Buying and selling government posts is a vicious habit in official administration.Its main manifestions are:glove money,election bribe,fishig bribe,cultural connection,spiritual bribe,etc.There are three basic features:combination of on-stage and backstage,with backstage as the main aspect;combination of material and spirit,with material as the core;combination of low-ranking officials and high-ranking officials,with low-ranking officials as the body.The causes are:influence of the vestiges of feudalism,intrusion of capitalism,misbehavior of some officials,inadequate precaution and punishment.To enhance the governing,the concrete measures are:to consolidate the base with theories,to handle anti-corruption cases,to reform for protection,to investigate for radical reform,to supervise for justice.


Photodetectors based on two-dimensional materials have attracted much attention because of their unique structure and outstanding performance. The response speed of single ReS2 photodetector is slow exceptionally, the heterostructure could improves the response speed of ReS2-based photodetector, but the photodetectors responsivity is reduced greatly, which restricts the development of ReS2. In this paper, a vertically structured ReS2/SnS2 van der Waals heterostructure photodetectors is prepared, using ReS2 as the transport layer and SnS2 as the light absorbing layer to regulate the channel current. The device has an ultra-high photoconductive gain of 1010, which exhibits an ultra-high responsivity of 4706 A/W under 365-nm illumination and response speed in seconds, and has an ultra-high external quantum efficiency of 1.602×106% and a high detectivity of 5.29×1012 jones. The study for ReS2-based photodetector displays great potential for developing future optoelectronic devices.


Measurement of the red-shifted 21-cm signal of neu-tral hydrogen, and thus observing The Dark Ages is expected to be the holy grail of 21-cm Cosmology. A Radio-telescope to observe low radio frequency signals is needed, but radio interfer-ence on Earth and Earth's ionosphere blocking these signals are limiting science investigations in this field. Hence, such a radio-telescope composed of dozens to hundreds of antennas shall be deployed on the lunar far side. Such arrays are shielded from interference from Earth and Earth's ionosphere blocking very low radio frequencies is not present. Within the Helmholtz Future Topic Project Autonomous Robotic Networks to Help Modern Societies (ARCHES) we developed necessary technologies for autonomous robotic de-ployment of antenna elements, modular payload box design, and robust radio-localization to enable such distributed low-frequency arrays. In particular the antennas' positions must be determined accurately, such that the array can be operated as phased array. Our developments lead to the execution of an analog-demonstration on the volcano Mt. Etna, Sicily, Italy, in June and July 2022 over the course of four weeks. We successfully demonstrated the autonomous robotic deployment of antenna elements and our decentralized real-time radio-localization system to obtain the antenna element positions. Ad-ditionally, we showed a proof-of-concept operation of the phased array comprising four antenna elements: estimating the signal direction of arrival of a radio-beacon with unknown position, and the beamforming capabilities itself, for a carrier frequency of 20 MHz. In this paper, we give insights into our developed technologies and the analog-demonstration on the volcano Mt. Etna, Sicily, Italy. We show results of the successfully executed mission and give an outlook how our developed technologies can be further used for lunar exploration.


Anglophone Caribbean theology is a theology of the people, developing autonomously from the theology of the people developed by Argentine theologians. Their idea that a people's concrete, day-to-day practice of their religious faith carries the authentic culture of a country, is an authentic source of Christian wisdom, yields true insights of God's presence and activity in the world. This faith of the people, contextualized but not suppressed within the life of the Church overall and tapped into by its theologians, serve to evangelize a country and its people by calling a country and its people to a conversion to who they ought to be, a people of God who incarnate the Christian faith according to their unique genius, and share the fruits of the wisdom drawn from the lived experience of Christian faith by participating in the Church's evangelizing mission. This idea finds affinity with the mission of the Caribbean theological project: cultural liberation from colonialism and neocolonialism which brings about a sense of inferiority and dependency by the people of the Caribbean toward global social and political powers. Instead, Caribbean theology seeks to build a unique Caribbean identity which fulfills the full humanity of the people of that region.


329Background: Clinical implementation of genome sequencing is recently prevailing in the treatment for cancer. We have launched an in-house clinical sequencing system to perform exhaustive targeted exome sequencing for patients with all types of cancer, as an outpatient service. We have analyzed the clinical utility of this system for patients with gastrointestinal cancer to elucidate real world evidence. Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from tumor tissues and peripheral blood sera of 86 patients with different types of gastrointestinal cancer, from April 2016 to April 2017. The top five types of primary cancer were colorectal (34%), pancreas (28%), stomach (13%), biliary tract (12%), and esophagus (8%). We performed a targeted amplicon exome sequencing for 160 cancer-related genes. The sequencing data was analyzed using an original bioinformatics pipeline within three days, and we identified cancer-specific somatic gene alterations such as SNV (Single Nucleotide Variation), Ins (Insertion)/Del (Deleti...


Remote sensing image can greatly enhance the expression effect of DEM data,but due to various factors,it usually needs to take pretreatment.The traditional approach for rectification is getting the same control points,but it does not work on DEM.This paper presents a new method to solve this problem in the following steps: firstly,getting control lines from DEM and remote sensing image respectively,and then getting characteristic points by Douglas-Peucker algorithm,finally constructing Delaunay triangulation and performing texture mapping based on TIN.The experiment results show that the new approach improves the aberration and has a better display effect.


god' (Acts 17:22–28), the editors have ensured that this volume opens out to possibilities that are not yet apparent to most of us. While this diversity is a great strength of the volume, then, it is a weakness too in that the sense of unity and coherence of the Trinitarian mystery is easily lost amid the diversity which is now in vogue in this globalized, postmodern world. The Handbook itself illustrates the difficulty, as the editors concede: 'Whereas classical theologies were often confronted with the difficulty of conceiving the Trinitarian plurality, it seems that contemporary reflection more often encounters the difficulty of accounting for the Trinitarian unity' (p. 601). And so, as St Paul reminded the Corinthians long ago, we continue to 'walk by faith, not by sight' (2 Cor 5:7), feeling our way at times and perhaps even stumbling on occasion. Yet it is a fundamental conviction of faith that God journeys with us and, in so doing, both reveals and gives the divine self 'as he is' (p. 600). In encouraging us to continue that journey and in alerting us to the many pitfalls along the way, this work succeeds admirably in its aim; and so this reviewer concurs with the editorial judgement that the Handbook, 'in all its diversity, contributes distinctly to the vocation of Trinitarian theology, that is, to the contemplation of the mystery of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in order to better proclaim and live the mystery of faith today' (p. 605).


Smog chamber experiments were conducted to investigate the chemical and physical transformations of or- ganic aerosol (OA) during photo-oxidation of open biomass burning emissions. The experiments were carried out at the US Forest Service Fire Science Laboratory as part of the third Fire Lab at Missoula Experiment (FLAME III). We investi- gated emissions from 12 different fuels commonly burned in North American wildfires. The experiments feature atmo- spheric and plume aerosol and oxidant concentrations; aging times ranged from 3 to 4.5 h. OA production, expressed as a mass enhancement ratio (ratio of OA to primary OA (POA) mass), was highly variable. OA mass enhancement ratios ranged from 2.9 in experiments where secondary OA (SOA) production nearly tripled the POA concentration to 0.7 in ex- periments where photo-oxidation resulted in a 30 % loss of the OA mass. The campaign-average OA mass enhancement ratio was 1.7± 0.7 (mean± 1 ); therefore, on average, there was substantial SOA production. In every experiment, the OA was chemically transformed. Even in experiments with net loss of OA mass, the OA became increasingly oxygenated and less volatile with aging, indicating that photo-oxidation transformed the POA emissions. Levoglucosan concentra-


................................................................................................................................................ i CANDIDATE'S STATEMENT ..................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................... v LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................................... xi LIST OF PLATES ....................................................................................................................................... xi CHAPTER 1 .............................................................................................................................................. 2 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 2 1.1 Background to the research .................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Research aims ......................................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Overview of methodology ...................................................................................................... 7 1.4 Location and significance of the research .............................................................................. 8 1.4.1 Location ........................................................................................................................... 8 1.4.2 Significance ................................................................................................................... 10 1.5 Thesis structure ..................................................................................................................... 11 CHAPTER 2 ............................................................................................................................................ 16 LITERATURE REVIEW: Reframing gardening as a practice and rethinking current approaches to garden escapes management. .............................................................................................................. 16 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 16 2.1 Gardening as an everyday activity. ....................................................................................... 16 2.1.1 A brief history ................................................................................................................ 16 2.1.2 Changing perceptions and driving motivations ............................................................ 18 2.2 Gardening research orientations .......................................................................................... 20 2.2.1 The human-centred approach ...................................................................................... 21 2.2.2 Attending to non-human components ......................................................................... 22 2.2.3 A practice orientation ................................................................................................... 24 2.3 Domestic gardening as a pathway to the spread of garden escapes ................................... 25


The aim of this research is to describe the influence of reward toward working motivation of the civil servant at KPU (Election Commission) in Tanah Datar regency, and the influence of reward and working motivation toward working satisfactory of the civil servant at KPU in Tanah Datar regency. Population of this research are all of the civil servants at KPU in Tanah Datar regency.  There are 55 person.  Sample of this research were taken by using Proportional Cluster Random Sampling.  The researcher took 49 person. Data were analyzed by using Line Analysis and supported by SPSS program (Statistical Package for Social Sciences).  The result of this research shows that: 1) reward has significant influence toward working motivation of the civil servants at KPU in Tanah Datar regency, and 2) reward and working motivation have significant influence toward working satisfactory of the civil servants at KPU in Tanah Datar regency.  It is suggested to the leader of KPU in Tanah Datar regency to be able to manage  as well as possible the system of distributing rewards, giving respectation orally or written to the civil servant who has good reputation in their work, giving reward to the civil servant who has good reputation in their work, giving extra income to the civil servant along their work.  Furthermore, the leader is also expected to be always motivating their staff to be diligent in working, to be serious in giving motivation in working.  This way can be apllied by giving reward and punishment toward the civil servants.


In this correspondence, we present a result in probability that does not exist in the literature of probability theory. We show one application of this theorem in multidimensional signal processing, which generalizes some of the existing results.


Previous sentiment analysis studies have focused on monolingual texts, and are basically multi-category tasks (ie, a sentence belongs to only one category). However, in practice, a sentence often expresses multiple sentiments, and the text often contains multiple languages. This paper proposes a multi-label sentiment classifier based on GRU and attention mechanism, which has achieved good results in the data set provided by NLP&CC share task 1.


The suitable hosts for Charips victrix (Westwood) in alfalfa were found to be certain species of the subfamily Aphidiinae which are in turn parasitic on aphids. All other parasites of the pea aphid and the spotted alfalfa aphid were unsuitable for the development of C. victrix progeny for various reasons.

Two types of inactivation of C. victrix eggs occurred in certain hosts. Encapsulation of C. victrix eggs was found in Praon exsoletum Nees, while eggs were suppressed but not encapsulated in 2 species of the genus Aphelinus (Aphelinidae).

Two species of potential hosts were not attacked (Ephedrus californicus Baker and Aphelinus howardii Dalla Torre) and for this reason their biological suitability was not ascertained. Other species (both suitable and unsuitable) were attacked only infrequently.

Additional observations on aphid behaviour that bear on the matter of host suitability also are reported.


In order to improve spring steel made in Japan we have investigated fundamentally the following properties of spring steel sheet made in Sweden and England as to the chemical composition, micro-structure, allowance of thickness and behaviors on quenching treatment.


Central to the discussion on sustainable alternative fuels for diesel engines is a growing interest in oxygenated fuels such as blends of biodiesel and alcohols with high carbon content (high alcohols). Available literature is incomplete in assessment of this kind of fuel blend and its influence on quantity and type of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) content. PAH is a health hazard and is detrimental to engine components (wetstacking); effort should focus on its reduction. Impact assessment of fuels usually focuses on the engine's regulated emissions profiles. However, additional emphasis should be given to levels and characteristics of PAH produced (during combustion). In this current work, regulated and unregulated emissions of a diesel engine operating with a biodiesel‐propanol‐blend fuel (5%, 20% and 35% by volume of propanol) are presented and compared. Sample fuels were examined using gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). Results indicate a reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx) and PAH levels including PAH‐equivalent toxicity, and an increase in hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide(CO), break specific fuel consumption (BSFC) and exhaust gases temperature (EGT), for the fuel blend compared to baseline diesel. While the results showed that adding up to 20% propanol to biodiesel further reduced PAHs, more than 20% propanol addition to biodiesel appeared to show a recurrence of increasing levels of PAHs and toxicity. With the addition of propanol to biodiesel, a significant reduction of 30.60%, 90.24% and 56.68% in total PAH emissions was obtained for 5%, 20% and 35% blends, and PAH‐equivalent toxicity significantly decreased by 64.65%, 92.77% and 79.37%, respectively. This indicates the significant effect of combustion performance due to blended fuel properties on the formation of PAHs. In addition, it was evident that a link exists between PAH‐formation and aromatic‐content of the base fuel, as diesel generated more PAHs than biodiesel blends. Overall, biodiesel‐propanol blends show potential in significantly cutting‐down levels of carcinogenic pollutants including wetstacking effects in diesel engines running at low load or cold temperature operating conditions.


The aim of this research is to compose an energy input-output of guar and lupin production during the production season of 2015 in Bingol province of Turkey. The energy input in guar and lupin production have been computed as 14 619.97 MJ ha-1 and 23 486.73 MJ ha-1, respectively. The energy output in guar and lupin production have been calculated as 43 767.21 MJ ha-1 and 16 554.41 MJ ha-1, respectively. Energy usage efficiency, specific energy, energy productivity and net energy in guar production have been calculated as 2.99, 6.42 MJ kg-1, 0.16 kg MJ-1 and 29 147.24 MJ ha-1, respectively. Energy usage efficiency, specific energy, energy productivity and net energy in lupin production have been calculated as 0.70, 31.95 MJ kg-1, 0.04 kg MJ-1 and -6932.32 MJ ha-1, respectively. The total energy input used up in guar production could be classified as 51.31 % direct, 48.69 % indirect, 22.24 % renewable and 77.76 % non-renewable. The total energy input used up in lupin production could be classified as 31.35 % direct, 68.65 % indirect, 33.68 % renewable and 66.32 % non-renewable.


Two low-latency, sub-micron, beam position monitoring (BPM) systems have been developed and tested with beam at the KEK Accelerator Test Facility (ATF2). One system (upstream), based on stripline BPMs, uses fast analogue front-end signal processing and has demonstrated a position resolution as low as 400 nm for beam intensities of 1 nC, with single-pass beam. The other (IP) system, based on low-Q cavity BPMs and utilising custom signal processing electronics designed for low latency, provides a single pass resolution of approximately 100 nm. The BPM position data are digitised by fast ADCs on a custom FPGAbased feedback controller and used in three modes: 1) the upstream BPM data are used to drive a pair of local kickers nominally orthogonal in phase in closed-loop feedback mode; 2) the upstream BPM data are used to drive a downstream kicker in the ATF2 final focus region in feedforward mode; 3) the IP cavity BPM data are used to drive a local downstream kicker in the ATF2 final focus region in closed-loop feedback mode. In each case the beam jitter is measured downstream of the final focus system with the IP cavity BPMs. The relative performance of these systems is compared.


HEV bus has own characteristic to stop the engine to prevent loss of available energy when stopped at red lights. Because of this, electric steering oil pump system is required to keep the performance designed and protect the steering system in the event of abrupt drive of engine. The electric motor enables the oil pump to provide constant oil flow to power steering system. The main objective of this paper is to investigate the performance characteristics of vane type steering oil pump for HEV bus according to variable geometries and operating conditions of the vane type pump by use of CFD. The numerical analysis demonstrates that the discharge flow rate and the torque increased 15.1% and 17.2 %, while the theoretical oil flow rate is raised from 12㏄/rev to 14㏄/rev(16.7% increase) at design point.


ABSTRACT The aim of this paper is to make a comparison between two major accidents involving Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) that affected the French coastline: the ERIKA spill in 1999 and Prestige in 2002. T...


Let G = A*HB be the free product of the groups A and B amalgamating the proper subgroup H and let R be a ring with 1. If H is finite and G is not finitely generated we show that any non-zero ideal I of R(G) intersects non-trivially with the group ring R(M), where M = M(I) is a subgroup of G which is a free product amalgamating a finite normal subgroup. This result compares with A. I. Lichtman's results in [6] but is not a direct generalisation of these.


The run-time performance of VLIW (very long instruction word) microprocessors depends heavily on the effectiveness of its associated optimizing compiler. Typical VLIW compiler phases include instruction scheduling, which maximizes instruction level parallelism (ILP), and register allocation, which minimizes data spills to external memory. If ILP is maximized without considering register constraints, high register pressure may result, leading to increased spill code and reduced run-time performance. In this paper, a new register pressure reduction technique for embedded VLIW processors is presented to control register pressure prior to instruction scheduling and register allocation. By modifying the relative ordering of operations, this technique restructures code to better reduce spills. Our technique has been implemented in Trimaran, an academic VLIW compiler, and evaluated using a series of VLIW benchmarks. Experimental results show that, on average, our algorithm reduces dynamic spills and improves overall cycle counts by 6% for a VLIW architecture with 8 functional units and 32 registers versus previous spill code reduction techniques.


The research takes grape,strawberry,spinach,celery and radish as the experimental materials,and studies the changesof total TAA which is measured according to the spectrophotometric method using DPPH as free radical generator. We concludethat in initial storage period,the fruits and vegetables suffer slight stress,and free radicals can be scavenged by internal antioxidantivedefence system,and new isoforms are synthesized when free radicals level exceeds the activity of endogenous antioxidants.Alongwith the senescence and the accumulation of free radicals,the ability of synthesis of new isoforms and antioxidant activity willdecrease . Free radicals will accelerate the aging and death of fruits and vegetables after the level of free radicals increases to certaindegree.


[Objective]To observe the clinical efficacy and adverse reactions of recombinant human granulocyte-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF).[Methods] Patients, who were diagnosed malignant by cytology and histology,were selected as objects. Totally 60 cases of group-wide were conducted all self-control law firms, the first cycle of chemotherapy was taken as the control period, after that the use of oral shark liver alcohol, leucogen were adopted so that the leukocytes returned to normal, then rhG-CSF was used after the second chemotherapy cycle (Treatment cycle). Blood routine check was conducted once the next day after the beginning of chemotherapy to observe the leukocytes and neutrophils.[Results]The minimums of leukocyte count and neutrophil (3.0±2.0)×109/L,(2.5±0.8)×109/L at treatment cycle were higher than those at control cycle(2.2±0.8)×109/L,(1.3±0.7)×109/L, the value of the minimum duration was also less than that in the control cycle. The incidences of bone pain and myalgia as well as fatigue were 10% and 7%, with occasional low heat.[Conclusion] rhG-CSF has preventive and therapeutic effect on leukopenia and neutropenia caused by chemotherapy, with light side effects, safe and reliable.


Abstract. The design and implementation of full-order controllers often requires advanced hardware and high computational processing effort mainly for problems that involves large models, such as the vibration control of structures. To avoid this, it is recommended to use reduced order controllers. Approaches using Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMI) are widely employed in the design of reduced or fixed order controllers. This approach presented good results of performance and minimization of the H-infinity norm. However, the computational cost to obtain the controller can be high for large systems. The aim of this work is to present a direct minimization method for designing reduced order H-infinity controllers with a low computational cost. For this goal, it is formulated an optimization problem, so that minimizing the H-infinity norm guaranteeing the stability of the closed loop system. The solution of the optimization problem is obtained using the genetic algorithms, exploiting the advantage of this point of view where there are numerical difficulties and a complex search space. This formulation is verified in the design of a wind gust disturbance controller for the linearized model of the F-8 aircraft often used with other methods of reduced order H-infinity controller design. A comparison of the proposed formulation and the combination of the LMI and the Augmented Lagrangian method are presented in this work. The proposed approach can be applied to the vibration control problem of large structures. The optimization problem is solved using MATLAB software and some numerical aspects of the problem are also discussed.


Assessment of vine water status is needed to understand the effect of environmental factors and management practices on dry-farmed and irrigated vineyards. Among plant-based indicators, carbon isotope discrimination (δ13C) is easily accessible, reliable, and inexpensive. As it provides a post-hoc assessment of vine water status during the berry ripening period, it can be useful for assessing the results of vineyard management practices during the season, and to map water status in the vineyard to aid in future precision management. Possible applications and limitations of this technique for practical vineyard management are discussed in this article.


The invention provides a manufacturing method for a banana slice. The manufacturing method mainly comprises the following steps: (1) choosing fresh bananas; (2) protecting the color of the bananas by peeling the bananas and soaking the bananas in the solution of a color protecting agent for 20 to 30 min; and (3) drying the bananas by spreading single layers of the bananas on a baking pan, carrying out drying at a temperature of 60 to 65 DEG C for 11 to 13 h, stopping drying and in 6 to 8 h, continuing drying at a temperature of 50 to 60 DEG C for 5 to 8 h until moisture in the bananas is in a range of 6 to 10%. The banana slice prepared by using the manufacturing method retains unique flavor and nutritional ingredients in the fresh bananas to the greatest extent and maintains the original color, fragrance and taste of banana pulp and the advantages of bulkiness, agreeable taste and the like of the banana pulp, and the manufacturing method is simple and is convenient to popularize.


High performance optical photon detectors are indispensable for quantum communications. Superconducting detectors are very attractive because of their high quantum efficiency and intrinsic low dark count probability. We have been developing high performance optical photon detectors with a Titanium‐based transition edge sensor (Ti‐TES), which have superconducting critical temperatures around 300 mK. The relatively high transition temperature enables rapid thermal relaxation of the absorbed photon energy, resulting in excellent temporal characteristics such as fast response time below 1 μs, low timing jitter of 33 ns, and maximum counting rate over 1 MHz. Although there is a tradeoff relationship between the temporal response and energy resolution, we have simultaneously achieved high quantum efficiency and high energy resolution. We fabricated Ti‐TES devices with an optical cavity structure for photon absorption enhancement in the superconducting film. The measured quantum efficiency is over 95 % at 850 nm...


The combined influence of IR laser and microwave pulse radiation on biological objects is considered. This influence depends on the lengths of pulses and time interval between them. It is shown that the biologically active dose is much smaller for the microwave radiation than for the IR laser radiation, but the laser radiation provides a more pronounced cell response. Microwave radiation increases the efficiency of influence of IR laser radiation.


Subarachnoid hemorrhage by a ruptured cerebral aneurysm remains the most devastating cerebrovascular disorders with high morbidity and mortality (Suzuki et al., 2017), which are mainly caused by early brain injury and delayed cerebral ischemia. Despite many experimental and clinical research efforts, the mechanisms of early brain injury as well as delayed cerebral ischemia remain unclarified. However, recent works have suggested that tenascin-C, which is a special type of secreted extracellular matrix proteins, is promising as a novel therapeutic target against post-subarachnoid hemorrhage early brain injury and delayed cerebral ischemia.


Currently,it is very common for female college students to have irrational attitude of "to love for love".This phenomenon results from the traditional value concept of marriage and the influence of social gender.Therefore,we should pay attention to the marriage problems of female college students from a humanistic perspective and enhance their abilities to anticipate the risk of love.Meanwhile,solving these problems also relies on the humanity and modernization of social consciousness.


Being overweight or obese increases the risk of elevated blood pressure. However differences of their effects on blood pressure in different age groups are not clear.


The author auto‐ethnographically reflects on the emotional struggle with her father's death. The haunting memory of their last conversation empowers her during the lengthy mourning process. She 'reconstructs the event so that it can be integrated into her life story' [J. H. Harvey (1996) Embracing Their Memory: Loss and Social Psychology of Storytelling, Allyn & Bacon, MA, p. 191]. Memories of their relationship resurface as the emotional landscape involves love, strength, denial, compassion, withdrawal and helplessness. The reflection explores the educative process of writing from the heart. It also shares multicultural funeral rites and how they differ from traditional North American funerals. At a deeper level, writing the auto‐ethnography becomes cathartic as it helps 'break ties between the bereaved and the dead to achieve a good adjustment' (Ibid., p. 138). It also explores theory, practice, and innovation that embed voices in health and education in order to enlighten practice. In the end, reflecting on the memory of her father's last words becomes a transformative educational process as it provides a heightened awareness about grief, loss, bereavement and the importance of the father–daughter relationship.


Heavily carbon doped InGaAs lattice matched to InP was grown by LP-MOCVD using all-methyl metalorganics and liquid CCl/sub 4/ as a carbon source. The impact of growth conditions on conduction type and alloy composition of InGaAs was studied. The effect of thermal annealing conditions on the hole concentration and mobility of C-InGaAs was investigated, and carbon displacement from the group III site to the arsenic site as well as reduced hydrogen passivation are suggested as possible mechanisms for the significant increase of hole concentration upon annealing. Base specific contact resistances as low as 5/spl times/10/sup -7/ /spl Omega/-cm/sup 2/ were demonstrated by depositing Ti/Pt/Au non-alloyed ohmic contacts on annealed base layers.


INTRODUCTION
We aimed to compare perioperative and postoperative outcomes and to assess the safety and feasibility of same-day trial of void (TOV) in patients who underwent standard holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) vs. MOSESTM HoLEP (MoLEP).

METHODS
We conducted a retrospective review of prospectively collected data of patients that underwent HoLEP (100 W) or MoLEP (120 W) with same-day catheter removal three hours postoperatively at our institution from August 2018 to September 2021. Patient demographics, intraoperative parameters, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. Data were compared as means with standard deviation and medians with interquartile range (IQR) or numbers and percentages. Continuous and categorical variables were assessed using the Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-squared test, respectively. Predictors of shorter enucleation time and failed same-day TOV were investigated.

RESULTS
Of the 90 patients included, 28 underwent HoLEP while 62 had MoLEP. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the successful TOV (23 [82%] vs. 58 [93.5%], p=0.1) and readmission rate (3 [10.7%] vs. 1 [1.6%], p=0.08); however, the MoLEP group had a significantly shorter mean enucleation time (p<0.001), mean hemostasis time (p<0.001), mean morcellation time (p=0.003), and lower mean energy used (p<0.001). On the logistic regression model, MoLEP (odds ratio [OR] 0.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.007-0.19, p<0.001), lower preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.01-1.55, p=0.03), and smaller prostate size (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.09, p<0.001) were independent predictors of shorter enucleation time. History of preoperative retention was the only significant factor associated with a failed same-day TOV (p=0.04). There was no different difference in intraoperative or postoperative complication rates or postoperative functional outcomes between the two technologies.

CONCLUSIONS
Same-day TOV and discharge are feasible following standard HoLEP and MoLEP, with comparable outcomes; however, the use of MOSES technology offered better enucleation efficiency with excellent hemostatic potential. Preoperative retention was the only predictor for failed same-day TOV.


This literature review summarizes the progress on studies of cervical cancer survivors′ quality of life in China and worldwide.It highlights the significance of improving the quality of life for cervical cancer survivors.It also discusses dimensions of quality of life,and interventions which may improve cervical cancer survivors′ quality of life.


Connected automated vehicle (CAV) technology, which enables autonomous vehicles to communicate at high speed, has shown significant potential in improving fuel efficiency and safety in everyday transportation. This study leverages the advances of CAV technology to design an ecodriving and platooning system to improve both fuel and operational efficiency of vehicles on freeways. The proposed algorithm optimizes CAVs' trajectories with three objectives. These include travel time minimization, fuel consumption minimization, and traffic safety improvement.


Insecticidal activities of 117 substituted phenyl methyl- and dimethylcarbamates to several insect species including the house fly, Musca domestica, the azuki bean weevil, Callosobruchus chinensis, the corn leaf aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis, the green rice leafhopper, Nephotettix cincticeps, the small brown planthopper, Laodelphax striatellus, etc. Structure-activity relationships and selectivity were discussed mainly on aphids and leaf- and planthoppers. Insecticidal characteristics to the green rice leafhopper and the small brown planthopper of carbamate insecticides were compared concerning the difference in pesticidal activities through various testing methods, effects of lowering temperature on insecticidal activity, etc. In regard to the mtabolism, penetration of carbamates from insect cuticle was rapid when the chemicals were topically applied on the green rice leafhopper and the small brown planthopper. Degradation of carbamates in vivo and in vitro was not so remarkable. Carbamate compounds applied on soils in the biometric flask degraded through hydrolytic pathway with the evolution of carbon dioxide. Soil-bound residues were detected by the radio tracer experiment. Concerning the experiment using the model ecosystem, carbamates were decomposed in the component organisms and in the aquarium water. Little possibility of ecological magnification through food chain was clarified.


It is shown in the paper that an interval data fusion procedure can be carried out by means of representation of intervals on the real line by weak order relations (or rankings) over set of discrete values belonging to these intervals. It is possible to determine a consensus ranking for collection of discrete values rankings, corresponding to initial intervals. The highest ranked value, accepted as a result of the fusion, guarantees improved accuracy and robustness of the interval data fusion procedure outputs.


Offshoring knowledge and innovation activities enables many small and mediumenterprises (SMEs) to successfully compete in a global economy. This offshoring is largely driven by skills shortages and rising costs at home. However, while economic, political, and regulatory environments have traditionally been the main considerations when offshoring, understanding culture and the cross-cultural discontinuities associated with offshoring have received less attention. This paper uses a case study approach to assess the impact of culture on a German software developer offshoring its operations to Thailand. It begins with literature related to the growth of SMEs who offshore their knowledge-based activities. The methodology then uses interviews and focus groups to identify cross-cultural discontinuities at a case firm and links them to Hofstede's cultural dimensions. Results show five key cross-cultural discontinuities affecting work performance and discusses the implications for small businesses that offshore their knowledge related activities.


As public-private partnerships (PPPs) for infrastructure development continue to puzzle governments due to their complex nature, effort is put in developing tools which contribute to the simplification of PPP procurement. One of the respective initiatives that have been launched in the public sector comprises the creation and use of standardized contracts. These modularly structured documents provide standard terms for PPP and are advocated for their alleged capacity to reduce transaction costs by limiting the room for contractual negotiations and creating a common contractual understanding among actors involved. In order to get a better understanding of how they affect PPP procurement, we investigate the use of standard contracts in the Flemish Sports Infrastructure Program. On the one hand, the case study demonstrates a successful application of standard contracts in technically simple projects. On the other hand, we find that standard contracts were used inappropriately in technically more demanding projects. Unsuccessful cases were characterized by an interference of local governments' interests, a questioned origin of the contract, and a persistently rigid attitude of public actors at the negotiation table. In sum, the contribution of standard contracts has been mixed, and we recommend to seek ways of improving their use.


The Polo‐like kinase, Plk, has multiple roles in regulating mitosis. In particular, Plk1 has been postulated to function as a trigger kinase that phosphorylates and activates Cdc25C prior to the activation of cyclin B–Cdc2 and thereby initiates its activation. However, the upstream regulation of Plk1 activation remains unclear. Here we have studied the interplay between Plk1 and Cdc2 through meiotic and early embryonic cycles in starfish. Distinct kinases, cyclin B–Cdc2, MAPK along with cyclin B– and/or cyclin A–Cdc2 and cyclin A–Cdc2, were unique upstream regulators for Plk1 activation at meiosis I, meiosis II and embryonic M‐phase, respectively, indicating that Plk1 is not the trigger kinase at meiotic reinitiation. When Plk1 was required for cyclin B–Cdc2 activation, the action of Plk1 was mediated primarily through suppression of Myt1 rather than through activation of Cdc25. We propose that Plk1 can be activated by either cyclin A– or cyclin B–Cdc2, and its primary target is Myt1.


The security models for online banking systems currently in use are strongly based on, user identification and authentication methods. Therefore different authentication approaches are introduced. There are multiple ways through which banks can authenticate users. These range from the simple systems such as a combination of the username and password to complex systems such as biometric or one time usage based variable tokens. This paper gives insight into some of the more prevalent technologies currently being implemented in large organizations today.


Accurate measurements of the nonlinear coefficient /spl gamma/ of optical-communication fibers are performed by using 110-fs pulses. The nonlinear phase shift induced by self-phase modulation over a propagation length shorter than 1 m is detected by the spectral-interferometry technique. The value of /spl gamma/ is obtained by comparing the measured frequency-dependent nonlinear phase with the numerical solution of the nonlinear propagation equation.


The Bachelor thesis is concentrated on the risk analysis in the Production and the proposals for Improvement Designs Leading to the Risk Minimization in the specific company. It tries to show specifficaly how we can understand the risks and how we can analyze them. Nowadays the risk analysis must be controlled properly so as companies and the firms could prevent losses and low quality.


Using a method we have already described in some detail(1), we have attempted to analyze the radiation obtained from boron bombarded with a mixed beam of deutons and protons. The absorption of the radiation in lead and in paraffin out to a thickness of 8.3 cm was measured by using both a lead and a paraffin lined ionization chamber.


Over the past few years there has been a growing interest in monolithic arrays of single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) for parallel detection of faint ultrafast optical signals. SPADs implemented in CMOS-compatible planar technologies offer the typical advantages of microelectronic devices (small size, ruggedness, low voltage, low power, etc.). Furthermore, they have inherently higher photon detection efficiency than photomultiplier tubes and they are able to provide very high acquisition speeds. The development of fully-parallel multichannel systems is a challenge both for the detector (with new problems like optical and electrical crosstalk, isolation elements size reduction and the need for higher yields) and for the electronics. The development of a parallel detector must be accompanied by that of the time-to-amplitude converters and analysis electronics necessary in time-correlated single photon counting applications. In this paper we present the fundamental building blocks necessary to develop a parallel picosecond array detector: a new high-performance SPAD detector, compatible with the design of multi-detector systems with a large number of channels, and a new totally integrated system for time-to-amplitude conversion, to allow the simple integration of several channels on a single chip.


Abstract A novel scheme is proposed for frequency 12-tupling millimeter-wave generation based on two cascaded dual-parallel Mach–Zehnder modulators (DP-MZM) without optical filtering. The impact of imperfect extinction ratio (EXT) of each sub-MZM on optical sideband suppression ratio (OSSR) and RF spurious suppression ratio (RSSR) is investigated. Theoretical and simulation results show that the proposed scheme is feasible and system performance is insensitive to EXT when EXT is not less than 29 dB. Optical mm-wave with 26.4 dB OSSR and 20.3 dB RSSR can be obtained when the DPMZM is consisted of two sub-MZMs with 30 dB EXT. Furthermore, the system performance improvement through sub-MZM modulation index enhancement is analyzed.


Taking course construction of human geography field practice in geographic science of Shangqiu normal university as an example,defined course target of human geography field practice,and then conducted instructional program design of human geography field practice in normal university,including the guiding ideology,building practice base,training contents,training methods and evaluation.Then,it summarized the effect of course construction of human geography field practice.Course construction of human geography field practice in geographic science of Shangqiu normal university construct a basic teaching model of human geography field practice on a whole,then put forward to provide a reference for improving the quality of field practice.


Preincubation with pure interferon beta, but not partially purified interferon alpha, increased immunoglobulin production from non-fractionated peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated by pokeweed mitogen. Preincubation of B lymphocytes, but not T lymphocytes or monocytes, with pure interferon beta also increased immunoglobulin synthesis. It is concluded that interferon has a direct effect on B lymphocytes in enhancing immunoglobulin production.


By means of establishing the continuous elastic 3 layers beam model for track structure with random irregularity of track vertical profile, the vibration equations of the track structure are transformed by Fourier Transform. The vibration displacements in Fourier Transform domain are solved with this transformed equation. Then, the vibration responses of the track structure are obtained by performing Inverse Fast Fourier Transform. This technique is applicable to any complicated dynamics problem of the track structure. Vibration responses of track structure stimulated by several of existing high-speed Electric Multiple Units in China are calculated in this paper. Vibration velocity and acceleration of track structure are obtained by analyzing the displacement. Each sub-structure vibration of track when a train passes by is analyzed. Influences of track irregularity and train velocity on track response are investigated. Some track vibration regularities of high-speed railway are obtained at the end of this paper.


The S. half of the Penfield 15-min. quadrangle, located in the Appalachian Plateaus Province and W.-central Pennsylvania, is characterized by topography reflecting broadly folded to almost horizontal strata. Geomorphic development has apparently included expansion of Susquehanna River drainage at the expense of Allegheny River drainage. Subsurface stratigraphic information from deep gas wells is available down to the Devonian Helderberg Formation. Surface exposures include strata from just below the middle unit of the Pocono Formation (Mississippian) up through the Pennsylvanian Pottsville and Allegheny groups almost to the middle of the Conemaugh Group (Pennsylvanian). Abundant natural gas has been produced primarily from deep wells penetrating the Oriskana Sandstone. The Rockton (Luthersburg) Pool represents the largest producing area. (50 refs.)


The high biocompatibility of Hydroxyapatite (HA) makes it one of the most common ceramics used in bioimplants. However, its inferior mechanical properties can be improved through the formation of composites. In the present work, composites are fabricated by adding ZnO and Fe3O4 in HA through compaction and sintering in five different compositions to study their effect on HA. Their structural properties using scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction are studied, while mechanical properties are studied using micro-hardness test and compression test. In experimental results, it was observed that 7.5% ZnO in HA has resulted in improved relative density ( 99%), increased hardness (6.9 GPa) but with reduced compressive strength (25.6 MPa), hence it can be suitable for hard coatings on bio-implants. 20% porosity was observed in an HA-7.5%ZnO-20% Fe3O4 composite with compressive strength (40 MPa) and hardness (4.1 GPa). Among all, this composition showed a maximum balance between mechanical properties and porosity.


IEC flicker meter has been widely accepted as an international standard for flicker severity measurement. It is found, however, that the meter has a major deficiency: it is unable to measure flickers caused by interharmonics whose frequencies are higher than 102 Hz. Such interharmonics are not uncommon. Using field test results as an example, this paper demonstrates the deficiency of the flicker meter and analyzes the causes of the deficiency. The goal is to raise awareness on the problem and to promote research on improving the flicker meter algorithm.


We have studied the electronic, magnetic and linear phonon dispersion behavior of Phosphorene monolayer using rst principle based ab initio method. Phosphorene monolayer is a semiconducting system with a dimensional dependent variable range of band gap. Vacancy has been done to study the geometry and physical behavior of the monolayer system. Pristine, vacancy induced monolayer and vacancy induced doped monolayer are included in the calculation. Dopant concentration has been well checked via optimization algorithm to maintain the dilute magnetic semiconducting behavior of the monolayer system. Density of states and partial density of state indicates the contribution of individual orbitals in the system. Band closing nature in observed in vacancy and doped vacancy states indicating closed dense states and metallic behavior of the perturbed phases. Both antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic ordering is included in our calculation to get a charm of both ordering in the physical properties of the system. Landau energy level distribution is mapped via Fermi surface with linear dispersion relation in terms of phonon vibrational density of states and linear dispersion relations. The results of linear phonon density of states corroborating with electronic density of states.


Library is repository of resources that create a fundamental change in education. Adequate electronic resources facilities empower and enrich the higher education system in meeting the best academic needs.The library environment is currently undergoing a rapid and dynamic revolution leading to new generation of libraries with the emphasis on e-resources.Users are able to access e-resources either by local or remote locations.In this paper, author discusses about electronic information resources in teaching learning and research. The electronic resources consist of online journals databases, CD-ROM material and audio/video course materials, Open Courseware and Swayam.


Hacipushannan copper mine is located in the eastern section of the Qimantage-Dulan metallogenic belt,which is one of the important metallogenic belts in Qinghai Province key exploration in recent years.Based on the authentication summary and analysis of geological features of ore deposits,we think that its belongs to magmatic hydrothermal copper deposits.The copper orebody of this area is basically layer or ribbon distribution,orebody direction is basically same to F2 fault,so we think F2 fault is the most important ore-controlling structure and dissolving structure in the mining area,magma activity of the print period provides heat source and mining sources condition for the whole mineralization,the hot liquid containing ore extracts parts of ore containing hydrothermal in surrounding rock during the ascent and provides necessary conditions for forming mine.We analyze that the mining area possess a good prospect for mineral exploration.


As an alternative to hydraulic fracture for shale gas recovery, high temperature treatments such as combustion and pyrolysis are being used to remove organic matters and decompose minerals from shale to increase shale rock permeability for gas recovery. In this study, shales obtained from Shang Gu Basin, Shangxi, China, were burned in an air environment at a temperature of 800 °C for 45 min to oxidize the organic matters to improve shale physical properties. Energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) tests were conducted to identify minerals and functional group inside the shale samples. The shale samples were also tested in a thermogravimetric analysis FTIR (TGA-FTIR) experiment to study the combustion characteristics and gas emission. The TGA curve shows that two weight loss peaks existed in the combustion process. The first peak occurring between 400 and 500 °C was found to be caused by oxidization of organic matter, and the second pe...


Stereoregular trans-arylene-silylene-vinylene polymers of M w = 13100-34800 and PDI=1.6-2.9 of the general formulas CH 2 =CH-[-SiMe 2 C 6 H 4 -SiMe 2 CH=CH-]-(16, 17, 18) and CH 2 =CH-[-(R) CH=CHC 6 H 4 CH=CH-]-(where R = -Me 2 Si-p-C 6 H 4 -SiMe 2 -, -Me 2 Si-m-C 6 H 4 SiMe 2 - and -Me 2 SiC 6 H 4 -C 6 H 4 SiMe 2 -) (19, 20, 21) have been effectively synthesized via silylative coupling (SC) homopolycondensation of bis(vinyldimethylsilyl)arenes (10, 12, 14) and cross-polycondensation of 4-(vinyldimethylsilyl)styrene (11) as well as cross-copolycondensation of bis(vinyldimethylsilyl)arenes (10, 12 and 14) with 1,4-divinylbenzene (9) catalyzed by [RuH(Cl)(CO) (PCy 3 ) 2 ] (7). Such highly stereoregular products cannot be synthesized via ADMET polycondensation or ring opening metathesis ROM or polyaddition of hydridosilanes to acetylenes.


This paper presents a numerical study of mixed convection heat transfer around two vertically separated horizontal cylinders within confining adiabatic walk. Parametric simulations are performed to assess the effect of the cylinder spacing B / D, of the distance between the parallel plates L / D, and of the Gr / Re2 ratio on the heat transfer and fluid flow. Results have shown that for L / D ≥ 1.5, increasing B / D increases, in all cases, the overall heat transfer coefficient. On the other hand, an enlargement of the channel decreases the overall Nusselt number for L / D ≤ 3.0 and Gr / Re2 ≤ 1.0 and increases it for L / D ≤ 3.0 and Gr / Re2 ≥ 10.0. For L / D > 3.0 the effect of the parallel adiabatic walls on the heat transfer is imperceptible regardless of the magnitude of the Gr /Re2 ratio.


Background: Warfarin interacts with many dietary supplements, potentially leading to dangerous bleeding or clotting events. Since 1994, supplement use in the US has grown substantially, particularl...


Agile methodologies are increasingly adopted by companies, these follow software engineering methods based on iterative and incremental development. Among the most popular is the framework of SCRUM (1986), which is characterized by iterations, where in each iteration it is necessary to make a planning, analysis of requirements, design, coding, tests and documentation. The requirements specification in SCRUM is based on the concept of user stories (US), which are the description of a requirement written in one or two sentences using the user's natural language. An important feature of US is that they must be estimable, that is to say, it must be possible to determine the time it will take to complete it. This allows the Scrum Development Team to determine the total time of the project. However in practice, this task still has problems due to the complexity of the requirements and affects the agreement of US in each iteration. In this paper we propose a strategy to classify the US following the taxonomy of Bloom to determine the degree of its complexity and by doing so make an agile estimation of the approximate time that each one requires for its realization. We show the results obtained after the US have been classified from two projects and based on them, we propose strategies to estimate them.


N 1921, the American Child Hygiene Association compiled and published a digest of programs of national organizations carrying on some phase of child welfare. There are seventyfive public and private agencies in this list, of which forty-seven have their headquarters in New York, twelve in Washington, three in Philadelphia, three in Boston, two in Chicago, and one each in eight other cities or towns. Several of these might very well have been omitted because of the incidental nature of their work for children. But as the programs of other agencies working for child welfare are not included, this number of national organizations may be assumed to be substantially correct and factors to be reckoned with in child welfare nationally considered.


PART 1: DEFINING HEALTH STATISTICS: CONTEXT, HISTORY, AND ORGANIZATION 1. Defining health statistics and their scope 2. Health statistics in historical perspective 3. The health statistics enterprise PART 2: COLLECTING AND COMPILING HEALTH STATISTICS 4. Health statistics from notifications, registration systems, and registries 5. Health surveys: a resource to inform health policy and practice 6. Administrative health data 7. Health statistics from nonhealth sources 8. Standards and their use in health statistics 9. Linking and combining data to develop statistics for understanding the population's health PART 3: USING HEALTH STATISTICS 10. Health statistics and knowledge creation 11. Why truth matters: the role of health statistics in health policy 12. Health statistics in public health practice PART 4: IDENTIFYING CURRENT AND FORTHCOMING ISSUES IN HEALTH STATISTICS 13. Population health monitoring 14. Privacy, confidentiality, and health statistics 15. New technologies and health statistics 16. Modeling health: the role of simulation models in health information systems PART 5: TRANSFORMING HEALTH STATISTICS THROUGH NEW CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORKS 17. Recent developments in health information: an international perspective 18. From health statistics to health information systems: a new path for the 21st Century 19. Population health: new paradigms and implications for health information systems 20. The national health information infrastructure 21. Summing up: towards a 21st Century vision for health statistics


This paper is intended to encourage discussion and stimulate action and thought as well as to support the ongoing work in tribal courts in this area. We are involved in an ongoing process of developing an indigenous body of law and system of justice. We must pay particular attention to how we are going about the development of our court systems and look closely at what is developing. Incorporating customary law, whether wholly or partially, into our developing legal systems makes them truly unique to our individual tribes and reflective of the concepts we, as Indian people, have of law and justice.


The article describes the development of a digital platform for the Eni research ecosystem, based on a microservice approach that automatically scales the computing resources of the system when working with big data. A brief description of the structure of the digital platform, its main components and the functionality of the basic subsystems is provided. Two types of digital platform consumers are presented - legacy and platform applications. Their capabilities and limitations are shown. The subsystem of distributed computing is described, which provides continuous management and monitoring of the microservice architecture of the platform, in particular, it is responsible for: load balancing, service discovery, system recovery after failures, end-to-end authentication, "canary rollouts", access control. The high-performance computing subsystem is presented. It includes models and methods for organizing parallel calculations on various hardware devices, such as a multiprocessor system, a cluster of computing devices connected by a local network, and a graphics processor. As software solutions for organizing parallel computing, multithreaded data processing technologies, MPI messaging interface, and CUDA technology are used. Also described is a data mining subsystem designed to deploy different types of neural networks with different architectures, including direct distribution, convolutional, recurrent and generative neural networks. The integration of the legacy application MD-SLAG-MELT v13.0 into the ecosystem of scientific research using platform integration adapters is presented. The architectures and the main components of the original software package and the integrated software package MD-SLAG-MELT v14.0 are presented. The results of load testing with the analysis of performance metrics and response time of an inherited application, when processing big data, are presented.


It is our great pleasure to welcome you to 2019 International Conference on Smart Power & Internet Energy Systems (SPIES 2019) which was held in 25-27 April 2019 Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. SPIES 2019 is one of the principal events for power and energy experts from academia, industry, utilities, power and energy service providers, researchers and scientists. SPIES 2019 is supported in Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. It is a timely event to share views on energy transformation and discuss these with power and energy leaders from Poland, France, China, Thailand, Canada, Japan, Australia, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Nepal and Rwanda. The theme of this year's conference is "IOT Enable Energy System for the Future" and including keynote and plenary speeches, tutorials, papers and poster presentations. The conference chair Prof. Aman Maung Than Oo from Deakin University, Australia opening for the conference. Prof. Grahame Holmes from RMIT University in Australia, Prof. Innocent Kamwa from Hydro-Quebec Research Institute in Canada, Mr. Jean Bélanger from OPAL-RT TECHNOLOGIES in Canada, Prof. Mohamed El Hachemi Benbouzid from University of Brest in France, Prof. Tyrone Fernando from University of Western Australia in Australia, and Prof. S.M. Muyeen from Curtin University in Australia have attended the conference as keynote speakers and delivered keynote speeches regarding latest information in their respective areas of expertise. There were six sessions of oral presentation and one poster session with the relative topics: Renewable Energy; Distributed Generations and Microgrid; Power System Dynamics and Protection; Smart Building, Smart Cities and Smart Grid; Power Electronics and Energy Conversion; Control, Automation, and Energy Harvesting. This proceeding represents a selection from papers submitted to the conference from universities, research institutes, and industries. All papers were subjected to peer-review by conference committee members and international reviewers. The papers selected depended on their quality and their to the conference. We would like to thank all the authors who have contributed to this volume and also the organizing committees, reviewers, speakers, chairpersons, sponsors and all the conference participants for their support to SPIES 2019. Advisory Chair Prof. S M Muyeen Curtin University, Australia


Plastic systems show effects of steric hindrance at rest, which results in a molecule preventing its neighbors from occupying certain positions and introduces a certain degree of orientation. Under stress many more positions, resulting from the rotation, are forbidden to a molecule in motion. In order to make more positions available, the system must increase its volume under stress and changes from a state of greater order to a state of greater disorder. Based on this concept equations are given which present the strain‐rate at constant temperatures as functions of stress, change in volume and degree of order and disorder. The changes in entropy and energy of interaction, accompanying the strained state, are expressed by a generalized partition function. This concept of anomalous flow is extended to visco‐elastic effects for systems with rubber‐like elasticity, and has been exemplified by data on polychloroprene under tension.


This paper examines the perception of experienced mothers and health workers on infant feeding method. Descriptive design of the survey was used for the study. The population of the study comprises of experienced mothers and the health workers in Ekiti State. The sample used was 200 which were selected using sample random sampling techniques. The instrument used to collect the sample was a self designed questionnaire. The validity of the instrument was ensured through face and content validity. Reliability coefficient of 0.65 was gotten. It was revealed that breast milk is the best for babies through the response of birth experienced mothers and health workers. It was therefore recommended that policies that will encourage breastfeeding should be formulated to encourage nursing mothers to breastfeed properly.


Acoustic metamaterials that operate on low frequency, in-air ultrasound have remained underdeveloped in spite of the numerous applications that utilise this bandwidth (e.g. distance ranging, air coupled ultrasonic testing) and instances where it is an unwelcome by-product (e.g. jet engines, PA systems). Here, the process of scaling a pre-existing acoustic beam shifter design – a structure that laterally shifts an incident wave – to operate in the 40 kHz bandwidth is detailed from numerical analysis, to finite element simulation, fabrication by additive manufacturing, and physical testing by sound pressure field mapping. The measured shift distance agreed well with the analytical and simulated results.


The goal of multi-label learning with missing labels (MLML) is assigning each testing instance multiple labels given training instances that have a partial set of labels. The most challenging issue is to complete the missing labels by leveraging input signals and given labels. Existing methods usually complete missing entries by utilizing label correlation, which, however, overlook knowledge from the object itself. To tackle this problem, we propose a dual enhancement framework that enhances missing entries from the label- perspective and instance-perspective. First, we develop a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network that utilizes sequential label correlations to complete missing labels. Second, we expand the training dataset via a MixUp procedure to further enhance the label confidence. Extensive experiments on three multi-label image datasets clearly verify the superiority of our proposed method to the baselines.


An analytical model based on Volterra nonlinear functionals applied to semiconductor lasers has been developed. Analytical expressions are obtained for different laser diode responses, giving powerful tools for analysis. For harmonic input, the response is given including the gain compression factor /spl epsiv/. Second-harmonic distortion (2HD) shows two maxima at half relaxation oscillation frequency /spl Omega//sub R//2 and at /spl Omega//sub R/, in agreement with experiments; the residual dc component due to nonlinearities is estimated and experimentally verified. Dynamic frequency deviation as function of bias current shows resonant characteristics. Relaxation frequency and damping rate /spl Gamma//sub R/ reveal their precise dependence on /spl epsiv/ and differential gain A. For step input, the turn-on delay t/sub on/ and the overshoot P/sub P//P/sub on/ expressions of our model are only functions of /spl Gamma//sub R/ and /spl Omega//sub R/. P/sub P//P/sub on/, and the ringing phenomena decrease with increasing bias current level. >


We report on an experimental study of Lyman-..cap alpha.. emission from H(2p) capture processes in collisions between H/sup +/ ions and Na(3s) as well as laser-excited aligned Na(3p) atoms. The impact energy lies between 0.5 and 10 keV. We observe a strong enhancement of capture from Na(3p) over capture from Na(3s), in agreement with recent calculations by R. Allan et al. and W. Fritsch, but at variance with earlier experimental and theoretical results (V. S. Kushawaha et al. and M. Kimura et al.).


Boreal peatlands may be particularly vulnerable to climate change, because temperature regimes that currently constrain biological activity in these regions are predicted to increase substantially within the next century. Changes in peatland plant community composition in response to climate change may alter nutrient availability, energy budgets, trace gas fluxes, and carbon storage. We investigated plant community response to warming and drying in a field mesocosm experiment in northern Minnesota, USA. Large intact soil monoliths removed from a bog and a fen received three infrared warming treatments crossed with three water‐table treatments (n = 3) for five years. Foliar cover of each species was estimated annually.


This research aims to identify and analyze the Mishrif Formation's reservoir units and subunits in the F oilfield, located north of the Nasiriya using mostly well-logging data and other accessible geological data. The Petrophysical and lithological parameters of each unit of the Mishrif Formation are determined using data from the F-X1, F-X2, and F-X3 wells to evaluate the water saturation for each unit. GEOLOG8 software was used to interpret output data. High reservoir potential is found in units M1.2, L1.1, L1.2 and L2 due to the high effective porosity and low water saturation. The reservoir units are separated by cap units including marl key beds and units M1.1, M2.


We demonstrate on-chip hybrid integration of chalcogenide glass waveguides and quantum cascade lasers (QCLs). Integration is achieved using an additive solution-casting and molding method to directly form As(2)S(3) strip waveguides on an existing QCL chip. Integrated As(2)S(3) strip waveguides constructed in this manner display strong optical confinement and guiding around 90° bends, with a NA of 0.24 and bend loss of 12.9dB at a 1mm radius (λ=4.8μm).


In this paper, the author defines an automatic pilot to make a perfect loop, that is a circumference, making the centripetal acceleration, Gflyup, to vary through the loop and maintaining a constant motor impulse, although it varies a little bit with altitude. The author proved that this automatic pilot could be implemented easily in the flight computer of an F16, F15, F18, or in any other aircraft with a GonSetRate > 0.62 g/s, which includes low power propeller aerobatic aircrafts. Although its mathematical formulation is very simple, the implementation in the flight computer implies the development of a very accurate numerical simulator to estimate the future values of V and alpha, angle of trajectory, based on which is calculated the actual GonSetRate. It is in this sense that this automatic pilot can be seen as an anticipatory system. The author proved by simulation it would not be enough and safe to show to the pilot the correct Gflyup through the loop due to the pilot reaction time, the flight computer sample time and the aircraft reaction time


284 Background: mPC has a poor prognosis with a median overall survival (mOS) ranging from 8.5 to 11.1 months (mo) with standard treatment, outlining the need for new innovative treatments. MC regimens utilize lower doses of chemotherapy that are administered more frequently which can maintain dose intensity while reducing toxicity. MC with paclitaxel (P) or nab-paclitaxel (N) may have effects on the tumor microenvironment. Methods: A retrospective analysis of treatment regimens and survival of patients (pts) with biopsy proven mPC who received treatment between August 2004 and August 2018 was performed. Results: 30 pts with biopsy proven mPC were identified. 14 pts received prior chemotherapy. mOS of this cohort was 18.9 mo after diagnosis and 14.2 mo after beginning MC. 70% of pts (21/30) survived longer than 12 mo, 37% (11/30) greater than 24 mo, and 27% (8/30) greater than 30 mo. All MC regimens were given on a weekly basis and included: P 60 mg/m² and G 600 mg/m² (PaG); P 60 mg/m², O 50 mg/m², folinic acid (L) 20 mg/m², and 5-fluorouracil (F) 425 mg/m² (POLF); P 60 mg/m², I 100 mg/m², and cisplatin (C) 20 mg/m² (PIC) or P 60 mg/m², I 100 mg/m², L 20 mg/m², and F 425 mg/m² (PILF). 21 pts received N instead of P at some point during their treatment. PaG, POLF, and PIC or PILF were purposely switched before disease progression after a median length of 13, 11 and 13 weeks respectively. 16 pts received PaG as their first regimen. 12 of these 16 pts then received POLF as their second regimen, and 7 of these 12 pts subsequently received PIC or PILF as their third regimen. These 7 pts had a mOS of 21.7 mo after diagnosis and 19.1 mo after beginning MC. 10 pts were successfully able to receive PaG, POLF, or PIC/PILF more than once. Conclusions: Weekly MC regimens such as PaG, POLF, and PIC/PILF that are given sequentially are an effective treatment for mPC. Switching regimens may prevent the development of chemotherapy resistance, allowing for chemotherapy regimens to be used again in the future. There are limitations of retrospective studies so further investigation of this treatment strategy should be done with a large randomized clinical trial.


The present study was conducted to detect the effect of prepartum body condition score (BCS) on dairy cattle performance. Throughout the study, a total of 7956 dairy records were collected from six Holstein Friesian farms. According to the prepartum BCS, dairy cows were grouped into three main categories— low, medium, and over condition score cows for BCS values of 2–3, 3–4 and 4–5, respectively. Dairy cattles with BCS values under the level of 2 were culled as a part of culling policy in these farms. Productive parameters of milk yield (daily yield, 305-day yield and total yield), milk curve (days to peak, initial milk yield, peak milk yield and lactation persistency [LP]), milk somatic cell count (SCC) and somatic cell score (SCS), as well as some reproductive parameters (days to first estrus and days open) were determined to indicate the best dairy cattle prepartum BCS sustained high dairy performance. Prevalence of lameness and metabolic diseases (milk fever, abomasum displacement [DA] and ketosis) were also investigated in dairy cattle among different prepartum BCS. The best prepartum BCS was elucidated to reduce the prevalence of such diseases. Results of the present study revealed that the medium condition score cows produce more milk as compared to the over condition score cows. Medium condition score cows showed improved udder health and reproductive parameters. On the other hand, they showed decreased prevalence of lameness, milk fever, DA and ketosis. In contrast, it was obvious that over condition score cows suffered more from these metabolic disorders than low and medium BCS cows. The prevalence of lameness was more evident in low than in medium and over condition score cows.


ABSTRACT This article seeks to provide background reflections on key coordinates of leisure and culture in the context of dynamics pertaining to the contemporary global time regime. Time and culture are intertwined in many ways, but of specific interest here is the question of the articulation between leisure time, markets, and culture. This article is separated into three main areas of enquiry. First, I explore aspects of the contemporary time regime. I assess the rise of abstract time first in its clock-time form, and its later supplementation by network time forms. Second, I examine the exacerbated dominance of market time brought about and reproduced by key neoliberal processes which have led to a restructuring of the work time/leisure time binary that held for most of the modern period. Third, I critically engage with some aspects of the theory of social acceleration and examine how it can shed light on, and in turn be modified by, the general hypothesis of the commodification of leisure time. In conclusion, I present three ways in which the cultural sector in general is impacted by market pressures, late capitalist temporalities, and the reconfigurations of access to culture.


Abstract: In order to develop the applications of radiation for biomaterial preparation, a non-toxic superabsorbent has been synthesized. A series of superbasorbent hydrogel were prepared from aqueous solution containing 5% polyethylene oxide (PEO) with different concentration of alginate (0.5-2.0%) were irradiated at the doses of 20, 30, and 40 kGy by gamma radiation.The gel fraction, swelling kinetics and the equilibrium degree of swelling (EDS) of the hydrogels were studied, It was found that the incorporation of even 2% alginate (sodium salt) increased the EDS of the hydrogels from 20g/g to 320 g/ g. At a dose of 20 kGy, PEO-alginat hydrogels with high gel fraction (  8O%) and very high EDS (  320 g/g) were obtained. The hydrogels were also found to be sensitive to the ionic solution of NaCl. The PEO-alginate hydrogels could be considered as candidate biomaterials in health care.


A plethora of variability modeling approaches has been developed in the last 30 years. Feature modeling approaches are probably the most common and well-known approaches. All existing variability modeling approaches have their benefits and drawbacks and have been shown to be useful at least in certain use cases. Nevertheless, industry frequently develops their own custom solutions to manage variability because they struggle picking an approach from the (still growing) number of modeling approaches available. Therefore, we work towards a transformation approach, which enables researchers and practitioners alike to compare different (custom) variability modeling approaches and representations and switch in between them at least (semi-)automatically. In this paper, we discuss ongoing challenges for the transformation approach regarding the implementation of the transformations and the expected flexibility of the approach. We present our research agenda towards a flexible and adaptable transformation approach for well-known variability modeling approaches and custom variability representations used in industry.


Summary form only given. Hole transport in photorefractive polymer composites has generally been assumed to be due to the charge transporting component added for that purpose. We now present evidence that transport can occur through the electro-optic dye component instead. The hole mobility in a photorefractive polymer composite incorporating PVK a well-known charge transporting polymer, was compared to the mobility in an analogous composite in which the host matrix was instead polycarbonate, an insulator. Both materials were doped with 47.5 %wt. of the electro-optic chromophore. We find that in this composite, containing the hole transport polymer PVK and a high concentration of dye, the holes are transported by hopping between the electro-optic chromophores.


We read with great interest the case report by Bjursten and associates. This is truly a unique case of an elderly patient presenting with acute coronary symptoms due to a 4.5-cm sinus of Valsalva aneurysm compressing the left main coronary artery [1].

Such aneurysms are not rare, especially in patients with connective tissue disorders, such as Marfan or Loyes-Dietz syndrome. However, most of these patients present with aortic root dilatation rather than an isolated sinus aneurysm [2]. Recently, we operated on a 72-year old female patient with Marfan syndrome, who presented with angina. Work-up revealed a 4.6-cm sinus aneurysm compressing the right coronary artery. We elected to perform valve-sparing aortic root replacement without complications and with symptom resolution.

Aneurysms of the sinuses of Valsalva should be managed aggressively if they are expanding in order to avoid the complications involving rupture or coronary artery obstruction that can be catastrophic. Thus, the appropriate treatment is the replacement of the aortic root with a Dacron graft, either in the form of a Bentall or a valve-sparing operation [3].

Conflict of interest: none declared.


A vivid but fragmented research tradition traces the economic ethic to religious beliefs and practices. The problem has a broad social- scientific relevance, referring to the more general problem of the societal relevance of religious practices and convictions on the one hand, and to the relevance of non-economic phenomena for the economy on the other. In this paper, working on a Weberian and Durheimian theoretical framework, we start from two important functions for capitalist economies: market anomie (the extent people are prepared to break moral rules in their economic life) and market distrust (the conviction the market does not function in a trustworthy manner). Both market anomie and the market perception are measured through the second wave of the European Social Survey (2004), an extensive survey in twenty-four European countries. The relevance of religion as a causal factor of these dimensions of capitalist morality is compared to the competing materialist explanation of market dispositions. This theory basically assumes that the social position (class or status group) determines attitudes toward the market. We hypothesize that the religiosity is most important for the market anomie, while market distrust is based on everyday experiences, thus on stratified position. The data support both hypotheses.


Spontaneous fission of 255Rf, 256Rf and 258Rf was studied at SHIP in GSI Darmstadt. The isotopes were produced in fusion–evaporation reactions 50Ti + 207,208Pb and 50Ti + 209Bi (compound nuclei 257Rf, 258Rf and 259Db, respectively) and implanted into the focal plane detector of the SHIP setup. The deficit in the measured fragments energies was evaluated as a function of implantation depth of evaporation residues in the silicon detector. This correction was applied to obtain the mean total kinetic energies of 255Rf, 256Rf and 258Rf.


Image: di83416 - Greg Meier, Dixie Police Authority and another unidentified officer heps out salt truck at intersection fo Buttermilk and Crescent Springs Road.


a^dDividends-as we^ aa a material animal, a true ecience of medicine must inevitably take cognisance of mind and soul as well as of body. Moreover, as Carlyle said, " All men make up mankind," and the individual man is never so well understood as when he is seen through the mirror of the race. Hence we are staunch believers in a widespread British Empire, and in the extension of our benevolent and reasonable religion in all possible directions. Africa, the dark continent, needs the just and sound-hearted


A comprehensive study was conducted to evaluate the contributions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and oxygen (O2) to the degradation of monoethanolamine (MEA) during CO2 capture from power-plant flue gas streams. The study was performed in a 600-mL semibatch autoclave reactor, using aqueous MEA concentrations in the range of 3−7 mol/L at temperatures in the range of 328−413 K and a constant gas pressure of 250 kPa. The aqueous MEA was contacted with SO2/O2/N2 gas mixtures that had SO2 concentrations in the range of 6−196 ppm and O2 concentrations in the range of 6−100 mol %. The effects of CO2 and a corrosion inhibitor (NaVO3) were also evaluated. The results showed that both SO2 and O2 were detrimental, because they accelerated the rate of MEA degradation. NaVO3 also accelerated the MEA degradation rate, whereas CO2 had the opposite effect. A new kinetic model was formulated to account for the presence of O2 and the option of the presence or absence of SO2 in the flue gas stream. This was of the form:


In order to discuss the relation between exercise fatigue and nitric oxide synthase in amygdala,this paper studies the effect of exercise fatigue on expression of nitric oxide synthase in rat amygdala.The model of exercise fatigue is made for rat during 4 weeks maximal swimming training.At rest,the nitric oxide synthase activity in rat amygdala is assayed by using the radiation immunology technique.The result shows that there is significant decrease of general nitric oxide synthase activity in rat amygdala in fatigue group.It suggests that exercise fatigue as a stress can regulate expression of nitric oxide synthase in amygdala which involved in forming of exercise central fatigue due to the psychological,behavioral and endocrine regulation of amygdala on stress as well as no of neural toxicity.


To obtain the equation of state of quark matter and construct hybrid stars, we calculate the thermodynamic potential in the three-flavor Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model including the tensor-type four-point interaction and the Kobayashi-Maskawa-'t Hooft interaction. To construct the hybrid stars, it is necessary to impose the beta-equilibrium and charge neutrality conditions on the system. It is shown that tensor condensed phases appear at large chemical potential. Under the possibility of the existence of the tensor condensates, the relationship between the radius and mass of hybrid stars is estimated.


The analysis method of automobile dynamics is used to analyze the relation between the wheelbase of the heavy-duty automobile with the double front axle and the load of the tires.The differential equation of planar motion of the automobile is established.The expressions of the steady state yaw rate gain and the stability factor are given.Also presented are the condition under which the average load of the tires can be achieved and the condition under which the whole vehicle has the performance of deficient turning.An application example is shown.The results provide a theoretical basis for the reasonable design of the wheelbase of heavy-duty automobiles with the double front axle.


The Sachakou Pb-Zn polymetallic deposit is located in Hetian County, Xinjiang (geographical coordinates of E78° 57′54.30′ ′–78° 59′53.63′ ′ , N34° 39′27.50′ ′–34° 40′ 57.21′′). It belongs to the West Kunlun orogenic belt on the northwest edge of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and is connected to the Sanjiang orogenic belt to the south (Spurlin et al., 2005). In recent years, a series of Pb-Zn mineralized spots and deposits have been discovered in this area one after another, which is called the Huoshaoyun ore concentration area. Among them, the Sachakou Pb-Zn deposit has reserves up to140 Mt, which has reached a large scale. However, the study on the genesis of deposits in this area has only just begun. This work studied the genesis ofthis Pb-Zn deposit in order to provide new ideas for the genesis of regional deposits and regional prospecting.


The new electrical machine described herein, combines an electric motor with an electric generator, in order to produce more energy the engine consumes. (F.1) This electric machine consists of an electric motor stator (4) and rotor (5), preferably brushless type with electronic control card (9), and a stator alternator (7 ) and rotor (8) of the same type, having the characteristic to be contained in the same housing (13), and a new way places on a single common drive shaft (6). Equipped with a fan pulley (11) and held by bearings (10). The excess energy thus produced feeds batteries (3) that feed back the same engine in a loop which generates a continuous cycle. To do this the motor powered by the alternator, used in its operation, a smaller quantity of electrical energy, compared to the amount of power generated by the alternator itself. This surplus energy, also need to start the machine, remains stored in the batteries, and can later be used in a final goal for the haulage of hybrid motor vehicles (or other). In this example, charging the same slow, can do this at night or during the poses of running all types of hybrid vehicles or other.


The supply mechanism in new-type urbanization construction system is regarded as a system from systematic and scientific perspective. First, the connotation model of new-type urbanization supply mechanism is established by the point of view of system science, and then the present situation, problems and reasons of new-type urbanization supply are systematically analyzed from five subsystems: manpower supply, land planning, capital accumulation, industry development and technology promotion. And next, the system dynamics tools are utilized to analyze the causal relationship among elements of subsystems. Finally, the countermeasures and suggestions for the construction mechanism of improving manpower supply, managing land planning, broadening finance channels, boosting industrial development and accelerating innovation drive are proposed on basis of the problems in subsystems and the relationship among elements.


Background: Universal provision of safe, effective, and inexpensive analgesia for labor remains a challenge. In India, antispasmodics, especially drotaverine, are widely used as an adjunct to decrease labor pain and duration. Therefore, we aimed to determine the efficacy of sterile water block (SWB), with or without drotaverine. Materials and Methods: This study was a randomized, triple arm, controlled trial on 105 patients in active labor, assigned to receive either intramuscular drotaverine (Group D), Intradermal SWB (Group B), or drotaverine with SWB (Group DB). SWB was given in Michaelis Rhomboid, in active phase of the first stage of labor. Primary outcomes were extent of pain relief, as measured by the numeric rating scale (NRS). Other outcomes included patient's satisfaction, duration of active phase of first stage of labor, APGAR scores, incidence of instrumentation or cesarean section, and any adverse effects. Results: One hundred and five patients were randomized into three groups of 35 patients each. At 30 min postintervention, mean (± standard deviation) NRS score was 7.30 (±1.03), 4.88 (±0.68), and 5.04 (±0.75) in Group D, B, and DB, respectively; (P < 0.001). Two hours' postintervention, NRS was 7.61 ± 0.89, 6.66 ± 0.91, and 6.95 ± 0.85 in Groups D, B, and DB respectively with P < 0.01. Number of patients satisfied in Group D, B, and DB were 0, 24, and 25, respectively. The duration of active phase of 1st stage of labor was 144.80 (±47.46), 198.88 (±92.16), and 142.50 (±50.77) minutes in Group D, B, and DB, respectively (P < 0.01). APGAR score was comparable in three groups. No adverse effect was seen on mother or fetus except burning sensation at the time of giving SWB. The occurrence of cesarean section was 8 in Group B, 8 in Group D, and 6 in Group DB. Conclusion: SWB is a safe modality for labor analgesia, causing a significant reduction in labor pain, both with and without drotaverine. Although not always effective as a sole modality, it may be effective in reducing the requirement of other analgesics when used in conjunction with other modalities for labor analgesia. Drotaverine may not significantly lower the labor pain alone or in conjunction with SWB. Yet, it significantly decreases the duration of active phase of first stage of labor (CTRI/2019/09/021125).


This Business Process Reengineering aims to redesign the business process of the Land Use Utilization Compliance Approval Service (PKKPR) in North Bolaang Mongondow Regency. The method used involves the following stages: 1) Engineering Preparation; 2) As-Is Process analysis; 3) To-Be Process Engineering; 4) Analysis of modified time base value added. After conducting the analysis of the 'To-be' Business Process, there has been an improvement in service value, which can be measured by: 1) An increase in VAR by 18.96%; 2) A significant increase in Business Process Effectiveness, reaching 100%, which can be described as Highly Effective; 3) A decrease in the complexity score of the business process to 2040, indicating that the business process has become less complex.


In order to understand the roots of rebellion in Cold War Mexico, scholars have analyzed the relative weight of poverty, injustice, and the excessive violence the state employed to maintain power and repress a discontented populace. This article looks to the writings that helped explain these conditions to Lucio Cabañas, who led a rebellion in the southwest state of Guerrero. Cabañas's movement reflected the progressive intellectual literature of Latin America: Uruguayan Enrique Rodó's anti-imperialism, Peruvians José Carlos Mariátegui's and Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre's socialism, and Mexican Ricardo Flores Magón's anarcho-syndicalism. It examines how Cabañas applied and misapplied their works as he sought to understand conditions in Guerrero and to organize and lead its campesinos into rebellion. The article argues that Cabañas's failure to effectively adapt earlier analyses to Cold War Guerrero contributed to his failure to overthrow the state government and led to the collapse of his armed movement.


Dr. Alice Carleton, Department of Dermatology, The Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford: Contact Dermatitis of the Lids.-When dermatitis affects the lids only or chiefly, it is in the great majority of cases due to a contact irritant. Of course, a blood-borne toxin or drug or irritant may limit its effects to the lids, because the skin here is sensitive, or, in some cases, because a previous irritation has left the cells with diminished resistance. There is also that curious redness and cedema of the lids which Dr. H. W. Barber has described, which makes its appearance about the menopause and is so difficult to treat. None the less, in the majority of cases we are dealing with a reaction to an irritant contact. As usual with this condition in whatever part of the body it is seen, common sense and imagination will indicate the most likely source of trouble. Just as a dermatitis of the ear lobes, centre thighs and left wrist is most often due to nickel, so a dermatitis of the lids is likely to derive in the first place from cosmetics, not only eye shadow applied to the lids or mascara to the lashes, but the whole range of creams, powders and lotions used on the face, and also nail varnish, specially in those women who sleep with a hand tucked under the face. Next come dusts and volatile fluids used for cleaning, or as insecticides or as a perfume spray or maybe a nasal spray. Dyes applied to the hair often leave the tough scalp uninjured but flare up the surrounding skin, or the dye may come from gloves or furs. But I must confess that the cases most commonly referred to a skin clinic are what the late Sir Arthur Hurst called iatrogenic, that is due to the physician (Fig. 1). I do not mean that doctors are responsible for most cases of facial dermatitis, but that in the nature of the case, these are the ones that do not clear up and are said "not to respond to treatment". If a woman gets a rash on her face, she generally ceases to use cosmetics. Dyeing one's hair, or using insecticide sprays are not things we do daily. But when the trouble is due to eye drops or lid creams, the patient redoubles his or her zeal and puts on the application with greater frequency and increasing damage. The four chief criminals are creams of penicillin, or the sulphonamides, anmsthetic or analgesic creams, especially benzocaine or procaine, and the antihistaminics. Anthisan cream is immensely popular now. I saw a case recently where it had been advised for pruritus vulvxe and where the resultant aedema was so severe that the woman had to be catheterized for three days (Fig. 2). For some years now, I have been campaigning among the practitioners in my region against the


Key Points Question What were the outcomes of patients hospitalized with non–COVID-19 conditions, even with negative SARS-CoV-2 test results, during the pandemic vs before the pandemic? Findings In this cohort study of 132 240 patients hospitalized with common medical conditions, only those with heart failure or with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma exhibited a significantly higher risk-adjusted 30-day mortality during the pandemic (16% and 41% higher, respectively). As COVID-19 caseloads increased, lengths of stay and risk-adjusted mortality were significantly higher for patients with COVID-19 but not for those with non–COVID-19 conditions. Meaning The findings show that most patients hospitalized with non–COVID-19 conditions (except heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma) exhibited similar risk-adjusted outcomes during the pandemic, even during COVID-19 caseload surges, suggesting resilience in the face of hospital occupancy strains.


An exemplary video processing method for processing a plurality of input frames includes storing the input frames successively, performing a frame rate conversion upon the successively stored input frames by utilizing a frame rate conversion circuit, and performing a predetermined data processing operation upon an output of the frame rate conversion. The step of performing the frame rate conversion includes generating and outputting a plurality of first output frames concurrently by referring to image data of at least one input frame. The step of performing the predetermined data processing operation includes receiving image data of the first output frames concurrently, wherein the first output frames contain image data of temporally adjacent output frames required by the predetermined data processing operation; and performing the predetermined data processing operation upon the image data of the concurrently received first output frames. The video processing method and the video processing device disclosed in the invention can effectively reduce the bandwidth use of the memory device.