Wetland is a kind of important natural resources and ecosystem. In recent years, the potential and function of wetland have been destroyed by various contradictions among population, resource) environment and development. Therefore, it is vital to protect wetland, to assess and thus reduce all kinds of pressures with which wetland are confronted, to analyze the status of wetland and to explore evolutionary rules. By using GIS and the remote sensing data obtained in 1986 and 2000 as basic information resource, the spatial information database of Sanjiang Plain wetland is established in this paper. A set of assessment indicators of wetland eco-environment is also established according to the pressure-state-response (PSR) model. The dynamic change of wetland eco-environment is analyzed by selecting assessment indicators as pressure, statues and response, etc. Three essential conclusions are drawn as follows. Firstly, because of the human activity during the past 15 years, the area of artificial wetland increased and that of natural wetland decreased. It is a reflection of the decrease of wetland ecosystem service function. Secondly, the changes obviously occur in the structure and status of wetland. The fragileness and degeneration of wetland are very severe. Finally, the response of wetland is that its area is decreasing while the response of human beings is that the area of wetland reserve is increasing.


This article is under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License .
This article is also available via DOI: 10.7202/1038035ar


Background: Unlike external ECG monitoring tools, an insertable cardiac monitor (ICM) has the ability to quantify burden of atrial fibrillation (AF), which has recently been demonstrated to be an i...


A system for remote calculations called "Specialized web portal for solving problems on multiprocessor computing systems" has been developed and installed at the Department of Ill-Posed Problems of Analysis and Applications of the Institute of Mathematics and Mechanics UrB RAS. The parallel algorithms have been incorporated into this system to solve the inverse gravity problem of lateral density reconstruction, the structural inverse gravity and magnetic problem of the contact surfaces reconstruction, and solving SLAEs with block-tridiagonal matrices in geoelectrics problems.


This paper improved existing urban network model,added in logic network with geometric information and used pseudo nodes to express the"one-to-many"relationship of complex edges in the geometric network and logic network.In addition,the model used the trigger to define the appropriate trigger mechanism in order to implement automatic update and maintenance,and took the topology maintenance analysis of complex edges when do point operation,The experimental data showed that the urban pipeline model could express effectively the topological relationship of complex edges and be easy to locate spatially,moreover,the maintenance would not require the topological reconstruction,which contents with the inherent requirements and application mode of the pipeline management.


This report describes a channel-type, underground coal gasification (UCG) model for eastern coal. Previous studies have indicated that it is technically and economically feasible to use a UCG process to obtain medium-heating-value gas in the Illinois Basin and its vicinity. A reliable, predictive model is needed to support the research and development of UCG. Modeling studies are less expensive than field tests and they help researchers compute the process characteristics for a range of parameters and conditions. The concepts and approaches of developing a model for eastern coal are based on existing models for western coal, while recognizing the differences between the physical and chemical phenomena in the UCG of eastern and western coals. The interactions among different parts of a UCG system and the irregular system dimensions are the major difficulties in solving equations of a channel-type, thin-seam UCG model. Possible ways of resolving these difficulties are suggested and incorporated into the proposed model. 55 refs., 15 figs., 3 tabs.


Find out how to identify the highest impact journals in a field via Journal Citation Reports from Web of Science How can you make use of the Journal Impact Factor


In this video blog we discuss the challenges and importance of scientific publications, as well as the Pan-American identity of GR by PANLAR to bring research from our continent to the world.


In this study we explore AI methods and models for intelligent customer support solutions that could help automatically supervise the support case handling process and detect potential mistakes or misuse in case handling that may lead to an unwanted customer experience. We developed different types of proof of concept classification models for automatic prediction of case status based on its conversation/activity history. We also conducted LDA topic modelling analysis to help obtain insights into the characteristics of different types of customer care cases.


GPS data were used to test the possibility of using Kalman filtering to remove oscillations with periods of the order of seconds to improve fast estimation of the ground positioning and estimate ionospheric variations. Input parameters of the filter were tested to optimise the filter performance for a real-time prediction of TEC (total electron concentration). Additionally, TEC derived using the NHPC software was compared with the NeQuick model. In a chosen dataset, large systematic differences were found during day time while during night the NHPC and NeQuick are in good agreement.


The surface structure of multi-crystalline silicon (mc-Si) etched in HF/HNO3 with various added amounts of hexafluorosilicic acid (H2SiF6) as influencing parameter was studied. The experiments simulate the accumulation of the reaction product H2SiF6 in an HNO3-rich and in an HF-rich solution which are used in the photovoltaic industry for the recycling of solar cells and modules. The resulting texture or surface quality, which largely determines the efficiency of solar cells, was investigated by measurements of roughness and reflectance, whereas both parameters increase with enhancing content of H2SiF6. The produced etch pits on the surface could be identified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and focused ion beam (FIB) technology. Etching without H2SiF6 is isotropic and produces favoured oval etch pits. With increasing H2SiF6 concentration the etch pits become angled and have a V-shaped profile. Irregular etching of the crystal orientations of the mc-Si occurs showing the anisotropic etch characteristic of H2SiF6. A model for the mechanism of influence was derived from etch-time experiments and FIB micrographs. We found out that both an increasing etch rate due to the additional acid and the anisotropic etch character contribute to an inhomogeneous surface, and therefore to the deterioration of the reflectance behaviour. Three different regions of surface quality depending on the H2SiF6 concentration were established. This dependence is applicable as a reference for the controlling of industrial etch baths.


ABSTRACT Sport participation and alcohol consumption have been widely examined in analyses of masculinity and implicated in perpetuating hegemonic masculinity in Western cultures. This article addresses a variant of the "Beer Mile," a ritualistic event that has emerged as an ancillary to major triathlons in Australia. In this context, the Beer Mile is an unsanctioned event simultaneously fusing sport participation and alcohol consumption, intended as a jocular celebration of athletic achievement. This research utilises a case study research design employing multiple qualitative methods to critique gender-based discursive practices and online discourse surrounding the Beer Mile. Analysis revealed the Beer Mile as a masculine-dominated space reinforcing normative assumptions on gender binaries and hierarchies. Numerous constraints to women's participation and implicit endorsement of the sport-alcohol nexus were identified, which may undermine broader efforts in promoting the sport of triathlon through notions of egalitarianism, inclusiveness, and healthy lifestyles.


The group of administrators working in the Swedish higher education sector is undergoing considerable change. National statistics show that the average educational level is increasing and that more staff are being recruited from the private sector. This article discusses the implications of such changes on life and work in academia. In particular, it points to a link between new administrative roles and new demands placed on universities to become more coherent, goal-oriented organisations – so-called strategic actors. The article builds on national statistics and an in-depth interview study of administrative professionals from the areas of internationalisation, business liaison and research funding support, at three technical universities in Sweden. The study indicates that administrative professionals can have considerable impact on the management of a university. Lacking formal decision-making power, their influence tends to be indirect. Nevertheless, they can fulfil important roles as guardians of a holistic perspective, reminding internal stakeholders of the organisational aims of the university. Their role requires a set of competences and experiences that includes academic background as well as an attitude of self-reflection, sensitivity and judgement. In conclusion, it is argued that administrative professionals can play a crucial part in transforming universities into strategic actors. Their function merits more attention as it touches upon important issues of power and strategic direction in contemporary higher education.


In this study, we present a simple and accurate macromodel for current operational amplifier (COA). It is expected that this macromodel would allow reliable analysis of the analog circuits that use COA. It would also reduce the computing time in the simulations. The COA characteristics are simulated by using the macromodel and are compared with the simulation results obtained by SPICE device models. The results show that the COA macromodel represents the CMOS COA with approximately the same accuracy as semiconductor SPICE device models.    


Objective:To evaluate the value of susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) in the diagnosis of brain masses.Materials and Methods:Forty-one patients with brain neoplasms underwent conventional MR T1WI,T2WI and SWI scanning.Thirty of them received both contrast enhanced T1WI and SWI (CE-T1WI and CE-SWI).Tumor visibility,edema,blood products,calcium,and vessels were observed respectively on SWI,the images of all sequences were scored from 0 to 3,according to their ability of depicting the observation projects above.Statistical analysis was conducted to compare the scores among these sequences.Results:Meningiomas and low-grade astrocytomas showed equisignal or mild hypersignal intensity;all recurrent meningiomas,high-grade astrocytomas and metastases in major displayed as mild low signal intensity.Venous vasculature both inside meningiomas and low-grade astrocytomas were relatively poorer than the recurrent ones,high-grade astrocytomas and metastases;perivenous showed arc compressed by the tumor in meningiomas,while displayed variously in other tumors.Calcium within the tumor appeared mainly in hypointense signal intensity surrounded by hyperintense signal ring on phase image,while blood product appeared conversely.Peri-edema displayed as high signal intensity.There was statistical difference of scores between SWI and conventional T1WI,T2WI in displaying blood products,calcium,and venous vasculature (P0.01).There was no signif icant difference of scores between SWI and T2WI in displaying edema.Signif icant difference between the scores in detection of tumor visibility was found on the contrast enhanced sequences and non-contrast enhanced sequences (P0.01).Conclusion:SWI sequence not only shows the general imaging features of brain masses but also detects venous vasculature,blood product and calcium within the tumor with superlative contrast.Different from conventional sequences,SWI shows unique details about internal architecture which is determined primarily by blood products.Phase image of SWI is helpful in differentiating blood product and calcium within the tumor.


AIM:To understand the behavioral risk factors of sex transmitted disease(SID)and AIDS of urban residents,so as to provide information and baseline for the establishment of intervention and evaluation of prevention and treatment effects.METHODS:The three stage randomized cluster sampling was used to survey 200 residents each month to perform continuous monitoring of the behavioral risk factor for SID and AIDS.RESULTS:The awarenesses of related knowledge on STD and AIDS were increased from 49.9%and 11.2%to 70.2%(P=0.00) and 33.9%(P=0.00) from 1999 to 2000.Gender,age and educational level were the main influencing factors.88.7%of the residents held the opinion that the adolescents aged above 15 years old should receive the knowledge related with STD and AIDS.CONCLUSION:The awareness of STD and AIDS transmission is obviously increased.


CULTURE, WAR AND PSYCHODYNAMICS AMONG AFGHAN PASHTUNS ANDREA CHIOVENDA Boston University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, 2015 Major Professor: Thomas Barfield, Professor of Anthropology ABSTRACT Based on 18 months of ethnographic fieldwork carried out in Afghanistan from 2009 until 2013 within a majority Pashtun ethnic community in the city of Jalalabad and outlying rural districts of Nangarhar province, this dissertation examines concepts of masculinity in a socio-cultural environment that is patrilineal, patrilocal and strongly androcentric, with a firm tradition of female segregation (purdah). Because only individuals of opposite sex who are closely related by blood or marriage can have social relations, the research focused entirely on men.


BACKGROUND
Fungal aeroallergens might sensitize the airway which in turn produces a specific cytokine profile.

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the IL-25 and IL-33 profile in patients with fungal allergic rhinitis.

METHODS
The present study examined patients who were evaluated due to allergic rhinitis (AR) at Emam Reza Hospital of Shiraz, Iran. The allergic patients were categorized based on the skin prick test. Blood samples were collected and allergen-specific IgE and cytokine profiles were analyzed.

RESULTS
184 patients were enrolled in the study and in 35 of whom fungal rhinitis was confirmed. The levels of specific IgE in patients with fungal allergy were statistically significant compared to those in the control group (p<0.000). However, there were no significant differences in IL-25 and IL-33 levels between fungal and none-fungal AR patients.

CONCLUSION
Chronic fungal challenge might regulate innate system cytokines in severe persistent AR.


The aim of this study is to focus exclusively on the issues of minimisation, separation, treatment and disposal of hospital solid wastes (HSW). The existing scenario for these issues has been assessed in 26 of the provincial capitals in Iran, where basic information has been collated through a survey of literature. The results showed that 96% of the centres under study followed inappropriate methods of reduction and separation of the solid hospital wastes. However, awareness and management could be effective in decreasing and monitoring hospital wastes. The infectious and non-infectious wastes were not completely segregated, and 43% of the total waste was found to be infectious. Currently, hospital wastes are treated by the following processes: autoclave (64%), hydroclave (13%), chemical technology (12%) and incineration (4%); the incinerated ash and other wastes (7%) were disposed of in landfills. In conclusion, HSW management is implemented in a better way as compared to previous years and a great amoun...


In the following article, I examine the originality of Hungarian director Miklos Jancso's (1921–2014) filmmaking practice. Jancso appears as a unique representative of European filmmaking tradition...


Objective To develop a reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography(RP-HPLC)method for simultaneous determination of jatrorrhizine chloride,columbamine,epiberberine chloride,coptisine chloride,palmatine chloride and berberine chloride in Coptis inflorescence and Coptis flower tea.Methods The analysis was carried out by RP-HPLC.The Xtimate TM Qg column(4.6 mmX 250 mm,5 u m) was used,with the eluent containing acetonitrile and water(28:72,v/v) with 0.03 mol/L ammonium bicarbonate and 0.7%ammonium hydroxide,0.1%triethylamine,and the flow rate of 1 mL/min,detection wave of 345 nm.Results In a certain range of concentration,the linearity between concentrations of 6 alkaloids and peak areas presented well.Besides,the method also possessed a well precision,stability,repeatability and the recovery rate,as the values of RSD were all less than 3%.The contents of 6 alkaloids in Coptis flower tea of two brands were similar.For Coptis inflorescence,there were no large difference between the two contents of coptisine chloride and palmatine chloride.However,the contents of jatrorrhizine chloride,columbamine,epiberberine chloride and berberine chloride were quite different.Conclusion This method helps to analyze the 6 alkaloids with a fast speed,a high sensitivity and a well reproducibility.It is suitable for controlling the quality of series highly processed products of Coptis inflorescence.


When irradiating the sample of a scanning tunneling microscope with a modulated light intensity, light absorption results in tip and sample heating and expansion at the modulation frequency, obscuring other possible laser induced mechanisms. This thermal noise limits the use of light modulation when very high spatial resolution is desired in fluorescence or nonlinear optics near field experiments, being an extreme case the measurement of the optical rectification with scanning tunneling microscopes. In this work we describe a method in which the thermal expansion at the modulation frequency can be reduced by orders of magnitude. The method is based on the irradiation of the sample with two interfering laser beams at different frequencies and incidence direction, giving light fringes traveling in the illuminated zone. Solving the heat diffusion equation we predict the thermal behavior of sample and find a good agreement with experimental data.


AbstractThe fundamental dynamics of "vortex splitting" stratospheric sudden warmings (SSWs), which are known to be predominantly barotropic in nature, are reexamined using an idealized single-layer f-plane model of the polar vortex. The aim is to elucidate the conditions under which a stationary topographic forcing causes the model vortex to split, and to express the splitting condition as a function of the model parameters determining the topography and circulation.For a specified topographic forcing profile the model behavior is governed by two nondimensional parameters: the topographic forcing height M and a surf-zone potential vorticity parameter Ω. For relatively low M, vortex splits similar to observed SSWs occur only for a narrow range of Ω values. Further, a bifurcation in parameter space is observed: a small change in Ω (or M) beyond a critical value can lead to an abrupt transition between a state with low-amplitude vortex Rossby waves and a sudden vortex split. The model behavior can be fully u...


The question of the desirability of removing chronically enlarged and inflamed tonsils has now almost ceased to be asked, at any rate among the medical profession. Twenty years ago, however, the matter was one of hot dispute, and medical men seriously argued that the operation was harmful, inefficacious and almost impious?inasmuch as it sought to remove organs which had been designed and placed by Providence for some good purpose. Thus an anonymous writer in the Medical Chronicle maintained that the tonsils prevented infection of the system by contagious germs, that they maintained the good quality of the voice, and that they were essential for the attainment of sexual fertility. Further, that after their removal they often grew again, and that patients were obliged to submit to many repeated operations when their removal was attempted. Mackenzie, in a letter to the same paper, and Semon, in a long article in the St. Thomas's Hospital Reports (1883), answered all these fallacious statements, and from that time to the present the indications for removal of chronically enlarged and inflamed tonsils, as well as the method of their removal, have never been seriously called in question. Briefly stated, these indications are that all tonsils should be


trusted 2 This paper traces the approach Unisys 3D Blueprinting used to evaluate the Rational Unified Process, or RUP, in support of the Unisys 3D Blueprint, a business and systems modeling architecture that integrates business vision and IT execution to drive organizational agility.


Since the 1990s Chinese mainland has been carrying out the life education,on the whole,the moral education in middle school tends to be life cognitive education,but neglects and is lack of life emotion education. Human has double life: the life of species and the life of kind. The moral education concerns human beings as well as individual, and concerns its implicit,lively,rich life emotion. Education of Life Emotion,which has a great guiding implication to the development of the individual,is the basic content of life education.


The range in cultural variability of Fusarium oxysporum f. cubense on potato dextrose agar was studied. Several hundred isolates obtained from diseased varieties of Musa were categorized into four morphological groupings or cultivars. These were termed 'Sporodochial', 'Ropy', 'Cottony Alba', and 'Slimy Pionnotal'. The morphological cultivar 'Sporodochial' was further divided physiologically into 'Odoratum' and 'Inodoratum' cultivars. Clones producing sporodochia were the parental forms from which all other cultural types could arise by mutation. Mutants did not revert to their parental types. A system is proposed for cataloguing clones of plant pathogenic Fusarium species. Based on morphological characters, the catalog is intended to serve as a collection of data which provides also for the categorizing of cultivars.


Oregon has been using recessed markers for approximately 10 years on all types of roads, west of the Cascade mountains. The recessed markers are protected from snow plowing operations and may last longer than raised markers, however, their life expectancy or effectiveness has never been evaluated. Standing water and/or debris has been observed in the recessed grooves which reduces the reflectivity of the markers. In addition, the effect of studded tire wear, abrasion from sanding materials, and traffic on markers has never been fully evaluated. Paint striping and raised markers are still good alternatives for marking state highways. Paint has a minimal life cycle cost with minimal traffic impacts during replacement. Skip lines enhanced by raised markers provide excellent lane delineation both visually and audibly. However, the reflectivity of the markers may drop as much as 70% in the first year. Because the costs of raised markers are around $250 more per year per mile than paint, they should only be used when it is cost effective or when needed to improve traffic safety. Skip lines enhanced by recessed markers cost approximately $100 per year per mile more than skip lines enhanced by raised markers. This cost is based on a three-year life for recessed markers, 12-year analysis period and a discount rate of 4%. Recessed markers also do not perform as well as raised markers. The initial performance is reduced strictly because they are recessed. The slots collect debris, rain and snow and when covered are ineffective. Indications are that a maintenance program to remove the debris would not be viable. We recommend that: 1) Because of the expense and poor performance, recessed markers should not be used by the Oregon Department of Transportation. Paint striping and raised markers are the best alternatives for marking our state highways. Consideration should be given to the selection of a marker or paint based on ADT and roadway alignment. 2) Durable markers should be considered for special applications.


Charles Mulford Robinson, Atlantic, April, 1899, under title, " Improvement in City Life." Jacob A. Riis, Atlantic, July to December, 1899, inclusive. Articles in Municipal Affairs, December, 1898, and June, 1898. "Public Playgrounds and Baths in Boston," Engineering Record, September 17, 1898. "Report of the Committee on Small Parks in New York," 1897. Reports of Park Commissioners in various large cities. Out-door Recreation League Advocate, New York.


The frequency-offset-lock control system which is applied to the heterodyne signal of narrow pulse laser is designed based on the programmable logic device since the frequency-offset-lock technology is widely used in laser heterodyne detection and laser radar.In the design,ultrahigh-speed comparator was applied for the waveform conversion,the multi-pulse frequency discrimination and maximum probability median filtering were adopted for the digital frequency discrimination,the fast control by small step was used for the frequency modulation,and the D/A convertor and linear magnification circuit were used to output the frequency modulated signal.The simulated heterodyne signals with the 40 ns pulse width generated by the signal generator were employed to simulate the whole system,and the design function was realized.The simulation experiments show that the error range of the frequency discrimination gained by the designed frequency discriminator and modulator is-7.5 MHz~+7.7 MHz when the pulse width is 40 ns.


Empathy is the greatest challenge of humanity today. Everyone needs it. It is in huge and growing demand. Empathy is the capacity to know the other from the other's own point of view, to understand the other from inside. It is not Sympathy ‐ loving the other, nor Antipathy ‐ hating the other. Empathy is the capacity to see, to hear and to know from the inside. We need empathy in our human interactions, yet we can't claim to have mastered it. Why? Empathy is a baby in human evolution. Most people believe it was always there and are disappointed by the lack of empathy in their lives, because during the past fifty years, we now need it. How has that imbalance happened? Empathy was not always there. Even the word itself is new. Empathy is a new word for a new phenomenon. Most people I meet in my journey across fifteen countries over twenty‐four years believe the word empathy has existed for thousands of years. However, empathy is a new word for a new capacity, and is naming a new step in human evolution. Evolution is now taking place inside human nature, as we are the ones who are evolving further, not in our outer physical nature, but in our inner, soul and spiritual nature. The evolution of human empathy, can only take place consciously, as a practical outcome of the individual, free initiative to evolve personally. Empathy was coined as a term in 1909, and was first put to use in 1951. In the 1940 Oxford dictionary of philosophy and psychology – the word empathy does not exist.


This paper presents findings from the 2013 EBRI/Greenwald & Associates Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey (CEHCS). This study is based on an online survey of 3,853 privately insured adults ages 21-64 designed to provide nationally representative data regarding trends in account-based health plans and high-deductible health plans (HDHPs), as well as the impact of these plans and consumer engagement on the behavior and attitudes of adults with private health insurance coverage. Findings from this survey are compared with findings from the 2005-2007 EBRI/Commonwealth Fund Consumerism in Health Care Survey, and the 2008-2012 CEHCS. The 2013 EBRI/Greenwald & Associates Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey finds continued slow growth in consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs): 9.7 percent of the population was enrolled in a CDHP, up from 9.6 percent in 2012, while enrollment in high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) increased from 16 percent in 2012 to 18 percent in 2013. Overall, 26.1 million individuals with private insurance, representing 15 percent of that market, were either in a CDHP, or in an HDHP that was eligible for a health savings account (HSA) but had not opened the account. This study finds evidence that adults in a CDHP and those in an HDHP were more likely than those in a traditional plan to exhibit a number of cost-conscious behaviors. Specifically, those in a CDHP were more likely than those with traditional coverage to say that they had checked whether the plan would cover care; asked for a generic drug instead of a brand name; talked to their doctors about prescription options and costs; talked to their doctors about other treatment options and costs; asked a doctor to recommend less costly prescriptions; developed a budget to manage health care expenses; checked the price of a service before getting care; and used an online cost-tracking tool provided by the health plan. There is also some evidence that adults in a CDHP were more likely than those in a traditional plan to be engaged in their choice of health plan: Those in a CDHP were more likely than those with traditional coverage to say that they had visited health plans' websites to learn about their plans; attended a meeting where health plan choices were explained; used other websites to learn about health plan choices; and consulted with an insurance broker to understand plan choices. CDHP enrollees were more likely than traditional-plan enrollees to take advantage of various wellness programs, such as health-risk assessments, health-promotion programs, and biometric screenings. In addition, financial incentives mattered more to CDHP enrollees than to traditional-plan enrollees.


Shot boundary detection, or scene change detection, is a technique used in the initial phase of video indexing. One of the problems in detection is the discrimination of abrupt scene change from flashlight scenes. Current method of detecting flashlight is based upon object edges, in which performance can be affected by the contents of the scene. To overcome this, we present a novel method that utilises the edge direction, reducing erroneous matching with increasing dilation radius. This will improve the accuracy of similarity testing and reduce the amount of erroneously matched edges by at least four times. Our experiment in discriminating flashlight effects from abrupt scene change frame pairs shows that our technique produces a perfect detection, which cannot be achieved by feature-based detection. Such contribution is important as it improves the indexing of real life video used in the upcoming video database standard MPEG-7.


Started from the differences between project management and enterprise management,the author emphasizes the first-phase scheme of the project,and illustrates the control of project's security,quality,progress and cost in the construction process,in order to guide the project management in practical construction.


Cladograms of kinosternine turtles were generated based on a phylogenetic analysis of the distribution of character states within 27 morphological characters. These cladograms were compared to those of Seidel et al. (1986), which were based on binary coding of 34 protein electromorph products, those based on multistate coding of the presumptive loci responsible for those products, and those based on the combined protein and morphology data sets. The analyses resolve the relationships of most kinosternine taxa very well, with taxa with small plastrons generally being the most primitive, and those with large plastrons being the most derived. However, the morphologic data set may be biased because of character redundance, in this case due to high correlation of at least 16 of the characters with relative plastron size. The two remaining controversies concern the monophyly of the genus Sternotherus (here considered a subgenus of Kinosternon) and the determination of the nearest relatives of K. leucostomum.


12 noon.—Opening of the Conference in the reception hall of the University of Christiania by His Excellency the Prime Minister of Norway, Mr. Steen. On behalf of His Majesty the King of Norway, Mr. Steen extended a cordial welcome to the members of the Conference. He said that they were assembled, as all knew, to draw up their final proposals for an international investigation of the North and adjacent seas. Repeated attempts on an isolated footing had been made to solve the problems of the sea and of the manifold life beneath its surface, and only after ripe experience had the different nationalities come to recognise that cooperation in their labours was essential to success.


We discuss production of QCD axion dark matter in a novel scenario, which assumes time-varying scale of Peccei-Quinn symmetry breaking. The latter decreases as the Universe's temperature at early times and eventually stabilises at a large constant value. Such behavior is caused by the portal interaction between the complex field carrying Peccei-Quinn charge and a Higgs-like scalar, which is in thermal equilibrium with primordial plasma. In this scenario, axions are efficiently produced during the parametric resonance decay of the complex Peccei-Quinn field, relaxing to the minimum of its potential in the radiation-dominated stage. Notably, this process is not affected by the Universe's expansion rate and allows to generate the required abundance of dark matter independently of an axion mass. Phenomenological constraints on the model parameter space depend on the number density of radial field fluctuations, which are also generically excited along with axions, and the rate of their thermalization in the primordial plasma. For the ratio of radial field and axion particles number densities larger than ∼ 0.01 at the end of parametric resonance decay, the combination of cosmological and astrophysical observations with the CAST limit confines the Peccei-Quinn scale to a narrow range of values ∼ 108 GeV, — this paves the way for ruling out our scenario with the near future searches for axions.


SUMMARY : ABSORPTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF LEAD IN VETIVER,MIMOSA AND MESQUITE PLANTS The use of plants for phytoremediation of metal-contaminated areas is an emergingtechnology, and studies concerning heavy metal tolerance, absorption and distribution inplants are essential for the success of such programs. This study was carried out to evaluatethe tolerance, absorption and distribution of lead (Pb) in vetiver grass [ Vetiveria zizanioides(L.) Nash], mimosa [ Desmanthus virgatus (L.) Willd] and mesquite trees [ Prosopis juliflora(SW) DC] subjected to increasing lead doses in solution. The experiment was conductedunder a screenhouse, at the DSER/CCA/UFPB, Areia-PB, Brazil. The species were grownin nutrient solution containing increasing Pb levels (0, 50, 100 and 200 mg L -1 ) during a 45-day exposure period. An entirely randomized split-plot design was used with threereplicates. The main plot was represented by the plant species and the subplot by Pblevels. The increased Pb levels caused significant reductions of dry mass of the root, shootand whole plant (root + shoot) in the three species under study. Based on critical toxicitylevels, the tolerance of vetiver to Pb contamination was higher than in the other species. Invetiver and mesquite plants, the roots were the component most sensitive to Pbcontamination, whereas a similar response to Pb by all plant components was observed formimosa. Total Pb concentrations and content in plant compartments were significantlyaffected by the increasing Pb levels in solution, and a higher accumulation of this elementwas observed in the roots of the three species under study. The highest Pb concentrationand content were found in all compartments of vetiver, which suggests a high potential ofthis grass for phytoremediation of Pb-contaminated areas.Index terms: pollution, heavy metal, phytotoxicity, tolerance, phytoremediation.


The background to this report is the large number of wind turbines that there are plans to build in Sweden. In Jokkmokksliden outside Mala in Vasterbotten the construction of a wind park began in 2 ...


Ansrnrcr. Captive-bred juvenile desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) were placed in a trial arena to study feeding preferences regarding color, calcium, and insects. When presented with choices of colored food' the observed preference was green > yellow > red > orange. When presented with a choice between colored food and eggshell the observed preference was eggshell > green > yellow. When presented with a choice between colored food and cuttlebone the observed preference was cuttlebone > green > yellow. When presented with a choice between colored food and insects the observed preference was crickets > mealworms > green. These results suggest that juvenile desert tortoises may prefer some food colors over others and may consume insects opportunistically. This information may prove valuable for future captive breeding programs and for selecting an inoculation medium for disease vaccination.


How are we going to find the next generation of measurement professionals? What are the issues pertinent to recruitment and training?

If there were any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of revolution; when the old and the new stand side by side and admit of being compared; when the energies of all … are searched by fear and by hope; when the historic glories of the old can be compensated by the rich possibilities of the new era? This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it. (Ralph Waldo Emerson, Phi Beta Kappa Address, 1837.)


BaZr0.045(Mn0.03Ti0.97)0.955O3(BZMT) ceramic was prepared via mixed-oxide solid state reaction method. XRD technique confirmed formation of single phase crystalline material. Rietveld refinement of XRD data revealed that the material has tetragonal phase with space group P4mm. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) investigation shows that grains are dense and irregular. The dielectric properties were study as a function of frequency and temperature. The relaxation mechanism was found thermally activated with activation energy 1.21eV and follows Arrhenius law. Modified ceramic showed ferroelectric properties with a high remnant polarization, saturation polarization and coercive field and Pr/Ps ratio.


Firstly, the working principles, operating characteristics, modelling, control scheme and dynamic characteristics of the unified power flow controller(UPFC) are introduced, then the applications of 220kV UPFC in State Grid Shanghai Electric Power Company are studied including the main circuit topology, control scheme and protection configuration. Finally, the effects of UPFC to relay protection scheme, harmonics and reliability are discussed.


A new mechanism is proposed to explain neutrino masses and their mixing via SU(1, 1) horizontal symmetry breaking. Based on this mechanism, the smallness of neutrino masses is realized and a hierarchical spectrum with large mixing is given.


This paper studied the effects of whey protein on the rheology characteristic and the storage stability of fat-free yoghurt.Using YC-370 starter cultures and substituting whey protein for skimmed milk at the protein level of 10%,20%,30% and 40%,it was obviously to find that whey protein could decrease the hardness and enhance the cohesiveness of fat-free yoghurt gels,moreover,it could improve the storage stability of fat-free yoghurt.We also found that the storage stability has a positive correlativity with the cohesiveness.


In general, aspect-oriented approaches associated to different activities in the software development process are independent and the new models and artifacts are not aligned or inserted in a coherent process. The model-driven development, where several models and the correspondence among them are rigorously specified, can support the integration among AO approaches that handle different activities of the software process. This paper presents MARISA-DP, a model based development approach to integrate aspect-oriented architecture and detailed project, aligning their models and artifacts. The proposed approach is part of a rigorous and coherent process where each activity has AO models (and corresponding metamodels) and a set of transformations among the models. To illustrate the viability of the proposed approach, this paper presents a mapping between AspectualACME, an aspect-oriented architectural description language, and aSideML, a modeling language to aspect-oriented detailed project. This mapping is formalized using ATL transformation rules.


An important characteristic of public policy formulation over the 1980s and 1990s, particularly in the English-speaking countries, has been the increasing use of contractual principles as regulatory tools. The 'new contractualism' represents the recent re-emergence and adaptation of the social contract of the 17th and 18th centuries and the classical legal contract that emerged in the 19th century. The work of Anna Yeatman provides the most cogent and influential, non-neo-liberal scholarly appraisal of the new contractualism. Yeatman argues that the current contractualist agenda is consistent with equality of opportunity, occasioning a redefinition of citizenship so as to improve on the discourse of social protection. This paper argues that any attempt to remove social protection – flawed though it is – from discussions of the new contractualism is artificial. The social justice implications of such a position are perilous, for policy formulation has not yet entered a phase in which social protection can be superseded in a way which does not violate the rights of the socio-economically disadvantaged.


The objective of this work is to develop a non-traditional strategy for providing control of ship roll motion in a seaway using active fins. This is based on a multidisciplinary approach. It consists of the assessment of the hydrodynamic coefficients of a ship using a numerical package [SEDOS], representation of the hydrodynamic coefficients by suitable polynomial functions, identification of the time dependent fundamental frequency in the roll disturbance signal sample, generation of control signal for an appropriate fin angle based on the fin lift characteristics of the chosen fin and employment of feedback control to maintain the fin at the appropriate angle for maximum control. Once the ship based hydrodynamic coefficients are generated, the entire control algorithm is developed in the virtual instrumentation mode using LabVIEW environment. One of the disadvantages of the traditional stabilizer system is the enormous hardware involved in the controllers and instrumentation panels, which makes maintenance and troubleshooting difficult. With the help of virtual instrumentation, design of the stabilization controller and instrumentation panels can be carried out much more effectively, in comparison with the traditional hardware approach. Key words : Roll stabilization, Active fin control, Virtual instrumentation doi:10.3329/jname.v2i2.1869  Journal of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering 2(2005) 11-24


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The vision system is perhaps the most well understood part of the neocortex. The input from the eyes consists of a set of images made up of pixels that are densely packed in the fovea and less so in the periphery. Each pixel is represented by a vector of attributes such as color, brightness, spatial and temporal derivatives. Pixels from each eye are registered in the lateral geniculate nucleus and projected to the cortex where they are processed by a hierarchy of array processors that detect features and patterns and compute their attributes, state, and relationships. These array processors consist of Cortical Computational Units (CCUs) made up of cortical hypercolumns and their underlying thalamic and other subcortical nuclei. Each CCU is capable of performing complex computational functions and communicating with other CCUs at the same and higher and lower levels. The entire visual processing hierarchy generates a rich, colorful, dynamic internal representation that is consciously perceived to be external reality. It is suggested that it may be possible to reverse engineer the human vision system in the near future [1].


The aim of this study was to find out role of parental involvement in personality traits of adolescents. For this 80 male students were taken as sample. Out of which 40 students are selected where parents are more involved and 40 students were selected where parents are less involved. The age group of the sample was 16 to 20 years. A self- administered questionnaire was used to find out the level of involvement of parents and The Hindi adaptation of high school personality questionnaire prepared by Kapoor and Mehrotra was used to measure the personality traits of the adolescents. For statistic analysis Mean, SD and 'f was calculated. Result revealed there is significance difference between personality traits of adolescents when their parents are more or less involved in their parenting. In other word parents involvement play a important role in their children's personality development.


The digital phased array radar is capable to generate numerous and differing digital signal data from each antenna active element. These data must be processed and, generally, the system requirement for digital signal processing must have a high computational complexity. In some modern systems it is not unusual to find the using of an array of distributed processing. This work presents the design and development of a simulator capable of evaluating the performance of execution of tasks in a distributed processing architecture. Also it will be described and analysed the communication between the several processing nucleus. The simulator supports the decision of choosing an architecture through the analysis provided of RAM-memory consumption, statistics about concurrence of shared resources, measures of buffer allocation and execution times during the stages of the processing.


This article is not a case study on certain particular secret societies, but a general examination of the nature of Chinese secret societies, particularly in political terms. It addresses the problem by drawing on recent arguments based on a new interpretation on the political aspects of Chinese secret societies. Some Chinese scholars such as Zhou Yumin and Shao Yong assert that secret societies were no more than gatherings of gangsters or heretical sectarians causing social disorder and getting into a confusion. Indeed, this new line of negative interpretation has something to do with the controversy on the origins of Tiandihui (Heaven and Earth Society), a representative Chinese secret society, which was on "mutual aid" vis-a-vis "anti-Qing, pro-Ming" discourse. David Ownby, one of leading scholars who have worked on secret societies, claims that the secret societies have originated from the needs of mutual aide between the marginal elements of Chinese society, and refutes the political character of secret societies. While the existing interpretations separate secret societies from the society and consider them as having a principle of proper order against the state, he incorporates them in the larger society. According to him, activities of secret societies were not different from day to day social activities. His study does not find any political implications of Chinese secret societies, that is, the image of bandit, rebel, or anti-government tendencies. However, we can not overlook the limitations of Ownby's interpretation. He certainly misses the point of view of change in which state-society relationship evolves all the time. His adhesion to the "mutual aid" discourse has prevented his analysis from inquiring into the politically antagonistic relationship between the state and secret societies. To show this obvious political character, this article sees Chinese secret societies as composed of deux systems, and situates secret societies within the state-society relationship. Clearly, political characteristics of secret societies have outlived the late imperial period. In Republican China (1912-1949), they did not stop to intervene in the political process in which several political factions and military forces such as nationalists, communists and Japanese invaders competed within each other over the seizure of the state.


The developmental duration(DD),developmental threshold temperature(DTT)and effective accumulated temperature(EAT)of different stages of Gastrolina depressa Baly were determined at 16,20,24,28 and 32℃.The results showed that the DD of different stages of G.depressa shortened as temperature rising.The DTT of egg,larva,pupa and pre-oviposition stages was estimated to be 9.4,12.2,14.3 and 11.1℃ respectively,and their EAT was 43.2,77.2,36.0 and 104.7 degree-day respectively.The DTT was 12.0℃ and EAT was 260.5 degree-day for the whole generation.G.depressa does not adapt to temperatures higher than 32℃.


Process valves are the complex components in pipe fittings,which play an import role in the normal operation of the unit.The construction as well as the advantages and disadvantages of common process valves like globe valve,gate valve,check valve,ball valve and butterfly valve,etc are analyzed,and the main process parameters and specifications of valves required in the engineering design and procurement of petrochemical projects are described.The common quality problems of valves in the construction sites of petrochemical projects are discussed in respect of metallurgy,end types and dimensions,quality inspection and testing before installation and installation orientation,etc.Measures to solve the valve quality problems in the engineering design,procurement and construction of EPC project are proposed to control the quality of valves.


Although that Cloud infrastructures are nowadays available, there is a lack ofadoption by companies. While big companies with large computing devisionsadopted the Cloud paradigm, small and midsize enterprises (SME) with a limitednumber of computer experts were scared by the complexity of the technology and by the huge investement to move to Cloud. But even for SMEs, the migration to Cloud infrastructure and the consequent usage of Open Sourcetechnology build the basement for future-proof IT systems in the era of theInternet-of-Things and Industry 4.0. At the same time, the business models ofsmall companies in the handcraft sector like carpentry are changing too. Although their customers require personalized and sustainable products, theproduction is using more industrial like technologies and processes. TheAQUASI project builds currently framework for SMEs using Open Source technology based on existing OSGi components to enable these companies to migrate their IT systems to the Cloud, to improve the communication and production processbetween collaborating partners, to collect data from IoT-sensorsfor further data analysis and by providing an analytical system to guaranteequality of sustainable products for more than 10 decades. This paper presentsthe overall architecture of the AQUASI system including a fine-grained serviceand communication model for Industry 4.0 projects.


Anomaly detection is a pattern recognition task whose goal is to report the occurrence of abnormal or unknown behavior in a given system being monitored. In this paper we propose a general procedure for the computation of decision thresholds for anomaly detection in mobile communication networks. The proposed method is based on Kohonen's Self-Organizing Map (SOM) and the computation of nonparametric (i.e. percentile-based) confidence intervals. Through simulations we compare the performance of the proposed and standard SOM-based anomaly detection methods with respect to the false positive rates produced.


The callus of tree peony cultivar Shan Hu Tai was used as material to study the effect of different sources and mass concentrations of sugar on the browning situation of callus.The results showed that sucrose and maltose,with browning rates of only 5.56% and 4.76%,respectively,were the best sugar source of callus under the same sugar concentration(30 g/L) and the suitable culture time of 30 days.The best sucrose concentration of callus subculture was 50 g/L with the suitable culture time of 30 days,when the browning rate was 4.55%.


PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the size and weight in a shift device used for a gear type automatic transmission of using a dual clutch. SOLUTION: This gear type automatic transmission has a first gear switching mechanism 20A and a second gear switching mechanism 20B arranged between first and second input shafts 13 and 14 and a sub-shaft 15 mutually arranged in parallel, and first and second clutches C1 and C2 for respectively transmitting rotation of a driving shaft 11 to the first and second input shafts. Respective shift mechanisms 40A and 40B for operating the first and second gear switching mechanisms have shifters 41A and 41B having respectively a shift fork 41b and a follower pin 41c engaged with the respective gear switching mechanisms, and a cam member 45A forming one cam groove 46A and 46B. The respective follower pins are operated by mutually interlocking the respective gear switching mechanism, by engaging with a different position of the one cam groove. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT


Abstract : Preliminary results on the hydrodynamics and Stark calculations of the AFGL-LINUS plasma are presented. Also reported is a kinetic analysis based on the most recent spectroscopic temperatures. Various calculations of different aspects of the LINUS plasma are shown. Finally, the codes (EXCEDE/ARTIC) which have potential applications to LABCEDE are discussed. Keywords: Infrared emissions; Oxygen plasma, Rydberg states, Nuclear effects.


A principal area of materials research in lightwave communications is special glasses doped with rare earths for laser amplifiers and laser oscillators. Most notable is the stunning success of the erbium doped fiber amplifier operating in the region of 1.55 /spl mu/m, which is the lowest loss region for fused silica. The zero group dispersion region is at 1.3 microns. The 1.3 micron region has become especially important because so much single mode fiber designed for use in this wavelength is now in use. The most promising laser ion is praseodymium (Pr). Recently some interesting experimental work has been done with dysprosium (Dy). Both ions require non silica host glasses in order to prevent phonon quenching of the fluorescence.


Based on the investigation in Wuyi Mountain Nature Reserve,the box-counting dimensions of Emmenopterys henryi in 16 plots of 4 type communities were studied.The results showed that:(1)The box-counting dimensions of E.henryi population were lower than others,and they ranged from 0.872 3 to ~1.629 2,indicating weak ability to expand.(2)Fractal properties of E.henryi populations were significantly different among the different type communities,and those in the same communities were also different.The ranking order of spatial occupation degree was as the following:the pure stands of E.henryibroadleaved forestPhyllostachys pubescen forestbroad leaved-coniferous mixed forest.(3)With the altitude heightening,the values of box-counting dimension showed a trend of increasing first and then decreasing afterward.However the trend of scales of inflexion point decreasing first and increasing afterward,which was completely opposite to the trend of the box-counting dimensions.(4)In situ conservation should be taken as the most important management counter measure in the area where E.henryi was difficult to reproduce,and natural regeneration should be promoted.At the same time,artificial population should be expanded in the area where E.henryi can reproduce itself easily.


Integrated policy problems call for integrated analysis. However, micro and macro approaches imply differences of perspective that conventionally have not been easy to unify. This paper introduces agent-based modelling (ABM) as one potentially useful tool for linking these aspects. ABM describes the system at the level of the social actors within it – that is, the individual entities, each with their own goals, values, rules, information, knowledge, strategies and social context. By doing this, ABM can help address the complexity of modern policy problems, particularly when used alongside other methods. The purpose of this paper is to explain ABM and its applications, to help model users determine whether this approach could be useful in their own work. Motivated by the observation that there is inadequate briefing material on the method, we explain ABM and then address four of the most common questions raised when appraising it for research on sustainable development. We draw on examples of SEI research using ABM for generating insights into a range of policy problems: the climate resilience of agroforestry livelihoods in Cameroon, energy policy and biofuels in Malaysia, sustainable livelihoods in small-scale fisheries in Kenya, and natural hazard disaster preparedness. By linking the example studies to the common questions, we further illustrate key lessons and findings in order to better inform readers. A TOOL FOR ADDRESSING THE COMPLEXITY OF ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT POLICY ISSUES SEI-WP-2016-12


'The government's expectation is that inflation will return to the target of 2 per cent later this year and that the target will continue to be met in the medium term,' Mr Johnson wrote.


The concept of "disappearance" underpins the original idea by Weiser on the philosophy of ubiquitous computing. Technology advancement is making ubiquitous computing feasible. The goal is to free users from managing interactions with systems. To achieve this, devices have to acquire sufficient and relevant information to provide the required services. This information is acquired without human assistance thus it poses a threat to personal and organisational privacy. Measuring the degree of privacy offered by a particular ubiquitous computing application is a challenging undertaking. A major difficulty lies on the interpretation of the term 'privacy' itself. However, to ensure successful use of these applications for both users and organisations, it is important to devise a means to measure privacy. This paper brings forward a discussion on measuring the degree of privacy offered by a particular ubiquitous application by assessing systems' components and their information needs. To address the problem, privacy metrics are proposed. These metrics will be of benefit to systems' designers as well as to users of applications.


Abstract : This work deals with the investigation of the combustion of solid, liquid, and water-filled systems in a field of inertial forces. The tests were conducted on a centrifuge with a radius of 4.5 cm at accelerations up to 2000 g. The samples were burned in a closed space at pressures up to 150 atm(tech.). The time of burning was determined by a pressure oscillogram. The solid composition investigated contained 15% rubber, 15% aluminum (particle dimensions up to 10 micrometers, and 70% ammonium perchlorate. The samples had a cross section area of 0.4 sq cm and a length from 0.5 to 1.5 cm.


Laser peening without protective coating (LPwC) treatment is one of surface enhancement techniques using an impact wave of high pressure plasma induced by laser pulse irradiation. High compressive residual stress was induced by the LPwC treatment on the surface of low-carbon type austenitic stainless steel SUS316L. The affected depth reached about 1mm from the surface. High cycle fatigue tests with four-points rotating bending loading were carried out to confirm the effects of the LPwC treatment on fatigue strength and surface fatigue crack propagation behaviors. The fatigue strength was remarkably improved by the LPwC treatment over the whole regime of fatigue life up to 108 cycles. Specimens with a pre-crack from a small artificial hole due to fatigue loading were used for the quantitative study on the effect of the LPwC treatment. The fracture mechanics investigation on the pre-cracked specimens showed that the LPwC treatment restrained the further propagation of the pre-crack if the stress intensity factor range ΔK on the crack tip was less than 7.6 MPa√m. Surface cracks preferentially propagated into the depth direction as predicted through ΔK analysis on the crack by taking account of the compressive residual stresses due to the LPwC treatment.


The maximum principle by Pontryagin is applied to the problem of determining the operation of a hydro-steam generating system for the minimum generating costs. The general dispatch formulas are derived for power systems with hydroelectric plants having fixed head, varying head, and hydraulic coupling, both with and without river transport delay and wave phenomena. Techniques are demonstrated which greatly simplify the computer solutions for fixed and varying head operation.


Macrocystis integrifolia and Nereocystis luetkeana were collected at Port Hardy and Vancouver, B.C., respectively, at monthly intervals October 1949 through September 1951. Analyses of fronds and of stipes were made for dry weight, ash, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, sulphur, copper, zinc, iron, ether-solubles, algin, mannitol, fucoidin, and laminarin. Generally speaking the fronds had a higher content of all substances measured than did the stipes, and the content of the two species of algae showed parallel variation but differed in values. Dry weight and ash were at maxima in late fall and winter and at minima in April and May. During March total nitrogen, ether-solubles, mannitol, fucoidin, and laminarin were at their highest concentration. The plants in July contained the minima of total nitrogen, phosphorus, and ether-solubles. The maximum for phosphorus occurred in December and during this same month fucoidin was at minimum. The variation of sulphur, copper, zinc, iron, and algin was such that we...


The standard approach to mitral valve surgery in many centers is minimally invasive video-assisted surgery, with widespread discussions still under way over whether this technique offers more than merely cosmetic advances. This paper presents a case study of mitral replacement and papillary muscle relocation using a video-assisted periareolar approach. Through this technique, a smaller incision, using an area with a plastic advantage, offers great potential for reducing surgical trauma, with good cosmetic results and a shorter post-operative recovery time for the patient.


The financial conniption is the starting point or the source of many serious cases.The first thinking should be to strengthen construction and innovation of system, to strengthen the synthetical administration in the meantime.Then we may create the comdition that no one commits crimes related to duties and finance and thus reduce or eliminate this kind of corrupt phenomenon.


A few years ago, Pressley (1998) wrote a book about elementary-level literacy instruction, Reading Instruction That Works: The Case for Balanced Teaching. A main message in that book is that excellent elementary literacy instruction balances skills instruction (e.g., phonics, comprehension strategies teaching) and holistic literacy opportunities (reading of authentic literature, composing iil response to text). In making that case, Pressley reviewed substantial evidence validating the positive impacts on literacy achievement of many elements of elementary literacy instruction. He also reviewed evidence that beginning literacy classrooms in which achievement is high are typified by balanced teaching. The message was strong and clear that the two warring camps in elementary literacy were both wrong. The available evidence favors neither those promoting predominantly skills-focused literacy teaching nor those favoring environments filled with holistic experiences to the exclusion of skills instruction (e.g., whole language). The term "balance" has definitely caught on. As is often the case, however, many began to wrap themselves in the term without regard to whether their position was consistent with Pressley's (1998) intention in Reading Instruction That Works. Thus, in the past several years, many other books have used the phrase "balanced instruction" or some variation of this phrase. Some of these recent books suggest heavy doses of skills, with many pages devoted to conceptualizing, describing, and defending skills instruction while mentioning holistic opportunities only in passing. Others devote many pages to conceptualizing, describing, and defending holistic teaching, and recommend skills instruction as something that can be done in the context of holistic reading and writing and only when the need arises. We should have anticipated imbalanced conceptions of balanced teaching. Before Pressley wrote the book on balanced literacy instruction, he edited one with Ellen McIntyre (McIntyre & Pressley, 1996). That text offered a variety of conceptions of balance, from conceptions more heavily favoring skills teaching to those clearly in the whole language camp. That somewhat confusing mishmash of conceptions, in fact, motivated the emphasis in Pressley's subsequent book that balanced instruction really means a lot of skills instruction in the context of massive holistic teaching!


Chattering-free sliding mode control (SMC) for discrete-time singular systems (DSS) with internal parameter perturbation and external disturbance is considered in the paper. The dynamic switching function is used to guarantee the stability of the DSS in switching band. The discrete ideal reaching law of the DDS is designed to eliminate the restriction of the DDS whose uncertainties are bounded compared with conventional SMC. The sliding mode controller for DSS is designed by applying the ideal reaching law, which can not only guarantee the systems to reach the switching plane in finite time and decrease the system chattering effectively, but also reduce the region of the switching band. The validity of the proposed approach is illustrated by a numerical example.


A technique is presented for efficient coding of the upper bands in subband coding (SBC) of images. The technique takes advantage of the existing correlation between the subbands and utilizes a local measure of activity in the baseband to predict the amplitude range of the pixels in the upper bands. This permits the design of quantizers better adapted to specific images, thus increasing the coding efficiency as well as enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the subjective perception. The properties of the proposed technique are not fully investigated, but rather its advantages over standard techniques are demonstrated based on some simple cases.<<ETX>>


where ℘(N,M) is the set of all possible uniform transport plans from a point cloud of N points to 16 one of M points, i.e. ℘(N,M) is the set of all N ×M matrices with real coefficients larger than or 17 equal to 0, such that the sum of each line equals 1/N and the sum of each column equals 1/M . 18 The high computational cost of EMD implies that it is mostly used for validation only, and in an 19 approximated form. On ShapeNet, we use the implementation from [5] on point clouds normalized 20


The purpose of this research is to investigate the progress of Jinhae city's spatial configuration since the era of Japanese Imperialism, and to discover the characteristics of the city's configuration from the perspective of space syntactic changes. The following is the list of observations that we made by the analysis. First, the global integrated space of the city is moving from the western part -the old town of the city, to the eastern partthe new town of the city, which implies that the most integrated space of the whole street composition is moving according to the expansion of the city. Second, the number of local integrated space was one initially. But as the city expands, the number has increased up to three. The three local integrated space maintain their own local characteristics. Third, the three local integrated space take as similar spatial patterns as the global integrated space. That is, the levels of integration and connectivity of the three central places and the city are high. The central roads of the city called Jung-ang-ro and the three central places are connected. That makes easy to recognize their overall street compositions.


A seller has an uncertain number of perishable goods to sell in each period. Privately informed buyers arrive stochastically to the market. Buyers are risk neutral, patient, and have persistent private values for consuming a single unit. We show that the seller can implement the efficient allocation using a sequence of ascending auctions. The buyers use memoryless strategies to reveal all private information in every period, inducing symmetric behavior across different cohorts. We extend our results to revenue maximization, showing that a sequence of ascending auctions with asynchronous price clocks is an optimal mechanism. ✩ This paper is based on the third chapter of my dissertation at Yale University; it also supersedes and extends results first reported in Said [40]. I am especially indebted to as well as participants at various seminars and conferences. This work has also benefited greatly from the thoughtful comments of an associate editor and three anonymous referees.


At the workshop "Speed control: Principles, methods, measures" held in Kaiserslautern, Germany, 28-29 October 1999, the following papers were presented: Road User Behaviour Studies - an effective tool for evaluation of traffic safety measures (Johannessen, S); Psychological, social and situational factors influencing the speed choice and seat belt usage of drivers (Papp,I., Papp,M); Collective Speed Control on German Motorways (Bolte, F); Impact of RDS-TMC receiver use on speed and other driver behaviour (Kulmala,R., Luoma,J. and Nygaard, M); The Use of Video Technology for Velocity Measurements - a simple method (Maurer,P., Berger, W); Speeding Odometer Display (SOD) - a different way for controlling speeding (Zaidel,D.M); Towards a safe environment for children - a starting point (Gaarder,P., Johansson,C., Leden,L., Nilsson,K., Wilhelmson, O); Basic Idea of Maximum Speed Control System in Japan (Taniguchi,S); The effects of 30km speed limits in urban areas (Ekman,L); Intelligent Speed Adaption ISA: A new perspective (Hogema, J., van der Horst,R); Effects, acceptance and implications of ISA - results from research in Lund (Vwasrhelyi, A); In-depth interviews with drivers experienced in driving speed limited cars (Risser, R); Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) Evaluation of psychological aspects of a large scale project (AAberg, L); Evaluation program for the Lund Intelligent Speed Adaptation (LISA) project (Hjaelmdahl, M).


Two volumes totalling 1254 pages are devoted entirely to description and illustration of practical procedures in everyday orthopaedic practice. Practically no space is taken by theoretical discussion, diagnostic difficulty or aetiology unless it is absolutely necessary in the interest of clarity. Each chapter is complete in itself and seems to fairly represent the personal practice of the author. There


The fluid film lubrication problem is usually solved using classical Reynolds equation-based modeling to predict fluid film behavior such as pressure distribution and oil film thickness, which requires pressure boundary conditions at the locations of film formation and separation. When applying the classical approach to practical applications like rolling element bearings, it is difficult to specify boundary conditions at appropriate locations in order to solve the Reynolds equation due to complex geometry, unknown amount of oil lubricant around contacts, and interaction between multiple lubricated contacts. A general approach to solve the Navier-Stokes equations for predicting the fluid film behavior is proposed here using the moving particle simulation (MPS) method, which is a meshless, Lagrangian, particle-based method suitable to model moving or deforming boundaries, multiphase fluids, free surfaces, and complex geometry. When applying the MPS method to the micron-scale fluid film lubrication problem, calculating the viscous term is the key to ensure accuracy and robustness because the viscous forces are dominant over the other forces and affect the numerical stability. This study uses three different algorithms of the MPS method: (1) the semi-implicit MPS method, (2) the implicit MPS method, and (3) the explicit MPS method. They are employed by using virtual surface particles to enhance the robustness of the calculation of the pressure Poisson equation, and a sub-time step method enables the use of large time steps for calculating the viscous term explicitly. The proposed methods are applied to a plane Poiseuille flow and a fluid film lubrication in line contact, and show good agreement with analytical solutions of the velocity profile and the pressure profile respectively by using an appropriate initial particle distance and time step. A parametric study covering a wide range of initial particle distance and time step size reveals the stability conditions based on Courant number. The result confirmed that the implicit MPS method provides the best accuracy and stability, whereas the explicit MPS method is the best in terms of computational cost.


By embedding a pair of properly-bent narrow slots close to the non-radiating edges of a rectangular microstrip patch, a novel dual-frequency operation of microstrip antennas using a single probe feed is proposed and experimentally studied. The two operating frequencies have parallel polarisation planes and similar broadside radiation patterns, and the frequency ratio of the two frequencies is controlled by the bent angle of the embedded slots. Details of the obtained dual-frequency performance are presented and discussed.


: This study was designed to examine the effect of depressive mood on identification of emotional facial expression. Participants were screened out of 305 college students on the basis of the BDI-II score. Students with BDI-II score higher than 14(upper 20%) were selected for the Depression Group and those with BDI-II score lower than 5(lower 20%) were selected for the Control Group. A final sample of 20 students in the Depression Group and 20 in the Control Group were presented with facial expression stimuli of an increasing degree of emotional intensity, slowly changing from a neutral to a full intensity of happy, sad, angry, or fearful expressions. The result showed that there was the significant interaction of Group by Emotion(esp. happy and sad) which suggested that depressive mood affects processing of emotional stimuli such as facial expressions. Implication of this result for mood-congruent information processing were discussed.


A design for an improved metal-on-metal capacitor design is described. The design includes a substantially diagonal feedline (411, 412, 413) in each metal layer. Each metal layer (21, 22, 23) comprises two sets of metal fingers which are interleaved. Each set of fingers comprises two subsets of fingers and the subsets of fingers are arranged at right angles to each other. Fingers in a first of the two sets are all connected to the diagonal feedline, whilst fingers in the other set are connected together via fingers at the periphery of the device. The design is repeated in adjacent layers, where the design may be identical or rotated (e.g by 180 DEG ) between adjacent metal layers.


[Objective] The study aimed to establish the method of extracting genomic DNA from sheep blood clot on the basis of the improvement of method for extracting genomic DNA from tissues.[Method] The genomic DNA with complete primary structure and high purity was obtained from the sheep blood clot after the steps of cutting the sheep blood clot with ophthalmic scissors,cell lysis with tissue DNA extracts and digested by proteinase K,extracting with phenol/chloroform and precipitating with ethanol were performed.[Result] The concentration of the extracted DNA was(159.90±0.70)ng/μl and the ratio of the A260/A280 was 1.80±0.01.The sheep microsatellite locus of BM203 was amplified by using the extracted DNA from the sheep blood clot as template of PCR,and the PCR result was perfect.[Conclusion] This method is simple and feasible,the quantity and quality of the extracted DNA can satisfy the demands for the subsequent researches.It is worth to extending and using for reference.


Control if Sediment is very important in prawn farm due to the eruption of toxic materials such as unionized . In this study, column test was conducted with filter media such as activated carbon, zeolite, oyster shell and iron chloride to evaluate the reduction of toxicity from sediment. ammonia-N() was effectively removed by Zeolite and oyster shell. It was indicated that ammonium ion() was removed by ion exchange of zeolite. And the ammonia in the column of oyster shell was existed as the form of , which is not toxic for prawn because oyster shell was stably kept at of pH. Therefore, some of ammonia() was removed by oyster shell. Hydrogen sulfide and COD were effectively removed by adsorption of activated carbon and a partial removal of hydrogen sulfide was accomplished by Oyster shell. Phosphorous was removed by activated carbon, oyster shell and iron chloride. In prawn farm, the concentration of ammonia was increased with increase of pH by algae photosynthesis in the column of activated carbon, zeolite and iron chloride, but it was revealed that pH was stably kept in the column of oyster shell.


Suantang dialect is distributed in the area bordered on the border of Hunan and Guizhou,surrounded by Xiang Dialect and Southwest Official Language,it is very important in the study of Chinese dialects value.However,due to their remote location,so Suantang dialect has not been the subject of academic attontion,and lack systematic research.Suantang dialect is neither entirely with Xiang Dialect,and also different from Southwest Official Language,it has its own unique characteristics,It retains many ancient relics voiceand is an ancient Chinese "Living fossil".The article on the ancient remains sound of Suantang dialect.As a rather detailed description,this study tracks the development of dialects and so has high research value.


A new unsymmetrical Schiff-base porphyrin ligand H2BTPP has been prepared by the reaction of 5-(4-aminophenyl)-10,15,20-triphenyl porphyrin and benzaldehyde in DMF.Its lanthanide complexes with acetylacetonate LnBTPP(acac)(Ln= Tb,Dy,Er,Tm,Yb,Lu) have also been obtained.These compounds have been characterized by elemental analyses,UV-Visible,FT-IR,1H NMR spectra as well as X-ray Photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS).The structure of the LnBTPP(acac) has been proposed.


Shades of Difference: Why Skin Color Matters, is a visually engaging, academically provocative and culturally interesting exploration of color and colorism within the global economies of difference of power. The reader learns how skin color, hue, and tone, have all been related to individual advancement and repression. Glenn and the lovely assortments of writers recover and restore past conversations of race as well as engage newly emergent conversations about color.


ABSTRACT
 An experiment was performed to test the influence of two factors on assortative mating in the Jewel wasp (Nasonia vitripennis): (1) inherited eye-color genotype, and (2) conditioned foraging phenotype. To determine the female choice of sires, genetically marked wasps were used of two recessive mutant eye-color genotypes: white or red. Each female (of independently crossed eye-color and juvenile host) was given a choice of two males, one of each eye-color, counterbalanced for juvenile host: blowfly (Sarcophaga bullata) or housefly (Musca domestica) pupae. Blowfly-reared females produced more total offspring, indicating higher fertility. Red-eyed females produced more offspring sired by red-eyed males, indicating assortative mating by eye color. Blowfly-reared females, however, did not produce more offspring sired by blowfly-reared males, indicating no assortative mating by juvenile host.


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 Since the Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IBMBB) was elected as the Sri Lankan EMBNet node at the EMBNet AGM in 2006 we have been in close contact with the Swedish EMBNet node. As a result of this association I was fortunate enough to get an invitation for a short visit to the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden. This visit was funded by SIDA/SAREC and IBMBB.  In this article I will be giving a brief insight in to my visit from an academic and a personal point of view.


The invention relates to the technical field of optical thin films, and particularly relates to a compound optical reflecting film applied in a backlight source system and a preparation method of the compound optical reflecting film in order to overcome the defects that a conventional optical reflecting film has low reflectivity and is easy to deform. The optical reflecting film comprises a transparent film sheet and a reflecting film sheet which are bonded through a bonding agent, wherein a reflecting coating is coated on the other surface of the reflecting film sheet. The compound optical reflecting film provided by the invention has good size stability and relatively high reflectivity and is not easy to warp and deform; and according to the preparation method of the compound optical reflecting film, the process is simple and the operation is easy.


It is shown by Monte Carlo simulation that high-energy X-rays are produced through Compton scattering in a boundary layer of an accreting neutron star. The following is the mechanism for the high-energy X-ray production. An accreting neutron star has a boundary layer rotating rapidly on the surface. X-rays radiated from the star's surface are scattered in part in the boundary layer. Since the boundary layer rotates at a semirelativistic speed, the scattered X-ray energy is changed by the Compton effect. Some X-rays are scattered repeatedly between the neutron star and the boundary layer and become high-energy X-rays. This mechanism is a photon analog of the second-order Fermi acceleration of cosmic rays. When the boundary layer is semitransparent, high-energy X-rays are produced efficiently. 17 refs.


To evaluate the value of X-ray imaging,color Doppler ultrasound imaging and their combination in the diagnosis of breast mass,all the 62 patients were examined by X-ray imaging,color Doppler ultrasound imaging.The results showed that combined examination of X-ray imaging and color Doppler ultrasound imaging had higher sensitivity than individual examination of X-ray imaging,color Doppler ultrasound imaging.For pregnant or lactating women,it was appropriate to use the color Doppler examination.


When Pseudomonas aeruginosa was inoculated onto wound surfaces of burned mice, PSK ointment consisting of Solbase and PSK (a protein‐bound polysaccharide from Coriolus versicolor) and OK‐432 ointment consisting of Solbase and OK‐432 (an attenuated Streptococcus pyogenes Su) enhanced the clearance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and promoted the healing of the burn wounds. Bacteria‐eliminating and wound‐healing effects of these ointments were much the same or somewhat better than those of commercially available ointments such as Geben (Silvadene) and Mafatate (Sulfamylon) creams.


ABSTRACT Arsenic (As) in rice is a crucial public health concern because it is a human carcinogen. This study was conducted to determine the actual As concentrations and estimate the probable range of As in rice. The status of As accumulation in rice was also determined. White (n=154) and brown (n=54) rice samples were collected over three crop years. The concentrations of As (total, bioaccessible and inorganic) were determined. The total As concentrations in white (0.088–0.295 mg/kg) and brown (0.119–0.517 mg/kg) rice were approximately 58.8% and 57.4% higher than the Codex standards, respectively. However, the bioaccessible and inorganic As in both types of rice were lower than the standards for both rice types. Regarding the classifications of As accumulation (low, normal, high and unusually high), the actual As concentrations found in the rice samples were either in the normal range or a high concentration of As.


This paper outlines the particular problems related to the foundation design of offshore gravity structures in comparison with structures on shore. The following aspects are dealt with in more detail: (1) The current NGI method for overall foundation-stability on clay; (2) the effect of cyclic loading on clay; (3) the dynamic analysis of the soil structure system; and (4) platform behavior during the installation phase.


Precise stellar photometry can be used to detect other planetary systems. However, the intrinsic variability of stellar luminosity imposes a fundamental limit on the sensitivity of this method. Based on recent precise solar observations made from the Solar Maximum Mission satellite, it appears that the detection of earth-sized planets will be marginal during periods of high stellar activity. However, with a suitable photometer larger planets should be readily detectable even in the presence of stellar activity equal to that of the sun at the peak of its sunspot cycle. The high precision, multiple-star photometric system required to detect planets in other stellar systems could be used to monitor flares, starspots, and global oscillations.


The government of New South Wales has rejected the proposed 23m raising of the Warragamba dam for flood mitigation purposes. As an alternative, a chute spillway on the right bank is now being examined.


Background Percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) usually requires numerous punctures under X-ray fluoroscopy. Repeated puncture will lead to more radiation exposure and reduce the beginners' confidence. Objective This cadaver study aimed to investigate the efficacy of HE's Lumbar Location (HELLO) system in puncture reduction of PTED. Study design Cadaver study. Setting Comparative groups. Methods HELLO system consists of self-made surface locator and puncture locator. One senior surgeon conducted the puncture procedure of PTED on the left side of 20 cadavers at L4/L5 and L5/S1 level with the assistance of HELLO system (Group A). Additionally, the senior surgeon conducted the puncture procedure of PTED on the right side of the cadavers at L4/L5 and L5/S1 level with traditional methods (Group B). On the other hand, an inexperienced surgeon conducted the puncture procedure of PTED on the left side of the cadavers at L4/L5 and L5/S1 level with the assistance of our HELLO system (Group C). Results At L4/L5 level, there was significant difference in puncture times between Group A and Group B (P<0.001), but no significant difference was observed between Group A and Group C (P = 0.811). Similarly at L5/S1 level, there was significant difference in puncture times between Group A and Group B (P<0.001), but no significant difference was observed between Group A and Group C (P = 0.981). At L4/L5 level, there was significant difference in fluoroscopy time between Group A and Group B (P<0.001), but no significant difference was observed between Group A and Group C (P = 0.290). Similarly at L5/S1 level, there was significant difference in fluoroscopy time between Group A and Group B (P<0.001), but no significant difference was observed between Group A and Group C (P = 0.523). As for radiation exposure, HELLO system reduced 39%-45% radiation dosage when comparing Group A and Group B, but there was no significant difference in radiation exposure between Group A and Group C whatever at L4/L5 level or L5/S1 level (P>0.05). There was no difference in location time between Group A and Group B or Group A and Group C either at L4/L5 level or L5/S1 level (P>0.05). Limitations Small-sample preclinical study. Conclusion HELLO system was effective in reducing puncture times, fluoroscopy time and radiation exposure, as well as the difficulty of learning PTED. (2015-RES-127)


A 2002 systematic review of 34 trials—including 13 animal trials, 6 human adult trials, and 15 human child trials—focused on general therapeutic improvement of eustachian tube function. The human adult trials were all small RCTs; of the human child trials, there were only 2 RCTs, with the remainder being small, nonrandomized prospective trials. The review did not consistently state the number of subjects or the study design of the studies reviewed. Pharmacologic interventions included surfactant (instillation or nebulization; animal trials only), betaadrenoceptor agonists (intravenous or subcutaneous injection; 1 human adult trial, N=10), decongestants or antihistamines (intra-arterial injection, oral, or topically applied to the pharyngeal eustachian tube opening; 4 human child trials and 5 human adult trials, total N=338), the macrolide antibiotic roxithromycin (oral; single animal trial), and the herbal medicine saireito (oral; single animal trial). Surgical interventions included adenoidectomy and ventilation tube placement (all human children with otitis media with effusion, 1 RCT with N=132, the remainder nonrandomized prospective trials with unstated numbers of subjects). There was significant heterogeneity among the reviewed studies with most studies not using placebo controls or randomization. While some interventions were shown to modify physiologic factors such as opening and closing pressure of the eustachian tube and clearance capacity, there were no patient-oriented outcomes such as symptom severity, length of illness, or prevention of complications such as otitis media. A subsequent 2011 randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind prospective clinical trial compared the effectiveness of intranasal steroid spray (triamcinolone acetonide) with placebo in treating eustachian tube function in adults and children (N=91) who presented with otitis media with effusion or negative middle ear pressure, or both. Primary outcome measures were resolution of abnormal tympanometry as well as change in frequency and severity of 5 symptoms (ear fullness or pressure, ear pain, plugged sensation, popping sensation, and dampened hearing) using 10 five-point scales. There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 arms in either the rate of tympanometric normalization (19% with steroid vs 32% with placebo; P=.18) or overall poststudy symptom score.


Principal-agent theory is one of the most important foundational theories in management research, but rests on tenuous cognitive assumptions. We combine classical principal-agent theory with a real...


[Objective]The paper was to promote using synthetic sex pheromone lures to control tobacco cutworm moth(Spodoptera litura).[Method]Three layers of pheromone traps for tobacco cutworm moth were set in the field at the density of 26 m×26 m(one suit/676 m2)to carry out field control test.[Result]The amount of eggs was reduced by 62.16%after trapping by sex pheromone under the density,and the larvae population was equivalent to those in the conventional control field with pesticides,the control effect was continuous,stable,and significant.The larger the control area was,the better the effect was.[Conclusion]Using sex pheromone could effectively control tobacco cutworm moth and reduce pesticide usage for over 80%with economic,safe,efficient features,which should be incorporated into the technical prevention and control system of tobacco cutworm moth.


The invention discloses a preparation method of 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane, which comprises the following three steps: (a) a nucleophilic substitution reaction between 1,1,2,3-tetrachloropropene and a nucleophilic fluorinating reagent is conducted to obtain 1,1,2-trichloro-3-fluoropropene; (b) isomerization of the 1,1,2- trichloro-3-fluoropropene is conducted to obtain 3-fluoro-2,3,3-trichloropropene; and (c) a liquid fluorination reaction between 3-fluoro-2,3,3-trichloropropene and hydrogen fluoride is conducted to obtain 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane. The preparation method of 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane provided by the invention has the characteristics of mild reaction conditions and high conversion rate and selectivity. The preparation method provided by the invention is mainly used for preparing 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane.


[1] History is a potent teacher. By describing past experiences, it arms us with forethought to meet recurring challenges. Probation officers, pretrial services officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, and students of criminal justice will have a greater appreciation of policing after reading The Role of Police in American Society. This book offers instructive, influential, and entertaining excerpts of documents that chronicle American law enforcement. It is the ninth documentary history in the Greenwood Press series "Primary Documents in American History and Contemporary Issues".


Thousands of consumer debtors pass through the bankruptcy process each year. Although their cases are legally complex, the bankruptcy system handles them in a routinized manner. Creditor and debtor attorneys rely heavily on forms in place of individualized pleadings, and many aspects of a debtor's case are designed to function without direct judicial oversight. This system functions well, but it is not without limitation. Certain repeat players — large institutional lenders with hundreds of borrowers in bankruptcy — have exploited the absence of direct oversight to tilt the consumer bankruptcy process in their favor.This article is the second portion of my project on the use of class litigation to curb systematic creditor overreaching in bankruptcy. It considers the unique set of challenges presented by the class action device: namely, the rigorous requirements for class certification and the force of class action waivers in arbitration agreements. It finds that the prototypical debtor class action remains viable in the modern, anti-class-action framework. First, the force of class arbitration waivers can be muted in bankruptcy, as bankruptcy courts have broad discretion to deny arbitration of a matter when arbitration would "inherent[ly] conflict" with bankruptcy's aims. This article argues that courts should marshal their considerable discretion in applying the "inherent-conflict" analysis to deny arbitration of debtor class action proceedings when a class arbitration waiver is present. Second, debtor class action cases are strong candidates to run the ever-tightening gantlet of class certification.


What are interactive e-books that have been appeared recently? How can we define them? What are the pros, cons and components that provide interaction? What is the next phase of the interactive e-book revolution? What has been done so far and what should we do next? Throughout this study, we tried to answer these questions.


Giving your team feedback on their performance is your most important job as a supervisory leader. Your team won't know how they are doing unless you give them feedback that they can understand and use. Even worse, without good feedback, employees who are performing badly might think they are doing great, and employees who are excelling might think they are failing. In either case, feedback is powerfully connected with motivation, either to improve substandard performance or to continue improving already strong performance.


The factors of effluent NH3-N removal rate of wastewater land treatment was analyzed as an example of artificial rapid infiltration system.That shorten hydraulic load cycle,or extend exisccosis times,or increase filling agent porosity,raises efficiency of reoxygenation of CRI,stabiliazing water quality.


The following are some of the themes that might be raised by potential contributors to this Special Issue: Law presents itself—and takes pride in presenting itself—as an effective instrument for promoting and achieving: equality among citizens and groups; the protection of minorities; the solution of conflicts and the harmonization of social relationships. This concept of law owes much to an idealist ontology and liberal political theory. By contrast, a constructivist and realist approach reveals that legal institutions, statutes, and constitutional charters themselves contribute to the exclusion of individuals and groups; the exclusion of a social group; failure of access to mechanisms and processes through which "justice" may be pursued.