Debate regarding the causes of specific learning disabilities (SLDs), precise definitions of SLDs, and the most effective identification methods has persisted for over 50 years. Two prominent schools of thought regarding SLDs exist: (1) biological perspectives and (2) environmental perspectives. Three identification methods are outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act of 2004 (IDEA, 2004) and align themselves to the different perspectives: (1) the IQ-Achievement discrepancy method, (2) the response-to-intervention method, and (3) alternative research based procedures (e.g., evaluation of a student's pattern of strengths and weaknesses; PSW). This study used survey methodology (N = 471) and found that school psychologists' perspectives about SLDs were significantly correlated with preferred identification methods. Preferred identification methods impacted practice even after controlling for individual- and school-level variables. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.


The aim of this research is to know the using of monoclonal antibody from G protein of rabies virus that used in ELISA test. In the research to measure monoclonal antibody reactivity by thinning the monoclonal antibody from 10-1 to 10-10. To evaluate samples from suspect animal is used two kind sample, saliva and brain suspension from mice had be injected field strain rabies virus isolate. Afterwards samples were evaluated by indirect double antibody sandwich ELISA. The result showed that monoclonal antibody G protein can detection rabies virus from saliva and brain. The conclusion of the riset is showed that monoclonal antibody from G protein of rabies virus reactively for detection rabies virus.


Extreme programming (XP) suggests replacing planned up-front design with evolutionary design, which advises implementing the simplest solution that satisfies the current iteration's requirements. However, the literature records several instances where development teams have argued for the naturalness of, and need for, planned design. This paper describes two experimental studies that compared both approaches regarding product quality and programmer productivity. Results from both studies show that (1) there is no significant difference of product quality, independently of the subjects' experience, but (2) novices are more productive when allowed to use planned design.


 Abstract — Nigeria is a country that is blessed with a lot of tourism potentials and it is painful that attention is being diverted from tourism sector that could provide job opportunities for many Nigerians rather than concentrating on only the oil sector. Many countries rely on tourism for their economic survival (Dubai, Kenya, India, China, among others.) and most of these countries are not endowed better than Nigeria in terms of tourism resources. Both primary and secondary data were utilized in this research. Secondary data were sourced from literatures; while primary data was sourced using personal observation, oral interview which was directed at vendors close to the resort and structured questionnaires which were administered to tourists using purposive sampling. 100 questionnaires were administered to the tourists. Analysis revealed that some of the infrastructural facilities at Idanre hills resort are not in good condition due to lack of maintenance and some of the monuments at the ancient town of Idanre are not maintained. This paper assessed Idanre hills resort and discovered if well developed, it will promote other tourism potentials in Idanre thereby boosting the socio-economic activities of the people in the study area and as well improve the economy of Ondo State at large. Recommendations on how Idanre h ills resort could become 'a home away from home' were put forward.


Context: The most important non-functional requirement of the software application is the security. Developing Secure Software is a challenging Process. Software vulnerabilities and defects may disclose by developers, users, hackers due to Software-intensive systems get connected more and more in every day's lives. A better way to develop secure software is, enhance security processes in all the phases in SDLC. To enhance security in SDLC process required lots of mechanisms and systematic measures to assess the security during the development process. Objective: In this paper, we propose a method "Security aware-Software Development Life Cycle (Sa-SDLC) using Security Patterns". We also measure our security efforts in SDLC. This method fills the insecurity gaps from root level to top level in Granular style approach. Our method is suggestible for security critical applications such as Medical, Finance, Legacy and Communication (Messaging like email) Systems. Results: we successfully implemented our approach on remote health monitor since IoT devices are convenient in everyday life, these devices are using in home, environment, healthcare due to its feasible networking, storage and process features etc. In IoT health care applications, security of the sensitive data is paramount since humans are part of the IoT platform. IoTs heterogeneous network connectivity and expected growth, opens many new threats and attacks which impacts on life of a patient. Conclusion: Hence, our proposed methodology is implemented on Security Essential IoT based health care application and measures shows our method is improved software security


LEPTOSPIROSIS is an important zoonotic bacterial infection of livestock that causes abortions, stillbirths, infertility and reduction of milk production, determining economic hazards. Cattle act as the maintenance host of serovar Hardjo (serogroup serjoe), which is the most common strain of Leptospira in many rural regions (Hernandez-Rodriguez and others 2011).

The standard serological diagnosis of leptospirosis is the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), which is recommended for use on a herd-screening basis (Lilenbaum and others 2009).

Since leptospiral cultivation is laborious and time-consuming, other methods have been applied for the direct identification of leptospires (Marianelli and others 2007). PCR is increasingly being reported as a rapid and definitive diagnostic tool in many species, such as buffaloes (Marianelli and others 2007), small ruminants (Lilenbaum and others 2009) and cattle (Hernandez-Rodriguez and others 2011). The aim of the present study was to compare the use of MAT and PCR for the diagnosis of leptospirosis in cattle.

Three dairy herds (A, B and C) from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with high levels of reproductive failure, …


Spatially-coupled (SC) LDPC codes are constructed from a set of L regular sparse codes of length M. In the asymptotic limit of these parameters, SC codes present an excellent decoding threshold under belief propagation (BP) decoding, close to the maximum a posteriori (MAP) threshold of the underlying regular code. In the finite-length regime, we need both dimensions, L and M, to be sufficiently large, yielding a very large code length and decoding latency. In this paper, and for the erasure channel, we show that the finite-length performance of SC codes is improved if we consider the tree-structured expectation propagation (TEP) algorithm in the decoding stage. When applied to the decoding of SC LDPC codes, it allows using shorter codes to achieve similar error rates. We also propose a window-sliding scheme for the TEP decoder to reduce the decoding latency.


Taking shunt active filter for example and for the purpose of reducing computational complexity of beat control algorithm, by means of optimizing objecitive function three kinds of beat control algorithms are proposed, they are one norm beat control algorithm, infinite norm beat control algorithm and improved two norm beat control algorithm. As for one norm beat control algorithm and infinite norm beat control algorithm, the algorithm simplification is realized by constructing new objective function that is equivalent to the two norm objective funciton of traditional beat control, so these two algorithms are more suitable to control three-phase active filters. The improved two norm beat control algorithm is obtained by optimizing the objective function of traditional beat control, its computation amount is less than those of one norm beat control algorithm and infinite norm beat control algorithm, thus it is suitable to both single-phase and three-phase active filters. Simulation results show that the control precison of above-mentioned three algorithms is very close to that of traditional beat control algorithm, and the adaptability of above-mentioned three algorithms is same as that of traditional beat control algorithm, so the proposed algorithms can substitute traditional beat control algorithm entirely. Considering the order of complexity, the proposed two norm beat control algorithm is most suitabel to be applied.


Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Taking Position and Orienting in the World Chapter 3 Coevolution of World and Language Chapter 4 Contingency of Explanations Chapter 5 Public Language, Private Talk Chapter 6 Teaching: Mediating Access to World and Language Chapter 7 Adopting New Ways of Talking: A Question of Origin and Control? Chapter 8 Mediation of Language: Space, Physical Orientation, and Group Size Chapter 9 Epilogue: Language and Science


A basic function of trademarks is to identify the source of a product. In order to carry out this function, it is necessary to design a trademark with distinctiveness. A trademark without distinctiveness can not be registered with the Patent and Trademark Office or serve as a basis for claiming trademark rights because it lacks the function of source identification. Trademark genericism, also known as genericide, genericness and generalization, is the rule which governs the loss of trademark protection of a registered trademark that was once distinctive and often well known, but fell into the public domain and became a generic name owing to the change in the perception of the consuming public. Genericism in U.S. court practices is not a new concept but is just beginning to appear in Taiwanese Trademark Law when the latest amendment went in effect on 28/11/2003. Considering the fact that this topic is rarely addressed among Taiwan academics or practitioners, this article examines the American legal system and courts practices and attempts to interpret the current Taiwan Trademark Law in order to find the meaning of genericism, causes of genericism, criteria for judging


Community policing has gradually drawn attention in many countries since the 1990s. This new policing strategy can prevent crime, while also increasing citizen participation and justifying democratic policing. Beginning in the mid-1990s, Taiwan police agencies have adopted community policing. The practice includes the planning of police beats, community fora on safety issues, and service-orientated policing. Since one of the core tenets of community policing is citizen participation and engagement, why do some police agencies differ within the same jurisdiction? To answer this question, this paper builds a simple framework showing how a variety of external and internal factors can affect citizen engagement in community policing. The qualitative data was collected in diverse urban and rural police stations. This study provides a better understanding of how to promote citizen engagement in community policing.


Schottky diodes can play a valuable role as rectifiers in Large-Area Electronics (LAE) systems and circuits. They can be used to recover a DC signal when an AC carrier is used to transmit signals between adjacent plastic electronic sheets through near-field wireless coupling [1], rectify DC power after AC transmission between sheets to provide power to sensors, and so forth. In this paper we describe: 1) the intrinsic frequency limits of Schottky diodes fabricated on hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H); 2) circuit design strategies for using the diodes at frequencies far beyond their intrinsic limits; 3) and the application of these strategies to demonstrate, to the best of out knowledge, the first amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) full-wave rectifier, with an AC-to-DC power conversion efficiency (PCE) ranging from approximately 46% at 200 Hz to greater than 10 % at 1 MHz.


The paper proposes an extension for well-known COBWEB algorithm for different symbolic variable types. This extension allows to apply symbolic variables for category utility evaluation. Main body of the paper presents how to adapt category utility for different symbolic variable types. Example shows an illustrative example of the proposed method.


People have been altering the genomes of plants and animals for many years using traditional breeding techniques. Artificial selection for specific, desired traits has resulted in a variety of different organisms, ranging from sweet corn to hairless cats. But this artificial selection, in which organisms that exhibit specific traits are chosen to breed subsequent generations, has been limited to naturally occurring variations. In recent decades, however, advances in the field of genetic engineering have allowed for precise control over the genetic changes introduced into an organism. Today, we can incorporate new genes from one species into a completely unrelated species through genetic engineering, optimizing agricultural performance or facilitating the production of valuable pharmaceutical substances. Crop plants, farm animals, and soil bacteria are some of the more prominent examples of organisms that have been subject to genetic engineering.


PurposeThis paper discusses the role of Zakat Funds in the provision of social protection in the Middle East and North Africa region, based on the examples of Jordan and Sudan. The purpose of this paper is to assess different modalities of Zakat in two countries where it is regulated in some form by the state.Design/methodology/approachFindings are based on a desk review of academic, peer-reviewed literature as well as reports published by international organisations and information provided online by governments and national Zakat Funds. The choice of these countries was further motivated by the availability of literature in English and Arabic.FindingsThe extent to which Zakat can be used to finance social protection measures varies not only in the way it is collected and administered, but also with the country's geographic and political conditions. In Sudan, Zakat is mandatory and reaches proportionally more households than in Jordan. While the Quran establishes the eight categories for those who should receive Zakat, the selection in both countries is at the discretion of the Funds' administrators.Originality/valueThe topic of Zakat is one that has received increased attention by researchers interested in Muslim values, social policy and public finance. However, little research has been produced on the intersections of these three topics.


This paper presents a decision based optimization model for real-time power balancing in a microgrid. The microgrid is a real facility from Constanta County, Romania, at the premises of a private company. The simulations have been done with a discretization time interval of 1 minute. Two battery energy storage systems were installed to smooth the power variations. In this paper we analyzed various scenarios to determine the best operation strategy of the batteries and the gas-fueled synchronous generator.


Based on the UHV(ultra high voltage) model and Thermal-Angle-Voltage limitation as a function of the power carried by the line,a power-circle has been proposed.It analyzes specific system parameters and the transmission of active power and reactive power.Power-circle,referred to as the operating loadability characteristics,provides a convenient mechanism for quantifying the trade-offs.It also makes it possible to quickly identify the principal operating limitation to line loadability,which exists in UHV system.The simulation of UHV power transmission project from Jincheng to Jingzhou via Nanyang proves the effect of this method.


Abstract: Spinel ferrites nanoparticles have received much more focus due to their promising applications in various technologies, such as magnetic refrigerators, microwave devices, colour imaging, high-density recording media and magnetic fluids. Nano-crystalline cobalt ferrite has been widely studied for its distinctive properties, like cubic magneto crystalline anisotropy, high coercivity, reasonable saturation magnetization, great chemical constancy, wear resistance and electrical insulation. Thus, cobalt ferrite has its own applications in the arena of high-frequency devices, magneto-optical devices, memory cores, recording media and spintronics and also in the biomedical sector, such as MRI, drug delivery schemes and magnetic hyperthermia. Reduced dimensionality of ferrite nanoparticles is having differences in properties when compared to its bulk counterparts. Size modulation of the physico-chemical properties of cobalt ferrite gives a distinctive response in the nanosized scale, permitting for material engineering in order to meet different necessities while addressing its different applications. The present study gives a brief review of significant effects on structural, dielectric and magnetic properties of cobalt spinel ferrite with different cation substitutions, like Mg2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, In2+ ...etc. This study regarding the size and its dispersity, core shell design, shape, crystallinity and surface decoration with hybrid derivatives opens up a wide variety of prospects for elementary studies as well as for growth and revolution in the field of ferrites.
Keywords: Spinel ferrite, Structural properties, Microstructural properties, Magnetic properties, Dielectric properties.


The blood recall process is intended to remove from use products that may be harmful, but characteristics of recalls nationally have not been reported.


Photonic crystals affect the photon emission of embedded emitters due to an altered local density of photon states (LDOS). We review the calculation of the LDOS from eigenmodes in photonic crystals and propose a rate equation model for fluorescent emitters to determine the changes in emission induced by the LDOS. We show how to calculate the modifications of three experimentally accessible characteristics: emission spectrum (spectral redistribution), emitter quantum yield, and fluorescence lifetime. As an example, we present numerical results for the emission of the dye Rhodamine B inside an opal photonic crystal. For such photonic crystals with small permittivity contrast, the LDOS is only weakly modified, resulting in rather small changes. We point out that in experiments, however, usually only part of the emitted light is detected, which can have a very different spectral distribution (e.g., due to a photonic band gap in the direction of detection). We demonstrate the calculation of this detected spectrum for a typical measurement setup. With this reasoning, we explain the previously not fully understood experimental observation that strong spectral modifications occurred, while at the same time only small changes in lifetime were found. With our approach, the mentioned effects can be quantitatively calculated for fluorescent emitters in any photonic crystal.


Abstract YBa2Cu3O7-x /BaxSr1-xTiO3 /LaAlO3 heterostructures can be used as a basis for devices with voltage control in microwave circuits. BaxSr1-xTiO3 (x=0–0.1) (BST) thin films have been epitaxially grown on LaAlO3 substrates using injection MOCVD. The excellent crystalline quality of the obtained BST films can be proven by a FWHM of <0,2° for the rocking curve of the (002) BST reflection. An AFM study revealed flat surfaces, showing a surface roughness Rs as low as 1nm. YBa2Cu3O7-x/BaxSr1-x TiO3//LaAlO3 heterostructures were than optimised. The YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) layers obtained on BaxSr1-xTiO3 films are epitaxial with a FWHM of 0.45° for the (005) YBCO rocking curve and display very promising superconducting properties of Tc=92K. Finally the microwave properties of the superconducting films were studied. For YBa2Cu3O7-x layers directly deposited on LaAlO3, surface resistance values of 0,32mΩ were obtained, while for YBa2Cu3O7-x /SrTiO3//LaAlO3 heterostructures, higher values of 1mΩ at 8.5GHz were measured.


This research aims to obtain information about students' creativity in arranging the results of practicum activities in the botany of non-vascular plant course.  This research was used descriptive design. The participants of this study were third semester biology education students (n=25) at a state university in Sumatera, Indonesia. The student was taken botany of non-vascular plant course. The instruments used in this research were performance instruments that measured students' creative thinking skills, questionnaires and observation guidelines that have been developed. The performance instrument used contains several indicators, namely: fluency , flexibility , originality dan elaboration. The data of creative thinking skills were processed by calculating the percentage (%) for each indicator and categorized into four levels (very creative, creative, quite creative and less creative). The results showed that students' creative thinking ability in compiling reports on the practicum activities is (2.68) classified into creative categories with an average of each indicator that are: fluency (3.06); flexibility (2.96), originality (2.95), and elaboration (1.76). The results show that the average student has good creative thinking skills in compiling reports of the practicum activities of botany of non-vascular plant course


For interactive humanoids, rehabilitation robots, and orthotic and prosthetic devices, the human-robot interaction is an essential but challenging element. Compliant Series-Elastic Actuators (SEAs) are ideal to power such devices due to their low impedance and smoothness of generated forces. In this paper we present the ServoSEA, which is a miniature Series-Elastic Actuator (SEA) based on cheap RC servos, and which is useful for actuation of orthotic, prosthetic or robotic hands. RC servos are complete packages that come with rotary motor and sensor and have an integrated control board to control the output angle. In the ServoSEA, a small rotational spring is attached to the output shaft and the internal rotary sensor is relocated to measure the spring deflection. These small modifications immediately make the integrated control board behave as a series-elastic torque controller. Here we present several design alternatives and report on the performance of our implementation that will be used in the active SCRIPT wrist and hand orthosis. The performance measurements showed that feedforward control of the example implementation of the ServoSEA results in acceptable, though not perfect, force tracking behavior. It is clear that although the ServoSEA concept is universal, final performance strongly depends on the quality of the original RC servo.


In the era of liberalization, privatization, and globalization, working capital management an integral part of any business situation. Businesses are nowadays managed with flexibility where the strategic aspects largely depend of the stand of competitors.


Introduction * Erasmus: His Life and Works* Brief Outline of His Life / Compendium vitae* Catalogue of His Works / Catalogus lucubrationum* Erasmus as Educator* The Antibarbarians / Antibarbarorum liber* On Education for Children / De pueris instituendis* On Good Manners / De civilitate* Erasmus the Christian Humanist* The Ciceronian / Dialogus Ciceronianus* The Handbook of the Christian Soldier / Enchiridion militis christiani* Erasmus as Reformer and Critic of the Church* Praise of Folly / Moriae encomium* Letter to Dorp / Letter 337* The Luther Affair / Letters 980, 1033, 1202* Julius Excluded from Heaven / Dialogus Julius exclusus e coelis* Shipwreck / Naufragium (from the Colloquies)* Erasmus and Politics* The Education of a Christian Prince / Institution principis christiani* A Complaint of Peace / Querela pacis* On the War against the Turks / De bello turcico* One Ought to Be Born a King or a Fool / Aut regem aut fatuum nasci oprtere (from the Adages) Notes Chronology Bibliography English and Latin Titles of Erasmus' Works Index


The article reviews several problems of the denial of genocide and restriction of the right to freedom of expression. In particular, the contemporary trends of this problem are analyzed especially in relation with the effect of the denial of Armenian Genocide. In the article some issues of limitation o the right to freedom of expression, genocide denial are reviewed and summarized, and the recent verdict of ECHR on Perincek vs. Switzerland is analyzed.


. In this paper we study the structure of the solutions to higher dimensional Dirac type equations generalizing the known Dirac equation ( D − λ ) f = 0 , where λ is a complex parameter. The structure of the solutions to this system of partial differential equations show a close connection with Bessel functions of first kind with complex argument. The more general system of partial differential equations that is considered in this paper combines Dirac and Euler operators and emphasizes the role of the Bessel functions. However, contrary to the simplest case, one gets now Bessel functions of any arbitrary complex order.


Using newly collected data on non-performing loan (NPL) in more than 190 countries over 27 years as well as policies aimed at dealing with NPLs, this paper presents stylized facts about episodes of high NPLs and NPL reduction episodes. A combination of asset management companies and public funds made available for recapitalisation is shown to be more effective in terms of resolving NPLs. A typical policy-assisted NPL reduction episode starts with a sharp drop in the stock of NPLs while in later years a greater contribution to the decline in NPL ratio comes from revived credit growth. This profile enables us to focus on specific events – sharp drops in NPL ratios – and their aftermaths, using cases of persistently high NPLs as a control group. Using matching analysis, we estimate that reductions in NPLs are associated with extra growth in excess of 1.5 percentage points per annum over several years.


The intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) is promising in assisting user localization and wireless communication in the future wireless networks. In this paper, a novel IRS-aided joint localization and communication (L&C) scheme is designed in a millimeter-wave transmission system. For the proposed scheme, the user position/orientation estimation error bound (POEB) and the effective achievable data rate (EADR) are derived in closed-form as L&C performance metrics, which reveal the inherent trade-off between L&C capabilities. To achieve the joint optimal point of the POEB and EADR in consideration of the localization errors, a worst-case robust beamforming and time allocation optimization problem is formulated. To solve the original non-convex problem, a novel joint optimization approach is developed. Specifically, from an equivalent minimax problem, the local optimal solutions of the transceiver beamformers, the IRS phase-shift matrix, and the time allocation ratio between user localization stage (ULS) and effective data transmission stage (EDTS), are obtained in closed-form with respect to the localization errors. Then, the worst-case localization error is iteratively found by a dedicated majorize-minimization (MM) based algorithm. Subsequently, potential extensions to general wireless channels and discrete phase-shift models are discussed in detail. Finally, simulations are carried out to show the optimization results and the L&C performance trade-off. In comparison with the conventional non-robust method, the proposed approach is validated to be robust against the user localization uncertainty.


The ultraviolet studies of galactic novae both in outburst and also in quiescence have provided new and fundamental data on these exploding stars. As a direct result of the IUE spectral studies, we have identified a new class of novae in which the outburst occurs on an ONeMg white dwarf. We have also been able to determine ejected masses, elemental abundances, and ultraviolet light curves for a wide variety of nova outbursts. 70 refs.


Abstract Background: This article critically discusses the key tensions and challenges arising from the educational policy borrowing in China, through its current education reform. Focussing on the new curriculum reform (NCR), the paper highlights the interactions and conflicts between foreign and local ideologies and practices. Sources of evidence: The main sources of evidence that form the basis of the analysis for this article were research data from an open-ended questionnaire and semi-structured interviews conducted with 166 school principals, vice-principals and teachers from China between 2013 and 2015. Main argument: It is argued that the NCR has borrowed selective ideas and practices from elsewhere, such as a school-based curriculum, student-centred pedagogy and formative assessment. It is further suggested that the borrowed policies are mediated and moderated by the ideological attitude of the Chinese educational stakeholders, stemming from the notion of 'theory-ladenness' within an exam-oriented paradigm. Conclusions: The example of China illustrates the effects of an ideological attitude on educational policy borrowing that challenges the notion of universally appropriate ways of teaching, learning and reforming an educational system.


BACKGROUND: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a life-threatening condition that carries high risk of recurrent cardiovascular events and death. Persistence with treatment is known to reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with ACS.

AIM: This study focuses on ACS patients undergoing their first percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to investigate the association between persistence with antiplatelet therapy and clinical outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study with 2 years of follow-up was conducted with 367 patients recruited. Patients were deemed as having persistence with antiplatelet therapy (WHO ATC code: B0A1C), if the gap between prescriptions was ≤30 days. The clinical outcomes were defined as a composite of major adverse cardiac event (MACE), major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), myocardial infarction, recurrent PCI, stroke, all-cause death, cardiovascular death, and hospitalization.

RESULTS: Cumulative persistence with antiplatelet showed that 72.3% of all ACS patients were still taking antiplatelet 1 year after PCI. Persistence to treatment with antiplatelet therapy can be used as a predictor of MACE or MACCE, because it was associated with recurrent PCI (RR 3.09, 95% CI = 1.18−8.05). History of cardiovascular disease in non-persistence patients was associated with increased risk of MACE (RR 4.90 95% CI = 1.37−17.48) and MACCE (RR 3.67 95% CI = 1.12−11.98) events.

CONCLUSION: After PCI, not all ACS patients continued taking their drug exactly as prescribed. Our study indicates that among ACS patients who underwent their first PCI, non-persistence with antiplatelet therapy might lead to worse clinical outcomes. This data will help promote secondary prevention among ACS patients after PCI.


Are people dissatisfied with the courts as well as the police when they perceive high levels of disorder in their neighborhoods? Consistent with previous research, this study, using a representative sample of Canadian adults, demonstrates that people are significantly more negative about the police when they perceive high levels of disorder. They are not, however, more negative toward the courts when confronted with these social problems. It is possible that they have heard the police rhetoric—namely, that the police form the "thin blue line" between order and chaos. Although the public holds the police and the courts responsible for increasing rates of crime, victimization, and fear, they do not see the courts as being responsible for neighborhood disorder, which they see as being the sole responsibility of the police.


The number of nonprofit organizations is growing and the competition for attracting volunteers, employees, and donors is fierce. Effective brand strategy offers the nonprofit a way to advance mission-critical operations, therefore it can be argued that brand strategy too, is a mission-critical operation. Yet, branding in the sector still faces its own set of unique challenges. There are tangible barriers to branding, such as not having the time and resources to do so, but branding also faces a reputation problem in the sector. Kylander and Stone (2011) found the concept is negatively associated with the for-profit sector and that nonprofit leaders tread lightly in their branding strategy limiting the organization's opportunity to reap the rewards that effective branding can provide. To help nonprofits move past this, Kylander and Stone (2011) responded with their Brand IDEA framework identifying four principles to help nonprofits rethink the way they view branding. This study builds on this framework, investigating how nonprofits understand and implement brands that align with their mission and values, a concept Kylander and Stone defined as "brand integrity." This study isolates and investigates the concept in two nonprofit, nondenominational churches in Richmond, Virginia. The church was chosen as an attractive case study to better understand the branding of nonprofit missions as the American Christian church is already having to define itself in a competitive "spiritual marketplace" in order to attract younger audiences. This qualitative study, through content analysis of two organizations' key social media channels and in-person, semi-structured interviews, finds that the nonprofit organization with operations centered around its missions, is well positioned to implement brand integrity, even if the concept is still not well understood by communication professionals in the sector. The findings also identify "pillars" of brand integrity that nonprofit leaders need to consider if they are to implement a brand that closely aligns with the 3 EXAMINING HOW NONPROFITS UNDERSTAND BRAND INTEGRITY organization's mission and values. These pillars better position nonprofits to feel confident in their ability to brand their organizations with integrity. 4 EXAMINING HOW NONPROFITS UNDERSTAND BRAND INTEGRITY Chapter I: Introduction Branding. It is a term that for most, triggers perceptions that are likely best associated with the private sector. To the non-practitioner, there may be little distinction between branding, marketing, and advertising. Maybe the term brings to mind big name businesses like Coca Cola and its polar bears or Kellogg's with its big "K" in red script — the one found on every child's favorite cereal box. Maybe the term prompts a cerebral replay of scenes from a memorable Super Bowl advertisement, or a video that makes someone pause while scrolling through their Instagram feed. Whatever the response may be to the term "branding," it is likely to be an idea or a memory of a time when a for-profit business was trying to sell itself as a good choice to the consumer. In a world where that consumer is constantly bombarded with competing brands, branding always seems to be begging, "pick me." In today's fast-paced digital and global economy an organization cannot afford to exist without a brand. Competition is too fierce. Where a brand's primary focus used to be to relay quality, advances in technology now standardize quality (Kotler 1997). Brands now have to work to trigger an emotional response that somehow connects deeply with the consumer's moods, personalities, and the messages they wish to convey to others (de Chernatony et. al, 1998). Without an identifiable identity and a strategy to raise awareness of that identity, the organization loses share of voice in the market and falls behind to its competitors. This is not a problem isolated to the for-profit sector. The number of nonprofit organizations is growing and the competition for attracting volunteers, employees, and donors is fierce. Branding is not a new concept to the nonprofit sector. Many large, international nonprofit organizations, like Habitat for Humanity and the World Wild Life Fund, have very well established and recognizable branding strategies. Yet branding is often viewed in the sector as a 5 EXAMINING HOW NONPROFITS UNDERSTAND BRAND INTEGRITY tool borrowed from the for-profit industry, and it is because of this association with the for profit sector that nonprofit leaders admit to being hesitant when it comes to dedicating time and resources to carry out thoroughly-developed branding strategies. Kylander and Stone (2011) explored this hesitation and found that leaders of nonprofits expressed that the reasoning for this perspective was out of fear or hesitation towards inconsistencies between branding strategy and the mission and values of the organization. In their study, nonprofit leaders expressed a strong affinity for their mission and expressed a lack of faith towards the sector's ability to implement branding efforts without jeopardizing the mission and values of their organization. In their Nonprofit Brand IDEA framework, Kylander and Stone (2011) define this congruency between an organization's mission and values and its brand identity has 'brand integrity.' Brand integrity is defined in the literature by Kylander and Stone (2011), but little research has been done to further explore this concept in the nonprofit sector. Yet this concept seems to serve as a barrier to branding being widely accepted and effectively carried out as an integral operation for maximizing nonprofits' organizational impact. Without this acceptance, the nonprofit sector limits itself to the many benefits of effective branding. For example, branding has been found help to raise awareness amongst target audiences and facilitate donor choice (Hankinson 2000) and build loyalty within donor and supporter groups (Ritchie, Swami et al. 1998). Adding to the literature on brand integrity can position nonprofit leaders to more widely accept branding efforts in the sector by understanding how peers are successful at implementing brand integrity or, by understanding the challenges that limit a nonprofit's ability to establish brand integrity. One area of the nonprofit sector that is currently implementing branding strategies, intentionally or unintentionally, are new-age, nondenominational churches. As a mechanism to 6 EXAMINING HOW NONPROFITS UNDERSTAND BRAND INTEGRITY combat aging member bases, and as denominations lose their brand value, these nonprofit organizations are building new brand identities to reach new audiences and to carve their place in a competitive market (Nones on the Rise, 2012). Their techniques for building their brand identities vary, from more recognizable techniques such as brand videos and modern signage and logos, to techniques less associated with branding, such as moving their place of operation to warehouses rather than the traditional building with pews and steeples. This branding-centric landscape provides an opportunity to further explore and understand Kylander and Stone's (2011) concept of brand integrity in nonprofits. Brand integrity is identified as an important element for branding strategies in the sector, yet this particular concept has not been researched in practice. If brand integrity is important to implement an effective brand in the sector, it would benefit the sector to understand how nonprofits currently understand the concept and if and how it is effectively implemented. This study capitalizes on the branding-centric religious landscape to isolate an investigation of brand integrity in nonprofits in order to better understand the concept in practice. By understanding how brand integrity is understood and implemented in two sample organizations, future organizations can learn and be influenced on how to implement their own brands with integrity. This qualitative study explores brand integrity within the current branding-centric environment for which today's nonprofit, nondenominational churches are operating within. The study isolates two nondenominational, nonprofit churches in Richmond, Virginia, collecting data from a content analysis procedure and in-person, semi-structured interviews. Qualitative analysis of this data provides insight into how these nonprofit organizations currently understand brand integrity and provides insight into their experiences and processes in establishing brand integrity. 7 EXAMINING HOW NONPROFITS UNDERSTAND BRAND INTEGRITY


Trachoma is, first and foremost, a disease of poverty. It is considered to be endemic in 55 countries. It is particularly prevalent in large regions of Africa, the Middle East, Southwestern Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, Aboriginal communities in Australia, and there are small focuses of blinding disease in Central and South America.2 Trachomatous blindness inflicts a high financial cost and may result in the persistence of poverty, due to the lost wages of the blind and their families.3


ABSTRACT In this study, the Feldstein–Horioka (FH) puzzle were investigated by the panel cointegration and causality methods over the available period of 1989–2015 for the E7 countries. Westerlund panel cointegration test with multiple structural breaks, and Westerlund and Edgerton regime panel cointegration test results indicate that there is a cointegration relationship between the two variables in the long term. The long-term FH panel coefficients obtained from common correlated effects mean group (CCMEG) and augmented mean group (AMG) estimators are 0.792 and 0.758, respectively. The findings of the Kónya bootstrap panel Granger causality test show that there is no causality relationship between the two variables in the short term. However, in the results of the asymmetric causality test, unidirectional and statistically significant causality is going from the negative shocks of domestic saving to the positive shocks of investment for China, Indonesia, Mexico and Turkey. The overall results show that the FH puzzle is valid for the E7 countries.


The inert strength and dynamic fatigue properties of fused-silica optical fibers are studied using subthreshold indentation flaws, i.e., flaws without radial cracks. These subthreshold properties differ from those obtained in comparative tests on silica rods containing postthreshold indentation flaws in three major respects: (1) the inert strengths are significantly higher than predicted by extrapolation of the postthreshold data; (2) the slopes of the dynamic fatigue plots are likewise greater, indicating a greater susceptibility of the subthreshold flaws to chemical kinetic effects; and (3) the scatter in strengths is wider. These trends reflect the change in mechanical response reported for optical fibers with "natural" flaw populations in going from ordinary to ultra-high-strength regions. Direct observations of the indentation sites up to the point of failure indicate that the property differences can be interpreted in terms of a transition from propagation-controlled to initiation-controlled fracture instabilities at reduced contact loads. The subthreshold instability condition is modeled qualitatively as a two-step, deformation-fracture process, with strong emphasis on the importance of residual stress fields in parametric evaluations. The relevance of the results to the practical issue of fiber reliability, most notably in connection with the potential dangers of using macroscopic crack velocity data to predict long-lifetime characteristics, is addressed.


Background: The study was conducted to assess the association between endometrial blood flow pattern assessed with colour Doppler around the day of HCG administration and IVF outcome following GnRH antagonist down regulated cycles. Methods: It was a prospective, cohort study. Total of sixty-eight patients undergoing IVF-ET/ICSI were recruited in the study. All the patients underwent controlled ovarian stimulation with a step-up protocol, and GnRH antagonists were used for down-regulation. Transvaginal ultrasound measurements of all patients were performed on the day of HCG injection. A 6.5 MHz pulsed Doppler system was used for blood flow analysis. Bilateral uterine arteries, pulsatility index and resistance index were calculated along with uterine artery peak systolic velocity on both sides. Endometrial blood flow was analysed by detecting flow in the intra-endometrial or the adjacent sub-endometrial regions. Results: Baseline FSH in pregnant group was lower (6.29) than non-pregnant group (7.36). The overall pregnancy rate was 45.6% (n=31) and the ongoing pregnancy rate was 41.1% (n=28). Total of 57 patients out of 68 patients had both good endometrial and sub-endometrial blood flow. The overall pregnancy rate in this group was 47.3%. Similarly, in patients who had minimal endometrial and sub-endometrial blood flow the pregnancy rate was 37.5%. There was no significant correlation between pregnancy outcomes and the color flow Doppler parameters such as average uterine PI, average uterine RI and right/left uterine peak systolic velocity. Conclusion: Uterine artery PI, RI and PSV has no role in predicting endometrial receptivity and thus pregnancy outcome in IVF-ET cycle, however those patient with good endometrial and sub-endometrial flow have higher pregnancy rate than those with minimal flow rate.


Theory is developed on the layout of MOSFETs with large W/L ratios. Different layout styles are also compared for the performance criteria such as area, gate capacitance, drain (source) capacitances and gate resistances. The waffle iron layout style is superior to conventional finger layout in terms of area and gate resistance, whereas finger layout has lower gate capacitance.


This study included a qualitative analysis of the content of the teaching courseware that was developed by the Curriculum Development Center of the Ministry of Education in 2003. The objective of the study was to determine efficacy of the courseware from the perspective of learning-teaching. The results indicated that most of the lessons selected for analysis followed a traditionally linear approach. Furthermore, an analysis of the roles of the learner, the teacher and the courseware showed that the courseware had a domineering role throughout the lesson, instructing, modeling and providing feedback. The teacher's role was reduced to that of a computer operator while the learners followed the instructions of the courseware and were seldom prompted to initiate any communication activity without the stimulus provided by the teaching courseware. The analysis of the data also revealed that the courseware had a lopsided focus on the language skills. Finally, it was found that presenting the materials in the courseware would require a considerably longer time than what is recommended by the courseware developers. The findings of the study may prove helpful for the developers of the courseware in improving its quality in its future revisions


I N T R O D U C T I O N The application of entomology to forensic med i  cine was first placed on a firm footing by the publication in Paris in 1894 of Megnin 's classic work La Faune des Cadavres. Application de I'Entomologie d la Medicine Legale. Pr ior to the appearance of th is treatise two shorter works on the subject, one by Yovanovitch and the o the r by Megnin himself, had been published in 1888, also in Paris. Nei ther of these earl ier works, however, dealt with the subject as comprehen sively as Megnin ' s second work. In 1898 Mot ter , working in the United States, published a pape r deal ing with the fauna of buried corpses. Since then remarkably few comprehensive works have appeared , but Nuor teva (many papers , see refer ences) has been actively extending the appl i  cat ion of the subject in Finland. Several recent reviews have appeared, of which the most im por tan t are Leclercq (1969), Easton and Smi th (1970), Smith (1973) and Nuor teva (1977). T h e pauci ty of references t o forensic entomology as such gives the misleading impression that little is known about the subject, but a t r emendous a m o u n t of relevant information exists in t h e entomological l i terature. A very full bibli ography is given by Nuor teva (1977). In a t tempt ing to de termine the age after death of a corpse by entomological means , two me thods can be appl ied. T h e first me thod , favoured by Megnin and other early workers , is based on the na ture of the insect fauna present on the corpse at any given t ime. Since certain insect species are associated with definite stages of corpse decomposi t ion, it is possible in pr inci  ple to tell how long ago death occurred by iden tifying the assemblage of species present on the corpse. In theory this method may seem logical enough , but in practice it is no t easy to date a corpse in this way. T h i s is because insect faunas vary greatly according to season, lati tude, alt i tude and m a n y other factors, and it follows tha t the succession of species will also vary. In a highly urbanized count ry like Britain where the landscape is being continually changed by road building, deforestation, reafforestation etc., the character of the fauna of a single locality may change drastically from year to year. Therefore, it is impossible to generalize about the insect succession on corpses and for this method to be successfully applied an in t imate knowledge of the local fauna is necessary. T h e second method , much more widely applied in recent years, is the appl icat ion of knowledge of the life cycle of those insects breeding (in other words, present as larvae) in the corpse. The rates of development of m a n y sarcosaprophagous insects have been intensively studied in the laboratory and the field, together with the effects of var ious envir onmenta l factors such as t empera tu re , light and humidi ty . It is possible, therefore, t o obtain a good idea of the t ime of death by determining the age of the larvae and the length of t ime taken to comple te their development . T h e a im of this pape r is twofold: firstly, t o cor rect some misconcept ions regarding the appl i  cation of forensic entomology and to give some indication of the scope and potential i t ies of the subject, and secondly, to pu t on record some in formation regarding the si tuat ion in winter—an aspect of the subject hardly ever touched upon in the forensic l i terature.


This paper examines how the Chinese stock market acts differently towards state‐controlled and market‐oriented media coverage. Using a setting of post‐earnings announcement drift, we find that information from state‐controlled media enters the stock price in a timelier manner, while the message from market‐oriented media needs more time to get a response from investors. The effect is also influenced by whether the type of news coverage is good or bad. Our findings suggest that the capital market underreacts when good news is reported by the market‐oriented media.


This article focuses on inter-transport and tributary,the two types of trade during the interaction between Abbasid Dynasty and Tang and Song Dynasty.The paper also caeds the size and types of goods,brief anylizing the reasons of why they have commercial activity so frequent.


Objective To evaluate the effect of the setup error on the physics dose distribution of targets and peripheral organs at risk(OAR) undergoing the intensity modulated radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC).Methods Six NPC patients were included into our study.The On-Borad-Imager of Varian Trilogy linear accelerator was used to collect the images of Cone Beam Computerized Tomography(CBCT) in real time,which were matched with the positioning CT images before radiation treatment through target center.The Varian software was used to calculate the error in x(left-right),y(cranial-caudal) and z(ventral-dorsal) direction.Then the treatment planning system of Eclipse8.6Version was used to study the effects of the setup error on the dose distribution undergoing the radiation therapy for NPC.Results The systematic±random error in x,y,and z direction was(-0.52±1.20)mm,(-0.22±2.54)mm and(-0.53±1.21)mm,respectively.The extent of dose variation for GTVnd,GTVnx,left lens,right lens,spinal cord,and brainstem was 0.32%~12.34%,-0.25%~0.32%,-12.45%~0.13%,-17.87%~-0.08%,-0.18%~8.20% and-5.40%~6.55%.Conclusion The setup errors were inevitable in radiation therapy.However,the OBI-CBCT system could revise the setup error in real time,which could reduce the systematic and random error and improve the accuracy of setup and dose of targets and OAR.As a result,it could provide better quality assurance in radiation therapy.


Abstract Post-disturbance revegetation sequences documenting the reentry time and longevity of 26 forest species are outlined for five forests in northern South Island. These five forest sequences are compared with three theoretic models, the Initial Floristic, the Intermediate, and the Classical, which are each presented in two alternative cases to give a total of 12 basic models. The two alternatives incorporate either a Faciliation or Inhibition mechanism, and either a correlated or noncorrelated relationship between reentry time and species longevity. The results show that four of the five observed forest sequences fit the Intermediate Model; three of these have a Facilitation mechanism and one an Inhibition mechanism, and all are non-correlated. The fifth forest sequence closely resembles the Initial Floristic Model and has a Facilitation mechanism and a (non-significant) correlated relationship. Construction of a longer-term regeneration sequence with, in part, estimated disturbance recurrence times...


In this paper, the attention is given to the simulation of the industrial robot Mitsubishi RV-2AJ with the help of program tools that include two software packages – SolidWorks i NI LabVIEW. The main purpose of the simulation is to visualize the CAD model management through a control panel, which will be created by using a software NI LabVIEW. The control panel will include the controls for angle and coordinate entry, speed input, and indicators that will be showing the movement and stopping of the robot, as well as its exact position in the space at all times at any point.


A plethora of medium to high resolution multi-spectral imagery is available from a host of commercial optical satellites. However, image data acquired by satellite image sensors are affected by systematic sensor and platforminduced geometry errors, which introduce terrain distortions when the image sensor is not pointing directly at the Nadir location of the sensor. Image orthorectification can accurately remove the image distortions related to sensor collection. This study presents the orthorectification multispectral imagery from several satellites (ALOS, Rapid Eye and IKONOS) with high resolution NEXTMap® data over Colorado, California and Alaska test sites, respectively. Orthorectification has been demonstrated using a Rational Functions method which involves the collection of GCPs from the NEXTMap® high resolution ORI (1.25 m pixel; 2 m horizontal accuracy) used in conjunction with the NEXTMap® DTM and off-the-shelf orthorectification software. The resulting orthorectified satellite imagery is processed further to derive pan sharpened imagery.). The accuracy of the orthorectified pan sharpened images was tested against National Geodetic Survey (NGS) verification check points (VCPs). The ALOS derived products achieve mapping scale accuracies of 1:10,000, while the Rapid Eye and IKONOS are suitable for 1:4,800 mapping scales.


The chem ical compositions of peat resins from Yunnan Shiping peat wax were analyzed by GC-MS.The results showed that the chem icalcompositions possessing aromatic structures were rare, and those possessing unsaturated cyclic and unsaturated chain structure were abundant. Compared with reports of chem ical compositions in lignite resins, the degree of cyclization and polymerization in peat resins from Yunnan peatwas low, and the molecularweightswere small. Isuggested that Yunnan Shiping coal-form Shiping peat is an initial sediments, which degree of coalificationwas lower than lignite.


More than a hundred cases of thyroidal, osteoarticular, facial or intracranial pathologies have been explored with microwave thermography at 9, 30 and 68 GHz. We have been able to detect deep lesions such as those of femoral head or lumbar spine, or cerebral tumors, with the help of this technology.


Adonis pseudoamurensis W. T. Wang의 분류학적 실체를 규명하기 위하여 본 종과 그 근연분류군에 대한 주요 검색형질을 비롯한 외부형태학적 형질을 조사하였고, 근연분류군과의 종검색표를 작성하였다. 그 결과, 일본특산종인 A. ramosa Franch.는 잎 이면과 엽병에 성기게 털이 분포하고, 악편의 길이가 화피편의 길이와 거의 같은 것에 비해, A. pseudoamurensis는 잎 이면과 엽병이 무모이고, 악편의 길이가 화피편의 길이보다 짧다. 또한, A. multiflora Nishikawa et Ko. Ito는 엽선이 점첨두이고, 최종열편은 선형이며, 원줄기와 분지된 줄기에 인엽이 분포하나, A. pseudoamurensis는 엽선이 예두이고, 최종열편은 피침형이며, 분지된 줄기에는 인엽이 분포하지 않는 점에서 뚜렷이 구분되었다. 한편, A. pseudoamurensis의 특징은 원기재문과는 달리 경생엽에 엽병이 있고, 암술에 털이 있으며, 본 형질들은 근연분류군들과 공통의 형질이다. 【Morphological characters of Adonis pseudoamurensis W. T. Wang and its related species were examined to illustrate its taxonomic entity, and their new key was made. As a result, it shows that A. ramosa Franch., an endemic species in Japan, was sparsely pubescent on the abaxial surface of the leaf and petiole, and its sepal was as long as its petal. However, A. pseudoamurensis is glabrous on the same surfaces and its sepal was shorter than its petal. In addition, A. multiflora Nishikawa et Ko. Ito was clearly distinguished in that it had acuminate leaf apices, linear shape of the final lobes of leaf and scales on the branched stem. Meanwhile, A. pseudoamurensis featured petiolate at cauline leaves and pubescent on pistils, and these characters were common with their allied groups. But diagnostic key characters suggested by the original description such as sessile at cauline leaves and glabrous on pistils were not observed in this study.】


Bank failure in a stream generally originates from bed erosion at the bank toe. This research proposes a novel two-dimensional (2D) bank-failure operator, based on a simple local failure criterion and on the conservation of sediment mass. This operator is inserted into a 2D Saint-Venant–Exner model to simulate both bed and bank geomorphic processes and their interaction with the flow, especially during dam-break events. This shallow-water model is solved by a first-order finite-volume scheme on an unstructured triangular mesh. After an erosion or deposition update, the bed inclination is compared locally with the sediment stability angles, considering the impact of water-level rise. Assuming material homogeneity, the unstable bed elements are tilted around an appropriate axis of rotation, ensuring mass conservation. The numerical model is tested for a collapsing circular hole and against laboratory tests of a dam-break flow: first in a prismatic channel made of coarse sand and then over an initial bed step.


Based on classical machines with regularly displayed stator poles, the authors present methods for designing motors with a dissymmetrical stator, which make it possible to increase considerably the range of the possible numbers, S, of steps by turn. In theory, all the values of S can be obtained except prime numbers. In practice, it is difficult to obtain numbers of the form 2q, where q is a large prime number, since the only possible associate a motor must have two teeth, thus too many phases. The dissymmetrical structure can be of great interest in robotic applications, i.e., when specific and precise moves or when specific synchronous-type speeds are required.<<ETX>>


Digital libraries have great promise in the health and biomedical domains. Yet a variety of impediments exist to their more effective use. A series of panelists from a variety of backgrounds in health and biomedicine will explore these impediments and describe how they might be overcome.


The slow increase in rural incomes and the widening income gap between rural and urban citizens are important problems for the work on agriculture and in rural areas. To maintain a steady increase in rural income, we should persist in developing the rural–urban economies in a coordinated and harmonious way and constructing a long-term mechanism to promote rural incomes in the coming period. Besides, we should explore the potential of increasing rural incomes through optimising the inner structure of agriculture, and seeking channels outside agriculture for incomes increase. We should also make vigorous efforts to develop non-agricultural industries, and speed up the urbanisation progress and the migration of the redundant labour force.


The objective of this empirical study was to explore outsourcing in software testing and shape hypotheses that explain the association between outsourcing and knowledge management. First, a survey of testing practices was conducted and 26 organizational units (OUs) were interviewed. From this sample, five OUs were further selected for an in-depth case study. The study used qualitative grounded theory as its research method and the data was collected from 41 theme-based interviews. The analysis yielded hypotheses that included that the business orientation of an OU affects outsourcing of testing and the knowledge management strategy, outsourcing seems to be more effective when independent testing agencies have enough domain knowledge, and outsourcing verification tasks is more difficult than outsourcing validation tasks. The results of this study can be used in developing the knowledge management strategy and as guidance in making outsourcing decisions.


The subject of research in this paper are eight balance sheets (based on regular annual financial statements), with the aim of finding out the effect of fluctuations in balance sheet items on the movement of commonly used liquidity ratios on a sample of 10 leading Serbian banks in terms of balance sheet assets (Banca Intesa, Komercijalna, UniCredit, Societe Generale, Raiffeisen, AIK, Eurobanka, Erste Bank, Postanska stednionica i Vojvodjanska), by applying Pearson's correlation coefficient for the period 2010-2017. The four most commonly used liquidity ratios were used as dependent variables, while individual balance sheet items (part of the liquidity formula) were used as independent variables. According to the conducted research, Serbian banking sector recorded positive performance i.e. was sufficiently liquid, from 2010 to 2017. Furthermore, very strong correlation was observed between an increase in cash and an increase in bank liquidity, while there was a moderate correlation between an increase in cash and average total liabilities. Moreover, the increase in loans and receivables from banks and other financial institutions had a significant impact on the increase of liquidity, as well as on the increase in provisions and equity. Finally, the increase in the value of owned property and deposits had a negative impact on liquidity ratios.


In this article I shall go into some experiences that installed the public debate on the issue of decriminalization and legalization of abortion in the last thirty years. The special historical context of the moments at which emerge this public discussion and the main collective actions carried out by the feminist movement in Argentina are analysed in detail. The emergence of the pioneer Comision por el Derecho al Aborto is the starting point of this article that reaches up to the action of Socorristas en Red (feministas que abortamos) in 2012.


Abstract The quotient process of Muger and Bruguieres is used to construct modular categories and TQFTs out of closed subsets of the Weyl alcove of a simple Lie algebra. In particular it is determined at which levels closed subsets associated to nonsimply connected groups lead to TQFTs. Many of these TQFTs are shown to decompose into a tensor product of TQFTs coming from smaller subsets. The "prime" subsets among these are classified, and apart from some giving TQFTs depending on homology as described by Murakami, Ohtsuki and Okada, they are shown to be in one-to-one correspondence with the TQFTs predicted by Dijkgraaf and Witten to be associated to Chern–Simons theory with a nonsimply connected Lie group. Thus in particular a rigorous construction of the Dijkgraaf–Witten TQFTs is given. As a byproduct, a purely quantum groups proof of the modularity of the full Weyl alcove for arbitrary quantum groups at arbitrary levels is given.


I report recent studies on the evolution of perturbations in the context of the \pre-big-bang" scenario typical of string cosmology, with emphasis on the formation of a stochastic background of relic pho-tons and gravitons, and its possible direct/indirect observable consequences. I also discuss the possible generation of a thermal microwave background by using, as example, a simple gravi-axio-dilaton model whose classical evolution connects smoothly innationary expansion to decelerated contraction. By including the quantum back-reaction of the produced radiation the model eventually approaches the standard radiation-dominated (constant dilaton) regime.


The A/D converter MAX1270 produced by MAXIM is firstly introduced in detail.The connection scheme of MAX1270 and AT89S52 is presented along with an assemble language based subroutine for A/D conversion. It has been successfully employed in a capil-lary electrophoresis system with conductivity detection for data acquisition.Satisfactory resolution and conversion rates are obtained.


This paper investigates the ability of a least-squares support vector machine (LS-SVM) model to improve the accuracy of streamflow forecasting. Cross-validation and grid-search methods are used to automatically determine the LS-SVM parameters in the forecasting process. To assess the effectiveness of this model, streamflow records from Geological Survey (USGS) gaging station 1652500 on Four Mile Run of the Potomac River, were used as case studies. The performance of the LS-SVM model is compared with the recurrent neural networks model trained by Levenberg-Marquardt backpropagation algorithm. The results of the comparison indicate that the LS-SVM model is a useful tool and a promising new method for streamflow forecasting.


This paper first briefly summarizes how interactive multimedia services can be implemented in a broadcasting environment characterized by one-way transmission. Next, Integrated Services Television (ISTV) is proposed as an approach for realizing broadcast multimedia services in the digital age. It is shown that the structured data approach is capable of describing displays and services that are flexible and able to be extended. Finally, we assess the effectiveness of ISTV functions and the structured data approach using simulator and test programs. Viewers' responses to a menu display that show a range of available services were solicited, and 90% of the respondents were found to be favorably impressed by the ease with which available services could be understood.


Objective To compare the sensitivity and the specificity of 6 types of classification criteria for adult onset Still′s disease (AOSD).Methods The study was a retrospective cohort design.140 patients with adult onset Still′s disease and 58 patients with non AOSD rheumatic diseases were included.Data were extracted on clinical and laboratory parameters.Six sets of diagnostic criteria for adult onset Still′s disease were evaluated.Results The most sensitive one (86 4%) is Yamaguchi′s criterion followed by Cush′s criterion (72 1%) and Kahn′s criterion (69 3%).American Rheumatism Association criterion (ARA criterion) has the best specificity (100 0%).Yamaguchi′s criterion has a high rate of misdiagnosis (12 1%) and ARA criterion has a high rate of missed diagnosis (42 1%).The Yamaguchi′s criterion has the best accuracy and relevant value.Conclusion Awareness of these discrepancies in adult onset Still′s disease criteria are crucial to ensure comparability of different series of this condition.We suggest a high sensitivity criteria for preliminary screen diagnosis and a high specificity criteria for confirmation and differential diagnosis.


"In the past ten years quantities of alpha-, beta-, gamma- and neutron-emitting isotopes handled in enclosures have increased from microcuries to kilocuries. Contaminated-atmosphere problems have increased accordingly. Developments at Berkeley are reviewed with particular emphasis on recent equipment, viz: a multiple-purpose gas scrubber and a total-capture system for slug-dissolver off gas."


(Davies 1997). Two-stage enrichment using RVS followed by MRSV has proved to be an effective technique for enhanced isolation in samples from certain premises but not others. The advantage of this technique is the provision of Salmonella in virtually pure culture. Cold enrichment is a standard technique for the isolation of Yersinia enterocolitica (De Boer 1992) which works by suppression of cold-sensitive contaminants. Other studies have shown either no reduction or an increase in Salmonella isolation following the storage of incubated enrichment media for 72 hours (D'Aoust and others 1994, 1995, Eriksson and others 1999). This means that the efficiency of diagnostic laboratories can be increased, as pre-enrichment and enrichment media can be refrigerated to reduce the need for weekend working and to allow samples to be received and processed for a greater proportion of the working week.


Aim: The study is to compare sensitivity and specificity rates of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunochromatog - raphic assay (IC) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests which are widely used to diagnose CPV-2 infections of dogs with severe gastroenteritis symptoms. Materials and Methods: The stool samples were collected from 100 unvaccinated dogs with gastroenteritis symptoms. They were analyzed by ELISA and IC test kits for CPV-2. Also, the samples were investigated by PCR assay using the CPV-2 primer set amplify partial of VP2 gene to determine sensitivity and specificity of the tests. Results: The sensitivity of IC was 36,6% and of ELISA was 24,2% compared to the PCR test. Also, both tests had 100% specificity. The IC test, and ELISA results were determined statistically different ac - cording to PCR (p <0.05). Conclusion: The ELISA and IC assays had low sensitivity. Therefore, the tests can give false negative results in puppies with gastroenteri - tis symptoms and this situation can increase the spread of the dise - ase. In conclusion, the negative determined samples by IC and ELISA methods should be verified by PCR and detailed studies should be carried out to increase the sensitivity of these tests.


This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of coenzyme Q10, L-carnitine and ractopamine supplementation, alone and in combinations, on carcass traits and immune response of broiler chickens. Five hundred and twelve one-day-old Ross 308 male broiler chickens were randomly allocated into eight treatments with four replicates each. A 2×2×2 factorial arrangement was applied, with two levels of coenzyme Q10 (0 and 40 mg/kg), two levels of L-carnitine (0 and 200 mg/kg) and two levels of ractopamine (0 and 10 mg/kg). The birds were reared until day 42 of age under standard conditions. Blood samples were collected at the end of grower and finisher periods from the wing vein. Four birds per group were sacrificed at day 42 of age. Except for carcass yield, other carcass traits were not significantly affected (p>0.05) by different levels of coenzyme Q10, L-carnitine, or ractopamine. Immune response parameters were significantly (p<0.05) different between the treatments. The lowest antibody titers against Newcastle disease virus and relative spleen weight were observed in control group. The results of this study suggest that addition of coenzyme Q10 and L-carnitine to broiler diets has benefit effect on immune response of broiler chickens.


Lesson study is a model of professional development of educators through collaborative research and continuous learning based on the principles of mutual kolegalitas and learning to build community study. Lesson study can be implemented at various levels of education , including college. The level of implementation of the Lesson study done is learning plan, implementation of learning, and reflection. Lesson study cycle is done 4 times with the topic Fungi, Sterilization, Media Bacteria and Isolation, and Environmental Microbiology. Lesson study results showed an increase in the quality of learning that is Microbiology Subjects with variations learning methods , learning strategies, media variations, and how to evaluate, especially in the use of Mind Mapping . Lesson study is ongoing implementation will accelerate the implementation of professional development learning. Increased professionalism of lecturers will be followed by an increase effectiveness of learning and teaching and will indirectly have an impact on improving the quality of education at large.


Results are presented of a study on the aerodynamics of a new type of waverider derived from supersonic axisymmetric e ows inside constricting ducts, specie cally conical trumpet ducts. In such a duct, an initial shock wave arises from its leading edge, and the compression e ow downstream of this shock has streamlines converging toward the e ow axis. This e ow is chosen as a basic e ow for the waverider design. The simplest convergent-e owderived waveriders are constructed with a lifting surface with a transverse-concave arc-shaped contour. They are compared with known types of waveriders constructed based on uniform e ows behind plane oblique shock waves or divergent e ows behind axisymmetric conical shock waves. The characteristics of convergent waveriders as lifting cone gurations are analyzed with the lift and drag coefe cients, the lift-to-drag ratio, and the integral heat e uxes through the waverider surfaces determined. The possibilities of using these new waveriders as forebodies for hypersonic vehicles powered by airbreathing engines are also estimated. The e owe eld characteristics near the lower lifting surface of the waverider as a precompression surface arranged upstream of the inlet are considered in this connection.


In this paper, we study the asymptotic behavior of an optimal control problem for the time-dependent Kirchhoff-Love plate whose middle surface has a very rough boundary. We identify the limit problem which is an optimal control problem for the limit equation with a different cost functional.


Earthquake resistance design has been developed many countries like Japan, USA, Mexico, New Zealand etc., which countries have experienced many earthquakes. Nowadays, earthquake resistance design has come into worldwide use. In Korea, the seismic design regulations have been established since 1988 in order to minimize the economic losses. Recently performance based design method has been adopted as a new Earthquake resistance design method. These regulations, however, are targeted for newly constructed buildings, In Korea, there are no regulations for existing buildings that built before 1988. So, we need to prepare the regulations that evaluate the seismic performance, furthermore proper retrofitting design guideline needs to be proposed when remodeling old buildings. This study was performed that many existing apartments is being a Remodeling object when considering the present condition of existing apartment and the problems of cost and environment in the future plan. When Remodeling construction is reviewed by former the Seismic Performance Evaluation Method, generating problems is evaluation by using Push-over. According to this, it provides the appropriate method of calculating the Seismic Performance Index.


Gregory Richter THE PUBLIC RELATIONS ASPECTS OF MUNICIPALITY WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY OF WIND ENERGY IN OCEAN GATE, NJ 2009/10 Suzanne FitzGerald, Ph.D. Master of Arts in Public Relations The purposes of this exploratory investigation were to (a) determine if the local government of Ocean Gate, NJ, would use communication techniques to achieve compliance, or sufficient approval, of government and citizens for wind turbine development and (b) determine if some citizens will express strong views against wind energy while the majority of Ocean Gate's citizens will favor wind turbine power generation in their municipality. This researcher used interviews with important figures surrounding the wind project. This researcher also conducted pen and paper survey research of 106 local residents of Ocean Gate and surrounding areas through a convenience sample found outside the Ocean Gate Post Office. The researcher conducted a content analysis of news headlines comprising three months before through three months after Ocean Gate's wind turbine began operation and three months before and three months after each of two wind turbines began operating in Hull, MA. A few survey respondents expressed strong negative opinions towards wind energy in Ocean Gate, but most respondents, 78%, supported wind energy in Ocean Gate. The interviews supported both hypotheses.


Abstract Objective: To study the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on joint position sense (JPS) in knee osteoarthritis (OA) subjects. Methods: Thirty subjects with knee OA (40–60 years old) using non-random sampling participated in this study. In order to evaluate the absolute error of repositioning of the knee joint, Qualysis Track Manager system was used and sensory electrical stimulation was applied through the TENS device. Results: The mean errors in repositioning of the joint, in two position of the knee joint with 20 and 60 degree angle, after applying the TENS was significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Application of TENS in subjects with knee OA could improve JPS in these subjects.


The effect of a crude, organic, non-alkaloid extract derived from R. stricta leaves were evaluated against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pathogens. Antibacterial activities were determined by zones of inhibition using a new 1% agarose well-diffusion method. Structural and morphological alterations of MRSA cells were investigated using transmission electron microscopy. The extract showed antibacterial activities against MRSA pathogens. The extract inhibited growth, with zones of inhibition ranging between 6 and 19 mm. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the extract distorts the cellular architecture of MRSA pathogens. Crude organic non-alkaloid extract derived from R. stricta leaves might serve as a novel antibiotic agent to prevent or treat lifethreatening MRSA infections.


This executive order by Governor Nikki Haley declares that an emergency exists as a result of the erosion caused by heavy rains at the Laurens Street Bridge in Aiken County and directs the South Carolina Department of Transportation to undertake actions to replace the collapsing bridge to ensure the safety and well-being of the traveling public.


Background and Aims: Sciatic nerve can be blocked in the gluteal region via anterior, posterior and a newly developed lateral/parasacral approach. Primary objective of the study was to compare success of sciatic nerve block using classical versus parasacral parallel shift approach (PSPS). Methods: This study was conducted in a tertiary medical college hospital from October 2020 to October 2021 after approval of Institutional Ethics Committee and written informed patient consent. Total 160 patients (80 in each group) aged 18-80 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-III ,undergoing traumatic lower limb orthopaedic surgery were assessed for eligibility based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Ultrasonography was used for the blocks. Results: Successful block was administered in 98.61%(n=71) subjects via PSPS approach, compared to 90.27%(n=57) via classical approach(table1). Time between ultrasound localisation of nerve to drug administration was significantly higher with classical as compared to PSPS approach. Successful first needle pass was seen in 90.27%(n=65) of PSPS group compared to 45.54%(n=27) of classical group. Time to motor blockade was found to be 17.33+/-3.6 minutes with PSPS approach, significantly lower than classical (22+/-3.53 minutes) approach. Conclusion: Parasacral sciatic nerve block via PSPS approach is superior to classical approach in terms of time to administration of block, success of block, requirements of sedation intraoperatively, time to motor blockade and time to sensory blockadeTable 1 Block performance characteristics Classical group PSPS group P Successful block n=65 (90.27%) n=71 (98.61%) 0.029 Successful first needle pass n=32 (44%) n=65 (90.27%) 0.000 Time from ultrasound localisation to drug administration (min) 9.51±2.16 3.28±1.19 0.000 Time to motor blockade (min) 21.94±3.19 17.32±2.49 0.000 Time to sensory blockade (min) 20.00±2.77 16.21±3.08 0.000


Engineers and planners are always jointly responsible for the usability of their interventions. In the transport sector, universal design is a planning imperative to ensure that all user groups participate equally in traffic. Usually, only physical impairments are in the foreground. However, there is an ever-increasing group of people with psychological impairments. Mental health diseases, especially phobias, anxiety, and compulsory disorders, are one of the most prevalent diseases in industrial countries – one-year prevalence rates are estimated at 10 up to 15%. Although rules, regulations, policies and action plans have been established to create an overall inclusive transportation system, the needs of people with mental impairments are mostly not considered. At the same time, participation in traffic is important for people with mental impairments to satisfy their daily needs and to reach therapeutic institutions. In addition, social interaction and the mastery of every-day tasks strengthens self-confidence and supports the healing process. Not least for that reason, the UN SDGs have been formulated. By conducting an exploratory study, the behaviour and needs of people with phobias, anxiety and compulsory disorders and the effects on their participation in traffic were explored. The paper shows general aspects concerning the traffic behaviour of people affected in the course of the disease. Furthermore, different forms of mobility barriers for people with phobias, anxiety and compulsory disorders were identified, distinguishing between infrastructural barriers, social barriers and organisational barriers. As a result, several approaches to support the participation in traffic of people with phobias, anxiety and compulsory disorders, based on coping strategies used by the target group, are mentioned. In addition, the paper identifies potential future challenges in context with mobility trends, concerning the accessibility of the transportation system for affected people, as well as further research needs.


Article history The present research work is based on the formulation of herbal effervescent granules by incorporating the leaves extract of Calliandra haematocephala. The folklore of India widely uses this plant for treatment of various diseases and disorder. The dried leaves powder of the plant was extracted and subjected to preliminary chemical tests. Then it was formulated into efferevescent granules and then evaluated for various parameters like angle of repose, dissolution studies, and effervescent cessation time. The preliminary chemical studies show that the extract contains carbohydrate, alkaloids, flavonoid, glycoside and protein. The formulated effervescent granules exhibited excellent flow properties which showed good angle of repose, Carr's index, Hausner's ratio, bulk density and tapped density.


This presentation is about The European Library, its vision and mission. It also presents the European Project TEL-ME-MORE and the European Digital Library (EDL).


--------------------.--------~~------~~-------------------------------------Foley Heads Players in Own Play ToIiight. Kappa Alpha Theta Law Alumnus Presents Rare Copy Chi Delta Sigma to Install Cha ter of Iowa Judicial Decisions to Library Merges Members p The law library has just receIved chased t be library of Justice Horace W' h Th T at Iowa June 7 1 0 a copy of the earliest reports o( Iowa. E. Deemer o( the Supreme Court . It eta au .. j udlc~1l1 decisions, according to on The writer of the book, William . announcement mnde yesterdlly by .T. :A. Bradforcl, W!\8 the first report· Pepper and Pinchot Trailing Far Behind


1 Critics bodi sympathetic and hostile to die code of propriety agree to locate die issue at die centre of die novel. Marilyn Buder, for whom Elinor is "an active, struggling Christian in a difficult world," says of Sense and Sensibility diat "The entire action is organized to represent Elinor and Marianne in terms of rival value systems" (Jane Austen and the War ofIdeas [Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1975], pp. 192, 184). Marvin Mudrick sees Austen marshalling her defences against "an insurgent sympathetic committing character like Marianne" (Jane Austen: Irony as Defense and Discovery [Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1952], p. 91). Angela Leighton, providing a feminist revision of Mudrick, notes that "Elinor's Silences have Austen's approval; they signify heroic reticence and control, and are contained by the language of Sense. Marianne's Silences signify emotions which have escaped control, and which are therefore in opposition to Austen's art" ("Sense and Silences: Reading Jane Austen Again" in Jane Austen: New Perspectives, ed. Janet Todd, Women and Literature, n.s. 3 [New York: Holmes and Meier, 1983], 132). Those who blur or reverse die conventional identifications remain convinced of the centrality of this issue. Howard S. Babb, pointing to rhetorical evidence of overlapping, finds that "The argument remains utterly conventional, and Jane Austen's pursuit of it by tracing what might be called die double allegiance of each sister makes die novel none die less rigid" (Jane Austen's Novels: The Fabric ofDialogue [Columbus: Ohio State University Press, 1962], p. 56); and Jan Fergus, reversing die dichotomy, argues mat "One of Austen's major interests in die novel is to define feeling and sensitive behaviour ... This behaviour is what Elinor exhibits and Marianne violates throughout die novel. It is Marianne who must learn to behave feelingly, not Elinor" (Jane Austen and the Didactic Novel: "Northanger Abbey," "Sense and Sensibility" and "Pride and Prejudice" [Totowa, NJ: Barnes and Noble, 1983], pp. 40-41). Sandra M. Gilbert and Susan Gubar, in The Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman Writer and the Nineteenth-Century Literary Imagination (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1979), detect a tension in the novel "because Austen herself seems caught between her attraction to Marianne's sincerity and spontaneity,


Eric Wieschaus is a HHMI Investigator, and the Squibb Professor in Molecular Biology at Princeton University and the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics. In 1995, he was awarded the Nobel Prize jointly with Edward Lewis and Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard for discoveries about the genetic control of Drosophila embryogenesis. We caught up with Eric at the joint meeting of the German and Japanese Societies of Developmental Biologists held in Kiel in March 2017, and discussed his career, his thoughts on the field and the impact the Nobel award had on his life. Summary: In our latest interview, Eric Wieschaus tells us about his Nobel Prize-winning fly screens, his interest in the cell biology of development and his love of painting.


Objective To evaluate the necessity and feasibility of nucleic acid test in a large-scale screening of infectious indices of donated blood.Methods Non-reactive samples after ELISA tests for HBsAg,anti-HBV,anti-HCV,and anti-TP were tested with HBV/HCV/HIV nucleic acid test reagent to screen for ELISA non-reactive,nucleic acid test positive samples.NAT-positive samples were followed up further to confirm the serological conversion,or confirmed by imported nucleic acid test reagents.Results With automated detection algorithm of 8-sample minipool,one-time deconvolution of positive pool,out of 55 499 ELISA negative blood samples,11 HBV DNA positive,1 HCV RNA positive samples were yielded,among which 3 were further confirmed as window period HBV infections by follow-up serological testing,and 1 as window period HCV infection by Roche reagent.The remaining eight cases of HBV DNA-positive samples were confirmed by testing anti-HBsAg,HBeAg,anti-HBeAg,and anti-HBcAg as occult or other types of HBV infections that were missed by current ELISA blood screening.Conclusion Nucleic acid blood screening can significantly improve blood safety,especially raising the awareness of more complex hepatitis B virus infections in specimens with low titer.Automated nucleic acid blood screening system can provide sensitive and accurate test results,and are easy to operate,efficient,which fulfill the requirements for daily blood screening.


PURPOSE
To determine the thickness of the facial bone wall and the sagittal angulation between the long axis of the teeth and the long axis of the associated alveolar bone in the maxillary esthetic zone using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS
A retrospective radiographic study of CBCT images was conducted in 300 patients. The distance between the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) and the facial bone crest, the thickness of the facial bone wall (4 mm apical to the CEJ and midroot), and the sagittal angle between the long axis of teeth and the long axis of the respective alveolar bone were measured. Descriptive statistics and frequency analyses were performed.

RESULTS
The sample included 133 men and 167 women (mean age, 36.9 years; range, 18 to 60 years). The distance between the CEJ and the facial bone crest varied between 0.1 and 4 mm and showed an overall tendency to increase with age. Almost 80% of anterior teeth and 40% of premolars exhibited a thin facial bone wall (< 1 mm), and nearly 30% of sites had a bone wall thinner than 0.5 mm. The sagittal angle at approximately 80% of central incisor and second premolar sites was < 20 degrees, but the angle at more than 40% of canine sites was ≥ 30 degrees. There was a significant decrease in facial bone wall thickness from premolars to anterior teeth.

CONCLUSION
The facial bone wall in most maxillary anterior teeth was very thin. There was a substantial sagittal angulation between the long axes of teeth and those of their respective alveolar bone in most esthetic zone positions. CBCT analyses of the facial bone wall and the sagittal angle are recommended to ensure the most appropriate dental implant treatment approach.


Inspired in metamaterials, we present a covariant mechanics for particles in Kleinian spacetime and show some of its effects, such as time contraction and length dilatation. We present the new expressions for relativistic momentum and energy for a point-like particle. To illustrate the new mechanics, we describe the particle motion under a uniform Newtonian gravitational field. We also revisit the free spin-half particle problem in Kleinian spacetime, discuss some quantum implications, like the constraint on the dispersion relation for Weyl fermions, and adapt a metamaterial analog system to Klein spacetime.


In the decade after the Civil War, in the years before Mark Twain made the river his own, the Mississippi was a vital site and symbol that gained a renewed place in American literature and culture. At the moment that Americans turned to their landscape with fresh interest, the river encapsulated the often contradictory tensions and trends running through the nation. Representations of the Mississippi across a variety of media-from travel accounts to popular prints-helped to foster a nascent sense of reunion. Recently a major battlefield, the post-war river became an important route to the defeated South, and a conspicuous location in the pioneering internal travel accounts that proliferated during Reconstruction. Frequently, its waters were freighted with a spirit of nostalgia for life-particularly Southern life-before the war. At the same moment, the Mississippi became a fertile environment for an array of pioneering writers who, at a literary crossroads, profoundly implicated the river in the early development of a realist aesthetic. Many of them, like John Hay and William Dean Howells, were intimately involved with Twain during this period. Throughout, bolstered by national interest in steamboat races and other important events in the life of the river, the Mississippi also became characterised as a space of white male power and play, and by a style of rugged and capable masculinity best encapsulated by the figure that Twain embodied and would soon frequently evoke: the Mississippi steamboat pilot. In short, just before Twain made his major interventions in its imaginative life, the river performed a great deal of cultural work as the nation reordered itself in the wake of the war.Mark Twain, however, told a rather different story. In October 1874, he wrote to his friend and editor William Dean Howells in an excited mood. Howells had asked him to contribute something for the January edition of the Atlantic, having just agreed to publish Twain's first story for the magazine in the November issue. At first, Twain had declined. His new house was full of carpenters, he told Howells on October 3, and he couldn't concentrate on work: "I kill them when I get opportunities," he wrote, by way of apology, "but the builder goes & gets more."1 It wasn't long before he had a very significant change of heart, writing to Howells on October 24:I take back the remark that I can't write for the Jan. number. For Twichell & I have had a long walk in the woods & I got to telling him about old Mississippi days of steamboating glory & grandeur as I saw them (during 5 years) from the pilot house. He said "What a virgin subject to hurl into a magazine!" I hadn't thought of that before.2What resulted from this correspondence became "Old Times on the Mississippi", a series of seven articles for the Atlantic based on Twain's experiences when learning to pilot a steamboat in the late 1850s. Though Twain had already used the river briefly in his writing, most notably in the steamboat race section of The Gilded Age (1873), these articles represented his first sustained meditation on the Mississippi, pointing the way to the other major river works that would soon follow.Decades later, he was still echoing the sense of discovery and ownership contained within his letter to Howells. In 1895, during his post-bankruptcy lecture tour around the world, Twain was prompted by a journalist in Winnipeg, "you doubtless consider the Mississippi your real field of work? You are, so to speak, the prophet of the Mississippi." His response was unequivocal:Yes, and the reason is plain. By a series of events-accidents-I was the only one who wrote about old times on the Mississippi. Wherever else I have been some better have been there before and will come after, but the Mississippi was a virgin field. No one could write that life but a pilot entered into the spirit of it [...] Here then was my chance, and I used it.3In the intervening decades, Twain's claims to the river's imaginative conquest, and his happy adoption of the dual roles of prophet and pioneer, have largely gone unchallenged. …


Abstract
Asian mega Tsunami of December 26, 2004 is new and none of the south Asian countries have witnessed in the past. It is a new term in India and also a leastly referred word even by the scientists of this part of the world.Tsunami has devastated the coastal Tamil Nadu killing thousands destroying houses, boats, fishing gear, agriculture lands and wiping out millions of livelihoods. The total loss is estimated to 1022.8 million$ and 1213 million $ s needed for reconstruction. This paper deals with the caste discrimination during the time of rehabilitation of tsunami victims. It outlines various forms of caste discrimination and their level from the point of view of the tsunami victims. Casteism in Indian society is widely discussed issue all over the world. Even though social reformers and the government through its various legislation tries to curb the casteism, it is exposed in one way or other. Some people who were affected by tsunami feel that they are doubly victimized firstly by the natural disaster and secondly by human made discrimination. This paper concludes with some policy measures to curb discrimination in delivery of emergency humanitarian relief.


Wireless sensor networks (WSN) have specific features such as low transmission range, stringent energy consumption constraints, limited memory and processing power. For this reason, tailored protocols have been proposed, optimizing network protocols with respect to various assumptions: one commonly exploited property of WSN is the stability of the topology due to permanent installation of sensor nodes. However, in some applications, some of the wireless sensor nodes might be mobile, for instance when they are associated with users. In that case, specific extensions of WSN protocols need to be designed. Then a first step is the characterization of nodes' mobility. This is the focus of this article: we propose a general method of mobility estimation for wireless sensor networks. Namely, using a Bayesian framework, we derive a mobility prediction model to estimate the node velocity (starting from no knowledge) from observed events. In this article, we focus on events represented by the most minimal information: mere observation of link duration with neighbors. Simulations illustrate that, even with such limited information, the mobility can be well inferred, and results show the good performance of the method.


This occasion is even more significant because the economic and political relationship between our countries is undergoing a deep change, the content of which is yet uncertain. In this kind of juncture, it is useful to see things in a larger perspective. So, let me start with some remarks on the early years of Finnish independence and follow the development of our relations with Britain, and Europe, since then.