Abstract : Starting May 1st 1962 every day the number of particles of meteoric dust falling on a plate of 60 x 60 cm and also on a plate of 40 x 40 cm was counted. Not only were the numbers of particles counted, but also the dimensions of each particle were measured. The particles not only differ in size but also in shape. As yet it cannot be said whether or not these differ ences in shape have any significance. Only by continuous observation and by a subsequent statistical discussion will it later on be possible to clarify this point. Up till now about 40,000 different particles have been meas ured of which the dimensions range from around 10 micron to 100 micron. Some particles are visible even by the naked eye. The particles are collected with the help of an electromagnet. Therefore it is obvious that only the ''rest masses'' of iron meteorites are collected. Consequently, also all discussions concerning the observed particles exclusively apply to iron meteorites. (Author)


Because of the dissymmetry of information between banks and depositors, we cannot avoid a run on a bank. This causes the internal weakness in banks. How to descend risks and smoothly run the banks? The key element is to stop the inside and outside guarantee mechanism. We need transparency and institution.


Composting technologies has been used successfully for treatment of organic waste from agriculture, industrial process and urban activities. Some examples of organic waste are food waste, orange juice process, swine and cattle manure, poultry, sugar cane mill waste, biosolids (sludge). These represent a valuable reservoir of plant nutrients in organic forms, particularly nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and sulphur (S). However, before the use of such materials as fertilizers, they must be converted into a stable product free of odours and pathogens, and in a physical form that is suitable for soil application. Aerobic-thermophilic (35-65 oC) composting is a proven technology that can achieve these objectives. Composting as a process involves the biological decomposition of organic matter under controlled, aerobic conditions into a humus-like stable product [1]. The value of a compost as a soil ameliorant can be due to several factors: (i) to improve the chemical composition of soil through the supply of plant nutrients; (ii) to improve the physical condition of soil through lower bulk density, resulting in improved aeration and water holding capacity. Biochemical manifestations occurring during composting process include an increase in humic substances over time, specifically, humic acids. Carbohydrates are the primary source of energy for microorganisms in the process, following by cellulose and hemicellulose. Lignin is degraded through microbial action to smaller polyphenolic compounds and intermediate phenols. The enzymatic action turns these compounds in quinines and later condensed humic acids [1].


We thank Dr Hanqiang Jiang for his thoughtful and constructive comments on our article. Given the limitation of the manuscript format, we were not able to show all the results in our manuscript.

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a complicated cerebrovascular disease. Previous studies on adult MMD patients have considered the rupture of pseudo-microaneurysms, presence of moyamoya vessels, and the abnormal dilation of anterior choroidal artery and posterior communicating artery as the most possible causes for intracranial hemorrhage. Yet in the report of our pediatric case series, absence of the above features was also encountered in several children. Hence, we agree that further studies on the cerebral microbleeds may be helpful in a better understanding of the nature of bleeding in children with hemorrhagic MMD.

In our report, we show that revascularization surgery leads to significant decrease of …


Abstract:  Water right transfers are one of the basic means of implementing changes in water use in the highly appropriated water resource systems of the western United States. Many of these systems are governed by the Prior Appropriation Doctrine, which was not originally intended for application to ground‐water pumping and the conjunctive management of ground water and surface water, and thus creates an administrative challenge. That challenge results from the fact that ground‐water pumping can affect all interconnected surface‐water bodies and the effects may be immeasurably small relative to surface water discharge and greatly attenuated in time. Although we may have the ability to calculate the effects of ground‐water pumping and transfers of pumping location on surface‐water bodies, mitigating for all the impacts of each individual transfer is sufficiently inefficient that it impedes the transfer process, frustrates water users, and consequently inhibits economic development. A more holistic approach to ground‐water right transfers, such as a ground‐water accounting or banking scheme, may adequately control transfer third‐party effects while reducing mitigation requirements on individual transfers. Acceptance of an accounting scheme can accelerate the transfer process, and possibly reduce the administrative burden.


Recommended treatment for stage Ta T1 bladder cancer is instillation of a chemotherapeutic agent within 6 hours of transurethral resection of bladder tumor based on recent review of literature. This practice has been adopted by the urology department at Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia, where epirubicin is instilled intraoperatively. The practical implementation of the process is described.


ABSTRACT: In a prospective 5 year study, 8 Reiter's disease patients were diagnosed and investigated. All were males, the youngest being 9 and the oldest of 40 years. Five of them were married. Prelextra material sex was denied by all of them. The etiology in 7 appeared to be venereal, while in one it appeared after severe dysentery. Joint eyes and skin manifestations were present in all the patients. Urine and stool cultures were positive for Chlamydia and Shigella in one patient each. Anaemia, raised ESR. leucocytosis and a low serum proteins were other salient laboratory findings. Skiagrams of bones and joints, and histopathology of cutaneous lesions were also characteristic.


ASSEM, 1967; Groningen : BAGGERMAN, 1957, 1965; and Oxford: WILZ, 1970), which is comparable to that of the white rat in the laboratories of the other branch of objective behaviour studies : experimental psychology or 'behaviorism'. The colour differences between male and female, assumed at the approach of the repro ductive season suggested the first experimental research, the investigation of the fundamental question of how animals identify the various objects of biological significance to them in their natural environment. In other words : which stimuli in the environment are effective in eliciting a response and on what does this sensitivity of the animal depend. The obvious approach to an answer is to present to the animai models or dummies, imitating the object more or less closely, and in which features can be changed at will. The results of these experiments are well known now, they appear in every textbook. Male three-spined sticklebacks were found to attack, and ripe females to court, dummies with red on them, almost irrespective of their shape. The males courted silvery dummies, especially when the dummy showed a ventral swelling, as occurs in the real female with the ripe gonads. These findings seemed to fit the Lorenzian concept (LORENZ, 1937) of 'an innate releasing mechanism' ; a postulated mechanism for information processing, evaluating or filtering the stimuli received from the environment by the receptors. Different behaviour patterns were thought to be evoked through different channels with, at least partly, different filters. The value of a


Glutamine synthetase activity in the liver and glutamine levels in the blood, liver and kidney were measured in the cockerels fed 0, 5, 20 and 40% protein diets. All the chickens gained in body weight and total urinary nitrogen excretion increased linearly with protein intake. Liver glutamine synthetase activity increased with an increase of the dietary protein level. On the other hand, plasma glutamine concentration decreased with the increase of the dietary protein level, and liver glutamine concentration also responded to the changes of dietary protein level of more than 5%. Ammonia levels in the blood and urine increased linearly with the increase of the dietary protein level. Renal ammonia concentration also responded similarly to dietary protein level of more than 5%, whereas ammonia concentration in the liver showed almost the same level except for 20% protein diet feeding. The increased activity of liver glutamine synthetase and the increased ammonia production in the high protein feeding suggest that glutamine formation is greater in the chicken fed the high protein diet than in the chicken fed the low protein diet. Nevertheless, glutamine accumulation in the blood and tissues was rather small in the chickens fed the high protein diet. Uric acid concentration in the blood, liver, kidney and urine increased in proportion to the dietary protein level, and in all the dietary protein levels used here renal uric acid level was significantly higher than hepatic uric acid level. The more active synthesis of uric acid may partly account for the low concentrations of glutamine in the blood and tissues when the high protein diet was fed to chickens, since glutamine donates two of four nitrogen atoms of uric acid. Glutaminel,2) donates two of four nitrogen atoms of uric acid, which is a major end product of nitrogen metabolism in the chicken. Ammonia is also used in place of glutamine for the synthesis of 5-phosphoribosylamine, the first intermediate of uric acid synthesis3-5). Therefore, glutamine formation and ammonia production have a close relation to uric acid formation in the chicken. Uric acid in the blood plasma6,7), tissues6) and excreta7-9), and activities of enzymes10) involved in uric acid formation increase with an increase of dietary protein level in the chicken. Ammonia also increases in the blood6), tissues6) and excreta8,9) as a dietary protein level increases. These *Present address: Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science , Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, Ina-shi 396. Jap. J. Zootech. Sci., 49, (12): 872-879. 872 1978.12. Glutamine Synthetase and Glutamine Levels facts support the close relations of uric acid formation to ammonia production in the chicken . On the other hand, it has not been specified how glutamine levels in the blood and tissues and glutamine synthetase activity responed to varying levels of dietary protein in the chicken, although it has been found that the plasma glutamine concentration11) is lower and liver glutamine synthetase activity is higher12,13) in the chicken fed a high protein diet than in the chicken fed a low protein diet. In the present experiment, liver glutamine synthetase activity and glutamine levels in the blood, liver and kidney were examined in the chicken fed various levels of dietary protein . Materials and Methods Day-old Single Comb White Leghorn male chicks from a commercial hatchery were raised on a commercial diet, and the 5-month-old cockerels thus obtained , weighing about 2kg, were housed in individual cages and fed 35g of an experimental diet per kilogram of body weight once a day (9:00 AM) for 5 days. The diet offered was consumed within 40 minutes in all cases. Water was freely available. The 0, 5, 20 and 40% protein diets used in this experiment contained 0, 6.3, 25.2 and 50.4% of egg albumin as the sole source of protein at the expense of cornstarch, respectively. The proportion of other ingredients than egg albumen and cornstarch was the same in all the diets. The composition of the 0% protein diet was as follows (%): cornstarch, 87.38; cellulose powder, 3.50; corn oil, 2.00; mineral mixture14), 5.63; vitamin mixture14), 1.22; choline chloride, 0.27. Heart, portal vein and ureters were catheterized in the same manner as described previously11). The cardiac and ureter catheters were used for the collection of blood and urine, respectively. To make urine collection easy, 5% glucose solution was infused at a rate of 0.556ml per minute through the portal catheter, at 6 hours after feeding on day 5. This infusion did not appreciably affect the levels of nitrogen compounds in the blood, liver, kidney and urine as well as liver glutamine synthetase activity determined in this experiment because blood nitrogen constituents showed almost the same level before and after the infusion. Blood sample of 3.5ml was obtained through the cardiac catheter just before the infusion and 1 hour after the infusion, and total urine was collected during the infusion. After the second sampling of blood, experimental birds were killed, and liver and kidney were quickly removed and stored at-20°C until analyzed. Uric acid in the blood plasma and urine was determined by the ultraviolet spectrophotometric method15,16). Plasma glutamine and blood and urine ammonia were determined by the method described by GOLDSTEIN17) and by the colorimetric method18), respectively. Glutamine, ammonia and uric acid in the liver and kidney were determined as previously reported19). Liver glutamine synthetase activity was measured by the method of SELLINGER and DE BALBIAN VERSTER20). One unit of the enzyme activity is defined as the amount of enzyme causing the formation of 1μmole γ-glutamyl hydroxamate in 60 minutes. Results and Discussion All the chickens fed the 0, 5, 20 and 40% protein diets gained in body weight (Table 1). Liver weight decreased with an increase of dietary protein level, whereas kidney weight tended to increase with protein intake when dietary protein level was more than 5% (Table 1). The response of liver weight to the increase of dietary protein level is different from that reported by OKUMURA et al.21). Using growing chicks as an experimental animal and whole egg powder as a dietary protein source, they observed an increase in liver weight when a higher protein diet was


Dividends are of strategic importance to organisations because they form the nexus of organisations' capital structures and have an important bearing on firm value. Consequently, this study sought to investigate factors affecting dividend policy formulations and practices of South African banks by assessing the application of ex ante dividend theory literature on these firms. Our approach followed a mixed-methods design of analysis with a behavioural stand point of eliciting responses from banking experts through a survey. Findings indicate that factors relating to financial performance, investor needs and preferences and regulatory considerations are crucial for dividend decisions among banks. Overall, findings cast doubt on signalling, clientele and catering hypotheses, yet find favourable support for agency and lifecycle theories.


In this article, we will use as theoretical basis the theory of evolution developed in the sixth edition of Charles Darwin's Origin of Species, we will analyze the causal relationship developed by the author in the structuring of the argument of natural selection. Darwin's argumentative strategies. As a methodology of this work, we will examine the chapters that contain the main framework for structuring the hypothesis of natural selection, based on this, the causal elements will be highlighted, as well as the possible traces of a teleological discourse by Darwin. From the analysis that was performed it is possible to state that Darwin's discourse has teleological assumptions regarding the process that leads to the production of new organic forms is clearly shown in the notion of changes that are produced as adaptations. Natural selection, which determines the preservation / extinction in nature, has the function of directing the evolutionary process, so that new improved forms emerge. From this, a teleological principle can be assumed in Darwinian 1 Pós doutoranda em Biologia pela Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, Doutora em Biologia Molecular (Unisinos) e Mestra em Filosofia pela Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos e firstname.lastname@example.com 2 Bacharel e Licenciado em Filosofia, Mestre em Filosofia pela Universidade de Caxias do Sul e Mestre em Comunicação pela Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos. email@example.com Problemata: R. Intern. Fil. V. 11. n. 1 (2020), p. 220-248 ISSN 2236-8612 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.7443/problemata.v11i1.50243 O discurso evolutivo na obra origem das espécies pode ser considerado uma teleologia natural? 221 Problemata: R. Intern. Fil. v. 11. n. 1 (2020), p. 220-248 ISSN 2236-8612 argumentative strategy, for its ultimate cause is the emergence of a new, improved form.


A method of designing control limits and specifi cation limits of SPC was described. Summarize three kinds of defi nition for SPC control limits and specifi cation limits to different kinds of parameters when using SPC in Multi-varieties and small batch compound semiconductor Front-End Processes. Following this method to control all the parameters and that is proved availability in practice. This method help s the user of SPC defi nes control limits and specifi cation limits of SPC, especially for new users.


Microbial colonization and its relation to the decomposition of sedge (Carex) leaf litter were studied in the littoral area of Toolik Lake, Alaska. Colonization was assessed using scanning electron microscopy and by measuring the concentration of ATP associated with the litter. Litter lost approximately 20% of its dry weight and 60% of its phosphorus by leaching during the first 4 days of exposure to lake water. Microbial activity was responsible for any additional decomposition. Microorganisms were first observed on the litter surface on the 3rd day of incubation in the lake, when isolated bacterialike forms and microbial filament were present, but ATP was not yet detected. This initial appearance of microbes was followed by a dramatic rise in ATP concentration and a rapid proliferation of microbial forms, especially large filaments. Associated with this rapid colonization was a steep decline in nitrogen content, a twofold increase in protein content, and the appearance of microbially mediated weight los...


Inclusion in education and upbringing is understood as belonging, as the opposite of exclusion. How do people with cognitive and physical impairments learn, and how do they acquire knowledge? Access to schools and other institutions of learning is not the same as access to knowledge. In addition, opportunities for learning and the imparting and grasping of knowledge differ
from person to person. Nobody can be included everywhere or demand unqualified access. It would be desirable but it is not always possible to be able to determine where and how one is to be included. In cases of limited autonomy there has to be a kind of selection and control of knowledge. This means the young and the cognitively impaired do not have unconstrained access to knowledge. Educators and parents are responsible for selecting and controlling knowledge for the young and the cognitively impaired. How this can be done justly? How ought one to deal with the knowledge claims and the epistemic and cognitive abilities of those with relevant deficiencies? Under what circumstances can one speak of knowledge here? And what would be the basis for inclusion within a knowledge community?


Microstructural and petrological data suggest that a single episode of syn- to post-tectonic metamorphism affected the boundary region between the Clements Markham fold belt and Pearya, a postulate...


Different types of dunes cause habitat differences, which can affect vegetation growth. In turn, water utilized by vegetation leads to the differential distribution of soil moisture in different dunes. However, vegetation–soil dynamics in the alpine desert of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau remain poorly understood. We chose the largest section of desert along the eastern shore of Qinghai Lake as a study area to test the hypotheses that plant community characteristics and soil physicochemical properties show differences in different sand-binding communities, in addition to soil moisture content, based on methods of field investigations and in situ observations. The main results were as follows:1) Plant community species diversity and herb coverage increased with the stabilization status of dunes; meanwhile, coverage increased with the age of the added artificial semi-fixed dunes. 2) Surface deposits were mainly composed of medium sand, leading to low organic matter and nutrient content in the study area; this being different from other deserts in northern China. 3) Soil moisture's seasonal variation was consistent with rainfall seasonality and lacked significant interannual differences, while its vertical distribution was influenced by precipitation infiltration. 4) Soil crust forms beneath specific species, such as leguminous plants in the study area, which should be effective at preventing wind erosion. Our findings will facilitate a mechanistic understanding of plant–soil–water relationships in alpine deserts and provide timely information for screening introduced species for enhancing sand-fixation effectiveness.


The density of lithium fluoride crystals irradinted in the 1O/sup 18/ range in BRl was measured by flotation of the samples in suitable mixtures of bromoform, hexanol, and pentanol. By comparison with standard floats of fused silica, an accuracy of 0.001% was readily attalned. A U-shaped fiotation chamber was used, one tube con taining the crystals and the other the standard float. (W.D.M.)


SYNOPSIS

Simulium afronuri and S.lumbwanum are recorded living in association with nymphs of Afronurus in the forest zone of West Cameroon. Observations on infestation rates, attachment sites, larval size distribution and dispersion are recorded. Evidence of niche separation between the two simuliid species is discussed.


In order to reduce redundancy among Multi-channel observations by sensors and compress high dimensional fault features,a new equipment degradation state recognition method based on kernel principal component analysis-hidden semi-Markov model(KPCA-HSMM) was proposed.The single channel vibration signal was processed by the way of wavelet transform correlation filter and wavelet correlation feature scale entropy vector of single channel vibration signal was constructed;the wavelet correlation feature scale entropy vectors of multi-channel were fused by KPCA to obtain the fused eigenvector and eliminate redundancy;the fused eigenvector of multi-channel was inputted to the HSMM for training,and running states classification model of equipment based on HSMM was constructed to recognize the equipment degradation states.The experimental results show that the proposed method is very effective for equipment degradation state recognition and opens up a new way for recognizing equipment degradation state by multi-channel feature information fusion.


Objective To investigate diagnostic value of urinary retinal binding protein(RBP) detection in type 2 diabetics.Methods Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used for measuring RBP,and radioimmunoassay(RIA) was used for measuring α 1 microglobulin(α 1 M),β 2 microglobulin(β 2 M) in 36 normal subjects and 42 type 2 diabetes patients.Results The results showed that the levels of three urinary proteitns in diabetic patients were higher than those in healthy subjects,RBP was the most sensitive among the three urinary proteins.Conclusion The urinary RBP detection is very sensitive for renal tubule damage of type 2 diabetic patients.


Dopamine and serotonin are biogenic neurotransmitters that play major roles in the nervous system. In invertebrates, dopamine has been shown to be involved in aversive learning, and serotonin in the processes of olfaction, with the effects of these neurotransmitters being mediated by specific GPCRs. In order to characterize the effects of serotonin in olfaction, pharmacological drugs that regulate both serotonin and dopamine receptors are often used. To characterize the possibility of drug crosstalk between serotonin and dopamine receptors in Manduca sexta, the four suspected dopamine receptors will be characterized to help more accurately study the effects of serotonin on the olfactory system. PCR on whole brain cDNA with degenerate oligonucleotide primers produced an expected 255 bp DNA fragment that corresponds to the Manduca sexta homolog of an INDR-type dopamine receptor found in Bombyx mori and Papilio xuthus. Therefore, a portion of the first dopamine receptor has been successfully cloned. An amino acid change in the cloned sequence suggests that the Manduca sexta homolog may potentially be evolutionarily closer to Papilio xuthus than Bombyx mori, although the full-length clone must be analyzed to determine the phylogenetic significance of this sequence difference.


ABSTRACT Nitrite was reduced in acidic potassium iodide solution to produce nitrogen oxide which was measured amperometrically by a modified gold electrode covered with a PTFE-membrane as the permeability barrier for interfering substances in the sample. The calibration curve was linear up to 30 μM of nitrite and 10 samples could be determined per hour. The average current and the standard deviation for 10 μM standard solution (N=10) were 1.51 x 10-2 μA and 6.4 x 10-5 μA (RSD=0.42 %), respectively. The detection limit was 0.25 μM. No response was observed for electrochemical interferant substances such as ascorbic acid and FeSO4. The reducing reagent could be reused. Recovery tests were satisfactory (101-103%). The results obtained with this sensor and with the diazotization method for a fish culture water agreed within 8.6%.


Holonic manufacturing professes a system of highly distributed, autonomous and cooperating entities called holons. The modularity of such systems would naturally lend itself to greater flexibility in both construction and operation and would equip them to better cope with day-to-day disturbances and otherwise costly re-configuration. Architecture to design holonic manufacturing in a shop floor should consider many aspects of system design and operation. Broadly, these include definition of appropriate manufacturing holon classes, flexibility in specification and reconfiguration of holons and their associations, communication services, coordination of activities and so on. Overshadowing these aspects is that a holonic system should be able to produce a solution to the overall production problem as efficiently as the current systems. This requirement is often neglected to the detriment of sub-optimal production performance. In fact, holonic or similar heterarchical structures, while being robust in the face of unexpected disturbances may suffer from myopic decision-making, lack of conflict resolution and stability that are not conducive to sustaining good delivery and utilization performance of the shop floor. The holonic part-oriented architecture proposed here attempts to address these concerns. It defines holons and their associations taking predominantly a part lifecycle view of manufacturing and hence a control on value added tasks. Additionally, it considers the required functional distinction and the need for spatial associations. Functional distinction among holons of a class not only simplifies control, but also allows for better cohesion of decisions. Social associations support optimization of utilization performance by exploiting the conjunctive relationships that exists among resources. It is believed that these two, combined with a focus on part lifecycle, would help to achieve a superior performance of a holonic manufacturing system. This architecture is applied to develop specifications of a holonic model of an actual machining line and the performance of the model is demonstrated through simulation.


Atactic polypropylene (aPP) and isotactic polypropylene (iPP) were incorporated into a new blending material with tailored microstructure. Improved mechanical properties were realized through the application of a shear flow field to injection molding aimed at making use of aPP on a large scale. The hierarchic structure of the oscillation shear injection molding (OSIM) parts was characterized through wide-angle X-ray diffraction, small-angle X-ray scattering, and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that a high and homogeneous orientation inner structure, that is, intense shear flow induced shish-kebabs, is successfully obtained in aPP/iPP blends, which can markedly improve the mechanical performance of blends and offset the mechanical properties decline due to the addition of aPP with poor properties. Owing to the tailored microstructure, as 10 wt % aPP is added, the tensile strength and impact toughness of OSIM samples climb from 30.6 MPa and 4.8 KJ/m2 for normal injection molded samples to 57.8 MP...


This paper examines the spirituality of committed environmental activists. Eight descriptors of spirituality are offered, and spirituality's relationship to adult learning is explored.


The reconstruction of 30 km of County Road 2 by the county of Frontenac in 1996 provided the opportunity for municipal implementation of Superpave performance graded asphalt binder and volumetric mix design technology. The Superpave surface course asphalt mix was placed over a cold in-place recycled binder course pavement. Placement and compaction procedures were similar to those for conventional asphalt mixes, with the application of a light soap solution to avoid pickup associated with the polymer-modified performance graded asphalt cement on compaction equipment. The Superpave mix properties for trial batches were verified with a Superpave gyratory compactor. Basic mechanistic properties (resilient modulus, resistance to permanent deformation, and resistance to fatigue) of the Superpave surface course mix were determined with the Nottingham asphalt tester. Three long-term performance monitoring test sections were established at representative locations on County Road 2. The test section performance monitoring included visual distress surveys, structural capacity testing with the falling weight deflectometer, and transverse profiles with the digital incremental profiler (Dipstick). Monitoring of the County Road 2 Superpave pavement indicates that, after almost 3 years of service, the pavement has no significant surface distresses and is in excellent overall condition.


Purpose: The treatment of diabetic foot ulcers with total contact cast has been reported to be associated with numerous undesirable complications. This study shows that our technique of total contact casting that incorporates high concentration silver coated foam dressing. Materials and Methods: Forty-four diabetic foot ulcers were treated with total contact cast along with high concentration silver coated foam dressing. Complication and healing rates were evaluated. Results: Eighty five percent of the ulcers healed within 6 weeks with an overall complication rate of 7%. There were only two cases (5%) of infection and no recurrent ulceration and no another site new pressure ulcer in our study. Conclusion: Total contact casting incorporates high concentration silver coated foam dressing resulted in fewer complications rate and healing rate that is comparable to other studies.


The demand for pet food is increasing at a robust pace due to the gaining momentum and increasing pet population. The rising cost of commercial pet food has become a matter of concern. Therefore it is the need of hour to develop cost effective along with quality nutritive pet food, which can be achieved by utilization of various animal by-products. It has been proclaimed that slaughter house by-products are traditionally being fed to animals and pets. Various by-products have been attempted in different type of pet foods and feeding other animals besides pet dogs, since these by-products are rich in protein, fats, vitamins and minerals. Therefore this review reflects the use of various processed by-products in pet food products with respect to their nutritive and functional properties.


Aim: To study the feasibility of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs) differentiating into endothelial cells,and to observe the cells' proliferation characteristics.Methods:BMSCs were isolated by density gradient centrifugation.Afterwards,the obtained cells were allocated into two groups: cells in test group were propagated in M199 medium with vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and those in control group were propagated in medium with M199 medium only.The differentiated cells were detected by light microscope,electron microscope and immunocytochemistry,and their growth and proliferation capabilities were determined by drawing cell growth curve simultaneously.Results: BMSCs were applanation,fusiform or polygon at the early stage,those in test group became into colony,ellipse and arranged like pebble 2 weeks later,but those in control group was like hairs,and the Weible-Palade body was observed by transmission electron microscope in the test group,the control group had not similar changes.Cytochemistry staining evaluation revealed that close to(78.20±5.90)% cells in test group of the third generation cells were positive for Ⅷ factor related antigen,which had no significant difference compared with vascular endothelial cells.The cells presented exponential growth and had no infinite senilism in short time.Conclusion: human BMSCs can differentiate into endothelial cell under the induction of VEGF and keep active proliferation capability.


Abstract Microplastic pollution is an environmental threat with substantial effects on ecosystems. Persistence and ubiquity are the central causes of the problems microplastics generate, especially throughout water-based food webs. To limit microplastic pollution, accountability of individuals is needed, which requires reliable information for an individual to act accordingly. Knowledge about sources, contamination, fate, and effects of microplastic in the environment may be an essential element in enhancing students' motivation and sense of responsibility. Our module "Plastic Detectives – The Search for Plastic" offers consciousness-raising tasks that involve students in hands-on learning activities. Within student-centered activities, different tasks on sources in everyday life, sinks in aquatic ecosystems, effects on marine animals, and prevention strategies for microplastics are in focus. With an appropriate overview, students may be sufficiently enabled to ponder their purchase decisions and potentially limit microplastic pollution in everyday life.


Scientific publications contain many references to method terminologies used during scientific experiments. New terms are constantly created within the research community, especially in the biomedical domain where thousands of papers are published each week. In this study we report our attempt to automatically extract such method terminologies from scientific research papers, using rule-based and machine learning techniques. We first used some linguistic features to extract fine-grained method sentences from a large biomedical corpus and then applied well established methodologies to extract the method terminologies. We focus the present study on the extraction of method phrases that contain an explicit mention of method keywords such as (algorithm, technique, analysis, approach and method) and other less explicit method terms such as Multiplex Ligation dependent Probe Amplification. Our initial results show an average F-score of 91.89 for the rule-based system and 78.26 for the Conditional Random Field-based machine learning system.


According to the development trend of technology in manufacture and test of ICs,the new feature and requirement of modern mixed-signal test is illuminated,the global situation of mixed-signal test is clarified in detail,and the traditional method for mixed-signal test is discussed as well.In allusion to domestic conditions of manufacture of ATE,a new low-cost solution for mixed-signal test which is based on high speed DSP technology and complied with standardization and modularization is brought forth to resolve the testing problems of mixed-signal ICs with multi-bandwidth,it is a new exploration of test equipment manufacturing in our country.


This paper examines spurious dianeutral transport within a suite of ocean models (GOLD, MIT, MOM, and ROMS). We quantify such transport through a global diagnostic that computes the reference potential energy, whose evolution arises solely through transport between density classes. Previous studies have focused on the importance of accurate tracer advection schemes in reducing the spurious transport and closure. The present study highlights complementary issues associated with momentum transport. Spurious dianeutral transport is shown to be directly proportional to the lateral grid Reynolds number (Re∆), with such transport significantly reduced when Re∆< 10. Simulations with the isopycnal model GOLD provide a benchmark for the smallest level of spurious dianeutral transport realizable in our model suite. For idealized simulations with a linear equation of state, GOLD exhibits identically zero spurious dianeutral mixing, and thus maintains a constant reference potential energy when all physical mixing processes are omitted. Amongst the non-isopycnal models tested in idealized simulations, ROMS generally produces smaller spurious dianeutral mixing than MIT or MOM, since ROMS makes use of a higher order upwind-biased scheme for momentum transport that enforces a small Re∆. In contrast, MIT and MOM both employ unbiased (centered) discretizations of momentum transport, and therefore rely on lateral friction operators to control the grid Reynolds number. We find that a lateral shear-dependent Smagorinsky viscosity provides an effective means to locally reduce Re∆, and thus to reduce spurious dianeutral transport in MIT and MOM. In addition to four idealized simulations, we quantify spurious dianeutral transport in realistic global ocean climate simulations using GOLD and MOM with a realistic equation of state for seawater, both with and without mesoscale eddies in the resolved flow field. The GOLD simulations have detectable levels of spurious cabbeling from along isopycnal advective truncation errors. Significantly larger spurious dianeutral transport arises in a non-eddying MOM simulation. In an eddying MOM simulation, spurious dianeutral transport is larger still but is reduced by increasing


This study investigates consumer attitudes towards Italian cuisine in Malaysia. The popularity of Italian cuisine continues to shape the global evolution of Western-ethnic cuisines. Simplicity, taste, and food preparation of Italian cuisine stimulates new restaurant creation. This study uses in-depth analysis of research literature together with a strategic environmental scan and structured interviews. The results show that high prices, doubts regarding authenticity, and Muslim concerns regarding pork dishes create uncertainty among Malaysian consumers. These negative perceptions could dampen growth in the Italian cuisine sector. The study contributes to strategic marketing, entrepreneurship, and tourism related studies and practitioners in the field.


Letter-words is a kind of loan words absorbed by contemporary Chinese.But the excess use of mixing foreign acronyms and even the originals in Chinese,especially in the mass media,has aroused concerns when its negative impact begins to show in linguistic communication,pragmatic psychology,information transfer,cultural tradition and national honor.This paper explores the current use of letter-words in Chinese and proposes three principles of necessity,appropriateness and standard in their application,emphasizing the need for letter-words to follow the usage of modern Chinese vocabulary so as to control the sprawl of letter-words in Chinese and to promote the healthy growth of our mother tongue.


Abstract. In the context of the Arctic amplification of climate
change affecting the regional atmospheric hydrological cycle, it is crucial
to characterize the present-day moisture sources of the Arctic. The
isotopic composition is an important tool to enhance our understanding of
the drivers of the hydrological cycle due to the different molecular
characteristics of water stable isotopes during phase change. This study
introduces 2 years of continuous in situ water vapour and precipitation
isotopic observations conducted since July 2015 in the eastern Siberian Lena
delta at the research station on Samoylov Island. The vapour isotopic
signals are dominated by variations at seasonal and synoptic timescales.
Diurnal variations of the vapour isotopic signals are masked by synoptic
variations, indicating low variations of the amplitude of local sources at
the diurnal scale in winter, summer and autumn. Low-amplitude diurnal
variations in spring may indicate exchange of moisture between the
atmosphere and the snow-covered surface. Moisture source diagnostics based
on semi-Lagrangian backward trajectories reveal that different air mass
origins have contrasting contributions to the moisture budget of the Lena
delta region. At the seasonal scale, the distance from the net moisture
sources to the arrival site strongly varies. During the coldest months, no
contribution from local secondary evaporation is observed. Variations of the
vapour isotopic composition during the cold season on the synoptic timescale
are strongly related to moisture source regions and variations in
atmospheric transport: warm and isotopically enriched moist air is linked
to fast transport from the Atlantic sector, while dry and cold air with
isotopically depleted moisture is generally associated with air masses moving
slowly over northern Eurasia.


Abstract This paper presents an investigation of the rotordynamic behaviour of a four-lobe orifice compensated hybrid bearing. It aims to show that multilobe hybrid journal bearings prove to be a better alternative for high-speed turbo pump applications.


The output of a single three-phase AC generator can only supply power to a specified amount of load. When this I imit of the load capabilities is met. the generators output is inefficient for load demand. In situations with these conditions. a second generator needs to be introduced and paralleled with the first to provide a combined load capability of both. In order for the outputs from the two generators to be combined, the three-phase voltage signals need to be synchronized. Synchronization requires that three conditions be met-the output voltage magnitude of both generators must be matched; the frequency in both generator outputs must be equal; and the phase angle of respective phase voltage must be same. When generators are paralleled without adequately meeting these three conditions, there is loss of energy from one generator to the other. One of the generators will be seeing the other as load and will be feeding it. In situations where manual synchronization is used, perfect synchronization is never achieved. There is always a time lag between the visual certification of synchronization conditions, and the manual closing of generator paralleling switch. Even, where automatic synchronization is used, the efficacy of the synchronization depends on the cost and effectiveness of the embedded technology utilized. In this project, the development and implementation of a software controlled data acquisition system to connect two synchronous generators in parallel with minimal hardware at a relatively low cost is implemented. The project successfully gained the input values necessary for generator signal synchronization and used paralleling equipment controlled both by a Lab VIEW software environment and manual connection, emphasizing an automatic connection feature.


IFLA's 2018 "Statement on Copyright Education and Copyright Literacy" highlights the need for librarians to be copyright literate and for library associations to support the copyright education for library professionals. Nonetheless, while the role of library associations in supporting copyright education is foregrounded, little research has investigated the copyright initiatives of library associations. This study addresses that gap, documenting the current copyright training activities of library associations and providing recommendations for how IFLA might address copyright education needs of library workers. The research for this study took place in two phases, beginning with case studies of six library associations, followed by a multinational survey with respondents representing twenty-eight library associations from twenty-five countries. This study reveals that associations struggle to provide the full extent of copyright education resources they would like to, due to a lack of funding and lack of copyright expertise among other issues. Based on survey responses, IFLA has an opportunity to directly address a global need in the library association community and overcome the barriers to developing and delivering copyright education, beginning by providing a website with basic copyright information and resources, training for association members on how to develop and deliver their own copyright education training, or guidelines on a copyright education curriculum.


The purpose of this research was to develop an index for the certificate systems of family-friendly corporations. To be specific, first of all this research reviewed indexes which were developed in foreign countries. Second, it examined the domestic indexes related to the evaluation of family-friendly corporations. Third, it derived characteristics of family-friendly corporations through an in-depth interview with recruiters from those corporations in Korea and developed the index for the certificate systems of family-friendly corporations. And fourth, it tested the validity and reliability of the developed index. Based on the characteristics of family-friendly corporations which were revealed through the qualitative analysis on the data from the in-depth interview with recruiters from 30 family-friendly corporations, we developed 10 indexes for the certificate systems of family-friendly corporations. Also the analysis of the validity and reliability of the developed index indicated that it has high validity and reliability. Finally this research proposed how to apply this developed index to policies related to the certificate systems of family-friendly corporations.


The Design and implement of PN Code are discussed, which is one of the key techniques of wireless spread-spectrum positioning system. The correlation and balance properties of a special kind of chaos sequence i.e. Logistic-Map sequence are analyzed from the aspect of experiment and the computer simulation results are given. Finally the design method of balanced Gold code is presented which is easy for engineering realization.


We consider a government auctioning off multiple licences to firms that compete in an aftermarket. Firms have different costs, and cost-efficiency is private information in the auction and in the aftermarket. If only one licence is auctioned, standard results say that the most efficient firm wins the auction as it has the highest valuation for the licence. We analyse conditions under which this result does and does not generalise to the case of auctioning multiple licences and aftermarket competition. Strategic interaction in the aftermarket is responsible for the fact that auctions may select inefficient firms.


There's a major gap between the education of software engineers and the skills they need in industry. Certification programs can help ensure that new graduates are prepared for the real world and that professional training programs are effective.


In recent years, the automotive industry has been developing lightweight components in order to comply with stricter fuel consumption regulations. In fact, car mass reduction plays an important role in reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Composite materials are very promising solutions because of their potential to reduce mass by replacing traditional steel components, while ensuring safety requirements and structure reliability. However, they might present some issues in terms of sustainability and cost. This paper presents a methodology developed to carry out safety tests on a virtual automotive seat and then assess the structural practicability of using a more sustainable material, the Basalt Reinforced-Fibre Polymer (BFRP), as a replacement of the original material, the Glass Reinforced-Fibre Polymer (GFRP). The starting point of this study was the mechanical characterisation of both traditional and green composites. Then, the composite material formulation MAT-58 was optimised to correlate the simulated and experimental results. Finally, static and energy absorption simulation tests were performed according to the ECE R17 regulation. The seat model was compliant with the safety requirements in all cases studied, and both composites presented a similar structural performance.


In this study, a rotor-bearing-runner system (RBRS) considering multiple nonlinear factors is established, and the complex nonlinear dynamic behavior of the coupling system is studied. The effects of excitation current, radial stiffness, and friction coefficient on dynamic characteristics are analyzed by numerical simulation. The research results show that the dynamic properties of the coupling system caused by different nonlinear factors are interactional. With the changes of different parameters, the RBRS presents multiple motion states, including periodic-n, quasi-periodic, and chaotic motion. The increase of the excitation current Ij has a certain inhibitory effect on the response amplitude of the system and makes the motion state of the system more complex, the chaotic motion wider, and the jump discontinuity enhanced. With the increase of radial stiffness kr, the motion complexity of the coupling system increases, the chaotic region increases, the response amplitude increases, and the vibration intensity increases. With the increase of the friction coefficient μ, the chaotic region increases first and decreases, the different motions alternate frequently, and the response amplitude gradually increases. This study can not only help to understand the dynamic characteristics of RBRS, but also help the stable operation of the generator set.


The voltammetric behavior of Thyroxine (T4) was studied using square wave voltammetry in phosphate buffer solution at (pH 7.0) as supporting electrolyte. Thyroxine gives two well-defined reduction peaks at Ep1 (-0.359) volt and Ep2 (-1.01) volt versus the reference electrode (Ag/AgCl/Sat.KCl). The calibration curve is linear within a two range of concentration, first is (1.996x10 19.61x10)M with the R equal to (0.999) and (0.9963) for Ep1 and Ep2 respectively, and second (0.996x10 11.857x10) M with the R equal to (0.9819) and (0.9848) for Ep1 and Ep2 respectively. The Gibb`s free energy (∆G), enthalpy (∆H) and entropy (∆S) changes of temperature dependent on (K) were calculated using Van`t Hoff equation for Thyroxine and Thiourea binding. The molecular docking between Thyroxine and Thioureahas been studied, and the results indicates thatthe interaction between T4 and TU was mainly hydrogen bonding and van der Waal`s interaction.


Welding and cutting training is currently becoming increasingly important with the development of the welding and cutting technology and higher social requirements to the personnel in such field.This paper puts forward some suggestions and effective measures in project setting,teaching procedure,and academic devel-opment on the basis of the status of the welding and cutting training nowadays.


The invention discloses an aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride temperature-sensitive in-situ gel preparation and belongs to the technical field of medicinal preparations. The preparation consists of aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride solid powder and a gel substrate. During use, the aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride solid powder and the gel substrate are uniformly mixed and then are spread. The invention firstly prepares aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride into temperature-sensitive in-situ gel, the preparation is in a liquid state when the preparation is out of a body, the dose is easy to control, semisolid gel can be quickly formed at an administrated position after administration, the retention time is long, the biocompatibility is good, the use is facilitated, the problems such as low biological utilization rate and inconvenience in use of 5-ALA preparations are solved, and the preparation is applicable to the treatment of various skin diseases such as acnes and actinic keratosis and has a wide clinical application prospect.


Head and neck carcinomas are characterized by tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) producing cytokines. Adhesion molecules, extracellular matrix proteins (ECMPs), and cytokines regulate cell–cell and cell–ECMPs interactions. We investigated the distribution of these proteins to contribute to better understanding of their role in local tumor invasion and metastasis.


To achieve national and international climate goals, the greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector must be reduced. One option is the use of renewable energies, which must be stored. Building parts with thermal activation have the potential to store heat. As those building parts feature new active energetic functionalities – active heat storage and heating – they are called multifunctional building parts (MBP). To investigate the potential of MBP, a thermal model is deployed and verified. The model is used to examine the influence of the distance between thermal activation and the MBP's inside.


Short waved vertical irregularities of the track can cause high dynamic train-track interactionforces. These forces cause several problems, for example deterioration of track geometry anddamage of ...


By meticulously observing and analyzing the characteristics of individual cosmic events, we are better suited to understand the universe on a broader scale. Specifically, astronomers are often drawn to examine transient astronomical events whose duration may range from days to several years. This relatively short timescale, in contrast to the billions of years over which our universe has evolved, makes these events highly valuable as snapshots of how our universe is shaped. Spurred by this prospect, our team searched catalogues of these transient astronomical events and decided to investigate apparent transient 2020pni from galaxy UGC 9684. We hypothesized that the transient was a supernova—a powerful stellar explosion caused by the gravitational collapse of a massive star. Thus, we observed the transient over a four-week period to test this hypothesis by measuring changes in the intensity of light radiated by the event—a process known as photometric analysis. Through this study, our team was able to confirm our hypothesis and classify 2020pni as a Type II-L supernova. In addition, we unraveled key insights about the supernova's distance from Earth, stellar composition, luminosity, and more.


This article sets out the main directions of Uzbekistan's criminal policy, the gradual reduction of punitive elements and their transformation into the educational, broader implementation of the principle of economy of criminal repression. This article considers the experience of foreign countries in implementing the Code of Criminal Offences, as well as the necessity and importance of this institution.


Council Framework Decision 2008/909/JHA of 27 November 2008 "on the application of the principle of mutual recognition to
judgements in criminal matters imposing custodial sentences or measures involving deprivation of liberty for the purpose of
their enforcement in the European Union" was implemented in Spain by the introduction of new rules into the Mutual Recognition Act. Achieving social rehabilitation is the core objective of the Framework Decision. This has also practical consequences for the implementation of this instrument, for example requiring ties on the part of the sentenced person with the
executing State. Some of the most controversial procedural issues in Spain are analysed in this article, including the consent
of the sentenced person and the grounds for the adaptation of the sentence by the executing State under Spanish law


The article introduces the general definition, technical ways and present studying ways about LCA, and points out the limitations of LCA. At last, it says that we should develop useful LCA.


An improved mixed-integer differential evolution(MIDE) is presented for network reconfiguration with distributed generations (DG) in which the minimum power loss is taken for objective function. By introducing acceleration and migration operations, this method has overcome the problem which the traditional differential evolution (DE) is apt to reach premature convergence owing to a small population and increased the global search ability. At the same time, the integer coding method based on the loop is adopted, which greatly reduces the coding length and increases the proportion of feasible solutions, thus further enhances the calculation efficiency of the algorithm. Finally, the measures to reduce calculation burden are discussed. The test conducted on IEEE33-bus system shows that with this method not only the network loss can be reduced effectively, but also the voltage profile is improved in the presence of DGS.


The simulation of deafness rarely occurs in the course of medical expertise. However, it is a problem that needs to be recognized and demonstrated by proving methods of investigation. For this purpose, a number of subjective and objective hearing tests exist which can provide evidence for the simulation of uni− or bilateral hearing loss. These methods include the measurement of oto− acustic emissions, brainstem−evoked response audiometry and the determination of the stapedius reflex threshold as well as subjective methods such as Stenger− and Lee−test. Among the expertises carried out in our department during the past few years, we found 5 cases of simulation of deafness. In these cases ± as opposed to simulated traffic accidents ± there was no criminal prosecution regarding insurance fraud


Translation is a way of transmitting information.Accompanying information is an indispensable part of the general information of original works.During the translation process of journalistic English,the translator must be familiar with foreign culture,correctly understand the meaning of words,properly use ellipsis and repetition,accurately and vividly transmit different kinds of accompanying information.


Speaker normalization and speaker adaptation are two strategies to tackle the variations from speaker, channel, and environment. The vocal tract length normalization (VTLN) is an e(cid:11)ective speaker normalization approach to compensate for the variations of vocal tract shapes. The Maximum Likelihood Linear Regression(MLLR) is a recent proposed method for speaker-adaptation. In this paper, we propose a speaker-speci(cid:12)c Bark scale VTLN method, investigate the combination of the VTLN with MLLR, and present an iterative procedure for decoding the combined system of VTLN and MLLR. The results show that: (1) the new VTLN method is very e(cid:11)ective with which the word error rate can be reduced up to 11%; (2) the combination of VTLN and MLLR can provide up to 15% word error reduction; (3) both VTLN and MLLR are more e(cid:11)ective for the push-to-talk data than for the cross-talk data.


11 July 2018 In 2018 the SIGCSE Symposium gave three best paper awards. The Best Experience Report Paper was awarded to Fredrik Heintz and Linda Mannila for "Computational Thinking for All: An Experience Report on Scaling up Teaching Computational Thinking to All Students in a Major City in Sweden." The Best New Curricula, Programs, Degrees, and Position Paper was presented to Sathya Narayanan, Kathryn Cunningham, Sonia Arteaga, Joe Welch, Leslie Maxwell, Zechariah Chawinga, and Bude Su for "Upward Mobility for Underrepresented Students: A Model for a Cohort-based Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science." The Best CS Education Research Paper was awarded to Christine Alvarado, Gustavo Umbelino, and Mia Minnes for "The Persistent Effect of Pre-College Computing Experience on College CS Course Grades."


In the context of economic globalization,industry security has been a common problem every country is confronted with.As for China's equipment import and export,dependence on import of important technology equipment is serious and equipment export has a trend of running to low-end,so the present situation should be given attention.The development direction of China's equipment manufacturing industry,import substitution and expanding export,has been correct.Localization of the important technology equipment should speed up,the international competitiveness of export equipment should be promoted,and the policy guiding and support system of China's equipment import and export should be set up.


Abstract : The Kinetics of ion formation by electron impact and subsequent reaction in silane: noble-gas mixtures have been examined using pulsed ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) mass spectrometry with the objective of discerning the role played by ions in plasma reactors which deposit amorphous silicon films. Cross sections for ionization of the noble-gases and silane as well as dissociative attachment of electrons to silane are presented. The nascent ion species distribution formed by electron- impact in a plasma environment changes with time as a result of charge transfer reactions. Room-temperature rate constants for these reactions have been measured with the pulsed ICR techniques, and anomalous trend in reactivity down the eighth period has been identified. The general departure from the Langevin limiting rate for ion-molecule reactions is examined with ab initio electronic structure calculations and model is advanced which probes quantum mechanical constraints on electron transfer from silane to the noble cations. The model offers a consistent rationalization for the observed rate constants and product distributions and permits analysis of experimentally inaccessible processes such as ion-radical reactions: Parametric variation of the homogeneous ion kinetics with gas mixture, pressure, and excitation variation are explored for conditions typical of commercial deposition reactors.


In contact conditions of crane sheave steel materials against a wire rope the contact surface of the sheave generally metal wear. In this study. Alternating bending wear tests using the normalized low carbon cast steel were out under four kinds of applied loads, and rotation speeds at 28rpm. The wear characteristics, and wear mechanism map on the worn surfaces was examined. The results of this study indicate that the wear rate of the substrate depends on the diameter of the wire ropes. The wear mechanism of the substrate is characterized by fatigue wear, but it was the wear transition happened in number of contact cycle. The temperature variation of the substrate groove was measured at 52°C, in average. Also it has been affected the surface crack propagation occurs with a movement of hertz by thermal stress and a wear mechanisms map has been proposed.


A ring neural network is a closed chain in which each unit is connected unidirectionally to the next one. Numerical investigations indicate that continuous-time excitatory ring networks composed of graded-response units can generate oscillations when interunit transmission is delayed. These oscillations appear for a wide range of initial conditions. The mechanisms underlying the generation of such patterns of activity are studied. The analysis of the asymptotic behavior of the system shows that (i) trajectories of most initial conditions tend to stable equilibria, (ii) undamped oscillations are unstable, and can only exist in a narrow region forming the boundary between the basins of attraction of the stable equilibria. Therefore the analysis of the asymptotic behavior of the system is not sufficient to explain the oscillations observed numerically when interunit transmission is delayed. This analysis corroborates the hypothesis that the oscillations are transient. In fact, it is shown that the transient behavior of the system with delay follows that of the corresponding discrete-time excitatory ring network. The latter displays infinitely many nonconstant periodic oscillations that transiently attract the trajectories of the network with delay, leading to long-lasting transient oscillations. The duration of these oscillations increases exponentially with the inverse of the characteristic charge-discharge time of the neurons, indicating that they can outlast observation windows in numerical investigations. Therefore, for practical applications, these transients cannot be distinguished from stationary oscillations. It is argued that understanding the transient behavior of neural network models is an important complement to the analysis of their asymptotic behavior, since both living nervous systems and artificial neural networks may operate in changing environments where long-lasting transients are functionally indistinguishable from asymptotic regimes.


The result shows from the quantitative model that different education acts on social stability, family planning and people's health. 1. Education of different level has different externality. That means the government has different financial responsibility in different level education from the efficiency point of view. 2. Under our country's present economic development level, the externality in elementary education is a litde larger than that in higher education, so the government should offer elementary education more financial support; 3. The above results are compatible with those from education social benefit ratio. 4. The suggestion that "the externality from higher education will be larger with the economic development" has not got enough data support.


This paper focused on Grey relational analysis (GRA) to optimize EDM parameters through multi-objective optimization for Al2024 aluminum and electrode graphite ISO-63 was used as a cutting tool. The process parameters pulse on time, duty factor, pulse current and open voltage. Performance characteristics examined included material removal rate (MRR), electrode wear ratio (EWR) and surface roughness (SR). Taguchi's 27 experimental designs, often called an orthogonal array (OA), was utilized to ignore interaction and concentrate on main effect estimation. GRA was performed to optimize input parameters levels. Results were that MRR increased from 35.00 to 35.11 mm3/min, EWR decreased from 11.63 to 10.89 mm3/min, and SR decreased from 5.01 to 4.97 μm. Taguchi and GRA resulted in clear improvements in MRR, EWR, and SR.


The effects of Ag15+ (200 MeV) swift heavy ion irradiations on the structural and phononic properties of epitaxial LaNiO3 (LNO) thin film have been investigated using high resolution x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. After irradiation, the decrease in the out-of-plane lattice parameter of LNO toward its bulk value indicates the relaxation of epitaxial strain. The temperature dependency of phononic response for different ion irradiation doses was studied by performing the Raman measurements in a temperature range of 80−300 K. For pristine as well as irradiated samples of LNO, the observed phononic modes A1g and Eg shows softening with an increment in the temperature. The temperature coefficient of both modes varies with ion fluence. For the A1g mode, temperature coefficient increases from −0.087 cm−1 K−1 for pristine to −0.092 cm−1 K−1 for a maximum ion fluence of 1012 ions/cm2, while for the Eg mode, it decreases from −0.022 cm−1 K−1 for pristine to −0.015 cm−1 K−1 for 1012 ions/cm2. Raman frequency shift for both the modes shows non-linear behavior with temperature. This temperature dependent behavior was quantitatively analyzed by using a model which suggests that Raman shifts of the A1g mode emerged predominantly due to four phonon processes whereas, for the Eg mode, major contribution came from the thermal expansion effect. Ion irradiation did not change the dominating mechanism resulting in these temperature dependent Raman shifts, although the relative contribution of different processes was altered with ion fluence.


Scheduled and emergency towing operations are carried out daily, both at sea and in restricted waters, as a means of transporting goods, aiding ships during berthing and casting-off or rescuing units in distress. Even in mild weather conditions, such activities can pose serious threats to the safety of the personnel and units involved and to the environment. This study investigates the dynamics of a tug-tow system, where towing is carried out by means of a single elastic towing line. A simplified model is used, in which the tug is modelled as a point-particle with a prescribed motion, while the dynamics of the towed object is modelled as a 3-DOF (surge/sway/yaw) nonlinear dynamical system. Equilibria of the system are analysed through a bifurcation analysis technique, supplemented by time-domain simulations, if/when necessary. An example application is reported for the case of towing of a barge-like hull, showing the effects of several parameters: ship speed, towline length, water depth and wind. The performed calculations confirm that, depending on the configuration parameters, multiple stable/unstable steady-state towing positions may exist. It is also clarified in this study that, in the absence of stable equilibria, the potentially dangerous oscillating phenomenon called "fishtailing" takes place.


is known s the Hasse principle for central simple algebras over F. The aim of this paper is to give an analogous exact sequence and analogous Hasse principles for an algebraic function field K in one variable over F. However, we give neither an exact sequence including ET (K) nor a Hasse principle for Br(X). The exact sequence and the Hasse principles which we give in this paper, and which we think to be the best analogues of (0. 1) for X, are concerned with the Galois cohomology groups


We give a new approach to the study of conformal iterated function systems with arbitrary overlaps. We provide lower and upper estimates for the Hausdorff dimension of the limit sets of such systems; these are expressed in terms of the topological pressure and the function d, counting overlaps. In the case when the function d is constant, we get an exact formula for the Hausdorff dimension. We also prove that in certain cases this formula holds if and only if the function d is constant.


A study on technology and performance of NiAl_2O_3 composite coating obtained by rub jet electroplating was conducted. The results show that the content and dispersion of particle in the coating are superior to that of common brush electroplating. The coating is even and smooth, is fine and dense in crystalline and adheres well to the substrate. The microhardness of the coating is high up to 728 HV. The analysis of the effect of technological factors on the coating quality and valuable technology parameters are also given in this paper.


Background: Chronic Telogen Effluvium (CTE), is one of the challenges in hair loss pathogenesis and treatment globally. In the last 10 years vitamin D3 take a great part in the new researches, including dermatological diseases especially hair loss. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the serum level of vitamin D3 and chronic telogen effluvium in women: Methods: A prospective case control study, included 31 women with hair loss as cases, and 31 women without hair loss as control group, aged 1839 years, in Salah-Al-Deen province in Iraq. Results: The mean vitamin D3 level of cases was (9.78 ± 6.518) compared to (16.74.± 6.99) among controls. Deficiency of D3 was more prevalent among cases contributed for (48%) while in control group was (42%) with no statically significant association (OR=5.769 (0.633-19.55)), (p=0.086). Conclusion: Serum vitamin D3 level in females is generally low. No significant association between vitamin D3 level and chronic telogen effluvium.


Image-based wavefront sensing uses a physical model of an aberrated pupil to simulate a point-spread function (PSF) that attempts to match measured data. Nonlinear optimization is used to update parameters corresponding to the wavefront. If the starting guess for the wavefront is too far from the true solution, these nonlinear optimization techniques are unlikely to converge. We trained a convolutional neural network (CNN) based on Google's Inception v3 architecture to predict Zernike coefficients from simulated images of PSFs with simulated noise added. These coefficients were used as starting guesses for nonlinear optimization techniques. We performed Monte Carlo analysis to compare these predicted coefficients to 30 random starting guesses for total root-mean-square (RMS) wavefront errors (WFE) ranging from 0.25 waves to 4.0 waves. We found that our CNN's predictions were more likely to converge than 30 random starting guesses for RMS WFE larger than 0.5 waves.


Objective To study the curative and preventive effects and mechanisms of sanxuemingmu tablets on traumatic proliferative vitreoretinopathy(PVR).Methods Forty experimental PVR rabbit models were induced by a posterior penetrating eye injury,which were randomly divided into 5 groups,each group was 8 eyes.A was the normal control group,B was the model group,C was the lishuimingmu group,D was the huoxuehuayu group,and E was the huoxuelishui group.The positive expression of the platlet derived growth factor(PDGF) in the proliferative membranes was examined using an improved immunohistochemical analysis.Results PVR grades on day 7:there was no significant difference between groups B,C,D and E(P0.05).PVR grades on day 28:a significant difference was found when group E was compared to any other group(P0.05).The positive expression of PDGF had decreased in the E group compared to the other groups(P0.05).The positive level of PDGF had decreased significantly in the E group compared to the B group(P.01).The positive level of PDGF had greatly decreased in the C and D groups compared to the B group(P 0.05).In addition,the level of PDGF in the E group was lower than levels in the C and D groups.The positive level of PDGF was a little higher than that in the A group(P0.05).The PVR in the E group was lighter than that in the B,C and D groups.Conclusion Sanxuemingmu tablets can inhibit and reverse the formation and development of traumatic PVR by counteracting the expression of PDGF on the proliferative membrane,inhibiting proliferative cell hyperplasia.


The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between supply chain strategies and performance of large-scale manufacturing firms in Kenya by addressing three primary gaps in the literature. The research gaps include the research findings and results on the relationship between supply chain strategies and firm performance that have been contradicting and no attempt to clear the contradictions; biased and unbalanced analysis of the different measures of firm performance, and failure to use weighted scores to measure firm performance. Resource-Based View guided this study. A sample of one hundred and thirty-eight (138) firms was drawn using proportionate sampling from a population of six hundred and twenty-seven (627) large-scale manufacturing firms in Kenya. The response rate was seventy-five (75) percent. The correlation analysis and regression analysis models were used to test the hypotheses. The study findings indicate that Supply chain strategies are useful predictors of the firm's performance as supply chain strategies explain 76.7 % of the changes in the firm's performance. DOI:10.12660/joscmv8n2p1-22  URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.12660/joscmv8n2p1-22


The cellular architecture of filamentous microbes is of great interest because it is frequently associated with secondary metabolite productivity and can be altered by cultivation conditions. Hence, the evaluation of cell morphology is of the utmost significance for better understanding of industrial processes involving filamentous bacteria. In the present study, effect of glass beads and silica particle addition have been seen in the enhancement of lipstatin production along with alterations in the morphology. The addition of glass beads and silica particles directed the morphology of Streptomyces toxytricini KD18 towards the formation of small pellets (0.3 to 0.4mm) with dispersed mycelia as compared to the control conditions (0.04 to 2mm). A four-fold increase in lipstatin production was achieved due to mechanical stress caused by glass beads and silica particles. The addition of natural precursors, i.e., Aloe vera pulp, Hibiscus cannabinus leaves and flowers improved the production of lipstatin from 2.06 mg/ml to 6.76 mg/ml, 11.4 mg/ml and 14.09 mg/ml, respectively along with alteration in the pellet morphology in 500 ml shake flask.


This study of the ecological interaction between the soil, floral and faunal resources of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta was carried out over the undeveloped area of the site. Forty-five (45) sample plots (25m x 25m) were randomly laid over the study area. The area was divided into five (5) zones and sample plots were allocated proportionally. One hundred percent (100%) enumeration of the plants and animals was done in each plot. Soil samples were collected at 0-15cm, 15-30cm and 30-45cm layers of the soil profile. The soil samples were analyzed to determine the pH, percentage carbon, nitrogen, organic matter and the proportion of clay, silt and sand on each plot. One hundred and seventy-five (175) species of plants from fifty-seven (57) families were recorded. One hundred and one (101) species of trees and shrubs were measured for their girth at 1.3m, height at first branch and their total height. Seven hundred and sixty-eight (768) animals were observed. The animals belong to thirty-seven (37) species from thirty-one (31) families. The distribution over the study area was recorded. The biplots ordination of woody plants species distribution and soil indicate a strong relationship between most of the plant species and pH, a organic matter and clay content of the soil. Also, the biplot ordination of woody plants and animal distribution indicates a strong ecological relationship between most of the woody plant species and burrowing, arboreal and shade-loving animals except rabbit. Furthermore, the biplot of soil and animal species distribution show a strong ecological relationship between percentage organic matter, nitrogen and carbon respectively and many of the terrestrial, subterranean and arboreal animals except rabbit. Lastly, the biplot ordination of herbs and animal distribution indicate a strong relationship between the arboreal, terrestrial and burrowing animals and the herb plants on the site except Abelmoschus esculentus, Azadiractha indica etc.


The Fourth Evangelist certainly intended his account of the blind man's healing to develop and enhance several ongoing literary motifs in his gospel. Above all else, this healing dramatically validates Christ's claim within the pericope itself to be the "light of the world". The "light versus dark" motif, begun in the prologue, is strikingly illustrated as the spiritual dimension of the man's restored sight is juxtaposed against the forboding darkness of the Pharisees' unbelief.


SYNOPSIS. The Armenian dam safety project involves the technical investigation of 64 dams during the period June 2002 to July 2003. The scope of work includes: • Fieldwork: Dam inspections, Site investigations (4000m of drilling), Topographic survey, microseismic survey • Studies: Hydrology, Flood routing, Dam break, Stability analysis, Seismic hazard assessment, seismic analysis • Risk assessment • Rehabilitation preliminary design and costing • Dam safety plans (Operation & Maintenance, instrumentation, early warning systems and Emergency Preparedness Plan)


Rubber–clay nanocomposites were prepared by two different methods and characterized with TEM and XRD. The TEM showed clay had been dispersed to one or several layers. The XRD showed that the basal spacing in the clay was increased. It was evident that some macromolecules intercalated to the clay layer galleries. The clay layer could be uniformly dispersed in the rubber matrix on the nanometer level. The mechanical tests showed that the nanocomposites had good mechanical properties. Some properties exceeded those of rubber reinforced with carbon black, so the clay layers could be used as an important reinforcing agent as the carbon black was. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 1879–1883, 2000


The pH of aqueous solutions is known to impact the chemical speciation of trace metals. In this study we conducted titrations of coastal seawaters with iron and copper at pH 7.91, 7.37 and 6.99 (expressed on the total pH scale). Changes in the concentration of iron and copper that complexed with the added ligands 1-nitroso-2-napthol and salicylaldoxime respectively were determined by adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry - competitive ligand equilibrium (AdCSV-CLE). Interpretation of the results, assuming complexation by a low concentration of discrete ligands, showed that conditional stability constants for iron complexes increased relative to inorganic iron complexation as pH decreased by approximately 1 log unit per pH unit, whilst those for copper did not change. No trend was observed for concentrations of iron and copper complexing ligands over the pH range examined. We also interpreted our titration data by describing chemical binding and polyelectrolytic effects using non-ideal competitive adsorption in Donnan-like gels (NICA-Donnan model) in a proof of concept study. The NICA-Donnan approach allows for the development of a set of model parameters that are independent of ionic strength and pH, and thus calculation of metal speciation can be undertaken at ambient sample pH or the pH of a future, more acidic ocean. There is currently a lack of basic NICA-Donnan parameters applicable to marine dissolved organic matter (DOM) so we assumed that the measured marine dissolved organic carbon could be characterized as terrestrial fulvic acids. Generic NICA-Donnan parameters were applied within the framework of the software program visual MINTEQ and the metal –added ligand concentrations [MeAL] calculated for the AdCSV-CLE conditions. For copper, calculated [MeAL] using the NICA-Donnan model for DOM were consistent with measured [MeAL], but for iron an inert fraction with kinetically inhibited dissolution was required in addition to the NICA-Donnan model in order to approximate the trends observed in measured [MeAL]. We calculated iron and copper speciation in Northwest European shelf water samples at ambient alkalinity and projected increased pCO2 concentrations as a demonstration of the potential of the approach.


Conservation agriculture (CA) based on minimum mechanical soil disturbance, permanent organic soil cover and crop rotation is increasingly promoted to overcome problems associated with conventional tillage (CT) such as soil fertility decline, low and unstable crop yields and high production costs. Because of the resilience of the CA farming system, CA may be a tool to assist farmers as they adapt to variable and erratic rainfall resulting from the influence of climate change in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study evaluates the agronomic and economic benefits of CA and constraints to its widespread adoption among smallholder farmers in Malawi. This study draws its empirical data from collaborative work between the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT); the regional nongovernmental organisation, Total Land Care (TLC); Agricultural Research and Development Programme (ARDEP); the Malawi Government extension services; the Department of Agricultural Research Services (DARS); farmers and farmer focus groups that were conducted between 2005 and 2012. The study was conducted in 12 target communities of 10 Extension Planning Areas (EPAs) in 8 districts in central and southern Malawi. Using onfarm researcher-managed trials in various agro-ecologies; the performance of CA systems was compared with CT in terms of soil quality, water infiltration, weed biomass, grain yield, labour productivity and economic returns. We administered and evaluated a structured questionnaire to capture farm household data on the factors that influence farmers' decisions to adopt and extend the use of CA on their fields. Using modelling tools, on-station trials and projected weather data for 2010-2030, the likely agronomic and economic and risk reduction potential of CA under the influence of climate change were evaluated. Not surprisingly our results showed that CA without fertilizer provides few benefits to farmers in all agro-ecological zones studied. Maize (Zea mays) yields were 11% and 18% lower with no-tillage without mulch than with CT and no tillage with mulch, respectively. However, a combination of no tillage and mulch did not result in lower yields in the first seasons of practice and registered yield benefits over CT from season one in low rainfall areas and from season five in high rainfall areas. Associating maize and legume crop under CA did not result in significant yield reduction compared with CA maize monocropping, thus selected legume crops i.e. pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) may be considered as 'a bonus' in CA systems without significant labour requirements. Furthermore, intercropping maize and pigeonpea under CA significantly increased crop biomass than CT. Mulch use suppressed weeds and improved water infiltration that improves the sustainability of the agro ecosystem in the long term. Soil fauna measured as earthworm and termites increased by more than 300% in CA than CT. Due to low cattle populations there is little competition for grazing crop residues; however, for CA to be successful communities must be engaged to address the issue of burning crop residues to hunt rodents and prepare fields. CA reduced labour costs by 28% due to reduced labour for land preparation and herbicide use, which provided farmers an opportunity to diversify their cropping enterprises by shifting labour to the production of cash crops. However, input costs increased from 230$USD in CT to 332$USD and 350$USD in CA maize monocropping and CA maize-legume intercropping, respectively. Nevertheless, net returns and returns to labour were greater under CA than CT. Where herbicides were not used, labour savings in land preparation were offset by increased labour requirements for weeding. Despite the potential of CA to increase and stabilize yields and increase labour productivity, its adoption by smallholders is skewed towards better resource endowed farm households which challenges equity dimension of CA among all groups of farmers. In addition, its adoption by smallholders is partial and adopters currently allocate less than half of their total cultivated land to CA – again challenging the potential of CA to improve ecosystem services at scale. However, this study has shown the characteristics of early adopters and the role of social learning in influencing adoption and extent of use of CA by smallholders. CA has been shown to have the potential to adapt the agricultural systems to climate change. Simulations of maize yield from 2010-2030 showed larger variation in yield under CT (3131 kg ha -1 to 5023 kg ha -1 ) than CA systems (3863 kg ha -1 to 4905 kg ha -1 ). CT and CA gave 50% and 10% cumulative probability of obtaining yield below the minimum acceptable limit of 4000 kg ha -1 respectively, suggesting that CA offers better prospects than CT, and might thus be preferred by risk-averse farmers in uncertain climatic conditions. The skills and capabilities of field staff working with farmers become important in field characterization, choices of crops for different fields, possible combination of intercrops and crop sequences, farmer group formation to link farmers to farm inputs and produce markets, and training of farmers in correct herbicide use among others. Given small landholdings, intercropping maize and pigeon pea under CA appears to be a promising sustainable intensification system for smallholder farmers in Malawi. This is supported by the high possibility for farmers to retain crop residues as mulch and the continuing political will to support farmers with chemical fertilizers.


With muskmelon'Honey world'as material,with three factors and five levels of the quadratic General Rotary unitized design by means of computer simulation of mathematical model to explore the main factor effect of nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium,single factor effect,the interactions,the marginal yield and optimum fertilization with a view to exploring the best of muskmelon in sunlight greenhouse fertilization.The results showed that 3factors on muskmelon yield in the order of phosphorusnitrogenpotassium.When nitrogen was 449.78 kg/hm2,phosphorus was449.33kg/hm2,potassium was 449.78kg/hm2,muskmelon yield could receive a maximum yield of 26 097.95kg/hm2.


Doctors, like other men, are creatures beguiled by fashion -so that every treatment has its day. The pattern is predictable: each new treatment provokes an initial wave of enthusiasm when it is applied to every possible disease, only for this to be followed by utter rejection and despondency when it is said to be good for nothing. Eventually, we hope, it finds its level: specific for this, useful for that, to be used in such and such when afl else fails. Therapeutic apheresis is now entering the slough of despond. While plasmapheresis had been in use for more than a decade in treating the hyperviscosity syndrome associated with macroglobulinaemia,' its popularity really began to grow in 1976, when two British groups reported its successful use in separate immunologically mediated diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus2 and Goodpasture's syndrome.3 In the next seven years apheresis was tried in a further 143 diseases4 5 with degrees of success ranging from the spectaculare to the abysmal.7 Medical journals became so peppered with anecdotes that controlled trials were called for, and these became all the more urgent when the financial implications were considered. A report of the successful use of plasma exchange in rheumatoid arthritis8 spurred Verrier Jones to calculate that were this treatment to be offered to all patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the United States who might benefit from it, it would add $2 billion to the United States health care budget.9 Not only that: 30 million blood donations a year would be required to supply the amount of albumin that would be needed as replacement fluid. If the report that disseminated cancer might regress with plasma exchange were confirmed, then the potential market for cell separators would know no bounds and most of us would have to set aside some considerable time every


Declaration I hereby declare that this thesis is entirely my own work and that it has not been submitted as an exercise for a degree at any other university.


The issue of adults throughout the world seeking access to higher education (HE) is becoming ever more important. This is because the numbers of adults in HE are falling, even though increasing adult access to HE would benefit both the individuals involved and society as a whole. Although participation rates in HE across the world have improved, inequality (in connection with parameters such as disability, socio-economic class, race, gender and location) remains rife. Adult education policies are disjointed and incoherent due to weak relationships between formal policymaking and practice. Societies and Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) therefore need to work together to provide adults and young people with greater access to learning, while also supporting an increasingly knowledge-driven society. They can do this by diversifying regulations and policies, and cultivating structural and functional diversity. HEIs should allow adults the opportunity to demonstrate potential in alternative ways, widen access to higher qualifications, and increase collaboration with communities and employers.


The whole embryo culture technique possess features that are generally considered necessary in a teratogenicity screen, but due to the demanding procedure it might be unsuitable for routine use as a first step in a large scale screening program. However, the whole embryo culture has a valuable function in a tiered approach, at a second level of testing, when only a few compounds are to be considered and it can be employed to prioritise chemical compounds for further in vivo testing. There is also a possibility that this test could be used within ranking systems for families of chemicals. Furthermore, it has been used as an intermediate between screening and mechanistic studies. In this case, the in vitro test is used alongside in vivo studies (Brown et al., 1995).


Abstract A 62-year-old woman received RBX2660, an investigational microbiome restoration therapeutic, for recurrent multidrug-resistant (MDR) urinary tract infection (UTI). RBX2660 increased gut microbiome diversity but did not eliminate uropathogen carriage, and MDR UTI recurred after subsequent antibiotic exposure. Thus, restoration of microbiome diversity does not preclude disease recurrence by residual MDR pathogens.


Packaging today is more than a conventional product cover. It sends additional messages, and even becomes a part of the product. In this section, the most creative package for electronic product, housewares, luxury products, and other daily commodities will show you how packaging helps you live your life.


The diagnosis of cow mastitis was performed using shortwave near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy of cow udder tissue collected at morning milking over a two-year period in order to investigate the influence of various factors such as season, udder position, cow identity etc. The NIR spectra were acquired using a portable NIR spectrometer and quarter foremilk was collected and analysed for milk components as reference data. The somatic cell count (SCC) was mainly used for mastitis diagnosis. The analysis of in vivo shortwave NIR spectral data of udder tissue was carried out using the soft independent modelling of class analogy (SIMCA) classification method. First, the influence of the difference in udder location on the spectral data were investigated. The SIMCA calibration revealed that spectra for different udder locations, such as front vs rear and right vs left udder quarter, enabled different prediction accuracy. SIMCA classification for mastitis diagnosis based on the SCC value was performed for the whole udder and for the front and rear quarter spectra, separately. In order to find the accurate threshold for mastitis using only spectral data, a single threshold value of SCC for recognition of mastitis was increased in steps of 10,000 cells mL−1 from 100,000 to 200,000 cells mL−1 and then SIMCA was applied for spectral data analysis. As a result, the best SIMCA prediction for the whole udder, 60.9% of sensitivity and 68.6% of specificity, was obtained for the SCC threshold of 110,000 cells mL−1. In contrast, the prediction result for front and rear quarter spectra showed different classification results. For the front udder quarter, a best prediction accuracy of 75.0% of sensitivity and 84.6% of specificity was obtained when using 160,000 cells mL−1 of SCC as the threshold, while the rear quarter spectra showed 100.0% of sensitivity and 84.7% of specificity with the same threshold for SCC as for front udder (160,000 cells mL−1). The highest classification accuracy of mammary gland inflammation diagnosis was obtained when front and rear udders were analysed separately.


The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in restaurant workers which included waiters and chefs. The study used the Modified Nordic Questionnaire to find out the most frequently affected body part, whether their work was affected due to their problem in last 12 months and if they had any problem in the last seven days. The result showed that 90% of the workers suffered from an MSD of which wrist (27%) and shoulder (20%) was maximally involved followed by lower back (10%) and knee pain (10%). This was due to their respective job demands where both the work profiles demanded for maximum upper limb use. Also a comparison of commonly affected joints was done between waiters and chefs where both of them suffered from maximum upper limb problems despite having different job profiles but chefs had a higher rate of problems. Also maximum workers surfing from MSD were working for 6-10 years.


Share Care, a small community based foster care program in inner urban Melbourne supports parents with drug and alcohol problems. Funded by the Department of Human Services, Yarra City Council and the William Buckland Foundation, this unique program provides overnight care for children in the homes of accredited caregivers for a weekend once or twice a month. Share Care's drug prevention respite care program helps to minimise parental stress and the possibility of family breakdown.


Bertin Many Manda, 2 Rajesh Chaunsali, 3 Georgios Theocharis, and Charalampos Skokos LAUM, CNRS, Le Mans Université, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, 72085 Le Mans, France Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos group, Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 Cape Town, South Africa Department of Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India (Dated: December 28, 2021)


The demand of electricity is increasing nowadays and has raised the necessity of improved power generation technologies, especially in developing countries like India. Reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases is the need of hour and it could be achieved considerably by improving the efficiency of existing coal fired plants. Operation of non-optimized boiler can lead to reduced boiler efficiency, increased excess air requirements, delayed combustion, increased heat loss, high CO and NOx emissions and many other. Optimization of combustion in pulverized coal fired boiler is very important today for every thermal power plant. The aim of the paper is to optimize combustion using secondary air damper which leads to improved boiler efficiency with reduced heat losses.