Inorganic semiconductor light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are environmentally benign and have found widespread use as indicator lights, mobile displays, large-area displays, signage applications, and lighting applications. The entire visible spectrum can be covered by light-emitting semiconductors: AlGaInP and AlGaInN compound semiconductors are capable of emission in the red-to-yellow wavelength range and violet-to-green wavelength range, respectively. For white light sources based on LEDs, the most common approach is the combination of a blue LED chip with a yellow phosphor. Alternatively, a group of red, green, and blue (RGB) LEDs can be used; such source allows for color tunability. White LEDs are currently used to replace incandescent and fluorescent sources. In this review, the properties of inorganic LEDs will be presented, including emission spectra, electrical characteristics, and current-flow patterns. Structures providing high internal quantum efficiency, namely heterostructures and multiple quantum well structures, will be discussed. Advanced techniques enhancing the external quantum efficiency will be reviewed, including die shaping (chip shaping) and surface roughening. Different approaches to white LEDs will be presented and figures-of-merit such as the color rendering index and luminous efficacy will be explained. Besides visible LEDs, the technical challenges of newly evolving deep ultraviolet (UV) LEDs will be introduced. Finally, the packaging of low-power and high-power LED dies will be discussed.


Sediment-Water-V.natans in a simulated lake system was built to study phosphorus concentrations in sediment,water and V.natans during the growth period of Vallisneria natans.Simulation results indicated that different phosphorus concentrations in sediment were reduced significantly during the growth period of V.natans.Total phosphorus(TP),NaOH extracted phosphorus(NaOH-P),HCl extracted phosphorus(HCl-P),inorganic phosphorus(IP) and organic phosphorus(OP) were decreased by 65.71,39.06,11.65,52.86 and 11.28 mg/kg,respectively.The IP absorption efficiency of V.natans was higher than that of OP,and the NaOH-P absorption efficiency was higher than that of HCl-P.The concentration of TP in water was decreased to 0.04 mg/L.Redox potential(Eh) was increased significantly but pH was decreased in sediment.There were significantly positive correlations among TP,NaOH-P,HCl-P,IP and OP.Different phosphorus fractions were negatively correlated with Eh at different levels,significantly positive-correlated with pH,and significantly negative-correlated with V.natans root area.Phosphorus absorbed by V.natans was 292.24mg at the end of the experiment.The phosphorus in sediment,V.natans and water were 92.04%,7.85% and 0.12%,respectively.The result indicated that V.natans affected the concentrations of phosphorus in sediment through increasing redox potential and decreasing pH.V.natans reduced phosphorus release risk through uptaking phosphorus from water and sediment.The rank from high to low order of phosphorus absorption ratio by V.natans was NaOH-P,HCl-P,IP,and OP.


The article proposes a method for assessing the level of economic security of metallurgical enterprises by the "pyramid of economic security". It is based on priority components of economic security, selected for the enterprises under studies, such as the capability of resistance, risk reduction and economic succession, and established indicators of their causal relationships with exogenous and endogenous factors of influence. The assessment results allow differentiating the levels of the enterprise economic security; the practical application of the "pyramid of economic security" will provide a more realistic assessment of the enterprise's economic security for prompt and effective response to urgent threats and possible risks. The authors have developed a model for assessing the effectiveness of economic security management in enterprises by the rate of changes in the enterprise economic succession; the model is based on the indicators of resource and impact decoupling, financial, social and eco-decoupling.


Non-regular transportation services such as vans are currently operating in some metropolitan regions of Brazilian cities. Many reasons could be pointed out to explain the increasing utilization of these services which are considered a viable option by many users.


Abstract The development of high-performance micro-supercapacitors is conducive to the growth of modern micro-electronic systems. However, it is still a great challenge to fabricate micro-supercapacitors with high output potential/current for integration. Here we demonstrate the whole fabrication of planar on-chip micro-supercapacitors (POMSs) based on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) films, produced by photolithography techniques, with whole series/parallel configuration. The RGO films have good surface morphologies, uniform thickness (6 ± 1.073 nm) and high conductivity (649.8 S cm−1) after hydroiodic acid treatment. Moreover, the operating potential of the RGO-POMS with whole series configuration has been obviously improved, which is two times that of a interdigital unit. The RGO-POMS with whole parallel configuration has larger current and better electrochemical performance than a single unit. Therefore, POMSs with whole series/parallel configuration have a good application foreground in the continuous development of integrated micro-devices.


This paper discusses several hot topics of the development of religion cultural tourism resource,which are as follows:the relationship between religion culture and tourism.the features of religion cultural tourism resource,the thoughts of development and utilization of religion cultural turism resource.The strategies of development is discussed as well.


Green genetic engineering comprises a plethora of methods that enable the production of genetically modified (i.e. transgenic) plants by introducing extra genes, which are often foreign to the species into which they are introduced, into a plant genome. The number to be introduced can vary from one single gene to several genes. For example, in order to establish a new and foreign metabolic pathway in a particular plant, several genes need to be introduced. The first field trials with transgenic plants were carried out in the USA in 1986 and the worldwide cultivation of transgenic plants has increased year on year ever since.


Essential constituents applied in concrete generation known to be Cement and aggregates, they are mainly essential materials needed in construction industry. In this latest time, there have been successful applications of local waste materials as a partial replacement for cement or aggregates in developing of concrete products in most parts of the world. numerous researches has used waste tyres as fine and coarse aggregates, availability of these materials has yield results in development of concrete high strength in most recent literature (Eldin and Senouci, 1993; Topcu, 1995; Toutanji, 1996; Khatib and Bayomy, 1999; Ling, 2011; Ohemeng and Yalley, 2013 Eric et al 2014 ode 2004; Ode and Eluozo 2016a), more so there is some demonstration on the feasibility of applying gargantuan amounts of waste tyre in concrete products. Among the waste materials, plastic is one of the most familiar environmental issues in the contemporary world. Plastics disposal has been considered to be a big challenge due to its non-biodegradable nature. Choi et al. (2005) examine the effect of waste PET bottles including aggregate on properties of concrete. This type of waste plastic could reduce the weight by 2 – 6% of normal weight concrete. Marzouk et al. (2007) studied the application of consumed plastic bottle as sand replacement and observed that the density lowered when the PET aggregate exceeded 50% by volume of sand. Suganthy et al. (2013) also mentioned a reduction in weight of concrete as there an increased on the plastic content (Ode and Eluozo 2016b). It was observed that there was linear relationship between decrease in weight and increase in plastic content. Such ABSTRACT


Content and language integrated learning (CLIL) has been recognised in the educational platforms in many European countries . I t provides a unique chance to combine foreign language competences and knowledge with the content of other subjects such as geography, arts , history, maths and many others . Despite the fact that professional and scientific papers provide a high number of e vidence on a positive impact of CLIL lessons , the truth is that the less experienced countries face problems with CLIL implementation at their institutions due to many problems. This paper interprets the findings from the project Erasmus+ comprising primary and secondary schools, and their experience gained within the CLIL implementation in Latvia , Li thuania, Sweden and Italy. It also focuses on interpretations of the data collected through document analyses and observations concerning the CLIL lessons carried out in the above-mentioned European countries .


This thesis researches some of the characteristics of social development and of establishing peer relations in the preschool period, as well as the role of a preschool teacher in encouraging social interactions. In particular, I studied peer acceptance and risky peer relations/situations that may occur in the preschool period, as I had observed various behaviours in children and peer un-acceptance already during my mandatory practice in preschool institution. This became the basis for the empirical part of the thesis, which introduces pedagogical approaches that establish a stimulating environment and social interactions among all children. After observing a preschool group and talking with the preschool teacher, I developed and implemented a specific social learning program for the group of preschool children concerned. In doing so, I wanted the program to be suitable for the whole group of children, thus my planning and implementation also consisted of anticipating adjustments and activities to improve the quality of peer inclusion, especially for children who are less accepted among peers. The social learning program was evaluated regularly via journal entries after each activity. I obtained the observations of the preschool teacher and the feedback of the children after the completion of all the activities. This gave me a deep insight into social interactions between the children at the time of the social learning program implementation, with particular focus on the less accepted children. The final summary of all the journal entries, the teacher's observations and the feedback of the children showed the positive impact of the activities; the social interactions among all children were mostly positive and pleasant, while the less accepted children were more involved in the activities and responded mostly positively to them. It can be concluded that the approaches used positively influenced the social interactions between preschool children in the research group.


—Chronic hypoxic exposure induces changes in the structure of pulmonary arteries, as well as in the biochemical and functional phenotypes of each of the vascular cell types, from the hilum of the lung to the most peripheral vessels in the alveolar wall. The magnitude and the specific profile of the changes depend on the species, sex, and the developmental stage at which the exposure to hypoxia occurred. Further, hypoxia-induced changes are site specific, such that the remodeling process in the large vessels differs from that in the smallest vessels. The cellular and molecular mechanisms vary and depend on the cellular composition of vessels at particular sites along the longitudinal axis of the pulmonary vasculature, as well as on local environmental factors. Each of the resident vascular cell types (ie, endothelial, smooth muscle, adventitial fibroblast) undergo site-and time-dependent alterations in proliferation, matrix protein production, expression of growth factors, cytokines, and receptors, and each resident cell type plays a specific role in the overall remodeling response. In addition, hypoxic exposure induces an inflammatory response within the vessel wall, and the recruited circulating progenitor cells contribute significantly to the structural remodeling and persistent vasoconstriction of the pulmonary circulation. The possibility exists that the lung or lung vessels also contain resident progenitor cells that participate in the remodeling process. Thus the hypoxia-induced remodeling of the pulmonary circulation is a highly complex process where numerous interactive events must be taken into account as we search for newer, more effective therapeutic interventions. This review provides perspectives on each of the aforementioned areas. P ulmonary hypertension contributes to the morbidity and mortality of adult and pediatric patients with various lung and heart diseases. 1– 8 Importantly, many of these diseases or conditions are associated with persistent or intermittent hyp-oxia, either globally or regionally, within confined areas of the lung. These diseases include those associated with upper airway obstruction, such as obstructive sleep apnea, Pick-wickian syndrome, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, and damage or injury to the respiratory center either as a primary disorder (Ondine's curse) or secondary to trauma or other neurologic disease. A number of primary lung diseases are also associated with the presence of chronic hypoxia, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, diffuse interstitial fibrosis, bronchopulmonary dys-plasia, radiation fibrosis, infiltrative lung tumors, and colla-gen vascular disease. 1–7 Neuromuscular and skeletal disorders affecting the chest wall such as scoliosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and poliomyelitis may also …


This article analysises the teaching status of VB programming course,from both theory and practice of teaching,it tells about how to improve the ability of VB programming of students and the quality of classroom teaching,and it analysises and explores a variety of teaching methods from different perspectives.


Oxygen is supplied to the blood by simple diffusion through the alveolo-capillary membrane, along the partial pressure gradient. With an oxygen content of about 21% in the atmospheric air, the partial pressure of oxygen in the atmosphere is about 150 mm Hg, while its content in the blood reaches 100 mm Hg. Oxygen is transported by blood in two forms: dissolved in plasma and bound to hemoglobin. 0.31 ml of O2 is dissolved in 100 ml of blood, which is not enough for tissue oxygenation. Oxygen is mainly transported in combination with hemoglobin in red blood cells: 100 ml of blood is transferred to 200 ml of oxygen. The most important parameter by which one can judge the amount of oxygen associated with hemoglobin is the saturation of hemoglobin with oxygen — SaO2, or saturation. At a partial oxygen pressure of 100 mm Hg, the saturation of hemoglobin with oxygen in arterial blood is about 97%.


Surface contamination and cleaning characteristics of two radioisotopic heat sources are discussed. The Milliwatt Generator is a small (4/sup 1///sub 2/ W) heat source which is successfully cleaned by hand in a series of hot acid baths.The Multi-Hundred Watt Isotopic Heat Source presents additional problems in removing the surface contamination because of its large size (100 W) and its grit-blasted surface. A study has characterized the behavior of the Pu during aging of the surface at the heat source service temperature of 1350/sup 0/C. Results from this study show that normal decontamination effectively removes the superficial Pu but does not extract the Pu which is deep within the grit-blasted structure. Subsequent heating results in migration of microcurie amounts of Pu out of the grit-blasted surface.


In this article, a portable XLPE cable insulation detection device is introduced. Such a device utilizes electromagnetic coupling, UHF electromagnetic wave and acoustic emission to detect partial discharge signals in power cables. By analyzing the partial discharge signals and cable temperatures, the insulation status of XLPE power cables is judged.


We will present at the beginning the situation of the Healthcare System in a non-urban area, and how to design a new conceptual framework in a Healthcare Information System. We will describe all the parameters of a significant good Healthcare System as viewed by a consumer. We will focus our works of what nowadays is known as human behavior or neuroscience. The analyses of information system must take into account much more the neuroscience approach, than limiting this analysis to the system components. We will focus our study to the non-urban people's interaction with an information system in a Healthcare area. We use a new approach especially neuroscience to represent the expected reactions in the human behavior and the impact expected in a medical healthcare information system. This consideration is due because of the wide range of motivators, and rewards that may induce irrational reactions that people show when they face to any new situation, especially those in non-urban area. KeywordsInformation System; HCI : Human Computer Interaction; neuroscience; non-urban area; healthcare


Standard cranial approaches to the orbit involve lengthy skin incisions, extensive soft tissue dissection, and large craniotomies, increasing morbidity.To evaluate less invasive approaches to the orbit, using endoscopic transconjunctival approaches.Neuronavigated transconjunctival approaches to the orbit were performed on 4 cadavers using 30°/3 mm and 0°/6 mm rigid endoscopes. A special head frame was designed for this study to prevent excessive movement of the endoscope tip in the orbit. Lateral and medial transconjunctival supra- and infrabulbar approaches to the extra- and intraconal spaces were performed. The incision length, maximal penetration depth in the extra- and intraconal spaces, and distance from the orbital rim to the optic nerve were measured.All 4 approaches afforded satisfactory exposure and access to the extra- and intraconal spaces. The mean incision length for the transconjunctival approach was 10.4 mm. The optic nerve could be exposed through all 4 approaches. The mean maximal penetration depths in the extraconal space were 28.6 ± 3.5 mm for the 30°/3 mm and 20.7 ± 4.5 mm for the 0°/6 mm endoscope. In the intraconal space, the mean maximal depth of penetration was 23.8 ± 2.4 mm for the 30°/3 mm and 19.4 ± 3.4 mm for the 0°/6 mm endoscope. Based on these measurements, the orbit was classified into quadrants and zones.Transconjunctival endoscopic approaches to the orbit allow maximal exposure of the extra- and intraconal spaces through a minimally invasive approach requiring no muscle transection. Infrabulbar approaches have better cosmetic results than suprabulbar approaches, which require incision of the eyelid.


SARAH S. HUMPHRIES: An Examination of the Relationship Between End of Season Conference Rankings and the Bowl Game Selection Process in the Atlantic Coast Conference (Under the direction of Barbara Osborne, Esq.) The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between the end of season conference rankings of football teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the bowl selection process over a five year period from the 2004-2005 season through the 2008-2009 season. The study examined the relationship between the end of season conference ranking of each season and bowl game attendance as a percentage of stadium capacity, bowl game payout, and bowl game television ratings. A Spearman Rank Order Correlation, a non-parametric measure of correlation was used to examine the correlation between the end of season conference ranking and the additional variables. The results indicated that there was a pattern of significance in the correlation between the end of season conference ranking and bowl game payout. In the ACC, where participation in a bowl game can have a meaningful impact on a team, it would appear that there is a relationship between the end of season conference ranking and the examined variables. When based on bowl game payout, the conference has been successful over the last five years in their bowl selection process.


(57) In the Abstract] OBJECTIVE bonding wire gold wire or aluminum wire or the like to the electronic device substrate connection, to reduce the mechanical damage, to stabilize the connection. [Configuration] In the external connection terminal portions of the electronic element interconnect metal layer formed on the substrate 1, first was formed to a thickness of about 0.3 [mu] m 1 Forming a layer wiring electrodes 2 in a grid pattern of approximately 2μm period. About 1μm in thickness to form a pad metal thin film 3 thereon, by obtaining the pad portion 4 having irregularities of about 0.3 [mu] m, in the ultrasonic bonding process, the bonding wires with a small mechanical contact pressure than conventional 7 to connect.


Considering the sites variety and anemometric towers, it is very difficult to directly compare wind measurements. In order to do a comparative study between sites, it is necessary to correct the measured data and to transpose them to a standard site of open area roughness at a height of 10 m above ground level. To do this, correction factors as a function of the soil roughness length and the anemometer height are developed and delivered in the chart form enabling us to transpose the wind data of a measurement site to a standard site. Similarly, an extrapolating approach of wind characteristics of the standard site from those of the measurement site is developed and applied to the site of Sidi Daoud wind farm -Tunisia.


The pie-chart shows the number of myosins for each class. The charts show the number of species and the number of myosins for a set of selected taxa. Exact numbers are given in brackets. Copyright information: Taken from "Drawing the tree of eukaryotic life based on the analysis of 2,269 manually annotated myosins from 328 species"http://genomebiology.com/2007/8/9/R196Genome Biology 2007;8(9):R196-R196.Published online 18 Sep 2007PMCID:PMC2375034.


In this work we were interested in investigating the predictive accuracy of one of the most popular learning schemes for the combination of supervised classification methods: the Stacking Technique proposed by Wolpert (1992) and consolidated by Ting and Witten, (1999) and Seewald (2002). In particular, we made reference to the StackingC (Seewald 2002) as a starting point for our analysis, to which some modifications and extensions were made. Since most of the research on ensembles of classifiers tends to demonstrate that this scheme can perform comparably to the best of the base classifiers as selected by cross-validation, if not better, this motivated us to investigate the performance of the Stacking empirically. An analysis of the results obtained by applying the our Stacking scheme, which includes differences and characteristic implementations compared to what is proposed by the literature, to the set of the dataset generated by means of an experimental design does not lead us to believe that the Stacking scheme is preferable in terms of performances to the use of the best single classifier. It always achieves good performances and is to be considered among the best. On the contrary, in the case of contaminated data, Stacking improves its performances noticeably, and generally appears to be very competitive, above all when the contaminations are more substantial.


ABSTRACT The treatment for large congenital coronary cameral fistulas has been surgical but with advances in interventional catheterization techniques transcatheter embolization of these fistulas with coils or detachable balloons is now possible. This report describes occlusion of a congenital coronary arteriovenous fistula in a 6‐year‐old girl.


A single-chip 51.84Mb/s transceiver is for use in an ATM-LAN system that utilizes carrierless amplitude modulation/phase modulation (CAP). Specifically, the transceiver is for use in the 16-CAP transmission scheme recently chosen by the technical committee of the ATM forum as the ATM-LAN physical layer interface standard for 51.84Mb/s transmission with category 3 unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) wiring. 16-CAP is attractive because it provides this high-data rate with a voice-grade UTP cable, while its bandwidth utilization is still below 26MHz. This eliminates potential problems with FCC electromagnetic compatibility requirements above 30MHz.


Objective: To estimate the safety of Brucea Javanica Oil Subnanoemulsion Injection.Methods: Hemolytic test,hypersensitive test,pyrogen test,vascular irritation test.Results: The test results show there is no hemolyzation or agglutination on rabbit red blood cells in vitro,there is no immediate hypersensitivity on guinea pig in vivo,and its pyrogen accords with the standard limitation,while this prep aration may produce slight local vascular stimulation.Conclusion: Brucea Javanica Oil Subnanoemulsion Injection is safe and reliable,while it may produce slight local irritation.


Spatial interpolation is one of important spatial analysis methods of GIS and it is used for studying spatial distribution of climate variables for areas where the meteorological stations are sparse and its distribution is unreasonable.Also,it is a precondition to establish spatial models in these areas.


GLI aboard ADEOS-II is an optical sensor which observes reflected solar radiation and infrared radiation from Earth's surface with hyper-multi-channels, and it was expected to give us valuable information about the land cover and also vegetation state. Unfortunately, the operation of ADEOS II satellite has stopped on October 24 of 2003. We made a global land cover map using GLI global mosaic data sets which were acquired from April to October, in 2003. For hyper-multi-spectral data such as GLI, we have developed the universal pattern decomposition method (UPDM) which is sensor independent analysis method. By the UPDM, the multi-dimensional data of spectral reflectance are transformed into four coefficients which almost directly correspond to ground objects. Thus, we can find the feature of a pixel by comparing three coefficients values, and can calculate a vegetation index (VIUPD: Vegetation Index based on UPDM) with four UPDM coefficients. In this study, we apply categories of the Köppen Climate Classification for classifying global land cover. They are based on the annual and monthly averages of temperature and precipitation, and the scheme also takes into account the vegetation limits. The Köppen system recognizes five major climatic types, each category is further divided into sub-categories based on temperature and precipitation. By the UPDM, we calculate three coefficients and VIUPD values of sampling data sets which belong to each category of the Köppen Climate Classification, and defined the rule of classifying of land cover by examining the seasonal change of each VIUPD value. Our global land cover map roughly indicates same classification results as the global land cover map using NOAA-AVHRR by Wolfgang et al..


Range and average values were determined for the total and free form levels of the serum vitamin B12 of the mouse, rat, guinea pig, rabbit, dog, horse, cow and calf. Liver vitamin B12 levels of these animal species were also determined except the horse, cow and calf. The total B12 levels of the serum had a wide variation among the various animal species. The species with the highest total B12 level of the serum was the rabbit and the level was about one hundred times higher than that of human serum, which was lowest among the sera of the various species examined. The ratio of the free form to the total B12 varied also widely among the species. The serum B12 of the various species was classified by the mean ratios of the free form to the total into three groups. The liver vitamin B12 levels of various species did not show such a remarkable diversity in contrast to the serum B12 levels.


With the rising of both station distance and the speed gap betweencargo train and passenger train, there will be more cases of long section where thedifference of running time between cargo train and passenger train is bigger thanthe tracing interval in auto-block sections of double line. Such long section willlead to the increase of deduction coefficient for passenger trains. The range ofthis increase is related to the quantity and distribution of long sections. Thereforethe paper suggests a train operation organization method to dispatch a group ofpassenger trains in a row in order to make fully use of Carrying capacity.


Drawing from Hjelmslev's theory of language, the article proposes a typology of translation difficulties, claiming that the most insurmountable one relates to cultural patterns that are invisible to cultures themselves. As a solution, the article suggests the establishment of a semiotic variety of translation, exemplified through a pair of case studies. Verses 22-45 of Canto XXVIII of Dante Alighieri's Inferno are usually problematic for Muslim translators: they describe the punishment in hell of Muhammad and Ali, the founders of Islam. Most Muslim translators choose not to render them in their language (Arabic, Farsi, etc.). The same verses have generated an iconography whose most famous instance is in the cathedral of San Petronio in Bologna. Giovanni da Modena's fif-teenth-century fresco depicting Muhammad in hell became the object, at the turn of the twentieth century, of heated tension between local Muslim radical associations, which wanted the fresco to be removed, and Catholic commentators, who defended the integrity of the Christian artistic heritage. Taking as a point of departure these two interconnected case studies, the article explores the difficult role of translation at the conflict-ridden crossroads of different semiotic ideologies.


A database was designed starting from the Kurucz cd-rom N0 23 of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. In this database the different atomic elements are ordered by wavelength with their ionization levels. Also, there are other data like statistic weight, Einstein's coefficient, information about energy levels, constant of damping, among others. The spectra of the discharge are processed using a digital filtrate technique, with the purpose of reducing the noise present in the data to locate the points where the maximum amplitudes are presented. Starting from these results, consultations dynamic SQL are made, these obtain the elements present in these regions from the database. Finally, by means of the use of statistical methods it is determined which are the elements that have the highest probability of conform with the plasma.


[1] Simultaneous measurements from the Polar satellite and by ground-based optical sensors suggest that brief variations of the poleward auroral boundary on the nightside correlate with changes in the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) about an hour after a structure has propagated in the solar wind past the Earth. Short-lived Sun-aligned arcs may emerge along the open–closed magnetic field line boundary (OCB) and then disappear after ∼10 min. The arcs are fueled by energetic particles whose spectral characteristics are similar to those of the of boundary plasma sheet (BPS). Polar measurements confirm that these auroral protrusions into the polar cap occur on nearly isolated closed magnetic flux. Optical emissions from these arcs appear strongest at their intersection with the poleward boundary of the auroral oval. Detailed magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of dayside interactions, when the dominant IMF component BY changes sign, indicate that near the polarity reversal merging can occur between interplanetary field line segments within the magnetosheath [Maynard et al., 2001b]. Newly formed loops of interplanetary flux sweep past the Earth without interacting with the magnetosphere. Here, we consider some consequences within the distant magnetotail as the loops of disconnected flux propagate to XGSM ≈ −200 RE. The MHD simulations indicate that about an hour after intra-IMF merging events fingers of closed field lines protrude from the OCB into the polar cap. Like the observed Sun-aligned arc, these simulated auroral features grow and decay on scales of ∼10 min and have ionospheric footprints that are nearly surrounded by open magnetic flux. The simulated auroral fingers are conjugate to high-pressure channels in the distant plasma sheet. We suggest that the short-lived Sun-aligned arcs are created via an interchange process similar to that proposed by Kan and Burke [1985] to explain one class of theta auroral forms. The continuity of magnetotail currents across a high-pressure channel requires the development of field-aligned currents carried by obliquely propagating Alfven waves. Plasma drifts associated with the dusk-to-dawn electric fields of the Alfven waves are away from the Earth in the magnetotail and poleward in the nightside ionosphere. The correlation of phenomena at the nightside OCB with variations in the IMF indicate that processes other than substorms can influence boundary dynamics. Effects of self-interactions of the IMF within the dayside magnetosheath may be felt along the OCB as much as 1 hour later.


Tadeusz K. Wiewiorowski, 84, died on May 8 in Plano, Texas. "Dr. Wiewiorowski worked 31 years for Freeport-McMoRan developing new technologies in the field of natural resources. He was vice preside...


The COVID‐19 pandemic has affected the water sector in many ways, shifting industry expectations, priorities, workflows, and more. But through it all, the mission of keeping drinking water safe and readily available remained a priority.


The utility model relates to an LED secondary optical lens forming rectangular faculae, which comprises a light entry surface, a locating surface and a base surface; wherein the bottom of the base surface is a plane or a curved surface, and the top thereof is a curved surface; the light entry surface is arranged above the top of the base surface, and is composed of four or more than four main curved surfaces connected with each other; the number of the main curved surfaces is even; each main curved surface takes the sector shape; two main curved surfaces which are opposite to each other have the same structure; the main curved surface is any of the smooth transitional concave surface or the smooth transitional convex surface; the concave surface is alternated with the convex surface between the adjacent main curved surfaces; and the locating surface takes the circular ring structure, and is arranged at the periphery of the light entry surface and above the base surface. After the LED output light passes through the secondary optical lens, the output faculae become close to rectangular, and the illumination uniformity of each spot in the rectangular faculae is good. The optical lens has high transmission efficiency, most of the light exits within the rectangular range, is applicable to the filed of road lighting and other directional lighting, and has high light effective utilization rate.


Background This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the blood urea nitrogen to serum albumin ratio (BAR) and in-hospital mortality in patients with sepsis. Materials and methods This is a retrospective cohort study. All septic patient data for the study were obtained from the intensive care unit of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using multivariable Cox regression analyses. Survival curves were plotted and subgroup analyses were stratified by relevant covariates. Results Among 23,901 patients, 13,464 with sepsis were included. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 18.9% (2550/13464). After adjustment for confounding factors, patients in the highest BAR quartile had an increased risk of sepsis death than those in the lowest BAR quartile (HR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.3–1.55), using BAR as a categorical variable. When BAR was presented as a continuous variable, the prevalence of in-hospital sepsis-related death increased by 8% (adjusted HR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.07–1.1, P < 0.001) for each 5-unit increase in BAR, irrespective of confounders. Stratified analyses indicated age interactions (P < 0.001), and the correlation between BAR and the probability of dying due to sepsis was stable. Conclusion BAR was significantly associated with in-hospital mortality in intensive care patients with sepsis. A higher BAR in patients with sepsis is associated with a worse prognosis in the ICU in the USA. However, further research is required to confirm this finding.


This paper analyzes the impact of the fact of community of life, financial standing and work ability of the inheritor to the construction of the rules of intestate succession in the contemporary European legal systems. In a certain number of the European countries, these facts have an independent impact to the establishment of the intestate succession rules, while their legal succession significance becomes important even in the countries where it does not represent an independent basis for the acquisition of the capacity of a legal inheritor. A special focus has been given to consideration of the concrete legal solutions and corresponding legal succession ramifications in every legislation where some of the stated facts or even several of such facts, have a corresponding impact to the intestate succession. Bearing in mind that all of these facts have an impact on the legal succession in domestic legislation as well, author points, among other things, on the advantages of this legislation.


We measured the molar Peltier heat during the course of Cu underpotential deposition (UPD) in sulfate-containing solutions by electrochemical microcalorimetry. The molar Peltier heat during Cu UPD deviates considerably from that of Cu bulk deposition in the corresponding solution. Since the molar Peltier heat directly reflects the reaction entropy of the involved electrochemical reaction, including also charge-neutral side processes, this finding signals significant contributions of non-Faradaic side reactions. For the first stage of the Cu UPD this process is known to be coadsorption of Cu2+ and sulfate species. We retrieved the potential dependent surface coverages of Cu and sulfate during the first Cu UPD stage with the single additional assumption that the Cu coverage in the first stage of the Cu UPD reaches 2/3 ML. In addition, we found that both HSO4(ad) and SO4(ad) are adsorbed on the surface with a noticeable surplus of bisulfate. For the second stage of Cu UPD, i.e., the completion of the first (...


Without isolating board, the field intensity of the point-blank radiation between two antennas in E-plane direction-graph and in H-plane direction is computed, and with a isolating board between two antennas, the field intensity of the first diffractive radiation and the second diffractive radiation in the two direction-graph are computed.


How does human-centred design lead to addiction? This normative research project explores how designers of technology are complicit in the co-production of addictive user behaviour, unconsciously shifting the burden of responsibility by deferring to the desirability of "what people want." These unconscious designers are themselves ideologically "addicted" to the promises of the technological fix, creating surface solutions that reinforce a status quo that commoditizes users of technology for profit. By foregrounding the technocratic intolerance of uncertainty and the need for existential responsibility, this research proposes how designers must consciously take an ethical stance to their practice in order to manifest empowering technologies that are respectful of the human condition.


Abstract Mercury is a toxin that causes neurological impairments in adults, is particularly harmful for fetuses and children, and is deadly in severe cases, making it a worldwide health concern. Methylmercury (MeHg) is the environmentally relevant form of mercury (Hg) because it biomagnifies along the food chain. Methylmercury is mainly produced in aquatic sediments via methylation of inorganic Hg (Hg(II)) and transformed back via demethylation. Because transformation rates determine MeHg concentrations, quantification of methylation and demethylation rates is needed to inform management of MeHg. Published rate constants for Hg(II) methylation ( ) and MeHg demethylation ( ) vary greatly, stemming partly from differences in experimental methods. We conducted a comprehensive review of rate laws, evaluated published rate constants, and performed biogeochemical simulations to assess variability in reported and Based on selected studies employing the same pseudo-first-order rate law and similar experimental methods, we found that is a reasonable range for wetland sediments. Over a number of environments, maximum was smaller at sites without Hg source ( ) than at sites with identified Hg source ( ). Larger variability and higher uncertainty in compared to highlight the need for more research on MeHg demethylation rates. This critical review: (a) aids the design of future experimental studies of and (b) provides guidance for comparing rate constants from different studies; (c) presents a biogeochemical reaction model to assess rate constants; and (d) informs selection of and values from the literature for use in model simulations. Graphical abstract


Summary The purpose of this study was to examine the in vivo effects of Ekebergia capensis leaf ethanolic extract (EKE) on the blood pressure of anaesthetised normotensive male Wistar rats and conscious weanling Dahl salt-sensitive (DSS) rats, which develop hypertension as they age. To investigate possible mechanism(s) of the extract's hypotensive effects, the contractile or relaxant responses to EKE in the absence or presence of reference drugs were evaluated in Wistar rat isolated aortic rings precontracted with methoxamine hydrochloride (ME, 10 μM). Acute intravenous administration of EKE elicited hypotensive responses in anaesthetised animals, while sub-chronic treatment with the extract averted the development of high blood pressure in weanling DSS rats. Isometric recordings of methoxamine hydrochloride (ME) pre-contracted, isolated, endothelium-intact and -denuded aortic rings revealed concentration-dependent relaxation responses to EKE (1–160 mg/ml). The potency was significantly less in the endothelium-denuded rings. Inhibitors of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), L-NAME, methylene blue and indomethacin significantly reduced EKE-evoked vasorelaxations in endothelium-intact aortic rings. These results indicate that the vasorelaxant effect of EKE was in part mediated via EDRF-dependent or -independent pathways. These observations suggest that the hypotensive effect of EKE was in part mediated via modulation of total peripheral resistance of the vascular smooth muscles.


The purpose of this research is to find out how the effect implementation of Self Assessment System (SAS), Tax Payer Knowledge (PWP), Service Quality (KP) on Non-employee Personal Taxpayer Compliance at Tax Service Pratama Ciamis (KPP) in 2017. This study uses incidental sampling with a total sample of 99 non-employee Personal Taxpayers at KPP Pratama Ciamis. The analytical method in this study is descriptive statistical analysis, multiple linear regression analysis, and hypothesis analysis. This study shows that the implementation of SAS, PWP, and KP simultaneous affects the compliance of non-employee individual taxpayers at KPP Pratama Ciamis, and then the results of partial testing show that they are have a positive and significant effect on the compliance of non-employee Personal Taxpayers at KPP Pratama Ciamis.Keywords: Non-employee Personal Taxpayers, Self Assessment System, Service Quality, Taxpayer Knowledge, Taxpayer Compliance


Changing the System is piece by American composer Christian Wolff for a variable number of musicians. It was written in the early 1970s when Wolff's music was undergoing certain changes and attempting to address the changing political situation around him. This chapter looks at the piece, Changing the System, both in terms of its constituent parts and materials, and in the broader context of experimental and indeterminate musical traditions and their relationship with 'political' art. The final section compares Wolff's work with Luigi Nono, Hans Werner Henze, and Cornelius Cardew, as well as the broader issues of time and participation within avant-garde practices.


Mrs. Catherine Lerned to her daughters, Mrs. Barker Lerned McQuesten about her property and garden, and news of family affairs.


Gas emissions from automobiles are one of the major causes of air pollution in our environment today. In fact, emissions of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), a product of complete combustion, has become a significant factor of the global warming effect. Hydrogen, which is a renewable energy, is regarded as a promising energy to solve this problem since the final product of hydrogen (H 2 ) combustion, is water (H 2 O). However, the reaction of hydrogen fuels in the air under high temperature conditions produces a high volume of harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx). Furthermore, the high auto-ignition temperature of H 2 makes it difficult to ignite in a compression ignition engine in normal air. In this research, argon (Ar) is used to replace nitrogen (N 2 ), in order to eliminate NOx and enhance combustion. Simulation for this research was conducted using Converge, computational fluid dynamics software that is based on Yanmar TF90M compression ignition engine parameters. The simulation process was initially conducted with normal air (N 2 -O 2 ) as the medium of combustion; but later it was replaced with an argon-oxygen (Ar-O 2 ) atmosphere to investigate the ignition possibility of hydrogen fuel. Hydrogen was injected at 9.95 MPa at the start of injection (SOI) at 18o BTDC. The results show that, by employing the same parameters for both simulations in normal air and argon-oxygen mediums, the combustion of hydrogen only occurred in the argon-oxygen medium. However, no combustion took place in normal air. It is therefore concluded that an argon-oxygen medium is applicable for direct hydrogen injection in a compression ignition engine.


Abstract Abnormally high blood cholesterol levels in low density lipoprotein (LDL) increases the risk of heart disease. Cell surface receptors such as LDL-receptors (LDLr) regulate the clearance of LDL from blood circulation. As cholesterol levels decrease, cells promote cholesterol synthesis and cholesterol uptake by increasing LDLr expression. Another regulatory protein of plasma cholesterol clearance is proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). It is secreted from the liver into circulation where it can bind to and target LDLr to the lysosome for subsequent degradation. The current model of cholesterol regulation describes how increased cholesterol content down-regulates the number of LDLr promoted by PCSK9 mediated degradation, however minimal knowledge is not known about LDLr and PCSK9 kinetics using heavy water labeling, and how cholesterol enriched diet affects LDLr and PCSK9 kinetics in vivo. Therefore, our objective(s) were to establish a method 1) to measure the kinetics of LDLr and PCSK9 via stable isotopic metabolic labeling with heavy water (2H2O) in vivo 2) to further test established models of cholesterol metabolic regulation on LDLr and PCSK9 turnover after feeding mice a cholesterol enriched diet. We hypothesize that a cholesterol enriched diet will decrease both LDLr and PCSK9 synthesis rates. In order to test this, mice were fed a cholesterol enrich diet for 1 week and metabolically labeled with heavy water (2H2O) up to 36 hours. LDLr and PCSK9 were immunoprecipitated from liver and deuterium incorporation into LDLr and PCSK9 were measured via mass spectrometry. Our results revealed high cholesterol feeding down-regulated cholesterol synthesis and LDLr fractional synthesis rate decreased from 10.0% to 6% per hour. PCSK9 concentration also decreased from 1 to 0.2 (ng/ml / total mg protein), but the synthesis rate increased from 9.0%/day in control mice to 19.5%/day in high cholesterol diet. These results suggest high cholesterol feeding increases PCSK9 synthesis that potentially depletes the intracellular pool to target LDLr to the lysosome thus decreasing LDLr turnover. This research provides a flux-based approach to measure the kinetics of LDLr and PCSK9 for a molecular based kinetic insight of their functions in physiology, disease and therapy.


Historical information is important to explain the story of what has happened in the past. Studying history helps us understand change and how the society we live in came to be. The objective of this study has presented the methodology for developing a knowledge base of historical Lanna in aspect king history in Buddhist temple and related documents by using ontology techniques and developing its application as a semantic search system. Ontology technique helps identify key concepts and relationships among the concepts in the domain knowledge. It represented the relationship between king, temple, historical site, and year. The process of research started with collecting temple data located in the upper northern part of Thailand from the National Office of Buddhism, the Fine Arts Department and Temples Information Center and creating a database to systematically storing them. In addition to previous research, we also use the results from the historical relation extraction consisting of relationships of Lanna king and Buddhist temples. The design and development ontology use the Hozo ontology editor tool. The result is the Lanna Historical Ontology consisting of 8 major classes. The ontology transformed into OWL, then import to OAM program for mapping to database and creating the semantic search application for historical Lanna kingdom. From the experiment, we used the queries of 18 items from four sections and the result was evaluated by three history experts. The results indicated the semantic search and ontology will improve the precision of knowledge retrieval and presenting the relationships related to the Lanna kingdom history.


Author(s): Frasier, Kaitlin Emily | Abstract: Dolphin populations are often considered an indicator of ocean health, yet they have historically been difficult to monitor. These animals live in remote, variable environments, and spend much of their time out of sight, below the sea surface. Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) has become a viable method for gathering data on marine mammals. Instruments can be placed on the seafloor for long periods, recording animal sounds in the environment, regardless of oceanographic conditions, time of day and site accessibility. The lingering challenge is in translating acoustic detections into quantitative population density estimates. Density estimation techniques using PAM have been developed for and applied to marine mammals, but they have rarely been used for long term studies using single sensors, or applied to dolphins. The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill event and its unknown impacts on offshore marine mammals provided an impetus for collecting a long term PAM dataset aimed at monitoring offshore marine mammals in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). In this work I develop a framework for long-term, high resolution, quantitative monitoring of dolphin populations using this dataset, which stretches over three years at five sites. Delphinid density estimation involves a series of steps: First, the probability of detecting delphinid cues using PAM is estimated, accounting for variability by site, species and season. Cues are then detected in the acoustic recordings, using methods consistent with the constraints of the detection probability estimation process, and classified to species. Finally, density estimates are produced by bringing together the detection counts, probabilities, and species- specific behavioral parameters. We find distinct annual cycles in animal density in the northern GOM with peaks for most species in spring and summer months. Long-term increases in local densities were seen for Stenellid dolphins and pilot whales at sites east of the DWH site, which are not seen at sites to the south and east. This work represents significant progress toward the goal of monitoring dolphin populations with minimal impact, high temporal resolution, and improved accuracy. These methods are broadly applicable to PAM efforts. As peripheral data are improved and expanded, estimates can be refined using this framework


Much continues to be written about Japan's economic successes in areas such as electronics and automobiles. Yet, despite the continuation of its large international economic surpluses, more attention needs to be paid to the uncompetitive and inefficient sectors of the Japanese economy. Indeed, the popular view is that many markets in Japan are not functioning properly, e.g., mining, distribution, and construction sectors. For evidence, the literature points to the significantly large price differentials that exist between domestic and world prices for both traded and non-traded goods. Various approaches have been adopted to explain the existence of price differentials and price insensitivity in Japan. Much of the recent theorizing has moved away from cultural analyses, which stress patriotism and deference to authority, to noncultural ones that focus on public policy, institu tions, market ideology toward national security, and corporate organization. Whatever the approach, the conclusion of this literature is that many markets in Japan do not respond to price as they do in other capitalist societies, and there are significant consumer-welfare losses. This article explores the political economy of structural adjustment and policy termination through a case study of the coal industry. In 1968 a decision was made to phase out gradually Japan's inefficient coal industry in response to the increased costs of domestic coal. 1 Yet two decades later,


We propose a theoretical model to study heat transfer at the nanoscale by means of high-order thermodynamic fluxes. The model is fully compatible with the model of heat transfer of extended irreversible thermodynamics, represents a generalization of the Guyer–Krumhansl proposal (Guyer & Krumhansl 1966 Phys. Rev. 148) and is able to deal with relaxational and non-local effects. It also accounts for the role played by the different heat carriers (electrons and/or lattice vibrations) and captures different heat-carrier temperatures. The proposed model is hyperbolic and is used to investigate the propagation of thermal waves.


In the United States, the National Alzheimer's Project Act was signed into law in January 2011, and the first National Plan appeared just over 12 months later, with five goals: to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer's disease by 2025, to enhance care quality and efficiency, to expand support for people with Alzheimer's disease and their families, to enhance public awareness and engagement, and to improve data to track progress. The National Plan has seen a rise in research funding (currently standing at US$1.4 billion). Individual states, at the same time, began discussions about initiatives aimed at addressing personal, societal, and financial implications of Alzheimer's disease. An example is from Minnesota where counselling and support for caregivers are provided, with an estimated saving for the state of Minnesota of US$970 million by 2025. In addition, a number of treatment trials are under way, looking at the effect of monoclonal antibodies on Alzheimer's disease and a series of genetic studies.


This chapter illustrates a case of interdependence between exegesis, ecclesiology and the theology of asceticism in the first four centuries CE. It focuses on a Christian adoption of a Jewish explanation of God's command to Adam to work and to guard Paradise in Genesis 2:15. It then shows that some approaches to this Jewish legacy may to a certain extent have depended upon the dynamics of the development of the ascetical movement. The two main pieces of evidence are taken from 'The Word of the Saint Barsabas, archbishop of Jerusalem, about our Saviour Jesus Christ, the Churches [and about the chief priests]' as well as from a letter to the monks probably written by the fourth century Egyptian bishop, St. Serapion of Thmuis. Keywords: Adam; Asceticism; Genesis; Jerusalem; Jewish-Christian exegesis; Paradise; Saint Barsabas; St. Serapion of Thmuis


The objective of this work was to estimate the number of leaves in the branches of mango cultivars canopies and to estimate the leaf area density using, respectively, an allometric relation and a light interception model. The work was carried out with the Alfa, Roxa and Malind cultivars, grown at the experimental farm of the Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, in the municipality of Santo Antonio do Leverger, MT, Brazil. The equations tested for determining the number of leaves had excellent performance, with confidence indexes ranging from 0,85 to 0,94, and can be used as an alternative for estimating the leaf area of the three cultivars. The light interception model also had good performance in estimating leaf density, with confidence indexes ranging from 0,97 to 0,99 and from 0,68 to 0,95 for the Roxa and Malind mango cultivars respectively.


Objectives To investigate the plasma CST levels in essential hypertension patients and in normal group, and explore the possible pathophysiological and clinical role of CST,and to analyse of the characteristics of baPWV in patients with hypertension. Methods We enrolled patients with grade 1, grade 2, grade 3 hypertension randomly,and they were divided into groups, 48 cases of patients with grade 3 hypertension,34 cases of patients with grade 1,2 hypertension, 40 cases of normal blood pressure (healthy control group). CST level, NE level and baPWV were compared between 3 groups. Results The level of CST and CST/NE in patients with severe hypertension was significantly higher than patients with mild and moderate hypertension, (P < 0.05), and The level of CST and CST/NE in healthy people was higher than patients with hypertension. Correlation analysis showed that: CST positive correlates with SBP, PP and BaPWV, age and BMI.2 BaPWV after treatment decreased significantly compared with before treatment in severe hypertension, (1921 ± 346 cm/s to 1616 ± 302 cm/s) (P < 0.05). CST after treatment decreased (1.29 ± 0.66 ng/ml) compared with before treatment and of1.17 ± 0.49 ng/ml ng/ml, p > 0.05) Conclusions Arterial elasticity and CST level decreased in patients with essential hypertension, CST level in severe hypertensive patients is higher than in mild and moderate hypertension patients, CST level in severe hypertensive patients decreased (not significantly) when the blood pressure decreased. Which prompted that CST is a kind of compensation on blood pressure. BaPWV of patients with hypertension was positively correlated with CST, suggesting that CST has compensatory protective effect of early target organ damage.


The problem of viscoelastoplastic interfacial fracture is investigated. Fourier-cosine Transformation and Definite Integral Transformation reduce the equations governing the boundary problem into a group of singular equations, the solutions of which are used to formulate the plastic region size of the crack tip and COD. The results reveal that the plastic-region size of the crack tip and COD decline as the smaller yielding ultimate of the two bound materials get greater, while COD raises at a speed dropping down as the time passes.


A compact fourth-order finite difference with a second-order fully implicit time-marching scheme is proposed to solve the two-dimensional unsteady incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. A multigrid full approximation scheme(FAS) is applied to accelerate convergence for the implicit scheme at each time step. The numerical results for driven cavity flow show good agreement with the results in literature not only for steady laminar solution when Re≤5000 on coarse meshes (e.g. 64×64. or. 128×128)but for unsteady periodic solution when Re = 7500 and Re = 10000 on 256×256 meshes for the appearance of more secondary vortices in the flow field.


In order to obtain an accurate expression for the plastic hinge length of RC walls, several experimental investigations have been performed in the past. The objectives of this paper are to assess the performance of existing plastic hinge length equations, by comparing analytical estimates of deformation capacity with those observed for a number of RC walls, and quantify the associated dispersion. Experimental data was obtained from the SERIES database. This data was provided in terms of lateral displacement at the top of the wall, which allowed the yield and plastic curvature capacity of the walls to be determined from the experimental data using existing analytical relationships. Using different equations found in the literature, a set of curvatures was obtained and compared with the data from moment-curvature analyses. Results indicated that the expression by Berry et al. [2008] provided the best estimate of displacement capacity and by slightly increasing the dependence of plastic hinge length on the wall height, a better fit was obtained. It was noted that a lognormal distribution fit the ratios of experimental-to-analytical curvatures reasonably well, and that the curvature ratios were able to be predicted with a dispersion of 0.30. Finally, the relevance of the findings for performance-based earthquake engineering are discussed.


Bending rigidity of plain weave cotton fabric in principal directions (warp, weft) and 45o bias was investigated. Textile samples were prepared by finishing them with different concentrations (0 g/l, 5 g/l, 10 g/l, 15 g/l) of polyvinyl acetate based temporary stiffener. Two different experimental methods, a conventional cantilever method and buckling wave method were applied. Sensitivity range of the apparatus to the variation of stiffness was investigated. Linear dependence between bending rigidity and concentration of stiffener, obtained with the cantilever method, was supported with additional samples treated with 2.5 g/l and 7,5 g/l concentrations of stiffener. The influence of stiffener's concentration upon changes of buckling wave's geometry was analysed.


Scheduling content onto pervasive displays is a complex problem. Researchers have identified an array of potential requirements that can influence scheduling decisions, but the relative importance of these different requirements varies across deployments, with context, and over time. In this paper we describe the design and implementation of a lottery-based scheduling approach that allows for the combination of multiple scheduling policies and is easily extensible to accommodate new scheduling requirements.


Premature senescence is related to progerin and involves in endothelial dysfunction and liver diseases. Activating sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) ameliorates liver fibrosis. However, the mechanisms of premature senescence in defenestration of hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells (HSECs) and how SIRT1 affects HSECs fenestrae remain elusive.


Abstract This paper describes a small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system using low-cost radar (5–6 GHz), position (GNSS/RTK) and attitude (IMU) sensors for the generation of high-resolution images. Measurements using straight as well as highly curved flight trajectories and varying flight speeds are presented, showing range and cross-range lobe-widths close to the theoretical limits. An analysis of the improvements obtained by the use of attitude angles (roll, pitch, and yaw), to correct for the relative offsets in antenna positions as the UAV moves, is included. A capability to generate SAR images onboard with the back-projection algorithm has been implemented using a GPU accelerated single-board computer. Generated images are transmitted to ground using a Wi-Fi data link.


Prior to conducting our research in Greece, our research team formed the hypothesis that through leveraging its natural resources, including its agriculture, antiquities, and unique landscape, the Greek government would be able to initiate a gradual upturn for its economy. Section I lays the foundation of the economic crisis in Greece, with a focus on the legal and regulatory morass that contributes to stalling real progress. Structural weaknesses and competing political pressures in a system in which citizens are subject to various levels of international, European, national, and municipal governance, create confusion and hesitation in implementing reforms. Through interviewing Greek citizens, the tangled nature of this system became abundantly clear. However, Greek citizens expressed consistent themes and recommendations for progress. Section II details two recommended internal reforms that will help Greece move beyond its current economic crisis: implementing standards-based employment practices, and enforcing of the rule of law. These recommendations are intended to address the pervasive corruption throughout Greece, and leverage the relatively corruption-free archaeology and antiquities sector as a model for other industries. Finally, Section III recommends external reforms to promote growth and improve Greece's image internationally. It focuses on two substantial industries – olive oil and tourism – as avenues for potential growth.


ABSTRACT A total of 400 people, who were the students of the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department and the Child Development Department at the Kirikkale University, created a working group of this research that had planned to determine the university student's witnessing domestic violence against women during their childhood and adolescence. "Witnessing Domestic Violence against Women during the Childhood and Adolescence Scale" has been used as a data collection tool. At the end of the research, significant differences have been found, between the gender, age, class, education of the parents, occupation of the mother, level of income, the most lived place, number of siblings and verbal-minor physical violence, serious physical violence sub-dimensions and scale score of witnessing violence by the university students (p<0.05). Positive relations have appeared between verbal-minor physical violence and serious physical violence sub-dimensions, and witnessing violence, between the serious physical violence sub-dimension and witnessing violence.


A bsfract-A new nonreciprocal device wing a resonance detuning principle is described ad experimental rdls are presented. The experimental device worked at 1.2 GHz, ad at midband showed 1 dB insertioo 1% 28 dB directivity and 30 dB isolation, with a 30 MHz bandwidth between the 20 dB isolation points. The device can be used as a nonreciprocal narrow bandpas filter or a four-port circulator. This study was undertaken to investigate the possibility of coupling a nonreciprocal tunable device. such as a YIG crystal. to an original circuit design in order to form a compact integrable nonreciprocal filter. THEORY The circuit design employed is a geometrical rearrangement of an earlier Cohn and Coale directional filter,'.2 which is shown in Fig. l(a). The condition for total transfer from ports 1 to 4 is 1


In the middle of the 1990s, integrated assessment went through a period of introspection (Dowlatabadi, 1995; Grubb, 1993; Henderson-Sellers, 1996; Kolstad, 1998; Morgan and Dowlatabadi, 1996; Parson, 1995, 1996; Risbey et al., 1996; Rotmans and van Asselt, 1996; Rotmans, 1998; Rotmans and Dowlatabadi, 1998; Schneider, 1997; Shackley et al., 1998a,b; Thompson, 1997; Tol and Vellinga, 1998; Toth and Hizsnyik, 1998; Weyant et al., 1996). Around 1995, very different types of models had emerged – all under the label of integrated assessment modelling – and a new breed of integrated assessment – now known as participatory integrated assessment – challenged the models. The IA community was split into two, perhaps three or four camps: policy simulation modellers (Alcamo and Kreileman, 1996; Morita et al., 1994; Rotmans et al., 1990) were pitted against policy optimisation modellers (Carraro and Galeotti, 1996; Maddison, 1995; Manne et al., 1995; Nordhaus, 1994; Peck and Teisberg, 1992, Richels and Edmonds, 1995; Tol, 1997; Wigley et al., 1996), with a few uncertainty modellers claiming that both had it wrong (Dowlatabadi and Morgan, 1993; Plambeck et al., 1997; van Asselt et al., 1996; Yohe and Wallace, 1996), and those advocating participatory integrated assessment methods arguing for a much reduced role of models in policy advice, and for a drastic overhaul of the models as well (Bailey, 1997; Bailey et al., 1996; Cohen 1997; C. Jaeger, 1998; J. Jaeger, 1998; Munda, 1996; Parson, 1997). Fundamental questions were asked, such as what is integrated assessment, and what is it good for? The European Forum on Integrated Environmental Assessment was one of the results of this process of introspection, as integrated assessors realised that, however great the differences, they have more in common with each other than with disciplinary researchers.


Objective To investigate possible risk factors of senile degenerated heart valvular diseases(SDHVD). Methods 468 patients were screened with echocardiography,therein 166 patients with SDHVD and 302 patients with none-SDHVD.Comparisons were made between the two groups concerning factors such as age,hypertension,coronary heart disease,diabetes,hyperlipaemia,blood calcium,blood phosphor,alkaline phosphatase,cholesterin,low density lipoprotein-cholesterol,and the risk factor of SDHVD was analyzed. Results Incidence of SDHVD raise with the age;There was significant difference between two groups concerning the age,hypertension,hyperlipaemia,cholesterin,low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(P0.01,P0.05).The hypertension,hyperlipaemia were as risk factors of SDHVD. Conclusion SDHVD is a heart disease that changes with the age.Cholesterin and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol could be relevant to SDHVD.The possible risk factors included hypertension,hyperlipaemia and the age.


Italy is known for its tradition in goat farming and the Sarda autochthonous goat from Sardinia is one of the most important breeds of the Mediterranean Basin. The suckling kid from this breed is a traditional meat product and, despite the good acceptance by the consumer, it is not recognised with a protected geographical indication or designation of origin mark. In order to give a first cognitive insight into the main productive and quality characteristics of carcass and meat, a total of 40 kids (20 males and 20 females) milk fed by their dams and slaughtered at 42 days of age were studied. In vitam and post mortem performance traits were registered. These included the sectioning in commercial parts and their dissection into the different tissue components: muscle, separable fat and the bone + tendon. Chemical composition, fatty acid and cholesterol content were determined from the longissimus dorsi muscle. Student's t test was applied to evaluate the differences between the sexes. In vivo parameters were similar between sexes, and differences between sexes were registered for height at withers, rump length and body length, with higher values in males. Males showed better carcass yields which were longer and with higher hip width. Carcasses, classified as first quality in both sexes, were characterized by a low content of adipose tissue and a good percentage of muscle, and showed the tissue composition similar between sexes, except for the lower content in muscle tissue of the leg from males. The low lipid deposit suggested the possibility to increase the age and weight at slaughter, in order to improve the commercial value of this product. The chemical composition of the longissimus dorsi muscle was similar between the sexes, while cholesterol content, oleic acid and MUFA (Monounsaturated Fatty Acids) were lower in males than females. In conclusion, meat had low cholesterol and lipids content, confirming that the Sarda suckling kid has an excellent nutritional value.


In many staff-assignment problems, a large variety of requirements has to be considered when assigning employees to work shifts. As the importance of the requirements is often described in a hierarchical manner, lexicographic goal programming has been used to minimize the number of requirement violations. The resulting schedules are in general of high quality with respect to requirement violations but may lack acceptance by employees because of an unfair distribution of the violations. We introduce a novel approach for lexicographic goal programming that allows to improve an existing schedule in terms of fairness without deteriorating its quality with regard to requirement violations. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated for a test set derived from real-world data.


Affective-driven design, where form and function meet people, their emotions and perceptions, their material experiences and their contexts, can take advantage of these moments to reflect and critically question their scope and possibilities in the long and medium-term, in order to define new, broad, and diverse paths that contribute to avoid losing contact with these proposed solutions to the most urgent needs, often seemingly opposed to more speculative or experimental spaces, but which at the same time can be nourished by knowledge generated in these spaces, perhaps closer to the academy and the emotional perspective of design.


SUMMARY Recently, wind power generation systems have drastically increased in Japan. As the increase of the wind power generation systems, outages of these systems by lightning have also increased and establishment of effective protection methods is strongly required. New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) in Japan has published a guideline for lightning protection of wind power generation systems based on the field observations and model experiments. Furthermore, many researchers in Japan have studied effective methods to reduce lightning damages of wind power generation systems. The results of these studies are summarized as follows. 1) Most of damage of wind turbine blades has been caused by lightning that occurs in the coastal area of the Sea of Japan in winter season, what we call 'winter lightning'. 2) In the case of the winter lightning, charge transfer exceeding the value of 300 C, which is the maximum value shown in an IEC Technical Report on lightning protection of wind turbines, often occurs. 3) Model experiments of lightning attachment shows that though the disc-type receptor is one of effective methods to prevent the damage of wind turbine blades by lightning, discharges cannot be always intercepted by receptors. On some conditions, lightning hits the blade and causes damage. The breakage characteristics of wind turbine blades are also clarified from the large current experiment. 4) Surge analysis shows overvoltage characteristics inside the wind power generation systems when lightning strikes a wind turbine and effective protection methods and grounding systems to reduce the overvoltages are proposed. 5) A hazard map for wind power generation systems in Japan has been constructed and a cost-effective protection scheme has been proposed based on the concept of lightning risk management.


Abstract
While technical environment starts from western culture which is mainly based on Christianity, the associated ethical concern of the operation of technology can be varied depending on the sociotechnical environment and/or organizational culture. Ethical standards – irrespective of religions – can be used to govern the appropriate behaviors of employees in technical environment. Religions, on the other hand can also act as an apparatus of good ethical motivation that can guide individuals in society/environment. Different religions might use different apparatus(s) to define the good code of ethics. This chapter shows similarities in the ethical teaching dictated by different holy books (mainly Islam, Judaism, and Christianity). The reason is to generalize that religion, as an apparatus of ethics, can be a factor toward ethical behavior supporting the man-made code of ethics in organizations which can also lead to support the definition of the proposed framework ethical behaviors.

Comparison between verses from holy books shows similarities in ethical dimension between religions (mainly Islam and Christianity). After showing the similarities, this chapter proposes a framework of ethical behaviors (FEB) to measure employees' ethical standards in specific organization where technical environment like cloud computing was used as an example in this chapter.

Verses from both holy books (Quran and Bible–inclusive of the old testament) shows similarities in ethical standards. This similarity considered as a component toward the proposed framework for ethical behaviors in organizations where religion can be an important factor in multi-national, multi-cultural type of organizations. The proposed FEB can be used to identify possible environmental factors acting as moderators while religion and family values acting as mediators toward behaving ethically within technical environment.

The proposed framework can be used as a guide to identify ethical versus unethical employees where a mechanism to measure is proposed. Religious standard concluded out of the similarity section was used as a component of this framework.

The added value of utilizing good religious-based ethical standards is that employees/IT professionals will have an internal drive (on the top of corporate ethical standards) toward ethical behavior in such environment.


High solid content polymer polyols were synthesized by two-reactor continuous process,and various operation conditions were studied.In this study,POP with 45% solid content and(4 900) mPa·s(25 ℃) viscosity was synthesized by tworeactor continuous process under the most optimized condition.The distribution of diameters of dispersion particles were studied by dynamic light scattering and SEM.The results showed that the broader distribution of diameters was gained by two-reactor continuous process than by batch process,and the mean diameter was higher than that of one-reactor,so the viscosity of POP by two-reactor continuous process was lower.


Background/Objectives: In India, teaching English for learners in heterogeneous and overcrowded classrooms is a challenging task. This study attempts to investigate the effect of teaching Big Writing elements at tertiary level. Methods/Statistical Analysis: The study is experimental and it involves a single group. The participants of the study were seventy, first year B.Com students from Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai, South India. Pre-test and post-test were administered before and after the intervention and the result was analysed using SPSS software. Findings: The findings of the study suggest that there is a statistically significant improvement in writing abilities of the participants after the Big Writing instruction. Applications/Improvements: The Big Writing approach can be used to develop the writing skills of the technical students belonging to polytechnic colleges and engineering students, especially the low achievers.


To solve infrared point target detection problems,a novel approach called cICA(constraint independent component analysis) is proposed.It adopts only one image as data source and introduces the constraint of kurtosis to the ICA(independent component analysis) to eliminate the permutation ambiguity of ICA.Experiments utilizing this method showed that it could detect point targets effectively.


The invention discloses a process for treating high-ammonia radioactive wastewater by a membrane absorbing method, and belongs to the technical field of wastewater treatment. The process utilizes a hydrophobic polymeric membrane to adjust pH (potential of hydrogen) value of the wastewater, amine is volatilized to the other side of the membrane from the wastewater and is absorbed by sulfuric acid absorbing liquid, and then the amine is separated from the wastewater and is absorbed. The process has the advantages that the flow is simple, the scale design is easy, the removal efficiency is high, the energy consumption is low, the adaptability to the quality of incoming water is high, the process is easily combined with other processes, and the like; the application prospect on the treatment of the high-amine radioactive wastewater is good; after the wastewater is absorbed and treated by the membrane, the subsequent treatment load is effectively reduced through the removal of the amine and nitrogen; the defects of high energy consumption, low removal efficiency, easy corrosion of equipment pipelines and the like of a traditional evaporation process are effectively overcome, and nuclides are effectively prevented from being entrapped into distilled liquid along with small droplets.


This paper looks into the problems confronting the fiscal incentives rationalization (FIR) or reform initiatives in the Philippines. The current system of investment incentives system is beset with complexities and problems like proliferation of investment promotion agencies and laws, weak monitoring system and substantial revenue forgone. Hence, the rationalization effort has been instigated and placed high on the reform agenda. It has been ongoing for the last twenty years but to no avail. The paper utilized Kingdon's Multiple Streams or Streams metaphor in trying to understand the role of stakeholders and the problem, policy and politics streams or activities in FIR and their effect on the reform process. Understanding why the attempts at enacting a FIR law has been unsuccessful, this paper proposes a simple way forward by which the possibility of enacting a FIR law may be increased.


Objective To investigate the chemical constituents of Huperzia serrata.Methods The constituents were isolated by silica gel column,Sephadex LH-20 gel column,medium pressure column,and semi-preparative HPLC chromatographies,and their structures were elucidated by chemical properties and spectroscopic analyses.Results The structures of ten compounds were isolated and identified as β-sitosterol(1),5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3′-methoxyflavone(2),5,7,4′-Trihydroxy-3′,5′-dimethoxyflavone(3),apigenin(4),n-triacontanol(5),21β-hydroxy-serrat-14-en-3β-ol(6),21α-hydroxy-serrat-14-en-3β-ol(7),16-oxo-21β-hydroxy-serrat-14-en-3α-yl-acetate(8),3β,21α-dihydroxy-serrat-14-en-24-ol(9),and 3α,21β-dihydroxy-serrat-14-en-24-ol(10).Conclusion Compounds 2—5 are obtained from this plant for the first time.


This paper expounds the preservation of the nature of the urban landscape for its values in evidence, local landmarks, identity, people's living right, culture, urban style and folk tourism, hopefully to make those factors be concerned with from the society when renovating the old cities.


A new species of Zodarion Walckenaer, 1826 is described based on material collected in the Marmara region of Turkey. Morphological and diagnostic characters and illustrations of the genitalia of both sexes are presented, and the differences with the closely related Zodarion turcicum Wunderlich, 1980 are pointed out.


Abstract The first stages of stress relaxation have been studied in a series of 2% tensile strained (In, Ga)(As, P) films of various compositions by transmission electron microscopy. Ternary In1-x Ga x As and In1-x Ga x P films relaxed by a combination of twinning and cracking, while the quaternary In1-x Ga x As1-y P y film relaxed only by twinning. The differences between the behaviours of the ternary and quaternary systems were correlated with the surface topography of the films. The surface nucleation of 90° partial dislocations was shown to be feasible at the growth temperature of the films (480°C) in the presence of surface roughness but, in the absence of a critical roughness, cracking was the preferred mechanism for coherency loss. The critical film thicknesses observed for stress relaxation by either twinning or cracking were shown to be in good agreement with the calculated values. The twins themselves often terminated inside the substrate (InP) rather than at the substrate-film interface. This behaviour was related to the elastic mismatch that exits between the harder film and softer substrate.


The objective is to discuss on influences of long-term winter swimming on hemorheology of Males (70-80 years old), which it can provide an experimental basis for scientific fitness of the elders in China by consulting health examination archives of subjects since 1998, and then comparison and analysis of all lipid and hemorheology indexes were made. The whole-blood viscosity at low, medium and high shear of winter swimming group, the reduced viscosity of whole blood is lower than that of control group, viscosity of whole blood is higher than that of control group; There was no significance difference. Two groups of hematocrit means are equal. The plasma viscosity and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) of winter swimming group was obviously lower than those of the control group, there's obvious difference (P <0.01). A long term winter swimming can reduce the blood plasma viscosity and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) of the male (45-55 year old), improve hemorheology characteristics.


AbstractIn the work described in this paper, an improved electrochemical hydrogen probe was developed to allow rapid in situ measurements to be made on steel structures. The construction of the probe and the methods of surface preparation are discussed. The probe was used on welded BS4360 grade 50D carbon–manganese steel to determine· the way in which the hydrogen content of the parent plate, heat affected zones, and weld metal decreased with time. Other samples were subjected to typical service conditions by burying in different types of soil, exposing to sea water containing sulphate reducing bacteria, or applying cathodic protection. The resulting corrosion rates and hydrogen contents of the steel are compared.


In a technological spin-off, initial and further business development is a two-stage challenge of survival and growth. Spin-offs' business development relies on the design and renewal of an adequate business model, effective open innovation, and advanced knowledge management. This study describes the initial and further business development of a successful spin-off, MEMS&Co, through a longitudinal case study. The business model benefited from specific revenue/investments streams from clients and was subsequently supplemented by new business models in novel applications. Open innovation offered a unique outside-in process from universities, suppliers, and research centres and then transformed into an advanced new process. Knowledge management focused on cross-technical knowledge modularity and subsequently on knowledge recombination.


The rise of Information and Communication technology (ICT) changed rapidly and dramatically the way that many kinds of human activities can be presented. Particularly, a nation's cultural heritage, which reflects its history, tradition and customs, could not be unaffected. This paper describes an e-culture virtual lab which guides the visitor around the majority of cultural institutions in Greece and Cyprus, giving him the capability to view a large amount of material in the form of text and images. This virtual lab started as an early e-culture application. However, a substantial update has taken place as time went by, with the use of contemporary virtual lab techniques/principles, in order to be accessible by people with visual disabilities while new operations were added. The main purpose of this system analyzed is both to ensure the 'Equal Access for Everybody' directive according to the European Union guidelines, and to expand the visitor's horizons by conveying further knowledge regarding the Greek civilization globally.


The one-step selective oxidation of i-butane to methacrylic acid and methacrolein could be an attractive alternative to the traditional acetone-cyanohydrin process. due to its simplicity and economic efficiency. For realizing such process, effective catalysts are required which can overcome the drawbacks of the usually used Keggin-type polyoxometalalte (POM) catalysts. Mixed oxide MoVTeNbO x materials could be promising candidates and were tested in i-butane oxidation. For comparing the performance of Mo VTeNbO x and POM catalysts in both, the oxidation of i-butane and i-butene, in situ spectroscopic investigations as well as catalytic tests were presented in this article. FTIR spectroscopy was used to identify adsorbed intermediates and products while simultaneous operando-EPR/ UV-vis/Raman/GC technique was applied to follow the behaviour of V and Mo sites. In relation to the results of catalytic tests, structure-reactivity relationships of both catalyst systems were derived.


A behavioral study was performed to examine the influence of listener location in a reverberant environment on spatial auditory perception. Localization accuracy was measured for sources in the right frontal quadrant of the listener's horizontal plane, with source distances between 15 cm and 1 m from the head. Listeners were positioned at four different locations in the room: in the center, with their back close to a wall, with their left ear close to a wall, or in a corner. Localization bias and variability in perceived angle from interaural axis and perceived distance were analyzed. Small but statistically significant changes in the azimuthal bias were observed as a function of listener location. The bias was smallest in the center of the room and was slightly larger when listeners were positioned with one ear close to a wall. On the other hand, a wall behind the listener caused significant increases in azimuthal bias. Listener location did not influence bias in perceived distance, even though, in general, distance perception depends on reverberation. Consistent with expectations, variability in perceived azimuth and distance increases for listener locations in which early, strong echoes are present; the influence of room location on localization performance appears to depend on the amount of distortion that the echoes and reverberation cause in localization cues. In addition to an effect of listener position, a strong room-learning effect is observed, leading to improved localization performance. Kopão and Shinn-Cunningham: Localization in a Room (DRAFT: to be submitted to JASA) 3 1.


Cloud computing is recognized as an important area for information technology (IT) innovation and investment. Many companies are rapidly reorienting their overall IT strategies to include cloud computing. Cloud computing reduces the cost of IT since there is no installing, maintaining, or updating software as well as the elimination of IT emergencies or working after hours. Despite the potential for positive change, there are still other factors to consider before cloud computing can be accepted entirely by the individual, large business, or academic group. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to examine how individuals perceive cloud computing. The study findings reveal several factors which play an important role in their decision whether to adopt cloud computing technology. This study will contribute to the literature by proposing and empirically testing factors that impact the intention to adopt cloud computing.


To study the Molecular Epidemiological characteristics of an outbreak of dermatic infection caused by M. fortuitum. To identify the clinic isolates by PCR, RFLP and DNA dot blot hybridization assay at gene level. A 470 bps fragment was amplified by PCR from each of the 29 clinical isolates, three fragments were produced by HaeⅢ, MSP 1 digest of PCR products respectively. The probe only hybridized with M. fortuitum and 29 clinical isolates. [Conclusion] The results showed that the pathogen of infection outbreak was M. fortuitum. The 16 s 23 s rDNA PCR investigation is a sensitive and specific method, which can identify M. fortuitum at gene level.


The Church recognizes that if it is to be the Church of Jesus Christ, sacrificial, fraternal and unconditional love is a necessity; it accepts that the sole reason for its existence is the cause of human dignity and decency always and every where, and makes no proviso about its commitment; without regard to the circumstances in which it may live or the risks it may NII, it participates fully in human redemption (1.C.05).

When the Church lives ita historical reality by placing the human being in the very centre of its interest in Jesus Christ, it is not losing its identity as Body of Christ or as Bride of Christ. On the contrary. Even when most involved in the secular, the Church succeeds in carrying out its indispensable commitment to serve and love Jesus Christ, because in him, at the cost of his self-sacrifice, God radically and unconditionally involved himself in the secular in his redemptive work of seeking full respect and dignity for all human beings (1.C.08).


The recent development of autonomous vehicles has attracted much attention. The technologies for persons without technical knowledge to handle autonomous vehicles easily are highly demanded. We are developing an intuitive multimodal interface system using speech, gesture, and eye-gaze recognition. We designed a multimodal understanding component and dialog control component of the interface system separately using finite state transducers. As for implementation, conventional dialogue systems are controlled by a finite state transducer with user actions as inputs and system actions as outputs. Our multimodal understanding and dialog control component can be seen as a cascade of two separate transducers. Cascaded transducers can be composed to one transducer. Our system can operate a virtual car in an autonomous car simulator.


Symptoms of nocturnal hypoventilation may negatively influence the quality of life (QoL) of ALS patients long before respiratory failure ensues. Non‐invasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) is considered a treatment option for nocturnal hypoventilation. The primary objective of NIV is improving quality of life (QoL). It may also prolong life by several months. A systematic review of the literature was performed to analyse what is known of the effect of NIV on survival, QoL and other outcome measures. A computerized literature search was performed to identify controlled clinical trials and observational studies of treatment of ALS‐associated nocturnal hypoventilation from 1985 until May 2005. Twelve studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Four studies were retrospective, seven prospective and in one study randomization was used. All studies reported beneficial effects of NIV on all outcome measures. In seven studies NIV was associated with prolonged survival in patients tolerant for NIV, and five studies reported an improved QoL. In conclusion, studies on the use of NIV in ALS differ in study design and endpoint definitions. All studies suggest a beneficial effect on QoL and other outcome measures (Evidence level Class II‐III). Well‐designed randomized controlled trials comparing the effect on QoL and survival have not been performed.


This paper makes a brief introduction to the resource situation of lithium and presented progress on the extraction of lithium in detail.Approaches of extracting lithium from lithium ore,salt lake brine and seawater are discussed,focusing on the present research situation and existing problems.Based on discussion of the application of adsorbent in extracting lithium from salt lake brine and seawater,the research trend and development are provided for reference.


In this paper, we propose a hardware-in-the-loop simulation (HILS) for functional safety compliant electric power steering (EPS) system. The proliferation of electric and electronic systems in vehicles has brought the new automotive standard ISO 26262 for the safety of functions. The proposed EPS system should be Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL) D compliant, which is the highest ASIL level. Therefore, EPS system complies with functional safety and HILS is configured to verify performance of functional safety compliant EPS system.


Isolation of IgM from Bengal goat blood serum was carried out by centrifugation of the collected serum to eliminate the blood corpuscles and purity of serum was affirmed by the absence of pellets. Purified serum was obtained by ammonium sulphate precipitation. The isolated IgM obtained through dialysis, was quantified through silica gel chromatography using phosphate buffer saline (PBS) as a solvent with varied pH and obtained different fractions (namely I, II, III, IV and V). Quantification of protein was carried out by Lowry method and the molecular weight was determined by SDS-PAGE with a standard marker. The presence of IgM was confirmed by Immunodiffusion and Immuno Dot Blot. The results of the experiment suggest that Fractions I, II and III contain more stressed protein which has some similarity with ovalbumin. The resulting colour intensity obtained on performing Immuno Dot Blot using IgM as primary antibody, demonstrates that Fraction II contains maximum concentration of stressed protein.


In recent years, the school inclusion of children with special educational needs has been a central goal of European educational and social policy. However, on a practical level, integration is a very complex task as it requires a change from previously established practices in the context of a more general educational reconstruction. While the development and implementation of educational policy as defined by national and global imperatives shapes broader social and institutional teaching frameworks, teachers' interpreta-tions and understanding of their own teaching self-efficacy in relation to inclusion is the catalyst factor that allows them to master the process and play an important role in the implementation of inclusive education. The purpose of this research report is to study the didactic self-effectiveness of special education teachers in the application of inclusion practices. The research in-volved 83 special education teachers between the ages of 22 and 57. 65 of them were women while in terms of their educational level 32 were holders of a postgraduate degree. Most of the participants (N = 53) had up to 5 years of service, 19 of them had from 6 to 10 and the rest from 11 and over. The questionnaire they were then asked to complete consisted of two parts, a demographic questionnaire and the scale "The Teacher Efficacy to Implement Inclusive Practices" by Sharma, Loreman and Forlin [1].