The paper defines the essence of ethnic identity using theoretical and methodological approaches to study the problem, and considers the process of formation / construction of ethnic identity in terms of sociological issues.


The modulation technique Filter Bank Multi Carrier (FBMC) is an alternative widely studied in order to replace Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) in wireless telecommunications systems. The fact that FBMC does not use Cyclic Prefix and uses Polyphase Filters allows improvements in bit rate, bandwidth efficiency and robustness against multipath channel impairments. This implementation can bring advantages to Digital TV case in comparison to the traditional OFDM based systems because of the need to transmit higher resolution videos such as 4K and 8K. This article presents a study on the use of FBMC in Integrated System Digital Broadcasting Transmission B (ISDB-Tb), developing an application on GNURadio environment, analysing Bit Error Rate (BER) and power spectrum curves in a multipath channel.


The biomaterials are therefore substances or combination of substances (except drugs) originated from nature or manufactured. accepted on a provisional or permanent basis to improve, augment or replace tissues consolidated in the Consensus Conference on Biomaterials for c mixing two or more components, with the purpose of filling the space between the prosthesis and the bone, ac prosthesis. The use of bone cement began from the decade 60, where their constituents, to the present day, have high biocompatibility with tissue from the living body with and among the various types of bone cements studied, there i which results from the mixing of a polymer (PMMA) powder and a liquid monomer with varying proportions according to the producer.Other elements can be still added, such as antibiotics, to reduce the possibility of the cement during surgery. Thus, several studies have been conducted to improve the properties andfind new odontologicals cements.


The work addressed many missconception about radon and proved that radon is retained in the human body and that this retention is subjected to the seasonality, i.e., being higher in the winter than in summer.


The goal of this paper is to establish a descriptive survey of Dothraki, using typological data as the main source of information, and then applying linguistic tools to determine if the language is typologically tractable. In order to do so, I selected Greenberg's (1963) work on linguistic universals, based on its relevance and prevalence even to this day, despite the many other contributions that have been made in the field of typology. Each universal will therefore be applied to the Dothraki language, in order to see if it indeed conforms to most – if not all – of them.


Carlos Fuentes will be remembered as one of the greatest writers in Spanish language literature; the main purpose of this paper is to examine the simbiosis of the History with his life and his works, from the sixties until death, in order to make a balance on how Fuentes, as intellectual and public figure, has influence on the diffusion of the culture at this moment, by creating a map of Latin American literature from his magisterium. And we will also examine his stance towards the position adopted by criticism, that more often faced and even ignored his own proposals.


Leptin is a hormone secreted by adipocytes that is implicated in the regulation of bone density. Serum leptin levels are decreased in rodent models of type 1 (T1‐) diabetes and in diabetic patients. Whether leptin mediates diabetic bone changes is unclear. Therefore, we treated control and T1‐diabetic mice with chronic (28 days) subcutaneous infusion of leptin or saline to elucidate the therapeutic potential of leptin for diabetic osteoporosis. Leptin prevented the increase of marrow adipocytes and the increased aP2 expression that we observed in vehicle‐treated diabetic mice. However, leptin did not prevent T1‐diabetic decreases in trabecular bone volume fraction or bone mineral density in tibia or vertebrae. Consistent with this finding, markers of bone formation (osteocalcin RNA and serum levels) in diabetic mice were not restored to normal levels with leptin treatment. Interestingly, markers of bone resorption (TRAP5 RNA and serum levels) were decreased in diabetic mice by leptin treatment. In summary, we have demonstrated a link between low leptin levels in T1‐diabetes and marrow adiposity. However, leptin treatment alone was not successful in preventing bone loss. J. Cell. Physiol. 218: 376–384, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Significance The MGA contains a large gene expression dataset from the developing brain of the common marmoset. However, the data represent the gene expression patterns across the entire brain, and methods to isolate region-specific gene expression patterns will provide important information regarding primate brain structure, function, and cellular and molecular organization. We have developed a system, GePS, that systematically identifies genes expressed in selected regions of the common marmoset brain. Comprehensive, comparative gene expression analysis with mice revealed many genes with species- and region-specific expression. Moreover, by combining GePS with the gene expression comparison and cortical area projection mapping systems, we were able to provide further insight into the molecular organization of these species- and region-specific gene expression patterns. Precise spatiotemporal control of gene expression in the developing brain is critical for neural circuit formation, and comprehensive expression mapping in the developing primate brain is crucial to understand brain function in health and disease. Here, we developed an unbiased, automated, large-scale, cellular-resolution in situ hybridization (ISH)–based gene expression profiling system (GePS) and companion analysis to reveal gene expression patterns in the neonatal New World marmoset cortex, thalamus, and striatum that are distinct from those in mice. Gene-ontology analysis of marmoset-specific genes revealed associations with catalytic activity in the visual cortex and neuropsychiatric disorders in the thalamus. Cortically expressed genes with clear area boundaries were used in a three-dimensional cortical surface mapping algorithm to delineate higher-order cortical areas not evident in two-dimensional ISH data. GePS provides a powerful platform to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying primate neurobiology and developmental psychiatric and neurological disorders.


The practice of using a soft bulb or catheter to suction secretions from the newborn after birth in order to clear the airway and stimulate respiration has been a common practice for decades. Within the last several years, this practice has become the subject of studies, reviews, and opinion articles examining its necessity and safety.1–3 Since 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) has not recommended the use of suction to clear the airway or stimulate respiration unless the newborn is not breathing.4,5 The American Heart Association advises that any suctioning, including the use of a bulb, be reserved only for newborns with an obvious impediment to spontaneous breathing.6 The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists support the American Heart Association's recommendations.7 Kelleher et al undertook this study in part because the earlier works did not directly compare the outcomes for wiping secretions at birth with the routine use of suctioning. Authors observed that, despite evidence showing that the use of routine suctioning shows no benefit and may produce harm, the practice remains commonplace. After screening more than 2000 women at 35 weeks' gestation, researchers randomized 506 term newborns to either wiping the nose and mouth at birth with a towel or using a bulb syringe for oronasopharyngeal suction to test their hypothesis that there would be no differences in the respiratory rates between the 2 groups. The mean respiratory rate in the first 24 hours after birth was the primary measured outcome. An earlier study estimated the mean respiratory rate of newborns in the first 24 hours at 50 breaths per minute, and one standard deviation from the mean was estimated at 14 breaths per minute.8 Authors stated that using transient tachypnea as the primary outcome would have required a larger sample size; thus, it was not selected. Secondary outcomes were the use of advanced resuscitation by intubation, positive-pressure ventilation, chest compressions, use of emergency medications, Apgar scores, tachypnea within the first 24 hours, or admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Randomization occurred through a computer-generated sequence. Although it was not practical to blind the birth room personnel, the request for specific intervention (wipe vs suction) was sealed in an envelope until birth. High-risk newborns were excluded based on conditions such as known major congenital anomalies, anticipated advanced resuscitation, nonvigorous newborns with meconium-stained amniotic fluid, and those previously enrolled in other studies involving birth room interventions. Women undergoing cesarean births were not excluded unless the risk factors described above were also identified. Two one-tailed t tests were used to analyze the primary outcome. Intention-to-treat analyses, including per treatment and per protocol, were used to examine outcomes (Box 1). Baseline characteristics of the 2 groups of women were similar. In the wipe-only arm (n = 246), 30% of women had cesareans and 13% had meconium-stained amniotic fluid. In the suction group (n = 242), 36% had cesareans and 10% had meconium-stained amniotic fluid. Rates for Apgar scores, diabetes, hypertension, and group B streptococcus status were similar between groups. Neonatal respiratory rates showed no differences in the intention-to-treat,9 per-treatment, or perprotocol analyses. Furthermore, secondary outcomes did not differ between groups, including any respiratory rate above 60 breaths per minute in the first 24 hours. More neonates from the wipe group (18%) were admitted to the NICU than from the suction group (12%). This difference was not statistically significant (P = .07), and the study was not adequately powered to measure this outcome. Approximately 10% of newborns require some form of assistance to begin breathing at birth.6 In 1971, a seminal study showed that 15% of newborns could experience arrhythmia and severe bradycardia following nasopharyngeal suctioning.10 This study by Kelleher et al demonstrates that removing secretions by wiping the newborn's nose andmouth is as effective as suctioning, when assessed by a comparison of respiratory rate within the first 24 hours of birth. The strengths of this study include its large size, adequate power to achieve significance, and randomization design to assess a single outcome. An independent safety-monitoring board reviewed the data, without knowledge of randomization status when recruitment reached 25% and 75%. Authors acknowledge the limitations of their study; primarily deviations from the protocol that occurred at the beginning of the study, most likely because suctioning was the standard practice in the institution at the time. Crossovers from the wipe to the suction group (20%)most likely reflected staff bias that preferred suctioning to wiping; however, despite the crossovers, the pertreatment analysis also found suctioning and wiping to be equivalent. Whereas birth room nurses could not be blinded to the specific intervention assigned to each newborn, nursery nurses recorded respiratory rates and other outcomemeasures without knowledge of the treatment arm. These findings, along with recommendations from leading maternal health experts and the WHO, support using a towel to wipe secretions from the mouth and nose of newborns. Some studies have identified potential harms of bulb suctioning in otherwise vigorous newborns who spontaneously breathe at birth, including those born through meconium-stained amniotic fluid. Shifting longstanding practices can be challenging. With supportive evidence, midwives can initiate practice change in their respective settings.


To evaluate the clinic effect of the short-segmental bilateral mass fixation for posterior route unilateral opendoor laminoplasty in the treatment of cervical spondylotic with instability of cervical vertebrate,28 cases with cervical spondylotic unstability are reviewed and followed up for 13 months in the past 4 years.We evaluated the operation types based on the JOA score and images which we obtained at both pre-and-post operation stages.Clinic symptoms were improved after operation and JOA score increased about 4~7 points.Short-segmental bilateral mass fixation for posterior route unilateral open-door laminoplasty proves to be a safe and effective operation choice in curing cervical spondylotic unstability.Not only can it decrease the pressure but also can increase the stability after operation and maintain the natural arc of cervical spine,and decrease the ankylosis and discomfort of cervical spine.It is a good method to treat cervical spondylotic and instability of cervical vertebrate.


Digital watermarking has become the forefront of information security.This paper introduces digital watermarking principle and implementation, and the main problems existed in digital watermarking security are discussed.


Complications with extraction of abundant endovascular systems increase with time since implantation. As the number of implanted devices increases, successful management of complications needs to be disseminated. We present a 46‐year‐old woman with endovascular leads placed 15 years previously requiring extraction. Using laser‐assistance the leads were removed, although the passive lead tips were unable to be extracted, and were retained in the superior vena cava. One lead tip embolized to the distal pulmonary bed within 24 hours of her operative procedure. Computed tomography and pulmonary arteriography suggested a near immediate thrombogenic process. A multidisciplinary approach was utilized to identify management strategies that allowed for a satisfactory patient outcome.


From a media attendance or usage point of view, the article not only focuses on the antecedents of problematic SNS use, but aspires to explain the use of SNS among adolescents in general by following a Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) perspective. We integrate adolescents' cognitive developments as exemplified in related media literacy research into this SCT perspective. In a first sample of N = 452 adolescents we develop our measures. In the second sample of N = 386 adolescents we empirically test our proposed model. Findings confirm our assumptions as deficient self-regulation and habit strength foster SNS use and higher levels of consciousness of mediality enable a more regulated and controlled use of SNS.


Locally Linear Embedding (LLE) and Isomap are two frameworks to process and analyze highdimensional non-linear data domains, such as time and spatial series images. These techniques allow the creation of low-dimensional embeddings of the original data that are much easier to visualize and work with than the initial, high-dimensional data. In particular, the dimensionality of such embeddings is similar to that obtained by classical techniques used for linear dimensionality reduction, such as PCA. In this paper we investigate the dimensionality and the geometric properties of the manifold of image sequences from a moving. At the end, we also proposed some future thoughts.


This paper describes the performance of a gas generator used to synthesize the exhaust gas from the anode of a molten-carbonate fuel cell. The composition of this gas is estimated to be that of equilibrium at 1,250 ° F and 1 atm: 48% CO 2 , 39% H 2 O, 5% CO, and 8% H 2 , with an energy content of approximately 39 Btu/scf (higher heating value). To synthesize a range of gas compositions around this point, the gas generator partially oxidizes a mixture of CH 4 , O 2 , and CO 2 to generate energy densities between 20 and 60 Btu/scf at temperatures between 1,198 and 1,350 ° F. Results show that the technique provides a relatively high ratio of CO to H2 concentrations compared with the target composition (CO:H 2 of 2, versus 0.71). A detailed chemical model shows that the likely cause is quenching of the CO and H 2 chemistry below 2,000 ° F.


The decay of a metastable false vacuum by bubble nucleation is studied in the high temperature limit of the gauge theory in which an SO(3) gauge symmetry is spontaneously broken to an SO(2). The effects of internal symmetry are so drastic that, in addition to the known Euclidean bounce solution, there exists a new bubble solution involving a 't Hooft-Polyakov monopole at its center the moment it is nucleated. The decay rate and evolution are analyzed. PACS: 11.27.+d, 03.65.Sq, 14.80.Hv


Microfluidic flows feature typically fully three-dimensional velocity fields. However, often the optical access for measurements is limited. Astigmatism or defocus particle tracking velocimetry is a technique that enables the 3D position determination of individual particles by the analysis of astigmatic/defocused particle images. The classification and position determination of particles is a task well suited to deep neural networks (DNNs). In this work, two DNNs are used to extract the class and in-plane position (object detection) as well as the depth position (regression). The performance of both DNNs is assessed by the position uncertainties as well as the precision of the size classes and the amount of recalled particles. The DNNs are evaluated on a synthetic dataset and establish a new benchmark of DNNs in defocus tracking applications. The recall is higher than compared to classic methods and the in-plane errors are always subpixel accurate. The relative uncertainty in the depth position is below 1% for all examined particle seeding concentrations. Additionally, the performance on experimental images, using four different particle sizes, ranging from 1.14 μm to 5.03 μm is analyzed. The particle images are systematically rearranged to produce comprehensive datasets of varying particle seeding concentrations. The distinction between particles of similar size is more challenging but the DNNs still show very good results. A precision above 96% is reached with a high recall above 95%. The error in the depth position remains below 1% and the in-plane errors are subpixel accurate with respect to the labels. The work shows that first, DNNs can be trained with artificially rearranged data sets based on individual experimental images and are therefore easily adaptable to various experimental setups and applicable by non-experts. Second, the DNNs can be successfully adapted to determine additional variables as in this case the size of the suspended particles.


Though improved performance as a result of goal setting has been reported in organizational psychology studies, little research in sport settings has demonstrated these effects. This study was designed to examine the effects of a goalsetting training program on basketball free-throw performance, perceptions of success, and self-efficacy. Eighteen undergraduate students were matched by free-throw shooting ability, then randomly assigned to either goal-training (GT) or no-goal-training (NT) groups for a period of 5 weeks. Although the GT group reported significantly higher perceptions of success and self-efficacy than did the NT group, no significant differences between groups were revealed for free-throw accuracy. Correlational data suggested a stronger relationship between self-efficacy and free-throw performance for the GT group than for the NT group. Discussed are factors that contribute to the discrepancies between results found in sport related investigations of goal setting and those obtained from st...


The ERS-1 mission has generated a wealth of radar data over the Southern Hemisphere polar region. While the SAR mode of the ERS-1 Active Microwave Instrument (AMI) can provide only limited temporal and spatial coverage, the scatterometer mode provides frequent, global coverage, albeit at a much lower (50 km) resolution. By applying a recently developed algorithm for generating enhanced resolution scatterometer images, the ERS-1 scatterometer data can be used to study both sea ice and glacial ice to support SAR-based studies. This paper describes the algorithm and its application to ERS-1 scatterometer data with particular emphasis on sea ice. Selected images from a time series covering a complete annual cycle are presented.<<ETX>>


Abstract This paper presents a discrete-time sliding mode control for a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM). A cascade control scheme based on a properly designed state observer is proposed which provides accurate speed tracking performance. The ultimate boundedness of both the observation error and the speed tracking error is proven. The controller performance has been evaluated by simulation using the model of a commercial PMSM drive. Simulations show that the proposed observer based controller produces good speed trajectory tracking performance and it is robust in the presence of disturbances affecting the system.


Following the work already done, in particular the "textile arm" by the authors, incorporating metallic filaments in the fabric during the weaving process with the aim of capturing surface electromyography signals, we concluded that there was a need to maximise the area of contact with skin to improve the obtained electrodes signals. The main objective of this work is the development of electrodes embedded into textile materials able to capture electromyography signals, using the polypyrrole conducting polymer, both in coating of electrodes directly into the textile fabric and preparing a conductor yarn with this polymer to obtain a knit structure. This work allowed developing wearable technology textile structures for muscle activity monitoring, through the measurement of electromyography signals, keeping simultaneously comfort and easy-care textile characteristics. The signals obtained with this approach had a good definition compared with commercial electrodes and with the great advantage of this procedure can be applied in industrial production.


The quantum confinement effect (QCE) in ultranarrow silicon nanowire channel field-effect transistors (FETs) as well as single-electron/hole transistors (SET/SHTs) operating at room temperature is intensively investigated for the optimization of device design and fabrication. By adopting a "shared channel" structure with the directions of <110> and <100>, a carrier-dependent QCE is systematically examined. It is found that <110> nanowire pFETs exhibit a smaller threshold voltage (Vth) variability due to a weaker QCE, while <110> nFETs and <100> n/pFETs show comparable Vth variabilities coming from the QCE. It is also found that only SETs exhibit clear Coulomb oscillations in the case of the <110> channel, suggesting the formation of higher tunnel barriers than SHTs. On the other hand, <100> SHTs show undesirable multidot behavior in spite of their comparable QCEs for electrons and holes. It is concluded that <110>-directed nanowire channel SETs and n/pFETs are suitable for the integration of CMOS and SETs.


The proposition that the coherence length of de Broglie wave packets remains unchanged even though the length of the packets increases upon propagation is discussed and demonstrated.


Excitotoxicity is implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurologic diseases, such as chronic neurodegenerative diseases and stroke. Recently, it was reported that excitotoxic ity has a relationship to apoptotic neuronal death, and that the mitochondrial toxin, 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP), could in duce apoptosis in the striatum. Although striatal lesions pro duced by 3-NP could develop through an excitotoxic mecha nism, the exact relationship between apoptosis induction and excitotoxicity after 3-NP treatment is still not clear. The authors investigated the role of excitotoxicity and oxidative stress on apoptosis induction within the striatum after intraperitoneal in jection of 3-NP. The authors demonstrated that removal of the corticostriatal glutamate pathway reduced superoxide produc tion and apoptosis induction in the denervated striatum of de-Excitotoxicity related to mitochondrial dysfunction and free radical-induced oxidative damage has been im plicated in the pathogenesis of several neurobiologic dis orders, such as ischemic neuronal injury and chronic neurodegenerative diseases (Beal, 1992; Dugan et aI., 1995). Traditionally, excitotoxic neuronal cell death has been considered to be necrotic in nature, but recent stud ies suggest that apoptotic cell death may have a role in mediated uridine 5'-triphosphate-biotin nick-end labeling. 119 corticated mice after 3-NP treatment. Also, the N-methyl-D aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, MK-801, prevented apoptosis in the striatum after 3-NP treatment for 5 days, whereas the non-NMDA receptor antagonist,


The fusion diagram of the Al–Co–W system in the Co–CoAl–W part was drawn using optical light, differential thermal, X-ray diffraction and electro n microprobe analysis data. The alloys were prepare d by arc melting. No ternary intermediate phase was foun d in this partial system above 900°C. The phase equilibria between CoAl and W were established with the peritectic reaction L+W↔CoAl at 1650oC. The Co–CoAl–W fusion diagram has two isothermal three-phase fie lds corresponding to four-phase invariant reactions with participation of liquid: L ↔Co+CoAl+Co7W6 (1380°C) and L+W↔Co7W6+CoAl (1490°C). The solidus and liquidus surface projections and the ve rtical sections for 75 at.% Co and equiatomic Al and W are presented and compared with the isothermal sect ions at 1200°C and 900°C reported earlier.


High Temperature Corrosion (HTC), in various and severe atmospheres, of continually more elaborated (composition, micro–structure) metallic alloys, is a rather complex industrial and scientific topic. PhotoElectroChemistry (PEC) acquired a special place in the characterization of physico–chemical and electronic properties of the highly heterogeneous oxidation layers formed in HTC. Through studies of model but industrially representative samples (duplex stainless steel, Ni–base alloy 690), this work presents the development and validation of an experimental set–up allowing for the first time to use the whole set of PEC techniques at the mesoscopic level (typically 30 µm), as well as the validation of an original model of photocurrent energy spectra, developed at SIMaP, allowing to well describe, and accurately fit the latter spectra, and thus yielding, notably, precise bandgap values for the semiconducting components of the thermal scale.


1963 - the year of the Great Train Robbery and the Kennedy Assassination - and the Mickeldore Hall Murder. The guests at the hall included a Tory minister, a CIA officer, a British diplomat and Cissy Kohler, a young American nanny. The author won the Crime Writer's Association Gold Dagger Award.


The thesis addresses the problem of autonomous car driving on highways integrating information from multiple low cost sensors. The solution is based on a simple behaviour-based architecture employing the standard perception-to-action scheme. Three methods are proposed for perceiving the surrounding environment. The first generates an occupancy grid based on the data of a camera and a set of sonars. The second also generates an occupancy from the information provided by a camera and a laser. The third method uses an Extended Kalman Filter to combine the information from a camera and a laser. A finite automaton relates a set of primitive behaviours identified in the typical human driving behaviours. The system was successfully tested in both simulations and in the experimental setup using a mobile robot to emulate the car-like vehicle. The robot was able to navigate in an autonomous and safe manner, performing trajectories similar to the ones carried out by human drivers.


Summary Eleven of 15 men given the type-specific antigen of adenovirus 1 and 10 of 10 men given type-specific antigen of adenovirus 2 developed significant levels of homotypic neutralizing antibody. All 17 men who were given the group-specific antigen of either adenovirus 1 or 2 developed antibody. Measurable levels of these antibodies persisted for extended periods of time.


In this paper we give two characterisations of the class of reexive graphs admitting distributive lattice polymorphisms and use these characterisa- tions to attack the problem of nding a polynomial time recognition algorithm for these graphs. We provide a polynomial time recognition algorithm for R-thin reexive graphs which admit what we call Type 2 distributive lattice polymorphisms.


One kind of FIFO buffer access method and its controller. The access method for accessing the FIFO (First-in-first-out) buffer, this access method comprising the steps of: when the number of data temporarily stored in the FIFO buffer exceeds a threshold value, to provide the requested event access memory; a data event when the request is allowed, the output (popped out) FIFO buffer temporarily stored, to access the memory. Wherein, when the single-port FIFO buffer (Single-port) FIFO buffer, in accordance with a data burst (Burst of Data) burst length is set to the threshold value; when the FIFO buffer is a dual port (Dual- when Port) FIFO buffer, the data is filled (Pushed in) FIFO buffer and the speed data from the speed threshold value is set to the FIFO buffer output.


It is the anticipation of negative outcome in a given situation due to when the individual considers only the downside rather than the potential benefit.


Purpose – Recognition of potential for greater all‐Ireland cooperation, pooling of expertise, and sharing of knowledge led to the establishment of the Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland (CARDI) in 2007. This paper seeks to outline the development of CARDI and in particular the delivery of its grants programme as a model for supporting ageing research to work across disciplines, sectors and borders.Design/methodology/approach – Using CARDI as a case study, this paper charts the organisation's development and in particular focuses on the development and learning from its grants programme, established to support ageing research in Ireland, north and south.Findings – CARDI has promoted and helped support the development of a community of researchers on ageing across Ireland via its grants programme, networking events and communication's strategy. There is growing momentum, interest and potential in an all‐Ireland approach to research on ageing and older people.Originality/value – Research c...


In November 2016 Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr struck an expert panel to conduct a public review of the NEB in an effort to "position the NEB as a modern, efficient, and effective energy regulator" to regain the board's public credibility and trust that has eroded over the past decade. This Commentary looks at whether the NEB is "broken" by evaluating its performance against six recognized attributes of an effective and efficient regulator, including: independence, conflict-of-interest protection, transparent and inclusive processes, performance management and adaptability, capacity, and enabling factors. As a result, the Commentary makes 23 recommendations intended to assist the NEB, as well as the federal government, in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of federal energy regulation in Canada. Among the key recommendations: The federal government should restore the independence of the NEB's decisionmaking authority for pipeline applications, eliminating political overrides of NEB decisions except via courts. To keep the review process timely, review participants should be limited to those directly affected or have relevant expertise related to the project under review. However, the federal government should rescind the onesize-fits-all time-limit requirements on NEB reviews and instead require each panel to determine the timeline for each review. NEB hearings are also not the appropriate venue for ongoing engagement with local and Aboriginal communities. The government should implement such a mechanism outside of the formal hearing process. To reduce the perception of a conflict of interest, the NEB should review its staff Code of Conduct to ensure it covers all situations potentially creating a conflict of interest. Ottawa should also make sure that the NEB has the capacity to attract the best candidates for its needs and that it transparently evaluates its overarching regulatory goals. Lastly, the government should more clearly articulate how it defines the broader public interest that the NEB strives to achieve in its regulatory process. It is in the shared interest of all Canadians to have trust in institutions whose decisions will shape the next steps in Canada's energy future. The work of a regulator such as the NEB is difficult, complex and often thankless. Effective and efficient regulatory institutions are a necessary part of a functioning democracy. While regulators are not elected officials, they do the work delegated to them by elected politicians. Ideally, a policy framework should guide their decisions. For the NEB to function as an effective and efficient regulator, its recommendations and decisions need to be guided by a transparent policy framework for energy development that is reconciled with the many other aspects of the public interest. The path to this framework will not be easy and not everyone will agree on the outcomes. However, the work is necessary to re-establish the NEB as a credible, effective and efficient energy regulator.


During the spring of 2009, four shallow wells with total depths from 80 to 420 feet were drilled on private property along James Canyon, located approximately 6 miles east of Cloudcroft, in southeastern New Mexico. Three of these wells were drilled as monitoring wells as part of the Sacramento Mountains Watershed Study being done by the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources. All 4 wells were located within 2.5 miles of each other. Water level elevations in the monitoring wells range from 7102 to 7916 feet above sea level, with the shallowest depths to water at higher elevations and deeper water at lower elevations. During drilling, well cuttings were collected at ten-foot intervals and stratigraphic columns at each well site constructed, in order to attempt local correlations between wells. This well series demonstrates the regional and local heterogeneity of the Yeso Formation, both laterally and vertically. No direct bed-to-bed correlations could be made among any of the four wells. In fact, the four wells do not exhibit the same lithology, even where they overlap one another, despite their relative geographic proximity. However, tentative correlations between the wells and a deep well drilled in Cloudcroft in 2006 l can be made using transgressive/regressive cycles identified in the stratigraphic columns. These tentative correlations suggest at least six transgressive events occurred in southeastern New Mexico during the Permian. The extreme lateral heterogeneity observed in the Yeso Formation is apparently a result of local sea level changes during the time of deposition, in addition to dissolution collapse due to hydration and dehydration of salts and formation of karst features in the upper Yeso Formation. The effects of this lithologic heterogeneity combined with regional fracture systems on the local and regional hydrogeology is apparent by the high variability of water level elevations observed in three of the four wells. It is likely that the four wells are tapping four different saturated waterbearing zones. The relatively shallow water bearing zones found at the higher elevation wells probably represent different perched aquifer systems at different stratigraphic levels. The deeper groundwater encountered in the lowest elevation well may represent a more regional aquifer system.


The kinetics and mechanism of degradation of the antibiotic clindamycin were studied in buffered aqueous solution in the pH range 0.4-12. Clindamycin showed maximum stability at pH 3-5; however, high temperature studies indicated that not more than 10% degradation will occur in the pH range 1-6.5 after two years at 25°. In the pH range 0.4-4 the major degradative pathway was hydrolysis of the thioglycoside linkage to form 1-dethiomethyl-1-hydroxy clindamycin and methyl mercaptan. The major degradative pathway in the pH range 5-10 was scission of the 7-(S)-Cl of clindamycin to form the 7-(R)-OH analog, lincomycin. Evidence was obtained that supports the hypothesis that this conversion to lincomycin proceeds through an oxazolonium intermediate and that the extent of conversion depends on the degree of protonation of the amine function of clindamycin. The activation energy for clindamycin degradation in 0.1 M HCl, where thioglycoside hydrolysis is predominant, is 38.0 ± 1.2 kcal./mole, and the activation energy in 0.2 M citrate buffer adjusted to pH 5, where conversion to lincomycin is predominant, is 29.1 ± 0.6 kcal./mole.


1In lupus patients defective clearance of apoptotic cells may play an important role in disease pathogenesis. During apoptosis, cells form membrane bound blebs containing intracellular proteins, which act as a source of autoantigens. With defective clearance of apoptotic blebs, cells undergo secondary necrosis and release of nuclear auto-antigens. 2 Apo-1/Fas, also known as CD95, is a 36-kDa transmembrane glycoprotein of the tumor necrosis factor/nerve growth factor receptor family involved in apoptosis of auto reactive lymphocytes. the Fas/ Apo-1 gene has been mapped to chromosome 10q24.1. 3 two positions in the Fas promoter region have been scrutinised in various populations due to their binding capability with transcription factors. these include position -670 which binds with the transcription factor st At1 and position -1377 which binds with the transcription factor sP1. 4 the association of a functional single nucleotide polymorphism (sNP) at position -670 in the promoter region of the apoptosis gene with disease susceptibility has been studied in many rheumatic diseases like sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. In this issue of JAPI, Pradhan and colleagues report Apo-1/ FAs -670A/G promoter polymorphism among sLe patients from western India. 5 A/G genotype was seen in 54% patients, A/A in 31% and G/G in 15% patients as against a frequency of 60%, 10% and 30% in the normal population. the A/A genotype demonstrated significant association with lupus as compared to the normal population. the authors grouped their patients into those with renal lupus and those without. Amongst lupus nephritis patients the distribution of -670 A/G phenotype was A/G 45.7%, A/A 34.31% and G/G 20% as compared with 60%, 28.6% and 11.4% respectively in non nephritis patients. there was no statistically significant association that could be discerned. Lupus patients with A/A genotype demonstrated severe clinical involvement. the lupus patients in this cohort exhibited four fold increase in the mean soluble FAs (sFAs) levels with lupus nephritis patients showing higher sFAs as compared to non nephritis patients.


Changing technological and supply conditions have dramatically altered the structure and costs of the electric utility industry. Assurance of the continued financial viability of the industry, maintenance of adequate levels of supply reserves, and reliability and protection of interests of residential and industrial consumers requires that a fundamental re-examination of traditional power-delivery institutions occur. The purpose of this article is to begin such an inquiry by proposing a menu of positive solutions to some of the basic problems facing the electric-utility industry. This article, however, is not intended, nor is it structured, as a traditional review of the law, and relatively little attention is paid to legal precedent. The framework that regulates the electric-utility industry today was built in the first forty years of this century, without any precedent, and structured to adapt to the changing environment of that time. Now that the industry has matured, it is only reasonable to look at how it can be shaped to reflect today's dynamic environment. Thus, it is the intent of this article to be a prospective policy paper that coherently addresses the problems of the industry and presents the solutions necessary for it to thrive in the future. 1 table.


Science H1n1 is creating a drastic changes in general population and by early Jan to Feb 2015 huge population have got affected by H1N1 that is 8423 cases were noticed and among 585 cases have died. Because public were unaware or neglected about the illness condition and inadequate facilities regarding diagnostic centers in our nation and many of the doctors have also said about there is no pediatric dose for H1N1treatment only the tamiflu is the drug of choice to treat adult clients. So India is in need of maintaining good quarantine system in our nation and in journal population they must use of precautionary measure to prevent H1N1.


The interactions of non-ionic amphiphilic diblock copolymer poly(oxyethylene/oxybutylene)(E_(39)B_(18)) with anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulphate(SDS) and cationic surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide(CTAB) were studied by using various techniques such as surface tension,conductivity,steady-state fluorescence and dynamic light scattering.Surface tension measurements were used to determine the critical micelle concentration(CMC) and thereby the free energy of micellization(△G_(mic)),free energy of adsorption(△G_(ads)),surface excess concentration(Γ) and minimum area per molecule(A).Conductivity measurements were used to determine the critical micelle concentration(CMC),critical aggregation concentration(CAC),polymer saturation point(PSP),degree of ionization(α) and counter ion binding(β). Dynamic light scattering experiments were performed to check the changes in physiochemical properties of the block copolymer micelles taken place due to the interactions of diblock copolymers with ionic surfactants.The ratio of the first and third vibronic peaks(I_1/I_3) indicated the polarity of the pyrene micro environment and was used for the detection of micelle as well as polymer-surfactant interactions.Aggregation number(N),number of binding sites(n) and free energy of binding (△G_b) for pure surfactants as well as for polymer-surfactant mixed micellar systems were determined by the fluorescence quenching method.


This project describes the influence of two sequential foils on each other when are very close horizontally. The solution was achieved using ADINA. In order to verify the process, a comparison was made between analytical, experimental and ADINA's results for one foil with several angles of attack. The matching and accuracy obtained are very high. During the project, the offsets of the foil were corrected due to non-physical offsets given at the leading edge. In addition, some literature was reviewed (see references list) for having a stable and converged model. In the CFD analysis, the 4-node FCBI finite element has been used.


The invention discloses a chemical luminescence enzyme-linked immunoassay kit of gatifloxacin, comprising a kit body, an enzyme-marked plate and a reagent which are arranged in the kit body; wherein, all the holes of the enzyme-marked plate are coated with coating antigen; the coating antigen is prepared by the coupling of the gatifloxacin and ovalbumin; the reagent comprises a polyclonal antibody of the gatifloxacin, an enzyme-marked second antibody (namely, the antibody of horseradish peroxidase-marked goat anti-rabbit), a gatifloxacin series standard solution, a concentrated phosphate buffer, a concentrative cleaning solution and a luminescence solution. The kit has the advantages of high sensitiveness, good repeatability, simpleness, fastness and exactness; and compared with traditional colorimetric ELISA method, the sensitiveness can be improved by one magnitude and the method is expected to play an import role in the gatifloxacin residual detection of animal source foods (such as milk samples and animal tissue samples) and a urine sample.


Density functional theory (DFT) is widely used to predict chemical properties, but its accuracy is limited by functional approximations and their approximate self-consistent densities. Density-corrected DFT (DC-DFT) is the study of the errors due to densities and Hartree-Fock DFT (HF-DFT) uses HF densities to improve energetics. With increasing use of HF-DFT, the question of how to address strong spin contamination in the HF calculation becomes increasingly important. We compare two different open-shell HF densities across 13 different DFT functionals and two DC-DFT methods. For significant spin contamination, ROHF densities outperform UHF densities by as much as a factor of 3, depending on the energy functional, and ROHF-DFT improves over self-consistent DFT for most of the tested functionals. We refine the DC(HF)-DFT algorithm, recommending ROHF-DFT in cases of severe spin contamination.


In this report, we derive a non-negative series expansion for the Jensen-Shannon divergence (JSD) between two probability distributions. This series expansion is shown to be useful for numerical calculations of the JSD, when the probability distributions are nearly equal, and for which, consequently, small numerical errors dominate evaluation.


Stockholm as a social space at the turn of the 20th century : School buildings as representations of the modern project


Indonesia and Malaysia are Southeast Asian countries that have similar growth rates in business performance. Both countries have experienced the global financial crisis and recovered from the economic downturn. This study examined the performance based on intellectual capital of Indonesian and Malaysian companies listed on the Indonesian and Malaysian Stock Exchanges from 2013 until 2016 using an analysis based on the ?Independent Sample t ?test? to evaluate the Intellectual Capital value which consists of the variables Value Added Capital Employed (VACA), Value Added Human Capital (VAHU), and Structural Capital Value Added (STVA), (Pulic, 1998). Based on the Value Added Intellectual Coefficient (VAIC)TM approach, the study found several performance differences between Indonesian and Malaysian companies involving the capital employment (VACA), human capital (VAHU), structural capital (STVA) and also a significant decline in company performance.


It is intended to develop an experimental apparatus which can visualize flow patterns around cylindrical objects with various cross sections. The test objects are immersed in a fluid and traversed on a traversing system while the fluid remains stationary in a tank. Since there is no piping system to circulate the fluid, the apparatus is simple and does not require pumping power. Aluminum powders on fluid surface help to obtain clear flow images. A smart phone camera mounted on the traversing system can capture images and movies with a relative reference frame, and send the real-time data to computers through wireless communication. Karman vortex streets can be observed by varying traversing speed for various cross-sectional objects, and Strouhal number is obtained as a function of Reynolds number. Through the capstone design course, students can learn about a traversing system, fluid visualization techniques, design procedure and fluid theories around an object.


This study used Doyle's academic task framework to examine whether and in what ways a collaborative planning task (designing a 30-minute lesson in reading comprehension) directed student teachers' attention to reading comprehension and promoted problem solving. Ethnographic procedures were used to examine 6 student teachers' (2 groups of 3) interactions and written evaluations of their experience, focusing on 5 aspects of the task: (1) the lesson plan; (2) subtasks of the planning process; (3) content of interactions; (4) student teachers' thinking; and (5) student teachers' perceptions of their learning. Analysis revealed that each group developed a different instructional plan, although both worked to understand the dimension of reading comprehension under consideration (inferring causes when effects are explicitly stated) and to design a detailed instructional plan for promoting that dimension. Student teachers discussed numerous instructional activities. Various levels of thinking were observed as student teachers specified, elaborated, and evaluated each others' proposals. Student teachers generally perceived the collaborative environment as productive and supportive, although analysis of negative responses suggested the importance of trust as a feature of the task environment. Finally, the task framework was found to be a reasonable tool for studying the academic work of prospective teachers.


A general method to formulate improved quadratic elements is presented. Derivation of the method is based on more accurate shape functions that take into account effects of governing differential equations. These new shape functions have the same form as those of the standard eight-node quadratic element. Therefore, they may be easily adapted into existing programs.

The new quadratic element is compared with both standard and standard condensed quadratic elements. To show relative merits of different quadratic elements eigenvalue tests are performed. Several examples ranging from field problems, plane stress and bar vibration are used to demonstrate the applicability of this approach.


The invention discloses a GPS(Global Positioning System)-based precise seed metering device, which is composed of a GPS signal receiving device, a processing control device, a power supply, a motor and a seed metering device. The GPS signal receiving device is in signal connection with the processing control device, the power supply is electrically connected with the motor through the processing control device, the power supply is connected with the GPS signal receiving device and supplies power for the GPS signal receiving device, and the motor drives the seed metering device to work; and the GPS signal receiving device receives the GPS signal, and the GPS signal controls the work of the motor through the processing control device. The GPS signal receiving device of the seed metering device receives the GPS signal, and the GPS signal controls the work of the motor through the processing control device, thus, the seed metering device performs seed metering at set intervals, the power supply supplies power for the motor through the processing control device, and the power supply also supplies power for the GPS signal receiving device; and since the GPS signal received by the GPS signal receiving device is steady and cannot be influenced by geographical and environmental factors, the seed metering device is high in precision, and low in empty hole rate and reseeding rate.


A full-thickness chondral defect in the stifle joint of eight mares was treated by perforation of the subchondral bone. In addition, the experimental group received an arthroscopic implant of a tissue-engineered construct. The objective was the arthroscopic evaluation of the quality of the repair tissue, six months after the treatments. The experimental group presented a statistically significant (p = 0.001) improvement in the repair tissue.


The Insider this week relaunched its award winning web site with a whole new look designed to improve the management and navigation of the growing volume of information it now contains. We have radically revised the interface to create a less cluttered feel but without being bland to the point of characterless while simplifying usability by replacing the scroll-down side-bar navigation menus with a single drop down menu. And, this has all been achieved in plain HTML without any Flash, multimedia or even frames. The redesign project was handled by Wirebox Designs. Explaining their approach, Wirebox director Guy Stephens said "It was clear we needed to create a site that had plenty of white space, a modern minimalist look, simple navigation, no unnecessary gimmicks and a strong corporate image. In addition, it had to be easy to update. The project became an exercise in reorganising the information that was already there and making it more readily accessible to users by giving it a more defined structure." In our own inimitably modest view, this is the best legal technology web site in the world ever. However we do not wish to be complacent and our next project is to redesign the site's Solution Finder feature. 4 For more information about Wirebox services call Guy Stephens on 07710 786139 or email email@example.com


This article discusses the transit of culture and censorship between Brazil and Spain through the popular and amateur theater, staged by Spanish immigrants in the city of Sao Paulo. This is a key research priority in the thematic projetc Sao Paulo: A Cena Paulista (Sao Paulo Scene): a study of cultural production in Sao Paulo from 1930 to 1970, from the File Miroel Silveira, the Library of the School of Communications and Arts, University of São Paulo, which has funding from the Foundation of Support for Research of the State of Sao Paulo. The collection consists of more than 6 thousand cases of previous censorship to the theater, referring to the Officeof Censorship Department of Public Attractions of the State of Sao Paulo. It is shown the transit and cultural similarity of the interdiction processes of cultural production both in Brazil and in Spain, during the dictatorial regimes experienced by both countries. Palabras Clave: teatro, censura, cultura, inmigrantes, Archivo Miroel Silveira


Cyclic maltosyl-maltose [CMM, cyclo-{→6)-α-D-Glcp-(1→4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→6)-α-D-Glcp-(1→4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→}], a novel cyclic tetrasaccharide, has a unique structure. Its four glucose residues are joined by alternate α-1,4 and α-1,6 linkages. CMM is synthesized from starch by the action of 6-α-maltosyltransferase from Arthrobacter globiformis M6. Recently, we determined the mechanism of extracellular synthesis of CMM, but the degrading pathway of the saccharide remains unknown. Hence we tried to identify the enzymes involved in the degradation of CMM to glucose from the cell-free extract of the strain, and identified CMM hydrolase (CMMase) and α-glucosidase as the responsible enzymes. The molecular mass of CMMase was determined to be 48.6 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE), and 136 kDa by gel filtration column chromatography. The optimal pH and temperature for CMMase activity were 6.5 and 30 °C. The enzyme remained stable from pH 5.5 to 8.0 and up to 25 °C. CMMase hydrolyzed CMM to maltose via maltosyl-maltose as intermediates, but it did not hydrolyze CMM to glucose, suggesting that it is a novel hydrolase that hydrolyzes the α-1,6-linkage of CMM. The molecular mass of α-glucosidase was determined to be 60.1 kDa by SDS–PAGE and 69.5 kDa by gel filtration column chromatography. The optimal pH and temperature for α-glucosidase activity were 7.0 and 35 °C. The enzyme remained stable from pH 7.0 to 9.5 and up to 35 °C. α-Glucosidase degraded maltosyl-maltose to glucose via panose and maltose as intermediates, but it did not degrade CMM. Furthermore, when CMMase and α-glucosidase existed simultaneously in a reaction mixture containing CMM, glucose was detected as the final product. It was found that CMM was degraded to glucose by the synergistic action of CMMase and α-glucosidase.


Peer-to-Peer live streaming systems help content providers and distributors drastically reduce bandwidth costs by sharing costs among peers. Researchers have dedicated significant effort developing techniques to discourage or exclude uncooperative peers from peer-to-peer systems. However, users are often unable to cooperate, e.g., users using a mobile device with limited, costly bandwidth. We study the impact of uncooperative peers on video discontinuity and latency using PlanetLab. We find that simple mechanisms, like forwarding video data requests to cooperative peers instead of wasting effort sending requests to uncooperative peers, allows peer-to-peer live streaming to serve 50% of uncooperative peers without performance degradation. We argue that denying service to uncooperative peers may not be the best long-term approach; our findings suggest that peer-to-peer live streaming can support uncooperative peers.


Abstract Supersaturated Au–Co solid solutions have been obtained by ion-beam mixing of thin deposited Au and Co layers of compositions Au75Co25, Au50Co50, Au25Co75 and Au5Co95. X-ray diffraction measurements showed that the metastable alloys resulting from room-temperature ion implantation had a f.c.c. structure and that the lattice parameters of the alloys varied almost linearly with the composition. The structure of the alloys produced by low (LN2) temperature implantation was found to be more random in nature. An amorphous phase was obtained for the alloy with a composition Au25Co75. The microstructures of the ion-induced alloys were studied by transmission electron microscopy and their stability was examined by thermal annealing up to 500°C. The present results are compared with those obtained previously by splat-cooling and vapour-deposition techniques.


The objective of this work was to determine the durability performance of stoichiometric dual-bed converters designed for light- and medium-duty natural gas vehicle applications. Converters using palladium-only (Pd) rear bricks were to be compared to Chrysler's production intent dual brick platinum/rhodium (Pt/Rh) converter. Durability performance benefits of varying noble metal loadings were to be evaluated. A high severity engine aging procedure was to be developed, where 300 hours would approximate 50,000 or more vehicle miles, and 600 hours would approximate 100,000 or more vehicle miles.


This paper is especially written for students and demonstrates the correct use of nominal and ordinal scaled variables in regression analysis by means of so-called dummy variables. We start out with examples of body mass index (BMI) differences between males and females, and between low, middle, and high educated people. We extend our examples with several explanatory (dummy) variables and the interactions between dummy variables. Readers learn how to use dummy variables and their interactions and how to interpret the statistical results. We included data, SPSS syntax, and additional information on a website (this http URL) that goes with this text. No mathematical knowledge is required.


A rear drive axle applied to an electromobile essentially contains a main reducer, a rear axle housing and a half shaft. The main reducer is directly connected with an electric motor whose helical gear is arranged breadthwise, and has double reduction, and is connected with the welded rear axle housing blocking after stamped with a plate. The utility model has a compact structure, small volume, beautiful appearance, high efficiency, long service life, little noise, good lubrication performance of running parts, small unitized rear axle connecting surface and reduces the possibility of mistake, leakage and dirtiness during the installation and application of the product.


Abstract This study attempts to test whether local selection of species, whose conservation is considered a priority at the community level, has the potential of contributing to public health care showing vegetal species valuable in traditional medicine. This work was carried out in Temimilcingo, a community immersed in the deciduous forest in the Sierra de Monte Negro State Reserve, Morelos, Mexico. Interviews and workshops were used to register Traditional Ecological Knowledge of participants. Distribution of knowledge related to plants used by informants and its social valuation was estimated, and later on compared using Multivariate Methods (Classification and Ordination). Participants selected 14 late and mid serial species distributed in the deciduous forest whose future conservation they felt should be guaranteed. Twelve species have a traditional medicinal use that is closely related to the Morelos's state main causes of morbidity and mortality, and 10 of them have been already corroborated by scientific protocols. Therefore, these species should be promoted in the plans for sustainable development of indigenous communities.


There are many defects when we're working on a project. Especially, if we don't have experience in similar field, defects have a strong influence on the system entirely. Therefore, management of risk such like defects is important the factor for success of project. Finally, efficient management of risk can guarantee handling problems such like fault tolerancy, unexpected quality and delay of schedule. In this paper, we propose checkpoint for improvement of reliability and are willing to improve the reliability of an entire system using it.


We present the results of a VLA and WSRT search for HI emission from the vicinity of seven nearby clouds, which were observed in Lya absorption with HST toward Mrk335, Mrk501 and PKS2155-304. We searched a volume of 40' x 40' x 1000 km/s. The HI mass sensitivity (5 sigma) varies from 5x10^6 to 5x10^8 Msun. We detected HI emission in the vicinity of four out of seven absorbers. The closest galaxy is a small dwarf galaxy at a projected distance of 68/h kpc from the sight line toward Mrk335. It has the same velocity (V=1970 km/s) as one of the absorbers, and has an HI mass of only 4x10^7 Msun. We found a more luminous galaxy at the velocity (V=5100 km/s) of one of the absorbers toward PKS2155-304, 230/h kpc from the sight line. Two other, stronger absorbers toward PKS2155-304 at V=17,000 km/s are associated with a loose group of three bright spiral galaxies, at projected distances of 300 to 600/h kpc. These results support the conclusion that most nearby Lya forest clouds trace the large-scale structures outlined by optically luminous galaxies. We do not find any evidence for a physical association between an absorber and its closest galaxy.


Physical human robot interaction has drawn widely interest and is going to be future trend. To realize this, impedance shaping, the ability to achieve an arbitrary impedance behavior is required. In this paper, we introduce an optical sensor based torque regulation method to realize large range impedance shaping, and we design a friction observer to improve positioning accuracy. Experimental results are presented to show it excellent performance.


Since China's reform and opening up, its international status has been enhanced with the rapid accumulation of national wealth. A great quantity of foreign investments has been attracted into China because of its preferential policies, as well as broad market and population. They push forward China's imports and exports, and also accelerate the accumulation of foreign reserves. China replaced Japan as the world's largest foreign reserves holder at the beginning of 2006. Since then, its adequacy and investment strategies had become a popular topic. This paper is focused on above thesis. After applied several ratio-benchmarks studies the results illustrate that China's foreign reserves are adequate. Its investment strategies should focus more on foreign equities.


This paper discusses conditions and results of several tests of a DC sputtered MoS2 dry lubricant film. The test components were miniature precision ball bearings and rings and blocks; the surrounding atmospheres were laboratory air, pure helium, vacuum to 10 to the -8th power torr, and a perfluoroalkylpolyether oil. The results showed that the lubricant would perform satisfactorily under lightly loaded (450 gm) ball bearings in vacuum and would not perform well under a 66-kg load in air, a 132-kg load in helium, or a 330-kg load under oil. These tests and others show that the sputtered MoS2 film has some desirable features for space applications as well as some definite limitations.


The present invention relates to a dual power supply bypass switch means, comprising an insulating plate fixed in the main body frame; power supply terminal fixed to an insulating plate A, B power supply terminal and a load terminal; slidably mounted on the insulating plate and the insulating rod A B insulating rod, each fixed to the two insulating rods and the contact assembly B a contact assembly, the contact assembly load terminals a and B or the contact assembly is electrically connected; a drive for insulating the insulating rod and rod B at the slide operation mechanism; a contact assembly is connected to the electrical power supply terminal a, B or to the insulating rods contact assembly B can drive the operating mechanism a insulating rod connected to the power supply terminal B electrically. The bypass switch dual power conversion apparatus can be tested in the body needs to switch, when the power switch is turned on instead of body maintenance, and can easily switch between a common power supply and the standby power (i.e., A and B power supply), includes a switching steady, on-state stability, small size, the advantage of operating effort.


Parallel handling unemployment and the problem of labour shortages are inevitable features of nowadays' labour market situation that affects employees and employers at the same time. Labour shortage is substantively more often identified as the state of talent shortage in substance – in Hungarian language use it has not been embedded yet. By the substantive examination of the two concepts it can be concluded that there are many parallels between them but these concepts are not exactly the same. Labour shortage means a general, market-wide shortage of labour force. Talent shortage includes a smaller scale of shortage, that is related to the scarcity of quality workforce. Possible solutions for the problems that are caused by the moderate quantity of quality; workforce (general labour force shortage or talent shortage), can be categorised. Before the choice of solution strategy, it is important to clarify the type of shortage at the organisation because it would allow choosing the action plan which is optimally applicable and necessary.


Can cryptocurrency mining (crypto-mining) be a practical ad-free monetization approach for mobile app developers? We conducted a lab experiment and a user study with 228 real Android users to investigate different aspects of mobile crypto-mining. In particular, we show that mobile devices have computational resources to spare and that these can be utilized for crypto-mining with minimal impact on the mobile user experience. We also examined the profitability of mobile crypto-mining and its stability as compared to mobile advertising. In many cases, the profit of mining can exceed mobile advertising's. Most importantly, our study shows that the majority (72%) of the participants are willing to allow crypto-mining as means to replace ads to trade-off for benefits such as a better user experience.


ABSTRACT Dannemora, N. Y., Oct. 15, 1896.To the Editor: —I have been very much interested in the papers and discussions published in our Journal relative to medical expert testimony. As chairman of the committee appointed in February, 1895, by the Medical Society of the State of New York, to report upon the most feasible plan for improvement in methods of obtaining medical expert testimony, I presented to the committee two reports in January, 1896, the one which was adopted both by the committee and the society being that practically incorporated in the Bill presented by Dr. Suiter, and already published in our Journal. The one which the committee, while favoring the method, thought inadvisable to present to the Society fearing that it would meet with opposition, was as follows:Resolved, That the Medical Society of the State of New York would recommend the enactment of a law by the legislature


This study characterizes and reports on the fabrication process of AlGaN flame photodetectors with an Al0.1Ga0.9N/GaN superlattice structure. The AlGaN flame photodetectors exhibited a low dark current (∼1.17×10−10 A at bias of −5 V) and large rejection ratio of photocurrent (∼2.14×10−5 A at bias of -5 V) to dark current, which is greater than five orders of magnitude. Responsivity at 350 nm at a bias of -5 V was 0.194 A/W. Quantum efficiency, η, was 0.687 at a reverse bias of 5 V.


In this paper we study the H ∞ state estimation problems for a class of linear discrete-time Markovian jump systems. We adopt a game theoretic approach and stochastic variational calculus method to derive esti-mates and forms of dynamic estimators on the fixed time interval. The necessary and sufficient conditions for the solvability of the H ∞ state estimation problems are given by the coupled Riccati difference equations with initial conditions.


The present experiment was performed to investigate the acute effects of cadmium on ultrastructural and biochemical changes in mouse kidney and compare these changes with liver damage. Mouse were injected with cadmium chloride at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight. After treatment, mouse were sacrificed at time intervals of 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours. It was observed that ultrastructural changes in mouse kidney were composed of swelling of mitochondria, dilation in endoplasmic reticulum, wrinkling at basal infolded membrane, formation of autophagosome and partial loss of microvilli in brush. border, and that ultrastructural changes in liver were mitochondrial change, dilation and deterioration of rough endoplasmic reticulum and proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Biochemical effects of cadmium were more severe on liver than kidney. Therefore, acutely injected cadmium caused not only liver damage, but also kidney damage.


The investigation and characterization of tobermorites and the synthetic hydrates C-S-H(I) and C-S-H gel are reviewed, with particular attention to the application of X-ray diffractometry, ir spectrophotometry, electron microscopy, and differential thermal analysis.


We report a case of multiple early colon cancers associated with Japanese Schistosomiasis. A 85-year-old woman treated for hypertension and diabetes mellitus and reporting melena was found in barium enema and colonoscopic examination to have a sigmoid colon tumor and multiple ascending colon polyps, necessitating sigmoidectomy and mucosal resection of the ascending colon. Pathological findings showed the sigmoid colon tumor to be moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma in tubulovillous adenoma and ascending colon polyps with two tubular adenomas and one moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma in tubular adenoma. We found innumerable ova of Japanese Schistosomiasis centering around the submucosal layer of the resected specimen. We discuss the correlation between interposing ova of Japanese Schistosomiasis and the development of colon caner.


Objective To explore some references for intervening the sleep and mental health of patients with sudden deafness analyzing the correlation between their sleep quality and mental health status.Methods Convenience sampling method was used to selected 220 patients with sudden deafness from the department of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery in our hospital from June,2011 to June,2013.Whether the patients had mental health problems was decided in accordance with "symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90)".In term of the results above,the patients were divided into an observation group and a control group,110 cases for each group."General situation questionnaire application" and "the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) " were used to test the patients' PSQI scores and compare the sleep quality between the 2 groups.Results 78%(86/110) patients in the observation group and 14%(15/110) patients in the control group got sleep disorder,with a statistical difference (P<0.05).Conclusions The adverse impact of sleep disorder and negative emotion on patients with sudden deafness should be noticed so that effective psychological intervention would be provided to the patients to improve their sleep quality and promote their physical and mental health.

Key words:
Sudden hearing loss;  Sleep quality;  Mental health


T h e notion of a "POliticized" military most often evokes images of cigar-chomping men in uniforms issuing ultimatums to cowering civilian politicians. The failed Soviet coup of August 1991 vividly reinforced that image-at least initially. Defense Minister Dmitri Yazov was one of the eight members of the Emergency Committee that ousted Gorbachev. A handful of other senior military officers participated in the planning and execution of the coup, including Chief of the Ground Forces General of the Army V.I. Varennikov. Platoons of tanks and armored personnel carriers were seen on Moscow's streets following the Committee's declaration seizing power. Yet within 24 hours of the Emergency Committee's initial declaration, it was already apparent that the great bulk of the military establishment had chosen to stand aloof. Some units even declared their allegiance to the opposition. After three days the coup collapsed. But there can be little doubt that had the military establishment actively supported the putsch the outcome would have been far different. For many, the Red Army's failure to support the short-lived hardline regime is puzzling, especially in the light of a conventional wisdom that portrays the Soviet military establishment as a monolithic institution uniformly indoctrinated with communist ideology. From a purely selfish institutional perspective, it had much to gain from a return to strong central control and communist authority. Ironically, the solution to the puzzle is found in Marxist-Leninist theory, which asserts that the military establishment of a country inevitably reflects the contradictions and conflicts inherent in its parent society. Whatever Marx and Lenin may have gotten wrong, this clearly is one theoretical point they got right. By the eve of the coup the Soviet military was already an institution


This paper presents a new method of absorption spectrum in NMR. Recently, a high level performance of the classification using Support vector machine (SVM) has reported. However, the method is that its performance of the classification is reduced if some peaks of the data set are very close. In this paper, we propose a classification method that takes into account for the proximity peak of absorption spectrum. Simulation results are also shown.


e18519 Background: Cytogenetics and gene mutations play a significant role in determining necessity of allogeneic transplant in patients with AML. Core binding cytogenetic factors (CBF) such as t(8;21), inv 16, and t(16;16) as well as molecular mutations in nucleophosmin-1 (NPM1) and bi-allelic CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (CEBPA) mutations in cytogenetically normal patients have conferred improved relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) rates. We report outcomes of these "good-risk" patients in an Appalachian population, to evaluate differences from previous reports. Methods: A total of 79 patients with AML diagnosed between July 2007 and July 2017 at West Virginia University (WVU) who qualified for good-risk disease per ELN 2017 criteria were retrospectively analyzed for RFS and OS. Eighteen of these patients were excluded from our final analysis: 10 for primary refractory disease and 8 for proceeding to transplant in first remission. Results: A total of 61 patients were included in our analysis, with a median age of 56 (range 11-81), 32 females, and 29 males. Good-risk features included 29 patients with NPM1, no patients with CEBPA, 19 with inv 16, 9 with t(8;21), and 1 with t(16;16). All patients received cytarabine and an anthracycline induction chemotherapy, and a median of 4 cycles (range 1 -4) of high-dose cytarabine consolidation chemotherapy. The RFS and OS at 4 years was 36% and 50%, respectively. There were no occurrences of treatment-related mortality among the patients. Among the 22 patients relapsing, 12 (55%) were able to achieve a second remission and received allogeneic transplant. Conclusions: Our outcomes appear somewhat lower than previous reports, but continuing to highlight the ability to achieve long-term remissions in this subset of patients, without the need for allogeneic transplant. Continued efforts should focus on improving outcomes in these patients, to further prevent relapses.


A model is suggested for resonant collective vibrational excitation and dissociation of slow polyatomic molecules by crystal surfaces. In this model the surface acts as a diffraction grating on molecules, incident at grazing angles, and as a tool for collective excitation of molecules and molecular clusters. Resonant cleavage of certain bonds or dissociation into fragments is accomplished experimentally by adjusting the two resonance parameters' molecular velocity and surface structure.


relative to the hospital was not taken into account because the impact of this difference was assumed to be negligible. Subsequent to the study period, the regional coroner's office emphasized the need for emergency physicians to complete the death certificate and to call the coroner's office only when the death met certain criteria. Presumably, this would reduce the cost of the coroner's investigation for each in-hospital ED pronouncement. However, requests for additional responsibility and more paperwork must be weighed against competing service and academic demands, and the routine practice of calling the coroner has not significantly changed. Dr. Gall identifies an important factor that may limit the generalizability of our results to other regions as alluded to in the limitation section of the manuscript. We thank the Editor for the opportunity to respond and to Dr. Gall for his cogent comments and his interest in this subject.


TiC and TiB2 compounds in the form of interpenetrating network reinforced AZ91D magnesium matrix composites have been successfully synthesized by an in-situ reactive infiltration technique. In this process, the ceramic reinforcement phases, TiC and TiB2, were synthesized in-situ from elemental powders of Ti and B4C without any addition of a third metal powder such as Al. The molten Mg alloy infiltrates the preform of Tip and B4Cp by the capillary force. The microstructure and reaction mechanism are investigated using SEM/EDS and XRD analysis. The results show that the processing parameters such as temperature, holding time and the green compact relative density have a significant influence on the reaction mechanism and the fabrication of the composite. In addition, the infiltrated Mg acts as an intermediary that makes the reaction possible at a lower temperature than that required for solid-state reaction between Ti and B4C. Microstructural characterization reveals a relatively uniform distribution of the reinforcing phases, TiC and TiB2 in the Mg matrix.


Simple Summary The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda is an invasive pest, which can cause severe economic losses by larvae feeding on a variety of crops. To develop effective control technology, it is particularly necessary to study the basic biology and ecology of this invasive insect. This experiment investigated the development, survival, and reproduction and population growth of S. frugiperda on six cash crop species. This study indicated that S. frugiperda fed on maize and wheat had shorter preadult developmental durations, higher preadult survival, greater pupal weights and higher fecundity compared to the other four plants. Moreover, although the young larvae of S. frugiperda feeding on Chinese cabbage had a high mortality rate, the old larvae were voracious, which might still cause economic losses to Chinese cabbage. Our results showed that S. frugiperda could cause great economic losses to these cash crops, which should attract the attention of agricultural management departments. Abstract Spodoptera frugiperda is a significant migratory invasive pest, identified as a serious threat to agricultural production and food security in China. However, to our knowledge, the effects of most host plants on the biological characteristics of S. frugiperda have not been well studied. To develop effective management strategies for S. frugiperda in its new invasive habitat, basic biological and ecological knowledge of this pest are crucial requirements. Here, we examined the effects of six cash crops maize, wheat, soybean, tomato, cotton and Chinese cabbage on the development, survival, fecundity of S. frugiperda by using the age-stage, two-sex life table. The preadult stage, adult preoviposition period and total preoviposition period of S. frugiperda were shortest on maize and wheat but were longest on tomato. Fecundity was greatest on maize and wheat but smallest on tomato. The highest intrinsic rate of increase, finite rate of increase, net reproductive rate and the shortest mean generation time were recorded on maize. This present study showed that S. frugiperda could cause great economic losses to these cash crops, which should attract the attention of agricultural management departments. Our findings provide useful information in predicting population dynamics and understanding the potential damage that could be incurred by S. frugiperda invasion.


Critical thinking is a complex phenomenon, that helps the learner to separate relevant information from irrelevant and unnecessary information, to evaluate and explain events and facts, to formulate a clear argument objectively, to deliver the right message to the target audience, and to find ways to solve the problem. Critical thinking is directly related to the teaching of academic writing and is a transferable skill that helps students both to complete other university courses successfully and to build a further professional career. The aim of the paper is to identify the challenges and problems faced by both instructors and students at the university level in Georgia in terms of developing critical thinking skills while teaching/learning an academic writing course. Moreover, the paper presents specific activities to solve the given problems. The paper offers teachers the basic strategies and techniques that can be used to achieve the goals set out in the curriculum. The following research methods are applied: questionnaires and classroom observation.The following factors can be named as limitations of the research: relatively small number of students; The study was conducted for only one semester.The analysis of the questionnaires revealed the following issues related to critical thinking and writing for the students: lack of ability to formulate an objective critical opinion, reliability of sources, formulation of main research questions and hypotheses, generalization, separation of main and secondary information, focus on key issues and formulation of logical coherent conclusions.The paper suggests specific activities and questions for the development of critical thinking that are needed to process a text or information.The use of these approaches and methods should be implemented at different levels of the course. The teacher in advance should design and plan activities that will be used during the class. Critical thinking development activities should be combined with all the assignments and activities covering all the topics of the course. In the process of searching the proper materials, the student should master the techniques of working on sources, the criteria for determining the reliability and relevance of sources. In addition, the student should be able to process a significant amount of materials, merge main and secondary information, paraphrase the information, and integrate it into their own text in accordance with academic standards. As a result, the student should be able to evaluate the material retrieved and present and argue their own position.


The purpose of this study is to investigate the pavement conditions using Pavement Management System(PMS) in order to suggest development of integrated pavement management, to analyze the problems of pavement in Seoul, to search for case studies of advanced pavement system in foreign country, to conduct survey of staff and to suggest policy directions in view of structural, material and management for the improvement of pavement conditions in Seoul. The main contents of this study are described in Ch. 2 through Ch. 4. The status and problems of pavement conditions in Seoul were investigated. Firstly, the status of pavement damages in Seoul was reviewed. Secondly, the problems of pavement in Seoul were analyzed. Thirdly, the survey of staff was done and analyzed. Four items of advanced pavement system in foreign country were illustrated, which are Pavement Management System(PMS), heavy load traffic, reflection crack, and contract system. Two categories of improvement measures for pavement in Seoul were described. The policies to improve the endurance of pavement and configuration of pavement management system in Seoul were presented. The conclusions for the suggested policies are shown in Ch. 5. The structural improvement, contract system improvement, quality control improvement, and pavement management system improvement are necessary and plans of each policy were suggested. Finally, the necessity of periodic training and certification system was described.


In this article you will learn about chamomile and its beneficial properties, its application in folk medicine and the preparation of medicinal tinctures from it.


A precise measurement of the anomalous g value, a = (g - 2)/2, for the positive muon has been made at the Brookhaven Alternating Gradient Synchrotron. The result aμ+ = 11 659 202(14)(6) × 10-10 (1.3 ppm) is in good agreement with previous measurements and has an error one third that of the combined previous data. The measurement tests standard theory and has the potential to discover new physics. The analysis of data collected in 2000 and 2001 is well underway and, when combined with data from a requested and final run in the fall of 2002 and winter of 2003, are expected to reduce the experimental uncertainty on aμ to 0.4 ppm.


The amounts of Mn,Cu and Zn in soil were determined by ICP-MS.The metals in soil sample were extracted by DTPA,and determined by ICP-MS directly.The detection limit of method is 0.042μg/L,0.039μg/L and 0.028μg/L.The results are in agreement with national reference standards.The relative standard deviations are 3.49%,3.72% and 5.65%,respectively.


For the past 15 years, work/study programs have been provided by many public secondary schools to mildly mentally retarded adolescents (IQ = 55-80). Though the merits of such an approach are generally acknowledged, one critical element has been conspicuously lacking: standardized test evaluation of retarded student achievement (Brolin, 1975). The problem in acquiring such measures is twofold: (1) existing standarized tests typically focus on academic skills rather than the daily living and prevocational skills that are emphasized in work/study programs; and (2) retarded students have reduced ability to respond appropriately to paper and pencil tests because of reading and memory skill deficits (Prehm, 1968). Some recent research and development efforts have focused on assessment that is psychometrically adequate and contentand format-appropriate for retarded adolescents. The Social and Prevocational Information Battery (SPIB) (Halpern, Raffeld, Irvin, & Link, 1975b) has been developed using competencies stressed in training programs as guides for item content. The SPIB consists of nine tests designed to measure knowledge in the areas of job search skills, job related behavior, banking, budgeting, purchasing, home management, physical health care, personal hygiene, and functional signs (survival reading). Most of the SPIB items are presented in a true/false format, and each of the nine tests is orally administered in a group setting. Because reading skills are quite variable within groups of retarded adolescents, oral administration is used in order to minimize the impact of reading ability. Research evidence concerning both the reliability and validity of the SPIB is extremely encouraging (Halpern, Raffeld, Irvin, & Link, 1975a; Irvin & Halpern, 1977). Even though the SPIB is certainly adequate on a number of important dimensions of content and measurement, it would be premature to adopt the true/false SPIB model as a paradigm for the construction of all future standardized tests to be used in measuring the school achievement of retarded adolescents. During the SPIB's development, Prehm's (1968) and other evidence led to the presumption that a verbally presented multiplechoice item would be too difficult for retarded students, due to the large amount of information that would need to be remembered and analyzed in order for the examinee to choose and mark the correct symbol on an answer sheet. This presumption should be empirically examined, since it is possible to construct multiple-choice items with short stems and short alternatives, which will reduce the effects of limited auditory retention on test performance. Such an effort would appear to have substantial merit, given the


Abstract Generally in the theory of risk one starts from the two fundamental assumptions that the basic-probabilities are constant and that the deviations occurring may be interpreted as random fluctuations. Thus, the theory of risk appears as an application of the ordinary probability-theory, which starts from the binomial distribution and leads to the distributions of Poisson and Gauss.


In the securities market,the rationality of the IPO pricing is very important to maintain stock price stable.This paper selects 100 stocks which were IPO issued in the securities market during the year of 2009 as research samples.Using the principal component analysis and stepwise regression method,the paper constructs the IPO pricing multi-factor model and judges the determinants of the IPO pricing.Empirical results show the IPO pricing are importantly influenced by financial position, results of management and so on.This shows that Chinese stock IPO pricing in a certain extent reflected the intrinsic value of the company,but the goodness-offit is smaller and the reaction degree is weak.


In this paper we explore the question of corporate governance and its connection with CSR.We outline why a traditional governance architecture (e.g. unitary board structures) fails to support monitoring and strategic advice functions concerning CSR of the board adequately. We then provide our perspective on network governance and highlight how it provides better monitoring and strategic advice with regard to CSR. Finally, we suggest how network governance can be introduced by amendments to the corporate charter. We thus contribute theoretically by advancing the conceptualization of corporate governance and CSR as well as by providing alternative thinking on governance structures. We contribute practically by advancing concrete suggestions for implementation of network governance in ways that can supplement or replace the need for external laws and regulations. As such we aim to support theoretical and practical advances for better governance and higher levels of CSR.


Students' dormitory culture is an important part of campus culture,and it is an important task with which we can strengthen and improve moral education in colleges and an important factor of students' self-improvement and of realization of socialization.The paper analyzes the present problems of dormitory culture construction,explores and practices the effective measures of the construction of dormitory culture.


U18666A is a cholesterol transport‐inhibiting agent that is used widely to mimic Niemann–Pick type C disease. The effect of U18666A on tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α production in mouse macrophage cell line, RAW 264·7 cells and peritoneal macrophages was examined. U18666A induced TNF‐α mRNA expression 48 h after the treatment, and TNF‐α production 48 and 72 h after stimulation in RAW 264·7 cells. U18666A accumulated intracellular free cholesterol in the culture of normal medium but not cholesterol‐free medium. U18666A also induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in normal medium but much less in cholesterol‐free medium. Anti‐oxidant N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine (NAC) abolished U18666A‐induced TNF‐α production. U18666A led to the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase 24 and 48 h after the stimulation and the p38 activation was inhibited in presence of cholesterol‐free medium or NAC. A p38 inhibitor reduced U18666A‐induced TNF‐α production. Taken together, U18666A was suggested to induce TNF‐α production in RAW 264·7 cells via free cholesterol accumulation‐mediated ROS generation.


Can pieces of art be related to each other in the way that biological species can? In living things, phylogenic links are forged by the inheritance of genetic material; in culture, by influential ideas. Artworks may not have genomes, but they do contain information. Basic phylogenetic methodology may be applied to create a more scientific study of art history.


Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) learn better when more training data is presented to the network. Data augmentation techniques artificially increase the amount of image data that can be passed to a CNN. This allows the CNNs to extract class-defining features more accurately, resulting in better classification accuracies. In this thesis several data techniques are presented and their performances are compared. Two deep learning architectures are used, GoogLeNet and ResNet, and they are both trained on a plant image dataset ('Tropic10'). The data augmentation techniques used in this paper are rotation, flipping, shifting, cutout, and mix-up. Their performances are compared, as well as the performance of some combination of techniques. This results in 11 different augmentation methods. Both deep learning architectures are configured with either pre-trained weights, trained on the 'ImageNet' dataset, or with randomly initialized weights. Both configurations benefit from data augmentation techniques, in some experiments leading to a 3% increase of classification accuracy. Especially fipping or shifting the images, or combining them, resulted in the best performance.


(I) (II) Inhibitors pull off the water from the metal and electron-accepting sites will come out on the metal. When amounts of inhibitors added are too small to cover metal surface, electron-accepting sites are left intact (II stage of the equations). The active sites will be produced chemically on metal as done physically, for example, by thermal vibration. In this report electron-accepting sites on metal, made by desorption of the water, were taken up. Limited amounts of RN(CH3)2 could promote Ni-catalysed hydrogenation reaction, as they could pull off the adsorbed water from the Ni surface to create electron-accepting sites on it where it electrons of olefinic linkage were attracted. With the help of limited amounts of RN(CH3)2 aluminum reacted with several alkyl halides whose electron-donating abilities were stronger than inhibitors. Iron also could react in the same manner. In every case corrosion on metal surface was concentrated at pointed parts and the surface otherwise was left as it was. These reactions in non-aqueous media started after some induction periods which were mainly decided by metal itself and the adsorbed water on it.


The antibacterial activities of bamboo(Phyllostachys pubescens) tar to 8 varieties of phytopathogenic bacteria were studied,and its main antibacterial components were preliminarily analyzed.The results showed that the bamboo tar had different antibacterial activities on the tested bacteria,of which the activity on Pseudomonas syingae pv.tomato was the highest with EC50 and EC90 being only 29 μg·mL-1 and 68 μg·mL-1 respectively.The main antibacterial components were collected in water-soluble oil,phenols and aromatic acid.By the method of extracting with hot water,the active antibacterial components could be seperated from bamboo tar conveniently.


Submitted for the MAR13 Meeting of The American Physical Society Mechanical Properties of Cross-linked Epoxy Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites: Effect of Interfacial Interactions and Nanoconfinement KETAN KHARE, RAJESH KHARE, Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University — The effect of fillers on polymer nanocomposites is conceptually analogous to the effect of nanoconfinement of polymers by solid substrates. This assertion is tested in our work by studying the volumetric, structural, dynamic, and mechanical properties of nanocomposites of cross-linked epoxy and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using molecular simulations. We use atomistically detailed models in our simulations, which allow us to explicitly account for the specific chemical interactions between the filler and the matrix. Our results show that the poor interfacial interactions between the filler and the matrix lead to a tendency for depression in the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the nanocomposite compared to the neat cross-linked epoxy. Functionalization of CNTs is expected to strengthen interfacial interactions between the filler and the polymer matrix, and thus can have a strong impact on the properties of the nanocomposite. The relationship between the Tg, molecular dynamics, and the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites can be non-intuitive. Results will be presented for the relationship between mechanical properties, molecular dynamics, and the Tg of nanocomposites of cross-linked epoxy containing both, pristine and functionalized CNTs. Ketan Khare Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University Date submitted: 04 Dec 2012 Electronic form version 1.4