The internationalization of higher education has been dramatically intensified over the last fifteen years in Brazil, creating wide-ranging opportunities as well as threats and limitations in relation to foreign language teaching practices and the teaching of culture. Many linguists and anthropologists (BYRAM, 1997; KRAMSCH, 1993; MCKAY, 2003; JENKINS, 2005) have stated that for communication to be successful the use of language must be associated with other culturally appropriated behavior, not just linguistic rules in the strict sense. In this article, we discuss the problems related to internationalization, more specifically, the discussion revolves around the sociocultural challenges faced by some students of the Federal Institute of Piaui (IFPI) regarding their experiences in the Science without Borders program spread through five countries. By using qualitative interviews, the results revealed that students had sociocultural problems which could be avoided if English teachers had worked in the language classroom before the execution of the exchange program.


The intestinal epithelial barrier provides protection from external threats that enter the digestive system and persist beyond passage through the stomach. The effects of toxic agents on the intestinal epithelial cell monolayer have not been fully characterized at a cellular level as live imaging of this dynamic interplay at sufficient resolution to interpret cellular responses presents technological challenges. Using a high-resolution native contrast modality called Micro-Optical Coherence Tomography (μOCT), we generated real-time 3D images depicting the impact of the chemical agent EDTA on polarized intestinal epithelial monolayers. Within minutes following application of EDTA, we observed a change in the uniformity of epithelial surface thickness and loss of the edge brightness associated with the apical surface. These observations were measured by generating computer algorithms which quantify imaged-based events changing over time, thus providing parallel graphed data to pair with video. The imaging platform was designed to monitor epithelial monolayers prior to and following application of chemical agents in order to provide a comprehensive account of monolayer behavior at baseline conditions and immediately following exposure. Furthermore, the platform was designed to simultaneously measure continuous trans-epithelial electric resistance (TEER) in order to define the progressive loss of barrier integrity of the cell monolayer following exposure to toxic agents and correlate these findings to image-based metrics. This technological image-based experimental platform provides a novel means to characterize mechanisms that impact the intestinal barrier and, in future efforts, can be applied to study the impact of disease relevant agents such as enteric pathogens and enterotoxins.


The complex dynamic behaviors a typical relative rotation system,such as chaos and erosion of safe basin,induced by the variation of system parameters were investigated. In order to keep the reliability of the oscillation of the system,delayed velocity feedback was applied in the system to suppress these complex dynamic behaviors. The critical excitation for chaos and erosion of safe basin of the delayed velocity feedback controlled system was obtained by the Melnikov method. Then complex dynamic behaviors of the systems with different system parameters were stimulated numerically,which verifies the validity of the theoretical prediction. It is found that the delayed velocity feedback could be used as an effective method on suppressing chaos and erosion of safe basin of relative rotation systems.


Sustainability based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is currently a relevant dimension for the competitiveness of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Portuguese HEIs will have, therefore, to adapt to the demands of the times and follow the Sustainable Development practices. Therefore, Quality Education is, then, a factor that allows HEIs to have competitive advantages, given that Education is a critical success factor for these institutions. Through a qualitative analysis of articles on the theme of Sustainability in Higher Education and the THE Impact Ranking platform, we tried to understand the impact that SDG 4 - Quality of Education has on Portuguese Higher Education Institutions, registered on this platform from 2019 to 2022. The main conclusion is that SDG 4 does not seem to be considered yet by Portuguese HEIs as a distinctive factor to obtain competitive advantage in the universe of HEIs.


WISC subtest scores from two populations of disabled readers were factor analyzed. Subtests included in Bannatyne's Spatial and Conceptual categories were each found to comprise separate factors. Subtests in Bannatyne's Sequential category, particularly Digit Span and Coding, comprised a separate factor in only one of the two populations. This suggests that the lowered scores of disabled readers on Digit Span and Coding cannot be accounted for in terms of a single underlying short-term memory ability.


The paper presents problems connected with quality relationship between hotels and theirs clients. The article discusses the most important aspects of the quality of hotel services. Method: Descriptive method. Basic conditions of the development of contemporary tourism is how to provide a suitable hotel product to clients witch wants consume a perfect tourism service. The research into consumption in world tourism shows that prices, quality of products and the condition of the natural environment are playing, and in the future will play, a decisive role in the choice of destinations by tourists. Quality is a very important element of each product: good and service. Hotels must concentrate on many elements for creating high level of quality. The quality of hotel services can be discussed, on the one hand, from the point of view of the service provider as a standard of service based on experience and forced externally, that is a collection of characteristics that a given service should possess in order to fully satisfy the needs of a hotel guest with regard to accommodation and food. On the other hand, the quality of services is perceived individually by the customers, who define it as the difference between what they expect and a subjective judgment of what they receive. #0#


This article gives a brief ethnographic description of the social life of Sidama women of Ethiopia in a society where patriarchy is the major suppressing arsenal against women. It highlights how the Sidama women negotiate their social identity in demanding social respect and recognition. Ironically the very patriarchal system that suppressed women gives room for their promotion through their husband. After promotion of women through their husband, women use this position to organize themselves to pray for fertility and rain. Moreover, the new position would be an important arsenal to protest and punish a husband who abuses them. Here, the study reveals how women consider certain types of abuses by man as a collective abuse against all women and punish the culprit in mass by going out and declaring all round assault. Finally, the article illustrates how the social class seniority for a woman is kept through a status of her husband regardless of her wealth and age.


For twenty-three years, from late in 1949 till December 1972, Australian federal politics were dominated by an alliance of conservative parties, the "Liberal" Party of Australia and the Australian Country Party. The Labor Party, which in the mid 1940s had seemed impregnable under leaders like wartime Prime Ministers John Curtin and J.B. Chifley, by the 1950s was in disarray. In 1961 the Australian Labor Party came within a hairsbreadth of gaining office, but it was not until 1972 that a Labor leader, E.G. Whitlam, emerged as one capable of bringing his party back into control of the Treasury benches. In the campaign for electoral support that preceded the December 1972 triumph, Whitlam promised that a federal Labor administration would introduce "Open Government".


AbstractEtiological factors in reading disability for a high intelligence group were compared to those in average and low intelligence groups. All subjects were elementary and secondary pupils ranging from 7-1 to 15-10 in age. The twenty-six high intelligence subjects ranged from 113 to 128 in WISC IQ. The 146 subjects of average intelligence ranged from 88 to 112 in IQ. The thirty-four low intelligence subjects ranged from 70 to 87 in IQ. The subjects were administered several diagnostic tests to determine the etiology of their reading disabilities. When the etiological factors were divided into organic and functional categories, it was noted that the high intelligence group's disabilities were significantly more often functional in origin than those of the other two groups.


The core of an empirical science may be said to consist in the quest for two kinds of principle, The first, that of prediction (Hempel 1953),2 is clearly insufficient in itself, as witness the ability of the Babylonians to predict the eclipse of the moon, but apparently without the support of any serious speculation on the nature of eclipses (Cf. Toulmin 1961; Hanson 1971). The second, that of explanation, surely includes the first (contra HempelOppenheim 1948; cf. Scheffler 1957),3 since explanation mey normally allow prediction while the reverse is not necessarily true.


Some education specialists are challenging the use of traditional strategies in classrooms and are calling for the use of contemporary teaching and learning techniques. In response to these calls, many field experiments that compare different teaching and learning strategies have been conducted. However, to date, little is known on the outcomes of these strategies specific to the context of engineers and engineering education. The debate on traditional versus contemporary strategies continues, with many traditionalists holding firm to the view that contemporary techniques diminish the academic quality and integrity of teaching and learning. This paper adds to the current debate by assessing the outcome of interactive lectures, a contemporary teaching strategy, in the context of engineering education. Specifically, this paper examines the effect of interactive lectures on student academic achievement and the learning environment. This paper supported the quantitative survey responses with self-reported student reflections. The findings contradict the traditionalist view of teaching and learning; student performance was not significantly different when interactive learning strategies were employed. However, students held a more positive view toward the learning environment and felt that interactive learning enhanced their overall learning experiences and spurred interest in the subject area. This paper concluded that interactive lecturing can be an effective approach in teaching business management in engineering education.


Starting a new era of realistic utilization of the space environment, the assembly of the International Space Station (ISS) has begun on low earth orbit. Automation and robotic assistance to astronauts could play an important role to improve safety issues and the economic situation for assembling, operating and maintaining the ISS. The authors have initiated a joint research project with Japanese institutes and four private companies to develop a reconŽ gurable brachiating space robot (called RBR). The RBR is designed to be capable of walking on the ISS and reconŽ guring its structural topology in order to assist astronauts in various activities. This report describes concept of the RBR and its ground testbed for on-orbit experiments on the ISS. The objective of the RBR research project is not only to develop a support system for the ISS astronauts but also to establish the robotics system necessary for future space infrastructure. Typical tasks include (1) walking inside the pressurized module or outside the exterior of the exposed facility, (2) accessing the power and communication port on the ISS, (3) changing the conŽ guration of the RBR suitable for required tasks such as assembly and inspection, and (4) providing visual information to the crews. The RBR consists of three arms with the effector at the tip and a center hub holding the base of each arm. The 6 d.o.f. arms are identical and can be conŽ gured for versatile application as shown in Fig. 1. All rotational joints are designed to


With rapid economic growth and urbanization, air pollution episodes with high levels of particulate matter (PM2.5) have become common in China. While emissions of pollutant precursors are important, meteorology also plays a major role in pollution episodes, especially in winter. We examine the influence of the dominant large-scale circulation and the key regional meteorological features on PM2.5 over three major regions of China: Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH), the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), and the Pearl River Delta (PRD). The East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) is primarily studied, including some of its main large-scale components such as the East Asian trough and the Siberian high, as it influences PM2.5 differently in different parts of China. In the BTH region, the shallow East Asian trough curbs the invasion of northerly cold and dry air from the Siberian high which induces high relative humidity and heavy pollution, possibly via relative humidity-promoted aerosol formation and growth. A weak southerly wind in Eastern and Southern China associated with a weakened Siberian high suppresses horizontal dispersion, contributing to pollution accumulation over YRD. In addition, the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) as the dominant mode of global ocean-atmosphere interaction has a substantial modulation on precipitation over southern China. In the PRD, weak southerly winds and precipitation deficits over southern China are conducive to atmospheric pollution possibly via reduced wet deposition. Furthermore, we construct new circulation-based indices based on the dominant large-scale circulation: a 500 hPa geopotential height-based index for BTH, a sea level pressure-based index for YRD and an 850 hPa meridional wind-based index for PRD. These three indices can effectively distinguish different levels of pollution over BTH, YRD and PRD, respectively. We also show how additional regional meteorological variables can improve the prediction of regional PM2.5 concentrations for these three regions. These results are beneficial to understanding and forecasting the occurrence of severely polluted days for BTH, YRD and PRD from a large-scale perspective.


The ac-dc transfer difference of the multijunction thermal converter (MJTC) developed at Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) has been evaluated for various heater resistances between 27 and 700 Ω. By optimizing the heater resistance for voltage transfer to 190 Ω and for current transfer to 27 Ω, transfer differences of a few parts in 107 are achieved up to 100 kHz. Transfer differences caused by thermoelectric effects could be shown to be smaller than 10−8, due to the nearly ideal periodic structure of the converter and the special construction of the intermediate leads between heater and vacuum throughleads. An increase of the transfer difference at low frequencies is caused partly by the change in the real part of the heater impedance, which can be compensated by adding series or parallel resistors to the heater. Another part is found to be a current transfer difference which can only be diminished to a few parts in 107 by increasing the number of thermocouples or decreasing the input power.


Worldwide, rubble mound breakwaters are designed and built to shelter and protect coastal areas from overtopping and flooding, especially harbours and shorelines. Rubble mound breakwaters are essential to preserve desired hydraulic conditions within the hinterland, avoiding damage to inhabited or industrial areas. This research focuses on the wave overtopping of rubble mound breakwaters as failure mechanism. To assess the wave overtopping engineers can adopt multiple methods. These methods can be ordered in increasing degree of accuracy and costs: empirical methods, neural networks, numerical models and physical laboratory experiments. The preliminary design phase is a highly iterative process. Using physical laboratory experiments within this phase is an expensive choice, therefore empirical methods are often preferred. Nevertheless, this research revealed that empirical methods, e.g. the so called EurOtop 2018, show significant shortcomings in assessing average overtopping quantities over rubble mound breakwaters, even more when the geometrical complexity of the structure increases (presence of protruding wave wall). This thesis re-calibrated the roughness coefficient proposed by the original EurOtop 2018 approach, referred to as the updated EurOtop 2018 method. Numerical models are proposed as a possible solution between empirical methods (which can be carried out quickly given their low complexity) and physical laboratory experiments (which need more time but are characterised by high accuracy). They have been increasingly used and accepted in the past decades. Following this trend, the Joint Industry Project (JIP) CoastalFOAM was launched with the objective to develop and validate a numerical model (OpenFOAM, waves2Foam, OceanWaves3D and JIP additions; referred to as CoastalFOAM) capable of accurately modelling the wave-structure interaction of rubble mound breakwaters. This research aims to calibrate and evaluate the CoastalFOAM model to assess small to large wave overtopping of rubble mound breakwaters with protruding or non-protruding wave wall, considering 500 waves. The evaluation of CoastalFOAM shows that this numerical model can be used, instead of empirical methods (e.g. updated EurOtop 2018), to assess the average overtopping discharges. CoastalFOAM showed excellent agreement with measurements for large and medium overtopping cases, while resulting less accurate for small overtopping cases. The analysis revealed, however, that the average overtopping discharge as a quantity is not capable of identifying the magnitude of large overtopping events (without modelling all 500 waves). This can be considered critical in determining whether the structure is safe enough in terms of Serviceability Limit State (SLS) or Ultimate Limit State (ULS). Consequently, this thesis proposes a new methodology to assess the maximum overtopping volume within a storm, applying the concept of wave focusing and using the NewWave theory. The input variables for the NewWave profile are extracted from the spectral properties at the toe of the breakwater. A first order wave maker is used to generate the NewWave profile, making the methodology sensitive for the degree of non-linearity of the considered wave conditions. This NewWave methodology offers improved accuracy to assess the maximum overtopping volumes when compared to the EurOtop 2018 approach. Furthermore, this research proposes to apply the inverse EurOtop 2018 technique to assess the average overtopping discharge using the NewWave maximum overtopping volume. However, the accuracy of this methodology is lower than that obtained with the updated EurOtop 2018 guidelines. This study shows that CoastalFOAM can be used, instead of the current empirical methods, to assess the average overtopping discharge within the design cycle of rubble mound breakwaters. However, according to what has emerged, CoastalFOAM shows to be less accurate in calculating small overtopping discharges as opposed to medium and large. On the other hand, when considering the maximum overtopping volume as design criterion the proposed NewWave methodology showed to be the most efficient and accurate.


Objective To evaluate the feasibility of applying the Amplatzer occluder to other non-PDA cardiovascular malformations. Methods The Amplatzer occluders were implanted in 13 patients with non patent ductus arterious (PDA) cardiovascular malformations, including 7 cases of pulmonary arteriovenous fistula, 3 cases of ruptured sinus of valsava, 2 cases of coronary artery fistula and 1 case of pseudo aneurysm of left subclavian artery from May 1998 to November 2005. Transthoracic echocardiography and/or angiography was performed before and after the procedure. Results The implantation procedure was successful in all 13 patients. Coronary air embolism happened in 1 patient but no other complication was observed. Conclusion Transcatheter closure of cardiovascular malformations besides PDA with the Amplatzer occluder may be safe and feasible.


Analysis of actual nutrition of athletes and its correspondence to energy expenditure seems relevant as a balanced diet produces a direct effect on physical endurance and professional performance of athletes. It is meaningful to estimate not just nutritional and energy value of the diet, but also a degree of diversity of basic groups of food products as sources of essential nutritional substances in the diet of athletes along with dietary fibers to optimize the gut microbiome diversity. Regular studies of actual nutrition conducted with certain time intervals and simultaneous assessment of biomarkers characterizing the alimentary status enable to trace their effect on professional performance, effectiveness of the training process, adequate restoration and health for every athlete and the whole team.


Cervical ripening with vaginal misoprostol may lead to higher rates of vaginal delivery at 24 hours, compared with vaginal and intracervical dinoprostone, with lower rates of oxytocin use (SOR: C, conflicting meta-analyses). Vaginal dinoprostone minimally increases vaginal delivery rates at 24 hours versus oral misoprostol (SOR: A, metaanalysis). No significant difference was observed in delivery rate at 24 hours between oral misoprostol and intracervical dinoprostone (SOR: B, metaanalysis with high heterogeneity). Copyright © 2020 by Family Physicians Inquiries Network, Inc. DOI 10.1097/EBP.0000000000000900


By using techniques of unitarized chiral perturbation theory, where the $\Lambda(1405)$ and $\Lambda(1670)$ resonances are dynamically generated, we evaluate the magnetic moments of these resonances and their transition magnetic moment. The results obtained here differ appreciably from those obtained with existing quark models. The width for the $\Lambda(1670) \to \Lambda(1405) \gamma$ transition is also evaluated leading to a branching ratio of the order of $2 \times 10^{-6}$.


Neurofibromatosis is of great importance not only to the thousands of affected patients and their physicians but also to researchers concerned with genetics, melanin synthesis, neural-crest embryol...


This article describes the practices of corporate governance, the definition, objectives and importance of audit, internal audit, external audit, and audit committees. In particular, the problem of the agency arising from the urgency of the subject, the purposes and objectives of external audit in its resolution, and its relationship with the corporate governance bodies, and on the report of the audit, it also outlines the audit committee, new requirements and objectives, and the need for its establishment. A new definition of the internal audit, which is the main essence of corporate governance, its main principles and the new tasks it is currently implementing, its formal report.


Therapeutic communities (TCs) are emerging as one of the primary approaches for the treatment of substance abuse for criminal offenders. However, the achievement of positive TC outcomes is predicated on their successful implementation. This study examines the effect of two situational influences on the implementation of a TC program in a state prison—the enactment of a smoking ban and a change in treatment providers. Results suggest that the smoking ban led to a loss of inmates' focus on treatment goals and strained inmate-custody staff relationships, whereas the change in treatment providers resulted in an immediate turnover of one third of the counselors and a disruption of relationships between custody and treatment staff.


Ultrasound (US) imaging is a low‐cost, highly feasible alternative method for monitoring the nutritional status of a population; however, only a few studies have tested the body composition agreement between US and reference standard methods, especially in adolescents. The purposes of this study were to assess the agreement of portable US with a reference standard method, dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry (DXA), for body fat percentage (BF%) in adolescents and to verify whether the use of a new mathematical model, based on the anatomic thickness obtained by US, is capable of improving BF% prediction.


The examination of macroelements and natural radionuclides in the bottom sediments of small lakes and soils in the catchment areas of the Baikal region allows for the study of the mechanism of inflow and the source of these materials.On the basis of the results of rentgenostructural analysis lake sediments are divided into four types:terrigenous,carbonate, terrigenous-carbonate and organogenic.Through the analysis of gamma-ray spectrometry and ato-


Intensive observations of atmospheric activity concentration of Rn, concentrations of air pollutants (NO, NO2 and SO2), and of the atmospheric boundary layer were carried out at Kabutonishi Town, Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture in Japan. Concentrations of Rn at night were lower than those at Akawase and Uchio reported in previous papers. Smaller increases in the concentration of Rn at night and slow decreases of the concentration of Rn during morning calm could be clearly explained by meteorological observation including Doppler sodar. In the daytime, Rn levels were almost the same as those at Akawase and Uchio. Although atmospheric conditions were near weak stability at night, it was possible to obtain information regarding advection using NO, NO2 and SO2 originating from motor vehicles. In addition, information regarding advection was obtained from observations of NO, NO2 and SO2 originating from factories and ships in the daytime, including a period of morning calm. These results support and supplement our opinion expressed in an earlier publication that a set of Rn and air pollutants can provide useful information regarding local conditions of the atmospheric boundary layer.


. For 0 < s < 1, we consider the Dirichlet problem for the fractional nonlocal Ornstein–Uhlenbeck equation where Ω is a possibly unbounded open subset of R n , n ≥ 2. The appropriate functional settings for this nonlocal equation and its corresponding extension problem are developed. We apply Gaussian symmetrization techniques to derive a concentration comparison estimate for solutions. As consequences, novel L p and L p (log L ) α regularity estimates in terms of the datum f are obtained by comparing u with half-space solutions.


Abstract Low‐field proton NMR was evaluated as a nondestructive and rapid technique for measuring ethanol‐soluble extractives in southern pine wood. Matchstick‐sized wood specimens were steeped in extractive‐containing solutions to generate extractive‐enriched samples for analysis. Decay curves obtained by the Carr‐Purcell‐Meiboom‐Gill (CPMG) pulse sequence were analyzed with Contin, a constrained regularization program used to generate continuous distributions of transverse (spin‐spin) relaxation times. Air‐dry wood samples gave maximum signal amplitudes that did not clearly reflect differences in extractives content. Oven drying removed signals for bound water that were superposed with those for the extractives. Relaxation times and the corresponding amplitudes were then positively correlated with the added extractives. Treatment of air‐dry samples with dichloromethane‐d 2 prior to analysis increased the mobility of the extractives, thereby resulting in a shift of the corresponding signals to longer relaxation times. This provided the opportunity to quantify the added extractives in the presence of bound water.


The objective of this presentation is to give an overview of the issues and possibilities associated with the high temperature (>200 °C) operation of SiC devices. The introduction presents the advantages of wide-bandgap semiconductors in general (and SiC in particular) regarding high temperature. A short review of the transistor structures available (MOSFETs, JFETs, BJTs. . . ) serves as a basis for discussion regarding their suitability to high temperature operation.In the second part, we present data that shows that although SiC JFETs can operate continuously at more than 300 °C, they are sensitive to thermal runaway. Actual devices were mounted in a test set-up where thermal resistance and ambient temperature could be adjusted independently. Drain current was gradually increased until the devices reached thermal runaway condition. This confirms that SiC JFETs must be be supplied with a proper thermal management (in the order of 1-2 K/W junction to ambient). This highlights that high-temperature electronics is not a substitute to proper thermal management.Finally, we present a packaging solution that offers dual-side cooling capability but only uses high-temperature-rated materials (ceramics, silver sintering, parylene HT encapsulation. . . ). The mounting of auxiliary devices (gate drivers, decoupling capacitors) in close proximity to the SiC devices (and therefore in a hot area) is also discussed.


Thank you for downloading geology and the urban environment. Maybe you have knowledge that, people have search hundreds times for their favorite readings like this geology and the urban environment, but end up in infectious downloads. Rather than reading a good book with a cup of coffee in the afternoon, instead they juggled with some infectious bugs inside their computer. geology and the urban environment is available in our digital library an online access to it is set as public so you can get it instantly. Our book servers hosts in multiple locations, allowing you to get the most less latency time to download any of our books like this one. Merely said, the geology and the urban environment is universally compatible with any devices to read.


This paper brings financial centres into the debate on the causes and consequences of the global financial crisis, by focusing on New York and London. It argues that the degree of commonality, complementarity and connectivity between the two leading global financial centres justifies the use of the term 'the New York – London axis' (the axis). It shows that the global financial crisis 2007-9 originated to large extent in the axis rather than in an abstract space of financial markets. The dominance of the axis in global finance can be easily underestimated, and evidence suggests that contrary to expectations the axis is not in decline. Implications are drawn for the future of Asian financial centres and the global financial reform. If global finance is to change, the New York – London axis has to change. Debate on the reform has to take the reality of global financial centres seriously.


describes how despite pre-planning perceived as being adequate, systems were unable to react to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center six years ago - a scenario New York City Fire Department is striving to ensure never happens again.


Galactic cosmic rays are ubiquitous in solar system atmospheres. On Venus, the altitude of peak ion production due to cosmic rays (the Pfotzer-Regener maximum) occurs at ~63 km, within the optically thick region of the upper clouds. This indicates the possibility of electrical effects on droplets within Venusian clouds. Motivated by this, our VENI (Venusian Electricity, Nephology, and Ionisation) project explores effects of galactic cosmic ray (GCR) induced ionisation on cloud droplets in circumstances with relevance to Venus' atmosphere. Charge is known to lower the critical supersaturation required for cloud droplets to form; slightly larger droplets are stable at lower saturation ratios if sufficiently charged. Condensation of gas directly onto ions is also potentially possible on Venus if the atmosphere is sufficiently supersaturated. GCRs and the secondary charged particles they produce are therefore anticipated to affect cloud droplet behaviour on Venus.


Abstract We compared growth and survival (including losses to stocking stress and predation) of four sizes of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides in four Illinois reservoirs. Fish were stocked as small fingerlings (55 mm total length) in July, medium fingerlings (100 mm) in August, large fingerlings (150 mm) in September, and advanced fingerlings (200 mm) the subsequent spring. Survival of small fingerlings was very low (catch per unit effort < 1 fish/h of electrofishing in the fall after stocking), and fish stocked as small fingerlings were not observed in electrofishing samples after the spring following stocking. In samples collected soon after stocking, large and advanced fingerlings were larger and more abundant than other sizes. However, in subsequent sampling, there were no differences in size or survival among fish stocked as medium, large, and advanced fingerlings. Long-term growth of stocked fish was similar to that of wild fish, but survival of stocked fish was low for all sizes. Mean initial...


The authors examine how the construct social capital is explicated and measured by communicationscholarsincontemporaryresearchandarguethatlinkagesbetweenconcepts and measures are not always clear and operationalizations of social capital are far from uniform in empirical studies. The authors also note that the measures of social capital fall along 2 dimensions: a static–dynamic continuum and an informal–formal path, which are largely ignored. The authors challenge communication scholars to reexamine the theoretical underpinnings of social capital research articulated by Pierre Bourdieu and James S. Coleman and to reconsider how the role and functions of communication might drive social capital. We explore the construct social capital with particular attention to the way communication scholars have explicated and measured the concept. Researchers in our field have, on balance, concentrated on social ties as indicators of social capital, attending to the strength, amount, and frequency of ties that are best described as ''social relationships.'' Our examination, therefore, focuses on how such social relationships have been conceptualized and measured. We found that social relationships reveal underlying dimensions that allow us to offer a typology of ties, thus clarifying how variables are constructed. We then consider how such measures both illuminate and ignore social capital as conceptualized by scholars who introduced the term and how communication researchers have added to the body of knowledge on social capital.


Objects To observe the effect of toxin removing, stasis removing and yin supplementing therapy on decreasing the dosage of glucocorticoid(GC) and protecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis(HPAA) of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).Methods 147 cases of SLE were randomly divided into the integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine group (79 cases) and the western medicine group(68 cases). The western medicine group was treated mainly with prednisone only, while the integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine group with toxin removing,stasis removing and yin supplementing therapy on the basis of prednisone. Both groups had been treated for 2 course, 3 months as a therapy course. The prednisone dosage in the therapy course were counted. Then the levels of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and corticosteroid(CS) in SLE patients were checked.Results The dosage of prednisone in both groups were decreased gradually after the state of disease had been relieved. The prednisone dosage in the integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine group was lower than that in the western medicine group in the first therapy course, but without significant difference(P0.05),while with significant difference in the second therapy course(P0.05). The total prednisone dosage in the integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine group(3542.5±124.4mg) was markedly lower than that in the western medicine group(5126.4±169.7mg)(P0.01). The ratio of cases who had to add prednisone for aggravating disease in the integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine group(5.06%) was less than that in the western medicine group(13.24%) significantly(P0.05). Before treatment, the levels of ACTH and CS in the severe active period were lower than those in the other group significantly(P0.05). The levels of ACTH and CS on the 90th day and 180th day were markedly lower than those before treatment in the western medicine group (P0.05). While in the integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine group, except for the level of CS after the 90th day being decreased significantly (P0.05),others had no significantly difference between after treatment and before treatment. After treatment, there was no marked difference of ACTH and CS on the 90th day between two groups, while there was marked difference of ACTH and CS on the 180th day (P0.05).Conclusions The toxin removing, stasis removing and yin supplementing therapy can effectively decrease the dosage of glucocorticoid in treating SLE, which is able to protect the HPAA, inspire and increase the level of ingenerate glucocorticoid, and then enhance the clinical curative effect.


Based on the unique geographical location of Nan' an District and its natural and biological resources and taking into consid- eration the present status of its agricultural development,this paper puts forward ten major principles and eight measures for the devel- opment of an outskirt-type agriculture in the district so as to convert its resource advantage into economic advantage and help the agri- cultural development of the well-developed metropolitan area of Chongqing.


An economic model that takes knowledge, technology and capital, as prime production factors is used to interpret the importance of technology. The model defines technology and its value, discriminating from capital thus identifying R & D as the major technology production process. It also suggests that there is a default tendency, in every firm, to technology impoverishment and capital affluence.


To investigate a feasible way to reconstruct Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2(BMP2) with Bioengineering technology and express the protein in a E.coli system.,we reconstruct and filtrate the gene of BMP-2 in E.coli system.Analysis via a SDS-PAGE electrophoresis shows that the exogenous protein cingulum lies around the comparative molecular weight marker 12kD site.After a purification with ion-exchange chromatogram and molecular screen,the purified BMP-2 protein is renatured and the bioactivity is measured by the induction of alkaline phosphatase activity(ALP) in C2C12 cells.


An Au-Au contact gap was controlled by a LiNbO/sub 3/ piezoelectric actuator. The control accuracy of the actuator was in the submicron range. Neither hysteresis nor creep was observed. Contact voltage, contact current, displacement of electrodes, and driving voltage of the actuator were continuously recorded for the opening contact. Measurement data for 1,500 contact operations (100 operations x 15 steps of current value) were processed by a computer. Discharge and bridge phenomena were analyzed. For the electrical discharge phenomena, arc ignition probability, arc duration, average arc current and arc disappearance distance were derived. The length of the bridge and the bridge resistance were derived for the bridge phenomenon. Our derived value for minimum arc ignition current corresponds to a value obtained by Holm. Our measurement of bridge resistance is confirmed by /spl Phi/-/spl Theta/ relation. It shows our measurement apparatus and analytical technique are appropriate for contact phenomena measurement.


Waste grassland is the main primary land type in the construction area of Banduo hydropower station of the Yellow River.Exploring its erosion process may provide an important basis for the quantitative evaluation of soil and water loss in the area.Based on field scouring experiment,the erosion processes of waste grassland in the Banduo hydropower station project area in the Yellow River are studied and following results are obtained.Both the erosion rates under different slopes and different water supply discharge show overall decrease trend and finally reach relative stability,which can be described through logarithmic equation and power equation,respectively.The main difference between them is that under different slope,the erosion rate falls rapidly after 5 minutes of runoff and then the decrease rate become slower,while under different water supply discharges,it falls rapidly in 15 minutes;the erosion modulus increases with the slope and water supply discharge,an exponential equation can be used to describe the trend.While a dual power equation can be used for the description of combined effects of both factors.


Jeevatu is the mixed culture of beneficial microbes, found in natural conditions in Nepal, which is developed by the Nepalese Farming Institute (NFI), an NGO working in Kathmandu, Nepal. Worldwide, several works have been done to control plant diseases, especially nematodes of tomatoes and rhizome rot of ginger effectively, however; no single chemical and practice was found effective to control them. The literature review and experiments revealed that, it is considered almost impossible to control root knot nematode and rhizome rot properly by any means in developing countries. There has been a challenge to find out the best alternative to control root knot nematode and rhizome rot in a sustainable, eco-friendly and a cost effective ways. The use of Jeevatu based organic liquid manure has managed root-knot nematode of tomatoes and rhizome rot of ginger, along with plant growth and development. Jeevatu based organic liquid manure has been found that increases soil organic matter, thus sequestering carbon dioxide, mitigating the adverse effect of global warming. Likewise, the biodegradable waste emits foul odor during collection, loading, transportation and composting. The result of several experiments shows that the application of 0.75 % Jeevatu on wastewater completely controlled the foul odor and 15 % Jeevatu on unsegregated waste completely stopped the foul odor whose D/T value was found 0 (P=0000) 15 minutes later in both of the cases. Moreover, spraying 5 % Jeevatu solution on biodegradable segregated solid waste produced high quality compost within 2 months. Similarly, only 50 % Jeevatu solution of the total biomass of rotten fish has been found effective to control the foul odor of rotten fish. By analyzing several experiment results and literature review, Jeevatu has been found to be one of the best bio-agents for sustainable agriculture, plant disease control, value added compost production, and city waste management.


With nonplanar arrangement of element radiation apertures, a wideband and wide-angle scanning phased array based on SIW horn antenna for the fifth-generation (5G) millimeter-wave (mmW) applications is presented in this paper. A wideband array element with six H-plane horn antennas and a six-way unequal SIW power divider is designed firstly., based on which a 4×1-element phased array is formed with the nonplanar arrangement of element apertures. To achieve high port isolations., aluminum plates are placed between two adjacent array elements. The simulated results show that the 10-dB impedance bandwidth of the proposed phased array is from 23.6 GHz to 30.9 GHz and a high broadside gain above 17.9 dBi. More importantly., the scanning range is larger than ± 60° with 3 dB scanning gain fluctuation within the entire operating frequency band (24.25-29.5 GHz).


For oil importers, differences in economic performance after the 1973-74 oil price increase and after the 1979-80 increase can be attributed to a number of factors, including the fact that the 1973-74 oil price increase was unexpected whereas the 1979-80 increase was largely expected. In this paper, we analyze how an economy's adjustment to expected oil price increases might differ from its adjustment to unexpected increases. By expected oil price increases, we shall mean ones that were anticipated in the past, and by unexpected oil price increases, we shall mean those that were not anticipated in the past but occur unexpectedly in the present. We model this distinction using a three- period model, where the periods are called the past, present and future.


In this note we address two trichotomy concepts for discrete-time linear time-varying systems. We extend the notion of exponential trichotomy in the sense of Elaydi-Janglajew to the so called notion of generalized exponential trichotomy. This approach is motivated by an example. Also, a characterization for generalized exponential trichotomy in terms of necessary and sufficient conditions is given.


A variational approach is used in order to study the stationary states of Hall devices. Charge accumulation, electric potentials and electric currents are investigated on the basis of the Kirchhoff-Helmholtz principle of least heat dissipation. A simple expression for the state of minimum power dissipated -- that corresponds to zero transverse current and harmonic chemical potential -- is derived. It is shown that a longitudinal surface current proportional to the charge accumulation is flowing near the edges of the device. Charge accumulation and surface currents define a boundary layer over a distance of the order of the Debye-Fermi length.


Considering the lack of detailed comparative assessment of the cloud motions winds from FY-2E satellite at present,as well as the characteristics of the cloud motion winds from MISR and FY-2E,cross comparison method for the cloud motion winds from MISR and FY-2E was proposed in the paper,the advantage of the cloud motion winds from MISR was emphasized by contrast of 2010 and 2011 cloud motion winds from FY-2E,and the characteristic of the cloud motion winds from FY-2E was analysed.Taking the cloud motion winds from MISR as reference,both the data of FY-2E and MISR for January-August,2010 and 2011 were analysed,and accurate statistical analysis on the matching result of the two data was implemented.In order to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the cloud motion winds from FY-2E,the cloud motion winds from FY-2E and MISR for the two years was compared respectively.The results show that the overall quality of the cloud motion winds from FY-2E is slightly worse than that of the cloud motion winds from MISR;but for the cloud motion winds from FY-2E itself,there is improvement of the data quality in 2011 relative to that of 2010 to a certain extent.


Permanent air quality monitoring networks provide valuable continuous measurement data. An interesting and important task is to analyze entire observational records revealing presence of monotonic longterm changes in air pollutant concentrations in the atmosphere. In this study we use EANET monitoring data on several major air pollutants for qualitative and quantitate assessment of trends at rural and remote stations in the North-East Asia region covered by EANET. Trends on the entire observational records as well as on selected seasonal subsets were estimated. For about a half of records considered we infer presence of statistically significant trends, whose spatial distribution we analyze further. Together with this trend assessment the comparison of mean air pollution levels at the North-East Asian (EANET) and European stations (from the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP)) is given. Statistical comparison of mean concentrations from the stations with similar environmental conditions was performed as well as comparison of seasonal trends.


AMONG THE CASES of acoustic neurinoma admitted during a period of eight months, there were three which did not develop deafness until late in the disease. In each instance the diagnosis was verified by operation or autopsy. In none of these cases was deafness detected at the time of the first examination, either subjectively or on clinical testing. It is well recognized that impaired functioning of the eighth cranial nerve is an important early sign of acoustic neurinoma,l" and the absence of deafness in three cases until a late stage in the disease was considered worthy of publication. The clinical picture of acoustic neurinoma has been studied in detail since Bell5 wrote on the subject in 1830. The symptoms appear in characteristic order and the diagnosis is usually made only when auditory symptoms appear before there is evidence of involvement of the other structures in the cerebellopontine angle, unless other features are present such as a high protein content of the cerebrospinal fluid or radiologic evidence. The closest attention to the history may be necessary to elicit auditory symptoms for patients rarely call attention to them. It is the rule for the auditory phenomena to progress without interruption from irritation to paralysis, whereas the other symptoms show variation. Labyrinthine changes may precede impairment of hearing, and vertigo may be recorded among the early symptoms of acoustic neurinoma. Attacks of the MBnikre type are rare, however.


Objective To explore the clinical effects of early cranioplasty with preserved autologus bone flap and computer-assisted designed titanium mesh after standard trauma craniotomy for severe craniocerebral injury patients. Methods 128 cases of big bone flap decompression in patients with early repair of the skull,the use of in vitro bone flap and titanium mesh cranioplasty,to explore the effect of early repairment of the skull to the prognosis of the patients with bone flap decompression. Results Consciousness and neurological deficit of patients in early cranioplasty are different degree of improvement,the postoperative complications included infection,subcutaneous effusion,bone resorption. Conclusions The integrity after decompressive craniectomy in patients with early repair of the skull can early recovery in patients with intracranial physiology,improve the quality of life of patients. Titanium mesh and bone flap for repair of each has its advantages and disadvantages,in actual application the selection of repair material should vary with individual choice.


Athletes seeking continuous improvements and frequently training at high intensities are limited by their ability to recover. The limiting factors for optimal recovery are often pain, stress, and inflammation and thus, many recovery supplements have been developed to attenuate an excess in these three parameters. Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the most popular novel supplements that has been advertised for its ergogenic benefits. CBD induces many of its effects through the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS has only recently emerged as an important regulator of homeostasis. Therefore, there is a limited number, if any, of research studies validating the ergogenic effects of CBD in relation to the ECS. This review summarizes the mechanisms of the ECS and how CBD may potentially serve as an effective ergogenic aid through its interactions with the ECS and other body systems. It has been found that athletes may potentially benefit from the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, pain and stress relieving effects of CBD. The main drawback of CBD supplementation is that a very high dose is required for its benefits. Useful topics of future research include proving or disproving CBD's ergogenic efficacy in vivo.


Chilled meat have plenty of fresh juice:delicate taste,highly nutritional value and so on, more and more consumers take the fancy of it.There are many restricting factors of development of chilled meat in our country.in the procedure of storage and sales, its water holding capacity, tender, pH value, microbial pollution, incarnadine, moisture content, TVB-N value of meat quality indicators ,which changed in different degree limits the development of meat market.Therefore, taking correct technical measures to solve the problem of chilled meat's shelf life efficiently, and its also very meaningful for future development of chilled meat.


The HVRI and HVRII segments of human mitochondrial DNA were the first DNA sequences used to establish phylogenetic relationships between Neanderthals and modern humans. Having perfected techniques for the reconstruction of ancient DNA, it is now possible to replace these short sequences with the complete mitochondrial genome as a comparative element. This study contrasts the reliability of the HVR region as an alternative to the complete mitochondrial genome and the non-HVR sequence in order to estimate the genetic proximity between different lineages of the Homo genus. Mitochondrial sequences are used from the Denisova hominid, from the six Neanderthals that are available, from the Kostenki 14 Cro-Magnon, from 34 modern Europeans, from two species of the genus Pan and the revised Cambridge Reference Sequence (rCRS) to construct cladograms that reflect the phylogenetic relationships between the representatives of Homo. The results suggest that HVR is too sensitive to mutagenesis to be used as an element for contrasting relationships, even amongst groups that are separated by short periods of time.


Abstract : The DSTO UAS Database contains geometric, aerodynamic, and performance data for nearly nine hundred semi-autonomous and remotely piloted unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) utilising fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The Database has been created using information from a variety of public sources and is intended to serve as a repository and as a source of data for analysis of the various systems. Here, the characteristics of fixed-wing UAVs are examined as functions of their weight. Where appropriate, fixedwing UAVs are compared with manned aircraft and birds to provide the reader with an overview of the contents of the Database and to indicate some of its possible uses. Other demonstrated applications include historical analyses. The Database has recently been converted from its original Microsoft Excel spreadsheet format to a structured database format to make it more widely available to and searchable by potential users. Periodic maintenance, further validation of the data, and on-going additions are planned.


Abstract The oil and gas industry is a high risk business. It has many potential impacts on the Environment, Health & Safety (EHS). Unlike many other industries, the oil and gas industry has a broad range of high technology related work - hence, the risks and the impacts are wide ranging. Each activity has its own risks and types of impact. Like every other industry in Indonesia, oil and gas industry activities must be safe, reliable, and environmentally compatible. As a consequence, EHS issues must have priority in all activities in the operation and management of the oil and gas industry. These issues need to be more clearly understood when related to the national/international regulations on one hand and to public awareness on the other. Entering a global market, industrial competition becomes tighter end every product has to meet international quality standards (ISO 9000). Therefore, consumers may choose products which incorporate more stringent EHS standards in the production process as well as in the product itself. Therefore, EHS can become an important issue in business strategy. P.T. ELNUSA, a subsidiary of PERTAMINA, with more than 25 years experience in advanced technology, supplies and services to the oil and gas industry, information systems, telecommunication, chemical, energy and other supporting services, has extended its services to the EHS sector. The EHS Division offers consultancy and services which include: • EHS Management Consultancy • Environmental, Safety and Quality Auditing • Environmental Impact Assessment • Environmental Monitoring and Laboratory Services • EHS Decision Support System Development (Emergency Response System) • Quantitative Risk Assessment • Waste Treatment and Management • Computer Aided EHS Engineering Software System • Safety/Loss Control and Environmental Management Training and Workshop In providing these services, ELNUSA works with local and/or international partners, such as P.T. Geobis-Woodward-Clyde, Det Norske Veritas, Liberty International; as well as with Bapedal, BPP Teknologi, and others.


Abstract Let Λ n be the kernel of the map from GL(n, ℤ) to GL(n, ℤ2) induced by the quotient map ℤ → ℤ2. We give a presentation for Λ n .


Objectives

To evaluate trabecular bone score (TBS) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to identify risk factors related to low TBS in SSc.
Methods

TBS and areal bone mineral density (aBMD) were assessed in patients with SSc (n = 57), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (n = 47), and hand osteoarthritis (OA) (n = 37) using DXA. Osteoporosis risk factors, laboratory findings, SSc-specific organ involvement, and patterns of nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) were also assessed. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors associated with TBS in SSc patients.
Results

The median TBS (Q1, Q3) value was 1.378 (1.322, 1.425) in SSc patients, 1.336 (1.261, 1.396) for RA patients, and 1.430 (1.387, 1.438) for controls (p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in the median lumbar spine TBS and aBMD at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip between the SSc and RA groups. The TBS was negatively correlated with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p = 0.042) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (p = 0.005) in the SSc group only and with cumulative glucocorticoid doses in the RA group only (p = 0.031). We found no association between TBS and SSc cutaneous subtype, internal organ involvement, autoantibody profile, NFC patterns, and use of immunosuppressive agents, such as cyclophosphamide. In the multivariate analyses, age, female sex, current, and average CRP were significantly associated with TBS.
Conclusions

TBS assessment revealed poor bone quality in patients with SSc, similar to those with RA. CRP levels were negatively correlated with TBS in patients with SSc, and higher CRP levels were independently associated with low TBS.


Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore consumer views on different aspects of packaging, exemplified by a common product in the fruit and vegetable category and to identify advantages and disadvantages perceived by consumers purchasing packaged or unpackaged products. Design/methodology/approach – Three focus group interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis based on theory was performed. The findings were categorised into nine themes. Findings – Consumer views on packaging aspects were revealed, covering: packaging material; pack size; protection and preservation; convenience; price; communication and information; ethical perspectives; novelty and innovation; and advantages and disadvantages of packaged and unpackaged products. Research limitations/implications – The study adds to present knowledge on the role of packaging in consumers' food choices. The qualitative analysis identified areas for further research through quantitative methods. Practical implications – Challenges in communicatin...


The 1988 through 1992 NASS field accident data on rollovers and injuries to occupants in these crashes were analysed. The data show that more than 96 percent of all occupants in rollovers do not receive serious head or neck injuries. The authors discuss why most restrained occupants do not suffer serious head or neck injuries in rollovers and how that helps understanding of the injuries that do occur. Based on these data, the authors further developed the rollover injury parameter "residual headroom" to identify the likelihood of severe head/face or neck injury and the vehicle design measures that can mitigate those injuries. A theory of rollover head and neck injury causation is proposed that is supported by all available evidence and observations. In particular, how minor modifications of the roof structure and occupant protection systems of most contemporary passenger cars, light trucks, and vans can prevent severe injuries in rollovers is discussed. [A] For the covering abstract, see IRRD 896528.


A cross sectional survey, involving five major hospitals in Nepal covering Kathmandu, Bharatpur and Palpa was conducted during 22nd February to 30 th May 2003. Pharmacists and doctors collected the data from the in-patient file those who were admitted due to drug related complications (DRC) and entered the details in the study-encounter form. The study excluded outpatients and patients experiencing DRCs in the hospital. Among 15,624 hospital admissions, 63 (0.4%) were attributed to DRCs. Analgesics were responsible for 1/4 th of the complications. Hypersensitivity and gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding separately accounted for nearly 1/5 th of the complications. Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) caused 51 (80.96%) of the complications followed by overdose (17.46%) and wrong dose (1.58%). Higher incidence of ADRs was due to analgesics (23.82%) followed by antibacterial (17.46%), antitubercular agents (15.87%), central nervous system drugs (11.12%), steroids (4.76%) and miscellaneous (7.93%). Analgesics were the main therapeutic category causing DRCs. Hypersensitivity and GI bleeding were the major complications and ADRs to be the major cause with higher incidence attributable to analgesics and antibacterial. The study was evident in finding the incidence of DRCs.


Bacillus vallismortis BR2 and Escherichia coli Khodavandi-Alizadeh-2 lipases (E.C.126.96.36.199) were used to produce fatty acid methyl ester (FAME), a sustainable source of fuel. The lipase activity was measured using the titrimetric method after it was extracted from a solid fermented substrate in phosphate buffer. The use of Central Composite Design to optimize condition parameters was examined, while qualitative and quantitative assessments of FAME samples were performed using GC-MS with MSD in scan mode and selective ion monitoring. Lipase activity peaked at 24 h and then declined as the incubation time went on. The independent variables, such as pH, temperature, agitation, incubation time and enzyme quantity, all had an effect on biodiesel yield since they were all significant in the rate of biodiesel yield. FAME yield increased significantly after adding 1 to 2 mL of enzyme and a pH range of 4.57143 to 7.42857, but thereafter declined. The chromatograms indicated a peak of cis-10-Heptadecanoic acid methyl ester with concentrations of 39.95 mg/L and 58.95 mg/L in the FAME molecules. The viscosity (3.67 m3/s), specific gravity (0.813 g/cm3), flash point (102.70 °C), cetane number (55.52), and pour point (-24 °C) of the fuel were also measured. The synthesized biodiesel from the spent oil through the synergic enzymes were found to be a simple, effective, and sustainable fuel production process, as well as a potential means of eliminating pollution caused by haphazard waste cooking oil disposal.


With the development of the informationization,as the GIS basic data,the digital topographic map has played a more and more important role in all fields.However,as it was gathered by the division which results in the geography entity was divided factitiously.So on the condition of guaranteeing the precision,how to implement edge matching quickly,accurately has been a problem for us.This paper summarizes the deficiency of the current edge matching firstly,and then it raises the algorithm that using single line replaces rectangle line for avoiding objects repeat matching and making the best of the objects' attribute.Through reducing the times of matching to improve the efficiency,it has achieved a great improvement when put into the practice.


Abstract This study shows the application of semi-absolute k0 instrumental neutron activation analysis (k0-INAA), epithermal neutron activation analysis (ENAA) and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) for the determination of 21 elements (Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Hf, I, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Sc Sr, and Zn) in different types of milk samples. The ENAA was required for the determination of iodine, AAS for Cu, Ni and Pb and the rest of the elements were measured by k0-INAA. Thirteen elements (Br, Ca, Cl, Cs, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, P, Rb, Sr and Zn) were identified in all milk samples. Ni was detected in eleven and Pb in two samples. Concentrations of most of the elements were within the ranges of the world reported data. The data was further explored by principal component analysis to find relationships between samples and elements.


Abstract : We propose augmentation of the principal investigator's "parent" contract with the Air Force in the form of support for one additional graduate student. The student would perform numerical simulations and modeling relevant to the use of ultrashort optical pulses to observe a remote object at high data rate. The work would relate specifically to our recent experimental demonstration of a kinematically modelocked nonlinear loop mirror laser utilizing erbium doped fiber. This technology provides a strategy for realizing a sensitive means for sensing the motion of a remote object. The student would seek a better description of the internal dynamics of the nonlinear loop mirror laser and would examine strategies that might more fully utilize the potential of this physical behavior. Relevance to recent and ongoing work would also be addressed.


This progect refers to grouting as a method for the repair of masonry monuments.More specific the meaining of the word grouting is being analysed, the types of the grout and some applications in the monuments of masonry


Such technical details aside, moreover, there is certainly room for several works on this difficult but highly rewarding topic. In the seventeenth century Chinese Confucianism was far from deserving the reactionary label it acquired in later history, while the Jesuits arrived amongst China's intellectuals not as representatives of foreign powers so far advanced in comparison with the Chinese as to threaten to overwhelm the whole of their world, but as equals, ready perforce to argue their beliefs man to man. The record of the interaction of both sides constitutes excellent firsthand evidence for Chinese (and even in some degree Christian) thought at the time and in particular illuminates fundamental beliefs not normally discussed because they were not normally controverted. After these two surveys of the scope of that record we may look forward with pleasure to a forthcoming study with a narrower focus by Jonathan Spence devoted to the career of Matteo Ricci. If one could wish for anything further it would be for translations of some of the basic works, such as has already been achieved in Japanese by Goto Motomi.


own roles — indeed, of the establishment of her own cult of personality and stardom. The focus on Sarah's London triumphs also allows for a detailed study of her acting skills. Aston offers a careful and perceptive analysis of the histrionic style, with its emotionalist quality, that Sarah brought to her portrayal of tragic heroines, fatally entangled in strikingly modern love affairs — roles of passion, seduction, violence and martyrdom. This analysis extends to a study of gesture and voice as well as to the carefullyrealized tableaux which were a distinctive feature of Sarah's pictorial production technique. It takes in, too, Sarah's dream of an almost operatic voice-control, complemented by music, in opera parle (most nearly realized in the 1890 production of Jeanne d'Arc in which Barbier's text was interwoven with Gounod's music). Serious consideration is also given to Sarah's travesti roles, so alien to an English audience. To place Sarah's talent in context, Aston takes into account other great actresses of her day — both of the old (histrionic) school and of the new generation (Florence Farr, Janet Achurch and Elizabeth Robins). Elenora Duse, Mme Modjeska, Mrs Patrick Campbell and Ellen Terry are all presented, as is Sarah's most serious rival in London, the younger French actress, Gabrielle Rejane. The reader leaves this study with a far richer sense of that blend of histrionic skills, personal attractiveness and tireless determination that went into the making of one of the first great international stars.


A major problem in detecting colonial variants is the development of a suitable solid medium that will permit their positive identification. Levine and Garber (J. Bact., 60, 508, 1950) incorporated tetrazolium chloride (TPTZ) in a tryptose agar medium that satisfactorily distinguished smooth and rough colonies of Pasteurella pestis, primarily on the basis of differences in color. Since a transparent mediuim illuminated by obliquely transmitted light had been successful in studies on the dissociation of BruceUa (Braun: J. Bact., 51, 327, 1946), a similar medium and a similar technique for observing colonies of P. peatis were considered. A comparable mediuim, designated as TGY, was developed and proved superior to the TPTZ medium in ease of preparation and in stability during storage. The TGY medium has the following composition: 2 per cent tryptone (Difco), 0.2 per cent glucose, 0.8 per cent yeast extract (Difco), and 2 per cent agar. To ensure relatively uniform thickness, approximately 20 ml of medium were dispensed in petri dishes. Colonies, on streaked plates of TGY medium, grown for 48 hours at 30 C were observed by Braun's method, using a light blue filter in the light source. Typical smooth colonies were cream white and opaque with a smooth, glistening, convex surface and a regular margin, whereas rough colonies were light blue and translucent with a rough, deeply furrowed, flat surface and an irregular margin. Satisfactory differentiation of colonial types was demonstrated with TGY medium that had been stored in the refrigerator for 14 days prior to inoculation by streaking from a liquid culture. Colonies that could not be classified as typically smooth or rough were found to maintain their morphological characteristics when subcultured on TGY medium. A rough colony was isolated from a highly virulent, smooth strain of P. pest". Subsequent transfer on TGY medium demonstrated the stability of this rough variant. Subcutaneous inoculations in a susceptible host, the mouse, revealed the avirulence of this rough variant.


ABSTRACT MXene is a new type of transition metal carbon/nitride two-dimensional nanolayered material, which has attracted extensive attention in many fields due to its unique physicochemical properties. Combining MXene with high-performance polymers is expected to obtain nanocomposites with excellent comprehensive properties. In this study, MXene was first modified with acidified 6-aminocaproic acid and then mixed with Polyamide 6 (PA6) matrix. The structure, thermal stability, mechanical properties, and electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency of MXene-based PA6 nanocomposites were studied. The modified MXene was well dispersed in the PA6 matrix with beneficial interfacial adhesion, and the mechanical properties and electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency were significantly enhanced. The method used in this study provides a novel route for fabricating MXene-based polymer nanocomposites with excellent performance. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT


The experiments reported here are a continuation of the work on human spermatozoa which was begun with the object of studying the metabolic behavior of these cells. In previous papers (7, S), the metabolism was shown to be almost exclusively glycolytic, the oxygen consumption being of such small magnitude that it could not properly be interpreted as a true respiration. Furthermore, no spectroscopic evidence of cytochrome could be found and it was observed that, in certain cases, motility was profoundly depressed in the presence of pure oxygen. These observations have been confirmed in every essential respect by Ross et al. (12) except that their mean figures for glycolysis are higher than those given by this author (7). Since the latter results were published, higher and more consistent figures2 have been obtained from the combined spermatozoa of a small new group of donors. These figures are in closer agreement with those of Ross et al. and show, furthermore, that the level of aerobic glycolysis is virtually the same as that of the anaerobic. The present extension of these studies was undertaken to determine more precisely the behavior of the spermatozoa under aerobic conditions and particularly to examine the link between glycolysis and respiration in these cells. The experiments entailed 1, determination of the activity of certain dehydrogenase systems; 2, the measurement of oxygen consumption in the presence of different substrates, and 3, testing for the presence of the cytochrome complex by indirect methods. Lastly, the toxic effect of high oxygen tensions was investigated from the point of view of a possible formation of hydrogen peroxide by the spermatozoa. METHODS. The spermatozoa suspensions were prepared by methods described previously (7, 8). For the measurement of oxygen consumption, the cells were suspended in glucose-free Ringer-phosphate solution (pH 7.35) and shaken in Warburg manometers at 38OC. Various substrates were added directly to the cell suspensions in the Warburg vessels prior to temperature equilibration. The final concentration of each substrate was M/100. Cell motility was determined before and after every experiment by methods already


Despite the alleged roles played by structures, substances, and facts in mathematical and metaphysical theorizing, in this paper I provide a strategy to dispense with them. It is argued that one need not be committed to the existence of these posits nor with the metaphysically inflationary interpretations that support them. An alternative, deflationary approach is then sketched.


Background:
 Only 20-30% of Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH) survivors achieve functional independence. We investigated if neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage (NSD) mediated by cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is associated with post-ICH functional outcomes.

 Methods:
 Clinical and imaging data were extracted from electronic medical records and 90-day modified Rankin Score (mRS) was obtained from prospectively collected stroke registry at a large hospital system. CSVD was assessed based on MRI markers from 1-year before to 30 days after the ICH event and was scored from 0-4 with severe CSVD (S-CSVD) ≥ 2. Exact patient addresses were geocoded, and state-level Area Deprivation Index (ADI) was calculated, with high NSD (H-NSD) categorized as the top 15% of ADI scores. The outcome was severe disability or death (SDD) categorized as 90-day mRS score ≥4. Multivariate logistic regression models were fitted, and mediation was evaluated by structural equation modeling. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) are reported.

 Results:
 Final analysis included 367 patients (mean age: 65 years, 49.7% female, median presentation ICH Score: 1) with complete data. We found significant associations between older age, Black race, S-CSVD, H-NSD, hematoma volume, presence of ventricular hemorrhage, presentation systolic blood pressure (SBP), and ICH score with SDD (P<0.05). In a multivariate model adjusted for age, SBP, ICH score and other important clinical co-variates, SDD was significantly and independently associated with both H-NSD (OR, CI: 2.03, 1.05 - 4.23) and S-CSVD (OR, CI: 1.93, 1.12 - 3.35). Our data did not demonstrate an association between CSVD and NSD; and S-CSVD did not mediate the relationship between H-NSD and SDD.

 Discussion:
 In addition to known clinical factors, NSD, as measured by the ADI, and CSVD were independently associated with poor ICH outcomes. Potential causal pathways between H-NSD and poor ICH outcomes need to be further evaluated.


Phylogenetics determines the evolutionary relationships between groups of species, through a phylogenetic tree. PhyML is among the main programs for the reconstruction of phylogenetic trees. Bootstrap is a statistical method used to measure the confidence of a given data set, which is usually applied in the analysis of inferred phylogenetic trees. In PhyML this method has two MPI parallel implementations: with point-to-point operations and collective operations. The second version is more efficient than the first, however it has a limitation on the number of bootstrap to be used due to the increase in memory consumption. In order to solve this problem, three proposals were developed. The objectives of this work were to carry out the validation of these versions together with performance tests. The validation showed that the proposed solutions present results equivalent to the point-to-point version. In the performance simulations, two solutions were shown to be superior to the point-to-point version, with the best one achieving gains of 28.46% and 39.64% for 32 and 64 processes, respectively. Therefore, the enhancements allow alternatives to the point-to-point version without limitingmemory.


It is an important project for the theory and practice circle at the moment that makes SMEs grow and develop healthily.Entrepreneurs' talent and effective management are the important element to guarantee SMEs' healthy development.Thus, the process pattern of of entrepreneurs' study of critical affair is put up based on the dynamic evolution theory. And the relationship between the entrepreneurial learning action and learning process is analyzed.Moreover, the article analyzes Taiwan Lianguan Co., Ltd. as a case of pattern on trigger and nonlinear process of entrepreneurial learning in SMEs.


Objectives: The four-wave longitudinal study explored developmental trajectories of self-esteem of elementary school children and examined the predictive factors such as the mother's parenting behavior, children's happiness and school adjustment associated with these trajectories.Methods: Trajectories of self-esteem from grades 1 to 4 were modeled using 1,659 children drawn from the Panel Study on Korean Children (PSKC) 2015~2018. Growth Mixture Modeling (GMM) analysis was used to estimate trajectories of self-esteem in grades 1~4. Using multiple logistic regression, the identified trajectories were then used to analyze whether the mother's parenting, children's happiness, and school adjustment affected the latent class classification.Results: First, the self-esteem of grades 1 to 4 revealed a linear growth pattern over time. Second, GMM identified four developmental trajectories in childhood self-esteem, of which the low-increasing, low-decreasing, high-increasing, or moderate-decreasing group reflected the normative trajectories. Third, the mother's warm parenting, the academic performance of school adjustment, and the happiness of the children were significant in predicting the classification of latent class in the change trajectories of self-esteem.Conclusion: The results showed individual differences and heterogeneity in the development of selfesteem. Groups' initial different developmental levels at first grade continue until grade 4. Developmental trajectories provide the direction for interventions by the level of self-esteem for elementary children. Especially, educational programs and interventions in mothers' warm parenting, children's happiness, and academic performance, which affect self-esteem trajectories, would be needed. These findings provide a meaningful foundation for designing programs and practical suggestions to encourage the self-esteem of elementary children.


Interference fits, which are widely used in flexible couplings, can transfer large torques while avoiding unbalance. Using the classic elastic plane stress theory, the equations of the rotating interference fits taking into account of the temperature changes are derived, and the exact solution of radial displacement and radial stress, hoop stress and tangential stress of the rotating interference fits are obtained, then taking the interference fits of the coupling for a high speed microturbomachinery as an example, the above solutions are plotted using the numerical method, and also Von Mises equivalent stress is calculated. It is found that there are significantly different for the radial displacements between the two cases of with/without taking into account the change of temperature under two kinds of parameters, one is rotating speed chosen as a parameter and other parameters keeps constant, the other is the inner radius of the shaft and rotating speed chosen as parameters.Copyright © 2013 by ASME


The Storfjorden sea ice cover has been observed during two winters, 1997 to 1999, using ERS-2 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery. Under northerly winds this region presents high sea ice dynamics resulting in an ice cover composed of fast ice, pack ice and polynyas. Using the ice tracking method of nested correlation between sequential images, a high-resolution displacement vector field of the sea ice cover is obtained. Every node of a grid superposed on the initial SAR image A has its correspondent in a node of a deformed grid of image B obtained by maximum correlation. Hence, a correlation coefficient c can be attributed to each grid cell. An absolute velocity field, shear zones and a divergence field can be extracted as enhanced images from the displacement vector field. Together with the original SAR image and an image corresponding to the correlation coefficients for each grid node, a supervised sea ice classification into fast ice, pack ice and polynya is performed and gives first promising results that are compared to a manual segmentation. Guidance for future algorithm improvement is discussed and a future combination of this method with other algorithms is suggested. INTRODUCTION Storfjorden situated in the southeast of the Svalbard Archipelago (Figure 1) is an important supplier of brine-enriched water into the Greenland and Norwegian Sea (Schauer, 1995). This dense water originates from intensive freezing inside persistent latent heat polynyas that have been observed by ERS-2 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery (Haarpaintner et al., 2001a). Haarpaintner et al. (2001b) studied the interannual variability over the two winters 1997–1999, showing that the extent of the polynyas plays an important role for the total ice production. Ice drift parameters were obtained by finding the best fit of polynya models to interpolate a visual segmentation of the SAR data into fast ice, pack ice and polynya. A reliable automatic classification into these ice classes would eliminate the subjective approach of the manual interpretation. Due to the ambiguities in the SAR backscatter signal, especially of new ice that varies tremendously for different meteorological conditions (Haarpaintner, 1999; Onstott, 1992), an ice classification based on backscatter level alone is not sufficient. A more promising approach is the use of sequential data by tracking ice motion and detecting 1 National Ice Center, FOB #4, Room 2301, 4251 Suitland Road, Washington, D.C. 20395, USA changes in the ice cover. Fily and Rothrock (1990) used sequential data to detect opening and closing leads. Using the ice motion and ice type product of the Geophysical Processor System (GPS) of the Alaska SAR Facility (ASF), Kwok et al. (1995) determined the age distribution of sea ice. Knowing the accumulated freezing-degree days, ice age can be converted into ice thickness. Kwok and Holt (2000) applied this method on the whole Canadian Basin using RADARSAT wide-swath ScanSAR data. Very reliable on the perennial ice cover, there is doubt that this method would be reliable in large highly dynamic areas such as polynyas. A refined version (Kergomard et al., 1994) of the nested correlation ice tracking algorithm (Fily and Rothrock, 1987) was applied on ERS-2 SAR data of Storfjorden during an important polynya event between 25 and 28 March 1999. ARGOS buoys (Figure 1) that were deployed on the pack ice in Storfjorden confirmed the satellite ice tracking results with an accuracy of the ARGOS positioning system and determined a pack ice drift in the South of the fjord of 2.2% of the wind velocity, in a predominantly southern direction (Haarpaintner et al., 2000). In this paper, the ice tracking results between 25 and 28 March are used to construct sub-images that correspond to the correlation coefficients obtained during the algorithm process and the different characteristics of the ice motion, i.e. absolute motion, shear motion and divergence. Together with the original SAR image, the subimages are then used to perform a 5-level supervised classification. Figure 1: Storfjorden and the position of the two ERS-2 SAR scenes from 25 and 28 March 1999. Two ARGOS tracks are indicated between these dates in the south of the scenes. The ice tracking was applied on the light gray region. The paper is organized as follows. First, the nested correlation method is briefly presented. Then, the construction of the sub-images is explained and the results of the ice classification into fast ice, pack ice and polynya is compared to a manual segmentation. Limitations of this method, possible improvements and a brief comparison with Kwok and Holt (2000) are discussed before concluding this paper. NESTED CORRELATION METHOD The nested correlation method and its refined version are described in detail by Fily and Rothrock (1987) and by Kergomard et al. (1994), respectively. A brief description follows. The algorithm establishes a full grid of "tie-points". A tie-point is a pair of pixel positions P(i,j) and P(k,l), where P(i,j) is a node of an initial grid applied on an image A1 and P(k,l) is its correspondent in an image A2. P(k,l) is found by searching for the maximum correlation coefficient of a 41×41-pixel window around P(i,j) with all 41×41pixel windows inside a predefined region of the image A2. During the process, tie-points that have a correlation below a defined threshold of reliable correspondence or are motion-wise inconsistent with their neighbors are eliminated by the algorithm and are redefined by linear interpolation. When interpolated, these tie-points are attributed a low correlation coefficient of 10. The set of tie-points can be visualized either by the initial grid of the image A1 and its correspondent deformed grid of the image A2, or by a vector field, representing the absolute ice motion between the two images. The ice-tracking algorithm has been operated with a resolution of 1 km. Figure 2 shows the resultant ice displacement vector field and deformed grid for the algorithm applied on the pair of ERS-2 SAR images of 25 and 28 March 1999, when a large latent heat polynya was expanding over the whole northern part of Storfjorden. The opening of the polynya is evident as a strong zone of divergence. During the three days, the southern edge of the polynya, i.e. the diagonal feature in the center of figure 2a, moved about 36 km southwards, whereas the pack ice in the south of the fjord traveled less than 28 km southwards. This leads to zones of ice compression in the south of Storfjorden. The majority of tie-points inside the polynya have been reconstructed by interpolation, since the correlation coefficient was below the defined threshold. In the shear zone along the Spitsbergen fast ice, several tie-points were reconstructed after they had been eliminated because the algorithm detected inconsistency in the movement between neighboring tiepoints of fast ice and drifting pack ice. SUB-IMAGE CONSTRUCTION From the ice tracking results, several ice parameters related to the changes in the appearance of the ice and to the ice motion can be extracted. The correlation coefficient measures the agreement between two image windows, and therefore is a good measure of changes in the appearance of the target. Different ice types react differently under oceanic and atmospheric dynamics. Consequently, land and fast ice that are stable in time are detected by high correlation. Thick ice that is less sensitive to atmospheric forcing, compression and fracture than thin ice, should also have a higher correlation coefficient. Brash, thin and new ice types, i.e. nilas and frazil ice, inside dynamic areas like polynyas, undergo important changes during relatively short time intervals (of the order of hours) and generally have a low correlation coefficient. However, certain features, as for example, well defined borders between the pack ice and the polynya, can be retrieved with a good correlation. The ice algorithm calculates the absolute displacement of each node of the initial grid between the sequential images. Using the displacement of the four corners of each grid cell, their shear movement and divergence can be retrieved. The shear movement is calculated by the minimum ratio of the lengths of the two diagonals for each cell. Values close to 1 and close to 0 correspond to low and strong shear movements, respectively. The divergence is calculated by the ratio of the areas of the deformed cell and the initial cell. Positive values correspond therefore to opening in the ice cover, i.e. new ice formation; negative values to compression and ridging. Figure 2: ERS-2 SAR images and the ice motion vector field (a) of 25 March 1999 and the corresponding deformed grid (b) of 28 March 1999 after reconstruction of the eliminated tie-points. Original Data  ESA (1999), distributed by Eurimage (TSS). Thus, four sub-images are constructed (Figure 3a–d), where the value of each grid cell in each image corresponds to the correlation coefficient, the absolute motion, the divergence and the shear motion, respectively. ICE CLASSIFICATION On these four sub-images plus the initial ERS-2 SAR image from 25 March 1999, a 5level supervised minimum-distance classification is applied by choosing training areas for each ice class (fast ice, pack ice and polynya). Fig.3 presents the enhanced subimages (a–d), the original SAR (e) scene and the resulting classified image (f). Figure 3: The four sub-images; lighter gray levels correspond to higher correlation coefficients (a), stronger absolute motion (b) and stronger divergence (c); dark gray levels correspond to strong shear motions (d). (e) is the original ERS-2 SAR scene (backscatter signal) from 25 March 1999, and (f) is the 5-level supervised minimumdistance classification into fast ice (white), pack ice (gray) and polynyas (black). Obviously, the main feature of the polynya (black) and pack ice (gray) together is mostly influenced by the absolute mo


This report is in microfiche form. The hull of the Royal Australian Navy's replacement minehunter is to be made of a rigid core material sandwiched between skins of glass-reinforced plastic. In order to study the ability of such materials to withstand marine exposure, especially when damaged, balsa wood test blocks, coated each side with grp, were exposed for 14 months in a tropical harbour; both undamaged control blocks and blocks with varying degrees of simulated damage to the grp were employed. All blocks were subject to fouling, which however had no apparent effect on the grp, but molluscan borers penetrated and damaged the balsa cores of all the blocks.


It is given a frame assembly for a back-pack bag for transporting small children having a jerk frame and a hanger. The Bugel is connected at both ends in each case via a joint to the back frame. The joints each comprise two mutually bendable housing parts. The joints each have two end positions between which the joints can be angled. In a joint is a surmountable independently from both end positions resistor is arranged between these two end positions. The other joint has a resistance which is independent uberwindbar from the first end position and can be overcome by the second end position only with an external force.


Laser welding can make very precise joints in plastics products, both in terms of joint location and amount of heating applied. These welding methods allow complex products such as microfluidic devices to be made, where channels and structure resolution below 100μm is regularly used. However, to date, the dimension of welds made using lasers has been limited by the focus spot size that is achievable from the laser source. Theoretically, the minimum spot size possible from a good quality laser beam is comparable to the wavelength of the radiation emitted. Practically, with reasonable focal length optics, the spot size achievable is a few factors larger than this. The resulting weld even larger than this. The narrowest welds feasible to date have therefore been 10 to 20 μm wide using a near-infrared laser source. The aim of this work was make welds less than 10μm wide in PMMA thermoplastic, using EB lithography to prepare laser absorber tracks and channels, followed by laser welding to carry out welds of the order of 1 μm wide. This technique should allow welds to be made below the resolution limit of the near-infrared laser. Welded joints with a width of 1 μm have been achieved and channels with a width of 5 μm. The procedure was based on the principle of transmission laser welding using a thin coating of infrared absorbent material at the joint interface. The coating was patterned using electronbeam lithography to obtain the required resolution in a reproducible manner, and that resolution was retained after the transmission laser welding process. The joint strength was ratified using larger scale samples. The results demonstrate that plastics products could be made with a high density of structure with resolution below 1μm, and that welding can be applied without excessively heating regions outside the weld lines. This may be applied to smaller scale sensor and analysis chips, micro-bio and chemical reactors using either liquids or gases, and to microelectronic packaging. [doi:10.2320/matertrans.MI201402]


Building materials play important role in buildings construction as well as have massive contribution to impact of buildings on environment. Materials influ ence global climate by emitting greenhouse gasses, acidification becomes evident regionally, but building materials also have considerable effect on occupants' health. It is important to quantify effects of building on environment. How ever, some effects are easier to measure than other s and also importance of certain effect needs to be defined. L ife cycle assessment appears to be the most appropr iate method for environmental evaluation. This paper presents one example of environmental assessment of building materials and illustrates envi ronmental profile of particular constructions of selected bui lding in Slovak Republic. Environmental parameters, such as amount of embodied energy, global warming potential and acidification potential were evaluated. For selected constructions the optimization of materials was done with aim of minimizing the negative effect of building material s on environ- ment. The decreasing of the values of primary energ y, global warming potential and acidification poten tial were reached for evaluated structures as well as for who le building (at about 3.3 - 12.3 %) only by a chang e of building materials.


This study evaluates the characteristics of the citation sources in 15 papers presented in an international linguistics conference in Indonesia to find some model papers that employ appropriate citation sources in appropriate ways. The papers consist of 3 groups: 5 were written in Indonesia, 5 in English, and 5 in Malay. The evaluation is of the total number, language, format, age, and presentation of the citation sources in the reference lists of the papers. The findings reveal that the citation sources in the three groups have different characteristics. Moreover, the data show inaccuracies in presenting the citation sources and inconsistencies with the acceptable academic writing conventions, which do not support good academic papers. This study, which can be a significant contribution to the teaching and learning of academic writing, also discusses some potential influence of the characteristics of citation sources on the quality of an academic paper.


The objective of this study is to examine the desirable correspondence between a robot appearance and its interaction. Based on Balespsila interaction process analysis (IPA), the four types of interaction were extracted; agree, question, suggestion, and disagree. An experiment was conducted with a 4 (robot appearance types from the previous research) times 4 (interaction types from IPA) within-groups factorial design. In the experiment, participants took part in a task that involved selecting colors corresponding to 16 given words with a robot. After completing each task, they evaluated each robot. The evaluation results on subjectspsila impressions of the robot and on the relationship between a user and a robot provided the proper and improper matches between robot appearance types and interaction types. Both anthropomorphic and zoomorphic robots were well-matched with agree or question while they were ill-matched with suggestion or disagree, caricatured robots displayed a desirable correspondence with agree while they showed improper correspondence with question; functional robots were compatible with all interaction types except disagree.


High-density bat-like ZnO micro-and nanorods were prepared on Si(111)substrates by a thermal evaporation method using Zn powders and zinc acetate dihydrate(ZA)as the source materials. X-ray diffraction,field emission scanning electron microscope,transmission electron microscope,Raman scattering and photoluminescence were used to characterize the structural and optical properties of the obtained samples.The results indicate that the individual rod has four knots with different diameters, the rods are a high-quality single crystal with a few defects.The growth mechanism of the structures proposed reveals that oxygen partial pressures play an important role in the growth process.The shape of ZnO nanostructures can be controlled by adjusting oxygen flux.