Parametric fractional imputation is proposed as a general tool for missing data analysis. Using fractional weights, the observed likelihood can be approximated by the weighted mean of the imputed data likelihood. Computational efficiency can be achieved using the idea of importance sampling and calibration weighting. The proposed imputation method provides efficient parameter estimates for the model parameters specified in the imputation model and also provides reasonable estimates for parameters that are not part of the imputation model. Variance estimation is discussed and results from a limited simulation study are presented. Copyright 2011, Oxford University Press.


Abstract : In addition to the magnetic dip and geomagnetic dipole equators, other magnetic field parameters can be used to define other equators. A total intensity minimum and the horizontal intensity maximum mark equators that differ notably from the dip and dipole equators. The locus of points where the orientation of the magnetic field lines is referred to the mean noon altitude of the sun at equinox, rather than to the earth's surface as is ordinarily done, coincides well with the dip equator and the Katz, Meyer, and Simpson aircraft cosmic ray equator. Other loci referred to the noon sun at solstice indicate the possibility of a seasonal latitudinal change in the cosmic ray equator. This change is in agreement with seasonal changes noted in measurements made on some equatorial crossings. Longitudes of maximum symmetry of the earth's field as determined from relative positions of the equatorial loci are indicated near the Hawaiian and the Philippine Islands. The Capetown anomaly, of interest in radiation belt studies, is clearly shown by the total intensity minimum equator. Positions of the symmetrical field equators are determined from the first-order terms of a Fourier analysis of the latitudes of the various equators. A numerical evaluation of the variability and separation of the different equators is also made. (Author)


Background & Objectives: Gastric cancer is 2-4 folds higher in men than women. Sex hormones are one of the leading causes of sexual dimorphism in incidence of gastric cancer. The aim of this study is to compare Cathepsin D and Caspase-7 gene expressions in the gastric tissue of normal men and women. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, gastric antrum tissue samples were collected from 21 healthy females and 21 males in the three age groups including 35, 35-50, and over 50 years. Following RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, the expressions of genes were compared between men and women via semi-quantitative Reverse Transcription-PCR method. The obtained data were analyzed, using the statistical T-Test and ANOVA. Results: Statical analyses confirmed that the expression of Cathepsin D gene was significantly higher in men under 35 than those in the range of 35-50 years (p=0.04). In addition, the expression of Cathepsin D gene was significantly 10 folds in pre-menopause than post-menopause women and men (post-menopause women and men as one group) (p=0.008). Furthermore, the expression of Cathepsin D gene between men and women was significant at borderline (p=0.056). Conclusion: The findings of the present research indicate that the expression of Cathepsin D is higher in pre-menopause than post-menopause women and men, and is greater in men under 35 than those in the range of 35-50 years.


Extractive summarization helps provide a short description or a digest of news or other web texts. It enhances the reading experience of users, especially when they are reading on small displays (e.g., mobile phones). Matching-based methods are recently proposed for the extractive summarization task, which extracts a summary from a global view via a document-summary matching framework. However, these methods only calculate similarities between candidate summaries and the entire document embeddings, insufficiently capturing interactions between different contextual information in the document to accurately estimate the importance of candidates. In this paper, we propose a new hyperbolic interaction model for extractive multi-document summarization (HISum). Specifically, HISum first learns document and candidate summary representations in the same hyperbolic space to capture latent hierarchical structures and then estimates the importance scores of candidates by jointly modeling interactions between each candidate and the document from global and local views. Finally, the importance scores are used to rank and extract the best candidate as the extracted summary. Experimental results on several benchmarks show that HISum outperforms the state-of-the-art extractive baselines1.


An ion chromatographic method is described for the determination of inorganic bromides in Food Red No. 104 (R104; C.I. 45410, C.I. Acid Red 92).Conductivity detection under acidic solvent conditions (2.5mM phthalic acid and 2.4mM tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane) was chosen from the viewpoint of sensitivity (determination limit: 0.5ppm). The bromide ion was separated satisfactorily on a column of Shim-pack IC-Al with a guard columm of Shim-pack IC-GAl at a flow rate of 1.5ml/min at 40°C and the recovery of NaBr (0.0644mg) added to R104 standard (100mg) was 101.5%.Then, thirty-nine commercial samples of R104 made in Japan were analyzed by this method. All of the commercial R104 samples contained inorganic bromides above 0.01% (calculated as NaBr) and the highest and average contents were 0.329 and 0.159%, respectively. The bromide content average classified according to manufacturer showed large differences, taking account of the standard deviations. Since we observed an increase of inorganic bromides in a solution of R104 after storage without shielding from light, the differences might derive from the manufacturing conditions used by each maker during the synthesis of R104.


Optical and UV spectroscopic observations of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) star Sk-69 deg 203 are discussed. The optical data reveal Sk-69 deg 203 to be a BO.7 Ia supergiant with a moderate nitrogen enhancement, and its UV spectrum is consistent with this classification. UV interstellar extinction curves were constructed for the star using, as flux standards, two lightly reddened LMS supergiants, which bracket Sk-69 deg 203's spectral type. The resultant extinction curves are consistent with the extinction law derived previously for the 30 Doradus region, and the results for Sk-69 deg 203 suggest that the general 30 Doradus extinction law is appropriate for dereddening the observed fluxes of SN 1987A. Published H I 21 observations place SN 1987A in a region with a strong E-W gradient in the total hydrogen content. Comparison with the H I column density implied by the reddening indicates that the supernova is imbedded approximately in the middle of the main H I complex.


This paper reports on a project to increase enrolment and attendance rates at seven early childhood education (ECE) centres in socio-economically deprived areas of Auckland, New Zealand, between January and June 2014. Participating centres used Breakthrough Series collaborative methodology with the Model for Improvement (Langley et al., 2009) to develop and test change ideas according to local context. Enrolment and attendance data were collected weekly using a custom-designed spreadsheet which provided centres with individualised data and aggregated overall project data. Data were analysed using run charts. Overall median enrolment increased from 76.4% to 88.9%, and overall median attendance increased from 44.9% to 59.2%. The project showed that staff in ECE centres can use Breakthrough Series Collaborative methodology with the Model for Improvement to increase enrolment and attendance rates without extra government funding. The project also built the capability of ECE centre staff to effect improvement, reducing future need to procure external expertise to lead change. This approach to change can contribute to closing the gaps in ECE attendance among socio-economic and ethnic groups who typically have lower rates of participation


Global Positioning System (GPS) Precise Point Positioning (PPP) has been extensively used for geodetic applications. Since December 2012, BeiDou navigation satellite system has provided regional positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services over the Asia-Pacific region. Recently, many studies on BeiDou system have been conducted, particularly in the area of precise orbit determination and precise positioning. In this paper PPP method based on BeiDou observations are presented. GPS and BeiDou data obtained from Mokpo (MKPO) station are processed using the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) PPP software. The positions are derived from the GPS PPP, BeiDou B 1 / B 2 PPP and BeiDou B 1 /B 3 PPP, respectively. The position errors on BeiDou PPP show a mean bias < 2 cm in the east and north components and approximately 3 cm in the vertical component. It indicates that BeiDou PPP is ready for the precise positioning applications in the Asia-Pacific region. In addition, BeiDou tropospheric zenith total delay (ZTD) is compared to GPS ZTD at MKPO station. The mean value of their difference is approximately 0.52 cm.


The present invention relates to a sheet buffering means for placement between the printer such as, the collector paper sheet processing apparatus or the like, and for example, stapling and / or folding of the sheet finishing apparatus, comprising at least: a set of rotating rolls having the front roller pair for conveying a sheet between the rollers; post-rotation roller having a roller pair for conveying a sheet between the rollers. Each pair of rolls at least one roll driven by a common motor or a motor each roller are driven by, before the driven rolls can be disengaged by a clutch to the driven roller while being driven, the sheet hold front end, so that the sheet becomes bent between the two rollers pairs. When the trailing end of the sheet reaches the roller pair, the rollers stop so that before the sheet transfer, the sheet remains bent, which is enabled by activating two roller pairs to achieve. The present invention also relates to a method for buffering sheets.


Abstract:In 1812, Benjamin Rush wrote about a patient who explained his arson attempts with a simple claim: "I am a salamander." This essay mobilizes the salamander patient's claim to argue that Rush's Medical Inquiries and Observations upon the Diseases of the Mind is structured by impersonal forms of first-person prose. Rush often accepts first-person claims, even those that seem to be about identity, with no corresponding assumptions about interiority. This practice makes rhetorical participation available to a surprisingly wide range of testifiers. As I show, both Rush's attitude toward first-person reporting and the salamander patient's claim bear close relationships to eighteenth-century natural history. Linking the salamander example to letters Rush received from his patients on the one hand and a case he cites involving enslaved African dirt eaters on the other, this essay examines when and how the parameters of human personhood are reconfigured by claims to be nonhuman.


In foreign language learning and teaching, grammatical competence plays a big role within foreign language learners' language production, especially in spoken form. This article aims to present ideas of developing grammatical competence in EFL teaching and learning.


A full understanding of the antecedents of workaholism is important and essential to scholars who try to prevent and counter the workaholism problems in the organizations. The purpose of this artic...


The article describes the method developed by the authors to coordinate the working process of the auxiliary power plant (APP) and the starter air turbine (SAT) used for starting a gas turbine engine (GTD). This method is used to test the possibility of joint operation of the APP and the air turbine in the gas turbine engine starting system in given operating modes. The method is based on combining the APP and turbine characteristics shown in the same coordinates on the same field and checking for intersection points. The condition of joint operation is fulfilled in them. Non-crossing graphs indicate the impossibility of joint work in the selected operating mode. The developed method takes into account losses and leaks in the engine starting system pipes. The data obtained using the developed method are source data for calculating and optimizing the air turbine's working process and for determining the time required to start the GTE, as well as for testing the operability of the GTE system by strength and other criteria. An algorithm for calculating the time required to start the GTE was also developed by the authors and implemented as a computer program. The obtained data can be used to analyze the possibility of starting the engine and to calculate its main parameters for specific elements of the engine starting system, to select the APP and SAT to meet the specifications.


Boron doped diamond (BDD) films are promising materials for electroanalysis and bioelectroanalysis. This contribution gives a short review on BDD functionalization by chemical and biochemical entities and on the applications of BDD electrodes to electroanalysis of chemical compounds of biological interest. This review is illustrated by the developments on BDD interfaces in both these areas carried out in our group. BDD electrodes were prepared by means of microwave plasma-assisted CVD onto silicon substrate giving rise to H-terminated BDD films. Anodic polarization of BDD electrodes in aqueous media generates hydrophilic oxidized surfaces and extended electrochemical window in aqueous media. We took advantage of this enlarged electrochemical window together with the hydroxylated surface for the functionalization of BDD electrode surfaces with biomolecules and for bioelectroanalysis. We have designed a novel route of BDD functionalization using OH terminations of the anodized surface. The modification of the BDD surface with biotin groups will be presented here as biologically active model. Furthermore, as the anodic potential window of BDD increases upon electrochemical activation, 2′-deoxyguanosine (1.2 V vs. Ag/AgCl) and 2′-deoxyadenosine (1.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl) could be detected electrochemically with an acceptable signal to noise ratio. The electrochemical signature of each oxidizable base was assessed using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). These experiments pointed towards adsorption of the oxidized products, which were investigated macroscopically by DPV and at the microscopic level by SECM (scanning electrochemical microscopy).


Mathematics and engineering are inexorably and significantly linked and essentially required in analyzing and accessing thought to make good judgment when dealing in complex and varied engineering problems. A study in the current engineering education curriculum to explore how the critical thinking and mathematical thinking relates to one another, is therefore timely crucial. Unfortunately, there is not much information available explicating about the link. This paper aims to report findings of a critical review as well as to provide brief description of an on-going research aimed to investigate the dispositions of critical thinking and the relationship and integration between critical thinking and mathematical thinking during the execution of civil engineering tasks. The first part of the paper reports an in-depth review on these matters based on rather limited resources. The review showed a considerable form of congruency between these two perspectives of thinking, with some prevalent trends of engineer...


This work developed various two-phase colloidal nanornaterials from aqueous dispersions and applied them as pressuresensitive adhesives. A fundamental understanding of the nano-scale interfacial friction and the macro-scale viscoelasticity and adhesive properties of these nanomaterials was developed via various existing models. Colloidal nanocomposites were fabricated by horizontal deposition from poly(butyl acrylate-co -acrylic acid) colloids, and single-walled carbon nanotubes or multi-walled carbon nanotubes fanctionalized by various polymers or surfactants. A percolation threshold of 0.03 wt% SWNT was determined. The electrical conductivity is on the order of I S/rn above the percolation threshold. A thermal conductivity increase by 80% is achieved with 0.1 wt% SWNT presence. At the percolation threshold, the nanotubes increase the adhesion energy by 85%. The adhesion energy was found to be proportional to the tan6/E' value of the nanocomposite. It was found that the tan 6/E' value is controlled by dispersants at the matrix/nanotube interface. A high-M,, polymer at the interface is required to ensure enough interfacial strength for stress transfer and to impart high interfacial friction during stretching. From measurements of the large-strain deformation of the nanocomposites, the shear strength, r-, of the nanotube/matrix interface was determined as a function of the interfacial polymer chain length, NW, and the chain density, E. The results show that the value of z//E (friction force contributed by individual polymer chain) increases with N_. r likewise increases with E, but then levels off above a critical value. These results are explained by the molecular friction of the adsorbed polymer chains sliding along the rubbery polymer matrix. The molecular interactions among the polymer colloids were also adjusted by pH values of the dispersions. In the films cast from acidic dispersions, hydrogen bonding dominates the particle interactions, whereas the ionic interactions are the main factor in the films cast from basic dispersions. AFM force spectroscopy and macro-scale mechanical measurements show that latex films with hydrogen bonding interactions have a lower modulus but are more deformable. Theýoffer a high adhesion energy. The ionic interactions increase the moduli of the dried latex films. they are stiffer and consequently exhibit a lower adhesion energy.


In Malaysia, the concern regarding the implementation of landscape design as one of the
indicators for making a value to the house has never been more important. In terms of
providing a significant value to the house is need to study. Subsequently, to enhance the
quality of life and sustain a livable environment for future development seems crucial and
related to the values of housing area. The impact on its values such as environmental
value, social value and functional value toward a community becomes a priority. Therefore,
this paper is aimed to identify the contribution of landscape design as an element in
influencing the values of housing area in urban areas. The method specifically adopts
triangulation methods of study consist of a collection of survey, interview and observation
technique that conducted in selected housing area, in Klang Valley. The main findings
show the involvement of landscape design in term of its planning, characteristic and
elements can influence the value of house. It is hoped that this paper may provide
significant information on the implication of landscape design towards influencing the
values of the house and also attract prospect buyers in the future.


Cosmonauts made an indelible imprint on Soviet society and enjoyed a far greater degree of popularity than their counterparts in the West. Historian Richard Stites would later describe the space-heroes – or more specifically the mass-produced images of them – as a "new social cement". Yet of all Soviet cosmonauts, no one's star rose higher than the first – Iurii Alexeyevich Gagarin. Since his first manned orbit of the earth on 12 April, 1961, Gagarin instantly became one of the most well-known and revered names within the Soviet Union. Reports of the cosmic pilot (kosmicheskii pilot) Gagarin and his spaceship Vostok (East) literally saturated the Soviet press and broadcast media in the weeks after the landmark flight. To the Soviet state, Gagarin's flight was more than a technical and scientific achievement; in the context of the Cold War, it was an ideological victory which Gagarin's image was molded to reflect. As with the Arctic aviators of the 1930s, Soviet narratives of space exploration constituted what historian John McCannon termed a "master fiction" and were infused with official values that were expressed in propaganda, ritual, and symbols. The successful flight of Gagarin and his spaceship Vostok mirrored the Soviet Union's spectacular launch into modernity. At this dawn of


The concept of autoimmune-related infertility has remained controversial. Traditionally, abnormal autoimmune function has been implicated as a contributing factor to female as well as male infertility. In the female, abnormal autoimmunity primarily relates to autoantibody activity against ovarian tissue components, whereas in the male, abnormal autoimmunity, believed to be clinically relevant, is mostly directed against the spermatozoon itself. Historically, abnormal autoimmune function has been seen as a rather organ-specific process in both female and male infertility, with either ovarian or testicular antigens as the primary targets. In recent years it has, however, also been recognized that additional, and possibly less organ-specific, processes of autoimmune nature may play a role. For example, female infertility patients have demonstrated a significantly higher incidence of nonorgan-specific autoantibody abnormalities. The incidence of such autoantibody abnormalities appears to be positively correlated to increasing intractability of infertility (Gleicher et al., 1993). On the other hand, there is doubt as to whether such non-organ-specific autoantibodies themselves cause disease or only serve as epiphenomena for a still undefined immunological defect which causes infertility (Gleicher, 1994). Lastly, the newly evolving field of neuroimmunology needs to be considered here. Since reproductive function is under neuroendocrine control, autoimmune processes that affect the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis at the central nervous system (CNS) level will have considerable impact on infertility. This review will therefore report on autoimmune abnormalities at CNS and gonadal levels and on non-organ-specific abnormalities systemically. It will also separate female from male findings since they are usually distinct, though both can often be found in a single couple presenting with an infertility problem.


This work in progress research studies the intention of residential energy users to adopt a Residential Energy Management Information System (REMIS) for better energy management. Microsoft and Google rolled out their cloud based REMIS only to withdraw them within two years with market acceptance cited as a main reason. Most studies on residential energy use focus on energy behavior and economic aspects of residential energy use while related IS studies focusses on specific technologies, ignoring the adoption of such an IS. REMIS is not widely adopted; hence measuring adoption would not be easy. However, with the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) a behavior (such as adoption of REMIS) can be predicted by studying intentions to perform it. We hence developed a conceptual model of intention to adopt REMIS based on TPB. A two phase study consisting of pilot and primary study is planned for to validate this model.


The objective of the present study is to develop a model of explaining new service development behavior using the concept of willingness to cannibalize existing sales, current capabilities and prior investments. The paper is structured as follows. First, we review the literature relevant for our work. Second, we explain our conceptual model. Next, we report on the research method used and present empirical evidence from 217 service firms. We close with a discussion and recommendations for future research.


As online education has entered the main stream of the U.S. higher education, quality assurance in online course development has become a critical topic in distance education. This short article summarizes the major benchmarks related to online course development, listing and comparing the benchmarks of the National Education Association (NEA), the benchmarks of the American Distance Education Consortium (ADEC), the benchmarks of the American Federation of Teachers, and the benchmarks of the Quality Matters project. In doing so the author hopes to promote awareness of and commitment to quality assurance in online education.


This paper integrates the Internet of Things (IoT) technology and a smart grid to build an electric power IoT architecture and analyzes the intelligent sensing technology and wireless communication technology in this electric power IoT. Through the multi-channel data collection technology in power IoT technology and an orthogonal discrete multiwavelet transform algorithm of edge computing technology, the high-voltage transmission line status data of the smart grid are collected and processed. Then, the high-voltage transmission line condition monitoring system is designed using the node design of the high-voltage transmission line condition monitoring sensing network and the optimal sensor configuration for droop monitoring. The performance of the monitoring system is simulated and examined. The experimental results show that as the number of burst data nodes increases, the acceptance rate of the ODMT algorithm decreases from 99% to 98%, and the network survival time is over 2000. When the current exceeds 20% of the rated current, the overall measurement error is controlled at approx. 3%. At a height of 4 m, the ratio of the difference between the input voltage and output voltage sensing monitoring is approx. 5%. The error range of temperature sensing monitoring is within ±1 °C. The error rate of communication distance within 200 m is 0, and over 200 m, the error rate is approx. 7%. This system can monitor the transmission status of high-voltage lines very well.


Using gene knockout and wild‐type C57BL/6 mice, we examined the role of αβ and γδ T cells in the resolution of Chlamydia trachomatis mouse pneumonitis (MoPn) biovar pulmonary infection. The results show that αβ T‐cell‐deficient (α−/−) mice, when compared with wild‐type control mice, have dramatically increased mortality rate and greater in vivo growth of MoPn. The αβ T‐cell‐deficient mice were as susceptible to MoPn infection as T‐ and B‐lymphocyte‐deficient (RAG‐1−/−) mice. Moreover, both αβ T‐cell‐deficient and RAG‐1 mutant mice failed to mount delayed‐type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses to organism‐specific challenge and showed undetectable interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) production by spleen cells upon in vitro organism‐specific restimulation. In contrast, γδ T‐cell‐deficient mice exhibited intact DTH responses and their mortality rate and in vivo chlamydial growth were comparable to those in wild‐type controls. More interestingly, γδ T‐cell‐deficient mice showed significantly higher levels of IFN‐γ production than did wild‐type mice. The data indicate that the αβ T cell is the major T‐cell population for acquired immunity to chlamydial infection and that γδ T cells may play an ancillary role in regulating the magnitude of αβ T‐cell responses.


The product warranty involved in many fields,the interactions among technology,manufacturing cost and warranty cost were not taken into consideration in the design phase due to non-effective information communication channel.To deal with this problem,the feature mapping technology was introduced,and a cost optimization model based on feature mapping theory was established.Through using Analytic Network Process(ANP) and Genetic Algorithm(GA) to select rational manufacturing parameters,the optimization for manufacturing cost and warranty cost was realized.Application research was also conducted,and its promising future was revealed.


Abstract The World Bank, under the stewardship of the United States, stands out as the global leader among international development organizations. Does China's establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) undermine this status? Examining this question, we focus on the borrowing practices of a special set of countries: the founding members of the AIIB. These founders openly defied the public preference of the United States, arguably to create a potential rival to the World Bank. Using a new causal inference method, Pang, Liu, and Xu's Dynamic Multilevel Latent Factor Model—as well as several well-known estimation models as robustness checks—we document at least a temporary decrease in the number of World Bank infrastructure projects that the developing AIIB founders have entered into. This study presents the first systematic evidence that China's AIIB could unsettle the political influence the United States has enjoyed over developing countries through its leadership of the World Bank. An important set of countries may be parting ways with the World Bank and looking to a Chinese institution for leadership in the world of development.


This synthesis report will be of interest to department of transportation (DOT) administrators, supervisors, and staffs, as well as to the consultants that work with them. Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), regional, and local agency staffs might also find it informative. It was initiated in response to a recommendation made during the Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) Reassessment undertaken by the Federal Highway Administration in 1997-1998 to expand data sharing and partnering more widely among states, MPOs, and local governments. It documents current arrangements among state DOTs, MPOs, and other regional and local agencies to partner in the collection and share in the use of HPMS data. Key elements examined include institutional arrangements, the use of data and data sharing, cost and resource requirements, technical capabilities/barriers, implementation processes, data quality and capability, as well as successes, failures, and difficulties. This report of the Transportation Research Board includes case studies of successful partnerships. Interviews extended queries into the use of data management systems, where HPMS is an element, but not the sole reason for the data management system.


Along with the inspection of acoustical cortex and brainstem EP in neurologic, otoneurologic and audiologic practice recently start to use so-called vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP). It is shown, that at ear stimulation by a loud sound and record of sterno-cleidomastoid contraction is possible to estimate function of the inferior vestibular nerve and vestibulospinal pathways, a sacculo-cervical reflex. In article some methodical and clinical questions of application of these kinds are presented. Combine research acoustic brainstem EP and VEMP allows to confirm effectively lesions of acoustical and vestibular ways at brainstem. The conclusion becomes, that this kind of inspection is important for revealing demielinisation and defeats in vestibulospinal tract, that quite often happens at MS, and at estimation of efficiency of treatment


INTRODUCTION
perceived body weight refers to the subjectively assessed weight, which may not correspond to the objectively measured weight. Statistics show that 14 % to 83 % of parents misperceive their children's weight status, with a propensity for underestimation.

OBJECTIVE
we compared the accuracy of the visual versus the categorical method. We also identified factors and feeding practices associated with excess weight underestimation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
we carried out a cross-sectional study in five states of Mexico with 1,845 mother-child dyads of children aged 2-12 years. The mothers were interviewed about weight perception with two methods, visual and categorical. The Child Feeding Questionnaire identified maternal feeding practices. Actual weight and height were categorized according to WHO criteria. Analysis consisted of Cohen's kappa estimation, multivariate logistic regression, and Mann-Whitney tests.

RESULTS
more mothers correctly identified the weight of their children with the categorical than with the visual method (68 % vs 42 %, p < 0.0001). The excess weight underestimation was lower (49 % vs 82 %, p < 0.0001) and the degree of agreement was higher with the categorical method (kappa, 0.39 and 0.08). The better results remained regardless of age. Age 2-5 years increased the odds of overweight/obesity underestimation. Feeding practices differed by weight perception category, child's age, and method of assessment.

CONCLUSIONS
the categorical method was more accurate. Recognition of correct weight perception is one of the first actions required for controlling childhood overweight/obesity.


The growth of industries is dependent on the availability and affordability of energy. However, conventional energy sources such as fossil fuels are getting depleted and their price is increasing rapidly due to market forces and world politics. It is, therefore, necessary to consider alternative sources of energy and geothermal energy is a potential option. Geothermal energy can be utilized for both electricity generation and direct uses such as heating and cooling. The dairy industry in Kenya can benefit immensely from the vast geothermal energy in the country since both dairy farming and the geothermal resources are located in the same region, i.e. the Rift Valley region. Furthermore, dairy processing involves both heating and cooling operations, whose energy requirements are within a range that the geothermal resource in Kenya can provide for. This paper discusses some of the dairy processing operations which can utilize geothermal energy and the appropriate technology which can be applied for each operation. The energy demand and the costs for each operation are also discussed.


The small neurons that lie along the walls of the third ventricle have received the general name of substantia grisea. Within this area Spiegel & Zweig (1917)-in rodents, carnivores and primates-recognized a nuclear mass dorsal to the optic chiasma which they called the suprachiasmatic nucleus. This was described in the hypothalamus of the rat by Griinthal (1930) and Krieg (1932). It corresponds also to the nucleus T gamma (Friedman, 1912), nucleus ovoideus (Gurdjian, 1927; Rioch, 1929; Ingram, Hannet & Ranson, 1932), and noyaux accessoire supraoptique (Foix & Nicolesco, 1925). With Nissl and silver impregnation methods these authors described the main histological features of the nucleus and tried to establish its connexions. Using fluorescence microscopy, Fuxe (1965) has shown that this nucleus is the only place in the rat hypothalamus where numerous serotonin-containing terminals can be found. According to Dahlstrom & Fuxe (1964) these terminals originate from mesencephalic neurons. Here we will describe the ultrastructure of the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the rat. Two types of neurons, both of them containing granulated vesicles, and several types of nerve endings characterized by their vesicle content were recognized.


Based on the definition of determinant,this paper discusses the algorithms of various kinds of determinant and some general rules for easier and more systematic solution to determinants are worked out.


Abstract This paper proposes preview of upcoming traffic light information to minimize idle at the lights and reduce fuel use. An optimal control algorithm is formulated for each equipped vehicle that uses short range radar and traffic signal information predictively to schedule an optimum velocity trajectory for the vehicle. The objectives are timely arrival at green light with minimal use of braking, maintaining safe distance between vehicles, and cruising at or near set speed. Preliminary simulation results show considerable reduction of fuel use.


Formulation designs of new antibacterial inner wall coatings are studied.New antibacterial inner wall coatings are prepared by adding Zn2+ or chitosan.The results show that the more the amount of Zn2+ or chitosan ther ein,the better the antibacterial properties thereof are.In addition,antibacte rial stylene-acrylate emulsion coatings for inner wall with Zn2+ as the anti bacterial agents show better chemical and physical properties.


If non-risk-sensitive capital requirements – such as a leverage ratio requirement or standardised floor – are set at a level that makes them the binding capital restriction, Sweden may end up with a smaller, but riskier banking system. A larger proportion of credit supply is then likely to take place via the financial markets. This means more financing channels, which could contribute to greater efficiency. But it could also result in credit supply becoming less stable.


The need for sustainability has proved to be increasingly relevant in the last few years and since the 1992 Rio Conference has found an adequate normative response in many areas of human activity, with appropriate measures being taken. It is now urgent to find suitable methods for the fishing sector too. Modern consumer awareness of and attention towards the quality of products have given the market new momentum in the exploration of ways to ensure product traceability and improved information through certification. This case study aims at presenting the strategic market choices taken by the Ancona fishery, based upon the quality certification of the fish product, with quality giving economic advantages and being an incentive to reach sustainability within the sector. 1. General framework The sustainability objectives referring to fish as a natural resource can be included in the general management objectives of reducing fishing effort indicators, which aim at reducing overexploitation of the main fish stocks, as well as regulating not only catch volumes but also the equipment and techniques used for the fishing activities. This adds to the overall uncertainty about the real conditions of stocks especially in the Mediterranean Sea, which is characterized by the presence of many different species, each with its own peculiar evolution dynamics. From the point of view of the market the objective is to improve the value of fish products and at the same time maintain productivity of the sector operators. Product enhancement covers a large variety of concepts, ranging from food safety, product traceability, quality and overall consumer satisfaction. In the light of new events such as the BSE crisis or the market expansion of genetically modified organisms, modern consumers have become increasingly aware of the problems linked to food safety and try to defend themselves from the related risks by choosing products that are guaranteed and marked with quality labels. The concept of responsible management of fisheries has therefore to be intended as both as sustainable management, i.e. aimed at maintaining the quality, availability and diversity of fish resources in sufficient quantities for present and future generations, and as management from an economic point of view, within the framework of food safety, poverty reduction and long-lasting development. ∗ University of Ancona, Faculty of Agraria, DiBiaga, Area Economica, via Brecce Bianche 60131, Ancona. Email: email@example.com


Basophilic granulocytes (usually referred to as basophils) are a small population of peripheral blood leukocytes containing cytoplasmatic granules that stain with basophilic dyes. They were first described in 1879 by Paul Ehrlich,[1][1] who 1 year earlier had found a morphologically similar cell


Organic geochemical studies and fossil molecules distribution results have been employed in characterizing subsurface sediments from some sections of Anambra Basin, southeastern Nigeria. The total organic carbon (TOC) and soluble organic matter (SOM) are in the range of 1.61 to 69.51 wt% and 250.1 to 4095.2 ppm, respectively, implying that the source rocks are moderately to fairly rich in organic matter. Based on data of the paper, the organic matter is interpreted as Type III (gas prone) with little oil. The geochemical fossils and chemical compositions suggest immature to marginally mature status for the sediments, with methyl phenanthrene index (MPI-1) and methyl dibenzothiopene ratio (MDR) showing ranges of 0.14–0.76 and 0.99–4.21, respectively. The abundance of 1,2,5-TMN (Trimethyl naphthalene) in the sediments suggests a significant land plant contribution to the organic matter. The pristane/phytane ratio values of 7.2–8.9 also point to terrestrial organic input under oxic conditions. However, the presence of C27 to C29 steranes and diasteranes indicates mixed sources—marine and terrigenous—with prospects to generate both oil and gas.


Non-recurrent congestion due to incidents is already costing governments millions of dollars and drivers many tens of hours of lost time each year. Increasing traffic congestion on urban road networks is making this problem worse every year. Various incident management schemes have been implemented around the world. However, traffic management remains the weakest aspect of these schemes. For development of effective traffic management plans, appropriate tools need to be developed to investigate the effects of incidents on the road network. Analytical models have been previously developed for the purpose of investigating incidents on freeways and quantifying their effects. It is shown here how a simulation model can be used to investigate incidents in the same manner yielding similar results but with the added capability to extend the analysis to whole networks instead of just one single road. This paper aims to show that with the use of simulation models it is possible to investigate and quantify the effects of incidents under any circumstances. These results may then be used in development of more effective traffic management plans.


Simplicity is beauty. I don't exactly know who said that, but the phrase seems befitting of many of the most popular Android games. The same can be said of Stick Tennis, a game which conveniently automates all your player's movement so you can essentially...


Control of high-performa nce low-cost unmanned air vehicles involves the problems of incomplete measurements, external disturbances and modeling uncertainties. Sliding mode control combines high precision with robustness to the aforementioned factors. The idea behind this approach is the choice of a particular constraint which, when maintained, will provide the process with the required features and remove, therefore, the plant's uncertainty. However, standard sliding modes are characterized by a high-frequency switching of control, which causes problems in practical applications (so-called chattering effect). A second order sliding controller implemented in the present paper features bounded continuously time-dependent control and provides higher accuracy than the standard sliding mode, while preserving precise constraint fulfillment within a finite time. It possesses, also, significant adaptive properties. The general approach is demonstrated by solving a real-life pitch control problem. Results of a computer simulation and flight tests are presented. I. Introduction Aircraft and missile systems are equipped with control systems whose tasks are to provide stability, disturbance attenuation and reference signal tracking, while their aerodynamic coefficients vary over a wide dynamic range due to large Mach-altitude fluctuations and due to aerodynamic coefficient uncertainties resulting from inaccurate wind tunnel measurements. It is common practice, when designing a control system for an unmanned air vehicle (UAV), to represent the flight envelope by a grid of Mach-altitude operating


A
 route to alkyne-phosphine-substituted metalloporphyrins is presented. The X-ray structure of the methanol adduct of a diphenylphosphine
 Zn(II) porphyrin reveals solid state dimerisation accompanied
 by proton transfer from coordinated methanol to
 phosphine in a process reminiscent of carbonic anhydrase. The ability of the phosphine-substituted porphyrins to form non-covalent arrays
 with a Ru(II) porphyrin was explored using 1H/31P NMR
 and UV/vis spectroscopy as well as MALDI-TOF
 mass spectrometry.


In this study, nine different electricity generation scenarios have been compared from a sustainability standpoint using an appropriate MCDA (Multicriteria Decision Aid) method. These scenarios consist of selected combinations of generation technologies and policy measures. A set of eleven criteria has been established to evaluate the performances of the scenarios along the three main "axes" of sustainability economy, ecology and society. A group of ten stakeholder representatives was formed to accompany the study. They participated in the scenario selection, the criteria definition and the fixing of their relative importance. For this last – always critical – process, a new approach has been devised and tested successfully. The results of the study show that the members of the accompanying stakeholder group privilege the scenario promoting (in a limited way) the use of renewable energies, with accompanying demand-side management measures and no anticipated retirement of the existing nuclear power.


The development of information technology provides more expectations for the businessman, spesifically in the hotel sector. Nevertheless, in it's implementation raise expectation gap between the user of the information and data processing in the Electronic Data Processing (PDE). The objective of this research is to find out the effectivity and dimension that should be improved on the side of data processing perception in the Electronic Data Processing (PDE) of  star hotels  in Denpasar. The data collected by using questionnaire and interview and the data analysis technique used in this research is quantitative analysis technique. The conclusions from the analysis are (1) data processing perception included in the category of very effective by 81.64%, (2) there are three dimensions which needs more attention and improved, namely time dimension, report variation dimension or out put, information quality dimension.


In this paper we explore the development of a new regime in a major bank where total quality management (TQM) has recently been introduced. A number of recent critics have suggested that TQM all but eliminates resistance either through a management regime that removes waste or through the totalising discourse it propagates. We argue that new management innovations associated with TQM and `empowerment' are effective in increasing control over work processes and the subjectivity of staff. Even so, employees are able to retain some control over areas of their working lives. A central concern of the paper is to provide some limited evidence of how an analysis of subjectivity enhances our understanding of both consent and resistance at work.


Abstract Aims: Carbon monoxide (CO)-releasing molecules (CORMs) are candidates for animal and antimicrobial therapeutics. We aimed to probe the antimicrobial potential of a novel manganese CORM. Results: [Mn(CO)4S2CNMe(CH2CO2H)], CORM-401, inhibits growth of Escherichia coli and several antibiotic-resistant clinical pathogens. CORM-401 releases CO that binds oxidases in vivo, but is an ineffective respiratory inhibitor. Extensive CORM accumulation (assayed as intracellular manganese) accompanies antimicrobial activity. CORM-401 stimulates respiration, polarizes the cytoplasmic membrane in an uncoupler-like manner, and elicits loss of intracellular potassium and zinc. Transcriptomics and mathematical modeling of transcription factor activities reveal a multifaceted response characterized by elevated expression of genes encoding potassium uptake, efflux pumps, and envelope stress responses. Regulators implicated in stress responses (CpxR), respiration (Arc, Fnr), methionine biosynthesis (MetJ), and iron homeostasis (Fur) are significantly disturbed. Although CORM-401 reduces bacterial growth in combination with cefotaxime and trimethoprim, fractional inhibition studies reveal no interaction. Innovation: We present the most detailed microbiological analysis yet of a CORM that is not a ruthenium carbonyl. We demonstrate CO-independent striking effects on the bacterial membrane and global transcriptomic responses. Conclusions: CORM-401, contrary to our expectations of a CO delivery vehicle, does not inhibit respiration. It accumulates in the cytoplasm, acts like an uncoupler in disrupting cytoplasmic ion balance, and triggers multiple effects, including osmotic stress and futile respiration. Rebound Track: This work was rejected during standard peer review and rescued by rebound peer review (Antioxid Redox Signal 16: 293–296, 2012) with the following serving as open reviewers: Miguel Aon, Giancarlo Biagini, James Imlay, and Nigel Robinson. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 28, 1286–1308.


This paper is a literature review on the studies of the recent 10 years of tourism crisis in China.Research found that although started late,the research scope widely,and studies began to deepen and refine,research methods tend to various.Also there is not enough depth,less original theory,research methods immature and so on.


ABSTRACT: Pesticides have been blamed as the principal factor responsible for biological disequilibrium favoring the population increase of Panonychus citri (McGregor) in Brazilian citrus groves. In order to generate subsidies for the integrated management of this pest, we evaluated the lethal and sublethal effects of pesticides used in citrus on P. citri. We tested 18 pesticides by evaluating mortality of adult female, egg viability and adult avoidance. For imidacloprid, pyriproxyfen, dimethoate, deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin and lime sulfur, the principal insecticides used in Brazilian orchards, the oviposition behavior and the incidence of adult females on discontinuous pesticide residues were evaluated. The pesticides which caused adult P. citri mortality were: abamectin (94%), dimethoate (86%), lime sulfur (69%), fenpropathrin (44%), diafenthiuron (25%) and lambda-cyhalothrin (23%). The pesticides affecting egg viability were: fenpropathrin (53%), dimethoate (30%) and lime sulfur (22%). Fenpropathrin, lambda-cyhalothrin and lime sulfur caused repellent effects of 55, 45 and 22%, respectively. P. citri preferred areas untreated with deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin and lime sulfur for oviposition and permanence, but the species could not distinguish areas treated with imidacloprid, pyriproxyfen and dimethoate. The insecticides abamectin, dimethoate and diafenthiuron affected survival and did not cause changes in P. citri behavior. These pesticides should be used mainly in periods P. citri occurs. On the other hand, fenpropathrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, lime sulfur and deltamethrin affect dispersal behavior, oviposition and P. citri incidence and their use should be avoided.


In this paper, an efficient computational method is presented for state space analysis of bilinear systems via Legendre wavelets. The differential matrix equation is converted to a generalized Sylvester matrix equation by using Legendre wavelets as a basis. First, an explicit expression for the inverse of the integral operational matrix of the Legendre wavelets is presented. Then using it, we propose a preorder traversal algorithm to solve the generalized Sylvester matrix equation, which greatly reduces the computation time. Finally the efficiency of the proposed method is discussed using numerical examples.


Particles floating at interfaces are commonly observed in nature, as well as in industrial processes. When the particles are non-Brownian particles, large deformations of the interface are created that induce long-ranged capillary interactions and lead to the formation of particle rafts with unique characteristics. In this review we discuss recent efforts in investigating particle raft formation and the role of the rafts' own weight during dynamic clustering. Under specific conditions, these rafts can ultimately collapse and sink. When subjected to external or internal forces, the raft undergoes large deformations that test the mechanical characteristics of this interfacial composite material. It can behave as a continuous elastic sheet under compression, although its discrete nature can also trigger its fragmentation via interparticle interactions. Finally, armored droplets, drops covered by a protective shell of particles, can lose their integrity when submitted to dynamic deformations, resulting in the ejection of particles or the fracturing of the armor. Open questions to understand the properties of this material are highlighted and future research to understand the fundamental physics of particle rafts, the customization of the cluster formation, or the disassembly of this collective material is suggested.


The antiphospholipid syndrome is an autoimmune condition in which venous or arterial thrombosis is a primary clinical feature. The other primary clinical feature is adverse pregnancy outcome, specifically recurrent miscarriage, fetal death, or preterm delivery due to severe preeclampsia or placental insufficiency. The diagnostic autoantibodies for antiphospholipid syndrome are lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin, or anti-β2-glycoprotein I.


We quantified the synthesis‐conversion rate to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n‐3) from α‐linolenic acid (α‐LNA, 18:3n‐3) in the liver of unanesthetized male rats fed n‐3 PUFA adequate (4.6% α‐LNA and no DHA) and deprived (0.2% α‐LNA, no DHA) diets. These rays were infused [1‐14C] α‐LNA intravenously, and arterial plasma was collected until liver was microwaved at 5 min. Total DHA content was decreased by 92% in the deprived liver and plasma. Deprivation didn't affect incorporation coefficients of α‐LNA into stable lipids, but increased synthesis‐incorporation coefficients of DHA from α‐LNA by 6.6, 8.4 and 2.3 fold in triacylglycerol, phospholipid and cholesteryl ester, respectively, since the deprivation upregulated liver DHA synthesis. Assuming that synthesized DHA eventually would be secreted within lipoproteins, we calculated liver DHA secretion rates of 2.19 and 0.82 μmol/day in the adequate and deprived rats, respectively. Comparisons with published data suggest that the former rate is sufficient to maintain a normal brain DHA content and 6‐hold of brain DHA consumption (0.38 μmol/day), whereas the latter rate corresponds to a reduced brain DHA content and 10‐hold of brain DHA consumption (0.087 μmol/day). These results provide the conversion rates of α‐LNA secreted DHA by rat liver, and they are related with brain DHA consumption rates under n‐3 PUFA adequate and deficient dietary conditions.


Transforming acidic coiled-coil proteins (TACC) are essential for mitosis not only by their association with the centrosome and assembly of spindle microtubules, but also by involvement in cell cycle checkpoints. In order to stabilize spindle fibers, TACCs interact with other microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). Dysregulation of TACCs may lead to abnormal cell division that may result in chromosomal abnormality or tumorigenesis. This review focuses on facts known so far regarding TACC proteins, their interactions and their involvement in spindle microtubule stability in higher eukaryotes.


Nowadays we continue to face challenges to the safety of our foods. It seems clear that contaminated meats provide the major route of listeria monocytogenes transmission from the environment to humans. L monocytogenes is the most important species associated with disease in humans among the listeria sp. The current incidence of symptomatic listeriosis caused by L morzocytogenes is uncertain. Although the number of reports in the literature on listeriosis are increasing, it is likely that they are actually unrecognized or underreported because of a lack of awareness on the part of some laboratory workers who fail to isolate or identify these organisms. To get the information of sanitary development, we survey various meats (beef, pork, etc) in Kyongbuk area. Samples were collected from local meat shop at Kyongbuk area. Total sixty six case were isolated and identified from one hundreds and seven samples. L innocua was the most abundant in listeria sp. Among 66 isolates, the number of isolated L innocua was 43(65.2%). The numbers of isolated L murrayi, L welshimeri, L monocytogenes and L seeligeri were 12 (18.2%), 7 (10.6%), 3 (4.5%) and 1 (1.5%), respectively, but L grayi, L ivanovii were not isolated.


Causal relationships between the occurrence of fruit curvature and the number of leaves per fruit and shading of plants were investigated with individual plants.When 1 fruit with 5 leaves attached was retained per plant, fruit showed normal growth and almost no curvature at harvest. On the other hand, fruit with 3 leaves or less was suppressed in growth and showed marked curvature at harvest. In addition, some of them became malformed or aborted.When 2 or 3 fruit with 6 or 9 leaves (3 per fruit), respectively, were retained per plant, all the fruit showed normal growth and almost no curvature at harvest. When 2 or 3 fruit with 2 or 3 leaves (1 per fruit), respectively, were retained per plant, however, most fruit were suppressed in growth, and showed marked curvature at harvest, while some of them showed relatively normal growth and only slight curvature.When 1 fruit with leaves, 1, 200 cm2 in total leaf area, was retained per plant, fruit showed normal growth and almost no curvature at harvest. On the other hand, fruit with leaves, 800cm2 or less in total leaf area, was suppressed in growth and showed marked curvature at harvest.When 1 fruit was retained per plant, shading with cheesecloth suppressed the fruit growth and increased the fruit curvature angle at harvest. These effects were greater on the fruit with 3 leaves than 5 leaves per fruit.From these results, it was concluded that the occurrence of the curvature in cucumber fruit was due to the insufficient production of photosynthates and, consequently, their poor supply to the fruit as the results of decreased leaf area, shading, etc.


The comparison of Latin American "traditional" culture, and Anglo American "modern" culture has been carried out by the senior author and his collaborators...


We introduce the sensor-utility-network (SUN) method for occupancy estimation in buildings. Based on inpu ts from a variety of sensor measurements, along with historica l data regarding building utilization, the SUN estimator produces occupancy estimates through the solution of a recedin ghorizon convex optimization problem. State-of-the-art on-line occupancy algorithms rely on indirect measurements, such a s CO2 levels, or people counting sensors which are subject to significant errors and cost. The newly proposed method was evaluated via experiments in an office building environment . Estimation accuracy is shown to improve significantly when a ll available data is incorporated in the estimator. In particular, it is found that the average estimation error at the building level is reduced from 70% to 11% using the SUN estimator, when compared to the conventional approach that relies sole ly on occupancy level or flow measurements. I. I NTRODUCTION A. Objectives & Contributions The goal of this paper is to introduce a framework and algorithms to analyze and estimate occupancy in buildings using sensor measurements from diverse sources, models of facility use, and historical data. Information regardin g occupancy levels and distribution patterns in buildings ca n be utilized for a number of applications, such as: demanddriven ventilation and lighting controls leading to energy savings [5], to improve security monitoring [9], [13], and to accelerate safe evacuation [3]. The estimation approach proposed in this paper generates occupancy estimates based on a combination of sensors, information regarding prior knowledge of building utiliza tion or utility, and thenetwork structure of the building [7]. An algorithm in the resulting class of algorithms is called the Sensor-Utility-Network (SUN) estimator. Sensors may include CO2, passive infrared (PIR), video, sound, badge counters, and even measurements of the number of cars in the parking lot. The utility of the building, or zones within , is estimated based on historical data for the same building or a building of similar characteristics, forecast prefere nces based on room schedules, soft constraints on the speed of occupants, as well as hard constraints on occupancy in each room. Finally, the network structure is specified by decomposing the total building into zones, typically based on individual rooms or groups of rooms. The choice of zones will depend on the primary goal (e.g. ventilation control vs . evacuation), and on the number, location, type and accuracy of the sensors. Estimation is then based on a convex program based on hard and soft constraints, and taking into account the inherent bias and variance of the various sources of information. B. Background In typical building applications, CO 2 sensor data are used to estimate occupancy levels for controlling ventilat ion. Among the drawbacks of this approach is that mixing rates of CO2 are unpredictable, have slow response (order 10-20 minutes), and depend on external conditions such as open or closed windows and doors. The SUN algorithm is motivated in part by the pseudo MAP estimator in statistics [6], and was created as a refinement of the algorithm introduced in [13], which is based on using an extended Kalman filter. The SUN estimator is much more adaptable than the algorithm considered in [13], in the sense that it can make use of much greater prior knowledge, constraints, and data sources. On the other hand, the algorithm of [13] is much simpler than the SUN algorithm, and it can be constructed in a decentralized fashion so that estimates are based only on local information. The SUN estimator is posed as a global optimization problem, hence decentralizing it is not straightforward, and the subject o f ongoing research. In its simplest form, the convex program that defines the SUN estimator is a type of receding horizon estimation, as described in [4]. Refinements of the algorithm incorporate smoothing as well as prediction to make better use of constraints. In related research [1], network topology and people behavior is learned based on observed one-bit data streams. This is then used to create a hidden Markov model (HMM) for behavior. Estimation can then be performed using the standard Bayes estimator [6]. In general the complexity of the HMM will be extremely high. Fluid and Markovian networks have been used in queueing theory [8] to estimate people movement during evacuation. Related work includes the 1981 paper by Smith and Towsley [12], the collection of papers [11], and more recent work reported in [13], [14], [2], [10]. C. Organization This paper is organized in four sections. In Section II we describe the SUN architecture which can be used for the purpose of occupancy estimation, smoothing and prediction in buildings. Section III deals with experiments in an office building environment which is instrumented with digital video cameras, passive infrared motion detectors a nd CO2sensors. Also contained in this section is a detailed discussion on construction of penalty function for these senso rs, and utility for capturing building usage patterns. Estimat ion accuracy using SUN is shown to improve significantly when compared to the conventional estimation that relies solely on occupancy flow measurements. Finally, we conclude in Section IV with recommendations for future work. II. SUN ESTIMATOR The SUN estimator of occupancy density and flows in buildings is based on information from sensors, historical data for the same building or a building of similar character istics, and people's preferences and patterns of behavior f or diverse situations. A. Technical challenges Advances in sensing, embedded systems and wireless technology enable commercial buildings today to have unprecedented access to data (from temperature sensors, CO 2 sensors, smoke detectors, CCTV video cameras, water flow sensors, RFID sensors, and other access control devices). Other sources of information such as phone usage and calendar or scheduling information also offer important in sights into occupancy and presence. The resulting large and heterogeneous data streams contain valuable information that is largely untapped at present. The goal of the estimation procedure presented here is to use all these potential information sources, and to address th following issues: (i) Cost-benefit trade-offs involved in t he selection of sensors and their placement; (ii) Complement sensor measurements with models of building usage; (iii) Adapt models and algorithms to a changing environment, and an evolving building population. Occupancy estimation would appear to be a matter of simple book-keeping based on all of this data. However, ther e are several barriers to reliable estimation, such as: (i) Sensor noise. The selection of the type and quality of sensors will impact the reliability, bias and type of noise of the variables that are in the measurements. (ii) Lack of observability. Consider that sensors only count the number of individuals that pass from one building region to another, then the system is not observable (in a linear system theory sense). This means that a linear filter cannot be used to obtain reliable estimates. (iii) Lack of reliable models. Databases are available that provide insight into occupant behavior in special cases, such as during egress. However, this behavior is highly unpredictable, and is sensitive to culture and environment. Although any one data source may be unreliable when taken alone, we argue that the data taken together is significantly more informative. This is in fact the motivation for the SUN estimation procedure that combines data from all available sources for estimation. B. Estimator architecture In a discrete-time stochastic model the state process φ(t) is denoted as: φ(t) = ( x(t) r(t) ) (1) where x(t) is the vector of occupancy in each zone, and r(t) is a vector of the number of persons moving from one zone to another during time-slot t. The state is subject to the simple mass-balance constraints xi(t + 1) − xi(t) = ∑


Recently much attention has been paid to investigation of nonlinear dynamics of switching power converters, as this kind of dynamical systems, being inherently hybrid, is capable of exhibiting a wide variety of well known smooth as well as novel non-smooth phenomena. This research shows the diversity of complex interactions of smooth bifurcations and border collisions in one of the most typical power circuits - boost converter under current mode control - applying the method of complete bifurcation groups. The effects of realistic parameters and implementation of compensation signals on the robustness of chaotic modes of operation are investigated and explained in details.


A research project is described that used a case study methodology to examine the social and economic effects of highway improvements on the areas immediately adjacent to the highways. Using secondary data supported by interviews with key personnel and on-site observations, before and after comparisons were made for impact and control groups. Controls for other external factors were also used. Some frequent and consistent socioeconomic changes occurred in the impact areas. The effects were much stronger very close to the highways and did not necessarily result in decreases to neighborhood attractiveness. This indicates that active analysis of socioeconomic consequences and use of appropriate mitigative measures can substantially reduce undesirable socioeconomic consequences. No general models of change emerged because of substantial variations from site to site. The findings demonstrate the importance of including socioeconomic impact analysis in highway planning and the usefulness (and limitations) of the specific research methodology used here.


Minimum variance distortionless response (MVDR) beamformer is an adaptive beamforming technique that provides a method for separating the desired signal from interfering signals. Unfortunately, the MVDR beamformer may have unacceptably low nulling level and high sidelobes, which may lead to significant performance degradation in the case of unexpected interfering signals such as the rapidly moving jammer environments. Via support vector machine regression (SVR), a novel beamforming algorithm (named as SVR-CMT algorithm) is presented for controlling the sidelobes and the nullling level. In the proposed method, firstly, the covariance matrix is tapered based on Mailloux covariance matrix taper (CMT) procedure to broaden the width of nulls for interference signals. Secondly, the equality constraints are modified into inequality constraints to control the sidelobe level. By the ε-insensitive loss function for the sidelobe controller, the modified beamforming optimization problem is formulated as a standard SVR problem so that the weight vector can be obtained effectively. Compared with the previous works, the proposed SVR-CMT method provides better beamforming performance. For instance, (1) it can effectively control the sidelobe and nullling level, (2) it can improve the output signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (SINR) performance even if the direction-of-arrival (DOA) errors exist. Simulation results demonstrate the efficiency of the presented approach.


The research sought to study on the formation of a Professor of Mathematics at the State University of Alagoas Campus I: Curriculum Reform and the Knowledge Program Graduates. The field of research was the State University of AlagoasUNEAL, making a cutout in the Degree Course in Mathematics Campus I. The study was conducted in 2010 and was chosen for empirical analysis of the Pedagogical Political Project of that over the course of its existence, to verify that the knowledge Degree in Mathematics aims to develop curricula comparing before and after curriculum reform course, with the training aspects with the development of these graduates. It is a qualitative research study and descriptive with the main objective to analyze the intentions of graduates, changes to the courses determined by the design of the course, look at each issue and verify the allegations, and investigate the possibility of change in teaching mathematics about the teacher's knowledge. The methodological procedures to collect the data were semi-structured interview with the Coordinator and two teachers of the course and questionnaire to thirty-six five current students and graduates. Interest in the subject arose from the need to search for why the negative results in official assessments of teaching, emphasizing the vision of egress in relation to the knowledge built from the course that formed with the look in the curriculum. We present a summary of the information collected from document analysis and interviews in order to describe and analyze the speech of teachers and graduates with regard to proposals to adapt the curriculum, the new national curriculum guidelines, in light of what it recommends as suitable vocational training of mathematics teacher that has significantly affected the organization of undergraduate courses and the nature of professional training obtained them. With this research, we hope not provide decisive or definitive answers to the questions, however, contribute to the process of building a Degree in mathematics that meets the existing demand for skilled professionals. We believe that this research will continue discussions in view of the role of these courses in the training of teachers for basic education, one of the stages of school education that demands urgent changes in scope and in quality.


INTRODUCTION The objectives of this research project are to understand tannin and anthocyanin changes during berry development in Pinot noir fruit and wines. Specifically, the objectives of this research project are: " Determine the effect of berry development on the composition of tannins in cv. Pinot noir berries " Determine the effect ofberrydevelopment on the composition of anthocyanins in cv . Pinot noir berries " Isolate and purify sufficient quantities oftannin and anthocyanin for sensory and stability studies " Determine the sensory properties of wines manipulated with anthocyanins and tannins representing extremes in composition based on grape and wine data .


Abstract Climate projections propose that drought stress will become challenging for establishing trees. The magnitude of stress is dependent on tree species, provenance, and most likely also highly influenced by soil quality. European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is of major ecological and economical importance in Central European forests. The species has an especially wide physiological and ecological amplitude enabling growth under various soil conditions within its distribution area in Central Europe. We studied the effects of extreme drought on beech saplings (second year) of four climatically distinct provenances growing on different soils (sandy loam and loamy sand) in a full factorial pot experiment. Foliar δ13C, δ15N, C, and N as well as above‐ and belowground growth parameters served as measures for stress level and plant growth. Low‐quality soil enhanced the effect of drought compared with qualitatively better soil for the above‐ and belowground growth parameters, but foliar δ13C values revealed that plant stress was still remarkable in loamy soil. For beeches of one provenance, negative sandy soil effects were clearly smaller than for the others, whereas for another provenance drought effects in sandy soil were sometimes fatal. Foliar δ15N was correlated with plant size during the experiment. Plasticity of beech provenances in their reaction to drought versus control conditions varied clearly. Although a general trend of declining growth under control or drought conditions in sandy soil was found compared to loamy soil, the magnitude of the effect of soil quality was highly provenance specific. Provenances seemed to show adaptations not only to drought but also to soil quality. Accordingly, scientists should integrate information about climatic pre‐adaptation and soil quality within the home range of populations for species distribution modeling and foresters should evaluate soil quality and climatic parameters when choosing donor populations for reforestation projects.


The wind turbine power system is being widely used and heavily connected to the utility grid, and the total harmonic distortion (THD) is one of the major evaluation indicators of electric power quality. The characteristics of the grid-connected wind converter harmonic with variable power loading are analyzed in this paper, and a software method of the variable switching frequency based on the output power of wind power converter is investigated to improve the grid-connecting harmonic considering the widely power loading. The method is verified on a three-level Neutral-Point-Clamped converter with Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation through simulations at last. And the results show that the THD is improved clearly and meanwhile the power loss and junction temperature are improved.


Four steel shells having features representative of steel containment vessels for nuclear power plants were fabricated and tested to failure under unsymmetrical axial loading. All of the ring-stiffened shells were 698 mm (27.5 in.) in diam by 0.762 mm (0.030 in.) in wall thickness. Each one had a penetration that was reinforced in accordance with the area-replacement rule of the applicable American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) code and of a design to simulate actual practice for steel containments. The penetrations were of four different diameters, cutting no ring stiffeners, and cutting one-, two-, and three-ring stiffeners. Before testing, imperfections were measured, and strain gages were applied to characterize the strain field at an end and around the penetration. Buckling loads were determined.


A fabrication method of thin single-crystalline silicon wires on SiO2 is reported. The wires are fabricated by anisotropic wet etching of (110) and (100) SOI wafers. We obtained a thin (110) SOI wire of 0.2 µm width and 0.2 µm height with a rectangular cross section. Since the (110) SOI wires are enclosed by a pair of ultraflat {111} side walls parallel to each other, this method has the potential to form ultranarrow wires by careful control of the etching conditions.


Saussure's linguistic thought has an important influence on Western modern culture. The thesis discusses the philosophical meaning and its development of Saussure's thought. The thesis draws a sketch about Western culture to deepen our comprehension of Western culture.


Sepiapterin was synthesized by the reaction of α-keto-β-hydroxybutyric acid and 7, 8- dihydropterin(Na salt) in the presence of zinc chloride. The reaction products were the mixture of two yellow compounds ((I) and (II)), which could be separated by chromatography on cellulose and Sephadex columns. Both compounds gave the same molecular formula, C9H11O3N5. From UV, NMR and ORD spectral data as well as chemical reactions, the structures of the compounds were proved to be 2-amino-4-hydroxy-6-(d, l-lacty1)-7, 8-dihydropteridine (I)and 2-amino-4-hydroxy-16-(1'-hydroxy-2'-oxopropy1)-7, 8-dihydropteridine (II). (I) was a mixture of sepiapterin and its stereoisomer (each, 50%) this was proved by the action of sepiapterin reductase.The reaction of 7, 8-dihydropterin and a-hydroxyacetoacetic acid gave solely the compound (II).


Virtues constitute the fundamental foundation of health, which consists of the physical health, mental health and the spiritual health. By building the virtues and characters, we remove the wrong and misleading beliefs from the mind so that we can maintain the health. The misunderstandings and misinterpretations about what man is have directly resulted in the severe health crisis of the modern man. Philosophically considered, man as a whole is composed of the physical body, the mental mind and the spiritual soul. Virtues make it possible for us to restore man as a whole and healthy person.


The invention discloses an active inhibition device and method for band-saw blade vibration on the basis of master vibration modal prediction. The device is used for real-time sampling, analysis and eigenvalue extraction for transverse, longitudinal and torsion-directional multi-dimensional vibration of a band-saw blade, is used for master vibration modal prediction on the basis of real-time vibration characteristics of the band-saw blade, and is specially designed for high-speed response on the basis of band-saw blade master vibration modal recognition and prediction feedback. The device is capable of displaying vibration amplitude of the band-saw blade in real time, is applicable to all band saws each having an oil source, and is capable of significantly inhibiting the vibration of the band saw.


Clock skew is in a synchronization digital integrated circuit design difficult problem. This article has analyzed the mechanism as well as the electric circuit performance influence which the clock skew produces。


This paper presents a stabilized flnite element method for the solution of incompressible two-phase ∞ow problems in three dimensions using a level set method. The interface between the two phases is resolved using the level set approach developed by Sethian [1], Sussman, Smereka and Osher [2], and Sussman et al. [3]. In this approach the interface is represented as a zero level set of a smooth function. The stabilized upwind Petrov-Galerkin method was used to discretize the governing ∞ow and level set equations. The continuum surface force (CSF) model proposed by Brackbill et al. [4] was applied in order to account for surface tension efiects. To restrict the interface from moving while re-distancing, an improved re-distancing scheme proposed in the flnite difierence context [3] is adapted for flnite element discretization. This enables us to accurately compute the ∞ows with large density and viscosity difierences, as well as surface tension. The capability of the resultant algorithm is demonstrated with two and three dimensional numerical examples of a single bubble rising through a quiescent liquid, and two bubble coalescence.


In this thesis, we study the impact of deceptive counterfeit goods on trustworthy, legitimate supply chains. With the aim of eradicating counterfeit activity, supply chain members can take a variety of preventative measures, namely (i) ensuring the availability of a trusted primary source, (ii) adopting a track-and-trace technology which can detect counterfeit prior to sales and (iii) sharing information about counterfeit severity once discovered. Firstly, we study the intermediary's optimal procurement policy over a finite horizon when a trusted primary source is randomly available in the future and no trackand- trace technology is in effect. With the aim of higher service quality, intermediaries might turn to alternative suppliers carrying potentially counterfeit goods. We therefore prove the optimality of state-dependent order-up-to level replenishment policies under different liability schemes for an intermediary with access to two sources of supply: (i) one genuine supplier subject to random disruptions, and (ii) an alternative supplier offering the same goods, but of dubious quality. Secondly, we compare the optimal procurement policy (i) prior to and (ii) after the implementation of a track-and-trace system. In this chapter, the manufacturer, instead of being available or unavailable, faces a capacity restriction. We find that, whether or not the technology is adopted, the intermediary buys from the alternative supplier despite running the risk of receiving counterfeit goods. In scenarios where no track-and-trace system is in place, the intermediary is less willing to procure from the alternative source than from the primary source. However, this relationship is reversed when track-and-trace systems are in place. With the aim of putting a stop to counterfeit, many manufacturers have collaborated with enforcement agencies in gathering information on counterfeit adulteration. Thirdly, we analyze a manufacturer's willingness to share their findings with downstream members, in the attempt to increase an intermediary's effort. In this chapter, the manufacturer can (i) truthfully disclose counterfeit adulteration to the intermediary privately, (ii) truthfully disclose to the intermediary and the consumers publicly or (iii) stay silent. In response to this information provision (or lack thereof), the intermediary chooses the level of effort necessary to protect his service. We find that the manufacturer optimally discloses his private knowledge solely to the intermediary, and this only when counterfeit incidences can result in notable safety risks to consumers. The consumers receive information only through the intermediary, provided that he is not obliged to professional discretion. In such a scenaro, the consumers will only be notified if the potential harm is not too severe.


(ABSTRACT) In the effort to improve oil production riser performance, new materials are being studied. In the present case, a Polymer Matrix Composite (PMC) is being considered as a replacement for carbon steel in flexible risers manufactured by Wellstream Inc., Panama City, Florida. The Materials Response Group (MRG) at Virginia Tech had the primary responsibility to develop the models for long-term behavior, especially remaining strength and life. The MRG is also responsible for the characterization of the material system with a focus on the effects of time, temperature, and environmental exposure. The present work is part of this effort. The motivation to use a composite material in a non-bonded flexible riser for use in the offshore oil industry is put forth. The requirements for such a material are detailed. Strength analysis and modeling methods are presented with experimental data. The effect of matrix crystallinity on composite mechanical properties is shown. A new method for investigating matrix behavior at elevated temperatures developed. A remaining strength life prediction methodology is recalled and applied to the case of combined fatigue and rupture loading. iii DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my family David, Raylene, and Erika, who never let me limit my expectations. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS There are many who contributed to this work; I would like to acknowledge the following:Aside from serving as my committee chair, Dr. Reifsnider has provided mentorship and given me opportunities that I likely would not have had if not for his insight and his faith in me. I thank him for giving me the opportunity to teach and " run " my own project, and for the support he provided in my effort to become a graduate student.Scott not only served as the Co-chair of my committee, but also gave me my start in the world of experimental mechanics. He has provided invaluable support to the life prediction work contained in this thesis and answered more than his share of questions concerning most every subject.Jack served as a committee member and I must also thank him for the use of the environmental chamber and his advise on compression testing. Dr. Celine Mahieux Celine contributed greatly to my work with the bend-rupture test method and made it just uncomfortable enough for me to make sure I published my first paper. I hope we have the chance to work together again. Dr. Nikhil Verghese-Nikhil helped tremendously in the discovery of …


Inheritance of high resistance in Japanese pear 'Kinchaku' and Chinese pears 'Hong-li' and 'Mi-li' to pear scab caused by Venturia nashicola was examined, using hybrid seedlings of known parentage. The seedlings were inoculated with conidial suspension, and the resistance to scab was classified into three categories : highly resistant (HR), susceptible (S), or necrotic (N). Most progenies derived from crosses between susceptible cultivars were rated S, whereas progenies of S×'Kinchaku' segregated into 1HR : 1S. Crosses between S×'Hong-li' or 'Mi-li' produced HR, N, and S seedlings, which closely fit a 1HR : 1(N+S) ratio. Progenies derived from crosses between HR cultivars segregated into 3HR : 1(N+S). The results support the hypothesis that HR phenotype in 'Kinchaku', 'Hong-li', and 'Mi-li' is controlled by a single dominant gene. The gene symbol Vn is proposed for the gene controlling HR phenotype.


We report here the DNA sequence of a 9·5 kb segment of chromosome III. The sequence was determined by subcloning the segment into subfragments generated by appropriate restriction enzymes followed by oligonucleotide‐directed sequencing. The segment contains at least five open reading frames, YCL311, YCL312, YCL313, YCL314, YCL315. YCL311 and YCL315 extend in the adjacent fragments, A4H and A6C respectively. YCL312 encodes glucokinase, and YCL313 the protein disulfide isomerase. Disruption of YCL311, 314 and 315 by insertion of a URA3 cassette does not lead to a detectable phenotype, whereas disruption of YCL313 provokes cell lethality.


Fatty acid metabolism is one of the most important pathways of plant metabolism,fatty acids in plant seeds play various important roles in human foods and industrial manufacture.In this review,the basic pathway of fatty acid metabolism in plant seeds was introduced.Several effective strategies were developed for improving plant seed oil quality by gene engineering.It was also discussed the current problems and prospects of genetic manipulation of plant seed oil and fatty acids.


The main difficulties for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises(SME's) are the capital shortage problem and the financing difficulties.Financing guarantee company holds an important role on commercial banks loan to SME's.From the the possible risk of financing guarantee loan,author analyze the relationships among SME's,financing guarantee company and commercial banks.Furthermore,we put forward a concrete safeguarding and risk controlling system for financing guarantee loan.


The utility model relates to a voltage disturbance compensation device, and belongs to the technical field of electric power quality analysis and control. The voltage disturbance compensation device comprises a parallel-connection converter transformer (1), a three-phase full-bridge PWM convertor (2), a direct current chopper and super-capacitance energy storage system (3), a single-phase full-bridge PWM convertor (4) and a series-connection injection transformer (5). The voltage disturbance compensation device has the advantages that the multiple functions aiming at the operation device in the 380V three-phase four-wire system, such as dynamic voltage recovery, active filtering, short-circuit current limitation and electric energy conservation, can be flexibly realized. For the possible long-time under-voltage or overvoltage, the provided voltage disturbance compensation device ensures the loaded operation within the allowable voltage range to not only prevent the power load from being damaged, but also limit the overvoltage in a rated voltage, thereby greatly reducing electric powder consumption of the load to save the electric power. When the short-circuit failure occurs on the loaded side, the provided voltage disturbance compensation device can effectively limit the short-circuit value, and protect the safe operation of the circuit and other power supply devices.


The formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is linked to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Here we have investigated the effect of soluble and aggregated amyloid-β (Aβ) and α-synuclein (αS), associated with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, respectively, on the Cu-catalyzed formation of ROS in vitro in the presence of a biological reductant. We find that the levels of ROS, and the rate by which ROS is generated, are significantly reduced when Cu is bound to Aβ or αS, particularly when they are in their oligomeric or fibrillar forms. This effect is attributed to a combination of radical scavenging and redox silencing mechanisms. Our findings suggest that the increase in ROS associated with the accumulation of aggregated Aβ or αS does not result from a particularly ROS-active form of these peptides, but rather from either a local increase of Cu and other ROS-active metal ions in the aggregates or as a downstream consequence of the formation of the pathological amyloid structures. A hallmark of the two major neurodegenerative disorders, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), is the deposition within the brain of the amyloid β peptide (Aβ) and α-synuclein (αS), respectively. Despite the difference in the specific protein found to be the main component of the amyloid deposits in AD and PD, the formation of the pathological aggregates appears to occur via a common misfolding and self-assembly process. The cytotoxic species involved in both diseases appear to be the soluble oligomeric intermediates that form during the process of amyloid formation. Although the precise mechanism responsible for the toxicity of such species is not fully established, increasing evidence suggests that the neuronal cell loss in AD and PD is at least in part linked to excessive free radical generation. Aβ and αS bind metal ions, including Cu, that promote oligomerization and amyloid formation by both polypeptides and catalyze the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that cause oxidative damage. In the brains of both AD and PD patients, increased oxidative damage, including protein, DNA, and RNA oxidation and lipid peroxidation, is observed relative to healthy controls. Impaired copper and iron homeostasis has also been associated with AD and PD, with elevated levels of both metals being found in the senile plaques from AD patients and in the Lewy bodies and cerebrospinal fluid of PD patients, which has stimulated interest in understanding the interaction of Aβ and αS with metal ions and its implications in AD and PD. The coordination of Cu to soluble Aβ and αS has been characterized in atomic detail. In Aβ, Cu is primarily coordinated to Asp1, His6, His13, and His14 at physiological pH. In αS, a high affinity binding site has been identified, involving the first nine residues at the N-terminus. This binding site is, however, inactivated when the N-terminus is acetylated, but two low affinity binding sites in the vicinity of residues His50 and Asp121 bind Cu in the acetylated form of αS found in vivo. It has been proposed that Cu coordinated to Aβ and αS, in the presence of physiological reductants such as ascorbate, catalyzes the reduction of molecular oxygen to H2O2 and hydroxyl radicals (HO •) via Fenton chemistry (Figure 1). The coordination of Cu is Received: December 31, 2015 Published: March 11, 2016 Figure 1. Fenton reaction cycle for the production of ROS from molecular oxygen and ascorbate (Asc); see ref 20 Communication


Solar energy is one of the most promising green and eco-friendly renewable energy out of the wind and other non-conventional energies. In nature, we have abundance of solar energy, due to this there is a significant attention on capturing the solar energy by photovoltaic systems in recent years. Photovoltaic energy conversion is most harnessing renewable energies for different communities especially in developing countries like India. The efficiency decrease is not only due to the shadows of buildings, but also due to birds, lack of sunlight and also wind effect on solar panels which will decrease efficiency and damage the total panels or array of panels. In this work, two different analyses are carried out with changing wind velocities and angle. The aerodynamic effects on the panels were investigated by varying the orientation of panels from 0 to 180 degrees and two different wind speeds of 5m/s and 25m/s. Initial angle of 0 degrees which is normal to the flow direction is solved for two different wind speeds of 5 m/s and 25 m/s and followed by changing the orientation of panels from 0 to 180 degree inclination to investigate the aerodynamic effects on the panels. Depending on the results obtained a futuristic panel design will be proposed which can generate optimum power and also aerodynamically effective. This current study indicates that the pressure distribution on the front face of the solar panels, which are aptly suitable to design optimized solar panel shapes.


Introduction. The occurrence of atypical reactions to auditory sensory stimuli is observed in people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) at an early age. Objective. The goal of this review was to analyze behavioural and electrophysiological examinations of auditory perception in people with ASD. Methods. The findings are organized according to the applied methodology and stimuli used in assessing auditory perception. Results. When compared to the typical population, identification and discrimination of isolated acoustic characteristics are mostly preserved or advanced in people with ASD, both for complex tones and spoken stimuli. The leading theories regarding auditory functioning of people with ASD indicate that peripheral (local) processing of sound details is preserved or advanced compared to the typical population and that difficulties arise in integrating locally analyzed information into a meaningful whole (global processing). The difference between these theories is that the Weak Central Coherence theory insists on a definite presence of deficiencies in global processing, whereas the Perceptual Functioning theory is not as exclusionary and indicates that the inconsistency in global processing can be present but is not requisite. Conclusion. It may be concluded that auditory perception and the processing of tone height are preserved or enhanced in people with ADS regardless of the type of the auditory stimulus. This may be explained by the increase of the auditory capacity for information processing, which is useful in some cases. However, in other cases, the same increased capacity results in processing unnecessary information, thereby increasing susceptibility to distraction.


In the paper,the main factors affecting Colby cheese processing were st udied.The result showed that Milk acidity got 24~28 oT, The optimal amout of CaC l2 added to raw milk was 0.06%;Using calf rennet or kid rennet as milk-clotting enzymes,the effect was better.


Background: Nowadays workplace deviant behaviors considered one amongst the foremost serious issues facing today's organizations and its productivity as it goes against the legitimate interests of the organization. These behaviors can harm organizations or people in organizations. So, the study aimed to determine role of negative affectivity and workplace incivility on incidence of counterproductive work place behavior among nurses at Main Mansoura University Hospital. Method: A descriptive design was used and the study was conducted on 162 nursing staff working at Main Mansoura University hospital by using three tools as: Negative Affectivity questionnaire, workplace incivility questionnaire and counterproductive workplace behavior questionnaire. Results: the mean score of counterproductive workplace behavior is lowest (1.23±0.26) followed by workplace incivility(1.32±0.35) and negative affectivity(1.89±0.78). There was statistically significant positive correlation between counterproductive workplace behavior and both negative affectivity and workplace incivility (P<0.05) among nursing staff (n=162). Recommendation: design and implement policies to reduce the deviant behaviors in the hospital environment . Organizations need to adopt zero tolerance policies that clearly articulate the types of conduct are not acceptable. These policies need to be clearly defined and communicated to all in the hospital and all who enter. There needs to be channels for employees to communicate issues. There also needs to be commitment to upholding these policies from top management.