Regression analysis is a well known quantitative research method that primarily explores the relationship between one or more independent variables and a dependent variable. Conducting regression analysis manually on large datasets with multiple independent variables can be tedious. An automated system for regression analysis will be of great help for researchers as well as non‐expert users. Thus, the objective of this research is to design and develop an automated curve fitting system. As outcome, a curve fitting system named "CurFi" was developed that uses linear regression models to fit a curve to a dataset and to find out the best fit model. The system facilitates to upload a dataset, split the dataset into training set and test set, select relevant features and label from the dataset; and the system will return the best fit linear regression model after training is completed. The developed tool would be a great resource for the users having limited technical knowledge who will also be able to find the best fit regression model for a dataset using the developed "CurFi" system.


We present our solutions to the RecSys Challenge 2015. We propose a multi-perspective modeling scheme for click event prediction, which involves techniques from sophisticated feature engineering for both click sessions and clicked items, classification based on gradient boosting tree, semi-supervised learning that utilizes information from test data, multi-class classification for different categories of sessions and items, classifier-based feature fusion from multi-class classification and in the end classifier ensembles from multiple models. We demonstrate that our scheme is intuitive, flexible and powerful for the Challenge tasks. Our solution based on the scheme achieves a score of 49,517.2 in the Challenge.


Logarithmic signatures of permutation groups and their applications in private-key cryptography have been studied since the early 1980s. More recently, Magliveras, Stinson, and Trung have done some preliminary work in creating two new public-key cryptosystems, MST1, based on logarithmic signatures, and MST2, based on another type of group coverings called (r, s)-meshes.
In this thesis, we discuss implementation and security issues relating to both cryptosystems. Our discussion of MST2 is rudimentary. We give an elementary proof that factoring with respect to an (s, r)-mesh is at least as hard as the discrete logarithm problem, and discuss what is known about the subgroup intersection problem and its relationship to MST2.
The bulk of the thesis is devoted to logarithmic signatures and MST1. In order to implement MST1, we need two distinct types of logarithmic signatures; those for which factorization is easy, and those for which it is hard. In addition, we need a method of constructing hard-to-factor logarithmic signatures from easy-to-factor logarithmic signatures, so that the former can serve as public keys, and the latter as private keys.
We provide a thorough analysis of several transformations that can be performed on logarithmic signatures. Every logarithmic signature of a group induces a permutation on SG. Furthermore, a consequence of the analysis of transformations in this thesis is the discovery that the set of permutations resulting from several classes of logarithmic signatures of a group is the union of cosets of several different groups.
We show that a class of logarithmic signatures called transversal are easy to factor, and define and discuss the class of permutably transversal logarithmic signatures, which may help provide the trap-door needed for MST1.
We define the class of canonical logarithmic signatures. We show that the permutations generated by logarithmic signatures are generated by just the canonical logarithmic signatures, and give bounds on the number of logarithmic signatures and induced permutations of certain classes.


On 14 July 1849 Poe, who had just arrived in Richmond, wrote to his wife's mother, Mrs. Maria Clemm: "I am indebted for more than life itself to B— [Burr]. Never forget him, Mother, while you live. When all failed me, he stood my friend, got me money, and saw me off in the cars for Richmond." Poe had left New York on 29 June. In Philadelphia he had gone on a spree and been seriously ill. Burr with the help of one or two others looked after the sick poet until he was able to resume his journey to Richmond. Poe was on his way back to New York when he died in Baltimore on 7 October of the same year.


An average power of 201mW at 177.3nm was obtained through the six harmonic generation of a picosecond Nd:YAG laser in KBe2BO3F2 (KBBF) crystal. This is the highest power at 177.3nm ever generated in a nonlinear optical crystal.


The Resistance publishing house De Bezige Bij [The Busy Bee] was financed with money earned with broadside verse and other special publications. This was such a lucrative business that there was even enough money left over to pay for large numbers of Jewish children to go into hiding. During the occupation the company built up a reputation as a left-wing publisher ‐ an image that needed to be maintained after the liberation, even though many of the works published by the post-war Bezige Bij were firmly in a different political camp.


Background: Kidney stone is a common and important problem affected urinary system due to changing the lifestyle and diet. Self-care management has a great effect in improving and health status of the patients. Aim of the study: Was to assess self-care management of kidney stones patients. Design : A descriptive research design. Settings : This study was conducted at Urology Outpatient Clinics of Benha University Hospital. Sampling: A convenient sample of kidney stone patients who attending in previously mentioned setting for six months (200 patients). Data collection tools: Two tools were used to conduct this study; I. A structured interviewing questionnaire. II. Kidney stone patients' practices about self-care management. Results: More than two fifths of the studied patients had poor total knowledge about kidney stone. While more than one third of them had average total knowledge about kidney stone. Less than three quarters of the studied patients had average total score of self-care pattern. While almost one fifth of them had good total score of self-care pattern. Conclusions: There was highly statistically significant relation between studied patients' demographic characteristics and their total knowledge score moreover; there was highly statistically significant relation between studied patients' demographic characteristics and their total score of self-care pattern. Less than three quarters of studied patients had average total score of self-care pattern and less than half of studied patients had poor total knowledge about kidney stone. Recommendations: Developing and implementing educational program for kidney stone patients to improve self-care management.


BACKGROUND
More than 40% of patients with intracranial ependymoma need a salvage treatment within 5 years after diagnosis, and no standard treatment is available as yet. We report the outcome after first relapse of 64 patients treated within the 2 nd AIEOP protocol.

METHODS
We considered relapse sites and treatments ,i.e. various combinations of complete/incomplete surgery, if followed by standard or hypo-fractionated radiation(RT) ± chemotherapy(CT). Molecular analyses were available for 38/64 samples obtained at first diagnosis. Of the 64 cases, 55 were suitable for subsequent analyses.

RESULTS
The median follow-up was 147 months after diagnosis, 84 after first relapse, 5-year EFS/OS were 26.2%/30.8% (median EFS/OS 13/32 months) after relapse. For patients with a local relapse(LR), the 5-year cumulative incidence of second LRs was 51.6%, with a 5-year event-specific probability of being LR-free of 40.0%. Tumor site/grade, need for shunting, age above/below 3 years, molecular subgroup at diagnosis, had no influence on outcomes. Due to variation in the RT dose/fractionation used and the subgroup sizes it was not possible to assess the impact of the different RT modalities. Multivariable analyses identified completion of surgery, absence of symptoms at relapse, and female sex as prognostically favorable. Tumors with a 1q gain carried a higher cumulative incidence of dissemination after first relapse.

CONCLUSIONS
Survival after recurrence was significantly influenced by symptoms and completeness of surgery. Only a homogeneous protocol with well posed, randomized questions could clarify the numerous issues, orient salvage treatment and ameliorate prognosis for this group of patients.


Transplanting or pot culture has been mentioned as a promising approach to increase crop yield and decrease irrigation water use in recent years. Using simulation models to assess pot culture is a valuable way in investigating the effect on yield, water consumption and other properties of crops such as soybean. For this purpose, several pot culture levels (seedling sizes) plus direct sowing were evaluated in soybean using SSM-iCrop2 for four different sowing dates in Gorgan, Iran. Seedling sizes were 13, 18, 24 and 29 cm 2 per plant leaf area and at 200, 250, 300 and 350 °C cumulative temperature, respectively. Sowing dates were June 10 (early), June 25 (usual), July 14 (late) and July 27 (very late). The results of simulation showed that direct seed planting method at late sowing date (14 July) and all treatments at very late sowing date (27 July) are not feasible and cannot be recommended due to disturbance that cause in sowing of next crop in double cropping system of the region. Transplanting method at early (10 June), usual (25 June) and late planting dates resulted in earlier maturity. There was no significant difference between two methods regarding seed yield at early and usual planting dates, but at late planting date transplanting method resulted in higher yield compared to direct seed planting method. Seedling size had no significant effect on yield. In addition, there was no significant difference among sowing methods in all planting dates in terms of net irrigation requirement of soybean. It was concluded that transplanting is only preferred at late sowing date for its higher yield, but considering the higher production costs of this method compared to direct sowing, it is necessary to find some cost-effective measures before pot culture could be adopted by farmers.


This chapter considers the role of theological education in the task of preparing ministers and other pastoral workers for mission that is contextually sensitive.


The adoption of design fiction into design research has recently been expanding within the HCI community. Design fiction workshops have fruitfully facilitated users and researchers discussing and creating future technologies by exposing differing viewpoints. Yet, most scholarship focuses on the ostensibly successful outputs of these workshops. It remains unclear exactly what sort of interaction dynamics are instigated by design fiction in collaborative design. How might design fiction affect what we consider in design, and how is this reflected in the ensuing design? To fill this gap, our study examines design fictions across five workshops where diverse participants created futuristic autobiographies, a method to elicit values, and built diegetic prototypes both individually and collaboratively. We detail their design processes and unpack three kinds of soft conflicts that arose between participants and allowed them to bring up and discuss differing values regarding technology in society. Reflecting on our workshops, we discuss their implications on how one might employ design fiction in collaborative design.


Abstract : This joint thesis analyzes the carrier-based Tactical Support Center (CV-TSC) design from a human factors engineering view-point. Beginning with the ASW threat to the carrier force under the CV concept, a definition of the mission of the CV/TSC is presented. System functions are identified and developed into man-machine relationships of the CV/TSC. A comprehensive, albeit general, description of TSC components is included as part of the system analysis. Man's role, functions and tasks in the CV/TSC are identified and form the basis for alternatives to the current TSC display/control console.


The government was accused last week of being too slow in approving new products that could help to halt the spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).


Sime the potential fault tendency of the slowly varying data of propulsion system is not easy to determine during flight,the concept of predicting the tendency of real time flight data is proposed,and ARMA model (Auto-Regressive and Moving Average Model) is used to predict data tendency.Simulation shows that the predicting model is highly precise,fast tracking and almost in real time,so that it can help to realize real-time flight data tendency prediction and forecast potential fault in advance to provide theoretical support for the commander's decision.


The new effect -- stimulated light backscattering and anomalous light transmission in Bose-condensed exciton system are considered. The effects are connected with photoinduced coherent recombination of two excitons from the condensate with production of two photons with opposite momenta. The effect of two-exciton coherent recombination leads also to the appearance of the second order coherence in exciton luminescence connected with squeezing between photon states with opposite momenta. Coherent 3- and 4-photon emission processes stimulated by respectively two and three laser beams are also considered.


Introduction:
 Timely treatment of ST elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI] requires ongoing coordinated care between emergency departments, paramedics, and primary percutaneous coronary (PCI) intervention facilities.

 Methods:
 To provide a current view and a national benchmark, we examined 121,576 patient records submitted by 648 hospitals participating the GWTG-CAD registry from Q2 2018 through Q3 2021 [median age 63, women 29%, Black 11%, Hispanic 8%, admission cardiac arrest 5%, shock 7%, heart failure 7%, Covid 0.2%, presentation EMS 47%, walk in 27%, transfer 22%]

 Results:
 Reperfusion method for all patients included primary PCI 87%, fibrinolysis 5%, and no reperfusion 8% [increasing from 7 to 9% during the study period]. Median time from symptom onset to reperfusion was shortest for EMS patients 148 minutes, followed by walk-in 195 minutes, ground transferred 238 minutes, and air transferred 247 minutes. Process times did not improve during the study period. First medical contact to device times increased by 5 minutes for EMS and ground transferred patients in Q2 2020 corresponding with the pandemic onset, and adjusted mortality was significantly higher in the final 3 quarters compared to Q2 2018 [OR, 95% CI 1.28(1.07-1.53); 1.35(1.13-1.61); 1.23(1.03-1.48)]. Patients treated within guideline goals had significantly lower mortality [Figure].

 Conclusions:
 These data reaffirm the association between process times and lower mortality for STEMI patients. They also identify concerning trends and opportunities for improved care. Increasing delays in treatment, particularly for hospital transfer, greater numbers of untreated patients, and increased risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality all provide strong impetus for renewed focus on STEMI systems. Regional collaborative efforts led by coordinators and informed by a common data system have the potential to reverse these trends and improve survival.


India is mainly an agricultural country the farmer is an important part of agriculture. Agriculture mainly depends on him. Even then the farmers cannot predict prices for their commodities because prediction of prices plays a major challenge. Several characteristics are taken into account so that the crop price forecast is accurate. We consider the attributes of the Mysore region to make it a real-time application framework. Price prediction is a big issue for farmers who are not aware of the market prices. Forecasting price of agriculture commodities helps the agriculturist and also the agriculture department of mysore region to make decisions. The new model predicts the accuracy for the agricultural yields and it also avoids the role of middle man.


We assessed the problems and efficacy of glecaprevir + pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) therapy for patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the real world.


This paper studies the origins of an import substitution strategy of development, summarizes the consequences of that strategy, and reviews the problems that led to its failure. The fundamental difficulty was its discouragement of the indigenous social learning necessary for sustained, independent development. The emergence of an outward-oriented, minimal-government strategy is due to the success of Korea and Taiwan. This strategy fails to recognize that social learning requires a strong role for national agents and that this role can be penalized by undue openness. An effective strategy must protect and induce domestic learning without penalizing exporting.


A palladium-catalyzed enantioselective ring-opening/carbonylation of cyclic diarylsulfonium salts is reported. In comparison to thioethers, the sulfonium salts displayed high reactivity and enabled the reaction to be performed under mild conditions (room temperature). The steric repulsion of the two non-hydrogen substituents adjacent to the axis led cyclic diarylsulfonium salts to be distorted, which enabled the ring-opening reaction to proceed with significant preference for breaking the exocyclic C–S bond.


Identifying the lymph node target volume in patients with node‐negative sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC) crossing the midline poses a challenge. This study aims to address this.


Aristotle believes that most people can be enslaved, devoid of injustice, as they are born to be slaves. At the same time, some of them are born free to dominate as masters. Most modern critics have condemned these concepts. The author tries to reevaluate the concepts of citizenship and slavery in the light of Aristotle's Politics, to reveal not only Aristotle's reasoning, but also how his views are interpreted by contemporary philosophers.


A logistic model is constructed to predict airport choice in a multiple-airport region and estimated using passenger data from the Washington, D.C./Baltimore area. In agreement with previous work, it was found that airport access time and flight frequencies were significant predictors of airport choice, although, as might be expected, decreased access time and additional flight frequencies were more important to the business traveler than to the nonbusiness traveler. Additional estimations indicated that when only those passengers within reasonable proximity of more than one airport were included in the estimation, the significance of access time decreased and that of flight frequencies increased. Additional variables for a passenger's experience with an airport were then included in the model and were significant. This would indicate that passengers who have used an airport will tend to continue to use the same airport, all other factors being equal.


Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a complication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT). In murine models of alloSCT, naive T cells (TN) cause GVHD while effector memory T cells (TEM) do not. To determine why TEM fail to cause GVHD, we generated a novel T-cell receptor transgenic GVHD model. In this model CD4+ TS1 T cells, which recognize an epitope of influenza hemagglutinin (HA), are transferred, along with syngeneic bone marrow, into irradiated transgenic recipients that express HA in all tissues (HA104 Tg mice). We found that TS1 TN induced early and prolonged weight loss and caused GVHD-like pathology in the skin, liver and colon. In contrast, TS1 TEM induced mild, transient weight loss and minimal pathology, demonstrating that TEM have repertoire-independent characteristics that limit their ability to induce GVHD. Post transplant analysis revealed that TS1 TEM progeny, relative to TS1 TN progeny, produced less IFN-γ, proliferated and accumulated less in the colon, and expressed higher levels of the inhibitory molecule PD-1.

To investigate whether PD-1 was responsible for limiting pathogenesis by TEM, we used hosts and donor bone marrow lacking both PD-L1 and PD-L2. The absence of PD-L1/2 did not enable TS1 TEM to cause early weight loss. However, between 35 and 60 days post transplant, TS1 TEM recipients lacking PD-L1/2 rapidly began losing weight and approximately 50% died. Weight loss in TEM recipients was dependent upon lack of PD-L1/2 expression on both donor bone marrow and host cells, including radioresistant stromal cells, suggesting a possible role for PD-L1/2 expressed in tissues. Indeed, global absence of PD-L1 alone, which (in contrast to PD-L2) is expressed on parenchymal tissues, also resulted in late weight loss in recipients given TEM.

To determine the reason for late weight loss, we surveyed tissue histopathology. Surprisingly, in the absence of PD-L1/2, TEM recipients did not develop exacerbated colon pathology but instead developed mononuclear infiltrates and mycocyte necrosis in the heart, accompanied by heart block and decreased cardiac output. Interestingly, heart disease was also seen in PD-L1/2 deficient TN recipients that survived to later time points, indicating that the protective role of PD-L1/2 applied more generally to GVHD induced by CD4 T cells.

Strikingly, the extensive infiltrates in affected hearts were mostly comprised of non-TS1 T cells, including both CD4 and CD8 cells. These cells are likely host-derived, as severe cardiac infiltrates were seen when Rag-deficient donor BM was used to reconstitute host hematopoiesis. We therefore hypothesize that in GVHD PD-L1/2 normally prevent "allogeneic" T cell mediated damage but also protect from subsequent syngeneic T cell-mediated pathogenesis that could contribute to prolonged disease. This effect is tissue specific and could in part be due to parenchymal expression of PD-L1 in certain organs. It is possible that such mechanisms could explain more chronic phases of GVHD, which differs from acute GVHD. Ongoing depletion experiments will determine the relative contributions of donor TS1 T cells, donor bone marrow derived T cells and host T cells.

Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


We give a general overview of relaxation studies for characterizing dynamics of solid biopolymers. Focusing on the site-specific relaxation measurements, we highlight differences for such experiments in solution and solid state NMR. Moreover, we discuss a number of challenges and recent developments concerning relaxation in solids.

Keywords:

relaxation;
solid-state NMR;
dynamics;
proteins;
nucleic acids;
motion;
spin-lattice relaxation


Background: AMD3100 (plerixafor)+G-CSF (A+G) was generally safe and more effective in mobilizing CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells compared to placebo+G-CSF (P+G) in a Phase III, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study conducted in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). In the intent-to-treat analysis, 78/148 (53%) patients in the P+G group and 20/150 (13%) patients in the A+G group failed to mobilize ≥ 2 x 106 CD34+ cells/kg, p<0.0001. Of these failure patients, 52 in the P+G group and 10 in the A+G group consented to enter into the rescue arm of the study. This abstract reports the outcomes of these rescue patients.

Methods: Patients enrolled in the Phase III study who failed to mobilize ≥2 x 106 CD34+ cells/kg could enter into the rescue arm of the study and receive A+G. The patient's treatment assignment in the study remained blinded. Following a rest period of ≥7 days, patients were given G (10 μg/kg/day) subcutaneously (SQ) for 4 days. In the evening around 10PM on Day 4, patients were given a dose of A (240 μg/kg SQ). On Day 5, all patients returned to clinic to receive a morning dose of G before apheresis. Patients continued to receive the evening dose of A followed by morning dose of G and apheresis the next day for up to a total of 4 aphereses or until ≥5 x 106 CD34+ cells/kg were collected. Pooled cells were allowed for transplantation.

Results: After rescue therapy, 33/52 (63%) patients who previously failed P+G and 4/10 (40%) patients who previously failed A+G collected ≥2 x 106 CD34+ cells/kg. Seven of the 33 patients who previously failed with P+G collected ≥ 5 x 106 CD34+ cells/kg. Six of the ten A+G patients and 46/52 P+G patients were transplanted. Median time to PMN engraftment was Day 10 and Day 11 for the A+G and P+G groups, respectively. Median time to platelet engraftment was Day 22 and Day 20 for the A+G and P+G groups, respectively. One patient in the P+G group never had platelet counts > 50,000 and was counted as a failure to engraft, even though the patient was clinically stable through 6 months post-transplant. In the re-mobilized group, 9 patients died (2 patients were never transplanted and 7 patients had disease progression). Grafts were durable for ≥100 days in all 6 rescued A+G patients and all 41 rescued P+G patients who engrafted. The predominant adverse events were mild gastrointestinal effects (diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain) and injection site reactions. There were no drug-related serious adverse events reported in these re-mobilized patients.

Conclusions: The addition of AMD3100 to G-CSF successfully mobilized sufficient stem cells for transplant in 63% of NHL patients who previously failed mobilization with G-CSF alone. The high success rate is consistent with the Compassionate Use Protocol experience. AMD3100 was generally well tolerated. The 40% success rate in the patients who previously failed AMD3100+G-CSF suggests that re-mobilization with the same combination is a potentially useful strategy for similar patients.


Levin et al. give us a sweeping vision of the notion of resilience and the response of management. In these comments I wish to discuss the daunting task of quantification of the resilience-based management issues raised by Levin et al. I also wish to suggest directions of future research.


Objective. Compare levels of biochemical and functional markers of cardiovascular risk in the molecular-genetic and autoimmune forms of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Materials and methods. The study included 68 women with POI, 49 of them - with molecular-genetic form (a subgroup IA), 16 women with autoimmune form (a subgroup IB), 3 women - idiopathic form (a subgroup IC), and 85 women with regular periods (group II - control). Hormonal profile, levels of biochemical and functional markers of endothelial dysfunction [total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, low density lipoproteins (LDL), high density lipoproteins, atherogenic index, apolipoproteins A1 and B, uric acid, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), glucose, insulin, insulin resistance index HOMA, right and left carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD)] were assessed in all the participants. Results. The levels of cholesterol, LDL, cIMT were statistically significantly increased in subgroups IA and IB compared to group II. The patients with autoimmune form of POI (subgroup IB) had statistically increased levels of cholesterol and LDL compared to group with molecular-genetic form (subgroup IA). The women in subgroup IA also had significantly increased levels of uric acid, a highly sensitive CRP, endothelin-1 and decreased brachial artery FMD in comparison with the control group. Conclusion. Molecular-genetic POI is associated with more pronounced adverse changes in the profile of cardiovascular disease risk markers.


Purpose: To describe the manual no-fold push-in technique for Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) graft insertion and analyze postoperative endothelial cell loss. Methods: Twenty consecutive patients underwent DSAEK surgery using the manual no-fold push-in technique. This insertion technique uses a 6-mm limbal wound, a Sheets glide, and a Sinskey hook without the need for an inserter or additional instrumentation. Results: Three patients developed graft dislocation, requiring re-bubbling. No primary graft failures were encountered. With an average postoperative follow-up of 13.22 months (SD, 7.94; range, 2.23–26.87), average automated endothelial cell count was 2329.62 cells per mm2 (SD, 312.78; range, 1657–2928) and the average cell loss was 23.31% (SD, 11.33; range, 5.56–42.76). Conclusions: This technique uses standard instrumentation and is simple to perform. This series demonstrates that manual graft insertion techniques can be effectively used in DSAEK surgery and provide patients with excellent postoperative results.


The anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor alectinib is an effective treatment for ALK‐positive non‐small‐cell lung cancer. This bioequivalence study evaluated the in vivo performance of test 3 formulations with the reduced wetting agent sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) content. This randomized, 4‐period, 4‐sequence, crossover study compared alectinib (600 mg) as 25%, 12.5%, and 3% SLS hard capsule formulations with the reference 50% SLS clinical formulation in healthy subjects under fasted conditions (n = 49), and following a high‐fat meal (n = 48). Geometric mean ratios and 90% confidence intervals (CIs) for Cmax, AUC0–last, and AUC0–∞ of alectinib, its major active metabolite, M4, and alectinib plus M4 were determined for the test formulations versus the reference formulation. Bioequivalence was concluded if the 90%CIs were within the 80% to 125% boundaries. The 25% SLS formulation demonstrated bioequivalence to the reference 50% SLS formulation for Cmax, AUC0–last, and AUC0–∞ of alectinib, M4, and alectinib plus M4 under both fasted and fed conditions. Further reductions in SLS content (12.5% and 3% SLS) did not meet the bioequivalence criteria. Cross‐group comparisons showed an approximately 3‐fold positive food effect. Reducing SLS to 25% resulted in a formulation that is bioequivalent to the current 50% SLS formulation used in alectinib pivotal trials.


Lantana camara L. is used extensively in many countries as an ornamental plant species but limited information is provided about the fertilization of this plant, especially after treatments with the triazole paclobutrazol (PBZ). The effects of drenched-applied PBZ at concentrations of 0, 40, and 80 mg L-1 on specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf N, P, K, and Mg concentrations of L. camara L. subsp. camara (lantana) plants were examined under different environmental conditions, resulted from different shading levels, 0% (daily light quantity of 27.8 mol m-2 d-1) and 66% (9.4 mol m-2 d-1) in glasshouse experiments in Attica, Greece. The concentration of leaf N was affected by the PBZ treatment (P < 0.01), while the shading level affected K and Mg concentration (P < 0.01). Plants treated with the same PBZ concentration presented higher SLA with 66% shading compared to 0% shading. The more the PBZ concentration, the lower and the higher were the SLA and leaf N respectively, at both shading levels. Leaf P, in general, increased with increasing PBZ concentration and shading as did K and Mg at 66% shading compared to 0% shading. At the end of the experiment all plants were healthy with no visible symptoms of nutritional deficiency. The findings of our study could be useful in establishing a fertilization program for L. camara plants treated with different drenched-applied PBZ concentrations under various environments.


Based on the study of selenium-rich soil in Hangjiahu Plain,the result showed that the selenium-rich soil distributed around the Tai Lake.The amount of soil selenium was from 0.3 to 0.5 mg/kg and its average,standard deviation and coefficient of variation were respectively 0.389 mg/kg,0.037 and 9.4%.The correlation analysis indicated that selenium was closely related to soil organic matter,(n = 779,r = 0.550),but it was not related to soil pH.The result of further study showed that the possibility of the agricultural products selenium-rich was high in the soil condition of rich in organic matter and reducing environment.Finally,based on the results of the study,limnetic facies type of selenium-rich soil was first put forward.


The generalization of the concept of coherent states for a Morse potential based on the real or complex displacements of the equilibrium position of the ground-state wave function yields a natural framework for their generation via Franck-Condon transitions. We study the relevance of including continuum states in the proper treatment of these displaced states, particularly for the description of their time evolution. It is shown that displaced Morse states may exhibit mathematical and physical temporal stability manifested through the presence of revivals in spite of the unbound character of the included continuum states. The Wigner function of these states is presented as well as relations to previous constructions. The time evolution of particular phase space properties such as mean values of position and momentum as well as their uncertainties are also analyzed.


The traditional Dijkstra algorithm usually obtains optimal path from the source node to the destination node through iteration calculation of path length.It is based on a single weight value,and cannot consider a variety of constraints.In the distribution of agricultural products,when the particular distribution path is choosed,it can not only consider the distance,but also consider the route traffic conditions and real road traffic.Only considering these factors,it will have practical implications on optimal path So we extend traditional Dijkstra algorithm and apply it in optimal path selection with multiple constraints.In addition,the traditional Dijkstra algorithm implemented will not only consume a large amount of computer memory,but also execute with low efficiency.We integrate specific situations in local transportation network of agricultural products,optimize the storage space and the computing time for the algorithm.It saves the memory and improves the efficiency of the algorithm.


Human detection is an essential task in so many applications, especially surveillance systems. Recently, ConvNets (Convolutional Neural Networks)-based YOLO model is a successful method applied for object (including human) detection. It is one of the fastest way to detect directly objects from the input image. However, compared to the ConvNets-based state-of-the-art object detection methods, YOLO model-based object detection method achieved less accuracy. In this paper, we propose a new real-time human detection under fisheye cameras for surveillance purpose based on YOLO model. However, we improve the preciseness by using 2-D input channels consisting of grey-level image channel and foreground-background context information extracted by AGMM (Adaptive Gaussian Mixture Model) instead of original 3-D color input channels for ConvNets-based YOLO model. It is shown through experiments that the proposed method performs better with respect to accuracy and more robust to background scene changes without processing speed degradation compared to YOLO model-based human detection so that it can be successfully employed for embedded surveillance application.


Many municipalities have enacted room or occupancy taxes as a means of gaining "free" revenue—money from travelers, who are not constituents. But this form of taxation without representation also has its down side, in the form of reduced occupancy


Enzymic oxidizing system of 1,3-butanediol in chicks was studied in comparison with that in rats. 1,3-Butanediol was oxidized with NAD+ as a cofactor in the cytosol fraction of chick liver, kidney, and rat liver. NADP+ was about 40% as effective as NAD+ in chick liver, kidney, whereas the former was ineffective in rat liver. Inhibitory effect of pyrazole on 1,3-butanediol dehydrogenase activity was recognized distinctly both in chicks and rats, but the effect was much higher in rat liver than that in chick liver and kidney. Both in chicks and rats, the conversion of 1,3-butanediol to β-hydroxybutyric acid was detected clearly, and the rate of β-hydroxybutyrate production increased remarkably by employing NAD+-regenerating system, i.e., lactic dehydrogenase and pyruvic acid. β-Hydroxybutyric acid was also formed from acetaldol, the most probable intermediate of 1,3-butanediol, with NAD+ both in chicks and rats. From the observations for coenzyme specificity, inhibitory effect of pyrazole, and so on, it is ...


AimUnderstanding the response of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to mechanical strain and their consequent gene expression patterns will broaden our knowledge of the mechanobiology of distraction osteogenesis.MethodologyIn this study, a single period of cyclic mechanical stretch (0.5 Hz, 2,000 μɛ) was performed on rat bone marrow MSCs. Cellular proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was examined. The mRNA expression of six bone‐related genes (Ets‐1, bFGF, IGF‐II, TGF‐β, Cbfa1 and ALP) was detected using real‐time quantitative RT‐PCR.ResultsThe results showed that mechanical strain can promote MSCs proliferation, increase ALP activity, and up‐regulate the expression of these genes. A significant increase in Ets‐1 expression was detected immediately after mechanical stimulation, but Cbfa1 expression becameelevated later. The temporal expression pattern of ALP coincided perfectly with Cbfa1.ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that mechanical strain may act as a stimulator to induce differentiation of MSCs into osteoblasts, and that these bone‐related genes may play different roles in the response of MSCs to mechanical stimulation.


After 16 years of unbroken Fianna Fail rule, the first four of the five general elections of the period 1948-1963 saw sitting governments unseated. Economic policy pivoted: protectionism was abandoned; foreign direct investment welcomed and an application for membership was made to the EEC. Whitaker's Economic Development appeared in 1958. Lemass took over from de Valera as Taoiseach in 1959. The 'long 1950s' remains of enduring fascination to Irish historians. Conventional wisdom accords the bulk of the credit for the turnaround in policy to Sean Lemass, Minister for Industry and Commerce in most Fianna Fail governments since 1932 and Taoiseach from 1959 to 1966, and T. K. Whitaker, Secretary of the Department of Finance from 1956 to 1969. This arguably downplays the importance of the intensified electoral competition of the time, and undervalues the achievements of the second inter-party government, which introduced export profits tax relief – the genesis of Ireland's low corporation tax regime – in 1956. Fine Gael and Labour had long advocated liberalising the restrictions on foreign ownership of industry before Fianna Fail finally yielded (Bew and Patterson, 1982, McCarthy, 1990). Whitaker's particular role in the reform process is – to our minds – seriously misrepresented by Walsh and Whelan (2010) in a recent paper in this journal. The present note assesses their main assertions in this regard in the light of information available from the archival records.


The object of the study is to clarify experimentally the variation of the vapor concentration of binary mixtures generated during nucleate boiling in a saturated pool under various boiling conditions. The generated vapor concentrations in the bulk vapor layer were measured for binary mixtures of water-ethanol and ethanol-acetone under various liquid concentrations, heat fluxes, and liquid layer heights from heated thin wires at atmospheric pressure.

Two methods of measuring concentration, namely, the dew point method and the laser absorption method, were used. The dew point measurement utilized a copper heat transfer block installed in the center of the vapor layer in the boiling vessel. The commencement of condensation on the surface was observed directly via a microscope used for determining the dew point by controlling its temperature. A laser light having a wavelength of 3.39 µm was used for the laser light absorption method utilizing its absorptive property against ethanol vapor.

The measurement of the concentrations of the bulk vapor was carried out for various superheats of heated wires, the depth of liquid mixture layer, and the liquid concentrations. They were almost independent of those parameters and were almost in equilibrium with bulk liquid conditions even under higher surface superheats and lower liquid heights. Also, the measured results using both methods were in close agreement. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 31(8): 595–605, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.10060


This study aims to measure students' ability to understand Algebraic Limits of Function material which is integrated into the verses of the Qur'an using the discovery learning model in class XI IPA Madrasah Aliyah Negeri 2 Halmahera Utara for the 2021/2022 Academic Year. The research method is classroom action research (CAR). Data collection techniques used tests in cycle I and tests in cycle II, while data analysis used descriptive analysis to determine individual student learning completeness, classical completeness KKM) Mathematics class XI IPA 1 set at Madrasah Aliyah Negeri 2 Halmahera Utara is 75. The results showed that students of class XI IPA 1 Madrasah Aliyah Negeri 2 North Halmahera had the ability to understand Algebraic Function Limit material which was integrated into the verses of the Qur'an using the discovery learning model and there was an increase in student learning outcomes through the application This discovery learning model can be seen from the learning outcomes in the first cycle which achieved completeness of only 8 students (31%) while in the second cycle it increased to 21 students (81%).


On July 17, l985, at 1810 P.d.t., NASA 712, a Convair 990 aircraft, was destroyed by fire at March Air Force Base, California. The fire started during the rollout after the pilot rejected the takeoff on runway 32. The rejected takeoff was initiated during the takeoff roll because of blown tires on the right landing gear. During the rollout, fragments of either the blown tires or the wheel/brake assemblies penetrated a right-wing fuel tank forward of the right main landing gear. Leaking fuel ignited while the aircraft was rolling, and fire engulfed the right wing and the fuselage after the aircraft was stopped on the runway. The 4-man flightcrew and the 15 scientists and technicians seated in the cabin evacuated the aircraft without serious injury. The fire was not extinguished by crash/rescue efforts and the aircraft was destroyed.


In recently years, high-index-contrast semiconductor ring and disk resonators have attracted much attention. Nanofabrication techniques now allow the realization of semiconductor microcavity ring and disk resonators with evanescent wave coupling to submicron-width waveguides across submicron-width air gaps. In this paper, we use the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method to simulate the coupling efficiencies and resonant frequencies for optical microcavity ring and disk resonators devices. Studies of the transmission characteristics illustrate the transition from single-mode resonances to whispering-gallery-mode resonances as the waveguide width of the micro-ring approaching to a fulfilled micro-disk.


4084Background: Sel (AZD6244, ARR142886) is an oral MEK inhibitor, with preclinical evidence of synergy with Gem in BTC. CisGem is standard first-line treatment for advanced BTC. This trial assesse...


Recently a unified model [) for the elementary partieies (called "the Nagoya Model") has been proposed in which the basic baryons in the Sakata model are assumed to be composed of the leptons and a new kinel of matter, B. Through the investigation of the mass formula for the compound partieies in the Sakata model, it is shown that the B-mauer has a charge like character similar to the electric charge (c= - n. On the basis of this character of the B matter, i) the mass formula (the bond character and the mass-bond relation) is reproduced, ii) the physical ground is given to Taketani's iclea,2) and his idea is developed. A dynamical law of the basic baryons within the compound particle is discussed. Remarks on new boson baryon family and photon are given.


We report the first aqueous ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of N -carboxyanhydrides (NCA) using α-amino-poly(ethylene oxide) macroinitiator to protect NCA monomers from hydrolysis through spontaneous in situ self-assembly (ISA). This ROPISA process affords well-defined amphiphilic diblock copolymers that simultaneously form original needle-like nano-objects.


As Chinese companies increasingly seek to expand their businesses internationally and prominent American retailers look toward new opportunities in China as the American economy continues to waver, the concept of adaptation has never been more relevant. It's a familiar adage that businesses must adapt to local market conditions, but it seems that for every company that succeeds, there's a new theory on the secret to success. And conversely, for every business that fails, there's a different explanation as to why.


Effects of a magnetic field on metal–insulator transition and antiferromagnetic ordering in the skutterudite SmRu4P12 are studied theoretically. It is argued that the \(p\)–\(f\) hybridization specific to skutterudites is responsible for the transition. An interplay between magnetic and charge interactions derived from the hybridization is shown to be the key to resolving the origin of puzzling thermodynamic and transport properties in a magnetic field.


This article states that studying of concepts is one of developing areas in linguistics. Concept «overcoming the obstacle» is important in spiritual, social and political life as it is the backbone of progressive advance. The situation of overcoming the obstacle can be objectified by the verbs overcome, squash, subjugate, etc. Emphasis is often laid on efforts of the individual. Sometimes we can see valuation of the action from observers or the person himself.


The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved a licence extension for zonisamide (Zonegran) as monotherapy for the treatment of partial seizures (with or without secondary generalisation) in adults with newly diagnosed epilepsy. It was previously licensed as adjunctive therapy for adults. The EMA is now considering an application to license zonisamide for children six years old and over.


Teaching reflection and reconstruction,two forms of school-based teaching and research,each play a different role.When reflecting on the teaching reflection,people generally ignore the value of reconstruction.In fact,teaching reflection lays the foundation for teaching reconstruction,and yet teaching reconstruction provides condition for a higher-level reflection.So long as teaching reflection and reconstruction promotes each other,school-based research may develop healthily.


Fibrin-linked platelet thrombosis in a coronary artery is at the pathologic root of myocardial infarction (MI), so it is reasonable that antithrombotic therapy is the foundation for the management of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). A number of agents have been studied, validated, and labeled by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for acute management of ACS and are therefore pertinent to emergency department (ED) care. Others have failed to demonstrate utility in acute management but may still have a role later in ACS care, such as in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. A group of novel oral agents may hold further promise of benefi t in secondary prevention of ACS which, while not initiated in the ED, may impact ED management when the patient later presents for anginal symptoms or for other issues quite unrelated to coronary artery disease.


Envisioning Structure-Property Relationships at the Nano and Macro Scales: Graphics for Presentation and Insight Ronald D. Kriz1 and Arun K. Nair2 Introduction The advent of high performance computers (HPC) has allowed materials researchers to simulate mechanical response of large complex three-dimensional (3D) nano-structures and predict their associated macro-properties. Envisioning complex structure-property relationships, embedded in massive HPC simulation data sets, is now possible with recent advances in computer graphic hardware and software. However designing insightful graphical tools is best accomplished within the context of the physics as understood by the researcher who also models the physics embedded in the HPC simulation. The same can be said when creating the mathematical models used in the HPC simulation. Insight occurs when both graphical and mathematical models are created within the context of the physics unique to each problem. At best commercial graphical tools are designed to present HPC simulation results generically that will benefit a broad range of problems. Hence a tradeoff exists between creating customized graphical models for insight or generic graphical models for presentation. Because researchers typically lack the programming skills required to create their own customized graphical models, insight is limited within the use of commercially available graphical tools. A solution to this dilemma is to create synergistic teams of computer scientists who are skillful graphical programmers and who work with discipline experts who provide the insight for designing a customized graphical interface. This a popular solution at national labs, but at academic institutions an opportunity exists to educate the next generation of researchers to be as skillful at graphical modeling as they are at mathematical modeling. This requires changing the curriculum to include graphical modeling as an insightful problem solving skill. Because academic institutions are notoriously slow to change the curriculum, creating synergistic teams has become more popular as a short-term solution. At Virginia Tech both approaches have been implemented with limited success when solving problems using HPC and scientific data visualization resources in the engineering sciences. Although many multidisciplinary examples can be cited the remainder of the paper focuses on material research problems that span the length scales from nano to macro.


"The author investigates the differences between town and the countryside and internal migration connected with it. He analyses the changes in China and the reasons [for] the changes...." The impact of the household registration system on the urbanization process is considered. (EXCERPT)


For a long time, college English teachers have invested a lot of energy to study the college English teaching mode, so as to improve the college English teaching effect and students' reading ability. Psycholinguistics not only provides an important theoretical basis for discourse comprehension, but also becomes a strong backing for college English teachers' reading teaching research. This paper analyzes the psychological process of reading and puts forward a new college English reading teaching model based on psycholinguistic theory.


In Ga2-based Heusler alloys Ga2XCr (X = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) the tetragonal distortion, electronic structure, magnetism and phonon dispersion have been studied by first-principles calculations based on the density functional theory. The volume-conserving tetragonal distortions of the cubic Ga2XCr show that Cr atom makes the greatest contribution to the total magnetic moment. No martensitic transformation has been found in Ga2FeCr, Ga2CoCr and Ga2CuCr. For both Ga2MnCr and Ga2NiCr, the tetragonal phase is lower in energy as compared with the cubic phase. Ga2MnCr and Ga2NiCr have the lowest total energy at c/a = 1.28 and 1.11, respectively. Correspondingly, the energy difference ΔE between the cubic and the tetragonal phase is -8.26 meV in Ga2MnCr and -6.14 meV in Ga2NiCr. For Ga2MnCr and Ga2NiCr, calculations of electronic structure and phonon dispersion reveal that a sharp peak near the Fermi level will lead to a structural instability by increasing the energy of the system, which can result in a broadening in the energy range due to hybridizations between 3d electrons as well as the potential structural transformation. With proper c/a and ΔE a potential tetragonal martensitic transformation can be expected in Ga2MnCr, the phonon dispersion of which further shows that the acoustic modes tend to be softened.


This article presents the development of numerical models to simulate the propagation of the TV signal, and a set of measurements of the electromagnetic signal to adjust the models. These tools have been devised to help in the deployment of digital television, ISDB-Tb standard, in Uruguay. The aim is a country coverage as wide as possible. A good estimation of the signal propagation shall be used to choose the best places for transmitters, the transmission modes and to give guidelines for reception antennas installation. The implemented models, which are well known, are briefly described. The measuring method is more thoroughly described as there is no established procedure and the spectrum analyzer's settings are discussed. Spatial validation, using neighbouring points is proposed. The measuring method is validated both by its coincidence with the Friis formula for free space propagation, when this condition arises, and by the consistency between neighbouring points. Okumura-Hata and Recommendation ITU-R P.1546-4 models are well suited for coverage prediction in Montevideo using certain parameters that are justified in the article. The statistical analysis of the set of data issued from the campaign is presented and discussed.


The purpose of this paper is to compare and evaluate the development of banking insurance, as a model of co-operation between banks and insurance companies in the distribution of insurance products through banks, in selected European countries and the Republic of Croatia. In addition, this paper presents theoretical features, and main advantages and disadvantages of banking insurance. Unlike developed European countries, where life insurance distributed through banks represents more than 60% of the total life insurance premium charged, in the Republic of Croatia this share is approximately 36% which clearly shows that its banking insurance is still underdeveloped and with a great potential for future growth. Also, by looking at comparable gross premium, it is evident that banking insurance in the Republic of Croatia is developing faster in the area of life insurance and noticeably slower in the non-life insurance. This is in line with trends and structures of other developed European countries.


Objective: To test the hypothesis that it is possible to estimate the glycemic threshold (GT) of inspiratory muscles using the subjective perception scale to Borg's effort.
Methods: Observational association and cross-sectional study, in which 21 male individuals, eutrophic, irregularly active, aged between 18 and 30 years evaluated. All submitted to an incremental inspiratory muscle test to determine the GT. During the test, the traditional Borg scale was applied at each stage of the test. Pearson's test was used to verify the correlation between GT and Borg.
Results: A descriptive analysis that GT occurred 23±9.1% of MIP in an absolute load of 32±14.6cmH2O and was compatible with the score of 13±1.5 on the BORG scale (r=0.67) and (r=0.58) respectively.
Conclusions: Our results provide evidence that the Borg scale is a viable method to determine the GT of inspiratory muscles and consequently be used for prescribing Inspiratory Muscle Training.


We consider a simple model of an open partially expanding map. Its trapped set ${\mathcal{K}}$ in phase space is a fractal set. We first show that there is a well-defined discrete spectrum of Ruelle resonances which describes the asymptotic of correlation functions for large time and which is parametrized by the Fourier component $\unicode[STIX]{x1D708}$ in the neutral direction of the dynamics. We introduce a specific hypothesis on the dynamics that we call 'minimal captivity'. This hypothesis is stable under perturbations and means that the dynamics is univalued in a neighborhood of ${\mathcal{K}}$ . Under this hypothesis we show the existence of an asymptotic spectral gap and a fractal Weyl law for the upper bound of density of Ruelle resonances in the semiclassical limit $\unicode[STIX]{x1D708}\rightarrow \infty$ . Some numerical computations with the truncated Gauss map and Bowen–Series maps illustrate these results.


In the present article, topological, metric, and fractal properties of certain sets are investigated. These sets are images of sets whose elements have restrictions on using digits or combinations of digits in own s-adic representations, under the map $f$, that is a certain distribution function.


The parish church in Goląb, erected in the years 1626-1634, is one of the buildings that stand out from Polish modern architecture of the 17th century. Its designer and builders are not known, but its plan was based on the church of San Salvatore in Lauro in Rome, built between 1591 and 1598, designed by the architect Ottaviano Mascarino. The projection of the nave of the church in Goląb, the articulation of which is made of pairs of columns flanking large niches intended for altars, clearly refers to San Salvatore in Lauro. The facade and decorations of the parish church in Goląb have a different genesis. As San Salvatore in Lauro did not have a facade at that time, the designer of the church in Goląb decided to introduce a two-tower facade, referring to similar solutions, previously used in Czemierniki (after 1603) or Pinczow (before 1619). The decoration of the facade of the building made in the mortar refers to the German graphic patterns and motifs known from the sculptural workshop of Tomasz Nikiel, but also used by the bricklayers from Kazimierz Dolny. The supposed administrator responsible for the selection of the Roman design for Goląb was Chancellor Jerzy Ossolinski, a founder known for other realizations based on Mascarino's plans, stored at the Accademia di San Luca in Rome.


ABSTRACT In the context of Russia's aggressiveness towards the ex-Soviet bloc since the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, Moscow's messaging concerning other "spheres of interest' has largely been overshadowed by Russia's activities in its Eastern near abroad. This paper examines Moscow's framings of the Arctic through the lenses of its Strategies from 2013 and 2020. The purpose is to extract the core strategic narratives and 'read between the lines' so that an evaluation can be made of how Moscow perceives the Arctic, defines its interests and assesses the prospect for future confrontation in the region. This provides the basis for the second part of the paper which investigates the way in which two Russian propaganda vectors – RT and Sputnik – presented Moscow's strategic narratives for the Arctic between 2014 and 2021. Based on this analysis, the paper concludes that although RT and Sputnik act as vessels for Moscow's strategic narratives, they also reveal Russia's frustrations and misperceptions that are embedded in programmatic documents. The findings reinforce recent scholarly literature which claims that Russian media vectors of foreign propaganda are more complex than simple tools for disseminating misinformation and blatant lies.


Bali Festival Park is a tourist place that is very loved by the Balinese people and also tourists, both foreign tourists, and local tourists. This place presents a variety of rides and facilities that are quite complete for visitors to spend their free time. However, at this time the Bali Festival Park has begun to be abandoned by the public and tourists, this has made some buildings that can still be used physically abandoned. The building is an icon of the main building has a unique roof shape and also has an adequate area, besides that this building also still has a solid structure. The building that faces directly towards the sea also has its own added value, which is to offer a unique view of the beach. Currently, the world of work is very important in regional economic growth so it is very important to provide good and comfortable facilities for workers to increase their productivity so that the function of the Taman Festival Bali performance theater building becomes a Co-Working space using an adaptive approach. reuse will be a good choice because, in addition to being able to work together with various companies, employees can also indulge themselves with the scenery and existing facilities. This research itself aims to create a comfortable place for companies as a place to be able to provide peace for their employees and can share work experiences with other companies. The method used is descriptive qualitative through studies and descriptions of architectural problems and formulating solutions in the form of schematic designs. The results of this study are the elements of space that are presented in the form of floor plans, 3D Interior, and exterior.


The negative time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry spectrum of a trimethylsilylated silicon oxide surface and positive ion spectra of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) surfaces before and after treatment with an oxygen plasma are presented. The spectra were recorded with a SIMS spectrometer equipped with a Reflectron-type mass analyser. This instrument exhibits a mass resolution high enough to be able to determine the chemical composition of the secondary ions directly from the spectra and to resolve peaks of oxygen and non-oxygen-containing ions with mass differences of about 0.030 amu at masses well above 200 amu.

This information on the chemical composition makes it possible to determine structures of the ions originating from the surfaces, which increases insight into secondary ion formation processes. On the basis of the results from the plasma-treated PMMA surface, a tentative mechanism is given for the interaction of an oxygen plasma with PMMA in which formation of new polymer chain-ends containing acetyl groups plays an important role.


New Zealand Journal of Ecology (1999) 23(2): 255-259 ©New Zealand Ecological Society L. HARTLEY, C. O'CONNOR, J. WAAS and L. MATTHEWS The Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand. Present address & author for correspondence: P.O. Box 37 033, Christchurch, New Zealand. E-mail: email@example.com The Animal Behaviour and Welfare Research Centre, AgResearch Ruakura, Private Bag 3123, Hamilton, New Zealand. Current address: Landcare Research, P. O. Box 69, Lincoln, New Zealand.


In the Mouse, gamma-glutamyl transferase distribution changes with development in the kidney and the liver; on the contrary, its activity remains almost equal and low in other organs. In the liver, a low activity is observed in the fetus and the new-born up to the 3rd day of life; then it is no more measurable. In the kidney, the low enzyme activity of the fetus is multiplied by 10 in the 10 first days of life and by 50 in the 6 first weeks.


Objective:To establish a method for determination of 3,4 - dichlorophenyl - propenoyl - sec. - butyl amine(7903)in plasma of rat. Method: The liquid chromatography was carried out an Agilent ZorBax Extend - -C18 (4. 6 mm×150 mm,5μm). The mobile phase was consisted of methanol and water(80: 20) ,the flow rate was 1.0 mL·min-1. Using 3,4 - dichlorophenyl - propenoyl - sec. - cyclohexylamine (8102) as the internal standard, plasma samples were extracted with ethyl acetate and measured with UV detector at 276 nm wavelength. Results: The method has a linear range of 0. 01 - 8μg·mL-1 ,the limit of detection was 0. 01μg·mL-1. The average recovery of 3 concentrations were all higher than 95%. Within day RSD was 8. 0% - 9. 5% and day - to - day RSD was 5. 2% -8. 9%. Conclusion: The result indicates that this method is accurate, sensitive and convenient. It is an available method for the study on new preparation of 7903 in preclinical animal experiment.


Despite the worldwide stagnation in FDI, interest in Mongolia on the part of foreign investors, especially those from East Asia, North America, has grown over the last few years, mainly in the mining, trade and service sectors. The increase of FDI into Mongolia can be linked with the Mongolian government's efforts to establish a more favorable external and internal legal environment in order to provide a free and open regime for business, the shifting tendency of world market center from traditional Europe, America to Asia, namely to China, resolving the "big debt" issue between Mongolia and Russian Federation which open new favorable opportunities for intensification of foreign investment inflows, increased domestic private savings and lastly Mongolia's GDP steady growth rate during last years. The purpose of this paper is to review FDI inflows into Mongolia, detailing the sectors benefiting from this investment and the countries where it originates, based on information gathered in the period up to 2005.


In order to maintain consistencies of relations between objects and page attributes in document data, a document editing apparatus for editing document data including a plurality of pages, includes a determination unit which determines, when a process is executed for the document data, whether or not the process includes a move process or copy process of an object across pages, a composition unit which composites, when it is determined that the process includes the move process or copy process, information associated with a page attribute of an editing source page on which the object is currently laid out to the object to generate a composite object, and a layout unit which lays out the composite object as an object on an editing destination page as a move destination or copy destination.


Medical negligence is defined as absence of reasonable care and skill, or willful negligence of a medical practitioner in the treatment of a patient, which cause bodily injury or death of the patient. Ethics has been defined as "the moral principles that govern a person's behavior or how an activity is conducted" and medical ethics as "the branch of knowledge concerned with moral principles" (Catherine Soanes, 2001).


In both planar and spatial parallel mechanisms, selection of the structural parameters for a desired workspace generally employs the use of numerical methods. However, using the closed-form solution, if it exists, facilitates workspace-based design and optimization of the mechanism, and may significantly reduce the required time and calculation for finding the workspace of the mechanism. This paper presents a general and comprehensive closed-form solution for the reachable workspace of a 2-RPR planar parallel mechanism. The workspace of the mechanism is analyzed step-by-step in detail and its boundary is derived analytically. Since the solution is closed-form, it has high accuracy and reliability. Furthermore, the provided solution can be employed to solve the workspace of similar mechanisms in a closed-form manner including other n-RPR planar parallel mechanisms.Copyright © 2012 by ASME


Abstract : The exploration of operational design is a transformative venture. It represents a tremendous leap in intellectual theory that will have far-reaching implications on the future of planning. In spite of its obvious importance, however, design remains shrouded in the inherent complexities that cloak the operational level of war and the concepts involved in campaign planning. Perhaps even more significant is the fact that we have collectively failed to empower the intrinsic relationship between design and decision analysis. The value of design is not just providing a mechanism to construct a campaign plan. Its true value rests in its fundamental capability to facilitate decision making. If approached deliberately, design provides a foundational basis for formulating preplanned decision points and creating the structure for linking decision analysis to emergent opportunities. Linking operational design with decision analysis substantially reduces the risk associated with an operation and increases the probability of a plan surviving first contact. This analysis takes a didactic approach. It attempts to demystify the aura surrounding operational design by presenting a theoretical framework for comprehending its fundamental precepts. The goals of this analysis are threefold: provide a methodological example for understanding and applying design, show how design enhances decision making and risk analysis, and investigate the major differences between design in major combat operations and design in counterinsurgency (COIN).


Based on Monte Carlo simulations, we describe a mechanism, i.e., cascade-coalescence, to provide an explanation on the novel growth of gas bubbles in materials that has been observed in experiments and cannot be explained on the basis of the classical Smoluchowski theory and its variants. It is found that as the concentration and the average size of the bubbles reaches certain critical point, the cascade-coalescence is a dominant mechanism and leads to explosive growth of bubbles. The critical point for the cascade-coalescence happening can be evaluated by a scaling parameter determined by the average radius and concentration of the bubbles. This mechanism can be also used to explain the sudden release of gas atoms from thin films that can be measured in thermal desorption spectrometry in annealing experiments.


HURTADO, Christian, Connectedness in the Brazilian corn market. 2019. Thesis (Master in Applied Economics) – Center of Management and Technology Sciences, Federal University of São Carlos, Sorocaba, 2019. Corn production is one of the main economic activities in Brazil and it is used in the domestic and foreign markets. In addition, Brazil's corn production has an important growth potential, therefore, more economic agents-like consumers, producers, hedgers, speculators, importers, exporters, local ́s governmentshave been involved in the corn's market, then all of them need to understand the behavior of the market. Against this background, it is necessary new research in order to understand futures and cash prices dynamic. Hence, the main objective of this study is to examine the relationships and interactions within the Brazilian's corn market. We used the data from Brazil's futures market and five spot markets-Cascavel (Paraná – PR), Chapecó (Santa Catarina – SC), Rio Verde (Goiás – GO), Campinas (São Paulo SP) and Sorriso (Mato Grosso MT)from January 2004 through September 2019. We used a methodology developed by Francis Diebold and Kamil Yilmaz (2009), based on the generalized variance decomposition framework from a Vector Autoregressive Model (VAR) or a Vector Error Correction Model – VECM. This methodology allows to measure both static connectedness -using full sampleand dynamic connectedness -using rolling windowthrough the measure the spillover index from simple pairwise to system-wide. The results reveals that the markets are well-integrated, in both short and long runs. In the same way, the results suggest that Cascavel, Campinas and Futures markets are important transmitters of information; by contrast, Sorriso transmits little information to other cities. In the analysis using rolling windows, it is possible to identify that connectedness is affected not only by prices variations but also by national and international economic changes. The results are useful for those looking for references of corn's market integration in Brazil. Palavras chave: Corn, VAR, VECM, spillover, connectedness, prices, market integration, variance decomposition. LISTA DE FIGURAS Figura 1 – Evolução das quantidades exportadas de milho por países, em mil tonelada no período de 2001 a 2018 ....................................................................................... 14 Figura 2 – Cadeia produtiva do mercado de milho brasileiro ........................................ 17 Figura 3 – Demanda interna do milho brasileiro, em mil toneladas no período de 2010 a 2018 ......................................................................................................................... 18 Figura 4 – Produção brasileira de milho por safra, em mil toneladas no período de 1976 a 2019 ....................................................................................................................... 20 Figura 5 – Produtividade brasileira de milho por safra, em Kg/Ha no período de 1976 a 2019 ......................................................................................................................... 21 Figura 6 – Produção brasileira de milho por região, em mil toneladas no período de 1976 a 2019 .............................................................................................................. 22 Figura 7 – Produção brasileira de milho de segunda safra por região, em mil toneladas no período de 1976 a 2019 ....................................................................................... 23 Figura 8 – Produção brasileira de milho de primeira safra por região, em mil toneladas no período de 1976 a 2019 ....................................................................................... 23 Figura 9 – Produção de milho das macrorregiões Centro-sul e Norte-Nordeste, em mil toneladas no período de 1976 a 2019 ....................................................................... 24 Figura 10 – Produtividade de milho por região, em Kg/Ha no período de 1976 a 2019 25 Figura 11 – Produção dos cinco estados escolhidos dos últimos anos em toneladas ..... 27 Figura 12 – Produção por cidade nos últimos anos ........................................................ 28 Figura 13 – Área plantada por cidade nos últimos anos em hectares (Ha) .................... 29 Figura 14 – Produtividades por cidade nos últimos anos em Kg/Ha ............................. 29 Figura 15 – Balança comercial por estado em mil toneladas no período de 2004 a 2019 ................................................................................................................................. 30 Figura 16 – Balança comercial por cidade em mil toneladas no período de 2004 a 2019 ................................................................................................................................. 31 Figura 17 – Consumo aparente por estado em mil toneladas no período de 2004 a 2019 ................................................................................................................................. 32 Figura 18 – Mapa do Brasil com a distância entre as cidades escolhidas ...................... 32 Figura 19 – Evolução dos preços de milho em R$/saca de 60 Kg nas praças físicas e dos preços futuros no Brasil de 2004 a 2019 .................................................................. 41 Figura 20 – Análise de amostra inteira: Valores da conectividade líquida dos mercados de milho com um horizonte de 1, 5, 10 e 30 dias à frente ....................................... 57 Figura 21 – Mapa de rede do valor da conectividade "para outras cidades" com um horizonte de previsão de cinco (5) passos à frente .................................................. 58 Figura 22 – Mapa de rede do valor da conectividade "para outras" com um horizonte de previsão de dez (10) dias à frente ............................................................................ 59 Figura 23 – Análise com janelas móveis: Evolução da conectividade total entre os mercados de milho com um horizonte de previsão de 1, 5,10 e 30 dias à frente..... 61 Figura 24 – Evolução da conectividade líquida com um horizonte de previsão de 10 dias à frente ..................................................................................................................... 64 Figura 25 –Percentagem de períodos nos quais o mercado foi receptor ou transmissor líquido de informação .............................................................................................. 65 Figura 26 – Histograma dos valores da conectividade líquida da cidade de Cascavel em todas as janelas ......................................................................................................... 66 Figura 27 – Histograma dos valores da conectividade líquida da cidade de Chapecó em todas as janelas ......................................................................................................... 66 Figura 28 – Histograma dos valores da conectividade líquida da cidade de Rio Verde em todas as janelas ................................................................................................... 67 Figura 29 – Histograma dos valores da conectividade líquida da cidade de Sorriso em todas as janelas ......................................................................................................... 67 Figura 30 – Histograma dos valores da conectividade líquida da cidade de Campinas em todas as janelas ......................................................................................................... 68 Figura 31 – Histograma dos valores da conectividade líquida do mercado de Futuros do Brasil em todas as janelas com um período de previsão de 10 dias à frente ........... 69


High density electrical resistivity tomography technology has been widely used in engineering geophysical technology recently, and it has been one of the main methods of engineering geophysical technology. An example of detecting cracks and hidden trouble of alleviation ditch in a colliery proved the detection effect of high density electrical resistivity tomography technology. The technology provides important guarantee for safely mining and proves to be significant.


Gallagher's central argument is that, although flawed, the United Kingdom has been a successful and stable entity, which is in danger of being needlessly rejected. In the national story, he presents the heritage of the Scottish Enlightenment and other examples of Scottish global reach achieved within the union that run counter to the independence movement's alleged political and economic ambiguities and "absorption with the medieval centuries ...when a poor country enjoyed a precarious independence but had few achievements to its credit" (p. 6). Each of the book's seven chapters contains engaging analysis and original arguments, but overall the book would have benefitted from stronger editing to remove repetition. The presentation of the text in a dense format, with small margins, also detracts from its accessibility. The abrasive tone in sections of Scotland Now will also alienate some readers. Personal animosity towards the author from the former SNP leader Alex Salmon is alleged (p. 8) and is clearly reciprocated. Furthermore, on occasion the historical and international comparisons employed overreach and detract from more nuanced arguments. However, Scotland Now is a stimulating addition to the growing literature seeking to make sense of contemporary Scotland and the complex implications evident in its transformation for the United Kingdom and wider Europe. James Greer Queen's University Belfast


• Land use is almost equally divided between forested and agricultural land (the two most extensive land uses in the Ozarks), but is not distributed evenly across the Ozark Plateaus. The eastern and extreme southern parts of the Ozark Plateaus are primarily forested, while agricultural land is most common in other areas. • Much of the agricultural land is pastureland associated with production of poultry and cattle. • Lead and zinc mining occurs or has occurred in some areas. • Large urban areas are not common and only four cities have populations exceeding 25,000 (1990 census). However, even small urban areas can affect water quality.


This article tries to seek a new method to prove combination formula by the pattern of cleaving balls from the Pack and by the calculation of classical probability


The properties of tensile strength,tear resistance and peeling resistance of GF/PVC tenting flexible composites are studied.Through the test and analysis on the tensile strength,tear resistance and peeling resistance of bi-axial warp knitted GF/PVC tenting flexible composites,the relationship between the density of inserted warp and weft yarns and the properties of tensile strength and tear resistance are summarized.


As an important phenomenon of outdoor scene,atmospheric degradation was paid increasing attention in the field of both computer vision and computer graphics.Based on the theory of Radiative Transfer,the paper is to explore the techniques of computer graphics relating to this phenomenon.Building on an extended path tracer,it describes an integrated rendering framework of atmospheric degradation,which makes the ray walk randomly both through the space of scene but the domain of spectrum.Also it introduces an analytic model of sky and the detail of implementation is described.


In recent years, scholars pay more and more attention to the understanding and analysis of visual art style. This paper is based on Sparse Coding on visual art works, which brings out the trained basis function reflecting the style characteristics of a painting. Next, Gabor energy is extracted in Gabor domain from the trained basis function. Van Gogh's art works of different periods and Monet's art works are analyzed through normalized mutual information computing using trained basis function's Gabor energy to find the diversity of style. The experiment results show that Gabor energy can digitalize the intuitive feeling for basis function, and can distinguish the art styles of different works to a certain extent, and finally can provide reference for the criticism of art works.


The interfacial abruptness and uniformity in heterostructures are critical to control their electronic and optical properties. With this perspective, this work demonstrates the 3-D atomic-level mapping of the roughness and uniformity of buried epitaxial interfaces in Si/SiGe superlattices with a layer thickness in the 1.5-7.5 nm range. Herein, 3-D atom-by-atom maps were acquired and processed to generate iso-concentration surfaces highlighting local fluctuations in content at each interface. These generated surfaces were subsequently utilized to map the interfacial roughness and its spatial correlation length. The analysis revealed that the root mean squared roughness of the buried interfaces in the investigated superlattices is sensitive to the growth temperature with a value varying from 0.17 ± 0.02 nm to 0.26 ± 0.03 nm in the temperature range of 500-650 ℃. The estimated horizontal correlation lengths were found to be 8.11 ± 0.5 nm at 650 ℃ and 10.09 ± 0.6 nm at 500 ℃. Additionally, reducing the growth temperature was found to improve the interfacial abruptness, with 30 % smaller interfacial width is obtained at 500 ℃. This behavior is attributed to the thermally activated atomic exchange at the surface during the heteroepitaxy. Finally, by testing different optical models with increasing levels of interfacial complexity, it is demonstrated that the observed atomic-level roughening at the interface must be accounted for to accurately describe the optical response of Si/SiGe heterostructures.


The artificial simulation of heat source for improving UAV field training efficiency has too low intelligence but high risk and costs much manpower and material resources, and the method of artificial remote simulation of heat source also achieves low training efficiency. To solve the above problems, it is particularly important to design an intelligent control system for UAV field training. The UAV heat source positioning training system in this paper is a product which can cooperate with the UAV operator to simulate the actual training in the field based on wireless communication. It can control up to 50 heat source nodes at the same time, and provide multiple training systems. This paper firstly describes heat source nodes and the principle and function of UAV heat source location system, and then carries out the system design through building hardware system framework, software system framework and realizing network communication between equipment nodes, and finally analyzes the indoor location experiment and tests the gateway performance.


The paper presents the design and the implementation of an automated meter reading system for heat costs allocation. The system was developed on three levels: the data acquisition level - where dat...


Purpose
Prediction is a critical task in targeted online advertising, where predictions better than random guessing can translate to real economic return. This study aims to use machine learning (ML) methods to identify individuals who respond well to certain linguistic styles/persuasion techniques based on Aristotle's means of persuasion, rhetorical devices, cognitive theories and Cialdini's principles, given their psychometric profile.

Design/methodology/approach
A total of 1,022 individuals took part in the survey; participants were asked to fill out the ten item personality measure questionnaire to capture personality traits and the dysfunctional attitude scale (DAS) to measure dysfunctional beliefs and cognitive vulnerabilities. ML classification models using participant profiling information as input were developed to predict the extent to which an individual was influenced by statements that contained different linguistic styles/persuasion techniques. Several ML algorithms were used including support vector machine, LightGBM and Auto-Sklearn to predict the effect of each technique given each individual's profile (personality, belief system and demographic data).

Findings
The findings highlight the importance of incorporating emotion-based variables as model input in predicting the influence of textual statements with embedded persuasion techniques. Across all investigated models, the influence effect could be predicted with an accuracy ranging 53%–70%, indicating the importance of testing multiple ML algorithms in the development of a persuasive communication (PC) system. The classification ability of models was highest when predicting the response to statements using rhetorical devices and flattery persuasion techniques. Contrastingly, techniques such as authority or social proof were less predictable. Adding DAS scale features improved model performance, suggesting they may be important in modelling persuasion.

Research limitations/implications
In this study, the survey was limited to English-speaking countries and largely Western society values. More work is needed to ascertain the efficacy of models for other populations, cultures and languages. Most PC efforts are targeted at groups such as users, clients, shoppers and voters with this study in the communication context of education – further research is required to explore the capability of predictive ML models in other contexts. Finally, long self-reported psychological questionnaires may not be suitable for real-world deployment and could be subject to bias, thus a simpler method needs to be devised to gather user profile data such as using a subset of the most predictive features.

Practical implications
The findings of this study indicate that leveraging richer profiling data in conjunction with ML approaches may assist in the development of enhanced persuasive systems. There are many applications such as online apps, digital advertising, recommendation systems, chatbots and e-commerce platforms which can benefit from integrating persuasion communication systems that tailor messaging to the individual – potentially translating into higher economic returns.

Originality/value
This study integrates sets of features that have heretofore not been used together in developing ML-based predictive models of PC. DAS scale data, which relate to dysfunctional beliefs and cognitive vulnerabilities, were assessed for their importance in identifying effective persuasion techniques. Additionally, the work compares a range of persuasion techniques that thus far have only been studied separately. This study also demonstrates the application of various ML methods in predicting the influence of linguistic styles/persuasion techniques within textual statements and show that a robust methodology comparing a range of ML algorithms is important in the discovery of a performant model.


Screening for unilateral kidney disease has been simplified by the use of radioisotopes. Renography is nearly ideal for searching through large groups of patients to find the relatively few with important lesions. Among categories of patients effectively screened are those with hypertension and those with abdominal or back pain. A study of apparently well men suggests that renography may be an important addition to the routine medical checkup. Renal scanning and renography used together are more effective in finding disease than either alone. However, present radiation levels require that the scan be used on a selective basis. Faster scanning and isotopes with shorter half-life will soon allow consideration of the combination for screening on a more widespread basis.


Two greenstone age minima at 2.5-2.2 Ga and 1.65-1.35 Ga may correlate with ages of supercontinents when a greater proportion of greenstones were recycled into the mantle by subduction. From the age distributions of greenstones and juvenile continental crust, earth history can be divided into three stages : I) >2.8 Ga, when greenstones and microcontinents formed and collided continuously, although probably not forming a supercontinent until about 3 Ga ; II) 2.8-1.3 Ga, where a clear episodisity is apparent in greenstone eruption and collision ages, and where two greenstone age minima coincide in age with supercontinents ; and III) <1.3 Ga, when greenstones and continents appear to have formed and collided continuously, perhaps in response to significant overlap in the times of dispersal and assembly of supercontinents. Greenstone age peaks 2.7, 1.9 and 1.3 Ga may reflect catastrophic overturn of the mantle initiated by episodes of sinking of cold lithospheric slabs through the 660-km discontinuity to the D layer initiating an episode of major mantle plume activity. Continuous production and preservation of greenstones in the last 1.3 Gy is consistent with seismic tomography data, which suggest a steady sinking of slabs into the lower mantle.


Gunma Astronomical Observatory (GAO) is a public observational facility founded in 1999 by Gunma Prefecture local government. GAO has a 1.5-m reflector, a 65-cm reflector, and other small telescopes. Moreover, there are some powerful instruments prepared for the 150 cm telescope such as a near infrared camera/spectrograph, a high resolution spectrograph and a low resolution spectrograph and imager for optical wavelength. The observatory is designed for both astronomical research and public use. We can flexibly operate it as an independent observatory, allowing us to observe time-limited transient sources. We proceed with optical follow-up observations of gamma-ray bursts, supernovae, and other variable objects and cooperate with some multi-wavelength observation campaigns of SS 433, GRS 1915+105 and so on. We introduce some GAO facilities and some scientific results from the optical follow-up observations of transient sources. We can carry out follow-up observations for new transient sources discovered by MAXI.


This study examines the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into national (internal) legal systems. In the study, first of all, the general execution of obligations stemming from the Convention is viewed. Then, according to articles 1st and 13* of the Convention, the obligation to incorporate/incorporation duty is scrutinized. Later, in related to these facts, the obligation to incorporate which is a consequence of the Convention's characteristics is considered. At the end, the opposition of member states of the Convention to this obligation is surveyed.


In both {N-[(2-hydroxyphenyl)methylene]-(S)-alaninato-O,N,O′}(pyrazole-N2)copper(II) dihydrate, [Cu(C10H9NO3)(C3H4N2)].2H2O, (I), and {N-[(2-hydroxyphenyl)methylene]-(R,S)-alaninato-O,N,O′}(pyrazole-N2)copper(II) pyrazole solvate, [[Cu(C10H9NO3)(C3H4N2)].C3H4N2, (II), the CuIIion adopts a similar axially distorted square-pyramidal coordination. The basal plane is formed by the tridentate Schiff base N-salicylidenealaninato dianion (TSB2−) and the pyrazole ligand. The apex of the pyramid is occupied by a carboxylic O atom from the neighbouring chelate. The cooperative ordering and the apical distance [2.978 (3) A in (I) compared with 2.366 (3) A in (II)] are the two main differences between the two complexes. The stacked Cu(TSB) complexes within (I) form polymeric chains by translation parallel to [100]. The apically bridged Cu(TSB) complexes of (II) form zigzag chains parallel to [010] via the 21 operator. The influence of the configuration at the chiral C atoms as well as the effect of uncoordinated water and pyrazole molecules on the cooperative ordering are discussed.


235 $1425 for medium-quality journals. The cost for high-quality author-pay journals was reported at $1950 per article and for medium-quality journals was $1050 per article [5]. Most print and online subscription journals provide immediate access to published articles for subscribers but embargo articles to nonsubscribers for 6–12 months. The AJR makes all articles open access after 1 year. Complete open access could potentially result in a loss of subscription revenue needed to support journal expenses. The number of open-access journals continues to expand (> 50). Do the expenses for these journal and business models differ significantly? The expenses and revenue streams for open-access journals may be significantly different compared with conventional subscription and authorpay journals. Information regarding open-access models is available online at oad.simmons.edu/ oadwiki/OA_journal_business_models. Funding options for open-access journals include contributions from fundraising, use of E-commerce for sale of branded products, establishment of an endowment, and use of author-pay models. Regarding the last, some open-access journals offer both open access and standard options to authors. The authors who select open access are charged for submissions. Otherwise, authors are not charged for submissions but may be charged for color images and other special requests as noted on the website.


Tunnels serve various functions such as in subway systems, underground electric power lines, gas pipes, telecommunication lines, water supplies and sewer lines and many other pipelines. The trend of tunnel construction is toward deeper and longer tunnels. In addition, the excavation of tunnels in difficult ground conditions is now not uncommon, though the tunnels themselves are still difficult to construct. Advanced studying methods have been developed for the prediction, monitoring and evaluation of the performance of tunnels and ground. Today, experimental methods and analytical methods are the main approaches used in tunnel studies. In this paper, the present state of tunnel construction and the main study methods are discussed, and the various experimental and analysis methods and their usage are compared. Tunnel excavation is very complex because it involves soils, structure and interaction problems. There is no one perfect studying method, though there are good combinations of numerical analyses and experimental methods which provide the optimum approach for solving tunnel related problems.


The effects of temperature on the growth and development of Lemna minor in the open have been studied in the east of Scotland by means of four water baths constructed to maintain constant water temperatures of 12.5, 17.5, 22.5, and 27.5 °C when subjected to natural insolation. Experiments were conducted at weekly intervals between August and November in 1958 and May and July in 1959. At the beginning of every experiment, for all temperature treatments, 134 fronds were placed in each of six containers. From the initial and final samples, the weights of roots and fronds together with frond (leaf) area were measured, so that weekly values for net assimilation rate, leaf-area ratio, and relative growth-rate could be calculated. Daily solar radiation was recorded by means of bimetallic radiation recorder. In 1958 linear regressions of a satisfactory fit were obtained when the data for net assimilation rate, leaf-area ratio, and relative growth-rate were calculated on the logarithms of the radiation for each temperature. Since radiation remained relatively constant in 1959 it was not possible to evaluate very reliably the effects of radiation on the growth parameters but only occasionally, notably for the final leaf-area ratio (12.5 °C) were the lines for 1958 and 1959 significantly different. Single lines were fitted to the points for both years. In all the regressions, apart from that for final leaf-area ratio (12.5°C) the proportion of the variation accounted for ranged from 87 to 97 per cent. The results showed that the net assimilation rate was positively linked with radiation and was optimal at 17.5 °C, though the rise from 12.5 to 17.5 °C was not significant. At the higher temperatures (22.5 and 27.5 °C) there was a significant negative effect of temperature on the net assimilation rate. The leaf-area ratio and relative growth-rate were positively dependent on radiation and reached the highest values at the highest temperatures. The maximum growth-rate recorded amounted to no less than 0.39 g.g−1 day−1. The results are discussed in relation to those for other aquatic and terrestrial plants.


Cytokines are small multifunctional glycoprotein or polypeptide secreted by active immune cells or other cells. They play inportant roles in the diagnoses and treatment and control of the many infectious diseases and inflammation. The unusual expression of some cytokines is a reason of causing abortion in mammal. Many kinds of chinese herb can influence production of some cytokines.