The oxygen transfer is the process of atmospheric oxygen diffusion from a gas stage to a liquid stage in the form of dissolved oxygen (DO). The previous research works have successfully proven that the DO concentration level effortlessly rises by adopting a venturi as an aeration method in aquatic bodies. Present experimental study was conducted on laboratory scale aeration tank with two different sizes of venturi (40 and 80 mm throat length). The objective of the current study was to determine the oxygen transfer coefficient at different discharge rates through venturi aeration system. The system was operated with three different discharges of 0.50, 0.58 and 0.67 liter/second (l/s) to circulate 200 liter volume of water, was aimed for circulation in a closed loop system. During the operations, water moves through the inlet section into the contract section of the venturi, which increases the rate of water flow and reduces the pressure as per the Bernoulli's theorem. In order to study the oxygen transfer coefficient at varying discharge, the system worked by a single hole and accordingly applied to the larger number of holes for both the throat lengths of venturi. It was observed that the oxygen transfer coefficient proportionally linked to the DO diffusion with increasing rate of discharge. The oxygen transfer coefficient found to be increased by 31% and 55% at 40 and 80 mm throat length respectively, with increasing the discharge. The rate of DO diffusion found higher causes more surface area of contact between air and water through maximum air entrainment. Moreover aeration efficiency also increases with the rate of increasing discharge for the maximum size of throat length. The maximum SOTR values was obtained 0.0035, 0.0041, and 0.0050 kgO2/h at varying discharge of 0.50, 0.58 and 0.67 l/s respectively for 40 mm throat length. For the 80 mm throat length, the SOTR values varies from 0.0042, 0.0062 and 0.0091 kgO2/h at increasing discharge of 0.50, 0.58 and 0.67 l/s respectively with increasing number of holes.


A procedure is proposed in order to calibrate static and seismic partial safety factors for ULS geotechnical design, based on reliability concepts. It is shown that, in order to provide a similar safety level for static and seismic conditions, it is necessary to sensibly reduce the static partial factors of safety, and that such reduction must be a function of the probability of occurrence of the seismic event.


Abstract Laboratory simulations have helped resolve several problems concerning the role of bacteria in producing acidic drainage from active and abandoned coal mines. It is well established that the bacterium Thiobacillus ferrooxidans oxidizes pyrite in synthetic liquid media and in flooded or agitated experimental simulations of coal mine environments. However, many geologists remain skeptical regarding the role of T. ferrooxidans in producing acidity below a near‐surface belt of soil water. We have demonstrated that T. ferrooxidans is capable of colonizing and acidifying a near‐neutral pH environment of crushed coal or overburden, without prior establishment of a pH‐dependent succession of bacteria. We have suggested that T. ferrooxidans may accomplish this by direct oxidation of pyrite. We have also shown that T. ferrooxidans catalyzes pyrite oxidation in the intermediate belt of the zone of aeration, although only for a limited period of time after rainfall infiltration. T. ferrooxidans was not found...


Simple Summary This study describes clinical and genetic characteristics of the largest aggregated cohort of Splicing Factor 3 Subunit B1 (SF3B1)-mutated Uveal Melanoma (UM) in the literature (n = 146). Missense mutations in the spliceosome gene SF3B1 result in an altered splice site recognition and aberrant mRNA transcripts. The SF3B1-mutated UM show early- and late-onset of metastatic disease for which, currently, no distinguishing biomarkers exist. Using a cutoff of 60 months for stratification, we found that a largest basal tumor diameter was more prevalent in the early-onset metastatic disease group. Furthermore, using differential gene expression and the detection of aberrant transcripts, we found that the expression of alpha/beta-Hydrolase domain containing 6 (ABHD6) is associated with early-onset metastatic SF3B1 and aberrant transcripts that are associated with early-onset SF3B1-mutated UM. Our results provide more accurate prognostication and targets for future functional studies in an effort to elucidate pathogenesis of SF3B1-mutated UM. Abstract Approximately 25% of all uveal melanoma (UM) contain driver mutations in the gene encoding the spliceosome factor SF3B1, and whilst patients with such SF3B1 mutations generally have an intermediate risk on developing metastatic disease, a third of these patients develop early metastasis within 5 years after diagnosis. We therefore investigated whether clinical and/or genetic variables could be indicative of short progression-free survival (PFS < 60 months) or long PFS (PFS ≥ 60 months) for SF3B1-mutated (SF3B1mut) UM patients. We collected 146 SF3B1mut UM from our Rotterdam Ocular Melanoma Studygroup (ROMS) database and external published datasets. After stratification of all SF3B1mut UM using short PFS vs. long PFS, only largest tumor diameter (LTD) was significantly larger (mean: 17.7 mm (±2.8 SD) in the short PFS SF3B1mut group vs. the long PFS group (mean: 14.7 (±3.7 SD, p = 0.001). Combined ROMS and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) transcriptomic data were evaluated, and we identified SF3B1mut-specific canonical transcripts (e.g., a low expression of ABHD6 indicative for early-onset metastatic disease) or distinct expression of SF3B1mut UM aberrant transcripts, indicative of early- or late-onset or no metastatic SF3B1mut UM.


AIM: To explore the role of four-and-a-half LIM domain 1( FHL1) in the proliferation and migration of rat distal pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells( PASMCs) stimulated by cigarette smoke extract( CSE). METHODS: Rat distal PASMCs were isolated and primarily cultured. The cells were divided into 6 groups: blank control group,negative transfection group,FHL1 siRNA transfection group,CSE group,CSE + negative transfection group and CSE +FHL1 siRNA transfection group. The mRNA and protein expression of FHL1 was detected by real-time PCR and Western blotting,respectively. Cell proliferation and migration were determined by CCK-8 and Transwell assays,respectively. RESULTS: CSE promoted the proliferation and migration of PASMCs,and increased the expression of FHL1 protein( P 0.01),but did not change the expression of FHL1 mRNA( P 0. 05). FHL1 siRNA transfection attenuated the proliferation and migration of PASMCs induced by CSE( P 0. 01). CONCLUSION: FHL1 protein is involved in CSE-induced proliferation and migration of rat PASMCs.


In this work we discuss technological aspects of creating a linear energy dispersion spectrum of charge carriers in semiconductor materials and report on the experimental realization of the topological Dirac semimetals (DSM) in nanostructurally engineered zero-gap InAs/GaInSb superlattices (SL) [1]. The SL samples are synthesized by molecular beam epitaxy, which provides monolayer accuracy for growing high-quality single-crystals on large area substrates. The prospects for designing the topological insulator (TI) SLs with the same approach and first results of experimental characterization of the TI candidates are also presented.


Development policies advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda enjoy an established trajectory across international organizations. This is evident within United Nations programs that engage displaced populations where children are particularly vulnerable to conflict dynamics. This article argues that existing gender-based development policies mitigate the impact of conflict on children through empowering displaced women as peacebuilding agents. Using United Nations data, fieldwork, and elite interviews, this article employs a case study of Iraq to show that the implementation of gender-based development policies correlates with reduced rates of grave violations against children in conflict settings. These findings point to the peacebuilding potential of displaced women through their ability to mitigate the economic and social impacts of conflict dynamics on children. Policy programs within the United Nations Women, Peace and Security framework should engage this connection between displaced women and the protection of children to strengthen and improve peacebuilding outcomes in conflict environments.


SUMMARY Sequential serum samples were obtained from horses immunized two different methods of immunization using purified populations rat thymocytes or splenic lymphocytes. In vitro antibody titers were determined, and the ability of each sample to prolong skin graft survival, inhibit acute inflammation, or induce acute toxicity was studied. Although the number of horses immunized was small, the following preliminary conclusions were indicated. (1) The lymphocytotoxicity titers of the sera more closely paralleled the antiinflammatory activity than the immunosuppressive potency. (2) The acute toxic effect of unabsorbed serum correlated with the hemagglutination titer; however, after absorption with erythrocytes, the acute toxicity was independent of the level of hemagglutination, lymphocytotoxicity, and antiinflammatory or immunosuppressive potency. The histological lesions indicated a separate antibody population responsible for this activity, which was induced only by the serum obtained late in immunization from the animal immunized with spleen lymphocytes and not by the serum obtained from the three animals immunized with thymocytes with or without adjuvant. (3) Sera obtained early after both methods of immunization with either antigen were immunosuppressive. The immunosuppressive potency of serum induced with Freund's adjuvant did not decrease with booster injections; however, that induced without adjuvant eventually was lost, as were all other biological activities.


The authors report a case of Achilles tendon and skin defect treated with an island medial plantar flap and fascia lata graft with very satisfactory results.


Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 brings about a change in the substantive criterion of merger control: Instead of relying primarily on the question whether a concentration would lead to the creation or strengthening of a dominant position, the new regulation asks whether a concentration would "significantly impede effective competition, in the Common Market or a substantial part of it". However, the regulation expressly states that a significant impediment can be "in particular ... the result of the creation or strengthening of a dominant position". According to the author, the creation or strengthening of a dominant position will continue to be the most important case of a declaration of incompatibility with the Common Market. However, the reach of the merger control regime might change in two relevant respects: First, under the new regulation a merger shall be declared incompatible with the Common Market in case that it might incur anti-competitive effects resulting from so-called noncoordinated behaviour of undertakings which would not have a dominant position. A non-coordinated effect of this kind can occur if a loss of competition between the merging firms reduces the competitive pressure on other market participants. The likeliness of such non-coordinated effects rises if the merging firms have large market shares already before the merger, if they are close competitors, if other competitors offer less-close substitutes or if it appears unlikely that they will raise their output in the case of a price increase for the products of the parties to the merger. By contrast to so-called coordinated effects of common market dominance, a credible "deterrent mechanism" ensuring the anti-competitive "discipline" of market participants – as discussed in the "Airtours"-decision of the Court of First Instance – is not required for a finding of a non-coordinated effect: Here the significant impediment to effective competition is not based on a coordination of the behaviour of competitors, but on unilateral decisions. Secondly, according to the logic of the new regulation, a dominant position does not necessarily bring about a significant impediment to effective competition. The regulation states in its preliminary considerations that any substantiated and likely efficiencies put forward by the merging undertakings shall be taken into account. In their new Horizontal Merger Guidelines the Commission announced that an efficiency claim shall only be recognized if consumers will not be worse off as a result of the merger. After all, the admissibility of efficiency claims seems assured under regulation 139/2004. In the author's view, however, there remain doubts with respect to the practical feasibility of an efficiency test: A consumer benefit resulting, e.g., from prognosticated post-merger R&D efficiencies leading to new products or services ZWeR 2/2004 Significant Impediment to Effective Competition 267 is difficult to assess and even more difficult to measure. From a theoretical perspective, unrestricted competition in the absence of market dominance can still appear to be the best choice for innovation and efficiency. In a comprehensive view, the substantive criteria for an assessment of concentrations under the merger regulation and of cooperations under Art. 81 EC seem to converge. For the author this development appears to be consistent, because the goals of competition policy are the same in the two areas.


ABSTRACT. A study of pyisical properties and quality of yogurt with Lactobacillus bulgaricus as a starter has been doon. Objectives of this study is to know how many percent starter of L. bulgaricus in yogurt to decrease suscepetibility to syneresis and to increase quality of yogurt. Yogurt was analyzed for susceptibility to syineresis, titratable acidity and content of crude protein and crude fat. Syinerisis of yogurt was evaluated according to centrifugal methods of Halwarkar and Kalab. The result of the study showed that yogurt with 2.5-10 % L. bulgaricus as a starter are not have any effect of susceptibility to synerisis and content of crude fat, but centripuged at 250-1000 rpm. Had significantly different (<0.01) on susceptibility to synerisis. On the other hand the increasing of centrifuge rotation, increase susceptibility to synerisis. The starter of 5-10% L. bulgaricus used in yogurt able to increase titratable acidity and content of crude protein. The yogurt prepared by 10% L. bulgaricus had the highest score (3.88%) of crude protein, although there is no significant differences with yogurt using 7.5% L. bulgaricus .


1a British chemist who spent many years seeking a use for the large quantities of seaweed thrown up onto the Atlantic coast of the British Isles. He had observed that the long flat fronds of one species, Laminaria, contained sacs of a near colourless solution which, on partial drying, formed a jelly-like substance that could be drawn out in long tenacious strings. This substance, which he called 'algin', was freely soluble in alkali but is coagulated by alcohol or mineral acids. 1


Summary Prestack elastic parameter inversion (PEPI) is very helpful in quantitative estimation of reservoir properties. Sparse spike inversion (SSI) is the most widely used method in PEPI. However, SSI using some local optimization algorithms (e.g., conjugate gradient method, CG) usually suffers from a strongly ill-posed problem. The global optimization algorithms can avoid this problem effectively, in spite of a little extra computation cost. Besides, the usually used SSI separately inverts sparse-spike's time locations and its amplitudes and it is low efficient. In this abstract, we adopt orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) non-linear algorithm for SSI, and derive a linear matrix equation to invert the sparse-spike's time locations and its amplitudes simultaneously (TLAS). We name the method as TLASSSI. The linear matrix equation is derived from the cost function without any constraint terms. In spite of no constraint terms, TLASSSI can still obtain exact inversion results including sparse-spike's time locations and its amplitudes. Numerical examples indicate that our method can achieve a good performance even with an existence of some noise, while the CG algorithm fails to get a desirable inversion result.


Mergers and acquisition are strategic decisions taken for maximization of a company's growth by enhancing its production and marketing operations. Mergers and Acquisitions are now also active in Information Technology sector and is gaining strength and expanding its customer base.


Sample of Contents: State of the Art in Fuzzy Database Modeling FuzzyEER Mapping FuzzyEER Model Concepts to Relations FSQL: A Fuzzy SQL for Fuzzy Databases.


Profound thought of linguistic behavior can be found in Wenxin Diaolong.According to the stylistics part of the book,linguistic behavior is a key category in its study of language,and we can find a unique research model.Furthermore,the principles of linguistic behavior can be analyzed with a comparison to Grice's Cooperative Principle so as to show the value of traditional Chinese linguistic thought.


Nanonetworks consist of nano-sized communicating devices which are able to perform simple tasks at the nanoscale. Nanonetworks are the enabling technology of long-awaited applications such as advanced health monitoring systems or high-performance distributed nano-computing architectures. The peculiarities of novel plasmonic nano-transceivers and nano-antennas, which operate in the Terahertz Band (0.1-10 THz), require the development of tailored communication schemes for nanonetworks. In this paper, a modulation and channel access scheme for nanonetworks in the Terahertz Band is developed. The proposed technique is based on the transmission of one-hundred-femtosecond-long pulses by following an asymmetric On-Off Keying modulation Spread in Time (TS-OOK). The performance of TS-OOK is evaluated in terms of the achievable information rate in the single-user and the multi-user cases. An accurate Terahertz Band channel model, validated by COMSOL simulation, is used, and novel stochastic models for the molecular absorption noise in the Terahertz Band and for the multi-user interference in TS-OOK are developed. The results show that the proposed modulation can support a very large number of nano-devices simultaneously transmitting at multiple Gigabits-per-second and up to Terabits-per-second, depending on the modulation parameters and the network conditions.


0957-4174/$ see front matter 2011 Elsevier Ltd. A doi:10.1016/j.eswa.2011.07.024 ⇑ Corresponding author. Tel.: +90 384 2281110; fax E-mail addresses: firstname.lastname@example.com, nyalcin For manufacturing industries, financial performance evaluation is very important in a highly competitive environment. Therefore, an accurate and appropriate performance evaluation is critical. As financial performance indicators reflect the competitiveness of a company, they must be carefully identified in the evaluation process. Generally, traditional accounting-based financial performance (AFP) measures are used for performance evaluation. However, these measures are not sufficient for performance evaluation solely in the modern industry time. So, value-based financial performance (VFP) measures have recently been introduced to express the company value. In this paper, we propose a new financial performance evaluation approach to rank the companies of each sector in the Turkish manufacturing industry. For this purpose, a hierarchical financial performance evaluation model is structured based on the AFP and VFP main-criteria and their sub-criteria. We use fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) to determine the weights of the criteria. The companies are ranked according to their own manufacturing sector by using TOPSIS and VIKOR comparatively. The results show that the obtained ranks of the companies by these methods are almost same with respect to their own sectors. 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.


While many digital or physical tools and construction kits have been developed for young makers, far fewer developments have focused on making with living materials, at DNA and cellular scales. In this paper, we review the affordances of various hands-on simulation tools and wet labs for K-12-aged biomakers to be used in school, home and science centers. We discuss how making with biology requires broadened conceptualizations of perceptibility, tinkerability, expressivity, and usability---features commonly considered in the research and design of digital and physical maker media. We conclude with a discussion of affordances and challenges we see in the current generation of tools and labs for supporting making with biology and in which ways these can be expanded to support learning, collaboration, and creativity that are valued in maker education.


This paper describes the main construction conditions,bridge design scheme,bridge structural detail design and its technical features of the Foshan Longwan Bridge.The Longwan Bridge spans are over the Longwanji of Shunde Waterway of Pearl River net?work*which is one of the ten dangerous flood-control regions in Guangdong Province.The hydrology and riverbed conditions are very complicated.Prestressed concrete cable stay bridge design scheme with double-pylon double cable plane and span length of 30+125+290+125+30m is adopted,the design also with large-diameter bored pile foundation,diamond A-shape pylon and prestressed conflcrete girder with twin boxes at both sides.Innovative technologies like large tonnage adjustable bearings,front support hanging bas ket with tie-rod thrust equipment,etc.are adopted in the bridge design.This paper provides valuable references for design and con?struction of similar projects.


This chapter seeks to present a limited overview of some aspects of manipulated and/or fake images that contribute to society 'becoming post-truth'. It subclassifies levels of manipulation and also presents the finding from a descriptive survey that gauges perceptions on awareness and recognisability of fake images. It also presents perceptions of effect on individuals of images modified for aesthetic reasons and carried by social media. The majority of respondents seemed affected by this, but with only a minority whose perception of self was affected. Another result of the survey is that there is a general mistrust of images not carried by gatekept sources.


Objective:To observe the effects of Motomed viva2 on the ability of lower limbs in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy.Method:Forty ambulant CP children with spastic hemiplegia were randomly divided into Motomed group(20 cases) and control group(20 cases).The control group was treated with routine rehabilitation training(RT) program;the observation group was added with MOTOmed viva2 The muscle tone of the lower limbs by the Modified Ashworth Scale(MAS).The composite spasticity scale(CSS),D and E dimensions of gross motor function measure(GMFM-88),gait evaluation were evaluated for every child in MOTOmed group at the time of begin and at 12 weeks later.Also,these evaluation protocols were performed for every child in the control group at the same time.All children in 2 groups were treated with RT for 2 months.Result:No statistically difference was found MAS,CSS,GMFM(D,E) and gait index before treatment between the 2 groups(P0.05).In MOTOmed group MAS and CSS showed significant decrease following treatment when compared with baseline findings and control group(P0.05).Significant differences were noted in MOTOmed group in regard to GMFM,affected and noneffected step length and walking velicity(P0.05).Conclusion:MOTOmed viva2 has better effects on tone reduction and improvement on gait and skilled motor function in spastic hemiplegic CP.


The laryngeal adductor reflex (LAR) is a fundamental airway protective behavior that prevents penetration of material from the upper airway into the trachea. Aspiration risk increases in humans after a single dose of an opioid and pneumonia is a common occurrence in opioid users. The LAR consists of a short latency (~10 ms), short duration (~10 ms) burst (R1) and a longer latency (~40ms) burst (R2) in laryngeal electromyogram (EMG) activity. The R1 LAR is thought to be primarily a brainstem reflex. We hypothesized that systemic administration of codeine, one of the most commonly prescribed opioids, would suppress the R1 LAR in an animal model that robustly expresses airway protective behaviors. The LAR was elicited in anesthetized, spontaneously breathing cats (n=13) by electrical stimulation (2 Hz, 0.1 ms pulse duration) of the superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) or mechanical stimulation of the vocal folds with a von Frey filament. Bilateral thyroarytenoid (TA) and midline posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle electromyograms (EMGs) were recorded. The R1 LAR manifested as a short latency (approx. 10 ms) evoked response consisting of peaks and troughs in both the TA and the PCA EMGs. Codeine (0.1–10 mg/kg, iv) dose dependently inhibited the magnitude of the contralateral TA and PCA LAR by approximately 60% but had no significant effect on the LAR in the ispilateral TA EMG. Similar lateralization of the effect of codeine was observed in animals in which the LAR was elicited by mechanical stimulation of the vocal folds. These effects were similar in animals whether only one or both SLNs were sectioned. In separate animals, the codeine dose response was conducted after pretreatment with the NMDA antagonist, MK‐801 (10 μg/kg) via the vertebral artery. MK‐801 enabled depression of the TA LAR on the ipsilateral side by iv codeine, but did not enhance the reduction in the contralateral TA or PCA LAR relative to animals that only received this opioid. These findings support lateralized suppression of the LAR by opioids that is mediated by central NMDA receptors. The differing effects of codeine on the LAR in the PCA and ipsilateral TA EMGs suggest that opioids may disrupt laryngeal protective actions through asymmetric positioning of the vocal folds.


A method for patterning on vertical silicon surfaces in high aspect ratio silicontopography is presented. A Faraday cage is used to direct energetic reactive ions obliquely through a patterned suspended membrane positioned over the topography. The technique is capable of forming high-fidelity pattern (100 nm) features, adding an additional fabrication capability to standard top-down fabrication approaches.


In this work we extend the Small BAseline Subset (SBAS) Differential SAR Interferometry approach to allow the generation of deformation time-series by processing long sequences of ERS-1, ERS-2 and ENVISAT SAR data at the full spatial resolution scale.


This paper uses the panel data of foreign direct investment (FDI) and tourism development (TD) for Developed 7 (D7) countries from 1980 to 2012. Panel data analysis is used in order to analyze the causal relationship between foreign direct investment and tourism development. Conducted structural and diagnostic test results of the final model has proved that tourism development affected the foreign direct investment in D7. It is crucial to see the directions of causality between these two variables for the policy makers. The findings of this study have important implications in deciding tourism policy and it shows that this issue still deserves further attention in future research.


Title Synthetic PAMPS gel activates BMP/Smad signaling pathway in ATDC5 cells, which plays a significant role in the chondrogenic differentiation independent of insulin [an abstract of dissertation and a summary of dissertation review] Author(s) 後藤, 佳子 Citation 北海道大学. 博士(医学) 甲第11667号 Issue Date 2015-03-25 Doc URL http://hdl.handle.net/2115/59089 Rights(URL) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.1/jp/ Type theses (doctoral abstract and summary of review) Note 配架番号:2149 Additional Information There are other files related to this item in HUSCAP. Check the above URL. File Information Keiko_Goto_review.pdf (審査の要旨)


Several nucleoside derivatives of pyrimido[4,5-d]pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione 1 and 2,4{1H,3H-pteridinedione 2 were prepared. Treating the appropriate silylated nucleobase with 1-O-acetyl-2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-β-D-ribofura-nose 3 in the presence of trimethylsilyl Inflate gave 4 and 8 which, upon debenzoylation, gave 5 and 9, respectively. Treatment of 4 with phosphorus pentasulfide afforded the sulfur substituted compound 6. Again, deprotection gave 7. The arabinose derivatives were obtained by treating 1-O-acetyl-2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-D-arabinofuranose 10 with the silylated nucleobases to give 11 and 13. Debenzoylation gave the free arabinonucleosides 12 and 14 respectively. The deoxy derivative 16 was prepared by the reaction of 1 with 1-chloro-3,5-di-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-D-ribofuranose 15. Deacetylation of 16 with methanolic ammonia gave the α-anomer 17.


local pressures and issues in Washington Territory or Vancouver Island-the use of seemingly useless administrative devices (customs ofilces, for example) to xvin a sovereign advantage in the disputed archipelago, the role of the American army in frontier movements, the very real fear felt by Washington settlers for marauding British Indians, and so forth. Nor does Mr. McCabe know Congress and the State Department as well as he knows the Foreign Ofilce and Parliament. As a result, the American "character" of this study is not as accurate or sharp as the British. By all this, I do not mean to imply that the book is partisan; it most certainly is not. I only regret that Mr. McCabe could not have utilized other primary sources and more fully revealed his talents as an historian. Despite this criticism, which is not of major proportions, he has written an excellent book which will be well received and appreciated by students ofCanadian-American diplomacy.


The issue to be discussed is euthanasia--its advantages and disadvantages, the reasons supporting its use, and the reasons opposing its use. As Joubert said in the eighteenth century, it is better to debate a question without settling it than it is to settle a question without debating it. The goal is to debate the subject though probably not settle it. The issues of euthanasia have been around for centuries. The restrictions against physician participation date back to Hippocrates and perhaps beyond. Yet the points of view regarding the advantages and disadvantages punctuate discussions intermittently through time and appear to be reaching a crescendo in the United States over the last decade. With the California attempt at a referendum,(1) Washington State's Initiative 119,(2) and the legislative proposals of several states regarding euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide,(3) the United States may be the first jurisdiction to legalize euthanasia since the Romans many centuries ago. Margaret Pabst Battin has succinctly set forth the diverse philosophic and ethical questions that must be addressed: "Because it arouses questions about the morality of killing, the effectiveness of consent, the duties of physicians, and equity in the distribution of resources, the problem of euthanasia is one of the most acute and uncomfortable contemporory problems in medical ethics."(4) In the extensive debates regarding euthanasia many of these issues have been touched on. Despite this complexity, however, euthanasia has received what appears to be increasing support. Perhaps because of medicine's new technologies and abilities to support life, the problem is, or is perceived to be, more pressing than in the past. There is clearly, in our society, an interest in euthanasia or assisted suicide as an answer to the suffering of the last days before death occurs, particularly for those individuals who have severe pain. Certainly, the issues and arguments involved are not easily resolved; were there simple answers, we would not have been mired in the discussions for many years. However, understanding the issues enhances the individual's ability to consider the alternatives. I shall present a number of arguments in opposition to euthanasia--reasons why our society should not permit it. There are many concerns about the approval of euthanasia and the problems that might ensue. Some of the concerns might be adequately addressed by vigorous regulation, while others would be difficult to address because they are attitudinal and philosophic. Insofar as the discussion moves the public debate and social decisionmaking forward, we shall have contributed to an important process. It is imperative in such a difficult area of policy-making that there is deeper understanding of the issues than that which is acquired in the thirty-second sound bite of modern news reporting. Many public discussions appear to be based more upon misstatements and exaggerations than upon facts. The outcome of this discussion is too vital to the future of our society to allow the debate to be based upon half-truths and misrepresentations. For example, in the recently touted New York best-seller, Final Exit, Derek Humphry states that "technology can now prolong life past its natural span. And once those 'miracle machines' are turned on, it is also illegal, most of the time, to turn them off."(5) This statement is simply not true; using living will and durable power of attorney laws, there is widespread ability to discontinue, at a patient's request, treatment that is futile or even treatment that is useful. Humphry's statement is intended to send shivers of fear into the public for the purpose of molding public opinion. A demand for integrity in the discussion is particularly poignant in that the debate should not be--in fact, is no longer--merely an interesting ethical question. It has become a public debate and probably will be a public decision. …


The invention discloses an improved secondary printing method for a crystalline silicon solar cell and relates to a method special for converting infrared radiation energy, light energy and electromagnetic radiation energy with short wavelength into electric energy. According to the secondary printing method for the crystalline silicon solar cell, the paste of a positive electrode of a secondary screen printing silicon chip is soldering paste. The grid line can be thickened, grid breakage is avoided, the series resistance is reduced, the shading area is reduced, and the short circuit current is increased, so that the conversion efficiency of the solar cell is improved; and meanwhile, the silver paste is replaced by the low-cost soldering paste, so that the equipment requirement is reduced, and the used amount of the silver paste is reduced; and therefore, the production cost of the solar cell is reduced.


Abstract Two kinds of glass/ceramic composites were prepared. The first contained borosilicate glass with SiC ceramic: batches designated SG10, SG20, SG30 and SG40 consisted of 10 : 90, 20 : 80, 30 : 70 and 40 : 60 SiC/glass (wt-%) respectively. The second contained borosilicate glass with ZrO2: batches designated ZG5, ZG10, ZG20 and ZG40 consisted respectively of 5 : 95, 10 : 90, 20 : 80, 40 : 60 ZrO2/glass (wt-%). The densification parameters (bulk density and apparent porosity) were measured by the Archimedes method. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to investigate the microstructure and phase composition of the prepared composites. Cold crushing strength was also measured. The results reveal that in composites containing SiC, apparent porosity increases with increasing SiC content, while with increasing firing temperature from 800 to 1000°C, apparent porosity decreases to a minimum at 875°C before increasing again. As SiC content increases, the inhibition of cristobalite formation increases, as shown by XRD. The appearance of cristobalite causes the opposite effect on thermal properties: cold crushing strength increases with increasing SiC content, reaching a maximum at 30 wt-%SiC, and decreases again with 40 wt-%SiC. In ZrO2 containing composites, apparent porosity increases with increasing ZrO2 content. With increasing firing temperature, apparent porosity decreases, reaching a minimum at 1000°C. The effect of ZrO2 on the inhibition of cristobalite formation is more obvious than with SiC. Also, the cold crushing strength of ZrO2 containing composite is higher than for those containing SiC.


: Modelling and reconfiguration of production processes require knowledge across different domains. This in-depth knowledge is necessary to avoid possible side effects that could threaten the production plant, the workpiece or the worker. Therefore, process modelling approaches allow adding additional data to the steps of a process. Such additions can be constraints, which need to be fulfilled before a step can be executed. Upon reconfiguration of production processes, these constraints need to be validated to ensure that the objective of the process is still met. However, this task demands expertise in the field of process modelling as well as in the domain of the production process and the production plant. To the best of our knowledge, state-of-the-art production process modelling approaches are unable to determine the semantic validity of a reconfigured production process. In this paper, we introduce a domain-specific modelling language dedicated to model and validate constraints between production steps. With this approach, we aim to assist the operator in reconfiguring production processes. We evaluate this approach in three case studies and show that our approach can detect violated constraints in production processes.


Background: For decades, static stretching has been the standard benchmark for training programs, because it has been shown to increase flexibility compared with other methods of stretching. Objective: The current study investigated and compared the effects of active dynamic stretching and passive static stretching on hamstring tightness. Methods: For this experiment, 64 female students were enrolled and randomly assigned to active dynamic or passive static stretching groups (n = 32 each). The first and second experimental groups were trained with repetitive dynamic stretching and static stretching exercises, respectively. Exercises were performed 10 times per limb, 3 times per day, 5 days per week for 4 weeks. Hamstring muscle length measurements were repeated in weeks 2 and 4. Statistical analysis of the results was performed by t-test and repeated measures ANOVA using SPSS 15. Results: Both experimental groups showed significant improvements in the active knee extension range of motion during the intervention (P < 0.001). However, active stretching showed better results and had a greater effect on range of motion in comparison with static stretching.Conclusion: Active dynamic training can be considered a suitable method for increasing the flexibility of the hamstring muscle and, consequently, reducing the complications and problems associated with hamstring tightness.


A display panel driving apparatus comprising: a resistance units and the common output voltage. Resistance portions and outputs selectively a resistance value in response to the address signal with the respective resistance. Common voltage output unit outputs a common voltage to the display panel and the resistance to base. Therefore, it is possible to selectively output the common voltage to the display panel, it can be quickly provided and the common voltage can be changed, improving the accuracy of the common voltage.


Based on the small-signal model of the half-bridge circuit, the double close loops control system of the inverter arc welding power supply was designed under the average current control mode. For the control system's voltage and current controllers, the loop gains, angular frequencies of zeros and poles were determined. The simulation model of the designed double close loops control system was established in Matlab/Simulink. The simulations of the steady-state and dynamic characteristics under the conditions of open load to short circuit, load to short circuit and short circuit to load were given out in large-signal. The parameters of the main circuit and control system were optimized according to simulation results. Finally, experiments were carried out and experimental waveforms were obtained. The experimental and simulation results were corresponded well and the rationality of the studying method was verified, a designing method to the inverter arc welding power supply was put forward.


This communique provides a summary of the production- and consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions accounts for Ontario, as well as their associated trade flows. It is part of a series of communiques profiling the Canadian provinces and territories.1 In simplest terms, a production-based emissions account measures the quantity of greenhouse gas emissions produced in Ontario. In contrast, a consumption-based emissions account measures the quantity of greenhouse gas emissions generated during the production process for final goods and services that are consumed in Ontario through household purchases, investment by firms and government spending. Trade flows refer to the movement of emissions that are produced in Ontario but which support consumption in a different province, territory or country (and vice versa). For example, emissions associated with the production of an Ontario manufactured good that is exported to Quebec for sale are recorded as a trade flow from Ontario to Quebec. Moving in the opposite direction, emissions associated with the production of Alberta crude oil that is refined in Ontario and sold as motor gasoline to an Ontario consumer are recorded as a trade flow from Alberta to Ontario. For further details on these results in a national context, the methodology for generating them and their policy implications, please see the companion papers to this communique series: (1) Fellows and Dobson (2017); and (2) Dobson and Fellows (2017). Additionally, the consumption emissions and trade flow data for each of the provinces and territories are available at: http://www.policyschool.ca/embodied-emissions-inputs-outputs-datatables-2004-2011/.


The utility model provides a drag body under water, including drag the body body, it includes head, middle part and afterbody to drag body, drag body including setting up at the head that shuttles back and forth of head, setting up at the resistance flotation pontoon at middle part and form holistic fin with the afterbody, head, resistance flotation pontoon and the fin of shuttling back and forth is dismountable sealing connection, it is fixed with the one end of first weight linear meter and second weight linear meter in head and the fin respectively to shuttle back and forth, the other end of first weight linear meter and second weight linear meter all sets up the installation that makes things convenient for the balancing weight in the resistance flotation pontoon, and it is little that this device has an aquatic resistance, the low noise, and the buoyancy regulation and control are convenient, advantages such as easy dismounting, for underwater sound research with explore, the application of especially pulling in the aspect of the linear array acoustics sensing is provided convenience.


Entity alignment aims to find entities in different knowledge graphs that semantically represent the same real-world entity. Recently, embedding-based entity alignment methods, which represent knowledge graphs as low-dimensional embeddings and perform entity alignments by measuring the similarity between entity embeddings, have achieved promising results. Most of these methods mainly focus on improving the knowledge graph embedding model or leveraging attributes to obtain more semantic information. However, the structural similarity between the two relations (considering all entities attached on the two relations) in different KGs has not been utilized in the existing methods. In this paper, we propose a novel embedding-based entity alignment method that takes the advantages of relation structural similarity. Specifically, our method first jointly learns the embeddings of two knowledge graphs in a uniform vector space, using the entity pairs regarding to the seed alignments (the alignments already known) that each shares the same embedding. Then, it iteratively computes the structural similarity between the relations in different knowledge graphs according to the seed alignments and the alignments with high reliability generated during training, which makes the embeddings of relations with high similarity closer to each other. Experimental results on five widely used real-world datasets show that the proposed approach significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art embedding-based ones for entity alignment.


This paper introduces the dierential operators in the G8;2 Geometric Algebra, called the Double Conformal / Darboux Cyclide Geometric Algebra (DCGA). The dieren- tial operators are three x, y, and z-direction bivector-valued dierential elements and either the commutator product or the anti-commutator product for multiplication into a geometric entity that represents the function to be dierentiated. The general form of a function is limited to a Darboux cyclide implicit surface function. Using the commutator product, entities representing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd order partial derivatives in x, y, and z can be produced. Using the anti-commutator product, entities representing the anti-derivation can be produced from 2-vector quadric surface and 4-vector conic section entities. An operator called the pseudo-integral is dened and has the prop- erty of raising the x, y, or z degree of a function represented by an entity, but it does not produce a true integral. The paper concludes by oering some basic relations to limited forms of vector calculus and dierential equations that are limited to using Darboux cyclide implicit surface functions. An example is given of entity analysis for extracting the parameters of an ellipsoid entity using the dierential operators.


For many optical applications, we need more efficient ways to create complete models of the system performance, including optical, thermal, and structural effects. Current models are difficult to create and prone to error. More efficient methods would lower costs and enable new kinds of studies. We examine the ideal STOP workflow for two systems. First, we model an optical test for a light-weighted mirror with the goal of determining its on-orbit shape. Second, we inspect the workflow for a compact steering prism system with some absorption of the incident beam. We identify challenges to implementation and discuss possible solutions.


WY Per and RW Leo are two Algol-type binaries. Based on our new CCD observations and the almost century-long historical record of the times of primary eclipses for WY Per and RW Leo, the orbital period changes and their explanations were reanalyzed and rediscussed in detail. It has been found that the orbital period of WY Per shows a cyclic oscillation with a period of P(3) = 71.5 yr and a semiamplitude of A(3) = 0(d).0739. The period variation can be interpreted by the light-travel time effect (LTTE) via the presence of a third body in an eccentric orbit with an eccentricity of e(3) similar or equal to 0.602 in the system. For RW Leo, its orbital period shows complex variations. Two cyclic variations (i.e., P(3) = 77.8 yr and A(3) = 0(d).033, and P(4) = 39.1 yr and A(4) = 0(d).022) were discovered. The cyclic variations of P(3) = 77.8 yr and A(3) = 0(d).033 can be attributed to the LTTE via the presence of a third body in an eccentric orbit with an eccentricity of e(3) similar or equal to 0.732.


Rat bite fever is usually attributable to Streptobacillus moniliformis in the Americas, Europe, and Australasia, and to Spirillum minus in Asia. Bites are increasingly common among children with pet rats, and pet shop and laboratory workers. Both bacteria are commensals of rats, some other rodents, and their predators. After an incubation period less than 1 week, S. moniliformis causes sudden high fever, rigors, myalgia, petechial rash, and migratory reactive or septic polyarthritis with synovial effusions. Complications can include fulminant septicaemia, endocarditis, pneumonia, and metastatic abscesses. S. minus infection (sodoku) has a longer incubation period with similarly high fever but concomitant exacerbation of the bite wound, local lymphadenopathy, papular rash, and arthralgia without effusions. In both diseases, fever subsides after a few days but may relapse repeatedly over months. Prevention is by controlling peri-domestic rats and avoiding bites by pet or laboratory rodents.


AbstractEastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is an abundant yet underutilized low-value tree species native to the northeast region of the United States. Developing value-added markets for these tree...


Fixed-position observation of soil water and salinity in shelterbelts with different soil texture was conducted in a typical oasis in the lower reaches of the Tarim River.(1) Variation of soil water and salinity in young shelterbelt fell into an irrigation period type.The soil wetting front was a semi-ellipsoid in shape after drip irrigation,and the salt accumulation zone was on the edge of soil wetting front.A ten-day irrigation period was appropriate for sandy loam in the shelterbelt.(2) Soil moisture deficit increased gradually with drip irrigation time for sandy loam shelterbelt.The salinity in 0-20 cm depth of soil reduced first then increased,that in 20-120 cm reduced consistently with the increase of irrigation time.(3) Five years after drip irrigation operation,the compacted surface soil significantly restrained the moisture evaporation from 40-60 cm depth of silt clay soil,and the soil salt was concentrated in the upper layer.Fine sandy soil had poor water holding capacity,which contributed to the even distribution of salt in soil.The water holding capacity of sandy loam soil was slightly higher than that of fine sand soil,and its salinity distribution fluctuated in different soil depth.


This paper introduced the Principles and characteristics of the RPM,set forth the process of the use of the RPM technology by the example of the wrench manufacture,showed the situation of the application in the product development.


Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Chaiqin xiexin decoction addition and subtraction in the treatment of liver-stomach disharmony chronic superficial gastritis.Methods 120 patients with liver-stomach disharmony chronic superficial gastritis admitted to the municipal hospitals from June 2010 to July 2011 were analyzed retrospectively and divided into the observation group and the control group according to the treatment method,with 60 patients in each group.The observation group was given oral administration of Chaiqin Xiexin decoction addition and subtraction 1 prescription/day;The control group was given oral administration of domperidone tablets 10 mg/day before meals with warm water.With 8 weeks as 1 treatment course,the changes of clinical symptoms and gastroscopic examination of the two groups before and after the treatment were observed and recorded.The clinical efficacy and safety of Chaiqin Xiexin decoction addition and subtraction treatment of liver-stomach disharmony chronic superficial gastritis were evaluated.Results After the treatment,each clinical symptom of both groups significantly improved compared to those before the treatment,with the observation group superior to the control group(t=7.12,7.05 and 7.03,P 0.05 for all);Each indicator of gastroscopic examination significantly improved,with the observation group superior to the control group(t=7.12,7.05 and 7.03,P 0.05 for all).The observation group had a total response rate of 93.3%,which was significantly higher than the 73.3% of the control group(x2=9.572,P 0.05).During the treatment process,no obvious adverse reactions occurred.Conclusion In the treatment of liver-stomach disharmony chronic superficial gastritis,Chaiqin Xiexin decoction addition and subtraction shows significant clinical efficacy and is highly safe,thereby worthy of clinical promotion and application.


Objective To do a correlative research between heat shock protein (HSP) 70 and early acute rejection after liver transplantation in rats and explore its immunity mechanism. Methods Modified Kamada's two-cuff method was used for establishment of orthotopic liver transplantation in rats. BN (Rt1n) and LEW (Rt1l) rats were randomly divided into four groups. Recipients' specimens were collected for test,the grafts were harvested on the 2,4 and 6 posttransplantation day and were used to detect the expression of HSP70 with immunohistochemistry and Western Blotting quantitative methods. The correlation between HSP70 and pathological findings was observed. Results Prolonged cold ischemia not only up-regulated the expression of HSP70,but also advanced peak value of the expression of them. There was a significant correlation between expression of HSP70 and reject activity index in allografts groups (P0.05,r=0.928). Conclusion The increased level of HSP70 may be related to the occurrence of the early acute rejection,and the survival rate of two weeks after liver transplantation in rats.


The research agenda for DSM–5 emphasizes the implementation of dimensional trait models into the classification of personality disorders (PDs). However, because assessment psychologists may still want to recover the traditional DSM–IV categories, researchers developed a count technique that uses sums of selected Five–Factor Model facets to assess the DSM–IV PDs. The presented study examined the convergent and divergent validity of different linear combinations of trait facets to describe specific DSM–IV PDs in a heterogeneous clinical sample (N = 155) with sufficient prevalence of all PDs, using semi–structured interviews to obtain all diagnostic information, and comparing alternative counts from five different sources for each PD. The results show that none of the schizotypal, antisocial, and dependent counts succeeded in combining good convergent with adequate divergent validity. However, the original counts could be optimized for five of the seven remaining PDs by using alternative Five–Factor Model prototypes. The diagnostic and taxonomic implications of these findings are discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Analysis approach for detection of specific objects in noisy grayscale digital images is described. It is based on calculation of specific coefficients revealing covariance properties of overlapping fragments of pre-processed images. The approach is aimed at detection of rather small foreign objects over the background of larger ones. Before the actual analysis, pre-processing of the images based on median filtering is performed in order to separate small foreground objects from larger background ones. The method was developed and approved within the project related to development of X-ray systems for industrial inspection.


We read the interesting study reported by B. Brotman and A.M. Prince about gamma glutamyl transferase (GGTP) as a potential surrogate marker for the detection of the non-Ahon-B carrier state [I]. 37 children cured from leukemia or another oncological disease and off therapy for at least as long as 2 years were checked. All of them were treated and followed up at the Hemato-Oncologic-Division Department of Pediatrics in Padua (Italy). They had chronic hepatitis with clinical evidence of non-A/non-B infection: in fact they received blood transfusion at the onset of their oncological disease and later developed a chronic liver disease; abnormal levels of sGPT and histological findings of infectious liver damage were found but no serological evidence for HBV, CMV or EBV infection. Only 3 of the 37 had increased GGTP levels at the last


Significance Transcriptome profiling quantitatively measures gene expression genome-wide. There is widespread interest in using transcriptomic profiles as phenotypes for epistasis analysis. Though epistasis measurements can be performed using individual transcripts, this results in many scores that must be interpreted independently. We developed a statistic that summarizes these measurements, simplifying analysis. Moreover, epistasis analysis has previously only been performed on cDNA extracted from single cells. We show that whole-organism RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) can be used to characterize interactions between genes. With the advent of genome engineering, mutants can be created easily in many organisms. Thus, phenotyping is now the rate-limiting step toward reconstructing interaction networks. Our work potentially represents a solution to this problem because RNA-seq is sensitive to a variety of genetic perturbations. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) is commonly used to identify genetic modules that respond to perturbations. In single cells, transcriptomes have been used as phenotypes, but this concept has not been applied to whole-organism RNA-seq. Also, quantifying and interpreting epistatic effects using expression profiles remains a challenge. We developed a single coefficient to quantify transcriptome-wide epistasis that reflects the underlying interactions and which can be interpreted intuitively. To demonstrate our approach, we sequenced four single and two double mutants of Caenorhabditis elegans. From these mutants, we reconstructed the known hypoxia pathway. In addition, we uncovered a class of 56 genes with HIF-1–dependent expression that have opposite changes in expression in mutants of two genes that cooperate to negatively regulate HIF-1 abundance; however, the double mutant of these genes exhibits suppression epistasis. This class violates the classical model of HIF-1 regulation but can be explained by postulating a role of hydroxylated HIF-1 in transcriptional control.


In irrigation structures, seepage through the body wall and foundation play a major role for the assessment of failures in the structures. To design any kind of structure for the proper irrigation, the effect due to seepage should be considered widely. Many methods have been suggested for the prediction of seepage. Seepage analysis ofirrigation structures works mainly on the basis of two dimensional Laplace equation. The Partial Differential Equation Toolbox in MATLAB provides a powerful and flexible environment for the study and solution of partial differential equations in two space dimensions and time. The equations are discretized by the Finite Element Method (FEM). Fluid flow through porous media particularly in the case of irrigation and hydraulic structures like dams and weirs is the focus of the current study and here flaws or cracks which occur in the domain cause variations and need remedial ones to improve or bring back to the original flow pattern. Since flaws in terms of fissures are very small injecting nanomaterial mixed mortar can provide significant improvements and modifications. Here in a rectangular domain the flow is studied throw finite element modeling with and without different sizes and location of flaws. Later these flaws are filled with nanomaterial mortars whose properties are based on test results and the flow is again studied to bring out the changes and improvements. Results are given for different nanomaterial mortars with different flaw sizes.


With the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia on the verge of completion, Germany has a choice to make. It could seek compromise to satisfy critics of the pipeline – including those in Brussels, Kiev, Warsaw and Washington – that would, among other things, protect Ukraine's status as a gas-transit country. The government that emerges from German elections in September 2021 may push in this direction. Or it could eschew a deal, which would stoke tensions in the transatlantic relationship and over energy security in the European Union.


In order to improve the control performance of the three-phase four-leg inverter,the back-stepping design approach was proposed to apply to inverter control.For the discrete,multi-modal nonlinear systems,the mathematical model was established with the switching function and average switch period operator.By using back-stepping design approach,the virtual control variable and Lyapunov function were selected step by step,so that all inductor current and capacitor voltage variables have appropriate asymptotic features.The output tracking of the inverter for the given signals is realized.The global asymptotic stability of the system is guaranteed.The simulation results show that the system has good static and dynamic performance.


SUMMARY (1) Normal field populations of deep-burrowing or shallow-working earthworms were inoculated into small plots that had been sterilized with dichloropropanedichloropropene (D.D. ?), on a site that had been directly drilled with cereals for six successive years. Inoculation with deep-burrowing species (Lumbricus terrestris and Allolobophora longa) significantly increased barley plant populations and the weight and depth of roots and height and amount of foliage. Most of the straw debris on the soil surface was incorporated into the soil in the earthworm-inoculated plots, compared with very little in plots with no earthworms. Yield was also increased significantly by earthworm inoculation. (2) In box experiments, comparing the influence of natural and simulated earthworm burrows on root growth, it was shown that, although the provision of channels for roots to grow was important, the improved root growth was also partially due to the lining of the burrows with more available nutrients than the surrounding soil. Other experiments demonstrated that the nitrogen from dead earthworms was insufficient to account for increased root growth. Ways of encouraging the build-up of earthworm populations in direct drilled land are discussed.


In order to realize the travelling wave monitoring and its online fault diagnosis,a kind of data acquisition system is developed based on the traveling wave characteristics by using the PCI bus and the core control unit of the field programmable chip FPGA.The bus resources with good performance and the mass storage of PC are made full use.The"Ping-Pong"buffer technology ensures the data transfer continually with a high speed.Simultaneously,the system uses DLL file to seal the API library function twice,and so as to prevent the suspended animation phenomenon and facilitate VIEW software calls at the higher level.The experiment shows that the system basically implements the functions of the data transformation,data transmission and data storage.It can be used in the system of traveling wave acquisition and fault diagnosis system.


Abstract An interpretation of time resolved fluorescence emission experiments, performed on probes in isotropic and ordered polar phases, is developed. The system under scrutiny is provided by a dipolar molecule undergoing rotational diffusion, whose dipole moment is coupled to a stochastic reaction field generated by the ordered polar medium. Under quite general conditions, the fluorescence emission is defined as an integral over all possible orientations of the ground and excited states. Since the model allows to reproduce experimental results at a semi-quantitative level and a negligible computational cost, a user-friendly package with graphics utilities has been created, which can be of help to investigate interactively the dependence of the simulated spectra upon several macroscopical parameters such as the dielectric constants and the viscosity of the medium.


Based on the building of provincial-level social sports specialty in Hunan City University,the article explores the ideas and routine of characteristics building of the social sports major.It proposes that the social sports major shall closely linked to the local economy and society and the position of the university,focus on serving the social sports initiative,aim to cultivate application-technique talent,build the characteristics of social sports major based on building characteristic discipline,and achieve the characteristic building of the social sports specialty by reforming capacity-oriented major cultivation solution,setting up problem-solving curriculum system and teaching design,building the teacher resource team with integrated production,teaching and researching and in-depth professional field and broad knowledge and setting up diversified capacity certification system.


Using vacuum-arc evaporation method we fabricated periodic multilayered TiN/MoN coatings with different bilayer periods ranging from 8 to 100 nm. We found that MoN and TiN layers grown on steel substrate show local partial epitaxy and columnar growth across interfaces. A Mo-Ti-C interlayer was observed between the substrate and the multilayered coating. MoN and TiN layers contain small (5÷30 nm) grains and are well crystallized with (100) preferred orientation. They were identified as stoichiometric fcc TiN and cubic γ-Mo 2 N. Non-cubic molybdenum nitride phases were also detected. The hardness of the obtained structures achieved great values and maximal hardness was 31÷41.8 GPa for multilayered structure with 8 nm period. Fabricated coatings are perspective for using as protective coatings in order to improve mechanical characteristics of different construction materials.


The development of the orientational order in thin titanium nitride films grown by low energy ion assisted titanium deposition at room temperature is studied. The preferred orientation and texture are measured in dependence on the ion energy, ion current density, angle of incidence and film thickness. The preferred orientation is changed from an {111 alignment of the TiN crystallites to the {100} orientation with increase of ion energy and ion current density. The film formation at ion bombardment under a specifically selected angle results in a totally fixed orientation or biaxial texture of the crystallites. The measurements show also that the {100} biaxial texture is changed to a {111 } biaxial texture with increase of the film thickness. The texture evolution is discussed on the basis of the well-known models.


CENTRAL OSTROBOTHNIA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES Technology and Business, Kokkola Date 30.5.2010 Author Ekundayo Sulaimon Degree programme Degree Programme in Business Management Name of thesis The Energy Market in Nigeria and Business Opportunities Instructor Birgitta Niemi, MA Supervisor Agbejule Adebayo, Birgitta Niemi Pages 43 The aim of the thesis work is to carefully study how Finnish companies and businesses can be introduced and integrated into Nigerian market now and in years to come. With different views of market analysts and major players in the world economy, Africa is considered as one of the continents with great potentials and development possibility in the future. Nigeria, one of the West African Countries, giant of Africa alongside South Africa and the biggest African country (population wise) with about 150 million inhabitants is a major player in the continent. Nigeria is blessed with a lot of natural resources and these natural endowments are still not fully utilized towards the nation"s growth. How these natural resources and the market potential of the country could be fully utilized by both Finnish and Nigerian government is the core focus of this thesis work. Many companies and industries both public and private failed to function well due to the fact that the country lack sufficient energy supply despite the rich crude oil, natural gas and sunlight and other flourish resources the country is blessed with. This thesis work will concentrate on how the energy capacity of the country could be improved by both Finnish and Nigerian government without violating all guiding rules of the International Energy Policy of clean energy investment as well as the living of Nigerians at large. Also, the role of Eximin project in making African dreams realizable will be emphasized in this thesis work.


Happuch Catering is a catering service ordering food for an event, generally weddings and seminars. Happuch Catering is a catering which puts the quality of service and excellent flavors. So to calculate inventory can charge so much mind to business owners who are basically in the implementation of business owners do it manually or just follow his intuition about the amount of material required. So, we need an information system that provides accurate information. Based on the background of these problems, the designed system administration information. System design process from application through several stages, starting with a survey catering systems, data analysis and designing the Data Flow Diagram and Entity Relationship Diagram of the application to be made. The implementation process uses Microsoft Visual Studio .Net in 2005 as the programming language and Microsoft SQL Server as the database. The results obtained from the application that has been made, among others, can store all data related to the process of ordering, purchasing of materials, calculation of profit and loss, as well as reports.


: As an emerging photovoltaic technology, polymer solar cells (PSCs) have attracted broad interest for both academic and industry communities due to their outstanding advantages, such as lightweight, low cost and easy to process in large areas. In recent years, the power conversion efficiency of PSCs has been improved rapidly, exceeding 17% for the state-of-the-art devices. For device optimization, it has been demonstrated that the efficiency and stability can be significantly improved by constructing efficient organic cathode interfacial materials. Specially, aromatic-diimide based cathode interfacial materials have attracted much attention due to their advantages of excellent electron transport, easily chemical modification and suitable energy levels. In this review, along with the briefly introduction on the basic functions of cathode interlayer, recent progress of cathode interlayer based on perylene diimides and naphthalene diimides was summarized. At last, the perspective and challenge were proposed according to the requirements of practical application.


When laypersons are presented with scientific information which seeks to modify their way of life, they are expected to believe, suspend belief, or reject it. Second-order assessment of scientific experts helps laypersons to make an informed decision in such situations. This is an assessment of the trustworthiness of the person making the scientific claim. In this paper I challenge the optimistic view of Anderson (2011), regarding the ease with which laypersons can perform second-order assessment of experts, by pointing out some of the obstacles that may prevent laypersons from arriving at an informed decision through this means. By showing that laypersons cannot easily perform second-order assessment of experts, I make a case for sharing epistemic burdens in science communication by using Lackey's (2006) concept of dualism in the epistemology of testimony and Irzik and Kurtulmus' (2019) work on public epistemic trust in science, as a guide. I invite experts to bear a greater share of the epistemic burden when communicating with laypersons because of their privileged epistemic condition vis-à-vis laypersons.


As the innovator of the Changzhou School of Ci-poetry in Qing Dynasty,Zhang Huiyan's theoreticbasis of ci-poetry was based on the ideology of the traditional Confycuabusn which stressed the elements of lo-yalty, love, melancholy, often laden with sorrow and writing without wantonness and extravagance. In hiswriting practice Zhang Huiyan took the literary spirit of the Ode to the Wind and the Odes of Chu as the paragon,typical of sighing for the inopportune talents, of adhering to a style of cunning and disguised criticism, of en-joying and treasuring the Spring time, while chanting something to express the emotions; besides, he waskeen on using analogy and metaphors and soon. His Mingke Ci Poem is an example of putting these ideas intopractice.


This report presents the current state of research in the debate on embryo protection. On the basis of scientific findings on species membership and the capacity of human embryos to develop properly, the report examines the extent to which these empirical facts influence the debate on the legal status of the human embryo. At the end of the article, the authors present the options for the further discussion with regard to the German Embryo Protection Act.


The utility model relates to an automotive diesel oil supply system. An oil outlet of an oil tank of the system is connected to an oil inlet of an electric pump through an oil pipe, the electric pump, a coarse strainer, an oil delivery pump, a fine strainer and a high-pressure oil pump are sequentially connected through oil pipes, a low-pressure oil outlet of the high-pressure oil pump is connected with an oil return port of the oil tank through an oil pipe, and a high-pressure oil outlet of the high-pressure oil pump is connected with an oil sprayer through a high-pressure oil pipe. A first switch valve is connected between the oil outlet of the oil tank and the oil return port of the oil tank through an oil pipe, a second switch valve is connected between an oil inlet of the oil delivery pump and an oil outlet of the oil delivery pump through an oil pipe and a third switch valve is connected between an oil inlet of the high-pressure oil pump and the low-pressure oil outlet of the high-pressure oil pump. The automotive diesel oil supply system breaks through limitation on allowable environment temperature of diesel oil label numbers, improves the liquidity of diesel oil at the temperature lower than the allowable environment temperature, guarantees the effect that diesel oil with the label numbers can be used normally at the temperature lower than the allowable environment temperature, and greatly lowers the use cost of a user.


Abstract The Barrens Darter, Etheostoma forbesi, is one of the most geographically restricted freshwater fish species in North America, with a distribution limited to headwater portions of nine streams in the western part of the upper Caney Fork, a tributary of the Cumberland River in Tennessee. This limited geographic distribution makes Etheostoma forbesi especially vulnerable to potential threats posed by human alterations to rivers and streams, and the risk of ecological competition and introgressive hybridization with the closely related Fringed Darter, Etheostoma crossopterum. Museum collection records and targeted surveys conducted since its description suggest that present-day range of Etheostoma forbesi does not include several streams it previously inhabited—some as recently as 15 years ago. We investigate the geographic distribution and variation in meristic traits of both Etheostoma forbesi and Etheostoma crossopterum in the upper Caney Fork system through the examination of all available museum vouchers, and assess phylogeographic patterns among populations using mitochondrial DNA sequence data. We report a newly discovered population of Etheostoma forbesi from the upper Collins River, and present evidence that Etheostoma crossopterum has displaced Etheostoma forbesi in the Hickory Creek system and Mud Creek in the upper Barren Fork River system. There are no differences in scale counts between the two species, but the sum of the number of rays in the anal, pectoral, and second dorsal fins is diagnostic. Analysis of mtDNA variation indicates gene flow between Etheostoma forbesi and Etheostoma crossopterum. Our results suggest that sympatry of the two species in the western upper Caney Fork system is a potential threat to the persistence of Etheostoma forbesi.


In-situ synthesis of HAp/TiO2 coating on titanium was performed via anaphoretic deposition of HAp and simultaneous anodization of Ti to produce highly adherent and strengthened composite coating. The prepared coatings were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and electron dispersive spectroscopy. HAp on anodized titanium was prepared at constant voltage of 60 V and deposition time of 45 s, which provided uniform and adherent HAp/TiO2 composite coating on Ti. Since smaller size of HAp crystals within highly porous coating structures is of improved binding ability to various biomolecules, our coating is expected to be of excellent coverage and compactness. The obtained coating can be good candidate for bone implants due to reduced brittleness and improved adhesion.


Since the 1980s downsizing has become popular in western companies. It is a pervasive and understudied phenomenon. Downsizing means a big change in the firm's situation. Managing change has been much researched, but often only during a growth period. So, the question of management and leadership of downsizing is a relevant and an independent research issue. This article considers the experiences of four case‐ managers who have participated in managing staff reductions in big Finnish firms. As managing downsizing can be ethically demanding, even a problematic challenge for a manager, the managers' experiences are described and interpreted from the ethical viewpoint. The study is designed to contribute to theory by generating some exploratory conceptual themes based on the in‐depth interviews. It tries to elicit from actors the ways in which they understand ethical concerns in their managerial work, and then proceeds to refine and clarify the concepts and build theory.


This study is aimed at developing life skill based English instructional material in bilingual pesantren by using 4D Model (Define, Design, Develop, and Disseminate). To achieve this aim, this study was conducted using the Research Development (R d) method. As parts of this method, a series of data collecting techniques involving pre-experimental teaching, interviews, observations, and tests of effectiveness, practicality and validity, were carried out to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. The participants of this study were one English language teacher and students of Class XI Timur Tengah, Insan Cendikia Boarding School (ICBS) Payakumbuh. The findings of this research reveal that the life skill based instructional material is valid and practical. Consequently, the life skill-based materials development can positively give the effective result as the innovation in English instructional material


High-temperature structural ceramics have increasingly attracted scientists' attention in the area of modern science and technology due to their excellent properties of corrosion-resistance, wear-resistance and high-temperature resistance. But their low reliability limits their application in practice. In this note, AE signals of high-temperature structural ceramics under static fatigue were picked up by AE transducer and the relation between AE signals and crack growth in structural ceramics was studied. The results show that the AE rate of structural ceramics has


Is it curious that there should be a particular document addressing the issue of "women, sport, and development"? Why not one focused on men? I pose these questions to get at the heart of a dilemma – Why, if women and girls do engage in sport, are they still marginalized or at best a "special case" in the dominant practices, ideologies and organizations concerned with sport? Certainly in the beginning of the 21st century, it is not unusual for girls and women all over the world to participate in sport in some way or another. As well, over the last three decades, there has been considerable organized, focused attention on women's role in development. Over the last 15 years an organized international women in sports movement also has gained momentum. Nevertheless, female participation in sport still raises a series of reactions, issues and questions that are theoretically challenging, culturally revealing and programmatically pressing. This emulates earlier discussions surrounding women and development. Furthermore, much work still needs to be done to systematically work through the relationships between women, sport and development – something that has just begun. Questions posed should include not only what are barriers to and opportunities for women's and girls' involvement in sport, but also what are the presumed benefits and costs, the variations over time and place, and the impact on women and girls of existing sporting ventures. Finally, a consideration of women in sport and development should sensitize us to the gendered implications of any and all work related to sport and development, not just to that focused on females. This article will examine the dilemma, recount a bit of the history of activism, and suggest some specific programmatic issues researchers and practitioners should bear in mind.


Constant increase of magnetic recording density requires application of modern ferromagnetic materials with high value of magnetic anisotropy constant and coercivity. Thin films on the bases of L10-FePt ordered phase is one of such materials. However, practical application of such materials requires to solve a number of materials science problems such as decrease of ordered phase formation temperature, formation of its predominantly oriented grains and increase of coercivity. Factors that affect structure formation and properties of FePt based films have been examined in this study. A number of modern studies aimed on solving problems mentioned above have been analyzed.


IntroductionAuditory Display (AD) and Sonic Interaction Design (SID) are fast growing research domains. The former investigates strategies and modalities for providing information by means of non-verbal sounds. The latter deals with the use of sound in ID. New energies have recently been injected into these fields by a number of European-supported research efforts such as the projects S2S2 (Sound to Sense, Sense to Sound, see http://smcnetwork.org/), CLOSED (Closing the Loop Of Sound Evaluation and Design, see http://closed.ircam.fr/), and the European COST-Action Sonic Interaction Design (see http://sid.soundobject.org/). Nevertheless, it is commonly held within the International Community for Auditory Display (ICAD, see www.icad.org) that AD and SID lack consolidated methodological guidelines.This article proposes rhetoric as a rich repository of principles and techniques and a solid methodological base on which to build new knowledge and expertise in the domains of AD and SID. Classical rhetoric deals with economy and effectiveness of communication through speech. The idea of transferring the tradition and experience of rhetoric from verbal language to another realm is centuries old. Since the 16th century, the transposition of classical rhetorical principles and techniques from the verbal domain to the musical has made an important contribution to the transformation of instrumental music into an independent art form. Instrumental music has since been able to develop its own structures and discourse independently of verbal expression, theatrical representation or dance. Inspired by this example, this study examines the potential to employ musical rhetorical strategies for the design of non-speech audio in the realm of ID and HCI.We argue that what we propose is congruent with a general trend in ID pointing to an increasingly human-centered and ergonomic technology, both physically and psychologically. In this sense, the re-invention and adaptation of communication techniques developed within pure humanistic frameworks to the context of ID seems to be a coherent and promising research strategy in favor of such a general goal.BackgroundSound in IDToday, an increasing number of everyday objects and machines include sonic resources in both an active and a passive sense. This is coherent with the simple fact that our perception of the world is inherently multimodal and that users rarely receive information through only one sensory modality. When feasible, ID applications seek to include several perceptual channels at once. Besides visual and haptic aspects, sound has to be systematically considered in order to pursue a more human-like technology (see, for example, Spence & Zampini, 2006, for the importance of sound in product design). In the near future, we expect to see a multitude of technological devices endowed with expressive and listening capabilities in terms of speech and non-speech audio communication. The envisioned acoustic scenario of the future will include thousands of new artificial sounds that will pervade our everyday life and consume the "environmental acoustic bandwidth" for the transmission of auditory information. In particular, we expect a huge proliferation of non-verbal sounds, whose advantage is to be pre-attentive, independent of any specific language and, if properly designed, shorter and more intuitive than verbal messages (Brewster, Wright, & Edwards, 1995). Such acoustical hypertrophy requires adequate action aimed at defining ways to best exploit the communication potentialities of non-speech audio, while avoiding the degeneration of the acoustic environment into an overcrowded soundscape. Strategies for designing artificial sounds in a concise and effective way tackle both these aspects at once by optimizing the communication process and reducing the sonic impact in terms of physiological and psychological fatigue. This represents the opposite of what, in the context of alarm design (see Patterson, 1990), an ambulance siren produces. …


Aiming at the problem that it can not accurately simulate the geometric characteristics of the rice leaf in virtual rice modeling and visualization, from the aspect of physics, this paper proposes a rice leaf mathematic model based on experimental data.It combines VC++ with OpenGL, vectorization and virtual plant of leaf morph and its changing process can be realized by several morphological parameters with explicit biological meaning.Results show that this model can get good effects with less parameters, easier control, and it can simulate the growing process of rice leaf well.


Since the installation of the CCD Electronic Box Replacement (CEB-R) during Servicing Mission 4, the ACS Wide Field Channel has exhibited two bias anomalies that have been linked to the CCDs' external preamplifiers and the CEB-R's dual-slope integrators. One anomaly is a temporally stable bias gradient of 5-10 DN across each quadrant; the other anomaly is a local bias shift that depends on the pixel signal and has an e-folding time comparable to the serial transfer of several hundred pixels. Although the bias shift is relatively small (0.02−0.3% of the pixel signal), it can be an impediment to high-contrast science observations and to the removal of other electronic anomalies (e.g., 1/f noise). We have developed a pixel-based algorithm for correcting the signal-dependent bias shift in full-frame WFC images. We describe the calibration and tuning of this algorithm for each WFC quadrant, and we discuss the implementation of this algorithm in the standard CALACS image processing pipeline.


The challenges posed by intellectual property rights (IPR) in terms of licensing fees have stimulated China's active participation in the standardisation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) through standards development organisations (SDOs). This participation allowed the accumulation of knowledge, the assimilation of external information and the development of new indigenous technologies. The Chinese experience shows that SDOs can be considered as interactive learning spaces (ILS). This case contrasts with that of other global ICT standards producers, where learning is a secondary outcome of the standardisation process.


According to Kirk (2012) one of the possibilities to assure physical education's (PE) future is to reform physical education teacher education (PETE) and "to develop teachers' content knowledge alongside their pedagogical content knowledge" (ibidem). Mauss (1936) considers that techniques of the body possess a part of embodied knowledge, a sort of corporal experiences. If in teaching skills with students this fact is considered, it is not the fact in PETE. To teach PE requires to use of space, to give some verbal instruction, and adopt a proximal or distal position to deliver some feedback, somehow embodied knowledge. Some research show that using video to prepare to teach can offer a holistic approach of the classroom (Sherin, 2004), but in our knowledge, using video in PETE is under research. In most of the case, video is used to improve quality of feedback or to develop reflexivity. The aim of our contribution will be to present how an audiovisual device can permit to approach corporal experiences of teaching PE and to promote professional development. Our theoretical frame is the Course of Action (Theureau, 2003) in cognitive anthropology, based on the hypothesis of the situated action and cognition (Suchman, 1987; Hutchins, 1995) and also the enaction (Maturana & Varela, 1987).


From Introduction: "Increments in structural loads due to atmospheric turbulence can be accurately expressed in terms of flight speed and effective gust velocities (reference 4). Data from which the effective gust velocities could be computed were also obtained during the flights of the XC-35 airplane. These data have been used to determine the significance of the fluctuations in the pilot's indicated-airspeed readings in relation to structural loads to due to atmospheric turbulence."


The Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy model is described by fuzzy if-then rules which represent local linear systems of the underlining nonlinear systems (Takagi & Sugeno, 1985; Tanaka et al., 1996; Tanaka & Sugeno, 1992) and thus it can describe a wide class of nonlinear systems. In the last decade, nonlinear control design methods based on Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy system have been explored. Since the stability analysis and state feedback stabilization first made in (Tanaka & Sugeno, 1992), system theory and various control schemes for fuzzy systems have been developed. Parallel to state feedback control design, observer problems were also considered in (Tanaka & Sano, 1994; Tanaka & Wang, 1997; Yoneyama et al., 2000; Yoneyama et al., 2001a). When the observer is available, it is known in (Yoneyama et al., 2000) that for fuzzy systems, the separation property of designing state feedback controller and observer is established. Thus, an output feedback controller for fuzzy systems was proposed in (Yoneyama et al., 2001a). Theory was extended to H∞ control (Cao et al., 1996; Chen et al., 2005; Feng et al., 1996; Hong & Langari, 1998; Katayama & Ichikawa, 2002; Yoneyama et al., 2001b). In spite of these developments in fuzzy system control theory, the separation property holds only for a limited class of fuzzy systems where the premise variable is measurable. When we consider a fuzzy system, the selection of the premise variables plays an important role in system representation. The premise variable is usually given, and hence the output is natually selected. In this case, however, a class of fuzzy systems is limited. If the premise variable is the state of the system, a fuzzy system can represent the widest class of nonlinear systems. In this case, output feedback controller design is difficult because the state variable is immeasurable and it is not available for the premise variable of an output feedback controller. For this class of fuzzy systems, output feedback control design schemes based on parallel distributed compensator (PDC) have been considerd in (Ma et al., 1998; Tanaka & Wang, 2001; Yoneyama et al., 2001a) where the premise variable of the controller was replaced by its estimate. Furthermore, Linear Matrix Inequality (Boyd et al, 1994) approach was introduced in (Guerra et al., 2006). Uncertain system approach was taken for stabilizatin and H∞ control of both continuous-time and discrete-time fuzzy systems in (Assawinchaichote, 2006; Tanaka et al., 1998; Yoneyama, 2008a; Yoneyama, 2008b). However, controller design conditions given in these approaches are still conservative. This chapter is concerned with robust H∞ output feecback controller design for a class of uncertain continuous-time Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy systems where the premise variable is the immeasurable state variable. This class of fuzzy systems covers a general nonlinear system Source: Fuzzy Systems, Book edited by: Ahmad Taher Azar, ISBN 978-953-7619-92-3, pp. 216, February 2010, INTECH, Croatia, downloaded from SCIYO.COM


This research aims to examine the effects of class-wide and individual positive behavior intervention and support to quality of problem behavior, task engagement, generalization of high school student with intellectual disabilities and quality of life of teacher and mother. Collecting data used MAS, survey, direct observation through A-B-C observation record, and function evaluation on problem behavior. The research design used pre-post design, multiple probe subjects design among behaviors, in order to examine the effects of positive behavior intervention and support to quality of life of students, teachers and mothers, the study collected changes of quality of life using questionnaire, and conducted qualitative analysis. The research results, First, the class-wide and individual positive behavior intervention and support was effective in reducing problem behavior of intellectually disabled high school students.


Objectsive To explore surgical treatment of refractory epilepsy involving in the central sulcus region. Method Epileptogenic focus must be assessed and fMRI was used to locate the functional area before surgery.During operation,epileptogenic focus was delineated by EEG/ECoG and functional area was located by direct cortex electrical stimulation.Epileptic focus was resected if not involved the functional area,and multiple subpial transactions was performed when involved functional area.Results No functional deficts were found after surgery,1case was seizure free,1 experienced occasional partial seizure,and 1 reduced 75% than before after 8 months.Conclusions Preoperative functional area mapping amd imtraoperative monitoring are important in functional protection amd improving seizure control rate.


From the water supplier's point of view, substantial deficits concerning water protection persist despite the high regulation density. On the one hand, this is induced by both a lack of consistency and coherency as well as the necessary consequence in the implementation of legal regulations. Too often, water protection remains fragmentary. On the other hand, simple, yet fundamental relations between emissions and immissions are not considered during the standardisation process. In the following contribution, this will be demonstrated by means of few examples and a sample of 10 water supply companies will be evaluated concerning effectiveness of water protection. In particular, water suppliers call for a strict application of the polluter pays and the precautionary principles as well as an appropriate "drinking water orientation" and effectiveness of measures. Water suppliers' views of existing laws reveal scepticism regarding their effectiveness to protect drinking water resources. Finally the synthesis results in eight core requirements for water protection.


The natural radioactivity (background) of potassium for several basic food products of animal origin was established by averaging determinations of K content made by flame colorimetric photometry. The findings, in percent per gram, were for cow's milk (per milliliter) 1.15, powdered milk 10.22, beef muscle tissue 2.71, beef liver 2.26, bones of beef vertebrae 1.00, and fresh water fishes 2.41. (OTS) Civil defense methods and equipment for use in nuclear attack are outlined. (C.E.S.)


The Project Engineering and Technology 2000 (ET 2000) was launched by three institutions, the Academy of Engineering (AE), the Society of Engineers (OE) and the Portuguese Industrial Association (AIP) on late 1999 and was completed on the end of 2000. A foresight project is always a process of analysis, conception and development searching for a more clear perspective about problems, tensions or woes, and oriented to design and to propose better approaches and strategies. ET 2000 was no exception. Still, as a Technology Foresight Project, specific questions were raised before being launched: A – Does Portugal, as a small economy, need a Technology Foresight Project? B – Should it be a Top-Down project or a Bottom-Up process?


A photoresist film was applied on the indium tin oxide (ITO) conductive glass which was coated with silver. The photoinduced changes of the photoresist film were achieved by exposure to UV lamp through a grating & lead pattern photomask. The photoresist film exhibited grating lines and lead patterns after development. The Ag-ITO double film coated with photoresist patterns was etched to double-layer electrode patterns by ion beam. After photoresists were stripped, silver grating electrodes were removed and ITO grating electrodes were coated with polyimide (PI) and treated by rubbing. The orientation was perpendicular to grating. The back electrode was a piece of ITO glass which was oriented by the same method. Nematic liquid crystal (LC) was injected into the grating cell. Other silver-leads were retained and connected with driver ICs and flex circuits. The binary optic liquid crystal blazed grating was fabricated. Step-shaped phase was obtained by applying a step-shaped voltage on LC grating electrodes. It formed blazed grating at one order and the diffraction angle can be shifted dynamically. The sample was checked up by the optical microscope and the He-Ne laser. The results indicate that the sample had clear grating structure and every grating electrode can be controlled separately. The range of the first order of diffraction angle was ±6° in theory. The diffraction efficiency decreased as the diffraction angle increased, and the maximum diffraction efficiency can exceed 80 %.


The basis of methodical approach for calculation of the individualized internal doses is the con-firmed original scientific hypothesis that every group of individuals which are homogeneous on demographic characteristics (gender and age), on a curve of dose distribution that is constructed according to the data of individual measurements of Cs137 in the human body (WB measurements), has the determined location, thus, that is constant in time, i.e. percentiles of dose distribution corresponding to the average internal dose of every age group of men and women on a curve of dose distribution occupy the certain, steady in time, location. Keywords: individualized internal dose, percentile of dose distribution, stability.