly Protocalliphora azurea (Fallen, 1817) (Diptera) on Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus (L., 1758), breeding success was studied in populations breeding in nest boxes in southwestern Slovakia. Out of 52 examined nests only seven broods (13%) were unparasitized. The mean number of larvae per parasitized nest was 22.6 and the total number of parasites per nest ranged from 1 to 80. Large numbers of blow fly larvae and pupae significantly influenced nestling survival and fledging success. In broods with parasite load per chick higher than nine, at least one nestling died. To record the effects of parasites on the body size of nestlings of different ages, nestlings were measured on days 5, 10, and 13 post hatch. First and second broods were analysed separately. A significant negative effect of parasite load per nestling on the body mass, wing length, tarsal length, and tail length of nestlings was found in the second broods only in the 10- and 13-day-old chi...


In Chapter Nr. II an analysis of the PYMES, represented by the abbreviation Small and Medium Companies, is presented; they are gradually emerging in the national economy and constitute an essential engine, because they are part of the main employment generators with their contribution as producers and goods and services suppliers.
The definitions of PYMES vary in each country and institution, however they coincide in the billing amount and number of employees they have.
One of the main flaws that limit the access to the market of this sector is their potential growth; therefore these organizations have challenges to face as for example, to seek for new markets and to create added value to their production. This will be achieved through training, modernization and specialization.
For this reason, the Ecuadorian Government has provided several dispositions in order to support the micro, small and medium companies, among which are included:
Good Living National Plan, Operative Plan of the MIPYMES and Handcrafts Undersecretary, Draft Legislation for the Creation, Production Code, Organic Law of Popular and Solidarity Economy
In chapter III the International Financial Information Standards are presented, which are currently very important for the appropriate presentation of the financing information to the control entity.
Through Resolution SC.ICI.CPAIFRS.G.11.010, the regulation has been issued for the application of the complete International Financial Information Standards NIFF and of the International Financial Information Standard for Small and Medium Entities.
The main difference between the complete NIFF and the NIFF for the PYMES lies in who applies them: the NIFF for the PYMES are used by the those entities which have no public obligation of rendering accountability and do not participate in stock market trading; the NIFF for PYMES are also less complicated, they have 245 pages with 35 sections, apply simplified methods and determine less revelations.


Advanced Centralized RTO is a project in which the traffic is regulated depending on the vehicle density .It also consists of detecting those vehicles which break the signal and the message will go to owner that he has break signal and suppose to pay fine within limited interval of time. In case if fine is not paid then petrol tank will automatically get locked. For tracking vehicle density there will be 16 sensors on 4 way road such that 4 sensors on each road. If sensor one detects the vehicle then the signal will be on for minimum time and if all 4 sensors detects vehicles then signal will be on for already set maximum time. It can be further used to collect toll tax automatically, Reduce bribery among traffic personnel, To keep track of vehicles violating speed limits, Car theft can be easily found out, Exact location of car can be detected if GPS is installed.